In an interview, Mr Chanda said President Lungu should stop issuing threats against his opponents and exercise his presidential powers and declare state of emergency if he believes it will quell violence.

He said all Zambians want to see peace but that the democratic gains that the country has achieved must be safeguarded.

Mr Chanda said there is no way President Lungu can even contemplate introducing draconian law in a democratic state.

Mr Chanda said by declaring a state of emergency, President Lungu will be helping to safeguard peace.

He suggested that President Lungu should declare state of emergency two days before voting day and maintain it until the results have been declared and all the candidates have agreed to the final outcome.

And United Party for National Development (UPND) Southern Province spokesperson Neto Halwabala says President Edgar Lungu’s leadership style is a threat to Zambia’s democratic tenets, reports Pan African Radio Journalist Hermit Hachilonde.

Reacting to President Lungu’s recent warning where he was allegedly quoted in some sections of the media suggesting that if political violence in the country will continue, he will be prompted to use draconian law in order to maintain peace in Zambia.

The head of state explained during a rally in Mufulira on Monday the 1st August, 2016 that Zambia has a well-known tradition of peace and tranquility which must be protected without fail.

In a statement, Mr. Halwabala said President Lungu’s recent sentiments are a clear indication that he does not understand the meaning of democracy.

He said democracy is the mother of peace, and without democracy there shall be no peace in Zambia because the two are inseparable.

Mr. Halwabala noted that upholding democratic tenets is a precondition for the spontaneous peaceful environment where everyone respects people’s freedom and rights.

He has since stated that such warnings from the president should be considered as mischievous and an affront to his own intelligence.

“PF Presidential candidate does not understand democracy. Zambia’s democracy is under threat for having Lungu as a President. How can the President Say “lam ready to kill democracy in an effort to protect peace”? This shows Lungu’s failure to understand the meaning of democracy.”

“There shall be no peace without democracy and let Lungu stop hallucinating on this he does not understand. As UPND we take his threat as mischievous and insult to his own intelligence. We also wish to warn him not to be so careless in his statement because as UPND we shall always defend democracy using our democratic rights within our supreme law of Zambia”
“His fear of losing power next week should not lead him to put Zambia on political fire. Democracy is the mother of peace, therefore without democracy there shall be no peace” Mr. Halwabala

ECZ Public Relations Manager Chris Akufuna confirmed that the Commission had informed all the parties including the UPND that 8 brand new vehicles were being imported to help service the 2016 elections.

The Commission had gone further to ask police to accompany the trucks and it was therefore baffling that the UPND in Sesheke and later in Livingstone hijacked the trucks, completely disregarding the presence of the police.

Mr. Akufuna said the conduct was unacceptable.

He said all political parties were informed about the purchase and transportation of its eight trucks from South Africa which the United Party for National Development (UPND) suspected to have contained pre-marked ballot papers.

And ECZ has reiterated its resolve to prove that it was transparent, credible and preforming its duty according to the provisions of the law despite external pressure from political party players.

Speaking on Millennium Radio yesterday, ECZ public relations manager Cris Akufuna said all the political players were informed about the trucks and had allowed them to inspect the trucks if they had any suspicion.

“But we were surprised that when the trucks reached Livingstone, a horde of UPND cadres demanded that they be searched despite the vehicle having been inspected and cleared at Katima Mulilo boarder post,” he said.

He said ECZ decided that the trucks be inspected again to clear any suspicion from the cadres but nothing was found.

“When you go towards election-day and especially when ballot papers have been brought in, there is a lot of hype, a lot of suspicion and expectation in terms of what is going on. The commission informed the political parties the way we were going to bring in trucks and these trucks were supposed to come in through Katima Mulilo, which they did and what we expected was cooperation from the political parties.

He noted that there was always suspicion about what the commission was doing in every election especially after the ballot papers came into the country as witnessed in the 2011 and 2015 elections.

He, however, explained that such pressures from political parties only provided an opportunity to the commission to prove itself by operating within the confines of the law.

“We expect criticism in a democracy especially when you talk about growing democracies where we are trying to put our feet on the ground in terms of appreciation of the democracy. The most important thing is even where we get a battering, have we done the right thing? Are we transparent and accountable enough and that is what we want.

“It is an opportunity to prove that we are doing the rightful thing and it’s according to the law and that is what is important,” he said.

