United Party for National Development (UPND) president, Hakainde Hichilema has said he will change the civil service work culture as a priority if elected president of Zambia.

Mr Hicilema said during a special election campaign programme on Muvi TV on Tuesday night that the current work culture of civil servants was extremely bad and needed to be changed.

“One of my first priorities will be to ensure that I change the work culture of all civil servants because under the current leadership there is too much laziness,” he said on the pre-recorded programme sponsored by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

Mr Hichilema said the country could only develop if all workers put in their very best and it was sad that civil servants who comprised the largest number of the work force had a culture of laziness.

He also pledged to reserve a specific number of seats for disabled persons under eight members of Parliament that the president was allowed to nominate.

Meanwhile, Mr Hichilema said his party could not endorse the candidature of MMD presidential candidate Rupiah Banda because it has a large following countrywide.

Mr Hichilema told journalists in Petauke that parties endorsing the candidature of Mr Banda were ‘one man show’ political parties.
He said no single party with a national character like UPND could endorse Mr Banda.

And addressing a rally in Katete on Tuesday, Mr Hichilema reiterated the need to revive the agriculture sector and pledged to give free inputs in the first three years of his tenure.

Mr Hichilema said he had realised that agriculture was the back bone of Zambia’s economy and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) would make prompt payments to farmers unlike the situation now.

He also reiterated the need for free education from grade one to university.
Mr Hichilema bemoaned the poor conditions of teachers, nurses and policemen.

Mr Hichilema said he was humbled with the support he had received from the people of Katete saying it was evident that people wanted change.

At another rally in Sinda, the UPND leader thanked the people for voting for him during the 2006 elections.

He urged the people of Sinda to give him more votes during this month’s Presidential election.

Times of Zambia

Patriotic Front-PF President, Michael Sata, says he has been misunderstood on his stance on Chinese investment in Zambia.

Mr. Sata says he welcomes tangible Chinese investment in the country because China is an emerging economy.

He told ZNBC news that he is only against the Chinese who want to venture into trading in shirts and mending pot-holes on roads.

Mr. Sata said such jobs should be left for Zambians.

And Mr. Sata said once in power, he will ensure that 25 percent of shares in parastatal companies are reserved for workers.

He said this will economically empower workers.

Mr. Sata said he will ensure that Zambian workers are well remunerated for them to earn a decent living.

ZNBC

The Zambia Direct Democracy Movement, ZADDA, has challenged political parties contesting the October 30 election to unite and petition the Electoral Commission of Zambia, ECZ, and High Court to suspend the polls to pave way for a government of national unity.

The organisation is of the view that the forthcoming Presidential election should be suspended as a measure of saving public resources needed for national development.

ZADDA National Coordinator, Edwin Sakala, insisted that there was still enough time for the political players to consider writing to ECZ and th High Court to propose the suspension of the polls in national interest.

Mr Sakala said the call by the Zambia Centre for Inter-Party  Dialogue, ZCID, on political parties to consider forming a government of national unity to avoid the polls should be supported by all patriotic Zambians.

He said Zambia was currently faced with serious economic challenges ranging from high unemployment levels to wide-spread poverty, hence a government of national unity could help address the challenges.

He pointed that a government of national unity is significant in efforts of promoting unity and diffusing political tension in any part of the national.

Mr Sakala said his organisation held a strong view that politicians from various parties could effectively combat corruption in public service and tackle poverty and unemployment if they worked together.

Five Chiefs in Namwala and Itezhi-Tezhi Districts have refuted rumours from undisclosed circles that traditional rulers in Southern Province were under pressure to support MMD aspiring candidate, Rupiah Banda, for the October 30, Presidential by elections.

Speaking on behalf of other traditional rulers, Chief Kaingu of the Ila people of Itezhi Tezhi district said the decision to support Mr. Banda was a voluntary one.

He was speaking in Namwala yesterday when acting President, Mr. Banda, met the Chiefs at Ila lodge.

Among the traditional rulers present were Chief Chiliabufu and Shimbizhi, Chief Muchila and Mukobela’s representative of Namwala.

Chief Kaingu said the decision was arrived at in Choma’s Kozo lodge last month after chief evaulated developmental projects that the MMD has so far recorded.

He observed that if a new government was ushered in, continuity of developmental programs would be disrupted.

He reaffirmed the Acting President that Chiefs in the region would give him support on October 30.

