.Dr. Kaseba

By DELPHINE ZULU –

FORMER First Lady Christine Kaseba has joined the race for the Patriotic Front (PF) candidacy for the presidential by-election set for January 20, next year.
“I am writing to offer myself as a candidate for the presidency of the PF.
“Since the death of my husband, I have watched with pain the unfolding events and divisions within the party. Clearly there is urgent need to unite the party and consolidate the gains that the PF has made under the leadership of the late President,” she said.
Dr Kaseba brings the number of candidates who have filed in their nominations to 10, including Justice Minister Edgar Lungu, Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata, Kasama Member of Parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and his Matero counterpart Miles Sampa.
Others are Commerce Minister Bob Sichinga, Agriculture Minister Wylbur Simuusa, Kabwata MP Given Lubinda, Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili and former Zambia High Commissioner to Nigeria Selemani Pangula.
Dr Kaseba is a long standing surgeon in obstetrics and gynecology having served at the University Teaching Hospital for many years.
According to the list obtained from PF deputy national secretary Bridget Atanga, Dr Kaseba lodged her papers yesterday.
Dr Kaseba felt her decision to join the race was the best way to unite the party, which has been rocked with acrimony and shameful violence.
She offered herself as a neutral candidate who would be able to embrace all members, and continue with the vision of late President Michael Sata whom she worked with closely from the inception of the PF till his death.
Dr Kaseba said, in her nomination letter to the party secretary general, that the party’s attempt to select a presidential candidate had been characterised by divisions and that if not contained, it could pose a real threat not only to the future of the party but to achieving late Mr Sata’s dreams as laid down in the party manifesto.
Dr Kaseba said the nation was fully aware that she was still mourning her husband but that the grief she felt was nothing compared to the pain that would result from the destruction of his party or the abandonment of his ideals.
“As difficult as it is for me to mourn my husband, I have come to the conclusion that part of the true mourning of this great Zambian leader will be in completing the work he begun,” Dr Kaseba said.
Acting President Guy Scott urged PF aspiring candidates to ensure they quickly reached a consensus and picked one candidate amongst themselves in the interest of the party.
Dr Scott said there was need for the party to show unity and consensus by picking one person to represent PF in the forthcoming presidential by-election.
He was speaking yesterday when he received nomination papers from Mr Lungu at his office.
Mr Lungu, who relinquished his position as party secretary general to deputy secretary general Bridget Atanga, also filed in his nomination yesterday with Mr Lubinda and Mr Sichinga, while Mr Kambwili, Mr Mwamba and Mr Sata submitted their nominations on Tuesday.
At National Sports Development Centre (NASDEC) where he addressed his supporters, Mr Lungu said he was ready to die for the people of Zambia because he had the presidential character, hence his insistence to stand.
“I am not scared to go to the convention. Actually I will thump those guys up,” Mr Lungu said.
Mr Lungu was accompanied by his wife Ireen, Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkandu Luo, Community Development Minister Emerine Kabanshi, Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, Information Minister Joseph Katema, Tourism’s Jean Kapata and Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula, among others.
Mr Kambwili, who announced his candidature to contest the presidency at a Press briefing in Kitwe, said the PF was in need of a leader with an understanding of where the party was coming from in order to continue with the development.