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APC president Nason Msoni has challenged government and Secretary to Cabinet Roland Msiska in particular to clear out speculations that the instrument of power was not properly handed over by republican president Michael Sata before he left for Israel.
Speaking in an interview Mr. Msoni said there is need for Mr. Msiska to clearly state and show the public that the instrument of power was not erroneously acquired by the acting president and curtail any speculations by the public.
He noted that there is need for the public know that their acting president was legitimately left in that position.
“In civilized democracy secretary to the cabinet will put up a gazette notice or an instrument for public scrutiny in the government gazette so that the public is aware who actually has the authority passed to by the president.
“In the current circumstance; the suspicion is right we think that a treasonable offence may have been committed therefore secretary to cabinet should clear the air on these speculations by putting up a gazette notice for public scrutiny,” Mr. Msoni said.
Mr. Msoni also challenged Members of Parliament to demand for proof indicating whether indeed the president indeed left the instrument of power with Mr. Kabimba.
Mr. Msoni was commenting on speculations by some sectors of the media that the president did not properly hand over the instrument of power to Mr. Kabimba.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE MMD
MMD Responds To Attacks by Wynter Kabimba
Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba’s unwarranted attack on the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) as reported in the Sunday Post of 29th June 2014 cannot go unchallenged. He was quoted as saying “We are lucky as a country that God gave us Michael Sata to redeem us from the MMD slavery and corruption.” It is rather disingenuous of Mr Kabimba to unashamedly accuse us in this manner and dishonestly reduce the 20-year rule of the MMD to one thing – Corruption.
We wish to remind Mr Kabimba that if it had not been for the MMD fighting for liberation from the One-Party State, he would not have a platform to pontificate today. No amount of falsehoods from Mr Kabimba will ever erase the proud history of the MMD. We not only brought back multi-party politics which the Patriotic Front Government is attempting to destroy. We liberated the press which he is using today to spread his lies and innuendos.
Soon after assuming power in 1991, crippling shortages of essential commodities became a thing of the past. The public transport sector became fully liberalized and Zambians were empowered with home ownership for the first time since Independence. They could freely criticize the president, engage in private business, had unfettered access to foreign exchange, could freely associate with others, sue the government, travel anywhere they wanted, participate in free and fair elections (against fellow humans and not frogs) and access an improved judicial system. The standard of living of the average Zambian as measured by Per Capita Income, Life Expectancy, Infant Mortality and many other statistics remarkably improved on our watch.
Is this what Mr Kabimba calls “Slavery”?
His accusations of corruption in the MMD have already been dealt with before. He is attempting to resurrect a dead issue. The New MMD under my leadership has already made amends and opened a new chapter by acknowledging our past mistakes. Ironically, the current Patriotic Front (PF) government from top to bottom, including current ministers, has people who were previously key members of the same MMD government he is now trying to discredit. Is he saying his colleagues in government are corrupt slave-masters?
The rule of the PF in the last three years has completely vindicated the MMD which warned the Zambian people that they were dealing with a dangerous group of people who would cause them to regret their decision to vote for the PF. Everyone from marketeers, farmers, businesses men, investors, donors, labour unions, NGOs and miners are mourning the great tragedy that has befallen Zambia because of the PF Government. It is not uncommon to hear street vendors and taxi drivers say “Mudala alitu gon’ga”, meaning “The old man lied to us.”
Zambians have been taken on a disastrous boat ride (Pa Bwato) to nowhere by the PF Government and not a single day passes without them wondering where we are going. They now realize that the PF Government is just power-hungry and has no vision, no heart and no genuine compassion for the suffering people of Zambia.
The PF must be the most hypocritical government since Independence. They have taken us backwards a quarter of a Century to the time when Zambians lived in fear of their own government. Our people are not free to speak their minds; not free to assemble; not free to campaign; not free to even have indoor political meetings. They can be arrested anytime on flimsy grounds; can be beaten anyhow and even killed by PF cadres. We are back to the days of the “Party and its Government” when the State machinery was abused for intimidation of anyone with dissenting political views.
Is this not the real slavery Mr Kabimba should be addressing?
Mr Kabimba has accused the MMD of corruption, and yet the scale of corruption in the PF government begs belief. How did they award the single-sourced tender for renovations of State House to their own Minister of Finance within weeks of assuming power? Why are there still many unanswered questions on the procurement of oil through Trafigura, for which Mr Kabimba himself was investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), only to be “acquitted” under very questionable circumstances?
