President Rupiah Banda has called for hard work, patriotism and efficiency in the country.

The President said this at Mkaika during the celebration of the Kulamba traditional ceremony of the Chewa people in Katete today.

The ceremony attracted hundreds of people from Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and other countries. In his speech, President Banda emphasized that for development to take place in the country, there is need for hard work, patriotism and efficiency.

President Banda said Government would continue to support cultural activities such as the Kulamba traditional ceremony which is a cultural heritage that plays a central role in the socio-economic development of any society.

The President further assured the people of Eastern Province that Government would continue supporting the agriculture and other sectors.

He assured the gathering that Government had already disbursed fertilizers and other farming inputs to all the districts in readiness of the next farming season.

Speaking during the same function, Mozambican Minister of Education, Inais Bonfacio Ali expressed his gratitude to be part of this year’s Kulamba traditional ceremony.

He said Mozambique respects chiefs and traditional leaders because they help in the development process.

Mr. Ali said traditional ceremonies are a platform for the exchange of ideas and the fostering of unity.

And speaking on behalf of Malawian President Dr. Bingu Wamtharika, Malawian Minister of Local Government, Dooal Gondwe said that Zambia and Malawi have worked together for a long time and continue to share many ideals of common interest.

He described the ceremony as a unifying factor for Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi.

He said the ceremony was not for celebration only, but a springboard for the development of the three countries.

ZANIS

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.

[ZNBC]

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.

ZANIS

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.

ZANIS

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.

[Times of Zambia]