United Party for National Development (UPND)president Hakainde Hichilema has observed that there is need for the UPND/PF pact to quickly harmonize its manifestos.

Mr. Hichilema said that the PACT should heed to the people’s calls to ensure that they quickly prepare for the 2011 elections.

Featuring on the Public’s Last Say on QFM last evening, Mr. Hichilema however maintained that the issue of the presidency is not a priority at the moment.

He also noted that pact partners have a responsibility to commence on the campaigns if it is to emerge victorious in the 2011 elections.

And Mr. Hichilema said that he is not surprised about the 2010 Global Human Development report released in New York which named Zambia among three African countries with a lower human development index.

He said this demonstrates that the MMD has been telling lies about scoring improvements.

He has stated that it is plain to see that the MMD has not done so much in developing the most critical sectors of the economy.

QFM

Patriotic Front (PF) President Michael Sata has said that there are more important issues he discusses with donors than homosexual rights.

Mr. Sata has since advised non-governmental organizations (NGOs) accusing him of holding gay-right talks with donors to talk of more practical issues currently affecting the country.

He told QFM that those accusing him of promoting homosexuality should come out in the open with evidence and not just talking on assumptions.

Mr. Sata accused Second Republican President Frederick Chiluba of inciting some NGOs to twist his meetings with donors.

He added that donors should be respected because they are more important than President Rupiah Banda and his government.

QFM

THE Non-Governmental Co-ordinating Council (NGOCC) says it is disappointed with Patriotic Front (PF) Kasama Central member of Parliament Geoffrey Mwamba’s wife, Chama, who has withdrawn her assault case against her husband.

NGOCC executive director Engwase Mwale said in an interview in Lusaka on Tuesday that Mrs Mwamba’s decision is disappointing because the women movement expected the parliamentarian’s wife to lead as an example.

Mrs Mwale was commenting on the Lusaka Magistrates Court’s decision to stay the assault proceeding against Mr Mwamba and discharge the MP.

On Tuesday, chief resident magistrate Charles Kafunda stayed the assault proceedings against Mr Mwamba after Mrs Mwamba informed the court that she wanted the case to be withdrawn because her husband has apologised.

“As NGOCC, we are obviously very disappointed with the turn of events in Mrs Mwamba’s assault case. We expected Mrs Mwamba to lead as an example to punish men who abuse women,” she said.

Mrs Mwale said Mrs Mwamba’s decision is a drawback in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), which the women’s movement has been spearheading for a long time.

She said NGOCC respects the court’s decision but that the move by Mrs Mwamba will give perpetrators who abuse women reasons to mistreat their spouses.

She said Mrs Mwamba should have gone ahead with trial because this is not the first time she was allegedly being assaulted by her spouse.

Mrs Mwale said this is more reason the women movement are pushing for the GBV legislation to deter violators of women rights.

She said once the Bill is in place, it will safeguard the livelihood of women who are at the centre-stage of abuse from their spouses.

Mrs Mwale urged all parliamentarians to support the GBV legislation because it is only through such legislations that women rights will be promoted.
She said GBV still remains a challenge which calls for every Zambian’s support.

Mrs Mwale said the women’s movement is advocating legislation on GBV because it is mindful that access to justice for women is important.

On Tuesday, Mr Kafunda stayed the assault proceeding against Mr Mwamba but warned the parliamentarian against abusing his wife because doing so will compel the court to recall the matter if she complains.

This is in a case in which Mr Mwamba, 51, businessman and politician of house number 10 Roan Road, Kabulonga, Lusaka was Charged with one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to Section 248 Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that Mr Mwamba, on September 5, 2010, in Lusaka, allegedly assaulted his wife, Chama.

Mr Kafunda said in his ruling that Mr Mwamba should not engage in physical and verbal abuses of his wife or engage in any acts of violence.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

The UPND leadership has castigated Patriotic Front-PF- Vice President Guy Scott for questioning its political strength in the just ended Mpulungu and Chilanga Parliamentary by-elections.

The UPND leadership feels Dr Scott’s article in Wednesday’s edition of the Post Newspaper is unrealistic and misleading.

UPND National Youth Spokesperson, Ronald Manenga says Dr Scott should acknowledge that UPND is gaining more support than the PF.

Mr Manenga has advised Dr Scott to refrain from issuing biased opnions that are contrary to facts on the political scene.

He said the UPND captured the Chilanga seat without any support from the PF.

And UPND Deputy Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has described Dr Scott’s assertions as blared.

Mr Mweetwa said UPND will NO longer respond to Dr Scott’s misleading opinions.

He explained that the UPND has won 10 local government seats and three parliamentary by-elections since 2008 while the PF has lost five seats to the MMD, winning only one local government election.

He was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka.
In today’s edition of the Post newspaper, Dr Scott states that the PF lost the Mpulungu by-election because there is little presence of the UPND in the area.

Dr Scott further stated that UPND won the Chilanga seat because it is a PF stronghold.

Meanwhile, The National Restoration Party-NAREP says the Patriotic Front-PF-UPND Pact is taking the people of Zambia for granted by delaying to announce its leader.

NAREP National Youth Chairman John Pghiri says the pact should not think it’s the last hope and option for the country.

Mr Phiri was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka Tuesday.

He said it is clear from PF leader Michael Sata and his UPND counterpart Hakainde Hichilema that they are both eager to lead the pact at all costs.

But when contacted for a comment, Pact Co-Spokesperson Charles Kakoma disclosed that the political alliance has a deliberate strategy to announce its candidate at the end.

Mr. Kakoma said the pact will not be pushed to announce its candidate because its strategy of delaying to announce the presidential candidate for 2011 is progressing as per initial plan.

He called on opposition parties like NAREP to concentrate on selling their own 2011 presidential candidates instead of getting embroiled in matters of the pact.

ZNBC