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Govt questioned over allocation for constitution making

The Citizens Forum has charged that government’s silence on the constitutional making process is a clear confirmation that it does not care about it.

Citizens Forum Executive Secretary Simon Kabanda said the Finance minister should have given an indication on the way forward with regards the constitution making process during the presentation of the 2011 budget.

Featuring on Monday Night Live last evening, Mr. Kabanda said that finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane should have announced how much money had been allocated for the referendum in the constitution making process.

He added that a lot of money was spent on the NCC and that the silence on the part of government on the way forward on constitution making process with regards to the allocation of funds in the national budget towards the process is questionable.

And featuring on the same programme, Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) Executive Director Patrick Mucheleka called on government to seriously consider revising the mining agreements.

Mr Mucheleka said it is important that the government considers reviewing the mining agreements so that the country could benefit accordingly from its natural resources.
[ QFM ]

Why the MMD should not celebrate The Pact’s Ill’s

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Peasant farmers pondering their next move after the Food Reserve agency failed to buy their maize. They are now spending nights in the cold in Kasama

By Daimone Siulapwa

The ruling party, the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) seems to be celebrating the happenings in the PF-UPND Pact. Well, understandable. The more problems there are in the Pact, the brighter the chances the MMD has of retaining power. That obviously is the thinking in the MMD.

As things stand, the chances of the Pact surviving through to 2011 look all but over. However, that scenario does still not absolve the MMD of any blame for putting the country in the economic position that it is today.

The MMD came to power on the back heel of goodwill from the Zambians. They, in turn, promised to reverse the ‘misfortunes’ that the UNIP government of Dr Kenneth Kaunda had created.

No prizes for guessing whether that really happened.

The MMD government found a very vibrant middle-class existing in this country, only to destroy it through their reckless privatisation policies that left thousands of workers redundant some of them without any pay. No where else was this felt than on the Copperbelt and Lusaka were industries closed like taps of water.

If the MMD wants to know why they continue to perform poorly, this is the reason.

Having caused much of the damage during Frederick Chiluba’s tenure, there was some glimmer of hope that the administration of Levy Mwanawasa will correct the mess, but little happened other than the re-opening of mines in Luanshya and the selling of the Anglo-America Mines to Konkola Copper Mines (KCM).

But if you ask miners or their children whether their life is better off now than it was during the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM), the answer again, does not carry any prizes for guessing.

As has happened in the three elections, the MMD is likely to draw most of its votes from the rural areas. This is not because they have taken development there. Forget about the bumper maize harvest and the Fertiliser Input Support Programme (FISP), these have done little to improve the welfare of our people in the countryside.

The majority of our people in the rural areas are peasant farmers, and believe me; they are among the poorest despite largely feeding us. The price for which we pay the maize, grown by our peasant farmers is a joke to say the least. And it has its history.

Maize is always a political crop in this country. When President Kaunda tried to raise the price of maize in 1989, it triggered riots by youths. And since then, the urban population and the government have come to treat the issue of maize as a sensitive issue while being insensitive to the needs of our rural folk. We fail to pay them a good price for the maize they produce so that we can keep those of us who do not want to get a plough happy. In other words, we have enslaved our rural folks. They are subsidizing our living so that we can buy the latest vehicle on the market and drink our favourite beers in the most cosy bars.

Like Lusaka economist David Punabantu said in his article of October 26, 2009 in the Times of Zambia that 45 years after independence, many peasant farmers still use hoes and sell maize under mango trees at frighteningly low prices.

Indeed if maize is that cheap, why don’t we all not grow it instead of looking for a white collar job? While we want our peasant farmers to sell us this maize cheaply, we do not offer them anything. They do not have clean water, have to walk long distances to access a school and clinics.

Unfortunately, these rural folks are the people the MMD continue to hoodwink for votes with fertilizer in return for votes. Whatever the outcome of the elections, the MMD owe the rural folks.

Dr.Nevers Mumba elected President of the Ottawa Diplomatic Association

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Zambia’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dr. Nevers Mumba has been elected as the new President of the Ottawa Diplomatic Association (ODA). This was contained in a Press release made available to Lusakatimes by Ben Kangwa,First secretary(Press) of the Zambian Embassy in Washington.