Why does the Road Development Agency (RDA) report directly to State House? Why are there leaked bank statements in the public domain suggesting that large sums of money have been paid into the president’s personal bank account, allegedly as inducements to award multi-million Dollar road construction contracts? Why have Chinese Companies suddenly become the darlings of the PF when prior to 2011, they were accused of corrupt dealings with the MMD Government? Why was a banquet thrown for these companies when they were targets of threats to be repatriated upon PF getting into power? Who is really benefitting from the celebrated “unprecedented infrastructure development projects” of the PF?
Why is there a deeply entrenched culture of lawlessness in the PF, such that Mr Kabimba is now publicly confessing to illegally smuggling in Kenyans to conduct Parallel Voter Tabulation during the 2011 elections without the knowledge of the Electoral Commission of Zambia? Why is illegal land-grabbing from innocent Zambians by PF cadres being tolerated by the PF Government which is wasting time and resources by appointing an unproductive Lands Commission of Enquiry? Why are PF Ministers arguing and contradicting each other in public?
We shall leave it to the Zambians to answer these questions.
The New MMD stands on a platform of honesty, morality and integrity. We shall endeavor to be truthful in managing the affairs of our people. We will at all costs avoid the temptation, which the PF has fallen into, of making sweet, exaggerated but unattainable promises to our people. When faced with difficult decisions, we will tell the people of Zambia the truth about what can and cannot be done. We will not promise to do things in “90 Days”.
We wish to remind Zambians that Mr Kabimba’s accusations are just another chapter in the vicious ongoing campaign to destroy the MMD through various machinations that include targeting its Members of Parliament, telling outright lies and spreading misinformation. Even prior to the 2011 elections, Zambians were subjected to an endless bombardment of attacks and accusations against the MMD through a vicious, widespread and malicious propaganda campaign.
Instead of focusing on bringing the much-promised development, PF are wasting time and tax-payer money sponsoring divisions within MMD while publicly pretending that MMD is a dead party. If MMD is dead, why is so much effort being put into destroying it?
The PF party President Michael Sata on 31st October 2012 as reported by ZANIS acknowledged that the biggest threat to the PF Government is the MMD. He said “… there is a big vacuum; we are on a big MMD volcano….” Needless to say, he was right.
The New MMD will continue emerging victorious from each and every attack from the PF which thrives on deception, falsehoods and extreme exaggeration to win cheap popularity from unsuspecting nationals. We shall never be put down or destroyed. Every attack is like an exercise of a muscle that makes us stronger and bigger and is leading to renewed public support. The MMD is being purified by fire, removing all the chaff and producing pure gold.
MMD stands ready when re-elected to hit the ground running from day one due to its vast knowledge and experience.
Zambians, we urge you to never experiment again.
Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba
MMD President
MMD – The New Hope for Zambia
THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has appealed to political parties participating in the forth coming Mangango parliamentary by-election in Western Province to abide by the electoral code of conduct.
ECZ Public Relations Manager, Cris Akufuna said in an interview yesterday that it was important for the political parties to uphold the electoral code of conduct to ensure smooth running of the
election.
He said preparations for next month’s Mangango parliamentary by-election had reached an advanced stage.
Mr Akufuna said that the training of district staff had since been completed.
He explained that his organization was currently training voter education facilitators to ensure that they were abreast with the process of conducting the by-election.
He said the ECZ was doing everything possible to ensure that the by-election was conducted in the best way possible.
The ECZ has set August 19, 2014, as the date on which parliamentary by- election for Mangango constituency in Western province would be held.
The by- election comes after the nullification of the election of MMD’s Robert Taundi Chiseke by the Supreme Court on May 19, 2014 on grounds that his election was fraught with electoral malpractices.
Patriotic Front (PF) losing candidate, Richard Simbula petitioned the election of Mr Chiseke alleging illegal and corrupt practices.
Before the nullification of his seat, Mr Chiseke served as Deputy Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry.
Community Development, Mother and Child Health minister , Emerine Kabanshi,
GOVERNMENT says the knowledge of HIV status can help people make decisions to protect themselves and their sexual partners.
Community Development, Mother and Child Health minister , Emerine Kabanshi, says Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) has benefits which are relatively cost-effective intervention in preventing HIV transmission.
