MMD National Secretary Rapheal Nakacinda has called on Zambians and party members not to allow what he termed as a “master deceiver” to deceive them as former Party President Nevers Mumba has not been restored as Party President.

Reacting to a statement by the Nevers Mumba camp who insinuated that the embattled former leader has been restored by the Supreme Court, Mr Nakacinda who was elected as Party National Secretary at the convention last May said it was sad and sickening to see Dr Mumba and his stooges continue to use deceit and lies in their quest to advance their political interest and remain relevant to the UPND.

Mr Nakacinda said it is trying to present falsehoods to the public as the only thing the Supreme Court has done is to refer the matter back to the High Court as opposed to his claims that he has been restored as President of the MMD.

“It is actually sad and sickening to see Dr Mumba and his stooges continue to use deceit and lies to try and advance their political interest in their quest to remain relevant to the UPND that they have joined under the disguise that they are taking MMD there.

“I think it is water under the bridge and it is public knowledge that a democratic process known of MMD was conducted in form of a convention of which Dr Mumba was given an opportunity to participate but he refused which is his Democratic right.

“Dr Mumba had thrown before our courts of law numerous cases attempting to stop the convention, now to try and challenge the holding of the convention and the result there of. He has lost all of them including the appeal which he is trying to manipulate to present a falsehood that he has been restored into office. The only thing the Supreme Court has done is to refer the matter back to the High Court and our view is that Dr Mumba, because of being litigious, is being given more opportunities to express his grievances but he is not the only who has the right to be heard before our Courts,” Mr Nakacinda said.

Mr Nakacinda also said Dr Mumba has no powers to change what has been a practice of holding conventions every 5 years in the party and that the judiciary can not be used to advance an individual’s interest.

“We have material facts that have proved not only by way of arguments presented before Court but by way of precedence by practice that is known of MMD in holding of conventions every 5 years and Dr Mumba as an individual cannot change that fact and neither is the judiciary going to be used to advance an individual’s interest.

“As far as we are concerned it’s all deceit. It is all lies. Manipulating the decision or guidance of the Court for personal interest and we want to urge all well meaning Zambians and members of the party not to allow the master deceiver to deceive you,” he said.

Press statement by ZEIC

Your Vote is your Power, don’t sell it…

Lusaka, 27 July 2016:

The Zambia Elections Information Centre (ZEIC) is urging all citizens to value and protect the power of their vote by exercising their voting right on 11th August 2016.

With exactly two weeks before the polls, and as campaigns are going on, we encourage citizens to remember that voting is one of the single most powerful ways in which they participate in the governance of the country, by choosing their own leaders. No one has a right to take this power from them, through whatever means.

The ZEIC has received concerns from citizens participating in ZEIC platforms on SMS, email and social media that in some contexts, politicians are enticing voters with bribes to influence their decision-making. This kind of electoral corruption is not good for democracy and we encourage voters to resist and report to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), such kind of malpractices.

Importantly, we wish to encourage voters to come out in numbers and vote to ensure that they usher in leaders of their choice. Let us keep our tempers down, let us avoid violence and let us avoid any actions that may make the final results not to be fair and credible. If you decide to sell the power of your vote, you will not be helping anyone, even yourself because elections do not come everyday.

If you have questions and concerns, or if you would like to share reports on anything that you think may affect the credibility of next month’s elections, do not hesitate to report to the ZEIC platform by sending an SMS to 2323, and the people at the ZEIC situation room will get back to you.

To the politicians we say: do not manipulate citizens to vote in a certain way. To the citizens we say: your vote is your power and it is your right, do not sell it.

Issued by the Co-Chairs of Zambia Elections Information Centre (ZEIC)

All citizens who have the National Registration Cards will be voting for the Referendum on August 11 this year.

The gazetted Referendum question is: Do you agree to the amendment to the Constitution to enhance the Bill of Rights contained in Part III of the Constitution of Zambia and to repeal and replace Article 79 of the Constitution of Zambia?

NGOCC Executive Director Engwase Mwale said there was need for political parties to sensitise citizens on the Referendum and Bill of Rights so that they make understand the documents and make informed decisions as they vote.

Ms Mwale noted that most political parties were currently either telling the electorates to vote for YES or No instead of sensitising them on the process of the referendum and the Bill of Rights.

She was speaking in Livingstone yesterday at Warm Harbour Hotel during a community sensitisation on the referendum and Bill of Rights.

NGOCC has embarked on community campaigns on the referendum and Bill of Rights in various parts of the country.

“We have noted that political parties are telling their electorates to either vote YES or No to the referendum question.

“This is not a political issue but a national issue and hence political parties should educate their members on the referendum process and Article 70 of the Constitution so that they make informed decisions,” she said.

Ms Mwale said the referendum and the Bill of Rights were progressive document but the sensitisation part was not adequate and left to few stakeholders.

She said there were technical issues which needed to be explained to citizens in both urban and rural areas before voting on the referendum.

A Livingstone-based community leader, Susiku Mwanangombe, said a Yes Vote to the referendum Question and the Bill of Rights would enable many vulnerable children to access education and enjoy other right.

Ms Mwanangombe, who is the coordinator for the Tutalike Life Begins organisation for disadvantaged children and old people in Ngwenya Township, however noted that the atmosphere in which the referendum vote would be conducted was not conducive to achieve its intended purpose.

TWO Namibians nationals have died while four others have sustained serious injuries in a  road accident in Livingstone.

A female Nyare Muza aged 40, of Kavango region in Namibia died on spot whilst an unknown male died at Livingstone Central Hospital after sustaining a head injury.

Southern Province Commissioner of Police Godwin Phiri said the accident occurred in Livingstone on Tuesday at 15:20 hours along Nakatindi Road in Simoonga area.

He said yesterday that the accident involved a Nissan minibus  registration number BAB 58 driven by Davies Chandila, 46, of Molite Township in Livingstone.

The accident happened because of a mechanical fault involving a tyre burst and in the process the vehicle overturned.

Mr Phiri said the two bodies were taken to Batoka Mortuary awaiting post-mortem.

He said Frank Muyenga,35, of Dambwa of Livingstone sustained multiple cuts on left leg and had bruises on his back.

A 4 year old boy Deon Mwandu,  of Kavango Region of Namibia sustained bruises on elbow and left eye.

Mr Phiri said the motor vehicle was extensively damaged.

Meanwhile, Mr Phiri said a pedestrian was seriously injured on Tuesday at 19:00hours at house number DSV 50 dambwa.

This involved a Toyota Corolla registration number AJC 6660 driven by Chrispin Nyambe, 42, of Molite Township and  Chattel Muulu, 8, who was inside a house.

This accident occurred due to the  inexperienced driver whoo rammed into the house and the child who was inside the house.

The child sustained a deep cut on left hip and cut on right leg and is  admitted at Livingstone Central Hospital.