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The Week/End in Pictures
Let Chiluba exercise his Constitutional rights- Chief Chikanta
Chief Chikanta of Kaloma District in Southern Province says he does not see anything wrong with Second Republican president Frederick Chiluba’s support for President Rupiah Banda because it is normal in a democratic society.
The Chief who was flanked by Chief Bright Nalubamba of Namwala told ZANIS in Mazabuka today, that Dr Chiluba has a right to support any Presidential candidate in the forthcoming elections.
Chief Chikanta observed that Dr Chiluba is a member of the ruling party and it is only normal for him to rally behind President Banda who also belongs to the same party.
The Chief cited former South African President, Nelson Mandela who openly supported President Jacob Zuma, during the Presidential elections in that country.
He urged those criticizing the former president and threatening to lobby government to withhold his benefits to leave him alone and allow him to exercise his constitutional right to associate with other groupings.
Chief Chikanta wondered why some members of civil society and opposition are scared of Dr Chiluba’s involvement in politics.
ZANIS
Kawimbe urges the Ngumbo of Samfya to support new Chief
Luapula Province Minister Boniface Kawimbe has called upon the Ngumbo people of Samfya district to support their newly crowned Senior Chief Mwewa.
Dr. Kawimbe says this is important because it will help to foster development in the area. He said it is important for people to realize that the task and challenges of leading people were enormous and needed full support of the people.
Dr. Kawimbe said this in Samfya during the installation ceremony of Albert Chileya as Senior Chief Mwewa.
He said, on its part, government will continue offering support to traditional leaders in the province to help them spearhead development projects in their areas.
Dr. Kawimbe said government’s doors were open to the royal highnesses’ for consultations, advice, guidance and counsel on various matters affecting the nation and the province in particular.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kawimbe has appealed to traditional leaders in Samfya District to unite and take advantage of government’s favourable polices to foster development in the district.
He said with such co-operation, there was no reason why food production could not be boosted with the favourable weather and ideal soils the district was endowed with.
Dr. Kawimbe commended the traditional leaders in the district and the royal Electoral College for facilitating peaceful elections which had resulted into a smooth succession transition for the new Senior Chief Mwewa.
The provincial minister implored traditional leaders in the district to prepare family trees in advance and circulate copies to government and relevant stakeholders in order to avoid succession wrangles.
ZANIS
African governments urged to pass Freedom of Information Law
Former US president Jimmy Carter challenged African governments to speed up the legislation for access to information in their countries.
Mr. Carter regretted that even when all the other continents were claiming to have access to information laws in place, Africa had lagged far behind.He was speaking when he officially opened the African Regional Conference on the Right of Access informational in Ghana. Mr. Carter reminded the conference participants that access to information was a basic human right and a key factor in reducing corruption in government.
The former US president said access to information laws also increased the participation of women in decision making adding that he was amazed by reports that women in Liberia could not participate in politics and were being raped even with a woman president in office.
Mr. Carter who singled out South Africa as the only country that had passed the freedom of information law in Africa cited Zimbabwe as another country that had passed the same information Law which it had, however, twisted around to persecute people who released public information.
The African Regional conference on the right of access to information is the third major conference that the Carter center for Democracy Program has sponsored on freedom of information after the Atlanta Declaration in 2008 and the Lima declaration in Peru, South America in 2009.
Mr. Carter and Mrs. Rosalynn Carter have since left for Sudan to monitor the situation in that country before the presidential elections due in six weeks time.
Speaking yesterday when he chaired a high level panel discussion on transparency at the La palm Beach hotel in Accra during the on- going Right of Access to information conference organized by the Carter Center for Democracy program, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Lt. Gen. Ronnie Shikapwasha assured the Conferenc that the Zambian Government will table the freedom of Information Bill immediately parliament resumes sitting this month.
Lt. Gen Shikapwasha said the Zambian Government has already reached an advanced stage in pushing for the legislation of the Freedom of information Act and was currently wrapping up its study of other models as advised by the World bank and the United Nations Development Programme UNDP to see which model would best suit the Zambian environment .
Gen. Shikapwasha said the Zambian administration under President Rupiah Banda was in a rush to pass the Freedom Of Information Bill and other media bills ,but was taking its time consulting widely so that it could come up with an -all embracing legal framework that would enhance people’s equitable access to public information .
The minister who cited cost as another factor that had weakened the pace for legislation, explained to the conference that the access to information, or freedom of Information Bill should not be viewed from the prism of being an exclusively media bill alone, but one that would benefit every citizen who might need information .
