The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to disqualify Lundazi Central Independent aspiring candidate Evans Ngoma after his withdrawal do his resign from the PF.

YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza said the constitution is clear on individuals standing as independents and their association with political parties as it does not allow members of political parties to stand as independents.

“The Electoral Commission of Zambia must consider disqualifying Lundazi Central independent aspiring candidate Evans Ngoma whom the Times of Zambia has reportedly withdrawn his earlier resignation from the Patriotic Front as he now becomes a member of the party before elections.

“Unlike councillors who stand as Independents while belonging to political parties of their choice, article 51 (a) of the Constitution requires that candidates who stand as Independents must not be members of a political party before the date of the election

“It will be impartial and honourable for ECZ to notify the candidate that having withdrawn his earlier resignation he wrote to the PF and pledging his unwavering commitment to the PF, he ceases to be an Independent and as such disqualified from participating in elections,” he said.

He also called President Lungu to defend the constitution which he has promised to defend.

“We in fact call on President Lungu who has sworn to defend the Constitution to go ahead and defend the Constitution from its abrogation by Mr. Ngoma.

“The ECZ must avoid being seen to be selectively applying the law and it’s decisive action on the matter will send the message to the public that the Commission is not politically compromised or selective in implementing the law,” he said.

In an exclusive interview, Mr. Lubinda said those propagating a message that he has overstayed at the helm of Kabwata constituency, suggesting that he must pave way for fresh blood with new ideas are just wasting time and their energy because it will not work.

Mr. Lubinda won the Kabwata parliamentary seat three times and he is craving for a fourth term.

But some of his political opponents are saying fifteen years running the affairs of the constituency is too much, hence he must allow other leaders with fresh ideas to serve the people.

Mr. Lubinda has since stated that judging him based on the number of times he won elections in Kabwata constituency is outrageous.

He stressed the need to instead judge some of those political players that have lost elections several times because such a record is clear indication of failure.

”I should not be judged for winning elections three times because it will not work” He said

And Mr. Lubinda explained that he has only been a legislator under the party in Government for one term and it is imperative that he is given another chance to serve the people in the same capacity because he will use his vast experience in politics for the benefit of Kabwata residents.

“I have only been a law maker under the ruling party for one term and still want to serve” Mr. Lubinda said

Meanwhile Mr. Lubinda has appealed to the electorates to vote for him because he is now politically mature and versatile with vast his experience in parliament.

He has urged Zambians in Kabwata constituency not to replace him by a novice who does not even know the inside of parliament because it will delay developmental projects in the constituency.

“Kabwata people should not vote for a novice” he said

Speaking during a rally in Chisamba where he went to drum up support for Chisamba aspiring candidate Naomi Mutateka and President Lungu, Mr Mutati said one of the things he learnt during the time he served as Minister under late President Mwanawasa was that it is important to put people at the center of development.

He said leadership was about hard work, discipline and sacrifice and that a leader who listens to the people would always be respected.

“…he said there is nothing indispensable like discipline, the second thing that Mwanawasa taught us was hard work and sacrifice. He also taught us that what is important is not the rule of man but the rule of law and the most important added Mr Mutati, was that we should always put people at the centre of development.”

And Mr Mutati said the MMD was too big to be swallowed by any political party.

He said the alliance with the PF was meant to allow the former ruling party to retain its identity and that the only way the party would do that was by fielding it’s own Parliamentary candidates.

He said the party had fielded quality MPs who would not only help in rebuilding the party and help in the running of the country as partners with the PF.

He also called on political party cadres to desist from engaging in violence as doing so would tarnish the image of the country which is the beacon of peace in the region.

He called on the leadership in political parties to ensure that they restrain their cadres as the children they are allowing to fight are related and that violence should not be tolerated by any well-meaning Zambians.

And Chisamba aspiring candidate Naomi Muteteka asked the people to vote for a woman MP for the first time in the history of the constituency.

Ms Muteteka who is the wife to the immediate past MP for the area called on voters to remember what the husband had done for the area when he represented them.

She said she was one of them unlike other candidates who have come from other constituencies whom she said would not understand their challenges.

MMD National Secretary Rapheal Nakacinda and other NEC members accompanied Mr Mutati to Chisamba.

PF Deputy Spokesperson Frank Bwalya says the daily tabloid wants to create curiosity in a bid to boost its sells.

Mr. Bwalya says Post Newspaper editors know that President Edgar Lungu is discharging his duties and that the tabloid’s reporters even covered him when he swore in Judges of the Court of Appeal in Lusaka today.

He says the Post Newspaper’s alleged schemes against the Head of State must be condemned with the contempt they deserve.

Mr. Bwalya says members of the public should ignore the newspaper’s negative stories against President Lungu.

He was reacting to a story carried in today’s edition of the Post Newspaper asking the whereabouts of the President.

Efforts to get a comment from Post Newspaper News Editor failed by broadcast time.

Last week, Mr Bwalya castigated the Post Newspaper for carrying a story that suggested that President Lungu had been flown abroad for medical attention.

PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri says no amount of malice will deter President Edgar Lungu from delivering for the people.

And Mrs. Phiri says President Lungu is enjoying good health.

She says the president is next week scheduled to campaign in various parts of the country.

Mrs. Phiri was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka.

President Edgar Lungu has reiterated that he does not interfere with the running of the judiciary.

President Lungu said he has never at any time influencing the outcome of any court process saying the Judiciary in Zambia is independent.

He also described the judiciary in Zambia as one of the best in the world.
President Lungu was speaking at State House this afternoon when he swore in eight Court of Appeal Judges.

The Head of State He cautioned the Judges to remember to uphold the highest levels of integrity.

He said as Head of State, he will set as an example to protect and defend the integrity of the judiciary.

President Lungu observed that some opposition leader who was caught up in a leadership struggle and kept losing his legal battles has been going round that the Head of State has been predetermining the outcomes.

He has also assured the judges that government will do its best to ensure their conditions of services and office accommodation are taken care off.
President Lungu also expressed happiness that the Judiciary has taken lead in ensuring gender parity saying the new appointments to the Court of Appeal are on a 50/50 gender parity.

Those sworn in include Justice Fulgency Chisanga as Judge President to be deputised by Justice Chalwe Mchenga.

The Court of Appeals Judges include Justice Catherine Makungu, Justice Justin Chashi, Justice Flavia Chshimba, Justice Judy Mulongoti, Justice Dominic Sichinga and Justice Mubanga Kondolo.