By JAMES KUNDA –
ZAMBIANS have encouraged Patriotic Front (PF) deputy media director Antonio Mwanza to ignore detractors and forge ahead in adding impetus to the ruling party’s governance prowess.
Meanwhile, PF deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri has said all members that joined the PF from the Movement for Multiparty democracy (MMD) had relinquished their opposition party membership cards.
When Mr Mwanza featured on a Radio Phoenix live phone-in programme dubbed ‘Let the people talk’ in Lusaka yesterday, some callers took turns congratulating him on his move from the opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) to the PF.
A caller who only identified himself as Mumbi, said Mr Mwanza would add value to the PF’s drive of finding solutions to the challenges affecting Zambians.
A Mr Mwangala, a PF sympathiser, said he was anxiously waiting for Mr
Mwanza to join the ruling party due to his worth of political experience.
“I have followed you since your school days at the University of Zambia and I’m very excited that you now belong to our team,” Mr Mwangala said.
Mr Mwanza hailed the plaudits he received, reaffirming to the people that he joined the ruling party to serve the interests of Zambians above his own.
“I’m home and PF is intact, vibrant and the most attractive party in Zambia today,” Mr Mwanza said.
He said from winning the 2011 general elections by more than 850,000 votes, the ruling party in the 2016 polls won by more than 1.8 million votes, signifying growth.
Mr Mwanza took a swipe at the United Party for National Development (UPND) leadership for perpetrating politics of hatred, violence, tribalism and bliss.
Also featuring on a live phone-in programme on pan-African Radio, Ms Phiri said the PF was never infiltrated by members that joined it from opposition parties.
She said most of the UPND top brass also comprised former MMD members, making it baseless for the opposition to chastise the PF for embracing people from the opposition.
Ms Phiri urged people with corruption evidence against the PF Government to avail it before the law-enforcement agencies for their action.