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A Lusaka magistrates’ court handling the case involving nine Ministry of Health employees, yesterday advised defence lawyer Keith Mukata not to argue with the court but wait for its guidance.
Magistrate Kenneth Mulife advised Mr Mukata, who is one of the defence lawyers in the matter after he alleged that Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) prosecutor Dennis Simwinga was not serious with his re-examining of former permanent secretary Simon Miti.
This is in a case in which Ministry of Health human resources officer Henry Kapoko and eight others are facing a charge of obtaining money by false pretences amounting to more than K1.9 billion.
When Mr Simwinga was re-examining Dr Miti, Mr Mukata objected saying that he was not serious but the State prosecutor protested.
Mr Simwinga said it was not fair for Mr Mukata to purport that as a public prosecutor he was not serious in his re-examination.
He demanded an apology saying the State was serious with the matter contrary to Mr Mukata’s claims.
But as Mr Mulife was guiding the two parties, Mr Mukata continued addressing the court and Mr Simwinga.
This prompted Mr Mulife to advise, Mr Mukata not to argue with the court but wait for his guidance.
“Counsel shall not argue with the court because it is up to the court to provide guidance and not the lawyer. In the interest of time and the accused’s liberties, Mr Mukata should apologise,” he said.
Mr Mukata, however, apologised to Mr Simwinga and retracted the statement that the ACC prosecutor was not serious and sober.
And during continued re-examination, Dr Miti said he signed the contract to award the mother baby kits to Kahekam Limited, a company linked to Kapoko.
Dr Miti said the contract was also signed with Ministry of Health head of procurement and supplies unit, Able Katongo who is jointly charged with Kapoko.
Kapoko is jointly charged with head of procurement Katongo, procurement specialist Anthony Mwila, Justine Phiri, an internal auditor and assistant director of administration Norbert Peleti.
Choosing a presidential candidate for the Patriotic Front-United Party for National Development (PF/UPND) pact in 2011 will spell doom for the alliance, Luapula member of Parliament Peter Machungwa has said.
Dr Machungwa, who is spokesperson for the Patriotic Front (PF) members of Parliament attending the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) said yesterday that this is because neither PF leader Michael Sata nor his UPND counterpart Hakainde Hichilema is willing to deputise the other.
He however said in an interview yesterday that it is good Mr Sata has realised that the vacuum in the pact leadership is creating problems.
Dr Machungwa said Mr Sata’s suggestion that choosing a leader at this stage will rescue the pact is not feasible.
“Even assuming that one of the two leaders agrees to deputise the other, this will only solve half the existing problems. This is because their manifestos are very different from each other and it will be difficult to harmonise them,” he said.
Dr Machungwa challenged one of the two pact leaders to come out openly and state that he is willing to deputise the other, otherwise there will be no deal.
He said most of the senior members in both PF and UPND know that the pact is only on paper, although the charade will go on for a while.
Dr Machungwa said at the end of the day, it will be “things fall apart” for the pact.
Mr Sata has said that part of the solution to ending the wrangles in the pact is to choose a presidential candidate who will lead the two parties in the 2011 general elections.
The two parties in the pact said they will soon hold a meeting at which top on the agenda will be leadership of the pact.
A poster lauding government's women empowerment programmes
The Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has called on political parties to help bridge the gender inequality gap by adopting women candidates at 50-50 per cent parity ahead of the 2011 presidential and general elections.
At a media briefing to launch activities in preparation for the celebrations to take place on September 23 at YWCA in Lusaka yesterday, NGOCC board chairperson Marian Munyinda said political parties must adopt more women candidates.
Ms Munyinda said in comparison with other countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, South Africa and Mozambique, Zambia had a lower number of women Cabinet ministers despite being an old democracy.
She said efforts to improve women representation in decision-making positions at both political and other levels should be scaled up.
She said while the fight for gender equality was growing old since it was started on September 25, 1985, achievements on the ground remained static and cited bickering among the women as part of the reason for the stagnation in women’s advancement.
Ms Munyinda said through member organisations such as the Zambia National Women’s Lobby Group (ZNWLB), NGOCC would identify credible women to contest for positions and adoption for candidacy at both parliamentary and presidential levels next year.
Ms Munyinda said the decision to set up the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) was good but lacks a clear plan of action to allow women access the funds without difficulty.
