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Power Dynamos acting head coach Anderson Phiri appears un-fazed by the looming big Kitwe derby against Nkana set for Saturday at Nkana Stadium in Wusakile.
In a pre-match interview, Phiri said the derby is for players.
He however said winning will be Power’s prime target in this Week 10 match of the FAZ Super Division.
“A derby is for players. Players know each other and they know what they do. I will just motivate them, I think this will be a motivating game,” Phiri said.
This will be the first instalment of the Kitwe derby in this year’s campaign.
“Definitely every coach prepares his team to win games,” Phiri said.
Last season, Power beat Nkana in the return match after the Wusakile club had won the first round encounter at home.
This game is live on SuperSport kicking off at 15h00.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has asked the ruling Patriotic Front to cancel or postpone this weekend’s rally in Kitwe.
PF Deputy Spokesperson Frank Bwalya
PF Deputy Spokesperson Frank Bwalya has disclosed that the ECZ has written to the party asking that it postpones the rally which was supposed to be held at Freedom Park.
Mr. Bwalya, who could not disclose the reasons why the ECZ has advised that the rally be postponed or cancelled, says the party has decided to heed to the advice by the ECZ.
Mr. Bwalya says the ruling party as a law abiding party will do as advised by the ECZ and that all political parties of goodwill should be doing this each time they are advised.
Meanwhile, Vice President Inonge Wina has appealed to all political parties and stakeholders to exercise minimum constraint and tolerance ahead of the August 11 General Elections.
In a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today Mrs Wina appealed to the general citizenry to have acceptance of divergent views as the country engages in the campaigns.
Mrs Wina explained that this should be exemplary by the way people in the country treat one another.
She said in a quest to convince respective electorates, it is important to be civil in the way people exchange views and ideas.
Mrs Wina said the use of words such as “no go area” has no place in Zambia as every Zambian regardless of their social, political, religious and ethnic inclinations are free to move around and campaign in all corners of Zambia.
She said consistent with the country’s moto, of One Zambia One Nation, the duty of every Zambian is to advocate for love, peace, unity, patriotism and development.
Mrs Wina, who is also Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly, thanked all Members of Parliament for participating actively in various debates in the House.
Mrs Wina said this culminated in the enactment of the republican constitution as assented by President Edgar Lungu.
Michael Chilala Examinations Council of Zambia DirectorThe Examination Council of Zambia -ECZ- says it will expand the number of points for verification of grade 12 certificates at the Service Centre in Lusaka.
ECZ Director Michael Chilala says the verification exercise for aspiring candidates in this year’s general election will also be extended for one week, subject to revision.
Dr Chilala said this when Minister of General Education, John Phiri visited the Grade 12 verification Service Centre in Lusaka.
And Dr. Phiri is happy that ECZ is committed to ensuring that all certificates are scrutinized without compromising on the prescribed standards.
The Minister also asked the aspiring candidates to bear with the authorities and exercise patience.
Dr. Phiri said the exercise could not be extended to other parts of the country as the machinery used for verification was not available in other parts of the country.
MMD President Dr. Nevers Mumba speaking to the Clergy from various congregations at Victory Ministries in Kasama on 11th February 2016MMD president Nevers Mumba says the former ruling party is not holding any convention this year.
Dr Mumba says whatever calls made by a faction of the party over the planned convention will amount to nothing.
He was speaking during a press briefing at his residence in Lusaka.
MMD members led by National Secretary Mwansa Mbulakulima and fomer Lunte Member of Parliament Felix Mutati are demanding a convention.
Mr Mbulakulima on Wednesday announced that that the MMD will hold a convention on Saturday next week in Kabwe.
Former Vice President Enock Kavindele
Former Republican Vice President Enock Kavindele says UPND President Hakainde Hichilema and his Vice Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba are not fit to rule the country due to their continued use of unpalatable language.
He said Mr Hichilema did not have the qualities needed for a leader of a country such as Zambia.
Speaking at media briefing in Lusaka this morning, Mr Kavindele said as a seasoned politician he felt duty bound to offer political guidance to the country after seeing political activities which continue to be marred by controversy and squabbles.
Mr Kavindele who saved under Presidents Fredrick Chiluba and Patrick Mwanawasa in the MMD government said the opposition have done little to convince the Zambian people that they should be given the mandate apart from showering colourful insults on the ruling party.