In his acceptance speech Dr. Mumba thanked the delegates at the XII General Assembly of ODA for the confidence placed in him by the members. He stated that, he accepted the honour on behalf of his country Zambia, and Africa as a whole. Dr. Mumba is the first African Head of Mission to ever hold the Presidency of ODA. The nominated candidate’s name is circulated through the various regional groups, for endorsement, i.e. the European Union, the Americas, the African, the Asian, the Arab, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. It is then floated at the Annual General Assembly.

The ODA consists of Diplomatic Agents of Foreign Countries and members of International Organizations accredited to Canada. The Governor General of Canada is the Patron of the Organization.

The outgoing Executive Committee was led by H.E. Ambassador Khaled Bahah of Yemen and his first Vice-President was H.E. Chan Ho Ha, Ambassador of Korea, the second Vice-President, H.E. Camille Robinson-Regis, Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago. Others on the team included the High Commissioner of India, H.E. Shashishekhar Gavai, Ambassador of Morocco, H.E. Nouzha Chekrouni as Board Members.

Dr. Mumba’s team includes, among others, First Vice-President, H.E. Johann Georg M. Witschel, German Ambassador, H.E. Akbar Zeb, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Canada.

The election took place at the XII General Assembly on 7th October 2010 in Ottawa.

Ndola 2010 census Enumerator protest

Hundreds of Ndola-based Census of Population and Housing enumerators yesterday staged a protest outside the regional offices of the Central Statistical Office (CSO) demanding that their training allowances be increased after hearing that their counterparts in Lusaka were being paid K900,000 while they were paid K500,000 as training allowances.

Ndola District Commissioner (DC), Joshua Mutisa and District police chief, Bonnie Kapeso held a meeting with the representatives of the enumerators after police convinced the protesters to disperse and give an opportunity to their representatives, CSO and the office of the DC to resolve the impasse.
[pullquote]“The truth of the matter is that the Ndola enumerators will be paid the K2 million like their Lusaka counterparts who have also started receiving their down payments while the rest of the payments would be honoured after the completion of the 21-day long exercise,” Mr Mutisa said.[/pullquote]
Mr Mutisa said it was discovered that allegations that the Ndola enumerators were being underpaid were not true because the people they were comparing with in Lusaka were paid K500,000 training allowances and an additional K400,000 as down payment for their redeployment allowance.

He said the Ndola enumerators had not been given their redeployment allowances down payment because the local 2010 Census authorities planned to issue the payments after those engaged took oath and signed their contract forms.

“The truth of the matter is that the Ndola enumerators will be paid the K2 million like their Lusaka counterparts who have also started receiving their down payments while the rest of the payments would be honoured after the completion of the 21-day long exercise,” Mr Mutisa said.

The countrywide 2011 Census of Population and Housing is expected to officially kick off on October 16.

Court rejects Sangwa, Mahtani application

Lusaka resident chief magistrate Charles Kafunda yesterday rejected an application by Lusaka lawyer John Sangwa and his client, former Finance Bank chairperson Rajan Mahtani to have their forgery case stayed.

This is in a case in which Mathani and Sangwa are facing five counts of forgery, uttering false documents and fabricating evidence.

Mr Kafunda dismissed the application to stay the proceedings pending hearing of the same case in the Kitwe High Court because proceedings before him would not in any way be prejudicial to those before the Higher Court.

Mahtani had applied for judicial review in the Kitwe High Court challenging his arrest by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) alleging that his arrest on money laundering charges by the commission was illegal.

Mahtani’s lawyer Steven Malama said his client had filed a notice of judicial review in the Kitwe High Court and urged the lower court to stay the proceedings pending hearing of outcome.

But Mr Kafunda said the notice of judicial review before the High Court may or may not act as a stay of proceedings of the matter and that there was no substance in the argument because the accused would not suffer any prejudice if the matter was not stayed.

And public prosecutor, Mwewa Musonda, had earlier objected to the application claiming it was based on speculation and it could not be prejudicial to the proceedings in the High Court.

Mahtani, 62, business executive, of 5 Finance House Heroes place in Lusaka and Sangwa, 45, lawyer, of subdivision 1/subdivsion U of farm number 125A Lusaka West have both denied the five charges.

In count one Mahtani, is jointly charged with Sangwa with one count of forgery contrary to section 342 and 347 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence allege that Sangwa and Mahtani between July 13 and August 30, 2010 jointly and whilst acting together and with intent to defraud or deceive did forge a letter dated July 12 this year purporting to show that it was genuinely prepared and signed by deputy Bank of Zambia Governor Denny Kalyalya when in fact not.

