The Lunda Royal Establishment (LRE) has distanced itself from the story which appeared in The Post edition of February 12 which alleged that President Rupiah Banda promised to give the position of Republican Vice Presidency to Luapula Province.

Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda people of Luapula Province said that President Banda had not at any time discussed with him possibilities of offering any political position to any individual during his just ended working visit of the province this week.

Chief Namwana Kashiba of Mwense District said in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today on behalf of Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe that the story which appeared in the private newspaper was a figment of the author’s imagination.

“At no time did the issue of Vice Presidency or delivering the province to MMD ever discussed in the meeting between the Mwata and the Republican President,” Chief Kashiba said.

The chief also clarified that President Banda did not meet any other chiefs from the province at his palace in Mwansabombwe, Kawambwa District apart from Chief Mwata Kazembe himself. He said the entire article which appeared in The Post newspaper lacked merit and etiquette and urged all well meaning Zambians to ignore and discard it.

Chief Kashiba said President Banda, the Mwata and Katanga Governor Moise Katumbi did not discuss the purported issues of votes and elections including the issue of the Vice Presidency of the nation. “The article has greatly disturbed the persons mentioned and cast into question the morality and well projected images of their respective offices.

“This is terribly regrettable and the Lunda Royal Establishment wishes to totally disassociate itself from the slurs and the innuendos expressed in the article,” the chief said.

The Post newspaper in yesterday’s edition published an article alleging that President Rupiah Banda had promised to give the position of the country’s vice presidency to Luapula Province ahead of the 2011 general elections.

President Banda was on an four-day working visit to Luapula Province where he inspected many developmental projects government had initiated in the province.

ZANIS

The PF/UPND Pact is not in support of the likely extension of the sitting of the National Constitution Conference (NCC) which is supposed to conclude its sitting on Friday next week. UPND Spokesperson Charles Kakoma said the pact was worried about the delay in concluding the deliberations of the NCC.

Mr. Kakoma was reacting to NCC Chairperson Chifumu Banda who said that the conference was likely to be extended for another sitting if delegates failed to complete the work of the remaining two committees by Friday next week.

“We are worried because the deliberations are dragging on at a very slow pace meaning that we are unlikely to have a new constitution before the next general elections,” Mr. Kakoma aid.

He said according to the NCC timeframe, the new republican constitution was supposed to be ready last year. Mr. Kakoma said it appeared to be impossible to have a new constitution this year because of the referendum which needed to be held on unresolved articles or issues.[quote]

The UPND spokesperson revealed that there was no money in this year’s budget for the holding of the referendum, complicating further the likelihood of having a new constitution before 2011 general elections.

“Our pact does not welcome the likely extension of the NCC sittings because the document would have been concluded within the one-year time frame the NCC was given to conclude its business,” Mr. Kakoma said.

The NCC sitting has already been extended once and this would be the second extension since it started sitting more than one year ago.

But Mr. Banda said the conference will go on recess on Friday next week to pave way for the resumption of Parliament sittings on February 23. He said this meant that if the conference failed to complete its work by Friday, it would have to wait for Parliament to adjourn. This however will only happen if delegates fail to conclude the work of the two remaining committees by Friday next week.

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda is tomorrow expected in Mazabuka where he is scheduled to visit Chief Mwanachingwala at his palace.

This is according to a programme released to ZANIS in Mazabuka by the office of Mazabuka District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba today.

The programme indicates that the President will depart Lusaka at 09:00 hours and is expected to arrive at Chief Mwanachingwala’s palace by 10:00 hours.

he would be received by Provincial minister, Daniel Munkombwe, Provincial Permanent Secretary, Darius Hakayobe, Opposition Mazabuka members of parliament and Chief Mwanachingwala’s subjects.

The President will then pay a courtesy call on the other chiefs after which he is expected to interact with the community.

Chief Mwanachingwala has disclosed that all the four chiefs in the district and two from Monze district will attend the meeting with President Banda.

He named the Mazabuka chiefs as Hanjalika, Naluama, Mwenda and those from the neighbouring Monze as senior chief Monze and Chona.

Chief Mwanachingwala said the visit by the head of state at his palace clearly shows how much importance President Banda attaches to the role traditional rulers play in national development.

The chief said in his discussion with President, Banda, he would discuss important issues that affect both his subjects and the nation.

Meanwhile, a thunderous welcome awaits the arrival of President Banda at Chief Mwanachingwala’s palace.

A lot of entertainment activities have been lined up to welcome and entertain the President and his entourage.

ZANIS

State House has dismissed claims by the Post Newspaper that President Banda promised Chiefs in Luapula Province that President Banda will appoint Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General Chriticles Mwansa as Republican Vice President.

Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere said President Banda has never promised or discussed with anyone the issue of the Republican Vice President during his working visit to Luapula Province.

Mr. Jere described as misleading and malicious a story published by The Post newspaper of today entitled “Rupiah Promises Luapula Chiefs a Vice President”.

He said this in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr. Jere said at no time did President Banda ever discuss with Mr. Mwansa on the possibility of appointing him Vice President as a way of enticing people from Luapula Province to vote for him in the 2010 genenal elections

“I wish to categorically state that His Excellency , Mr. Rupiah Banda, President of the Republic of Zambia has never promissed or discussed with anyone the issue of the Republican Vice President during his working visit to Luapula Provice,” Mr. Jere said.

He said President Banda’s meeting with the traditional leaders in Luapula Province was centered on developmental issues such as health, education, roads and water transport.

Mr Jere said apart from meeting Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe, the President also held several other meetings with different chiefs where various issues were discussed.

At no time did Mr. Banda ever discuss with Mr. Chriticles Mwansa on the possibilities of him becoming his Vice President as a way of enticing Luapula province to vote for him in the 2011 tripartite elections.

Mr.Jere has since challenged the Post Newspaper to name the specific meeting or traditional leaders who discussed the issue of the Vice President with President Banda during his visit to Luapula province.

He noted that the Newspaper had in the last few months mis-informed the nation that President Banda would appoint Livingstone Member of Parliament Sakwiba Sikota as his Vice President.

Mr Jere further stated that the newsapaper also lied when it reported that he would appoint Energy Minister, Kenneth Konga as his vice.

He said President Banda wished the media in Zambia to be factual and verify information at all times before publishing to avoid misleading the nation.

ZANIS