. MWAMBA

By NORMA SIAME –
KASAMA Central Member of Parliament Geoffrey Mwamba, popularly as GBM, has been expelled from the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).
The expulsion of the former Minister of Defence is, however, subject to ratification by the PF central committee chaired by party president Michael Sata.
The party’s top brass in Northern Province yesterday met in Kasama to make a ruling on recommendations made by the disciplinary committee appointed to study Mr Mwamba’s alleged misdeeds.
The executive refused to pardon Mr Mwamba and unanimously approved the recommendation to expel him from the party.
The entire provincial executive which voted in favour of the expulsion said Mr Mwamba had shown an excessive amount stubbornness when he failed to appear before the disciplinary committee on Saturday.
Acting provincial vice-chairperson Peter Mwansa told journalists after the meeting that a copy of the minutes of the meeting had been forwarded to PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba.
PF deputy secretary general Bridget Atanga said she had not received the minutes as the issue was above her.
She referred all queries to Mr Kabimba whose mobile phone was unreachable by Press time.
The party indicted Mr Mwamba for allegedly de-campaigning fellow party officials, and for displaying disloyalty to the party and its president.
He was also accused of being insubordinate to senior party officials and had reportedly demeaned the local executive committee members.
Mr Mwamba was also charged with sponsoring parallel structures instead of working with elected party officials.
When contacted on his mobile phone, Mr Mwamba said he had no comment on the matter.
Northern Province PF secretary Everest Chela said the executive found it difficult to forgive Mr Mwamba as he was a ‘stubborn individual’ as evidenced by his refusal to appear before the disciplinary committee.
“Mr Mwamba also refused to adhere to party directives as outlined in his letter of suspension which barred him from participating in party activities.
“He has no respect for party officials and he has been reportedly been fraternising with members of the opposition,” Mr Chela said.
The Kasama Central MP, who had refused to resign, had been challenging the PF’s top leadership, including Vice-President Guy Scott, to expel him from the party so that he could demonstrate his popularity in a by-election.
A small group of his supporters was spotted standing across the street from the party offices.