VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda returned to Zambia from South Africa yesterday where he had gone for a medical review, condemning rumours about his purported demise as satanic and contrary to Zambia’s Christian and cultural values.

Mr Kunda who arrived at about 12:58 hours aboard a South African Airways flight, accompanied by his wife Ireen, was received by hundreds of well-wishers who included ministers, senior Government officials, hordes of MMD members, his children and grandchildren.
The joyous Mr Kunda waved the MMD symbol as he alighted from the plane, much to the jubilation of hordes of people who thronged the runway at Lusaka International Airport to welcome him back home.

He took time to greet Government officials, MMD officials and cadres who included various singing and dancing groups, who painted the airport runway ‘blue and white’ – the MMD colours.  The Vice-President robustly walked to the VIP lounge where he addressed journalists.

“It’s so nice to be back home. I have missed nshima. It’s three weeks and I am grateful to the President, Government, the party leadership, the provincial (MMD) chairman, and all the Zambians who have received me. This shows that the people of Zambia were praying for me; there is a lot of sympathy and encouragement,” Mr Kunda said.

He said the rumour that was circulated in the country about his purported demise was the work of sadists who were hoping to destabilise the working of Government. He said his medical review has been politicised by some opposition political party leaders who were hoping that his purported demise would turn out to be true.

[pullquote]“Mr Sata, let me tell you, there is a lot we know about your health. However, we have remained committed to Christian values. Your health remains between you and your doctor,” Mr Kunda said.[/pullquote]

“What kind of hatred is this,” he asked.  Mr Kunda said Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata phoned the Zambian High Commission in South Africa asking them to confirm his alleged demise.

According to Mr Kunda on his second telephone call, Mr Sata accused the High Commissioner to South Africa Leslie Mbula and Government of lying about his purported demise.

“When he was told that I was still alive, his reaction was ‘thank God he’s still alive,” of course with a forked tongue,” Mr Kunda said.

“Unfortunately I got the rumour which was circulated in Zambia about my purported demise. This must have been fabricated definitely by some criminals, sadists and in fact satanists, because this is not our culture. These are some of the things that are coming from outside the country such as homosexuality,” Mr Kunda said.

He said it was unfortunate that there were bizarre and eccentric characters in society who thrive on inflicting pain on others.

Mr Kunda said the enemies of Government and the ruling MMD wanted to create tension in the country, weaken the system, and make them lose the capacity to defend the President.

“To the contrary this ungodly and criminal act has made me stronger and somewhat elevated me to the status of a martyr,” he said.

[pullquote]“Unfortunately I got the rumour which was circulated in Zambia about my purported demise. This must have been fabricated definitely by some criminals, sadists and in fact satanists, because this is not our culture. These are some of the things that are coming from outside the country such as homosexuality,” Mr Kunda said.[/pullquote]

Mr Kunda said he went to South Africa aboard a commercial aircraft on prior arrangements with his physician, contrary to rumours that he was evacuated in an emergency.

He said he stayed in a hotel for two days prior to commencing medical review at Morningside Clinic.  Mr Kunda said he started going to the clinic for medical review during the reign of the then President, Dr Levy Mwanawasa who facilitated the treatment of many people outside the country, including Mr Sata.

He said President Banda has continued with this practice due to his kind heart.Mr Kunda said a medical review may entail admitting a person into hospital and this is what happened to him. The Vice-President said like any other person, he needs medical treatment, what he needs from the people of Zambia are prayers for good health.

Mr Kunda said speculations of his purported death, devastated his family and children some of whom are still in school.

He charged that Mr Sata was behaving like he has never been a subject of similar rumours.

“Mr Sata, let me tell you, there is a lot we know about your health. However, we have remained committed to Christian values. Your health remains between you and your doctor,” Mr Kunda said.

Mr Kunda said as Catholics, they pray for the sick. He urged Christians in Zambia to condemn politicians who thrive on spreading falsehoods and wishing sick people dead.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us”
(2 Corinthians 5:20, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

As a believer, God wants to do His work on the earth through you. You are His ambassador or representative. You have been given His authority and power. It’s easy to get focused on this natural realm and all the things that we need, but do you realize that you are equipped to be somebody else’s miracle?

Every single day, we have opportunities to show God’s love and compassion to others. We have the opportunity to meet their needs, bring them healing, and offer hope and encouragement. Every day, we can sow good seed into the lives of others that will reap an eternal harvest.

I encourage you today to look for ways to be a blessing to someone else. When you pour into others and help meet their needs, God will make sure that others pour into you. Let’s continue to work together to build His kingdom to the glory of God!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for choosing me and using me. Once again, I surrender every area of my life to You. Show me ways to be a miracle to others so that my life brings glory to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

Father Bwalya said the civil society organization in the country were worried of the rampant violence being exhibited during political campaigns.

He said only political leaders themselves have the key to stop the spread of the violence being perpetuated by cadres who obey every instruction they give them.

