Army Gives Guy Scott Ultimatum to Cede Power According to information filtering through to Zambia Reports from Arakan Barracks in Lusaka, the defence force in the country has allegedly given Acting President Guy Scott up to Thursday to cede power and concentrate on the re-organisation of the Patriotic Front so that they peacefully take care of the transition. Sources have disclosed that senior army, commando and Zambia Air Force personnel have recently met in the wake of the PF confusion which has rendered the Zambian governance system. The defence members say there is serious discontent in the country which if not properly manage can spiral into civil strife and plunge the country into untold misery. As a result, the army have demanded that as independent observers, they were ready to transition up to the date of the elections on January 20, 2015. Most disturbing to the defence is that they can’t continue receiving instructions from private citizens in indirect reference to “illegal state power” members of the cartel like Fred M’membe and Rajan Mahtani are currently wielding. There have been meetings taking place and Dr Scott has been told in no uncertain there country is now ungovernable and only they can restore order with the Zambia Army commander guiding the transition. “They have asked for a peaceful handover so that they can manage affairs. The same people who can’t agree in one party committee are in the same Cabinet. How can they work in the interest of the country? Someone has to bring order and the soldiers are coming in to do say,” a source close to the development said. “What is also disturbing is that instructions are coming through the Acting President from private citizens who have not sworn the oath o secrecy. It’s unacceptable.” The defence force believe with Guy Scott ceding power, it will be an opportunity for him to meet his members on a level playing field. “The country has been embarrassed enough by these guys and the army will do us proud by managing the affairs for the next 60 days,” another source said. The ruling PF has been at logger heads since the death of president Michael Sata with officials failing to pick a successor. Meanwhile, Qfm reports that an emergence Central Committee meeting comprising the 27 members has resolved that Acting President Guy Scott remains suspended and that they will consider names of presidential applicants tomorrow. And the much anticipated Patriotic Front (PF) Central Committee meeting that was supposed to take place this afternoon at State House failed to take place. The Committee has also resolved that any meeting held and chaired by Dr. Scott will be considered illegal as he remains suspended. They also restated that the 16 that who were purported to be suspended remain bona-fide holders and members of the Central Committee because Dr. Scott who suspended the 16 remains a suspended official and the Committee was waiting for his letter of exculpation. Earlier discussions between Dr. Scott and Justice Minister Edgar Lungu’s Camp resolved that the meeting would take place that would include the suspended officials in the spirit of reconciliation. However when the 27 arrived at State House this afternoon, they found that 11 of their colleagues were barred entry and abandoned the meeting in solidarity. But later Dr. Scott gathered PF Secretary General Bridget Atanga, Southern Province Minister Daniel Mukombwe, Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili, Chongwe Member of Parliament Syvia Masebo, Local Government and Housing Minister Emmanuel Chenda, Anthony Kasolo, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Nixon Chilangwa, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Miles Sampa, Lusaka Province Minister Philip Kosamu, Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Symbyakula and Geoffrey Chumbwe among others.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 06:20:07 +0000