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President Rupiah Banda at Statehouse
Former President Rupiah Banda is today expected to leave for Zanzibar to attend the East African Global Peace Leadership Conference.
President Banda will join other former African presidents and heads of government including His Excellency Amani AbeidKarume, former President of Zanzibar, and His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Others expected to attend the four-day conference beginning on 21st July, 2015 are His Excellency GirmaWolde-Giorgis, former President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, His Excellency Sir James Mancham, founding President of the Republic of Seychelles, and Mr Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya.
President Banda has also been invited to serve as a charter member of the Africa Leadership Mission on Peace-building, Young Leadership and Service (Africa Presidential Mission).
He will be accompanied to Zanzibar by his administrative assistant Mikatazo Wakumelo.
The much publicised meeting for Tonga speaking people has resolved to demand that President Edgar Lungu should dismiss Information Minister Chishimba Kambwili, PF Secretary General Davies Chama and his deputy Mumbi Phiri over their alleged derogatory remarks.
The meeting which was attended by over 1,000 people held in Monze resolved that President Lungu should fire the trio if Tuesday’s meeting called by President Lungu with traditional leaders from Southern Province.
Reading the resolutions of the meeting, former Justice Minister Vincent Malambo also dismissed reports that the meeting was called to discuss plans to secede from Zambia.
Mr Malambo said there is no way Tongas can secede from Zambia which they consider as their home.
And addressing the gathering, Organising Chairman Edson Hamakowa stated that the meeting was not called to seek an apology from Mr Chama but was meant to show their displeasure about Mr Chama’s utterances.
Mr Hamakowa said the Tonga speaking people have also resolved that President Lungu has failed to provide leadership over the issue of the tribal remarks issued by Mr Chama.
‘Clearly Mr Chama has broken the red line and if you break the red line, you have to step aside,’ Mr Hamakowa said.
He also revealed that the insults levelled on the Tongas by Mr Chama, Mrs Phiri and Mr Kambwili cannot be justified.
Mr Hamakowa stated that Zambia’s core values revolve around national unity and oneness.
‘Once a leader crossed has that line, he or she must no longer be our leader,’ Mr Hamakowa said.
‘After the 2015 presidential election, I came across a text message allegedly sent by Mr Chama which read and i quote, ‘We have hammered the Tongas, the Luvale and the Lozis. They thought they can come together and give us a Tonga President. God is good,’ end of quote. After analysing the events of the past few weeks, i now believe that the text message was sent by Mr Chama.’
The organising Chairman also called on President Lungu to stop using tribal, regional, ethnicity as mere political propaganda.
He said Mr Chama should have been kicked out a long time ago especially that he was not speaking in his personal capacity but as Secretary General of the PF.
Vincent Malambo read out the resolutions of the meeting
Christopher Katongo’s return to the FAZ Super Division was spoilt on Sunday when Green Buffaloes lost 2-1 away to league leaders Zesco United at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Katongo marked his first game back for Buffaloes since 2004 when he left the club to embark on an international career that took him to South Africa, Denmark, Germany, Greece, China and back to South Africa last season with Bidvest Wits.
The ex-Zambia captain almost mark his return with a goal in the 10th minute but his shot was saved by Jacob Banda before making way for Percy Bilyoti in the 85th minute.
Meanwhile, Zesco were not overawed by Katongo’s presence and stamped their authority on the match from start to finish.
Zesco took the lead in the 4th minute through a trademark volley from Mwape Mwelwa before Lottie Phiri equalised in the 44th minute.
Maybin Mwaba put the result beyond doubt in the 82nd minute to see Zesco stay five points clear of the chasing pack.
The win was the defending FAZ Super Division champions’ sixth successive league win in a run they have scored ten goals and conceded two goals.
And in the lunchtime kick-off at the same venue, Forest Rangers and Nchanga Rangers finished 1-1.
Joe Besa put Forest ahead in the 36th minute but Aubrey Chamulwanda equalised for Rangers in the 71st minute.
HH speaking to Journalists just before casting his vote
The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has charged that presidential pardon has now become a tool of corruption.
And Mr. Hichilema had disclosed that UPND members are now receiving death threats from the PF and are forced to join their party.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka this morning, Mr. Hichilema notes that it is clear that presidential pardons are applied in a corrupt manner.
