MMD Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga has said the Government is now in the process of managing economic fundamentals to maximise benefits for ordinary Zambians.

Mr Mwaanga said the Government was not responsible for producing data on the economy as these were produced by economic researchers using proven trends.

Mr Mwaanga also defended the decision to waive the windfall taxes on mining firms because this had led to increased investment in the sector.

Speaking during the recording of the Frank-Talk programme at Golden Bridge Hotel in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Mwaanga said the recorded economic development is real and was slowly benefiting the ordinary Zambians especially in rural areas where the ruling party was popular.

[pullquote]He said he conducted a research recently which showed that the people of South Province would only have accepted an alliance between the ruling MMD and UPND.[/pullquote]

Mr Mwaanga urged Zambians to start preparing their views on the proposed degree clause that was already adopted by the NCC.

Mr Mwaanga said the NCC merely passed a proposal and the people of Zambia would be given a chance to criticise the document before it finally passed into law.

Meanwhile, Mr Mwaanga has said the ideological impurities between the Patriotic Front (PF)/United Party for National Development (PF-UPND) would make the alliance crumble and rejected by the people of Southern Province.

He said he conducted a research recently which showed that the people of South Province would only have accepted an alliance between the ruling MMD and UPND.

According to Mr Mwaanga, this is because of similarities in the ideologies and the constitutions.

Mr Mwaanga said the research involved meeting traditional leaders, ordinary citizens and farmers who said they were not widely consulted before the alliance was mooted.

He said because of this, the MMD would defeat the alliance in the 2011 presidential elections.

Mr Mwaanga said the MMD has the greatest manifesto and urged Zambians not to waste votes on the opposition.

He said the opposition leaders were using bad language and should not be given chance to govern.

Mr Mwaanga said insinuations that the ruling part was tired were malicious as leaders change because of retirement.

On the controversial senior members of the ruling party Mr Mwaanga said he had offered free advice to them to refrain from attacking the head of State and toy the policies of the party.

[Times of Zambia]

Government has challenged Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata to make public the results of medical tests he underwent on September 8, 2008 before he can continue to malign others.

But Mr Sata said the diseases which were detected after the tests had been treated and declared that he was ready to disclose the type of diseases in the presence of Mike Mulongoti.

Mr Mulongoti who is acting chief Government spokesperson said in Lusaka yesterday that he had been forced to challenge Mr Sata after observing careless talk on the health condition of Government leaders.

Mr Mulongoti said the Government was in possession of all medical records for Mr Sata mainly carried out at a medical centre in Lusaka.

He said after Vice-President George Kunda’s trip to South Africa for medical reviews, Mr Sata talked ill believing that the Government was merely threatening when it continuously said it had results of Mr Sata’s medical tests.

Mr Mulongoti challenged Mr Sata to deny that he conducted medical tests in September 2008 before he can start talking ill about other people’s health conditions.

“As Government we want to respect the rule that medical records are a private matter between the patient and the doctor and we want it to remain like that. I will not disclose anything further but let him continue, he will see what we will do,” Mr Mulongoti said.

He said details of medical tests should be disclosed to the public by Mr Sata to allow people make their own judgment on his fitness in comparison with the people he was maligning.

Mr Mulongoti, who is Minister of Works and Supply said the Government was ready to debate the matter until Mr Sata accepted that it should be rested and asked him to disclose the status of his health so that other leaders could do the same.

He said Mr Sata should be ashamed of himself for making phone calls to South Africa hoping that the vice president was dead.

He said the Government was ready to help Mr Sata by disclosing the results of his medical tests and allow the Zambian people make their own judgments.

Mr Mulongoti who is also MMD chairperson for elections said Mr Sata used other people’s illnesses to gain political mileage and warned that the Government would also use his illness to gain the similar measure of political gain.

But Mr Sata said the diseases the Government had listed were long treated and pledged to co-operate in conducting another set of similar tests to prove that he was cured.

Mr Sata claimed that the diseases he was found with were minor. He said the diseases were not strange to society and was ready to disclose to the public in the presence of Mr Mulongoti.
[TIMES OF ZAMBIA]

The Evangelical Youth Alliance International (EYA) has backed President Rupiah Banda’s observation that Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Africa were criticizing African governments.

President Banda told delegates at the just ended World Economic Forum in Dar-es-salaam , Tanzania that NGOs in Africa were at all times attacking serving heads of state a situation he said was retrogressive.EYA President, Moses Lungu said the observation by President Banda is timely.

Reverend Lungu said most NGOs have abandoned their roles of service delivery to the people and shifted their goal posts to attacking and suppressing the governments of the day.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Rev. Lungu observed that Chief Executives of the NGOs have become agents of imperialism whose core agenda is to advocate for regime change of governments.

Rev. Lungu reminded the NGOs that President Banda is mandated by the Zambian people to drive the nation to economic recovery.He said the NGOs’ motive was clear and that it was a recipe for anarchy and civil unrest that could lead the country into the doldrums of poverty, disease and under-development.

