Confusion engulfed the Patriotic Front (PF) Copperbelt provincial conference in Mufulira when delegates rejected the party president Michael Sata’s manouevres to impose his preferred candidate Rebby Chanda for the position of Provincial chairperson against the delegates’ preferred candidate Sturdy Mwale.

The party leadership present at the conference, which included party vice-president Guy Scott, failed to control the situation, forcing the conference to be postponed to a later date.

Some delegates at the conference told the Times Reporter that Mr Sata had allegedly left instructions to ensure that Mr Mwale was barred from contesting the position of Provincial chairperson and that Mr Chanda should go through unopposed.

However, Mr Mwale filed his nomination amid chants from the delegates as opposed to Mr Sata’s preferred candidate who never received any chants from the delegates when he went in to file his nomination.

After realising that Mr Sata’s preferred candidate had no support from the delegates, the party’s senior official at the scene, a Mrs Atanga had difficulties to announce to the delegates that only Mr Chanda had successfully filed his nominations, while Mr Mwale was unsuccessful.
Her efforts to convince Mr Mwale to withdraw failed, prompting her to inform Dr Scott, who came in fuming against Mr Mwale.

This infuriated Mr Mwale’s supporters who grabbed the phone from their preferred candidate and locked him up in one of the rooms to ensure that Dr Scott or any other party national leader could not communicate with him to convince him to rescind his decision of contesting the position.

After locking up Mr Mwale, the delegates continued to chant “we want democracy, we want democracy and “no Mwale, no elections” and started throwing chairs all-over the Hindu Hall wherethe conference was held.

In an interview, Mr Chanda, who is Ndola District PF Chairperson said the confusion that erupted at the provincial conference was unfortunate.

“My feeling as one of the candidates for the position of provincial chairman is that the confusion was unfortunate. I have been in this party for a long time and I have seen the party grow and so I thought I should aspire for the position of provincial chairman,” Mr Chanda said.

When asked if it was true that he was Mr Sata’s preferred candidate, Mr Chanda just laughed and refused to comment on the matter, saying “I can’ t comment on that.

”And Mr Mwale, who is Masaiti District chairperson, said he was happy that he had the support of the delegates at the conference and would now be just watching the events after the postponement of the conference.

But Dr Scott said some people with money wanted to violate the party’s constitution, hence the confusion.

Some delegates at the conference said even Nkana Member of Parliament(MP) Mwenya Musenge was currently serving his suspension because of his attempts to contest the position of Copperbelt provincial chairperson.

[Times of Zambia]

THE United Party for National Development (UPND) has predicted that Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata will lose terribly in this year’s general elections and the loss will mark the end of Mr Sata’s political career.

UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said the PF are no match to the MMD in the elections.

“The PF has no capacity on its own to dislodge the MMD from power. The PF has not expanded anywhere; its strongholds are the same. It is not in Central Province, North-Western Province and Southern Province,” Mr Kakoma said.

He said this in an interview on March 27 when he reacted to a story in the Sunday Post in which UPND member Colonel Panji Kaunda insisted that he will support Mr Sata for the presidency despite his (Col. Kaunda’s) continued stay in the UPND.

Mr Kakoma said Mr Sata’s loss will also mark the end of Col Kaunda’s stay in politics. He said the UPND will be stronger in the general elections than the PF because a lot of PF members who do not like Mr Sata’s leadership style are defecting to the UPND.

“Several PF members whose toes have been stepped on by Mr Sata and PF secretary-general Winter Kabimba are leaving the PF. Even those who vowed not to support the UPND because of its association with the PF are returning to the party,” he said.

Mr Kakoma said the political landscape in Zambia has changed dramatically and the UPND is getting stronger through alliances it is entering into with other opposition political parties, like the All Peoples’ Congress (APC).

Recently, the PF made an appeal to opposition political parties to help it dislodge the MMD but the plea has not borne any fruit so far.

Mr Kakoma said Mr Sata is losing a lot of members including those from the church who are against his stance on some issues, including gay rights.

