MMD members of Parliament (MPs) and national executive committee (NEC) officials have described the expulsion of 18 party members as illegal.
And MMD national chairperson Kabinga Pande has called for the party’s NEC to meet immediately.
Mr Pande said at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the suspension of the MMD members who endorsed other candidates in the just-ended election is illegal.
He said MMD treasurer Mwansa Mbulakulima has no powers to suspend or expel anyone from the party because he is still acting national secretary.
Mr Pande has since appealed to MMD president Nevers Mumba to convene a NEC meeting owing to the divisions that have emerged in the former ruling party.
He was flanked by former national secretary Muhabi Lungu and other NEC members, who included MMD vice-president Brian Chituwo and Keembe MP Ronnie Shikapwasha.
And Ikeleng’e MP Elijah Muchima has also said expulsion of the 18 party members is illegal.
Mr Muchima said the decision made by Dr Mumba is void and must not be respected by anyone.
On Saturday, the MMD expelled 18 NEC members, who include six MPs, for gross misconduct.
They include Lunte MP Felix Mutati, Mr Pande (Kasempa), Situmbeko Musokotwane (Liuwa), Kenneth Chipungu (Rufunsa), Kapembwa Simbao (Senga Hill) and Levy Ngoma (Sinda).
Other notable members are Mr Lungu and his deputy Cheembe Nyangu.
Mr Mbulakulima said at a press briefing on Saturday that the decision to expel the 18 party members was arrived at after a debate in a NEC meeting that was attended by more than 40 members on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) executive director McDonald Chipenzi has appealed to MMD to rescind its decision and work with expelled members.
Mr Chipenzi said in an interview yesterday that the MMD must be aware that its decision entails by-election when the country is just coming from a presidential election.
“MMD must forgive its members for supporting other presidential candidates other than its president Dr Nevers Mumba. It must be noted that the members were confused before elections and did not know who to vote for, especially that they had two presidents in Dr Mumba and Rupiah Banda,” he said.
confused indeed. let them go to HH.
Mumba please don’t allow these lunatics back. they thought they are untouchable. we need more by elections so that we can prove their popularity. PF here are more free sits for you.
Ati ” the members where confused before elections and didn’t know who to vote for.” How about showing loyalty to your party? Zambian politicians do not know their self worth. They are easily corrupted, have no scruples, no pride whatsoever. They are like a cheap tavern prostitute. Good riddance! Well done MMD.
By election will make the broke government fail to fulfill it’s campaign promises as a result of the expenses that would be incurred.
Expulsions were long overdue.We could spend the whole day listing acts of gross indiscipline and clandestine manoeuvres by this lot. We all got frustrated along with Dr Mumba.
That tolerance limit had stretched to full tether and could only hold for so long. At some point it had to snap. Rupiah and his indisciplined disciples chose to use MMD symbol to de-campaign a participating presidential candidate.
You can disagree with Dr Mumba on anything, but to illegally use his party symbol in alliance with a competitor to de campaign him is a step too far.
If you fail to accept that MMD has to evolve, leave it alone and form your own party.It happened before.Nawakwi, Miyanda, Mulongoti,Sondashi,…once belonged to MMD, they disagreed and moved on.
They did everything to see MMD defeated in the 20 January elections. Their Jubilations sealed it all. It’s ironic that the same people are using the argument of Mumba’s low votes in the election as a failure of his leadership. Give me a break!
This is what I am getting, they like the benefits given to them on MMD ticket in parliament and recognition on official engagements.Yet they hate the party itself. It’s not just Dr Mumba leadership they frustrate, it’s whole party structure they have stalled for 3 years.
Sorry, you can’t have it both ways. Differences now are so fundamental and irreconcilable that the only way forward is expulsion of the full bunch. After all it’s a release of a complete team with RB as their president.
What is the difference between a vote of thanks and a vote of no confidence? It seems to me that by CAMPAIGNING for a different party, Honorable MPs from the MMD formation were using a wrong instrument of democratic participation. All that was required was to choose a popular party leader, using a vote of no confidence if necessary before embarking on the path of party alliances. Jumping out of the boat was the wrong thing to do. It is better to aim for the shore first, that is to say to resolve internal leadership issues first.
