Church of God Bishop John Mambo has expressed sadness over the practice of homosexuality in the country.

He was speaking in a telephone interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Bishop Mambo said that Zambia is a Christian nation and such practices should not be tolerated in the country.

Bishop Mambo urged the government to engage the church and the civil society in fighting the vice that is slowly corrupting the country.

He noted that homosexuality is not in the Zambian culture and God created man and woman for intended purposes.

Bishop Mambo added that foreign rules should not corrupt the country’s good morals in order to eradicate poverty by involving the Zambian people in illicit activities.

He said that government should not accept donations from any donors who are advocating the performance of homosexuality in order to be assisted.

Bishop Mambo appealed to the public not to entertain such acts as it is forbidden in the bible and added that as a country we should emulate Christ.

He was commenting after two men from Matero township were found to be involved in homosexuality activities.

ZANIS

The United Party for National Development (UPND) says Chiefs Mukuni and Chikanta will be the ones to respond to Chief Mwanachingwala’s claims that the UPND forced some traditional leaders to reject the government’s realignment of some districts in southern province.

UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has told QFM that it would not be right for the UPND to start exchanging words with Chief Mwanachingwala who has accused the party of having influenced the chiefs’ decision to reject the realignment of some districts.

Mr. Mweetwa adds that it would also be illogical for the party to respond to media reports as Chief Mwanachingwala has not officially communicated to UPND on his concerns that the party politically engineered a meeting for traditional leaders.

Last weekend some chiefs in southern province led by chiefs Mukuni and Chikanta resolved during a meeting not to allow government to realign Chirundu and Itezhi- tezhi districts Lusaka and Central provinces respectively.

However, Chief Mwanachingwala has urged the government to view the resolutions null and void saying the UPND had forced the chiefs to reject the realignment of the districts in southern province.

Meanwhile, Former Local Government and Housing deputy Minister Moses Muteteka has commended the minister of local government Nkandu Luo for suspending Siavonga district council on allegations of corruption.

Speaking to Qfm in Lusaka yesterday, Mr. Muteteka said there is need to ensure that elements of corruption in the local governance system are discarded without hesitation.

Mr. Muteteka has however demanded for an explanation from the current minister on what she is doing about the report into corruption allegations involving the previous Lusaka City Council which he says had a number of flaws.

He says it will be prudent for government to take action on the LCC report before embarking on investigating other councils.

Yesterday, Professor Luo suspended the Siavonga district council with immediate to pave way for investigations into the alleged corrupt practices by senior officers.

She said her ministry has received reliable reports that some senior council officers who among them is the council secretary were involved in the illegal allocation of plots.

QFM

President Michael Sata has appointed newly elected Msanzala PF Member of Parliament Colonel Joseph Lungu as Deputy Minister of Defence in-charge of Rural Development and Zambia National Service. This is contained in a congratulatory messages released to the media by State House today.

The President sent heartfelt congratulations to all Patriotic Front (PF) functionaries who worked tirelessly to defeat the opposition MMD-UPND alliance in the just-ended Msanzala parliamentary by-election.

The President said the Msanzala victory signifies the ruling party’s grand entry into Eastern Province and further affirms the people’s resolve to endorse and support PF’s efforts to deliver the change they voted for on 20th September 2011.

“Indeed, this is a momentous achievement for our party as it has demonstrated to all doubting minds that in fact, our historic victory last September was understated due to the widespread electoral mal-practices by the previous regime,” President Sata said.

“With sincerity of heart, I take this opportunity to express my utmost appreciation to our secretariat and the rank and file of our party for this well-deserved victory. You are further encouraged to work harder to mobilise and explain our party programmes across the entire length and breadth of the country.”

And President Sata has also commended the PF for decisively winning a ward seat in Zambezi West constituency in North-Western Province and another two wards in Petauke district.

The President assured that PF will never take the goodwill and support it is enjoying from the Zambian people for granted.

“As a broad-based party with a proven national appeal we will therefore continue to work even harder to gain new ground. We are determined to break all tribal and ethnic barriers just ensure that our people receive the desired development in their respective regions, “the President said.

[pullquote]“Indeed, this is a momentous achievement for our party as it has demonstrated to all doubting minds that in fact, our historic victory last September was understated due to the widespread electoral mal-practices by the previous regime,” President Sata said. [/pullquote]

The Head of State said the Msanzala and Zambezi victories send a clear message to the opposition alliance that time for misplaced bitterness and unjustified criticism is long gone because Zambians were more interested in messages of hope and assurance such as those enabling the ruling party to win elections.

“We are more confident in the collective wisdom, understanding and judgment of the Zambian people now than ever before because they are able to distinguish genuine criticism from sour grapes and mere media stunts by those who do not mean well for this country,” President Sata said.

“As custodians of the Zambian people’s interests we will continue to listen, uphold the rule of law and deliver to the best of our abilities to move this country forward. Grave bitterness and negativity will be left to those with sectional interests to protect.”

CHIEF Mwanachingwala of Mazabuka has said that the resolutions by some chiefs in Southern province who met in Choma over the re-alignment of Chirundu and Itezhi Tezhi districts by President Sata should be declared null and void because the resolutions were politically engineered by the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).

Henry Chibulu reports from Mazabuka that Chief Mwanachingwala said government should not take the resolutions seriously because they do not reflect the views of the chiefs but the UPND leadership.

He said traditional rulers who attended did not know the agenda and were forced to travel by the opposition UPND which also paid them allowances.

The traditional ruler said government should call for an Indaba and explain to chiefs the benefits of re-aligning the districts as most of them are ignorant on the matter adding that the opposition is taking advantage of government’s failure to allow dialogue on the matter.

