Fellow Zambians, it is a great privilege to share my thoughts with you on the occasion of our beloved country’s 49th Independence anniversary.

I speak to you not only as a political leader but also as a proud citizen of what is one of the most gifted countries in the world.

Independence Day is a time that we as country must celebrate who we are and what we have achieved. However it is also a day when we must take time for deep reflection. It is a time to take stock of where we find ourselves on this anniversary of the day when Zambia earned the right to determine her own fate.

Zambia has many blessings to count. We have great mineral wealth, expanses of land, rivers crisscrossing that land with fresh water and above all a hardworking, peaceful and peace loving people. For 49 years Zambia has stood united. Today I call on our people to never take these blessings for granted. Let us always celebrate our natural wealth and our great people.

As we enter our 50th year we as a country, we should also ask ourselves a few tough questions. The most important of those questions is whether the citizens of Zambia are enjoying a standard of living that reflects the potential of the country and the gifts God gave it.

Do our mothers in far flung parts of the country access health services for themselves when pregnant and for the children they raise? When a child is born today in Chadiza, Mwense or Kalabo can they hope to access a minimum standard of education that reflects the fact that the country they were born into produces 10% of the world’s copper? Will their nutrition levels show that Zambia has 40% of the water available to SADC region and vast virgin arable land?

Do ordinary citizens in townships and villages all over the country enjoy a standard of living that reflects the fact that Zambia has never been to war but is rather populated by the most peaceable people on the continent? Do our children in every province have a chance to reach their full potential in well-resourced schools that broaden their minds? Do our schools have a minimum standard of education that ensures that Zambia’s brightest children will take their place in the global world?

Fellow Zambians it is my firm belief that as we reflect on 49 years of independence, these are the questions that must be somberly answered.

I call on every citizen to ask themselves if the Zambia they live in is the Zambia they want. If the Zambia we now live in, politically, economically and socially well reflects the blessings God bestowed on this beautiful land and the potential of its great people.

This week, in what has become a wonderful culture; many of our pre-school children will wear outfits made out of the colours of our proud flag. Their teachers will help them paint little flags to take home to their parents. As we look into their trusting eyes and listen to them proudly sing the national anthem thy have learnt, let us all ask ourselves -what Zambia are we bequeathing these little ones? 49 years after Independence what lives are promised the children of Zambia no matter the circumstances of their birth, or which corner of Zambia they happen to live in?

I will end by promising every citizen of this country from Livingstone to Nakonde, Chipata to Mongu that we in the UPND believe that Zambia can be a paradise of peace progress and fulfilled potential. We have the gifts and we have the people.

I would also like to remember all the citizens who sacrificed their lives to attain our freedom and to honor the freedom fighters that are still with us. It is my duty too, to salute the men and women who have contributed to leading and developing Zambia since 1964. Above all I once again congratulate all Zambians on the 49th anniversary of our independence.

God bless this great land.

Hakainde Hichilema
PRESIDENT
UNITED PARTY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata has urged Zambians to reflect on the values and principles of the brave and spirited men and women that fought for the country’s independence.

President Sata urged Zambians to take time to observe and celebrate Independence with remembrance and deep gratitude to those who made it possible to be liberated.

“In the same vein, we must also reflect on values and principles of the brave and spirited men and women who relentlessly and selflessly fought and sacrificed for our independence.

“Their sacrifice would be in vain if we betrayed their patriotism with narrow and selfish interests and their vision of a free, united and prosperous Zambia must not be betrayed today, or at any one time in the future,” he said.

In his address to the nation on the eve of the 49 th Independence anniversary, President Sata thanked God for his grace and mercy that the country would celebrate another milestone of the journey as a nation.

He said the road to independence was not an easy one, but the gallant men and women remained resolute and persevered till they liberated the country and the nation would eternally be indebted to them.

The Head of State said, reflecting on the sacrifices and the vision of the founding fathers, this year’s independence day would be celebrated under the theme: “commemorating God’s favour of Zambia’s 50 years of independence for continued peace, unity, democracy, patriotism and prosperity.”

He said the theme would not only guide in preparations for the jubilee celebrations next year but this also becomes the proclamation and vision for Zambia for the next 50 years.

Mr Sata said this year’s anniversary was a momentous occasion as the country commemorated the golden jubilee and that historically the 50th year was a year of restoration.]

He said the golden jubilee should be celebrated with thanks-giving, reconciliation, works of kindness and a renewed sense of God’s given destiny and purpose as a country.

“We therefore, have a duty to rise above the challenges of nation-building with resolve to serve this country with passion, selflessness and loyalty in our endeavour of national development because no one will develop it but ourselves,” he said.

He said as the country approached the golden jubilee, Zambians must thank God for his favour and abundant blessings of peace, unity and stability.

Mr Sata said reflecting on the 49 years of independence, Zambia has been a hub of peace in the region and continues to play its role in promoting global and regional peace and security.

He said in the spirit of promoting peace, Zambia has also played mediatory role in several conflict situations would continue to promote reconciliation among parties in conflicts.

Mr Sata said despite being a country of 73 tribes, Zambians continue to live together in harmony because of the sustained efforts of the founding fathers and mothers who were determined to create a unitary state of equal rights and obligations.

