The ruling Patriotic Front today launched its Copperbelt Province mobilisation tour at Lufwanyama Secondary School.

According to a statement issued by PF deputy media director Antonio Mwanza today, PF Secretary General Davies Mwila said today’s politics were highly competitive and parties faced extinction without mobilisation.

“You my colleagues in Cabinet and Parliament and the Council cannot be in office without the party structures voting for you. So your allegiance must be to these ordinary men and women who have put you in office. You must have the humility to listen to them and continue to serve these people with vigour and courage. Today’s politics are extremely competitive and parties that do not have a robust program of mobilising their members risks extinction,” said Mwila.

“This party will only grow when we bring in new members. If we keep the party just amongst ourselves then it will not grow…As I stated when we launched the same exercise in Chongwe District on behalf of Lusaka Province, 2018 is a significant year for the Patriotic Front. We are duty – bound to regroup, re-energise and re-launch ourselves for greater service delivery, party programing and membership recruitment. We have a duty to ensure that all Party structures are healthy and in possession of basic tools needed if we have to consolidate the gains we have made to this days.”

Mwanza listed party officials who were present at the launch.

“The ruling Patriotic Front (PF) has today officially launched its 2018 Party mobilisation program for the Copperbelt province at a colourful ceremony held in Lufwanyama District at Lufwanyama Secondary School. Speaking at the launch, were he was accompanied by several PF Copperbelt Members of Parliament, Mayors, Council Chairpersons, Councillors and senior Party officials from all the 22 constituencies on the Copperbelt, Party Secretary General, Hon Davies Mwila said that the PF has launched its mobilisation program because it strongly believes that the strength of the party is dependent upon the strength of its grassroots structures adding that a party that does not increase its grassroot base cannot survive the current competitive political landscape,” Mwanza stated.

“Earlier, the PF chief paid a courtesy call on Chieftainess Shimukunani of the Lamba speaking people of the Copperbelt Province who expressed gratitude to the PF Government on the numerous developmental projects the PF Government has undertaken in the district such as the construction of civil servants houses, a district hospital, police stations and the Local Authority Adminstrative block among many others.”

Mwanza stated that Mwila directed all PF Ministers, MPs, Mayors, Councillors and their compatriots to listen to and respect party structures because they owed their ascendence to power to them.

“The Secretary General further took a swipe at non-performing party leaders saying that leadership is not about the position one holds but that leadership is about the ability to deliver. He asked those who have failed to deliver to step down and allow others to take up the responsibility of serving the Party. Hon Davies Mwila has further called upon the PF leadership to unite and embrace everyone saying that those political parties that are regional and tribal can not win national elections. He said the PF managed to form government because it is a party with a national character. The Party decisively won 7 out of the 10 provinces in the country’s 2016 general elections,” stated Mwanza.

Mwanza revealed that Mwila, on behalf of President Edgar Lungu and the party, gave out 2,640 PF branded bicycles in a bid to ease transport challenges and he promised to give Chingola Constituency Committee a vehicle for mobilisation.

Meanwhile, speaking at the same event, Information Minister Kampamba Mulenga, who is also Kalulushi member of parliament, assured Mwila that contrary to rumours and speculations mostly circulating on social media, the PF was intact in the province as evidenced by the complete structures from Ward up to the Provincial level who were present at the official launch.

Other senior PF leaders present at the launch included Masaiti PF member of parliament Micheal Katambo, Kabushi MP Bowman Lusambo, Chingola MP Matthews Nkhuwa , Chifubu MP Frank Ng’ambiand Chilombo Chali of Nchanga constituency among others.

Hon Davies Mwila is expected to be in Kapiri tomorrow to officially flag off the mobilisation exercise in Central Province.