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Law Association of Zambia President Stephen Lungu (left) t
The Law Association of Zambia has written to the Attorney General to consider an appeal in the Supreme Court in a matter regarding former President Fredrick Chiluba and others regarding the registration of the London Judgment.
In a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday and signed by Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) President Stephen Lungu, the law body observed that it was mandated in section 4 of the laws of Zambia Act chapter 31 of the laws of Zambia to comment and provide guidance on legal matters that were of public interest.
Mr Lungu said LAZ through its research committee thoroughly looked at the matter and rendered an opinion on the same which has since been handed over to the Attorney General.
He said the Association’s opinion to the Attorney General was in the interest of the public for his office to consider lodging an appeal in the Supreme Court in order to finalise the matter adding that LAZ also advised Government to recommence the registration process under the common law which is applicable to Zambia.
He contended that the judgment of the High Court had far reaching implications therefore there was need for clarity in this area of the law.
Mr Lungu also stated that LAZ also encouraged the Attorney General to commence a fresh course of action under common law as an alternative.
He said the Zambian Government should take all necessary steps to ensure that this matter is handled with the courtesy it deserved saying the prosecution of the suspects in this matter had been costly not only to Government but to the Zambian people at large as tax payers money was spent to prosecute the accused.
Bank of Zambia BOZ governor, Caleb fundanga has charged that late president, levy mwanawasa’s legacy portraying his resilience in the fight against corruption, will remain.
Dr Fundanga has also commended martin kalungu Banda for putting a human face to the life of the Dr. Mwanawasa who has constantly been projected as a tough and no nonsense man.
Speaking last might when he officiated at the launch of Mr kalungu Banda’s tribute book entitled, “its how we end that matters: leadership lessons from an African president”, Dr fundanga pointed out that the book finally brought back a soft touch to the life of Dr mwanawasa.
Dr Fundaga noted that President Mwanawasa scored in developing the nation’s social economy and governance aspect owing to his tough but progressive decision.
But he was also a man who was compassionate and loving, citing his care as a husband and a father.
Meanwhile, author, Mr Banda said that the book hugely illustrated how many potential African leaders have to abuse power when left in the wrong hands.
Mr Banda said that it is a privilege for one to hold power but it is wrong when the power falls into the wrong hands especially with African leaders.
And chairperson for the levy Mwanawasa foundation, Nelly Muti emphasized on the need for Zambians to learn to build on the legacy of the late president because of the strong pillars of democracy and good governance that he stood for.
[ QFM ]
A 39-year-old woman of Chibolya compound in chief Shimbizhi’s chiefdom in Itezhi-tezhi district of Southern Province has been slapped with a K2 million fine by the local magistrates court for being in possession of 55.4 Kilogrammes (Kgs) of warthog meat without authority from Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA).
Before magistrates Munalula Mubita was Violet Namukolo Simasiku charged with unlawful possession of Government trophy contrary to the ZAWA Act of the laws of Zambia.
ZANIS reports that Facts before the court were that Simasiku on 27 July this year in Itezhi-tezhi without any reasonable cause, was found in possession of 55.4 Kgs of warthog meat without any papers from the Director General of ZAWA.
On the material date, Senior Wildlife Authority police officers received a report from a transporter only identified as Nkandu that he had intercepted dried warthog meat from a woman who wanted to transport it to Lusaka in his vehicle.
The meat which was taken to ZAWA head office in Ngoma was later disposed off by the magistrates’ court.
Mr. Nkandu told ZAWA officers that the female suspect Violet Namukolo Simasiku was at large for more than two weeks and was later arrested on 16 July 2010.
Simasiku who admitted the charge was convicted upon confessing and fined K2million failure to which she will serve 15 months imprisonment.
In the same court, Magistrates Munalula Mubita set Monday next week as a day for judgment in a matter in which a 69-Year-old man of Dam six in chief Kaingu’s chiefdom in Itezhi-tezhi district is alleged to have bewitched two people of the same family.
