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Women in the ruling Patriotic Front have said that the Party Secretary General Winter Kabimba should not be questioned for issuing a seven day ultimatum to Foreign Affairs Minister Given Lubinda.
PF Secretary General Winter Kabimba on Wednesday gave a seven day ultimatum to Kabwata Member of Parliament Given Lubinda to exculpate himself on allegations of leaking confidential information to the media.
PF Lusaka province women chairperson Margret Mumba said that Mr. Kabimba knows well what he did stating that there is no smoke without fire.
Mrs. Mumba could however not comment further on the matter stating that it would be indiscipline because it is before the top leadership of the party.
Speaking to QFM News, Mrs. Mumba said that what Mr. Kabimba is saying about some members of the party being disloyal is true.
She has since appealed to party members to remain loyal to the party in an effort to make it stronger.
People in a queue for mealie meal in Chililabombwe this week
Critical Shortage of mealie meal has hit Kabwe with those having the commodity selling it at K80,000 which has raised concern among residents.
And Agriculture minister Emmanuel Chenda has disclosed that the government was considering banning both the export of mealie meal and maize as preventive measure.
And long queues at National milling in Kabwe which was offloading the commodity on Wednesday afternoon forced the company to close the outlet prematurely for fear of stampede.
A survey carried out in Kabwe found that most outlets such as Shoprite, Chimusoro and other supermarkets had run out of the commodity with only one shop at green market which only had two bags 25kg and was selling at K80,000.
National Milling which offloaded the mealie meal as at late afternoon of Wednesday did not show sign of opening the outlet on Thursday for fear of long queues with those talked to stressing that the move has been taken to avoid commotion following the scarce of the product.
A Mr Robert Banda of Makululu township talked to said he was looking for mealie following a bereavement at his home and that he was now looking for maize to buy with a view of taking it to the hammer mill.
Another resident, Mary Muya who was among people who queued up with a view of buying the commodity after word went round over the availability of the produce said much as he is aware that the premature closure was necessitated by long queues, the outlet should have been opened to allow those wishing to purchase to do so.
People in a queue for mealie meal in Chililabombwe this week
He said the outlet should only allow one bag per person and should not allow bulk buying as that would deny others an opportunity to purchase.
And Mr Chenda when contacted for a comment said the government has a duty to ensure that it satisfy the local demand hence the move it was planning to take to curb the situation.
He said as far as the government is concerned there was enough mealie meal following the offloading of maize on the market and that it was clear that some mealers were interested in satisfying the outside demand.
He one of the market which the traders were targeting was the Congolese market and that he would soon be meeting with experts and other stakeholders to discuss the matter.
People in a queue for mealie meal in Chililabombwe this week
File: President Michael Sata speaks with MMD members of Parliament,Folly Tembo, Patrick Ngoma, Nicholas Banda, Dr PatrickChikusu, Richard Taima, Elijah Muchima, David Phiri, Josphine Limataa and Keith Mukata shortly before a meeting at State House. Looking on are Mufumbwe member of parliament Steven Masumba and Gender deputy minister Jean Kapata during a meeting at State House
The Zambia Rainbow Coalition is disturbed and appalled by the continued conduct of the men and women we send to Parliament.
They have sold out to the status core by practicing politics of the stomach in disregards to the tenants of democracy
We are deeply concerned about their direct disregard for the electorate and their lack of passion for democracy and good governance.
This disregard for the electorate steams from political malpractice and personal greed on the part of these Renegade former MMD MP who have resigned from his party to join the ruling PF.
[pullquote]It’s disturbing to note that in this era, political mercenaries can be allowed to create unnecessary by elections when their own electorate lack development are wallowing in abject poverty[/pullquote]
It’s disturbing to note that in this era, political mercenaries can be allowed to create unnecessary by elections when their own electorate lack development are wallowing in abject poverty.
Whilst we appreciate that it’s their constitutional and democratic right to join or associate with a party of their choices, it’s prudent that a leader be magnanimous
It’s equally sad that the PF lead government can embrace spineless Leader like Nalumamba who have for a long time mascaraded as leaders. The Patriotic Party is in danger of democratic genocide. This spirit of winner takes all is against the spirit of good governance.