United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has said that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has been very costly for the Zambian people, wasting huge amounts of money that should have gone to areas such as education, healthcare and water and sanitation.

In a statement released to the media, the UPND leader accused the PF of being busy filling their own pockets at the expense of Zambians and increasing inequality, which undermines Zambia’s treasured peace and unity.

Below is the full statement

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

The Cost of the PF Government

The PF Government has been very costly for the Zambian people, wasting huge amounts of money that should have gone to areas such as education, healthcare and water and sanitation. Not only is the PF busy filling their own pockets at the expense of the majority, but they are also increasing inequality, which undermines our treasured peace and unity.

Corruption is perhaps the biggest obstacle to eradicating poverty that we face as a nation. Under PF we have paid way over the odds for construction projects contracted behind closed doors. The PF owes us an explanation as to why we are paying US$2million per kilometre of road, when in South Africa the same amount would pay for 5 kilometres. Any government serious about ending corruption must give the ACC full autonomy to investigate every government official, regardless of position or connections.

Under the PF, government has grown and grown in size, paid itself more and more, and travelled across the world as it pleases. While they have more money in their pockets, the majority of our people have less. The UPND will cut back on these expenditures and reduce the burden on our people.

Meanwhile, PF mismanagement has resulted in large amounts of waste, which are no better than throwing kwacha down the drain. For example, in 2012/2013 alone the amount of FRA maize wasted was estimated at 32%, which equates to some US$450million. There is no excuse for such incompetence.

If you look at how much PF has cost us to date you will see that the cost of another five years will be too much to bear. If we re-elect President Lungu then expect mealie meal prices to rise to K286, expect electricity tariffs to go up to K1.13 ngwee per kilowatt-hour, expect fertiliser to double in price again to K600 and expect thousands more job losses.

It is time for change.

Hakainde Hichilema

UPND President

MMD National Secretary Reverend Reuben Sambo has said President Edgar Lungu used, dribbled and has now ditched Felix Mutati and his clique, who sadly championed the destruction of the MMD for their own selfish ambitions in collusion with former President Rupiah Banda.

Making reference to intelligence reports and media reports carried by several media houses, Reverend Sambo said as the 11 August election date fast aproaches, PF has shown that they no longer need Mutati who Jean Kapata says has brought absolutely no value to the PF and recently set unruly PF cadres on the ‘MMD’ Mandevu campaign team, destroying campaign posters of their aspiring candidate.

Other information reaching Reverend Sambo’s desk indicate that Charles Banda, the PF Kapoche constituency candidate has lashed out at the former MMD Eastern Province Provincial Chairman Jacob Mwanza, who ditched Nevers Mumba and followed Mutati and is also standing in Kapoche, to stop going round endorsing President Lungu as he (President Lungu) does not know him and should instead endorse Felix Mutati who appears on their regalia. Other reports indicate that Eastern Province chiefs have chided Raphael Nakacinda who is in the province trying to campaign for Mutati candidates, to bring order to the campaign as the PF and Mutati group were causing confusion to the electorate and could jeorpadize President Lungu’s chances of winning the elections in the province.

Meanwhile Reverend Sambo has said suspended Nakacinda has been reported to be running round in circles in the province, fighting an uphill battle with District Governors who are decampaigning the Mutati candidates that the PF has no alliance with MMD. Reverend Sambo said it is extremely unfortunate that Nakacinda is now faced with promoting a non-existent alliance which does not even have a formally signed electoral alliance document.

An intelligence report received from Central Province quotes President Lungu as having informed a caucus meeting of senior provincial PF officials to ignore the MMD as there was no alliance with them and that they had brought no value to the PF. At that meeting Mr. Lungu is alleged to have also directed that none of the Independent nor Mutati candidates were to be allowed to use his name, the PF symbol or regalia and declared that only those standing on PF ticket were recognized by him and the party leaving people like Howard Kunda in total confusion.

Reverend Sambo expressed sadness at the disastrous end of the PF/Mutati/Banda alliance which was a clear manifestation of the danger of lacking Morality and Integrity in Zambian politics and urged all who have followed this drama to learn lessons about the importance of truth, honesty and integrity which MMD President Dr. Nevers Mumba has been preaching about.

