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The MMD says former First Lady, Maureen Mwanawasa, is free to contest the party and republican presidency in 2016.
MMD Acting Spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti, says the ruling party is democratic and gives equal opportunities to all members to contest any positions including the presidency.
Mr. Mulongoti told ZNBC news that members are free to make such indications although there is still a long way to go before the 2016 elections.
Mrs Mwanawasa has been quoted in Friday’s edition of the Times of Zambia news paper as saying she will contest the 2016 polls.
The former first lady said for now she will support the candidature of President Rupiah Banda.
She said her decision to contest the 2016 presidential elections has been driven by her passion to lead Zambia.
Mrs. Mwanawasa also dismissed rumours that she is a wealthy woman.
President Rupiah Banda has castigated opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema for inciting the donor community to with-hold funding to Zambia.
Mr. Hichilema is allegedly inciting the donor community to withhold their support because the fight against corruption is being mishandled.
The President Banda said it was important for the opposition leader to realize that Zambia is faced with a lot of challenges which require support from donors.
He cited challenges in areas of road infrastructure, education and health as some of those requiring assistance.
Mr. Banda expressed regret that Mr. Hichilema, who is also co-leader of the PF/UPND pact, can incite donors not to release funds to Zambia forgetting that he was still under the leadership of the MMD government.
The President said Mr. Hichilema lost elections and he would lose the forth-coming 2011 presidential elections because his behaviour showed that he has nothing to offer to the Zambian people.
Mr. Banda advised the UPND leader to think twice than inciting donors and unnecessarily criticize government even when it was delivering services to the people.
“Mr. Hichilema should know that he is under the control of the ruling MMD and whether he likes it or not, inciting donors to rise against my government entails that the UPND will also suffer. Zambia needs funds to address and fix the infrastructure in this country,” he said.
The Head of State was speaking this morning, shortly before departure for Katete where he is scheduled to attend the Kulamba ceremony at Paramount Chief Gawa Undi’s palace.
And President Banda has advised diplomats accredited to Zambia against issuing bad statements.
President Banda said the Zambian government will have an audience with the US Government to iron out issues adding that diplomats should use the proper channels of communication.
Mr. Banda’s statement comes following US Ambassador to Zambia Donald Booth’s that donors were not satisfied with the manner Zambia was fighting corruption, especially the acquittal of former second Republican President Dr. Frederick Chiluba.
Meanwhile, President Banda has said Mozambican President Amando Guebuza who was expected to attend the Kulamba ceremony, will be represented by his Education Minister.
Mr. Banda said his Malawian counterpart Dr. Bingu Wa-Mutharika has confirmed his attendance at the ceremony.
The President was seen off at the Lusaka City Airport by Vice President George Kunda, Cabinet Ministers, senior government and MMD party officials.
Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has disclosed that Local Government and Housing Minister Benny Tetamanshimba and Home Affairs Deputy Minister Misheck Bonshe who are admitted at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) are recovering well.
And Lieutenant General Shikapwasha has urged people in the country to pray for the two Ministers for a speed recovery.
In interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Lt-Gen Shikapwasha, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister said Mr. Tetamanshimba and Mr. Bonshe are feeling much better.
“Teta is picking up from his illness while Mr. Bonshe is feeling much better. I urge the people of Zambia to pray for our two Ministers and wish them a speed recovery,” Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said.
Mr. Tetamanshimba, who was earlier evacuated to South Africa was brought back and has since been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at UTH while Mr. Bonshe is also admitted there.
He said government will keep updating the nation on the health of the two ministers.
Meanwhile, the National Revolution Party (NRP) President Cosmo Mumba has accused government of not updating the nation on the health of the Minister of Local Government and Housing Benny Tetamashimba’s condition.
In a separate interview with ZANIS, Dr. Mumba said the Minister of Health Kapembwa Simbao, should inform the nation on Mr. Tetamashimba’s condition because the nation wanted to know how he was doing.
Dr. Mumba has since appealed to President Rupiah Banda to allow Mr. Tetamshimba to take a rest from his duties when he is discharged from hospital.
He said handling both the ministerial position and politics was a lot of work and requires one to have enough rest.
Four children of the same family in Kalabo district have been burnt to ashes after the house they were sleeping in caught fire believed to have been caused by a candle.
Western Province Police Commanding Officer Vael Muzwenga confirmed the incident that occurred yesterday in an interview with ZANIS in Mongu today. He added that the children were burnt to ashes around 21:00 hours.
Mr. Muzwenga named the deceased as Munyunga aged 8, Mampi 6, Mundia and Purity Kandei both aged 3 of Yuka area in Kalabo district.
He said the parents were sleeping in a separate house and the house that caught fire was for the girls. The fire was noticed by a passer by.
Local authorities and Police that rushed to the scene failed to retrieve the bodies.