In count two, three and four Sangwa alone is facing three counts of uttering false documents contrary to Section 352 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

The matter comes up tomorrow.
[ Times of Zambia ]

Sata can’t lead pact — UPND

PF Leader Michael Sata

The United Party for National Development (UPND) in Livingstone has maintained that PF president Michael Sata is not the best candidate if the UPND/PF Pact is to win the 2011 general elections.

Livingstone UPND district treasurer Winason Nguni said Mr Sata was rejected in Western, North-Western, Central, Copperbelt rural, Eastern and Southern provinces.

“Mr Sata is losing local Government elections in Northern and Luapula provinces. From where will Mr Sata get his votes to win next years’ elections? Mr Sata has more than 20 members of Parliament he calls rebel MPs and he has refused to reconcile with them on account that they participated in the National Constitution Conference (NCC),” Mr Nguni said.

Mr Nguni maintained that Mr Sata was not more popular than the UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and therefore Mr Sata should not become an automatic choice as UPND-PF pact presidential candidate for the 2011 general elections.
[pullquote]“Mr Sata is losing local Government elections in Northern and Luapula provinces. From where will Mr Sata get his votes to win next years’ elections? Mr Sata has more than 20 members of Parliament he calls rebel MPs and he has refused to reconcile with them on account that they participated in the National Constitution Conference (NCC),” Mr Nguni said[/pullquote]
“It is important for people to understand that popularity of an individual should not be a basis to elect them as leaders. An example is of Idi Amin of Uganda who was very popular, Germany had Hitler. He too was very popular. Satan himself is also very popular and there is no country that ever wants to be ruled by any of the mentioned people,” he said.

He maintained that good leadership had nothing to do with how popular someone was.
There was need for people to understand that Zambians were looking for a qualitative leadership to develop their country and 2011 awaited them to choose leaders of high quality and that Mr Hichilema was the solution to the presidency of the pact.

Meanwhile, the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has advised the PF-UPND Pact to put its house in order and avoid competing against each other in by-elections.

FODEP information officer McDonald Chipenzi said in Kabwe yesterday that the recent clash of the PF-UPND candidates in Kaumbwe Ward in Petauke District was not doing any good to the alliance but armed the ruling MMD.

He said the pact should put its house in order by revisiting the principles of the alliance as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the two parties entered into.

“Fielding candidates against each by the pact is creating a fertile ground for the alliance to lose elections to the ruling MMD,” Mr Chipenzi said.

On who should lead the pact, Mr Chipenzi said the matter was an internal one and expected the two parties to sit down and agree over the issue.

Last week confusion reigned in the PF-UPND Pact as two candidates of the alliance filed in their nomination papers for a local Government by-election in the Kaumbwa Ward in Kapoche Constituency in Petauke District.
[ Times of Zambia ]

State will never re-introduce the windfall tax

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FINANCE minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane
FINANCE minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane

Finance and national planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has maintained that government will not re-introduce the windfall tax.

Dr Musokotwane explaine that it is not possible to re-introduce the windfall tax on the mines as it is unreasonable.

Following the announcement of the budget last Friday, stakeholders have questioned governments silence on windfall tax.

But the finance Minister said that Zambians should not mislead themselves that there is no any other tax from the mines.

He observed that most people think that without the windfall tax, Zambia is not receiving any other tax from the mines.

Featuring on national television this afternoon, Dr Musokotwane stated that Zambia’s windfall tax was too high and unreasonable.

He said that if Zambia introduces the windfall tax, it is likely to discourage investments in the mining sector in the end collapse it.

And Dr Musokotwane has clarified that the government has not forgotten about the youth in the country.

He said that despite the government allocating 10 billion kwacha to the youth, they are still considered in other programmes.
[ QFM ]

Weekend Scorecard: Zanaco Feel The Heat

1

With Faz in turmoil that was compounded by Zambia’s loss on Sunday, Super Division defending champions Zanaco quietly returned to training today away from the news with their own challenges awaiting them.

Zanaco returned from a two-match-schedule on the Copperbelt to prepare for this weekend’s final Confederation Cup Group B match away to Haras El Hodoud of Egypt.

However, Zanaco’s standard two-hour morning training session on Monday at Sunset stadium in Lusaka ended 30 minutes earlier than usual.

Zanaco players succumbed to the heat-wave that has hit the country since Sunday forced as temperatures rose beyond 40 Celsius on Monday on the public temperature and time ticker display at Addis Ababa Drive roundabout.

