MMD CLASH LOOMS

…as Nakachinda insists convention is illegal

A MAJOR clash is looming between the two factions of the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) as the Raphael Nakachinda team has organised a national consultative meeting in total disregard of the party national convention set for March.

And MMD president, Dr Nevers Mumba has maintained that the virtual convention planned for next March 20, 2021 was the only legal one representing his party.

Mr Nakachinda, the former secretary-general has organised a national consultative meeting with selected officials and founder members under what is termed, True Blue MMD.

Mr Nakachinda, who is nominated Member of Parliament and minister of Water Development and Sanitation, said in an interview the convention planned by Dr Mumba was irregular and unconstitutional and should be ignored by members.

“Dr Mumba’s obsession for self-preservation has gone beyond the limits,” Mr Nakachinda said.

He maintained that the convention cannot be held without conducting any lower organs’ free, fair and transparent elections from the branch up to the province.

These lower organ elections, he said, should culminate into the convention to elect legitimate party leaders where delegates to the convention who are the electoral college should be selected from as per MMD party constitution Article 12 © (d) and (f).

“We should not be part of those who are determined to kill the MMD, just to preserve their selfish personal interest,” he said

However, Ms Elizabeth Chitika, the party spokesperson brushed off Mr Nakachinda’s sentiments maintaining that he was irrelevant and had been caught unawares about the plans for the convention.

Open Save MMD is not part of the structure of the MMD and therefore the party would not respond to its ranting, Ms Chitika said.

The convention is legal and called by the legitimate NEC and followed all our constitutional provisions and there is nothing unconstitutional by the planned convention

“Mr Nakachinda is not a member of our party, and has nothing to do with our party,” she said.