SECRETARY to the Cabinet Joshua Kanjanja has said books of condolences will be opened to members of the public in Lusaka and all the provincial centres.

In a statement released in Lusaka yesterday, Dr Kanganja said in Lusaka that a book would be opened to members of the public at Mulungushi International Conference Centre today and tomorrow between 09:00 hours and 18:00 hours.

Dr Kanganja said in provincial centres, the books of condolences would be opened from today to Sunday, June 26, 2011 at all provincial offices.

“We wish to inform members of the public that books of condolences will be opened in Lusaka this week on Thursday and Friday while in provincial centres the books will be opened on June 23 up to June 26, 2011,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Government has opened an account at Bank of Zambia (BOZ) for contributions towards the hosting of second president of the Republic of Zambia, Frederick Chiluba’s State funeral.

Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that the account, ‘State Funeral- Late Dr FTJ Chiluba Trust Fund’ number 0013723005960 had been opened at the central bank.

He said all well wishers should deposit their contributions through any commercial bank countrywide where they would be redirected to BoZ.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said material contributions should be channelled through district and provincial offices.

He said those based in Lusaka could take their material contributions to Cabinet Office.

He also advised that the Lusaka show grounds had been designated as the official venue for public mourning for Dr Chiluba where prayers and other spiritual programmes had been arranged everyday until burial day on Monday, June 27, 2011.

[Times of Zambia]

Chongwe Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo has promised not to abandon the people of Chongwe district.

Ms Masebo who is former Local Government and Housing Minister in late President Levy Mwanawasa’s regime has vowed to defend her seat in the forthcoming tripartite elections.

The Parliamentarian who was recently suspended as MMD national chairperson for women affairs has however not disclosed on which party ticket she will recontest her seat.

Ms Masebo did not apply to stand on the MMD ticket thereby sparking speculations that she is planning to join the opposition Patriotic Front.

Meanwhile, former MMD Chongwe District chairperson Henry Musonda says the people of Chongwe have resolved to rally behind Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata in this year’s elections.

Speaking an interview with Qfm, Mr. Musonda who recently defected to the PF says it is surprising that a number of bonafide members of the ruling party have been sidelined on the pretext of not being in good standing with party.

He has further charged that the MMD is yet to experience a rude as dozens of its members in Chongwe will soon join the Patriotic Front.

QFM

MMD Lusaka Province Chairman William Banda has challenged Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata to visit the funeral house of second republican president Fredrick Chiluba and justify his claims that MMD cadres want to harm him.

Mr. Banda says it is wrong for Mr. Sata to allege that MMD cadres will harm him if he visits the funeral Dr Chiluba because no such a directive has been made by the top leadership of the party.

Yesterday, MMD Lusaka province task force chairperson Chiwele Maimisa vowed not to allow the opposition Patriotic Front at the funeral of late former republican president Frederick Chiluba.

But Mr. Banda says party members are entitled to their personal opinions but that such opinions should not be viewed as the party’s position.

Mr. Banda tells QFM in an interview that Mr. Sata should openly state why he has decided not to visit the funeral house instead of accusing the MMD of issuing threats.

He says if Dr. Chiluba was really Mr. Sata’s friend as claimed, the PF leader would have overcome the threats and visited the funeral.

The MMD provincial chairperson states that it would be abnormal for the party to bar any individual or political party from attending Dr. Chiluba’s funeral.

QFM

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS

X-men: First class takes us to the beginning of the X-men saga. The movie centers on the origins of Magneto , a holocaust survivor , and Professor X,an academic in genetic mutation, showing how different but similar they are. It reveals a secret history of the Cold War and our world at the brink of nuclear Armageddon during the Cuban missile crisis.

As the mutants discovers, harnesses, and comes to terms with their formidable powers, alliances are formed that will shape the eternal war between the heroes and villains of the X-Men universe.

PRO’S

• Great story and excellent acting especially by James McAvoy as Professor Charles Xavier and  Michael Fassbender as Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto
• The development of the friendship between Professor Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto    was a pivotal part of the movie.
• Good visual effects.

