UPND Southern Province Chairman Billiard Makwembo Nullifies Controversial Katombola Meeting

UPND Southern Province Chairman Nullifies Illegal Suspension of Siasiloka and Mushabati

By Buumba Mwitumwa

In a significant turn of events, the UPND Southern Province provincial chairman, Billiard Makwembo, has nullified the meeting that led to the suspension of party leaders Siasiloka Mukuni and Shebby Mushabati. Makwembo declared the meeting and its subsequent resolutions, including the controversial appointment of Katombola Member of Parliament (MP) Clement Andeleki as constituency chairman, null and void. This decision came after the discovery of major procedural irregularities that violated the party’s constitution.

The controversial meeting, which took place on January 1, 2025, in Kazungula, was organized by a faction within the UPND in Katombola Constituency. Led by MP Clement Andeleki, the group aimed to suspend district chairman Siasiloka Mukuni and constituency chairman Shebby Mushabati. The meeting, held at Kabuyu under Chief Musokotwane of Kazungula District, was purported to have passed a vote of no confidence in Mushabati and elected Andeleki as the new constituency chairman.

However, Makwembo was quick to respond, stating that the meeting was illegal and violated key articles of the UPND constitution. According to Article 42 (e), only the provincial committee has the authority to sanction meetings within the province, and in this case, no consultation or approval was sought from the committee. Furthermore, Makwembo pointed out that the prescribed procedures for addressing grievances or disciplinary matters, as outlined in Article 70 of the UPND constitution, were completely ignored during the January 1 gathering.

In his statement, Makwembo emphasized that the actions of the meeting organizers were a clear breach of party procedures. “This meeting was convened without consultation or approval from the provincial committee, which is a clear breach of party procedures,” Makwembo stated. Using his powers vested in him by the Party constitution as amended in 2021, Makwembo declared the meeting and its resolutions void.

Makwembo further ordered that leadership positions be restored to their original holders, reinstating Mukuni and Mushabati to their respective positions. He urged UPND members with grievances to submit their concerns through his office within 14 days.

Meanwhile, UPND youth member Fred Mungonze expressed frustration with Clement Andeleki’s actions. He accused the MP of focusing on internal party conflicts rather than serving the people who voted for him. Mungonze sharply criticized Andeleki for using the youth vote to secure his position, only to neglect the constituency’s development. “The MP should focus on fixing the problems in his constituency, not fighting with party leadership,” Mungonze remarked.

Keywords:

UPND, UPND news, Katombola, Clement Andeleki, Siasiloka Mukuni, Shebby Mushabati, Billiard Makwembo, Kazungula, Zambian politics, 2025, political suspension, UPND constitution, Zambia news, Southern Province Zambia, party leadership, UPND youth, Katombola Constituency.