Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The ruling Patriotic Front (PF) members across the country have been advised not to be tempted to start dividing the party along succession lines.
Former Open Society Foundation (OSF) Executive Director Sunday Chanda has told QFM News in an interview that what the PF and those in government need to do at this stage is to join the first family in mourning the late Republican President Michael Sata.
Mr. Chanda says the former Head of State was not only an asset to the PF but to the entire country.
Mr. Chanda, who is also a PF Member, says he is aware that there are many members of the party, especially those who are very senior, who may be interested in positioning themselves for leadership given the prevailing situation.
He says this is not the right time because such discussion and debate has great potential to divide the PF and consequently derail the implementation of many government programmes that are been spearheaded for the benefit of the people of Zambia.
He adds that responsible members of the party from the lower organs up to the central committee should join me in preaching unity and love for peace during this period so that the party promotes team building within the organization.
He says it is unfortunate that when the PF and Zambia at large are busy mourning the passing of President Sata, some people who claim to be closest to the late President are busy campaigning for the Party Presidency.
He states that this is indiscipline of the worst order and PF members must refuse to allow such opportunistic tendencies to hijack a people’s agenda.
Mr. Chanda recalls that when President Sata served under the MMD Government, there are sections of the media and individuals who insulted him, questioned his morality, questioned his character and further questioned his heart for the people of Zambia.
He furthermore recalls that at some point some sections of society equated his behaviour to that of the devil.
And Mr. Chanda has encouraged Patriotic Front Secretary General Edgar Lungu to just dive back into history a bit and weigh the insults they lumped on late President Sata because at that point he threatened their interests.
He says when Kasama Central MP Geoffrey Mwamba popularly known as GBM posed a threat with the endorsement campaign of President Sata for 2016; he was vilified and demonized too.