PATRIOTIC Front Davies Mwila says President Edgar Lungu will this Thursday open the Lusaka Provincial elections at Mulungushi International Conference Centre.

And Mwila says the PF general conference will be held on April 10 to 11.

Meanwhile, Mwila says the party is dealing with Lusaka Province PF chairman Paul Moonga’s “opposition are trying to bribe ConCourt judges” remarks administratively.

Speaking during a briefing, Thursday, Mwila said those that are eligible were free to contest any position of their choice at the conference.

“As a truly democratic party, the PF has been conducting free, credible and fair elections in all the 10 provinces of Zambia. Starting from the branches up to the provincial level. So far, we have conducted provincial elections in all the 10 provinces except Lusaka. I am pleased to announce today that the PF will conduct its provincial elections for Lusaka Province on Thursday 18th March 2021. All those that are eligible in line with our party Constitution and the electoral guidelines are free to contest any position of their choice at the conference. This conference will be held at Mulungushi International Conference. So nomination will be on Wednesday elections will be on Thursday and the conference will be opened by the President of the Republic of Zambia who is president of the party Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu,” Mwila said.

And Mwila said the general conference, which was scheduled for next month, would be attended by over 2,300 delegates who would participate virtually from their respective provinces across the country.

“In accordance with the party constitution, and in line with our democratic practices and beliefs. The PF must hold the general conference every five years to elect the party president and members of the Central committee. The Central committee in its last sitting approved and adopted the new standing order in conducting the general conference to ensure that we comply with the health guidelines on COVID-19 as prescribed by the Ministry of Health. In view of the above, the Central committee resolved that the general conference shall be done virtually to avoid the spread of COVID-19. The general conference is expected to be attended by over 2,300 delegates who will participate virtually from their respective provinces across the country. I am pleased to announce that the Central Committee has set 10th and 11th April 2021 as the date of the general conference for the PF to elect the party president and members of the central committee. All members of the party who are eligible in accordance with the party Constitution and electoral guidelines are free to contest any position of their choice,” he said.

Mwila said in Lusaka alone, there was an average of 10 people per constituency applying to contest as members of parliament on the PF ticket.

“As you may be aware, the PF started the process of accepting applications from the members of the party who are interested in contesting the 2021 general elections on the PF ticket. The party has set 20th March 2021 as the final date for acceptance of applications letters. I must mention that the secretariat has been overwhelmed by the high response of people who are applying to contest the forthcoming elections on the PF ticket. In Lusaka alone, we have an average of 10 people per constituency applying to contest as members of Parliament on the PF ticket. This goes to show just how popular PF is as a party. The competition is so stiff because everyone knows that once you are adopted on the PF ticket, victory is guaranteed. The other political parties have no people competing for adoptions because they are simply not open. In fact, they are waiting for PF to do its adoptions so that they can try to poach those of our members who will not be adopted,” Mwila said.

“But I wish to remind all those that have applied on the PF ticket to remember that there can only be one candidate at a time. They must not despair and leave the party or choose to contest as independent candidates. Instead, they should rally their support behind whoever will be adopted. We must always pledge our loyalty to the party and the President and not to our individual aspirations or cause. The party is bigger than everyone and we are duty bound as members of the party to sacrifice our personal renditions for the greater good of the party and the Republic of Zambia as a country.”

Meanwhile, when asked if Moonga would be punished for saying the opposition was trying to bribe judges to disqualify President Lungu, Mwila said his office was handling the matter.

“The issue of the Lusaka provincial chairman Mr Paul Moonga, yes my office is very much aware of what had transpired and this matter is being handled by my office administratively,” he responded.

When further questioned about Lusaka Lawyer Kelvin Bwalya Fube’s intentions to challenge President Lungu, Mwila said he would not attend the general conference.

“We expelled KBF a long time ago. And that is a buried issue and as far as we are concerned, as a party, he is not a member of the party and he is not going to attend the general conference because he is not part of the 2,300 delegates,” said Mwila.