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Lusaka province MMD chairman William Banda captured by Patrotic Front cadres in Chipata
Fugitive opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Lusaka Province chairperson William Banda has been arrested in Chipata District.
Police spokesperson Ndandula Siamana has confirmed to Qfm that Mr. Banda is currently in police custody at Chipata Central Police station.
Ms. Siamana could however not give further details adding that her office is waiting for a detailed report from Chipata.
But Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) Eastern Province chairperson Isaac Ngoma has told Qfm that Mr. Banda, who was reportedly to in the company of his family, was apprehended by Patriotic Front cadres this afternoon and later handed over to the police at Chipata Central Police station.
He is said to have been cornered at Chipata’s Akapuko lodge where he is believed to have been lodging.
He is also said to have been found with millions of Kwacha concealed in a plastic bag and a fire arm.
Mr. Banda has been a controversial figure of the former ruling party who allegedly masterminded the violence that recently rocked the country’s political scene.
On Friday last week, suspected PF cadres looted his house and beat up his employees at his residence in Lusaka’s Bauleni compound.
Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson Irene Mambilima threatened to resign on Thursday prior to the announcement of the election results.
ECZ sources have told QFM that some former ruling MMD officials were pressurizing the ECZ chairperson not to announce the election results.
Some MMD officials are said to have pressurized Justice Mambilima not to announce the election results when it became clear that the former ruling party was losing the elections.
The MMD camp was broken following the defeat in the presidential election which has left the former party in pieces, with its future bleak.
Some sources within the MMD suggest that a number of party officials are planning to defect to the ruling PF.
President Michael Sata delivers his inaugural speech at the Supreme Court
President Michael Sata has called on Chinese investors to adhere to the country’s labour laws.
President Sata says the Patriotic Front -PF- government is concerned that there is unlimited number of Chinese expatriates who are coming into the country to take up jobs which Zambians are capable of doing.
The President however says the PF government welcomes Chinese investment that will benefit the local people and the investors themselves.
President Sata was speaking Monday morning when he met Chinese ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yu Xio at State House.
President Sata says Zambians are grateful to the Chinese government for funding the Lusaka General Hospital and the Ndola Stadium.
And Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxio has pledged that the Chinese Investors will abide by all local labour laws.
Mr. Zhou says China will work with the current government to ensure that all Chinese investors follow local labour laws.
The Chinese envoy says it is in the best interest of the Chinese investors to use the local people because it is cost effective.
Earlier the Chinese Ambassador and the President held a closed door meeting.
And Chinese President Hu Jintao has congratulated Zambia’s new President Michael Sata for winning the presidential election.
This is contained in a statement read for President Hu Jintao by Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yu Xio.
President Hu Jintao says China is looking forward to working with the new government.
He says Zambia and China have continued to be traditional friends.
President Jintao says that the Chinese government hopes that the mutual respect and ties between the two countries will continue.
Lusaka residents celebrate the victory of President Sata
By D.Maswahu
At the risk of being accused of pouring salt on fresh wounds, allow me to seek an audience on your esteemed forum. The issue of the numerous pre-election polls that predicted an out-right win for Rupiah Banda lingers ( like a voluptuous woman’s short black skirt) on my mind.
I have a bone to pick and am ravenously keen to see the faces of the organisations and institutions that churned out that information, how they arrived at their conclusions and (most importantly) how they intend to maintain professionalism and public credibility (if this is indeed part of their institutional ethos).
If the producers of those opinion polls had an ounce of professionalism they would have by now come out to reconcile the discrepancy between their prediction and the eventual result. As all of them are now wondrously silent, I will make my own conclusions on their behalf and state what they would never have the guts to state publicly (which same they must thank me for, but never mind)
1.
All those people and institutions that produced wrong opinion polls are a pack of ravenous howling wolves whose only consideration is their own welfare. They should be black listed as unreliable and registered (plainly for all to see) as professionally and politically dangerous.
2.
The pack of wolves should be extended to include any District Commissioners and former MMD party loyalists who are now (of all times) deciding to defect to PF. All these should be seen in their true light as insincere, morally bankrupt and unprincipled in the extreme. If PF are sensible, these fair weather friends and defectors should not be allowed to join the ranks. They belong to the political wilderness. Congratulations from failed politicians should also be taken with a pinch of salt as these are in all probability just jobs seekers running away from the rumbling of their hungry bellies.
3.
The current government sponsored media institutions (ZNBC, Daily Mail and Times of Zambia) should in all fairness be privatised and perhaps leave just one (instead of three) pro-government media houses.The presidential election result has classified these institutions as unredeemable and unrepresentative besides being a criminal waste of tax-payers hard earned money. Tax payers money should never be (ab)used to propagate views divergent from the source of income.
