UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema
UPND President Hakainde Hichilema has described as cheap politicking, President Edgar Lungu’s recent announcement that he will institute a Commission of Inquiry into the recent election related violence.
Speaking from his residence in Lusaka, Mr. Hichilema said that Zambians are aware that PF under Mr. Lungu have been cheat architects of violence.
He cited the killing of UPND members in the past elections as one sure way that President Edgar Lungu is a chief warlord.
Meanwhile, Mr Hichilema has called on the nation to remain strong amidst what he called justice mischief.
He also called on UPND members across the country not lose hope saying the battle for a free Zambia has just begun.
And Mr. Hichilema has expressed confidence that justice over the alleged stolen victory from him and the people of Zambia shall truly come to pass.
He says having won the 2016 elections, he will not watch Zambians be taken for a ride anymore by unscrupulous individuals with dictatorial tendencies.
Mr. Hichilema further appealed to the country to oppose strongly any dictatorial tendencies such as the promotion of a one party state.
He says PF under Mr. Lungu has established a plan to turn Zambia into a one party state but that this will not be allowed to happen.
Zesco United and Mamelodi Sundowns battle on Saturday in a 2016 CAF Champions League first leg match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
It is the first time a Zambian and South African team will clash at this stage in continental competition.
It is an especially special occasion for Zesco who are the first Zambian club to advance to the semifinals from the group stage of the Champions League.
Zesco head into the milestone match unbeaten at home in all continental action since 2008.
This season, Zesco have also dropped points just once at Levy when they drew 1-1 in their final Group A match with Wydad Casablanca of Morocco on August 24 to see the two sides qualify to the semifinals on 9 and 11 points.
Zesco coach George Lwandamina will be banking on his attacking duo of Jesse Were and Idris Mbombo who have scored four and five goals since the start of the competition in February to get them the favourable home leg result.
However, Zesco will be without key playmaker Cletus Chama who is suspended for both legs and will only return should the qualify for next month’s finals.
Meanwhile, this will be Zesco and Sundowns first competitive clash after previous meetings in international club friendlies.
Sundowns has won all three but the dynamics are different and Lwandamina has stressed that fact.
The two sides will meet in the final leg on September 24 at Atteridgeville to decide who goes through to next month’s two-legged final.
President Lungu greets Zambia’s Defence Attache to the United States Brig Gen Henry Mukuka as First Lady Esther Lungu looks on on arrival in New York for the 71st UN General Assembly on Friday, September 16,2016-Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
President Edgar Lungu has arrived in New York to attend the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level meetings.
President Lungu, First Lady Mrs Esther Lungu, the President’s Political Advisor Mr. Kaizar Zulu and other members of the Presidential entourage landed at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey at 07:18 AM Eastern Standard Time, and was received by Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Her Excellency Dr Mwaba Kasese-Bota.
According to the statement released to the media by Zambia’s First Secretary for Press and Public Relations Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Mr Chibaula D. Silwamba, the President and the receiving party travelled by road from New Jersey to New York.
Permanent Secretaries Ambassador Chalwe Lombe (Foreign Affairs), Ms. Kayula Siame (Commerce) and Mr. Trevor Kaunda (Lands), the Presidents’ advisors, Zambia UN Mission diplomatic staff led by Deputy Permanent Representative Ms. Christine Kalamwina and other senior government officials were on hand to welcome the President in New York.
President Lungu and over 100 other Heads of State and Government will participate in the deliberations of the 71st Session of the General Assembly, which is being held under theme: The Sustainable Development Goals: A universal Push to transform our world.
Preceding his address to the General Assembly, President Lungu will deliver Zambia’s statement at the High-Level Meeting on addressing the Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants. The President and his Slovenian counterpart will co-chair Round Table Two (2) titled: Addressing the drivers of migration, particularly large movements, and highlighting the positive contributions.
The High-Level Summit will adopt an outcome document titled “the New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants”, through which the international community will propose new approaches to sharing responsibility for refugees. This is meant to bring in more States to support refugees and host States at an early stage of displacements in a more predictable manner.
In Zambia’s capacity as Vice-President of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Lungu will preside over the evening deliberations of the plenary session of the High-Level Meeting to Address the Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants, prior to the closure of the one-day meeting.
As President of country that has been host to refugees for decades, Mr. Lungu will attend The Leader’s Summit on Refugees to be hosted by U.S. President His Excellency Mr. Barack Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Jordanian King Abdullah II, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Ban.
