UPND Provincial Chairman nullifies illegal suspension of Siasiloka and Mushabati

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UPND Southern Province provincial chairman Billiard Makwembo has nullified a meeting and appointment of Katombola Member of parliament Clement Andeleki as a Constituency chairman.

And Makwembo has also declared a meeting held on January 1, 2025 in Kazungula, and its subsequent resolutions null and void, citing procedural irregularities.

A fortnight ago, Katombola member of parliament Clement Andeleki together with other UPND members in Katombola Constituency organised an ‘illegal’ meeting with the aim to suspend a district chairman, Siasiloka Mukuni and Constituency chairman Shebby Mushabati.

The meeting, convened by selected district, constituency, and ward officials in Kabuyu under Chief Musokotwane of Kazungula District, purportedly passed a vote of no confidence in Kazungula district chairman and constituency chairman Shebby Mushabati.

The illegal gathering also attempted to appoint Katombola Member of Parliament Clement Andeleki as constituency chairman.

However, in a statement, Makwembo noted that the organizers of the meeting did not seek permission or inform the Provincial Management Committee, as required by the UPND constitution.

According to Article 42 (e) of the UPND constitution, the provincial committee is the only body authorized to sanction a meeting within the province.

“This meeting was convened without consultation or approval from the provincial committee, which is a clear breach of party procedures,” stated Makwembo.

He further cited Article 70, which outlines specific steps to address grievances or disciplinary matters within the party, adding that none of these measures were adhered to during the January 1 meeting.

“In view of the above and considering that my office was not consulted nor informed of the holding of the meeting or its resolution, I therefore, using powers vested in me by the Party constitution as amended in 2021, declare the said meeting and its resolutions null and void,” Makwembo said.

He instructed that the status quo be maintained, restoring leadership positions to their original holders before the disputed meeting.

Makwembo also urged members with grievances to channel them through his office within 14 days.

And reacting to confusions that engulfed the party, UPND youth member Fred Mungonze advised Clement Andeleki, to concentrate on working for the people that voted him, not to pick up fights with party leadership.

Mungonze accused Andeleki of picking up fights with the district and constituency leadership because he had the youths that campaigned for him.

“The MP [Clement Andeleki] should focus on working for the constituency. If you were to ask him what he has achieved under the CDF, it is zero. He is an unabsent MP who wants to install himself as a constituency chairman. If left he will sink the UPND party in Katombola Constituency,” said Mungonze.

“Our MP has a mandate upto 2026 but feels threatened in Katombola Constituency because he has failed the youths that campaigned for him. He should concentrate on fixing the problems in his constituency, not the people that are organising the party.”

By Buumba Mwitumwa

Kalemba January 7, 2024

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