RETIRED politician Edward Mumbi faces possible arrest if security reports linking him to a group of people circulating stories that President Michael Sata’s health has greatly deteriorated are corroborated, the Daily Mail has learnt.

Security reports show that the group which could be led by Mr. Mumbi, a former MMD supporter, has given President Sata only about seven months to live due to “unspecified” ill health.

Mr. Mumbi, who once served as a secretary general of the PF, distanced himself from the reports, saying whoever was circulating the report was doing so in bad faith as he has not wished Mr. Sata “ill” ever since he quit politics and Mr. Sata won the September 20 election.

President Sata is not “happy” with the reports and has reacted by saying that they in fact border on “illegality” via a phone interview, through his special assistant for press and public relations George Chellah yesterday.

Mr. Chellah, who “hoped” the reports were “untrue” for the sake of Mr. Mumbi, advised the retired politician to “lay low” rather than incriminate himself on a potentially “illegal” exercise that could land him in serious trouble.

“If what you are saying is true, Mr. Mumbi’s action clearly borders on an illegality,” Mr. Chellah said. “As far as we are concerned the President is enjoying good health. What is sad, however, is that this is not the first time this rumour is being maliciously circulated.”

Mr. Chellah cautioned Mr. Mumbi saying, “Mr. Michael Sata, the President, is not the same Michael Sata he knew as an opposition leader…he has become President of Zambia and despite the fact that we don’t engage in meaningless verbal exchanges, we would like to caution Mr. Mumbi not to be a part of the group of people peddling these “UnAfrican” rumours because Mr. Sata is President and that makes such statements illegal, sensitive and alarming.”

Mr. Chellah added: “The President has a country to run, poverty levels to reduce and such reckless reports are an unnecessary distraction which must be avoided by all means. We have tolerated him in the past but we won’t tolerate him any more if he continues on this reckless path.”

Mr. Mumbi, who opted to drive over to the Daily Mail when contacted, practically pleaded with the newspaper saying, “I have nothing against Mr. Sata as a President and an elder brother because he has the people’s blessings to rule the country after being democratically elected. I think the people linking me to the “unChristian” reports are MMD elements who are disappointed by my quitting after I discovered that they were in the habit of burying money underground.”

Mr. Mumbi—despite having announced that he had quit politics—has been linked to reports of an MMD faction that is counting on “ill health exit” by Mr. Sata in order to take over government.

The politician, who addressed himself as “former PF secretary general” long after he had left the party, citing irreconcilable differences, told the Daily Mail that he is now just happy to rear chickens for a living.

During the election campaign period ahead of September 20, Mr. Mumbi was used extensively like a blunt object by the MMD propaganda wing, to punch as many holes as possible in Mr. Sata’s character and the PF as a party but all his efforts were futile.

He was counted in the same once ‘mighty’ league as Chanda Chimba III, Edwin Lifwekelo and Humphrey Siulapwa of the New Generation Party and cast President Sata in bad light, whenever the State-run media gave them an audience.

Yesterday, however, he said, “Even if you are a rocket scientist, you have to be mad to criticise Mr. Sata’s policies in three months. However, I still maintain that I differed with him on principle.”

ADD president Charles Milupi condemned the people circulating rumours about the President’s health saying it is spiritually and morally wrong for anyone to say the President may die soon.

“Let’s put our politics on the right path and stop peddling lies. It’s wrong,” he said. Mr. Milupi said only God knows when anyone will die. He said those wishing the President to die will not benefit from his death in any way.

“Even if President Sata died today, they won’t take over the PF and the MMD won’t come into office,” Mr. Milupi said.
The people spreading such alarming and false rumours must stop immediately.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

  Hugh Jackman does some intense workouts to get in shape for movies like “Wolverine” and “Reel Steel”. Here is a sample of his workout  it is divided into two phases ; bulking up and cutting.

Phase one: bulking up

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has said that ballot papers for the forthcoming Msanzala parliamentary by-election will still be printed outside the country.

ECZ Director Priscilla Isaac in a statement released to media explained that the Commission will outsource the printing of ballot papers because the Government Printers is still not able to meet the full requirements and specifications for the printing of ballot papers.

Ms Isaac said that the tender process for the identification of a printer has started and that all stakeholders will be advised once the Commission has identified a suitable printer to print the ballot papers for the Msanzala parliamentary by-election and four local government by-elections.

