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The royal boat called Nalikwanda is about to dock at Limulunga harbour
The Forum for Progressive Politics (FPP) has commended the people of Western Province for hosting a successful Kuomboka traditional ceremony despite negative coverage from some sections of the media.
FPP Secretary General Charles Kafumbo said the people of Western Provinces have proved their love for the ceremony by exhibiting maturity despite desperate attempts by some sections of the media and politicians to incite hatred in the province.
Mr. Kafumbo told ZANIS in an interview that the peaceful environment that characterized the ceremony symbolizes that people of the province can co-exist with other tribes amid seemingly political tension.
He warned politicians to desist from politicizing traditional ceremonies as it acts as a unifying factor among the people.
Mr. Kafumbo said traditional ceremonies are important for the promotion of tourism and preservation of the cultural heritage and customs of the Zambian people.
And Mr. Kafumbo has made an earnest appeal to Get Involved Zambia executive director, Father Frank Bwalya to seriously reflect on his involvement in partisan politics.
He said it was disheartening that Fr. Bwalya has taken a confrontation stance against government instead of preaching peace and unity as the country goes to the polls this year.
Mr. Kafumbo said as advocates of the White Card Campaign which intends to counter the Red Card Campaign of Fr. Bwalya, the FPP has offered an olive branch to him to immediately stop his political activities and renounce violence.
He has reiterated his call to the Catholic Church to categorically distance itself from the political activities of Fr. Bwalya and take disciplinary action against him.
Mr. Kafumbo stated that the apparent silence by the church may imply that it is supporting Fr. Bwalya’s activities.
He noted if the church does not clearly state its stance on Fr. Bwalya, it will divide its members who support different political parties.
FLASHBACK: President banda with Dr Welani Chilengwe during the launch of the mobile hospitals in Chongwe
President Rupiah Banda says government will apply innovative approaches to health challenges around the country so that the number of patients without access to quality health care can be reduced.
President Banda said this in Kitwe’s Ndeke Township yesterday where he commissioned mobile health services and the Ndeke mini hospital.
He said mobile health units will serve Zambians in rural and remote parts of the country as they will be able access affordable, cost effective and quality health services.
The President said government is working hard to reduce the distance that people, especially in rural areas walk to access health services.
He stated that the mobile health units are specifically designed for areas with rough terrain and poor road network, noting that in these areas, the target population will find the units very beneficial.
He said 125 health post are being constructed countrywide noting that this is in keeping his promise that government will construct district hospitals in all districts by the year 2016.
President Banda said now inevitable for government to recruit and provide qualified staff to treat patients at these health posts.
He said government has since allocated K52 billion to the Ministry of Health to employ different categories of health workers.
He said government intends to increase the intake of students in health institutions by expanding learning facilities and opening new ones.
The President said this measure will increase the number of health workers in the country.
He also disclosed that plans are underway to soon open a second medical school on the Copperbelt province very soon.
President Banda also said the massive investment pumped into the health sector has paid off as the health of Zambians continues to significantly improve.
He said government has managed to improve the under-five mortality rate from 168 deaths per 1,000 lives births to 119, the infant mortality rate from 90 deaths per 1,000 live births to 70 while the maternal mortality rate has also dropped.
The mortality rate resulting from malaria has also fallen by 60 per cent as reported by health facilities.
ZANIS reports that the mobile health units and the Ndeke village mini hospital that President Banda commissioned will serve a population of 15, 606.
The first ever Community Radio Station in Luangwa district is nearing completion and will soon hit the airwaves.
And the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS) has granted will issue a full broadcasting license to the station after carrying out a final inspection.
The station will be constructed at a cost of over K 150 million.
Feira Member of Parliament, Charles Shawa disclosed that the project has been funded from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) which is a wholly community led initiative and is nearing completion.
Mr. Shawa, who is also Lusaka province minister, disclosed the development in an
interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
The MP stated that preparations for commissioning of the facility have reached an advanced stage because broadcasting equipment and other accessories have
already been installed.
He explained that the station’s Interim management board is just waiting for the Media Association of Zambia (MISA-Zambia) to deliver a bigger transmitter that will enable the station to broadcast to a radius of about 100 kilometres.
Mr. Shawa further explained that the station will also broadcasts to surrounding
areas and neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
The Member of Parliament added that the station will take a holistic approach to
national issues and improve the flow of information of the local people.
He pointed out that the local people have for a long time endured poor radio reception from existing stations.
