A team of former senior United Party for National Development [UPND] officials in Kalabo, on Tuesday addressed a rally at Kashitu main market to explain why they opted to remain in the Patriotic Front following the collapse of the UPND-PF Pact.

The team of former Western Province UPND Provincial Executive Committee that addressed the rally comprised former Provincial Vice Chairperson David Muzinda, Provincial Youth Chairman Mundia Samwene and former Provincial Publicity Secretary Teddy Chimbinde.

Others who accompanied the team at the rally facilitated by Western Province PF Publicity Secretary Litula Litula were former Sikongo Member of Parliament Colonel Kapanga Makumba and Lieutenant colonel Kaneta Simuyawa.

[pullquote]Mr. Samwene also said Mr. Sata has more Members of Parliament next to the ruling MMD than Mr. Hichilema adding that even Lusaka was dominated by PF Members of Parliament from an assortment of  tribes unlike the UPND.[/pullquote]

Former Western Province UPND Youth Chairman Mundia Samwene said the team opted to go by British based Professor Clive Chirwa’s findings following an out-cry from the public who wanted to know the UPND-PF Pact Presidential candidate.

Mr. Samwene said that the findings of Professor Chirwa were that Michael Sata could be the best Presidential candidate to challenge President Rupiah Banda in this year’s general elections.

Mr. Samwene said that this was on grounds that Mr. Sata had the more followers as opposed to UPND President Hakainde Hichilema going by the Presidential election results of 2008.

Mr. Samwene also said Mr. Sata has more Members of Parliament next to the ruling MMD than Mr. Hichilema adding that even Lusaka was dominated by PF Members of Parliament from an assortment of tribes unlike the UPND.

Mr. Samwene said that these were some of the reasons that made some senior Western Province UPND officials to opt to remain in the PF after the collapse of the Pact.

ZANIS

Expelled former MMD chairman for elections Mike Mulongoti has charged that the ruling party made a mistake in welcoming members from other political parties without scrutinizing them.

Mr. Mulongoti’s statement will be seen as a direct reference to Republican president Rupiah Banda, who is a former member of the former ruling party UNIP.

He said that  some members of the MMD who joined from other political parties have brought dictatorial tendencies in the ruling MMD.

The former works and supply Minister said that  members from other parties in the ruling MMD still carry dictatorial arrangement, instead of democracy.

He said that  it is a pity that such members are not questioned on their loyalty to the ideals of the MMD.

He says as can be seen in the MMD, democracy has sunk, were leaders are chosen to appoint other than being subjected to democratic elections.

Mr. Mulongoti adds that he feels deeply hurt on the happenings in the MMD, stressing that the vision of the party has been made blur.

And Mr. Mulongoti has stated that he will soon announce the political party he will support ahead of the elections.

Mr. Mulongoti says has been engaged in discussions with certain political parties, who he has described as having excellent manifestos.

He adds that he will not judge individuals but what they can do for the Zambia, in furthering development in the country.

Mr. Mulongoti was speaking on a live programme on UNZA radio this morning monitored by QFM.

The Patriotic Front (PF) is reported to be ferrying cadres from the Copperbelt and Lusaka to Western Province ahead of this Saturday’s Kuomboka traditional ceremony to create an impression that the opposition party has made inroads in the area.A source from within the PF central committee told the Times in Lusaka yesterday that Mr Sata and the party’s national chairperson Inonge Wina wanted to show at all costs that the PF was popular in Western Province when in fact not.The source said Ms Wina was behind the ploy to show that the MMD was losing ground in the province.“Ms Wina has been camping in Mongu for the past one week trying to convince people that they should ditch the MMD and support the PF.

“But because of the resistance from the people, she has now opted to ferry our members from the Copperbelt and Lusaka.“The idea is to position people during the Kuomboka who will be flashing PF symbols against the guest of honor and send an impression that the party is strong in the province,” the source said.

According to the source, Ms Wina had been in Mongu for the past one week with a reporter from a daily tabloid who had been writing stories against the MMD Government and President Rupiah Banda.The PF, through its propaganda publication, was desperately trying to incite the people of Western Province using the events in the province on January 14 this year over the Barotseland Agreement.The source said Mr Sata and Ms Wina had been insisting that cadres should be ferried from the Copperbelt and Lusaka despite opposition from other party members.Mr Sata is also said to have told a meeting for senior party officials that PF members in public transport business should volunteer their buses for the operation.

