By STEVEN ZANDE –

. PHIRI

THE Government has distanced itself from a statement attributed to Patriotic Front (PF) deputy general secretary Mumbi Phiri in which she alleged that Mulenga Sata and former first lady Christine Kaseba-Sata connived to kill late President Michael Sata as quoted in yesterday’s edition of The Post newspaper.
Government has since apologised to the Sata family for the statement, which could have injured the former first family.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Chishimba Kambwili said at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the sentiments did not reflect the position of the Government on the Sata family.
“We render an apology to the Sata family and we can only wish them well,” Dr Kambwili said.
The minister said the Government had appreciated Dr Kaseba and her family.
Dr Kambwili said the former first lady was instrumental in the formation of the PF and that she contributed a lot to its growth in subsequent years.
He said the same could not be said about Mulenga Sata, who did not attend any meetings during the formation of the ruling party and could not be said to have been a founder member of the PF.
Dr Kambwili said the PF leadership respected Mr Mulenga Sata’s decision to defect to the opposition United Party for National Development because it was his democratic right.
He said party members who were defecting were not attached to the party and that only genuine members would remain because their goal was to render a service to Zambians.
Dr Kambwili said the Government had information that some more PF members planned to defect to opposition parties when Parliament dissolves.
He said the leadership in the party could not force people to remain in the PF because service was a personal choice which each individual had to make.