Kasama Central Member of Parliament Hon. Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba commonly known as GBM has today been appointed United Party for National Development (UPND) Vice President at Lusaka’s Cresta Golf View Hotel. Mr. Mwamba has however not resigned from the rulling Patriotic Front (PF). KASAMA Central Member of Parliament Hon. Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba commonly known as GBM has today been appointed Vice President for the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).
Speaking during the Zambia Unite Conference held at Lusaka’s Cresta Golf View Hotel, Mr. Mwamba thanked the UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and the National Management Committee for appointing him as vice president of the party.
Mr. Mwamba promised to work towards advancing the party’s agenda which he believes will soon form government.
Mr. Mwamba who has not resigned from the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), explained that he had not committed any illegality in joining the UPND but was merely exercising his freedom of association.
“Just like PF adopted UPND deputy ministers who are not only doing government work but are also PF campaign managers in by elections and attend PF meetings, it is my right to accept to serve in the UPND,” he lamented.
He said unless UPND members of parliament stopped serving under the PF government, he would continue being Kasama Central MP.
And speaking at the same conference, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema said UPND was simply adopting a culture the PF initiated of appointing members from other parties.
“GBM has not resigned from the PF, we are giving PF a dose of their own medicine,” Mr. Hichilema said.
Meanwhile, in a separate interview the Lusaka Star, UPND national spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said the appointing of GBM as UPND party vice president is not a defection but a restatement of intent of what the alliance wants to do.
Mr. Mweetwa said the UPND welcomed Mr. Mwamba in order to assist the operations of the party in his new capacity as vice president.
“Going 2016 the party (UPND) will be much stronger than it was during the 2015 presidential elections. The election was unplanned but now we have sufficient time to plan,” Mr. Mweetwa said.
He claimed there are a lot of PF members of parliament who are yet to join the UPND after parliament is dissolved.
The conference was graced by the presence of Hon. Sylvia Masebo MP for Chongwe under the ruling PF and Mrs Maureen Mwanawasa. Also in attendance was daughter and son of newly appointed vice president for UPND.