The opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy has reaffirmed its decision to adopt former republican president Rupiah Banda as its presidential candidate for the 20th January 2015.
Speaking at a media briefing this morning at the party secretariate MMD National Secretary Muhabi Lungu said the decision to adopt the former president was a unanimous decision arrived at by the NEC and that the party has already written to Mr. Banda informing him of the party’s decision to adopt him as its candidate for the forth coming elections.
Mr. Lungu said the party constitution gives NEC the power to chose a candidate and Mr. Banda was the candidate chosen to stand on the party ticket which should be respected by all members who wish well for the party.
“There is nowhere in this constitution were it says the president of the MMD shell be the automatic candidate for presidential elections non! It is silent and they did it deliberately however, the convention at each juncture there has been resolution made to select a presidential candidate.”
And Mr. Lungu has warned of stern action against any provincial structures issuing statements against NEC and disputing the decision to adopt the former president.
He said the decision was final and that those issuing statements to the media risk facing disciplinary actions as well as being charged for insubordination.
He explained that when the decision to adopt Mr. Banda was being made only 3 provincial chairpersons were not present (Copperbelt, Muchinga and Northern)
And Mr. Lungu has called on members who have been striped of their positions or those facing any disciplinary actions to write to secretariate so as to have their cases re-looked at for consideration of dropping the charges.
He said there is need for members to work together so as to ensure that the party wins the elections next year.
And on the issue of join an alliance Mr Lungu said the party is open to the idea of forming alliances with other parties including the UPND but that it will only go to the negotiating table as an equal partner and not a junior partner.
His the party is committed to the idea of forming partnerships with other political parties but only as equals.
It seems only HH will manage to fill in nominations on the 17 of November.
I mean’t say on the 17 December on HH is more than ready fill in nominations and ready to take Zambia forward.
Viva HH.
HH must be dull not to win by a landslide. He has the whole platform to himself.
Are we in reverse gear – 17 November??? Just asking.
Nevers Mumba never used his head. He must have seen all this coming his way.
Nevers,you are a man of God and you know that God’s time is the best.It would appear that the Lord is preserving you for the big one in 2016.For me,you deserve a lot of commendation for the manner you have built MMD from its loss in 2011 till now when others who were on the sideline have found it attractive.
RB will not stand in 2016 if he accepts to go for it now.My advice is work with RB now so that the party is not thrown into disarray.
DR. Munba you chased kachingwe who could have defended and you brought in some to chew you uncooked. Ala bane in kolwe piteni ne mbwa.
With all due respect, I think there is just something wrong with any decisons made and later on enforced using fear and intimidation. This is not the MMD we believed in. This is not the MMD we formed. Even Major Kachingwe who suffered at the hands of Nevers Mumba’s zealot supporters disagrees with what is happening now.
Personally, am temporarily withdrawing my support for the 2015 campaign. It does not just feel right or sound right. Let us meet again at the 2016 national convention and use it to fix our party and constitution for the 2016 elections.
Are you choosing to turn a blind eye to Dr. Mumba’s own weaknesses and the blunders he committed? Not many of us wish to see him fall. However, MMD had to be saved. And that is the greater good.
yes. if you party will be in existence in 2016
what is the fate of guy scott? whoever wins the by election should conder deporting guy scott before he puts the country on fire
Deporting Scott to where? You cannot deport a Zambian from Zambian. I wonder what people like you are doing here instead of digging trenches somewhere as a labourer.
Muhabi the man with the power……!!! Nevers Mumba a burried pompous man of God.
Viva Flight 2015HH……!!!
Anderson deep down your heart you know very well that the under5 cant win any given elections at all cost,whether confusion or no confusions in PF.
@ Mazabuka fan
Who told you that HH cannot win any election?
Muhabi Lungu mis the senior undertaker whose bent to kill mmd like he did to unip after which he will go and serve as rbz administrative assistant. Old people are out 8f fashion? The best stare decis or precedent for mmd is in 1991 when the seating president of the party contested the polls. it’s a precedent because that’s the only time mmd participated in the elections as an opposition. Any other time mmd was in power. How did the founders arrive at the decision? I suspect it’s obvious. Choosing another candidate is like advertising one product and when the time comes to do business you produce another product. Expect a lot of clients to change their minds. RBees dirty deeds are still in our door steps….zamtel, schools were almost sold, etc. All the crooks in mmdz NEC realized they…
I honestly don’t know why my party has decided to do this. Nevers may not be a popular candidate but I believe with the confusion in the Paya Farmer (PF) we had such a good chance even better than HH. Recent actions are making us look just as confused as the PF when we are a very mature and democratic party. Come MMD we can do better than this.
@ Mthangatambeta
You seem to imply that MMD did not follow their constitution when adopting RB.