Meanwhile, it hasn’t been an easy last week for Zanaco who drew 1-1 with FUS Rabat last week that ended their Confederation Cup semifinal ambitions that they followed up with a 3-1 away loss to league contenders and leaders Zesco United last Wednesday.

They returned to Ndola to record a modest result at Forest Rangers where they finished scoreless on Saturday.

“We have been trying to adjust and I think we have recorded after losing (To Zesco),” Zanaco coach Wedson Nyirenda said.

Meanwhile,  Zanaco leave for Egypt on Thursday ahead of their final Group B match against Haras on October 17.

Zanaco are hoping to finish third in Group B where they have four points from five games when they face winless Haras who are bottom of the pool on two points in Alexandria.

FAZ Super Division

Rescheduled Week 24

09/10/2010

Red Arrows 1(Dube Phiri 54″ pen)-Zesco United 1(Derrick Kabwe 50″)

Nchanga Rangers 0-Power Dynamos 0

Forest Rangers 0-Zanaco 0

TABLE

[standings league_id=15 template=extend logo=false]

2010 TOP SCORERS

10/09/2010

Dube Phiri (Red Arrows): 13
Luka Lungu (Power Dynamos): 9

Keegan Phiri (Nkwazi): 9

Reuben Tembo (Green Buffaloes): 8
Chileshe Kabwe (Nchanga Rangers): 8

Graven Chitalu (Konkola Blades): 7
Venecious Mapande (Zanaco): 7

Patson Kaimana (Lusaka Dynamos): 6
Aubrey Zulu (Choma Eagles): 6
Winston Kalengo (Zanaco): 6
Mathews Macha (Zanaco): 6
Kennedy Chola (Green Buffaloes): 6
Chipulu Chileya (Konkola Blades): 6

Simon Bwalya (Power Dynamos): 5
Stanley Banda (Red Arrows): 5
John Musukwa (Green Buffaloes): 5
William Chinse (Nkana): 5
Jackson Mwanza (Zesco United):5
Enock Sakala (Zesco United): 5
Douglas Chiwaya (Nkana):5
Lineker Mwikisa (Green Buffaloes): 5

Mundia Makoka (National Assembly): 4
Brian Chilando (Green Buffaloes): 4
Lyson Sikaonga (Nchanga Rangers): 4
Patrick Kasunga (Konkola Blades): 4
Joseph Sitali (Power Dynamos): 4
Felix Sunzu (Konkola Blades): 4
Moses Mulambi (Nchanga Rangers):4
Kameta Mutambo (Forest Rangers): 4
Makundika Sakala (Zanaco): 4

2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers

Group C
10/10/2010

Tripoli

Libya 1(Ahmad Saad 35″)- Zambia 0

09/10/2010

Moroni

Comoros 0-Mozambique 1(Josemar Machaisse 90″)

DIVISION ONE WEELK 32 RESULTS

09-10/10/2010
North
Kalewa 1-Chambishi 2
Indeni 4-Mufulira Wanderers 2
Police 2- Lime 2
Kalulushi Modern Stars 2-Mansa Health Stars 0
Kitwe United 1- Mining Rangers 0
Chindwin Sentries 1-Konkola Mine Ploice 0
Zamtel 1 -Prison Leopards 1
Mufulira Blackpool 2- Ndola United 1
Chingola Leopards 0-Medical Stars 0

South
TP Rangers 1- Zesco Shockers 0
Kalomo Jetters 2- Lusaka Tigers 0
Lusaka City Counci 1-Nampundwe 0
Luena 2- Paramilitary 0
Riflemen 1- Kafue Celtic 0
Young Eagles 0-Profund Warriors 1
Livingstone Pirates 1 – Green Eagles 1
Nakambala 0-Mazabuka United 0
Kummawa – Communite (not played)

13 yr boy steals car

Police in Solwezi have arrested a 13 year-old boy after he allegedly stole a vehicle which was parked outside a named night club sunday.

The boy is reported to have sped away in Joseph Kaselenge’s car around 02:00 hours.

The juvenile used a make shift key to unlock and drive the car registration ABH 7631.

North Western Province Commanding Officer, Charles Lungu confirmed this to ZNBC news Monday.

Mr Lungu said the teenager however, abandoned the car after he plunged into a ditch.

He said police have arrested the boy and confiscated the makeshift key used to unlock and drive the car.

