LATE president Levy Mwanawasa’s first born daughter Mirriam has called on the Registrar of Societies to deregister the recently launched Levy Mwanawasa Foundation if former first lady Maureen does not explain the clear purpose and objectives of the organisation.

Mirriam said yesterday that it was wrong for the former first lady to allegedly continue riding on her father’s name by trying to blind Zambians that she embraced her step- children when infact not.

She said she was not consulted when she was made one of the board members on the foundation, which was launched after this year’s second memorial service for the late president.

The purpose and objectives, Mirriam said, had not been explained and that Mrs Mwanawasa hand picked the board members with her (Mirriam) and Patrick being mere board members while her daughter Chipokota had been made one of the signatories along side former State House Press aid Jack Kalala and Constantino Hangala Chimuka who was the executor for the late president’s will.

But when contacted, Mrs Mwanawasa said Mirriam was free to go to court if she wished but that she should instead sue the executor of the will and not her.

She said she could not say anything at the moment for fear of being perceived as if she was trying to defend herself, as she was an accused person in this issue.

Mirriam said as the first born daughter to the late president, she should be respected and recognised when it came to issues concerning his father but this had not been the case.

“What my stepmother did was to launch the Levy Mwanawasa Foundation and put Patrick and myself as just mere board members while her daughter Chipokota is one of the signatories. I demand that I should also be one of the signatories so that I should also know how the funds that will be channelled to the foundation by the donors will be used, failure to which the Registrar of Societies should deregister it.

“There is need for us to know the purpose of the foundation. I am advising her not to take advantage of the situation because I know her political ambitions,” she said.

Mirriam said she was not consulted before being picked as one of the board members and that she was only called to go and attend a meeting where she learnt that the foundation had been launched and that she was one of the board members.

She challenged Mrs Mwanawasa to tell the Zambians what had happened to the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative (MMCI) and challenged the former first lady to revamp it if she meant well for the Zambian people.

Mirriam said she would not allow her stepmother continue riding on her late father’s back with the aim of enriching herself.

“Where is MMCI today? Why can’t she revamp the MMCI if she really means well for the people of Zambia? Why go and form the foundation whose purpose and objectives are not known? The donors will be putting money in that foundation and as the first born daughter, I will not be able to know how the funds will be used especially that I am not one of the signatories,” she said.

She also challenged Mrs Mwanawasam to release the keys to the house purchased for her (Mirriam) at Lusaka’s PHI by Dr Mwanawasa in 2005.

Mirriam said she attended the meeting in which Maureen herself confirmed that the late president had purchased a house for her(Mirriam) at PHI but was surprised that the former first lady could not release the keys to date.

Mirriam’s aunt who only opted to be quoted as Inonge also confirmed having attended the meeting in which Mrs Mwanawasa mentioned about Mirriam’s house at PHI.

She advised the former first lady to ensure the children were given what was rightfully theirs.

Mirriam also advised Maureen to release the title deeds for the shops, which used to be owned by her late grandfather Patrick in Chisamba and Namwala.

She wondered why the former first lady continued holding on to the title deeds, which were not in her name.

She was also disappointed that out of all the three farms, Mipacima also known as Teka farm and Shakabunda, both situated in Masaiti and Palabana in Chongwe, Mrs mwanawasa had not released any of them. Mipacima farm was the abbreviation for Mirriam, Patrick, Chipokota and Matolo.

“Imagine my stepmother is also holding on to the title deeds for my late aunt Violent’s farm in Chisamba. Aunt Violet was the first born in my late father’s family and she died just after my father resigned as vice-president. Let her give these title deeds back to us as the Mwanawasa family. She should give the title deeds to aunt Evelyn, the late father’s only surviving sister so that we know what to do with them,” she said.
[ Times of Zambia ]

United Party for National Development (UPND) has advised Republican President Rupiah Banda to listen to Zambians for him to reduce trips.

Mr. Hakainde Hichilema said that it is a pity that as the President has decided to increase his travels despite calls from Zambians to reduce on flying out of the country.

Mr. Hichilema observed that the President is disturbing his neighbours and other Presidents cannot tell him that because of diplomatic relations.

