The police in Western Province have banned all local radio stations from hosting opposition political party leaders and have threatened to revoke broadcasting licences of the radio stations that would fail to comply with the ban.

In a letter 16th June 2014 and addressed to Radio Liseli station manager and delivered to other radio stations in Mongu, J.B Kasanda, Mongu Central Police officer in-charge said he had with immediate effect cancelled the scheduled radio programmes where UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was expected to feature.

In a letter dated June 16, 2014 written to the Radio Liseli Station Manager, Kasanda said the cancellation was due to alleged violent conduct of UPND members after some police officers were assaulted.

“You are therefore directed to cancel any interview which you have on the schedule with Mr Hakainde Hichilema without fail,” Kasanda said in a letter.

But SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe said it was unfair for the Zambia Police Service to apply the Public Order Act selectively.

“Public Order Act being an important piece of legislation and responsible for regulating freedom of association, expression and assembly which must be applied fairly not only to the ruling party but also opposition political parties in the country,” Mr Cheembe said.He said SACCORD has since taken note of a numerous number of complaints that opposition political parties have raised with regards to implementation and administration of the Public Order Act.

“It is increasingly becoming concerning that whenever opposition political parties want to converse with the people, hold rallies or meetings with their members they are seemingly stopped by the Zambia Police Service by the way of using the Public Order Act,” Mr Cheembe said.

He said selective application of the Public Order Act has raised serous concern of fairness because whenever the ruling party wanted to hold a rally they were not being hindered by anyone.

Mr Cheembe however said opposition political parties were being hindered by the Zambia Police Service.

“As SACCORD we want to appeal to the Zambia Police Service to really look at the fairness application of the Public Order Act so that everybody in Zambia irrespective of political affiliation is given that opportunity to enjoy the administration of the Public Order Act in view of the basic freedom of association, expression and assembly,” Mr Cheembe said.

He said fairness in the application of the Public Order Act in order to reduce the tension which the Act had created in the country.

“It becomes incredibly difficulty for opposition political parties to have cordial relations with Zambia Police Service being the chief administrator of the Act so as SACCORD we would like to see a situation where cordial relation exit between the police and opposition political parties,” he said.

Mr Cheembe said SACCORD also took note of some successes that had been scored by the police such as allowing the UPND rally in Mandevu constituency.

“We also want to appeal that should there be any difficulties or challenges by Zambia Police. It is absolutely important that they communicate very clear with the relevant stakeholders who are involved so that such challenges are appreciated in a proper way forward and mapped up with stakeholder’s participation,” he said.

Mr Cheembe said the Public Order Act should be a peace of legislation that allowed everybody to enjoy their basic freedom and coexist together.

[Daily Nation]

The Foundation for Democratic Process FODEP has charged that the country’s democratic space has shrunk since the PF assumed power in 2011.

FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi noted that the behavior of the police who are being used to stifle the freedoms and rights of the public as well as some institutions is proof enough that the country’s democracy is shrinking.

Mr. Chipenzi sites the continued harassment of journalists while performing their duties as one such indicator that the country’s democracy has deteriorated since the PF took over office.

Mr. Chipenzi has further said that his institution is greatly disappointed and condemns with the manner the Zambia police is trying to intimidate not only journalist but political opponents of the PF.

“FODEP expresses its greatest disappointment at the manner police is trying to intimidate and harass innocent citizens such as journalists and political opponents to the ruling party during the tour of their duty.

We condemn in the strongest terms possible the continued intimidation and harassment of other players in a democratic space. It is clear with the behavior of the police that the democratic space in Zambia has shrunk since 2011.”

And Mr. Chipenzi says the summoning of the Hot FM Managing Editor over what he termed as “a non-issue” as well as the problems that ISO is facing for featuring opposition leaders is unfortunate especially coming from a police that is calling itself a police service.

“The summoning of the HOT Fm Editors over a non-issue using archaic laws is most unfortunate for police that calls itself a police service.

The police are creating an impression that freedom after speech in Zambia is not guaranteed. ISO FM in Isoka, Muchinga Province is in problems just for featuring an opposition political party leader.”

