Patritic Front (PF) Secretary General, Wynter Kabimba has advised people in Mufumbwe district to stop practicing politics on tribal lines saying President Michael Sata did not encourage tribalism as it deterred development.

And Vice President Guy Scott said the PF government has expressed happiness to see that the people of Mufumbwe had freed themselves from the MMD lies which had not developed the area for the paste 20 years of being in power.

Dr Scott said it would concentrate on distributing the Fertiliser Input Support Programme (FISP) to the poor people and not the rich as it was in the previous regime because the PF’s manifesto was to ensure that the program benefited the poor.

Speaking at a rally at Wishimanga and Kamabuta basic schools, Mr Kabimba said Mr Sata was serious man who wanted to develop the entire Zambia regardless of tribe or political inclinations because he knew that tribal politics could cause divisions.

“ Mr Sata is a serious man he has no issues with of tribalism but want to ensure that North western province is also developed because it has lacked behind in the last 20 years the opposition MMD was in power, these lies that PF is tribal should not be bought because all tribes are encompassed in the party,” he said.

And Dr Scott has urged those entrusted with the distribution of fertilizer and other farming inputs not to delay the exercise because doing so would mean delaying the PF progress of changing things in the new government.

Dr Scott said his government would build a university in the district because it had never had one and that because of that many pupils who had done well had failed to advance their education and end up getting married or becoming farmers.

“ The PF will not give any farming in puts to the rich people like the MMD was doing, why should the rich continue to get richer, the PF will make sure that the farming inputs reached the intended benefits, the distribution of FISP should also not be delayed all has been put in place so my government expects no delay,” said Dr Scott.

The Vice President has also emphasized that the PF should not waste time with in fighting in the party but asked them to be serious and campaign vigorously so that a right person could be put as Mufumbwe MP.

Dr Scott said all the problems complained about which included lack of clinics, schools and secondary schools could better be developed if they voted for an MP from the ruling party.

Earlier the Veep visited the Central market where he interacted with the marketeers and bought relish from them before proceeding to other two rallies in the afternoon.

And PF chairperson for elections Sylvis Masebo said government would only believe that PF existed in North western province if they voted for Steven Masumba.

She asked the electorates to stop remaining behind by voting for the opposition because that would be wasting their chance for another 10 years of no development in the area.

She said Mr Sata was not surrounded by Bemba people but people from all the 10 provinces hence the need for them not to believe what the opposition political parties were preaching that PF party was based on political lines.

“ So don’t follow tribe but a human being tribes men can make you fail be like Mr Sata who is working for everybody, he has promised give youths jobs he did not say Bemba youths so help him to bring Masumba to Parliament,” she said.

Kitwe Mayor Chileshe Bweupe says there is nothing irregular with the motion to provide him with housing and 24 hours security.
Mr. Bweupe insisted that Mayors deserve to be accommodated in institutional houses and be provided with security in order for the Office of the Mayor to be respected.

He charged that the motion seeking to provide housing and 24 hours security to the Mayor of Kitwe has been politicized.
“This is not about Bweupe, the motion was meant to benefit even future Mayors. We need Mayors to be accommodated in good houses where they can host functions,” he said.

“We have seen functions been hosted at the residencies of the Nigerian Embassy, Botswana High Commission, why should the Mayor, the number one Citizen of the City host functions at Lodges and Hotels?”

The Kitwe Mayor, a close relative of President Sata said some political opponents want to gain mileage from the issue of the motion and bring his office into disrepute.

“I have never used the name of President Michael Sata in vain, people claiming that I use State House to abuse my powers are just been malicious,” he said.

He said he is fully aware that some people want to use the issue to distract him from performing his duties as the Father of the City.

Mr. Bweupe said he is focused on leaving a legacy of hard work and commitment to the City of Kitwe and warned that he will not be distracted in his course of duty.

Recently, Ministry of Local government and Housing Permanent Secretary issued a circular to Kitwe City Council not to enforce the motion to provide housing and 24 hours security to the Mayor of Kitwe failure to which appropriate statutory sanctions will be applied.

Mr. Namachila advised the council not to enforce the decision as it is against public policy and it is costly and attracts audit query.

He explained that moving a motion to provide accommodation and security for the mayor is in contravention of the current legislation and has therefore no legal; backing rendering it an ultra vires decision of no legal effect.

Political analyst Neo Simutanyi has advised leaders of the Patriotic Front to stop labeling everyone criticizing their policies as being bitter.

Dr. Simutanyi said those opposing the manner in which the PF has managed national affairs since assuming office are merely doing so in the interest of democracy.

“Please we are not bitter, stop calling us bitter each time we speak, we are not bitter, we are democrats,” Dr. Simutanyi pleaded.

Dr. Simutanyi said the majority of Zambia wants the PF to deliver on its promises made during campaigns.

