President Edgar Lungu says Government will not abuse public resources to champion politics of deception by coercing people from other political parties to join the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) in a bid to weaken the opposition in the country.
And the United Party for National Development (UPND) has continued crumbling with its Eastern Province vice-chairperson Alexander Miti resigning to join the PF.

Addressing a rally in Kasenengwa yesterday to drum up support for PF candidate Sensio Banda ahead of the September 6, 2018 parliamentary by-election, President Lungu said the ruling party has no money to bribe members of other political parties.
He said those alleging that PF is buying people from other political parties have realised that Zambians are only interested in development being delivered by the ruling party.

“Some people are saying we are using money to buy people, we can’t buy people. In 2011, we didn’t have money to buy people but we managed to win the elections. They are joining PF on their own,” he said.

President Lungu said Zambians will not be swayed into removing a working government in 2021 by self-centred political leaders whose speciality is to peddle baseless corruption allegations against the ruling party for political expediency.

He said PF has transformed the country within a short period of time through its robust infrastructure development programme compared to the previous governments. “We will continue to receive people from other political parties who want to work with us because we have the mandate of the people to govern,” President Lungu said. Mr Lungu said those accusing the ruling party of failing to run national affairs are doing so out of jealousy.
”They want power. They are doing so out of jealousy,” President Lungu said, as he wrapped up his working visit to Eastern Province with two rallies at Madzimawe Day Secondary School in Mboza ward and Chizuzu Primary School in Kwenje ward.

The President urged the electorate to honour their late Member of Parliament (MP) Victoria Kalima for the strong development foundation she laid in the area by giving Mr Banda a resounding victory. He said Mr Banda is the right person to drive Government’s development programmes in the newly-created district, which is in dire need of investments in key sectors such as health, education, water and sanitation as well as agriculture.
Mr Lungu also assured the farming community of early delivery of farm inputs for the 2018/2019 farming season and expeditious payment of farmers have sold their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

President Lungu also commended the residents for being peaceful throughout the campaign period, and urged them to turn up in numbers to exercise their democratic right to vote on the poll day.

Welcoming Mr Miti into the party, President Lungu said the former Vubwi MP has made a wise decision to ditch the UPND.
“I pray to God to disable the political party (UPND) from participating in elections for peace to reign. There is no violence here in Kasenengwa because one political party has not fielded a candidate,” he said.

He said political violence has been recorded in North-Western and Western provinces ahead of the local government by-elections where the UPND is participating, and that people are the best judges.

And Mr Miti said he has decided to resign from the UPND because there is no love in the Hakainde Hichilema-led party.
“UPND is a strange political party. There is no love and inclusiveness in that party. I have joined the PF so that l can contribute to national development,” Mr Miti said.

He pledged to destroy all UPND structures in the region ahead of the 2021 general elections.
Earlier, PF secretary general Davies Mwila urged Mr Banda to work on the road network, ensure a good district hospital is built, and facilitate the construction of schools in the area.

Mr Mwila said President Lungu wants to take development to all parts of the country, hence the central committee’s decision to settle for him as PF’s candidate for 2021 general elections.
He, however, said those with presidential ambitions within the party are free to challenge Mr Lungu at the party’s general conference in 2020.
“With a new district status, Kasenengwa will have a district hospital, police station, post office and banks. You should all vote for Sensio Banda. Other colleagues vote well in some regions, you should also vote for PF,” Mr Mwila said.

He said social protection programmes such as social cash transfer will be rolled out to the area. PF Kasenengwa campaign manager Vincent Mwale urged the electorate to give Mr Banda a resounding victory. PF Eastern Province chairperson Andrew Lubusha urged the electorate to turn up in numbers to deliver victory for Mr Banda. New Congress Party president Peter Chanda said Zambia is in the right hands under President Lungu, and backed Mr Banda for the Kasenengwa seat.

The Kasenegwa seat fell vacant after the death of Ms Kalima in July this year. The other candidates vying for the seat include John Zulu of the People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) and Abel Ngwenya of the United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ).