LUSAKA police commissioner Charity Katanga has said United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema breached the Public Order Act and a docket was opened hence he was requested through his lawyers to write a letter of undertaking.

A letter of under taking is a pledge or promise to the police to admit that a wrong was committed and that next time the law shall be followed.

Last week Mr Hichilema during his door to door visits went to Kamwala market where it is alleged that a fracas ensured between UPND and PF cadres.

Mr Hichilema yesterday was interviewed by Kabwata police officer for over an hour.

Hichilema’s lawyer Jack Mwiimbu who is also UPND Monze Central Member of Parliament (MP) told journalists after the interview that they had a cordial discussion with the police and had resolved the matter.

“We have made headways with the police, we have agreed that from now onwards we will be working with the police to ensure that the POA is operated in accordance with the law of this country,” Mr Mwiimbu said.

He said the police would be informed accordingly on how the party would proceed with meetings and would be notifying police whenever they have a meeting.

Ms Katanga said in a separate interview that Mr Hichilema and his lawyers were instructed to make an undertaking that they would abide by the POA.

“So they have gone back to the office to write the letter of undertaking which would be under the hand of the lawyers, the president and the secretary general of the party and would be submitted here at Kabwata Police by 14:00 today,” Ms Katanga said.

Ms Katanga said there should be a distinction between merely going to the market to buy goods and interacting with the people in a procession as a political party leader.

“There is no need to notify the police if a political party leader is going to the market to buy goods but if he is moving in a procession interacting with the people and politicking then there is need to notify the police because that is as good as campaigning,” she said.

“People should not mock the police that because they are public figures then they should get a permit when going to buy vegetables at market, there is nothing wrong with just visiting a market but if you start politicking there and holding meeting then that is a problem,” she said.

Ms Katanga added that Mr Hichilema was wrong and that a docket was opened for him and police were just waiting for the letter of undertaking of which if not taken to the police, the law enforcers can then move in to arrest Mr Hichilema.

THE United Party for National Development (UPND) has said, though, the resignation of its party vice president Richard Kapita, is an individual democratic right, such decisions, however, have potential to influence other members to join the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).

Mr Kapita, who defected to PF at a rally addressed by President Edgar Lungu in Mwinilunga on Saturday, said he decided to join the ruling party because Mr Lungu inspired him as he wanted to work with all those that wanted to develop Zambia.

Mr Kapita was one of the founding members of the UPND in 1998 and he was Mwinilunga Member of Parliament on the party ticket.

Reacting to Mr Kapita’s defection, UPND Southern Province Information and Publicity Secretary Rudolph Phiri said the opposition party had lost a valuable individual voter.

In an interview yesterday, he said, Mr Kapita, having been a senior party official and one a founder member, his decision to defect from UPND could entice other party members to follow suit.

“You know, losing a party individual whatever status, it means a vote has been lost already. Yes, we have lost a voter as a party but we not the party at large,” he said.

Mr Phiri said that Mr Kapita’s individual democratic right could also attract a few UPND members at grassroot level such as those that were close to him to defect.

He cited some party members from North-Western Province where Mr Kapita had commanded a larger follower of members at the time he was MP for Mwinilunga.

He, however, said joining politics was an individual decision because every party member regardless of the party affiliation had the right to join a party of choice.

“Every person has a democratic right to join any party of choice and Mr Kapita felt that time has now come for him to join PF because it’s his individual right to do so,” he said.

PARAMOUNT Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni People of Eastern Province has called for quick completion of the tarring works on the Chipata-Chadiza and Chipata-Vubwi roads under the Link Zambia 8,000 Road Project.

Chief Mpezeni said yesterday that it was disappointing that the tarring of the road networks was dragging due to erratic funding from Government.

“Let the contractors speed up the construction of these roads networks because I am aware the construction of the roads has been dragging due to lack of payments from the Government side,”he said.

The paramount chief said he would ensure that he lobbied for the speedy construction of the roads network.

And China Jiangxi International Corporation (CJIC) Limited project manager Lin Ning and China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) project manager Yimo Wang have stated that payment was the big issue facing their construction companies.

“The biggest issue why the project is not moving is payment,”Mr Ning stated.

Mr Wang said that his company was still waiting for the payment from the Government in order to hurry-up the construction works of the road project.

