SENIOR Chief Puta of the Bwile people has said there is a plot by some senior MMD officials to harm the party’s national secretary Katele Kalumba.

The traditional leader charged yesterday that a clique of anti-Rupiah Banda MMD officials has ganged up and mooted a plan to sideline Dr Kalumba from participating in the forthcoming MMD party convention.

Chief Puta has also appealed to the people of Luapula to remain calm over Dr Kalumba’s five-year jail sentence by a Lusaka Magistrate’s Court for alleged corrupt practices.

Chief Puta said in a statement yesterday that although many hearts are aggrieved by the judgement, they should remain calm and wait for the due process of the courts following the appeal.

Dr Kalumba and three others were on Friday released from prison after the Magistrate Court granted them each K500 million bail in their own recognisance.

[pullquote]He said last month he received a message from a named deputy minister who confirmed that there was a plot in the MMD by some people to ensure that Dr Kalumba is blocked from being available for the 2011 MMD convention because they are afraid of him politically.[/pullquote]

Chief Puta alleged that some people were keen to see the downfall of Dr Kalumba by politicising his conviction and that they were the same people working against President Banda.
He alleged that the plan was to extinguish all the strong supporters surrounding President Banda so that he remains exposed and weakened.

He said last month he received a message from a named deputy minister who confirmed that there was a plot in the MMD by some people to ensure that Dr Kalumba is blocked from being available for the 2011 MMD convention because they are afraid of him politically.

“The plot started in 2005 before President Banda ascended to the presidency, the plotters had a meeting in Lusaka, even as late as Tuesday last week, they had a meeting in Kabulonga, we are aware about that,” Chief Puta said.

The chief said as a family, they have resolved to support the leadership of President Banda and that they will not change their position now.

Meanwhile MMD Lusaka Province chairperson William Banda has said that it is wrong to politicise Dr Kalumba’s conviction.

And last week, Evangelical Youth Alliance International president Moses Lungu advised the opposition Patriotic Front to respect Dr Kalumba and desist from making wrong impressions about him.
He said Dr Kalumba has demonstrated under difficult circumstances that he is a leader and has the spirit of uniting the country.

Dr Kalumba filed a notice of appeal against his conviction and sentence.
The other three released on bail are former Ministry of Finance permanent secretary Stella Chibanda and defunct Access Financial Services Limited directors Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“…you have stayed long enough at this mountain”
(Duet 1:6, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Let me ask you, do you go out each day knowing that favor is already in your future? Or have you gotten stuck in a rut staring at a mountain of disappointment, setbacks or difficulty?

That’s what happened to the people of Israel. They were headed toward their promised land. They had big goals and big dreams, but along the way they hit some setbacks and had some disappointments. They got so discouraged that they gave up on their dreams and just settled where they were. One day God said to them, “You have dwelt long enough on this mountain.” He was saying, “It’s time to move past this and embrace the blessing in your future.”

I believe God is saying that to each one of us today. You’ve been where you are long enough. God is saying, “This is a new day. Get your fire back. Where you are is not where you’re supposed to stay.” If you’ll be determined to move past your mountain, He will lead you and empower you to live in favor and blessing in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I give to You every area of my heart. I give You my questions, my disappointments, my doubts and fears. I choose to trade my sorrow for Your joy. I choose to press past my mountains so I can embrace the promises You have in store for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

President Rupiah Banda has disclosed that Government is studying the Auditor General’s report on the reported gross misappropriation of public funds at the Road Development Agency (RDA).

President Banda also revealed that Government is discussing the report with cooperating partners and the Auditor General’s Office with the urgency it deserved so that it does not become prone to ridicule. Mr. Banda said the matter surrounding the RDA should not stop the country from developing its infrastructure.

President Banda was answering questions from Journalists shortly before he left for France where he is scheduled to attend the France- Africa summit. “Government is studying the AG RDA report and we are discussing the report before it becomes prone to ridicule,” the President said.

The Auditor General’s report has revealed huge misappropriation of public funds at the RDA. Meanwhile, President Banda has left for Nice , France where he is going to attend the 25th France -African two-day Summit . The presidential plane carrying Mr. Banda left at the Lusaka International Airport at exactly 07-25 hours local time.

Mr. Banda who will be among other African Heads of States disclosed that Zambia is likely to benefit from France by way of accessing credit for the construction of the country’s infrastructure. Mr. Banda observed that though Zambia was not colonised by the French government, he expressed happiness that there was room for Zambia to woo French investors to come and invest in the country.

He said Zambia and that country enjoys a warm and cordial relationship that has existed for many years ago. The Head of State paid gratitude to France for the services rendered during the hospitalization of the late president (Dr Mwanawasa) in that country and the transportation of his body to Zambia after his death.

“ As I go to France, I would like to thank the president of France for his efforts during the illness of our beloved president the late Dr. Mwanawasa and subsequent death and flowing Dr. Mwanawasa’s body home (to Zambia). Mr. Banda is accompanied toFrance by Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, Energy Minister Kenneth Konga, Finance and National Planning Deputy Minister Chileshe Kapwepwe and Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe and other senior government officials.

President Banda was seen off at the airport by Vice President George Kunda, Defence Minster Kalombo Mwansa, Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu, Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Joshua Kanganja , Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha, Sports Minister Kenneth Chipungu, Lands Minister Gladys Lundwe, Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti, Lusaka Mayor Robert Chikwelete and senior government officials.

