Hakainde Hichilema has hit back on FDD President Edith Nawakwi over her incessant attacks on the UPND describing her as a hired gun of the PF government.

Mr. Hichilema told Journalists in Lusaka that Ms. Nawakwi should desist from attacking opposition leaders that do not attack her.

“I have avoided attacking her in public. Please let her stop attacking people that don’t attack her. It is just decent that she respects those that respect her,” Mr. Hichilema said.

“I have a wife and respect Madam Nawakwi.”

He was responding to continued attacks from Ms. Nawakwi on his leadership of the UPND and his style of politics.

Mr. Hichilema charged that the FDD leader is merely being used by Fred M’Membe and President Michael Sata.

“When M’Membe and Sata want to say something, they simply summon her and she will utter their words, she is simply a hired gun of the PF,” Mr. Hichilema said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hichilema has castigated the police for again denying his party a permit to proceed with their planned rally in Kanyama.

He said it is unfortunate that the PF has taken over the running of a professional police service and turned into an extension of the PF security wing.

“We have PF cadres such as Solomon Jere wearing our uniforms, the Zambia Police Service union belongs to us, all of us Zambians, it’s our uniform and they are wearing it to abuse our people,” Mr. Hichilema said.

Eddie Black and Yung Majik released a video for their song “Black Majik”

Song  Produced  by  Ben Blazer  Video by  MT Productionz

By Kapa187

Macky 2 released a video for his song “Ndeloleshyafye” that features Pilato.

By Kapa187

Police in Lusaka have again denied a permit to the opposition UPND to hold a public rally at Twashuka grounds in Kanyama which was planned for Sunday.

UPND Acting General Secretary Walusiku Lyambela revealed that he had written to Lusaka Police Chief Solomon Jere informing the police of his party’s intentions to hold a rally on Sunday in Kanyama.

He said Dr. Jere said he could not grant the UPND a go ahead because the venue (Twashuka grounds) they had picked was subject of ongoing litigation.

“I was surprised that Dr. Jere called me yesterday and asked to see me at his office, when I got there he started asking If we could hold on to our rallies until 2016,” Walusika said.

“We sensed when he first called that he was going to turn down our request, so we went there prepared with a fresh application for a rally in Chawama and we handed in the letter.”

He said the party is determined to go ahead and hold rallies across the country starting with Chawama this Sunday.

Former Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti has observed that Zambia’s democracy has worsened under the first year of the PF government.

Mr. Mulongoti who campaigned heavily for the PF in the run up to the 2011 general elections warned that Zambia’s democracy is heading in a wrong direction under the leadership of the PF.

He said it is regrettable that state institutions that have been set up to protect democracy are the one busy mutilating the same
Mr. Mulongoti stated that it is unthinkable that a police command could disregard a High Court order.

He urged all Zambians to stand up and reject attempts by the PF government to rape the country’s hard earned democracy.

“What is so difficult about allowing people to assemble and listen to their political leaders? What is so difficult about allowing people to travel from town to town to attend a public rally?”

Mr. Mulongoti advised the PF top leadership to cut on their outburst and excesses and concentrate on governing the country.

“They have a full mandate from the people, they will do well to focus on delivering on their campaign promises,” Mr. Mulongoti said.

Meanwhile, LUSAKA Province Police Commissioner Solomon Jere has denied any wrongdoing in the failed United Party for National Development (UPND) rally which was supposed to take place last Sunday.[pullquote] “What is so difficult about allowing people to assemble and listen to their political leaders? What is so difficult about allowing people to travel from town to town to attend a public rally?”[/pullquote]

Dr Jere has also dismissed calls from Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) that police officers need to be disciplined for allegedly going against Government policy of disrespecting the rule of law.

Speaking to Breeze News monitored in Chipata on Tuesday, Dr Jere said that it was not his fault that UPND officials wrongly served a court order to him instead of Attorney General Mumba Malila.

He said that the rally could have gone ahead if Mr Malila had signed the ex-parte order and advised police on how to proceed with the matter.

And Dr Jere said that there was no way the police could have allowed the rally to take place when some police officers were attending to other duties.

He said that Kanyama Township where the rally was supposed to take place was a volatile area that would have required enough officers to maintain security.

GOVERNMENT may not compensate the Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ) following the termination of the concessioning of Zambia Railways, citing breaches and massive damage to the railway link, Attorney General Mumba Malila has said.

And Zambia Railways managing director Knox Karima says RSZ will not be allowed to take assets away until the matter is resolved, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation reported last evening.

In an interview yesterday, Mr Malila said there are a myriad of contentious issues the government will consider before it can agree on whether or not to compensate RSZ.

“Remember RSZ may be guilty of breaching the concession agreement,” Malila said, “and so that is the issue that has to be considered…”
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda on Monday cited deterioration, damage, loss of property including life, as part of the reason the government decided to cut the concession.

Mr Chikwanda said the takeover was necessary, “because any additional delays would result in further destruction of the railway assets, making it more expensive for the planned upgrade of the railway to meet regional and international standards.”

Former Vice-President Enoch Kavindele – citing a study – says Government may need between US$150 million and US$200 million to get Zambia Railways back on track before more money can be invested into the venture.

Mr Kavindele said, in an interview, that the expenditure would be necessary if Zambia Railways was to meet modern standards.

