Forum for Political Parties (FPP) chairperson Edwin Sakala has urged Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande to diplomatically ask the British government to recall its envoy to Zambia Tom Carter.

Mr Sakala urged government to utilise the laid down diplomatic avenues to ask the Britain to recall its envoy in Zambia citing undiplomatic interferences in the internal political affairs of the [country.

The FPP chairperson said that Zambia expects diplomatic missions accredited to Zambia to help mould and strengthen the tranquility, peace and harmony which the Southern African nation has enjoyed since independence from its colonial master in 1964.

He urged the British government to utilise the internationally accepted and recognized communication channels to comment on matters that concern Zambia.

Mr Sakala disclosed that up to date the British envoy has failed to respond to FPP’s recent petition presented to him saying the action showing a typical character of the British imperialism and hegemonic attitude on its former colonies in Africa.

He said the petition was meant to condemn the action by the envoy, to meddle in the decision of the Zambian judiciary on the acquittal of the former Zambian president Dr Chiluba.

A fortnight ago, the FPP presented to the British High commissioner to demonstrate against his action of meddling in the internal affairs of the country.

In the petition, the forum also demanded for information on how much the British government has expended to the Task force since its establishment.

Meanwhile FPP has called on the British Government to appoint a commission of inquiry to probe the gross violence of human rights perpetrated by the task force on corruption against specific individuals using the tax payers’ money.

In a press statement to ZANIS Sakala said his association has since written to Home Affairs minister Lameck Mangani demanding that British opposition party leader, David Cameron and the British foreign secretary David Milliband to check on the activities of the British envoy to Zambia to help get the information they need on the Task Force.

He added that the decision by Mr Carter demonstrated an attitude of double standards saying that they were the same people that did take a position when some Zambians were maliciously prosecuted on fabricated charges.

He accused the British government of heavily funding a few individuals to constitute the task force on corruption in Zambia and get hefty allowances by trumping up charges against specific individuals using their surrogate media to criminalize such individuals.

Mr Sakala wondered why some civil society organization who were approach and talked to regarding the violation of the human right violation remained silent about what was going on but have now come out in the fore front to crusade a campaign against the acquittal of Dr Chiluba.

[ZANIS]

POLICE in Mpulungu have denied granting a permit to PF-UPND pact cadres who had wanted to hold a solidarity march to celebrate their victory in Kasama Central.

The cadres were yesterday planning to hold celebrations slated for today for their Kasama Central by – election victory but their plans were thwarted by police in the area.

In a statement co-signed by the pact’s district chairman Reuben Chisenga and District Secretary Muchinzi Mwazya, the two party officials stated that the solidarity march would not go ahead as planned.

And in a separate interview, Mr Mwazya expressed disappointment that police had infringed on their constitutional rights to assemble and freely express their feelings by denying them a permit.

He dismissed some of the reasons advanced by police to deny them a permit as flimsy.

Mr Mwazya, who also the Pact Secretary, said among the many reasons given by police were that the celebrations could have triggered a counter reaction from MMD cadres that could have endangered peace in the township.

He however noted that a celebration was not a protest of any kind and felt that police had treated his members unfairly because if MMD had won, they would have been allowed to celebrate without any restrictions.

Mr Mwazya also pointed out that it wouldn’t have been possible for the PF-UPND pact to have given police a seven day notice in advance as they were claiming because it was not clear who would emerge victorious in Kasama.

” The PF-UPND pact will now watch closely and with interest on how police will react if MMD wins any by-election in the near future. We shall closely observe how they are going to handle such a case,” Mr Mwazya stated.

Mwazya appealed to police to be professional and discharge their duties in the public interest.

He further added that his members were saddened because they had been denied a chance to celebrate together with their colleagues in Kasama, saying the Kasama central by- election was an important victory for the PF-UPND pact.

Efforts to get a comment from police in the area proved futile by press time.

The PF-UPND pact’s candidate Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba on Friday won the Kasama central by-election with 10 688 votes and was followed by MMD’s Burton Mugala who got 4184 votes.

ZANIS

United Party for National Development (UPND) has scooped the Samuteba ward by elections in Mwinilunga District which was previously held by the Movement for Multi Party Democracy’s (MMD) by a large margin .

The ward fail vacant after MMD’s Samuteba ward councilor was convicted by the court of law.

UPND Councilor Paul Mbelelengi scored 835 votes beating his only rival MMD councilor Jameson Kalilombe who managed to secure 267 votes.

The retuning officer Shadrick Mnganga announced UPND councilor Mbelelengi as the overall winner after the total votes cast yesterday were counted around 22:00 hours.

And speaking to Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) after his victory was announced, UPND Councilor Mbelelengi said he was delighted to be voted as the councilor of the people of Samuteba ward.

The incoming councilor vowed to work with the people in the quest to bring development in the ward and better the plight of the people.

He said the votes cast by the people of Samuteba ward show that the people are united and want to see development in the area.

Councilor Mbelelengi said he will ensure that four community schools are opened in the ward so that pupils easily access education.

He further stressed that there is urgent need to open a big rural health center in the ward to carter for the growing population.

ZANIS

The ruling MMD has congratulated the Patriotic Front -UPND pact for winning the KASAMA Parliamentary by-election.

MMD National Secretary KATELE KALUMBA however, said the PF UPND pact’s victory in KASAMA will be short lived because the ruling party will capture the seat in 2011.

Dr KALUMBA, in an interview with ZNBC, accused the PF-UPND pact of having capitalised on falsehoods to get the KASAMA central seat.
[
But PF-UPND co-spokesperson, CHARLES KAKOMA said the victory in the KASAMA by-election has boosted morale in the pact.

And All Peoples Congress leader, KEN NGONDO said his party put up a spirited fight despite the defeat.

Mr NGONDO congratulated the UPND-PF pact for scooping the seat.

[ZNBC]

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]