We call upon all Zambian to decampaign these minions who seek to waste taxe payers money out of political expedience.
The people of Mpongwe must reject such charlatan’s and reject any maneuvers to be silenced by vote buying.
Kasama Milling Company management says it is closed operating due to lack of maize stock.
ZANIS reports that Kasama milling company Director Lupando Munkonge confirmed the development in an interview in Kasama, today.
He added that his company has no feed stock to produce mealie meal. He explained that his management had placed an order of 19,0000×50 kilogrammes bags of maize from Food Reserve Agency FRA two months ago but the agency has not supplied yet.
He explained that without maize stock his company has been forced to close down.
Meanwhile, all Kasama Mealie meal outlets have run short of the commodity forcing people to start buying Cassava Meal and some rice.
And a mealie meal dealers, Luka Kampamba has appealed to Kasama milling company to start operations so that the shortage of mealie meal in the area could be sorted out.
Mr. Kampamba said he has not been selling maize meal for almost three weeks and his business has been affected.
He added that currently he was only selling bread flour.
Mean while , ZANIS survey carried out today, revealed that the commodity had run out in all the major outlets.
At GMB outlet mealie meal has also run out and National milling Company is expecting 1,400,000 X 50 kgs Bags on Friday.
It was the same at Shoprite as well has run out of mealie meal too.
Problem of mealie meal shortage has persisted in Kasama. Kaputa and Mbala as the millers are reported to have run out of maize Grain.
Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Wynter Kabimba welcomes MMD Mpongwe Member of Parliament Gabriel Namulambe
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) says the resignation of Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Mpongwe Member of Parliament (MP) and Chairperson for Elections, Gabriel Namulambe is total betrayal to the people of Mpongwe who voted for him in the 2011 polls.
FODEP Executive Director Mcdonald Chpenzi says it is clear that Mr Namulambe wants to ‘fatten his pocket’ and not the interests of the Mpongwe electorates.
Mr Chipenzi said MPs should be accountable to their people without wasting their time by causing un-necessary by-elections which are costly to the nation.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr Chipenzi said Mr Namulambe has selfish interests because up-to date, Mpongwe constituency is not yet developed.
“MPs should not go into politics for personnel gain at the expense of the electorates because causing un-necessary by-elections is costly to the nation. Mr Namulambe has betrayed the trust of people of Mpongwe. We need schools, health posts, good roads in this country and we cannot be wasting resources in this manner,” he said.
The FODEP ED urged the people of Mpongwe district to reflect on Namulambe’s move which he condemned in strongest terms.
He further advised MMD MPs not to feel like they are destitute but to wait for the right time in 2016 when the parliament will be dissolved and fresh polls held.
Bearly 24 hours, former Minister and Permanent Secretary Jazzman Chikwakwa and founder member Christopher Ngoma have defected to PF in the presence of First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda.
The duo’s move comes barely a week after MMD’s Lusaka District Chairperson Donald Chilufya resigned from the party last week.
Mr Chikwakwa and Mr Ngoma announced their defection at the residence of Dr Kaunda in Lusaka’s State Lodge area yesterday.
MMD Mpongwe Member of Parliament Gabriel Namulambe (second from left) shakes hands with Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo (right) as Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Wynter Kabimba and other party officials
Mr Namulambe today quit the MMD to join the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) because he has realised that the PF was a progressive party that was committed to bringing development to the people of Zambia.
The former Minister of Works and Supply in the previous MMD government becomes the first MP to defect to PF after Mufumbwe MP Stephen Masumba was booted out of the party for disciplinary charges.
Mr Namulambe announced his defection to the PF together with MMD Copperbelt District Chairperson Silas Ngowane, Copperbelt MMD District Secretary Christopher Chilangwa and former Mpongwe District Commissioner Rasford Bulaya during a press briefing held at the PF Secretariat.
He said he was not seeking for a ministerial or any other position in the government of the day but just wants to be part of a working government.
He told PF Secretary General Winter Kabimba who welcomed him that he would not want to remain in a party that was sinking and embroiled in serious internal wrangles.
