Tembo Urges Voters Not to Support Presidential Candidates Who Held Senior PF Positions

In a statement, Tembo said the country should avoid returning to what he described as impunity, abuse of state institutions and lawlessness that occurred under the former ruling party.

“Anyone who served in a senior role under the PF regime is unqualified to promise good governance today. That is if we are serious about building a better Zambia,” he said.

Tembo added that some of the lawlessness and institutional abuse still experienced in the country was, in his view, inherited from the PF era.

“We all remember 2021. The Zambian people replaced a bad PF government with a worse UPND government. That mistake can happen again if we are not careful,” he said.

He said voters should examine a candidate’s track record and personal values before supporting them.

“Before supporting any candidate, voters must ask: what alternative solutions has this person offered for national problems in the past four and a half years? Are they documented? Are they sound? Or is the candidate only engaged in condemnation without proposing solutions?” Tembo said.

He added that a person’s life history, values and principles should be considered when assessing their suitability for leadership.

“A candidate’s life history matters. Values and principles are not something you can wear like a jacket depending on the occasion. A person who has spent their lifetime putting their pockets first will not suddenly start caring about the people just because they become president,” he said.

Tembo further stated that competence, vision and focus are important qualities for a president.

“A president becomes the alpha and omega of government. Ministers and senior officials often avoid contradicting them for fear of being labeled disloyal. This means that assembling a competent team is not enough if the president lacks basic competence, vision and focus,” Tembo said.

He added that an ideal presidential candidate should demonstrate achievements in their personal life and not rely solely on political or government connections for success.