The Untied Party for National Development UPND has discredited forum for democracy and development FDD leader, Edith Nawakwi for demeaning its impact in national politics.

This is in response to Ms. Nawakwi’s advice that the UPND calmly accept their status as a junior partner in the PF/UPND pact.

Nawakwi has also question the possibility of an alliance between the two parties working because of the deceit, dishonesty and selfishness.

But UPND Lusaka Youth Chairman, Brian Hapunda says that it is disappointing that to see ms Nawakwi focusing on the pact problems at the expense of her own party.

Mr. Hapunda describes Ms Nawakwi as a failure in the political arena and advises her to focus on rebuilding her party.

He says that Ms. Nawakwi is not qualified to advise the opposition UPND/PF pact.

The pact leadership has failed to clarify which way forward the pact is going, amid serious differences within.

Meanwhile, the United Party for National Development (UPND) in Livingstone has declared that unless its president Hakainde Hichilema is adopted as PF-UPND pact presidential candidate, the alliance risks crumbling and will not be able to win the tripartite elections next year.

UPND treasurer Winason Ng’uni said if Mr Hichilema will not be adopted to lead the PF-UPND pact in next year’s general elections, then there is no hope of the alliance forming government.

He charged that Mr Sata’s popularity in 2006 was largely dependent on the support he received from former President Frederick Chiluba.

Mr Ng’uni, who was with UPND Livingstone publicity secretary Neto Halwabala, said Mr Sata could not have enjoyed the popularity in 2006 had it not been for Dr Chiluba’s support.

[pullquote]“If the PF-UPND pact has to work, Mr Hichilema should be adopted presidential candidate for the alliance for the 2011 elections.[/pullquote]

He said the MMD is regaining its popularity in Northern and Luapula provinces where Mr Sata claims he has support.

Mr Ng’uni said Mr Sata has realised his diminishing popularity in the two provinces and this is the reason he is trying to use Mr Hichilema to allegedly get votes in Southern Province.

“If the PF-UPND pact has to work, Mr Hichilema should be adopted presidential candidate for the alliance for the 2011 elections.

Mr Sata has lost ground in what used to be his stronghold and in fact Mr Sata enjoyed that popularity because of Dr Chiluba. We all know that Mr Sata cannot win presidential elections and he is panicking because he has realised that he is politically fading,” he said.

Mr Ng’uni said the self-proclamation by the PF that it is more popular than the UPND is only a dream that will never come true.

Institute for Human Rights and Democratic Governance IHRDG) Director Franco Kapijimpanga has charged that the opposition UPND/PF pact bickery has just led the Movement for Multi Democracy (MMD) party into victory ahead of next year’s 2019s tripartite elections.

Mr Kapijimpanga said the showcase of immaturity by the two parties through the failure to resolve their differences has proven the fact that they should not have been trusted from the very beginning.

He said that the pact was built on a wrong premise and it is high time that the pact crumbled because for a long time, it had given a false hope to the Zambians.

The Director indicated that the merger of the two camps was just one of convenience meeting and not a marriage to be trusted.

Mr Kapijimpanga said the two leaders have taken advantage of each other at the expense of serving the people.

He said that this is why the pact could not last as anticipated by most Zambians and people should not pay attention to their differences but concentrate on other constructive and visionary options.

[ QFM ]

Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) Director-General Charles Mwape has commended the Catholic Church for complementing Government in the education sector.

Dr. Mwape said the church had demonstrated to be a true partner of Government in addressing challenges faced by learning institutions in the country.

ZANIS reports that he said this in Choma district today when he toured St. Mulumba School for Special Education to familiarise himself with the operations of the institution. The School is run by the Catholic Church and it was founded in 1985 by a Catholic nun, Sister Philippa O’Sullivan.

He implored other churches to emulate the Catholic Church in uplifting the welfare of the vulnerable people in society.

St. Mulumba School for Special Education caters for the physically handicapped and visually impaired school going children.

And St. Mulumba School for Special Education Head-Teacher Chrispin Sikate called for assistance from ZAPD as well as other donors.

Mr. Sikate disclosed that the school has a total enrolment of 210 pupils and that looking after them was not an easy task.
ZANIS

The Senior Citizen Association of Zambia (SCAZ) is lobbying Government to implement the Social Security Policy and the Aging policy.

SCAZ National Coordinator Rosemary Sishimba said the organisation was advocating for social pensions as these were critical to reducing extreme poverty and achieving the right to social security for older persons.

ZANIS reports that Ms. Sishimba explained that the organisation had since written to the Vice President George Kunda to arrange for a meeting to discuss the implementation of the Social Security and Aging Policies.

She said this during the commemoration of the International Day of Older Persons under the global theme “Older Persons and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals” in Lusaka today (Friday).

Ms. Sishimba stated that in the past the organisation had been holding talks with the Ministry of Community Development but up to date the policies have not yet been enacted.

She however thanked the ministry for helping in other projects pertaining to the elderly.

