political party leaders in the country have politicized the current teachers and nurses’ industrial unrest.

He condemned political leaders that were accusing President Rupiah Banda of neglecting the demands of striking workers by going abroad to attend the economic forum and other meetings to which heads of state were invited.

“What should be made clear is that when the heads of government meet at various summits, they do so to discuss matters of common interest, to find solutions to various challenges, economic or social. What they resolve to do has a bearing in the management of economic and social problems at home,” he explained.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, further explained that the summits which President Banda has been attending have had Zambia’s interests solved.

He said even when the President was abroad, he was still connected to what was happening at home and was able to direct what should be done to such challenges.

The minister added that the President has ministers who were directly dealing with the issues of industrial unrest in their various ministries.

“The President works through his ministers and he can therefore direct appropriate action through them from any part of the world,” he said, adding that “It is therefore irresponsible to suggest that industrial disputes can only be solved with the intervention and presence of a head of government”.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha said the President only participates in a declared dispute requiring his intervention if negotiations for conditions of service and salaries between government and unions have failed.

The Chief Government spokesperson said it was irresponsible and unacceptable for political party leaders, who aspire to lead the country in future, to fan industrial unrests instead of helping government solve them.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said in a statement to ZANIS, in Lusaka today that political leaders that were encouraging nurses and teachers to go on strike were in fact undermining government.

“While government appreciates that political parties may have their own ideas about how they would like to deal with the grievances and wish they were in office to attend to them, it is totally unacceptable for such leaders to undermine government by fanning these disputes in order to gain political mileage,” he said.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha said government was very concerned about the ongoing strike by teachers and nurses and was therefore working hard to solve the industrial unrest amicably.

ZANIS

MMD National Secretary, Katele Kalumba, says he is convinced President Rupiah Banda will defeat all presidential candidates in the 2011 elections.

Dr. Kalumba says he is happy that the general membership of the MMD appear to have reached a consensus on its preferred candidate for the presidential elections.

He also says the state of affairs will make it easy for him to convene the MMD national convention.

Dr. Kalumba told ZNBC news that the task of convening the convention will be easy because the MMD membership is generally agreed to support one candidate.

And Dr. Kalumba has dismissed MMD Spokesperson, Ben Tetamashimba’s remarks that he was interested in contesting the Presidential elections on the MMD ticket.

Mr. Tetamashimba recently challenged Dr. Kalumba to openly declare his Presidential ambitions.

[ZNBC]

United Party for National Development Leader, Hakainde Hichilema, has disclosed that other opposition political parties have expressed interest to join the political pact recent entered into by the Patriotic Front (PF) and UPND.

Mr. Hichilema further said in an interview that even members of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) have covertly supported the pact.

He said other political parties have shown willingness to join the political pact but are not yet ready to openly declare their wiliness to join the pact.

Mr. Hichilema said the church, civil society and trade unions are also in full support of the pact as it aimed at bettering the plight of all Zambians.

He appealed to stakeholders who have the interest of the nation at heart to rally behind the pact as it is aimed at providing a better alternative to the MMD government.[quote]

Mr. Hichilema said contrary to the prophets of doom, PF and UPND are determined to ensure that the pact succeeds.

He said lessons have been learned from previous experiences hence the pact with PF and UPND is well-informed about why previous arrangements failed.

Mr. Hichilema called for unity of purpose among opposition political parties in a bid to unseat the MMD.

And Patriotic Front President, Michael Sata, says the PF-UPND electoral pact will succeed because it is different from the previous alliance.

Mr. Sata says the two parties have thoroughly discussed a number of issues that aims to consolidate the pact ahead of the 2011 general elections.

He told ZNBC news that those criticising or condemning the pact will be proven wrong.

The PF leader said he is particularly happy that the two parties have remained consistent from the time the electoral pact was signed.

The UPND and the PF announced last week that they have formed an alliance which will enable them contest the 2011 general elections as a single political force.

The electoral pact has been received with mixed reactions.

Some people say the alliance is just a marriage of convenience, which is likely to collapse.

Others have welcomed the pact saying it will help to strengthen democracy in the country.

[ZNBC]

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson Florence Mumba says stakeholders need to embrace voter education as a vital component of the electoral process.

