.Mumba

By CHARITY MOONGA –

OPPOSITION MMD leader Nevers Mumba has reported to police the harassment he has allegedly suffered from his own members who are demanding for his resignation.
Meanwhile, Lusaka Province Police Commissioner Charity Katanga says three people have been arrested in connection with the harassment of Dr Mumba and MMD secretariat staff.
Dr Mumba has suffered ‘rejection’ by some MMD members who are demanding for his removal on claims that he has failed to unite and run the former ruling party.
But the opposition leader said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that he had asked the police to stop the intimidation and harassment that had paralysed the secretariat because of the protests by some MMD members.
Dr Mumba said whenever the party wanted to mobilise itself, some expelled senior members sent unruly youths to destabilise meetings and attack the secretariat staff.
“We are being destabilised and they are weakening the party,” he said.
Dr Mumba said the court ruling was clear that the MMD under him should be left to operate freely.
He said some disgruntled MMD members wanted to use the youth to destabilise his leadership so that people could believe that he had failed to lead the party.
Asked to comment on reports that the MMD was headed for extinction under his leadership, Dr Mumba said: “It’s a fallacy, I haven’t failed. There are people who want to use youths to undermine our constitution.”
On calls for him to immediately call for a convention, Dr Mumba said he had a five-year mandate to run the MMD during which time he would uphold the party constitution.
“Those calling for a convention should know that it doesn’t work like that. I have a five-year mandate and I don’t understand why people are in a hurry to call for a convention,” Dr Mumba said.
“I was voted for by the grassroots. Those are just innocent street people that they are using to destabilise the party. Just because I am a pastor people think they can destabilise the party. There is no back door entry.”
Ms Katanga said three suspects were being held at Woodlands Police Station following reports that some cadres were harassing Dr Mumba.
Some youths had initially gone to the police to get a permit to allow the MMD president to address them at the secretariat when in fact they wanted the permit to demonstrate against their leader.