ALLIANCE for Democracy and Development [ADD] president Charles Milupi has said Zambians no longer need the MMD government because it has failed to inspire and lead people in the fight against corruption and offer alternatives for good governance.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Milupi said corruption under the MMD government has become endemic and chronic to the extent that state house and the office of the president were disgraced locally and internationally for failure to fight corruption.

Milupi said observations by the church particularly Late Mongu Catholic Bishop Duffy and Bishop Chomba from the United States of America of Zambians calling for change it was because of the failure of government to do what was expected by the people.

“ I am absolutely mesmerised and flabbergasted at the behaviour of the current Vice president George Kunda and government, you see Mwanawasa’s legacy was built on the ability to lead in the fight against corruption but this government has totally failed to do that because of being inconsistent no wonder today they [people] are calling for change of government and this is what we politicians must avoid as we lead the people, even the judiciary must redeem itself to restore sanity and confidence in the manner they fight corruption and administer the rule of law because it is critical to good governance of the country,” said Milupi.

He said President Rupiah Banda and his administration’s high level of inconsistent shows how totally they have lost the ability to lead in the fight against corruption in the country.

“These people [MMD] are very selective in the manner they apply the law, lets remind ourselves that President Banda was in the Mwanawasa government when they went to prosecute Late Dr. Chiluba, why didn’t George Kunda and Rupiah come out if they thought to prosecute Chiluba was wrong? But now that they are in power they want to tell us that this was wrong, this is politics of expedience that is taking this country to nowhere,” said Milupi.

He reminded President Banda and government that abusing the chance to hold on to power would not help them clear their wrong doings from Zambians who were still demanding for justice and exemplary leadership in the fight against corruption.

Milupi said the MMD government and President Banda were losing big chunks of the nation because of high endemic levels of corruption and injustices they have promoted and promulgated to the governance system.

“I do not see Rupiah fighting corruption at all; they are now trying to remove the abuse of office clause in the ACC act that seeks to address corruption that spells doom for this country it is for everyone to see that this government is bent on damage and destroying this country before it leaves office in the next nine months, the removal opens up doors to people to abuse public resources, to abuse offices you have seen that Rupiah Banda’s children are alleged to be involved in shoddy deals, that is what it entails if you remove such laws,” he said.

President Rupiah Banda has cautioned the Zambian people against calls change which opposition leaders were advocating for. President Banda has said that he wants change that will transform the economy of Zambia as well as bettering the livelihood of the Zambian people.

Mr. Banda siad that the real change Zambia needs is a transformation in all key sectors of the economy which the people are longing for in areas of education, health, agriculture, mining among other sectors.

“ Be mindful that some people want change to scare away investors in this country but the change I want is to transform the economy to better the livelihood of the people.

“ This is the change that l want. Zambia wants change of transforming her economy and not the change which Mr. Sata and these others would want; taking the nation backwards,” President Banda said.

President Banda said this when he addressed the crowd that welcomed him at Solwezi Airport on arrival from Mansa, Luapula province.

He warned that Patriotic front (PF) leader Michael Sata if he wins would derail the economic gains Zambia had scored within the short period of three years since he assumed the presidency. He explained that Mr. Sata would scare away investors from this country.

He said North-western province has seen unprecedented development projects and that he implored the people in the province to give him a five year mandate so that development projects could continue which his administration together with government and the Zambian people at large have started.

Mr. Banda challenged the opposition to come to Solwezi and check for themselves how the town and the entire province was developing.

“Let them come and see for themselves how Solwezi has developed, indeed the entire province. By so doing, new mines, schools, health centers, roads, bridges will be opened and built,” He said.

He added that the price of cement and meali-meal in Solwezi has reduced and hinted that with the pace of massive economic development, meali-meal and cement prices would further be reduced.

On the education sector, President Banda disclosed that Government is determined to construct universities in all the nine provinces across the country.

On elections, President Banda urged the people to go to the polls and not allow the opposition to intimidate them.

He further urged the MMD members to concentrate on issue based campaigns and not intimidating people.

“ Do not allow people to intimidate you ahead of the elections. We want a free and fair elections as MMD and so vote freely without being forced” he said.

He urged the people in the province to ignore the prophets of doom as the opposition leaders have nothing to offer to the Zambian people.

