Taima, 150 others ditch MMD to join PF

–Solwezi East Member of Parliament, Richard Taima has with immediate effect resigned from the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) and joined the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).

Mr Taima who, is also Commerce, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, said he has decided to join the PF so that he could push for more developmental projects within the government unlike what he termed wearing two jackets.

Mr Taima announced his resignation during a press briefing held at his Hill View Lodge in Solwezi today.

He said by resigning from the MMD party, he has consequently relinquished his position as Member of Parliament for Solwezi East.

Mr Taima has since called on all political giants and traditional leaders in the province to consider getting close to work with the Patriotic Front for the common good of the province.

He said it is sad to note that during the September 2011 general elections the whole North-western province emerged as an opposition province as no single seat was given to the Patriotic Front.

Mr Taima said it is, therefore, unfair to expect President Michael Sata or the Patriotic Front in general to include people from a region of the country that did not provide him the primary source of human resource from which he can pick people to include in government.

He said Solwezi East Constituency has lagged behind in development because it has had more opposing members of parliament than those working with the government of the day thereby, resulting in having very little trickling in the constituency in terms of development.

Mr Taima, who was accompanied by over 150 people from his constituency who have defected to the ruling Patriotic Front, said the entire constituency is in support of his decision to join the ruling party because they are interested in seeing development.

Former Solwezi District Commissioner, Frobisher Fulayi and proprietor of Food 24 Restaurant, Frederick Foloshi, also announced their joining the ruling Patriotic Front.

In received, the defectors, PF Provincial Treasurer, Richard Kamboyi, assured Mr Taima the party leadership’s support to him and that they will offer massive support to him even during the campaigns so that he retains the seat.

Mr Kamboyi appealed to the party leadership in the province to be accommodative to all those that join them because they are contributing to the party’s growth.

Mr Taima becomes the second Member of Parliament in the province to resign from the opposition and join the ruling Patriotic Front after Mufumbwe Member of Parliament, Stephen Masumba, who did the same late last year.