Hundreds of opposition PF members have ditched the former ruling party and joined the United Party for National Development-UPND.
The defectors were welcomed to the party by UPND National Chairman, Stephen Katuka at Kabwata Community Hall yesterday afternoon.
And speaking shortly after welcoming the ambassadors of change who included Suko Habinda and Royd Moonga, the duo who left the party prior to the 2021 general elections, Mr. Katuka stressed that the UPND was a party that ran an open-door policy and that every Zambian was welcome to join.
Hon. Katuka has since asked the campaign manager, Mr. Sulwe to include the newcomers in the ongoing Kabwata campaigns, warning of stern action against those who will discriminate against the defectors.
And speaking on behalf of other defectors Peri Miti, Rhodah Chibanda, Eunice Makowane, Roger’s Chileshe, Suko Habinda, Royd Moonga who were both emotionally charged, said the peace that Zambia was enjoying under the New Dawn administration; the robust economic recovery plan that President Hakainde Hichilema’s regime; the debt restructuring; free education and planned employment of more than 31, 000 teachers and 11, 000 health workers in 2022 were too loud to ignore.
The ambassadors for change also asked for forgiveness from both Zambians and the Republican President for betraying the party at a critical time when their services were needed most.
And in response to the plea by the defectors for Mr. Katuka to convey a message to the President asking for forgiveness for betrayal, Katuka charged that President Hichilema has a forgiving heart and that he exhibited his forgiving capabilities by refusing to punish those who unjustly incarcerated him in 2017 on a fake treason charge that saw him spend 127 days in prison. He also promised to convey the message to the Head of State.
This comes at a critical time when the area heads to the polls in slightly more than 2 weeks to elect its MP.
Meanwhile, UPND aspiring candidate for Kabwata Andrew Tayengwa thanked the people of Kabwata for the great support he is receiving.
Earlier this morning Mr. Tayengwa visited a number of churches in the area, amongst them ZAOGA.
NMC members, Constituency, and Provincial officials witnessed the function.
The Constituency, is one of the 156 in Zambia, that received the historic K25.7 million CDF this month, an amount that will ensure proper drainages, better marketing places, and empowerment for both men and women in the Constituency.
Politicians in Zambia don’t really learn. They all seem to behave the same way once they get power. I mean how many defections did we see under PF and MMD when they were in power, and where are they today?
Our politicians are really dull and one dimensional. Nothing new here. We have seen this nonsense before.
Zambians defected to UPND on August 12, these defecting now are remnants. Lets just disarm them, orient them into the peaceful and progressive UPND party, the rest will take care of itself
Fuseke. Those were not pf members. Stop the lies.
Mbuzi
Same old story. Be careful of who visits at night.
Katuta, you are embarrassing the UPND party. Why parade these PF defectors. These are old populist tactics which mean nothing.
Ambassadors for Change? Change where? If HH is wise, he shouldn’t entertain hungry, desperate, selfish, self serving, and gluttonous Ambassadors for Change. UPND won the elections without these hyenas.
Quite unnecessary if u ask me because I don’t believe in mass parties. The only thing a political party needs from citizens is their vote during election times. But in Africa people still worry about party membership.
Politics of the belly.Better to move with the
Wind then to lead one man party.let them
Join as ordinary members as they don’t deserve any posts.
For sure UPND don’t need these gimmicks from the MMD and PF era ………..
Just provide good governance guided by the rule of law and the people will fall in line……
Quite laughable & daft! Are there any men and women of conviction in existence, in Zambia these days, or is this propaganda?
….defecting because of a token, obviously- what else?
Its like rats running away from one empty house to infest the neighbouring house…Zambian politics lacks ideological..who can blame these people if rich folk like GBM was brought down to his kneels and his trucks grounded because he was in opposition.
This guy should be relieved of his position…we cannot continue seeing this in 2022
Very soon Upnd branches will be run by rats from the PF boat. Let’s just abandon this Western type of democracy. Trump and his Republican Party lost their elections but unlike the African toilet politics, the Republican Party has even become stronger. With these defections the ruling party will just end up like the one they have replaced.
So u can talk sense Deja Vu. Very good.
Unbelievable! So these UPND numskulls are just like their predecessors, the PF and MMD? At Change my a$s!
What’s the point of all these defections? Does UPND really believe these hungry hyenas will help them grow the party and help improve their popularity? The people of Zambia gave an overwhelming mandate to UPND (not these foggy politicians)… abuse that mandate, the same people will take it away regardless of what fake defections you parade.
Zambian politicians, devoid of any ideological beliefs and lacking integrity and principles. What a country, what a disappointment!
@Deja Vu (#13) and #Spaka (#8), I completely agree with both of you.
These folks remind us of GBM and Kambwili defecting back and forth- no ideology,no principles and being political opportunists.
OK. Now listen, defect, deflect, detract all you want we do not care. What we want is delivery of promises made before elections. Onse awo wenze ku shatini with whatever they believed. So it is time you even stop making this news a mambala. We want promises met — muzaciona!
#14 Nemwine… I always talk sense. Whatever I have said, I have done in truth. Only problem is you want to hear only what want to hear…1) payment of retirees dues… this has been an ongoing exercise ( frustrated by Officers.. some of them sympathizers of the opposition) but you want me praise Upnd. 2) Arrears for Tazara workers… these have always been paid late even in UNIP days but you want me to praise Upnd 3) Health and education workers recruitment… You want me to praise Upnd even before it has taken off…we hope the bias will be for rural areas otherwise it’ll be a futile effort….I hope you will be availed chance to physically confirm that the actual numbers have been employed and it’s not just propaganda. Okay you can roast me as much as you may.
Deja Vu, since whn hv I roasted anyone? I just want civilised discourse. I cannot belong to a political party because I hv no intention of running for political office. The vote is enough for me.
Ifya bupuba, rubbish Zambian politics. Those are lazy Zambians, who jst after free issues. Let’s work Zambians.
#20 ?
@Deja vu, I agree with you on #19. I always find your comments objective and devoid of bias. Keep up the good work!
Spot on.We hated the nonsense of defections,we don’t want it.
Same group of political prostitutes always jumping from opposition to ruling party. The same group jumped from upnd to then ruling party PF. What has changed now in the ideologies of the two parties that they want to come back except for the fact the the one which was on opposition is now ruling and vice versa. These are the same prostitutes who will defect to the party that will come in after the upnd.
I am not UPND but PF should be disbanded.
The corrupt rats are leaving the sinking PF ship. If I was the UPND then I would DROWN the rats. Can’t trust them!
pf will never rule again,allow them in but noti chap called kz, he needs a lot of cleaning.
kkatuka looks like Davies Mwila
Politics of poverty. Ukwakaba ekwakuselela. Ask Dora Siliya. All politicians know that POlitics is where you gather to get your share of stolen tax money
Tony I would never join a tribal club of liars. I am way above that
Hunger in zambia, you are joining people who are hurting you. Ichimpwena.prices of commodities are skyrocketing daily because of ill decisions being made by incompetent regime and some people are blindly following.we will see how much a bag of mealie meal will be fetching soon.