Republican President Rupiah Banda was received well in South Africa by high placed government official who included Xiliso Makaya, Director of International Relations and cooperation.

Mr. Makaya led the rainbow nation’s government officials to receive the Zambian President who touched down at Lanseria Airport at 13: 30 hours yesterday.

The President was later driven to Sheraton hotel in Pretoria.

President Banda later on held a long meeting with his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma at the presidential guest house.

The meeting was attended by the minister of International Relations and corporations Mrs. Maite Nkoana- Mashabane and the Zambian High Commissioner to South Africa Leslie Mbula.

This is contained in a press release issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today signed by foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande.

At the meeting the two leaders discussed bilateral issues affecting the Southern African countries as well as matters affecting the region.

“The President was well received and provided with both transport and accommodation by the South African government contrary to reports in the Post of today’s edition 5th August, 2009, which claimed that President Jacob Zuma was not aware of President Banda’s visit” Mr. Pande said.

President Banda also met his doctors for preliminary check up.

ZANIS

Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata has accused President Rupiah Banda of having no respect for traditional rulers in the country.

Mr. Sata has said the MMD under Mr. Banda has failed to improve on the social infrastructure left by former UNIP government.

Addressing two separate rallies at Chitambo hospital grounds and another at Fisonge basic school grounds yesterday, Mr. Sata said in 1991, government gave back the respect chiefs deserved and stopped them from engaging into active politics.

He said it was sad that chiefs were now called to meet president Rupiah Banda at any place instead of the president paying courtesy call on them at their respective palaces.

He said UNIP under Dr. Kaunda built a lot of schools, roads and hospitals which the MMD were failing to improve on adding that government had even failed to make a road that would join Mpelembe from Chitambo hospital.

“There should have been a road by now joining Tuta road from here (Chitambo) but government has failed forcing people to still to go via mukando, a long way,” he said.

He said schools did not have adequate staffing while many trained teachers were still roaming the streets adding that government allegedly refused to increase workers salaries while the first lady Thandiwe was getting salaries when she was not working.

Mr. Sata urged the people of Chitambo to vote for PF candidate Chanda Mutale who he said was there own man and not to vote for MMD candidate Solomon Musonda because he was alleged to be a Zimbabwean.

“Vote for this young man, your son. Both Musonda and Rupiah Banda come from Zimbabwe so do not vote for Musonda, ” said as he introduced Mutale to the crowd.

Mr. Sata told Mutale to remain humble to the people saying people of Serenje did not want money from him but wanted leadership and somebody who could speak fo them.

He told him to ensure chief Muchinka’s palace was electrified and also ensure a road joining Serenje/Mansa road from Chitambo was made.

And speaking earlier, PF national chairperson, Samuel Mukupa wondered why people in rural areas continued to vote fo MMD when those in towns rejected.

He said it surprised him to find that people who were allegedly not cared for by the MMD government voted for them.

And Lusaka province chairperson, Paul Moonga, told the audience at Chitambo and Fisonge that the MMD had no love for them because even the late Nasim Hamir and the MMD candidate were not Zambians.

Mr. Moonga who praised people of Chitambo constituency for their hard work and construction of good looking houses said he however was disappointed that government had failed to help the people uplift their living standards.

He said while they were hard workers, they lacked support in terms of inputs from government thereby forcing them to face hunger all the times.

Mr. Moonga charged that MMD government respected animals more than people at Chipyapya where he alleged that people were being chased to leave land for animals.

The Patriotic Front (PF) team was in the constituency to drum up support for Chanda Mutale who is one of the four candidates vying for Chitambo parliamentary seat that fell vacant after the death of MMD Member of Parliament Nasim Hamir last May.

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set August 13th 2009, as polls day in the by-election.
ZANIS

“Once again, I condemn any violence against journalists. I said it then, although you (media) underplayed it. I want to say it again, I am against that and I totally condemn it and whoever is perpetrating it,” he said.

Mr Banda said journalists have been doing their work and he does not like violence against them.[quote]

On the planned protest march by members of media bodies in the country to State House this Friday, President Banda said Government has written to leaders of media bodies that he has delegated the Vice-President to deal with the matter as he will still be in South Africa.
He was speaking to journalists at the Lusaka International Airport shortly before leaving for South Africa yesterday.

And Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia Chapter chairperson Henry Kabwe said although media bodies had not yet received notification from Government, President Banda’s decision to delegate the Vice-President to deal with the matter is welcome.

Mr Kabwe said the President’s decision shows the importance he has attached to the cry of the media about the continued harassment of journalists.

Meanwhile President Banda commended cooperating partners for resuming funding to the Ministry of Health after realising that Government is doing its best to curb corruption in the ministry.

Mr Banda also instructed Vice-President George Kunda to follow up on reports that some health institutions in the country have run out of food so that it can be sent there as soon as possible.

Mr Banda said the Vice-President will take care of reports that St. Francis Hospital in Katete has run out of food.

“I want to take advantage of this opportunity to thank the donors for realising that we are doing our best to curb corruption in the Ministry of Health,” he said.

And the President said Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata is free to go ahead with the planned impeachment proceedings.

Mr Banda said he has always been calling for the opposition to commence impeachment proceedings and wondered why they have not started.

He was responding to a question from journalists who told him that Mr Sata had refuted reports that he had abandoned impeachment proceedings.

President Banda, who left for South Africa yesterday, was accompanied by First Lady Thandiwe.

He was seen off by the Vice-President, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Ronnie Shikapwasha, Minister of Home Affairs Lameck Mangani and Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa.

Others were Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja and other senior Government officials.

While in South Africa, President Banda is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his counterpart Jacob Zuma in Pretoria.

The President is also expected to undergo a medical review and will return home immediately after completing the scheduled business.

[Zambia Daily Mail]