The Ministry of Home Affairs department of Registrar of Societies has nullified the appointment of Chishimba Kambwili as National Democratic Congress (NDC) president, following a complaint filed by estranged Secretary General Mwenya Musenge.

And Police have cancelled the NDC thanks-giving rally in Luanshya’s Mpatamatu area which was scheduled to be addressed by Kambwili.

Home Affairs spokesperson Nephas Chifuta said, Saturday, that the the meeting that installed Kambwili as NDC president was illegal and against the party’s constitution.

“I wish to confirm that the Registrar of Societies is in receipt of a letter dated 18th of April 2019 from the NDC secretary General Mr Mwenya Musenge. In the letter Mr Musenge is requesting the Registrar of Societies to intervene and provide guidance in a matter where an alleged illegal meeting was called by the deputy secretary general of the party. This meeting ushered Dr Chishimba Kamwbili as president of the NDC, contrary to their party constitution. The Registrar of Societies in a guidance letter has highlighted that the NDC party constitution deposited at the department, upon registration of the party, has clear and elaborate provisions regarding the appointment of the party president,” Chifuta said.

“According to Article 18 of their constitution, the national party congress is the supreme policy making organ of the party and comprises of 1,000 members drawn from all the 10 provinces of Zambia. The national party congress is the only party organ with the mandate to elect the party president at it’s national congress. In addition to that, it is only the national party congress that can amend, approve and adopt the party constitution. Furthermore, their constitution stipulates in Article 23G that in the absence of the secretary general, the deputy secretary general shall preside over the activities of the party and give a comprehensive report to the secretary general upon his or her resume of office duties.”

He urged Kambwili to stop conducting party activities as NDC president.

“In view of the above, it is apparent that the process for the appointment of Dr Chishimba Kambwili as president of the National Democratic Congress Party was not in accordance with the provisions of their party constitution. I therefore wish to advise Dr Chishimba Kambwili not to conduct NDC party activities as its party president to avoid being in conflict of the provisions of the Society’s Act that governs organisations such as the NDC. The party is further reminded to adhere to its constitution at all times, as deposited with the registrar of societies, and avoid shortcuts in order to maintain law and order. I hasten to also advise the members of the NDC that may be aggrieved with what transpired to approach,” said Chifuta.