By KASONDE KASONDE and HOPE BWALYA –
THE MMD has said that the Registrar of Societies has recognised Felix Mutati as the party president.
But former president Nevers Mumba said it was illegal for the Registrar of Societies to change particulars on the registration certificate of the party.
Party spokesperson Raphael Nakachinda said Mr Mutati was the new party president and that Dr Mumba no longer held the position.
Mr Nakachinda said Dr Mumba and his leadership could no longer legally represent the institution as their term of office had come to an end following the election of new leaders.
He said the newly-elected party leadership from the convention had taken over the secretariat and party assets.
“The party held a national convention on May 20-22 in Kabwe and elected new leadership with Mr Mutati emerging as party president,” Mr Nakachinda said.
He said the new office-bearers had since duly lodged notice of change of office-bearers with the Registrar of Societies.
Mr Nakachinda thanked Dr Mumba for the contributions he made to ensure that the party succeeded in growing the democracy of the country.
He said the former ruling party was still holding talks with the Patriotic Front (PF) on a possible alliance.
Mr Nakachinda said the party leadership and the PF had commenced talks and the party would soon make an announcement after the talks were concluded.
Dr Mumba, however, said the Registrar of Societies should not change the names because it could not take the place of the court.
“It is absolutely not true. The Registrar of Societies can’t take the place of the court. It is contemptuous for anybody to try to change illegally the official owners of the party,” Dr Mumba said in an interview yesterday.
He said he would take all matters to court.
Dr Mumba said such behaviour was intolerable as it tampered with the peace of the country and that of the party.