United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has said that he does not regret having left the PF-UPND pact as the decision was a collective one.

Mr Hichilema urged the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) to assert the rule of law so as to restore order and stability in the country during the period of its celebration and noted that some PF cadres have opened a war path of political retribution and vengeance on citizens whom they consider as enemies.

Hichilema said the destruction of property and violent attacks by PF members is unacceptable and the ruling should make its position profoundly clear and known on this matter and called on the newly elected administration to use its constitution mandate and obligation to guarantee the enjoyment of constitutionally entrenched human rights by citizens.

The UPND leader who was speaking when he addressed his first post 2011 election media briefing at Pamodzi hotel yesterday challenged PF to prioritize policy implementation as the time for political promises is over, adding that the ruling party’s 90 days expires on December 23 and Zambians will appreciate all fulfilled promises as a Christmas gift.

Hichilema urged President Michael Sata and his team to ensure they deliver all election campaign promises such giving citizens a constitution within 90 days, free education, jobs for youths, and restoration of the Barotse agreement.

Commenting on the future of his party, the UPND President said his party is now Zambia’s number one dominant, powerful and most reliable opposition force to offer checks and balances, and also logical advice on various challenges the country is faced with.

The opposition MMD has described party members that have resigned after the party’s election defeat as weak hearted.

MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu tells QFM that those resigning after the party lost to the ruling PF party are merely proving that they were not committed to the party.

Mr. Nyangu notes that living the party following its loss to the PF is not a solution but that instead members need to sit down and reflect on where the party could have gone wrong.

He adds that the MMD will continue to participate in politics and that it still has chances of bouncing back to power after 2016.

Mr. Nyangu has however congratulated the PF for emerging victorious and has wished all those that are living the MMD the best.

Meanwhile, Monze district commissioner Joyce Nondo Musokotwane is appealing for anyone with a PF membership card to sell it to her.

[pullquote]Monze district commissioner Joyce Nondo Musokotwane is appealing for anyone with a PF membership card to sell it to her.[/pullquote]

Speaking in an interview, a senior messenger in the moffice of the district commissioner said Mrs. Nondo has been looking for a PF card three days of PF’s rule in government.

The officer said the DC is ready to work with the government of the day and is willing to hold PF membership.

“The madam is asking for where she can buy a PF card and she has asked me to find anyone with information”, the officer said.

“You know that these DC’s are cadres who are appointed by politicians not that thery are senior government officials, but yes they are but for me, they are just cadres”, he added.

“Even me i was surprised when i heard this but i cannot blame her because these DC’s do not know their fate after change of government and I don’t think MMD will ever claim the governance of the country.

I think MMD will be the next UNIP and people should never be cheated that these two former ruling parties will ever rule Zambia again,” the officer added.

QFM

The Movement for Multiparty for Democracy (MMD) losing candidate for Mongu Central Constituency Joseph Mulyata has denied media reports that he uprooted a communal tap in the area after losing the elections.

Mr. Mulyata says he dismisses the report with the contempt it deserves by the Post Newspaper that he uprooted a communal tap that was installed using Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

ZANIS reports the losing MMD Parliamentary candidate said this in an interview, in Lusaka, today.

He explained that it is false that he uprooted the communal tap that was installed using CDF because the tap belongs to his lodge.

He furthermore said that it was the Patriotic Front (PF) supporters who broke in the MMD campaign centre and stole the party’s campaign materials worth K 150 million.

Efforts to get the PF Secretary General Winter Kabimba to comment on the matter failed by broadcast time.

However, Mr. Mulyata explained that after breaking into the campaign center, they proceeded to Mulyata lodge and uprooted the tap that they found outside near the lodge about 5 kilometers from Mongu town.

He said the tap was mainly installed for the people that live within the surrounding areas of his lodge so that they would not disturb the supply of water at the lodge.

Mr. Mulyata, who lost to PF’s Nathaniel Mubukwanu, stated that it was very unfair for the reporter to write on a story that he has not verified adding that it is important to verify and have facts.

He has however disclosed that one of the supporters that stole the campaign materials has been apprehended by the police.

Mr. Mulyata said that the supporters should be celebrating their victory instead of stealing their opponents’ campaign materials.

ZANIS

Newly elected Republican President Michael Sata has renamed three International Airports in the country with immediate effect.

President Sata made this announcement at State House this morning when he swore in Francis Chalabesa as principal private secretary.

The President said Lusaka International Airport will now be called Kenneth Kaunda International Airport renamed after Zambia’s first President while Ndola International Airport has been renamed after second Republican vice President late Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe.

President Sata has also renamed Livingstone International Airport after late Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula,a Northern Rhodesian nationalist leader who assisted in the struggle for the independence of the country from the British colonial masters.

He said there is need for Zambians to reconcile with the past adding that the country is what it is today because of men and women who struggled hard for Independence.

And President Sata has expressed confidence that Mr.Chalabesa will perform to his expectations due to his vast experience in the office of principal private secretary.

The President further congratulated Mr. Chalabesa for his appointment and wished him well in his endeavors.

And newly appointed principal private secretary Francis Chalabesa pledged to pay allegiance to the Republican Constitution and work to serve the Zambian people.

Mr. Chalabesa served in the same capacity for a decade under late second Republican President Fredrick Chiluba’s reign.

[QFM]

FORMER Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has said some MMD members have gone into hiding after former President Rupiah Banda lost power to the President Michael Sata.

Dr Musokotwane appealed to the present government to help bring Zambians together because the campaigns were over and that the Patriotic Front(PF) were now in power. He cited broadcaster Chanda Chimba as one of the members who were not certain about their safety should they come in public.
Dr Musokotwane said several other members were in hiding and that the party was not aware of their where abouts. Dr Musokotwane said President Sata was currently Head of State which the MMD had accepted but there was need to help the members of the former ruling party to live without fear because he is now President for all Zambians.

He said the PF was no longer an opposition party and that Zambians were ready to receive the benefits of having a new government. Dr Musokotwane said the issue of providing a new constitution for the
people had remained topical and Zambians were anxious to have it. He said even the promises for an improved welfare of the people was anxiously being awaited and that the MMD would now work as opposition party.

Meanwhile, asked what had gone wrong in the MMD after several predictions stated that Mr Banda was headed for victory, former parliamentary chief whip Vernon Mwaanga said the national executive
committee was expected to meet this morning to discuss such matters. Mr Mwaanga had predicted that the MMD would win the elections two days before voting started on September 20, 2011.
[Times of Zambia]