Mr. Hichilema says any prisoner willing to join and support the Patriotic Front and President Edgar Lungu is pardoned saying this is an abuse of presidential pardons.
He says this pardoning of prisoners on corruption grounds will lead to increased crime in the country.
And Mr. Hichilema says the UPND stands with Post Newspaper Editor Fred Mmembe and reporter Mukosha Funga on their arrest and will voice out for them stating that what they did is simply exposing corruption.
Mr. Hichilema says he will not be intimidated by the cadres harassing him but will continue to fight for the people of Zambia.
Meanwhile Mr. Hichilema had disclosed that UPND members are now receiving death threats from the PF stating that there Chawama candidate is one who has received a death threat if he does not join the ruling PF.
He has reiterated that the country lacks leadership which is why it is going through difficult times.
He further states that Zambians deserve better which the PF cannot offer stressing that the PF went in government for their own benefits.
Harry KalabaSADC Ministers in charge of Defence, Foreign Affairs and Public Security have converged in Pretoria, South Africa to discuss strategies aimed at promoting peace and security in the region.
Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba is expected in Pretoria today to attend the 17th Meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Politics, Defence and Security cooperation (MCO) which opens tomorrow.
The meeting which takes place annually will review the political and security situation during the past one year with the view of addressing challenges that may threaten peace and security in the region.
Army Commander Paul Mihova and Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani are also in Pretoria to attend the same meeting.
Senior officials from SADC countries had a three day meeting to prepare and adopt an agenda which the Ministers will discuss during their two day meeting.
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana- Mashabane will officially open the meeting for the Ministers tomorrow.
This is according to a statement made available to ZANIS by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Public Relations Officer Dorcas Ilunga- Chileshe today.
Catholic Bishops commended the Patriotic Front-PF administration for the remarkable achievements made towards the uplifting of the welfare of the people despite the mounting challenges the country faces.
The Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) delegation comprising the church’s 12 most senior clergy, was led by Archbishop Chama Bishops when they met President Lungu at Statehouse on July 16, 2015.
The Republican President who was accompanied by his special assistants Mr Lukangaba Sukwana for Legal, Mr Amos Chanda, Press &Public Relations, and the Permanent Secretary Mr Emmanuel Chilubanama discussed a broad range of national issues during the meeting with Catholic Bishops.
“Despite the many challenges your government faces, there are good things happening in our country and we would like, through you, to commend the Government for the achievements made in advancing the welfare of the Zambian people and their dignity,” said Bishop Alick Banda in a speech read on behalf of ZEC.
“We recognize in particular, the road, health and educational infrastructure development programme and the resolve of your government to entrench the national motto of One Zambia, One Nation,” the Bishops further said.
This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda today.
Mr Chanda said, as leaders of the Catholic Church in Zambia, the Bishops assured the Head of State that the meeting would continue to promote mutual understanding and forge cordial relations between the Church and the State.
He explained that the Bishops called on government’s attention to Statutory Instrument No. 103 of 2013, which revoked the exemptions on duty for imported vehicles and other essential items extended to Public Benefit Organisations.
Mr Chanda revealed that the Bishops submitted that the SI makes it difficult for them to import vehicles for use to render essential health and educational services to the poor.
“The Bishops also raised the critical issues of care for the environment, which they feared was being dangerously exploited especially through irresponsible cutting down of trees, “said Mr Chanda.
They called on the President to ensure increased funding to health and education sectors and for greater investment in renewable energy.
The Bishops also noted that it was inevitable that Zambia will have to resort to borrowing on the open market in order to execute the country’s ambitious programme of infrastructure development.
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, however said the Bishops cautioned that debt must be kept within sustainable limits.
He also said the Bishops drew government’s attention to the threat of religious fundamentalism and the threat of family disintegration due to various socio-economic pressures on it.
And the Bishops praise President Lungu for his active dialogue with traditional rulers and called on him to extend the same to other stakeholders.
On the constitution-making process, the Bishops called for continued efforts towards greater consensus.
Meanwhile, Mr Chanda said the Head of State assured the Bishops that his administration respects the role the Church plays in nation building, and pledged that he will continue to ensure that there was a health relationship between the Church and State.
