
Lusaka – Leaders of Zambia’s ruling party, the Patriotic Front (PF), have quashed a plan by President Edgar Lungu to partner with opposition parties to secure a win in the country’s upcoming election.
According to a report by local newspaper The Post, PF secretary general, Davies Chama, said his party could win the August 11 elections without partnering with the official opposition, Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD).
Chama’s sentiments came in response to Lungu’s recent announcement that he was seeking a pact with the MDD to secure a 50 percent plus one threshold in the upcoming presidential elections.
Addressing PF members in Chipata over the weekend, Lungu said he had called MMD leader, Nevers Mumba, to propose the idea. Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation reported that Mumba was open to the venture and “looking forward” to discussing the viability of an alliance.
Many, however, have expressed doubt regarding the arrangement. MMD founding member Vernon Mwaanga advised that an alliance between the parties should be looked at with caution, as it could leave the parties more divided than united.
Mwaanga said the proposed arrangement was mere “political talk”, according to Zambia Reports. – AP



