MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya has criticized people advocating for change of government in Zambia saying they have no heart for the country and the sufferings of the people.

Speaking when she met heads of government departments, parastatal organizations, civil society groups and NGO’s in Mufulira over the weekend, Ms Siliya said the MMD government under the leadership of President Rupiah Banda has scored tremendous strides in developing the country.

Ms. Siliya further said the MMD government under the able leadership of President Banda has reduced poverty among Zambians, a reason she said Zambians need to maintain the current government beyond this years’ general elections.

She said the MMD has changed party leaders and ministers over the past years it has been in power unlike some opposition political parties that have had the same leaders for over ten years.

She urged the people of Zambia to judge the MMD based on what they have done in terms of development as they call for change of government.

She further noted that Zambians should judge the MMD based on what the party’s political opponents have done and what they are capable of doing.

Ms Siliya cited some opposition political leaders that are advocating for legalization of homosexuality in the country and wondered if that is the change the people of Zambia needed.

She said change of government should only be done when the current one fails and not just calling for change without serious reasoning.

She however stressed that the MMD under the leadership of President Banda has not failed because it was revamping all sectors of the economy among them the increase in investments in the mining sector, tourism, agriculture and infrastructure development.
[ZANIS]

President Rupiah Banda has welcomed the reclassification of Zambia as a middle income country by the World Bank.

The President has pledged to ensure that Zambians start feeling the benefits of better salaries and standards of living.

He says this will be done through having a stable economy which will create jobs, increase foreign investment and eradicate poverty.

President Banda says the reclassification reinforces his achievement in building a better future for all Zambians.

The President says the World Bank’s decision is the latest in a long line of economic achievements which are directly having a positive impact on the Zambian people.

President Banda says Zambia’s economy is delivering growth of more than seven percent despite continued recession in many parts of the world.

He says his Government is also in the process of establishing multi-facility economic zones and industrial parks to promote the manufacturing sector.

This is contained in a statement issued to ZNBC News by Special Assistant to the President Dickson Jere.

Zambia has been named by the World Bank as a new middle income country together with Ghana.

The Banks latest assessment for this year ranks Zambia 27th and Ghana 28th.

ZNBC
EDITOR’ NOTE

Can Read more on http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jul/12/world-bank-reclassifies-28-poor-countries

Chipata Central Member of Parliament Lameck Mangani’s sympathisers this mornimg struggled to mobilse Chipata
residents to welcome him following his resignation from the ruling
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).

The Former Works and Supply Deputy Minister who arrived in Chipata
district expecting residents to give him a thunderous welcome was
snubbed and only a handful of people who are reported to have been
paid showed up at the Chipata airport.

ZANIS reports that efforts by his sympathisers to mobilise support
proved futile prompting them to pay taxi drivers and call boys to
masquerade as supporters.

And Chipata residents talked to by ZANIS said Mr Mangani should not
contest the Chipata central constituency seat because he had proved to be selfish by dumping the party that made him what he is today saying
he was a nobody before he joined the MMD.

Andrew Jere of Jere compound described Mr Mangani as a shameless opportunist who had failed to deliver in the MMD.

Eliness Zimba of Kapata township also expressed disappointment with Mr
Mangani saying the wise should judge him by his cunning behaviour.

Ms. Zimba stated that Mr Mangani should not be deceived that he had
support due to developments taking place in the district because these were Government-initiated and that as area MP he did nothing.

She noted that Government had been initiating a number of
developmental projects in order to facilitate the attainment of
Chipata district to a city status.

Another resident Timothy Zulu of Mchini compound said Mr Mangani’s
actions were shameful adding that people in the district had earlier
respected him but did not know that he was actually a snake.

Meanwhile the MMD in Eastern Province has accused Mr Mangani of being
an opportunist for ditching the party when elections were approaching.

MMD Provincial secretary, Ezekiel Mtonga said his resignation had
brought sanity to the party saying his presence triggered divisions
among members at constituency level.

Mr. Mtonga said Mr Mangani single handedly picked constituency
executive committee members to ensure that they paid allegiance to
him.

He stated that the party was now intact as an interim committee
had been constituted following the dissolution of the committee that
was handpicked by the area MP.

Mr. Mtonga also stated that the party had credible members who could
contest the Chipata Central Constituency seat and challenged Mr
Managani to contest on any other political party ticket so that he
could see the strength of the MMD which he said was still popular in
the province.

And speaking when he arrived at Chipata airport, Mr Mangani said his
resignation from the ruling party was not influenced by political
hatred towards President Rupiah Banda saying it was only a personal
decision.

He told reporters that he will officially announce his intentions on
Saturday and speculations are high that the former Works and Supply
Deputy Minister wants to join the opposition PF.
[ ZANIS ]

FORMER vice-president Enoch Kavindele says it is disrespectful for a young person like Patrick Mwanawasa to refer to President Banda as a stubborn man.

Mr Kavindele has advised Patrick to tone down his language because he is too young to engage President Banda in a confrontation.

He said in Lusaka yesterday that it is uncalled for, for Patrick to issue statements such as the one which appeared in yesterday’s The Post Newspaper in which he said President Banda’s stubbornness would be his downfall and that he (the President) cannot bring Patrick down.

“Let me advise young Patrick to mind his language because it is too strong and he is too young to address President Banda in that manner,” Mr Kavindele said.

Mr Kavindele said politicians using Patrick to issue such statements are not building his political career but are simply destroying it.

He said the MMD would have liked to nurture Patrick but it is his democratic right to belong to a political party of his choice.

Mr Kavindele said Patrick should not think that belonging to the Patriotic Front puts him at the same level as its leader, Michael Sata, because he (Mr Sata) and President Banda are elderly people.

“Mr Sata and President Banda are more less peers as they are almost the same age and they can call each other names. But it is wrong for Patrick to think he can also say anything he wishes to say,” Mr Kavindele said.

Mr Kavindele said former President Mwanawasa would have liked his son to continue in the MMD, but it is unfortunate that he has decided to take a different path.

“His father was my friend and I know he would have liked him to continue in the MMD and we would have liked to guide and nurture our nephew,” Mr Kavindele said.

He said Patrick could engage President Banda if he needs assistance, instead of embarking on a ‘misguided route’.

[Zambia Daily Mail]