By KALOBWE BWALYA
SOME senior PF officials have demanded that the former ruling party goes for a convention to elect the new party President rather than the Central Committee of the Party hand picking a person of their choice. This follows a pro-announcement by PF Secretary General Davis Mwila that the MCC would soon announce the person who would succeed the current party president after a convention, Edgar Lungu. The officials however feel that making the party Presidency position electable would give all members with ambitions a fair chance to complete for the position. PF Members of parliament, Anthony Mumba and Miles Sampa including PF member Chishimba Kambwili have said that holding a convention was the best way to go. Mr Mumba, the MP for Kantashi Constituency said the PF rebranding should include going for a general conference to ensure a transparent process in the selection of the party president and allow other members to take part in the process. He said the work of MCC was to spearhead the process in line with the party constitution to ensure that it worked within the party rules. Mr Mumba said a convention would ensure that a capable leader who would be able to make the party relevant was chosen. “We want a leader with credible solutions and not the one who stands on the top of the mountain without any creditable solution just to cause confusion, therefore such a leader should emerge from the PF party, “said Mr Mumba. And Mr Sampa, who is Matero Constituency MP said whatever process would be adopted by the PF leadership, the voices of the majority within PF must be heard from all rank and file. He noted that the current constitution only allow for the election on the President and that has created a lot of jostling and tension around one position only when there are other executive positions.. “We lost elections due to cadrerism and thuggery, so if this continues within the party, as we look for a new President, the public will lose even more of the confidence left in us ,” said Mr Sampa. And Mr Kambwili said a convention was the way to go for the party as it rebranded. He expressed confidence that the MCC would subject the party presidency to a robust process where the leader would be elected.