Patriotic Front (PF) leaders welcome MMD Mpongwe Member of Parliament Gabriel Namulambe (second from left) into the ruling party as PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba looks on
Meanwhile, Former Anti Voter Apathy (AVAP) Project Executive Director Bonny Tembo has said that the defection of MMD chairman for election should serve as a lesson to the MMD on the need to urgently resolve its internal conflicts.
Mr. Tembo, who is now Patriotic Front member, has since commended Mr. Namulambe for taking a bold decision of announcing his defection to the PF.
Speaking to QFM news, Mr. Tembo said the MMD needed to realize that internal dialogue is key for the growth of any organisation.
Mr. Tembo said that although by-elections are a cost to the nation, they are also a way of keeping the Electoral Commission of Zambia and political parties in the country active.
He has also relinquished his parliamentary position.
The army worms have destroyed 6,500 hectares of maize fields in Kabwe from the time they appeared last week.
Kabwe District Commissioner Patrick Chishala confirmed to ZANIS in kabwe today saying this has forced him to come up with a task force committee consisting of officers from agriculture, disaster unit and others to help the district combat the spreading of the pests.
Mr Chishala described the situation as a disaster saying some farmers have lost completely all the maize they planted while some have had their grazing pastures eaten up by the army worms which are still terrorizing farmers.
He said it was unfortunate that farmers have lost seed, fertilizer and labour since some of them had nothing to do because they have no more money to buy more seed to replant their fields.
The District Commissioner said there is need to subsidise the most affected farmers to enable them grow some maize for food security.
He however appealed to farmers not to relent but to go ahead planting maize saying there was still sometime for maize production.
Mr Chishala assured the farmers that government was doing everything possible to control the situation.
And a female farmer, Agnes Kale of Mpima area in Kabwe said she was so devastated following the loss of 8 hectares of maize out of the 10 she planted due to the army worms attack on her field.
Ms Kale appealed to government to quickly assist her come out of the problem since she was a widow who has been struggling to make ends meet for about 12 years now.
Another farmer, Ken Muleya of the same area also lamented the loss of his entire one hectare of maize that was eaten up by the worms.
Mr Muleya explained that despite efforts to spray them with pesticide, the worms continued to destroy his maize field.
Striker Jackson Mwanza has completed a move to Sudanese club El Merreikh from Zesco United after passing medicals.
Mwanza signed a contract with El Merreikh on Thursday afternoon.
Details of the contract have not been disclosed.
Mwanza replaces compatriot Jonas Sakuwaha who recently left El Merreikh for TP Mazembe.
Mwanza scored 11 goals in all competitions this year.
Ex-Zambia internationals Elijah Tana and Zacheria Simukonda previously played for El Merreikh.
First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda blesses former minister and permanent secretary in the MMD government Jazzman Chikwakwa who announced his resignation from the opposition party to join the ruling Patriotic Front
It is very disappointing that today you can stand on a podium and warmly welcome people defecting from opposition MMD to join the ruling PF.
I may not be a lawyer per se but my humble understating of the law is that as a retired President, you are expected to divorce yourself from active politics; going by your recent antics, don’t you think you are violating the laws of the land?
Suppose our fourth former republican President Mr. Rupiah Banda equally started recruiting or receiving members on behalf of his party MMD, do you think the PF government would still allow him to continue enjoying his benefits? If the modest integrity that you still have attached to your name is to remain intact, you are better advised to completely steer away from active politics and concentrate on mourning your dear departed wife and enjoying your benefits.
In case you have forgotten Sir, early 1990 people of this beloved nation risked their precious lives and stood up to say NO to your ruthless rule which was characterised by shortages of essential commodities, gross violation of fundamental human rights and monopoly on power among other things! Why do you want to open our old wounds Dr.Kaunda, Sir? As our first republican President, you’re expected to be neutral and play the role of a unifying factor.
Why are you taking sides in the current political dispensation, Sir? If you were kind enough to analyse the outcome of last years’ general elections, you will realise that the opposition, including your son’s UNIP, amassed a combined 1,561,696 votes against Mr. Sata’s 1,170,966 votes.
Doesn’t this speak to your heart? By openly declaring your support for Mr. Sata, you’re likely injuring a number of citizens who for their own reasons are opposed to the PF regime.
