FORMER chief government spokesperson Dr Dora Siliiya has called on the Patriotic Front (PF) to halt internal discussions about who will be the next party presidency until Edgar Lungu’s burial.
Appearing on Hot FM on Tuesday, Dr Siliya described the current leadership debates in the PF as unhelpful.
“It is very difficult to talk about succession before you settle issues surrounding the funeral. You don’t have discussions whether it’s about replacement until the person has been buried,” she stated.
“I only wish the PF leadership God’s wisdom as they navigate the current happenings in the party.”
She said that she hopes the party eventually finds collective wisdom, noting that the current developments are unusual and do not reflect Zambian norms.
And Dr Siliya highlighted that political parties are primarily platforms for citizens to exercise their democratic mandate, rather than vehicles of internal power struggles.
She emphasised that the focus of political leadership should remain on the needs and concerns of ordinary Zambians rather than internal disputes.
“The biggest constituency is the people of Zambia, nobody is born UNIP, MMD, PF or UPND. These are just names of political parties that people will agree to use as a platform to seek mandate from the people of Zambia,” she said.
She also drew attention to pressing national issues, including persistent power shortages and the rising cost of living, which she believes continues to affect citizens across the country.
Dr Siliya urged government to prioritise addressing these challenges in order to meet the needs of the people.
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba November 27, 2025
