United Party for National Development (UPND) has described the recent revelations made by former defence minister on the $ US 100 million arms deals as shameful.

UPND vice president for administration Richard Kapita says government should therefore come out in the open and set the record straight in the allegations made by Mr. Mpombo that president Banda wanted his Son James to benefit fRoM the deal.

Mr. Kapita tells QFM news that it is time that African leaders and those in particular learnt to be honest when serving the people that put them into office.

He adds that the truth will one day surface no matter how long it may take because the people of Zambia are following all the developments closely.

And Mr. Kapita says the people of Zambia should not expect much from parliament when it resumes sitting this month-end.

He says the MMD had an opportunity to give the people of Zambia a new constitution but that it instead chose to manipulate the all process.

Mr. Kapita has since called for the dissolution of parliament so that the country can go to the polls.

[pullquote]Mr. Mpombo said that he had no documentation on the matter claiming that all the documents were left at the ministry of defense.[/pullquote]

However, former defense Minister George Mpombo failed to substantiate his claims over what he termed the failed arms deal when asked to produce documentation to support the allegations.

Mr. Mpombo said that he had no documentation on the matter claiming that all the documents were left at the ministry of defense.

When asked further as to whether he has any evidence about the claims he has been making in the recent past Mr. Mpombo who is also Kafulafuta MP said it was difficult to prove.

QFM

New Generation Party President Humphrey Siulapwa has warned Zambians to be wary of politicians calling for change to avoid plunging the country into chaos.

Speaking during a press briefing at the party headquarters in Lusaka today, Mr. Siulapwa said Zambians are clever enough to see what type of change they want and not the change being advocated by frustrated politicians.

Mr. Siulapwa said majority of some former MMD members who have been expelled from the ruling party have now re-grouped under the Patriotic Front thinking that Zambians are not watching them.

He warned the Patriotic Front members to be careful with people such as Former Ministers, Mike Mulongoti, Ludwig Sondashi, Edith Nawakwi, George Mpombo and Mbita Chitala whom he described as disgruntled politicians who have lost direction and have since joined the Patriotic Front.

He accused Mr. Mulongoti of lacking principles and that he was a shameless opportunist who overrates himself.

Mr. Siulapwa said it was strange that Mr. Mulongoti had allegedly continued cheating the nation that he put President Banda in State House in 2008 yet he only has one vote.

He said contrary to what he termed Mr. Mulongoti’s selfish motives; Mr. Siulapwa said it was the people of Zambia that voted to have President Banda in State House.

Mr. Siulapwa wondered why it had to take a dismissal for Mr. Mulongoti to see all the evil things he was now talking about with regards to President Rupiah Banda.

He said Mr. Mulongoti’s behaviour exposed how shallow minded and selfish he is.

He warned Mr. Mulongoti and Dr. Chitala to stop making un necessary attacks on President Banda because his supporters wont sit idle but retaliate when ever the Head of State is insulted.

He said Dr. Chitala was unstable, unreliable and a traitor who has betrayed both former President Frederick Chiluba and late President Mwanawasa when he was given responsibility in the party and in Government to serve the Zambian people.

And the New Generation Party President has rubbished the opinion poll conducted by the Center for Policy Dialogue Executive Director Dr. Neo Simutanyi that Patriotic Front President Michael Sata is poised to win this year’s elections by 31 percent.

Mr. Siulapwa said it was wishful thinking that the Patriotic Front President Michael Chilufya Sata will win this year’s election.

He said the people of Zambia know very well what President Banda has done for this country and that he deserves a second term of office.

The opposition leader said those thinking that President Rupiah Banda will lose this year’s election will wake up to a rude shock after the announcement of the results.

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda says Turkey is an important country and that Zambia will greatly benefit economically from Turkeys Experiences.

President Banda said this today at Lusaka International Airport shortly before his departure for Istanbul,Turkey where he will be among the other world leaders attending the 4th United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries.

Mr. Banda said the conference is an important forum for Zambia and other Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as well as co-operating partners to re-examine the entire development paradigm in the light of existing and emerging global challenges and existing poverty.

The President said Zambia and Turkey enjoy warm bilateral relations which date back to many years ago adding that this was an opportunity for Zambia to benefit economically from that country’s vast knowledge in economic management.

He said he was personally invited by his Turkish counterpart, President Abdullah Gul for bilateral discussions meant to further benefit the two countries.

President Banda added that the Zambian delegation from all sectors of the economy are already in that country and that he was optimistic that Zambia will amass many benefits because Turkey has a vibrant economic policy which has made that it to be what it is today.

[pullquote]And on Mr. Sata’s trip to the United Kingdom, President Banda said the trip was fake and that it had no significance whatsoever because the latter was not invited by Oxford University perse.[/pullquote]

And President Banda has described Patriotic Front President Michael Sata as a desperate person without any vision for the country.

President Banda said Mr. Sata has been in Government for many years and only left the MMD when he was not adopted by the party in 2001.

He said Mr. Sata served in many Government portfolios where he did not even perform to the expectations of the Zambian people.

And on Mr. Sata’s trip to the United Kingdom, President Banda said the trip was fake and that it had no significance whatsoever because the latter was not invited by Oxford University perse.

