Maravi

MMD's time for mourning is over, says Pande

MMD's time for mourning is over, says Pande
By Roy Habaalu and Kombe Chimpinde
Thu 15 Dec. 2011, 13:59 CAT

KABINGA Pande says time for mourning is over. During a press briefing where he announced his candidature for the MMD presidency, Pande, who is MMD national vice chairman, said the party needed to seriously reflect on what happened after the elections.

Supporters, bused from Copperbelt, Luapula and Lusaka Provinces blocked the entrance to the conference room eulogising Pande claiming he was the right man for the job.

Some supporters who had drunk themselves into a stupor, gave running commentary and incensed Pande who intermittently paused allowing them to chip in with songs.

The rowdy youths, high on what appeared to be opaque beer, argued amongst each other.

Half way in his speech, a fight almost ensued between two male supporters who accused each other of being in Pande's camp for money.

Five members have declared their preparedness to lead the troubled former ruling party.

Former High Commissioner to Canada Nevers Mumba, former ministers of finance, Situmbeko Musokotwane, and commerce minister Felix Mutati and MMD national youth chairman Moses Muteteka are contesting the presidency.

Pande said the MMD's loss to the PF was a message from the greater part of the Zambian people.

"We have learnt a lesson. Admittedly, we fell short in some areas and those that did not vote for us protested. In a democratic dispensation, change happens and is good in that it keeps us focused and grows our democracy," he said.

Pande said once elected, he would re-brand the party to attract more members and strive to get back into the government in 2016.

Pande said he was equipped and ready to take up the mantle to become the next president of MMD to move the party from the current doldrums to glory.

Following the loss in September, the MMD is embroiled in an internal power struggle and searching for an acting president that will round up the ‘flock'.

Some members have been calling for an urgent National Executive Committee meeting to choose such a leader.

But Gabriel Namulambe said that the party must abort the process of choosing an acting president by NEC and instead refer the same to an extra ordinary convention or a mini-convention.

In an interview, Namulambe who is MMD party election chairperson said the election of an acting president by NEC members was not the right procedure to fill the vacancy for presidency of the party.

"Now that we had a convention early this April, we must only call for a mini-convention where a legitimate President of the party can be elected," he said.

"That way he will be endorsed by almost all the constituencies and all the districts."

Namulambe joins other officials that have demanded that the party goes to an ad hoc convention to choose its leader.

Namulambe said the NEC only had powers to have somebody act as president but not with full authority to ascend to the position of president.

"As such, the only available legal option is to go to a mini-convention. We have to find money. We are not interested in having someone acting as president because they will not have full authority," he said.

Namulambe said that appointment of leaders through NEC and subsequently at the convention had resulted in the imposition of leaders on party members on the pretext that they had acted for a while.

"This time around the party will not accept the imposition of a leader. We want a person who will be chosen by the grassroots. After people have offered themselves the grassroots should be able to choose," said Namulambe.

NEC is scheduled to hold a meeting on Saturday where the impasse over the issue of the presidency will be decided.

And Namulambe has warned against any form of divide and rule tactics by members of the party and those wishing to lead the party.

"As people advance their campaigns, they must not divide the party because if the party is split owing to internal differences arising from mudslinging each other, there will be fewer members who will remain in the party. And the chances of who ever would win as president to reclaim the Republican presidency will be slim," said Namulambe.

Labels: GABRIEL NAMULAMBE, KABINGA PANDE, MMD

posted by MrK @ 6:10 PM