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Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata has described the opinion poll held by the Center for Policy Dialogue(CDP) as very right, but noted that elections were not held on the day the opinion poll was conducted.
Speaking to QFM on on the opinion polls that predicated that President Rupiah Banda would win by 41 %, Mr Sata retorted that despite the poll predication, fortunately the elections were no held yesterday.
And Mr Sata says President Rupiah Banda cannot remove Chieftainess Nkomeshya from her throne.
Commenting on President Rupiah Banda’s threats against the Chieftainess on Saturday when he addressed a rally in Chongwe, Mr Sata says Zambia under president Banda is drifting back to the federation days were chiefs who opposed federation were suspended or dethroned.
Mr Sata tells QFM in an interview that Chiefs in the country should wake and be counted following President Banda’s threats to Chieftainess Nkomeshya.
He says the chiefs should speak out like Chief Nalubamba has done, stating that touching one chief means touching all traditional leaders.
File: Old Friends-UPND-PF pact co-spokespersons Given Lubinda (r) and Charles Kakoma (l) exchange notes during a press briefing where they hard a hard time trying to justify why the pact is not about to crumble in Lusaka
Kabwata Patriotic Front aspiring candidate Given Lubinda has appealed to United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema to stop attacking the Patriotic Front in his campaign messages.
Mr. Lubinda says Mr. Hichilema should not be bitter with the Patriotic Front for his failures as he decided to leave the pact on his own.
Speaking recently, Mr.Lubinda says it is unfortunate that Mr. Hichilema has resorted to insulting the PF as he is now regretting having pulled out of the pact.
He has however wished the UPND leader the best in his campaigns stating that electorates would feel pity and give him some votes.
Mr. Lubinda has since advised the UPND to mind its own business in its campaigns rather than attacking the Patriotic Front
Former Chipolopolo defender Laughter Chilembi says Zambia deserves credit for beating Comoros 2-1 in Sunday’s 2012 Africa Cup qualifier despite laboring for the victory in Moroni.
Switzerland-based striker Emmanuel Mayuka came off the bench to score a late winner to send Zambia back to the top of Group C with 12 points in five matches.
Chilembi said it is not easy to win away matches adding that Comoros gave Zambia a tough encounter.
“I think it is a good result for the national team, congratulations to the Chipolopolo Boys for the job well done although the game was
tough,” he said.
“I respect the current national squad and I expected Zambia to beat Comoros by at least three or four goals although it was away,”
Chilembi added.
The former Nchanga Rangers and Power Dynamos hard-tackler expressed confidence that Zambia can beat Libya in next month’s decisive Group C game of the Gabon/Equatorial Guinea Nations Cup qualifying campaign.
He said:” I always have confidence in the national team whether we are playing Libya or even teams like Ghana; they (Chipolopolo) will do well.
Continuity or change?-An unidentified man walks past gabbage and flooded houses in Chawama
By Gray Soko
The revolutions that have swept North Africa ( Tunisia, Egypt and Libya) and the Middle East ( Yemen, Bahrain , Syria and you may add Israel) will for a long time to come be subject of serious political reflection. Some people have suggested that even the best intelligence agencies in the world were taken aback by the intensity of the people’s resolve for change.
One thing which is clear is that human beings have an inherent desire for freedom from oppression, deprivation or poverty. There comes a time when man can no longer sit on the fence, living in a state of denial and realizes that average, mediocre life is beneath his dignity. Having realized this, he is willing to confront and change his situation.
Change always involves taking a risk and often the impulse to change gets muted by the “safety” or “predictability” of the status quo. The person then becomes afraid to want more and fight for more. Don’t rock the boat, the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know are the common cliché’ for inaction. The fact however remains that you can only change or correct what you are willing to confront. This must be the dilemma facing some of us. We really desire a better and prosperous life but settle for less through compliance and acceptance of limitations imposed by others instead of being innovative.
We should not perpetually look for people to blame for our continued underdevelopment at the personal, community or national level. We should not fear change but embrace it for without change there can only be stagnation. Politicians should not instill fear that change will necessarily bring instability or chaos but emphasize the positive things that reasoned change will bring about. Change does not have to be initiated by the opposition either, all well meaning politicians with a passion for the country should embrace change.