Mr Chipenzi has since called on Zambians to demand for the repeal of all the laws hindering the attainment of sound democratic dispensation in the country.

” FODEP implores all Zambians to demand for the repeal of all laws that are inimical to the attainment of a sound democratic dispensation such as the public order Act, NGO Act, current “defective” constitution and the penal Code esp. section 67 which curtails people’s freedom of expression.”

He added; “the demand for a new constitution should be the rallying point for all Zambians to curtail excessive abuse of power and authority by state institutions.

Zambians must realize that today it is the journalists, CSOs and political players who are being harassed; tomorrow it will be the ordinary people.”

Mr. Chipenzi’s comments comes in the wake of police recording a warn and caution from Hot FM station managing editor Changwe Kabwe a move which a number of stakeholders have since condemned.

UPND president Hakainde Hichilema says the forthcoming parliamentary by-elections in Mangango constituency in Kaoma district of Western province will serve as a litmus test for himself and President Michael Sata.

Mr Hichilema said a vote for a Member of Parliament in Mangango constituency will not just be about electing a member of the legislature, but a contest between himself and the republican president.

He said this in an interview yesterday, when he made a stopover in Kaoma where he also visited the district’s two main markets before briefly addressing party sympathisers at Isha Mbingo lodge.

Mr Hichilema, who also was swarmed by party fanatics, said at every opportune time only one party member can be adopted to contest for any seat and urged those who might not be adopted not to despair but support the party’s preferred candidate for that particular time.

He said fuel in the country had become too expensive and the kwacha has continued depreciating, an indication that the PF’s economic management system was not prudent.

Mr Hichilema said unemployment rates in the country have equally surged, adding that a win for the UPND is the only passport to development.

He bemoaned delays by government to announce the maize floor prices, describing the manoeuvres as a failure on the part of the PF government to deliver on its promises.

Mr Hichilema was accompanied by Senanga Central UPND Member of Parliament Likando Mufalali, Lukulu West UPND MP Misheck Mutelo, Chikankata UPND MP Munji Habeenzu as well as the western provincial leadership led by their chairperson Mubita wa Mubita.

Other notables in attendance included former Mandevu FDD MP Patricia Nawa, former Lukulu east ULP MP Batuke Imenda and former Programme Against Malnutrition director Fridah Luhila.

And during the stopover, Kaoma MMD district youth chairperson Kenny Ndumba and Luampa MMD district chairperson Davy Makozo, who also served as political attaché at the Zambian embassy in South Africa, defected to the UPND.

Mr Ndumba said he has never been associated with losing since 2006 when he was campaign manager for former deputy defence minister Akakandelwa Mwendoi and in 2011 when he campaigned for former commerce deputy minister Taundi Chiseke.

A LUSAKA visionary impaired business executive has been jailed to two years in each of the six counts after he was found guilty of hacking into more than seven politicians’ mobile phones and stealing talk-time worthy more than K18, 000.

Jairos Tembo, 25 of Kanyama Township, a losing Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) candidate in the 2011 elections will however, only serve two years because the sentences would run concurrently.

Principal magistrate Aridah Chuulu on Wednesday sentenced to 24 months in each of the six counts that he was convicted of in April this year.

Tembo who gave his particulars as being a journalist and business executive was charged with unauthorised access to data and theft of talk-time from several politicians and a business executive, owner of Muvi television, Steve Nyirenda who is his cousin.

Among the politicians who fell prey to Tembo’s dubious and fraudulent deeds were Commerce Minister Robert Sichinga, former defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba, Kabwata Member of Parliament Given Lubinda, Willie Nsanda, Michael Mabenga, Mike Mulongoti and retired politician Vernon Mwaanga.

Tembo of house number 230 old Kanyama Township committed the offences between December and July 18, 2012.

Ms Chuulu said in her judgment delivered on Wednesday that although she had taken into consideration the challenges Tembo was facing in prison as a visionary impaired person, she was sending him to jail because the offence he committed was serious.

