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President Lungu
THE Patriotic Front (PF) central committee yesterday unanimously affirmed its decision to adopt President Lungu as its presidential candidate in the 2016 Presidential elections.
Party secretary general Davis Chama said the decision is because the party does not want a repeat of what happened last year after the demise of late President Sata.
“The central committee, which met this morning, has affirmed the decision interpreting our party constitution that we already have our presidential candidate for 2016 in the name of President Lungu.
“This is according to our party,” he said.
Mr Chama was addressing journalists at State House yesterday after a PF central committee meeting.
He said the party convention which was held last year after the death of President Sata gave President Lungu a five-year mandate.
“We are just affirming the decision which was made last year when we adopted President Lungu at the convention,” he said.
Mr Chama has since advised members with presidential ambitions to wait for the next party convention in 2019.
“We held our convention last year, where we gave the mandate to President Lungu, so those with presidential ambitions should wait until 2019,” Mr Chama said.
Meanwhile, the PF has named its three candidates for Lubanseshi, Solwezi West and Kasama Central parliamentary by-elections.
The three are Kelvin Sampa for Kasama central, George Mwamba Penda, a former Luwingu District Commissioner, for Lubansenshi and Martin Mbaya, a former MMD member and local businessman, for Solwezi West.
Mr Sampa said that although the declaration of the Kasama Central seat as vacant is being contested in court, the PF would like to have a candidate ready.
Meanwhile, Mr Chama said it is unfortunate that some people who masquerade as leaders are duping farmers of their maize.
He said government will remain committed to addressing concerns of every Zambian, including farmers.
Mr Chama has advised farmers against selling their maize to unrealistic people.
Meanwhile, the PF in Isoka has implored the electorate to rally behind the leadership of President Lungu, who has a passion to develop the country.
PF Isoka district information and publicity secretary Elijah Sinkolongwe said in an interview recently that government has done a lot of development projects which have brought about a new face to the district.
“For the first time since independence we are seeing massive road constructions, street lighting and constructions of health centres and schools. Our President is truly taking development to all parts of the country,” he said.
He said come 2016 elections, the people will vote for President Lungu so that he continues his works.
“…those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.”
(Proverbs 14:22, NIV)
Plan for Good
Do you wake up every morning expecting favor and blessing on everything you do? Do you plan for what is good? When we plan for what is good, the Scripture tells us that we find love. We know that God is love so when you plan for what is good, you will find God in the midst of your plans!
Today, don’t let the negative voices of the world or get you distracted or pull you off course. It doesn’t matter what is happening around you, God’s plan is always for your good. Pursue His plan. Seek love and faithfulness because what you seek you will find. Put Him first in all you do and find the peace, joy, and victory He has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for the good plan You have for my life. I choose Your ways. Direct my mind and thoughts according to Your purposes in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Nkana warmed up for this Saturdays big Kitwe derby with a win while Mighty Mufulira Wanderers made sure Power Dynamos headed into that date with a defeat.
Nkana beat Green Eagles 2-0 while Mighty stunned Power 1-0 in their respective home games.
At Nkana Stadium, goals from Walter Bwalya and Simon Bwlaya in the 27th and 80th minutes respectively saw Nkana recover from last weekends 5-3 away loss to leaders Zesco United.
The win is a big boost for Nkana beat they visit Power this coming weekend at Arthur Davies Stadium.
At Kafubu Stadium in Luanshya, Mighty began their seven-match home ban with a morale-boosting 1-0 home win over Power thanks to a 70th minute from Lameck Silwaba.
However, ugly scenes ensued after the goal when Power fans rioted for ten minutes protesting the goal before Police restored order.
And at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, Zesco United cruised to a 2-0 away win over Red Arrows.
Striker Winston Kalengo scored a brace in the 33rd and 85th minutes to take his tally to 11 goals at the summit of the top scorers chart.
Zesco have opened a seven point lead ahead of Zanaco who replaced Power in second place after a 1-0 away win over Napsa Stars.
