The Editor Zambia
The internal storm within the Patriotic Front (PF) has taken yet another decisive turn, with Steven Kampyongo becoming the third senior figure from the former ruling party to openly challenge the controversial rise of Makebi Zulu.
Kampyongo, the Member of Parliament for Shiwang’andu and former Home Affairs Minister, has firmly dismissed the so- called convention that purported to elevate Zulu to the presidency of the former ruling party. 
Kampyongo’s intervention follows earlier strong objections from Miles Sampa and Willah Joseph Mudolo, adding significant weight to the growing internal resistance against what many are describing as an illegitimate process.
According to Kampyongo, the timing and manner in which the gathering was convened renders its outcomes null and void.
The former PF minister argues that holding a general conference before the Court of Appeal delivers its judgment on the party’s leadership wrangles is not only premature but unlawful.
In his view, any declaration of leadership emerging from such a process carries no legal standing and should be treated as inconsequential.
This latest development has further exposed the deepening divisions within the PF, a party that once prided itself on strong central authority but now finds itself grappling with competing factions and contested claims to leadership.
What was presented by Zulu’s supporters as a breakthrough moment has instead triggered a wave of condemnation from within the party’s own ranks.
Makebi Zulu, a lawyer by profession, now finds himself at the centre of criticism not just for his ambition but for the manner in which he seeks to realise it.
Critics argue that Makebi Zulu’s approach reflects a worrying disregard for procedure, a principle that should be second nature to someone trained in law.
Politics, much like the legal profession, is governed by rules, processes, and established structures. Attempting to bypass these is seen not as innovation but as recklessness.
Reports indicate that the disputed convention allegedly drew participation from 110 districts, with Zulu said to have secured 49.2 percent of the vote.
Other contenders included Chitalu Chilufya, Given Lubinda, Chanda Katotobwe, Greyford Monde, and Chishimba Kambwili.
Yet without a credible and transparent process, these figures have done little to convince sceptics within the former ruling party.
For many observers, the issue is not merely about who won or lost but about how the process itself was conducted.
Sampa has already stated that there was no legitimate convention sanctioned by party structures, while Mudolo has dismissed the claims as lacking credibility, particularly given their emergence through unofficial channels.
Kampyongo’s intervention reinforces a central argument that is increasingly difficult to ignore.
Leadership cannot be manufactured through secrecy, social media narratives, or factional manoeuvres.
It must be earned through adherence to constitutional procedures that command the confidence of party members.
The rise of Zulu has also reignited concerns about opportunism within the PF. Once largely absent from the party’s grassroots structures, he is now perceived by some as attempting to leapfrog established leaders through tactics that undermine collective order.
His recent political activities across provinces without clear coordination with party leadership have only heightened these concerns.
There is also a growing sentiment within the PF that newcomers must be guided on the realities of political leadership.
Experience, patience, and respect for structures remain essential ingredients for anyone aspiring to lead. The notion that one can ascend to the top through speed and spectacle alone is being firmly rejected by seasoned party figures.
Kampyongo’s stance therefore serves not only as a rejection of Zulu’s alleged presidency but also as a broader call for order within the PF. It is a reminder that even in a period of uncertainty, rules cannot be discarded without consequences.
As the August 13 general elections draw closer, the PF faces a critical choice. It can either restore internal discipline and rebuild its credibility or continue down a path of confusion marked by contested authority and internal strife.
For Zulu, the message from within his own party is becoming increasingly clear.
Ambition must be matched with respect for procedure.
Without that foundation, any claim to leadership will remain fragile, contested, and ultimately unsustainable.