During your ceremony to welcome the defectors on behalf of PF, you claimed that President Sata has embraced citizens beyond ethnic, political affiliation as enshrined in the one Zambia, one nation motto. Did you pronounce these words with inner conviction Dr. Kaunda or to simply ingratiate yourself with the President? Consider several appointments that the President has made to some of the key government positions or institutions – cabinet, foreign service, parastatal entities, heads of commissions, permanent secretaries, security wings etc; the majority of appointees hail from one region of the country.
So how can you deliberately elect to mislead the masses that the President has embraced citizens beyond ethnic affiliations?What about the people that the President has poached from MMD and rewarded them with insignificant positions as deputy ministers, what special attributes or qualities do these individuals possess that they have added to his government apart from the simple reason that the President is so intent on increasing his numbers in parliament?
If the President had considered appointing experienced and knowledgeable politicians to his government such as Hon. Kabinga Pande, Hon. Situmbeko Musokotwane, Hon. Jack Mwimbu, Hon. Eustachio Kazunga etc, and not play boys, very few people would have raised eyebrows. You have also disclosed that you are proud to support the head of state because he is making positive strides in uniting and developing the nation.
Honestly Dr. Kaunda, Sir what is so positive about ordering the ACC to seek permission from the President each time they want to investigate a senior party official? What is positive about arresting opposition leaders for attempting to visit their chiefs or buying tomatoes from a market? What is positive about deporting foreigners suspected not to be in good books with government? What is positive about late delivery of farming inputs and shortage of mealie meal or fuel?
What is positive about denying the opposition permits to hold rallies or mobilise their members? What is positive about unleashing the police on defenceless citizens? What is positive about throwing citizens holding divergent views in filthy prison cells? You may agree with me that all the things I’ve stated above are synonymous with the second republic of which you were of course the main architect and a key player. Are you missing those horrible days, Sir?
If you still have any conscience left in you Sir, I’d urge you to seriously reflect on your close association with President Sata redeem yourself before it’s too late. In conclusion Sir, I wish you many more years of good health so that you can live long to witness where Mr. Sata is leading the nation and the consequences that will follow.
Thank you.
Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Chairperson for Elections, Gabriel Namulambe
MMD Mpongwe MP Gabriel Namulambe has defected to the ruling PF with immediate effect. Mr. Namulambe was also until now MMD Chairman for Elections.
He told a media briefing Thursday morning held at the PF Secretariat that he has joined the PF in order to foster development of the Lamba land.
He said the people of Lamba land have never operated in the opposition adding that his continued stay in the opposition was going to delay development in the area.
“From the UNIP days through to the MMD days, the people of Mpongwe have always moved with the party in government. Why should they change now?”
Mr. Namulambe said MMD leader Nevers Mumba’s alleged anti-democratic style of running the party also made him quit the former ruling party.
He said Dr. Mumba has abrogated the party constitution over the manner in which he dealt with expelled National Secretary Major Richard Kachingwe.
“The manner in which Major Kachingwe was hounded out was not proper. They went on to hold a kangaroo NEC meeting to appoint an outsider (Mr. Simbao) as National Secretary contrary to party constitution,” Mr. Namulambe said.
Mr. Namulambe further said the current MMD leadership is not taking the party anywhere adding that the over K4 billion debt allegedly owed to the Bank of Zambia is a fact and should not be disputed.
“I was surprised to see a Dr. (Dr. Kaingu) disputing those facts. I remember when the late Mwanawasa was President, there was an attempt to settle that debt except Mwanawasa wanted to know who had benefitted from the money first before settling the debt.”
He said Dr. Mumba should take the matter of the debt seriously before the MMD is declared bankrupt.
“I foresee a situation where the MMD is declared bankrupt if they fail to settle this debt,” he warned.
He said the happenings in the MMD are causing a lot of embarrassment to genuine members of the party such as Situmbeko Musokotwane, Brian Chituwo and Felix Mutati.
“Dr. Mumba is not taking the MMD anywhere. He promised that he will undertake countrywide tours to resuscitate the party but up to now, nothing has happened.”
Mr. Namulambe also revealed that the MMD does not know the source of the money used to pay rentals for Dr. Mumba’s residence in Kabulonga.
“What we know is that the Pastor is not in a position to pay for that beautiful house. We don’t know who is paying those rentals especially that there is no declaration of the source of party funds coming into the party.”
