President Edgar Lungu says he is no longer a novice but a tested leader where governing is concerned.

President Lungu says he has now gained enough experience to govern the Zambian people to greater prosperity.

He said this at a mammoth rally in Mbala.

“Give me space to work. One year that l have served is not enough,” he prodded the Zambians.

He also introduced PF Mbala aspiring the PF MP including six aspiring councillors vying on the ruling party.

He urged the people of Mbala against making a mistake by voting for opposition UPND leader, Hakainde Hichilema, who he said has no experience to govern the people.

He told the people to vote for him and all his candidates contesting on the PF ticket.

And speaking at the same rally, former Vice President, Enock Kavindele, implored the people of Mbala and the country as a whole against changing leaders.

Mr Kavindele said President Lungu deserves to be maintained beyond August 11 elections because he has delivered and he is delivering to his promises.

Opposition Christian Democratic Party leader, Dan Pule, also endorsed President Lungu as presidential candidate for this year’s poll.

President Edgar Lungu has reiterated that he will not abandon the vision and legacy of late President, Michael Sata.

President Lungu says he will finish and implement the developmental projects in the country.

He was speaking at a public rally in Mpulungu distrct, Northern Province.

President Lungu assured the people of Mpulungu that he will finish and start new developmental projects if he remained in office beyond August 11, this year.

He appealed to the people of Mpulungu to vote for him and his entire aspiring candidates.

President Lungu, introduced PF Mpulungu aspiring MP, Freedom Sikazwe, and ten councillors to the Mpulungu electorates and urged them to vote for him and his contenders.

Mr Lungu said Mpulungu has equally received its share from the national cake in terms of developmental projects.

He said he is the right person for the people of Zambia should vote for.

President Lungu was accompanied to Northern Province by former Vice President, Enock Kavindele, his special aide, Amos Chanda his campaign manager, Samuel Mukupa and other senior PF Members of the Central Committee as well as senior government officials.

PF Deputy Spokesperson Frank Bwalya has called on veteran politician Vernon Mwanga to stop rumour mongering and start behaving like the respected states Man he should be.

Commenting on the statement by the veteran politician who accused the PF of not observing the suspension of campaigns in Lusaka as they have been seen moving in branded vehicles Mr Bwalya said Dr Mwanga has reduced himself to a rumour monger as there is no truth in his statement.

He said the PF was obedient to their leaders and that they respect state institutions hence have not ignored the suspension but we’re effecting the suspension of campaigns in the respected places.

He explained that the members of PF who are using branded cars are just moving from home to work and back home and not using them as insinuated by the former Information Minister.

“We are very very disappointed with Dr Mwanga who is supposed to pass the test of a States Man, a seasoned politician should reduce himself to a rumour monger. He has reduced himself to a rumour monger because there is no truth in the statement that PF has been campaigning and the ECZ has been doing nothing.

“We would like to urge Dr Mwanga to stop this unbecoming behavior of rumour mongering. We know he is supporting the opposition UPND but even then we urge him to be truthful and to be objective let him contribute to our politics and to public discourse objectively,” he said.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia says political party leaders should take full responsibility of the actions of their supporters and cadres.

ECZ Chairperson Justice Esau Chulu says political parties should not view next month’s elections as a matter of life and death.

Speaking in Lusaka this morning during a meeting of all presidential candidates on the need for peaceful campaigns, Justice Chulu reminded the candidates who include President Edgar Lungu of the commitment they made to ensure peaceful campaigns during the interparty indaba facilitated by the church.

He has also called on the police to apply the public order Act fairly as they maintain law and order.

Justice Chulu however, stated that Police should ensure that perpetrators of violence and anyone caught abrogating the electoral code of conduct is dealt with firmly, without favor.

And Justice Chulu said the commission has been closely monitoring events on the ground in Lusaka and Namwala districts and has established that the political environment has been relatively quiet following suspension of campaigns.

He however regretted that some political parties have abrogated the ban as branded campaign vehicles have been seen moving around.

Those attending the meeting which has gone into a closed door session are UPND president Hakainde Hichilema,UPP’s Saviour Chishimba,FDD’s Edith Nawakwi,UNIP’s Tilyenji Kaunda and Rainbow party’s Wynter Kabimba among others.

The FDD says they have received the call by President Edgar Lungu for the country to have national prayers over political violence with a pinch of salt.

