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.

[Times of Zambia]

GOVERNMENT will not appeal against the verdict by the Lusaka High Court in a matter in which it sought the registration and enforcement of the London judgment that found second president Frederick Chiluba and seven others guilty of theft of US$46 million.

Chief Government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha also challenged Senior Chief Bright Nalubamba, The Post, and Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) to explain why they did not demand an appeal in a matter in which Post news editor Chansa Kabwela was acquitted over possession of pornographic material.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the Government’s view was that the nation should move ahead and concentrate on providing development and other services instead of persecuting former heads of State and satisfy foreign interests.

He said all citizens, including Chief Nalubamba, had an obligation to respect the outcome of the courts and the weight of the judiciary instead of pouring scorn on critical institutions that should be held in high esteem.

Gen Shikapwasha, who is Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said TIZ, The Post newspaper, Chief Nalubamba and some critical civil society organisations were fond of condemning verdicts that went against the wishes of the people whose interests they wanted to satisfy.

“You cannot celebrate the acquittal of Chansa Kabwela today because we did not appeal and then tomorrow you demand an appeal when others have been cleared,” Gen Shikapwasha said.

[pullquote]“You cannot celebrate the acquittal of Chansa Kabwela today because we did not appeal and then tomorrow you demand an appeal when others have been cleared,” Gen Shikapwasha said.[/pullquote]

The Zambian Government, through the office of the Attorney General had been pursuing the registration of the verdict passed in London by Judge Peter Smith but the court ruled on Friday that there was no reciprocal arrangement between Zambia and the United Kingdom to facilitate the registration of the judgment.

Dr Chiluba had contested late Judge Japhet Banda’s order to register the judgment in Zambia, arguing that he could not be tried by a British judge being a citizen of another sovereign State.

Gen Shikapwasha said it was unfortunate that critical civil society organisations and a traditional leader could bring the reputation of the Zambian judiciary down when the institution was enjoying respect internationally.

He said Zambian judges were highly respected by international organisations that include COMESA and the SADC Tribunal where they were serving.

The minister said the Government did not have anything to do with the verdict passed by the High Court.

Critics of the Government wanted to satisfy the interests of foreign agencies at the expense of national interest that included respect for the judicial system.

There had been many verdicts passed against the Government and no appeals had been lodged to avoid protracting legal matters and diverting from its development agenda and national unity.

[pullquote]But US embassy public affairs officer, Priscilla Hernandez said recovering the money would have sent a strong message about Zambia’s commitment to good governance for the benefit of investors, US tax payers and other countries who provide assistance to Zambia.[/pullquote]

But US embassy public affairs officer, Priscilla Hernandez said recovering the money would have sent a strong message about Zambia’s commitment to good governance for the benefit of investors, US tax payers and other countries who provide assistance to Zambia.

She said the outcome was a lost opportunity for Zambians and the US government had followed events connected to Dr Chiluba’s civil judgment with great interest.

She observed that Dr Chiluba’s case had garnered significant interest in the international media and continued to influence the way donors and investors perceive Zambia’s commitment to the fight against corruption.

“It is crucial that serious efforts to combat corruption at all levels continue to be pursued vigorously and effectively. We have ongoing dialogue with the Government on corruption,” Ms Hernandez said in a media release in Lusaka yesterday.

[Times of Zambia]

President Rupiah Banda says the City of Lusaka and the city of Maputo should work together and exchange developmental ideas in order for them to grow into greater cities economically.

President Banda said the two cities share a lot of similarities in many areas and should therefore cooperate towards developing into economic hubs.

He said when one of the two cities faces challenges of any form, it means the other would not enjoy as well.

President Banda said this today at Maputo City Council when he received the key to the city from the Mayor of Maputo, David Simango.

The handing over of the Key to the visitor into a city is a symbolic welcome to a special guest to that particular city.

Mr. Banda said Zambia and Mozambique share long history of bilateral relations which should be enhanced at all levels of governance.

He said although Mozambicans were paying tribute to Zambia for the role she played in helping liberate their country, the Zambian people were also grateful of the cooperation existing between the two countries.

He said when people of the neighbouring country are not free, it means Zambia was not free as well hence the need to support each other in many areas.

The President assured the people of Mozambique that Zambia was ready to welcome them at any time because the people from the two countries were culturally, socially and economically the same despite being separated by geographical borders.

Earlier in the day, President Banda paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the Mozambican National Assembly, Veronica Nataniel Macamo Dlovu, where he said the role of parliament was to unite people regardless of their political affiliations.

President Banda said Mozambican parliament, which comprises members from three different political parties, was exhibiting tenets of democracy.

And Speaker of the National Assembly, Veronica Nataniel Macamo Dlovu thanked President Banda for considering visiting parliament during his three days state visit to Mozambique.

This evening, the President is expected to meet Zambians living in Mozambique. This will be after returning from Beira, which is about 1,000 Kilometres from Maputo, where he has gone to tour Beira Port facilities.