President Lungu urged the Church to help forestall unnecessary tribal and regional sentiment that seemed to a preoccupation of some people.
The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) Board of Directors has appointed Betram Kiswaga as the new Deputy Managing Director of the Authority.
Dr Kiswaga replaces Mr. Saidi Sauko who had been acting in the position for administrative convenience since 2013.
Dr. Kiswaga holds a Masters Degree and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and was until now, a lecturer and Acting Deputy Director of Planning, Finance and Administration at the National Institute of Transport of Tanzania, where he had been working since 2008.
This is according to a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by the Head of Public Relations Conrad Simuchile.
Mr Simuchile said Dr. Kiswaga joins TAZARA at a time when the Authority faces daunting operational and financial challenges and is widely expected to take a lead in bringing the desired positive transformation in the operations.
In February 2015, the Presidents of Tanzania and Zambia, His Excellency Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, respectively, held a bilateral summit at which they directed the TAZARA Board of Directors to recruit the top executives of the authority on the basis of competence, qualifications and experience.
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema interacts with passengers a minibus going to Mandevu
19th February 2015
Mr. Hakainde Hichilema UPND Secretariat Lusaka
REF: IN CASE PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU DOES NOT REPLY SINCE YOU USED THE WRONG ADDRESS
Dear Mr. Hichilema,
Considering that you addressed your letter purported to have been addressed to His Excellency President Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, in the public domain, as a member of the general public, I have taken the liberty to not only react to your letter but raises one or two issues you may have to deal with as in-house before attempting to acquire moral authority on the question of violence. President of the Republic of Zambia.
I also was of the opinion that as a person seeking the highest office in the land, you cheapened yourself by descending to the levels of Mike Mulongoti and league who have nothing to lose in the endeavour. Mr. Hichilema, you had an opportunity to come out as a statesman and should have left that letter to one of your officials or in a worst case scenario, allowed your Deputy Spokesperson, attached to the Post Newspaper, Cornelius Mweetwa. The feeling I got, and I stand to be corrected, was that you intended to attain some cheap political mileage and transfer the violent tag on PF, and President Lungu would be cheapening his Office if he responded to a letter availed to the public and which was not intended to raise substantive debate. In short, your letter was unpresidential and subtracted as opposed to adding to what you must be.
As a concerned senior citizen, let me avoid being completely dismissive and commend you for waking up from your slumber to realize that violence is bad and negates our democracy in a big way. In the same breathe, I will condemn attacks on your life but also commend President Lungu for acting promptly to the sad development. His swift action must be commended by all of us who want to be sincere. For those who missed the news, the President send the Deputy Inspector of Police to the Copperbelt Province and PF Copperbelt provincial chairman Stephen Kainga and eight others have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the attack on you as United Party for National Development leader on Wednesday last week. So Mr Kainga was arrested together with PF Copperbelt vice youth chairman Stanley Mulumbwa popularly known as ‘Chandindi’, some jerabos and three other PF members. I must say that such is not easy for an African President to do!
As a senior citizen and a freedom fighter, let me note that Zambians from across the Political divide have called on the UPND to abandon its infamous Mapatizya Formula. This is the formula that your right hand man and confidant, Hon. Garry Nkombo has continued to glorify. I am asking that before you can become a Saint, Mr. Hichilema, begin by asking UPND and Mr. Nkombo to denounce the violent Mapatizya formula. The fact that you have failed to prevail over Mr. Nkombo’s religious belief that there is virtue in the Mapatizya Formula, I am left with no option but to believe that as UPND leader, you are the chief architect and Apostle of the said infamous violent and intolerant formula. Prove me wrong by counselling Mr. Nkombo and cleansing UPND from the filthy Mapatizya formula, a formula which drips with blood of innocent Zambian citizens!
As a senior Citizen, I was in Mufumbwe and I can recount event for you, Mr. Hichilema. You may recall that on May 4, 2005, the UPND held a Press briefing to announce the name of their adopted candidate for the by-elections on June 9, 2005 for Kalulushi on the Copperbelt and Mapatizya in Kalomo, Southern Province. The UPND adopted Ackson Sejani as candidate for Mapatizya. Mr. Sejani was a former minister of Local Government in the Frederick Chiluba government. At this conference, Mr Sejani announced that he had declared what he termed as a ‘’Jihad Political War’’. He alleged that the war was directed against the MMD’s “electoral corruption and rigging”. During the subsequent political campaigns, Mr Sejani’s campaign team organised a ‘militia’ that attacked government vehicles, impounded food supply convoys, held meetings without permits and harassed government ministers and caused wanton mayhem against the MMD camp.
