PATRIOTIC Front (PF) secretary-general Edgar Lungu says there are no cartels in the ruling party.
And Mr Lungu says he has lifted all suspensions of PF members so that they can actively participate in affairs of the ruling party.
“I have heard about the issue of cartels. There are no cartels in the party. It is just a perception,” Mr Lungu said in Lusaka yesterday.
He said it is unfortunate that some people hold the belief that they are anointed to take over the presidency because they are close to President Sata.
“It is not automatic that when one is close to the Head of State, then they will take over. No! Many times President Sata draws us close to him so that we can learn from him,” Mr Lungu said.
He also said there are no factions in PF because members are loyal to President Sata.
He said it is an undisputable fact that PF is centred on President Sata, who worked hard to build the party from nothing to where it is today.
“PF was built around President Sata. We shall watch him, listen and learn from him. I will personally learn from him as much as I can,” he said
Mr Lungu, who is also Minister of Justice and Minister of Defence, said he does not envy being president because it involves a lot of hard work.
“Remember President Sata once made me act in his position. It is not something I look forward to. There is so much work,” Mr Lungu said
He said President Sata is occasionally bound to make mistakes as a human being but that those around him will give him proper counsel.
“Obviously as a human being he can err but we will always guide him. Mr Sata is a man who listens,” Mr Lungu said
He said suspensions were lifted with the exception of matters that are before the courts of law.
Mr Lungu said those who once held leadership positions will not retain them because there are no vacancies
“We didn’t want chaos. So when we lifted all the suspensions we simply reinstated them as ordinary members so that they can actively participate in party affairs.
“I urge everyone who was once suspended to continue working for the party,” Mr Lungu said.
Meanwhile, Mr Lungu says the PF will win the 2016 elections contrary to views held by opposition political parties.
“It is nonsense to think that the PF will lose in 2016. President Sata’s vision is now bearing fruit. PF will win. The party is growing stronger by the day and it is now very attractive,” Mr Lungu said.
He said President Sata has remained in touch with ordinary citizens, who voted for the PF.
“The power lies with the people and our President is a man who listens to the ordinary people,” he said.
Mr Lungu said PF will not shift goalposts in its quest to serve and improve the lives of the people.
“No one has the monopoly of wisdom. We have allowed everyone to contribute to the growth of the party. I am clear that come 2016, we are getting it,” he said.
Mr Lungu said he will not fail to run the PF on the basis of holding two ministerial portfolios but that he will perform with President Sata’s help and members.
If the PF is such a bad party, why do they continue winning elections? Are they bribing everyone around to win elections? Here in the United States, we are hearing that the PF is a worst party ever. I don’t get it. The PF is being portrayed as a useless party ever. Probably people are seeing developments in the country, thus why they are voting for them. I have been away from home for a longtime. I really miss home. I can’t wait to visit home so that l can see for myself what is transpiring in the country.
@The genius; I don’t know how long you have been gone but you are not missing any thing. The only thing that changed is 99% of the pipo building their own homes at astronomical borrowing rates of bank mortgages.The infrastructure they talk about are malls, hotels, guest houses and office buildings! No new factories or refineries whatsoever. Road works are mostly maintenance even though the car population has risen 20 fold since Chiluba. The roads in both urban and rural areas are so bad, you body aches from the beating of the in and outs of potholes. You are better off walking!
Now let’s talk about street vending; all the shops are decorated in salaula. It’s free for all! The town centers are dirty, congested, polluted. Am talking Lusaka, Ndola, kitwe. Hospitals alone will make you…
Hospitals alone will make your heart break. God forbid Embola touched our country. We will die like chickens!
Am not speaking as an affiliate of any one political party but these are the things I see happening. Most of my friends that leave in Lusaka confess to not going to the town center any more. And when you go, you will understand why. It’s total chaos.
It’s hard to believe our country has city planners because there is no city planning to speak about. Lusaka as a capital has no sky line. Every other building is a guest house. All for promiscuous purposes due to poverty! Schools look like prisons. So, so, heart breaking!
Ka Lungu! When did Chipata men ever have common sense?
