THE United Party for National Development (UPND) has charged that it would be politically tragic for Zambians to vote and usher into State House the Patriotic Front (PF) because the opposition party has exhibited strange and odious social and moral traits.

The UPND says openly supporting homosexuality to win a political vote is not only a spiritual sin but a moral and political abomination.

Mazabuka Central member of Parliament Garry Nkombo said PF president Michael Sata should never be allowed to get anywhere near the presidency because the man needs political and spiritual cleansing.

Mr Nkombo said in an interview in Mazabuka that Mr Sata should embark on a programme of cleansing himself before he can ask Zambians to vote for him.

He said homosexuality is an abomination that any morally upright political leader should abhor and condemn.

“It is an abomination and Mr Sata should cleanse himself before he can ask Zambians to vote for him. Mr Sata has openly said he supports homosexuality and all Zambians heard him. He has not even denied it,” Mr Nkombo said.

He said the PF has been comprehensively inconsistent in a lot of national matters adding that it was one of the reasons that led to the collapse of the PF-UPND Pact.

[pullquote]The scenario is that we are going to share votes in this election year. People know what is good for them and what is not. If ever one expected defections, they should have happened when President Banda was here,” Mr Nkombo said.[/pullquote]

Mr Nkombo said the UPND knew from the start that the PF was not sincere in the alliance and that the party had been scheming to ambush its partner with the dissolution of the pact.

He said that the PF was shocked that the UPND was wide awake when the death of the alliance was announced.

And Mr Nkombo has said the PF and a named daily tabloid have formed a pact that is working at scandalising other political leaders.

Mr Nkombo said it is clear that the PF and the tabloid are pursuing an agenda that is against the majority of the Zambians.

He said the tabloid has been channeling propaganda for the PF and that it has worked hard to rebrand Mr Sata but with little success.

Mr Nkombo said the newspaper and the PF have been lying about defections in Southern and Western Provinces but that Zambians have seen through the propaganda.

“It is clear that Zambians have seen through the lies being propagated by the PF and the newspaper. The defections are all stage managed. The scenario is that we are going to share votes in this election year. People know what is good for them and what is not. If ever one expected defections, they should have happened when President Banda was here,” Mr Nkombo said.

And Southern Province MMD chairman Edgar Keembe has said the PF has been faking defections because the opposition political party has realised that it cannot win any election.

Mr Keembe said in a separate interview that the people of Southern Province can never vote for Mr Sata and the PF.

He said it is not politically possible for the PF to suddenly become the most popular party in Southern Province when barely two years ago the party was at the tail end in the last election.

[pullquote]The truth is that although the MMD has not mustered complete support in Southern Province, it is illogical to assume that the PF could suddenly be the most popular party in the province.[/pullquote]

He said while the MMD has not mustered complete support of Southern Province, it is utopia for the PF to cruise past the ruling party and the UPND.

Mr Keembe said the PF popularity has hugely been damaged by the propaganda one newspaper has been churning since 2008.

“The most publicised defections are fake and stage-managed. The truth is that although the MMD has not mustered complete support in Southern Province, it is illogical to assume that the PF could suddenly be the most popular party in the province. The PF is giving the said defectors money and the same people come to tell us that they are being bought to defect. There is a lot of goodwill from the people and change in the province is coming,” Mr Keembe said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Kansanshi Mines PLC, in Solwezi district of the Northwestern Province, has refuted accusations by sections of society in the area that it is mistreating its workers.

But Anti Voter Apathy Project ( AVAP ) Executive Director Bonnie Tembo confirmed the reported abuse of Zambian miners saying in most instances, the unfortunate miners working at the gold section of the mine especially, are abused before knocking off.

Speaking to ZANIS in a telephone interview, today, Mr Msiska said that the reports of workers’ abuse at the country’s biggest mine were untrue.

He said Kansanshi Mine PLC is a renowned international mining company that is determined to maintain international standards of mine operations, one of them being looking after workers’ welfare.

” We are very responsible as Kansanshi Mines. Yes we mine gold. And we are proud to say that we are up to date with paying Tax to the national treasury, but we do not abuse our workers,” Mr Msiska said.

However, Mr Tembo said that it is true that Zambian mine workers at Kansanshi Mine were being abused by management at the Solwezi based mine.

The AVAP Executive Diriector told ZANIS in a walk in interview in Lusaka , today, that he came back from Solwezi where his organisation held a voters exercise meeting.

He said some of the participants during the same meeting had complained that either themselves or their relatives and friends working at the mine were abused by Kansanshi Mine PLC management.

Mr Tembo said local mine workers in the country will continue to expirience labour at the hands of new mine owners as long as government continues detouching itself from owning some of the mines in the country.

Pointing to concerns being expressed by local stakeholders alleging that the mining industry has not benefited ordinary Zambian citizens, Mr Tembo emphasized that as long as there is no government ownership of the mines, ordinary Zambians should not expect to benefit from the current mining activities in the country.

ZANIS

MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu has said President Banda will not be pressured to announce the election date as he would do so at the right time.

Mr Nyangu said in an interview in Lusaka on April 21 that Mr Banda will announce the polling date when the time comes.

“Announcing the election date is the prerogative of the President and no-one should pressure him to make this announcement,” he said.

Mr Nyangu said previous Presidents were not pressured to announce the polling date because this is a privilege of the Head of State which has been in place for a long time.

He said Mr Banda will not announce the election date for the sake of pleasing certain people.

“The MMD and Mr Banda will not make decisions to please a few individuals who do not even appreciate the developments the party has initiated.

These people, especially some Catholic bishops, do not appreciate anything. Even if Mr Banda announces the date today, they will still criticise the decision,” Mr Nyangu said.

He said Zambians should respect Mr Banda’s administration and its decision not to hastily announce the polling date.

And Mr Nyangu said it is sad that Ndola Catholic Bishop Alick Banda has failed to appreciate President Banda’s directive to write off outstanding balances on over 3, 386 housing units on the Copperbelt.

He said Bishop Banda can afford to criticiseMr Banda’s decision because the church accommodates him for free.

“Bishop Banda’s comments are unfounded and unfortunate. We expect people like him to support initiatives intended to promote the welfare of the needy,” Mr Nyangu said.

He said it is unfortunate that Bishop Banda does not want to support Government’s decisions intended to empower poor people.

Mr Nyangu said Bishop Banda’s comment is a clear indication that the clergyman does not care for people, especially the needy

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has advised government to heed to the Oasis Forum’s advice of relieving republican vice president George Kunda off his duties.

TIZ President Rueben Lifuka says Mr. George Kunda, who is also Justice Minister, should take responsibility for the failed constitution as he has been at the helm of the whole process that was widely unaccepted by society.

Mr. Lifuka says the failure by to take responsibility will give an impression that public resources can be wasted and no one can be held accountable.

In an interview with QFM, Mr. Lifuka says TIZ still stands by its early call on Mr. Kunda to resign as his resignation will send a strong signal to anyone who will take charge of the constitution making process that it is a serious national process which needs to be addresses in a non-partisan manner.

Recently, the Oasis Forum demanded the resignation of republican vice president George Kunda for failing Zambians on the constitution making process and advised government to constitute a lean committee to deliberate on the Mung’omba draft constitution to see the way forward.

QFM

By Dr Robert Mtonga

IT is amazing that a profession such as journalism that hitherto was next to nobility has ‘gone to the dog.’ Political activists posing as champions of human, civil and political rights in media circles seem to have gone over the line.

Many in the fractured Press are nothing more than propaganda wings of their sponsors. These colleagues have gathered around themselves all manner of shadowy characters who they call sources and news makers.

A cursory study of these news makers reveals how these citizens hold one thing in common hatred and opposition, in this case, to a common enemy. The jaundiced Press is sleeping around with strange bedfellows sad to say.

While it is within their rights to take sides and weigh-in on national issues, a line must be drawn between genuine critique and unfeigned hatred. As Election Day crawls in slowly but surely the venom being unleashed is so toxic so much so that it is beginning to verge on the psychiatric.

Yes citizens, including journalists are fully entitled to engage and inform debate on national issues. But should they sell their souls for 30 pieces of silver to achieve this? As politicians of all hues and persuasions are lining up to stake their credentials for all to see, journalists, as eyes and ears of the masses of the Zambian people are expected to reflect this into society.

This is as it should be in plural politics. Politicians should also be given ample room to peddle their wares, using as many ways and means as possible to woo would-be voters.

This year’s tripartite elections have provided that occasion when politicians and their supporters go abroad looking for votes, employing every iota of energy to capture the electors.

The aspiration to unseat the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) from Government is a legitimate and universal human right of every Zambian who has the wherewithal to allure voters.

In winning the hearts and souls of the electorate, rules of procedure are important. An Electoral Code of Conduct is not just an ideal thing; it is a vital referee in civilised politics.

When one therefore sees political opponents getting at each other’s necks outside the rules of the game, one is left to wonder as to the utility of such a document or indeed the civility of men so engaged in the game of politics.