[ZANIS]
Use culture to create wealth-Kaingu
Government has urged Zambians to use the country’s cultural diversity to create wealth for themselves and the nation.
Community Development and Social Welfare Minister Michael Kaingu said traditional ceremonies should not be viewed as mere dancing events because they have the potential of contributing to the social and economic development of the country.
The minister was speaking last night in Chilanga, Lusaka when he officiated at Chilanga Gold Tournament Prize Giving ceremony organized by the Chilanga Kuomboka Traditional Committee.
The event was organized to raise funds for the successful holding of the Kuomboka Traditional Ceremony of the Lozi people of Western Province in April this year.
‘‘Zambians should use these traditional ceremonies to enrich themselves and create wealth for themselves. They should not only view them as events where we go to watch traditional dances,’’ Mr. Kaingu said.
He said there was need to mainstream the country’s culture diversity into national development programmes.
He urged Zambians to take advantage of the country’s cultural diversity to fight poverty and create wealth for themselves.
Mr. Kaingu also appealed to traditional leaders in the country to get actively involved in the fight against poverty through traditional ceremonies.
He said he was extremely honoured to officiate at the fundraising event organized by the committee of the rich Kuomboka traditional ceremony which started in 1876.
The minister, who pledged K3 million to the committee, commended the 15 Zambian companies that sponsored the Golf Tournament at Chilanga Gold Club.
And Chilanga Kuomboka Traditional Committee Chairman Aongola Mutukelwa commended government for its continued support to the Lozi traditional ceremony.
Mr. Mutukelwa explained that the purpose of the fundraising venture was to raise money and building materials for the ceremony.
The fundraising prize giving ceremony was also attended by Princess Nakatindi Wina and her husband Sikota Wina who are matron and patron for the Chilanga Kuomboka Committee respectively.
ZANIS
FPP condemns media for publishing pictures of half naked women
The Forum for Progressive Parties (FPP) has condemned the print media for publishing people especially women who are allegedly half naked .
FPP Secretary General (SG) Charles Kafumbo says the publishing of such pictures in the newspapers should be condemned by all concerned Zambians.
Mr. Kafumbo told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that it is high time that print media desist from publishing nude pictures in their newspapers.
He said it is immoral to publish pictures of women who are half naked adding that it corrupts the mind of people especially the children.
Mr. Kafumbo’s sentiments comes in the wake of publication of half naked women published in one of the tabloids and daily newspapers.
The Forum SG has since taken a swipe at Women Civil Organizations in the country over their silence to comment on half naked women.
He said the Forum would now start championing for the rights of women because the publishing of half naked women in the newspapers is tantamount to pornography.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kafumbo has advised women in the country to dress properly when they go out to functions because they should not blame the media if the find themselves in those circumstances.
He said indecent dressing especially among the women folk is against the values of the declaration of Zambia, a Christian nation.
ZANIS
RSZ to resume passenger train operations today
The Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ) has announced that it will resume operation of its passenger trains today, Monday, February 8, 2010.
RSZ Deputy General Manager -In-charge of Corporate Affairs Charles Phiri announced the development in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka this evening.
Mr. Phiri said the suspension of the passenger trains was due to unforeseen circumstances.
He assured the traveling public that RSZ has put in place all the measures to guarantee the passengers of smooth movement to their various destinations.
Mr. Phiri said during the suspension which started on Friday last week, the company recorded some loss in business but said this was manageable.
“We wish to inform our esteemed customers that RSZ resumes full operations on Monday February 8. We temporary suspended our operations due to unforeseen circumstances. The company has made a sizeable but manageable loss,” Mr. Phiri said.
ZANIS
Offer solutions, Maureen challenges opposition and refutes plunder rumours around her
OPPOSITION political parties should offer alternative solutions to the challenges affecting the nation because politics of merely criticising the Government is long gone, former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa has said.
Featuring on a Joy FM live chat-show “Tikambilane” yesterday, Mrs Mwanawasa said leaders from the opposition and the Government should co-exist and support one another in the management of the country.
She said there was need for opposition leaders, who considered themselves as the government in waiting, to prove to the people that they had alternative ways of tackling issues like the effects of the floods in Lusaka.
Mrs Mwanawasa said politics of merely criticising the Government was long gone and those aspiring for leadership positions should be able to prove to the electorate that they are capable of providing better policies than those of the ruling party.
She said she was still an ordinary MMD member who was on the “bench” and if called upon to “play on any number” she would be able to respond accordingly.