President Banda winds up his three day state visit to this country tomorrow after touring the animal science directorate of the Mozambique National Research Institute.

ZANIS

Vice president George Kunda this morning led scores of people from all walks of life who turned up at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka for the memorial service of the late president Levy Mwanawasa.

Today marks two years since the death of Dr Mwanawasa.  Speaking during the memorial service, vice president George Kunda said government will continue standing by the legacy of the late president.

He said government will continue to remain grateful to the late Dr Mwanawasa for his contribution to the country.

Mr Kunda adds that Dr Mwanawasa’s legacy will stand for generations to come. He further disclosed that government is still working on the policy guidance on how best to remember the late president.

And former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa challenged Zambians to learn to live in a truthful way for that is what the late president stood for. She says the Mwanawasa family is proud of what the late president achieved despite threats on his life and his family for his zero tolerance to corruption.

The memorial service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross was followed with the laying of wreaths at Embassy Park were the late president is buried. Dr Mwanawasa died on August 19,2008 at Percy Military Hospital in France after suffering a stroke while attending an African Union summit in the Egyptian Resort town of Sharm El-Sheik.

The late president was credited for his strong stance against corruption during his tenure as president.

QFM

The Cooperation Council on Africa (CCA) has expressed interest in promoting investment opportunities in Zambia.

The CCA President Stephen Hayes said the council was interested in “business match-making” between companies in the United States of America and Zambia.

Mr. Hayes said this when he paid a courtesy call on Zambian Ambassador to the United States of America Sheila Siwela at the Zambian Embassy in Washington DC. USA yesterday.

This is according to a press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by First Secretary for Press at the US Embassy in Washington, Ben Kangwa.

“Our interest would be to find legitimate American companies that can do business with their counterparts in Zambia” Mr. Hayes said.

Earlier, Ambassador Sheila Siwela commended the CCA for its efforts in strengthening commercial relationships between Africa and the USA .

Ms. Siwela hoped that the CCA would work towards building investment partnerships between business people in America and those in Zambia.

The CCA was established in 1993 and has a membership of about 200 US companies that work closely with governments, multilateral groups and business to improve trade and investment climate in Africa and raise the continent’s profile among the business community in America.

The organization is dedicated to bringing together potential business partners and to showcase business opportunities on the Africa continent.

ZANIS

The governments of Zambia and Mozambique have yesterday signed eight legal instruments on bilateral relations which will enhance the living standards of the people of the two countries in many areas.

And President Rupiah Banda and President Armando Guebuza have reaffirmed their governments’ commitment to ensure that the instruments that have been signed are implemented for the benefit of the two countries’ citizens.

The instruments include agreements on transport and communications, tourism and civil aviation and five memorandums of understanding (MoU).

The MoUs are on mineral resources, education, disaster management and early warning, establishment of cooperation ties between chambers of commerce of the two countries and the last one on exchange of students of National Institute of Mozambique and Diplomacy Institute of Zambia.

Minister of Communications and Transport Geoffrey Lungwangwa signed the instruments on behalf of the Zambian government while Mozambique Minister of Foreign Affairs Oldemiro Baloi and Paulo Zucula, Minister of Communication and Transport for Mozambique signed for their country.

The signing of these instruments at the Office of the President of Mozambique was preceded by private talks by the two presidents and discussions by ministers and government officials from the two countries.

At the State Banquet held at the Ponta Vermelha Palace, an official residence of the President of Mozambique, President Banda said the instruments will further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

He said the two countries share a lot of cultural, political, social and economic relations hence the need for them to increase their cooperation in many areas of economic and political development.

He said the two countries have made a lot of progress in many areas, including the central banks’ plans to repatriate their local currencies when trading.

President Banda said this will undoubtedly increase the two countries’ wealth and consequently improve the living standards of their peoples.

He has also praised Mr. Guebuza for promoting good and democratic governance in his country.

Earlier, President Guebuza congratulated President Banda for being elected to chair a SADC committee on defence and security policy, saying this will help improve peace situation in some countries of the Southern African region.

He paid profound tribute to the role Zambia and her citizens played in helping liberate a number of countries in the region.

He said Lusaka was and will remain in the political liberation dictionary of many countries in Southern African region because of hosting many freedom fighters from other countries.

He added that Zambia was one country that was key in the promotion of regional integration.

President Guebuza also praised Zambia for her economic growth registered in the recent past and expressed confidence that President Banda’s leadership will further enhance these developments.

President Banda, who arrived yesterday morning in Maputo for a three day state visit, will today travel to Beira to tour facilities at the port in the northern part of the country.

First Lady of Zambia, Thandiwe Banda and her Mozambican counterpart, Maria da Luz Dai Guebuza, also attended the State banquet hosted in President Banda’s honour by Mr. Guebuza.

ZANIS