PRESIDENT Banda has said that the parallel vote tabulation (PVT), which some civil society organisations and donors are advocating, is alien to Zambia and a recipe for conflict.

Speaking on return from South Africa at the Lusaka International Airport on March 12, President Banda said the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is the only body mandated by the Constitution to conduct elections and disseminate results.

Mr Banda said countries that had been influenced into conducting PVT have ended up with civil unrest, a thing he did not wish for Zambia.

“We have laws in this country. Parallel Vote Tabulation is a stranger to us, it’s alien. We have never had it before. I wish those advocating it could give us the reasons. In any case, in countries where the same people have tried it, like Ivory Coast, up to now there is conflict,” he said.

The President urged people championing PVT in the forthcoming general elections to respect the laws of the land that have vested these powers in the ECZ.

The President was in South Africa to attend the first-ever Africa Investment Summit at the invitation of a leading global news and information company, Thomson Reuters.

Meanwhile, the ECZ has rejected calls by some organisations advocating a PVT system.

The commission has said it will not endorse a process that has the potential to plunge the country into chaos should the said NGOs mishandle the process.

ECZ public relations manager Chris Akufuna said in a statement yesterday that the commission has strong reservations against PVT because there are some NGOs who have exhibited distinct political inclinations.

Mr Akufuna stated that the commission is skeptical about the NGOs that are politically inclined adhering to procedures regulating the conduct of the elections.

Mr Akufuna explained that ECZ would not be able to absolve itself from possible electoral conflicts and its consequences if the PVT process is mismanaged.

“The commission does not want to endorse a process which, if mishandled, will not absolve itself from the ensuing conflict and consequences because it is the commission that is responsible for all matters pertaining to elections. The commission has strong reservations about the PVT process given the current environment in which there are distinct political inclinations of interested parties and if the PVT is mishandled, could lead to conflict and chaos,” Mr Akufuna said.

He said whilst it is advocated that the results of the PVT would be made known to the commission before publication, ECZ is not convinced that in the current situation there would be adherence to the procedure.

Article 76 of the constitution mandates the ECZ to conduct the presidential and parliamentary elections as well as the local government elections under the Local Government Act Cap 282.

It is the mandate of the ECZ to manage the electoral process and the commission is the only body responsible for the conduct of elections.

The ECZ is the only body mandated to determine as to whether the environment is conducive for any activities pertaining to elections.

Mr Akufuna said that under regulation 15 (6) (f) of the Electoral Act, monitors and observers shall not by themselves or through their organisations declare or disclose the result of any election before the declaration by the commission.

“The commission’s position is that it is solely responsible for the conduct of elections and the announcement/declaration of election results from polling station level. The law clearly provides for the procedure to be undertaken by a person that is dissatisfied or aggrieved by an election result and it is this procedure that should be followed. Even if PVT was to be undertaken, it is the provisions under the law that must be adhered to in the event of a disputed result,” Mr Akufuna said.

Meanwhile, CHIMWEMWE MWALE reports that the Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue (ZCID) has urged political stakeholders to stick to the existing voting system which has the ECZ as the final and legitimate body to announce election results.

ZCID chairperson Njekwa Anamela said all political parties in the country must recognize the ECZ as a legitimate body and accept the results from its appointed returning officers at polling stations.

Mr Anamela said in an interview with the Sunday Mail that contrary to suggestions by some sections of society the announcements of election results by the ECZ are not controversial.

He said the ZCID has no problems with the ECZ handling and announcing the election results for various candidates as the institution is experienced.

Mr Anamela said the ECZ must be allowed to do its work independently as it is the only credible institution that can announce election data for public consumption.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

PRESIDENT Banda is sympathetic with United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema for the breakdown of his party’s electoral Pact with the Patriotic Front (PF).

In an interview with journalists at the Lusaka International Airport on return from South Africa yesterday, President Banda said it is a pity for Mr. Hichilema because Mr. Sata is not a reliable person to forge a partnership with.

Mr. Banda said the Pact was bound to collapse because Mr. Sata was not trustworthy.

