PF has lost values and principles says Kabimba

Former Justice Minister and PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba has resigned from Patriotic Front. 

Kabimba was in the recent past relieved of his positions as Minister of Justice and Secretary General of the PF by the late President Mr Michael Chilufya Sata on 28 August, 2014. 

“Yesterday I delivered my letter of resignation from the Patriotic Front (PF) to His Excellency the Acting President Dr. Guy Scott.” he says. 

Kabimba says he joined PF purely on principle and again he has resigned purely on principle. 

“My life has never been based on sheer opportunism but on the desire to serve the people of Zambia. Here are a few facts about my entry and stay in PF.” he says. 

He says in 2006 he was invited by late President Michael Chilufya Sata to join the PF. 

“Mr Sata shared with me the values, vision and aspirations of the party and after reflecting I agreed to join the party and became chairperson for Local Government.” he says. 

Kabimba says in January 2009 the President asked him to become Secretary General of the party. 

“I was reluctant to accept that position. It took three months for me to finally accept the offer and that is how I became PF Secretary General in April 2009. From January till I finally accepted the appointment, the position had remained vacant.” he says. 

He says in 2010 at his office at Godfrey House, he requested President Sata to leave him out of his cabinet after the 2011 elections. 

“I told him that I knew as early as that time that PF was going to win but I wished to remain outside government.” he says. 

Kabimba says in 2011 when PF won the elections, the President invited him to discuss appointments to his government. 

“Mr Sata again asked me to serve in his government but I turned down the offer, sticking to my earlier wish to remain outside government. Instead I recommended a number of my colleagues for appointment.” he says. 

He says in 2012 the President again asked him to join government.
“This time he lobbied the support of the people that he knew were close to me and asked them to persuade me. I felt duty bound to serve my President and my country and finally accepted to be in cabinet.” he says.  

Kabimba says in 2014, on 28 August, he was relieved of his positions as Minister of Justice and Secretary General of the PF. 

“That's been my service, in brief, in the PF. Nothing about opportunism but everything to do with service. I've not lobbied for any position but at every turn I was invited to serve in a number of positions.” he says. 

“I had wished that I would continue serving the party as a member loyal to its values and principles. However, my loyalty has been undermined because these values and principles are, sadly, lost. Recent events have left me dismayed at the escalating criminal, violent and corrupt behaviour in the party. If I joined PF on the basis of certain values and principles, surely I must resign when such values and principles are lost because I will be serving no purpose in the party. That is why, dear comrades, I have resigned. I hope you will understand how difficult this decision was, because I still have good friends in the party who mean well. I can't help but sympathise with them, given the prevailing circumstances in the party.” he says.