THE ruling party, MMD, has re-organised itself by bringing into the National Executive Committee (NEC) former national secretary Vernon Mwaanga, Education Minister Dora Siliya, former Nyimba Member of Parliament (MP) Chembe Nyangu, and Albert Chifita and dropping its deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande.

The party has also appointed a political mobilisation taskforce to rejuvenate the party and come up with a “winning formular” for the 2011 elections.

Briefing journalists at the party secretariat in Lusaka yesterday, national secretary Dr Katele Kalumba said the decisions were made during a NEC meeting chaired by President Banda at State House yesterday.

Dr Kalumba said the NEC formed a quorum and senior members perceived as the party’s black sheep like MPs for Chilanga Ng’andu Magande, Chongwe MP Sylvia Masebo and Western Province chairperson Simasiku Namakando were in attendance.

He said Mr Mwaanga and Mr Chifita were nominated as trustees. Mr Mwaanga replaces the late Frank Moyo while Mr Chifita fills a vacancy.

Ms Siliya replaces the late party spokesperson, Benny Tetamashimba, while Mr Nyangu replaces Mr Kaande, who has been dropped.

Dr Kalumba could not disclose why Mr Kaande has been dropped, but wished him well, saying the party will re-assign him to meet his expectations and those of the Zambian people.

“Mr Kaande has been a reliable deputy national secretary. I wish him well wherever he will have an opportunity to further his (political) career,” Dr Kalumba said.[quote]

He said the MMD is confident that Mr Nyangu, a former diplomat, will project the ruling party positively and defend Government policies.

Dr Kalumba said the ruling party would like its members to understand Government public policy and bring to the attention of the people what President Banda has done for Zambians.

He said President Banda has demonstrated good leadership qualities by getting Zambia out of its economic crisis and steering growth when the global economy was in recession.

Dr Kalumba said the MMD would like its members to defend President Banda’s legacy based on what he has done, as well as what they scored under the leadership of the late President Mwanawasa.

He stressed that credit should go to the MMD on whatever achievements a president scores because they do so on that platform.

Dr Kalumba said the political mobilisation taskforce, whose members he could not disclose, will bring the MMD closer to the people where this has not been done. Dr Kalumba said the taskforce will also come up with constructive ideas to rejuvenate the party ahead of the 2011 elections.

“The political mobilisation taskforce will comprise people with the experience of preparing for elections. We will also bring in experienced blood and new blood. It’s our hit group because it will come up with a winning formular (for the 2011 elections),” Dr Kalumba said.

He said this committee will also be tasked to attract new members to the ruling party because they want to infuse new ideas from outside and within its rank and file, too.

Dr Kalumba said the date for MMD convention and other internal elections will only be known after costing has been done and other logistical issues have been taken into consideration.

He said a committee headed by the treasurer has been tasked to come up with the detailed costing to undertake these elections. A report will be presented to the next NEC meeting during which the venue for the convention will be decided.

Dr Kalumba said the party will launch a membership renewal in Lusaka on February 13, 2010, to be followed by a nationwide exercise on March 6.

Meanwhile, Dr Kalumba has described as misplaced concerns by Patriotic Front president Michael Sata that the decision by the NCC that a presidential candidate should be a holder of a first degree is targeted at him.

Dr Kalumba said it is unfortunate that Mr Sata thinks that the NCC could conspire to exclude him from contesting elections.

He said the NCC was only exercising its mandate based on the recommendations of the Wila Mung’omba-led Constitution Review Commission.

Dr Kalumba said if Mr Sata has a degree as claimed by PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba in the private media, there was no cause for him to worry because it will be verified.

“If he has got a degree there is no need to worry, it will be certified. If he hasn’t got one he can secure one on-line,” he said.

Dr Kalumba, who is a member of the NCC, said he was pleasantly surprised to hear old freedom fighters during plenary discussions advocating improvement of credentials for leadership.

He said the freedom fighters said this is what they fought for because they would like their children to aspire for good credentials.

“It is a bit paranoid to think that the whole country is thinking about you. This may not be the case,” he said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

The MMD in Mazabuka has welcomed the decision by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to drop Mr. Jeff Kaande as the party’s Deputy National Secretary describing the development as good riddance.

MMD District vice chairperson, Takawira Mahere told ZANIS in Mazabuka today that, removing Mr Kaande from his position is good riddance and long overdue.

