BANDA

By CHARITY MOONGA-
THE MMD has adopted former president Rupiah Banda as its presidential candidate in the forthcoming presidential by-election.
But MMD president Nevers Mumba has dismissed the adoption of Mr Banda as mere propaganda.
Addressing scores of MMD cadres who gathered to welcome Mr Banda at the MMD secretariat in Lusaka yesterday, he declared his readiness to represent the MMD in the election, saying that the party needed someone who was sellable.
Mr Banda, who spoke in Nyanja throughout his address, said the outcome of the meeting held by the MMD national executive committee and another one by MMD members of Parliament, resolved to float him as the MMD presidential candidate.
For the meeting of the MPs, 19 out of 22 MPs who attended the meeting supported the candidature of Mr Banda.
With his return to active politics, Mr Banda is set to lose his benefits entitled to him as former Head of State.
He was informed of the outcome of the meetings held at the MMD secretariat on Sunday by MMD national chairperson Kabinga Pande, who visited him at his house around 23:00 hours.
Mr Banda would not split the MMD but work with Dr Mumba in keeping the party united.
MMD needs to put a candidate who will win the election, and that was why he had gone to the MMD secretariat to meet Dr Mumba and hold hands to move the party in the right direction.
By Press time, Dr Mumba had not yet arrived at the MMD secretariat but the former president vowed to sit and wait for him at the secretariat.
“We will be having elections in less than 90 days and if you want to bring divisions, that means you want us to remain behind,” Mr Banda said.
But speaking later in an interview, Dr Mumba dismissed the claims that Mr Banda had been adopted as MMD candidate.
He was the one who was chairing the NEC meeting and there was no adoption of Mr Banda.
“I was chairing the meeting and those assertions are non -existent,” Dr Mumba said.
Party national secretary Muhabi Lungu dismissed reports in some sections of the media that the MMD had adopted Dr Mumba as its candidate.
It is highly dishonest for anyone to communicate to the media on a non-resolution or any subject matter discussed for which they were not authorised.
Mr Lungu described the statement as false, dishonest and only intended to disrupt the direction of the party towards resolving matters of concern that were honestly discussed in the meeting.
Some sections of the media yesterday alleged that Dr Mumba had been adopted as candidate to represent MMD in the presidential election.