LUNDAZI Central independent aspiring candidate Evans Ngoma has withdrawn of his resignation which he wrote to Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Chama informing him and the entire ruling party that he had resigned.

Mr Ngoma said in a letter obtained by Times Office in Chipata yesterday which he addressed to Mr Chama and copied to Elections Chairperson Jean Kapata, Eastern Province Chairperson Andrew Lubusha, Lundazi District leadership and Lundazi Central Constituency that he further apologised for having brought the name of the party into disrepute.

“I wish to withdraw my resignation letter dated 28/05/2016 from the Patriotic Front (PF).I wish to further tender my apology for having brought the name of the party into disrepute and feel I should be considered as a prodigal son,” he said.

Mr Ngoma said it was not intentional but rather pressure on the ground that influenced his decision.

He assured his dedication to the party during the campaigns and hoped that his apology would be taken in the spirit of brotherhood for the betterment of the voters in Lundazi.

“I trust the above in order and thanking you in advance for your wise decision,” he said.

Mr Ngoma also said his blood was PF adding that he would vigorously campaign for President Edgar Lungu and the party in general in order to win the elections.

He said his standing as an independent candidate had given United Party for National Development (UPND) headache because PF was not fielding any person.

He said it was no longer a walkover for UPND members who had celebrated that PF candidate Dr John Phiri had failed to file in his nomination papers.

Mr Ngoma also said once elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Lundazi Central on August 11th he is going to lobby for the upgrading to bituminous standard on the 78 kilometre stretch of Mwase-Kapichila-Lusuntha road.

He said the road was an important component to economic developments of Lundazi District.

“I know better roads network are important to the development of any district. I am going to ask the Government to upgrade the Mwase-Kapichila-Lusuntha into bituminous standard,” he said.

He said other priority areas for Lundazi Central were to focus on the drilling of boreholes as well as construction of more dams in the area.

He said he is going to ensure that more health posts and classroom block were constructed during his tenure in office as a lawmaker.

Mr Ngoma said he is going to ensure that some schools were upgraded including carrying out mass rehabilitation of the damaged schools.

In a statement issued on behalf of the ZEIC Council of Elders, Father Leonard Chiti says skirmishes involving rival political cadres have become a daily routine.

The ZEIC Council of Elders comprises Fr Chiti, Dr Anna Chifungula, Mama Chibesa Kankasa and Mr Simon Zukas.

Fr Chiti said this should not be the case especially that Zambia is known as a peaceful nation and a model of African democracy.

He said Zambians should not dent the country’s good image.

“Violence, in whatever form and under whatever circumstances, is evil. Violence prevents people from exercising their constitutional right of participating freely in political processes such as elections,” Fr Chiti said.

He added, “We urge Zambians to exercise restraint and ensure peace and stability during this period. Let us not allow elections to set us against each other. We are one people. There is more that brings us together as a nation than the few artificial differences caused by varying political views. Elections come and go, but once a life has been lost it cannot be replaced. Let us be responsible,” he said.

Fr Chiti has since encouraged political leaders to desist from mudslinging, insults and threats that have violent undertones.

“Instead, political leaders must be exemplary and debate on their different policies and plans for the country. This will make political debates will be richer. The electorate will listen more closely as to why they should vote for a political party or candidate.”

He added, “As Zambians, we have what it takes to stop violence. Let us preserver the peace of our nation. Let us strengthen our unity as a people. We may have different political views, support different candidates or parties, but we are all one. To our young people, we say: do not sell your dignity for a few pieces of silver. Let us stop violence.”

The Zambia Elections Information Centre is a multi-stakeholder information collection and sharing platform that seeks to enhance the credibility of the 11 August 2016 elections.

Through the ZEIC citizens’ platform, the issue of violence has been repeatedly reported as one of the major concerns in this electoral season.

Citizens are sending messages and reports through platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Email, Phone Calls and through SMS to our short code 2323. Most of the reports received from citizens show that violence is rearing its ugly head in many parts of the country.

The ZEIC is documenting these reports and we will soon be sharing some of the information give you a picture of the concerns coming from the public.

Football icon Kalusha Bwalya will participate in a special High-Level football tournament for Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York on 16 June, to promote the role of sports in achieving sustainable development and peace.

According to a statement released to the media by Zambia’s First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the United Nations,Mr Chibaula D. Silwamba, Kalusha, alongside other renowned international football players Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria), Frank Rijkaard and Aron Winter (both of The Netherlands) will be star players/coaches of Permanent Representatives accredited to the United Nations from various countries across the world, who will participate in the tournament.

Permanent Missions of Zambia and The Netherlands to the United Nations in conjunction with KNVB and Cruyff Foundation are organisers of the first-ever tournament on the terrace of the UN Delegates Dining Room facing the East River. Cruyff Foundation will set up an artificial football pitch.

At least three female Permanent Representatives, including the US’ Samantha Power, have signed up to play alongside their male counterparts in the few-minutes competition.

The game will draw the attention of the international community to the role that football, and its celebrities, could play to promote the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and achieving peace and security in the world.

Kalusha and his colleagues will also feature on the UN Secretary General’s Spokesperson Noon Media Briefing where they will engage the international media about sports, development and peace.

