Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Lusaka Province Chairman William Banda has warned the opposition to desist from unwarranted attacks and insults on President Rupiah Banda.

Mr. Banda said it is sad that despite the president not responding to their insults politicians from the opposition political parties have continued to insult the republican president.

He said president Banda and the party will not respond to the insults as the president is concentrating on implementing national programs that are aimed at improving the lives of the many Zambians including those in the opposition.

Mr. Banda made the remarks in Lusaka today when he addressed MMD party members in Chawama compound on the need to start reorganizing the party at the grass root level in readiness for the 2011 general elections.

He said there is need for party members at the grassroots to concentrate on building the party if the MMD is to win the general elections.

Meanwhile Mr. Banda has called on all MMD branches in Lusaka province to start organizing meetings aimed at looking at various challenges the party is facing at the grassroots in an effort to strengthening the party.

Mr. Banda also disclosed at the same gathering that he will this month unveil the official program for the province that will guide all party members on how to operate in their duties in the quest to bring coordination among party members.

He said this will also help reduce division among members within the party as every one will know exactly what is expected from them before the general elections.

And speaking at the same gathering Lusaka Province District Chairman, Paul Chihade instructed Chawama Constituency Executive Committee to rename one of the branches out of the 28 branches in Chawama compound which is named after Patriotic Front President Michael Sata.

Mr. Chihande noted that Mr. Sata is not a member of the MMD adding that there is no way a branch could be named after him.

“The branch was named after the PF leader when he was MMD National Secretary and now that he is not our member you have to rename the branch.” Mr. Chihade instructed.

ZANIS

Opposition United National Independence Party (UNIP) Acting Secretary General Jemima Banda has taken a swipe at his Patriotic Front (PF ) counterpart Winter Kabimba’s attacks on first President Kenneth Kaunda.

Mr Banda said in a statement received by ZANIS, today, that the first republican President Dr. Kaunda has the right to advise politicians to practice clean politics in the country.

The UNIP Acting Secretary General said Mr. Kabimba should not be excited on the matter as the former head of state’s statement was not meant to injure anyone.

“Dr. Kaunda statement was rather constructive advice to anybody who cares to listen,” Mr. Banda added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Banda challenged Mr. Kabimba to just explain how he acquired properties in Independence Avenue, one on Njoka Road and Taverns which he turned into business Centre.

“Lusaka residents would like to know who shared Council properties during his reign as Town Clerk,” he said.

ZANIS

Speaking on arrival at Livingstone Airport this morning to officially open the 2010 high court session, Mr. Kunda said government will this year change the legal system to make Zambia a better destination for doing business.

He said the year 2010 should be a year of hard work from all Zambians in order to make the country better and prosperous economically.

He said government has done its best to change the budget cycle adding that there should be no excuses for not using the budget fully this year by those tasked to implement the developmental projects.

Mr. Kunda said business houses, individuals and other stakeholders should take advantage of the attractive business environment prevailing in the country and focus of effective service delivery.

He thanked people of Livingstone for their hard work in 2009.

Mr. Kunda is expected to address a rally in Kazungula district later in the day.

And Mr. Kunda, who is also Minister of Justice, said 2010 is a year of strengthening MMD party structures, rejuvenate and mobilize more people in readiness for the 2011 general elections.

Mr. Kunda is accompanied by Local Government Minister, Eustarckio Kazonga, Justice Deputy Minister Todd Chilembo and Livestock and Fisheries Minister Bradford Machila.

On hand to receive the Vice President at was Southern Province Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Chairperson Solomon Muzyamba.

And Mr. Muzyamba commended President Rupiah Banda for performing well in the just ended 2009.

He said the party in the province would continue supporting President Banda’s leadership for continued economic development in the country.
On recent resignations of some members from MMD, Mr. Muzyamba said the party was not shaken at all.

He however said MMD will continue to mobilize people adding that those that resigned were rejects.

Mr. Muzyamba thanked the Vice President for visiting the people of Livingstone.

THE United National Independence Party (UNIP) has said Malimba Masheke is not a party member and should not pretend to speak for UNIP.

UNIP secretary general Jemima Banda said General Masheke was a Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) member and not a spokesperson for UNIP because he had never at one time told the nation that he had resigned from FDD.

“General Masheke is FDD national chairperson and he cannot turn around today and say he was UNIP revival chairperson because he has nothing to revive in the party,” Mrs Banda said.

