FEDERATION of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde-Simukoko has said opposition political parties are not ready to take over Government because they have failed to demonstrate how they would run the affairs of the country.

Ms Simukoko said the failure by opposition parties to show Zambians their structures and who was in their shadow cabinets to explain how they would improve the various sectors of the economy was a clear indication that they are not ready to lead Zambia.

She said in an interview at the weekend that it was disappointing that instead of discussing issues that would benefit Zambians, opposition politicians were thriving on insults and petty matters.

She said Zambians expected opposition politicians to convince them that they would do better than the MMD if they were voted into office.

“The opposition should tell us how they would run the Government by giving us a picture of how they would deal with problems of unemployment and how they would improve education, health and other sectors.

“They have not explained anything and this shows that they are not ready to take over Government,” Ms Simukoko said.

Meanwhile, veteran politician Dennis Katilungu has said it is sad that the opposition, particularly the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) leadership, had kept inciting people to rise against the Government.

Mr Katilungu wondered why the opposition had preoccupied itself with campaigns
aimed at inciting people to revolt against the MMD leadership when the term of
office for the current Government had not ended.

[pullquote]Meanwhile, a recent opinion poll conducted in Lusaka by a non-governmental organisation shows that the MMD was now more popular in the province, at 55 per cent, trailed by PF at 30 per cent.[/pullquote]

Chisamba Member of Parliament Moses Muteteka also described the pact as a ‘sinking titanic’ with no future and direction.

And UPND Mpima Ward chairperson Dearson Banda and several other pact leaders yesterday at rally held at Mpima grounds in Kabwe defected to the MMD at a rally addressed by Mr Muteteka.

Meanwhile, a recent opinion poll conducted in Lusaka by a non-governmental organisation shows that the MMD was now more popular in the province, at 55 per cent, trailed by PF at 30 per cent.

The poll puts UPND at third position with 15 per cent.

Leadership in Development executive director Moses Kalonde said in Lusaka yesterday the MMD had started regaining its traditional support in the province because of President Banda’s good economic policies that were now bearing fruit.

The poll also reveals that Zambians have lost confidence in PF leader Michael Sata and his UPND counterpart Hakainde Hichilema because both leaders were preoccupied with ambitions for State House.

[Times of Zambia]

Vice President George Kunda says the opposition has no capacity to determine the destiny of the country.

And Mr. Kunda has declared that the ruling MMD government would continue ruling the country beyond 2030.

The Vice President said it is unfortunate that the opposition political parties have continued criticizing government and thereby cause confusion in the country as opposed to helping finding solutions to the many challenges facing the country.

Mr. Kunda attributed the situation to the non availability of convincing manifestos in the opposition parties.

He said unlike the opposition , the MMD is the only party which can practically discuss development because most of its works are there for all to see.

The Vice President was speaking at MOMBO Basic School when drumming up support for the MMD candidate Mwangala Maopo in the August 5th,2010 Luena Constituency bye-elections.

[pullquote]“ We also have Vision 2030 and we are determined to implement it and achieve the goals we have set for ourselves because we can see where we want this country to be,” he said.[/pullquote]

Mr. Kunda said currently government was working on a number of projects in Western Province including the construction of High Schools in Mwandi, Mwayukwayukwa, Nangweshi , Sikongo, Libonda and Nakanya Girls Technical High School.

“ All these projects are being undertaken because we are serious when we talk about development and this is not only going on here but in other parts of the country ,” MR Kunda said.

The Vice President said the government was not just finalizing the implementation of the fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) and was now working on the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP) with a view of evenly taking development to all parts of the country.

He said this situation does not only happen in Zambia but that all governments the world over have development agendas for their countries.

“ We also have Vision 2030 and we are determined to implement it and achieve the goals we have set for ourselves because we can see where we want this country to be,” he said.

And the Vice President has declared that the MMD would continue to rule the country beyond 2030 whether or not the opposition likes it.

