IT’S NOT ME, CRIES NEVERS AS HE BATTLES BACKLASH FOR RE-NAMING MMD
CLERGYMAN turned politician Dr Nevers Mumba has pushed back against the mounting public backlash for renaming the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) as New Nation Party (NNP).
Some eminent citizens and founding members of the MMD, including governance activist Brebner Changala, former Finance Minister Dr Katele Kalumba and Dr Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika have condemned Dr Mumba accusing him of handing over the former ruling party to the United Party for National Development to appease President Hakainde Hichilema.
On Friday Changala branded Dr Mumba a traitor who has failed to condemn the injustices perpetrated by the UPND against the opposition but had chosen to send the MMD into oblivion while Dr Kalumba accused the former tele-evangelist of surrendering the MMD to the UPND.
But speaking to The Mast in an interview Friday, Dr Mumba said the decision to rename the former ruling party had come from members and not him as an individual.
“From the time I took over as president I have received many calls that ‘please do not keep that name, it will never win you any election. It is exhausted, it has been mishandled by people’,” he said.
Dr Mumba said the process to change the name of MMD to NNP started in 2021 and accused those speaking against it of being frustrated.
“So, basically at the end of the day many people say many things because they are expressing frustration, anger but the truth of the matter is that the Movement for Multiparty Democracy made a decision and the decision is binding,” he said.
Dr Mumba said the constitution of the MMD did not give any legal position to people calling themselves founding fathers.
He said the concept of the MMD had always been that there would be a leadership elected by the people and that leadership took over decision-making.
“That’s the foundation upon which the MMD was established and so, we do respect Dr Kalumba and other people’s views. We do respect their concerns, but unfortunately, from a legal point of view, they cannot change the decision of the national convention because they are fully aware that by the time a resolution reaches the national convention, it has gone through many processes. For instance the change of this name,” Dr Mumba said.
He said he had received a lot of messages not to keep the name MMD because he could not win an election with it.
On Friday, Kalumba, a former MMD National Secretary, expressed happiness that Dr Mumba had finally decided to form his own political party leaving the MMD. He said the true MMD was not gone but still available.
Dr Kalumba said Dr Mumba’s intention was to deliver the MMD to the UPND.
“He decided to deliver the MMD to the UPND. I have no problem with that. As the past president of MMD, he chose that, okay? But I’m very happy that he has now decided to form his own party,” he said.
“No one can claim that MMD is gone. No. True Blue MMD is still there. And the hour is still there. He never was MMD. So, for Nevers, I am glad he has left MMD. He was the better preacher as Zambia Shall Be Saved than a politician,” Dr Kalumba said.
He said MMD would never die, urging founding member Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika to take up the leadership of the MMD in transition.
“But MMD will never die. The history of MMD in Zambia will never die. I am saying, Akashambatwa should take the leadership for now to help transition,” Dr Kalumba said.
The Mast
I like this man. Despite all the name calling , hatred and to be honest the Jealousy most of the people have towards him. He has fought relentlessly and has overcome the most vicious attacks that ordinarily should have buried his political ambitions.
I think he has guts and strength of character to fight for what he believes. He has earned my respect.
Surprisingly against all odds his has overcome most of the traps and pitfall created for his downfall. This is extra ordinary. After listening to him explain their achievements legally. It is encouraging to have such leaders who have a mark of strong character. like it or not he is still standing. That is an achievement. To top it up, they have now evolved into an inspiring movement of change. Amazing.
Some of the crazy notions going around regarding his caliber of leadership is absolute nonsense and clearly led by some losers who have failed to face this galant solder in our legal courts.
What I don’t understand is why these so called former leaders have the nerve to comment on the happenings of a legally constituted organisation which respects its constitution and members to determine their future.
If you are not a member of the organisation what gives you the right to comment or refuse them from making decisions within their legal frame work of internal governance. This is ridiculously inappropriate.
What comes out most clearly is that there is a segment in the society who feel the are MMD in their minds only but in reality have distanced and disassociated themselves legally from being members of the party.
You can not have it both ways guys. Move on with which ever party you belong to. Learn to accept and respect other leaders and their party members aspirations.
I for one understand your frustrations that you don’t like the man.Nothing in the world can be done about your internal
personal frustrations.
However, legally speaking the has followed their provisions and I can not see how anyone can legally say to the contrary. If anyone feels contrary show us your legal standing and challenge this decision in our courts of law. I assure you it will be quite enlightening.
I see new hope and an alternative political party which will make a difference in our democracy. He who thinks small things can not grow should think again Watching this space with keen interest.
This is what being an unhinged Mushanina Bwali does. When one renounces the Brain , and allows the stomach to do the thinking for you , one can even eat pa Chishala.
This is the last straw of the Mushanina Bwali in Chief.
When big wigs such as Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika come to the fore, just know it’s game over for you.
Not even the Mingalatoon can save you.
It’s curtains for Dr Nervous Mumba.
Bigwigs can be artificial. Sometimes that is why real hair is important at least it weathers all season my brother.
MMD died ans was buried a long time ago. Mr. Nakachinda was the undertaker.
But the can never “win an election”, whether with National Christian Coalition, National Citizens Coalition (nonsensical name), MMD faction and now NRP (with the logo of a rugby club in UK). When MMD was fighting KK, the man used to say ” I see blood if this man (KK) is removed”. MMD wins and he says ” we brought democracy”. That shows what you are dealing with, where the food is.
One mans dream making so many unsettled but yet they themselves are unwilling to have the guts to enter into the game of politics.
At least man is in the ring. This speaks alot of concerning those chanting from the grand stand. Now whose the real man here. The one in the ring or the coward sitting from the tree trying to take a close look at the fight in the ring.
To be very blunt. Courage is more that writing on a platform and doing nothing to make a difference. As for this gentlemen,like him or hate him , he is still standing and making some waves. That is a mark worth recognizing. I like that.
Judas Iscariot reincarnated
Nevers go back to preaching, you cannot hand over a party that brought democracy to this country to a dictatorial regime and still call yourself a democratic leader. Your character thought you political career has been that of personally benefiting to the exclusion of your parties. We call it Kandile or sebana wikute (get disgraced but fill you tummy in the process) mentality
Sometimes understanding issues as individuals can have so many interpretation. I am amazed how this position of handing over a political party over to another person has come up.
This is crazy. In one breath you have managed to share your wrong twisted thinking and you expect us to believe this nonsense. I for one don’t agree with everything this government is doing but I don’t go beyond normal boundaries to imagine the crazy things like stated here.
For instance you say dictator, yet here you are saying this nonsense in the open. How can this be so. You own write up disagrees with you. Secondly, being in agreement with someone does not mean you loss your individualism. These are two totally different parties running independently.
I would appreciate it more if you just came out completely and maybe wrote about how much you hate and dislike this man. But to cowardly try to twist things is below character my friend. Be bold and talk about real issue not this nonsense.