Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
File:An elephant strolls through the reception area at a lodge
Chief Musungwa has appealed to the Ministry of Tourism and Natural resources to reconstruct the Kafue National park fence to prevent elephants from destroying crops in his Chiefdom.
The Chief said that elephants have destroyed maize crops in his area, an incident he said has forced farmers to sleep in their fields to scare aware the elephants.
Chief Musungwa observed that ever since the fence was removed, there has been an increase in the number of elephants invading villages in his Chiefdom.
The Chief said that recently some elephants invaded his village and destroyed a crush pen for cattle near his palace in Basanga.
The traditional leader further urged government to consider cropping the elephants population in order to reduce on crop damage in his Chiefdom.
Manchester City are said to be preparing an audacious Pounds 900,000 a-year deal for 14-year-old Charly Musonda Junior of Belgium side Anderlecht.
Chaly is the son of former Zambia international and Mighty Mufulira Wanderers midfielder Charles Musonda who played for Anderlecht from 1987 to 1997.
According to Mirriorfootball, City have joined the race for the teenager who has also attracted interest from Manchester united, Arsenal including Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.
“Charly is the best of all young talents, a mix of Xavi and Iniesta,” said former Anderlecht coach Jan Boskamp . “There is not a kid at his age who is so brilliant.”
And Konkola Blades coach Keagan Mumba says he is excited about the Chililabombwe sides leading the Super Division table.
Blades beat Zesco 1-0 away at Kafubu Stadium in Luanshya thanks to a fourth minute goal scored by striker Robert Tembo.
The game was shifted from Ndola to Luanshya because Zesco’s home ground turf at the Trade Fair was unplayable following wear and tear from the recent Zambia International Trade Fair held there.
Blades leads the table but one point on 26 points, one more than former chart toppers Power Dynamos.
“We shall not relax to lose focus and become big headed but we shall double our efforts,” Mumba said in a post-match interview.
Zesco meanwhile remain sixth on the table on 20 points from 11 games with two matches in hand.
Michael Chilufya Sata has a lot going for him politically. In fact, his political skills are unparalleled in Zambia. I have in a number of articles pointed out the fact that Michael Sata is a down-to-earth individual who easily connects with the people. He is also an opportunist who does not shy from using any event to his political advantage. Any serious contender to the presidency this year will ignore Sata only to his or her disadvantage. Sata is an enormous political force and he has been so for several decades.
However, some tendencies within the Michael Sata phenomenon are genuinely worrisome. Perhaps the most ridiculous of the Sata phenomenon is the promise he keeps making to Zambians that he would restore Zambian dignity (whatever that term means) within ninety days of assuming office. Principally, he keeps promising that he would change and transform the country within that period. In 90-days, Sata has promised to bring changes in fields stemming from the price of Coca-Cola, to gay rights, to the Barotseland Agreement of 1964. By promising so much change in so little time, Sata is putting himself up for failure and setting us for serious disappointment.
The 90-day promise is a messianic deception. Sata feels that he is the saviour of Zambian problems. This messianic complex is the last thing Zambians need. In fact, no serious leader who wants to bring genuine change to a country as needy as Zambia can trivialize the kind of change that is needed for our decaying nation. And for Sata to say that he can bring change, all the changes in three months is despicable and smacks mockery of the highest kind.
Sata speaks to Zambians as one would speak to “under-fives”. When Kaunda was fighting for Independence in the 1950’s he knew very well the challenge that lay ahead of the new nation. He humbly took up the challenge to lead Zambia. He was humble before God and before Man to realise that the challenge to lead a country is no small feat. He asked the people of Zambia to persevere through the difficulties that lay ahead. He did not trivialize the challenge of leadership. When Frederick Chiluba, proclaimed with his MMD cohorts that the hour had come for democratic change, Chiluba kept asking people at mammoth rallies whether they would persevere with him to change Zambia for the better. Chiluba understood very well the challenges of leadership and he was humble enough not to take leadership lightly. It was at those rallies in 1991 that Zambians agreed in unison that they were willing to walk the tough path of national healing with Chiluba as Head of State. Zambians liked the idea that a leader had told them the kind of challenges that lay ahead.
