MMD suspends entire Copperbelt provincial executive committee
By Allan Mulenga and Agness Changala
Thu 17 Jan. 2013, 14:00 CAT
THE MMD has suspended the entire Copperbelt provincial executive committee. But Copperbelt Province MMD chairperson Joseph Chilambwe says the real fight to kick Nevers Mumba out of MMD had started.
And suspended MMD chairperson for women affairs Catherine Namugala has applied for an injunction to restrain party's acting national secretary Kapembwa Simbao and the MMD, from expelling her.
MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu yesterday suspended the entire Copperbelt provincial executive committee with immediate effect.
Nyangu said the party had appointed provincial secretary Tryson Simukoko to take care of the province for administrative purposes.
Nyangu said the committee had been suspended for indiscipline.
But Chilambwe accused Nyangu of being used by Mumba and Dora Siliya to champion their selfish interests.
He said people on the Copperbelt would not be cowed into supporting Mumba's failed leadership.
"You know the people he is playing with are the owners of the party. This is where the party has been built. We should thank them for what they have done, it is the end of Nevers Mumba on the Copperbelt," he said.
"We don't care about the suspension. This is now the real fight. I am still the chairman on the Copperbelt and my people at the province and at district level will continue working and we will continue fighting for the good cause of our party. Even if they do that, those are the kicks of a dying horse. Mumba will never resuscitate the party, but he will see what will follow."
Chilambwe urged Mumba to respect the wishes of the people and step aside as party president.
"Those who will remain with Mumba, they will remain and we will forge ahead. It a silly thing for a seasoned politician to behave the way they have behaved. How do you suspend without even letting the people you are suspending know? We are still talking about the constitution in MMD, where somebody can just wake up in the morning and suspend people," he said.
Chilambwe accused Nyangu of being used by people like Siliya and Mumba to champion their agenda.
"We should follow what the people outside there are saying. The people outside there if they say 'no we don't want you' because they are the voters; these are the people who are holding the party together. We want to have a real leader because you can't be a leader without the people. Let us see who is right and wrong. The people out there will judge. We knew where it was going, even before when Dora Siliya was calling us disgruntled. Dora Siliya was not there when we were fighting for democracy in this country. She was working for ZNBC and she never fought for anything. She just jumped into the bandwagon and she became the spokesperson," said Chilambwe.
And Namugala, who is also MMD Mafinga member of parliament, has asked the court to determine whether the election of Simbao is legitimate.
In this matter, Namugala has sued Simbao in his personal capacity as the first defendant as well as in his capacity as MMD acting national secretary.
According to documents filed in the Lusaka High Court principal registry on Monday, Namugala stated that Simbao and the MMD, through Mumba's group in the national executive committee (NEC) had hatched a plan to expel legitimate members including herself for standing up to protect the
party's constitution.
She stated that she was reliably informed that Simbao and Mumba's faction, in the name of disciplinary committee, had decided to expel her for standing up for her rights as a member of the party as per Article 9 of what was in their constitution.
"That if I am expelled, the decision of the defendants shall have serious repercussions to the nation as there will be a by-election," Namugala stated. "That further my legal proceedings will be academic as I will no longer be a member of the party I love so much of which I am standing up
to protect the constitution."
Namugala urged the court to grant her an interim injunction to restrain the defendants or other agents or servants or whatsoever from expelling her until the determination of the matter.
And Namugala stated that the meeting of the NEC of December 3, 2012 at which Simbao was elected, did not form a quorum and as such was illegal and null and void according to Article
18(2) of the MMD constitution.
She stated that the proceedings and adoption or appointment of Simbao as acting national secretary was null and void because apart from failing to form a quorum, the NEC meeting was attended by non NEC members.
Namugala contended that the NEC had no power to appoint or elect Simbao as acting national secretary which power was deposited only in the convention Article 20 (5) which recognised the deputy national secretary of the party to deputise the national secretary.
She stated that on December 24, 2012, Simbao wrote her a letter of disciplinary action in which he purported to act in pursuant to powers vested under him under Article 46 (i) and 3(3) of the party constitution when he was not a national secretary or deputy national secretary elected by the party convention.
Namugala also stated that the party's constitution had no provision of
acting national secretary nor did it recognise such position save for the deputy national secretary.
