BARELY a month after the MMD lavished the Zambian electorate with an expensive campaign involving branded T-shirts, chitenge materials, vehicles and bicycles, the former ruling party now says it has no money to hold a convention to elect its president, Rupiah Banda’s successor.

MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu says the former ruling party has no money right now to hold an extraordinary convention to elect a party president.

But MMD Copperbelt provincial chairman Joseph Chilambwe has insisted that the party should find money to hold a ‘mini-convention’ to ensure that the majority members participate in choosing Mr Banda’s successor.

Mr Nyangu said the MMD will use the current practice in which the party’s national executive committee nominates a leader to act as party president before the next convention is held.

“We have just come out of elections and we only held our national convention in April this year. In the absence of resources, we will use the practice of allowing the national executive committee to elect a leader in an acting capacity in between conventions,” Mr Nyangu said.

[pullquote]“There has been no written application except for Mr Moses Muteteka (Chisamba member of Parliament), who has come out clearly that he wants to stand,” Mr Nyangu said[/pullquote]

He said MMD members should be mindful of the cost implications of an extraordinary convention and allow its NEC to nominate a leader in an acting capacity until the party secures funding to hold a national convention to elect Mr Banda’s successor.

Mr Nyangu said members should understand that the MMD needs to re-organise but cannot do so without transport as the police have seized its vehicles. He said the NEC has in the past nominated leaders to act as party presidents in between national conventions in accordance with the MMD constitution.
Mr Nyangu said the MMD did so in 2002 when Levy Mwanawasa took over from Dr Frederick Chiluba and in 2008 when Mr Banda was nominated acting party president after Dr Mwanawasa’s death.

“Without resources, they will have to do with the current practice,” Mr Nyangu said.

But Mr Chilambwe said money should be found to ensure the majority members participate in choosing Mr Banda’s successor. “The issue of money should not bar us from using a broad-based approach to elect our leader and that is why we as leaders should find means to do that,” Mr Chilambwe said.

He said the MMD started consulting its structures on the Copperbelt on the leader they want to take over from Mr Banda because it wants all members to participate in the process.

Meanwhile, Mr Nyangu says the MMD has not yet received any applications from members wishing to contest the party presidency. “There has been no written application except for Mr Moses Muteteka (Chisamba member of Parliament), who has come out clearly that he wants to stand,” Mr Nyangu said. He said all members in good standing are free to apply for the position of acting party president before the November 9, 2011 deadline.

Opposition Parliamentary Chief Whip Felix Mutati says the opposition will support the motion of the Public Accounts Committee following the appointment of the Secretary to the Treasury.

Mr. Mutati says President Michael Sata’s appointment of the Secretary to the Treasury is welcome as it complies with the conditions in the Public Finance act.

Mr. Mutati was speaking with ZNBC news in an interview in Lusaka.

He says the Secretary to the Treasury is very important as he is the controlling officer within government.

President Sata last week swore in Fredson Yamba as Secretary to the Treasury.

President Sata had threatened to dissolve Parliament if opposition political parties in the house continued to frustrate government efforts.

[ZNBC]

The General Overseer of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations, Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos, Nigeria, T.B. Joshua has attributed the backwardness of the African Continent to the dearth of consultants and elder statesmen.

Lamenting the situation, T.B. Joshua said that former presidents of the African Continent should, by virtue of their experience and wisdom, become fathers to all political parties, corporate societies,the business class and individuals alike instead of attaching themselves to particular political parties or ethnic groups.[pullquote]the crises in Libya, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire,Tunisia and other countries could have been averted or minimized if ex-leaders had come together to form a union to curb the excesses of any current leader[/pullquote]

This is contained in a press statement released by The Synagogue Church Of All Nations.

The world acclaimed faith healer and philanthropist said each time incumbent presidents in any African country look around for advice, they are disappointed because those they should look up to are busy fighting for one political group, ethnic nationality or another.

T.B. Joshua advised that whenever an incumbent is leaving the seat of power, he should tell the whole world that henceforth, he is no more a member of any political party or group but father of the whole nation as an ex-president.