“ Dr Mumba repeatedly told the party and the nation, that the kind of trickery, deceitful conduct as excemplified by the PF/Mutati/Rupiah Banda Alliance are the main reason why he joined politics to rid this sector of the so-called ‘dirty politics.’ Unfortunately, expelled Mutati connived with Rupiah Banda and rushed to PF on a slippery slope to try and outdo Nevers Mumba into an alliance with no proper terms of reference but all driven by an appetite to settle political scores,” he said.

Reverend Sambo said Dr. Mumba and the genuine MMD members have been vindicated for staying focused and unwavering in the face of extreme tribulation but is happy that the MMD is now in an alliance with a straight-forward visionary leader like Hakainde Hichilema and appealed to all committed MMD members who have stayed true to the values of the MMD to turn out in large numbers next week and vote for Hakainde Hichilema as next Republican President to bring order and sanity to the country.

Addressing a Public Rally at Namatama grounds in Livingstone on Monday, Mr Anamela said Zambians had an opportunity of voting for a party that promoted love, peace and harmony on 11 August.

He said leaders who wanted to use violence to get to State House did not have the interest of the nation at heart, but only wanted to go there to misuse and steal the national resources for their personal gain.

“We have seen and heard their messages when campaigning, their message is all about promoting tribalism and regionalism and I must say that it is very shameful. Please don’t vote for leaders who don’t understand what governance is all about because you need to have experience in governance for you to know how Government operates, so only trust a political party that has a track record of governance .

“Don’t vote for chancers and leaders who were in the forefront selling and privatising Zambian companies at the expense of amassing personal wealth,”Mr Anamela said.

He said once voted back into power, UNIP would make sure that the wealth of the nation is given back to the Zambian people and make sure that development gets to every corner of the nation.

Mr Anamela said the Livingstone City Council was not performing to the expectation of the people because previously the council was being run by corrupt councillors from a named political party.

“Livingstone City Council has failed to perform to your expectation because you put selfish and corrupt chaps as your councillors and they just spent their whole tenure stealing and sharing plots.

“Livingstone residents, you have an opportunity to put young and vibrant youths from UNIP as your councillors and Member of Parliament because they will put service before self,” he said.

The UNIP vice president also said that his party pledged to transform the agriculture sector as the mainstay of the economy and would abolish the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).

“As UNIP we shall do away with the FISP programme because it has disadvantaged rural farmers, small scale farmers will in rural areas will be given more farming inputs so that they are viable.

“We also want to recapitlise Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia and come up with more fertilizer producing factories so that we empower our farmers,” he said.

Mr Anamela further called on Livingstone residents to vote ‘yes’ in the referendum and avoid listening to politicians who were spreading lies about the exercise.

Meanwhile, UPND cadres in party regalia attempted to disrupt the UNIP rally but their mission was quelled by alert police officers from the nearby Mbita Police Post.

President Lungu said the secret of winning elections does not lie in holding rallies and meetings but convincing voters to turn up in large numbers to vote.

President Lungu urged the people to turn out in numbers and vote for the PF on Election Day.

Mr Lungu was speaking at the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International airport shortly before departure for Lusaka after a two day working visit on the Copperbelt.

The president further said the PF has shown maturity by upholding peace despite facing numerous provocations.

President Lungu said the maturity demonstrated by the PF deserves continuity.

The president also said he will soon come back to the Copperbelt because it is the heart of the political life in Zambia.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport to see off the president, First Lady Esther and his campaign team.

And President Edgar Lungu has promised to establish a trading centre at Kasumbalesa Border Post in Chililabombwe district on the Copperbelt Province to curb smuggling.

He says the move will also help Chililabombwe residents participate legally in trade between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.

President Lungu has however told Chililabombwe residents that the project will only be easily and effectively implemented if they vote for PF Chililabombwe Constituency Candidate Richard Musukwa.

Addressing a rally at Lubengele grounds in the constituency this morning, Mr. LUNGU also told the gathering that Zambia has in the last four years recorded improved levels of development since the PF formed government.

He says if given 10 years to rule things would improve even more.

Mr. Lungu says the opposition UPND does not care for Zambians because they jubilate when things go wrong in the country and does not support developmental efforts.

The Head of State says he is the best candidate among all the 9 Presidential candidates put together.

He says the UPND hates the PF because it has failed to win elections since 2006 and is scheduled for another loss in August.

