President Hakainde Hichilema has thanked the people of Northern Province for turning out in large numbers to attend the United Party for National Development’s (UPND’s) community engagement meeting.

Mr Hichilema says the overwhelming attendance is a clear demonstration of the people’s commitment to supporting the party.

The President recalled the challenges the UPND faced in accessing Kasama and other districts in the province while in opposition, and thanked the party’s leadership and grassroots structures for their tireless efforts that eventually ushered the party into government.

President Hichilema said this at the party secretariat in Kasama during a community engagement and interaction meeting with party officials, where he also welcomed defectors.

Looking ahead to the 2026 general elections, President Hichilema has set an ambitious target of securing more than five million votes nationwide.

He emphasized that every vote counts, underscoring the importance of welcoming new members and defectors into the party.

“People lied to you that I was going to sell the country, instead, we have delivered free education, and today even children of those who did not vote for us are benefiting.

We have expanded the social cash transfer programme, and when we recruit civil servants, we employ from across the country, this is what we wanted, to unite and develop Zambia,” he added.

The President stressed that his administration’s focus remains on peace and development.

He urged party members and supporters to intensify grassroots mobilization ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Among the most prominent defections were Lubansenshi Member of Parliament, Taulo Chewe and Kasama Central Member Parliament Sibongile Mwamba, who both resigned from the Patriotic Front (PF) to join the ruling party.

In his defection message Lubansenshi MP Taulo Chewe cited President Hichilema’s vision and the unity agenda as the reason for his defection.

And Kasama Central Constituency Member of Parliament Sibongile Mwamba cited divisions within the PF and the many developmental projects as the reason for her defection.

“Kasama has remained behind for a long time, but we are now seeing development coming to fruition under the current government, we want to come together to continue bringing development,” Ms Mwamba said.

The defections saw councillors also joining the ruling party, among them Kasama Deputy Mayor Felix Chanda.

In total, 13 councillors from Kasama, nine from Mungwi, five from Mbala, five from Mpulungu, and one from Senga joined the UPND.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors from Mungwi, Chambeshi Ward Councilor Steven Katongo said his decision was influenced by the development being witnessed in Malole constituency.

And Former Malole Constituency Chairperson Maxwell Mulenga also pledged allegiance to the United Party for National Development, describing the government’s development agenda as massive.

Northern Province UPND Chairperson Nathan Ilunga thanked President Hichilema for facilitating the acquisition of the new party office and emphasized that the province was no longer an opposition stronghold.

“The party has grown to unprecedented levels. We want to transform the province into the party’s stronghold,” Ilunga declared.

Meanwhile, Northern Province Minister Leonard Mbao pledged the region’s commitment to working hard and ensuring the party wins all parliamentary seats in the province.

“We welcome all those who have joined us today, we had 13 Constituencies, now we have 19, we want to sure that we scoop all the 19 Constituencies this year,” he said

The Northern Province Minister thanked the electorates for voting for the UPND candidate in the recently held Kasama mayoral by-election.