They called Edgar Lungu a Chakolwa, but they are shocked that he has transformed the country, says State House Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe.

And Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo says the ruling party is not paying anyone to join because defectors are simply flocking in out of conviction.

Meanwhile, Rachel Chileshe claims UPND vice-president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and Chishimba Kambwili will soon return to PF.

At a public rally hosted by Kwacha member of parliament Joe Malanji, Sunday, Sikazwe said President Lungu had transformed the country despite people calling him a drunkard.

“What I am asking from you is that you here in Kitwe must put your confidence in Mr Lungu. Accept that the only President we have is one, up to 2021. I was in Western Province and I can say that some people will cry in 2021. That’s why they have started lying now. After realizing that we have defeated them, they have started hallucinating about corruption and the president’s nationality. Bushilu! [That is madness!] When you defeat a person, they start hallucinating. Edgar Lungu finished their senses! They said he was a drunkard but the country is progressing and things are changing. As PF, we are just asking that please Zambians, support us, support Edgar Lungu. No one should like to you, Edgar will stand in 2021, and when he stands, we shall win more than 70 per cent,” Sikazwe said.

He said President Lungu was committed to delivering all campaign promises.

“When we talk about PF, it is Kitwe, what we have done here is a sample. We want to show them, those who are lying to themselves that Edgar is not popular, how is he not popular when there are so many people here today? I want to see if they [opposition] will ever have a rally like this one. I am going to tell Edgar that just be sleeping. The job we have, as the PF, is to bring for you what we promised. For us, it is not to come and just talk here, when you do that, you differ with Edgar. What Edgar wants is that what we promise, we must deliver. We stand on the truth,” said Sikazwe.

Meanwhile, Kampyongo said the ruling party was not in the business of buying defectors.

“The PF is so attractive that’s why you are seeing that people are flocking to the party. We are not paying anyone at all. When you want to come to the party, come to the party with all your heart, with all your commitment. We are not paying any councillors who are defecting, they are defecting on their own because they have seen that this government is about work,” said Kampyongo.

Kampyongo also warned that his ministry would continue clamping down notorious gangs like Tokota Boys in order to restore law and order in communities.

Meanwhile, Chileshe, who recently rejoined the ruling party, claimed GBM and Kambwili would soon go back to PF.

“I have come back and I pray that you will receive all those who are going to come back soon. Even Chishimba Kambwili is returning, GBM will also return to our party. Please have mercy on us and receive us. I am also bringing you GBM’s security who want to join us, please receive them,” said Chileshe.

Chileshe left the PF to join Miles Sampa’s Democratic Front in 2016 and followed him into an alliance with NAREP’s Elias Chipimo and then 4th Revolution leader Eric Chanda dubbed the Orange Alliance.

When the Orange Alliance crumbled after Sampa’s failure to convince his colleagues to support UPND president Hakainde Hichilema, Chileshe followed Sampa to the UPND where she remained after Sampa decided to rejoin the ruling party.

Chileshe also fraternized with Roan PF member of parliament Chishimba Kambwili’s National Democratic Congress right after its formation.