By Patson Chilemba
PF national chairperson Davies Chama has told former president Edgar Lungu to avoid entertaining maneuvers of running for the presidency again.
And when contacted for comment, Chama said he believes in being honest with the people he loves but will not divulge what he told the former president when the two met.
Well-placed sources in PF have told Daily Revelation Media that Chama confronted the former president over the mounting calls from some sections of the former ruling party for him to stand again.
“From what we have been able to deduce the former president cannot be said to be innocent in these growing calls for him to stand. How do you explain the fact that the presidency has been vacant going into the third year after we lost elections? In short the position is being kept vacant for him to easily fill in despite indicating that he had resigned from active politics,” sources said. “So the person who has resigned also appointed someone to fill in as acting president? Quite ironic.”
Sources said as a result of the growing calls, which Lungu seems to be entertaining, his former Defence minister Chama recently approached him and urged him to take a backseat and focus on developing himself into a statesman, something sources said has not been received well by the former president and those surrounding him.
Contacted for comment on the revelations, Chama confirmed that he met the former president but that what they discussed was entirely between the two of them and not for public consumption.
Chama was also asked on reports that there are efforts to leave the presidential position vacant for Lungu.
Responding to this, the former Defence minister said unless those who have expressed interest to replace president Lungu decide to withdraw on their own violation, there was nothing the party could do about it.
“So as at now no one has withdrawn. No one has indicated that they have withdrawn from the race. So as far as the party is concerned they are still in the race to replace president Lungu when we hold the extraordinary general conference,” Chama said, saying some could be talking about president Lungu coming back because of the economic circumstances the country is going through.
But asked if he would support Lungu running for office again, Chama said he could not state that position as chairperson of the party as he is a “very neutral” person.
“My personal position on this one I have discussed with president Lungu one on one, okay. My position with regards him coming back, I have given my personal advice as a person who loves president Lungu, as a person who has interacted with president Lungu, as a person who has been a loyal member of the party,” Chama said. “I have my views, my personal views that I have expressed, one on one with president Lungu, and I think it remains at that. As far as presiding as chairperson of the party I am neutral because anyone who will come, whether president Lungu will change his mind, he will be most welcome like any other member who have expressed interest to stand as president of the party.”
But asked on information that he has specifically urged president Lungu against running and instead leave the stage for another person “as a parent of the party’, Chama said people can speculate about what he told Lungu.
“But the speculation is not coming from me. I discussed in confidence like I have discussed with every other person, fellow leaders, whether the late president Michael Chilufya Sata M.H.S.R.I.P and any other leader that I have had interaction with,” Chama said. “I want to be candid, I want to be honest with people that I love. I don’t betray people, I don’t lie to people. I am a very straightforward person. And I tell it as it is. So my discussion with a person, the discussion will not come from me. Okay. If people are speculating I can’t comment on that speculation.”
He said he could not comment on what political environment would be created if Lungu were to run again, saying he hopes he had a crystal ball to look into the future.
“I hope I can share that political analysis later, not today. What we have discussed today is more than enough for your news,” said Chama.
