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The Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson Justice Irene Mambilima has called for fair and balanced coverage from the media as the country heads to the polls.
Justice Mambilima says that fair and balanced coverage will not only contribute to a credible election but can also contribute to a level playing field for all political players participating in the elections.
She says that the media should also play an active role in encouraging stakeholders to support peaceful elections.
She also states that it is also imperative that the media gives accurate and factual information to the electorate to enable them to vote with an informed mind.
She says that the ECZ is concerned about complaints from political parties about unbalanced media coverage of their activities and campaigns.
The ECZ chief further says the commission is also concerned with reports of challenges faced by the media in covering some political parties.
Justice Mambilima has since called for dialogue between political parties and the media in order to accommodate each other.
She was speaking this morning during at a workshop with media heads at Mulungushi international conference center.
Hundreds of people from different walks of life on Friday gathered at the Cathedral of the holy cross in Lusaka for the third memorial service for the late President Dr Levy Mwanawasa who died on August 19, 2008.
Former First lady Maureen her family and Vice President George Kunda were among the people that attended the service.
Opposition party leaders that include UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema, Patriotic Front Vice President Guy Scott and Heritage Party President Godfrey Miyanda also attended the service.
Speaking during the ceremony Vice President George Kunda said Dr Mwanawasa’s life deserves to be celebrated because of the great things that he did for the country.
Mr Kunda says the late president re-introduced development planning which helped revive the countries economy.
The Vice President also described Dr Mwanawasa as a meticulous and hard working lawyer.
President Rupiah Banda has sent a message of condolence to Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata on the death of PF party members in a road accident at Kisasa, in Solwezi.
In a letter to Mr Sata, President Banda says he is saddened to learn about the accident in which a truck careered off the road, claiming five lives on the spot.
President Banda says life is the most important gift Zambians share in common and therefore any loss, regardless of who died, is painful.
This is according to a statement issued to ZNBC News by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere.
Mr Banda has wished Mr Sata, the PF membership and the bereaved families sincere condolences.
President Banda further says he wants to see the traditional friendly and hospitable spirit continuing beyond political boundaries.
He says whenever there is a tragedy such as the Solwezi accident, Zambian brothers and sisters should stand together and help strengthen one another.
Meanwhile President Banda says investigations should be carried out to establish the root cause of the tragedy.
He has however urged motorists and all passenger and cargo transport operators to ensure their vehicles are in good condition to avoid road accidents.
The President has also appealed to motorists to avoid alcohol before or while driving.
File: President Rupiah Banda is shown an artistic impression of the re-developed Society house and Central Arcade by Zambia National Building Society Managing Director Noriana Muneku at the ground breaking ceremony in Lusaka
The architect who has re-designed Lusaka’s Society House, says once completed, the building will be a symbol of Zambia’s economic re-emergence.
Robert Silke, is an architect with Louis Karol, an Architectural firm based in South Africa.
Mr Silke says the building, which will be adorned in Copper, will raise the profile of property development in Lusaka and attract other similar world class properties to the city.
He was speaking to ZNBC in Lusaka on Thursday when Zambezi consortium, the project developers, held a public hearing on the project.
And Zambezi Consortium Representative, Rennie Mushinga says the construction of the new Society House which will be completed in June 2014, will create about 500 jobs during the construction phase.
Mr Mushinga has disclosed that construction has already begun, with the demolition of the Central Arcade, which is located behind Society House.
Society House, which was gutted in 1997, will be turned into a hotel, while the Central Arcade will have a shopping centre and a parking deck with space for one thousand cars.
Five Patriotic Front Cadres have died in a road traffic accident in Mwinilunga district, in the North Western Province.
The accident, involving a light truck happened Thursday afternoon at a place called Kisaka at Musele junction.
Police Spokesperson Ndandula Siamana who confirmed the accident says 54 people who were in the truck were injured.
The Fuso fighter light truck which was ferrying the cadres overturned at a junction some 110 Kilometres from Mwinilunga district.
Ms Siamana says the accident happened around 14 hours as the driver of the truck tried to avoid an on coming vehicle.
The driver is suspected to have been over speeding and is currently on the run.
And North Western Province Permanent Secretary Fabian Mumba says most of the injured were ferried from the Copperbelt province and surrounding districts in the North Western province.
Mr Mumba says the injured are admitted to Solwezi General Hospital.
