Opposition MMD president Nevers Mumba has embarked on a countrywide mobilization of the former ruling party in readiness for the next year’s general elections.
Dr Mumba says he is determined to revive and rebuild the MMD despite its poor performance in previous elections.
He said the MMD National Executive Committee -NEC- is intact following reconciliation which has been extended to leaders who faced disciplinary action from the party.
Speaking to over 20 headmen and women in Shibuyunji district, Dr Mumba charged that the MMD has undergone through a self-cleansing of corrupt people that made Zambians to vote it out of power in the 2011 elections.
Dr Mumba also urged party leaders to emulate the Patriotic Front that won the 2011 elections without much resource to campaign but was able to unseat his party from government.
He says he has begun a new movement of the MMD to restore the fortunes of the former ruling and will move to all parts of the country as he works with the grass-root structures of the MMD.
Dr Mumba says his party shall survive any political turmoil because of declaring Zambia as a Christian nation when it was in government.
And Nevers Mumba has expressed concerned that the PF government has continued with its alleged tendency of abusing chiefs in the country.
Dr. Mumba suspects that the PF government is doing so with the view of perpetuating its unpopular agenda.
In an interview by telephone Dr. Mumba has observed that this also explains why there were difficulties in North Province under late President Michael because the PF government was antagonizing royal establishments and wanting to make decisions on their behalf.
Dr. Mumba notes that when President Edgar Lungu however assumed power this wrong was realized and the PF government started by ensuring the installation of the Bemba Paramount chief Chitimukuli and changing the Minister of Traditional Affairs.
He says what is however unfortunate is that even under President Lungu the PF government has seems to have continued to abuse traditional leaders especially those in Southern Province.
Dr. Mumba is of the view that instead of acting upon a simple plea that he disciplines PF Secretary General Davies Chama and Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Chishimba Kambwili publicly over their alleged offensive remarks against the people of Southern Province, President Lungu has allegedly opted not to a heed to chiefs’ plea.
He says President Lungu has actually preferred to be calling chiefs at State House instead of him following them to their chiefdoms as should be the most ideal situation.
The MMD president thinks that for as long as President Lungu does not do what the aggrieved Chiefs have asked, the feeling of being cheated, he suspects Chiefs have, will continue growing deeper.
He says this is because the PF government appears to using chiefs to propagate its own political agenda when it suits it but when Chiefs ask government to intervene in remedying a problem it has created itself government is not moving.
MMD is a dead party. come up with a different party name.
Comment: MMD isnt dead u fool, rebrand it so that come 2016 u can win seats in parley, othawise team with hh at presidetial level sothat pf can be removed fo tha benefit of zed pipo
Chiefs have have no sway over people’s political inclinations. People vote for favourite political parties irrespective of a chief’s opinion. In .a word, chiefs’ views don’t matter at ballot time.
Bakapyunga mwikalefye twapapata……. next year MMD tayakawine nangu ni seat yamaka
Comment:some parties are as good as dead
Can someone please whisper in Nevers Mumba’s ear that he can mobilize people all he wants but that his party is doomed! If MMD will get one seat in 2016 it will be a miracle. Apart from Mbulakulima noone from the current crop of MPs will stand on the MMD ticket. If he is not aware, MMD and PF have silently merged. Most of the current crop of MMD MPs will either stand on UPND or PF. The revolution started in January 2015 when Edgar Lungu was ushered in as the fifth president. MMD is shell and only in the minds of Nakachinda, Nevers and Mbulakulima. Even people like Machungwa and Elizabeth Chitika will abandon Nevers come 2016. It is said pride comes before a fall. If Nevers has sense enough, he should openly admit MMD is dead. Mobilizing for what? Maybe Nevers next stop should be Heritage…