President Rupiah Banda is on Monday expected to leave for Brazil for a three-day State Visit at the invitation of the out-going President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Luiz Inancio da Silva.

President Banda is scheduled to leave on Monday morning via Ana andgol his visit is aimed at enhancing bilateral and trade relations between Zambia and Brazil.

After the State Visit to Brazil, President Banda will proceed to Gaborone, Botswana where he is due to chair the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Troika Heads of State Meeting of the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation to be held on November 19, 2010.

President Banda last week traveled to Namibia for the Caprivi Link Inter-connector Inauguration Ceremony at Katima Mulilo’s.

Mr. Hichilema has since advised the president to at least settle down and concentrate on the domestic challenges.
[ QFM ]

Citizens Forum, Executive Secretary, Simon kabanda has described Zambia’s political mood ahead of the polls next year, as saddening.

Mr. kabanda said politicians have failed to base their campaigns on developmental issues as the people have called for.

“The political leaders have continued to engage in attacking each other at the expense of discussing issues as expected by the people of Zambia,” Mr Kabanda said.

Mr. kabanda noted that the political scenario entails that political violence would never be avoided.

He said challenged politicians to exercise restraint and engage in meaningful politics thereby set good grounds for the next years polls.

Mr Kabanda stated that it would not yield anything if politicians fail to deliberate issues efficiently and to inform Zambians what they have in store after next year’s poll than finding it more interesting to insult each other.
[ QFM ]

FORMER Zambian leader Kenneth Kaunda has said he is impressed with President Rupiah Banda’s achievements in the education sector.

Dr Kaunda, who is chancellor of Cavendish University, said this when he officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a modern campus in Kafue yesterday.

“In my humble view, this is a clear indication of the president’s support for the education sector in our country,” Dr Kaunda said.

He said about 4,000 students were currently studying at the university and the population had continued to grow. The university continues its bid to become a world-class institution.

Dr Kaunda said the institution intended to recruit students in the southern African region once the construction of the infrastructure was completed in Kafue.

The Kafue premises would have the capacity to accommodate 8,000 students. It has been constructed at the integrated centre that would have modern houses, a shopping mall and a mini-stadium. He hailed the Government for intensifying its efforts for the public-private artnership.

Meanwhile, Vice-President George Kunda has said the Government will continue with the provision of education to foster development in the country. In a speech read for him by Presidential Affairs Minister Ronald Mukuma, Mr Kunda said the Government intended to meet parameters set by the Vision 2030 which seeks to turn the country into a mid-income one.

Mr Kunda said the continued effort to improve education was a tribute to the late president Levy Mwanawasa.
He said the commercial centre would revive the economy of Kafue and expressed confidence that the institution had become a true partner of the Government.

Mr Kunda said the Government had given Cavendish University land and support to demonstrate its commitment towards the public-private partnership. He said the ideals of President Banda would remain timid because the infrastructure being constructed would stand for many years.

Mr Kunda urged management to avoid resting until the construction was completed to ensure that the project stood up within the set time. The construction of the new ultra-modern institution is expected to be completed in five years.
Also present at the ceremony was Education Permanent Secretary James Mulungushi and several other Government officials.

Cavendish University chairperson and vice-chancellor Ketrine Salati said the institution would remain a major player in the provision of education in the country.

The university was set up in Zambia in 2005 and offers various post-graduate, undergraduate, diploma and certificate courses in many disciplines, including law, project management, administration, public relations and man y others.

[Times of Zambia]

The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) has observed that though the bumper harvest the country has recorded has brought excitement to the government, it has brought its own challenges to the farmers.

CSPR Executive Director Patrick Mucheleka said it is disturbing to see farmers countrywide still not paid for the maize they supplied to the Food Reserve Agency.

Mr. Mucheleka wondered how poverty levels in the country could be reduced if the farmers do not get the benefits of their hard work.

He added that it is important that farmers are paid for their hard work to make the bumper harvest meaningful.

Speaking to QFM in an interview, Mr. Mucheleka further stated that government should have planned well for the bumper harvest to record total success.
[ QFM ]