I’m still PF – Chitalu Chilufya
MANSA Central Member of Parliament (MP) Chitalu Chilufya says the notion that an opposition MP cannot engage with the President is incorrect.
On Tuesday, Chilufya was part of President Hakainde Hichilema’s entourage to Mazabuka where the opposition MP was given a chance to speak to the people of Mazabuka.
This led to social media controversy where netizens thought Chilufya had plans of defecting to the UPND.
In response to the controversy, Chilufya stated that there is need for the country to reset politics and focus on delivering for the people by working together.
He justified his presence at the presidential working visit that he was invited to be in attendance by virtue of him being the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Parastatal Bodies.
The PF MP stated that as a chairman, he swore oath of allegiance to the republican President to serve the people of Zambia.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, those spreading falsehoods must get this right. I have not defected from PF to UPND. This is anchored on my belief that a credible opposition is crucially fundamental to any functional democracy.”
“I am the bonafide elected Member of Parliament for Mansa Central, under the Patriotic Front party ticket. I intend to serve out my current term in this regard to the best of my ability and consciously cognisant of my absolute loyalty to people of Mansa for the privilege they gave me to serve them,” he wrote.
He urged his PF counterparts to settle their internal divisions before they permanently disorient their grassroots.
The Mansa lawmaker said he does not believe in politics of acrimonious discourse.
“My appeal to all is to reset our politics, detoxify the environment, recalibrate our collective agenda to service delivery and poverty eradication. Politics should not be acrimonious. It should be a platform for competition of ideas to serve our people. I do not subscribe to politics of acrimony.”
“Let’s create a critical mass of leaders and engender a robust, resilient and sustainable path to prosperity for our people by translating our natural resources into wealth. Let’s embrace meritocracy; we have sufficient human capital to drive the agenda if only we agree to work as a team; let’s not frown upon intelligence and hard work,” he stated.
Chilufya however, noted that he believed accompanying President to the rally was the right thing to do in supporting the economic development agenda.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, October 25, 2024
I’m still PF – Chitalu Chilufya
