By BRIAN HATYOKA –

THE Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) in Livingstone has suspended its Namatama Ward councillor Fennix Liyandisha for three months for going against party resolutions on the just ended mayoral elections. During the mayoral elections held on Friday in Livingstone, Mr Liyandisha did not vote for both the position of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and cited intimidation from his party as one of the reasons for not voting. Mr Liyandisha also withdrew his nomination for the position of deputy mayor against citing intimidation and breach of constitutional rights. United Party for National Development (UPND) Simooonga Ward Councillor Milford Maambo won the position of Livingstone mayor after he polled nine votes against MMD’s Mwalibonena Ward Councillor Matthew Jere who got eight votes from 17 votes cast. Patriotic Front (PF) Akapelwa Ward councillor Fred Sikazwe won the position of Deputy Mayor when he polled 10 votes against UPND’s Dambwa Central councillor Liswani Likando who polled seven votes. In a press statement released in Livingstone yesterday, MMD district secretary Gilbert Mubanga said MMD had with immediate effect suspended Mr Liyandisha from the party for six months for not adhering to party resolutions. “The party writes to inform you that in the meeting on March 22 and 24, 2014 at the party office where you were in attendance, you assured us of adhering to party resolutions regarding the mayoral elections. “The party is now surprised that you have gone contrary to your obligations of voting as a member and you have been found guilty of offences against the party constitution disciplinary resolutions of 1993,” he said. Mr Mubanga recommended to the party’s higher organ that stiffer punishment be meted against Mr Liyandisha.