She stated that Simbao purported to charge her with two offences which she replied to, despite him being there illegitimately and unconstitutionally.
Namugala stated that as a result of the above, she has asked the court for an injunction to restrain Simbao and the party from expelling her.
She has asked the court for an order to nullify the appointment of the
Simbao as acting national secretary and a further order to nullify the
purported NEC meeting of December 3, 2012 and its proceedings as null and void because of its failure to form a quorum.
Namugala further asked the court to award her costs and any other relief the court may deem necessary.
Namugala stated that the party had been having problems with Mumba and his group which had been disregarding the constitution.
Meanwhile, Lusaka High Court judge Fulgence Chisanga has set January 23, 2013 as date for inter-parte hearing.
Labels: CATHERINE NAMUGALA, JOSEPH CHILAMBWE, KAPEMBWA SIMBAO, MMD, NEVERS MUMBA
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MMD suspends entire Copperbelt provincial executive committee
By Allan Mulenga and Agness Changala
Thu 17 Jan. 2013, 14:00 CAT
THE MMD has suspended the entire Copperbelt provincial executive committee. But Copperbelt Province MMD chairperson Joseph Chilambwe says the real fight to kick Nevers Mumba out of MMD had started.
And suspended MMD chairperson for women affairs Catherine Namugala has applied for an injunction to restrain party's acting national secretary Kapembwa Simbao and the MMD, from expelling her.
MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu yesterday suspended the entire Copperbelt provincial executive committee with immediate effect.
Nyangu said the party had appointed provincial secretary Tryson Simukoko to take care of the province for administrative purposes.
Nyangu said the committee had been suspended for indiscipline.
But Chilambwe accused Nyangu of being used by Mumba and Dora Siliya to champion their selfish interests.
He said people on the Copperbelt would not be cowed into supporting Mumba's failed leadership.
"You know the people he is playing with are the owners of the party. This is where the party has been built. We should thank them for what they have done, it is the end of Nevers Mumba on the Copperbelt," he said.
"We don't care about the suspension. This is now the real fight. I am still the chairman on the Copperbelt and my people at the province and at district level will continue working and we will continue fighting for the good cause of our party. Even if they do that, those are the kicks of a dying horse. Mumba will never resuscitate the party, but he will see what will follow."
Chilambwe urged Mumba to respect the wishes of the people and step aside as party president.
"Those who will remain with Mumba, they will remain and we will forge ahead. It a silly thing for a seasoned politician to behave the way they have behaved. How do you suspend without even letting the people you are suspending know? We are still talking about the constitution in MMD, where somebody can just wake up in the morning and suspend people," he said.
Chilambwe accused Nyangu of being used by people like Siliya and Mumba to champion their agenda.
"We should follow what the people outside there are saying. The people outside there if they say 'no we don't want you' because they are the voters; these are the people who are holding the party together. We want to have a real leader because you can't be a leader without the people. Let us see who is right and wrong. The people out there will judge. We knew where it was going, even before when Dora Siliya was calling us disgruntled. Dora Siliya was not there when we were fighting for democracy in this country. She was working for ZNBC and she never fought for anything. She just jumped into the bandwagon and she became the spokesperson," said Chilambwe.
And Namugala, who is also MMD Mafinga member of parliament, has asked the court to determine whether the election of Simbao is legitimate.
In this matter, Namugala has sued Simbao in his personal capacity as the first defendant as well as in his capacity as MMD acting national secretary.
According to documents filed in the Lusaka High Court principal registry on Monday, Namugala stated that Simbao and the MMD, through Mumba's group in the national executive committee (NEC) had hatched a plan to expel legitimate members including herself for standing up to protect the
party's constitution.
She stated that she was reliably informed that Simbao and Mumba's faction, in the name of disciplinary committee, had decided to expel her for standing up for her rights as a member of the party as per Article 9 of what was in their constitution.
"That if I am expelled, the decision of the defendants shall have serious repercussions to the nation as there will be a by-election," Namugala stated. "That further my legal proceedings will be academic as I will no longer be a member of the party I love so much of which I am standing up
to protect the constitution."
Namugala urged the court to grant her an interim injunction to restrain the defendants or other agents or servants or whatsoever from expelling her until the determination of the matter.
And Namugala stated that the meeting of the NEC of December 3, 2012 at which Simbao was elected, did not form a quorum and as such was illegal and null and void according to Article
18(2) of the MMD constitution.
