MMD National Secretary Mwansa Mbulakulima says the Party has reached the point of no return regarding the holding of the Party National Convention which he announced two weeks ago.

And Mr Mbulakulima said the talks which were held by former Republican President Rupiah Banda and Party President Nevers Mumba was between the two regarding their individual differences and not that of the Party.

Mr Mbulakulima said the issue of the convention is non-negotiable and that it will go ahead with or without Dr Mumba and that all the Provinces were geared and ready to attend the convention on the announced date.

“The meeting which Dr Mumba asked for was between him and the former Head of State were Dr Mumba believes that there are some personal differences between the two and we are not preview to that but for us a party of which I am the National Secretary our position still stands.

“The issue of the convention stands, Dr Mumba took the matter to court and the writing is very clear from the Courts of law and we have gone very far in organising the for the convention. All the ten Provinces are geared,” he said.

He accused Dr Mumba of what he termed “desperate action” to try and stop members from organizing by writing to all the Police Stations in the country of which he commended the police for refusing to take sides on the matter.

Further Mr Mbulakulima explained that Dr Mumba tried to influence the decision of Mulungushi University after he heard that he gone to inquire about the charges for using the facility for the forthcoming convention.

He said Dr Mumba he sent the acting party Spokesperson Reuben Sambo to tell management to refuse to grant them the use of the facility and management at the institution refused to grant them their wish.

He called on members not to be deceived that the meeting was for the party because the meeting was meant to iron out the differences between Dr Mumba and the former President.

Meanwhile Mr Mbulakulima has cautioned both the PF and the UPND not to be lied to that Dr Mumba was representing MMD when discussing any possible alliances saying MMD will only negotiate for possible alliances when they come from the convention.

He said Dr Mumba can only talk on his own behalf hence anyone engaging with him should bear that in mind.

On reports that he had a secret meeting with UPND President Hakainde Hichilema Mr Mbulakulima said they were aware about all the maneuvers that Dr Mumba has been making to try and meet his opposition counter part including arrangements for the two to meet outside Zambia.

Mr Mbulakulima was reacting to the meeting which was held between Dr Mumba and former President Banda in which they later announced that there was no rift between them.

The meeting followed allegations that Mr Banda was funding factions from within the party to disturbalise it.

Mr Mbulakulima has since invited Dr Mumba to the convention scheduled between the 20th and 22nd May.

Dr Simbyakula said that this undertaking will now limit the number of Cabinet ministers appointed by a republican president as opposed to what was happening in the past.

He said according to The Ministers (Prescribed Number and Responsibilities) Bill, limiting the number of ministers will be for the good of the country.

“In the bill, a minister will be a person appointed Cabinet minister and provincial minister will be a person appointed as a provincial minister,” he said.

Dr Simbyakula, who was speaking during the second reading of the bill, also said ministers will serve in their positions until a new republican president is elected.

He said that under the same bill the president has the powers to dissolve some ministries and merge others so that they are able to function properly.

And Livingstone Press Club President, Brian Hatyoka, has urged politicians to articulate their visions through the media as opposed to engaging in hate-speech and character-assassination as these have potential to bring violence in the country.

Ms Mapoma said she was aware of the challenges involved in achieving this but maintained that it was possible if the media operated with corresponding responsibility.

“It is in this spirit that I am urging all media houses to abide by the Electoral Code of Conduct, the IBA Act and other laws that govern the media,” she said.

Ms Mapoma said this in Livingstone today during commemorations of World Press Freedom Day held under the theme, “Access to information and fundamental freedoms: This is your right’.

She said access to information by citizens was crucial to the attainment of the country’s development targets.

Ms Mapoma said access to information was critical as it enabled people to make informed decisions on matters of national interest.

“However, providing access to information alone is not enough, thus, I am urging all media institutions to ensure they employ the principle of quality control through the upkeep of journalistic standards and ethics,” she said.

She said rigorously promoting and upholding ethics and high journalistic standards would help to retain credibility in the profession.

Ms Mapoma further said the balance between freedom of expression and opinion and ethical reporting was a constant and evolving debate that countries world over, had for a long time deliberated.

“Our country is no longer a stranger to similar debates. And I note with worry that our debates often focus on the freedoms and deliberate less on the media and its responsibilities,” she said.

And speaking earlier, Livingstone Press Club President, Brian Hatyoka, urged politicians to articulate their visions through the media as opposed to engaging in hate-speech and character-assassination as these had potential to bring violence in the country.

Mr Hatyoka also called for an end to attacks and intimidation of journalists especially during elections.

“People who attack journalists should be arrested and where possible jailed to set an example to would-be offenders,” he said.

