‘PF plot a flop’ – Scott

VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott says that an attempt by some Patriotic Front (PF) members to shift the balance of power in the party has failed.
Dr Scott has further said differences in the ruling party are over following former Chawama Constituency chairperson Robert Chikwelete’s apology to the party Secretary General Wynter Kabimba.
The Vice-President has, meanwhile, charged that President Michael Sata, Mr Kabimba and himself were the ‘A Team’ of the PF who worked hard to ensure that it won the 2011 elections.
Addressing PF cadres on arrival at Mansa Airport yesterday, Dr Scott commended PF members in Mansa for remaining loyal to the party at the time some people wanted to usurp power.
“You people stayed away from issues that were taking place in Lusaka,” Dr Scott said.
Dr Scott later held a rally in Chembe District to drum up support for the PF’s candidate Chitalu Chilufya in the forthcoming Mansa Central by-election.
He told the people not to worry because President Sata, Mr Kabimba and himself would not go anywhere because they were the ones who won the elections for the party.
Dr scott said there was no one in the PF who could be compared to President Sata. He further said he and President Sata met in 1990 and agreed to work towards winning the elections and form Government.
He also appealed to the people of Mansa Central Constituency to vote for the ruling party candidate.
Speaking during the same rally, Dr Chilufya pledged to spearhead development in the constituency by, among other things, ensuring that people had access to clean water.
Dr Scott also featured on Radio Yangeni where he said the PF Government was working towards fulfilling its campaign promises.
He said the Government also aimed at taking care of the poorest people in society.
He said the Government was aware of high unemployment levels and was working hard to address the situation.
And SARA TEMBO reports that Mr Chikwelete and former PF Lusaka District chairperson Goodson Banda yesterday sparked jubilations as they reconciled when they met for the first time since differing on the leadership of the party in the district.
The two met in Lusaka at the launch of the National Project for Poverty Reduction (NPPR) which was officiated by Mr Kabimba.
Mr Banda, who was the master of ceremonies, invited Mr Chikwelete to the high table amid applause from scores of cadres that attended the function before Mr Kabimba took turns in hugging the former rivals.
Mr Chikwelete was later smeared with white powder by jubilant cadres before retaking his seat.
Speaking at the function, Mr Kabimba said there were some people in the ruling party who were trying to frustrate the Government’s efforts of developing the country.
The minister said all the people, who were trying to turn the President into an evil man, were just wasting their time because the President was a good man.
The minister also urged the youth to concentrate on constructive things that would help develop the country rather than carry out unnecessary demonstrations.
“I beg our youth to concentrate on productive things instead of carrying a Wynter Kabimba coffin in which I am not even lying,” he said.
Mr Kabimba said he had forgiven Mr Chikwelete for his offending conduct towards him after he apologised.
“If I must be a disciple to President Sata, I must have his virtues, I have forgiven Chikwelete from the bottom of my heart because my father is a forgiving man and I am following his steps,” he said.
Mr Chikwelete, who knelt in front of the minister to apologise, said he was ready to reconcile with everyone in the party and work together.
He said there were some people in the country and within PF who wanted to detract President Sata’s Government through falsehoods.
Earlier, project board chairperson Ngosa Simbyakula said the NPPR, since its inception, had existed to complement Government’s efforts of job creation and giving survival skills to the youth and women.
In the recent past, there were demonstrations against Mr Kabimba but Mr Chikwelete, who led the demonstrations, has since apologised to him.