By SIMON MUNTEMBA and GIDEON NYENDWA
THE purported defections of PF members in Kabwata Constituency are stage managed out of desperation by UPND to deceive Zambians that the ruling party was strong in the area, opposition Patriotic Front, Deputy Media Director, Edwin Lifwekelo has said.
Mr Lifwekelo said the former ruling party was intact and none of its members had defected to the ruling UPND.
He said the ruling party was desperate and realizing that it had lost support from Zambians after having backtracked on its many campaign promises.
“That was a staged defection aimed at deceiving Zambians that the UPND is attractive. None of our known members have defected, in fact the party is intact,” he said.
Asked if one of the defectors Terry Miti was not a PF member, Mr Lifwekelo said “It’s difficult to verify whether or a person who is not even known, is a member, but defections or no defections, the PF is ready to consolidate numbers in parliament”.
Mr Lifwekelo said the by-election in Kabwata was about consolidating democracy in parliament which was being mutilated under the UPND leadership.
“The UPND is keen to establish a one party state in Zambia, the reason they want to wipe out opposition political parties. You can
see how desperate they want to deplete numbers in parliament. The country needs a strong and relevant opposition and on that score PF remains a party of choice,” he said.
His remark came after over 100 members of PFin Kabwata defected to join the ruling UPND.
Among those who defected include five ward officials and a secretary for Kamulanga ward 9.
Leading the defectors, immediate former PF member Perry Miti said they have joined the UPND because of the ruling party’s good development agenda for Zambia.
Mr Miti cited the K25.7 million Constituency Development Fund as a good driver of development.
He pledged to work with the UPND and mobilise the party together with older members of the party.
And receiving the defectors, UPND national chairperson, Steven Katuka urged the party members to welcome the new members and embrace them.
Mr Katuka also encouraged members of other political parties to also come and join the UPND party which was the party for Zambians.
He urged the old members to work with the new members who had joined the party ahead of the January 20 ,2022 by-elections Kabwata Constituency instead of sidelining them.
“We are all members of the UPND,” he said.
