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I have never rigged an election-Vernon Mwaanga

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Veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga waves MMD party slogans during a campaign rally in Luanshya in 2008 elections
Veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga waves MMD party slogans during a campaign rally in Luanshya in 2008 elections

Veteran politician and Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga has said that he has never rigged an election adding that it is for this reason that his name has never come up in any presidential petitions in the courts of law. Mr Mwaanga said that contrary to speculations that he will help rig the elections in favour of the ruling MMD, he will only help his party to strategize on how to win the polls next year.

Mr Mwaanga vowed to use his experience and strategies to ensure the MMD bounces back to power in next year’s general elections. He expressed confidence that the MMD will win the 2011 elections. He said that all political parties participating in next year’s polls will strategize on how to win the elections and that the MMD will be no exception.

He said there was need for the MMD to energize itself from the branch to the national level in readiness for the general elections next year.

Last Saturday, the MMD appointed a political mobilization Taskforce to rejuvenate the party and come up with a “winning formula” for the 2011 elections.

And in another development , Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata has charged that rigging of elections in Zambia will continue until the Zambian voter wakes up.

Mr Sata said while the Electoral Commission of Zambia is very capable of organizing elections in the country , the appointment of most of the senior officials at the commission by the government makes the situation awkward. He said that because of this, it has become very difficult for the officials at the ECZ to organize elections against their employer.[quote]

Speaking on Joy FM’s The Platform programme this morning, Mr Sata said the only way the way the MMD can be outdone in the 2011 elections is by appealing to the people of Zambia to come out en mass and vote against the MMD.

And Mr Sata says there is nothing spectacular about a coalition government and that there is no need to legislate. Responding to the question by the presenter on how the PF/UPND Pact will function as a government if voted into power bearing in mind that there is no legislation which sets up conditions for a coalition government, Mr Sata said there is no place anywhere in the world where conditions are set for a for a coalition government.

QFM

Chief Nalubamba appeals for mortuary

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Senior chief Bright Nalubamba of Namwala district has appealed to Namwala district council to consider building a mortuary at Chitongo health centre.

Chief Nalubamba suggested that the council should use part of the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) to construct a mortuary at the clinic. He said building a mortuary at the clinic would reduce bereaved families’ burden of transporting their deceased relatives’ bodies to Namwala district hospital mortuary.

He told ZANIS that bereaved families resort to burying their loved ones immediately they pass on without waiting for other relatives to arrive because of lack of a mortuary in the area.

“ I wish to appeal to the council as they sit to debate on how they are going to utilize the CDF, let them think of constructing a mortuary here so that people can bury their deceased relatives with dignity,” he said.

And chief Nalubamba said people in Chibote village have shown commitment to continuing the stalled community school building project which is funded by Community Response to HIV/AIDS (CRAIDS).

Addressing scores of villagers during a meeting to find the way forward on the stalled school project, Chief Nalubamba said each village would raise K100, 000 towards the purchase of some building materials such as cement that went to waste.

ZANIS

MMD deserves praise – Chief Mungaila

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Chief Mungaila of the Ila people of Namwala district in Southern province says he would continue to support the ruling party because it had initiated a number of developmental projects in Namwala.

Chief Mungaila said the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) government deserves praise for implementing developmental projects such as roads, school infrastructure, health centres and other projects.

He told ZANIS today that the ruling party has delivered on some of its promises to the people in the district.

He cited the Namwala Modern Basic School and Niko Technical Girls High schools, whose construction works has reached advanced stages.

The traditional leader also cited the Maala and Choma -Namwala roads as some of the projects the ruling party should be praised for.

He said it was in this regard that he would offer unwavering support to the current government to continue with the delivery of developmental programmes in the district.

“There is no one who can stand today and say that the MMD government has done nothing in the district. We have seen a lot of development in terms of school infrastructure and health centres being constructed and other projects being implemented,” he said.

And commenting on the 2011 general elections, chief Mungaila advised Zambians to vote wisely for a credible leader who would steer the nation to further economic development.

ZANIS

Zambia has record growth in ICT investments – Lungwangwa

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Communication and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa

Communications and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa says Zambia has shown growth in attracting investment in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Sector.

Prof. Lungwangwa says the sector has recorded over 32 percent penetration rate growth compared to 0.02 percent recorded 14 years ago.

