By SYLVESTER MWALE –
THE race to choose a successor to late President Michael Sata as Patriotic Front (PF) president and candidate in the January presidential election has been delayed again following confusion in the accreditation process.
The registration of delegates was stopped on Friday by Acting President Guy Scott, who announced that a fresh exercise would be done on Saturday morning at the Mulungushi Rock of Authority in Kabwe, the venue of the conference.
However, many delegates could not register yesterday as there was no one to do the accreditation.
PF central committee members and the candidates were later locked up in a meeting called by Dr Scott as delegates who gathered waited for more than eight hours for the official opening of the conference.
Later in the afternoon, Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba announced that there would be fresh accreditation after the central committee meeting before voting.
The delegates had waited for Dr Scott and other party officials as well as candidates before the master of ceremony announced that the Acting President had called for a central committee meeting.
There were also reports that Dr Scott had flown to Kabwe together with Defence Minister Edgar Lungu, former first lady Christine Kaseba and PF deputy secretary general Anthony Kasolo where they held another meeting at Kohima Barracks.
The announcement about the delayed elections was made after delegates had waited peacefully at the venue from 07:00 hours for Dr Scott to officially open the conference.
Security was tight at the Mulungushi Rock of Authority with paramilitary police officers manning three checkpoints between the Great North Road and the venue where delegates were thoroughly screened for possible weapons.
The conference venue was fully-packed with most delegates singing solidarity songs for Mr Lungu . Earlier, Matero MP Miles Sampa announced through his Facebook page his withdrawal from the race to succeed Mr Sata at the conference.
But Ms Wina told journalists later that the Matero lawmaker had not officially informed the party and his name was still on the ballot.
There were, however, scenes of wild jubilation when the master of ceremony announced Mr Sampa’s withdrawal.
Mr Sampa’s spokesperson Chitambala Mwewa announced the withdrawal in a statement that was posted on the parliamentarian’s Facebook page in the morning.
Mr Sampa, who is Commerce Deputy Minister, said he wanted to offer himself as part of a solution to abetting chaos and divisions in PF.
However, Ms Wina said the race for the PF presidency was still open for all the nine candidates.
The accreditation of delegates that was postponed on Friday could not resume at the venue as announced, sparking fears that some delegates could be left out of the event.
But Ms Wina said that would not stop delegates from electing the leader of their choice.