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The Legal and Justice Sector Reforms Commission yesterday faced a tough task of guiding residents of Garden Compound in Lusaka who wanted the commission to review their individual cases that have either been disposed of by the courts or were still dragging in the courts of law.
Instead of making recommendations to the commission on how to transform the country’s legal and justice sector, residents of Garden compound, most of who were seemingly angry, brought up cases in which they were alleging that they had been mistreated either by law enforcement agencies or by the courts of law.
In separate misplaced submissions to the commission, the residents complained of many issues ranging from landlords evictions, Zesco power load shedding, magistrate and local courts justice corruptions to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) not taking their complaints seriously.
Commission Chairperson, Frederick Chomba, repeatedly reminded the residents that the commission was not set up to conduct trials on individual cases but to undertake a comprehensive public inquiry into the state of the legal and justice sector in Zambia and to recommend appropriate reforms that will ensure a more efficient, affordable, accessible accountable and responsive legal and justice sector.
Justice Chomba stated that the commission is expecting the public to submit their views in line with the terms of reference given to the commission.
The chairperson referred some of the complainants who presented their cases back to the courts to appeal while those that claimed to lack legal representation were referred to the Legal Aid Board for
assistance.
Among the petitioners who appeared before the commission were Ernest Kamanga who asked the commission to take up the case because it had taken too long in courts and Rastod Tembo who asked the commission to resolve the land disputed with his neighbour, a case he said the local court justices made him lose because he refused to bribe them and instead reported to the ACC who refused to attend to him.
Emson Mwale also complained of continued load shedding by Zesco in Garden Compound compared to other townships enjoyed power throughout the day and night without interruption.
Meanwhile a volunteer Paralegal Officer working the Zambia Civic Education Association has submitted that government should take up the role of providing shelter for children whose parents have been displaced or evicted by the landlords or land owners.
Ketu Imakando, a resident of Kabwata Township, told the commission that children’s rights in the compounds she operates from are violated everyday due to evictions that leave children in the cold while others are denied their rights to education.
Ms Imakando explained that children of squatters who are displace or children from families that have been evicted by their landlords for failure to settle rentals should be given shelter by government.
She suggested that landlords should also be stopped by government to evict defaulting tenants who have small children to avoid violating children’s rights.
But Director of Public Prosecutions, Mutembo Nchito, observed that such action would encourage tenants from paying rentals and in the process disadvantage landlords who have their rights to their property.
Mr Nchito noted that people should not claim their rights at the expense of other people’s rights hence the need to encourage tenants to avoid defaulting in payments of rentals.
Let me salute Field Ruwe for his insightful writings. Partly my contributions have been inspired by his expressed thoughts on several matters. Last week I discussed why Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba cannot be a good President for Zambia. My next epistle will analyse a thIrd contender within the rank and file of PF.
Back to my discussion today…
What is a Political Dynasty?
A “Dynasty” is defined as a succession of rulers from the same family or line; or a family or group that maintains power for several generations. A Political Dynasty entails the “concentration, consolidation, or perpetuation of public office and political power by persons related to one another” i.e. a political dynasty controlling the state, rather than the other way round. In truth, “Political Dynasties” is a term that is as old as politics itself. For the ancient civilizations their rulers were concerned with maintaining their legacy, the crown would be passed from parent to child to ensure the family name continues on down the ages. When the Western world talks about “Political Dynasties” they refer to them as “misappropriation of power” by family. In American politics, “dynasty” is a dirty word. The Founding Fathers, after all, went on record as wholeheartedly objecting to power flowing through blood rather than ballot, declaring in the U.S. Constitution that “no title of nobility shall be granted by the United States.” The narrative of one of the country’s most prominent political families, the Kennedys, even avoids the dreaded d-word. Rather than referring to the New England clan as a dynasty, it’s romantically painted as Camelot.
Mulenga Sata as new PF presidential candidate?