President Banda who is in the Province on a two day campaign trail is accompanied by Former Vice President Enoch Kavindele, MMD National Chairman Major Richard kachingwe and former Ambassador to Canada Newsted Zimba, among others.

Former republican vice-president Enock Kavindele urged the people of North-western province to vote for President Banda and warned against voting for the opposition.

“We don’t want PF votes but want votes for RB. President Banda has got a big agenda and good future for this province and the nation as a whole,” Mr. Kavindele said.

Area Provincial Permanent Secretary Fabian Mumba said all government programmes and projects were all going on well.

Mr. Mumba said some of the projects had reached completion points while some had reached window levels in key sectors of the economy.

ZANIS

United Party for National Development-UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has observed that health workers are working in distress and difficult conditions.In an interview, Hichilema said government workers through out the country were distressed as a result of non commitment by government to improve the conditions of service.

“Workers are working in distressful and difficult conditions of service because the MMD government doesn’t want to improve the conditions of service for its workers and these are some of the issues why we are saying there is need to change government and bring into operation a government which will respect the labour force and improve the conditions of service,” said Hichilema.

And Hichilema said the UPND is aware of the poor conditions of service health workers were subjected to, adding that grants given to health institutions are not enough to address health problems.

He also pledged to assist the hospitals in the country in various ways.

“I am aware institutions have priorities, please let us know as soon as possible on how best we can assist, just put things you need in and we shall come to the aid of the hospitals, we are very saddened with the situation at many hospitals in the country,” he said.

THE mining sector in Zambia has failed to contribute effectively to the economical development of the nation, Alliance for Democracy and Development [ADD] president Charles Milupi has charged.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Milupi said out of 2.7 billion US$ dollars the mining sector produced last year only 77 million US$ dollars representing 2 percent was contributed to the national treasurery a situation he said Zambia would continue to sink if the windfall tax was not reintroduced by those in government.

He said the failure by the current government to continue with the change late president Levy Mwanawasa introduced in the mining sector of windfall tax has affected the growth of the economy in relation to revenue collection from the mining sector.

Milupi said it was wrong for President Rupiah Banda’s government to repeal the windfall tax law which allowed Zambia to raise money from its minerals, adding that the removal has created unnecessary pressure on the back of government.

He said it was wrong and saddening despite people talking and crying for the removal government had stubbornly used numbers in parliament to force for the removal of the windfall tax.

“For 2010 alone Zambia has lost an opportunity based on the projected production of copper based on the projected copper prices which is about 7500 US$ dollars per tonne. As a country we have lost an opportunity to earn over 600 million US$ dollar from copper, this money is more than all the monies donors can bring in, both local and external loans Zambia borrows for its management in various sectors of the economy. The removal of the windfall tax was done in a careless manner by the MMD government by the use of numbers in parliament, despite knowing that no investor would lose out in any form,” said Milupi.

He regretted that President Banda’s government had failed completely to understand that issues of windfall tax were not meant to disadvantage foreign investors but promote economical development and equal sharing of the national resources among all players.Milupi said the issue of attracting investors by removing the windfall tax would not help the country but keep on putting more pressure on the government’s overdependence on donor community for its sustenance.

Government says there is nothing sinister and unusual about removing the GRZ number plates from the vehicles government procured for the Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail.

And government has handed over 5 vehicles to the Zambia Daily-mail and 5 other vehicles to Times of Zambia.

ZANIS report Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Sam Phiri saying this in a statement, today.

Dr Phiri explained that the ten vehicles bore the GRZ number plates because they were bought by government.

He said the GRZ number plates were removed after the registration and documentation of the named vehicles was completed.

He said the vehicles in question bore the GRZ number plates for accountability purposes since their purchase.

Meanwhile, Dr Sam handover the 5 fives vehicles to the Zambia Daily-mail and another 5 to Times of Zambia.

He said the donation is aimed at enhancing the day to day operations of the two state media in their quest to serve the people better.

Dr Sam noted that despite the advent of the internet traditional media such as the news paper remains important and a viable means of disseminating news and information.

He said the donation of the vehicles by government is a clear indication that government remains resolved to continue investing in the development and growth of the media industry for a well informed society.

Meanwhile Dr Sam has revealed that government intends to replace 63 analogue transmitters with digital transmitters by 2015 in line with the global digital migration.

He stressed that the development will enhance the provision of quality radio and television broadcasting services by the national broadcaster.

ZANIS