President Lungu is scheduled to sign the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The Paris Agreement was adopted by all 196 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015.
At least 175 countries signed the Paris Agreement on 22 April, 2016, on the first day it was opened for signature, at a special Signing Ceremony at UN HQ in New York. The Paris Agreement is expected to enter into force upon having ratification from a minimum total of 55 member states, of which about 26 member states ratified by 31 August, 2016.
President Lungu will address the UN General Assembly on the opening day of the General Debate on Tuesday 20 September, 2016.
President Lungu will use this opportunity to highlight, to the global community, Zambia’s development agenda and aligning the same to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
President Lungu is committed to improve the wellbeing of all Zambians through implementation of sound development initiatives that will spur social, political and economic, as well as job creation for all.
The UN General Assembly is a good platform to showcase Zambia’s social, political and economic successes and opportunities.
President Lungu will take part in the commemorative event to mark the First anniversary of the Adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
President Lungu will also honour an invitation from the US Department of Commerce and the Bloomberg Philanthropies to participate in the US-Africa Business Forum.
The Forum will focus on increasing trade and investment opportunities between the U.S. and African nations, and US President Barack Obama and several African Presidents will participate.
The US-Africa Business Forum will accord President Lungu to engage potential investors.
On the other hand, the First Lady Mrs Esther Lungu will participate in several high-profile meetings including the African First Ladies/Spouses and Heads of State and Government High Level Meeting, focusing on stopping cancer in Africa. She will also participate at the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA)/United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA) and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) annual event to be held under the theme” Improving the Sexual and Reproductive Health of the Adolescent girls: The role of First Ladies”.
The First Lady is expected to attend the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) Induction Ceremony where she will be inducted as Pan African Chairperson of AWEP.
President Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu listens to Permanent Mission of Zambia to the United Nations First Secretary for Press Chibaula Silwamba on arrival in New York for the 71st UN General Assembly on Friday, September 16,2016-Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
Nkana enter the fray of the 2016 Barclays Cup on Saturday when they face Kabwe Youth Academy in a quarterfinal clash at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
The 2014 losing finalists return to the competition for the first time since that season when they lost 3-0 to record four-time champions Zesco United.
Nkana face a Kabwe Youth side that is hunting for a giant-kill in this year competition.
Kabwe Youth advanced to the last eight after beating fellow Barclays Cup newsboys Zesco Victoria Falls FC 2-0 last Sunday in a preliminary round match at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
However, Kabwe Youth must be wary of a Nkana side loaded with firepower from the league’s top scorer Walter Bwalya.
Bwalya will be hoping to open his cup account to add to the 15 goals he has scored in the FAZ Super Division this season.
Meanwhile, in the days lunchtime kickoff, perennial Barclays Cup campaigners Zanaco face Kabwe Warriors in a Midlands derby.
Zanaco despite playing in each of the last nine editions of the Barclays Cup, have never won out.
Warriors on the other hand have never advanced beyond the quarterfinals as they head into their fourth outing in the tournament.
Amos Chanda
State House Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda has urged the public to ignore all lists circulating about appointments as long as they are not on the State House press office headed paper and duly signed.
Mr Chanda said State House has only announced a partial cabinet, Parliamentary chief and deputy chief whips, nominated MPS some of whom are cabinet and provincial ministers, changes at the top of Zambia Revenue Authority including Mr Davis Mwila taking over from Davis Chama as party Secretary General.
“Note that all our statements are released within minutes of major news bulletins so if you don’t hear it on established media channels then it is just that a fertile imagination of someone. We are inundated with queries to confirm this or that appointment,” Mr Chanda said.
A number of fake lists of appointments have flooded social media in the last few days purportedly issued by State House detailing latest appointments in key government positions and foreign missions.
Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Mr. Kiyoshi Koinuma (left) stresses a point when he delivered his speech during the official handover ceremony of a digital X-Ray the product of Fuji Film South Africa worth US$90,909 by the Japanese Embassy to Monze Mission Hospital
Outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Kiyoshi Koinuma has thanked government for the positive relationship between the two countries during the time he has served in Zambia.
Mr. Koinuma paid a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba at his office to inform him of his new appointment.
He also congratulated Mr. Kalaba on his re-appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Koinuma assured Mr. Kalaba that Japan will continue to cement the bilateral relationships between the two countries and Africa as at large.
Mr. Konuma has been appointed by his government to serve in Vienna, Austria in the same capacity thus ending his three year stay in the country.
