Ndola — Zambian leader Rupiah Banda's main critic and former Defence minister has been suspended from the governing party.

Mr George Mpombo, a Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Member of Parliament, has been a thorn in the flesh of President Banda since his resignation as a minister last July.

Mr Mpombo has branded President Banda and his government as corrupt and undemocratic.

The MMD in Copperbelt Province, under which Mr Mpombo's Kafulafuta constituency is located, announced his suspension from the governing party.

The MMD has accused Mr Mpombo of indiscipline and lack of respect for President Banda, its acting president, and bringing the name of the party into disrepute through his remarks in the media.

"We have suspended him so that he can continue to insult the party and our president from outside, said Copperbelt Province chairperson Joseph Chilambwe.

If expelled from the party, Mr Mpombo would lose his seat, prompting a by-election

Mr Mpombo has rejected his suspension as illegal, adding that he would not resign but would fight from within.

I remain unmoved, said Mr Mpombo at a media briefing in the mining town of Ndola, the provincial capital of Copperbelt Province.

He warned that should the MMD expel him, he would challenge that decision in court and re-contest his parliamentary position in a by-election.

Mr Mpombo is a one-time councillor for the opposition UPND.

He has since his resignation from the ministerial post been linked to another party, PF. Mr Mpombo was elusive on whether he would stand on PF ticket or not, if expelled from the MMD.