PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has told MMD members agitating for the holding of the national convention to resign from the party and join political parties they think will hold conventions soon.

Mr Banda urged those trying to cause confusion in the party to resign than pretend to be MMD members when they were being used by the party’s enemies.

President Banda said he believed in democracy and that the MMD’s national executive committee (NEC) had, in fact, not yet met to discuss the convention.

Mr Banda was speaking when he addressed a mammoth rally to drum up support for MMD candidate Burton Mugala at Kasama’s President’s Park yesterday.

He said the MMD would do everything necessary to ensure transparency and there was no need for people to incite members to rise against the party over the issue of the convention.

“Those who want the convention and are pressing that it should be held at all costs should resign and join political parties that will hold conventions soon, if any. After all, we are two years away from the 2011 elections and the NEC has not yet met to discuss the matter.

“Do not pretend to be members of the MMD but at the same time you are being used by our enemies to rise against us because when the hour comes to discipline you, those inciting you will not be there for you. In fact, you do not know that they are the same people coming to tell me about you,” Mr Banda said.

At the same rally, Lusaka Province PF chairperson Evaristo Mulenga defected to join the ruling MMD, citing party leader Michael Sata’s dictatorial tendencies as the reason.

He said he did not regret the decision because, as a leader, he had decided not to work with a party which had completely lost the tenets of democracy.

The president welcomed Mr Mulenga, together with the 63 other PF defectors, to the MMD and advised party leaders to ensure they made the new members feel welcome in the party.

He urged the people of Kasama Central to vote for Mr Mugala and avoid voting for PF candidate Geoffrey Mwamba who was allegedly full of lies.

The president also expressed disappointment at the four youths that were arrested after allegedly being paid to go and denounce Government on Radio Mano on Teachers’ Day while masquerading as teachers.

He said he had information that two of them were actually businesspersons while one was a student from Chalimbana. He named them as Peggy Nyirenda, 32, a businesswoman, Chris Mutale, 32, businessman and John Mulenga a student.

Mr Banda wondered why Mr Sata and the UPND president Hakainde Hichilema continued hiding behind each other, instead of coming out in the open and tell the nation who would be the pact’s Presidential candidate for 2011.[quote]

Mr Banda said Mr Sata was blindly riding on Mr Hichilema’s back not knowing the UPND leader was also desperate to become president despite having lost twice.

He said the PF leader was panicking, especially that his party was broke and could not afford to sponsor a candidate. This was the reason why he adopted Mr Mwamba so he could sponsor himself.

The president said Mr Sata and Mr Mwamba knew they had lost support and resorted to issuing tribal sentiments, which had also backfired on them.

The president said suspended UPND Namwala Member of Parliament Robby Chizyuka’s move to denounce the pact in Lusaka yesterday was a major indication that the friendship between the two parties was going nowhere.

He said Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema had secretly printed respective Chitenge materials for their 2011 Presidential campaigns.

Mr Banda also said his Government had embarked on 14 major projects in Kasama Central and that K329.3 billion had been allocated to the area.

[Times of Zambia]

Suspected PF-UPND pact cadres this morning stormed ZAMCOM Lodge in Lusaka to disrupt a press briefing which suspended Namwala Member Parliament (MP) Robbie Chizyuka had convened.

The cadres found Major Chizyuka and his supporters performing an Ila traditional activity, which involved brandishing spears while drumming traditional drums and dancing.

The PF/UPND cadres, who were carrying stones, grabbed banners which Major Chizyuka’s supporters were displaying and dispersed them and journalists as the convener of the press briefing quickly went into hiding.

Confusion continued to reign as the pact cadres chased Major Chizyuka’s supporters, who dropped their spears while they scampered for their safety.

Calm was only restored when police were called in to quell the confusion.

Later, Major Chizyuka managed to address journalists and urged opposition political parties to stop criticizing government unnecessarily but to offer positive advice if peace was to be upheld in the nation.

Maj. Chizyuka, who is also UPND Chairman for Agriculture, stated that he sacrificed a lot for the party and regretted that it was now accusing him of misleading other party members in the UPND/PF pact.

And Major Chizyuka has doubted the morality of Patriotic Front (PF) president, Michael Sata, who allegedly supported tribal remarks issued by Kasama Central PF candidate, Geoffrey Mwamba recently.

Meanwhile, Major Chizyuka has dismissed allegations by UPND president Hakainde Hichilema that he was paid K10 million by a named political party to cause confusion in the pact.

He challenged Mr. Hakainde to disclose the names of people who gave him (Chizyuka) the money and the source of the same money.

And speaking after the confusion, PF Kanyama Constituency Chairman Isaac Mujulu accused Major Chizhuka of causing confusion in the UPND/PF pact.

Mr. Mujulu accused the Namwala MP of having received K28 million from a named political party in order to destabilize the opposition political pact.

He stated that the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation should unite Zambians but he expressed disappointment that some people resorted to funning anarchy in the political sphere.

ZANIS

The United National Independence Party (UNIP) has intensified its election campaigns in Kasiya Ward, where it is optimistic to emerge victorious.

According to UNIP District Chairman, Luther Peyton, the entire party leadership will today camp in the area and spread out in the surrounding areas such as Makululu, Jack Mwanampapa, and Natebe to disseminate campaign messages.

Mr. Peyton said UNIP is likely to grab the seat following people’s demand to have a Kasiya resident as the area’s councilor.

He said UNIP is the only party that has fielded a local resident, adding that the party has received blessings from the United Liberal Party (ULP) and the United National Development Party (UNDP) candidates who he said have pledged to support UNIP.

Mr. Peyton claimed that UNIP had gained momentum in the area and expressed hope that through its candidate Mwansa Adrian, Kasiya will be developed to its former self.

He said Kasiya was a UNIP stronghold and that it had better social infrastructure that was left unattended to when the UNIP Government was removed from power.

ZANIS

Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) Lusaka Province Chairman, Evaristo Mulenga, has with immediate effect resigned from his party and joined the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).

Mr. Mulenga announced his resignation from the PF at a rally addressed by President Rupiah Banda at the President’s Park in Kasama this morning.

Mr. Mulenga said he has decided to leave the PF because he did not want to be part of an organisation that was championing politics of insults and tribalism.
He said he does not regret his resignation from the PF because its leader does not respect the tenets of democracy.

Mr. Mulenga described Mr. Sata and the PF as vindictive and only bent on vengeance and personal vendettas.
He said having known the PF since its inception, he understands all the tactics the party members have been employing to win elections in all parts of the country.

Mr. Mulenga also declared that he would go flat out and ensure that he destroys the PF.
At the same rally, scores of other PF cadres defected from their party to the MMD.

And in welcoming the defectors to the MMD, President Banda appealed to the MMD leadership to ensure that the new members feel welcome to the ruling party.

President Banda said the MMD is a party for the people. He said the voluntary resignation of prominent members of the PF was an indication that the opposition party was crumbling down.

The President further appealed to members of other political parties to feel free to join the ruling party.

President Banda is in Kasama drumming up support for Burton Mugala, who is the MMD candidate for the October 15th, by-election. The PF-United Party for National Development pact has fielded Geoffrey Mwamba. Other parties vying for the seat are the former ruling party, United National Independence Party (UNIP), All People’s Congress (APC) and two independent candidates.

The Kasama Central parliamentary seat fell vacant after the resignation of area PF Member of Parliament Saviour Chishimba from parliament.

ZANIS

SOME MMD sympathisers yesterday called on MMD Kafulafuta Member of Parliament George Mpombo to resign from the party.

The spokesperson for the group Andre Mtine said during a Press briefing yesterday that the MMD national Secretariat and the local MMD leadership in Kafulafuta should discipline Mr Mpombo if he failed to resign.

Mr Mtine said the MMD was a serious party with a national mandate to bring development to the country and should therefore not allow Mr Mpombo to cause any further damage to the integrity of the MMD.

“We are calling upon Mr Mpombo to immediately cease his attempt to ‘mpombolise’ the MMD and resign. If he fails to do so, the MMD national secretary and the local MMD leadership in his constituency must discipline him before he causes more damage to the integrity of the ruling party,” he said.

Mr Mtine said Mr Mpombo had become a serious embarrassment not only to himself but to the MMD as well.

He wondered whether Mr Mpombo was part of a clique that deliberately wanted to create a false impression that there was confusion in the party.

It is not correct for a senior member of the party to use unacceptable channels of expressing his grievances.

The MMD, Mr Mtine said, was like any other club or organisation that had rules and regulations where membership was voluntary and members should therefore observe
rules and regulations.
Mr Mpombo could not be reached for comment.

The MMD sympathisers are happy with the current democratic dispensation in the country and are therefore disheartened by some members that want destroy the reputation through the media.

Mr Mtine said the MMD was the only party that had a vision to reduce poverty in Zambia and maintain social justice and that it was the only party that had representation from all parts of the country and should be allowed to continue.

He called on the party leadership to respect the lower ranks of the party and the lower ranks to respect the top leadership.

Mr Mtine also said their was a clique of disgruntled individuals that had a deliberate attempt to disrespect, discredit and undermine the leadership of President Rupiah Banda.

He said the clique was an alliance of destructive internal and external forces that was bent on fanning trouble in Zambia.

He said Zambians should guard jealously against their country and not allow any form of harm to the country.

[Times of Zambia]

Former Patriotic Front General Secretary, Edward Mumbi has challenged Patriotic Front leader Michael to tell the nation what he has done with the money donated to the party by well-wishers. Mr. Mumbi has also challenged Mr. Sata to explain why he wanted to frame former President Dr. Fredrick Chiluba as having received K2 billion from DRC governor for Katanga province Moses Katumbi.

Mr. Mumbi said as chief executive of the Patriotic Front at the time, he was aware of the huge sums of money the party received from well-wishers including some international donors. He said he was the one who used to take the money to Mr. Sata whenever the party received funds from the donor community.

Speaking at a rally addressed by President Rupiah Banda at Chilongoshi basic school in chief Munkonge’s area in Kasama yesterday, Mr. Mumbi disclosed that despite having been funded to pay election agents in 2006 and 2008 respectively, the party had not released the funds to its agents.

He said the donor community made huge contributions but that Mr. Sata had decided to keep the money to himself. Mr. Mumbi said he has documents about the money that the party received but was not used for the intended purpose.

He challenged Mr. Sata to come out in the open and explain how the huge sums of money made available to the party were used. He said in many cases he had to quarrel with the PF leader over issues to do with money especially when dishonesty was involved. Mr. Mumbi said because of the PF leaders’ dishonesty, the party was just using registers to seek financial assistance as opposed to party identity cards.[quote]

“The money made available to the party by the donor community has not gone to any of the nine provinces in the country. I want him to explain to the nation where that money is,” said Mr. Mumbi.

“Having been chief executive of the party, I knew everything about the party and I received the money on behalf of the party and delivered it to Mr. Sata. If what I am saying about his dishonest conduct is not true, let him come out and deny it,” added Mr. Mumbi.

He disclosed that when Mr. Sata lost the elections, he sent Mr. Mumbi to ZNBC studios to announce to the nation alleging that for President Dr. Chiluba had received K2billion from Mr. Moses Katumbi to help campaign for the MMD. Mr. Mumbi said he refused to proceed with the mission because there were no facts and that the story was just a hoax.

The former PF secretary General vowed to go round the nine provinces of the country to expose the alleged dubious activities of the opposition leader.
He alleged that regardless of the many suitable candidates to contest the Kasama central bye-election, Mr. Sata opted for Mr. Geoffrey Mwamba because he receives money from him.

Mr. Mumbi also challenged Mr. Sata to be truthful and explain the reasons for his party’s withdrawal of the 2008 presidential petition.
He said responsible leaders must always tell the truth to the people they lead.

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda has directed Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane to immediately release funds for the roofing of teachers’ houses at Chilongoshi Basic School in Chief Munkonge’s area in Kasama District.

Finance Minister disclosed the development in Chilongoshi on Monday.
This was at a rally to drum up support for MMD parliamentary candidate in the Kasama Central bye-election Burton Mugala.

Dr. Musokotwane assured the people in the area that the teachers’ houses would be roofed before the end of the year.
And President Banda has commended teachers at Chilongoshi basic school for their commitment to duty despite the many challenges they face.

President Banda said he was touched that they had decided to stay in the rural area to offer education to children, whom he described as the future of the nation.

Mr. Banda assured the teachers that government would do everything within its powers to ensure that life is made much easier for them.

And addressing the pupils before addressing a rally, President Banda advised the children to be focused and aim to complete their education.

President Banda told the kids that he was once like them and that they would also get to be like him once they concentrated on their education.

He said like some of them, his parents were not educated but fought hard to ensure that he got educated.

Mr. Banda encouraged the pupils to continue investing their time in education because this would determine their future when they grow up.

President Banda who spent some time to plant a tree at the school mingled with the excited kids and introduced some of the ministers in his entourage to the children.
[ZANIS]