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PF’s under five statement irks UPND

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FLASHBACK: Some United Party for National Development big wigs listening to a press briefing address by MPs Douglas Siakalima and Garry Nkombo in Lusaka

The United Party for National development (UPND) has said it is offended by the under five statement allegedly issued by Patriotic Front (PF) President Michael Sata in the media.

And the UPND has also said it can win the Chilanga parliamentary seat without help from the PF.

Secretary General Winstone Chibwe said it was unfortunate and wrong for Mr. Sata to call his friend he formed an alliance with as an ‘under five and inexperienced’.

He said Mr. Sata was aware when he entered into a pact with the UPND the person he was dealing with.

Mr. Chibwe told ZANIS in an interview that it was important for the leaders to have respect for each other.

“It is good for leaders to have respect for each other whether old or young. How can you call your friend under five when he is over 40, that is not good. It is good to have respect for each other. Let old people show respect to the young so that they are not embarrassed” he said.

He has meanwhile, reiterated his party position to stand in the Chilanga by-election despite its pact partner, the PF also contesting in the same.

[pullquote]“This is not the first time this has happened it happened in Kaoma and Lundazi but we went ahead and beat the PF so we are comfortable again this time to campaign against each other because we know that this seat is ours”[/pullquote]

Mr. Chibwe said it was wrong for PF to decide on competing in the by-election when the working group that was chaired by PF Mandevu Member of Parliament Jean Kapata early this month resolved that UPND stands.

The UPND Secretary General said the party was ready to compete against the PF in Chilanga adding that it had what it took to win the seat without the PF support.

“This is not the first time this has happened it happened in Kaoma and Lundazi but we went ahead and beat the PF so we are comfortable again this time to campaign against each other because we know that this seat is ours”

He said the previous results have showed that the UPND was popular in areas where it also did well during the 2006 elections as shown by the number of parliamentary and ward seats it managed to win in recent by-elections.

He said UPND had defended all the ward by-elections and also managed to grab some parliamentary seats from the MMD while the PF had lost the ward seats even in its stronghold in Luapula and Northern Provinces.

“We will not pull out from the pact; the party which will be offended will be the one to do that. But we will leave it to the Zambian people to judge who between us and our colleague is not committed to the cause of the pact” he said.

Meanwhile, UPND Lusaka Province Chairman, Brian Mizinga said the statement only confirmed that PF leaders have gone back to his old habit.

Mr. Mizinga called on Mr. Sata to take examples from young leaders around the world who have excelled and who have proven that age was nothing.

[pullquote]“We will not pull out from the pact; the party which will be offended will be the one to do that. But we will leave it to the Zambian people to judge who between us and our colleague is not committed to the cause of the pact” he said.[/pullquote]

He cited examples of British Prime Minister David Cameroon, US President Barrack Obama, and DR Congo President Joseph Kabila as some of the young leaders.

Mr. Mizinga has also dismissed assertions by the PF that the UPND was not popular in Lusaka Province. .

Mr. Mizinga said it was unfair for PF to base their popularity on presidential elections results because the UPND was stronger in Chilanga.

He said his party would prove to PF and Zambians that it was stronger in Chilanga by scooping the seat.

The PF leader was quoted by the Voice of America as saying Zambia and the pact could not be led by an under five who was inexperienced and lacked discipline.

The statement was in the past refered to the UPND leader because of his lack of experience in politics when he became the party President without having no leadership position at even ward level.

ZANIS

Review Investment strategies – RB

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President Rupiah Banda

President Rupiah Banda says there is need for developing countries to review their investment strategies.

Speaking in Abuja, Nigeria at the Zambia-Nigeria Business Forum Thursday Mr Banda says the flow of investment is attainable among African countries.

Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) reports that he is convinced that African countries have the potential to reduce dependence on developed countries as a source of foreign Direct Investment.

He urged Nigerian Business Houses to expand their businesses into other African countries.

President Banda is in Nigeria as Special Guest at that country’s 50th independence celebrations today.

And the President has advised Zambians living abroad to consider acquiring land in different parts of the country, instead of concentrating on Lusaka where it is difficult to get plots.

Mr. Banda said other parts of Zambia like the Copperbelt, Chipata, Kasama and Mansa are developing at a fast rate, and need investment.