She said that the offence of hacking into people’s mobile phone and stealing their talk time was serious and that members of the public could not be served with that kind of behavior.

Ms Chuulu said that she was alive to the fact that Tembo was already serving another sentence slapped to him by another court which he has since appealed against.

” I will however be lenient with you and sentence you to 24 months in count 1, 24 months in count two, in count three 24 months, 24 months in count four, in count eight , 24 months and 24 months in count 13 but these shall run concurrently with effect from the day of arrest” Ms Chuulu said.

This means that Tembo would only serve 24 months in all the six counts that he was convicted of.

Tembo later thanked the court for the effort it made to bring witnesses to court to testify on his behaviour.

He, however said it was one of the waste times of his life and heaped the blame on the investigations officers whom he accused of not thoroughly investigating the case.

Tembo said if only the officers had investigated had not wrongly investigated the case, it would have been acquitted of the offences.

He said he would appeal to the high court against both the conviction and sentence after holding a press conference from prison to air his grievances against fellow journalists, Airtel and investigations officers.

“I feel a lot of things were wrongly done during the investigations. We will be holding a press conference because not all people who are in prison committed the offences” Tembo said.

President Michael Sata has saluted China for the role it played in the construction of Zambia’s railways infrastructure.

Speaking when the visiting Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao paid at courtesy on him yesterday at State House, Mr Sata said Zambia was grateful to the people of Chine for constructing the railway line.

The Head of State recalled that before he joined politics, the government of China built Zambia Railways and TAZARA.

He noted that China did a great deal when it constructed the existing railway lines in the country.

“We are very grateful to the Chinese people because before I joined politics, the Chinese people did a great deal in our country when they built the TAZARA railway,” President Sata said.

The President told the visiting Chinese Vice President and his delegation that Zambia in the past had big parastatals and the role of the Zambian government was to supervise the companies running the parastatals.

Meanwhile President Sata has thanked his Chinese counterpart the President of China for allowing Mr Yuanchao to visit Zambia.

President Sata said government was ready to listen to what the visiting Chinese delegation has to say to the Zambians.

And Chinese Head of State Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory message to Zambia on the country’s attainment of 50 years independence.

The message was delivered to President Sata by visiting Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao.

Dr Yuanchao disclosed that he was entrusted by President Jinping to visit Zambia and deliver a congratulatory message on the Country’s 50 years independence anniversary.

“Am entrusted by Chinese President to come visit Zambia and offer congratulatory message of the 50 years anniversary of the independence of Zambia and the 50 years of diplomatic relations with Chine and Zambia, “he said.

The Chinese vice president said China will take advantage of the Country’s 50 years of diplomatic relations between China and Zambia to further strengthen the existing traditional friendship.

Dr Yuanchao said the strengthening of the friendship between the two States will help to promote practical cooperation between the two political parties namely the Communist party of China and the Patriotic Front of Zambia.

“We would like to take this opportunity to show our great attention of cooperation between China and Zambia. We would to take the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations to further strengthen the traditional friendship between the two countries to further enhance our political mutual trust to promote our practical cooperation between the two ruling parties the Communist part of China and the PF,” he said.

He hoped that the joint efforts the of the two Countries will be able to implement the agreements the two Heads of State reached when President Sata visited China last year so as to cement the bilateral relations.

Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has warned UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and other leaders of political parties represented in Parliament against making reckless comments relating to the business or matters of the law or risk being liable to be prosecuted and convicted.

Ruling on a point of order on whether Mr Hichilema was in order to incite UPND Members of Parliament to continue disobeying his orders on the protests that characterized the house over the constitution, Dr Matibini said the transgressions committed by the UPND leader by inciting his Members of Parliament are grave.

Dr Matibini says the instruction of Mr Hichilema to his MPs amounts to contempt of the house as it impaired and impeded the independence of the UPND Members of Parliament in the execution of the parliamentary duties.

The Speaker adds that the instruction was also unlawful as it amounted to counseling UPND MPs to commit the criminal offence of disobeying a lawful order as they did in the house on 26th and 27th February 2014.