President Banda said Mr. Sata was invited by a small group of students adding that even those who saw the picture in the Post Newspaper would be able to attest to it that only a small group of people attended his meeting.

[pullquote]President Banda wondered what bad things Mr. Mulongoti has seen in the MMD which he never saw until he was ejected from the party.[/pullquote]

Meanwhile, President Banda has called on the media in the country to stop addressing expelled former Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti as Honorable because he was no longer a nominated Member of Parliament.

He said Mulongoti is a frustrated person and warned him to stop making unwarranted statements against him and the party in the press.

President Banda wondered what bad things Mr. Mulongoti has seen in the MMD which he never saw until he was ejected from the party.

ZANIS

The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has called on first Republican President Kenneth Kaunda’s son Colonel Panji Kaunda to stop provoking the ruling party by claiming that most Zambians are leaving in poverty.

MMD Deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu says Colonel Kaunda should desist from attacking the MMD regime adding that he failed to offer constructive advice to Dr Kaunda when he was President.

Mr. Nyangu says Colonel Kaunda lacks principles as he keeps moving from one party to the other stating that Zambians should not take him seriously.

He says his support for the PF is an act of desperation following his expulsion from the United Party for National Development (UPND).

Meanwhile, Mr. Nyangu has declined to comment on the call by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for political parties to stop airing campaign adverts on radio stations as the move is illegal and a breach of the electoral code of conduct.

MMD is one of the political parties illegally airing campaign adverts on various radio stations ahead of the general elections.

Recently, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha threatened to close down all radio stations running political adverts.
[ QFM ]

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results”
(James 5:16, NLT)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Relationships are so important in the eyes of God. As His children, He desires that we live in unity and stay connected with one another. When we are transparent and pray for each other, something supernatural takes place. We open the door for God to pour out His abundant blessing and healing in our lives. When we walk in love and unity, our prayers become more effective, and His power is released through us.

Living in peace and unity doesn’t mean you have to agree with everyone around you all the time. It means you look for common ground. It means you reach out to others; you pray for them and help meet their needs. When we put the needs of others first, God will make sure our own needs are abundantly supplied. When we live with a servant’s heart toward others, it opens the door for God’s complete healing — physically, spiritually and emotionally.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for revealing Your truth to my heart. I choose Your ways above my own and ask that You open opportunities for me to pray for others and open the door for Your healing power. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Luangeni Member of Parliament Angela Cifire says government has continued to shame its critics by continuing to provide development to the people of Luangeni and the country as a whole.

Ms. Cifire said it is unfortunate that some people do not appreciate the developments the MMD under President Rupiah Banda has brought to the people.

ZANIS reports that Ms. Cifire was speaking when she addressed Saili Women’s Association and later paid a courtesy call on Chief Saili at his palace.

Ms. Cifire said some people just negatively criticize government development programmes for no apparent reason saying such people only want to be difficulty for nothing.

She said there were a lot of developmental programmes government is undertaking in Luangeni and the country at large adding that even critics of government are aware of such developments.

She called on such people to come out in the open and appreciate the development programmes government has put in place.

Ms. Cifire who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister, said those that have come out in the open to support government realize and have seen that MMD is a working government.

She commended those that have openly supported development programmes in her constituency and the country as a whole and urged them not to relent in doing so.

And Chief Saili of the Ngoni speaking people in Kova area in Luangeni constituency has urged government to continue assisting women clubs in his area and engage them in various developmental projects.

He said this was important as it would help women in the area become active in issues of their development.

Chief Saili said that involving women in developmental projects would also help them contribute to the development process in his chiefdom.

He noted that there is need for Saili area to develop in order to be a strong example to other chiefdoms.

Meanwhile Saili Women Association Chairperson, Emekiye Soko said women in the association have continued to remain united and working closely together.

Ms. Soko said unlike other women association, Saili women Association understand the importance of unity.
She said unity was an important ingredient of progress for any society.

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda, is tomorrow scheduled to leave for Istanbul, Turkey, where he will be among other world leaders attending the Fourth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

The President will also meet his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, for bilateral discussions that are set to further benefit the two countries’ already warm relations.

This is according to a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere Banda.

Mr. Jere said the LDCs conference is an important forum for Zambia and other LDCs including cooperating partners as it will re-examine the entire development paradigm in light of existing and emerging global challenges and existing poverty.

The President will be accompanied to Turkey by Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, and Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande.

President Banda’s administration has continued to place poverty reduction at the heart of Zambia’s development agenda.

A series of national planning frameworks have since been developed in line with the Brussels Programme of Action, with Zambia registering significant economic progress.

The Brussels Programme of Action is aimed at making substantial progress towards achieving equitable sustained, growth and development. It also focuses on minimizing the marginalization of the LDCs and assisting them graduate from the LDC status.

Like many other LDCs, Zambia desires to increase her productive capabilities, diversify the economy, achieve market access and call for fair trade practices, benefit from technology transfer, and improve infrastructure so as to lift people out of poverty.

President Banda launched the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP) 2011-2016 which is focused on infrastructure development as a vehicle to drive Zambia’s development agenda.

The President’s delegation is expected to return to Zambia after completing the scheduled business in Turkey.

ZANIS