The Ndola High Court has upheld the election of PF’s Bowman Lusambo as duly elected Kabushi Member of Parliament in Ndola.

This is in a matter in which UPND Kabushi constituency losing candidate Ernest Lufunda had petitioned the election of Mr Lusambo and the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

Mr Lufunda had asked the Ndola High Court to nullify the election of Lusambo alleging malpractices and widespread violence.

But when the matter came up for Judgment today, Ndola High Court Yvonne Chembe said the petitioner failed to prove the allegations to warrant the nullification of the seat.

“The petitioner did not prove that the mounting of a mock grave could warrant that the election of the first respondent can be nullified. Secondly, the alleged violence is not supported by medical reports. If there was violence, a lot of witnesses could have been called to testify,” Judge Cheembe said.

” I find that the petitioner has failed to prove the allegations of malpractices and violence. The court finds that there is no basis on the outcome of the elections that violence was used. I am therefore not satisfied that the violence affected the outcome of the elections.”

Judge Chembe said owing to the above reasons, the election of Mr Lusambo is upheld as the dully elected Member of Parliament for Kabushi Constituency and therefore dismiss this petition.

The Lusaka High Court has nullified the parliamentary election of Minister of Higher Education, Professor Nkandu Luo as Member of Parliament for Munali Constituency in Lusaka Province following the petition of UPND Parliamentary Candidate for Munali Constituency, Mrs. Doreen Mwamba.

Judge Edward Musona of Ndola High Court sitting in Lusaka nullified the election of the Patriotic Front (PF) candidate, Prof. Luo for electoral irregularities and malpractice.Judge Musona cited electoral irregularities and rampant acts of violence as reason for nullification of the Munali seat.
Judge Edward Musona nullified the election on the following grounds:

1) Failure by the ECZ officials to properly handle the electoral process
2) Judge Musona ruled that Professor Luo, had an undue advantage in the election because she was a serving Minister at the time of election.The Constitutional Court had ruled Ministers pay back to the treasury the monies they had accrued during that period.

UPND president Hakainde Hichilema said the nullification of Munali Constituency and others clearly shows what the UPND have been saying that their votes were stolen mostly in Lusaka and Copperbelt as the electoral body delayed to announce the results from these places.

Mr.Hichilema said that he wishes to inform fellow citizens, that this was the reason the Constitutional Court did not want to hear the UPND and eventually see the evidence of electoral malpractices across the country, that included the uneven campaign atmosphere.

The UPND president said even as recently as last week, UPND votes in Mushindamo District had to be reversed after the ECZ officials initially declared the PF candidate as the winner when infact the UPND candidate had won.
“That is exactly what we wanted the ECZ to do in August to first verify the results before declaring a winner, but they refused,”he said.

“Fellow citizens, kindly note that we are again in court this afternoon at 14:00 hours on issues relating to our rights to be heard regarding the presidential petition.On my own behalf and indeed on behalf of the people of Munali and you also who voted for us in large numbers, I say thank you, “Mr Hichilema concluded.

The Civil Society Constitution Agenda (CiSCA) has strongly condemned the targeted attacks on their member, ActionAid Zambia, by some ruling party agents for simply speaking out against moves to amend the Constitution.

Interim Chairperson for the newly created Civil Society Constitution Agenda (#CiSCA) Sara Longwe said they will not be cowered by attacks on one of their members by thugs from a named political party.

Ms Longwe said the Constitution is every citizens right and responsibility to safeguard from mutilation by selfish politicians.

“As CiSCA, we stand in solidarity with Action Aid Zambia, and reiterate their observation that the proposed amendments to the Constitution are not reflective of the wishes of the Zambian people, but are based on personal motives and selfish interests of specific Members of Parliament who are pushing for them at the expense of public interest.

“The Constitution is a citizens’ document to which Action Aid like any other institution and Zambian Citizen, have every right and responsibility to safeguard it from mutilation by selfish politicians. The Constitution does not belong to the ruling party and their cronies and therefore, should not been seen and taken as a preserve of MPs or the ruling party. All Zambian Citizens have a duty to defend, resist or prevent anyone from overthrowing, suspending or illegally abrogating the Zambian Constitution,” she said.

She added “We are not shaken by these attacks on our members. No amount of intimidation will silence us or stop our message of people driven constitutionalism in Zambia. Just a few months ago, the same Patriotic Front celebrated this constitutional amendments using tax-payers money, and now they turn around and tell us their amendments are not good for the nation. What has changed? How can we trust them and/or their motives?”

This weekend I wanted to make something lush for my family.  Its winter and these cold nights call for a nice hot, home cooked meal, to warm up our bellies. This slow cooked Mongolian Beef is perfect. Cook it’s tender and melts in your mouth – Absolute perfection. It only takes minutes to throw into the slow cooker, its gluten free and has amazing flavours.   So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started.

Ingredients

• 680g of Flank steak, diced
• 340g  Carrots
• 1 Green onion, chopped
• ½  tsp Mince garlic, cloves
• 236mls Soy sauce
• 165g  Brown sugar
• 34g Cornstarch
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 236mls Water

(The Recipe Critic)

Method

Place the flank steak and cornstarch into a resealable plastic bag. Shake the bag to evenly coat the steak with the cornstarch. Allow the steak to rest for 10 minutes.

Heat olive oil in a large pan, over medium-high heat. Cook and stir steak until it is evenly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

Place onion, garlic, steak, green onions, soy sauce, water and brown sugar in a slow cooker. Cook on a low setting for about 4 hours. Garnish with spring onions and serve.