Moses Phir’s 79th minute goal lifted Zanaco to 2nd place from 3rd exchanging places with Power.
2015 FAZ SUPER DIVISION WEEK 21 RESULTS
22/08/2015
Green Buffaloes 1-Lusaka Dynamos 0
Napsa Stars 0-Zanaco 1
Nchanga Rangers 1-Nkwazi 0
Konkola Blades 3-National Assembly 0
Red Arrows 0-Zesco United 2
Nakambala Leopards 2-Forest Rangers 1
Nkana 2-Green Eagles 0
Mufulira Wanderers 1-Power Dynamos 0
BRIGADIER General Godfrey Miyanda has said that the appointments of opposition members of parliament to Cabinet are an affront not only to constitutional principles and guidelines, but also to moral law and the decency anticipated in the execution of statecraft.
In a statement to the media in reaction to he recent declaration by President Edgar Lungu’s special assistant for press and public relations, Amos Chanda, following appointment of UPND Sinazongwe member of parliament Richwell Siamunene as defence minister that the President had powers to appoint anyone without consulting anyone was misplaced, Brig Gen Miyanda said that the statement was misplaced, uninformed and “certainly not the holistic appreciation of the Zambian Constitution and other laws”.
Below is the full statement
STATEMENT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF OPPOSITION MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT TO THE EXECUTIVE
[By Brig Gen Godfrey Miyanda – 19th August 2015]
The recent blanket declaration by Mr Amos Chanda, the Special Assistant to the President that the President has power to appoint anyone without consulting anyone is misplaced, uninformed and certainly not the holistic appreciation of the Zambian Constitution and other laws. Such appointments of opposition Members of Parliament (as Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers) offend the solemn provisions in our Constitution that guide the Executive in the democratic management of our country.
Such appointments add no value to the clear and bold democratic principles embedded in the Constitution but instead are an affront not only to those principles and guidelines, but also to the moral law and the decency anticipated and expected in the execution of statecraft.
Other than “beefing up” PF numbers in Parliament there is no justifiable reason for this condemnable and retrogressive action whose obvious purpose is to subvert our adopted and accepted democratic tenets that followed the re-introduction of the Multi-Party (many parties) system of government.
One of our Founding Fathers, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, in his sincere way, attempted to “kill” the opposition by introducing the “One Party Participatory Democracy” and succeeded momentarily; in the long run that action brought not only a disruption of normal political life but unbridled violence and its offshoot of perpetual hatred. It is timely to remember other Founding Fathers such as Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Nalumino Mundia, Zilole Mumba, Zenia Ndhlovu, Dona (Mama) Mumba of Petauke and many more of our heroes and heroines who fell foul of human ingenuity in perpetuating self-preservation (not forgetting the Third Term Bid in the recent past). We must not go down that path, not ever again. We must be wary of carelessly and conveniently fixing and interpreting Court judgements; it is worth remembering that it is a Court judgement that entrenched the despicable “One party Participatory Democracy”!
Granted that State House comments were based on the Judgement of the High Court, per His Lordship Judge Chalwe Muchenga. However it is important to point out that ordinarily judges make their decisions based on the case before them as well as the arguments presented and the legal authorities cited and relied on. It would be out of character for any judge to rule on something that was not presented to him/her and argued before them.
Article 46 (1) states that “There shall be such Ministers as may be appointed by the President”. It is contended that, standing alone, this Article is obviously a discretionary power that can be challenged on grounds of capriciousness and/or bad faith, which arguments we have not heard of. Additionally another aspect that speaks loudly against “executive poaching” of opposition MPs is the issue of public policy. It is contended that currently, under the much-maligned Republican Constitution, public policy is that throughout the tenure following an election, the Government must consist of the Executive appointed from the Ruling Party as well as separate and distinct Opposition Members of Parliament, to provide checks and balances in order to preserve the concept of multi-party democracy.
There is no point in boasting about the multi-party system when the President, who is the President of one of the political parties can willy-nilly destabilise and dismantle opposition parties by the deceptive ingenuity of “official or legalised poaching”.
