President Rupiah Banda has dismissed media reports suggesting that his son Henry, was involved in the recent importation of the banned Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Maize from South Africa.

Mr. Banda said although his sons have a right to participate and bid for any business, Henry had nothing to do with the imported GMO maize.

And President Banda said government will determine whether the GMO maize should be milled at the border post or returned to South Africa.

He said Vice President George Kunda and other ministers will determine the fate of the imported GMO maize impounded at some border post.

President Banda challenged Zambians to re-open debate on possible consumption of GMO maize meal as the case is in some countries.

Mr. Banda however, cautioned the country to be weary of the devastating effects of GMOs on seed banks.

He was responding to journalists at the Lusaka International Airport shortly before departure to Tanzania for a two day official visit.

A daily tabloid’s Saturday edition carried a story linking the President’s son to the recently intercepted GMO maize.

Meanwhile, President Banda has warned that he will not tolerate indiscipline as he takes charge of the MMD.

Mr. Banda who was on Saturday elected Acting MMD president said discipline is cardinal in any organisation particularly political parties.

The President disclosed that he will this week begin strategising on how best to strengthen the ruling party ahead of the 2011 General elections.

He said asertions that the MMD is deeply divided are wishful thinking by political opponents.

Mr. Banda will be in Tanzania for talks with his counterpart Jakaya Kikwete before proceeding to Malawi for similar engagements with President Bingu Wa Mutharika.

The President is accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, Communications and Transport Minister Dora Siliya and other senior government officials.

[ZNBC]

All the Provinces have endorsed President Banda as MMD president and are confident that he will unite the party.

MMD has advised members wishing to contest positions at the 2010 convention not to start campaigning now.

Speaking on behalf of all the party provincial leaders in Lusaka yesterday, North-Western Province MMD chairperson James Katoka said Mr Banda was the right man to lead the party.

“I would like to confirm that our programme has succeeded. We are happy because we did not want someone else to take over and divide the party,” he said.

Mr Katoka was confident that Mr Banda would strengthen the party further.

“As provincial leaders, we feel that we must maintain the power that we have as a party,” he said.

Northern Province MMD chairperson Griever Sikasote said he was happy that the President had started on a high note by working hard.

“We have seen the President in Kasama…he has been to Kasaba Bay. He has also been travelling outside the country on official assignments.

“This shows that he is committed and determined to develop the country. He has shown the spirit of hard work and commitment,” he said.

Mr Sikasote said Mr Banda was working to ensure that the country came out of poverty.

“We are motivated by the fact that Mr Banda was unanimously picked as party president. As provincial leaders, we will put in everything to support Mr Banda now that he is both Republican and party president,” he said.

He said the MMD provincial leadership was pleased that President Banda had focused on development issues.

Mr Sikasote commended Mr Banda for placing Luanshya Copper Mines (LCM) in the care of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH).

He was confident that ZCCM-IH would operate effectively until a strategic partner was found.
And Eastern Province chairperson Kennedy Zulu welcomed President Banda’s election as party president.

Mr Zulu said Mr Banda had experience and was dedicated to the cause of the Zambia people.
“We wish him well and we will give him total support,” he said.

Copperbelt Provincial chairperson Joseph Chilambwe said the MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) proved critics wrong by remaining united.

“We know that some people expected a lot of divisions but we were all supportive of Mr Banda. With the election of Mr Banda as party president, we see the beginning of unity in the party,” he said

The MMD NEC on Saturday elected President Banda as its acting party president until their next convention due next year.

Meanwhile, MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba has said it would be premature for anybody to announce their candidature ahead of next year’s convention.

“Announcing our intentions now will not be in the best interest of the party because it will bring disunity instead of focusing on other development issues,” he said.

Mr Tetamashimba said it was now time to unite the party and forget any differences that may have arisen in the past.

“It is time to put our differences behind…lets bring order and sanity to the party,” he said.

[Zambia Daily mail]

By Mingeli Palata

I somehow found myself in front of a TV on Monday and after switching through the channels I normally watch, I realized I didn’t want to be stressed with news on the war in Gaza so I tuned to the National Geographic channel and there was a program called ‘earth investigated’. Seeing as I was in some deep thought and only wanted something to keep me busy, I thought hey, here is something to watch! A few seconds into the program, the narrator said something that I found interesting, he said in the next 2000 years, all the continents would merge into one. Scary I thought, for a moment I tried thinking about what it would be like living with the Arabs and their friends the Jews, the Russians and the Chinese living right next to us. No. I stopped right there, we are better off left apart and far from each others evils. Now how much more the proposed United States of Africa?

About three years ago, when the Libyan Colonel was the Chairman of the African Union, I was privileged to be among a group of Youth advocates as we would fondly call ourselves. In Tripoli we joined other youths from the African Continent who had been called to talk about the possibility of one African Government. Aside from the fact that it was nice mingling with fellow youths from different African countries, making friends and all, this experience was also saddening. I realized the fact that Africa was divided and the possibility of one African government was merely Utopia. Allow me to highlight a few reasons why I think its ill devised.

