UPND in shakeup

Sun, 17 Dec 2017 11:37:09 +0000

By BENNIE MUNDANDO

ACKSON Sejani has become the first casualty in the UPND’s rebuilding process after he was yesterday dropped from his position as party chairperson for elections and replaced with Mazabuka Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo.

And Geoffrey Mwamba has been moved to the position of party vice president for politics, a position which was held by Dr Canisius Banda until he was unceremoniously suspended before resigning from the party.

Insiders say the position left by Mr. Mwamba is reserved for an Easterner who is likely to join the party soon.

Mr. Sejani has been dropped to the position of mere National Executive Committee (NEC) member together with William Banda and Elijah Muchima.

But the development has not settled well with senior party members who have told the Daily Nation in confidence that the whole restructuring process was a mockery to the reported forthcoming national congress as the same leaders may be forced on the members through sole candidacy and endorsements.

About a fortnight ago, UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma announced that the party would hold a national convention to choose office bearers and fill the gaps which existed within the structures but yesterday, UPND national chairperson Mutale Nalumango yesterday announced a plethora of 30 new office bearers.

Other notable appointments that the top party leadership has made include that of Obvious Mwaliteta, who has replaced Bob Sakahilu as Lusaka Province party chairperson while Katuba MP Patricia Mwashingwele has replaced Edwin Lifwekelo, who resigned after the 2016 elections, as deputy information and publicity chairperson.

Some senior party officials who declined to be named yesterday said the development had left most party members wondering whether the announced national congress was just about calming their nerves or will just be an endorsement activity where those who have been appointed will not be subjected to a vote.

They said they were aware that the list released yesterday was not complete as former Chongwe MP Silvia Masebo had replaced late Request Muntanga as mobilisation chairperson while a named influential member of FDD was being courted and prepared to take another senior position in the party if that member agreed to defect.

“That list is not complete. Ms. Masebo has replaced Mr. Muntanga as party mobilisation chairperson while someone from FDD is coming to take a senior party position if he or she agrees to defect to our party.

“We are now confused as to what will be our national congress because it is either some positions will not be contested upon since some people have already been appointed or we are going there for endorsements. Clearly, this is a systematic process to disadvantage others from contesting but it is nothing new,” one of the sources complained.

And when asked to clarify reports suggesting that he had resigned from the party after being dropped from his position, Mr. Sejani reacted angrily, telling this reporter to go to hell.

“Who told you (that I have resigned?). I can never resign from the UPND my friend so, go to hell,” Mr. Sejani said before cutting the line.

The last time the UPND held a convention was over 10 years ago on Friday, July 14, 2006 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre at which party leader Hakainde Hichilema was elected after the demise of founding leader, Anderson Mazoka.