The magistrates court set Monday 23, 2010 after all the witnesses in the case testified in the court yesterday.
Before the magistrate was Moses Mukonda charged with the offence of practicing witchcraft contrary to cap 90 sections 5b of the laws of Zambia.
Witness number one in the matter, Vine Mombelela, testified that on 10th May this year, Mukonda while at a funeral of her father is alleged to have told mourners that it was foolish for them to mourn because they were informed previously by Mukonda that he was the one responsible for deaths in their family.
Vine narrated in a fully packed court that M. Mukonda was called by family elderly members to explain what he meant that he was responsible for consecutive deaths of the Mombelela family members and he reiterated his words that he was a fearful witch who worked together with his friends to terrorise people in Dam six.
Vine also told the court that one day, Mukonda told her that her deceased Brother Milner Mombelela’s ghost, whom Mukonda claimed to have bewitched, was troubling him and his friends and that they had tied the ghost against a tree near his grave.
The second witness, Webby Mombelela also told the court that Mr. Mukonda on 11th May this year after burial went to the funeral house where family members again asked him about what he said at the funeral but the accused requested that they discuss the matter in the house for fear that mourners would instantly kill him if they heard him.
The witness testified that while in the house the Mokonda confessed that he was responsible for the death of Milner Mombelela and their father Moat Mombelela and threatened that he would also kill one more family member soon.
He further told the court that Mukonda confessed that he killed Milner Mombelela using ‘Tumutukule charms” and that he used “kaliloze gun” to kill their father Moat Mombelela.
When Mukonda was given time to cross examine the witnesses he failed to ask the witness key questions until the magistrates told him to sit down.
President Rupiah Banda
President Rupiah Banda is next week expected in Namwala district, Southern Province where he is scheduled to inspect several developmental projects before holding a public meeting on Wednesday.
President Banda is expected to make a night stop In Itezhi-tezhi district on Tuesday next week 24 enroute to Namwala district.
This is according to a programme issued by Southern Province Permanent Secretary Gladys Kristafor to Itezhi-tezhi District Commissioner Mary Mukwiza and availed to ZANIS in Itezhi Tezhi today.
The President will land at Itezhi-tezhi uphill football ground by helicopter and then spend a night at the Presidential Guest house in Itezhi-tezhi.
While in Itezhi tezhi, he will meet District Executive Committee and Constituency committee officials in the morning before leaving for Namwala.
The President will depart Itezhi-tezhi for Namwala by Helicopter about 9:00 hours.
In Namwla, President Banda is expected to meet all chiefs and headmen from Itezhi-tezhi and Namwala before addressing a public rally in the afternoon.
The president will depart Namwala for Lusaka at 17 hours.
An 83 year old man has committed suicide in Sinazongwe district in Southern province.
Sinazongwe District Education Board Chairperson Douglas Mweembe confirmed the development to ZANIS that Siachaba Silukwichini from Siluwe village committed suicide yesterday.
Mr Mweemba said the deceased committed suicide in his house using a neck-tie.
He disclosed that people around the village were not aware of the reasons that led to the old man killing himself.
Mr Mweembe said his wife said the victim had been complaining of stomach pains.
Zambia striker Jacob Mulenga on Thursday suffered an injury while in action for his Dutch side FC Utrecht in their 2-0 away loss to Glasgow Celtic in a Europa League playoff first leg game.
The striker was substituted in the opening 19 minutes while the two teams were level at 0-0.
Mulenga was due for a full check upon returning to Holland on Friday from Scotland to ascertain the magnitude of his injury.
The striker is part of the 21-man squad Dario Bonetti has named for Zambia’s 2012 Africa Cup Group C qualifying match against Comoros at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka on September 4.
President Rupiah Banda and Vice President George Kunda
President Rupiah Banda has disclosed that the African Development Bank of South Africa (ADB) has agreed to give the Zambian government a U$300 million loan for road infrastructure development.
