President Rupiah Banda is scheduled to visit Gwanda district 150 kilometres south of Bulawayo on Friday. Gwanda District hosts the town in which the president was born in 1937. President Banda who arrived in Harare, today at the start of his four-day state visit is expected to return home to Zambia on Saturday.
The Zambia air force plane carrying President Banda touched down at 15.30 hours to a rousing welcome by scores of Zimbabwean nationals led by President Robert Mugabe.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe Dr Sipula Kabanje and Zambians resident in Zimbabwe were also at the airport to give President Banda a warm welcome.
Soon after disembarking from the Zambia air force plane AF 608 flown by Colonels Llyod Kalima and George Muliokela, President Banda flanked by his host President Mugabe proceeded to the ceremonial daisy for the presidential salute against the backdrop of a 21-gun salute.
Accompanied by the commander of the Zimbabwean defence forces and commissioner general of police, President Banda inspected the guard of honour mounted by the Zimbabwean defence forces.
President Banda led by his host went on to shake hands with a long line of dignitaries who were at the airport to receive.
President Banda also took time to watch traditional dances performed by Zimbabwean and Zambian nationals.
The two leaders are later this afternoon scheduled to hold official talks at state house to be followed by a State banquet in honour of President Banda.
Tomorrow morning President Banda leaves for Zimbabwe’s second city of Bulawayo to officially open the 50th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.
ENDS/IMD/AM/ZANIS
Anyway explains why he too the big entourage of his family to Zimbabwe. I would do the same any time, any day, anywhere, the birth place is special for anyone. Nothing wrong with that. Enjoy yourself Mr RB with your Kids & wife. Show them your humble beginings
When do we draw a line between personal things and business. I do understand a birth place is special but it is also private. He should have gone at his own expense with his family and not spending Zambian’s money.
Hi Chinondo????? mwana on the other thread you caprted me for supporting Easter Phiri now you are supporting wastage of GRZ money on personal tours!
#3 you are right my friend, don’t worry the next government will send him a bill when he is out of office. This certainly is a private visit that does not add value to out company called Zambia. If this CEO is using zambia money, then he is certainly out of line
Kamwendo munjila on the road again
They have been eating masuku navibuyu on our heads since independence. 2011 is upon us, Diasporians we need to mount a campain like no other, not va Sata or HH or Miyanda. We need to campaign for the moral renewal of our land. Prayers to God first , then we work. We can educate our brothers and sisters back home. We have spoken for too long on this LT, we need to work and speak Last. Some of us have started implementing change back home May God bless you all.
# 2-These are simple things you need to know as a passionate political blog that you are.Throughout the tenure of Presidents, there is no trip that is private where full state assets will not be used.If President Banda wants to visit his family member funeral, full state assets will be used, political campaigning, full state assets will be used.No President in office ever goes private whilst in office.That is simple Presidential Politics and public Policy knowledge from any public library.Don’t be like our young brother Ngwenya here who claims to have an MBA but his knowledge on Economics and rational thinking is like a Grade 7 failure. He is confuse with basic fiscal and monetary economics. Ask, we have some sober Zambians here just clouded out by political fanatics carnivorously…
senior citizen you need to teach these young man who do not understand what it means to be head of state. there is no such thing as a private visit for president. His whole life is tied to the office and so wherever he goes and whoever he goes with are paid for by the State. Levy used to take lubona and tembe on most visits outside the country and no one complained. so why is RB any different. even obama goes with his children on some of his trips. LT bloggers need to grow up and post more mature issues than follow every nonsense of the Post.
forgot to add that I agree with all you have said senior citizen
if this so man RB ha s going back home were he belongs why allow hime to came back to Zed.
As head of state ,he really does not have a definable private life, this should explain why we are monitoring every move he makes , because he is answerable to the Zambians. Having said this, I just hope Robert Mugabe does not advise him wrongly as to stand for 2011. We need new bones.
Nothing wrong with going to see his birthplace on the taxpayers’ lam, he is the Pres.But I hope the 49 plus crew he has won’t follow him there, let them return after the official function. No need, only essential aides!
Nothing wrong with the prez taking the little ones and maid/nanny. I’d have a problem if my hard-earned taxpayer’s money is being used to pay for his other children who probably range from 30-50 – not good!!
I can not wait for 2011 ,let the young with brains that are not fatigued rule … RB enjoy your family re-union and memories of childhood ,for an old man is a baby
Does any one know what the Zambian constitution says about who could be president….anyway, i do not even see my point of asking this question because it’s just common sense that it does not hinder a foreign born person to run for the highest office provided they can speak a Zambian language LOL!
