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CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI HITS BACK

By PETER SICHALI

CHISHIMBA Kambwili has suspended his party vice president Joseph Akafumba, Secretary-General Bridgette Atanga and Roan Member of Parliament Joseph Chishala from the party.

He has also pulled the National Democratic Congress (NDC) faction out of the Opposition Alliance led by the UPND, stating that his party overwhelmingly opposed being subordinated to the UPND.

But Mr Kambwili’s spokesperson Edward Mumbi said the action was indecent, illegal and that of a person who did not respect the law.

Mr Kambwili said the claim by Ms Atanga that he was not elected president at the national council was baseless and devoid of any legal backing because he was appointed by the central committee in line with the provision of the NDC constitution.

“I, Chishimba Kambwili was appointed by the national governing council of the NDC in accordance with article 24 sub section 3 of the party constitution. The claim that I was elected which you have taken to court is baseless and devoid of any legal support.” Mr Kambwili said.

Mr Kambwili said having been appointed by the national governing council he possess powers like that one elected at the party’s congress.

He said the party constitution gives him power in consultation with the secretariat to convene a central committee meeting.

Mr Kambwili said his removal as president is null and void because those who removed him did not meet the required threshold to expel the party president.

He said Mr Akafumba, Ms Atanga and Roan MP and NDC chairperson Fr Richard Luonde did not have authority to expel him as president because they did not meet the quorum of three-thirds majority of the central committee members to make that decision.

Mr Kambwili said he was not against the Opposition Alliance but was against renaming it as UPND Alliance and contesting of elections on a single party ticket, a move that would completely eliminate the NDC from the political scene.

“We are not against an alliance but we are not against the alliance where we are treated like small boys in a big brother young brother arrangement where our party will not be respected and turned from NDC to UPND that we totally rejected,” Mr Kambwili said.

Mr Kambwili said contrary to claims by Mr Akafumba that he was not elected president of the party, its constitution gives authority to the central committee or founding members to appoint the president until one was elected at the national council.

Mr Mumbi said Mr Kambwili’s name does not appear on any party registration document at the Registrar of Society.

“Mr Kambwili’s action is very indecent, illegal and is that of the person who does not respect the law,”Mr Mumbi said.

He said Mr Kambwili has been expelled therefore he has no authority to suspend any party member.

Mr Mumbi could however not say more as the matter was before the courts of law.

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