Mundubile is main threat to HH – Amos

By MUBITA KATETE

…as he discloses that assessments are currently underway to establish whether support for the UPND has indeed declined in Lusaka, Copperbelt to determine the current political standing of the ruling party

BRIAN Mundubile is the main threat to President Hakainde Hichilema and should not be written off as the main opposition force in the August 13 general election, Amos Chanda has said.

Mr Chanda, a member of the UPND media strategy team says the governing party would be lying to itself to claim that Mr Mundubile, the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance presidential torch bearer was not a force to reckon with in the August polls.

Speaking when he featured on Prime TV, Mr Chanda said he was experienced enough to tell what the electoral optics were prevailing and advised the ruling party against complacency by swimming in self-confidence when the tide could be shifting.

“Brian Mundubile is the main threat to President HH (Hakainde Hichilema) in the August general elections. I am experienced enough to tell the optics, I will not seat in the UPND strategy team and lie to myself that Mundubile is not a force” Mr Chanda said.

Mr. Chanda said that the UPND had reportedly been losing popularity in both Lusaka and Copperbelt Province, the regions which often determined who could win the presidency in an election.

He disclosed that assessments were currently underway to establish whether support for the ruling party had indeed declined in the two key regions, adding that teams had already been deployed on the ground to gather information and determine the current political standing of the UPND.

And Mr. Chanda has ruled out any return to public office, stating that he had no interest in serving in government again, regardless of who would win the August 13 general election.

“I cannot serve in public office again, not even as a minister. I am unavailable for such responsibilities. Even if Brian Mundubile wins the upcoming elections and invites me to serve in his government, I cannot take it,” he said.

The former presidential aide dismissed suggestions that he resigned from State House due to corruption allegations, maintaining that he has never been involved in corrupt activities.

"I did not resign from State House because of corruption. I have never been corrupt," Mr. Chanda said.

He disclosed that Congolese businessman and politician Moïse Katumbi had encouraged him to remain in his position at the time he was considering stepping down.

"Moïse Katumbi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who wanted to work with me on a certain project, was also stopping me from resigning," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Chanda, has called for the abolition of the Grade 12 certificate requirement for individuals seeking to contest the presidency, describing the qualification as unnecessary.

Mr Chanda argued that leadership ability should not be determined by formal academic qualifications, citing former South African President Jacob Zuma as an example.

"Let's abolish the Grade 12 requirement for one to run for the presidency. It is unnecessary. Jacob Zuma, the former President of South Africa, never went through formal schooling, yet he successfully ran one of Africa's most sophisticated economies," Mr. Chanda said.

Ends.