Choma Town Clerk, Enock Kandingwa says there is need to harness the power of the media, to help stop malpractices in the electoral process.

Mr. Kandingwa says the media should utilize its watchdog role in protecting the interest of the general public and encourage the peaceful conduct of elections.

He was speaking in Choma today, at the opening of a four-day provincial media training workshop, organised by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) at Kozo Lodge.

Mr. Kandingwa stressed the importance of the media in following the activities of elections with interest, and to also advise members of the general public on how to vote and help them know their rights and responsibilities in the realm of politics.

He noted that, more often than not, Journalists have tended to concentrate on reporting on the personal attributes of candidates, instead of focussing on the burning issues affecting the electorate.

Mr. Kandingwa observed that, for citizens to make well informed decisions during elections, there must be a free media.

He however noted that, while the media must be free to articulate independent and diverse views, it must be reliable, truthful and trusted, bearing in mind that, the media usually served as the means through which the public learnt much out about the atmosphere of an election and the aspiring political players.

“The media therefore needs to report fairly and accurately on campaigns of all political parties involved in an election so that the electorate can make informed choices, “he said. “The media needs to provide all the people with accurate information about the whole electoral process,” he went on.

Mr. Kandingwa hoped the training being conducted by the ECZ, would help enhance media reporting on the electoral process in Zambia.

ECZ is conducting training workshops for media personnel throughout the country, ahead of the 2011 tripartite elections.

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda has pardoned Lusaka Lawyer Nsunka Sambo and his client Victor Chilekwa, who were jailed for three years for contempt of court by the Supreme Court.

Sambo and Chilekwa were jailed for three years by the Supreme Court on March 30, this year, for writing insulting letters to the bench.

This was after they lost a Court appeal in a matter between Masiye Motel Limited and Rescue Shoulders and Estate Agency Limited.

The President has remitted the three year sentences of the two, following a request they made to him.

This is in exercise of the powers vested in him as Head of State, under Article 59 (d) of the Constitution of Zambia.

The two had requested the President to exercise his constitutional powers of prerogative of mercy, to remit their sentences.

The President has said in the order to the Commissioner of Prisons that the two be released from custody immediately, on condition that they do not commit offences similar to those for which they are convicted and sentenced, during the period up to the
respective date when they would have completed serving their sentences.

This is contained in a statement issued to ZNBC News in Lusaka today by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations DICKSON JERE.

ZNBC

President Rupiah Banda has invited the European Union to send a delegation to observe next years general elections in Zambia.

President Banda has asked out-going European Union Head of Delegation Derek Fee to ensure a team of officers is sent to monitor the polls.

The President also described the year 2011 as a great challenge because of the general elections.

President Banda was speaking during the commissioning of the New Soweto Market in Lusaka.

President Banda has pledged that he would ensure next year’s elections are free, fair, and transparent.

He said that he wants all potential voters to freely vote for the candidate of their choice.

President Banda also asked Zambians not to allow anyone to engage in violence as the country nears the elections.

He urged Zambians to remain peaceful in order for the elections to be free and fair.

Meanwhile, President Banda has appealed to Zambians not to engage in excessive drinking during the festive season.
[ ZNBC ]

Southern Province Permanent Secretary Gladys Kristafor has described Japan as a reliable partner in the improvement of the Zambian economy.

Mrs. Kristafor said for this reason, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had become a household name in the country due to its involvement in various projects that uplift the lives of people, especially the underprivileged.

She said this during the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOVC) 40th Anniversary exhibition at the Livingstone Museum yesterday.

Mrs. Kristafor said through JOVC, Japanese citizens have helped in improving lives of the less privileged people in Zambia and many other parts of the world.

She added that Japan had also helped in meeting various human resource needs in the country.

The Permanent Secretary has since commended the Japanese government for its outstanding work ethics, which she said could help significantly, if adopted by Zambians.

And speaking earlier, Livingstone Museum Director, Vincent Katanekwa said Japan had risen from being on the periphery to the centre of the economic power in the world economic arena due to its hardworking citizens.

Mr. Katanekwa said the JOVC was aimed at promoting cultural appreciation and awareness between Japan and other parts of the world in a bid to build understanding and acceptance among different peoples around the world.

He said the promotion of cultural appreciation was a key ingredient in fostering world peace.

Mr. Katanekwa said the four Japanese volunteers that have been posted to his institution were working on the development of a computer based cataloguing system for the museum’s collections.

He said the system was being tested for computerization of the museum’s collections to facilitate the sharing of information among museums and research institutions.

He added that the system would also make the museum collections more accessible to the public.

Meanwhile, JOVC Representative Mitsuhiro Kimura said Zambia had a long and deep relationship with Japan which spanned over a period of 40 years.

ZANIS

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda will today officially commission the K36-billion New Soweto Market, undoubtedly the capital city’s nerve centre for all marketeers.

Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Moses Muteteka said in a pre-launch interview in Lusaka yesterday that the Government was excited that the market would finally be launched as it was one of the ways to empower Zambians.

“This is a definite way to put money in the people’s pockets and we are so glad that as a ministry we have achieved such a milestone to give our people infrastructure they can use to better their lives,” he said.

After months of waiting and sometimes acrimony over the allocation of stands in the market, President Banda will today cut the ribbon to officially allow for trading in the 2,100 capacity modern market.

Despite the construction of the new market being over, the trading place could not start operating because of the controversies over stall allocations given the number of applicants.

The interest in the market is high given that as at March 2009, Lusaka City Council had received more than 10,000 applications from traders in the new market, constructed with the help of the European Union.

That should have sent panic into the traders who owned stalls in the old market and partly explains the high number of litigations over the allocations.

LCC public relations officer, Mulunda Habeenzu said in Lusaka yesterday that most of the court cases had been resolved outside court and that the stall allocation had been concluded.

“We are happy that most of the cases have been resolved outside court and now the stall allocation has been concluded,” he said.
Some marketeers spoken to yesterday expressed happiness with the opening of the market.

Regina Mwaka, a fish trader, said she was happy that the market was finally being commissioned.

[Times of Zambia]

KITWE Mayor Elias Kamanga is being investigated for abuse of office after he allegedly obtained K1.7 million from the council to buy suits for himself and another K3 million to dine and wine with some of his fellow councillors at a guest house in Kitwe.

Copperbelt provincial local government officer Solomon Sakala and Ministry of Local Government and Housing Permanent Secretary, Timothy Hakuyu confirmed receiving reports of Mr Kamanga’s alleged abuse of office.

Mr Sakala said he received a report from the council about the alleged abuse of office by the mayor. Mr Hakuyu was handling the matter.

“Yes, I can confirm that my office received a report that when Mr Kamanga was elected mayor, he got K1.7 million to buy himself suits and later took some of his colleagues to wine and dine at Shebourne Guest House in Kitwe where they spent K3 million, but I can’t say much because Mr Hakuyu is handling it,” Mr Sakala said.

Mr Hakuyu said he had received a copy of the report and was cross-checking it with the town clerk to establish under which circumstances the mayor received the money.

“I can confirm receiving a copy of that report but what I usually do, when I receive such kind of reports, I normally cross-check. I want to know under which circumstances he got the money,” Mr Hakuyu said.

When contacted, Mr Kamanga, who is opposition Patriotic Front Bupe Ward councillor, said he could not comment on the matter.
Some documents availed to the Times in Kitwe and signed by Brighton Mbaimbai, who was then acting town clerk, and Mr Kamanga confirmed the latter’s request for the said money.

[Times of Zambia]