He said this is because the people of Zambia have confidence and trust in various development plans contained in the ruling party’s manifesto and other national development documents.

Mr. Kunda said the MMD was the only party in the country that has proved to be serious and competent in handling the i8ssues that concern the welfare of the people.

“ We can boast here that we are in control of the affairs of the nation including the budget.

“ We are also serious to talk about issues of sectors such as mining , agriculture and now we are also exploring for oil in North Western Province , “ the Vice President said.

Meanwhile, the VICE President has directed the ministry of education to immediately start planning for another high school in Luena constituency. The area has currently one high school called Limulunga Day High School.

Mr Kunda says it is important in ensuring that the project is budgeted for in the 2011 national budget.

He also directed Mr. Maopo to immediately follow up the projected once elected as new area MP.

The Vice President and his entourage has since retained to Lusaka.

ZANIS

Government says it stands ready to work with the church in consolidating efforts aimed at preserving peace and unity in the nation ahead of the 2011 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa says the church should take a leading role of preaching peace as it is a prerequisite for national development.

Mr. Shawa, who is also Feira Constituency Member of Parliament, was speaking at the United Church of Zambia’s St James Congregation church building fund raising venture in Luangwa district, yesterday.

He called for enhanced partnerships between government and the church in the provision of social services such as health and education especially in remote areas.

Mr. Shawa also reaffirmed government’s commitment to seeking counsel from the church on national issues that affects the general citizenry.

And speaking at the same function, St James Congregation Reverend-In-Charge, Richard Musonda implored leaders at levels to use their influence to promote peace in the country.

Rev. Musonda advised the church to drop the confrontational stance against government policies by taking up an advisory role in order to accelerate meaningful national development.

He said his congregation embarked on the church building fund raising venture in order to rise over K 150 million towards the construction of the new church building.

Rev. Musonda further said, once the new church building is completed, it will cater for over 300 members who are currently congregating in a makeshift church.

He also announced plans establish a school for underprivileged children aimed at improving literacy standards in the district.

ZANIS

Vice President George Kunda says government will continue with its developmental programmes in all parts of the country without discrimination.

Mr. Kunda said this is important in the country’s endeavor to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of the people.

Speaking when he addressed a campaign rally to drum up support for the MMD candidate in the Luena by elections Maopo Mwangala at Ndanda Primary School yesterday, Mr. Kunda called on the people in Luena to elect a leader who will effectively represent them in parliament.

He said Luena constituency has continued to lag behind because its former Member of Parliament did not effectively represent the people.

He warned them against voting for the opposition because they are always opposing government in its endeavor to take development to the area.

He said there was need for people in Luena to come along with government and ensure that their area receives equal attention from government.

Mr. Kunda said the MMD government has proved to be part of people adding that many across the country have now realized the need to align themselves with government.

“Our government seeks to develop all areas without any sent of discrimination that is why we have people coming back to the MMD,” said Mr. Kunda.

He said the opposition political parties can never offer solutions to the main challenges facing Luena because they do not control the budget.

He described the MMD candidate in the by election slated for August 5, Maopo Mwangala as a high quality candidate who would help change the state of affairs in the constituency.

“Government is a custodian of the development agenda of this country and we are the ones that control the budget so the opposition has nothing to offer,” he said.

Mr. Kunda called on the people to vote for Mr. Mwangala because he is knowledgeable and can work with government without confrontation.

UNIP is fielding Mutakela Mutakela in the bye-elections while UPND is fielding Muyunda Ililonga, ULP has Musole Katala as its candidate while ADD is fielding the former independent area Member of Parliament Charles Milupi.

ZANIS

The United Party for National Development, UPND, has said that the Patriotic Front is a bad and unfaithful partner.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with QFM, Party Deputy Spokesperson, Cornelius Mweetwa, said the cracks being experienced in the pact are as a result of lack of faithfulness from the PF side.

