Zambia’s biggest opposition party, the United Party for National Development (UPND) has expelled two senior officials for alleged insubordination, a party spokesperson said on Monday.
UPND Secretary General Ben Tetamashimba and deputy chair Austin Liato, who are also members of Parliament, were expelled after they were accused at a meeting of the party’s executive of working too closely with President Levy Mwanawasa’s government.
”The expulsions were supported overwhelmingly by all party officials who attended the meeting,” said party spokesperson, Patrick Chisanga.
Under Zambian law the two expelled lawmakers will have to vacate their seats in Parliament and by-elections will have to be organised to replace them.
The UPND, led by millionaire businessman Anderson Mazoka, is Zambia’s biggest opposition party. It holds several seats in Parliament.
Mazoka is one of three opposition leaders who has filed a petition in the country’s Supreme Court against Mwanawasa’s disputed victory in the 2001 presidential election.
Mazoka narrowly lost to Mwanawasa, and alleged there was massive rigging in favour of Mwanawasa. – Sapa-AFP