But in 2011, Sata is telling us that he has the magic wand to bring change to Zambia in 90 days. Sata is speaking as if he is speaking to kindergarteners. He is the one that has accused Hakainde Hichilema of being childish. But from what I have heard from Hichilema, he has taken the challenge of leadership more seriously. Hichilema is promising to work as hard as he can to bring change to Zambia. For Michael, Zambia does not need a long time to heal—in 90 days all the rot will be healed. It seems, Sata lives on Mars and not Earth.
Sata in promising change within 90 days does not take into account the dynamics of government. To his credit, Sata has had lots of experience in government. This is what really is shocking. You would expect that a person with so much experience in government would be wiser to know the complex apparatus that government is. In spite of Sata’s many years of service to our country, it seems there are many lessons he still needs to learn. Government is not like a private home along Omelo Mumba Road. As president, you cannot just command dignity into existence. It takes lots of courage, time and effort. Economic development change cannot be done in 90 days. Sata may be having a genuine vision to bring change. But this vision is very misplaced and is being inspired by his own pride and personal ego. He needs to shed off this messianic complex.
Old and experienced men like Michael Sata, are good for the country. But when these men do things or say things that do not make political or economic sense, it is even a greater disaster. I think Zambia should consider voting for a high school pupil to lead our country. It looks like 35-plus individuals have not done us any good. There is no need to have an experienced driver in State House, it these experienced individuals begin having 90-day hallucinations.
In 90-days, Sata has promised that he will stamp out corruption. He cannot certainly stamp out corruption in 90-days that took fifty-years to make. In fact, I seriously doubt Sata’s commitment to fighting corruption. He has a team of PF members who yesterday where running the very government that he is today accusing of corruption. PF’s Sata is today accusing the MMD of corruption when in fact; Sata was the kingpin of Chiluba’s leadership at a time that Chiluba was busy purchasing designers underwear. Sata did not leave Chiluba’s government due to corruption; he stayed on in government until it was becoming clear that Chiluba had dribbled him out of presidential succession. It is this political dribbling that we must credit Sata’s manic 90-day mantra.
Then of course, Sata is daily receiving new members into his party. These new members are a litany of the people that are corrupt. And in the next few weeks before the elections, Sata is likely to receive even more corrupt defectors from the MMD. These people are not genuinely looking for ways to serve the Zambian people; they are looking for genuine ways to serve their own stomachs. As such, Sata cannot fight corruption when corrupt people surround him! In 9 days and not 90-days, they will show him how to steal, and by the 90-day mark, Sata may start stealing with them.
What Sata should do, if he wants to be taken seriously, is to become a little bit more thoughtful with the challenges Zambia is facing. They are challenges of democracy, and economic development. They are challenges of corruption and education. They are challenges of media independence and national sovereignty. We like Sata because we know that when we attend his rallies we will be treated to free comedy. And comedy goes a long way in assuring votes. But beyond the oath of office, is the call to serve the nation and bring change in a difficult and sometimes painful manner.
The 90-day mantra is a lie which should be abandoned. Sata must use his popularity as the opportunity to speak to Zambians on ways he is going to fight corruption when his PF is full of corrupt MMD. He should be speaking to us about how he will respect press freedom when he banned government media from covering him at Mulungushi in Kabwe. He should be explaining to us how he would chase the Chinese only to receive the Taiwanese and recently the Afghans. He should explain to us, how he would promote democratic elections in Zambia when his party the PF conducted a national convention where no ballot was cast. He needs to explain to Zambians why he would not go to Chiluba’s funeral home to console the Chiluba family when he served Chiluba for so long. He needs to explain to us why we should not vote for an “under-five” Hichilema when his 90-day sweet change does seem childish. He needs to explain to us how he would implement the BA64 when he has on several times wanted to disband the Lozi monarch. He needs to explain to us why intellectuals within the PF cannot speak. He needs to explain to us how as a Catholic he would want to do away with the Declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation.
Finally, he should explain why Zambians should not go “Nafuti, Nafuti” for Rupiah Bwezani Banda. The 90-day nonsense is adequately insufficient.
FLASHBACK: Vice president George Kunda inspects drainage rehabilitation works in Lusaka
VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has announced that Government will this year rehabilitate more than 130 bridges under the countrywide fast-track emergency infrastructure rehabilitation programme to improve accessibility of goods and services to peole.
Mr Kunda said in Katete yesterday that this project will be undertaken by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), Zambia Army, Zambia National Service, Road Development Agency (RDA) and the Rural Roads Unit (RRU).
Of the 130 crossing points, 26 are in Eastern Province.