Surely the President must be aware of Section 9 of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act which, quoted in full, reads “A person holding Ministerial office shall not do anything that is inconsistent with the principle of the collective responsibility of Ministers for the policy of the Government and the conduct of its affairs, and in particular shall not –
(a) Publicly contradict or disassociate himself from any policy adopted by Cabinet;
(b) Issue public statements criticising another person holding Ministerial office; or
(c) Make unauthorised disclosures of Cabinet discussions, decisions or documents”.
This provision derives its force from Article 52 of the Constitution. Thus an opposition MP appointed to Cabinet or the Executive is bound by collective responsibility; in other words such an appointee cannot speak for nor vote for his party while he remains appointed. What cannot be clear about this situation? Such a person has definitely crossed the floor. To cross the floor connotes changing one’s position vis-a-vis your political party by being a mere passenger while being an active advocate for the President and his Ruling Party!
Clearly our Constitution and other laws are NOT silent. A person so appointed CANNOT speak for nor represent his political party. Why must this trick not be deemed to be a Crossing of the Floor? Further the Preamble of the Constitution declares solemnly about our unity and oneness, as in this quote, inter alia “We the people….RESOLVE to uphold the values of democracy, transparency, accountability and good governance; AND FURTHER RESOLVE that Zambia shall forever remain a unitary, indivisible, MULTI-PARTY and democratic sovereign state”. Article 1 (1) rubs it in with these clear words “Zambia is a unitary, indivisible, MULTI-PARTY and democratic sovereign state”. More ominously, perhaps, Article 1 (4) declares and warns “This Constitution SHALL BIND all persons in the Republic of Zambia and all Legislative, Executive and Judicial organs of the State at all levels”. Why do Zambians sing and shout about a new Constitution when they accept the existing Constitution to be relegated to the rubbish dump with impunity?
The President is under oath to protect and defend our Constitution. If the President is serious about his clarion call of unity then he must revisit and abandon this practice which has not added value to his call for unity.
GODFREY MIYANDA, BRIGADIER GENERAL, HERITTAGE PARTY
THE Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has written to the Labour Commissioner to seek Government’s intervention over The Post Newspaper’s alleged failure to pay workers for over four months.
This is according to a letter obtained by the Zambia Daily Mail dated August 20, 2015, addressed to the Labour Commissioner and authored by ZCTU deputy secretary-general Elaston Njovu.
Mr Njovu said ZCTU is seeking the Labour Commissioner’s intervention in this matter.
“We have received numerous anonymous calls alleging that workers at the Post newspaper have not been receiving their salaries for the past four months,” Mr Njovu said
He said ZCTU has an understanding with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, which is empowered by the existing laws to address such issues with employees.
“We are, therefore, seeking your intervention in this matter,” he said.
Some employees at the Post Newspapers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that they have not been paid for over four months.
A FORTY –YEAR-OLD woman has been sent to prison for 20 years with hard labour for defiling a 14-year –old boy in Chipata District.
Before High Court Judge Chalwe Mchenga was Malita Banda of Chiwayu Village who was convicted with one count of defilement Contrary to Section 138(1) Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence were that on 15th April this year, the convict called the boy around 13:00 hours as she was inside her house, she then pulled him on the ground and she mounted on top of the boy.
She undressed the boy and removed her skirt which she was wearing and only remained with her blouse.
The accused got the private part of the boy and inserted on her birth canal.
The court further heard that the boy started crying and the woman never moved out of him and even when the boy cried heavily.
The woman only moved out after seeing that the private part of the boy had swollen.
The boy then later told her mother what had happened and the woman was later arrested by the police because the private part of the boy had been bruised.
However, Mr Justice Mchenga sent the woman to jail for 20 years with the offence of defilement.
Ends
Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) Chairperson Kasuka Mutukwa says his Commission is devoted to empower rural communities by giving out loans.
Dr. Mutukwa says that 90 percent of the commission’s funds have so far been devoted to rural districts so that rural communities are enriched through different projects which beneficiaries can undertake after attaining funds from CEEC.
