Maravi

Ex-Mansa town clerk ditches MMD, joins PF

Ex-Mansa town clerk ditches MMD, joins PF
By Kabanda Chulu and Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Tue 05 July 2011, 03:40 CAT

FORMER Mansa town clerk Bwanga Kapu-mba has withdrawn his bid to stand as MMD Mufulira Central Constituency member of parliament following Sylvia Masebo’s resignation from the ruling party. Kapumba, who resigned as town clerk for Mansa last week, said many public service workers and cabinet ministers are trapped in supporting MMD because of protecting jobs.

He narrated that people had advised him that meaningful contribution towards national development could only be done if he stood on the PF ticket. He said the reality is that PF is forming the next government.

“As leaders, we must listen to people and I have followed their advice in order to lead them properly and all my family including my elder brother Mumba Kapumpa are PF, so I did not want to create an impression that we have differences,” Kapumpa said.

He said PF has laid enough ground work to form the next government because the party has become a progressive force.

“People will wonder why I applied for adoption under MMD but it is because of what I describe as smart politics and to some of us close to Hon Sylvia Masebo, we knew a long time ago that she has left MMD though she went ahead to contest at the convention,” said Kapumpa.

“Many government workers are trapped because of work and other factors even ministers are just waiting for an opportunity since, politics is about right timing hence I have escaped this trap. Of course, MMD will say ‘we didn’t even want to adopt him’ but that is their right and it is my choice to become PF.”

And more than 600 UPND members together with senior officials in Mufulira district have defected to the PF, saying they want to be part of the process of change of government.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, former UPND Mufulira vice-chairperson Bwalya Chinda said the PF and its leader Michael Sata has become stronger and popular than ever before.

He said there was need for every Zambian to appreciate and join the root for change of government.

“We want to see a united opposition to be led by a popular candidate to take on the corrupt MMD in this year’s general elections and it is undisputable that the PF is a popular party and people want change.

The PF is not popular for nothing, it is popular because its values and ideas of running government have given hope to Zambians especially here on the Copperbelt,” said Chinda.

Among the officials who led the defectors include district chairman for propaganda Simon Banda, publicity secretary Trywell Ndhlovu and Justine Chisenga who was the district secretary and women’s secretary Annette Chewe Lukonde.

Labels: MANSA DISTRICT, MMD, PF

posted by MrK @ 3:31 AM