President Michael Sata has taken a swipe at opposition political parties in Zambia who instead of representing the poor are more interested in the affairs of the rich and corrupt.

Mr Sata said politicians were supposed to speak for the poor who were a vulnerable in society.

President Sata said made the remarks at State House during the swearing in ceremony of Zambia’s Ambassador to France, Solomon Mbuzi, Senior Permanent secretary at the ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Daisy Ng’ambi and Luapula province permanent secretary Anna Mubanga.

“As Africans where there are nashala neka (one man) political parties are going to these foreigners thinking they can assist. I can not see
a political party calling itself worth representing the poor people go and defend corruption,” he said.

Counseling Mr Mbuzi on his appointment, Mr Sata said his main focus as he goes to France is to look at what is good for Zambia and not meddle
in the political affairs of that country.

“Your main interest is what is good for Zambia and don’t worry about the internal politics,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Sata has expressed concern at the high levels of corruption at the ministry of Lands as regards to land allocation.

He urged Ms Ng’ambi to reorganise the ministry so that Zambians could benefit from the land resource.

He said there was corruption in the distribution and allocation of land which should be brought to an end. Mr Sata said councilors and
the office of the Commissioner of Lands were equally not an exception to corruption allegations in the land allocation process.

“We should bring some sanity. I know when the land Act was enacted we said land is for Zambians but today in markets, there are people who
are not Zambians because market is land,” he said.

On the appointment of Ms Mubanga as Luapula province permanent secretary, Mr Sata said the country had so many problems in the provinces.

Mr Sata urged Ms Mubanga to widely tour the province and consult traditional leaders on how best to address the developmental challenges in the area.

He said Zambia could only develop if the problems which were being faced in the provinces were resolved.

Political Scientist Alex Ng’oma has charged that the 14 days recommended in which the President-elect must be sworn is unrealistic. Dr N’omba said that no petition case can be concluded in two weeks and therefore calls for more time.

Many stakeholders have objected to the recommendation indicating that the winning Presidential candidate must be sworn in within 14 days, contending that the provision is not different from the provision in the current constitution which stipulates that the winner is sworn- in within 24 hours.

Their argument is that under the recommendation in the first draft constitution, the President-elect can still be sworn in within 24 hours as it falls within the recommended 14 days hence there is no difference.

Dr N’omba has welcomed the recommendation of the system of proportion representation by the technical committee of experts in the drafting of the constitution.

Dr. Ng’oma who is also Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) president has told Qfm news that submitting a list of preferred candidates to the Electoral Commission of Zambia can enable the commission to simply select the runner up in case the front runner falls out.

He said the system is progressive has it allows the minority of political parties to have a say in national affairs.

The political scientist has since downplayed concerns of accountability and allegiance being raised by various stakeholders stating that Members of Parliament will be accountable to the public once the system is adopted.
QFM

The Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) says it will tomorrow hold initial filing in of nominations for candidates wishing to contest the position of party president.

MMD deputy National Secretary Chembe Nyangu says the nominations will be conducted to help the party come up with a list of candidates before the printing of the final ballot papers ahead of the May 25, provincial conventions.

He said five candidates who include, Felix Mutati, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, Kabinga Pande, Dr. Nevers Mumba, and Moses Muteteka have confirmed their participation in the filling in of nomination and have already paid nomination fees.

He said a new entrant Kapembwa Simbao has also expressed willingness to file in his nomination and has promised to pay the nomination fees during the filing in process.

Mr. Nyangu told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka the MMD will, however, allow other candidates who will not manage to file in their nominations tomorrow to do so 48 hours before the convention date.

He explained that this was in line with the party constitution and that late inclusions will however be included on the ballot paper in ink.

The Deputy National Secretary has reiterated that the party will conduct the provincial conventions and that presidential candidates will have to get a 50 plus 1 vote to be elected.

He said that this will not be difficulty as alleged by some stakeholders stating that the convention will be held in less than five hours which will make it possible for a re-run on the same date.

Mr. Nyangu, however, admitted that this might be difficult considering that this will be the first time a presidential position will be contested by more than five candidates since the party was formed.

He said the position of party president was mainly going un-opposed in favour of sitting presidents.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nyangu has disclosed that preparations for the conventions have advanced and all groups are ready for the meetings.

