President Rupiah Banda has assured farmers that fertilizers and other agricultural inputs for the next farming season will delivered early and in large quantities in order to boost food production in the country.

President Banda said the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) government was committed to ensuring that agriculture becomes the mainstay of Zambia’s economy.

Addressing a public meeting on arrival at Chief Mwanachingwala’s palace in Mazabuka district today, President Banda said fertilizer and seeds will next farming season be given to farmers in good quantities throughout the country.

He said government will also ensure that it buys off the agriculture produce from farmers because this was a sure way of empowering them economically.

The President, who was received by Chief Mwanachingwala, Southern province minister Daniel Munkombwe, senior government and MMD officials at the palace, also said the creation of the ministry of Livestock was meant to improve the livestock sector in the country.

President Banda is accompanied to Mazabuka by Livestock minister Bradford Machila, Commerce minister Felix Mutati and Parliamentary Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga.

He is in Mazabuka at the invitation of chief Mwanachingwala of the Tonga people of that district.

President Banda reiterated that the MMD was in a pact with the people of Zambia and not two or more political parties coming together.

He said the MMD government has achieved a lot economic gains since he became president.

He said it was now up to the Zambians to judge government’s performance based on what has been achieved so far.

The President told the public meeting that he will always talk to potential voters regardless of their political affiliations in order to garner more support for the ruling party.

President Banda said the MMD was the only strong party because it has stable structures throughout the country.

And during the same meeting, President Banda welcomed over 100 cadres who earlier had left the MMD to join the opposition parties but have rejoined the ruling party.

He said it was pleasing to see so many people rejoining the ruling party, a demonstration of the confidence they have in the MMD.

One of the defectors, a Ms Chibilika, told the gathering that she and others have returned to the ruling party because they have realized that the opposition political parties have nothing to offer.

Meanwhile, Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe warned that anybody who will attempt to challenge President Banda for presidency will be suffocated by the convention pressure.

Mr. Munkombwe said no MMD member vying for the party presidency will be physically harassed at the convention but pressure will be too much for them to handle at the convention.

He said President Banda was the only credible candidate who will ensure victory for the MMD in the 2011 parliamentary and presidential elections.

ZANIS

Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General, Chriticles Mwansa has denied media reports suggesting that he was earmarked for vice presidency if people of Luapula province vote for the MMD in next year’s general elections.

Mr. Mwansa said the story carried by the Post Newspaper in its February 12th, edition headlined; “Rupiah promises Luapula chiefs a vice president…if they deliver the province to MMD in 2011,” was ill-conceived.

He said the story was an extreme misinterpretation of events that took place at the Mwata Kazembe’s palace grounds.

He added the insinuations that President Banda would appoint him vice president were cheap journalism, which was devoid of professionalism.

“I wish to distance myself from cheap acts of uncouth ‘professionals bent on misleading the nation in pursuant of personal and hidden agendas,” he said.

Mr. Mwansa, as a spokesperson and chief of protocol for the Mwata Kazembe’s kingdom, he had to be found at the palace to welcome the President as his entourage to guide them through tradition while on the palace grounds.[quote]

“I am currently appointed Commissioner General of the Zambia Revenue Authority and tasked with the responsibility of mobilizing resources for the Treasury. This is a task I concentrate on to the best of my ability,” he said.

He said he would not be distracted by anybody or a media organization from focusing on his substantive job.

“I shall remain resolved to do what I have to do for my country Zambia,” he said.

ZANIS

Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) Members of Parliament (MPs) in Luapula province have resolved to stay away from politics of mudslinging.

The Members of Parliament said it was irrational for them to be politicking at the expense of developing their constituencies.

Kawambwa PF MP Elizabeth Mulobeka, who spoke on behalf of other opposition MPs in the province, said they were elected to represent the people in the National Assembly regardless of their political affiliation.

Mrs. Mulobeka told ZANIS in an interview that there was need to work with the government of the day saying development could only flourish when MPs work with government.

She thanked President Banda for having visited the province saying the MMD government had done well in the province.
She cited the Kawambwa – Mansa road as one of the developmental projects which government has worked on.

Mrs. Mulobeka said once the opposition political parties support the government of the day, development would be accelerate in the country.

