FORMER Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Mumbi Phiri has disclosed that she is shelving her presidential aspirations to open a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO).
Ms Phiri says her decision comes in the wake of her deciding to focus on registration of a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) which will look after the welfare of women, children and the sick in correctional facilities.
She however said she will never quit politics, but that shelving the presidential ambitions is meant for a good cause which is that of serving the vulnerable in the correctional facilities.
Speaking during a radio interview, Ms Phiri said it was disheartening to see the state of affairs in correctional facilities, which is why she has decided to step in and help.
“I wanted to run for the PF presidential seat, but after refection, my vision is to shelve the presidency aside. This is because I want to register an NGO to look after women, children and the sick in prison,” she said.
Ms Phiri said having spent 429 and a quarter days in the correctional facility, it was disappointing to encounter some bottlenecks in the correctional facilities.
She also reprimanded the Human Rights Commission who she claimed has never visited the correctional facilities to ensure human rights are in place.
“I can never quit politics. I have just shelved my presidential ambitions. I cannot quit because a lot of women will be scared. So I have to inspire them,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ms Phiri has advised the church not to get involved in the reconciliation process between President Hakainde Hichilema and his predecessor Edgar Lungu, but that they should instead pray for the two.
Ms Phiri said reconciliation comes naturally and not in a forceful manner, which is why the two statesmen should not be forced into it.
“I do not agree that the church should bring together HH and ECL to reconcile. Reconciliation comes naturally. You cannot force a horse to drink water. Let the two see it for on their own. The only thing the church should do is to pray for them because that is their job. Otherwise, they should not get involved,” she said.
(Mwebantu, Friday, 19th May, 2023)