NDC IN DISARRAY

Two proposals were put to a vote in the meeting and the majority won the day, defeating the objection raised by the NDC.

“Mr. Kambwili delegated us to attend the meeting where the majority won the day. We had no choice but abide by the majority decision of the meeting, thereby committing to the alliance,” Mr. Edward Mumbi, Mr. Kambwili’s spokesman explained.

“Upon being briefed of the meeting outcome Mr. Kambwili threw a tantrum, declaring that he would not be party to the agreement. We were sent to the meeting to represent the NDC and all decisions made in the meeting were by majority vote binding us as a party.

“After the briefing, Mr. Kambwili told the meeting to go ahead with the agreement but that he would personally not be party to it. He told us we could go ahead but he would not be party to the decision that was made by a collective vote of a properly constituted meeting,” Mr Mumbi said.

“We did not expel him, he expelled himself and we were doing his bidding,” Mr Mumbi said.

As a result Vice President Joseph Akafumba announced the expulsion of Mr Kambwili in line with his wish not to abide by a collective decision.

However, Mr. Kambwili countered the decision, warning that they themselves risked being expelled as their decision to expel him was illegal.

“I will not allow NDC to be swallowed by UPND and those that want to go, can go,” Mr Kambwili said.

Mr Kambwili said Mr Akafumba, Mr Mumbi and the secretary-general Ms Bridgette Atanga had no authority to unilaterally expel  him, saying it was only the central committee that could expel the party’s president.

He said the party vice president and the secretary-general have no authority to convene a meeting without his authority.

Mr Kambwili said he was not against the alliance but was opposed to contest elections on a single party ticket called UPND Alliance.

Earlier, Mr Akafumba wondered why Mr Kambwili could waste the party's time to be in an alliance for the last three years “all for nothing.”

Mr Akafumba said the NDC had decided to be in an alliance even without its president, Mr Kambwili and that he was expelled.

The Opposition Alliance has now transformed into the UPND Alliance with Mr Hichilema as presidential candidate and all Parliamentary and civic candidates will contest under the UPND umbrella.

The UPND Alliance has rejected a proposal by Mr Kambwili that each party should field its own candidates.