Pomp and splendor characterized President Rupiah Banda’s grand finale at his rally today in Mandevu Township in Lusaka. The huge rally which was held at Kimbaguitii basic School grounds appeared to be hued in the traditional MMD blue colour as both sympathizers and cadres of the ruling party where clad in the party regalia.

Before President Banda’s delegation’s arrival , the massive crowd closed up all the roads and paths leading to the school as patriotic songs and dances were performed much to the excitement of the crowd.

Renowned musicians in the likes Daliso, the Oga family and local song bird Mampi spiced the occasion with various hits that made the crowd dance and cheer the President and his entourage especially when he drove into the school grounds.

Today’s rally is exactly the sixtieth successful rally the President has under taken across the country. In his address, Mr. Banda called on the electorate to vote for him and the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) for continued good economic policies.

“The MMD is the only party with a clear vision and direction hence the need for the people to vote for the party on Tuesday,” he said.

The President noted that there are so many developmental projects that the MMD has implemented countrywide adding that if he is re-elected,he would do more for the nation.

He disclosed that his party is the only one that has managed to field in candidates in all the 150 constituencies. Mr. Banda said that the opposition has no clear direction and vision for Zambia that is the reason why they are using the slogan “Don’t Kubeba”.

President Rupiah Banda expressed his certainty that he was going to win Tuesday’s elections. Mr. Banda said that this was because the MMD party has managed to deliver in all sectors of the economy in the country.

He said that he has constructed roads, hospitals and schools in all the parts of the country hence the need for the people to vote for him once again.
“Look at our records in Lusaka and other parts of the country, we have real projects,” Mr. Banda said.

He said that the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) is the only party with a vision and direction. “Our victory must not be taken for granted, we have worked for it and we have done that till the last hour,” he said.

And Former Vice President Enock Kavindele has called on the people of Mandevu constituency to vote for President Rupiah Banda on Tuesday next week.

Mr. Kavindele said that there was need for the people of Mandevu to vote for Mr. Banda in order for him to continue with the various developmental projects that he implemented three years ago.

He stated that Mr. Banda should be given another five year mandate owing to his good economic policies. He said that if Zambians wants the peace that the country has enjoyed since independence to continue, they should vote for the ruling MMD because it is the only party that is peaceful and has a vision.

And MMD Mandevu constituency aspiring candidate Canisius Banda called on the people of Mandevu to vote for MMD on Tuesday next week. Dr. Banda has described the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata as a recycled leader who lacks direction.

Meanwhile, Vice President George Kunda has today concluded his campaign trail for the Muchinga Parliamentary seat in Serenje district.

Mr. Kunda who is re-contesting his Muchinga seat held ten successful campaign rallies in various parts of the constituency in the last four days.

ZANIS reports from Serenje, today, that the Vice President held mammoth rallies in Kanona, Koffi Kunda, Chibale, Nchimishi and Mulembo areas among others.

Speaking at Koffi Kunda Basic School today, Mr. Kunda said the MMD is still intact and is headed for a landslide victory in Tuesday’s tripartite elections.

Mr. Kunda noted that the ruling party is focused on delivering development to all parts of the country unlike the opposition PF which is continuously hurling insults on President Banda and the MMD government.

He said Zambians deserve mature leaders such as President Banda who is concerned about the future and development of the whole country.

The Vice President has since called on the electorate to ensure that they vote for President Banda and the MMD in the forthcoming elections.

ZANIS

The Zambia Small Scale Farmers Network (ZSSF) has endorsed President Rupiah Bwezani Banda in next Tuesday’s tripartite Elections.

The Network says it has resolved to vote for President Banda as a way of rewarding the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) administration for its positive agriculture policy.

Network Coordinator Boyd Liambai said this in a statement released to ZANIS in Mongu yesterday.

Mr. Liambai said ZSSF has attributed the country’s maize bumper harvest during the last two farming seasons to President Banda’s efforts to incorporate several farmers in the Farmer’s Input Support Programme (FISP).

The Network which has 395,000 farmers is busy working with 10 Provincial Sensitisation Committees to ensure that 985,000 famers under the FISP vote for President Banda in the September 20th elections.

Mr. Liambai stated that the Network is indebted to Mr. Banda’s working policies aimed at improving the agriculture sector by increasing the number of farmers on the FISP.

He added that this is why the Zambia Small Scale Farmers Network in Western Province will support his workable agriculture policies which have also helped improve farmer’s lives in the country.

He said the Network is happy that Government has allocated about K600, 000,000 to 80 women farmers clubs in Western Province under the Women Empowerment from the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.

Mr. Liambai appealed to farmers countrywide to support the MMD government ‘s agriculture policies saying the opposition parties have no provision in their manifestos to support farmers.

ZANIS

LUSAKA lawyer Hobday Kabwe says Zambia risks experiencing unprecedented levels of lawlessness in the unlikely event that Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata wins the September 20 elections.

In an interview on September 15, Mr Kabwe said Mr Sata and his followers have so far shown that they have no regard for the rule of law. He was reacting to Mr Sata’s threat to deal with citizens whom he considers to be corrupt if he is elected President.

Mr Sata was quoted in yesterday’s edition of The Post newspaper saying the country will see all the thieves on September 22, 2011.

“This statement attributed to a person who is aspiring to become Republican President makes very sad reading. He sounds like he has already secured convictions for these people and he is just waiting to sentence them,” Mr Kabwe said.

He said it is unfortunate that Mr Sata can use a political platform to threaten innocent citizens instead of delivering a message of hope for Zambians.
“It seems Mr Sata does not learn from the free legal advice we give him. There is no way he can call someone a ‘thief’ without reliable evidence and the law presumes everyone innocent until proven guilty,” Mr Kabwe said.

