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United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema chating with party vice president Richard Kapita UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema says unity can only be
sustained if development is evenly distributed.
Mr. Hichilema noted that there is no need to sloganeer unity without service delivery as unity is an important prerequisite to achieve development.
In an interview with ZANIS yesterday on Unity Day, Mr. Hichilema said the reason why Zambians and fore leaders fought for political independence was to attain peace so that they can unite the country and use that unity to develop the country.
The UPND President pointed out that development has to do with quality of life where people access quality education, health, clean water and have three decent meals a day.
He further pointed out that unity could be eluded if there is unfairness in the distribution of development opportunities.
Mr. Hichilema said there is need to make opportunities available to every individual if peace and unity is to be sustained.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hachilema has challenged parents to teach their children the art of hard work.
He noted that parents should make their children understand that for them to have a better life they must work hard.
He implored parents to also explain the importance of culture to their children saying people without a culture heritage have questionable characters.
ZANIS
The ruling MMD in Southern Province says it is confident of scooping all the seven ward by-elections set for August 13, 2009.
Provincial Secretary, Emmerson Siamwela, told ZANIS in Mazabuka yesterday that the campaign strategy employed by the MMD will render the opposition United Party for National Development unpopular during the by-elections
Mr Siamwela said people of Southern Province have now realised that opposing government will not reduce the high poverty levels.
And Mr Siamwela has disclosed that the pact between the Patriotic Front and UPND has been perceived as a total betrayal to the people of Southern Province by UPND leader, Hakainde Hichilema.
He said people have since vowed to support the MMD in protest against Mr Hichilema’s decision to team up with the Patriotic Front.
The by-elections will be held in various wards of Mazabuka, Choma, Sinazongwe, Monze, Livingstone and Kalomo.
The Africa Business Forum closed in London today with a strong message to the G8 to stand and fulfill its official development assistance to the continent.
Chairman of the Africa Business Council (CBC), Dr Mohan Kaul said the economy of Africa will be kept afloat not by donor aid but infrastructure development in key sectors such as roads, energy and agriculture.
Closing the two-day forum and announcing the recommendations of the Forum, which was attended by Vice-president George Kunda, Dr Kaul stressed the need for the developed world to continue supporting the development efforts of the continent.
Dr Kaul announced that British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has agreed to carry the principle recommendations of the Forum to the G8 summit which opens this week in Italy in order to effectively plead Africa’s case.
The Forum, which was attended by over 400 business and government leaders, observed in its message to the G8 that Africa has made huge strides in economic performance and good governance, with growth being steady at 5 per cent amid more economic actors, especially from Asia.
However, the business and government leaders warned that the collapse of international capital markets, falling national incomes and the ever sky-rocketing cost of food and energy is threatening to put Africa’s economic development in reverse gear.
The meeting has since urged the G8 and other major economies to take the lead in tackling the immediate effects of increased costs, stabilising financial flow and regenerating trade.
In that vein, the Forum also called on the G8 to actively support African governments in order to create the best conditions for business and investment.
The Forum observed that enterprises and private sector investments were among the sustainable drivers for growth in Africa and other emerging markets.
African leaders have also been urged to avoid protectionist policies that could damage Africa’s economic achievements .
Post newspaper editor Chansa Kabwela at the Lusaka central policeThe Government has said that the recent questioning of The Post news editor for
alleged possession of obscene material contrary to the laws of Zambia should not be politicised.
Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said it was sad that some political parties were using the recent questioning and recording of warn and caution statement from the newspaper’s editor to gain political mileage.
“The questioning of The Post news editor Chansa Kabwela last week should not be politicised and the police should be left to do the their work based on their evidence,” Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said.
Gen Shikapwasha, who is Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, said branding the police action as political was a cheap way of viewing the matter.
Last week, police in Lusaka recorded a warn and caution statement from Ms Kabwela for allegedly being in possession of obscene material contrary to the laws of Zambia.
The statement from Ms Kabwela was recorded after interrogating her for close to three hours in connection with pictures of a woman in childbirth.
