KASENENGWA Member of Parliament (MP) Vera Tembo has lashed out at MMD officials who are campaigning for her seat despite still enjoying her tenure of office and called such manouvres as unwarranted.

Ms Tembo said she was still contemplating whether to re-contest the seat in next year’s elections or not.

She said it was illegal for anybody to attempt to wrestle the seat when she was the sitting MP.

She advised all those aspiring for Kasenengwa Constituency to stop doing so because it was illegal.

Ms Tembo, who is Deputy Minister for Tourism, Environment and natural Resources, said in Chipata yesterday that some MMD officials were spreading information in the constituency that she would not re-contest the seat in the 2011 polls.

She said she had not told anybody about her intentions and accused the party officials of deliberately misleading the members in the constituency.

“I have not yet decided whether I will stand or not, as far as I am concerned I have not yet made any announcement that I will not stand because it is my secret ,” Ms Tembo.

She said she was concerned that some people had started campaigning for the seat despite her being the incumbent MP.

On Saturday, tempers flared up at Kasenengwa Basic School when some MMD officials differed over a list of ward members who were supposed to vote during the constituency elections which led to the cancellation of the polls for the second time.

The officials exchanged bitter words and accused one another of ‘doctoring’ the list of ward officials who were supposed to cast their votes. Two factions among the officials emerged.

One group was supporting a Lusaka business executive, Victoria Kalima to be adopted as the parliamentary candidate in next year’s polls while the other group rallied behind another Lusaka based business executive, Gideon Zulu.

That was after news went around that the incumbent MP, Ms Tembo might not re-contest the seat.

A larger group comprising members from local women’s clubs are behind Ms Kalima while the other group composed of netballers, footballers and others are behind Mr Zulu.

Lusaka-based comedian, Ben Phiri and a Patrick Tembo are some of the people that have also shown interest to run for the Kasenengwa seat under the MMD ticket.

The fracas on Saturday happened in full view of the area MP who failed to control the controversy that had characterised the polls.

[Times of Zambia]

UPND/PF pact co- spokesperson Given Lubinda said that the reports are a fabrication and has accused the Movement of Multi Party Democracy (MMD) of orchestrating them.

Mr Lubinda said that the pact is intact and adding that pact leaders have never gone to anyone to disclose the intentions of the PACT to split.

Mr Lubinda said that the PF and UPND are committed to ensure that the pact forms government after the 2011 elections.

Yesterday it was reported that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and PF president Michael Sata have agreed to dissolve the pact and are seeking ways of informing their followers.

But Mr. Lubinda stated that the PACT has come out stronger after the Kaoma and Chadiza by election saga.

He was speaking last evening on QFM’s Monday Nite Lie.

And speaking on the same programme, UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said that the party president Hakainde Hichilema is committed to the pact.

He said that it was shocking to read media reports from a state run newspaper indicating that the pact has decided to split.
[ QFM ]

THREE members of Parliament (MPs) from the United Party for National Development (UPND) have backed calls by their Namwala counterpart Robbie Chizyhuka that the opposition party should work and support President Rupiah Banda for the 2011 general elections.

Former secretary to the treasury David Diangamo has said the people of Southern Province are tired to be in the opposition and that the best option for the UPND is for them to work with the ruling party.

The trio, however, said the UPND’s support for President Banda would be on the “strict understanding” that the MMD also supports Hakainde Hichilema as presidential candidate in the 2016 general elections.

The MPs who sought anonymity for fear of victimisation said yesterday in separate interviews it was clear the pact with the Patriotic Front (PF) was not feasible.

[pullquote]The trio, however, said the UPND’s support for President Banda would be on the “strict understanding” that the MMD also supports Hakainde Hichilema as presidential candidate in the 2016 general elections.[/pullquote]

“We are better off working with Mr Rupiah Banda, I think he is a little trustworthy than Mr Sata,” said one of the MPs.

But UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said two weeks ago, there was a rumour that some MPs from the party wanted to work with the MMD.

Mr Kakoma said, based on that rumour, a meeting was called where the MPs were asked if they were in support of the idea but none of them agreed to it.

He said it was after the consultative meeting that Mr Hichilema called for a meeting dismissing the rumour and re-affirming the party’s commitment to the PF-UPND Pact.

“We shall be burying our heads in the sand if we close our eyes to the realities on the ground. As a party we must learn a lesson from how Mr Sata treated Mr Sikota (United Liberal Party (ULP) president Sakwiba Sikota) in the loose alliance they had in 2006,” said one of the MP.

