The opposition United Party for National Development new member Professor Clive Chirwa has demanded for a public apology from Chibombo MMD Chairperson Lloyd Kayeka for calling him a liar and a thief who entered the party through a window. He said this in a statement to Lusakatimes yesterday.

Prof. Chirwa urged Kayeka to publicly apologise and if he fails to do it within 14 days he would consult his lawyers in London to institute preparations for legal proceedings against Mr. Kayeka.

“I request Kayeka to apologise for calling me a liar and a thief who entered MMD through a window. If he does not publicly do that within 14 days, I will instruct my lawyers in London to begin preparation for court proceedings,” Prof. Chirwa said.

Prof Chirwa clarified that he has never belonged to an MMD branch in Katuba Constituency. He said that was a member of Mwamba Luchembe branch in Mandevu constituency, where Lusaka District Chairperson signed his membership card in the presence of the district committee, as requested by the late President Levy Mwanawasa.

On February 9, at a at rally in Chisamba, Mr. Kayeka challenged Professor Clive Chirwa  to state the branch in Katuba constituency from which he joined the party.

Speaking before Vice President George Kunda addressed the rally at Chisamba grounds, Mr. Kayeka charged that Prof. Chirwa was a liar who could not prove his claims because no party register in Katuba constituency carried his name.

‘Your honour that man (Prof. Chirwa) is a liar. We do not know him at all. These are the people who enter through a window and we did not see him,’ he charged.

And on hearing about his resignation, MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya, said Clive Chirwa was not a member of the ruling party and therefore claims that he had resigned from the party are baseless.

“I am shocked to hear Prof Chirwa’s tantrums because the man is not our member. He has never been a member of the MMD and so he does not have the right to talk about the party matters but I will assume he was expressing his opinion,” Ms Siliya said at the time.

Prof. Chirwa has been at the center of controversy in MMD following his intention to aspire for the Party’s presidency until he decided to ditch it this year to Join UPND.

In July last year Prof. Chirwa refuted the same assertions that he was not a genuine member of the ruling MMD adding that the people who were claiming that he was not a legitimate member of the MMD were bent on spoiling his political aspirations.

In January this year Prof. resigned from MMD to join UPND and cited many reasons for his leaving the party such as corruption, failure to improve manufacturing industry, agriculture, kneeling to donors for help, failing to improve the education system in the country, and for failing to reduce poverty.

He said he was a happy member of UPND a party that respects its members and said he would help the PACT to win 2011 elections.

Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has refuted claims by Copperbelt Patriotic Front (PF) Provincial Chairman Mwenya Musenga that President Rupiah Banda blocked Copperbelt Councils from accessing their share of the Mineral Royalty Tax for councils to use in running their projects.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha stated that government has no intentions of blocking any council from accessing their share of the mineral royalty tax.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the President Banda does not handle such issues but that this is the responsibility of the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development.

He described the allegations as false and unfounded saying Mr. Musenge is playing and exhibiting cheap politics retrogressive to the development of the country.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha urged Mr. Musenge and the opposition to respect the Head of State and focus on offering working solutions on developmental issues instead of engaging in mudslinging and insulting the President.

He challenged the Copperbelt PF Chairman to understand that mineral royalty tax is Law adding that the Mines Minister’s Office is there to identify and decide how the mineral royalty tax should be shared.

PF Copperbelt Provincial Chairman Mwenya Musenga is quoted in the media as having accused President Rupiah Banda of neglecting to develop the Copperbelt province by blocking the councils from getting a share of the mineral royalty tax.

