PARTIOTC Front president Michael Sata has said late president Mwanawasa’s decision to evacuate him to South Africa for treatment after he suffered a heart problem was a public relations gimmick.

Mr Sata said in an interview on Tuesday that Dr Mwanawasa thought he (Mr Sata) had already died and the decision to send him for treatment would have been a mere formality.

He claimed that Dr Mwanawasa was trying to play public relations so that people could think his Government had flown Mr Sata for treatment when he had already died.

Mr Sata was reacting to former National Energy Sector and Allied Workers Union (NESAWU) General Secretary Yotam Mtayachalo who accused the PF leader of being hypocritical for saying Dr Mwanawasa had wanted him to die in jail.

Mr Mtayachalo said the PF leader was being ungrateful for accusing Dr Mwanawasa of wanting him to die in jail when he had saved his life by sending him to South Africa for treatment.

Mr Mtayachalo said in Ndola on Tuesday that it was unfortunate that Mr Sata who was full of praises for Dr Mwanawasa after having his life saved by being evacuated to South Africa for treatment, could now insinuate that the late president wanted him to die in jail when he was incarcerated over the case involving a motor vehicle.

Mr Mtayachalo said it was hypocritical for Mr Sata to accuse the late president of wanting him to die in prison when the PF leader had been on record praising Dr Mwanawasa for having served his life.

He said Mr Sata’s inconsistent statements were making it difficult for Zambians to be convinced that he would make a good leader if elected president.

Mr Sata was on Tuesday quoted in The Post newspaper as having said Dr Mwanawasa would have arrested him if he was corrupt when he was in Government but further went on to say the late president wanted him to die in prison but could not succeed.

“The biggest problem with Mr Sata is his high level of inconsistency. If you look at his statement, he is saying Dr Mwanawasa would have arrested him if he was corrupt when he was in Government and the same Mr Sata is saying Dr Mwanawasa wanted him to die in jail, what then was he doing in jail? Why was he arrested and put in jail during
Dr Mwanawasa’s reign? One cannot go to jail and at the same time claim that he is too clean,” he said.

Mr Mtayachalo said it was now clear that Mr Sata was panicking as evidenced by the various unclear statements he was issuing with the aim of clearing his image by featuring on various radio stations since several allegations against him were exposed.

But Mr Sata said Dr Mwanawasa ignorantly saved his life because he was told that the PF leader was actually already dead.

“Yes Mwanawasa saved my life ignorantly because he was told that I was already dead and he was told by some people that I would actually not even survive the flight to South Africa. Dr Mwanawasa just wanted to play public relations.

“You see even my priest, Father Chilinda also came to Care for Business Hospital where I was admitted with the aim of administering the last olive oil on me because he was also told that I was already dead but I told him that I was not going to die,” Mr Sata said.

He claimed that even Dr Mwanawasa himself confirmed to him that he was told that the PF leader was actually already died. “What I am saying is the truth. There is nothing I can lie against the dead. How many times did Dr Mwanawasa send me to jail?” he said,

[Times of Zambia]

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set Thursday April 29, 2010 as the date for holding the Milanzi Constituency parliamentary by-election and eight ward by-elections.

This follows the death of Milanzi Member of Parliament Reuben Banda, who died in last month, while the eight ward by-elections were left vacant through court convictions, resignations and deaths of councilors.

ECZ Public Relations Manager Chris Akufuna disclosed this in statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr. Akufuna said the polls will take place from 06: 00 hours to 18:00 hours.

He said parliamentary aspiring candidates in by elections should lodge completed and attested statutory declaration and nomination papers subscribed before a magistrate, local court justice of a head of a primary
school.

He said the nomination papers can also be subscribed to head of a secondary school, principal of a college, commissioner of oaths and an election officer or returning officer on April 8th, between 09: hours and
15:00 hours.

Mr. Akufuna said the aspiring candidates should take along with them nine supporters who must be registered voters in Milanzi constituency.

He said the supporters must have in their possession their green National Registration Cards (NRC) and voters’ cards.

