THE Heritage Party (HP) has said that the Village Concept is the only manifesto that offers to address issues of underdevelopment both in rural and urban areas of the country.

HP spokesperson Waziah Phiri said in an interview in Lusaka that currently, only the urban areas were being developed because the existing national leadership did not have a workable concept to improve rural areas.

Mr Phiri said that under the Village Concept, which the HP had been propagating for a long time, there would be equitable distribution of wealth between the urban and rural areas.

If such was the case, Mr Phiri said that both the urban and rural areas would be developed simultaneously.

Mr Phiri said that currently, what was happening was that only the urban areas were developed and dwellers from the rural areas were abandoning the places resulting into urban areas getting over populated.

“If the Village Concept was to be applied, all development would not only be centered in Lusaka but the entire country. Wealth should be equitably distributed and not as the case is,” Mr Phiri said.

He said that besides the Village Concept ensuring that the wealth of the nation was equitably distributed, it would also address the plight of women, the youth and other vulnerable citizens.

Mr Phiri said that currently, the vulnerable in society were marginalised and the HP was determined to reverse the trend.

He also cautioned the electorate against falling prey to promises by leaders of some opposition parties.

Mr Phiri said most leaders had in the past failed to fulfill their promises and therefore wondered how the electorate should this time around trust them.

“One such promise which had been made by some opposition party leaders is the recognition of the Barotse Royal Establishment.

“The problem we find with some politicians is that they make promises which they themselves know that they would not fulfill. The people should look at the track record of these leaders,” he said.

Among the presidential aspirants in the October 30 polls, Mr Phiri said that the HP candidate Godfrey Miyanda (above) was the only leader who could not fail to fulfill his promises.

He said that if Zambians were serious about seeing the country develop, they should vote for the HP candidate.

“If our country wants a leader that will not fail them then they should vote for us. We are the only ones with a track record for all to see,” Mr Phiri said.

Times of Zambia

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has disclosed that it has met its targets with all logistics in place for the holding of the October 30th presidential polls.

ECZ Chairperson Justice Florence Mumba however said the ballot papers and other election materials are yet to be delivered to all the 72 districts throughout the country.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka today, Ms. Mumba also said that the commission has been operating under pressure especially with accusations and suspicions from various stakeholders.

She however said that ECZ will continue to perform its duties within the provisions of the law despite the pressure from stakeholders.

Justice. Mumba said the commission also values the observations made by the stakeholders of the electoral process adding that ECZ remains open to address any concerns raised by the stakeholders.

And the ECZ Chairperson has also disclosed that the extra ballot papers will only be dispatched to polling stations in need of them with the consent of all the four participating political parties.

She said the decision follows consultations with the participating political parties that the extra 600 000 ballot papers will remain in the custody of the ECZ.

Justice Mumba has further said that the omitted registered voters in the 2006 voter’s register have been correctly captured in the voters register adding that all the participating political parties have been informed.

On the voting procedure during the October 30th polls Justice Mumba said all polling agents, monitors and observers will be able to observe the voting process and record the number of voters who will cast their votes.

She also explained that the announcement form for the election results for each polling station will be signed by the presiding officer and a polling agent from each of the four participating political parties.

Justice Mumba added that the polling agents and monitors will be obliged to sign the election results form and will each be given a copy for their records by the returning officer.

She also said that the results will be transmitted from the district centers in the presence of political party agents to the commission headquarters in Lusaka both electronically and by fax adding that the final election result will only be announced on receipt of all the results from the 150 constituencies in the country.

ZANIS/CM/MK/ENDS

Acting Republican President Rupiah Banda has assured that his Government will further reduce the price of fuel if the people of Zambia vote him  State House on 30th October 2008.

Mr. Rupiah Banda observed that prices of fuel in Zambia were still high, hence the need to reduce them to a affordable levels if the country was to development quickly.

Mr. Banda was speaking when he addressed a mammoth campaign rally at Independence Square in Lundazi District  today.

The Acting Republican President said, because of high prices of fuel in the country, the growth of small scall farmers, transporters, industries and the traveling communities have been  affected.

On Fertilizer, he said his MMD government has already subsidized fertilizer from K200,000 per 50kg to K50,000 per bag in order to assist small scale farmers in rural areas grow more food and reduce poverty.

Mr. Banda told the people of Lundazi  District to vote for him, because he was an experienced politician who would manage the economy of Zambia well and make the people of Zambia rich.

And while in Chama Mr. Banda  warned that he will deal with people engaged in malpractice in the distribution of farming inputs in the distribution under the Fertilizer Support Program (FSP) once elected  persident.

