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BBC world service says it is committed to seeing that the media in Zambia plays an active role in ensuring that the country holds free and fair elections by giving equal coverage to all political parties taking part in the September 20th polls.
BBC world service country director Soren Johannsen says it is for reason that his institution has partnered with MUVI TV and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in coming up with live presidential debates that will held on Monday and Tuesday next week.
Mr. Johannsen was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka today.
And Muvi TV managing editor Costa Mwansa said on Monday the station will feature the Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED), Heritage party (HP), Alliance for democracy and development (ADD), the Patriotic Front (PF) and Forum Democracy and Development (FDD).
On Tuesday, parties expected to participate in the debate include National Restoration Party (NAREP) United party for National Development (UPND), UNIP, and MMD.
Mwansa has further urged the political party presidential candidates to use this opportunity to sell themselves to the electorates.
Construction of the ultra-modern Hospital in Chienge District in Luapula Province has reached an advanced stage and is expected to be opened early next year.
District Commissioner, Freeman Kaputo and District Director of Health, Dr James Zulu confirmed the development to ZANIS in Chienge.
Dr. Zulu said two phases of the project which include construction of Wards, Operating Theatre and an Administration Block have already been completed.
ZANIS reports that he said the third phase of the construction which will involve putting up 10 staff houses, a female ward and landscaping of the surrounding is expected to commence in two weeks time.
The Director of Health has since commended Government for its move to construct a Hospital in Chienge, which has been without a health facility since it was given district status.
He said the move will greatly improve health service delivery in the area, adding that taking patients requiring level one treatment to St Pauls Mission Hospital in Nchelenge, which is about 120 Kilometres away from Chienge, will soon come to an end.
Dr. Zulu added that the opening of the facility will also help his office to channel resources to treating patients within Chienge instead of making referrals to Nchelenge.
And Chienge District Commissioner (DC), Freeman Kaputo said Government is determined to provide high quality health services to all the citizens of the Country regardless of whether they stay in urban area or rural areas.
He said this has been demonstrated by the construction of various hospitals, clinics and health posts throughout the country.
The DC said the development has been complemented with recruitment of various medical staff for the sector.
He revealed that apart from Chienge District Hospital, a clinic has been constructed in Lunchinda area near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo while plans are under way to construct another clinic in Lambwe Chikwama area.
MMD candidate for Chifubu Frank Ngambi is hoisted by cadres during campaigns in Chifubu
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Chifubu Parliamentary aspiring Candidate has refuted allegations by the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) that he is campaigning for PF president Michael Sata in Chifubu constituency.
Mr Ngambi told ZANIS Ndola in a telephone interview that assertions by some opposition PF members that he is campaigning for Mr Sata were a ploy to de-campaign him and make him unpopular among the MMD.
He explained that PF cadres have assured him that they would vote for him as area MP adding that the cadres have fallen out of favour with their party adopted parliamentary candidate Susan Kawandami and have vowed to vote for him as MP.
He said reports that he is in agreement with them to campaign for him at MP level and Mr Sata at Presidential level were untrue.
“You have got it all wrong, those reports that I am in an agreement with them are not true, I am campaigning for President Rupiah Banda right there in Chifubu, I have all the blue campaign material all over in Chifubu, if I was de-campaigning the President would I have distributed the materials? I would have just left them at my house” he said.
Mr Ngambi added that he is confident that Chifubu will this time around vote for President Rupiah Banda.
“I can not de-campaign the President, in Chifubu I am his campaign manager, that information from PF is not true, they want to de-campaign me,” he said.
He further said the people of Chifubu had seen for themselves the developmental projects that the MMD government under the leadership of President Banda had embarked on.
And in a separate interview, MMD Ndola District acting Chairman Bruno Mukeya said no parliamentary candidate in Ndola was de-campaigning President Rupiah Banda.
Mr Mukeya said the allegations in Chifubu were not true and added that no MMD candidate in Ndola could go to the extent of de-campaigning their own president in order to win a parliamentary seat.
He said the district officials had gone flat out in wards and were vigorously campaigning for President Rupiah Banda.
Mr Mukeya said as a district executive, the MMD was confident that the party would scoop all the four parliamentary seats in the district and that the President Banda would also emerge victorious on September 20.
Meanwhile, some MMD officials have advised Chifubu parliamentary candidate Frank Ngambi to critically scrutinise the people in his campaign team.
The officials said Mr Ngambi’s campaign team comprises certain individuals that were not loyal to the MMD.
