PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda is tomorrow expected in Eastern Province on a two days working visit.

During his visit, President Banda will lay wreaths on the grave of the late Dingiswayo Banda in Lundazi’s chief Kapichila’s area tomorrow.

According to the programme released by Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Eularia Mwale, Mr. Banda will arrive in Lundazi at 11 hours and will proceed to Zinthonga village where he will lay wreaths.

Immediately after laying wreaths, he will fly to where he will commission a multi billion Kwacha police housing project at 14 hours at Chipata Central Police.

Government contracted Fair Face Construction Company to put up 92 housing units for police officers in Chipata.

On Wednesday, the President will inspect works on the K 279 billion Chipata/Mfuwe road project.

Last year in December, President Banda flagged off the three year contract of tarring the Chipata/Mfuwe road which is being done by Sable Transport and Construction Company.

Mr. Banda will fly back to Lusaka on Wednesday after the programme.

Meanwhile, President Rupiah Banda says even though the country has experienced some political violence recently, there is no need for opposition political parties to extend the violence to state functions especially independence day celebrations.

President Banda expressed disappointment with some political parties that did not attend this year’s independence event.

Mr. Banda noted that people should learn to be proud of their country’s independence and not to politicize state functions.

“As a country we agreed that we should be a democratic country and not to be enemies, it’s a shame to have political differences in a democratic country like Zambia.” He stressed.

The President was speaking during a luncheon hosted in honour of freedom fighters at State House this afternoon.

Other notable persons who attended the Luncheon included, 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, defence chiefs and personnel, also attended the celebration.

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

Others were defence and security choir as well as Zambezi source cultural group from Mwinilunga.

ZANIS

Northwestern Province PermanentSecretary Dr Eustern Mambwe has called on members of the public to be
vigilant and report any enumerator found abrogating the oath of secrecy during the ongoing national census.

Dr Mambwe said enumerators are under oath not to divulge any information collected during the exercise to unauthorized parties adding that anyone found wanting will be visited by the law.

He said this in Solwezi during a special live interview on Solwezi radio station.

Dr Mambwe said the information that enumerators would collect will be concealed and called on people not to be skeptical in giving out the necessary information.

He called on members of the public to cooperate with enumerators and not conceal any information as it is meant to benefit them.

[ZANIS ]

As the Mpulungu and Chilanga parliamentary by-elections kicked off this morning, various stakeholders are taking part in ensuring that the electoral process runs smoothly.

Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) Executive Director Charity Musamba has said her organization sent a team of election monitors to both constituencies.

Dr. Musamba said election results are not only determined by voters but also by the voting environment.

And Dr. Musamba has advised electorates in both Mpulungu and Chilanga to turn up in numbers as their vote would be make of change to improve democracy.

First Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda has appealed to Zambians regardless of their political affiliation to continue maintaining peace and stability which the country has enjoyed for the past 46years.

Dr Kaunda said there is need for Zambians to continue maintaining peace and stability in the nation for development to take place.

He said this during the 46th independence Celebrations held at the Lusaka show grounds today.

The 46th Independence was celebrated under the theme “Consolidating our independence through food security.”

The First Republican President noted that it is important for Zambians to embrace each other and following God’s commandment of loving one’s neighbor as oneself.

Dr Kaunda stressed that if the commandment is followed, the country will continuously enjoy genuine peace, adding that where commandments are not followed there will be destruction and death.

And Opposition United Liberal Party (ULP) has condemned opposition Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Party for National Development (UPND) who have kept on shunning national functions such as independence celebrations.
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He said the absence of PF and UPND leaders, Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema from the independence celebrations at the show grounds today was manifest of personal differences and acrimony with the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).[/pullquote]

ULP Secretary General, Langton Sichone, said independence celebrations should transcend all political differences because it was about liberation from colonialism.

Mr. Sichone said in an interview with ZANIS during independence celebrations in the Show Grounds today that such functions should be used as a platform to reconcile from all differences.

“Basically all freedoms, be it social, economic, cultural and political are anchored on independence because it reminds us about our struggle,” he said.

He said the absence of PF and UPND leaders, Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema from the independence celebrations at the show grounds today was manifest of personal differences and acrimony with the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).

He expressed surprise that even Mr. Sata, who was once in the MMD, has chosen not to attend the national functions such as independence.

Mr. Sichone said all political parties contesting the October 25 Chilanga and Mpulungu by-elections should have attended the independence celebration functions to show their support for unity among political parties.

He said lack of coming together on state functions were contributing to the violence that takes place in some constituencies during by-elections because the public see nothing but enmity among political parties.

Mr. Sichone has since cautioned youths against emulating such leaders because they were not exhibiting the spirit of co-existence amid differences in political affiliations.

“Young men and women must not be led into believing that this celebration is about enmity but rather look at it positively and help the country to inculcate the spirit of responsibility,” he said.

He said Zambian youths should also be given an opportunity to be in leadership of Zambia without political biasness,” he said.

This year’s independence was being celebrated under the theme “Consolidating our independence through food security”.

ZANIS