Various political parties have intensified preparations for the Chifubu and Luena parliamentary by -elections slated for August, 5.

The ruling MMD says it has started receiving applications from party members interested in contesting the two seats.

Party Spokesperson Dora Siliya told ZNBC that the National Executive Committee -NEC- will soon decide on a candidate.

She is confident that the MMD will scoop the Luena and Chifubu parliamentary by-elections because the MMD has a good track record.

And the Patriotic Front-PF Central Committee will meet on July 3 to consider applications for the Luena and Chifubu parliamentary by-elections slated for August 5.

PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba says the PF will then meet with the UPND to decide on the candidates to be fielded in the two by-elections.

Mr. Kabimba told ZNBC news that the chances of the PF-UPND pact winning the by-elections are high because they are a pact.

And FDD Vice president Chifumu Banda said the party will meet in the next two days to decide on whether to adopt candidates for the by-elections.

And UNIP President Tilyenji Kaunda said his party has already adopted a candidate for the Luena parliamentary by-election and will soon pick a candidate for Chifubu.

ZNBC

Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairperson Justice Florence Mumba has urged political parties and Members of Parliament to help publicise the on-going continuous voter registration exercise.

Justice Mumba said the voter registration exercise which has started on a slow note should be boosted at all cost.

She is confident that the exercise will eventually pick up.

Justice Mumba was speaking in an interview with ZNBC news.

She said ECZ members of staff are already camped in all the 150 parliamentary constituencies.

Some civil organisations have blamed the slow turn out in the continuous voter registration to poor publicity.

ZNBC

Chief Government Spokesperson has described Republican President Rupiah Banda as the best president Zambia has ever had.

Rev. Shikapwasha saidpresident Banda’s regime has brought a lot of direct foreign investment into the country which cannot be compared to any other president in Zambia.

He said it is for this reason that the current government needs support from all the stakeholders instead of politicking.

Rev. Shikapwasha who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister said Zambia has continued to record economic growth under the leadership of president Banda.

He added that Zambia is on track in achieving development and calls on Zambians to support Government efforts.
[QFM ]

Can two walk together unless they are agreed? The rate of divorce in Zambia is going up. Divorce rates are also high in the church. People who should be setting the moral examples are now seen to be falling short.

This world is governed by laws. Just as everyone succumbs to the law of gravity whether rich or poor, politician or cadre, preacher or atheist, so there are laws that govern a successful marriage.
A couple ought to understand that men and women are wired differently and will therefore respond to things differently.Once this simple fact is accepted a lot of problems will be avoided.

Marriage is like a flower that wants watering every day or else it will be destroyed. So we must not rest on the fact that now that we are married we should not show any interest in our partner but let things as they come. It takes a lot of trouble and struggle to maintain quality and a genuine relationship. Every day we need to show our interest in our partner not only in words but also in deeds.[pullquote]Lets honor our marriages for good marriages breed good families which in turn breed good, strong societies.
[/pullquote]

Women generally are emotional beings, tend to talk a lot and love details. It is important for a husband to actively listen to his wife when she talks and show interest.A response like ‘hmmm’ doesn’t count.Husbands cherish and love your wives.Treat her well and she will make you happy.

In the context of marriage you have to give your partner the attention he/she deserves. You should not always deal with your work or children and neglect your partner. The principle is that you should have a balance in your life, so as to manage your time efficiently and have enough time to devote to your partner and family.

Men are generally more logical and tend to overlook details like women do. Ask a man how his day was at work and the answer will be – fine.A man can not multitask.It probably is not a good time to seek his attention when he is watching the England vs Germany football game.A wife who does not adhere to this simple rule will be destined for disappointment.

Apart from a lot of sex, men generally want their wives to hold them in high esteem.Men have fragile egos and a women who disrespects her husband privately or publicly just wounds him in ways she may never understand.

Showing lack of respect to our partner, whether occasional or on a permanent basis, is perhaps the biggest mistake that we do. When respect is not mutual in a marriage then it is more likely that marriage will end up in a disaster.

Every couple should have a clear vision of what they want their marriage to be. The word vision means ” mental sight – the ability to see a goal or destination. If you do not have a clear vision of where you are going, how will you know when you have arrived? How will you know when you are on the wrong path?

When you have a vision of success before you, you will naturally behave in such a way that causes success to happen. Every couple goes through difficult times but a vision encourages you in those difficult times. Lets honor our marriages for good marriages breed good families which in turn breed good, strong societies.

