LUSAKA, (ACN) – Chienge Constituency FDD member of parliament, Given Katuta has charged that Bahati MP Harry Kalaba has become more popular in Luapula Province than the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).

Katuta however did not disclose why PF has lost political mileage in the region.

Kalaba resigned from the PF government as Minister of Foreign Affairs citing gross corruption and abuse of public resources by some senior government officials.

Kalaba has since declared his intention to contest the presidency in 2021 under Democratic Party (DP) ticket.

Kalaba has promised to liberate Zambia’s economy once elected.

Kalaba also wants to fight corruption in public institutions.

Luapula Province used to be considered a PF political stronghold but things have changed due to escalating poverty and unemployment levels affecting the local people.

With the poverty rate trading at 81.7 percent, Luapula is the second most poorest province in Zambia after Western Province.

-ACN News Agency