Mr. Hichilema, you may recall that during that time, then Southern Province Minister, Ms. Alice Simango, was forced to transfer certain police officers accusing them of failing to prevent attacks against Government ministers, citizens and MMD members from the UPND. This is the model now infamously known as the “Mapatizya Formula” in the UPND. Mr. Hichilema, you know as much as I do that this formula involves the disregard of the law and the taking of the law in their own hands. The formula also promotes anarchy to ‘’correct and prevent rigging.’’ Mr. Hichilema, you know as much as I do, that this formula also encourages cadres to resort to violent methods every time they suspect electoral malpractice and unfair campaign methods. Mr. Hichilema, you know as much as I do that this formula also encourages officials to disregard the authority of the police, or ECZ officials who are deemed to be part of the ‘’rigging infrastructure’’. This is what UPND, through Mr. Garry Nkombo glorifies as your Party’s election strategy! Deny it!
Mr. Hichilema, you may recall that on June 16, 2005, Civil Society Groupings led by FODEP president then Sam Mulafulafu condemned those elections as not being free and fair owing to the high level of intimidation, violence and corruption. Mr. Mulafulafu stated that the elections defied, violated and breached Regulation 51, and Section 18 of the Electoral Act, Cap 13 of the Laws of Zambia. He had also feared that the level of violence would impact negatively the upcoming 2006 General Elections.
Mr. Hichilema, you may recall that when you took over the UPND from the late Anderson Kambela Mazoka, under very damaging political circumstances bordering on tribe, you promised to bring clean and issue based politics. While your leadership was birthed on a tribal cradle, you attempted as hard as you have tried over the years, to shed off the tribal tag that UPND has adorned for many years. Whether as a result of frustration, you have displayed crude conduct and his speeches have been characterised by threats of violence, and foul language, especially in light of your 20th January 2015 Presidential defeat and the successive six (6) Parliamentary by-elections you have lost as UPND under President Lungu’s Presidency. This is beside the point, but you know that your cadres, indoctrinated by Mapatizya formula launched a Jihad in Mulobezi’s recent by-elections in which your candidate lost and you have not condemned the acts. It is therefore not surprising that to win any Parliamentary seat, UPND has to resort to its discredited template, the Mapatizya Formula, and because Mr. Nkombo tells the nation that this is UPND’s election formula!
But maybe Mr. Hichilema is having a change of heart that will see him depart from his cruder and foul language, from his conduct which has been more thuggish and his ambitions for leadership which have been more diseased. This is possible if you, Mr. Hichilema could denounce the Mapatizya Formula and publicly counsel Mr. Nkombo.
Mr. Hichilema, you are also aware that it was under your leadership that UPND and its National Management Committee decided to adopt the so called Mapatizya Formula as the method of winning the Mufumbwe by-election. Mr. Hichilema, you know too well that the Mufumbwe by-election was very important to the UPND to prove their own analysis that claimed that voters are likely to revert to the 2001 voting patterns with UPND regaining its strength. You and your team thought that the UPND had regained the so called ‘’Mazoka’s Provinces’’ and in order to prepare for the possible split with the PF, UPND had to be seen to have capacity to win the forthcoming 2011 General Elections alone. On this premise, it was important that Mufumbwe was won- at all cost.
Mr. Hichilema, you may recall that during the Mapatizya by-election, you chose to camp in Mufumbwe during the entire campaign period. The UPND, under your leadership, transported known violent cadres from Lusaka and the Copperbelt and formed ‘’crack squads’’ to ‘’match the William Banda Militia’’. When the campaigns were underway, the MMD campaign teams were joined by cadres from Lusaka and the Copperbelt. Due to the critical shortage of accommodation, the MMD cadres found themselves boarding and lodging at a school.