President Banda said the negotiations between ADB and Government through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning have completed to accelerate the construction of some major roads across the country.
He said government will soon start working on the road network in the country.
President Banda said that roads to be worked on include those in Western, North-western, Central and Northern Provinces respectively.
Mr. Banda was speaking to Journalists upon arrival at the Lusaka International Airport from Mozambique where he had gone for a three-day state visit.
President Banda said that he and Vice President George Kunda will categorically monitor the road works to be embarked on.
“I and Vice President Kunda will inspect the road works so that no-one claims that they did the works,” Mr. Banda said.
Meanwhile, President Banda has described the just ended summit as successful because Zambia managed to seal a lot of agreements on key issues.
He said the region agreed to continue forging ahead to remove sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Mr. Banda, who assumed the Chairmanship of SADC explained that other Heads of State shall continue to lift the sanctions on Zimbabwe imposed by Western countries because the sanctions have affected the people in the region than the leaders themselves.
Mr. Banda said the region resolved to support President Robert Mugabe and hoped that unity shall prevail between the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and ZANU-PF in the quest to foster peace and stability in Zimbabwe.
And President Banda has said Malawian President Bingu Wa-Mtharika and Mozambican Armando Guebuza will attend the commissioning of the Chipata-Mchinji rail line next week.
He said the railway line is another major milestone in the development of infrastructure in the country.
Mr. Banda, accompanied by First Lady Thandiwe arrived at Lusaka International Airport at 15:30 hours local time.
He was received by Vice President George Kunda, Information Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha, Livestock and Fisheries Minister Bradford Machila and Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Professor Fashion Phiri, Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja and Defense and service Chiefs among other senior government officials.
President Rupaih Banda speaking to Maputo City Governor Lucia Hama at national monument after laying wreath.
President Rupiah Banda has said the port of Beira in Mozambique is key towards Zambia’s process of expanding her business through imports and exports.
President Banda said the port of Beira provides Zambia with the shortest sea route as compared to Durban, Cape Town East London in South Africa and Dar- Es- Salaam in Tanzania.
He said Zambia was exploring shorter ways to the sea coast because of her determination to expand business relations with other countries.
ZANIS reports from Mozambique that President Banda was speaking in Beira, Mozambique yesterday where he went to tour facilities at the port of Beira.
“We have already agreed as presidents of the two countries that it is our duty to ensure that everyone is involved in ensuring that these agreements are not only on paper. We really want to expand our business and Beira is our key to all this,” he said.
Yesterday, Zambia and Mozambique signed eight legal instruments, among them an agreement on communications and transport and a Memorandum of Understanding to establish ties of cooperation between chambers of commerce in the two countries.
The President said his visit to Mozambique was a demonstration of his Government’s commitment to expanding business relations with other countries.
He said there was need for leaders of the two neighbouring countries to expose themselves to some facilities that can boost economic growth in the region.
Mr. Banda said once the leaders of the two countries were exposed to such facilities, it would be easy for their citizens to appreciate their efforts of economically developing these nations through expanding business.
President Banda meanwhile noted that many Zambian citizens were ignorant of the port of Beira and what it could offer.
He has since challenged the media in both countries to help publicise the Beira port for the public to understand its potentials.
And speaking at the same occasion, Minister of Communications and Transport, Geoffrey Lungwangwa, disclosed that the Zambian government was contemplating building a rail line from Kafue in Zambia to Lions’ Den in Zimbabwe.
Professor Lungwangwa said the line will link Zambia to the port of Beira through Lions’ Den in Zimbabwe.
He said despite passing through Zimbabwe, the rail line will be the shortest route to the sea for Zambia.
He added that in future, the Chipata-Mchinji rail line may be extended to Tete in Mozambique.
Presisdent Banda is in Mozambique for a three day state visit.
Vice president George Kunda and his wife Irene
MMD Katuba Member of Parliament (MP) Jonas Shakafuswa has charged that Vice president George Kunda wrongly advised late president Levy Mwanawasa in his pursuance of alleged plunderers.