The Minister said this in an interview with ZANIS at the ongoing 14th African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He said investments in the ICT sector have continued to pour in since the country launched the policy in 2007 adding that the policy has created an environment for the growth of the sector.

Prof. Lungwangwa said the country now has eighteen (18) participants within the ICT sector compared to one (1) that existed before.

He cited the mobile manufacturing company and various internet service providers as some of the investments that the country has attracted.

The Minister said the government expects more investments in the sector as soon as the country completes the development of the optic fibre infrastructure back bone.

The installation of the optic fibre is expected to make the provision of ICT cheaper.

Prof. Lungwangwa, however, said that the increase in investment in the ICT sector has been achieved amid a number of challenges.

He said the country needed to roll out ICT to rural areas so that people can access internet that they could use to better their living standards.

Prof. Lungwangwa and Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande who arrived here last night are among African Foreign Affairs Ministers attending the 16th ordinary session of the executive council meeting which opened this morning.
The meeting is expected to adopt the agenda for the heads of state and government summit slated for 31st of January to the 2nd of February, 2010.

ZANIS

Zambia’s inflation rate reduces to 9.6 per cent

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The annual rate of inflation, as measured by the all items Consumer Price Index (CPI) has declined from 9.9 percent in December 2009 to 9.6 percent in January 2010, representing a 0.3 percentage points decline.

Central Statistical Office Director Efreda Chulu attributed the decline in the annual inflation rate in January 2010 to continued reductions in the prices of food.

Ms. Chulu, however, says the increase in the price of fuel would be reflected in the February 2010 CPI because it was effected outside the institution’s reference period.

She said in a speech read for her by CSO Deputy Director John Kalumbi at a CSO monthly bulletin in Lusaka today, that of the total 9.6 annual inflation in January 2010, food products accounted for 3.6 percentage points, while non food products in the CPI collectively accounted for a total of 6.0 percentage points.

“The annual food inflation rate was recorded at 7.1 percent in January 2010. This is a decline from 0.8 percent in December 2009. The decrease in the cost of fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, oil and fats contributed most to the decline in food inflation. However, increases were recorded in the cost of mealie meal, maize grain and cereal products”, Ms Chulu said.

Ms. Chulu further disclosed that annual non-food inflation rate was recorded at 12.0 percent in January 2010, saying this was an increase from 11.8 percent in December 2009.

She said regarding disaggregate groups, the annual inflation rates declined for clothing and footwear, furniture and household goods, medical care, transport and communications, recreation and education, among other goods and services.

The CSO Director also said the annual inflation rate increased for rent, fuel and lighting.

“A comparison of the retail prices between December 2009 and January 2010 shows that the national average price of 1kg of dried kapenta reduced by 1.6 percent, from K 48,526 to K47, 761. The national average prices of 1kg of pumpkin leaves reduced by 13.6 percent, from K2, 984 to K2, 577”, she revealed.

She however said the national average prices of a 25 kg bag of white roller meal increased by 3.8 percent, from K47, 736 to K49, 554, while the average price of a 20 litre tin of maize grain increased by 1.7 percent, from K25, 806 to K26, 247.

ZANIS

Establish effective ways of managing energy sector – Konga challenges COMESA

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Energy and Water Development Minster Kenneth Konga

Government has urged the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to establish effective ways of managing the energy sector to enhance regional development.

Energy Minister Kenneth Konga says the energy sector is an important component for achieving economic integration and raising the standards of living of people in the region.

Mr. Konga was speaking in Lusaka today when he officially opened the First Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Regional Association of Energy Regulators for Eastern and Southern Africa (RAERESA).

He observed that the success of the integration programme in the COMESA region depends significantly on the ability of the energy sector.

Mr. Konga said this is why there is need for member states to develop reliable energy infrastructure that can assist countries to expand their intra and extra trade through reduced costs that can enhance international competitiveness.

He further disclosed the Zambian government was currently working on measures aimed at promoting private power investment in the country.

And COMESA Acting Secretary General Nagla El-Hussainy said the Regional Association of Energy Regulators for Eastern and Southern Africa is important for facilitating the trade of energy services in the region.

Ambassador El-Hussainy reiterated the need for member states to come up with innovative ways of tackling the many challenges facing the energy sector in the region.

