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.

ZANIS/WM/AM/ZANIS

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.

ZANIS/AP/MKM/ENDS

The late former Republican Vice President and Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) founder Member General Christon Tembo was today put to rest at his farm house in Makeni area.

Hundreds of people from all walks of life witnessed the burial of General Tembo who died last week on Friday, March 6, 2009 at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after an illness.

Among those who attended General Tembo’s burial were Republican Vice President George Kunda, First President Kenneth Kaunda, Second President Frederick Chiluba, opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) President Edith Nawakwi and All People’s Congress Party (ACP) President Ken Ng’ondo.

Others were former Republican Vice Presidents Dr Nevers Mumba, Enock Kavindele and General Godfrey Miyanda respectively, Defence Chiefs, Diplomatic Corps, Cabinet ministers and other senior government officials.

Vice President George Kunda, who represented government during the burial procession described the late General Christon Tembo as a gallant leader who was dedicated to upholding the lives of the people not only in the Zambian army but in the country as a whole.

Mr. Kunda said General Tembo was an honest person who contributed greatly to the development of the Zambian defence fraternity.

The Vice President further described the passing on of General Tembo as a sad development to Zambia saying that the nation has been robbed of a great warrior who played a paramount role in the development of the country particularly in the defence sector.

And Chifumu Banda, who represented the family of the late General Tembo, thanked government for role it had taken in supporting the late former Vice President during his tenure in government, sickness and after his death.

The former Vice President was given a 19 gun shot by a combined team of defence forces from the Zambia Army and the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) respectively.

Ruling MMD in Lusaka has described the late former republican Vice President, Christone Tembo as a true son of Zambia that contributed to the growth of democracy in the country.

MMD Lusaka Province spokesperson Henry Mutiti said the late Lieutenant General Tembo was a humble and a true patriot that fought for many under privileged Zambians during his service as Tourism and Natural resources Minister and vice president in the Chiluba administration.

He said the late General Tembo was a man of few words that helped in introducing young people into politics.

He said more young people were now getting into politics at an early age because of the influence General Tembo had when he was Vice President.

And Forum for Leadership Search Executive Director Edwin Lifwekelo described the late General Tembo as a selfless leader who contributed to the development of Zambia.

Mr. Lifwekelo said the late General Tembo will be remembered for the time he was imprisoned during the reign of Dr. Kaunda.

He said the late Tembo was a good example to young people who have political ambitions.

Former Zambia National Commercial Bank Managing Director Samuel Musonda described the late General Tembo as a gallant man that aimed at seeing the growth of democracy in Zambia.

Mr. Musonda said the late General Tembo will be remembered for the good public service he rendered to this nation.

He said General Tembo was a corrupt free person as he was never cited for any corrupt activity during the time he saved as Vice President in the Chiluba administration.

ZANIS/TK/MKM/ENDS

Rufunsa area Member of Parliament Kenneth Chipungu has directed education authorities and police to conduct an audit of girls that have been removed from school and married off in Rufunsa area of Chongwe district.

This follows a drastic reduction in school attendance by the girl-child in the constituency attributed to early marriages.

Mr. Chipungu , who is also Sport, Youth and Child Development minister, appealed to parents and guardians to cooperate with school authorities and law enforcement agents in a bid to put an end to early marriages.

The lawmaker lamented that early marriages are retrogressive as they hinder the academic progression of the girl-child.

Speaking when he addressed the Rufunsa Community yesterday, Mr. Chipungu observed that early marriages would make it impossible to attain the 50 percent SADC gender protocol on women.

Mr. Chipungu has since urged all members of the community to report cases of early marriage to law enforcement agencies as early marriages are serious offences that attract stiff punishment.

ENDS/AH/AM/ZANIS