PATRIOTIC FRONT DROPS MAZABUKA CANDIDATE KIZZY MOONGA

By SIMON MUNTEMBA & OLIVER SAMBOKO BARELY 24 hours after announcing the adoption of Kissy Moonga as Patriotic Front candidate for Mazabuka Central, the PF has dropped him for embarrassing the party. PG Secretary General Davis Mwila revealed yesterday that contrary to Mr Moonga’s  assertions that he was surprised to be adopted, the man had actually applied for consideration. “Kizzy Moonga applied to be considered for adoption as a candidate aspiring for the Mazabuka parliamentary seat on PF ticket, but because of the embarrassment he has caused us, we have dropped him,” Mr Mwila said. Mr Mwila said the party decided to replace him with Southern Province minister Edify Hamukale. He said Mr Moonga went to plead with the PF members of the central committee not to drop him but they turned him down. “He applied to us and we have a letter, because of that embarrassment we have decided to replace him. He came pleading where we were holding the meeting and we say, no. We are not desperate for candidates, in fact we had five candidates that applied in Mazabuka and we have decided to go with Edify Hamukale,” he said. The double-tongued candidate aspiring for the Mazabuka parliamentary seat was also threatened with desertion by supporters should he take up the Patriotic Front adoption. Mr   Moonga was on Monday named as the PF candidate for Mazabuka Central, much to the shock of his supporters in the district. One of his strong supporters, Mr Hanjila Sevo, who is also an aspiring candidate as a councillor on the UPND ticket, told a press briefing yesterday that as supporters of Mr Moonga, they were shocked to hear that he had been adopted by PF. He said they knew Mr Moonga as a UPND member and did not expect him to be dealing with the PF. He said if it is true that Mr Moonga was contesting the Mazabuka seat on the PF ticket, then he would go alone because they would only support a candidate contesting either as an independent or on the UPND ticket.