•NORTHERN Province Minister Freedom Sikazwe addresses PF members after receiving a petition on behalf of President Michael Sata and the Central Committee at the party’s office in Kasama yesterday. PF members are calling for urgent disciplinary action against Kasama Central Member of Parliament Geoffrey Mwamba for alleged gross misconduct. – Picture by WILLIE SITALI/ZANIS

By NORMA SIAME –

THE Patriotic Front (PF) in Northern Province has petitioned President Michael Sata and the party’s central committee asking for disciplinary action to be taken against former Defence minister Geoffrey Mwamba who has been cited for gross misconduct.

And Mr Mwamba has seemingly lost a close ally in Willie Nsanda who yesterday in Kasama said he was ready to campaign for whomever the PF would field as a candidate for the Kasama Central seat if the PF central committee expelled Mr Mwamba from the party.

More than 600 PF members from various districts converged in Kasama mid-morning where they held a peaceful protest calling for the expulsion of Mr Mwamba from the party.

The petition was presented to PF central committee member and provincial Minister Freedom Sikzwe by party provincial secretary Everest Chela.

Some of the reasons behind the petition as highlighted by Mr Chela were that the former Defence minister broke the oath of secrecy by making public the contents of his conversation with President Michael Sata during his abrupt resignation.

Mr Mwamba was also accused of refusing to work with the PF provincial committee from the time he was elected as member of Parliament.

“He called us chicks and useless, he has instead worked with and funded a parallel a structure for which he has bought 10 vehicles to advance his ambition.” Mr Chela charged. “This goes against the presidential directive of not entertaining parallel structures.”

The decision by Mr Mwamba to feature on a community radio station where he allegedly insulted members of the provincial committee was listed as the fifth reason of the petition.

Mr Chela alleged that while on air on Radio Mano, Mr Mwamba insulted the President and said he would make sure that the PF’S ‘feathers’ were removed.

He was also quoted as saying that he had many followers and had the financial muscle to do anything.

“The Kasama Central MP is no longer loyal to the President and the party,” Mr Chela said.

The petitioners also said Mr Mwamba had used the unresolved issues between the Government and the Bemba Traditional Council to gain political mileage and earn sympathisers.

The petition made available to the Times concluded by saying the party did not want Mr Mwamba to continue serving as MP and since he claimed to be popular, they wanted him to prove his popularity by leaving the PF.

Mr Sikazwe said he would deliver the petition to Mr Sata and called for unity.

“I am here as Freedom Sikazwe to make sure peace prevails here. My brother Mwamba should not kid himself that he brought PF here. We had Saviour Chishimba here who won without massive campaign funds.”

Elsewhere, party cadres from the grassroots carried placards with several messages, some of which read: ‘GBM we don’t want you’, ‘We don’t need your money’ and ‘Leave PF’.

When contacted on his mobile phone for a comment on yesterday’s turn of events, Mr Mwamba simply said: “My dear, I have no comment.”