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—The Movement for Multi Democracy (MMD) in Eastern Province has risen against the Nevers Mumba-led National Executive Committee (NEC) and are calling for an early national convention to elect new leaders accusing the current leadership of having failed to deliver.
The former ruling party has also criticized those against calls for former President, Rupiah Banda, to return to active politics, saying those opposed to his return consider him to be a threat.
The MMD has demanded that a national convention be held in the first quarter of 2015 to elect the 2016 Presidential candidate and the entire National Executive committee (NEC) which would guarantee victory in the next general elections.
Speaking shortly after a Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting in Chipata, MMD Chairperson, Alexander Miti , said the former ruling party resolved to call for an early convention because it observed that though the party was participating in all by-elections, it was losing a number of seats.
Mr Miti, who was flanked by the Provincial Executive Committee and district officials from the nine districts of the province, noted that something was wrong in the party and that there was lack of
seriousness by the party leadership to support candidates.
He noted that failure to elect new party leaders would lead the former ruling party to lose the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2016.
“The current leadership lacks seriousness and support towards candidates. For instance, the candidates had to single-handedly support the by-elections in the recently held by-elections in Vubwi and Kasenengwa Constituencies,” he said.
Mr Miti stressed the need for the party to reorganize itself.
Asked whether the party in the province supported calls for Mr Banda to contest the Presidency on the MMD ticket, Mr Miti said the former Head of State had the right to return to politics.
“Obayopelanji? Why do they fear him? He is a genuine member of the MMD who has every right to express his views and he has already made it clear that he will state his position at the right time,” he
wondered.
Mr Miti said the MMD in the province was waiting for Mr Banda to state his position, saying it will be the only time that the party would make its position known but also noted that he was a son of Eastern
Province.
He stated that the party has the capacity to win because the structures at grass root level were intact, saying there was need to reorganize NEC.
Meanwhile, the MMD in Eastern Province has also retained the adoption of Dora Siliya and revoked the adoption of Annie Yeta as preferred candidate in the looming parliamentary by-election in Petauke Central and Malambo Constituencies respectively.
Mr Miti said the PEC resolved to maintain Dora Siliya as its preferred candidate as she was the only person who could guarantee victory for the former ruling party in Petauke Central.
He, however, stated that PEC decided to reopen the adoption process for the Malambo Parliamentary seat and advised all members aspiring for the seat to apply for adoption which he said will close soon.
