Former works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti says the MMD’s defeat in this year’s elections is visible from the caliber of its adopted parliamentary candidates.

Mr. Mulongoti has observed that the MMD is in a shaky mode in its campaigns especially for its Lusaka adopted MPs.

Mr. Mulongoti expressed confidence that the change that the people of Zambia want will come to pass on 20th September.

He says the MMD adopted parliamentary candidates are no match to those adopted by the Patriotic Front who he says are appealing to the people of Zambia.

He says the Patriotic Front will do well in next months elections because its campaigns are being centered on the people.

[QFM]

The Patriotic Front has vowed to use what it has termed reasonable force in defending itself from violence by suspected MMD cadres.

The PF says it has no apology to make over the statement issued by its Secretary General Wynter Kabimba and that it will use appropriate means in self defence.

The PF has accused Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde of failing to protect them from attacks and provocation from suspected MMD cadres.

PF Vice President Guy Scott has told a media briefing at their Party Secretariat that asking their members to defend themselves does not constitute a terror plan but common sense.

Dr Scott was disputing a Zambia Daily Mail story headlined ‘PF Unveils Terror Plan’.

And Chilanga PF aspiring candidate Geoffrey Chuumbwe says PF cadres will no longer seek Police protection and urged members not to fold their arms and watch when they are attacked.

Matero aspiring candidate Miles Sampa has accused suspected MMD cadres of removing PF posters and says tactics of intimidating the opposition will not work this time around.

And Chawama aspiring candidate Edgar Lungu says PF members should defend themselves to the best of their ability while Professor Nkandu Luo who is aspiring for Munali says the PF cadres have in the recent past been attacked by suspected MMD cadres but police have allegedly not acted.

PF Lusaka Province Chairman Davies Chama says the party has talked for too long and that they are ready to be arrested for defending themselves.

Others who spoke include PF parliamentary aspirants for Kabwata constituency Given Lubinda, Sylvia Masebo for Chongwe constituency and Obvious Mwaliteta for Kafue constituency.

ZNBC

President Banda says he is saddened by the opposition Patriotic Front’s move to pinch late president Levy Mwanawasa’s son, Patrick from the party his father left.

Mr Banda says Patrick Mwanawasa is as good as his own nephew who he would have loved to see he stayed in the MMD, the party that his late father served passionately.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Kafulafuta constituency on Monday, Mr Banda said he did not have much to say about Patrick but that the young man is welcome to join the MMD, the party his father belonged to.

Mr Banda says Patrick will always be part of the MMD family even after the elections next month.

And former Information minister Newstead Zimba has urged the people of Kafulafuta not to vote for Patrick but instead advised him to make peace with the MMD.

Mr Zimba says president Banda is the best choice for the Zambian people in the forthcoming elections.

He says president Banda cannot be compared to the other candidates who are aspiring for the presidency in the September 20 polls.

And former vice president Enock Kavindele says president Rupiah Banda has done well in the three years he has served as head of state.

Mr Kavindele says president Banda’s works have put Zambia on the world map, leading to many investors expressing willingness to come and invest in the country.

ZNBC

The Patriotic Front has dismissed assertions that it is not ready for the 2011 elections.

PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba says to the contrary the PF is the most organized party in this year’s elections.

Mr. Kabimba has since predicted victory for the largest opposition political party in this year’s elections.

He says despite the MMD pumping in a lot of money in their campaign, they are headed for a rude shock come elections.

Mr. Kabimba says the Patriotic Front has taken the campaigns to the people of Zambia.

He adds that the party has won the confidence of the Zambian people because of the policies it intends to implement once in power.

He says there is no doubt that the Patriotic Front is the only political party that will protect the interests of the Zambian people once in government.

And Kabwata Patriotic Front parliamentary aspirant Given Lubinda says the parliamentary contest in the area is between MMD’s Peter Machungwa and the residents.

Mr. Lubinda, who is past immediate area parliamentarian, says the 72, 000 voters in the constituency are also wondering why the MMD would import an individual with a record of 20 years of failure in a rural constituency to represent Kabwata.

Speaking to QFM, Mr. Lubinda says he will only be a by-stander in the race as it will not be him to fight but the electorates in the area through the ballot.

He however notes that the race in Kabwata constituency will be an interesting one as it will be the people in the area to determine the outcome of the forthcoming polls.

QFM

Former vice president Enoch Kavindele has said that his support for President Rupiah Banda in next month’s polls is not blinded by the contract to construct the North Western Rail Line. Mr Kavindele said that his support is based on the fact that he understood the vision of President Banda in enhancing the economic development of the country and would do what was necessary to ensure that he retained the presidency.

The former vice president is on the campaign team of President Banda ahead of the elections next month but some political opponents have accused him of being compromised after being given a contract to construct the North Western Rail Line.

Mr Kavindele said he could not be compromised by anything and would not be derailed in his support for President Banda because he believed that the MMD candidate had a vision to develop the country than any other contestant.

“I cannot be compromised by anyone and my support and campaign for Rupiah Banda is based on the understanding that he has a vision to develop this country.

Mr Kavindele further said that the contracts that the people are talking about was given to him by late president Levy Mwanawasa.

“When the current Government tried to terminate the rail contract, I took it to court and won, so the contracts have nothing to do with my support for President Banda.” he said.

Mr Kavindele noted that President Banda had made significant achievements in the past three years that he had been in office and believed that Zambia could further achieve economic gains if he was given another opportunity to rule the country.

[pullquote]”When the current Government tried to terminate the rail contract, I took it to court and won, so the contracts have nothing to do with my support for President Banda.” he said.[/pullquote]

Mr Kavindele has said that the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) was looking for an excuse for the imminent loss in next month’s polls by coming up with spurious accusations and unnecessary allegations about the electoral process.

He noted that because the opposition PF had realized that they had slim chances of winning the polls, they had resorted to unnecessary allegations and accusations in a bid to use them as an excuse once they lose the polls.

[Times of Zambia]

Veteran Politician Vernon Mwaanga has sued Patriotic Front Vice President Guy Scott and the Post Newspaper for defamation.

This follows the alleged defamatory utterances on Mr Mwaanga by Dr Scott.

The utterances were carried in The Post Newspaper of 17th August 2011.

The Post Newspapers reported that Dr Scott told PF supporters in Katuba to be alert against possible malpractice by the MMD because Mr Mwaanga was sitting in Lusaka with plenty of computers playing games.

Mr Mwaanga has argued that the innuendo implies that he engages in criminal practices of vote rigging.

He has lamented that The Post has before covered election petitions of 1996 and 2001 with no allegations linking him to rigging of elections.

Mr Mwaanga has sought an injunction to restrain the Post Newspaper from publishing libelous materials on him.

Mr Mwaanga has also demanded an unqualified withdrawal of the defamatory statement in the Post Newspaper.

He has demanded that the apology should be broadcast on ZNBC on both radio and Television for a week twice daily at the defendants cost.

Mr Mwaanga has also demanded that the same should be published on the front page of the Zambia Daily Mail and The Post Newspaper once.

ZNBC