Parliamentary Chief Whip, Vernon mwaanga says he is not aware of anyone pushing him to replace the ruling Movement for Multi party Democracy (MMD) National Secretary, Katele Kalumba.

Mr Mwaanga told QFM radio in an interview, when commenting over reported allegations that Mr Mwaanga is being touted to take over Mr. Kalumba’s position as party national secretary in an acting capacity.

Mr. Mwaanga, who recently traveled to Namibia with the republican president on a state visit, said that he has no such information.

He said he holds Mr. Katele in high esteem and would not at any point make such intentions.

Mr Mwaanga, however, maintained that he is not aware of any such endeavors by anyone within or outside the party.
[ QFM ]

Zambians risk plunging the country into a dictatorial and failed State if they make a “wrong choice of voting for undemocratic” Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata in next year’s general elections, the Global Justice Zambia has warned.

Advocacy campaign manager, Samson Zulu said Zambians would be shooting themselves in the foot if they elected Mr Sata who had already shown that he was a dictator by refusing to go for the party convention.

[pullquote]“It is a vote that has power to reject such people. From the time he formed the party they have failed to go for a convention and Zambians should not be shocked when they hear that there will be no more elections if they vote for Mr Sata,” he said.[/pullquote]

Mr Zulu said in an interview during the week that with the resumption of the continuous voters’ registration exercise by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), time had come for Zambians to reject Mr Sata and his ally through a vote next year.

“It is a vote that has power to reject such people. From the time he formed the party they have failed to go for a convention and Zambians should not be shocked when they hear that there will be no more elections if they vote for Mr Sata,” he said.

He said the PF president was a danger to democracy as well as the peace the country was currently enjoying and might scrap out elections if he was given an opportunity to rule in 2011.

Mr Zulu said it was not a secret that Mr Sata had exhibited lack of respect and compassion to others, especially his political opponents whom he had continued to insult and issuing derogatory statements against them through the media.

Mr Zulu, however, commended the ECZ for resuming the exercise and urged all eligible citizens to register and vote in numbers when the time comes.

Meanwhile, Mr Zulu has called on the general public to scrutinise the recently released Draft Constitution and make necessary comments that would help make up an appropriate document.

Mr Zulu said the Draft Constitution was an important document that affected every citizen and should be treated with the seriousness it deserved for it to be of great value to the Zambian people.
[ Times of Zambia ]

Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) president, Michael Sata, has charged that the ruling Movement for Multi party Democracy (MMD) has over stayed in government and is beginning to run out of ideas.

Mr. Sata has also challenged republican President, Rupiah Banda to upgrade the health institutions in the country and stop trekking out of the country every time he has a small health complication.

Addressing a party rally in Chawama yesterday, Mr. Sata said that the president Banda has failed the nation from the time he was part of the first government to the point where he is heading his own.

He said President Banda has worsened the status of the social sector in the country ranging from the health sector to the education because he is a failed leader.

Mr. Sata also indicated that President Banda’s movements across the world has contributed to Zambia’s failure to record significant development during his tenure.

He said that President Banda has shifted his concentration and attention to unnecessary issues at the expense of Zambians.
The PF leader told the gathering Mr Banda has failed to deliver to because of his inability to set the right priority for national development.
[ QFM ]

Vice President George Kunda has described the MMD as an honest party that had ensured prudent expenditure of national resources which he said had resulted in donors having confidence in the country.

The Vice President said Zambia’s economy was too small and only managed to raise a national income of about K17 trillion which he said was not enough to execute all the pressing needs of the citizens.

Mr. Kunda however noted that with these limited resources Government was trying to improve the living standards of its citizens.

Mr. Kunda said Government would continue taking development to all parts of the country through projects such as construction of schools, roads, and hospitals.

The Vice President has also assured the people of Mufulira that Government would work on the Sabina-Mufulira road and the Ndola-Mufulira roads which were in a deplorable state.

Mr. Kunda also promised the sitting tenants in the Kankoyo mine houses that they would be given those houses.

He said he would make recommendations to President Rupiah Banda to decide on how sitting tenants could be given ownership of the houses.

Meanwhile the Mr. Kunda has disclosed that the MMD was revising the party’s manifesto and was also strategising on how to approach the 2011 general elections.

The Vice President was speaking when he addressed scores of MMD members at Mufulira Municipal Council Chamber today. And speaking earlier, MMD Copperbelt Provincial Chairman Joseph Chilambwe said the party in the province was steady and intact.

He said party officials in the province have embarked on a strong campaign journey to recruiting new members.

ZANIS