By GRACE CHAILE LESOETS RAPHAEL
Nakacinda has held on to MMD merely to destabilise the party for the benefit of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), the party’s national secretary Elizabeth Chitika has told the Court.
Chitika has insisted that Mr Nakacinda was well aware of the disciplinary proceedings against him as Judge Sharon Newa in her judgement had legitimised his suspension and he knew he had to answer to the charges as there is not stay of execution. In this case, nominated Member of Parliament and also Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection Minister, Mr Nakacinda has sued the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) in the Lusaka High Court seeking a declaration that his purported expulsion from the party is illegal, invalid and void.
Mr Nakacinda wants the court to declare that his purported expulsion from the MMD was illegal by reason of procedural impropriety and absolute defiance of the established rules of natural Justice. He cited Ms Chitika as the defendant in this matter. Mr Nakacinda also wants an order of interim injunction restraining Ms Chitika either by herself, agent, servant or otherwise from continuing to interfere with his membership in the MMD.
According to his statement of claim Mr Nakacinda claimed that Ms Chitika informed him that he had been expelled from the party on allegation of arrogance, insubordination and disregard for the party leadership among others. Mr Nakachinda stated that Ms Chitika claimed the party was unable to serve him a letter requesting him to attend a disciplinary hearing on November 15, 2019.
But in her reply to defence to counterclaim , Ms Chitika stated that Mr Nakacinda’s expulsion from MMD party was done in accordance with the party constitution and was therefore rightful. She claimed that she did everything possible to serve the expulsion letter on Mr Nakacinda and denied allegations that Mr Friday Chipasha and Mr Jackson Nkhoma went to the plaintiff’s (Nakacinda) home with intentions to harm him. Ms Chitika stated that Mr Nakacinda was given ample opportunity to be heard as he was at all times aware of there being a letter leveling charges against him,” she Said.
