Nzika Coalition Party shakeup: Leadership changes amid internal conflict

Newly certified Nzika Coalition Party has affected massive shake-ups in its leadership structure, as some people are being removed and replaced by new ones.

Party President, Christopher Mike Chiomba, said this is the case because some people within Nzika Coalition are running parallel structures, which leave him with no option but to replace them.

Details are emerging that factions are a result of the misunderstanding between Chiomba and his vice, Kawerama Sonjo, over some administrative decisions.

An inside source has told us that the party has been facing financial challenges since it was registered.

“This issue is not true. The truth is that the vice president challenged the authority of the president by calling him not fit to be president. By calling the president not fit, he created divisions in the party according to our party constitution’s article 26.3.1,” said Chiomba.

He added: “The divisions created by the Vice President has led to Nzika Coalition coming up with new executive committee which are having good progress.”

Meanwhile, Chiomba is claiming that he is receiving threats from Sonjo over the issue and has vowed to report him to police.

Capital FM sought a comment from Sonjo who said the divisions have been created by Chiomba.

“It is true that there are divisions in the party. They have been created by the president (Chiomba) following my contribution during a WhatsApp meeting on NEC that we should consider bringing other people with the capacity to help in running the party.”

“I further advised that article 15.1 of the constitution provides that NEC shall appoint National Finance Committee,” he stated.

We understand that he [Sonjo] is no longer being acknowledged as vice president alongside other people like Christopher Mwenelupembe who has been removed from the position of National organizing secretary. Rabson Chilewa and Muhammad Msamala are no longer chairpersons for party’s southern and eastern regions respectively. The shakeup has also affected Stanley Scott who was Publicity Secretary for the party.

“These people are siding with Sonjo was the remove hence from their posts,” said the source.

“With regard to whether I am still the vice president of Nzika Coalition Party, the answer is yes. This should also include the individuals mentioned above. They are still NEC members. President has not mandate to fire am executive member,” he argued.

The Sonjo’s faction is therefore contemplating on asking the president to call for a meeting that will see these issues being addressed.

“We wrote the president on 24th August, 2024 calling for a meeting so that we find a solution to the matter. We are yet to get a reply from him on our request. We intend to send him a reminder giving him seven days to respond to our communication failure which, we will use other corrective measures,” emphasized Sonjo.