Father Bwalya said cadres should not be blamed because they could not do anything without the consent of their political leaders.

He appealed to political leaders from the both the opposition and the ruling party to take keen interest in conducting their political campaign without violence.

The CLZ Director noted that the operations of political parties in the country was worrying as regards to violence and they should to take a strong stance against it.

He said that political violence is affecting the lives of Zambians and if no action was taken by those in leadership position, it would paint a bad picture on the country’s developing democracy.
[ QFM ]

SOME political parties have said they cannot support and champion the legalisation of homosexuality in Zambia because the practice is unChristian and alien to the nation.

The MMD and United Party for National Development (UPND) said separately in Lusaka yesterday that Zambia was declared a Christian nation and the issue of homosexuality had no room in this society.

But the Patriotic Front (PF) said it had not dealt with the matter because it was concentrating on more important issues.

MMD acting spokesperson Mike Mulongoti said the ruling party could not embrace or support the gay rights because the party was founded on Christian norms.

“Zambia is declared a Christian nation and anything that is unChristian and alien to our society is deemed to be an abomination,” Mr Mulongoti said.

Mr Mulongoti, who is Works and Supply minister said the MMD strongly condemned people championing gay rights.

He said supporting anything that was unChristian was outrageous and the MMD would not want to associate itself with such activities.

Mr Mulongoti said there was no political leader from the ruling party who had associated themselves with championing homosexuality.

UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said his party could not support or talk about the gay rights because it had no room in the country.

Mr Kakoma said the fact that the gay rights were rejected at the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) was an indication that the UPND was not in support of homosexuality.

“The UPND was part of the NCC deliberations that rejected anything to deal with the homosexuality rights. We equally reject these rights,” he said.

PF spokesperson Given Lubinda said his party would not preoccupy itself with less pressing issues because it was currently more concerned with the welfare of the people.

Mr Lubinda said the PF had not even sat to discus the matter because the party wanted to concentrate on how best it would find solutions to pressing needs of serving the families in the country.

[Times of Zambia]

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said Government cannot constitute an independent enquiry to probe the violence that led to loss of life and property in Mufumbwe as demanded by a consortium of non-governmental organisations.

Speaking to journalists on arrival at the Lusaka International Airport from Tanzania yesterday, President Banda said it would be contradictory to set up an enquiry when the matter had already gone to court.

“We have gone to court. It’s better to leave the matter with the court. We do not need an enquiry we will be contradicting ourselves,” he said.

The Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP), Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) and Caritas Zambia on Wednesday demanded that President Banda should immediately set up a commission of enquiry to probe the violence in Mufumbwe.

The NGOs said the enquiry should exclude the police because they were part of the violence.

On the just ended World Economic Forum, President Banda said the meeting discussed issues affecting Africa as a continent.

He said the meeting discussed how the continent could be brought together to speak with one voice.

President Banda said problems facing the continent could only be resolved through unity.

“I was so proud for Tanzania to host such a big, big conference, they did it so well,” he said.

He said he had learnt a lot by talking to other delegates and by listening to specialised speeches from people with a lot of experience in agriculture and education.

He explained that Education Minister Dora Siliya accompanied him to Tanzania because the conference had a lot to do with education.

President Banda was responding to Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata who questioned why Ms Siliya accompanied the head of State to Tanzania.

The president was welcomed at Lusaka International Airport by acting Vice-President and Defence Minister Kalombo Mwansa, senior Government and party officials.

Meanwhile, President Banda held consultative talks with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete on the security situation in the Great Lakes Region.

President Banda is the current chairperson of the Great Lakes Region.
Special assistant to the president for Press and public relations Dickson Jere said this to Zambian journalists in Dar-es Salaam shortly before Mr Banda left for Lusaka.

“In his capacity as the Great Lakes Region chairperson, President Banda held consultative talks on the security situation in the region,” Mr Jere said.

The president also held discussions with TAZAMA Pipelines regional manager Abraham Sawanyama and Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) manager for special duties Pascal Mulenga.

The Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) has confirmed that it has intentions to enter into a pact with the United National Independence Party (UNIP) as the country heads towards the 2011 tripartite elections.

MMD National Secretary Katele Kalumba said the ruling party has always been a movement from which most political parties in the country originated from.

Dr. Kalumba said the MMD has never closed its doors to anyone who wants to join its ranks.

He said it is not strange that UNIP could find a common ground with the ruling party even though it was an adversary party during the early 1990s.

The MMD Chairperson said a pact between the UNIP and the MMD cannot be peculiar in any way stating ANC and National party did it at the time Zambia was fighting for independence.

Dr. Kalumba said it is not only UNIP which has shown interest in forming a political pact with the MMDbut also other parties he did name.

He said there are possibilities of discussions with what he called ‘Very Big Political Parties’ in the country which he refused to mention.
[ QFM ]

A Government official has revealed the underlying reason behind Government’s decision to scrap off the windfall tax in the mining sector.

