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Ministry of Health spokesperson Kamoto Mbewe says the measles has so far claimed 110 lives from 6252 cases reported since the disease outbreak in the country.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today , Dr Mbewe revealed that Lusaka is the most hit district with 106 deaths recorded out of 4928 cases reported representing 78 percent .
Dr Mbewe said Lundazi district in Eastern Province was the most hit with 789 cases while three lives were lost due to the disease.
Kabwe in Central province recorded 30 cases with no death so far.
He further revea ed that Chibombo recoreded 132 cases with one death while Nyimba recoreded 58 cases, Katete 27and Chama 26 cases and that no death has been recorded in the three districts.
And Dr Mbewe explained that preliminary results indicates that all districts accross the country recorded a 90 percent measles immunisation programme stating that the outbreak is stabilising and has assured the people not to panic as the ministry is doing everything possible to arrest the problem.
He also called on all those who did not take their children for measles immunisatmion programme to do so as their is still room for the exercise.
Meanwhile. Dr Mbewe told ZANIS that the Ministry has sent health personnel to Everly Hone college to investigate the alleged out break of measles at the highest learning institution.
He said the officials are currently on cite taking results and assured the student that they should not pact over the alleged outbreak saying everything is being done.
He said the public would be informed on the development and outcome of the results.
The Patriotic Front, PF, has retained the Chifubu parliamentary seat.
Announcing the election results around 00:30 hours this morning, Returning Officer, Roy Kuseka, declared Susan Kawandami of the Patriotic Front as winner after she polled 6, 976 votes, beating MMD’s Frank Ng’ambi who polled 4, 539 votes.
Alliance for Democracy and Development, ADD’s Brian Banda emerged third after polling 412 votes, while UNIP’s Poko Mambwe trailed with 221 votes.
148 votes were rejected after 12, 296 out of 29, 000 registered voters cast their votes in the constituency’s 39 polling stations, representing about 42 percent of all the registered voters in Chifubu.
And Foundation for Democratic Process, FODEP, has said there was a lot of voter apathy in Chifubu.
FODEP Information Officer, McDonald Chipenzi, told QFM in a telephone interview from Chifubu that recording only 12, 296 out 29, 000 registered voters as having cast their vote is a big sign of voter apathy.
Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has ‘ cracked’ in Mwembeshi Constituency in Central Province on alleged tribal grounds.
Concerned UPND cadres in the area told ZANIS in an interview today, that one of the country’s main opposition parties has cracked in the area after two senior officials Ekrol Mungo and Abel Makala (who are both Tongas) , UPND District Chairman and Constituency Chairman respectively had allegedly in recent times been de-campaigning area MP Edward Kasoko .
They went on to say that they would be forced to take the law in their own hands unless the two leaders , Mr. Mungo and Mr. Makala respectively step down and leave the constituency peacefully.
“ Having given them ( Mr Mungo an d Mr Makala )the chairmanship for our party does not mean we are short of people eligible to lead us in Mwembeshi. If they feel they are bulls in Sala land, they are overrating themselves,” the party cadres said.
Efforts to get the two leaders for a comment proved futile by press time as their phones where out of coverage. So was the area MP Mr. Kasoko, the party Secretary general Witson Chibwe, and the party leader Hakainde Hichilema were also unreachable as the duo were reported away in Luena constituency.
However the concerned cadres who asked not to be named, told ZANIS that the duo ( Mr. Mungo and Mr. Makala) have already started campaigning on tribal lines saying they wanted the political life in the area to be led by Tongas.
They duo are alleged to have started campaigning for two named prominent Lusaka businessmen for the two constituencies in readiness for the 2011 elections. This is despite a recent circular from the UPND secretariat barring campaigns until further notice.
However the cadres have warned that if the two named leaders wanted to take the UPND as a family club, they should not have wasted our time by involving the local Sala speaking people.
“ We would like to make it clear that we have only two constituencies for Salas, Kaonde Ilas and the Tonga Ilas respectfully and their children. Mr Mungo and his colleague do not belong to either of the group. They must step down, immediately,” the cadres demanded.
“ It is surprising us that nearly the entire number of headmen posts have been taken over by the Tonga instead of us the Salas. They just want to ensure that the Tongas are elected as MPs in Nangoma and Mwembeshi constituencies,” they said.