Mr Shakafuswa said he laughs at the vice president each time he remembers the advice he used to give to the late president.
He said the recent unfolding events with regards to the outcome of corruption cases of high profile politicians is an indication that the vice president started a losing battle.
Mr Shakafuswa noted that this also renders all the efforts, the money, and other resources used to pursue cases of plunder to be in vain.
Mr Shakafuswa added that all this is proof that Mr Kundu who was Justice Minister at that time wrongly advised the late president.
He told QFM that it makes sad reading to start recalling the days when Mr Kunda was at the helm of the fight against corruption.
The MP said that the money spent on pursuing corruption cases would have been well utilized if government knew that the fighting was not going to yield any results.
[ QFM ]
Myth 1: Judge Hamaundu’s Verdict Reversed the London Judgment
Reality: Judge Hamaundu’s verdict did not deal with the substantive issues of whether Chiluba was liable or not, or whether Judge Peter Smith was right or not. Instead, all Judge Hamaundu ruled on was on whether the Government could serve Chiluba with the London High Court papers so that he recompenses Government for what Judge Smith said was Chiluba’s liability. Judge Hamaundu ruled that the law Government relied on in its application to register the London judgment was insufficient. However, Hamaundu stated, that the Government could have relied on common law, but that was not his responsibility to tell them how they should have sought to register this judgment. The courts cannot make up for the legal recklessness of a party to a lawsuit.
Myth 2: After Judge Hamaundu’s ruling the London High Court ruling loses its effect
Reality: As a ruling which was obtained in the jurisdiction of England and Wales, the London High Court is still an effective ruling, unless it is appealed or overruled by the higher courts of England. The Government of Zambia can still serve it on Chiluba within England or European jurisdictions. The question, therefore, should be how much of the verdict has actually been effected within its own jurisdiction? The Zambian government cannot make up in Lusaka what it has failed to do in London.
Myth 3: The London High Court judgment was supposed to be recognized by Zambian courts based on international laws
Reality: There is nothing in international law that obligates a sovereign jurisdiction to recognise or effect judgments from another sovereign jurisdiction. International law is not a set of laws that nations mandatory abide by; rather it is a complex mix of conventions and agreements that nations agree to voluntarily. But the London High Court ruling is not part of international law unless there is an Agreement of Legal Reciprocity between the jurisdiction of England and Zambia. From the look of things, there is no legal framework for the reciprocation of judgments between England and Zambia. And that is the reason why after Shansonga ran away from Zambia’s legal jurisdiction to England, the Zambian police could not even attempt to ask England to extradite Shansonga! Similarly, in the case of contempt involving the Post Newspapers and Fred Membe, one of the co-accused Sam Mujuda could not be served with court papers from the Zambian magistrate courts because he was outside its jurisdiction in England. When Professor Muna Ndulo faced the same “Comedy of Errors” predicament, he was quick to answer that the Zambian magistrate court could not reach him in the comfort of the United States of America!
On the other hand there are some courts, on the principle of jurisdictional sovereignty and equality, which the international communities have set up such as the International Courts of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). All these courts are specialised courts that deal with particular issues in matters of its members or those that have signed their constitutive acts. Similarly, the International Criminal Tribunal is a specialised international court that tries cases of crimes against humanity and genocide. It should be noted that the London High Court is not an international court in the fashion that the ICJ or the ICC is.
Myth 4: The London High Court is superior to the Lusaka High Court
Reality: This is unfortunately believed by some very well-meaning people. The Zambian court systems are not subservient to the English Courts. Both English and Zambian courts are sovereign courts in their own rights, and are effective within their own jurisdiction. The Zambian High Court is not obliged to follow or obey London and neither is London obliged to follow Lusaka. However, the legal judgments and opinions are of persuasive value to each jurisdiction.