Mrs Mwanawasa insisted she had no grudge against the MMD or the Government saying whenever she spoke strongly, she did not do so out of malice but to advise leaders.
On the adoption of degree requirement by the National Constitutional Conference for people vying for the presidency, Mrs Mwanawasa, who is a lawyer said it was not necessary.
She said what was important was a candidate’s performance.
Mrs Mwanawasa said a candidate’s past performance should be an important barometer in an election. The degree requirement might disadvantage other people like those in the military who do not have degrees.
On life after president Levy Mwanawasa’s death, she said it had not been easy to live as a widow since a lot of friends and some relatives had been shunning her.
Mrs Mwanawasa said during late president Levy Mwanawasa’s sickness and after his death, there had been a lot of adverse publicity about her with some people spreading rumours that she had a lot of money in First Alliance Bank and that she owned the multi-national oil marketing company, Petroda.
She said all that was not true as she did not even know much about the two entities and challenged the law enforcement agencies to arrest her if she had stolen anything as first lady.[quote]
She said the Mwanawasas were among the first families who had left State House with as little as they had gone in with.
Mrs Mwanawasa challenged other widows to rise and claim whatever was due to them as most of the traditional beliefs were oppressive to them.
She urged society to stop oppressing widows and orphans.
On the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative (MMCI), Mrs Mwanawasa said the organisation was still active although many organisations had stopped supporting it.
She appealed for further support so that the organisation could continue with the projects it had initiated and embark on others.
[Times of Zambia]
MMD still has support-VJ
Movement for Multi party democracy MMD Chief Whip Vernon Mwanga has stated that the party is still receiving support.
Mr. Mwanga says that the party is doing well with the support from the Zambians who have continued to believe in the party.
He told QFM that the party has still the largest support in the country because of its good economic policies that have been put in place since its inception. [quote]
He however admitted that the party has some challenges that the party is slowly addressing.
He has called on the MMD sympathizers not to be cheated that the party has lost support in urban areas especially Lusaka.
He says that Zambia is not made up of Lusaka alone, as people in the rural areas still have faith and belief that the government will address its issues.
He further explained that if the government has failed to meet people’s expectations, the country would not have attended single digit inflation and the highest reserves in the central bank since independence.
QFM
Zambians risks getting back to economic doldrums if they vote out MMD-Kunda
Vice President George Kunda has warned that the country risks getting back to its economic doldrums if Zambians voted out the ruling MMD government from power in the 2011 tripartite elections.
Mr. Kunda says the MMD government has worked hard to revive and sustain the economic gains the country has continued to make.
.
He says as a result of government’s good economic policies, the country has won itself confidence from the donor community.
The Vice President who was addressing a rally at Keembe Farm Training Institute in Chibombo yesterday said in the last few years, the donor communities have been releasing huge sums of money for developmental projects because of the confidence they have in the government of the day.
He said without good economic policies, the donors would have withdrawn their funding from government.
Mr. Kunda said for the past few years, the country has been recording a bumper harvest because of government’s support to the agricultural sector through programmes such as the Farmer Input Support Programme ((FISP).
He also disclosed that this year, government has released K5 billion each to three ministries namely Gender, Sport and Community Development to empower women, youths and vulnerable clubs to enable them engage in various economic activities.
Mr. Kunda added that government has also given the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services an additional K10 billion for Food Security Pack programmes for vulnerable people in rural areas across the country.[quote]
He explained that all these programmes have been put in place in order to reduce poverty levels in the country which he said mostly affects the women, youths and vulnerable people.
Mr. Kunda urged the people of Chibombo district to forms Clubs and access these funds.
He told the gathering that 40 percent of the CEEC has been reserved for women, youths and vulnerable people.
The Vice President further warned that if Zambians voted for the UPND /PF Pact in 2011, all such economic empowerment programmes will discontinue thereby subjecting the Zambians to abject poverty.
“You have seen what the MMD government has done because of our good economic policies set by this government. So I urge you not to experience with leadership with some of these who only come to plunder the economy,” he said.
Mr. Kunda said some of the people vying for presidency now have failed before when they were in government and so far they have nothing to offer to the Zambian people if voted into government.
Mr. Kunda also requested the people of Chibombo to reject UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema because he partnered with PF leader Michael Sata whom he described as a failure.
The Vice President is in Central Province to acquaint himself with the economic problems the province was faced with. He will also inspect developmental projects, hold public rallies and meet chiefs in the province.
