National Constitution Conference Spokesperson Mwangala Zaloumis has advised government to make education a universal right for all citizens since the NCC has adopted a clause for aspiring presidential candidates to have a degree.

Mrs. Zaloumis noted that the position of president needs someone who can articulate issues on a higher level adding that the clause is an encouragement for people aspiring for presidency to work hard.

She observed that things have slowly changed in the world hence the need for leaders in higher offices to be enlightened.

Mrs. Zaloumis was speaking when she featured on ‘Let the people talk’ programme on radio Phoenix today together with newly appointed MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya and opposition PF spokesperson Given Lubinda.

Mrs. Zaloumis said the clause is not meant to discriminate against the poor or to hinder opposition PF leader Michael Sata as seen by sections of society.

She said the fact that Mr Sata has a degree is encouraging adding that the opposition leader has not been just sitting but studying in readiness to contest for the republican presidency.

And MMD spokesperson Siliya said the 50 plus one advocates should realise that the clause is a recipe for anarchy in many countries where it has been practice.

Ms Siliya said if the people of Zambia says the referendum is costly for the nation, they should also realise how expensive it would be for the nation to go for a re – election in a case where the contestants fail to reach 50+ 1 per cent mark.

She however disclosed that it was the opposition MPs attending the NCC who pushed for the degree clause to be enshrined in the constitution.

And FP Spokesperson Given Lubinda said that his party will not rescind its decision on the NCC and will not fall pray to the ruling party’s strategy to destabilize the pact through some article of the NCC.

Mr Lubinda however said MMD should be ready to apologize to the people of Zambia should the constitution be a waist of taxpayers’ money in the end.

ZANIS

Ndola residents have received the first degree requirement for a presidential candidate with mixed feelings.

In an interview with ZANIS in Ndola today some residents were against the requirement saying that it was discriminatory while others felt it was necessary to have an educated leader.

Robert Mbewe said the requirement was necessary because modern politics and economic dynamics needed a leader whose mind was of a certain academic appreciation to grasp the sophistication in politics.

Mr. Mbewe said education was key to a clear thinking and realistic approach to national matters.

He said taking a leaf from many countries whose leaders have university degree qualifications was testimony enough that a leader with University degree was an asset for the country and those he was leading.

And Gibson Chinunka said a first degree requirement was a political tool to bar certain political leaders not to aspire for the top political position in the land.

He said the first degree was just the beginning of making the presidential position exclusively for the rich and those who had certain attainments no matter how they acquired them to victimize the less privileged.

Mr. Chinunka said eventually they would even call for qualifications from selected Universities to prevent perceived political challengers from meeting them on the same platform.

He added that University degree should not be used as a yardstick for leadership because some people were endowed with wisdom even to surpass those with degrees.

Mr. Chinunka added that first degree was nothing if the candidate was an upstart in politics because even in the real working world, those straight from University learn from those who have been on the job for some time.

ZANIS

Kalulushi Patriotic Front Aspiring Member of Parliament Kenny Siachisumo has condemned the National Constitution Conference(NCC) delegates for voting in favour of the clause which says only degree holder should be allowed to stand as presidential candidates.

Mr. Hachisumo told the Zambia News and Information Service in an interview in Lusaka today.

He said leadership is God given and that it does not take one to be a degree holder to rule the country well.

He said as far as he is concerned, Patriotic Front President Mr Michael Sata has got a degree in Political Science he obtained in London and that it is not a crime if he has not availed his degree to any one as he is going to do so at an appropriate time and to the relevant authority not anyhow because professional documents are secretive.

“You see, when you have some papers, you don’t go in the street announcing to every one that you have such papers”, said Mr Hachisumo.

He said the Patriotic Front leader Michael Chilufya Sata is going to stand as a presidential candidate in the forth coming tripartite elections scheduled for 2011.

The NCC recently adopted a clause for a degree for aspiring presidential candidate, a move that has disheartened sections of society.

ZANIS

The Forum for Progressive Politics (FPP) says former president Fredrick Chiluba has the right to support President Rupiah Banda in the 2011 general elections.

FPP Secretary General Charles Kafumbo said Dr. Chiluba, just like any other Zambian citizen, has the right to choose a candidate to support in an election.

He told ZANIS in Lusaka today that it was unfortunate that some people have decided to politicize Dr. Chiluba’s decision to rally behind Mr. Banda and support him in the 2011 elections.

Meanwhile, opposition Patriotic Front (PF) spokesperson Given Lubinda said Dr. Chiluba’s decision to support President Banda in the 2011 elections does not shake the PF-UPND pact in any way.

Mr. Lubinda said the pact would remain united and strong despite not getting support from the former president.
Recently, Dr. Chiluba resolved to support President Banda for the 2011 elections.
ZANIS

MMD aspiring Presidential candidate Ng’andu Magande has launched his 2010 MMD Presidential campaign which has been airing on Mazabuka Community radio station in Mazabuka District since Saturday.

According to Station manager, Belon Chintombwa, the campaign advertisement which has been composed in Bemba is encouraging all MMD delegates to the convention to vote for Mr Magande for MMD Presidency.