The CEEC Chairperson was speaking in Namwala District where he paid a courtesy call 21st August 2015, at Namwala District Commissioners Office ,were he was on tour of the district to monitor beneficiaries of funds from the Commission.
Namwala District is among the rural Districts that have benefited largely from CEEC empowerment programme in Southern Province were about 26 people benefited from the program.
The CEEC Chairperson was speaking in Namwala District where he paid a courtesy call 21st August 2015, at Namwala District Commissioners Office ,were he was on tour of the district to monitor beneficiaries of funds from the Commission.
Namwala District is among the rural Districts that have benefited largely from CEEC empowerment programme in Southern Province were about 26 people benefited from the program.
And the Commission says it is impressed that most beneficiaries in the area were among the few who retaining the borrowed funds to the Commission after embarking their projects.
He said that he is impressed so far with the people he has visited so far who are successfully implementing the programs which they applied for using the funds from the commission.
Meanwhile Dr Mutukwa has commended Namwala Cattle Farmers for maintaining cattle numbers which are currently the highest in the country.
He told ZANIS that he has seen indigenous cattle during the tour of the district which look very healthy and large herds of cattle.
And Namwala District Agriculture Coordinator Martin Skainga says that government is doing a lot for livestock farmers through it is vaccines programs ranging foot and mouth , corridor disease vaccines so that cattle is disease free.
He said that Namwala District is the only district in the country which has indigenous commercial cattle farmers and that this a plus to the district livestock sector.
President Lungu,Zambia based UN Resident Coordinator Ms Janet Rogan , and Minister of Youth and Sport Vincent Mwale during the Launch of the 2015 Youth policy and Action plan
The Civil Servants Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) in Northern Province has implored on opposition political parties not to politicize the Youth empowerment policy launched by President Edgar Lungu.
Union Provincial Secretary Wallace Kasao says the opposition should not politicize the policy but instead support it as it is meant to benefit Zambian youths.
Mr. Kasao explained that the youth unemployment levels in the country require pragmatic political will which has been exhibited by President Lungu.
The Trade unionist said this in a press statement released to ZANIS in Kasama today.
He has since commended the President for launching the Youth Empowerment Policy and Action Plan.
Mr. Kasao said it is gratifying to note that this policy will create 500 thousand jobs for the Zambian youths who are eager to render their services to the development of the country.
He expressed optimism that the execution of the policy will hasten the economic growth in the various sector and contribute to poverty reduction in the country.
Recently, President Edgar Lungu launched the Youth Empowerment Policy and Action Plan which will see the creation of 500 thousand jobs by the end of 2016.
Chingola town centre
MINISTRY of Youth and Sports’ empowerment funds are lying idle in Chingola as stakeholders are reported not to have expressed interest in applying for loans as a result of lack of business projects.
Acting Chingola district commissioner Philip Kalima says only 11 youths have acquired the loans since 2013.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, Mr Kalima said it is very unfortunate that the youth in the district are not applying for the funds that have been made available by the government.
“As from 2013 to date, only 11 youths have so far benefited from the youth funds,” he said
Mr Kalima said there is need for youths to turn up and apply for the funds because Government wants to empower them.
He said youths should maximise the opportunities presented to them by the government.
“With the new government policy, the youth must ensure they benefit from the empowerment funds,” he said.
He also said the young should ensure that they access the funds to invest in their business programmes.
He said stakeholders should also acquire knowledge on business ideas that would enable them generate more finances after they have accessed the funds.
The district commissioner added that not every youth can be in formal employment, hence the reason to apply for such funds.
Meanwhile, Mr Kalima said Zambia’s young generation is capable of contributing towards the economic development of the country.
He has since challenged the youth to be the pilots of economic growth of the country.
Mr Kalima has advised the youth to ensure that they associate themselves with groups that can empower them on self-sustainable projects as opposed to getting engaged in vices.
Chingola is one of the districts on the Copperbelt characterised by youth gangs that in engage in dangerous activities and illegal mining commonly known as the chondos and jerabos.
