40 defect from UPND, join PF

FORTY members from the United Party for National Development (UPND) have defected to the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) in Kalulushi's Chibuluma Ward.

The defectors, who were led by the former UPND constituency trustee Jesper Siampongo, cited various reasons for their decision.

Mr Siampongo said development projects being undertaken by the PF government were testimony of the vision the leadership had for the nation.

He said it was for that reason he and the others had decided to ditch the UPND. The UPND’s leaders did not have plans for the people of Zambia.

The new PF members were given a thunderous welcome by Kalulushi Member of Parliament Kampamba Mulenga Chewe and other district party officials in Chibuluma Ward.

Ms Chewe, who is also Minister of Community Development and Social Welfare, thanked the new members for joining the PF.

She urged them to have a spirit of oneness if the party was to grow and said the party leadership had good plans for everyone.

PF Kalulushi district chairperson Mwenya Mulenga encouraged all the new members to feel free to aspire for any position as the party leadership believed in equality.

UPND Kalulushi district vice chairperson for administration Sakanya Banda confirmed that the defection were from his party.

Mr Banda, however, said the party was not shaken by defections in any way because the defectors had just gone to PF for money.

They would go back to UPND in 2021.

He said some of the defected members had left the party a long time ago and he was surprised that they were announcing their defections now.