The duo , according to the party membership, had openly declared during a recent political rally led Mr. Hakainde in Shibuyunji that Southern Province and parts of Central Province was for Tongas. “ This was during the rally and surprisingly Mr. Hakainde did not intervene,” said the concerned members .
The cadres also told ZANIS that it was quite shocking to them when the two leaders forcefully presented a bull to Mr Hakainde during the recent rally in Shibuyunji pretending it was bought by them when in fact it was not so. The duo are alleged to have exhibited disrespect for the party leadership in the area.
The development has Traditional leaders in the area who are reported to be have already advanced their discussions to find the way forward concerning the security and the way forward for the party.
Here are the league standings after Wednesdays rescheduled Week 14 game played in Ndola including all the collated results from the Farmers Day holiday fixtures.
KCM Super Division
Week 14
04/08/2010
Forest Rangers 1(Peter Banda 73″)-National Assembly 1(Morgan Hanjeema 34″)
With less than 25 days to go before the transfer window closes, fallen striker Collins Mbesuma has yet to find a club.
According to Kickoff.com, his South African agents ProSport International have not received any queries for the Zambia striker.
“We are looking for a club for Mbesuma but at this stage there has not been any interest,” Francesco Ferreri of ProSport International told Kickoff.com.
Ferreri told Kickoff.com that they were still very optimistic that Mbesuma will find a club and in the meantime the player was keeping fit with a personal trainer while a search for a new club was on.
“We are not giving up on him which is why he is still under guidance in the gym, working out with a personal trainer. He has to be ready when we get him the right team for his services,” Ferreri said.
Mbesuma was fired from Moroka Swallows two weeks ago for indiscipline after coming late for pre-season training just as he was about to start a second season at the Johannesburg team.
Finance deputy minister Mulenga Kapwepwe greets finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane
Government says efforts in social service delivery and infrastructure development in health, education, roads and other sectors are being frustrated by Zambian nationals through misapplication of scarce resources.
Finance and National Planning Deputy Minister Chileshe said as such, corporate failure and auditing change was a critical area that needed to be addressed if enormous public and private sector resources were to be used efficiently for set objectives
Ms Kapwepwe charged that the Integrated Financial Management and Information System (IFMIS) would be used as a tool to strengthen the quality of decision making and monitoring on utilization of funds for development in the public sector.
She said this yesterday when she officially opened the 2010 Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) Annual Business Conference at Zambezi Sun Hotel in Livingstone under the theme: Change and Paradigm Shift for the Accountancy Profession.
Ms Kapwepwe also stated that the launch of audit committees in government in the recent past was meant to improve corporate governance structures in the public sector.
“The launch of audit committees in government in the recent past is premised on improving the corporate governance structures in the public sector to match best practice measures in leading private sector entities,” she said.
She said for the country to develop, a complete shift in how people managed resources including time, attitude towards work and enthusiasm to act as agents of value-adding change at all levels was needed.
And Ms Kapwepwe revealed that government had made enormous strides in attracting Foreign Direct Investments with over US$ 1.3 billion being recorded in the first quarter of 2010 unlike last year when only US$ 195 million was recorded during the same period.
She urged commercial banks to reduce their lending rates as doing so would enable the private and household sectors respectively, borrow and participate in sustainable economic development.
“By failing to reduce lending rates, commercial banks are making it difficult for the private sector and household sector to borrow and participate in sustainable economic development,” she said.
Ms Kapwepwe further said government welcomed any interventions in the education system by the private sector aimed at making high quality education available to disadvantaged children.
She said education was a key factor in any meaningful change and emphasized the need for young people to be guided into seeking education that would help them compete on the international labour market.
Kabwe magistrate today jailed Barry Chibale 36, for 21 months imprisonment with hard labour after he pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding contrary to section 232 (a) chapter 87 of the penal code of the laws of Zambia.
As the Principal Resident Magistrate Joushua Banda pronounced the verdict, Chibale broke down and wept uncontrollably, as he was led to the cells. Chibale is a government driver at Nkrumah University in Kabwe.
Facts before the court were that, in the first count, on 18th July this year Chibale of house number 91 Chowa compound, unlawfully wounded his wife Rutendo Bobo 28 during a marital wrangle and sliced off part of her nose using a castle broken bottle.
In the second count on the same date, Chibale unlawfully wounded Harriet Mutale 28 of house number 45 New Chirwa railways compound in Kabwe.
