By Nchimunya Miyoba
Kitwe Mayor Christopher Kang’ombe and former Kitwe District Commissioner Binwel Mpundu says it is not wrong for anyone to aspire for higher positions in the party.
And Mr Kang’ombe has refuted public assertions that they have been working with some named opposition political parties on the Copperbelt.
Speaking in in Kitwe this morning during a joint press briefing held at Sherbourne Lodge in Kitwe today Mr Kang’ombe said to have ambition to for higher political office cannot be the basis for detractors to start making assertions that they are politically misaligned.
“All parliamentary seats will be vacant upon dissolutionof parliament in May next year and so aspiring candidates must just work within the confines of party statutes and not against one another. The PF’s collective success must always invariably, supersede our narrow personal ambitions which sometimes undermines teamwork,” he said.
Mr Kang’ombe who read the joint statement said the trio, Rashida Mulenga, Binwell Mpundu and himself are still members of the Patriotic Front (PF) party even when they are being mistreated by fellow party members.
And Kalulushi Mayor Rashida Mulenga said she’s heard calls from people asking her to run for higher office and has assured the public that the decision will be made in an orderly manner that will not interfere with the functioning of the party and her office.
“Answering this call will be in wise consultation with party elders and full adherence to the rules of engagement of the party. For now my duty is to deliver on the mandate as Mayor and l am doing so with pride as I advance the electoral chances for our president and the party,” he said.
Meanwhile speaking at the same event Mr Mpundu said he will continue mobilising for the ruling party and mobilising people to support President Edgar Lungu ahead of the general elections.
He said the trio have not jumped ship to join opposition parties but have gone flat out to work for the party in the district.
In 2016 Binwell Mpundu was a frontliner in Nkana Constituency but Alexander Chiteme was picked for Nkana same with Kang’ombe who wanted to stand in Kwacha constituency which saw Joseph Malanji being picked.
