The Technical Committee on Drafting the Zambian Constitution (TCDZC) has began its seven day final provincial constitution convention in Southern province with
over 200 delegates in attendance.

Southern Province Permanent Secretary Dr. Chileshe Mulenga says government is committed to ensure that the long waited true Zambian constitution if formulated within the specified time.

ZANIS reports that Dr. Chileshe said this during the official opening of the provincial convention in Livingstone today.

He however explained that there is need to ensure that people play an active role in actively recommending necessary changes to the first draft constitution, for the country to produce a constitution that will stand the taste of time.

He urged delegates to ensure that resolutions are carefully considered by putting aside personal interests and work for the common good of the Zambian people in the formulation of the constitution of Zambia.

Dr. Mulenga also called on the delegates to actively represent important views of the members of the public particularly those who could not be afforded the opportunity to attend the conference.

Meanwhile, TCDZC Provincial Conventions Coordinator Reuben Lifuka said the technical committee will strive to adhere to the wishes of the Zambian people by considering clauses that deem necessary.

Mr. Lifuka also urged delegates to adopt a long perspective in debating the constitution so that the new constitution should not only suit the short terms but of the long future to come.

ZANIS

The Patriotic Front has said that the UPND rally in Kabwata Constituency was just an assemblage of insults directed at the President Michael Sata and the PF.

Lusaka Province PF chairman and Member of the part Central Committee Geoffrey

said that again the UPND paraded its bitterness and their prolonged failure to recover from their defeat in the 2011 elections.

In a statement to the media, Mr. Chuumbwe said that it was unacceptable that former Katombora Member of Parliament, Regina Musokotwane, chose Sunday’s rally to vent her frustrations after allegedly failing to hoodwink President Sata to give her a job.

Mr. Chuumbwe accused Mrs. Musokotwane of making numerous attempts to lobby for a job from President Michael Sata adding that she cannot deny this fact.

Mr. Chuumbwe further said that the UPND meeting also exposed the partisan behavior of some civil society members, who he said are well-known sympathisers of the UPND.

Mr. Chuumbwe says SACCORD Information Officer Obby Chibuluma and FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi for being tribal.

[pullquote]“The meeting was poorly attended even from inside the UPND, as only very few of their MPs and senior party leaders were in attendance, reducing the meeting to a tiny congregation of bitter tribesmen and women.“[/pullquote]

“The UPND meeting also exposed the partisan behavior of some civil society members, who are well-known sympathisers of the UPND, such as SACCORD Information Officer Obby Chibuluma and FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi, who showed up at the meeting to show solidarity to their tribesmen and tribeswomen,” the statement read

Mr. Chuumbwe further says PF is happy that the UPND got an opportunity to attest for themselves that they have no following, as evidenced by their very poorly attended rally in Lusaka’s Kabwata Constituency.

“But the PF is satisfied that the UPND got their much needed reality check after seeing for themselves that Lusaka has continued to reject their politics of tribalism, bitterness and insults,” Mr Chuumbwe.

“The meeting was poorly attended even from inside the UPND, as only very few of their MPs and senior party leaders were in attendance, reducing the meeting to a tiny congregation of bitter tribesmen and women.”

He says UPND have continued misleading themselves by importing people to attend a rally in an area they do not reside adding that people of Kabwata and Lusaka in general have sent a clear message to the UPND, that they are not interested.

Confusion characterised the much awaited United Party for National Development (UPND) public rally in Lusaka’s Kabwata yesterday as police in riot gear apprehended more than 10 unruly suspected Patriotic Front (PF) cadres for attempting to disrupt the gathering.

The unruly youths assembled at the Kabwata Basic School grounds two hours before the rally started and were chasing away people wanting to attend the rally.

Residents in the vicinity of the grounds locked themselves in their houses as the unruly youths took control of affairs, beating up unsuspecting members of the public and forcing nearby shop owners to close their business prematurely.

The situation returned to safety when close to 100 armed police officers in riot gear arrived at the scene and apprehended several youths for causing disorder ahead of the public rally addressed by party leader Hakainde Hichilema.

The Police officers bundled the youths into waiting vans and transported them to Kabwata Police Station.

As calm returned, some pockets of the unruly youths confronted police while chanting PF slogans and charging at UPND supporters that had assembled in readiness for their meeting, but they were restrained and ordered to leave the premises.

