WINNING MMD Chitambo Member of Parliament Solomon Musonda has condemned the violence which marred the recent polls and placed the blame on the intolerance of the opposition.

But Patriotic Front (PF) spokesperson, Given Lubinda said the violence was perpetrated by the MMD and it was unfair for Dr Musonda to accuse the opposition of having created problems.

Dr Musonda challenged those in doubt to confirm with the police and courts of law in Serenje as to which party complained about violence and which political party cadres had been punished.

He observed that all the incidences of violence reported to the police in Chitambo were instigated by members of the opposition PF-UPND pact, FDD or UNIP cadres against the ruling party.[quote]

He said that it was regrettable that an impression was being created by some sections of the media to show that it was MMD cadres who perpetuated violence when in actual fact it was the other way round.

Dr Musonda said PF leader Michael Sata was on two occasions allegedly ejected from MMD campaign camps after he deliberately strayed with scores of his cadres while in another incident, Lusaka Mayor Stephen Chikwelete was at the centre of controversy.

He said in the case of what he called the highly misunderstood saga involving Deputy Minister in the office of the Vice- President Gaston Sichilima, it was UNIP cadres who instigated the fracas which was witnessed by observers from the Anti-Voter Apathy Project.

“What I find unfortunate is that these opposition political parties with some reporters are deliberate and calculated in the manner they create these so called scenes of violence making sure that the images and stories they propagate to the nation puts the ruling party in bad light when that was not the case at all,

Those who were perpetuating these acts of violence are the PF-UPND pact, records are at the police stations to prove this, I challenge anyone to prove otherwise, we need to be extremely careful about these lies,” Dr Musonda said.

He added that the courts had actually sentenced a PF-UPND cadre for violence while an FDD cadre was still being held for maliciously shattering a PF campaign vehicle.

[Times of Zambia]

Former President, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, has said that political parties should stop inciting violence. Dr Kaunda, has said violence will never build a nation.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Dr Kaunda said that Zambians must learn to love one another despite their political differences.

Dr Kaunda said party cadres strive for peace and try to resolve differences through violence.

“Two wrongs cannot make a right,” Dr Kaunda said.

Dr Kaunda also said it is saddening that the political parties are embroiled in a persistent conflict of words instead of expending their energies on discussing issues of national importance.

He said the general citizenry is looking up to the political parties to find answers for the country’s many economic and social problems.

Dr Kaunda also said leaders should exhibit political maturity and begin to focus on issues and strategies that will enhance economic progress.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Vice President Goerge Kunda has assured the people of Western Province that the MMD government will continue delivering the promises it made during the 2008 Presidential By-election campaigns.

Mr. Kunda says government is decisive and has come up with a budget cycle which will ensure that projects and pogrammes are implemented within on year.

The Vice President was speaking when he addressed scores of Mongu resident who welcomed him at Mongu airport this afternoon.

He said government was implementing several programmes including those related to the governance system of the country.

The Vice President named the governance programmers as the National Constitution Conference (NCC) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) which he said were aimed at involving people in the governance of the country

Meanwhile, Mr. Kunda has thanked the people of Western Province for voting for President Rupiah Banda in the 2008 Presidential by-election.[quote]

He said the massive vote was a clear testimony of the confidence the people in the Province have in the MMD and the leadership of President Banda.

Mr. Kunda also commended the people in Western Province for voting for several MMD members of parliament out of whom 15 are holding ministerial positions.

He said the MPs were playing an active role in contributing to the development agenda of the country.

The Vice President thanked the MMD leadership in the province for keeping the party united and ensuring that it remained strong and intact.

He, however, said there was need for the leadership to work even harder and explain the party policies and programmes to the electorate.

And speaking earlier, Western Province MMD chairman Simasiku Namakando appealed to the Vice President to send relief food the province to avert the hunger situation in some parts of the province.

Mr. Namakando said many people lost their crops in the floods that affected the province last rainy season.

And Mr. Nmakando has assured the Vice President that the Patriotic Front (PF)/United Party for National Development (UPND)pact was non-existent in the province.

ZANIS

ZESCO Senior Manager for Marketing and Public Relations Lucy Zimba says the shutdown s expected to last for a period of about 17 days from 06:00 hours to 18 hours during this period.

Ms Zimba said the shutdown is meant to facilitate generator efficiency tests to be conducted by the contractor.

Ms Zimba disclosed this in a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

She said the shutdown was part of the contractor’s obligation under the power Rehabilitation Project, recently completed at Kafue Gorge.

She said the shutdown of the 165 megawatts (MW) generator will result in a national power supply deficit of up to 100MW during peak hours daily and may necessitate increased load shedding.

“We Therefore wish to advice our customers to conserve electricity by switching off some electrical appliances particularly during the morning peak hours 06:00-09:00 hours and evening peak hours 18:00-21:00 hours daily during the stated period”, she said.

And the ZESCO Marketing and PR Manager has thanked ZESCO customers for their cooperation during the shutdown of one of the transformers at the Kafue Gorge last week.

She said as a result of the customer’s compliance to the “Switch and Serve” at peak hours during the shutdown period, load shedding was significantly reduced.

Ms Zimba said this demonstrates that power deficits can be managed and load shedding avoided.

ZANIS

Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people in Northern Province has thanked President Rupiah Banda and his government for facilitating his evacuation to India for specialist treatment.

Paramount Chief Chitimukulu said on arrival in Kasama aboard a Zambia Air Force Plane at about13:00hours that he was feeling much better following the medical treatment he received while in India.

The paramount chief also thanked the people of Northern Province for praying for his quick recovery.

And Northern Province Permanent Secretary Mwalimu Simfukwe, who led government officials in receiving his Royal Highness at Kasama Airport, said government will continue to address the welfare of traditional rulers in the country.

Mr Simfukwe noted that government regards Chiefs as important stakeholders in the development of the nation.

He said the evacuation of Paramount Chief Chitimukulu abroad for specialist treatment was a clear testimony of government’s commitment to providing quality health care to traditional rulers in the country.

Meanwhile the Ukusefya Pa Ngw’ena Traditional ceremony of the Bemba in the province, which was scheduled for this month, will take place on September 19, this year and is expected to be graced by President Banda.

The ceremony which was set for August 22, was postponed to allow the paramount chief recuperate from an illness.

Paramount Chief Chitimukulu said preparations for the ceremony were going on as planed adding that so far works at the main arena were almost complete.

The Paramount Chief has since appealed for financial and material support from well-wishers to enable the ceremony to be successful.

ZANIS

MMD National Secretary, Katele Kalumba says the party has great chances of wining the Kasama seat

Dr. Kalumba told ZANIS in interview in Lusaka today that the party has sent a team to Kasama to map out strategy ahead of the by elections whose date is yet be announced.

He said MMD is ready for the PF/UPND challenge in Kasama and predicted a tough contest there.

“We are now focusing on the Kasama seat and currently our men are on the ground there and once they give us a report then we will plan carefully for it,” he said.

Dr. Kalumba said the team is trying to find out what the people in Kasama want for them to select a suitable candidate to represent them.

Dr. Kalumba has meanwhile said the MMD victory in Chitambo had proved to many people that the UPND/PF pact is beatable at any level.

He said the win shows that the ruling party is still strong and popular and was capable of winning an elections any time.

He has further said the MMD won the by election because it fielded a strong candidate who articulated issues the electorates in Chitambo needed.

Dr. Kalumba has further commended the people of Chitambo for voting for the MMD and also thanked its leadership for choosing the best candidate.

ZANIS