REFORMED PARTY INTERIM LEADERSHIP

REFORMED PARTY HEADQUARTERS

6 BEIT ROAD, LONGACRES

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA


INTERIM LEADERSHIP



President: Dr. Nevers S. Mumba



Deputy President: To be announced



Chairperson: Mrs. Eva Sanderson



National Secretary: Mr. Clement Micheelo



Deputy national Secretary: Mr. Cosmas Mpampi



National Treasurer: To be announced



Deputy Treasurer: Mrs. Miles Finnie



Chairman, Elections and Strategic Planning: Mr. John Ziba



Deputy Chairman, Elections: Mrs Lisa Passi



Chairman, Education: Edith Katongo



Chairperson, Womens League: Mrs. Isabel Ngambi Mumbuna



Chairperson, Youth League: Mr. Peter Mubili



Chairperson, Energy: Mr. Grier Mwanza




EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS OF THE INTERIM COMMITTEE:



Economic Advisor to the President: Mr. Trevor Simumba



Note: Other positions are yet to be filled.

DR. NEVERS MUMBA ON THE STATE OF THE NATION AND THE VISION FOR REFORM IN ZAMBIA

Dr Nevers Mumba has issued a powerful message of hope and renewal for Zambia. He has also made it clear that he has joined the Reform Party and will stand for the Presidency of the Reform Party in January 2006. Visit the Official Website to view the press statement.

New political party born in Zambia

Zambia's former vice-president Nevers Mumba has formed a political party as part of his bid to challenge President Levy Mwanawasa in next year's elections, an aide said on Monday.

"He will be a national coordinator of the newly formed Reformed Party," said John Ziba, Mumba's spokesperson, who is also interim chairperson of the new party.

Mumba was sacked from the ruling party after he announced his intention to challenge Mwanawasa at a party national convention in July this year.

"Mumba will be our presidential candidate in next year's elections," Ziba said.

Mumba, a charismatic televangelist, served as Mwanawasa's vice-president for only 14 months before he was sacked for causing a diplomatic row with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He also contested the 2001 presidential elections under the ticket of the defunct National Citizens Coalition, but lost to Mwanawasa. He then quit his opposition party and joined the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy. -- Sapa-AFP

Reform Party

Dr Nevers Mumba, has identified himself with the newly formed Reform Party. Dr Mumba said yesterday during the Radio Phoenix's Face the Media programme that the Reform Party was determined to enter the political arena and the 2006 elections as a strong force and would soon be launched in Lusaka and the Copperbelt.
Jump to Full Story

Diplomatic Passport - why was Dr. Mumba singled out?

The Mumba for President Media Campaign Team have responsded to the The Times of Zambia article about the public row over the diplomatic passport.

Under the Chiluba administration, diplomatic passports were issued to several ministers and pastors given that they were considered “Ambassadors” representing Zambia in the global arena whenever they travel abroad.

We see nothing wrong with that. What we take issue with is the way in which the Mwanawasa administration went after Dr. Mumba in regards to his possession of a diplomatic passport. Dr. Mumba informed the Ministry of Home Affairs that he would return his diplomatic passport on returning to Zambia which he has done. What was the need to blow this non-issue and make such a public hoop-la about it unless it was politically motivated?

This clearly shows that the Minister of Home Affairs was indulging in petty politics.

Mumba asked to surrender passport

The Times of Zambiareports that the Zambian government has directed former Republican vice president Nevers Mumba to immediately surrender the controversial diplomatic passport or face the wrath of the law.

Nevers Mumba Campaign To Be Launched

During a speech at the Pennsylvania Center for International Exchange and Partnership Nevers Mumba announced that he will be launching his presidential campaign:

"I intend to launch in the next few weeks my campaign and that of most Zambians to liberate ourselves from the old politics of hate and imprisonment of opponents and a lack of delivery of goods and services.

I am aware that Zambians want a consensus president and government. I am therefore of the view that the next government must be a people's government which represents the various interests of the Zambian people.

My team and I will continue to dialogue with other opposition parties before launching our campaign.

