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The Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) has noted the need to engage presidents of all political parties participating in this year’s tripartite elections in live debates on what they intend to do for Zambians if voted into power.
ZCID Director Chomba Chela has told QFM in an interview that engaging political leaders in live debates will accord the voters an opportunity to interact with those aspiring for higher political office.
Mr Chela observes that the political platform has been characterized by name calling and character assignation stating that there is need to shift from this kind of campaigns.
He explains that Zambians are tired of verbal abuse emanating from political players against each other and that engaging them in constructive debates will allow the people make informed choices on who to vote for in this year’s polls.
Mr Chela says Zambia should be an example to the rest of the sub-region when it comes to having a democratic atmosphere that guarantees free, air and transparent elections.
A PF cadre raises a banner headline from the Lusaka based Monitor newspaper
Former Patriotic Front national youth secretary Erick Chanda has called on PF youths to give the party full support during the on-going adoption process.
Mr. Chanda tells QFM news that youths should remain calm and continue making meaningful contribution towards the growth of the party irrespective of the outcome of the adoption process.
He says he has received reports that youths in Munali constituency are planning to defect to other political parties following reports that the party’s top leadership intends to adopt Professor Nkandu Luo for the Munali parliamentary seat.
Mr Chanda adds that youths need to support all the candidates that will be adopted for parliamentary seats to ensure that the party has an outright victory in this year’s tripartite elections.
A patient recuperating in the new Chongwe District hospital
A TEAM of medical and electronic personnel arrived in Zambia yesterday from South Korea to conduct clinic camps in Chongwe and Kafue districts.
Ministry of Health director for technical support Elizabeth Chizema said the teams from Samsung Medical and Electronic Company are also expected to donate an ultra-sound machine to Chongwe Health Centre.
She said the Zambian government appreciates the free services the medical personnel will provide to the citizens.
“We appreciate such gestures because the goal of our government is to take health services closer to the people,” Dr Chizema said.
And Chongwe district officer Charles Msiska said the team from Korea comprises 12 medical personnel and 29 electronic experts, including eight from Samsung South Africa and four from Samsung Zambia.
He said the team from South Korea will work with Zambian nurses and doctors to maintain Zambia’s medical ethical standards.
Dr Msiska said for the five days they will conduct the medical camps the medical workers are expected to screen 500 patients every day in Chanyanya, Nangongwe Chisankane and Rufunsa and others.
He said the medical workers are also expected to provide quality healthcare to the vulnerable in Chongwe and Kafue districts.
And leader of the South Korean delegation, Samsung Electronics Global Market Senior vice-president Shzm Soo-ok said it is a great opportunity for the team members to share their expertise by providing care to the Zambian people.
“It is a great moment to share with others what you know, a great opportunity and chance to also learn from others and together uplift someone,” she said.
Ms Soo-ok said the team is happy to be in Zambia and is ready to deliver medical and electronic expertise to the Zambian people.
United Party for National Development UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema says president Rupiah Banda’s silence on the date of elections will not deter Zambians from achieving their goal of changing government.
Mr. Hichilema says the delay in announcing the date of elections will not hinder the Zambian people from effecting a change of government in the forthcoming elections.
Speaking to QFM news in an interview, the UPND leader says the MMD government has failed the Zambian people.
Mr. Hichilema has further appealed to Zambians to be patient because the MMD’s mandate of leadership is this year coming to an end.
He says the MMD will have a rude shock after the 2011 elections.
THE Patriotic Front (PF) in Isoka district in Northern Province have rejected a Caritas Mpika employee the party has imposed on Isoka West Constituency as parliamentary candidate in this year’s tripartite elections.
And PF applicants in Isoka district have petitioned their president, Michael Sata, and the national secretariat over irregularities in the adoption of candidates in Northern Province.
The party’s district and constituency committees in Isoka district have rejected the adoption of Malozo Sichone, an employee of Caritas Mpika, to contest as parliamentary candidate for Isoka West.
The party members, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, said in an interview yesterday the PF risks losing parliamentary elections in Isoka, Nakonde and Muchinga if the party national leadership does not intervene to ensure that preferred candidates are adopted.
The PF sources said the manner in which the provincial executive committee in Northern Province is imposing candidates on people will result in the MMD scooping all the seats in the area.
