MMD/UPND Alliance to remain in place

COMMUNIQUE ON KEY RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT MMD NEC MEETING, 19TH NOVEMBER, 2016

The MMD National Executive Committee held their Fourth meeting on Saturday 19th November, 2016 in Kasupe, Lusaka where, inter alia, the following key resolutions were passed unanimously:

STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH THE UPND

At its Extraordinary MMD NEC meeting of 14-15 May, 2016 held at Ibis Gardens, Chibombo area, the body voted overwhelmingly for the Party to enter into a strategic electoral alliance with the United Party for National Development (UPND) going into the 2016 Tripartite election.

Consequently the two parties signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding on 26th May, 2016 at Chainama Hotel to this effect.

At the 19th November, 2016 meeting, NEC unanimously voted for the MMD/UPND Alliance to remain in place until the matter of the disputed 2016 election was conclusively determined. Further, NEC resolved to continue engagement with the alliance partner, the UPND, through a bi-partisan select technical committee to continously review relevant developments and map out the way forward.

The Committee applauded the great show of mutual support and unity between the leaders of both parties right down to the lower ranks. They vigourously campaigned together and morally supported one another during various cases of harrassment and arrests suffered by leaders of both parties at the hands of the ruling party. The structures of both parties demonstrated great unity of purpose as exemplifed by the moral and material support rendered by the MMD Copperbelt leadership and general membership to their imprisoned UPND colleagues during their incarceration at Kamfinsa prison soon after the August elections.

STATUS OF SUSPENDED PARTY NATIONAL SECRETARY AND SUSPENDED PARTY SPOKESPERSON

The cases of former Party National Secretary Mr. Mwansa Mbulakulima and former Party Spokesperson Rafael Nakachinda were tabled for review and determination.

As per Party Disciplinary Code of Conduct, the two had been suspended by the National Executive Commitee on 3rd March, 2016 and 18th February, 2016 respectively for gross misconduct likely to put the party into disrepute.

At the Saturday 19th November, 2016 meeting, the National Executive Committee unanimously voted to formally and officially expel the two members from the MMD in accordance with the Party Constitution.

COMMENCEMENT OF PREPARATIONS FOR THE 2017 MMD NATIONAL CONVENTION

A resolution passed at the MMD NEC meeting of 30 January, 2016 had voted by overwhelming majority to hold the MMD Party National Convention in 2017 to coincide with the end of the Party President’s 5 year tenure.

At the 19th November, 2016 meeting, a resolution was passed for the party to now begin immediate preparations for holding the Convention with regard to resource and membership mobilization in preparation for this great event in the party’s calendar, where far reaching decisions aimed at shaping and strengthening the MMD shall be tabled, debated and adopted.

In accordance with the strong democratic tenets of the MMD, all positions in the party hierarchy shall be open for transparent election at the Convention.

Reuben Sambo (Rev.)

NATIONAL SECRETARY