Edgar, then please visit Luanshya this week and sort out the mess created by Chishimba Kambwili by suspending Stephen Chungu.
@dalitso I couldn’t have described Zambia better than you have! @genius I think PF keep winning by elections for several reasons.
1.voter apathy- Usually only 20% of electorates vote during by -elections
2.Majority of voters are illiterate and poor and can be easily bought with a much needed bag of mealie meal
3.The ruling party uses government machinery to its advantage during election campaigns
4.PF uses intimidation by sending panga wielding cadres to areas were there a by -elections
5.PF has the support of Inspector General of police Stella Libongani-look at how quickly they arrest UPND cadres for violence eg Gary Nkombo in Livingstone,Isaac Zulu in Rufunsa and then at the end of the day the courts acquit them and instead evidence points to PF on PF killings
6.Fragmented…
….continued
6.Fragmented oppostion
7.Lack of understanding of the general populace of the role of Members of Parliament- most people think the MP is the person to develope a constituency.This is the job of the local government! MP’s are law makers and we vote people who have not a clue on the process of law making.
@ dalitso is very right. I visited lusaka last month n just before landing with ET in the air Lusaka looks like a big shaty compound. Yes there is building “development” but who is planning the city’ s development. There is No order. People build houses in all direction, even graves are well ordered. Yes Mandahill looks nice, but how many people can afford to shop there?
My brother Genius, your contribution to help MCS transform Zambia to a Middle Income Country is most welcome. Only UPND and ZWD cannot see the transformative change in rural and urban Zambia. They are too deeply engrossed in their bitterness and hate campaign: Nitrogen Chemicals and Mulungushi Textiles are back: Monze-Niko road and Bottom roads are being tarred; Livingstone is paradise; All the provincial capital will soon assume city status; all the 120+ districts will have at least 10km of tarred township roads, Lusaka has 400km. UPND/ZWD are scared of this change, hence their hate campaign.
@Dalitso, whilst I mostly agree with what you’ve said I feel your submission is one sided. Most of what you want to see as development are highly capital intensive undertakings, which the government is not the best entity to go in. We all know how parastatals crumbled during the first and second republics. We need private investment. Private investment is extremely hard to come by when all you hear about the country is a gloomy picture from the power thirsty opposition and misled diasporees. You fail to mention that the civil service – the biggest market of consumables in any economy – are now paid an income that even sustains borrowing at astronomical rates as is the case in Zambia. You fail to mention…
QDaltso, You fail to mention that although hospitals still leave much to be desired improvements in equipment and retention of skilled labour, especially new graduates has leaped to over 70% from a patry of 45%. You fail to mention that there are diasporees who are plowing back into the economy knowledge and wealth from their expeditions abroad. You fail to mention that the road works been undertaken has opened up the country for movement of goods and services to all areas – it is now common to see well built cement houses in villages and not the stereotype thatched houses you see on Western media.
The list goes on and on just as the list for what is still lacking goes on and on. Let’s try to be as object as mathematics when we’re making these analyses, and indeed when we’re voting. From the way we talk, one would be misled into thinking South Sudan or Somalia is a better place to live in than your own Zambia.
Mr Lungo, you can not mask the truth. We all know that there are two powerful cartels in PF; the evil cartel and the corrupt and tribal cartel. Though you are associated with the corrupt and tribal cartel, many political observers consider you to be neutral. We are, however, watching your every move.
Ba Stephen Chungu you are no longer suspended but you are not Luanshya’s chairperson any more as for you GBM, stay where you are! I have never seen such confusion in my life!
Daliso! you are really a master of distortion ! yes our country does have all those problems you’ve mentioned; high borrowing rates, second hand cloths along certain streets but yours is a gross misrepresentation of facts on the ground. I wonder when you last visited of if you did visit recently why you chose to lie! Most Hard working Zambians are building those houses without loans, just as an example, three of my close friends; one a civil servant and two other self-employed in the graphics industry are put up houses that will shame you without loans, my younger brother who is a secondary school teacher has built within the last three years a house bigger and better than what we grow up in all without loans but just smart investment sand hard work.
