More back HH, Mucheleka says Northern province is ready

Lubashenshi Independent Member of Parliament, Patrick Mucheleka says the people of Northern province are ready to move with the rest of the country and vote for United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema in 2015 Presidential elections.

And more prominent people have continued to rally behind the candidature of Hichilema.

Speaking at a press conference addressed by Hichilema attended by former Ministers, Members of Parliament and Civic leaders, Mucheleka said there was too much poverty in the country and the people from Northern province have been greatly affected and are looking for a leadership that will address poverty.

“The people in Northern province are ready for you Mr. President. There is too much poverty in the country and poverty does not know a tribe,” Mucheleka said.

Mucheleka whose constituency is in Luwingu rubished the tribe tag campaign being spearheaded against Hichilema. He explained that the first alliance between the Bemba and Tonga made it possible for the country to get independence.

“Don’t pay attention to those who are trying to bring division. The people want someone who is going to deliver them from poverty,” he said.

Mucheleka is one of the MPs who have formed an alliance to rally behind Hichilema in the forthcoming presidential elections.

Leader of the MPs Felix Mutati said the country was looking for a leadership that will deliver and not invest in promises. He told the press conference that the MPs will work hard to ensure Hichilema is voted as Zambia’s sixth president next month.

“It won’t be easy but with God’s grace we shall overcome,” Mutati said before presenting a communique by the MPs.

And more have continued to back the candidature of Hichilema. At the press conference, wife to former Finance Minister Katele Kalumba, Lumba said she was endorsing the candidature of Hichilema.

Alliance for Development and Democracy (ADD) Charles Milupi says his party will do everything within its means to campaign and ensure that Hichilema wins the 2015 elections.

“We shall do everything within our power to make sure people of Zambia vote for you,” Milupi promised.

Nalikwanda MMD MP Prof. Geophrey Lungwangwa said the MPs had resolved to back a candidate who will manage the country better.

Former Commerce Minister and MP for Lusaka Central Dipark Patel who is Hichilema’s Campaign Manager said a number of things were going wrong in the country. He said this has forced him to comeback to politics and  work to ensure that Hichilema wins the elections.

Patel also said voter turn out will be important in the Presidential elections. He said the previous presidential by-elections the turn-out was low. He has urged Zambians to turn out in huge numbers and vote for Hichilema.

“If we are going to win people have to vote,” said Patel.

Another former Minister Sureshi Desai who is also backing Hichilema said there is need for the opposition parties to back one candidate if there are to win the January 20 Presidential elections. He said Hichilema was currently the most popular candidate and he had also proved from being a successful businessman that he can develop the country.

UPND Vice president Richard Kapita said UPND had made serious enroads on the Copperbelt province. Kapita who was campaigning with Hichilema  said the province will be fertile grounds for the UPND during the elections.

For North Western province where he comes from, Kapita said the province was already UPND but the party went to lock it during the first round of Zambia United Campaign.

And Hichilema said he was humbled with the endorsement he has received and promised not to let the people of Zambia down. He said during his first round of his Zambia United Campaign that took him to five province he saw that people were ready for real change.

Hichilema said even in places which were perceived as PF stronghold people had drifted to UPND. He visited Kitwe and Chingola in the Copperbelt province. In North Western, he campaigned in Solwezi and Mwinilunga while in Western province he campaigned in Mongu where he also paid a courtesy call on the Litunga.

In Southern province he campaigned in Livingstone and Choma.

Hichilema is expected to start his second round on Monday after a court case in Kitwe. He will go to Luapula, Northern, Muchinga, Eastern and wind up with Central province.