25/08/14
The National Secretary
Movement for Multi-Party Democracy
Lusaka

RE: OUR EXISTENCE IN THE MMD

As the MMD Die Hard Youth Wing, we wish to welcome the clarification you have provided on the fact that we do not speak on behalf of Our President Dr Nevers Mumba nor are we indeed the official spokespeople of the Party.

We however wish to have it placed on record that we have never purported to speak on the behalf of the party President. It is a fact that the President’s Office dating back to the days when we were in Government always had a Press aide and now referred to as Communication Director.

We wish to remind you that this is role that your office played effectively before you were voted in as our Nation Secretary.

Therefore, these facts are indisputable, we just want to further remind you Sir that as the National Secretary, we are a huge constituency of youths who are radically committed to our party MMD across the country and have been in existence since 2004 under president Levy Mwanawasa. We called ourselves Die Hard For Levy Chibumba as he was fondly called in our party then.

Later we spiritedly campaigned for President Rupiah Banda Die Hards for the RB and the same has continued under President Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba.
As soldiers of our party we have always being fighting for the preservation of the MMD and the democracy that the MMD fought hard to reintroduce in our beautiful nation Zambia.

It should be stated that whenever we speak, we do it without fear or favor but on principle, we speak our minds on issues that we believe are a danger or retrogressive to our party and our nation.

We are aware that in undertaking our noble duty we may injure some people with selfish and narrow interests both within our party, our fellow opposition parties and more especially the party in power PF.

We however refuse to be intimidated or compromised, our voice will sound in the valleys and mountain tops on behalf of our youths in Zambia on matters that affect them.
The assurance we give you Sir is that we exist to protect the party, its constitution and the presidency at all costs regardless of who is President at a given time. We also pledge to cooperate with your office and receive guidance from time to time.

In the name of building democracy.

Yours in the interest of the MMD

Bowman Lusambo
MMD Die Hard National Youth Coordinator

Opening of Parliament Requires a Legitimate President – CDDR

The Coalition for the Defence of Democratic Rights (CDDR) expresses its concern regarding the the upcoming parley for opening of parliament, which must be executed according to protocol by the duly elected Republican President of Zambia.

Although Vice President Guy Scott has said that President Michael Sata is “fit” and prepared to open parliament himself, recent media reports indicate that President Sata may instead be planning to temporarily appoint an Acting President to perform the parley and resume the presidency afterwards – representing a violation of the law.

“While we emphasise our sincere goodwill and sympathy for the full recovery of His Excellency President Michael Sata, the people of Zambia are entitled to a president that is capable of fulfilling the duties of office according to law, and a failure to perform the parley will signify the end of the Sata presidency,” said Robert Amsterdam, who serves as international counsel to the CDDR.

It is the position of the CDDR that in the event that President Sata is unable to perform the parley and appoints an Acting President other than the Vice President, the government will be obliged by law to call a presidential by-election within 90 days.

Under Article 38 of the Zambian Constitution concerning “Vacancy in the Office of President,” it is clearly stated that “If the office of the President becomes vacant by reason of his death or resignation or by reason of his ceasing to hold office by virtue of Article 36, 37 or 88, an election to the office of the President shall be held in accordance with Article 34 within ninety days from the date of the office becoming vacant.”

Article 38(2) continues: “Whenever the office of the President becomes vacant, the Vice-President or, in the absence of the Vice-President or if the Vice President is unable, by reason of physical or mental infirmity, to discharge the functions of his office, a member of the Cabinet elected by the Cabinet shall perform the functions of the office of the President until a person elected as President in accordance with Article 34 assumes office.”

Given that Vice President Guy Scott has already invalidated himself under the foreign parentage clause, the Constitution is clear that an Acting President shall be appointing and the countdown to a presidential by-election would begin in the event that President Sata is unable to perform the parley.

“The people of Zambia have suffered for a long time under an incapacitated president, which has led to abuses and attempted unlawful seizures of power by special interest groups, such as the group led by the Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba,” Amsterdam said. “Now the requirements of the opening of parliament demand that His Excellency perform these duties of office or stand down. Even the possibility that the government was considering a loophole to open parliament without the president appearing or stepping down represents a gross injustice.”

