The foundation for democratic process FODEP has challenged the electoral commission of Zambia ECZ to quickly address the financial impediments that are negatively impacting the continuous Voter Registration Process (VRP).

Recently it was reported that the process which has less than 75 days to go, was in Monze brought to a halt owing to inadequate resources.
FODEP information officer, McDonald Chipenzi warned that if the commission does not give this matter the deserved attention, there is a great possibility that the registration process will not attain its intended goal.

He said that the ECZ should be ready to deal with all the issues that come up in the process in order to ensure that the country reaches its intended goal.

Mr. Chipenzi also indicates that it is important for the commission to be alert and realize that this year’s registration process started on a very low note and the only way to successfully sustain it is by ensuring that it stays adequately funded.

He pointed out that if the ECZ missed this opportunity to get Zambians registered, the after effects of such a decision will only be felt in 2011.
But the effects will be too drastic for the commission to reverse and therefore action should be taken now.

ECZ has also failed to fund the Zambia News Agency (ZANIS) which has the mobile public address system in all the districts through out the country.

Currently most rural places are not aware about the voter registration exercise and in some district ECZ has opted to higher private companies to conduct the publicity instead of using free equipment from ZANIS.
[ QFM ]

Vice-President George Kunda has assured donors of governments commitment to prudently and to effectively use of financial resources.

The Vice- President said the recent reaction against the donor community was a result of the failure by some diplomats to follow the channels of communicating their concerns to Government.

Mr Kunda said Government is committed to good governance, in particular the fight against corruption, adding that it is the reason co-operating partners have continued to render support to Zambia.

The Vice-President said this in Parliament yesterday in response to a question from Mandevu member of Parliament (MP) Jean Kapata (PF).

Ms Kapata wanted to know the current relationship between Government and donors.

Mr Kunda said the relationship between Government and its co-operating partners is warm.

He said co-operating partners have pledged to continue providing financial, material and technical help to Zambia, adding that the relationship will continue to flourish.

“You might have heard in today’s (yesterday) newspapers that the co-operating partners have pledged to continue supporting this country’s developmental programmes. So, you can see that our relationship with donors is still sound,” he said.

Mr Kunda said President Banda’s recent statement about the donor community related to diplomatic etiquette.
[pullquote]
“You might have heard in today’s (yesterday) newspapers that the co-operating partners have pledged to continue supporting this country’s developmental programmes. So, you can see that our relationship with donors is still sound,” he said.[/pullquote]

He accused some diplomats of issuing threats to Government through the media.

Mr Kunda said there are established diplomatic channels through which diplomats can engage Government.

“Let us at all times observe the diplomatic etiquette according to the Geneva Convention. This is what President Banda was talking about recently,” Mr Kunda said.

And Mr Kunda said Government is revising the law on corruption to take into account past experiences.
He said Government is reviewing the law so that corruption cases can be effectively tackled.

Mr Kunda said this in response to a question from Katuba MP Jonas Shakafuswa (MMD), who wanted to know why section 37 of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act relating to abuse of office has been left out in the revised version.

Mr Kunda said he was not aware of Mr Shakafuswa’s claims.

He wondered where Mr Shakafuswa acquired that information when the bill has not yet been tabled before Parliament.

Mr Kunda said it is a criminal offence for any individual to access information which is classified.

He said when the bill is presented to Parliament, MPs will be accorded a chance to submit their comments, adding that it is prejudicial for any MP to make judgement based on a document which has not yet been tabled before the House.

And Mr Kunda said Government is looking for resources to fund the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) to enable it to complete its work.

The Vice-President said this in response to a question by Kalomo UPND MP Request Mutanga, who wanted to know what Government is doing to source funds for the completion of the Constitution-making process.

The NCC on Thursday announced that it requires funding to enable it to publish copies of the draft Constitution to enable members of the public to submit comments.

Mr Kunda said the Constitution-making process is on course, and that Government is doing everything possible to ensure the NCC is adequately funded.

And Mr Kunda said Government regrets the anomalies experienced in the printing of some pay slips for civil servants, resulting in delayed payment of salaries for June.

He said the authorities responsible are doing everything possible to correct the anomalies so that affected workers are paid.

Mr Kunda said this in response to a question from Katombora UPND MP Regina Musokotwane, who wanted to know what Government is doing to ensure workers are paid their salaries.

And Mr Kunda said it is the intention of Government to buy as much maize as possible from farmers in this year’s marketing season.

He said the Food Reserve Agency has been unable to buy maize from some parts of the country mainly because the moisture content of maize is still high.

Mr Kunda said this in response to a question from Pemba UPND MP David Matongo, who wanted to know why FRA has not started buying maize in some districts.

But Mr Kunda said the high moisture content of maize in some parts of the country has slowed down the buying exercise by FRA.

He said as soon as the moisture content meets the required standard, FRA will buy the maize.

And Mr Kunda said the continuous mobile voters’ registration by the Electoral Commission of Zambia will be conducted in all the polling stations across the country.

He said all the polling stations will be captured as the exercise is mobile and continuous.

Mr Kunda said this in response to Chipili PF MP Davies Mwila, who questioned why ECZ has selected a few polling stations to conduct the exercise.
Meanwhile, Mr Kunda said the 7.8 percent inflation rate which the country has recorded will have a positive impact on the economy.

He said the drop in inflation is likely to result in more lending facilities and reduced interest rate.
Mr Kunda was responding to a question by Bahati PF MP Besa Chimbaka, who asked what effect the drop in inflation will have on the economy.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

Vice President George Kunda says Government and the Cooperating Partners have reached a common understanding to observe diplomatic etiquette when dealing with each other. Mr Kunda told Parliament during the vice president’s question time that the recent pronouncements on donors relate to matters of diplomatic etiquette.

He said Zambia will continue to enjoy donor support because of Government’s commitment to prudent management of public resources. Mr Kunda further said that it is for this reason that the donor community continues to give government a lot of support in terms of aid.

He adds that government is fighting corruption, dedicated to tenets of democracy and pledged to continue upholding good governance. The Vice President described the relations between government and cooperating partners as very warm.

And Mr Kunda has revealed that government is revising the law on the fight against corruption. He says government is taking into account passed experiences such how certain cases have been prosecuted.

Mr Kunda was responding to a question by Katuba Member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa who wanted to know why section 87 of the Anti Corruption Commission Act which deals with abuse of office has been scrapped from the in the revised ACC Act which will be taken to Parliament.

ZANIS

The Zambia Police Service has in the last four days recovered five firearms and four motor vehicles from suspected dangerous criminals around Lusaka .

The recoveries were done in Chibolya, Ngwerere and Kaunda Square among other places. Briefing the media in Lusaka on Thursday, Police Spokesperson Bonny Kapeso disclosed that of the five firearms, three were loaded with more than 72 rounds of ammunition while one pistol had four rounds. Mr. Kapeso noted that of the recovered vehicles three were Toyota Corollas and one was a Toyota Hilux.

He explained that the Toyota Hilux registration Number ABK9539 which was snatched from a Lusaka resident in OlympiaPark area was recovered in the early hours of yesterday by the Zambia Police after a tip-off from the owner. Mr. Kapeso said the Police recovered the vehicle along Great North Road
after opening fire at a group of suspects who run away but one was arrested.

He said the Police have since arrested three suspects in connection with various criminal activities that have taken place in the city in past four days.
Mr. Kapeso explained that out of the three arrests made, two are wives of the suspected dangerous criminals who are helping police with investigations.

The police spokesperson has further cautioned members of public against engaging themselves in criminal activities saying police has intensified security and will not relent in dealing with any person found wanting.

ZANIS