By CHARITY MOONGA –

MMD legal affairs chairperson Bradford Machila has described as null and void the decision by party national secretary Mwansa Mbulakulima to suspend all party Members of Parliament (MPs) that supported other political party candidates in the just ended Presidential election.
Mr Machila said in an interview that Mr Mbulakulima’s appointment as MMD national secretary was first of all subject of the next National Executive Committee (NEC) ratification.
Mr Mbulakulima had therefore no authority to take any action against any party member until he is ratified by the NEC.
“As far as we are concerned, all his actions now are unconstitutional and so his disciplinary action is null and void. It is of no consequence,” Mr Machila said.
Mr Mbulakulima was supposed to be calling for a NEC meeting which would tackle the issue of his appointment and discuss the issue of the MPs.
Former MMD national secretary Muhabi Lungu insisted that Mr Mbulakulima had no authority to suspend MPs because he had no authority.
“I am still the MMD national secretary because Mr Mbulakulima is not the national secretary. He can’t act before the NEC so he has no authority, as far as l am concerned, Mr Mbulakulima is the MMD treasurer,” he said.
The MPs should ignore the suspensions announced by Mr Mbulakulima as he had no authority to do so.
Mr Mbulakulima said on Monday that the party had with immediate effect suspended the MPs for insubordination.
The suspended MPs endorsed United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema and PF’s Edgar Lungu in the presidential election.
Those suspended include Lunte MP Felix Mutati, Party national chairperson and Kasempa MP Kabinga Pande, Senga Hill MP Kapembwa Simbao, Rufunsa MP Kenneth Chipungu, Lufwanyama MP Annie Chungu and Liuwa MP Situmbeko Musokotwane.
Others are NEC members Faustina Sinyangwe, Watson Mtonga, Esther Masaliwa, Mercy Jere, Oliver Pelete, Mercy Ngoma, Tobby Mwansa, Rose Kamalonga and Idah Ngoma.