Ms Kabanshi said those that test negative can have their minds put at rest and be encouraged to reduce their risk and be referred for appropriate follow-ups services and have their health monitored.
She was speaking in a speech read on her behalf by her deputy, Ingrid Mpande, at this year’s National VCT Day held at Chiweza Primary School in Nyimba District under the theme: “ Reaching Everyone, Everywhere with Annual HIV Counselling and Testing Services.”
Ms. Kabanshi noted that VCT programmes and early diagnosis play an important role in accessing potentially life-saving care.
“Individuals who learn of their positive status are also likely to reduce risk-taking behaviors, thereby reducing the risk of onward transmission or becoming with other sexually transmitted infections and can help in reducing conditions like cancer of the cervix,” she said.
And National AID Council (NAC) Chairperson, Bishop Joshua Banda, said for a long time, the country has stressed the importance of HIV testing as an entry point into Anti-Retroviral Therapy, positive living and adoption of HIV risk reduction behaviors.
Dr. Banda however, said while the country appreciated the increase in numbers of people who tested for HIV, during the National VCT Day, NAC demanded for the services to be carried out throughout the year taking advantage of readily available services in community based facilities.
“It is the desire of NAC as a national coordinating body of HIV response for us as a country to consolidate the gains of concerted efforts of the past three decades across the variety of prevention, care and support,” he said.
Dr. Banda also said the joint United Nations programme on HIV and AIDS ranked Zambia as one of the seven high performing countries in the world especially in the area of Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) which was currently at over 90 percent access rate.
He also challenged some pastors who are fond of discouraging those on HIV treatment to stop medication after being prayed for, adding that, God gave people drugs so that they can be healed and not to be discouraged.
“From a religious angle, I am aware of some wrongs that are going on. Some church leaders calling themselves prophets are discouraging patients from taking drugs after being prayed for forgetting that God has given us knowledge to come up with medicine, ” Dr. Banda said.
He called on people to report those telling HIV patients to stop taking drugs after being prayed for, to his office so that appropriate action can be taken.
Meanwhile, Nyimba District Community Medical Officer, Jonathan Chama, said during the VCT week, out of the target of 10, 000, 4, 052 males were reached and 6, 476 females were also reached, thereby beating the target that was given.
Dr. Chama also observed that 400 Voluntary Male Circumcision was also done, including family planning and cervical cancer testing.
And Chief Ndake thanked government for choosing Nyimba to host the event, saying, the hosting of the will put the district on the map to showcase the fight against the fight of HIV and AIDS.
Former Speaker of the National Assembly Amussa Mwanamwambwa
FORMER Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa says parliament and the media should work together because they are essential players in enhancing democracy.
Mr Mwanamwambwa also said parliament and the media should respect each other’s role in society.
He was speaking in Lusaka yesterday during a seminar for members of Parliament (MPs) under the auspices of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
Mr Mwanamwambwa presented a paper on: ‘Developing effective ways of dealing with the media to ensure strong advocacy and coverage of Parliament’.
Mr Mwanamwambwa said when Parliament and the media join hands, society becomes better informed and takes part in decision-making processes.
“Parliament and the media are partners in development and their role in society is cardinal and hence the need for them to work together for the good of society,” Mr Mwanamwambwa said.
And speaking when he officially opened the seminar, Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini said the seminar was aimed at exposing MPs to pertinent issues involving the media, women’s participation in politics and decision-making processes.
Dr Matibini implored MPs to find out what hinders women from participating in politics and other sub-national decision-making bodies.
He said MPs should explore and identify lasting solutions to problems.
On the role of the media, Dr Matibini said Parliament should use the media to promote transparency, good governance, expose practices that are detrimental to democratic development and ensure that factual information is provided to the public.
MPs in attendance included Minister of Home Affairs Ngosa Simbyakula and Minister of Gender and Child Development Inonge Wina.
Also at the seminar were Monze Central MP Jack Mwiimbu (UPND), Kasama Central MP Geoffrey Mwamba (PF), Chipangali MP Vincent Mwale (MMD), and Kabwata MP Given Lubinda (PF),
Others were Nakonde MP Abel Sichula (PF), Chasefu MP Chifumu Banda (FDD), Lundazi MP Mkhondo Lungu (MMD), Kasempa MP Kabinga Pande (MMD), Senga Hills MP Kapembwa Simbao (MMD) and Rodgers Mwelwa (PF) of Mwansabombwe.