She said NGOCC was displeased that many provisions that should have dealt with social challenges faced by women and children in part three of the Bill of Rights in the Draft Constitution had been rejected.
And NGOCC in North-Western and Copperbelt provinces launched activities to mark the commencement of celebrations the organisation’s silver jubilee in September.
NGOCC liaison officer for the two provinces, Priscilla Chama Mwansa said during the launch in Solwezi yesterday that the occasion provided an opportunity for the women to reflect on the organisation’s achievements and challenges.
In Livingstone, Ms Munyinda urged non-governmental organisations and other institutions to be transparent and accountable in their dealings to instill confidence in their members as well as beneficiaries.
Ms Munyinda said there was need for NGOs to be transparent and accountable to their members and beneficiaries of their programmes if they had to continue existing.
She said this yesterday in Livingstone in a speech read for her by NGOCC active human rights activist Jean Mweene at a Press conference to launch the 25th Silver Jubilee Anniversary celebrations.
The Zambia Police Services Victim Support Unit (VSU) has said economic violence and abuse was on the rise in most Zambian homes.
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka, VSU National Coordinator, Senior Superintendent Tresford Kasale said it was disheartening to note that economic violence had become a common trend in most Zambian homes to settle domestic scores.
He said in most cases bread winners in Zambian homes, male or female, took advantage of their economic position to economically abuse their spouses, children and dependents.
Mr Kasale said bread winners deliberately stopped buying food and other human necessities such as clothing , medical care and education, among others in order to make their spouses feel unwanted resulting in them leaving their matrimonial homes.
The VSU National Coordinator said this during a five- day Gender Awareness workshop for service providers at Red Roof Lodge in Lusaka’s Roma Township which started on Monday.
Mr. Kasale said that such trends were commonly practiced in both high and low density urban areas. He noted that such practices were also part of the issues that the VSU was handling on a daily basis as breadwinners attributed prevailing economic situation in the country as the cause of them not supporting their spouses and family in general.
Mr. Kasale however advised breadwinners not use their economic situation as the reason for not supporting their families saying they should instead be transparent and honest to their spouses and families on their situation.
The workshop sponsored by the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is aimed at empowering service providers with adequate information on Gender Based Violence (GBV) which is said to be on the increase in the country.
The workshop has attracted service providers from nearly all corners of Zambia mainly attached to the VSU’s of police stations.
And during the preliminary of the workshop, some participants expressed concern at the law that prohibited housewives from physically reacting to their husbands’ girlfriends.
The participants said this development had actually empowered girlfriends to have undue control of most men thereby creating domestic instability in most homes.
However, Mr. Kasale advised the participants that the affected housewives should take advantage of the law of Adultery which he said was as punitive as any other law.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba speaking people in Northern Province says he will soon call an urgent meeting with traditional rulers in the Bemba Royal Establishment to discuss the contents in the draft constitution.
The Paramount Chief said it is important for Chiefs to critically analyze the clauses in the draft constitution and make informed submissions towards the constitution making process.
He told ZANIS at his palace recently that he does not want to come up with his own position on certain issues contained in the draft constitution but instead wanted to build consensus among chiefs by holding a meeting with them on constitutional issues.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu said he is aware that the 40 days given to people to make submissions to the draft constitution was fast elapsing hence his decision to hold an urgent indaba with his fellow traditional rulers on the subject matter.
The Paramount Chief also said traditional rulers at the indaba would critically analyze land issues in the draft constitution especially Article 290, which has so far proved to be contentious among traditional rulers.
According to article 290 Clause one in the draft constitution, customary land is described as land held by communities identified on the basis of tribe, residence or community of interest.
But Paramount Chief Chitimukulu said that while he does not support the clause he would allow other chiefs to make their recommendations before arriving at a conclusion on the issue.
So far, Senior Chief Mwamba and Chief Makasa have both condemned the clause, saying if allowed to stand it may destroy the existence of traditional leadership in the country.
The traditional rulers have since asked the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) to re-visit Article 290 in the draft constitution and make sure that traditional rulers were given back their powers to be custodians of customary land.
Meanwhile, Paramount Chief Chitimukulu has advised people in Northern Province to take keen interest in the constitution making process and make sure that their voices are heard by making valuable submissions on the draft constitution.
