New Horizon Printing Press says it has no capacity to print the 2011 ballot papers.

ZANIS reports that the Lusaka based New Horizon Printing Press Managing Director Shawky Hemeidan said during a press briefing that his firm has no security printing equipment for printing ballot papers.

He further stated that New Horizon Printing Press does not have the technology and the know how to print the 2011 ballot papers.

Mr. Hemeidan revealed that New Horizon Printing Press intends to invest 5.7 million dollars in procuring security printing equipment that will be used to print the 2016 ballot papers.

He told journalists that his firm did not participate in the tendering of printing the 2011 ballot papers because the company had no capacity to print the ballot papers.

And Mr. Hemeidan says New Horizon Printing Press is the biggest print press in Zambia surpassing government printers.

Meanwhile , Mr. Hemeidan has thanked the general public for having faith in the company by suggesting that the company prints the 2011 ballot papers.

The development somewhat pacifies the growing calls and concerns in sections of society who are calling on the Electoral Commission of Zambia ( ECZ ) cancel the contract with the Universal Printing Group (UPG ) of South Africa due to alleged corruption.

The ECZ has however remained adamant to this call and has gone ahead with the contract. It has also for reasons of transparency dispatched an observer team to Durban , South Africa on a fact finding mission concerning the operations of the company.

ZANIS

Patriotic Front secretary general winter Kabimba has denied reports that there is division in the party following a letter written by some central committee members asking for party president Michael Sata to take rest from conducting campaigns.

PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba has described the reports as MMD propaganda aimed at decampaigning Mr. Sata.

Mr. Kabimba adds that Mr. Sata is in perfect health and that he is currently in Kabompo were he is conducting his campaigns.

He has questioned the quality of journalism being practiced at some public media institutions and has since challenged the authors of the reports allegations on the health of the PF leader to reveal their source of information.

Mr. Kabimba has told QFM that Mr. Sata welfare does not in any way concern the MMD and since advised ruling party to concentrate on their candidate Rupiah Banda.

Mr. Kabimba notes that his party has will not allow the MMD to derail his party’s focus on selling itself ahead of this year’s elections.

In yesterday’s edition of the Times Newspaper has carried a story alleging that the opposition PF has been rocked with divisions following the alleged ill-health of their party leader Michael Sata.

QFM

The United Party for National Development-UPND in Southern Province has called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia to nullify Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata’s application to contest the September 20 tripartite elections because he lied.

UPND presidential Spokesperson Winnerson Ng’uni has told ZNBC News in Livingstone that Mr Sata lied about his declaration of assets to Chief Justice Ernest Sakala last week.

Mr Ng’uni says there is no way Mr Sata can have only seven guns, a Toyota Cressida and shares in Standard Chartered Bank for the over 40 years he has been in political office both during UNIP and MMD.

He says if the declaration Mr Sata made is true, then he is incapable of running the nation if he were elected.

Mr Ng’uni says the alleged fake declaration of assets by Mr Sata has not come as a surprise since many Zambians know that the PF leader is god at telling lies.

He says this is why the UPND is appealing to Zambians not to vote for Mr Sata as he has no programme to develop the country.

But Southern Province PF Chairman Joseph Akafumba says Mr Sata’s alleged fake declaration of his assets cannot be the ground for disqualifying him from running in the presidential elections.

Mr Akafumba says there is nothing sinister about Mr Sata’s declaration of assets during the filing of presidential nominations.

He says Mr Sata’s declaration of his assets is a true reflection of what he has and is an indication that he did not steal any money from the public offices for him to accumulate wealth.

Mr Akafumba states that the PF leader cannot make false declaration of his assets just to impress some few individuals.

ZNBC

The Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson Justice Irene Mambilima has called for fair and balanced coverage from the media as the country heads to the polls.

Justice Mambilima says that fair and balanced coverage will not only contribute to a credible election but can also contribute to a level playing field for all political players participating in the elections.

She says that the media should also play an active role in encouraging stakeholders to support peaceful elections.

She also states that it is also imperative that the media gives accurate and factual information to the electorate to enable them to vote with an informed mind.

She says that the ECZ is concerned about complaints from political parties about unbalanced media coverage of their activities and campaigns.

The ECZ chief further says the commission is also concerned with reports of challenges faced by the media in covering some political parties.

Justice Mambilima has since called for dialogue between political parties and the media in order to accommodate each other.

She was speaking this morning during at a workshop with media heads at Mulungushi international conference center.

QFM

President Rupiah Banda has sent a message of condolence to Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata on the death of PF party members in a road accident at Kisasa, in Solwezi.

In a letter to Mr Sata, President Banda says he is saddened to learn about the accident in which a truck careered off the road, claiming five lives on the spot.

President Banda says life is the most important gift Zambians share in common and therefore any loss, regardless of who died, is painful.

This is according to a statement issued to ZNBC News by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere.

Mr Banda has wished Mr Sata, the PF membership and the bereaved families sincere condolences.

President Banda further says he wants to see the traditional friendly and hospitable spirit continuing beyond political boundaries.

He says whenever there is a tragedy such as the Solwezi accident, Zambian brothers and sisters should stand together and help strengthen one another.

Meanwhile President Banda says investigations should be carried out to establish the root cause of the tragedy.

He has however urged motorists and all passenger and cargo transport operators to ensure their vehicles are in good condition to avoid road accidents.

The President has also appealed to motorists to avoid alcohol before or while driving.

ZNBC