Government has condemned the harassment and beating of Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) personnel by opposition political party cadres, in Livingstone yesterday.

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Chief Government Spokesperson Rev. Lt Gen. Ronnie Shikapwasha said this in a press statement made available to ZANIS this evening.

He said government has learned with disappointment that suspected cadres of the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Patriotic Front (PF) Pact beat up a ZANIS driver and technician who were announcing the arrival of President Rupiah Banda in Livingstone.

Lt Gen. Shikapwasha has said government wishes to make it clear that announcing the arrival of the President, in any part of Zambia, is not an MMD party affair but a civic duty, which ZANIS is obliged to undertake.

“It is, therefore, unreasonable for the cadres to attack people who were performing a government duty, which the leadership of the UPND/PF Pact would also require if they came into government.” Lt Gen. Shikapwasha said.

He noted that government was extremely disappointed that the leadership of the UPND/PF Pact seems to be in support of the conduct of their cadres, as none of them has publicly condemned the incident, which saw ZANIS losing some equipment purchased with tax payers’ money.

“It is the wish of the Government to see those who have always jumped to criticise the government leadership, whenever media personnel have been attacked, to rise up to the occasion and condemn the UPND/PF pact on this unfortunate incident.” Lt Gen. Shikapwasha said.

He said the opposition has always tried to create the impression that irresponsible and unruly cadres are found in the MMD party and yet it is their cadres who can even go to the extent of attacking government workers, who are doing a job for which they have been employed.

Yesterday, ZANIS Livingstone technician, Gilbert Phiri and driver, Daniel Mulyata were attacked by suspected UPND/PF cadres armed with stones when they were announcing President Banda’s arrival in the tourist capital.

The two officers were only served after they sped off to the nearest Libuyu Police Station.The alleged cadres confiscated a microphone from the mobile van.

[ZANIS]

President Rupiah Banda says peace is a catalyst to economic development and it must be guarded jealously.

The President, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, said this in Livingstone today when he commissioned 18 Zambia Air Force (ZAF) officers at a colourful Commissioning and Wings Parade.

He said the defence forces have a highly critical responsibility of preserving, protecting and defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country in order to safeguard the citizens from both internal and external aggression.

Mr Banda said it was for this reason that the defence force should optimise the use of availbale scarce resources in order to carry out their mandate effectively.

Mr Banda said the defence forces should employ effective methods and strategies to protect the lives and property of the citizens from all sorts of adversities.

He also urged the defence forces to employ effective methods and strategies to protect the lives of the citizens against all sorts of adversities.

Mr Banda commended the defence forces for carrying out important civic duties such as food production, road works and repairs, the distribution of electoral materials during elections as well as the rehabilitation of street children.

”Engaging in these activities is important for our military to remain relevant to the needs of society even in times of peace. I expect this role to continue and that all men and women in uniform will commit themselves to making a serious contribution to our nation’s development beyond their military duties,” he said.

Mr Banda noted that government was aware of the numerous challenges that personnel in the defence forces faced in carrying out their duties .

The President said despite the challenges the defence forces faced, he did not expect them to lose sight of their primary calling of defending and protecting the nation.

”As defenders of our peace and security, I expect you to remain focussed and disciplined. The government is mindful of the limitations of resources and we are addressing most of the challenges that confront the well being of our personnel,” he said.

Mr Banda reminded the graduating officers that they have embarked on a very noble career that demanded strict discipline and commitment to duty.

”For this reason, your character must be beyond reproach. As pledged in your oath of allegiance, you should always remeber that the security of our nation lies squarely on your shoulders,” he said.

He urged the officers not to relax at any time or take peace for granted but to be alert and remain vigilant at all times.

The President also said officers were expected to implement good ideas and rise above all challenges by striving to be open minded, non-partisan and by saving the country with honour, commitment and dignity.

He also warned the newly commissioned officers against the dangers of HIV/AIDS which has ravaged the country, adding that the scourge possed a serious threat to the effectiveness of the defence forces because it affects physical and mental fitness of its victims.

The President also said he was happy to learn that among the graduating officers were young women who had trained alongside their male counterparts as pilots, and urged them to rise the challenges of military life and compete for promotion like their male coleagues.

And speaking earlier, ZAF Commander, Samuel Mapala, thanked government for its continued support to the defence forces.

The ZAF Commander also noted that the graduating officers had undergone general, military and professional courses, adding that he was confident they would contribute positively to the service.

Of the 18 newly commissioned officers, 10 are Pilots and eight are Engineers.

[ZANIS]

The PF-UPND pact emerged as winners of yesterday’s elections held across the country. The pact won the Kasama seat and two other ward elections seat.

In Kasama, PF candidate, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, amassed 10 688 votes and was followed by MMD’s Burton Mugala who polled 4 184 votes.UNIP candidate Alexander Chansa was third with 189 votes with Independent, Mohammed Ayoub Hamir, managing 170 votes. Another Independent candidate, Christy Ntalasha, got 50 votes with APC’s candidate Maggie Ngona trailing with only 40 votes. This is according to results from all the 50 polling stations in the constituency.

In Livingstone, The United Party for National Development (UPND) won the Kasiya ward by-election in Livingstone.UPND candidate, Cacius Mauma emerged winner after the returning officer, Tedson Nyirongo, cast a lot following a tie between the UPND and MMD.This is in accordance with the Electoral Act of 2006 and the Electoral Returning Officer’s Handbook. The Act allows the Returning Officer to decide between the candidates with tying votes by lot.

Both the UPND and MMD candidates polled a total of 497 from the seven polling stations, forcing the returning officer to cast a lot to determine the winner.