Meanwhile, a 22 year old man is struggling for his life in Solwezi General Hospital after a crocodile bit his legs while swimming in the Zambezi River.
[ ZNBC ]

Dingiswayo Banda is dead

Zambia’s freedom fighter and veteran politician Dingiswayo Banda has died.

Mr Banda died Monday around 08:30 hours at the University Teaching Hospital -UTH.

UTH Public Relations Manager Pauline Mbangweta confirmed the death of M Banda to ZNBC News today in Lusaka.

Mr Banda served in government as Minister of Housing and Social Development in the first Cabinet of 1964, before being transferred to the Ministry of Transport and Works in 1966.

The late Banda also served in the Ministry of Youth Co-operatives and Social Development before he was appointed Copperbelt minister.

He also served as Member of Parliament for Mandevu and Lundazi Central constituencies during the one party state.

Mr Banda parted company with Dr Kaunda in 1995 when he vehemently opposed the former president’s move to come back to active politics.

In 1996, second Republican president Fredrick Chiluba appointed Mr Banda as Zambia’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, where he worked for seven years before the late President Levy Mwanawasa retired him 2003.

Mr Banda was a member of the National Constitutional Conference -NCC-.
[ ZNBC ]

ZNBC to join demonstration

Zambia National Broadcasting (ZNBC )staff will join Tuesday’s demontration against Patriotic Front (PF) Munali MP Mumbi Phiri if she does not apoligise for her insulting remarks to journalists.

This was disclosed by ZNBC Public Relations Manager Mirriam Tonga in Lusaka Monday.

Mrs Tonga said it is unfortunate that Munali Patriotic Front-MP Mumbi Phiri has so far failed to apologise for referring to Journalists in the public media as dogs.

Mrs Tonga said Mrs Phiri must acknowledge that she erred and the corporations is ready to accept the acknowledgement.

She said ZNBC takes strong exception to the use of unpalatable language irrespective of where it is coming from.

Mrs Tonga said in a statement that ZNBC is hoping that Mrs Phiri will heed to calls for an apology for using bad language and bringing into disrepute the standing of parliament.

However, the PF MP has since apologised to journalists in Zambia for referring to public media reporters as ‘Information minister Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha’s ‘dogs’.

Ms Phiri said she did not call the journalists in question “Dogs” but “Watch Dogs”.
[ ZNBC ]

The Weekend in Pictures

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1.

Munali Member of Parliament Mumbi Phiri, who has insulted journalists from the pulic media by saying that they are Information Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha's dogs

2.

President Rupiah Banda meets Libya Defence Chiefs on his arrival at Alqurthabia International Airport in Sirte, Libya

3.

President Rupiah Banda chatting with General Moustaf Alkhaqtab, a member of the Revolution Congress on arrival at Alqurtabia International Airport in Sirte, Libya.

4.

5.

President Banda and President Mugabe at the Afri-Arab Summit in Libya

6.

President Banda and other African and Arab leaders pose for a photograph at the Afro-Arab Summit in Libya

7.

Pastors during a graduation ceremony at Madzomoyo Reformed Church of Zambia in Chipata.

8.

World Vision-Zambia delegation leader Alvin Zuehlke, World Vision-USA representative Ruth Nottingham and Chipata District Commissioner Moses Nyirenda applaude graduants during a graduation ceremony at Madzimoyo Reformed Church of Zambia in Chipata.

9.

Wife of the Senior Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church of USA, Linda Bachtel and World Vision USA representative Ruth Nottingham (partly obscured) distributing a news letter to the graduants during the ceremony at Madzimoyo Reformed Church of Zambia (RCZ) in Chipata.

10.

Mrs Grace Nakwambwa and her family have been left in the cold after they were evicted from their house in Kalulushi during the weekend

11.

A Commando unit of Ndola retrieves the body of Alex Mukuta Jnr, a trainee 2010 census enumerator who drowned in Kifubwa in Solwezi

12.

Our camera man stopped in Spar to buy some mealie meal

13.

A new mall under construction in Lusaka opposite Evelyn Hone College

14.

The Dual carriage way with the New Stadium in Ndola in the background

The 2011 budget is a carbon copy – PF

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Patrotic Front cadres

Patriotic Front (PF) has described the budget presentation by Finance and national planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane as a duplicate the previous budget.

PF National youth Secretary Erick Chanda says that they is nothing new in the 2011 national budget.

He said that the budget has failed to touch on the issues that are affecting Zambians.

Mr Chanda has expressed sadness that the budget has again this time around failed to address unemployment levels facing the youth.

