Five Patriotic Front (PF) councilors in Kabwe have resigned from the party citing internal hostility and disagreements over the treatment of their Member of Parliament, Sydney Mushanga.
The five councillors who include Sam Mhone of Ngungu Ward, Watson Mwale of Chamanimani Ward, Kayombo Mihova of Muwowo West Ward, Moses Mumba of Muwowo Ward of Bwacha Constituency, and Luansanse Ward’s, Austine Kunda of Kabwe Central have since aligned with the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) and endorsed President Hakainde Hichilema as their sole presidential candidate ahead of the August general elections.
ZANIS reports that Muwowo West Councilor Kayombo Mihova and his Chamanimani counterpart, Watson Mwale, who represented the five at a media briefing this afternoon, said the councilors have witnessed the developments of the UPND and now seen the vision of the UPND government.
“We used to criticise the UPND’s enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and other developmental projects soon after they assumed office because the country was facing teething problems but they have delivered and there is nothing to criticise,” said Mr Mihova.
And Mr Mwale said the five will start campaigning for President Hichilema basing their campaigns on the developmental projects that have been implemented by the government.
Meanwhile, acting PF Bwacha Constituency Chairperson, Levy Chikungu, announced that the 45 ward officials from all the 15 wards of Bwacha, and 11 constituency officials could no longer associate with what they described as a “toxic atmosphere” within the former ruling party.
He expressed concern over what he termed hostility directed at Mr Mushanga and his associates, allegedly emanating from the party’s district structures and national leadership.
According to Mr Chikungu, tensions escalated after Mr Mushanga and other PF Members of Parliament supported Bill 7.
He argued that the legislators backed the Bill “with good reasons,” but were met with anger from the party’s top leadership, culminating in what he described as unconstitutional expulsions.
Mr Chikungu alleged that the district party leadership issued directives instructing members to sever contact with the Member of Parliament, a move which he said the Bwacha officials rejected.
“This trajectory is based on malice, personal hatred and is void of political decency.
“The hostility towards Mr Mushanga appears to predate the controversy surrounding Bill 7,” he stated.
Mr Chikungu disapproved of what he called confusion and ego-driven leadership at the party’s apex and within its alliance structures, stating that such actions were undermining the interests of the country and deviating from the founding principles of the PF under its late leader, Michael Sata.
He stated that the PF party officials announced that they are repositioning themselves politically to support Mr Mushanga in his bid to seek another term of office.
