Republican President Rupiah Banda will tomorrow, Tuesday, expected to commission the first phase of the Konkola Deep Mining Project and the Smelter at the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) on the Copperbelt Province.

The President will officially open the first phase of the Konkola Deep Mining Project in the Copperbelt town of Chililabombwe, which is expected to create about 500 jobs. About 1,000 people were employed during the construction of the project.

President Banda will later travel to Chingola to launch the Smelter at KCM, which will process about 300,000 tonnes of copper per annum. The Smelter is expected to create about 500 jobs on the Copperbelt Province as well.

The commissioning of the Konkola Deep Mining Project and the Smelter comes barely a month after President Banda re-opened a key mine in Southern Province, Munali Nickel Mine.

The President Banda will leave the Copperbelt Province on Wednesday for Northwestern Province where he is expected to visit Mwinilunga District.

The President will hold meetings with traditional leaders and Government officials in the area before returning to Lusaka.

This is according to the press statement made available by the special assistant for press and public relations Dickson Jere.

MMD national secretary, Katele Kalumba says Former Minister of Defence George Mpombo has written to his office to exculpate himself on the several charges that the party slapped on him last month.

Dr Kalumba said this in an interview yesterday.

“My office has told me that he has replied to my letter. I am yet to study the contents of the letter, after which I will inform the NEC which will decide on the next course of action,” Dr Kalumba said.

He advised Mr Mpombo to work within the framework provided for by the MMD if he wants to have a just and fair process over the charges he is facing.

“The best thing is for him to wait for that process to come through, either to exonerate or hold him accountable,” Dr Kalumba said.

He said Mr Mpombo should not make the process of adjudicating over his case difficult by his continued insults and attacks on the MMD, which the party has been complaining about.

“I have always advised him that you do not put your house on fire when your family is still in there,” Dr Kalumba said.

He said, however, that Mr Mpombo is still a member of the MMD and hoped that he will respect the rules and regulations of the party.

“ I have given him enough counsel and the party is not playing games anymore,” Dr Kalumba said.

Last month, Dr Kalumba announced that the MMD had charged Mr Mpombo with several violations of duties and obligations for a member in good standing.

And Dr Kalumba has maintained that President Banda is MMD president, contrary to former republican Vice-President, Enoch Kavindele’s assertions that only a convention can elect a party president.

On assertions by Mr Kavindele that President Banda is acting MMD president, Dr Kalumba said the fact is that the MMD constitution does not have a provision for an acting party president.

He said the NEC has powers to act between conventions and that it exercised its authority to confer the party presidency on Mr Banda and subsequently endorsed him as a candidate for next year’s tripartite elections.

Dr Kalumba said Mr Kavindele sometimes becomes selective in his statements.

“The less selective he becomes, the more steadier he will become as a politician. I wrote to him (Mr Kavindele) and I advised him that if he has reservations, there is a channel he should use to advise the party,” Dr Kalumba said.

Meanwhile, the MMD in Ndola has vowed to suspend party members who attend clandestine meetings organised by Mr Magande and former Minister of Defence George Mpombo.

Chifubu Constituency chairman Stanley Simfukwe said in a statement issued in Ndola that the party has received reports that some officials in the district have been attending meetings aimed at destabilising the party ahead of the national convention to be held later this year.

“I want to warn those playing double standards and attending dark corner meetings that the disciplinary committee will not tolerate such behaviour and will deal with such members firmly,” Mr Simfukwe said.

He said the party will scrutinise members to attend the national convention and that those facing disciplinary cases and plotting against the party risk being suspended.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga has advised Chilanga member of Parliament Ng’andu Magande to leave the party if he is tired and cannot respect the leadership of President Banda.

Mr Mabenga said it is wrong for Mr Magande to insinuate that President Banda is likely to call for early elections. Mr Mabenga said it is not right for Mr Magande to issue disparaging remarks against the party leadership. He said in an interview yesterday that Mr Magande has opted to be negative regarding the leadership of President Banda.

