GBM should be HH’s running mate – Bishop Chihana

Geoffrey Mwamba

IFCC president Bishop Simon Chihana has made a strong case for former Defense Minister Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba to be appointed running mate to UPND presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema.

Hichilema has thus far kept the world guessing as to who his potential second-in-command will be should he ascend to power, a situation that has caused anxiety among the party’s supporters and detractors alike.

Yesterday, speculation heightened that the UPND leader had settled for his late arch-rival Michael Sata’s widow Christine Kaseba, leaving out his two vice presidents Geoffrey Mwamba and Canisious Banda. However, sources close to Dr Kaseba have sought to distance the former first lady from the race, saying she has never been approached by Hichilema.

And weighing in on the running mate issue, Bishop Chihana believes the issue should not even be up for debate as Mwamba, populary known as GBM, has done enough to earn himself the position.

Bishop Chihana warns that picking anyone other than Mwamba will seriously jeopardize the chances of the UPND unseating the ruling PF after August 11.

“The United Party for National Development (UPND) is not supposed to be in any running mate crisis to Mr Hakainde Hichilema. What has been very clear before the Zambian people is that since Mr Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba joined the UPND, he has been a great force to reckon with by all means and by every voter in almost every province,” Bishop Chihana said in a statement to Zambian Eye.

“The Executive leadership of the party must not even debate much about such, GBM has sold the party and its President so well, particularly on the copperbelt, northern and Luapula provinces and the general public are crying for him to be the running mate to Mr Hichilema.

“It would be very disappointing if he is not adopted as the running mate and it shall ultimately affect the voting patten for the presidency for Mr Hichilema.

“Mr GBM, has paid the price for the UPND by being locked up in police cells a number of times for the party than any one else and it just prudent that he becomes the running mate to HH for he clearly deserves it without question or doubt. His commitment has been unmatched.”