And Dr Matibini has reprimanded four Patriotic Front female Members of Parliament over their insulting commentaries against Kalomo Member of Parliament Request Muntanga during the protest over the constitution by Members of Parliament.

The four are Esther Banda,Suzanne Kawandami,Dorothy Kazunga and Jean Kapata.

Ruling on a point of order raised by MMD Chembe Member of Parliament Mwansa Mbulakulima whether it was in order for the four MPs to pass running commentaries on Mr Muntanga that they can jump on him, shit and urinate on him live on Parliament Radio, Dr Matibini said parliamentary rules on etiquette prohibits the use of insulting language against a fellow member.

He cautioned the Members of Parliament that uttering insults against another member is not only irresponsible and intolerable, but also undermines the dignity and respect of the house.

Opposition Alliance for Better Zambia team of trustees Chairperson Janet Chileshe has implored all party officials to desist from commenting on the health of republican President Michael Sata.

In a letter dated June 19, 2014 addressed to party president Frank Bwalya, copied to party national Chairperson Dexter Zemba Moono and made available to Qfm news, Ms. Chileshe says it will be an act of charity befitting the ABZ for all party officials to avoid any insinuations and innuendos regarding the health of President Sata and any other future presidents.

Ms. Chileshe says it is also in her considered view as ABZ team of trustees Chairperson that the law regarding how to deal with the health of a Zambian president is also adequate.

She says it is for this reason that she strongly feels that all party officials including party president Father Bwalya should avoid any comments on the subject of the health of the republican President that may be deemed negative.

Ms. Chileshe states that she trusts that as the main face of the ABZ party, Father Bwalya will also resist the temptation to go against her kind advice and guidance.

Ms Chileshe has also wished continued good health to President Sata and all national leaders including Father Bwalya.

The Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao has called for stronger ties, bilateral and cooperation to a higher level between the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) and Zambia’s Patriotic Front (PF).

Dr Li said China and Zambia has enjoyed cordial relations for over five decades and are profound friends, hence the two countries should push the relations to a higher level.
Dr Li said cementing relations between the two ruling political parties could be achieved if they share experiences and exchange ideas through study visits.
The Chinese Vice President was speaking in Lusaka today during bilateral talks held at the Government Complex.

He said he is in the country to promote government-to-government and party-to-party relations between the two countries.

He said there is need to fasten party-to-party study group visitations with the PF noting that China’s CPC is more advanced which PF could benefit from.
He disclosed that CPC’s International Development for Peace unit and the China Foundation for Peace and Development stands ready to work and dialogue with the PF in strengthening the party-to-party ties.

Dr Li called for commitment and discipline among cadres in the two ruling parties and unleashed some important projects to be undertaken by its members in the two countries.

He paid gratitude to President Michael Sata, First President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba for their able leadership.

Dr Li who was flanked by Communist Party officials and out-going Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao, has since invited Mr. Kabimba, PF members including members of the Central Committee to visit China this year to reciprocate his visit.

Dr Li is in the country at the invitation of the Zambian Vice-President, Guy Scott.

He disclosed that China’s investment in Zambia rose to US$3.8 billion last year, from the US$3.4 billion in 2012 on government-to-government relations.
And speaking earlier, PF Secretary General (SG) Wynter Kabimba said PF members were not benefiting from the Chinese scholarships but only civil servants benefited at the expense of party-to-party ties.

Mr Kabimba appealed to Chinese President Xi Jinping through the visiting Vice President to consider prioritizing PF members as opposed to Zambian civil servants.

Mr Kabimba, who is also Justice Minister and flanked by PF National Chairperson Inonge Wina, observed that the CPC is one of the oldest political party in the world to which the PF could benefit through tangible memorandum of understandings.

He said plans are underway to establish a radio and television station for the ruling party but lack of funds was hampering the ambitious plan.

He said the PF manifesto prioritizes youth training in areas of education, health and agriculture and the visit by Dr Li is timely and an eye opener to strengthening ties between PF and CPC.

The PF SG later donated a PF stature in appreciation to Dr Li’s visit. He further assured him that he would travel to China this year with other PF members.