Let us learn from President Barack Obama who surrounds himself and has specifically appointed people to criticise and tell him unpleasant things because it is better that he hears criticism first from his own ranks than from the opposition.
The 2011 presidential election result has vindicated the intelligence of the Zambian people (aka we are not fools). I now have more reason to believe that future elections will be based more on issues rather than on how many bicycles, vitenges, T-shirts, bags of mealie meal or brown envelopes one can pass around. Even having biased reporting via television stations and news papers and (above all) well oiled but erroneous opinion polls will not help future election candidates. The MMD were so blinded in their frenzy to stay in power, they did not realise that they first of all needed to be sincere with themselves before they went out to sell the party. If anyone is looking to find out the simple cause of MMD failure, lack of sincerity hits the spot.
As much as the MMD should carry out an autopsy as to how and why they failed to read the situation, the PF should get on with the task at hand.
I will not thank the PF, but fellow Zambians for taking our young democracy to the next level. If our loyalties remain true to our country and it’s welfare (not to an individual who is here today and gone tomorrow), we have no need to fear anyone or anything and can stand as Zambians truly proud and free. UNIP, MMP, PF will come and go. Zambia remains. Decide for yourself where your loyalty lies – I have no illusions about where mine lies.
The Patriotic Front says it will not make arbitrary changes to mining tax regime.
Patriotic Front Member, Lameck Mangani who is also former Chipata Central Member of Parliament says President Michael Sata will consult with mining companies before applying a mining tax regime.
Mr. Mangani has told ZNBC News in an interview that the PF government believes the mines have not been contributing much to government treasury, but says any changes to the mining tax regime will be done with through consultation.
And Mr Mangani says the Patriotic Front will leave up to its promise to deliver development in 90 days.
He however says this does not mean President Sata will be distributing huge sums of money.
Mr Mangani has also called on people to give President Sata some time to settle down, appoint his cabinet and make thorough consultation.
He says that one of the major things President Sata could address in 90 days is the coming up with a new constitution.
President Michael Sata and First Lady Christine Kaseba during the celebration mass in Lusaka yesterday.
By Gray Soko
One of the international observers to the just ended elections said that the successful outcome of the elections should be a victory not only for the winning party but for Zambia. Indeed it is all about Zambia and not the party in power. The tragedy in Africa has been that the party in power becomes an end in itself, seeking its own self preservation to the detriment of the nation. The people have given PF a categorical mandate as HE MC Sata said in his inaugural speech. It is a mandate to serve Zambia and not to be served.
The PF vice president Guy Scott has recently been quoted as saying that the PF government is committed to road rehabilitation, among other issues. Our roads are generally in very poor shape and need to be brought to civilized standards. However, as I said in my earlier article of 14 August 2011 ( What if Zambia..), we should be aiming higher than maintenance projects. They are necessary but do not constitute development or take the country to a higher level.
To recap, the new government should focus on higher issues of rail/road network redesign, technological/scientific research and development not just building more schools on antiquated syllabi, take agriculture and tourism to a higher level instead of endlessly talking about its potential and avoid total dependence on extractive mining, create a niche to benefit from Zambia’s central geographical position on the continent and have a slimmer and smarter government structure.
Unless there is a quantum shift in the way we do things, the country will still lag behind with high unemployment and poverty levels despite the country’s abundant natural and human resources. It will be like having a new crew on the boat still headed for the waterfall except that it is not for fun rafting.
One way I feel the government could address these issues is the formation of non-partisan think tanks to focus on key developmental and technological policy directions. Initially these think tanks may have to be government funded but given sufficient freedom to freely research and advise appropriate policy approaches. Many countries in the world have think tanks ( over 4500) and India has the third largest number of think tanks. Needless to say this has contributed in no small way to its development.
The think tanks for specific areas of need will bring together expertise in various fields to research and give appropriate advice to government and industry. We cannot simply rely on party manifestos although they are important in spelling out the vision but no party or government anywhere has the necessary expertise on all economic, environmental, health, social security or defence and security matters.
Previous governments have appealed to Zambian professionals abroad to come back and help develop the country but there must be real challenges and a progressive environment for them to operate. It is certainly not correct to assume that there are no Zambians locally or abroad who can spearhead the quantum leap into the 21st century. We just have to work smarter, demand commitment, transparency and prudent use of our resources .
FORMER MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba has congratulated President Sata for emerging victorious in the September 20 tripartite elections and advised all political leaders to support his administration.
Dr Kalumba said in an interview from Chiengi on September 25 that President Sata needs the support of all Zambians.
“PF is the party in power and it carries a lot of responsibility on its shoulders, on behalf of all Zambians. The ruling party needs our support. MMD, United Party for National Development and others are now in opposition, they also carry a heavy responsibility to be constructive and nationalistic in their opposition,” Dr Kalumba said.
