The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set Thursday 15 October as the date for the Kasama Central parliamentary by election and the four local government by –elections.

ECZ Public Relations Manager, Cris Akufuna, announced the development in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

The Kasama Central seat fell vacant after the resignation of area Member of Parliament (MP) Dr. Savior Chishimba from the Patriotic Front (PF) who has since formed his political party while the wards fell vacant after the death, resignation and criminal convictions of councillors.

Mr. Akufuna has since urged aspiring candidates to lodge in a completed and attested statutory declaration and nomination papers subscribed before a Magistrate, or Local court justice and Election Returning Officers among others on September 17, from 09:00 to 15:00 hours.

He said aspiring candidates for the Kasama by-election will be required to pay a non refundable nomination fee of K500, 000 and accompanied by nine supporters who are registered voters in Kasama.

He further said local government aspiring candidates will pay a non refundable nomination fee of K75, 000, 00 for Municipal Councils and K50, 000, 00 for District Councils and also have nine supporters with them.

The Commission has also set September 17 to October 14 2009 as the periods for campaigns for the eligible candidates and their political parties.

He also said applications for accreditation for Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) wishing to monitor the elections will take place from August 24 to October 10 2009.

Mr. Akufuna said political patties wishing to monitor the elections in the constituency shall only have a maximum of 20 officials each.

He further said that a maximum of 10 accredited officials shall represent each political party while two representatives each will be needed at the collation centers adding that not more than two party members per party will be allowed to witness counting of votes at the poling station.

By-elections in the wards will be held in Southern, Eastern, North -Western and Northern provinces.

ZANIS

President Banda has urged Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) officials in Kasama, to start selling the ruling party’s Manifesto in readiness for the Kasama Central by-election.

Mr. Banda has also announced the commencement of the maize buying programme thought out the country.

Speaking on his arrival at Kasama airport today, on his two-day working visit, Mr. Banda said people of Kasama and MMD members should start a door-door campaign to sale the ruling party’s manifestos.

He said MMD cadres and members should start working towards selling the party to the people in the area so that the ruling party can scope the Kasama Central seat.

“You should not wait to have a motor vehicle. National Executive Committee (NEC) will soon mobilize funds to get campaigns materials for the elections,” he said.[quote]

The Kasama Parliamentary seat fall vacant after Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament Saviour Chishimba resigned from the party.

And speaking earlier MMD National Chairman Michael Mabenga said the MMD was the only Democratic Party that listens.

Mr. Mabenga said democracy was all about listening to what people want adding it was for this reason that the National Convection has been put on hold.

He added that just like the NEC had earlier on listened to calls for President Banda to be the sole candidate for the 2011 elections, NEC would similarly listen to calls for the ruling party not to go a head to hold the National Convention.

This was after MMD Provincial chairperson Grievers Sikasote said the ruling party in the province was not for the idea of holding the national convention.

Mr. Sikasote said the MMD in the province will petition the NEC to postpone the convention.

He said  Provincial MMD committees in Southern and Central provinces has shared similar concerns.

He said by postponing the convention, the party will have more money for the campaigns in readiness for the 2011 general elections..

Meanwhile, President Banda has directed Agriculture and Co-operatives Minister Brian Chituwo to ensure that his ministry puts measures in place so that all the maize is bought from farmers throughout the country.

Mr. Banda said it was disheartening to note that unscrupulous business Men and Women had continued to exploit the farmers by buying their hard earned crops cheaply.

He urged farmers to take advantage of government’s move to start buying maize and be able to prepare themselves for the next planting season.

Mr. Banda took cognizance of the people of Northern Province saying they not only play leading role politically but were also active players in the country’s economy.

He said most of them were engaged in various Professions such as Teaching, Nursing, Agriculture and economics in most parts of the country.

The President is on a two days working visit to the Northern Province .

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda says he has not yet considered restoring  the immunity of second republican president Dr. Frederick Chiluba.