One of the sources, who spoke on behalf of other officials, said a meeting was called last week to resolve the differences, but district officials from Isoka were not given time to speak.
“Imagine, PEC has imposed Malozo Sichone, an employee of Caritas Mpika, on the people of Isoka district, and people here are very upset because district officials were not given chance during a meeting to resolve the adoption problems. They were just told to shut up by the provincial leaders,” the source said.
He said Mr Sichone is not a factor in Isoka district, and his adoption will make the MMD retain the seat.
The source wondered why the provincial leadership brought in an independent observer from Caritas Mpika during interviews when his colleague was among the aspiring candidates to be interviewed.
“There is so much interference, and many preferred candidates will not be adopted because candidates are just being imposed on people,” the source said.
He said the dictatorial tendencies emerging from some provincial executive committee members are a clear testimony of how undemocratic the PF has become.
The source said party members in the province are “very upset” at the manner in which the adoptions are being handled because dedicated party members have been abandoned at the expense of new members who are just being imposed on people.
He said in Nakonde district party members have also rejected adopted candidate Abel Sichula, adding that people in the area wanted a Colonel Siame, and not the Caritas Mpika worker the party has imposed on them.
Recently, another Caritas official resigned from the Catholic Church’s organ to apply to the PF for adoption in Mongu,Western Province.
Efforts to get a comment from PF general secretary Wynter Kabimba proved futile as calls to his mobile phone number went unanswered by press time.
THE MMD has reaffirmed its commitment to the fight against corruption and assured the nation that it will continue to strengthen law enforcement agencies in line with its manifesto.
And the ruling party says it consulted widely on the adoption of parliamentary candidates to represent the people in all the constituencies.
Ms Siliya said in Lusaka yesterday on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) MMD in Focus programme the MMD government has worked hard to fight corruption in the country, and that it is only those who are corrupt who have been fighting President Banda.
“Those who wanted certain things and were denied because it was not right are the ones who are fighting President Banda and Government,” Ms Siliya said.
She said the MMD has been championing the fight against corruption as can be seen from the various cases it has brought to the law enforcement agencies such as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Ms Siliya said the MMD has improved the separation of powers by strengthening the Judiciary and making the Executive more efficient in the delivery of services to the people.
Ms Siliya said the party has brought substance to this year’s tripartite elections by adopting credible people to represent communities as parliamentarians.
And speaking at the same forum MMD Mandevu aspiring candidate Canicius Banda said it was Government which unearthed scams in various ministries such as the Ministry of Health.
[pullquote]”It was Government, and not the opposition, that unearthed the embezzlement of K47 billion at the Ministry of Health,” Dr Banda said.[/pullquote]
Dr Banda said it was Government, and not anyone from the opposition, who unearthed the misappropriation of funds in the ministry.
“It was Government, and not the opposition, that unearthed the embezzlement of K47 billion at the Ministry of Health,” Dr Banda said.
And Ms Siliya has said the MMD government has responded positively to the people’s calls for development by implementing various projects across the country.
She said the MMD consulted widely on the adoption of candidates to represent the people in all the constituencies.
Ms Siliya said the adoption process was transparent, and that only those who were endorsed by the grassroots were adopted.
“We have delivered substance to the constituencies in the calibre of the candidates that have been adopted,” she said.
Ms Siliya said her party has adopted people with the capacity to deliver to Zambians because it does not want to fail them.
She said the MMD has lined up development programmes, which require focused people for implementation.
And MMD Lusaka Central aspiring candidate Muhabi Lungu said the party has delivered on its promise to bring development to Zambians.
File: National Constitutional Conference chairman Chifumu Banda receives a submission from a Barotse Royal Establishment representative in Lusaka
THE Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) has welcomed the assurance by President Banda that his government is looking into the issues it has raised surrounding the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.
In a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday by Induna Namunda on behalf of the office of the ngambela (prime minister), the BRE has also called an emergency council meeting to evaluate the progress made so far to chart the appropriate course of action on the matter.
The BRE said it recognises that Government is actively dealing with the issue of the Barotseland Agreement.
“Government has set up high-level teams of experts to study the resolutions of the Barotse National Council (BNC), and will advise on how best it can respond,” Induna Namunda said.