The police action followed Ms Kabwela’s sending of the pictures to Vice-President George Kunda and copied to the minister of Health, Secretary to the Cabinet, Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council, Women for Change and the Roman Catholic Church Archbishop of Lusaka.
Ms Kabwela said she had sent the pictures of the woman in the hope that they would move the Government to take quick action and end the strike by health workers.
Patriotic Front president, Michael Sata recently accused the police of being used by the Government and the MMD over the statement recorded from Ms Kabwela.
[Times of Zambia]
Chiengi MP Katele Kalumba chats with his counterpart from Mkushi Lucy ChangweThe Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) has
described as shocking the resignation of Defence Minister, George Mpombo.
Party Secretary General, Katele Kalumba, said the resignation of Mr Mpombo comes as a great shock to the party, especially that he was a senior member of the party and a minister.
He said Mr Mpombo holds a very important position in the country as a Defence Minister, adding that he should have followed a laid down procedure before he could announce his resignation.
Dr Kalumba told ZANIS in an interview yesterday that he expected Mr Mpombo to consult with the party before he could take such a bold decision.
Dr Kalumba said being a NEC member and elected by majority at the party convention, the former minister knows that it is difficulty for a person to relinquish a position unless under difficult circumstances.
He, however, welcomed the resignation of Mr Mpombo, who is also Kafulafuta Member of Parliament and MMD chairman for energy.
Dr Kalumba said Mr Mpombo’s resignation was a big blow to the party as the man stood for democracy.
He further wished the minister good luck in his new endeavors and hoped that he will remain a committed member of the party.
He has, meanwhile, called on all party members in the country not to panic, adding that the party will soon recover from the loss of the minister.
Dr Kalumba said MMD as a party has in the past lost important members but has quickly recovered from such.
He has further urged MMD members to stop politicking on who stands for elections in 2011, but concentrate on developing the country.
PRESIDENT Rupiah and First Lady Thandiwe at Chipata airport during 2008 campaignsTHE MMD has said President Banda’s candidature in the
2011 presidential and parliamentary elections is not negotiable.
MMD chairman for elections Mike Mulongoti said the wisest thing his party can do is to have president Banda stand and win the elections owing to the statesmanship he has demonstrated since he became head of State.[quote]
“The MMD has made its stance that we will endorse President Banda’s candidature in 2011 because he has demonstrated statesmanship since he was elected. It would not be a clever thing to fight an existing president,” Mr Mulongoti said.
He said this yesterday at the Press Freedom Committee of The Post discussion at Lusaka’s Chrismar Hotel.
Mr Mulongoti castigated people intending to stand on the MMD ticket during the 2011 elections, saying such people should have been involved in activities of the party long before their desire to stand.
“To those, I can clearly say they will not find favour with us because they must have shown commitment to the party in the first place,” he said.
Mr Mulongoti said those intending to represent MMD in the 2011 general elections should have waited for the party members’ invitation for them to lead it in the elections.
He described them as insincere people.
“If you think you are presidential material, party members should invite you. Otherwise I will consider you to be a very dishonest character who wants to get what others have worked for,” Mr Mulongoti said.
He said such people must not insinuate that the MMD is undemocratic when it stops them from getting the presidency of the party on what he called a silver plate.
“What is undemocratic about stopping someone from getting something on a silver plate?” Mr Mulongoti asked.
He said the MMD is not against people intending to contest the presidency of the party but that such people should show what they have done for the party.
“We have no intentions of stopping people from contesting the presidency of the MMD but they must come with a track record of their participation in party affairs,” Mr Mulongoti said.
Mr Mulongoti said his party is popular and that people have confidence in its government.
He said President Banda is a great leader who needs the support of people to develop the country.
Mr Mulongoti complained that President Banda is being attacked for mistakes he never made.
“It is unfortunate that President Banda is being attacked for mistakes he did not make,” he said.
And Mr Mulongoti said the MMD is a strong party and that it is not moved by the formation of the Patriotic Front-United Party for National Development pact.
“We are very strong and united as a political party. They are saying we are weak, but how can you team up against a weak party.
“What makes it sweet is that while we are in power, some people are dying to come into power. We cannot be blamed as MMD for keeping them waiting. The people of Zambia have given us the support to be in power for as long as they want,” he said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
The Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ) says it is disturbed with the levels of abortions that are being reported among youths in the country.
PPAZ Director of Programmes and Operations, Edford Mutuma, told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the number of abortions in the country is on the increase and called for urgent solutions.
Mr Mutuma said statistics obtained by his association from the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) indicate that the hospital records more than 400 post abortions care cases in a month.
He said the majority of these cases are among the youths and attributed this to lack of information on reproductive health and other vital information.
He also said the latest Zambia Health Demographic Survey has shown that the country is grappling with issues of abortions, hence the need to educate people on its dangers.
Mr Mutuma has emphasized on the need for proper education on reproductive health and related matters among the public.
He said there is need to start educating the public on reproductive health and increase access to relevant services by young women.
Mr Mutuma said people should be educated on family planning and the use of contraceptives to reduce this high number of abortions in the country.
He, however, said people need to properly plan for their future and be responsible before they could engage themselves in sex so as to avoid abortions.
Mr Mutuma noted that under the Zambian laws, abortion is illegal unless it is done under the certification of doctors only in dire circumstances.
He, however, said the recently launched Standard and Guidelines on legal abortion is a step ahead in reducing the high number of illegal abortion in the country.
He has further called for the reinforcement of existing policies against illegal abortion to be strengthened.
Defence minister George Mpombo Defence minister George Mpombo announced his
resignation at Chabanga Lodge this morning in the Itawa area of Ndola.
He said he had resigned as defence minster and MMD National Executive Committee member responsible for energy development.
Mr Mpombo said he was not in the position to talk too much because he has not yet heard from the president but he would date the press at a later stage at an appropriate time.[quote]
He said he would remain a member of parliament for Kafulafuta Constituency until 2011 beyond which he was not too willing to continue in order to give young people a chance to take up leadership.
Mr Mpombo said he would concentrate his energies on constituency projects and issues to do with the environment because there was too much deforestation in his constituency.
He said he had written to the president to accept his resignation on personal grounds.
Mr Mpombo said he was grateful that he had served as Southern Province Deputy Minister as his first ministerial appointment by the late president Levy Mwanawasa and later as minister of Energy before coming to the Copperbelt as deputy Minister when later he was appointed Defence Minister.
Mr Mpombo described himself as “a hard coiled spring” of MMD and would remain a loyal member of the ruling party.
He said he would relocate to Katonte farm which was situated next to Chief Nkambo’s area where he would stay for a few weeks.
He stated that resigning was a painful decision which he took after consultations with his family and other stakeholders adding that he wanted to do it in a smart way and allow the dust to settle.
Mr Mpombo, however, appealed to the party leadership to hold the national convention where NEC members could seek a fresh mandate from the party and uphold the good tenets of democratic practice by not imposing candidates but allow democracy to flourish.
Mr Mpombo said the MMD was founded on the bedrock of democracy and should promote unity of vision purpose, direction and strategy.
He said holding a national convention was a constitutional requirement of the party and should not be overlooked like other parties that were not democratic were doing.
Mr Mpombo said it was a matter which should handled properly and cautiously because it had the potential to divide the party.
He noted that the MMD was a beacon of democracy in the country and should remain focused and resolute on constitutional matters.
Mr Mpombo said he had no intentions of standing as party president at the convention and he was also not available for the Kafulafuta parliamentary seat in 2011 because he wanted to have more time with his family and his studies in MBA and Doctorate.
The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolutions of Disputes (SACCORD) has described as very unfortunate, the statement by Forum for Democratic Alternatives (FDP) President Ludwig Sondashi, that he wants to become President of Zambia so that he could go and enjoy with his family at State House.
SACCORD Information Officer, Michelo Mwango, said the statement clearly shows that Dr Sondashi wants to become President for his own personal and family gain.
Ms Mwango told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the statement by Dr Sondashi was very unfortunate, especially from a politician of his calibre.
She said an individual aspiring to be the President of Zambia should put the interest of the Zambians first.
She also said those aspiring for Presidency but were not interested in developing the country should not be given a single chance to rule.
Ms Mwango said the people of Zambia do not want selfish leaders to rule them but leaders who would go to State House to serve them better and address real issues affecting the country.
She said Dr Sondashi has also shown that if he became head of state the country would develop in any way.
Ms Mwango said Zambians expected Dr Sondashi to talk about how he would consider developing Zambia.
She said it was unfortunate that Dr Sondashi told patriotic Zambians about how he would want to enjoy with his family if he became the head of state.
Dr Ludwig Sondashi, who is former minister of Works and Supply,said during the official launch of his new political party FDP, that he wants to go to State House in order enjoy with his family because they have been suffering a lot after he resigned from the ruling MMD.
President Rupiah Banda, Tanzanian Jakaya Kikwete and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema at the Lwiindi Gonde traditional ceremony in Monze. Presidents Rupiah Banda and his Tanzanian counterpart,
Jakaya Kikwete, were yesterday among hundreds of people who turned out to celebrate this year’s Lwiindi traditional ceremony in Chief Monze’s area.
Speaking when he officially opened the Lwiindi traditional ceremony, President Banda said Tongas were very peaceful and hardworking people.
Mr Banda called on all Zambians to remain united, adding that this was the only way the country could achieve economic development in both the education and health sectors.
He urged Zambians to remain united and listen to the advice offered by their leaders.[quote]
Mr Banda also thanked Tanzanian President, Mr Kikwete, for having accepted to attend the Lwiidi ceremony at short notice.
And speaking earlier, Mr Kikwete urged the Tonga people to preserve and guard their culture and commended Chief Monze for preserving the Tonga culture in the age of Information, Communication Technology (ICT) and the global village.
Mr Kikwete said maintaining the traditional culture was a big challenge in the age of computers, television sets and other gadgets such as cellular phones, that seemed to be stealing the hearts of young people.
”Our young people tend to spend more time on these gadgets and in the process learn and acquire foreign culture which leads to the degrading of our traditional African culture,” he said.
He said there was need to be vigilant if the traditional culture was to be maintained.
”Please maintain these important traditions. Make sure that the younger people and the educated men and women are fully involved and participate in these traditional ceremonies and ensure that they do not participate like expatriates from Europe,” he said.
He noted that Africans must be proud to participate in their own culture whether they were educated or not.
Mr Kikwete described his participation at this year’s Lwiindi traditional ceremony as revolutionary because Heads of States ended in other countries’ capital cities and rarely in the villages.
”Taking a visiting Head of State to a village to witness a traditional ceremony is something that President Banda deserves applaud. Thank you Chief Monze for agreeing with President Banda and allowing me to witness this ceremony of the Tonga people dedicated to thanking God for the good rains and harvest. I am very impressed with what I have seen,” he said.
And Chief Monze thanked both Presidents Banda and Kikwete for agreeing to grace this year’s Lwiindi ceremony.
He said his desire was to see a ceremony that was not only peaceful but also non-political, adding that this was the reason why he had directed everybody going to attend the ceremony not to put on any clothing with political inclination.
Chief Monze also appealed to government to recognise him as Paramount Chief of the Tonga people in Southern Province.
”I’m the 9th Paramount Chief. I ask government to recognise me as Paramount Chief in this province.
Chief Monze also appealed to his people to work hard and uplift the country in terms of agriculture.
Patron of the Lwiindi Tradition ceremony, Hakainde Hichilema, said collectively, Zambia could address the challenges the country was facing.
And chairman of the Lwiindi traditional ceremony, Rex Matala, urged government to closely monitor the distribution of fertilser under the Agriculture Support Programme (FSP).
He said the coming of two Heads of State to address the ceremony was historical, adding that as long as he remained chairman of the traditional ceremony, he would ensure that the event was not politicized.
Mr Matala further said that traditional ceremonies were not places to show political strength, but were meant to bring people together in unity.
President Rupiah Banda and his counterpart Mr Kikwete have since flown back to Livingstone where they are expected to attend another ceremony that will be held at Chief Mukuni’s palace in Kazungula district.
The First Ladies of Zambia and Tanzania have observed that the number of orphans living in Save Our Souls (SOS) villages in Africa could be reduced if the extended family systems were to be re-strengthened.
