Mon, 05 Jun 2017 12:49:39 +0000
…FORM YOUROWN PARTY
By Bennie Mandando and Oscar Malipenga
STOP this nonsense and form your own political party to satisfy your presidential ambitions instead of causing confusion in the Patriotic Front, PF officials in Northern Province have told Chishimba Kambwili.
And in another development, the Roan PF Member of Parliament has insulted Copperbelt provincial chairman Stephen Kainga, calling him a fool for holding an opposing view on President Edgar Lungu’s 2021 eligibility debate.
Northern Province elections deputy chairperson Chibwaya Muma and Kasama district youth Chairperson Aaron Zimba yesterday charged that Mr. Kambwili and his rebellious group should form their own political party whose decisions they would be bulldozing as the PF was not open to truant individuals.
Mr. Kambwili, who was fired by President Edgar Lungu as Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, yesterday showered insults on Mr. Kainga for giving an opposing view on the 2021 presidential eligibility debate.
In a text and WhatsApp message, Mr Kambwili referred to the provincial chairman as a fool who could not teach him politics.
On Saturday, Mr. Kainga issued a statement backing Mr Mwila and Mr. Kampyongo’s statements that President Lungu was the party’s candidate for 2021, a move Mr Kambwili deems unconstitutional.
“As provincial leadership, we wish to school Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili that it is the decision of the party structures to choose a candidate of their choice in this case President Lungu and there are no shortcuts being taken,” he said.
Mr. Kainga said it was unfortunate that Mr. Kambwili despite being a senior member of the party had continued to issue statements undermining the party as quoted in some sections of the media.
He further advised Mr. Kambwili that as an individual he had no capacity to make decisions on who should contest the presidency on the party ticket as that was the duty of the party structures.
Mr. Kainga was reacting to Mr. Kambwili who said there were no shortcuts to the PF presidency and vowed that he would ensure elections took place to elect the new leader of the ruling party.
The PF, through the central committee national youth chairperson Stephen Kampyongo, who is also Home Affairs Minister, told the former Information Minister and others with presidential ambitions to “take a chill pill” and wait for their time because the party had already decided that President Lungu would be its 2021 presidential candidate.
Below is a full conversation;
Kambwili: You fool who can you school in politics?
Kainga: why are u insulting me what’s the matter?
Kambwili: Your statements on line, who can you warn?
Kainga: But what about the statement I was warning those giving wrong statements about PF.
Kambwili: Why mentioning my name in your statement?
Kainga: Honourable, you gave a statement and going forward others may be misled and so pipo ought to know about the position of the party in the Copperbelt since am in charge as chairman.
Kainga: Please insults are not good let us respect one another we can also react but it’s not necessary.
Kambwili: There is no such a position and it will never be there, its unconstitutional period. If you people are cowards am not and will fight it to the bitter end.
The Northern Province officials reiterated that the province was in support of party secretary general Davies Mwila over the sole candidature of President Edgar Lungu in 2021 and that those opposed to the decision of the party were free to leave and form their own political party.
“It is hogwash to think that one person owns the PF. It is pure madness for anyone to think the PF is where it is today because of one person and if Mr. Kambwili thinks he is more popular than the party, we ask him to leave in peace and form his own political party so that he can stand as president in 2021, Mr. Muma said.
And Mr. Zimba said the PF was aware of individuals who were going round the country discrediting the PF as though they belonged to the opposition simply because they were obsessed with leadership but warned that their evil plans would be halted.
And PRINCE CHIBAWAH reports that the PF in Luapula would not tolerate party members who would show disloyalty by entertaining individuals harbouring presidential ambitions, Luapula provincial chairman Nickson Chilangwa has warned.
Mr. Chilangwa said all PF party activities conducted by members from outside the province should be made known to the provincial leadership and not done clandestinely.
He said members should show loyalty to the party President and all the structures.