Some concerned MMD Chifubu residents last week complained that Mr Ngambi was reportedly to have agreed with PF cadres to campaign and vote for him as area MP and Mr Sata as President.
Zambia is faced with many challenges to risk experiencing civil unrest from pre or post election violence. It must be noted that violence is a huge draw back on the socio-economic development of any society and our nation is not an exception. The recent bloody scenes displayed in both print and electronic media, majority of the victims being youth leaves much to be desired and must not only be condemned but preventive and remedial measures be taken by all stakeholders with immediate effect.
I wish to urge my fellow youths to desist from being used as perpetrators of acts of violence. Seeing that we youths are confronted with diverse challenges, our role is to critique and analyze the various party Manifestos to scrutinize which one addresses our hopes and aspirations.
It is sad that political parties have taken a casual approach on this important issue that has potential to disrupt the peace and unity we enjoy as a nation. The use of violence is a clear testimony that the ideologies of our various political parties are not embedded nor appreciated by the populace.
Violence as a means to intimidate or coerce support is a threat to our young democracy and elements of it must not be entertained.
I wish to appeal to the youths and the nation at large to draw inspiration from our founding fathers and what they stood for in the slogan, “One Zambia One Nation” and to Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s legacy to our generation in the song “tiyende pamodzi ndi mutima umo”.
Regardless of our party affiliation based on political interests, we all belong to one family and thus must uphold peace and stability we so desire.
Posterity will judge our generation harshly for our lack or failure of intent to conduct peaceful elections. Political parties must take steps beyond political rhetoric!!
In public interest,
Lumba, Timothy C.
Immediate past UNZASU President
By M. Mayuka
“When are you coming home? ”is the oft-asked question uttered by my loved ones in Zambia. After every lengthy phone call the pangs of home sickness burrow their way in and settle themselves for the long haul. Nostalgia creeps slyly into your psyche stoking the dying memories of a happier side of Zambian living. Load shedding, water shortages, corruption are conveniently forgotten and instead days of picking mangoes and guava’s from childhood backyards flood your soul. Tastebuds mildly tingle at the culinary memories of yester year; fried kapenta, chimpapila, kalembula, chikanda, and sweet potatoes, render your usual dinner of pasta bolognaise unappealing. To Zambians at home this might be surprising as the traditional food stuffs they take for granted are readily available in any market worth its weight in maize meal but heartbreakingly these goods are conspicuously scarce in aisle 9 of any supermarket in Australia.
As Zambians living away from home the mundane is missed as much as the extraordinary. Your ears are accustomed to French, Italian, Spanish, Arabic but what you miss is the comfortable humdrum buzz of Zambian vernacular languages being spoken amongst housewives at the market, gaggle of school girls gossiping or business men haggling over lunch. You become increasingly frustrated at explaining to people in your host country the meaning of your name, how to pronounce it with the right emphasis and for the fifteenth time that day you wonder if appointing yourself with an English name, a “real name” would help with introductions in social settings or business meetings.
This is not an unfamiliar existence to the Zambian diasporan and eventually the inevitable question asked of them again, haunts them… “When are you coming home?”. A homecoming tugs at the heart strings but strains the purse strings more. The idea of returning to the comfortable bosom of friends, family, home and country is often tinged with excitement, joy and stress. Yes, stress.
Recently my mother returned home after an absence of six years. The preparations for her trip beforehand made her an intrepid traveller rather than a prodigal daughter returning with glee. She had concerns about the care and status of her ailing parents, the financial responsibilities of said care, the burden of various family issues and generally her lack of knowledge about the living standards in Zambia since the last time she was home.
There is an assumption that a trip home merely requires a return ticket and appropriate spending money. The stark reality is often harsher and confronting. In addition to the various necessary gifts and tokens of appreciation for various friends and relatives (which makes it difficult to stick to a strict twenty three kilo baggage allowance) there is the adjustment to life in Zambia once again. Not everyone is cut out or built for it. Misconception’s by many back at home are based on the idea that those abroad are able to take on single or multiple trips simply by virtue of being overseas and making dollars or pounds.
Zambian diasporans rarely share the difficulties they face in their host countries. Instead they highlight the improved standard of living in their relevant host country yet they gloss over the fact that cost of living is still a concern regardless of where you live. Diasporan living is fraught with stress inducing utility bills, mortgage repayments or rising monthly rent, school fees, health care and everyday groceries.