Mr. Mahere said Mr. Kaande deserves such punitive action because he allegedly contributed to the confusion that had rocked the MMD in Mazabuka and Monze districts following his un authorized dissolution of the party organs.

He said the dissolution of the party organs led to the resignation of district and constituency officials in Monze district.

Mr. Mahere said it had to take him to restrain senior party officials in Mazabuka district from resigning because he knew that Mr Kaande’s directives did not have the blessings of the party national secretariat.

He also congratulated Education Minister Dora Siliya on her appointment as party spokesperson.

Mr. Mahere also urged NEC not to entertain any members creating confusion in the party.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mahere has challenged the Southern Province MMD executive committee to resign their positions on moral grounds for failing to reject directives by Mr Kaande to dissolve the two districts.

Mr. Mahere threatened to de-campaign the provincial executive committee if it does not resign within three weeks.
ZANIS

By P. Hatontola:

Following the NCC’s unanimous adoption of an article that requires a presidential candidate to have the minimum academic qualification of a degree, it goes without saying that all those who work with a Republican president in public office must be his equals academically.

To this effect, natural law and morality will dictate as a prerequisite, that ministers and their deputies including permanent secretaries and their deputies too, must be subjected to the same litmus test. They must be degree holders if they are to be real partners with the president and operate as equals. Members of parliament too must not be an exception. This should apply to them as law makers. In fact, even NCC members ought to have degrees to render this clause legitimate. How about the electorate, shouldn’t they also possess a degree to vote ‘wisely’? Without these considerations, this development would be a step in the reverse and a disuniting factor to the nation.

A degree is desirable. But it is not an end in itself. Rather, it is a means to an end. As such, this clause can be generally classified as being myopic, discriminatory and ill-conceived. Where does this clause leave those with professional qualifications such as CIMA/ACCA? This clause would disadvantage credible candidates who never attained a degree for circumstances beyond their control. For example, the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, could not attain even a grade 12 qualification as he was a fugitive. He was in exile while others were going through the ranks of education in class rooms. Notwithstanding his humble educational background, the social and economic strides made by his government are enormous for all to see. One the other hand, the President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe has an impeccable academic background. The world is yet to see a President who will match Mugabe’s academic achievements. Mugabe’s academic achievements are second to none in the history of the world’s Presidents. The question of whether these academic achievements for this President translate into any benefits on the citizenry of Zimbabwe is left to one’s individual assessment. Whether the high academic success of Mugabe has aided the socio-economic well-being of the people of Zimbabwe is there for all to see. It is public knowledge that perhaps his education has worked more to his country’s detriment.

Coming back home, Zambia has had four Presidents, namely Dr. Kaunda, Dr. Chiluba, Late Dr. Mwanawasa and the incumbent Rupiah Banda. Based on the performance of all these presidents, every honest Zambian, irrespective of their political affiliation, will admit that Dr. Kaunda made the most significant contributions to the development of the region in general and Zambia in particular. His commitment and dedication to duty does not compare to any of his successors, let alone his achievements. He did all this with very humble education. There was an engine to this. It was not a degree. He didn’t have one. But he had love for the people; passion for service, good leadership skills; honesty, integrity, wisdom and finally, vision for the country. All these attributes are not learnt from a class room. I agree that these are qualities and virtues of a president that can guarantee success for Zambians in all their aspirations. Zambia needs a president who is visionary. Period! Talking about ministers with degrees, the likes of Felix Mutati have displayed exemplary performance. His degree is worth the paper it’s written on. Conversely, Micheal Sata as Minister of Health far outperformed degreed inisters like Dr Chituwo when they served as health ministers.

Goodness! The clause does not specify what degree is needed. With a degree in dancing, one will have their way to presidency at the expense of candidates with a good value system. I neither despise any degree nor encourage anyone not to study for one. I have them. But I have seen many people with degrees yet they can’t manage their own lives. How about a country? Like an economist must have a degree in economics, shouldn’t a president have a degree in ‘Presidency?’ and a Minister of Home Affairs one in ‘Home Affairs’? This clause is a joke.

Lastly, UNZA like any other university is run by people with many degrees, even professors. I am yet to hear anyone who is inspired by the governance of UNZA by these learned colleagues. It is no public secret that even some students pursuing these degrees at UNZA have exhibited behaviours that are unbefitting of a president in making. How this institution is run does not inspire confidence amongst Zambians. Unless we want Zambia to become like UNZA, this clause remains a fallacy. There is still time to redeem ourselves from an impending disaster owing to this clause.

