United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema says he will increase Constituency Development Funds (CDF) to K 5 billion kwacha per constituency once elected as Republican President.

ZANIS reports from Itezhitezhi District that the opposition leader said this during a live discussion programme on Itezhi Tezhi community radio on Thursday night.

Mr. Hichilema said on the radio that the current CDF funds are insufficient to bring about meaningful development in the country.

“The current CDF of K700 million is insignificant to bring any tangible development in the constituencies in the country that is why we, as UPND will increase it to K5billion kwacha per constituency,” he said.

Asked on where the money would come from to increase the CDF, Mr. Hichilema said that the UPND government will re-introduce the windfall tax and trim the cabinet to only thirty (30) ministers.

He said that by downsizing the cabinet and introducing the windfall tax, UPND government will save more than K 4 trillion and thereby which will be available to increase CDF and increase salaries of civil servants.

“When we increase the CDF to five billion per constituency each ward will be able to carry out meaningful development projects that will uplift people’s living standards in the country.

“ We will also pay rural hardship to government workers in rural districts like Itezhi Tezhi, ” Mr. Hichilema said.

Mr. Hichilema also said that government will increase the number of constituencies in the country because most of them are too vast.

He also said that UPND will put agriculture as top priority and will distribute fertilizer through headmen and ensure that proper storage facilities are built to prevent wastage of the maize.

He further said that UPND government once voted into power will built dip tanks and provides cheaper animal vaccines and employ adequate veterinary officers.

ZANIS

Police in Nakonde yesterday morning fought running battles with suspected Patriotic Front ( PF ) cadres outside Nakonde Police station over a truck registration number TZ 762 AMR and Trailer Number P592 AXR that they suspected to be carrying marked ballot papers to Lusaka.

The irate Pf cadres who escorted the truck to the police station fought running battles with the Police for over 30 minutes until the container was unloaded and the goods inside inspected.

However, contrary to the cadres suspicions, the vehicle only contained marked red and white tapes and cell ( or adhesive ) tapes to be used at poling stations in September, tripartite elections.

District Commissioner for Nakonde Billy Silwimba, who was physically present at the police station, together with Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA ) Senior collections of customs Stephen Mwansa, condemned the behavior of the PF cadres.

Mr. Silwimba said it is wrong for the PF cadres to alarm the nation on mere speculations that can plunge the nation into chaos if not well handled.

He said nothing was destroyed during the confusion and has since appealed to concerned parties to ensnure that such matters are handled with care next time.

The District Commissioner warned that people issuing alarming remarks and giving false information to the public risked being arrested and prosecuted once found wanting.

He further called on the District Conflict Resolution Committee to table the matter with all the participating political parties in this year’s elections in order to avoid un necessary suspicions.

Afterwards, the protesting cadres immediateltly dispersed after noticing that the container did not carry marked ballot papers as earlier rumored.

The truck has since been released and Zambia Revenue Authority Officers were being awaited to place new seals on the container before it can be allowed to leave.

Zambia goes to the polls on September 20 th and the ballot papers for Presidential Parliamentary and Local Government elections are being printed in Durban South Africa and are expected in the country on September 13, 2011.

And The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says it will not entertain the disruption of the delivery of its election materials.

The commission has since disclosed that the boundary tapes were the consignment of all imported election materials which were being transported into the country by road as all the materials have since been delivered.

The announcement follows the blocking of the truck in Nakonde yesterday that was carrying the consignment of polling station boundary tapes by the Patriotic Front (PF) cadres.

ZANIS reports ECZ Senior Public Relations officer Sylvia Bwalya making the announcement in a statement in Lusaka yesterday.

Ms. Bwalya further stated that the printing of Local Government ballot papers is still ongoing while the printing of ballot papers for the presidential and National assembly elections has been completed.

She stressed that the Presidential, National Assembly and Local Government ballot papers will be airlifted directly from Durban to Lusaka on Tuesday 13th September 2011.

She noted that political parties and other stakeholders will be advised of the expected time of arrival at the Lusaka International Airport of the chartered flight that will carry the ballot papers.

The commission has emphasized that there will be no delivery of ballot papers by road.

ZANIS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop”
(Luke 8:15, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Sometimes in the natural, we don’t see how God’s promises are going to come to pass in our lives. It seems like there are so many obstacles to overcome. But we have to see God’s Word like a seed. When it’s planted in our hearts, and we water it by thinking the right thoughts and expecting good things, that little seed begins to grow into something much, much greater.

Jesus told a parable in Mark, chapter four. He said, “God’s Word is like a tiny mustard seed. When it is sown, it is less than all the other seeds, one of the smallest. But when it grows up, it becomes greater than all.” Notice it goes from being less than all to being greater than all.

