By CATHERINE NYIRENDA and  MILDRED KATONGO –

THE ruling Patriotic Front (PF) is happy with the overwhelming response and support it got from party members and the general public during President Edgar Lungu’s working visit to the Copperbelt.
Meanwhile, Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge has said that President Lungu’s visit to the Copperbelt has strengthened and united the PF party in the province.
PF deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri said the overwhelming response received from the members of the party and the people in general was an indication that the PF still enjoyed majority support in the province.
“As the party we are happy with the overwhelming response that our President received from the members and the general public. The trip was successful and we would like to thank the people in the province for turning out in numbers during all the meetings we had,” Ms Phiri.
“Some people are dreamers. We will let them continue dreaming, because some of them are dreaming that they are already in State House. Others are dreaming that they are vice-presidents and secretary generals and we will encourage them to continue dreaming because PF will be in power beyond 2016.”
She dispelled media reports that President Lungu took a swipe at Priests and challenged them to join politics.
Ms Phiri clarified that President Lungu urged the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Copperbelt Presbytery bishop to encourage Christians to join politics as doing so would bring back sanity in the political realm.
She said the people never even booed President Lungu as reported in The Post newspaper of November 5, 2015.
“The people on the Copperbelt know that the people that had caused their suffering are those who sold companies at a giveaway and bought shares in these companies,” Ms Phiri said.
Mr Musenge said President Lungu’s task to meet PF officials was an indication that he wanted the party to unite in the province.
He said in an interview that the PF on the Copperbelt was happy that the Head of State during his visit also took time to meet party officials and discussed issues relating to the PF in the province.
“We would like to thank President Lungu for the gesture. I must say that his visit has helped to unite the party here on the Copperbelt. He took time to meet with party officials and discussed with them issues relating to the party,” Mr Musenge said.
The minister said the move had charged the party on the Copperbelt and that more of such visits would help the PF move forward.
Meanwhile, Ndola District PF chairperson George Chisulo has dispelled assertions that President Lungu was not overwhelmingly received by the people on the Copperbelt as reported in yesterdays’ edition of The Post newspaper.
Mr Chisulo said that the President received massive support from the people on the Copperbelt and that The Post had its own agenda when it reported that Mr Lungu did not receive support.