Malawian High Commissioner to Zambia Chris Mugogo and two others were last evening involved in a road traffic accident on the Great East Road in Chipata.
Eastern Province Commanding officer Mary Chikwanda who confirmed the incident to ZANIS in Chipata today, said the accident happened on Thursday evening near Madzi Moyo.
Ms. Chikwanda named the two others as Rodgers Phiri 27 who is the driver and Banda Baudqa 31 a passenger, both of Lusaka.
She said it is believed that Mrs. Mugogo and two others met their fate when their car Registration number 28 DC 52Z failed to negotiate a corner near Madzi Moyo.
Ms. Chikwanda said the victims were rushed to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) yesterday for treatment.
She said the condition of the High Commissioner is stable and that she is responding well to treatment.
Ms. Chikwanda however said the condition of Mr. Phiri and Mr. Banda is bad due to the injuries they sustained.
She added that the accident was caused due to over speeding.
The Malawian High Commissioner was traveling to Chipata for the Kulamba traditional ceremony of the Chewa people of Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has labeled Post Newspaper Editor In-chief Fred M’membe a ‘coward’.
Lt. Gen Shikapwasha, who is also Information and Broadcasting minister, has challenged Mr. M’membe to surrender and avail himself to the Police or law enforcement agencies like Post News Editor Chansa Kabwela has done, rather than hiding.
He hailed Ms Kabwela ,who is facing pornographic charges, as a brave woman for her co-operation with law enforcement agencies.
“M’membe is a coward. Why hide instead of facing the judiciary. His News Editor Chansa Kabwela is therefore brave…..I challenge him to avail himself to the police than to frustrate and waste time for judiciary,” he said.
Lt-Gen Shikapwasha, who was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, said police and other law enforcement agencies are on high alert to arrest Mr M’membe.
On September 2 2009, Lusaka Chief resident Magistrate Charles Kafunda issued a bench a warrant for the arrest of Mr. M’membe who was by press time still at large.
Zambia have arrived in Algiers ahead of Sundays 2010 World/African Cup Group A qualifier against host Algeria in Blida.
The team left France just before midday on Friday and took a 1 hour 30 minute flight from Marseille to Algiers where they landed in the Algerian capital at 12:30 Zambian time.
And two players joined up with the team in Algeria today.
Goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene of South African club Free State Stars and the Chinese -based attacking midfielder James Chamanga linked up with the rest of their Zambia team mates in Algeria today.
MONDO LEAVES LUSAKA DYNAMOS
Wesley Mondo has left Lusaka Dynamos less than a season in charge to take up an appointment in Botswana.
Mondo, who joined Dynamos at the start of this season, is said to be replacing another Zambian-born coach at Mochudi Centre Chiefs.
He is set to replace Beston Chambeshi who guided Centre Chiefs to 2nd place in the Botswana league last season and maiden league title in 2008.
Chambeshi has since returned home and this week joined Power Dynamos as assistant to Fodson Kabole.
Dynamos long-time assistant Luka Siame will take charge of the Queensmead side for the foreseeable future.
And their will be only one Faz Premier League game this weekend that will see City of Lusaka host Zesco United in a rescheduled Week 17 game at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.
EVICTED: 61 monkeys removed from State House to the Munda Wanga Botanical Gardens in Chilanga under an operation code named ‘Shining Example.’ The mokeys are captured at Munda Wanga adapting to the new environment. Picture courtesy of Munda Wanga Botenical gardensPresident Rupiah Banda being welcomed by Libyan Secretary(Minister) of higher Education and scientific research Abdolkabir Alfalikry on arrival at Metiga Military Airport in Tripoli,Libya for the Special session of the African Union(AU) assembly on the consideration and resolution of conflicts in AfricaPresident Rupiah Banda walks abreast Libyan Secretary(Minister) of higher Education and scientific research Abdolkabir Alfalikry on arrival at Metiga Military Airport in Tripoli,Libya for the Special session of the African Union(AU) assembly on the consideration and resolution of conflicts in AfricaPresident Rupiah Banda shares a light moment with his Zimbabwean counterpart President Robert Mugabe during the official opening of the Special session of the African Union(AU) assembly on the consideration and resolution of conflicts in Africa held at shahabport in Tripoli, Libya.looking on is the Zimbabwean Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi(centre)Some delegate following proceedings during the SADCOPAC meeting in LusakaA peasant farmer waiting for buyers to buy his maize crop in PetaukeA truck is stuck because of over heating along the Great East RoadA view of a place called Luangwa along the Great East Road where many businesses occurA wide view of the roadside at Katete in Eastern ProvinceA woman selling wild fruits called Masau at Luangwa along the Great East RoadAn artists selling woven artifacts at Luangwa along the Great East RoadAn unidentified pedestrian walks along the Great East Road reading writings at the welcome billboard in SindaBoutique...A clothes shop at Nyimba district along the Great East RoadPresident Rupiah Banda's 2008 campaign billboard still hanging at Luangwa along the Great East RoadOops! ...Another billboard from President Banda's 2008 campaign still hanging in KateteRoad works along the Great East Road have are up beat such as this stretch near NyimbaTransport by bicycle is common in Nyimba. Here a husband ferrying his wife on two wheelsEastern Province Minister Isaac Banda ( l) inspects culverts in Katete made by Hua Chang construction which has been engaged to repair feeder roads in Katete and Chipata districtsWelcome to ChipataEastern Province Minister Isaac Banda amd other officials inspect VIP arena in the shelter where the Kulamba ceremony will held this weekendSome people dancing during the Cell Zee Amabondi promotion draw in Lusaka
Chief Matanda has urged government and traditional leaders in the country to discourage traditional practices that accelerate the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Chief Matanda said as long as people do not give up certain beliefs and attitudes such as sexual cleansing the HIV/AIDS pandemic will still remain a problem in society.