Mr Mabenga said it is pointless for anyone to be in the party if he cannot respect the person in charge. “If Mr Magande is tired of being MMD, it is high time he left the party than be negative all the time,” he said. Mr Mabenga said President Banda was elected by the Zambian people to lead the nation and was endorsed as party president, hence the need to respect him.

“Each nation or house has got a leader who rules and it is cardinal for people to respect that person,” he said. Mr Mabenga said the MMD is a credible party and will not allow individuals to discredit it. He said the MMD has channels that members should follow when aggrieved.

“Mr Magande is a member of the MMD national executive committee (NEC) who knows all procedures of the party, so it is unacceptable for him to behave like an ordinary member,” Mr Mabenga said.

Mr Mabenga said it is wrong for Mr Magande to insinuate that President Banda is likely to call for early elections. He said there is no way Mr Banda can call for early elections before the MMD holds its convention and without notifying citizens.

He said Mr Magande is aware that elections can only be held after giving 90 days notice. “Mr Magande knows that the National Constitutional Conference is sitting and some articles have been referred to a referendum…we are also having a census this year,” he said.

Mr Mabenga said Zambians want a constitution that will stand the test of time and that this process cannot be abandoned.
He said it is high time Mr Magande moved away from ‘dreamland’.

Mr Mabenga said it is wrong for anyone to believe he or she is a political expert. He said it is important for Mr Magande to consult others because he does not know everything.

Mr Magande was quoted in yesterday’s edition of The Post newspaper as having said President Banda is likely to call for an early election to catch his opponents unaware.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Republican Vice-President George Kunda has directed the Ministry of Education to budget for a day high school in Mufumbwe next year.

Mr Kunda made the directive at the weekend during a campaign rally at Kalengwa Upper Basic School for MMD candidate Mulondwe Muzungu in the April 29 by-election, in which the United Party for National Development (UPND) is fielding Elliot Kamwendo and UNIP Stephen Kamwengo.

Mr Kunda directed Education Deputy Minister Richard Taima, who is part of the Muzungu campaign team, that the school should be built in Kalengwa as it has a rising population and had good grade seven and nine results.

“Mufumbwe needs a day high school apart from the boarding school we are constructing. I am assuring you that we shall budget for the school and that’s a promise to the people of Kalengwa,” he said.

Mr Kunda said the MMD could make promises and fulfil them as the party was in government and controlled the budget, unlike the opposition parties.

[Times of Zambia]

The united party for national development UPND Vice President Richard Kapita has charged that it is clear that the people in Mufumbwe have rejected the ruling movement for multi party democracy.

Mr. Kapita says that no amount of intimidation and vote buying will make the people vote for the MMD as the UPND/PF pact has taken over the area.

He says that the MMD know that they have lost the votes and are now resorting to accuse the PACT of the breaking the electoral of conduct.

He says that accusations that the UPND/PF pact was allegedly buying cattle for the people Mufumbwe are misplaced adding that it is a known fact that the party has been practicing clean politics.

He says that it is the reason why the MMD and its party president Rupiah Banda have been panicking in vigorously campaigning for its candidate.

Mr. Kapita predicted that the PACT will get more votes than the previous elections that were held in Solwezi central.

He also said that the MMD is in trouble in the Milanzi constituency as the patriotic front has gained ground in making sure that they scoop by elections.

He further explained that that the people of Zambia are tired, and they now want change of leadership, and only the PACT will offer the country’s solutions.

QFM

THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has dismissed as baseless assertions by United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema that President Rupiah Banda’s directive to expedite road works amounts to systematic rigging of next year’s elections.

ECZ public relations manager Cris Akufuna said Government has a mandate to develop the country and was at liberty to plan and execute its projects.

Mr Akufuna said the Government’s decision to intensify road construction works did not violate provisions of the electoral code of conduct ahead of the 2011 general elections.

He said in Lusaka yesterday that works that were planned ahead of any election should go ahead because the law did not prohibit Government’s mandate to deliver development to the people.

Mr Akufuna was reacting to accusations by Mr Hichilema and other opposition leaders and civil society groups that President Banda’s directive for intensified road works was slanted towards systematic rigging.

