A Catholic Priest in Kasama has cautioned the clergy to guard against dividing the flock on partisan lines because of their vested interests in this year’s tripartite elections.

Cathedral of Saint John’s Parish Priest, Rudolf Pikiti says it is not the duty of the clergy to decide for their followers which candidates to support during elections.

Father Pikiti says members of the church should be left to make their own choices because they belong to various political parties.

In his sermon during the morning English service on Sunday, Father Pikiti said just as individual priests have their own preferred candidates, church members should also be left to make their own independent choices.

He says imposing candidates on church members will divide the church because it comprises members from different political parts.

Father Pikiti, however, urged Christians to exercise good judgment in selecting candidates in this year’s tripartite elections.

He says some people are now regulars at church services and functions only because they want to be supported as candidates in this year’s tripartite elections.

And Father Pikiti advised Christians to avoid judging others without any tangible facts.

He says even sinners have a future which offers them hope to reform while the righteous have a past which may include the dark side of life.

Recently, retired Kasama Archbishop James Spaita urged the clergy to act as a uniting force before and after this year’s tripartite elections.

Archbishop Spaita urged priests to resist the temptations of dividing the flock because of partisan interests.
[ ZNBC ]

The Non Governmental Organization Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has wondered why President Rupiah Banda is reluctant to announce the election date when the Electoral Commission of Zambia has stated that the voter register will be ready on the 31st of July, 2011.

NGOCC Board Chairperson Beatrice Grillo says the delay in announcing the date of elections is causing unnecessary anxiety in the country.

Mrs. Grillo says it is either the president announces the date of the elections or the ECZ states that it is not yet ready to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

Speaking to QFM, Mrs. Grillo observed that early announcement of the election date will help create a levelled playing field for all players in the preparation of the forthcoming general election.

The NGOCC Board Chairperson has since appealed to Republican president Rupiah Banda to announce the election date on take for people to plan well.

Last week President Rupiah Banda appealed to Zambians, especially politicians, to exercise patience and allow the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and other institutions involved in organising elections to carry out their duties without undue pressure.

Mr Banda said that announcing the date of elections was done in consultation with all key stakeholders, especially ECZ that was mandated to run elections in Zambia.

President Banda further said ECZ had not yet compiled the final voters’ roll following the verification exercise which ended on June 12, 2011 and all mistakes had since been corrected.

The president reiterated that he would only announce the date for the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections once all logistics were in place.

QFM

A Lusaka resident, Monica Felisho, who might just be the oldest Zambian, says the secret to long life is adherence to the word of God.

Mrs Felisho, who is aged 103, says because of her humble lifestyle, she has managed to live beyond a century.

She says she has 12 children, over 50 grand-children and 8 great grand-children.

Mrs Felisho, whose husband died in 1968, says she has spent most of her life in Chinsali before her grand-children decided to bring her to Lusaka.

[ MUVI ]

        PAUL Kabungo

        Paul Kabungo is an upcoming film maker who specializes in cinematography. He entered into the media world 3 years ago in South Africa , working at Mnet/Supersport. He started his in house training there and was part of the  crew on a number of projects including: big brother Africa 3 (Endemol for Mnet), survivor S.A, S.A idols 3 (Fremantle media for Mnet), Carte blanche (Active blue for Mnet), deal or no deal , super diski (super sport 4), nedbank golf challenge (super sport 1), and some concerts for international artists like ; Keri Hilson, John Legend, Bow wow, the killers,and many more.

Last year he got a scholarship to study film in Europe , that’s where he started to specialize in cinematography. He also took a few photography lessons both on film and DSLRs.

He is currently working at Meanwood communications as head of productions/resident photographer.

KAPA187: What first interested you in film making and cinematography?

PAUL Kabungo: I think it started when I was about 10years old. I was always fascinated with cameras. When I went to South Africa to study IT, I decided to explore this career more seriously.

KAPA187: How was the experience of being on the crew for a number of of shows for Mnet, such as Survivor SA, Big brother 3? How did you get the opportunity?

PAUL Kabungo: The experience was great, especially on Big Brother because they usually get students and interns as crew. It’s a very good platform to practice what you learn either at school or as an intern at work. The opportunity came about because I was an intern at Mnet and a company owned by Mnet. The people who assemble the crew for these shows give priority to in house staff then freelancers.

KAPA187: What are the pros and cons of being a cinematographer? Please be specific.

PAUL Kabungo: Cinematography is the art or technique of using a motion-picture or digital camera. This art includes camera type and support equipment choices e.g. dollies, cranes, steadycams, lens choices, filters etc. Basically a Cinematographer executes what the Director sees aesthetically. While the Director is artistic, the Cinematographer is technical.

Some of the pros are that you get to dictate and bully all departments on the film set, hahahaha. Seriously all departments on the film set must confirm with the Cinematographer also known as the Director of Photography (DoP) before an idea is locked and executed.

The con of this job in Africa is we don’t have all the equipment needed to execute what the scripts of the films we shoot require. This can be very frustrating and if one is not flexible and is not good with improvising, the whole movie project can be a sham!

KAPA187: If you weren’t a cinematographer, what would you want to be? Why?

PAUL Kabungo: In the filming industry if I wasn’t a cinematographer then I’d have been an editor. Because editing is the closest and second most technical department *BIG SMILE* Otherwise away from the film world I’d have been a Computer Programmer.

KAPA187: What type of training have you had?

PAUL Kabungo: I have a Diploma in Legal Studies from University of London, an Advanced Diploma in Computer Science ABMA and a Diploma in Media and Film Studies from Finland.

