Heritage party president Godfrey Miyanda has successfully filed in his presidential nomination papers before Chief Justice Ernest Sakala at the Supreme Court.

Brigadier General Miyanda arrived at the Supreme Court at 11:30 hours accompanied by his daughter Loraine and son Simambo.

General Miyanda becomes the tenth presidential candidate to successfully file in nomination papers for the September 20 general elections.

Addressing the Cadres Gen. Miyanda urged them to go flat out and sell the party to the electorate without violence.

He says the country needs a new leader who is disciplined and who will bring sanity to all sectors of the economy.

And speaking to journalists General Miyanda said he has filed for presidency because some members of the grand coalition have already filed as presidential candidates.

He however says the grand coalition would have been the only way for the opposition to remove the MMD and the PF as front runners in this year’s elections.

Meanwhile, the communist party has withdrawn from the presidential race after failing to file in their nomination papers.

Party president Mubita Wakumelo says the party has failed to file in because the Electoral Commission of Zambia has advised them to change their party symbol which is in conflict with a symbol of another political party.

Mr Wakumelo says the party does not have sufficient time to choose another symbol and to circulate supporters.

Presidential Candidates who have already filed in their nominations include president Rupiah Banda of MMD, UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema, UNIP’s Tilyenji Kaunda, FDD’s Edith Nawakwi and NAREP’s Elias Chipimo Jnr.

Others are Ng’andu Magande of the National Movement for Progress, Michael Sata of the PF, Charles Milupi of the ADD and Dr Fred Mutesa of the Zambians for Empowerment and Development Party have also filed in their nominations.

ZNBC

Former Mkushi North Member of Parliament has been expelled from the MMD after she decided to stand as an independent candidate in the area.

Ms Changwe decided to stand on an independent ticket after being left out by the ruling party on the list of adopted parliamentary candidates for the 20th September polls.

MMD Central Province National Publicity Secretary Richard Yumbe says Ms Changwe has ignored advice from the party and gone ahead with her decision.

Mr Yumbe says the party in the province will soon write to the National Executive Committee informing the higher organ of the party of its decision.

Patricia Mwachingwele has also been expelled from the MMD following her decision to stand on the Patriotic Front ticket in Katuba, after she was not adopted by the MMD.

Mr Yumbe has told ZNBC News in Chibombo that he is confident that the ruling party will scoop all the 14 seats in the province.

Meanwhile, Adoption problems have continued in the Patriotic Front with Party member Beck Banda opting to contest the Bwacha seat as an Independent.

Mr. Banda who was flanked by his supporters says he will contest the seat as an independent or join another political party that will adopt him.

He says the PF adopted candidate Sydney Mushanga for Bwacha Constituency has been rejected by people at the grassroot.

Mr. Banda told ZNBC News that he got more marks during the PF adoption process and that he is a favourite in the constituency.

ZNBC

Patriotic Front Kabwata aspiring parliamentary candidate Given Lubinda has challenged his opponent Peter Machungwa to explain why he has been rejected by the people of Luapula where he had been MP for 20 years on the MMD ticket.

Mr. Lubinda has noted that if adopted by the PF, it will be easy for him to campaign and win the seat because Dr. Machungwa is not a threat.

The former parliamentarian says he has tried his best to take development to Kabwata constituency and has since challenged Dr.Machungwa to point out his contributions to the development of Luapula constituency during the time he served as a parliamentarian on the PF ticket.

But Dr. Machungwa says he is ready to face Mr Lubinda in the battle field.

He notes that the MMD government has done its best to deliver development and that it is up to the people of Kabwata to decide.

Dr. Machungwa adds that the MMD will in the next 40 days campaign vigorously in readiness for the polls.

QFM

Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) president Charles Milupi has noted that the lack of general consensus among the opposition political parties has contributed to fragmentation of the opposition in the country.

Mr. Milupi said that some opposition political parties that seem to be so popular have failed to reach an agreement with other political parties because they have the minority agenda.

He added that ADD had always indicated that it was ready to work with any party provided there was commitment from both parties to reach a general consensus.

Mr Milupi who successfully filed in his presidential nominations yesterday has however dismissed assertions that the increased numbers of political parties participating in this year’s elections will split the opposition vote.

He notes that the people of Zambia are able to vote for the people they feel will be able to deliver development and good leadership.

And Zambia Police Service Deputy Commissioner Solomon Jere has said the service will remain vigilant and ready to counter any form of violence during the election period.
Speaking in an interview, Dr. Jere has expressed happiness at the conduct of political cadres during the ongoing filing in of presidential nominations.

He says the peace currently prevailing at the Supreme Court is encouraging and has urged cadres to maintain tranquility during election and after the 20th September poll.

The Police deputy Commissioner explains that this year’s polls should be violence free adding that the police will not hesitate to pounce on any law breaker.

He has since called on all political cadres to cooperate with the police in order to ensure that no form of violence is recorded in the forthcoming tripartite elections.

Dr. Jere says the police service will always uphold professional standards and endeavor to ensure that Zambians are protected from any form of mischief.

