LOSING MMD youth secretary Bowman Lusambo has charged that he is shocked that some "internal forces" within the former ruling party have deprived the Nevers Mumba-led administration of a vibrant, charismatic and forceful youth leader.

Commenting on his defeat to Tobias Kafumukache, Mr Lusambo, who is renowned for openly supporting former Republican President Rupiah Banda and the incumbent Dr Mumba, however, said yesterday that he was not bitter.

Mr Lusambo, the MMD's Die Hard Youth Wing national coordinator, said not only was he shocked at the defeat, but that other youths in different parts of the country were equally in that state, especially that he was known to be a loyal party supporter "through thick and thin."

"We, as MMD Die Hard Youth Wing, are not bitter but shocked. Shocked because youths in MMD and the country at large have been denied an opportunity of having a vibrant, charismatic and forceful youth leader like me to be national youth secretary using internal forces in the party," he said.

He said he was not bitter because he had for the first time made his ambitions known to the National Executive Committee (NEC) that the Die Hard Youth Wing members had the potential of reaching the top by contesting NEC positions.

The MMD Die Hard Youth Wing, he said, would continue existing to defend the rights of the youth in the party and the country as a whole, as well as to promote democracy.

In congratulating the new office bearers, Mr Lusambo advised the newly-elected vice-presidents, Michael Kaingu and Brian Chituwo, to operate beyond tribal lines as tribal activities would not be tolerated in the party.

He also wished Mr Kafumukache well in his new role.

The MMD NEC on Tuesday elected Mr Kaingu, Dr Chituwo and Mr Kafumukache, among others, as the party's vice-presidents in charge of politics, administration and national youth secretary, respectively.