Friday, March 29, 2024

Stunned PF urges members to unite and be a credible and formidable opposition

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The Patriotic Front (PF) National Chairman and President Edgar Lungu’s campaign manager Mr Ngo’nga Mukupa has called upon members to start working so that the party can be a really credible and formidable opposition.

In a statement sent to members where the party apologized for not listening, Mr Mukupa said that this was not the time to start pointing fingers, but time to introspect, consolidate and solidify what the party has so easily let go of.

“We are therefore all being called to be sober-minded, focused and have the courage to admit our mistakes and set about strategies to correct them. We owe that to ourselves and to the people of Zambia,” read the statement to the members.

Below is the full statement

SOLIDARITY MESSAGE TO THE PATRIOTIC FRONT PARTY MEMBERS- NG’ONGA MUKUPA, PF NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON

August 17, 2021

Yesterday afternoon, His Excellency President Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu congratulated Mr.Hakainde Hichilema, and offered to work with him on behalf of our country and to ensure a peaceful transition.

Mr Hakainde Hichilema is going to be the President of Zambia. We, therefore, owe him an open mind and a chance to lead. Our hope is for him to be a successful President for all Zambians.

We have lost the 2021 election. As once was said by Hilary Clinton, ‘This loss hurts. But please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.

This defeat is not the outcome we wanted and nor is it one we worked so hard for. I am very sorry that we could not win this election.

But despite the loss, we should feel pride and gratitude for what we have built together as the Party in Government under the leadership of H.E. Dr. E C Lungu and President Michael Chilufya Stata before him for the past 10 years. The evidence is there for all to see, and it shall vindicate us all. I know how disappointed we all feel about this loss.

This is very painful, and it will be for a long time. But I want us to remember this: that our campaign message should not have been perceived as being about one person. It should have been positioned that it is about the country we love, and about building a Zambia that’s hopeful, inclusive, with a decent standard of living, and of being united as one Zambia, one nation, where we leave no one behind.

And to all you, our great women, and especially the young women who put their faith in this Party and in our Presidential candidate: I want you to know that nothing has made our President prouder than to have been your candidate.

We promise to continue to focus on raising the number of female leaders in the Party and look forward to your continuously challenging us in this regard.

We are listening and listening well. Your voice matters. And it matters a lot!

To You Mr President

Mr President, forgive us. We made this campaign in the best interest of the structural achievements and with little emphasis on the benefits that have accrued to the wonderful people of Zambia for whom you dedicated your energies and focus, and this has cost you tremendously. We are extremely sorry.

We love you and are still rallying behind you and we seek your continued stewardship of this great Party as we prepare ourselves to reorganize our Party. You will always be our hero and we shall forever be with you.

To all the PF members: This is not the time to point fingers and to be blaming each other. Now is the time to introspect, consolidate and solidify what we have so easily let go of.

There is not much time to put our house in order and thus the work starts now so that we can be a really credible and formidable opposition worthy of our late founder and President, Michael Chilufya Sata King Cobra, from today onwards.

This is not the time to stop and start licking our wounds.

We are therefore all being called to be sober-minded, focused and have the courage to admit our mistakes and set about strategies to correct them. We owe that to ourselves and to the people of Zambia.

Yes, I repeat, we have all made mistakes – but the good thing is that we have the ability to set things right – and be the voice of the people as a formidable opposition party. Let us not squander this great opportunity and find ourselves joining the archives of failed political parties! We are going to rise again! President Obama once said, ‘take your anger to the ballot box’.

And in our case, the people of Zambia did just that. They were angry and they wanted change –and we did not know. We must therefore now ensure that we enhance being stewards of the people: we shall talk, walk, sleep and eat great governance to enhance transparency and accountability.

We will have to deepen our working together as leaders in serving the people. So, let us all be encouraged, us – the great PF members – for we shall rise again and soon.

But, remember that we must continuously ensure adherence and commitment to strong governance, respect for people and for the rule of law, and strong, unyielding intraparty discipline.