The United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has described, Namwala Member of Parliament, as a lunatic with just a big head with no brains.

The embattled MP has tirelessly attacked the party leader, Mr. Hichilema and campaigned against him charging that the party president has lost direction by joining into a pact with the Patriotic Front (PF).

Yesterday, outspoken UPND MP called for the immediate impeachment of Mr. Hichilema because he is a visionless leader.

Maj Chizyuka charged that Mr Hichilema is just being used by Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata in the UPND/PF Pact.

Mr. Hichilema however said that though Mr. Chizyuka single handedly debated against the decision within the UPND , he lost the debate and the entire party decided to go ahead with the pact.

Meanwhile, the UPND president has charged that the intelligence of his party representation at the on-going national constitution conference NCC blocked the ruling (Movement for Multi Party Democracy) MMD party on the 50% +1 vote clause and forced the matter to go for a referendum decision.

Briefing the press this morning, Mr. Hichilema indicated that the national constitution making process has been mishandled by the MMD but the UPND representation has put up a splendid performance by giving the ruling party a good run for their money.

Mr. Hichilema said that that the MMD leadership has failed Zambians because it has always been a minority government but the people have called for the 50% + 1 vote clause to be enshrined in the national constitution and that will be upheld at all costs by the UPND.

He said that it is clear that the presence of the UPND in the constitution making process, which is an intelligent one, has had a great influence in the direction and pace of various critical regulations in the forth coming constitution.

He has however observed that now that the majority clause has been pushed to a referendum, it is vital that Zambians use the ability to vote wisely and prove to the MMD which direction the constitutional making process should take.

QFM

THE choice of a candidate to lead the United Party for National Development and Patriotic Front (UPND/PF) Pact in next year’s elections has taken a new twist with the UPND also announcing it will soon declare its president Hakainde Hichilema as the one to lead the alliance barely 48 hours after PF leader Michael Sata declared himself frontrunner.

And MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga says the ruling party has been vindicated on its stance regarding the UPND/PF alliance.

Southern Province UPND vice chairman John Chidyaka said even if Mr Sata has declared that he is the presidential candidate in 2011, the UPND will continue campaigning for Mr Hichilema to lead the pact.

Mr Chidyaka described Mr Sata’s statement of standing in the 2011 elections as political propaganda.

Mr Sata has said that no law or any piece of paper will stop him from achieving his political ambitions.

He was referring to the National Constitutional Conference’s adoption of a clause which prescribes that a Presidential candidate should have a first degree from a recognised university.

Mr Sata also said the clause was discriminatory.
But Mr Chidyaka said in an interview yesterday that the UPND has no problem with Mr Sata’s ambitions of contesting the presidency because even Mr Hichilema has the same ambitions.

He said according to the UPND/PF pact, Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema are both presidential candidates.

Mr Chidyaka said Mr Sata’s claims that he will be the president after the 2011 elections are only meant to disguise the pact’s presidential candidate and confuse other political opponents.

“We are going to continue marketing Mr Hichilema as a presidential candidate for the 2011 general elections. The UPND will also declare its leader Mr Hichilema as a presidential candidate for the pact.

We are gunning for the elections in 2011 and as UPND, H.H will be the one we are going to declare as a presidential candidate. What Mr Sata is saying is just political propaganda meant to disguise the true presidential candidate for the pact,” he said.

Mr Chidyaka said members of the pact are fully aware of who shall lead the alliance in 2011 and that assertions that the two political parties are confusing them are unfounded.

And Mr Mabenga said the MMD has been vindicated on its pronouncements that the pact will crack.

He said the UPND/PF alliance has no future because the two parties have different ideologies and agenda.

Mr Mabenga said the pact does not have a preferred candidate and that this is the reason the two parties are selecting their own presidential candidates.

“We have been telling you people that this pact has no future and the truth is coming out now. So the MMD is vindicated because this pact is slowly cracking,” he said.

And Mr Mabenga said Mr Sata is free to contest the 2011 general elections as long as he meets the qualifications enshrined in the constitution.

Mr Mabenga said it is wrong for Mr Sata to assume that the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) is enshrining certain clauses in the constitution to disadvantage him from contesting the 2011 general elections .

“What Mr Sata should understand is this constitution is meant for all Zambians and so he is free to contest the presidency as long as he meets the set standards.[quote]

“So as MMD , we are not scared of him, he is at liberty to contest the elections but he should qualify,” Mr Mabenga said.