ZANIS

By Elias Munshya wa Munshya

This article explores factors that have contributed to the rehabilitation of former president Chiluba’s image. First, by rewriting the script of Chiluba’s prosecution, after his acquittal, the Rupiah government has helped repair Chiluba’s image. Rupiah’s government has managed to claim that Chiluba was a victim of excessive prosecution. Barely months after the passing of Mwanawasa, had Tetamashimba proclaimed Chiluba’s innocence. The government media have also chronicled Chiluba’s prosecution as a persecution. Speaking in Luapula very recently Rupiah refused to be drawn into politics of hating Chiluba.[quote]

Secondly, there is one daily Zambian tabloid, whose incessant attacks on Chiluba have actually helped prop him up as well. Instead of finishing him, these attacks have actually helped Chiluba garner some sympathy that has led some to conclude that the tabloid’s attacks are inspired by personal hatred more than anything else. For example their continued insults of Chiluba, calling him thief, a lazo, and so on and so forth, while effectively demonstrating their hatred of him, have the potential to achieve exactly the opposite—compassion for a man who is perceived to be a victim. Persistent personal insults of a person we deem to be a criminal actually becomes very superfluous in the end and makes people question the very motive behind those insults.

Thirdly, PF and Sata helped begin the process of restoring Chiluba’s image. Just during the 2006 elections, Sata exuded in Chiluba, using him extensively to campaign for PF in Lusaka, Copperbelt and Luapula. To date, Sata admits that most PF MPs in Luapula were Chiluba’s. Sata contributed to raising Chiluba’s image in spite of Mwanawasa’s sentiments that Chiluba was a thief. The PF leaders and cadres would welcome Chiluba at the airport and would also accompany him to court. It is therefore, surprising that the PF is a bitter enemy of FJT because he has now switched his support back to the MMD. If FJT still has some legitimacy and clout, the PF should blame themselves as important architects of FJT’s restored image, which may have all started in 2006.

Fourthly, as an ardent Christian, Chiluba has mentioned that he has had to rely on his faith to counter most of the accusations and embarrassment he has faced. In spite of the fact that some clergy such as Father Bwalya have lambasted Chiluba and called him names, EFZ Executive Director Paul Mususu came to Chiluba’s defense immediately after his acquittal. Several church groups such as the BIGOCA have come to Chiluba’s support as well. Before his acquittal, a group of Pentecostal leaders gathered at Mulungushi to pray for him and honor him. They, quite amusingly, dressed him in Jewish religious garb during the event.

Fifthly, Chiluba’s personal assistant, Emmanuel Mwamba has worked hard for the boss’s image too. Mwamba radiates youthful confidence and innocence that are critical to hoisting Chiluba. An articulate speaker, Mwamba has courageously defended Chiluba irking many and pleasing some. His vigor and his lack of a political past, brought freshness to the image of a former president. At one time, during Mwanawasa’s era, he manhandled two intelligence officers who were indiscreetly trailing him and took them to Woodlands Police Station, embarrassing them.

It still remains to be seen however, the actual political impact that Chiluba’s rehabilitated image will translate into, going forward. It should be noted however, that he remains a great force to reckon with politically and it will matter who he supports for presidency. In the meantime, organizations and individuals are condescending around him for endorsements and patronage. As Mwanawasa had mentioned Zambians are quite forgetful. In our collective memory we tend to forgive and forget all the wrongs past, and instead rehabilitate the images of our fallen leaders. Kaunda was later restored, Chiluba is being restored and not many days hence, Mwanawasa will also be eulogized. Chiluba is still regarded as criminal to some, but dearly loved by many others—so much for a man just trying to restore his battered image.

FORMER Copperbelt MMD chairperson, Terence Findlay has said some opposition party members on the Copperbelt are in a state of panic over his contributions and those of former president Frederick Chiluba to the advancement of the ruling party.

And MMD Copperbelt chairperson, Joseph Chilambwe has said the party in the province is united and behind President Rupiah Banda.

Mr Findlay said in an interview in Ndola yesterday that some opposition party members had become jittery because they realised that Dr Chiluba was a highly influential person.[quote]

He said there was no reason for anybody to get unsettled over his association with the former president because they were both loyal MMD members who were interested in seeing it progress.

“I am just a force to reckon with in the province and some people are just uncomfortable because there is nothing wrong I have done apart from accompanying Dr Chiluba to some of the places he visited during a private visit to the Copperbelt recently,” Mr Findlay said.

Dr Chiluba, through his spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba, said he was not involved in any activities which could divide the party on the Copperbelt.

“Dr Chiluba believes that the MMD is one family which should work as a team in rebuilding the ruling party.

“The former president has been persuading a number of people who had left the MMD for the opposition or felt sidelined to consider re-joining or becoming active members of the party and not forming parallel structures in the province,” Mr Mwamba said.

And Mr Chilambwe said Dr Chiluba was an innocent person and that it was some MMD members who had excuses or failed to do their work who were trying to use his name for their campaigns.

He said the provincial leadership was against the use of names of senior party members such as Dr Chiluba or President Rupiah Banda by those vying for positions at the MMD convention.

And some MMD members led by former provincial information and publicity secretary, Benson Tembo yesterday stormed Times offices in Ndola clad in party attire bearing portraits of President Banda, and former presidents Dr Chiluba and Levy Mwanawasa.

They said there was no ban in the MMD on wearing attire bearing portraits of former presidents.

The group said the wearing of chitenges bearing portraits of past presidents was a sign of unity in the party.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr Tembo said the portraits portrayed continuity with change.

Mr Tembo said President Banda was on the right track in building the national economy and his association with former heads of State was uniting the nation.

Some sections of the media, quoting sources on the Copperbelt, reported that Dr Chiluba had divided the party and caused the formation of parallel structures in the party during his recent visit to the province.

[Times of Zambia]

The ruling MMD in Mazabuka has encouraged President Rupiah Banda to continue holding meetings with chiefs in Southern Province to change the negative perception which people have about the ruling party.

MMD District Vice chairperson, Takawira Mahere told ZANIS in Mazabuka yesterday that President Banda’s meeting yesterday’s has confirmed how popular the MMD in the area.

Mr Mahere said the President’s visit to Mazabuka should be used as a pilot campaign programme on how to canvass and woo potential voters to vote for the ruling party in next year’s elections.

He said President Banda should continue visiting chiefs in the province because that is the only sure way of winning back the support that ruling party had lost to the opposition.

Meanwhile, Mr Mahere has commended President Banda for directing Commerce minister, Felix Mutati to address the concerns raised by the Mazabuka Business Association following an alleged unfair and biased awarding of contracts by Zambia Sugar Company to contractors.

He said the directive by the President has cheered the party because it has just demonstrated the commitment he has in promoting the growth of Small and medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs).

Mr Mahere said SMEs need the support of government if they are to improve and contribute to the growth of the country’s economy.

He said the MMD strongly supports the awarding of contracts to the members of the Mazabuka Business Association and not individuals.

Mr Mahere also commended Zambia Sugar Company for signing a contract with the business association to provide goods and services.

He however warned that the ruling party will not tolerate any individual that will interfere in the awarding of contracts by the company.

ZANIS

Sinazongwe District Councilors have dispelled the allegation that they have ditched United Party for National Development (UPND) because of their party President Hakainde Hichilema’s entering into a pact with Patriotic Front Party (PF).

Speaking on behalf of the Councilors, Partson Mangunje told Zambia News and Information Service (ZANIS) in Sinazongwe that no councilor has left the party.

Mr Mangunje who is also Nkanddabwe ward Councilor said the party has a strong foundation in the district and there was no way they could ditch it after working hard to earn the support from people.

He said the Councilors were ready to manhandle the person that issued the statement in one of the Daily papers claiming that all the 14 councilors were planning to leave the party because of its alliance with PF.

Mr Mangunje said the statement was wrong because among the 14 councilors in the district 12 were for UPND, one is an independent councilor while the other one belongs to the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD).

The Nkanddabwe ward councilor disclosed that all the councilors in the district have already paid for their travel expenses to go to Lusaka for the launch of the UPND/PF PACT.

“How can people that have already paid the money to go and launch the PACT decide to leave the party with no apparent reason, the person who issued the statement wanted to cheat the public but we will not rest until we get him. That was just propaganda us we are intact,” Mr Mangunje said.

He said all the councilors were for UPND and they could not reverse their decisions.

The UPND Councilors on Sunday spend the whole day in Maamba Township to wait for their Member of Parliament to address them over the statement that was issued that all the UPND Councilors have rejected the PACT and Hichilema.

ZANIS