PF chief warns Copperbelt officials
PATRIOTIC Front secretarygeneral Davis Mwila has warned party leaders on the Copperbelt that defectors will take over their positions if they are not working hard to mobilise the party at grassroot level.
Speaking yesterday at Buchi Hall in Kitwe when the PF received 500 defectors from the Rainbow Party, Mr Mwila said officials at various levels who were failing to perform their duties effectively will have their positions taken over by defectors.
Mr Mwila said he was expecting PF leaders at various levels in the province to work hard to mobilise the party, defend and protect President Edgar Lungu from disgruntled politicians who were spreading lies about the republican President.
Mr Mwila was accompanied by former Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa, PF member of the central committee for information Frank Bwalya and chairman for elections Yamfwa Mukanga.
Mr Mwila said he was expecting the PF leadership on the Copperbelt to embrace the defectors, most of whom were former PF members who decided to join the Rainbow Party of Wynter Kabimba.
Among those who defected from Rainbow were former PF Kitwe district chairman Allan Chushi Mwewa, first PF district chairperson for Mpongwe Marvis Mukupa, Morton Chali, Charles Siame, Victor Kalesha and John Katati.
He said the defection of the more than 500 members from Rainbow to PF was a genuine one and that those who were holding party positions, but were not performing effectively, will have their positions taken over by those who were defecting to PF from other parties.
"These people have not defected to PF to come and grab your positions, but if you are not working hard to mobilise the party at grass root level, these defectors will take over your positions. We need a loyal and committed leadership which will take the party to greater heights.
"You need to go to the people at grass root level, explaining what the PF government and President Lungu are doing to improve the lives of the people. The road infrastructure and other things," Mr Mwila said.
He cautioned the defectors to desist from the attitude of jumping from one party to the other, but stick to the PF because it was the only party with a national character.
Mr Mwila also said the central committee of the PF had endorsed President Lungu as its Presidential candidate for 2021 election because he had exhibited mature and objective leadership.