Passing judgement in respect of the first count, Principal Resident Magistrate Banda said the offence committed by Chibale was a serious one.
Magistrate Banda said though Chibale showed remorse and was a first offender, his action was unforgivable. In mitigation earlier, Chibale’s lawyer, Mwiinga Cheelo, pleaded with the court to exercise leniency on him since he showed remorse and regretted the action he took.
Mr. Cheelo said Chibale had learnt a lesson and would desist from being violent and using force to resolve matrimonial issues.
The court set August 16 and 20 for continued trial in respect of the second count in which Chibale unlawfully wounded Harriet Mutale contrary to section 232 (a) of the laws of Zambia.
And Yong Women Christian Association (YWCA) in Kabwe commended the outcome of the case saying people should believe in justice if they were to learn how to respect the law.
YWCA central province officer Juliet Kawanda said this should be a learning process for would be offenders.
She said people should not take the law into their own hands and they should learn that gender was real.
Indian farmers may soon be looking to Zambia for sugar with the southern African nation seeking India’s cooperation and investment in agricultural production.
In a meeting between a visiting Zambian business delegation and the Maharashtra Rural Development Minister Jayant Patil in Mumbai Wednesday, it was decided that a delegation of Indian commercial farmers will be visiting Zambia in December.
‘A group of Indian commercial farmers, mostly specialized in sugar production, is expected in Zambia in December to explore prospects of investing in Nansanga farm block in the central province, which the government has set aside for agricultural purposes,’ said an official of the Zambian High Commission here.
The Zambian delegation was led by Deputy Finance and National Planning Minister David Phiri and Deputy Commerce Minister, Lwipa Puma. The 15-member group arrived in India two weeks ago, and has spent the majority of its time meeting Indian officials and businessmen in Mumbai, the country’s business capital.
The delegation was ‘especially keen to learn about India’s successful experience from private-public partnership from agriculture to tourism’, the official said.
They visited and met with officials of Tata Group and Essar. While Tata group already has substantial investments in Zambia, Essar group, which has interests in steel, energy, power and minerals, has expressed interest in infrastructure development in the African country.
‘A total of 35 company chief executives, who had one-on-one discussions with our ministers, showed enthusiasm in visiting Zambia as soon as possible to identify projects in which they can invest,’ said the high commission official.
Among the Indian companies, Premium Hotels and Palaces have shown interest in building conference and hotel facilities near Zambia’s main tourist attraction, the Victoria Falls.
Indian companies have made investments amounting to $3 billion in Zambia, with Vedanta Resources alone making an investment of $1.6 billion in Zambia’s largest Konkola copper mines.
The Committee of Citizens has urged losing candidates in the Chifubu and Luena parliamentary and local government by elections to graciously accept the outcomes of the elections.
Committee Executive Director Gregory Chifire says this is because the elections were held in a peaceful and transparent manner, adding that issues of mal-practices were almost nonexistent.
Mr Chifire told ZANIS in a telephone interview that there is no need for any political party to cry foul after the results have been announced because the playing field was leveled.
He further stressed that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) made every effort to ensure that the electoral code of conduct was respected by all the participating political parties in the two constituencies.
Mr Chifire has since dismissed accusations by a named opposition political party leader that the ruling MMD were collecting national registration cards and voter cards details from some electorates in Chifubu, saying the allegations were baseless.
“We have been here in Chifubu monitoring how all the political parties are conducting their campaigns and I can tell you that none of our monitors have witnessed any incident of that nature. I can safely say that those accusations are unfounded”, he stated.
And Mr Chifire says it is regrettable that some politicians can take advantage of the poverty that people are facing in the country to use them to commit criminal acts.
The Committee Executive Director was referring to an incident that happened in Ndola where some people were hired to block Vice President George Kunda’s motorcade.
Mr Chifire said it was appalling to note that there are some leaders that were so selfish as to hire innocent people to do acts that were detrimental to the development of the country’s young democracy.
He has however praised Republican President Rupiah Banda for ordering the police on the Copperbelt to release the ten PF cadres saying the President showed that he truly was a matured and tolerant leader.
Lusaka City Council Public Relations Manager Chanda Makanta says the council still facing challenges of removing call boys at Inter City Bus Terminus.