For the stability and the unity of the country, the CDDR implores the PF government to uphold the law and resist the temptation to rule through a proxy beyond the reach of democratic accountability.

The Coalition for the Defence of Democratic Rights represents a diverse group of citizens and civil society in Zambia. More information about the CDDR, including the full report to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, can be read on http://cddr-zambia.org.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has officially dispatched ballot papers to all the five constituencies ahead of the September 11 parliamentary by-elections.

ZANIS reports that ECZ public relations manager Chris Akufuna has confirmed the development in a telephone interview in Lusaka last evening.

Mr. Akufuna named the five constituencies where ballot papers have been dispatched as Vubwi, Kasenengwa, Solwezi Central, Mkushi South and Zambezi West.

The Electoral Commission has set 11th September 2014 as the date for the parliamentary by-elections in the named five constituencies.

The five constituencies fail vacant after the Supreme Court nullified the elections of the area Members of Parliament due to alleged electoral malpractice.

The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has doubted the assurance by Vice President Guy Scott that President Michael Sata will be able to open the next sitting of the National Assembly.

UPND Deputy Spokesperson Edwin Lifwekelo wonders why people should believe the Vice President when the President has not been able to grace important functions recently.

Mr. Lifwekelo says this is the basis for his party’s doubts the President will be able to grace the ceremonial opening of Parliament.

But Vice President Guy Scott has made an assurance that the Head of State will grace the opening of Parliament dismissing assertions that the President might not make it for the opening of Parliament.

Paramount Chief Kalonga Gawa Undi’s Induna Joseph Chikuta has warned that no politics will be allowed during this year’s Kulamba tradition ceremony.

And Katete District Commissioner Colonel Peter Kunda Kaisa says government has put up a 60,000 litre borehole at Mkaika to boost water supply.
Induna Chikuta says the Kulamba tradition ceremony is meant to enhance and consolidate the traditional values of the Chewa people of Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, respectively.

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He revealed that preparations are going on and that people should expect a more funny packed ceremony this year.

ZANIS reports that the Induna said this in an interview at Mkaika Headquarters in Katete District, today.

He however emphasized that those wishing to come in political party attire will not be allowed to be within the perimeters of four kilometres to the main arena.

He explained that the Chewa people are a group of people who have a variety of political affiliations which should not tore them apart.

Induna Chikuta has also called upon companies supplying and selling beer during the traditional ceremony not to supply huge quantities to avoid the abuse of alcohol by some people attending the ceremony.

He has however stressed that people should not use the tradition ceremony as a way of abusing drugs and alcohol but take it as a serious and good opportunity to learn about the history of the Chewa people and Zambia as a country.

He observed that such illicit activities have the potential to destroy the essence of the tradition ceremony itself.

Induna Chikuta said through the seven Kulamba tradition ceremony working committees stringent security measures have been put in place to ensure that security is guaranteed to everyone attending the ceremony.

He has however called on the Zambia police to offer more security during the ceremony so that law and order can be observed.

He added that people coming for the traditional ceremony this year should expect a more fun as the ceremony will be graced with spectacular dances from the Lomwe people of Malawi, a variety of Gule Wa mkulu from Mozambique among other dances.

Induna Chikuta has also expressed concern at the rate at which the country is losing its culture and tradition practices.

He noted that it is during forums like traditional ceremonies where enhancing and consolidation of the culture and traditional practices should be emphasized as the gist of the ceremony.

Meanwhile Katete District Commissioner Colonel Peter Kunda Kaisa says government has put up a 60,000 borehole at Mkaika to boost water supply.

The district Commissioner explained that the borehole has been sunk by the department of infrastructure under the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.

He said in order to easy the movement of people during the Kulamba traditional ceremony government had this year gravelled the road leading to the Mkaika main arena.

Colonel Kaisa noted that government regards the traditional ceremony as one with social and economic benefits.

He explained that during this week leading to the main day of the ceremony on Saturday the district records good business returns.

He cited the hospitality industry among others as one that records high profits.
The Kulamba tradition ceremony will be held on 30th August this year, at Mkaika in Katete district.

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson, Justice Irene Mambilima, says the need to adjust electoral boundaries is a priority to ensure that all districts have at least one constituency.

