National Revolution Party (NRP) has asked President Rupiah Banda not to bow to public pressure to have Transport and Communication Minister, Dora Siliya, dismissed from government.

Party President Cosmos Mumba said calls from certain quarter of society to have Ms Siliya relieved of her duties will defeat the purpose of reconciliation and worsen the political tension in the country.

He said his party is of the view that those calling for the Ms Siliya’s dismissal are doing so out of personal vendetta .

Dr Mumba said dismissing the minister will defeated the country’s declaration of Christian nation that is anchored on forgiveness, reconciliation, justice, love and peace.

He told ZANIS in a telephone interview to today that the Zambian citizenry should be magnanimous and forgive Ms Siliya considering that she is not a professional in her ministry and is the first offender.

On Thursday, the Tribunal lead by Justice Dennis Chirwa presented its findings to President Banda .

Former Transport and Communication Minister, William Harrington and 10 Civil society organizations had petitioned the Chief Justice to set up tribunal to probe Ms Siliya on the allegations leveled against her.

In another development, Dr Mumba has asked the Registrar of Societies and other security agencies to punish individuals that are using unregistered organizations to champion their political ambitions.

He alleged that the newly formed Leftist Progressive Party (LLP) led by its interim president, James Lukuku, is illegal and must not be allowed to operate in the country.

Dr Mumba charged that Mr. Lukuku and his party can therefore not claim to represent the interests of the country and the youths in particular, for failure to respect the laws that govern the operations such entities.

He has since made a passionate appeal to well meaning Zambians to be wary of disgruntled individuals forming organizations to benefit themselves on the pretext of championing the course of the poor in the country.

He said the role of the opposition political parties is cardinal in any given democratic dispensation as it offers checks and balances to the party in government which should not be done at expense of the country’ developmental programme.

ZANIS/JT/MKM/ENDS

President Rupiah Banda says government is working on recommendations of the just ended national indaba.

President Banda expressed happiness that the indaba was successfully conducted though he described the process as complicated.

Mr. Banda said various departments are working on the recommendations of the indaba.

“The just ended indaba was complicated but government working in various departments is working on it. However, I can say it was successful because government managed to hold it where we invited various stakeholders and participated,” Mr. Banda said.

The indaba was held early this month where various stakeholders participated.

He was speaking to journalists at the Lusaka City Airport on arrival from Solwezi, North-western province where he had gone to commission Africa’s largest Mine, Lumwana.

The ZAF AVIC I MA-60 plane carrying Mr. Banda toughed down at the Lusaka City Airport at 16-50 hours local time.

The President said the people of of North-western province are working very hard and growing more food.

“It was a good trip to North-western province the people there are working hard and growing enough food,” The President said.
He said this gesture is vital to enhancing food security in the North-western region and nation as a whole.

The President was received at the Lusaka City Airport by Vice president George Kunda, Lusaka province Minister Lameck Managani, Lusaka Mayor Steven Chilatu.

Others on hand to receive the Head of State were Zambia’s Representative to the Great Lakes Region Steke Mwale, Defence Chiefs, senior government officials MMD cadres and patriotic Zambians.

The President was accompanied to Solwezi by Energy and Water Development Minister Minister Kenneth Konga, Local Government and Housing Minister Benny Tetamanshimba, Mines and Mineral Development Minister Maxwell Mwale, Commerce and Trade Minister Felix Mutati and other senior government officials.

ZANIS/KC/MKM/ENDS.

Editor’s Note

We would like to correct the facts in the story we posted yesterday, with the headline Ruling MMD to hold National Convection in August. It has come to our attention that the national convention will be held in 2010 and not as earlier reported.

We sincerely appologise to the MMD deputy National Secretary Mr. Kaande for the embarassment the article would have caused .

[ZANIS]

The ruling Movement for Muilty Party Democracy (MMD ) will hold its National convention in August this year.

MMD Deputy National Secretary Jeff Kaande has disclosed this in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr. Kaande said the MMD Secretariat in Lusaka has authorised the lower party organs to hold elections in wards and branches in the districts so as to adequately prepare the party structures at the grassroots.

Mr. Kaande said completion of party elections at the lower organs will pave way for the commencement of provincial conferences in July, that will be followed by a national convention.

