President Rupiah Banda today led hundreds of Zambians in celebrating Zambia’s 46th Independence Day in Lusaka.

The celebrations which were held at Lusaka’s show ground in the main arena were attended by First Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, former freedom fighters Grey Zulu, Zanco Mphundu Mutembo among other freedom fighters.

It was mesmerized by the cutting of the Independence Day cake by President Banda who shared it with guests at the function.

[pullquote]Other notable persons who attended this year’s celebration include, former Vice President Enoch Kavindele, opposition Zambia Republican Party (ZRP) leader Ben Mwila, New Revolution Party (NRP) leader Cosmo Mumba among others.[/pullquote]

Other notable persons who attended this year’s celebration include, former Vice President Enoch Kavindele, opposition Zambia Republican Party (ZRP) leader Ben Mwila, New Revolution Party (NRP) leader Cosmo Mumba among others.

Members of the diplomatic corps, cabinet ministers and their deputies, defence chiefs and personnel, also attended the celebration.

The celebrations were also characterized by dances from different dance groups with a guest group coming from Botswana.

Other dances and songs where from the combined defence and security forces choir, traditional dances from Zambezi Source Cultural Group of Mwinilunga, Kulamba Cultural group from Kanyama in Lusaka who performed the famous Gule wa-mukulu dance from the Eastern Province among others.

This years Independence Day celebration was held under the theme; Consolidating Our Independence Through Food Security.

And Former Vice President Enoch Kavindele has called on Zambians to use the existing peace as a tool for development.

Mr. Kavindele said Zambia has continued to enjoy peace in the last 46 years and that Zambians should take advantage if this to develop the country.

[pullquote]He noted that if the opposition political parties are talking of being in power next year then they must show responsibility by attending important national functions such as the Independence Day.

[/pullquote]

He called on Zambians to also embrace and appreciate each other to avoid confrontation.

And Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja says Independence Day should be celebrated by all Zambians regardless of political affiliation.

Mr. Kanganja said celebrating independence has nothing to do with politics and everyone regardless of their political attachment is entitled to take part in the celebrations.

[pullquote]Mr. Kavindele said Zambia has continued to enjoy peace in the last 46 years and that Zambians should take advantage if this to develop the country.[/pullquote]

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today at the Independence Day celebrations, Mr. Kanganja observed that it was unfortunate for opposition political parties to shun the event as it was a moment for them to show their leadership.

He noted that if the opposition political parties are talking of being in power next year then they must show responsibility by attending important national functions such as the Independence Day.

Others who attended the celebrations were First Republican President Dr .Kenneth Kaunda, veteran politician Grey Zulu, other freedom fighters, members of the diplomatic corps, Ministers and senior government officials among others.

ZANIS

An Independence Message from the Citizens Democratic Party

Today we mark 46 years of self-rule. We say self rule as it is clear that true independence does not wholly apply to our potentially great nation’s current situation. We are still fighting for our independence- indeed the struggle continues. In 1964, many of our great sons of Africa and particularly Zambia fought hard to abolish an unjust system designed to benefit a few on the backs of the majority. The fight of 1964 was not and will never be in vain, thus on this day we will do well to honor these great sons and daughters of Zambia. Imagine the irony and sacrifice of being imprisoned to ensure freedom for others. From their hurt and pain we gained a nation you and I call Zambia to which we all now belong to as Zambians. Freedom is now in our possession, yet true independence is still our purpose.

When our nation’s founding fathers and mothers fought for our freedom, it did not mean then, nor does it mean now in 2010 that the work was completed. As already stated true independence is still lacking. Citizens we inherited this freedom not just to correct the absurdity of colonialism, but most importantly to take responsibility for the direction our nation should go. Today, you and I right at this moment can never make claim to the hard-fought struggle of the past and get credit for it. But we can make great claim to our future and get credit for it. And despite the difference of time, there is one thing and one thing only that will forever bind us who are living today with our freedom fighters. Citizens there can be no doubt that on that victorious Saturday on October 24th 1964, there was and still is a Zambia that we still want. And on this day that we are reflecting on 46 years of self-rule we are still wanting this Zambia that was envisioned on Saturday October 24th 1964. Indeed, if we could sit down and chat with Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, or Mama Kankasa, or Simon Kapwepwe, and the Chachacha freedom fighters, they will tell us we are not yet truly independent. They will tell you and me that they have played their part, and this generation has the responsibility of getting to the Zambia we wanted on Independence Day of 1964.

