PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, 21st January 2023
UPND saddened that PF is driving itself into extinction
LUSAKA -Two days ago we cautioned our colleagues in the Patriotic Front to focus on rebuilding their party instead of maliciously attacking President Hakainde Hichilema.
While we celebrate our 50 percent victories in the just held local government elections, we are equally saddened that the former ruling party is willfully driving itself into extinction.
The PF has lost 21 seats to our party through by-elections in the last five months, which is not positive for a party positioning itself to take over power from a performing government.
We warned PF leaders, especially those seeking to take over leadership of the party from Mr Edgar Lungu to take an introspection and rebuild their party.
We cautioned them that attacking, insulting or demeaning President Hichilema would not win them any support of the people in this country.
The people of Zambia have previously demonstrated that insults, lies and malice do not sway them from standing for the truth.
We are concerned that the posture PF have taken shall weaken our democracy because there shall be no opposition with a support base at the moment to provide genuine checks and balances.
It will be very difficult for the PF to recover the 3 seats they lost on Friday because its leaders are busy distancing themselves from the grassroots, their support base.
In the same vein, we would like to congratulate the Socialist Party for winning one ward seat in Lukashya constituency.
Our party is committed to the restoration of democracy and good governance. We shall endeavor to encourage all stakeholders help grow our democracy.
Our party, UPND once again demonstrated its growing appeal to the electorate by favoring us with two more seats out of the four by-elections held on Friday.
The PF held 3 seats out of the 4; they have lost two – One has gone to UPND and the other to socialist party. Meanwhile, UPND has taken 2, gaining an extra seat in the once PF stronghold.
This means, in a space of 5 months , UPND has won 24 by-elections out of 28, losing only four.
Out of the 24 by-elections, 21 are from PF strong holds.
In other words , PF has lost 21 seats which they once held, while diminishing their power base.
ISSUED BY: BATUKE IMENDA
UPND SECRETARY GENERAL