Karen Mushenywa
Outgoing Patriotic Front Luanshya Member of Parliament Steve Chungu says he will recontest his seat on an independent ticket in the August 12, general elections.
Mr Chungu’s decision follows the Patriotic Front (PF) adoption of outgoing Luanshya Deputy Mayor Golden Mulenga to represent the party in the Luanshya parliamentary seat.
“I have taken a position due to the demand and request from the people of Luanshya that I should recontest the seat, many people are coming to me asking me to stand saying they want me back and still need my services, hence the decision to recontest as an independent candidate, I will be a candidate for the people” Chungu said.
Mr Chungu who has served Luanshya constituency for the past 10 years said he has the overwhelming support of the electorate in Luanshya, and that he cannot punish the electorate by staying away from the election.
“Going by my participation in the development of Luanshya , people have seen that I have participated highly in the development of the social sector to the best of my ability and through the continued interaction and working together I have built a bond with the people which is so hard to break” he said.
Mr Chungu has however endorsed President Edgar Lungu’s candidature, saying he will support his candidature in the upcoming polls, but that his decision to stand independently was motivated by the demand for his candidature by the grassroots.
“I have been there for the people of Luanshya both in happiness and in sorrow, and the people of Luanshya still feel that I have a role to play, therefore I cannot punish the people by standing by the choice they did not make” he said.
Asked whether he was going to resign from the PF party, Mr Chungu said that he would be left without a choice if that was what contesting on an independent ticket entailed.
“I will have to resign from the party if that is what contesting independently entails, but I will continue to support President Edger Lungu’s candidature” he said…
He indicated that he has served the people of Luanshya diligently and has invested highly in the social sector through the provision of service vehicles for funerals, garbage collection, among others utility vehicles using his personal resources.
“Those vehicles that I have provided to the people of Luanshya will remain at their service, I will not withdraw the vehicles they are meant to deliver a service to the people of Luanshya and they will continue to use them, the only difference you shall see is that I will rebrand the vehicles and remove all the PF symbols because I can be petitioned, am going in as an independent candidate” he said.
Mr Chungu has served Luanshya constituency for two consecutive terms under the PF ticket and has also served as Parliamentary deputy and Chief whip in his term of office/ZANIS.