“I don’t see why Government cannot raise these funds,” Mr Kavindele, who is promoting the North-West Railway project, said as he joined others in supporting the repossession.

And some political parties have welcomed the move by Government to repossess the company. Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi said Government should consider signing a public-private partnership agreement with China Railways, among others, to revamp Zambia Railways.

Ms Nawakwi said there is need for Government to partner with the private sector to make the railway system viable.

“We desire to see bullet (efficient) trains that will move our people from Kitwe to Livingstone in a short space of time, unlike the current situation,” Ms Nawakwi said.

She called on people who were leased land or are squatting along the railway track to vacate the land and pave way for expansion works.
The FDD leader said Government should also categorically state that the land along the railway track is an asset of Zambia Railways which should be protected for future expansion of the railway track.

The United Party for National Development (UPND) has also welcomed the repossession of the company “with caution”.
UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said the issue of Zambia Railways has been problematic but Government should have reviewed the concession agreement in an amicable manner.

“The review of the concessioning of Zambia Railways is what Parliament actually recommended but I think the manner in which it has been repossessed raises some questions. The approach, rather than the decision, is the issue,” Mr Kakoma said.

On Monday, Government terminated the freight and passenger concession agreement between Zambia Railways and RSZ.

The railway line was put up to a 20-year concession in 2003 but its growth grid has been down from the concession period, according to the government.

RSZ has declined to comment on the development which has cheered many Kabwe residents, who believe the fortunes may turn in their favour, once the government recapitalises the venture.

“I am in Kabwe right now (yesterday) and Kabwe residents are openly basking in the news of the government takeover and the prospects new money may bring to the now economically-depressed city,” Ms Muleya Mwananyanda, a Zambian working abroad, said.

Meanwhile, ALEX NJOVU reports that the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) in Kitwe has welcomed Government’s decision.

In an interview yesterday, ZCTU Kitwe district chairman David Mwamba commended Government for its decision to terminate the concession, which the union feels will enhance job security.

He said it is unfortunate that the RSZ failed to operate to expectation and allowed railway infrastructure to be run down without taking the necessary steps to safeguard property.

“Infrastructure was dilapidated and it was clear that there was something wrong. Now that government has taken Zambia Railways back, things might improve,” Mr Mwamba said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set Thursday November 8, 2012 as the date for the Mufumbwe Parliamentary by-election.

Eight Local Government by-elections will also be held on the same day around the country.

This follows the expulsion of MMD Member of Parliament, Steven Masumba from the party.
Mr Masumba has since defected to the PF.

ECZ Senior Public Relations Officer, Sylvia Bwalya said in a statement yesterday that the vacancies in the eight wards were as a result of resignations, deaths, defections or imprisonment of councillors.

The polls will take place from 06:00 to 18:00 hours.

Aspiring candidates in the by-elections should lodge completed and attested statutory declaration and nomination papers subscribed before a Magistrate, Local Court magistrate, Head of a Government Primary or Secondary School, Principal of a College on October 11, 2012 between 09:00 and 15:00 hours.

Ms Bwalya said candidates for the Mufumbwe Parliamentary seat should take along with them nine supporters who must be registered voters in the constituency.

She said the supporters must produce their green national registration cards and voters’ cards while aspiring candidates would be required to pay K500, 000.00 non-refundable nomination fee.

She said aspiring candidates in the Local Government by-elections should take along with them nine supporters who must be registered voters in the affected wards.

Aspiring candidates in the local government elections would be required to pay K100, 000 for city councils, K75, 000 for municipal councils and K50, 000 for district councils.

Ms Bwalya said that the campaign period for the elections would start from October 11 after 15:00 hours and will end at 06:00 hours on Tuesday November 6, 2012.

She said all media personnel and registered Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) intending to monitor or observe the elections should to apply for accreditation from the ECZ from Monday October 15 to Thursday November 1, 2012.

Accreditation for political party officials wishing to monitor elections in the constituency shall only be up to a maximum of 10 members per political party.

She said that only a maximum of five accredited members per political party and two accredited representatives of NGOs would be authorised to represent their respective political parties or NGOs at the Collation Centre.

In addition, not more than two political party members per participating political party shall be allowed to witness counting of votes at the Polling Station.

The local government by-elections would take place in Kanona ward in Kabwe, Msambazi in Petauke, Kabansa in Kawambwa, Mabili in Mongu and Rufunsa in Chongwe. Others Mulanda in Chilubi, Chilumba in Mpulungu and Chiyeke in Chavumba.

[Times of Zambia]

POLICE in Lusaka have impounded a Mitsubishi Pajero which is allegedly believed to have been illegally in the possession of former president Rupiah Banda’s doctor.

Police Spokesperson, Elizabeth Kanjela yesterday confirmed in an interview that police got the motor vehicle from a Dr Desai.

The impounded vehicle was being used by Dr Shaileni Desai of Victoria Hospital in Lusaka.

“We only have one vehicle that police are holding onto which is a Mitsubishi Pajero from a Dr Desai. It is believed to have been illegally in his possession,” she said.

Ms Kanjela, however said she could not divulge further details as investigations were still underway.

She said police were still carrying out investigations on the matter and that she would provide members of the public with further updates.

[Times of Zambia]