President Banda recently directed Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane to immediately mobilise additional funds for the construction of main roads throughout the country this year.

Mr Banda said the cost of repairing the roads had gone up because of delays in
completing the works and wanted to specifically see the completion of the construction of the Mutanda-Chavuma Road in North-Western Province, Choma-Chitongo-Namwala Road in Southern Province, and the Kasama-Luwingu Road in Northern Province.

Mr Akufuna, however, said ECZ only expected reduced non-emergency public philanthropic activities at an election time but not planned development projects which were approved long before execution.

“The commission, however, encourages and expects the scaling down of any public philanthropic activities not related to emergency situations at election time,” Mr Akufuna said.

He said the prohibitions in the electoral (code of conduct) regulations as set out in Regulation 7 were specific.

“They do not restrict Government’s mandate to execute developmental projects in the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chama-Senga Cultural Association has joined other sections of society in commending President Banda for directing Dr Musokotwane to source funds for the rehabilitation of roads countrywide.

Secretary general Yotam Mtayachalo said in Ndola yesterday that the directive was a clear indication that President Banda and the MMD were committed to developing the country because a good road network was vital to the development of the country’s economy.

Mr Mtayachalo said it was indisputable that for many years now, the road network in Zambia had been neglected.

“This is the more reason that every reasonable Zambian must give President Banda a pat on the back for his initiative,” he said.

Mr Mtayachalo said the association realised that the construction of roads was an expensive exercise but asked the president to equally consider the Chama-Matumbo Road that connected Chama to Northern Province through Isoka.

He said the road had been on Government’s drawing board since the 1970s and that it was cardinal that this time around it should be among the roads to be rehabilitated under the president’s directive.

He noted that Chama had abundant natural resources that remained unexploited due to the poor state of the road.

[Times of Zambia]

THE Barotse Royal Establishment has said President Rupiah Banda was appropriately dressed at this year’s Kuomboka Traditional Ceremony which took place on Saturday.

Kuomboka ceremony Lusaka organising committee chairperson Oliver Saasa said during a royal banquet hosted by the Litunga, Lubosi Imwiko at the winter palace in Limulunga yesterday that there was nothing surprising by the white beret President Banda wore during the ceremony.

President Banda was among the dignitaries who attended the banquet.
Professor Saasa said the hosts of the Kuomboka Traditional Ceremony were happy with what the president and First Lady, Thandiwe wore.

He said the president as the guest of honour at the event was under no obligation to wear a Liziba (traditional suit) or any kind of attire, including the red beret.
Prof Saasa said a guest of honour at the Kuomboka could come dressed in any attire they felt comfortable with.

“What was written in The Post newspapers that people were surprised when the president wore a white beret has nothing to do with the Barotse Royal Establishment. We are happy with the whole attire the president wore,” Prof Saasa said.

He explained that the red beret was not official attire of the Kuomboka as it was fashion that started with Litunga Mulambwa and was associated with the paddlers of the royal barge.

The red beret became popular after that time and people attending the ceremony adopted it as part of their attire.

Prof Saasa said this year’s Kuomboka went well and that it was good that the president accepted to grace it.

And Litunga Imwiko thanked Mr Banda for gracing the event and for attending the banquet.

He thanked all the chiefs from other parts of the country who witnessed this year’s Kuomboka ceremony.

Litunga Imwiko said Kuombaka was a national event that unified the country and was important for the preservation of culture.

He said the fact that a lot of people from all parts of Zambia attended the ceremony was a sign that it did not just belong to the people of Western Province but to the whole country.

Yesterday’s edition of The Post said President Banda surprised people when he arrived at Mongu Airstrip dressed in a white beret instead of the usual red beret.

And President Banda has disclosed that Government has initiated projects aimed at improving the health services in Western Province worth K27 billion.

Projects worth K4 billion have already started and 40 others aimed at poverty reduction were yet to start.

This is according to a report monitored on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation television news last evening.

Meanwhile, President Banda arrived in Lusaka around 18:30 hours and was met at Lusaka International Airport by several Cabinet ministers and Government officials.

[Times of Zambia]