VICE president George Kunda has urged the church in Zambia to use its spiritual mighty in bringing about peace and harmony as the nation approaches the 2011 presidential and general elections.

Speaking at the Anglican Church centenary celebrations at saint Marks high school in Choma today, the vice president said the church in Zambia is expected to promote political reconciliation where tension is imminent among citizens.

The vice president said because politics and religion are intertwined, it is necessary to identify common ground where the church and
politics can work together for the benefit of the people.

He urged church leaders to stop any form of violence during the forthcoming presidential and general elections. Vice president Kunda said the nation cannot have a situation in which people are injuring, maiming and destroying property during elections campaigns.

He said church leaders should be able to stop any form of violence during elections. He however expressed sadness at the conduct of some senior church leaders who are involved in hurling insults, finger pointing and counter-accusations.

The vice president said this conduct is a great departure from Christian principles. Vice president Kunda urged churches in Zambia to choose leaders of their choice in the upcoming polls irrespective of tribal belonging.

He also urged the Media in the country to help promote an environment in which next year’s elections will be held in a peaceful environment.

The vice president commended the Anglican Church for taking a none partisan stance. He said the church has also been complementing government in the provision of educational and health services.

Vice president Kunda said the church has made tremendous contribution to the social-economic development of the nation in the last 100 years of its existence in Zambia.

And the church has said it will continue supporting government in its endeavor to develop the nation. Bishop for Lusaka diocese David Njovu also says the church is extremely happy with the support it is rendering to small scale farmers which has resulted in the country recording a bumper harvest in the 2009/2010 farming season.

“The church acknowledges the support government is giving to small scale farmers. This support has resulted in the country recording a bumper harvest,” he said.

He urged government to ensure the rehabilitation of road infrastructure is completed in time to facilitate marketing of produce.

Bishop Njovu was speaking at Saint Marks High school in Choma today during the church’s centenary celebration.

He said the church will continue supporting the government of the day while heralding ethical values that enrich the nation. Bishop Njovu said the church will continue to be the salt and light that enrich the nation.

ZANIS

The National Constitutional Conference (NCC) yesterday resolved to drop the requirement of a first degree or its equivalent from the qualifications for a presidential candidate and agreed to revert to the status quo as provided in the current Constitution.

Considering submissions from the public on the Draft Constitution, the NCC plenary yesterday resolved unanimously to remove article 108 (e) from the Draft Constitution.

According to article 108 (e) in the Draft Constitution a person shall be qualified to be a candidate for selection as president if that person has obtained, as a minimum academic qualification, a first degree or its equivalent from a recognised university or institution.

However, debating the 182 submissions from the public that rejected the clause, one of the NCC commissioners and Vice-President George Kunda said this was a bad clause.

“Mr chairperson it is a bad clause and it should be removed. It has been well articulated by the petitioners who have opposed the clause and the current status quo should be retained,” he said.

Another commissioner Divo Katete said the education system in Zambia was such that many people end up at diploma level.
He supported the removal of the clause.
Njekwa Anamela said most Zambians were opposed to the inclusion of the degree clause in the new constitution.
“During the recess I listened to many voices and they are against this clause,” he said.

Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II also supported the removal of the clause.

Another commissioner Bishop Chileshe said the clause has the potential to divide the country.

On Article 110 for the election of the president which provided that the returning officer shall declare the presidential candidate who receives not less than 50 per cent plus one of the valid votes cast, the conference resolved that the people through the referendum would decide.

The conference adopted article 130 that Cabinet ministers would be appointed from amongst members of the National Assembly.

The conference also agreed to reduce the number of constituencies from the 290 that were approved in Draft Constitution.

Contributing to the debate on the reduction of the number of constituencies commissioner Mkondo Lungu said the reduction should be in accordance with the delimitation process.
[ Times of Zambia ]

A parent blessed with triplets, has appealed to well-wishers, to help her and her husband manage to bring up their three one year three months old triplets.

