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]

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has registered 117 000 voters countrywide as of July 4, 2010.

ECZ Public Relations Manager Chris Akufuna says the commission is impressed with the number of voters registered so far.

Mr. Akufuna said although the exercise was faced with challenges in its initial stages the commission is positive that the 2.5 million target will be met.

He told ZNBC that issues of officers allowances and poor publicity have been addressed and the exercise is going on smoothly.

The ECZ is conducting a 90 day continuous voter registration exercise.

ZNBC

The Drug Enforcement Commission(DEC) will appeal against the suspended sentence slapped on Ndola Central Member of Parliament Mark Mushili for attempting to swindle the Government.

The Lusaka Magistrate court jailed Mr. Mushili for six months but suspended the sentence for one year and ordered him to do community service at the court premises for 120 hours.

Mr. Mushili was found guilty of attempting to swindle government of over 300 million kwacha.

DEC Public Relations Manager John Nyawali said the Commission has decided to appeal against the judgment of the court after consulting the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Mr. Nyawali said the commission has been prompted to appeal the case due to public outcry demanding a review of the sentence.

He said various stakeholders have termed the sentence as lenient considering the fact that Mr. Mushili is a Member of Parliament who should live above reproach.

ZNBC

United Party for National Development (UPND) president, Hakainde Hichilema, has refuted the assertions that the UPND in the Patriotic Front (PF) pact is a junior party.

Mr. Hichilema said there is no junior party in the PF/UPND pact.

He said both parties have nothing to do with either senior or junior, but that they are meant to work together to unite the country.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hichilema has said the statement by former PF Secretary General, Edward Mumbi, that he has been reduced to the level of PF Secretary General, Winter Kabimba, is non issue.

He noted that in a group of individuals, there would always be different views, adding that no one can change that fact.
[QFM ]