Vice President GUY SCOTT says Government will develop all constituencies in the Country regardless of the residents’ political inclination.

Dr. Scott also says government will carry on with all the develop projects initiated by the previous Government to enhance sustainable economic development.

He said this when he addressed three separate public rallies in Nakonde constituency to drum up support for the Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Abel Sichula in the Nakonde November 28 parliamentary by elections.

And Mr Sichula urged people in the area to vote for him in order to enhance development.

The Nakonde seat was not filled during the September 20 Polls following the death of one aspiring candidate Colonel George Siame.

Other political parties that are contesting the seat include Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) and UNIP.

Meanwhile, Ballot papers for the Monday November 28th local government and three parliamentary by-elections have arrived in the country.

The ballot papers which were printed in South Africa arrived in the country on Wednesday, 16th November 2011.

All political parties contesting the by-elections verified the ballot papers during an exercise on Thursday.

Electoral Commission of Zambia -ECZ- Public Relations Manager Cris Akufuna told ZNBC News that the commission will soon announce the day for the dispatching of ballot papers to various places where by-elections are being held.

The ECZ has set November 28 as the date for holding parliamentary by-elections in Chongwe, Nakonde and Magoye constituencies.

The Commission will on the same day hold local government by-elections in 35 wards.

The date has been set following the resignation of elected MMD MP Japhen Mwakalombe of Chongwe and deaths of John Siame of the Patriotic Front in Nakonde and Willie Malambo of the -National Movement for Progress during the run up to the September 20 tripartite elections.

The vacancies in the 35 wards arose from candidates’ error on ballot papers, deaths of candidates or uncontested elections.

ZNBC

Government has condemned the use of live ammunition on street vendors by police in Ndola on Friday.

Local Government Minister Professor Nkandu Luo says it was wrong for police to use live bullets on harmless street vendors.

Prof. Luo was speaking to ZNBC news in an interview in Lusaka on Saturday morning.

The Minister says while government appreciates police assistance in moving vendors from streets, the exercise should be handled in a sober and careful manner.

She says her Ministry has instructed all councils to form task forces to handle the removal of street vendors.

Prof Luo says the program also involves sensitising vendors on the negative effects of street vending.

On Friday The street vendors fought running battles with the Zambia Police Service and Council police deployed in the city centre to enforce a ban on street vending by the local authority. Business was paralysed as most shops located on Chisokone Avenue, Blantyre and President Avenues including Shoprite were closed for fear of being looted.

Copperbelt deputy provincial assistant commissioner Milner Muyambango and NCC public relations manager Roy Kuseka confirmed the operation to rid the Ndola streets of vending. Mr Muyambango said police threw tear gas canisters at the protesting vendors.

He, however, said there were strict instructions that no officer should carry any firearm during the operation. Mr Muyambango said one unidentified man sustained a broken leg during the fracas but it was not immediately established how he injured his leg.

He was not able to disclose the number of vendors picked up in connection with the riot as the officers were still patrolling the streets and had not furnished him with information.

Mr Muyambango said police had, however, managed to restore calm.

Police were deployed in the city centre as early as 05:00 hours yesterday to ensure that no vendor disobeyed the council order. And Mr Kuseka said the council had managed to achieve its objective of removing the street vendors and warned that those resisting the order would face the law.

He said the vendors had shown disregard for the law by rejecting the seven-day ultimatum issued last week. “We did not ambush them because they were fully aware of the resolution that they should not conduct any street vending as from today.

“This is in keeping with Government’s directive for street vendors to leave the streets by December 2 this year,” he said.

ZNBC

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God”
(Romans 4:20 AMP)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Just as putting your physical body into action makes it grow strong, putting your faith in action through prayer and thanksgiving will cause your faith to grow strong, too.

I love what this verse says about Abraham: No unbelief made him waver regarding the promise of God. What does it mean to waver? To waver means to go back and forth. It’s a very unsteady posture. Spiritual wavering is when we go back and forth in believing the promises of God. Wavering shows up in our words and actions.

