1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
The Week in Pictures
MMD to decide Katele’s fate
Movement for Multi-Party Democracy ,MMD, National Chairman Michael Mabenga has said that the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, will follow the party constitution to decide Dr. Kalumba’s fate in the party this week.
Mr Mabenga told QFM in a telephone interview that the party constitution is clear on the matter and that the decision of the party will be based on the constitution.
Mr Mabenga disclosed that the National Executive Committee will this week meet to discuss the way forward following Dr. Kalumba’s conviction.
Dr Kalumba together with six his co-accused were convicted by a Lusaka Magistrate court last week in a long running corruption trial.
Meanwhile, convicted MMD National Secretary Katele Kalumba has declined to state whether or not he will step-down as the ruling party’s chief executive officer. Asked in an interview with QFM this morning whether he intends to step-down from his position following his conviction by a Lusaka Magistrate court last week on corruption charges, Dr Kalumba said he has restrained himself from issuing statements to the media.
Dr. Kalumba who is also Chiengi Member of Parliament said he could not say anything on the matter because he has chosen to remain quite.
The Former finance minister sentenced to 5-years imprisonment with hard labour for corruption last week said he will not respond to the media until further notice.
QFM
Malawi gay couple released after presidential pardon
Two gay men jailed in Malawi but later pardoned by the country’s President Bingu wa Mutharika have been released from prison, say reports.
Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga had been given 14-year jail terms for “gross indecency and unnatural acts” after celebrating their engagement.
They were pardoned during a visit by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
But a government minister told the BBC the men could be re-arrested if they continued their relationship.
The case sparked international condemnation and a debate about homosexuality in the country.
Monjeza, 26, and Chimbalanga, 20, were released from prison on Saturday evening, hours after Mr Mutharika announced their pardon.
Gift Trapence, director of the campaign group Centre for the Development of the People (Cedep) which had been supporting the couple, said they had been taken separately to their home villages.
“The prison authorities told them they had been given instruction from above that they should take them to their respective homes,” he told the AFP news agency.
Mr Trapence said they had been “warmly welcomed by their respective relatives” when they arrived home.
‘No change’
[pullquote]”We have our own rules and laws which we are following, and our own constitution. Our constitution is not the same as your constitution,” she said in her BBC interview.[/pullquote]
But Patricia Kaliati, Malawi’s Minister of Gender and Children, said Monjeza and Chimbalanga’s release did not mean they could continue their relationship.
“It doesn’t mean that now they are free people, they can keep doing whatever you keep doing,” she said.
Malawi map
Ms Kaliati said they could be rearrested if they “continue doing that”.
The men’s lawyer said they were unlikely to be treated in the same way if they were arrested again.
“The pardon only applies to the offence under which they were convicted. If, for example, they go back and the state is of the view that they have recommited the offence, the pardon will not apply,” said Mauya Msuku.
Monjeza and Chimbalanga were arrested in December last year, a day after they celebrated their engagement and had been in custody ever since.
They were convicted of engaging in gay sex under a law dating back to colonial rule by Britain and sentenced to 14 years with hard labour.
Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa said their actions went “against the order of nature”.
But on Saturday, Mr Mutharika said he was pardoning the pair on humanitarian grounds.
“In all aspects of reasoning, in all aspects of human understanding, these two gay boys were wrong – totally wrong,” he said.
“However, now that they have been sentenced, I as the president of this country have the powers to pronounce on them and therefore, I have decided that with effect from today, they are pardoned and they will be released.”
His comments came after a meeting with UN chief Mr Ban, who praised the decision as courageous.
But Ms Kaliati insisted that the president had not bowed to international pressure in releasing the men.
She said Malawi would not now reconsider its laws against homosexuality.
“We have our own rules and laws which we are following, and our own constitution. Our constitution is not the same as your constitution,” she said in her BBC interview.
Many of Britain’s former colonies have similar laws outlawing homosexuality – India overturned it last year.
In Uganda, MPs are debating whether to strengthen the laws to include the death penalty for some gay people – a move which has infuriated Western governments and human rights campaigners.
