MMD chairperson for elections Mike Mulongoti has said the forthcoming party provincial conferences will only be attended by delegates who will carry identity cards and has since warned delegates to depart from unacceptable conduct.

In a statement released yesterday, Mr Mulongoti emphasised that only delegates with identity cards would attend the conferences and constitute the electoral college.

Mr Mulongoti said unacceptable conduct would render party members not to be in good standing and therefore not eligible to contest the polls.

He said preparations for provincial elections should be based on MMD election rules of 1999 and that provincial commissioners and electoral officers for each province had been appointed.

“Dates for the conferences leading to elections will be communicated directly to the commissioners, electoral officers, current provincial leadership and the public. Venues must be known and acceptable to all delegates,” he said.

Mr Mulongoti said during this period, all matters to do with discipline would be in line with the circular of August 25 this year from the acting national secretary.

He urged party members to study the electoral rules and the party constitution in order to safeguard their rights as enshrined in these documents.

Meanwhile, acting national secretary Chembe Nyangu has said campaigns for the MMD vice-presidency are illegal and should stop immediately.

Mr. Nyangu said he had received reports that some senior party members were going round the country campaigning for the position before the date of the convention and campaign period were announced.
He said all members should stick to the party’s guidelines and avoid any form of anarchy.
[ Times of Zambia ]

United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema says the invitation of Sudanese president Omar Hassan Al Bashir to Zambia for Lusaka summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) shows that President Rupiah Banda has no respect for human rights.

Mr. Hichilema says it is shocking that president Banda has invited a wanted person to Zambia.

Mr. Hichilema in an interview with QFM this afternoon says it should not come as a shock to Zambians that president Banda embraces human rights abuses.

He adds that reports that the MMD has its own militia are a clear conformation that the Zambian president embraces human rights abuses.

He explains that president Banda found it fit to invite president Al-Bashir to Zambia because he sees nothing wrong with the Sudanese president.

Mr. Hichilema says president Banda should respect the values of the International Criminal Court which has issued an arrest warrant for the Sudanese leader for genocide committed in Darfur.

Mr. Hichilema has since called on the Zambian people to vote for change in the 2011 election and put in place a government that will respect human rights.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has expressed concern that President Rupiah Banda has invited indicted Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to participate in a regional conference scheduled for 15th December.

QFM

President Rupiah Banda has with immediate effect remitted the prison sentence of Lusaka Lawyer Nsunka Sambo and his client Victor Chilekwa who were jailed for three years for contempt of court by the Supreme Court.

Special Assistance to the President for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere said in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today that the remittance is with immediate effect.

And President Banda said he has decided to remit the remainder of the sentence imposed on Sambo and Chilekwa following their request for him as President to exercise his constitutional power of prerogative of mercy.

The President has since ordered the release of the duo from custody at Lusaka Central Prison where they were serving their prison sentence.

He said the release is on the condition that the duo does not commit a similar offence up to the period of their respective date when they were to complete the sentence.

President Banda has remitted the sentence imposed on the two convicts in exercise of the powers vested in him as head of state under article 59 (d) of the constitution of Zambia.

Sambo and Chilekwa were jailed for three years by the Supreme Court on March 30 this year for writing insulting letters to the bench after they lost a court appeal in a matter between Masiye Motel Limited and Rescue shoulders and Estate Agency Limited.

ZANIS

Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata has welcomed the reduction in the nomination fee for presidential candidates. The Electoral Commission announced yesterday that it had reduced the nomination fee from K20 million Kwacha to K10 million following consultations with stakeholders.

Mr. Sata however states that despite the fact that more people will be able to participate in the presidential elections in 2011 following the reduction in the nomination fee, Zambians know who is a real leader and who is not.

He says though this intervention might lead to fears of vote splinting, it is better because more people will be attracted to participate in the presidential election and not just flooding the parliamentary race.

However, United Party for National Development (UPND) Spokesperson CHARLES KAKOMA has said that the reduction of the presidential nomination fees will increase the number of presidential candidates thereby splitting the votes.

Mr. KAKOMA however said that the reduction will give an opportunity to small parties and the less privileged to contest the 2011 general elections.

And MMD Chairman Michael Mabenga said that the revision of nomination fees is welcome as this will allow several candidates to participate in the election.  Mr Mabenga said that the reduction in nomination fees will allow all aspirants meet the nomination fees.

And Committee of Citizens Executive Director Gregory Chifire said the move is in the best interest of democracy. Mr. Chifire told ZNBC News that the move by the ECZ will afford poor citizens an opportunity to vie for the office of the Presidency. Mr. Chifire has however expressed fear that having so many Presidential candidates will only confuse voters and divide votes.

And MMD Copperbelt Province Youth Chairman Evans Chibanda said the development will accord many Zambians chance to run for the Presidency.

But, opposition Patriotic Front PF Spokesperson Given Lubinda challenged the ECZ to explain the rationale behind the reduction in the nomination fees. Mr. Lubinda said the commission should have taken time to address critical issues such as the allocation of air time to political leaders on public media institutions.

Meanwhile, Alliance for Democratic Development -ADD President Charles Milupi says his party is not affected by the reduction of nomination fees. Mr. Milupi said that Zambians will have the challenge of selecting the presidential candidate. The New Generation Party (NGP) has also welcomed the reduction of the nominations fees.

Electoral Commission of Zambia(ECZ) announced the reduction of presidential nomination fees for the 2011 general elections from 20 million to 10 million kwacha.

The Drug Enforcement Commission- DEC – has seized two motor vehicles belonging to Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata ‘s wife Christine Kaseba.

This is in connection with the on-going investigations involving the 100 thousand United States Dollars transactions at Finance Bank.

The Commission has seized a Chevrolet and an Isuzu double Cab, both valued at 100 thousand United States Dollars.

DEC Spokesperson John Nyawali confirmed this to ZNBC News in Lusaka today.

Mr. Nyawali said the vehicles were taken to the D.E.C headquarters this morning by Mr. Sata’s drivers and lawyers.

He said that Mr. Sata, through his lawyers was asked to surrender the two motor vehicles which are a subject of investigations to the Commission after recording a second statement from him.
[ ZNBC ]