Ms. Makanta says it has not been smooth sailing for the council to remove all the call boys t the country’s largest bus terminus citing personal economic hardships as being the major cause for their continued stay at the station.
She told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that as local authority they would want the call boys removed from the station as they cause a lot of disorder to the passengers.
Ms Makanta has since appealed the Zambia Police Service to come on board and assist the council to remove the call boys from the station.
She however explained that the call boys do not only do things that concern the council but the state Police as well.
Ms Makanta added that the presence of the call boys at the station is a nuisance adding that it can not be condoned any more.
She appealed to the members of the public to be patient and bear with the council as they are doing everything within their means to remove the boys from the station.
National Revolutionary Party President Dr Cosmo Mumba has saluted President Rupiah Banda for pardoning 10 Patriotic Front members who blocked Vice President George Kunda’s motorcade in Ndola on Sunday this week.
And Dr Mumba has also hailed President Banda for preaching peace during the just ended Chifubu and Luena parliamentary by – elections campaigns.
Speaking to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, Dr Mumba said tribute should be given to President Banda for his humility to pardon some PF members saying the stance shows that Mr. Banda is a true leader who deserves to be commended.
The opposition leader also lamented that the President should be praised for preaching peace during the Chifubu and Luena parliamentary by elections campaigns adding that the gesture is welcome as it shows that the Mr. Banda has no hatred to any one including those from the opposition.
He said violence should be condemned in the strongest terms by all Zambians saying the people of the two constituencies should also be praised for the manner they conducted themselves during the campaigns.
He said this was good for the Zambia’s growing democracy and has since called on all political parties in the country to emulate the Chifubu and Luena residents in future elections.
Meanwhile Dr Mumba has called on Police at Kanyama Police Post to investigate and arrest some bandits who attacked and robbed National Revolutionary Party vice Chairman Chris Phiri last night.
Dr Mumba told ZANIS that unknown people last night broke into the house of Mr Phiri and injured the latter’s wife, niece before stealing goods worth millions of kwacha.
He has since called on police in Kanyama to intensify foot night patrols so that the lives of the residents in the area are protected.
THE Bank of Zambia(BoZ) says a stronger Kwacha will help offset the inflationary impact of a 26 percent rise in electricity prices which have been effected this month.
“The appreciation of the Kwacha has already started and that should help to moderate the impact of the higher power tariffs,” BoZ deputy governor Denny Kalyalya said last week.
Dr Kalyalya said Zambia can still achieve its target of 8.0 percent inflation by year-end despite higher power prices.
He said the Kwacha should strengthen due to rising metal prices and planned maize exports after a bumper harvest.
“The maize harvest is just being offloaded onto the market now so to (some) extent that will also moderate some of the pressure coming from the hike in electricity tariffs.”
Zambia allowed farmers and traders to export its maize surplus of 1.1 million tonnes mainly in southern Africa after it produced 2.7 million tonnes of maize in the 2009/2010 season.
Dr Kalyalya told Reuters after the Central Statistical Office released data showing Zambia’s inflation accelerated to 8.4 percent year-on-year in July compared with 7.8 percent in June.
The rise in inflation was largely due to price increases for non-food products such as clothing, household fuel and lighting, transport and communication.
“Of the total 8.4 percent annual inflation in July 2010, food products accounted for 2.0 percentage points and non-food products accounted for 6.4 percentage points,” said John Kalumbi, CSO acting director.
Despite the huge harvest of maize, Zambia’s staple food, and the anticipated appreciation of the Kwacha, some analysts said inflation was unlikely to come in on target this year.
[REUTERS]
President Rupiah Banda introduces MMD Luena candidate Mwangala Maopu at the rally in Limulunga
PRESIDENT Banda has ordered police in Ndola to immediately release nine Patriotic Front (PF) supporters who allegedly blocked Vice-President George Kunda’s motorcade on Monday.
And Mr Banda has advised Zambians to be vigilant and to reject the spirit of hatred that is trying to permeate society.
Mr Banda said this in Ndola yesterday when he addressed a mammoth rally at the Chifubu Central grounds.
“I have decided to release them. Police will release them and give them their vehicles. I want those people released now, not tonight, I want police to take the necessary steps to release them,” Mr Banda said.
Mr Banda said he does not encourage thuggery but that he realizes that those who were arrested were just hired.
