Newly formed Democratic Front leader Miles Sampa has vowed that no one will stop his party from mobilising Zambians across the country.

And Mr Sampa says the launch of the DF marks a great political and economic revolution that shall bring Zambians from different social units together.

Speaking in Kitwe on Saturday night at 22 Hours when he launched the DF, Mr Sampa said no one will stop his party from meeting Zambians and explaining its vision.

“We will speak where in the morning, during the day or night, we will speak even at bus stops or sittings room, nobody will stop us, they will just delay us but we will meet and we will speak,” Mr Sampa said.

He added, “We are gathered here today to announce the formation of the DF, Zambia is democratic country that has a multidisciplinary political society that embraces inclusion nature. The DFD is recognising the diversity cultural groups and ethnic characteristic that includes traditions, values, norms, language, beliefs and symbolic gestures.”

“The emphasis of this day is bordering on the motto coined by our forefathers Dr Kaunda of One Zambia One Nation which entails that the party will not focus on strategies that divides the nation in view of winning an election.”

Mr Sampa said matters of tribalism have a negative impact on national unity and peace and must not be entertained at all.

He charged that life is becoming increasingly harder under the PF administration for the majority of Zambians.

“We believe the pro poor campaign has now turned into anti poor campaign, life is becoming increasingly harder for our people largely due to economic mismanagement and poor governance,” he said.

He added, “the systematic intolerance, the paranoia with perceived enemies inside the party has led to the purging persecution of those seen to the out of favour with the great humble leader.”

“After the 2015 January, ‘democratic’ presidential election debacle in the PF when I sacrificed principle for the greater good of unity in the party and agreed to unconditional reconciliation, the commitment that President Lungu and I made to work towards greater unity in the party has never been honoured. I worked tirelessly to achieve unity in the PF but to no avail.

Mr Sampa also condemned the announcement by PF Deputy Spokesman Frank Bwalya which barred him from going outside his Matero constituency for party mobilisation.

“How can you stop a MP from traveling outside his constituency? Not even during colonial rule were we subjected to such oppression.”

And Mr Sampa said the launch of the DF is the beginning of a great political and social revolution that shall bring different social units.

He said Zambia has potential to improve the lives of its people if the national cake shared equally.

“We will use the lessons learnt from the pitfalls of other parties, to enable the realisation of our avowed aim of eradicating poverty and reducing inequality among our people. The first order of business is to make the DF a model of democracy and transparency. Parties which are undemocratic when elected, fail to respect the rights of their fellow citizens,” Mr Sampa said.

Mr Sampa said the party symbol, which is a traditional broom, symbolises the sweeping work that needs to be done to eradicate poverty.

“The DF symbol is a traditional broom or ichipyango to sweep out poverty and the motto is ‘Empowering people first’. Our objective, therefore, is to attach the highest priority to empowering Zambians to develop themselves and to develop their country.”

Meanwhile, Democratic Front-DF Interim President David Chanda has said that he is going to report former Commerce Deputy Minister Miles Sampa to police for impersonating and masquerading as the party’s leader.

Mr. Chanda has challenged the Registrar of Societies to tell the nation why the his party’s name- the Democratic Front-DF, has been given to Mr. Sampa.

He said Mr. Sampa has never been a member of DF and is therefore imposing himself on the opposition party.

Mr. Chanda told ZNBC News in Kitwe today that party members are shocked that Mr. Sampa can launch his new party by the name of Democratic Front,which was registered last year in October.

He has vowed to challenge the existence of his party’s name in the courts of law.

Police and the opposition UPND on Monday held a closed door meeting to discuss among other pressing matters, the Public Order Act and the escalating political violence.

Both parties discribed the meeting as fruitful and resolved that the Police would not stop the opposition from holding meetings provided they adhered to the provision of the Act.

In a short statement, Police Inspector General Kakoma Kanganja said the Police will not stop the UPND from exercising their freedoms as long as they comply with the provisions of the law and observe peace and order during such meetings.

Mr Kanganja further assured all political parties that the Police will do everything within their powers to make sure that the Public Order Act is applied fairly and equally to all.

And UPND Spokesperson Charles Kakoma said his party has made it clear that the party will continue following the provisions of the POA and go ahead with its meetings, rallies and procession.

Below is the full statement as issued by the party Spokesperson.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT
25th January 2016

UPND Leadership meeting with Zambia Police Command

This afternoon high level UPND leadership figures, including party President Hakainde Hichilema, vice presidents Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and Dr. Canisius Banda, Secretary General Stephen Katuka, National Chairperson Mutale Nalumango and others, engaged the Zambia Police Inspector General and his top command on various issues.

Key issues discussed were the selective application and abuse of the Public Order Act, rising political violence in the country, and the victimisation of fellow police officers suspected of being sympathetic to opposition political parties.

As UPND, we cited solid evidence of cases where our meetings have been cancelled or denied despite us following all the requirements for holding such meetings.

We put it to the police command that their actions were against the provisions of the POA and hence illegal.

It has been agreed with the police command that the UPND will continue following the laid down procedures in notifying the police and enjoy the full rights of holding our meetings and our freedoms as provided by the constitution.

The UPND made it very clear that our party will continue following the provisions of the POA and go ahead with its meetings, rallies and processions.