Myth 5: Zambia should follow English Judgments because it is a Commonwealth country which follows Common Law
Reality: Yes, Zambia as well many other countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria and the United States of America, are known as Common Law jurisdictions. These common law systems differ from Civil Law systems such as France, Germany and Quebec or hybrid systems such as Scotland, Israel, and South Africa. Common Law systems are so called because their foundation of law is based upon the English Legal Systems, and as such much of their legal philosophy is based upon the legal foundations of England and Wales. Major cornerstones of the common law system are that it is mainly based on tradition, judicial precedence, and common law judgements. However, following a common law legal system is not synonymous with being subservient to English High Court or the Supreme Court of England and Wales. In fact, even if all these countries follow the Common Law system they differ with each other on several substantive laws. Being a common law country does not mean that the current English judgments set a precedence for all the other jurisdictions to follow. In other words, London High Court or Supreme Court of England and Wales (formerly the House of Lords) do not make laws or make judgements for everybody else apart from themselves and their jurisdictions.
Myth 6: Judge Peter Smith ruled that Chiluba was a thief
Reality: Ruling that someone is a thief, in its legal sense, is the responsibility of a criminal court. Of course, in informal ways people label any one they want as a thief, but that does not make a thief before the law. Judge Peter Smith only ruled on a civil case in which he held that Chiluba was liable to repay the Zambian government monies which the Judge felt Chiluba had either misappropriated or misused. There is a distinction between a civil case and a criminal case. A civil case is one in which one part sues the other party for compensation over civil liability. This may happen usually between private individuals or companies. As an example, a civil case is usually brought to have the respondent pay compensation to the plaintiff. On the other hand a criminal case is brought by the State or in the case of England by the Crown, against an accused or a defendant who is charged by the prosecution with a crime, such theft, murder, treason, and contempt of court. Theft is a crime and as such, only the prosecution (that is the Crown or the State) can bring a matter against the accused. In London, the Zambian government could not have instituted a criminal case against Chiluba unless the Crown so decided.
The Zambian government on the other hand, decided to charge Chiluba with a crime of theft in the Zambian court system. In a criminal case, it is the responsibility of the prosecution to prove to the court beyond all reasonable doubt that the accused committed the crime he is charged with. In a civil case it is incumbent upon the plaintiff to prove on a balance of probabilities that the respondent wronged him or broke the contract as the case may be. When Chiluba was charged with theft in the Zambian courts, it was incumbent upon the Zambian prosecution to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that Chiluba had stolen. For the accused to be guilty of theft the prosecution must prove several elements, first it must be proved that the accused appropriated property, second that property belonged to another, third that the accused had the intention to permanently deprive the other of the property, and fourthly that the accused was dishonest. The prosecution in the case of Chiluba needed to prove all these elements for Chiluba to be convicted. On the other hand if the accused convinces the court that just one of these elements is not true then he cannot be convicted of theft. That is exactly what Chiluba and his lawyers did in the criminal case here in Zambia. All they argued was that the money Chiluba was accused of appropriating was indeed his money which he put in the ZAMTROP account. To support this evidence they collected the Zambian Supreme Court’s judgment in the presidential petition between Mazoka and others v. Levy Mwanawasa. That evidence was enough to create doubt in the Court’s mind, as such Chiluba was acquitted.
Myth 7: The Zambian Courts had the Responsibility to Jail Chiluba
Reality: The Courts can only jail a person who is guilty of a criminal offence. As stated above, before the courts try a case, it is up to the State to make their minds on which offense they will charge the accused. In the case of Chiluba of all the charges they could have brought against him the State chose to bring the charge of theft. Now theft in complex matters such as Chiluba’s case was going to be difficult to prosecute because of the many elements the prosecution needed to prove. All Chiluba needed was clever lawyers that would discredit the prosecution’s case on just any of the many elements. The reason why the Mwanawasa government decided to go for the theft charge is still a mystery when they could have pursued other charges which had some chance of success. The charge with the most success could have been the charge of the abuse of the authority of office, under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act. In fact, most of Chiluba’s compatriots have been convicted under this Act, but in the Zambian prosecution’s sovereign decision they went for theft. And what Magistrate Chinyama ruled on, was great embarrassment to the Zambian clever prosecutors. The courts cannot make up for the inefficiency of the prosecution. If the State decides to charge Chiluba with theft and they fail to prove theft, the courts cannot make up for the State’s foolishness. Please leave Chiluba alone, he is not sorely responsible for this legal mess we all are!