“I have asked the head of police here to release them,” Mr Banda said.
He said police had arrested 11 people who blocked the road but that two of the suspects ran away.
“But I thought of these young people, they are young people who have families and children to look after but because of our ambition as politicians, we go and hire their vehicles and they end up committing crimes against the State and the Vice-President,” Mr Banda said
Mr Banda said he was angry when he heard that suspected Patriotic Front (PF) cadres had blocked Mr Kunda’s motorcade and also damaged cars, including the beating up of MMD Chifubu parliamentary candidate Frank Ng’ambi’s daughter, Lukundo.
“I was angry. I am a human being and I wanted to take harsh action but I told myself that I don’t want to be the one to lead this country into problems,” Mr Banda said.
Mr Banda also said he made Darius Mukuka, the man who was convicted for insulting him, a better human after releasing him from prison.
“I am sure he felt bad, he wrote a letter to me that he was so grateful that I released him. He told me that he suffered in prison and his family also suffered. At least I achieved something, I made one bad human being become a good one, ,” Mr Banda said.
Mr Banda said some opposition leaders including Mapatizya member of Parliament Ackson Sejani have been insulting him like a child but that he has taken all the insults because he is head of State.
Mr Banda said PF president Michael Sata will never be President because he has failed on three attempts to ascend to power despite him enjoying support from people in some parts of the of the country.
“You can never be President unless you are meant to be” Mr Banda said. And Mr Banda has advised Zambians to be vigilant and to reject the spirit of hatred that is trying to permeate society.
[pullquote]“I am saying this to Mr Sata and my son Hakainde, it[hate] will not take you anywhere,” Mr Banda said.[/pullquote]
“Our duty as Zambians is to be vigilant, to reject this evil spirit that is trying to permeate our society,” Mr Banda said
He said Zambians must not allow anybody to teach them to hate. The President wondered why grown ups like Mr Sata and his United Party for National Development (UPND) counterpart, Hakainde Hichilema hate him without reason.
“I am saying this to Mr Sata and my son Hakainde, it[hate] will not take you anywhere,” Mr Banda said.
He advised the people of Chifubu not to be misled that the opposition will develop their constituency because no one individual has money in his or her pocket to develop the area.
Mr Banda urged the people of Chifubu to vote for Mr Ng’ambi in today’s parliamentary by-elections because he is the most suitable candidate.
Meanwhile, more than 200 cadres from the PF-UPND pact yesterday defected from the two parties to the ruling MMD during a rally held at Chifubu ground.
President Banda welcomed the defectors and said their defection is proof that people have confidence in the MMD and its leadership.
Leading the PF defectors, former Chifubu constituency chairman, Ben Mwansa said the MMD is a focused party as opposed to the pact which is faced with various problems.
And UPND Chifubu ward chairman Pethius Chibanga said there is no need to waste time being the opposition political party.
He called on the people in Chifubu constituency to vote for Mr Ng’ambi as he is the only credible candidate to foster development in the area. And Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima said victory is certain in today’s polls.
Mr Mbulakulima said Mr Nga’mbi will provide the missing link for the people in the constituency.
And Chifubu constituency deputy campaign manager Joe Malanji said people should shun the opposition because there is nothing tangible they will offer to the people of Zambia.
PARLIAMENT yesterday heard that government is still in possession of a trunk of emeralds worth US$214,223.60 that was confiscated from governor of Katanga Province in Democratic Republic of Congo, Moses Katumbi.
Vice President George Kunda told the House that the emeralds are secured in an undisclosed bank and that they are safe.
Deputy Minister of Justice Todd Chilembo told Parliament yesterday that government is in the process of handing over the emeralds to Mr Katumbi following the agreement he signed with the Zambian government.
Mr Chilembo said this in response to a question by Kanchibiya member of Parliament Davies Mwango (PF) who wanted to know why Government returned the assets belonging to Mr Katumbi and what the value of the retuned assets is.
This was during questions for oral answer. Mr Chilembo said the agreement signed between Mr Katumbi and the Zambian government through the Task Force on Corruption sought to reach an amicable out of court settlement of the civil court proceedings and claims filed by Mr Katumbi in the High Court of Lusaka and Kitwe.
He said in public interest, government agreed and undertook to close all civil proceedings and claims that were pending against government as represented by the Attorney General, Anti-Corruption Commission and Drug Enforcement commission.
