President Rupiah Banda is this Sunday expected to visit Serenje district to drum up support for MMD candidate Solomon Musonda in the Chitambo constituency parliamentary by-elections.

This is according to the program obtained by ZANIS in Serenje from district commissioner Stanley Chibwana, president Banda is expected to fly direct to Chitambo constituency on Sunday morning.

Mr. Banda will land at Gibson basic school grounds at about 09:30hrs where he will hold a brief meeting with MMD party officials and another meeting with Serenje chiefs before addressing a rally.

President Banda will later depart for Mupepetwe for lunch before another rally at Kafinda basic school in the afternoon.

The program indicates that president Banda will address another rally on Monday, 3rd August at Chitambo hospital grounds in the morning and later address another rally at Mukando in the afternoon.

After the Mukando rally, president Banda will depart for Serenje boma airstrip to catch a plane back to Lusaka.

And Opposition United National Independence Party (UNIP) in Serenje says it is happy with the manner campaigns are being conducted in Chitambo constituency in the district.

District chairperson Joseph Kapilya told ZANIS today that the party was impressed with the peaceful manner campaigns were being conducted by political parties involved in the campaigns.

He said if the kind of gesture displayed by the political parties continued, Zambia’s democracy would grow to higher heights.

Mr. kapilya who is in the constituency to drum up support for Timothy Kapolo, UNIP candidate, however said he was hopeful that Mr. Kapolo would emerge winner in the elections scheduled for August 13th 2009.

Other candidates are Dr. Solomon Musonda for MMD, Evans Chola for FDD and Chanda Mutale for PF/UPND pact.

In another development, the District Voter Education Committee (DVEC) chairperson, Jimmy Nsama is also happy that political parties campaigning in the constituency have respect for campaign materials.

Mr. Nsama who was in the constituency yesterday to check on voter education facilitators, said it was pleasing to find that campaign posers remained intact on trees, walls and on anywhere they were stuck.

“This is good because it show maturity in terms of politics. If we can have different posters on one tree next to each other then we are getting somewhere politically, “he said.

He also expressed hope that the voter educators will work according to their requirement so that their education could help even reduce on spoilt ballot papers and corruption.

ZANIS

ZANIS

Protea Hotels Zambia is set to construct a hotel Chiawa, a move seen would help boost the tourism potential in the area.

Protea Hotel Group Consultant Shadrick Nsongela says the group of hotels, managed by Union Gold Zambia limited, the extension of its services to Chiawa is aimed at promoting the under tapped tourism potential of the lower Zambezi national park and Chiawa game management area.

Mr Nsongela says the development of an ultra modern lodge and conference centre in the heart of Chiawa east game management area will bring about massive opportunities for the local people.

He said this yesterday during a consultative meeting held in Chiawa on the proposed multi-million dollar hotel with a bed space of 144.

Mr Nsongela said Protea had a policy of ensuring that it consults widely before developing any project and will always observe laid laws. He said the development of the project will turn the lower Zambezi area into a tourist destination for every Zambian.

The Hotel Group Consultant further disclosed that the company has also taken into consideration the anticipated impact for the project once construction starts.

” Management has put in place mitigation measures to prevent, minimize and compensate identified negative impacts in the area,” he said.

Mr Nsongela stated that it was for this reason management is committed to continue engaging the community in dialogue and consensus building to ensure that the development meets both the aspirations of the people of Chiawa and other tourist operators.

However some headmen and villagers advised the group consider changing the location of the site as it was sanctuary of wildlife. They said the people of Chiawa are very happy at the development and appreciate the anticipated positive development the company will bring to the area.

But Headman Mushonganende differed with the others saying the proposed site was just okey as the area had no economic activities to empower the locals. He said wildlife will not be disturbed as the land to be utilized was small.

The headman accused other lodge owners of having developed cold feet because Protea will bring about competition and offer better conditions of service to the locals.

” Chiawa has remained poor for a long time because most lodges were selfish and are not supporting the area to come out its poverty,” the traditional ruler said.

And the Lower Zambezi Conservation Trust Tim Filber said it was important that the area’s wildlife is not disturbed but maintain Zambia’s tourism motto of “Zambia the true Africa”. He said it would be important the company reduces the bed capacity from 144 to 28.

Mr Filber said Protea was welcome in the area but should consider moving the site of the project to an area where there is less animal traffic.

But Kafue district commissioner Winford Ngoma cautioned tour operators in the area and some headmen not to politicize the project. He said it was important the community realized that the country and area will only develop when investors such as Protea come in.