With increased speculation about the health and fitness of President Sata, the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) has been gripped with rumours of succession battles on potential leaders to succeed president Sata. While PF SG Wynter Kabimba has outpaced himself and monopolized so much political power and trying to get rid of potential rivals for power like former defence minister Geoffrey Mwamba Bwalya (GBM) and former foreign affairs minister Given Lubinda, PF insiders are talking about a surprise “political dynasty” in the making – the possibility of President Sata’s son Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata succeeding his father. Suspicions about a Mulenga Sata presidential candidacy have been heightened by his recent “meteoric” rise in power. After the 2011 elections he was an elected PF ward councilor and had earned his living through selling dogs. In the early days of PF in power, he was initially elected as Deputy Mayor of Lusaka, and following the anti Wynter Kabimba demonstrations and dethroning of Lusaka district chairman Godwin Banda he went through unopposed as Lusaka PF District Chairman. Again the President’s son was elected new Lusaka Mayor after going through unopposed. A few months ago Mulenga Sata was elected national president of the Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) after all PF challengers withdrew at the last minute and he then beat his rival, former Livingstone mayor Aggrey Njekwa from United Party for National Development (UPND) by 11 votes.
It is noteworthy that within PF, Mulenga Sata’s opponents for all elected positions have had to mysteriously withdraw from challenging him, a fact that shows the Sata Dynasty as the “owners” of PF. Hence, everyone has no choice but to make way for the King Cobra’s son, “Prince Cobra.” It can be speculated that during the UNIP One Party Dictatorship former President Kaunda also embarked on a futile mission to groom one of his sons as “heir to the throne” when he put all his sons in politics– Panji, Waza, Kaweche and late Wezi – who were either district governors, MPs or senior UNIP leaders. But this “family scheme” could not see the light of day as it was prematurely aborted when KK and UNIP were kicked out of power by MMD in the 1991 multi-party elections. In fact one of KK’s sons Tilyenji is still UNIP president today and the party is dead. One just hopes president Sata is not following KK’s slippery slop.
Vice President Guy Scott, who is in Wynter Kabimba’ s camp, seemed to sense this “family dynasty” and let the cat loose out of the bag when he recently declared that Mulenga Sata was not eligible to stand as president of Zambia because one of his parents was a foreigner. The reaction from Mulenga was sharp and swift, castigating Guy Scott’s divisive leadership and vehemently declaring that both his parents were Zambian, hence he was eligible to stand as president. If indeed this card is in play and Prince Cobra is groomed to take over the family business from King Cobra, then Wynter Kabimba’s political fate is sealed and he may find himself dribbled politically, just likely Sata himself was dribbled by the political engineer late President Chiluba after using Sata to get rid of all potential rivals for power in MMD like Gen Miyanda, late Gen Christon Tembo, Edith Nawakwi, late BY Mwila and others. If president Sata so decides then Wynter Kabimba’s political fate may be sealed and he may be forced to break away from PF to form his reported “4th Republic Party” while Mulenga Sata may take over the reins of power in PF backed by his father and senior PF officials loyal to President Sata.
Political Dynasties in a Democracy
Examples of political dynasties abound, but in democracies, unlike dictatorships, the children of former leaders are “self-made” men and women, rather than merely groomed and imposed. They are often elected to power many years after their parents’ rule since they work their way up the political ladder with a lot of ups and downs, thus becoming self-made and earning the right to leadership in the eyes of the people rather than just inheriting power through bloodlines like in a monarchy or dictatorship. For example, current Botswana president Gen Ian Khama, son of founding president Sir Seretse Khama, only became president some 28 years after his father’s death after a very successful career as traditional leader, army commander and politician. The same is true of Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta, son of first president Jomo Kenyatta, who only became president in 2013, some 34 years since his father died. In meantime, he had undergone his own transformation as a successful businessman and launched a political career in which he lost elections numerous times. In the USA, two sons of former presidents later went on to be elected presidents themselves – after being self-made and with years apart from their father’s tenures e.g. the Adams and the Bushes. In the 2016 presidential election, a second Clinton and third Bush potentials is in the offing if George’s Bush’s brother Jeb challenges Hilary Clinton. Hilary and Jeb are self-made politicians, with Hilary transforming herself from First Lady to New York Senator, runner up to Obama in the Democratic presidential nomination, and Secretary of State. If she is elected president she will be the most experienced president in US history. Jeb has been a very successful two-term Governor of Florida, like his brother George who was Governor of Texas.
