The verification of last week’s presidential by election results in Kasama was yesterday almost disrupted after some Patriotic Front (PF) cadres demanded to be paid allowances before witnessing the exercise.

The PF cadres claimed that the verification of ballot papers was a government exercise and as such they were entitled to receive lunch allowances.

The irate cadres also asked the election officials to give a detail explanation of what was involved in the verification of election results as most of them expressed ignorance on the exercise.

Some PF cadres claimed that the exercise should also involve re-counting of the ballot papers.

But responding to the queries, Kasama District Electoral Officer, Joseph Sampa, dismissed the PF demands for allowances to be paid to them for witnessing the verification of election results.

Mr. Sampa explained that the verification of presidential results was a voluntary exercise that did not require political stakeholders to be paid money.

He also clarified that the verification of the election results did not mean re-counting of ballot papers as that can only be done after a Court Order.

Mr. Sampa later convinced the PF members to continue with the exercise of verifying the results, saying the exercise was in the best interest of all political parties that took part in last Thursday’s presidential poll.

As at yesterday, only the ruling MMD and the PF had representation at the verification of presidential results while the UPND and the Heritage Party did not send representatives.

But a check today by ZANIS found all parties and some election observers busy witnessing the verification of election results, which is one of the post-election activities being conducted by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) countrywide.

And in Kitwe, Various political parties today turned up for the voter verification exercise in the just-ended Presidential by elections at the Civic Centre.

Among the notable parties present were the Patriotic Front (PF), United Party for National Development UPND), Heritage Party (HP) and the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).

Kitwe Town Clerk, Ali Simwinga, said the exercise went on peacefully and there were no incidences recorded.

The exercise has given credibility to the just-ended elections.

He said all the political parties have signed the verification forms and are satisfied with the outcome of the election.

ZANIS/ENDS/LK/EB.

A Lusaka-based clergyman has strongly condemned the hailing of insults at former President, Frederick Chiluba and physical attack on his press aide, Emmanuel Mwamba by suspected opposition Patriotic Front cadres at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross yesterday.

Bishop Bwanali Phiri of World Baptist Evangelistic Association said the incidence showed lack of respect for leaders.

He further said the use of violence and vulgar language could be a recipe of political skirmishes in the country.

Bishop Phiri said it was embarrassing that some leaders of political parties were failing to discipline their cadres, who stir up calm situations and engage into violence.

He lamented that women were being used to insult and disrespect people by some political leaders.

He explained that people that were in authority or once held respected offices should be given the respect they deserve at all times.

Bishop Bwanali said leaders should guide their cadres especially that the campaigns were over not.

He said political leaders should espouse Christian values and principles so that there was peace in the country even after elections.

He has since called on the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), Christian Council of Zambia (CCZ) and the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) to consider holding a reconciliation meeting with all political party leaders in the country.

Yesterday, suspected PF cadres reportedly scorned Dr. Chiluba and used unpalatable language on him during the funeral service of the late former Prime Minister, Elijah Mudenda at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

ZANIS/KSH/AM/ENDS

The MMD in Kafue has called on the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to extend an olive branch to members who defected to other political parties as differences always arise during elections.

MMD Constituency information and Publicity secretary Isaac Mulenga told ZANIS in Kafue Thursday that it will be unhealthy for the ruling party to demonize members who defected to the opposition but should instead work on reconciling with such members.

He said as the party prepares itself for the 2011 elections, there is need to refocus on what the part will offer to the public and members so that its popularity is regained.

Mr. Mulenga said whilst the action by some members were regrettable, it was time the MMD scrutinized who genuine members are and those who just want to gain from it.

He said members should realize that the party can only become stronger and popular if they remain patriotic and united.

And Mr. Mulenga has appealed to president Rupiah Banda to ensure that he fulfils all the promises he made during the campaign to the people of Kafue.

He said the party will remain strong if promises made are fulfilled as the electorate will have confidence in its leadership.

Mr. Mulenga also said it was important the party revisits issues the opposition was promising the electorate in urban areas and those places the opposition won so that the party can do something about them.

He said the MMD should not take for granted the rural stronghold support it has if nothing is done tangible in the next three years as the opposition will also penetrate them.

ZANIS/BS/ENDS/MM

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MACO) has warned of blacklisting beneficiaries of the Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP) who will be found selling agricultural inputs they will get under the programme.

Cooperative and Marketing Permanent Secretary, Bernard Namachila, sounded the warning during the launch of the 2008/09 National Fertilizer Support Programme (NFSP) held at Crystal Spring hotel in Chipata today.

Mr. Nakachinda said there were some malpractices happening in the programme where some beneficiaries sold the inputs instead of using them in their fields.

He said in some cases, cooperatives had been used by some businesspersons to procure the inputs meant for small holder farmers for re-selling.

“Let me reiterate my warning that individuals found wanting shall be visited by the law and such farmers shall be blacklisted together with members of their households who will never access the facility. Genuine farmers and not traders should be the only ones to benefit,” Mr. Namachila charged.

He implored District Agricultural Committees ( DACs) in the country to be on the look out for people involved in malpractices. The Permanent Secretary also said under the Fertilizer Support Programme, a household is supposed to benefit only for two seasons after which it is weaned so that other households could benefit.

Mr. Namachila said the beneficiaries to this programme must be small scale farmers belonging to a registered cooperative or farmer group who must also have capacity to grow one to five hectares of maize.

He said the beneficiaries should be able to raise the 25 percent of the cost of the inputs which is K 50,000-00 and must not concurrently benefit from the Food Security Park under Preventive Against Malnutrition ( PAM )

Mr. Namachila also directed the department of agriculture to disqualify cooperatives and farmer groups that were only re-activated during the time of acquiring inputs.

