MMD national chairperson Michael Mabenga has said it is unfortunate that the MMD party convention ignited a lot of debate at the beginning of last year but that the party will go by its constitution which gives the leadership elected at the convention a five year term of office.

Mr Mabenga also said during the Radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk programme monitored in Ndola yesterday that the party had not lost president Levy Mwanawasa’s legacy and continued to implement the MMD manifesto of 2006 to 2011.

He appeared on the radio show together with deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande.

He said the MMD which held the convention in July 2005 would only be going for the convention in July this year or even slightly after that, depending on the guidance from the national executive committee (NEC).

“For me the convention is not cardinal. What is important is keeping the party together but once NEC decides, our members will be informed. We need to also involve the grassroots in whatever the party is doing,” he said.

Asked to comment on the fears that the party’s top leadership may hijack the whole process, especially that people like Mr Mabenga allegedly did not want the convention to go ahead, Mr Kaande chipped in and said the issue was neither here nor there because it was the leadership, including the grassroots level, that consented by making the decision.

“The leadership in MMD has not said there will be no convention. What happened was that the provincial leaderships were the ones that started petitioning to waive the convention and endorsed President Rupiah Banda as a sole candidate so that money can be saved for 2011 campaigns. It was difficult for us to refuse that,” Mr Kaande said.[quote]

He said it was, however, the duty of the NEC to guide on that matter as all the petitions would still be tabled before the NEC.

Mr Mabenga said the MMD would not intimidate anyone trying to challenge President Banda at the convention.
He refuted claims that the MMD had lost the vision of which it was formed, saying the party had carried on with the vision of transforming the national economy.

On the continuation of Dr Mwanawasa’s legacy, Mr Kaande said the legacy was intact, especially that President Banda had carried on with the same 2006 to 2011 MMD manifesto left by the late president.

Asked by moderator Kenneth Maduma as to whether the recent defections by the likes of former Gender minister Patricia Mulasikwanda and others was a sign of a sinking Titanic, Mr Kaande said such people were political tourists who left the party after failing to get what they wanted.

Mr Mabenga said the MMD was not worried by individual defections.

He said President Banda did not at any time during the 2008 presidential by-election campaigns promise that he would choose a vice-president from Western Province.

On the relationship between the MMD and the Lamba chiefs, Mr Mabenga said like chiefs from any other provinces, the party’s relationship with Lambas, including former Science and Technology minister Gabriel Namulambe, was intact and it was the responsibility of the party to embrace everybody in the country.

[Times of Zambia]

Vice President George Kunda says the Indian Government has been very supportive to Zambia through technical assistance in various fields that have benefited the country.

Mr. Kunda said that India has been helpful to Zambia in many areas including the provision of flood relief and food aid, irrigation schemes for the development of small scale farms, scholarships and training in various fields among others.

He was happy to note that there are still many other opportunities that the Indian government has offered to participating African counties under the India-Africa partnership forum for Zambia to tap into.

The Vice President said this in Lusaka this evening at the Intercontinental Hotel during a dinner hosted in honour of visiting Indian Vice President Shri Hamid Ansari.

Mr. Ansari is in Zambia for a two day visit. He ‘s accompanied by his wife Salma and at the same time heading a 50 man delegation comprising business persons and Parliamentarians.

Mr Kunda said that the Zambian Government will remain an active participant of India- Africa forum to strengthen the Zambian economy.

” May I commended the Indian government for partnering with African countries under the landmark initiative of the Africa-India partnership forum,” he said.

The Vice President further noted that India, which is an emerging super power, has proved itself worth emulating in many areas due to its economic growth and technological progress.

He prticulary said India’s innovations and ingenuity especially in the information communications and technology (ICT) sector have been outstanding and rewarding.

He said at political level, India has been a beacon of democracy as it is a thriving multi-party system which allows political parties to compete favourably.

Mr Kunda said Zambia is proud to be associated with India which he said has achieved so much over the years and earned herself a well deserved title of the largest democracy in the world.

He noted that the two countries have maintained close relations over the years that are underpinned by both countries’ Commonwealth ties and shared membership.

He said the two countries have maintained joint cooperation under the Zambia/India joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPC) in a number of mutually agreed areas including transport, agriculture, infrastructure development and many more.

The Zambian Vice President further noted that it was impressive that the Indian businesses continue to find Zambia an attractive and viable destination for their investment owing to the large number of Indian investors in the country.

Meanwhile, Indian Vice President Mr Ansari says his government has great admiration for Zambia for being the leading example of how people can live in peace and harmony.

He noted that India and Zambia have for a long time been strong allies in the fight colonialism and other social – economic vices including current concerns of climate change.

Mr Ansari noted that bilateral relations between his country and Zambia have continued to develop in economy, technology adding that there is need to develop the cooperation even further in power, medium and small industries including education and telecommunication.

He pledged that his government would continue to extend its lines of cooperation investment covering many sectors in need.

The Indian Vice President who arrived in the country today , accompanied by his wife and other government officials, will be in the country until Thursday and will among other things hold discussions and loan signing agreements before departure.

During his two day visit, the Indian vice president will also call on president Banda as well as hold discussions with his Zambian counterpart on bilateral, international and issues of Mutual interest.

He will lead a 55 strong delegation which will include Members of Parliament and Business personal.

ZANIS

The Police Service says it has not received any complaint to start investigations into the harassment of Journalists by suspected PF cadres at Mazabuka radio station.

Spokesperson, Bonny Kapeso, told ZNBC that there has been no formal complaint against the cadres so far.

He however said police can only open an inquiry file to find out what really transpired at the radio station.

On Saturday, PF cadres stormed Mazabuka community radio station and ordered staff in the newsroom to immediately suspend a live phone in programme.

The programme featured Opper Hamiyanze, who claims to be Southern Province PF chairperson.

On the live programme, Mr Hamiyanze called for a PF national convension before the 2011 general elections, but this angered party cadres in the area.

Media Bodies have called on the police to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the violence against journalists at Mazabuka radio station last Saturday.

[ZNBC]

Government has released over K3 trillion budgetary allocation to 67 city and district councils in the country for their 2010 budget expenditure.

Local Government and Housing Minister Eustarckio Kazonga disclosed at a press briefing in Lusaka today that five councils will not benefit because they failed to submit their 2009 budget expenditure reports to the ministry.

Dr. Kazonga named the five district councils as Livingstone, Sinazongwe, Mungwi, Mansa and Mwense district councils respectively.

He urged the councils that have not submitted their 2009 expenditure to do so before the end of March 2010 to enable the ministry evaluate their spending.

And Dr Kazonga has announced an increase in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from K600 million to K666 million per constituency.

He said his ministry has finalized the process of transferring CDF and grants which include recurrent and restructuring to constituencies and councils’ bank accounts.

Dr Kazonga has since directed all town clerks and council secretaries for city, municipal and district councils to check for the funds in their accounts in various commercial banks countrywide.

He said the funds should be utilized for the intended purposes and applied to the deserving projects, programmes and activities in compliance with the local authorities’ regulations.

The Minister further warned that government will not condone misuse of these funds saying the law will visit anyone found wanting.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kazonga revealed that government also released the remaining K110 billion that was approved by parliament in the 2009 national budget for grants to councils from his ministry.

He said the disbursement of government grants to councils, statutory and other institutions under his ministry increased significantly in 2009 as compared to previous years.

He said this was the first time all the approved budgeted grants to councils have been released in full by government through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to his ministry.

Dr. Kazonga said it was encouraging that this was done despite the global meltdown which did not spare the country.

He explained that government’s support to councils is meant to strengthening their capacities to provide services to local communities and to supplement their locally generated incomes in meeting their recurrent operational costs.

He further said government would soon release an additional K21.4 billion to 18 selected councils in the country as capital grants.

ZANIS