Other famous political dynasties in democratic settings are more common in Asia. In Sri Lanka if you belong to the Wijewardena or the Bandaranaike family you are immediately accepted into the inner politics of the country. In Pakistan, the Bhutto’s in Pakistan have played prominent roles in shaping their political culture. In India, the Nehru-Gandhi family name continues to rule the country, with a few interludes like this year’s election f an opposition prime minister. Mulenga Sata, as a citizen if he is eligible to stand for President, is free to do so democratically and win the trust and confidence of Zambians, rather than merely being imposed on the nation by virtual of sharing bloodlines with his father current president Michael Sata.
Political Dynasties in Dictatorships
By contrast, dictatorships and monarchies are characterized by hereditary family dynasties were children are groomed and merely made to succeed their father leaders immediately upon their demise without working their way and earning the right to national leadership in the eyes of the people. In North Korea, the succession of power from found leader Kim IL-Sung to his son Kim Jong-Il and now to the grandson Kim Jong-Un is a classic example. Other countries ruled by political dynasties have included the Philippines (the Marcos’s and Aquino’s), the al-Assad family in Syria where dictator Hafez al-Assad was succeeded by his son Bashar al-Assad, and in Haiti where former dictator François Duvalier (“Papa Doc’’) was succeeded by his son, Jean-Claude (“Baby Doc”). Usually such societies rot from within and become conflict or war ridden and unstable. Examples of other “anointed sons” who never succeeded their fathers in dictatorships include Saif Gaddafi in Libya who was groomed by his father Muammar Gaddafi as heir apparent. Gadaffi is dead while the son is in prison. In Egypt, Hosni Mubarak had groomed his son Gamal Mubarak as his heir. He was removed from power and both are in prison. In Iraq, Saddam Hussein had groomed his sons Qusay and Uday to take over from him. He was deposed by the US, Saddam was hanged and his sons were killed by US troops.
Why Mulenga Sata immediately Succeeding His father would be a big Mistake
1. Political dynasty is not inherently a good thing as it is often accompanied by picturesque formalities and steeped in custom and tradition. The root of it is the inherited power which the recipients may or may not be able to use responsibly. Mulenga Sata is likely to continue with all the traits and customs of his father’s governance style which may not suit the direction Zambia needs to go. The country would be frozen in time. Research in political economy emphasizes the tendency of elites to persist and reproduce their power over time, potentially undermining the effectiveness of institutional reforms.
2. Political dynasties aren’t necessarily good things as policies can get old and stale rather than having them change with the times. Mulenga Sata is likely to see himself as merely sustaining the status quo of his father’s policies, good or bad, since he will need to cover the “tracks” of the old man by any means necessary. Political dynasty is not good because it is very likely to form a dictatorship since it is already decided the member or the son of the person ruling will be the next head of government. Mulenga Sata would owe more allegiance to his hereditary roots than to the people in PF or Zambia, the very roots of dictatorship. The “My Party” syndrome is what rules all dictatorships and shadowy structures like the Mob / Mafia.
3. Reduced Meritocracy and increased Mediocrity: A political dynasty like any other corporation has a boss and relatives of the boss, the line of thought is pretty much the same, if an individual in a particular party has conflicting views he should go and make his own political party. In a political dynasty the only flaw is that there is little meritocracy. This type of dynastic government will be nudge in increasing corruption since the son will have to prioritize” covering dad’s tracks.
” Political Dynasty + Business Dynasty + Corruption = Poverty
Conclusion
Imposing Mulenga Sata as a PF or republican president is likely to cause a lot of opposition and rebellion within PF and the country since Zambians are not “dynastic” by nature. But if Mulenga Sata truly wins the hearts and minds of Zambians through his exemplary performance as Lusaka Mayor or MP for example, then he will have earned the right to be elected president in the eyes of the majority of Zambians. Otherwise his imposition may mark the beginning of the end of the PF and the risk of losing power to the opposition is very high if there is a rebellion within the party. It is also very doubtful whether Mulenga Sata’s candidature for presidency would appeal to majority of Zambians. I’d urge President Sata to resist the temptation of “imposing” his son as PF leader “succeeding” him directly.
Zambians may not take kindly to any overt transfer of power “within the family.”
VISITING International Telecommunications Union (ITU) deputy secretary-general Houlin Zhao has launched the first-ever cyber security laboratory in Zambia, which will enable law-enforcement agencies to combat Information Communication Technology (ICT)-related crimes.