And Kasama District has received a total of 32,000 by 50kg bags of subsidized fertilizer under the Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP) for this year’s agricultural season.

District Commissioner Lieutenant Colonel Steven Chanda confirmed the development to ZANIS in Kasama , Thursday.

Col. Chanda said out of the total fertilizers received by the District, 16, 000 by 50 KG bag is Urea while another 16, 000 by 50kg bags is D-compound.

He revealed that the distribution of the inputs would start next week.

Col. Chanda has since urged farmers to make sure that they procure the subsidized inputs through their cooperatives to avoid compromising their yields.

The DC also advised civil servants intending to access the same fertilizer to liaise with the District Agriculture Coordinator, so that they too could benefit from the subsidized inputs.

Recently, Government announced a drastic reduction in the price of fertilizer under the Fertilizer Support Programme from K200, 000 per 50 KG bag to K50, 000 per 50 KG bag.

The move is aimed at empowering vulnerable but viable farmers to access the agriculture inputs in order for them to boost production and in turn enhance the country’s food security.

ZANIS/WS/ENDS/KSM/MM

President Rupiah Banda says people aggrieved about the outcome of the October 30 presidential election are free to petition.

Mr. Banda says according to Zambian laws any candidate who is not happy with election results is free to petition.

The President said Patriotic Front-PF- leader, Michael Sata, is free to reject and petition the results.

Mr. Banda was speaking to Journalist shortly after getting an official portrait at Zambia News and Information Service-ZANIS- in Lusaka on Wednesday.

And President Banda said he is not aware that former President, Frederick Chiluba, helped his campaign in the just ended presidential election.

President Banda said he just read in the newspapers that Dr. Chiluba had gone round campaigning for him.

He however thanked Zambians for voting for him in Thursday’s presidential election.
[ZNBC]

Cadres from opposition Patriotic Front (PF) and the ruling MMD Thursday morning clashed in a free for all punch-up at Lusaka’s Nakatindi Hall where verification of presidential ballots was due to take place.

According to eye witnesses, a number of polling assistants were also caught up in the physical tussle between the PF and MMD cadres.

The fracas prompted Lusaka Returning Officer, Timothy Hakuyu to indefinitely suspend the verification of presidential ballot papers.

Mr. Hakuyu who is also Lusaka Town Clerk confirmed that a number of polling assistants were slapped by some unidentified cadres during the fight.

But MMD Lusaka District Chairman, Paul Chihande alleged that his cadre William Matalauze was slapped by PF leader Michael Sata during the confusion.

However, PF Spokesperson Given Lubinda denied allegations linking Mr. Sata to the fracas.

Mr. Lubinda however confirmed having witnessed the exchange of blows between PF and MMD cadres.

Earlier, some polling assistants who were waiting to be paid their dues refused to leave Nakatindi Hall, demanding that they be paid their dues.

The polling assistants only lef the place after the Returning officer assured them that their monies will be paid later in the day.

And Lusaka Police Commanding Officer Greenwell N’guni told ZNBC news that he sent police re-enforcements after Mr. Hakuyu alerted him on phone.

Mr. N’GUNI said Inspector General of Police Ephraim Mateyo will issue a comprehensive statement later in the day.

[ZNBC]

Zambia’s electoral commission is today (Thursday) expected to begin verifying votes from last week’s presidential election making it possible for the opposition to challenge the result in court. Main opposition leader Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front party claims the electoral commission rigged the vote for the presidential candidate of the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy. Rupiah Banda was sworn in Sunday after the electoral commission declared him winner of the presidential by-election to replace late President Levy Mwanawasa.

Fred Mtesa is a Zambian political analyst. From the capital, Lusaka he tells reporter Peter Clottey that the looming court challenge could strengthen Zambia’s democratic process.

“I think it is an important step in the development of the electoral process in Zambia because it means the aggrieved party has an opportunity to lay their grievances through the legal process,” Mtesa noted.

He said previous presidential candidates have challenged election results after they were defeated.

“In the first place Mr. Sata is not the first losing presidential candidate to challenge the result of a presidential election in Zambia. In 2001, three losing contestants Mr. Mazoka, Christian Tembo and General Godfrey Miyanda petitioned the results of the presidential election, and they went to court. And of course in the end, the Supreme Court of Zambia ruled that the late President Levy Mwanawasa was duly elected as president of the republic of Zambia, although the court said there were anomalies,” he said.

Mtesa said the main opposition leader is not content with the election results.

“For Mr. Sata in 2001 he did not challenge the election results, in 2006 he did complain. And it is understandable given the growing popularity of his party in the urban areas, particularly in Lusaka and the Copper Belt where he swept the votes. I think it is understandable that he feels aggrieved,” Mtesa pointed out.

He said poll observers were unanimous about the credibility of the October 30th presidential by-election.

“The election was held under very difficulty conditions, and the Electoral Commission of Zambia was called upon to prepare at a very short notice. But we had reports from monitors of the Africa Union, the SADC (Southern African Development Community) monitors and also local monitors who adjudged that the election were conducted in a free and fair atmosphere,” he said.

Mtesa said there was a need to allow the electoral process to flourish.

“It is difficult to say what the court would decide and would have to look at the evidence. And I think for now the right thing to do for every observer is to allow the due process of the law to take its course and it would be a test of the Zambia constitution and to see what would happen in the event that the court ruled that the election was fraudulent,” Mtesa noted.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Sata claims the election was marked by discrepancies between vote tallies and the number of voters on registration lists and is ready to challenge the results in court. Under Zambian law, the verification of ballots is required before an aggrieved politician can ask the court to demand all ballots to be recounted.

VOA