Mr. Mweetwa said the PF has been treating the UPND as a junior and inexperienced party in the pact, a situation which he said the UPND will not accept.

He said there are high chances of the pact likely to fail as long as the PF continues seeing itself a senior party in the pact.

He said the differences which erupted at the time the two parties were fielding in candidates for the Kaoma and Chadiza Local government by-elections could have been avoided if the Patriotic Front had avoided coming up with a candidate for Kaoma, after the UPND had already done so.

He said the fielding in of candidates should be seen from the perspective of each party’s merit in a particular area, and not from the party being senior or junior.

[pullquote]Mr. Mweetwa however said the pact can still survive despite the differences going on at the moment.[/pullquote]

Mr. Mweetwa however said the pact can still survive despite the differences going on at the moment.

He said the differences going on in the pact are a good recipe for binding the pact together because by the time they are overcome, the two parties in the pact will have known the right way to avoid such hiccups in the future.

The PF/UPND pact has been going through hardships and misunderstandings for over two weeks now following differences in the fielding in of candidates for both Kaoma and Chadiza Local government by-elections slated for August five.

[pullquote]Mr. Mulongoti noted that the antagonism within the pact has been hugely brought up due to the high ego being exhibited by both Mr. Hikainde Hichilema and Mr. Michael Sata.[/pullquote]

The ruling movement for multi party democracy MMD has charged that it will graciously take advantage of the situation if the opposition UPND/PF PACT hiccups persist

And MMD elections chairman , Mike Mulongoti disclosed to QFM in an interview that what is happening within the pact does provide the ruling party a great chance of shedding off some competition.

Mr. Mulongoti said that the cracks in the pact are not new and were expected.

He said that this is because both parties in the pact are mere offshoots of the ruling MMD and are bound to differ on grounds of principle.

He said that the two pact leaders are both fighting tireless for the same position and cannot allow one to lead the other.

[pullquote]He nevertheless indicated that it was saddening that such a great competitor of the MMD was slowly weakening and not supporting the basis of democracy that Zambia has been building through multi party politics.[/pullquote]

Mr. Mulongoti noted that the antagonism within the pact has been hugely brought up due to the high ego being exhibited by both Mr. Hikainde Hichilema and Mr. Michael Sata.

He nevertheless indicated that it was saddening that such a great competitor of the MMD was slowly weakening and not supporting the basis of democracy that Zambia has been building through multi party politics.

But if the pact is to discontinue, the MMD is ready to put the opportunity to good use especially in the forthcoming presidential elections set for 2011.

QFM

The MMD has said opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) members in Chifubu have decided to rally behind the MMD candidate in forthcoming parliamentary by-elections because they have realised that the ruling party is best-placed to meet their aspirations.

And Chief Mwanachingwala of the Tonga people has said the problems in the alliance between the Patriotic Front (PF) and the UPND provide another opportunity for the MMD to win the general elections.

MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu said in an interview yesterday that friction in the PF-UPND pact will, however, not preoccupy the ruling party’s resolve to fulfill its promises to Zambians.
“We welcome the UPND support in Chifubu. Obviously, they have seen that we are a better alternative and we have a credible candidate,” Mr Nyangu said.

The UPND in Ndola have decided to rally behind the MMD candidate, Frank Ng’ambi, because they are unhappy with the selection process for the candidate to represent the PF-UPND alliance.
Mr Nyangu said discontented pact members are welcome into the MMD because that is where some of them came from.

He, however, said that problems in the alliance are inconsequential to the ruling party. Mr Nyangu also warned Kafulafuta Member of Parliament George Mpombo that he will soon get what he “wants” for his incessant attacks against the party and President Banda.

Mr Nyangu said imputations by Mr Mpombo that the MMD is celebrating problems that have emerged in the PF-UPND pact were just one of those unwarranted commentaries that Mr Mpombo has become synonymous with.
Mr Nyangu said the MMD Government is working on delivering on its promises to the Zambians because this is the platform they will campaign on.