Wrestling power from incumbency must not be a matter of life and death. Politicians must be encouraged to use every legitimate means at their disposal to win office and serve the Zambian people.

It is worrying therefore when one reads, sees and hears of political groupings using underhand methods to remove the ruling MMD from power. Alas, it has now become fashionable to create “new truths” in order to dress political rivals in ill-fitting fatigues.

This is meant to put those opponents in negative light in the eyes of voters and ostensibly portray the purveyors of such falsehoods in good standing with the same. What is more, the creators of such lies go the whole hog to personalise the attacks in a way that is un-christian, unfair and friendish.

It can be said, without blinking, that one favourite “punch-bag” is the MMD and President Banda. While it is not wrong to trade political punches, it is certainly not right to use naked lies to do so.

It is increasingly becoming crystal clear that President Banda’s political foes are becoming more and more desperate in fabricating half-truths, innuendos and damn lies in a bid to parry the punches RB is throwing at them.

[pullquote]Many citizens are appreciative of the work RB has done in a short time in power. Even if the MMD loses this year’s tripartite elections, the new hospitals, clinics, roads, schools will remain as standing monuments of RB’s tour of duty.[/pullquote]

Day in and day out, the rumour mills are churning out falsehoods at break-neck speed in an attempt to paint the MMD and RB black without shame and without humanity.

What is more, the charges behind the smear campaign are panting with seething rage when they discover that Zambian after Zambian has now started seeing through the woolly hoodwink of the products of their fertile imaginations.

The propaganda machinery led by some celebrated tabloids is outdoing itself in manufacturing lies with every breath it takes, believing albeit naively that the general public out there will buy hook, liner and sinker these peddled stories.

Just take the recent happenings in Mongu before, during and after the Kuomboko ceremony of the Lozi people of Western Province. This particular tabloid had painted a picture that mayhem would characterise the visit of His Honour the Vice-President George Kunda to Mongu to grace the Kuomboka ceremony.

The Zambians were subjected to a diet of unfounded statements that Western Province was an MMD no-go area. It was claimed that the Western Province had turned their allegiance to the Patriotic Front (PF).

Furthermore, the tabloid had stated that people in the province were in mourning. The jaundiced publication splashed pictures of injured persons on their front page footage to create disaffection in the minds of the westerners.

This was a veiled bid to make the westerners rise against the ruling MMD. The truth of the matter however is that people in the province and visitors from yonder shore turned up in large numbers to the shame and dishonour of the owners and originators of these lies.

When the bluff was exposed by the naked light of truth, the same tabloid fabricated yet another story that the police service had cancelled a permit to allow worshippers of a certain denomination celebrate Palm Sunday, quoting an unknown, even perhaps hired source.

When Bishop Paul Duffy of the Mongu Diocese refuted the claims, thus uncovering, the ignoble owners of this propaganda, they were left licking their wounds in ashes of self- defeat. It is common knowledge that the missile-launchers have nothing to offer.

All they do is align themselves to all and sundry that is opposed to RB. The only thing they share with RB’s opponents is personal hatred for RB. They rarely discuss issues of substance.

[pullquote]When the bluff was exposed by the naked light of truth, the same tabloid fabricated yet another story that the police service had cancelled a permit to allow worshippers of a certain denomination celebrate Palm Sunday, quoting an unknown, even perhaps hired source.[/pullquote]

The Zambians fortunately are coming round to the light of day.

Many read some of tabloids with pinched noses. Is it any wonder that bundles and bundles of these publications are returned at the end of each day to the publishers. The MMD has one advantage over their opponents and lap dogs.

It has a record of developmental projects that even they very hard-nosed critiques cannot ignore. Try though the propagandist would to change their lenses, the truth speaks back with the real picture.

Many citizens are appreciative of the work RB has done in a short time in power. Even if the MMD loses this year’s tripartite elections, the new hospitals, clinics, roads, schools will remain as standing monuments of RB’s tour of duty.

The best honour a self-respecting politician would do to his or her perceived enemy would be to acknowledge the good that is obvious and cry foul over the neglected duties and responsibilities.

Trying to falsify the obvious is akin to shooting oneself in the foot. Truth is a liberator. When potential voters see a truth-telling politician, they are more likely to heed his or her message unlike when such a one is hell-bent on fabricating lies.

The Zambian culture is a noble heritage of civility, humanity and all that tends to the promotion of co-existence, self-worth and bridge building. Anything less is not only alien, but a departure from this tenet.

May a day come when dogs will walk out of the profession and professionalism take up her seat once again. May journalists and news makers remember their own humanity and forget the rest.

The hour has come for the redemption of the profession from imposters and hired writers.