Kapyanga Defends Mundubile Amid PF Leadership Dispute

Kapyanga Defends Mundubile Amid PF Leadership Dispute

Member of Parliament for Mpika Constituency Francis Robert Kapyanga has issued a detailed public statement defending Brian Mundubile and rejecting assertions that the late former president Edgar Chagwa Lungu bears responsibility for the ongoing leadership turmoil within the Patriotic Front.

In the statement, Kapyanga responds to claims circulating within party discourse that Lungu failed to designate a successor before stepping back from active leadership, a situation some party figures have cited as contributing to current divisions. Kapyanga describes that position as inaccurate and unfair, stating that Lungu had expressed a clear preference for party unity and had taken steps to guide leadership succession following the 2021 General Elections.

According to Kapyanga, internal tensions within the PF began well before the loss of power in 2021. He states that during Lungu’s final term in office, certain senior figures openly challenged his authority, undermined his leadership, and publicly opposed him, actions that he says weakened internal cohesion and contributed to electoral defeat.

After the election loss, Kapyanga recounts that criticism of Lungu intensified, with some party members attributing the outcome directly to him. He states that this environment led Lungu to step down as PF president and retire from active politics, despite resistance from members of the party’s Central Committee. During that transitional period, Lungu appointed individuals to act in leadership positions while the party sought to stabilise.

Kapyanga provides a specific account of events in early 2022, stating that while Parliament was in session, Mundubile received a call from Lungu inviting him to a meeting at his government-rented retirement residence in Ibex. During that meeting, Kapyanga says Lungu instructed Mundubile to contest the PF presidency, citing their working relationship and Mundubile’s commitment to the party.

He states that Mundubile did not immediately disclose the instruction and had not previously expressed ambitions to lead the party or to contest the presidency of the Republic. At the time, according to Kapyanga, Mundubile’s focus remained on his parliamentary responsibilities and eventual retirement from politics.

Kapyanga further states that Lungu subsequently contacted several trusted party members, including himself, and directed them to support Mundubile’s bid for the PF presidency. He says efforts were then made to mobilise support, assemble campaign structures, and prepare for an internal contest.

However, Kapyanga states that resistance emerged from individuals he describes as having previously opposed Lungu while he was in office. He alleges that these figures conveyed false information to Lungu, including claims that Mundubile was secretly engaging with President Hakainde Hichilema through family connections, funding attacks against Lungu, and pursuing other undisclosed agendas. Kapyanga states that Mundubile did not respond publicly to these allegations.

According to Kapyanga, when these claims failed to gain traction, attention shifted toward encouraging Lungu to return to active politics. He links this development to events surrounding Miles Sampa, whose assumption of control within the PF followed the cancellation of a conference and his suspension by an acting party president. Kapyanga states that this period marked a significant compromise of party structures.

Kapyanga recounts that when Lungu later engaged in broader opposition cooperation through the United Kwacha Alliance, some of the same individuals opposed the initiative and subjected Lungu to public attacks. He says this led to Lungu’s withdrawal from the alliance and the subsequent formation of the Tonse Alliance.

Throughout these developments, Kapyanga maintains that accusations against Mundubile continued, including allegations related to judicial interference in Lungu’s eligibility case and associations with political activist Chilufya Tayali. He rejects those claims and states that Lungu himself instructed party members to assist Tayali during legal difficulties.

Kapyanga states that following Lungu’s return to active politics, Mundubile halted his own activities and instructed his supporters to mobilise in support of Lungu. He says this was done in line with Lungu’s authority and wishes at the time.

With Lungu’s death, Kapyanga states that continued references to his name in internal disputes are inappropriate. He calls on party leaders to take responsibility for current decisions and to pursue unity through established constitutional processes, including convening a party conference to elect new leadership.