The traditional leader said this when Mansa District Commissioner Chibwe Nsakasha who is on a familiarization tour of the district paid a courtesy call on him at his palace yesterday.
Chief Matanda urged his subjects and village headmen to refrain from acts that raised the HIV/AIDS infection and transmission rates.
He challenged all village headmen to take a leading role and get tested for HIV/AIDS to know their status as this will encourage their subjects to do the same.
Chief Matanda is an ardent HIV/AIDS activist in his chiefdom and was recently presented with a certificate for bravery and willingness to test for HIV/AIDS at a mobile Counseling and Testing (CT) activity conducted by the Peace Corps in his chiefdom.
He has also played a leading role in ending stigma and discrimination against HIV infected people in the area.
Police in Northern Province are investigating a case in which a male inmate died in mysterious circumstances while in police custody at Makasa Tazara Police Station in Mungwi district.
And two police officers are reported to have fled to neighboring Tanzania for fear of being lynched by the irate residents of Makasa.
The two officers were on duty when the incident happened.
Police Sources revealed that the male suspect died in the early hours of Tuesday this week while in police custody.
They said the deceased, aged 35, was arrested and put in custody pending a court appearance.
Police sources said when people got wind of his death they ganged up with machetes and other weapons intending to shatter the police station.
But quick action by Mungwi police saved the situation from culminating into chaos.
The sources said the case has since been handed over to Tazara Police in Kasama for further investigations adding that the deceased’s body is lying in Kasama General Hospital awaiting postmortem and subsequent burial.
FORMER first lady Maureen Mwanawasa has declared that she will contest the 2016 presidential election but will for now support the candidature of President Rupiah Banda for the 2011 polls.
Mrs Mwanawasa has also called on the public to respect the decisions of the judiciary, saying insistent attacks on recent judgments were ultra vires the ideals of a democratic country that demands separation of powers.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Times, Mrs Mwanawasa said she now felt that she was ripe to take over the mantle of the high office of president.
She said, however, that she would only contest the presidency in the 2016 elections because her party, the MMD had already settled for President Banda as the candidate for the party in 2011.
“I want to make it very clear to the nation that I am an MMD member and I therefore subscribe to the rules and regulations. As a party, we have already made a decision to rally behind President Banda as sole party candidate for the 2011 elections.
“I have offered myself and I will be available to stand as president in the 2016 presidential elections, not now. I would like all those who doubt my capacities to give me a try, this country is now ready for a female president,” she said.
Mrs Mwanawasa said she had a great passion to lead Zambia and that it was important for any country to have a good reservoir of good and well-trained leaders alongside those in power.
She said good governance was like running a football team whose fans depended on players in the starting line up while also having a well-equipped and trained line up of substitutes on the bench who should rise to the occasion when the need arose.
She, however, said those in privileged positions such as herself and those serving in Government should never think they were the best because some of those among the substitutes could do even better.
Mrs Mwanawasa also said she wanted to dispel rumours which suggested that she was an immensely wealthy woman, adding that contrary to such views, she was a noble person who was also subjected to stringent financial regulations by her late husband.[quote]
On corruption, the former first lady said the judiciary should be allowed to work professionally without interference from the public because doing so would erode public confidence and respect.
She said the fight against corruption, which her late husband had a passion for, should not be misconstrued as having been a personal fight against any one individual but one that was wholesome to ensure that development trickled to the poor.
Mrs Mwanawasa also said she was ready to take up any appointment to work for the people of Zambia.
Meanwhile, three MMD provincial executive committees have said they are still consulting party structures before stating their positions on whether the party should hold its convention before the 2011 elections.
Five provinces have already petitioned the national executive committee not to hold the convention because President Banda had been adopted as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2011 elections.
Former Freedom Fighters League of Zambia (FFLZ) Secretary General Dickson Kaminda has appealed to Police Officers in Kitwe to stop detaining male and female offenders in the same cells.
