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Chaos and confusion again ensued Zambia ruling Patriotic Front party today, when President Michael Sata convened a Central Committee meeting for the party, but then failed to attend at the last minute.
The meeting was especially anticipated by many members, as it was expected that President Sata would address the matter of succession, possibly by appointing a new Vice President and making other cabinet shifts, as well as deciding on candidates for upcoming by-elections.
According to several sources inside State House, President Sata had insisted on going to the meeting, and had gone so far as walking from Nkwazi House to the BMW awaiting to take him to the main conference hall at State House. However, on the way there, First Lady Dr. Christine Kaseba as well as his Indian doctor intervened and eventually convinced him not to go to the meeting. Some PF members even saw the president arrive in the car and then drive away.
One well placed source informs Zambia Reports that although President Sata is able to walk with some difficulty right now, he has practically no voice, and would have caused grave alarm if he had appeared at the Central Committee meeting.
Sata’s cancellation was so abrupt that all PF committee members had already been assembled and were waiting to hear from their leader. The president’s press aide George Chellah was made to tell the attendees that President would be unable to chair the meeting and would reschedule in the future, at which point Minister for Gender Affairs Inonge Wina, who had recently been chased out of State House, attempted to chair the meeting herself.
Wina claimed seniority to carry forward with the meeting as she serves as PF National Chairperson, but the attempt to hijack such a crucial meeting was sharply rejected by the Bemba contingent of the Committee, many of whom stormed out of the room.
Among the matters at hand that were going to be discussed were the possible nomination of Given Lubinda as Vice President, replacing Guy Scott. Although Lubinda still has the same parentage clause issues that prevent him from running for president as Dr. Scott, his name was put forward by Dr. Kaseba some months ago during a family meeting.
Sources close to the party say that these continued interruptions and cancellations of critical party business by the president – which may involve significant promotions for some and firings of others – are placing additional strain on a very volatile situation.
The post Sata a No-Show at Central Committee Meeting appeared first on Zambia Reports.
