Mutati addressing supporters and journalists
I am still a member of the MMD and we will not allow a small group of people to sale the party to the highest bidder, ‘expelled’ Lunte Member of Parliament Felix Mutati has declared.
And Mutati has denied being a member of the opposition UPND, stressing that he had only supported the party during last year’s presidential election.
Addressing hundreds of supporters and journalists at a press conference held at Lusaka’s Chainama Hotel today, Mutati said MMD was still alive but that some individuals in the party want to lead it to extinction by selling it to the highest bidder.
He vowed not to allow the once mighty party to die, adding: “The only load I carry on my shoulder is that of ensuring that the party survives because I believe it is not impossible for us to one day return to power.”
He also said MMD was a democratic party which was formed on the principles of democracy which the current party President Nevers Mumba has continued to abrogate as he continues expelling members of the party with divergent views.
He accused Dr Mumba of replacing most the NEC members with his relatives, lamenting the fact that the party’s fortunes have now been entrusted in the hands of appointees instead of elected officials as has always been the case.
The former commerce minister has since challenged Dr Mumba to test his popularity in the party by calling for a convention.
Some of the people that attended Mutati’s press conference
And Mutati has denied being a member of the UPND, a party he campaigned for during last year’s election, stressing: “I only supported UPND, I did not join UPND.”
He also denied authorising the UPND to use his potrait on it’s calendar and says he has instructed his lawyer Sakwiba Sikota to pursue the matter as the publication of the calendar has injured his reputation.
“I never authorised the UPND to use my portrait on their calender.This matter has caused me great embarrassment and it is for that reason that I have instructed my Lawyer Sakwiba Sikota to deal with this matter conclusively because we do not want to carry excessive baggage going forward.”
He wants Sikota, who also appears on the same calendar to sue the publisher and ask for all the proceeds from the sale of the calendar as well as it’s withdrawal of the from the market.
The former ruling party has been plunged into confusion following Dr Mumba’s attempts to forge an alliance with the ruling PF and also differ it’s scheduled 2016 convention to next year.