The opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has expelled Lunte Member of Parliament Felix Mutati with immediate effect. And the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has suspended it’s spokesperson – and former close ally of party president Nevers Mumba – Raphael Nakacinda, pending investigations by the Disciplinary Committee into allegations that he has been working against the party.
In a NEC meeting held on Tuesday the 16th of February 2016 at Konzani Gardens in Lusaka West area of Lusaka, the MMD NEC resolved to immediately expel Mutati for allegedly working with the United Party for National Development (UPND).
Mutati appears on a purported UPND official 2016 calendar where he is listed as a party official. He is also one of the three MMD MPs that have sued the party over its decision to postpone the scheduled 2016 convention to 2017.
According to a statement released by the MMD media team, it was noted in the meeting that when some MPs including Mutati were expelled last year for working with other parties during the January 2015 presidential by-election, they were readmitted after asking for forgiveness and given a final warning. They were told that should they repeat any offences committed previously, they would be expelled without any further deliberations.
The meeting also resolved to suspend Nakacinda after “prima facie evidence” was presented in the meeting that he “had received money to work against the party with known individuals.” The NEC felt that Nakacinda could no longer continue as Party Spokesperson with such serious allegations hanging over his head. The NEC resolved to appoint Rev. Reuben Sambo who is already a NEC member as Acting Spokesperson until Nakacinda’s disciplinary case is disposed of.
The meeting also resolved by unanimous vote of all ten provinces that the discussions over the proposed alliance between the MMD and the Patriotic Front (PF) should commence immediately.
The meeting also elected 5 new NEC members as follows:
1. Mr Friday Kashiwa as Deputy National Treasurer
2. Mr Chilekwa Munkonge as Chairman Commerce, Trade and Industry
3. Ms Christine Mangonono as NEC Member
4. Mrs Rose Zimba as National Women’s Secretary
5. Ms Lisa Pasi as National Women’s Chairperson (previously acting)
The NEC meeting also resolved that any appointments of party officials by expelled former National Secretary Muhabi Lungu during the party wrangles in the past were revoked with immediate effect.
And during the meeting, National Secretary Mr Mwansa Mbulakulima apologised to the NEC for any misunderstandings his recent statements concerning the proposed MMD-PF alliance may have caused.
The communiqué from the meeting was as follows:
COMMUNIQUÉ ON MMD NEC MEETING ON 16TH FEBRUARY 2016
The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) National Executive Committee (NEC) on the 16th of February 2016 met at Konzani Gardens in Lusaka West Area of Lusaka and resolved the following:
1. PROPOSED ALLIANCE WITH THE PATRIOTIC FRONT (PF)
The meeting resolved by unanimous vote of all the ten provinces that the MMD should commence negotiations immediately on the proposed alliance with the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).
2. DISCIPLINARY MATTERS
The MMD NEC unanimously resolved to suspend the party Spokesperson Mr Raphael Nakacinda with immediate effect, pending a disciplinary hearing. Rev. Reuben Sambo has been appointed as Spokesperson in an acting capacity.
The meeting also resolved to immediately expel Lunte Member of Parliament Felix Mutati for abrogating the conditions of being readmitted into the party after earlier being expelled in 2015. Mr Mutati had been given a final warning that should he repeat offences committed against the party, he would be expelled without any further recourse.
3. NEW NEC MEMBERS
The meeting also elected 5 new NEC members as follows:
1. Mr Friday Kashiwa as Deputy National Treasurer
2. Mr Chilekwa Munkonge as Chairman Commerce, Trade and Industry
3. Ms Christine Mangonono as NEC Member
4. Mrs Rose Zimba as National Women’s Secretary
5. Ms Lisa Pasi as National Women’s Chairperson (previously acting)
One man’s loss is another man’s gain. MMD loses Mutati and UPND gains. Welcome Ba Mutati and feel at home because we shall soon be in the driving seat.
and the battle begins
For the first time i have lost it out taking Mumba seriously. When are we going to have a true man of God in this country. Just how can Mumba take such a direction? First of all the PF is known to have shed blood. He himself was attacked in Eastern province when he was addressing officials and had to have a meeting in the bush. RB pulled him hard before and after election and has been enjoying PF protection from prosecution. PF is basically a militia party and all well meaning Zambians know that violence in politics was initiated by PF. The big question is, will Nevers Mumba point these wrongs clearly in his ally? Will he stand to say, no no no, that’s not the meaning of the public order act? Is he going to come out and tell the nation concerning the evil schemes should he discover them about spilling blood? How is he going to handle these and many questionable characteristic behavioral aspect of the PF without compromising christian values? Or God can be ‘packed’ for now. Mumba, Mumba, Mumba please, please, please. There are so many souls still leaving whom you pointed to Christ. Spare them the agony of having a ‘heartless’ spiritual father.God help mother Zambia.
Decision made and it is final. Expect however real defections after parliament is dissolved.
So Nevers is going for Pf with a 1000 votes. Mutati will take more than 100,000 votes to UPND even if he is not adopted as running mate. Well done with your 1000 vote gift to PF.
politics are dynamics and not static. There are no permanent enemies in politics and so the PF-MMD Alliance is the right thing to do given the 50%+1 vote for a running mate as long as that alliance is not just a shell but involving all the grass-roots of MMD plus the likes of Muhabi Lungu. Then RB is a very big factor in MMD, Mumba has no support base.
Ba Mumba has lost it. Doesn’t know his bearings it seems. One thing is certain though, he has just dug his own grave even deeper. How logical is it that the mother of Zambian democracy with the brightest former Presidents of the likes of Dr Chiluba, Levy Mighty Mwanawasa, even RB kamwendo sink so low into going to bed with PF the party that has almost obliterated MMD? Doesn’t make any sense really but it is certain that the Ex-Man of God Mumba is just a crook and power angry person. I would love to see how he will survive if PF kisses the dust on August the 11th. What would Sata do if he was resurrected to see Mumba or even Kamwendo RB becoming the Godfather of PF? What a shame, politics of the belly pa Zed.
Congratulations MMD for expelling Felix, one of the few outstanding individuals in your dead party. Nevertheless, I have one question for your so-called president Mumba. Mr. president, given you are getting married to Jameson, what was the ‘fight’ all about between you and RB during the January by-election?
Whereto now Mr. Felix Mutati? No marks for guessing, I can bet my dollar that he will go to UPND and that UPND will receive him with both hands. Is Mutati destined for a running mate slot with HH since HH is bent on getting a bemba for a running mate? How will that sit with people like GBM and Canisius Banda? For Nakachinda, who did not know that the boy was a plant from UPND? I feel sorry for Nevers and it just shows his brain capacity. Isnt this the second time he will be burnt. First it was Lusambo who he trusted so much when the boy was another plant, then now it is Nakachinda. This boy had the stent of UPND from afar. When is Nevers meeting RB and why was the meeting silent on the RB factor?