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]

Addressing MMD Party officials in Chinsali, Tuesday afternoon, Mr Kunda said there is a lot to point to for President Banda’s achievements across the sectors.

He says most people are tired of being in the opposition with leaders without an agenda for the country.

Mr. Kunda has urged MMD members to fully embrace defectors.

He has pledged logistical support to lower party structures ahead of the tripartite elections.

Mr. Kunda accused PF Leader Michael Sata of denying his foot soldiers required logistical support leaving them to thrive on hatred as a driving force.

And Mr Kunda says MMD will field credible candidates to win the tripartite elections.

He also says the PF scooped some parliamentary seats through corrupt means.
[ ZNBC ]

The United Party for National Development is overwhelmed by applications for adoption for this year’s general elections.

UPND President Hakainde Hichilema says is equally impressed with the quality of people that are applying to stand on various positions in the party.

But Mr. Hichilema has held back the date for announcement of candidates to be adopted as a party of the UPND Strategy.

And Alliance for Democracy and Development, President Charles Milupi also says the party has started receiving applications from various people intending to stand on his party during the election.

Mr. Milupi says the process is going on well.

And National Restoration party -NAREP-Spokesperson John Phiri says the party has also started receiving applications from all parts of the country.

Mr Phiri says the party is overwhelmed with response from the public.

ZNBC

Chipata Central Member of Parliament Lameck Mangani this mornimg said that his resignation from the ruling party was not influenced by political hatred towards President Rupiah Banda saying it was only a personal decision.

Speaking when he arrived at Chipata airport,Mr Mangani 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.

Earlier, Mr Mangani’s sympathisers struggled to mobilse Chipata residents to welcome him following his resignation from the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).

Mr Mangani 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. 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.

ZANIS

Luangeni Member of Parliament Angela Cifire has dismissed rumours that she has resigned from the ruling MMD.

Ms Cifire who is also information and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister has described the speculations as unfounded.

She told ZNBC News in Luangeni Thursday morning that she has no intentions of resigning from the MMD.

Ms Cifire who is on a tour of her constituency, has pledged her continued loyalty to the ruling party.

On Tuesday, MMD Chairperson for Elections Gabriel Namulambe and Labour Minister Austin Liato also dismissed as false speculations that they had intentions to leave the MMD.

Mr Namulambe wondered why some people were peddling lies about him when he holds positions as cabinet minister and party chairperson for elections.

And Mr Liato said he and Mr Namulambe are still strong in their constituencies and wondered why they cherish the idea of ditching the MMD.

[ZNBC]

Citizens Forum executive secretary Simon Kabanda has expressed disappointment at the exchange of words between Chongwe Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo and Republican President Rupiah Banda in the media.

Mr. Kabanda says it is disappointing that leaders can spend time on personal attacks against each at the expense of addressing issues affecting the Zambian people.

Mr. Kabanda says national leaders are expected to spend time talking about how they intend to reach out to the many suffering Zambians.

He says the differences Ms. Masebo has with President Banda will not provide an income to the many youths suffering in the country.

Mr. Kabanda has since urged politicians against being personal as they sell their manifestos to the Zambian people.

He says Zambians want politicians who will deliver development, not those who thrive on character assassination of others.

And the United Party for National Development (UPND) has accused republican President Rupiah Banda of not committing to dialogue ahead of the forthcoming tripartite elections.

UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma says it will be very difficult to resolve post election disputes this year if stakeholders are not willing to embrace dialogue.

Mr. Kakoma has told Qfm that dialogue is the only solution to problems pertaining to elections adding that his party supports the move by the church to hold an indaba for political leaders to iron out differences that arise during elections.

He says it is unfortunate that ever since President Banda assumed office in 2008, he has not taken a step to promote dialogue among political stakeholders in the country.

Mr. Kakoma who is also Zambezi West Member of Parliament has since urged political parties in the country to engage in constructive dialogue in the run up to the polls.

Various stakeholders have been calling on political players in the country to embrace dialogue in order to resolve differences in the political arena.

QFM