He said since the pact is dead, the PF should forget about forming government.

[pullquote]“It’s bad politics to pretend. What’s so difficult about Col. Kaunda coming out in the open to say he’s PF? He should be clear so that we know who is with us and who’s not,” he said[/pullquote]

Mr Kakoma accused Mr Sata of failing the pact by fielding candidates in all the 150 constituencies, without the consent of its partner then, the UPND.

He said Col. Kaunda should stop maligning UPND president HakaindeHichilema and that he (Col Kaunda) should know that as a military person, it does not help for one to be in one party and support another.

Mr Kakoma said it would be helpful for Col. Kaunda, whom he accused of being Mr Sata’s campaign manager, to come out in the open and state that he is a member of the PF.

“It’s bad politics to pretend. What’s so difficult about him coming out in the open to say he’s PF? He should be clear so that we know who is with us and who’s not,” he said.

Mr Kakoma said the UPND is disappointed with Col. Kaunda over his attacks against Mr Hichilema and advised him to reflect on his political activities.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Lusaka Province MMD chairman William Banda has accused Mr Sata of being a foreigner and has challenged him to disclose his true nationality.

Mr Banda made the accusations at an MMD card renewal exercise in Mtendere Township on March yesterday.

The MMD card renewal saw about 32 UPND cadres, including Ngwerere ward chairman John Mutumwa, defecting to the MMD.

Mr Banda said the MMD is geared for the elections this year and that the party will work hard to ensure that Lusaka is recaptured.

And Vice President George Kunda has warned Zambians that Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata cannot be entrusted with national affairs.

Speaking when he addressed MMD members at Namakuba Lodge in Kapiri Mposhi on March 26 at the Central Province card renewal exercise, Mr Kunda said Mr Sata is corrupt, tribal and is now calling for homosexuality to be introduced in Zambia.

“This is a serious matter and let’s tell our people that it is dangerous to vote for a person like Mr Sata. Zambia will become a rogue state if Mr Sata is elected president,” he said.

Mr Kunda said those who will vote for Mr Sata in this year’s elections will waste their vote because he enjoys only pockets of tribal support compared to President Banda who is enjoying national support.

The Vice-President said in its past publications, The Post newspaper accused Mr Sata of being a corrupt and unruly person.

He said that Mr Sata did not defend himself against those stories when they were published but now the Post has an uphill battle to re-brand him because they are now working together.

[pullquote]“This is a serious matter and let’s tell our people that it is dangerous to vote for a person like Mr Sata. Zambia will become a rogue state if Mr Sata is elected president,” he said.[/pullquote]

He said the Post should not lecture Government on what terminologies to use because they used the same language in their past editions.

Mr Kunda said Government will continue criticising Mr Sata’s character because he is aspiring to be president and the people should know what kind of person he is.

He said in the past, Mr Sata had insulted President Mwanawasa, President Banda and other government officials.

Anglican Diocese of Lusaka Bishop

has called on Zambians to register and vote en masse in this year’s elections.

Speaking during the Mothers Union Lady Day celebration held at St Peters Church in Libala, Lusaka yesterday ,Bishop Njovu said Zambians should be able to exercise their rights by participating in voting during the elections.

The Clergyman also appealed to Zambians to embrace peace ahead of this year’s polls and urged them to condemn violence at all costs saying it was detrimental to democracy.

He said politicians should always preach peace in their campaigns as opposed to inciting the youth to cause anarchy in the country.

The Bishop also condemned opposition political party leaders advocating for gay rights in the country and described the act as barbaric.

And Bishop Njovu warned youths in the country to be careful and avoid being used as tools for fueling violence in this year’s elections.

He said violence during elections did not pay but only created problems which would result in them either ending up in Jail or injured for no reasons.

Speaking at the same occasion, Mothers Union President Brigadier General Freda Sakala Kazembe said the event was an annual event aimed at empowering women and children in the Anglican Church with survival skills to uplift their livelihood.

She said Mothers Union sought to promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children.

