The long awaited United Party for National Development and Patriotic Front UPND/PF pact has finally been launched with the two pact leaders calling on the Zambians to take up a personal responsibility in cementing and securing the pact.

And Patriotic Front leader, Michael Sata has alleged that the ruling movement for multi party democracy MMD led government yesterday sold off the Zambia telecommunications company ZAMTEL and leaving the workers unattended to as they moneys have not yet been paid.

Mr. Sata said that the current government is still being led under the first republic regime and that is why the MMD has continued to sell off the national resource without the consent of the people of this nation.

He said that the ruling MMD is fully aware of the high level of poverty in this country but has decided to put a blind eye to the needs of the people and focus on enriching themselves at the expense of the people.

Meanwhile Mr. Sata has observed that the decision by government to jail post editor, Fred Mmembe who was yesterday sentenced to four months in prison with hard labour will cost the MMD.

Mr. Sata said that the MMD could have thought of something better than jailing and detaining a journalist because he will expose them for who they really are and how they have failed to take care of the prisoners in this country.

And speaking earlier, UPND president, Hikainde Hichilema charged that the MMD failure to put an end to corruption within the governing system has exacerbated the levels of poverty in the country.

Mr. Hichilema said that the government has been unable to provide quality social services to the people of this nation and is largely responsible for the people’s suffering.

Mr. hichilema has also challenged the government to bring back the windfall tax in the mining sector.

QFM

President Banda yesterday refused to comment on the conviction of The Post editor-in-chief Fred M’membe by a Lusaka magistrate court and on Deputy Minister of Health Solomon Musonda’s alleged shooting and wounding of a suspected Patriotic Front cadre, Jackson Musata, in Serenje on Tuesday.

Answering questions from journalists at Lusaka International Airport shortly after arriving from France at about 18:00 hours, the president said he would not comment om Mr M’membe ‘s case because it was a legal matter which he was yet to study.

“I don’t want to get involved until I have a chance to talk to my Minister of Justice to get a brief about it,” he said.

On Dr Solomon Musonda’s alleged shooting and wounding of a suspected Patriotic Front cadre, Mr Banda said he is unable to immediately comment on the matter, especially that it took place in his absence.

Meanwhile, President Banda has announced that French investors will start arriving in the country as early as next week to explore avenues of investment in various sectors of the economy.

This follows successful meetings he held with them on the sidelines of the just ended France-Africa summit held in Nice.

He said the summit was of great benefit to Zambia and Africa as a whole as it tackled critical areas of development, climate change, peace and security in Africa, including other development issues between Africa and France.

“The summit was very useful. In addition to that, I spent one-and-half days talking to various investors and other people who want to come to Zambia to invest in various fields. I look forward to greater achievements in that sense,” he said.

Mr Banda said it was wonderful to see English, French and Portuguese-speaking Africans getting together to discuss development programmes.

He said France is going to be chair of the G20 and there is an agreement among African countries that Paris will try and actualise some of the recommendations of the summit, particularly those on international governance, membership to the United Nations and other institutions.

“We have agreed with France that they will carry our message. But they will have to wait until we meet as African Union(AU) to finalise our position and pass it on to France,” he said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Post Newspapers Editor-in-Chief Fred M’membe who was this morning sentenced to four months imprisonment with hard labour has been taken to Lusaka Central Prison to begin serving his prison sentence.

His lawyers George Chisanga and Remmy Mainza struggled to get him out on bail pending appeal to the High Court. According to information received, Magistrate David Simusamba who is supposed to sign the bail has disappeared, leaving prison officers without an option but to send Mr. M’membe to Prison.

Mr. M’membe has been sentenced to four months imprisonment with hard labour after being found guilty of contempt of court together with the Post Newspapers by Magistrate Simusamba.

Mr M’membe has also been sentenced to four months simple imprisonment on behalf of the Post Newspapers, after Magistrate David Simusamba set free Post Human Resources Director Rueben Phiri who was standing in for the Newspaper.

Passing sentence this morning, Magistrate Simusamba said Phiri could not be the right person to suffer for the Post. He said the sentences will run concurrently meaning Mr M’membe will only serve a four months jail term.

Magistrate Simusamba said the sentence is meant to reform Mr M’membe as well as to deter would be offenders.

QFM

Post Editor-in-Chief Fred Mmembe has been sentenced to four months imprisonment with hard labour after being found guilty of contempt of court together with the Post Newspapers by a Lusaka magistrate court.

Mr M’membe has also been sentenced to four months simple imprisonment on behalf of the Post Newspapers, after Magistrate David Simusamba set free Post Human Resources Director Rueben Phiri was standing in for the Newspaper.