“As one who has been there, he is in the best position to tell the incumbent and other groups alike what they should do to succeed, since experience is the best teacher”.
As a former president, he is well placed to serve as a consultant to all these groups. Others will look up to him for counsel to avoid pitfalls in
the pursuit of success. In this way, he will bring harmony,cooperation and prosperity to the continent. The peace the continent requires for progress in all fields of endeavour will become a reality as a result. He urged ex-presidents and heads of state to come together and form a union which current leaders can look up to for direction.

This will serve as a beacon of hope and force of unity for the continent in general and the various countries in particular. The union will also ensure that current presidents have access to it and its pool of rich experience for better governance.

T.B. Joshua declared that the crises in Libya, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire,Tunisia and other countries could have been averted or minimized if ex-leaders had come together to form a union to curb the excesses of any current leader. He therefore calls for the urgency of this union for the good of the entire continent.

Zambezi Airline has said that it has learnt with shock government’s decision to suspend its Air operating certificate. Government over the weekend suspended Zambezi Airlines operator certificate citing serious safety concerns.

Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Permanent Secretary Dominic Sichinga who announced the suspension says that government will soon institute a tribunal to make inquiries on the airlines operations.

But Zambezi Airlines Chairman, Maurice Jangulo says the Airline adheres to safety and aviation regulations relating to aircraft maintenance.

Dr Jangulo says all its aircrafts are maintained and certified by a South Africa, company, Jetworx.

Dr Jangulo says the airline is working round the clock to ensure that its license is re-installed.

He was speaking to ZNBC News in Lusaka on Sunday.

Efforts to get a comment from the Mr Sichinga to react to Zambezi Airlines statement failed as his phone was unreachable by press time.

Last week at least 50 Zambezi Airline passengers were stranded in Lusaka after their scheduled flights to several destinations were cancelled. Among the affected passengers are those who were supposed to fly to Tanzania, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The cancellation followed Zambezi Airline’s failure to secure alternative aircraft as the company’s own planes were grounded. A check at one of the named lodges in Lusaka found several of the passengers, whose flights had been canceled booked there.

The stranded passengers said that Zambezi Airline had allegedly failed to find alternative planes. However, Zambezi Airways was able to charter a plane to carry passengers , who were stranded in Lusaka for 3 days, to various destinations.

Yesterday, passengers were stranded at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula Airport in Livingstone following the suspension of Zambezi Airlines’ aviation license. A check at the airport found at least 40 passengers, en route to South Africa, in a state of panic.

And one of the passengers, Pessie’ Van Clove expressed disappointment over the development further advising the airline to improve its communication strategy.

A check at the Zambezi Airlines office at the airport found the place locked.

Government yesterday suspended Zambezi Airlines from operating on reasons of failing to adhere to safety and schedule regulations as required in the aviation sector

ZNBC

A 16-WEEK journey in the Muvi Television reality show, Ready for Marriage Extraordinary, came to an end on Saturday night with the calm and collected Precious Amukusana getting the K90 million prize money.

The reality entered Season Three in July this year featuring 18 prostitutes or commercial sex workers drawn from all the nine provinces of Zambia. Amukusana beat five other contestants with the ever joyful Mwamba Hangolo tight on her heels, collecting K70 million for being in second position. In third position was Muleya Munkombwe who pocketed K50 million.

Dramatically, both Muleya and Mwamba were initially rejected and eliminated but were brought back in the redemption vote.

Controversial contestant Jane Mutale, who was always enjoying the top slot found herself on a not-winning position, occupying the fourth position while both Precious Kawinga and Sandra Muyaba who seemingly showed good character on the screen, surprisingly got the fifth and six position respectively.

Amukusana said she was just happy to reach the finals, and owed it to God and the viewers who kept her in the competition, which is the brain child of late Muvi Tv director of programmes Augustine Lungu.
“Initially, I came for a competition but today, I’ve been turned in a real woman, I will never get back to the old life,” she said. And two contestants who were not in the finals, Tina Lusangu and Ester Phiri, were granted wedding sponsorship by Muvi TV.