Victor,
How many your “most hardworking Zambians”? We need some empirical data for your perceptions’ please.
Seriously, what @ Dalitso raised is significant because I personally witnessed the so called “development” in Zambia, shockingly and astounding, its beer holes everywhere. The vendors, dirty streets, chaos on the roads and I’m sure road accidents including death has a staggering record. Road accidents on daily basis merely because of failure to comply with the rules of driving.
Face reality, go to UTH right now and see our women giving birth on the floor whilst you’re talking about Malls,brothels and beer havens. What about the Kwacha and economy? Please open your eyes!
@Colonel; I last visited Zambia in April this year. My mum, dad and siblings all live there. Like I said, am not speaking as an affiliate of any one party but am talking about what I see. Let’s talk hospitals. The whole country has one MRI machine and one dialysis machine. Private hospitals are the norm and seriously how many people can afford? All the rich take their families abroad for treatment including your own president who unashamedly takes photos with his family in private hospitals while he sacks health personnel for poor Zambians!
The civil service leave beyond their means. They leave on borrowed monies. Most of them receive zero salaries because this corrupt government has given creditors the right to take money from their pay checks from the source.
@Victor; then your family and friends are in the 1% bracket. Home ownership is the only positive thing I saw. We can compare the sizes of homes all day, but truthfully speaking Zambia looks like Baghdad! And it hasn’t gone through a war! I miss my friends, my family and my country but am better off here. Am used to leaving in a developed country now. I can get a job any day based on my qualifications without being a relative to the boss. I can travel to any country in the world on a whim. I can rest assured my power is on every single day, eat chicken every day if I wanted to. Drive the best cars with a good enough credit.
Am not dissing Zambia or Zambians but if I had never settled abroad, I too would think Zambia is the best in the World. Please don’t take tis comment as sarcasm.
@Dalitso, I quite agree with you. The only issue I’m having with your sentiments is your seemingly deliberate biased angle. E.g. you say Zed has only got 1 MRI machine. That was true, three years ago. Plans are that every general hospital has one by 2020. You know, these machines are very expensive to buy and maintain. I know there is 1 at UTH and another at Ndola Central Hospital. And, also let’s not think that just because something is available at a govt hospital it is cheaper or more accessible. The cost of running these things remain the same and have to be paid for.. .. even in the developed world. You imply that the educated are not as affluent as they would be out there in the West. I can attest to you that people with the correct relevant education have …
… are now having it good here as well, even if the percentage is small but it’s not zero and is increasing. An MSc/MA or PhD holder in a relevant field does not need political connections to be employed with a good salary. They’re are actually head hunted. Traveling within, abroad and overseas is no longer a privilege.You say the civil servants live beyond their means, when not a single one of them has been declared bankrupt in the last three years. Ask the banks, most of the defaulters on record are from the private sector. You say you enjoy good credit…we wish for that as well for all and not just the highly educated, especially that borrowing rates in Zambia remain high even though defaulter rates are so low.
You’ve given good reasons why you chose to migrate, and I believe you’re not just been sarcastic as I’ve lived in the West myself…and I can never encourage you to head back to Zed becoz circumstances are different for every individual…not all Zambians abroad are having it as easy as you. But recognize that migrating is not an option for everyone. Things need to be improved at home, and improvement begins with ones own first step. I believe in self development…as an adult I do believe my development is my responsibility and no one else’s. My family and the govt did their job to educate me. I can say I’m developed and live a first world life in a third world economy.
In all, we need everyone’s effort to develop our motherland. So far, the politicians haven’t done a good job.
@colonel; surely the money the government spends on evacuating politicians and families abroad for treatment can be used to upgrade rural health clinics and hospitals one at a time. You are talking 2020 when people are dying in droves? Those machines are expensive but do you think American or European hospitals actually buy them? They are leased. Your talking about civil servants not defaulting or being bankrupt only affirms my statement that banks get their monies straight from their places of work before even the civil servants see their monies.
And just tell me, how many people in Zambia have MSc/Ma or PhD’s. Am talking basic needs. Just food and good health care for ordinary people. Even Mr Sata acknowledged the kids are hungry. Guess what, their parents are hungry too!
