By GIDEON NYENDWA
NEVERS Mumba’s mandate as MMD president came to an end on Wednesday, May 25 2022 and the office of the president subsequently became vacant, MMD national chairman Tobby Maliti has said.
Mr. Maliti explained that according Article 40(1) of the MMD constitution, Dr. Mumba was no longer the party president and did not qualify to recontest the position because he had served his full two terms.
In a letter dated July 6, 2022 addressed to MMD national secretary Elizabeth Chitika, made available to the Daily Nation, Mr. Maliti said he would not allow undemocratic tendencies by Dr. Mumba and his stooge to clip the party.
Mr. Maliti reminded Ms. Chitika that MMD was the mother of democracy in Zambia and should not allow Dr. Mumba to subvert the party constitution by clinging on to the presidency when his mandate expired in May.
He called on the MMD national secretary to respect the values and principles of the party by calling for a full National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting within a week to plan for an extra ordinary convention.
He therefore declared the office of MMD president vacant and called for all-inclusive extra ordinary convention to elect a new party president.
“In this regard, I now direct your office to call for a full NEC meeting to be convened within seven days from the date of this letter which will democratically call for an extra ordinary convention as per article 15(1).
Mr. Maliti said the Extra ordinary convention should not only elect the new leadership but also heal and unite the party in readiness for 2026 general elections. Efforts to get a comment from Ms. Chitika proved futile by press time.
