Swaziland for its relentless efforts aimed at addressing security concerns in the SADC region.

The President was speaking yesterday during a State Banquet hosted in his honour by King Mswati III, at Lozitha Royal Palace.

The Kingdom of Swaziland is the current chair of SADC’s organ of political, Defence and Peace in the region.[quote]

Mr Banda said the process so far made in Magadascar negotiations had been possible due to the role Swaziland had played in the early days of the crisis.

“In the same vein, I wish to applaud SADC’s efforts through its special envoy former President Joachim Chissano of Mozambique for trying to restore peace in Madagascar. We look forward to a successful mediation in the interest of our sub-region,” President Banda said.

The president said there was need for urgent revival of the Zambia-Swaziland Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) of Cooperation because the two countries shared a historical bond friendship and affinity.

He said the common desire of the two countries for economic growth and sustainable development gave them impetus to explore new areas of economic, social and political cooperation which would be beneficial to both countries.

Mr. Banda said Zambia and Swaziland enjoyed common membership to international organisations such as the African Union, the Commonwealth and the United Nations.

At these fora, the two countries shared common positions like the Africa’s common stance on the reform of the United Nations as embodied in the Eluwlini Consensus.

President Banda said in addition, Zambia and Swaziland shared same aspirations as they both envisage an African Continent free from debt, disease, poverty, economic stagnation, oppression and conflict.

He said the two countries should show the same resolve which characterized efforts in support of the liberation struggle in Southern Africa.

The President re-affirmed government’s commitment to cooperate and increasing of interaction with the people and government of Swaziland.

And King Mswati said he was pleased that SADC had continued to uphold dialogue whenever conflicts arose because this approach had continued to pay dividends in the region.

The King said the negotiations aimed at ending the political crisis in Madagascar were encouraging because all parties had been willing to put aside their political interests in the interest of their country.

He said the Swazi nation has continued to protect and preserve its cultural heritage which had become their symbol of identity and unity over time.

“These cultural ceremonies have been passed on from generation to generation and they make us unique,” King Mswati said.

The King said the Reed Dance traditional ceremony which President Banda was invited to witness had been unifying the people of Swaziland as a nation for a long time.

He said the ceremony brought chastity pride and nationalism to the young girls in the country.

By Henry Kyambalesa

I wish to comment on the recent clash between Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) and Patriotic Front (PF) cadres outside Lusaka magistrate court complex during the trial of Post news editor Chansa Kabwela yesterday.

The scuffle left one PF cadre with a deep cut on the forehead.

Joseph Chama was allegedly hit with a screw driver during the physical confrontation.

He was immediately rushed to the University Teaching Hospital for treatment.

What is really the source of such savage and uncivilized behavior among political cadres in our beloved country?

We need to learn to engage in politics without physically assaulting others. We need to remember that we are Zambians first in spite of the different political parties we belong to.There are 73 different tribes to which we belong, or the different languages we speak. And we also have the same dreams as members of the larger Zambian family!

As we seek to improve the livelihoods of each and every Zambian, we should put our political alignments, tribal identities, religious convictions, and professional affiliations aside and work together as a nation. We need to strive to create a society in which political, ethnic, cultural, racial, and religious diversity is appreciated, tolerated and celebrated.

We should not allow politics to create divisions amongst us to the extent of battering each other during campaigns and whenever we have differences in opinion over national issues. We should avoid acting savagely toward one another. And we need to pray for one another, and for our beloved country. After all, we are one and the same people – we are members of the Zambian family!

“How good and how pleasant it is for breth­ren to dwell in oneness!” ? Psalms 133:1.

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has opposed the idea of restoring former President, Dr Frederick Chiluba’s immunity as doing so is unconstitutional.

FODEP chairperson for Legal sub-committee, Charles Chanda, has since urged the Speaker of the National Assembly not to convene a special session as doing so will tantamount to use parliament to engage in unconstitutional business which is ultra vires in its jurisdiction.

He said that immunity enjoyed by the president during tenure of office is not a right but a privilege which can be taken away at any time in accordance with the law and that parliament has no authority to restore Dr Chiluba’s immunity as it cannot confer that which it as no powers to do.

Mr Chanda said the foundation is concerned with the current events of the aftermath judgment which is raising fundamental constitutional and jurisprudential issues which are very important for the good democratic, transparent and accountable governance firmly founded on the rule of law.

Meanwhile, Mr Chanda has said FODEP is happy to that the Task Force on Corruption has decided to appeal against the said judgment on behalf of the Zambian people in whose name all prosecutions are conducted.

Mr Chanda called upon all the leaders and citizens to respect democratic institutions that have been created and submitted to their authority, saying the leaders must lead by example and not to condemn those institutions that they were party to and whose authority they also benefited from.

This is contained in a press statement released to ZANIS.

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda says the courts will determine whether former President Frederick Chiluba is entitled to the $8 Million US dollars he claims to have deposited in the government ZAMTROP London account.

Mr. Banda says Zambia has a credible legal system that has to be followed in addressing such claims.

He was responding to journalists at the Lusaka International Airport shortly before departure for Swaziland on a two-day state visit.

The President said the courts should be left to determine legal issues.

Dr. Chiluba is demanding his money held in the ZAMTROP account during his reign.

The former President contends that the money obtained from well wishers was deposited in the ZAMTROP London account for safe custody.

According, to Dr. Chiluba the money was from his friends and well wishers who wanted to contribute towards the construction of the FTJ Institute of Democracy and Good Governance.

Dr. Chiluba was recently acquitted on charges of theft of public funds.
[ZNBC]