Radical transformation is necessary, we cannot hope to build a modern country on the inherited colonial framework ( a shambles of local government, bloated civil service structure, dysfunctional rail/road transport network, urban/rural dichotomy etc ) which is not working for us. We should not be perpetually exhausting resources without corresponding productivity and prosperity.
Do we expect continuity with the status quo or change for a better Zambia after 20 September ?
By G.Mtonga
In Zambia corruption is a problem and worst of all we have no system to hold elected officials accountable for the rape of our country. Our system and our constitution do not give the general public a glimpse into the nature of our government or the institution that govern us!!
How does ZRA work with the Ministry Of Finance? How do we decide and who decides how money is allocated ? How do our pension schemes work? Why does it take a long time for a person’s family to get their money from pension schemes? How does the Ministry Of Education pay teachers; and what role does the government have with the military? How much does the president of Zambia make in a year? How much do ministers make in a year?Do our politicians have businesses other than their political careers? Where do politicians get the money they use for campaigns?
The above is a small paragraph of the many questions that can’t readily be answered by the Zambian people; the general public is as oblivious to the function of the Zambian government as a hunted animal is to its hunter!! The masses do not even know what their politicians are supposed to do for them, few people can walk into the office of a Member of Parliament from their constituency and demand answers!!! Politicians will continue to treat Zambia like their pocket book until the Zambian people advance structural elements that will reduce corruption and gain accountability:and it starts with our Media!![pullquote]The separation of power in Zambia is as separate as conjoined twins[/pullquote]
Corruption is a disease whose remedy is merely the punishment resulting from commiting the crime! If we set up legal as well as financial consequence for corruption, we can deter official members from committing these crimes against their nations; corruption is in gravity and destruction to a nation the same as committing TREASON!! Corruption can be addressed both as a legal matter and an administrative issue; by creating a “ Watch Dog” and at the same time creating aggressive laws with zero tolerance that will address corruption by government employees and government officials!!
Our media outlets should commit to journalistic integrity and report fragrant violations of power with the expediency and tenacity of other media outlets in the world. In New York City, The New York Times reported on John Edwards the man who was a contender for the presidency of the United States as having affairs and using state resources to coverup his affairs; the law was applied and he is facing trial in the court system and all his hopes of becoming president went down the drain.Even failure to pay taxes or report income from investments is enough to get an elected official in hot water as was the case for Congressman Charles Rangle ( D-NY)
Zambians however will say ” But Nimuzambia.. Infintu tafyakachinje!!”–“Its Zambia Things Will Never Change!” Things can change if we ourselves stop participating in a system riddled with nepotism, unethical practices, and mistreatment of government workers!! Government employees will steal because our government does not treat them right!! Our administrative system offers more incentives to steal than to work and young graduates are getting into the system with hopes of changing it but find that it is far much more logical and beneficial to participate in the corrupt system than to go against its massive machinery! Corruption then starts from the grassroots and goes all the way to our ministers and govt officials; ALL AT THE EXPENSE OF THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE AND THE FUTURE OF THE NATION!
We can address corruption by creating an independent watchdog to watch and audit the “The Zambian government” and the politicians that campaign to be effective leaders. Who exactly can ask the government to show their books; other than themselves? The separation of power in Zambia is as separate as conjoined twins; it is virtually non-existent!! If we created a watchdog we can audit budgetary issues, perform audits of ministries, and provide dialogue on a state level as to where money from donors goes in addition to the money earned by the Zambia Revenue Authority ( ZRA) through taxation. We can have one member of all the political parties registered in Zambia on the board of the organization and it should have its own separate budget to retain its independence!! All ministries would be subject to audits and the Office of the President would also be subject to financial and administrative audits! The organization would be given power to disclose the finances of each member of government who is “paid through our tax money” and the information can be published for the Zambian people to readily have access to it!! This of course is an ideal case!!