In welcoming Mr. Namulambe, PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba said all MMD MP’s are welcome to join the PF before it is too late.
Mr. Kabimba said the MMD is dead today because it allowed outsiders to hijack the party.
He advised PF members to guard against infiltration by selfish and double faced members if the party is to continue growing strong.
“It’s not the PF that is killing the opposition. It’s the Zambian people that want the opposition to work with the ruling party,” he said.
“We have no desire to kill the opposition but we would be happy to see the opposition die,” Mr. Kabimba said.
Mr. Namulambe joined the PF along with other Mpongwe District MMD officials including former Mpongwe District Commissioner Ashford Bulaya.
Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Chairperson for Elections, Gabriel Namulambe
File:President Rupiah Banda and First Lady Thandiwe (far l)
Former President Rupiah Banda, has left for Kenya to attend the 2012 Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize-presentation ceremony at which two serving African heads of state will be among the recipients.
Former President Banda is attending the ceremony at the invitation of the Millennium Excellence Foundation, the organisers of Africa’s most prestigious international awards event that recognises individuals who have selflessly devoted themselves to bringing about change in the lives of Africans within the last decade.
The ceremony that will be held at the Kenyan State House in Nairobi, will, among others, honour the late Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Mills, President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya and Ugandan head of state Yoweri Museveni.
Also among the recipients are Sudanese-born British mobile communications entrepreneur and billionaire Mo Ibrahim, former International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Mohamed ElBaradel, MultiChoice South Africa Group Holdings executive chairman Nolo Letele and Nigerian business magnate Aliko Dangote.
Past recipients of the Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize include South Africa’s Desmond Tutu and Cyril Ramaphosa, former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, former World Bank president James Wolfensohn and celebrated Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka.
Former President Banda will be accompanied to Nairobi by former First Lady Thandiwe Banda and his deputy administrative assistant Kennedy Limwanya.
Former Agriculture Minister Eustarkio Kazonga says army worms which have invaded fields in some parts of the country pose a threat to food security in the country.
Speaking in an interview with QFM, Dr. Kazonga who is also Vubwi MMD Member of Parliament says government should therefore intervene before the planting season comes to an end.
Dr. Kazonga says army worms are disastrous urging government through the Ministry of Agriculture to reinforce extension services to ensure that farmers are educated on how destructive the worms are.
He says if preventive measures are not quickly put in place, the army worms will have devastating effects on the country’s Agricultural production.
The army worms have attacked about 70 percent of fields which include maize, Cassava leaves, Sorghum and rice fields in Kabwe district.
Other districts affected include Chongwe, Lusaka, Nyimba and Chinsali.
Government has since offered to help farmers with chemicals to get rid of the army worms but has not guaranteed affected farmers of seeds to replant.
Army worms are regarded as pests and can wreak havoc on crops if left to multiply.
Meanwhile, Government has assured all farmers in areas that have been affected by army worms that it is doing everything possible to contain the situation.
Agriculture and Livestock Minister Emmanuel Chenda says his ministry is on high alert and is monitoring the army worm outbreak and has called on farmers to be vigilant as the pests appear to be spreading at a fast rate.
Mr. Chenda disclosed that the ministry has purchased chemicals to deal with the pests adding that officers at his ministry are on the ground spraying in the affected areas.
In a statement to QFM news, Mr. Chenda has further advised farmers to buy chemicals for spraying such as Fenvelate, Cypermethrin, Malathion, Diazion, Demotrothion and Dursban 4E.
He further states that farmers who may not have the chemicals should approach district agricultural co-ordinators offices in their various areas for free spraying.
The agriculture minister has since assured farmers that officers have commenced spraying in affected areas of Central, Lusaka, Eastern, Muchinga and Southern provinces and other areas.
First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda blesses former minister and permanent secretary in the MMD government Jazzman Chikwakwa who announced his resignation from the opposition party to join the ruling Patriotic Front
Former Minister and Permanent Secretary Jazzman Chikwakwa and founder member Christopher Ngoma have defected to the Patriotic Front (PF) in the presence of First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda.
The duo’s move comes barely a week after MMD’s Lusaka District chairperson Donald Chilufya resigned from the party last week.
