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(LUSAKATIMES) Chief Registrar of societies de-registers MMD despite droping the idea last week

Chief Registrar of societies de-registers MMD despite droping the idea last week
TIME PUBLISHED - Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 2:10 pm

The Movement for Multi Party Democracy-MMD has been de-registered by the Registrar of Societies for non compliance with the Societies Act. Chief Registrar of Societies, Clement Andeleki says this means the former ruling party ceases to operate as a political party in Zambia and it has lost all the fifty three seats in parliament.

Mr. Andeleki says the action arises from the non payment of statutorily fees amounting over three hundred and ninety million Kwacha. He made the announcement at a press briefing at the Ministry of Home Affairs Headquarters this morning.

Mr. Andeleki says the decision has been taken after several reminders from the time the MMD was in government.

And Mr Andeleki says he will be writing to the Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini to inform him about the de-registration of the MMD.

He has warned erring registered organisations, Churches, NGOs and political parties to be legally compliant with the Societies Act if they are to continue operating in Zambia.

Last week the Registrar of Societies rescinded the decision to de-register the MMD in the interest of good governance and democracy.

The MMD had engaged Hobday Kabwe & Company to help resolve the issue of close to K400 million in outstanding arrears from annual returns.

Registrar of Societies, Clement Andeleki, said that Mr Kabwe had requested his office to see how best they could resolve the arrears which have accumulated since 1993.
“I have been approached by several stakeholders involved in good governance and democracy not to deregister the party as this would be an injury to the young democracy and the economy of the country more especially that we recently held elections,” he said.

He said in the interest of good governance and in order to prevent the declaration of 55 parliamentary seats vacant, his office would discuss other ways through which the K390 million could be settled.

“I have been approached by several stakeholders involved in good governance and democracy not to deregister the party as this would be an injury to the young democracy and the economy of the country more especially that we recently held elections,” he said.

He said the move was not politically motivated but was a requirement for the party to remit annual returns.

ZNBC

Labels: MMD, PARTIES, POLITICS

posted by MrK @ 10:37 PM