He said President Banda recognises that the pleas for socio-economic justice from the people of Western Province are genuine and need attention.
Induna Namunda said the BNC will study in detail the statement made by President Banda and the various issues Government referred to for guidance and consultations.
“In this regard the BRE is calling for an emergency meeting of the BNC to study the statement made by the President,” Induna Namunda said.
And the BRE has called on its stakeholders to attend the meeting to ensure it is conducted in a transparent manner.
Induna Namunda said the BRE is objective and principled, and will continue to foster democracy.
“It has been resolved to broaden further representation of the BNC by inviting stakeholders and interest groups to attend this emergency meeting,” he said.
Last week, President Banda appealed to all the people of Western Province to give his government a chance to resolve the complex issue of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.
He expressed happiness that both the BNC and the BRE are in favour of the unitary State of Zambia.
Mr Banda said Government is actively dealing with the matter, and that authorities expect to come up with a practical road map on how to resolve issues raised by the BNC in its January resolutions.
THE MMD says Deputy Minister of Lands Michael Mabenga has undergone a surgery to clear a blocked aorta, which affected blood flow to his right leg.
MMD vice-national chairperson Kabinga Pande said Mr Mabenga is admitted to Milpark Hospital in South Africa where he underwent surgery and is receiving treatment.
Mr Pande said in a statement made available in Lusaka yesterday the operation was successful, and that Mr Mabenga is expected to be discharged on Tuesday.
“The doctors are satisfied the operation was successful, and Mr Mabenga is making progress,” Mr Pande said.
He said Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Bizwayo Nkunika confirmed after he visited Mr Mabenga in hospital that the deputy minister is able to make movements with his leg with less pain now.
The MMD has adopted Mr Mabenga as its parliamentary candidate for Mulobezi Constituency in Western Province.
Mwansa’s goal was his second against Buffaloes in two meetings at Nkana Stadium after earlier scoring one goal in a 2-1 home win over the army side last season in a Week 14 game.
After the win, Nkana rise from 8th to 6th on the table on 20 points, 10 points less than leaders Red Arrows.
Meanwhile, Buffaloes replace Nkana in 8th place after dropping from 7th position.
Kabwe Warriors troubled season continued on Saturday when they stayed put in third from bottom in the relegation zone of the Faz Super Division table.
Warriors went down 1-0 at Railway Grounds in Kabwe where they hosted fellow struggling side Nchanga Rangers.
Moreover, the match also marked Peter Mwila’s first day on the job after the late shock announcement of the dismissal of coach Humphrey Malikoni.
Nchanga won the game thanks to a 55th minute goal scored by Fanwell Mwape.
Elsewhere, defending champions Zesco United played out to a scoreless stalemate away to Forest Rangers at Dola Hill.
In Maamba, league leaders Red Arrows played out to a scoreless draw away to fourth from bottom Green Eagles.
At Edwin Emboela Stadium in Lusaka, second placed Power Dynamos lost 1-0 to host Nkwazi thanks to a 3rd minute goal scored by Lawrence Lubinda.
In Chililabombwe, Konkola Blades also stayed put in third place after finishing scoreless against Roan United.
Meanwhile, Zanaco joined town mates Nkwazi with a home win after beating Nakambala Leopards 2-0 at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka thanks to a brace from teenage striker Moses Phiri who found the target in the 4th and 90th minutes.
Nakambala and Zanaco exchanged places on the table with the latter moving from fifth to fourth and both teams locked on 25 points.
The New Generation Party (NGP) has not welcomed the adoption of patriotic front rebel members of parliament by the ruling MMD to contest four seats in Lusaka.
Speaking during a briefing at the party secretariat in Lusaka today, NGP president Humphrey Siulapwa called on MMD Kabwata parliamentary candidate Peter Machungwa to retire from active politics.
Mr. Siulapwa said Dr. Machungwa has been serving as parliamentarian for a long time now and that it is time to leave politics for the young people.
He says his party will not campaign for the four PF rebel members of parliament adding that they have to step aside.
Mr. Siulapwa adds that it is prudent for the four PF rebel MPs adopted to contest Lusaka seats on the MMD ticket to retire as his party will not support any of them.