He said the opposition should do more in terms offering solutions to problems affecting ordinary people adding that some of the objections on how the country should be governed as to the levels of maturity of the opposition.
Meanwhile Mr Kavindele says the UPND leaders Hakainde Hichilema and Geoffrey Mwamba are not fit to rule the country because power has already gotten to their heads before even being voted into office.
“I have observed that Mr Hichilema and his Vice President have been using hate speech even before they assumed leadership of this country. In my considered opinion, it might be worse should they win. If they can use poor language freely before he becomes President, he might become worse,” he said.
“In my view therefore, continued Mr Kavindele, having assessed the two top contenders, I feel the Zambian people must consider voting for President Lungu in August. Our country deserves a President who is tolerant and forgiving. One who can reason beyond politics. Unfortunately I don’t see such qualities in my brother, friend and colleague Hakainde Hichilema.”
Further Mr Kavindele reminded Guy Scott to be mindful of his language saying unlike most Zambians he has another country to run to.
He said Dr Scott should remember that he was almost jailed for using inflammatory language during the Mwanawasa government.
He said he baffled that the former Vice President could issue a similar statement to the one that put in trouble and was arrested for before he (Kavindele) helped him by signing for the bond.
Asked about the challenges being faced in the former ruling party, the MMD, Mr Kavindele said the problems in MMD started with the manner in which Nevers Mumba was elected as President of the party.
He said that MMD President Dr. Nevers Mumba has lamentably failed to run the party because the party leadership did not listen to advise when they were told that they should elect the President from the provinces because doing so would only divide the party.
Mr. Kavindele, who served twice as Vice President under Frederick Chiluba and Levy Mwanawasa, said that the problem with the current MMD leadership is that they don’t want want to consult other people with experience.
Mr. Kavindele said that what is happening in the party at the moment is a total tragedy which needs to be corrected saying MMD is still a big party to struggle like this.
He said that it is confusing that Dr. Mumba has maintained that he is still MMD President while another group will be going to the convention in Kabwe next week and possibly come back with another party president
He further said the party risked disintegrating into two just like what happened in Zimbabwe with the MDC which had two party Presidents.
CHOPARD, a family owned independent Swiss luxury watch and jewellery company that has been the official partner of the Cannes Film Festival, is set to launch its new collaboration with Gemfields at the festival in Cannes, France next week.
A statement made available to the Weekend Mail in Lusaka by Langmead & Baker, says the May 14 launch will be hosted by Caroline Scheufele, Colin and Livia Firth.
To mark the occasion, Chopard will unveil a new capsule collection of Green Carpet High Jewellery within its Red Carpet Collection, showcasing the incredible Gemfields emeralds.
The new completely ethical pieces will be premiered by a leading Oscar winning actress on the Festival’s Opening Night.
Chopard will work with Gemfields to set the agenda for a new global standard for coloured gemstones.
Chopard, a certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council since 2010, has adopted a policy of sustainable business development and does its upmost in limiting its impact on the planet’s limited resources.
In 2013, Chopard launched in partnership with Eco-Age at the Cannes Film Festival The Journey to Sustainable Luxury, an exciting and ambitious multi-year programme, which has delivered global market leadership and differentiation from other jewellery and watch companies for Chopard.
The Journey to Sustainable Luxury is Chopard’s commitment to sourcing responsibly throughout its supply chain, thereby bringing together ethics and aesthetics, and helping the real people in its supply chain who are all too often overlooked.
The journey started with Chopard forging a philanthropic relationship with the influential South American mining NGO, the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM). Chopard thus became the first luxury watch and jewellery company to support and enable mining communities to reach Fairmined certification.
Gemfields Plc is the world’s leading supplier of responsibly sourced coloured gemstones, and is the operator and 75 percent owner of both the Kagem Emerald Mine in Zambia (believed to be the world’s single largest producing emerald mine) and the Montepuez Ruby Mine in Mozambique (one of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the world).
In addition, Gemfields also holds a 50 percent interest in the Kariba Amethyst Mine in Zambia, as well as controlling interests in various other gemstone mining and prospecting licences in Zambia, Mozambique, Colombia, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Sri Lanka.
New FIFA president Gianni Infantino has accepted an invitation to visit Zambia.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga said Infantino accepted the invitation to visit Zambia in 2018 after they met at the ongoing FIFA Congress in Mexico City that began on May 11 to May 14.