Speaking when he addressed a mamoth rally Mr. Banda appealed to the people of Eastern Province to be vigilant and report those mismanaging the distribution of farming inputs.

Mr. Banda said the distribution of subsidized farming inputs is a Government program which intends to improve the living conditions of the people of Zambian and its misappropriation will not be tolerated.

“Youths you should not allow trick  stars to take  advantage of you by denying you what the Government provides for you” he said.

The Acting President also said he would ensure that the farming inputs are distributed on time and accessible to all viable farmers.

Mr. Banda said  he has  great hope for the future of Zambia and will improve the economy of Chama district by encouraging investments in mineral and oil exploration within ten days after elected into office.

He observed that Chama  has oil  and minerals that once exploited, will improve the living standards of residents as it will increase employment levels  and improve infrastructure development.

The acting president advised residents of Chama not to abandon the district as it has potential to grow.

Mr. Banda also disclosed that funds for Chama/Matumbo  road have been released and the contract has been awarded to a Chinese firm.

“A feasibility study has already  been done and what remains is for the works to start” he said.

He stated that he would ensure that rehabilitation works on the Chama/Lundazi road are completed so that the district can connect to rest of the country without difficulties.

And Mr. Banda says he believes that the future of the nation lies in the youth and pledged that he would address issues of education and unemployment to enable them improves their living standards.

He added that he would ensure that youths in the country are  empowered with life skills so that they engage in lucrative ventures.

The acting president said he will ensure that all developmental projects that were approved in the budget are completed on schedule.

He noted that once  elected into office, he would only have three years to complete all developmental projects that were initiated by late president Levy Mwanawasa.

“Within  the three  years I will complete all projects initiated by the late president are complete  and I will start new projects because I know the vision of the late Dr. Mwanawasa  as  I worked closely with him,” he said.

Mr. Banda has expressed confidence that he will scoop the president race because of  the massive support he has received in six provinces that he has visited so far.

“I have being receiving massive support wherever I have gone to campaign  and I am assured that it will be the same in Lusaka, Central and Copperbelt provinces when I go there,” he said.

He stated that his support from some opposition political parties have instilled confidence  and hope that he will emerge victorious on October 30.

Mr. Banda who was in the company of United Liberal Party (ULP) president Saskwiba Sikota, Forum for Democracy (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi, Eastern Province minister Charles Shawa, and several party and government officials, thanked the two political leaders for their suport.

Meanwhile, ULP president Sakwiba Sikota said that it was a pity that the Post Newspaper was not in the district to prove that Mr. Banda has support at  grassroot level in the district.

Mr. sikota said the multitudes of people that braved the heat in chama in order to show suport for the acting president was evidence of the confidence that people have in Mr. Banda.

He alleged that PF leader Michael Sata pose a threat to people in border areas because he threatened Luvales in Western Province that he would chase them to Angola.

“He will not spare the people of Chama, he will chase them to Malwai becaue trhey share boarders with that country,” he said.

And FDD president Edith Nawakwi appealed to the appealed of Chama to elect Mr. Banda as President because he committed to improve the education sector.

Ms. Nawakwi said Mr. Banda would improve the sector with regard to education of the  girl child who she said is married off at a tender age.

The FDD leader observed that a number of girls in rural areas do not complete their grade twelve due to inadequate financial resources and distant educational infrastructure.

She urged mothers in the district to take their female children to schools as they can contribute to the growth of the economy of the nation.

ENDS/HN/DM/PK/ZANIS.

Some youths in Northern Province have declared their support for UPND presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema in the October 30 presidential election.

This is according to a statement released to ZANIS in Kasama and signed by youth representatives Peggy Mulenga, Innocent Chileshe and Bridget Shaulo.

The youths said they have decided to back Mr. Hichilema because he has a clear vision of transforming Zambia into a prosperous country.

They said the UPND leader has demonstrated true leadership qualities by championing the cause of the youths, who were mostly unemployed due to lack of jobs.

The youths said the fact that the opposition UPND promises to provide equal opportunities for all Zambians was enough indication that the welfare of youths would finally receive the necessary attention, which they said had been lacking in the past.

They also welcomed Mr. Hichilema’s pledge to provide free education from primary to tertiary level adding that education was the cornerstone for national development.

Meanwhile, the youths have expressed disappointment with a named opposition party leader who allegedly advised youths to engage in smoking and beer drinking as they would have no time to do when he is elected president.

They said such careless political statement was not helping youths to become better citizens, adding that the future of youths would be sent into disarray if the opposition leader wins the presidency.

