MMD Has Failed To Hold Itself Together

With senior party officials trading insults and washing dirty linen in public, it is a foregone conclusion that the party that ruled Zambia for 20 years is on its deathbed.
After being ousted from power in democratic elections by the PF, the MMD became the biggest opposition political party, with 55 members of Parliament.
Having been in power for 20 years, it was expected that MMD would play a major role in promoting democratic governance in Zambia by giving checks and balances to the ruling party.
But alas, just after two years of being in opposition, the MMD has failed to hold itself together and are likely to join the ranks of the former ruling party, UNIP, if the infighting persists.
MMD senior party officials who have passed a vote of no confidence in party president, Nevers Mumba have hinted that their party may go into extinction if the former tele-evangelist remains at the helm of the former ruling party.
Dr Mumba’s stay at the helm of the party has been turbulent since he took over from past immediate republican President Rupiah Banda who retired from active politics after an undisputable electoral defeat to President Sata.
The feuds in the MMD started with former Mafinga MP Catherine Namugala and former national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe respectively who openly refusiedto acknowledge Dr Mumba’s leadership.
Maj Kachingwe was beaten and forced out of the party secretariat by pro-Mumba youths when he annulled the latter’s election as MMD on grounds that he was president of the Reform Party.
Senior party officials who included vice president for administration Brian Chituwo, former Solwezi MP Richard Taima, among others condemned the humiliation of Maj Kachingwe.
Maj Kachingwa has not given his fight and is currently challenging Dr Mumba’s election in court, arguing that he was not a suitable candidate because of his alleged affiliation to the Reform Party.
The other notable dispute in the former ruling party was one involving Dr Mumba and Ms Namugala which resulted into the latter who was national chairperson for women being expelled from the party.
Ms Namugala who was expelled for gross misconduct after openly critising Dr Mumba in the media has challenged her expulsion in court.
And now the latest feud is between Dr Mumba and senior national executive committee (NEC) officials including vice presidents Dr Chituwo ( administration) and Michael Kaingu in-charge of political affairs.
According to Dr Chituwo and Mr Kaingu, the MMD is dying a slow and painful death because of failed leadership.
However, Dr Mumba, who is at the centre of controversy and has lost the support of senior officials, claims the MMD was intact. He has accused the PF of destabilising his party.
The two vice presidents together with acting party national secretary Kapembwa Simbao, spokesperson Dora Siliya, Lucky Mulusa, the former Solwezi Central lawmaker, and founding party members among them Katele Kalumba and Mbita Chitala feel only an extraordinary convention could save the party from extinction.
“MMD is dying a slow and painful death. Failing to admit this fact would be injustice to Zambians and to our democracy. The party is on the verge of collapsing due to failed leadership,” Dr Chituwo said.
He said the MMD has continued losing members to other political parties since 2011 when they lost elections.
“Our party constitution provides for recourse in a situation where we have found ourselves in,” Dr Chituwo said. “We need to reconnect with our general membership and be available to provide alternative governance.”
Founder members feel the party leadership has failed therefore, and that calls for an extra-ordinary convention were being done in good faith to keep the MMD alive.
The PF through its director for media and communications Chanda Mfula said the ruling party should not be dragged into MMD’s internal affairs.
Mr Mfula urged Dr Mumba against blaming the PF but should rather attend to concerns MMD members were raising.
Dr Mumba held a press briefing where he accused PF of sponsoring meetings to derail the MMD.
This plan according to Dr Mumba involves the sponsoring of MMD members and other people to destabilise and cause confusion in his party. Senior MMD officials have dismissed these assertions.
In dismissing the allegations, Mr Chellah said State House and President Sata would like to see MMD overcome its turbulences because it was an essential ingredient to democracy and good governance.
“MMD as an opposition political party provides checks and balances to the Patriotic Front (PF) administration. For the sake of democracy in this country, we would like to see MMD survive this turbulence,” Mr Chellah said.
The leadership controversy surrounding Dr Mumba is historical. It dates back to 2005 when the MMD NEC expelled him after he differed with President Mwanawasa.
Despite succeeding former President Banda, some MMD members still consider Dr Mumba an ‘outsider’ only interested to use the party to achieve his presidential ambitions.
Dr Mumba first joined MMD when former President Levy Mwanawasa appointed him vice president in May 2003 after he ditched his National Citizens Coalition (NCC).
His appointment, was however short-lived as he was fired on October 4, 2004, and was expelled from MMD in 2005 after which he formed the Reform Party.
Before his appointment as Vice-President, Dr Mumba was among presidential candidates in the 2001 general election which Mr Mwanawasa won.
As Reform Party leader in 2007, Dr Mumba was said to be in talks with Dr Mwanawasa for a possible alliance with the MMD or to be re-admitted in the party.
Dr Mumba became Zambia’s ambassador to Canada when President Banda succeeded the late Mwanawasa.
Earlier Dr Mumba was among unsuccessful MMD presidential hopefuls after the demise of Dr Mwanawasa.
Mr Banda’s retirement from active politics gave Dr Mumba an opportunity to revive his presidential ambition.
His greatest challenge right now is for the MMD to die in his hands, if the former ruling party should die as predicated by senior officials.
From 55 MPs, Dr Mumba has lost 13 through resignations and nullification of parliamentary seats. On top of that, some MPs such as Keith Mukata (Chilanga), Nicholas Banda (Kapoche), Forrie Tembo (Nyimba) Josephine Limata (Luampa) and Danny Chingimbu for Kabompo East are perceived not be in good standing with the party for accepting deputy ministerial positions in the PF government.
How Dr Mumba and senior party officials react to the on-going feud will determine whether the former ruling party will survive the impending death.

Posted by Kunda on April 5, 2014. Filed under HEADLINES, NEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry