GOVERNMENT has tasked a team of officials from the Ministry of Health to investigate the cause of the withdrawal of labour by resident doctors countrywide to determine how the issue will be resolved.
Minister of Health Kapembwa Simbao said currently his ministry does not know why the doctors have downed tools.

Minister of Health Kapembwa Simbao said currently his ministry does not know why the doctors have downed tools.

“The permanent secretary of Health has sent people to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) to find out what the problem is. When those people give a report, then a way to resolve the issue will be found,” Mr Simbao said.

He said this in an interview following the announcement by the Resident Doctors Association of Zambia (RDAZ) yesterday that its members have withdrawn their labour because their grievances have not been resolved.

RDAZ acting president Amon Ngongola said at a press briefing at UTH that the doctors decided to withdraw labour after attempts to avoid the situation and solve their grievances with the Ministry of Health failed.

“As an executive of RDAZ, we had engaged all channels necessary to avert this action as we recognise that the withdrawal of labour as health workers results in loss of life and no amount of aggravation can be equated to the value of the life of a human being,” Dr Ngongola said.

He said this at a press briefing at UTH yesterday.
Dr Ngongola said in the last two years his association, Zambia Medical Association of Zambia, and the Ministry of Health have been engaged in several discussions to try and resolve the problems that have beset doctors in the country.
He said following the discussions, it became apparent that the ministry had limitations in solving the problems.

“While we recognise the tremendous efforts made by the ministry to try to resolve these problems, it became clear that the ministry had limitations,” Dr Ngongola said.

He said his executive will continue to urge the association’s members to reconsider the decision.  Dr Ngongola apologised to President Banda and the public for the action taken by doctors, which he described as unfortunate.

He paid special tribute to Mr Banda for the many development programmes his administration has carried out in the health sector.

Dr Ngongola said the recent commissioning of the magnetic resonance imaging and computer axial tomography scans at the Cancer Diseases Hospital, upgrading of selected clinics to hospitals, opening and building of new hospitals, clinics and health centres and building of new housing facilities for health workers are some of the developments in the health sector.

Dr Ngongola said his association is strongly persuaded that only the listening ear of Mr Banda can address the long-standing grievances affecting its members.

He reiterated that his executive strongly regrets having withdrawn labour and hopes the action will be a thing of the past.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has challenged leaders of the two opposition parties Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) to come out in the open and state their position regarding the future of the pact.

FODEP Information Officer, Mcdonlad Chipenzi said it is not good for the two leaders to remain mute on the future of the pact while their junior leaders were issuing divisive statements.

He said what was happening in the UPND-PF pact was to a large extent because of the two leaders’ failure to state their position on its future.

Mr. Chipenzi said this in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

He said that there was currently power struggle in the pact where each political party wanted to dominate the other but stated that this was not good for democracy.

He said it is good for the leaders to state their position as doing so would help prepare the minds of their supporters.

He said there was need for honest and truthfulness from the two opposition parties if the pact was to succeed.

[pullquote]“For them to prove a point they should have been letting each other stand in the other party’s stronghold. As we know that PF is stronger in Northern Province the UPND should have contested in by-elections there while the PF contest in Southern, Western Province which is their stronghold and if they win and accept each other then we could say there is cooperation within the pact. But as it is they are trading on different waters” he said.[/pullquote]

Mr. Chipenzi has also observed that the pact seemed not to be stronger at grass root as evidenced by the two parties not supporting each other in their respective strongholds.

He said the pact should have at least on some occasion allowed the other party contest elections in each others stronghold to see how the people at grass root would support.

“For them to prove a point they should have been letting each other stand in the other party’s stronghold. As we know that PF is stronger in Northern Province the UPND should have contested in by-elections there while the PF contest in Southern, Western Province which is their stronghold and if they win and accept each other then we could say there is cooperation within the pact. But as it is they are trading on different waters” he said.

The Pact has in the recent past been involved in squabbles which is mainly emanating from other leaders in the parties.