Mr Chilembo said the High courts in Kitwe and Lusaka endorsed the agreement. He explained that as a result of the agreement signed between government and Mr Katumbi, properties were forfeited to the Zambian government and sold. Mr Chilembo said various mining equipment and motor vehicles located at Kalulushi, Lufwanyama and Lusaka were sold at over K3 billion.
He said money forfeited to government was K183,679,243.59 and US$16,695.03. Mr Chilembo said office furniture and equipment were sold at K13,719,00.00. He said further said industrial property stand No NDO 4083/12 in Ndola was handed over to National Housing Authority (NHA) for disposal with an estimated value of K1.8 billion.
And Mr Chilembo denied reports that the emeralds belonging to Mr Katumbi were stolen. He said this in response to Chipili MP Davies Mwila (PF) asked government to confirm reports that emeralds were stolen.
And Mr Kunda said all the criminal and civil cases leveled against Mr Katumbi were settled in the agreement. He said this in response to Roan MP Chishimba Kambwili (PF) who wanted to know whether the criminal cases against Mr Katumbi were settled.
Mr Kunda said the attorney general settled the agreement with Mr Katumbi on behalf of the Government. He said this in response to Kabwata MP Given Lubinda who asked whether then Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Vernon Mwaanga settled the agreement following his visits to Katanga province.
And Mr Chilembo informed the house that government acquired the Presidential Jet on lease because it was not able to purchase the aircraft in a one off cash transaction due to financial constraints.
He said the Presidential jet was delivered in October 2001 at a cost of US$28,772,813 through a lease agreement with Execujet Aviation Group who sourced most of the financing for the aircraft.
Mr Chilembo said this was paid off in September 2006, after government had paid a total of US$35,950,000, including a residue amount of US$6,000,000 for operations and maintenance by Execujet during the five years lease period and penalties on some delayed remittances.
He said the Presidential aircraft is now fully owned by the Zambian government. Mr Chilembo said this in response to a question by Mr Mwila who wanted to know why government acquired the Presidential jet on leased, the terms of the contract and how much money government has spent on the lease of the Presidential jet.
PF Leader Michael Sata (Picture Courtesy of The Post Newspaper)
TODAY the people of Chifubu go to the polls to elect their new Member of Parliament (MP) who shall be representing them for the next one year before the country’s 2011 tripartite elections.
Chifubu Constituency, which has a population of more than 100,000, with 29,198 registered voters in six wards and 39 polling stations, is largely under-developed in many areas. The by-election is as a result of the death of area MP Benson Bwalya who died some three months ago.
Four candidates are contesting the Chifubu seat, namely Frank Ng’ambi of the governing Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Susan Kawandami of the Patriotic Front (PF), the United National Independence party (UNIP)’s Poko Mambwe and political freshman and academician, Brian Banda of the Alliance for Development and Democracy (ADD).
Over and above, the campaigns have relatively been peaceful until lately when pockets of violence shored up among cadres in different areas of the constituency. Cadres have been mocking each other over which party is more popular in the area that is still grappling with serious developmental challenges.
The recent high profile violence involved alleged PF cadres who blocked Vice-President George Kunda’s motorcade on Monday afternoon as he headed for the Ndola International Airport from addressing a rally in Kawama.
President Rupiah Banda waves the MMD party symbol when he arrived at a rally in Limulunga to drum up support for Luena candidate Mwangala Maopu
At the time of the incident, the PF leader Michael Sata was from the airport in a convoy going to Chifubu, where he was going to address a public rally.
The incident has since been roundly condemned by various sections of society, who argue that violence has no place in a civilised society that subscribes to democratic norms.
Every peace-loving Zambian should abhor any form of violence, which is obviously retrogressive in a democratic society. There is need for political maturity from political players.
As though this is not enough, suspected opposition cadres also descended on MMD candidate Frank Ng’ambi and stopped his vehicle, which had MMD campaign posters on Ndola’s Kwacha Road.
Mr Ng’ambi, his daughter, Lukundo and a driver, had to be rushed to Ndola Central Hospital, where they received treatment after being beaten.
MMD and PF cadres have been fighting running battles in Chifubu Township ever since the PF leader addressed a rally in the area on Monday.
Police had to fire teargas canisters to disperse the charged cadres. Four people where injured in the fracas.
