Chumbwe defects to PF

Chumbwe defects to PF
Written by Agness Changala

FORMER Lusaka Province MMD chairman Geoffrey Chumbwe has defected to the Patriotic Front (PF) because of intimidation in the MMD. And former MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) member Christine Moonga said one must be a liar to survive in the MMD. Meanwhile, Dunamis Christian Centre founding pastor Dan Pule said he is convinced that Michael Sata is the man that God wants for Zambia.

Speaking when he defected to PF in Lusaka yesterday, Chumbwe, who was welcomed by party vice-president Guy Scott, general secretary Edward Mumbi and other senior officials said, said most people who were not happy with what was going on in the party could not speak because doing so in the MMD was insulting and disrespectful.

"In MMD if you tell the truth, you are insulting and disrespectful," he said.

Chumbwe said it was not easy to decide and join PF because if he did so earlier, he would have died by now.

He said he had decided to join PF not because he was upset or attacked by the MMD but simply because he was disappointed with the party as it had been hijacked by selfish individuals who wanted to get something out of late president Levy Mwanawasa's death.

He said he knew and understood Sata better because they worked together and it was for this reason that he had decided to join the party.

"I have decided to work with bayama [uncle] the one I know better," Chumbwe said.

And officially defecting to PF, Moonga appealed to Zambians to embrace change and not allow a party like the MMD, which was beyond repair, to continue.

"In MMD if you have to survive, you have to be a liar," she said. "Embrace change with a difference and not MMD to continue."

Moonga said God had a purpose for taking away president Mwanawasa, adding that time had now come for Sata to rule.

Meanwhile, pastor Pule, who also declared his support and endorsed Sata, said he had never supported a loser and he was sure that Sata would win.

"I have never supported a loser," pastor Pule said. "Sata is going to propel this country forward because he is a man of action and of the people."

Other MMD officials who defected to opposition PF include Paul Moonga [Christine's husband], Gladys Phiri (MMD member) and Esther Nakawala.