The two-day summit which starts on Monday is a gathering aimed at strengthening ties between African countries and France .
The last summit was attended by Late republican President Dr Levy Mwanawasa in 2008. France which is expected to take over presidency of the G-12 is determined to understand the needs of African countries. France ’s policy is to open itself to all African countries whether or not they are its former colonies.

ZANIS

MMD Lusaka province chairman William Banda said that the failure by the Patriotic Front President Michael Sata to attend the Freedom Day Celebrations shows that he was a prisoner.

Mr.Banda said that Mr.Sata did not want to interact with the people of Zambia because of his alleged past.

He also stated that Mr. Sata had no idea about the commemoration of the African Freedom Day because during the African liberation time, Mr. Sata was doing things against Africans.

He added that he was not surprised that Mr. Sata failed to show up for a celebration that should not be marred by politics. On Mr UPND leader’s absence, Mr. Banda said Hakainde Hichilema does not understand the celebrations as he was too young. He said the only idea the UNPD leader can have about the celebrations is because he might have read it somewhere.

However, the Patriotic Front has pleaded with the Lusaka province MMD chairman to stop provoking its party leaders. Erick Chanda, a Lusaka province youth leader said Mr. William Banda should not take the respect granted to him by the PF for granted. Mr. Chanda said that Mr. William Banda cannot match with Mr. Sata describing him as too small for the arguments.

[pullquote] Mr Lubinda said by the time Mr Banda, who he said is a foreigner, wakes up from his slumber, he will at the boarders of the country facing deportation.[/pullquote]

And PF spokesperson Given Lubinda has charged that MMD Lusaka province chairman William Banda is boot licking President Rupiah Banda to buy his stay in Zambia. Mr Lubinda said the MMD Lusaka Province Chairman is working hard to impress Rupiah Banda lest he thinks of deporting him.

Mr Lubinda said by the time Mr Banda, who he said is a foreigner, wakes up from his slumber, he will at the boarders of the country facing deportation.

He has since advised the MMD provincial chief to calm down his ego and stop living in a fantasy island. Mr Lubinda told QFM in an interview that Zambians know that he is buying time to live in Zambia and that he should not think the people of Zambia are dull.

QFM

UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema yesterday said he will continue to offer himself as a presidential candidate to lead Zambia because the Pact has not chosen a candidate for the 2011 presidential polls.

And All People’s Congress (APC) leader, Ken Ngondo has said political parties in Zambia that have formed a pact were just wasting their time because people of Zambia do not want a pact but an alliance.

Mr Hichilema said yesterday he had ambitions to take over Government next year considering the immense qualities and capabilities he wields but Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata was also allowed to express his desire to lead.

The UPND leader said candidacy for the UPND and Patriotic Front (PF) Pact remained open to any of the two partners in the alliance formed in 2008 but only announced last year.

His declaration was based on the fact that a candidate to run the Pact into the 2011 presidential election had not been chosen by the technical group involving the two parties.

Asked when the two leaders would announce the candidate, Mr Hichilema said it would remain a secret until the right time came.

“The message is that we have not chosen a candidate for the Pact. When a candidate is chosen things will be clear,” Mr Hichilema said.

Mr Hichilema on Sunday declared he was the best candidate to lead Zambia next year because of the younger age and urged Zambians to take a leaf from countries like Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States of America and Germany that had elected leaders with modern leadership postures.

Mr Sata has also made similar declarations, raising questions about the extent of confusion and power struggle between the two leaders as the election fast nears.

Mr Hichilema said suggestions by 11 districts in Southern Province for his party to forge an alliance with the MMD lacked background and clarity considering that his party already has an alliance with PF.

He said the resolution to forge an alliance with PF was passed by the national management committee in consultation with the general membership and the new dimension by Vernon Mwaanga had never been on the party’s agenda.

Mr Ngondo during a Press briefing in Chipata on Thursday said he would not support any pact because the current pact could not form Government even in 2011 tripartite elections.

He said the current pact (UPND/PF) was not a factor in the Zambian politics because there were two leaders who had different divergent views with different manifestos.

[Times of Zambia]

THE Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) says the country recorded about US$1.3 billion in investment pledges for the first quarter of 2010.

ZDA communications and public relations manager Margaret Chimanse said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that the investment pledges were mostly in the tourism sector.

The investment was mostly targeting the tourism sector and specifically infrastructure and services.

Ms Chimanse said the pledges were in view of the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the tourism opportunities that it promised the region.

She was speaking from the ZDA stand at the on-going Copperbelt Mining, Agricultural and Commercial Show (CMACS).

Ms Chimanse emphasised that the pledges did not mean the actual investment but simply plans for investment.

She noted that 50 per cent of last year’s investment pledges were not implemented in various sectors.

“Last year we undertook a check on the pledges and established that not all the pledges had been implemented,” she said.

And the agency said K24 billion had been reserved under the Business Development Services (BDS) programme to assist small-scale organisations develop their businesses.

She said the money was made available by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Finnish and Netherlands governments and Government contributed K3 billion.

Ms Chimanse said the funds were being used to train small-scale entrepreneurs in business and the beneficiaries received services and not the actual money.

She said the agency was also encouraging rural entrepreneurship because the businesses were not required to pay income tax for five years from establishment.

[Times of Zambia]