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MMD die hard youth leader Bowman Lusambo captured during the gathering to demand for the release of the Zambian draft constitution.
Bowman Lusambo is really a man who lives by his persuasion, dying hard. To us he adds to comedy on the political scene and we would not imagine politics in Zambia without comedians like Lusambo. The make an otherwise serious undertaking, light. As we have stated before, our responsibility as UPND Youth is to sell UPND and protect our leadership from detractors such as Bowman Lusambo. First MMD drew the first blood.
As a matter of principle UPND sticks to issues and will never attack an individual. It therefore comes as a surprise that that he refers to a wall of words that was instigated by MMD. “A fruit will never fall far from its parent tree”, it therefore goes without saying that, if Bowman can say HH is tribal, then obviously he has the blessings of Nevers Mumba. People might not say many things, but observe what those people close to them say.
On RAMCOZ, we shall state this for the last time and hopefully we can forget about this matter. Hakainde Hichilema never privatised a single mine. All mines in Zambia were privatised by Mr Francis Kaunda through a body that was appointed by the President, Dr Chiluba at the time.
This process is very ably documented in our father’s book titled ‘Selling the family Silver’. The book is available in leading bookshops and if Bowman has time, he can get the book and appraise himself with the selling of ZCCM mines. We can challenge Bowman to tell us which mine HH. Again HH was NEVER anywhere near ZCCM mines privatisation. Bowman sees HH as tonga and not as a Presidential aspirant. That stinks of tribalism. HH was elected by 7 out of 9 provinces to be UPND leader. A democratic process was followed closely and there was no impropriety whatsoever. The records are in the public domain. We would like Bowman Lusambo, as he looks for a candidate for 2016, to be objective and really stick to issues that he claims to expound.
All of us have histories, and UPND is not an exception, what is wrong is for people to stop learning from history. And the arrogance being perpetuated by
Bowman Lusambo and his benefactors really don’t inspire anyone to conclude that MMD has learnt anything from their defeat in 2011. We would recommend counselling and acceptance. If Bowman has issues, he can bring them on, not waste our time with rumours and untruths like he attempted to draw HH into RAMCOZ.
Issued By:
Edward Musonda
Provincial Information and Publicity Secretary
UPND – NORTHERN
File Picture: Police officers push a PF youth who wanted to start a fight with UPND cadres at the Lusaka magistrate court
We in the UPND campaign team for the Batoka By elections in the Southern Province would like to condemn in the strongest terms the violence that was orchestrated by the PF cadres mostly imported from Choma`s Compounds to Batoka by election scheduled for 19th August, 2014,where four Patriotic Front (PF) officials were injured.
Our campaign team did not start the fight as we were attacked by our colleagues who were retiring back from their failed campaign trials
As stated people who were involved in this clash or injured were cadres which our colleagues(PF) ferried from Choma to Batoka to cause harm to us but it was people of Batoka who rejected them and did not want to see them in the area as they were not obeying the electoral code of conduct and regulations as their motivates was to harm anyone in their way
[pullquote]
PF are only interested in winning elections at the cost of intimidations and threats and not infrastructure development
[/pullquote]As the UPND and some marketeers who were attacked in Batoka to be specific at Batoka Market would not only view what happened as political violence but criminal and barbaric.
To this effect it is well established that PF are only interested in winning elections at the cost of intimidations and threats and not infrastructure development, the people of Batoka mainly depend on agriculture and needs answers to resuscitate the dying agriculture sector.
The UPND wish to distance its youths from the violence that left four PF thugs at Batoka`s Market seriously wounded
No UPND cadres participated in the beating of the named PF cadres who were imported from Choma to Batoka for the purpose of causing violence. Our hands are very clean as our mission to Batoka is to speak to the people what the UPND is able to do for them now and for 2016
The Party further explains why the local people decided to beat them because they realized that their action was not in line with electoral code of conducts
We want to caution the PF and other parties to desist from importing cadres from others towns to an area where elections were being held and pushing us into a tight corner.
We are being attacked in almost every by-election, just on the Copperbelt our ward official was beaten and stripped naked by the PF. confirming that the PF is a very violent party that intimidates and threatens its partners such as the opposition political parties.
As much as we sympathise with the PF cadre currently nursing injuries from beatings from local people, we demand that ECZ to caution the ruling PF from importing cadres from Choma to Batoka to cause violence
The UPND Party says that its wrong for the Ruling PF to import thugs from Choma to Batoka on the sole purpose of causing violence. The Police release on the names of those that were injured states that the PF Cadres were all from Choma and residing in the compounds in Choma town thereby making us wonder as why the PF Party had to import cadres from Choma to Batoka and for what motivate
The UPND Team in Batoka shall remain committed to conduct peaceful campaigns in Batoka and we want to thank the general citizenry for showing confidence in the UPND party and leadership.
The UPND under President Hichilema Hakainde would like to state that it does not believe in violence campaigns but instead believe in issue based campaigns that are going to collectively kick out the PF in 2016 and bring peace and prosperity to this Country.
And UPND Campaign Manager for the Batoka Ward By Election Cornelius Mweetwa said he was not at the scene of the attack as claimed by some PF members who charged that the land cruiser for the Choma central member of parliament was used to launch the attack.
Recently four Patriotic Front(PF) officials who were imported from Choma to Batoka by the ruling PF were seriously injured in a clash with local residents in Batoka after being suspected of causing violence in Batoka
By Jackson Makwamba
Former Choma mayor and member of the campaign team in Batoka
A HEALTH official going through a medical card of a passenger who had just disembarked an international flight at the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola . The process is part of screening for Ebola at entry points into Zambia.
THE Ministry of Health on the Copperbelt has set Masala Clinic in Ndola as the quarantine centre for Ebola in an event that a case of the disease was recorded in the province.
Copperbelt medical officer Consity Mwale said yesterday in response to a Press Query that the province’s medical office has set up a number of preparatory measures including setting up Masala Clinic as the quarantine centre in an event that Ebola was recorded in the province.
Dr Mwale said the Copperbelt has two borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and one international airport which were the three possibilities through which a person infected with Ebola could use to enter the country.
These are Kasumbalesa border post in Chililabombwe, Mokambo border in Mufulira and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola.
“All these facilities offer port health services and have trained staff stationed at their health facilities. The health workers screen people coming into the country from all over the world for any contagious diseases like Ebola through active surveillance,” Dr Mwale said.
He said two environmental health officers and one clinician have been are assigned to screen passengers arriving at the airport from abroad using approved screening forms and have personal protective equipment.
In Mufulira at Mokambo border, two environmental health officers and one clinician have been assigned to screen people going through the border and also at Kasumbalesa border post.
Dr Mwale said the level of preparedness was adequate in an event of an Ebola epidemic in the province saying that personal protective equipment has been procured and information, education and communication strategies on health promotion and prevention was ongoing for the public and health workers.
“Clinical lessons on Ebola have already started and will be given to all health care workers. There is need to refurbish the quarantine facility already identified and this calls for a multisectoral approach,” he said.
Dr Mumba takes time to greet and chat with children
On the statement he made about joining politics
MMD President Nevers Mumba says he feels he has now grown and as a leader is now ready to occupy the office of Republican President because God had been preparing him for that role.
Featuring on the popular Red Hot Breakfast Show on Hot FM, Dr. Mumba said he has no regrets to over a statement he made over a decade ago on Frank Talk TV programme that he will not run for political office because the Lord he served was greater than all the Presidents in the world.
He said he made that statement years ago without understanding how God uses his people.
“I have grown, I have learnt and I have understood more and it is because of that,that I’m engaged in the political process. I have no regrets on that statement. I think any person who doesn’t change his mind about certain things he believed before means he is not growing.If you are going to tell me what you believed in at seven and you want to hang on to those beliefs then you are not growing,” Dr Mumba explained.
[pullquote]God can demand me to do anything because I’m his servant and I’m not the one to say this job is too small or that job is too big.[/pullquote]
He added, “Serving the Lord is the prime thing that anybody can do. The gift of life, the best part of life is what is called growth, and anybody who doesn’t change his views about issues as he develops and grows is dead. So there are certain things I didn’t know at that age when I made the statement, as I have grown I have realized what my responsibilities are and expectations from me as a person. So I have grown to understand more than what I did at that time that God can demand anything from me.He can demand of me to do anything because I’m his servant and I’m not the one to say this job is too small or that job is too big.”
Dr Mumba said in a wide ranging interview that he is now ready to fully engage in politics because God had prepared him adequately for a role in politics.
“For instance, when I went to Bible College to study, as part of my scholarship I was cleaning toilets, I could say that was not what God called me to do but that’s part of the preparation. It’s part of the job that shows that you are appliable. What I didn’t know at that time was that God had given me the challenge to do politics alongside side what I was doing. “
On his Marriage
The MMD leader also opened up about his marriage to Florence saying she has been instrumental in his life and all that he has achieved.