A fortnight ago, Parliamentary Committee on Estimates led by Bwengwa UPND Member of Parliament Highvie Hamududu assured the contractor of payments.

This was after the parliamentary committee had expressed satisfaction of the road project which China State is doing.

In 2013, Government awarded CSCEC a contract for the rehabilitation of major roads feeding into Chadiza District at a cost of K713, 114,097.33 while CJIC was awarded the contract for the tarring of the Chipata-Vubwi-Chadiza road at a cost of over K529, 047,638.88.

According to Status update, CJIC were supposed to complete the tarring works on Chipata-Vubwi-Chadiza road by 15th February this year while China State was expected to complete the road project on Chipata-Chadiza-Katete by 15th January this year.

A DRIVER of Ticklays Coach Service has died while 33 passengers sustained injuries after the bus on which they were travelling collided with a truck laden with copper concentrates on the Kitwe-Chingola road.

Copperbelt deputy commissioner of police Byemba Musole said yesterday that the accident happened on Sunday around 20:40 hours.

Mr Musole identified the deceased as Augustine Phiri of Lusaka’s Chelston.

He said the accident happened opposite the Food Reserve Agency depot in Chambishi.

“Mr Phiri suffered multiple head injuries and was taken to Kitwe Central Hospital where he died,” Mr Musole said.

He said 25 out of the 33 injured passengers were treated and discharged.

THE tribunal appointed to investigate allegations of professional misconduct against suspended Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mutembo Nchito is today expected to determine whether the proceedings will continue.

This follows Mr Nchito’s submission in which he wants former Chief Justices Ernest Sakala and Mathew Ngulube to recuse themselves from the tribunal sittings.

Tribunal secretary Mathew Zulu said in an interview yesterday that the tribunal will sit and make a ruling today.

“Yes, the tribunal will sit today starting at 09:00 hours, at the same venue,” Mr Zulu said.

President Edgar Lungu has called on leaders in the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) to stick to principles of democracy and constitutionalism to prevent conflicts in the region.

President Lungu has urged member states of the ICGLR to collectively deliberate and agree on lasting solutions to end conflict and democracy in the region.

Mr Lungu said when he gave his maiden speech as heard of state at yesterday’s extraordinary summit here that conflicts could only be prevented if leaders were fair and confronted the root causes besetting the region.

“When we act fairly and play by the rules as leaders, we shall surely prevent the many conflicts that afflict our region today,” said Mr Lungu during a summit which was attended my six heads of stars from the ICGLR as well as Jacob Jump of South Africa.

The ICGLR is currently witnessing some tarbulant period with about five of its members struggling with insecurity and humantarian situations. The latest is Burundi where more than 100,000 people have been forced out of the country due to protests that was sparked by President Pierre Nkuruzinza’s bid to run for a third term.

Mr Lungu called on regional leaders to continue to strive in search of sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the region.

“But this can only be realised if we honestly and flankly confront the root causes of the conflicts besetting the region,” he said.

“The endless migratory trends of our people trekking from place to place in search of safety, peace and stability is hard to imagine in the 21st centuary.

Mr Lungu said the unbearable pain and permanent injuries suffered by citizens as they run away from conflicts in their countries should impact on the conscience of their leaders.

He paid a special tribute to the Zambian people for maintaining peace and unity, before, during and after the general elections in January this year.

“Let me, once again, re-affirm zambia’s commitment to the great lakes region, and the pact we signed on peace and stability, and pledge that zambia will continue to support the effective approaches and initiatives at resolving conflicts in any of our member states under the agreed regional framework,” he said.

Earlier Angolan President Eduardo Dos Santos who is also chairperson of the ICGLR said when he opened the summit that current situation in the region was worrying.

Mr Do Santos saluted the army loyal to the government in Burundi for thwarting the attempted coup last week and called for a quick dialogue that could facilitate legitimate elections in a transparent manner.

He also welcome progress made in the Central African Republic (CAR) and urged the African Union and the United Nations to seek peaceful solutions to conflict in South Sudan.

“I also invite all to face terrorism with seriousness, the massacre of 158 people by the El Shabbab (in Kenka) should be condemned vehemently, let us strengthen and fight terrorism and let the defence forces and intelligence in the region work together and beyond border,” he said.

Patriotic Front Secretary General Davies Chama says the ruling party officials are happy with President Edgar Lunga ‘s his mature and people-centred leadership .