KAPA187: Describe your typical day on the job

PAUL Kabungo : Am currently the Head of Video Productions/Photographer at Meanwood Communications. My typical day requires me to plan, schedule and carry out shoots, both photo and video.

KAPA187: Would you recommend this career to someone else? And what traits do you feel are necessary for the job.

PAUL Kabungo: Yeah, most definitely I would. It’s a very interesting career. Most productions done in Zambia luck a cinematographer’s touch, we need more of us *smiles*

To be a good cinematographer one has to be very focused, ready to listen and flexible, must know how to communicate without offending others, and must have a heart to endure (some shoots can be very frustrating). Having a good understanding on Lighting and Photos is a very big plus because there is a very thin line between Photography and Cinematography.

Kapa187: What has been the highlight of your career?

PAUL Kabungo: Too many to single out, but maybe when I was given to operate the crane (jimmy job) camera at a concert for American artists.

KAPA187: Do you feel you have a signature visual style to your work?

PAUL Kabungo: Yeah very much! In-as-much-as we listen and execute Director’s visions, we always leave footprints of our style on films. Am a fan of high contrasts and dynamics. Am also a fan of Low key lighting because DRAMA is my preference genre.

KAPA187:  What projects are you currently working on

PAUL Kabungo: Am working on 3 documentaries; Cardiac Trust of Zambia, Electro Commission of Zambia and one on Zambian DJs.

Am doing adverts for ECZ, Engen Filling Station, Uniturtle, Portico and ZESCO.

Am working on a music video for Slim Tim (hip hop artist). Am also scheduled to shoot music videos for Macky II, Karasa, Alpha Romeo, Damian AKA Nameless and Nick Pro.

Am doing a Black n White photo series to be exhibited at Alliance Fransaise. Am left with 3 female models 🙂

KAPA187:  Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

PAUL Kabungo: In five years time I would have bought most of the necessary equipment needed to shoot decent productions, and I’d be running my media company fulltime… The sky is the Limit.

 SAMPLE OF HIS WORK

 BLACK N WHITE:  these Photos are of models as well as photos from music video shoots. These photos and more can be seen at Aliance Francaise.

COLOUR : these pictures are in natural light

BY KAPA187 

PATRICK MWANAWASA has said he will not attend the family summons over his alleged unpalatable language towards the Republican President.

He denied being disrespectful to the President and said he called him arrogant, which the President himself had admitted he was, and warned that such an arrogant attitude was similar to former Ivory Coast President Laurent Ggagbo who had to be unceremoniously removed from power after refusing to concede defeat.

Patric has also castigated the government for reversing the strong vision his late father had about fighting corruption. The President was recently quoted at the Trade Fair in Ndola as having said there was no corruption in Zambia. Most people have also seen the removal of the Abuse of Public Office clause from the laws on corruption as a step backwards in the fight against corruption.

Patrick also said he would not be cowed in his political campaign agaist the MMD.

Yesterday the Mwanawasa family has summoned Patrick Mwanawasa, over disparaging remarks he has been issuing against President Banda. His uncle, Moses Muteteka told the media that the family would like to counsel him because the statements he was making are not only demeaning the President, but embarrassing the family too.

Mr Muteteka further said that the statements coming from Patrick were too strong and inconsistent with the Mwanawasa family which is known to be disciplined and well-cultured. Mr Mutetaka further lamented that Patrick could be playing to the tune of the Patriotic Front (PF) which wants to use his name to discredit President Banda’s government.

“We have summoned him (Patrick). I asked him to come and see me immediately he arrives from Chipata. We are concerned with the statements said to be coming from him because they are quite strong. Imagine how can a young man tell President Banda that ‘you can’t bring me down’,” Mr Muteteka said.

He said the family meeting is not meant to infringe on Patrick’s right to belong to a political party of his choice, but to counsel him to respect elders in his political career.

He said it was clear that Patrick was being used by the PF because the language attributed to him is similar to that which PF president Michael Sata had been using against former President Mwanawasa.

THE Kazanga Cultural Association yesterday blasted Patriotic Front vice-president and chairperson Inonge Wina for ferrying cadres to the venue of the traditional ceremony.

The association warned the PF leaders against flexing their political muscle at the ceremony, as that would earn them expulsion.

The PF cadres, who were loaded in a Benz truck, stormed the venue of the ceremony and caused consternation with their noise of calling for change.

This infuriated the organisers of the ceremony that was for the first time graced by a senior government official at the level of the vice-president.

Kazanga Cultural Ceremony Association vice-chairman Lyton Kaushiku was forced to summon Dr Scott and Ms Wina who he asked to re-evaluate reasons of attending the ceremony.

Most of the people attending the ceremony were shocked that Dr Scott and Ms Wina could come to the Kazanga ceremony with a motive of dwarfing other political parties.

Mr Kaushiku accosted Dr Scott and Ms Inonge and told them to conduct themselves in a dignified manner because the Kazanga ceremony was not a platform for political messages.

“I advise you that this is a traditional ceremony and not a political assembly. You cannot come here shouting your political slogans here. There are other political parties here but have not come with their slogan. We want peace here and not a situation where you want to create tension. So, this is not the place for showing your popularity,” Mr Kaushiku said.

Mr Kaushiku later ordered all political parties to remove their party attire. He warned that any party that would be seen flashing the party symbol would be given ‘marching orders’.

Dr Scott and Ms Inonge were later allowed inside the arena, but with strict instructions not to politicise the cultural event.

[Zambia Daily Mail]