Of course its easy for me to write about what to do and how to solve corruption! However, we can practice what we preach! Why don’t all the Media Outlets, who are already entrenched in Zambia’s media networks form this organization?If media outlets led the fight against corruption by using their footprints in unison to address corruption we would move forward!!
The point is that something is being done!! Most companies fail because of mismanagement; rarely is it a result of liquidity problems, or aggressive competition by their competitors!!! They fail because the management was as intelligent as a frog trying to eat an animal 10times its size!!! Zambia is failing because of mismanagement; which obviously is the perfect breeding ground for corruption!! The Zambian government needs entities to oversee its practices and its governance; not just the international community but established organizations that are on the ground in Zambia. Transparency, Accountability and Communication; these government virtues will allow our political system to slowly clean its system of corrupt men and women who are getting rich while the average Zambian suffers in his/ her own country!!
Patriotic Front Leader Michael Sata has rubbished rumours that he collapsed while on his Western Province campaign trail saying he was aware that this was part of the scheme that the MMD has packaged to mislead voters as the country heads to presidential and general elections in the next 13 days.
Mr. Sata told a packed rally in Kaoma yesterday that this was mere propaganda hatched by the MMD who have created a team of State Security agents to mount a smear campaign to discredit him.
The PF is also in possession of information from highly placed OP contacts that the MMD has planned to unleash extensive publicity just before elections announcing that Mr. Sata has died.
Heritage Party president Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda has condemned president Rupiah Banda for threatening Chieftainess Nkomeshya with dethronement.
General Miyanda has since advised president Rupiah Banda to apologize to the Chieftainess for his misconduct.
In a statement released to QFM today, General Miyanda has since urged traditional leaders not to be intimidated by what he describes as President Banda’s empty threats.
He says there is no law in Zambia that gives the President any authority over chiefs, and has since challenged President Banda to a public debate over the matter.
He adds that such threats by president Banda are the reasons why he has been saying that some of presidential candidates will not make any new changes in the country’s governance system but instead will take the country back into the past to the one party system of threats, intimidation, favoritism and detentions without trial.
General Miyanda says president Banda’s warning to Chieftainess Nkomeshya exposed his deep disrespect for the traditional leader.
He has since encouraged Chieftainess Nkomeshya to soldier on, describing her as a rare example among traditional authorities in the country.
General Miyanda adds that the Chieftainess has been resisting the taking over of traditional land by president Banda’s government to give to dubious foreign investors as if it is his personal property.
The Zambia Police Service has urged people who were allegedly assaulted by suspected MMD cadres over the weekend in Chongwe to expose their assailants.
Lusaka Division Commanding Officer Mhlakeni Zulu says police can not start witch hunting and that it is up to complainants to identify people behind the attacks.
Mr Zulu has told ZNBC News that that the Zambia police Service has received formal complaints through Chongwe police station that they should identify the cadres who allegedly assaulted them.
Mr Zulu has also dismissed media reports that police had deployed officers in a named village in Chongwe district.
He says the only police officers that deployed to Chongwe were those assigned at the MMD rally.
He further says the Zambia Police Service had information that the PF cadres were planning to block the president on his way to Chongwe and had to keep vigil.
Mr Zulu has also appealed to political parties to learn to co- exist as the country goes to the polls this month.
Western province permanent secretary Seth Muleya (c) with other mourners at the church service of the late former Mongu bishop Paul Duffy at our lady of cathedral in Mongu
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Western province permanent secretary Seth Muleya (c) with other mourners at the church service of the late former Mongu bishop Paul Duffy at our lady of cathedral
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Vice President George Kunda ZAF pilot colonel Martin Mumbi after his arrival in Mongu for the funeral of the late former Mongu bishop Paul Duffy
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vice president George Kunda with ZAF pilots after his arrival in Mongu for the funeral of the late former Mongu bishop Paul Duffy
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Some of the mourners at the funeral of the late former Mongu bishop Paul Duffy
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The casket of the late former Mongu bishop Paul Duffy arrives in Mongu for the church service
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The casket of the late former Mongu bishop Paul Duffy arrives at Mongu for the church service
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Vice President George Kunda arrives at Mongu Stadium for the church service
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Vice President George Kunda arrives at Mongu Stadium for the church service of the late former Mongu bishop Paul Duffy
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Vice President George Kunda delivers a speech during the funeral of the late former Mongu bishop Paul Duffy
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Cardinal Medardo Mazombwe (in the red hat) pays his last respect late former Mongu bishop Paul Duffy
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Lowering the casket in the ground
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Lowering the casket in the ground
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Heritage Party leader Godfrey Miyanda with Vice President during the burial of the late former Mongu bishop Paul Duffy
Zambia will travel to Sudan for the first leg Group D qualifier on the road to the Brazil 2014 Fifa World Cup.
