Zambian PF Party in Turmoil: Leadership Battle Brews as Makebi's Presidency Questioned

Published 5 hours ago3 minute read
Pelumi Ilesanmi
Pelumi Ilesanmi
Zambian PF Party in Turmoil: Leadership Battle Brews as Makebi's Presidency Questioned

Mr. Kafwaya has publicly stated his decision to remain aligned with the Tonse Alliance, asserting that this choice directly honours former President Edgar Lungu. According to Kafwaya, Lungu himself established the Tonse Alliance as a strategic 'plan B' for the Patriotic Front (PF). Concurrently, Kafwaya has expressed significant doubts regarding the legitimacy of Makebi Zulu's election as the PF faction president. Speaking on Prime TV, Kafwaya urged members to set aside internal disputes and unite behind Tonse Alliance president Brian Mundubile, emphasizing that Lungu’s vision for the PF's future was intrinsically linked to the Tonse Alliance.

Kafwaya also reflected on the current predicament of the PF, apologizing to the Zambian people for the party's internal struggles, which he believes should not befall a political entity. He recounted a promise from President Hakainde Hichilema to 'squeeze' the regrouping PF, a promise Kafwaya believes has been visibly fulfilled. He pondered whether he had done enough to engage internally within the PF to forge solutions for the party and its members, acknowledging that this remains an open topic for discussion.

He passionately appealed to his fellow PF members to understand that the party’s vision, as championed by its leadership, found a solution through former President Lungu. Kafwaya reiterated that Lungu’s 'plan B' was undeniably the Tonse Alliance. He recalled a meeting, which he attended, where Lungu explicitly stated that the future lay in the alliance being created. Kafwaya firmly stated that belonging to the Tonse Alliance is an act of honouring Lungu, explaining that Lungu foresaw the challenges facing the PF and initiated the alliance, personally taking individuals like himself into its fold. He stressed that he cannot betray Lungu's legacy by abandoning the alliance.

Addressing the question of why people should not support Zulu, Kafwaya questioned the validity of Zulu's election, stating he was unsure if it was a legitimate PF convention. He elaborated that the recently held Lubinda-led PF convention's legitimacy is questionable because several stipulations in the PF constitution might have been disregarded. Kafwaya pointed out that a legitimate PF convention requires thresholds, such as no fewer than 500,000 delegates, and cannot proceed without a National Council, whose members are prescribed in the constitution. Drawing on his experience as an MP for Lunte constituency, with its established structures, he asserted that these critical constitutional requirements were not met.

Ultimately, Kafwaya called for an end to the ongoing court issues within the PF, urging all members to unite and rally behind Brian Mundubile. He underscored that any individual who legitimately wins a PF convention should receive widespread support, implying that Zulu’s victory lacked this essential legitimacy due to the procedural irregularities he highlighted.

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