Mr. Chintombwa disclosed this to ZANIS in Mazabuka today when he announced that Management at Mazabuka Community radio station has suspended the broadcasting of political campaign advertisements for Mr Magande.

Mr Chintombwa said management decided to suspend the airing of Mr Magande’s political advertisements because the K 300,000 that Mr Magande paid through his agent for advertisement has been exhausted.

Mr Chintombwa disclosed that the political adverts for Mr Magande only ran for three days starting from last week on Saturday adding that the radio station will only resume the broadcast of Mr Magande’s campaign materials once payments are made for more slots.

Meanwhile, Some MMD members in Mazabuka are reportedly distributing the Curriculum Vitae for Mr Magande who is Chilanga MMD member of parliament to residents ahead of party convention.

ZANIS

MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba has castigated some of the ruling party’s national executive committee members who are fond of leaking confidential party information to the media.

And the ruling party has instituted investigations into the leaking of MMD NEC meeting proceedings to expose the perpetrators of the offence.

Dr Kalumba said it is unfortunate that every time the MMD holds its NEC meetings, some mischievous members distort what is discussed and later release it to the media.

He said this in an interview in Lusaka following an article which appeared in The Post newspaper yesterday.

Some source who attended the NEC meeting last week was quoted alleging that President Banda supported MMD cadres who threatened to harm Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi.

But Dr Kalumba said the article is misleading and is a fabrication of what really transpired in the meeting.

He said despite the party instituting security measures during meetings, some members who are traitors have continued to sneak in devices in a bid to put the name of the party into ridicule.[quote]

“We have always put in security measures when we are having important meetings and so I am disappointed with some of our colleagues who sneak in devices such as phones to distort what is being discussed and obviously they are being paid for the information they are releasing,” he said.

Dr Kalumba said members of the ruling party are supposed to be loyal and uphold the party’s rules and regulations.

He said it is sad that members who do not have the interest of the party at heart are trying to create confusion in the MMD by leaking distorted information to some sections of the media.

Dr Kalumba said the party has instituted investigations and all those involved will soon be exposed.

He said if members do not agree on what is discussed in the meeting, they are always given chance to air their views.

Dr Kalumba said the party president, Mr Banda, who chairs NEC meetings, is accommodating and allows every member of the executive to speak out on the various issues discussed.

He said it is hypocritical for traitors to rush to the press to distort NEC proceedings.

“It is very un-trustworthy of these people to go out and disclose internal matters when they are always given a chance to air their views. But obviously they are afraid to do this, hence they opt to rush to the press.

“I will get to the bottom of this issue and I’m sure the President wants to see the people who are doing this to be exposed because what they are doing is not good for the party,” he said.

Dr Kalumba warned that he will discipline members who will be found wanting.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

First Lady Thandiwe Banda has appealed to the people of the United States of America to take advantage of Zambia’s conducive political and business environment to invest in the country. Mrs. Banda has also reiterated that Zambians consider peace as an essential ingredient for current and future development initiatives hence they promote it.

She was speaking in Beverly Hills at the Fox Entertainment Studios in Los Angeles, USA, last night at a cocktail party held in her honour by the Fox Entertainment Group.Mrs. Banda, who is here at the invitation of a not-for profit organization, Prevent Hate, is accompanied by 13 Zambian businesswomen who were today scheduled to attend an entrepreneurial workshop.

The workshop is aimed at fostering business linkages between Zambians and their Los Angeles counterparts.
At the cocktail party that was attended by an array of Hollywood stars and business persons, Mrs. Banda said Zambia was an ideal investment destination because of its political stability, abundant natural resources and enabling business atmosphere.

She emphasized that it was important that Zambians and the business persons of Los Angeles took advantage of the twin-city relationship that has existed between Los Angeles and Lusaka since 1968. And Fox Entertainment Group senior vice-president Mitsy Wilson said her organization was honoured to host Mrs. Banda who was accompanied by Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala.

And in an interview with Fox News, Mrs. Banda said peace was an asset that Zambians could not afford to lose as there were many lessons from many African countries about what would happen in the event of turmoil.
Mrs. Banda told anchor Susan Hirasuna that Zambian people were determined to preserve their peace, which was why she would keep on being a crusader of peace initiatives, hence her acceptance to Prevent Hate’s invitation.

While here, Mrs. Banda has visited the Jenesse Centre for Domestic Violence, a modern shelter for victims of violence where they receive comprehensive services such as job training, counseling and legal help. The first lady’s delegation has also toured the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust with the aim of creating an understanding between Zambians and the Los Angeles Jewish community.

Mrs. Banda, who arrived here last Thursday, also spent time with Zambians living in California at social evening hosted at the residence of Mr. Kalima Chimpampwe where Zambian athlete Prince Mumba was among the guests. Mrs. Banda urged the Zambians here to invest their earnings in Zambia so as to contribute to the country’s development.

And president of the Association of Zambians in California, Mwelwa Mulenga, appealed for the establishment of a consular in California, saying the state had a population of over 4,000 Zambians.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Banda yesterday attended church service at the West Angeles Cathedral at the invitation of Bishop Charles E Blake. Mrs. Banda was given time to address the congregants and in her speech, she thanked Bishop Blake for supporting African children through his charity, Save Africa’s Children.
ZANIS