By SIMON MUNTEMBA
THE DNA of UPND is bitterness, hatred and violence, Nalikwanda Member of Parliament, Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa has said.
And Prof. Lungwangwa has disclosed that he decided to ditch the UPND for the Patriotic Front (PF) in March this year when he applied for adoption on the ruling party ticket.
Speaking when he officially, together with his counterpart, UPND Solwezi West MP Teddy Kasonso and other political heavyweights joined PF in Lusaka yesterday, Prof. Lungwangwa said there was nothing good in the largest opposition party.
“The DNA of UPND is bitterness, hatred and violence. We need to be patriotic for our country. There is no any party that is pro-poor and inclusive like PF and this is what Zambians want,” Prof. Lungwangwa said.
He pledged to campaign heavily to ensure a clear victory for President Edgar Lungu and the PF in Western Province.
Prof. Lungwangwa said he was attracted to PF because it has proved itself to be a national and all-inclusive Government that has taken development to all parts of the country.
President Lungu, he said, deserves our support, commitment and he must win the August 12 elections because he has proved to be a national and inclusive leader. We will work with PF to foster development for the good of Zambians.
Meanwhile, Mr Kasonso who also joined PF urged all political parties to have a national character as demonstrated by the ruling party.
Mr Kasonso said he would not recontest his seat to focus on consolidating a Presidential vote in favour of President Lungu in the forthcoming elections by campaigning for him across the country.
In receiving them, PF national chairperson Samuel Mukupa said it would be disastrous for UPND to under play the defections because each defector has a lot of political value.
Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo who was also at hand to receive the defectors said President Lungu had given them instructions to unite the nation before elections.
