The BRE has,therefore, condemned in the strongest terms some people in the Western Province who are calling for separation of the Barotseland from the rest of the country.

The Litunga of the Lozi people said this through his representative Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta at State House, when he presented a report of the Lozi National Council meeting held in Mongu recently.

He said the Baroste agreement of 1964 is very clear in outlining its objectives which are to promote peace and national unity.

Senior Chief Yeta said this when he led a 14 member delegation of Indunas at a meeting with President Rupiah Banda at state House.

He said the BRE has never advocated for violence in calling for recognition of the agreement but discussion.

He, however, said there are some sections of people in Western Province who think the agreement calls for separation of the area from the rest of the country.

And President RUPIAH BANDA said government will receive the report and will consider it with the seriousness it deserves.

The President said he was happy to receive the Litunga’s delegation at State House.

He noted that the mission which the delegation has undertaken is welcome as is aimed at helping in uniting the nation.
[ ZNBC ]

Following yesterday’s announcement by Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti that he will contest the vice presidency, party Legal committee chairperson Bwalya Chiti is said to be the latest member to show interest.

Sources told QFM that Mr. Chiti has also expressed interest in vying for the ruling party’s vice presidency.

Others said to be interested for vacant position since the party’s last convention in 2006 are MMD committee member Walisiku Lisulo, and foreign affairs minister who is also party deputy national chairman Kabinga Pande.

The MMD has set April 5th to 7th as the dates for the national convention.

Meanwhile MMD in Lusaka Central constituency have challenged party chairman for elections Mike Mulongoti to tell the nation what he has done for the MMD for him to contest the vacant position of party vice president.

Constituency chairman Chilekwa Munkonge says as much as the party constitution allows MMD members to contest for various positions of their choice, the vice presidential position requires someone who has contributed to the welfare of the general membership of the party.

Mr. Munkonge added that his constituency has resolved to rally behind Republican Vice President George Kunda for the party vice presidency ahead of the forthcoming convention slated for Kabwe in April.

He says Mr. Kunda has is the suitable candidate for the position as he has contributed to the welfare of the party and the general membership.

And Mr. Munkonge has further said that the majority of the MMD members have endorsed the candidature of Mr. Kunda as a preferred candidate at the convention daring Mr. Mulongoti to go ahead with his ambitions if he is able to withstand the pressure.

[ QFM ]

Government will next year begin issuing digitalised National Registration Cards.

Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Ndiyoyi Mutiti says government will change the NRC to enhance security features.

She explained that the current NRCs are vulnerable to forgery.

Ms. Mutiti told the parliamentary Committee on Government Assurances that the three year project will cost about 15 million US dollars.

Shesaid equipment for the project has already been bought and that the installation of software has started in Lusaka.

She also said government will also computerise the department of National registration, Passports,and Citizenship.
[ZNBC ]

LUSAKA lawyer Rodger Chongwe has continued attacking the Zambian Government because he has failed to secure US$7 million which he was awarded by the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) following a shooting incident in Kabwe in 1997.

In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, former Patriotic Front PF secretary general Edward Mumbi said Dr Chongwe wrote the Government last month asking for S7 million claiming that there was interest that had accumulated since the ruling was passed.

“I want Dr Chongwe to deny what I am saying. He is asking for money from the Government as compensation but as a lawyer, he knows that the ruling cannot be enforced in Zambia,” Mr Mumbi said.

He challenged Dr Chongwe to state how elections were rigged, especially that he was minister of Justice and Government advisor.

Mr Mumbi said Dr Chongwe should not continue making empty allegations that the Government had been rigging elections but should explain the formula he was using when he was in Government.

He said the ruling by the UNHRC was not enforceable in Zambia because it had not been registered in line with the law.

He said Dr Chongwe did not exhaust all the local channels before taking the matter to the UN body.

Mr Mumbi said Dr Chongwe had now become bitter because he campaigned for President Rupiah Banda during the 2008 presidential elections hoping to be rewarded with the release of his dues.

He said the Government had rejected the appeal, which was consistent with the position taken by late president Levy Mwanawasa, who said the ruling was not enforceable in Zambia.

