MMD chairperson for information and publicity Dora Siliya has said the conduct of Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata at funerals is very irritating because he always seeks to attract wide political attention and presence in disrespect for the mourners.

But Mr Sata said he did not want to say anything on the matter because it was trivial but would only comment on serious matters affecting the nation.

Ms Siliya, who is Eductaion minister, said she expected elderly statesmen to be sombre and extend a heart of respect and maturity to the mourners and to the younger persons.

Ms Siliya said she had come across some mails from lawyers who were displeased with Mr Sata’s conduct at the funeral of the late Supreme Court justice Peter Chitengi.

She urged Zambians not to vote for the PF leader in next year’s elections to protect the image of the country because governance was a serious undertaking, which did not require people like Mr Sata.

Ms Siliya said the refusal by Chief Justice Ernest Sakala to shake hands with Mr Sata had been blown out of proportion.

She said it was common knowledge that Mr Sata canvasses for the attention of mourners by throwing his political weight around, instead of being humble for both the mourners and the dead.

Ms Siliya said the death of anyone brings emotions to close relatives, former workmates and relatives who get affected but Mr Sata made sure that he attracted their attention.

She said all Zambians should condemn attacks on the judiciary because it was an attack on the people of Zambia.

Ms Siliya said on several occasions, Mr Sata had sought to undermine important office holders like the chief justice in the name of politics.

Demands on the chief justice to apologise are unrealistic because Mr Sata and the chief justice are traditional cousins except that Mr Sata went beyond limits.
[ Times of Zambia ]

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 ]