Most civil servants survive through corruption. You can’t get a passport without bribing someone. You need a reg, bribe someone. You need a business registered you have to bribe or know someone. Road blocks are the norm. Why? It’s a money making venture for police officers.
The ministry of health gets more donor monies than any other ministry. But when a country has no checks and balances that money is diverted to campaigns and people like Kapoko or Simon Miti!
PF = party of blind losers and its all built around one clueless and volatile personality.
PF is the envy of all the small meaningless opposition party shenanigans.
United we stand. Kudos!
PF sure are you guys amaze us, one suspends another lifts suspensions, working against each other, how do you instill discipline like that, I see why you didn’t like Kabimba
As we accurately predicted (in yesterdays article on the same) Luanshya MP Hon Steve Chungu’s suspension is now lifted next prediction PF to win all seats in coming Bye elections and UPND will disentegrate in 6 months time. Watch this space.
@genius there are still many challenges but let’s be honest with ourselves no other government has done so much to develope Zambia in such a short period of 3 years.. the road network is being worked on at a fast pace never seen before in Zambia’s history, you no longer have to carry large sums of money thanks to the redomination of the kwacha, freedom of expression has not only been maintained it is encouraged so as to keep the govt on its toes, as wrongly implied by UPND doomsayers Zambia has actually moved up as a lower middle income country according to the World Bank (please check the World Bank Website), government employees who make up a large percentage of the workforce are enjoying good conditions of service with fewer delays in payment be it salaries or pensions than before.
2020vision :
Stop telling lies. Zambia achieved middle-incomes status in Levy Mwanawasa’s last year in government just before he died. You are talking about redenomination BUT you forget that even in after cancelling the 3 zeros, the kwacha has depreciated to its worst value since independence: at one time it was going for almost K7 (K7,000) to the dollar and it actually hit K11 (K11,000) per British Pound. I don’t know what kind of people you Zambians are: no wonder you are always suffering. By the way, within the SADC region, Zambia is now officially the dirtiest country in Southern Africa. Infact the concern was so much that South Africa imposed the requirement of yellow fever certificates for Zambian travellers to South Africa. All that and you still can’t see? How daft is that?
Here we go again… it looks like Lungu is living in denial. Kambwili and others across the country acknowledged the existence of factions and it is an open secret that cartels exist (or at least existed not long ago) in the PF party. So what is Lungu going on about? Has he already drunk the kool-aid that got Kabimba drunk (and his late counterparties Tetamashimba and George Kunda)?
There’s no point living in denial and lying about things that even kids know about. And talking about lifted suspensions, I thought suspensions and expulsions are made by their party’s national leadership management team, meaning on they can also lift them. Did Lungu consult with this national leadership team to get their endorsements on the lifting of these suspensions?
…continued? What happened to whatever disciplinary issues they were suspended for? Have they suddenly vanished? What happens if they repeat them?
Talk about a circus and lack of thinking… if this is the way these guys govern this country, then God forbid. And please don’t tell us Sata listens to the people because he hasn’t even been around the people… who have called for him to resign in public interest but he has not listened.
The PF are being naïve for thinking that with the going of Kabimba, then all of a sudden their problems both within their party and the people will suddenly vanish. They are in for a rude shock. For what we know the cartel still infiltrate every govt leadership structure from DPP, Speaker, Diplomatic Missions, etc.
Ctn.. there is the most well coordinated Farmer Input Support Programme by the Min of Agric and purchasing of maize from our small holder farmers by FRA with much fewer delays than in previous regimes which has empowered many small scale farmers and rural communities. The PF government has encouraged soundminded debate without insults on all topics to do with development and accountabilty from all corners of society hence even the subject of the draft constitution has not been dismissed but is still being debated. Yes there are mistakes being made and some ministers and govt officials are letting the govt down but overall with honesty and an open heart and mind this PF govt is doing a lot, please don’t listen to rumour mongers abroad, you must come back home and see development yourself.