She stated that the proceedings and adoption or appointment of Simbao as acting national secretary was null and void because apart from failing to form a quorum, the NEC meeting was attended by non NEC members.
Namugala contended that the NEC had no power to appoint or elect Simbao as acting national secretary which power was deposited only in the convention Article 20 (5) which recognised the deputy national secretary of the party to deputise the national secretary.
She stated that on December 24, 2012, Simbao wrote her a letter of disciplinary action in which he purported to act in pursuant to powers vested under him under Article 46 (i) and 3(3) of the party constitution when he was not a national secretary or deputy national secretary elected by the party convention.
Namugala also stated that the party's constitution had no provision of
acting national secretary nor did it recognise such position save for the deputy national secretary.
She stated that Simbao purported to charge her with two offences which she replied to, despite him being there illegitimately and unconstitutionally.
Namugala stated that as a result of the above, she has asked the court for an injunction to restrain Simbao and the party from expelling her.
She has asked the court for an order to nullify the appointment of the
Simbao as acting national secretary and a further order to nullify the
purported NEC meeting of December 3, 2012 and its proceedings as null and void because of its failure to form a quorum.
Namugala further asked the court to award her costs and any other relief the court may deem necessary.
Namugala stated that the party had been having problems with Mumba and his group which had been disregarding the constitution.
Meanwhile, Lusaka High Court judge Fulgence Chisanga has set January 23, 2013 as date for inter-parte hearing.
Labels: CATHERINE NAMUGALA, JOSEPH CHILAMBWE, KAPEMBWA SIMBAO, MMD, NEVERS MUMBA
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Schemes to hound Mutati will destroy MMD, says Chilambwe
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Sat 09 June 2012, 12:59 CAT
MMD Copperbelt chairman Joseph Chilambwe says malicious schemes by some MMD members of parliament to hound Felix Mutati will destroy the party if left unchecked. In an interview yesterday, Chilambwe said media reports suggesting that Mutati was facing expulsion from the party on allegations that he was persuading MMD members to join the PF were malicious and meant to tarnish his image.
He said it would be extremely unfair for some individual members of the MMD who are also members of parliament to continue harassing and tarnishing the image of Mutati who had over the years demonstrated undoubted commitment and sacrifice to the party.
Chilambwe said the new leader of MMD, Nevers Mumba, must come out strongly and protect the interests of the party by stopping the continued harassment of Mutati by people with strange and selfish motives like MMD Solwezi Central member of parliament Lucky Mulusa.
"The indiscipline being exhibited by people like Mulusa must be brought to an end. Felix Mutati contested the elections, he lost and he has kept quiet, that's what democracy is all about. Why are they scared of Mutati? They are saying that he has been persuading people on the Copperbelt to join PF. Let them substantiate their allegations before they continue with their insults. I 'am the chairman of the MMD here and there is nothing like that," Chilambwe said.
He said many Zambians expected the MMD to be more united after the election of the party president if the party was to regain the confidence of the citizenry.
Chilambwe said Mutati was a peaceful man who meant well for the MMD and had never been in the culture of political attacks and insults.
He said Mutati was on the Copperbelt campaigning just like other candidates who were seeking the party presidency.
"We have heard very unfortunate statements that he has failed as leader of the opposition in Parliament. They are saying that because Mutati does not know politics of insults. Do they want him to start insulting President Sata for them to see that he is a loyal member of the MMD? Politics of insults will never take us anywhere," Chilambwe said.
Sources during the week disclosed that Mutati was persuading MMD members to join the PF as a show of no confidence in Pastor Mumba and the MMD.
The MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) sources accused Mutati of asking some MMD officials to resign and defect to PF, a move meant to weaken and distabilise his party.
They said Mutati was plotting with some MMD provincial officials to rise against Pastor Mumba's leadership.
"On the Copperbelt, he's telling people that Pastor Mumba can't be trusted and won't recognise leaders at lower levels. He wants members to resign and join PF to show that people don't have confidence in Pastor Mumba so that the party dies like UNIP because for him, he has a chance in PF...Actually he's trying to engineer within NEC to cause a revolt," the sources said.
The sources said Mutati would first be removed as leader of the opposition in the house.
