OPPOSITION PATRIOTIC FRONT (PF) VICE PRESIDENT GIVEN LUBINDA HAS ACCUSED PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA OF ATTEMPTING TO WEAKEN THE PF BY SUPPORTING RIVAL FACTIONS AND ASSERTING CONTROL OVER THE PARTY’S NAME.
DR. LUBINDA CLARIFIED THAT THERE IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE PF AS A NAME AND THE ACTUAL PARTY STRUCTURE.
HE STATES THAT WHILE THE NAME “PATRIOTIC FRONT” IS CURRENTLY UNDER THE PRESIDENT’S CONTROL, THE PARTY ITSELF REMAINS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF FORMER PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU.
HE HAS FURTHER ALLEGED THAT FACTIONS LED BY FIGURES SUCH AS ROBERT CHABINGA AND MILES SAMPA ARE BEING INFLUENCED BY THE RULING UNITED PARTY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (UPND) IN AN EFFORT TO DISMANTLE THE PF.
HOWEVER, HE EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE IN THE PARTY’S FUTURE, EMPHASIZING THAT THEY ARE ACTIVELY REORGANIZING DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES.
ACCORDING TO DR. LUBINDA, THE PRESIDENT’S GOAL WAS TO PREVENT THE PF, INCLUDING LUNGU’S FACTION AND THOSE UNDER CHABINGA AND SAMPA, FROM PARTICIPATING IN ANY BY-ELECTIONS BUT MAINTAINED THAT THE LEGACY OF PF’S LATE FOUNDER, MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA, REMAINS STRONG, ENSURING THE PARTY’S SURVIVAL AND RESILIENCE.
HE STATES THAT THE PARTY CAN ONLY RECLAIM FULL CONTROL OF ITS NAME ONCE THE COURTS INTERVENE AND ALLOW FOR A FAIR RESOLUTION. UNTIL THEN, THE PF WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE UNDER THE TONSE ALLIANCE.