Government has urged United Party for National Development (UPND) leader, Hakainde Hichilema, to be objective and balanced in his criticism of government initiatives.

Information And Broadcasting Services Minister, Kennedy Sakeni, observes that it is clear Mr Hichilema’s comments are not meant to offer checks and balances but intended to undermine Republican President, Michael Sata’s administration.

In a statement to ZANIS today, Mr Sakeni said it is understandable that Mr Hachilema is still bitter from his loss in last year’s election and implored him to accept defeat and sober up in his politicking.

The minister was reacting to remarks made by UPND leader criticising government initiative of mobile phone sim card registration exercise to be conducted country wide.

He stated that the mobile phone sim card registration is a noble cause which is currently in place in a many other countries in the region.

Mr Sakeni added that the move is highly progressive and will help curb criminal activities linked to cell phones.

Mr Sakeni, however, maintained that government welcomes constructive and objective criticism which is without malice and hatred and will remain committed to promoting freedom of expression as espoused in the PF manifesto.

ZANIS

BitterSweet Poetry- The Next Level
It is simply inevitable. The greatness that has been stored up has to come out. BitterSweet Poets are a year older, and because they are wiser, their poems are beyond deep.

Come share in the greatness only found on The Next Level.
Place: Mulungushi International Conference Center
Time: 18:00hrs
Cover: K25,000

ENJOY THIS WEEKS POEMS ;

I LOVE HIM BUT HE DOESN’T KNOW HOW MUCH by Mumba Ngoma

I love him but he doesn’t know how much.

He walked in today after a long time and my heart jumped for joy, but then pain creeped in.

We were too close him and I

Shared jokes and our world was complete

A walk with him mean’t a lot

We walked and talked and people wondered what he was to me

Too free, unreserved and careless i was with him, they thought he couldnt be my boyfriend!

Too stupid and open he was, he couldn’t be my brother!

He was my best friend

The connection was so deep i never thought anyone could close it up.

Well ” someone just had to cut it short”

Its painful to face up to the fact that he cut it short.

Not that he walked up to me and said ” we cant have this anymore”. Man! That would have been easier.

Instead; he lost his cause

Fell in a ditch that scrapped off his identity.

He remembers and longs to have what we had but his decisions lately prevents him from being who he was.

Iam here, i wanna hear him tell those jokes but how could he when he now does exactly what he made fun of?

Now, all i can do is pray and hope he finds himself.

I will wait for him, i will wait for that time when we can talk about nothing but still laugh.

That time will come.

It has to come cause my heart’s broken and it will only heal after he finds his identity.

YOU AND I ARE FOES by Nancy Handabile

You and I are foes,

but ours is a silent war,

a battle of hearts,

a fight of emotions,

an endless string of hurtful moments meant to prove disinterest.

Feigned disinterest for we both know the tide is there.

The softness, the gentle words, the little phrases that you utter in sudden moments.

You feed on my weakness, my unpalatable shame.

My obvious craving of your affection.

Perhaps there is no victor in this war.

It seems we have both lost.

And later when the years have passed will you look back with regret.

Will you wish you had taken the leap?

IT’S ALL IN THE MIND by Alexander PrinceCharmer Brown

There’s no right. There’s no wrong.

There’s no weak. Theres no strong

There’s only one thing that everyone is yet to find.

That’s the reality that the world is in your mind

There’s no lie. There’s no truth

There’s some doubt. And there’s faith

There’s more life in front than there is behind

That’s belief without sight. The world’s in your mind

There’s no rich. There’s no poor

There’s only getting tired of who we are

But WAKE UP! Open your eyes! Don’t be blind.

You need to realize that the world’s in your mind

There’s no failures. There’s no greatest.

Everyone was designed with the capability to stand any test.

There’s no heroes. There’s no bad guys

There’s only us and a type who compromise

Once is all you need to switch to the other side.

There’s good and bad in everybody’s inside.

There’s no losers. There’s no winners

There’s no need for borrowers and owners.

There’s no me writing this piece.

There’s only it’s message engraved in your mind’s deep abbys

You can be it. You can do it. You can date success if you make up your mind.

It’s starts with telling yourself that the world’s in your mind.

CRUSHING OVER YOU By Salome Sindiswa Phiri

The loud thud of my heartbeat deafens my ears. So slowly the sound like a sponge dries out my mouth. The drum of my heartbeat stirs the fires of my tummy; flooding my face with a heat… the hairs on my body dance a wave, up and down in salutation.

My head faint, my nose assaulted with the scent of musky sandalwood…oh if only I were but blind and not see the agonizing magnificence…my hands, have you gone to sleep, wet, cold, yet life explodes in you with sharp hot needles. I stand still…my feet yelling run…my knees weak and conflicted with the urge to bow out.

I feel the giggles of the shivers in my spine as they chase each other up and down…oh gosh the butterflies are awake now, their wings tickle my tummy…My body in a cocoon of candy floss…have you ever seen so much sugar pumped in a merriment of color?