Labels: FELIX MUTATI, JOSEPH CHILAMBWE, MMD, NEVERS MUMBA
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Democracy is the recipe for evil, says C/belt MMD chief
By Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Mon 24 May 2010, 04:01 CAT
MMD youths on Saturday scrambled over money thrown at them by Copperbelt task force chairperson Joe Malanji during a party mobilisation exercise in Ndola’s Chipulukusu Compound.
And Copperbelt provincial chairman Joseph Chilambwe has said democracy is the recipe for anything evil. As cadres were singing and dancing to solidarity songs, Malanji threw an undisclosed amount of K20,000 notes at them.
The excited youths stopped singing and started scrambling and tussling over the money. The situation was only calmed by MMD Ndola vice publicity secretary Alex Mubanga. Malanji also told Chipulukusu residents to start campaigning because the MMD government was doing a lot for them.
“There are people from the opposition, they don’t have manifestos and they insult, they even insult investors, attacking investors. Antagonising these people (investors) is espionage. A lot of people have been opening their mouths insulting President Banda every day, President Banda is a good father and husband,” he said.
“I am challenging Chipulukusu ward to perform and I have left K1 million for logistics so that you can organise a big rally and we have given you one month to do that.”
And in an unreasoned outburst, Chilambwe blamed the media for the Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election violence allegedly championed by the MMD, accusing the media of abusing freedom of speech and failing to explain to the people the meaning of democracy.
He said that the violence in Mufumbwe was brought about by the press because they could not censor what they were writing.
“The press is to blame for what happened in Mufumbwe because they have failed to explain to the people about freedom of speech and democracy because they want to protect themselves,” he said.
“In other countries democracy brings about anarchy and civil war. Democracy is the recipe of anything evil.”
Chilambwe further charged that FDD president Edith Nawakwi was an uncounselled woman because she was allegedly insulting President Rupiah Banda.
Chilambwe speaking in Bemba said, “Nawakwi nichitongo, kuliyena tashalilile (Nawakwi is uncounselled, traditional drums did not sound)”.
And Chilambwe claimed that former defence minister George Mpombo resigned from his ministerial position because he wanted to be appointed Republican vice-president but President Banda denied him the opportunity.
“… Now we are challenging him to resign. MMD has done a lot for Mpombo, I am the one who picked him up and pleaded with the late president to give him chance,” he said.
Labels: CADRES, COPPERBELT PROVINCE, CORRUPTION, DEMOCRACY, JOSEPH CHILAMBWE, MMD
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C/belt MMD chairman U-turns on Mpombo
By Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Wed 28 Oct. 2009, 04:01 CAT [
COPPERBELT Province MMD chairman Joseph Chilambwe has U-turned on his earlier statement that George Mpombo should not be given the opportunity to exculpate himself for allegedly bringing the party’s name into disrepute.
Chilambwe’s decision comes in the wake of MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba’s directive that the ruling party should hear former defence minister Mpombo before taking any action against him.
In an interview yesterday, Chilambwe said he was a fair leader and law abiding citizen who believed in the constitution.
“I am a constitution person and our constitution says that we are supposed to give chance to people to explain themselves before we take any action against them. So we have written a letter to Mr Mpombo and we have given him days in which he should exculpate himself failure to which he will have to answer to the national executive committee NEC,” he said.
Chilambwe said the MMD was a principled party that followed its constitution and that Mpombo should be heard before taking any action against him.
“It would be wrong and unconstitutional for us to take further action on Mr Mpombo before hearing him,” he said.
When asked to disclose the details in Mpombo’s letter, Chilambwe said the letter was highly confidential.
“I cannot tell you what is written in that letter. Those are bedroom issues. I cannot tell you what I discuss in my bedroom. Or maybe Mr Mpombo himself will tell you what is in the letter,” said Chilambwe. “I cannot say anything more because I don’t want to be in the paper. I fear the press, they can destroy my name.”
Last week, Chilambwe announced Mpombo’s suspension from the MMD and added that the party on the Copperbelt Province had recommended to the NEC for his expulsion.
However, Kalumba said Mpombo should be heard before any action, including expulsion, could be taken.
