Go for convention, PF told

THE Patriotic Front (PF) must never make a mistake of foregoing the convention because the opposition will use it as a weapon, the Gallant Youth of Zambia (GYZ) has warned.

Speaking to the Daily Nation yesterday, GYZ executive director Henry Mulenga said the ruling party has had a democratic trail since inception which must not be destroyed.

Mr Mulenga said even if there was a sole candidate in President Edgar Lungu for 2021, the party must still go to the convention to meet the constitutional requirement.

He advised President Lungu and PF secretary general Davies Mwila not to listen to some members who felt that the convention was unnecessary.

Mr Mulenga said the PF must not veer into the UPND politics as the opposition had consistently raped its own constitution by failing to hold a convention.

“The Republican Constitution compels political parties to hold intra-party elections within their structures but we wonder why some people want a democratic party like the PF to shelve the holding of the party convention.

“The only party member who enjoys a fresh mandate as we speak in the current central committee is President Lungu himself. The rest have outlived their tenure according to their constitution and must go to the convention,” Mr Mulenga said.

He said party members should instead push for early preparations for the convention so that the current crop of leaders could go and renew their mandate ahead of the 2021 elections.

“President Lungu must not listen to people who might have lost popularity in their respective constituencies and now have opted for praise-singing so that they can find favours from him when time for adoptions draw near.

“The same applies to UPND. The mandate of its National Management Committee (NMC) has expired. For Hakainde Hichilema, it is time he proved his critics wrong that he is democrat by allowing the will of the people to prevail,” he said.