By FELIX MALUNGA –

A FEUD is brewing in Luanshya where Patriotic Front (PF) national youth chairperson, Chishimba Kambwili has threatened to expel Luanshya Member of Parliament (MP), Steve Chungu and two others for allegedly dividing the ruling party in the district.

But Mr Chungu hit back at Mr Kambwili, saying he was tired of the Roan Constituency parliamentarian’s alleged intimidatory tactics which he claimed were making PF unpopular in Luanshya.

Speaking during a party he organised for the PF’s lower organs at Club Belle Isle on Sunday, Mr Kambwili accused Mr Chungu, who is also PF’s Luanshya chairperson, district vice-chairperson, Patrick Maipambe and vice-publicity secretary, Charles Mulenga of creating confusion in the area.

Mr Kambwili, who is Sport and Youth Minister, said the trio was planting seeds of discontent within the party structures in Luanshya and warned that they risked being expelled from PF.

He said President Michael Sata had been preaching to PF to respect the party’s grassroots but that Mr Chungu and his colleagues were instead allegedly creating confusion in the party structures.

Mr Kambwili said the party warmly welcomed Mr Chungu and others who defected from the MMD, but that the newcomers had decided to import the confusion from the former ruling party into PF.

“I would like to warn those coming from other parties not to bring confusion into PF. Some of the people from MMD have started dividing us.

“I warn that they will be expelled from the party. Go and tell Steve Chungu that PF is not for confusion, we shall expel them. They are trying to block our programmes. If you want confusion, go back to MMD,” he said.

But Mr Chungu said in an interview that he refused to be intimidated by his Roan counterpart, claiming instead that it was Mr Kambwili who was creating disunity in PF.

Mr Chungu said he had never responded to Mr Kambwili’s allegations against him for a long time, but that it was now time to break his silence and put the record straight.

He charged that Mr Kambwili had been interfering with the running of PF’s affairs in the district, claiming the minister even stops people from attending his meetings.

Mr Chungu said Mr Kambwili allegedly thrived on threats and directives for anyone who stood up against his alleged intimidation.

“We are tired of Mr Kambwili’s intimidation in the district. He is bringing disunity. I’ve never reacted for a long time to the many allegations he has been making against me.

“I am guided by the principles of PF’s constitution. I’m not in competition with him. I’m my own competition and I’ve refused to be intimidated by him. By being quiet is not a sign that we are scared of him but merely showing maturity,” he said.

Mr Chungu also alleged that Mr Kambwili had been telling some people in Luanshya that he had been endorsed by President Sata to succeed him.

He said the PF district leadership was behind President Sata and all those he had appointed to serve in various positions.