Sat, 10 Jun 2017 09:50:53 +0000
By SANDRA MACHIMA
THERE is nothing wrong with the PF announcing its candidate for 2021 now because this will help the party to unite and shift the focus from ambition for office by party members jostling for the presidency at the expense of development, New Congress party leader Peter Chanda has said.
Mr Chanda urged the PF members to give President Lungu another chance because he had shown Zambians of what he was capable of doing during his time in office.
He said politics of hatred and fighting over the position were long gone when a capable leader had already been identified.
Mr Chanda said the onus remained with the party members to adhere and support pronouncements that were made by PF secretary general that the party had floated President Edgar Lungu as its candidate for 2021.
He said his party would not participate in the 2021 election, but that it would continue to support the PF provided President Lungu remained the candidate.
“There is no better leadership other than the one President Lungu has shown the people of Zambia during the time he has been in office.
“And it is not in dispute that his works has tackled the economic challenges that was faced globally and Zambia was not spared,” he said.
Mr Chanda stated that his party was committed to drive the agenda and campaign for President Lungu in 2021.
He said President Lungu has managed the country well, adding that he deserved another term in office so that development could continue for the benefit of the Zambians.
“As New Congress party, I want to make it clear to the nation that we are not going to stand in 2021 as long as President Lungu is standing, and we are going to support him because of the good leadership he has shown to the people of Zambia,” he said.
He challenged other parties to also announce their candidates to provide an opportunity for Zambians to assess the candidates in the manner they would be contributing to the governance of the country, whether from opposition party or ruling party point of view.