UPND Mazabuka Central member of Parliament Gary Nkombo, when contacted for a comment on Mr Sata’s statement, said it is not news that the PF leader has been aspiring to be president.

Mr Nkombo said while Mr Sata has presidential ambitions, the UPND leader equally has similar aspirations and that the two leaders should be allowed to continue campaigning.

“Do not create an impression that we are fighting.

We are still working together and in fact, you cannot ask for a comment from me. You ask Given Lubinda (PF spokesperson) about what Mr Sata said.

And is it news to you that Mr Sata has been aspiring to be president? And is it news that Mr Hichilema wants to be president of this country? You leave us alone and do not ask me about PF, ask me about the UPND,” Mr Nkombo said.

And Chief Mwanachingwala of the Tonga people in Mazabuka has denounced Mr Hichilema for allegedly lying to the people of Southern Province that he was going to contest the presidential elections in 2011.

The chief said all the people of Southern Province know that Mr Hichilema is going to lead the UPND/PF pact in 2011.

Chief Mwanachingwala challenged Mr Hichilema to announce his position on the matter now that Mr Sata declared his intentions of standing in the 2011 elections.

The chief said Mr Hichilema must tell the people of Southern Province the truth about his ambitions.
Chief Mwanachingwala accused Mr Hichilema of having indirectly sold the people of Southern Province to the PF through the pact.

“What we all knew here in Southern Province was that Mr Hichilema was going to lead the pact. Now that Mr Sata has declared himself presidential candidate, Mr Hichilema must have read and heard, he must tell us the truth because he told us that he was going to be the one. When I spoke with you last time, they called me names,” Chief Mwanachingwala said.

The traditional leader revealed that soon after predicting the collapse of the PF/UPND Pact, Mr Sata called him to complain about the story.

“After you spoke to me, Mr Sata called me and read the whole story to me. I did not dispute anything but I asked Mr Sata what his motive of forming the pact was,” he said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

PRESIDENT Banda has exonerated Vice-President George Kunda from allegations of impropriety raised by Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata that Government paid Mr Kunda legal costs when there was no court order.

Mr Sata wrote to the President asking him to investigate Mr Kunda on allegations that the latter received payment through his legal firm Messrs George Kunda and Company from Government for legal costs when there was no order by the court.

This is contained in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday by special assistant to the President for press and public relations Dickson Jere.

Mr Jere said in replying to Mr Sata’s letter, the President said he had conducted a thorough review and investigation of the various allegations made against the Vice-President.

“He said his investigations have revealed that the court did grant an order for costs. The determination of the actual quantum of the costs was the subject of verification by the court through the taxing master by way of legal procedure known as taxation of costs,” Mr Jere said.

He said the President informed Mr Sata that the records of the court proceeding relating to taxation of the costs are public and are available for scrutiny.

Mr Banda said his findings are in contrast to Mr Sata’s allegations that there was no order by the court to grant costs.

“The correct position is that there have in fact been subsequent subsidiary orders as to costs by the court,” he said.

The President also revealed that the court case on which Mr Sata based his allegations of payment of costs arose 15 years ago when the PF leader himself was in Government.[quote]

Mr Banda said it is unfortunate that Mr Sata could raise the issue now to deliberately give a false impression to the people that it is a matter which has come up for the first time during his tenure of office.

President Banda said he is concerned that it has become a norm for Mr Sata and other political leaders in the country to associate his Government with all the wrong things which happened before he assumed office.

The President said he has found this state of affairs to be unfair and regrettable.

“In the interest of fairness, President Banda said he would request Mr Sata and other leaders in the nation to hold his Government accountable for issues that have occurred or arisen during his tenure as President,” Mr Jere said.

President Banda said for Mr Sata’s record, the Vice-President ceased practising in Messrs George Kunda and Company in 2002 when he was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General by late President Mwanawasa.

He said this was in compliance with the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Practice Rules of 2002 made pursuant to the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act Chapter 30 of the Laws of Zambia.

Meanwhile, President Banda has thanked Mr Sata for having thought it prudent to write to him to seek clarification on the matter and urged all leaders to always engage in constant dialogue to resolve various challenges affecting the country.

The President urged Mr Sata and other political leaders to feel free to seek clarification from him on any matter which they think should be clarified.

Mr Banda, however, said he is concerned about the manner in which the PF leader writes letters to him.

He said Mr Sata has the tendency of leaking letters, including the recent one, to the press before they reach State House.