The laboratory is based at the Zambia Police Service headquarters in Lusaka, whose refurbishment and procurement of equipment was done by the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) at a cost of K700,000.
Mr Zhao said that cyber crime was a fast-growing phenomenon as more and more criminals were exploiting connectivity, convenience and anonymity of the Internet to commit various crimes that had no borders.
“Due to the increased expertise and number of attackers, this laboratory will surely have a key role to play in supporting the Government in addressing cyber security-related issues at the national and regional levels as well as the global level,” he said.
Mr Zhao was confident that the laboratory, coupled with the ongoing good international coordination and collaboration, would help build confidence among security wings in the use of ICTs for all.
He said Zambia was a very active ITU member and the launch of the Laboratory was a continuation of the partnership and that the ITU-IMPACT in partnership with ZICTA was organising the first Cyber Drill in Africa.
The Cyber Drill to be held in Lusaka from September 29 to October 1, 2014 is a high-level training workshop on computer incidents handling for African Computer Incidence Response Teams (CIRTs) professionals.
He also paid tribute to First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba whom he said was a valuable ITU e-Health Ambassador.
Transport, Communications, Works and Supply Deputy Minister Mwimba Malama said the Government intended to replicate the laboratory initiative to other parts of the country to operate as regional laboratories within the Zambia Police.
Mr Malama said the Government was happy at the collaboration between ZICTA and the Zambia Police and that Zambia was among the first African countries to set up a CIRT, whose role was to manage cyber security incidents and raise awareness about potential incidents.
Inspector General Police Stella Libongani said the laboratory was the US’s brainchild in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, which was created to lead national efforts to investigate high-tech crimes, acts bordering on terrorism, espionage, computer intrusion and cyber fraud.
ZICTA Board chairperson Emmanuel Musonda said the Laboratory was a demonstration of the Authority’s commitment to meeting its regulatory obligation and thanked the Zambia Police for supporting ZICTA in enhancing cyber security in the country.
The Lusaka Fast Track court on Traffic offences has convicted 44 motorists for various traffic offences in one court session.
The court has convicted 11 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol and 14 for dangerous driving contrary to the laws of Zambia.
The other convictions are that of careless driving, driving unregistered motor vehicle and obstruction of roadway.
Among those convicted is Mr Ernest Jere, a Public Service Vehicle driver of Lusaka.
Magistrate Fydes Hamaundu has sentenced Mr Ernest Jere to 7 months simple imprisonment for Driving under the influence of alcohol contrary to the laws of Zambia.
The court also convicted and fined Mrs Debby Lungu 45, of Lusaka for Driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol contrary to section 157 (1) of the road traffic act No. 11 of 2002 of the laws of Zambia.
Mrs. Lungu has become the second female motorists to be convicted for Driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol beyond the permissible limit of 0.38mg Breath Count.
Las week the Road Transport and Safety Agency and the Judiciary signed a Memorandum of Understanding to roll out the Fast Track Courts on Traffic Offences.
The signing of this MoU is aimed at reducing road carnage through the prosecution of road traffic offenders thereby deterring would be offenders.
The Fast Track courts have also proved to be a good vehicle to use in changing the bad driver attitude and behaviour on public roads.
The Agency is high on alert to screen all motorists and ensure that no motorist flout road traffic regulation.
We advise all motorists to adhere to road traffic regulation as those who will be found wanting will face the wrath of the law
Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mutembo Nchito says there is no law that mandates Police to arrest people found loitering at night.
Mr. Nchito says the police were overstepping their authority by arresting and charging people who move at night as there is no law in the Constitution which gives them powers to do so.
Mr Nchito who is a Commissioner on the Legal and Justice Sector Reforms Commission has noted that some people work late in the night hence the need to allow them to move freely unless they are found in a situation suggesting that they are contemplating to commit criminal activities that is when they could be arrested.
The Commission yesterday sat in Lusaka’s Garden compound to receive petitions from residents.
And Chairperson of the Legal and Justice Sector Reforms Commission Chairperson Frederick Chomba observed that much as the police could be seen as abusing their authority by arresting people for loitering at night, they protect citizens from criminals with evil intentions.
Justice Chomba noted that it was difficult to distinguish criminals from genuine people at night which he said has led to some people being arrested wrongly for loitering.
