The ruling Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Mwila said PF is opposed to intentions by the Lusaka City Council to introduce a wheelbarrow levy.

Addressing a media briefing today on the resolutions of the Central Committee, Mr Mwila said that PF stands for the poor and does not accept the decision taken by Lusaka City Council on people pushing improvised and modified wheelbarrows to earn a living.

Mr Mwila said the PF stands for the poor and does not accept the decision taken by Lusaka City Council on people pushing improvised and modified wheelbarrows to earn a living.

He reiterates that the ruling Patriotic Front is a friend of the poor and shall not accept additional burden to be placed on our people, reiterating that the ruling Patriotic Front is a friend of the poor and shall not accept additional burden to be placed on our people.

“If our people pushing wheelbarrows have any bills whatsoever, we ask Lusaka City Council (LCC) to bring them to the Party and we shall settle them on their behalf”, said Mr. Mwila.

Meanwhile, the ruling party’s Central Committee has resolved to revisit the party’s adoption process for Members of Parliament, Mayors / Council Chairpersons and Councillors to ensure that the will of the grassroots is respected in the selection of candidates ahead of the 2021 general elections.

Addressing the media at the same event, Mr Mwila said that PF will go into the general elections with popular candidates only at all levels starting with President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who is the preferred Presidential candidate.

The party called on the Zambia Police to immediately bring to book alleged PF members led by Mr. Emmanuel Jay Banda over a reported incident of attacking Law Enforcement Officers at Lusaka Central Police.

Mr Mwila also announced that PF has appointed a Committee, following reports of violence and intimidation, to carry out a forensic study of party elections held in Mandevu and Munali Constituencies saying the independent Committee will submit its findings and recommendations to the Secretary-General before the end of August 2020 for determination.

Speaking when he addressed the media, Monday morning, on the resolutions of the Central Committee meeting held on 25th July, 2020 at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, PF Secretary General Hon Davies Mwila announced that all Party Officials linked to the illegal gold mining and theft of gold exhibits have been dropped from their positions.

“The ruling Patriotic Front cherishes the ideals of intra-party democracy, and this is an ideal which defines who we are as a Party. This is extremely important because, ensuring and promoting intra-party democracy is the only way that the Patriotic Front continues to renew its mandate with the people – the general membership on whose behalf we lead,” said Hon Mwila.

“Against this background, elections in the Party will continue under the New Normal. As part of the PF’s democratic nature and in complying with Article 60 of the Republican Constitution, the Central Committee reaffirmed its earlier resolution to conduct elections in the remaining six (6) Provinces namely; Lusaka, Luapula, Muchinga, Northern, Western and Southern Provinces. In holding these elections, the Secretariat will ensure that there is maximum compliance to Public Health Regulations concerning COVID-19.”

He further disclosed that once all the remaining Provincial elections have been held, the Central Committee will receive a comprehensive report which shall guide preparations for the Party’s General Conference.

“As we are all aware, our country goes for General Elections next year with or without COVID-19. This, therefore, makes intra-Party elections an absolute must. However, these intra-party elections shall be held and completed under very strict adherence to Public Health Regulations, Guidelines and Certification vis-à-vis COVID-19,” said the Secretary-General.

“Therefore, the clarion call for continuous renewal and re-energizing of Patriotic Front party structures across the country is non-negotiable and unstoppable.”

Opposition UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema says his party outside or inside the government, has neither intention nor capacity to interfere in the selection, continued reign nor removal of any traditional leadership in this country.

He says the UPND simply has no legal, moral desire or other basis to carry out such a mission.

Mr Hichilema says in as far as the UPND is concerned, this is unattainable and well outside the party cherished values, virtues and aspirations.

“Our duty is to work with all traditional leaders (headmen, chiefs, paramount chiefs and others in the traditional hierarchy of our nation), and other stakeholders in fostering economic and social development to benefit all our citizens in the whole country regardless of ethnic, religious, political, and other affiliations or artificial boundaries”, he said.

“For the record, I as Hakainde Hichilema, have never said or done anything against the Chitimukulu or the Bemba Royal Establishment”, Mr Hichilema added.

He said when the Patriotic Front was harassing the Chitimukulu with Edgar Lungu as Home Affairs Minister deployed hundreds of police officers to prevent his ascension to the throne; he stood by the Chitimukulu and rendered support to him.

“As a country, we would rather use our time and focus discussion on more serious and pressing issues affecting our citizens such as finding solutions to the economic meltdown and the COVID 19 pandemic, as these do not spare anyone from whatever background or political affiliation”, he said.

Mr Hichilema said he is aware of the desperation by some of his opponents who have no messages for the masses, other than driving hatred against fellow citizens.

He said Zambians find these misplaced efforts to drive a wedge between citizens, tragic, retrogressive and a danger to national unity.

Mr Hichilema said within the context of democratic dispensation, it is the UPND’s duty to jealously guard the peace Zambia has enjoyed as a country since independence, and focus on seeking unity than disunity, love than hate and honesty than unnecessary innuendos.