We must ensure strong compliance within the Party for accountability and to regain the confidence of our people. It is the absence of these factors that has now made us an opposition party.

There shall be zero tolerance for abrogating these values by any of our members. We should always abide by our well-articulated policy as a pro-poor Party, for which we are well known.

And let me also remind each one of us of our President Dr E C Lungu’s constant call for oneness: we are all PF! Let us stop dividing the Party internally.

Whether you joined 20 years ago, 2 years ago or 2 hours ago you are a true, green PF member. We are all equal and share the vision of giving the people of Zambia the best quality of life that we are able to.

So, there shall be no more talk of one being a ‘true green’, ‘real PF’ or whatever you want to call it. We are simply PF, united and strong together. Let us respect one another and remember that diversity builds – we are to embrace all our members equally! Divisions will cost us again.

To this end, we shall work on improving the communication channels in the Party so that all our members can speak and be heard. There shall be an open forum for discussions and debates to be held freely and without fear and favour. We need each other. There are many members in the PF, but we will only be one party: speaking the same language with openness, transparency, and honesty.

And To You The Youth In Particular.

His Excellency, President, Dr E C Lungu has spent many years fighting for what he believes in. He has had successes and failures – and sometimes really painful ones. What has happened is an especially painful one.

But you have spoken, and we are hearing you now. We are paying attention. Forgive us for not having listened before.

This changes now. Today. It is not too late. And so we need you to keep challenging us so that you can be our conscience when we veer off the right track. We consider you as our champions of change: we are listening.

Finally, to our Party members who have succeeded in the polls as Members of Parliament, Mayors, Council Chairpersons and Councilors, we say well done!

As stated earlier, always embrace the values of servant leadership to serve the people who have elected you.

Remember always that your duty is first to the people and the Party for whom you shall be a critical rallying force in rebuilding our great Patriotic Front.

Congratulations once again and we look forward to your collective phenomenal success as representatives of the people under the mighty Patriotic Front Party.

Mubwato! Emotuli!
Mwamukolo! Luteni!
Mubwato! Tilimo!
Long live PF!
One Zambia, One Nation!

God bless our Party President and God bless us all.

Ngo’nga Mukupa

PF NATIONAL CHAIRMAN
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN

48 COMMENTS

  1. PF’s crushing defeat was caused by their mistakes/miscalculations.And deservedly so bcuz it was a self inflicted wound.

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  2. Tot\ally wrong approach. Saying that Edgar China Lungu worked so hard for the party and the country? Give me a break. He, and with him most of PF people, were only working for themselves and their pockets. Edgar China Lungu has been lying through his teeth from day 1: he never worked for ordinary Zambians, he only worked for himself and his cronies. That’s why the economy is in tatters, that’s why the Kwacha is only a quarter of what it was when he came in. UNLESS YOU GET RID OF THE BAD APPLES LIKE ECL, GBM, CK, DM, AM, EN, KZ ETC THE PARTY WILL NOT SURVIVE!

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  3. Hehehehe……….formidable opposition my foot!! I wonder what wrongs they will be criticizing that they themselves did not do while in power. Shame on them. You are dead and buried. Your President was Zambia’s worst disaster

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  4. It will be a tough uphill battle bcoz you don’t stand on the truth and are allergic to civility. PF was Sata & Sata was PF. In 2015, that win was a sympathy victory, 2016 you probably lost hence the panic about the petition. After 2016, you showed your true colours, brutal tribal politics. If you can’t hold credible intra-party convention, you are doomed. Good riddance & hopefully, we will never experience the nightmare that PF was after 2015. You lie in the mng, afternoon, even and even to yourselves in your dreams.