Members of Parliament during the opening of Parliament by President Sata on September 19,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
PARLIAMENT will resume its sittings on September 18, Clerk of National Assembly Doris Mwinga has said.
“The Clerk of the National Assembly has announced that the official opening of the fifth session of the eleventh national assembly will take place on Friday, 18th September, 2015” Mrs Mwinga says in a statement
During the last sitting, a number of bills were presented before the House and notable ones are the Constitution Amendment Bill of 2015, Referendum Amendment Bill 2015, and Mines and Minerals Development Bill.
In the Constitution Amendment Bill, Government is seeking to amend the current constitution by taking non-contentious clauses to Parliament.
Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula told Parliament that if stakeholders are agreeable to the government proposal, the first set of constitutional amendments could be taken to Parliament in this sitting.
Parliament also adopted a private member’s motion to criminalise child marriage, and in addition, 32 ministerial statements were presented to the House.
Mighty Mufulira Wanderers legend Fredrick Kashimoto has slammed the six-home-match ban FAZ has slapped on his old club after crowd trouble
at Shinde Stadium.
Wanderers have since sought refugee at Kafubu Stadium in Luanshya.
In an interview from Mufulira, Kashimoto described the punishment as very harsh.
The former Zambia midfielder said playing away from home may negatively affect Wanderers who have been bad travelers this season.
“I am very disappointed with this ban. FAZ should have punished the supporters by ordering Wanderers to play without supporters like they
do in Egypt,” he said.
Mighty were also fined K5000 while Zesco were handed the three points and a 3-0 win.
“They have punished innocent players who did not do any wrong. It is the supporters who were wrong and they must be punished as such,”
Kashimoto said.
Mighty’s first home game at Kafubu Stadium will be against Power Dynamos on Saturday.
“You know Wanderers have not played well in away matches and therefore if they are demoted supporters must take the blame. The
players worked very hard to win promotion,” he said.
Kashimoto added:”I am also telling the Wanderers executive to quickly appeal the ban.”
The news means Mighty will not play any home games at Shinde in 2015 until the 2016 season.
,Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale talks to Dr Lastone Chikoya after visiting the Mazabuka and kafue accident victims at the University Teaching Hospital
Government has purchased new utility vehicles for all the 104 District Commissioners ( DC ) in the country in order to enable them monitor development projects in the respective districts.
Lusaka Province Permanent secretary Stardy Mwale says this is because government was committed to ensuring that all district commissioners in the country had good transport that would enable them supervise government programmes in their respective districts.
Mr. Mwale disclosed this when he paid a courtesy call on Chirundu district commissioner Alfred Hamunjo on Thursday at his office.
The provincial PS stated that government was aware of the challenges of transport that most DCs faced but at the same time urged them to remain patient as government through the ministry of works and Transport has purchased the new vehicles to improve in their operations.
“Government is aware of the transport challenge that most district commissioners are faced with and it for this reason that government through the ministry of Works and Transport has bought brand new vehicles for all the district commissioners country wide which will be given to you soon, I think the ministry of works is just doing final modalities like insuring the vehicles.” Mwale said.
And speaking earlier, Mr. Hamunjo told Mr. Mwale that the district administration in Chirundu was facing a big challenge of transport as the only vehicle for the DC had developed major mechanical faults and needed to be replaced by a new one.
Mr. Hamunjo said the terrain of Chirundu was mountainous hence the need to have a good vehicle which will be able to reach far flung areas on the hilly parts of the district.
He added that most government department in Chirundu were equally facing the problem of transport and appealed for the intervention of r. Mwale.
Provincial Voluntary Male Circumcision Coordinator (PVMC) for Muchinga Province, Daniel Tembo says Male Circumcision (MC) is not a passport for unprotected sex.
Mr. Tembo said the chances of acquiring HIV/AIDS for men who are circumcised is only partial.
The PVMC Coordinator said this is because MC only reduces the chances of contracting HIV/AIDS by 60 percent.