The RAERESA AGM has attracted participants from COMESA, SADC and East African Countries (EAC) regions.

ZANIS

RB expected in Ethiopia tomorrow

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President Rupiah Banda is tomorrow expected to join 50 other African Heads of State and government in Addis Ababa for a three-day 14th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU). According to the programme released by the Zambian Mission here, President Banda is among Heads of State and government scheduled to address the summit.

Mr. Banda is particularly expected as chairperson of the International Conference of Great Lakes Region, to report to the summit on the progress made so far from the time he took over the chairmanship. The President is also expected to be among ten Heads of State and government expected to attend the committee of ten on the United Nations Reforms.

Zambia is a member of the committee of 10 tasked to see how best Africa can increase its representation at the UN Security Council. Currently Africa is only represented on the Council by Libya, Garbon, Uganda and Nigeria. Mr. Banda will also attend the 12th summit of the Africa Pear Review Mechanism forum.

On the sidelines of the summit, President Rupiah Banda is expected to hold meetings with Professor Luis Marianno Joubertt Mate of Venezuela among others.

Meanwhile, the 16th ordinary session of the executive council comprising Ministers of Foreign Affairs opened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this morning with call for decisive action towards the improvement of the living standards of the African people.
Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande who arrived here last night was among African Foreign Affairs Ministers attending the meeting held at the AU building.

In his opening statement, Chairperson of the AU Commission Jean Ping said time has come for African leaders to strengthen organs and institutions of the AU to eradicate poverty among the people of Africa. Mr. Ping said it was the duty of African leaders to strengthen and empower the AU organs and institutions in order for the body to effectively carry out its mandate of improving the living standards of the African people.

He also called on African leaders to find lasting solutions to conflicts that have rocked most parts of the continent. The AU Commission Chairperson also emphasized the need for peace and security on the continent saying this is the only way Africa can improve the living standards of the people.

And officially opening the meeting, Council Chairperson who is also Libyan Foreign Affairs Minister, Mousa Kousa called on member states to expedite the process of transforming the AU into the United States of Africa. He said once transformed into the United States of Africa, the AU will be an effective tool to carrying out the goals of Africa.

Mr. Kousa also called on member states to honour their contributions to the Union. He said the outstanding arrears are a source of concern to the AU. The meeting is expected to adopt the agenda for the Heads of State and government summit slated for 31st January to 2nd February, 2010.

The Heads of State and government summit is expected to unpack the theme of the summit which has been widely viewed as one of the areas with the potential to enhance the development of the continent. The summit is also expected to discuss the report of the commission on unconstitutional changes of governments before considering adopting various reports, among them, the peace and security situation in Africa.

In addition, the summit will discuss the report of the ministerial meeting on the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The summit will also launch the AU flag and present awards to two African scientists who won the continental science prizes before climaxing into the 14th ordinary session of the heads of state and government summit.

ZANIS

Issuance of NRCs moving well – Mangani

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Minister of Home Affairs Lameck Mangani

Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani says the mobile issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs) is progressing well despite the rains.

Mr. Mangani says the Registration Office had targeted about 100,000 people in Southern Province and a total of 96,500 successfully got registered.

He said In Central Province, out of the targeted 85,000 and a total of 75,000 have been issued with the NRCs.

Mr. Mangani explained that the figures could not be attained in the first round of the exercise because of the low turnout.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the second phase of the exercise is currently taking place in Southern, Central, and Northern Provinces.

Mr. Mangani said Lusaka, Copperbelt, and Luapula Provinces would be in the third phase of the exercise

He, however, said that his office would not give the NRCs to anyone with a questionable nationality as this would compromise national security.

Mr. Mangani has since appealed to citizens in Provinces where the exercise is yet to be conducted to remain calm because all provinces will be covered.

Meanwhile Mr. Mangani has said the clause requiring a presidential candidate to have a minimum qualification of a first degree is a progressive.

Mr. Mangani said this because a lot of intellectuals, who consider politics as a game for the least educated, will be attracted to join the political arena.

He pointed out that there is a sense of intellect in people that have attained higher education because the rate of assimilation of issues is high.

Mr. Mangani further said that the clause could not have come at a better time than now because every job has a qualification.

ZANIS

Shaibu Wants Keshi, Not Renard

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Super Eagles coach Amadou Shaibu has said given a choice he would rather work with Mali coach Stephen Keshi than Chipolopolo coach Herve Renard at the 2010 World Cup.

