CHEMBE SOCIALIST PARTY CANDIDATE WITHDRAWLS
FORMER SOCIALIST PARTY PARLIAMENTARY ASPIRANT REJOINS UPND, ENDORSES CLIFF MPUNDU
CHEMBE 17 June, 2026– Former Socialist Party parliamentary aspirant for Chembe in Luapula Province, Matthews Songwe Bwele, has officially rejoined the United Party for National Development (UPND), declaring his full support for the ruling party and its adopted parliamentary candidate, Cliff Mpundu.
Speaking before a jubilant crowd during his reception into the UPND, Mr. Songwe Bwele announced that he will now serve as campaign manager for Mr. Mpundu in the forthcoming general election.
Urging the people of Chembe to vote uniformly for all UPND candidates, from councillors and the council chairperson to the parliamentary candidate and President Hakainde Hichilema.
Mr. Songwe Bwele said unity is the key to accelerating development in the district, adding that supporting the UPND at every level of leadership would make it easier for the people of Chembe to benefit from government programmes and infrastructure development.
He reminded supporters that he was the UPND parliamentary candidate in 2021 and played a significant role in establishing and strengthening the party’s presence in Chembe.
Explaining his decision to leave the Socialist Party, Mr. Songwe Bwele described the party as “not progressive” and declared that he no longer wished to be associated with it.
“I don’t want to hear anything about the Socialist Party. Vote for UPND,” he told the cheering supporters.
He further appealed to the people of Luapula Province to give President Hakainde Hichilema overwhelming support in the upcoming August elections.
His remarks were met with thunderous applause as the crowd repeatedly chanted, “Ebaume aba!” “These are real men!”, in celebration of his decision to join the UPND.
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Gentlemen and ladies, when you hear that a candidate has withdrawn what you ought to know is that the candidate in question has been coerced, those of us that still remain with focus have also been approached but we have rejected the offers put forward because it is very expensive to lose the relationships that have been created among ourselves for pieces of silver. That silver will disappear soon but the relationship we keep today will go a long way during our lifetime. money is the source of all evil and that plays correct in all situations, focus on why you joined the socialist party and if those reasons went to your heart, there is no way you can leave the party for anything else.