He says he has received reports that the truck involved in the accident was hired from Mansa.
Patriotic Front former Kabwata Member of Parliament, Given Lubinda and Post Newspaper Managing Editor, Fred Mmembe have refused to avail any information to the Anti-corruption Commission on corruption allegations involving Universal Print Group.
Universal print Group is a South Africa company contracted to print ballot papers for the September 20 polls.
Anti-Corruption Commission Public Relations Manager, Timothy Moono says in a statement that the duo went to the commission offices after an invitation was sent to them.
He however says in a statement issued Thursday evening that Mr Lubinda and Mr Mmembe refused give the commission any information on the allegations they have made against Universal Print Group.
Mr Lubinda and the Post Newspaper have made numerous reports and commentaries in the media involving UPG in allegations of corruption.
File:A boy is photographed at a public meeting with rugged clothes in Katete
By Gray Soko
In 2010 the World Bank named Zambia as one of the world’s fastest economically reforming countries and the Bank has reclassified Zambia as a Lower Middle Income country. This is the World Bank’s analytical income category based on the Bank’s lending strategies. There are four categories, low, lower middle, upper middle and high. Monthly bulletins by the Zambia Statistical Office have recorded single digit inflation rates and the Bank of Zambia is pleased with the “stability” of the Kwacha against the major currencies ( no comparison to what it was in the 70s ,of course) and growth rates above 6%.
According to the Zambian Statistical Office website the incidence of poverty ranges from 84% in the Western Province to 72% for Central Province with the other provinces apart from Lusaka and Copperbelt within this range. However Lusaka and the Copperbelt recorded the highest unemployment rates at 31% each. Nationally 68% of Zambians live below the recognized poverty line with rural rates at 78% and urban areas at 53%[pullquote].people get the government they elect, often they do not get the government they deserve[/pullquote]
Life expectancy is recorded at 46 years with the literacy rate at 71%. Zambia also has the highest under 5 mortality rate per 1000 in Sub Saharan Africa, perhaps not surprisingly with 65% of Zambian households having incomes below the basic needs basket.
One way the government is trying to address the obviously high poverty levels and accelerate development has been the introduction of the Multi-Facility Economic Zones. The main objective of the MFEZ is to stimulate industrial and economic development through the manufacturing sector. It is envisaged that value addition to the country’s vast mineral and agricultural raw materials will bring about industrial development as well as increase exports typically through increased foreign direct investment and boost employment.
Chambeshi, Ndola, Lusaka, Mwinilunga, Mpulungu and Kasumbalesa have so far been identified as MFEZs . Apart from Lusaka, the urban areas may have been selected for their proximity to the present Copperbelt, Mpulungu and Kasumbalesa for warehousing and export oriented business.Mwinilunga was probably selected for its pineapple potential. Investors are free to identify and suggest any other location in the country deemed economical for such zones.
One may argue that the onus should be on Zambians to determine where such development should take place given the vast areas of the country that are undeveloped and that poverty levels are higher in the rural areas which form the bulk of the country. This why it is crucial that the current road and rail network in the country is transformed to open the country to development. The abundance of natural resources is not necessarily in the zones so far identified. Development efforts should not be confined to the current road/rail system.
The concept of special economic zones which includes free trade zones, export processing zones, industrial parks ,multi-facility zones etc. has been a major engine for the accelerated economic development in China where they were founded in the early 1980s under the government of Deng Xiaping and following the Chinese success story have been established in several countries across the world. The most successful special economic zone in China, Shenzhen, has developed from a small village into a city with a population of over 10 million within 20 years. A few years ago the Heritage Party mooted the “Village Concept” and dividing the country into economic triangles as a way of developing the country. This idea could be seriously reviewed and integrated in the specialized economic zone concept.
There is still debate in the country and abroad as to whether Zambia is getting the full benefit of the increased and profitable copper production. Other countries endowed with oil wealth on the continent are wondering whether their oil wealth is a curse or a blessing. This is because it is possible for the investor to benefit more than the country. There are very conducive conditions to attract investors. For the specialized economic zones for example there are typically up to 100% income tax exemptions on export income for the first 5 years, exemptions from sales tax, exemptions from customs/excise duties, freedom of invest transfer and obtained income of it with no administration encumbrance laws etc. It is therefore imperative that whilst such generous conditions are put in place to attract international business or multi-national corporations, the benefits to the country are substantial.
