Former Petauke Member of Parliament Emmanuel Jay Banda has revealed that late former President Edgar Lungu allegedly had an agreement with Patriotic Front (PF) Acting President Given Lubinda that he would remain a kingmaker and not contest the party presidency.
Speaking from exile on EMV live programme this evening, 9th January 2026, Banda claimed that President Lungu deliberately appointed Lubinda as Acting President of the PF and Chairperson of the Tonse Alliance because they had agreed he would only serve as a figurehead, not a presidential contender.
“President Lungu and Given Lubinda had an understanding. He was to be a kingmaker, not a candidate. That is why Lubinda initially refused to pay and file in his nomination papers,” Banda said.
He alleged that Lubinda only decided to contest the PF presidency after Lungu’s death, describing the move as a betrayal.
“Lubinda has betrayed President Lungu even before he is buried,” Banda charged.
“We spoke privately and I appealed to him to rescind his decision and remain the kingmaker of the party as agreed.”
Banda, who says he was a close ally of the late president, insisted that Lubinda was trusted by Lungu and had been given significant responsibility within the party.
Lubinda’s political role
Given Lubinda, a long-serving parliamentarian and former Justice Minister, was appointed PF Vice President in 2021 by President Lungu. He later played a central role in keeping the party united after PF lost power in 2021.
When President Lungu returned to active politics and later fell ill in South Africa, Lubinda was appointed to act both as PF President and Chairperson of the Tonse Alliance.
PF internal turmoil
The Patriotic Front is currently facing deep internal divisions, with 10 candidates vying for the party presidency ahead of a pending elective General Assembly.
The party is also embroiled in a bitter ownership dispute between factions led by Given Lubinda and Robert Chabinga. Chabinga, who is accused by the Lubinda faction of working with the ruling party, claims to possess the legal party documents, while Lubinda controls the grassroots structures.
Chabinga has since obtained an injunction restraining the PF from holding its elective General Assembly, further deepening the crisis within the former ruling party.
The revelations by Jay Banda are expected to intensify debates within the PF as the party struggles to chart its future following the death of its former leader, Edgar Lungu.