Mr Sata called on Zambians to develop its democracy with a sense of mutual respect and tolerance, so that in the process democratic foundations on which the country was built are we strengthened.

The Head of State said Government had put the interests of all Zambians at the top of its national development agenda and the aspiration of the Government was to transform and modernise the country’s economy in order to alleviate poverty and create jobs.

The President said the destiny of the country was in the youth who were the majority of the population and the torch bearers of the future of the country.

THE Lusaka High Court has dismissed a petition in which the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) asked the court to determine the constitutionality of the Public Order Act.

High Court judge Evans Hamaundu said in a judgement delivered in Lusaka yesterday that the petition lacked merit and was wrongly taken to court.

This is a case in which LAZ is challenging the constitutionality of the Public Order Act, alleging that it is discriminatory to opposition political parties.

The association stated in its petition that Sections 5, 6 and 7 of the Public Order Act are in contravention of Articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution.

LAZ was prompted to petition the High Court following the police’s alleged denial to allow the United Party for National Development to hold public rallies despite notifying the police.

“In my view, I do not find the Public Order Act to be in contravention of Articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution. Therefore, the petition fails and since the matter was in public interest, I order that each party bears its own costs,” Justice Hamaundu said.

He said LAZ was supposed to commence the legal actions not as a petition or judicial review but as an appeal.

Mr Justice Hamaundu said LAZ, as an aggrieved party, should have taken the matter to court as a grievance and not as a petition.

He said the association had the option of appealing to the Minister of Home Affairs if it was aggrieved with the way the police were applying the Public Order Act.

Mr Justice Hamaundu said the matter was supposed to be taken to court as an appeal if the association or the aggrieved party was not happy with the Minister of Home Affairs’ decision.

He said when such a matter is taken to court as a grievance, it gives the court enough jurisdiction to determine the case because the court will be part of the grievance.

In its petition, LAZ stated that certain provisions of the Public Order Act are unconstitutional as they are contrary to the provisions of Articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution.

The association stated further that the Public Order Act does not give the full measure of enjoyment of the freedom of association, assembly and speech.

United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema says he will tomorrow stage a protest to coincide with the country’s independence against what he has termed as ‘rampart abuse of human rights’ under the ruling Patriotic Front administration.

Responding to a question during a media briefing in Lusaka today on why he is shunning tomorrow’s independence celebrations, Mr. Hichilema says he does not see any reason for celebrating when the PF is busy abusing the rights of the majority Zambians.

He says he is not inciting anyone to join him in shunning the celebrations, but is reminding the Zambian people to reflect on what kind of suffering they have been subjected to by the PF.

Mr. Hichilema has called on citizens to ask themselves if the Zambia they are living in is the Zambia they want as they celebrate 49 years of independence.

And Mr. Hichilema has named former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumango as UPND National Chairperson.

The UPND leader has also announced that former PF Kamfinsa Member of Parliament Michael Nyirenda has joined the party after seeing that the UPND is the only party that can correct all the perceived mistakes of the PF during the time they have been in power so far.

Education Permanent Secretary Chishimba Mkosha says government has no intentions of nullifying the ongoing 2013 examinations.

Mr.Mkosha told journalists at a media briefing in Lusaka today that there aren’t any sufficient grounds to warrant the nullification of the examinations stating that preventive measures have been taken and candidates engaged in exam malpractices have been arrested.

Mr. Mkosha said the high number of arrests made by authorities and the increased number of candidates expelled from the entire examination process for carrying pre-written materials illustrates the stringent measures that government has effected to curb examination malpractices and enhance vigilance.

He noted that for the first time in the history of the country, the teachers that were arrested were immediately suspended as earlier promised that government would institute stringent measures to deal with those suspected or found guilty of exam malpractices.

He said this is a plus and that the measure will deter would be offenders in perpetrators in future.

Mr Mkosha added that the number of pupils who may have benefited from the examination leakages this year is next to nothing compared to the past due to the measures taken to curb the vice.

Mr. Mkosha however, has expressed disappointment over the big number of teachers and pupils who have been arrested as a result of engaging themselves in malpractice.

And Examination Council of Zambia Director Michael Chilala says the examinations body is working with the ministry of Education to make sure that exam malpractices are prevented.

Mr. Chilala notes that ECZ has been following information given to them relating to exam malpractices and have realized that the opportunity benefit to those who intended to cheat has been almost zero.

[QFM]

Alliance for a Better Zambia (ABZ) president Frank Bwalya has charged that President Michael Sata’s reaction to calls by UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema for Zambians to shun this year’s independence commemoration has exposed his inconsistency and short memory.

ABZ president Frank Bwalya says memories of Zambians are still fresh how President Sata while in opposition shunned state functions which included independence celebrations.

Fr. Bwalya has challenged President Sata to tell the nation why it was right for him to shun independence celebrations and it is now wrong for Mr. Hichilema to shun the same commemorations.

Fr Bwalya has however stated that as long as his party is invited for state functions they will always attend.

He explains that national events such as independence celebrations are important because they provide an opportunity to show the country’s unity, love and to thank God as well show appreciation to the freedom fighters that fought for the country’s independence.

He has told Qfm that this does not however, mean that his party is happy about the alleged lack of medicine in the country’s Hospitals and the high cost of living under the Patriotic Front (PF) government.