LUNGU toasts PF victory

President Edgar Lungu says the PF’s performance in the recent parliamentary and Local Government by-elections is an indication that the ruling party has continued to gain political grounds in areas previously considered opposition strongholds.

 

President Lungu says the PF’s victory in Lubansenshi and increased votes captured in Solwezi-West demonstrates that the opposition maynever catch up with the ruling party ahead of next year’s general elections.

 

He told ZNBC’s Kennedy Bwalya in an interview at New York Palace Hotel, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, that the PF is steadily breaking new political grounds by- capturing parliamentary and local government seats from the opposition.

 

President Lungu says the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema’s assertions following his party’s victory in Solwezi West amounts to political hallucination, because the seat was held by the opposition, while PF has captured Lubansenshi previously held by an Independent.

 

The Head of State has however, reiterated the need for issue based campaigns, saying violence should not have any room in Zambia’s political dispensation.

 

And Government has congratulated the Patriotic Front and the opposition UPND for winning Thursday’s Lubansenshi and Solwezi West parliamentary by-elections respectively.

 

Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimbakambwili has also thanked the electorate in the two constituencies for exercising their democratic right to choose their representatives in Parliament.

 

Mr. Kambwili who is also Information Minister has also paid tribute to the law enforcement agencies, the Electoral Commission of Zambia, election monitors and other stakeholders for their collaborative effort in ensuring the by-elections were held in a peaceful and orderly manner.

 

He however says it must be noted that there was neither victor nor victim in yesterday’s by-elections.

 

Mr. Kambwili says in a statement issued to ZNBC News in Lusaka that victory in the two by-elections belongs to all Zambians who have to continue working together in deepening the country’s democracy and development regardless of their diverse political affiliations.

 

And PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri says Patrick Mucheleka’s defeat in the Lubansenshi by-election is a wakeup call for parliamentarians to always put the interests of the electorates first.

 

Mrs Phiri has since warned all serving MPs to seriously pursue the interests of their people or risk being voted out of parliament in next year’s general elections.

 

And Mrs Phiri says PF’s victory in Lubansenshi is an indication of positive political fortunes in the run up to next year’s general elections.

 

She is also happy that the PF improved on its vote margin in Solwezi West despite being overrun by the UPND who have scooped the seat.

 

Mrs. Phiri was speaking in an interview with ZNBC’s Kennedy Bwalya at New York Palace Hotel in New York.

 

Meanwhile, Mrs. Phiri says the PF has rolled out a massive financial mobilization plan ahead of the 2016 polls.

 

She says the fundraising ventures will be conducted in Zambia and abroad.

 

Mrs. Phiri is happy that all is set for the PF’s meet the President Dinner slated for New York this evening.

 

She says the fundraising ventures have helped the PF to be financially independent as opposed to some previous ruling parties which she said survived on government resources.

 

Renowned Zambian musicians, Mark 2, Jk, Kingsley Malembe Malembe, Wille and Mampi will slag it out at the PF Presidential Gala on Thursday night.

 

ZNBC