He appealed to fellow scribes to be responsible in their reporting as irresponsible and unprofessional reporting had potential to cause anarchy in the country.

Meanwhile, Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) Chairperson for Livingstone, Gideon Musonda, said the media had a huge responsibility of promoting freedom of expression among women on equal terms with men at all levels of decision-making.

“The media should do this if there is to be equality, sustainable development, peace and strong democracy in our country,” he said.

Mr Musonda implored journalists to expose gender imbalance at all levels of governance in the country.

He also noted that Zambian media could continue to thrive if friendly legislation such as the much advocated for ‘Access to Information Bill’ is enacted into law.

Ms Kabanshi says Civil Society Organisations play a critical role in fostering economic development in the country as well as uplifting the living standards of the less-privileged people in society.

The Minister said this at the official opening of a meeting of the European Union with Civil Society Organisations and Disabled people’s organisation at Lusaka’s Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka yesterday.

She disclosed that 555 NGOs have successfully been registered and that out of which 428 are local NGOs while 127 are international organisations.

The minister also urged the NGOs to abide by the legal provisions of the NGO’s Act and be transparent in their service delivery.

She further acknowledged the support government has continued to receive from the European Union and other co-operating partners.

And European Union Ambassador to Zambia, Alessandro Mariani, said the European Union is committed to working with government and Civil Society Organisations in Zambia to fight poverty in the country.

Ambassador Mariani said the European Union’s main concern is to effectively support the agricultural sector as a way of eliminating poverty, especially in the rural areas.

He said the EU will remain committed to working with the Zambian government in many sectors of the economy.

Mr Mwila says as Zambia positions herself to the regional and global agendas, migration and human mobility have been targeted as part of the four out of the 17 Sustainable Development goals (SDGs) which Zambia is preparing to adapt the 2030 agenda to include migrants.

He says measures taken by the Zambian government include the establishment and deployment of the electronic border management information system, New Zambia immigration management system, launch and implementation of protection procedure guidelines for vulnerable migrants, establishment of a one-stop broder post at Chirundu as well as the launch of e-VISA last year.

He says SDGs outlines migration-related targets that include human rights since Zambia is part to the convention on human rights.

The minister said this in Lusaka today when he opened the 2nd Intra-Regional Forum on Immigration in Africa organised by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), COMESA and the African Union (AU).

This year’s forum’s theme is dubbed, “Fostering Regional Integration: Facilitating Trade and Human Mobility through Enhanced Border Management”.

The forum is a follow up to the first Intra-Regional Forum on Immigration in Africa which was held in September, 2015 in Accra, Ghana.

Mr Mwila called for a robust monitoring framework for migration to be put in place.

He said monitoring of results and outcomes is a key in every process as it provides critical information on bottlenecks, weaknesses, gaps and opportunities during the implementation process.

The minister said data on migration for decision makers should be timely and quality to policy makers.

Mr Mwila said the forum is appropriate as it has come when other countries, including Zambia and the entire African continent, hare exploring ways of address challenges to effectively manage border conflicts.

And speaking earlier, IOM Director General, William Swing, disclosed that regional economic co-operation and integration is designed to strengthen participating economies through liberalised trade.

Mr Swing said Africa is fully aware of the importance of integration and has placed it on its action agenda.

He added that international trade and migration are closely related dimensions of globalisation and to-date, inter-governmental co-operation have been achieved on trade as well as migration.

But Esther Mambwe, a cross broder trader in Zambia, lamented that traders generally lack awareness of tax rates from one country to the other.

Narrating her testimony in a packaged Forum in Lusaka today, Mrs Mambwe, however, commended Cross Border Trade Association of Zambia for linking her to major marketing blocs such as COMESA, SADC and AU outside Zambia.

Community Development and Social Welfare Minister, Emerine Kabanshi, says the continuation of projects will create thousands of jobs in line with the theme for this year’s Labour Day which is in line with government’s vision of attaining National Development through the Promotion of Decent Jobs and Social Justice.

Ms Kabanshi said this when she officiated at this year’s Labour Day Cerebrations held at Mongu Sports Stadium in Mongu District of Western Province.

She noted that government is implementing the decent-work country program with the support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), adding that government has revised the National Employment and Labour Market Policy so as to implement industrialisation and job creation strategy.

And Zambia Congress of Trade Unions Provincial Secretary, Trust Chingala, thanked the government, saying last year’s labour lovement request has been achieved this year in terms of job creation and developmental projects.

Meanwhile, one of the awarded workers, Hendrix Sikwibele, a Librarian at Mongu Provincial Library, stated that achieving national development can only be achieved by being honest and through hard work at places of work.