By Daily Revelation Reporter
The PF must not be led by anyone who is tainted with corruption, uncouth talking and tribalism, says the PF’s Lusaka district chairman Forbes Mufwaya.
Speaking to Daily Revelation, Mufwaya said the party must do away with personal interest as they seek a new leader, saying people must align with the aspirations of Zambians.
“As a party there is this tag (corruption) that has been hanged on our necks and we have to do a lot of work to just convince people that what they are saying is just politics. So we have got a lot of work to do,” Mufwaya said.
He urged that the person to lead the PF should be one who will be sellable to the youths and have the capacity to speak to the economy of the country.
“A person whose language may not be uncouth. I don’t think anybody now would want to listen to somebody who is sarcastic, somebody who uses abusive language. I mean we have a youthful generation that is looking at leaders who will inspire them in the manner they conduct themselves in terms of speech, behavior and all that,” Mufwaya said. “So when we look around we have them. And against who, especially those that have served in the PF government as ministers before. It must be one who will have no issues to do with corruption and abuse of office. Not just perceived, but real…we are scrutinizing them to see do we have such a person in our ranks. And the answer is yes we have them, but who is that person? We are still looking around.”
Mufwaya insisted that someone who is uncouth cannot be allowed to lead PF.
“That has always been an issue in Zambia today especially when we start bringing out issues to do with tribalism and all that. People don’t want to hear that anymore. But we still have people who toil that line,” Mufwaya said.
But asked who exactly he was referring to since many have now declared their intentions to run for the PF presidency, Mufwaya said all those that have declared interest were being scrutinized.
He said the PF was still intact despite losing out on several members especially to the Socialist Party, saying some have left for feeling that the leadership was not providing them direction, with some leaving out of frustration while others have left because the party has lost elections.
But he said those leaving are very few.
Asked if former president Edgar Lungu has a favourite candidate, Mufwaya said Lungu has the interest of the party at heart.
“Because you see, a party loses elections under your leadership, obviously it touches your heart. There is that feeling that people think maybe I did not do things right. So you would want that thing to rise again and you would obviously offer your advice…help in a way that you can that it doesn’t lose direction or just even die like that,” Mufwaya said.
He said Lungu was even better placed to guide on which people the party should consider to replace him.
And when asked that he recently attended a meeting at which Miles Sampa gathered people in preparation for his eventual running for the PF presidency with a planned K200,000 nomination fee payment, Mufwaya sought to explain the circumstances under which he found himself at an event involving Sampa.
“It wasn’t even a meeting at all. I think there was a birthday party of his daughter and then there is a man who is closer to him, a Mr Ng’ona, he said that he wanted to see me,” Mufwaya said. “That’s how come I went there. Now since you know about it, he was just mentioning to say he has interest to go for it, so as soon as he raises his monies he’s going to publicly declare that he is interested now. Probably he called me just because of my capacity. Obviously everyone that wants to stand they are targeting those who form part of the electoral college.”
Mufwaya said he has listened to some who have vowed that if their candidate were not elected they would follow whatever that losing candidate would tell them to follow.