National Milling Corporation has said good agriculture policies by Government has helped the country to record bumper harvest this year.
National Milling Managing Director, Peter Cottan said Government has also facilitated various players in the agriculture sector to partner with small scale, peasant, and commercial famers to achieve stable agricultural policies.
Mr Cottan said good policies and the enabling environment in the nation had also enabled his company to work and partner with farmers in crop marketing.
He said his company has since put in place mechanisms aimed at providing farmers with a ready market to sell their crops.
Mr. Cottan said this when he presented a donation of 200 by 25 Kg bags of Roller meal to the Lunda Lubanza traditional ceremony of the Lunda people of Zambezi and the Maliko Malende Lwindi traditional ceremony of the Tonga people of Sinazongwe.
He said by providing markets for farmers, his company was helping farmers to stop dealing with briefcase buyers who exploited them by offering unfair prices for their produce.
He has since pledged his continued assistance to traditional ceremonies saying they were a major contributor to the national economy.
And receiving the donation, Senior Chief Ishindi of the Lunda speaking people said while the country was celebrating a bumper harvest, the people of Zambezi feared starvation as their crops were destroyed due to excessive rains.
The Senior Chief said the people may only have food to last for up to September this year.
The traditional leader also commended National Milling for extending its help to hosting of the traditional ceremony slated for next month.
And, Esau Nebwe a representative of Chief Sinazongwe also lauded the company for its continued support to national events.
Mr Nebwe said while the company was known for only sponsoring sports, National Milling had also shown serious commitment to national events like traditional ceremonies through donations towards such ends.
Fuel crisis has hit Kalomo District in Southern Province for the past one week following the closure of the only filling station in town under Kobil which was run by a local businessman, paralyzing operations of most motorists.
And a local businessman who was running the service station, Stephen Bwebya, when contacted for a comment said his contract with Kobil Limited has expired but said his company may resume operations soon.
The development has made fuel vendors to raise prices with a 20 litres container of diesel selling at K140,000 while the same quantity for petrol is selling between K180,000 and K200,000 .
Most motorists talked to have prodded the District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) to find an alternative big and viable company to run a filling station in the district because this was not the first time the town has experienced such fuel shortages.
The motorists, ferrying their maize for sale to the 15 satellite depots created by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for this year’s crop marketing season in the district, said the development would advantage unscrupulous buyers to penetrate into rural areas and buy their maize cheaply as they could afford other means of getting fuel to travel to rural areas.
Some government departments and their fleet of vehicles including those for the on going mobile voter registration exercise are getting fuel from Choma District which is 60 km away from Kalomo.
Meanwhile, the on going mobile voter registration exercise has so far managed to captured 3,382 new voters since it started up to June 21 to July 15 this year, District Electoral Officer, Allfred Mungalu has acknowledged.
A trade unionist has warned of serious voter apathy if the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Patriotic Front (PF) pact does not reorganize itself.
Zambia Union for Financial and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) president, Cephus Mukuka has observed that the UPND/PF pact has been a party to reckon with during its smooth operations.
He noted that failure by the two parties to deal with the current problems being experienced will result in great apathy in the 2011 elections.
Mr Mukuka also said that the two pact leaders need to realize that it would be an upfront to democracy if they allow their merger to break.
He challenged both Mr Michael sata and his UPND counterpart, Hikainde Hichilema to quickly address the issues.
Mr Mukuka said that there is tension amongst the electorate in the country and the leaders of the pact have a responsibility to calm the situation.
1. His Royal Highness the Litunga of the Lozi people Lubosi Imwiko II with Vice President George Kunda when he arrived for the kufuluhela traditional ceremony in Mongu
2. His Royal Highness the Litunga of the Lozi people Lubosi Imwiko II with Vice President George Kunda after arriving at the kufuluhela traditional ceremony in Mongu
3. His Royal Highness the Litunga of the Lozi people Lubosi Imwiko II ushers Vice President George Kunda at Nayuma harbour during the kufuluhela traditional ceremony in Mongu
4. Royal Highness the Litunga of the Lozi people Lubosi Imwiko II with Vice President George Kunda at Lealui Palace during the kufuluhela traditional ceremony in Mongu
5. Royal Highness the Litunga of the Lozi people Lubosi Imwiko II talk to Vice President George Kunda at the Lealui Palace during the kufuluhela traditional ceremony in Mongu
Sexual and Gender based Violence (SGBV) providers in the country have called for the revision of the Rape Act saying the
current one has many grey areas that needed amendment.
