Fugitive former Petauke Member of Parliament Emmanuel Jay Banda has called on PF faction leader Given Lubinda to immediately withdraw his presidential ambitions, warning that remaining in the race would amount to a betrayal of late former president Edgar Lungu. Banda accused Lubinda of abandoning the kingmaker role he was entrusted with by Lungu in order to pursue the party presidency. He claimed that Lubinda was not meant to seek the top position but was instead positioned to stabilise and unite the Patriotic Front during a difficult period.
The former Petauke Central lawmaker said that while Lungu was receiving medical treatment in South Africa, he left Lubinda as acting party president because he believed the veteran politician would not contest the presidency but would act as a neutral unifier. Speaking in a recent interview on EMTV, Banda stated that Lubinda’s decision to seek the PF presidency now represents a breach of trust, describing it as a betrayal of the understanding he had with Lungu. He added that Lubinda had previously declined to pay the K200,000 nomination fee for aspiring candidates, citing an agreement to remain a kingmaker.
“Because he sat down with ECL and agreed to be a kingmaker,” Banda said. “But today, in the absence of ECL, Lubinda wants to abandon that agreement.” Banda urged senior PF members and individuals close to Lubinda to engage him and remind him of the responsibility entrusted to him by Lungu. He maintained that Lubinda should withdraw from the race and retain the kingmaker role, cautioning that the move could have lasting consequences for the party.
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Sick chap. Sata said people have been drumming, now Is my time to drum too. Can’t hold on to nonsense kingmaker thing. Agreement???
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