QFM

The Controversy in the Opposition Patriotic Front over adoption of parliamentary candidates has deepened.

The much anticipated adoption in the opposition party is so much divisive that even families are on the verge on splitting

Former PF Munali Member of Parliament, Mumbi Phiri is reluctant to endorse her elder sister, Professor Nkandu Luo, who was adopted to replace her.

Mrs Phiri claims the decision by the PF central committee to adopt Professor Luo, has left a crack in her family, especially that she had never made her intentions known.

Efforts to get a comment from Professor Luo failed as her mobile phone was switched off.

Meanwhile, The Patriotic Front-PF said , once voted into office,it intends to decentralise powers to enable people make their own decisions from district to provincial level.

Speaking during a public forum organised by Media Institute for Southern Africa-(MISA)Zambian chapter at sunset lodge in Monze,Patriotic Front district chairperson Mackenzie Lungu said his party wants to see full participation of all Zambians by introducing ward councils in villages,Chief councils and also district chief councils.

”our party once voted in office after September 20,will make suere that we decentralise all powers to enable our people make their own decisions at both province and district levels”,Lungu said.

”This is aimed at making possible the information flow from the grassroots not what is happening with the MMD”,he added.
Mr Lungu added that his party will domesticate and implement the 2008 United Nations General assembly convention on the rights of persons with dissabilities as well as the review of the Persons With Disability act of 1996.

”our party is the only committed party in uplifting the living conditions of the less privileged in society and we will bring on board all the treaties that Zambia has signed including the 2008 United Nations General Convention on the right of persons with disabilities”,Lungu said.

”its sad that the country has failed to implement the treaties despite Zambia being the signatory to the many treaties”,he added.

The high success rate of filling in of nominations by different political parties point to a record number of presidential candidates in this year’s elections. The last highest number of presidential candidates was in 2001 which saw eleven candidates fight it out for plot one.

9 presidential candidates have successfully filed in for the race to plot one ahead of the 20th September elections. Only with the failure by Dr Cosmo Mumba’s NRP to participate in the presidential elections, and the withdraw by the ZDDM, the expected number of presidential candidates now stands at 15, from the total of seventeen who had shown interest to vie for the highest office in the country.

People’s Redemption Party(PRP) President Stephen Mwale who was expected to file in his nominations today, has asked the Electoral Commission to reschedule his timetable. Bishop Mwale was expected to lodge in his papers before Chief Justice Ernest Sakala at 12:00 hours after the MMD candidate.

ECZ Public Relations Manager Cris Akufuna confirmed to ZNBC News that Bishop Mwale will instead file his presidential nomination papers on Friday at 15:00 hours.

On Thursday, Heritage Party President Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda, will open the filing in business with a date with the Chief Justice from 09 00 to 11 30 hours.

At 12 00 to 14 30 hours the same day, the Ndola based United Nationalist Party (UNP) is expected to join the race for plot one.

It will be only 30 minutes afterwards that the Zambian Conservative Party (ZCP) will drop ink on paper to join the race for presidential elections coming up on 20th September.

Friday will see the Zambia Progressive Party (ZPP) file in between 09 00 to 11 30 hours, with only an interval of 30 minutes in between that the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) will also declare their intention for the heavily contested seat in Zambia’s history.

With the request for deferment granted to the People’s Redemption Party to file in Friday, its president Bishop President Stephen Mwale will close the list of successful applicant for the office of president of Zambia.

And A University Of Zambia Lecturer, Neo Simutanyi says no political party will win with a majority in this year’s general elections.
Dr Simutanyi also says the 20th September polls will not be different from the 2001 general elections.

He has explained that this is because of the number of presidential candidates.

Dr Simutanyi, who is also Centre for Policy dialogue Director, has stated that there will be a split of votes, which will highly disadvantage the opposition.

PROTESTS by Patriotic Front (PF) members on the Copperbelt have continued with those in Lufwanyama rejecting their leader Michael Sata’s preferred candidate, 23-year-old Christopher Kalenge who they described as immature.

In Kawambwa, PF members are also not happy with the Parliamentary candidate Mr Sata has allegedly imposed on them, saying he was not the preferred candidate by the grassroots members.

The Lufwanyama PF district executive led by secretary, Prince Shimukunami told the Times in Kitwe yesterday that the grassroots members were opposed to the adoption of Mr Kalenge.
Mr Shimukunami said PF in the district was disappointed with the party leaders for going against the recommendation of Rodgers Chimena, and alleged that there was no democracy in the party.

“The party can’t impose somebody (Mr Kalenge) who has no political track record. He is only 23 years old, what can he do for the people in the constituency?” Mr Shimukunami said.
He accused the PF provincial executive of being corrupt by adopting Mr Kalenge who was not recommended.

Mr Shimukunami said 16 councillors from the 16 wards had since withdrawn from contesting in this year’s elections because of the alleged corrupt tendencies in the opposition party.

