West FDD rejects Chifumu’s expulsion

Fri, 07 Apr 2017 10:37:48 +0000

 By SANDRA MACHIMA

THE alleged expulsion of FDD vice president Chifumu Banda has no blessings from party members in Western Province, says Save FDD Committee chairperson David Nchengu.

Mr Nchengu declared in Kaoma yesterday that the purported expulsion was null and void.

Mr Nchengu said the term of office for FDD president Edith Nawakwi had come to an end according to the party constitution and as such a new leadership was required before the 2021 general elections.

He called on the party membership to avoid the politics of intimidation and dwell on protecting members’ freedoms and rights in readiness for the 2021 general elections.

He said for FDD to survive it should encourage dialogue other than pushing each other with threats of intimidation and expulsion.

Mr Nchengu welcomed the appointment of the national board of trustees to intervene in many challenges the party was facing and bury its differences as the party embarks on the forthcoming national convention.  “The in-fighting that has rocked the party should be discussed so that stringent measures are sought to enhance the growth of the party among the membership in the country as a way of fostering peace.

“In fact the party has enough resources to call for a national convention that will see new leaders carry on with the mantle of developing and growing the party’s plans,” he said.

Mr Nchengu said that the party should concentrate on promoting harmony and unity as time for politicking was over.

He said politics of intimidation had resulted in the major former opposition political parties such as UNIP and MMD die a natural death.

Mr Nchengu said the national policy committee should clearly devise mechanisms of ensuring that the party constitution was followed to avoid squabbles and fights that had resulted in the expulsion of several party members.