“I thank God for her life, infact I cannot live without her. She has been amazing to me and God has blessed us with a lovely family. I met her in the Youth Ministry at Church, infact I was a Youth Director. She loves the Lord too and what most people don’t know about Florence is that she is a better preacher than I am. She went to the same Bible School and I had to make sure that she fell pregnant each other year so as to keep her busy and away from the pulpit because she was clearly outshining her husband,” Dr Mumba jokingly said.
On the current state of MMD
On the state of the MMD, Dr Mumba said the former ruling party is at a point where it has found some stabilization.
“Every political analyst understands that each time a political party loses power, you have a mixed pot of anxiety, emotions, expectations and the first two years is the most critical, as a matter of fact it is like you are in the ICU. It’s either you make it or you die.That is exactly where we were as the MMD.In 2011 especially towards the end of the year, we didn’t have a President for 8 months, our MPs were taken away from us to become PF Ministers, our seats were being nullified and our vehicles were being taken away, really the spirit of a lot of our members were in the dumps. So we call that ICU situation.”
He added, “When I was given the responsibility to take care of this stage, I had to trust in God and the faithfulness of members that surrounded me. Some of the troubles we had to fight were bordering on destruction of the party but we had to trust God for people’s aspirations to be protected in as far as their democracy was concerned.We had to be survive and so I give credit to all the members of NEC for a resilient fight that has warded off all these fights and tried to focus on why we exist and that is providing checks and balances and prepare to take over Government again.”
Dr Mumba said the battles MMD went through were necessary battles. UNIP went through them, unfortunately it was difficult for them to survive.In any case, we are learning from some of the mistakes they made,to make sure we don’t fall into the same trap but there are many differences between UNIP and ourselves.We didn’t lose with a big margin, the winning party had 66 and we had 55. UNIP was almost completely wiped out.We are now at a stable place where we can now focus on winning elections and start bringing back confidence that the MMD has a new team now and my goal is firstly to renew the MMD, to convince the Zambian people that this is not the same MMD that they threw out. There is new leadership with vigour that could meet the aspirations of the party.”
On the ruling PF party
He said the PF has lamentably failed to live by its own promises as a party founded on pro poor ideologies.
Dr Mumba said the removal of subsidies on fuel and maize has taken Zambians deeper into poverty.
“The PF said it will be a pro poor Government but the cost of living in Zambia has continued going up under it’s watch. The only thing they have succeeded to do is open up the eyes of Zambians on the need for quality leadership. PF has reneged on all its promises. A bag of mealie meal which the MMD left at K 36 is now selling at K 95, we are worse off now,” he said.
MOVEMENT for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) president Nevers Mumba says his party has reached its stabilisation point despite having lost the 2011 elections.
Dr Mumba said this during Lusaka’s Hot FM’s Red Hot Breakfast Show yesterday.
“Every political analyst understands that after a political party loses power, you have a mixed pot of emotions, expectations, anxieties, and that in the first two years is the most critical, we call that the intensive care unit,” Dr Mumba said.
He further said that Zambians voted out the MMD because of what he termed ‘a probable arrogance of power’.
Dr Mumba also disagreed with calls to reduce the presidential and parliamentary age limits to 18.
He was reacting to a submission to the Legal and Justice Sector Reforms Commission by Sishuwa Sishuwa, a University of Oxford scholar.
“I think we need to be a little more realistic, there are certain aspects that are not fully developed in terms of somebody becoming a president at 18,” Dr Mumba said.
“I am not saying they cannot be. In the old kingdoms, people would become kings at seven years old. They were surrounded by elders that ruled through them. But it may not be the same in a democracy, there are certain expectations,” he said.
According to Zambia’s current constitution, the legal age for one to qualify as a presidential candidate is 35 and 21 for one to stand as a Member of Parliament .
The current constitution further states that one needs to attain the age of 18 to be a registered voter.
Dr Mumba also said he is politically active because of maturity despite saying that he has no presidential ambitions on ZNBC’s Frank Talk show years ago.
“The best part of life is what we call growth and anybody who doesn’t change his views about issues as he develops and grows is dead,” he said.
“I think that any person who doesn’t change his mind about certain things he believed before, is not growing.”
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema
The UPND security wing says the violence that was witnessed in Luampa district at the weekend was a result of a failed ambush on their party President Hakainde Hichilema’s motorcade by suspected PF cadres.
