THE Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia (ISCZ) has castigated former Local Government and Housing minister Sylvia Masebo for attacking President Rupiah Banda over his decision to allow the construction of a mosque in Lusaka which Ms Masebo had blocked.

And the Tonga Traditional Association of Zambia (TTAZ) has urged Ms Masebo to respect President Banda because he is a leader for all Zambians, including herself. ISCZ president Suzyo Zimba cautioned Zambians against voting for power-hungry politicians and political parties that were determined to marginalise certain religions.

Mr Zimba said Mr Banda had demonstrated that he was an all-embracing leader who was committed to the development of the country for the benefit of everyone regardless of their colour, religion or race. He advised Ms Masebo to be civil in her language and learn to respect the Head of State.

He said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday the council was grateful to the Government and specifically President Banda for allowing the construction of the mosque in Longacres residential area which was blocked by Ms Masebo, who is now a Patriotic Front member and parliamentary candidate for Chongwe Constituency.

Mr Zimba was reacting to Ms Masebo’s attacks on President Banda as reported by The Post newspaper yesterday. “Ms Masebo is not an angel. She should be the last person to call President Banda a liar. Is this the type of leader people want who can insult the Head of State any how over a matter of God and worship?

“In any country, there should be a sense of belonging and people should be allowed to worship whichever way. President Banda’s intervention just demonstrates that he has respect for the constitutional dictates of freedom of worship and conscience,” he said.

And TTAZ president Dickson Namaanza urged Ms Masebo to respect President Banda because he was a national leader.

[Times of Zambia]

Luanshya residents have condemned Father Frank Bwalya’s demonstration of killing a chicken at a PF public rally in Mpatamatu over the weekend to symbolize the end of MMD in the district.

The residents are disappointed with Father Bwalya for the ritual practice of killing a chicken and sprinkling its blood on the ground.

One of the residents Shine Mukosha says the behavior of Father Bwalya is a sign of desperation as he continues campaigning for the opposition PF.

Another resident Derrick Lungu has advised Father Bwalya to go back to the pulpit and ask for forgiveness for his unchristian conduct.

And Mr. Lungu has appealed to the people of Roan Constituency to reject leaders who are preaching violence during their campaigns.

He was speaking in an interview in Luanshya on yesterday.

ZNBC

State house has dismissed as false reports that President Rupiah Banda has cancelled his earlier plans to attend the burial of Bishop Paul Duffy in Mongu on Monday.

Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere says the President had no plans to attend the funeral because of other prior engagements.

Mr Jere has told ZNBC News that the President has already delegated someone to represent Government at the funeral.

He says Government will be represented but not by the President.

The Post has reported in Wednesday’s edition that President Banda has changed his earlier plans to attend Bishop Paul Duffy’s burial.

ZNBC

Kitwe district commissioner Macdonald Mtine said that the Kitwe district has matured politically as there has not been any political bickering among political players.

Mr Mtine however urged law enforcement agencies to ensure that political parties organizing political rallies do not allow the sale of beer at their meetings to avoid violence.

He said what happened last week when the Patriotic Front held its rally at Freedom Park was an example of what beer can do if left un controlled.

PF cadres last week during their campaigns were seen drinking at the public rally and later started harassing motorists who were passing on president avenue.

And Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Villie Lombanya says the Information Communication Technology ( ITC ) is an ideal platform for development.

Mr Lombanya said it was for this reason that ITC experts should utilize their expertise to set up a provincial website that will capture development information and make it available to the public.

“ A lot of development information has been generated in the province that needs to be shared with the public but it has been stored in hard copies, “ he said.

The Permanent Secretary was speaking at the provincial development coordinating committee meeting (PDCC) held at Hotel Edinburgh in Kitwe yesterday.

He said the disadvantage of keeping information in hard copy was that is not readily available to the general public.

He stated that it was important that the public have access to information on various developmental projects in the province because it would also enable them access public documents such as development plans.

‘I am therefore calling upon experts to help us set up a website that will capture and make this information available, to those who would like to see the 2012 budget.

