By NATION REPORTER
THE Patriotic Front (PF) if it does not properly handle the succession of former President Edgar Lungu is likely going to be fragmented into factions and all it’s now united members will be scattered all across other political parties, Citizens Development Party (CDP) President Robert Mwanza has said.
Mr Mwanza said the PF should by any means not be allowed to die to preserve and strengthen the democracy we have chosen as a country to govern ourselves.
“Lessons should be learnt to what happened to UNIP and MMD after holding a convention to elect their presidents. The two once huge political parties have been reduced to nothing but political shells. To prevent such an unnecessary occurrence it would be wise for the PF party central committee to break tradition and consider electing it’s next president through a primary election system as opposed to electing the party president at a convention. It should be noted that,” Mr Mwanza said.
Holding a convention to elect a party president will divide and fragment the party membership
He said primary elections should be conducted to elect the party President. Presidential aspirants should be allowed to freely campaign in all the 10 provinces.
Electing the party president through a primary election will unite the party and produce a strong candidate accepted by a wide majority of members across the country.
Holding of party primary elections will consolidate the party’s desire to rebrand. A convention should be constituted simply to validate the election of the party President elected in a primary.
Time is of great essence. The sooner the primary elections are held and the next president chosen, the stronger the PF will be as they approach the next general elections in 2026.
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