So it’s ok for RB…(foreign born, to be head of state) and wrong for K.K to have been one…..(as alleged) I don’t know much about the Zedian constitution but if there is anyone out there who can fill me in, I would be very happy.
YOU ARE RIGHT SENIOR CITIZEN, BUT THE SIZE OF THE ENTOURAGE IS WHAT IS WORRYING.
THIS MAN YOU ALWAYS SUPPORT SENIOR CITIZEN IS BLIND.IN TIMES LIKE THIS,HE IS NOT EVEN SHOWING US MITIGATIVE MEASURES AGAINST THE ECONOMIC CRISIS.THE PUBLIC MEDIA IN USA CONDUCTED AN OPPINION POLL ON OBAMAs PERFOMANCE IN 100 DAYS AS PRESIDENT.YOU MAIN MAN ONCE SAID HE HAS ONLY BEEN IN OFFICE FOR 5MONTHS (150) FOR PEOPLE TO START ASSESSING HIM. HAVE YOU SEEN…SENIOR CITIZEN WHAT AM TALKING ABOUT—NO VISION (BLIND).
If President Obama was born in Kenya and raised in states what could have been the situation ….. wonders never cease
Nyama soya will certainly do Zambians a great service come 2011 by simply going to the farm, for now ,I thank him for having prevented King snake from being on the list of dictators of African presidents …
You can only be an american president if you were born in america…no two ways about
Am I missing something? I do not see where the story mentions who is in RB’s entourage.
#16 I don’t understands either. How can someone born in a foreign country be president and someone born in Zambia like KK not be president. Am Zambian and I have Children born here in SA and they will mostly grow up here and know the ins and outs of this country and then there is some foreigner in Zambia whose kids are born there, and will grow up in Zambia and they will understand the ins and out of Zambia. Surely the children of the foreigner born in Zambia will have a better understanding of Zambia than my children born in SA. In fact they will be more passionate about Zambia than my children. How did the MMD reason this one. Can somebody explain please
Oh……so we been ruled by the Mugabe clan?
You must be kidding me. The president of Zambia is foreign born? What was the brouhaha with KK and Kafupi being foreigners? Any one with the Zed consitution knowledge on this matter please enlighten us.
Ba Zambia, mwachulenipo mukwai. kwena champesha amano mwe. bushe ichililo chikapwa lilali, lyonse iyo iyo kateka ntambalukuta aonaula sonde, mwebana shikavoteni bwino mu 2011 ichililo tukapase mwaaaaaa
#24, he was born in southern rhodesia by northern rhodesian parents. so the constitution allows him to stand but you know bro, our laws are segregative. no one knows who truly a zambian is. some indians are more zambian than the children born of (nyasaland born) parents in zambia even right now. believe it or not. some people from as far as bombay and gujarat are more zambian than our fellow just across luapula river in the name of chiluba
Why did he use a Zambia Air Force plane instead of his Presidential Challenger Chiluba Left? I did not know that Zambia also has got Air force one.
Zimbo’s are grovelling cause they want our money. No ways are we gonna give it to them.
This is what you elect a body and forget the head. Chaos and no Zambian here really understands whats going on. Confusion at its best. RB continue the mary go round LOL
I THINK THE ISSUES HERE SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT THE ENTOURAGE. Tomorrow is labour day. Zambia is having so many labour issues and the president should have been there for Zambians to give sense of direction. Where the hell is he now. Gracing some irrelevant function in Zim. lol
Opposition leaders are immature – Chief Mukuni
CHIEF Mukuni of the Toka Leya people of Kazungula District in Southern Province has described some opposition political leaders as immature. And Chief Mukuni has expressed concern with the fast emerging regional politics.Reacting to the constant attacks on President Rupiah Banda by some opposition leaders, Chief Mukuni said the level of maturity among politicians was worrying.He observed that there is a tendency by the opposition to oppose whichever President takes office from day one.“I think we are immature here. In Zambia people want to be politicking from day one until Jesus comes,” he said.He expressed concern that politics had become regional and had even affected the church.The traditional leader observed that even clergy men…
“It is really worrying. Just take a look at who is talking. Look at the names of the clergy men talking, they are all from one province,” he said.He said it is unfortunate that even the late president Levy Mwanawasa went through the same problem with the same people.He expressed worry that the country would soon degenerate into tribal conflicts as was the case in Kenya if issues of tribalism are not addressed.Chief Mukuni has since called on Zambians and the opposition in particular to set their differences aside and support the government of the day.“Let’s support people in State House, when we do that it is not like we are respecting an individual, we are also respecting ourselves by respecting Presidents. Those who don’t go to (State House) should not be fighting all the time…
It shouldn’t be like that,” he said.
