By Patson Chilemba
Immediate past Chifunabuli member of parliament (PF) Ponde Mecha says if the ruling UPND will implement the CDF in the manner he envisages, that will be the end of PF.
And Mecha said Chishimba Kambwili should not assume the presidency of the PF as the party needs to have a national character, saying he even failed to win in his previous Roan seat despite tribal politics.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Mecha, who is still a member of PF, said he failed to understand the reasoning of party leaders who were pulling in different directions, referring to central committee member Paul Moonga who recently said it is foolish for anyone to say Kambwili cannot stand for presidency.
“In the first place it’s wrong for a leader to use such words like foolish, because already we have people who are saying that (Kambwili can’t stand). He knows who he is telling that they are foolish…you can clearly tell that PF has no direction if you have leaders pulling in different directions,” Mecha said. “That spells chaos if somebody doesn’t qualify and you are saying he’s going to contest.”
Mecha said PF needs to have a national character to have a chance of surviving, saying already the UPND were making serious inroads in PF strongholds, and that if they properly implemented the enhanced CDF, it would spell trouble for PF, as the resources would permeate right through to the grassroots.
“If they implement CDF in the manner like I envisage myself, that will be the end of PF…communities will be seeing progress and that is what will speak for UPND in 2026,” Mecha said. “What is PF going to tell the nation? They failed to market what they achieved, they embarked on tribal remarks which didn’t help them.”
Mecha said the new PF leader must find acceptance in all the regions of the country, something he said Kambwili could not command.
“We need him in Western Province. We need him in Southern Province, are they going to accept him? What about North Western? What about Luanshya? He campaigned for PF in Luanshya, did they win?” asked Mecha. “So basically even where he was MP, PF was rejected?”
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