The providers said during a five-day Gender sensitisation workshop in Lusaka supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), that the current Act had many grey areas such as cases of marital rape which were not clearly spelt out in the current Act.
[pullquote]“ In Zambia , cases of marital rape is on the increase where husbands tend to demand for sex from their wives in the morning, afternoon and bed time,” the participants said.[/pullquote]
ZANIS reports that providers are from the Zambia Police Victim Support Unit, Ministry of Health and the Social Welfare Department of the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare among others.
The participants expressed concern that though marital rape was on the increase in the country, there was no definite description in the Law about the case in the Act.
They said it was for this reason that married women were being sexually abused by their husbands without due consent. “ In Zambia , cases of marital rape is on the increase where husbands tend to demand for sex from their wives in the morning, afternoon and bed time,” the participants said.
But one of the Facilitators, Mhlakeni Zulu told participants that there was nothing like marital rape saying it was a husband’s right to enjoy his conjugal rights from his wife anytime .
Mr Zulu, who is Assistant Commissioner of Police in the Criminal Investigations Department said the general public should be aware that marital rape occurred only when couples were in separation and not in matrimony.
During the workshop the Police Service was castigated for not doing enough to investigate cases of marital rape and their inability to differentiate between real rape and marital rape.
[pullquote]But one of the Facilitators, Mhlakeni Zulu told participants that there was nothing like marital rape saying it was a husband’s right to enjoy his conjugal rights from his wife anytime .[/pullquote]
Marital rape is defined as when a husband uses force of any kind to have sex with his wife without her consent.
At the same workshop, UNICEF’s Gender Specialist Annie Sampa told the meeting that the rising cases of marital rape which often times went unreported had created anger in most housewives who in turn became very brutal to the extent of killing their spouses.
Mrs. Sampa said the only solution to this was mutual respect and honour for each others’ human rights in homes.
She encouraged participants to consider sensitising their communities on the need for married couples to respect each others’ human rights if marital rape was to be reduced.
Meanwhile, another facilitator Tresford Kasale said it was wrong for the Zambia Police Service officers to summon witness to their stations where they ( witnesses) were made to submit evidence in cases of mostly civil nature.
Mr Kasale said the trend was very intimidating resulting in witnesses to willfully not submit evidence to police stations. He said his office had also noted with concern that the police became unease when making submissions in court saying, often times, submissions made only resulted in courts throwing out most cases.
Some Chifubu residents during an MMD rally for the Chifubu parliamentary seat
The Zambia Direct Democracy Movement (ZDDM) has predicted a landslide victory for the Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) in the Chifubu Parliamentary by election.
ZDDM National Coordinator Edwin Sakala said ZDDM was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the MMD would win the Chifubu seat with a slide victory.
Mr Sakala said residents were alive to the fact that voting for the confusion ridden opposition would not be in their best interest.
[pullquote]“Voting for the opposition is like shooting themselves on the foot, we believe the people of Chifubu cannot continue to make the same mistake which other constituencies across the country have made of denying themselves development through voting for the opposition,” Mr. Sakala said.[/pullquote]
In a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Sakala said ZDDM supported the MMD in Chifubu as it was the only party that had the capacity to deliver results.
He said the party was getting inspiration from President Rupiah Banda who was rightfully referred to as man of unity and development.
“Voting for the opposition is like shooting themselves on the foot, we believe the people of Chifubu cannot continue to make the same mistake which other constituencies across the country have made of denying themselves development through voting for the opposition,” Mr. Sakala said.
Meanwhile, speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today FPP spokesperson Charles Kafumbo called on the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) Pact to join the MMD.
Mr Kafumbo said his organisation was solely behind the ruling MMD in the Chifubu by-election as it was the only party with a vision for the people.
Mr Kafumbo said the opposition had nothing tangible to offer to the people of Chifubu and the country at large.