Mr. Shawa also said programming at the station will include a rich local content and will also tackle social issues such as health matters, evangelism and highlighting developmental programmes that government is implementing in the
district and other parts of the country.
He observed that the station will provide a platform for the promotion of the rich Chikunda and Nsenga-Luzi heritage and the tourism potential in the district.
Nakonde district in Northern Province has been plunged into total darkness, grounding operations to a halt in some government departments and business centres following a complete damage of a 33 KV ZESCO transformer at the main sub station in Mukoma.
The ZESCO power black out, which occurred on Wednesday night, entered day three today although the electricity utility company seems to be making progress in rectifying the problem.
Nakonde district Council Secretary Francis Nkhoma told a stakeholders meeting held in the council chamber yesterday that the power black out in the border town has affected the supply of water in the entire district.
The power black out has forced people to draw water from unprotected wells and scoops along the river banks, the sources which are highly contaminated especially during the rain season.
Mr. Nkhoma however, said ZESCO is working round the clock to restore power.
He said the management of the electricity utility company should consider replacing the damaged transformer as soon as possible in order to restore normal business operations in the border town.
The fault has also paralysed operations at Nakonde health centre especially the mortuary section.
People are now forced to burry their dead relatives on the same day they pass on while those who have money opt to take bodies to Isoka district hospital mortuary, which is 118 kilometres away from Nakonde.
A check by the Zambia News and Information Services [ZANIS] this morning found ZESCO workers busy working as they waited for another 33KV transformer to arrive.
A ZESCO official, who declined to be named, said another 33 KV transformer has been dispatched and is expected to arrive in the border town soon.
At the town centre, business has literally grounded to a halt with huge loses in terms of perishable foods being recorded in both homes and shops.
In January 2010, another transformer got damaged in Nakonde and plunged the district in similar problems.
The Zambian government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have reiterated their commitment to empowering refugee women and girls living at Maheba and Mayukwayukwa camps in Zambia
UNHCR Information Officer Kelvin Shimo told ZANIS in a statement that government and the UNHCR reaffirmed their commitment to the empowerment of and the support to refugee women and girls in countries that in conflicts.
Mr. Shimo said 10 female refugees based in Maheba, Mayukwayukwa settlements and the urban areas made presentations on the great need to protect the women folk who are refugees.
The women made their presentations at the fifth regional dialogue with refugee women which ended yesterday.
He said during the meeting, the 10 female refugees represented over 80 women and men to discuss issues surrounding ten central themes that included shelter, health, education, economic self reliance, sexual and gender based violence among others.
He said the idea of the dialogue was to identify the major protection problems faced by the refugee women and to support their solutions for improvements.
Mr. Shimo noted that part of the solution to the problem can be achieved by the refugees themselves with the help of UNHCR, the Zambian government and the donor community.
He stated that the ten women raised some serious concerns which they face.
He explained that among the issues are concerns of violence and rape, adding that the number of rape cases of children as young as four years were a major concern in refugee camps.
Mr. Shimo lamented that women fear to leave their children alone at home or send them to schools where protection safety cannot be guaranteed.
He said medical care and staff are also limited in refugee camps, making the lives of women and young people limited.
And UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Elisa Feller, said it is the responsibility of everyone to empower the refugee women with skills which can make them more independent.
Mrs. Feller said it was a pity that there are inadequate schools in these refugee camps to cater for the population.
She said lack of scholarships has further made the young refugee girls to drop out of school early, a situation which has forced them into early marriages.
She described this situation as unfortunate.
Mrs. Feller said something should urgently be done to protect these women refugees to better their living standards because it was not their wish to be refugees.
President Banda has directed the Minister of Mines, Maxwell Mwale, to direct the board of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holding ZCCM IH to immediately write off outstanding balances which sitting tenants of 3,386 houses in the Copperbelt province owe the company.
The president has also directed ZCCM-IH to immediately stop recoveries of all outstanding balances and harassment of sitting tenants.
President Banda said he has decided to issue directives because of complaints and petitions which sitting tenants presented to him.
He said the directive refers only to residential properties.
He said it was the hope of government that houses would be sold at reasonable prices but the majority of tenants have struggled to finish paying for the houses due to exorbitant prices.
ZANIS reports that the debt write off will apply to residents in Mufulira with 1,518 houses in Butondo, Kankoyo, Kantanshi and Mupambe townships.
In Luanshya the debt write off applies to 1,011 houses, in Kitwe 732 houses in Wusakile Mindolo Nkana east and west and Chamboli while in Chililambobwe there are 31 houses.
In Kalulushi and Chambishi, the debt writes off affects 92 houses.
President Banda told sitting tenants that the house as theirs and they now have full ownership from today onwards and no parastatal company should intimidate them.
He said the MMD government is a government for all Zambians and therefore, when people complain it must listen.
He said as President, he will not stand by and watch the poor quality of life which the people have allegedly been subjected to by the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) run councils on the Copperbelt.
The President said since last year when he raised concerns over how public money was being abused by PF run councils, nothing has changed in terms of service delivery and this was why he decided to return to Kitwe and issue directives.
He said government has been left with no option but engage directly in finding partners in order to fix some of the roads in the Copperbelt province.
And president Banda has announced that he will soon go back to Kitwe to outline the plan on the road rehabilitation in the Copperbelt province.
He charged that it was not because of elections that government has decided to take up the rehabilitation of roads in the province but because local councils have failed to do so.
Zambian High Commissioner to Canada, Nevers Mumba has predicted that Zambia will have a sustainable, vibrant and diversified economy during President Rupiah Banda’s reign.
Dr. Mumba said the country under President Banda’s leadership has seen robust economic growth coupled with an unprecedented infrastructure development programmes especially in the social sector.
He told ZANIS in an interview that it was therefore important for Zambians to build on the achievements that have been registered through various economic diversification programmes.
Dr. Mumba hoped that government will ensure that the fundamental socio-economic policies that have contributed to recent growth and macroeconomic stability are strengthened.
He said it was gratifying that government has huge amounts of money in its reserves and has continued to register single digit inflation.
Dr. Mumba said Zambians in the diaspora are happy with President Rupiah Banda’s
setting up of a desk for them at State House.
He said the Zambian diplomatic mission in Canada will continue marketing the
country as a preferred tourism and investment destination in Africa.
Dr. Mumba was among other Zambian heads of missions abroad that attended the 2011 Heads of Missions and Senior Management Conference in Chisamba which ended yesterday.
And the Unemployment Association of Zambia has unanimously resolved to support President Rupiah Banda and the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) during the forthcoming general elections.
Association president Mpundu Mwanamwelwa told journalists at a press briefing in Lusaka today that the organisation will rally behind President Banda because of his government’s good economic policies.
Mr. Mwanamwelwa said President Banda’s government has created jobs in the country thereby meeting the association’s aspirations.
He said his organisation, which was formed in 2008, has a sole responsibility of lobbing government to create more jobs for the benefit of all Zambians, which President Banda has started addressing.
He said the President deserves another term of office so that he continues with his development programmes which his administration initiated a few years ago.
Mr. Mwanamwelwa said the current government has built many schools, hospitals, clinics and revamped the agriculture sector to guarantee food security in Zambia.
He said the Unemployment Association of Zambia has so far mobilised over 1.5 million registered voters to vote for President Banda in this year’s elections.
[pullquote]He said the Unemployment Association of Zambia has so far mobilised over 1.5 million registered voters to vote for President Banda in this year’s elections.[/pullquote]
Mr. Mwanamwelwa said he was confident that President Rupiah Banda is going to win this year’s election without much difficulty because people will base their voting on what he has done for the country.
He said his organization will help the MMD to conduct a vigorous campaign for President Banda to get a resounding victory.
Mr. Mwanamwelwa has also warned youth in the country not to vote for leaders promoting violence in this country because such leaders would plunge Zambia into chaos, a thing he said should not be entertained at all costs.
He also called on all youths in Zambia to support President Banda if they were to benefit from 50,000 jobs government is scheduled to create in the next few years.
And speaking at the same occasion, Labour Consultant and Human Rights Association of Zambia General Secretary Agrippa Tembo said government should continue empowering youth so that they may be able to stand on their own.
Mr. Tembo further called on all investors in Zambia to complement government efforts in the area of job creation.
He said investors should also stop the trend of recruiting staff from their countries of origin but to always adhere to the labour laws of Zambia.
He expressed sadness that some employers have continued to pay workers as low as K200, 000 despite government increasing the minimum wage of K419 000.
President Rupiah Banda has disclosed that government has acquired eye health equipment worth K2 billion for the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) eye treatment centre which is currently under construction.
President Banda said the acquisition of the equipment was in line with the active infrastructure development programme for the Ministry of Health.
The President was speaking in Kitwe today at Sinozam friendship hospital when he launched the eye care clinic on the Copperbelt province.
He said government cares for the health of everyone one hence it was working hard to improve the wellbeing of citizens through better health services.