He said some lodge owners have been in the area but have done little to change the lives of the people. He said government welcomes investors who bring development at large scale as the multiplier effect will be more felt in terms of benefits.

Mr Ngoma said government intends to remove the dependence syndrome of people on the state so that they can support themselves.

The meeting which was attended by Chieftainess Chiawa was also graced with the presence of government representatives from Environment Council of Zambia, ZAWA, Water Affairs, Council, Education and Forestry departments.

ZANIS

GOVERNMENT Printers has said it has no capacity to print ballot papers although it has acquired a colour printing press.

Government Printers director, Venansio Lungu said the department could not meet the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) standards for printing ballot papers.

He was speaking when a team of political parties and ECZ chairperson, Florence Mumba toured the plant in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr Lungu said the ECZ had raised security concerns relating to printing ballot papers at Government Printers.

“There have been security concerns which we are addressing so that we can print ballot papers for elections. We need more than K1 billion to address all security concerns,” he said.

At the national registration office, registrar general Mathews Nyirongo told political party leaders not to mobilise foreigners to obtain national registration cards because that was a danger to the country.

Mr Nyirongo said by September this year, the exercise of issuing national registration cards would be extended to all parts of the country.

And speaking after the tour, Justice Mumba said since ballots could not be printed locally, the ballots for the Chitambo by-election would still be printed in South Africa and would be in the country by next week.

Ms justice Mumba said plans were underway to link the national registration office data base with that of the ECZ so that it could be easier to register voters.

MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga, Tourism Deputy Minister Vera Tembo, New Generation Party president Humphrey Siulapwa, Zambia Democratic Congress secretary General Langtone Sichone and Party for Unity Democracy and Development president Isaac Musonda were in the delegation.

[Times of Zambia]

COMMUNICATIONS and Transport Minister, Geoffrey Lungwangwa has said that Government’s decision to sell Zambia Telecomunications Company (Zamtel) is final and cannot be rescinded.

Professor Lungwangwa said in Lusaka yesterday that the Government’s position on the matter as announced by President Rupiah Banda was final.

He was reacting to the calls by Patriotic Front (PF) – United Party for National Development (UPND) pact that President Banda should rescind Government decision to sell Zamtel shares.

PF president, Michael Sata said at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the decision to privatise 75 per cent shares of Zamtel shares should be reversed immediately as it was being done not in public interest.

Meanwile, Speaker of the National Assembly AMUSAA MWANAMWAMBWA has ordered Communication and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa to update Parliament on the stage at which the privatisation of Zamtel has reached.[quote]

Mr Mwanamwambwa said that it was imperative that members of Parliament had first hand information on the stages at which the privatisation of Zamtel had reached as opposed to getting information from members of the public.

The speaker made the order after Chipili Member of Parliament Davies Mwila (PF) rose on a point of order as to whether it was appropriate for the minister to be quiet particularly when debates on Zamtel were at the peak among members of the public.

Mr Mwila said that as MPs, it was appropriate for them to have first hand information on the privatisation of Zamtel and not to rely on information from members of the public.

“What is important is for the minister to update or appraise the House on what is going on regarding the status and the future of Zamtel. This House needs to be updated and the minister does not require several days. As early as next week let this House have an update,” Mr Mwanamwambwa said.

He also advised members to desist from participating in debates by the public saying their best medium of debates for MPs was in the House.

“I encourage members not to participate in debates because this is the best forum,”Mr Mwanamwambwa said.

[Times of Zambia]

Kalulushi Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) District Vice Chairman Andrew Nawa has condemned Mike Mulongoti, Ben Teta Mashimba and George Mpombo for exchanging harsh words in public.

ZANIS Kalulushi reports that Mr. Nawa said it was unfortunate for the three, who had been in the same party, to be exchanging bad language in public.

“If I were to be asked who is wrong, I would definitely go for Mr. Mpombo, because when he had a big decision to take, he would have talked to his friends in privacy.” Said Mr. Nawa.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Kalulushi yesterday that what Mr Mpombo was experiencing right now, was the reaction from his colleagues for not having informed them of his important decision that he was going to take.

Mr. Nawa has however, said that he would like to see them come together and discuss whatever difference they had among themselves so that they make peace.

He explained that it was a pity, because what they were doing was likely to affect the party organization and equipping the opposition with political ammunition.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nawa has appealed to the MMD National Secretary to help the party be funded so that it would get on with the party programme.

Mr. Nawa said that the district had not been funded for quite some time now and that had affected the party organization since the luck transport.

ZANIS