OVER 600 Opposition Patriotic Front Members have defected to the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND).

‎Meanwhile, President Hakainde Hichilema has reaffirmed his commitment to support various social development programmes with the aim to empower youths across the country.

‎Speaking when he addressed citizens and UPND party officials at a town hall meeting, Mr Hichilema explained that the youth are at the center of attention for the New Dawn government as reflected from the profiling of developmental programs, whose majority have benefited young citizens and youths in the country.

‎”With programs such as the Free Education Policy, School feeding programs, increases and enhanced bursaries, and various programs under the Constituency Development Fund, we have demonstrated out commitment to ensure youths are well catered for at all levels of growth, be it at primary school, secondary or higher education level,” he explained.

‎Mr Hichilema further reaffirmed that the country is moving towards a unity for development trajectory.

‎He has since urged the country to support the UPND party at all leadership levels as this will ensure continuity in implementation of various developmental programs beyond 2026.

‎”We have various developmental programs that we want to implement post 2026 general elections, I therefore urge the country to support our members of Parliament, councilors and party leadership at all levels, this will ensure continuity in the implementation of various government programs,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, Presidential Advisor for Politics Levy Ngoma called on the country to support the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema.

‎Mr Ngoma noted that with citizen’s support, the UPND government will win the 2026 general elections at all levels owing to the massive developmental strides the News Dawn government has facilitated during their five years in office.

‎Earlier, Patriotic Front Member of Parliament for Bwacha Constituency Sydney Mushanga said the country could not have achieved the various developmental programmes evidenced in various sectors without the commitment by the UPND government.

‎Mr Mushanga has since urged the opposition to remain committed towards supporting the developmental strides the UPND government has been implementing as this will actualise the 2030 vision to transition the country into a middle income economy.