LUSAKA-(MaraviPost)-Zambia’s main opposition party, the Patriotic Front (PF), has announced it will not participate in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for August, saying its future remains uncertain amid ongoing internal divisions.
The PF, led by the late former President Edgar Lungu before his death, said it has decided against contesting the poll to first resolve internal disputes rather than risk an embarrassing defeat.
The party is currently split between two factions. One group backs Makebi Zulu as party president, while another supports Miles Sampa, who was recognized by the courts as the legitimate leader.
The leadership wrangle has weakened the party’s structure and raised doubts about its ability to mount a united campaign.
In a statement, the PF said it had concluded that it would be wiser to focus on mending internal cracks before entering the national contest.
“It is better to address the problems within the party first than to contest and lose shamefully,” the party said.
The Patriotic Front was founded by the late Michael Sata and has been one of Zambia’s dominant political forces since coming to power in 2011.
Its decision to sit out the August election marks a significant shift in the country’s political landscape ahead of the vote.