Drama ensued at the Supreme Court in Lusaka as opposition UPND cadres and supporters overpowered police to gain access to the court grounds.

The cadres further attempted to force their way into the court building to witness their party president Hakainde Hichilema file in nomination for the January 20, 2015 Presidential election.

Police reinforcements called to help quell the ensuing pandemonium watched helplessly as a sea of UPND follower thronged the Supreme Court grounds.
Traffic around the Supreme Court area was jammed as roads around the area were blocked by motor vehicles and huge crowds of UPND followers.

Mr Hichilema who arrived at the Supreme Court accompanied by his wife Mutinta, and party officials, successfully filed in his nomination before acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesa Kunda, who was flanked by Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson, Justice Irene Mambilima .

The 52 year old opposition leader commended ECZ for successfully organising and presiding over the nomination process in view of the huge number of people gathered outside the court building.

Mr Hichilema said he was the only candidate with an imperious leadership track record and pedigree to lead Zambia to greater heights.

He pointed out that it is unprecedented in the history of the country for opposition law makers to reach a consensus and endorse him as presidential candidate.

Mr Hichilema pledged to develop the country by ensuring that resources are equitably distributed and providing an enabling and conducive business environment.

He said his administration will invest heavily in education to develop the required skills necessary to develop the country.

Mr Hichilema said once elected he will immediately ensure that Zambia’s growing international debt accrued by the PF administration to finance infrastructural developments is halted.

He charged that the PF is a violent party and Zambia needs a peaceful leader like him to unite and protect the country from machete-wielding culture of the ruling party.

Mr Hichilema cautioned Zambians against engaging in violence during and after the elections but instead remain peaceful.

Former First Lady, Maureen Mwanawasa, veteran politician, Vernon Mwaanga, former ministers in the Chiluba regime, Dipak Patel and Suresh Desai, and former Justice Minister in the PF government, Sebastian Zulu, were among prominent people that came to witness the opposition leader file in his nomination papers.

The Law Association of Zambia(LAZ) has said that Acting President Guy Scott cannot be removed from his Acting position by cabinet through a vote of no confidence, but rather that the removal rest with national Assembly through a two thirds majority.

In a statement released to the media today, LAZ said that cabinet can only initiate the process of removing the acting president on medical grounds by informing the Chief Justice to set up a medical board.

The statement follows the move by 14 PF cabinet Ministers who passed a vote of No confidence in the Acting President Guy Scott.

Below is the full statement

Ruff Kaida released his latest video for the song “Two wrongs “ that features Hamoba

BY KAPA187

Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) President Nevers Mumba has expelled his Party’s National Secretary Muhabi Lungu and his vice Chembe Nyangu with immediate effect.

Speaking at a media briefing this morning Dr. Mumba said he had expelled Mr. Muhabi and Mr. Nyangu for insubordination and that it would be difficult to work with them as the party reorganises itself in the run up to the 20th January elections next year.

The opposition leader said the job of the national secretary is to organise the party and that keeping the duo would not be in the best interest of the party.

He said these two were insubordinate to him and accused Muhabi of using party funds to fight him despite being the person who fund raised the money for the party.

He explained that the decision to fire the duo is not in anyway a way of revenge against them but to ensure that party reorganises it self to ensure that it bounces back to power and that it would be difficult for the two work with others.

Mwansa Mbulakulima has since been appointed to act as National Secretary with Winnie Zalomous as his vice.

The opposition leader has also revoked ten Presidential Nominations but that the party’s National Executive Committee will have to ratify all these decision.

He also said the party will carry out an audit the books of the party to determine what has been happening in the last thirty days.

And Dr. Mumba says he is open to the idea of working with the former President during the campaigns but that the decision should came from the former Head of State.

He said Mr. Banda’s input would be welcome and that he is ready to work with him.

The MMD leader has also indicated that he will this afternoon be meeting members of parliament.

MMD President Dr Nevers Mumba says he will not persecute people that suspended him from the party following yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling that reinstated him.

Dr Mumba told Journalists that he will carry out his work as MMD President in line with the constitutional provisions.

He said he still considers people that suspended him as part of the MMD family.

The MMD leader said he will not go after those that sidelined him in preference for Rupiah Banda as the official presidential candidate for the MMD in the January 20 election.

Dr Mumba said, “My initial comment is that I made a declaration at the beginning of this case that whatever happens, I am going to stay within the provisions of our constitution and this would be advice to everybody. If we cannot respect our party constitutions, we will not be able to respect the Republican constitution when the Zambian people give us an opportunity to govern,” Dr Mumba said.

He continued, “As a result of this ruling, my call to all our members across the country is to remain united. There will be no vindictiveness, no revenge, we are one family. We had a dispute and we brought it to the right forum and the right forum judged rightly be making sure that they bring back stability in our party.”

Dr Mumba said the way forward is for all of MMD members to hold together.

“We are going to nomination on Saturday and we are ready to mount a campaign. The ruling is clear as what needs to happen from this point. The only thing am calling for is that there is no more I am for Mumba, I am for Rupiah Banda, we are all for the political party, MMD and the court has reminded us. I have won the court case base on the constitution provision and am very humbled at the decision of the court.”

And MMD National Secretary Muhabi Lungu said he will consult his lawyers on the next course of action.

Asked whether he will support Dr Mumba’s candidature, Mr Lungu said it is too early to tell.

UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema has refuted allegation linking him to Freemasonry as malicious.

Speaking on Wednesday night on Muvi Television during a programme dubbed Zambia Decides, Mr Hichilema said it was malicious individuals who are scared of his popularity that are labelling him as belonging to a cult.

“I am an Adventist. I am a Christian and everyone knows that. I don’t know what masonry is. The people accusing me of being a mason are just malicious,” he said.

Mr Hichilema said others are also accusing him of planning to mortgage the country in exchange for campaign support.

“Flying in a plane is not a new thing to me. I flew around the country in 2011 and 2008. UPND is offering direction and as a result, people are sponsoring it,” he said.

Mr Hichilema said the UPND has a heart for Zambians and so will make their livelihoods better.

On the program, MrHichilema promised to build up on the good which successive governments left if elected as the country’s president next year.

Mr Hichilema said taking over a new government involves a build-over approach.

“We will keep the good things which the former presidents did. We will only do away with the negative ones,” he said.

He said the development that the country has seen in the past years was through taxpayers’ money, hence the need to continue.