Mr. said this in a statement released in Kitwe today. He said he was saddened when he found two males and a female sharing the same cell at night, in Kitwe’s Bulangililo Township’s station.
Mr. Kaminda said the practice is wrong and if continued would dent the image of the police service.
He further said some police stations have a tendency of detaining juveniles and hardcore criminals in the same cells.
Mr. Kaminda added that it is wrong for suspects to be detained for more than 48 hours in police cells, contrary to the laws of Zambia.
He advised relatives of the detained suspects to report such cases to higher authorities.
Power for Good, an organization based in Ireland has released has given 50, 000 euros to the Zambia Persons with Disability (ZAPD) to revamp two of its 17 farms across the country.
ZAPD Acting Secretary General Charles Mwape disclosed this in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
Dr. Mwape named the two farms as Mitukuko in Solwezi and Linda in Livingstone.
He said his organization would ensure that the funds were used to support and help revamp the two farms.
And Dr. Mwape has said ZAPD has entered into a five year partnership agreement with the Zambia Federation of Disability Organisation (ZAFOD) to help his organization revamp its farms across the country.
He noted that once the all the farms were revamped, more than 1, 000 jobs for persons with disability are expected to be created in the country.
He said creating employment for persons with disability in the country would help to remove the disabled from the streets.
Dr. Mwape has also called upon other stakeholders to come forward and assist the agency with more funds for other farms to be revamped.
He named other farms earmarked for resuscitation as Kangonda in Ndola, Mimosa in Lusaka and Kambowa in Ndola rural.
Others are Kazembe and Mushota both in Luapula, Chitonkene in Mwinilunga, Masaiti in Luanshya and Sisenge also in Luanshya, among others.
Zambezi West Member of Parliament (MP) has called on government to extend the mobile National Registration Card (NRC) exercise in the constituency to accommodate more people.
Charles Kakoma says government should extend the exercise for a few weeks more to enable as many eligible people as possible to register.
MR. Kakoma told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the one week time frame given to the constituency for the exercise was not enough especially that many people do not have the NRCs.
He accused the registration officers carrying out the exercise in his constituency of not reaching many places in the constituency.
He said the team has abandoned the exercise in the area citing logistical problems without them reaching the targeted number.
He said the exercise also lacked publicity such that many people were not aware of the exercise making it difficulty for the communities to acquire the NRC at their door steps.
Mr. Kakoma said this had disadvantaged many people who also eligible voters.
He alleged that in some parts of Western Province the exercise had not been successful as those above 18 years could not be allowed to obtain the NRCs.
He the cards were only issued to those in the ages of between 16 and 17 while those from 18 years and above were being referred to their village headmen.
Government has started the mobile registration exercise to be carried out in all provinces.
Local Government and Housing Minister Benny Tetamashimba
A Ndola Clergyman has called on Christian believers countrywide to pray for the quick recovery of Local Government and Housing Minister Benny Tetamashimba who is reported to be in the Intensive Care Unit at the University of Zambia Teaching Hospital.
Covenant believers Church Pastor Yobe Chishimba told ZANIS in Ndola that Christians countrywide should pray for the quick recovery of the minister because he was a Servant of God in his capacity as minister of the people of Zambia.
He said the Christian bible scriptures urge those who believe in God to pray for their leaders all the time, including during times when the leaders are ill.
He said all positions of leadership and authority come from God and it is God only who chooses leaders at any given time.
Pastor Chishimba said Mr. Tetamashimba is a courageous man and a leader with immense influence on national issues.
He further described the minister as an honest person who needs the support of all peace loving Zambians for his quick recovery.
Another clergy of Bethsaida Church called on all Christians to remember the political leadership in prayers all the time for continued peace that Zambia has been enjoying for many years.
Pastor Emmanuel Nyirenda told ZANIS in Ndola that it is a duty and call for all believers to remember their leaders in prayers all the time for God’s guidance and direction.
He further said every leader serving in any capacity is servant of God and needs God’s anointing, wisdom and guidance to lead properly.
He said Christians should not join in public criticism of leaders, but pray to God to give the leaders good direction and guidance.
He said he was happy that Zambia has continued to enjoy peace and that the country is a shining example in the region, a scenario which he said should be sustained through prayers for the leaders at every level.
Mr. Tetamashimba was admitted to the UTH intensive care unit on Tuesday upon arrival from South Africa where he had gone to seek medical treatment.
Both UTH Public Relations Manager, Pauline Mbangweta, and Ministry of Health Spokesperson, Kamoto Mbewe, have confirmed that Mr. Tetamashimba is undergoing treatment at the hospital.
However, Dr Mbewe could not provide details on why Mr. Tetamashimba discontinued treatment in South Africa.
He described the condition of the Minister as stable.
