PF cadres want Wynter out

FOR the second day running, Patriotic Front (PF) cadres from seven constituencies and 33 wards and branches in Lusaka yesterday gathered at the party’s district office demanding that their secretary general Wynter Kabimba steps down.
But Mr Kabimba said the PF had channels and procedures the aggrieved cadres should use to air their grievances.
The cadres carried various placards with messages denouncing Mr Kabimba while on the other hand endorsing President Michael Sata as the party’s sole presidential candidate for the 2016 elections.
The constituencies represented were Lusaka Central, Kabwata, Kanyama, Chawama, Matero, Munali and Mandevu while the branches included Buseko, ZESCO, Inter-City, Town Centre and City Market.
Speaking to journalists surrounded by cadres at the district office, Chawama Constituency chairperson Robert Chikwelete, who was appointed as Lusaka District interim chairperson, said the endorsement of Mr Sata in Lusaka District at constituency, branch and ward levels was final.
“The endorsement of President Sata for 2016 in Lusaka District by all seven constituencies is final and over,” he said amid cheers from the cadres.
Mr Chikwelete said PF members in Lusaka District wanted Mr Kabimba to step down with immediate effect.
“Now all the seven constituencies and 33 wards in Lusaka have today resolved that Wynter must go,” he said again attracting cheers from the cadres.
Mr Chikwelete charged that Mr Kabimba yesterday wanted to hold a briefing so that he could suspend party officials endorsing Mr Sata.
Lusaka District PF interim secretary Julius Komaki echoed Mr Chikwelete’s remarks on Mr Kabimba and President Sata’s endorsement, also attracting celebrations from the gathering.
Mr Komaki said PF members in Lusaka District were looking forward to listening to Mr Kabimba’s speech during his failed media briefing at the party secretariat yesterday, besides visiting the Lusaka District office if he wanted to know why the previous office bearers were hounded out, but were disappointed that he failed to do so.
PF Lusaka District information and publicity secretary Ackson Nkhoma was also in support of the pronouncements.
Mr Nkhoma said PF members in the province were demanding that the ruling party offices at provincial and district levels be dissolved to usher in new office bearers who had no links with Mr Kabimba.
“What we are saying is that all those people who are working for Wynter Kabimba must go. At the same time we want to warn Chanda Mfula (PF media and publicity director) to also check his steps,” he said.
PF Kabwata Constituency chairperson David Silubanje said the ruling party in the area was against members bringing confusion in the party.
But Mr Kabimba told Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation that the aggrieved members should follow proper channels in airing their concerns by writing to President Sata who would in turn use the PF Central Committee to decide on the matter.
Mr Kabimba also said he could not ascertain whether the protesting cadres belonged to the PF or not.
On Thursday, the same cadres converged at the Lusaka District office where they announced the ushering in of Mr Chikwelete and Mr Komaki as interim office bearers.
The district office has been shut from August 31, 2013 because of a fracas that had occurred.