In an interview UPND head of security, Captain Cosmos Moono, said the attack was systematically and professionally orchestrated as it was staged at a bridge where tyres were burnt so that the billowing black smoke could cause low visibility as the ambush was being executed.
Capt Moono said as the UPND entourage approached the Kabimbo Bridge, stones were thrown at them and when the villagers realised that Mr Hichilema was in danger, they came to their rescue and managed to overpower their attackers.
He said in the ensuing confusion, the group which had blocked the road scampered towards the residences of chief Mwanatete and that of his sister, Luampa Member of Parliament, Josephine Limata who is a neighbour.
Capt Moono said chief Mwanatete and Ms Limata could have been caught up in the fracas as the assailants had sought refuge in the precincts of their residences and thus could have been mistaken to have instigated the aggression.
Meanwhile, the UPND has urged the police to persevere and do their work professionally to calm the escalating tension in Mangango and Luampa areas as the polls draw close.
Capt Moono said Zambians will reward the police if they work professionally by giving them the honour and respect they deserve.
He said currently the police are working under serious political interference and have been put in an awkward position, adding that they cannot perform even when they know what is right.
Capt Moono said the failure by the police to arrest PF cadres who allegedly attempted to block Mr Hichilema from attending a church ceremony in Mangango yesterday is testimony of the law enforcers’ partiality.
He said the suspected PF cadres blocked the road using logs and as the residents where clearing the way, the police came and fired teargas in them.
Capt Moono said instead of arresting the perpetrators, the police picked two of its cadres including the party’s assistant campaign manager for the Mangango by-election, Kenny Ndumba, who was briefly held before being released unconditionally.
And Ndumba said he is not worried with the arrests as UPND cadres are peaceful and innocent campaigners who will not be shaken by police biasness.
He said he was advising UPND youths not to be violent even when they are provoked when the police came and picked him up on suspicion that he was fuelling hostility.
But recently, Western Province police commissioner Lombe Kamukoshi dismissed assertions of biasness and said police are exercising the highest level of impartiality in maintaining law and order ahead of the parliamentary and ward by-elections slated for August 19 in Mangango and Luampa respectively.
President Michael Sata is presented with a Bible at the inauguration ceremony at Supreme Court in Lusaka
A political analyst has proposed that the age limit to contest elections for Members of Parliament and President be lowered to eighteen years.
Sishuwa Sishuwa says the current age requirement for one to stand for MP and for President is prohibitive, undemocratic and exclusionary.
Mr Sishuwa said the Constitution should set one age for the maturity which comes with full citizenship adding that once a citizen has become an adult at the age of 18, all the political freedoms, rights and opportunities should, by that qualification of adulthood, be open to them.
He said the task of determining the age of the President should be the responsibility of the electorate.
Mr Sishuwa who is currently reading for a doctorate in Modern History at the University of Oxford said this in his submissions to the Legal and Justice Reform Commission.
Here is Mr Sishuwa’s full submission:
I submit that the age qualification for Republican presidential hopefuls and for aspiring Members of Parliament (MPs) be lowered to eighteen years. There is need for consistency between who can vote, who can run for parliament, and who can stand for President.
Zambia, like many other countries, practices ageism — not just in politics, but in all other spheres. It is my hope that this proposal, if adopted, will go some way in eroding this widespread bias, particularly when it comes to seeking elective public office.
Article 35, 3 (c) of the current Constitution states that “A person shall be qualified to be a candidate for election as President if he has attained the age of thirty-five years”.
Article 64 (c) stipulates that “A person shall be qualified to be elected as a member of the National Assembly if he has attained the age of twenty-one years”.
These legal provisions are undemocratic, exclusionary (they defeat a commitment to having Zambians of all age groups contest for public office) and institutionalise the unproven assumption that a citizen only attains the maturity to be an MP at the age of 21 and a presidential candidate at the age of 35; that those who are less than these arbitrarily prescribed ages are not only immature but also lack the capacity to discharge the functions of these offices.
The legal age to be a voter in the current Constitution — Article 75 (1) — is 18 years. If we agree that a person is mature enough to make a decision on who to vote for at the age of 18, what is the basis for depriving such a one from offering themselves up for election as MP or President, and voting for themselves? If we can entrust a person aged 21 to formulate laws, including those that govern the office of the President, why should we disqualify such a person from standing for the position of President? The framers of the 1991 Constitution have told me that the presidential age requirement was introduced not on any scientific or philosophical underpinnings but because that was what was in the Constitution of the United States. But a replicated constitutional limitation is a very unfortunate basis for excluding individuals from seeking public office.