She said with the enactment of the Social Security Policy, social pensions would form part of the comprehensive social protection strategies to tackle extreme poverty thoughtout the remaining life of older persons and would benefit those under their care usually orphaned children.

She added that the Aging Policy would also ensure that the elderly have access to good health, shelter and food security.

And Senior Citizen Silvia Sakala complained that the current pension, the elderly received was inadequate to sustain their basic needs.

Ms Sakala said she was looking after four orphans and the 100 thousand Kwacha she receive monthly could not help pay for school fees.

She advised Government to seriously look into their plight.
ZANIS

Zambia has signed a Joint communiqué with Paraguay to formally establish diplomatic relations.
And Zambia has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Commonwealth Secretariat on behalf of Commonwealth Youth Programme Africa Centre.

Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, signed the Joint Communiqué with Paraguay on behalf of Zambia while his counterpart Paraguay Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hector Lacognata signed on behalf of his country.

Mr. Pande also signed the MoU with the Commonwealth on behalf of the Commonwealth Youth Programme Africa Centre while Commonwealth Secretary-General Karmalesh Sharma signed on behalf of the world body.

This is according to a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today (Friday) by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Permanent mission to UN, Moses Walubita.

And speaking at the signing of the Zambia – Paraguay joint communiqué Mr. Pande said Zambia attached great importance to relations with Paraguay and applauded the support the two countries have continued to give each other at the international fora such as the UN.

Mr. Pande stated that Zambia and Paraguay have shared cordial relations since the former’s independence in 1964 and also thanked his counterpart for showing commitment to formally establish diplomatic relations between the two countries.

He highlighted the importance Zambia attached to South-South cooperation adding that the signing of the communiqué would also be the beginning of enhanced cooperation between the two countries.

The Minister has since called for the establishment of the Zambia – Paraguay framework of general cooperation in the economic and social sectors.

And Mr. Lacognata said his country had embarked on establishing diplomatic relations with African countries where they have so far established ties with 15 countries on the continent.

Mr Lacognata added that he believed that the two countries would cooperate in many areas and had since invited Mr. Pande to the 200th independence anniversary celebrations in May next year.

Paraguay which is a South American country shares borders with Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast and Bolivia to the northwest

And during the signing of the MoU with the Commonwealth, Mr. Pande commended the role the Commonwealth regional Youth Centre for Africa based in Lusaka, was playing in developing, running and coordinating youth programmes and activities for the continent.

Mr. Pande emphasised the importance that Zambia attached to relations with the Commonwealth in general and to Commonwealth Youth programmes Africa Centre in particular.

He also told to Mr. Sharma that Zambia was satisfied with the friendly cooperation and support that the Commonwealth continued to offer the country, adding that Zambia was willing to work with the world body to boost ties to better prospects

The Minister also acknowledged the assistance the organisation had continued to render to the Zambian Government over the years in many areas such as trade, finance, agriculture, small and medium enterprises development, information and communication technologies (ICTs), media, youth and gender matters

Mr. Sharma also hailed the relationship, Zambia and his organisation had continued to enjoy.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General Karmalesh Sharma had visited Zambia last month where he held talks with President Rupiah Banda and also other meetings with ministers and the youths

Mr. Pande is in US where he is attending the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
ZANIS

Zambia has signed two treaties at the annual United Nations (UN) Treaty event held at the United Nations headquarters in United States of America.

The treaties are the optional protocol to the convention against torture, the cruel inhuman or degrading treatments or punishments.

And the other is the international convention for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance.

According to a statement released to ZANIS Friday by First Secretary for Press at the UN Mission Moses Walubita, Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande who is currently attending the 65th session of the UN General Assembly signed the treaties.

The optional protocol to the convention against torture and the cruel inhuman or degrading treatments or punishments establishes an international monitoring mechanism to enable effective implementation of the convention.

The convention would ensure worldwide protection of persons deprived of liberty from torture and other cruel and degrading treatments or punishments.

The convention against torture and other cruel inhuman degrading treatment or punishments would strengthen Zambian’s position on advocating against torture as Zambia has already signed the convention.
ZANIS

The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has bemoaned the recent proliferation of various advertisements in the media purporting to introduce new mobile tariffs by mobile operators in the country.

ZICTA acting director general Richard Mwanza has since advised the general public that it is illegal for any licensed operator to alter or vary tariffs without prior written approval by the authority.
This is according to in a press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka.

Mr. Mwanza explained that section 59 of the ICT Act requires all licensed operators to seek approval of the authority prior to imposing or revising any tariff for provision of communication services.
He further disclosed that the authority shall within 14 days of receipt of the tariffs proposed by a licensee, approve or reject the tariffs.

He however said though the authority welcomed the development which has afforded a chance to subscribers to enjoy cheaper tariffs, the adjustments have no legal backing from the authority.
Mr Mwanza observed that failure by any operator to adhere to the requirements render any introduced tariff null and void.
ZANIS