Patriotic Front official denies claims that ex-President Lungu is back in politics

The Patriotic Front (PF) has dispelled rumors and misinformation surrounding the political status of former President Edgar Lungu, after its Livingstone Youth Secretary, James Mwape, claimed that Lungu is a PF candidate.

PF Chairperson for Information and Publicity, Emmanuel Mwamba, emphasized that such statements were not representative of the party’s official position on the matter.

Mwamba said that there was no evidence that Lungu was back in active politics.

According to a post on the Patriotic Front Facebook handle, Mwamba stated that official spokespersons of the Party on key policy and party positions of the Patriotic Front were a preserve of the President, Secretary General, and Chairperson for Information and Publicity.

He said it was, therefore, mischievous to allege that the statement had been issued by the Party.

Mwamba announced that Lungu resigned from active politics after losing the elections in August 2021.

“To this end, he appointed the Vice President, Given Lubinda as Acting President to handle presidential matters of the party.

“He also delegated administrative and disciplinary powers related to the office to the Acting Secretary General, Nixon Chilangwa,” Mwamba stated.

In October 2021, the party’s central committee considered these developments and accepted these decisions, directing Lungu to remain on leave indefinitely during this period to be available to hand over his office to the person that the party would elect as his successor.

“This process is underway but has since been delayed because of financial, legal, and logistical issues that the Central Committee is determined to resolve and is being attended to,” he added.

Furthermore, Mwamba clarified that Lungu refrained from participating in party activities, including campaigning for by-elections or chairing Central Committee Meetings, despite being legally eligible to stand in 2026.

On Tuesday October 17, 2023, a local platform published a statement by PF official, James Mwape, claiming that Lungu was a PF Candidate.

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