United Party for National Development (UPND) Namwala Member of Parliament Robbie Chizhyuka has said Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata could divide Zambia if he is elected president in this year’s elections.

Major Chizhyuka has advised Zambians to support President Rupiah Banda for the country’s unity and stability is to be maintained.
He said in Lusaka at the weekend that he was glad he had been vindicated on the views he had been sharing with the Zambian people on the pact between the PF and UPND.

Maj Chizhyuka said Mr Sata could divide the country if he was elected as president because he had allegedly shown dislike for some provinces.

“There is no pact in Zambia, the pact died the day it was formed. It is dead because it was a selfish agreement made without the interests of the people.

“We make Mr Sata president then we have instability. Can Mr Sata espouse unity? He will divide the nation, that is why he doesn’t campaign in Western and North-Western provinces,” he said.
He also said UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema did not stand a chance of winning this year’s elections.

Major Chizhyuka said Mr Hichilema should heed advice to work with the MMD for him to remain relevant to Zambia’s politics.
[pullquote]“There is no pact in Zambia, the pact died the day it was formed. It is dead because it was a selfish agreement made without the interests of the people.

“We make Mr Sata president then we have instability. Can Mr Sata espouse unity? He will divide the nation, that is why he doesn’t campaign in Western and North-Western provinces,” he said.[/pullquote]
And UPND Copperbelt provincial chairperson Elisha Matambo has urged the electorate not to vote for PF councillors and MPs because they had allegedly failed to deliver on their election promises.

Mr Matambo said during a UPND Kitwe District conference held at Buchi Hall at the weekend that the PF should not be voted for as doing so would be to retard development in the country.

He said there was enough evidence in the manner PF had worked, especially on the Copperbelt where the party’s MPs and councillors had failed to deliver, while its party president Mr Sata had served in various governments, but had not made any significant contribution to the country.

Mr Matambo said the electorate were looking for hope and that was why there was need for UPND to carry out door-to-door campaigns for its leader, Mr Hichilema.
[ Times of Zambia ]

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) Chipili Member of Parliament Davis Mwila has been sued by his employee over unpaid salary arrears amounting to K164 million.

According to a statement of claim before the Kitwe High Court, Timmy Simuyile, who is the complainant in the matter, has sued Mr Mwila of house number 80, Mukuba Natwange in Kitwe, as a defendant.

Mr Simuyile claimed that Mr Mwila had accumulated salary arrears amounting to K164, 000,000 at the rate of K2, 000,000 per month for the seven years he had been in employment.

He said he had been a driver and election campaigner for Mr Mwila, who is a business executive and a parliamentarian.

Mr Simuyile claimed that Mr Mwila promised to buy a house for him at a cost of K60, 000,000 upon his election as MP but had not done so despite winning the polls.

He explained that he travelled to Tanzania on four occasions to collect motor vehicles on behalf of Mr Mwila at a rate of K2, 000,000 per trip, which amounted to K8, 000,000, but that he had not been paid the money to date.

He further claimed that Mr Mwila had sold all the four motor vehicles imported which he used to drive and now intended to sell the last Mitsubishi Fuso truck which he was currently driving without paying the money due to him.

Mr Simuyile is now seeking an order to compel Mr Mwila to pay K164, 000,000 salary arrears, K60, 000,000 value of the pledged house and K8, 000,000 charges for transporting the four vehicles.

He is also seeking an order of preservation and attachment of a motor vehicle known as Mitsubishi Fuso truck, registration number ACL 9266, pursuant to order 26 rule 1 and 2 of the High Court rules, interests, costs and any other relief the court might deem fit.
In his defence, Mr Mwila denied owing Mr Simuyile salary arrears amounting to K164 million.

He also denied owing any other amounts, adding that Mr Simuyile had never been his election campaign manager.

[ Times of Zambia ]

Government has today released K15 billion to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for various programmes under the continuous voter registration exercise.

The funds are additional to the K101 billion earlier released for the process between January to December, last year.

According to a Press Statement availed to ZANIS today by Ministry of Finance & National and Planning Public Relations Officer, Chileshe Kandeta, the release of K15 billion manifests Government’s commitment to the voter registration exercise in ensuring that as many Zambians as possible participate in this years tripartite.

The Commission had in the recent months requested for funds from the Government to effectively carry out its mandate ahead of this year’s tripartite polls.

“K15 billion has today been released to the ECZ for various programmes under the continuous voter registration exercise. The funds released manifests Government’s commitment to the voter registration exercise in ensuring that as many Zambians as possible participate in this years tripartite,” Mr. Kandeta said.

ECZ failed to pay the voter education facilitators who participated in the voter extension exercise that ended in November last year including the registration officers in the field in most of the districts.

[ ZANIS ]

Patriotic Front President Michael Sata has refuted claims of his party’s involvement in the impasse at the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

Mr. Sata said the PF has always been against dismissed Director Dan Kalale and at no point has the opposition party been involved in the operations of ECZ.

The PF leader said in response to the allegations labeled against his party by former PF member Samson Zulu.