The MMD which is scheduled to hold provincial conventions to choose a successor after former president Rupiah Banda retired from active politics.

ZANIS

Nigerian Artist Wizkid will be having an autograph signing at News Cafe on the 24th of May and performing on the 25th  of may at Barclays Sports Center.

WASHINGTON DC, 14 May 2012 – On Friday May 11th, the offices of international lawyer Robert Amsterdam received correspondence from legal
representatives of Zambian President Michael Chilufya Sata threatening litigation and demanding compensation in response to public statements made by Mr. Amsterdam.

“President Sata’s crude efforts to silence and bully opponents with threats and intimidation will not work, and we would in fact welcome the
opportunity to lead a serious public debate on the unlawful conduct of this administration,” said Mr. Amsterdam. “As a public figure, I had no idea that President Sata was so sensitive to criticism, but given this government’s stance toward freedom of the press, it shouldn’t come as a
surprise.”

The letter, which was also addressed independent newspaper The Daily Nation, states, “We have been retained by Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, the
current president of Zambia and of the Patriotic Front political party, to act for him in a matter concerning your defamation of him in the article in the Nation Newspaper edition published on 8th of May, 2012 (Vol. 2, Issue 175) entitled ‘Sata Shielding Crooks.’” The letter threatens to initiate civil proceedings unless the Daily Nation and Mr. Amsterdam retracted the article, issued a written apology, and paid damages of K500 million (approx. US$97,000.00).

The president’s threat toward Mr. Amsterdam comes on the heels of a request for Urgent Appeals submitted to the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders and the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers of the United Nations following threats and intimidation by Wynter Kabimba of the Patriotic Front party, who accused Mr. Amsterdam of a slew of unsubstantiated allegations for acting as legal counsel to Henry Banda, the son of the former President Rupiah Banda.

According to Mr. Amsterdam, the latest threats from President Sata represent the culmination of a series of attacks on the political
opposition and independence of the judiciary. “This is the same administration that has attempted to force the de-registration of the
largest opposition party, conducting a phony witch hunt in the name of anti-corruption to eliminate competition, and firing judges who rendered
inconvenient verdicts against political allies. The staggering number of irregularities, violations of protocol and due process by this government is causing serious damage to the country. Is it too much to ask that this government be required to observe the law and uphold the constitution?”

Amsterdam & Peroff LLP along with law firm Brian Kahn Inc of Johannesburg, South Africa represent the Former President Rupiah Banda and his son Henry Banda. The legal team is in the process of presenting appeals before the relevant international bodies to expose the unlawful conduct undertaken by the current administration against the political opposition. Documentation and further information can be found at
http://www.robertamsterdam.com/zambia.

Four directors at the Zambia National Building Society (ZNBS) have resigned with immediate effect for unknown reasons.

The Zambia Union of Financial and Allied Workers Union (ZUFIAW) smells a rat but is hopeful that the resignations was not a calculated move to cause panic at the institution.

ZUFIAW President Cephas Mukuka said the union was surprised that the directors chose to resign abruptly when management, ZUFIAW and Union
Brach officials held a meeting last Wednesday at the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Labour to chart the way
forward on ZNBS.

Mr Mukuka said the union was saddened by the directors’ failure to show leadership which he said was tantamount to holding the institution at ransom.

“We would like to assure the unionised members at ZNBS and clients that ZUFIAW is closely engaged in discussions with management and the
ministry of Labour to ensure industrial harmony.

“The tripartite consultative meetings we have been holding have been helpful in moving the process forward regarding industrial relations
issues which employees wanted to be addressed,” Mr Mukuka said.

Last week, four directors at ZNBS tendered in their immediate resignations from the institution but did not state the reasons for
leaving work.

Recently, President Michael Sata appointed the Mwila Lumbwe led commission of inquiry to investigate operations at ZNBS.

The ZNBS report submitted to President Sata indicated that the institution has been running at a loss.It also noted that adding since inception, it had only managed to give 15,000 mortgages against the 2 million deficit of housing units currently being faced.

Commission chairperson Mwila Lumbwe said during the hand over of the report that the ZNBS did not qualify under the financial regulation
Act to run as a building society because of its capital inadequacy.