THE Patriotic front (PF) presidential elections shall be tough and it shall not be a walk in the garden because it is a contest of political heavyweights and it is my advice that Mumbi Phiri should have taken time before entering the ring, George Mpombo has said.
Dr Mpombo says Ms Phiri should critically reflect on her decision to contest the PF presidency because the former ruling party had political heavyweights who would be battling it out with the UPND leadership at the 2026 general elections.
Dr Mpombo said in an interview that while Ms. Phiri enjoyed her constitutional rights to contest the PF presidency, it was his opinion that the race for the PF presidency was not going the an easy one for the former PF secretary general.
“I do not know if 12 months in prison is the basis of contesting but my opinion is she has a constitutional right to contest. Maybe she should have opted for something else because there are people who have been out there campaigning. She is welcome to contest, because we cannot stop anybody from contesting the presidency,’’ Dr Mpombo said.
Dr. Mpombo disclosed that what Ms. Phiri went through was a political affliction and the government used dubious ways to prevent the Mongu High Court to deliver its judgement on Ms Phiri.
“The whole process was a political affliction and the government used dubious ways to enter a nolle and how they were postponing the judgement and from the blues she was released,’’ he said.
Dr. Mpombo stated that if Ms. Phiri met the qualification, she should contest, she has all the right but she needs to be screened.
