The Patriotic Front says it does not have a policy of banning the public media from covering its activities.
PF Secretary General, Wynter Kabimba, has told the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia that the PF Central Committee has never sat to pass a resolution banning the public media from covering it.

Mr. Kabimba told MISA Zambia Chairperson Daniel Sikazwe and National Director Sipo Kapumba, who requested for a meeting with the PF Secretary General to clarify the recent banning of the public media from covering the PF General Congress in Kabwe.

He says his party was frustrated that the public media tended to cover his party in a negative manner which tended to harm its public image.

Mr. kabimba has complained that despite repeated efforts to reach out to the public media to create dialogue and mutual understanding, his efforts had yielded nothing.

He says his party expects the public media to exhibit the highest professional standards and adhere to professional ethics because they are owned by the Zambian public.

Mr. kabimba adds that the public media should show fairness in their coverage of different stakeholders, including opposition political parties.

He has assured MISA Zambia that the PF does not hate the public media, referring to the PF manifesto, which elaborates the PF stance on the media and its support for a free press.

The PF secretary general further says his party is ready to open dialogue with the heads of the public media, if government permits them, so that both parties can appreciate each other and their role in strengthening Zambia’s democracy.

QFM

President Banda has castigated opposition parties and some individuals criticising the World Bank’s reclassification of Zambia as a lower middle-income country.

Mr Banda said he is disappointed with people who have continued to criticise the World Bank decision which shows that Zambia’s economy is growing.

“We have received the news from the World Bank and the country’s B+ rating from international rating organisations Standard and Poors and Fitch with honour and joy but it is surprising that my colleagues in the opposition have continued to criticise such recognitions,” President Banda said.

“They are saying there is still poverty in the country but there is no country in the world which is free of poverty. It is through these ratings that our country will manage to eradicate poverty,” he said.

President Banda said this when he officiated at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kafue Gorge Lower Hydro-electric project in Kafue yesterday.

He said the continued positive ratings mean that Zambia’s economy is growing at a fast rate and benefits will trickle down to citizens and improve their lives.

Mr Banda said Zambia can now attract more investors to the country’s critical sectors and investors will help Zambia to develop economically, socially and politically.

“These ratings do not mean that our people will wake up tomorrow and start driving their own vehicles, live a posh life or that the country will suddenly eradicate poverty. But in the long run, people will live more comfortable lives. So, I wonder what my colleagues criticise. One day we will get there,” President Banda assured.

He said the ratings are not political because they were conducted by credible international institutions, based on the country’s economic achievements.

[pullquote]”These ratings do not mean that our people will wake up tomorrow and start driving their own vehicles, live a posh life or that the country will suddenly eradicate poverty. But in the long run, people will live more comfortable lives. So, I wonder what my colleagues criticise. One day we will get there,” President Banda assured.[/pullquote]

Mr Banda said he is happy that Zambia has been reclassified as a lower middle-income country and assigned positive ratings under his administration.

Meanwhile, Mr Banda has announced that over 200 housing units in Camp Three of Namalundu Gorge residential area in Kafue will be sold to sitting tenants.

And President Banda is disappointed with people who are criticising the World Bank’s ranking of Zambia as a lower middle-income country.

Mr Banda made the announcement in Kafue yesterday when he officiated at the ground-breaking ceremony of Kafue Gorge Lower Hydro-electric Project.

“Let me take this opportunity to announce that over 200 houses in Camp Three of Namalundu will be given to sitting tenants to benefit our people,” he said.

The institutional houses are occupied by Zambia Police Service officers, health workers and some employees of Zesco. Mr Banda said Zesco under the Kafue Gorge Lower Hydro-electric Project will build houses for its employees working under the project.

He said the project will also construct a classroom block at Chibola Basic School in Namalundu.

“Zesco will build new houses for its workers who will be employed under this new project. In the same vein, this project will construct a classroom block at Chibola Basic School which you had requested me to build for you,” Mr Banda told the crowd which had gathered to witness the ground-breaking ceremony.

Before making the announcement at the project site, Mr Banda toured the Namalundu houses and some schools.

He also held private talks with Zesco management and some members of the board of directors.

Recently, the President instructed Maamba Collieries to offer over 800 houses to former sitting tenants as part of the home empowerment scheme

Mbala Member of Parliament, Guston Sichilima has pledged to remain loyal to the MMD despite not being adopted to stand in Mbala.

Mr Sichilima who applied and was not adopted for the Mbala Parliamentary seat says he is not going to ditch the MMD which he says has given him an opportunity to serve in various party and government positions.

He told ZNBC News in an interview that he will support, President Banda and Mwalimu Simfukwe who has been adopted to contest the Mbala parliamentary seat on the MMD ticket.