Mrs Thandiwe Banda and Mrs Salma Kikwete told journalists in Livingstone yesterday that once African families return to the old culture of being responsible enough to look after the children of their dead relatives, the number of homeless orphans would be reduced.
Mrs Banda observed that in the olden days, Zambians, and Africans at large, used to accommodate children of their close and distant relatives, a culture which is now faced with near extinction.
She noted that SOS villages were doing a good job in looking after homeless orphans, but said their burdens could be made lighter if biological relatives took responsibility of the orphaned children in their families and clans.
She, however, said the problem of orphans and street kids has been exacerbated by economic hardships which many African families were facing today.
Mrs Banda observed that in the wake of such economic problems, SOS villages could provide the temporary but very vital solutions and environment for the growth of children.
And Mrs Kikwete reiterated that the problem of orphans in Africa has been made worse by the ravaging HIV/AIDS pandemic.
She told journalists after touring Livingstone’s SOS Village that a reduction in the prevalence rate and existence of HIV and AIDS would drastically reduce the number of orphans in African countries.
Mrs Kikwete also encouraged the revival of extended family systems, which she said would be a lasting solution to accommodating the would-have-been homeless orphans in Africa.
“In my country, there are 39 million people. If each family got one orphaned child, there would be no orphans in the streets and SOS villages,” she said.
Mrs Kikwete, however, commended the SOS villages for improving the lives of orphaned children in African countries.
African First Ladies have a role under the Organisation for African First Ladies (OAFLA) to campaign against the spread of HIV in their countries in order to provide a solution to the fast-growing number of orphans.
Meanwhile, Livingstone SOS Village acting director, Clarence Mwami, appealed to well-wishers to assist the village in financial, social and material form to help improve the lives of the 118 children at the village.
The orphans, who are kept at the SOS villages are identified by the department of Social Welfare under the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.
ZANIS
Questioning Judicial Judgements – Justifying the role of the Attorney General
Over the past few months, I have been following with interest the happenings among our learned members of the Judiciary. There seems to be so many Schools of thought in interpreting the law by our learned colleagues and this brings into ridicule the role of the judiciary. How independent can such an uncoordinated team of experts be? Who do we as lay persons believe? Is there any significant merit in the judicial rankings or they can also be interpreted as personal opinions without any reference to legal authorities?
Well, why do I as a layman raise these questions? The case of legal interest to all of us who see our government as an organised system built on principles of professionalism and good governance. I raise this point because I know the role of the Attorney general in government is to guard against legal blunders by our Ministers and other non-legal experts holding constitutional offices. In this regard I was quite impressed with the evidence that was adduced by the Attorney General and his firm statement that the Attorney general’s advice is supposed to be taken very seriously. That to me made a lot of sense and I saw Dora Siliya’s resignation as a positive step towards cementing our belief in our existing legal instruments. I was very impressed that our system has cemented in itself checks and balances that could inspire confidence in our government instruments among the citizenry.
To my surprise, when I read the judgement by judge Musonda after the judicial review, I was taken aback and wondered whether our judicial system has any form of consistence in its instruments of delivering justice. First of all, the Dennis Chirwa tribunal had Supreme Court judges who made their findings clear with their justifications. I thought they were quite thorough and clearly advised government on the dangers of ignoring the Attorney General’s advice.
If my basic understanding of Cabinet is anything to go by, the Attorney General is a non-politician who sits in cabinet for the sole purpose of providing legal advice on all government policy decisions and contractual obligations. It is for this reason that erring Ministers are never sued in their personal capacity but through the Attorney General’s office. Our understanding of this system is based on the fact most Ministers are non experts in law or do not need to possess expert knowledge as a requirement for their appointment. The attorney General is an expert. If these expertise can be overlooked with impunity, then why do we contract such an expert as a constitutional office holder?
This brings the question I would like answered by judge Musonda, if possible, or any legal brains out there. If the Attorney General advises against government committing itself to a particular transaction but his/her advice is overlooked, how do we then handle any consequences arising from such an oversight? Would we expect the Attorney General to defend such a case on behalf of government? What morale standing and conviction would he/she have in defending such a case?
