STUDENTS at the Copperbelt University in Kitwe have said they will stand up against politicians like Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata if he continues to champion gay rights in Zambia.

Copperbelt University Students Union president David Chikwanda said in an interview yesterday that students had rejected the championing of homosexuality in the country and have vowed to condemn any politician that supports the ‘alien’ practice.

Mr Chikwanda said Zambia had not changed its Christian nation status and was, therefore, morally governed by the dictates of the religion.

He said there should not be double standards or compromise on the moral conduct of leaders in dealing with important national issues such the prevailing debate on allowing homosexual practice in Zambia.

“This issue of homosexuality should not even be linked to human rights because we as a Christian nation are guided by the moral standards set out in the Bible, which does not condone same-sex unions,” he said.

Mr Chikwanda said politicians like Mr Sata should not be used by Western countries or organisations to promote gay activities because they went against African culture.

He said Mr Sata should not be swayed by the expected favours from the Western countries or organisations if he succeeded in his campaigns.

“These countries that want to bring homosexuality into Africa, and Zambia in particular, should understand that we are Africans and with different cultures from theirs,” he said.

And when contacted for comment over the release of compact disks on which he was recorded as having advocated for the implementation of laws on homosexuality, Mr Sata said he had nothing to say.

“In this same country they say a person is not guilty until proven guilty but when they just see someone hugging his colleague, they conclude that he is homosexual and judge a person just like that.

“I am not going to comment on that, after all I have a provincial conference on Saturday in Lusaka,” Mr Sata said.

Mr Sata told some journalists from Denmark recently, who included Lene Winther and Thomas Duus, that the Zambian laws had not been implemented and expressed displeasure that his stand on gays and lesbians had been used for propaganda.

“Some people are saying I am talking to you people because I want to bring back gays and I tell them that listen, the laws of Zambia recognise the gays. The laws of Zambia recognise the lesbians,” Mr Sata said.

The Christian Coalition said Zambians should not trust Mr Sata, who should clearly state his party’s position on homosexuality.

Christian Coalition spokesperson John Mwendapole said it had been noted that whenever Mr Sata purportedly made a decision on national issues, personal interests took an upper hand.

Mr Mwendapole said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that this was not the first time Mr Sata was being insincere in the manner he conducted his politics.

“Zambians should learn not to trust Mr Sata. Whenever he does something, there is some form of kick-back for himself,” he said.

He said Zambians should not forget that not long ago, the PF leader was vehemently against Chinese investments in Zambia just because he had allegedly received some money from a certain party in that country.

He said the PF leader was condemning the Chinese investors, saying they were treating Zambians like slaves, all in the name of safeguarding his interests with Taiwan.

Meanwhile, United Party for National Development (UPND) Copperbelt provincial chairperson Elisha Matambo has said it is good that Mr Sata’s stance on homosexuality has been revealed after the end of the PF-UPND pact.

Mr Matambo said the revelation had come at the right time because UPND would not like to be associated with ill motives aimed at personal gains.

He said Mr Sata’s stance on homosexuality might have been one of the reasons why the PF shunned discussions on how to govern the country had the pact worked.

And PF Luapula Member of Parliament Peter Machungwa urged Zambians to condemn Mr Sata’s stance on homosexuality to avoid turning the country into a “lesbian and homosexuals’ paradise.”

[Times of Zambia]

President Rupiah Banda has said it was criminal for persons and organisations that are not confirmed by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to compute and tabulate election results.

President Banda said the Electoral Commission of Zambia was the only institution that was legally mandated to compute and tabulate election results.

He has, therefore, warned people and organisations intending to tabulate results of this year’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections without permission from the ECZ that they would be committing an offence.

“Any person who therefore computes and tabulates results other than those confirmed by the ECZ is not only usurping the power of the ECZ but committing a criminal offence,” he said.

ZANIS reports that President Banda said this at State House today when he swore-in Justice Ireen Mambilima as new ECZ Chairperson, Justice Timothy Kabalata, who is new Anti-Corruption Commission Chairperson and Edward Musona, who has been appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Industrial Relations Court.