I will begin with the person promoting the concept of one African Government, now I know you will find it weird that I actually like the colonels idea of democracy, I will tell you that I think the Green Book (A set of principles on which Libyan Authority is founded) is one of the most brilliant collections of thought on governance I have ever come across. Aside from central authority, the green book or the Libyan system promotes participatory democracy, in which people are more involved in making decisions on issues that affect them. For someone who believes in concept driven Governance, it was easy to like this guy. But maybe you could try out the fact that the man has built a country, he has gardens in the desert and the rest is cliché. He is a great man, a great man who idolizes himself. If you go to Tripoli today all you will see is pictures of the man. One of the pictures that really caught my eye was on in which he was depicting himself as the king or supreme ruler of the entire African continent. I paused and said look, isn’t this man thinking way too much of himself? Isn’t he up to pursuing a selfish ambition? I began to understand why other African leaders were opposed to the idea.

When it came to the actual youth parliament deliberations, I was more convinced that while the idea of an African integration was good, the motives and ideals behind it were rather crude. We had a rather wired system of voting. As soon as nominations started, the name of Gaddafi’s son was brought forward and before we knew it, everyone was clapping and at the end of the day, Gaddafi’s son was announced head of the African Youth Parliament. But wait? We didn’t vote? Clearly we were sort of duped or for lack of a better term forced into choosing a leader. For me, that was fore-glimpse of what kind of Democracy we would have in a United States of Africa. Then I thought of it from another point of view, a Ugandan friend told me that it was better for Gadafhi’s son to head the Youth parliament because then we would get the necessary resources. I didn’t think that was a reason enough for someone to be elected leader of what was to be an important African body. By the way, the Libyan Leader was believed to have paid for all the expenses incurred by the youth delegates. I found that odd.

Frankly, I just think this USA is nothing more than one man’s ambition to lead a continent. Hey, doesn’t the fact that it’s now being called an African Authority tell you something?

Today’s Scripture

“And Jesus answered them, Truly I say to you, if you have faith (a firm relying trust) and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, it will be done” (Matthew 21:21, AMP).

Today’s Word from Joel and Victoria

We’ve all had seasons when the challenges of life feel overwhelming. During those times, it’s easy to be tempted to talk about how bad things are. Maybe you received a bad medical report, or maybe you’re facing a financial obstacle. But the more you talk about something, the bigger it becomes in your mind. Instead, you’ve got to dig your heels in and say, “No, I am not going to give life to that defeat. I am not going to speak sickness over myself. I’m not going to speak lack. I’m not going to speak fear. I’m choosing a different report. I believe the report of the Lord which says I am blessed. I am favored. I am prosperous. I am healthy. I am whole. I’m a victor, not a victim.”

Remember, even if you don’t see how things could ever work out, God does. You’ve got to speak to those mountains in your life and declare favor over those situations. Instead of talking to God about how big your problems are, talk to your problems about how big your God is! As you speak to your mountains, they will be moved, and you will move forward into the victory God has prepared for you!

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word which is life to my spirit. I receive Your strength today and choose to speak to the mountains, so I can move forward in the victory You have in store for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The speaker of the National Assembly has directed Agriculture Minister Brian Chituwo to issue a ministerial statement on the reported shortage of mealie meal especially in Southern Province.

Amusaa Mwanamwambwa said the minister should urgently make an inquiry into the reported shortage of the staple food and report to parliament quickly.

This followed a point of order raised by Mazabuka MP Garry Nkombo who wondered whether the minister of agriculture was in order to remain quiet amid reports of mealie meal shortage in Southern province.

Mr. Nkombo quoting Friday’s newspapers, told the house that people had formed long queues at Mazabuka’s shoprite as early as 04 hours in attempts to buy mealie meal.

In his rulling the Speaker said although the point of order was unprocedural, the subject matter was of great concern as it involved people’s welfare.

Choma milling which is the main supplier of mealie meal in Southern Province has shut down its operations citing a shortage of maize.

Company managing director Jon Mackatos who confirmed the development to ZANIS in Choma said the plant stopped operating due to lack of maize.

Mr Mackatos said the milling plant had signed a contract with the Food Reserve Agency for the supply of 7, 000 metric tonnes of maize for the month of January but only 400 tonnes was received.

He said the 400 tonnes is only sufficient for one day’s production of mealie meal due to the plants big production capacity.

Mr Mackatos said it has become difficult under the present circumstances to continue running the plant in the absence of the raw material.

The milling plant is the only one producing mealie meal in the district and servicing surrounding district of Sinazongwe, Namwala, Kalomo and other southern province towns.

And district commissioner Laiven Apuleni told ZANIS in Choma the suspension of production is unfortunate and will impact negatively on the availability of mealie meal in the district.

Mr Apuleni said management at Choma milling had tried their best to source maize but have found it increasingly difficult.

He said has appealed to the Food Reserve Agency to act expeditiously because the situation has gone out of hand in the district.

A survey by ZANIS in Choma found that most retail outlets have run out of mealie meal while those found with the commodity had abnormally inflated the price of 25 kilgoramme breakfast bag to K 75, 000.

Several residents have now been gripped with panic over the shortage of mealie meal whose price is rising on daily basis.

ZANIS/CM/Ends/MM

Opposition members of parliament have threatened not to pass the budget if government fails to increase the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Roan Member of parliament Chishimba Kambwili said opposition Mps will walk out of parliament if the CDF is not increased.

He said it is prudent for government to increase the CDF from its current K400 million to K1 billion.

Amid cheers from other opposition MPs, Mr. Kambwili said CDF should be increased because this is the money that benefits the grass roots.

He said CDF is also used to improve among other things road infrastructure in constituencies.

Mr. Kambwili has since urged the Minister of Finance to make an amendment to effect the increase.

And Katombola MP Regina Musokotwane also emphasised the need to increase the CDF.
ZNBC