Chief Mwanachingwala said the Choma meeting was political and did not represent the aspirations of the traditional rulers and their subjects but was meant to drive the hidden agenda of the UPND.

He wondered what could be expected from a stage managed meeting, stating that the chiefs who attended the meeting did not think on their own but were being pushed by the UPND to issue such statements.

Chief Mwanachingwala has disclosed that Mazabuka central member of parliament, Garry Nkombo called him to fix an appointment to discuss the issue regarding the re-alignment of Chirundu and Itezhi Tezhi districts to Lusaka and Central provinces respectively.

He said chiefs in the province should not allow themselves to be used by the UPND to fight government without exhausting dialogue.

Chief Mwanachingwala said chiefs in the province are eager to meet President Sata to discuss the matter and help them understand the benefits of re-aligning the districts.

The traditional ruler has since advised his colleagues to take advantage of the newly established ministry of Chiefs and traditional affairs to express their grievances to government instead of being misled by the opposition to fight government.

And Chief Mwanachingwala has advised the UPND leadership to stop issuing statements without consulting him.

He said he is disappointed with the UPND for misinforming the nation that he attended a meeting for chiefs in Choma when he did not.

Chief Mwanachingwala said he is aware that the UPND want to create friction between him and the government by using his name.

He said he will not allow the UPND to destroy his good image before the government.

Meanwhile, Chief Mwanachingwala has invited Southern province minister, Miles Sampa to visit him at the palace.

The chief said Sampa is free to work in the province adding that no one has the right to order for his removal except the appointing authority.

QFM

Patriotic Front candidate in the Msanzala parliamentary by-election Colonel Joseph Lungu has scooped the seat.

QFM’s Namasiku Njovu reports from Msanzala that Colonel Lungu beat three other candidates to retain the seat which he previously held as an independent.

Results from all the 43 polling stations in the constituency gave Colonel Lungu 7,172 votes, while MMD’s Peter Daka trailed him in second position with 4,065 votes.

Independent candidate Usuman Maumba came third with 355 votes, with UNIP’s Shadrick Banda coming last with 201 votes.

Two hundred and one votes were rejected.

Returning officer Magdalene Mutinta declared Colonel Joseph Lungu as the duly elected Member of Parliament for Msanzala at about 09:45 hours.

Government has suspended Siavonga District Council for alleged illegal land allocation involving senior officers including the council secretary.

Minister of Local Government, Housing, Early Child Education and Environmental Protection Nkandu Luo, who announced the development at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, said the suspension of the local authority is with immediate effect.

Prof Luo said she will not entertain petitions from anyone over the suspension of the council.

“Owing to reliable reports received by my ministry on alleged corrupt practices which include irregular allocation of plots, I have decided to invoke statutory provisions under the Local Government Act (Section 88) to suspend the council to allow for investigations.

“I have signed a statutory instrument suspending Siavonga District Council. The instrument will be published in the Government Gazette appropriately,” she said.

Prof Luo said her ministry has received numerous reports of council officials allocating themselves pieces of land meant to benefit the general public.

“It is a situation where the council advertises a piece of land but instead of allocating it to members of the public, they (council officials) share the land amongst themselves and later sell the pieces of land to members of the public,” she said.

Prof Luo said Southern Province local government administrator Alex Bwalya has been appointed to manage operations at the local authority.

She said Mr Bwalya will discharge all the functions at the council for an initial 90 days until investigations are concluded.
The minister said Government will not tolerate misconduct among council officials who are supposed to work hard to deliver improved services to the people.
Prof Luo said Government will remain focused to ensure that corruption in local authorities is fought and culprits are brought to book.

She said President Sata and his administration will not relent in fighting corruption and warned of stern action against perpetrators of the vice.

The minister said there will be no sacred cows in the anti-corruption crusade. She said abuse of office, laziness or direct theft of public resources will not be tolerated.

Prof Luo said the suspension of the Siavonga District Council should serve as a lesson to other local authorities and senior officers who engage in corrupt activities because the long arm of the law will catch up with them some day.

She said Government will not condone any departure from the accepted norms, practices and procedures in the management of local authorities.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

This is a romantic comedy set in Paris about a family that goes there because of business, and two young people who are engaged to be married in the fall have experiences there that change their lives. It’s about a young man’s great love for a city, Paris, and the illusion people have that a life different from theirs would be much better.

PROS

• Interesting story line .
• Great acting by the whole cast . Owen Wilson did a good job with his character. This is his best movie since “Marley & me”
• The scenery of Paris was captured beautifully ,the city really came to life.

CONS

• The movie ended quite abruptly ,you will feel like more could have been done.

FAVORITE QUOTES

Adriana: That Paris exists and anyone could choose to live anywhere else in the world will always be a mystery to me.

Ernest: If it’s bad, then I hate it because I hate bad writing. If it’s good, then I’ll be envious and I’ll hate it all the more.

CONCLUSION

Midnight in Paris is a very nice movie . Woody Allen writes a great screenplay that contrasts a person’s life with their dream. He wonderfully illustrates ones unappreciative attitude towards the life and era they live in in a humorous/witty way . It is the type of movie that leaves you with something to think about at the end .

It asks the question if we are satisfied with our lives in the present ,because we always reminisce and thing of our “golden years” . You hear people complaining about today’s music and how much they miss the “golden oldies” ,but if you were to go back in time to ,say , the 80’s . The people of that time would also be reminiscing of the music of the 60’s .

The movie has received four Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Direction, Best Original Screenplay and Best Art Direction

RATING

5 out of 5

By Kapa187