By Staff Reporter
Zambia’s former governing party, Patriotic Front (PF), seems reluctant to hold an elective convention in the foreseeable future, and they have found yet another justification to further delay the meeting.
Since their defeat in 2021, the PF has been unable to organize a convention to elect new party leaders, leaving the positions of vanquished leader Edgar Lungu and his executive vacant.
According to reliable sources, there have been reports that Lungu has changed his mind about leaving politics and is now doing everything in his power to reclaim the presidency of the PF. Colleagues convinced him that he could easily regain power in 2026.
In the meantime, Lungu’s associates have been working behind the scenes to postpone the convention while devising a plan to reinstate him as the leader of the PF.
The convention has already been postponed twice, initially blamed on financial constraints and later on court cases brought by presidential aspirant Miles Sampa.
Recently, the PF announced a convention scheduled for October, but before that, they intended to amend the constitution on July 29 during a conference. However, the PF’s information and publicity chairperson, Raphael Nakacinda, stated that the constitution amendment conference will not proceed as planned to allow members to participate in traditional ceremonies.
Specifically, members of the PF will be attending the Mutomboko ceremony in Luapula province and the centenary celebration of the Catholic Church in Minga Petauke district, both of which are occurring on the same day.
Nakacinda explained that the reason for amending the party’s constitution is to ensure a clear distinction between the party and the government’s authority. The party aims to maintain a professional civil service without overwhelming it with political cadres when they regain power.
He emphasized that the modifications are not intended to favor any specific individual but are responses to the demands of the Zambian people. The PF is engaging in extensive consultations to create new laws that align with the expectations of the populace and help revamp the party’s image after the defeat in the August 2021 poll.
Nakacinda urged members to be patient as the leadership works to do what is right and in accordance with the party’s aspirations. The decision-making process will involve the National Executive Committee.