“We will not exert our efforts on problems of the pact. There is nothing to celebrate. Our preoccupation is to provide the best service to the people and build MMD into a stronger political party,” Mr Nyangu said.

He said it was about time the party acted against Mr Mpombo because the people were fed up of his incessant attacks against President Banda and the MMD.
Mr Nyangu said the Kafulafuta MP should not beg the MMD for forgiveness when they take action against him.
Meanwhile, Chief Mwanachingwala has said the MMD will win the 2011 elections because UPND president Hakainde Hichilema ignored the “winning formula” they gave him before the 2008 presidential election.

Chief Mwanachingwala said Southern Province chiefs met Mr Hichilema in Choma and asked him to form an alliance with the MMD but he did not listen.

He said the idea was for Mr Hichilema to align himself with President Banda so that the UPND leader could be adopted as presidential candidate by the two parties either for the 2011 or 2016 presidential election.
“The problem is that he doesn’t want to listen to the chiefs. If God has not anointed you to be President, you just don’t listen to people,” Chief Mwanachingwala said.

He said all the major tribes should have an opportunity to rule Zambia because this can only be done on the platform of a political party with a national character.
The chief said the UPND asked for the problems they are experiencing in the pact because they asked for an alliance from a party which did not need them.

“Whatever stance Mr Sata has taken is okay. I have a lot of respect for Mr Sata because he did go to (Mr) Hichilema. It is (Mr) Hichilema who went (approached) to (Mr) Sata. We asked him to merge with President Banda he did not listen,” Chief Mwanachingwala said.
Meanwhile, ZNBC reports that over 30 PF and UPND supporters have defected to the ruling MMD in Kabwe’s Mpima township.

The opposition members defected at a meeting convened by Chisamba Member of Parliament Moses Muteteka. Speaking on behalf of the defectors, former PF Mpima Ward vice-chairman Deason Banda said he has decided to join MMD because the PF-UPND pact has nothing to offer.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves”
(Romans 12:10, NIV).

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

What are you devoted to in your life? Being devoted to something is simply being loyal by giving of your time, affection and resources. Many people today are devoted to certain restaurants, television programs and even their cell phones! There’s nothing wrong with any of that, but we have to examine our own hearts and see if we are being devoted to the people God has placed in our lives. Are we honoring others above ourselves? The world’s system says to “look out for number one—yourself,” but God’s system says “look out for others, and I will look out for you.”

Today, as you examine your own heart and life, ask the Lord to show you ways that you can honor others. One way is by simply being faithful to your word. Be a person of integrity and honor. As you live your life devoted to one another and honoring others, you are actually honoring God. He will repay you for your kindness and reward you in this life and in eternity!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, teach me to be a person of honor. Teach me to be devoted to others the way You desire. Fill me with Your love which is all that matters in eternity. I bless You and thank You for Your goodness. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Vice President George Kunda has called for peaceful campaign in the 5th August Luena constituency parliamentary by election.

Mr. Kunda says government is interested in ensuring that the by-elections campaigns are held in a peaceful atmosphere.

He has since called on all participating political parties in the by – elections to conduct issue based and development oriented campaigns.

The Vice President was speaking at Nyayuma harbor in Limulunga this morning when he officiated at the Kufuluhela traditional ceremony of the Lozi speaking people of Western Province.

The bye- elections are set for August 5, 2010 for Luena following the resignation of area member of Parliament Charles Milupi.

While Mr. Mulipi s going to re-contest the seat on his newly formed Alliance for Development and Democracy (ADD), the ruling MMD has fielded a teacher, Mwangala Maopu, who has lived in the constituency for more than 30 years.

The United Party for National Development (UPND) has adopted former Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) executive director Muyunda Ililonga as the party’s candidate for Luena.

ZANIS