And Mr. Kalaba said he has learnt with sadness that Mr. Koinuma’s mission to serve in Zambia has come to an end and that he is leaving the country.
He said Mr. Koinuma worked tirelessly to cement the bilateral relationship between Zambia and Japan.
He added that Japan demonstrated its commitment to working with Zambia in various developmental projects.
Mr. Kalaba has however wished that amicable resolutions are found to settle the dispute in the South-China which has affected Japan as well.
He has assured Mr. Koinuma that he will work closely with anyone who will be sent to the Japanese mission in Zambia.
Mr. Kalaba further promised that President Lungu will soon visit Japan to fulfil his invitation to that country.
Meanwhile, Mr Kalaba has thanked President Lungu for re-appointing him as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Addressing members of staff at the ministry of foreign affairs in Lusaka today, Mr Kalaba encouraged them to remain united and be productive in their work.
He added that all the staff in the various departments should ensure that they raise the Zambian flag high through hard work.
The Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF) says 225 solar milling plants have so far been installed country-wide.
ZCF Business Development Officers Kelvin Simwendo said an additional 25 solar milling plants will be installed before the end of this year to bring the number to 250.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Simwendo said only 175 solar milling plants are operating and producing mealie-meal at a cheaper cost.
Mr Simwendo said that out of the 2,000 solar milling plants that were procured from China by government at a cost of US$200 million only 250 solar milling plants have arrived in Zambia.
He explained that 104 solar milling plants were installed in Northern Province, Eastern 97, Lusaka 12, Southern has six, and Central province has only two solar plants operating at full capacity.
Mr. Simwendo said that the solar milling plants have created 3,000 job opportunities among the youths in the country.
“The milling plants have helped to create jobs for the youths and my plea to the young people is to safeguard the mills as their own assets because they are making a difference in their livelihoods” said Mr Simwendo.
Meanwhile Mr Simwendo has called on young people in the country to report any one vandalising the equipment to the police and other law enforcement officers.
Mr. Simwendo observed that the plants were bought at a huge cost hence the need to guard them against vandalism.
Acting President Inonge Mutukwa Wina has expressed sadness at the loss of 25 lives in a traffic accident that occurred in Serenje on Thursday night.
In a media statement, Mrs Wina also expressed concern at the frequent road traffic accidents happening and consequent loss of lives.
She disclosed that Government was drafting a statutory instrument which intends to ban public service vehicles from travelling at night.
Mrs Wina directed that the Ministry of Transport and Communications to ensure that the statutory instrument was signed restricting public service vehicles to move between 05hrs-19hrs.
She also conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a quick recovery.
Scene of the Serenje accidentScene of the Serenje accidentScene of the Serenje accident
MMD National Youth Chairperson Dauzen Tembo has advised Reuben Sambo to stop commenting on issues he hardly understands and that he should stop using the name of the party because he has never been elected National Secretary of the former ruling party.
And Mr Tembo has assured party youths across the country that there is no leadership vacuum on the presidency as party President Felix Mutati has not left the party as he is just providing a service to the nation.
Mr Tembo said Rev Sambo should realize that the party has moved on from the one the left in shambles and that Rev Sambo and Dr Mumba should concentrate on rebuilding their Churches as opposed to issuing statements to the media.
“Mr Reuben Sambo and his President Dr Nevers Mumba must stop issuing baseless and nonsensical statements like clowns before the media. We are now a totally different party than they left it, they must devote their time on rebuilding their churches because they might get some sympathy by the newly created Ministry of National Guidance & Religious Affairs.
“Practically does anyone listen to these guys honestly, do they think that they can fool us by issuing statements so as to get sympathetic generosity for their loses after borrowing heavily to hire people to pretend as MMD before their bosses in UPND . We urge him to stop issuing statements using the name of the party because he neither the National Secretary nor a party member.
“The statement he issued on our President not being eligible for nomination as a Minister shows his lack of understanding of simple issues and misleading to the nation, we believe the his statement was made out of envy and frustration because it was not them who have been appointed,” he said.
On the appointment of his President, Mr Tembo assured party youths that nothing has changed and that they should not despair because nothing has changed.
He said Mr Mutati has assured him that he would not leave the party after working so hard to ensure that he become President and help rebuild.
“Youths must know that they have a selfless leader in Felix Mutati who in no way would leave the partly he has so strongly fought to protect and defend even in hard times under the poor leadership of our former selfish president Nevers Mumba. President Mutati is still the President and will continue to be available to the party without doubt.