Meanwhile, Rev. Lungu has observed that the violence that marred the Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election was a desperate move by the opposition UPNDF/PF pact. He appealed to government not to relent in bringing the culprits to book because violence is detrimental to national security.

The Clergyman expressed fears that slowly the violence that characterized the Mapatizya polls in Southern province and now in Mufumbwe would engulf the entire nation and lead to a civil war if left unchecked.

Rev. Lungu charged that the UPND/PF pact threw away the Electoral Code of Conduct in the
Mufumbwe elections and adopted the ‘Mapatizya formula’ to instill fear in the electorate.

The EYA president further appealed to the Electoral Commission of Zambia to intensify Voter Education Programmes.
(Q FM)

William Banda says insulting the Head of State amounts to committing a felony and urged the pact leaders to differentiate development from mere politicking.

He warned the United Party for National Development and Patriotic Front (UPND/PF) pact leaders Hakainde Hichilema and Michael Sata that government will deal with them.

Mr. Banda was speaking to a state run news agency in an interview in Lusaka.

He said that the ruling MMD does not want to be dragged into uncivilized cheap politicking.

Mr. Banda urged the opposition to concentrate on organizing their respective political parties claiming that the pact is about to break.

He said the MMD is not threatened by the formation of political alliances because it is evident from the past that pacts in Zambia do not work.
[ QFM ]

VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda returned to Zambia from South Africa yesterday where he had gone for a medical review, condemning rumours about his purported demise as satanic and contrary to Zambia’s Christian and cultural values.

Mr Kunda who arrived at about 12:58 hours aboard a South African Airways flight, accompanied by his wife Ireen, was received by hundreds of well-wishers who included ministers, senior Government officials, hordes of MMD members, his children and grandchildren.
The joyous Mr Kunda waved the MMD symbol as he alighted from the plane, much to the jubilation of hordes of people who thronged the runway at Lusaka International Airport to welcome him back home.

He took time to greet Government officials, MMD officials and cadres who included various singing and dancing groups, who painted the airport runway ‘blue and white’ – the MMD colours.  The Vice-President robustly walked to the VIP lounge where he addressed journalists.

“It’s so nice to be back home. I have missed nshima. It’s three weeks and I am grateful to the President, Government, the party leadership, the provincial (MMD) chairman, and all the Zambians who have received me. This shows that the people of Zambia were praying for me; there is a lot of sympathy and encouragement,” Mr Kunda said.

He said the rumour that was circulated in the country about his purported demise was the work of sadists who were hoping to destabilise the working of Government. He said his medical review has been politicised by some opposition political party leaders who were hoping that his purported demise would turn out to be true.

[pullquote]“Mr Sata, let me tell you, there is a lot we know about your health. However, we have remained committed to Christian values. Your health remains between you and your doctor,” Mr Kunda said.[/pullquote]

“What kind of hatred is this,” he asked.  Mr Kunda said Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata phoned the Zambian High Commission in South Africa asking them to confirm his alleged demise.

According to Mr Kunda on his second telephone call, Mr Sata accused the High Commissioner to South Africa Leslie Mbula and Government of lying about his purported demise.

“When he was told that I was still alive, his reaction was ‘thank God he’s still alive,” of course with a forked tongue,” Mr Kunda said.

“Unfortunately I got the rumour which was circulated in Zambia about my purported demise. This must have been fabricated definitely by some criminals, sadists and in fact satanists, because this is not our culture. These are some of the things that are coming from outside the country such as homosexuality,” Mr Kunda said.

He said it was unfortunate that there were bizarre and eccentric characters in society who thrive on inflicting pain on others.

Mr Kunda said the enemies of Government and the ruling MMD wanted to create tension in the country, weaken the system, and make them lose the capacity to defend the President.

“To the contrary this ungodly and criminal act has made me stronger and somewhat elevated me to the status of a martyr,” he said.

[pullquote]“Unfortunately I got the rumour which was circulated in Zambia about my purported demise. This must have been fabricated definitely by some criminals, sadists and in fact satanists, because this is not our culture. These are some of the things that are coming from outside the country such as homosexuality,” Mr Kunda said.[/pullquote]

Mr Kunda said he went to South Africa aboard a commercial aircraft on prior arrangements with his physician, contrary to rumours that he was evacuated in an emergency.

He said he stayed in a hotel for two days prior to commencing medical review at Morningside Clinic.  Mr Kunda said he started going to the clinic for medical review during the reign of the then President, Dr Levy Mwanawasa who facilitated the treatment of many people outside the country, including Mr Sata.

He said President Banda has continued with this practice due to his kind heart.Mr Kunda said a medical review may entail admitting a person into hospital and this is what happened to him. The Vice-President said like any other person, he needs medical treatment, what he needs from the people of Zambia are prayers for good health.

Mr Kunda said speculations of his purported death, devastated his family and children some of whom are still in school.

He charged that Mr Sata was behaving like he has never been a subject of similar rumours.

“Mr Sata, let me tell you, there is a lot we know about your health. However, we have remained committed to Christian values. Your health remains between you and your doctor,” Mr Kunda said.

