ABZ will remain independent – Bwalya

The opposition ABZ has maintained that it will remain an autonomous political party despite having supported the ruling PF in the January 20th presidential election.

ABZ president Frank Bwalya says his party still stands by its 21st November 2014 statement of remaining an independent party that will continue to provide checks and balances to the governing party whether the ruling PF wins the presidential election or not.

Father Bwalya says if there will be any new development that will take place in the relationship that his party and the ruling PF entered into prior the election, the nation will be made aware of such changes.

He says as things are the ABZ is ready to offer checks and balances to the governing party in a similar manner it did to the PF government under leadership of late President Michael Sata despite having supported ruling PF in the run-up to the 2011 general elections.

Asked whether he would religuinsh his position of being ABZ president in an event that an appointment in government is given him as a token of appreciation of his support, Father Bwalya has told Qfm News by telephone that if such an offer is rendered it will be to the party and not to him as an individual.

He says his party’s executive will have to make a decision in this respect and choice a party member to accept the appointment but with the ABZ still retaining its independence.