He said it is good though that the two political parties have tried and seen for themselves that they cannot work together.

“Actually I have a lot of sympathy for Mr. Hichilema because Mr. Sata is not somebody who can be trusted. He is unreliable to partner with in an electoral pact. It’s a pity the Pact has collapsed, but they have seen for themselves that they cannot work together,” President Banda said.

He said what remains is for the former allies to face the people and tell them the truth.

Meanwhile, Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED) president Fred Mutesa has said the PF-UPND Pact was a forced marriage which has collapsed because it was founded on selfish motives.

In an interview with the Sunday Mail, Dr. Mutesa said the Pact’s agenda of removing the MMD from power was narrow for sustainable co-operation.

“The dissolution of the PF-UPND pact is regrettable and disappointing for the people that had placed their hopes in the success of the Pact. However, as a party, we are not surprised,” Dr Mutesa said.

He said ZED agrees with the UPND that the Pact needed to have a clearly defined programme of action for the post election period.

Dr. Mutesa said the Pact needed to clearly state what they intended to do for the nation because leaders come and go.

“Unfortunately on the African continent we have so many forced political marriages. The marriage between ZANU-PF and MDC in Zimbabwe is on the rocks because of narrow selfish interests. Similarly, the Kenyan Government of National Unity has also been rocked by problems from the word go,” Dr Mutesa observed.

He said political parties wishing to work together should reach an agreement on the strategy for national development, otherwise partnership would just be about sharing positions.

[pullquote]He said the problems of the Pact were not insurmountable had M.r Sata and Mr. Hakainde stepped aside to allow other leaders within their parties re-invigorate the Pact.  “But the question is, are the two leaders capable of making such sacrifices,” Dr Mutesa asked.[/pullquote]

Dr Mutesa said the issue of who becomes president, and how many cabinet portfolios each political party gets should not be the pre-occupation of a political party.

He said the suggestion by the PF that Mr. Sata becomes the presidential candidate and Mr. Hakainde vice-president and that they share cabinet portfolios at a ratio of 60 and 40 percent was an indication of selfishness by the leaders.

“It’s all about what is in it for the politicians, not what is in it for the people. Having a positive programme of action should form the basis of a social contract with the people,” Dr Mutesa said.

He said in future it would be difficult for the two parties to be trusted to form electoral pacts with other political parties.

He said ZED will only consider working with political parties that would put the interests of the people first because they desire to empower Zambians.

He said the problems of the pact were not insurmountable had Mr. Sata and Mr. Hakainde stepped aside to allow other leaders within their parties re-invigorate the Pact.

“But the question is, are the two leaders capable of making such sacrifices,” Dr Mutesa asked.

MMD Lusaka province chairman William Banda has said that the death of the pact is pleasing news to the ruling party. Mr. Banda said that it was obvious that the pact was not going anywhere.

He has however congratulated UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema for the bold decision he has taken to leave the pact.

Mr. Banda told QFM that Mr. Hakainde should not be blamed for the death of the pact as he had tried his level best to ensure that the pact stayed intact but Mr. Sata’s stubbornness made the existence of the pact futile.

He said that Mr. Sata can never be trusted with leadership because of his greediness and appealed to citizens not to back the Patriotic Pront Front as it is a party that lacks morals.

QFM

Former MMD chairman for elections, Mike Mulongoti has dared MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga to go ahead and sue him for defamation.

Mr. Mulongoti said he is patiently waiting for Mr. Mabenga to take legal action against him before he decides what appropriate action to take.

He told QFM that he only said what he knew was appropriate adding that anyone threatening him with legal action should go ahead and do so.

MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga has threatened to sue Mr Mulongoti for defamation of character following Mr. Mulongoti’s statement that president Rupiah Banda is being advised by morally bankrupt individuals like Parliamentary chief whip Vernon Mwaanga, MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya and MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga.

And Mr. Mulongoti said that Vernon Mwaanga’s advice that he should stick to the suspension debate instead of bringing in issues of morality, is a sign that he does not value morals.