He said soon, government will also embark on construction of an optical training center at Chainama Hills hospital in Lusaka that will provide the necessary equipment for eye treatment.
He said 25 eye specialists have already graduated and are working in various districts while 50 more will be trained to work as cataract surgeons.
He said government has developed a new partnership with Standard Chartered Bank to work along the line of rail where 100 people with cataract problems will be operated on.
The President implored the Ministry of Health and cooperating partners to fully integrate the eye health matters.
He said eye health issues have now become imperative and therefore, the Ministry of Health should in its plan and budget include eye health services.
Mr. Banda thanked the Chinese government for their involvement in the initiatives that are contributing to resolving eye problems in Zambia.
And Vice Chairman of the national committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Abulaiti Abudurexiti said the eye care event dubbed “Chinese brightness mission 2011 in Zambia” was the first project of the Chinese enterprises charity fund to Africa.
Mr. Abudurexiti, who is also President of the Chinese African People’s Friendship Association, said the project carries the profound affection to Zambian people from the Chinese government.
He said in the last three days, Ophthalmology doctors and nurses from Beijing’s Tongren Hospital have conducted 100 successful cataract surgeries in Zambia.
1.Ivory Coast: Laurent Gbagbo captured. Is this the best way of leaving office?
2.Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo (C) wipes his face with a towel as he changes his clothing in a room of his residence in Abidjan, after being arrested, in this still image taken from video Picture: REUTERS / TCI
3.Simone, the wife of Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo arrives at the Hotel du Golf in Abidjan after her arrest Picture: AFP/GETTY
4.Simone Gbagbo is photographed with pro-Outtara soldiers after she was arrested Picture: EPA
5.Laurent Gbagbo and his wife Simone at the Hotel du Golf in Abidjan after their arrest Picture: AFP/GETTY
6.Former first lady Simone Gbagbo is surrounded by pro-Outtara soldiers Picture: EPA
Al Ahly coach Manuel Jose has moaned about the lack of intelligence reports from the Egyptian embassy in Lusaka on Zesco United whom they face at Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola on Saturday.
The record six time Caf club cup champions visit Zesco in the first leg of the two sides Caf Champions League second round game on April 23.
“Unfortunately the reaction of the Egyptian embassy was completely opposite to what we expected,” Jose told filgoal.com.
“They didn’t even reply to us. Maybe they support Zamalek and don’t like us!
“All the embassies we dealt with before used to help us with info about the team and even about hotels, food or anything about the respective country.
“They refused to help us but they’re actually aren’t helping Egypt. Now we’ll have to play against a team that we know nothing about so far.”
The Portuguese-born former Angola coach has returned for a third spell with Al Ahly after winning four Champions League titles with them in 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2008 plus runner-up finish in 2007.
Next weekend’s meeting will be first between Al Ahly and Zesco in Caf club cup competition.
No Zambian club has ever eliminated an Egyptian team from Caf club cup competition.
Here are the football fixtures for Faz Division and Division One matches to be played 16-17/04/2011.
MTN/FAZ Super Division Week Three Fixtures
16/04/2011
Zesco United- Nkwazi
Forest Rangers -Lime Hotspurs
Kabwe Warriors – Zanaco
Green Buffaloes -Roan United
Red Arrows – Konkola Blades
Nchanga Rangers -Green Eagles
17/04/2011
Power Dynamos -Kalewa
19/04/2011
Nakambala Leopards -Nkana
Division One
Week Four
16/09/2011
North
Chindwin Sentries-Chambishi
Indeni-Bresmer United
Konkola Mine Police- Prison Leopards
Kalulushi Modern Stars-Ndola United
Kitwe United-Lusaka Dynamos
Nkwiza-Mining Rangers
Kabwe United-Zesco-Luapula
Mufulira Police-Luanshya United
Mufulira Blackpool- Mufulira Wanderers
South
City of Lusaka-Big Roma
Kafue Celtic-Lusaka City Council
Mazabuka United-Luena Buffaloes
Riflemen-Paramilitary
National Assembly-Petauke United
Senanga Leopards-Young Green Eagles
Freedom Rangers-Profund Warriors
Nampundwe-Lusaka Tigers
Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde-Simukoko
The Federation for Free Trade Unions in Zambia (FFTUZ) has called for issue based campaigns in the run up to this year’s general elections.
FFTUZ President Joyce Nonde Simukoko said all political parties should consider the need to conduct peaceful elections that will bring dignity to the country and avoid name calling.
