MMD president Dr Nevers Mumba
As expected the former ruling party – MMD has accepted to form an alliance with the ruling party – PF.
The decision was made at the party’s convened National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
MMD president Nevers Mumba has been mandated to discuss with President Edgar Lungu on the modalities of the alliance.
The NEC meeting which was held at Mika Convention Centre in Lusaka also resolved that there will be no convention to elect new leaders this year. It has been resolved that instead the meeting will be held in 2017.
Last week President Lungu announced that he had contacted Dr Mumba for the two parties to work together to avoid a rerun following the 50 plus 1 threshold clause for a wining presidential candidate.
President Lungu advised Dr Mumba and former president Rupiah Banda to resolve their differences. He threatened that if they fail to do so, he will go ahead and deal with individual MMD members.
And Patriotic Front (PF) secretary-general Davies Chama says the ruling party is not worried about the formation of an alliance by some opposition parties which aim at removing it from power.
MMD national secretary Mwansa Mbulakulima said in an interview yesterday that the national executive committee (NEC) unanimously resolved to partner with the PF during this year’s general elections.
“People have been speculating about a possible alliance with the PF and we have decided to end that speculation. We met as NEC on Saturday and agreed to accept the proposed alliance between the MMD and PF,” Mr Mbulakulima said.
He said the MMD believes that its experience as a political party put together with that of the PF will work for the benefit of all Zambians.
“We have also analysed that our policies and principles can easily be harmonised. This alliance has no conditions attached to it. Conditions are tantamount to arm-twisting each other. You must enter an alliance with a free will,” Mr Mbulakulima said.
He said since the alliance is on a party-to-party basis, a team of negotiators from both parties will be constituted.
“We believe this is a workable solution for this country. We know that our enemies will come in to try and oppose or punch holes. Please leave us alone to serve Zambians who want a majoritarian president,” Mr Mbulakulima said.
Mr Mbulakulima, who is also Chembe member of Parliament (MP), said networking becomes part of the game with the 50-percent-plus-one vote threshold for a winning presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, MMD deputy national secretary Winnie Zaloumis said the NEC meeting held on Saturday resolved that modalities should be worked out before the party enters into an alliance with the PF.
Ms Zaloumis said the MMD will also not hold a convention until 2017.
Speaking later during a press briefing, MMD president Nevers Mumba said there is no party that does not need to have an alliance given the amended Constitution.
Dr Mumba said it will be difficult for any party to win the August 11 elections alone.
“There are alliances that have started coming up. We need to meet with the PF and formalise modalities,” he said.
And Mr Chama said PF is in an alliance with the people of Zambia and some progressive opposition parties.
“We are not scared of this so-called alliance [of opposition parties that met on Saturday]. If you analyse some of these opposition leaders in that alliance, you will realise that it is ac-tually an alliance of individuals because most of them do not have followers at all,” Mr Chama said.
He described some opposition leaders as a “desperate” and that some are in politics to earn a living.