The ECZ Director was earlier in the day quoted by ZNBC News as saying ballot papers for the forthcoming by-elections will be printed locally, and that the selected local printer would be announced in due course.

Meanwhile Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) president Alex Ng’oma has backed calls to have ballot papers for the forthcoming Msanzala parliamentary by-elections printed locally.

[pullquote]President Michael Sata recently said the Chongwe, Nakonde and Magoye by elections were the last to use materials printed abroad.[/pullquote]

In an interview with Qfm, Dr. Ng’oma has expressed happiness that Zambians have now realized that printing election materials outside the country is a costly exercise.

Dr. Ng’oma said that it was time for the PF government to implement its pronouncements of investing in the Government Printers.

He explained that government should heed the calls by stakeholders in ensuring that the country’s electoral system is desirable in upholding democratic tenets.

President Michael Sata recently said the Chongwe, Nakonde and Magoye by elections were the last to use materials printed abroad.

QFM

Information, Broadcasting and Tourism minister Given Lubinda has reiterated that the Patriotic Front government has never and will never harbor intentions of interfering with the operations of the media.

Mr. Lubinda says the PF government will never interfere in the operations of any media organization, not even the public media.

He says government believes that journalists once given the leeway are capable of operating professionally.

Mr. Lubinda notes that media organizations are capable of finding the balance for their news,hence can not be criticized for not covering any politician regardless of political affiliation.

and radio Q-FM Managing director Asan Nyama says the current PF government has an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the previous government in dealing with the media in the country.

Mr. Nyama says the previous government failed to initiate policies that would have benefited the stakeholders in the media in the area of coverage.

He says under the previous MMD government, the state attempted to transform the private media into state run media by dictating the operations of most private radio stations including QFM.

Mr. Nyama recalls that most private media houses that covered opposition political parties were perceived as enemies of the MMD government.

He says it is therefore important for the Patriotic Front government to leave a legacy by ensuring that the freedom of information bill is enacted.

Mr. Nyama has further stated that if former vice president George Kunda allowed the freedom of information bill to be passed in parliament during the MMD’s rule, he would not be complaining about coverage by the public media.

QFM

THE MMD has rescinded its decision to expel members of Parliament (MPs) who have been appointed as deputy ministers in the Patriotic Front (PF) ?Government, party national secretary Richard Kachingwe has announced.?

And President Michael Sata has welcomed the decision?by the MMD’s decision not to discipline its members who have accepted to serve?in the PF Government.?

Mr Sata said in a statement released by his Special Assistant for?Press and Public Relations George Chellah that he was grateful for the?political maturity exhibited by the national secretary of the MMD.?

The president said the appointment of deputy ministers from the MMD into Government was done in good faith and in the interest of the country.?

“It’s good that Major Kachingwe has withdrawn the former ruling party’s threats to expel MPs who have been appointed into Government.?This is how it should be,” he said.?

Maj Kachingwe, however, said the party would find it problematic if the?MPS appointed into Government shifted party allegiance to the PF.?

He said during a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the former?ruling party would not take disciplinary action against the MPs unless?they shifted their allegiance to the PF.?

Maj Kachingwe last week said the MPs who had been given positions in the Government had been given enough time to reflect on their action and that the MMD was now going to take disciplinary action against them.?

Maj Kachingwe had said the MPs should decide whether to join the?PF or remain MMD members.?And Maj Kachingwe has maintained that party president Rupiah Banda?would not contest the party presidency at the party convention.?

He said Mr Banda would hand over the presidency to whoever would emerge victorious at the convention.?

[Times of Zambia]

FORMER Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane says he supports the idea of probing all former leaders.

Dr Musokotwane said at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that he supports President Sata’s fight against corruption, which he feels will provide an opportunity to establish if any of the MMD former leaders misconducted themselves.

“I welcome the setting up of commissions of inquiry. I am confident they will explain the process of valuing a company and some of us will be cleared,” Dr Musokotwane said.

He said the MMD is proud of its record in privatising some parastatal companies which he said was efficient.

He said Zamtel would have sunk if Government had not taken the decision to sell the telecommunications company.
“Those who are saying the company was sold for less do not know what they are saying,” he said.

Dr Musokotwane said he expects the commission on Zamtel to explain what is involved in valuing a company. Zamtel presently has about 700 workers down from about 3,000 before privatisation.

[Zambia Daily Mail]