Mr. Lombanya also said the development landscape on the Copperbelt was tremendously changing following the current road rehabilitation activities being done throughout the province by the Rural Roads Unit, the Road Development Agency and the Japanese International Development Agency (JICA).

He said Agriculture was another area where the province had performed well and contributed greatly to the national bumper harvest.

He noted that improved investment to this sector particularly in infrastructure, irrigation and crop diversification has significantly reduced poverty levels and sustained increased production.

He said as the province continues to record bumper harvests it should also embrace construction of storage shades and in this respect 43 more shades will be constructed across the province.

Mr Lombanya said the Copperbelt province will continue to make progress in improving the lives of the people and will implement projects aimed at improving water and sanitation while youth skills training and resources centers are to be constructed in all districts to give the necessary skills to the youths and make them self reliant.

He however said that measures such as enforcement of multi level performance audits are cardinal in this development process which require checks and make improvements.

ZANIS

Get Involved Zambia executive director Father Frank Bwalya has charged that president Rupiah Banda’s confidence that he will win the forthcoming elections is based on rigging.

Father Bwalya however, said that the MMD and President Banda’s confidence will not take them anywhere near the realms of power again.

He explained that indications on the ground do not favour the MMD retaining power in this year’s tripartite elections.

Father Bwalya said that Zambians were fed up with the current MMD government, adding that rigging of elections this year will not be allowed.

He also stated that President Banda would not have found himself facing the rejection he is facing had he been leading according to what the people wanted.

He added that the MMD will remember the money they have pumped in their re-election campaign because they stand no chance of being retained to power.

Fr Bwalya was speaking to QFM in an interview via telephone.

QFM

THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has advised the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to officially write to the commission if it has any grievance over the contract awarded to Universal Print Group (UPG) to print the ballot papers for the September 20 polls.

ECZ public relations manager Cris Akufuna said in an interview from Durban yesterday that LAZ was aware of the complaint procedure if it had any grievances to make against the contract.

“We cannot start discussing issues they are asking us in the Press. If the have any grievances let them write to the commission,” he said.

Mr Akufuna was reacting to LAZ president Musa Mwenye’s question on whether ECZ had obtained security clearance for the engagement of UPG in the printing of ballot papers.

At a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Mwenye also asked the director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to tell the nation whether UPG was mentioned in a warn-and-caution statement recorded against a former ECZ employee, Mpundu Mfula and whether the company had been a subject of investigations since the 2006 general elections.

“We note that ECZ has taken some steps towards inclusiveness in the electoral process but we urge the electoral body to attach utmost importance to clarify the issue surrounding the engagement of UPG because the issue has the capacity to adversely affect the strides made by the ECZ in facilitating a free, fair and inclusive electoral process,” Mr Mwenye said.

Both ACC board chairperson Timothy Kabalata and the director general Godfrey Kayukwa have recently stated that the commission was not investigating ECZ.

Mr Mwenye said LAZ wanted to put it on record that if UPG was implicated or accused in any unresolved investigations which were currently before the ACC , the company’s suitability to conduct the important task of printing the ballot papers for this year’s elections would be in serious doubt.

Meanwhile, LAZ has condemned the violence being perpetuated by some political parties as the country heads towards elections. Mr Mwenye said the association was concerned with the increased levels of violence between the political parties.

He urged all political party leaders in the country to denounce violence and commit themselves to peaceful campaigns. He urged the Zambia Police Service to maintain law and order in a fair manner.

And Mr Mwenye said both public and private media should abide by the electoral code of conduct by ensuring that all political parties were given fair coverage during the election period.

He said the public media should in this regard set the tone and lead by example by providing fair coverage to all political parties.

“On this score, we would like to state with the deepest regret that despite our several protestations, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has continued to flout the ZNBC Act,” he said.

Mr Mwenye said LAZ would commence public interest litigation against ZNBC to hopefully pronounce the duties of the corporation and whether or not the ZNBC director general and his management had been breaching the Act.

[Times of Zambia]