There is a Zambia we wanted then, and a Zambia we want now. And the Zambia we want will begin with abolishing this system of rule that has been carried over from colonialism, where power lies in the hands of a few people, for their own benefit. The freedom that was fought for was not supposed to be a freedom that replaced the colonialists with a small group of Zambians in Lusaka continuing to rule with the same impunity of colonialists. No and no again! Unfortunately, the design of the current system of our self-rule is as such. Again this is our Zambia, and you and me should be given a proper chance to contribute to our nation’s discourse that was not available during colonialism. The Citizens Democratic Party insists that by proper and immediate decentralization power will be brought closer to the right ful owners- the people. The very communities you and I live in should be empowered to move our country forward- after all isn’t that what true independence entails?

Unfortunately, Zambia today is being ruled in the same fashion of colonialist tactics, under the guise of a heavily centralized de facto one party governance system, as was the case with colonialism. Our governance system has resulted in decision making that does not benefit the majority. This fellow citizens, explains why today the majority of our people live as an oppressed people in their own country. This is why today foreign conglomerates are able to wantonly rape our country of its resources, and shoot Zambian workers whilst they are at it. This is why today Zambians cannot possess the great wealth of this land themselves. We are bearing the fruit of a governance system that has never and will never be what our freedom fighters fought for. This is not the Zambia we wanted.

As the Citizens Democratic Party, we are very much alive to the dreams and aspirations of independence, and the Zambia we wanted. We are going to have to start somewhere; otherwise our true independence will not come. The Zambia we want lies in making bold solid changes to the governance system that will free up the great potential of communities who are empowered to make the best out of their situation- that is proper decentralization. We urge every Zambian not to abdicate their responsibility to our nation that was borne out of our successful freedom struggle. On this 46th anniversary of self-rule, we encourage each and every shareholder to this land of ours to work towards the Zambia we want! The independence struggle continues.

Editors note: Feel free to send in your Independence day celebration pictures to Webmaster AT Lusakatimes DOTcom

The Anti Voter Apathy project (AVAP) Executive Director, Bonnie Tembo has warned that the words that were uttered in the speech that republican president, Rupiah Banda used when he fired former mpulungu member of parliament, Lameck Chibombamilimo from the position of deputy energy minister, will haunt the MMD.

Mr. Tembo has observed that the MMD has a slim chances of scooping the Mpulungu by-election because the fact that Mr. Chibombamilimo was unceremoniously fired from president Banda’s cabinet, is still fresh on the minds of the people.

Mr. Tembo said the PF’s decision to use a recorded speech of what president Banda when he fired Mr. Chibombamilimo as a campaign strategy against them, would have a negative impact on the MMD’s performance.

He ,however, registered a general complaint of participating political parties’ failure to uphold the electoral code of conduct.

The AVAP Director accused the ruling party of using a lot of government vehicles in their party campaigns and failing to draw a line on party and governments business lines.

Mr. Tembo oted that Mpulungu people seem geared and ready for the poll day.
[ QFM ]

President Rupiah Banda has arrived back in the country from Malawi where he went to witness the official launch of the Nsanje World Inland Port on Shire River.

The President arrived this evening at Lusaka international Airport at 18:25 hrs aboard the Presidential Challenger.

He was welcomed by Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu, Science and Technology Minister Peter Daka, Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, Service Chiefs and other senior government officials.

The Nsanje World Inland Water Port is part of the US$ 6 billion Shire/Zambezi waterway project and opens the Shire waterway from Malawi’s inland port of Nsanje to the Indian Ocean port of Mozambique, a distance of 238km.

[pullquote] He charged that there were a lot of political critics in many African countries, including Zambia, who were bent on only opposing whatever good policies presidents were fostering with a view of derailing economic development and winning cheap politics.[/pullquote]

The new port is expected to reduce costs of goods and services for landlocked countries like Zambia and Zimbabwe by at least 60 percent, according to Nsanje District Commissioner, Rodney Simwaka.