[ BBC ]
ECZ ready for voter registration exercise
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says all is set for the voter registration exercise scheduled to commence next month.
ECZ Public Relations Manager Chris Akufuna said preparations for the exercise were progressing well and that the Commission was ready to kick start the exercise.
Mr Akufuna told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka on Monday that all logistics have been put in place to ensure that the exercise is conducted in a free and conducive atmosphere.
He said the Chairperson of the Commission Justice Florence Mumba will soon announce the date in which the exercise will begin.
The ECZ Public Relations Manager has since appealed to politicians not to derail the process by politicising the exercise but to work with the Commission to ensure everything goes well.
The ECZ is this June expected to kick start the voter registration exercise in readiness for the 2011 tripartite elections.
Meanwhile, four political parties have appealed to Zambians who are 18 years old and above to register as voters when the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) starts the voters’ registration exercise to prepare for the 2011 tripartite elections.
The United Party for National Development (UPND), United National Independence Party (UNIP) and the National Revolution Party (NRP) told ZANIS in Lusaka that all Zambians who are eligible to vote should register as voters in order for them to exercise their democratic right.
UPND Views
UPND deputy spokesperson, Cornelius Mweetwa said the process of registering voters was of paramount importance to the country hence the need for Zambians to take it seriously. Mr. Mweetwa said the UPND has already started sensitising its members to take advantage of the voters’ registration exercise and register so that they take part in the general elections.
He said voting was one effective way of expressing one’s feelings about the governance of the country hence the need for Zambians to register for next year’s elections.
He has meanwhile, called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to ensure that awareness campaigns about the exercise to the electorate were intensified. Mr. Mweetwa also urged the ECZ to involve influential people when advertising the exercise on national television, radio and other forms of media.
“I would also like to encourage the ECZ to sensitise the electorate by picking on people that capture the attention of the public when advertising the registration of voters’ exercise,” he said. He proposed that the ECZ should involve leaders of major political parties in the country to appeal to Zambians to register as voters through the national television and other media. Mr. Mweetwa further proposed that the ECZ should increase the voters’ registration centres in all the districts in the country, especially in rural areas to enable more people register.
UNIP Views
And United National Independence Party (UNIP) Vice President, Njekwa Anamela called on Zambians to register as voters in order for them to help determine the country’s political leadership in next year’s election. Mr. Anamela, who is also Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) spokesperson, said youths who have just reached 18 years should not miss but register as voters because they were important in the governance of the country. He further prodded the ECZ to involve all political parties and civil society organisations in sensitising their members countrywide.He has also appealed to the Ministry of Home Affairs, particularly the Department of National Registration to accelerate the issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs) in order to enable youths register as voters when the exercise begins in the next few days.
NRP Views
National Revolution Party (NRP) president, Cosmo Mumba said young people should take the governance of Zambia seriously by registering as voters next month. Dr. Mumba said youths should stop their physical violence during elections but be proactive through their decisions in the ballot. He suggested that for the sensitisation exercise to progress smoothly and effectively, the ECZ should provide financial resources to all political parties so that they can educate their members about the voters’ registration exercise. He said churches should also get involved in sensitising their members to register as voters because an election is a national programme that affects everyone. Dr. Mumba said public places should also be flooded with adverts concerning the voters’ registration exercise.
[pullquote]“Can the ECZ come out clean on the matter and tell us how it will address those concerns. All stakeholders must be satisfied, there must be mutual consensus right from the start up to the end to ensure that the outcome of the election is not disputed,” he said[/pullquote]
PF Views
The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) has urged the ECZ and Government to ensure that all stakeholders in the voters’ registration exercise are satisfied with measures aimed at avoiding disputes after elections next year. PF spokesperson, Given Lubinda said the ECZ should identify and remove from the voters’ roll, names of people who registered as voters before the 2006 general elections but have since died. Mr. Lubinda said this is in order to allay any possible suspicion that there will be ghost voters in the 2011 presidential, parliamentary and local government elections. He said Government and the ECZ should explain how the issue of ghost voters will be avoided in the election.