Defending Super Division champions Zanaco will try to make Nchanga Rangers feel like title pretenders when they clash at Nchanga stadium in Chingola on Saturday in a Week 22 game.
Not only do rangers lead the table but also have the privilege of beating Zanaco this season in a week 7 game last may at Sunset stadium in Lusaka.
It will be interesting to see how Zanaco, with five losses under their belt this season so far, will handled themselves in Chingola.
Rangers have lost just once all of this season at Nchanga and that was against second placed Zesco United who beat them 2-1 on May 22.
Victory over Zanaco will see rangers extend their stay at the top of the Super Division table to a third successive week as they search for their first league title since 1998.
A hawker selling carrier bags near the filthy alley near the New Soweto Market in Lusaka
By Gerald Nkisu Katayi
Lawlessness according to Mr. Webster is something that is not regulated, restrained or controlled by law. Lawlessness therefore could mean; the law is being ignored. This attitude breeds anarchy.
Zambia is a beautiful country with wonderful people who live in harmony without creating atrocities for themselves due to differences in tribe, race, or religion like other countries in Africa and around the world.
Despite these positive attributes, Zambia remains a poor country in Africa with very high levels of poverty and diseases. To a degree this is due to lawlessness. A visit to down town in Lusaka will bring you to a group of women with small children selling fruits, fish, meat and vegetables by the road side. Pedestrians throwing banana skins at will, hawkers litter the streets with impunity. Street corners are turned into water closets leaving behind horrible stitch.
Every rain season uncollected piles of garbage remains an eye sore in many towns and cities. The less privileged that live in high density areas lose their loved ones to water borne diseases like cholera and dysentery because of the unsanitary conditions they inhabit. Some of these deaths could be avoided if civic education is reinforced, law and order restored.
Shanty compounds look like a gate way to hell. Lawlessness reign! Bars and Taverns open as early as five or six in the morning and close late the following day. Some operate 24 hours without authorization. These drinking places become the womb of evil where prostitution, child abuse, and diseases are conceived. And the end results are AIDS, poverty, crime and untimed deaths. Poverty should not send people to break the law; instead they should do what they do legally.
Unfortunately these characteristics are now not limited to peri- ubarn areas any more. A visit to Kabwata shows no difference. Prostitution is high; music from the bars is too loud; you can hear it a mile away. An unwanted pregnancy which leads to unplanned children among the teenage girls in this vicinity is growing.
How can sanity return to our society? The Local Government Act stipulates clearly how towns and cities must be managed. The guide lines ranges from drinking places, streets, buildings etc. For example, no illegal selling on the streets, Music should be enjoyed at a volume where you don’t annoy or disturb the neighbors. Under age drinking, prostitution, and using unauthorized areas to answer the call of nature is forbidden.
The people who drafted this Act were seeking for a civilized and progressive society. Chingola used to be the cleanest town in Zambia, Lusaka was a garden city. Today all that is gone with the wind. When lawlessness creeps in any society, decay, poverty and crime become the order of the day. This is where Zambia is heading…Cleanliness is closer to godliness!
Citizens should be reminded of the laws that govern their society every day by any means possible. The church and civic bodies must contribute by educating their constituencies. But above all; it is the responsibility of those with political power to regulate and reinforce the law.
Late president Levy Mwanawasa’s son Patrick has questioned the coincidence of the courts’ decisions on former president Fredrick Chiluba’s cases with his father’s death anniversaries.
