The United Party for National Development (UPND) has described the events in parliament on Thursday where parliament defeated the private members bill on the Public Order Act (POA) as a sham.

In a statement released to the media by party spokesperson charles Kakoma, the party wondered
why the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) was fighting against having this piece of archaic legislation amended.

Below is the full statement

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

PUBLIC ORDER ACT

What happened in Parliament on Thursday regarding the Public Order Act is a sham and the Patriotic Front should be ashamed.

All parties sitting in Parliament have leaders. Those leaders convene meetings in consultation with the leader of the party on what decision they will make on the subjects of discussion in Parliament.

If you recall, when the constitution was being debated, the leader of the MMD, Hon. Mutolo Phiri, made a statement on how they were going to vote, so did the leader of the UPND, Hon. Gary Nkombo.

The leader of Government also made a statement, and for sure the constitution was passed, albeit now they are desperately trying to reverse it after seeing that it is working against them. So President Lungu knew that he was politicking when he made that announcement that he wanted the POA amended.

What happened during the debate of the Public Order Act when a motion was introduced by UPND MP for Choma, Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa, goes to show what kind of Government we have.

This is the same group that pandered on this subject when they were in opposition, but barely a month in Government, they u-turned. The amount of u-turns this Government has made has left the country dizzy.

Now they are fighting the same legislation that their own President directed then to amend. They are going against their own leader, so why does President Lungu make these pronouncements before lobbying his MPs? Is it that he does it for political reasons?

Why is the PF fighting against having this piece of archaic legislation amended? The Public Order Act is a piece of legislation developed in 1955 and it states “An Act to prohibit the wearing of uniforms in connection with political objects and the maintenance by private persons of associations of military or similar character; and to make further provision for the preservation of public order. [19th August, 1955].” That first sentence presupposes that it’s illegal to be in party regalia.

Why are we then maintaining such a law in a democratic country? This PF Parliament has been a disappointment. This crop of PF MPs must never come back to Parliament as we wait for history to judge them harshly.

Charles Kakoma
UPND Spokesperson

Former Commerce,Trades and Industries Minister Felix Mutati has been invited the prestigious Ten President’s plus One Africa-focused investment conference in Cairo which opened on Saturday.

Mr Mutati was invited in his capacity as a member of the COMESA Council of Elders and a former Minister of Commerce.

The conference will hold discussions that are beneficial to the common economic agenda of the continent.

Speaking before living for Cairo Egypt, Mr Mutati said he was proud to be the one representing the country at such an important summit which is aimed at strengthening ties between Egypt and sub – Saharan Africa.

He said it was not the first time that he was representing the nation at such kind a of a meeting and that he will continue to represent the nation when ever he is called upon as they help create investment opportunities in the country.

He said the conference will discuss among other things how the continent can move forward at the same pace in terms of economic development as well as formulate region strategies for developing the continent.

Mr Mutati is hopeful that Zambia will benefit from the conference as Egypt aims to increase its private investment in Africa from $8 Billion to $10 Billion.

The conference was officially opened by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Saturday who said Egypt’s private sector investment in Africa exceeds $8 billion, and Cairo hopes to double its trade with other African nations in the next five years to $10 billion.

The opposition Rainbow Party has dismissed assertions that it is in an alliance with UPND ahead of this year’s elections.

This comes in the wake of a front page picture in The Post newspaper showing Rainbow Party General Secretary Wynter Kabimba with his UPND counterpart Hakainde Hichilema shaking hands after a meeting for opposition political parties convened by veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga.

Rainbow Party National Coordinator for Mobilization Robert Chikwelete has explained that the two political parties cannot be in an electoral alliance because they have different ideologies.

Mr. Chikwelete says the party is not in any alliance with any political party and Rainbow Party is not going to form any alliance with anyone during the 2016 general election.

He has explained that the photo referred to was taken during an opposition political party meeting organised by Dr. Mwaanga at which Kabimba read out the communiqué’.