He said the ECZ should also explain to Zambians how it will handle voters that have since moved from the areas where they voted last time to other places. Mr. Lubinda said this is to ensure that there is no duplication of voters and dual registration in the voters’ roll. “Let ECZ come up with a system that is devoid of duplication of voters register before we continue with the updating the voters register,” he said. He said mere updating of the voters’ register is not full proof but is still open to rigging of elections hence the need to convince all stakeholders that the election will be transparent from the very beginning of process of registering voters
“Can the ECZ come out clean on the matter and tell us how it will address those concerns. All stakeholders must be satisfied, there must be mutual consensus right from the start up to the end to ensure that the outcome of the election is not disputed,” he said. Mr. Lubinda, who is also Kabwata PF Member of Parliament, said the ECZ should devise a system that will ensure that no political party cries foul in the 2011 tripartite election.
[pullquote]The Commission, which is targeting to register about 6.4 million voters this year, has since commenced conducting workshops for people that will take part in the exercise.[/pullquote]
But ECZ Public Relations Manager, Chris Akufuna, said the process of removing the names of the deceased people from the register has already been discussed with political parties and other stakeholders.
FODEP Views
On the same issue, Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) president, Stanley Mhango, urged political parties to mobilise their party structures around the country and use them to carry out awareness campaigns about the voters’ registration exercise.
Mr. Mhango said political parties and Zambians in general should take advantage of the exercise and should not politicise it in anyway because it was their civic responsibility to register as voters. He said the voters’ registration was an opportunity for all Zambians to participate in giving the direction to which Zambia should go after the 2011 elections. He urged the ECZ to be responsive and take seriously all the concerns that will be raised by stakeholders that include political parties, civil society organisations and the media before, during and after the exercise. Mr. Mhango observed that transparency was critical in the administration of the electoral process in Zambia.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has set June as the month to start updating the voters’ register and registering new voters in readiness for the 2011 general elections. The Commission, which is targeting to register about 6.4 million voters this year, has since commenced conducting workshops for people that will take part in the exercise.
ZANIS
Matero MP to leave PF
Matero Member of Parliament Faustina Sinyangwe has disclosed that she does not intend to remain a member of the Patriotic Front party.
In interview with QFM Ms. Sinyangwe said that she has only resisted from having Parliament declare the Matero seat vacant because she does not want to leave the people in her constituency handicapped.
When queried on which party she was considering joining Ms. Sinyangwe said that she would join any party apart from UPND because it holds a pact with PF. She accused the PF leader Michael Sata of introducing dictatorship tendencies into the Party.
She lamented that she is tired of the dictatorship of the PF leadership and that she does not ever wish to stay in the party.
And Ms. Sinyangwe has said that she has the full support in her constituency and that the people of Matero would re-elect her in 2011 regardless of the party that will adopt her.
[ Q FM]
Dr kalumba’s attidute over his conviction dissapoints HH
The United Party for national Development UPND has described as disgusting and shameful the unremorseful attitude by Movement for Muilty Party for Democracy (MMD) National Secretary Katele Kalumba after his conviction by the Magistrate courts last week.
Party President Hakainde Hichilema who could not hide his displeasure said that the attitude that followed the chanting of the MMD Slogan after his slogan means a lot.
Mr Hichilema said this at a news conference organized by the Press freedom committee of the Post.
” it is so hurting that a person who has amassed public wealth instead of being remorseful to the Zambians should go ahead to chant MMD slogans outside the courts as if to tell the Zambians that the MMD would rescue him,” Mr Hichilema said.
He charged that Zambians were tired and watching what is going on stressing that Dr Kalumba and his co-convicts should not further attempt to ridicule the Zambians.
The UPND leader also advised Zambians to avoid another mistake to vote into office a Government that harbored thieves in its key financial positions.
And UPND President says that the UPN/PF pact is a serious business.
Mr. Hichilema who was responding to a concern on how the two parties would merge what he termed as brilliant ideas into one manifesto with that of the PF and that the parties have differences but that their common interests was to save the Zambians.