He said this when he commissioned Mayela Bridge, that has been reconstructed by RDA and RRU at a cost of K1 billion.
“This emergency rehabilitation of infrastructure is in line with my Government’s commitment to ensuring that all parts of our country are accessible for easy movement of people, goods and services,” he said.
On the Mayela Bridge, Mr Kunda said the infrastructure was washed away three times and that the community of Chief Kathumba was cut off with people having problems accessing Nyanje Hospital and the school located about 8kms from the crossing point.
He said RDA carried out technical assessment and cost estimates of reconstructing the bridge and submitted the bill of quantities to DMMU, which was then given K1 billion by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.
Mr Kunda said he is happy that work on the bridge was successfully completed and commended DMMU, RDA and RRU for a job well done.
He said the bridge will also improve people’s access to Mozambique.
Mr Kunda also said DMMU has rehabilitated five culverts in Chipata district and one in Mambwe that were washed away last rainy season.
And the Vice-President has said the DMMU has pre-positioned 3,300 metric tonnes of maize for distribution to vulnerable people in Eastern Province.
“I am reliably informed that this exercise is going on well. In order to warn our people of impending disasters, my office has further been implementing the community-based hazard early warning projects,” he said.
Mr Kunda said Government has distributed 30 solar panels and three motor bikes to the Meteorological Department and Water Affairs to ensure that people are provided with information before disasters occur.
He said Government is also constructing district hospitals in Chadiza, Chama and Lundazi which are at different completion levels on which Government plans to spend about K42 billion.
Mr Kunda said Government is further constructing 21 health posts across Eastern Province at a cost of K1.5 billion.
In the education sector, Mr Kunda said Government is building three high schools which are Kacholola in Nyimba, Chama South in Chama and Kasenengwa in Chipata at a cost of K72 billion.
“These projects are all near completion and will be ready for use before the end of this year. Rehabilitation works were also carried out on Chama Boarding High School at a cost of K23 billion,” he said.
Mr Kunda urged the people of Eastern Province to vote for President Banda and the MMD in this year’s tripartite elections to ensure continuity of development.
North-Western Province Minister Daniel Kalenga has directed District Commissioners in the province to report any misuse of Insecticide Treated mosquito Nets (ITNs) to the police as it is an offence under the public health Act.
Mr Kalenga said his office has received reports that some ITNs are used for catching fish, making wedding dresses and food covers by street vendors and that this was hampering the fight against malaria.
He said such acts should not be allowed adding that there should not be hesitation to reprimand anyone found wanting.
Women posing with their newly donated Mosquito nets
Mr Kalenga issued the directive in Solwezi yesterday during the launch of the 454,815 Insecticide Treated mosquito Nets door to door distribution to be conducted in all the seven districts in the province.
He noted with sadness that according to the 2010 malaria indicator survey results revealed a reduction of 31 percent household ownership and use of ITNs in North-western and 33 percent reduction usage by children under the age of five.
Mr Kalenga urged community leaders such as Chiefs, Headmen and community volunteers to emphasise messages that promote and increase awareness on the correct usage of the nets at household level.
He added that there is need to encourage positive behaviour change on the use of ITNs correctly and consistently if the malaria related Millennium Development Goal is to be attained.
Speaking at the same function, Anglican Church Central Africa Archbishop Albert Chama said the church will continue partnering with government in ensuring that the country attains a malaria free status.
Zambia Anglican Council and Society for family Health has partnered with government to distribute the long lasting ITNs procured by the global funding to communities in the province as a malaria prevention intervention.
Education Minister and MMD Party Spokesperson Dora Siliya
MMD Spokesperson Dora Siliya has urged the people of Mufulira and the entire Copperbelt to reject Patriotic Front Leader Michael Sata in this year’s general elections because he is a failure who failed to bring any meaningful development in the country when he served in various MMD government portfolios.
Speaking when she addressed heads of government departments, parastals organizations , NGOs and members of the Civil society, Ms Siliya said in 1992 when Mr Sata was Minister of Local Government and Housing, the Copperbelt recorded the worst cases of Cholera which demonstrated his lack of leadership qualities.
Ms Siliya who is also Education Minister cautioned the people of Mufulira not to entrust the PF leader with running affairs of the nation because he flip- talks and is also inconsistent on many national issues a tendency that would make take the country backwards in development.
