Following a streak of parliamentary by-elections triggered by resignations of opposition Members of Parliament to join the Patrotic Front (PF) after being offered jobs as deputy ministers in the government, controversy now surrounds the selection of candidates among PF members in Chipata central and Kafulafuta constituency.
Former Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) MP James Chishiba is facing difficulties in securing the PF ticket in the Kafulafuta constituency, as ruling party functionaries are steadfast against his candidature and a deep rift is expected to ensue between the factions.
Chishiba is among the MMD MPs who have been offered jobs as deputy ministers to serve in the PF government hence, he had to resign from the former ruling party to join the PF.
According to Chishiba, PF members in Kafulafuta were de-campaigning his bid to be adopted by the ruling for the July 25 by-election. He said had a list of names of PF cadres who did not want him to re-contest the parliamentary seat.
“Some PF officials are working to jeopardize my intentions to re-contest the seat after I defected from the MMD. This is wrong because I have the right to be adopted and these people do not even know how I resigned from the MMD to join the PF,” he said.
Chishiba claimed that the PF central committee was aware of the people jeopardising his intentions to re-contest the Kafulafuta seat. He there was no way he could be enticed to resign from his parliamentary seat and later to be blocked from contesting the election on the ruling party ticket.
“The PF central committee came and made a verbal enquiry on the matter after I told them about these individuals who are inciting other people at ward level to thwart my intentions of being adopted,’ he said.
But Kafulafuta PF publicity secretary Emmanuel Kabwe rubbished Chishiba’s claims saying the former MP must substantiate his allegations. Kabwe said Chishiba was desperate after realising that he made a wrong move to resign his position.
He said Chishiba must be orderly in his conduct by following the appropriate party procedures when airing his grievances instead of running to party secretary general Wynter Kabimba.
“Mr Chishiba’s complaints and allegations that people in the PF are fighting him and they don’t want him to contest the seas, then, he should follow the proper channels of the party to solve such problems and this is done administratively and he should mention the names of the PF officials frustrating him,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PF in Chipata is under critical pressure to maintain unity and avoid divisions during the adoption process following the high number of party members who are interested in contesting the Chipata central seat.
So far, 12 people have applied to be adopted for the July 25 by-election, which was caused by the High Court decision to nullify the election of Mtolo Phiri as area MP following a petition by losing candidate Lameck Mangani.
Those who have applied for adoption under the PF are Hannile Jere, Patrick Teleka Chirwa, Rose Samboko and Peter Nyirenda, former Chipata Central MP Lameck Mangani, former Kasenengwa MP Timothy Nyirenda, Chipata businessman of Asian orign Hanif Badat, former a provincial education officer Pilila Jere and Chipata transporter Moses Mawere.
After realizing that the selection process may cause divisions among party members, the PF leadership in Chipata has called for unity from members who will not be adopted for the parliamentary seat.
PF provincial chairperson Mike Tembo said party leaders were worried because those who would not be selected might leave the party.
Tembo also said the record number of 10 party members interested in contesting the by-election could leave some people unhappy after failing to be adopted.
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