Master Chimbala, who took over the presentation of the programme which is in third season from Mr Lungu said the two plan to get married in November. He said Tina will be given a wedding dress while the groom will have the suit.

The other contestants were Flavia Wakunguma, Sharon Phiri, Esnart Mwanza, Standwa Kaonga, Oxcilia Nkoloma, Alice Muyuni, Isabel Mwansa, Precious Kawinga, Conslater Mwaka, Anna Shumba and Jacklyne Kachingwe.

And speaking during the function, Minister of Local Government, Early Childhood and Environmental Protection Nkandu Luo said time has come for people to change their ways of earning a livelihood. She said women who are into prostitution should take a leaf from those who came out in broad day light to denounce the practice.

At the end of the show, Mr Chimbala paid tribute to the Mr Lungu for being behind the programme. Mr Lungu was a National Arts Council of Zambia (NAC) Ngoma Award-winning actor who also served as Lusaka Theatre Club chairman besides being a gifted television presenter.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

ZAMBIA is ready now more than ever to do business with China, Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources Wylbur Simuusa said in an interview yesterday following a meeting some 150 top Chinese business executives held with President Michael Sata at State House on Saturday.

“The meeting the President had with Chinese business executives is very symbolic in determining how we do business with China from now on,” Mr Simuusa said, “to me the President sent a clear signal to the world that he does not have any anti-Chinese feelings as the world tended to believe in the past as he campaigned for elections. The meeting means we are ready to engage China as an economic development partner.”

Mr Simuusa said China now “cannot be ignored because it is about to become a super power,” that must be closely engaged instead of “shunned.” He said Chinese investment in Zambia, especially the economic back-bone which is copper mining, will be protected but at the same time Zambia shall ensure that Chinese companies “treat their workers well and pay them well,” so that both parties benefit.

During Saturday’s luncheon he hosted for Chinese business executives, President Sata said, “I used to criticise you and said I would sort you out, “but now I want to use you to help our people.”

President Sata “eased” his hard-line position onto the Chinese saying they can work and “engage” in any kind of business they wished as long as they did so within the laws of Zambia.

Chinese envoy Zhou Yuxiao advised the business entourage to act “within the law” while in Zambia and avoid doing anything that would tarnish the image of the country.

Chinese companies have invested about $2billion in Zambia and they are responsible for creating up to 2000 jobs but they have constantly come under fire for under paying workers and disregarding labour laws but Zhou said this will change.

[pullquote]President Sata “eased” his hard-line position onto the Chinese saying they can work and “engage” in any kind of business they wished as long as they did so within the laws of Zambia.[/pullquote]

Zambia is Africa’s top copper producer targeting about 2 million tons of copper annually by 2015 the government said in April.

And the Private Sector Development Association (PSDA) says President Sata has made a right decision to work with China in advancing Zambia’s economic development.

PSDA chairperson Yusuf Dodia said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Mr Sata’s statement and stance on Chinese investment is positive because this can help Zambia to improve the country’s infrastructure.

“China has the technology, roads, bridges and investment which Zambia needs. Zambia cannot wait to develop but we should use every opportunity from countries like China to develop our country,” Mr Dodia said.

He said China has US$3.2 trillion in foreign reserves and Zambia needs to benefit such resources. Mr Dodia said Zambia needs to use China to develop because even countries called the “super powers” are using Chinese resources to develop their countries.

He said although the “super powers” used to borrow money from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, they are now getting it from China. Mr Dodia said President Sata’s statement that he will use Chinese investment to develop Zambia is important and should be supported.

He said people might criticise President Sata for his decision to work with China but Zambia needs development and not criticism. Mr Dodia is hopeful Mr Sata’s statement will further strengthen bilateral relations between Zambia and China.

He said most Chinese investors are hardworking and ensure their projects are completed on time. Mr Dodia said he is happy that President Sata has decided to send former President Kenneth Kaunda as his special envoy of goodwill to China.

He said he is confident Dr Kaunda will execute his mission to China successfully and help to strengthen the bilateral relations between the countries.

[Zambia Daily Mail]