YOU’LL BE BOOTED OUT – Imenda

YOU’LL BE BOOTED OUT

…Absentee, unpolar UPND MPs risk being voted out – Imenda

By Adrian Mwanza
IT WILL be difficult to adopt members of Parliament (MPs) who are not popular in their constituencies, the United Party for National Development (UPND) has warned.

Speaking in an interview with The Mast, UPND deputy secretary general Gertrude Imenda warned that those who were not in contact with the electorate risked being voted out in the August general election.

It was not too late for the unpopular MPs to go back and engage the voters so that they could regain their trust and stand a better chance of being adopted.

“It’s not like I’m threatening them. I’m a parent and I just want to advise them to be available to the people that voted for them. They should be available to the electorate if they are to retain their seats,” Imenda said.

She said it was unfortunate that some UPND PMs were not popular, citing an MP in the Copperbelt Province who received a backlash from the electorate at a church last year during President Hakainde Hichilema’s visit.

“…received a backlash on the Copperbelt as a result of not interacting with the people who voted them into power,” Imenda said.

She reminded MPs and new aspirants that structures were the ones that would influence the adoptions.
Imenda said the party was aware of instances where structures were complaining about MPs not being accessible.

“We do not want a situation where MPs lose their seats because they did not avail themselves to the people. It’s not too late to engage the electorate so that they can regain their trust,” she said.

Imenda, however, said the UPND was working tirelessly to ensure that the party wins the August 13 general election.
She urged MPs to pull up their socks and regain the people’s confidence because time was running out for them.
“I want to encourage our MPs not to abandon the people that voted for them and they would need them when election time comes,” he said.

Anxiety has gripped the UPND with the sudden emergence of mostly young popular challengers whose strong grassroots support has been sowing considerable fear among the old, tired and inept incumbents, some of whom have been MPs for the same constituencies for more than 20 years.

In some of these constituencies, especially in Southern Province, Lusaka and the Copperbelt, there are clear signs of electorate fatigue and open hostility towards the current MPs who have been accused of being elusive only to reappear to canvass for votes months before the elections.