Notice this verse didn’t say that Abraham never had unbelief or doubtful thoughts. It tells us that he didn’t let those thoughts cause him to waver in his words, actions and resolve. He took captive every thought and stood strong through His praise and worship! Remember, praise makes you stable; it makes you strong. Put your faith into action by thanking and praising Him all throughout the day!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, today I choose to bless Your name! I thank You for life. I thank You for breath. I thank You for provision, healing, strength and joy. I praise You for abundantly supplying all my needs so that I can be a blessing to others in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

By Choolwe Muzyamba

Comrades, the debates, insinuations and innuendos that have ensued following the appointments and decisions being made by our republic president cannot go without comment. We should not sugar coat this bitter pill of rivalry that is slowly gaining dominance in our country, nor should we cocoon ourselves in a mesh of deceit and pretend that all is well.

The fact that different groups in the country are indicating that they feel left out in all these appointments and that there seems to be dominance of either Bembas or Catholics in the appointments being made by President Sata is reason enough for us rethink or/and restrategize. Let us not fall prey to the temptation of castigating this outcry as mere hullaballoo.

South Africa was warned in 2005 about the potential bursting of Xenophobic attacks on foreigners and the mistake they made then was to sweep the warning under the carpet and castigate those who warned them. I am sure that we all know what ensued in April of 2008 in the rain ball nation. Call me a prophet of doom at your own peril.

When certain groupings within the population begin to raise concerns of the nature they are raising today here in Zambia, It should be a source of concern for all the peace loving and patriotic Zambians and all those who at least pretend to be.

It’s not a secret that the majority of President Sata’s appointments are Bemba, with very little representation from Southern and Northwestern provinces. Don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating for appointments based on tribes, but on merit while taking very full cognizance of the fact the appointments must reflect our diversity as a nation. It is incumbent upon the President to unite the nation at such critical times. When comrade super KK was faced with such a predicament, he coined the term “One Zambia, One Nation” which saw him defeat the rivalry that was growing then.

More still, I vehemently and ebulliently feel that the composition of the technical committee set up to give us a new constitution has failed the test of logic. How do you appoint 3 catholic Bishops???
How?? When there are so many religious groupings in Zambia. Zambia is not a country for Catholics only!! We have Protestants, Adventists,Muslims, Hindus etc. and all these sects whether you agree with them  in principle or not need and deserve representation, after all they might not also agree with you in principle and that does not make you Catholics superior. We are not coming up with a code of conduct for  Catholics; we are coming up with a National Constitution for crying out loud! Not all Zambians are party to the Catholic dogma or indeed the Christian dogma nonetheless, they too deserve to be heard and represented.

Surprisingly, President Sata decides to appoint one traditional leader, who actually hails from the Northern Province, In what capacity? Anyway, whatever the capacity the bottom line is that the President should be away of this imbalance emerging under his realm. No wonder phrases such as Barotse and Bantusthan are beginning to gain prominence. It is because we have now started seeing our differences due to this hegemony that is growing at an increasing rate!!

Candidly speaking, we have seen the rivalry emerge and let us not blind ourselves as this might be a time bomb for our beloved country. Let us not allow our president make cautiously and ethically inept decisions that might cripple this nation in the near future….Comrades, Let us remain united and resolute, this is no sour grape but a cry for my beloved country!!

President Michael Sata has increased the Chief’s subsidies. The President has reviewed upwards, the Chief’s subsidies as per campaign promise. This is according to a press statement released by his special assistance for press, Mr George Chellah.

President Sata stressed the need for the country to respect tradition and culture by ensuring that traditional leaders live in a dignified and respectful manner.

“A nation without regard for its traditions and customs is a lost one. Therefore, as a government, we have seen it prudent and obligatory that we safeguard the interests of our traditional leadership,” the President said.

“It has always disturbed me to see our well-regarded Royal Highnesses subjected to all sorts of abuse, ridicule and contempt due to the poor circumstances under which we have allowed this noble and decorous institution to function.”

The President said that traditional leaders were an essential component in the governance system hence his administration is resolute to ensure that this institution is preserved and looked with pride and honour.

Paramount Chiefs  subsidy has been increased from K1, 523, 528. 05 to  K4, 500, 000. 00. The  Senior Chiefs from K 1, 284, 917. 24  to K4, 200, 000. 00.
For Chiefs from  K 1, 147, 291. 23 to K4, 000, 000. 00 The  Retainers from K 576, 484. 10 to  K1, 200, 000. 00