“I assure you that personally I know my President Mutati, he has assured me that youths should not despair and feel that he has left the party for greener pastures because he stood for the party when many of his friends left for greener pastures such as Musokotwane, Lungwangwa, Muchinga to mention but a few who are now MPs under the UPND .
“You can imagine immediately after being sworn in, he rushed to the MMD secretariat to address scores of MMD members who came to clarify things unlike most of our former leaders who immediately signed resignation letters leaving the party after they received appointment letters,” he said
And Sunday Chanda has issued the following emails;
Dear Rev Reuben Sambo & Co,
I refer to your misguided Press Release entitled “Mutati, Mulusa, Mubukwanu do not qualify to be nominated Members of Zambia”.
I wish to inform you that your statement is highly misleading and a misrepresentation and misinterpretation the law. As you are fully aware, a constitution must not be read with the casual approach one would take when reading Mills and Boon because doing so is a recipe for grossly embarrassing oneself as you have succeeded to do with your statement.
With that said, please note as follows:
Article 69 (3) provides that: “A person who was a candidate for election in the last preceding general election or a subsequent by-election is not eligible to be nominated as a Member of Parliament.”
You would be wise to know that the last preceding general election was on the 11th of August 2016. So far there has not been any subsequent by-election following upon the last general election. Further be corrected that the 2011 general election is not the last preceding general election but rather, the second last preceding general election. Kindly also note that that (2011 General Election) and any subsequent by-election was overtaken by the last general election.
Therefore NONE of the nominated honourable Members of Parliament took part in the last preceding general election.
Instead of asking President Edgar Chagwa Lungu to rescind the nominations, I am asking you to withdraw your statement from circulation as it is highly misleading, embarrassing and potentially toxic.
Government has urged the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to Increase intra-regional trade to assist in reducing poverty through job creation amongst people of the member states.
Zambia’s Attorney General (AG), Likando Kalaluka said that increased intra-regional trade would assist in reducing poverty levels through job creation for youths that will subsequently improve the living standards of the people.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Kalaluka was speaking at the opening of the nineteenth meeting of COMESA Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General held in Lusaka where he was Guest of Honour.
The AG appealed to COMESA to address issues affecting the economies with a view to enhancing regional market for private sector to be able to do business with ease and at low costs.
Mr. Kalaluka further urged COMESA to address issues aimed at enhancing the implementation of the COMESA integration agenda by ensuring that member states are safe and have secure environments where the rule of law flourishes.
He stated that through the COMESA court, a signal to the world should be sent that COMESA is ready to do business and is indeed a safe investment destination where the rule of law is applied.
And speaking at the same occasion, President of the Court of Justice of COMESA, Justice Lombe Chibesakunda commended the COMESA court for legally creating a conducive environment for doing business within the COMESA region.
Justice Chibesakunda expressed happiness with the considerable progress that has been made to update the rules of the court within COMESA.
And COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya congratulated Zambians and its government for holding peaceful, free and fair general elections.
In a speech read on his behalf by his Assistant Ambassador Kipyego Cheloget, Mr Ngwenya added that COMESA is delighted to having been hosted by the republic of Zambia for the past two decades and cherished the pleasant and harmonious relationship.
And Mr. Ngwenya revealed that Somalia and Tunisia have applied to join COMESA.
He said the two countries have submitted formal requests to join COMESA upon seeing the good work that benefits member states of COMESA.
The nineteenth meeting of COMESA Ministers of Justice and Attorney General’s agenda is aimed at addressing various issues in order to enhance the implementation of the COMESA integration.
The COMESA Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General meeting will also identify and appoint a suitable candidate to replace the late Andrew Mutema of the COMESA court of Justice, who died on August, 2015.
Lusaka City Council Head OfficeAbout 33 Councillors for Lusaka City Council (LCC) have been sworn-in by Magistrate Betty Malupenga.
ZANIS reports that the 33 civic leaders comprising men and women took oath in the Council Chamber and pledged to defend the Republican constitution in the execution of their duties.
President Edgar Lungu’s daughter, Tasila who is PF Koloma Ward One Councillor and renowned comedian cum-politician Patrick Mwamba Salubusa were among the civic leaders sworn in.
The LCC is largely dominated by Councillors from the ruling PF while UPND’s Brighton Bilumba is the only opposition councillor.
Among the veteran councillors that got re-elected during the August 11 polls are Joseph Tamba, PF Lubwa Ward 15 Councillor Humphrey Kapapula and PF Mpulungu Ward 23’s Christopher Shakafuswa.