Is it not a contradiction that while a Republican Vice-President can be nominated from amongst MPs, who only need to be 21, a presidential candidate must be older? This question assumes significance when we consider that according to Articles 38 (2) and 39 (1) of the present Constitution, the Vice-President can also act as President whenever the office of President becomes vacant and whenever the President is absent from Zambia or considers it desirable so to do by reason of illness or for any other cause.
If the Constitution insists that a 21 year old Vice-President is mature enough to act as President for up to three months (during which they can exercise the functions of the office of President apart from dissolving the National Assembly and, except on the advice of the Cabinet, revoking any appointment made by the substantive President), why should the same Constitution deprive such a 21-year-old Vice-President of the right to vie for the position of President in their own right?
It appears to me that the Constitution has three ages — 18 for voting, 21 for qualification for election to the National Assembly and 35 for qualification for election as Republican President.
On grounds of internal consistency, I submit that the Constitution should set one age for the maturity which comes with full citizenship, not three different definitions of adulthood attached to different levels of citizenship. In other words, once a citizen has become an adult at the age of 18, all the political freedoms, rights and opportunities should, by that qualification of adulthood, be open to them.
The task of determining the age of the President should be the responsibility of the electorate.
If, for instance, an 18-year-old candidate emerges victorious from a competitive multiparty presidential election, which also had older candidates on the ballot, shouldn’t we respect that choice as a reflection of the democratic will of the majority?
Democracy that is representative of the views and aspirations of the electorate will quite naturally weed out the weaklings, including those who are deemed too old or too young. Granted, many young people may not have the experience to run successfully for public office, but those who believe they can ably serve before they reach 21 or 35 years should have the chance to seek to do so.
Sishuwa Sishuwa is a Zambian political commentator, currently reading for a doctorate in Modern History at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.
Foundation for Democratic Process FODEP has called on politicians to practice what they preach regarding political violence.
And FODEP has called for the immediate cease fire of political rivalry between the ruling Patriotic Front and the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).
Speaking at a Media Briefing in Lusaka today, FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi said politicians have been preaching peace but at the same time engaging and encouraging their cadres to engage in political violence.
Mr. Chipenzi said some politicians are part and parcel of fanning violence in elections which he condemned and called on all politicians to stop the act.
Mr. Chipenzi was reacting to the recent reports of violence in Mangango where there will be a by-election on 19th August 2014.
And Mr. Chipenzi said if electoral confrontations do not come to an end, the 2016 general elections is likely to be marred with confusion.
Below is the full statement by FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi.
FOUNDATION FOR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS (FODEP)
STATEMENT ON THE FORTHCOMING MANGANGO BY-ELECTIONS IN KAOMA DISTRICT IN WESTERN PROVINCE SLATED FOR 19TH AUGUST, 2014 ISSUED IN LUSAKA ON 10TH AUGUST 2014 AT FODEP HOUSE.
Dear Colleagues,
Introduction
We have decided to call this briefing to update you on the goings-on in Mangango ahead of the by-election in a week’s time scheduled for the 19th August 2014 especially with increasing reports of electoral and political violence being reported almost on daily basis as the day of the vote nears.
On Friday, 8th August 2014 Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) officials travelled to Mangango for the following reasons 1) to ascertain reports of electoral and political violence being reported in the area and 2) hold a discussion forum dubbed “Race to Manda Hill Discussion Forum” which was held on Saturday, 9th August, 2014 with the aim of bringing together all aspiring candidates to face the electorates and make their plans for the area.
FODEP is happy to report that in the two days that FODEP spent in Mangango and Kaoma areas respectively, it never witnessed any incident of violence. The people there were complaining of lack of development and the state of the main road to Mangango.
The electoral environment was peaceful and tranquil as political parties went on with their business of canvassing for votes.
Race to Manda Hill Discussion Forum: FODEP is glad to report that all the candidates, save for the United Party for National Development (UPND) candidate, Godwin Putu, featured at the Forum held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church grounds on Saturday, 9th August 2014. A number of issues were raised by the aspirants.
Among the issues promised by the candidates to do if elected, were; improved and quality social services such as water, health and education. Others include working on the Katunda-Mangango-Lukulu road which is currently in bad state. At the end of the discussion which took almost three hours, the aspirants and their supporters pledged to promote and conduct peaceful and issue based campaigns ahead of the by-elections.