He said because of anger, Dr Chongwe had continued to criticise President Banda as a tactic to force the Government to invite him but was surprised that was not happening.

“It is a fact and public knowledge that he campaigned for President Banda because our late president Levy Mwanawasa, one of Zambia’s eminent lawyers, wrote to Dr Chongwe informing him there was no law that provided or supported the registration of such a foreign judgment in Zambia.

“Dr Chongwe, being a former Legal Affairs minister and chief adviser to the Government, should tell Zambians how he advised the Government he served in preparing the rigging of elections,” Mr Mumbi said.

[ Times of Zambia ]

Cabinet has approved a 2-million U.S dollars budget to finance the hosting of the 2011 Africa Growth Opportunity Act-AGOA forum in Zambia.

Commerce Minister Felix Mutati says the funds will be used to finance various activities in line with the forum.

Mr. Mutati said the forum is expected to be attended by over 300-U.S based companies.

An additional 3-thousand delegates will also be drawn from Africa.

Mr. Mutati said a ministerial Committee has already been established to look into logistics ahead of the forum, which is slated for June this year.

The AGOA meeting will address among other things extending Zambia’s market access into the U.S.

Mr. Mutati told ZNBC Business News , Wednesday that while market access has been opened into Europe, it has been difficult for Africa to access the US market.

He said the forum will create business linkages between the U.S and other countries.
[ ZNBC ]

Six people have died, while two have sustained injuries, in a road accident involving three vehicles in Luanshya on the Copperbelt.

Copperbelt Police Commanding Officer Martin Malama told ZNBC news that the accident happened around 09:00 hours Wednesday morning.

Dr. Malama said the accident involved a Volvo Truck, A toyota Corrolla and a Mitsubishi Pajero.

He said the dead include three passengers who were travelling on a Toyota Collora, and three others who were on an unregistered Mitsubishi Pajero.

Three passengers on a Volvo truck escaped unhurt.

Eye witnesses said the truck hit into the two vehicles.

And Dr. Malama said police are investigating the cause of the accident.
[ ZNBC ]

MMD Chairperson for Elections Mike Mulongoti has declared his candidature for the MMD Vice-Presidency at the forth-coming party national convention.

Mr. Mulongoti, who is also Works and Supply Minister told Journalists, Wednesday that he has decided to contest the position of party Vice-Presidency because of his vast experience.

He said he has done a lot for the party and feels now is the right time for him to serve the MMD at a different level.

Mr. Mulongoti also urged party members, especially young people, to aspire for various party positions and defend the principle of democracy in the party.

He also said he will ensure that he campaigns with dignity and appealed to all party members aspiring for various positions to do same.

Mr. Mulongoti said all party members vying for positions in the party should be given chance to contest without intimidation.
[ ZNBC ]

The Patriotic Front (PF) has expressed disappointment with the United Party for National Development (UPND) for stating that it will not back the PF in the Mporokoso parliamentary by-election.

PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba says it is disappointing that the UPND has decided to make such a decision.

Mr. Kabimba was , however, quick to state that the UPND, just like any other institution has a right to make any political decision.

He says the PF will not force their pact partners to support them in the 3rd March parliamentary by- elections.

Mr. Kabimba has since reiterated his call to the UNPD not to take issues concerning the PACT to the media.

He says the UPND as partners in the PACT should learn to address matters through established channels rather than through the media.

UPND national youth chairperson Joe Kalusa is quoted in today’s Times of Zambia as saying that his party will not support the PF in the Mporokoso by-election because it is clear that there is no longer a pact between the two parties.

However, UPND spokesperson Chales Kakoma has dismissed reports that the party has resolved not to support the PF in the Mporokoso by elections.

But UPND national youth chairman Joe Kalusa has maintained that UPND youths will not back the PF in Mporokoso.

He says the PF has been working as a single party, and does not see the reason to support them in the Mporokoso by elections.

Speaking in an interview with QFM, Mr. Kalusa has challenged the UPND top leadership to give the reason why they should support the PF.

[ QFM ]