Labels: GEORGE MPOMBO, JOSEPH CHILAMBWE, MMD
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The media is there to inform not to insult, says Kunda
Written by Mutuna Chanda and Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Sunday, May 31, 2009 4:02:48 PM
THE media is there to inform on facts not to insult, Vice-President George Kunda has lectured. And MMD Copperbelt Province chairman Joseph Chilambwe has said The Post should stop insulting President Rupiah Banda for its journalists not to be harassed by MMD cadres. Meanwhile, MMD deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande has accused the Zambia Daily Mail and Times of Zambia of not helping the MMD.
Addressing MMD cadres at Lowenthal Theatre in Ndola yesterday, Vice-President Kunda in apparent reference to The Post, said it had cartels of sources whom it went to, to generate insults.
"Printing of insults in the newspaper; some of our private media have cartels of sources who they go to, to generate insults," Vice-President Kunda said. "We have people like Dr [Ludwig] Sondashi I have not responded to his insults, he is an old man. He is a traditional healer; I am not insulting him I am stating a fact. Every day in The Post he insults me or President Banda but we'll continue to respect him. Let him continue practicing medicine in the manner that he wants. Dr Sondashi was a family friend, all of a sudden he's changed. I still consider him as an elder brother."
Vice-President Kunda said the government was committed to media freedom and would remain tolerant.
"Private radio stations are also churning insults," Vice-President Kunda said as some cadres in the back of the theatre responded "Icengelo! Icengelo!"
He said Zambia had very good journalists who were well trained.
"Let's embrace ethics," he said. "Those who write insults let's follow ethics; let's respect each other."
Vice-President Kunda said there was an organised crime syndicate, which was feasting on public resources.
He said the government wanted to get rid of organised crime that was abusing public funds.
He said President Banda had a vision which went beyond 2011.
"His Excellency President Rupiah Banda has a vision and he needs more time," he said. "We need more time beyond 2011. We can only achieve this if we come together."
He further urged MMD cadres to come up with viable projects to benefit from the Citizens Economic Empowerment funds.
Vice-President Banda said MMD would flush out those who were not genuine members.
He urged those who were not sure about MMD to join what he termed as smaller parties.
And Chilambwe demanded that The Post stop insulting President Banda if it wanted its journalists not to be harassed by MMD cadres.
"Every day the headline it's Rupiah, every day they are insulting President Rupiah Banda and the Vice-President," he said. "As cadres we accept your complaint that we should stop harassing you. If you want us to stop harassing you then you should stop insulting our President. Would they want to be insulted if they become presidents? Nichi fye Lesa aba, abafilya tabateka [It's just that God is good, such people can never rule]."
Chilambwe challenged the state media to condemn quarters of the press that were insulting President Banda.
And Kaande demanded that the media report correctly about President Banda's administration.
"We are not against the press, we are just saying 'write the truth about MMD, write the truth about Rupiah Banda, write the truth about Kunda, write the truth about Jeff Kaande', respect the leadership," Kaande said. "The most unfortunate part is that Daily Mail and Times of Zambia if they are here, you are not helping us also even though you are ours...for the past six months we are just reading 'Rupiah Banda', 'George Kunda must resign', 'Jeff Kaande is giving money to cadres.' Hmmm there's no other news? We have leaders in this country where when they just wake up he is insulting at lunch time he is insulting at night he is insulting even in his dreams he is insulting. Is that not news? We have restrained our cadres from chasing you from our meetings but stop provoking them, stop provoking us."
Kaande also said government ministers and their deputies had agreed to visit MMD structures after carrying out government functions wherever they went.
Earlier, police in Ndola detained MMD provincial youth secretary Evans Kapalu after he insulted Ndola deputy police commanding officer Anderson Chengo and told him that the party would chase the police from the premises where Vice-President Kunda was meeting the MMD provincial executive before addressing cadres.
This was after Chengo counselled an MMD cadre only known as Chama who was threatening to beat Post reporter Abigail Chaponda.
Chama initially wanted to stop Post photojournalist Abel Mambwe from taking a photo of him and another MMD cadre who were lifting their colleague who caused confusion in the hall before Vice-President Kunda went in.
After lifting the cadre out of the hall, Chama accused The Post of being stupid and pointed at Chaponda and threatened her in full view of police officers.
"Ici cine ice fumo ndechuma mucilufumo [This pregnant one, I'll beat her in her stomach]," Chama said.
Labels: GEORGE KUNDA, JOSEPH CHILAMBWE, PRESS FREEDOM
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