ZANIS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“You will also declare a thing, and it shall be established…”
(Job 22:28, NKJ)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

In the Old Testament there was an Israelite woman who was about to give birth. She had just heard that the Ark of the Covenant that housed God’s presence had been stolen. She was so upset about it that she named her baby boy Ichabod, which means “the glory has departed.” Notice what she did; she named her future by what was happening in her present. She could have just as easily named him “the glory will return,” but she was so focused on the negative, so caught up in where she was at that moment that she defined her future by it.

Friend, don’t ever name your future by your present day circumstances. You may have had some hard times in the past, but get that “Ichabod” spirit off of you. It may look like you’re stuck in a rut and you don’t really see how you could ever rise any higher, but don’t speak defeat over your life. Instead, name your future: blessed, prosperous, successful, victorious, healthy, whole, strong, talented, creative, wise. Declare what God’s Word says so that you can move forward in the destiny He has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for the good future that You have prepared for me. Today I choose to come into agreement with Your Word and declare Your blessing over my life. Keep me close to You as I surrender every area of my life to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

By Elias Munshya Wa Munshya

The recent visit of President Rupiah Banda to Mwata Kazembe of Luapula Province and to some districts in Luapula Province has highlighted just what is at stake politically for Luapula Province.

First, Luapula matters to the MMD due to the presence of PF rebel MPs. Totaling ten, they enhance the chances of MMD performing better in 2011 should they defect enmasse to the MMD. The MMD may try and convince Luapulans, that by expelling these MPs from PF, PF was by the nature of its act anti-Luapula. No other province at the moment promises such opportunity for the ruling party.

Secondly, Luapula matters, due to the fact that most political players sympathetic to the MMD, have a protracted and steady political history within Luapula Province and the MMD. These include Katele, Mwila, Kasongo, Machungwa, Chitika, and Chiluba himself. The long history and political stability of these figures will help boost MMD’s chances of a few more votes from Luapula. Besides this team may give a tough time to PF should they all decide to campaign for MMD and Banda.

Thirdly, Luapula matters due to the residual influence that FJT Chiluba has. After the demise of Mwanawasa the public’s opinion of Chiluba has somehow rebounded. Rupiah’s government has managed to rewrite the script concerning Chiluba’s prosecution and they have with some success managed to convince some Zambians that Chiluba was unfairly prosecuted. This script has undoubtedly angered some diplomats, various media houses and several NGOs but it has definitely managed to boost Chiluba’s political image among some Zambians. Sata and some PF members are dismissing FJT as politically insignificant. However, in spite of his questionable morality arising from his prosecution, FJT still has political clout which Banda is trying to maximize on. As such, under this new script, Luapulans are most likely to listen to Luapulan Chiluba again.

Fourthly, Luapula matters due to the influence of Mwata Kazembe. It has been observed that Kazembe, even if he is not a paramount chief, does exert a lot of influence among Bemba speaking peoples. For example, compared to other Bemba speaking senior chieftainships, the Kazembeship has been more stable and that stability has proved effective as a conduit of political influence. And so it matters who the Mwata supports for presidency. Kazembe has placed himself in a way that he could easily influence politics among his Lunda people in particular but beyond that to all Bemba speaking peoples.

Fifthly, Governor Moise Katumbi’s presence with Rupiah Banda in Mwansabombwe shows the significance of Katanga in the next elections. While Congo DR in general and Katanga province in particular share with Zambia a very long border, Luapula Province is second only to the Copperbelt in terms of cultural exchange with Katanga. This has been compounded by Katumbi who is Bemba, and who regards himself as a subject of Mwata Kazembe. Besides when Mwanawasa was declaring Katumbi as persona non grata, Kazembe quickly defended Katumbi calling him his nephew. It is rather significant that Katumbi was latter exonerated of all charges by Mwanawasa and was called back into Zambia to restart his businesses. It still is to be observed how much political influence Katumbi will have over Zambia. As for border regions, it is a historical fact, that people in border towns are more likely to vote for the ruling party candidates more than they would for the opposition and Luapula becomes significant in this regard.

Rupiah Banda’s moves for Luapula Province may actually pay off. Once he gets the rebel MPs on his side that will at least break the momentum in the PF, raise lots of questions within the Luapulan electorate about the PF and exploit some sympathy votes from some supporters of Frederick Chiluba for the MMD. If it is Luapula he is targeting, Rupiah is headed the right direction.

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