Electrol Commission of Zambia (ECZ) director Dan Kalale yesterday told the Lusaka High Court that violence which characterised the Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election was the worst in Zambia.

Mr Kalale, 43, of Lusaka, said there was violence on a grand scale in Mufumbwe because of the atmosphere in which the election was held and in Zambia, that was the worst violence witnessed.

This is in a case in which MMD losing candidate Mulondwe Muzungu has petitioned the election of United Party for National Development (UPND)’s Elliot Kamondo as Mufumbwe Member of Parliament.

“We had violence in the parliamentary by-election of Mukaika Constituency in Eastern Province in 1990 leading to its nullification as well as Mapatizya in Southern Province in 2005 but that could not be compared to the one experienced in Mufumbwe, everyone saw it,” Mr Kalale said.

Testifying in cross-examination by the petitioner’s lawyer Eric Silwamba, Mr Kalale said ECZ lamented in a communiqué issued on May 10 this year that violence promoted apathy and low voter turnout.

The ECZ declared that it would take necessary steps to find solutions to violence and criminal activities perpetrated during the by-elections in Milanzi and Mufumbwe.

And in examination-in-chief by the respondent’s lawyer Bonaventure Mutale, Mr Kalale told the court that Judge Philip Musonda had subpoenaed him to submit data of parliamentary by-elections from 2000 to 2010 but he only managed to do so from 2002 to date, excluding Mufumbwe.

In the same court, a witness said Chief Chizela intimidated more than 20 headmen in his chiefdom and asked them to vote for the MMD candidate after he gave them new suits and shirts.

Luckson Ndonyo said the traditional leader was seen going round his chiefdom telling people to vote for Mr Muzungu and discouraging them from voting for Mr Kamondo, claiming he was not Zambian.

Another witness, Joseph Sembele said Chief Chizela chased him from the palace after being accused of voting for the UPND.
[ Times of Zambia ]

Labour Deputy Minister, Simon Kachimba has challenged trade unions to expand their role and start negotiating for skills development at work places.

Mr. Kachimba said the unions should stop putting their focus only on bargaining for conditions of services for workers but help contribute to skills development for the future.

He said it is only through skills development that workers will enhance their productivity thereby being justified to demand for better conditions of services.

Mr. Kachimba said this in a speech read on his behalf by Assistant Labour Commissioner Simon Kapilima at the official launch of the first ever Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) branch at a private school at Licef School in Lusaka today.

He said trade unions should also not be seen as only bringing confusion at work places but should help in enhancing dignity.

Meanwhile, he has reiterated the need for school management to pay attention to the facilitation of dialogue between them and teachers to create a conducive environment.

The Deputy Minister also praised Licef school management for allowing its staffs to join the union adding that Government takes pride in the way they handle process of negotiations for salaries.

And ZNUT President Henry Kapenda has assured Licef management that his union is productivity orientated and will help its teachers in solving their challenges.

Mr. Kapenda said he will ensure that teachers put in their best so that this goes in line with the rewards.

He added that ZNUT will not compromise in ensuring that there is discipline among the teachers.

And speaking earlier, Licef Executive Committee Chairperson, Younus Essa said the joining of the union will ensure that employers and workers resolve grievances using established channels.

Mr. Essa said as a pioneer of private school education Licef has also made history by becoming the first private school to join a trade union in Zambia.

ZANIS

Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) Chairperson, Michael Mabenga has advised politicians to stop politicizing the death of Mpulungu Member of parliament (MP) Lameck Chibombamilimo who died in India yesterday.

Mr Mabenga said it was wrong for politicians to politicise the death of a person in their quest to gain political mileage

He said this to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today.

Mr Mabenga said the party is saddened that it lost one of its members but called on people to desist from making unnecessary comments.

“People should understand that the long hand of death has taken our member they should therefore not make unnecessary comments nor should they accuse anyone” he said.

He was reacting to comments from Patriotic Front President Michael Sata who has been quoted in a private newspaper accusing Government of neglecting Mr Chibombamilimo saying his death would have been avoided if he was sent in time for specialist treatment in India.

He said it was inhuman and unrealistic for Mr Sata to start accusing the MMD government of neglecting the late MP.
Mr Mabenga said people were only evacuated for specialist treatment at the request of family and after Doctors recommendations.

Mr Lameck who was Mpulungu MMD Member of Parliament died in India yesterday after suffering from kidney complications.

His body is expected to arrive in Zambia tomorrow aboard Ethiopian airways in readiness for burial.
Mr. Mabenga said this to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka toady.

