BANNED COUNCILLORS’ SCHEME TO RESIGN CRUMBLES
SOME councillors in Kitwe attempted to resign from the Patriotic Front (PF) in frustration following their suspension, but the move was aborted after realising that they could not muster enough support.
Some ring-leaders organised a meeting in an attempt to incite others, but their manoeuvres crumbled.
Councillors who were interviewed confirmed that there were manoeuvres to organise mass resignation, but that such moves had failed.
But Itimpi ward councillor Mpasa Mwaya pledged that she would remain loyal and committed to the PF despite the council being suspended.
Ms Mwaya said while the suspension of the council would affect service delivery, it would also facilitate the process of identifying councillors who were involved in the illegal land allocation.
Ms Mwaya, who is also PF Copperbelt vice provincial Youth Secretary, noted that not all councillors were involved in illegal deals. Some master minds had even proposed for a lunch on Tuesday, but Luangwa ward councillor who is also PF Kitwe District chairman Evaristo Chilufya advised them against the idea.
And Kawama ward councillor, Bonnie Kaonga, said he would continue serving as a loyal member of the PF and was not part of those inciting other councillors to resign from the PF.
Mr Kaonga, who is PF Copperbelt Youth Treasurer, said the council had been suspended and that people patiently wait for investigations to be done.
"As councillors, let us not say all sorts of things, but wait for the outcome so that we know who is innocent and who is not innocent.
For those who are not innocent, they should be ready to defend themselves,” Mr Kaonga said. But other councillors expressed disappointment at the suspension of the council and said they would completely abandon their wards.