These kind of incidents have almost become commonplace in Zambia’s elections. Every time there is an election, political parties and police make a public commitment to avoid any form of violence – but they almost always fail to keep that commitment.
If elections have to be free and fair, political party leaders have a duty to ensure they discourage their members from engaging in violence.
The people of Chifubu constituency need more than violence. They are in dire need of development. They need food for their stomachs, a roof over their heads, employment for the youths, clean water to drink, a modern market to sell their merchandise and a good road network.
However, the duty and responsibility lies with the people today to elect a credible candidate to represent them effectively in Parliament. It is all in their hands to determine their destiny, as far as development is concerned.
The constituency, despite having had parliamentary representation, largely remains under-developed.
Some of the major developmental issues in Chifubu include poor water reticulation, poor road network, lack of recreation facilities for youths and several other social amenities.
For example, spaced areas like Kaniki have one health centre, which makes it hard for people to access health services because of the distance they have to cover to reach to the health centre.
There is also need for a secondary school in the area. Currently, there is only one basic school and those who qualify to grade 10 have trouble attending classes, as they have to sometimes hike and walk to attend school in Ndola central.
Temweni High School, the only secondary school in the constituency, is out of reach for many in various parts of constituency due to its distance.
Poor road network and water reticulation in places like Kawama, Chifubu and some parts of Pamodzi remains a serious challenge. People have no access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation.
Chifubu has traditionally been an MMD seat since the country returned to political pluralism and was once held by late president Levy Mwanawasa and later Matthew Mulanda.
In 2006, the tables turned and the opposition PF swept the Copperbelt to become the dominant party with the late Benson Bwalya taking the Chifubu seat after beating three contenders.
[pullquote]There is also need for a secondary school in the area. Currently, there is only one basic school and those who qualify to grade 10 have trouble attending classes, as they have to sometimes hike and walk to attend school in Ndola central.[/pullquote]
The area, which includes Pamodzi, Chifubu, Kaniki, Sakanya, Kawama and Overspill, is largely under-developed and is presented with challenges such as poor water and sanitation, bad road network, unemployment and poor health facilities.
MMD Candidate
MMD candidate, Frank Ng’ambi, a successful business executive, is riding on his corporate experience to bring development to the constituency.
He believes he is better placed to develop Chifubu as he would be a direct link between Government and the people.
Mr Ng’ambi, who also has an accounting background, is currently studying for his Masters degree in Business Administration with Northrise University and wants to bring accountability to the management of the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) – which were recently increased from K600 million to K666 million.
His areas of priority include employment creation through establishment of business ventures, water reticulation, road network and building of a modern market. If elected, he would also want to build a secondary school in the constituency.
PF candidate
PF candidate, Susan Kawandami, a farmer and business person, has her priories set on empowering women and improving the water and road infrastructure in the area.
Being a woman, she argues she is better placed to understand and empathise with people’s struggles in the area.
Ms Kawandami is not new to politics after previously taking part in a hotly contested election in the constituency on a Heritage Party ticket in 2001. She came fourth out of 10 candidates but fell far short of beating the winner, MMD’s Matthew Mulanda.
ADD candidate
ADD candidate, Brian Banda, a freshman in politics and an academician, is focused on wealth creation, youth employment and women empowerment. He also wants to improve the road network and create recreation facilities for youths most of whom have been victims of alcohol and prostitution.
Mr Banda sees himself as an agent of change to stir-up development in the constituency due to his vast knowledge and understanding of issues. The youngest of the four candidates also sees himself as a realist not one who would introduce textbook solutions to practical problems affecting the people of Chifubu Constituency.
UNIP candidate
UNIP’s Poko Mwambwe believes he has the qualities to represent the people of Chifubu Constituency in Parliament.
He is riding on his noble background as a teacher, arguing that he is better placed to understand the common man as he also is an ordinary human being keen to do extra-ordinary things. In addition, he strongly feels that it is time for the electorate in Chifubu Constituency to reciprocate his good gesture having moulded many youths in the area into responsible citizens as a teacher.
His major areas of interest are water reticulation and general infrastructural development. He articulated these two issues passionately during the campaigns.
Ultimately, the die has been cast. Each of the candidates is confident of scooping today’s by-election but the people will determine who will be representing them in Parliament before next year’s tripartite elections. Let the best candidates carry the day!
