Movements for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) President Nevers Mumba yesterday shun the scheduled reconciliation meeting organized by the International Institute of Democracy and Conflict Resolution.
The meeting was aimed at reconciling Dr. Mumba and former Republican President Rupiah Banda over who should stand on the MMD ticket.
And speaking to journalists in Lusaka today, former Republican President Rupiah Banda says he cancelled all his campaign programs to attend the said meeting which Dr. Mumba refused to attend.
Mr. Banda says peace in any given political party is vital for the growth of that party adding that efforts must be made to achieve peace.
Mr. Banda states that politicians must take a step in ensuring that where there is confusion, they should promote peace and harmony.
He says he went to attend the meeting hoping to resolve the standoff but to his surprise Dr. Mumba rejected the initiative of reconciling with him.
Speaking at the same event, International Institute of Democracy and Conflict Resolution President Tresford Chomba says it is disappointing that Dr. Mumba as a man of God accepted to attend the meeting but refused to come.
Mr. Chomba says Dr. Mumba when approached on 5th of this month for the possibility of taking part in the reconciliation meeting, he agreed and assured that he will be part of the meeting but later today when contacted on phone said he is on the Copperbelt to address a rally.
He says if politicians will continue acting in such a manner, then it will be too difficult for them to preach peace.
Meanwhile, MMD President Nevers Mumba says the MMD is a new party with new ideas and new leaders.
Addressing a rally in Kitwe this afternoon, Dr. Mumba says the MMD has been re-branded and that it is not the same party the people rejected in 2011.