First Family has donated second hand clothes, wheelchairs and shoes valued at about K165, 000 to the vulnerable members of society in Serenje District in Central Province.
The media reports that the gesture is an independence gift meant to appreciate the people in the district, especially the vulnerable for voting for the United Party for National Development (UPND) during the 2021 election.
The first family has also donated sewing machines, bicycles and second-hand clothes to party members for their hard work and commitment to the party.
Mr Banda said this when he welcomed 58 people who defected from the PF to join the ruling party during the donation.
UPND Chairman General, William Banda presented the donation on behalf of the first family and cautioned the people of Serenje not to listen to lies peddled by the opposition on social media that the ruling party is responsible for the infighting happening in the PF.
Mr Banda explained that President Hichilema cannot be held responsible for what is happening in the PF because his only focus is to bring unity and development to the country under the: ‘one Zambia one nation’ motto.
Mr Banda urged the defectors to be free in the party and use their skill to mobilise the party in readiness for next year’s election.
Mr Banda also urged the district leadership to help members who lost their voter’s cards to replace them so that they can vote president Hichilema back in office next year.
He further urged the district leadership to organise polling station management committees to help prepare to win the election next year.
Speaking during the presentation of the items, UPND Director for Special Duties, Marikan Chifunda stated that the first family donated 147 bales of second- hand clothes, 21 bags of second-hand shoes, six-wheel chairs, two sawing machines and two bicycles to community members and party members in Serenje Central and Muchinga Constituencies.
“Muchinga has received 84 bales of clothes and Serenje central has 64 bales, meaning each ward will receive seven bales of second hand clothes and one bale of shoes. The first family has also given four bales of second hand clothes to be shared among constituency and district party leadership,’’ Mr Chifunda said.
Mr Chifunda pointed out that the first family wants the donation to cushion the challenges that the vulnerable members of the community are grappling with while uniting the party members and help grow the party.
He cautioned the party leadership to ensure the donation is shared equitably to avoid bringing divisions.
Mailo Ward Councillor, Brevous Mwengwe commended the first family for the donation of wheelchairs to the vulnerable people in the communities.
He called on the people in the district to continue supporting the president and the ruling party in developing the country.
One of the beneficiaries of the six-wheel chairs said the donation is an empowerment that will help him to go back to school.
The donation was witnessed by Muchinga Member of Parliament Emmanuel Banda, Central Province UPND Secretary Hastings Mulimba, Central Province Information and Publicity Secretary, Fred Khunga and other senior party officials at provincial and district level.
One of the defectors Mwape Chibuye said she has left the PF because it is clear the party is dead while President Hichilema has demonstrated that he was chosen by God to deliver the country from poverty and anarchy to peace and economic prosperity.
Meanwhile, Serenje District UPND Chairperson, Norah Koi has called on party members to embrace and accommodate the defectors as they are now part of the family.