[ ZANIS ]

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested a 34- year old Namibian businesswoman for trafficking in pure grade cocaine weighing over 1kg.

DEC Public Relations Manager John Nyawali says Olivia Shilunga was arrested at the Lusaka International Airport on her arrival from Sao Paulo, Brazil aboard South African Airways Flight Number 062.

In a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Nyawali, said that Ms. Shilunga, a resident of Ellem Street Soweto in Katutula, Windhoek had swallowed 75 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.1 kilograms and inserted another pellet weighing over 100 grams into her private parts.

He said Ms. Shilunga was detained and admitted to the University Teaching Hospital upon arrival where she expelled cocaine from her bowels after undergoing medical treatment to induce the expulsion.

Ms. Shilunga had failed to naturally release them due to some medical complications she developed.

Mr. Nyawali said that Ms. Shula becomes the ninth woman arrested at the Lusaka International Airport in the last eight months for trafficking in cocaine and the fourth to use a rare method of concealing drugs in private parts.

Meanwhile, DEC has also arrested a 24-year old Zimbabwean female student for trafficking in loose cannabis concealed in three ordinary tobacco cigarette sticks.

Mr. Nyawali said that Karen Chitsiko, a Projects Planning and Development student at Zimbabwe Development College, was arrested at Lusaka International Airport on her arrival from Harare, Zimbabwe aboard a Zambezi airline flight.

On the other hand, DEC has arrested 35 people countrywide in the last four days for being in possession of different quantities of cannabis with a total weight of 200 kilograms.

Mr. Nyawali said the Commission was happy with the support it was receiving from members of the public in the fight against drug trafficking.

He said the commission would ensure that the country was not used as both a transit and consumer and consumer destination for illicit drugs.

ZANIS

Government will spend a total of K226 billion to successfully conduct the 2010 National Population and Housing Census, which is scheduled to kick-off in October.

Secretary to the Treasury, Likolo Ndalamei said in an interview today that Government has already started releasing money for the census.

Mr. Ndalamei said these funds were being disbursed in stages according to the census activities that were undertaken at a particular time.

He said last week, Government released K62 billion to the Central Statistical Office (CSO) for conducting training workshops and purchasing materials.

He said in the next few weeks, Government will be releasing money to the CSO in quick intervals because of the increase in census preparation activities.

Mr Ndalamei said government was determined to conduct the census and has since appealed to Zambia to cooperate with enumerators when the exercise begins.

And Secretary to the Cabinet, Joshua Kanganja described the census as a cornerstone of all statistical processes in the country because it provided critical information on the size of the population, its distribution and composition.
Dr Kanganja said the census provided important information in the distribution of national resources and allocation of representation to Parliament and other levels of administration up to ward level.

He said this in a speech read for him by his deputy, Evans Chibiliti, at the official opening of the training of trainers’ workshop for the 2010 Population and Housing census in Lusaka.

He said the census data helped in establishing the number of eligible voters in the country.

“Therefore, the census contributes to good governance and enhances democratic values,” he said.

Dr. Kanganja said the population and housing data was critical for monitoring and evaluating the country’s development plans and agenda aimed at improving living standards of Zambians.

The Secretary to the Cabinet said this year’s census would include some information and questions that were not in the questionnaires for the previous censuses.

“Quality census data can only be achieved if sufficient attention, time and resources are devoted to the training of field staff. The quality of census data can be affected by poorly trained enumerators and supervisors,” he said.

He challenged trainers of trainers to ensure that only people of high calibre were trained sufficiently.
[pullquote]“Quality census data can only be achieved if sufficient attention, time and resources are devoted to the training of field staff. The quality of census data can be affected by poorly trained enumerators and supervisors,” he said.[/pullquote]
Dr. Kanganja further urged workshop participants and the would-be enumerators to pay particular attention and consult when need arises in order to capture correct data for the country.

He has meanwhile thanked cooperating partners for supporting Government materially and financially towards the conducting of the 2010 Population and Housing census.

“In particular, I would like to thank the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Kingdom Department of International Development (DFID), the African Development Bank (ADB) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for their support,” he said.

Dr. Kanganja has also urged other cooperating partners to join in assisting Government to hold the 2010 census.

And UNFPA Representative, Duah Owusu Sarfo, commended Government for its determination to conduct the census amid financial difficulties.

Meanwhile, CSO Acting Director, John Kalumbi, called for concerted efforts from all wings of Government and other stakeholders in order for the census to succeed.

Zambia has successfully conducted censuses in 1969, 1980, 1990 and 2000.

[ ZANIS ]