He said when the district executive complained to former Works and Supply minister Mike Mulongoti, who was coordinating the PF adoption process in Lufwanyama, the former minister only advised them not to leak the matter to the media because he did not want the central committee to know about it.

He said people had lost interest in the PF because of the alleged lack of respect for democracy.

Mr Shimukunami also said PF members in Lufwanyama had vowed not to vote for the opposition party leaders because they lacked respect for local leadership.

He said PF had lost its political clout on the Copperbelt because of the manner in which the adoption process had been handled, adding that Mr Sata should forget about being voted for.

Meanwhile the Patriotic Front in Bahati constituency has warned its top party leaders against adopting Hurry Kalaba to run as their candidate for Member of Parliament in the forth coming elections.

Constituency Chairman Damiano Mwewa says all the wards in the constituency do not want Mr Kalaba to be their candidate in the area.

Mr Mwewa says the PF in Bahati are threatening to defect to other parties if Mr Kalaba is adopted in the area.

He says the people of Bahati are ready to work with any other candidate and not Mr Kalaba who he said is a selfish and pompous person.

Mr Mwewa says Kalaba wants to destroy the structures of the party in the area by bribing people who are not in the party structure in order to solicit for support.

Zanis reports that Mr Mwewa was speaking when he lead a number of PF supporters at the Zanis offices in Mansa on Monday.

Mr Mwewa says Kalaba has already started mistreating people in the area and wondered how he will be if chosen as Member of Parliament.

He says the constituency wants a candidate chosen by the people and not to impose on them.

He urged party Secretary General Winter Kabimba to listen to the views of the people of Bahati because they are the ones voting and not Mr Kalaba.

President Rupiah Banda has successfully filed in his presidential nomination papers before Chief Justice Ernest Sakala at the Supreme Court.

President Banda arrived at the Supreme Court at about 10:20hours in a luxury coach painted in MMD colours, to a thunderous welcome amid singing and dancing cadres.

There was jubilation from the supporters as the luxury bus carrying President Banda entered the Supreme Court grounds.

The MMD cadres raised banners, placards and various campaign materials as President Banda entered the Supreme Court grounds.

Mr Banda walked straight to the Supreme Court in the company of First lady Thandiwe, Vice President George Kunda, and MMD National Secretary Major Richard Kachingwe.

Some former cabinet and Deputy Ministers who have been adopted to contest various constituencies on the MMD ticket also accompanied President Banda.

Among them are Ronnie Shikapwasha for Keembe, Dora Siliya for Petauke Central and Moses Muteteka for Chisamba.

Others are MMD candidate for Kabwata Constituency Dr Peter Machungwa, former Government Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga.

After president Banda had filed in his nomination, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala declared Mr Banda’s nomination papers valid at about 10:50 hours.

And speaking to journalists within the Supreme Court after filing in his nomination papers, President Banda said he and his government are happy that they have done their best to deliver development even though time was limited.

President Banda said various infrastructure development projects in the health and education sector, construction of roads and bridges as some of the things he has done during his three years in office.

Mr Banda said he is particularly happy that the country has remained peaceful and united.

President Banda said the MMD will take campaign message to the people as contained in party manifesto.

But president Banda says the MMD will not take people for granted.

Mr Banda says he will also ask Zambians to vote for him again based on what he has achieved during the time that he has been in office.

And addressing MMD members who gathered to give him support at the Supreme Court grounds, Mr Banda pledged to do more if voted for in this year’s elections.

He thanked them for giving him solidarity during the filing in of his nomination papers.

[ZNBC]

The Patriotic Front (PF) has not appealed to the Supreme Court contrary to the earlier intention. A check at the Supreme Court on this morning revealed that there is no appeal entered in the registry book.

MMD Lawyer Sunday Nkonde has also told ZNBC that the ruling party has also not been served with the notice of appeal by the PF. Mr Nkonde has challenged the PF to go ahead with the appeal saying the MMD is ready to meet the opposition party in court.

Yesterday, after losing their case, the Patriotic Front indicated that an appeal would be made to the Supreme Court against the judgment delivered in the High Court over President Rupiah Banda’s parentage.

PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba said the Judge misrepresented herself when she threw out the case.

The High Court yesterday dismissed the petition by the Patriotic Front to restrain President Rupiah Banda from filling nomination papers for the September 20 general elections.

Judge in Charge Jane Kabuka dismissed the PF Petition following the Preliminary issues raised by the defence lawyers.

Judge Kabuka ruled that President Banda, who is the subject of litigation, is not party to the proceedings.

She states that on this ground, any adverse decision on him amounts to the breach of rule of natural justice.

Prior to the ruling, Defence Lawyers submitted that the action be dismissed.

They argued that the High Court has no jurisdiction to preside on controversies on Presidential qualifications.

The Defence lawyers submitted that any controversy on the Presidential qualification is the preserve of the Supreme Court.

In the absence of any legal impediment against his eligibility to file contest the presidency, Mr Banda was therefore able to file in his nomination papers Wednesday morning as per the Electoral Commission of Zambia timetable.

[ZNBC]