UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema has said his party supports Chinese investments and would work to harmonise it’s position with that of Patriotic Front (PF).
Mr Hichilema said in Lusaka yesterday that the UPND had always believed in investments from any country without any discrimination and would stick to that because Zambia could only develop through increased investments.
Answering a question from a journalist on the matter after a Press briefing, the UPND leader was quick to point out that what needed to be looked at was the current labour laws and their enforcement to ensure that the country only supported progressive investments without any regard to the country of origin.
He said he was aware that the PF had a different approach to the issue but the two parties would harmonise their respective positions to come up with a common view for the PF-UPND Pact.
PF, particularly its leader Michael Sata, is overtly opposed to Chinese investments in the country.
But Mr Hichilema said investments by the Chinese were as good as those by other people from other countries and should not be discriminated on the basis of origin.
Mr Hichilema, who insisted that there were no differences between the two parties on Chinese investments, however, emphasised on harmonisation and consistency.

He said there was need to strengthen local labour laws and their enforcement to ensure the investments, regardless of their origins, did not lead to mistreatment of Zambian workers by subjecting them to poor working conditions.
Mr Hichilema said people should not be scared of the Chinese investments saying when coming into the country the Chinese corporate people followed the stipulated laws and if there was any problem in the way they carried out their businesses, it was because of weaknesses in the law.
He said as separate independent entities, the PF and the UPND could have different approaches to achieving their common vision for the nation, hence the need for harmonisation.
Earlier, when welcoming former Gender minister, Patricia Mulasikwanda and some other people into UPND, Mr Hichilema called for unity of purpose in the country saying politics of regionalism would not help develop Zambia.
He said the issue of regionalism, like tribalism could divide the country and was retrogressive, saying the UPND would continue championing nationalism to advance its vision for the country.

But acting MMD spokesperson Mike Mulongoti has advised Ms Mulasikwanda and other former ministers to exhibit political maturity, high moral values and stop resorting to unfair attacks on the Government.
“People like Ms Mulasikwanda should be grateful to the MMD that after joining the party she was nominated as Cabinet minister by former president Levy Mwanawasa and therefore attacking and insulting the programmes which she was part of will not in any way help her or the nation,” he said.
Others who officially joined the UPND yesterday were former Defence deputy minister, Patricia Nawa, a Ms Beatrice Kwendakwema and a Ms Katenekwa Banda.

Times Reporter

MEMBERS of a grassroots agricultural association have resolved to support the MMD during the 2011 general elections because of the current sound agricultural policies from which they have benefited greatly.
Members of Zambia Small Scale Farmers Network from all the nine provinces in the resolved this in Lusaka at the weekend when they launched the “MMD agricultural Policy Beyond 2011”.

Network president Boyd Lyambai said in an interview yesterday that the members resolved to rally behind the ruling party after thorough scrutiny of the manifestos of the major political parties in Zambia.
Mr Lyambai said the network, which he said had 375,000 members, brought together provincial representatives who, on behalf of the general membership, resolved to support the MMD in 2011 general elections.
“We have decided to support the MMD during the 2011 general elections because of its sound agricultural policies from which the members have greatly benefited,” he said.

He said that as a farmer organisation the network was interested in the party which could continue empowering the members, through the provision of affordable and accessible agricultural inputs which the MMD currently achieving.
Mr Lyambai said the members looked at the United Party for National Development (UPND) manifesto, through which the party pledges to provide inputs free of charge to the farmers for the first two to three years but considered the feasibility of the issue, wondering where the party would get the resource for the 100 per cent subsidy.

On the Patriotic Front (PF), he said the party manifesto did not cater for farmers but just emphasised on putting the money in people’s pockets which would not benefit the farmers.

By Times Reporter

Government says the formation of a new political party to be headed by Luena independent Member of Parliament does not pose a threat to President Rupiah Banda’s administration because it is a regional party.

Chief Government Spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha said the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), which is a party in government, is a national party spread all over the country.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha told ZANIS in Mazabuka through a telephone interview that it is for this reason that the new party was not a threat to government.

He said government was also fully aware of Luena MP, Charles Milupi’s intentions to form the party, adding that government was also aware of it’s strengths and weaknesses.

“ We are not scared of the new party now and even in future but what I can assure Mr. Milupi is that his tribal party is not going anywhere and will equally be challenged by other individuals,’’ he said.

Lt. Gen Shikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, however said government does not encourage the formation of political parties on tribal lines because such developments were responsible for the current divisions in the country.

He said while government has created a conducive and democratic political environment for individuals to form political parties of their choice, the formation of political groupings should be for all tribes in order to unite the country.

He further noted that Mr. Milupi’s party will also be challenged by other political groupings since the country enjoys a democratic political system.

General Shikapwasha was reacting to Mr. Milupi, who stated during a Live Phone in programme on Mazabuka’s Community Radio station that President Band’s administration has been panicking over the formation of a new political party.

During the radio programme, Mr. Milupi alleged that government has been issuing negative statements to discourage people from joining it because it was made up of vibrant personalities.

He said the new political party, which will be launched soon, will offer an alternative leadership to salvage the country from its economic doldrums.

ZANIS

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has expressed disappointment with the manner political parties especially the opposition are handling controversial issues pertaining to elections.

FODEP President, Stanley Mhango told ZANIS in Mazabuka yesterday, that it sad and disappointing to note that the opposition parties are now concentrating on trading insults at the expense of lobbying government to address legal impediments that hinder the holding of free and fair elections.

Mr. Mhango said currently, the department of National Registration is carrying out a countrywide issuance of national registration cards but regretted that opposition political parties are not doing enough to encourage their members to obtain the NRCs.

He said the insults, accusations and counter accusations on government concerning the issuance of NRCs in their strongholds is not inspiring voters to participate in the electoral process.

He said the issuance of NRCs is crucial in the electoral process as people cannot register as voters without NRCs.

Mr. Mhango said the opposition only wanted to complain at the eleventh hour.

He said real issues such as the enforcement of the electoral code of conduct, access to public media have been ignored by the opposition but want to bring them up during election period.

Mr. Mhango observed that holding elections under the current legal regime will be disastrous unless the opposition political parties engaged government in serious dialogue on reviewing the electoral laws.

He, however, said instead of offering alternative policies, checks and balances the opposition are concentrating their efforts on hurling insults.

ZANIS

Luena Independent Member of Parliament, Charles Milupi has challenged opposition political parties not to direct their energies on removing the MMD from power but offer practical solutions that will improve the economy of the country.

And Mr. Milupi has said politics of insults being perpetuated by some political leaders is not helping the country to move forward.

He says politicians aspiring to lead the country should convince the voters by defining their plans to move the country economically as well as programmes aimed at reducing poverty.

Mr. Milupi who was speaking in Mazabuka when he featured on radio Mazabuka’s Live Wire programme yesterday said it is disappointing to note that politicians are instead engaged in trading insults without offering solutions on how they are going to revive the economy once voted into office.

He said he had a discussion with the PF-UPND leadership but declined to join the pact because of the different visions for the economic development of the country.

Mr. Milupi explained that until the agenda for the pact is reviewed, he would not join the PF-UPND pact.

He said among the issues he raised were that he would only join a political party with national wide support and that gives confidence to the people.

Mr. Milupi urged Zambians to be careful with some political leaders engaged in trading insults at the expense of defining what they are capable of doing to improve the economy.

He warned that while some political parties have huge support, Zambians should not experiment leadership because some leaders may plunge the country into serious economic problems which will be difficult to handle.

Mr. Milupi who openly declared that he is capable of running the affairs of the country, however said, a new political grouping to be launched soon is an alternative to ending the high poverty levels and under development in the country.

Meanwhile, a named senior provincial PF leader and an MMD party official were spotted at radio Mazabuka and offered a lift by Mr. Milupi to a secret place where they had lunch together.

The PF official had difficulties to accept that he was a PF provincial executive committee member when asked by the presenter of the of the programme.

ZANIS