The President adds that all the people who caused confusion in the PF in the run up to the 2015 presidential elections have all gone to the PF including the thugs that used to beat people in the markets.

He says the UPND are desperate to ascend to power so that they can recoup what they have lost in campaigns over the years.

The President says the PF is getting better and better by the day and is the most Democratic Party in the country.

And Information Minister and PF Roan Constituency aspirant Chishimba Kambwili has called on residents of to Chililabombwe to turn up in numbers on August 11 like they have done for the rally to vote for president Lungu.

Dr. Kambwili says the Copperbelt recorded a lot of apathy in the 2015 Presidential elections hence should that this year they voting pattern improves.

And Christian Democratic Party President Dan Pule who is leading an alliance of 16 opposition political parties supporting Mr. Lungu says the President has been blessed by GOD to lead Zambia.

Others who are part of the campaigns are Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge and Zambia’s iconic footballer and former Football Association of Zambia President Kalusha Bwalya.

THE Police in Mazabuka have arrested five United Party for National Development (UPND) suspected to be connected in the murder of Hazwell Nguni that occurred on July 29, 2016, Southern Province Commissioner of Police Godwin Phiri has said.

Mr Phiri named the five suspects, who are all unemployed, as Emmanuel Shansoga ,20, of House Number 417 Nakambala Township,George Handelema aged 16 of unknown house number in Ndeke Township, Wilbroad Tembo,18, of unknown house number Nakambala, Alex Milimo, 18, of house number 183 Nakambala Township and Gideon Zulu, 19, of house number 62 Nambala Township.

He said the suspects, who included the prime suspect in the murder, were currently being processed.

Mr Phiri said in a press statement yesterday that the suspects were apprehended in a dawn raid on their hideouts

And Mr Phiri said Aggrey Njekwa, 51, of Plot number 2613/12602 in Dambwa North in Livingstone complained that UPND cadres damaged a rear right window and a front right spotlight of his Toyota Prado with registration number AJC 1.

The damages were valued at K2, 700 and this occurred along Musitunya Road at the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Port office at 08:10hrs on Monday this week.

In Gwembe, Mr Phiri said UPND cadres attacked a PF camp at Nachilala on Sunday at 20 hours by throwing stones.

He said four suspects namely Bright Chisagano aged 36, Ockline Chooma, 26, Caphas Hichuunga, 37, and Derrick Mwiinga, 23, were picked up by the police.

The suspects were charged for conduct and destroying campaign material while a motor vehicle Isuzu white in colour with registration number ALK 513 was used.

Mr Phiri said there was another political case where Mirriam Hazela, 24, was attacked by suspected UPND cadres by throwing stones at her house for being PF support on Friday at around 17 hours.

He said two suspects namely Commander Mwiinga aged 22 and Otray Halanga aged 23 were initially picked up but the number of suspects in custody has risen to six at Gwembe police.

The suspects were charged with threatening violence and Criminal trespass.

In Mazabuka district, Mr Phiri said UPND cadres were seen removing PF campaign material on August 1, 2016 at Zanaco robots which forced the PF team to crash with them.

He said the Police moved in and in the process five UPND cadres were picked and charged for the offences of malicious damage and assault.

These are Hagai Mabulo, 19, Nalishebo Mwimwi, 37, Maluba Malika, 3, Kelvin Nkumba, 3, Links Chunya, 37, all of Mazabuka.

While at police, two UPND supporters were picked and charged for assault on police namely Chrispin Hamangala, 26, and Muleya Kelvin, 32.

Furthermore, a Police constable Mvula Moses of paramilitary got injured while in pursuit of the cadres as a long range anti riot canister hit him on the left chick and sustained a wound.

“He is currently admitted at Nakambala hospital and doctors are saying he is out of danger,” Mr Phiri said.

In Maamba, Mr Phiri said the Police were holding four UPND supporters namely Siamunsila Yolam, 31, Grievance Muleya, 22, Kingsley Munonoki, 20, and Lawrence Siamunyanga, 27, all of Maamba Township for conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

The same are UPND youth members who were conducting an illegal road block at Mweemba junction in the night thereby harassing innocent motorist.

“In addition, the Police summoned the UPND aspiring councillor for Maamba central a Mr Shichete in connection with alarming statements he made suggesting that PF want to use Mamba to rig elections by airlifting pre-marked ballot papers from Zimbabwe,” he said.