WORLD leader of the Anglican Church Justin Welby has arrived in Zambia for a working visit. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England.
He is the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and diocesan bishop of the diocese of Canterbury. He is the 105th leader of the church.
The Anglican leader was received at Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda International Airport yesterday by the dean of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Canon Charlie Thomas, Anglican church bishop David Njovu, Archbishop Albert Chama and British High Commissioner Thomas Thornton, among others.
Archbishop Welby said since assuming office in 2012, his mission is to visit all the district offices around the world and that central Africa is his priority.
He said he will meet Anglican bishops, examine the future of the church and assess the impact of natural resources on the poor.
“I grew up in an oil-rich background and so I want to look at the impact of natural resources on the citizenry and how the Anglican Church is responding to the challenges of the people in need,” Archbishop Welby said.
The Anglican leader said he wants to see how the church is responding in a prophetic way to challenges facing the masses, especially on justice.
He said he will also look at wealth distribution among the poor and how Zambia is fairing as a democratic state.
And Archbishop Welby said Zambia has been a role model to most African countries in conducting effective and clean elections on the continent.
He said this when he paid a courtesy call on Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson Justice Irene Mambilima at her office yesterday.
“My experience in the last 40 years I have been in Africa, Kenya in particular as a student, is that Zambia has been managing its electoral process very well. The transparency of the elections in this country should not be taken for granted,” the Archbishop said.
He also said the British government values and supports the management process of elections in Zambia.
He said ECZ should also ensure that it continues to play its role of controlling the country’s electoral process by bringing people together during and after elections.
And welcoming Archbishop Welby, Justice Mambilima said the commission will continue working together with faith-based organisations in ensuring that the country continues to have free and fair elections.
Archbishop Welby is scheduled to hold two services in Lusaka and the Copperbelt.
He is the third high-profile leader to visit Zambia in the last two weeks after Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao and Japanese Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko Akishino
Re: RULING ON THE POINT OF ORDER RAISED BY THE HON DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIR, MR. GABRIEL NAMULAMBE, MP, ON AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE DAILY NATION NEWSPAPER VOL. 3, ISSUE NO. 703 DATED 6TH MARCH, 2014 ENTITLED “SPEAKER ABROGATING CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY”.
I have been trying to digest the ruling you made relating to the subject above.
I find your ruling unfair, intimidating and tantamount to an infringement on article 20 on freedom of expression as enshrined in our working Constitution.
While I agree with you that freedom of expression is not absolute but I find solace in your defense against the State in the case of Attorney-General v Clarke (2008) AHRLR 259 (ZaSC 2008).
As learned counsel for the Respondent you argued that; the right to support or criticize governments and politicians is fundamental to the democratic way of life and the freedom of speech and expression and is one which cannot be denied without violating those fundamental principles of liberty and justice which lie at the base of civil and political institutions.
You also submitted that on this ground by saying that expression of views which may be unpopular, obnoxious, distasteful or wrong, is nonetheless within the ambit of freedom of speech and expression, provided there is no advocacy of/or incitement to violence or other illegal conduct.
To emphasize your position you even cautioned the State that stifling of the peaceful expression of legitimate dissent today may result inexorably in the catastrophic explosion of violence some other day.
There are three (3) arms of Government including Parliament which you are in charge of. As such, you cannot insulate yourself, as a Speaker, from criticisms like you rightly extrapolated in the case that you defended gallantly.
I wish to submit that all public workers, including the heads of the 3 arms of Government, are answerable to the citizens who give them the opportunity to serve them. Therefore, they (citizens) have a right to express their opinions, positive or negative. It is however, regrettable that such opinions are only graciously accepted if they are positive other than on the contrary like I did in my article published by the Daily Nation.
I still stand on firm ground to challenge you to resign if you find that you cannot execute your duties as a Speaker according to the powers vested in your office by the Constitution to hold the Executive and the rest of the members accountable in Parliament like when you expressively said you can’t compel the executive to discuss the issue of the draft Constitution when the other members of the House were demanding for answers on the issue. This is my informed opinion which I deserve to hold.
Born from a politician, I have been a kin follower of issues of Governance including Parliament and I am witnessing to such antagonism between the citizens and the Speaker for the first time. Indeed this can be attributed to a number of reasons. In my view democracy is maturing in Zambia and threats of prosecutions for expressing an opinion will not do. Some of us would be rather be prisoners of liberties than prisoners of conscience.
