The MMD-National Executive Committee (NEC) has resolved to apply the fifty plus one percent threshold during its convention to elect its next leader. The decision was arrived at during a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Lusaka on Friday, ahead of its Thursday extra-ordinary convention.
MMD Spokesperson, Dora Siliya, says the party will during its provincial conventions, which will be dotted across the country, amend its constitution to facilitate the inclusion of fifty plus one percent threshold.
Ms. Siliya declared her party ready in hosting the much-anticipated provincial conventions.
Meanwhile, MMD presidential candidate Kapembwa Simbao has ticked off fellow aspirant Enoch Kavindele for suggesting that only those with a lot of money should be at the helm of the former ruling party.
Mr Simbao said Mr Kavindele’s remarks suggesting that only someone with a lot of cash should be elected to the MMD presidency during the convention set for next week Friday were off the mark.
Speaking to journalists at Pine View Guest House in Chipata yesterday, where he was canvassing for votes, Mr Simbao, who is Senga Hill Member of Parliament, said it was an illusion for the former Republican vice-president to speak on those lines.
“It is an illusion for a person to think on those lines because money will not go anywhere and whatever he said is untrue,” he said.
Mr Simbao said one’s wealth should not be a yardstick for party members in electing the party president.
He said party members would “only sniff on the money without even touching it” because the money did not belong to them.
Mr Simbao said the former ruling party used a lot of money in the 2011 general elections but it tumbled to then opposition Patriotic Front.
He was happy that the Bill on the abuse of authority of office had been assented to, saying it would restore dignity to the fight against corruption in Zambia.
“I am happy that the Abuse clause has been restored in order to give more powers to investigative wings like the Anti-Corruption Commission to do their job,” Mr Simbao, a former Cabinet minister in the MMD government, said.
He said corruption had dented many countries and should be fought at all levels.
“I will carry on with the corruption fight if I am given the mandate to lead the MMD as party president,” he said.
Mr Simbao said his chances of winning the elections were high considering the support he was garnering from party members around the country.
He said once given the mandate to lead the party, he would travel to the rural areas to meet and serve the people as if he were the republican president.
Mr Simbao said some former presidents failed to visit places such as Chilubi Island and Senga Hill because they did not want to serve the people but instead wanted people to serve them.
He said he would come up with new strategies as party president in order for the former ruling party to get back into power in 2016.
Meanwhile, Mr Simbao said it was not right for African countries to have a presidential running mate because of mistrust.
He was opposed to the Draft Constitution which stipulated that the presidential candidate should have a running mate for the position of vice-president.
He said the clause had not worked well in Africa because of differences after both got into power.
Mr Simbao was scheduled to hold meetings in Katete, Petauke and Nyimba districts of Eastern Province.
But you opposed this clause in the republican const last year, It means MMD was just doing things deliberately in order to keep stealing from the poor.
GOOD ONE MMD …BUT I WANT DR NEVERS MUMBA TO BE A PRESIDENT…..NOT BA 14BILLION IAM TIRED WITH THEM ….CI SATAN KUYA BEBELE o pf thugs go to hell
Our president Sata is being hated by crooks for he has hit them hard on corruption viva Ba Sata
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Now you accept 50+1 after rejecting it while you were in Govt for 20 years??? Very pitifull!
Siliya, I have to hand it to you, you’re not easily broken!
This is mediocrity at it’s best.MMD did not want the 50%+1 in the constitution,but it is what they will practice at their convention,hypocrites at their best.
Enock Kavindele has same qualities as Gen. Miyanda, both can’t gather a crowed.
MMD need a charismatic leader, unfortunately they only have Nevers Mumba. Kapembwa Simbao could have tried but its too late. Its Mumba to destroy the party.
Uninformed citizen
They did not want 50% +1 saying it brought confusion and anarchy to the country saying we should not take peace for granted and gave examples of Zimbabwe and Kenya. They also removed the abuse of office clause now they are saying its good its been restored.
MMD to use 50%+1, Am I dreaming? What does this tell you about these kind leaders? Zambia is indeed a playing ground.
If this was applicable in the 2011 general election MMD would have eventually carried the presidency.
Misula shenu ba MMD, you want to think we are fools? Why did you not allow the same to be included in the Draft Republican Constitution?
Funny MMD chap indeed, the issues they were rejecting while in power now he wants to tell us he supports them. I think it is right to say when they were in power they became blind or simply turned a blind eye on these important issues that they know very well. It is good that they are realizing the foolish mistakes they were making. But we still cannot trust them, not just yet!
Greediness and egocentricity caused MMD to reject the 50% +1 in the constitution in preference for the simple first-past-the-post system. They also removed the abuse of authority clause from our laws so they could steal freely.
Today they claim to support these pieces of law…… you shameless hypocrites!!
Never trust MMD with power again
Sata has made a record so far to bring sanity to our nation Crooks are in trouble we need a presient who is tough a benevolent dictator willing to do what is good for the majority Zambians.It will demotion for Dr Mumba to become President viva PF
Kavindele is back?? What a waste of time, let MMD cadres get serious, Kavi in the house will mean end of your corrupt MMD party. Mutati can do a much better job than anyone else; otherwise give it to Miss Silly Gal?? Damn she looks so old, what has happened young girl, start going to Gym Dorah??
MMD and Simbao muli bawelewele fye,what are you guys talking about? With you and your master corruption was right and you threw away the 50+ 1 clause and called those calling for it names.Anyway wishing you all the best UNIP chapter 2.
You are just a sideshow you Chaps, this government is mopping up your rubbish, even Ala Bee knows it, that’s why he is watching form afar in Boston and online (Coward). You vile crooks you are happy with the Abuse clause now after 5years. Jokers.
I’ve even wasted precious time writing this comment’s post about you crooks, you are not worth it.
Why don’t they also adopt the Vice presidential running mate bit as well? Oh, I know, they are too greedy to even think of sharing power with another person. Same old MMD. Nothing changes
F*uK MMD & the cheap stance they are trying to pull. They had three presidents in power who all failed to implement this into the country’s constitution & now this spiv has the audacity to claim 50 + 1% F*Ck this party I hope they go the same route as UNIP….
I hate MMD & their cheap politicking. Dora is a Sl*t. That’s all I can say. If she is not in Petauke trying to do juju over her case so that she get an acquital then she is yapping crap like this? Why can’t politicians especially in Zambia learn that we know their cheap. This is all messed up. You stole so much & created a nussaince who deserves to be eliminated in the process. I hope he gets murdered soon the bastard who has dragged Sata & for Sata to even accept the stupidity raises the question whether the man is really in charge. I won’t mention the fools name but just to say am saddened he is both a lawyer & journalist. What a shame to the two professions.
MMD on the move to stand on the very core of democracy, to elect a leader from a wide country representation. That leader is young, articulate, intelligent, update with world affairs and trends, logged to complexity management concepts, above all not part of corrupt elements of former MMD. That should be Dr Nevers Mumba.