The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) is looking for a foreigner to assist Amadou and renard has been mooted as a potential prospect.

Shaibu told Nigerian newspaper Vangurad that there was nothing spectacular about Renard after eliminating Chipolopolo in the quarterfinals in Lubango on january 25.

“Does it mean there’s nothing good in a black man?” Amadou said. “What extraordinary thing has the Mozambican coach that they were talking about done? We beat his team. Then the issue of the Zambian coach came up. I have beaten him too.

“Gentlemen, I prefer to work with Keshi than a white mercenary who may not know what Keshi knows about our football. If they want another person, let that person be our own, not a foreigner who may not offer much to our football within few months.”

Nigeria beat Zambia  5-4 on post-match penalties following a scoreless draw at Tundavala Stadium to qualify to yesterdays semifinals.

The Super Eagles face Ghana the semifinal in Luanda this evening.

Lions Club raises funds for Mazabuka hospital

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The Lions club of Mazabuka has embarked on a fundraising venture to raise funds for the construction of a roof for a passage at Mazabuka hospital to ease problems faced by health workers and members of the public when taking dead bodies to the mortuary during the rainy season.

Speaking to ZANIS in Mazabuka yesterday, club president Gurdson Shamilimo said his organisation projects to realise K 2.5 million through dog vaccinations at a reduced price of K 5,000 per vaccination.

Mr Shamilimo said the lions club is concerned about the problem because dead bodies that need to be kept in the mortuary have to remain in the wards until it stops raining.

He urged the community in Nakambala, Kabobola and Chibuyu townships, where the vaccinations will be conducted today, to take advantage of the reduced vaccination fees to treat their dogs and help the hospital administration find a solution to the problem.

Mr Shamilimo said his organisation decided to conduct the vaccinations in the three townships because of the high population of dogs there.

He said currently the lions club has sourced 139 iron sheets from a named business house but stated that cemment and poles are urgently required if the project is to take off.

ZANIS

Zambians in diaspora to invest back home

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Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Albert Muchanga has disclosed that the Zambian Mission in Addis Ababa will soon convene a meeting of Zambians living there to discuss how best to contribute to national development by investing back home.

Ambassador Muchanga said the meeting expected to be held in April this year would be a follow up the National Indaba which was held in Lusaka last year. He said it was agreed during the meeting that Zambians in the diaspora should play a leading role in spearheading development in the country by investing there.

Ambassador Muchanga observed that many countries on the African continent had made marked improvement in their economies because the diaspora had taken interest in investing in their own countries.
He cited Ethiopia as one of the countries on the continent whose success in infrastructure development could be attributed to investment from its citizens in the diaspora.

Ambassador Muchanga, who is also accredited to the AU, said Zambia could make alot of progress in its economy if all people living in the diaspora invested back home.

The Ambassador was speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday when he briefed the press on the on-going AU summit whose focus is “New Information and Communication Technologies in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities for Development.”

He said the Permanent Representative committee (PRC) comprising ambassadors accredited to the AU concluded its deliberations during which it adopted a report that would be presented to the 16th ordinary session of the executive council.
The ambassador said the summit gives Zambia an opportunity to focus on the role ICT could play towards enhancing socio – economic development.

President Rupiah Banda is among 50 African heads of state and government expected to attend the Addis Ababa AU summit.

According to the AU Commission, Representatives from the United Nations (UN), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Bank are also expected to bring their respective competences and knowledge to this unprecedented debate.

The summit is also going to witness the change of guard between outgoing chairperson Colonel Muhammar Gaddafi of Libya and Malawian president Dr Bingu Wamutharika .

Apart from political issues related mostly to the resolution of conflicts on the continent, the heads of state and government are expected to unpack the theme of the summit which has been widely viewed as one of the areas that holds a lot of potential for development on the continent.

The summit is also expected to discuss the report of the commission on unconstitutional changes of governments before considering adopting various reports, among them, the peace and security situation in Africa.

In addition, the summit will discuss the report of the ministerial meeting on the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The summit will further launch the AU flag and present awards to two African scientists who won the continental science prizes before climaxing into the 14th ordinary session of the heads of state and government summit.