Dario Bonetti’s side is in Group D together with 2010 World Cup quarterfinalist Ghana and Sudan.
The fourth member of Group D will be determined between Burundi and Lesotho who meet in a preliminary round two-leg knockout qualifier this November.
Meanwhile, Zambia will travel to Khartoum during the weekend of June 1, 2012 to face Sudan.
According to Fifa, Zambia will face Ghana on match day two in Ndola on August 6 next year.
Group D winner will join nine other teams in the final group of 10 to decide which five sides will represent Africa in Brazil in 2014.
The Zambia Election Media Monitoring Project (ZEMMP) has observed that the public media is still heavily biased towards the ruling MMD while the private media is biased towards the opposition patriotic Front, neglecting other political parties in the country.
MISA Zambia chairperson Daniel Sikazwe disclosed at a pre-election tracker report dissemination meeting in Lusaka today, that the trend is contravening the electoral code of conduct which stipulates equal provision of media space.
Mr. Sikazwe says despite limitation of resources, the community media has attempted to cover political parties more than they are covered in the mainstream media.
According to the report, of the total number of stories covered by the public media in the last two months, 50% of the sources were from the MMD, 19% from the PF and 15% each from UPND and other political parties.
Similarly in the private media 25% of the sources were from the MMD, the PF had 50% while the UPND had 17% and other parties with 8%.
Mr. Sikazwe has advised the media to enhance diversification of views in stories so as to afford electorates an opportunity to tap into the media as an open space for information exchange.
He has also urged the media to also focus on policy issues to do with the fight against poverty and corruption so as to hold politicians accountable once in office.
Rupiah Banda shakes hands with Mwansabombwe MMD candidate Chriticles and his counterpart for Kawambwa central Elizabeth Chitika Mwansa on arrival at Kazembe grounds
With thirteen days remaining before the 20th September tripartite elections, the latest opinion poll by the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has tipped Republican President Rupiah Banda to win the presidency if elections were held today.
Speaking to Journalists in Lusaka today, CPD Executive Director Neo Simutanyi said according to a survey carried out on 1,500 registered voters across the country, 41 percent would vote for President Banda, 38 percent would vote for PF leader Michael Sata, while 13 percent preferred UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema.
Dr Simutanyi says only 2 percent of the respondents would vote for other political parties with 6 percent of the voters still undecided.
He says the survey was conducted using a random method of selection and had a marginal error of plus/minus 2 percent.
And Doctor Simutanyi says the objective of the opinion poll was to ascertain issues of concern on the political platform, to ascertain government’s performance and to assist the public to make informed decisions among others ahead of the general elections.
He has observed that provincial vote distribution shows that the ruling MMD has consolidated its strongholds while the opposition PF and UPND have lost ground in their strongholds.
[pullquote]This is a second opinion poll that CPD has conducted this year following an earlier one in May which favored PF leader Michael Sata.[/pullquote]
Doctor Simutanyi has also indicated that the breakup of the PF/UPND pact has a great impact on people’s decisions.
This is a second opinion poll that CPD has conducted this year following an earlier one in May which favored PF leader Michael Sata.
African Dream, Kadoko chanda was born in Lusaka ,but spent his childhood in Mozambique, South Africa and Angola.
His poems and music are influenced by the different cultures he has experienced and the need for change to improve lives of people in the African continent. This has influenced him to recite poems and rap in English, Portuguese, Bemba and Nyanja.
He has been writing poems for over 10 years, but only recently started performing on stage.
