KELVIN CHONGO, Lusaka
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) deputy secretary-general Mumbi Phiri has implored members not to feel intimidated by newcomers but to instead embrace them to make the ruling party stronger in line with the spirit of unity as espoused by party founder Michael Sata.
Mrs Phiri said PF members must learn to fight for each other, especially those that are beset by challenges.
“Let us learn to fight for each other. If Mumbi Phiri is being troubled, let us fight for her since we are all PF members. Even if you are not troubled be able to fight for others,” she said.
Mrs Phiri was speaking in Lusaka yesterday during a funeral church service held for PF founding member and Lusaka province information and publicity secretary Maudy Mumba.
Mrs Mumba died on January 28, 2017 at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after an illness.
“We are one, we are PF and not enemies. Let us embrace each other. We should be able to look at our friends and not to only run to other people when we are in problems,” she said.
Mrs Phiri said PF would not have won elections in 2011 if PF members did not embrace each other as demanded by party founder Michael Sata.
“When you say that President Lungu has brought strangers in the party, where were you when President Sata embraced Sylvia Masebo [former Chongwe member of Parliament], where were you?” she asked.
Mrs Phiri also wondered why the PF members did not talk ill of President Sata for embracing newcomers.
She said there is need for the members to unite because people out there are looking for development in the country and not just talking.
She also challenged Lusaka Province chairperson Horace Longwe to ensure he supports the late Ms Mumba’s only daughter.
Meanwhile, Mrs Phiri said members should remember fellow party members who have died and have left orphans.
“If this girl is not helped and goes into the street, people out there will laugh at us as PF because the mother was a provincial chair, so we need to help her,” she said.
Lusaka Province Minister Japhen Mwakalombe said President Lungu and Government will always cherish and remember Ms Mumba for her contributions to the PF.
Mr Mwakalombe said Ms Mumba interacted with the provincial administration whenever there was a problem and that she always wanted to see development.
The funeral was attended by senior government officials, PF members, former ministers and mayors from Luangwa, Chongwe and Lusaka.
Ms Mumba was put to rest at the Memorial Park.