.Chikwanda

By SYLVESTER MWALE –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has appointed chairpersons for committees and new members of the Patriotic Front (PF) Central Committee, as part of the ongoing reorganisation of the party in readiness for next year’s general elections.
Key appointees include Alexander Chikwanda who is now the ruling party’s treasurer and chairperson for Finance as well as Father Frank Bwalya who will be heading the information committee as chairperson.
Mr Lungu appointed Mandevu Member of Parliament (MP) Jean Kapata as the new chairperson for elections while Stephen Kampyongo takes over as Youth Development and National Security chairperson.
This was according to a statement released yesterday by Special Assistant to the President for Press and public Relations Amos Chanda.
The changes followed the ruling party’s Central Committee meeting held on Saturday.
Munali MP Professor Nkandu Luo is the new party chairperson for labour, while her counterpart for Kabwata Given Lubinda takes over as committee chairperson for agriculture with Commerce Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe taking charge of commerce.
Community Development Minister Emerine Kabanshi was appointed chairperson for community development and social welfare while Charles Banda and Richard Kapita will head mobilisation and tourism, Arts and culture respectively.
Mr Lungu said Vice president Inonge Wina would continue as party Vice-President while Davies Chama retains his position as Secretary General and spokesperson.
He said Father Bwalya would assume all functions relating to information and communication in the party and the existing Media and Strategy Committee would now fall under him although he would work
closely with Mr Chama.
The President expected that the new appointees and old members of the Central Committee would rise to the challenge, articulate the party manifesto and prepare the PF for the polls.
Mr Lungu directed all MPs to get back to their respective Constituencies as often as possible and to all party grassroots to mobilise people to register as voters and explain the PF manifesto as well as the ongoing developmental programmes.