LUAPULA Province vice-information and publicity secretary Andrew Chabala Chipongoma has resigned from his position following Harry Kalaba’s resignation as foreign affairs minister.

Kalaba resigned on Tuesday.

In an interview from Mwense, Chipongoma also dismissed claims by some PF officials in Luapula Province that Kalaba’s resignation had sparked wild celebrations in the province.

“What I want to understand is where this story of our provincial secretary [Francis] Musunga saying Luapula Province is celebrating the resignation of ba Kalaba [is coming from]. What celebration is he talking about? What time did Mr Musunga ask the people of Luapula Province for their reaction to Honourable Kalaba’s resignation? Let’s conduct politics that are devoid of lies; no one celebrated in Mwense and not even in Mansa. People shouldn’t be lying,” Chipongoma said.

“As I speak to you, I have resigned as PF vice provincial IPS pantu chandetela umwenso (because it has brought fear to me). If PF stalwarts can resign, who am I to remain in the party? I have resigned because ilyashi lya ba Kalaba lyandetela umwenso (Kalaba’s issue has frightened me). There is a camp that recently emerged here in Luapula where PF members are labelling each other – this one is ours while this one isn’t.”

He told the ruling party membership and leadership to avoid disparaging party members each time they made a democratic decision to leave.

“Akoni kekala pamuti katemenwe (a bird sits on a branch of its choice). The PF shouldn’t demonise everyone who leaves the party,” Chipongoma said.

He further eulogised Kalaba as a “pillar in Luapula Province”.

“Ba Kalaba bantu abashakwatapo akalema nangu kamo mumibombele (he doesn’t have faults in his works). It’s a plus to the PF that he has just resigned as a minister. Nomba lishuko napakuti basheko bu MP, PF yashalako ulubali (It’s a plus that he has remained as a member of parliament, PF will somewhat benefit),” Chipongoma noted.

He said he started politics with PF founder Michael Sata in 2001.

“I resigned from the MMD to the PF three months before the 2001 general elections. I remained in the PF until it formed government in 2011 and the President appointed me as a Mwense district political secretary. When Mr Sata died, ba President Lungu froze those positions of district political secretary throughout Zambia,” said Chipongoma.