She said Mr. Sata has changed goal posts on several national issues such as the Constitution making process and the windfall tax among other serious national issues.
The Education Minister further cautioned civil servants against engaging in politics saying those interested in politics should resign and join politics.
And addressing MMD members at Bufuke Women club Hall, Ms siliya appealed to the people to vote for credible leaders who will bring development to their area.
[pullquote]She said the PF MPs have failed to take development to their constituencies despite receiving huge sums of many through CDF and people have now resolved to vote for the MMD for them to experience real development.[/pullquote]
She urged people not to base their voting on material and perishable things that they receive from politicians during campaigns.
Meanwhile Ms Siliya expressed confidence that the MMD will win this years elections on the Copperbelt because the people have tested the PF MPs leadership and are dissatisfied.
She said the PF MPs have failed to take development to their constituencies despite receiving huge sums of many through CDF and people have now resolved to vote for the MMD for them to experience real development.
She said the people have realized that the PF has no focus and plan to develop the country and that it is only the MMD that has a vision for this country.
PRESIDENT Banda has said that he had failed to trust Chongwe member of Parliament (MP) Sylvia Masebo because he knew that she was a mole in the MMD.
And President Banda has wished former deputy minister of Works and Supply Lameck Mangani good luck with his newfound love in the Patriotic Front (PF).
President Banda said Ms Masebo, who recently resigned from the MMD and joined the PF, had remained in the ruling party after the death of President Mwanawasa as an agent of the opposition political party.
The President said in an interview at Lusaka International Airport yesterday shortly before departure for South Sudan that he had always doubted Ms Masebo’s loyalty to the MMD.
He said he had always been aware of Ms Masebo’s political mischievousness and that is why he could not trust her.
President Banda said he had reminded Ms Masebo about her schemes but being what she is, she continued maligning him and smuggling information from the MMD to the PF.
President Banda said when President Mwanawasa died in 2008, Ms Masebo waged a vicious hate campaign against him because she wanted former Minister of Finance and National Planning Ng’andu Magande to succeed the late Head of State.
President Banda said Ms Masebo launched a malicious and smear campaign against him just because he was the favourite to succeed the late President Mwanawasa.
The President stated that while he has never said anything against Ms Masebo, the Chongwe MP has always abused the Head of State without justifiable reasons.
President Banda said Ms Masebo continued abusing him even after the 2008 Presidential elections.
“It is an open secret that Masebo was a mole in the MMD and I did not think I could trust her. When President Mwanawasa died, she launched a hate and malicious campaign against me because she thought Magande would be president. She verbally abused me but I have never said anything against her. So let the people judge between me and her who has hatred against the other,” President Banda said.
Mr Banda said since Ms Masebo is claiming to be the most popular in Chongwe, the MMD is ready to meet her on the campaign battle field.
The President said he is waiting to see how popular Ms Masebo is in Chongwe adding that the elections will dictate who is going to have the last laugh.
And President Banda has said Mr Mangani has exercised his democratic right by resigning from the MMD and joining the PF.
Mr Banda said while he is sorry that Mr Mangani decided to resign when the MMD was considering adopting him to re-contest the Chipata central seat, he wished him good luck in his new party.
“He has chosen to go and when the MMD was formed way back in 1991, it was on the basis of giving people the right to freely associate themselves with their preferred parties. He has made his choice and has chosen to go. I am sorry that he has left at a time the party was considering adopting him as a candidate,” President Banda said.
And WALLEN SIMWAKA reports that the MMD in Eastern Province has described Mr Mangani as an egotistical, greedy and ungrateful person who has always wanted everything to himself.
MMD Eastern Province chairman Kennedy Zulu said Mr Mangani has been fighting President Banda for a long time now and that the party is happy that he has finally left the party
Mr Zulu said in an interview yesterday that the MMD in Eastern Province will always consider the resignation of Mr Mangani as good riddance.
“For the first time, the ruling party will breathe fresh air. Mr Mangani has been fighting the President and he has always wanted everything good for himself. He is a selfish, greedy and ungrateful man. The MMD in Eastern Province had sacrificed so much just for him but he has never appreciated. Time has come for us now to show him that he has never been a factor in Eastern Province and Chipata in particular,” Mr Zulu said.
Mr Zulu said when President Mwanawasa appointed President Banda as Vice-President, Mr Mangani was not happy because he (Mr Mangani) had wanted the position.
