Kabwata Member of Parliament Given Lubinda is hopeful that the release of the new constitution will address information gaps which exist between elected leaders and electorate.

Speaking when he officiated at the official launch of the state of democratic accountability in Zambia project held at Pamodzi hotel in Lusaka today, Mr. Lubinda said there is need to refine mechanisms and platforms to help electorates reach out to their elected leaders and that the new constitution provides an opportunity for such improvements.
Mr. Lubinda also expressed delight at the project which has targeted improving accountability and increasing interactions between the electorate and their elected leaders as well as building capacity for the electorate to hold elected leaders accountable.

” There are no mechanisms or platforms to help them reach out to their elected leaders to either share information or air their grievances. It is hoped as we refine our constitution through this constitution making process, such gaps will be addressed.

“Accountability is one key elements of any democratic society. I am delighted to be informed that one of the aims of this project is to increase community interactions and dialogue between the elected and electorate and build capacities of electorate to hold us, elected leaders, accountable to our promises and actions when in power.

This is a right step in the right direction but requires serious capacity building of citizens to be able to do so. As politicians, we sometimes need to be reminded and checked on what we do and an enlightened citizenry is key,” Mr. Lubinda said.

And the law maker has advised fellow law makers and those aspiring to be either MPs or Councillors not to make outrageous promises during campaigns which they would not fulfill once elected to the respected positions.

Mr. Lubinda said the role of an MP or Councillor is to speak on behalf and facilitate development in his/her constituency or ward and not make promises which are at times unrealistic and prove problematic once one is elected.

The law maker noted that the tendency by competing candidates to promise things they cannot deliver has contributed to the disappearance of MPs from their constituencies leading to electorates feeling betrayed and disowned.

“You all know that the role of an MP or councillor is to facilitate development in his/her constituency or ward enact laws/by-laws and speak for the people. However, am aware that during campaigns, many aspiring candidates make electoral promises aimed at outwitting other contestants, promises which sometimes prove problematic to fulfill once elected.

“This has created problems in some constituencies leading to some of the elected leaders disappearing from their constituencies. When electorates come to constituency offices, they rarely find these MPs but only their assistants. This scenario has created anxieties among the electorate who sometimes feel betrayed and disowned by their elected leaders,” Mr. Lubinda said.

Mr. Lubinda also bemoaned the lack of clear cut mechanisms for holding elected leaders which leaves electorates with limited options for acting against such leaders.

“Since there are no clear cut mechanisms to hold elected leaders accountable, electorates remain with only one option, complaints against the elected leaders or indeed government for the failure to deliver on the promises. They also only wait for the right time to use their votes to vote the under-performing leaders out.

Indeed, the culture of democratic accountability among political leaders needs to be harnessed in Zambia. Political players should be reminded to make moderate and achievable promises rather than astronomical ones,” explained the parliamentarian.

Mr. Lubinda has since commended FODEP for the initiative which said would go a long way in promoting dialogue and interaction between elected leaders and electorates.

He also advised to listen to citizens when ever they demand for the fulfillment of the promises.

“This project will be a reminder to all elected leaders and government that their loyalty is to the people and not themselves hence the need to be accountable as power lies in the people.

“In this regard, when citizens demand for fulfillment of promises that we politicians make, they should not be accosted but listened to. I am aware that during election campaigns both those in government and outside make outrageous promises which electorate use to make decisions on,”

And speaking earlier FODEP Programs Chairperson Adrian Muunga emphasized the need for democratic accountability.

“Democratic Accountability requires that leaders, citizens and institutions of governance like political parties are responsive and answerable to the needs of the people, the electorates. They should also serve the role of holding government accountable in line with the interests of their constituencies and being accountable themselves to the citizens they serve.”

A Lusaka man who was recently arrested for masquerading as a medical doctor says he resorted to pretending as a medical doctor because he needed to feed his family.

Bonaventure Ng’uni, 25 of Lusaka’s George Compound told Journalists outside the Lusaka Magistrate Court shortly before he was sentenced to three and half years that he does not have a job and life is hard.

Magistrate Sheila Mweene convicted and sentenced Nguni to three and half years imprisonment with hard labour on four counts for impersonating a public officer, obtaining money by false pretences and obtaining goods by false pretences.

“ I have two children and my wife is six months pregnant and I don’t have a job, life is hard and I thought I could make some money by posing as a doctor. Infact I never even administered any treatment, I was just promising people and getting their money,” Nguni revealed.