The Chifubu seat fell vacant following the death of PF’s Benson Bwalya and the PF has since filled in Susan Kawandami as its candidate, with Brian Banda as candidate for the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) and the MMD’s Frank Ng’ambi and the United National Independence Party (UNIP) has filled in Poko Mambwe.
The Chifubu parliamentary by-election will be held on August 5 this year.
One of the cadre assaulted during the Mufumbwe bye-elections (picture courtsey of Post Newspaper)
MMD losing candidate in the Mufumbwe Parliamentary by-election Mulondwe Muzungu has told the Lusaka High Court that some voters did not participate in the by-election because of the violence during the campaign period.
Mr Muzungu, 67 of house number 106 Hellen Kaunda said the violence instilled fear in the electorate making them shun the polls.
He said over 54 per cent people voted but that the figure could have been higher if the campaign period was not hostile.
Mr Muzungu closed his case yesterday.
This is in a case in which Mr Muzungu has petitioned the election of United Party for National Development (UNPD) Elliot Kamondo as Mufumbwe member of Parliament.
He said during examination in chief when the matter came up for continued hearing that the violence in Mufumbwe caused tension and fear among the electorate.
Mr Muzungu said the entire electorate in Mufumbwe was petrified.
He said on April 13, 2010 after addressing a rally in Kashima West, suspected UPND cadres allegedly attacked MMD supporters.
“Violence in Mufumbwe was unprecedented. We have never had such violence, in which people’s eyes were plucked out, people stabbed and dogs killed. These assailants came with UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema,” he said.
Mr Muzungu said MMD officials were allegedly attacked when they were leaving the venue of the meeting onto the Mutanda-Chavuma road.
He said one of his political activist , Danny Kawishya was badly beaten and ended up in Mufumbwe District hospital where he was admitted for four days.
Mr Muzungu said during cross examination that violence in Mufumbwe was between MMD and UPND cadres.
He however said the UPND supporters were the aggressors.
Mr Muzungu said violence was reported in Kikonge, Matushi, Kakikasa, Kashima and Mushima wards.
He said he won by small margins in some parts of the wards although he would have done better if it was not for the violence.
Mr Muzungu denied being related to Chief Chizela saying he was only a business partner with the traditional leader.
He said he was not aware Chief Chizela was campaigning for him during the elections.
Mr Muzungu said he was not aware that Mr Kamondo was approached by the MMD to stand on the ruling party ticket.
Another witness, Ernest Kambili, 36 of house number 25B Solwezi Police Camp said on April 28 he received several reports of incidents of assault resulting from the alleged violence in the district.
Detective inspector Kambili said on this day he was operating from the Mufumbwe Police station inquiries desk where he issued numerous medical reports relating to assaults.
The matter comes up on Friday for continued hearing.
Mines and Minerals Development Minister Maxwel Mwale (right) with Geoscience for a Sustainable Earth Project Manager Marc Urvois at the African European Geo-Resources Observation System workshop in Lusaka
ZAMBIA has developed guidelines to stop the sale of uranium to institutions that may use it for producing dangerous weapons.
Mines and Minerals Development Minister Maxwell Mwale also told Parliament in Lusaka yesterday that Government had issued two licences for the exploration of uranium.
Mr Mwale said the Government had developed guidelines to stop the sale of uranium to institutions that might use it for the production of dangerous weapons.
The guidelines were produced with supervision from the International Atomic Energy Agency that would be involved in all activities leading to the final stage, which would be exportation.
The guidelines cover monitoring activities during exploration, mining, milling, storage, transportation, export, marketing, safety, health and environmental protection standards.
Mr Mwale said exploration licences had been granted to Denison Mines (Zambia) and African Energy Resources.
In addition to these, there are 140 large and small-scale prospecting licences which include uranium as one of the minerals to be explored.
Before mining for uranium starts, a developer would be required to come up with an environmental impact assessment report and consult with local communities where the mineral would be mined.
Mr Mwale said fears that uranium was dangerous were incorrect because he had toured countries where mining was done about 50 metres away from the production spots and that no danger or negative effect had been recorded.
Mr Mwale said uranium exploration in Zambia was not being done for the first time.
[ Times of Zambia ]
UPND_PF_PACT
Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata has said part of the solution to ending the wrangles that have rocked the pact with the United Party for National Development (UPND) is to choose a presidential candidate who will lead the two parties to next year’s general elections.
