Zambia’s former ruling party finally gets new leader

Nevers Mumba has formally being handed instruments of power to led Zambia’s largest opposition political party. Mumba, a former Vice President, televangelist and diplomat is widely seen, as a saviour for the party, whose popularity has been declining following its disappointing performance in, last September’s polls. His predecessor, Rupiah Banda handed over the instruments of power to Mumba at an unveiling ceremony in the capital, Lusaka, Tuesday to the cheering party stalwarts with a call to them remain resolute in the face of adversity and prosecution. Banda stepped down from the position about ninety-seven days ago to facilitate the election of a party new leader. Mumba beat six other candidates to scoop the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) top job in the elections held on May, 25th, 2012 to become the party’s fourth leader since its inception twenty-years ago. Pastor Mumba polled 870 votes in a re-run against his closest rival Felix Mutati’s 422 during the provincial conventions held across the country. Former finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, who also contested the MMD presidency, got 273 votes representing 20 per cent; former foreign affairs minister Kabinga Pande got 89, representing six per cent; Moses Muteteka and Enoch Kavindele both got five votes each, representing zero per cent while Kapembwa Simbao got 20, representing one per cent. And Mumba has launched MMD’s bid to return power in 2016 with a pledge to the supporters to reform the party. The 52-year-old charismatic preacher has also formed an intra party anti-graft committee.