Mr. Mulongoti wondered what Mr. Mwaanga meant by saying that he should not bring in issues of morals when morality and politics go side by side.

QFM

THE Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has dismissed media reports that the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) is involved in a land scam with ruling MMD.

ZCTU general secretary Roy Mwaba said the congress instituted its own investigations following media reports implicating NAPSA in land financial irregularities.

Mr Mwaba said ZCTU held a forum with top NAPSA management and it has been discovered that the institution satisfied all channels when dealing with Meanwood Property Development Corporation Limited concerning land on Palmwood Drive.

Media reports recently alleged that senior members of the MMD had initiated an election campaign fundraising venture which involved NAPSA and Meanwood.

But Mr Mwaba said according to the investigations carried out, NAPSA and Meanwood are involved in a purely business deal which has satisfied all the channels.

He, however, said to monitor activities of NAPSA, ZCTU will continue sitting on the board of the authority.

[ZNBC]

A head teacher of Lilayi basic School along with two others from a named private school, have appeared in court for forging grade seven statements of results.

Maselina Mazuba Hamonga, a head teacher at Lilayi basic school charged with Crasny Kachemba, a head teacher at Beit bridge school of Chawama compound and Joseph Lungu a teacher at the same private School are alleged to have between October 26th 2010 and January 11th 2011 forged three 2010 grade seven statements of results.

The trio has since pleaded not guilty to six counts of forgery and altering false documents.

The grade seven statements of results alleged to have been forged bear the names, Canicia Bwalya, Royce Hanzala and Patience Nambuta.

And Lusaka magistrate, Rodger Kaoma, has since revoked police bonds issued to the three teachers replacing them with bail worthy three million kwacha.

Magistrate Kaoma has since ordered that the trio to remain in custody until they meet all the bail conditions.

Magistrate Kaoma has further ordered that the trio should present proof of their residential addresses in form of either a title deed or water bill slip.
[ MUVI ]

There was confusion this yesterday at Lusaka’s Intercity Bus terminus when some overzealous suspected ruling MMD cadres allegedly took over the operations of the station.

Some passengers were allegedly harassed by the cadres who were putting on MMD Chitenge materials much to the disappointment of some bus operators.

Some operators alleged that passengers and their call boys were harassed for not putting on MMD Chitenges.

Police were called in to contain the situation that was about to get out of hand.
[ MUVI ]

The Patriotic Front (PF) has welcomed the announcement by the United Party for National Development to pullout of the political alliance.

This follows the official announcement by UPND Vice President Richard Kapita in Lusaka today that his party will no longer be in a pact with the PF citing differences.

PF Secretary General Secretary Wynter Kabimba said today that the UPND has a democratic right to decide on what step to take with regards the pact.

Mr. Kabimba said the decision by the UPND will not deter his party from focusing on the forthcoming tripartite elections.

Meanwhile, the Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) described as unfortunate that the UPND/PF pact has failed to work after creating so much hope and confidence in Zambians.

AVAP Executive Director Bonnie Tembo said people are disappointed at the development as they had so much hope in the pact.

Mr. Tembo added that the two parties should also realize that they have wasted so much time issuing negative statement on each other as elections draw near.

He said that the move showed that the culture of political alliances is not welcome in Zambia and further called on voters not to shun this year’s polls.

The UPND/PF pact that was launched in June 2009 as a creation of Zambians has in recent past been characterized by wrangles leading to the pullout of the UPND.

QFM

Kaoma Member of Parliament Austin Liato has called on people of Western Province to support president Rupiah Banda in the run up to this years general elections.

Mr. Liato says President Banda has taken development in Kaoma.

He cited construction of schools, hospitals, roads, and electrification of the district as some of the projects which President Banda has successfully implemented in Western province.

Mr. Liato says people of Western Province should not be cheated by opposition political parties that are promising to develop the area.

Mr Liato who is also labour Minister was speaking when he addressed people of Kaima village.

This was shortly after the Rural Electrification Authority handed over a 23-billion kwacha E.U funded electrification site to El tech engineering company.

El tech has been engaged to electrify the TBZ farming block.
[ ZNBC ]