Most of his music comes from the poems he writes. He has worked with a few artist such as Ariel, Ceeceefied, Jesse, T.C. From Nigeria, Shenzi, Lee, Multi, just to name a few artist.
“My dream is to make music and poetry that people will relate, enjoy, dance to, and get influenced or motivated to do bigger things.”
KAPA187: What does being creative mean to you?
AFRICAN DREAM :. Umm, well its about opening your own mind to possibilities that do not exist without putting boundaries for yourself. Doing things that have never been done.
KAPA187: When did you first start writing, what made you feel the need to express yourself in this way?
AFRICAN DREAM :. I started writing when I was about 10 years old when I went to boarding school in South Africa. Poetry was a way of expressing my feelings to this new culture I had found. It was also the first time i learnt that race was an issue and people had been segregated because of being black in the past, and having a father who worked in a humanitarian organization in Mozambique before and after the war, it made me experience poverty first hand and question why some people would go to certain extremes to destroy the destiny of success of their own people.
KAPA187: What kind of work are you most drawn to reading yourself? Do you find yourself reading work similar to your own, or completely different?
AFRICAN DREAM :.I try to read just about everything though African material stands out, but it usually depends on the state of mind am at, at a particular time. KAPA187: What style of poetry do you prefer? Freestyle, Rhyming …
AFRICAN DREAM :.Umm, i like free verse because it lets me express exactly how i feel without any rules.
KAPA187: Who are some poets that inspire you and why ?
AFRICAN DREAM :.Yooh, thats a difficult one man, but Agostinho Neto and Che Guevara do it. I get inspired at how they thought and saw the world at that time, and how their poems still relate and reflect to the life we live today.
KAPA187: How did you feel the first time you performed your poetry.
AFRICAN DREAM :.Mmm, i was nervous at first man, but, once the poem was finished, it felt really good.
KAPA187: You also rap. Are you lyrics centered on the same subject matter as your poems?
AFRICAN DREAM :.Up to a certain degree, though i feel comfortable rapping about certain issues which i cant with poems, especially if you talking about chilling and having a good time.hehe KAPA187: What has been your biggest achievement?
AFRICAN DREAM :.Helping my parents build their dream house, and seeing the joy it brings to them.
KAPA187: If you could have any super powers what would it be and why?
AFRICAN DREAM :.hehe. Read womens minds.hehehe wouldnt it be great man? Neh just kidding, i wouldn’t mind being as fast as light, so i could go anywhere in the world within a flash. Love travelling and experiencing new cultures.
KAPA187: Is there something about you that people will be surprised to know?
AFRICAN DREAM :.I started learning how to speak english when i was 10 years old. Bemba was my prefered language to speak.
KAPA187: Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years ?
AFRICAN DREAM :.ish, thats a tough one. I see myself running my own business and also participating in charitable organisations to help the people in need in our society. Plus still doing what i do with a bigger platform
KAPA187: Is there a poem that you have written that you will never forget , if so what was it about. AFRICAN DREAM :Yeah i have, its called One Zambia One Nation. Its a poem about being proud to be Zambian, and embracing the people in our past, believing in the zambian youth that they have the power to make things better. It talks about uniting people together as one no matter what tribe you are, because we can achieve anything we want if we work together as one.
POEM
One Zambia one nation,
One people, one right,
One fight,
For the future is so bright,
So let’s shine like the stars in a dark night
We have come a long way,
Since independence day,
The struggle that left our families missing in action,
So we give love and respect to our freedom fighters; Simon Kapwepwe,
Dr. K.K, and the comrades, who made a pathway,
So now we are free,
Free to be anything you want to be,
One Zambia, One nation,
My motivation,
I know that greater success is still a long way,
But we are in the struggle,
We will make it one day,
As long as we can dream it,
The sky is the limit
Let us work hard, together as one,
United we stand, divided we fall,
Zambia, we are a people of diverse cultures, a people so friendly,
You can be; Ila, Mambwe, Lozi,
Luvale, Nkoya, Ngoni
Bemba, Chewa, Tonga,
Lenje, Kaonde, Tumbuka, Senga,
Lamba, Lunda, Namwanga,
BUT
We still stand, together as one
One Zambia, One Nation
African Dream™ 2011
MUSIC
HAVE A GOOD TIME
A feel-good track that you can put on repeat and just “have a good time”
Follow him on twitter ( @african_dream) and find him on facebook , to get more of his music and poetry.