Deputy Minister in the ministry of Mines, Boniface Nkata says if Government had continued to charge windfall tax on excess profits in the mining sector amid the Global financial crisis the affairs of the country would have become ungovernable.

He said the pulling out of most foreign mining firms from the mines created a lot of job losses which created tension in the country which, he stressed, was almost going to lead to a vote of no confidence by the Zambians in the incumbent Government.

In an overheard conversation with fellow government official, Mr Nkhata explained that government had predicted a situation where people would have been up against government because of the loss of jobs and thereby advantaging the opposition over the ruling party.

He said that the opposition parties had also contributed to inciting people to rise against Government.

He said that Government feared a situation where an early election would be called because of failure by Government to Govern the Country through its strategic revenue earner the mines.

Mr Nkhata said that after the abolition of the windfall tax, Government has been able to  restore jobs that were lost following the closure of most mines.

He added that the issue of windfall tax raises so much dust and disturbances in the Governance of the country and that Government would not consider re-introducing it.

QFM

Government has warned Patriotic Front (PF) to rescind its decision to ferry over 200 cadres to Luapula province to attend the developmental conference slated for May 15-16 in Mansa which will be graced by former president Fredrick Chiluba.

Acting Chief Government Spokesperson Mike Mulongoti says Government will not allow Patriotic Front (PF) to ferry cadres to Luapula province because their aim is to create confusion at the conference that Dr Fredrick Chluba will hold.

Mr .Mulongoti urged PF to organize its own conference if it wanted to discuss developmental issues as opposed to creating commotion at the forthcoming conference that has been organized for a good cause.

Mr Mulongoti said the PF youths will have themselves to blame if they decide to go to Mansa.
He pointed out that it is such violent and ill motivated activities that are causing violence on the political scene in the country.

He wondered what the PF was up to by embarking on such a move stressing that Dr Chiluba is on a mission to garner support for the MMD and that if the PF wanted a forum to campaign for its leaders they should arrange for a separate one.

The conference in Mansa has been organized by the chiefs and some members of Parliament in Luapula Province to discuss development issues pertaining to the province.
[ QFM ]

The Patriotic Front intends to ferry more than 200 youths from Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces to attend the developmental meeting in Mansa in Luapula province expected to be graced by second republican president Dr Fredrick Chiluba, from the 15th to the 16 of May 2010.

PF national secretary Erick Chanda has told QFM in Lusaka today that he believes that youths are partners in development and that PF youths have what he describes as excellent developmental ideas.

He says the PF youths will not sit back and watch former president Chiluba take his alleged dirty and corrupt ideas to the people of Luapula province.

[pullquote]He says the PF youths will not sit back and watch former president Chiluba take his alleged dirty and corrupt ideas to the people of Luapula province.[/pullquote]

Mr Chanda says the PF youths are prompted to take their developmental ideas to Luapula to ensure the people of that province are not denied access to good development.

He has since appealed to the police in Luapula not to provoke the PF youths but work professionally to with maximum diplomacy to ensure there is no violence in Mansa.

Asked whether the PF youths have been invited to the developmental meeting and why youths are being ferried from other provinces instead of using PF youths from Luapula ,Mr Chanda says being a meeting that will be discussing development in Luapula province,he sees no reason why they should be denied entry to the meeting.

The meeting will also be attended by Chiefs from the province and Members of Parliament.

QFM

SECOND Republican president Frederick Chiluba has said stakeholders in Luapula Province have a duty to discuss development issues affecting the province and confirmed that he will officiate at a meeting to be held on May 15 and 16.

And Luapula Royal Foundation chairperson Chief Chisunka has welcomed the convening of the meeting.

Speaking through his spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba, Dr Chiluba said provincial stakeholders had a duty to discuss development issues affecting the province.

The former president dispelled assertions that it was a political meeting.
“The stakeholders of the meeting have every right and duty to convene a meeting especially that this is a development meeting,” he said.

It was important for members of Parliament (MP) and traditional leaders in the province to discuss development issues affecting the province.

“The MPs are responsible for the management of Constituency Development Funds and the traditional rulers are the custodians of land,” he said.

In an interview from Mansa yesterday Chief Chisunka also said the meeting would discuss development issues.

“The people who are coming to the meeting are our subjects so there is no way we can chase them. In fact, they are welcome,” he said.

The traditional ruler also refuted assertions that the meeting has been convened to launch President Rupiah Banda’s campaign in the province.
“Even the opposition are welcome to discuss with the traditional rulers,” he said.

And Mr Mwansa Mbulakulima who is Chembe MP and co-coordinator of the meeting said in an interview yesterday that preparations for the meeting were well on course.

Both Mbulakulima and his co-coordinator Kawambwa MP Elizabeth Chitika refuted reports that the meeting would be used to launch President Banda’s campaign in the province.

According to information obtained by the Times, the chiefs will start arriving in Mansa on Friday May 14.

[Times of Zambia]