Dawson Kafwaya Resigns From PF

Former Solwezi Central MP Dawson Kafwaya has announced he is leaving the Patriotic Front (PF) party to join an opposition party, which many speculate will be the National Democratic Congress (NDC). 

Kafwaya initially won his Solwezi Central seat for the United Party for National Development (UPND) in September 2013, beating former Minister of National Development Planning Lucky Mulusa.

Thereafter he developed a close working relationship with the ruling PF party, eventually switching allegiances and being appointed local government deputy minister by the late President Michael Sata. He lost his seat in the in 2016 general election but remained a member of the PF until now. 

Mr Kafwaya has not yet officially announced which party he is intending to join, however sources close to him report he is strongly considering the NDC.

Mr Kafwaya pointed to the poor governance system of the PF as his reason for leaving the party.

It comes after several members of the PF have criticised President Lungu for undermining the party’s constitution, promoting supporters to the party’s central committee without proper authority.

Mwembe Chileshe, a PF member since 2001, bemoaned the president’s appointment of Defence Minister Davis Chama and MP Kanyama Elizabeth Phiri as Central Committee members, violating the party’s constitution.