The problem of African parties is they are centered on the individual rather than the ideals of people,pf is sata only mmd and upnd are parties formed on collective ideals from the masses.so if sata goes then pf disappears,mr lungu its time to change this mentality.so mulenga sata will takeover.
Successful Zambian govts have not invested in innovation,science and research,this has lead to Zambia lagging behind in economic growth distribution,its better to be producers than consumers,our roads design is the same Roy welesnky type,those who live in Europe & USA know what I mean here.Zambia need an innovative president and team which can marry ,innovation,science,technology and politics.
You have spoken sense mate.
Truly Zambia needs an innovative president and team which can marry innovation,science,technology and politics.
Edgar lungu is just setting up a new platform where the party can begin afresh unite every one and find a long lasting solution to all factions that winter brought so now the party will b even b much stronger 2016 landslide victory
PF, the so called patriotic farts can lick my glorious black arsh any day; they are a bunch of thieves everyone; for i am the one and only evans mfula at evaduco reporting live from lusaka and hiding from people i have borrowed money from in kitwe
@The Genuise, (no.1), many Zambians abroad feel the same. People would dearly love to ‘come home’ but fear the political ongoings and instability that brings. With multi party democracy allowed the political field has become more volatile. The problem is that most parties practice the ‘cult of personality,’ when it comes to leadership. MP’s can’t really do their jobs to serve citizens fully because of the need for tight control which focuses on ‘non challenge,’ within the party. PF are seemingly addressing this now after Kabimba. There should be balances and checks within the parliamentary machinery, but this does not seem to work well. One wonders what opposition MP’s do in the Zambian parliament! Maybe, they should record parliamentary debates like in the UK…
That’s was a mature set of responses from Hon Lungu on Sunday Interview It shows that Maturity and etic ate is being shown.
Keep it up Hon Lungu leadership is build from some background and forms a focal point
Its true its only politicians who cry and wish to make others sing the useless song of tribalism
Keep it up watching you in chikankanta
Bravo!!!!! In a democracy different people necessarily hold different views on certain issues. This kind gesture of reconciliation and tolerance will go a long way in strengthening democratic process in the nation.
They say, ‘if you are not grateful the your parents are satanic’
From the bottom of my heart of hearts the PF govt has done a very good job in 3yrs.
Come 2016 me and my household ni pabwatoooooooooooooooooooooooo
I ve seen it with my own eyes and touched it with my own hands.
Successful Zambian govts have not invested in
innovation,science and research,this has lead to
Zambia lagging behind in economic growth
distribution,its better to be producers than
consumers,our roads design is the same Roy
welesnky type,those who live in Europe & USA
know what I mean here.Zambia need an
innovative president and team which can
marry ,innovation,science,technology and
politics.
Why paste and copy,their is alot of brainstorming,eg,how to reduce congestion on our roads ,by erecting inter stations in places like arcardes,kamwala south.or construction of auto over bridge at manda hill,munali Kamloops rd,madevu junction,etc.so mr no copying and pasting.
According to my dictionary a cartel is “an alliance of interests to further common aims”. I think Lungu is in denial to say there are no cartels within PF. A senior cabinet minister who has acted as President ( and therefore privy to intel) has said there is a cartel , he may not have used the exact word but he alluded to this fact.
The second most hated person in Zambia after Winter Kabimba is HAKAINDE HICHILEMA… UPND will celebrate his departure the way we did Kabimba’s…. Mark my words!
Where did this caliber of leaders come from? Empty tins from top to bottom…you remove one empty tin and replace him with another. DOES this party have a constitution or NEC?