He said that Mr Mangani has always thought that he is better than President Banda and that is why he has always exhibited traits of insolence.
Meanwhile, YANDE SYAMPEYO reports that Southern Province MMD chairperson Edgar Keembe has said that Mr Mangani’s resignation from the party will have no impact on the MMD.
Mr Keembe said this is so because the party has gained ground and popularity in most parts of the country, describing Mr Mangani’s resignation as a “drop in the ocean”.
He said the MMD is bigger than any individual member adding that the party will remain intact.
“…I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead”
(Philippians 3:13, NLT)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Are you determined to forget the past? I know many people don’t fully understand what that means. They wonder, “How can I forget something that’s happened to me?” But one definition of the word forget is to disregard intentionally or to overlook. In other words, you have to choose to disregard your past so that it doesn’t hold you back. That means the good and the bad. Sometimes our past victories keep us from rising higher as much as our past failures can. If we don’t let go of the old, we’ll never be able to embrace the new.
It doesn’t matter what’s happened in your past, it’s time to forget what lies behind and make the choice to look forward. Trust that God has a better future in store for you. Trust that He’s working behind the scenes on your behalf. Trust that He who promised is faithful — as you forget what lies behind and press forward, you’ll experience His power and blessing in a fresh, new way.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, I choose to forget the past today. I don’t want anything to hold me back from the good future You have prepared for me. I choose forgiveness and ask that You help me, by Your Spirit, to press forward in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
One of the damaged bridge in Southern Province (File picture)
President Rupiah Banda has announced reconstruct the controversial Bottom road in Southern Province and a Chinese contractor have signed a contract for the construction of works.
Mr. Banda said during the meeting with civil servants at Maamba High School that the signing of the contract will be concluded this week when the attorney General gives out his opinion on deal.
He pointed out that the Bottom road has been a thorny issue in parliament and expressed gratitude that the road with be completed within three years.
The Bottom Road begins from Siavonga, Gwembe, Sinazongwe, and ends in Livingstone in chief Mukuni’s area.
The President said he is working hard to ensure that Southern which is pro-opposition becomes a strong hold of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).
Mr Banda pointed out that he is not ashamed to ask for votes from the electorates because of the developmental activities that are taking place within entire the country.
He noted that Southern Province should this time elect members of parliament so that they could be appointed to the ministerial position for them to have a wide talent in developing the country.
Mr. Banda appealed to the civil servants to vote wisely and give him a chance to complete his term of office as he has only served for three years.
Chief Sinazongwe of the Tonga speaking people thanked government for funding the bottom road which has been a major complaint among the Valley Tonga people since independence.
He also thanked government for funding the construction of Namafulo Border Post to allow people to have free movement to Zimbabwe unlike in the past where they had to pass through Siavonga and Livingstone.
President Rupiah Banda has arrived in Juba, Southern Sudan for the country’s first independence celebrations of the world’s newest country.
Mr Banda arrived aboard the Presidential Challenger at about 10:56 Sudanese time.
He is accompanied by some government officials including Army Commander Lieutenant General Wisdom Lopa and some State House staff.
President Banda is among other African and world leaders that are attending the historic event in Juba after more than 50 years of freedom struggle.
The President was welcomed by the new Republic of South Sudan Minister for Housing and physical planning Jemma Kumba at South Sudan International Airport.
Mr. Banda is the Chairperson of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region of which the new South Sudan is a Member.
The President is also Chairperson of SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
North Sudan President Omar El Bashir has also arrived in South Sudan.
He is expected to give a key note address at the event.
Other African leaders attending the celebrations include Rwandan president Paul Kagame, Nigeria’s Goodluck Jonathan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Mele zenawe and South African president Jacob Zuma and his predecessor Thabo Mbeki.
Other leaders who arrived on Friday include Swaziland’s Prime Minister, Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini and Burundi’s vice President, Dr. Yves Sahinguvu.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is also attending the celebrations.
Patriotic front president Michael Sata has thanked Republican President Rupiah Banda for making him popular and stronger.
Mr. Sata has alleged that the propaganda created by the MMD has made the PF to be stronger and known in almost all the areas in Zambia.
He said that the propaganda through Chanda Chimba’s stand up for Zambia has built the party bigger than it was in the last few years.
Mr. Sata has further appealed to Zambians not to listen to cheap political lies by the MMD just to dent the image of the party.
