Patriotic Front (PF) rebel members of Parliament have trashed allegations by party president Michael Sata that they are buying national registration cards (NRC) and voters’ cards to rig the 2011 general elections.

Spokesperson for the members of Parliament Peter Machungwa said in an interview yesterday that the allegations show that the PF leader is desperate and anticipating a crashing defeat.
[pullquote]“Buying voters’ cards is an illegal act and can land one in trouble. Mr Sata’s statements are allegations of a desperate man. I advise him to report to police if he has information on what he is alleging,” he said.[/pullquote]
Dr Machungwa said if Mr Sata’s allegations are worth consideration, he should report to the police.

“Buying voters’ cards is an illegal act and can land one in trouble. Mr Sata’s statements are allegations of a desperate man. I advise him to report to police if he has information on what he is alleging,” he said.

Dr Machungwa said the members of Parliament are not surprised and that it is typical of Mr Sata to make wild allegations.

Mr Sata accused the members of Parliament of buying NRCs and voters’ cards at a rally at Musamba Basic School grounds in Chilanga yesterday.

He alleged that the members of Parliament are buying NRCs and voters’ cards because they are scared of the PF-UPND pact.

Mr Sata alleged that the members of Parliament are getting people’s cards without them knowing where they are taking them.

“Our rebel MPs are on rampage buying voters cards and NRCs because they are scared of us. They are giving people new cards without the people knowing what they are doing with the old ones,” he said.

Mr Sata also told the crowd that he will reverse the privatisation of Zamtel, Chilanga Cement and Zambia Sugar if voted into office.

He also said there is need for Zambians to unite in national development.

The rally was organised to encourage people to participate in the continuous voters’ registration exercise.

Despite PF and the United Party for National Development (UPND) being in a pact, no senior members of UPND turned up for the rally.

And Mr Sata has insisted that he will reverse the partial privatisation of Zamtel despite the condemnation he received for saying that last week.

President Banda has said the privatisation is irreversible and unions representing workers at Zamtel said they are in support of the partial privatisation of the company.

[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

THE MMD has said Kafulafuta Member of Parliament George Mpombo and his Chilanga counterpart Ng’andu Magande are ineligible to contest the presidency at the national convention because of their poor relations with the party leadership.

MMD national chairperson Michael Mabenga said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the constitution only allowed members in good standing with the ruling party to contest any position.

Mr Mabenga was commenting on Mr Mpombo who re-stated on Thursday last week that he was preparing to challenge President Rupiah Banda.

But Mr Mabenga said Mr Mpombo and Mr Magande, who has also gone public about his intention to run for the party presidency, were not enjoying any constitutional powers that could guarantee their candidature after de-campaigning their own party on many instances.

Mr Mabenga said all the provinces had picked Mr Banda as the sole candidate even if other members were allowed to apply for the position.

The ruling party’s electoral commission that would be set up before the convention would be given guidelines to follow, and top among them was that a member interested to contest any position should have good relations with the party leadership.

Mr Mabenga described as unfortunate the continued announcements by the two leaders that they would stand at the convention when they know that eligibility was premised on their conduct in the run-up to the convention.

Mr Mpombo told the TIMES in an interview that his intention to challenge President Banda was alive and was sure of victory because many members had declared so.

Mr Mabenga, however, dismissed the statement as wishful thinking, particularly in view of the continued rise in popularity of President Banda.

He said it was difficult to understand the intentions of the two MPs who had spoken ill of the party they wanted to lead.
[Times of Zambia ]

United Party for National Development (UPND) has described as a “smoke screen,” the decision by republican President, Rupiah Banda, to re-appoint expelled science and technology deputy minister, Gabriel Namulambe into government.

And the party has urged the newly appointed mines deputy minister, to be cautious because the MMD have not changed their perception about the fact that he is their enemy and that is why he is being kept closer.

Mazabuka central Member of Parliament, Garry Nkombo said Mr Namulambe has been trapped by the ruling party to allow him to make a decision of his own.
Mr Nkombo has also challenged President Banda to reveal when he reconciled with mr Namulambe because everyone knows that the two have been at logger headas for a long time.

He indicated that the two leaders have differed on principle and it is suprising that mr Namulambe could just be brought back like that.

Mr Nkombo said that mr Namulambe was unceremoniously fired and the nation demands to know how the president decided to bring him back, despite the fact that hehas the appointing and disappointing powers.
[ QFM ]

National Revolution Party (NRP) Secretary General Kelly Walubita junior says it is wrong for the president to only react after pressure.
Mr Walubita noted that if public pressure was not applied, the former health deputy Minister was going to go scot free.

He said as much as the arrest of Dr. Musonda is welcome, the action was not timely.

