The opposition Alliance for a Better Zambia (ABZ) has cautioned forum for democratic process (FODEP) Executive Director Macdonald Chipenzi to stop attacking their president Father Frank Bwalya.

ABZ secretary general and spokesperson, Erick Chanda says it is unfortunate that Mr. Chipenzi who is a respected man should attack Fr. Frank Bwalya on the registration of his political party without understanding what the party has gone through before having the party registered.

Mr.Chanda says the whole process of registering the ABZ party was tempered with by the relevant authorities.

He said that Mr. Chipenzi should have consulted before attacking Fr. Bwalya.

Mr. Chanda further stated that it is wrong for Mr. Chipenzi to comment about the registration process when in the actual sense he does not understand how a political party is registered.

He added that a man of his caliber who speaks for the democratic process of this nation should not at all cost be engaged in issuing out such sensitive statements.

Earlier today FODEP observed that outspoken catholic priest Father Frank Bwalya should learn to tell the truth for him to be successful in politics.

Mr Chipenzi,said that it was unfortunate that Fr.Bwalya who was aspiring to be a party president was failing to tell the truth on why the registrar of societies did not quickly attend to his request his political party.

Mr.chipenzi said that it was sad that a man of his caliber should be changing statements time after time. He noted that the former radio ichengelo manager should be honest in everything he does.

He said from the look of things Fr.Bwalya was not blocked from registering his political party because there was no truth in his statements. He noted that at first Fr. Bwalya said government was blocking him and now he has changed the statement saying he is been blocked by the police.

Mr.Chipenzi further noted that the police can not block anyone from registering a party because that is not there field of operation.

He has since appealed to Fr.Bwalya to be a man of truth if he wants the people of Zambia to trust and have faith in him.

Mr.chipenzi added that the people of Zambia want the leaders who know what they want in life and not those who are not decided

Acting Republican President, Edgar Lungu, has asked traditional councils in the country not to involve government in their succession wrangles.

Mr. Lungu said government officials should not be dragged into traditional succession wrangles as the officials were mere subjects who were the number one servants of traditional leaders.

Mr. Lungu said succession wrangles impacted negatively on the development of the country as more time and resources were spent on conflict resolutions rather than developmental issues.

He was speaking during the burial of Senior Chief Luembe of the Nsenga people in Nyimba District on Saturday last week.

Mr. Lungu noted that he was disappointed with what happened during the funeral of Chief Ndake in Nyimba where the traditional council was divided, saying, traditional values of the Nsenga people were not followed.

He urged the Nsenga Traditional Council to take advantage of funerals to restore the integrity of their culture.

Mr. Lungu wondered why Nsenga people failed to come out when discussing issues of succession, adding that, they ran to the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs to sort out their problems when the job of the Ministry was to ensure there was development in all chiefdoms in the country and not to choose chiefs for them.

Meanwhile, Acting Republican President, Edgar Lungu, says traditional leaders are a source of wisdom who are also custodians of culture and tradition.

Mr. Lungu said government recognised the important role of traditional leadership in matters of governance and chiefs are considered as co-partners.

He said it was for this reason that government took the death of Senior Chief Luembe as a big loss, not only to the royal family but to the nation as a whole.

Mr. Lungu said President Michael Sata created the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs to among other things; facilitate the efficient and effective coordination and implementation of policies, plans, programmes and projects relating to chiefs and traditional affairs.

He said traditional leaders were key stakeholders in uplifting rural livelihoods and through them, certain functions, responsibilities and resources are transferred from central to local authorities.

Mr. Lungu said this was in order to strike a balance between urban and rural development, adding that, traditional leaders played a vital role and link in this process.

He urged mourners and the members of the royal family to mourn the Senior Chief with respect, peace and dignity.

Mr. Lungu called on the mourners, members of the royal family and the royal council to observe the mourning period with utmost respect and patience.

‘’ It is the government’s appeal and prayer that the royal family exercises much wisdom and patience in the selection of the successor to the Luembe throne,’’ Mr. Lungu said.

Senior Chief Luembe died in the University Teaching Hospital on Tuesday last week at the age of 66, after a long battle with prostate cancer.

He ascended to the throne on 27th November, 1991.

ZANIS

The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has postponed to an unknown date its public rally which was scheduled to take place in Lusaka’s Chawama township today.

UPND Deputy Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said the decision was arrived at following the party’s consultations with civil society, the church and students unions after police refused to grant them permission to hold the public meeting.

In an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Mweetwa said the party will in due course announce a later date on which the rally would be held.

He has since called on UPND party members, sympathisers, students and the nation at large to remain calm as the party was still holding consultations with the relevant stakeholders.

Mr Mweetwa further appealed to the police not to bow to political pressure but to uphold human rights and remain focused in their execution of duty.

Mr. Mweetwa who is also UPND Choma Central Member Of Parliament alleged that Police in Lusaka had deployed officers around strategic points to prevent people from entering Chawama township.

Police in Lusaka yesterday threatened to take action if the UPND went ahead with its planned public rally which was to be held in Chawama today.

Last week the UPND indicated that it would hold a public rally addressed by party president Hakainde Hichilema, and representatives from civil society organisations, trade unions, market associations and students unions.

[pullquote]“We were surprised that the Police who earlier said they were insufficient man power to police our rally this morning around 06 Hours sent over 500 police officers in riot gear to stop people from gathering,” Mr. Kakoma said.[/pullquote]

And UPND Spokesman Charles Kakoma confirmed that the rally would not go ahead.

“We were surprised that the Police who earlier said they were insufficient man power to police our rally this morning around 06 Hours sent over 500 police officers in riot gear to stop people from gathering,” Mr. Kakoma said.