NINE Children are feared dead after a dugout canoe in which they were travelling capsized on Kafue River in Mpongwe district on Friday.
Copperbelt police commanding officer Martin Malama confirmed the accident which occurred in Chief Machiya’s area in Mpongwe.
Dr Malama said the canoe was being paddled by a 14-year-old boy who is the only survivor.
He said the children were following their parents who had gone to Chief Machiya’s palace.
“I would like to confirm an accident in which nine children aged between two and 11 years are feared dead after the dugout canoe capsized as they were crossing the Kafue River,” Dr Malama said.
He named the victims as Milina Mukwemba, 7, Sylvia Kabwe, 11, Peggy Kabwe, 8, Christine Kabwe, 6, Stella Kabwe, 2, Yvonne Kasensa, 10, Miniver Kasensa, 7, Falesi Kasensa, 3, and Webby Kasensa aged 6.
Dr Malama said only the body of Stella Kabwe has been retrieved.
He said the paddler of the canoe was the only survivor.
“The other eight bodies are still missing,” Dr Malama said.
Meanwhile, CHIMWEMWE MWALE reports that the death toll in Friday’s bus accident in Chilanga has risen from six to seven.
And four of the bodies of the accident victims have been identified at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) mortuary.
Both Zambia Police Service spokesperson Ndandula Siamana and UTH public relations manager Pauline Mbangweta confirmed the development in separate interviews in Lusaka yesterday.
Six people died on the spot on Friday while 39 others sustained injuries when a 76-sitter bus they were travelling in overturned near Chilanga Main Bus station.
The accident happened around 19:00 hours when the bus hit a tipper truck.
Ms Siamana said those whose bodies have been identified are Mercy Muzuha, Joy Gili, Agness Palaza and Lydia Haluperi, all of unknown addresses and ages.
She said the only accident victim admitted to the UTH intensive care unit (ICU) has been identified as Anna Mudume, 41.
Ms Siamana said the driver of the bus is still on the run and police have launched a manhunt for him.
“He (driver) was not at the accident scene and could probably be still on the run and normally we automatically launch a manhunt although in most cases the drivers eventually hand themselves to the police because usually it is just confusion that occurs in them at the scene,” Ms Siamana said.
And Ms Mbangweta said the latest victim died on the operating table.
She said most of the accident victims are Zimbabweans.
“We received six brought in dead (BID) and unfortunately we lost one just when she was being operated on just after being rushed to the theatre. Among the fifteen admitted, 10 are females while five are males. We received 67 and we have discharged 50 after they were checked,” Ms Mbangweta said.
And KAPALA CHISUNKA reports that a fire yesterday destroyed property worth millions of Kwacha at the Kobil lubricant warehouse in Lusaka on Malambo road.
The fire is said to have started slightly after 16:30 hours and the fire brigade was called when initial efforts to quench it using on-site fire-fighting equipment failed.
The Lusaka City Council fire-fighters sought help from the Airport Fire Brigade to help put out the raging fire, but by 18:30 hours last night the fire was yet to be brought under control.
According to eye witnesses, only a security officer was at the premises when the fire started.
“Lusaka City Council fire fighters who were immediately notified by management arrived at the scene around 17: 00hours but failed to quench the fire as they ran out of water,” one source said.
By the time reinforcements were arriving, most of the building was gutted while the company managers and employees watched helplessly.
Veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga waves MMD party slogans during a campaign rally in Luanshya in 2008 elections
VETERAN politician Vernon Mwaanga says the MMD’s adopted parliamentary candidates for this year’s tripartite elections are a winning team.
Mr Mwaanga said the opposition is panicking after seeing the high calibre and credibility of the parliamentary candidates the MMD is floating in all the constituencies.
He said in an interview that the list of the adopted parliamentary candidates is a team that will see President Banda and the MMD remain in Government.
The MMD has released the list of its adopted parliamentary candidates that has seen the inclusion of professors, doctors, economists, academicians, social scientists, engineers, lawyers, and businessmen among others.
Mr Mwaanga said President Banda will have a wide option in selecting ministers that will form his first new cabinet after having largely inherited late President Mwanawasa’s cabinet in 2008.
