BINWELL MPUNDU U-TURNS

By ROGERS KALERO FORMER Kitwe District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu has backpedalled on his decision not to go Independent after his party, the Patriotic Front (PF) rejected his adoption bid in Nkana constituency. Mr Mpundu has declared to challenge Alexander Chiteme, whom the PF has re-adopted, barely 24 hours after pledging loyalty and respect to the ruling party. He said he would stand as an Independent candidate for the Nkana seat and support the candidature of President Edgar Lungu. He said he arrived at the decision after wide consultations and felt that his bid for the Nkana seat was in the best interest of the residents and the country at large. “After all is said and done, it was always going to come back to me making a decisions as a man. And after wider consultations I have arrived at a decision which I feel is in the best interest of the party particularly to safeguard the presidential vote as well as in the best interest of the people of Nkana constituency “I therefore wish to thank the central committee for considering my application and will not at anytime question their wisdom regarding their decision over Nkana but in the interest of the party and the people of Nkana, I wish to announce that I will be standing as an Independent candidate and will support the candidature of President Lungu,’’ Mr Mpundu said. He added: The public is aware that this is the second time I am aspiring to lead the people of Nkana and that I have proved beyond all doubts that I am loyal to the party that has politically built me up as a young leader. Mr Mpundu said he had now come under extreme pressure from the people in Nkana constituency,  who have thrown it into his face that it would be an act of cowardice if he abandoned them as he did in 2016 in the name of loyalty. “Secondly I feel duty bound to harness the frustrated voters who have vowed to stay away if I do not meet their demand to walk into the August election with them. “Like the prodigal son I wish to ask my superiors to bear with me that I have to do this purely in their best interest and as well as in the interest of the people of Nkana and when the assignment is done whether I emerge Victorious or not, I will come me back into the fold,’’ he said He said that he had heard the calls from Nkana constituency and even though he had an easy way out that would have unfortunately only benefited him and his family. “I have chosen you, the people of Nkana constituency because you deserve nothing but good leadership which I promise you. “This election is not for us the politicians, it’s for you the people. So you have the ultimate power to emerge Victorious by choosing the leaders you want and desire,’’ he said.