He observed that the laws against loitering existed during colonial days when citizens were required to move with passes at night which he said no longer exists in an independent Zambia.
He said the country should however not perpetuate colonial laws in an independent Zambia hence the need to allow citizens the right to freedom of movement.
The comments by Justice Chomba and Mr Nchito were prompted by a petitioner Rabson Nsoni of Garden compound who complained of continued police arrests of people found loitering at night.
Mr. Msoni claimed that police in Garden compound were using ‘’Shishita’ as a fundraising venture as they do not even issue receipts when offenders pay admission of guilt fines before being released.
He further claimed that police officers position themselves outside drinking places especially during soccer seasons to arrest people that move from bars to home after the night games or drinking.
He noted that it was unfair for the police to arrest people on the pretext of offering protection from criminals when in fact they lock up innocent people arrested for loitering together with criminals where they are ill-treated.
Garden police station was recently burnt down by angry residents after it was discovered that a boy who was arrested for loitering was found dead in the police cells.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Zambia (CDC) says Zambia will be among the first countries to achieve the target of an HIV and AIDs free generation.
Outgoing CDC country Director Lawrence Marum notes that Zambia has made tremendous progress in treating new infections and has paid particular attention to giving treatment to positive living patients.
Speaking to journalists in Lusaka today, Dr. Marum says Zambians should be proud of their leadership that has made it possible for many positive living people to adhere to treatment and get on with life.
Dr. Marum points out that government through the Ministries of Health and Community Development Mother and Child Health has shown commitment to preventing mother to child transmission of HIV to the best of its ability.
He adds that it is in this regard that Zambia will come closely to reducing the HIV infections by next year.
Dr. Marum has since appealed to government to continue investing more in the health sector as it is key to serving more lives and preventing infections.
Dr. Marum is a pediatrician and epidemiologist who joined CDC in 1997 and has served in Zambia as country director since November 2008.
Fourty-Seven year-old Bishop Dominic Nyondo who was arrested last week for allegedly sexually abusing nine young girls from his Church has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of sexual abuse in a Kitwe magistrates court.
Bishop Nyondo of Holy Fire Christian Ministry Church in Kitwe has been charged with three counts of defilement, three counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault .
This was after he allegedly sexually abused the girls aged between 14 and 20 years on the pretext that he was cleansing them of evil spirits.
Bishop Nyondo of House number 853 Ipusukilo township in Kitwe is accused of allegedly having sex with three girls below the age of sixteen between April 2010 and November 2011.
He is further accused of allegedly having sex with three women without their consent between December 2013 and June 2014 and further indecently assaulting three women during the same period.
The accused person is said to have undressed his victims while he prayed for them, ‘anointed’ them with milk and later had sex with them.
Bishop Nyondo appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Daniel Musonda where he denied all the nine charges.
Bishop Nyondo has however been granted a cash bail of K5000 with two working sureties in their own recognisance after he applied for bail.
He was arrested last week on July 21 and the matter has been adjourned to August 11, 2014 for commencement of trial.
Northern Province Permanent Secretary Hlobotha Nkunika listen to an exhibitor John Mukupa during his tour of stands at the Provincial Agriculture Investment and Tourism show held at Kasama sports stadium recently. Looking on is Kasama Major John Nkumbula and Police Commissioner Charity Katanga
Northern Province Police Commissioner Charity Katanga has expressed concern at the high number of suicide cases in the area .
Mrs Katanga has advised aggrieved people to first seek counsel before taking their won lives.
Mrs Katanga said this in the wake of three people who committed suicide in Kasama last week.
She said such evil acts could have been avoided if the aggrieved persons sought advice from elderly people in their respective communities.
The Police Commissioner however warned that it becomes a crime in an event of one failing to achieve his or her goal of committing suicide and is punishable by the courts of law.
On Monday last week, a 45 year old man of Munkonge village hanged himself after the death his mother.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday last week a student of Lukashya Trades Institute took his life by jumping off a rail bridge after his girlfriend was allegedly grabbed from him by another man and on Friday a 27 year old man hanged himself near a named church.
The introduction of feeding Programmes in Primary schools by government has improved the number of pupils attending classes in Chilubi district of the Northern province.
Chilubi district Education Standards Officer (DESO) Mulenga Sendapu disclosed this in an interview with ZANIS in the district yesterday.
