President Rupiah Banda says Zambia is concerned about the earthquake that swept through Haiti last week and killed hundreds of people.President Banda told journalists at the Lusaka International Airport yesterday that Zambia was very concerned about what happened in Haiti.[quote]

He however said there was little that Zambia could do about the disaster that occurred in that country. “We are very concerned about what happened in Haiti. It is really terrible,” he said.

He was speaking to journalist this afternoon when he arrived from Rwanda where he had gone to hold talks with that country’s President, Paul Kagame.

President Banda said he traveled to Rwanda to confer with Mr. Kagame on the situation in the Great Lakes Region (GLR).

He said this was important because as Chairperson of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, he has to present a report to the African Union (AU) summit slated for the end of this month.

President Banda was accompanied to Rwanda by Foreign Affair Minister, Kabinga Pande, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere and other senior government officials.

Vice President George Kunda, Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa, Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani, Energy Minister Kenneth Konga and other senior government officials were at hand to receive the President at the airport.

Others that welcomed the President Banda back home are service and defence chiefs.

President Banda’s plane touched down at the Lusaka International airport at 17:15 hours.

ZANIS

The Anti- Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) has commended the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for announcing the date of the long waited continuous voter registration.

Speaking to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, AVAP Executive Director, Bonny Tembo said the exercise would help people acquire the voter’s cards and vote in future elections.

He said AVAP had received the news with gladness especially that it has taken so long for the date to be announced.

Mr. Tembo said Statutory Instrument number 55 of 2001 empowers the commission to conduct this exercise but has not been able to do so since 2001 due to inadequate funds.

He said stakeholders were getting concerned over the prolonged delays despite continuous calls to have the exercise commence.

He noted that the announcement would help to build the confidence of stakeholders who include politicians on the credibility and the operations of the commission

Mr. Tembo, however, said the change in the methodology from the traditional to the newly devised digital mobile registration might affect the registration process as people are not familiar with it.

He has since advised the ECZ to enhance its voter registration and mend all the loopholes that might create problems in the exercise.

Mr. Tembo has also advised political parties to take advantage of the announcement and sensitize their members to get the voters cards.

He said ECZ should update the voter’s registers by removing all the deceased and those who have relocated to other places.

Meanwhile Mr. Tembo has called for the establishment of the Voters’ Registration Trust Fund where government and the donor community could put their money meant for the voter registration exercise.

He has also appealed to the donors to sponsor civil society organizations to help ECZ sensitize the public before the continuous voter registration commences in June.

Mr. Tembo added that his organization would help ECZ to sensitize the public on the need to be registered with particular focus in the rural areas where people do not have adequate information.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has today announced the date for the commencement of the continuous voter’s registration.

ECZ Chariperson, Justice Florence Mumba announced that the exercise would commence in June and will continue until September this year.

Justice Mumba made the announcement at a meeting with officials from political parties’ in Lusaka today.

ZANIS

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has commended the major political parties in the country for resolving to hold their convention before the 2011 tripartite elections.

FODEP Information Officer McDonald Chipenzi told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the move by the political parties is a step forward in the development of democracy in the country.

Mr. Chipenzi said the decision by most of the political parties to hold their convention is a symbol of the extent of the freedom of expression that exists in most political parties.

He noted that conventions are important because all party members are given equal opportunities and chance to contest all positions in the party.

Mr. Chipenzi said there is need for all political parties to hold conventions because this further strengthens intraparty dialogue.

He urged all political parties to consider all party members as equal partners in the development of their respective parties.

Mr. Chipenzi said conventions have a tendency to unite party members and later gives them confidence in their leaders.

He appealed to all the political parties that are yet to hold their convention to speed up the process.
ZANIS

Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata has written to President Rupiah Banda demanding thorough investigations into the alleged payment of K3.5 billion to vice president George Kunda’s law firm.

In a letter to president Banda dated 18th January, 2010 and copied to Mr. Kunda made available to QFM Today, Mr. Sata says in the case of Development Bank of Zambia vs. Sun Pharmaceutics limited which was represented by Mr. Kaunda’s law firm, the court made an order to the effect that parties to the proceedings shall bear their own costs.

Mr. Sata however says contrary to the court order, the Ministry of Finance has now paid to George Kunda and Company from the treasury the sum of K3.5 billion as legal costs.

He adds that the record of payment is available at the Ministry of Finance and Development Bank of Zambia.[quote]

Mr. Sata says it is a joke and a scandal for whatever justification one may wish to offer that in a country where more than 80% of citizens are unemployed and go without food government can pay one law firm the sum of k3.5 billion of public funds with impunity.

And Mr. Sata says that though his party is not participating in the national constitutional conference, he will see to it that a right constitution is made for the people of Zambia.

Mr. Sata has since maintained that the only way Zambia will be able to usher in Presidents in the country is through the 50 1 voting system.

He was speaking today on QFM during a special interview.

QFM