Patrick recalled that last year, Dr Chiluba was acquitted two days before his father’s memorial, while the high court decision to dismiss an application seeking to register the London high court came almost a week before the second anniversary of the late president’s death.
He said he does not understand the rationale behind the coincidence in the dates.
In an interview, Patrick bemoaned that things that his father fought for have now been abandoned by the current regime.
He observed that people who worked closely with his father have now abandoned his plans and strategy.
Patrick, however, remained optimistic that things would change and will be better for all the people in the country.
The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) owes farmers in Kawambwa District K3 billion for about 45,000 x 50 kilogramme bags of white maize that have so far been bought in the district.
Senior Agriculture Officer (SAO), Samson Chipeta disclosed the development to ZANIS in an interview in Kawambwa yesterday.
Mr Chipeta said FRA has only paid K 77 million to 12 farmers since the maize marketing exercise began in July this year.
He said the amount of money paid to farmers is equivalent to about 1,200 x 50 kg bags of white maize.
He said because of the delay to release enough funds, many farmers in the area have started storming his office to air their grievances.
Mr Chipeta said the situation is worrying because agriculture is an income for the farmers and they need to be paid on time to ease their sufferings.
Meanwhile, Mr Chipeta has complained at the delay by the transporters to deliver maize from satellite depots to the main depot.
He said his office carried out a survey yesterday and discovered that there is a lot of maize not yet collected at various satellite depots in the district because of the transporters’ slow pace.
And main depot manager, Michael Nonde also confirmed to ZANIS in a separate interview that farmers have not been paid their money up to now and urged them to be patient.
Mr Nonde also said there is slow pace of maize collection from satellite depots in the area because there are few trucks.
He said there is need to increase the number of trucks especially bigger ones to speed up the process and to enhance the marketing exercise.
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema
UNITED Party for national Development (UPND) officials have said their leader Hakainde Hichilema is best suited to lead the pact and urged Patriotic Front (PF) members to stop treating UPND as a junior partner.
Bweengwa Member of Parliament (MP) Highvie Hamududu said the party would not allow the PF to treat their president Mr Hichilema as a junior partner in the pact.
And UPND national youth chairperson, Joe Kalusa said yesterday it was only Mr Hichilema who was the rightful candidate for the pact and Republican presidency.
UPND Copperbelt chairperson Elisha Matambo also said Mr Hichilema should lead the party’s pact with PF because he had the age benefit and good leadership skills.
They were all reacting to Nkana MP Mwenya Musenge’s statement that Mr Hichilema should stand aside and allow Mr Sata to run for the Republican presidency.
Mr Hamududu said yesterday in Lusaka that UPND was an equal partner that deserved respect.
“The earlier they respect us the better for the pact because we shall not allow them to continue to demean out president,” he said.
Mr Kalusa said yesterday that it was only Mr Hichilema who was the rightful candidate for the pact presidency as well as Republican presidency.
He said Mr Sata should instead stand aside and allow the UPND president to contest the pact presidency.
He said with PF vice-president Guy Scott’s last week’s analysis of the UPND poularity, the UPND was now scared that Mr Hichilema would be dribbled and would not be given the Republican vice-presidency if Mr Sata was sworn in as president.
And Mr Matambo said in an interview yesterday that Mr Hichilema was the right person to lead Zambia because, like former president Kenneth Kaunda who was in his 40s when he went to State House, the UPND leader had age on his side and would withstand the rigours of being republican president.
He said contrary to Mr Musenge’s views, Mr Hichilema stood a good chance of being chosen as the pact presidential candidate for the 2011 elections because he had the qualities of being president.
Last week, the UPND accused PF of not being sincere following an article authored by Dr Scott in a daily tabloid where he questioned the UPND’s popularity after the Luena and Chifubu by-elections.
The PF and UPND contested against each other in the Kaoma and Chadiza local government by- elections of August 5 this year.
