More than 600 members of the UNIP revival Forum from seven Districts of Northern Province have defected to the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) citing poor leadership in their party.
UNIP revival forum provincial secretary Thompson Nyirenda confirmed the development in a statement released to ZANIS in Kasama today.
Mr. Nyirenda, who led other defectors, said the UNIP revival forum members who resigned where from Chinsali, Chilubi, Isoka, Kasama, Mpika, Mporokoso and Luwingu Districts.
He claimed that UNIP has lost support in the province due to poor mobilization.
Mr. Nyirenda, who was flanked by provincial Information and Publicity secretary Francis Mulenga, said the former UNIP members have lost confidence in their party hence their decision to defect to the PF.
He charged that the UNIP top leadership has continued to hold-on to power illegally despite the expiry of their legal mandate in 2005.
Mr. Nyirenda accused the current leadership of the former ruling party of not being sincere in its dealings because it has failed to call for a General Conference to elect new office bearers ahead of the 2011 general elections.
He also alleged the sale of UNIP assets was done illegally and out of selfishness because the sold property was still viable.
And Northern Province Patriotic Front provincial chairman Fredrick Chisanga has welcomed the UNIP defectors to his party.
Mr. Chisanga commended the defectors for joining the PF and urged them to contribute towards the strengthening of the party in the province.
He further revealed that the PF has already started mobilizing members at grass-root level in readiness for the 2011 tripartite elections.
ZANIS
People from UNIP are welcome becouse the have brains. VIVA Pact abashi MMD
People from UNIP are welcome becouse they have brains. VIVA Pact abashi MMD
is UNIP still alive:-?
Thompson Nyirenda, my cousins from Chipata make my day precious lol. Anyway here is some great news an eaterner that is chairman of an organisation in Bembaland getting my point? Tribalism is a leadership problem the rest of us Zambians love each other; this is true democracy no matter how one looks at it.