An opinion poll has indicated that Defense Minister Edgar Lungu is the firm favourite to succeed late President Michael Sata as leader of the Patriotic Front (PF) after he beat his closest rival Kabwata MP Given Lubinda by more than 40 percentage points.
The poll, which ran on Zambian Eye’s Facebook page was meant to gauge the popularity of the 10 PF presidential hopefuls ahead of the party’s extraordinary General Conference to be held this weekend.
A total of 280 people participated in the poll.
The people who will battle it out for the PF presidency include, Sata’s widow Christine Kaseba, Cabinet Ministers Wilbur Simuusa (Lands), Robert “Bob” Sichinga (Commerce), Lungu (Defence, Justice) and Chishimba Kambwili (Sports).
Others include Commerce Deputy Minister Miles Sampa, Kasama MP Geoffrey B. Mwamba, Kabwata MP Lubinda and former diplomat Col Selemani Banda.
Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata has since withdrawn from the race.
Lungu, who is also Justice Minister, easily took the top spot after polling a whooping 47.48% of the vote, while runner-up Lubinda got 12.55%. Miles Sampa came third with 5.32%, while Dr Kaseba took the fourth spot with 3.80%. Kambwili was fifth at 2.66%, while sixth spot went to Bob Sichinga who managed 1.90%.
GBM and Mulenga Sata were joint seventh at 0.76%, with Simuusa managing 0.38% to place eighth. Col Banda got no votes. 14.83% of the responses were deemed invalid.
The poll results represent a stunning reversal in fortunes for both Lungu and Lubinda, who got 3.38% and 47.48% respectively, the last time a similar poll was conducted in August.
Lungu’s surge in popularity can be attributed to him being appointed to act as president at the time of president Sata’s illness and eventual death, a situation that has led many to believe he is ‘the anointed one.’
Useless pipo will owez talk rubbish abt otherz. Wat quaLities do u hav especailly the 1 talkn abt qualities”I think the qualities u have r jus criticizing other pipos intelligence” get lost.whether u like it or nt its Edgar all the way.y ddnt u contest if u knw u hav qualities of being a leader mayb u jus the same age wt EL bt u can’t speak in public bt talk shit wt a lower voice….. Viva edgar
Zambian Eye you are the Best abashala NIBANGWELE. Viva Lungu you are the man we Want.
VIVA EL VIVA PF VIVA ZAMBIA. ABASH GUY SCOTT.
H H, H H, H H. Zambia is favourable country for political Platforms. However, Zambians decide who will be the president. Assumptions, dreams don’t work. Only the vote counts. History is very clear. Maybe, what about the Barotse issue? only votes count. Open the floodgates of Heaven and it will rain. 10 provincial distribution, who tops? only the vote counts. Car ignition, no keys, no start. Get the car keys and run the engine, smooth drive. Be Nationalists and get the benefits. bye
What has Edgar to offer honestly mwe bantu? He has no past record of success in leadership. His only record is being selected to sensitive ministerial positions (due to Sata’s paranoia) from among other MPs Sata used to call useless.
@Nox
I wish people can see your point. I can’t see what qualities Lungu has apart from getting plastered with cadres in Kanyama and being left by Sata to act as president. With this backward thinking we will never progress as a nation.
Viva Bemba Kingdom Viva Miles Sampa
Its a fake poll by Zambian eye, the front runner is Miles Sampa according to delegates who will vote not face book voters who are not even delegates. GBM will get second slot and lungu will be third whether you like it or not.
The Zambian eye and the muvi TV polls, are very good yardsticks for the PF delegates to assess their aspirerants.This gives them an opportunity to know which of the candidates is easily sellable to the voters.Therefore,whatever happens at the GC will later have an effect on the national elections.Ingore the polls at your own peril.
Eastners are going to rule again.Its lungu’s turn.GO,GO,GO,GO Lungu for plot 1.Its with or without beer “pambuyo pa Edgar”
It’s not about Easterners koswe iwe….ala！
What easterners you always rule when there’s death, after that you loose and cry, this is going to happen he will be president of the party and sink the boat
What a poorly done poll! How can you poll respondents who are not going to attend the conference. Such a pool may have relevance on national by-election, not the PF elections
Edgar Lungu is the man of the moment, no doubt about it. Check on
Hon Chishimba Kambwili`s Facebook page,its full of Edgar Lungu for
Presidency. If all of us can vote in these opinion polls.Edgar can
get not less than 60% of votes.
I`m in Copperbelt province and Edgar is having about 80% market
share.
Am sure whoever PF shall settle for will be mince meat the incoming president HH
I usually read Zambian eye, u ar trying all the best to be proffessional than other online media. Keep it up to inform the nation