Mr Chikwakwa and Mr Ngoma announced their defection at the residence of Dr Kaunda in Lusaka’s State Lodge area yesterday.
The duo’s announcement was preceded by a visit to the graveyard of the late former First Lady Mama Betty Kaunda led by Dr Kaunda’s son, Kaweche, where Mr Chikwakwa prayed.
Mr Chikwakwa said announcing the defection in front of Dr Kaunda was owing to the former Head of State’s recent advice to the nation to support the Government of the day in a bid to develop the country.
“I want to take this opportunity by fulfilling your call. You remember that you called on us, as Zambians, to support and give encouragement to the current President, Michael Chilufya Sata and his Government, the PF Government, as he has put programmes that could yield good results for the people of Zambia.
First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda with founder members of the opposition MMD Christopher Ngoma (right) and former minister and permanent secretary in the MMD regime Jazzman Chikwakwa (centre) when they announced their defection
“His developmental programmes, from what we have seen, can make Zambia another paradise again. So, when we evaluated your call, your appeal to Zambians, I for one, your Excellency, I have decided to follow it and declare, take advantage of your presence that I resign from the Movement for Multi-party Democracy, which is MMD, and with immediate effect,” he said.
Mr Chikwanda said President Sata’s continued creation of new districts was a way of taking leadership and development closer to the people thereby cutting down on the distance they were being subjected to access services and wondered why people should argue with such programmes.
Mr Chikwakwa advised the MMD to support the incumbent Government for the sake of national development and thanked the former ruling party for having allowed him to serve in various positions and was quick to say that he was not a job-seeker.
Mr Chikwakwa also observed President Sata’s continued recognition of Freedom Fighters and embracing of various traditional leaders, saying respecting chiefs was tantamount to respecting God as they were chosen by God besides conveying his condolences to the Kaunda family over Mama Betty Kaunda’s recent death.
[pullquote]“Young man, thank you for taking this decision. Support that man. He does not look at a man through glasses of tribe. He does not look at a man through glasses of colour. He does not even look at a man through glasses of flesh…He accepts one Zambia, one nation. All of us are God’s children. You are doing the right thing to come and join him in this great struggle,” Dr Kaunda said.[/pullquote]
Mr Ngoma said he could not say anything to announce as Mr Chikwakwa had exhausted everything he wanted to say.
Dr Kaunda said the defectors were making a good decision by choosing to work with Mr Sata and his administration, saying he was the first one to appoint Mr Sata as the first Lusaka District Governor because of his impeccable qualities and was thankful to God that after going through so many “Pits” and “holes” he had finally become the Head of State.
“Young man, thank you for taking this decision. Support that man. He does not look at a man through glasses of tribe. He does not look at a man through glasses of colour. He does not even look at a man through glasses of flesh…He accepts one Zambia, one nation. All of us are God’s children. You are doing the right thing to come and join him in this great struggle,” Dr Kaunda said.
Masaiti District PF chairman Stardy Mwale declared MMD as “totally finished” in the area, among others, adding that the defection of the duo was a “big plus to PF” as it was going to easy his job to recruit even more of such people from the MMD and other parties.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Kennedy Sakeni
Government has described as irrelevant calls made by the United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema that opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) should decline to serve in government when called upon.
Chief government spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni said Mr Hichilema’s call is retrogressive and should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.
Mr Sakeni who is also Information Minister said in statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today that MP’s being representatives of the people are free to serve at any level of government as provided for by the law regardless of their political affiliation.
He stated that government is not surprised that such calls are coming from an opposition leader who has been championing politics of division and bitterness.
Mr Sakeni said Mr Hichilema has never been a member of parliament hence his casual approach to the important role parliamentarians plays in championing national developments.
The chief government spokesperson stated that the Patriotic Front government will remain, inclusive and maintain its progressive system of governance that embraces all Zambians in the development of the country.
Mr Sakeni further said it is disappointing that the opposition UPND and MMD are using the government as a scapegoat for their personal problems with the law.
Opposition political party leaders have made a joint passionate call to all Zambians to stand together and defend the country’s democracy which they claim is under assault.
The opposition leaders said Zambians should not allow President Michael Sata’s alleged dictatorial tendencies to erode democracy and basic human rights.
