United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has appointed Stephen Katuka as the party National Chairman while Choma Central Member of Parliament Cornelius Mweetwa becomes the party spokesperson with Gilbert Liswaniso as new National Youth Chairman.

And President has nominated 12 women to the party’s highest policy-making body bringing the total number to 30.
Making the announcement at the party secretariat this afternoon, President Hichilema stressed that the process to fill the available portfolios was made strategically and systematically to reflect the ideals of the UPND such as tribal, regional and gender calling it a “unifying” move.

“We need to be inclusive of everyone because hatred has no place in the UPND. Therefore, I have appointed Ms. Doreen Mwamba as National Women’s Chairperson to be assisted by Edith Kamanga and Subeta Mutelo while Gilbert Liswaniso is Chairman for Youths to be deputised by Cindy Kauka with Liuwa MP Situmbeko Musokotwane retaining his position as Chairman Finance and Economics to be deputised by Grace Chibwa. Sylvia Masebo maintains her portfolio as National Mobilization and Strategy Chairperson while Charles Kakoma moves to Commerce and Trade Chairperson”,he said.

The UPND leader further appointed Mwinilunga MP Newton Samakayi as Local Government Chairperson while Patrick Mucheleka and Gertrude Imenda retain their positions as deputy Secretary-General Politics and Administration respectively with Watson Lumba retaining his position as Treasurer General to be deputized by Loveness Malambo.

“William Tekere Banda is National Chairman for Special duties with Namakau Kabwiku and Andrew Banda are deputy National Chairmen. Rose Sakala becomes International Relations Chairperson. Small and Medium Enterprises goes to Elias Mubanga while this young man Levy Ngoma goes back to Agriculture Food and Water Development”.

“Kabesha Mulilo gets Lands portfolio with Jack Mwiimbu retaining legal and constitutional affairs to be deputised by Copperbelt based lawyer Daphane Chabu while Kasempa MP Brenda Tambatamba is new Community Development Chairperson to be deputised Lusa Kabemba. Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament Gary Nkombo retains Elections position with Giles Yambayamba is appointed Tourism Chairperson.Bernard Mpundu is chairman for Industrial Development while Likando Mufalari is in charge of infrastructure,”he told a jubilant crowd.

President Hichilema says the rest of the portfolio chairpersons and their deputies will be announced in due course as he implored the newly appointed team to get on the ground running as the work on the ground is demanding and will not accept laziness as the country is expectant of the UPND.

The nominated NMC members include:
1. Ms Angela Kawandami;
2. Matilda Shamuke;
3. Gertrude Imenda;
4. Marble Kamangela;
5. Grace Chivube;
6. Regina Musokotwane;
7. Rose Sakala;
8. Ennie Matutu;
9. Lusa Kabemba.
10. Cindy Kauka;
11. Patricia Nawa; and
12. Gladys Lundwe.

Other nominated are: Paul Sichamba, Paul Thole, Nathan Ilunga, Joseph Mpukha, Njamba Musangu and Brian Ndumba.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says there will be no by_election in Kaputa Constituency following the death of Member of Parliament Hon Maxas Ng’onga.

The electoral body says this is because Article 57(2) provides that a by election shall not be held within 180 days of the general election.

The commission Corporate Affairs Manager Patricia Luhanga says the 2021 general election is scheduled to be held on August 12, 2021, so the last date for holding by elections was Saturday February 2021 which is an excluded day because it was not a working day, therefore, the last date was February 15, 2021.

She said any vacancy arising after that date cannot be subject of a by election.

Ms Luhanga says the Kaputa Constituency by-election is outside the prescribed period for holding of a by-election.
“So this time around there will be no by elections which will be held. It is only the general elections which the commission will hold as prescribed by the law,” says Ms Luhanga.

She also says the holding of by-elections is governed by Article 57(1) of the Constitution and the law requires that by elections for Parliamentary and local government seats are held within 90 days of the vacancy and the provision is drawn in mandatory terms.

Ms Luhanga says it must be noted that in terms of Article 57(3), the power to set the date for a by election is reposed in the commission subject to Article 57(1). The Commission is at liberty to set any period within 90
days.

She however says Article 57(2) provides that a by election shall not be held within 180 days of the general election

Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Secretary-General Mumbi Phiri has said that it is a waste of time talking about President Lungu’s eligibility to contest the 2021 general elections.

Mrs. Phiri charged that those that have been bringing up this issue were just politicking as the courts have already cleared this issue.

Speaking when she featured on Pan African radio’sPeople’s Debate’ program, Mrs. Phiri said the party has already resolved that President Edgar Lungu will be the party’s sole presidential candidate in the August 12 elections because he is an easy commodity to sell.

She explained that President Lungu has won the hearts of many Zambians across the country as he has proved that he is a humble leader who cares for people.

The PF Deputy Secretary-General also stated that it would be very easy to market President Lungu due to the unprecedented development the PF government has implemented under his leadership within a short period of time.

Mrs. Phiri said it is these developments that will see President Lungu win with over 70 percent of the votes come August 12, 2021.

And Mrs. Phiri stated that for the first time in the history of Zambia, President Lungu is the only head of state who cut his salary by 20 percent to give to the vulnerable.

“He has the right to get that money and give it to his relatives or children to spend it however they want,” Mrs. Phiri said.
She explained that she was shocked when she traveled to Western province with President Lungu to learn that the head of state used his personal salary to build fish ponds for the people who were called ‘Linyungandambo” in order empower them.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Phiri said the party has not stopped anyone from challenging President Lungu at the forthcoming General Conference as long as they are members of the party and qualify.