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  5. I agree with #2 NO CORRUPTION ZAMBIA. These PF cadres and so called commanders and fake and rotten leaders like ECL, GBM, CK, DM, AM, EN, KZ must be forced to leave PF if it can be salvaged above the waters otherwise its gone and gone forever. MMD could have been better off but its dead now what about PF that is already rotten to the core – can it survive? the answer is no. There is no space in hell for it to survive this tide. Its gone and gone forever – bye bye. PF was created to steal and was surviving on stealing from the Government coffers and thats why it was existing. I am greatly sure that without the loot or vulnerable government cash it can never never survive – it impossible for it to survive. Look the HH government will need to find money to run government and they know that…

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  6. Look the HH government will need to find money to run government and they know that these PF thugs have stollen a fortune from Zambia and recovering this money can make a huge difference in beefing up the government coffers so that they can also deliver as promised otherwise they will also fail to deliver. PF was the most reckless party in as far as misusing and stealing government money is concerned in the Zambian history. They have looted more than any other past parties combined. They have spent over K100million in their despearte compaigns of government money to give to chiefs, churches, students, union leaders, cadres, ministers, president, vice president, fake and bad leaders as staed here, posters, billboards, flags, vitenges, internet adverts all over the world, mobile money…

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  7. They have spent over K100million in their despearte compaigns of government money to give to chiefs, churches, students, union leaders, cadres, ministers, president, vice president, fake and bad leaders as staed here, posters, billboards, flags, vitenges, internet adverts all over the world, mobile money deceits, radio and TV adverts, buying of GBM, CK Nawakwi, and other MPs. Where could they have gotten all the K100million kwacha. This is just on compaigns what about clear stealling by people like Chitotela, Kampyongo, Chitalu etc. The list is endless.
    Disaster!!!!!

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  8. FORMIDABLE OPPOSITION,MORE LIKE FORMIDABLE THIEVES
    You and your Edgar Chagwa Lungu were the CORRUPT CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE OF A GOVERNMENT .The people of Zambia rejected your vision for Zambia.The starting point for regaining the Zambian people’s trust would be to return the billions of dollars you stole from the Zambian treasury.Stop turning to Despicable Political Mwankoles & Vultures like Nawakwi,GBM and Kambwili.They are one of the reasons you lost this election.
    Enjoy roaming the lonely wilderness of opposition politics

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  9. Upnd is a one term party which won through violence in its strongholds and bribery in other areas. Hh borrowed millions from imperialist for this. We had the evidence and call logs to prove this. Already violence has begun and tribal attacks are imminent. Those who are non t.0.nn.gas will know who God is and will vote wisely in next election

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  10. Where is Antonio Mwanza ???Stop hiding.
    He Vowed and declared to have his Manhood chopped off ,if HH Wins.Be a big Man and come forward now .
    We are ready to carry out that grim task ,we have Sharpened our Machetes & Cleavers ,ready to chop off that little 6 inch trouser snake of yours .
    Perhaps we should use a Wooden Spoon to maximise the pain.
    Step forward Antonio Mwanza,be the big man you say you are.

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  11. PF will end up in the dustbins …….

    They are too used of stealing and free handouts………..

    Their support base is even based on a

    ” free money in your pockets in 3 months”

    How will they survive without looting ?

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  12. Ngo’nga Mukupa PF NATIONAL CHAIRMAN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN,you promoted tribalism and hate speech,failed lamentably to provide leadership.

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  13. CREDIBLE ??
    PLEASE PF LOOK IT UP IN THE DISCTIONARY AND LEARN THE TRUE MEANING
    AND TO KZ YOU A LOSER IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE

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  14. The PF used to be a very popular party but along the way the boat started facing internal storms and instead of stopping to change direction Lungu and his blind supporters kept going in same direction, stopped listening, resorted to destroying governance institutions for their own self survival instead of the whole country. Non of the men and women stood up to tell Lungu in his face that Baba you have lost popularity they all wanted to line their pockets nick named him : The Humble Leader” and he (Lungu) got blinded by false loyalty. They pretended to walk together without leaving any one behind yet in their hearts Lungu was already a defeated and humbled leader. yes PF need to come out of this defeat well organized to offer credible and constructive opposition to UPND for democracy to…

  15. History is against PF. Former ruling parties have not faired well in Zambia. The people will still see you as a cruel party that institutionalised corruption and forgot the people who elected them into office.

