UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema says the country needs to have electoral reforms as soon as possible.

Mr. Hichilema has told QFM news that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) should start operating in a more independent manner by being freed from the dictates of the party in government.

He says doing so will help restore public confidence in the Electoral body.

The opposition leader notes that it is therefore important that the country puts in place a system that will allow independent stakeholders such as the church, CSOs and any other non- partisan organizations to second the commissioners to the ECZ as opposed to the current system where the ECZ commissioners are appointed by the head of state.

And Mr. Hichilema has also observed that the new constitution should also focus on reducing the excessive power of the executive as a way of curbing possible abuse of authority by a head of state.

He adds that there is also need through the constitution, for the country to have a parliament that will focus on legislative work more than politics.

QFM

THE call for Zambians working abroad to return home yesterday took a new twist when Foreign Affairs Minister Given Lubinda asked Zambians living in Botswana and other countries abroad not to feel pressured to return home in what appears like a major policy shift.

“Our policy in the PF is not to ask people to come to Zambia even if they have nothing to do on return,” Mr. Lubinda said. “If you are doing well here in Botswana or anywhere else for that matter…our advice is that you stay there, earn money and build a place in Zambia because you can’t live abroad forever.”

Mr Lubinda was responding to Zambia’s envoy to Botswana Robert Mataka who disclosed that up to 6,000 Zambians are working and running their own businesses in Botswana presently.

“We have on our embassy records about 2,000 Zambians working as medical doctors, university lecturers,” Mr. Mataka said. “But we estimate that in total there are up to 6,000 Zambians also engaged in personal businesses that contribute positively to the economy here.”

Mr. Lubinda noted that given the size of the population of Botswana, the 6,000 Zambians living in Botswana actually could make up a small town but the main point is they should invest wisely.

In the past the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) administration’s emphasis was placed on Zambians returning home from abroad albeit no tangible plan was put in place to soak them into the ‘new’ society they had sometimes left behind for more than a decade.

Examples of countries that have benefitted from an ‘intelligent’ diaspora abounds, according to UN studies and other independent studies that state that Ghana and Nigeria and most recently Zimbabwe are among top countries earning top dollars from citizens working abroad.

The Zambian community living in Botswana is expected to have candid discussions with President Sata when they meet him this week to test his government’s policies.

Meanwhile, President Sata this week embarks on a historical state visit of Botswana in a move expected to enhance economic and social partnerships between the two sister countries.

Foreign Affairs Minister Given Lubinda, who is leading an advance party, described the President’s pending two-day state visit as unique and significant in more ways than one during an interview in Gaborone yesterday.

“President Sata has received numerous invitations from the SADC leadership and beyond for state visits but due to his busy domestic schedule he has always turned the visits down,” Mr Lubinda said. “He, however, accepted to take up this first state visit on invitation from His Excellency General Ian Khama.”

Mr Lubinda said one of the most significant historical factors that bind Zambia and Botswana is that “Zambia was the first country to establish bilateral and diplomatic relations with Botswana some 46 years ago in 1966 and relations have been growing since then”.

He said President Sata will hold various meetings with Gen. Khama aimed at enhancing economic relations.

This will include discussions on the construction of a multi-million dollar bridge over the troubled Zambezi River in Kazungula currently being serviced by a problematic ferry that has oftentimes led to loss of lives.

The bridge project is scheduled to be completed next year. The bridge, whose cost of construction approximately stands at about US$260 million, would be funded by the two governments, JICA and the World Bank.

“It’s a long-term project of humongous importance whose benefits cannot be under estimated, hence the reason President Sata has decided to get directly involved in moving it,” Mr. Lubinda said.

Once completed, border transit time will be reduced and it will also put in place improved procedures on trade facilitation plus improved border management operations.

Thousands of Zambian and Botswana jobs are expected to be created through the project plus increased economic activities between the peoples of the two countries.

The President will also commission a multi-million pula educational facility.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Tottenham’s FA Cup tie against Bolton was dramatically called off when Trotters midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed in the centre of the White Hart Lane pitch after suffering a suspected heart attack in front of 36,000 fans and a television audience of a million.

The 23-year-old, who was reported to have stopped breathing, received cardio-resuscitation treatment from doctors and paramedics as shocked and distressed players from both sides looked on.

Some of them were in tears, others openly prayed while Muamba, an England Under 21 player who had arrived in  Britain as an 11-year-old when his father was granted asylum after earlier fleeing as a political refugee from their native Democratic Republic of Congo, fought for his life.

After 10 minutes of treatment, Muamba was carried from the field on a stretcher and rushed to the London Chest Hospital, where he was still being treated late on Saturday night.

A statement from Bolton said: ‘Fabrice is currently in a critically ill condition in intensive care.’

Muamba’s collapse in the 41st minute went largely unnoticed by the majority of the supporters in the stadium. He had not been involved in a collision, no other player was near him and he was moving into position for a goal-kick when he collapsed.

