.FR. Bwalya

By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE?? –

ALLIANCE for Better Zambia (ABZ) president Frank Bwalya has dissolved his party structures to join the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).
Fr Bwalya said the ABZ ‘marriage’ with PF was based on the biblical principle of becoming one flesh;
as such, ABZ was joining PF to become one party.
He said at a media briefing held at Ndeke Hotel in Lusaka yesterday that the move was aimed at supporting the administration of President Edgar Lungu in eradicating poverty and its offshoots of disease, hunger, illiteracy and ignorance.
“Time has come to unite and defend the “One Zambia One Nation” motto which has helped us to live in peace despite being a country of many tribes and languages’ Fr Bwalya said.??He said time had come for all well-meaning Zambians to unite and create a stable political dispensation that promotes socio-economic growth.
Fr Bwalya said the many happenings against the ruling party instigated by opposition political parties and other groups against the Government had challenged many well-meaning Zambians including ABZ to unite and defend justice and the common good.
He called on Zambians to unite and defend the values inspired by various religions in the country including Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, among others.
He said that time had come to unite and champion reforms that should accelerate sustainable development and improve the lives of people, especially vulnerable groups.
Fr Bwalya, who supported the candidature of President Edgar Lungu in the January 20, 2015 Presidential election, said that ABZ had developed a solid working relationship with the PF party and Mr Lungu.
“This relationship, which has been characterised by a strong desire for a long term partnership, has served as a successful political courtship” he said.
Fr Bwalya said the country needed a stable political leadership as a prerequisite to achieving meaningful development.
He said there was also need for a strong and confident governing party that should champion development with unquestionable patriotism and determination.
Fr Bwalya urged opposition political parties in the country to reject politics of confrontation and unnecessary bickering and embrace the spirit of constructive engagement and peaceful co-existence.
He said political parties should also reject tribalism with its offshoots of hatred and ethnic violence.
“Finally, we call upon all Zambians to appreciate the new politics of development that President Lungu has introduced in our country,” he said.??The briefing was attended by former ABZ members and PF cadres.