Passing sentence this morning, Magistrate Simusamba said Phiri could not be the right person to suffer for the Post. He said the sentences will run concurrently meaning Mr M’membe will only serve a four months jail term.[pullquote]Mr M’membe’s defence attorney Mr George Chisanga commented: “It’s really a dark day for press freedom in Zambia.”[/pullquote]

The contempt case arose from an article authored by US-based Zambian law Professor Muna Ndulo titled: ‘The Chansa Kabwela case: A Comedy of Errors’, and published in the paper on August 27, 2009.

Magistrate Simusamba said he jailed Mr M’membe to “reform” and deter would-be offenders. He declined to give Mr M’membe an option of a fine.

Although Mr M’membe had contended in his defence that he was on study leave at the time the article was published, Mr Simusamba said the editor had the capacity to issue instructions or grant authority from anywhere using technology.

Mr M’membe’s defence attorney Mr George Chisanga commented: “It’s really a dark day for press freedom in Zambia.”

“I just want to say that we understand what is going on. We fully know what is going on and we are ready for it,” said Mr M’membe.

Mr M’membe lawyers Remmy Mainza and George Chisanga have applied for bail pending appeal after filing a notice of appeal yesterday in the High Court.
M’membe, clad in a checked blue shirt and jeans, was led to prison by warders immediately after the sentencing. Mr M’membe is detained in police custody pending the outcome of his bail application.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Africa Program Coordinator Mr Tom Rhodes said: “Fred M’membe’s conviction appears to be part of the ongoing harassment against The Post since President Rupiah Banda came into office in 2008.”

“This undermines Zambia’s democratic credentials and we call on the administration to drop all legal proceedings against The Post,” stated Mr Rhodes.

The Patriotic Front United Party for National Development pact has demanded that Health Deputy Minister Dr. Solomon Musonda should be arrested and detained in police custody.

Patriotic Front spokesperson Given Lubinda has urged the police to act swiftly and arrest the minister as what he did was a a criminal act.

He said that failure to arrest Dr. Musonda will result in the government influencing the outcome of the investigation.

Mr. Lubinda has further castigated Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha who said that the shooting of the youth should not be politicized.

He said that the incident itself was politically motivated and that the pact will use politics to ensure that justice prevails in the case.

Mr. Lubinda has since defended the youth who was shot by the police as saying that he was not armed as alleged by the MMD Chitambo Member of Parliament.

Speaking on last evening, Mr. Lubinda explained that the alleged PF cadre was one of the youths who were repairing the dilapidated roads and merely asking for money from road users.

And speaking on the same programme, spokesperson of the UPND said that the pact is not in a hurry to choose a presidential candidate.

Charles Kakoma said that they pacts main objectives are to address challenges that the country is address.

And Zambia Daily Mail reports that Government has advised the Patriotic Front (PF) to stop politicising the shooting and wounding of Jackson Musaka of Lubembe village in Serenje by Deputy Minister of Health Solomon Musonda.

[pullquote]“This matter regarding the shooting of Jackson Musaka of Lubembe area in Serenje is currently being handled and investigated by the police because it is a police case. So there is no need whatsoever for the opposition Patriotic Front to politicise the matter,” Lt.Gen Shikapwasha said.[/pullquote]

Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said there is no need for the opposition to start politicising the shooting and wounding of Mr Musaka, 25, as the case is currently being handled and investigated by police.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said this when he visited Mr Musaka at University Teaching Hospital (UTH) where he is admitted.

He said the PF should exercise political maturity when handling the case and that the police should be allowed to deal with matter professionally.

“This matter regarding the shooting of Jackson Musaka of Lubembe area in Serenje is currently being handled and investigated by the police because it is a police case. So there is no need whatsoever for the opposition Patriotic Front to politicise the matter,” Lt.Gen Shikapwasha said.

He said it is unfortunate and saddening to note that some people have decided to politicise the shooting and wounding of the PF cadre, instead of praying to God for Mr Musaka’s quick recovery.

“It is unfortunate that this happened but I have to thank God that doctors have managed to remove the bullet from Mr Musaka from his head.

“I am, therefore, asking my colleagues from the political arena to stop politicising the incident to win political capital, but they should put our brother in prayers so that he receives the quickest recovery,” Lt.Gen Shikapwasha said.

Lt.Gen Shikapwasha appealed to the opposition PF to allow the police to carry out its investigations without any political interference.

Meanwhile, UTH public relations officer Pauline Mbangweta said Mr Musaka’s condition is stable compared to last night (Wednesday) and that he is responding to treatment.

[pullquote]“It is unfortunate that this happened but I have to thank God that doctors have managed to remove the bullet from Mr Musaka from his head.[/pullquote]

“Yesterday, the condition of Jackson Musaka was critical. I can confirm now that his condition is stabilising. This is because of the operation which was conducted by doctors who managed to remove the bullet from his head,” Ms Mbangweta said.