Ms. Sendapu explained that since the programme was introduced in the area the levels of absenteeism among pupils have drastically reduced.
She added a monitoring exercise conducted recently revealed that in the past the levels of absenteeism among the pupils were high but that with the introduction of the feeding programme the attendance in many schools has been consistently above average.
Ms. Sendapu also explained that last month the department received another 700×50 kilogram bags of white maize and 300×50 kg bags of yellow beans under the feeding programme.
The DESO further called on the Government to continue with the initiative if high illiteracy levels were to be reduced in the country.
Meanwhile, Ms. Sendapu commended parents in the area for ensuring that their school going children attended classes.
She observed that parents in the area were playing an important role by helping the education authorities cook the food for the pupils.
The Primary school feeding programme is a government initiative supported by the United Nations under the World Food Programme (WFP) aimed at reducing illiteracy levels more especially in rural areas where poverty has become a major hindrance to the number of people accessing primary education in the country.
Miles Sampa donates his midterm gratuity, tells other MPs that politics is not money making venture
Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa has given up his K250, 000 his midterm gratuity towards helping jobless youths in his constituency.
Mr. Sampa said he will use his midterm gratuity which he is receiving from the National Assembly this September to offset a loan he obtained from Indo-Zambia bank for economic empowerment programmes for youths in Matero.
He has since created a company called Metro Cabs that will offer taxis to youths in the area who will be required to make K 600 weekly cashing to a revolving fund.
The fund will then be used to fund other developmental programmes in Matero constituency.
Mr. Sampa has since castigated MPs demanding higher pay saying politics is not a money making venture.
“To those that are in politics for money, I want to tell them that politics is not a money making venture. We go into politics to serve. They should try going into business if they want to be rich, some of us worked in banking for many years and we made our money there and we decided to enter politics to serve our people,” Mr. Sampa said.
He added, “When we were campaign in 2011 we promised jobs to young people and for the last two years we have not done much in that area. This year I was told by the Clerk at the National Assembly that they will be paying me 250,000 as part of my gratuity and I told myself, I surely do not deserve this package, so I approached Indo Zambia Bank for this loan which we will use to create jobs for our young people.”
Speaking at the same event, Indo Zambia Bank Managing Director Shankardas Gupta said commended Mr. Sampa for the initiative saying it will stimulate the growth of the SME sector and enhance job creation.
A 15 year–old grade six girl and her 49 year old aunt both of Chinsali have pleaded not guilty to trafficking in 507 grams of cannabis.
The duo appeared in the Chinsali Magistrates court yesterday.
Appearing before Magistrate Shadreck Chanda for plea was a grade six juvenile aged 15 of Chinsali Primary School and Maggie Bwalya, 49, both of Chandamali village in Chinsali district.
The duo is alleged to have trafficked in psychotropic substances contrary to Section 6 of the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances Chapter 96 of the Laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that on 23 July 2014 the duo jointly and whilst acting together with other unknown people willfully and unlawfully did traffic in psychotropic substances namely cannabis weighing 507 grams.
The duo pleaded not guilty and the matter has since been adjourned to 12 August 2014 for commencement of trial while both accused persons are remanded in custody.
Meanwhile, sources at the Drug Enforcement Commissioner (DEC) in Chinsali said the accused juvenile was allegedly given the contraband by her father to hide at her aunty’s place who is the co-accused after he noticed the presence of a combined team of police and DEC officers in the area.
The girl’s father who allegedly deals in the same psychotropic substances went into hiding after he heard that his daughter and sister had been apprehended.The operation was conducted after a tip off from members of the public.
First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba share a light moment with MMD president Dr Nevers Mumba and ZAAA president Elias Mpondela (r) during the Inter Company relay. Dr Christine Kaseba took part in a 5 kilometre walk in Lusaka on June 14 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) president Nevers Mumba says his party is determined to bring a new style of politics to the country’s political arena.
Dr. Mumba said politics of character assassination is not what will win the confidence of the majority Zambians.
He stressed that true and mature politics is what Zambians need if the countrys democracy is to flourish.
Dr Mumba said so far his party has made tremendous efforts to speak the truth and to let the people understand the true meaning of politics.
The MMD president has also encouraged Zambians to continue living in peace and unity for the good of the nation regardless of political affiliation.
