Over 100 ditch UPND in Solwezi and Mufumbwe
ABOUT 139 members of the United Party for National Development (UPND) in Solwezi and Mufumbwe have defected to the ruling Patriotic Front. The defectors were received by vice President, Inonge Wina in Solwezi yesterday. Notable among the defectors were UPND Mufumbwe district secretary, Crispin Lupembe, constituency chairman Paul Kanyembo, mobilisation chairlady, Priscilla Kalwizhi, including MMD district chairlady for Mufumbwe, Getrude Katutu and former UPND councillor for Kamalamba ward Pastor Lackson Mulumbi Senior.
Announcing his defection, Mr Lupembe accused their former party leaders of betraying them thus leaving them with no option but to leave.
He charged that women and young people in the UPND had been complaining for a long time of poor leadership. He said the UPND has nothing to offer to the people and regretted his time in the opposition party.
And Mr Mulumbi, who is the father of Mushindamo Town council chairman Lackson Mulumbi Jnr said he does not want to continue working with the opposition which has no future.
Receiving the defectors, Ms Wina said unlike other political parties, the PF was a party of choice and that is why people were joining.
She said it was clear that the youth and women from the opposition had realised the true leadership of President Edgar Lungu hence their decision to continue joining the ruling party. She called on old members to embrace new members to grow the party.
‘’Because modern politics is about numbers and that is why we need to continue bringing more new members in the party ahead of 2021 general elections,’’ she said.
She called on young people to embrace the leadership of President Lungu and support him.
And North Western Province PF chairperson Jackson Kungo said it was worth pointing out that the PF had widened its catch and remained on course for an electoral victory in 2021 in the region.