We have revoked Lungu’s leave, he can continue as PF president – Supporters

SUPPORTERS of former president Edgar say they have revoked his leave from the PF presidency for him to resume his role and duties as PF president.

In a statement last evening, deputy chairperson of information and publicity for the Edgar Lungu PF faction, Nakiwe Simpungwe said the the decision was arrived at during an emergency Central Committee meeting.

Simpungwe said the meeting adopted the motion that revoked the former president’s leave from the party claiming he had been on official leave since October 2021.

“President Lungu has since returned to his position as Party President while Hon. Given Lubinda has returned to his substantive position as Vice President of the Party,” Simpungwe explained.

She said the same meeting also reaffirmed the expulsion of member of parliament Miles Sampa as well as decision to declare his seat vacant.

After losing an election he vowed to win by half a million votes back in 2021, Lungu wrote to Secretary to the Cabinet, stating that he had quit as PF president as well as active politics.

“In view of the clear provisions of the Former President Laws of Zambia, I hereby write to inform you that I have decided to resign as PF president and indeed from active politics” read part of the letter addressed to then Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr Simon Miti.

“Please, find my resignation letter to the PF Party chairman attached for your reference,” Lungu wrote.

But after months of hide and seek, Lungu was forced to lay his political ambitions bare after Sampa out-maneuvered his henchmen to snatch the presidency they had been reserving for him.

Lungu said he decided to come back to politics and continue as PF president after deep reflection, consultation and prayer.

But given the situation, the former president may need more consultation and prayers to go past Sampa who assumed the party presidency via a controversially-convened extraordinary general conference seven days ago.

Just yesterday, Lungu could not access the party offices and the meeting that endorsed his return was held at some restaurant in Lusaka.

According to a ZNBC report,
the Registrar of Societies received the new list of PF office bearers who were elected at the recently-held National Conference.

The report quoted ministry of home affairs public relations officer Collins Hikalinda saying the PF submitted their new office bearers who with Sampa top of the least as party leader.

On Friday afternoon, High Court Judge Situmbeko Chocho cancelled an ex-parte interim injunction she had awarded to Nakacinda two days earlier stopping Sampa from discharging his duties as PF president.

Judge Chocho said she had been deceived into awarding the application.

And in exercise of his presidential powers, Sampa appointed Morgan Ng’ona as party Secretary General and Robert Chabinga as leader of the opposition.

Sampa has also restricted access to the party headquarters saying former members are not allowed.

Kalemba