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Vol 54 No 18

Published 6th September 2013


Zambia

Banda redraws party lines

The MMD is in dangerous disarray. The UPND is attracting defectors and popular support, even from Banda himself

Former President Rupiah Bwezani Banda’s support for the United Party for National Development is weakening his own Movement for Multiparty Democracy. To oppose the governing Patriotic Front (PF), the UPND and MMD had formed a loose alliance but that is also failing amid intrigue, recrimination and even violence. Conflict focuses mainly on contentious by-elections. After losing office in September 2011, Banda hedged his bets between the two parties, having provided money for the UPND (AC Vol 53 No 21, Ex-President Banda switches horses). Some of his key political allies left the MMD for the UPND while maintaining close links with him at the expense of the current MMD leader, former Vice-President and television evangelist Nevers Mumba (AC Vol 45 No 20, Undiplomatic row).

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