ZANIS

NCC nods president’s immunity restoration

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National constitutional Conference delegates wait to vote in the 50+1 poll in the last evening
National constitutional Conference delegates wait to vote in the 50+1 poll in the last evening

THE National Constitutional Conference (NCC) has agreed to include in the Constitution a clause that will categorically state that a former president who loses immunity should have it restored if he is cleared by the courts of law.

The NCC plenary also adopted a clause that will give former presidents the right to appear before a parliamentary ad-hoc committee to give their side of the story on criminal allegations before the whole Parliament considered the motion for the removal of immunity.

Debating Article 136, the NCC plenary observed that the Constitution had been silent on a president that had been cleared by the courts on whether their immunity could be restored or not.

Vice-President George Kunda said, in order to remove any doubts, there should be a clause that would say immunity should be restored to a former president after he had been cleared by the courts of law.

Defence Minister Kalombo Mwansa agreed and said there should be a clause for the restoration of the immunity.

Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice-President Gaston Sichilima said if a former president was cleared by the courts, then the immunity should automatically be restored.

Lawyer Patrick Mvunga concurred with Mr Sichilima and explained that if someone was cleared by the courts then there should not be talk of immunity.

But Mbabala MP Emmanuel Hachipuka said Parliament was procedural and if a former president was cleared by the courts of law then there should be communication between the courts and Parliament.

Katuba Member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa said the ad-hoc committee was a democratic idea as it would give Parliament both sides of the accusations before removing the presidential immunity.

Parliamentary chief whip Vernon Mwaanga said there should be at least one third of all MPs to move a motion to remove a former president’s immunity to avoid frivolous motions.

Bahati MP Besa Chimbaka said former president Chiluba had his immunity removed without prima facie evidence.

Mr Chimbaka said Dr Chiluba had his immunity removed as a result of some allegations which were different from the ones that he appeared in court for.

Chief Kashiba said the country should be careful with the way it treated its former presidents because mistakes should not be repeated.

The clauses that were adopted say not less than one-third of the MPs should petition the Speaker stating allegations that a former president had committed a criminal offence in his private capacity during his tenure in office.

The notice should specify the allegations and the Speaker would within seven days serve the notice to the former president and the National Assembly.

After that, the National Assembly would then constitute an ad-hoc committee to determine the matter on whether immunity should be removed or not and the accused president should be given a right to be represented to give his side of the story.

The NCC agreed that the select committee would recommend to the National Assembly for the removal of the immunity but the resolution should be supported by a vote of not less than two-thirds of all MPs and the court would only try the president on charges for which the immunity was removed.

[Times of Zambia]

HH accused of failing to provide quality leadership to UPND

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FORMER United Party for National Development (UPND) chairperson for Agriculture and Cooperatives Simon Kunda has said party president Hakainde Hichilema’s decision to form a pact with Patriotic Front (PF) was an indication of his failure to provide quality leadership.

And the National Revolution Party (NRP) has accused Mr Hichilema of dribbling his PF counterpart Michael Sata by engaging him in an electoral pact that the UPND leader is sure will not work.

Mr Kunda said the move was out of the realisation that the UPND was slowly becoming weak as well as Mr Hichilema losing popularity, especially among his members of Parliament (MPs).

He said Mr Hichilema should not pretend that he went into the pact with the PF to remove President Rupiah Banda from State House.

He said Mr Hichilema’s decision to form a pact with the PF was a clear indication that he had failed to provide leadership and now wanted somebody to help him run the political party that was once vibrant and reputable.

Mr Kunda said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that Mr Hichilema’s decisions were unpopular among his members and that was why the party was slowly going into extinction with some vibrant MPs suddenly taking a low profile.

He said if UPND members were not careful, their party would be swallowed by PF and it may be too late to reverse the damage.

But UPND chairperson for publicity and Information Charles Kakoma declined to comment on the matter.

And Mr Kunda has said it was unfair for opposition political parties to continue accusing and attacking President Banda over corruption and tribalism when in actual fact they were also practicing the same vices in their political parties.

Mr Kunda said the MMD has tried to fight tribalism by ensuring that it has structures in all parts of the country, unlike some opposition political parties that were known to be tribal because they were only concentrated in certain parts of the country.

Mpombo’s ranting condemned

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George Mpombo

FORMER Lusaka MMD District secretary Michael Phiri has deplored the ranting of former Defence minister George Mpombo as unacceptable and called for his immediate dismissal from the party.