As it quickly became clear that the problem was of the utmost seriousness, Bolton and Spurs players, including Rafael van der Vaart and Benoit Assou-Ekotto, gestured desperately to the bench for immediate treatment.

Bolton physio Andy Mitchell rushed to Muamba’s aid and he was joined by doctors and CPR staff as it became apparent that the situation was life-threatening.

Owen Coyle, the Bolton manager, joined the medical teams near the centre circle while players and staff from both teams gathered on the touchline near the dugout, consoling one another. Some, including Dedryck Boyota and Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe, were in tears.

Bolton fans chanted Muamba’s name in a gesture of support and they were joined by Tottenham fans as the gravity of the situation became clear.

After 10 minutes of treatment, Muamba was put on a stretcher and CPR continued as he left the pitch to sustained applause.

He was taken to hospital, Coyle and club captain Kevin Davies travelling with him.

A distressed Scott Parker, the Tottenham captain, appeared to tell World Cup referee Howard Webb that the game could not continue. Shortly afterwards Webb, who also spoke to Coyle and Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, took the players to the dressing rooms and within 10 minutes fans were told that the game had been abandoned.

The announcement was met with restrained applause as the crowd began to depart. Those in the West Stand, which adjoins the main entrance at White Hart Lane, were asked to wait while the ambulance carrying Muamba departed. 

(Daily Mail UK)

Set against the backdrop of the Bosnian War that tore the Balkan region apart in the 1990s, In the Land of Blood and Honey tells the story of Danijel and Ajla, two people from different sides of a brutal ethnic conflict. Danijel, a soldier fighting for the Serbs, and Ajla, a Bosnian held captive in the camp he oversees, knew each other before the war, and could have found love with each other. But as the armed conflict takes hold of their lives, their relationship grows darker, their motives and connection to one another ambiguous, their allegiances uncertain.

PROS

• The movie has a  very gripping story , with a lot of emotion.
• Great performance by the two main actors .

CONCLUSION

It’s a tough, clear-eyed look at a ghastly ethnic war, with an admirably wide perspective that affords compassion for both sides. In the Land of Blood and Honey is a relentless, disturbing chronicle of cruelty. It is bleak and brutal. Angelina Jolie , who directed the movie ,is showing this could be — and still is — happening in other parts of the world.

RATING

5 out of 5

By Kapa187

CHIEF Registrar of Societies Clement Andeleki says his de-registration of the MMD has nothing to do with politics.

Mr Andeleki shot to fame or infamy in the eyes of the MMD when he announced that he had de-registered the former ruling party for failing to meet annual returns amounting to K380 million, an action the opposition party is hotly contesting after obtaining a stay from the High Court.

And MMD acting president Michael Mabenga says the MMD will continue as an opposition party, offering checks and balances to the Patriotic Front government in the hope of bouncing back to power in 2016.

Featuring on Cross Fire Blog Radio monitored on Zambezi Radio in Livingstone yesterday, Mr Andeleki said despite suffering persecution at the hands of the MMD government, his action to de-register the party was purely in the public interest and that he will resign if that is proved to the contrary.

“This action of the MMD in court will give us a better opportunity, especially my office. I have already offered that if my action was improper, like I did at police, I would even quit my position because this is an issue which has gone over and over to the extent that no reasonable person who is paid by the people can accept to continue to serve like that,” he said.

Mr Andeleki said he suffered persecution from the MMD government after giving a permit to an opposition political party while working as officer-in-charge at Matero police station in 2006 to hold a rally at which it was alleged a political leader made defamatory remarks against then President Levy Mwanawasa.
He said despite the persecution, he has no business settling scores with the previous regime as he is a professional civil servant.

Mr Andeleki said he is not a political appointee.

He said though his office has been co-operating with political parties and other organisations, it will not allow its authority to be undermined by impunity.

Mr Andeleki said he is satisfied with other political parties’ compliance with the law governing organisations and that the public is free to visit his office and check their records.

He said he was taken aback by Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president James Banda’s comment in the press recently that his move to de-register the MMD was excessive and improper.

Mr Andeleki said Mr Banda did not have enough details for him to comment the way he did.

“It quite struck me that the LAZ president could comment like that. The issue is that he did not have sufficient details. Whether you’re a journalist, a lawyer or whatever you’re, it’s very important that you gather your facts correctly so that you do not mislead yourself and the people in the country. He missed a lot of things you know,” Mr Andeleki said.

He said his was a well thought-out action as his office had done what it could to engage the former ruling party over the money it owes the government in returns.

Speaking earlier on the programme, Mr Mabenga said the MMD is looking forward to returning into power in 2016.

Mr Mabenga said the opposition party is now putting its house in order.

“We’re discussing matters, thinking hard on how to see to it that the party continues to raise money for the convention and re-organisation of the party,” he said.

Mr Mabenga said the MMD is still trying to establish what could have led to its defeat in the tripartite elections last year and that people outside the party are free to help it in that regard.

He said the purpose of the undertaking is for the party to draw lessons to help it do well in future elections.

Mr Mabenga urged MMD members to be patient and believe in the party’s ideals.

[Zambia Daily Mail]