ZAMBIA: Lungu succession row deepens as witchcraft accusations abound

By: Ollus Ndomu

Internal fightings have rocked the scaremongering opposition Patriotic Front -PF- as the search for new party president has degenerated into a trade of witchcraft accusations.

The PF whose sole candidate and former Republican President Edgar Lungu suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of President Hakainde Hichilema’s United Party for National Development -UPND- alliance, has its widely publicized rebranding process thrown into chaos after the name of Chishimba Kambwili emerged as a candidate for party presidency.

According to a senior party member who spoke to this publication under anonymity conditions, Kambwili, the former National Democratic Congress -NDC- leader, is advancing efforts to takeover the former ruling party which has 58 Members of Parliament.

“Kambwili is currently the only candidate who is doing everything including visiting witch doctors in a bid for PF presidency,” the source said.

Early last week, the tribally outspoken Kambwili is alleged to have formed parallel structures within the weak party in effort to advance his agenda but senior party members are divided on his candidature.

“The man has even formed parallel structures within the party; something which is working against our efforts to rebrand. Moreover, crowning him the party leadership will make us a regional party as the man is a tribalist. We lost power because of his tribal campaign, what magic will make us win in 2026 if the champion of tribalism becomes our candidate?” added the source.

Kambwili is a self-proclaimed lunatic and a tribal pontiff who caused public disaffection across the Zambezi provinces including Southern, Western and Northern-Western during the campaigns ahead of August 12 general elections.

As the party rebrands in a bid to bounce back in 2026, members have continued to defect and the latest witchcraft accusations within high party ranks will in no time weaken the party even more.

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