Mr Banda said the recent letter Mr Sata wrote to him received wide publicity in the media before it even reached his office.

President Banda said Mr Sata’s actions are not only regrettable but are also calculated to embarrass his administration because the PF leader’s last letter was not written to seek genuine clarification.

He said Zambians deserve a lot more from leaders than cheap political rhetoric.

In view of Mr Sata’s conduct regarding the manner in which he publicly circulated his letter, President Banda said he found it unavoidable to equally respond to the PF leader’s letter publicly.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

A political analyst on the Copperbelt has predicted increased apathy in the 2011 tripartite elections if the first degree requirement for a presidential candidate would be endorsed and adopted into the Republican Constitution.

Mr. Isaac Kanyanta says the first degree requirement for the republican presidential candidate should not be a constitutional requirement but instead should be left to political parties to handle.

He said some members of parliament and majority of the Zambian electorate were not first degree holders which should serve as a warning sign that academic papers were not always the yardstick of measuring one’s ability in leadership.

He called on the NCC Commissioners to take an inventory of all the African presidents from both the economically struggling countries and those who were powerful and look at their presidents’ academic qualifications.

He said Political parties were better placed to practice such segregation as an in house cleaning arrangement than putting it in the republican constitution.

Mr. Kanyanta added that first republican president Dr. Kenneth Kaunda though only Form Two managed to render extraordinary political, material and intellectual help to all the neighboring countries during the political liberation struggle.

He added that the few heads of State summits that were attended by Heads of States should not be used as an excuse for a segregatory clause to craft its way into the republican constitution.

He said no Head of State was compelled to take a position at the Summit of Heads of State when they did not understand the matter fully.

He added that majority of the Summits were not even taking a position on many issues because it was the collective wisdom of Heads of States that the official communiqué carried after the Summit.

Mr. Kanyanta agreed with the NCC lone Commissioner Mr. Joseph Mubali who opposed the Clause as political parties could best handle the matter when choosing the persons they wanted to float as presidential candidates.

Mr. Kanyanta said Zambia did not need an academician for a president but a leader with a vision, who was principled and morally upright because he should be an embodiment of Zambian values and cultural beliefs.

He added that academic qualifications were not synonymous with wisdom because many graduates were roaming the streets in the pride of their papers when those with wisdom were busy making money in the midst of academic arguments on the performance of the national economy.

He said the informal sector was booming with people without degrees but full of wisdom and when such people are excluded from entertaining presidential ambitions, they could easily persuade their likeminded less qualified academically to shun the 2011 elections which would increase levels of apathy and reduce political participation by a larger margin.

Mr. Kanyanta said the people of Zambia were the best judges through the ballot box whether to vote for a degree holder or a school leaver in whom they have seen the required leadership qualities that would help to steer the nation to higher political, economic, social and cultural attainments.

He said the segregatory Clause would create “the animal farm situation” in the political life of Zambia where some citizens would be forever denied their birth right to aspire for the presidency of the land.

He called on the NCC to consider the feelings of the people who would be injured by such a provision adding that not many educated people with degrees take an active role in the political life of the Nation.

He said majority voters were from the uneducated lot living in underdeveloped Townships and if such a clause passed, they would feel like tools being used to favour some educated Zambians with degrees at their expense.

Mr. Kanyanta added that majority of the Zambians would not want to be used by degree holders for political gains and expediency when they were also entitled to the same human rights of aspiring for the republican presidency.

He said leadership was about service and not just prestige of academic parlance and exclusive pride over the electorates.
ZANIS

Minister of Science Brian Chituwo says there is need to unlock the scientific potential that exist in Zambia and translate it into short and long term economic benefit in the country.

Dr. Chitwo said there is need to reposition scientific initiatives and venture into an innovation-led economy which will be driven by a highly skilled, creative and competitive work force in the country.

He said in order to carry out such a transformation, there is need to have a lot of researchers, scientists and engineers.

He said this in a speech read for him by his Deputy Crispin Musosha at the Youth Inventors Fund and Strategic Researcher Fund, Grant and awards giving ceremony held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka today.

Dr. Chituwo said government will continue to provide an enabling platform for this transformation through various initiatives and funding for scientific research and innovation.

He added that this why government has developed the strategies research and youth inventors funds, which are under his ministry.

He pointed out that the common goal of these funds is to promote science and technology innovations and development in the country.

Dr. Chituwo noted that the two funds should address the challenges of developing a new generation of researchers, inventors and engineers working on matters of national relevance.

ZANIS