A survey conducted by the Daily Nation yesterday revealed that those that had paid were the Patriotic Front (PF), United Party for National Development (UPND), United National Independence Party (UNIP), Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) and Green Party (GP).

Yesterday, May 17, 2016, was the deadline set by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for political parties to pay their presidential nominations fees or be excluded from the election.

Meanwhile, all the political parties who failed to deposit at least half of the K75, 000 in the stipulated ECZ account have automatically been disqualified from standing in the August 11 general elections.

On Saturday, ECZ public relations manager Cris Akufuna said if any of the presidential aspiring candidates failed to deposit K37, 500 by yesterday such a candidate would be disqualified.

“It is clear. If you don’t deposit half of the nomination fee in the stipulated ECZ account by the deadline, then you won’t stand,” he said.

According to the ECZ, the electoral body does not want to handle cash as the case was in the past. The Commission prescribed 10th May, 2016 to 17th May, 2016 as dates during which to deposit at least half of the K75, 000.

‘‘Aspiring presidential candidates should present to the Commission a bank deposit slip as proof of payment for inclusion on the nomination timetable. The balance should be deposited in the Electoral Commission bank account before nomination day,” Mr Afukuna said.

He said all aspiring presidential candidates should ensure that they presented to the returning officer a bank deposit slip as proof of full payment with their nomination papers on the nomination day.

FDD spokesperson Antonio Mwanza said Ms Edith Nawakwi’s nomination fees were paid a long time ago. UPND secretary general Stephen Katuka confirmed that his party had equally paid the nomination fees for president Hakainde Hichilema.

Meanwhile, PF Deputy Spokesperson Frank Bwalya says Fourth Revolution Party President Erick Chanda should tell the nation the real reason why he is not running in the fourth coming elections as opposed to accusing the PF government of persecuting him.

Mr Bwalya said Mr Chanda has failed to raise the K75,000 required as nomination fee for the presidential candidate.

He said Mr Chanda should be honest enough and tell the nation that he has failed to raise nomination fees as there is no government persecuting him.

“The statement by Erick Chanda that he is not running in this years election due to political persecution can not go without comment. The truth of the matter is that Mr Erick Chanda has failed to raise the filing fee which has been put at K75,000.

“Mr Chanda should be honest enough and tell the people that he has failed to raise the money independently because even in the past Mr Chanda was pleading with the PF Secretary General to give him money for campaigns that was in 2015 so we do know that he doesn’t have the money to pay in order for him to file his nomination papers as presidential candidate,” he said.

He said the Court case against him was due to his careless talk.

“Regarding the so called persecution, no government under the sun is persecuting Mr Chanda. His own careless talk landed him into problems he got arrested for branding the President as a person who likes clubbing and other things he said which I wouldn’t want to repeat because I will be repeating defamatory material about our own President.

“Mr Chanda should acknowledge the fact that Zambia is a country were the various institutions of government are operating autonomously and independently and there is the rule of law is obtaining in our country. He has not been locked up before a competent Court finds him guilty,” he said.

Mr said is quoted in one of the tabloids as having said that he is being politically persecuted by the PF government.

Never far from controversy, Petersen Zagaze (Mukubesa Mundia), has released a new political song titled ‘Zaga for President’, in which he talks about forming a political party called Bikini Party, and standing in this year’s elections.
In the song, which is already receiving airplay on local radio stations, Petersen introduces his manifesto and urges people to vote for him because he is going to change a lot of things in the country, including the economy.
Constructing supermarkets like Shoprite in police camps, and giving formal employment to his supporters are part of his manifesto in the song.
Although the song is easy, slow and entertaining, it has some controversial messages about Zambian politics, which is typical of Petersen.
Petersen, who has five albums to his name – King Solomon, Job 13:13, Stoga Compilation, Bobojani and Munyaule – has never shied away from controversy, starting with his first hit song Munyaule.
There is also Amakwebo Mu Church, in which he talks about attending church after a longtime only to find that it has become a marketplace; dealing in all sorts of things including cars, houses, and music albums. He then asks the messiah to come back and whip the church merchandisers.
Then in Job 13: 13, he criticises parliamentarians for debating his songs ‘as if there is nothing better to do.’
Other songs by Petersen are Sinifuna Nakulanga, Kumanda kuli Boring, Bvuto La Fwaka, Letter to My President, Chibelo ni Capital, Oxygen, Chitemene, Nilabeko, Sefula Boy, Stoga, Oh No, ma Offals, Promise, Musiye Atoping’e and Nkani Yakang’ono.

