Feira MP ditches MMD

EDUCATION Deputy Minister Patrick Ngoma has defected from the opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) to the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) in a latest blow to the former ruling party.

Mr Ngoma, who was one of the MMD parliamentarians serving as deputy ministers in the PF Government, defected yesterday together with more than 1,200 members in Luangwa.

This is the latest calamity for the MMD, which has continued to lose Members of Parliament (MPs) and other members after losing the 2011 elections.

The Feira Constituency MP cited lack of leadership in MMD as well as progressive development programmes initiated by the PF Government as his reasons for deserting the former ruling party.

Mr Ngoma said at the moment, it was difficult to know who exactly was leading the MMD between the Nevers Mumba faction and that of Richard Kachingwe.

“It is difficult to know who is leading in MMD. Today we don’t know who is in charge because Nevers Mumba and Major Kachingwe are all in front and it is because of this confusion that we are leaving,” he said.

Mr Ngoma said the PF Government was implementing viable projects such as the construction of the 91-kilometre road project from Luangwa Bridge to Feira. “We are also aware that Luangwa will be connected to the national grid and we are happy that some works have already started near Mikango in Lusaka,” he said.

“Again it is because of these projects that these people have decided to cross the bridge from the MMD using the boat to the PF,” he said.

Mr Ngoma said his popularity in the constituency was baseless because it did not bring development, adding that his defection had the blessings of Senior Chief Mbuluma and Chief Mphuka.

President Michael Sata said he was glad that Mr Ngoma who he had managed to transform from a teacher to a politician had joined the ruling party.

The former ruling party has been experiencing defections since 2011 while party leader, Dr Mumba has faced resistance from some senior party members.

Recently, Dr Mumba announced that his party would not take part in the forthcoming Kapiri Mposhi and Lukulu West parliamentary by-elections claiming that the party would rather concentrate on mobilising members than taking part in elections.