He said although MC seems to be the latest method of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, it is not a 100 percent guarantee for people to completely do away with the use of condoms and engage in unprotected sex.
The PVMC Coordinator was speaking today, when a combined team from health workers and National Aids Council conducted HIV/AIDS activities at Sino hydro camps, a company engaged to construct the 100km Mulilansolo – Chinsali road at a cost of K295, 000 under lot two in line with the guidelines in the contract.
And Muchinga Province AIDS Coordinator Advisor Lester Nambale has called on workers working on different projects to promote the usage of female condoms.
Mr. Nambale said protection should be a two -way thing adding that females should also be in the position to carry condoms.
She said Zambia among other countries in the continent has low usage rate of female condoms for unknown reasons.
Meanwhile, Chinsali District TB,STIs – HIV/AIDS officer Godfrey Silungwe together with his superior at the province John Chitomombo said being positive is not a death sentence but the beginning of a new beautiful life.
The duo added that a new beginning can only be attained through testing which they said is the best method of prolonging one’s life.
They told the workers that knowing ones status helps to live positively and a careful life.
Among the topics that were discussed included HIV/AIDS prevention, STIs, condom use, male circumcision and testing, among others.
Emmanuel Mwamba
ZAMBIA’S High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba has invited a South African based company to provide urgent solutions to help Zambia address her current electricity shortages.
Mr. Mwamba urged Energyst – Energy Rental Solutions to make arrangements so that they could travel to Zambia and meet relevant officials for guidance on how they could assist Zambia in resolving the critical power deficit.
Mr. Mwamba attributed energy crisis in 50 years due to last year’s poor rainfall as Zambia’s hydro-power generation system is entirely rain-fed.
The Zambian Envoy was speaking when Energyst Commercial Manager Marissa Spencer paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Pretoria this afternoon.
This is contained in a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Issued by Press Secretary at the Zambian Embassy in South Africa,
Nicky Shabolyo.
The High Commissioner said Zambia was currently spending huge amounts of money on importing power from neighbouring Mozambique and that this was still not enough to meet Zambia’s requirements.
“We have a serious challenge with power and we are welcoming suggestions which could help address it. I feel solutions such as yours could just help us find a quick and effective solution to end our woes because they are not like what you would get through solar, or thermal or even the battery system as these take much longer to come on-stream and cost more,” Mr. Mwamba said.
In response, Energyst Commercial Manager Marissa Spencer said her company whose shareholders are world renowned Caterpillar and Barloworld, installs and operates power plants on rental basis across the world.
Ms. Spencer disclosed that her company recently completed a 12 megawatts plant in Burundi while others have been installed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroun.
Ms. Spencer said the power plants can either be diesel or gas run and could be built to benefit the Zambian people.
She said her company would be ready to come to Zambia in the next two weeks to carry out a feasibility study thereafter begin installation works.
She said Energyst was able to install facilities from 10 megawatts to hundreds of megawatts and that such projects would take about three to five weeks.
She said Energyst also trains staff and transfers the equipment to clients in an event that the agreement was meant for purchase.
Meanwhile, the US Government has indicated intentions to assist Zambia mitigate her power outages.
United States Ambassador to Zambia Eric Schultz disclosed in Lusaka recently that his country would offer solutions to the energy sector.
The Zambian government is importing 100 megawatts electricity from neighbouring Mozambique.
Energy Minister Christopher Yaluma said Zambia is negotiating for more electricity as the country runs through up to December when the water levels in lakes and rivers stabilizes.
In another development, Ukraine has offered Zambia to explore various scholarship opportunities that exist in East European country.
This came to light when Ukrainian Ambassador to South Africa, Yevgen Burkat paid a courtesy call on Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba at his office in Pretoria.
Mr. Burkat told his Zambian counterpart that Zambia was an important country to Ukraine considering the historical position it occupied in Africa as well as Eastern Europe.
The Envoy , who is accredited to 11 African countries, said Ukraine has prioritised three countries among which Zambia where there was a lot of untapped economic gain working more closely between the two countries.
