By SIMON MUNTEMBA
TROUBLE is brewing in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the Chishimba Kambwili led faction prepares to hold a convention today which the Joseph Akafumba group is determined to stop through court action.
The Kambwili-led NDC group has vowed that it will today hold its national convention to elect its leaders despite threats of a court injunction from the other faction. The Akafumba faction has however, vowed to obtain an injunction to stop the Kambwili group from going ahead with the convention.
Both NDC acting vice president Saboi Imboela and acting secretary general Paul Mbulo confirmed yesterday that the party was going to hold a national convention today Yes, I can confirm with you that we shall be having our party national convention tomorrow (today) on the Copperbelt,” Ms Imboela said.
Dr Mbulo also announced yesterday that the party will be holding its national convention today, Sunday. Dr Mbulo said the convention will start at 08:30 hours and will be attended by party leaders from all over the country.
He said it will also have provincial centres where some provincial and district leaders who form the Electoral College will be stationed. The convention will, he said, among other things, elect its national leaders, as well as confirm or amend the constitution and party manifesto where needed. He announced that all was set for the convention and that the provincial centres will be connected to the main centre on the Copperbelt where the convention will take place.
“We are very happy with the current state of affairs and we urge all our delegates to be on time for this event. For further clarifications, all delegates and other district and provincial leaders should call their district chairpersons, and all members of the central committee should call me,” Dr Mbulo said.
But the Akafumba faction said it would be illegal for Mr Kambwili and his team to hold a national conference. Mr Akafumba said yesterday that the Ndola High Court on Friday granted them an injunction against Mr Kambwili from masquerading as NDC president and performing any party function. “Yesterday (Friday) afternoon the Ndola High Court granted leave to commence contempt proceedings against Chishimba Kambwili, Saboi Imboela, Paul Mbulo and Ackson Kaonga to show cause why they should not be sent to prison for contempt of court.
“The court process has been duly served on Kambwili’s lawyers, however, we have been reliably informed by his members of central committee who are in fact in our team that Kambwili this afternoon withdrew K150, 000 and has sent K15, 000 to each province to ferry people for a convention in Kitwe on Saturday at Moba Hotel.
NDC vice-president Edward Mumbi also charged that national convention that the Kambwili led NDC was going to hold is illegal. Mr Mumbi warned Mr Kambwili against holding a convention because that will be tantamount to contempt of the court.
