Former President Rupiah Bwezani Banda enjoys Christmas lunch with his wife Thandiwe Banda, and his children Dunia and Temwani Banda.
Acting MMD national secretary Mwansa Mbulakulima has accused Rupiah Banda of betraying the party by directing members in Eastern Province to either support PF’s Edgar Lungu or UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema.
But Banda says the accusation is unfair and has asked not to be dragged into what is happening on the ground. Mbulakulima said MMD members in Eastern Province were being directed to support Lungu and Hichilema and not the MMD presidential candidate Nevers Mumba. “We had won at national level and we said there was no winner and no one vanquished, and that all members should work together. But we have seen this has taken a tribal twist; it has gone to the corner of Eastern Province.
This is a source of concern for us,” Mbulakulima said from Kabompo, where he is conducting campaigns. “Now we are surprised that after the court had settled the matter (of presidency between Mumba and Banda) and expected peace and people to come to MMD, now, they [Eastern Province members] are being directed by the former president to support Lungu or HH.
This is betrayal of his own party he wanted to stand on.” He said the former ruling party expected Banda to support his party, the MMD. “We have observed, we have seen, we have heard that actually meetings are taking place in Eastern Province where members are being directed on what to do. We say this has taken a tribal turn because how come this is not in North-Western Province? It’s not in Western Province, it’s not in Southern Province, Luapula, Northern, all provinces, except Eastern Province?” Mbulakulima wondered. He said it was sour grapes for Banda to destroy a party on whose ticket he wanted to contest the forthcoming presidential election before the court stopped him. Mbulakulima alleged that Banda had instructed MMD members of parliament from Eastern Province to go to their constituencies to propose to the electorate to either go to the PF or UPND. “When they (members of parliament) went, they asked people to choose between the two and others said they will go with Lungu while others said UPND.
But others said they will stay neutral. What we are seeing now is that RB has decided that since he did not get it, Nevers Mumba must not get it. It is very sad that somebody who is supposed to defend the party he wanted to stand on wants to destroy it. It is disingenuous for him to do that. It’s unfortunate that our elder statesman has gotten to that level of bitterness against Nevers Mumba,” said Mbulakulima. But in an interview from South Africa, Banda said: “That’s most unfair to me. Of course, I am hearing what is happening on the ground but I have spoken to nobody.
My statement which states my position is in the public domain. My preoccupation now is to be here (South Africa) to be with my family. Don’t drag me into what is happening on the ground.” Banda emphasised that he had not spoken to anyone in Eastern Province or in Lusaka and advised Mbulakulima to phone him if he did not understand his position.
UPND vice-president, administration, Dr Canicious Banda shared on Facebook that MMD provincial chairman, Alexander Miti, district chairmen and all constituency chairmen, including the party’s councillors, were all campaigning for Hichilema and the UPND. “This endorsement is a resolution that they have made collectively on their own.
The said MMD officials have so far shared campaign platforms with Hakainde Hichilema at Nyimba, Petauke and Katete. Today (yesterday), they will do so in Chadiza and Chipata districts.”