He says the Party will field candidates in all the 150 constituencies.

Mr. Chikwelete says the Party will use its electoral alertness and pro-activity its members applied while in PF in 2011.

SPECIAL assistant to the President Project Implementation and Monitoring Lucky Mulusa has demanded the termination of the contract of African Contractors building the government medium cost houses in Choma due to poor works and use of substandard materials.

Mr Mulusa who was in Choma to check on government projects at the weekend was disappointed to discover that ceiling board from one of the newly built houses was falling apart.

Mr Mulusa who could not hide his disappointment wondered what the building engineer was doing to have allowed such works and also questioned why the chief planner and the building engineer allowed the contractor to use substandard materials.

He also expressed disappointed at the quality of window frames, door frames used in the housing units and wondered why the water pipes were left protruding from outside.

The contractor was not even on site to answer to some of the concerns raise as even the plastering of the walls was amateurish.

“This is not right it’s shocking where is the building inspector because there’s no excuse to allow this kind of work, there should be a good motivation why this contract can’t be terminated because the contractor has no value for money, the celling board is falling apart,” a visibility disappointed Mulusa said.

The construction of the medium cost housing started at the same time with the high cost which were being built by another foreign contractor had been completed and was only awaiting electrification and water installation.

He called on the local contractors to do the level best when they are given such projects unlike the current works being exhibited in Choma.

“ This kind of workmanship defeats the whole purpose of empowering Zambians, the low cost housing being done by a foreigner are far much better than the medium houses,”he said.

Provincial Planner Linda Siwale said government was update with the payment and wondered why the contractor was not completing.

“There is no pending payment for all the houses being constructed here all the payments and certificates were to update, “he said.

Mr Mulusa also toured the high and low cost housing units and also checked the works on the government offices and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation offices.

Earlier before the tour Southern Province Permanent Secretary Sibanze Simuchoba said the delay to complete the government offices and the housing units was a huge cost because the officers were always travelling to Livingstone.

THE Election Observation Mission have condemned the violence that rocked the Uganda general elections describing it as being inconsistent with the requirements of the general norms of democracy as they undermined the essential aspects of electoral integrity.

Zambia’s former President, Rupiah Banda in his preliminary statement on behalf of the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) observation mission said security forces proved to intimidate and influence the electoral process against providing law and order.

Mr Banda said there was a lot of public mistrust of the security forces who were accused of favouring the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party to the disadvantage of the opposition party.

He said the recently held general elections in Uganda had a lot of reports of malpractices especially against the rights and freedoms of the opposition political parties.

“The lack of clarity about the role of the crime preventers in the electoral process contributed to fear and apprehension ahead of the elections. This was regrettable, particularly given the perception of some members of the public who saw the crime preventers as a militia group established to favour the incumbent over his opposition,”he said.

President Edgar Lungu has called on the contractors working on the 180 kilometre (km) long Solwezi/Chongola road to expedite the reconstruction of road.

President Lungu bemoaned the lack of progress with the roadworks.

The Head of State said this when he inspected road works at Kimputubwanga, 10 km from Solwezi district.

The President was accompanied by North-western Province Minister Danny Ngimbu and his Permanent Secretary Ephraim Mateyo, Local Government Deputy Minister Dawson Kafwaya and some senior government and party officials.

China Geo Construction company representatives told President Lungu that persistent rains have affected the progress of road works.

And Mr. Kafwaya informed President Lungu that 13 kms out of 68 kms has been constructed under Lot one, while buildcom has also constructed about 10 km under lot three.

And addressing residents in the area, President Lungu assured them that the road will be worked on and completed on schedule once the rains end.

The President, who also toured Kimputubwanga health post, told the villagers that the Ministry of Health will soon open the health facility to provide health care services closer to people.

President Edgar Lungu has called on the church to continue praying for peace in the country.
The President has urged the church to take a central role by praying for politicians and giving them advice.

