RECORDS at the office of the Registrar of Societies show that former Republican President Rupiah Banda and former Zambian High Commissioner to Canada Nevers Mumba are still active MMD and Reform Party (RP) leaders, respectively.

The MMD structure shows that Mr Banda is president of the MMD while the national chairperson is Michael Mabenga.

Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu said this at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday.

Records indicate that Kabinga Pande is vice-chairperson, Jeff Kaande as deputy national secretary while Suresh Desai and late former vice-president George Kunda are listed as national trustees.

The RP structure shows that Dr Mumba is still party president with senior party officials listed as Eve Sanderson, party secretary N. Nyirongo, administrative secretary M. Sokoni, party treasurer J. Temani while R. Kaputula was listed as a senior member.

Mr Lungu, who was amplifying on the statement he issued last week that he may be forced to deregister the MMD, said the former ruling party had failed to update records despite several reminders.

The minister said the records showed that Mr Banda and Dr Mumba were active presidents of the MMD and RP, respectively.

MMD has been embroiled in internal problems that have resulted in a splinter group led by ousted national secretary, Richard Kachingwe.

Mr Lungu said the Government would follow records from the Registrar of Societies because it was a legal body charged with the mandate of overseeing national records, including operations of parties.

Last week, Mr Lungu warned that he may be forced to deregister the MMD if its squabbles became a danger to the peace and stability of the country.