He added, “I’m so sorry for my actions and I apologise to the nation. I was driven into this crooked life because of hardships.”

Facts of the matter are that Ng’uni this year masqueraded as medical Doctor at Levy Mwanawasa Hospital where he swindled unsuspecting members of the public on the pretext that he could offer express medical care.

Ng’uni also obtained two laptops from Peter Lemba of UNZA Ridgeway campus after duping that he would pay for the laptops but he never did.

Ng’uni admitted to all the four counts.

And in mitigation Ng’uni pleaded for leniency before the court as he had two children and a six months pregnant wife adding that he was the sole bread winner of his family.

But Magistrate Mweene told Ng’uni that he had insulted the medical profession by masquerading as medical practitioner and had caused a lot of damage to society and therefore deserved a custodial sentence.

The United Party for National Development (UPND) has cast doubt on the authenticity of the still pictures of President Michael Sata chairing a Cabinet meeting released by State House yesterday.

UPND Vice President, Dr. Canicius Banda has wondered why State House did not invite media houses to State House rather than resorting to sending still pictures.

Addressing a media briefing in Lusaka this morning, Dr. Banda says State House should release motion pictures or better still invite different media organizations for a press conference for the country to be sure that President Sata is well.

He argues that in this technological era, it is possible and easy to make such pictures and allegedly deceive the masses that the Head of State is well.

Dr. Banda told journalists that it calls for more efforts from State House to ensure that the people are given a clear position on the state of affairs regarding the health of the President.

He says he personally believes that the pictures where released to allegedly deceive the people that President Sata is well and end the speculation that he is unwell.

Speaking at the same event, UPND President Hakainde Hichilema says the people of Zambia are living in fear because of the way the PF government is running government affairs.

Mr. Hichilema maintains that the alleged confusion in PF is greatly affecting developmental projects.

Meanwhile, Former Foreign Affairs Minister in the Chiluba administration, Kelly Walubita Senior, has joined the UPND stating that he is troubled to see the way the country is being run.

Others who have joined the UPND include; former ABZ Vice President Patricia Mwashingwele, former MMD Kabwata constituency Chairlady Mary Kaisala, former PF Lusaka District Chairlady Shell Mulyata and ABZ National Chairman Dexter Moono among others.

Meanwhile,United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has appealed to government to pay serious attention to the management of public resources.

Mr. Hichilema has told Qfm News in an interview that his party is vindicated by the statement by the International Monetary Fund that Zambia lacks economic and public finance management.

Mr. Hichilema says there is need for government to monitor how public finances are being managed.

He adds that government should also ensure that it does not exceed its borrowing limit by accruing debt beyond the expectations of the people.

The UPND leader has also reiterated his appeal to government to address the continued high cost of living considering that the majority of the Zambian people are struggling to afford a descent meal.

During a public discussion organised by the Post Freedom Committee of the Post Newspapers over the weekend, Dr Kasolo stated that Zambia was not ready to face a possible outbreak of the killer Ebola disease.

“We are not yet there to say we can touch our hearts and say we are ready to handle the Ebola virus, unless there is something being done that I am not aware of. Otherwise I am convinced that in our current status, we cannot handle the disease, that is my personal views,” Dr Kasolo stated.

But Health Minister Dr Joseph Kasonde said Dr Kasolo’s statement could warrant his recall from the WHO regional office in the Congo Brazzaville as it does not reflect the correct state of affairs.

Dr Kasolo who is the Director for Disease Prevention and Control Cluster has been working with the WHO Africa Office since 2004.

“We will have to consider our secondment of Dr Kasolo because he is undermining the efforts that we are making in. He cannot make such a statement without consulting with the people on the ground,” Dr Kasonde said.

“As a Ministry, we take great exception to such statements. The Ministry was not consulted and we have done a lot of preparedness to handle Ebola if an outbreak occurred,” he said.

Dr Kasonde told a media briefing in the company of WHO Country Representative for Zambia Dr Olusegun Babaniyi that Zambia has constituted a team which has already conducted training and awareness at all the major entry points including international airports.

He said personal protective equipment has also been procured and all provincial medical personal are on high alert.

“I would like the nation to know that there is no immediate threat to Zambia and Zambia in its history has never recorded Ebola. The Ministry is perturbed by Dr Kasolo’s sentiments because they are misleading,” Dr Kasonde said.