Chongwe Member of parliament Sylvia Masebo says she is excited at attacks targeted at her by the MMD following her resignation because they are an indication that the ruling party is panicking.

Ms. Masebo has told QFM amid laughter that she is wondering why the MMD has continued to attack her when they had earlier indicated that her exit from the party was good riddance.

The parliamentarian could however not comment on the accusations that she has been asking MMD members in Chongwe to surrender their MMD materials so that they can be used for a staged defection this weekend.

Ms. Masebo told QFM that she was rushing for a meeting to plan for a rally scheduled to place tomorrow in Chongwe district.

She adds that all queries that people have been asking about her will be answered during the same rally where she will formally announce her exit from the MMD.

Yesterday the MMD in Lusaka province during a press briefing announced that the Party had information that Ms. Masebo was planning to stage a fake defection were she would lead the defectors to the PF.

And Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata says Chongwe Member of parliament Silvia Masebo resigned from the ruling MMD because she wants to join the opposition Patriotic Front.

Mr. Sata says every person has a right to decide where they want to belong noting that when an individual decides to resign it means they are not satisfied with their current position.

He says Ms. Masebo is welcome to join the party adding that the PF will be ready to welcome her.

In a telephone interview with QFM, Mr. Sata says with the recent defection of former Kitwe mayor Lackson Kazabu from the UPND, the PF will continue welcoming more members into the party.

Mr. Sata says Mr. Kazabu’s defection to the PF is confirmed and that he has since applied to contest one of the constituencies in Kitwe on the PF ticket.

QFM

ARIEL

Ariel ,born Mwiza shaba , is an urdan contemporary artist .

In 2010, Ariel signed to Elite Records and went on to feature on collabos such as ‘Murder was the case’, ‘ I should have told you’ ‘Monster’, ‘Catch me if you can’, and other hits. He also does some acting and has the lead role in an upcoming movie called “No under age”.

KAPA187: Who is Ariel? , tell us a bit about yourself.

ARIEL: Ariel is a 21 year old, Urban Contemporary Gospel Artist , who does a fusion of music genres. With his main genres been Soul and Dancehall.

KAPA187: Your music can be described as adult contemporary RnB , what was your inspiration to start doing this kind of music?

ARIEL: I have none in specific but I draw inspiration from most of the old school artists I grew up listening to such as; Brian McKnight, Bebe Winans, Commissioned, 3t, Gerald Levert, Mainza, Boys II Men, West life and new school artist such as Detrick Haddon and Neville inspire me.

KAPA187: What has been your biggest achievement since starting your music career?

ARIEL: Performing in front of President Rupiah Banda, Dr. Chiluba (the late), Maureen Mwanawasa and several other senior government officials and foreign dignitaries at the 2nd AIBT Graduation in 2010. Another one was getting rave reviews from the Weekend Post Edition a fortnight ago after my first public performance at Golden Bridge Hotel under the Zambia One Comedy. This drew comparisons with the great Charlie Wilson.

KAPA187: Your music may appeal more to an older audience, why didn’t you go for a more youthful sound?

ARIEL: I am going to have a variety of music in the album. I believe the Dancehall and Pop tracks will be more appealing to the youths.

KAPA187: At what moment in your life did you decide that music is what you want to do?

ARIEL : I’ve had on and off moments from the time I was 13 years old. But I took music very serious after the formation of a Boy Band, Revival Crew,  in 2008, which I am still a member. During the same time, I was very active with music at University (AIBT). I was urged by my peers, church and family to take it up more seriously.

KAPA187: Who is your biggest inspiration internationally?

ARIEL : Uhmmm, that’s a tough one. It will have to be a three way tie between Brian McKnight, Babyface and Deitrick Haddon. I grew up listening a lot to Brian McKnight and I love the emotion he puts into his music, an attribute Haddon has as well. I admired Babyface’s writing skills.

KAPA187: Apart from music what other interests do you have?

ARIEL: Playing and watching football, playing video games, hanging out with friends, acting, reading and watching biographies or profiles of successful people and giving business advice.

KAPA187: Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?

ARIEL  : Almost got kicked out of University for been under age at 15 years old.

KAPA187: If you were granted 3 wishes, what would they be?

ARIEL: I would wish that everyone had equal opportunities in life based on the ability as opposed to nepotism.
I wish that we would have no racism in the world.
Everyone could come to the serving knowledge of Jesus Christ before they die and make it to heaven.

KAPA187: Where will you be in 5 years time?