I hope you will find my views worth of your consideration to even be more firm in leading the House on behalf of the citizens because at the end of the day we bring the person of who we are to the offices we hold.
President Michael Sata shakes hands with former Republican president Rupiah Banda at the commemoration of Africa Freedom Day at the freedom statue in Lusaka
Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz has reported that Zambian President Michael Sata has been discharged from the Sheba Medical Center where he had been receiving treatment and that he was “not in critical condition” during his stay at the facility.
Quoting an Israeli, the paper said that president Sata is “not in critical condition,” and that he may even meet with outgoing Israeli president Shimon Peres later this week.
“He was at Sheba Medical Center until Thursday when he left that hospital,” Haaretz was told by the source. Israeli sources confirmed Monday that his condition is “not critical.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed Monday that Sata is in Israel for a working visit, but declined to elaborate.
Kabwe Warriors coach Mohamed Fathy is promising to turn Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu Stadium into a fortress in the second half of the 2014 season.
Warriors are unbeaten at home in two successive games for the first time this season under the Egyptian.
On Sunday, early relegation favourites Warriors beat second placed Zesco United 1-0 a fortnight after they shocked Nchanga Rangers 2-0 at the same venue.
“No more Warriors losing at home this season, it is over,” Fathy said.
Interestingly, Warriors have only suffered three home defeats from eight league games at Railway Grounds this season where they have won twice and draw three times.
Meanwhile, Fathy has a warning for their next opponents at ‘Ucar’ on July 19 when the league resumes after the three-week mid-season break.
“We will be ready for the second round. We will host Power Dynamos and we will ready for them!” Fathy said.
The 2014 Barclays Cup will have some added glamour after Lusaka Dynamos qualified for this years tournament.
Hanif Adams’ side qualified after topping the FAZ Division One South table at the midway point in Week 17 as they chase their first return to the FAZ Super Division since they were demoted in 2010.
They join their old foes Mighty Mufulira Wanderers who topped Division One North to make their Barclays Cup debut.
Dynamos beat fourth placed Zesco Malaiti 2-1 on Saturday to stay top of the table on 36 points, tied with Luena Buffaloes who won 1-0 away at Livingstone Pirates.
Chellah Siame scored a brace for Dynamos to send them into the draws.
Siames’ brace took his tally of the season to eight goals in 17 games.
Dynamos are not new to the competition and were quarterfinalists in 2007 losing 1-0 to eventual champions and record three-time winners Zesco United.
A season later, Dynamos won the last BP Top 8 cup in 2008 but failed to complete a cup double in the Barclays Cup when they lost 3-1 to Green Buffaloes in the third and fourth place playoff.
Meanwhile, Dynamos and Mighty head into the draws to face an interesting field.
Dynamos and Mighty are set for a reunion with Konkola Blades, Zanaco, Nkana, Zesco, two-time winners Power Dynamos and 2012 champions Napsa Stars .
Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata has invited South Korean investors to invest in Zambia because of the country’s favourable investment opportunities and conditions the Patriotic Front government is offering.
The Mayor was speaking this morning in Incheon, the second largest City of South Korea when he met the Chairman of Industrial Bank of Korea Mr. Young Hyun Jo and the General Manager of Woori Bank Mr Yoon, Young Mook. Councillor Sata said Zambia had great investment opportunities in sesveral sectors ranging from mining, agriculture, hospitality and construction industries that have attracted various world investors.
He said the favourable policies entrenched by the government of the Republic of Zambia has made the country to be a favourable destinatsion for investsment. Councillor Sata said that it was evident by all that Zambia has become a hub in the sub-region which offers great investment opportunities to both local and foreign investors.
“Zambia has been a peaceful country and this has made it to be an attractive centre for most investors. Our coming here in South Korea at the invitation of Dae Han Construction Company is to explore further investment opportunties and to invite you the potential investors to come to zambia, Lusaka in particular so that we can see which role you can play to help in responding to the challenges our is facing,” he said.
Councillor Sata said Lusaka, like other cities in developing countries, was in dire need of support in areas such as waste mangement and proper land use management in order to promote development. He said among the serious problems the city was facing was lack of recycling plants for waste which has made waste management a nightmare for the Local authority to handle. And Lusaka City Council Town Clerk Alex Mwansa indicated that the City of Lusaka had numerous investsment opportunities which interested investors could venture into. He said besides the areas of waste management and construction, the city was facing huge housing defecit as well as poor water and sanitation especially in the peri-urban areas. The Town Clerk further indicated that the Council was also looking for investors to partner with through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) in constructing the parkades at Civic Centre and the Central Business District (CBD).