The President explained that according to the Constitution of Zambia, the ECZ was an autonomous constitutional body allowed to supervise and conduct general elections.

Article 76 (1) of the Zambian constitution states that there will be established an autonomous Electoral Commission to supervise the conduct of Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Mr. Banda further advised those who wished to support Zambia in conducting and observing the elections that ECZ was an autonomous body and the only constitutionally recognised institution to conduct elections.

“No other institution, whether public or private, is permitted to perform any function relating to the conduct of elections in the country, including computation of results,” he stressed.

President Banda added that organisations that would help in monitoring elections this year should exercise secrecy during voting and counting of results until the ECZ declared the results.

He was referring to Regulation 15 (6) (f) of the Electoral (Conduct) regulations which states that monitors shall maintain secrecy with reference to any matter affecting voting and counting of votes and shall not by themselves or through their organisations declare the results of any election before declaration by the ECZ.

“Further, Regulation 14 (1) of the Electoral (Conduct) Regulations specifically directs all media broadcasting election results to avoid unfounded speculation which may cause instability and prohibits the media from publishing unconfirmed elections results,” he said.

President Banda has meanwhile, restated his position on the Parallel Vote tabulation (PVT) and said no one should be allowed to conduct this kind of exercise in this year’s elections.

The President expressed confidence that the newly appointed ECZ chairperson would not allow anybody to carry out the PVT which he said was a recipe for chaos in the country.

“As you take up your position Justice Madam Mambilima, I have no doubt that you will conduct these polls to the latter of the law,” he said.

And President Banda assured the nation that he would, in accordance with the law, render maximum support to the ECZ to conduct the upcoming presidential and general elections in the highest degree of transparency.

He said Government has invited the international community to come and observe and monitor this year’s elections because his regime had nothing to hide.

He told Justice Mambilima that her reappointment to head the ECZ was testimony of how successfully she conducted the 2006 elections.

President Banda said the approval of Justice Mambilima’s reappointment by all stakeholders showed how highly regarded she was in terms of heading the ECZ and conducting elections.

“The proximity of Presidential and General Elections also left me with no choice but to look for somebody who was very familiar with the operations of the ECZ,” he said.

He pointed out that the ECZ was an important institution in Zambia’s democracy hence it required to be manned by people of high integrity.

The President said it was important that the ECZ should be headed by people of integrity in order for the public to accept the efficacy of the election results.

“I therefore have no doubt that in my mind that you have the nation’s support and that you will lead the ECZ to yet again successfully hold free and fair elections,” he said.

President Banda thanked Justice Mambilima for consenting to serve at ECZ for the second time in the space of four years.

Justice Mambilima takes over from Justice Florence Mumba who recently resigned after workers at ECZ revolted demanding that she leaves the Commission.

On Justice Timothy Kabalata, President Banda said he had no doubt the experienced retired judge would serve the Anti-Corruption Commission with dignity.

He said it was important that corruption was fought in order to foster the country’s development.

And President Banda described Mr Musona as a hardworking Zambian who provided his service to promote justice in the country.

He said Mr. Musona would continue to work hard even at the Industrial Relations Court.

And Justice Mambilima said she was ready to take up the challenge of leading the ECZ even in the midst of workers who caused the resignation of her predecessor.

In their oaths, all the three that were sworn in pledged to faithfully and truly serve in their positions without fear or favour, affection and ill-will.

The trio further swore to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of Zambia as established by law.

ZANIS

The ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has set March 25, this year as the date for filing-in of nominations for members wishing to contest various positions in the party structure at the forthcoming party convention slated for April 5.

Party Spokesperson Dora Siliya announced at a press briefing in Lusaka today that the filing of nominations would be done at Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC).

Ms. Siliya said the filing-in of nominations would only be one day and advised party members from across the nation to travel to Lusaka if they were eligible to contest at the upcoming MMD extra-ordinary party convention slated for 5th to 7th April, 2011 in Kabwe, Central Province.

ZANIS reports that Ms. Siliya, who was flanked by MMD Acting Chairman for Elections Gabriel Namulambe further advised party members to apply to the Acting National Secretary Chembe Nyangu before March 25th failure to which they would not be eligible to contest positions in the party.

