UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) officials from three constituencies in the Southern Province have vowed to vote for President Banda in next year’s tripartite elections.

And a headman in Chief Nalubamba’s chiefdom in Namwala has charged that the alliance between the Patriotic Front (PF) and the UPND will not benefit the people of Southern Province.

The officials from Choma, Mbabala and Namwala constituencies have also vowed to support and follow Namwala member of Parliament Robbie Chizyuka wherever he goes.

In separate interviews with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS), the officials who included Mapanza prominent businessman Justine Chilala, UPND Mapanza Ward 2 Youth chairman Maybin Haanangoma, UPND Mbeza Ward chairman Besten Nyama Chivunga and Choma businessman Munchanga Siabasimbi, all acknowledged that government has worked hard to implement development projects that have improved the living standards of the people hence the need for continuity.

Mr Chilala said construction of the Mapanza Bridge and the Choma -Namwala road point to Government’s commitment to taking development to rural areas.
He said there is no need to have another government next year but to continue with President Banda so that developmental projects embarked on can continue.
He encouraged Major Chizyuka to continue working for the people saying his expulsion from the UPND does not hold any water.

“As far as we are concerned, we need an MP who is working not just sitting and warming seats in parliament. We want Major Chizyuka because he went to parliament not to enrich himself but to fight for the poor,” he said.

Mr Muchanga Siabasimbi, said he is happy that Government’s has tarred the Choma-Namwala road.
Mr Siabasimbi, a retired detective inspector, said the tarring of the road will boost trade.

Meanwhile, Mapanza Ward 2 Youth chairman Maybin Haanangoma has encouraged government to continue working towards improving the living standards of the people in the province.

Mr Haanangoma said people in Mapanza and Namwala are impressed with the tarring of Choma-Namwala road and the construction of the once dangerous Mapanza Bridge.

He added that he does not care about the expulsion of Major Chizyuka from the UPND and that he will follow him wherever he goes because of his good works.
Besten Nyama Chivunga urged government to remain focused and continue addressing problems affecting many Zambians.

Mr Chivunga, who is Mbeza Ward chairman (UPND) wondered why some MPs just oppose government at the expense of lobbying for development projects for their electorates.

“Here in Namwala we are extremely happy with our MP for working hand in hand with government to bring about these many development projects. Its not good to just oppose government. Why some MPs oppose government on a daily basis is because they do not know that they were elected into office to work for the people and its only through working in harmony with Government that such developments can be seen,” Mr Chivunga said.

And headman Mwanamundambwa of Mbeza has said Mr Chizyuka’s advice to the UPND not to continue with the pact is timely and genuine one.

Headman Mwanamundambwa said UPND president Hakainde Hichilema should be reminded of political setbacks people of Southern Province have gone through in such political arrangements.

The traditional leader said if the PF leader Michael Sata became president, Mr Hichilema would not be rewarded with a leadership position.
Mr Haanangoma cautioned Mr Hichilema against being too comfortable with his leadership.

“Our President thinks he can run the party in any way he likes. He does not accept advice and fails to accept divergent views. There should be democracy and the party should at least maintain strong men within the party instead of chasing them,” he said.

Mbeza Ward chairman Besten Chivunga charged that Mr Hichilema should be reminded that it’s the people of Namwala who voted for Major Chizyuka and not him.

“Where was Hichilema when we were fighting for the Kafue flats. Was it not Major Chizhyuka who fought for our land back. We love Major Chizyuka, we shall go wherever he goes,” he said.

Mr. Chivunga also thanked government for the many development projects that have been implemented in the constituency.

Among the projects is a girls technical high school which is being constructed at a cost of K32 billion, a basic school at Namwala Boma which will cost K8 billion, the Monze-Nieko road which was upgraded at K37 billion and about 14 community schools which have been upgraded at the cost of K50 million each.

And a senior citizen in Chief Nalubamba’s area in Namwala district feels President Banda must continue as Republican President next year.

Charles Chiboola of Halupumbu Village said President Banda has exhibited high levels of maturity, humbleness, kindness and is focused on development of the country.

Senior deputy headman Shandalama of Mbeza in Chief Nalubamba’s chiefdom said the people of Namwala are happy with government.

Senior headman Butele said the people of Namwala will for years remain indebted to the Government and Major Chizyuka for the impressive developments taking place in the district.

Senior Headman Butele, who is also former head teacher for Mangwele Upper Basic School in Namwala, said the people of Namwala now have confidence in the government.

A herdsman in Haamubbwatu area of Mbabala constituency said the construction of the Choma-Namwala road and Ngonga bridge is a dream come true to the people of Namwala and Choma districts.

Lucky Haanampota, who was found at the Ngonga bridge, said the construction of the bridge will enhance agriculture and business activities.

Pupils at Haamabbwatu Basic School said missing classes during the rainy season is now a thing of the past because water from the Ngonga River does not flood the new bridge.

And Major Chizyuka says he is impressed with the huge amount of development work that government is doing in Namwala constituency.

Major Chizyuka said after a tour of development projects in his constituency that he is humbled by the billions of Kwacha that government has poured in his constituency over the past three years that he has been MP.

Speaking after inspection of the Choma-Namwala Road, Ngonga and Mapanza bridges and schools, Major Chizyuka said “Namwala district has had a fair share of the national cake”

ZANIS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ”
(I Corinthians 15:57, AMP))

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

God wants to pour out His favor on you so that you can live in victory in every area of your life. The scripture says He always causes us to triumph through Christ Jesus! That means, no matter what you may be facing today, God wants to make you more than a conqueror. Are you battling sickness? God wants to give you healing. Are you struggling with a broken relationship? God wants to give you restoration and peace. Are you facing a need—physically, spiritually, or emotionally? God’s favor will bring you provision and supply all your needs according to His riches in glory.