Official results indicated that UPND’s Mauma polled a total of 497 votes, MMD’s Mary Chiwisha Kaimba got 497 votes, while United Liberal Party’s candidate, Ifunga Mubiana, got 110 votes and UNIP’s candidate, Mwansa Andreas, only polled a total of 16 votes.

And Returning Officer,Mr Nyirongo, has described the general situation as peaceful with no serious incidences experienced. Mr Nyirongo said the general turnout was better than in the previous by-election in Maramba ward.

He said a total of 1,128 registered voters in Kasiya ward cast their vote out of about 2,800, representing about a 40 per cent turnout. The winner was declared around 01:45hours this morning.

In Itezhi-tezhi district, the opposition Patriotic Front PF/UPND pact scooped the Lubanda ward local government by-elections by a landslide victory.

A local pastoral and farmer, Harrison Kamano, won the seat after getting over 491 votes under the PF/UPND ticket.

The ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) candidate, Bettis Mambonwa, managed to get just over 240 votes as a closest rival, while UNIP got 48 votes only.

The Lubanda ward seat fell vacant following the incaceration of former UPND councllor, Harry Namaluba, for participating in unlawful assembly at which he incited people to dethrone chief Shimbizhi.

Returning Officer, Cheembo Mangwato, officially declared Mr Kamano as the new councillor for Lubanda ward last night at 20:00 hours.

ZANIS

Suspected UPND cadres has manhandled two Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) officers in Livingstone’s Libuyu Compound as they drove around the township to announce President Rupiah Banda’s arrival.

President Banda is expected to officially open the Zambia Air-force Pass-out Parade.

A technician, Gilbert Phiri and a driver, Daniel Mulyata escaped unharmed when a group of more than ten men, armed with stones, surrounded their slowly moving vehicle and forcefully bringing it to a halt.

The cadres who accused ZANIS officers of campaigning for MMD by announcing Rupiah Banda’s arrival through the mobile Public Address System as voting in Kasiya ward was in progress mobbed the vehicle viciously grabbing the microphone from the announcing technician and pulled it off the hook.

Irate suspected UPND cadres then forced the door open and tried to pull the technician out of the vehicle, hitting the duo in the process.

Realizing that their lives were in danger, the two ZANIS officers sped off to the nearest Libuyu Police Station.

The alleged UPND Cadres have confiscated the microphone from the mobile van and it has not been retrieved yet.

President Banda is tomorrow expected in Livingstone to officiate at the Zambia Air-force Pass-out Parade and it is mandatory that ZANIS carries out presidential announcements prior to the Republican president’s arrival.

[ZANIS]

President Rupiah Banda says he is not afraid of anyone standing against him as Party President.

Speaking upon arrival at Livingstone International Airport ahead of the Zambia Air force Pass out Parade today, Mr Banda said it was not true to say that the MMD was threatened.

”Iam not afraid of anyone standing against me as President. We are free in our party and will fight for democracy,” he said.

Mr Banda said all members of the party in any case who the MMD was being compared to have never held any convention.

”Have you ever heard of the United Party for National Development (UPND) or the Patriotic Front going to a convention?” he said.

”Don’t worry about what you are hearing that no one is allowed to express himself in the party. You can’t be a member of the party and start airing your views through the press,” he said.

He urged the MMD to remain united and focused adding that the party had channels of communication that party members needed to use.

And Mr Banda has condemned the UPND for going with spears and axes to attack UPND Namwala Member of Parliament Robby Chizyuka.

Mr Banda has also said there is no need to worry about the UPND/PF Pact as it was a pact of two ambitious people.

”I don’t know if we should change the Constitution to have two Presidents. Sata has tried to stand as President three times and Hakainde Hichilema has tried twice at his age, he said.

Mr Banda also said when his name was floated to stand in the 2011 elections in Livingstone, he had reminded the cadres that the MMD had priorities and the determination of the leader for the 2011 would depend what the MMD would put in terms of development.[quote]

He said if MMD wins the Kasama parliamentary seat and the Kasiya ward, then the pact would be finished.

Speaking earlier, Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe said the PF/UPND Pact was nothing but an arrangement.

Mr Munkombwe said if there is an election in Kasama, Mr Hichilema doesn’t go there to support the candidate and wondered how he was busy campaigning for a ward councilor in Kasiya ward.

And MMD Provincial Chairman Solomon Muzyamba said the province was politically stable. He said the Pact was an arrangement between two leaders who were members of that Pact.

Mr Muzyamba said the people were however not in it adding that the sentiments coming from Mr Chizyuka were an indication of the feelings of the people.

The President is tomorrow expected to officially commission 18 officers at an Officers Pass out Parade.

ZANIS

A Consortium of NGOs, churches, trade unions and concerned citizens has denounced the planned demonstrations against the acquittal of former President, Frederick Chiluba.

The consortium, which met at Lusaka’s ZAMCOM Lodge on Thursday called on all Zambians to respect the court’s verdict in the case involving Dr.Chiluba.

It also resolved to discourage citizens from participating in activities that have potential to destabilize the nation.

Bible Gospel Church in Africa Overseer, Bishop Peter Ndhlovu called for action against people agitating anarchy.

World Baptist Churches Association Founder, Bishop Billy Bwanali said people should focus on praying for the government of the day and not pushing for agendas that may divide the nation.

And National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers President, Seth Paradza, said President Rupiah Banda must be supported in his efforts to reconcile the nation.

Evangelical Youth Alliance President Mose Lungu said Zambia’s peace should not be disturbed by a few members of the civil society championing foreign agendas.
[ZNBC]