Zambian’s in the diaspora must endeavour to make it plain to those at home that the grass is not as green on the other side. Both sides of the fence still need to be watered and the water bill paid for. Zambian’s at home must be considerate that their returning counterparts although seemingly flush with overseas success have just as much to worry about. A Zambian homecoming although desired by both sides, carries more weight than the requisite baggage allowance. The next time the question “when are you coming home?” is posed, hopefully there will be a greater awareness and honest dialogue.
Southern Province Permanent Secretary Gladys Kristafor
Southern Province Permanent Secretary Gladys Kristafor has said Government is motivated with the zeal to improve the living standards of its people both socially and economically.
Mrs. Kristafor said it was for this reason that Government through the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP) planned for rehabilitation of selected roads in the tourist capital, Livingstone in a bid to improve access to the country’s social and economic services.
ZANIS reports that she said this in Livingstone today during the launch of the Livingstone City Township roads rehabilitation programme to be financed with part of the three point eight million Euros (€3.8 million) savings to be realised from the Zimba Livingstone Project Phase 2.
Mrs. Kristafor said the scope of work would cover rehabilitation of four prioritised urban roads with a total distance of 10.6 kilometers out of the targeted 15.40 kilometres which she said included Kaunda, Kafubu, Sichango and Airport roads respectively.
She said rehabilitation of roads would not only uplift the face of Livingstone as a city, but also ease movement of people and reduce vehicle operating costs associated with the poor state of township roads.
Mrs. Kristafor said this was part of the change that had been instituted by President Rupiah Banda alongside more mines, shopping malls, empowerment programmes and infrastructure development among others.
The Permanent Secretary urged members of the public to support Government efforts by safeguarding infrastructure that had been put in place and preventing vandalism.
Speaking earlier, Livingstone Town Clerk Vivian Chikoti said the massive infrastructure development had helped the city expand rapidly resulting in many new houses being built in the last 15 years.
Ms Chikoti said the infrastructure development had improved the revenue base for the local authority in terms of rates, adding that the soaring number of tourists boosted chargeable revenues for Livingstone City Council.
She was confident that the current rehabilitation works would play a major role in improving the welfare of residents and tourists.
Road Development Agency (RDA) Southern Region Engineer, John Nyawali warned members of the public to desist from posting political graffiti on road signs as doing so prevented motorists from getting life saving information provided by the signs.
Mr. Nyawali reiterated Government’s policy objectives of providing, maintaining and improving the road network to ensure improved accessibility and reduced road transport costs.
He revealed that the rehabilitation works would be undertaken within a period of five months.
Munali Patriotic Front aspiring candidate Nkandu Luo
The Patriotic Front has vowed to ensure that Lusaka Province MMD chairman William Banda is tried at the International Criminal Court once it forms government.
Patriotic front Munali aspiring parliamentary candidate Prof Nkandu Luo says the PF government will not tolerate the violent behavior being exhibited by Mr. Banda.
She wonders why the MMD have continued to tolerate the behavior of its Lusaka province chairman when it is an open fact that he is behind the violence in the country.
Prof. Luo says the violent behavior of Mr Banda if allowed to continue has the potential of bringing war to the country.
She has indicated in an interview that days are numbered for Mr. Banda stating that PF will take action against him when it forms government.
Zambia’s track and field representative on Sunday enter the fray of the All Africa Games in Maputo on Sunday.
And Karate who were dogged by their controversial selection of coach-player Munyarazi Mangaba into the three-man team at the All Africa Games have joining boxing out of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Rachel Nachula will represent Zambia in the 400 meters while Prince Mumba will run in the 800 meters.
Meanwhile, the Zambia netball team won its first match at the All Africa Games after beating fellow wild card entry Tanzania 46-42.
Zambia’s win in the round-robin event comes after 61-31 and 48-38 defeats to Uganda and Kenya respectively.
Chess, Judo, Badminton and Swimming are the other events Zambia is eyeing for medals at the All Africa Games.
Police have recorded a warn and caution statement from MMD Lusaka Province chairman William Banda in connection with the violence that took place in Chongwe last Saturday.
Lusaka province police commanding officer Mhlakeni Zulu told journalists in Lusaka this afternoon that Mr Banda has been warned and cautioned for proposing political violence contrary to section 91, Sub section 1A and C of the laws of Zambia.
Mr. Zulu has however said the MMD provincial chairman has denied the allegations adding that the police will continue with their investigations on the matter.
He has since reiterated his warning to political cadres against engaging in violence saying the police will not condone any act that has the potential to disturb the country’s peace.