The youths have since appealed to all the presidential candidates in the October 30 election to be sensitive to the plight of Zambians, whom they said were living in abject poverty due to lack of income to sustain their living.

ZANIS/KSM/MK/ENDS

A senior citizen has implored pensioners in the country to base their choice of leadership from the four aspiring candidates in the forthcoming Presidential elections on their pledges to uplift the livelihood of retired citizens.

Jeremiah Thomas Nyau, a visually impaired pensioner made the call in a statement to ZANIS in Mansa today .

He said only a candidate that had an all inclusive vision that accommodates issues facing pensioners should be ushered into office.

Mr. Nyau said for a long time, pensioners had economically endured hardships in their households due to meager monthly allocations they get.

Mr. Nyau appealed to the aspiring Presidential candidates to consider adjusting the monthly pension allocations to prevailing economic conditions in their manifestos if they are to woo votes from pensioners.

And in an interview, Mr. Nyau who retracted his earlier call for pensioners and their relatives to shun voting in this year’s presidential elections in the event that none of the four presidential candidates make definite pledges concerning the plight of pensioners, said pensioners were tired of being neglected by politicians.

He said the earlier resolve to shun the polls was not in good spirit because it encouraged voter apathy as an alternative to express grievances by any section of the community.
Mr. Nyau explained that pensioners needed to be treated with equal attention because they had contributed to development and brought the country to where it is now.

“We have immensely contributed to the country and now that we are depending on the system, there is need for whoever is in power not to ignore the plight of pensioners because we equally face a harsh challenge in terms of livelihood which the meager monthly allocation cannot handle,” said Mr. Nyau.

And Youths in Itezhi-tezhi have pledged to endorse a presidential candidate who will commit himself to building a skills centre in the district.

In an interview with ZANIS in Itezhi-tezhi, District Youth Coordinating Committee Chairperson Louis Mayapi the youths in Itezhi-tezhi a long time have had no youth skills centre.

He said that youths in Itezhi-tezhi district desperately need a youth skills centre that will equip them to be productive.

He said putting up a youth skills centre will keep youths busy and reduce their dangers of contracting the HIV/AIDS.

“My fellow youths in itezhi-tezhi district are just wasting their energy in bars and other illicit activities because there is no youth centre were they can learn skills to earn an income.”he said

Mr. Mayapi further said there is need for government to depoliticize the Youth Empowerment Fund so that all youths regardless of the their party affiliation can access it.
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ZANISDN/MK/ENDS

Patriotic Front (PF) Micheal Sata has dispelled rumuors that he was corrupt saying that if he were corrupt, Late President Levy Mwanawasa would not have spared him in his anti corruption campaign.

“Government spent a lot of money to investigate me, to find out whether I was involved in corruption or not, and they failed to find anything—do you think Levy could have spared me if I was corrupt?” he asked.

Mr. Sata said that his government would improve health facilities and uplift the living standards of people in the province through creation of jobs.

Meanwhile speaking on a good governance programme sponsored by the Media Institute of Southern Africa MISA-Zambia on Radio Lyambai in Mongu yesterday Mr. Sata called on people in the province not to entertain lies from other parties that when PF win elections, he will chase Mbunda speaking people from the country.

“I don’t like talking about people but I know others are going round telling people saying when Sata wins he will chase all Mbundas. Where will I get the that kind on an army to drive away people from Western Province? ” asked Sata.

And Mr. Sata has attributed his lose in the Western Province in the 2006 Tripartite elections to United Liberal Party leader, Sakwiba Sikota .
He said he did not win in the barotse land because he had no candidate and that the Opposition ULP leader lied to him.
“In 2006, I did not win in Barotseland because I had no candidates, Sikota lied to me” Sata said.

Mr. Sata however pledged to ensure that the cashew plantation is revived because it has the potential to positively contribute to the national economy .

Mr. Sata, who is in Western Province to hold a series campaign rallies, also said that his government would incorporate Chiefs in the distribution of fertilizer.

“We are going to spend more time on research to ensure that Cashew plant is revived,” he assured.

And heavy rain yesterday disrupted Patriotic Front (PF) organized rally in senanga area.

As soon as PF presidential candidate Micheal Sata stood to address the people, a heavy down pour started forcing people to seek refuge in near by shops.

After waiting for about an hour Mr. Sata decided to tour the Market and later left.

Speaking earlier Lusaka businessman BG Mwamba appeal to Senanga resident to vote for PF laeder .

And PF spokesperson Given Lubinda said that once voted into power, PF would give free fertilizer to the aged and widows as a way of boosting agricultural production.

