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Rupiah Banda

LUSAKA. — Attempts by former Zambian President Rupiah Banda to stand as a candidate in next January’s presidential election were dealt a blow on Tuesday when the party he wanted to stand on settled for its current leader. Confusion embroiled the country’s main opposition party, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy on Sunday and Monday on who its presidential candidate would be.

On Monday morning, the party issued a statement in which its highest organ, the National Executive Committee (NEC) endorsed incumbent leader Nevers Mumba as the presidential candidate.

But Banda, who had a horde of supporters at the party’s secretariat, told journalists in the afternoon that he was ready to stand as a candidate on the party ticket.

He claimed he received overwhelming support from members of the NEC and lawmakers during a meeting on Sunday for him to stand as a candidate.
At a press briefing held at his residence, Mumba said as the duly-elected leader of the party, he was mandated to run for the presidential election.

“MMD has only one president and that president is me. I shall not surrender; I shall not bow; and I shall not auction this party to anyone or any special group. I remain in firm control of the party and there is no vacancy in the position of president of MMD,” he said.

The former Zambian vice-president said in the past few weeks attempts have been made to manipulate, intimidate and arm-twist him to hand over the presidency and candidate of the party for the forthcoming presidential election.

The 54-year-old Mumba, who is also the country’s former high commissioner to Canada, said the party’s constitution was clear on who becomes a candidate in an election and that he will ensure he respects the party’s constitution.

He further refuted media reports that the NEC members adopted Banda as the party’s presidential candidate.
The country’s main opposition leader has since suspended operations at the secretariat in order to reorganise the party, which ruled Zambia from 1991 to 2011 and has asked Banda to support the party in the forthcoming election.

Banda (77), who lost the presidency to the late President Michael Sata in September 2011, ruled the country from August 2008 until he lost power. There have been reports that Banda was pondering a political comeback in recent months.

Meanwhile, the youth wing of the party has warned of serious repercussions should Banda be allowed to stand as the party’s presidential candidate.
In a statement released to the media, the youths expressed shock that the party wanted to pick Banda as its candidate, saying this was retrogressive and vowed to work hard. — Xinhua.