The UPND will also continue holding indoor meetings that do not require police notifications and permits.

On the rising political violence, the UPND called on the police to rise above partisan lines and deal firmly with the perpetrators of political violence, especially by the PF cadres who seem to be aided by the state police.

The UPND also called on the police top command to stop victimisation of colleagues who are refusing to brutalise opposition members.

It was also stated and agreed that a number of UPND members are being detained in police cells sometimes more than the stipulated 24 hours without appearing in court and that in some instances the charges are changed to more punitive non-bailable offences. The trend must be stopped.

The UPND also gave examples of how the police command have ignored court orders after a ruling has been made.

All these issues were addressed in an amicable and cordial atmosphere and it is our hope the police will no longer interfere with the activities of our party mobilisation teams on the ground.

The police command will issue their own statement on the resolutions of the meeting.

Charles Kakoma
UPND Party Spokesperson

And Mwense secondary school head teacher Chibwe Kantu advised parents to take advantage of the reduced schools fees and take their children
in boarding.

Mr. Mabumba says this is because government realizes that there was an increased number of school dropouts due to high school fees in most learning institutions.

The Deputy Minister who is also Mwense constituency Member of Parliament said it is unfounded for sections of society to start politicking over the move by government to reduce the fees.
He said consultations to reduce school fees in government boarding schools started in 2013 adding that the move has nothing to do with elections this year.

Boarding schools will continue charging schools fees between 700 and 1000 kwacha even after the elections, he said.

And Mwense secondary school head teacher Chibwe Kantu advised parents to take advantage of the reduced schools fees and take their children
in boarding.

On the other hand, Chief Mibenge of the Ushi People in Mansa District has expressed disappointment with poor construction
works which have been done at Mibenge Day Secondary School.

He said government should revoke the contract because the works done so far at the school have only tarnished the image of the State.

Chief Mibenge said the works done so far at the school have only tarnished the image of the government and therefore should not be entertained
And Luapula province permanent secretary born face Chimbwali said engaging local contractor’s derails government’s progress.

Mr. Chimbwali however said government will have his contract terminated and have him replaced with a credible contractor.

The one by three classroom block which was scheduled to be opened open on Monday will not be operational as it lacks water and toilets.

The Provincial Permanent Secretary has however appealed to School authorities to use the already existing structures to accommodate the new students.

President Edgar Lungu has directed the expulsion of party members perpetrating violence.
President Lungu says he will not condone violence in the ruling party, stating that violence if left unchecked would cost the PF, hence violent members should be dealt with accordingly.
Speaking when he addressed party members at Petauke boarding school today, President Lungu says Zambians do not want Political parties which are violent.

He says he will not support anyone who will be found wanting, but will make sure that the law takes it course.

And President Edgar Lungu says the late President Michael Sata loved the Patriotic Front (PF) hence he did not leave it to his (Sata) family.

President Lungu said the ruling party belongs to all its members regardless of which part of the country they come from.

“The PF does not belong to the Bisa or Sata family. The late President embraced us all even non-Bisa speaking people. PF belongs to you, us the people,” Mr. Lungu said.

President Lungu said if Mr. Sata wanted, he would have left the party with his son, Mulenga Sata to carry on but because he (Sata) embraced everyone, he (Mr. Lungu) has taken over.

He has since challenged party members to work hard and put aside their tribal inclinations.

He said this in Nyimba district yesterday when he addressed PF members.

Mr. Lungu has further implored party members to be hard working if they want to get positions in the party.

President Lungu gave an example of himself as a hard working person hence the
late president picked on him and elevated him in both party and government
positions.

Mr. Lungu has since challenged party members who want to aspire as councillors
and Members of Parliament (MP) to wait for the time he will dissolve parliament in May this year.

And PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri revealed that some senior party members were going round the country claiming that President Lungu had sent them and that they were the rightful and adopted candidates for 2016 elections.

Mrs. Phiri said the party had not yet started the adoption process for party members.

“Mr. President, I was here two months ago when you sent me and what l found is very disturbing,” Mrs. Phiri said.

She added that, “Some senior party members are going round claiming that they are the ones adopted by you when in fact not. The campaign period has not started.”

And President Lungu has said tribal people have left the PF and only loyal ones have remained.

Mr. Lungu, who is also PF party president, thanked the members across the country for their resilience but challenged them to recruit new members to enable the ruling party to grow.

He advised the Zambian people against voting for the opposition political parties because they do not know where the moneys are but for him who is already a tested
leader.

Meanwhile, President Lungu said no Zambian will die from hunger despite the looming shortage of maize due to the current drought.

He said this is because government was putting in place measures that ensure there is food in the country.

He said the importation of maize from Brazil is one of the measures his administration has taken to alleviate hunger in communities.

Mr. Lungu disclosed that another is where government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is supplying farmers with fertilizer to the farmers across the country.

“No one will die from hunger get it from me. Government has delivered fertilizer to the needy farmers across the country but it is only the rains that have failed us,” Mr. Lungu explained.

The Head of State was speaking at Minga area in Nyimba district when
he addressed scores of people who gathered along the Great East Road
to welcome him.

He said government, through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) in the Office of the Vice President (OVP), is keenly addressing the matter of relief food distribution with the seriousness it deserves.

“The DMMU under the OVP will address the situation of food relief distribution,” he said.