Meanwhile, Zambia’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Alexis Luhila said Zambians in Nigeria are following with keen interest, the development projects which President Banda is implementing in Zambia.

Mr. Luhila described President Banda as a visionary leader.

[ ZANIS ]

‘’Maternal deaths still high despite serious Govt efforts’’

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Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr Peter Mwaba has disclosed that although Government was working tirelessly to reduce High Maternal Mortality rate in the country, the number of women dying during Childbirth was still high in Zambia with over 3 000 women dying each year.

Speaking at Taj-Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka today during the workshop organised by the Ministry of Health and NGO Partners to highlight the efforts aimed at addressing life threatening bleeding of Women during Childbirth mostly in Zambia’s rural communities, Dr Mwaba said more than half of births in Zambia took place at home leading to a high number of Women dying during labour.

ZANIS reports that Dr Mwaba disclosed that it was for this reason that the Ministry of Health had partnered with a Non Government organizations called Venture Strategies Innovations based in the United States of America to look into issues related to the prevention of Postpartum Hemorrhage project initiated in five rural Districts in Zambia.

He said the Ministry of Health had demonstrated its’ firm commitment to improving women’s access to safe delivery care and that it had since introduced Misoprostol tablets for a safe , effective , affordable and easy to use solution to one of the leading killer of women, excessive bleeding during child birth.

He said the Misoprostol for Postpartum Hemorrhage Prevention Dissemination Meeting Workshop provided a platform to share results of this project as well as findings from Society for Family Health’s programme results of qualitative Assessment.

The Permanent Secretary thanked the United states based Non Government Organisation, Venture Strategies Innovations for technical and financial support that had seen the Ministry introducing the project in five selected districts in Zambia namely, Kalomo (Western), Kapiri Mposhi (Central), Masaiti (Copperbelt), Mungwi (Northern) and Petauke in the Eastern Province.

He said the project sought to demonstrate the feasibility of distributing Misoprostol through antenatal Care (ANC) visits, in conjunction with community awareness activities on birth preparedness and prevention.

” At the outset of the project, providers from participating District Health Management Teams were trained as Trainers and Subsequently trained antenatal Care (ANC) providers in the project protocol” said Dr Mwaba.

He said the programme started in January 2009 with training of health care providers and distribution of Misoprostol tablets to pregnant women attending antenatal care.

Dr Mwaba also stated that the workshop will also serve as a forum to solidify what the partners will do to insure Zambian Mothers continue to have access to safe delivery education and protection.

ZANI

Enumerators training kicks off ahead of 2010 census

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The training of about 25, 000 enumerators to conduct Zambia’s 2010 census of Population and Housing commenced today (Thursday) and is expected to be completed on 10th October, this year.

Central Statistics Office (CSO) announced during a media briefing in Lusaka today that progress in preparations had been made for the exercise which would gobble about K200 billion and kicks off on October 16, this year.

CSO Acting Director John Kalumbi disclosed that President Rupiah Banda is expected to launch this year’s census on 15th October adding that various preparatory activities which include Cartographic census field mapping and the training of master trainers and Assistants trainers have been recruited from various Ministries and Institutions of government.

Mr Kalumbi also disclosed that basic school teachers have also been recruited and trained in readiness for the exercise.

He said the countrywide enumeration exercise which commences on 16th October is expected to last for four weeks during which enumerators would visit each and every household to collect information about each household member.

Mr Kalumbi has since called on political parties participating in Chilanga and Mpulungu by elections to help disseminate census messages as they campaign for their parliamentary candidates.

He noted that political campaigns would compete with campaigns for Census as the dates have collided saying this was unavoidable and that the census or by elections dates could not be changed as they happened according to the law.

He, however, appealed to cadres not to mistake officers sensitising people in the community for political party cadres saying that enumerators and other officers spreading census messages were non partisan.

Mr Kalumbi also recognised the efforts cooperating partners have played in the preparations for the exercise.

Zambia will in two weeks time conduct the Census of Population and Housing as the fifth in the series of comprehensive census that the country has conducted.

So far, the country has conducted census in 1969, 1980, 1990, and 2000.
[ ZANIS ]

Inflation rate slows down to 7.7%

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Zambia’s inflation rate has continued to reduce with the month of September recording 7.7 per cent, the lowest inflation rate in five years. The Central Statistical Office (CSO) has announced a 7. 7 Per cent annual rate of inflation for the month of September.

This is against the August inflation rate of 8.2 percent. CSO Acting Director John Kalumbi attributed the decline in inflation to the reduction in the price of food and non food items.

Mr Kalumbi said, other factors included the cost of beverages, clothing, footwear, furniture and medical care. He was speaking during a CSO monthly bulletin in Lusaka Thursday.

And Mr Kalumbi said the country has also recorded a marginal decline in the annual food inflation. He said September recorded 2.8 per cent from 2. 9 recorded in August.

ZNBC

Youths moral degradation worry Govt

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Government has expressed worry at the escalating moral degradation and fading of positive cultural norms among youths in the country.

Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Andrew Phiri in a speech read for him by Education Acting Assistant Director of Administration Nalituba Mwale said some trends being perpetuated by youths are worrying and detrimental to the fight against HIV and AIDS.

He noted that the bad trends being exhibited by youths are as a result of misplaced opportunities, lack of moral and spiritual guidance from both their parents and other concerned stakeholders in the upbringing of youths in the country.

Mr Phiri noted that the fight against the deadly pandemic could only be realised if youths start to develop positive minds towards their future and careers rather than concentrating on activities that will stir the disease.

He has since appealed for concerted efforts from various stakeholders to educate and to mentor the current generation on how to realise their vision instead of them engaging in vices such as illicit sex and alcoholism which could lead to the further spread of HIV and AIDS.

Mr Phiri said this during the Launch of the “Make a Difference Campaign Project” being spear headed by Latkings outreach Programme (LOP) in Lusaka today.

And speaking earlier, Latkings Outreach Programme Executive Director Ben Miti said over the past three years Latkings has been working on activities to increase accessibility, awareness, and demand for community based HIV and AIDS prevention programmes in communitie.

Mr Miti said the campaign is an innovative HIV Prevention programme aimed at transforming the behaviour of youths.

He said the campaign is also aimed at motivating vision in youths in four different areas of their lives known to produce balanced development in a human being which include physical, spiritual, social, and mental development.

ZANIS

Resolve rows amicably-Kunda prods North west chiefs

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Vice President George Kunda has called upon traditional leaders in North Western Province to resolve their differences amicably.

Mr Kunda said such differences in other countries have turned in wars resulting in the loss of many lives.

He said this during a meeting attended by traditional leaders from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the Royal Solwezi Hotel in Solwezi, North Western Province today.

In attendance was King Mwata Yamvwa of the Lunda speaking people from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and four other Congolese traditional leaders.

Also present at the meeting were Zambian traditional leaders such as senior chief Mumena of the Kaonde people, senior chief Ndungu of the Luvale people, Chief Kakoma of Mwinilunga among others.

Mr Kunda was also accompanied by Local Government and Housing Minister Brian Chituwo, Energy Minister Kenneth Konga, Gender and Development Minister Sara Sayifwanda, Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja and other senior Government officials.

The meeting was aimed at finding solutions to the wrangles between the ethnic groups Lundas and Luvales.

Mr Kunda said traditional leaders play an important role in assisting government resolve various issues.

He said Africa has a lot of tribal conflicts in different parts of the continent such as in Rwanda and Somalia.

The Vice President said despite these conflicts, Africans must learn to unite and live in peace.

He called on traditional leaders to put their tribal conflicts aside and focus on development.

Mr Kunda also said he appreciated Mwata Yamvwa’s visit to Zambia as it symbolised unity among the tribes considering that many tribes in Zambia have their roots from the Lunda Kingdom.

He said such unity among tribes creates a bond among people and a platform where developmental ideas are exchanged.

Mr Kunda said traditional leadership was important as it provides governance in areas in which government’s presence may not be needed.

At the same meeting, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lunda King Mwata Yamvwa, thanked the Government for the warm reception his delegation had received.

Mwata Yamvwa said he came to Zambia to attend the Chisemwa Cha Lunda meeting.

He said he was also in the country to hear from Lundas and Luvales and possibly find ways of solving their problem.

The Mwata Yamvwa said it was better to find solutions to problems immediately than to allow them to culminate into a war.

Zambezi was recently engaged in skirmishes following a Kitwe High Court ruling that set the Zambezi River as the boundary between the Lunda on the east and the Luvale on the west, and that both senior chiefs Ndungu (of the Luvale) and Ishindi (of the Lunda) should confine their activities within that boundary.

The recent wrangles were over the emergence of the Luvale’s Makishi from the graveyard on the eastern side in their procession to the west.
[ ZANIS ]

Faz Resignations: What the 3 Said…

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Here are some excepts from what the three former Faz executive committee members who quit today said at their press briefing at Garden Court Hotel in Lusaka.

Henshel Chitembeya: “We just thought it fit that to call you the scribes so that we can let you know to that the three of us have decided to resign from the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ).

“And our reasons I am sure some of you have an idea are that we are not in total agreement with the way the game is being managed by our executive so maybe we are the ones that are causing trouble or whatever it is.

“So we saw it fit to leave them in peace so that they can co-opt like -minded people and run the game the way they want.

“As of now we are not in agreement with them so if do not agree with people and you are in a group of people I think the best way to do is to leave that group of which I believe is what we have done so we have decided to resign as of today.”

Pivoty Simwanza:  “My appeal to (FAZ) councilors is that they should differentiate between Kalusha Bwalya on the pitch and Kalusha in the administration.

“In the administration Kalusha Bwalya can’t take us anywhere in football he did what he did but his record in administration leaves much to be desired.

“He has reduced as executive member  to merely waiting to be delegation leaders ever since he came in office I can challenge my colleague here even the vice president (Emmanuel Munaile) there is only one decision which we made as executive which is binding out there only one all the decisions have been made by one man together with his blue eyed boy the general secretary (George Kasengele).”

Violet Bwalya:

“ This is about morals. Why should I stay if things are not OK? Maybe I am an impediment in the executive because when I question that I want to see the SuperSport (Zambia League broadcast) deal…. what are the contents? Is that supposed to be secret? It is a public document everybody is supposed to know what it contains and I don’t have to beg for that.”

Sata is Back to Thuggery Ways – Joe Kalusa

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The Opposition United Party for National Development UPND national youth chairperson has charged that patriotic front leader, Michael Sata has gone back to his old thuggery ways.

The Youth Chairperson has also asked Mr. Sata to back off and not push around everyone just because he feels he is more experienced than others.

Joe Kalusa said that Mr. Sata’s statement to the voice of America describing his UPND counterpart, Hakainde Hichilema as an under five leader is disappointing.

Mr. Kalusa said that the remarks clearly show that Mr. Sata has decided to finally go back to his old ways of insults and character assassination.

He said that Mr. Hakainde has proven his maturity by staying quite and not engaging in the nonconstructive debate which has raised a lot of bickering within the pact.

He said that even though Mr. Sata would try as hard as possible to present himself as more experienced, it is evident that Mr. Hakainde is a better option for a national leader than him.

QFM

Faz Executive Committee Trio Resigns

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Three Faz executive committee members have quit the association.

The trio is Violet Bwalya and Henchel Chitembeya including Pivoty Simwanza, who over the last seven days has hit the headlines in defiance of Kalusha’s opposition to a October 16 petition calling for the dissolution of the Faz executive over its management style.

They announced their resignation at Garden Court Hotel in Lusaka at 12:00 today.

The development is a serious blow to the confidence of Kalusha who is currently half-way through a four-year reign that has been besieged with calls for his resignation over transfer dealings and team selections at junior level.

The quartet’s resignation leaves Kalusha with vice president Emmanule Munaile, treasurer Boniface Mwamelo and executive committee members Lenny Nkhuwa, Marcha Chilemena and Keegan Chipango.

Meanwhile, Kalusha is by 14:00 today due to address a press briefing over the development and current upheavels over the petition at Football House.

Stay tuned for more details.

RB advises Zambians abroad to get land in different parts of the country

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President Banda leaves Zambia for Nigeria aboard the President Challenger plane

President Rupiah Banda has advised Zambians living abroad to consider acquiring land in different parts of the country, instead of concentrating on Lusaka where it is difficult to get plots.

Mr. Banda says other parts of Zambia like the Copperbelt, Chipata, Kasama and Mansa are developing fast and need investment.

Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) reports that the President was speaking in Abuja, Nigeria Wednesday night at a dinner organised by the Zambian High Commission in Nigeria.

He also expressed hope that future Zambian leaders will learn to carry on developmental projects started by their predecessors.
President Banda said he is surprised that some people are questioning him for continuing to implement development projects started by the late President Levy Mwanawasa.

