By JULIUS PHIRI and
KASONDE KASONDE –
THE United Party for National Development (UPND) has continued recording major defections with the latest being 800 members leaving to join the Patriotic Front (PF) in Sinda, Eastern Province.
Last week, more than 2,000 UPND members ditched the opposition party in Mambwe District to join the ruling party.
PF Eastern Province secretary, Eddie Kapalu received the new defectors at a gathering at Mtore Primary School at the weekend.
Mr Kapalu accused the UPND of frustrating its members, resulting in an increase in the number of defections.
He said it would be prudent to give President Edgar Lungu the full backing he deserved.
“As a way to stop tribalism and violence, let us vote for President Lungu in August,” Mr Kapalu said.
PF national mobilisation chairperson, Charles Banda warned the people of Sinda not to put their hope in the UPND but to support the PF.
Mr Banda, who is PF member of the central committee and former Eastern Province minister, said people should mobilise and reject UPND through the ballot.
He said UPND had nothing to offer in terms of development projects, but PF was the solution to the problems they were facing.
Mr Banda said it would not be prudent for the people of Sinda to continue supporting the opposition.
“You have remained behind. In the previous elections you have been voting for the opposition, but this time around, I beg you to change your mindset and vote for the ruling party,” he said.
Meanwhile, Democratic Front (DF) party members in Lusaka Province have endorsed President Lungu as the best presidential candidate in the August 11 elections.
Former provincial chairperson Longe Mulenga said following extensive consultations among all party structures of DF, the party resolved to rally behind President Lungu, because he was the only credible leader.
“After extensive consultations, we, the DF members would like to announce that we have resolved to endorse and support President Lungu in the August 11 elections,” Mr Mulenga.
Mr Mulenga said while the country was going through difficult times, President Lungu had stabilised the economy and managed to unite the country.
He said the President had been able to finish all the projects started by the late president Michael Sata and started his own, which had seen massive infrastructural developments across the country.
Mr Mulenga called upon all well-meaning Zambians to support President Lungu in the elections as he had embraced God in his leadership.

. Sampa

He said DF president, Miles Sampa did not consult the members over his decision to join the opposition UPND, a move he described as selfish and lacking vision.
The members refused to be used for selfish motives as their interest was to ensure that Zambia developed.
Mr Longe said this in Lusaka yesterday in the presence of scores of DF members.