Mr Banda was speaking to Journalists in Lusaka today shortly before departure for Kasama in Northern Province for a two-day working visit.

He said Dr. Chiluba is free to seek legal redress just like any other person.

The President said he respects the judiciary, parliament and the executive because the separation of powers makes government and Zambia, a peaceful nation.

“I very much respect the judiciary, parliament and the executive because the separation of powers makes government and Zambia a peaceful nation,” President Banda said.

Ndola High Court Registrar Jones Chinyama acquitted Dr. Chiluba on August 17, 2009 on all counts of embezzling public funds amounting to US$500,000.

And, Vice President, George Kunda said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) will make a decision on whether or not to appeal against Dr. Chiluba’s immunity request.[quote]

Meanwhile President Banda has said he has no intentions of relieving Local Government and Housing Minister Benny Tetamashimba of his duties.

Mr Banda said he is receiving reports that Mr Tetamashimba, who is also MMD Spokesperson, should be maintained because the people of Zambia still need his services.

He urged Zambians to continue praying for the Minister’s quick recovery.

The President was seen off at the Airport by Vice President George Kunda, Cabinet Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Defense Chiefs, senior MMD party officials and patriotic Zambians.

The President is expected to return to Lusaka soon after completing his official programme in that province.

ZANIS

Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has challenged Catholic Diocese of Ndola Treasurer- General Augustine Mwewa to produce evidence that President Banda was involved in the judgment in which Dr Chiluba was acquitted of corruption charges.

He said this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday in response to claims from some sections of the public that the acquittal of Dr Chiluba was political.

Father Mwewa was quoted in The Post newspaper of yesterday as saying that President Banda was insulting Zambians by thanking them for having accepted Dr Chiluba’s acquittal when he had a big influence on the court’s judgement.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said it is sad that a man of God had resorted to lying on the matter, adding that President Banda has nothing to do with the acquittal of Dr Chiluba.

“Whatever decisions the courts make, the President does not have any influence and so it is only necessary for Fr Mwewa to show his integrity as a man of God by showing evidence to all the Zambians on how the Head of State got involved in the judgement.[quote]

“Rather, it is Fr Mwewa who is lying on the matter, and this is not good for a man of God. Maybe people misinterpreted the President’s remarks when he said it was good that the case had finally ended because, like many other Zambians, he felt that the case had dragged on for seven years. It was good that the judgment had finally been made,” he said.

Lt-Gen Shikapwasha, who is Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said Zambians should speak with facts, adding that this is the only way the country can move forward and develop.

He said people should believe and move with the truth all the time as opposed to commenting on anything which comes their way.

Lt-Gen Shikapwasha advised all Zambians to read and study the judgment made by the court in Dr Chiluba’s case and desist from making unsupported statements against President Banda.

And MMD youths on the Copperbelt have condemned Fr Mwewa for insinuating that President Banda had influence on the outcome of former President Frederick Chiluba’s corruption case.

MMD provincial youth chairman Evans Chibanda said in a statement issued in Ndola yesterday that there is need for men of God to respect the court’s decision involving Dr Chiluba’s corruption cases.

“As MMD youths, we want to condemn Father Mwewa, he must learn to respect the verdict of the courts because this country is governed by law. It is such men of God that want to portray a bad picture about the President unnecessarily,” Mr Chibanda said.

He said Fr Mwewa’s comments should not be entertained because they are aimed at inciting Zambians to rise against the court judgment.

Mr Chibanda said youths on the Copperbelt will not entertain such comments from the clergy who are supposed to promote peace and reconciliation in the country.

He said Zambians have accepted the verdict in Dr Chiluba’s case and that it was up to the government to appeal against the decision of the court or not.

“Our worry is that even young priests are issuing political statements instead of promoting peace and unity in the country. Let them desist from issuing such comments because the judiciary is an independent organ of Government which should be respected,” Mr Chibanda said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]