Chief Registrar of Societies Clement Andeleki has threatened go forward with the forced de-registeration of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, arguing that it had become clear that the former ruling party was bankrupt and unable to pay its fees. Andeleki told journalists today that he had given MMD 21 days to settle its statutory obligations which had accumulated to about K400 million.
Andeleki’s announcement represents the second time that the ruling Patriotic Front party has attempted to force the dissolution of the MMD, regarded by many as the country’s largest political party. This past March, Andeleki similarly attempted to dissolve the MMD, but a High Court decision ruled that the Chief Registrar had acted improperly and beyond his authority.
If the re-registration of MMD were to go through, more than a third of parliament would have their seats revoked, posing enormous costs in terms of re-elections while at the same time returning Zambia to a virtual one-party state, say several figures among the opposition.
Speaking before journalists this week, Mr. Andeleki said that if the party fails to settle the debt, he will once again de-register it.
Andeleki’s statement follows an announcement by MMD president Nevers Mumba that the party was not desperate for money and it would not solicit for finances from every Jim and Jack. Mumba said this at the opening of the party retreat in Chilanga on Tuesday.
But Andeleki wondered how MMD was boasting of not being broke yet it had failed to settle its outstanding balance. He claimed that MMD national secretary, Major Richard Kachingwe, had assured him that the party would pay the balance but it had since failed.
Earlier this year, Andeleki announced the de-registration of MMD, one of Zambia’s oldest political parties over the same debt, but the party challenged the decision in the Lusaka High Court which reversed the move.