The stars will also hold a football clinic for children, and several other engagements organized by The Netherlands Mission to the UN.

Kalusha is African Footballer of the Year 1988, Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee member, FIFA Football Committee Member, board member of Champions of the Environment and Africa10.

Kalusha is highly respected across the world for his football prowess, and has participated in Zambian football for over three decades in various capacities.

MMD aspiring candidate for Munali Constituency Mike Mposha has called on the people in the constituency to stop experimenting with MPs they elect in their area.

And Mr Mposha says it is high time that the constituency elected one of its own as opposed to electing people who came from other constituencies and have no idea of the challenges the people in the constituency are facing.

Speaking during the tour of markets in Munali Constituency Mr Mposha who was accompanied by Party President Felix Mutati said the Constituency has for a long time been represented by outsiders who go back to their clean residential areas in their constituency once elections are over only to show their faces when it was time for polls again.

He said the people in the area should vote for him because he was the son of Munali Constituency who still lives in the area and his businesses are in the same area.

The former Lusaka Mayor and Diplomat said his works during the time his was the Councillor in Kaunda Square, Deputy Mayor and Mayor of the City show that he is able to deliver and that people should not look to outsiders to sort out their problems in the Constituency.

He also said Constituency has demonstrated that it believes in equal opportunities to men and women by voting for women in three consecutive terms and that it was now time for a man to take over.

He also said voters should vote for President Lungu so that he can have his own term as he was just finishing late Republican President Michael Sata term hence can not be judged based on that as the period was too short.

And party President Felix Mutati asked the people to vote for his candidate and President Lungu on the the 11th of August.

He said the MMD is working with the PF because Zambians are tired of politics of divisions and that it does not mean that you can only help the country when you are a President.

He said being a leader entails that you look beyond your personal interests and look at the bigger picture.

He said the party is backing the PF President in this year’s elections because it wants to play it’s part in the development of the country.

Meanwhile some marketeers in the area commended the MMD President Felix Mutati and his party for picking Mr Mposha as the candidate.

Mary Mukuka from Kaunda Square market said they were happy to have Mr Mposha as one of the people in the race because he is one of them and that it is Mr Mposha who has been there for them in times of need as they are able to go to him for help when they have challenges such as during funerals.

She said they do not want foreigners who are absentees during their time as MPs and think that they can only show their faces for the sake of votes.

She said the past MP has not been seen in the constituency for a long time.

The Munali seat is being contested by Mike Mposha on the MMD, former MP Kandu Luo on the PF ticket, FDD Spokesperson Antonio Mwanza and former UNZASU President Vincent Chaila who is standing as an Independent.

Government says over one hundred and ninety pregnancies have been recorded in Eastern province during the first quarter of this year.

This came to light during two day second ordinary Provincial Development Coordinating Committee (PDCC) meeting held at Luangwa house in Chipata.

Provincial Senior Planner, Mang’ombe Tembo, said 194 girls fell pregnant during the period adding that out of the number of impregnated girls , 105 of them were re-admitted after delivery.

He also noted that 13 boys and 21 girls respectively where forced into early marriages in the area.

The department has had a big challenge to address the issue of pregnancies and children going into early marriages, Mr. Tembo said.

He implored other stakeholders such as the departments of health and Community Development to partner with the department of Education to address the problem.

And Tembo said the Ministry had enrolled 12, 064 children into Early childhood education.

He however said the Ministry had recorded successes in the pass rate where the region scored above 70 percent at Grades seven and 12 pass rates.

Tembo said at grade nine level, the Ministry was not doing well and recorded below par, compared to the targets set in the strategic plan.

‘’ At grades seven and 12, we recorded above 70 percent pass rate where Vubwi district was number one in the province and second in the country at grade seven level.

‘ We however have a challenge at grade nine level where we are not doing well and we want to see what is causing that so that we improve in the coming years,’’ he said.

Tembo said last year, the province came first at grade 12 pass rate in the entire country while it came second at grade seven and third at grade nine levels respectively.

Dr Kambwili, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services

Minister, says leaders who do not visit their constituencies and wards after being elected, are the ones who fail to make it in the second term.

Speaking at Changanamai Grounds in Kitwe this afternoon when he introduced PF Kwacha Parliamentary candidate Joe Malanji to the masses, Dr Kambwili said the people of Zambia want leaders who deliver on their promises.

He said in the five years the PF has been in office, various infrastructure such as roads, hospitals and schools have been completed.

Dr Kambwili said the party had made a lot of promises in 2011 and they have all been delivered.

And Mr Malanji said he has funded the construction of bridges, electrification of markets and the donation of Television sets in 14 schools in Kwacha Constituency in the past five years.

Meanwhile, PF Kitwe Mayoral Candidate Christopher Kangombe pledged to work hard and deliver his best to the people of Kitwe.

And PF Copperbelt Province Chairman Steven Kainga urged the people of the Copperbelt to again give the ruling party 100 percent votes just like they have done in the past.

Others contesting the Kwacha parliamentary seat are Niza Phiri of the FDD, Stanely Mulenga of UPND, and Jerome Phiri who is standing as an independent candidate.