Mr Phiri has also challenged Mr Mpombo to reveal his true origins instead of masquerading as a spokesperson for the Lamba speaking people.

Speaking in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Phiri said it was becoming increasingly embarrassing for Mr Mpombo to continue disparaging the party in public and it was now a foregone conclusion that the man was no longer an MMD member and remained so only on paper.

While the concept of freedom of expression was roundly accepted and understood in any civilised society, it was folly for the former minister to stand on an anthill almost on a daily basis and without grounds use all manner of invectives against the party leadership to gain political mileage.

Mr Phiri wondered how Mr Mpombo who claimed to be an MMD member found it appropriate to publicly insult the party leadership when he knew too well what party structures, protocols and forums were available to him if he wanted to complain about issues.

‘If you quarrel with your wife in a home, you do not go in the middle of the street and start insulting her in public, not if you still want her, Mr Mpombo’s behaviour clearly shows that he is not interested in the party and he yearns to be dismissed,” Mr Phiri said.

He challenged Mr Mpombo to state the truth about the recent reorganisation of the party, which saw former deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande dropped from his position and replaced by former diplomat Chembe Nyangu and other positions.

Mr Mpombo recently charged that all those who were placed in new positions hailed from Eastern Province when according to Mr Phiri it was a fact that notable names like Vernon Mwaanga who were not Easterners had also been co-opted.

Mr Phiri insisted that appointments in the party were not based on tribe stressing that in any case, the NEC was a committee comprising many people and the acting party president only usually chaired it.

He said there was nothing sinister about the acting president co-opting party members from the general membership because that had happened before.

“I am forced to discuss how Mr Kaande himself was brought into the MMD NEC by the late president Mwanawasa, Mr Kaande was an ordinary member who took over the reigns of the office, why did Mr Mpombo remain mute then?

“Those appointed to such party political offices are brought in to serve the interests of the party and that of the president,” he said.

And commenting on the real origins of the man, Mr Phiri challenged Mr Mpombo to deny that he was not Lamba but hailed from somewhere in Luapula Province adding that it was not up to Mr Mpombo to ordain himself spokesperson for the Lambas because he only settled in the area.

He said the former minister could do well to concentrate on his personal businesses instead of making a clown of himself in public.

[Times of Zambia]

RB, Catholic bishops confer

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PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday held closed-door talks with a delegation of bishops of the Roman Catholic Church where they discussed wide-ranging issues concerning the nation.

Special Assistant to the President for Press and public relations Dickson Jere, said in a statement that the meeting between the president and the representatives of the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), at State House lasted for about three hours.

“Some of the issues discussed at the meeting concerned education, health, infrastructure, politics and the economy,” he said.

Mr Jere said President Banda and the bishops agreed to have another meeting at a date to be communicated.

He said the president thanked the Catholic bishops for the meeting and urged them to feel free to engage Government on any issues concerning the nation.

President Banda was accompanied by Vice-President George Kunda, Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti and State House aides.

ZEC was represented by its president Bishop George Lungu, Bishop of Ndola Alick Banda and the Archbishop of Lusaka Telesphore Mpundu.

And MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba has said he has lodged a complaint to ZEC seeking the Catholic Church’s official position on the priests who have become partisan through their conduct.

Dr Kalumba said in an interview the party was seeking clarity from the ZEC, which should state the official church position over some Catholic priests who have continued displaying partisan tendencies.

He said, as a Catholic and MMD national secretary, he wrote to ZEC through Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu.

He said the partisan conduct of some priests was offending some church members who expected them to be non-partisan because the church drew its members from different political parties.

Dr Kalumba, who refused to give the full details of the letter because he was still waiting for a response from ZEC said the MMD, wanted the matter to be dealt with locally and that was the reason why the party was not part of the group, which wrote to the Vatican complaining about some partisan priests.

But ZEC spokesperson Paul Samasumo said some priests who were alleged to be partisan were only doing so in their individual capacity and whatever they said was not the official position of the Catholic Church.

“The official position of the Catholic Church on various issues is only expressed when bishops speak collectively as ZEC through a statement or a pastoral letter which is used to express the church’s concerns on political and security issues which affect the country,” Father Samasumo said.

{Times of Zambia]

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