Mr Walubita pointed out that it is evident that President Banda was trying to shield the former Health deputy Minister.

He added that the president was supposed to take action within 24 hours of the crime.

President Rupiah Banda last week relieved Health Deputy Minister Solomon Musonda of his duties.

This decision comes after the President received a report from the Director of Public Prosecution recommending for the prosecution of Dr. Musonda following a shooting incident in his constituency
[ QFM ]

The MMD in Eastern and Copperbelt provinces, and some civil society organisations have castigated Kafulafuta member of Parliament (MP) George Mpombo and his Chilanga constituency counterpart Ng’andu Magande for allegedly holding on to the party to secure their stay in the National Assembly.

And some youths have condemned some opposition political parties and other civil society organisations for their continued unjustified attacks on President Banda and his administration over matters that are purely for the courts or police to deal with.

Eastern Province MMD chairman Kennedy Zulu, commenting on the duo’s constant attacks on President Banda, urged them to quit the party and test their popularity in a by-election.

Mr Zulu said the incessant attacks the duo is making against President Banda, including calling for the removal of MMD from power, send a clear message that they are no longer members of the MMD.

“I don’t know why they are holding on to MMD because their persistent attacks against the party and President Banda have shown that they are no longer MMD. They are behaving like a man who insults his wife during the day, but wants to embrace her in the night,” Mr Zulu said.

Mr Zulu said if the two are as popular as they claim they are, they should emulate president Charles Milupi, who relinquished his Luena seat when he formed ADD.

He said any credible political party cannot adopt Mr Mpombo as parliamentary candidate because he has proved to suffer from indecision by suddenly quitting his Cabinet portfolio, but clings to a political party he insults relentlessly.

He wondered if Mr Magande was serious about intentions to contest for the MMD presidency at the party convention when he is calling for the removal of the party from Government.

He said the MMD in Eastern Province is behind President Banda because he has demonstrated qualities of a mature, responsible and dedicated leader.

Meanwhile, the MMD in Masaiti has called on Mr Mpombo to stop telling people that he initiated the construction of Masangano High School in Kafulafuta.

District chairman Michael Katambo said in Ndola yesterday that Mr Mpombo has failed the people in the area and should not claim that he initiated the construction of the high school.

“The construction of Masangano High School is under Government programmes and should not be seen to have been initiated by Mr Mpombo,” he said.

Mr Katambo said Masaiti district was behind President Banda and will not support Mr Mpombo at the MMD national convention.

And Copperbelt youth vice-secretary Benson Tembo has warned Change Life Zambia director Frank Bwalya against distributing and selling red cards in Chifubu constituency because doing so could cause disturbances.
Fr Bwalya refused to comment on the matter.

And Forum for Leadership Search executive director Edwin Lifwekelo said in a statement yesterday that it is unjustifiable to condemn President Banda, who has demonstrated political will and maturity by ensuring that the courts of law and the police operate independently.

He said this is evident in the case of former deputy minister of health Dr Solomon Musonda, who has been arrested and charged for causing grievous harm with intent to maim, disfigure or disable.

Mr Lifwekelo has also said that Mr Mpombo and Mr Magande have lost touch with reality.

Mr Lifwekelo said Mr Magande should rejoin the United Party for National Development (UPND) and that Mr Mpombo has become a liability to the MMD.

“Both are not adding value to the country. Even as councillors, Magande and Mpombo cannot win,” he said.
And Evangelical Youth Alliance International executive director Reverend Moses Lungu has said political parties and the civil society must respect those in leadership and the laws of the land.

Rev. Lungu said it is always important for people to be patient when dealing with legal issues.

Gallant Youths of Zambia have challenged the Catholic leadership in Zambia to clear itself from any connections with the opposition PF.

Gallant Youths of Zambia national co-ordinator Mr Henry Mulenga says as youths they would always look up to the church but recent events point to the church taking political sides.

[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed”
(Psalm 139:16, NLT)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Did you know that all of your days have already been written? God has already recorded every part of your life from the beginning to the end. He knows every disappointment, every loss and every challenge. The good news is that even though you’ve had some challenges, even though you’ve faced some setbacks, your story ends in victory. Your final chapter concludes with you fulfilling your God-given destiny and experiencing His eternal restoration.

Any time we face a disappointment in life or go through a loss, we have to remember there’s another chapter in front of us. We can’t stop on that page, we have to keep moving forward. Instead of focusing on what didn’t work out, wondering why we went through a marriage that didn’t last, or why we didn’t get that position we worked so hard for, focus on the future. Let go of the past and press forward because your story ends in victory, and God will restore everything that has been stolen from you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for setting me up for victory. Thank You for holding me in the palm of Your hand. I choose to release the questions and disappointments in the past so that I can be ready to receive the victory You have prepared for me! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.