Many times in the Bible when God’s people were going into battle, the worshipers were out in front of the warriors. When you choose to be thankful and bless the Lord in the midst of your battle, you are opening the door to His favor in your life. That’s why I always say, magnify your God; don’t magnify your problems! When you give praise to God, you’ll see Him move on your behalf, and He’ll lead you into victory in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, today I give You thanks for Your mercy and faithfulness in my life. Thank You for leading me into victory! I magnify You and bless Your holy name today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Change life Zambia Director Father Frank Bwalya has said President Rupiah Banda’s attendance of the Good Friday celebrations at Saint Ignatius Catholic Church last Friday should be viewed as a mockery to the Catholic Church by all Zambians.

Speaking to Qfm in a telephone interview yesterday, father Bwalya said the action by the president is no t different from that of former president Chiluba when he went to the same church and received communion when he very well knew it was wrong for him to do so.

He said it was wrong for the president to attend the celebration because he is sitting on a government that has accused the Catholic Church of promoting genocide in the country.

He said the action is an act of insults to the catholic priests.

He has since given the President a seven day ultimatum to apologize to the Catholic Church failure to which the church shall make him feel unwelcome when ever he attends any service for the rest of his life.

QFM

Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has described the ruling movement for multi party democracy MMD as a house that is falling apart.
Mapatizya Member of Parliament (MP) Ackson Sejani said Zambians could no longer afford to entrust national leadership in the hands of the MMD government anymore.

Mr Sejani said in an interview that the ruling party has failed Zambians and their time to go has has arrived.

He noted that the suspension of kafulafuta MP George mpombo is clear testimony t that the ruling MMD is undergoing serious disengagement.

Mr Sejan said the core values that united MMD has began to crumble and the party has begun to lose it direction.

The MP also observed that the UPND/PF Pact is forcefully moving in the Mufumbwe and Milanzi constituencies to scoop both seats in the by elections.

QFM

MMD Lusaka Province chairperson William Banda has called on the Government to take stern action on some Members of Parliament (MPs) and their councillors misapplying the constituency development funds (CDF).

Mr Banda said the Government released CDF for various constituency projects such as rehabilitation of roads and drainages, but charged that some MPs and councillors were misusing the money.

He said this in Lusaka on Thursday when he addressed party cadres in Mwembeshi Ward in Matero Constituency in Lusaka.

Mr Banda, who was accompanied by provincial and district MMD officials, said it was wrong for Patriotic Front president Michael Sata and United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema to attack the Government for poor drainages and roads when it released CDF for such projects.

“I therefore call on the Government to take serious action against MPs and councillors abusing CDF because these funds are meant for constituency development projects like roads and drainages,” he said.

He said Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema should not blame President Rupiah Banda for floods experienced in the capital city because his Government had done its best to disburse CDF to enable MPs and councillors work on drainages and roads.

The Government had also increased the CDF allocation from K400 million to K600 million per constituency this year.

Mr Banda said the Government had further distributed road machinery and it should, therefore, be the role of MPs and councillors to access the equipment for rehabilitation works.

He said Mr Sata was once Health minister and did little to improve the sector, but President Banda and his administration had put several measures to develop it.

MMD provincial women’s chairperson Jane Nyirongo urged women to form clubs and access funds from the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission and Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.

[Times of Zambia]

GOVERNMENT says Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata’s claim of a plot to eliminate him is a figment of his imagination caused by political fatigue.

Minister of Home Affairs Lameck Mangani said government has no intentions of eliminating Mr Sata.

He has since advised Mr Sata to report the threats on his life to police so that they could investigate the matter.

Mr Mangani was reacting to Mr Sata’s claims that those in government are trying to eliminate him because he is a threat to their hold on power.

“Mr Sata is a political comedian who is suffering from political fatigue. I feel sorry for him because he looks tired these days. If he looks tired now, how is he going to cope with the hard times coming in the run-up to the 2011 general elections?” Mr Mangani asked.

He said Mr Sata does not have the stamina to campaign for the 2011 general elections. Mr Mangani said Mr Sata is psychologically defeated and as a result fears his own shadow.

“No-one is after Mr Sata’s life because he is not a factor. We know that he cannot win an election…he just fears his own shadow. If Mr Sata collapses today because of fatigue, we will still take him to the hospital because no-one is interested in having him dead,” he said.

Mr Mangani advised Mr Sata to use this Easter period to reflect on his political career.

[pullquote]“No-one is after Mr Sata’s life because he is not a factor. We know that he cannot win an election…he just fears his own shadow. If Mr Sata collapses today because of fatigue, we will still take him to the hospital because no-one is interested in having him dead,” he said.[/pullquote]

“He should seriously reflect on whether he should continue with his political career or retire,” he said.

And Mr Mangani said government would not relent in its efforts to find out whether or not Mr Sata was imprisoned for criminal activities.

“If this is a way of diverting government’s attention from the 1960 case, it will not work. Despite Mr Sata’s claims, we will intensify investigations so that the truth comes out,” he said.

“The man is tired. His claims just show that he has run out of ideas, that is why he is hallucinating. If his life is under any threat, he should report the matter to the police. But I know that he is just speculating and this is typical of him.

“Hard times are coming, so we need hard men. If he shows signs of tiredness now, he will not reach 2011.

We wouldn’t want anything to happen to Mr Sata because he is one of the political comedians we love,” Mr Mangani said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]