The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set September 24, 2015 as the date on which to hold the parliamentary by-election in Lubansenshi Constituency in Luwingu district.

ECZ Public Relations Manager Chrispin Akufuna has told ZANIS in a statement today that the by-election in Lubansenshi will be held on the same day with those in Solwezi West Constituency and Seven local government wards on the Copperbelt, Eastern, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western and Western provinces.

Mr. Akufuna said the Lubansenshi constituency seat fell vacant following the nullification of the election of the independent Member of Parliament Patrick Mucheleka by the Supreme Court.

The ECZ has also set Wednesday, August 26, 2015 as the date for filling of nominations by the aspiring candidates in the by-elections which will be done between 09:00 hours and 15:00 hours.

Mr Akufuna added that aspiring candidates in both the parliamentary local government by- elections should lodge completed and attested statutory declaration and nomination papers subscribed before a Magistrate, Local Court Magistrate, Head of a Government primary or secondary school, a Principal of a College, Commissioner of Oaths , Election or Returning Officer.

He said the candidates should take along nine supporters who must be registered voters in the affected Constituency and wards.

Mr Akufuna also said the Parliamentary by-election aspiring candidates are required to pay a non-refundable nomination fee of K500 while candidates aspiring in local government by-elections are required to pay K100, K75, K50 for City, Municipal and District Councils respectively.

He further said the campaign period commences on August 26, 2015 at 15:00 hours and ends on September 23, 2015 at 18:00 hours.

The Seven local government by-elections will be held in Lufwanyama district ( Mushingashi ward), Lundazi district ( Nthitimila ward), Chilanga district ( Namalombwe ward ) and in Chilubi district in Mofu ward.

Mr Akufuna named the other wards as Kawiku in Mwinilunga district, Mambolomoka and Sipuma wards both in Shangombo districts in the Western province.

FDD President, Edith Nawakwi took herself to Samfya Police Station to be arrested following President Edgar Lungu’s directive to the police to arrest her for allegedly tampering with state property and threatening state house security Officers. On thursday President Lungu instructed the police to arrest Nawakwi who was in Bangweulu campaigning for the FDD Parliamentary Candidate in the just ended by election.

Nawakwi arrived at Samfya Police station around 08:15 in the company of FDD Spokesperson, Antonio Mwanza and some FDD Constituency and District officials. Upon arrival Ms. Nawakwi told the officers at the reception that she had brought herself to the police for her arrest.

She told the police officers that she was aware of President Lungu’s directive to have her arrested and that she did not want to inconvenience the police by making them lose man hours looking for her thus she had decided to turn herself in. At this moment the Samfya Police Officer in Charge Albert Muleka came out of his office and requested Ms. Nawakwi to come through. Ms. Nawakwi and three of her party officials entered the Officer in Charge’s office where they spent about 10 minutes.

And speaking shortly after meeting the police Ms. Nawakwi said she was bewildered and shocked that the President was imagining crimes purported to have been committed by innocent citizens.

“I am actually bewildered and shocked that the President can release a statement on imaginary crimes purported to have been committed by citizens. As a Republican President, he should be the last person to be involved in broadcasting fairytale and fiction especially those bordering on state security.

If in fact there was a breach of security on the movements of ECZ materials the rightful person to complain to the police should have been the chairperson of the Commission and if there is any criminality in terms of instituting criminal procedure the rightful officers are the Police and not one Chagwa Lungu.

Maybe Mr. Lungu, the Minister of Defence who is the leader of PF despite being in State House is not aware of his job description and as such he dreams that he can instruct the police to arrest citizens on fictitious charges. This is the reason we have always said that this President institutes selective prosecution,” she said.

She demanded for an apology from President Lungu.

“I require an apology from the Minister of Defence and leader of PF for coming out so viciously against me and purporting that I intercepted and stopped an ECZ truck on its way to a polling station. The police in Samfya where I am, having taken myself there for possible arrest are equally shocked as to the source of the story because all the ECZ vehicles had a policeman on board when the ballots were being delivered to the polling stations and no officer reported any such case. In fact the entire Police service starting from the IG to the lone officer at the polling station is embarrassed on behalf of their Commander In-Charge- Chief.

It is very clear that the President’s source of information is nothing than those people I’m calling ticks because they are just there for Muzungu ani konde therefore the President must be very very careful. In future we advise him not to continue to act on “I have received intelligence reports” and he does not define the source because he is simply discrediting the office of the Director General of State Security.”

She noted that the behavior by the President should be a concern to all Zambian.

“This kind of behavior by the President causes grave concern to all of us. What will happen if false rumors are given to him that one of our neighboring countries is about to attack us? Wouldn’t this Minister of Defence who is the Commander – in- Chief open the armory of our country and start charging at an imaginary enemy.

Vote buying is what they pride themselves in and everybody including the PF themselves know that they have been buying their way into Parliament so my advice is that if Honourable Edgar Chagwa Lungu doesn’t address his gliding political fortune he will be embarrassed next year. Let him get out of this State House cacoon of malicious misinformation and find out what is truly happening on the ground,” she said.

Vinny Boy debuts a 2015 music video for his latest single featuring former Zone Fam member ‘Tim‘ (formerly known as Thugga

The  visuals where produced by N.X.T Solutionz. Directed by QBICK and LAWDAK.

