Lungu wanted Mundubile to succeed him – PF MP

…He Instructed Us To Mobilise For Him

Late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu had settled on Brian Mundubile as his preferred successor to lead the Patriotic Front (PF), a serving Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament has revealed.

Mpika MP Francis Robert Kapyanga has disclosed that President Lungu personally instructed senior party members to begin mobilising support for Mundubile, despite the Mporokoso lawmaker having no initial ambition to lead the party.

According to Kapyanga, Mundubile only developed presidential aspirations after being summoned to Lungu’s residence in Ibex Hill in early 2022, where the former Head of State explicitly asked him to contest for the PF presidency.

“President Lungu told Hon. Mundubile directly to run for PF president. He said they had worked well together and that he trusted him to lead the party,” Kapyanga revealed.

He added that prior to that meeting, Mundubile’s only goal was to serve the people of Mporokoso and retire quietly from politics.

LUNGU ORDERED MOBILISATION

Kapyanga disclosed that following the meeting, Lungu personally contacted several MPs and senior party figures, directing them to mobilise support for Mundubile’s bid.

“As loyal lieutenants, we moved immediately to implement the directive. The campaign machinery was put in place and momentum was building,” he said.

However, he claimed that certain party figures later fed false information to President Lungu in an effort to derail Mundubile’s candidacy.

CLAIMS OF BETRAYAL

Kapyanga accused some PF leaders of betraying Lungu, both during his lifetime and now after his death, by going against his instructions.

He revealed that some individuals were specifically told by Lungu not to contest the presidency, and were instead assured of senior positions such as Speaker of the National Assembly when PF returned to power.

“Some people were instructed not to run. They were told they would be given senior roles when PF bounced back. Today, they have turned against that guidance,” Kapyanga said.

ATTACKS AND PROPAGANDA

The MP also dismissed allegations that Mundubile was secretly working with President Hakainde Hichilema or funding attacks against Lungu.

He described these claims as outright lies aimed at destroying Mundubile’s political career.

Kapyanga further revealed that when Lungu returned to active politics, Mundubile immediately stepped aside and ordered his supporters to rally behind the former president.

“STOP DRAGGING LUNGU’S NAME”

Kapyanga strongly condemned what he described as the continued abuse of Lungu’s name by party members seeking to cover up their failures.

“Do not betray Edgar Chagwa Lungu even in death. His greatest desire was a united PF,” he said.

He called on party leaders to accept responsibility and stop blaming the late President for the current chaos in the party.

“The confusion in PF is not his doing. It is the result of betrayal, dishonesty and poor leadership choices,” Kapyanga stated.

BACKGROUND

The revelations come amid deepening divisions within the Patriotic Front, with multiple candidates vying for the party presidency and ongoing court battles over party ownership and leadership legitimacy.

Mundubile was recently suspended by PF leadership and slapped with disciplinary charges, further escalating tensions within the party.