Mrs. Simukoko told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that political parties should instead engage voters by meeting organized groups of people and explain their manifestoes.
She has also called on politicians to respect the office of president as the person elected is president for all Zambians and not just for his party.
“We want to see the normal way of doing things in this year’s elections. Political parties should try as much as possible to engage some organized groups and sell their manifestoes,” she said.
Mrs. Simukoko has, meanwhile, emphasized that trade unions and workers will support political parties which will look into their plight.
She said workers want parties to develop manifestoes that will protect existing jobs and see the creation of more quality jobs.
She explained that the creation of more jobs was cardinal and would ensure the formation of a vibrant labour movement.
Mrs. Simukoko added that the federation is currently studying political party manifestoes to see which party it will endorse in this year’s elections.
She reiterated that the federation will only support parties that will abide by the United Nations labor conventions and also guarantee a pension scheme for workers.
Mrs. Simukoko has meanwhile welcomed this year’s theme of Labour Day celebrations which is ‘creating secure employment with freedom, equity, and human dignity.’
She said the theme should, however, be translated into action by creating quality jobs.
Minister of Finance and National Planing Hon Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane
Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane has urged the World Bank to streamline the approval of projects processes in the Bank.
He said Zambia has experienced extended delays in the approval of the country’s projects, an example being the extended period of approval under the Irrigation Development and Support Project which has taken many years to be approved.
Dr. Musokotwane made these remarks when he met with the World Bank Managing Director Ms. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala at the World Bank offices in Washington DC.
The World Bank Board of Directors approved a US$115 million credit for the Irrigation Development and Support Project (IDSP) on 7th April, 2011 to enable Zambia to overhaul its irrigation subsector.
Zambia’s Sixth National Development Plan’s goal for the agriculture sector is toi increase and diversify agriculture production and productivity so as to raise the share of its contribution to the GDP by 2015.
The project, which will be developed in proposed selected sites, is expected to be implemented over seven years, by June 2018
Dr Musokotwane also noted that Zambia’s resources under the International Development Association (IDA) window is not adequate to support the level of investment that Zambia envisages to implement over the Sixth National Development Plan period.
He said having attained the lower middle income status, it was the Government’s view that the World Bank should grant access to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) Financing by reclassifying Zambia as an IDA/IBRD blend country.
This, he said, would increase assist Zambia access the level of resources required to support the plan.
Turning to the performance of the Zambian economy in 2010, the Minister of Finance told the World Bank Managing Director that Zambia’s economy grew to 7.6 percent in 2010 compared to 6.4 percent in 2009.
The growth was driven by a second consecutive bumper harvest in agriculture, rising copper production, transport and communication.
He said the macroeconomic environment was also favourable with inflation recorded at 7.9 percent. This, he said, was below the target of 8 percent for the year.
Dr. Musokotwane also noted that there was general stability in the exchange rate with a bias towards appreciation of the Kwacha against the US dollar and the Euro. He added that there was a continued downward trend in lending rates to about 26.4 percent at the end of 2010 from 29.2 percent at the end of 2009
The Minister further stated that the external sector performance continued to be positive, with an expansion in the current account surplus to 2.3 percent of GDP in 2010, from 1.3 percent of GDP in 2009.
On account of increased mining tax collections, he said the fiscal position was generally favourable.
He said in 2011, and the medium term, the economy is expected to continue with its positive performance, with growth estimated to 6.8 percent in 2011 and to average 6-7 percent per annum over the next five years.
Dr.Musokotwane also stated that the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP) for 2011 – 2015 that was launched in early February, 2011 aims, among other things, at enhancing the competitiveness of the economy through infrastructure and human development. He said the projects in the paln require huge amounts of resources which the Zambian government expected the Bank to play a crucial role.
The Finance Minister informed Ms. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala that the recent two ratings of B+ that Zambia was assigned by Fitch and Standard and Poor in March 2011 would now enable the country to tap into the international markets to raise financing for infrastructure development and also enable the country to enter the international market in order to issue a bond within the course of 2011.
In response, the World Bank Managing Director, Ms. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala said she was optimistic that Zambia would continue sustaining strong economic growth recorded in recent years coupled with the high global rating on account of consistent prudent economic management among various factors
She said it was gratifying to note that Zambia was among the top ten economic performers in Africa in the category of Doing Business . This, she said, gives hope to the Bank that a lot has been done.
She, however, noted that despite all these positives, Zambia had challenges in infrastructure development that needed to be improved.
Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Fashion Phiri has implored Zambian envoys abroad to operationalise the Action Plan within the specified timeframe if the country is to continue with its sustainable national development.