Justice Mambilima says this is done in order to realign the boundaries of wards and constituencies that have been affected by the creation of the new districts.

She says it was for this reason that government, through the Electoral Commission of Zambia is embarking on delimitation of polling districts and wards countrywide.

In a speech read for her by Lukulu Council Secretary, Alfred Mungalu, during a two-day delimitation workshop for councillors and stakeholders in Lukulu district over the weekend, ECZ Justice Mambilima said once done, electorates will be covering short distances to cast their ballots.

Justice Mambilima said it is the commission’s hope that the delimitation of polling districts will result in the delivery of more efficient electoral services.

She said in its quest to efficiently deliver services to the citizens, government has embarked on decentralization of the country’s governance system.

She said the creation of new districts has resulted in the revision of some of the district boundaries and some constituency boundaries which have been affected, adding that that is why the Ministry of Local Government and Housing directed the ECZ to create polling stations and wards.

Eleven polling stations have been created bringing the total number to 64 from 53 while two wards, namely Chitete and Ngimbu, were created, bringing the total number to 15 from 13 wards in the district.

Lukulu district is one of the districts to have adjustments as Mitete district formally Lukulu West Constituency was created from Lukulu district.

The Republican President, Michael Sata, has established and created 29 new districts across the country, thereby increasing the nation total of districts from 74 to 103.

Patriotic Front member, Bonny Tembo, says the PF’s victory in the Mangango parliamentary by-election is a wake-up call for the UPND leadership who had a feeling that they would form government in 2016.

Mr Tembo was speaking in an apparent reference to UPND president HakaindeHichilema who in June this year said that theMangango parliamentary by-electionwill not just be about electing a member of the legislature, but a litmus test for himself and President Michael Sata.

Mr Tembo, who was part of the Obvious Mwaliteta-led campaign team in Mangango, said the triumph was a demonstration that the people of Western Province had accepted the PF which will go a long way in strengthening ruling party.

He said the people of Western Province go for real issues and the resounding electoral result in Mangango demonstrates that the PF policies and development agenda is making an positive impact.

Mr Tembo, who commended UNIP for putting up a spirited fight in last week’s by-election, said the MMD has been swallowed by the UPND and they should not talk about Kaoma as it is now a closed chapter.

He said voter apathy that characterised the by-election was a result of the violence prior to the voting day, loss of voting documents as well as the mediocre calibre of some candidates.

Mr Tembo urged political parties to adopt candidates of high standard as the electorate may decide to abstain from voting because of the incompetence of the contestants.
And Mr Tembo described the working conditions under which the police and the local journalists in Kaoma are operating in as challenging and distressing.

He said the police in Kaoma only have one vehicle which constantly breaks down while the ZANIS office, which he visited, has no running vehicle, internet facilities, cameras or working telephone line.

Mr Tembo urged the relevant government ministries to equip the two institutions in the district as they are struggling to execute their duties and may be compromised if they start to seek help from elsewhere.

Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) president Nevers Mumba says haters will not be allowed to destroy the party’s future prospects.

Dr.Mumba has told Qfm News in an interview that it is unfortunate that some people are having difficulties moving on and want to use double standards to be recognized.

Dr. Mumba says it is important for any former or current member of the MMD to be disciplined and preach peace and reconciliation for the benefit of the party.

He states that the party is still strong on the ground and that all committed members are working hard to ensure the party remains strong.

Dr. Mumba says former ruling party will continue to mobilize in readiness for the forthcoming by-elections slated for next month.

Farmers in Mbala district have complained of bad sanitary conditions at the main Food Reserve Agency (FRA) depot.

A group of farmers led by Wenick Sichinga stormed ZANIS offices today to complain over the unhygienic conditions at the FRA depot.

The farmers said there are no toilets at the depot and hence they are forced to answer the call of nature in the nearby bush.

Mr Sichinga said the delay by FRA to buy their crop has caused a lot of suffering on farmers.

And a survey by ZANIS found that farmers are spending their nights in the cold waiting to sell their maize to FRA.

Efforts to get a comment from the District Commissioner proved futile as he was not in his office during press time.

The farmers have since appealed to the government to intervene in the matter and ensure that the FRA speeds up the purchasing of maize and improve sanitary conditions at the depot.