Mr. Zulu has alleged that the PF has a hand in the differences at the ECZ which have seen chairperson Justice Florence Mumba resign.

The former PF member has further said that the fact PF has only commented on the matters at ECZ after the resignation of Justice clearly shows that the party is involved and challenges the leadership to come out in the open to clear the party’s name.

Yesterday, Global Justice Advocacy Campaign manager Samson Zulu on qfm mid-day news accused the opposition PF of having a hand in the impasse at the ECZ.

[ QFM ]

Zambia has been selected to the board of the African Union Anti Corruption Bureau at the ongoing African union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The anti corruption bureau acts as an advisory board to the African Union on fighting corruption.

QFM’s David Bweupe reports that the new board was approved by African heads of State and Government during the opening of 16th African Union summit which was attended by vice president George Kunda today.

Zambia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are the three Southern African countries representing the region on the anti graft bureau.

Other members to the board have been drawn from the four other regions of the continent.

Vice president George Kunda is attending the meeting representing President Rupiah Banda.

The Anti Corruption Bureau was formed following the adoption of the African Union convention on corruption in Mozambique Maputo in 2003.
[ QFM ]

Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata has challenged Minister of Local Government and Housing Dr. Brian Chituwo to state on whether he has appointed any investigative wings to investigate the alleged plot scandals at the Lusaka city Council.

Mr. Sata said under the statutes the local Minister should only suspend the council to pave way for investigations.

Mr. Sata has urged Dr. Chituwo to disclose the investigative wing that he has instructed to carry out investigation in the alleged plot scam involving the PF councilors at Lusaka city council.

The opposition leader noted that the government is trying to use the accusations against PF councilors as a political weapon being used to destabilize the opposition party.

Mr. Sata has also blamed the Dr. Chituwo for the theft scandals that recently rocked the Ministry of Health saying the theft scandals could have been prevented if the Dr. Chituwo who was the then Minister of health did not dissolve the Central board of health.

Mr. Sata was speaking in an exclusive interview
[ QFM ]

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“…I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope…”
(Acts 2:26, Message)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Where have you pitched your tent today? In other words, what are you expecting to happen in your life this year? What kind of attitude do you have? If your thoughts are stuck and you’re focusing on what’s wrong or what’s not working, then it’s time to dig up your tent stakes! It’s time to pack up your belongings and move out of the land of discouragement. It’s time to move out of the “Not-going-to-happen” subdivision and move out of “Can’t-do-it-ville.” It’s time to pack your bags and move into the land of hope, faith and expectation!

Every time you catch a negative thought and choose to dwell on God’s promises, it’s like you are packing your bags. Every time you declare God’s faithfulness, you are taking a step in the right direction. The Bible says that those who hope in the Lord will never be put to shame. As you turn your focus toward Him, you are pitching your tent in the Land of Hope — a land where His peace, blessing and victory reign forever more.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for ordering and directing my steps. Thank You for taking me to the land of hope! I choose to set my mind on You, knowing that You are faithful. I release the past and invite You to fill me with Your peace, blessing and victory today and always. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

The Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) will next week start the selection process of a candidate to field in the upcoming Mporokoso parliamentary by-election.

MMD acting National Secretary Chembe Nyangu said the ruling party will start interviewing the candidates on Tuesday, February 1 and would start with the Constituency Executive Committee.

Mr. Nyangu told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that his office had so far received three applications from people who have shown interest in contesting the seat under the MMD ticket.

He named one of the three candidates as Dominic Musonda who is also Mporokoso District Commissioner and former Lunte constituency Member of Parliament who once served as Deputy Minister of Local Government.

He said there were several others who have shown interest but was quick to point out that he had not confirmed their names but were likely to be available for constituency interviews.

Mr. Nyangu disclosed that the party was expected to announce the names of the candidates two days before nominations on February 10, 2011.

He said procedure would be followed from constituency, district, provincial and the National Executive Committee (NEC) subcommittee which would now recommend the names to the main committee for final adoption.

Mr. Nyangu expressed confidence that the ruling party would retain the seat which was left vacant after the resignation of Mynard Misapa who joined the opposition Patriotic Front.

He said the MMD was confident of scooping the seat because it had received massive support from both its members and the people of Mporokoso.

Mr. Nyangu said MMD would conduct an issue based campaign and tell the people what it would do for them once re-elected.

He also urged the opposition political parties that would participate in the elections to conduct none-violent campaigns.

He said all participating political parties should be obliged to conduct issue based campaigns to sustain peace in the area.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set March 3 as the date for the Mporokoso Parliamentary by-election.

The Mporokoso seat fell vacant after the resignation of Mr Misapa from the MMD to join the opposition Patriotic Front.

ZANIS

The United Party for National Development (UPND) has charged that the unfolding events at the Electoral Commission (ECZ) of Zambia were expected.

The UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said the party has always known that the institution is corrupt.

Mr. Kakoma said time has come for Zambians to know the true operations of the ECZ.

He has since called for a thorough and independent investigation of the operations of the ECZ.

Mr. Kakoma said that the agencies should move in quickly to resolve issues at ECZ before the coming of the general elections.
[ QFM ]