Justice Mumba says effective voter education can assist in enhancing the credibility of an election.

Justice Mumba was speaking during the official opening of the 2008 Presidential Election Voter Education Review Workshop for the Lusaka District Voter Education Committee (DVEC) members in Lusaka today in a speech read on her behalf by ECZ Manager for Elections and Voter Education, Jocelyn Mubita.

Justice Mumba observed that the low voter turn out experienced in the 2008 Presidential Election could be attributed to inadequate vote education in the run up to the elections.

She further said candidates and political parties have a vital role to educate the electorate about the electoral process.

And Lusaka District Electoral Officer, Timothy Hakuyu commended the District Voter Education Committee and election facilitators for their commitment and dedication exhibited during the 2008 presidential election voter education activities.

Mr. Hakuyu, who is also Lusaka Town Clerk, said the workshop offers participants and the electoral body an opportunity to come up with best practices in enhancing voter education.

Following the Presidential Election conducted on 30th October, 2008, the commission has been conducting postmortem workshops to receive feedback from key players in the electoral process.

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda is today expected in Cape Town, South Africa to attend the World Economic Forum on Africa to be held from June 10th to 12th at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. President Banda, who will fly direct from Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe where he attended the launch of the COMESA Customs Union, is expected to land at Cape Town International Airport at 15:45 hours.

Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Leslie Mbula and members of the advance party , who are already in Cape Town, will be on hand to receive the president on arrival. The advance delegation includes Finance Minister, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, Agricultural Minister Dr Brian Chituwo, Mines Minister, Maxwell Mwale and Energy Minister, Kenneth Konga.
Others who are already in Cape Town are the President’s Special Advisers for Economics and Political Affairs, Dr Chembe and Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika respectively.

The three-day World Economic Forum on Africa will bring together about 700 government and economic leaders from around the world for intensive discussions on the world economic situation. Prominent on the agenda, among other issues, will be the effects of the prevailing global economic crisis on the economies of Africa and how this could be mitigated.

Mr. Mbula said President Banda will chair and participate in a number of high level thematic discussions, chief among them is tourism, agriculture, mining and energy. Mr. Mbula said the hallmark of Zambia’s participation at the forum will be tomorrow, during what has been dubbed the ‘Zambian Night’ at a dinner where President Banda will lead his ministers, among them Commerce Minister, Felix Mutati, to show case Zambia’s investment potential to the outside world.[quote]

At the dinner, President Banda, flanked by his ministers and other experts, who will include Bank of Zambia Governor, Dr Caleb Fundanga, will answer questions from industrialists and investors from around the globe on what Zambia has to offer in terms of investment.

President Banda ‘s programme also includes a meeting with Zambians resident in Cape Town before returning home on Friday.
And Mr. Mbula has described president Banda’s presence at the forum as a great milestone in Zambia’s on-going efforts to attract investment which is critical for accelerating economic growth.

The World Economic Forum, which brings together leading world economic players and governments, is an important platform for Zambia to sell its vast investment potential. Mr. Mbula said Zambia stands out as one of the best destinations for foreign investment due to various measures government has put in place.

These include tax holidays, externalization of profits by foreign investors and other incentives meant to attract foreign direct investment. He said the measures are bearing fruit as evidenced by the on-going explorations in oil in Northwestern Province and investments in the mining industry.

Mr. Mbula urged Zambians to continue being receptive and friendly to foreign investors who wish to invest in the country.
Zambia has always been known to be a stable and peaceful country which is one of its strongest and unique selling points to the outside world.

Mr Mbula advised Zambians to enter into joint ventures with their foreign counterparts in setting up various business investments such as hotels and other infrastructure development.

And Mr. Mbula has disclosed that the Zambian government, through his office, has invited South Africa’s chief organizer for the 2010 World Cup, Dan Jordaan to visit Zambia and discuss ways and means of making it possible for many Zambians to come and watch the World Cup.

He said that this is an African World Cup, and the Zambian government, like others on the continent would like more of their nationals to be given the opportunity to travel to South Africa and watch the world’s greatest soccer tournament.

“South Africans, for example, are to pay less, about R100 for a ticket to watch a match during the World Cup. This is what we want to discuss with Mr Jordaan to see whether it can apply to Zambians as well,” said Mr Mbula.

ZANIS