Mr Chama says President Lungu has continued to exhibit quality leadership to the admiration of many, within Zambia and beyond.

.

Mr Chama said in a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today that the President’s leadership style has also boosted PF’s local and international image, as a shining example of a truly democratic party.

He stated that It is therefore not by coincidence, but by tough and correct decisions, that PF is the party of choice for all Zambians, including youths from academic institutions and the wider community, irrespective of their origin, gender, age or political affiliation.

Mr Chama disclosed that PF does not have the luxury of time to engage in things that do not add to our quest for a better and more inclusive Zambia.

“” PF’s national character, coupled with its progressive agenda for an inclusive and better Zambia, and President Lungu’s transformational leadership are sufficient to prove to all those seeking a political home, that PF is the Party of Choice””, Mr Chama said.

He said with the high standards being set by the PF leadership and the synergy with the ordinary membership, Opposition Parties will have to work twice as hard to retain their members since nothing should prevent citizens from joining a new political home as ideal as PF.

He expressed that the doors remains open for new membership as it will never get saturated.

“”Let me place on record that PF has no intention of taking Zambia back to a One Party State. PF believes that Zambia must always remain a multi-party democracy were Opposition parties exist to provide sufficient checks and balances. This is one democratic space PF will continue to respect without any reservation”, He said.

Mr Chama stated that It is up to the Opposition parties to continue proving their relevance before they can suffer extinction for refusing to adapt to new demands of politics.

He noted that the story of the dinosaur should provide serious lessons of the price to be paid for refusing to adapt adding that today’s Zambia demands the Opposition to become a “proposition of new ideas and constructive criticism.

“I versus You” adversarial politics. While it is not in the interest of a thriving democracy to see weakened political competitors, PF will surely not take the blame when other opposition Parties settle for self-destructive modes. If as a consequence, Zambians choose to cast a vote of no confidence in these parties, it will be because they refused to engage in constructive politics of development”, Mr Chama expressed.

Mr Chama further said PF is a progressive political party focussed on hard work and determination. He said the PF has channelled all those negative vibes and finger-pointing of the past into a productive force that has energized the party; making it much stronger and resolute in performing its current core mandate as a Party in Government and to emerge victorious with a renewed mandate to govern Zambia beyond 2016.

“”When and where we experience setbacks and challenges, we shall report back to our masters, the Zambian people, assuring them that even these will be nothing but temporal setbacks. PF is called to hard work while our worst critics congregate. Our message to our detractors remains “SELA TUBOMBEKO!!” not because we are allergic to criticism but that we are committed to deliver on the mandate given to us by the people of Zambia, Mr Chama stated.

Mr Chama also alluded that PF is alive to the changing tastes of the young generation of Zambians coming of voting age in 2016.

“”This generation can trust us! All steps President Lungu is taking are forward looking steps to a Zambia that assures a better life for all. Contrary to lies and distortions by our opponents and enemies of progress, PF has not drifted from what made it relevant to the vast majority of the Zambian people, Mr Chama said.

Mr Chama said under President Lungu, the party has not lost sight of its vision as framed in the founding years of the Party.

He stated that PF has continued to grow this vision and with 2016 around the corner, the party will report back on the progress made to the Zambian people.

“”We are determined not to fail the Zambian people, including those who will come of voting age in 2016””,Mr Chama said

He said PF’s intra-party democracy entails that it continues to renew its mandate with the people, the general membership on whose behalf the party leads.

He said the clarion call for renewal and re-energizing of party structures across the country is non-negotiable if PF is to remain a vibrant movement of the people.

He added that those who join the Party must be allowed to enjoy the benefits of membership as provided for by the party constitution and that they must not be discriminated against.

“”In this regard, party elections at the respective levels of the party might not be the most significant thing for the strengthening of the party in the short-term but they remain critical in ensuring PF remains a robust party, both now and in future, Mr Chama said .

Mr Chama said PF has taken stock of other political parties from within and outside Zambia that refused to adapt to the changing circumstances.

He said their refusal to do what was right within the season, including accepting changing circumstances led them into inadvisable strategic thinking, resulting in their becoming irrelevant to their electorate adding that this is a route PF will always avoid.

He said President Lungu has directed all members of the Party to recruit and welcome new members to the party.