By SANFROSSA MANYINDA
OVER 1, 000 people defected from the former ruling Patriotic Front party to the United Party for National Development (UPND) in Mufulira at the weekend.
Leading the defectors was former Mufulira Central Member of Parliament Evans Chibanda and former Mufulira Central Member of Parliment John Kufuna who served from 2011 to 2016.
Both Mr Kabanda and Mr Kufuna were received by UPND Copperbelt provincial chairman Elisha Matambo.
The duo have therefore, vowed to work together with their now fellow party members in the UPND and ensure that the PF was completely destroyed in Mufulira district.
Speaking shortly before being formally received, Mr Chibanda said he decided to ditch the former ruling party because it did not put the interests of the people first.
“I have decided to join the UPND because it is the only party that wants to take the country forward.
“I have suffered a lot for the past five years I was Member of Parliment for the constituency because I kept fighting battles with the PF concerning less constituency development funds among other issues,” he said.
And Mr Kufuna said he decided to leave the PF because there was no progress seen in the party as it kept going backwards.
He revealed that he started working and campaigning with the UPND before and during the campaigns stating that he also created a committee that was campaigning for the party in the district.
And Mr Matambo has appealed to the old members in the UPND to welcome new members with open arms.
“Let us not be cold towards our friends from the PF but keep welcoming them until the party grows and continue believing in equity whether the member is old or new.
” I am also advising our friends that are joining us from the PF to come with their technocrats and expertise so that we can all work together in building the party even stronger,” Mr Matambo said.
