Presidential endorsement gains momentum

THE Patriotic Front (PF) in Luanshya has endorsed President Edgar Lungu as the sole presidential candidate in the 2016  general elections.

Luanshya PF district secretary Alex Mponda made the declaration in Luanshya yesterday during a mass defection over 400 members of the opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) who joined the ruling PF.
ZANIS reports that Mr Mponda appealed to all party structures country wide to support President Edgar Lungu as he has proved quality leadership during the three months he has been in office.

He said President Lungu has demonstrated leadership and love for the party and the country, showing that he can develop the country if given a full five year mandate.

He further noted that the Head of State was running a government of inclusiveness for all Zambians who are committed to the aspirations of the citizenry.

 

Meanwhile, 400 MMD members including the entire district party leadership has defected from the party to join the ruling PF.

Welcoming the defecting members, PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri urged the party members and the new ones to work in unity to strengthen the party.

Mrs Phiri observed that currently the opposition in the country was weak and did not offer issue based criticism thereby giving the ruling party a chance to continue with its development agenda.

She also appealed to party members and the district at large to participate in voter registration which was currently on-going in some parts of the country to ensure that they return the PF in the 2016 general election.

 

Mrs Phiri also called for unity on the constitution making process whose direction would be given as soon as parliament resumes sitting.

And speaking at the same function, Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili who is also a member of the central committee said politics was a game of numbers and urged the district PF committee to settle the confusion that had engulfed the party at district level.

He urged the party members to embrace new members joining the PF by giving them equal opportunities and allow them to bring fresh ideas to the party and also to contest elections at various levels.

And Luanshya MMD District chairperson Shine Mukosha who also defected to join the PF yesterday said the move marks the beginning of defections from the MMD this year and that the former ruling party has gone under and had no hope for redemption.

 

Mr Mukosha said he was happy to join the ruling PF as it had displayed potential to develop the nation as evidenced by various projects currently taking place in most  parts of the country.

Others who defected included the MMD provincial vice secretary Habson Kasonde, and MMD District secretary Peggy Nyirenda Maple among others.

The defection was graced by PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri, National youth chairperson Chishimba Kambwili, Copperbelt province Youth chairperson Nathan Chandra and the party Provincial and District leadership.