He cited countries like Ghana where the losing Presidential candidate attended the inauguration of the winning candidate and even congratulated him.He further called on Zambians to respect whoever goes to State House.“When we were moving from the Kaunda days to the Chiluba days, that’s when the culture of insulting the President started. Let’s put a stop to this and respect the head of state despite his tribe,” he said.He observed that even in chiefdoms, development was recorded in areas where there was respect for leadership.
A fortnight ago in Solwezi, President Banda said he is constantly being attacked by presidents of opposition parties because they are envious of his position as Republican President.
The whole thing just sucks!!@#&$!!
An old man is a baby , he will do Zambians a great service by not standing in 2011… we need a vibrant leader not a recalled old man from a farm,where he resting peacefully after serving Zambia in different portfolios
Senior Citizen, are you agreeable to that?
With the way RB is going, i don’t see him being ousted from power unless VJ dies. He is openly opposing Zambian concerns and what will stop him from doing that in 2011?
KK Vs malawi, Kafupi Vs DRC and now Akulu mona Vs Zimbabwe. When are we going to be ruled by a pure breed Zambian?
These Zimbos are ungrateful. Shrek is taking them Billions meanwhile there is no medicine at UTH.
i think its fine for him to have used the Zambia Airforce to carry him,infact it is the norm in most countries for the airforce to carry the Head of State,and since the Airforce got those Two MA-60 planes,it is good for our Airforce pilots to fly internationally.so thats yr answer mukantenkwa.
#7 Senior Citizen your comments here are emotional, shallow and immature and please get over personal attacks on Ngwenya and leave up to your senior citizen title for once. Am disappointed that you have failed to take a deeper and thoughtful look at what #2 concerns are. This is not about the presidency’s office. This is about the president abusing his position to spend national resources on his private ventures. If your reasoning is correct, why are we persecuting FTJ for giving a TV set to a girlfriend Regina and even sending Regina to court? Look at Chiluba’s charge sheet ? Are you saying that it is okay for the president to take his family and friends holiday tours around the world just because he holds the president’s office. Please think deep before attacking others.
# 4 Chinondo, I like your humour. Its a joke today tomorrow it will be for real. Ask FTJ. #7 Senior Citizen you might be right that there is nothing private about the head of state as himslef RB because he is now an institution on his own. However, he can do better. If his Children like Henry, James, Nenani, who are adults accompany him on such trips thats wrong. We all know they being told, bana bangu lets go to Zim, they are opportunities for you since Zim is so desperate in need of investors. If he is using the institution to champion his personal interests not for the Zambian people then thats wrong. We cant keep quiet, no takana. Yes I agree with you the opposition always criticize like it was with Levy but I can assure u they wont be a recon in this govt like in LPM.
V.J is one other particle we must put in this cycle of activities,as long as he is available 2011 still goes to the same guys who have no plight for the Zambian people,Our president is being advised so well , come 2011 he would have become so popular in his incompetense and misjudgement. My 10 year old daugter wanted to know exactly which district in Zambia our so called CEO was going to be and i wispered Gwanda, in Zim. She cried because she thougt i was teasing, but hola…. its real,plain written in black and white. THE VISION FOR ZAMBIA TO HIM IS CLEAR,…TO “TAKE HIS CLAN ON A TOUR OF THE WORLD AT LEAST AS LONG AS HE IS IN THE CEO POSITION”.
Born in Zambia from foreign parents, I was denied enrolling into the Army, because I wasn’t Zambian enough. I honestly don’t understand the Zambian constitution too
Bulawayo from Malawi? What the hell. So we are being ruled by a foreigner tyring to steal everything from zambians!… Thats why he cant even sit sit down and solve the problems the country is facing he keeps on moving from place to place like a tourist. Ala bane Shibukeni this person has come to destroy, elimanate his enemies like sata and steal from the people of Zambia.
#42 Actually the VIP MA-60 is more luxurious than the Challenger !
#45 Wendy, I agree with you totally on the issue of RB being on TOUR OF ENJOYMENT with his family. Thats why in December he took a whole lot of his family got two planes, less than three months in office off to mfuwe. However, we the people overestimate VJ’s powers in rigging elections. I personally feel he does not do anything of late. I dont see any Rocket science that VJ would apply to win elections. There are three problems we have in Zambia, 1. 50%+1 if we had that neither Levy nor RB would have been Presidents 2. The opposition can not unite to form one strong party as a result votes are split. If you add HH and Sata’s votes RB would not be here today 3. We dont have Presidential candidates. Sata/RB both from UNIP +age, HH does not know politics and how to convince the grassroots.
