Patriotic Front (PF) acting President Given Lubinda said his name would not appear on the ballot at the convention.
Lubinda said he decided to focus on a smooth leadership transition.
“There is nothing to think about. I said that President Edgar Chagwa Lungu put me in a very difficult position when he appointed me vice president and acting president of the party because he m ‘has put him in a position that is key to ensuring there’s a party that people can even talk about and that’s close to my heart,’ he said.
“I’m sure even now there are suitors complaining about the choices made and wondering if they’re making choices to favor one another.”
Lubinda said the PF was unaware of a meeting where UK Africa Minister Vicky Ford met opposition figures.
The former Justice minister also said that while he has ambitions as president, he is focused on the big picture to ensure a united and peaceful transition from Edgar Lungu to the next party president.
Lubinda said if this wasn’t handled well, there would be no party to discuss after the convention.
“I’m in a tricky position because I’m the interim party leader. I’m not depriving myself of a chance, I think I have to see the bigger picture.
“I can’t think of myself as a party leader without wondering if there will be a party. I may have ambitions to be president, but president of what? A disbanded party?
“I would rather focus my energies on organizing the party to become a member of a strong party than focusing on my selfish personal interests and ending up becoming chairman of a disunited party,” he said.
Lubinda disclosed that there had been no meeting with Ford or the UK High Commission delegation, as Ford said during his appearance on Hot FM on Thursday.
“I am here with the administration. I am with the general secretary of the Party and none of us received an invitation to such a meeting. It may have hit the opposition but it did not involve the PF and they are not allowed to use the PF,” Lubinda said.
“So when you say opposition, who is opposition in Zambia if not the PF? Could it be the Socialist Party? Can you say that a person met the opposition when he met the Socialist Party, or he met the DP and did not meet the PF with 60 MPs?”