Mr Sata said in Lusaka yesterday that apart from harmonising manifestos and other issues, the critical issue for the pact was to choose a leader and that a roadmap that includes electing the president had been prepared to bring the differences to an end.
He was commenting on a statement by Mr Hichilema that the pact was facing problems that needed urgent solutions and that the issue of blaming each other should be tabled.
Mr Sata said a joint committee with representation from both political parties was planning to hold a private meeting to salvage the pact from collapse, but top on the agenda was the issue of the leadership.
He declined to state when the leadership would be elected and insisted that the matter would be discussed internally.
Meanwhile, UNZA political scientist, Phinias Baala has said the differences between the PF and UPND were serious and advised the two parties to disband.
Mr Baala, a lecturer in the school of political science, said the differences were deep and that it was impossible for the two parties to reconcile.
And Southern Province Minister, Daniel Munkombwe has said the current divisions in the PF and UPND have proved his earlier prediction that their pact would not last.
[ Times of Zambia ]
President Banda has described the Luena Constituency by election as a confusing one because it had not been triggered by the death of an incumbent or court ruling but it was as a result of the resignation of its former Member of Parliament(MP) Charles Milupi for unexplained reasons.
The President said the only reason Mr Milupi resigned and was standing again was to prove that he owned the people of Luena and that he could do anything at anytime to influence them.
The President said this today at Limulunga Basic School in Mongu when he addressed a mammoth rally to drum up support for the MMD candidate, Mwangala Maopu in the Luena by election set for 5th August 2010.
Mr Banda said it was wrong for Mr Milupi to claim that he was the one who constructed a new market in the Limulunga area when it was the MMD government using Constituency Development Funds (CDF).
The President explained that each of the 150 MPs were entitled to receive K600 million CDF for the benefit of their constituents.
He further said it was false that Mr Milupi would open up a mine,timber processing factory and sugar processing plant in Luena as an MP for the second time.
President Banda wondered what development Mr Milupi would bring to the area in the remaining one year, if he failed in the past four years.
The President said Zambia could only develop faster if all Zambians could have a common purpose explaining that no one individual could develop the country no matter how rich or well educated as Mr Milupi may be.
Mr Banda said it would be wrong for Zambians to vote for a leader who ascended to power through violence as such a leader would abuse Government machinery to oppress the Zambian people.
He said what Zambians needed was a leader who guaranteed continued peace and development to attract more investors for job creation.
The President said the New Deal Government wanted to bring development in all parts of Zambia covering all the 750 000 square kilometers of the country’s land.
And speaking on the UPND-PF Pact, the President said the Pact was formed for wrong motives, propelling the two opposition leaders to leadership who at the moment did not agree as to who should lead the pact.
President Banda further said many times, Mr Hichilema had stood up urging Zambians to vote for a young president forgetting that his pact partner Mr Michael Sata was as old as the President.
He said Mr Sata at one time was recorded to have described Mr Hichilema as an under five.
Mr Banda recalled that after the death of Anderson Mazoka, Mr Sakwiba Sikota was denied an opportunity to lead UPND because he was not a Tonga.
‘’The MMD is getting stronger in Luapula Province where the PF had 100 percent predominance and the ruling party will work hard to gain ground in Southern Province’’, President Banda said.
He said the MMD which won six local government seats during the recent eight local government elections would ensure that it wins the majority of the remaining nine other ward elections.
Mr Banda noted that on many occasions some opposition political leaders had peddled lies against him that he had first watched the world cup in South Africa before going to Turkey and that at another time he was in Cape Town for his knee when in actual fact he was in Namibia for an official visit.
The President said when the late President Levy Mwanawasa appointed him as Vice President, some opposition leaders were saying he had made a wrong choice.
He said it was now surprising that the same political leaders were praising the late President as having been a good man.
Speaking later at the same rally, MMD candidate, Mr Maopu urged the people of Luena to vote for him as he would have easy access to Government resources for use in developing the constituency.
Present at the meeting was Western Province MMD Chairperson Namakando Imasiku, MMD Campaign Manager Professor Geofferey Lugwangwa, MMD National Chairperson Michael Mabenga, Community Development Minister Michael Kaingu and other senior Government and MMD officials including some representatives from the Royal establishment.