Prof. Phiri urged Heads of Missions to share the vision contained in the Action Plan with the rest of the diplomatic staff and for each mission to devise its own implementation strategy with the view of achieving the intended goals.
The Deputy Minister noted that there is also need for heads of missions to submit progress reports to the office of the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Foreign Affairs within six months for ease monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the plan.
ZANIS reports that Prof. Phiri said this during the closure of the weeklong 2011 Heads of Missions and Senior Management Conference in Chisamba yesterday.
He expressed confidence that the outcome of the conference will provide impetuous to the Action Plan by enhancing visibility and productivity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ contribution to the implementation of the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP).
The deputy minister is hopeful that the ministry’s efforts of attracting investments will lead to poverty reduction, job creation, increase in tread and investment through the promotion of Zambia as a preferred tourism destination.
Earlier, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Lucy Mungoma said the Action Plan was developed through an interactive process characterized by open-mindedness and frankness.
Ambassador Mungomba stated that the conference provided an interactive process, therefore, facilitated ownership of the Action Plan.
The Conference was officially opened by Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande and yesterday, President Rupiah Banda also met the diplomats.
The weeklong conference covered various topics such as foreign policy, Code of ethics, regional and international economic communities among many others.
The Conference was held under the theme ‘Effective Diplomacy for Sustainable National Development.”
VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda says the Kuomboka traditional ceremony is for all Zambians and has urged the people of Western Province to reject anyone seeking to divide the region.
And Western Province Minister Richard Mwapela says there is nothing sinister about Mr Kunda gracing this year’s ceremony slated for today because it is not the first time that a Vice President has officiated at the event.
Speaking on arrival at Mongu Airport on April 15, Mr Kunda also urged Mongu residents to be careful with The Post newspaper because it is allegedly trying to divide Zambians by sowing seeds of discontent in the nation, especially in Western Province.
“Reject lies that are written in The Post and let them practise professional journalism,” Mr Kunda said.
He said the Kuomboka is about peace and unity and that Government uses the ceremony to share development ideas.
“The Kuomboka is about promoting tourism and there are a lot of tourists who come here for the ceremony. We want to develop it even more. It is our ceremony and it is for all Zambians.
“When I received the letter from the President, I was so excited because, although I have seen the Kufuluhela ceremony, I have never seen the Kuomboka and this is my chance to see the Kuomboka,” he said.
He said a Catholic priest who was recently quoted in The Post as saying Mr Kunda is not welcome in Western Province is just preaching hatred.
Mr Kunda said The Post has been trying to create an impression that Patriotic Front president Michael Sata is popular in the province but what the newspaper does not know is that it is not possible to sell Mr. Sata there.
“You can’t sell that product in Western Province,” he said.
Mr Kunda said The Post wanted to discourage him from going to the province because the newspaper and its political allies know that whenever he travels countrywide, he has an opportunity to tell people the truth about Mr. Sata’s character.
He said before the tabloid formed a partnership with Mr Sata, it scandalised the PF leader and described him as corrupt, violent, sadistic, dangerous and vulgar; and that all the crimes he committed were published in its past editions.
Mr Kunda said Government is just being factual in its replies to attacks from Mr. Sata and the PF.
He said Mr Sata has no capacity to develop Zambia and that the PF’s manifesto is not a blue print for the country’s development because Government is already doing what is contained in the document.
Mr Kunda said the PF has deliberately omitted its stance on homosexuality in its manifesto and that some people and NGOs are attacking President Banda and his government because of zero tolerance to homosexuality and lesbianism.
He said since Mr Sata has declared himself a Catholic fundamentalist, the PF leader does not tolerate other churches and beliefs.
“These are dangerous ideas because fundamentalism is unconstitutional. Our Constitution recognises freedom of worship and freedom of conscience,” he said.
Earlier, Western Province Minister Richard Mwapela said the region has been peaceful because of President Banda’s leadership. Mr Mwapela thanked traditional rulers in the province for their efforts to ensure peace and development in the area.
He said enough security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of all people who will attend the Kuomboka today. He said some people peddling lies about Mr Banda’s decision to assign Mr Kunda to grace the ceremony are trying to alienate the people of Western Province from the rest of Zambia through careless remarks.
Mr Mwapela said the MMD has continued to enjoy massive support in the province because of the unprecedented development projects being implemented by Mr Banda’s administration.
He assured Mr Kunda that the ruling party will get the same support it got in the 2008 Presidential elections.