He likened the pact to a family of members of different characters said that the party is currently holding successful meetings under the umbrella of a joint national council to try and work out a way to merge the ideas of the parties into one manifesto.
[ QFM ]
‘I can’t celebrate Dr Kalumba’s sentence’
Former President Frederick Chiluba says he cannot celebrate the conviction of MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba and three others because they are his friends.
And Dr Chiluba has questioned why former Ministry of Health permanent secretary Simon Miti chartered a faulty plane when he (Dr Chiluba) was evacuated to South Africa for treatment.
Dr Chiluba said he is saddened about the conviction of Dr Kalumba and others because they were his right-hand officials during his tenure of office.
He said it is immoral for some people, who include Kafulafuta member of Parliament George Mpombo and Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata, to mock him over the matter by asking him to celebrate the conviction of Dr Kalumba.
Dr Chiluba said this in an interview with journalists after attending a church service at the Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) in Matero yesterday.
He said contrary to the insinuations, he is not happy or celebrating over the conviction of Dr Kalumba and others because they are his comrades.
“Whether Mr Mpombo or other people commented or not over this matter, I cannot be happy, neither can I smile or dance over the conviction because those were my friends.
“They were not my key advisors but were my comrades and right-hand men and we worked together,” he said.
Dr Chiluba, however, said as a democrat, he is not in the habit of interfering with the work of the courts of law.
[pullquote]“Whether Mr Mpombo or other people commented or not over this matter, I cannot be happy, neither can I smile or dance over the conviction because those were my friends.”[/pullquote]
He said he cannot argue the case because of security reasons.
“Dr Kalumba and others are my friends and we worked together but now that they have been found in this situation, I do not want to argue the case for security reasons,” he said.
Last week, Mr Sata challenged Dr Chiluba to celebrate the conviction of Dr Kalumba just as he celebrated his acquittal.
Dr Kalumba, who is former Minister of Finance, and three others were last week jailed five years with hard labour for corrupt practices.
Those jailed are former Ministry of Finance permanent secretary Stella Chibanda and former defunct Access Financial Services Limited directors Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu.
Dr Kalumba and the three others have, however, been released from prison after the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court granted them K500 million bail each in their own recognisance.
Meanwhile, Dr Chiluba has questioned why Dr Miti chartered a faulty plane when he was evacuated to South Africa for treatment.
Dr Chiluba asked the question during a church service when he gave a testimony of his life and heart problem.
He alleged that Dr Miti hired a plane used for pest control.
He said the plane, which Dr Miti claimed was a medical airbus, had no toilet or bed.
Dr Chiluba said he does not understand the logic by Dr Miti to have hired an old plane for an emergency, adding that the flight took four hours as opposed to the usual two hours from Lusaka to South Africa.
“Thank God that my wife and I are still alive…it does not make sense to hire an old plane for a person whose heart is running at 12 percent instead of the normal 70-100 percent.
“The little old plane hired by Dr Miti was faulty because barely 30 minutes after departure, one engine blew off and everyone on the plane, including the pilots, started panicking but I was calm because I prayed to God,” Dr Chiluba said.
He said after the plane developed a fault, the nurse on board panicked and confessed that the plane was not a medical airbus.
“I wondered why the plane, which looked like a wheelbarrow was chartered for me but I think this was another attempt by the devil to weaken me. I thank God we arrived safely,” he said.
Dr Chiluba said he is not accusing anyone of attempting to take his life but was questioning the logic of hiring a ‘finished plane’ to evacuate him to South Africa.
He said he has experienced God’s love and goodness as He has seen him through his heart problem.
“It is now five years when the doctors told me I had a heart problem which is incurable and that I was going to die.
“My heart condition was deterioting everyday and I spent sleepless nights because I had to be in a sitting position because if I had to sleep on the bed, I would have died. But my wife and I prayed even without faith sometimes because we wanted God to hear and he did. That’s why I am still alive,” he said.
