Wed, 17 Jan 2018 10:16:59 +0000
By KALOBWE BWALYA
HARRY Kalaba resigned as Foreign Affairs Minister because of his failed bid to be appointed as President Edgar Lungu’s running mate in the 2016 general election, says Luapula Province PF youth chairperson Jacob Chilufya.
Speaking during a media briefing in Mansa yesterday, Mr Chilufya said in 2015, Mr Kalaba sent two people to meet officials from the party over his proposal to be President Lungu’s running mate.
Mr Chilufya said he and provincial vice treasurer Geoffrey Mukonko were invited to Mansa Lodge by the named people from Lusaka for a meeting to discuss Mr Kalaba’s proposal of which they refused because it was a destructive project.
Mr Chilufya explained that they could not proceed with his proposal because only President Lungu had the power to choose a running mate and not traditional rulers as proposed by Mr Kalaba. “After the Presidential by-elections in 2015, Mr Kalaba sent two people from Lusaka to lobby for a Presidential running mate and the guys had an intention to convince us to start mobilising traditional leaders in the province to lobby President Lungu to appoint Mr Kalaba as running mate for the 2016 general elections.
“Mr Kalaba wanted us to go round the province to meet chiefs so that we could mobilise his political support but we refused because that was a destructive project and as party officials in Luapula Province, we respected and supported President Lungu’s choice of who he wanted to be his running mate for the general elections, “said Mr Chilufya
And Mr Chilufya has described the former minister as a selfish, arrogant and boastful leader who deliberately ignored to recommend anybody from Luapula for employment in foreign missions.
Meanwhile, Mr Kalaba has lashed out at those calling for his resignation from the PF with expectations to provoke his reaction that he does not subscribe to simplicity and possessive aggression.
In a statement posted on his Facebook Page, Mr Kalaba said he would not be reduced to a talking-Tom for no just cause.
“I am not quiet because there isn’t a lot to talk about or reveal. There is actually a lot,” he said.
He alleged that such calls were a failed formula usually adopted by those who resist the rules of mutual engagement and responsible dialogue.