Speaking on special programme on radio phoenix this morning, MR. Sata has further called on Zambians to go in large numbers to cast their vote.
The Patriotic Front has further boasted of being the most experienced presidential candidate in the 2011 elections.
And Mr. Sata has said that his party is anxiously waiting for MMD Chipata central Member of Parliament Lameck Mangani to join the PF.
[pullquote]Mr Sata said that he is proud that the PF is receiving high profile Polititians than some parties who are only receiving councilors.[/pullquote]
Mr Sata said that he is proud that the PF is receiving high profile Polititians than some parties who are only receiving councilors.
And Kafulafuta Member of Parliament George Mpombo has charged the resignation Lameck Mangani is a sign that the MMD is finished and dead.
Mr. Mpombo said that Mr. Mangani’s resignation should clearly demonstrate that the MMD is not intact in Eastern Province as stated by the MMD officials.
He said that the resignation of the Chipata central Member of Parliament has destroyed the myth that the MMD is intact in Eastern Province.
Mr. Mpombo said that now the MMD has remained vulnerable, President Rupiah Banda should be commended for having managed to destroy the MMD.
Mr. Mpombo added that the MMD has no chance of returning power after the 2011 elections because of the power leadership being offered by president Rupiah Banda.
[pullquote]Mr. Mpombo said that Mr. Mangani’s resignation should clearly demonstrate that the MMD is not intact in Eastern Province as stated by the MMD officials.[/pullquote]
He said that the MMD will suffer heavy defeat because every day it is being uprooted through high profile leaders leaving the ruling party.
The former Defense Minister has since advised Mr. Mangani to stand firm describing him as a man of principle.
Mr. Mpombo said this in an interview today.
Meanwhile, Kasama central Member of Parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has said that the MMD under President Rupiah Banda is not going anywhere.
He has dispelled reports that him and Mr. Sata are not in talking terms, describing such reports as desperate attempts by the MMD to destabilize the PF.
United Liberal Party (ULP) leader Sakwiba Sikota has announced that he will not re-contest the Livingstone central seat in the forthcoming general election.
Mr. Sikota has told QFM that at the point he has reached, he needs to move from constituency based politics to national.
He says his campaign manager in the 2001 and 2006 polls, Benson Chingobe, is instead the one selling himself to the people of Livingstone for the seat.
The ULP leader has further refuted media reports that he has applied to re-contest his Livingstone seat on the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy MMD ticket during this year’s general election.
Mr. Sikota says it is unfortunate that such a story can be published without getting facts from him.
He says it is pointless for the Zambian Watchdog to allege that he intends to recontest the Livingstone seat on the MMD ticket when he is not even recontesting the seat.
PRESIDENT Banda’s lawyer Christopher Mundia has asked the Lusaka High Court to dismiss The Post newspaper editor-in-chief Fred M’membe’s application to cross-examine him based on the affidavit relating to the contempt proceedings.
Mr Mundia said when the matter came up for commencement of trial in Lusaka yesterday before High Court judge Charles Kajimanga that Mr M’membe’s application is frivolous and lacks merit.
This is in a case in which Mr Banda has applied to the court to commit Mr M’membe to prison for allegedly disobeying a court injunction which stopped The Post from publishing anything libelous against the President.
“The defendant (Mr M’membe) has been making applications in instalments and if he really wants to cross-examine me, he should have made that application together with the other applications which this court and the Supreme Court have dismissed,” he said.
Mr Mundia said if Mr M’membe had been serious about cross-examining him, he would have made yesterday’s application together with his earlier application in which he wanted to question Mr Banda.
“Mr M’membe should have applied to cross-examine me at the same time he wanted to question my client (Mr Banda). But making such an application in court at the 11th hour is an abuse of the court process,” he said.
Mr Mundia said since 2008, Mr M’membe has been making frivolous applications meant to delay the commencement of trial.
Earlier, one of Mr M’membe’s lawyers, Nchima Nchito, made an application that his client wanted to cross-examine Mr Mundia based on the affidavit for leave to commence contempt proceedings.
Mr Nchito also said he was surprised by Mr Mundia’s assertions that he made the application and relied on President Banda’s affidavit when he (Mr Mundia) swore it was for leave to commence contempt proceedings.
He said Mr Mundia said he is competent to depose the factual matters and he should, therefore, be capable to be cross-examined on the matters contained in the affidavit.