And Mr. Banda who was in the company of his lawyers Sunday Nkonde, Obden Kabwe and Robson Malupenga appealed to Zambians to have confidence in the police service adding that violence should not be supported at all costs.
Mr. Banda’s legal representative Sunday Nkonde said it is unacceptable for the media to malign certain individuals without proof.
Meanwhile, opposition Patriotic Front cadres were seen passing by church road while chanting party slogans when Mr. Banda was being interviewed by the police.
The move angered the MMD provincial leadership who verbally confronted a plain clothed police officer over the same, while a cadre only identified as Tembo started communicating with an unknown person on phone calling for reinforcements of MMD cadres in ten buses to be sent to the police station to deal with the by PF cadres.
Zambia’s final 2012 Africa Cup Group C game against Libya will be played at Nchanga Stadium and not Ndola Stadium.
Faz confirmed today that the game scheduled for October 8 will be played in Chingola.
A Faz technical inspection team led by general secretary George Kasengele visited the newly build 40,000 sitter arena said that the playing surface and peripheral areas were yet to be completed.
“We have no alternative but to take the game against Libya back to Nchanga Stadium in Chingola,” said Kasengele.
Zambia will head back to Nchanga where they last played on June 5 where they beat Mozambique 3-0 in their fourth Group C game.
File: PARAMOUNT Chief Mpweto of the Bwile people in the Democratic Republic Congo talks to sub-chief (Natende) Dr. Katele Kalumba during the ceremony
Former MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba says the prediction by Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) tipping President Banda to win the September 20 election confirms his analysis that President Banda will win the forthcoming elections.
Dr Kalumba said in an interview from Chiengi on yesterday that his forecast that President Banda will win the poll is based on a computer assisted political mapping, developed by Harvard University Professor Michael Reich.
“I do in principle agree with the poll projection that Centre for Policy Dialogue executive director Dr Neo Simutanyi has released. It reflects by and large to some extent my own political mapping I have been sharing with some of the MMD party leaders, which is also quite broad-based,” Dr Kalumba said
He said according to his political mapping, the most significant variable affecting the performance of all political parties is the economy. Dr Kalumba said the MMD under President Banda’s leadership has been consistent and steadfast in maintaining positive economic indicators.
“On account of that, the general sentiments in the market, particularly rural markets have been positive. People are satisfied that they have food and disposable income after selling their produce,” Dr Kalumba said.
He also said President Banda’s administration has been consistent in its policy messages and has not been seen ‘flip flopping’ like Mr Sata. “The inconsistencies in PF policy have been quite remarkable. The United Party for National Development has been hurt in public perception by its misplaced faith in the PF and it did not have time to improve public confidence,” Dr Kalumba said.
He also said the lower and middle-income voters in both the rural and urban areas have not been hoodwinked by emotionally-charged statements about quick-fixes on policy issues, because they have seen the tangible developments under the MMD.
“The lower and middle-income voters have seen the improvements in road, education and health infrastructure including mobile hospitals which the MMD has effectively defended,” Dr Kalumba said.
He also said his political mapping indicates that the majority Zambians feel secure under President Banda’s leadership.
[pullquote] He also said there has been what he described as a ‘burnout’ in perceived PF strongholds of Lusaka, Copperbelt and Luapula provinces because the people feel that Mr Sata can only excite them but cannot win this year’s elections.[/pullquote]
“People feel that President Banda will be a more secure hand as President of the State because they can trust him with the instruments of force like the army, air force and other security wings, without causing catastrophic circumstances. But most people cannot say that about Mr Sata. They feel insecure with him and he has not shaken that perception at all.
“There is some sense that if Mr Sata came into power, he will create an environment of instability and not peace and reconciliation,” Dr Kalumba said. He also said there has been what he described as a ‘burnout’ in perceived PF strongholds of Lusaka, Copperbelt and Luapula provinces because the people feel that Mr Sata can only excite them but cannot win this year’s elections.
On UPND president Hakainde Hichilema, Dr Kalumba said Mr Hichilema is not yet ‘ripe’ for the challenge of leading the nation and needs to be tested a bit more.
He, however, said Mr Hichilema has potential to become President in the future, not this year.
AN International Business Monitor has ranked Zambia among three Sub Saharan African countries set to out perform economically, regardless of global challenges.
The Business Monitor International names Ghana and Mozambique as the other countries to post strong performances in 2011, along with Zambia.
According to the BMI Africa Monitor, Southern Africa, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Gabon and South Africa are likely to suffer the most in a worst-case scenario for the US and euro zone economies.