ARIEL: I see myself as an inspiration to my generation and someone who changed at least one life in the past 5 years through my music or words I said.
I will have done international collaborations with legendary artists and shared the stage with them, hence flying the Zambian flag around the world.

KAPA187: Where can your fans listen to your music?

ARIEL: Reverbnation, Thanks for the interview

THE MUSIC

Miss u

A track for those who are missing there significant others   “..girl you are the only one for me , when your not around its plane to see , i miss u baby….”  he sings in the chorus.

TONITE

Is a nice soulful track

BY KAPA187

THE Council of Bishops in Zambia has condemned Patriotic Front (PF) President Michael Sata for shunning Dr Chiluba’s burial, saying Zambians should not condone such behaviour from an aspiring president.

Bishop Peter Chinyemba said it is very disappointing for a politician eyeing the highest job in the land to harbour hatred.

He said in Lusaka yesterday that in a Christian nation, such behaviour from leaders should not be condoned because it is likely to create unnecessary animosity in the country.

“We should not tolerate such attitudes from aspiring leaders because it is unChristian and leaders should be promoting unity and not division,” Bishop Chinyemba said.

Bishop Chinyemba said it is important for leaders like Mr Sata to leave a good legacy by uniting the nation and not to harbour grudges against others.

“Mr Sata is not a young man and one day, people will look back and see what he has done. He should set an example for young people to follow,” Bishop Chinyemba said.

He said Mr Sata claims to have been good friends with Dr Chiluba but his behaviour does not attest to that. If he means well, he should apologise to the people of Zambia and Dr Chiluba’s family.

Bishop Chinyemba said Mr Sata has worked with Dr Chiluba and out of respect, he should have gone to comfort the former President’s family.

“No true friend can behave like that. How can anyone fail to attend a friend’s funeral?” Bishop Chinyemba said.

He said citizens should be wary of leaders who behave like Mr Sata.

“We should not accept such leaders. We cannot have people with such attitudes to lead the country,” Bishop Chinyemba said.

Bishop Chinyemba commended President Banda for the unifying manner in which he brought the nation together to mourn Dr Chiluba.

“This is how leaders should behave, not to perpetrate hatred just because of political differences and the desire to assume power,” he said.

“Mr Sata should emulate President Banda, who has committed to work with anyone in nation building,” Bishop Chinyemba said.

He said leaders should be able to put aside their political differences and embrace each other in difficult moments.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

The Zambia Army says a fact finding mission that was instituted to investigate international media reports that Zambian troops deployed as peace keepers in Sudan failed to protect the civilians in Abyei region during clashes between rival Sudanese forces has established that troops conducted themselves professionally.

Reuters recently reported that Zambian troops retreated during the fight that took place on the 21st of May, 2011 between Sudan armed Forces and the Sudan people’s Liberation army in Abyei.

At a press briefing in Lusaka this afternoon, Zambia Army Chief of operations and training, Brigadier general John Bulawayo said the fact finding mission to Sudan which was led by Deputy Army commander and Chief staff Major General Vincent Mukanda has revealed that the Zambian troops conducted themselves in a professional manner contrary to reports.

Brigadier General Bulawayo noted that the UN force commander Major General Moses Bisongi Obi confirmed to the fact finding mission delegation that the Zambian troops conducted themselves professionally and were able to protect the UN staff and property.

General Bulawayo has also noted that no fatalities were recorded among the Zambian Peace keepers who are currently in Sudan.
[ QFM ]

THE MMD in Lusaka has unearthed a scam in which Chongwe member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo has been collecting MMD party regalia and cards to be used in a planned defection to the opposition Patriotic Front (PF).

MMD Lusaka Province secretary Samson Mkandawire said in Lusaka yesterday that Ms Masebo has been planning a defection and she wants people to believe that the people of Chongwe are anti-MMD when the truth is that they are happy with what the MMD government has been doing for them.

Mr Mkandawire said Ms Masebo has no right whatsoever, to handle MMD party materials because she is no longer a member of the MMD. He said the people of Chongwe should not listen to Ms Masebo because she is a disgruntled politician who thinks she owns the people of Chongwe.

Mr Mkandawire said Ms Masebo has a tendency of deceiving the people of Chongwe into believing that she is the only one who can represent them.

“She has left the MMD before and joined the Zambia Revolution Party and the people of Chongwe accepted her but this time, she should know that the people are tired of her political gymnastics and they do not want her any more,” Mr Mkandawire said.

He said Ms Masebo is not wanted by the people of Chongwe because she has been disrespectful to President Banda and has been intimidating MMD members to follow her wishes.

Mr Mkandawire said Ms Masebo has been requesting President Banda to appoint her as a Cabinet minister so that she can remain in the party.

