Maravi

MMD leaks continue

MMD leaks continue
By George Chellah
Sat 09 Apr. 2011, 04:02 CAT

Leaks from the MMD national executive committee (NEC) meetings have continued despite President Rupiah Banda and Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha’s warnings and threats.

Leaks from the MMD NEC’s first meeting disclosed that President Banda has directed the party to start identifying possible parliamentary candidates in all opposition-held constituencies.

And according to these leaks, information minister Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha warned newly-elected MMD national officials that gadgets would be installed soon to catch those behind leaks.

Well-placed sources within the MMD NEC leaked information stating that the President gave the directive during the national executive committee's first meeting, which lasted for about 45 minutes in Kabwe.

“During our very first NEC meeting, which was held at Mulungushi University's Chalabesa Hall around 11:00 hours, the President told the newly elected party officials that there was need for hard work ahead of the forthcoming general elections,” the source said. “President Banda stressed that we must work hard and that the party programme will soon be released. The President further said the party must start identifying parliamentary candidates in constituencies where there are no MMD members of parliament.”

The source further leaked information that President Banda pledged to work with the newly elected senior party officials.

“The President told the meeting that ‘since the people have decided, I have no choice. Let’s work together',” the source said. “Obviously, this was after some of his preferred or favourite candidates who were floated to contest certain positions lost.”

The source said President Banda urged the newly-elected chairpersons for women's affairs and youths, Sylvia Masebo and Moses Muteteka to work hard.

“He told them that ‘the youths and the women are very important so we need to work hard’,” the source said.

The source said President Banda cautioned the senior party members against leaking information that is tabled in NEC meetings.

“He warned that we should not leak whatever we discuss in NEC meetings. The President emphasised that there were important NEC decisions that are made and should not be for public consumption,” the sources said. “He was indirectly alluding to the fact that there are people he doesn't trust even in the new party national executive committee. No wonder even when he was addressing delegates at the close of convention he repeated the warnings over leakages.”

The source said MMD chairperson for defence and security, who is also information minister Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha warned the meeting that gadgets would soon be installed to catch people behind leaks.
“He said ‘we will put gadgets to catch those that leak information’. Actually, this is the second time Shikapwasha is making these threats over this issue of leakages,” the source said.

The source revealed that President Banda stressed the need to reduce the workforce at the MMD secretariat.

“On this one he was clearly addressing Chembe Nyangu and Richard Kachingwe. He said that now that there is a new national secretary he hopes that things will be in motion,” the source said. “The President said the secretariat is currently bloated and that the party requires a small and very effective secretariat so that the little money which the MPs contribute can sustain the small work force.”

The source said President Banda later on invited the persons he had nominated into the NEC who included Vice-President George Kunda to join the meeting.

The source disclosed that in his acceptance speech, Vice-President Kunda told the meeting that he was humbled.
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Labels: MMD

posted by MrK @ 4:54 PM