And Zambia’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Alexis Luhila said Zambians in Nigeria are following with keen interest, the development projects which President Banda is implementing in Zambia. Mr. Luhila described President Banda as a visionary leader.

He said Africa needs leaders like President Banda. President Banda is in Nigeria as Special guest at that country’s 50th independence celebrations.

And President Rupiah Banda says it is an honour for Zambia to have been chosen by the Nigerian government, to be guest of honour at that country’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

The President said this in an interview with ZNBC’s Luckson Nthani on arrival at Mnandi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Nigeria Wednesday.

Mr. Banda observed that Zambia and Nigeria have a lot in common as former British colonies.

Mr. Banda is in Abuja, Nigeria where he is the guest of honour at that country’s 50th Independence Annivesary celebrations Scheduled for October 1.

And Commerce Minister Felix Mutati says Zambia and Nigeria are working out a framework in which the two countries can co-operate in real estate developemnt.

Mr. Mutati was speaking after touring Urban Shelter projects in Abuja where the company has contracted many houses for sale.

ZNBC

Congolese, Zambian Businessman Arrested for siphoning money from other people’s off-shore accounts

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A congolese electrical engineer and a Zambian businessman have been arrested for siphoning huge sums of money from other people’s off-shore accounts which are held in foreign Banks.

Richie Kabamba Muya aged 36, a resident of Katuba in Congo was arrested together with Mark Mubaluma, aged 33 a Zambian businessman based in Namibia for siphoning over 15,000 US dollars belonging to an Egyptian based in Egypt.

DEC Public Relations Manager John Nyawali has disclosed to MUVI TV news that the duo used a hi-tech device to capture the password and other sensitive personal banking details to fraudulently duplicate Visa Electron Cards.

Meanwhile Mr Nyawali has stated that a 55 year old businessman of Lusaka has been arrested for money laundering activities involving over 200 million kwacha.

He said Musa Dimingo, a resident of Bonaventure in Makeni was arrested for allegedly stealing a total of 280 million kwacha which was credited to his account in error by another bank.

A congolese businessman has appeared in court for allegedly swindling a Lusaka businesswoman of seventy million kwacha.
Abdulla Sabani aged 36 is alleged to have on unknown dates but between 1st and 30th October 2009 stolen the said money belonging to Irene Chongo.

Mr Sabani who spoke speaks French, spoke through an interpreter has since pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Lusaka Resident Magistrate Faides Hamaundu has since dismissed an application by Sabani for bail saying he was not a man of fixed abode.

This was after state prosecutors objected to Sabani’s bail application saying he had given two different addresses to the court and the police.

Trial has been set for November 8th 2010 and Sabani will appear in court for mention on October 14th and 28th 2010.
MUVT TV

PF has Killed the PACT-HH’s Special Adviser

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Siavonga MP Douglas Siakalima

United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema’s special adviser Douglas Syakalima has said “it does not take a rocket scientist” to discern that PF has killed the pact between the two parties.

Mr Syakalima said the party would go ahead and field a candidate in Chilanga Constituency as agreed by the joint working group of the pact.

[pullquote]“Anyway it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to discern that the PF have killed the pact. “How can they say we have failed to agree yet the working group already decided?” he asked.[/pullquote]

“There is no official correspondence to the effect that they (PF) have withdrawn from the pact, so we shall proceed as agreed by the working group comprising the two parties that we field in Chilanga and they field in Mpulungu,” he said.

He said unless the PF believed that they had killed the pact then they would proceed to field a candidate in Chilanga. Mr Syakalima was reacting to a story in The Post that the PF and UPND had failed to agree on Chilanga.

“Anyway it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to discern that the PF have killed the pact. “How can they say we have failed to agree yet the working group already decided?” he asked.

UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said the UPND would proceed on the agreed position in the pact. He said going by the last election UPND was more popular in Chilanga than the PF. The PF has declared that it would proceed to field a candidate in Chilanga.

On Sunday, the Patriotic Front (PF) has resolved to contest the Chilanga by-election, disregarding its agreement with the United Party for National Development (UPND) to field one alliance candidate. PF Lusaka provincial publicity and information secretary Stanley Chiumya said his party resolved to contest the Chilanga by-election on Sunday at a meeting presided over by the party’s secretary general Wynter Kabimba.

