HE MMD in North-Western Province has recommended three candidates to the national executive committee (NEC) for adoption in the Mufumbwe by-election.
In an interview with the Sunday Mail, North-Western Province chairperson Pinakin Patel said that former diplomat Mulondwe Muzungu, Stanford Mulusa and Stephen Masumba have been recommended for adoption.
He said the fourth aspirant, Mr Shinika Mulusa, was disqualified during preliminaries because he failed to pay the K1.5 million participation fee.
Mr Patel said all the three aspiring candidates hail from the North-Western Province, saying the party did not want to “import” candidates because Mufumbwe is a rural set-up.
He said retaining the seat will be a tough battle for the MMD because the Patriotic Front and the United Party for National Development have teamed up in Mufumbwe.
Mr Patel said that the MMD in the province will accept whoever the NEC will adopt to represent them in the by-election. He said they will put up a spirited campaign to ensure that they retain the seat.
“We have done our part, it’s now up to NEC to sit down and analyse the three candidates. We will respect the NEC verdict; we have to rally behind whoever they give us,” Mr Patel said.
He said the preliminary selection process was transparent from the constituency, district and provincial executive committees. He said all aspirants freely expressed their interest to contest the election, and that the one who was disqualified just failed to pay the participation fee.
Mr Patel said it was premature for their former youth secretary Newton Malwa to say that the party was considering bringing someone from foreign service to come and contest the elections.
Mr Malwa who has since resigned from his position was quoted as having said that the MMD would lose the Mufumbwe seat if they did not adopt a candidate whom the local people wanted.
Mr Patel said Mr Muzungu’s name was suggested by the people of Mufumbwe, and he expressed interest when he was contacted.
“On whether or not Mr Muzungu will be adopted, is up to the NEC to decide,” he said.
When contacted MMD national secretary Dr Katele Kalumba said the NEC panel that was sent to Mufumbwe has come back and a candidate will be announced either today or tomorrow.
The Mufumbwe by-election has been set for April 29, following the death of Home Affairs deputy minister, Misheck Bonshe.
Meanwhile, Mr Patel said the MMD in North-Western Province has accepted the resignation of Mr Malwa whom they wish well in his endeavours.
He said there were no bitter feelings about Mr Malwa’s move because they were one family.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
In Bemba they say “uwawa tabula akabepesho.” When the MMD lose, they will blame you. You have done well to resign.
all these 3 are loosers.
MMD you’re definately getting this seat. Your choice is the best and you’re doing well on the ground, keep the good work.HH is campaigning for Sata who has been insulting us day and night.
MMD IS LOSING U NUMBER 3 JUST PRETENDING. SATA AND HH ARE HEADING FOR VICTORIOUS WEATHER U LIKE IT OR NOT 100% DEFECT AND THIS WILL BE A SYMBOL FOR BURIAL INKOLONKO. I BEG HH AND SATA PLEASE DONT DIVORCE YOURSELVES YOU WILL NEVER BE IN GOVT IF U CHOSE TO PART WE ZAMBIAN ARE BEHIND U ONLY LESS THAN 13MONTHS OUR VOTES WILL COUNT ON U GUYS JUST SOLIDER ON. SATA IS BETA TO BE PRESIDENT AND HH PRIME MINISTER COZ HH STAND GOOD CHANCES OF BEING PRESIDENT COME 2016 SATA SHOULD HAVE RETIRED BY THEN FROM ACTIVE POLITICS
WALASA NUMBER 4
Loyal dogs in disarray now. I do not actually know what we are going to do
Mr Patel stop fooling around-the MMD has already chosen Mulondwe Muzungu.There s noway he will come all the way from Libya if he s not assured of been candidate.
Viva Pact!!!!!
The best way to do Patel is to resign and join the UPND and PF pact,we are winning these two seats and we have to go in huge numbers and have the best results ever :d/
Wrong canditate will cost the pact.Get imformation from the ground nt from the site.