Serving

Serve with rice or roasted potatoes this makes a delightful Sunday meal for the family.  Enjoy!!

Kanta Temba is a cake maker and decorator. She is also the owner and founder of Kanta Kakes – cake shop.

You can find her work on www.kantakakes.com.  Follow her on twitter @KantaKakes and Instagram @KantaTemba.

MMD Youth National Chairperson Dauzan Tembo says he will no longer restrain the youths in the Party from ensuring that former Party President Nevers Mumba stops masquerading as Party President.

In a statement, Mr Tembo said as a commander of the youths in the party he can no longer guarantee the safety of his former Party President because he has not taken heed to the advise that he has been freely giving him.

He said not only has he advised Dr Mumba but that even the Minister of Home Affairs has issued a statement in Parliament stating that who ever claims that he is the President of MMD will be arrested as the party has only one President who is Felix Mutati.

He challenged the police to put a logical end to the perceived leadership wrangles in the party which the former Party President has been allegedly using to collect money from well wishers for his up keep.

He explained that Dr Mumba’s continued masquerades is putting him in the firing range of youths in the party who feel that he is taking the Party backwards especially that he caused “so much damage” to the Party during his reign as Party President.

“Dr. Nevers Mumba’s continued masquerading as MMD President is putting him in the firing range with youths in the Party. As a commander of youths in the party I cannot guarantee his safety anymore. I have been on record warning him to desist from masquerading as MMD President as if that is not enough the Minister of Home Affaires issued a ministerial statement in Parliament warning him to desist from breaking the law and impersonating, yet he continued to conduct himself in the same manner,” Mr Tembo said.

Mr Tembo’s statement comes in the wake of a Dr Mumba’s appearance on Pan African radio for a live radio program where he said he is still the President of the former ruling Party and that people like Stephen Kampyongo, the Home Affaires Minister should respect him because he is a former Vice President of the Republic.

Dr Mumba’s MMD camp is also said to have held a “NEC meeting” on Saturday as they prepare for their National Convention next year.

CITAM Plus Policy and Advocacy Officer says his organization has received with extreme sadness news that the Zambian Government procured Anti-retroviral Drugs (ARVs) that have a short shelf life span.

Mr Nhlane said it is disheartening to learn that the drugs have since expired.

In a statement, Mr Nhlane said the submissions by Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr Peter Mwaba Parliamentary Accounts Committee in which he revealed that government spent colossal sums on ARVs and other drugs that had a short shelf lifespan was a danger and that the risk posed by the drugs was unimaginable as well as a source of concern to his organization.

“According to submissions to Parliamentary Accounts Committee by Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr Peter Mwaba, it was revealed and reported in the Media that a total of K13, 750, 821 was spent on ARVs and other drugs that had a short shelf lifespan.

“We note with dismay that government officers that are in charge of procurement would allow the procurement of ARVs, which are life pro-longing for many of our colleagues, among other drugs that have a short shelf life.

“The acquiring of these drugs with a short shelf life at a cost of K13, 750, 821 is undesirable and posed a great danger to the consumers as their health and lives are at risk and the risk posed is unimaginable and a source of concern to us as CITAM Plus and indeed other organisations working around health as well as individuals that are HIV/AIDS Advocates,” he said.

[pullquote]We demand that the Ministry tells the nation why it allowed such a bad and wasteful consignment[/pullquote]

He explained that it is disheartening to have to fight the image of implementing countries wasting precious funds through mismanagement.

“As advocates, we spend our time convincing donors of the importance of contributing to the Global Fund. It is disheartening to have to fight the image of implementing countries wasting precious funds through mismanagement. We demand that Government put in place a transparent process that will build on lessons learned to reassure the public that further funds will not be wasted.

“We wonder how and why the Zambian Government accepted such a huge consignment without taking necessary measures into consideration.This is totally unacceptable and a waste to national resources that could have been used on other things especially that the country is under economic stress conditions,” he said.

He further said his organization demands that the Ministry explains to the nation why it allowed such a wasteful consignment and that erring officers be take to task and disciplined

“We demand that the Ministry tells the nation why it allowed such a bad and wasteful consignment and further demand that all erring officers be disciplined so as to send a warning to others and deter further occurrence. It is not long ago that we complained of shortage of ARVs and acquiring of expired ARVs which the government defended and maintained that there were no such issues. Despite our earlier warnings, it is so saddening that such has re-occurred.

“We further wonder why the Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya told Parliament that the country had not purchased expired drugs when a day later his Permanent Secretary confirmed that indeed reports of expired drugs were true. Such statements make us begin to have worries on the truthfulness of our leaders on matters of importance especially that borders on life,” he said.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has cancelled the election of PF Candidate Peter Kapamba as Chairperson for Mushindano District Council in the North Western Province.

After Thursday’s election for the position of Council Chairperson for the newly created Mushindano District, the Commission declared Mr Kapamba as winner.

But today, Commission Public Relations Manager Crispin Akufuna confirmed in a statement that Mr. Lackson Mulumbi of the UPND has being declared duly elected as the Council Chairperson after the mistake was corrected.

“After verification of results for Sontobo polling station which is one of the polling stations in the district, the Commission established that there was a mistake in the tabulation of the results at the polling station,” Mr Akufuna said.

According to Section 76 of the Electoral Process Act, the Commission may correct a mistake committed by an Electoral officer in the tabulation of results within a week after the declaration of the results.