Dr Chiluba thanked the church and other members of the public who prayed for his healing.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]
HH has accepted to be Pact Veep — RB
President Rupiah Banda has disclosed that United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema has now agreed to be vice-president of the UPND/ Patriotic Front Pact.
President Banda said he had information that Mr Hichilema had now agreed to be vice-president of the UPND/PF Pact, allowing the PF leader, Michael Sata to be the presidential candidate in the 2011 general elections.
Mr Banda said in a statement released by his special assistant for Press and public relations, Dickson Jere in Nice, France yesterday that this was contrary to what Mr Hichilema had promised the people of Southern Province.
He advised the UPND leader that the people of Southern Province had the right to choose a leader of their own choice.
He said Mr Hichilema could not, therefore, decide on behalf of the Southern Province and impose his political preference for a president on them.
He said there was nothing wrong with the statement attributed to Parliamentary Chief Whip, Vernon Mwaanga that some districts in Southern Province had resolved to support the ruling MMD.
President Banda said Mr Hichilema was not the spokesperson of the people of Southern Province and should not impose his political views on innocent people.
And President Banda said he was shocked to read comments attributed to Mr Hichilema that president Mwanawasa was a good leader.
He called on politicians to avoid using the name of the late president in order to gain political mileage.
Mr Banda said the late president had asked to work with Mr Hichilema and the UPND when he was alive but the opposition leader refused, saying president Mwanawasa was an incompetent leader.
“Mr Hichilema and his supporters called the late president all sorts of names and refused to work with him when he was alive,” he said.
He said Mr Hichilema abused the late president when he was alive by constantly attacking his performance and personality.
He said it was clear that Mr Hichilema had now become very desperate and power-hungry to the extent that he had forgotten what he used to say about late president Mwanawasa.
“It is, therefore, surprising that Mr Hichilema is now trying to exploit the name of the late president to advance his political career,” he said.
But speaking at the Newsmakers’ Forum yesterday, Mr Hichlema said President Banda was feeling terminally ill because he was worried about the pact, like Vice-President George Kunda himself.
‘‘We have said as a pact, we shall choose the president and his deputy at the right time and for now, that issue has never been discussed,’’ Mr Hichilema said.
He said he did not know the source of information, adding that President Banda’s aides should advise him correctly.
[ Times of Zambia ]
MMD, ULP confident of scooping Luena seat
THE MMD and the United Liberal Party (ULP) are optimistic of emerging victorious in the Luena parliamentary by-election, which has arisen as a result of the resignation of area member of Parliament (MP) Charles Milupi.
Mr Milupi, who was Luena independent MP, resigned from his parliamentary seat after he formed the Alliance for Democracy and Development. He has since indicated that he will re-contest the parliamentary seat.
Speaking in separate interviews in Lusaka yesterday, MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya and ULP general secretary Langtone Sichone expressed confidence of winning the parliamentary seat.
Ms Siliya said the party had made serious inroads to win popularity in Western Province and as such victory was certain.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is yet to set the election date.
“The people have seen how Mr Milupi abandoned them in the middle of the journey and we have been in touch with the grassroots. I am certain that we shall increase our numbers in Parliament by winning the Luena seat,” Ms Siliya.
Currently, Ms Siliya said the party had started consultations to select the best candidate for the parliamentary election.
[pullquote]“The people have seen how Mr Milupi abandoned them in the middle of the journey and we have been in touch with the grassroots. I am certain that we shall increase our numbers in Parliament by winning the Luena seat,” Ms Siliya.[/pullquote]
She said the party was talking to various organs of the MMD in Luena Constituency and it would not be long before a preferred candidate was chosen.
“The people of Western Province have been true MMD supporters and so they will give us a chance by voting for our preferred candidate in Luena. Mr Milupi has abandoned them and this time around they will want a party to represent them and we are the people’s choice,” Ms Siliya said.
Mr Sichone said the party was making preparations to contest in the election after the provincial administration informed the national leadership that the ULP was popular in the province.
He said the provincial leadership in Western Province had indicated that the ULP stood a better chance of winning the by-election.