But MMD Western Province chairperson, Simasiku Namakando said no amount of propaganda or tactics would sway the people of the province to support Mr Sata because they know that the opposition leader hates the people from the area.He said yesterday that Western Province remained a stronghold for the MMD because of the various development projects that the Government was undertaking in the area.

“The MMD is very popular here in Western Province. The insinuations that PF is making inroads are misplaced because the PF is non-existent here. No Westerner in their right frame of mind can support Mr Sata.“Memories of the people here are still very fresh, we still remember how Mr Sata told the people of Malole in Northern Province that they should not vote for the late Emmanuel Kasonde because he was selling the Bembas to the Lozis just because the National Party was then led by a Westerner,” Mr Namakando said.Mr Namakando said the people of the province were also aware of how the PF members of Parliament opposed the allocation of resources for the construction of the Mongu-Kalobo Road.When contacted for comment, Mr Sata cut the call immediately after the reporter introduced the subject to him.

THE United Party for National Development (UPND) has expelled Colonel Panji Kaunda from the party for breaching the party constitution.

UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that Col  Kaunda’s expulsion follows his failure to exculpate himself as stipulated in the suspension letter of March 29.

“Following the suspension of Col  Kaunda and his subsequent failure to exculpate himself from the charges we put to him, UPND has today (April 13) expelled Col Kaunda from the party pursuant to article 70 of our party constitution,” Mr Kakoma said.

He said Col Kaunda breached article 8 of the party constitution, which compels members to respect and follow the constitution.

“We have found Col Kaunda wanting and therefore liable to expulsion. We therefore wish to advise our supporters and the public that Col Kaunda is no longer a member of UPND,” he said.

Mr Kakoma said the article states that members should uphold and defend the philosophy, vision and objectives of the party and its democratically adopted position on internal and international issues.

He said article 8 further states that party members should safeguard party policies and programmes from ‘undue corruption of thought’.

[pullquote]“This is a free country and the UPND has a right to expel whoever they want to expel. I am currently busy campaigning for my candidate,” Panji said.[/pullquote]

The article also states that members should adhere to collective responsibility and defend their ideas and positions through the established party structures.

Mr Kakoma said any meeting called by Col Kaunda from today onwards should be deemed illegal because he has ceased to be a member of the UPND.

The UPND has also formally welcomed former MMD Katuba member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa to the party.

Mr Kakoma said Mr Shakafuswa has indicated to the UPND that he will officially join the party after the dissolution of Parliament but the opposition party says it is ready for a by-election if the Katuba seat is declared vacant before the dissolution of the National Assembly.

Commenting on his expulsion, Col Kaunda said he will not fight the UPND’s decision because his pact is with the people and not any political party.

“This is a free country and the UPND has a right to expel whoever they want to expel. I am currently busy campaigning for my candidate,” he said.

Col Kaunda said he does not have time to discuss the affairs of the UPND because he is busy in the field.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

State House has dismissed a media report that President Rupiah Banda will not attend this year’s Kuomboka Ceremony because he does not want to spend his money.

Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere says the report is misleading.

Mr Jere says the story in question that was carried out in Wednesday’s Post Newspaper was poorly sourced.

He has accused the paper of being bent on creating despondency in Western Province by alleging that the President has neglected them.

Mr Jere says Vice President George Kunda requested to grace at the ceremony on grounds that he has never attended the event.

He said President Banda has officiated the Kuomboka Ceremony many times including his previous tenure as the Republican Vice President.

Mr Jere says there is nothing sinister for Vice President George Kunda to grace the ceremony.

He said this is on account that there are several traditional ceremonies in the country that have either been graced by the Vice President or ministers.

Mr Jere has appealed to the media to be careful and factual in their reporting as the country anticipates the general elections.

Meanwhile Mr Jere says President Banda has initiated key projects in Western Province.

Mr Jere says the projects include the Mongu-Kalabo road which has never been worked on since independence.

[ZNBC]