Magistrate Malupenga is optimistic that the Councillors would defend the constitution to the latter.
And LCC Town Clerk Alex Mwansa urged the Councillors to be transparent and above bold in the execution of their duties and ensure that they serve the interest of the electorates.
The Town Clerk implored the councillors to develop Lusaka City as it is faced with a lot of challenges among them waste management.
And in a separate interview, PF Mtendere Ward 30 Councillor Watson Mtonga pledged to upgrade the drainages and roads in his area.
Mr. Mtonga further pledged to engage the stakeholders in the area on various initiatives aimed at improving the livelihood of the people.
PF Mwembeshi Ward 27 Councillor Kelvin Kaunda vowed to end the illegal allocation of land and plots in Mwembeshi, George and Lilanda.
Meanwhile, PF sympathizer Essay Younus in a separate interview urged the newly elected councillors to work together and help improve the revenue base of the LCC.
Mr. Younus reminded the civic leaders that they are not masters but servants of the people who employed them.
The swearing-in ceremony was witnessed by Lusaka Mayor-elect Wilson Kalumba, Local Government and Housing officials, LCC Management officials, PF and UPND officials barely three days after President Edgar Lungu was inaugurated.
Permanent Secretary (PS) Edwidge Mutale
Government says it has introduced deliberate policies that will ensure that Gender inequality is reduced in all spheres of life.
Ministry of Gender Permanent Secretary Edwidge Mutale said her ministry has introduced projects that will lead to the attainment of Sustainable development goals dealing with gender inequality.
Ms Mutale told ZANIS in Lusaka today that, projects like the Agricultural development Value chain Enhancement project among others are aimed at empowering women and youths in the country economically.
She said agricultural inputs that her ministry has been distributing to women under the ADVANCE project throughout the country will ensure that women farmers drift away from tilling land using outdated methods of farming.
The permanent Secretary further added that the ministry of gender has targeted more than fourteen thousand girls throughout the country who should be taken back to school.
But Action Aid Zambia, has advised government to ensure that polices towards social protection and land rights are well implemented with the urgency they deserve if the country’s dream of achieving sustainable development goals on gender inequality can be realised.
Action Aid Country Director Nalucha Ziba said government urgently needs to improve policy readiness if it wants to have any chance of achieving SDGs on inequality.
Mrs Ziba noted that Zambia has very good policies towards gender inequality but that slow implementation of polices at all levels will hinder the attainment of the SDGs target.
22 people died while 48 passengers sustained injuries in an accident involving a Power Tools, Scania bus registration number ACR 6315 which was coming from Nakonde heading to Kitwe with 70 passengers on board.
The accident happened in the early hours of today, 16th September, 2016 at about 01 30 hours, 2 Km from Serenje turn off in Malekani area when the driver of the bus Baron Chibwe, 39 failed to negotiate a curve due to excessive speed.
Among the deceased, are 15 males, five females and one female juvenile.
Three officers, one from RATSA identified as David Manjulunji and two from Fire Brigade identified as Ernest Mulenga and Mubita Simasiku who were among the officers that were conducting a rescue operation at the scene of the accident died on the spot while six police officers sustained injuries after they were hit by a truck laden with bags of maize which failed to break as it approached the accident scene and the driver did not stop after the accident.
The truck had earlier hit into a RATSA toll truck which was packed at the scene of accident.
The total number of people who have died in both accidents is 25. 11 bodies of the deceased have been transported to Kabwe General Hospital mortuary, 12 are in Serenje General Hospital mortuary, one body has been identified and picked by relatives while the body of Mr Manjulunji has been transported to University Teaching Hospital Mortuary in Lusaka.
Investigations have been instituted to bring to book the driver of the truck who is currently on the run.
In a joint statement, Police Deputy Spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo and RTSA Spokesman Frederick Mubanga said the they are yet to propose to government to ban public transport vehicles from moving at night so as to avoid occurrences of such accidents.
On the scene of the road accidentThe Power Tools bus which over turnedScene of the Serenje accidentPassengers trapped inside the bus
Finance-Minister-Felix-Mutati-meeting-with-senior-management-staff-at-the-Ministry-of-FinanceFINANCE Minister Felix Mutati says there is need to transform the civil service from a consumption-oriented entity to a productive one in order to overcome the challenges the country is facing and that there is need for everyone to sacrifice to achieve this goal.
