PATRIOTIC Front national mobilization committee chairperson Richard Musukwa says the fact that PF cadres were beaten by Mufulira residents and some UPND cadres for trying to stop a program featuring UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema is not a that the ruling party is losing popularity.
But some PF youths say PF is finished on the Copperbelt.
In an interview, Musukwa, who is also Mines Minister, said PF was still the party of choice.
“Popularity is not lost by orchestrated political violence as evidenced from the Mongu and Mufulira incidences. As PF, I want to urge all our members countrywide to remain peaceful and not fall prey to the violence that is being orchestrated by the UPND. Elections are won through the ballot and not through machinery of violence. And certainly, the violence that was in Mufulira is condemned and it is not indicator of losing power. You cannot lose power by violence, it is evil and as PF, our members are attacked, they must not reiterate. I heard some political leaders who have said they should defend themselves, that is negligence! The Presidency must be respected. If UPND think they can sway the thinking of Zambians through propaganda, they must brace themselves for the worst,” said Musukwa.
“Grip on the Copperbelt, including the opposition strongholds, is not lost by violence; that reflection is coming from people with evil minds. Elections are won by getting the hearts of the people across the country through the ballot and not by booing and violence. PF remains a party of choice! We are determined to fight poverty and hunger and ensure that corruption which is enemy number one is fought. The people of Zambia rejected UPND. They are destabilizing the country and putting the country under fear because of violence and hooliganism is not a recipe for changing government. The UPND is headed for another big defeat of their lifetime.”
But some PF youths said the party had lost popularity on the Copperbelt.
In several audios posted on PF blogs, one of the youths said he had stopped supporting the party.
“Nomba ni banani abalaya mukulilwa PF abena Spax abakwata abantu mwaliba twala ku jele. Abantu mwabapela dump 67 ama minister baleta ba lawyer. Aba bena ama guys baku Mufulira ba PF mwabapela fye ulupili, mwabapela license yeka yeka. Nani walaya muku lwilwa ulubuli lwa PF? Mulefuma ku Lusaka uko kwine ku intercity naku Soweto mwaisa lwa ulubuli kuli konse muchalo mu Zambia. Mwalimona kwati twali sekelamo? Nga tulelanda mulemona kwati tatwakwata amano tulifipuba. Mwasenda dump 67 mwapela ba minister. Mwabula ulupili lwa Ku Chingola mwatwalisha umuntu ku jele (Who is now going to fight on behalf of the PF? Guys like Spax who had some backup and used to fight for the party were sent to jail. You gave dumpsites to ministers and even brought lawyers. The PF cadres were only given licenses. So now who will fight on behalf of the party? They should be coming all the way from Lusaka to come and fight on their behalf. You think we are happy? When we are talking you think we don’t think, we are fools? How can you give the dump sites to a minister and send people to jail?” he asked.
“Bakala myuma ififine. Loleni fwebafitala twali kala zee teti tuye mukulwa ulubuli lwa PF. Aba bene mule pela ama one kwacha ebakalamikonka. Tapali neo unga mikonka. Tatutina no kutina ifwe. Ifyabupuba tule ikala nensala imwe mulelya. Ifi bana fyenu mulefitwala kuma skulu aya kuma England nakwisa uko. Ifwe abana besu baleya kuma community schhol. Twami votela twami winisha ama election mwatampa ukututinya ati tule ku twala ku jele. Naku Lusaka uko kwine balatampa ukumiponona ba UPND. Lesa ni malyotola. (They will be beating you. Us stubborn ones we have taken a step back. We cannot be fighting on behalf of PF. Those you are giving one kwachas are the ones who will be following you around. We cannot be hungry when you are feasting, that is foolishness. You are taking your children to schools overseas when our children are going to community schools. We voted for you and helped you win and when we talk you are threatening to send us to jail? Even in Lusaka you will be beaten by the UPND. God is a God of fairness).”
Another youth said the PF cadres were booed by Chililabombwe residents during a march against the UPND.
“Kuno ku Chililabombwe kwachiba protest iyakweba ati HH naba UPND…Musebanya weka weka uchitike kuno. Bachiba wela abantu benu ba PF. Noti bamibepa ati standstill. Mutumine ba bululu benu abaku Chililabombwe ati bushe pa ground PF olo ba MP chili shani? Ichilemi ponena ba PF chikali. Yambeni ukupanga peace na bantu nanguniwe cadre tontokanya there is tomorrow, Nganimuno mu Copperbelt I don’t think mulafwala ifa ku fwala fya PF ngayaisuka fye campaign. Bakalami wela fye. Ilya yine yachitike ku Monze eya chitika kuli ba PF abachila marchinga. (Here in Chililabombwe, people were protesting against UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and the party. It was embarrassing, there were booed. They should not lie that they brought the town to a standstill. PF is not ready to believe what will befall on them. Ask any of your relatives who are here and ask them if PF or the area member of parliament is popular. What I can advise the PF is that it’s high time you stared making peace with people. You have to think of what will happen tomorrow. I don’t think people will be wearing PF regalia when campaigns begin. People will be booing them. What happened in Monze is exactly what happened here when the PF were marching),” said the youth.
Meanwhile another youth said the PF had lost popularity in Mufulira.
“Kuli akantu kuno! Ewo bachetekleka ati commander Mufulira 1. Bachuma! Tamwaba PF Mufulira. Muli zee. Filepitana fi UPND tekwakwesha ukufika. Bakumone ulefwala akatenge ka PF file uma not ukwangala. Katwishi eko bafifunyishe ifi. (There is chaos here! The person they believe in was badly beaten. There is no PF in Mufulira, it is quiet. The UPND are roaming around the town. It’s not a playground the UPND shouldn’t see you wearing PF regalia, you will be beaten. We don’t know where these UPND cadres have come from),” said the youth.