I’m high and faint, strong and weak, hot and cold, composed yet in turmoil… running and standing still, joyful and sad…am crushed by the agony and wonder of crushing! Crushing over you!

By Kapa187

American Embassies around the world have been put on high alert with particular focus to Zambia, Armenia, Burundi, Kuwait, Sudan and Tunisia.This follows the 5 hour attack on Tuesday night on the American Embassy in Libya which lead to the death of US Ambassador Chris Stevens and four others.

The attack is may have been sparked by a US film satirizing the Prophet Muhammad. Protests over the film are widening.

In response to the attack, the United States is “deploying elite Marine counterterrorism teams to Libya,” Foreign Policy reports. The Pentagon is sending Fleet Anti-Terrorism Teams, or FAST teams, a U.S. defense official told the magazine. According to Reuters, the United States has evacuated all personnel from Benghazi to Tripoli.

“It’s especially tragic because Chris Stevens died in Benghazi because it is a city he fought to save,” Obama said later Wednesday morning in hastily arranged public remarks in the Rose Garden of the White House.

Condemning the attack, the US urged all American embassies across the world to take extra precautions.

Calls for more protests against the US-made amateur film mocking Islam are already being raised in Egypt, Afghanistan, Algeria and other countries.

In Tunisia, police fired teargas and tear bullets to disperse protesters outside the US embassy in the country ‘s capital. Around two hundred Salafist demonstrators gathered outside the premises in Tunis to condemn the controversial movie.

THE incident in which the Zambia Police Force on Sunday blatantly disobeyed the court order regarding the holding of the United Party for National Development (UPND) Kanyama Rally is a mockery not only to the rule of law but also to democracy in this country.

The heavy handedness with which the police are dealing with perceived political opponents of the government is frightening and creating a lot of resentment among most ordinary Zambians and contributing to people’s loss of trust, confidence and interest in institutions of governance in the country.
[pullquote]The mangled statements issued by senior police officers regarding the reasons for the cancellation of the planned rally raises a lot of concern and disbelief especially that some cadres from a named political party though armed to the teeth were allowed to march along Los Angeles Road displaying assorted “weapons” without police intervention[/pullquote].

It is however, a shame and amazing to see how a law enforcement agency such as the Zambia Police Force decides to disrespect and disregard the same law it is supposed to protect and guard jealously.

The mangled statements issued by senior police officers regarding the reasons for the cancellation of the planned rally raises a lot of concern and disbelief especially that some cadres from a named political party though armed to the teeth were allowed to march along Los Angeles Road displaying assorted “weapons” without police intervention. This was a clear exhibition of double standard when confronted with political matters on the part of the police.

Therefore, the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) wishes to condemn the police action exhibited on Sunday and further remind the Police that their action is tantamount to abuse of freedom of assembly
of citizens as enshrined in the Zambian Constitution. Such actions don’t only bring a lot of ridicule and contempt to Police image but the government too.

It is for this reason that FODEP would like to appeal to all stakeholders interested in good governance to seize the constitution making process to advocate for security reforms in the country to ensure that governance institutions such as the Zambia Police Force serve people’s interest and not political ones and truly metamorphosed into service providers and not oppressive tools.

Without security reforms and going by the conduct of the police officers, one shudders to wonder how the situation will be towards elections if the police could behave ruthless when elections are still years away.

FODEP would like to appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs to take disciplinary action against officers who go against government policy of respecting the rule of law and continue to put the name of government in national and international disrepute and ridicule.

United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema has charged that Zambia is headed towards a one party State under the Patriotic Front leadership.

Addressing a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday following the refusal by the Police to grant his party permission to hold another rally in Kanyama that was scheduled for 16th September, 2012, Mr Hichilema said that it was now clear that the country is heading towards a one party State.

Mr Hichilema said that President Michael Sata and his government should concentrate on issues of national development instead of the UPND by denying them the right to hold rallies.

He said that there are currently a number of issues that need government attention such the increase in mealie meal prices and the chaos in the cotton market.

Mr Hichilema said that the behavior by the PF government is a clear indication that the country is being turned into a dictatorship.

The UPND leader has further urged the police to direct their attention on criminals rather than his party.

And Mr Hichilema has questioned why some people seem to be fabricating stories that he had failed to heed to the call by the MMD to have its candidate fielded in the forth-coming elections.

Mr. Hichilema accused the post Newspaper of having a hidden political agenda adding that it was certain that the PF government is feeling the political pressure from UPND.

But PF media and publicity Director Chanda Mfula noted that it has become fashionable for the UPND and the MMD to speak to the media at all times even when they have nothing of value to tell the nation.

Mr Chanda told QFM News in a statement that it is embarrassing for the two parties to spend much of their time in the opposition, at the doorstep of media houses peddling lies and nonconstructive criticism at the expense of contributing towards the development of the country.

He added that it is also amusing to watch the leaders of the MMD and UPND try to outdo each other in terms of who gets more airplay with their press conferences and statements.

Mr Chanda said that there was need for President Michael Sata and his government to be given space to continue with the progress the country is making towards improving the welfare of the people.

QFM