The BMI monthly regional report also forecasts that Zambia’s real Growth Domestic Product-GDP expansion will be above seven per cent for this year and 2012.
It says high copper prices and improving productivity in the mining sector will help Zambia maintain strong growth rates.
The monthly bulletin adds that this will be boosted by growth in agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
The BMI further predicts that Zambia will see its growth surge to 7.3 per cent due to a flurry of Foreign Direct Investment-FDI, robust copper production and strong agricultural output.
Business Monitor International is a leading, independent provider of proprietary data, analysis, ratings, rankings and forecasts covering 175 countries and 22 industry sectors.
Five people charged with the murder of a Mansa businessman Wilbroad Chishimba in Luapula Province during the April riots in the area have appeared for trial in the High Court sitting in the district.
Before High Court Judge Timothy Katanekwa sitting in Mansa yesterday were Paul Musamba, Judith Chama, Idah Kabwe, Mukonde Chali and Peter Chama.
ZANIS reports that this is after the matter was committed for trial by the Subordinate court of the second class in Mansa district to the high Court.
During trial, the Prosecution called a 17- year-old-boy of Musumali Village in Mansa to testify in the murder of his uncle, Chishimba who was killed in the riots.
Augustine Muneka is now crippled after allegedly being beaten by the same mob that killed his uncle.
On that fateful day, the witness told the Court that a mob of people led by Paul Musamba, one of the accused, went to his uncle Wilbroad Chishimba’s house shouting on top of their voices saying, “Today he is also going to die.”
The witness who said he was only able to identify three people told the court that his uncle was dragged from his house to a place where petrol was poured on him causing him to be burnt.
He also told Judge Katanekwa that he lay unconsciously for a week bleeding from the nose and mouth after being stoned at the back of his head by the accused persons.
He said those who beat him up had mistaken him for Wilbroad Chishimba’s elder son Ranger Chishimba.
When cross examined by the Defence Lawyer, why his statements were conflicting with what he had said earlier, the witness responded that there was no way he could tell lies to the court after all that he went through during that period.
He added that before the incident happened, he was physically able and was going to school and walking on his own, but that he was unable to walk and go school any more, a situation he said he could not tell lies about.
At this moment the witness’s statement sent his relatives who were in court to tears.
Another witness, John Muneka 38, the younger brother to the deceased, said even though he was not there at the death of his elder brother and only saw him at the mortuary he still remembered when his father told one of the accused Paul Musamba that he was a bad person.
Mr Muneka told the court that the family was going through a difficult time during that period for no one could even greet them for fear of being victimised by the rioters.
The witness said this, after he was asked by Defense Lawyers as to why only relatives of the deceased were testifying in court.
Mobile hospital coming to a town near you- Shangombo residents waiting outside the mobile clinic
Government through the Ministry of Health has continued to receive praise from the general public for bring quality health services closer to the people.
The initiative to purchase Mobile Hospitals has cheered many people in the country and the people of Shangombo District in Western Province are
no exception. Over 300 people who have received treatment in the last three days have expressed gratitude towards government for the good gesture.
Speaking on behalf of the many grateful residents, Nomai Nooyo a 36 year old man who regained his sight after surgery said in Shangombo today that he was very happy with the mobile hospital service because it will improve the well being of many people who cannot afford to travel in search of medical services.
“These hospitals are very important in areas like ours here because not everyone has money to access health service from here to Mongu not to even talking about going to Lusaka, that is why am very happy to see them in Shangombo today” he said.
Mr. Nooyo said remote areas like Shangombo have many people seeking modern health services hence mobile hospital could not have come at a better time than this.
AND Western Province Mobile Hospitals supervisor, Dr. Kazuma Seke said about 2811 people have received treatment from the mobile hospitals in three districts in the province so far.
Dr. Seke named the districts as Lukulu with 1500 patients, Senanga with 1011 patients and Shangombo in which services are still being offered
with 300 patients in three days.
Shangombo residents patiently waiting for Mobile Hospital services at in Shangombo District in Western Province
He said the service has received overwhelming attention from the general public as people are travelling long distances just to access the service.
Speaking earlier, Shangombo District Commissioner Masheke Kabayo praised government for taking keen interest in ensuring that health services are brought closer to the people.
Mr. Kabayo said the services will reduce the agony people from rural areas face in accessing professional and modern health services.
He said the Mobile Hospitals have since been welcomed by the community adding that this is as a result of government’s good policies.
