A busy schedule awaits President Rupiah Banda next week when he arrives here in New York for the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly, whose deliberations have commenced on September 15, 2009 at a lower level.

Among the many activities that await President Banda is his address of the UN General Assembly on Thursday, September 24th, 2009.

He will also participate in bilateral diplomacy talks with various heads of state and government that would be attending the General Assembly.

Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lazarous Kapambwe said this when he met the Zambian advance team in New York, today, that President Banda would also meet US President Barak Obama when the latter meets various heads of state and government from the sub-Saharan African region next week.

Mr. Obama is expected to hold talks with Sub-Saharan African leaders to discuss the relationship between this region and the United States of America.

Ambassador Kapambwe further disclosed that the President will also meet United States of American business houses and people where he will showcase Zambia’s business opportunities.

“He is also expected to participate in the launch of ALMA, which is the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, which will be launched by President Jakaya Kikwete here,” he said.

First Lady Tandiwe Banda who is accompanying the President will have a separate programme she will participate. Also in the delegation are several cabinet ministers and other top government officials.

Meanwhile, security has tightened at the UN secretariat as scores of heads of state and government are expected in New York in the next few days for the UN General Assembly.

The President is afterwards expected to connected to travel to Cuba for a three day State visit at the invitationof his counterpart Raul Castro Ruz.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon will convene the summit on climate change on Tuesday, September 2009 in which over 90 member states will participate. UN has a total of 192 member states around the world.

The objective of this summit on climate change is to mobilise political will and generate the momentum needed to reach an ambitious agreement at the UN Climate Conference that will be held in Copenhagen in December 2009.

Mr. Ki-Moon will also hold a luncheon that would bring together representatives of government, business, civil society and the UN to discuss how to build positive momentum for climate negotiations and the role of business and industry in finding solutions to climate change.

Other key issues the Assembly will address are Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), world financial and economic crisis and its impact on development, disarmament, UN reforms, including Security Council reform and revitalization of the General Assembly.

It will also review the peace building commission and the Human Rights Council as well as consider issues relating to system wide coherence, sustainable development and HIV/AIDS.

The General Assembly was established in 1945 under the UN Charter as a chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN.
ZANIS

Opposition Zambia Development Conference (ZADECO) National Chairman Langtone Sichone says there is nothing sinister about second republican president Dr. Frederick Chiluba interacting with President Rupiah Banda.

Mr Sichone says Dr. Chiluba is a Zambian citizen who is free to mingle with anyone regardless of status.
He says it is not right for some individuals, members of the civil society and other stakeholders to try and bar Dr. Chiluba from mixing with the Head of State.

Mr Sichone was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

He wondered why the public is quiet on first republican president Kenneth Kaunda who is freely mingling with other very important people including President Banda but just concentrated on questioning Dr. Chiluba’s friendship.

Meanwhile, Mr Sichone has urged Zambians to respect the out-come of the acquittal case of Dr. Chiluba.

Mr Sichone said the acquittal of the former head of State translates that the judiciary is independent adding that the three executive arms of government were fully exercised and utilised.

ZANIS

Police in Kabwe have maintained their position not to permit UPND/PF pact members to conduct a peaceful demonstration against former president Frederick Chiluba’s acquittal.

The UPND/PF pact has expressed disappointment with the police inspector general for canceling the permit which they claim was assured to them last week.

The UPND/PF pact had planned to stage a peaceful demonstration today from Lukanga school grounds to the office of the Provincial Minister Ackimson Banda to hand him a petition against former president Chiluba’s acquittal.

In a statement to ZANIS dated Sept 17th, 2009, signed by Provincial UPND Secretary Davy Siamuzulu and PF Provincial Information and Publicity Secretary Mutale Walicupa, the pact claimed the police had refused to give a go ahead to the demonstration.

The two said the reasons advanced by the police to refuse the pact to demonstrate to wait for the courts to dispose of the case was not valid and is unfortunate and disheartening.

They said after the police allegedly assured them that their plans would go ahead, they made preparations for the same which involved spending and the latest decision to refuse them the permit was disturbing.

Central Province Police Deputy Commanding Officer, Kaunda Mubanga said the police was still looking for ways to help the pact in the matter.

ZANIS

MMD campaign manager in the Kasama Central by-election Charles Shawa has castigated Patriotic Front officials and cadres for their unruly behaviour during today’s filing in of nominations papers by aspiring candidates at the civic centre.

Mr. Shawa said it was unfortunate that PF members attempted to hijack the work of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) during the nomination process.

He warned that politics of violence and intimidation would not be tolerated.

Mr. Shawa made the remarks after PF leader Michael Sata, who was present at the filing in of nominations papers by aspiring candidates, asked his supporters to storm the Council Chamber and complain over the delays by the ECZ to announce the successful aspiring candidates for the vacant Kasama Central seat.

Mr. Shawa said people should allow the Electoral Body to conduct the by-election in a peaceful atmosphere.

He said it was unacceptable for the PF officials to threaten to take the law into their own hands over straight forward issues.

Mr. Shawa, who is Lusaka province minister, urged, the PF leadership not to be in the forefront of inciting violence but instead advocate for non-violent campaigns.

Earlier, Mr. Sata had asked PF aspiring candidate Geoffrey Mwamba and other party cadres to storm the council chamber and complain over the delay by the ECZ to announce the names of the successful candidates to contest the Kasama Central seat.

However, Mr. Shawa advised Mr. Sata to show political maturity and not incite his supporters to cause confusion because ECZ was screening the successful aspiring candidates before making the announcement.

Six candidates successfully filed in their nominations to contest the Kasama Central seat.

The By-election takes place on October 15, this year.

ZANIS

The ruling MMD has called peaceful campaigns ahead of the October 15 Kasama Central by-election.

MMD National Chairman for Elections Mike Mulongoti made the call in Kasama yesterday .

Mr. Mulongoti, who is also Works and Supply Minister, said violence should not be entertained in a democratic society like Zambia.

He has urged Kasama residents not to be used as agents of violence by selfish politicians who want to gain political mileage in the by-election.

Mr. Mulongoti, who is also acting MMD spokesperson, said there was need for political parties contesting the Kasama Central seat to conduct clean campaigns so that electorates could choose their Member of Parliament in a peaceful manner.

He also advised MMD members to ignore attacks from the opposition and concentrate on marketing their candidate to the masses.

Mr. Mulongoti further appealed to the electorates in Kasama Central constituency to vote for MMD candidate Burton Mugala because he was a credible person, who could stir development in the area.

The Kasama central by-election is being contested by the ruling MMD, opposition PF/UPND, UNIP and independent candidates.

Meanwhile, an independent candidate Pastor Christy Ntalasha has with chickened out of the race to contest the Kasama Central seat, citing personal reasons.

The seat fell vacant after incumbent MP Saviour Chishimba resigned from the National assembly last month.

The by-election takes place on October 15, this year.

ZANIS