He warned Zambians to be cautious and ensure that they do not vote for Mr Sata to avoid putting someone with a dictatorial character into office.

He said the people have a perfect opportunity to assess the difference between Mr Sata and President Banda through the duo’s utterances.

“While President Banda has been consistent in focusing on delivering the message of hope to Zambians, Mr Sata’s statements are in most cases about lawlessness. What kind of a President will he make in an unlikely event that he wins the elections next week?” Mr Kabwe said.

He urged well-meaning Zambians to ensure that the economic and social gains the country has attained under President Banda are maintained by retaining the MMD in power.

Mr Kabwe said President Banda has clearly demonstrated his passion to develop all parts of the country without discrimination.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Patriotic Front leader Micheal Sata has revealed that the ruling MMD will tomorrow Saturday,17th September begin allegedly giving unsuspecting Zambians pre-marked ballot papers to use on voting day after bribing them with K600,000.

Mr. Sata says the giving of pre-marked ballot papers to unsuspecting Zambians is one of the rigging tactics of the MMD.

He has since encouraged Zambians to get the pre-marked ballot papers and the money but put their vote on the Patriotic Front.

He says the MMD is desperate to return power as can be seen from the propaganda campaign aimed at discrediting the PF.

Addressing a rally in Serenje district this afternoon, Mr. Sata called on Zambians to unite and remove the corrupt MMD government.

Mr. Sata has further advised the intelligence officers to think about the million Zambians who are suffering at the expense of the corrupt government.

He says the MMD should accept that they are losing this year’s elections other than resorting to desperate maneuvers.

Meanwhile, President Rupiah Banda says the PF’s don’t Kubeba slogan is insulting to the people of Zambia especially that Zambia is a democracy.

Speaking when he addressed a rally at Chifubu grounds in Ndola this afternoon Mr Banda says the PF uses the don’t Kubeba slogan because they lack direction and ideas.

President Banda says the PF lacks good leadership hence they cannot tell the Zambian people anything.

Mr. Banda who spent most of his time attacking the PF leader added that the MMD deserves to be reelected because it has worked so hard in its campaigns.

He says the PF cannot run government because they have failed to run the councils which they controlled.

President Banda said on the other hand the MMD’s good direction can be seen from the many development initiatives that the party has embarked on.

He has further expressed confidence that the MMD will emerge victorious in next week’s election and that PF leader Michael Sata will kiss dust again.

QFM

The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called on presidential candidates in the September 20 polls to be prepared to concede defeat.

ZCTU General Secretary Roy Mwaba says the republican constitution provides that there can only be one head of state at a time.

Mr. Mwaba says workers in the country want calm and peace to prevail before, during and after the general elections.

And Mr Mwaba has advised workers across the country against voting for politicians who have a tendency of making empty promises.

He says workers should not use their emotions when voting, but exercise sobriety and elect leaders who are practical.

Mr. Mwaba was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka this morning.

He also says workers want whoever will win the polls to strengthened labour laws, broaden the tax base and enhance social dialogue.

Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi has said that her party will accept and respect the outcome of next Tuesday’s election results as the will of the people.

Ms. Nawakwi said that the results will determine who the people want because they are the ones with a final say on who they want to lead them.

And Veteran Politician Vernon Mwaanga has challenged all political parties taking part in the September 20 general elections to openly declare that they will peacefully accept the results as announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

Mr Mwaanga said that all politicians must accept the certified results by ECZ because there can only be one winner after the elections.

He said that all Zambians should embrace a democratic culture where winners embrace losers with magnanimity for the sake of peace and unity in the country.

Mr Mwaanga was speaking during a campaign rally in Chivuna in Pemba Constituency in Southern Province.

Mr Mwaanga and the MMD campaign team have held similar meetings in Kalomo central, Mapatizya, Mbabala, Bweengwa , Magoye, Mazabuka Central and Sinazongwe among others.

And Mr Mwaanga says there are positive signs that the people of Southern province are beginning to want to work and be part of the ruling MMD.

ZNBC

The Patriotic Front (PF) is confident of winning next week’s tripartite elections.

PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba says the party’s confidence comes from the overwhelming support which it is receiving from all the nine provinces in the country.

Mr. Kabimba told Journalists at a media briefing in Lusaka on Friday that the PF has grown in all the nine provinces.

He also says the PF will continue to engage the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) in its administration of the elections in the country.

Mr. Kabimba also disclosed that the PF has trained 27 000 polling agents to monitor the elections countrywide.

And PF Vice president Guy Scott says his party has national character because of its popularity.

And Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi says her party will implement the decentralization policy if voted into office in next Tuesday’s elections for faster and efficient development to take place across the country.

Ms. Nawakwi says some districts have lagged behind in terms of development because decisions are made centrally without considering what the needs of the people in the districts are.

[pullquote]Mr. Kabimba also disclosed that the PF has trained 27 000 polling agents to monitor the elections countrywide.[/pullquote]

She says once in power she will ensure that all areas across the country equally benefit from the national cake.

Ms. Nawakwi says efficient development can only come if the local people are included in the mainstream of the economy.

The FDD leader was speaking on a live phone-in program on Solwezi radio.

ZNBC

Dear Bloggers,

I am 19 years old and my dad died when I was 12 years. My dad had 11 children from 5 women.The only children who benefited from his property when he died were the children of our step mother who was married to him at the time of his death. We all used to live with dad until he died.

Is there any hope that anyone can help us claim our share? Dad died just after getting his pension and left a 5 bedroomed house in Avondale Lusaka and a 3 bedroom in the same area. Me (19yrs) and my sister(17yrs) from the same mother,my brother (25) from another mother and my sister( 23yrs) and brother (20yrs) from another mother did not benefit.

How can we claim our inheritance from our step mother.

Please help.

Yours,

Distressed