Mr. Hichilema you know that in line with the Mapatizya Formula, the UPND camp, when it learnt of this, decided to ransack and attack the MMD camp claiming that their presence at the school violated electoral laws as the school would be a polling station on Election Day. You will recall that the UPND cadres chose a period when most MMD cadres had accompanied their leaders to political campaigns, attacked the camp, stole cadres food supplies, blankets and beer. Upon return, the MMD cadres found their colleagues beaten and their supplies stolen. They were riled. They planned and later staged a retaliatory attack that saw the then Member of Parliament and UPND vice-president Richard Kapita, now PF Member, injured in the ensuing clashes.
Mr. Hichilema, you will recall how you played innocent victim and stormed the police station demanding Justice. I know you agree that from then on, the violence escalated between the two camps turning our peaceful quiet and serene rural district of Mufumbwe into a place of violence, running battles and all sorts of mayhem. The violence culminated into a violent abduction and brutal beating of a police constable Elijah Chiluba on polling day, who was abducted by a group led by UPND Solwezi MP, Watson Lumba. The officer who was accused of being a former MMD cadre was treated to the Mapatizya Formula guidelines that are ‘’intended to protect the will of the people and prevent electoral malpractice.’’
Finally, Mr. Hichilema, I present to you that gather courage by stopping Mr. Nkombo’s call for Mapatizya Formula and further tell the nation that UPND has departed from this violent formula which drips of innocent citizen’s blood. I know that if you close your eyes and flash back your memory to Mufumbwe, you’ll see those bloody images and then you will agree that there is nothing honourable about the so-called Mapatizya formula. Today, you held a press briefing to discredit the pardoning of General Kanene and ended by inciting an eye for an eye when you declared that you will not be intimidated by recent attacks on your life and went on to call on the youths in Lusaka to be vigilant and protect each other from all forms and intimidation. I have lived long enough to know what you are asking your youths to do. Stop it!
Johnstone Ilunga Freedom Fighter and Senior Citizen Mufumbwe
Striker Ronald Kampamba says it is good that Zambia managed to hold Cote d’Ivoire to a goalless draw in Saturday’s 2015 CAF Under-23 Cup final round, first leg match played in Abidjan.
The two sides will meet in the final leg decider on August 1 in Lusaka.
Sate Sate of Egyptian side Wadi Degla described the away draw as a positive result for the Fighton Simukonda coached Zambia Under-23 Team.
“The game was OK and I am happy with the result,” Kampamba said.
“We are now looking forward to the return match,” he said.
Kampamba is upbeat that Zambia will triumph over the Young Elephants and qualify for the championship.
“The return match will not be easy but we will try our best to win and qualify,” he added.
Winner will qualify for the 2015 tournament to be hosted by Senegal from be held from November 28 to December 12 in Senegal.
The top three finishers at the second edition of the competition will qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Zambia left Abidjan with a draw on Saturday in their 2015 CAF Under-23 Cup final round, first leg match.
Cote d’Ivoire, who had TP Mazembe striker Roger Assale and PSG winger Méité Yakou amongst their seven foreign call-ups in the team could not find a way past Zambia’s backline before the match ended 0-0.
The two sides will meet in the final leg decider on august 1 in Lusaka.
Winner will qualify for the 2015 tournament to be hosted by Senegal from be held from November 28 to December 12 in Senegal.
The top three finishers at the second edition of the competition will qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
As MMD youths, we would like to caution some sections of the local media to exercise maximum levels of professionalism and patriotism in their work especially when covering important state functions where the President is officiating.
We take great exception to the manner in which President Edgar Lungu is being covered by some media houses in Zambia. We have observed with great concern that a pattern of projecting President Lungu in bad light has developed.
There is a deliberate attempt by some media houses to negatively cover President Lungu as a way of alienating him from the general population.
The front page on one of the tabloids has featured President Lungu and claims to show him in a dozing posture. The tabloid further ran a side story claiming that President Lungu was dozing during a meeting with visiting UNDP official Hellen Clark.
As MMD youths, we beg to differ. President Lungu was very active during the duration of the meeting. What the Photographer from the tabloid decided to do was to patiently wait to capture a second when President Lungu blinked his eyes and the paper went on to claim that he was dozing during the meeting.
We saw the footage of the meeting on ZNBC TV and we can confirm that President Lungu was fully awake and active. He also made a very good presentation to Madam Clark on Zambia’s constitutional reforms and the country’s development process.
