. Mumba (left), Dr Chituwo (right)

By CATHERINE NYIRENDA  –
THE anti-Nevers Mumba faction of the MMD has officially submitted petitions from six provinces calling for the National Executive Committee (NEC) to go for a convention to elect new leaders to propel the party in the 2016 general elections.
THE faction also rejected suggestions to endorse Muhabi Lungu as the new national secretary emphasising that there was no need to do so, as the party would be going for a convention in about 30 to 40 days’ time.
Party vice-president for administration Brian Chituwo said at a press briefing held at the Party secretariat yesterday that six petitions had been handed to the acting national secretary Chembe Nyangu.
Dr Chituwo was flanked by other senior party members calling for a convention, Michael Kaingu, Dora Siliya, Kapembwa Simbao, Lucky Mulusa, Situmbeko Musokotwane and Kenneth Chipungu.
“We have officially handed over six petitions to the national secretary, what is now remaining is to hand over these petitions to the party chairman who is currently out of the country for him, in collaboration with the secretariat, to set the date for a convention,” Dr Chituwo said.
He named the six provinces that had petitioned the NEC to hold a convention as North-Western, Western, Muchinga, Eastern, Central and Luapula.
The MMD constitution states that the party could go for a convention upon one third of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) petitioning NEC to call for such meeting.
Dr Chituwo confirmed that the faction would attend the NEC meeting which had been rescheduled from today to tomorrow.
He said the NEC meeting whose agenda had not been confirmed was rescheduled for Sunday from Saturday following the declaration of national mourning in honour of the late Dennis Liwewe.
“We have not been given the agenda but am told one of them is to endorse Muhabi Lungu for the position of national secretary, however, this is not necessary because will be going for a convention in 30 to 40 days time, and this position would be filled in at the convention, he said.
He also said the members were of the view that Mr Nyangu should act as national secretary until the convection.
Meanwhile Dr  Chituwo and Ms Siliya have threatened to drag MMD Chembe MP Mwansa Mbulakulima to court for singling them out as having been given K50,000 by the Patriotic Front (PF) to distablise the party.
“We want him to prove these claims in the court of law, our actions are for the love of the party and our desire to save it from collapsing,” he said.