To me, this is what has cost our governments huge sums of money at the expense service delivery and I beg our legal brains out there to stand up and advise if such anomalies should be allowed as a norm in our society. I strongly feel that there is no justification for any Cabinet Minister to disregard the Attorney General’s advice and that the Attorney General’s Office is a mandatory constitutional office and not a talk shop. We need to respect our Constitutional Offices irrespective of our position in Society and that must start from our top leadership. I would implore our learned colleagues to stand up and make this call for the benefit of the nation. We need a team of people who can genuinely work together in an honest manner and the case of Dora Siliya vs Mr. Mumba Malila must teach us a lesson. I do not see how Dora Siliya could work with Mr. Malila amicably. This must be redressed and the appointing authority ought to look at this issue in the interest of the nation. Our country cannot afford further litigations and loss of money due to avoidable transactions and yet we are so quick to dismiss service delivery chores with impunity. We need to be magnanimous and bite the bullet when need demands it. Something must give – either we govern through friendships as a nepotistic team or we govern on constitutional provisions and respect for the law of the land.
School leavers queuing up for police recruitment in LusakaMotivational speaker and leadership advisor, Aaron
Kamanga, has observed that unemployment levels were alarming in the country, adding that government alone cannot employ everyone but should provide Skills Training Centres as a stepping stone to self employment.
He observed that young people are the future of any nation, yet 80 per cent of them are not employed and are on the streets while others are drunkards.[quote]
Mr Kamanga challenged the young people to look within themselves in order to create their own world instead of looking for someone to employ them.
He said unemployed youths could use Skills Training Centres and become useful citizens and emancipate themselves from the belief that they could only make it in life if they were in formal employment.
Mr Kamanga was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday.
He expressed sadness to learn through the media that last week, youths turned in great numbers to get employed as policemen and yet they have good academic papers which they could use otherwise to attain skilled goals.
He said the over 5,000 youths who turned up for interviews were fighting for only 180 available vacancies in the police service because they cannot help develop their talents due to lack of Skills Training Centres.
Mr Kamanga, however, advised the youths not to be frustrated but to believe in themselves, saying employment is not the ultimatum.
The motivator also advised the youths against shunning their dreams, saying it is not too late to improve their ideas, adding that they could create their own opportunities as every person has a gift and talents to develop.
Mr Kamanga said the youths should realize that going to school, college or university does not mean one has to be employed by someone but to use the talents and gifts to develop abilities in life.
MAHTAN Group of Companies chairman, Rajan Mahtan, has disclosed that the Mahtan group of companies have concluded negotiations with the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa for the construction of a fully fledged hospital in Lusaka in collaboration with the Morning Side clinic of South Africa.
He said the project will cost approximately K250 trillion.
He said the hospital project has been commenced to enable Zambians to be served medical requirements with humanity and dignity locally.
Dr Mahtan also revealed that Zambezi Portlands Cement plant in Ndola will start production next month.
Speaking in Ndola , Dr Mahtan, said the impediments that were holding the commencement of operations for the company have been resolved and operations will commence by August 15, this year.
He said the plant will create employment and competition in the cement industry.
Dr Mahtan said the Mahtan Group of Companies, in collaboration with Group 5 of South Africa, has embarked in the construction of over 3,000 houses in Lusaka under which project the civil servants will be given preference in honour of President Banda’s request.
He said the house construction project will cost about K750 billion.
He added that his group of companies through Finance Building Society one of the companies in the group is organising appropriate mortgage facilities for a period of 15 years to enable people acquire house loans.
And Dr Mahtan further disclosed that his Group of Companies will next year complete construction of a shopping mall in Ndola which will consist of cinemas and other social amenities.
He said the shopping mall will be completed in the next 18 months.
The Mahtan group of companies include Finance Bank, Finance Building Society, Professional Insurance and Professional Life Assurance among others.
The company sponsored the presidential luncheon held in honor of the Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete who was in the country to officiate at this year’s Zambia International Trade Fair in Ndola yesterday.
In attendance were President Rupiah Banda and his wife Thandiwe, cabinet ministers, Security chiefs, senior government officials and members of the business community from both Zambia and Tanzania.