Mrs Banda was reacting to a statement by UNIP Revival Forum chairperson Gen Masheke that Dr Kaunda had become an MMD cadre.
She said Gen Masheke was an FDD party member and was just a desperate individual who had always been aspiring for higher positions to no avail.

She said Dr Kaunda was UNIP and the father of the nation who should embrace every president of Zambia and should be accorded the respect that was due to him.
Dr Kaunda was an icon whose footsteps should be followed by every well meaning Zambians and called on Gen Masheke to stop using the former president’s name in his ill-motives to gain his sinking political image.

And UNIP Copperbelt provincial Information and publicity secretary Brian Chishimba said Dr Kaunda who is the founding president was playing a role above politics and deserved the respect of all.
Mr Chishimba said when Dr Kaunda advises politicians, people should not be quick to condemn former head of State.

Leadership in Development executive director Moses Kalonde has also condemned some people issuing disrespectful remarks against Dr Kaunda and President Rupiah Banda.

Mr Kalonde said in Lusaka yesterday that Dr Kaunda was the father of the nation and that there was nothing wrong for him to have said that President Banda should be respected.
Meanwhile, Dr Kaunda’s special assistant for Press and public relations, Sunday Musonda has described attacks on the former head of State as misguided and unjustified.
Mr Musonda said it was sad Dr Kaunda’s critics have decided to ignore the advice given on the need to respect the office of the former president but instead has chosen to accuse him of being MMD.
“It is unfair for some politicians to attack Dr Kaunda because there is nothing wrong for him to give advice to political leaders. If the office of the president is not respected what are we telling the world,” he asked.
Mr Musonda appealed people against Dr Kaunda’s advise to either take the advise or leave it and that involving the former Heads of State in squabbles is not necessary.
He said politicians with issues with the government should not use Dr Kaunda to discredit the Government.
[Times of Zambia]

President Banda said in exercise of the powers vested in him pursuant to the provisions of Article 44(5) of the Constitution of Zambia, he has terminated the Mr Namulambe’s appointment.

The President has thanked Mr. Namulambe on behalf of the Zambian people, for the services that he rendered to the nation during the period he served in various portfolios in Government.

This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS by the President’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere in Lusaka today.

ZANIS

Ruling MMD Acting spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti says the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) will by next week hold a meeting to re-strategise the party in readiness for the 2011 tripartite elections.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS,Mulongoti said that the NEC meeting would table important issues affecting the ruling party.

He said the MMD secretariat has already sunctioned the meeting and would be held soon.

Mr. Mulongoti who could whoever not disclosed what would be on the agenda of the meeting said it will be during the same meeting that the date will be decided for the much anticipated MMD national convention .

He said the party would during the meeting review last year’s performance of the party and try to come up with the work plan for this year.

He has meanwhile said the party is encouraging the lower organs to start holding elections once they are ready and in preparations for the national convention and the 2011 elections.

Mr. Mulongoti who is also Works and Supply Minster said the party is not shaken by the recent resignation of some of its members in the party.

He said the resignation of the members is because they have failed to bring change in the party and they want to try other challenges elsewhere.

He said resignation are more common during elections time adding that there is a massive movement of people from one party to another when its near election time as seen from others also defecting to the position and joining the MMD.

Mr. Mulongoti said the MMD respects the views of the people that have resigned from either parties but urged them to move quietly without condemning the parties they have ditched.

ZANIS

Former State House Press Aide, Richard Sakala has castigated the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) for demanding the resignation of Director of Public Relations (DPP) Chalwe Muchenga.

Mr. Sakala said the demand by LAZ for the DPP to resign is not only illegal but and irregular but also shows the worst hypocrisy on the part of LAZ.

He has since accused the association of being politically inclined.

Mr. Sakala said this at press briefing in Lusaka today where he also launched his book “Mockery of Justice” experience with the criminal justice system (2001-2008)

The former State House Press Aide said he was disturbed that LAZ was becoming political instead of instead of defending the constitutions of Zambia .

He said he was jailed by the now disbanded Tasks Force on corruption which was an illegal entity but the LAZ failed to act on it despite him requesting its intervention.

He said LAZ appears to be very selective in the cause they champion accusing them of been silent and turning a blind eye to gross abuses.[quote]

Mr. Sakala has since called on LAZ to be fair in the dealing arguing them to uphold the constitution of Zambia.