As such, he said the party would be conducting preliminary consultations to come up with the best candidate.
“The people at the grassroots level are urging the party to contest. They have given us insights about the constituency and I think that this offers the ULP an opportunity to contest and win the election. There is no doubt that the ULP is capable of carrying the day,” Mr Sichone said.
The National Restoration Party (NAREP) said it would tomorrow issue a statement on whether to take part in the by-election or not.
NAREP president, Elias Chipimo Jr said when the party was launched, there was an indication that they would channel their resources towards the 2011 elections but there was a change of stance.
As such, he said the party would issue a statement tomorrow.
[ Times of Zambia ]
Chieftainess Kalaba flees palace
Chieftainess Kalaba of Mansa district in Luapula Province has fled her palace for fear of being bewitched by her subjects. And several teachers at Lupende basic school in the same chiefdom have also threatened to flee the school due to what they called incessant nightmares caused by wizards.
This came to light on Sunday when Luapula Province minister Dr Boniface Kawimbe and Mansa District Commissioner Major Chibwe Nsakasha visited the rural school.
Major Nsakasha confirmed to ZANIS that it is true chieftainess Kalaba had fled the palace due to concerns of witchcraft. The DC said the traditional ruler is living in Senama compound and she intends to move to Mano near Chipili in Mwense district.
Villagers interviewed said chieftainess Kalaba had decided not to return to her palace after fleeing because every time she attempted to do so, she fell seriously ill.
Meanwhile, teachers at Lupende Basic were found to have packed their household goods in readiness to leave the school.
Parents Teachers Association Chairperson Royd Kasapo said teachers feared for their lives due to alleged witchcraft in which both unmarried and married female teachers were sexually abused while in their sleep.
Mr Kasapo said male teachers whose wives were allegedly being used by wizards equally claimed to have been bewitched, a condition that has made them incapable of consummating their marriage responsibilities.
[pullquote]The deputy head teacher Afya Mwaba narrated to Dr Kawimbe how on several occasions she experienced nightmares where she was being abused. [/pullquote]
He disclosed that the PTA, headmen and the chieftainess had decided to bring a witch finder on March 1 this year who named five old men, including a retired headmaster at the school to be in possession of charms that enabled them to abuse women in their sleep.
The PTA chairperson said the retired headmaster, a named old man and other wizards were exorcised of their charms and have since bolted from Lupende.
The deputy head teacher Afya Mwaba narrated to Dr Kawimbe how on several occasions she experienced nightmares where she was being abused.
Ms Mwaba said the relatives of the wizards have declared to continue tormenting the teachers publicly telling them that what they were experiencing in the night will continue because the charms they have were a family inheritance.
Luapula Province Minister appealed to the headmen and parents in the community to help resolve the problems teachers are facing.
Dr Kawimbe said Government has very few teachers and if the seven teachers at Lupende abandoned the school, it will be closed and the community will continue to remain backwards.
ZANIS
Zambia’s economy is steadily growing-BOZ
Bank of Zambia (BOZ) Head of Public Relations Kanguya Mayondi says indicators show that there is steady growth in the Zambian economy.
Mr. Mayondi told ZANIS in an interview in Kitwe today that the Zambian economy was certainly growing though it may not grow at the rate that is anticipated.
He attributed the economic crisis prevailing in the Eurozone as one of the factors that have contributed to the slow pace at which the economy is growing.
Mr. Mayondi explained that many European countries are spending money trying to bail out Greece resulting into reduced foreign direct investment inflows into developing countries such as Zambia.
He however said the country is expected to attain a 6.8% growth in the economy by the end of the year.
Mr. Mayondi expressed delight that the inflation rate in Zambia is at 9.1% compared to other African countries whose rate stood at about 12%.
He also said it will be good and beneficial to the Zambian people, if the inflation rate reduced further.
“Comparatively with other African countries, Zambia stands out in terms of the inflation rate which is at 9.1% when others are at 12%.But we would want it to be lower than this “Mr. Mayondi said.
He urged Government to strive to attain stability of the economy so as to attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs).
