Lungu campaign in fresh set-back as PF Western Province committee members endorse HH

PF presidential candidate Edgar Lungu’s campaign has suffered yet another set-back after 17 members of the ruling party’s Western Province committee today endorsed the candidature of UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema.

The members, led by Provincial Chairperson Kenneth Simate Namutulo have also resigned from the party to join a yet to be launched party called the Democratic Front, citing indiscipline and violence in the party.

Speaking to journalists in Mongu today, Namutulo said they were endorsing the UPND leader for the January 20, 2015 presidential elections because he is young, educated and will use his business knowledge and skills to turn around the country’s economy.

He said the purported reconciliation between the warring factions in the party was fake, adding that those who were supporting Miles Sampa in western province had been sidelined in the party’s campaigns.

He revealed that there are stories going round that Party Chairperson Inonge Wina had vowed to sort out Sampa’s supporters if the PF wins the forthcoming elections and she becomes vice president.

He charged that the PF is finished in western province and that Hichilema will comfortably scoop the province.

Others who resigned are provincial Secretary Mark Siwale and his vice Ngubai Masheke, Vice Treasurer Sitali Simushi, Vice Publicity Secretary Isaac Ngandalo; Women’s League Chairlady Albertina Mulia, her Vice Mwanangombe Nalumino, Vice Treasurer Juliet Kakoma, Publicity Secretary Getrude Liswaniso, Vice Publicity Secretary Kapeshi Kalowa; on youth league, Secretary Aongola Liswaniso, Vice Secretary Munuka Liswaniso, Treasurer Charles Miyombo, Vice Treasurer Teddy Nalishebo, Publicity Child Liboma, Vice Publicity Secretary Mutonga Imasiku among others.

Recently, PF Kasamba Member of Parliament and erstwhile presidential hopeful Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba delt the party a blow after he endorsed Hichilema.