He said, “We also received intelligence information that the PF youths had been mobilized and stationed near the venue to cause harm to innocent people who wanted to attend.”

“After all considerations had been made, we decided to call off the rally in order to safeguard peace.”

“They wanted to provoke us so that they see bloodshed and we don’t want to be associated with bloodshed.”

Mr. Kakoma condemned the actions of the police to block the UPND from going ahead with the Chawama rally.

“We are celebrating Africa Freedom Day and yet within this continent, there are people being denied their constitutional rights and freedoms,” Mr. Kakoma said.

Meanwhile, Lusaka Police Chief Joyce Kasosa confirmed sending the police to Chawama Basic School Grounds.

“We had informed them not to go ahead with the rally due to security concerns and advised them to come back to us for dialogue but they insisted on going ahead with the rally,” Mrs. Kasosa said.

“For us, security is paramount and the current security situation cannot warrant a public rally especially in areas such as Chawama.”

ZANIS

First Republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda has called on the African Union-AU to continue fighting for the development of the continent.

Dr Kaunda says 50 years on, the AU has made great strides, faced short comings and met great challenges in addressing problems on the continent.

He said the AU still has huge challenges in Africa which need to be addressed.

“50 years is a time for renaissance, renewal, it is for freedom and rededication” Dr Kaunda said.

Dr Kaunda said this during the OAU /AU celebrations held at the Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa ,Ethiopia yesterday.

He noted that it is important that the AU concerns itself with current global concerns like climate change and environmental issues.

“We are an integral part of humanity, we must be able to contribute towards solving conflicts in various parts of the world, all conflicts, were ever it occurs still affect us,’’ said Dr Kaunda.

He explained that during the early years of independence, the African continent was greatly affected by the Cold war in Eastern and Western political blocks.

Dr Kaunda said the OAU, despite many challenges managed to contribute to the resolutions of these conflicts through international organisations like the Commonwealth and the Non- Aligned Movement.
He said using this approach, Africa became a major voice on international issues.

The former President has however noted that 50 years ago, the continent did not have the challenge of HIV/AIDS, adding that though the continent has made advances in handling the pandemic, it is still a challenge in Africa and needs to be conquered.

Dr Kaunda also acknowledged the contribution that his late wife Betty Kaunda rendered for him to be where he was yesterday.

Dr Kaunda sang a song dedicated to Mama Betty who died last year.

And speaking during the opening ceremony African Union Commission Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma paid tribute to the founding fathers of the OAU for their wisedom and foresight in laying the foundation for unity and solidarity.

Dr Zuma said the Organisation of African Unity then exhibited a spirit of internationalism as it championed the African course and supported the struggles of oppressed people .

“we are therefore pleased to celebrate with all our friends from across the globe and continue to reinforce our solidarity and cooperation, ” Dr Zuma noted.

Dr Zuma said the 50th anniversary is a beacon of the spirit if internationalism, solidarity and cooperation.

“ As we start the journey for the next 50 years , we need to be clear about the journey before us, to educate our population, skill them, ensure healthy bodies and minds, modernize and expand Africa’s infrastructure to agriculture and agro business so that we can feed ourselves and the world,” noted Dr Zuma.

The celebrations which were attended by several Heads of States and government representatives including President Michael Sata, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and members of the public was characterized by dance and poetry.

THE Kabwe High Court las has sentenced a 35-year-old man of Kapiri Mposhi to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour for trafficking in marijuana weighing 5.24 kilogrammes.

Kabwe High Court Judge in-charge Eddie Sikazwe said when he slapped the sentence on Nito Siwale on Monday that there is no way that the court could allow smoking marijuana or any prohibited drugs.

Mr Justice Sikazwe said it was unfortunate that despite serving three months at Mukobeko Maximum Prison for the first offence of drug trafficking, Siwale was involved in drugs after his release.

“This country has laws to follow. It was not the first time you were dealing in drugs….so I will sentence you to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour which is the minimum term prescribed sentence by the law,” Mr Justice Sikazwe told Siwale.

He said the jail term is effective May 28, 2012.

He said if Siwale was not pleased with the court’s judgment, he had the right to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Mr Justice Sikazwe said he had considered Siwale’s mitigation but made it clear drug trafficking is a serious offence which should attract punishment.

Siwale’s lawyer Kamo Simfukwe said the convict “deeply regretted his actions” and was seeking the court’s leniency.

Ms Simfukwe said Siwale had three children and a wife to look after.

“He has admitted the offence without wasting the court’s time. He has been in custody since 6 June 2012. He pleads for leniency and mercy,” Ms Simfukwe said.

But public prosecutor Gamaliel Zimba told the court that the State supported the conviction of Siwale by the subordinate court.

Mr Zimba said Siwale was a second offender.

The ruling Patriotic Front in Lusaka has refuted media reports suggesting that it is training militias at an NGO based in Lusaka’s longacres area.

Patriotic Front Lusaka District chairperson Goodson Banda has disclosed to Qfm that the NGO in question is funded by his party but that it is meant to educate youths in computer skills and political science with the purposes of maintaining a transitional leadership to carry on from the present generation.

Mr. Banda notes that the PF does not want to be caught up in the same predicament the MMD and UNIP has remained in after failing to groom youths that will take over their parties’ leadership after the current generation.

Meanwhile the PF District Chairperson has refuted claims by some Civil Society organizations suggesting that subsidies on fuel and maize indicate that the PF has revised its constitution.

Mr. Banda has maintained that PF manifesto is still intact as it was when the ruling party was campaigning for the 2011 general elections.