Following heated exchanges over alleged intra-party disputes sparked by an article published in the Post newspaper, President of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Nevers Mumba has issued a statement seeking to calm nerves, and emphasise the party’s strength and unity.
The full text of the statement follows:
PRESS STATEMENT BY DR NEVERS S. MUMBA, PRESIDENT, MMD.
MARCH 20TH 2014
Fellow country men and women.
I wish to confirm the unitary state of our party, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, (MMD).
It is true that as we get closer to 2016, distractive activities meant to divert the attention of Zambian people from what really matters will be accelerated.
MMD will not succumb to machinations of its opponents that are meant to divide us as a party.
The party in the dock is not MMD but PF. The ruling party must own up for the lack of jobs, expensive mealie meal and fuel and a failing agricultural program. The fruitless effort to destabilize MMD by PF failed sixteen months ago and it shall fail again.
The meetings which have taken place at state house to craft a plan to derail MMD are known to us. The statements and individuals to give them have all been lined up. The government controlled media has also been ordered to give the perceived division maximum coverage. I wish to declare that this is a battle between good and evil. I firmly believe that this battle is already won. God will not subject the many innocent, hardworking members of MMD to endless pain caused by a ruthless opponent.
We have received the information of the amounts given at state house for this project, just like we did in January 2013. This is a fight I will watch as God fights for many innocent members of our party. This fight is not about Nevers or MMD, but a fight to diminish the hopes and aspirations of the Zambian people who know that MMD is the only party with a national character and dedicated to the rule of law, democracy and a private sector driven economy.
On Saturday 15th 2014, the NEC met to consider several agenda items. It was a successful meeting.
My position is that, I will not allow our opponents to divide us. Differing in a big democratic party as MMD, is part of the democratic process. But when this happens we shall look within ourselves to resolve such differences. The press has no answers for us. It is our constitution which does.
I have noticed even today that some of our leaders are at each other’s throats. I demand that you all stop it from this moment. MMD was not formed to be used as a boxing platform for members but as a vehicle of freedom and hope for many Zambians. We should not succumb to the plan of our enemy. We must fight for the defense of democracy.
I therefore call for a cease fire on the issue of using the media to resolve issues. From now on, no official will be allowed to use the media to try to resolve the administrative matter at hand. Our party has several inbuilt mechanisms by which we can resolve our difference, but THE MEDIA IS NOT ONE OF THEM. The media is used to transmit our vision and programs but not to solve our internal differences. To our friends in the media, we continue to advise that don’t use your institutions to convey slander, hatred and settling of scores between individuals.
I wish to assure all our members that if there is any difference of opinion on any matter, our party is the most qualified party to deal with any such differences in a democratic manner. My senior leadership of the party are working with me to ensure that all attempts by our opponents are stopped.
We do not have the luxury to pre occupy ourselves with actions that will disadvantage the Zambian people in whose interest MMD was founded. In this regard, I have given a directive to the Acting National Secretary to curtail any media statements from party officials nation wide. I have further asked the Vice National Chairman, Mr Edgar Keembe to quickly constitute the party’s disciplinary committee to ensure that all members comply with this directive as resolved by NEC.
Our focus as a party is to ensure that the choosing of a new National Secretary be done in an orderly and transparent manner. The NEC is on course to ensure that all guidelines are adhered to as we select the chief executive of the party.
I wish to restate that MMD is here to stay and determined to form government in 2016. No amount of distractive effort will derail us. We shall fight back. Electoral loses or victories in by elections are not the indicators of who will form government in 2016. All the three major parties have lost some by elections, that doesn’t mean none of the three will win the 2016 election.
To all our membership, nationwide, remain vigilant and focused on mobilization, preparations for the upcoming by elections and the provincial tours which will soon be undertaken by several NEC members.
Thank you
God Bless you all
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