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.