Kamanga said Infantino has accepted to visit Zambia during the 25th anniversary of the 1993 Gabon disaster next April.
“We are delighted that the FIFA president has accepted my invitation to come to Zambia in 2018 after we had fruitful discussions with him on various developmental issues,” Kamanga told FAZ media.
“He has expressed confidence in our leadership and wants Zambia to succeed with its football development programmes.
“Fifa has further agreed to send a legal team to help us revise our constitution in line with their directive for us to reduce the FAZ electoral college by 30th September.
“Other than that, we also discussed the possible funding of our reconvened annual general meeting later this year and there has been a willingness by Fifa to help.”
The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has ruled out the possibility of adjusting the fuel prices downwards despite the marginal appreciation of the kwacha against the US Dollar.
Briefing journalists in Lusaka this morning, ERB Executive Director Langiwe Lungu says in the first quarter of 2016, there were no petroleum price adjustments saying this was against the backdrop of the kwacha depreciation which cancelled out the benefits that would have accrued following reductions in oil prices on the international market.
Ms Lungu says the price of Murban Crude Oil, which Zambia imports as part of feedstock, dropped by 35% from US$57.70 in July to US$37.25 in December 2015 adding that the benefits of this were negative by the kwacha which depreciated by 42% from K7.65 to K10.84 per US Dollar during the same period.
And Ms Lungu has disclosed that ERB issued 26 standard licenses during the first quarter of 2016 and that 24 were in petroleum sub sector, while one was issued to Copperbelt Energy Cooperation (CEC) for electricity supply and another license was issued for the solar sector.
Meanwhile, the ERB Executive Director says following audits and inspections conducted in the last quarter of 2015 and anomalies identified thereof, the board summoned seven licenses for various breaches of their license conditions.
Ms Lungu says these are Zesco Ltd, Engen Petroleum Ltd, Kobil Zambia Ltd, Ravasia Petroleum Ltd, Oasis Oil Ltd, Alpha Enterprises Ltd, and LBM Investment Ltd.
FILE: Minister of justice Ngosa Simbiyakula and HP President Party General Godfrey Miyanda
Former Zambian Vice President Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda has challenged the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to indicate which specific law they relied on to cancel the UPND rally that was scheduled to take place in Kitwe on 14th May, 2016.
In a statement released to Lusaka Times, Brig Gen Miyanda said that he believed that there was no such law under the public order Act, adding that if such a law existed, it would be unconstitutional.
Below is the full statement.
STATEMENT THE CASE OF THE CANCELLATION OF THE UPND MANIFESTO LAUNCH
[By Brig Gen Godfrey Miyanda – 9th May 2016]
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) ordered the Zambia Police to cancel a UPND campaign rally scheduled for 14th May 2016 in Kitwe, based on the ground that the ECZ had NOT announced the period for commencing campaigning. The PF had scheduled their campaign rally in Lusaka on the same date. I am not a member of the UPND but I strongly condemn this selective and undemocratic Government action. The ECZ first let the PF postpone their rally on their own volition and only then did they order the Police to cancel the UPND rally. The point of my statement is to challenge the Government, ECZ and the Police to indicate which specific law they have relied on to cancel the UPND rally based on the ground given. I believe that there is no such law, not even under the Public Order Act; but if there is, then that law or regulation is unconstitutional.
The Constitution of Zambia guarantees all citizens the Right to Freedom of Expression, which provides for the right to disseminate or communicate information to the general public and to any individual or class of people without interference. The same Constitution guarantees citizens the right to assemble and associate freely with other persons of their choice without interference as well as to form and/or belong to political parties or trade unions in order to protect their interests. This is the Supreme Law of the land that has been ignored by the Government of President Lungu, using the ECZ and the Police.
The ground given by the ECZ, namely that there should be no campaigns until the ECZ says so, does not fall within the ambit of the constitutional derogations covered by the two articles. Hence I challenge the government and its agents to indicate which other laws allow the ECZ to veto any campaign meetings. It is ridiculous and rather unreasonable to suggest that political parties must wait for five years or bye–elections before they begin to promote their organisations.
It is well established that political parties more often than not use public gatherings (or rallies as they are called) to communicate messages to the public. It is particularly important in the case of Zambia where those in power completely monopolise the public media, both print and electronic. Mass meetings are vital in a democratic system of governance because each party attempts to convince the public as to why they should be voted for. Campaigning must go on all the time without interference, of course subject to a party’s financial muscle.
