Confusion has rocked in the ruling MMD in Eastern province with two factions rallies at separate venues in Chipata district Saturday.

The disputes in the Provincial Executive Committee earlier this year, have now resulted in the division of the party into two  groups.

A check by ZANIS Saturday morning found some cadres supporting Kapata ward councilor Sinoya Mwale assembled at the tennis club while the other camp in support of the current PEC assembled at Mpezeni Park.

According to Chipata district chairperson, Benson Sakala confusion in the party was brought about by six district and constituency officials who were last week suspended for insubordination.

Mr Sakala named Mr Mwale who is also Chipata mayor and constituency chairperson Lazalous Sakala as some of the members that had formed a faction following their recent suspension from the party.

Others suspended are Susan Ngoma Women Chairperson, constituency Information and Publicity Secretary Dauzen Mwaza, district Youth Chairperson Isaac Moyo and Constituency Secretary Bernard Nkoma.

Mr Sakala alleged that the six organized a campaign meeting when they knew that PEC had scheduled a rally to be held in the district Saturday.

He stated that the faction that aims to bring confusion in the party, decided to hold another meeting to confuse the public who he said had to choose which meeting to attend.

The district chairperson expressed concern that the confusion in the party will affect the MMD Presidential canditate  Rupiah Banda’s chances of attaining a hundred percent vote in October 30 Presidential by election in the province.

Mr Sakala has since appealed to PEC to meet the Mangani Led faction to resolve the matter if the party is to attain its anticipated vote in the region.

And when contacted for comment MMD constituency Chairperson Mr Lazarous Sakala who was found at the Mangani led camp ,ruled out divisions in the party and attributed the confusion to poor communication on today’s meetings.

Mr Sakala said that some party cadres who were not informed about the provincial meeting, organized another meeting at Tennis club.

He however, disclosed that one of the meetings would be delayed to give chance to the other meeting.

He stated that the provincial campaign would be the first to take place before the constituency meeting.

But sources within the party said confusion in the party, started during the PEC elections that were held after late President Levy Mwanawasa dissolved the committee due to disorganization among its members, earlier this year.

Both Chipata constituency MP Mr Mangani and Provincial chairperson Knnedy Zulu could not be contacted for comment as they were reported to be in a meeting.
ZANIS/DM/HN/ENDS/MM.

Victory Ministries Pastor Nevers Mumba has denied receiving any bribe from Acting President Rupiah as stated by media reports.

According to a statement to ZANIS signed by his spokesperson Joe Chilaizya, Dr Mumba said he has not received any bribe from any body.

He has asked appropriate authorities to clarify the issue as he leaves Lusaka for Chinsali to bury his mother who died on September 23, 2008.

” It is his further wish that ( the allegation) would be done with the utmost sincerity and urgency,” Dr Mumba said in the statement.

Dr Mumba said in the same statement that he does not want to be used as ‘Impikiso'( Bemba word for sticks throwing during a fight)during this election campaign.

On media reports in the Post Newspapers connecting his to receive the K 15 million, Dr Mumba says he will not comment as he was still mourning his mother.

He however said he was still an MMD member and has declared his support to Acting President Rupiah Banda’s candidature for the October 30 Presidential By-elections.

‘ It is in this context that Dr Mumba had a meeting with his honour the Vice President on Tuesday, 23 September 2008. Dr Mumba has not received any bribe form anyone, ‘ said the statement in part.

Meanwhile Dr Mumba has paid tribute to Acting President Rupiah Banda abnd government for the assistance rendered during and the subsquent death of his mother on September 23, 2008.

Pastor Mumba formerly Vice President to late Dr Levy Mwanawasa said government, well wishers and friends had rendered incalculable assistance throughout the illness and death of his mother.

Government offered a plane to Dr Mumba and his family to fly his late mother’s body to Chinsali for burial on Saturday.
ZANIS/ENDS/MM

HERITAGE Party (HP) president Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda yesterday struggled for over four hours to raise 200 registered supporters required for him to file in his nomination for the October 30 presidential poll.

Gen. Miyanda was scheduled to file his nomination at 14:00 hours but could not do so because by then, only a handful of HP supporters had been screened by Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) officers.

By 15:34 hours, he was still short of 62 supporters and had to wait until 17:38 hours to get the 200 supporters required for the filing process.

While Gen. Miyanda was waiting to raise the required number of supporters, Patriotic Front (PF) officials led by party president Michael Sata complained against the delay.

Mr Sata, his officials and PF cadres went to the Supreme Court to hear the names of successful candidates announced by Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, who is the Returning Officer for the presidential poll.

PF secretary general Edward Mumbi took a swipe at ECZ deputy director for elections, Priscilla Isaacs and accused her of not following the law by extending time for Gen. Miyanda to file in his nomination.

Mr Mumbi wondered why the ECZ extended the time because Justice Sakala was scheduled to announce successful candidates at 16:30 hours.

But Ms Isaacs said the action was in line with the law.

After filing his nomination, Gen. Miyanda went outside to talk to reporters but it was difficult to get his message because of the deafening noise caused by PF cadres who stole the show as they chanted pro-Sata slogans.