Mr Kunda said as Catholics, they pray for the sick. He urged Christians in Zambia to condemn politicians who thrive on spreading falsehoods and wishing sick people dead.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us”
(2 Corinthians 5:20, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

As a believer, God wants to do His work on the earth through you. You are His ambassador or representative. You have been given His authority and power. It’s easy to get focused on this natural realm and all the things that we need, but do you realize that you are equipped to be somebody else’s miracle?

Every single day, we have opportunities to show God’s love and compassion to others. We have the opportunity to meet their needs, bring them healing, and offer hope and encouragement. Every day, we can sow good seed into the lives of others that will reap an eternal harvest.

I encourage you today to look for ways to be a blessing to someone else. When you pour into others and help meet their needs, God will make sure that others pour into you. Let’s continue to work together to build His kingdom to the glory of God!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for choosing me and using me. Once again, I surrender every area of my life to You. Show me ways to be a miracle to others so that my life brings glory to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

Father Bwalya said the civil society organization in the country were worried of the rampant violence being exhibited during political campaigns.

He said only political leaders themselves have the key to stop the spread of the violence being perpetuated by cadres who obey every instruction they give them.

Father Bwalya said cadres should not be blamed because they could not do anything without the consent of their political leaders.

He appealed to political leaders from the both the opposition and the ruling party to take keen interest in conducting their political campaign without violence.

The CLZ Director noted that the operations of political parties in the country was worrying as regards to violence and they should to take a strong stance against it.

He said that political violence is affecting the lives of Zambians and if no action was taken by those in leadership position, it would paint a bad picture on the country’s developing democracy.
[ QFM ]

SOME political parties have said they cannot support and champion the legalisation of homosexuality in Zambia because the practice is unChristian and alien to the nation.

The MMD and United Party for National Development (UPND) said separately in Lusaka yesterday that Zambia was declared a Christian nation and the issue of homosexuality had no room in this society.

But the Patriotic Front (PF) said it had not dealt with the matter because it was concentrating on more important issues.

MMD acting spokesperson Mike Mulongoti said the ruling party could not embrace or support the gay rights because the party was founded on Christian norms.

“Zambia is declared a Christian nation and anything that is unChristian and alien to our society is deemed to be an abomination,” Mr Mulongoti said.

Mr Mulongoti, who is Works and Supply minister said the MMD strongly condemned people championing gay rights.

He said supporting anything that was unChristian was outrageous and the MMD would not want to associate itself with such activities.

Mr Mulongoti said there was no political leader from the ruling party who had associated themselves with championing homosexuality.

UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said his party could not support or talk about the gay rights because it had no room in the country.

Mr Kakoma said the fact that the gay rights were rejected at the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) was an indication that the UPND was not in support of homosexuality.

“The UPND was part of the NCC deliberations that rejected anything to deal with the homosexuality rights. We equally reject these rights,” he said.

PF spokesperson Given Lubinda said his party would not preoccupy itself with less pressing issues because it was currently more concerned with the welfare of the people.

Mr Lubinda said the PF had not even sat to discus the matter because the party wanted to concentrate on how best it would find solutions to pressing needs of serving the families in the country.

[Times of Zambia]

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said Government cannot constitute an independent enquiry to probe the violence that led to loss of life and property in Mufumbwe as demanded by a consortium of non-governmental organisations.

Speaking to journalists on arrival at the Lusaka International Airport from Tanzania yesterday, President Banda said it would be contradictory to set up an enquiry when the matter had already gone to court.

“We have gone to court. It’s better to leave the matter with the court. We do not need an enquiry we will be contradicting ourselves,” he said.

The Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP), Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) and Caritas Zambia on Wednesday demanded that President Banda should immediately set up a commission of enquiry to probe the violence in Mufumbwe.

The NGOs said the enquiry should exclude the police because they were part of the violence.

On the just ended World Economic Forum, President Banda said the meeting discussed issues affecting Africa as a continent.

He said the meeting discussed how the continent could be brought together to speak with one voice.

President Banda said problems facing the continent could only be resolved through unity.

“I was so proud for Tanzania to host such a big, big conference, they did it so well,” he said.

He said he had learnt a lot by talking to other delegates and by listening to specialised speeches from people with a lot of experience in agriculture and education.

He explained that Education Minister Dora Siliya accompanied him to Tanzania because the conference had a lot to do with education.

President Banda was responding to Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata who questioned why Ms Siliya accompanied the head of State to Tanzania.

The president was welcomed at Lusaka International Airport by acting Vice-President and Defence Minister Kalombo Mwansa, senior Government and party officials.

Meanwhile, President Banda held consultative talks with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete on the security situation in the Great Lakes Region.

President Banda is the current chairperson of the Great Lakes Region.
Special assistant to the president for Press and public relations Dickson Jere said this to Zambian journalists in Dar-es Salaam shortly before Mr Banda left for Lusaka.

“In his capacity as the Great Lakes Region chairperson, President Banda held consultative talks on the security situation in the region,” Mr Jere said.

The president also held discussions with TAZAMA Pipelines regional manager Abraham Sawanyama and Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) manager for special duties Pascal Mulenga.