ALL SUSPENSIONS LIFTED,,WHAT NONSENSE IS THIS. LUNGU HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED HIS WEAKNESSES AS SG OF THE MIGHTY PF PARTY. IS THIS NOT A POPULRISTIC WHICH PROMOTES INDISCIPLINE IN THE PARTY. THEN HE SAYS BUT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT TAKE BACK THEIR POSITIONS,IS THIS JUSTICE? WHAT KIND OF RULES ARE OPERATING IN THE RULING PF PARTY.HOW DOES SOMEONE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF AN ALLEGED OFFENCE LOSE THEIR CONTESTED AND WON POSITIONS AND BECOME AN ORDINARY MEMBERS OF PF? FOR INSTANCE,HON CHUNGU WAS SUSPENDED LAST WEEK ON UNPROVED ALLEGATIONS,THEN YOU TELL HIM SIR YOUR SUSPENSION HAS BEEN LIFTED BY THE GENERAL DECREE BY THE ALMIGHTY SG,BUT SORRY YOU ARE NO LONGER THE DISTRICT CHAIRMAN,BUT AN ORDINARY MEMBER OF THE PARTY,OR IS IT ORDINARY MP. THIS IS THE MOST STUPID KIND OF INJUSTICE IN THE PF.
Please, caps off. You discourage critical thinkers to read your mind.
What collective ideals bwana were mmd and upnd formed by when they were both lamentably wired by one man show PF
Can the useless Guy Scott tel us about the A team? He has been made to look stupid?!
“…Mr Sata is a man who listens…,”
This is a blatant lie and Lungu knows it. Sata is well known for stubbornness and obstinacy and has earned himself the the tag: Chumbu Munsholwa, and deservedly so. Who is Lungu kidding?
Excuse me, but this gentleman looks more like Lottie mwale just after one of his fights!
@The Genuise, (no.1), many Zambians abroad feel the same. People would dearly love to ‘come home’ but fear the political ongoings and instability that brings. With multi party democracy allowed the political field has become more volatile. The problem is that most parties practice the ‘cult of personality,’ when it comes to leadership. MP’s can’t really do their jobs to serve citizens fully because of the need for tight control which focuses on ‘non challenge,’ within the party. PF are seemingly addressing this now after Kabimba. There should be balances and checks within the parliamentary machinery, but this does not seem to work well. One wonders what opposition MP’s do in the Zambian parliament! Maybe, they should record parliamentary debates like in the UK…
One thing that is disheartening, is the negative self-flagellation some bloggers post, which turn neo-colonialist insults onto ourselves. We are not a failed people, we have suffered intolerable economic trials in the past and are now emerging. It is necessary for Zambians to stay focused on repair and new development. All the negative comments are not from patriots, but by detractors and subversives who wish to derail us. It is more important that there is an awakening among political parties. They seem to work hard for their votes! PF is doing an admirable job in at least addressing growth. The only negatives in Zambia is the nonsensical squabbling among parties. They need to work together in normal times and fight at Elections! Not advocating violence but cohesion!
DOESN’T THIS STATEMENT FROM EDGAR LUNGU SOUND FAMILIAR ???????
The last time I checked, Former PF Secretary General used to say there is no tribalism in PF….then it happened to him and he was forced to edit and reverse his previous statement and now claimed loudly about tribal clique. I think Kabimba has been proven right because that tribal clique eventually killed him.
Now it is THE CURRENT Secretary General of PF saying that there are NO CARTELS in PF. Well, give it a week – it won’t be long before Edgar Lungu learns the lesson about the dragon that killed Kabimba in PF…and then at that time it will be Edgar Lungu himself offering to edit and reverse his present statement. Good luck Lungu! Piece of advice: don’t be too excited, because the cartel doesn’t like it that way!!
Well done. Hon Lungu. The interview last night was insightful and devoid of the pomposity of your predecessor. We learnt a lot. Some of us who had hated PF with a passion are beginning to think there is light at the end of the tunnel. Keep it up.
Truth is Edgar Lungu won’t go anywhere. Lungu is just warming the seat, we all know that – unless you are blinded by weird loyalty. There are too many people who still want to steal and to go back to their ‘wells’. These guys gave Lungu this position. Anybody interested, just check the govt contracts lists in 6 months time. When time comes to fight a Presidential election Lungu won’t stand a chance within PF. Nationally, there are provinces Lungu would not collect even a single vote; and the cartel know that. So, if I were Lungu I would not be talking too much about PF, just focus on delivery of development. Don’t say anything you will soon regret having said it. When you are with hyenas, don’t deny their existence: because when they pounce on you nobody will listen to your cries…!