[pullquote]“Further when you look at the statistics for 2008 Presidential elections, we got more votes than the UPND which goes to show that we are more popular than UPND,” he said.[/pullquote]

He said his party resolved to contest the Chilanga seat because it is convinced it is more popular than its pact counterpart, the UPND. Mr Chiumya said Lusaka Province is a stronghold for the PF as the party currently has seven out of the 12 parliamentary seats. He said according to the 2008 presidential by-elections, the PF got more votes than the UPND in Chilanga.

“We resolved two days ago to contest the Chilanga, reasons being that PF is more popular in Lusaka Province. “We have 12 constituencies in Lusaka of which seven are for the PF and five are for the ruling party. Going by the statistics, PF is the right party to file a candidate in the Chilanga by-election. “Further when you look at the statistics for 2008 Presidential elections, we got more votes than the UPND which goes to show that we are more popular than UPND,” he said.

PF MPs revolt

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SEVEN Patriotic Front Members of Parliament (MPs) have revolted against the party’s decision to invite members to apply to stand as MPs in all the 150 constituencies.

The PF MPs who met on Tuesday night at Parliament Motel resolved to write a protest letter to their president Michael Sata against the decision they described as dictatorial.

It is understood that the MPs who met include Chishimba Kambwili for Roan, Given Lubinda for Kabwata, Kantanshi’s Yamfwa Mukanga, Jerry Chanda for Kanyama and Davies Mwila for Chipili.

[pullquote]“We found the statement most unfortunate to say that most of us depend on the parliamentary job for survival,” said the MP.[/pullquote]

Others are Jean Kapata for Mandevu and Munali’s Mumbi Phiri.

“We met at the motel last evening (Tuesday) and we decided that we should write to the president to protest against Mr Wynter Kabimba’s decision to invite members of the party to apply for adoption because this is creating divisions within the party as people are creating parallel structures,” said one of the MPs who attended the meeting but sought anonymity for fear of victimisation.

The MPs also complained about their party secretary general Mr Kabimba’s remarks in the Sunday Times that most of them had become unpopular in their constituencies.
[pullquote]
“They are not annoyed with me, how can they be annoyed with me, they just wanted to clarify the circular because they thought it is ambiguous. It is very normal because they need to protect their constituencies,” Sata said.[/pullquote]

“We found the statement most unfortunate to say that most of us depend on the parliamentary job for survival,” said the MP.

Last week Mr Kabimba told the Sunday Times that he had issued a circular inviting members of the party to apply for adoption on the party ticket in all the 150 constituencies, a decision he said had angered the sitting MPs and regarded as going against the spirit of the pact with the UPND.

When contacted for a comment, Mr Sata said the MPs wanted clarification on the circular that Mr Kabimba had issued.

“They are not annoyed with me, how can they be annoyed with me, they just wanted to clarify the circular because they thought it is ambiguous. It is very normal because they need to protect their constituencies,” he said.

[Times of Zambia]

Ignore RB trips critics – Saasa

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Mulungushi University Vice-Chancellor Oliver Saasa (R)

NEWLY-appointed Mulungushi University Vice-Chancellor Oliver Saasa has said opposition leaders condemning President Rupiah Banda’s trips abroad should be ignored.

Professor Saasa said the Government had a duty to work for the people and should not allow itself to be disturbed by criticism that lacks value.

He said the people condemning the president’s trips abroad understood well the value of such trips but that they condemn them for unknown agendas.

Patriotic Front president Michael Sata, United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema and some civil society organisations aligned to the opposition have condemned President Banda’s trips abroad claiming that they are costly.

Prof Saasa said the Government should only act if it was convinced that the size of a delegation was large and needed to be trimmed.

He said trips abroad should be weighed on the basis of the value they brought to the economy and Zambia’s obligation to the international community and individual states.

“The Government is there to work and not to defend itself all the time. There will always be people to condemn Government for everything but at the same time there will always be those who will support, so the Government should not be affected.

“The Government should forget about what these critics are saying. They speak about small things which do not even warrant commenting on. Even the chief Government spokesperson must learn to ignore them,” Prof Saasa said.

He, however, said the fact that opposition leaders and individuals were freely criticising the Government showed Zambia had matured democratically and there was freedom of expression.

[Times of Zambia]

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