THE Evangelical Youth Alliance International says it is inhumane for former minister of Works and Supply Mike Mulongoti to call a clergyman of Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha’s calibre as a reverend of Satan.

The organisation’s president, Moses Lungu, said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday it is disappointing for Mr Mulongoti, who is a son of a reverend, to demean an ordained minister such as Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha.

Mr Mulongoti was recently quoted in the media as having referred to Gen Shikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, as a reverend of Satan.

“Mr Mulongoti, being a son of late reverend Isaiah Mulongoti, should set a good example to the young generation that the language he used to describe Gen Shikapwasha is unpalatable,” Reverend Lungu said.

He said it is disappointing that such language can come from a former Cabinet minister.

Rev Lungu said Mr Mulongoti should not resort to insulting Cabinet ministers and the MMD because he has fallen out of favour with the ruling party.

He said Mr Mulongoti is frustrated because he did not expect to leave Government soon.

Rev Lungu also said it is not right for the former Cabinet minister to complain about the operations of the public media when he allegedly abused it when he was minister of Information and Broadcasting Services.

He said the public media has been fair in its coverage, but it is people such as Mr Mulongoti who want to mislead the nation that it is biased.

Rev Lungu said the public media has the mandate to provide the public with information that will help to maintain peace and stability in the country.

He said some sections of the media have created an impression that President Banda’s administration is not delivering on its development agenda, which is not true.

He said it is the mandate of the public media to properly inform the public on the developmental projects Government is undertaking.

Rev Lungu also said it is not fair for the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to accuse the public media of being biased.

He said LAZ should rise above pettiness when commenting on media coverage and give fair guidance on such matters.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

THE Tobacco Board of Zambia (TBZ) has sued former Deputy Minister of Works and Supply Lameck Mangani for non-payment of rent arrears for his Chipata residence amounting to K37 million.

According to a writ of summons obtained by the Zambia Daily Mail issued by the Chipata High Court and served on Mr Mangani yesterday by Fred Jere and Company, the former Chipata Central member of Parliament has not paid the outstanding amount accruing from 2009.

Mr Mangani has been given a 14-day ultimatum to respond to the suit, from the date of service of the writ of summons.

Details of the claim case number 2011/HJ/18 in the Chipata High Court are that Mr Mangani owes TBZ a total sum of K37 million rent arrears in respect of Plot number 1463 Umodzi Highway, Chipata, which the former minister is occupying.

The statement of claim indicates that the rent arrears have accumulated from K7,450,000 in 2009 to K37 million as at July this year.

The plaintiff has asked the Chipata High Court to order Mr Mangani’s eviction from the house, pay the arrears in full with interest and costs of the action.

The statement of claim also states that the plaintiff, was at all material times a registered and statutory board which runs the tobacco industry in Zambia.

Mr Mangani was at all material times a tenant in the plaintiff’s house situated on Plot 1463 Umodzi Highway, Chipata.

“The defendant has ignored several demands from the plaintiff to settle the outstanding amount and to express interest to renew the lease agreement which expired on December 31, 2010, hence the need for immediate possession of the house,” the statement of claim reads in part.

And investigations by the Zambia Daily Mail have revealed that the house whose rent arrears have totalled K37 million, is currently being occupied by Mr Mangani’s second wife Mary who is a former Catholic nun.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

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 ]