Mr. Akufuna said aspiring candidates will be required to pay K500, 000 non-refundable nomination fee.

He also said aspiring candidates in the Local Government by-elections should take along with them nine supporters who must be registered voters in the affected wards.

He said the aspiring candidates in district councils will be required to pay K50, 000 while those in Municipal Councils will be required to pay 75, 000 .00 non-refundable,” he said.

“The campaign period for the elections commences on Thursday 8th April 2010 after 15:00 hours and will end at 18:00 hours on 28th April, 2010,” he said.

Mr. Akufuna advised Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) wishing to monitor or observe the elections to apply for accreditation from the ECZ from today to April 22nd.

He also pointed out that accreditation for political party officials wishing to monitor the elections in the constituency shall be restricted to a maximum of 20 members per political party.

He also noted that only a maximum of 10 accredited members per political party and two accredited representatives of NGOs shall be authorized to represent their respective political parties or NGOs at the collation centre.

He added that not more than two political party members per participating political party shall be allowed to witness counting of votes at the polling station.

ZANIS

First lady Thandiwe Banda has called for concerted efforts in addressing major issues affecting women in the country.

Mrs. Banda says this is the only way women can play a role towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) especially goal number three that aims at promoting gender equality and women empowerment.

Speaking in Lusaka today when she launched the Habitat for Humanity Women Build 2010 project, Mrs. Banda noted that women have an inner resilience
and strength that is key to moral, psychological and economic health of a country.

She said it is for this reason that government and other cooperating partners should work closely and ensure that all imbalances that affect effective women’s participation in national programmes are fully addressed.

She cited lack of decent accommodation, low education levels, access to food and quality health facilities as some of major challenges that women
in the country have continued to face.

The First Lady has further commended Habitat for Humanity for alleviating housing poverty among the vulnerable groups especially women and children
in the country.

And Habitat for Humanity Zambia Patron Dr. Kenneth Kaunda disclosed that the organisation has so far built 2,200 housing units for the orphaned and
vulnerable people in different communities across the country.

Dr. Kaunda said there is need for Zambians to support initiatives that are targeted at uplifting the living standards of the less privileged in society.

He has since pledged that his organisation will continue to supplement government’s efforts in providing low cost but decent and affordable houses
for people.

[ZANIS]

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Micheal Sata has sued the Times of Zambia for libel.

Mr Sata has also applied for an interim injunction to restrain the newspaper and its servants or agents from publishing any defamatory words concerning him.

Mr Sata’s lawyers from Ituna Partners have also filed a certificate of urgency claiming that the matter was of extreme urgency and required expeditious determination as the Times of Zambia had allegedly continued to write, publish and print defamatory articles concerning Mr Sata.

In an affidavit in support of an interim injunction, Mr Sata stated the Times of Zambia published articles concerning him in the editions of February 22, 23, 24 and 25 this year.

He indicated that the articles titled some ‘Sata leads polygamous life’, ‘Forget about presidency’, Sata told, ‘Sata is not credible’- Mumbi, Chimumbwa.
He stated that the articles were allegedly defamatory.

“The words in the said articles in their ordinary and natural meaning meant and were understood to mean that I am not a law abiding citizen, I have a criminal record, I am not a sincere Christian, I do not abide by the rules and teachings of the Catholic Church, and I am a dishonest person with no integrity,” Mr Sata claimed.

Mr Sata said he was a staunch Christian in the Catholic Church which did not allow people leading polygamous or polyandrous lives to receive Holy Eucharist.

That he was a politician and alleged repetition of false imputation of a criminal character would only lower his estimation in the minds of voters.

He stated that unless the defendant was restrained by law of a court order from repeating the publication of defamatory matters, he was likely to suffer irreparable injury as his political ambitions and standing in the Catholic Church could not be atoned for by damages.

Mr Sata was claiming for aggravated or exemplary damages, an injunction restraining the defendant from further writing, printing or circulating or otherwise publishing of the plaintiff the said or any similar libel.

High Court judge handling the matter, Evans Hamaundu has set March 15 as the hearing date.
Times of Zambia