By Brian Matambo | Lusaka

The Patriotic Front’s aspiring presidential candidates convened in Lusaka for what insiders described as one of the most consequential unity meetings since the party entered opposition. The gathering, which brought together rival contenders under one roof, produced a joint resolution to recommend the postponement of the long-awaited PF convention.

In attendance were some of the most recognisable figures in the party: Honourable Makebi Zulu, Honourable Miles Sampa, Honourable Brian Mundubile, Honourable Chishimba Kambwili, Honourable Mutotwe Kafwaya, Honourable Katotobwe, Honourable Greyford Monde, and Acting PF President Honourable Given Lubinda. Their collective appearance signalled a deliberate effort to calm internal storms and demonstrate that the party still has the capacity to organise itself.

The session was overseen by senior party elders, including former Republican Vice President Her Honour Mrs Inonge Wina Mutukwa and former PF National Chairperson Mr Samuel Mukupa. The Deputy Secretary General in charge of administration, Mr Celestine Mukandila, was also present, lending institutional weight and ensuring that the meeting carried official standing.

Not everyone could attend. Dr Chitalu Chilufya was absent. Mr Willah Mudolo, currently residing in South Africa, was unable to travel due to ongoing legal challenges. Ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba, who is living in exile in the United States, was also not present. Former Defence Minister Geofrey Bwalya Mwamba, popularly known as GBM, did not attend the meeting either.

After several hours of candid engagement, the aspirants resolved to intensify dialogue among themselves and to foster unity of purpose before proceeding to a convention. They mandated Honourable Makebi Zulu to deliver a unified statement on their behalf, underscoring a rare moment of collective discipline in a party long troubled by internal contestation.

In the joint communique, the candidates agreed to propose to the Central Committee that the convention be postponed to a later date, to be determined by the party’s highest leadership. The reasoning was straightforward: holding a convention in the current atmosphere risked deepening divisions rather than resolving them.

This meeting marked a crucial shift in tone. In the face of escalating political pressure and public anxiety about the opposition’s cohesion, the PF’s top aspirants chose cooperation over confrontation. The presence of elder statespersons, combined with the absence of key figures trapped by legal or political exile, underscored the gravity of the moment.

For now, the message emerging from the PF is one of restraint, unity, and strategic patience. Whether the Central Committee will affirm the proposal remains an open question, but the aspirants have signalled their willingness to put the party first.

A united PF, they argue, offers hope to a nation yearning for political stability and credible opposition.