And Press reports today indicate that the PF in Western Province have stated that they will not support the pact if their leader Michael Sata will not be the leader.

ZANIS

By Gerald Nkisu Katayi

In any country that practices multi-partism, it is normal to come to a cross road after every four, five or six years. Zambians is such a country; next year will be a decisive year, through the ballot, voters will be directing the destiny of their country. The Electoral Commission, The ruling party, the NGO’s, and the opposition seem to be preparing for the day of the battle. The mixture of excitement and anxiety can be felt in the air a year before the actual day.

But some how, there’s a strange phenomenon among the players; the ruling party seem to be determined than the opposition. His Excellence Rupiah Banda (H.E.R.B) like a good general is organizing his troops for the D-day. He has recruited the likes of F.T.J the self proclaimed “political engineer”, VJ, “election consultant”, the violet cadre William Banda, and recently he recruited a physical trainer. That is not enough; Mr. Banda like “the Camel’s nose in the tent” story has gone a second mile to remove obstacles like Magande and Mpombo from the MMD to secure his re-election.[pullquote]High office is like a pyramid; only two kinds of animals reach the summit, reptiles and eagles.” But in Zambia even hyenas reach the top. But in the next general and presidential election, let reptiles and eagles only reach the top. [/pullquote]

Who should blame RB for preparing himself? There is no gambling like politics. It has been said, “To be a chemist you must study chemistry; to be a lawyer or a physician you must study law or medicine; but to be a politician you need only to study your own interests.” Therefore RB is proving to be a good politician by attending to his own interests.

Outside the MMD; the atmosphere is set, the opposition political cadres are ready, NGO’s are ready, some priests are ready, but the opposition leaders are not ready. They are not ready because procrastination, power struggle, selfishness and bickering are dividing them. The bickering is who should lead the pact. This is the cause why ruling parties in Africa stay in office for ever because the opposition only concentrates on one portfolio- the presidency! The supporters are ready, but can not do it alone, they are like sheep without a Shepherd, but who shall lead them?

Even though RB and the MMD are doing their best to stay in business, all is not well in their quarters. They have a lame duck; the president. The flying from one country to another like a “president without borders” is not digested well among many voters. Dr. Sondashi once said, “I want to go to State House to enjoy myself.” May be this is what the president is doing and that can be a hole in the MMD’s amour. If recent by- election results in Ndola and other parts of Zambia are indicators of what is to come; the MMD must work harder.

What about the opposition? With the lukewarmness in the opposition; victory over the ruling party will not come on a silver platter. At least history has taught us that a divided opposition can never remove a ruling party from office. A divided house can not stand! Therefore, if the opposition loses, they should not accuse the ruling party of rigging elections. Greed and incompetence in the opposition is eating them like cancer.

And in the view of this author, petitioning and contesting presidential elections in the courts of law after a candidate is declared a winner does not work. Therefore, let the playing ground be leveled, selfishness be cast aside and as one wise man have said, “High office is like a pyramid; only two kinds of animals reach the summit, reptiles and eagles.” But in Zambia even hyenas reach the top. But in the next general and presidential election, let “reptiles and eagles only reach the top”.

PARLIAMENTARY Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga says the ruling in which Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa reprimanded Kafulafuta Member of Parliament George Mpombo over his conduct is consistent with the Standing Orders of Parliament.

Mr Mwaanga who was speaking in an interview yesterday advised the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) to study the Standing Orders of Parliament instead of being quick to attack the Speaker.

“It is unfortunate that SACCORD does not understand the Standing Orders of the House yet go ahead to accuse the Speaker of being biased. I expected SACCORD to be well informed,” he said.

He said it was unfortunate to accuse the Speaker of gross irresponsibility when he was acting within the confines of the law.

Mr Mwaanga said members of Parliament enjoyed absolute freedom but that freedom should not be extended outside the House when the subject matter is what was discussed in the House.

