PF Luapula provincial chairperson Francis Musunga said district chairpersons in the province have refused to meet Zulu and his team, opting instead to back his rival, Brian Mundubile.
According to Musunga, Zulu and his team initially informed the provincial leadership that they intended to campaign in all 12 districts of Luapula Province. However, they later opted to visit only selected districts, citing logistical challenges in covering the entire province.
The move reportedly did not sit well with district leaders, who argued that selectively engaging districts risked creating divisions in a province that traditionally operates in unity.
“When I reported to my District Chairmen in the province, they did not accept the plan of meeting some districts and leaving others out, especially since Luapula Province always moves as one. In addition, all districts in the province have already decided to support Hon. Brian Mutayalwa Mundubile,” Musunga said.
“As a result, the chairmen decided not to meet Hon. Makebi Zulu and his team. When I reported back to MZ and his team that the district chairmen had refused to meet them, they didn’t take it well and started to intimidate me, saying I needed to be replaced as Provincial Chairman,” he added.
Musunga described the alleged threats as evidence that Zulu’s team lacks a unifying spirit within the party.
“I am not happy and cannot tolerate the intimidation from members of the team who accompanied PF presidential aspirant Hon. Makebi Zulu when they visited Luapula to campaign ahead of the forthcoming party convention to elect the Party President,” he said.
He maintained that decisions at provincial level are made in consultation with district chairpersons.
“As someone overseeing the provincial structures, I make decisions in consultation with the district chairmen; this is not a one-man show. The districts gave me the mandate to be PF Provincial Chairman in February 2021, and I work hand in hand with them in unity,” Musunga said.
He further advised Zulu to embrace unity with other presidential contenders to strengthen the party ahead of future elections against the United Party for National Development (UPND).
Musunga also noted that following the tenure of late former president Edgar Lungu, who hailed from Eastern Province, some party members believe it may be time to consider a candidate from another region.
Citing the alleged intimidation, Musunga announced that he has stepped down as PF Luapula provincial chairperson and will now focus fully on supporting Mundubile.
The districts not ear marked for visits know very well what these visits come with, hence that decision, and not reasons like they are already backing Mundubile or Luapula moves as one. Far from the truth
Mundubile is not my rival, says Makebi