I remain committed and determined to play a role in the healing process of my nation. "

The 700 Club

The CBN 700 Club has an interesting feature on Nevers Mumba.

Mumba Calls for Committee to Pressurise Levy Over Sata Charges

FORMER vice-president Pastor Nevers Mumba has proposed the formation of a committee to lobby G8 nations to pressure President Mwanawasa to drop all charges against Patriotic Front president Michael Sata.
At a reception to honour him, co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Centre for International Exchange and Partnership (PCIEP) and the Lancaster Country Action at Eden Resort Inn, Pennsylvania on Saturday, Pastor Mumba also said tolerance of corruption and abuse of democratic values by the current administration had taken Zambia backwards. Full article....

Where the truth lies

Quote

"WE are wedded to lies and forced to live with them; that is why it seems that we are overwhelmed when we hear the truth.
We seem to live in a country where people can promise anything and deliver nothing but still get away with it.
We seem to live in a country where people can lie about very important things and still get away with it without being challenged by anyone.
We seem to live in a country of words and not actions. Yet we have been told that doing is the best way of saying and that living is the best way of showing what we believe in. It is said that words without deeds are worthless."

The Post editorial describing how the MMD And Mwanawasa Can't Survive Without Corruption

Dogs Have Invaded Zambian Politics

The Post says Dogs Have Invaded Zambian Politics:

"It seems politics in Zambia has really gone to the dogs, or rather as others would say, the dogs have invaded Zambian politics."

Kavindele hoping to challenge Mwanawasa

Former Zambian vice president Enoch Kavindele will challenge President Levy Mwanawasa at the ruling party's convention this week, posing a threat to Mwanawasa's bid for a second term next year.

Kavindele told reporters in Lusaka on Tuesday he had decided to seek the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) presidency after the party suspended polls for the position of vice president amid a deepening row over graft.

Kavindele said he would defy resolutions by eight of Zambia's nine provinces that Mwanawasa be the sole presidential candidate - automatically making him the party's choice for national presidential elections next year.

More from source: IOL: Kavindele hoping to challenge Mwanawasa.

Political Party Members' Expulsions

It makes sad reading that fifteen years of democracy in Zambia there are still strong elements of non democratic principles among our political parties.

It appears most of our politicians still lack real education on democratic principles. The continued suspension of opponents to those at the helm of power has been evident in the last 15 years of proclaimed democracy. It appears many in Zambian political parties believe democracy is holding national or parliamentary elections only.

Yet democratisation is not only a concept, nor is it synonymous with multi -partyism. It is rather concerned with certain conditions of things, conditions such as a virile civil society, a democratic society, a free society, a just society, equal treatment of all citizens by the state, an ordered, stable society, a society infused with the spirit of liberty, democracy, justice and equality.

No society qualifies as democratic, representative, and progressive until there is free and voluntary participation of all its citizens in all spheres of life. The human rights of individuals and groups should be protected. Everyone should be allowed to express their opinions and join the political, religious or civil groups of their choice. All people should be treated equally and without discrimination and be given equal opportunities.

It is not only their right, but it is their duty. Citizen participation may take many forms including standing for election, voting in elections, becoming informed, debating issues, attending community or civic meetings, being members of private voluntary organizations, paying taxes, and even protesting. Participation builds a better democracy. In Zambia I have seen this not to have been the case. So long as one threatens those at the helm of power it means ones rights cannot be exercised.

I have noted, as most Zambians may have done so, that Zambia's political parties are still far away from assimilating the principles of democracy. They have often tended to be more divided as a party whenever a convention approaches. A sign that tolerance, openness, accountability, freedom of expression and association, above all, equal opportunities are not their priority but a prerogative of those in control.

The Zambian political parties needs respect for human, social, and economic rights as well as civil rights if democracy is to take hold, for democracy cannot survive in a context of stark polarization among political competitors.

