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The UDF has expelled from the ruling party its director of social services Davis Katsonga who is also Minister of Energy and suspended seven other senior members of the party, including deputy Secretary General Paul Maulidi, after they failed to appear before a disciplinary committee on Thursday.
Katsonga, who was summoned before the committee is alleged to have “defamed and destroyed the reputation of the UDF” at a press conference where he blamed the party for power failure during the launch of Mtwara Development Corridor.
The event was attended by President Bingu wa Mutharika, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, Tanzanian leader Benjamin Mkapa and former Mozambican president Joachim Chissano.
The minister refused to comment on his expulsion and anything to do with the matter on Thursday.
“I have no comment at all,” said Katsonga.
The party said the minister has been expelled for bringing the UDF into disrepute.
“He is no longer a member of the UDF and no longer a holder of any office in or under the UDF,” said a statement signed by party secretary general Kennedy Makwangwala.
The statement also indicated that apart from Maulidi, national organising secretary Salim Bagus and office bearers from the South namely deputy regional governor Samson Msosa, regional director of women Beatrice Kanjala plus three regional committee members Aaron Sisito, Basa Kaligomba and Alefa Wenzulo have been suspended from the party.
Makwangwala said the people have been removed from all positions they held under the UDF at any level and in any subcommittee.
“They were accused of holding secret meetings, forming task forces and establishing parallel structures without prior knowledge or permission of their own superiors,” stated Makwangwala.
He said these people caused confusion among UDF members in “creating the impression that what they were doing had the blessing of the UDF”.
“All UDF members and supporters are requested to note these changes,” said Makwangwala.
But Bagus said this move was unfortunate because the party is supposed to look at ways of uniting with the government and the President.
“The party is wasting time on such petty issues as this one. The party should have thought of looking at ways to unite with us and the President,” said Bagus.
He said he was yet to decide what to do as he has not received a letter on the matter.
“I didn’t even know that I was supposed to attend a disciplinary meeting,” said Bagus.
Katsonga and the suspended group last week obtained an injunction stopping their party from holding a disciplinary hearing against them on the grounds that they were not sure of their safety and did not know the reasons for the meeting.
Inside sources indicated that they were suspected of helping Mutharika revive his defunct United Party (UP) in readiness for the 2009 elections and that they have been attending Mutharika’s rally and acting as party gurus.
The UDF indicated last week that it had written the eight people again telling them to appear before the committee on Thursday.
The party has told the group that the matter is an internal issue which has to be handled internally and that it was wrong for them to get an injunction against the hearing.
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