MWAMBA

By DELPHINE ZULU-
KASAMA Central Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament (MP) Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has joined the race to be picked as presidential candidate for the ruling party in the presidential election.
Meanwhile, Kabwata MP Given Lubinda has also availed himself for consideration for the presidency but would only file his nomination after the Central Committee comes up with acceptable ground rules.
Mr Mwamba, popularly known as GBM, said he was initiated into politics by late President Michael Sata whom he moved with throughout the country, hence the decision to continue from where he stopped because he knew what he wanted for the people of Zambia.
Briefing the Press yesterday, Mr Mwamba said his intention to contest was derived from his deep-rooted friendship with the late President and love for the Zambian people whom he served before.
He said he had vast experience in politics regardless of his education and advised those challenging his educational background to know that God gave him enough wisdom in politics compared to some educated individuals who had perpetrated violence in the party.
“Today I wish to declare my interest in the upcoming nominations for the PF presidential election. I pledge to build on the legacy of Mr Sata by ensuring that we carry on with our endeavour to uplift the status of all Zambians by investing in people, especially the poor, as the productive and creative core of the economy,” he said.
As the country directed its thoughts and efforts towards the selection process of another leader, it would be prudent to respect each other and move forward into the next phase of development as a nation that embraced and celebrated diversity.
Outside the former PF secretariat, Mr Mwamba told his supporters that the PF should be run by founder members because they knew exactly the basis on which it was founded unlike leaving it to those who hijacked the party.
“The issue of money to go to the convention is a non-starter because Mr Sata single-handedly funded the last convention and even now, I am aware that the party has so many friends who can easily fund the convention. The acting president Guy Scott will announce the latest soon,” he said.
Mr Lubinda said in an interview yesterday that he was ambushed by his sympathisers who summoned him from State House to his Kabwata office to state who he was supporting but told them that they should wait for the outcome of the Central Committee meeting.
“Time has not come for me to rally behind anyone because the Central Committee is still in a meeting, but I avail myself for consideration.
I insist, I want to be part of a solution and not a problem. The rules must be allowing everyone an opportunity to be elected,” Mr Lubinda said.
He would not take part in an election where the Secretary General Edgar Lungu and Acting President Guy Scott were still not agreeing on the mode of adoption.