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  16. Shut chi colour KZ, go and tell that to that id!ot Lungu who wanted a third term , iwe chi colour give up….bwab@ ububi

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  17. Yes go on KZ, the more stup!d things you say about your corrupt thieving friends the better. All these utterings will come up in the court case being prepared for your former horr!ble thieving boss, the obese brothers GBM & CK and yourself. I don’t really want to give you any advice, but if I were you I would find myself way outside the borders of Zambia!

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  18. Top spots like campaign manager and Secretary General must be cleaned out. Give way to fresh ideas otherwise you will repeat the same mess. Once this is done the party presidency will be put into perspective. My firm belief is throw out the ballast including the president of the party. He who has ears…

  19. This statement by Mr Mukupa is sobering. If PF want to redeem itself, they must indeed do an honest introspection. I think they were blinded by their comfort and thought money was going to buy votes at the last minute. PF candidates were throwing money along streets to lure votes but they did not read the minds of the people. Zambians now know that power lies in the ballot and it is good for our democracy. The PF loss is also a warning to the incoming govt. Zambians cannot be taken for a ride. We are united strong and free to choose who we want to lead us. So PF it is time for you to provide leadership as the main opposition party, in the spirit of one Zambia one Nation One People. I love my people!

  20. Oooh no… that call is a hoax. Problem is : pf is a bunch of thieves & just like hyenas, they will not gather where there is no meat (money to steal)…

    Sadly, they still invoke the name of the incorruptible Micheal Chilufya Sata

    As long as they glorify lungu at the helm,pf is finished. Which Zambian wants to get back to pf cadres as police, no vision President?

  21. @KZ,
    IF KAMBWILI, GBM, NAWAKWI,etc HAVE COST PF VOTES DUE TO THE TRI.BAL AND DIVISIVE LANGUAGE, LET ME TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE COST PF VOTES AGAINST DIASPORANS. EQUAL PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO KAMBWILI&TEAM AND YOU. DUE TO PF MYOPIC THINKING, THEY LISTENED TO A GRADE 12 PERSON TO FORMULATE THEIR STRATEGY BELIEVING THAT YOU ONLY WIN ELECTIONS VIA VOTES, SINCE DIASPORANS CANT VOTE, YOU THOUGHT YOU CAN DEFEAT THEM WITH INSULTS ON LUSAKATIMES. SMART UPND & HH, RECOGNIZED THE 11TH PROVINCE OF ZAMBIA, WHICH IS DIASPORANS. YOU ARE STILL DU.MB AND CONTINUING YOUR LOST FIGHT. LET ME TELL YOU THAT DIASPORAN ARE ALREADY RETURNIG TO ZAMBIA.

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  22. I am proud to say that I never voted for pf in 2011 as i could see through their leader that he had nothing to offer and was lying through his teeth. God gave us an opportunity in 3 years upon the death of Sata to throw them in the dustbin. The reason for this was 8 hours of load shedding had already begun. Dollar shifted from 5 to 14 and they had already signed the first 2 euro bonds of 1.750 billion through chikwanda. This was within 3 years of PF. The rot had already started. The writing was on the wall but people still went ahead and gave them a sympathy vote. The rest is history.

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  23. My remarks are simple: this is the end of the Patriotic Front. Lungu lacks vision. In 2026, Lungu like me will be 70, but may not be savvy enough to navigate the dynamics that will prevail…he failed to read the moment and kept running to vegetable markets to buy his votes. Meanwhile, my daughter awaits employment after three years of college life…no youth or parent would vote for the same…come raise ducks like us.