Aspiring candidate for Kabwata Constituency Clement Tembo has charged that current Member of Parliament has over stayed and should give room for others to develop the area.
Mr Lubinda has been MP for 13 years and would have served for 20 years if he contests and wins re-election in 2016.
Mr Tembo said it is unfortunate that Mr Lubinda wants to cling on to power when he has allegedly failed to effectively represent the people of Kabwata.
“Mr Lubinda is not there with the people, he is always stuck in his constituency office but people want him to move around and interact with them. Kabwata is not just about Chilimbulu and Burma roads, how about Jack compound, who is speaking out for those people? Kabwata is full of heaps and heaps of garbage and the MP is saying it is not his duty to clear garbage in Kabwata. I do not agree with that because the welfare of the constituency is supposed to be his baby.”
Mr Tembo said he decided to engage the local authority and hired the garbage clearing equipment at a small cost to demonstrate to residents in Kabwata that an MP can initiate development.He said it is sad that the poor people in areas of Kabwata such as Jack compound are still using shallow wells for their water needs.
“In this day and age, you expect people in Kabwata to be using shallow wells and you are still there as MP? Morally, you should just step aside.”
Mr Tembo said he has not officially kicked off his campaigns but was merely introducing himself to the electorate in Kabwata.
“We are doing something that has never been done before. We are introducing our ideas and telling the people that we are here to serve. We are not waiting for 2016 to meet our people, we have started sharing our ideas with the local people and that is not campaign,” he said.
Mr Tembo said his interactions with the people do not amount to political campaigns which might contravene the Electoral Code of Conduct since the official campaign period has not been officially declared.
He said the youths in Kabwata have resorted to beer drinking because of lack of jobs and recreation.
“What we plan to do is put together a number of youth cooperatives, have them registered and provide skills and allow them to bid for some of these construction works going on. No youth will be found in bars because everybody will be busy working,” he said.
Mr Tembo also pointed that Mr Lubinda has done well in the area of education infrastructure in Kabwata with the construction of Kamulanga School.
“On Kamulanga School, big up to the MP, that is a lot of good work. On the land issues in Mapopo he also did very well and helped the poor people there but surely he has over stayed and he should leave room for people with fresh ideas,” he said.
Mr Tembo also ranked President Michael Sata as one of the most hard working MPs when he served as in the 1990s.
“Kabwata has had a number of big political figures who have served as MP and their work is there to show but I think President Sata’s legacy in Kabwata is there for all to see, the Merzaf flats speaks for itself,” he said.
Boxer Ben Muziyo lifted Zambia’s fading medal hopes at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Monday night after winning his last 16 Middleweight bout on the night all-rounder Kabange Mupopo faded in her 400 meters semifinal heat.
Zambia’s last man standing in the ring defeated Canadian Brody Blair via 3rd round technical knockout.
Muziyo will now face Cedric Olivier of Mauritius in the Wednesday’s quarterfinals at 22h15.
His victory came after compatriot Bwalya Lumbwe lost 3-0 to Fazil Kaggwa of Uganda in a last 16 Flyweight contest on the same date.
Meanwhile on the track, Mupopo finished sixth in heat one of the 400 meters semifinals to bow out at Glasgow in the Shepolopolo captain’s first major world tournament outing six months after adding track and field to her résumé.
However, Saviour Kombe has a chance to redeem some hope in the 400 meters mens semifinals this evening when he takes to the track in heat three at 21h18.
Kombe advanced to the semifinals after finishing third in Monday’s first round in heat seven.
Indeni coach Steven”Baines” Mwansa says the 5-1 loss his side suffered at Power Dynamos on Sunday was a lesson to the Oil Men.
Mwansa said he wants to quickly forget the Arthur Davies massacre to focus on their next match against struggling Red Arrows.
“What we planned for never worked for us, we made a mistake in the first half by allowing an early game,” he said.
A brace from Jimmy Ndhlovu plus a goal each by Kennedy Mudenda, Richard Kasonde and Ignatius Lwipa guided Power to victory while Sam Chulu scored a consolation goal for Indeni.
“It is a lesson to us, this game has passed so we are now looking forward to the game against Red Arrows,” Mwansa said.
Power have now completed a double over Indeni this season as they won the corresponding fixture 3-1 in Ndola.
