Chama dismisses Kabimba as political lightweight

THE Patriotic Front (PF) has said that the Rainbow Party is such a political lightweight that the ruling party would not waste time on it or its leader Wynter Kabimba.
And the PF central committee has deferred the party’s provincial elections to a later date, after next year’s general elections to allow the party to mobilise.
PF secretary general Davies Chama said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that its members had nothing to do with the alleged attempt to beat Mr Kabimba in Chipata on Sunday.
“As far as we are concerned, Mr Kabimba has no structures both from Lusaka and outside, and he is not a political heavyweight for us to be worried about,” he said.

He said the PF is not a violent party and that members cannot lynch Mr Kabimba because he is not a factor in the forthcoming general elections.
“His provincial chairman and his vice recently defected to the PF and a lot more of the Rainbow members have defected to the ruling party. This shows that Mr Kabimba is neither here nor there in the country’s political scene,” he said.
On party provincial elections, Mr Chama said the central committee has decided to defer the polls to focus on mobilisation ahead of the 2016 tripartite elections.
“I am happy that the party concluded its intra-party elections at ward, district and constituency levels and is ready for the 2016 general elections.
“We also want to save the little resources we have as a party for next year’s general elections,” Mr Chama said.
He said, however, that his office will continue to closely monitor all the provincial committees, and that those which will not perform in line with the party’s expectations will be dissolved and new committees put in place.
Mr Chama urged all the provincial committees to work hard in mobilising and recruiting new party members.
He is happy that the party has started getting into the campaign mode, but that members in lower organs should not relent in marketing and popularising the PF.
Mr Chama said next year’s elections will be a landslide victory for the PF because there is no formidable opposition.
Meanwhile, Mr Chama has announced slight changes to the central committee composition, with President Lungu remaining party president and chairman of the PF and Jean Kapata becoming chairperson for elections.
Vice-President Inonge Wina remains vice-president of the party, Ngosa Simbyakula remains national chairperson and chairperson for the disciplinary committee. Mrs Dorothy Kazunga is the deputy national chairperson.
Other members are: Margaret Mwanakatwe, chairperson for commerce, Given Lubinda (agriculture), Alexander Chikwanda (finance and national treasurer), Nkandu Luo (local government and housing), Emerine Kabanshi (community development and social welfare).
Others are: Joyce Nonde-Simukoko as chairperson for labour and social security, Richard Kapita (tourism, arts and culture), Father Frank Bwalya (information), Chishimba Kambwili (sports development), Charles Banda (mobilisation) and Stephen Kampyongo (youth, development and national security).
Mr Chama will remain secretary general of the party and spokesperson.

ZAMBIADAILYMAIL