ZANIS
UN honours 2 Zambian peackeepers posthumously
The United Nations (UN) has posthumously honoured two Zambian peacekeepers that died last year while serving in the UN missions in Timoreste and Sudan respectively. The two Zambia Police Officers, Inspector Francis Banda and Sergeant Morton Kamata Muyuni have been honoured with the Dag Hammarskjold medals.
This is according to the press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka on Sunday by first Secretary for Press and the Zambian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, Moses Walubita.
Inspector Banda died on October 9, 2009 while serving with the United Nations Mission in Timoreste (UNMIT) while Sergeant Muyuni died on February 20, 2009, while serving with the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).
They were among 112 peacekeepers that died while serving with the United Nations and honoured during the the eighth annual International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, which is observed May 29.
However, commemorative activities at the United Nations Headquarters in New York , United States of America , and many other United Nations offices around the world took place on Friday, since May 29 falls on Saturday.
Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Lazarous Kapambwe, received the Dag Hammarskjold medals on behalf of the recipients yesterday.
And United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, said this year’s commemoration was a sombre one. Mr. Moon said the past 14 months have been especially deadly for United Nations peacekeeping.
“Ambushes in Darfur, terrorism in Kabul and a plane crash in Haiti. These were among the tragedies that struck peacekeeping last year, killing 121 people,” he said.
He said as the United Nations honoured such moving displays of courage and dedication, it also paid tribute to over 122,000 military, police and civilian personnel who serve with distinction in its operations across the world.
Meanwhile, President of the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, said in his message that UN peacekeepers have stabilised situations, maintained peace and rekindled the hope of millions of conflict afflicted people around the world.
“This important work and achievements come with great sacrifice. 2010 has been a particularly tragic year for UN peacekeepers and the UN family as a whole. The devastating earthquake in Haiti also claimed the lives of 96 peacekeepers, the largest ever loss of UN staff in the history of the Organisation,” he added.
ZANIS
Desist from using Levy’s name to gain political mileage-RB
President Rupiah Banda has urged politicians in the country to desist from using the late President Levy Mwanawasa’s name to gain political mileage.
President Banda said he was shocked that opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader, Hakainde Hichilema, was now saying the late Dr. Mwanawasa was a good leader when his party used to call him all sorts of names.
In a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere, Mr. Banda said Mr. Hichilema and his supporters refused to work with the late President saying he was an incompetent leader.
He said it was shocking that Mr. Hichilema, who abused the late Dr. Mwanawasa when he was alive by constantly attacking his performance and personality, was now saying the late president was a good leader.
“It was therefore surprising that Mr. Hichilema was now trying to exploit the name of the late President to advance his political career,” he said.
[pullquote]He said he had information that Mr. Hichilema has agreed to serve as vice president of the UPND/PF pact, under Michael Sata, who will be presidential candidate for 2011 elections.[/pullquote]
President Banda alleged that Mr. Hichilema has become desperate and power hungry to an extent where he has forgotten what he used to say about the late President.
He said he had information that Mr. Hichilema has agreed to serve as vice president of the UPND/PF pact, under Michael Sata, who will be presidential candidate for 2011 elections.
He said this was contrary to what he (Hichilema) promised the people of Southern Province. President Banda has since advised Mr. Hichilema that the people of Southern Province had the right to choose a leader of their choice.
“Mr. Hichilema cannot, therefore, decide on behalf of Southern Province and impose his political preference for president on them,” he said.
Mr. Banda has meanwhile, said there was nothing wrong with the statement attributed to Parliamentary Chief Whip, Vernon Mwaanga, that some districts in Southern Province have resolved to support the ruling MMD.
ZANIS
Africa-France Summit underway
The Africa- France summit opens Monday in France’s southern city of Nice with over 40 African heads of state and government expected to attend the High -profile gathering.
The two-day meeting of the leaders of Africa and France will focus on issues such as Africa’s place in world governance, re-enforcing peace and security together as well as Climate and development.
Running parallel to the summit will be five workshops on business environment, the financing of companies in Africa, vocational training, the social and environmental responsibility of business, and the sources of energy of the future.
