Embrace new PF members or leave – Lungu

PRESIDENT Lungu has urged Patriotic Front (PF) members to embrace peace and unity and accept new members from opposition political parties.
Mr Lungu said PF members who are not ready to work with new members should leave the party.
He said politics is about numbers and he is ready to work with both old and new members who are joining the party.
“I want to lead a party that embraces unity, peace and love. Let’s welcome new members from both the opposition MMD and UPND. I want to finish late President Sata’s term and usher the party in the 2016 general election as a strong united party.
“Let us not depart from the Michael Sata school of thought of embracing every new member. If you old members cannot embrace new members, seleni tubombeko (give as space for us to work). I will not sit idly by and see disunity in the party,” Mr Lungu said.

The President was speaking at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone yesterday shortly after arrival.
The President was in Livingstone to officiate at the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) gala dinner last night.
Mr Lungu said he supports calls by the PF secretary general Davies Chama that the party should hold provincial elections.
He urged party members to embrace Mr Chama’s call and never to be afraid of losing elections.
“I have lost parliamentary elections before. I was once sidelined in the PF but I never gave up. I believed in the party until 2011 when I won as Chawama MP. I have risen through the ranks and today I am leading Zambia,” Mr Lungu said.

He urged party members to work hard and let their hard work speak for them and not base their political career on peddling lies.
Mr Lungu said as republic an President, he is able to oversee all corners of Zambia the reason it is easy for him to tell who lies and who works hard.
The President is happy with his first 90 days stay in office because on the party front, he has managed to unite the PF while at Government level, all programmes that had stalled, are now up and running smoothly.

Minister for Southern Province Nathaniel Mubukwanu said the party is intact in the region and is getting stronger.
Mr Mubukwanu also said Government programmes are running smoothly and the province is maximising on the high number of tourists visiting Livingstone.
He appealed to Mr Lungu to take time off with his family to get to Livingstone and sample the tourist sites in the capital.
Mr Mubukwanu assured the President that the province believes in Mr Lungu’s leadership and is behind him to support all the programmes.
Mr Lungu is accompanied to Livingstone by Deputy Minister at State House Mulenga Sata, special assistant to the President for press and public relations Amos Chanda and other senior government officials.

The President was welcomed at the airport by Chief Mukuni, Minister of Justice Ngosa Simbyakula, Minister of Health Joseph Kasonde, Attorney General Likando Kalaluka and Law Association of Zambia president George Chisanga.
And ARTHUR MWANSA reports that President Lungu has described his 90 days in office as successful.
Speaking to journalists before departure for Livingstone yesterday, Mr Lungu said: “We are now settled and we are moving. Anyway I am not here to judge myself, judge for yourselves.”
On hand to see him off were Mr Chama, Minister of Lands Christabel Ngimbu, Minister of Home Affairs Davies Mwila, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Given Lubinda and Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska.

CHRISTINE CHISHA – ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL