The MMD in Kasama Central Constituency has accused its Provincial Youth Chairperson, Danny Chisanga, of being used by forces opposed to President Rupiah Banda’s administration.

MMD Kasama Central Constituency Chairperson, Nathan Ilunga, said this in reacting to Mr Chisanga’s calls for the resignation of Provincial MMD Chairperson, Griver Sikasote, whom he blamed for the loss of the Kasama Central Parliamentary seat.

In a press statement availed to ZANIS in Kasama today, Mr Ilunga charged that the party was aware of Mr Chisanga’s dealings.

Squabbles erupt in MMD camp in Kasama

Mr Ilunga said Mr Chisanga was nearly lynched by irate party officials during their last extra-ordinary provincial conference when he was heard chanting the name of one of the presidential aspirants.

Mr Ilunga has since advised Mr Chisanga to consider resigning from the party instead of calling for the resignation of Provincial Chairperson, Mr Sikasote, as he was still popular.

He said Mr Sikasote, as Provincial Chairperson, has sacrificed a lot to organise the party in the province even in the absence of party funding.

He accused Mr Chisanga of having lamentably failed the youths in the province because of his weakness which was evidenced during the 2006 general elections when he contested the Mpika Central seat and lost.

Mr Ilunga charged that Mr Chisanga has also failed to account for the money he collected on behalf of the youths during the 2007 card-renewal exercise held at Kasama Boys’ High School.

He added that Mr Chisanga, as Provincial Youth Chairperson, should be ashamed that MMD party structures were non-existent in Mpika where he lives.

The MMD Provincial Youth Chairperson was recently quoted as demanding the immediate resignation of Mr Sikasote.

ZANIS

Government says negotiations between government and Total International for the possible takeover Indeni Refinery are still on going.

Energy and water Development Minister Kenneth Konga told parliament this morning that it is true that government will take over ownership of the refinery to improve the supply of fuel in the country.

Mr. Konga dispelled claims that the shortage of petrol which is currently being experienced in the country was due to Total International which is disposing off its shares to government.

He explained that the current fuel crisis has nothing to do with the pulling out of the Total International from Indeni adding that the situation is as a result of the refinery catalysts and other attendant components.

He told parliament that once government and Total International conclude the negations government will make an appropriate announcement to the public on the way forward.

The minister said the Refinery will continue operating the way it has always operated.

He also assured that government will ensure that it finds a creditable partner and ensure that jobs for workers at the oil refinery are protected.

And responding to a question from Luwena Member of parliament Charles Milipi who wanted to know the value of Indeni Refinery and if government had already acquired the 50 percent shares from Total International for total ownership, Mr. Konga told the house that the value of Indeni Refinery has not yet been established since negations were still on going between the government and Total International.

ZANIS

A Freedom fighter has advised Zambians to celebrate the country’s 45 years of Independence in peace and harmony.

Dr. Peter Matoka says this is the best way to remember the freedom fighters that lost their lives during the liberation struggle.

Dr. Matoka says Zambia is a Christian nation and therefore citizens must cherish the peace that the country has enjoyed for the past 45 years.

He stated that the colonial rule in Zambia was a period of division and rule where different chiefdoms were played off each other by the colonial government.

Dr. Matoka was speaking when he officiated at Lake Road PTA School to mark 45 years of Independence whose theme is “Celebrating 45 years of Independence in the spirit of reconciliation and good neighborliness”.

Dr. Matoka said it is important for young ones to know what the words in the National Anthem mean because the words contain wisdom.

He disclosed that much of this country’s population was mobilized to mine the minerals with the sole purpose of enriching the colonial power when copper was discovered in the mid 1920s.

Dr. Matoka explained that the state of affairs gave rise to growing racial tension during the colonial era.

Zambia will tomorrow commemorate her 45 years of independence.

[ZANIS]

The Centre for Elections and Governance (CEG) has urged Former Defence and Finance Ministers George Mpombo and Ng’andu Magande not to force the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) to go for a convention.

CEG Trustee Gershom Musonda says the two former Ministers should not force the ruling party to go for a convention as the party has stated before that it has no money to hold a convention.

Mr. Musonda told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today Mr. Mpombo and Mr. Magande should know and understand that forcing a convention could result in the ruling party using public resources.

The CEG Trustee said the MMD needs to be given time adding that not going for a convention now does not mean that the MMD will not go for a convention.

Meanwhile, Mr. Musonda has called upon the MMD to maintain Republican President Rupiah Banda as it candidate in the 2011 general elections.

He said MMD would make a mistake if it adopts another candidate rather than the incumbent President.

Mr. Musonda has since challenged the MMD to intensify its campaigns especially in rural areas.

Former Defence and Finance Ministers George Mpombo and Ng’andu Magande have been calling the MMD to consider going for a convention to enable the party choose a presidential candidate for the 2011 general elections.

[ZANIS]

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says it is still waiting for funding from government to commence the continuous voter registration.

ECZ Public Relations Manager Chris Akufuna told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the commission has submitted its budget requirement to government to start the exercise and it is waiting for a response.

Mr. Akufuna said the commission had earlier indicated that it will start the exercise in October but this has however been mired by lack of funds.

He said the ECZ was allocated K5 billion by government from the 2009 national budget but the money was not enough to carry out the exercise.

Mr. Akufuna said the commission now needs about K48 billion to commence the exercise in the country.

The ECZ was scheduled to commence the exercise in June after parliament had approved the budget allocation in March this year but ECZ had pushed it to October.

Government has allocated 128.5 billion in next year’s budget towards the continuous voter exercise and the national registration exercise.

ZANIS

This satirical imitation comically shows Hitler as a staunch supporter of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, MMD. He reacts angrily when he hears that the that the MMD lost the Kasama Parliamentary Bye-Ellections. The parody was sent in by an LT blogger just for laughs.