By ADRIAN MWANZA
ACCUSATIONS that the PF central committee is to blame for its loss in the August 12 elections are misplaced, says a serving member, Mr Brian Mundubile. Mr Mundubile said calls to overhaul the entire PF central commiitee based on mere accusations were unjustified because the post-mortem indicates otherwise. He said in an interview that the post-mortem concluded that the party’s loss was not as result of the central committee but because of other factors arising.
Mr Mundubile was reacting to Lusaka Province youth chairperson Kelvin Kaunda who was demanding the overhaul of the central committee as they were responsible for the humiliating defeat the party experienced in the August 12 general elections.
Mr Kaunda, who is backing former Roan MP and NDC leader Chishimba Kambwili, to take over as president of the party said that there was need to bring in new and fresh minds that could help actually rebrand the party from its dwindling fortunes.
But Mr Mundubile warned all those who were fanning trouble to desist from doing so because it was detrimental to the growth of the party. Mr Mundubile, who is a serious contender to take over as PF president, said the party sanctioned a team that looked at the loss and its findings were that the central committee was not responsible for loss of the elections.
“It is not justifiable and fair for people to call for a complete overhaul of the central committee because they were not to blame for the loss,” he said. Meanwhile, Mr Mundubile said that only the presidency was up for grabs because the members of the central committee had about a five-year mandate left on their tenure. He said that the constitution was clear and that despite the PF chairman, Mr Samuel Mukupa and secretary-general Mr Davies Mwila stepping down, new ones could not be ushered in at the convention because that was the president’s prerogative.
Mr Mundubile said the acting secretary-general would soon issue a statement in relation to the agitation that was being caused by some members who wanted new office bearers ushered into office. “The issue of lawlessness by people trying to breach the constitution in pushing funny agendas will be dealt with by the party’s Chief Executive Officer,” he said.
