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

The Ex miners Welfare Trust Association ( EMWTA) has appointed Dr Chiluba as the patron of the association with immediate effect.

And the ex-miners has clarified Dr. Chiluba’s recent visit on the Copperbelt which had sparked a political debate.

Association president Mr Alik Phiri said his association has decide to engage Dr. Chiluba as its patron to ask government to assist them acquire the dump sites in Chingola, Mufulira, Kalulushi, Chililabombwe and Kitwe as directed by the late President Levy Mwanawasa.

Mr. Phiri said because of several challenges being faced by the ex-miners, the Association resolved to engage Dr.Chiluba as their patron to assist them in resolving their problems with government.

The EMWTA President said this in Kitwe today at a press briefing held at Lotus Inn.

He said it had been difficult to discuss the plight of former miners with ministers and working with the former president will make their lives ease.

The miners also intend to talk to the first republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda to intervene in their welfare as the two heads of state are trusted and experienced citizens.

‘‘The association is appealing to government to expedite the giving of dump site to miners because the demand is not new to the current leadership as the directive was issued at the time when president Banda was the vice president, now why the delay?’’ Mr Phiri asked.

The former miners were also complaining of poor state of roads, high cost of living and delay in issuing of farm land by government which they said have disadvantaged business prospects.

On Dr Chiluba’s recent visit to the Copperbelt, the EMWTA President said the visit was initiated by five former miners associations namely the Miner’s welfare trust ( M.W.T ), Copperbelt small scale of miners association (C.S.S.M.A ), Chintu Kulya association for the welfare of former miners in Zambia ( C.K.A.W.F.M.Z) and the Chingola small scale mining association (C.S.S.M.A).

Mr. Phiri maintained that the association invited the former president to the meeting to discuss the various challenges that have dogged former miners on the Copperbelt since it had proved difficult to access the office of President Banda to air their grievances.

He stated that at the meeting the issues which were highlighted were centered on welfare of ex miners and not political issues as reported by some sections of the media.

‘‘We want Dr Chiluba to be our conveyor belt between the government and the association because he can pass on our grievances easily to the office of the President,’’ Mr. Phiri said.
ZANIS

The National Revolutionary Party (NRP) will not go into an alliance with any political party which has not yet held its convention ahead of the 2011 tripartite elections.

Party President Cosmo Mumba told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that it was the wish of the party to see not more than three candidates contesting the Republican Presidency in the 2011 elections.
Mr Mumba said this would minimize the splitting of votes which he said has always disadvantaged the opposition parties.

He disclosed that his party has already started identifying Local and Parliamentary candidates for the 2011 tripartite elections in all the 150 constituencies.

He said so far, the party has picked a Mr. Charles Mwelwa for Mwense Constituency in Luapula Province adding that next week the party will be selecting a Parliamentary candidate for Kanyama Constituency in Lusaka province.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mumba has said his party is in a serious financial crisis and appealed to all party members to help raise funds in preparation for the tripartite elections.

And Mr Mumba has appealed to All People’s Congress Party president Kenny Ngondo, UPND member Clive Chirwa and National Democratic Focus (NDF) president Benny Mwila to join his party so that they could form a formidable force which would be able to liberate Zambia from the shackles of poverty.

In another development, Mr. Mumba has hailed President Rupiah Banda on government’s initiative to build houses for police officers.

He said it is important that this project is extended to all provinces and districts in the country so that accommodation problems faced by Police officers are minimized.

“When police officers are living in poor sanitary conditions, it breeds corruption which is rampant in the police service”, said Mr Mumba.

He lamented that police officers are doing a noble job for the country and as such, need to be looked after very well.

ZANIS