“I was personally prosecuted and sent to prison by the task force on corruption which was totally an illegal and unconstitutional body.

” I wrote to LAZ for their intervention but my complaint has been left pending on their file. This is neither just, fair nor proper “he said.

Mr. Sakala has also called for the opening of investigations in the establishment of the task force on corruption where more than US$ 25 million was spend.

He charged that LAZ are now attempting to demonize and eliminate the Vice President as a way to divert attention from the gross financial and legal abuses by the Task force.

Mr. Sakala has also observed that unfair and unbalanced stance by LAZ and some section of the media have the potential to disrupt the peace and order the country has enjoyed since independence.

ZANIS

Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) cadres in Mazabuka yesterday stormed Mazabuka community radio station and ordered staff in the newsroom to immediately suspend a live phone in programme in which the station featured their provincial chairperson Opper Hamiyanze.

The cadres who were led by District chairperson, Nelson Simbule and Provincial youth chairman, Brave Mweetwa forced their way into the newsroom at 12:20 hours, directed reporters to stop the programme failure to which they would enter the studio to ‘ evict’ Mr Hamiyanze.

Reporters had to abandon the radio station for fear of possible harassment from the cadres since the suspension of the programme could only be sunctioned by Station manager who was at the time of the fracas out of the station.

PF cadres chanted anti- Hamiyanze slogans as they waited for their superiors to force Mr Hamiyanze from the studio though their demands could not be heeded too.

The cadres briefly turned the community radio station into a political battle field as they hurled insults and prepared themselves for a pysical fight with Mr. Hamiyanze.

However, the cadres fled in their hired car after word went round that Police were on their way to effect their arrest.

Police who arrived at the radio sation later found a skeleton of senior PF party officials under a mango tree waiting for Mr. Hamiyanze to finish the interview.

The police led by District Crimininal Investigation officer, Peter Chibanda and station inspector Mufaya only interviewed the reporters and left at 13:30 hours.

Provincial youth chairman, Brave Mweetwa told ZANIS in Mazabuka, the district and provincial party officials took such drastic action because Mr Hamiyanze had no moral right to discuss isssues involving the PF when he had resigned to join the political party linked to Luena Independent member of parliament, Charles Milupi.

He said the party officials were bitter with Mr Hamiyanze for masquerading as PF provincial chairperson when he did not hold any position.

Mr Mweetwa said the PF is fully aware of the activities of Mr Hamiyanze whom he accused of having been holding dark corner meetings to incite district and provincial party officials to defect from the PF.

He however said the PF leadership in the province is happy that all the district officials talked too by Mr Hamiyanze have refused to accept resign.

Mazabuka radion station manager, Belon Chintombwa said the bevaviour of the PF cadres was unacceptable as it is infringement of Mr Hamiyanze’s right to freedom of speech.

Mr Chintombwa said it was unfortunate that the cadres decided block the programme when Hamiyanze did not say anything bad about the PF leadership except to campaign for the forthcoming PF provincial elections.

During the interview, Opper Hamiyanze, who is Patriotic Front (PF) Southern Province chairperson, called on the PF national leadership to immediately announce the date for its convention.

Mr Hamiyanze warned that he will be forced to resign from the PF if the party does go the convention before the tripartite election next year.[quote]

He said that opposition political parties should learn to exercise the tenets of democracy which demand that all positions in the political structures should be challenged during party elections.

Mr Hamiyanze also condemned the violent behaviour by some cadres who stormed the newsroom at the community radio station.

He said the presenter of the programme dubbed Live Wire, Joe Pandwe had to consult him if he was comfortable with the noise by cadres who were demanding that the programme be suspended.

Mr Hamiyanze accused his opponent challenging him for the position of Provincial chairperson as being behind the fracas and hiring of cadres to denounce him.

He said his opponent allegedly hired call boys and bought beer for them to beat him up in a bid to frustrate him from defending his position.

Mr Hamiyanze has since challenged PF leader Micheal Sata to condemn the violence that erupted at the community radio station.

He also urged Zambians not to support political parties whose leaders preach violence because it has no place in a democratic society.

Meanwhile, Mr Hamiyanze has also denied claims by the district and Provincial leadership that he had resigned to join the party linked to Luena Independent member of parliament, Charles Milupi.

He said he is still a staunch PF member adding that no amount of intimidation would force out of the party.

But PF Provoncial youth chairperson, Brave Mweetwa told ZANIS the party has enough evidence to prove the allegations.