The age of the dihinasor are back if you did not know. It is not that these people do not know that indigenous people will complain when they do unreasonable things, but they are just arrogant. As long as they feel something will send them to court they will go a head and do it. That is the reason they fight everyone. They do not have this country at heart. These are self wiled people headed in the wrong way all the time??
There purpose on this earth is to difeat the ends of justice. They are opposed to anything that sounds logical. I really dont know where such people originated. Are they of our race or just something else.
These could be foreign or aliens. How come they are not capable of doing simple and logical stuff. Things that are obvious??. What is amazing also is that they are so quick to support wrong things always and they are very sure they are correct. Lets us find out where these people come from then we can have a better understanding of why they are so different. At least we now know the birth place of one???? but we have to further check this too.
I think Banda has turned Zambia into a circus, complete with him as the Sekuru Chinyau!
Ladies and gentlemen, I propose to field William Harrington for president come 2011.
I bet 90% of the people talking about foreigners are of foreign ancestry themselves. At the time of independence, anyone in Zambia was entitled to become Zambian. The constitution is faulty in that it’s out of touch with modern times where people can be born outside Zambia or get married to non-Zambians. Ladies, did you know that if you marry a foreigner, he can’t automatically become Zambian – I found out the hard way!!!
No 44 – you’re right – we didn’t vote for big grown men with children to suddenly become daddy’s boys and fly with daddy – is there no shame or integrity with people these days?
Yeah nothing wrong with him visiting his burth place but if he is talking in filly grown childrens i.e. the Henry’s James etc. then its not on esoecially at the time of an economic crisis. . But again they could argue that the extra cost of five more people is minimal. Unless they are hiring a whole seperate plane for them
dats what happens wen u vote for foreigners
#58 – are you Zambian or foreign? What’s wrong with foreigners – God made man in his own image – not Zambians and others. If you have a problem with foreigners, what are you doing in a foreign land?
Robert, Its good to see you Rupia,
Rupia, like wise, Robert, do you know that me and you have so many things in common , Rupia, yes i know, we were both under colonial rule and had to fight them hard in order to get them out of the our countries. Robert, no not that , i mean we both have young wives. spring Chickens.
The bible says – death and life are in the power of the tongue. In this case, the power of words in the blog does not build up but instead encourages discord. Why don’t we make proactive contributions – recognise the problem and write about how we’d like to see things. Believe me, where people are in consensus in a positive way, things change. For now, let’s pray for our president to have wisdom because the Word says we should pray for leaders and all in authority.
RB achilamo. He should be adressing the economy not taking his family to his lousy birthplace when there is no medicine in UTH. Labour day RB is in Zim? Kuya bebele 2011
Good point about Labour Day #62 – I’m sure it’s the first time we’ve had no president on this important day – how sad!!
KK born in Malwi, FTJ born Congo, LPM born? RBB born Zimbabwe, 2012 President born Angola, next born Namibia, following born Mozambique,then born in Botswana and last President from Tanzania. Have a good day people
Its OK to be ruled by a foreigner, because they are neutral and not tribal at all. I hope somebody from USA rules Zambia next time……Peace
How poor was RB that he could not travel to Zim using his own money? This is really taking the Zambian people for fools for this reason he needs to be removed.
#66 When you ku Munzi, you need bring a lot of presents.
Koma yeeh….”THE HOURS HAS COME” va zo`ona yeeh…
Are diasporians, economic refugees???
#66.True,True.I was also wondering if RB has visted his birth place in the last 40 years or so. Well if he has’nt ,then he is clearly taking advantage of his position.He should have used his own money when he was pa farm ku Chipata.Why doing it when he is head of state?Total waste of government money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7 Mwanawakwitu your proposal of a campaign will not be easy as you may think. You need to be on the ground in Zambia and not just doing campaigns on the Internet to normally non-voters. All the best in your efforts though.
On President RB Banda visiting his birth place, all the best to him but let not this birth issue impede Zambia’s progress in economic development.
What a lovely country Zambia is. Ruled by a Malawian, a Congolese, unspecified descent and now Rhodesian. Why not try musenesene (Senegalese) or back to basics (buga) from pa UK in 2011???
If my memory serves well , i recall some people calling for a change to the Zed constitution so that only first generation zambians were qualified to stand for presidence. Hoho. The constitution maybe has not be amended? i remember now they were trying to ambush a certain kafupi and KK.. No wonder RB is donating maize to Zimbabwe. “Blood is thicker than water”.. Can anyone tell us wether all corners of zambia have got mealie-meal today. When are we zambians going to wake up?. Another “John foreigner ” will stand for presidence in 2011