President Rupiah Banda has called for unity and an end to the squabbles in the MMD.He said this when he graced the “Meet the President” fund raising dinner dance organised by the MMD’s treasury department at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Centre.

Mr Banda said during the MMD ‘Meet The President dinner’ at Mulungushi International Conference Centre on Saturday night that political infighting could only lead the party to self-destruction.
Mr Banda said he had noted with dismay the continued squabbles among senior party members in the Press and that the trend was worrying him.
“Please let’s stop it and work as united. Why is it that senior members rush to the Press to discuss party matters?” he asked.

He said the party went through a democratic process to elect a presidential candidate following the death of president Mwanawasa.
“Yes, we learnt lessons when our president died and the party had to choose a presidential candidate at short notice. But that is not a basis of the current infighting,” he said.
The President urged the members of the party to show that they were able to handle internal differences behind the scenes.

Mr Banda commended the friends of the party who rendered both financial and material support for the campaigns.
He urged contributors not to tire from helping the party and that The MMD party would again knock on their

doors for help during the next elections.

Mr Banda also urged Vice-President, George Kunda, Cabinet and deputy ministers to work with the friends of the party so that it was not just a one-sided relationship.

President Banda further commended the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for having organised a free, fair and transparent election in October.
He said even the international election observers and monitors unanimously endorsed the election as having been held in a free, fair and transparent atmosphere.

“The time frame for organising the election was too short but the ECZ managed to weather the storm. I say to them, keep it up. You have made us proud,” he said.

Mr Mabenga said the fundraising venture was also an important event for MMD members to reflect on how the party performed during the presidential election.

Meanwhile, several business houses and individuals, including Mr Banda yesterday made various monetary pledges to the MMD.
Mr Banda handed in a cheque of K10 million, while Mr Kunda pledged K5 million. Jonque Mining Company and China Geo Company pledged K50 million each.
Lamise, Nisco, Handyman’s Paradise and two other companies teamed up and pledged K50 million.
Zanaco Bank pledged K25 million, Pine Roads General Contractors K20 million, Zamanita K10 million, Nyiombo Investments K10 million, Plant Agric Services, K10 million and Finance Bank K10 million.
Friends of Kafue constituency pledged K7.5 million, Communications and Transport Minister, Dora Siliya, K5 million, Zambia Revenue Authority workers (ZRA) K5 million, Lusaka Province Minister, Lameck Mangani K2 million and Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ronnie Shikapwasha K2 million.
Others were Zambezi Source Lodge K2 million, Mr Mabenga a cheque of K1 million and Zambia Association with Persons with disabilities K1 million.
Local Government Minister, Benny Tetamashimba donated K1 million cash, Agriculture Minister, Brain Chituwo, K1 million, Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika K1 million, Sports Minister, Kenneth Chipungu K1 million.
The Indonesian Counselor in Swaziland pledged US$2,000 while Zambians leaving in Swaziland plaged US$1,000.

Times of Zambia

Ever wondered why you are where you are today? Well a major contribution to your current status is your attitude.

Winston Churchill once said “The optimist sees opportunity in every danger; the pessimist sees danger in every opportunity.” Attitude is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than what people do or say. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.

Some may say; “if I had a good job I would have a good attitude.” Isn’t it more truthful to say that if a person had a good attitude they would increase their chances of getting a good job?
Thomas Jefferson once said nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal while nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.

What is a good attitude?

It’s a way of thinking positively that says:

* I can control my life and achieve my goals.
* I am responsible for the choices I make.
* My past does not matter; I can change my future.

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.
You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.

James Truslow Adams said Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, “This is the real me,” and when you have found that attitude, follow it.

How to sell yourself to others

The best way to sell yourself to others is first to sell the others to yourself. Check yourself against this list of obstacles to a pleasing personality: interrupting others; sarcasm; vanity; being a poor listener; insincere flattery; finding fault; challenging others without good cause; giving unsolicited advice; complaining; attitude of superiority; envy of others’ success; poor posture and dress.

Learn to be assertive, not aggressive. Be nice to everyone. That doesn’t mean letting other people take advantage of you, but it does mean looking for ways to get what you want (win) without forcing the other person to lose.
It is possible to find win-win solutions to almost any situation (yes, there are exceptions, but they’re rare), but most of us need to learn how. We were raised on the idea of competition, where in order for me to win, you have to lose. In order for me to pass you have to fail.What we need to learn now is that we don’t have to play by win-lose rules — you can change the rules! People can only hear you when they are moving toward you, and they are not likely to when your words are pursuing them. Even the choice words lose their power when they are used to overpower. Attitudes are the real figures of speech.