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  24. @Spaka
    So you’re just a keyboard warrior…thought you’d be heading to Lusaka to be part of HH’s cabinet…but nada…just on Lusaka Times 24/7….and how will this help Zambia just commenting all day

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  25. KZ BRING EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE HERE,THERE WILL BE NO OPPOSITION,TITANIC HAS HIT ICEBERG AND SANK,EXPECT OPPOSITION FROM OTHER 14 PARTIES ,PF IS HISTORY.
    NONE WILL BE LEFT AFTER LIFESTYLE AUDIT AND WHEN ACC AND DEC SWING IN INCLUDING KZ.ENJOY YOUR FREEDOM WHILE IT LASTS

  26. In all honesty…this is definitely the end of PF…..but again UPND is on life support somehow…..when time comes to choose the new UPND President…thats when it will it will blow up into pieces…..because UPND doesn’t have a strong Foundation enough to stand the test of ” being a tribal party”…..if a non Tonga takes over do you think Southerners will have the same support as they have for HH or the support they had for Mazoka….??? This is not being tribal but that’s just simple truth…..After HH is gone…what next for UPND….will they embrace a Bemba or Tumbuka or Kaonde and cry tears of Joy if he wins????…but as for PF i think it’s over…they should just disband and sell their assets

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  27. I doubt if they will be PF beyond 2026. with no Government contracts and Chinese funds. especially, NAPSA, NRFA/RDA and Trade Kings. No one will be willingly to put in money in a dead cow. Bye bye PF with your trickery.

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  28. #24  Anonymous
     August 18, 2021 At 10:48 am

    “@Spaka
    So you’re just a keyboard warrior…thought you’d be heading to Lusaka to be part of HH’s cabinet…but nada…just on Lusaka Times 24/7….and how will this help Zambia just commenting all day…”

    I feel honoured you think I would be working with the great man HH in his cabinet ,…

    I am comfortable with my work here in Europe…….

    My work for HH and UPND in cyber space will continue

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  29. @ General Kanene
    Yes the Diaspora is definitely Zambia’s 11th Province….and i hope they can officially recognize that and start respecting Zambians in the Diaspora regardless of any Political affiliation…we contribute to the country’s GDP and the majority of Zambians now want to return home and help build Zambia….I hope HH stays true to his word and delivers otherwise he will disappoint millions of people especially if he starts making secret meetings with PF members and also if he starts appointing PF rejects

  30. Ngo’nga Mukupa:
    You have certainly exposed your ignorance of the Zambian voter mentality. When Zambian voter vomits you, there’s no chance of you bouncing back again. Please, remember the fates of UNIP and MMD. Where are they? Do you think they have a chance in hell of ever forming government again? Your PF government of THUGS and clueless !diots like Lungu is gone forever. My advice is: take a back seat and let Hakainde show you exactly how governance is all about. You will be impressed!. You missed a grand opportunity to do something for your country by entrusting the levers of power to a convicted criminal, clueless and visionless but a humble and violent drunkard.

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  31. The disdain that the diaspora was being treated with for pointing what was being done wrong by the PF government convinced some of us to convince our kin and kith to vote for the person who will look after their interests. Thank you @General Kanene for recognizing diasporans as the 11th province. Some of us left due to the rot that was going on but our hearts remained home as “home is where the heart is”. I cannot wait to come back home…..Let us give HH time and space to remedy the wrongs. He has a huge task ahead of him.

  32. The only thing they had in common was they were sponging off taxpayers money…do you think GBM can salute Lazy Lungu now? This party member’s problem is they let Lungu and his chancers like Paul Moonga and former MMD ministers hijack the party.

  33. @Anonymous, @Awe Sure,
    Glad that you see it the same way.True, Zambians diasporans contribute alot to Zambia`s GDP, through the money that we send to support our kins. Of course, as @Awe Sure mentioned , we influenced our kins to vote for someone we believe will CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT for everyone with capabilities to prosper. UPND recognized the disporan power and requested for support, which it received. There are high expectations on HH, he does recognize that, we shouldnt expect everything tomorrow. Some things will take time, and accordingly, diasporans will also adjust themselves, if they see the situation is improving, I dont see the reason for majority not returning home.