BY KAPA187

Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) President Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba has congratulated Myson Phiri, the MMD candidate, for victory in the Kakumbi Ward by-election in Malambo Constituency. He also congratulated the MMD campaign team and grassroots structures for picking up the pieces and taking advantage of the new lease of life that has come to the party after reorganization efforts by the party leadership since the 2011 elections.

“The MMD has gone through a brutal and merciless process of re-branding. After the devastating 2011 election loss, we went through great tribulations and as a party, we were stripped of all our pride and were left almost naked so that God could begin working through us in a new process of rebirth and renewal.

“The MMD, which was founded on the word of God in John 17:1 which says ‘The Hour has Come,’ will rise from the ashes of loss brought on by corruption led by a family cartel. Zambians have been wondering why the MMD which had started so well could end up as an arrogant and corrupt government,” Dr. Mumba said.

“Zambians have been asking how a government with an unprecedented record of a middle income economy with $2.7 billion in reserves, poverty levels reduced from 80% to 60% and a brilliant record of massive infrastructure development projects could lose an election so disastrously. We had an exchange rate at K4.60 to the dollar in 2011, maize at only K37 per bag and we were the biggest party in the country with a huge advantage of incumbency. As the Bible says, ‘How the mighty have fallen!’

“The people of Zambia are not stupid and they knew they were being taken for granted by an insolent MMD government which recklessly unleashed its guns on the people of Western Province. A government which got too arrogant and allowed unaccountable people to start meddling in the economy. Zambians knew they are the real bosses and threw us out of government. A similar fate awaits the Patriotic Front if they continue taking Zambians for granted as they have done the last 4 years.

“It is time to turn a new page because the harsh lessons have been learnt. The bad elements in the MMD have been flushed out and as MMD President, I now sincerely appeal to the Zambian people to forgive the terrible mistakes we made. I ask the people of Zambia to forgive the MMD for letting them be forced to vote for an irresponsible party that has brought the Zambian people untold suffering. The current government has no vision to properly manage the affairs of this country.

“The Zambian economy is now heading back to the pre-1991 era when we found it on its knees. It is time for the MMD to again take up the challenge of rebuilding the destroyed economy as we did before in 1991?.

“In the midst of all this chaos, the people of Kakumbi Ward in Malambo Constituency have lit a candle of hope, to start a fire which shall spread throughout the whole country to deliver the people from the disastrous PF Government”, Dr. Mumba said.

Mr. Mwamba is accused of occasioning actual bodily harm of two Patriotic Front members in Kasama contrary to section 248 Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence were that on August 5,, 2015, Mr. Mwamba whilst acting together with other persons unknown allegedly assaulted Emma Chungu 21, and Yvonne Musonda 23 both of Kasama District.
The former Kasama lawmaker, who appeared before Magistrate Samuel Mumba for plea, has since denied the charge of assault slapped on him.

Magistrate Mumba has since adjourned the matter to September 28,2015, for commencement of trial.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mwamba, who was represented by his lawyer Muleya Kabesha of Kabesha and company, has been granted a K5, 000 bail in his own recognizance with two working sureties.

Earlier, Mr. Mwamba, who is also UPND vice president for Administration, was summoned at Kasama Central police station for questioning relating to the assault of two PF members.

He was later arrested and charged with assault contrary to the law.

Mr Kabimba says he is happy that the party he formed barely seven ago has managed to scoop its first local government seat.

And Mr. Kabimba says he confident that his party’s political strategy is bearing fruit seven months after the Rainbow party was formed as evidenced by its victory in the Kapililonga ward election.

Mr Kabimba has told QFM News in a telephone interview that his party is geared for the 2016 tripartite elections.

And Rainbow Party Spokesperson Goodson Banda has told a media briefing that the party’s first attempt victory in the Kapililonga Ward by-election spells the beginning of the people’s time to start governing themselves.

He says people of Kapililonga triumphed by uniting to reclaim the local government seat by voting for their own candidate who stood on the Rainbow Party ticket.

Mr. Banda says the victory has therefore demonstrated that Rainbow Party is about the people and people represent themselves.

Meanwhile United Party for National Development (UPND)deputy spokesperson, Edwin Lifwekelo says the appointment of former Kasama Central MP Geoffrey Mwamba as UPND vice president has paid off as evidenced by the party’s victory in the Bululu ward by-election in Kasama central.

Mr. Lufwekelo says the UPND is headed for victory in the forthcoming general election in 2016 considering the rate at which it is growing.

Government has announced that the Copperbelt University will re-open for normal academic programs on Monday 17th August 2015.

Education Minister Michael Kaingu told a media briefing in Kitwe the decision to re-open the university comes after holding successful meetings with university academics staff and other stakeholders.

Dr. Kaingu said government is concerned about the welfare of the students and will therefore ensure a conducive learning environment is provided for them.

Dr. Kaingu said that students are expected to return to the university on Sunday 16th August 2015 in readiness for the resumption of classes on Monday 17th August 2015.

He explained that now that the university has been opened, government expects the students to be focused and refrain from any external influences that may negatively impact on their studies.

The Minister has assured the students that government is investigating the concerns raised by the university academic staff and will act appropriately.

Yesterday, Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda and his Education counterpart Michael Kaingu announced that CBU lecturers had unconditionally resolved to resume work with immediate effect.