Mutati opts to resign as Finance Minister

MMD faction leader Felix Mutati is reported to have tendered his resignation as Finance Minister to President Lungu, sources within the Patriotic Front (PF) have disclosed.

This follows petition against him by members of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) from Eastern province who have accused him of having visited the province to strengthen the MMD, a move they say is disadvantaging the ruling party.

The petition was handed over to PF Secretary General Davies Mwila who promised to hand it over to President Lungu.

But sources in PF say Mutati got wind of the petition felt embrassed suspecting the petitions were being supported by some senior members within the ruling party hence his move to resign.

The source however says President Lungu is not keen to let Mutati go and he has asked him to hold on so he can calm down the situation.

Efforts to get a comment from Mutati failed by press time as his phone was unreachable.

MMD has two presidents, Nevers Mumba who is working with the UPND and Mutati team sponsored by former President Rupiah Banda who in a pact with PF.