He says politicians are God’s children and need prayers from the church.

The President was speaking when he addressed congregants at Kyawama new apostolic church in Solwezi on Sunday.

President Lungu added that the Church has a duty to ensure peace prevails in the country.

He reiterated that he has an open door policy to the church and will meet church leaders at short notice to discuss national issues.

President Lungu said he remains a partner for peace with the church.

He said he wants to preside over a peaceful nation and that peace should reside in hearts of Zambians.

President Edgar Lungu is in Solwezi, North Western province to check on developmental projects taking place in the area.

And in welcoming the President, District Elder Patrick Chishinda thanked and encouraged the Head of State for recognising God in his life and for ensuring that his programmes always included church.

Elder Phiri pointed out that the Church has a responsibility to pray for peace to prevail for peace ahead of the August 11th General Elections.

President Lungu will later this morning meet traditional rulers, the Northwestern Council of Elders, party officials and in the afternoon, commission a solar-powered milling plant at Kambazhi.

In the evening, the President will officiate at the United Church of Zambia fundraising dinner.

And Tomorrow, February 22, the President will be in Mwinilunga to commission construction works for the Mwinilunga-Jimbe Road, a project to connect Northwestern Province to the Zesco National Power Grid, and inspect a livestock breeding centre.

Earlier the President told hundreds of people who welcomed him at Solwezi airport at about 08:30 hours this morning that they should not be surprised to see him in the province.

President is accompanied by PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri, party Deputy Spokesperson Frank Bwalya, Mufumbwe Member of Parliament Steven Masumba and Local Government Deputy Minister Dawson Kafwaya and other PF Members that include former UPND Vice resident Richard Kapita.

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The Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company has suspended the selling of water at its communal taps in Kanyama, John Laing and Chibolya compounds.

This is in a bid to allow more people of the areas to access safe and clean drinking water for free during the period of the Cholera outbreak.

Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company Public Relations Officer Nshamba Muzungu disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Below is the full statement

LWSC CALLS ON LUSAKA RESIDENTS TO DESIST FROM DRINKING WATER FROM SHALLOW WELLS AND UNTREATED WATER FROM PRIVATE BORE HOLES.

The Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company has appealed to the residents of Lusaka to desist from using water from shallow wells and other unsafe sources in the wake of the Cholera outbreak in Kanyama compound.

In an effort to mitigate the Cholera situation, the company has since suspended the selling of water at its communal taps in Kanyama, John Laing and Chibolya compounds to allow more people of the areas to access safe and clean drinking water for free during the period.

Further to that, the company is also undertaking door to door sanitation awareness campaign in Kanyama Compound where it is promoting hygiene and hand washing. In addition the utility has also increased the Chlorine dosage for the water that is supplied by Water Trusts in peri-urban areas and will soon be distributing chlorine to households in peri-urban areas.

The utility is expecting to receive about five thousand boxes of Chlorine from UNICEF and will soon be distributing chlorine in all the peri-urban areas regardless whether there have been reported outbreaks or not.

Residents of Lusaka are advised to ensure that they access clean and safe drinking water supplied by Utility Company in order to avoid drinking contaminated water and getting infected with waterborne diseases such as Cholera.

The spread of waterborne diseases in peri-urban areas can be attributed to lack of adequate sanitation services and the use of water from shallow wells and private boreholes supplying untreated water.

The water supplied by Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company is safe, clean and reliable drinking water because it goes through the standard treatment process before it is supplied to the residents of Lusaka. Water quality surveillance is undertaken on a daily basis and therefore, the company is very confident of its water treatment processes and the probability of contamination is zero because of the quality control measures that have been deployed.

We would also like to appeal to all those that have not connected their households to the Lusaka Water and Sewerage line to get connected so that they can also enjoy the benefits of clean and safe drinking water.

Issued by;
NSHAMBA M. MUZUNGU
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER