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has said that Government’s decision to sell Zambia Telecomunications Company (Zamtel) is final and cannot be rescinded.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

The Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) has advised President Rupiah Banda to directly intervene in the continued attacks on journalists by MMD cadres.

AVAP Executive Director Bonnie Tembo says the President’s intervention in the matter is critical saying he is the president of all Zambians and needs coverage from all Media organizations including those with divergent views.

Mr. Tembo said in Lusaka yesterday, that in a multi democracy such kind of cadre ship behaviour poses a threat to freedom of expression ands sharing of information.

He explained that this is why President Banda must take a lead in sensitizing party cadres when it comes to state functions.

He expressed disappointment that the Police failed to control the situation at the time the Post Newspaper Journalist was being beaten by MMD cadres yesterday.

Mr. Tembo pointed out that despite the republican constitution outlining the functions of the Police such as to protect life and property, preserve law and order among others they failed to protect the journalist.

He noted that AVAP wishes to remind the Police to promote and uphold their functions adding that even Lusaka division commanding officer Greenwell Nguni did not intervene when the journalist was being beaten.

The AVAP Director further demanded that Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde should order the arrest of MMD cadres that continue to attack journalists and also that Mr. Nguni to explain to the nation why he failed to uphold the core-function of the Zambia police.

Mr. Tembo has since urged Post Newspaper reporters and many others who are under threat from desperate politicians either ruling or position parties to stand firm and defend the noble cause for good governance.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tembo has appealed to government to exhibit political will on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) if Zambia is to follow the footsteps of Ghana.

He added that the removal of Ms Tamara Kambikambi and Mr Amos Chanda from the National Governance Council (NGC) as Chairperson and Spokesperson respectively raises a lot of concerns.

He explained that abrupt removal of the duo from the NGC is an indication that the APRM process is undermined and not Civil Society driven like the way it is in Ghana.

Mr. Tembo stated that Zambia may not be ready to be peer reviewed in January next year as it is yet to clean a number of governance component.

He has however appealed to government not to interfere with the operations and administrations of the NGC if the APRM report is to reflect the reality on the ground.

ZANIS

The United Party for National Development (UPND) in Livingstone has suspended its Vice Publicity Secretary Aggreyprey Brill for violating the party’s directive on banning of campaigns by aspirants for the 2011 parliamentary and local government elections.

UPND District Chairman George Akufuna accused Mr. Brill of trying to destabilize the party by aspiring to stand as a Member of Parliament and commencing campaigns despite a directive from the party’s national executive to desist from doing so.

This was contained in a press release made available to ZANIS in Livingstone today and jointly signed by Mr. Akufuna and the UPND District Secretary for Livingstone David Musangu.

Mr. Akufuna said his party had banned all aspirants for the 2011 parliamentary and local government elections from campaigning and holding meetings that might divide the party until the national executive sanctioned normal campaigns to start.

He said the decision to suspend Mr. Brill was also partly due to him missing three consecutive party meetings without apology and failure to abide by other party regulations despite repeated warnings.

Mr. Akufuna however, said Mr. Brill would retain his position as a party member and as councilor for Akapelwa ward.

Meanwhile, UPND District Vice Secretary Aggrey Njekwa said the decision to suspend Mr. Brill was timely and in line with efforts to bring sanity to the party, promote good morals and enhance discipline among its members.

ZANIS

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) – Zambia, has condemned all efforts aimed at intimidating the media through harassment and beating up of media personnel by some sections of society.

MISA Zambia National Director Hewitt Chizyuka called on government and all political parties to restrain their members from harassing media personnel saying a vibrant and diverse media plays a key role in establishing a strong foundation for democratic governance.

Mr. Chizyuka bemoaned the harsh operating environment for the media in the country saying the situation was getting worse due to the increasing cases of harassment and violence against the media.

He said this in Livingstone yesterday during the closure of a three-day training workshop for management personnel and board members of community radio stations organized by MISA Zambia.

Mr. Chizyuka also challenged the media in the country to ensure their coverage of issues was done in a fair, accurate, impartial and truthful manner.

He cautioned media personnel to desist from being used by people that had personal or political scores to settle as this was detrimental to development and good governance.

Mr. Chizyuka said the media could only enhance equitable coverage, fight corruption and help to improve people’s lives through ethical and responsible conduct.

And Southern Province Permanent Secretary Darius Hakayobe called for effective training of media personnel in the country to reduce incidents of mishandling information when disseminating it to the public.

Mr. Hakayobe said media was a good platform for disseminating information but adequate training was needed if press freedom was to be understood by all stakeholders.

He commended MISA Zambia for promoting media freedom and diversity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

Mr. Hakayobe said this in a speech read for him by Acting Provincial Deputy Permanent Secretary, Manuel Nchima.

The participants of the workshop were drawn from Radio Musi-O-Tunya, Zambezi FM Radio and Sky FM radio.

ZANIS

Jesuit Center for Theological Reflections (JCTR) has called for full inclusion of the Bill of Rights (BOR) in the new republican constitution to address human development in Zambia.

The center’s Coordinator of the Church Social Teaching Programme Kayula Lesa says in a release to ZANIS, that among the key issues many Zambians would want addressed is the incorporation of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) in the new Bill of Rights of the new Constitution.

“Many Zambians are anxiously waiting to see the end product of the current constitution making process. Zambians are hoping against hope that the end product will truly reflect their desires which are well expressed in the Mung’omba CRC and the Mung’omba Draft Constitution.

” Hence, departure from these desires will certainly mean imposition and will perhaps render the Constitution inadequate,” says Sr Lesa,in the release.

She adds that these rights are essential for integral human development especially as they give the right of access to basic needs such as education, health care, a clean environment, proper housing, employment and food, water and sanitation.

She explains in the release that these rights also form a strong basis for the realisation of another set of rights, the Civil and Political Rights — such as the right to life and the right to vote — provided for in the current Bill of Rights.

” For example, the right to life definitely depends on the right to access quality health care. Despite their importance, ESCR in the current Constitution are merely directive principles to inform government policy. As such, these ESCR principles do not oblige government to pay particular attention to the realisation of these rights and robs the people of a legal mechanism they can use should these rights be denied,” says the Centre’s official.

Discussions on ESCR in the Human Rights Committee of the NCC (which began its sitting in January and ended in April 2009) appeared to have attached great importance to these rights as many ESCR from the Mung’omba Draft Constitution were recommended with few amendments.

The Center official observes that this is a step in the right direction,saying the JCTR recognises that these recommendations are subject to adoption by the NCC Plenary.

” Therefore we at JCTR strongly urge the Plenary of the NCC to reflect deeply on the importance of these rights in raising the standard of living of most Zambians, especially the poor,adopt these rights and ensure that they are in the new Bill of Rights so that citizens have a legal mechanism for claiming their rights (which are entitlements and not promises) should they be denied,
and thirdly ensure that a National Referendum takes place so that what is in the Constitution is truly reflective of what the Zambian people want,”she says.

Sr. Kayula further asserts that, “We realise that a state, regardless of its level of economic development, is obliged to ensure respect for both sets of rights (ESCR and Civil and Political Rights) for everyone.

” This obligation however does not necessarily require that free services are provided but that the State takes concrete and deliberate steps to progressively realise human rights, especially ESCR. Therefore, the question of limited resources, while understandably significant, should not be a barrier to the inclusion of ESCR in the Bill of Rights.”

In fact, the inclusion of these rights will serve as a key incentive to utilising the many natural resources we are endowed with and managing our resources with prudence so that we make available the much needed resources to fulfill ESCR. Failure to include these important rights in the Bill of Rights will be a significant missed opportunity and a sad waste of resources as the Constitution will remain inadequate.”

We at JCTR state again that without Constitutional measures to compel our Government to provide for basic needs, it will remain difficult for Zambians, especially the most vulnerable, to realise their basic human rights.

ZANIS

Kasama Central Patriotic Front Member of Parliament Saviour Chishimba has officially resigned from the National Assembly effective July 27, this year and has announced the formation of a new political party called United Progressive People (UPP).

The former MP confirmed both developments in a telephone interview with ZANIS from Lusaka yesterday.

Dr. Chishimba said he resigned as MP on principle and thanked the people of people of Kasama for having accorded him an opportunity to serve them.

He urged electorates in Kasama Central constituency to make sure that they elect a credible person in the forthcoming by-election.

Dr. Chishimba said people should not vote for a political party but instead elect an individual with leadership qualities of representing their views in Parliament.

The former MP also asked for forgiveness from the people of Kasama for any wrongdoings during his tenure of office, saying it was not his intention to offend anybody.

And Dr. Chishimba said his United Progressive People’s party would be launched on August 3, in Ndola on the Copperbelt.

He said he had decided to form a political party in order to bring sanity to the political system in the country.

Dr. Chishimba said UPP has no interim president but would be headed by a party chairman.

Dr. Chishimba also revealed that his party would hold its first convention in less than three months time and that a presidential candidate for 2011 would be elected at the same function.

The former MP explained that UPP has the full support of Zambians within and outside the country.

Dr. Chishimba further said one million of the first batch of UPP manifesto, which were being printed abroad, would be distributed across the country for people to understand the visions of his party.

ZANIS