“That is pure blackmail which should not be tolerated. Ms Masebo was supposed to respect members of the MMD, including President Banda but instead, she was giving him conditions, for her to remain in the MMD,” Mr Mkandawire said.

And Mr Mkandawire said Ms Masebo should stop dragging the President into her failure to develop Chongwe because she had greater capacity to develop the area.

“She has held ministerial positions before but she still failed to push for the development of the district.We respect her decision to leave the MMD for the PF but she should desist from blaming President Banda for her failure to take development to Chongwe,” Mr Mkandawire said.

Mr Mkandawire wondered how Ms Masebo will work with the PF when she has been condemning and insulting Michael Sata, the leader of the opposition party.

“She has been insulting Mr Sata and now she says she wants to work with him. I wonder how that is going to turn out,” Mr Mkandawire said.

The Zambia Association of Musicians (ZAM) has refuted media reports that musicians were paid K10 million each for singing solemn songs at the funeral of the late second Republican President Frederick Chiluba.

ZAM President Maiko Zulu said no musicians was paid the K10 million to sing at late Dr. Chiluba’s funeral.

He instead explained that ZAM only coordinated the recording and performance of the “Amazing Life” song. He said that the song was a tribute and local musician’s collective contributions towards State funeral of the late second Republican President.

He added that the performance by the non-choral musicians were purelynon-profiting project.

Mr. Zulu said this in a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday.

He said the said it was therefore unfair for some sections of the media to suggest that ZAM musician were performing commercially.

The ZAM boss described the media assertion as cheap politicking and unprofessional journalism which may have negative impact on the general development of the music industry and the credibility of musicians in the country.

“No musician to our knowledge was paid K10 million to sing at the funeral of the late D. Chiluba. The amazing life tribute song project
was a noble and collective towards state funeral by Zambian musicians under the auspices of the Zambia association of Musician and it was purely non-profit project. It is therefore unfair ion the part of some section of the media to suggest that ZAM where performing
commercially, ” he said.

He stated that ZAM will not allow it name to be tarnished over what he termed a genuine contribtion to national cause.

He ha since urged people and the media not to politicize the musicians participation during the funeral although the person who died was a political leader, he was President of the country for ten years.

“ZAM will not allow its name to be tarnished over what was a genuine contribution to a national cause. Our musicians’ participation during the funeral should not be politicized because we feel that despite it being the funeral of a political leader, it was also the funeral of a man who President of the whole of Zambia for ten years, ” he said.

Mr. Zulu has advised the public who have any queries to contact their secretariat adding that the association is professional, accountable and very transparent.

He advised the media to gather their fact before publishing statements saying doing so will dispel doubts to the credibility of
the news articles and avoid damaging allegations.

According to a story carried in one of dailies, last week, government is reported to have paid K10 million to non-choral musicians who were signing during the funeral of the late second republican president.

ZANIS

Government will soon introduce a monthly allowance for people with disabilities in Zambia.

Ministry of Community Development and Social Services Permanent Secretary Sherry Thole disclosed today that the disability allowances are meant to assist the physically challenged persons.

ZANIS reports that Ms. Thole said the monthly allowance will be given to less privileged disabled persons under the Government programme of financially empowering disabled persons.

She has since called for the provision of accurate information on disability issues which Government can use for planning purposes.

She said lack of such information was hindering implementation of various Government programmes for the disabled people. Ms. Thole said this when she launched the Rehabilitation and Research Resource Centre at the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disability (ZAPD) offices in Lusaka today.

She has further implored ZAPD to use the research data that will be gathered for strategic planning. She said Government wants well tailored plans and budgets that will be responsive to the needs of the targeted beneficiaries.

Ms. Thole has thanked Opportunity Zambia, a Norwegian sponsored disability organisation, for funding rehabilitation of the resource centre.

She also appealed to cooperating partners and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to help fund research projects in order for disabled people to engage in research.

And Opportunity Zambia Programme Advisor, Alick Nyirenda, said his organisation disbursed K3 billion towards the programme of disability in Zambia in the last two years.

Mr. Nyirenda said his organisation, which is being sponsored by an organisation for disabled persons in Norway, has also spent K47 million on refurbishing the
resource centre at ZAPD. He has since commended the relationship his organisation is enjoying with organisations for disabled persons and the Government in Zambia.

Speaking earlier, Zambia Agency for Persons with Disability (ZAPD) Director General Charles Mwape said the resource centre will help in planning and mitigating the challenges persons with disabilities are facing.

[ ZANIS ]