Mr Mwaanga, who is Parliamentary Chief Whip and political strategist, said the MMD list of candidates has left opposition political parties in panic because they know that they are up against a formidable and credible team of candidates.
He said opposition political parties are startled by the rich and experienced team the MMD has assembled.
He stated that the difference between the MMD candidates and those that will be adopted by the opposition will be like day and darkness.
Mr Mwaanga said President Banda and the MMD are headed for victory in the coming general elections because of the confidence the people have in the ruling party.
He said there have been many political analysts who have placed President Banda and the MMD ahead of other presidential aspirants and that it will not come as a surprise for the Head of State to be re-elected with a wider margin than in the previous election.
Mr Mwaanga said all indicators are pointing to President Banda as the most preferred candidate.
He said contrary to assertions that the ruling party had difficulties in its adoptions because most of the applicants were not appealing, the MMD had a lot of credible aspirants wishing to stand on the party’s ticket.
Mr Mwaanga said the ruling party has left out a lot of credible candidates because not all of them could be adopted.
He said the MMD has a large reservoir of human resource and that it not possible for the party to lack people to adopt.
Mr Mwaanga also dispelled assertions that most MMD members avoided to apply for constituencies in Lusaka because they feared losing to the PF.
He said Lusaka Province had about 47 applicants for the 12 parliamentary seats.
“So to assert that the MMD did not have people to adopt in Lusaka is not factual and a fallacy. We had 47 applicants for Lusaka Province and you would be surprised that for the local government seats, we have more than 200 aspirants wanting to be part of the MMD leadership at local government level. It was a difficult job for the national executive committee (NEC) to select candidates,” Mr Mwaanga said.
He said he was involved in the interviewing process of aspiring candidates in Lusaka Province.
ZAMBIA has begun reaping the benefits of privatising Zanaco with the former parastatal bank paying Government a dividend of K8 billion for the year 2010.
The bank has also paid back to Government K5 billion, which was lent to its employees to buy shares as it changed from State to private ownership.
Receiving the two cheques on behalf of Government in Lusaka, Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane said the privatisation of Zanaco has proved successful.
Dr Musokotwane said before the bank was privatised, Zambians were getting low benefits from it.
“Zanaco at that time was a drain on the taxpayers because we were not getting anything out of it. After deciding to re-align our involvement with Zanaco by selling just part of it, we are now seeing the benefits in terms of dividends. We are also seeing the benefits in terms of improved service to the public.
“This is what we expected. Before privatisation people were peddling stories that employees were going to lose their jobs and that branches were going to be closed. But the number of employees has increased from 1,100 to over 1,300, and more branches have been opened,” Dr Musokotwane said.
He said the lesson that Zambians must learn from the privatisation of Zanaco is that they should be careful with people who encourage them to be satisfied with the status quo even when they have seen problems.
Earlier, Zanaco managing director Martyn Schouten said the K8,085,000,532.00 dividend the bank paid yesterday brings the cumulative dividend paid to Government in the past three years to K18.7 billion since the bank was privatised in 2008.
Mr Schouten said last year Zanaco declared a dividend of K32.340 billion, which translates into K28 per share from K21 per share in the previous year.
He said Zanaco recorded a profit of K113 billion in 2010, and that the bank is enjoying financial sustainability, which has seen consistent rise in its profits.
“This achievement is a sign of growth in the business and underscores the bank’s commitment to deliver increased value to all its shareholders. This also reaffirms Zanaco’s strong financial performance arising from, among other things, transparent corporate governance policies put in place as well as committed focus by its employees to service customers,” Mr Schouten said.
He said Zanaco continues to be one of the leading banks in Zambia and is committed to banking the unbanked populace of the country.
In line with the bank’s success, Zanaco was recently awarded ‘Best Bank in Zambia 2011’ by Euromoney Awards in Excellence for both its increased profits and lending since privatisation; for successfully developing its franchise in rural areas, increasing branches and automated teller machines, and introducing new services such as mobile branches on trucks and mobile phone banking.
In April 2007, Rabobank acquired a 49 percent stake in Zanaco following the government’s decision to privatize the bank. In 2008 the bank was listed on the Lusaka Stock Exchange, thus successfully concluding one of Zambia’s largest privatisations.
