By SAM PHIRI –

MMD president Nevers Mumba says his party has resolved to return to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to declare that he is pulling out of the presidential race.
Dr Mumba said ever since his decision to form an alliance with the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND), his party had resolved to have one flag bearer in the August 11 elections.
He said the UPND and its leader Hakainde Hichilema would be the main body of the alliance and that the MMD would help the team in ensuring that the alliance records victory.
“We will soon go to the ECZ to reverse the decision on me standing and we only hope they could refund us so that we can use the money for campaign logistics,” he said.
Earlier, ECZ spokesperson Cris Akufuna said as far as the commission was concerned, Dr Mumba was standing as MMD president in the August 11 elections and that he had paid a deposit.
And Mr Akufuna said the nomination fees were non-refundable and that whoever paid should not expect a refund after a change of mind.
He said the commission had not been informed whether Dr Mumba was withdrawing from the race or not and that he would only give a concrete position after the close of nominations.
“Dr Mumba is a candidate and we have his name among the nominees for presidency, so the new twist of him supporting another candidate is not much of our business since what we know is that he is a candidate,” Mr Akufuna said.