Kitwe Mayor Elias Kamanga has accused Kitwe City Council (KCC) management of acting unprofessionally by withdrawing his official mayoral vehicle. The Kitwe Mayor said he is disappointed that KCC management failed to follow procedure in the matter.

“The council acted unprofessionally. They are denying me the benefits bestowed on me by Kitwe residents. I am disappointed with the town clerk (David Kabanda), and I told him because they did not follow procedure. This is a policy matter. The full council meeting should have come up with a position and not the management,” Mr Kamanga said.

And Police in Kitwe yesterday recorded a warn-and-caution statement from Kitwe mayor Elias Kamanga in connection with allegations that he refuelled Patrick Mwanawasa’s vehicle with 73.4 litres of petrol worth K 635,000 on a council account.

The MMD Copperbelt Task Force and Kitwe City Council have filed official complaints at Riverside police station on Mr Kamanga’s alleged theft of fuel from the government.

Mr Kamanga and police sources confirmed the mayor’s questioning in separate interviews in Kitwe yesterday.

Mr Kamanga arrived at Riverside police station at 14:00 hours in the company of his lawyer, where police officers recorded a warn-and-caution statement from him.

“I opted to remain silent before the police officers. I told the police officers that there is nothing to talk about,” Mr Kamanga said.

Kitwe City Council spokesperson Francis Wasamunu confirmed that the local authority has lodged an official complaint against Mr Kamanga in an interview yesterday.

“We have just lodged an official complaint to the police over the fuel that Kitwe mayor Elias Kamanga gave to Patrick Mwanawasa,” Mr Wasamunu said.

The Kitwe City Council on Monday withdrew the mayoral vehicle for Mr Kamanga because he was allegedly using it on personal and political errands.

And Minister of Local Government and Housing Brian Chituwo has commended the Kitwe City Council management for withdrawing Kitwe mayor Elias Kamanga’s official vehicle.

Dr Chituwo has commended the Kitwe City Council (KCC) management for withdrawing Kitwe mayor Elias Kamanga’s official vehicle.

On Monday KCC management withdrew Mr Kamanga’s official mayoral vehicle because he has allegedly been using it for personal and

political errands.

And chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha says Government is disappointed with Mr Kamanga’s alleged abuse of his office, and has warned Zambians against entrusting the Patriotic Front (PF) with leadership in this year’s elections.

Dr Chituwo said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday he supports the local authority’s decision to withdraw Mr Kamanga’s official mayoral vehicle.

He said it is unfortunate that Mr Kamanga ignored the guidelines on the usage of mayoral vehicles.

“I support the action taken by council management to withdraw the mayoral vehicle from Mr Kamanga. I would like to take this opportunity to warn other mayors countrywide against abusing mayoral vehicles. They must follow the laid down procedure on the usage of the mayoral vehicles,” he said.

Dr Chituwo also said allegations that he has withheld Constituency Development Fund (CDF) are not true. He said that K39 billion was released to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing for CDF.

“For councils that have not submitted the financial returns for 2010, the ministry requested the office of the provincial local government to verify in case of abuse of the funds before such councils can be considered for 2011 CDF. Members of Parliament must tell the people that this is Government money meant for development,” he said.

And Lieutenant General Shikapwasha castigated Mr Kamanga for allegedly using his official mayoral vehicle on personal and political errands.

“First of all, this is what we are telling Zambians that when you vote for the Patriotic Front (PF) and its leaders you end up shooting yourself in the leg,” he said.

Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that it is unfortunate that Mr Kamanga has allegedly been abusing the mayoral vehicle.

“These people in PF are desperate and they should not be trusted with the governance of the country. I was in Kitwe recently, and I am aware about the illegal land allocation going on at the council, which is

being perpetuated by the councillors,” Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said.

He warned Zambians against voting for PF in this year’s tripartite elections.

Lt-Gen Shikapwasha accused Mr Kamanga of allegedly illegally allocating plots to some Kitwe residents.

He also condemned Mr Kamanga for refueling Patrick Mwanawansa’s vehicle with 73.4 litres of petrol worth K 635,000 on a council account.

And Zambia United Local Authorities Workers Union (ZULAWU) general secretary Noel Kalangu commended KCC management for withdrawing Mr Kamanga’s official mayoral vehicle.

