The opposition Movement for Multi – Party Democracy (MMD) in Muchinga Province says it does not support the decision by the National Executive Committee (NEC) members to adopt former republican president Rupiah Banda to stand on the party ticket for the January 20 presidential by-election.
In an interview with ZANIS in Chinsali today Provincial MMD Chairman Frank Bowa said people in Muchinga Province will not support Rupiah Banda in the forthcoming presidential by-election.
Mr Bowa who is also a NEC member said the meeting which adopted Mr Banda as party presidential candidate for the January 20 presidential by-election had a lot of flaws.
He charged that despite being a NEC member and having been in Lusaka at the time of the adoption, he was not invited to attend the meeting that resolved to adopt Mr Banda.
Mr Bowa said that as far as he was concerned Dr Nevers Mumba is the rightful candidate for the MMD who should be allowed to contest the upcoming presidential election.
He said Muchinga province will not tolerate the adoption of a retired politician to stand on the party ticket when a duly elected party president is available.
“We cannot sit and watch wrong things being done in the party. The adoption of former president Banda was wrongly done and should be declared null and void,” said Bowa.
Mr. Bowa said that the party in Muchinga province will also not accept the suspension of Dr. Mumba from the party.
And MMD district party officials in Chinsali have threatened to support other political parties during the forthcoming presidential by-election if Dr Mumba’s suspension is not lifted.
District Chairman Lazarus Mwila and District Youth chairman Emmanuel Mutale said they have resolved to find a party they will support in the January 20 presidential by –election if Dr Mumba is not allowed to stand on the party ticket.
The MMD recently announced the suspension of party president Nevers Mumba for alleged gross indiscipline.
The party also announced the adoption of former republican president Rupiah Banda as it preferred candidate in the presidential by-election scheduled for January 20, 2015.