“To be honest it seems like we have been the ones really too interested in the pact with the PF. The recent statements especially in The Post are testaments to this fact. In fact, the manifestos of the two parties are not too wide apart,” he added.

The MPs have since advised Mr Hichilema to seriously reflect and consider the proposals being made for the party to work with the MMD.

“Yes there may be some deficiencies in the MMD but I’m sure these are things that can be dealt with,” said the MP.

And in a separate interview Mr Diangamo said the MMD/UPND pact was the only option for the opposition party.

“If they want to remain meaningful and relevant to the political process the only thing for them to do will be to work with the MMD,” he said.

[Times of Zambia]

The National Revolution Party (NREP), the National Restoration Party NRP, and the New Generation Party (NGP) have started consultations to form a pact.

NRP general secretary Kelly Walubita said the three parties are only awaiting the return of NAREP president, Elias Chipimo Junior who is out of the country to conclude the consultations.

He said the alliance would be based on objectivity and will carry a vision for the young people in the country.

Mr Walubita assured Zambians that the alliance is not worried about who will head it because all they are focused in creating a strong foundation for the young people and giving them a distinct vision.

He noted that the already existing pact between the Patriotic Pront (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) has lost and direction.

Mr.Walubita has also accused the two pact leaders of being egocentric and self centered.

[ QFM ]

Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) in Luapula Province has successfully completed the development of 15 new varieties of vitamin A fortified sweet potatoes.

The research to fortify the sweet potatoes has taken seven years at a cost of US$30,000 financed by the Rockefeller Foundation of the United States of America.

ZARI programme officer at Mansa Research Station Dr Martin Chiona confirmed the development of the fortified sweet potatoes to ZANIS today during the Provincial Agriculture and Commercial show.

Dr Chiona, who worked on the fotification research as part of his doctorate,
said the new sweet potato varieties have Vitamin A content of up to 13 percent higher than that of carrot which has only a maximum of seven percent.

He said the sweet potato varieties have passed the evaluation stage and are just waiting for the National Variety Release Committee to endorse their release on the market.

He said fortifying sweet potatoes is a unique option that will provide a cheaper and accessible source of Vitamin A supplement to most low income households in Luapula Province where high deficiency of Vitamin A has been identified as a cause to blindness.

He disclosed that the new sweet potato varieties will have an orange colour inside but retain high dry matter which is a preference taste for most local consumers.

ZANIS

A public debate for Chifubu Constituency Parliamentary by-election candidates started with a fracas in Ndola yesterday as cadres of the contesting parties tried to out-shout each other with slogans, resulting in some of political parties withdrawing their candidates from the public debate.

The fracas resulted in the Patriotic Front (PF) and UNIP candidates boycotting the debate hosted by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post at Mpezeni Hall.

Party cadres of the various political parties that included the MMD and the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) thronged the stage shouting out their respective party slogans.

Quick action by police officers assigned to the event saved the situation from turning violent. MMD and ADD candidates, Frank Ng’ambi and Brian Banda, respectively went on with the debate.

Mr Ng’ambi said the ruling MMD is the only party with a vision on development that will improve the living standards of the people.

He said the people in the area were tired of the PF councillors who have failed to fulfil their pre-election promises.

“MMD will remain in power as most of the projects are being implemented,” he said amidst shouts of ‘MMD no change’.

Mr Ng’ambi said if elected he will accelerate development, including the construction of a referral hospital.
He said job creation for the youths through various projects will be the main agenda.

And Mr Banda said the boycott of the debate by the PF and UNIP candidates showed that they have nothing to offer to the electorate.

[pullquote]PF Ndola district chairman Rebby Chanda said they had to leave the forum with their candidate because they were uncomfortable with the security.He said police officers were outnumbered by the crowd. [/pullquote]

“People should now realise that their leaving is an indication that they have nothing to offer to the people of Zambia,” he said.

He said if elected into office he will ensure that a by-pass road to connect Chifubu with Mufulira road is constructed.

PF Ndola district chairman Rebby Chanda said they had to leave the forum with their candidate because they were uncomfortable with the security.He said police officers were outnumbered by the crowd.

And speaking earlier, when introducing the MMD candidate rally at Chifubu ground, Mr Mbulakulima said governing the nation is not a simple matter.

He said MMD has been in power since 1991 and its candidate should be elected to foster development.
Copperbelt MMD chairman Joseph Chilambwe said people have realised that the MMD is a worthy party and are rejoining it.

“Following increased development and implementation of projects by MMD, a good number of people are ditching the opposition political parties and are rejoining MMD,” he said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]