He said the ruling party wants to have quality and credible leaders to lead the party at various portfolios.

The party is expected to usher into office new office bearers during the convection.Currently President Rupiah Banda is the acting party President.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kaande has maintained that the MMD in the North-western province is still strong .

Mr. Kaande, who has just returned from North-western province revealed that the party membership in that region has tremendously increased.

He said if elections were to be called today, the ruling party will gain more votes in the rural areas.

He charged that there are just ‘pockets of opposition members’ in North-western province.

Mr. Kaande urged the party leaders in the province not to relent but to work hard so that the ruling party is more stronger.

ZANIS/KC/MKM/ENDS

I was seeing off my sister at the Inter-City bus terminus in Lusaka two weeks ago when I was subjected to an experience that I will not forget in a hurry.

I became an instant center of attraction when one of the call boys that hang around the station passed a disparaging comment on my pair of jeans. His friends immediately joined in with even more zeal than the instigator.

According to them, my jeans were too tight and would not be allowed at their station because they were “tired” of people like me who failed to believe they were Zambians. And then the names flowed; they called me a prostitute, a mobile grave that had taken too many men to Chingwere and many other unprintables.

I took the insults with as much dignity as a confronted criminal can manage. For in that space I was just that, a condemned woman that was getting what she deserved. Well, that was the impression I was given by my attackers and the audience they drew. I stood there, surrounded, outnumbered, scared and totally speechless. No one came to my rescue, not a man, not a fellow woman. Maybe to them, I was just one unfortunate person being humiliated or perhaps being ‘educated’ where my mother had ‘failed.’
And for me, that was the fact that stood out and the main reason I am sharing this with you today. Where was the communal spirit that we as a people are known for? The spirit that would not stand by and watch an out-numbered and intimidated person suffer at the hands of vulgarity. Where was the voice of reason? Just where did those call boys get the idea that they can tell people how to dress?

Is it perhaps from the silence that accompanied my public harassment; the silence that has accompanied the harassment of fellow women and girls for years? How realistic are we being as a people if we subject such personal things as choice of dress to public approval? Where exactly will we draw the line?

Today I am harassed for being a size 10 and wearing size 10 jeans and my attackers are applauded through public silence and inaction. Tomorrow who is to stop them from attacking me because I have combed my hair in an ‘unZambian’ way?

It is exactly things like this that really worry me. I worry about my poor children who have to grow up in a world where being vulgar has become an acceptable way of life, where common courtesy is becoming more redundant by the day.

The fact that I come from another home does not make me any less human or woman than your mothers, sisters, daughters and wives. The respect you would like the world to show them is the same respect my brother, father and husband desire for me. And no, there is absolutely no such thing as deserving vulgarity or asking for it.

My tight jeans are not an invitation to spite me and judge me, they are not an invitation to question my morals and tear my dignity to shreds. My jeans, skirt, dress- whatever shape or size is not an invitation to rape me physically or with words.My clothes are an expression of my taste, an extension of my personality, should that too be subject to popular vote? Who exactly will be the judge?

Former Communications and Transport Minister William Harrington says he will now wait for President Rupiah Banda’s decision on Communication and Transport Minister Dora Siliya.

Mr Harrington said he will respect President Banda’s decision after he studies the final Tribunal report was handed to him by Tribunal Chairperson Ethe head of state.

Speaking to the media at the funeral house of late Patriotic Front National Chairman Chitalu Sampa during the late’s leader’s requim mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka , today, Mr Harrington said he will respect President Banda’s decision on the matter as he is the the head of state.

Mr. Harrington however said it would be premature for him to issue any statement because the issue at hand involves different stakeholders on the matter.

And one of the lawyers Winter Kabimba said the tribunal has done it’s part but now the nation await upon President decision after studying the findings and recommendations of the Tribunal.

Mr. Kabimba said the general public needs to know the final verdict on Ms Silya.

Tribunal Chairperson Juged Enerst Chirwa yesterday submitted the final report to President Banda on the Communications minister Siliya who is alleged to have breached Article 54 sub Article 3 of the republican constitution when she selected RP Capital Partners limited to evaluate Zamtel assets minus the Attorney General’s advice.

ZANIS/VP/ENDS/MM