He advised opposition leaders to allow the new government to work without any obstruction and support its progressive policies.
Dr Kalumba also urged opposition leaders to provide leadership to their members and appreciate that in a democracy, the victors and vanquished do not become personal enemies but simply remain political competitors.
“Zambia is a mature democracy and let no one anywhere in the world treat us as an irresponsible and immature State. Zambians have proved that we can promote our national and vital strategic interest, particularly preserving our peace and good neighbourliness with countries outside,” he said.
Dr Kalumba said it is the duty of leaders of all political parties to work with the party in power so that it can implement policies which are benefiting the people.
“There is a lot of collective action. Leaders of various political parties should preserve the fundamental priorities of Zambians and in my humble view, allow the new government to work without undue obstruction,” he said.
He said it is important for political parties to reconcile differences of opinion on policy.
“A rational opposition is an asset to the Zambia’s political system. State institutions that are not part of political party structures should guide the new government and not undermine its political goals. I am proud to be Zambian and we are a nation united and a nation at peace,” Dr Kalumba said.
He congratulated Mr Sata for the ‘sweet victory’ in the just ended general elections.
Dr Kalumba said Mr Sata’s victory has taught politicians to persevere in the face of setbacks and challenges. He said Mr Sata has proved that his mind is focused on providing effective leadership to Zambians.
“We congratulate him for pulling his political team together and for giving vision and hope that it was possible for the PF to win. We the younger generation must learn from that and never say never in life,” Dr Kalumba said.
He commended the former President Banda for his magnanimity in defeat and attending Mr Sata’s inauguration last week on Friday.
Dr Kalumba said that act alone set a standard that those who lose elections should not hide in hole away from the victors.
“I congratulate my uncle general Benson Kapaya for winning the Chiengi Parliamentary seat on the PF ticket. I also thank the entire PF Luapula team. Kennedy Sakeni and his team really worked hard. Those who have lost should accept the will of the people,” Dr Kalumba said.
STANDARD Bank of South Africa has called on the new administration to be pragmatic in its discussions with foreign investors in the copper industry.
The bank notes that given the downside risks to copper prices induced by global growth prospects, the new administration is expected to be pragmatic in its discussions with foreign investors in the copper industry.
In a statement issued in Lusaka the bank notes that the victory by Patriotic Front (PF) leader President Michael Sata brings the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) 20 year rule to an end.
Last month, the Standard Bank that trades as Stanbic in Zambia predicted that the MMD would win the 2011 elections.
The bank, however, notes that with the promise of change in President Sata’s election campaign, there is anticipation of change to economic policy framework especially taxation and regulation of the mining sector.
“While the PF’s election campaign centred around increasing the benefits of Zambia’s vast natural resources to the broader public, he (Sata) is unlikely to want to jeopardise the significant investment flows that the copper industry attracts,” reads the statement.
Standard Bank adds that investment commitments by copper producers are estimated at around US$6billion for the period 2011 to 2013.
It noted that the PF has suggested introduction of new measures to increase the revenue collections from the mining sector after discussions with the industry.
“Interestingly, many of the development agreements (not public information) that the government has signed with mining companies are set to expire before the end of Sata’s first term.
“Yet given the downside risks to copper prices induced by waning global growth prospects, we expect the new administration to be pragmatic in its discussions with foreign investors in the copper industry,” reads the statement.
The bank notes policy direction to look out for will be the choice of economic ministers and the 2012 budget which is to be read in Parliament at the beginning of fourth quarter this year.
It also pointed that other policy directions would be the new government’s relationship with the International Monetary Fund after the last extended credit facility expired in June this year.
Meanwhile the Kwacha depreciated sharply against the US dollar in the immediate aftermath of the election result.
The Kwacha last week moved sharply from a close of K4,822 on the day of elections to K5,160 against the US dollar.
“The lack of certainty on the policy stance of the new government undoubtedly played its part. It is likely to continue to weigh on investor confidence in the short term even if there is some reprieve in global risk sentiment, depressed copper prices and US dollar strength,” notes the bank.
President Sata was declared the winner of the 2011 presidential elections on Friday last week after running for the fourth time with a 43 percent of the votes against 36 percent for the incumbent Rupiah Banda.
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.
FORMER minister of Communications and Transport William Harrington has called for an independent and transparent revaluation exercise of Zamtel assets.
Mr Harrington said in a statement issued in Lusaka on September 25 that the sale of the Zamtel assets should be considered by President Sata, in his fight against corruption and abuse of office.
He said the new government should carry out an independent and transparent revaluation exercise of Zamtel assets to give Zambians the true value of Zamtel assets prior to the partial privatisation of the company by the previous administration of former President Banda.
