The Electoral Commission of Zambia(ECZ)
has urged the Zambia Police Service to take stern action against perpetrators of violence in Mangangu by-elections campaign.

ECZ Public Relations Manager Crispin Akufuna says the police service should implement the law on anyone caught abrogating the electoral code of conduct without fear or favour .
Mr. Akufuna told ZANIS in a statement today that his Commission is concerned with the media reports of increasing levels of intolerance and violence among political players in the Mangango by-elections.

He said all political parties have a duty to ensure that their candidates, cadres and supporters abide by the electoral regulations and the code of conduct.

He said it was the responsibility of all political parties participating in elections to restrain their members from provoking their opponents and inciting violence.

Mr. Akufuna said that leaders of all political parties should be reminded that they have a greater responsibility to lead by example by promoting tolerance and peace and setting a level playing field for free and fair elections.

He has since appealed to all political party carders, the electorate and the general public to embrace peace and not to be used as instruments of violence.

Levels of violence continue being reported in Mangango Constituency in Western province contested by political heavy weight such as the ruling PF and the opposition UPND among others.

And Mr. Akufuna in the same statement says nominations in Chilochabalenje Ward in Katuba Constituency will be held tomorrow and that voting is scheduled to take place on September 11,2014.

A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has attributed the lack of development in most parts of the country to the limited use of local languages in the nation.

Northern Province Leadership Foundation Platform chairman, Netron Chishimba, stated that his NGO has discovered that some problems in the country were as a result of the reluctance by decision-makers not to engage individuals who do not speak English Language.

Mr Chishimba said the country has a number of people that have wisdom and natural intelligence, adding that their abilities were not fully exploited by the nation because they were unable to use English in most instances.

He gave examples of China and Tanzania as some countries that were making serious strides in development because of their strong use of the local language.

Mr Chishimba appealed to authorities to embrace all citizens if the country is to benefit from their talents.

He also appealed to members of the public to participate actively in the governance of the nation.He said governance should not be left to the party in government alone, saying all stakeholders, including political parties, the civil society movements and private citizens must also contribute in national developmental issues.

Mr Chshimba said people should not criticise and capitalise on the mistakes committed by the party in government but offer alternatives and correct the mistakes.

Aspiring Kabwata Constituency Member of Parliament Clement Tembo has advised politicians to be servants of the people.

Mr Tembo said politicians should adopt a culture of serving the electorate who put them into office.

He said political leaders must be servants of the people and not masters adding that time has come for politicians to stop misrepresenting the electorates by submitting their own agenda instead of that of the electorate.

Mr Tembo was speaking in an interview shortly after attending a Church service at St Pauls UCZ in Kabwata constituency.

The Church service was also attended by First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda, Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda and several other dignitaries.

“I would like to call on politicians to put the interest of the people first. We have to stop this habit of serving our own interest first and neglecting the people that put us in office. I would also like thank the Church in Zambia for continuing to play a reconciliatory role in the nation,” Mr Tembo said.

He added, “The Church must further help transfer the mantle of leadership from the older to younger generation of leaders. We need a transfer of leadership from old political leaders to the younger generation.”

This is a time of Jubilee, let every Zambian show and practice love, it’s all we need. I attended Church service today to learn more because I believe politicians should listen more than they talk.”

Mr Tembo has already declared his intentions to contest the Kabwata parliamentary seat in 2016.

Farmers in Mkushi District have bemoaned delayed payments by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for maize transactions of the current crop marketing season.

One farmer, Golden Musonko of Kakumo Cooperative, said farmers had expected to be paid within two weeks after delivering their maize in early July.

Mr Musonko complained that five weeks had lapsed since farmers delivered their maize, adding that the FRA had not paid any of them.

Another Farmer, William Njelekwa of Milimo Cooperative, described the situation as worrisome, saying the farmers needed the money to prepare for the next farming season.

Mr Njelekwa appealed to the Government to help speed up the payments owed to the farmers.

In response to the farmers concerns, Mkushi District Commissioner (DC), Luka Mwamba, assured that Government was doing everything possible to facilitate for the quick payment.

Mr Mwamba said he had received an assurance from the Provincial FRA office that farmers would soon be paid.

He also mentioned that by press time, maize supplied by the farmers had exceeded its target as 11, 500 metric tonnes (230,000 by 50 kg bags) of maize had been bought by the FRA.

He said the situation had resulted in the shortage of grain packing bags, adding that more bags were expected to be brought in by the FRA soon.

And in reference to the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP), Mr Mwamba disclosed that the District was earmarked to receive 35,588 bags of D-compound fertilizer.

He said 34,188 bags of urea fertilizer would be allocated alongside 17,094 maize seed, as well as 28 metric tonnes of ground nut seed.

He added that the FISP inputs were expected to be delivered to the district soon.