It is therefore discouraging that this tabloid decided to reduce the importance of this engagement with a senior UNDP official by misrepresenting the facts.
We find this kind of reporting very disrespectful, cheap and unpatriotic and we urge Journalists to be relevant to the country’s development process.
By showing President Lungu in bad light, the newspaper is showing high levels of disrespect to the highest office in the land.
This tabloid is abusing of its privilege of covering state functions and it would not be inappropriate if the press team at State House banned Journalists from this tabloid from covering state house.
We have been compelled to issue this cautionary statement in public interest because we feel that if this type of reporting continues, it has the potential to cause civil strife.
A visitor who arrives in Zambia today would be made to believe that the country’s law and order has broken down. This perception can lead to low investor confidence in our economy which might hurt our economic aspirations.
We also wish to appeal to some politicians including FDD leader Edith Nawakwi to desist from being used in this crusade to tarnish the image of our lovely country.
Madam Nawakwi is a seasoned politician who should realise that these selfish and narrow interests of a few disgruntled media owners will not help develop the country. We wish to advise her to stop parroting statements which she does not even believe in.
Madam Nawakwi is quoted as saying that Zambia is at war with those looting state resources.
We however fail to reconcile that statement especially that Madam Nawakwi has up to now failed to give a good account of how she benefitted from the Carlington Maize scandal which led to many poor families starving to death.
The FDD leader does not have a moral authority to champion the fight against corruption. It will do her a lot of good go keep quiet and concentrate on growing her tomatoes than alarming Zambians and the international community that the country is at war.
Our appeal to all Zambian Journalists is that your call to protect the sovereignty of the nation is greater than the call to satisfy your appetite to publish a story. You were a Zambian first before you became a Journalist and this should be seen in the manner you cover state issues.
Some Zambia Journalist should emulate their colleagues in Greece, Britain, Nigeria, Russia and even North Korea who are some of the most patriotic professionals one would ever find.
As MMD youths, we are true democrats who believe in the rule of law and therefore have the greatest respect for institutions of governance.
This is the more reason we have vehemently defended the mandate of our leader Dr Nevers Mumba to continue as President of the MMD despite numerous failed attempts to remove him.
We believe leadership should be respected and supported until such a time when the majority decide otherwise through a voting system. For now, the Republican President remains Edgar Chagwa Lungu and deserves respect from all citizens.
OFFICE OF THE MMD NATIONAL YOUTH SECRETARY Contact: Bowman Lusambo National Youth Secretary
Kaoma district Patriotic Front-PF Chairperson George Chisani has disclosed that former Kaoma district political secretary Chingi Kabindama and PF youth Chairperson Du Shefumbandu have been expelled from the ruling party for allegedly campaigning for the Rainbow party.
Mr Chisani announced the expulsion of the duo during the PF Kaoma central constituency elections held in Kaoma district council chamber today.
And there was a near punch-up between Mr Kabindama and Mr Chisani when the latter entered the council chamber but was only whisked out by alert police officers as PF youths almost lynched him.
Mr Chisani requested the delegates who were drawn from Kalumwange, Chitwa, Longe, Naliele and Mulamatila wards to foster unity in the party in order to attract new members so that the party wins the 2016 general elections.
He said he would not allow disgruntled members who are supporting the opposition Rainbow party to bring confusions in PF which is now gaining momentum in the province.
Mr Chisani said President Edgar Lungu has instructed members countrywide to accept anyone whether rich or poor as the ruling party needed more numbers.
He said members should be committed and voluntarily work tirelessly for the party adding that members with double standards of destroying the party will not be entertained.
Mr Chisani said it’s only in Western province that PF got low votes in the January 20, 2015 presidential by-election adding that this time around, PF is surviving in the province.
He encouraged the delegates to ensure that the party grows in Kaoma by recruiting as many members as possible.
But when contacted former Kaoma district political secretary, Chingi Kabindama said that he is still a committed PF member.
Mr Kabindama wondered why he has not been called by the district disciplinary committee for him to state his position or even receiving an expulsion letter from the PF secretariat.
He said the pronouncement by the PF district Chairperson Mr Chisani is null and void.
And at the same function, Kaoma district UPND Vice Chairperson for Politics and Administration, Mulemwa Kachana and Simaanga Kabayo UPND media publicity secretary defected to the ruling PF.