Life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you … we are in charge of our Attitudes.

ECONOMISTS have given mixed reactions to Government’s proposal to partially privatise Zamtel in an effort to make the telecommunications company viable.

While some of the experts suggest that there be an outright privatisation of the company, others are agreeing with Government that there be a partial privatisation.

They, however, all agree that the company could be viable and that recapitalisation could revive it and turn it into a self-sustaining firm.

Minister of Transport and Communication, Dora Siliya, said last week that Government was considering privatising Zamtel to make it viable.

Ms Siliya said Government had no money to continue subsiding Zamtel’s operations.

The Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) has welcomed Government move to find an equity partner for Zamtel to make it more viable.

ZACCI chairman, Justin Chisulo, said in an interview yesterday that an equity partner for Zamtel was the best option for Government.

Mr Chisulo said the company was a viable institution but it required excellence in land phone services. He said land phone services should be broadened.

He said the company should also broaden its communication services through the optic fibre network project currently being undertaken.

“Zamtel can either be scrapped or find somebody else to revamp it,” he said.

He said an equity partner would also have to look at the staffing levels at the company.

An economist, Mr Andrew Kamanga, said the continued financial constraints at Zamtel have prompted the proposal.

“Whenever such happens, it is incumbent upon the shareholders to find the required capital,” Mr Kamanga said.

He said Government should consider a public-private partnership rather than total privatisation.

Mr Kamanga said the communication industry has been competitive and Zamtel should reposition itself to survive.

“This may entail increasing tariffs to meet the costs,” Mr Kamanga said.

A business analyst, Chibamba Kanyama, said the telecommunications industry had become more competitive and highly lucrative.

Mr Kanyama said Zamtel could be profitable under its current ownership.

He said Zamtel needed total recapitalisation, and setting up of new technology network for both landlines and mobile network.

Mr Kanyama said Zamtel has been subdued by other telecommunication players on the local market because it was not being re-capitalised.

“With failure by the Government to re-capitalise it, there is need to give Zamtel to a new player,” he said.
He said once the new player takes over Zamtel, there should be no interface between the balance sheets for landlines and mobile services.

Mr Kanyama has also appealed to the Government to pay back all the debts owed to Zamtel to make it more viable.

He said once the new player takes over, Government should give it a number of years before it could start getting dividends from it.

He said the new owners should be given time to recover what would have been spent over the liabilities of the company

[Daily mail]

Today’s Scripture

“…Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7b NLT).

Today’s Word from Joel and Victoria

Did you know that the way you treat people has an impact on the effectiveness of your prayers? The Bible says that the prayer of the righteous person is powerful, but if we aren’t treating others with honor, kindness, and respect, then we aren’t allowing His righteousness to operate in us. When we don’t treat others the way we should, it closes the door to God’s power and hinders our prayers.

This is especially true in a marriage relationship. Marriage isn’t just an agreement between two people to live life together. Marriage is a God-ordained institution that helps us understand love and unity. When two people are married, they become one physically, spiritually, and emotionally. And, this particular passage is directed toward husbands, but it applies to all believers as well. We should all treat others “with understanding” which means considering the needs of others above our own. We should always aim to treat others with kindness, dignity, and respect and quickly choose forgiveness. The Bible says that the way we treat others is the way we treat God, so choose love and treat others with respect so that your prayers can be powerful and effective the way God promises!

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, I want to live in Your ways. I want to treat others with love and respect which shows that I honor You. Show me how to be a blessing to others and teach me how to make my prayers effective. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

Joel Osteen Ministries

Finnish Ambassador to Zambia, Sinikka Antila, says continuous voter registration is paramount in enhancing the country’s electoral process.

Ambassador Antila says alot still needs to be done despite the positive achievements recorded in the October 30 presidential election.

she was speaking in Lusaka during celebrations to mark the Finnish 91st National Day which fell on Friday.

And Agriculture Minister, Brian Chituwo said the new cabinet is determined to fulfill on all election campaign promises.

He said cabinet will address the several challenges in the country, which include high poverty levels.

Zambia held presidential elections on October 30 to choose a President after the death of the incumbent, Levy Mwanawasa.

MMD candidate, Rupiah Banda, won the election beating three other contenders.

[ZNBC]