The opposition Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) convention to choose a new leader is in doubt following the party’s failure to raise the K3 billion required.

Party Deputy National Secretary Chembe Nyangu disclosed to QFM in an interview that the party is not likely to hold the convention any time soon because of unavailability of resources.

Mr Nyangu says a another fundraising committee consisting of himself,party national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe,party spokesperson Dora Siliya, Suresh Desai and veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga has been constituted to try and raise the required funds.

This was after the earlier committee constituted to raise the funds failed to raise the money.

Mr Nyangu says the committee will work hard to ensure that resources are found but could however not promise when the convention will be held.

Meanwhile, The Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) has noted that it was imprudent for the Chief Registrar of Societies to de-register the opposition MMD.

ZEC Secretary General Cleophas Lungu has since stated that the concerns raised by Fitch Ratings on the de-registration of MMD should serve as a wake up call to the country.

Fr. Lungu notes that it is also important to ensure that the good image that Zambia has earned on the international community in terms of upholding democratic principles is not distorted.

The clergy notes that it is important that principles of democracy such as freedom of expression and association are upheld.

Fitch Ratings has expressed concern on the country’s policy direction and governance quality following the de-registration of the MMD.

Fitch has warned that if the decision to de-register the MMD is upheld and by-elections are called, there will also be adverse fiscal consequences.

The Rating Agency says holding elections will put unnecessary strain on the budget or divert funds from much-needed capital spending.

QFM

Government has clarified that there are no Angolan troops in Mongu. Defence minister Geoffrey Mwamba has told journalists in Lusaka today that the troops that are in Mongu are Zambian soldiers who are in the area for routine operations.

Yesterday deputy defence minister Colonel Panji Kaunda told QFM in an exclusive interview that the troops that were spotted in Mongu could be from Angola, insinuations his superior has refuted.

The Deputy Minister was responding to a story that had earlier been published by an online publication that government had deployed troops to Mongu to keep vigil on the planned Barotse National Council meeting.

Mr. Mwamba explained that soldiers during their routine operations are sent to different parts of the country and that it is only coincidental that the operations this time around are being done in Mongu at a time the Barotse national council meeting is taking place.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani is in the Mongu to check on the security status ahead of the forthcoming Barotse National Council (BNC).

She said police will not stop people from exercising their rights but allow them to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner.

And Western Province Permanent Secretary Augustine Seyuba has praised the police service in the province for maintaining law and order amidst many challenges they are facing.

Mr. Seyuba said the current situation of peace and order in the province was due to the hard work and professionalism the service has exhibited.

He appealed to the Inspector General to consider addressing the many challenges which officers face in combating crime in the province.

Mr. Seyuba said areas such Sichili, Shangombo and Mitete in Lukulu district do not have police stations, a situation that has led to an increase in the number of hired assassin cases in the region.

ZANIS

Copperbelt based artist Chef recently released the  new video for his song “Nshimbila Ama Yo”

By Kapa187

President Michael Sata has called on Zambians living in Botswana to return home and help develop the country. President Sata said that if Zambians do not return to work and develop the country, other foreign nationals will be employed to help develop the country because the process is not going to wait for anyone.

He said Zambia has educated a lot of her people who have left the country to work and develop other countries instead of their own. ZANIS reports that the President was speaking last evening in Gaborone, Botswana when he met Zambians living in Botswana.

He said Zambia had trained a lot of doctors, nurses, teachers and other professionals who, unfortunately, had not contributed to the welfare of their own country. President Sata urged the Zambians to return home and contribute towards the development of the country adding that Zambia needed all the ideas it could get in order to enhance development.

And Foreign Affairs Minister Given Lubinda said it was important for Zambian living in the Diaspora to keep abreast with the happenings in Zambia. Mr. Lubinda said when Zambians are well informed of the happening back home they will be able to meaningfully contribute towards the development of the country.

He implored the Zambian people in Botswana to contribute to the welfare of their country.

ZANIS

Nicholas Mabika , AKA Lil Nick AKA Pacman , hailing from Jesmondene Lusaka is a white Zambian rapper who has been through much criticism in his life on becoming the 1st successful white rapper in zambia but has said he is planning on only big things to put zed hip hop on the map. His words ” LSK has some of the sickest rappers ive heard in my life and its about time they got there music out there because they deserve it“.

The young rapper was first discovered by the man himself C.R.I.$.I.$ after featuring in his music video for play on at the age of 13. But a couple years later he found himself working with the artists in So Good Entertainment after being discovered at “Cypher” during his “legendary battle with the So’ Good Artist K.R.Y.T.I.C.  lil Nick is currently in a college in Loughborough studying Music Technology with his aspiration to open his own professional studio.

THE MUSIC

Video for his latest single “I Know”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnonEk-2dQo

 “me on your track… priority ,you on the track…. minority , and im so fly that your sky looks like the floor to me”  he raps in the song .

He may face a lot of criticism because of the color of his skin , but there is no denying that he his very talented . He brings some originality to the Zambian rap scene with his good delivery and witty rhymes . There is no limit to how far he can go , both locally and internationally .

Being Zambian is more than just the colour of your skin.

By Kapa187

United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema has suggested that the country considers having the 50% plus 1 clause in the new constitution that will not demand for an election re-run.

Mr. Hichilema has said instead the 50% plus 1 clause should only have a provision that will provide for the establishment of a coalition government in an event that no party manages to secure the majority votes.

The opposition leader adds that the coalition government in this particular case would have to be formed by the top two leading parties in an election. Mr. Hichilema notes that having such a provision in the constitution will help avoid costs that would arise from an election re-run.

Mr. Hichilema says Zambia should learn from countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia which he says have adopted a similar system. He has since called for a speedy, cost effective and all-inclusive constitution making process.

QFM

Home Affairs Minister Kennedy Sakeni says government will not compensate families of the girls impregnated by police officers in Mongu because it did not ask the officers to get promiscuous.

Mr. Sakeni said that it is pointless to call on government to compensate the girls when the matter involves individual officers. He said that the issue of compensation should not even arise because the law is available to provide guidance on the matter.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with QFM, Mr. Sakeni has advised the girls’ families and concerned parties to report the involved culprits to the police for the law to take its course.

He explained that the affected parties have all the rights and time to take up the matter through relevant authorities and not wait on government to act.

Mr. Sakeni said government can not just take disciplinary action against the officers because procedure has to be followed. The Home Affairs minister said that according to the report he has received, the involved officers are from Kanfinsa, on the Copperbelt province.

On Friday, parliament heard that some of the girls at Limulunga High School have been impregnated by some police officers that had been deployed to the area to crash the Mongu riots last year.

Monze Central Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu and Hope for human rights executive director Smart Chanda have both called on government to compensate the families of the girls.

QFM