“We don’t want this government to fail. When it succeeds, everyone including those who didn’t vote for them will be happy. Nobody wishes it to fail,” he said.

Dr. Simutanyi was speaking in Lusaka last evening during a public discussion organised by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung on the PF’s one year in office.

He said it has become fashionable for PF top officials to react sharply to any kind criticism and call those criticizing them as bitter.

Dr. Simutanyi said the PF should be more tolerant to divergent views adding that Zambia is now a mature democracy and that people will always enjoy their right to expression.

Mr Banda said some politicians were fond of making false statements because they did not have the power of information on their fingertips.

He was reacting to a statement allegedly made by United Party for National Development (UPND) President, Hakainde Hichilema, recently in Pateuke.

Mr Hichilema is alleged to have attacked the ruling party where he said it had failed to perform because it did not care for farmers in the province.

But Mr Banda said the UPND leader was speaking from the blues as he did not have information in his hands.

He said such leaders should not be listened to because what they were doing was cheap politicking.

“People should not listen to such leaders because they are just alarming the nation, “ Mr Banda said.

He said recently, government through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) sent K 180 billion to the province to pay farmers that sold maize to the agency.

Mr Banda noted that there was only a balance of K 55, 928, 000,000-00 which he said would be sent to the province this week.

“So far we have remained with only K 55. 928 billion and we are saying that this money will be sent to the banks this week, after that, FAR will not owe any farmer,” he said.

He urged satellite depots to speed up documentation because money was available, adding that FRA will not break until all the money is paid.

The FRA in Eastern Province bought over 3.5 million by 50 kilogram bags of white maize from farmers at a total cost of K 236 billion.

Meanwhile, Banda, says he is not going to allow national party leaders from the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) to come to the region and start campaigning for presidency.

Mr Banda said the position of presidency in the country was not vacant that people should start going round to campaign.

He was speaking at his office in Chipata today during a briefing.

Mr Banda observed that President Michael Sata still had four years remaining as head of state and people should not go round and campaign for the position as if there was a vacancy.

‘’ As a province and as Minister in-charge, I want to make it clear that I am not going to allow for anybody to come and start campaigning for presidency. This is because the position is still filled and Mr Sata is the republican president,’’ he said.

He said even after 2016, the province still wanted Mr Sata to go on because the members wanted to make a strong base for the party.

‘’ We are going to campaign for him for the purpose of making the party strong. You can only have strong leadership when you have a strong base and as at now, it is Mr Sata we have at the helm,’’ Mr Banda said.

He called on party members should avoid forming parallel structures which he said destabilised the party

Mr Banda has since warned that those that would be found wanting, would be reported to the Secretary General for action to be taken against them.

ZANIS

ZANIS

President Michael Sata is not happy with the pace at which road works on the newly launched Link Zambia 8000 project are progressing.President Sata who toured the project in Lusaka this morning to check on the progress that has been made so far since he launched the project last month, was disappointed at the rate the contractor is moving.Mr. Sata took to task Zulu Burrow Development Consultants Chief Executive Officer Levi Zulu over the slow pace of the works and demanded that works be expedited or another contractor would be brought in.The President stressed that if the Chinese Contractor, China Geo was not capable of doing the works, Government was ready to engage another contractor.President Sata said he does not want to see the project take years to be completed because it was of immense economic importance to the country

“Do you want us to wait for four years before this project is completed? If the Chinese are not capable of doing the works we will bring other people who will do the project,” the President said.

The President warned that the next time he inspects the road works and things are not moving, the contract that was awarded to the Chinese contractor would be terminated.President Sata who arrived at the construction site at exactly 11:25 hours was accompanied by his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations George Chellah and other senior State House officials.[pullquote]Do you want us to wait for four years before this project is completed? If the Chinese are not capable of doing the works we will bring other people who will do the project[/pullquote]

And Zulu Burrow Development Consultants Chief Executive Officer Levi Zulu explained to journalists soon after the President’s tour of the road construction that the contractor was on course with the construction of the project.He stated that there were a lot of preparations that has to be done before a road is constructed and that these are the ones that have slowed down the pace of the works.He said the contractor had to make diversions and also prepare a place where to get crashed stones among other things before the actual construction of the project would get underway.

But when asked why the President was upset with the pace at which the contractor was moving, Mr Zulu said President Sata was a good President who had a lot of information and therefore knew what to expect from contractors.He however assured the President that everything was under control and that once all the ‘nitty gritties’ where put in place, the construction process was going to move smoothly.

And on the purported resistance of the project by the community in the area, Mr Zulu said Chieftainess Nkomesha Mukamambo the second and her subjects have been fully cooperative and supportive of the project.He said the project has met no resistance as has been speculated, saying he earlier had a meeting with about 17 farmers and other people that have been affected with the project who have agreed to be accommodated somewhere else.

ZANIS