By Patson Chilemba
Edgar Lungu is not being honest with himself, and he must really ask himself if President Hakainde Hichilema, who I’m with here in China will allow him to stand again, says Chama-South member of parliament (PF) Davison Mung’andu.
And impeccable sources in PF have told Daily Revelation that the planned protests against the appointment of Raphael Nakachinda as secretary general has drawn a huge section comprising of several members or parliament, leadership and the general grassroots, with one official saying “we shall lock the secretariat and only open it after the convention “
And sources also said that several MPs have vowed to stop monetary contributions to the party until a convention is held and more accountability measures put on place.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Mung’andu wondered where PF acting President Given Lubinda got the power to start appointing Nakachinda and others to the positions of leadership, saying in the absence of the party president, the senior most member was the party chairman, in this case Davies Chama.
“In fact we are actually looking for a substantive president knowing that president Lungu resigned. We are looking forward to the convention to elect a president,” Mung’andu said. “The excuses we were given is we want to amend the constitution which has been done. That’s why they removed the acting secretary general Kasandwe when they realised that he was achieving the monetary target for the convention.”
He warned those who were putting Lungu in hams way, warning that the PF was now at a tipping point just like when the MMD was removed from office, and that coincidentally the same person who was secretary general in the MMD was secretary general in PF now.
“When MMD was about to be finished they gave Nakachinda to be SG. Any machinations against the majority will not work,” he said.
Mung’andu appealed to the cadres that have vowed to protest that “please tell them that honourable Mung’andu is appealing that you don’t go that route,” saying “we will deal with those who want to destroy the party as we know how to deal with them.”
He said he held a firm view that Lungu would not be allowed to contest the presidency again as that will make it the fourth time he was standing “having been allowed to stand a third time.”
“I want to appeal to president Lungu, he’s not being honest to himself and he’s being misled. Is he sure HH who I am with here in Beijing (China) for a state visit will allow him to stand? Already they are asking how they allowed him to stand for the third time,” Mung’andu said, saying for the sake of democracy, Lungu must just take a back seat and enjoy his retirement as “those who are laughing with him don’t mean well, I am sure they can’t even survive without him.”
Asked on information that several members of parliament have vowed to stop making monetary contributions until a convention is held, Mung’andu made reference to himself saying he went to the secretariat at one point and threatened to withdraw his contributions after he questioned how the money was being spent and came up with a mechanism where as opposed to sending the whole K5000 monthly contribution, he was only going to be sending K1000 to the secretariat, K3000 to his constituency and another K1000 to the district.
PF cadres are mobolising themselves for massive protests against Nakachinda whose appointment they feel has been made to aid Lungu to hold on to the PF presidency.
“What we have resolved is not to fight this individually, even among presidential candidates there is a feeling that this must be fought in unison as no one wins by staying quiet and fighting in their own corner. We just want to have that secretariat locked and only opened after the convention is held. Baya sana,” the source said. “Just keep your eyes open and you will see for yourself what will happen.”
Asked on the same, Mung’andu said for those in Muchinga will not go the protest route but will hold a consultative meeting knowing there is already a court issue by Miles Sampa “even when these same appointments are being made by Given Lubinda,” said Mung’andu.”