And Justice Sakala certified as valid, nominations for all the four candidates, who include acting President Rupiah Banda, Mr Sata, Gen. Miyanda, and United Party for National Development president Hakainde Hichilema.

[Daily-Mail]

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Driven nuts

Management at Zambia Sugar PLC in Mazabuka have rejected MMD Southern Province Campaign Coordinator, Michael Kaingu’s request for the company to help the party by directing the workforce to vote for the MMD during the forth coming Presidential by-election.

Company Managing Director, Paul-de- Robillard told Mr Kaingu during a brief meeting held in the company board room , Friday, that the company corporate policy does not permit the support of any political activity or grouping.

Mr Robillard said though the company enjoys support from government, it will remain ‘politically nuetral.’

And attempts by Company Co-orporate affairs manager, Lovemore Sievu to read out the act that prohibits the company to take part in politics where thwarted by Mr Kaingu who interjected and ordered Sievu to stop reading the act.

“Dont read those regulations to me, read them when I leave this place but my advice is protect your investment by supporting us,” the minister.

Mr Kaingu who is also Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister cautioned Investors against voting for what he described as ‘a lunatic’ into State house.

He warned that voting for such a person would be disastrous because policies and manifestos might differ and one would consider nationalising the private companies such as Zambia Sugar.

“We are in trouble, we need to win these eleections to finish our mandate and that is why we have come to you. when you have a problem you run to your friends and that is what we have done to come to you,” Kaingu insisted.

He also bragged that in the event that there was change of government whether Opposition UPND or PF, he would join either parties and maintain his cabinet portifolio.

”As Politicians it is easier to change from One party to another but it is not possible for you as Zambia Sugar to change from cultivating Sugarcane to Mangoes,” said Kaingu.

Zambia Sugar PLC employs a total of 6,000 employees and 30,000 people on the estates.

Meanwhile, Mr Kaingu has described Patriotic Front (PF) presidential candidate, Micheal Sata, as ‘a comedian ‘ not fit to rule Zambia.

Mr Kaingu said Zambians will make a terrible mistake to vote for a leader like Mr Sata who he said has no vision for this country apart from creating confusion.

Mr Kaingu said the current administrative problems rocking the PF party clearly showed the disorganization in Mr Sata’s leadership style.

He said such a leader like Mr Sata cannot be entrusted with the task of presiding over the affairs of the nation.
ZANIS/HC/CM/ENDS/MM

Tourism minister Michael Kaingu has challenged the electorate in Southern Province to redeem themselves in the by-election by voting for the ruling MMD candidate Rupiah Banda in the forthcoming October 30 presidential.

Mr Kaingu said the electorate in the province have always been perceived that their voting pattern is on tribal lines as evidenced by the outcome of the 2006 polls.

He told ZANIS in Choma Friday that the province is the only one that failed to provide a cabinet minister because all the parliamentary seats were taken by the opposition.

Mr Kaingu said time has now come for the province to redeem itself from the perception that people in the region are tribalists.

Mr. Kaingu said ongoing reconstruction of the bottom road in the Gwembe valley and other important link roads in the Southern Province shows government’s commitment to uplifting the living standards of the people in the province.

Mr. Kaingu told ZANIS that government has invested huge resources in improving road infrastructure to help boost economic activities in the province.

He said for a long time,people of the Gwembe valley had appealed for the rehabilitation of the Bottom road saying there plea was answered by the late President Dr Mwanawasa’s administration.

The minister said works on the controversial Choma-Namwala road as well as the Monze-Neiko road are currently under way to help address the complaints of the people of Namwala over the bad state of the link roads.

He said the province has also been a beneficiary of massive investments in the tourism industry, which investments he said has opened up the area to economic development.

Mr Kaingu however caution people of southern province not to take the ongoing development projects for granted as their continuity depends on whom they vote for in the upcoming October 30 Presidential by election.

He said some of the presidential candidates, if voted into office, will negate the current economic gains of the MMD because they have no leadership qualities in them which can move the country forward.

Mr Kaingu said if the current peace that Zambians have taken for granted will be at great risk if they vote for a wrong presidential candidate.

He appealed to the people of southern province to vote for MMD candidate Rupiah Banda so that the province continues to register developmental gains.

ZANIS/CM/ENDS/MM

Acting President Rupiah Banda has Friday successfully filled in his nomination papers ahead of the forth-coming October 30 Presidential by-elections.

Mr. Banda, who arrived at Supreme Court at about 10:23 hours took oath before High Court Registrar Mwamba Chanda and later filled in his nominations before Chief Justice Ernest Sakala.

The Acting President , who was accompanied by senior government officials paid K20 million nomination fees before and was in jovial mood and declared his assets before Chief Justice Ernest Sakala.

His 200 MMD supporters were also screened by ECZ officers.

In his declaration of assets, Mr. Banda declared a farm and two other properties in Chipata, a House in Lusaka,an Isuzu Pick-up vehicle and a VX Toyota vehicle all valued at K2.935 billion.

