CHARITY Lumpa has announced her withdrawal from the parliamentary race for Lusaka Central saying she will now support Patriotic Front candidate Margaret Mwanakatwe along with President Edgar Lungu.
Despite being favorite with the PF grassroots in Lusaka Central, the ruling party picked Mwanakatwe over her.
Lumpa then went on and filed her nomination as an independent candidate for Lusaka Central.
But in a statement this afternoon, Lumpa announced that; “It is with gratitude that I announce that I have withdrawn my candidature and participation as an Independent Member of Parliament in the race for Lusaka Central Constituency”.
Lumpa said her decision was a result of “extensive discussions with my family, friends, and indeed supporters”.
“To this effect I have since written to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and to my Party about this matter,” Lumpa stated.
She said it was imperative that the vote for both President Lungu and the party was maximised.
“…and my action is meant to foster and contribute to the inevitable victory of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and Hon Margaret Mwanakatwe in the August.12, 2021 polls”.
Further, Lumpa said “I am humbled by and grateful for the honour and support that the people of Lusaka Central Constituency have given me during this whole process….I am greatly humbled by and grateful for the honour and support the people of Lusaka Central Constituency have given me during this process”.
“I have also appreciated the mature and fatherly leadership that His Excellency President Edgar Lungu has shown to me, the Party and the people of Zambia,” she added.
“He has embedded the internal democratic process that exists in the Patriotic Front and continues to engender democracy in Zambia”.
Lumpa said she remained loyal and committed to the PF and to President Lungu.
©Kalemba