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

KASAMA Central Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament (MP) Saviour

Chishimba has resigned from the party and relinquished his seat, saying the current political system has failed Zambians.

Mr Chishimba said in Ndola yesterday that he had decided to quit partisan politics to champion the formation of a new movement whose aim was to usher in a new crop of youthful political leaders in the country.

He said the 20 years of the MMD-led political pluralism had failed to realise the amount of development attained during the 10 years of the United National Independence Party rule from 1964 to 1974.

He said during a media briefing at his residence in Ndola’s Kansenshi area that a new movement to be called “The Saviour Chishimba Plan to Reclaim Zambia’s Independence” was set to spearhead a new political dispensation in the country.

Mr Chishimba charged that the only way Zambians could have their dreams realised was by bringing in a new crop of national leaders because the performance of the players in the current political arena was disastrous.[quote]

He has written to PF president Michael Sata and Speaker of the National Assembly Amussa Mwanamwambwa informing them about his resignation as party member and MP, respectively.

“In this digital era, I can no longer be part of a political system where only few leaders live in luxury. I stand down as MP and my association with the PF comes to an end. I would like to thank the people of Kasama and God almighty for supporting me.

“We only have two options, it’s either liberty for Zambia or death. It’s time for the country to change for the better. The time for depending on tired politicians for national salvation has failed us as a people,” Mr Chishimba said.

He said he is a member of the Bemba Royal family of Chitimukulu and a family of freedom fighters who are all synonymous with sacrifice for Zambia.

He said he was not ready to be part of the growing political elite while the majority of Zambians continued living in abject poverty.

“To bring about change we do not need political party partnerships but people to people partnerships. The era of politicians directing the people instead of the people directing politicians should come to an end,” he said.

He said that political party pacts based on tribal and regional groups were not capable of meeting the expectations of the Zambian people because they could not last and had no room in modern-day Zambia.

In a letter dated July 1, 2009, Mr Chishimba thanked Mr Sata for helping him understand the status of Zambian politics and the opportunity to contest a parliamentary seat on the PF platform.

“Now the spirit of the living God tells me it is finished and there is nothing I can do, but to obey. I hereby submit my resignation from the Patriotic Front effective 27 July 2009. Kindly let me know if there are things that I have to clear from the party and you as my leader.”

Meanwhile, PF spokesman Given Lubinda said the party was not ready to accept Mr Chishimba’s resignation before be formally resigns on July 27 because there was a possibility that he could backpedal on what he had announced.

“Knowing my young man he could be driven by emotions and hyper-frustrations. As a party we will wait for what will happen once the emotions come down.

“Currently, he is still our MP until that date comes. We cannot remove someone from the noose before there is an attempt for one to be hanged,” Mr Lubinda said.

[Times of Zambia]

The New Generation Party, NGP, has called on striking University of Zambia, UNZA, lecturers to reconsider their position and resume work.

Party President, Humphrey Siulapwa, says there is need for lecturers to go back to work as their action is likely to impact negatively on the academic welfare of the of students at the highest learning institution.

Speaking in Lusaka today at a media briefing, Mr. Siulapwa said he expected lecturers to understand the effects of the current global economic crisis on Zambia’s economy.

He suggested that lecturers suspend their action until when the national economy stabilises in view f the global recession.

He said workers in the country should learn to sacrifice, adding that most governments and organizations in the world are reducing costs in order to cope with the global economic recession.

Mr. Siulapwa said his party will not sympathise with lecturers that will fail to report to work as directed by government, should disciplinary action be taken against them.

He added that the law stipulates that any public service worker is liable for dismiss is he stays away from work for 10 consecutive days.

He, further, warned that young people in the country will not sit back to watch unjustified work stoppages at the expense of their welfare.[quote]

UNZA lecturers have been on strike demanding improved conditions of service, and government has responded by offering them a 5 per cent pay rise.

And The New Generation Party has advised politicians to desist from politics of insults for the sake of national posterity.

NGP President, said that the heightened levels of politics of insults and disrespect among politicians is likely to affect the country’s good governance system.

He said there is need for persons aspiring for presidency to respect the incumbent office of the President for it to be dignified.

He explained that good governance can only be achieved through mutual understanding and tolerance which he said were lacking in the country despite it been the corner stone for development and prosperity.

Mr. Suilapwa has charged that the United Party for National Development, UPND, and the Patriotic Front, PF, pact has nothing to offer but create confusion on the political scene.

He said to this effect his party is not threatened saying the pact is bound to fail due to the difference in ideologies and manifestos between the two parties.

Mr. Suilapwa, further, stressed that it will be difficulty for the two parties to bring their ideas together as the UPND believes in a democratic system of governance and also has some of its members attending the National Constitution Conference, NCC, while the PF has a different approach on the matter.

He further noted that the majority of Zambians want change than just removing the MMD from power, which he said was the major objective of the pact.

ZANIS