Mr Kachana said that he cannot continue being a UPND member because the in-fighting at the constituency level has worsened saying members are planning to unseat the current Kaoma central constituency UPND MP Carlos Antonio before parliament is dissolved.
And Mr Kabayo said he has also ditched the opposition UPND citing the massive development that the PF administration has brought to the people in Western province.
Receiving the two defectors, Mr Chisani said people in all the districts of Western province should support the ruling party for development to be enjoyed in their areas.
Mr Chisani said people should rally behind President Lungu for increased peace, unity and development beyond 2016.
A Zambian woman has died in India after two capsules of unknown drugs burst in her stomach.
Keltha Twala, a female Zambian national, died on 29th June 2015 at GND hospital in Amritsar, Punjab State in India after two of the 50 unknown drugs she had swallowed burst in her stomach.
Twala, who was first discovered sick at the Indian border to Pakistan, was on her way to Pakistan from New Delhi, India before meeting her death.
During a postmortem, a total of 50 capsules were found in her body while forty-five (45) capsules were found in her stomach and five (05) were discovered in the rectum.
However, the Indian Narcotics Control Bureau is yet to establish the type of drug contained in the capsules.
This is according to a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday by the Drug Enforcement Commission Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo.
Ms Katongo also said the Zambian Mission in New Delhi is trying to verify reports of the arrest of another female Zambian, Catherine Mulenga at Indira Ghandi International Airport for being in possession of a drug called methaqualone worth over US$30,000.
She said following such reports, the Drug Enforcement Commission would like to caution members of the public especially women on the dangers of being used as couriers by foreign nationals.
“Such trends risk damaging the image of the country in the eyes of the international community and Zambians risk being subjected to high security searches when travelling abroad,” she warned.
Ms Katongo said that the Commission further appeals to members of the public on the need to safeguard the image of the country by developing their lives, communities and identities without drugs.
FILE: Mumbi Phiri and then PF Chairperson for Elections Sylvia Masebo in angry verbal exchange during PF Convention
PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri has called on the PF in Chongwe Constituency to start looking for a person to stand on the ruling party in the 2016 tripartite polls.
Ms Phiri says the party in Chongwe should be very careful this time around because the past has been disappointing.
And Ms Phiri says the PF was not formed on the basis of money.
MS PHIRI says the party has always grown from small donations from members who want to make a difference in the lives of Zambians.
She was speaking in Chongwe when she received 18 bicycles from a PF member from Chongwe.
Ms Phiri has urged the party to use the bicycles to sensitise people to get National Registration Cards.
And PF Ntandabale Ward Chairman Robert Mwenda who has donated the bicycles says time right to start resource mobilisation for the party ahead of the general elections next year.
Meanwhile, Evangelical Youth Alliance President Moses Lungu has cautioned opposition political parties and Non-Governmental critisising President Edgar Lungu’s pardoning of musician Clifford Dimba also known as General Kanene from prison.
Reverend Lungu says it is sad that some opposition political parties and NGO’s are trying to gain political mileage out of the head of state’s decision to pardon Kanene.
He says organisations should emulate president Lungu’s demonstration of forgiveness.
The clergy man was speaking to ZNBC News in a walk in interview in Lusaka.
“There is one who scatters, yet increase more…”
(Proverbs 11:24, NKJV)
The Message
In the book of Genesis, God set up a system of seedtime and harvest. Everything God does starts with a seed. The Bible also tells us that He gives seed to the sower. In other words, if you are a person who has a desire to bless others and sow seed, God will make sure you have plenty to give. Notice what happens when you generously sow seed—you increase more! Just like planting a seed in the natural brings an abundant harvest, planting a spiritual seed brings an abundant harvest as well. You can’t outgive God. He will pour out blessings on you that you cannot even contain.
God’s blessings go way beyond just the financial realm. He wants you to have blessed relationships, good health and a happy career. Take a step of faith today and look for ways to start sowing. What do you have in your hand? Can you start by giving a smile and sowing joy? Can you help someone else at the gas pump? Choose to be a blessing because God promises to bless and increase you in every area of your life.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, today I choose to be a sower and giver. Help me to see the people around me the way You see them so that I can bless them the way You want to bless them in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