“We are disappointed with what is happening at Kitwe City Council. We are told that our members are being called names and intimidated. The refueling of Patrick Mwanawasa’s vehicle was wrong and we condemn it,” he said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Works and Supply minister Gabriel Namulambe and his Ministry of Labour counterpart Austin Liato have denied harboring intentions of defecting from the ruling MMD to the Patriotic Front.

Reacting to a story on QFM this morning in which highly placed MMD sources indicated that the two plan to defect to the opposition PF completing the number of senior MMD official intending to ditch the party, Mr Namulambe told a media briefing in Lusaka this morning that there is nothing sweet than being chairperson for elections in the MMD and a cabinet minister for him to contemplate defecting to the opposition.

Mr Namulambe further said that if had any intentions of defecting from the MMD he would have defected at the time he was fired as Science and technology minister by president Rupiah Banda over his tribal remarks.

He adds that he is working under instruction from 15 chief on the Copperbelt who have resolved to rally behind President Rupiah Banda.

And Labour minister Austin Liato described assertion that he intends to defect from the ruling party as a ploy aimed at causing confusion in the MMD.

He says he is very strong in his Kaoma central constituency and would not think of defecting to opposition and risk losing his parliamentary seat.

QFM

THE United Party for National Development (UPND) on the Copperbelt has advised Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata to tame his loose tongue because his vulgar language is unacceptable.

UPND Copperbelt spokesperson Kennedy Kalunga said in a statement issued in Kitwe yesterday that Mr Sata’s language that the PF is the only political party that is attracting ‘buffaloes’ and ‘elephants’ unlike others which are attracting rabbits in apparent reference to councillors is unacceptable.

” UPND is therefore wondering as to when human beings have become animals. Mr Sata should therefore have respect in the manner he treats Zambians with his foul mouth which seems to be so loose…he should know that he does not own anybody in this country nor does he make anyone happy with his nonsense,” Mr Kalunga said

He also said the UPND takes strong exception to Mr Sata’s insinuations on radio Phoenix on July 9, 2011 that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema entered into a pact with the PF because he had hopes of becoming president with the assumption that Mr Sata would die.

“This is completely rubbish and nonsense, because the opposite is true, it is Mr Sata who wanted to use HH and the votes from Southern Province to get to State House. UPND is therefore appealing to all Zambians not to be tricked into voting for Mr Sata because his bad record and vulgar language is there for all to see,” Mr Kalunga said.

He said voting for Mr Sata whom he described as a ‘flip flop’ and mediocre politician will be like sentencing Zambians to death.

“We would like to assure Mr Sata and his party that come the announcement of election results, he will be shocked because PF will come last in this year’s elections and that will mark the end of hispolitical career. That is when his blood pressure will shoot up, hence he should be ready to buy high blood pressure tablets in advance,” Mr Kalunga said

[Zambia Daily Mail]

MMD chairman for elections Gabriel Namulambe and Labour and social security minister Austin Liato are some of the high profile officials thought to be planning to defect to the opposition Patriotic Front.

Sources within the MMD have told QFM that looming defections from the ruling party to the opposition are said to be creating uncertainty among the senior members of the party.

Sources say Mr. Namulambe and Mr. Liato are some of the high ranking government and party officials planning to defect to the opposition Patriotic Front.

QFM radio has been exclusively informed that some high ranking senior members of the ruling MMD are blaming president Rupiah Banda for the diminishing support of the MMD.

Some members are thought to be blaming the propaganda strategy through programmes such as stand up for Zambia by Chanda Chimba the third as one of the reasons the MMD is said to losing its grip on the Zambian political scene.

Efforts to get comments from the two ministers failed by broadcast time.

Former MMD national Secretary Katele Kalumba was told quoted by radio Phoenix yesterday as saying that two ministers plan to ditch the ruling party completing defections of senior party officials to the opposition PF.

And the MMD says it is aware that some disgruntled senior members who have not performed well in their constituencies are planning to defect to the opposition.

MMD national secretary Richard Kachingwe said those who intend to defect to opposition parties are well known by the party because they have been under surveillance.

He said in an interview those defecting are desperate and would like to continue in politics in another party because they know they will not be adopted because their popularity has dwindled.

“No-one is leaving, but we have an idea of those that have been courting the opposition. We know them and their defection is inconsequential to the party as the number is minimal,” Major Kachingwe said.