The leaders held a joint news conference at the UPND Secretariat in the wake of the detention and arrest of MMD leader Nevers Mumba with of his four MP’s and other senior party officials.
The two MMD Vice Presidents, Michael Kaingu and Brian Chituwo, UPND President Hakainde Hichilema, Alliance for Democracy and Development Charles Milupi, ZDDM leader Edwin Sakala were some of the people that attended the news conference.
Others include Mike Mulongoti and political activist Dante Saunders and several opposition MP’s.
In his remarks, ADD leader Charles Milupi reminded Zambians that the country’s democracy was hard won and should be preserved at all costs.
Charles Milupi and Michael Kaingu
“We were lucky that in 1990, the man at the helm was a kind hearted man and he agreed to our demands to move this country into multiparty democracy but now we have something else at State House,” added Mr. Milupi.
Mr. Milupi charged that President Sata is not a democrat and would do everything possible to see Zambia return to a one party state.
“This is a call to all Zambians, let’s not allow this break down of the rule of law and we simply watch. Let’s all speak out against such excesses.”
Mr. Milupi added, “Parliament has abrogated its responsibility to protect our constitution and now it is up to us Zambians to defend our own freedoms and liberties.”
And UPND President Hakainde Hichilema said the events of the past few days have confirmed that President Sata is a brutal dictator.
“Many Zambians did not know this but some of us saw this a long time ago. You have a dictator at State House, I am not talking about just a dictator but a brutal dictator.” In the history of this country it is happening for the first time that people need to get a police permit to walk or drive on public roads, it’s the first time that the opposition is not allowed to hold meetings,” Mr. Hichilema said.
Mike Mulongoti addressing the media at the conference
Mr. Hichilema said any objective Zambia can easily see that the country has been degenerating since the PF government came into power
Meanwhile, Mike Mulongoti who campaigned for the PF government in the 2011 elections charged that Mr. Sata has failed to govern.
Mr. Mulongoti said Mr. Sata’s failure to govern is being manifested in his desperation to silence divergent views.
“I like this united stance we have put up, this is the way it should be. From now on, let’s stay united and defeat this suppression of people’s rights and freedoms,” Mr. Mulongoti said.
He also apologized to the MMD leaders who were present at the news conference saying campaigned for PF because he was fighting for his survival.
“I know that when I was campaigning for the PF many people in MMD and other opposition parties were affected but I was also fighting for my own survival. I had to survive,” said Mr. Mulongoti.
[pullquote]“I know that when I was campaigning for the PF many people in MMD and other opposition parties were affected but I was also fighting for my own survival. I had to survive,” said Mr. Mulongoti.[/pullquote]
Political activist Dante Saunders observed that the PF government is pushing Zambians on the edge so that it could clamp down on citizens when they protest.
Mr. Saunders said the PF government wants to ban some political parties and some NGO’s and is now looking for ways in which to carry out such an exercise.
He advised Zambians to remain calm and not allow the PF to take away their liberties.
Charles MilupiHakainde Hichilema addressing the media
Zambia has won the Zone 6 Youth Games Boxing tournament after winning six medals, of which three are Gold.
And sprinter Titus Kafunda had added a Gold medal in the 200 meters after winning bronze in the 100 meters on Tuesday.
Back in the ring at Mulungushi International Conference Centre, Zambia walked away with two Silver and a Bronze plus the three Gold in the finals held on December 12.
Light flyweight Caristo Bwalya settled for Silver after he suffered a stop fight in the third round against Suntele Inkululeko of Lesotho.
There was also a Silver for Lightweight Lawrence Mukuta who lost 18-10 to Lerato Dlamini of South Africa.
In the Light welterweight division, Charles Lumbwe out-pointed Namibian Jonas Junior 25-19.
Welterweight Ben Sakutamba too minted Gold, he won on the count-back after he tied 11-11 with Maliko Thanki Steven of Malawi.
And Middleweight Mbachi Kaonga knocked out Kenneth Okwoleng of Botswana in the final round to cap an impressive showing for the hosts in the ring.
Emmanuel Kabwe collected Bronze on Tuesday after losing his semifinal Flyweight bout to Sikho Nqothile of South Africa.