That is why the President and his ministers have been on permanent tours to all provinces since the last presidential bye-election because they cunningly use government facilities to conduct their rallies. They plan visits to districts ostensibly to inspect projects while holding rallies alongside; of this there is a lot of evidence. Although these visits may be viewed as a benefit arising from incumbency, the practice is abused by those in power due to the unusually high number of inspection tours on weekly and sometimes even on a daily basis. Included in the tours are courtesy calls on our impecunious and vulnerable chiefs and churches. The messages are almost entirely campaign messages, featuring the oft repeated one-sided song of peace and unity!
I reiterate that the ECZ has no power to prevent parties from campaigning until it says so; this contravenes the Constitution. I believe that the cancelling of the UPND rally was a deliberate stratagem by President Lungu’s team to outwit the UPND. After notifying the Police a month before, why did the Government sabotage the rally? What are they afraid of? What has made the ECZ, which has hitherto created a work style that brought harmony and cooperation of political parties, to brazenly countermand the Supreme Law of the land? Which law provides that “ECZ will fire the starting pistol for campaigns to begin?” If there is such a law why has ECZ allowed the ruling party to be gallivanting all over Zambia since last year, bearing all sorts of gifts including actual cash to chiefs as well as ordinary villagers, without any feeling of guilt or shame? This ECZ action could easily be termed as another form of rigging because the ruling party clearly wants only its voice to be heard. I call upon President Lungu to stop these dangerous hide and seek games, otherwise we shall be justified to conclude that his messages about peace and unity are but a public relations and vote-catching escapade. Please stop these provocative actions forthwith!
The Centre for Trade Policy and Development has urged Zambia to see the decreasing maize production yields within SADC as an opportunity to grow Non Traditional Exports (NTEs) and increase Revenue generation for the country through maize trade.
CTPD Executive Director Isabel Mukelabai also noted that for over 7 years now Zambia has been a surplus maize producer adding that this means Zambia has the ability to grow maize beyond its human and industrial consumption demand as can as can be seen in the table below table.
“In the 2015/16 agriculture season, Zambia has recorded an increased maize harvest with an output of 2,873,052 metric tonnes of maize, an increase of 9.73 percent from the 2,618,221 tons produced 2014/15,” Mrs. Mukelabai said.
“In addition to this, there is carry-over stock amounting to 667.524 metric tonnes as at May 1, 2016 of which, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) is holding 360,648 metric tonnes, the Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) 207,771, Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) 36,701 while small and medium scale farmers hold about 38,751. When compounded, the 2015/2016 agricultural season will have 3,540,577 tonnes.”
She said given this volume of maize, CTPD sees a ripe opportunity for Zambia to maximize market advantage within SADC and COMESA regions to the current maize deficit.
Mrs. Mukelabai said this would help the country to raise additional foreign exchange that will in turn help to address currency stability.
“Government should take advantage of good harvest and devise a marketing modality that will help the country to realize the much needed foreign exchange through export trade using the Zambia Commodity Exchange (ZAMACE) while at the same time take care of the local consumption demand through the strategic reserves as well as the 2.3 million earmarked for domestic and industrial use,” she said.
She said with this projected outlook, CTPD sees demand from deficit markets increasing and there is need for Zambia to strategize to ensure small scale farmers benefit from their labor.
“It will be very unfortunate to organize the marketing modality in such a way that it promotes the interest of a select few players within the marketing chain who have continued to hold the country at ransom without passing on the benefits to the consumer even when government subsidize their input purchase.”
Mrs. Mukelabai has since demanded that government should stop subsidizing the millers and instead channels resources to efforts around boosting productivity.
“On the other hand, CTPD is concerned that the commercial farmers have continued to exit the production of maize, this is robbing the country from potential revenue as these farmers are actually more productive and competitive compared to our small scale farmers.”
She added, “We urge the government to restore confidence in our commercial farmers by maintaining an open border policy so as to encourage more production and policy stability for their participation in export trade given the market access advantage we enjoy through various Free Trade Agreements with the region.”
ECZ director Priscilla Isaac s
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has explained that the directive to ban the use of cell phone in the polling stations in the August elections was aimed at ensuring that voters do not undermine the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
ECZ Director Priscilla Isaac “They would not be allowed to use cellphones inside the polling stations. But if somebody needs to make a call or send a message, they can do so outside the polling station building, because we found that cellphone use inside tends to be disruptive,” Ms. Isaac said.