The Ambassador appealed for support as the “young” nation of Ukraine tries to build relations with both multilateral and bilateral partners.
And Mr. Mwamba welcomed the invitation to explore scholarship opportunities in Ukraine saying these would greatly benefit many Zambian youths in need of skills development.
Mr. Mwamba agreed with his Ukrainian counterpart on the need for the two countries to strengthen their economic and other forms of cooperation pointing out that Zambia has always stood ready to engage with all partners that meant well.
Chishimba Kambwili
Chief Government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili has maintained that the Patriotic Front was still the most popular political party countrywide amid claims that it has lost popularity to the United Party for National Development UPND.
And Mr. Kambwili has charged that it was very dangerous for Zambians to entrust UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and his vice Geoffrey Mwamba with national leadership as the duo were cheap crooks who loved money.
Mr. Kambwili said failure by the UPND to hold Public meetings on the Copperbelt were it party President and his vice were on a campaign trail, proved that the party was not popular on the Copperbelt.
He alleged that the party despite being granted permission to hold two public meeting in Luanshya yesterday failed to mobilise support due to their unpopularity and ended up going into markets, greeting people who were not responsive.
“GBM and his newly founded friend HH are living in denial as they have failed to accept that the UPND was only a small, regional and tribal party that has failed to cross the Kafue River. The UPND has in the recent past lost Chisanga, they lost Sichinga and also Kapita wards who all cited tribalism as their reasons for leaving the party” Kambwili said.
He added that HH will receive a shock of his life come 2016 elections and would end up retiring from active politics as he losses the 2016 elections yet again.
He also explained that GBM’s law suit against the speaker of the national assembly was yet more evidence that he has lost popularity even in his former constituency as it shows that he was scared of facing the election.
“In politics you test your popularity by way of election and the law suit was just an act of cheap politicking and a mere abuse of the legal process because my brother GBM knows that he can’t pass through if he challenged Kasama central, he will fail lamentably “he added.
He boasted of popularity saying the Pf had touched all areas of human endeavour in their development agenda and that the opposition was merely jealous and trying to take advantage of the few ignorant people.
The chief government spokesperson further assured the nation that there was no looming medicine shortage in the country and that people spreading these false allegations were only politicking.
Kambwili added that people were also taking advantage of the current power deficit that the country was experiencing to gain political mileage.
He added that the problem was not peculiar to Zambia alone it was a regional crisis that had hit the southern region due to climate factors.
The parliamentarian also said the continued upward surge by the dollar against local currencies was yet another area in which the opposition were trying to gain grounds by claiming they can improve the economy.
He said the PF had grown the economy to up to 6.2 and 7 percent in the last two years with the world average economic growth rate standing at 0.2 percent which proves that the economy was stable.
“The issue of the dollar sky rocketing against other currencies was worldwide crisis and not only common to Zambia, even the strongest economy the Chinese mighty Yen had also slacken due to global factors as the dollar had just grown strong. And this can only be addressed by the law of demand and supply through policies to counter the growth of the dollar such as increased exports and that cannot be done immediately it was a long term venture” he observed.
Mr. Kambwili alleged that HH was only cheating the people when he says he can transform the economy when he and his partner were crooks that seek to benefit themselves from every opportunity they get, hence the danger to entrust them with governing the nation.
He charged that GBM loved money as evidenced from his past corruption charges in the ZESCO poles saga where he monopolised the tender and additionally he also monopolised the transportation of maize from FRA.
He also charged that HH also takes advantage of situations to make personal money out of every business he gets, citing that he benefited from the privatisation of Luanshya copper mines as well as Sun International hotels were he ended up being board chair.
Mr. Kambwili continued that the due loved money above anything else and given a chance to make government, they would steal all the money from the people of Zambia for their personal benefit.
The information minister was speaking to journalist in Luanshya yesterday on the sidelines of the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the local authority and a non- governmental organisation PPHPZ spearheading improving housing facilities for poor people.