She stated that the event was an annual event celebrated world over where ever the Mothers Union was present adding that in Lusaka the event started yesterday ends today

ZANIS

Five Hundred youths in Monze District in Southern Province have defected from the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) party to join the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).

Speaking when youths gathered at Kobil Filing station to officially resign from UPND and join the MMD, Mazuba Nchimunya, a youth said that as youths they had been committed members of UPND party but were disappointed because there were no consultations over certain decisions made within the party.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Nchimunya said that UPND went into the PACT with Patriotic Front without consultations with the youth wing thereby undermining the role they are supposed to play in strengthening the party.

He confirmed that five hundred youths including himself, decided to join MMD and support President Rupiah Banda during this year’s general elections.

Mr. Nchimunya said due to lack of consultation in the party, it was impossible for the UPND to win this year’s elections adding that they were tired of being in an opposition party that could not consider the important role of youths.

And welcoming the youths into the MMD party, MMD Secretary for Southern Province Emmerson Machila said they were welcome to a great and peaceful party.

Mr. Machila said those who have decided to join MMD must not be disturbed by others who have remained in the opposition because it was a wise resolve which should be emulated by youths.

He said the MMD in Southern Province was going flat out rebuilding and strengthening the party in order to demonstrate that it was a party with national character.

ZANIS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“This is my command — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go”
(Joshua 1:9, NLT)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

No matter what today has in store, as a believer in Jesus, you can approach the day with boldness and confidence. Why? Because the Lord is with you, and in Him is everything you need in this life. That means that if you need provision for something today, provision is with you. If you need wisdom today, wisdom is with you. If you need strength, joy or peace today, it’s with you. You can be confident today knowing that all of your needs are supplied spiritually, physically and emotionally because the Lord is with you. And best of all, He’s promised never to leave you! Isn’t it good to know that you will always have whatever you need any time you need it!

Today, don’t let lies from the enemy or pressure from the world keep you from taking hold of everything the Lord has for you. Open your heart by faith and receive whatever it is that you need today. Just begin to thank Him for His provision in your life and move forward in confidence and strength knowing that the Lord is with you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me today. Thank You for Your faithfulness. I know that You are closer to me than the air I breathe. Today I receive Your promises in faith and choose to cast all of my cares on You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

The Board of Commissioners of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has unconditionally authorized the takeover of 65% issued share capital in Maamba Collieries limited by Nava Barat Singapore PLC.

The shares of Maamba Collieries owned by the Zambian government through the Zambia consolidated Copper Mine (ZCCM) are being taken over by Nava Bharat Singapore of Singapore on grounds that the transaction did not raise any competition and public concern.

According to investigations carried out by the Commission, it is highly unlikely that consumers and customers of Maamba Collieries Limited could be abused by the firm because they have alternative sources of supply both in the domestic and import markets.

Maamba Collieries Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the ZCCM-IH, a successor company of the defunct Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) and remains Zambia’s largest and dominant producer of coal accounting for 80-85% with only about 10-12% imports.

The Board notes that the takeover will provide the company with fresh capital which will boost production at Maamba Collieries Limited.

This was agreed upon during the 49th board of commissioners meeting held in Lusaka yesterday.

During the same meeting, the board of commissioners also noted and closed allegations of abuse of dominance against Shoprite by one of its suppliers on grounds that there was insufficient evidence against the supermarket chain to warrant further investigation.

A supplier had accused Shoprite Checkers of de-listing them from their list of suppliers allegedly as a result of their supply of the company’s product to Shoprite Checkers’ competitors Pick n Pay.

Investigations by the Commission revealed that Shoprite did not abuse its market position as claimed by the complainant and further that the complainant had no supply contract with Shoprite but supplied its products through a third party, which no longer trades with Shoprite.

The Commission also found that other suppliers to Shoprite were not aware of such threats from Shoprite Zambia.

This is contained in a statement made available to QFM by CCPC Director of Consumer and Public Relations, Brian Lingela.
[ QFM ]