•COPPERBELT Permanent Secretary Howard Sikwela (centre) after handing over a K1,000 cheque to Zambia Freedom Fighters Association president Kafula Mulenga (left) while Morton Investment director Tonny Mwape looks on. Picture by MUNAMBEZA MUWANEI

By MUNAMBEZA MUWANEI –

AS Zambia commemorates its 51st independence anniversary this weekend, Copperbelt-based freedom fighters have embarked on a membership recruitment drive.
Zambia Freedom Fighters Association (ZAFFA) president Kafula Mulenga said freedom fighters should not live in isolation, but should instead register with the association.
At the moment, the association has more than 70 freedom fighters based in Ndola.
“We have started a membership recruitment campaign. There’s no need for our freedom fighters to be in isolation as we need to know each other,” Mr Mulenga said.
He was speaking at Rhemar Guest House in Ndola when his association received K1,000 and various foods in readiness for this year’s independence celebrations.
He said the association normally came up with some programmes which require the involvement of all the freedom fighters.
Mr Mulenga has also urged the citizenry to desist from fighting each other whenever there were by-elections.
He said the freedom fighters had already fought for independence and that there was no way Zambians should be fighting each other.
“The citizens should learn to embrace one another even if we belong to different political parties,” he said.
Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Howard Sikwela, who handed over the donations to ZAFFA, said the freedom fighters had done a lot for the country.
Reverend Sikwela commended Morton Investments and appealed to other business houses to emulate firm.
He paid tribute to Pantry Pride proprietor Mohamed Aziz for his contributions towards community work in Ndola.
Morton Investments director, Tonny Mwape said his company decided to contribute to the freedom fighters because the majority of them were suffering.
“My heart bleeds when I see the suffering our freedom fighters are going through, that is why I had this donation to help them in the preparations for this year’s independence celebrations,” he said.