MMD expels Magande, Mpombo
By EMELDA MWITWATHE MMD has expelled Kafulafuta member of Parliament (MP) and his Chilanga counterpart Ng’andu Magande for bringing the name of the party into disrepute.
Briefing the press after a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Lusaka yesterday, chairperson for information and publicity, Dora Siliya said a unanimous decision was made to expel the duo for their unrepentant attitude despite the lenience that the party has shown to them.
“The NEC meeting unanimously decided to withdraw support to our MPs in Kafulafuta and Chilanga. We wish them not to represent us anymore therefore we expel them from the party. The privilege we gave them has been withdrawn,” Ms Siliya said.
Ms Siliya who is also Minister of Education said the MMD has since written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Amussa Mwanamwambwa informing him about their decision.
Unless, the duo contest their expulsion from the MMD, the Speaker is expected to declare the Kafulafuta and Chilanga parliamentary seats vacant.
Ms Siliya said Mr Mpombo failed to effectively defend himself for incessant media attacks against President Banda and tarnishing the image of the party.
She said Mr Magande has failed to show remorse for disparaging a political party he willingly joined, and also disrespecting Mr Banda who was not only party president, but Head of State too.
“As for Mr Magande, we wanted to see if he was remorseful about his behaviour of bringing the name of the party into disrepute. But he has shown that he is not a true member of the MMD, we therefore withdraw his membership.
The NEC meeting was called to specifically deal with disciplinary cases. Both Mr Magande and Mr Mpombo were not in attendance.
On whether the party was confident of retaining the two parliamentary seats, she said the decision made by NEC to expel the two was not focused on by-elections but instilling discipline into their party.
Ms Siliya said every organisation, whether church or political has got rules and regulations which members need to abide by, failure to which they should be punished.
She said both Mr Magande and Mr Mpombo joined the MMD willingly and therefore were expected to follow party rules.
Ms Siliya said the two MPs who were also NEC members were given time to show remorse but they continue pouring scorn on their party, on whose ticket they were elected to Parliament.
“It’s too early to even think of by-elections. What we wanted to do as a party is to effect discipline. They joined the party willingly so they needed to follow the rules,” she said.
She said the two MPs were voted into Parliament because the people in those constituencies had confidence in the political party on whose ticket they stood.
“You can’t disparage your own party and bring the name of the President into disrepute, it’s like setting your own house on fire,” Ms Siliya said.
Meanwhile, the son of the late President Mwanawasa, Patrick said the decision taken by NEC was not just in the best interest of the party, but the nation at large.
In an interview with the Sunday Mail, Mr Mwanawasa said no matter what one’s status is, there is need to show loyalty to their President.
“It’s rather unfortunate. I didn’t expect that senior members will be expelled, but the MMD is a party of ideals not personalities. Many times NEC has asked people to be loyal to the President and the party, but its sad that some of the people have taken a different tangent,” Mr Mwanawasa said.
Mr Mwanawasa said he is still interested in contesting the Kafulafuta seat, but this will depend on whether his party adopts him.
“If am not adopted now, I will try again in 2016,” Mr Mwanawasa said.
He said he was not seeking a sympathetic vote as a son of the late President, but he is a youth who is passionate about contributing to the development of his country.
Mr Mwanawasa said the interest to contest Kafulafuta started in 2005 after his father suffered his first stroke.
He said people who are close to him know that he has had political ambitions way before his father died.
Mr Mwanawasa said he wanted to contest the Kafulafuta seat in 2006, but his father asked him to try another constituency, but his passion has not changed.
Mr Mpombo said he has no regrets over his attacks of President’s Banda’s leadership.
He declared that he will fight his enemies “without gloves.”
On whether he will recontest the seat, he said he will only make a decision after receiving his letter of expulsion and studying it.
Mr Magande could not be reached by press time.
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