The MMD in Kasama District want the party National Executive, NEC,to expel former Finance and National Planning Minister, Ng’andu Magande, from party immediately.

MMD Kasama Central Constituency Chairperson, Nathan Ilunga, said the party in the District was in full support of the petition by MMD youths in Lusaka calling for the expulsion of Mr. Magande from the party for alleged indiscipline.

The MMD youths in Lusaka are demanding that Mr Magande be disciplined for aligning himself with individuals, who were issuing disparaging remarks against the party and its leadership.

Mr. Ilunga said expelling Mr Magande from the party would help facilitate investigations of his alleged involvement in the financial scandal at the defunct Zambian Airways.

Mr Ilunga accused Mr Magande, who is also Chilanga MP of not being a genuine member of the ruling party.

The party in the district also accused Mr Magande of habouring anger after President, Rupiah Banda, defeated him for the position of MMD presidential candidate last year.

He vowed that the MMD in Kasama will continue to rally behind President Banda’s leadership so that he could instill discipline in the ruling party.

Mr. Ilunga has since urged President Banda to deal firmly with MMD officials who were exhibiting insolence to the ideals of the party.

Yesterday, MMD National Secretary Dr. Katele Kalumba revealed that the NEC received a petition from MMD youths in Lusaka, calling for the expulsion of Mr Magande over his alleged involvement in the Zambian Airways saga.

Recently, the MMD expelled Katuba Member of Parliament, Jonas Shakasufwa, and Mpulungu MP, Lameck Chibombamilimo, from the ruling for alleged gross misconduct.

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vacant the Mpulungu and Katuba parliamentary seats two weeks after the expulsion of Lameck Chibombamilimo and Jonas Shakafuswa from the MMD.

Amusaa Mwanamwambwa has however, asked the two MPs to state their next course of action before he acts.

National Assembly Media Liaison Officer, Chikomeni Banda confirmed this to ZNBC news in Lusaka.

Mr. Banda said Mr. Chibombamilio and Mr. Shakafuswa are still attending parliament.

He explained that the Speaker will proceed to declare the seats vacant if the two MPs indicate that they will not challenge their expulsion in court.

Mr. Banda said the speaker is still awaiting response from Mr Chibombamilimo and Mr Shakafuswa after the MMD notified him of their expulsions.

The MMD National Executive Committee recently expelled the two MPS from the ruling party for alleged gross misconduct.

President Banda last month sacked Mr Chibombamilimo and Mr Shakafuswa from his government where they served as Deputy Ministers.
[ZNBC]

consider meting out stiffer penalty on people perpetrating sexual violence against girls and women in the country.

Mrs. Banda said legislation dealing with sexual abuse should be strengthened to ensure that perpetrators of such vices were firmly dealt with.

She suggested that sexual violence offences in Zambia should be made unbailable, adding that this will also act as a deterrent to would be offenders.

She said this when she toured Thulami Girls Shelter for abandoned pregnant girls in Lusaka’s Chilenje township today.

She further called on all parents and relatives to create a conducive environment in their homes in order to stop the vice and ensure that girls were protected and properly sheltered.

Thulami Girls Shelter chairperson, Rowlence Banda appealed to the Zambian government to consider funding organisations that look after vulnerable girls and children in the country.

Mr. Banda said the Thulami Girls Shelter was faced with serious financial problems and it was therefore difficult for it to cater for many pregnant abandoned girls.

Currently, Thulami Girls Shelter has 38 abandoned girls and 12 vulnerable children.

ZANIS/GP/SM/KSH/ENDS

Patriotic Front President, Michael Sata, has discontinued the Presidential election petition against President Rupiah Banda.

Mr. Sata says he has instructed his lawyers to discontinue the case to avoid suffering further humiliation.

He was speaking to Journalists shortly after the Supreme Court threw out an application for a vote recount.

Mr. Sata said he now wants to save time in order to concentrate on the party’s mass countrywide sensitisation programmes.

Deputy Chief Justice, Ireen Mambilima, on Wednesday morning dismissed the application for an order of recount on grounds that it was premature.

Justice Mambilima, sitting with four other Supreme Court Judges, said the application has been thrown out with costs.

She said the court has not been persuaded to depart from the Mazoka Versus Mwanawasa petition where it was stated then that what was contained in the affidavit was not evidence.

She said Mr. Sata will have to present evidence to prosecute his petition.

Justice Mambilima said Mr. Sata is at liberty to apply for an order of recount which the court can only grant once there is sufficient doubt cast on the accuracy of the results.

She also said it was common cause that trial in the petition has not started but that the petitioner was seeking an order of recount upfront, before presenting any evidence.

She said such a procedure has never been used in the trial of any election petition in the courts of law.

Mr. Sata’s lawyers had argued that alleged discrepancies or anomalies recorded in some polling stations brought the authenticity of the results into serious doubts.

Solicitor General, Dominic Sichinga, however said the petitioner did not say that he was present at all polling stations were alleged anomalies took place.

Justice Mambilima has meanwhile adjourned the presidential election petition to April 27th.

And one of Mr Sata’s lawyers, Bonaventure Mutale, told ZNBC news that he will seek audience with his client on the way forward after digesting the ruling.

PF cadres who have in the past thronged Supreme Court grounds, stayed away from Wednesday’s proceedings.

Only police and several MMD cadres were present on the court grounds.
[ZNBC]

The Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) has dismissed claims that the Catholic Church is conniving with some opposition political parties with the sole purpose of attacking government.

ZEC Secretary Paul Samasumo says the Catholic Church is non-partisan and it has no political affiliation.

Father Samasumo stressed that the church does not belong to any opposition political party but that it only contributes to issues concerning the nation just like any other organization which is non-partisan.

Fr. Samasumo was speaking in interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Fr. Samasumo, however, vowed that the Church is going to continue giving advice to give checks and balances on government if it sees that things are not straight.

The clergy maintained that the church speaks on behalf the voiceless people in society.

Fr. Samasumo said the Church is concerned with the well-being of affairs of this country adding that it is not going to ignore important issues unfolding in the country.

He pointed out that pastoral letters that were published in the media dwelt on important issues affecting the nation and economic well-being affecting the citizens.

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ANTI-VOTER Apathy Project Director Bonnie Tembo has implored Dr. Ludwig Sondashi not consider forming another political parties.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Kasama today Mr. Tembo said there too many political parties which are not working for the improvement of people’s living standards in the nation.

He stated going to consult the people who are already flooded with too many political parties is unfair and costly for the nation.

He advised Dr. Sondashi to go to any progressive Political party already in place so as to add value to Zambian political parties than a duplication of parties.

The AVAP Executive Director also advised Political Parties to join other existing and viable Political parties in order to reduce the number of parties which are in place.

Mr. Tembo further advised Political Parties to form conflict resolution mechanisms to avoid unnecessary by-elections which are an expense and drain on the national economy.

Former Works and Supply Minister last week resigned from the ruling MMD party citing among other reasons corruption in the party and undemocratic tendencies prevailing in the party.

Dr. Sondashi had also announced his intention to undertake a country wide consultation on the formation of a new party.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tembo reiterated his call on Government to simplify the guideline of the Citizens Empowerment Funds (CEEF) for the ordinary Zambian to access the funds.

He observed that very few people have been able to access the funds because of the conditions and guide lines that are in favour of the few elite in society.

Mr. Tembo stated that there are no coordinators in districts to help and undertake the processing of forms which he said was a hindrance.

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