He said there is so much work to be done and the UPND are preoccupied with ways and means of how citizens can put food on their tables and send their children to school.

“We believe that the above response should put to rest this unnecessary digression from critical national issues”, he added.

Kabwe Central Member of Parliament Tutwa Ngulube has challenged Lusaka lawyer John Sangwa to immediately relinquish his rank of State Counsel.

Mr Ngulube’s comments follows a statement from Mr Sangwa in which he was quoted that he will not be coerced into silence because of the status of State Counsel.

This came after President Edgar Lungu requested newly elected President of the Law Association of Zambia Abyud Shonga to use his office to scrutinize those being conferred with the status of State Counsel as some of using the rank to attack the state.

Mr Ngulube said Mr Sangwa should immediately commence steps to inform LAZ and the judiciary on withdrawing the rank of State Counsel.

“I am aware that recently JPS, as we called him 20 years ago, was apologizing for attacking the Judiciary and he went to lengths of putting up a written apology. We all thought it was genuine. Today he sounds like someone is stopping him from talking. To you JPS, the best arena for you is politics so that we take you on as our Opposition,” Mr Ngulube said.

He said hiding in the rank of state counsel to fight other people’s battles won’t help Mr. Sangwa.

“So if you are serious about that write to the Law Association and the Republican President so that the Judiciary can be informed accordingly,” he said.

In fact the State you are attacking in the media can be engaged through established channels. Even in churches, we have a chain of communication. You can’t just stand up and start punching everyone in the streets.”

He added, “In fact, UPND is about to go for a convention they can give you a position even a Chairman of Legal because you represented HH in the petition where you miscalculated the 14 days.”

Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya has called on corporate entities who made pledges towards the fight against COVID-19 to activate them.

The Minister indicated that some of them have not yet fulfilled their pledges.

Meanwhile, Dr.Chilufya has expressed worry at the levels of stigma against COVID-19 patients.

Speaking during the COVID-19 routine update at the ministry of health on Sunday, Dr. Chilufya said stigma reduces the gains made in the fight against the pandemic.

“There is no need for stigma because anybody is at risk. We frown upon stigma there is no need to stigmatise against COVID-19 patients.” Said Dr. Chilufya.

He expressed concern that because of stigma, people who are critically ill in their homes are failing to report themselves putting a lot of lives in danger.

He said President Edgar Lungu’s call for unity of purpose and solidarity was key in the fight against the pandemic.

Lusaka City Council (LCC) Mayor Miles Sampa has dispelled reports circulating on social media that the city has introduced a levy for after it issued a notice to all wheelbarrow businesses to register.

Reports on social media interpreted the notice to mean that the government has introduced a wheelbarrow tax requiring all wheelbarrow pushers in town and markets to register their wheelbarrows and pay tax to the city council of K20 every month in addition to the K3 every day they pay to the market committee.

However, Mr Sampa said that he had a discussion with the LCC Town Clerk Mr Alex Mwansa on his circular on Wheelbarrow registrations and that the factual position is as stated in his circular that the Council will register all wheelbarrow businesses for security reasons given increased complaints received in our markets from marketeers that their hired wheelbarrow carriers disappear with their goods.

The Mayor said that the registration is therefore meant for accountability and transparency purposes for those conducting business in our markets and Bus stations in the City.

The mayor concluded the statement by saying that there shall be no lovely and any statement to that effect should be ignored.

“There shall however be NO Levy or purported TAX to be levied on any wheelbarrow holder. They shall pay ZERO to LCC. Any verbal or written statement to that effect should be ignored henceforth. Please be guided accordingly,” he concluded.

As cases of the coronavirus pandemic reach a record high in Zambia, UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema has urged Zambians to comply with all health guidelines to halt the spread of the pandemic.

Mr Hichilema has reiterated his call on Zambians to wear face masks at all times in public, observe social distancing, wash hands and avoid unnecessary movements.

He has noted that so many people have tested positive including Keembe UPND MP Princess Kasune who has come out in the open stating that she is COVID-19 positive adding to the many Members of Parliament who have tested positive for the pandemic.

Mr Hichilema has commended Mrs Kasune for coming out in the open saying doing so helps in tracing contacts.

Zambia yesterday recorded 153 new COVID-19 cases out of 466 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, says Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya.

Updating the nation on the pandemic, Dr Chilufya said of the 153 cases recorded, 147 were detected in Lusaka while six are from Mazabuka District in Southern Province.

He said the covid-19 death toll has remained at 139 as the country did not record any fatality in the last 24 hours but said 17 patients at the Levy Mwanawasa isolation facility are on oxygen support four of them on ventilators.

He said 397 patients have recovered bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,350 while active cases stand at 1,992.

The Minister has warned citizens against stigmatizing people who are suffering from the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Chilufya is worried with increased levels of stigma against COVID-19 patients.