Antonio Mwanza who is the Party’s Spokesperson explained that last October the country gathered for prayers which he said turned out to be an endorsement gathering for Republican President.

Mr Mwanza who quoted several Bible verses said it is not God who is providing the pangas and other weapons being used to perpetrate violence in the country but the politicians.

Below is a statement issued by Mr Mwanza.

In Exodus 20:7 The Lord God Almighty warns that thou shall not use His name in vain. In Proverbs 29:2 scripture tells us that when good men are in authority the people rejoice but when evil men are in power the people cry. James 2:14-26 teaches us that faith without action is dead. My brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? A man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Therefore we have received the call by President Edgar Lungu for us to have national prayers over political violence with a pinch of salt. Isn’t Mr Lungu the same man that called for prayers on the 18th of October that turned out to be a political gathering were some clergy used God’s name to endorse President Lungu for political office? What have we seen after those prayers: more violence and more police brutality.

We all need to be honest enough and ask ourselves the following questions:

1. Who is arming cadres with guns, pangas, military fatigue, money and beer? Is it God or it’s us politicians?
2. Who is in charge of the police and all armed forces?
3. Who is preaching hatred and abusing state power? Is it God or it is us politicians?
4. Who is abetting and tolerating violence? Is it God or it is us politicians?

Brethren, tulayangasha Lesa. Lesa alakanda. Just stop arming and sponsoring cadres for violence. Allow the police to do their job professionally. And allow us all to enjoy our fundamental rights and liberties to campaign and assemble freely. Don’t use God’s name for political expediency.

B’Flow will be representing Zambia at this years International AIDS conference in Durban ,South Africa .

He had this to say on social media:

“Again I have the honour of being selected to represent my country. After 15 years, the International AIDS Conference (IAC) returns to South Africa. Though I’ve never attended the conference before, my advocacy in HIV/AIDS prevention started in high school when I was elected President of the Anti-AIDS Club for all Kabwe District Schools and Kabwe Secondary School. Our Keep The Promise free concert & march will kick off prior to the IAC, tomorrow Saturday, July 16th, 2016 at Sahara Stadium in Kingsmead, Durban, SA. Proudly sponsored by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), partners and CSOs to accelerate the fight against HIV/AIDS. The concert is aimed at reminding world leaders that AIDS isn’t over and that without funding, there cannot be an end to HIV/AIDS. The concert will feature legendary American Hip hop starts Queen Latifah and Common, South Africa’s MiCasa and Big Nuz, and Zambia’s B’Flow and Just Slim. Our MCs will be South African TV and radio hosts Ayanda-Allie Paine & Proverb. Chant it on!”

The Keep The Promise 2016 weekend will start on Friday, July 15th, as the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will host a media tour of AHF’s People’s Hope Clinic in Umlazi Township that provides medical care and treatment to people living with HIV/AIDS.

The clinic, which opened in 2002 has been a beacon of hope to many people living with HIV in KwaZulu-Natal.

It began with 100 patients in an old office building, and now offers care to about 15 000 patients, including children born with HIV.

AHF will then host a March and free concert on Saturday, July 16th at Durban’s Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, a 17,000-seat venue located directly across from the International Convention Center where the International AIDS Conference will be held.

The march will begin at 12 PM at Kingsmead Stadium and also conclude at the stadium.

The #KTP2016 concert will start at 4 PM and feature live performances by South African musical artists as well as international headlining major artists, Queen Latifah and Common!

South African acts Mi Casa and Big Nuz will be performing at the concert,as well as Zambia’s B’Flow ,with Proverb and Ayanda-Allie Paine acting as MCs for the event. Plus guest keynote speakers will inspire the audience and the world to “keep the promise” to fund HIV/AIDS.

“Keep The Promise” was launched in the United States in July 2012 when hundreds of HIV/AIDS advocates and featured speakers including Ambassador Andrew Young, Rev. Al Sharpton, television personality Tavis Smiley, Dr. Cornel West, comedian Margaret Cho descended upon Washington, DC for a March and rally on the National Mall.

#KTP2016 is an empowering advocacy platform organised by the Aids Healthcare Foundation, partners, and CSOs to accelerate the fight against HIV/Aids.

“I am excited to be part of the Keep The Promise Concert in Durban, South Africa.”