  34. History has it Zambians never vote back any Party they have removed from power especially one whose leaders were stealing and lying to them.
    If the one they enormously voted for try to let them down Zambians will rather try another party like H.K’s pama KEY or Fred Membe’s Zivotele
    UNIP stayed 27years
    MMD stayed 20years
    PF – 10years
    UPND will raised governance standards who ever just hope those standards will make the each Zambian Family to have happy livelyhood. Affording to eat three meals a day,Good housing,Abdunt farm produce with less price of mealie meal,Bread,fuel and other essential commodities,More employment opportunities for the people and atleast disposable income for social life & recreation.Apo pena ku mu Zambian ninshi mwalasa Ba UPND.

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  35. Corruption scandals: 48 Houses Social Security Cash Luxury Presidential Jet Ambulances Fire Trucks Mukula Trees Ndola-Lusaka Rd Malawi Maizegate Fuelgate Swaziland landgate Zesco Loans Honeybee Corruption scandals: 48 Houses Social Security Cash Luxury Presidential Jet Ambulances Fire Trucks Mukula Trees Ndola-Lusaka Rd Malawi Maizegate Fuelgate Swaziland landgate Zesco Loans Honeybee

    He8in denial… look how he still continues worshipping his Humble d!ctat0r and apologising to Him instead of apologising to the Zambian people they betrayed for 10 years. The goodwill they abused when PF was voted in and MMD was kicked out.
    The c0rruption; the stealing; the tribalism; the d!ctatorship; the abuse of govt institutions; etc.
    If you are genuine, you would start by resigning and calling for your Humble One to resign too and try to pass the mantle to younger generations. There’s going to be no PF as it is founded on the vices I have mentioned above.

  36. I cant wait to see how this incompetent leader ECL can even survive a month as opposition leader. He has no charismatic authority and now that the office of president that was abused has been removed, lets see how he will be able to lead the party.. He needed this test before ascending to the position of president but the accidental president was too full of himself and incredibly arrogant and became out of touch with reality as he was drunk with power that he abused. Shame on him. He has a legacy of corruption, laziness and clearly the most incompetent president in the world.

  37. I am very confident that you will meet 2026 reinvigorated. Sponsor a different sober minded leader to take over from ECL, rally behind that leader and move forward. Survive any attempt to break apart by the next Government.
    Learn from your mistakes, as you focus on long term plans for Zambia, remember that the current crop of youths are not a patient type. Short term goals should envelop youths and women – the most vulnerable group.
    Support the incoming administration and critique reasonably.

  38. In Zambia a ruling party that has been trounced at the polls with resounding landslide to expect of being a formidable constructive (checks and balances) opposition is one big pipe dream for they get consigned to the garbage dump! The most likely to fill the space are Kalaba’s and Mmembe’s parties as Zambians always have a soft spot for new entrants and not what has been booted out!

  39. KK and Banda abandoned their parties abruptly after losing elections. There was no serious transition to choose successors. MMD was worse on this regard. KK attempt to come back was killed by the election boycott of 1996. This is one reason they died. PF should manage the transition from Lungu to the next person through an election. Call for a conversion within a year and move forward. Winning 2026 is out of question. Wait for 2031, HH will not be eligible. UPND will be facing a tough one to find a replacement. Count on the fact that UPND will have a new person. PF you have 10 years to rebrand and reorganize.

  40. I am failing to see why they are failing to correctly diagnose the actual problem and this is why they are likely to fail to remain together. (1) Grown men failed to stand up to Edgar Lungu and tell him that a new candidate was needed (2) Spoils were shared only within the party, no one bought the vision of the party anymore but bought a lottery ticket to unwarranted wealth.

  41. If people don’t want to turn Upnd into a monster of a party, the PF must remain levelheaded. They should bury their pride and recall Kalaba to be their party president. Edgar Lungu should have nothing to do with the party. Kalaba left their party because Lungu was going to stand.

  42. PF evokes bad memories among non thieving and non violent Zambians. Rebrand into a different name. PF will never come back to power.

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