Meanwhile, the Acting President assured people in Namwala and Itezhi-Tezhi districts that government would address the hunger situation caused by floods and also tackle the issue of the prevalence of cattle diseases in the two districts.

Mr. Banda also lamented over the poor cattle marketing in the two districts which he noted disadvantaged most cattle farmers, adding that government would look into the issue.

WORLD renowned tele-vangelist Thomas Dexter Jakes, fondly referred to as TD Jakes, is expected in Zambia on Monday to meet the presidential hopefuls in an effort to maintain the prevailing peace ahead of this month’s presidential election.

Freedom Summit convenor, Nevers Mumba said at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday that Bishop TD Jakes would pay a courtesy call on the acting President, Rupiah Banda and meet all the presidential hopefuls before talking to the Christianity fraternity.

Dr Mumba said Bishop Jakes’ visit would give hope to the country which was expected to maintain peace during the political transition ahead and after this month’s presidential election following the death of president Levy Mwanawasa.

He was flanked by Miracle Life Church senior pastor Schurtz Walker, Northmead Assemblies of God Church Bishop, Joshua Banda and Barak Ministries pastor Godfrey Mhusambazi in Lusaka.

“This is the first time that Bishop Jakes will be visiting Zambia and he comes into the country to give hope to the nation through the Church leadership during this time of political transition,” Dr Mumba said.

He said Zambia had seen tragedy in the past such as the death of president Mwanawasa but was happy the country was a Christian nation, hence the peace, which was prevailing currently.

Dr Mumba said the summit to be held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC) was expected to attract the church and private sector, where Bishop Jakes would address them before having a business and leaders’ banquet at Padmozi Hotel.

He said currently, Bishop Jakes was in South Africa conducting a mega conference which was drawing an attendance of more than 100,000 men and women.

Bishop TD Jakes senior was born on June 9, 1957 and is the pastor of the Potters House, a 30,000 non-denominational member Church in Dallas, Texas.

The visiting bishop’s Church services and evangelical sermons are broadcast on the Potter’s Touch which airs on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, Black Entertainment and the Word network.

Times of Zambia

The law Association of Zambia has assured all Zambians  that the fourth coming presidential by-elections  shall  be transparent and integrity  in all the electoral process  in order to maintain peace and security in the country.

Law association of Zambia LAZ, Human rights committee  convener  Abraham Mwanza said there is need for all political parties to accept and respect the election results proclaimed to have been free and fair by the electoral Commission of Zambia  in accordance with the law of the land .

Mr Mwnza  also said necessary measure will be taken and precautions to prevent the perpetration of Fraud , rigging or other illegal practices  of the entire electoral process to maintain peace and security.

He said  this in a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr Mwansa noted that the association will  facilitate the deployment of representatives of political parties and individual candidates at polling  and counting stations and also accredit national and other observers  Monitors .

He  however noted that LAZ shall cherish the impartiality of the electoral Commission of Zambia and the independence of the Judiciary as well as other law enforcement agencies during the electoral processes.

Mr. Mwanza further said that adequate logistics and resources for carrying out Democratic elections will be provided and adequate security to all parties participating in the fourth coming elections.

He stressed that equal opportunity to exercise the right to vote and be voted for will be safeguarded as the human and civil liberties of all citizens include the freedom of movement, association, expression and campaign.

mr mwanza noted that Zambia will follow the United nations and African union  Declaration on the principals and gidelines governing Democratic elections in africa.

He noted that Zambia is adhereces to the principals and giudelines governing democratic elections promulgated by the SADC member states which was signed in namibia Windhoak  in 1992. hoping that zambia being state party  to the SADC treaty will observe the laws that have been put in place

And The Electoral Commission of Zambia repeated that it will display results of the forthcoming presidential election at various polling stations after the counting process is concluded.

ECZ Senior Public Relations officer, Sylvia Bwalya, told ZNBC on Monday that the commission has adopted a system used in Zimbabwe.

She said this in order to make the entire election process transparent.

Ms. Bwalya said the system will also avoid suspicion of rigging.

She said the ECZ has also allowed representatives of stakeholders to monitor the printing of ballot papers in South Africa to ensure the electoral process is transparent.

And the representatives who are currently in Durban told journalists that they are happy with the exercise.

The stakeholders say the gesture by the Electoral Commission of Zambia to allow them to monitor the exercise has dispelled fears of malpractice during the forthcoming election.

Ends ah/zans/lsk