He said this was not the first time Mr Mpombo was being reprimanded but he has alleged continued to conduct himself in an unacceptable manner.
Mr Mwaanga said MPs are expected to behave in an honourable manner.

He said Mr Mpombo should have made his remarks concerning the Presidential speech in Parliament.
“While in Parliament, Mr Mpombo did not debate the President’s speech yet he goes outside Parliament to make disparaging remarks against the President,” Mr Mwaanga said.

SACCORD has accused Mr Mwanamwambwa of being biased in the manner he handled Mr Mpombo’s matter.
Last week, Mr Mwanamwambwa castigated Mr Mpombo for disparaging President Banda.

SACCORD information officer Obby Chibuluma is reported as having said Mr Mwanamwambwa was violating the law and undermining the separation of powers.
And the MMD on the Copperbelt has advised Mr Mpombo to heed Mr Mwanamwambwa’s warning to stop issuing disparaging attacks against President Banda.

MMD Copperbelt provincial vice chairman, Jerry Mukonkela said in an interview in Ndola that Mr Mwanamwambwa’s warning to Mr Mpombo is timely.

“We advise Mr Mpombo to heed Speaker of the National Assembly, Amusaa Mwanamwambwa’s warning that he should stop insulting President Banda because it is an offence. We also call on law enforcement agencies to do their work,” Mr Mukonkela said.

He advised Mr Mpombo and all well meaning Zambians to accord President Banda the respect he deserves as head of State.

On Wednesday, Mr Mwanamwambwa cautioned Mr Mpombo against issuing disparaging attacks against Mr Banda because it is an offence.

Mr Mwanamwambwa wondered what the law enforcement agencies are doing about the matter because it is an offence to insult the Presidency especially that it is provided for in the Penal Code.

Mr Mukonkela also castigated Mr Mpombo for his remarks that President Banda is claiming credit for projects initiated by President Mwanawasa.
“Mr Banda took over from President Mwanawasa and he has to finish all those projects,” he said.
Mr Mukonkela said Zambians were going to blame Mr Banda if he decided to abandon projects which had already taken off.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

The MMD has described as over ambitious the decision by former Finance minister Ng’andu Magande to form another political party and warned that he will sink into political oblivion.

Mr Magande confirmed yesterday that he was one of the pioneers of the National Movement for Progress (NMP).

MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya said Mr Magande’s party would only be at the provincial level with little influence and that the MMD would defeat him in any election.

She said Mr Magande had given an impression that he was the best minister of Finance Zambia ever had when he was just given an opportunity to serve in the position.

Ms Siliya said there were thousands of Zambians who were better than Mr Magande and held higher qualifications than the former Chilanga Member of Parliament.

[pullquote]Mr Magande confirmed yesterday that he was one of the pioneers of the National Movement for Progress (NMP).[/pullquote]

And Evangelical Church in Zambia bishop Paul Mususu criticised Mr Magande for forming a political party.

Bishop Mususu said there were many political parties in the country which the former Finance minister should have joined.

He said even though democracy allowed people to form political parties of their choice, there was need to reduce on the multiplicity of political parties.

It would not be possible for newly formed parties to have unique manifestos from the existing ones.

Mr Magande said in an interview that he would offer himself as a presidential candidate in the 2011 elections.

“The movement has been established by my supporters who feel that they needed a forum to continue discussing. Even me I need to find a channel through which to communicate.

“In fact this movement started in North-Western Province and it is countrywide,” he said.

Mr Magande said he had done everything and that now it was time for him to lead Zambia.

He said it was a fact that he was part of the Government that helped the country attain the Highly Indebted Poor Countries completion point, and that it was also during his time that Zambia attained single-digit inflation in 30 years.

North-Western Province NPM pioneer Logan Shemena, who is a former United Party for National Development (UPND) secretary general, said the movement was spreading “like a bushfire”.

“With the cracks in the UPND and the confusion in MMD, the movement is spreading like fire. For now we are not focusing on leadership but to grow the movement,” he said.

[Times of Zambia]