I Was Merely Approached To Stand –RB

Former President Rupiah Banda has told the High Court that he was merely approached by members of the MMD to run for the office of republican President after the death of President Sata, adding that he accepted the offer.
This is according to an affidavit in opposition of summons for interim injunction filed by party Copperbelt provincial treasurer Toby Maliti.
Mr Banda said he was advised by MMD national secretary Muhabi Lungu that he was adopted by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party as presidential candidate for the elections slated for January 20 next year.
“I subsequently accepted to contest the scheduled election as a presidential candidate sponsored by the MMD,” Mr Banda said.
He admitted that he is not the president of the MMD and that he was not considered for the top position and that he did not participate in any election to that effect.
Mr Banda said he is aware that the MMD constitution provides for the election of a party president at a convention scheduled every five years and that he is also aware that the president of the party is not an automatic candidate for republican presidential elections.
“I am further aware that every time a presidential election is due, the NEC adopts a candidate for the presidential election notwithstanding that there may be an incumbent party president,” he said.
He said the NEC is mandated and empowered to carry out all necessary activities for the good of the party in between conventions including the adoption of the presidential candidate.
Mr Banda said he is aware that there had not been any vacancy in the office of the party president as the said office is not vacant and that he was identified, endorsed and sponsored by the MMD NEC who are empowered to do so by way of resolution.
Mr Maliti wants the Lusaka High Court to block Mr Banda from holding himself as the presidential candidate adopted, chosen, elected and sponsored by the MMD and that he should not be allowed to file nominations to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) as a candidate adopted and sponsored by the MMD until the matter is disposed of.
He wants the court to grant him an injunction restraining Mr Lungu from presenting Mr Banda as the MMD presidential candidate in the January 20, 2015 presidential election.
Mr Maliti said the NEC adopted Mr Banda without prior notice to all NEC members and the selection was done by NEC instead of the MMD electoral commission as required by a rticle 52 (1) of the MMD constitution.
Ruling is scheduled for today.