Opposition political parties participating in the Chitambo parliamentary by-elections in Serenje have accused the ruling party of vote buying.

And the PF in Serenje has charged that the MMD campaign team in Chitambo constituency is using government vehicles which had registration numbers removed.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS today, FDD National Deputy Secretary, Nathan Mulenga, and National Elections chairman, Anthony Kasandwe, accused the MMD of dishing out mealie meal and salt to villagers in the constituency, especially in Muchinka ward.

Mr. Mulonga also said the MMD had allegedly hired cadres from the Copperbelt and Lusaka who were blocking the opposition from entering what he termed as territories for the ruling party.

He said people of Chitambo constituency were not interested in thug politics but campaigns based on issues, adding that it was unfortunate that this was coming from the ruling party.

Mr Mulonga added that the people of Chitambo should be given fare chance to chose a leader of their choice who they think could deliver.

“It is unfortunate that vote-buying is again showing its ugly face in this by-election. The MMD has made some places no-go-areas for the opposition, which is not good. They can bring people to help them but not thugs,” he said.

Mr Mulonga said the FDD will not be intimidated by anybody and will take any political party head on in the by-election.

Meanwhile, Mr Kasandwe refuted claims that the FDD was sponsored to field a candidate in Chitambo in order to split the votes of the opposition,

Mr Kasandwe said there was no logic in the claims because the party existed as an individual political party.

He said the FDD had been consistent because the party had been fielding candidates in the past five by-elections and it was a formidable and reliable party.[quote]

And PF district Vice Treasurer, Delvis Chisha, accused the MMD of using government vehicles in the campaigns and called on the police to investigate.

But MMD Central Province chairperson ,Boyd Mutonka, said the opposition should prove the allegations instead of just making baseless accusations.

Mr Mutonka said police should move in and arrest anybody who was blocking others from campaigning because the MMD did not engage thugs to cause any problem during the campaigns.

He denied that the party was using government transport, saying the opposition should have facts about their complaints other than talking about things that they would not prove.

ZANIS

United States (US) Ambassador to Zambia has called on all Zambians to get involved in the fight against corruption.

Mr. Booth said it is the duty of all Zambians to take keen interest on how donor funds are utilized as it the ordinary Zambians that suffer the consequences of corruption.

“Its up to the Zambians themselves to take a lead in speaking against corruption in the country so that money put in the economy by donors reaches the intended beneficiaries and is well accounted for”, he said.

Mr. Booth said the US Government will continue providing assistance to countries that uphold good governance and the rule of law.

He said his government will not impose any system of government on any nation in the world but would want to see that the assistance it provides to countries like Zambia reaches the intended beneficiaries.

Mr. Booth was speaking at the American Centre in Lusaka today when he answered questions from journalists and other members of the public on United States President Barrack Obama’s remarks to the Ghanaian Parliament in Accra last Saturday.

He further said the US would provide technical support to the Ministry of Finance in order to enhance transparency in the manner donor money is used.

Mr. Booth said the US government would also offer support to the Zambian government to ensure it enacts the Freedom of Information Act for journalists and members of the public to have access to public documents in order to enhance transparency in the country.

He encouraged journalists in the country to persevere as they endeavor to inform, entertain and educate the public as the nature of their job was risky and very dangerous.

“Reporting and investigating is a very dangerous job and I am aware that journalist all over the world work under very risky situations. But I only encourage the journalists to persevere as that is the nature of their job”, he said.

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda says some politicians are planning to engage in activities to destabilise the country.

President Banda says the politicians are hoping to benefit from the instability that will be created in the nation.

He has cautioned ministers and Zambian diplomats against being misled by such politicians.

The president has directed newly appointed Home Affairs Minister, Lameck Mangani, to ensure there is peace and security in the nation.

He was speaking at State House in Lusaka on Monday after swearing in Mr. Mangani and newly appointed Lands Deputy Minister, Michael Mabenga.[quote]

Mr. Mangani takes over from Dr. Kalombo Mwansa who has moved to the ministry of defence while Mr. Mabenga replaces the late Chitambo MP, Nassim Hamir.

On Mr. Mabenga, President Banda said those opposed to his appointment are free to seek legal redress.

Mr. Banda expressed confidence that Mr. Mabenga would execute his duties with due diligence.

And President Banda has appointed and sworn in former Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Kachingwe as Zambia’s High Commissioner to Malawi.

Mr. Banda has also appointed former Local Government Permanent Secretary, Joel Ngo as Ambassador to Brazil.

Zambia’s Deputy Ambassador to France, Alexis Luhila, is the new High Commissioner to Nigeria.

Mr. Banda is confident that the newly appointed diplomats will effectively represent Zambia abroad.

[ZNBC]

The Patriotic Front (PF) has warned the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and Mansa Town Clerk of legal action if they do not declare the PF candidate an unopposed victor in the Chilyapia ward by-election of Mansa Central Constituency.

PF Spokesperson, Given Lubinda told ZANIS in an interview today that by 17: 00 hours, the close of the nomination time, the Town Clerk only announced the PF candidate as the sole valid candidate as the MMD had allegedly not settled on which candidate to field.

Mr. Lubinda said confusion in the MMD camp arose during the nomination exercise last Wednesday when the MMD fielded two candidates to contest the Chilyapia ward by-election.

He said according to the laws of Zambia, candidates not announced after filing in of nominations are deemed unfit for election hence the ECZ should declare the PF candidate victor by virtue of being unopposed.

“The MMD filled in two candidates but the town clerk did not announce who was picked between the two, but he only announced the PF candidate so that makes it illegible for MMD to stand for this ward by-election. And if they decide to run the by-election what will ECZ put on the ballot papers because there is only one candidate who was announced ” he said.

Mr. Lubinda has since challenged the ECZ and Mansa Town Clerk to declare the PF candidate as Councilor for Chilyapia ward.
He warned that failure for them to do so will result in the party taking legal action against the ECZ and Mansa Town Clerk.

Meanwhile, the Patriotic Front (PF) has accused the MMD in Mushinka ward in Mansa Central constituency of buying voters cards in the area ahead of the ward by-election.

PF Spokesperson Given Lubinda said the PF had allegedly caught MMD cadres in Mushinka ward with voters cards bought from people in the area in a bid to influence the by-election outcome.

Mr. Lubinda said the PF has since written to the police command in Mansa on the matter.
ZANIS