Mr Nchito said it is not true that Mr M’membe’s application is meant to delay the matter because he has given his lawyers instructions to take the matter seriously.
He said Mr M’membe is keen to commence proceedings. Mr Justice Kajimanga has adjourned the matter to July 25 for ruling.
MMD Spekesperson and Education Minister Dora Siliya
MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya has welcomed the resignation of deputy minister of Works and Supply Lameck Mangani, describing him as an undesirable member of the ruling party.
Ms Siliya told journalists during a press briefing in Mufulira yesterday that the MMD is not surprised by Mr Mangani’s resignation because of his association with some top Patriotic Front (PF) officials.
“We are not surprised that Mr Mangani has resigned from both the MMD and his ministerial position because he was exposed having dark corner meetings with Judith Kapijimpanga and a PF official, and his wife was also reported to be campaigning for the PF in Chipata,” Ms Siliya said.
She said the MMD remains united and will not be derailed from implementing development programmes.
MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga also said the resignation of Mr Mangani from the ruling party was expected. Mr Mabenga said Mr Mangani’s decision is therefore not surprising, going by the dealings he has been having with the opposition.
In his resignation, Mr Mangani said he would soon announce his next move after meeting his constituents in Chipata.
Mr Mabenga said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Mr Mangani’s resignation has not moved the MMD in any way.
“We saw this coming and we are not surprised that he has resigned. We saw the dealings he had with Mrs Kapijimpanga and other members of the opposition,” Mr Mabenga said.
Mr Mabenga said despite Mr Mangani’s resignation, the MMD is still strong and popular in Chipata Central.
“The MMD is popular in Chipata Central not because of him (Mr Mangani) but because of what the party has done there,” he said.
In his resignation letter, Mr Mangani thanked both President Banda and President Mwanawasa for giving him a chance to serve in different Government positions.
He served in five different ministries since 2006 and said he had been through “ups and downs.”
Early this year, Mr Mangani was pictured at a Lusaka-based lodge holding a private meeting with Mrs Kapijimpanga shortly after the latter joined the PF. But Mr Mangani claimed the meeting was a ‘family affair.’
And MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu confirmed that the party secretariat has received Mr Mangani’s resignation letter dated July 8, 2011.
Mr Nyangu said Mr Mangani’s resignation is his personal decision and could not comment further because by press time, he did not have full details about Mr Mangani’s reasons for resigning.
Meanwhile, Chipata Central MMD youth activist Mathews Phiri says the party in the constituency will fight hard to retain the Chipata Central seat.
Mr Phiri said Mr Mangani has not only betrayed President Banda and the MMD, but the entire Eastern Province and Zambia as a whole. He said Mr Mangani should not take people for granted.
“We will fight for that seat to the bitter end if he decides to recontest it. Let him contest if he can withstand the pressure,” he said.
He said the MMD in the province believed that Mr Mangani would be among the people in the forefront to help President Banda win this year’s elections but the party is disappointed with his (Mr Mangani’s) lack of appreciation for what Mr Banda has done in Chipata Central.
“It is disappointing that he can turn around at this hour. These are the moles in the MMD. But the party is not short of leadership material and I can assure Mr Mangani that we will find a better replacement and it will not be an easy fight for him,” Mr Phiri said.
And JERRY MUNTHALI reports that MMD Copperbelt provincial chairman Joseph Chilambwe says Mr Mangani’s decision to resign his position has proved that he was a mole.
Mr Chilambwe said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that the MMD will not miss Mr Mangani.
“The picture published in the Sunday Mail showing Mr Mangani with Mrs Kapijimpanga (former MMD chairperson for Lands) told everything. We knew that Mr Mangani belongs to the same political party as Mrs Kapijimpanga.
“When we started talking about Mr Mangani, we realised that he is not genuine. He is a mole,” Mr Chilambwe said.
MMD Luapula provincial chairman Emmanuel Chungu described Mr Mangani’s resignation as sad.
“It is sad in the sense that people are using emotions to make decisions. They should not be emotional when making decisions. Mr Mangani should have looked at the bigger picture, which is the MMD, because it is the only political party capable of delivering development to the people,” Mr Chungu said.
Evangelical Youth Alliance International (EYAI) president Reverend Moses Lungu said his organisation is not surprised by Mr Mangani’s decision to resign his position.
“His decision to quit is not new. He always wanted attention from President Banda but the Head of State is not there to make idols,” Rev Lungu said.