And Central Province PF security wing party official George Lemba also confirmed that Mr Musaka’s condition is stable compared to Wednesday night.

“I can confirm that the condition of Musaka has improved as compared to last night (Wednesday) when he was failing to talk. But at night doctors managed to remove the bullet from his head,” he said.

On Wednesday, police recorded a warn-and-caution statement from Dr Musonda

Mwense Central Constituency Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament Jacob Chongo and his Kankoyo counterpart Percy Chanda are living in fear after receiving death threats from some Mufulira-based suspected members of their party.

The duo said some suspected PF members had been threatening to beat them up if they did not stop what they termed as destabilising the opposition party.

Mr Chongo said in an interview that some people tipped the parliamentarians last weekend that some PF cadres were plotting to cause harm to the two MPs and their property.

The two parliamentarians, who live in Mufulira’s mine area, said although they had received threats in the past, they were concerned with the recent ones which came after some PF members met at the weekend at a club belonging to a named party member.

It is alleged that some party officials had directed some cadres to “deal” with the two parliamentarians for allegedly destabilising the party.

Mr Chongo, who said he had reported the matter to Mufulira Central Police station, warned that the PF leadership in the district would be held responsible if the MPs or their property were harmed.

Efforts to get Copperbelt police chief Antoneill Mutentwa proved futile as his mobile phone went unanswered.

“I have been informed by some people who attended the meeting that some party members have been instructed to target us for destabilising the party.

“The truth of the matter is that we are being sidelined and it’s not possible for us to destabilise the party,” he said.

Mr Chongo said he was aware that some top officials in the PF were not happy that the targeted MPs had disobeyed the party’s directives to withdraw from the National Constitutional Conference.

Meanwhile, the family of the late Chifubu Constituency MP Benson Bwalya has appealed to PF vice-president Guy Scott and the opposition party cadres to learn to show respect to the dead.

The late PF MP’s widow, Maggie, said in an interview in Ndola yesterday the family was saddened by Dr Scott and some PF cadres’ conduct which led to the disruption of the burial ceremony.

Mr Bwalya, 50, a ‘rebel’ PF MP, who defied the party order not to attend the NCC was buried on Wednesday at Kansenshi Cemetery in Ndola.

Mrs Bwalya said her late husband, who served the country as MP and a Zambia army soldier deserved a befitting send off rather than being victimised by people like Dr Scott even in death.

“The behaviour of Dr Scott, who did not even take time to visit the funeral house before and after the burial does not portray the good picture of the PF leadership. The PF leaders did not make any attempt to restrain their party cadres from causing confusion at the grave yard,” she said.

Provincial youth chairperson Menyani Zulu threatened to beat PF ‘rebel’ MP spokesperson Peter Machungwa after he was given a chance to address mourners and disrupted the burial ceremony.

Speaking during the burial ceremony earlier, Dr Scott made remarks suggesting that the late MP was a ‘naughty, prodigal son’, who was ungrateful after being given a chance to contest elections on the PF ticket.
[ Time of Zambia ]

Ms Siliya warned against making a mistake by voting into office the alliance headed by Mr Hakainde Hichilema and Michael Sata in next year’s elections because of the insults the two leaders had promoted in their politics.

Ahead of the launch of the pact tomorrow, Ms Siliya said the alliance lacked real leadership and experience to prosper the economy to the next level because the two leaders were just good at insults.

Addressing MMD supporters and other residents at Chisonso Middle Basic School in Petauke, Ms Siliya said President Rupiah Banda’s Government had recorded massive economic growth which must be protected.

She explained that the people of Eastern Province and the rest of the country did not require anyone to campaign to them because of the infrastructure development which the Government was putting up.

Ms Siliya said during elections, both the PF and UPND leaders frequented the countryside seeking votes but never returned after elections which showed that they lacked the true agenda for the people.

Ms Siliya, who is minister of Education told the residents that the MMD did not perform well at Chisonso Middle Basic School and wondered what the people really wanted.

She reminded Zambians that some politicians were merely power-hungry and should not be taken seriously to avoid regrets.

Ms Siliya said leaders who lived on insults were not good for national stability which President Banda was already providing.

Meanwhile, MMD Eastern Province chairperson for women’s affairs Martha Mulenga urged Zambians to remember that President Banda was already in State House and providing development.

She said the president should be given a block vote by the people of Eastern Province to show appreciation for his efforts in developing Zambia.

The maturity that had been shown by the people in the province by voting for leaders irrespective of their tribes should continue.
[ Times of Zambia ]