There will be no convention, Lungu insists

Patriotic Front Secretary General Edgar Lungu says PF officials should not be cheated that the party will hold a National Conference to pick a presidential candidate as stated by Acting President Guy Scott.

Addressing a media briefing this afternoon, Mr. Lungu says the official position will be communicated on Monday after a Central Committee meeting at State House.

Mr. Lungu says the Central Committee is mandated according to the party constitution to state the mode of selecting the candidate either through a general conference or the Central Committee.

Mr. Lungu says he has been directed by the Central Committee to inform all party officials to wait for the position of the Central committee before starting preparations for the general conference as directed by the acting President.

He says the Central Committee was supposed to meet tomorrow but that the meeting has been postponed to Monday immediately after the Cabinet meeting.

Among the notable people who attended the briefing include Health Minister Joseph Kasonde, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Joseph Katema, Central Committee Members Willie Nsanda, Mwenya Musenga and Mumbi Phiri among others.

Meanwhile, former Open Society Foundation (OSF) Executive Director Sunday Chanda told journalists in Lusaka that the PF must realize that other political parties are already campaigning while they are yet to choose a presidential candidate.

Mr. Chanda says the call to go for a convention is not serving the interests of the party knowing well that the PF has no time and resources to go for a general conference.