In particular, the MMD has existed for close to 15 years now, more so, claims to be the pioneer of democracy and yet each of it's conventions are dogged by allegations of abuse of civil and political rights of its membership. Does this explain the eventual approach by its leadership concerning civil and political rights of the citizenry countryside? If so, how then can Zambia's democracy flourish when the tenets of it lack it? It is time political parties that claim to be democratic exercised the principles of democracy within political structures.

This implies allowing all members of political parties their civil rights to contest for any position and campaign without fear in their political parties. Other than this, I see no democracy in Zambia. Thence the eventual tramping on NGOs, Media, Opposition and the Civil Society.

Source:ZambiaSossa: Political Party Members' Expulsions

Web closes on Africa's dirty deals

A new website that can be used as a tool to monitor and acquire information on the funding of all political parties in Africa was launched in Cape Town on Friday.

The website was launched jointly by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Organised Crime and Corruption Programme and the Institute for Democracy in SA (Idasa) Political Information and Monitoring Service.

Source IOL

Corruption claims shake Zambia's ruling party

The Mail & Guardian Online reports:

"Zambia's ruling party has expelled a senior member and popular politician over allegations of corruption just days before the start of a national convention called to elect a new party leadership, a spokesperson said on Monday.

Tipped to win the Movement for Multiparty Democracy's (MMD) vice-presidency at the convention starting on Wednesday, Austin Chewe was axed on Sunday night by the national executive committee in a move that could split the party."

Kitwe Press Club Banned

The Kitwe Press Club was banned by the Kitwe district commissioner's office last week after hosting Nevers Mumba last month on his political career. In reaction, Nevers Mumba's spokesperson John Ziba said yesterday "We Won't Allow Fascists to Trample On Our Right to Information".

Zambia's 'stolen' £13m is frozen

"Zambia has filed a lawsuit in London against its former president, demanding the return of a multimillion-dollar fortune allegedly plundered from state coffers.
Lawyers for the Zambian government claim that Frederick Chiluba and his associates deposited $24 million (£13 million) of assets in London bank accounts, and have obtained an order from the High Court to freeze the assets while the case is heard.
The allegation of theft is strongly denied by Chiluba - who led the southern African country until 2001 - and the other defendants. They insist that the money was obtained legitimately." Continued......

Levy's Attempt to Silence Zambians Will Boomerang

"IT seems President Levy Mwanawasa and his minions do not learn or are incapable of learning. They seem to be jumping, like monkeys, from one violation of the Constitution to another.
It seems in their desperation to hide their heinous deeds, they have now resorted to a systematic campaign of repression. They want to shut any mouth that opens up to expose the crimes of their league. They have started a reckless and dangerous assault on our people's freedom of speech and that of expression. They don't even seem to care that this is a constitutionally protected fundamental right. What of the summoning of people every day to police stations to be questioned on what they said on some radio programme or on what they were quoted to have said in some newspaper, or indeed on what was published under their by-line over the last few weeks? Why are they in such a frenzy? What are they trying to hide that is worrying them so much that if the people come to know, they may lose their manliness? What is it? Whatever it is, it must be a very big transgression, a gigantic crime." More from source.....

related posts on Zambia

Journalist charged with sedition in Zambia for giving the fax

The Cape Times reports: "Lusaka: Police here on Wednesday interrogated journalist Anthony Mukwita and charged him with sedition. He faces a seven year jail sentence or an option of a fine, Mukwita confirmed, but said he had not been arrested yet.

Mukwita is the Cape Times correspondent in Zambia.

He was questioned over a fax he read out during a prime time radio programme he hosts on Lusaka's privately owned Radio Phoenix on June 10.

The fax was signed by 'annoyed Zambians' who cautioned President Levy Mwanawasa that he would 'slide the country into anarchy' if he did not listen to Zambians over various social, political and economic issues. "

Govt Pursues Nevers Over Diplomatic Passport

"THE government is pursuing former Republican vice-president Pastor Nevers Mumba over his diplomatic passport.
And police yesterday questioned Radio Phoenix's Face The Media programme presenter Anthony Mukwita regarding a fax he read on June 10, 2005 from a listener that expressed fears that President Mwanawasa might slide the nation into chaos."
More from source: