Sun, 25 Feb 2018 09:37:51 +0000
By JACKSON MAPAPAYI
About 2,415 members of opposition political parties have ditched their former political parties and joined the ruling Patriotic front in Solwezi district.
Out of the 2,415, 1,940 are from the United Party for National Development (UPND), 420 from the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) and 85 from Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).
And notable among those that have defected are five headmen from Kapijmpanga, FDD provincial secretary Kabaila Sachiyeka and the entire Solwezi district executive committee, UPND Solwezi Central constituency secretary Misheck Lukama, Mushindamo district chairlady Betty Lupito and the district youth chairman Precious Masaba among others.
And receiving the defectors, PF secretary General Davies Mwila said the defection is a clear indication that the party is growing in the province contrary to claims by the opposition UPND that North western is their stronghold.
He said the ruling party has become the people’s party of choice because of its sound leadership and massive development the country has witnessed and described the move by the defectors as a right move.
He said President Edgar Lungu has made a commitment to take development to all parts of the country without segregation.
He said previously all the districts in the province had no power, but through the leadership of president Lungu, all the districts are now connected to the national electricity grid.
He said in 2015, the head of state declared Mushindamo and Kalumbila as district a move that will spur development in the areas.
‘’And by creating these two districts, employment will be created for the people in the two districts,’’ Mr Mwila said.
He urged the party leadership in the province to embrace the newcomers and work closely with them in order to bring more new members into the party.
And village headman Kajoba who spoke on behalf of his fellow village headmen described his stay in the opposition as a share waste of time.