He also declared his shares in the Chilanga Cement, Zambia Breweries, Investrust Bank, Standards Chartered Bank and Intermarket Bank all valued at K1.150 billion.

After finishing filling in his nomination papers at about 11:10 hours, he received thunderous support and ululations from thousands of supporters when he came out of the Supreme Court.

He assured his Presidential triumph in the forth-coming October 30 Presidential by-elections and further urged his supporters to campaign hard in an effort to scoop the elections with a landslide victory.

Mr. Banda said that there is need for the MMD party to campaign vigorously in order for the party to carry on the late President Levy Mwanawasa’s vision.

Among the cabinet Ministers who accompanied were Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha, Mines Minister and Minerals Development Dr Kalombo Mwansa, Justice Minister George Kunda, Presidential Affairs Minister Cecil Holmes.

Others were Community Development Minister Catherine Namugala, Gender and Women in Development Minister Patricia Mulasikwanda, Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe, Works and Supply Minister Kapembwa Simbao and Former Vice President Enoch Kavindele.

ZANIS/TK/ENDS/MM

Zambia government, has called upon all broadcasters, both commercial and community, to desist from live phone-in broadcast programmes that involve members of public.

According a press release issued today by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Windhoek, Zambian permanent secretary in ministry of information and broadcasting wrote in a letter dated 12 September 2008 that, “It has been observed that some radio stations have political programmes which provide unbalanced and, in some cases, unfair coverage to political parties during election campaigns.”

Emmanuel N Nyirenda’s letter goes on to say, “These programmes can be used by some parties to employ insults and accusations which cannot be rebutted. Ideally phone-in programmes need to be handled with use of special technology to facilitate screening of calls, which I believe most of you don’t have.”

It notes that in order to avoid unnecessary complaints, conflict and misunderstandings, Mr Nyirenda wished to advise all broadcasters to desist from such programmes and only carry political programmes in accordance with Zambian electoral commission’s by-laws.

Letter further requested broadcasters to stick to their programming schedules as submitted to licensing authority.

This move has been dismissed by MISA-Zambia and other media freedom organisations as a violation of media and freedom of expression rights.

In a 22 September 2008 statement, MISA-Zambia chairperson Henry Kabwe said, “this move is a desperate attempt by government to muzzle media in run up to 30 October presidential by-election.”

In his statement, Mr Kabwe added, “during times of elections, media have a duty to provide equal access to all contending political parties so that they sell their manifestos to potential electorate. Radio stations also have duty to facilitate interaction between aspiring political parties and citizenry and live phone-in programmes are their lifeblood as long as this is done in line with electoral code of conduct.”

Mr Kabwe and MISA-Zambia have urged Nyirenda to rescind his decision to ban radio programmes.

In most rural areas out of reach of Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) signals, community radio stations are said to serve as important sources of information on electoral issues generally and aspiring candidates in particular.

Directive by Mr Nyirenda is undemocratic and violates media freedom and freedom of expression, stressed MISA-Zambia.

Media watchdog body has expressed concern over a trend by ministry of information to curtail media’s freedom to provide information to electorate through live phone-in political programmes.

This, according to MISA-Zambia is not first time this has happened. Group states that during run-up to 28 September 2006 general elections, police visited Q-FM in an attempt to stop them from providing live coverage of election events.

It further shows that in 2007, Radio Explorer in Petauke was threatened with licence revocation for featuring an opposition leader.

MISA-Zambia believes that regulation of broadcasting should not be aimed at “policing” but being responsive to needs and growth of sector.

Organisation reminded community and commercial radio stations to adhere to electoral code of conduct, which require that they shall provide fair and balanced reporting of campaigns, policies, meetings, rallies and press conferences of all registered political parties during period of campaigning.

“Ministry of information should not averse with, but rather embrace latest technologies in broadcasting. Radio and television stations throughout world are now able to cover and report on events live as listeners and viewers hear or see them,” organisation has said.

[Afro News]

Information Minister, Mike Mulongoti, says there is nothing wrong in offering financial assistance to small political parties.

Mr. Mulongoti who is also MMD Elections Chairman says small political parties have in the past approached government for financial help in running their affairs.

He told a media briefing that the MMD gave the New Revolution Party K15 million after it’s leader, Cosmo Mumba, requested for financial assistance.

According to Mr. Mulongoti Dr. Mumba had sought financial help to enable his party participate in the forthcoming Presidential election.

Mr. Mulongoti said it is sad that certain sections of the media want to politicise the assistance given to the NRP to help it file in nominations for the presidential elections.

He also said Dr. Mumba presented him with an K80 million budget to help him hold rallies around the country.

The Minister further said Dr. Mumba had been phoning him for a long time to help him secure an appointment with Acting President, Rupiah Banda, so that he could endorse his candidature.

An official of the New Revolution Party was quoted by the Post Newspapers recently as saying his party was paid K15 million to endorse Mr. Banda’s candidature.

But Mr. Mulongoti said this is not true as small parties have been assisted before.

[ZNBC]