Are you in an overwhelming situation today, maybe in your health, finances or relationships? Does God’s promise seem small compared to what you’re facing?

Don’t sit back and think, “Man, it’s never going to get any better. It’s never going to change.” Instead, sow the Word by speaking it every single day. Water that seed by staying in faith because the seed of the Word has supernatural power in it. It will grow and flourish, and you will see God’s promises come to pass all the days of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, today I choose to sow the Word of God! Thank You that it will not return void, but it will accomplish what it was sent forth to do! Thank You for giving every good and perfect gift to Your children. I bless Your holy name today and always. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) has challenged the United Party for National Development (UPND) to explain its connection to government for using government resources during its campaigns.

PF Secretary General Winter Kabimba says his party is in possession of irrefutable evidence that the ruling MMD and the opposition UPND are closely collaborating and campaigning in some areas against the PF.

Mr. Kabimba alleges that the UPND is now involved in the abuse of government resources through the use of government motor vehicles in its campaigns and distribution of campaign materials.

Speaking at a media briefing this morning, Mr. Kabimba charged that one of the vehicles used is registered GRZ 852 BX which he said was found collecting UPND campaign materials from a house used as the UPND campaign centre in Lusaka’s Libala stage 4A.

Mr. Kabimba says there is no way UPND President Hakainde Hichilema should be trusted with presidency when he has betrayed the people of Zambia with his corruption and greed.

And the PF secretary general has demanded the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to clean up the voters register for 2011 by removing all registered dead voters as well as to advertise the voters register in the press so as to enable voters know their polling centers to avoid fiasco during elections.

QFM

THE Catholic Church has granted Father Frank Bwalya indefinite leave of absence from Priesthood to allow him to concentrate on his personal life. The diocese of Ndola has also ordered Fr Bwalya not to act or represent the Catholic Church in any way during his indefinite leave.

This is according to a memoradum dated August 29, 2011 issued by Ndola diocese Archbishop Alick Banda, addressed to Fr Bwalya and the church. Bishop Banda has also asked Fr Bwalya not to perform any priestly duties, wear priestly attire and to be away from the presbytery during his leave.

“I also ask you not to act in any way for the Catholic diocese of Ndola or the Catholic Church in general during your leave,” Bishop Banda said in a memo.
Fr Bwalya is believed to have requested the Ndola diocese for leave so that he could concentrate on his political activities. Bishop Banda said the church has consented to Fr Bwalya’s request and granted him indefinite leave of absence.

Bishop Banda advised Fr Bwalya to remain obliged and maintain his celibacy until a new way of life is determined by the competent ecclesiastical authority.
And the MMD on the Copperbelt have welcomed the indefinite leave of Fr Bwalya.

Provincial information and publicity secretary Yotam Mtayachalo said the leave is long overdue. “We welcome the indefinite leave of Fr Bwalya, who has so much hatred against President Banda and the MMD. We also urge him to reflect on his political activities during the leave so that he can repent,” Mr Mtayachalo said.

He said the activities Fr Bwalya has involved himself in are not in line with his status as a Priest. “How can a priest strangle a chicken at a public meeting? Such behaviour is unacceptable,” Mr Mtayahalo said.

A non-governmental organisation based in Ndola has also welcomed the indefinite leave of Fr Bwalya. Right Choice Support chairman Andrew Tembo said Fr Bwalya should now join politics because he will no longer pretend to be speaking for the Catholic Church.

“We want to commend the Catholic Church for the bold decision they have taken against Fr Bwalya who has clearly demonstrated that he has joined politics,” Mr Tembo said.
Meanwhile, a Ndola-based clergyman said it is wrong for any church leader to publicly declare their political alignment to any political party.

Pastor Lawrence Temfwe said Fr Bwalya’s suspension will serve as an example to other church leaders who are actively involved in partisan politics.

He advised other church leaders to speak about developmental issues without favouring any party. “Let other church leaders know that it is not good for a man of God to be involved in active politics,” Pastor Temfwe said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

The ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has refuted reports that it is intimidating rural voters in Kawambwa district of Luapula province ahead of the elections.

On thursday, the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) confirmed receiving reports of MMD officials threatening electorates in the area that they establish who they will vote for on 20th September by checking in the computer system.

MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu tells QFM in an interview that such allegations are only aimed at bringing the party down.

Mr. Nyangu, who however expressed ignorance on the matter, accused the opposition parties of using all sorts of means to de-campaign the ruling party.

He notes that there is no way candidates can know who votes for them and who did not because elections are not conducted electronically.

He says it is surprising how the opposition is panicking ahead of the polls.

Mr. Nyangu says his party will remain focused with its issue based campaigns because it wants to return to power after the 20th September, 2011 polls.