INSPECTOR General of Police Francis Kabonde has said the police will not give police bonds to suspects arrested for cases relating to electoral violence.
And Mr Kabonde has instructed Copperbelt Province police chief Martin Malama to ensure that officers carry out foot patrol in all townships, shopping complexes and residential areas to arrest those found engaged in violence.
He said in a statement issued yesterday at the on-going Zambia Police Service and stakeholders’ interactive meeting in Kitwe that suspects would not be released on police bond, but would be taken to court where prosecutors would challenge their bail application.
Mr Kabonde said the police had taken the decision because efforts to persuade people to restrain themselves from acts of violence were not being taken seriously.
The meeting was attended by the opposition Patriotic Front, United Party for National Development and the ruling MMD, among other political parties. He said the police would arrest all those involved in violence regardless of their political affiliations and ensure that law and order was maintained.
Mr Kabonde told provincial police chiefs to encourage members of the conflict management committees to expeditiously deal with conflicts before they degenerated into violence. He asked Dr Malama to summon and caution all illegal traders of sachets of alcohol, popularly known as ‘tujilijili’, who allegedly perpetuated most of the violence.
Mr Kabonde also directed officers-in-charge to summon bar owners and charge those who would not comply with directives. He said the police should recommend for withdrawal or revocation of licences for those who were not respecting directives and further arrest those operating illegally.
SOME clergymen have described as an act of desperation by the Patriotic Front (PF) to claim that it will uphold the Christian nation clause in the Zambian Constitution if voted into power.
The church leaders said it was surprising that the opposition party could make such a statement a few days before the general elections, when they were widely known to favour a secular State that tolerated gay rights.
Life Gospel Church Fellow Ministries International overseer, Joseph Kazhila said it was suspicious that the PF had left it so late to make a stand on the Christian nation matter and subsequently attempting to shed off its soft spot for secularism.
Bishop Kazhila said the PF had not been straightforward on the matter so a long time and that the u-turn did not help their cause much because the public could not be easily convinced. “It’s quite suspicious because it maybe part of their ‘don’t kubeba’ strategy of not telling us what they really stand for,” Bishop said.
He said it was even more worrying that the statement came from the party’s secretary general Wynter Kabimba, and not its leader Michael Sata. Bishop Kazhila said it was difficult for citizens to accept the position because Mr Kabimba could have been making his personal view known on the Christian nation issue.
“This party should have made their position known when reports came out over its support for homosexual rights and not to wait till now,” he said. He said the party would have to do more to convince the electorate on their position and that it would not be through a mere statement.
Bishop Kazhila said however that it would be encouraging if the party was being sincere and that it would be a starting point for them to restore some credence. He the PF needed to exhibit Christian values such as the rejection political violence so that it reflected their acceptance of the Christian nation clause.
The bishop said there was a lot of apprehension that the PF would only accept the September 20 elections results if they were declared in their favour but that all political players should accept the outcome whether they won or not.
And Global Training Network (GTN) Central and Southern African coordinator Barney Mulenga said the PF was desperate because they had no campaign issues to address and were now hoping to repair their image.
Apostle Mulenga said the PF was trying to win the support of Christians, who were the majority of voters in Zambia, by promising something that they could not guarantee to protect if they won the elections. He said the opposition party had realized that the MMD government had done well in its governance of the country and was implementing most of the activities contained in both the MMD and PF manifestos.
Apostle Mulenga said having failed to discredit the electoral process through various accusations on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the MMD, the PF had realized that it had run out of time and was now making promises that it was sure would attract Christians. “The current republican president has delivered beyond expectation and a lot of people are happy that he was able to do it in such a short time,” he said.
And Bishop Kazhila urged political parties continue denouncing violence in the run up to the elections and beyond. He appealed to both the ruling and opposition parties to deal with any of their members who went against this ideal.