He said that the young people in Zambia have continued to face challenges, and that it is disheartening to note that government has kept a deaf ear on them.

Mr Chanda noted that this clearly shows that ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) government does not care about the plight of the young people in Zambia.

Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane unveiled a K20.5 trillion 2010 proposed national budget last Friday.

Presenting the budget Dubbed:”A People’s Budget, from a People’s Government” in parliament, Dr Musokotwane said 82.7 percent of the total budget will be financed domestically, while the remaining 17.3 percent will come from external resources.

[ QFM ]

Political violence a sign of immaturity,IHRDG

Institute for Human Rights and Democratic Governance (IHRDG) Director Franco Kapijimpanga says the violence that marred the Chilanga nominations proves that Zambian politics are still immature and full of intolerance.

And Mr Kapijimpanaga has challenged the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to take responsibility of the violence that occurred in Chilanga last week on Thursday.

Mr Kapijimpanga said the (ECZ) failed to enforce the electoral code of conduct by allowing those who perpetrated violence go unpunished.

He said it is important that institutions that have been given the power to bring sanity to the politics of this country take their occupation seriously and ensure that people respect the law.

Mr Kapijimpanga noted that ECZ could not end at blaming the political parties involved in the violence but also take responsibility for having failed to take action despite the power that has been vested in the commission to deal with whoever abrogates the law in the electoral process.

Mr Kapijimpanga also said that it is reckless for Caritas Zambia Executive Director, Sam Mulafulafu to claim that the Chilanga by-elections might be bloodier than the Mufumbwe by-elections.
[ QFM ]

Mulanda ditches PF

PF cadres

Patriotic Front (PF) central committee member Mathew Mulanda has defected to the MMD. Mr Mulanda announced his defection at Fatmols Lodge in Ndola yesterday.

Mr Mulanda said he had decided to leave the PF because the party did not have a working culture of prosperity and that of embracing other people like the MMD.

He said he had observed that he had failed to conform to the PF ways of doing things and his heart was with the MMD.

“I realised that my heart was still with the MMD as I had failed to remain in the PF. I decided to come back and I am back for good,” Mr Mulanda said.

He said he wanted to help the MMD on the Copperbelt to strengthen the organising of the party so that the MMD could win the 2011 elections.

Mr Mulanda said he was impressed with the development that was taking place in Zambia owing to President Rupiah Banda’s leadership.

He said if President Banda was given another five-year mandate, Zambia was sure to become a middle-income country.

Mr Mulanda said Mr Banda had incredible leadership skills and he had embraced the former Republican presidents, Kenneth Kaunda and Frederick Chiluba.

He said a leader should be like Mr Banda and work with other people and not the spirit that PF leader Michael Sata had towards other leaders like his United Party for National Development (UPND) Pact counterpart Hakainde Hichilema.

Mr Mulanda said the reason Mr Sata and the PF joined the pact was to get Mr Sata into State House by all means.

“It was even agreed that if by any mistake, Mr Hichilema takes the position of pact presidency, PF members should vote for President Banda,” he said.

Mr Mulanda alleged that the PF had acknowledged that President Banda was steering Zambia into the right direction but they just wanted Mr Sata to rule the country as well.

He said the pact had never been strong because of the PF attitude towards the PF-UPND Pact.

Mr Mulanda urged the MMD to continue ruling with confidence because the Government was running the country well.

And MMD Copperbelt chairperson Joseph Chilambwe said Mr Mulanda’s defection should make other PF members scrutinise their party.

Mr Chilambwe said the PF had recently seen a number of highly positioned members in the party leave because it was not a party that Zambians should rely on.

He said he had recently received phone calls from PF members that wanted to leave the party, saying that all those people were welcome.

Mr Chilambwe said he was happy Mr Mulanda, who was a member of Parliament for Chifubu and Bwana Mkubwa constituencies and a founding member of the party, had re-joined the MMD.

Meanwhile, Ndola MMD District chairperson, Cephas Katongo said it was time all members of the MMD that left to join the PF returned to the MMD.

Mr Katongo said he was happy that Mr Mulanda had returned to the MMD especially that he was a former Ndola MMD chairperson.

Mr Mulanda is one of the founding members of the MMD and served the party as Ndola District party chairperson from 1993 to 2007 when he voluntarily left the MMD.

He was an MP in Bwana Mkubwa and Chifubu constituencies in Ndola and served as Copperbelt minister.
[ Times of Zambia ]