Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) Executive Director Pukuta Mwanza has warned that tribal talk is recipe for anarchy, lawlessness and civil wars and should be discouraged.

Reverend Mwanza says it is for this reason that talk of tribalism surrounding the ruling Patriotic Front should be discouraged.

Rev Mwanza has told Qfm News in interview that anything that has to do with tribal talk should be handled cautiously because of its devastating consequences.

He says those peddling tribal talk should be very careful or risk plunging the country into very serious problems.

Reverend Mwanza says those aggrieved over perceived tribalism should seek better avenues of having their grievances sorted out.

He states that Zambia has been a united country across tribes under the One Zambia One Nation motto coined by the country’s first republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda.

Reverend Mwanza says it is important that the unity that has been there since independence is upheld.

Rev. Mwanza further states that Zambians should always strive to unite and work in love and harmony regardless of one’s tribe or political affiliation.

MMD President Dr Nevers Mumba says former PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba should take the blame for the costly and unprecedented by election the country is undertaking.

Dr Mumba accused Mr Kabimba of scheming to deplete the opposition seats in Parliament.

He said he was happy that Mr Kabimba had been dismissed saying this has put a stop to his ill intentions.

He was speaking in Mkushi South constituency where he addressed a meeting to drum up support for MMD candidate Sydney Chisanga in Thursday’s by election.

“Mr Kabimba wanted to kill the opposition in Parliament, I am grateful that his ill intentions have been killed since he was sacked by President Sata,” Dr Mumba said.

Dr Mumba said the MMD has fought hard to preserve the country’s democracy which he said was under threat with Mr Kabimba at the helm of the PF.

Zambia has held over 20 by elections since 2011, majority of them occasioned by court nullifications of election results.

POLICE in Kabwe have arrested a blind couple for allegedly stealing K15,000 meant for the Blind Skills Farmers’ Club in Serenje.

The police identified the couple as Isaiah Mushota, aged 56, and his wife Doreen Mando, 44, both of Katondo Township in Kabwe.

Central Province Commissioner of Police Standwell Lungu said that the Blind Skills Farmers’ Club was run by the visually impaired and supported by the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare.

The two were leaders in the farmers’ club at the time they allegedly stole the money before fleeing from Serenje.

Mr Lungu said police investigations revealed that the money (K15,000) was deposited in June this year through Finance Bank in Serenje into the club’s account but it was later withdrawn by Mushota from Lusaka.

The couple is suspected to have taken advantage of their positions in the club, where Mushota was chairperson and his wife treasurer, to access the funds illegally.

Mr Lungu said the couple had been on the run for a while but was finally apprehend yesterday in Katondo area and would be charged with theft.

In another incident, police are investigating a case in which a 22-year-old Kasama-based MTN agent was attacked by three men and a woman armed with knives, who got away with an undisclosed amount of money and K14,000 worth of scratch cards in Kabwe.

The incident happened at Mukobeko Market after the victim, identified as Friday Mulenga, was forced into an unregistered Toyota Camry while standing by the road side.

The vehicle drove off along Mukobeko and Mpunde roads, as his attackers searched and later dumped him after relieving him of money and talk time.

Fifteen people in Luanshya have been struck by lightening following unexpected heavy rains that have also left a trail of destruction.

ZANIS reports that the 15 include 12 pupils and three teachers at the school who have sustained injuries.

One of the injured, Evans Siakwale a science teacher at the school explained that the pupils sustained minor burns, cuts from the shattering window panes and skin irritations and were hospitalised at Roan Antelope General hospital and have since been discharged.

Mr Siakwale told a ZANIS reporter who visited the school that the incident happened around 13:00 hours today when lightening struck the security lighting tower passing through the buried electricity cables, blowing off circuit breakers in the classroom and the home economics department.

He narrated that the lightening also blew off part of the class wall and roof which descended on him, filling the class with dust and smoke emanating from the burning cables and sockets in the classroom.

The teacher explained that panic gripped the class but that he was able to calm the pupils as he opened the door and asked them to walk out calmly.

He also said the home economics department caught fire which was quenched using extinguishers adding that two classrooms have had their windows shattered, electricity wiring burnt down and the borehole has also been affected.

Mr Siakwale feared that the affected water supply posed a challenge on the school’s adequate preparation for the end of year examinations for grades twelve and nine.

And Luashya district Commissioner Harold Mbaulu described the incident as unfortunate.

Luanshya yestrday experienced unexpected heavy rains which caught a lot of people unawares.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9th September 2014

Fellow Zambians, on the 11th September 2014, we are going for another round of bye elections. This time we are going into Vubwi, Mkushi South, Kasenengwa, Zambezi West and Solwezi Central. As I write this, I have just left Zambezi west bank and I should say that I am happy with the preparations for the elections in all the five constituencies.

Let me first thank the people in these constituencies. Firstly for receiving UPND with open hands and lending us their ears to give them our message. Secondly for looking after the campaign teams in their localities. Thirdly for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner. Zambians are peace loving and this set of by-elections has shown that Zambians can rise above pettiness and discuss issues that affect them. I say thank you people of Zambezi, Solwezi, Vubwi, Mkushi and Kasenengwa.

Let me also commend the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), who while working under difficult conditions has conducted, possibly the highest number of by-elections from the time they were created. ECZ does not have the adequate legal cover but they are trying their best. ECZ is working with political parties that are abrogating the code of conduct with impunity because they are in a privileged position, but the ECZ have tried their best to manage these malpractices.

Let me also thank the Zambia Police for maintaining peace and order from the day the campaigns started. Police have received nothing but condemnation but they have not lost sight of their mandate, that of maintaining peace and order.

Let me take this opportunity to also thank the campaign teams in the five constituencies who had to endure grueling conditions just to ensure that the UPND message reached far and wide. I am greatly indebted to you all no matter the result. I know that you have done your best to ensure that we are victorious.

Lastly I appeal to the people of Kasenengwa, Vubwi, Mkushi South, Solwezi Central and Zambezi West to turn out in numbers, on Thursday 11th September and exercise their right to vote. I urge you, wonderful people of these constituencies, to vote wisely. Vote in a manner that we will put our country on a steady path to restoration and repair.

I thank you.

Hakainde Hichilema
UPND President

Council of Churches in Zambia General Secretary Rev Susan Matala has called on women across the country to aspire for more decision making position and fully participate in the nation’s developmental agenda.

Rev Matala said there is need for women in the country to stop feeling inferior to men because men and women are equal and can do anything that men are able to do hence the need for women to take part in the developmental agenda of the country as leaders and not just bystanders.

She noted that there has been perceived notions that men are superior to women which has been driving the agenda world over hence the need to change the mind set of not only women but men as well because they are perpetrators of the prejudices that women inferior to men.

She urged women to raise up and challenge men for leadership positions in all spheres of life as there are in a better position to make informed decisions as there are the people who mostly understand the cost of bad decisions.

And Rev Matala has observed that it is possible to have a woman president in the country.

She said there is no reason why the country can not have a woman president when other countries such as the neighbouring Malawi have had women presidents.

Rev Matala further observed the need to break down the barriers limiting women’s participation in national agendas so as to make them feel confident as full human beings to do what ever a man can do.

“The only reason why we have not had a woman president up to now are the prejudices of how we have perceived the position of women in society; so this self preservation and perpetuation of women being inferior to men is what drives the agenda.

“The barrier that makes women feel inferior to men can be broken we just need to think through how these barriers can be broken so that we as women can feel confident as full human beings and not half so that we can do whatever men can do.” Rev Matala.

She added: ” we have seen many women become presidents of their nations now the number is increasing and I don’t see why Zambia should not have one.”