Nakacinda Warns of PF Collapse

Patriotic Front Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda has warned of his party’s potential collapse ahead of a conference next month to elect party officials.

“Let’s guard against PF destruction,” the former Minister for Water Development and Sanitation told a press briefing on Monday, instructing fellow opposition parties to defend the PF and prevent it from getting “annihilated”.

The Secretary General also instructed fellow PF members to refrain from launching any leadership bids until after the late President Edgar Lungu has been buried.

“Now is not the time for divisions or personal ambitions. We must honour his legacy with unity and respect,” Nakacinda said.

“When we open up campaigns, you will be free to support openly. For now, any endorsements are banned,” he added.

The main opposition party remains in disarray, with rival factions led by former Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa and former Justice Minister Given Lubinda, who both claim to be acting party president.

At the same time, the Tonse Alliance, which the PF purports to lead, has failed to unilaterally support individual candidates at the last two parliamentary by-elections. It follows a fall-out between the PF and Socialist Party, both of whom are still formally in the alliance.

Finally, the dispute over the burial of former President Edgar Lungu carries on, with government negotiators sitting down with members of Mr Lungu’s family on Tuesday in the hopes of reaching an agreement that will finally allow the late President to be put to rest.