Earlier, Central Province Minister Ackimson Banda said the people in the province are happy with the MMD government for developing the area.
Mr. Banda said MMD government has scored a lot of achievements in various key sectors of the economy.
Mr. Kunda is expected to return to Lusaka on today. He is accompanied by Provincial Minister Ackimson Banda, Science Minister and Mumbwa Central MP Dr. Brian Chituwo and MMD Deputy National Secretary Chembe Nyangu.
ZANIS
NO Opposition MP Defecting to MMD-Kakoma
The PF/UPND Pact has refuted allegations by Vice President George Kunda that there will soon be massive defections of opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) to the ruling MMD.
UPND Spokesperson Charles Kakoma said the pact was not surprised or shaken by the vice presidents claims which started last year.
Mr. Kakoma urged the electorate to ignore the assertions and prepare themselves for the 2011 tripartite elections.
“The Vice President is just dreaming. These dreams started last year before the MPs got their gratuity and no resignations have occurred since then,” Mr. Kakoma said.
He said last year, the MMD said the opposition MPs were just waiting for their mid-term gratuity before defecting to the ruling party.
Mr. Kakoma said all the MPs from the Pact got their mid-term gratuity last year and no one has defected to the MMD.
He said no MPs from the PF/UPND Pact were planning to defect to the ruling party as alleged because there were no problems in the pact.
“There are no problems in the pact. People should just wait for the next government next year,” He said.
And Mr. Charles Kakoma has disclosed that 31 houses have been destroyed in Zambezi West Constituency in Zambezi District from heavy rains the area has been experiencing during the past few days.
Mr. Kakoma who is also Zambezi West MP said 150 people have been left homeless as a result of the floods which were now threatening to submerge Senior Chief Ndungu’s Palace.
He appealed to the Office of the Vice President’s Disaster Management and Mitigation Union to travel to the district to access the damage and assist the people that have been displaced as a result of the floods.
Mr. Kakoma said there was need to send food and other requisites to the area and also contain any possible outbreak of water borne diseases.
He sad reports from the area indicated that maize fields in Zambezi West Constituency have all been submerged in water.
Mr. Kakoma said because of the devastating floods, the area would likely going to experience hunger this year.
ZANIS
MP’s death great loss to parliament-Opposition MP
UPND Bweengwa Member of Parliament (MP) Highvie Hamududu has described the death of MMD Milanzi MMD MP Reuben Chisanga Banda as a big blow to Parliament.
Mr Hamundudu wished the family of the deceased God’s guidance in this trying moments adding that parliament would greatly miss the services of the late Mr. Banda.
He said he served together with the late Mr. Banda on the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) which was Chaired by Luena MP Charles Milupi.
Mr Hamundudu was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
“As a member of PAC, the death of the Mr Banda is a big blow to the committee and parliament as a whole. In Parliament, we are a family and when we have a funeral, we put aside all our political differences and just concentrate on mourning,” Mr Hamududu said.
Meanwhile, the body of the late Mr. Banda has been flown from Lusaka to Chipata for burial tomorrow.
The late Mr Banda died on Friday last week at University Teaching Hospital after sustaining injuries from a fatal road traffic accident.
MMD Chairman Michael Mabenga, MMD National Secretary Katele Kalumba, Cabinet ministers and several MPs from both the ruling and opposition political parties were on hand to see off the body of Mr Banda at lusaka’s city Airport.
And a delegation of parliamentarians both from the ruling and opposition political parties has left Lusaka to attend the burial of the late Mr. Banda in Chipata, Eastern province.
The delegation is led by MMD Deputy Chief Whip and Solwezi West MP Humphrey Mwanza.
Others on the delegation includes Mandevu MP Jean Kapata, Percy Chanda (Kankoyo), Vincent Mwale (Chipangali ) Paul Sichamba (Isoka West) Brian Sikazwe (Chimbamilonga), Ireen Imbwae (Lukulu West) and Jacob Chongo for Mwense constituency among others.
The delegation will join President Rupiah Banda who is expected in Chipata today to attend the burrial of the late Mr. Banda on Monday tomorrow.
ZANIS
Magande was part of RB endorsement-Mabenga
FORMER Minister of Finance Ng’andu Magande was part of the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) national executive committee (NEC) that received and endorsed petitions from provincial committees that President Banda be sole candidate at the ruling party’s national convention.
MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga said this in Lusaka yesterday in reaction to Mr Magande’s claim that holding the party national convention would be a waste of time if President Banda has already been declared the party’s Republican presidential candidate.