This is a tall order for the aspiring candidates. I hope these facts motivated them to aspire for the policy making institutions of our country with plans to address these issues. I strongly believe that development should be bottom up, it should start from the local level. Unfortunately one cannot be too hopeful of this with our present local or provincial government system. A former Mayor of Lusaka has accurately stated that the lack of capacity at the local level is a serious threat and hindrance to development. The way forward is the radical transformation of local government administration.
It has been said that people get the government they elect, often they do not get the government they deserve. The results of the September elections will tell.
ZAMBIA Federation of Disability Organisation has said it will be compelled to seek a court order to compel the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to respect the rights of persons with disabilities to fully and freely participate in politics and public life directly or indirectly.
This is according to a statement made available to the Times in Lusaka yesterday by the organisation’s human rights manager Wamundila Wailuya.
Mr Wailuya said despite efforts by the organisation to negotiate with ECZ for a long time, the commission was relaxed in fulfilling the need to have persons with disabilities participate fully and freely in the electoral process of the country.
“The electoral process has generally remained inaccessible and unfriendly to persons with disabilities. In view of this, we remain with no option but to seek a court order to compel the ECZ to respect the rights of persons with disabilities to fully and freely participate in politics and public life directly or indirectly,” he said.
He said ECZ should exhibit a high degree of commitment in terms of a written action plan and adequate budgetary allocations towards issues of accessibility for different categories of persons with disabilities.
Mr Wailuya said if ECZ did not show commitment, the organisation would seek a court intervention on discrimination on the basis of disability.
He said a declaration should be passed that ECZ had directly discriminated against majority of persons with disabilities as per the provisions of the Persons with Disability Act No.33 of 1996 part 6 section 19 subsections C and (d).
Mr Wailuya said there should be a provision of reasonable accommodation where a court declaration should be made that ECZ had failed to provide reasonable accommodation for majority of persons with disabilities as provided for by Article 29 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“Fulfilling of the State’s obligation to abide with ratified international conventions, a court declaration must be passed that ECZ as a statutory body of the State has failed to abide by the principles and provisions of the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities,” Mr Wailuya said.
He said if ECZ failed to exhibit a high degree of commitment through an action plan and budgetary allocations, the court should issue an order to the commission to place ramps at all polling stations.
Mr Wailuya said the commission should provide tactile or Braille ballot templates to guide blind persons who wished to vote and also carry out sensitisation on how to use the template.
He said ECZ should also train all electoral officers and polling assistants on different needs of different categories of persons with disabilities during registration and elections.
“This order must lead to amending electoral policies, laws and regulations to cater for needs of different persons with disabilities and to conform to the principles and provisions of the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities,” he said.
Dora Siliya visits the poor in her constituency in Petauke
MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya has advised the Patriotic Front (PF) to accept the prediction by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) that President Rupiah Banda will win this year’s elections.
Ms Siliya said it should dawn on the PF leadership that Zambians had seen the countrywide development and would continue voting for the MMD.
She said the prediction by the EIU was credible as it had been done by a credible organisation with an independent judgment.
Ms Siliya was reacting to PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba, who accused the EIU of being an imperialist organisation allegedly promoting the interests of western multinationals.
She also wished PF leader Michael Sata good health so that President Banda could meet him in the elections.
Mr Kabimba, who was commenting on the EIU August report which for the fourth time has predicted that President Banda and the MMD would win the September 20 elections, said EIU was getting involved in the election campaigns to protect the interests of the western multi-nationals who wanted the MMD Government to continue in power.
“You’ve got to understand the EIU, this is an organisation that is pro-western , it is actually an organisation of the western media intended to protect the interests of the west.
“The EIU is contracted by multi-nationals to protect the interests of the west,” Mr Kabimba said.
He said despite the predictions of the EIU, the PF believed that it had taken its campaign to the Zambian people and its message had won the hearts of the people.
Mr Kabimba said for the first time, PF had fielded candidates in all the 150 constituencies.
But University of Zambia (UNZA) lecturer Phineas Bbaala said the latest EIU report was accurate and fitted into his own predictions.
The EIU report has indicated that President Banda was more likely to win this year’s elections than Mr Sata.
The August 2011 report from the economic analysis organisation, which covers 185 countries, said President Banda’s victory remained the most likely outcome as he would benefit from the advantages of incumbency, the MMD’s formidable electoral machinery and recent maize bumper harvests.