“Last year in January, we actually had some voters taking photos of their ballot paper after they had marked it, and they were posting it on social media, which is not permissible because that is equivalent to campaigning, and it compromises the secrecy of the ballot,” she said.
Some civil society and opposition groups said the commission directive infringes on voters’ rights, since the constitution guarantees freedom of expression.
They also said the commission failed to consult all stakeholders before issuing the directive.
They accused the electoral body of doing the bidding of President Edgar Lungu and his governing Patriotic Front party.
“That is not true,” Isaac said. “It is just to make sure that we maintain order within the polling stations and not have the secrecy of the vote compromised, and we don’t want disturbances in the polling stations. Can you imagine you are in a polling station and people are voting and everybody is talking on the phone, and tweeting and what have you? It would just become disruptive, and cause discomfort to the voter.”
“People would have to obey,” she said. “Once the electoral commission gives a directive of how procedures are within the polling stations, then people would have to comply. And it is not unique to Zambia. In the Seychelles, they are not even allowed to enter a polling station with your phone.”
Critics of the cellphone directive, Isaac said, would be the first to complain and say they were being “disadvantaged” if ballots being circulated on social media were not being cast for their candidates.
She also compared the issue to the desire not to have election results announced while voting is still underway “because there is a possibility of it influencing those that are voting.
The same can be said about marked ballot papers being posted on social media during the course of voting on election day.”
But some opposition groups have questioned the rationale behind the directive.
Parliament member Request Muntanga, of the main opposition United Party for National Development, called it disturbing.
Local media quoted Muntanga as saying, “I want to see where there is a regulation that says no cellphone [in polling stations]. … The [electoral commission] is already creating uneasiness among players.”
Members of Parliament during the opening of Parliament by President Sata on September 19,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMANational Restoration Party (NAREP) Nchanga Constituency aspiring candidate Judith Kabemba has charged that most of the members of parliament had failed to fulfill their campaign promises.
Ms. Kabemba told Pan African Radio Journalist Hermit Hachilonde in an interview that in 2011 Zambians voted on partisan lines.
She notes that the trend has contributed to lack of development in many areas in the country.
Ms. Kabemba has therefore urged the electorates to vote for candidates on merit regardless of their political affiliation.
The hopeful lawmaker also stated that Nchanga constituency could be considered as a least developed constituency in Zambia.
She has however appealed to the electorates in Nchanga constituency to vote wisely in the fourth coming elections if they are to see development at their door step.
Ms. Kabemba added that some candidates don’t deserve another mandate because they have proved beyond reasonable doubt that they are just a failed project.
“Most MPs have failed to deliver because they were just voted on partisan lines” Judith Kabemba said
President Edgar Lungu is expected back in the country today and will tomorrow, Friday 12 May 2016 hold a Press Briefing at State House, the second since he took over office.
The press briefing will start at 09 Hours.
Following dissolution of Parliament last night, President Lungu is expected to give guidance on a number of issue pertaining to the governance of the nation.
President Lungu is expected to give direction regarding the legality of the Vice-President and Cabinet ministers retaining their positions after dissolution of Parliament.
Meanwhile, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili has warned UPND vice president for Administration Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba not to dare Government over his own ignorance on the Constitution.
Reacting to reports in the Post Newspaper in Which GBM is quoted as urging Zambians to effect a citizen’s arrest on Ministers that have remained in office after the dissolution of Parliament, Dr Kambwili called upon Zambians to read the Constitution for themselves and avoid being misled by selfish politicians who, according to him, want to gain cheap political mileage to resuscitate their dwindling political fortunes
below is the full statement
Republic of Zambia Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services
STATEMENT BY HON. CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI, MP, MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON REMARKS BY UPND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADMINISTRATION GEOFFERY MWAMBA
Government STRONGLY warns opposition UPND vice president for Administration Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba to stop inciting people to rise against a legitimate Government over baseless grounds.
Mr. Mwamba’s statement in today’s Post that people should effect a citizen’s arrest on Ministers that have remained in office after the dissolution of Parliament is tantamount to inciting people to rise against government.
He is warned not to dare Government over his own ignorance on the Constitution.
It is not Government’s fault that Mr Mwamba is incapable of understanding straight forward provisions in the Constitution and Government will not take kindly to his ignorance as it can set the country on fire.