The five workshops will be attended at ministerial level of the various countries that are participating at the Nice Africa France summit 2010.
The Nice Summit will also assume its traditional mission of dialogue between France and its African partners in preparation for upcoming international meetings, such as the United Nations Millennium Development Goals summit in September, Africa-European Union summit in November, Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico, early December.
The summit will also create a platform for France, which has supported the interest of Africa at the global stage, to discuss with African countries and raise the issue of reform of the UN security council.
The summit dubbed Nice Africa- France summit 2010 has also attracted the participation of representatives from the African Union (AU), United Nations (UN) and the European Commission.
President Banda is already in Nice to attend the conference of African leaders and France to be held at the ultra modern Nice Acropolis Convention Centre in the Heart of the the resort city.
It is the first Africa- France summit organised by the host President Nicolas Sarkozy since coming to power in 2007. His predecessor Jacques Chirac held the bi- yearly summits aimed at pushing to a new heights the economic and political ties between France and the African continent.
President Banda’s delegation include the Minister of Foreign Affairs Kabinga Pande, Minister of Energy and Water Development Kenneth Konga, Deputy Minister of Finance and National Planning Chileshe Kapwepwe, deputy minister of Works and Supply Christopher Kalila and Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe.
President Banda will be among other African leaders who include South African President Jacob Zuma, Egyptian President Mohamed Hosni Moubarak, Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika, President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Swaziland’s King Mswati III and Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete.
ZANIS
Vernon Mwaanga responds to HH
MMD Parliamentary Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga has said that politics is a practical subject that requires leaders to respond to realities on the ground if they are to remain relevant.
Reacting to United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema’s ascertion that a pact between the MMD and the UPND is imposible, Mr Mwaanga said the opposition party leader will learn the realities with more experience.
“My 50 years in the politics of our country have shown me that politics is a practical subject and leaders must respond to realities on the ground if they are to remain relevant.
“I am deeply conscious that I have had a different political experience from HH (Hichilema), who is relatively new in the politics of Zambia and Southern Province. He will learn with age and more experience, being the intelligent person he is and who enjoys my utmost respect,” Mr Mwaanga said in a statement released yesterday.
He said that in a modern society, leaders have to listen to all views and it does not matter whether they agree with them or not.
[pullquote]
“I am deeply conscious that I have had a different political experience from HH (Hichilema), who is relatively new in the politics of Zambia and Southern Province. He will learn with age and more experience, being the intelligent person he is and who enjoys my utmost respect,” Mr Mwaanga said in a statement released yesterday.[/pullquote]
Last week Mr Mwaanga said that UPND members in 11 districts in Southern Province want their party to get into an alliance with the MMD. Mr Hichilema was quoted in yesterday’s edition of The Post as saying that was overstepping his limits.
But Mr Mwaaga has said that at no time did he suggest that he represents all the people of Southern Province because no-one does.
“I based my comments on the discussions I have had with a number of southerners who volunteered their views to me and expressed personal preferences about the kind of electoral alliance they would like to see in 2011.
“It was their view, that an MMD-UPND alliance was more natural because of the similarities in the policies of the two parties,” he said.
Mr Mwaanga said it was also their view that such an alliance would be more reassuring to investors in that it would point in the direction of protecting the growth and economic gains made by the MMD government under both presidents Levy Mwanawasa and Banda.
“They by and large recognised that although the two parties still have political differences on such issues as the Mufumbwe by-election events and violence in general, there was room to bridge these differences in the interest of putting Zambia first by doing what is right for our country as a whole,” he said.
Mr Mwaanga said that it is important to lay a solid foundation for future generations of Zambians.
“I may not be there personally but I owe it to future generations of Zambians to help lay a solid foundation for their future and that of generations yet unborn. It is part of my patriotic duty and I will not shy away in performing it for the sake of our common future and values we share as Zambians.
“It is not about me. It is not about any individual leader. It is about our future, our people and our country now and always.”
[Zambia Daily Mail]