They are rebel MPs and dont deserve to be entertained. It is just sad that our constitution is not yet in place otherwise they would not have done what they did.bunch of luzaz
Ukooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What about Rupia. He should be the first to be expelled. Why is NEC scared of him or is it because he was never MMD after all
@game meat as much as I have a weakness for game meat, Im afraid you got it all mixed up! On one hand RB is a former Republican President who should really bring value to the party nomba ba mudala chiwelewele! RB has no morals and most members have no respect for him! I equally have no respect for a man who grabs girlfriends from his sons! In any case what is there to expel ichindele? Ni kuchisiya chabe!
There is no need to expel the MPs unless u want MMD extinct. What they did was sensible. It is no secret that MMD is divided. On one side Mumba is arrogant and failed to provide leadership and on the other RB has spoilt it for them. The best is a convention to sort out the mess.
Bwana these MPs are just MMD by name. They have already chosen the parties to vote for. The best is to help them quicken their resignation. They are hanging on to MMD just for gratuity but their stay will mean that MMD cannot make an election strategy – the enemy within will be selling all the information and plans. The best is to get rid of them so that MMD meetings are helped with less suspicions.
Your logic is flawed . ‘ Better alone than with bad friends’ chapwa. Nevers, allow those pricks near you and next ni poisoning epela . Ba fi colour kuti bakwipaya exe. No going back
These MPs have no morals. Mumba was made president immediately after their defeat. They had the time to ditch him and join UPND and PF. Some of them even defended the petition to remain MMD under Mumba but after they smelt jobs and money they defied their party. Mumba does not need these chaps, after all they went away. Some have started campaigning for other parties for 2016. They caused lots of voter apathy during the last election – why not just join the parties they support. I had respect, a lot of it for Pande. Instead of building his party, he is busy destroying it. Muchima and Muhabi it can be understood. Please fire them.
Chipenzi should open his mouth after doing some research. His contribution makes me wonder if he was in his sober state. Is he implying that the MPs who supported HH were not aware of the consequences? Please, give us a break.
By-elections are the last thing MMD must worry about. In fact more rebel MPs and traitors should be off-loaded to add to the list.
Let RB their “popular candidate” prove himself outside MMD structure like his departed counterpart Kadansa did.
The future of the party to operate unhindered by anyone and to compete in 2016 elections on equal footing must be of paramount importance.
Fire them Mumba we don’t need them.
Meanwhile, Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) executive director McDonald Chipenzi has appealed to MMD to rescind its decision and work with expelled members.
“MMD must forgive its members for supporting other presidential candidates other than its president Dr Nevers Mumba. It must be noted that the members were confused before elections and did not know who to vote for, especially that they had two presidents in Dr Mumba and Rupiah Banda,” he said.
Is this man serious or does he take Dr. Mumba and fellow Zambians to be fools who cannot think for themselves? Let me make it very clear: the betrayal and disloyalty exhibited by these MPs and NEC members is nothing short of treacherous. It was in essence a coup and Dr. Mumba is supposed to forgive them? Dr. Mumba is right.
Baficola must just leave! Can you keep a player who deliberately scores for the opposing team? Kabiyeni you thought HH was winning mwe mbwa
To Pande, what he was doing with Mutati was legal. Imagine these are our law makers!!
The only way expelled members of MMD can fit in the party now is for them to swallow pride and ambition and support Nevers Mumba and also accord him the respect he deserves. Nevers so far has shown magnanimity and strength in terms of resilience. He has starked his life before the prison doors for the sake of the party yet people still can not respect him for that. It is because people want to make MMD a sangwapo party where to try luck into state house. Can all involved examine their conscience other than being comical and insightless. You voted for Mumba why not allow him peace at once. He is also human. You run away at the time you are needed most and only to return when light deems where you went. Is this the leadership we should be given? Make decision. Can I make it for you? join pf.