PF NOT SIDELINING TONGAS - LAWRENCE EVANS

ASSERTIONS that the ruling party is sidelining Tongas in leadership positions are nothing but figments of disgruntled UPND member, Silvester Simayaba, PF Southern province chairman, Lawrence Evans has charged.

And Siavonga District Commissioner, Lovemore Kanyama has clarified that it is not all Southerners but a few who can be trusted to have both feet in the Patriotic Front.

Mr Kanyama who joined the debate on giving some PF positions to Southern province natives, said he believed it was difficult to find many who were 100 percent with the PF.

Mr Evans charged that such tribal sentiments by former Chikankata district commissioner, was nothing but a reality of what the UPND stood for and believed in.

He pointed out that Mr Simayaba was the latest on a long list of UPND officials who preach disruptive tribal politics.

Mr Evans said that contrary to Mr Simayaba’s lies, PF was beyond what he described as cheap shallow tribalism talk, adding that there were many Tongas holding leadership positions in PF.

“Simayaba and his minions desire to survive on this thin line political machination, we will breakdown the tribes holding 13 districts in Southern Province so that Simayaba is exposed for who he truly is, a liar.

“In Kazungula, Livingstone and Zimba Districts our top district officials are Lozi, while in Sinazongwe, Gwembe, Pemba, Mazabuka, and Chikankanta our officials are Tonga with only four districts held by Bemba officials in Kalomo, Namwala, Choma, Monze and one eastener in Siavonga District,” he said.

Mr Evans said in a statement that the party was proud of this tribal balancing and it needed more tribes to come onboard because PF does not look at where one came from.

He reiterated that Simayaba was trying to impress his bosses who think like him but that did not do his research.

“For a person without a grade 12 certificate we will be expecting too much from the man who is living in denial after he was lured to join the UPND towards the 2016 General elections on the promise that he will contest for the Mazabuka Mayoral position but the deal flopped due to his lack of a grade 12 certificate,” said Mr Evans.