CON’S

• At 2hrs 11 Min , it is a bit too long.

CONCLUSION
Even if you have never heard of the X-men you will really enjoy this movie. It is an intelligent , fast-paced and very entertaining prequel .
While it is a very entertaining movie, it also asks the question “should we treat those different from us differently?” If you were a mutant, whose side would you be on, Professor X or Magneto?

FAVOURITE QUOTES
Professor Charles Xavier: “Listen to me very carefully, my friend, killing will not bring you peace”
Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto: “Peace was never an option”

Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto: “I’ve been at the mercy of men just following orders. Never again.”

KAPA187

Government says it needs about K4.6 billion for the funeral of late second republican president Dr Fredrick Chiluba.

Chief Government spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha has told QFM that government has so far raised between K2 billion and K2.5 billion.

General Shikapwasa says the money will go towards the burial and accommodate all administrative and logistics for the funeral.

He adds that it is for this reason that government is appealing for financial and material support from well-wishers towards the state funeral.

General Shikapwasha says members of the public wishing to make contributions can do so by channeling their contributions through district and provincial administration offices countrywide.

He says it is government’s appeal that all well-wishers and mourners support the bereaved family.

Meanwhile the family of late second republican president Dr Fredrick Chiluba has resolved not to carryout a postmortem.

Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka today, family spokesperson Ben Mwila says was after taking into consideration Dr Chiluba’s Christian beliefs and the fact that he had refused to have a heart transplant and any operation during the time he was sick.

He says the family decided to respect Dr Chiluba’s Christian beliefs.

Mr Mwila adds that according to the Lunda tradition,it is not allowed to conduct an operation on a king and that Dr Chiluba is considered as such.

The Chiluba family has also reiterated that the late president was a national leader and that those who wished to attend his funeral should do so without being harassed.

Mr Mwila has also thanked President Rupiah Banda and the First Lady on behalf of the family for the support rendered during the funeral.

QFM

A section of Lusaka’s Buseko has been burnt by the fire believed to have been ignited by the brazier left in one of the make shift shop.

The fire that gutted part of the market is suspected to have started at around eleven hours yesterday.

The Make shift structures used as houses by traders at the market were the most affected by the inferno.

Market chairperson Joseph Kakandi could,however, not state the exact cause of the fire.

By broadcast time the fire brigade had not yet visited the scene.
[ MUVI ]

UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) youths say they will only accept to revive the pact with the Patriotic Front (PF) if their president Hakainde Hichilema is considered to stand as presidential candidate for the alliance during the 2011 elections.

UPND national youth chairman Joe Kalusa said in an interview in Ndola yesterday that the party could only accept to revive the pact with PF if Mr Hichilema is flouted as pact presidential candidate.

“As UPND youths we will only welcome the pact if it will be headed by Mr Hichilema. As you know, our party was marginalised a lot during the pact with PF,” Mr Kalusa said.

He also said that once the pact is revived, there should be a commitment letter from Mr Sata indicating that he has accepted Mr Hichilema as the pact presidential candidate for the 2011 elections.

“UPND wasted a lot of time when it was in the pact as it was being sidelined on many issues regarding the pact, and they also called us a lot of names,” Mr Kalusa said.

He said UPND youths will not support the revival of the pact without PF accepting Mr Hichilema as presidential candidate.

Mr Kalusa said UPND is ready to contest this year’s tripartite elections without being in a pact with PF.

Mr Sata has reportedly made a dramatic U-turn and is seeking reconciliation with UPND for a possible revival of the defunct political alliance.

Mr Sata seekks to reconcile with the UPND because he has allegedly realised that the MMD will win this year’s elections.

Mr Sata held a meeting with his party members on June 13, 2011 at the PFsecretariat where the matter was tabled.

And when contacted for a comment, PF secretary-general Wynter Kabimba refused to give a comment saying he does not speak to the Zambia Daily Mail and the Times of Zambia before cutting the line.

[Zambia Daily Mail]