He said the MMD is the only party which means well and wants to ensure development in the country, and no member can leave it now considering its strength unless that person is not in good standing with the party.

Major Kachingwe said the country needs to build a strong and credible political system, and that this can only happen once politicians become principled.

“We need to create a credible political system, and jumping from one party to another will not help because people will lose trust in us as politicians,” he said.

Major Kachingwe said it is important for politicians to be sincere in their dealings because that is the way in which they can win the people’s trust.

He said the country will get to know who should be trusted in the party once the adoption process has been completed.

Major Kachingwe said the MMD wants to adopt credible leaders who can deliver to the people, and that those who have failed to do that will not be adopted.

“We know that adopting them is risky, so you will get to know who these people are once the adoption process is completed,” he said.

The Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) has advised members of the public not to force President Rupiah Banda to announce the date of elections outside the provisions of the constitution.

PAZA vice president Amos Chanda said President Banda cannot be forced to announce the election date because he knows that he was working within the provisions of the constitution.

Speaking last night on a Muvi television programme dubbed “The Assignment” and monitored by ZANIS in Lusaka, Mr. Chanda stated categorically that President Banda is operating according to the provisions of the Zambian constitution.

He implored those calling on the Head of State to announce the date of elections to hold their fire as it was within his powers to do so.

He added that trying to force the Head of State to announce the date would not be backed by any legal framework.

There are growing calls by different stakeholders for president Rupiah Banda to announce the dissolution of parliament, and subsequently announce the date of elections.
Recently, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema called on president Banda to immediately dissolve parliament and announce the date for elections in order to create a level playing field for campaigns.

Mr Hichilema pointed to the fact some government ministers who are members of parliament are still using government resources to campaign because parliament has not yet been dissolved.

And Mr. Chanda called on both private and public media organisations to be impartial when reporting on issues concerning this year’s elections to avoid misleading the public.

Mr. Chanda also noted that the media in the country had a sole obligation of informing, educating and entertaining the public in a fair and truthful manner to enable them make informed decisions.

He further cautioned media houses taking sides with certain political parties to desist from doing so if democracy was to flourish in the country.

He said journalists across the country should strictly observe media ethics to benefit all the citizens in Zambia.

‘We know that some media bodies have a tendency of taking sides with some political parties during elections. This is unethical and all those media houses that are in this habit should stop with immediate
effect,” he warned.

He said Zambians have been living in peace for a long time now hence the media should not be seen to perpetuate violence in the country.

Mr. Chanda also appealed to all political parties participating in this year’s elections to have confidence in the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) as it was the only body mandated to conduct and monitor elections in the country.

He wondered why some political parties have a tendency of criticising the Commission whenever the country held elections.

He said the ECZ was working hard to administer elections in the country hence it needed the support of all stakeholders.

ZANIS

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says Zambia needs to work hard to ensure that the country’s population growth tallies with the growth of the economy.

UNFPA country representative Duah Owusu- Sarfo says the economy is expected to triple more than the growth of the population as this is key in fighting poverty but that this has not been the case for Zambia which has its annual economic growth standing at about 6 percent per year.

Mr. Owusu- Sarfo noted that the Zambia’s population growth stands at 2.8 percent per annum and that the economic growth should therefore be in the range of about 9 percent per annum.

He added that the country has continued to register a boom in population growth because of improved health care in the country.

Mr. owusu-sarfo was speaking during a press briefing to mark the world population day under the theme the world at seven billion: Zambia at 13 million.

At the same occasion chief planner in the Ministry of Finance and National Planning Mainga Luwabelwa said the government is aware of the fact that the population growth the country has continued to record requires commitment of more resources to sectors such as health and education.

And central Statistical office census manager Richard Banda observed that the country population is most likely to grow from the current 13 million to 26 million in the next 25 years if it maintains the growth of about 2.8 percent per year.
[ QFM ]

MMD Chairman for Elections Gabriel Namulambe says President Rupiah Banda will not be pushed to announce the election date by some desperate members of the opposition.

Mr. Namulambe says the announcement of the election date is the President’s constitutional prerogative.

He was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka on Sunday.

And Mr. Namulambe says it is ill conceived for anyone to assume that cabinet is operating illegally because parliament only adjourned sine die and has not been dissolved.

He also says the process of short listing parliamentary candidates to stand in this year’s elections on the MMD ticket is on course.

[ ZNBC ]