Mumba Has Failed, Insists Suspended East MMD Youth

Suspended MMD Eastern Province youth chairperson Chembe Daka has maintained that in its current state, the former ruling party cannot perform well in an election.

And MMD spokesperson Raphael Nakacinda says the party will this week hold a meeting with Eastern Province executive committee to address various issues affecting the party.

Commenting on his indefinite suspension from the party for gross indiscipline, among other reasons, Daka said he still stands by his conviction that party leader Nevers Mumba has lamentably failed.

“Without cheating, I don’t think the MMD in its current form can do better in a general election. MMD needs fresh leadership to take it forward. Dr Nevers Mumba, I will not change my stance, has lamentably failed. I am not bitter with my suspension. I leave it in the hands of the people to judge,” he said.

Daka said democratically, he had done nothing wrong by pointing out the wrong things that the leadership was doing.

“If you point out the bad things of the leadership, that does not mean that you should be suspended from the party. It’s like in MMD now they find it very fit and normal that anyone who criticises Dr Nevers Mumba must go,” he said.

Daka said he would not defect from the former ruling party.

“I am not going to any party, I will still remain a loyal member to this my beloved party. There is nothing like thinking of going somewhere. I will remain a mere member. This suspension is full of personal hatred,” he said.

Last week, the MMD also expelled its former provincial secretary Samuel Lugomo-Phiri, who is also Sisinje ward councillor.

Provincial chairperson Jacob Mwanza warned that he would not allow indiscipline in the party in the province.

Both Daka and Lugomo-Phiri have of late been accusing Dr Mumba of having failed to run the party and have been calling for a convention to elect new leaders.

The two leaders backed President Edgar Lungu in last January’s election.

But Nakacinda said senior party officials who were currently in the province would have an audience with the provincial committee to address a number of issues affecting the party.

“First of all we’ll go to Malambo (to drum up support for MMD Kakumbi ward candidate Maison Phiri), that’s when we are going to deal with internal party matters,” said Nakacinda.