Sunday Chanda denies betraying PF/ECL, Prioritizes development over politics

Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament for Kanchibiya, Sunday Chanda, has dismissed claims that he has betrayed the PF and former President Edgar Lungu, saying his priority is to develop the Constituency.

“I am one of those in the Patriotic Front who, to this day, continues to make monthly financial contributions to the party,” Chanda said. “Even when some of my colleagues have abandoned that responsibility, I still contribute to the PF not to the UPND.”

Mr. Chanda has emphasized that his cooperation with the government is purely in the interest of serving his constituency and should not be mistaken for shifting political allegiance.

“I am a member of the Patriotic Front. But in the execution of my duties, I have made it clear that I cannot deliver for Kanchibiya without working closely with the President,” he said. “People must differentiate between government work and partisan politics.”

He has stressed that development must take precedence over political affiliations, adding that in Kanchibiya, political labels do not matter when it comes to service delivery.

“I’m rolling out a marketers program that is non-political. Whether someone is PF, UPND, Socialist, or belongs to any other party, they are welcome to participate. At some point, we have to focus on what really matters development,” Mr. Chanda explained.

Reflecting on political history, Mr. Chanda has pointed out that leaders like the late President Michael Sata were once labeled as betrayers when they left their parties to form new ones.

“Those who worked with Kenneth Kaunda and left to form MMD were called betrayers. When President Sata left MMD to form PF, he was called names. But I haven’t made any political move. The day I do, I’ll call a press briefing and make it clear. For now, my focus is on what’s best for Kanchibiya, not antagonizing government,” he said.

Mr. Chanda said the urgent development needs of Kanchibiya require collaboration with the government of the day.

“I know the burden of underdevelopment I’m sitting with,” he said. “To fast-track development, I need to work with the current government.”

He has also announced that, the two long-awaited bridges: one across the Kanchibiya River and the other on the Lwitikila River that were launched last weekend,is a dream come true.

“These bridges have been the cry of our people since 1964. Past presidents and MPs left them unattended to. But we’ve made it happen within just three years,” Chanda said.

He has further noted that many roads in the constituency have not been worked on since independence, and some chiefdoms have never seen electricity.

“For me, the priority is not endless politics, it’s delivering development to the people of Kanchibiya,” he concluded.

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