MMD national chairperson Michael Mabenga has said it is unfortunate that the MMD party convention ignited a lot of debate at the beginning of last year but that the party will go by its constitution which gives the leadership elected at the convention a five year term of office.
Mr Mabenga also said during the Radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk programme monitored in Ndola yesterday that the party had not lost president Levy Mwanawasa’s legacy and continued to implement the MMD manifesto of 2006 to 2011.
He appeared on the radio show together with deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande.
He said the MMD which held the convention in July 2005 would only be going for the convention in July this year or even slightly after that, depending on the guidance from the national executive committee (NEC).
“For me the convention is not cardinal. What is important is keeping the party together but once NEC decides, our members will be informed. We need to also involve the grassroots in whatever the party is doing,” he said.
Asked to comment on the fears that the party’s top leadership may hijack the whole process, especially that people like Mr Mabenga allegedly did not want the convention to go ahead, Mr Kaande chipped in and said the issue was neither here nor there because it was the leadership, including the grassroots level, that consented by making the decision.
“The leadership in MMD has not said there will be no convention. What happened was that the provincial leaderships were the ones that started petitioning to waive the convention and endorsed President Rupiah Banda as a sole candidate so that money can be saved for 2011 campaigns. It was difficult for us to refuse that,” Mr Kaande said.[quote]
He said it was, however, the duty of the NEC to guide on that matter as all the petitions would still be tabled before the NEC.
Mr Mabenga said the MMD would not intimidate anyone trying to challenge President Banda at the convention.
He refuted claims that the MMD had lost the vision of which it was formed, saying the party had carried on with the vision of transforming the national economy.
On the continuation of Dr Mwanawasa’s legacy, Mr Kaande said the legacy was intact, especially that President Banda had carried on with the same 2006 to 2011 MMD manifesto left by the late president.
Asked by moderator Kenneth Maduma as to whether the recent defections by the likes of former Gender minister Patricia Mulasikwanda and others was a sign of a sinking Titanic, Mr Kaande said such people were political tourists who left the party after failing to get what they wanted.
Mr Mabenga said the MMD was not worried by individual defections.
He said President Banda did not at any time during the 2008 presidential by-election campaigns promise that he would choose a vice-president from Western Province.
On the relationship between the MMD and the Lamba chiefs, Mr Mabenga said like chiefs from any other provinces, the party’s relationship with Lambas, including former Science and Technology minister Gabriel Namulambe, was intact and it was the responsibility of the party to embrace everybody in the country.
[Times of Zambia]
Last steps of a dying horse
MMD kuya bebele!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VIVA PACT
It seems the MMD are failing to realise that they are on a self destruction path!
This ll save them just right as we vote them out next year!
Thais is what i call RUBBISH. Look at this fool honestly. He is not even ashamed and yet only the other day he was defending the decision not to hold the convention. Moneni kwati chipuba.
The way politicians make turns and twists makes me wonder. I just fail to understand them. Today he will make a statement and tomorrow a totally different one will be uttered with no shame or remorse. Not even counter checking with what was said the other time. They take us so casually as if we don’t think.
At the time am commenting only 9% of those that have viewed this story have commented, Bloggers have no interest in what this man says. He says one thing 2day and utters the exact opposite the very next day…
Good morning
#5 Ba Sibweni I agree with you. Someone also said: “Politics is the art of postponing decisions until they are no longer relevant.”
Our email system is down today at ZANIS. So no updates for Lusaka times. Sorry for the incovience
Mpombo challenged them on the issue of the convention and has emerged winner. shame on you mabenga and other bootlicking cadres.
Kwena mwaba bapumbafu mu govt, so who put the words in aka mulongoti and mabenga that the convetion will not take place because the party had no money? now the party has money? who put words in one bwezani that those for the convention will have to leave the party? so now chameleons in zambia are talking eh? look at chameleon banda and kaande? so if namakando was right, why dissolve his committee? bushe zed nibakolwe bateka nangu chabashani kanshi pliz pliz? twanaka nabo katubalange RED CARD. ZZZZZZWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA pa 2011 just less than 365 days oh! some one is getting fired soon.
Successfully raised the ZK 7 billion required with ZK 82 billion on the way for 2011.
ala kuya bebele. twanaka nenye
Michael Mabenga, do you realize that Zambians are not fools? Only a few weeks ago, you and your lot wanted to forego the convention until the divisive debate you are talking about forced you and your ilk to U-turn. It shows that even among the MMD membership, you lot are held in low esteem by MMD members except by Mama Jane’s grandson, Chiko, the MMD Kitwe District youth chairman who benefits from the crumbs. Whatever you do, 2011 KUYA BEBELE, ZWA!
Intellect, consistency and tactics are what these so called MMD big-wigs lack. They start off by saying only the people will demand what they want and now which other grassroots are they talking about if those who petitioned demanded there be no convention. To me, what this means is that Mpombo and Namakando have the party grassroots and NOT Kaande and Mabenga. If you are not sure about something Mabenga aka CDF and Kaande aka muselelakwakaba, why not just shut up and get yourself some integrity? But since you have none, even your RB sees it and make no mistake, Cabinet Ministerial posts will be very far for you now.
Although Politicking is supposed to be a foolish game. It shouldnt be too foolish.
Shameful U-turn.
These people should learn to apologise. That “No Convention” campaign was as real as the 3rd Term bid by Sata and FTJ in those days.
Well done MMD, go for it. I hope other parties will emulate you. Democracy does not come cheap and you need to stick to your governing instrument. Good luck to all aspiring leaders.
Does it mean Magande has raised the funds he was tasked to by Mulongoti? Well done Magande!!
The MMD top leadership is, to say the least, sickening. These SoBs think that they own the country, its people and resources. It is my sincere wish that my fellow Zambians wake up from the slumber they have been in for a long time by kicking the MMD out. AlaBee, Mabenga, Mulongoti, nafyonse ifipumbu. Out, kuya bebele, Zwa.
It looks like these guys are determined to go ahead with RB as candidate,this is political suicide.
If the likes of Magande,Kavindele,Mpombo and others will not takeover leadership of MMD @ the convention then i would advise them to join the PACT coz that will be the end of MMD.
Good thing though, let me highlight that more tax money will go towards re-lecting Bwezi. or it.We asked f
#21 african child you have NO brains or NO head altogether. Zambia needs a leader with new ideas and a new image ,,,Not people with alot of historical ties and lies like Sata and Banda……am still waiting for the PACT or PF or UPND convention….we want to see who are dictators here!
The political affairs in Zambia are so saddening or rather utter rubbish.Im Bemba by tribe who wishes HH was a polital heavyweight,coz most of the politians we hav are utter rubbish eg Rb,Sata.Wish we had a party wth members lik HH,Given Lubinda,kabinga Pande & jst some sensible pipo out there.
VATERAN SAY SOMETHING!!