“The date for filing in of nominations is March 25th, at the MICC. Party members standing for positions in the party should travel to Lusaka because the filing in of nominations will be conducted for only a day and members vying for positions in the party must apply to the Acting National Secretary, Mr. Nyangu before the extra-ordinary party convention set for 5 – 7th April, 2011, “ Ms. Siliya said.

Ms. Siliya, who is also Minister of Education, maintained that only sound members of good standing with the party would be considered for positions.

And Ms. Siliya disclosed that the party has invited stakeholders from the private sector including political parties outside the country to come and witness the MMD extra-ordinary party convention.

She said 1,500 delegates were expected to attend the convention including other stakeholders from neigbouring countries, whom she did not mention.

Ms Siliya stated that the ruling party was a democratic party, transparent and accountable to the Zambian people unlike other opposition political parties that she described as a ‘one-man-run’.

She further disclosed that K4 billion would be spent at the convention and added that preparations have reached an advanced stage.

She said sub-Committees have been established such as Catering, Accreditation as well as the Security and Mobilisation Commissions to ensure that there was smooth running of the convention.

And MMD Acting Chairman for Elections Gabriel Namulambe said only fully paid-up members should file their nominations.

Mr. Namulambe, who is also Works and Supply Minister, however, urged party members to support their party as it prepared for the tripartite polls later this year.

Meanwhile, MMD has doubled nomination fees for presidential and national Executive Committee (NEC) members.

Party Spokesperson Dora Siliya announced that the fees for the position of president have been adjusted from K5 million to K10 million, vice-president from K2.5 million to K5 million while those of NEC members would be K2.5 million.

MMD National Trustee and Republican Vice-President George Kunda has shown willingness to contest the vice presidency of the party.

Ms. Siliya explained that her position of Information and Publicity Secretary in the ruling party comes by appointment and she was not contesting.

“You may be aware that my position remains the same and lam not standing,” she said.

ZANIS

Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation -ZNBC Director General Eddie Mupeso says it is unfortunate that the national Broadcaster has continued to be accused of favouring the ruling MMD in its coverage of news.

Mr Mupeso says ZNBC has no reason NOT to cover the opposition if their statements border on development and selling of their manifestos.

Mr Mupeso says it must be appreciated that there is a lot of development news from Government ministers than the opposition and therefore it is impossible to ignore such news from the ruling party.[pullquote]Ambassador Egawa says he is happy that the National Broadcaster has put the equipment to good use despite most of it being obsolete.[/pullquote]

Mr Mupeso says the national broadcaster will however continue to abide by the electoral code of conduct as it covers this year’s election.

He has assured political players that ZNBC will provide equal coverage in this year’s elections.

He was responding to Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Akio Egawa who wanted to know ZNBC’s Editorial policy.

Ambassador Egawa called on Mr Mupeso on Tuesday in Lusaka to tour ZNBC studios.

And Ambassador Egawa pledged his country’s support in the digital migration of ZNBC.

The Ambassador said his country assisted in the construction of the Mass Media complex at inception.

Ambassador Egawa says he is happy that the National Broadcaster has put the equipment to good use despite most of it being obsolete.

The United Party for National Development UPND has maintained that the PACT with Patriotic Front is dead and buried.

UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said that he is surprised with the statement attributed to PF leader Michael Sata that the UPND/PF pact is still intact.

Mr. Kakoma said Mr. Sata’s attitude shows that he has never been serious with the PACT, adding that it is for this reason that he can not believe that the pact is no more.

He said his party has already written official correspondence to the PF over its decision to pull out of the pact.

He said had the PF shown commitment to the pact, the political partnership between the two parties would not have died.

Mr. Kakoma has further maintained that the Patriotic Front is to blame for the demise of the political alliance.

The UPND spokesperson claims that Zambians are upset with the PF for the breakup of the PACT; hence Mr Sata maintaining that the alliance is still intact.

He said his party has already written official correspondence to the PF over its decision to pull out of the pact.

He said what the PF is doing is just public relations, in order to lie to Zambians that the PACT is still in existence when in fact not.

QFM