Mr Bbaala, who is a lecturer of politics and administrative studies in the school of humanities, said the report was straightforward, adding that for the international agency to come up with such observations, it carried out thorough investigations.
“When I started talking about President Banda that he is going to win this year, I received a lot of criticism.
“I am very happy that this latest EIU report done by an international agency has also revealed that Mr Banda will win,” he said.
And Christian Coalition spokesperson John Mwendapole said the EIU report was timely and Mr Sata’s chances of winning the September 20 elections were minimal because Zambians had set their mind to vote for President Banda.
Mr Mwendapole said the report showed that Mr Sata was not ready to contest the elections and that Zambians should understand that the report was based on a technical analysis by an international institution.
DIVISIONS have emerged in the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) central committee with some members writing to the party secretary general Wynter Kabimba to allow the party leader to take a lot more rest given his health status.
Some members of the central committee are, however, opposed to the idea as it would adversely affect the party.
Some central committee members in a letter to the Mr Kabimba expressed concern at the seemingly ill health of their leader and have asked that the secretariat finds a way of “not over stressing the president with campaigns” ahead of September 20 polls.
The central committee members who sought anonymity told the Times of Zambia in Lusaka yesterday that the concerns that had been raised by the callers on the ill health of the PF leader were genuine as the party was over-stretching Mr Sata through the campaigns.
“This is a matter that we have discussed as a party from the time the president was taken ill in South Africa. The heart condition that he was diagnosed with requires him to have enough rest but because we are so dependent on him for campaigns we are actually over stressing him.
“We have written to the secretary general that they must spare the man and allow other people to spearhead the campaigns so that the President can go when and where it is absolutely necessary. We have asked that people like Mr (Guy) Scott and Given Lubinda should be allowed to be spearheading the campaign,” said the central committee members.
The central committee members, however, said it would be difficult to detach Mr Sata from the ongoing campaign. “Bad as it may sound Mr Sata is PF and PF is Sata so even as we have written this letter we know it will be difficult to get the man out of the campaign. But it is in the interest of the party and all of us that we safeguard his health.
“Zambians already know the man and what we just need is to take him to some provincial centres where he can’t be stressed. We do not want a repeat of what transpired in the UPND where people buried their heads even when it was evident to all. We must accept that the President is not well,” said the source.
On Monday some callers to a Radio Christian voice programme “Chat back” questioned Mr Sata’s state of health after he developed a serious hiccup which almost made him fail to talk.
THE Ministry of Health has said former president Kenneth Kaunda who should have been discharged yesterday remains admitted to a Namibian hospital.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Kamoto Mbewe said in Lusaka yesterday that according to information received yesterday from Zambian doctors who were sent to assess the condition of the former president, Dr Kaunda was still being monitored by the medical experts.
He, however, said Dr Kaunda had continued to make steady progress.
“The doctors are still monitoring Dr Kaunda who had continued to make steady progress,” Dr Mbewe said.
He said the ministry was yet to be informed about when Dr Kaunda was likely to be discharged from hospital.
THE Choma District AIDS Task Force (DATF) has come up with a strategic framework for tackling HIV related issues in the district.
District AIDS Coordinating Adviser (DACA) Veronica Mweemba has also urged traditional leaders to play an active role in helping HIV patients to adhere to treatment.
ZANIS reports Mrs. Mweemba saying this in Choma District yesterday during at a one day sensitization workshop for traditional leaders, headmen and the church organized by the Brethren in Christ Church (BICC).
She said there is need for these leaders to encourage villagers in their areas go for Voluntary Counseling Testing (VCT) to protect their lives.
She explained that leaders should ensure that people in their areas need to understand the dangers and impact of the disease in the community.
Mrs. Mweemba also appealed to spiritual leaders to desist from giving wrong information and misleading HIV/AIDS patients to stop taking their medication after being prayed for.
She pointed out that people should not be misled that the pandemic is curable but can only prevented.
She reminded headmen not to allow bad practices among their subjects but to rather discourage such vices as they have the powers as custodians of the traditional law.
Mrs. Mweemba noted that money being spent on traditional healers by patients can be channeled to other developmental programs in their communities and it can also help in reducing the number of deaths occurring as a result of wrong information from spiritual prophets.
She has since pledged organization’s commitment to assist communities in dealing with HIV/AIDS related issues.