“We have not stopped anyone to challenge President Lungu but we have rules that are supposed to be followed,” she said.

And Mrs. Phiri stated that the party is more than ready to welcome back former Roan Member of Parliament Hon. Chishimba Kambwili if he decides to go back to PF.

“Now, if Hon. Kambwili even at 12 hours today said he is coming back to the PF; he is more than welcome because that is what we have been preaching, ” Mrs. said.

She explained that Hon. Kambwili is one of the founder members of the party who will be welcomed in the same manner, Hon. Mwenya Musenge and Hon. Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has been received.

And the PF Deputy SG said it was unfortunate that the former PF Secretary General Mrs. Bridget Atanga is again at the center of wrangles in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“This is the same woman who nearly brought bloodshed in PF when President Michael Sata died,” she said. Mrs. Phiri said it is unfortunate that the country can have a woman who is always finding herself on the wrong side of things.

Meanwhile, former Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary Dr. Bishop Chomba says he will concentrate on campaigning for President Edgar Lungu so that he can carry the day come August 12 elections.

Dr. Bishop Chomba says President Lungu has shown to be a good leader who has the heart to take the country to another level, therefore, he must be given another term for him to finish what he needs to deliver.

In an interview in Mufulira today, the former Permanent Secretary says if President Lungu is voted in the office again the country will no longer look the same.

Dr. Bishop Chomba says the head of state has shown a commitment to facelift the entire country in the short period he has been in office.

“Even the opposition themselves are able to see what the President has done. He has made sure that all corners of the country get a share of development,” says Dr. Bishop Chomba.

“So it is very important that he retain in power So that we can be able to see the Zambia we want. I will be on the ground just to ensure that Zambians give him the much-needed support in August.

Dr. Bishop Chomba says his focus now is to be on the ground to campaign for President Lungu so that the opposition will never have any chance to be in the higher office of the land.

“President Lungu is the one who deserves to be in the state house and nobody else. We need leaders like him who have the zeal to change the face of the country. Others if given a chance to govern they will only bring Zambia backward,” he says.

Care for Nature Zambia has condemned the move by President Edgar Lungu to degazete Maposa Forest No. 4 in Luanshya.

Care for Nature Zambia Executive Firector Nsama Musonda Kearns notes that ceasing Maposa to be a forest will no doubt have devastating impacts on the water catchment area which services Luanshya and many more other towns in Zambia that lie along the Kafue River Basin.

Mrs Kearns has since called on President Lungu to reserve the decision and save the forest.

“Degazzating Maposa Forest No. 4 really makes painful and sad reading. Zambia is currently losing it’s forests at a fast rate and to go ahead with reducing forests at a time when the country has witnessed devastating impacts of climate change leaves me with a shiver for the future,” Mrs Kearns said.

“Maposa Forest is a rain belt, shielding Fisenge, Mpongwe, Masaiti and other farmers in Ndola and Luanshya Rural from pollution legacies from 100+ years of mining on the copper belt which has devastated people’s livelihoods including the ecosystem visa a vie Kafue River. Replacing Maposa Forest with a settlement will have future consequences that will affect people in a negative way.”

She has since appealed to the Forestry Department and President Lungu to rethink this decision and make wider consultations before the forest is destroyed.

“The Forestry Act of 2015 provides for Joint Forest Management which empowers people living near forests to participate in conservation and benefit from forestry revenue. What Maposa needs is a Nature Conservancy that will empower residents with green jobs such as bee keeping, mushroom growing, charcoal briquettes, caterpillar harvesting local food and medicine processing.”

“This way they are likely to benefit more from the forest and our Environment will also be safeguarded from climate change affects,” she advised.

“We are all witnesses to the harsh impacts of climate change referring to floods which is costing government huge sums of money through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit to resettle affected families and provide relief aid. We also felt the impacts of load shedding on both domestic and commercial businesses.”

“How then can the forestry department Recommend signing a Statutory Instrument to degazette a forests?” She asked.

The Maposa Forest Reserve No. 4 which has been signed off by government to cease being a forest lies along the Great North Road on the T3 way between Luanshya and Kitwe and stretches from the main road covering vast areas and zones within Luanshya through to Mpatamatu.

The forest is strategically reserved in Zambia’s most forested area situated in the Agro Ecological Region three also known as Zambia’s rain belt.

The Agro Ecological Region 3 covers Northern, Luapula, Copper belt and North Western provinces and consists of the highest number of forests in the country with copper belt and western Provinces standing at 37 forests each, North Western 35 and Northern 23.

This region receives the highest rainfall in the country and its forests are protected to conserve water catchment areas and protect biodiversity.

All the forests on the Copperbelt play a significant role in protecting the Kafue River Basin which supplies 40% of rural and urban settlers with water, Hosts the Kafue Gorge Hydro Electricity Power Station which supplies Zambia with 60% of electricity, provides irrigation for the Nakambala Sugar Estate in Mazabuka and services the Kafue Flats which houses the Kafue Flats, Lochinvar and Blue Lagoon National Parks, including the Lukanga Swamps which is home to a variety of fish and bird species and plays the filtering role of servicing the Kafue River from pollution.

The Maposa Forest on the Kitwe side overlooks Mwekera Forest Reserve No.6 where the Zambia Forestry College was established in 1949 to provide technical training in forestry.