FORMER Kabwata Member of Parliament Given Lubinda, has been appointed as the Patriotic Front (PF) Vice-President.
PF Secretary-General, Davies Mwila, said PF President Edgar Lungu appointed the former MP to takle over the second highest position in the party.
He said the PF President took into consideration the intellect, charisma and massive political and governance experience that Mr Lubinda possess.
Mr Mwila said PF was re-organising itself in an effort to rebrand and rebuild hence the appointment of Mr Lubinda.
“The appointment of Mr Lubinda as the party’s Vice President could not have come at any better time,” he said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday.
According to Mr Mwila, Mr Lubinda has expressed his gratitude to President Lungu for the trust and confidence that he has showed in him.
Mr Lubinda has promised to use his knowledge and experience to contribute with the re-organisation of the party.
And Mr Lubinda said contrary to people’s perceptions, Mr Lungu shall not be abandoned by PF members and friends.
He said in an interview that it was unfair and mischievous for people to say that the immediate past President was abandoned during the inauguration ceremony.
Mr Lubinda said senior party officials who included national chairman Ng’onga Mukupa, Jean Kapata, Silvia Chalikosa, and himself were among the people who escorted the former head of state in solidarity to the inauguration ceremony of President Hakainde Hichilema.
“You couldn’t see the individuals who were there so it’s not true to say the former President was abandoned. We were there to support President Edgar Lungu, all the MPs are there, Dr Anthony Mumba was there, Steven Kampyongo was there all our MPs were there,” he said.
Mr Lubinda clarified that some members of the central committee drove in the convoy of Mr Lungu to and from Heroes Stadium, the venue for the inauguration ceremony.
He said people wanted to see all of the PF members in the same place, which was impossible because even prominent members of the newly elected UPND were not in the same place.
“Of course people wanted to see all of us in the same place but we couldn’t be in the same place because we are not in the ruling party but even the people from the ruling party, did you see where Jack Mwiimbu was, where Mweetwa was, did see where Douglas Siakalima was? No.
By KETRA KALUNGA and SILUMESI MALUMO