Mrs. Doreen Mubanga, 36, of Chibanga of Mpima area in Kabwe, told ZANIS today that as a couple they were finding it difficult to support their children especially now that they have the triplets among them.

Mrs. Mubanga said before the triplets, she and her husband had seven (7) children three boys and four girls but the number shot up drastically, when last year in April they sired three more baby girls bringing the number to ten (10) children in all.

She explained that, though the girls were now walking, to find sufficient food, clothing and other support, was not easy.

Mrs. Mubanga said the triplets, Dorothy, Doris and Deborah still required much attention if they were to grow well.

She said at the stage they were, the milk she was producing from her breasts, was not sufficient and this was the time she thought the children needed much attention in all areas.

“Any assistance from well-wishers can be appreciated a lot. It is not easy and I thank God that through hardships, we have managed to raise them up to where they are. And I know God will still be with us all the way,” she said.

Mrs. Mubanga was in town with the triplets and two other daughters to help her carry the little girls.

Meanwhile, the triplets drew the attention of other people at ZANIS offices in Kabwe who admired them and also commended the two parents for their efforts.

ZANIS

A senior citizen on the copperbelt has expressed concern over the picture published in today’s spot newspaper showing buttocks of a dancing queen at Kambele lodge in Lubuto in Ndola over the weekend..

Mr Issac Chelishe told ZANIS that such pictures should not be published because they were exposing the women to ridicule and indecent exposure .

He also wondered why the vocal women groups were quite on the matter because they needed to protect and defend the dignity and integrate of the women folk.

Mr Chileshe wondered what the motives of the photographer and picture editors of the publication was because the buttocks of a women should not be subjected to public exposure in the print media as the African cultural was not loose.

He called for responsibility, good judgment and society morals in the execution of the media duties.

Mr Chileshe urged media personnel to ensure that they publish materials that would not lead the public into moral disorderliness and sensual impulses that could open youths to wanton sexual behavior.

ZANIS

Zambia and two Chinese companies signed an agreement on Friday to build the Kafue Gorge Lower Power plant at a cost of $1.5 billion, Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said.

Musokotwane said construction of the new power plant, key to boosting power supply in Africa’s largest copper producer, would start in April 2011, with the initial $1 billion funding expected to come from the Chinese.

“Zambia together with China Africa Development Fund and Sino-hydro will form a company which will develop the Kafue Gorge Lower project,” Musokotwane told journalists.

The Kafue Gorge project is expected to add 600 megawatts of power to the national grid in Zambia, where power demand is expected to rise due to the opening of new mines.

Zambia, which has had no major investments in power generation for decades, has previously been forced to import power from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following regular power outages, partly caused by ageing equipment.

[Reuters]

The ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) and opposition Patriotic Front PF) cadres this morning clashed at the funeral service of late Mpulungu Member of Parliament Lameck Chibombamilimo at Seveth Day Adventist Church at Roma congregation.

This was after MMD cadres tried to stop their PF counterparts from attending the funeral service of the late MP.

MMD cadres ordered the PF cadres to takeoff their party t/shirts sparking the clashes after the opposition cadres refused to take off their party attire.

The opposition cadres were forced to run for their lives after being outnumbered by the MMD cadres who were equipped with whips and catapults which they used on their rivals.

This was happening in the presence of the police officers deployed at the church service and only managed to calm the situation after some time.

When approached for a comment on the violence MMD Lusaka province chairman,William Banda expressed ignorance about the incident despite being seen filming the whole incident.

Meanwhile scores of people from different walks of life attended the funeral service of the late Mpulungu Member of Parliament to bid farewell.

Among those that attended the service are UPND president Hakainde Hichilema, All People’s Congress (APC) leader Ken Ngondo, former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa, deputy speaker of the national assembly Mutale Nalumango, Ministers, Member of parliaments and members of both the opposition and ruling party.

And a family representative during the service called on politicians not to politicize the death of Mr. Chibombamilimo.

Mr Chibombamilimo who died in India on Monday will be put to rest at Leopards Hill Memorial park.
[ QFM ]