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MMD’s ground is shifting to PF in Mpulungu - Sikazwe

MMD’s ground is shifting to PF in Mpulungu - Sikazwe
By Patson Chilemba
Tue 31 Aug. 2010, 04:00 CAT

GEHARD Sikazwe yesterday said the MMD ground in Mpulungu is shifting to opposition PF. Sikazwe, who is one of the aspiring candidates for Mpulungu parliamentary seat, yesterday confirmed he had refused attempts by MMD leaders to have him stand on the ruling party’s ticket in the forthcoming Mpulungu parliamentary by-election.

Sikazwe, who is independent Zyamba ward councillor and was Mpulungu mayor until 2009, said the ground in Mpulungu had significantly changed because people were fast switching allegiance from the MMD to the PF. He said the people of Mpulungu were fed up with MMD and the failed promises by government.

“Even now, they are just trying to corrupt people, but that won’t work because people have already decided to change,” he said.

Asked to confirm assertions that MMD leaders had been trying to entice him to stand on their party ticket, Sikazwe responded: “Yes, it is true. I have received so many requests, not only from the MMD top leaders, even at constituency. But I could not respond to them because I have already made my position. The MMD leaders tried to contact me, many of them.”

On MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga’s assertions that late Mpulungu member of parliament Lameck Chibombamilimo was not a factor in the area, Sikazwe said Chibombamilimo was held in high esteem by the Lungu people because he contributed a lot towards development in the area.

“To say that Chibombamilimo has done nothing, that is an insult,” said Sikazwe.

And PF Mpulungu district chairperson Charles Mazimba said whether Chibombamilimo was a factor or not, MMD stood no chance of winning the seat.
He said the MMD government even failed to transport Chibombamilimo’s body to Mpulungu so that people could mourn him.

“Now they residents want President Rupiah Banda to come with Chibombamilimo’s body when he comes. Before he speaks to people here, he should bring the body. They could not even accord Chibombamilimo a state funeral even when he served as deputy minister!” Mazimba said.

“President Rupiah Banda said ‘I will chase you Chibombamilimo to go and stand on The Post ticket or the PF ticket’. He said ‘I will follow you wherever you go’, and what he said has happened. Even using first lady Thandiwe Banda to distribute money will not help because people have turned from MMD to PF.”

Mazimba said the Lungu people had wanted Chibombamilimo to be buried in Mpulungu, just like late Benny Tetamashimba was buried in Solwezi.

Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, PF

posted by MrK @ 4:08 AM