Twist in Zambia succession battle as acting president backs Lungu

LUSAKA, Sunday

Zambia’s private daily says army chiefs have exerted pressure on interim leader Guy Scott to back the controversial candidature of Justice Minister Edgar Lungu.

The Post, privately owned, reported today that Dr Scott met Defence chiefs on Friday where he was blackmailed into believing that there would be bloodshed if Mr Lungu’s rival Miles Sampa’s supporters also turned up for the filing of nomination papers at the country’s Supreme Court.

Mr Lungu and Mr Sampa were in court over the party presidency after both were elected by various conferences.

But the party Saturday announced it has buried all its differences and Scott would back Mr Lungu’s bid instead.

“The PF reconciliatory meeting held on Friday night took place because acting President Dr Guy Scott was blackmailed by the Defence chiefs to believe that there will be bloodshed if he didn’t come in to support Edgar Lungu and ask Miles Sampa to withdraw from the race,” reported The Post, quoting unnamed sources.

“Anyway that meeting was held when a position had already been made. Guy was hijacked, it was like a gun was put to his head to act in favour of Lungu’s camp. He had no choice, it was either he runs away or gives in.”

The paper quoted its sources saying he had an option to fly out to Scott but that was not the best option.

The governing party has seen a rough succession battle since President Michael Sata’s death on October 28.

Dr Scott appeared with Mr Lungu yesterday as the latter filed his nomination papers at the Supreme Court in the capital Lusaka on Saturday.

After the meeting the warring parties issued a statement saying “the rest of the parties would back the PF president Edgar Lungu after he files his papers”.

“Acting President Guy Scott will lead 200 voters that will support the presidential nomination of Mr  Lungu as a gesture and act of reconciliation,” a statement sent to reporters by party Secretary General Davies Chama read.

LOST HIS BID

Meanwhile, former president Rupiah Banda has lost his bid to contest the Republican Presidency after the Supreme Court blocked his MMD candidature. This means that MMD leader, Nevers Mumba who was suspended by the party to pave way for Mr Banda’s adoption, will contest the elections on the MMD ticket.

A full bench of Supreme Court judges led by acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda yesterday in its more than an hour judgment, stopped MMD national secretary Muhabi Lungu and his agents from implementing the resolutions of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and Members of Parliament (MPs) meeting held on November 18, 2014.

Among the resolutions of the December 18, 2014 meeting was the suspension of Dr Mumba on alleged gross misconduct, and the adoption of Mr Banda as the MMD candidate in next year’s elections.

Mr Malila said that on the evidence before court, Dr Mumba had made out a strong case to warrant the Supreme Court to order for a mandatory injunction in his favour restraining Mr Lungu from suspending him.

“All circumstances considered, we are of the view that on the evidence before us, the appellant has made out a strong case to warrant us to order a mandatory injunction in his favour restraining the defendant, by his agents, servants and whomsoever, to forthwith restore the appellant as the MMD President and not to further implement the resolutions of the National Executive Committee meeting” Mr Justice Malila said.