The Forum which attracted hundreds of Mangango residents of all sheds, accorded the residents an opportunity to meet and ask questions to their prospective members of parliament which the aspirants ably responded to.
FODEP Observations on the electoral campaigns
However, the following were FODEP’s observations on the Mangango electoral campaigns:
? Some participating political parties, candidates and supporters are engaged in smear campaigns of discrimination based on age and language;
? Treating of voters through the provision of philanthropies such as meat and food is said to be common;
? Presence of pockets of political party officials from others parts of the country such as Lusaka;
? Allegations of involvement of District Commissioners in the campaigns despite them being civil servants
Political violence
However, reports of violence emerged from Luampa where suspected UPND and PF cadres crashed on suspicion that the latter was harboring alleged “thugs from Lusaka” who they accused of causing problems in the area ahead of the local government by-elections and that one of the sub-chief and District Commissioner in the area were allegedly campaigning for the ruling party.
This resulted in the alleged beating of a sub-chief by suspected UPND cadres. Fortunately, Hon. Josephine Limata is said to have freed the area after sensing danger. On Sunday, the 10th August, 2014, FODEP received another report of violent campaigns right in Mangango which happened on Saturday 9th August, 2014 at night.
The violence is said to have been ignited by suspected PF and UPND cadres over among other things allegation that PF was camped at a government House for their partisan activities leading to UPND cadres wanting to force them out of the premise and also on allegation that PF cadres wanted to block the UPND from holding a campaign rally on account that UPND candidate, Godwin Putu snubbed the public forum FODEP organized in the day that brought together all candidates. This attracted angry reactions from the UPND camp hence fighting ensued.
All these incidents could be avoided if the top leadership of the two political parties could be sincere and practical steps are put in place to curbing electoral violence and in promoting electoral harmony and co-existence.
A 32-year-old man has died in a sand quarry accident after he and his colleague were buried alive in a trench.
The accident happened in Kamakonde area where a trench caved in and buried Kaoma Chibuluma, 42, and Green Kapelelwa who died on the spot.
Mr Chibuluma is currently receiving treatment at Kalulushi District Hospital.
The accident was confirmed by both Copperbelt Police Commissioner Joyce Kasosa and Kitwe City Council spokesperson Dorothy Sampa.
A similar accident was reported in Kitwe’s Racecourse Township, where a 34-year-old mother and her daughter died.
“We received a phone call yesterday about a tragic accident involving two people engaged in illegal mining of sand who were buried alive after the trench they were mining from caved in on them. When our fire brigade team got there, they found one had already died while his colleague was exhumed alive and rushed to hospital,” Ms Sampa said.
She appealed to members of the public to desist from engaging in illegal digging of sand where they risked their lives.
Another accident claimed the life of an unidentified man believed to be aged between 25 and 30 after he was electrocuted while allegedly tampering with an 11 kilovolts Zesco transformer in Chingola.
Ms Kasosa said the man was found dead between 02:00 and 06:00 hours at sub-station number 266 in Central Riverside area.
“An unknown man has been electrocuted after he wanted to steal live copper cable from an 11Kv transformer. He managed to cut the wire but unfortunately he got electrocuted,” she said.
Ms Kasosa said a cutter, ladder and two knives were found at the scene of the accident.
A WOMAN in Nchelenge District has been arrested for allegedly causing the death of her husband after burning him with hot water, police have said.
Nelly Musonda, 52, claimed that her husband had suffered an illness which caused the burns but investigations proved that he died as a result of burns from hot water.
Ms Musonda of Chibule Village in Chief Mununga’s area is alleged to have burnt her husband, Chibale Chibule, 46, between July 26 and August 2 this year, the day he died and was later buried without the knowledge of his family.
Luapula Province Police Commissioner Malcolm Mulenga said yesterday that Ms Chibule did not report to the police that she had burnt her husband with hot water.
“The wife had told the deceased’s relatives that he suffered and died from herpes zoster,” Mr Mulenga said.
Mr Mulenga said Ms Musonda only informed the police that she had already buried her husband.
Mr Mulenga said information reaching officers in Nchelenge indicated that the deceased had wounds as a result of being poured hot water.
FORMER United Party for National Development Zambezi West member of Parliament (MP) Charles Kakoma will today file his nominations for re-election following a High Court judgement which has allowed him to do so.
