MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu has said that the provincial elections the party is going to conduct to elect the new party president are legal, contrary to assertions by some members of the party.
Mr Nyangu said that the provincial elections will be conducted in a credible and transparent manner. “In each province, we are going to have officials from the Electoral Commission of Zambia and some members of the national executive committee. This is to ensure that the elections are held in a credible manner,” he said.
Last week former national secretary Katele Kalumba questioned the manner in which elections will be conducted to choose a new leader, saying that the MMD constitution does not make provisions to elect a party president through provincial conferences.
“The idea of a party conference in this respect is to elect the leadership of the party in provinces. The provincial conferences under the MMD constitution are not there to elect the president of the party. So under what constitutional provision will they stand in using provincial conferences as a vehicle for electing a president? ” Dr Kalumba asked.
Meanwhile, Mr Nyangu has advised members aspiring for presidency to ensure that their campaigns are issue-based.Mr Nyangu said aspiring candidates should avoid attacking opponents and concentrate on explaining what they are able to do for the party if elected.
He said members are not interested in bickering but want to know how the incoming leader will improve operations of the former ruling party. Mr Nyangu said the party’s leadership has observed with concern, the habit by some aspiring candidates to attack their opponents in the media.
And Mr Nyangu said the race for the top position is still open, adding that any presidential hopeful is free to join the race. “It is better for intending candidates to submit their applications now so that they can have ample time to campaign ahead of the elections,” he said.
So far, only five candidates have applied to contest the party’s top job. They are former Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Felix Mutati, Zambia’s former High Commissioner to Canada Nevers Mumba and former Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane.
Others are Chisamba member of Parliament Moses Muteteka and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Kabinga Pande.
Mr Nyangu however said members are free to join the race on or before the May 15, 2012 deadline. The provincial elections have been set for May 25 this year.
Who is a front Runner? Its interesting Nevers is behaving as if he is already Party President. National Christian Coalition President, National Citizenship Coalition President
if mmd can manage provincial watever they can aswel manage one national convention.its strange & rather sad that unipist rb cant help them wth some money towards the hostin of the convention!who ever wins wil have a mammoth task ahead,coz mmd means CORRUPTION! take heed!
Katele Kalumba should have defined, what a “convention” is in the MMD context. I am not lawyer but I guess it only becomes illegal if ineligible delegates take part in electing the MMD president. Even if the MMD holds the so-called “convention”, won`t it be the same eligible delegates that will be transportted from provincial centers to the “central convention venue”? I think the decision by the MMD to vote from provicial centers is smart. it saves them some cash. I hope they elect Dr. Musokotwane.
Gud luck! Work hard otherwise u go like UNIP…PF is already gone. There are there because the constitution says so, but come 2016, zwaa, kuya batata!
#3 Blago, I agree with every letter, word and sentence in your posting.
How will these losers vote on same day, when we have 10 provincial center, where will the candidates vote from and will their be PVT, the totalling centre will still be mulungushi? Anyway i wish Nevers well
Ifyabupuba, th whole thing is boring and for real Nevers Mumba is behaving like he’s won already!! MMD is finito if they don’t vote for Musokotwane period
The constitution clearly states that the Convention is the body that should hold elections for the National Execuitive Committee where The President and other NEC mebers are voted into office. Furthermore, constitutional changes can only be made at the Convention. Extra ordinary conventions can be held in between the 5 yearly ones for expediency. The Provincial Conferences combined will host many more candidates from the Provinces, Districts and Constituencies than one central convention, so I fail to see what savings MMD thinks it is making. The inner circle just wants to hold onto power for fear of losing its positions. Perhaps this is the beginning of the end…..
HOW MUCH WILL BE GIVEN TO MEMBERS FROM ECZ FOR THEM TO JOIN YOU ON A PUBLIC HOLIDAY? I WAIT TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN!
CHILDISH ACTS, THE REASON HH IS JOINING AS IT BEFITS HIM SINCE HE IS NOT NATURE.