“The problem of congestsion coupled with lack of parking space has become a huge challenge for the Local authority. Already in trying to find solutions to the problem the Council approved the construction of parkades which at the moments awaits a willing investor to come on board to partner with the Council in the building these two facilities,” he said. The Town Clerk said as a matter of urgency the Council would invite any Korean investor who would be willing to give suspport in any of the sectors under the auspice of the local authority. “As a local authority we have approximately 61 functions delegated to us under the Local Government Act and that in itself gives you a picture of much workload we have and how we desperately need assistence in a number of areas,” he said.
And IBK Chairman Mr. Young Hyun Jo said the bank was willing to support any South Korean investor willing to take investment in Zambia. Mr. Jo informed the mayor that his bank has had standing relationships with companies like Dae Han Construction company and any investment opportunity rendered to Dae Han Company had an assurance of financial support from the IBK. Mr. Jo said he was aware of good investment opportunmities in Zambia and a long standing political stability which was has made the country a good place for investment. He assured the mayor that his bank was going to provide financial backup if Korean companies were to express interest in investing in Zambia. “The first step we need to undertake is to develop a relationship step by step and then we can see how we can support each other,” he said.
Meanwhile, Woori Bank General Manager Mr. Yoon, Young Mook has also pledged unwavering support in financing projects in Zambia if Korean investors were to be considered. He said South Korea enjoyed warm relationship ties with Zambia hence investing in Zambia was a welcome move which his bank would consider. “The goodness is that we have met and so let us continue talking, as a bank we are willing to do business everywhere provided the conditions are favourable and we are assured of security for our business,” he said.
The Mayor is in South Korea at the invitation by Dae Han Construction Company to explore investment from South Korean companies especially in construction industry.
The National Restoration Party NAREP has condemned acting president Wynter Kabimba’s remarks that government does not need to ask for permission from traditional leaders describing the remarks as disrespectful and an insult to the country’s traditional leadership.
NAREP National Secretary Reverend Jevan Kamanga says the PF to stop thinking that they own the country just because they are in power as Zambia belongs to its people.
Rev. Kamanga noted that though the says land is vested in the President on behalf of the people, Chiefs are the owners of land and deserve to be respected when it comes to issues of land in their respective chiefdoms.
He urged the acting president who is also the Justice Minister to reflect on his statement and apologize as his words undermines the powers of the chiefs in the country.
Below is the full statement.
NATIONAL RESTORATION PARTY PRESS STATEMENT
KABIMBA DRUNK WITH PRESIDENTIAL POWERS
The recent statement by the Acting President Hon. Wynter Kabimba that government does not need to get permission from Chiefs or anyone to acquire land is an insult and disrespectful to traditional leaders and must not be condoned by all well-meaning Zambians.
It seems our Acting President is so excited and drunk with presidential powers such that he does not know what he is talking about. It is unfortunate that this PF government think they own Zambia just because they are the ones in power. This ‘Boma Ni Boma’ mentality has to end because the land in our country is not for the PF government, but for the people of Zambia. Government needs to get permission from traditional leaders to acquire land. Even though the law says all land is vested in the President on behalf of the people, Chiefs are the owners of land and deserve to be respected when it comes to issues of land in their respective chiefdoms. Governments will come and go, but chiefdoms will always be there, hence the need to respect traditional leaders.
Acting President, Hon. Kabimba should apologise for his statement because his words are undermining the powers of the chiefs. Already the PF have created anarchy with the Bembas over the throne of the Chitimukulu and now our Acting president wants to create more anarchy with traditional leaders across the country. We urge all the traditional leaders in the country not to take Hon. Kabimba’s statement seriously because he is just excited with his current position of Acting President.
We challenge Hon. Kabimba to tell the nation why PF like involving themselves in traditional affairs. The PF should not forget that these traditional leaders are leaders who must be respected by everyone including the PF themselves.
We send a warning to Hon. Kabimba to be extremely careful with the words he brings out to the people because he will need them in 2016 during campaigns. Hon. Kabimba should not misuse the Presidential powers just because he is the Acting President.