“It’s my first time in South Africa and it feels good to be going for such a great cause,” Latifah said in a statement.

AHF’s event in Durban builds upon the organization’s “Keep The Promise” campaign, an advocacy initiative that calls for:

• Increased and maintained global funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and care;
• Pharmaceutical companies to reduce AIDS drug prices;
• Support for HIV prevention programs;
• Support for healthcare reform;
• Decriminalization of HIV/AIDS

(goodthingsguy.com)

BY KAPA187

Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) Member Nelly Mutti has cautioned Zambians not to vote for the national referendum on 11th August, 2016 lest they face the costs, Reports Pan African Radio Journalist Hermit Hachilonde.

Speaking at the just ended Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) Public Fora at the Zambia Institute for Public Administration (NIPA) yesterday, Ms. Mutti said the process is fraudulent and Zambians should not condone mediocrity on pertinent national issues.

She also said the referendum question is riotous and extremely confusing for voters to make informed decisions.

Ms. Mutti emphatically pointed out the need for citizens to make politicians realize that the ballot has the power to appoint governors of a people in a democracy.

“My vote regarding a referendum is NO and Zambians must also vote against the referendum because the whole process is fraud” she said

Mr. Mutti also expressed discontent at some citizens promoting an advocacy in favour of voting for the national referendum when they are alert to the fact that the entire process is spiteful.

“and am glad because the people advocating for referendum have admitted that there are some mistakes” Mrs. Mutti said

Apollo Hospitals, the largest healthcare group from India, and Airtel Africa, a leading telecom operator with operations in 16 countries in Africa including Zambia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance healthcare cooperation across Africa.

The MoU is focused on enabling easy access to Apollo specialists. The MoU was signed by Ms. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals Group, who is in Nairobi as a leading member of the Indian Business delegation accompanying the Prime Minister of India to Kenya, and Raghunath Mandava, the Chief Operating Officer for Airtel Africa.

This service will enable Airtel Africa subscribers access personalized advice in real time thereby bringing world-class healthcare services at their fingertips.

Airtel Africa will provide its customers with discounted consultation and enable easy payment options through Airtel Money or the customers Airtime. India currently receives a lot of patients from Africa for medical treatment.

Apollo Hospitals has realized that some of the African patients traveling to India remain misguided about their health condition which could instead be treated in Africa while a few other patients wait far too long for treatment to reach a stage where cure is no longer possible. Keeping the above in mind, Apollo Hospitals is now partnering with Airtel Africa to enhance access to world-class healthcare services to the people of Africa.

Apollo Hospitals and Airtel Africa will launch “Ask-Apollo”; a simple and reliable service from a professional medical team at Apollo Hospitals. Ask Apollo is a web & mobile enabled patient-centric service, which combines the expertise of world-renowned Apollo doctors, with the convenience of consulting them at any time, from anywhere around the world. This easy-to-use platform allows one to talk to doctors, face-to-face through video conferencing, or connect with them via voice or email, thus saving the time, money and energy of patients anywhere. One can also upload clinical information including reports, images and scans, to be analyzed by Apollo experts, who can then provide an opinion within a stipulated time.

With patient centricity at the core, Apollo Hospitals has been a forerunner of integrated healthcare in Asia, as well as globally. Apollo Hospitals is widely recognized as the pioneer of private healthcare in India with a network of 64 hospitals, 2,200 retail pharmacy stores, 100 primary care & diagnostic clinics, health insurance services, clinical research division and 15 academic institutions including a medical school. Apollo Hospitals has been working very closely with Africa in healthcare sector for more than 15 years. Every year, thousands of patients from across Africa suffer from the rising problem of lifestyle diseases like heart ailments, kidney failure and cancer. With Apollo’s vast experience in managing these diseases (more than 160,000 heart surgeries and over 14,000 kidney transplants), it is one of the most preferred destinations for them to travel for treatment. While Apollo has treated many patients and trained many doctors from Kenya as well, it is now planning to further enhance India’s contribution to Africa’s healthcare services. Apollo Hospitals group is partnering with Airtel Africa to revolutionize the access to healthcare system.

Airtel is the world’s third largest global telecommunications services company (based on subscribers) which operates in 19 countries across Asia and Africa (including Kenya), providing 2G 3G and 4G wireless services, mobile commerce, fixed line broadband and voice services depending upon the country of operation.