I agree, you look just as confused as PF because you are the same people. All PF leaders came from MMD. Only HH is different.
So the whole lot of MMD membership could not find a better candidate than RB if Mumba is hard to sell? I do not really see how MMD will find a candidate apart from RB in 2016. Why then are you led by Mumba if he is hard to sell? You guys are pure jokers. Do you really fully understand the negative impact your decision of retrieving RB from the archive has on the party? That MMD has no leaders. Mr. Lungwangwa, you even call yourself Prof? Shame. Surely even between the 2 vice presidents, you could not find anyone suitable? MMD IS DEAD. FINITO.
One day you will appreciate the dynamics of politics. RB may have stepped-in to come and do the dirt work that no one else was willing to do. I believe that their key goal was not to get a better candidate. It was, instead, to get MMD back on track.
Are you forgeting that MMD has a habit of recalling people from retirement to stand as presidential candidates? Remember the Mwanawasa case and RB case? Now it is RB again, eish!!!
Muhabi seems to have a demon which kills political parties new comers to politics are now in Parliament and yet Muhabi has never been in Parliament despite trying. He must consult his father how to go about Politics. MMD i will be attending your funeral immediately you die.
Threatening other party officials will not work you are making it worse. RB to me is just a greedy old man working with a greedy NEC what a waste of political space.
@MMD ChiefBootleaker, You have been consistent in your analysis, I agree with you 100%. The act of intimidation does not add up. After all, Zambia is composed of over 13mil people, so what NEC had done is act as if they force all voters to go by their choice? Its amazing how people think.
Your earlier point on parties constitutions makes sense , Its true UPD might seem safer for now, but should HH lose 2015, its more than likely they have to go back to the drawing board to reconsider fielding someone else in 2016. I do not believe when people say UPD is tribal, because every party that come in power, has had its power base before reaching out. Its a rule of thumb. PF, had it power base in Luapula /Northern, UNIP= Eastern, MMD=Luapula Northen, then Eastern etc You got to staart from…
James.. James..James slow down. You are a schooled person man, do so permutations. RB can not win the election- 15% at the best.
What will RB do if he loses this election, as he surely will? Will he remain to reorganise the MMD or will be once again abandon ship to claim his retirement benefits? RB and the MMD were cowed by Kabimba and late Sata to the extent where none of his former ministers would dare escort him to court. Only Nevers took a stand against PF intimidation and bullying tactics. Almost all the former ministers could not stand up to defend the MMDs achievements which were being rubbished as ” the mess that will take a long time to correct”. Nevers was the only voice. Voting for RB in this election is like going back to ones vomit. RB is a none starter, please MMD read the writing on the wall.
With Banda at the helm MMD is finished. He is a sick old man, double retired, con man, a thief and a disgraceful selfish husband. We dont need another state funeral. I’ve said it , there. His boys are eagerly waiting for him to get back to plot one and then they can continue looting our govt and he can continue his world tour. Aren’t there any other suitable candidates besides this old washed out thief?? Dismantle the party if that’s the case.
Spot on Tigress! RB’s antics centred around the issues of wine, women and song. You may recall RB baring his tummy while ogling the ‘virgins’ in Swaziland!
@ Tigress: there is nothing to dismantle anymore. It was dismantled when Mumba was kicked out. MMD will be so lost after 20th Jan 2015. Most of the MPs will in principle cross over to UPND but they will just hang-on to avoid by-elections. Their monthly contributions will be going to UPND. Watch the space.
Complete Nonsense. RB and his tandem of thiefs will never have my vote if this is how they behave in such an undemocratic way. Former president Chiluba started this mess with his third term bid when he choose a president outside NEC. But two wrongs dont make a right and bad habits die hard.
Mazoka became treasurer of a ward and both Sata and Chiluba felt very threatened that he had bigger ambitions. Naturally they confiscated his campaign vehicle (it was actually parked at State House) but before they could expel him he left MMD. I met Mazoka at Pamodzi Hotel and the only thing I told him was ‘Why don’t you just form your own party?’ His response was ‘We will see’. For sure he went ahead formed UPND. That is what real men do. Stop clinging to parties that are already damaged goods like MMD Mr. Mumba. If you feel you are that popular hey just go to the Registrar of Societies and register a party after which you can contest the forthcoming Presidential election. All this fussing and fighting I do not understand and want to know why as sung by Bob Marley.
UPND can not win any election on it own. Do not cheat your selves because he has no numbers on the ground. Let him work with MMD and he will be appointed VP and then Presidential candidate in 2016. Simple
A president of mmd is chosen by a small number of members of the so called central committee, what’s the work of mmd’s Convention or General Conference the supreme mmd body? Muhabi Lungu, that old spent catridge is selfish/corrupt oldman poised to luz big. Anyway Nevers will work with HH effectively dimming that selfish old log.