THE Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has urged the Patriotic Front (PF) government to consider facilitating a referendum on the botched constitution-making process to give Zambians a people-driven constitution.

The Mung’omba constitution failed to go through second reading in Parliament last year after the previous government failed to garner a two-thirds majority vote for it.

SACCORD executive director Lee Habasonda said in an interview on September 25 that he is hopeful that the PF government will succeed in delivering a people-driven constitution because citizens are behind it.

“The PF government is well supported by the people. Therefore, let them allow the people to be involved in the constitution-making process,” Mr Habasonda said.

He said the PF government’s proposal to constitute a technical committee which will review the work of previous constitution review commissions is the best way to go about producing a people-driven constitution.

Mr Habasonda said the MMD had a chance to deliver a people-driven constitution but spoiled it by not embracing the people.

“The MMD thought it was their constitution and not that of the people. They wanted it to benefit them and not the people,” he said.

Mr Habasonda said he believes President Sata will respond positively to the need for a people-driven constitution.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

The Patriotic Front-PF in Lusaka District has warned its members to stay away from markets and bus stations.

The Patriotic Front has also advised members to stay from usurping functions of the local authority.

District Chairman Ashell Kampengele has threatened that the party will discipline any member found to be allocating land illegally.

Mr. Kampengele says bus stations, markets and the allocation of land is the mandate of local authorities.

Mr. Kampengele was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka.

He says the party leadership will not take kindly reports of illegal land allocation.

Mr. Kampengele says the PF wants to operate differently from the former ruling party which empowered its cadres to grab land from innocent people and operate bus stations.

[ZNBC]

The Electoral Commission of Zambia -ECZ- has released the final list of elected Members of Parliament following the September 20th tripartite elections.

The Patriotic Front -PF- has taken 60 seats from the 148 seats which where contested for.

Of the 60, 8 are female while 52 are males.

The ruling party has 18 seats on the Copperbelt, 14 seats in Northern province, 13 seats in Luapula province, 8 in Lusaka, 3 in central province, and 1 seat each in Eastern and North Western provinces.

The MMD is second after taking 55 seats with 6 being female and 49 are male members of parliament.

28 seats have gone to the UPND with 2 female MPs and 26 male legislators.

The Alliance for Democracy and Development -ADD- together with the Forum for Democracy and Development has 1 seat each.

3 seats have been taken up by independent members of parliament.

This is according to a summary statement issued by ECZ Public Relations Manager Cris Akufuna in Lusaka on Saturday.

National Assembly elections did not take place in two constituencies in Nakonde and Magoye because of the death of some contesting candidates.

The two constituencies will hold deferred elections.

ZNBC

President Michael Sata has commended the church for the role it played in ensuring that the nation holds peaceful and violent free elections.

President Sata said his Government commends the church for preaching love, peace and reconciliation.

He said his Government will be governed by biblical teachings based on the Ten Commandments.

The President was speaking in Lusaka today when he addressed congregants at Saint Ignitius Catholic Parish.

He told the congregation that his Government will also embrace the fight against corruption because one of the Ten Commandments states that ‘thou shall not steal.”

The President on this score warned that his government will persecute any one who steals irrespective of his or her social-economic status or party affiliation.

President Sata who is a Parishioner of Saint Ignatius Parish thanked the church for their consistence and contribution to his ascending to Republican presidency in the last ten years.

He assured the church that his Government would adopt the catholic doctrine and discipline of services to the people.

The head of state said he would ensure equal distribution of wealth among all Zambians, saying he would not want to see a situation where his children have three meals a day while others had none.

He also emphasized the need for people across the country to love one another and embrace reconciliation.

Earlier, President Sata and wife Dr Christine Kaseba were blessed by the congregation and prayed for by Father Charles Chilinda.

Fr. Chilinda blessed the first couple as they knelt at the alter at who added the 08:15 and 10:00 hours mass knelt before the alter and

prayed to God to give President Sata wisdom, knowledge and right judgment for him to effectively govern the people of Zambian.

And Father Chilinda urged Mr Sata to embrace all Zambians and desist from seeking retribution but love, peace and reconciliation.

He further stated that the Presidents crusade against corruption would not be successful if people do not get rid of corrupt practices.

“Corruption starts from within us. You can cry about the lack of medicines in hospital but if you steal medicines in hospitals, can the patients be able to access these medicines”, he said.

And Father Chilinda who acknowledged Mr Sata as the first Catholic President for Zambia said people voted for President Sata because they know that he is a hard worker and would deliver on his promises.

Father Chilinda has since given President Sata a new title dubbed “Servant King” and urged people never to refer to him again as King Cobra.

President Sata was accompanied by Kanyama Member of Parliament, former works and supply deputy minister Lameck Mangani and other senior PF officials.

ZANIS

Veteran politician Daniel Munkombwe has congratulated President Michael Sata on his election as republican president.

ZANIS reports Mr. Mukombwe saying in an interview at his Kabebya farm in Choma today, that he has every hope that Mr Sata will meet the expectations of the Zambian people.

He has urged President Sata to accommodate all people irrespective of past political inclinations.
Mr Munkombwe also implored the new government. To consolidate on the economic gains of the previous administration.

He said he has no doubt that Mr Sata will deliver on his promises because the new president is not only action oriented but also committed to the cause of the poor.

Mr Munkombwe said having worked with Mr Sata in the UNIP government, he knows the republican president as a man who is frank and hard working.

The civil servants and allied workers union of Zambia (CSAWUZ ) in the Northern Province has congratulated President Michael Sata on his election as the fifth republican president.

ZANIS reports the Union regional secretary Doreen Mukuka says the public service workers in the northern province
were ready to work with President Sata and support his 90 days development strategy for the country.

Mrs. Mukuka said in an interview in Mungwi , today, that President Micheal Sata is a visionary leader who has always wished to see a proficient and productive public service.

She added that his election as president of this country would now provide him an opportunity to implement his party’s vision.

Mrs. Mukuka has wished President Micheal Sata God’s guidance and strength as he assumes the highest office.

President Sata was yesterday sworn in as Zambia’s fifth president by Chief Justice Ernest Sakala at the Supreme Court before a sea of his PF supporters and ordinary citizens.

The occasion televised live by the national Television station, the ZNBC, was also attended by many political leaders and First Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.

Meanwhile, the CSAWUZ in the Northern Province says it stands ready to work with President Micheal Sata to stamp out corruption in the civil service.

Ms. Mukuka says corruption was a serious scourge that had brought down the performance of the civil service.

Reacting to President Micheal Sata’s inaugural speech on Friday, Mrs. Mukuka has advised the president and the Patriotic Front government president to deal with the root causes of corruption in all public institutions.

“Our new president must spread his fight against corruption to all government institutions because none of them is an exception.” Mrs. Mukuka stressed.

President Micheal Sata in his inaugural speech at Supreme Court on Friday declared his government’s fight against corruption.

President Sata said corruption was a cancer which needed to be stopped all cost.

And several civil servants talked to in Mungwi district in the Northern Province have expressed different expectations and opinions regarding the changes that the PF government was likely to introduce
in the country.

On governance, some civil servants have said they hoped to see a full decentralization of government functions to ensure expedience and efficiency especially when it came to resource allocation.

They said they wished to see councils in the country to play a full administrative role on government affairs in districts and provinces.

ZANIS