Mr Mabenga said in an interview that Mr Magande should also know that the convention is not only about presidential elections but also for discussing how best the party can progress.
He said there are a number of issues that are discussed at national party conventions apart from the presidential elections.
Mr Mabenga said that at the convention the party receives reports from various committees and delegates are informed about the party’s performance nationwide.
He said for instance, Mr Magande, as the chairman of the committee on finance, is expected to give a report on how his committee is performing.
“When it comes to elections, all positions will be contested. Not only the presidential position. I understand Mr Magande because he has only attended the convention once,” Mr Mabenga said.
Mr Magande was quoted as having said: “… why would anybody go to the convention if they have already decided he (President Banda) will be the candidate?”
Magande is wrong: I have the right to support RB-Chiluba
FORMER President Dr Frederick Chiluba has said he has the right to back President Banda and that this cannot disqualify him from receiving his pension and benefits as reportedly stated by former Minister of Finance Ng’andu Magande.
Dr Chiluba’s spokesman Emmanuel Mwamba said in a statement released yesterday that contrary to some assertions, the former President is still popular.
He said that Mr Magande should know that Dr Chiluba has not broken any provisions for his retirement from politics and cannot, therefore, lose his benefits.
Mr Mwamba explained that Dr Chiluba and any other former President that wishes to comment on matters of public affairs and supports a candidate and political party of his choice does not in any way break the law nor are his benefits threatened in any way.
He said the former President would only lose his benefits if he ceases to hold office on the ground of wilful violation of the constitution or of misconduct.
The other provisions are that a former President could lose his benefits if he is convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or engaged in active politics.
Mr Mwamba noted that the law states that active politics means doing any act indicating a person’s intention to hold elective or appointive office, holding of elective or appointive office or by a resolution of two thirds of the majority of members of the National Assembly.
“Dr Chiluba does not hold or does not intend to hold any political office. The law defines clearly what the framers intended to mean by `active politics’ and Dr Chiluba does not in any way fall in that category,” Mr Mwamba said.
He said that the Benefits of Former Presidents Act Cap 16 of Zambia is comprehensive, and so calls for Dr Chiluba’s withdrawal of benefits are malicious and intended to prevent the former President from meaningfully contributing to Zambia’s national development.
He said this law has been applied equitably in the past.
Mr Mwamba said that when Dr Chiluba remained MMD party president for three months, his pensions and benefits were taken away in compliance with the law.
He said the benefits were only restored when he resigned his position.
“We, therefore, wish to reprimand such persons as Ng’andu Magande who know the provisions of the law but chose to mislead the nation by alleging that Dr Chiluba is breaking the law by merely rendering political support to President Rupiah Banda,” he said.
Mr Mwamba said Dr Chiluba is only exercising his fundamental right of freedom of choice, expression, association and freedom of movement as guaranteed by the national constitution.
He said it is people like Mr Magande who are breaking the law by insisting on taking away Dr Chiluba’s fundamental rights.[quote]
“The bliss ignorance so far displayed by Mr Magande, in our view, amounts to irresponsible behaviour and having held a senior position such as a Finance Minister, his conduct should be beyond petty,” he said.
Mr Mwamba also said that Chiluba’s right to support President Banda must be respected without any question. He also dismissed assertions that Dr Chiluba’s trip to the Copperbelt is funded by State House.
“Since 2002, Dr Chiluba as former President has had his trips, local and foreign, funded by Government as a matter of entitlements.
Therefore, the assertion that the funds released for this Copperbelt trip to meet the welfare of his accommodation, food and that of his accompanying staff came from State House is only designed to embarrass President Rupiah Banda,” Mr Mwamba said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
ZESCO Restores Power in Nakonde after weeks of blackout
ZESCO has restored power in Nakonde district in Northern Province after some weeks of power blackout.
Nakonde District Commissioner Edwin Sinyinza confirmed the development in an interview with ZANIS in Nakonde today.
A snap survey by ZANIS revealed that operations in all government departments including pumping of water which was halted following the power black out have resumed normal operations.
Most of the areas in the township have started receiving normal supply of water.
Residents have commended the power utility company for working tirelessly and ensuring that a transformer was sourced to restore power supply in the district.
Power was restored after a 33KV transformer which was damaged last month at the local sub station was replaced with a new one.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Nakonde residents thronged ZESCO sub station to catch a glimpse of the arrival of the new transformer and a crane carried on heavy duty trucks and the installation of a new transformer.
ZANIS