Mr. Mwamba’s statement is careless, unreasonable and a blatant lack of understanding of the Constitution.
It is time Mr Mwamba grew up and stopped behaving like a ‘kaponya’ on serous national issues.
Mr. Mwamba should be the last person to talk about abuse of public resources as it had to take late President Michael Sata to restrain him from amassing for himself privileges and conditions such as military escorts when he served as Defence Minister which he was not entitled to.
He even wanted to get a Government driver’s competence licence for his wife to drive his official ministerial vehicle which the late President strongly reprimanded him for.
Is this the man who should turn around today and question Government on baseless issues such as Ministers’ stay in Government?
I wish to reiterate that Government, under His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, will not waiver on its resolve to uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia in the governance of this country.
I also call upon Zambians to read the Constitution for themselves and avoid being misled by selfish politicians who want to gain cheap political mileage to resuscitate their dwindling political fortunes.
Hon. Chishimba Kambwili, MP MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
PF Chairperson for Labour and Social Security Joyce Nonde Simukoko has described as unprincipled the politicians who have continued to move from one party to another.
Ms Simukoko said those defecting from the PF are the people who harboured ambitions of becoming President after the death of President Sata but failed and are now frustrated hence their moving to the UPND.
Blow is a full statement issued to the media.
DEFECTIONS OF UNPRINCIPLED MIGRANT POLITICIANS
Whenever a new election cycle approaches it has become fashionable for Zambians to be entertained to “migration or nomadic politics” when unprincipled politicians jump from one political party to another in highly publicized staged defections. During this silly season of unprincipled politics, these opportunistic politicians who have lost a sense of purpose in their respective parties, always try to figure out in which party they can push their selfish political agenda at the expense of serving loyal members of that party.
Opportunistic staged defections of some of our unprincipled leaders to the opposition are simply frustrated people who had harboured presidential ambitions in PF following the tragic death of President Michael Sata but miserably lost to President Lungu. The President, despite their negative attitude towards him still honoured by giving them positions they did not deserve. \they will soon regret their ingratitude and colossal political mistakes. Zambians of today are not that of yesterday, where politicians would cheat them that they used to be “sour grapes” in PF and now are “sweet oranges” in UPND. A traitor like Judas Iscariot will always be a traitor. We appeal to Zambians to ignore and stop supporting these selfish unprincipled “migrant or nomad politicians.”
Late President Sata was a principled man. When he differed with MMD in 2001 he resigned on principle and did not take the easy route of jumping onto another existing party but instead single handedly formed the Patriotic Front and laboured to make it into a large political party. Principles cannot be reconciled and neither can they be sacrificed on the altar of expediency as the opportunistic defectors are doing. President Sata has left a legacy of hard work while these defectors will soon be consigned to the dustbin of history. We would like to have leaders who are original not those copycats who have ridden either on the back of their father, spouse, tribe or race. The late President Sata was original. He worked his way through to be President, just as President Lungu has done.
Defectors have not taken along the PF structures, and some of these defectors were merely nominated MPs with no constituency. That is why they are not political factors. We have seen those who defect ending up frustrated and sometimes even going back to the same political parties they had run away from – what a shame! And, as President Lungu stated already, we expect more such staged defections next week when Parliament is about to be dissolved. We therefore ask all outgoing MPs to seriously evaluate themselves with a clear conscience and judge for themselves whether they performed to the expectations of the people or failed them.
Zambians shall not be duped by leaders who have become rich overnight and cannot explain the origin of their ill-gotten riches. These unprincipled rich politicians are today regrouping in UPND to fight President Edgar Lungu, a God-chosen leader who came from very humble beginnings in Chawama township and not from among the rich elites. UPND is for the rich clique (“ba some-of-us”). Zambian voters know that if they elect them then the common people will be cast out when they least expect it. They are well known capitalists who believe in the “weak must die” principle. are alive to the fact that
President Sata knew that PF was not for sale to the highest bidders and political crooks, that is why he showed great confidence in President Lungu whom he entrusted with huge national responsibilities –Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Justice, Minister of Defence, PF Secretary General and Acting President who presided over Zambia’s 50th Jubilee independence celebrations when the late president was sick in London. The same way these political enemies who fought President Lungu failed when President Sata died is the same way they will be defeated again in the August 2016 elections.
MRS. JOYCE NONDE SIMUKOKO,
PATRIOTIC FRONT (PF) CHAIRPERSON FOR LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
