Some individual party members in Lusaka district are calling for the reinstatement of Rupiah Banda as MMD president following persistent divisions that have engulfed the former ruling party.
Sources said although no official approach has been made to ask Mr Banda, some members of the party feel that he was the right man who could save the former ruling party from the total collapse.
The MMD has been engulfed with constant confusion after senior members including two vice presidents – Brian Chituwo and Michael Kaingu – rebelled against party president Nevers Mumba.
The senior officials say Dr Mumba has failed to run the party and it was only important that an extraordinary convention is held where the members can elect the new leadership.
Dr Mumba has repeatedly defied calls for leadership change in the MMD and insisted recently that the party would not go for an extraordinary convention as long he was in charge.
“We want RB to return because this man (Dr Mumba) has failed to run the party,” said one of the officials from the Lusaka District. “He has brought his own people that are not adding any value to the party and it is only RB who can restore our pride.”
The official said Dr Mumba’s interest was personal as he was a broke man who could manage to run a big political party like the MMD.
But MMD national youth secretary Tobias Kafumukache said although he was not aware about the calls for Mr Banda to return, he had no problem with that because the former president was eligible.
Mr Kafumukache who has been one of the strong advocates for extraordinary convention, said the constitution allowed Mr Banda to contest the presidential elections.
“We have not sat as youths to analyse on whether RB should come back, but he is not banned by the constitution although that will come with the repercussions like losing some of the privileges he is currently enjoying.
“But even if no one has come out to express interest in the presidency of the party, Mumba must know that we have plenty of leadership in MMD who can do better than him,” Mr Kafumukache said.
Lusaka district MMD chairperson, Emmanuel Lungu said rumours that Mr Banda would return was a mere speculation.
“Yes people are missing Mr Banda but I think what our leaders should have been doing was to bring him close and seek advice where they are not sure for the sake of unity in the party.
Mr Lungu said Mr Banda should be allowed to rest after retiring from politics. The former president has stayed away from political limelight since stepping down when his party elected Dr Mumba as new leader.
He is Coming, for sure.
Is that the reason for Kabimba/M’membe/Nchito’s worries? They will have to pay back DBZ 14 million with interests and costs? Is this the reason form Mathani to go after Simaata Simaata and fund chaos in MMD? A number of MMD members seen passing through Mathani’s Penthouse in Finance House. By the way Mathani is still busy in money laundering. He has never paid rent for the Penthouse he lives in and for offices he uses as Mahtani Group. Where is ZRA, sleeping in his pockets?
I am a strong advocate of separating emotions from political analysis but I am struggling to keep that line of thought. As a nation we have been hijacked by wolves masquerading in sheepskin after a relentless campaign of hate and lies headed by M’membe towards RB and the MMD. I can’t help but feel that “injustice” prevailed over those that had ideas (even if they may have not been the best one) of where Zambia was heading. More so RB who turns out to be a “President for all Zambians” as opposed to the clown we now have in state house. One can see and feel the urge to agree that perhaps lets have RB back despite his age and show the wolves that Zambians wants progressive democracy. I would definitely rally behind RB but only through democratic practices starting within the MMD itself.
Please don’t take us backwards.Let not history repeat itself.Remember what happened to UNIP.Mr Musokotwane was the duly elected UNIP president at the Convention after UNIP lost in1991.But due to KK’s lack of good judgement and demands from the un informed cadres,KK was brought back.Todate UNIP has never recovered.In fact,if Rupiah had only done the 3yrs,MMD would be in power today,of cause with new faces other than the Doras,Kaingus,Chituwos,Simbaos etc.
What part of universe are those advocates of RB’s return from, the clock has ticked by and things have moved.Never Mumba is MMD leader and he’s doing a marvellous job under testing conditions.The RB chapter closed in 2011, nothing can be taken away from him for the part he played and should be left to retire in peace. It’s unfair to compare an opposition leader with limited support and resource to someone who led the party that was already in power. We’ll never know what RB would have been had he been an opposition leader.
These pipo who are always talking about Dr Mumba of lacking money.With due respect,how much money did Mr Rupiah Banda had whem he was gotten from the farm?I believe if money was the issue,Mr Banda would not hve been recalled from retirement.Besides Dr Mumba has really tried.With all the by-elections taking place,the deregitration of MMD,the Court Cases.All the amounts have been paid when Dr Mumba is President.The deregistration debt was made by the so-called senior members-what an irresponsible mmd old lesadership.let’s give Dr Mumba a break from these hired guns,the likes of Kafumukaches who lack self esteem-Sebana wikute.
Allow RB rest so that he enjoys his pension. We need a younger generation to lead Zambia pantu aba kote they r 2 analogue.
Allow RB rest so that he enjoys his pension. We need a younger generation to lead Zambia pantu aba kote they r 2 analogue. PF should also start looking 4 a younger president.
Ni Banda Chabe Zoana! Please come back RB tavutika kuli Noah!
Very nauseating!!!!
But sure. RB the most Dull PRESIDENTS of ALL TIMES….!!!
MMD shud ve other things to say than this. UPND chabe.
Viva UPND.
Thieves should be restricted from leading political parties; RB should be in jail.
@One Zambia, by your standard Sata and his puppy selling son will go to jail for life. They are the biggest thieves.
Rupiah for presidency to take Sata, Membe, Nchito, Masebo, Mahtani, Kabimba to prison where they rightfully belong to.
Why does Mahtani pay people to remain quite? What do they know? Is Mahtani saying that Simata will prove he is wrong and Mahtani wants him to shut up? Does Mahtani want Simata to see injustice and turn a blind eye? Has Simata sold his freedom to this theiving banker?
Mahtani you won’t buy Simata’s pride and freedom with your doomed and cursed money.
May God curse you with the slowest killing disease, how many homes have you destroyed, how many families have you thrown in the gutter? May God give you long life and may he pain and punish every single day of it.
You and your liars are the filthiest scum on earth.
Your day is close
Please don’t take us backwards.Let not history repeat itself.Remember what happened to UNIP.Mr Musokotwane was the duly elected UNIP president at the Convention after UNIP lost in1991.But due to KK’s lack of good judgement and demands from the un informed cadres,KK was brought back.Todate UNIP has never recovered.In fact,if Rupiah had only done the 3yrs,MMD would be in power today,of cause with new faces other than the Doras,Kaingus,Chituwos,Simbaos etc.
He is the right man who can save us from these PF thugs!
I was watchig emmanuel tv wen he said;Sambia rejoyce!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So what would happen of RB
was brought back and then he lost. Zambians are looking for a party or leader that would perform faruch better than UNIP MMD or the ruling party
Sorry meant if and far much
KUWAYAWAYAFWE…….Dandy is a genious?
MMD is in denial mode and are running in all directions without taking a lot of the to reflect and address what made them lose in 2011
Wondering what is the next gimmick after this one fails.
A lot of time.
Next failed plan after this one fails
Why do Zambians like ama Dinosaurs, ifiKote, Nkhalamba to rule them? You can never go forward with dinosaurs. They are backwards and they belong to the past. Move forward bane vote for the younger generation! Do you really think an old man will dance the young generation dance? no! he will dance chikokshi and ballroom dance…..
Even just the talk of an RB return would give Mmembe, Kabimba and Guy Scott sleepless nights. This would be their worst nightmare! This certainly would make them stand up and start the insults all over again. And how they would fight this! Thinking aloud, if Sata is standing again, what better candidate than RB to beat him? This is the stuff made of reality TV, like Big Brother. The whole country would wake up. Now, is it possible RB is coming back?