And Mr. Mutati said he will not relinquish his position as MMD president because his appointment to the ministry was purely to galvanize his expertise with others for the benefit of the country.
Speaking soon after being sworn-in by President Edgar Lungu at State House yesterday, Mr. Mutati said there was need for Zambians to sacrifice in order to overcome the economic challenges that lay ahead, saying there will be need for collective use of the expertise needed to address the challenges.
He said the pending International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout plan was not the only option available to Zambia in its quest to stabilise the economy but urged Zambians to exercise endurance as the country moved toward economic emancipation, adding that he was confident that the country will overcome its challenges with hard work.
“Going forward, we need to do three things particularly for the civil service; we need to transform it from a service that focuses on consumption to a productive civil service. There is need for the mental change; the mind-set change. Our collective wisdom when summoned, nothing is impossible, not even the economy will be able to do that and lastly, we must be able to sacrifice.
“The journey is going to be painful and there will be need for endurance. The IMF is but just one option that we will have to deal with as we go forward and how we deal with that will depend on our collective wisdom, our collective talent.
‘‘I’m confident that Zambians will work and pull together to deal with whatever difficulties that lie ahead. Sacrifice calls for enduring up to the end in order to make progress,” Mr. Mutati said.
Mr. Mutati thanked President Lungu for showing confidence in him by appointing him to a sensitive ministry which was at the epicentre of economic development, saying he had demonstrated the need for the unity of purpose in his quest to develop the country.
“I am really humbled by the humility of the President to appoint me to a very challenging ministry, the ministry that is the heartbeat of the economy. The President has demonstrated once again his oneness, the ‘ubuntu spirit’. He has demonstrated that unity of purpose is the oxygen for progress and development and that national duty is more important than individual affiliations that we have,” he said.And Mr. Mutati said he will not relinquish his position as MMD president because his appointment to President Lungu’s Cabinet was purely to use his expertise for the benefit of the country.
“I will remain president of the party; I am here to serve the nation, to add my capabilities with others to solve the critical issues. With President Lungu, we discussed that matter and agreed that I will not abdicate my presidency,” he said.
Mbita ChitalaPROTESTATIONS and sectarian criticisms by veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga and other intellectuals in the diaspora, demonising the country’s leadership and Constitutional Court judges, are tantamount to insurrection in the country, former diplomat Mbita Chitala has warned.
Dr Chitala, who is a former ambassador to Libya, expressed gratitude that President Edgar Lungu had addressed some of the issues that tended to sow seeds of division in the country by announcing his intention to appoint a commission of inquiry to establish the cause of post-election violence.
He noted that he was alive to the ‘‘unfair and sectarian’’ criticisms that had been advanced by some intellectuals in the diaspora some of whom compared Zambia to a failed state.
Dr Chitala said he was saddened by remarks by Dr Mwaanga and Dr. Skecthley Sacika denouncing Constitutional Court judges in ‘‘a very unfair way’’.
“I am alive to the unfair and rather sectarian criticisms that have been advanced by some of our diaspora intellectuals who went so far as unfairly associating our country to a failed state. I am also alive to the lame protestations of two of our senior citizens, Dr. V.J. Mwaanga and Dr. Skecthley Sacika who demonized our Constitutional Court judges in a very unfair way. All these expressions including by one Larry Mweetwa, a Zambian working in the British army,” he said.
Dr Chitala charged that senior citizens were calling for insurrection in the country, adding that it was an unfortunate conduct as they were simply expressions of frustration and disappointment at the loss of their favoured political party.
He said the initiative by President Lungu to appoint a commission of inquiry to establish the cause of the post-election violence should be lauded and supported by all peace-loving Zambians.
Dr Chitala, who is also MMD founder member and political scientist, explained that one of the structural problems that contributed to disunity in the country was the current Constitution which, he said, was rushed and that it left too many loose ends.
He warned that the Constitution would continue to divide the nation and that there was need to quickly repeal it.
“Government must consider quickly repealing Article 101(4-7), 103(1-5), 104 (3-4) on presidential election petitions and Article 105(8-10) that requires the Speaker to act as President of the republic. Our submission is that our Government must consider reverting to the provisions of the Zambia Independence Order 1964, the Constitution of Zambia Cap 1, Chapter IV, Part 1, and Article 33(1) which provided for the election of the President in a multi-party, multi-ethnic dispensation.
‘‘Article 33(4)a-g of the 1964 Independence Constitution left to us by the British took into account the ethnic, religious and social characteristics of their former colonies,” he said.