Mr Sichilima has urged other members of the party that have not been adopted to remain united and ensure the opposition is given the greatest defeat ever.

And Former Chienge District Commissioner Samuel Chewe has pledged to support all MMD adopted parliamentary candidates in Luapula province.

In his congratulatory message to the adopted candidates, today, Mr Chewe says he will support all the nominated MMD candidates to ensure that the ruling party emerges victorious in the province in this year’s elections.

Mr Chewe, who was one of the applicants for Kawambwa Central constituency, has since appealed to all those that have not been adopted to support the adopted candidates.

He has called on all MMD members in the province to come together and launch an issue based campaign focusing on the many developmental projects that the MMD has scored under the leadership of President Rupiah Banda.

In a statement made available to ZANIS in Mansa today Mr Chewe also urged the adopted candidates to work hard.

He further requested all MMD members to refrain from acts of violence during the period saying that it is the only sign of true democracy.

Among the nominated candidates include Elizabeth Mulobeka ( Kawambwa ), Sunday Maluba ( Mwansabombwe ), Dr Bulangeti Chisha (Pambashe) and Besa Chimbaka ( Bahati ).

Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Mwansa Mbulakulima will recontest his Chembe Contituency, with Dr Chitalu Chilufya ( Mansa Central ) , a Mr. J. Kapungwe ( Chipili ) and Mr John Chinyanta will also recontest his Mambilima seat.

Others adopted include Dr Jacob Chongo ( Mwense ), while the Chiengi seat will be contested by a Mr. M Mampi. Former Defence Minister Beny Y. Mwila will contest the Nchelenge seat, while the Bangweulu seat will be contested by Mr. Sylvester Chifwembe.

The Chinfunabululi and Luapula seats will be contested by Chiliyea Kapekele and Daniel Chisala, respectively

ZANIS

MMD National Secretary Richard Kachingwe has also called on Journalists to attend any MMD function without fear of intimidation adding that the party will
guarantee them total protection.

Major Kachingwe said that MMD regretted the beating up of a Muvi TV crew by alleged MMD cadres in Lusaka West. He said the beating was uncalled for and has distanced his party from the same.

He said the party is still investigating whether the people involved were MMD cadres but has however condemned the beatings. Major. Kachingwe told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka that the party believes in media freedom and does not allow its cadres to harass any journalists.

He said the MMD is known to have introduced media freedom and takes the media as its partners. The MMD Chief Executive labeled the attacks on the journalists as criminal and called on the police to bring the culprits to book.

He advised people to distinguish between party functions and criminal functions. Major Kachingwe also urged the public to be aware of some opposition cadres who masquerade as members of the party when they are involved in such fracas with the view of denting the image of the ruling party.

He has meanwhile, reiterated that the party will always uphold peace ahead of this year’ general elections.

And the Police Service has since arrested 46 people in connection with the beating of Muvi Television journalists in Nakachenje area in Lusaka West on Monday.

Police spokesperson Ndandula Siamana says 26 out of the 46 are women.

Ms. Siamana said that the two men among the suspects have been identified as political cadres and have been charged with assault.

She has told ZNBC in Lusaka that the rest of the suspects have been charged with criminal trespass and obtaining money by false pretence.

Ms. Siamana has warned that the Zambia Police will deal sternly with anyone that will abrogate the law.

On Monday, a Muvi Television News Crew was beaten by unknown people as they went to cover a land wrangle in Nakachenje area in Lusaka West.

ZANIS

Former MMD chairperson for elections Mike Mulongoti says the adopted MMD parliamentary candidates in Lusaka have guaranteed the opposition outright victory.

Mr. Mulongoti says the MMD adopted candidates have an uphill battle to convince the people to vote for them.

He describes some of the adopted parliamentary candidates as walkovers incapable of winning an election.

Mr. Mulongoti has further questioned Luapula Member of Parliament Peter Machungwa’s decision to vie for the Kabwata seat instead of re-contesting his Luapula seat.

In an interview with QFM, Mr. Mulongoti, who recently endorsed the candidature of Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata, say Dr Machungwa’s decision is an indication stated that he neglected people of Luapula Province.

Meanwhile, the opposition Patriotic Front has started interviews for the selection of parliamentary and local Government candidates for the forthcoming general elections.

PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba has confirmed the development to ZNBC news in Lusaka.

The provincial interviews follow the conclusion of the selection process at constituency and district levels.

Mr Kabimba says the Central Committee ,which is the highest party organ will meet to look at the recommendations from Constituencies, Districts and Provinces once interviews of aspiring candidates have been concluded.

On Monday Mr Kabimba said the adoption process of candidates for the parliamentary and local government election is expected to be concluded by this month end.

QFM/ZNBC