Reverend Jevan Kamanga NAREP National Secretary National Restoration Party (NAREP) 30 June 2014
Prince and Princes S Akashino arrives at KKIA and is welcome by Prof. Nkandu Luo, Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs and Japanese Ambassador to Zambia. They later watched traditional dances by the Zambia National Dance Troupe
Acting President Wynter Kabimba has commended Japan for contributing to Zambia’s development during the 50 years the two countries have enjoyed diplomatic relations.
And Prince Akishino said he was delighted to visit Zambia at a time when the country was celebrating its 50 years of independence.
Mr Kabimba said Japanese aided projects in Zambia have addressed the core areas of the country’s development.
He cited Education, Health, Agriculture and Local Government as some of the areas that Japan has assisted Zambia develop.
The Acting Republican President said this when their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino of Japan met him at government complex, in Lusaka, today.
Mr Kabimba who is also Justice Minister said the Zambian government is grateful that Japanese aided projects in Zambia have had a direct impact on the lives of Zambian people.
He said he was particularly happy that Japan was funding areas that the Patriotic Front had prioritised in order to improve the lives of ordinary Zambians.
Mr Kabimba said there was need to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations between the two countries.
He said Zambia will also benefit from the $32 Billion Japan has committed for public and private funding to Africa over a period of five years under the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).
Mr Kabimba said the Samora Mashel School of Veterinary Medicine at University of Zambia has contributed to the development of the livestock sector in the Southern African region.
And Prince Akishino said he was delighted to visit Zambia at a time when the country was celebrating its 50 years of independence.
Prince Akishino hoped his visit to will help further strengthen relations between Tokyo and Japan.
It is extremely sad and barbaric that in today’s Zambia some people can resort to beatings as a way of persuading those who disagree with them…it’s even more shameful that in this jubilee year when we should be reflecting on how peaceful we have been politically as a country some people are bent on erasing that history by pushing for headlines such as the one in the Daily Nation on Sunday about beating of Journalist last Friday.
What will our neighbours and others think of us…everyday hundreds of people visit Zambia such the bishop of Cantebury (The Head of the Anglican Church) who arrives in Zambia today… these people will be shocked to learn that a country they thought was peaceful is actually harboring hooligans who have no progressive ideas to put across except to fight in the name of politics..
[pullquote]It is why we won’t keep quiet and watch our country deteriorate to a point where violence is acceptable.[/pullquote]
Ceremonial Vice President
Currently our country is facing a critical challenge with tension at it’s highest because of the position of the ceremonial Vice President who can’t act as President when President Sata is away.This matter is so serious that investor confidence is at it’s lowest and this has began to affect the economy which ultimately affects the well being of Zambian families.Every Zambian is asking why President Sata has not appointed a VP who qualifies to act in his absence.
We should all be working towards resolving this constitutional crisis which clearly is as a result of the flawed constitution in place.Even though Zambia is a multiparty state, the rest of the current constitution is tailored towards supporting the structures of a one party state and that is why power sharing is difficult and institutions of governance can be manipulated.Time for the blame game is over and we all ought to be concerned with the impasse on the constitution instead of organizing beatings for journalists or indeed any other perceived opponents.
The fight against violence
Many of us always supported the existence of The Post news paper even when we were in Government because we believed that in a true democracy, the test is to defend the right of freedom of expression of those who disagree with you.It’s why we preferred debate, because no matter how heated it became, that is the only civilised manner of dealing with disagreements.
Now we continue to defend the existence of the Daily Nation, Blog media and others because even if we might not agree with them always, they too have the right to publish.The media can not be a monopoly of Government or a few individuals.
It is why we won’t keep quiet and watch our country deteriorate to a point where violence is acceptable. Let’s stop being intimidated and call on all institutions of governance…the Police, Judiciary Parliament, Political Parties, Media, NGOs and the Church to reflect our will as a people and frown strongly upon any person or group condoning violence.
The government which is for all Zambians must rise to the call above anyone else and condemn and punish those fanning violence without mercy.
Politics must be purely an activity where ideas for developing Zambia are advanced and the people freely elect those who convince them with the best ideas…And those who lose accept defeat graciously until next time.
The fight against violence is a fight for all of us and no one must be seen to protect the barbarians that want to destroy the future Zambia for our children. Let’s not miss an all time opportunity to correct what has been wrong the last 50 years, by continuing to point fingers, instead of dialoguing and compromising, so that those who will come after us, our children, will know we cared.