Download the song HERE

Dancing before the Lord, is not totally about technique. It’s about having the right attitude in your heart. It’s also about telling a story. The music, words and dance must be united in harmony.

When, Zambian gospel artist Ephraim, released his song, This Kind Of God. He did not envisaged that a pregnant lady, dancing passionately to his hit track, could bring world attention to him as an artist.

Onward Christian Radio, contacted the expecting mum, a lady named Namuchimba Lily-Konan to talk about the viral video she posted on her Facebook wall.

“The video has caused waves on my Facebook wall with a large audience from Nigeria and most parts of Europe and the USA wondering who sang the song.  Well that amazing song was done by an artist from Zambia named Ephraim Sekeleti Mutalange popularly known as Ephraim Zambia.” she said.

At first sight he strikes you as a smart talented lad with a bright future in Zambian gospel Music. Indeed, he is a natural talent and he is blessed with a captivating voice and good looks. Simply put, he is charming. Thanks to the dancing pregnant lady. A great part of the world would have not known this talented gospel artist. But, because of her dance, we now know him.

His name is Ephraim Mutalange, popularly known as the ‘Son of Africa’. From very humble beginnings he began ministering at his local church. Today his music cuts across East Africa and Southern Africa. God has opened doors for him and now his music has even gone wider reaching places that it had not got to before.

Namuchimba Lily-Konan’s, spontaneous dance, surely, tells a happy story. She has not only told the world, of the joy that she has found in God. But, she has told the story of a very talented, young Zambian gospel artist. Indeed a story told via the means of dance.

Listen to the full song below

Ephraim, is set to perform in London, UK. He will be a guest artist, at this years Zambian, independence celebrations in October.

Ephraim’s music is available on Amazon click here

(ocradio.co.za)

The ruling PF says it is not preoccupied with filling up the 50,000 capacity Heroes Stadium in Lusaka during its national campaign launch set for this Saturday.

PF Deputy Spokesman Frank Bwalya said the party is only interested in filling up the hearts of minds of Zambians with love, peace and development.

He said the party will not be bothered even if it fails to fill up the gigantic stadium as long as its message of peace and development resonates with the Zambian people.

The PF has been running campaign messages urging its members to attend the event in an ambitious attempt to fill up the stadium.

Some political observers have however cautioned the party describing the move as been over ambitious saying it will be embarrassing for the ruling party with there will be empty stands in the stadium.

“For us, our main preoccupation is service to the people. We are not concerned about filling up the stadium, we want to send a message of love, peace and development to our people.
Moreover, our candidate, President Lungu is already filled with love, humility and a pro-poor approach, that is all that matters,” Mr Bwalya said during a live programme on Radio Phoenix.
He further revealed that the party will also at the same event unveil a new elections manifesto for the August elections.

Mr Bwalya hinted that the new PF manifesto will not completely depart from the current one adding that it is merely be a continuation of the 2011 manifesto.

“Our new manifesto will respond to the new challenges that the country is facing but it will not depart from what the PF is known for that is the massive construction of roads and other infrastructure. It will be another pro-poor document which speaks to the lives of majority poor Zambians,” he said.

He further revealed that the PF is also going to launch a new campaign Chitenge at the event which has President Lungu’s images.

“Unlike in January 2015, this time around, we are more than prepared, we have printed a new Chitenge for our President for these campaigns with his smiling images on them and we will be launching this at Heroes. We are set to have the best campaign event ever. We have 25 artistes performing, some just for free because of their love for President Lungu. Gates open at 10 Hours,” he said.

Meanwhile, tHE Patriotic Front (PF) will on Saturday unveil its candidates for the August 11 general elections during a mega rally at Lusaka’s National Heroes Stadium, secretary general Davies Chama has said.

Mr Chama said yesterday that President Lungu is expected to announce the names of the members the PF has adopted to be its parliamentary, mayoral and local government candidates at a mammoth rally