This is in a matter in which Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Christabel Ngimbu petitioned the High Court to determine whether Mr Kakoma committed corrupt and illegal practices in connection with the parliamentary elections held on September 20, 2011.
Ms Ngimbu wanted the court to prepare a report which would be delivered to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that Mr Kakoma committed corrupt and illegal practices during the election.
She also wanted the court to bar Mr Kakoma from contesting any parliamentary election for a period of five years from the date the report would be prepared.
Ms Ngimbu also wanted the court to enforce the Electoral Act number 12 of 2006, and the DPP to prosecute Mr Kakoma for corrupt and illegal practices under the same Act based on the report.
She said according to a Supreme Court judgment, Mr Kakoma’s election was nullified after he was found to have engaged in corrupt and illegal practices.
Ms Ngimbu said because the Supreme Court judgment takes precedence, the High Court is supposed to prepare a report indicating the corrupt activities which would be submitted to the ECZ.
Mr Kakoma contended, through his lawyers Jack Mwiimbu, Gregory Phiri and Keith Mweemba, that the Supreme Court judgment cannot be enforced as though it was of the High Court.
The lawyers argued that the said report can only be rendered by the High Court based on its findings and not that of the Supreme Court and that this should have been done after hearing Mr Kakoma on the matter.
Mr Kakoma’s lawyers argued that the High Court did not find that he committed corrupt and illegal practices and that preparing a report based on the Supreme Court judgment would be asking the High Court to change its mind.
In delivering her judgment, High Court judge Judy Mulongoti said she would render a report based on the proceedings that were before her when she determined the election petition.
Justice Mulongoti said it is cardinal for Mr Kakoma to be heard before his name or particulars are stated in a report as being found guilty.
She said her court did not find that he committed illegal or corrupt practices. Therefore, he cannot be barred from contesting elections for five years.
Justice Mulongoti said it is mandatory for the High Court to prepare a report where it finds that any corrupt practices were committed but that it is not a requirement to name or provide particulars of concerned persons as that is discretionary.
“The latter part of section 104 (6) is effected after the High Court has given an opportunity to the concerned persons to show cause why they should not be so named,” she said.
Justice Mulongoti said based on the report, the ECZ can instruct an officer to prosecute any person stated in the report.
She said criminal prosecution is the discretion of the DPP and that he is the one who can initiate such proceedings.
Campaign Manager for the ruling Patriotic Front in the Mangango parliamentary by election Obvious Mwaliteta has denied reports that the PF is pressurizing the Electoral Commission of Zambia to cancel the election.
In an interview from Mangango, Mr Mwaliteta said the PF is confidently approaching the by election adding that there is no reason for rescheduling.
“Why should we postpone when we know we are winning? It is foolish for the opposition o start creating stories about the PF which are not incorrect. We are proceeding with the by election and there is no way we would ask for a postponement,” Mr Mwaliteta maintained.
His view is however contrary to that held by UPND Vice President for administration Richard Kapita who revealed that the PF is allegedly putting pressure on the ECZ to force it to postpone the election.
“They know that they are losing and because of the embarrassment that Mangango lose would cause, they are now panicking trying to cancel the vote. We will not accept this as the UPND,” Mr Kapita said.
He added, “What they want to do is what they did in Livingstone during the by election. They knew they were headed for a humiliating loss so they started violence and ended up locking up our President Mr Hichilema and several of your campaign officials. This is exactly why they ended up winning Livingstone because the postponement gave them chance to manipulate the system.
ECZ Spokesman Chris Akufuna was not available for an immediate response.
The Southern African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has called for the immediate end to the ferrying of cadres from Lusaka to constituencies holding by-elections as they are the major reason for the violence which erupts during campaigns in respective constituencies.
This contained in a press statement released to the media by SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe.
“One of the major practices that has manifested in violence even in Western province is the ferrying of political cadres from Lusaka to areas where by-elections are taking place.
“The nation is fully aware of the negative effects of such a practice as the violence that characterized the 2010 Mufumbwe by-election is still fresh on the mind of many Zambians.
“Therefore, as SACCORD we want to appeal to all political parties to stop or desist from engaging in this practice as much as possible as it is a clear and present danger as a source of political violence and conflict,” added Mr. Cheembe.
Mr. Cheembe also called on participating political parties to adhere to the electoral code of conduct as the code of conduct has been put in place to ensure that free, fair and credible elections take place.
And SACCORD has condemned the violence that has characterized the on going campaigns for the forth coming by-elections in Western Province and other parts of the country.
SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe says It is regrettable and unfortunate that as a country we continue to experience some form of violence whenever we have by-elections something he noted is an indication for political stakeholders to increase their tolerance for divergent political views.
Mr. Cheembe says his organisation is of the view that if political stakeholders concentrated on sharing their ideas and manifestos incidents of violence will greatly reduce as people will focus on the massages by respective political parties and making informed decision on who to vote for.
“The Southern African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) would like to acknowledge and condemn the violence that has characterized the ongoing campaigns for parliamentary and local government elections in western province and other parts of the country.
“It is regrettable and unfortunate that as a country we continue to experience some form of violence whenever we have by-elections. This is an indication that there is need for all our political stakeholders to continue and increase the extent to which they embrace divergent political views,” Mr. Cheembe said.
Kasama diocese Archbishop Ignatius Chama has appealed to the ministry of education to consider upgrading primary schools to a secondary school level.
The clergy man said this will enable many children access secondary school education as opposed to the current scenario where children are been forced into early marriages.
Archbishop Chama said the upgrading of Ipusukilo primary schools into secondary school level will enable the surrounding the school to stop marrying off their children at the tender age.
He said parents were marrying off their children because they were failing to raise enough money to pay school fees, transport and other logistics as the secondary schools were found in district centers in the province.
He said this during the commemoration of 100 years anniversary of sacred heart-Ipusukilo parish in Luwingu district of the northern province of the laying of the foundation stone was held in 1914.
He said as the country will be commemorating 50 years of independence later in October this year the community should demand for Ipusukilo primary school to be upgraded to a secondary school.
Archbishop Chama said as long as secondary schools are found very far the issue of early marriages will not be contained because many parents who are peasant farmers would not manage to raise school fees, transport and logistics.
He also encourage parishioners to build upon their faith in Christ Jesus as the congregation was celebrate 100 years anniversary of sacred heart-Ipusukilo parish which about 15km from the district administration.
The church was established in Ipusukilo on 10thAugust 1914 by the Roman Catholic missionaries and later built a school and health center to service the community in that area.
It later expanded to become St Peter, in chief chipalo, Nsombo parish in chief Chabula and Luwena Mission in senior chief Shimumbi all of Luwingu district.
Information Minister Dr Joseph Katema with Dr Cristopher Kalila
THE Government has warned that mayhem will not be tolerated ahead of next Tuesday’s by-election in Mangango and has urged the Police Command to take charge of affairs to protect innocent citizens.
Chief Government spokesperson Joseph Katema condemned opposition leaders for tolerating their members who engage in violence, describing this as shocking.
Dr Katema, who is Information and Broadcasting Services minister, said violence witnessed in Luampa District where political cadres engaged in criminal acts were disturbing, especially attacks on Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister Josephine Limata, Chief Mwanatete and his wife.
Below is the full statement
Republic of Zambia
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services
STATEMENT BY HON. DR. JOSEPH KATEMA, MP, MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON THE VIOLENCE IN LUAMPA
Government is disturbed by violent events in Luampa where political cadres are committing acts of criminality, including invading the residence of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs deputy minister Josephine Limata.
The so-called cadres were last week reported to have also attacked Luampa District Commissioner Alfred Miyato and worse still beat up Chief Mwanatete and his wife, and damage his property. In all this mayhem, the so-called cadres have been reported to be wielding machetes, knives and stones.
Government is concerned that this culture of violence is being condoned by certain senior opposition politicians who are not condemning these criminal acts. It is sad that these politicians still want to practice medieval politics of violence instead of selling their candidates and parties to the electorates.
Government will not stand by and watch the mayhem continue in Luampa and other areas where by-elections are being conducted. Perpetrators of violence, regardless of their political leanings or stand in society, will face the full import of the law as our role is to protect all citizenry.
The Police command is, therefore, urged to take up its full responsibility in Luampa and other trouble spots to protect people’s lives and property.
As a country, Zambia is known for its peace and tranquility which we have enjoyed for the past 50 years. It is the desire of every well meaning Zambian that this status quo continues.
As Zambians our collective fight must be against poverty, disease and general underdevelopment and not wield weapons against each other.
Zambians should absolutely reject anyone denting the country’s impeccable credentials of peace, unity and love.
It is important for everyone to realize that we only have one country and we should have a responsibility to maintain peace and order. This Government will not condone any lawlessness regardless of who is involved.
Hon. Dr. Joseph Katema, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
