Zambia’s president expels party critics

By Francis Maingaila

LUSAKA, Zambia

Zambian President Edgar Lungu has expelled two senior ruling party officials, including one potential challenger to the presidency, the Patriotic Front (PF) party announced Sunday.

Davis Mwila, the party’s secretary general, told a press conference that the Central Committee, chaired by Lungu, decided to expel the critics for insubordination against Lungu and the party at a meeting at the State House on Saturday night.

Former Information Minister Chishimba Kambwili, who has announced he will challenge Lungu in the 2021 presidential elections, was expelled, along with former Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge.

“This decision was taken in the interest of the unity and integrity of the party,” said Mwila.

But Chishimba told journalists that his expulsion is illegal and that he will fight it in court.

“I will have my lawyers seek an order in the Constitutional Court to declare my expulsion not only illegal but also unconstitutional,” he said.

Chishimba has not only been Lungu's main critic in his bid to seek a third but also in 2015 was his rival to replace late President Michael Sata, who died in office.