Mr. Lubinda accused the MMD government of trying to lure votes from unsuspecting electorates through the reduction of the cost fertilizer and the downward adjustment of fuel prices.

He said PF would cut down on unnecessary expenditure by trimming the cabinet to 16 from the current membership of 65.
Mr. Lubinda further said that most people have misunderstood hardworking.

ZANIS /MN/MK/ENDS

ACTING PRESIDENT, Rupiah Banda, has urged civil servants to access farming inputs under the Fertilizer Support Program (FSP).

Addressing a mammoth rally today in Nyimba district of the Eastern Province, Mr Banda observed that some civil servants are good farmers. He expressed concern that some of the civil servants who do not benefit from the subsidized farming inputs are viable farmers who can add to the food security of the nation.

And Acting president Banda says there is need to standardize the price of fuel across the country. Mr Banda said the FSP was intended to increase the food security of Zambia saying all must benefit if the food security pack economy of the country is to improve.

The Acting president said he is aware of the problems that the rural community faces with regard to agriculture saying his interest is on the sector.

He said that it is for this reason that he decided to increase subsidies on agricultural inputs saying he understood that the hub of rural development is the agricultural sector.

And Mr Banda said there is need to ensure that the price of fuel is standardized across the country. The Acting President said it is not fair the fuel is more expensive in rural areas where there are more poor people while it is fair in urban centers.

He stated that it is unfortunate that the rural community which consist mainly the poor, is forced to buy the commodity at higher prices.

Mr Banda said international fuel prices have reduced further saying there is need for people to see the benefits of reducing fuel prices by ensuring that prices of other market goods are reduced.

“The international prices of fuel have reduced from USD140 per barrel to USD 70, so we need to ensure that our people benefit by reducing prices of market goods,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Banda has appealed to the people of Nyimba to elect him to ensure that he proceeds with the vision of late Levy Mwanawasa and the MMD. He stated that he will continue to improve agriculture, education and the road infrastructure in the country.

Mr Banda also revealed that the late President Levy Mwanawasa left him with clear instructions to look after the people of Zambia and the country very well before he (Levy) left for Egypt from which he never returned.

Mr Banda said the country needs him for president because Zambia needs a leader who knows the people and the people know him, adding that it is no time for electorates to change their political direction.

The Acting President said he has a vision to take the country to higher heights in economic development and all he needs is support from Zambians. Mr Banda stated that it will not be easy for the opposition to rule the country because the ruling party has the majority of votes.

“The Heriatge candidate Godfrey Miyanda does not have a seat in Parliament, the United Party for National Development (UPND) only has 22 while Patriotic Front (PF) only has 40 and the ruling party had 83MPs,” he said.

Mr Banda explained that the minority would have call for general elections and the country does not have the resources to spend on such elections when there are other development areas that require resources.

Earlier Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) President Edith Nawakwi said it is not possible for the opposition to change the direction of the country in two years.

Ms Nawakwi said the two years that remain for the general election will not be adequate for the opposition to run a minority government because the ruling MMD has the majority MPs in Parliament.

The FDD leader explained that it would be difficult if the candidate that emerges victorious comes from the opposition because the numbers their numbers of the opposition do not constitute the majority.

And UNIP President Tilyenji Kaunda said it is necessary that the ruling MMD is given a chance to continue its development plan. He stated that members of his party know Mr Banda well and believe that he is capable to unite Zambians.

Mr Kaunda explained that the Acting president is an honest man who can address issues of hunger, education and unemployment.
Mr Kaunda stated that politics is about life and that if the people of Nyimba vote wrongly they will suffer the consequences of doing so.

The acting president who touched down Prisons grounds at 09:45 hours this morning in the company of MMD National Chairperson for Information and Publicity, Ben Tetamashimba, who is also Deputy Minister for Local Government and Housing.

He was received by Provincial Minister, Charles Shawa, MMD Provincial Chairperson, Kennedy Zulu, UNIP President Tilyenji Kaunda, FDD President Edith Nwakwi and other party and government officials.

Mr Banda then paid a courtesy call on chiefs Nyalugwe, Ndake Lwembe and chieftainess Mwape at the office of Nyimba District Commissioner Alexander Miti.

Mr Banda is in eastern province to drum up support in the October 30 Presidential election and he is later this afternoon expected address two rallies in Katete district.

The acting president will tomorrow address rallies in Mambwe, Chama and Lundazi districts. Mr Banda will also address rallies in Chadiza and Chipata districts before he returns to Lusaka on Wednesday.

ENDS/HN/PK/ZANIS.