Police officers in verbal confrontation with the youths warned the youths that they risked facing arrest over their continued unruly behaviour.

“We will not tolerate this behaviour and if you continue thinking that we are being entertained with your conduct, just leave this place. We will only give you a few minutes to leave,” said one uncompromising officer.

The situation deteriorated when UPND supporters charged at their opponents throwing stones, leading to police intervention and apprehending of more suspects.

Inspector General of Police, Stella Libongani briefly visited the scene and held talks with UPND’s Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament, Garry Nkombo.

Mr Nkombo complained of alleged incompetence by police to control the youths who were accused of belonging to the ruling party.

But Ms Libongani assured the opposition MP that reinforcements would be deployed to provide adequate safety.

Casualties were minimal during the fracas lest for a ZNBC news crew that was attacked by the uncompromising youths. The youths also threatened to manhandle a Times news team that was covering the incident at the time.

And Lusaka Province Police Commissioner Joyce Kasosa when contacted by press time said she was still awaiting a full report on the incident before issuing a comprehensive statement.

“I haven’t yet received a full report, I am still waiting, so I can’t give details right now of how many have been arrested,” Ms Kasosa said.

MMD president Nevers Mumba says there are no internal wrangles in the former ruling party and those fanning the alleged confusion are wasting their time.

Dr Mumba said those that caused confusion in the former ruling party had been expelled and therefore the perceived wrangles were not within the MMD.

He told Journalists in Kitwe yesterday that it was not the former ruling party’s responsibility to take action against those causing confusion and stated that the MMD was re-organising itself and a new team was emerging.

He claimed that if Home Affairs minister Edgar Lungu was failing to ask what certificate those causing confusion were using, then the Government was exposing itself by failing to discipline such people.

“The thought of threatening to de-register our party came from President Michael Sata. But there are no internal wrangles in the MMD, and the person that was bringing confusion has been expelled so those perceived wrangles are outside the MMD and it’s no longer our responsibility,” he said.

Dr Mumba advised the Patriotic Front (PF) Government to concentrate on addressing issues affecting Zambians and desist from playing political games.

On accusations that he belonged to the Reformed Party (RP), Dr Mumba said the issue was non-existent because he relinquished his position as RP leader in 2008 when he contested for MMD presidency and further contested in 2011.

He accused Major Richard Kachingwe of practising sour grapes as he was the one that received his nomination papers.

He said Zambia was a country of rules and that those claiming they would field their candidates in the Livingstone and Mpongwe by-elections had nothing to do with the MMD.

He said the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) had a list of registered parties and therefore the MMD would not involve itself in such issues.

Dr Mumba said the National Executive Committee (NEC) was embracing all members and mobilising itself to unite and work hard.

Earlier in his sermon at victory Bible Church, Dr Mumba urged the church to take its position and speak against injustices.

He said religion was the opium of the people and therefore the Church should take its stand and speak against oppression and dictatorial tendencies.

Dr Mumba advised the congregation to fight for freedom saying there were three steps that enhanced ones freedom namely religion, political and economic power.

He said he would continue to fight for everyone until the battle was won.

And Victory ministries Vice president Lubuto Nsofwa said the church deserved to play a role in the economy of the nation.

The 20th African Union (AU) summit has opened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday.

The theme of the Summit is “Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance”

President Sata was among other heads of state that attended the official opening of the AU summit.

Other African leaders that attended the summit were Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Nigerian President Jonathan Goodluck, Kenyan President Paul Kagame, Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba and South African President Jacob Zuma among many others.

The summit started with the AU national anthem and was followed by the opening speech of the AU Commission Chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

Dr. Zuma called upon the African continent to look for ways of establishing a common destiny to bring about prosperity on the continent.

She also noted the need to support countries that are in post-conflict situations to consolidate their reconstruction and peace building efforts.

And United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called upon African leaders to put special emphasis on women and girls.

Mr. Ban said women and girls had the ability to foster peace and development in the continent.

Mr. Ban said there was also need to stand against all forms of violence and speak out against rape and sexual violence.

He further stated that Africa had made tremendous progress in reducing HIV infection and AIDS deaths.

Mr. Ban said the UN would continue to contribute to sustainable development in all continents and called upon all African leaders to uphold the continent’s commitment to peace, sustainable development, democratic rule and human rights.

ZANIS