Earlier, President Rupiah Banda said African leaders must be stubborn if they are to develop their countries and improve living standards of their people.

President Banda said time was gone when African leaders were wasting time listening to critics and doing what they wish at the expense of economic development and welfare of the citizenry.

Mr Banda said this in Nsanje district of Malawi before witnessing the official launch of the Nsanje World Inland Port by Malawian President, Ngwazi Professor Bingu wa Mutharika this afternoon.

He charged that there were a lot of political critics in many African countries, including Zambia, who were bent on only opposing whatever good policies presidents were fostering with a view of derailing economic development and winning cheap politics.

He said the best way to foster development was to pay a deaf ear to such people and focus boldly on policies that would benefit the country and its people.

The President thanked Prof Wa Mutharika for taking a bold decision to construct a multi-billion dollar port which he said was going to benefit Zambia in particular and the central and southern African region at large.

And Malawian President, Prof Bingu Wa Mutharika thanked SADC leaders and other cooperating partners for what he called the dream-come-true about on the Nsanje World Inland Port.

Prof Wa Mutharika said the opening of the port was phase one of the project, saying the next stage was to create a dry port, rehabilitate the railway line which connects Zambia through the Chipata/Mchinji railway line, open an international airport and create investment opportunities for banks, hotels and other facilities.

The Malawian President revealed that his other dream was to see a fast train running from Blantyre to Bulawayo via Zambia to enhance speedy movement of goods and passengers among the central African countries.

He noted that time had come for African countries to be economically independent rather than sticking to post colonial mentality of begging for help from donors even when they could stand on their own.

Speaking at the same function, Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe advised African countries to be wary of foreign investors who come with ill-intentions in the name of donors.

Mr Mugabe observed that most so-called investors infiltrate Africa to destroy local economies and oppress indigenous people rather than helping them.

He urged African leaders to seriously scrutinize every investor entering their countries, saying others are not needed.

ZANIS

PResident Rupiah Banda has said MMD would emerge victorious in both the Mpulungu and Chilanga parliamentary by-elections.

Speaking at the airport in Lusaka when he left for Mpulungu yesterday, President Banda said the MMD was ready to retain both seats even though the opposition wanted to portray that the ruling party was losing support.

And when he arrived in Mpulungu to address a series of rallies to drum up support for the MMD candidate Given Mung’omba, Mr Banda said the MMD was ready physically and mentally to campaign and retain the Mpulungu Constituency.

“This election is critical because the opposition want to make it look as though our party is dwindling and would therefore try by all means to win the by-election,” Mr Banda said.

He said Mpulungu constituency belonged to the MMD and it should continue that way after the October 25 Mpulungu by-election.

The MMD members should work hard to win the upcoming election and must not allow the opposition to emerge winners.

He said MMD was the only party that had nationwide support unlike the opposition parties that attracted sections of particular people only.

Mr Banda said MMD members should also work hard to win the 2011 general elections that were equally critical for the party.

He said he was happy to see so many residents of Mbala and Mpulungu dressed in MMD party attire saying he was hopeful that in 2011 the Northern Province would also be in ‘blue’.

Mr Banda said the MMD had remained solid despite attacks because of members like those in Northern Province that were the ‘true blue’.

Northern Province acting MMD chairperson Gaston Sichilima said the people of Mbala and Mpulungu had formed a joint force to chase PF leader Michael Sata out of Northern Province.

Mr Sichilima said the people of Northern Province had come to realise that Mr Sata was not a good leader to run the affairs of the country.

He said even Zambia’s Vice-President George Kunda had foreseen the cracks of the PF-UPND Pact which had now been buried.

Mpulungu Constituency seat fell vacant after the MMD MPLameck Chibombamilimo died.
Meanwhile, President Banda has said Government retained the Mpulungu Port in Mpulungu from private ownership to empower the residents of Mpulungu.

Government wanted to make Mpulungu District a modern town and that could only be done if the people of Mpulungu were empowered by running the port.

[ Times of Zambia ]