Ikeleng’i Member of Parliament (MP), Elijah Muchima has refuted media reports that he was released from police cells in North -Western province following his high blood pressure.

Mr Muchima said it is totally untrue for the media to allege that his condition had deteriorated in police cells forcing the police to release him on police bond.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka that police released him on police bond due to pressure from his people who were aggrieved by the decision not to grant him police bond as his constitutional right.

The MP said his supporters had applied for a permit to protest following his arrest but that they were denied by the police to do so, adding that this angered his supporters who threatened to take the law into their own hands if the police failed to release him on bond.

Mr Muchima stated that his arrest is politically motivated and thanked the police for taking him to the court of law so that justice could prevail.

The law maker said for now, he would only allow the due process of the law to prevail over his accusations.

Mr Muchima said as a Zambian, he has constitutional right to be released on police bond because the perceived offence is a bailable one.

He said as far as he was concerned, he is very fit, adding that if he developed high blood pressure whilst in police cells, he would have been attended to by a doctor.

He said although he has been suffering from high blood pressure for some time now the ailment was not the reason he was released from custody.

Yesterday, it was alleged Mr Muchima’s blood pressure shot up while in custody on Saturday, forcing police to grant him police bond.

Mr Muchima served as Deputy Minister in PF government but was recently sacked when he fell out of favour with the powers.

Mr Muchima has since been charged with abuse of authority of office and would appear in court on Monday.

The Ikeleng’i MP is one of the opposition lawmakers that had accepted jobs from the PF government.

It was also reported that Mr. Muchima was on Friday detained in Mwinilunga Police cells in North-Western Province but conditions in custody were too much for him as he could not handle with his blood pressure shooting beyond normal.

Mr Muchima is charged in connection with mismanagement of funds meant for construction of a civic centre which is alleged to have been abandoned by a Lusaka-based contractor, Buildtech, which he allegedly engaged.

ZANIS/

Former UPND Livingstone Member of Parliament (MP) Howard Sikwela is shocked that some UPND MPs are demanding refunds for money contributed towards his campaigns ahead of the Livingstone by-election last year.

And Forum for Democratic Process (FODEP) has charged that it was not mandatory for Reverend Sikwela who had resigned from the UPND to reimburse it because the donated money was out of goodwill to build the party.

UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa was quoted in the media today as having said that UPND MPs were angry with Rev Sikwela’s behaviour and were now demanding that he pays them back every penny they spent during campaign and election.

Mr Mweetwa who is also UPND Choma MP claimed that Rev Sikwela’s campaign cost KR500, 000 (K500 million) which was all contributions from the party.

But Rev Sikwela said in an interview today that the demands by his former party members could be wrong because he also made key financial contributions to help UPND develop.

“Actually, I am very shocked to hear that I am being told to pay back all monies spent during my last by-election. I am surprised people want me to payback when I also made several forms of assistance including finance towards growing of UPND.

“This is my first time to hear such demands and I think, this is not the best way to go that people should be made to payback when they have contributed in one way the other,” Rev Sikwela said

Rev Sikwela resigned on Friday last week citing tribalism in the opposition UPND. This was the first time an MP was resigning from the UPND.

He said he had decided to party company with the UPND because of the hostility he received from the party in his attempt to work with the Government in developing his constituency.

And FODEP executive director MacDonald Chipenzi has described the claims as merely political statement.

Mr Chipenzi said in a separate interview today that it was not mandatory for rev Sikwela to payback the money.

“It’s a well known fact that the money being claimed was given out of free will and were meant to sale UPND in Livinstone.I think, it’s not right to claim their money,” Mr Chipenzi said

He said the demands did not even portray Zambia’s Christian principle because Rev Sikwela left UPND on his own after he made a personal comprehensive thought to quit.

“If UPND claims the money, it would mean that if another MP resigns next time, they will also claim the finances from that MP, which doesn’t show good Christian principles,” he said

Mr Chipenzi said the moment political parties such as UPND start to claim such money, it could result in people doubting credibility of their parties.

He said, UPND should ponder on way forward after resignation of Rev Sikwela. He said the best UPND could do, was to forget about Rev Sikwela and move forward since he former MP decided to quit the party.

Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Bob Sichinga, announced the development yesterday when he addressed the business community in Muyombe and Thendere in Muchinga Province.

The minister stated that government will not support any business association, union or corporative which were formed or are affiliated to a political party.

Mr Sichinga noted that most clubs and co-operatives in Mafinga were not genuine as they were formed by cadres to get funded at the expense of the vulnerable people who need aid.

He said government’s decision to ban politically-motivated clubs and groupings is meant to fight corruption and bring sanity.

Mr Sichinga noted that government wants to work with clubs and groupings that are not motivated by political parties but genuine ones.

He charged that most clubs and associations were formed and run by political cadres to pilfer funds from government at the expense of the vulnerable Zambians who need aid.

Mr Sichinga advised the business community to form associations and register with Zambia Chamber of Small and Medium Business Association (ZACSMBA) so that they could operate legally and professionally.

He called on them to work with the government of the day to facilitate development in their areas and explained that government wanted to alleviate poverty by creating industries.

ZANIS

Renowned medical practitioner Francis Manda says MP’s resigning from their political parties are behaving like Hyenas searching for faeces.

The outspoken Urologist said it is unacceptable that selfish politicians could be allowed to waste public resources on unnecessary bye elections.

“They are behaving exactly like Hyenas, these are animals that go about looking for faeces. The MP’s ditching their parties are like Hyenas looking for fecal excreta,” Dr. Manda said.

Dr. Manda was speaking Saturday morning during his popular radio show “Manzi Therapy” on ZNBC Radio 4.

He said Zambia is a country with meager resources for development programmes adding that spending huge amounts of money on bye elections which could be avoided is unacceptable.

[pullquote]“They are behaving exactly like Hyenas, these are animals that go about looking for faeces. The MP’s ditching their parties are Hyenas looking for fecal excreta,” Dr. Manda said.[/pullquote]

Dr. Manda supported proposals that the new constitution should include provisions that will enable the party nominate a candidate to see out the remainder of the term in an event that the MP crosses the floor.

“We cannot continue with defections at this rate. We need these constitutional changes in order to protect public funds,” Dr. Manda said.

He also appealed to political parties to exhibit maturity and settle down in 2013.

“We saw a lot of bickering in all parties including the ruling one in 2012. We don’t need such in 2013. These political parties need to learn to resolve issues amicably.”

Dr. Manda said infighting in political parties contributed to the lack of development in 2012.

“We didn’t see any meaningful development in the past year because politicians were busy bickering. Let us start politics in 2016 and not now when Zambians want development.”

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
(2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

As a believer in Jesus, you are a new creation. You have a new spirit and a new life! There may be “old” things in your life that you are trying to get rid of. Maybe you have old habits or addictions that you want to change. Remember today that the new has come. It’s a new year with new opportunities, and it’s time for you to be the new you. Let this be the year that you break old habits and addictions. Let this be the year that you move forward into a new life of victory. Let this be the year that you take hold of all the spiritual blessings the Lord has promised — peace, health, protection and victory.

Be encouraged today because no matter what is happening in your life right now, you have a chance for a new beginning. Choose to leave the old behind — leave behind old behaviors, old thinking, old words, and old mindsets and embrace the new by faith. Trust that He is leading you, and this year, declare His Word and embrace the blessings that He has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for making me new. I choose today to leave behind the old life and ask that You empower me by Your spirit. Help me to understand Your plan and know the truth of Your Word that sets me free in Jesus’ name. Amen.
— Joel & Victoria Osteen