She also thanked BICC for embarking on such a program of sensitizing traditional leaders, church leaders and other stakeholders in issues affecting communities like HIV/AIDS.
Information Permanent Secretary Sam Phiri has hailed Kariba North Bank for continuing to pioneer in the efforts of bringing integration of Southern African Developing Communities (SADC) region.
Dr Phiri noted that the Kariba North Bank Extension Project (KNBEP) is a critical effort in addressing power demand and also in connecting the region.
ZANIS reports from Siavonga, yesterday, that the Permanent Secretary was speaking yesterday after a tour of a US$ 420 million power extension project to commemorate SADC day which falls on August 17th each year.
Dr. Phiri hinted that the extension project that is currently going on at Kariba North Bank demonstrates commitment to infrastructure development which government has embarked on.
He noted that only about three (3) million of the country’s population has access to electricity hence the need of expanding the service to cater for most people national wide.
The Permanent Secretary further noted that the multimillion kwacha project will also be a legacy that the country will contribute to the region and urged Kariba North Bank to continue projecting Zambia’s image as a pioneer in providing energy in the region.
And Kariba North Bank Extension Project Manager Aaron Nyirenda said the project is expected to be completed in December in 2013 and will help eliminate load shedding during peak demand hours.
Mr. Nyirenda added that there is need to double efforts to address demands of power in the SADC region.
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has observed that the high numbers of independent candidates is an indication of a frail adoption process of most political players.
FODEP Executive Director, McDonald Chipenzi said there are too many independent candidates who are running for this year’s tripartite elections which indicate lack of trust in the adoption.
ZANIS reports Mr. Chipenzi saying in an interview, yesterday, that most political parties taking part in this year’s elections do not respect the wishes of the grassroots in the adoption process.
“ This has resulted in many people defecting to other parties while some opted to stand as independent candidates, “ he said.
The FODEP boss has since advised all 2011 election players to improve on the adoption process so that credible, transparent and honest candidates are picked to inspire the electorate.
Mr. Chipenzi said this in the wake of some defections by members from political parties who have cited undemocratic tendencies during the adoption process.
He said he was concerned that parties where imposing candidates on the people adding that this was destroying party structures at grassroots as people were increasing becoming demoralized.
Some members from various parties including the Patriotic Front (PF), and the United Party for National Development (UPND) who were left out of the adoption process have defected from their parties citing irregularities in the way the adoption process was handled.
But the party officials have often responded by saying that the persons who have defected are disgruntled because they were left out during the adoption process.
Universal Printing Group ( UPG ) Projects Manager Vik Vaid says Eight hundred thousand (800 000) presidential ballot papers have been printed.
Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) President Dr Alex Ngoma has urged Zambians to have faith in the renowned South African printing company.
ZANIS reports from Durban , South Africa, that Mr. Vaid said this , yesterday, when he led a Zambian observation team into the plant to check on the progress of the printing process.
The Zambian observation team was also given a chance to look at the quality ballot papers that were printed during the tour of the plant.
Mr. Vaid also informed the team that the printing company has started receiving data on the national assembly candidates.
Meanwhile, Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) President Dr Alex Ngoma has urged Zambians to have faith in the renowned South African printing company.
Dr. Ngoma said the growing suspicions being leveled against the UPG by some political parties and civil society in Zambia of the company being corrupt were unfounded saying he has personally not seen any trace of graft in the printing process during the tour.
“It is not possible that any ballot paper was printed before the observation team was here. There was no way the printing company could guess the aspiring candidates” Said Dr Ngoma.
Dr Ngoma who is in the observation team representing all non governmental organizations in zambia also said that the security features on the ballot papers will not allow anybody to replicate them. He said that the process is straight forward, computerized and that it cannot be manipulated.
Dr Ngoma has also commended the Zambian government for allowing Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for allowing the non governmental organizations to come and witness the printing of ballot papers.
“We are the eyes of the 13 million Zambians back home there is need to give serious attention that the process deserves,” said Dr Ngoma
Dr Ngoma further said that the Zambian people must listen to the representatives they have sent here to give correct information and avoid speculations.
And Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia representative Mr Sheikh Shaban Phiri has said that the presence of the observation team has at the plant has cleared the negative publicity which has has surrounded the printing of the ballot papers.
In another interview, Christian council of Zambia representative Rev Sitali Kakungu said that the management of the printing company has been open in addressing some of the concerns raised by the Zambian people which include the transparency of the printing process.
