By SIMON MUNTEMBA
IN a rare show of unity, the Patriotic Front big wigs, which included the four known presidential hopefuls, met with acting Secretary General, Nickson Chilangwa, to chart the way forward in fostering unity of purpose and to resolve other issues.
Acting Patriotic Front Secretary General, Nickson Chilangwa has directed all members, including aspiring presidential candidates to prioritize unity of the party
Mr Chilangwa has also directed that all PF members must participate in the upcoming Kabwata Parliamentary by election.
In a statement, Mr Chilangwa disclosed that he held a consultative meeting with some PF presidential hopefuls who included Vice President Mr Given Lubinda, Dr Chishimba Kambwili, Mr Brian Mundubile and Ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba.
And former ambassador to Ethiopia Emmanuel Mwamba said that the meeting was fruitful as the purpose was to form a formidable party that would pull the party to greater heights.
Mr Mwamba said that he was happy that all the aspirants pledged to unite the party to keep chances of it bouncing back to power, alive.
“I must say I’m happy with the meeting we had with the secretary general who emphasized the need for everyone to unite,’’ he said.
And Mr Chilangwa said in the meeting, he expressed his concerns on the perceived disunity and friction within the party that had been caused by the race for the presidency.
He explained that the meeting was motivated by recent incidences including a matter that occurred in Kasama during the funeral and burial of the late Northern Provincial Chairlady, Doris Kalusa at which the party cadres almost blocked Dr Kambwili from attending the burial.
He said he made a directive that all party members needed to prioritise party unity and participate in party programmes such as the upcoming Kabwata By-election and to support the current leadership of the Party and the work of PF members of Parliament among others.
He reiterated that the Central Committee would in due course guide with a calendar and electoral rules when open campaigns for the position of Party President shall commence.
And PF vice president Given Lubinda who was part of the meeting said the focus of the meeting was to promote unity in the party.
“The whole purpose of the meeting was to ensure that the members unite so that the party unites going forward,” he said
PF BIGWIGS MEET IN SPECIAL CONSULTATIVE MEETING