“It is important to take a critical look at the issue of Zamtel and we therefore welcome President Sata’s pledge that his administration will have a zero tolerance to corruption.
“We hope this relates to the past, present and future including the sale of Zamtel as one of the key starting points,” Mr Harrington said.
Mr Harrington, who was a petitioner in the Dennis Chirwa-led Tribunal, said Zambians should know the true and accurate value of Zamtel assets, prior to its partial privatisation.
“We would like to know whether or not the valuation undertaken by RP Capital Partners included strategic infrastructure such as Mwembeshi Earth Station and Lamya House in Lusaka and at what price these were sold to the new owners of Zamtel,” he said.
Mr Harrington said an independent and transparent re-valuation exercise of Zamtel assets would be expedient and necessary, especially taking into consideration that the sale of the company was done with the alleged gross irregularities and corruption ‘as clearly and indisputably established by the Dennis Chirwa-led tribunal of 2009’.
“As 1st Petitioner in the tribunal, I am aware that among the eight findings of fact on the then Minister of Communications and Transport Ms Dora Siliya’s breaches are the irregular signing of the memorandum of understanding with RP Capital Partners where she committed Government and the people to the sum of US$2 million,” he said.
1.President Michael Sata (left) shares a light moment with First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda and outgoing President Rupiah Banda at the inauguration ceremony in Lusaka
2.President Michael Sata takes the Oath of Office as Chief Justice Ernest Sakala looks on at the inauguration ceremony in Lusaka
3. President Michael Sata signs documents as Chief Justice Ernest Sakala looks on at the inauguration ceremony in Lusaka
4. President Michael Sata receives instruments of power from outgoing President Rupiah Banda as Chief Justice Ernest Sakala looks on at the inauguration ceremony at the Supreme Court
5. President Michael Sata receives instruments of power from outgoing President Rupiah Banda as Chief Justice Ernest Sakala looks on at the inauguration ceremony at the Supreme Court in Lusaka
6.President Michael Sata looks on as Chief Justice Ernest Sakala signs some documents at the inauguration ceremony at the Supreme Court in
7. President Michael Sata is presented with a Bible at the inauguration ceremony at Supreme Court in Lusaka
8. President Michael Sata is presented documents for signing by Chief Justice Ernest Sakala looks on at the inauguration ceremony in Lusaka
9. President Michael Sata delivers his inaugural speech at the Supreme Court
10. Patriotic Front Vice President Guy Scott waves to members of the public at the inauguration of President Michael Sata
11. Patriotic Front Secretary General Wynter Kabimba waves to people at the inauguration of President Michael Sata
12. Members of the public wave the Patriotic Front symbol at the inauguration of President Michael Sata
13. Members of the public walk to the Supreme Court to witness the inauguration of President Michael Sata
14. Members of the public walk through Freedom way as a way of celebrating the election of President Michael Sata in Lusaka
15. Members of the public gathered at the Supreme Court grounds where they witnessed the inauguration of President Michael Sata
16. Lusaka residents celebrate the victory of President Sata
17. Lusaka residents celebrate the victory of President Michael Sata
18. Lusaka residentS at Manda Hill shopping center celebrate the victory of President Michae Sata
19. A man with a painted face in Lusaka
20. A man displays a picture of President Michael Sata during a peaceful procession on Freedom Way in Lusaka
The Faz Super Division roars back to life this Wednesday after a weeks break to make way for the presidential and general elections that took place on September 20.
All Super Division Week 24 games that were scheduled to be played this past weekend of September 24-25 will now be played on Wednesday.
One of those games involving Red Arrows and Nakambala Leopards will be the match of the day on September 28 on the pan-African satellite sports broadcaster SuperSport.
However, there is concern that most teams had not been training for a week during a tense pre-and-post election period before Michael Sata was announced winner early on Friday and sworn in the same day.
Meanwhile, Week 25 games will go ahead as scheduled this Saturday with one match taking place on Sunday October 2 between Nkwazi and Zanaco.
MTN/FAZ Super Division
Week 24
28/09/2011
Red Arrows-Nakambala Leopards
Power Dynamos- Forest Rangers
Nkana-Green Eagles
Kalewa-Nkwazi
Green Buffaloes-Nchanga Rangers
Konkola Blades-Zanaco
Lime Hotspurs-Zesco United
Roan United-Kabwe Warriors
Week 25
01/10/2011
Forest Rangers- Nkana
Nakambala Leopards-Power Dynamos
Green Eagles-Kalewa
Nchanga Rangers-Red Arrows
Zesco United-Green Buffaloes
Zanaco-Roan United
Kabwe Warriors-Lime Hotspurs
