— Mulenga Sata joins PF Presidency race

Mulenga Sata joins PF Presidency race

Lusaka, November 18, 2014, ZANIS…… Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata has joined the Presidential race for the Patriotic Front  barely two days after he said he was content with the positions he was currently holding.

And Kasama Central Member of Parliament Geoffrey Mwamba has submitted his application to the Acting President Dr Guy Scott and Secretary General of the PF declaring his candidature on the Patriotic Front PF ticket.

Mr  Sata says he is deeply saddened with the succession wrangles that has rocked the PF party since the demise of late President Michael Sata.

Speaking at a media briefing today Mr. Sata said after wide consultation, he decided to declare his candidature in the fourth coming bye-election on the PF ticket.

He said the PF was a democratic Party since inception and has always respected the will of the masses and that the decision to let few members of the central committee  to choose a presidential candidate was undemocratic.

Mr Sata who is also Kabulonga ward councilor and Major of the City of Lusaka said  lack of resources should not be used as a reason not to hold a general conference to choose the PF president and candidate for the January 2015 presidential by-election.

Mulenga has since donated close to  K 40, 000 towards the holding of the general conference and has since challenged PF Members of Parliament to donate part of their allowances to support the Party that put them where they are.

Mr. Sata has since submitted his nomination papers to the Party Secretariat and he is expected to hand in a copy of his nomination to Acting President Dr. Guy Scott.

Meanwhile Kasama Central Member of Parliament Geoffrey Mwamba has submitted his application to the Acting President Dr Guy Scott and Secretary General of the PF declaring his candidature on the Patriotic Front PF ticket.

After filing in his application Mr. Mwamba said he is optimistic that his application will be considered.

He however castigated some Members of Parliament and Central Committee who are in support of picking a candidate by the central committee stressing that the move will not earn the chosen candidate respect.

Mr. Mwamba has since accused the Members of the Central Committee of having be been compromised as a result are not looking at the issues objectively.

He said calls by the Acting President to go for a general conference should be supported to enable the chosen candidate to be respected by all party members.

Mr. Mwamba said the general conference will decide on which candidate to stand adding that the candidate will have full support of all the party members.

He added that decision by the Acting President to consult Law Association of Zambia LAZ to interpret the law was a welcome move.

He said LAZ is an independent body which can guide the PF members without taking any sides.