Zambia’s liberation hero, Kenneth Kaunda, has endorsed acting president Rupiah Banda ahead of an election later this month, state media reported on Sunday.

Former head of state Kaunda said Banda, and not populist chief opposition leader Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front (PF), who has been drawing huge crowds at his campaign rallies, would make a good president.

“I am happy with the leadership skills shown by the acting president,” state radio quoted Kaunda as saying, adding he hoped Banda would continue holding the office of president.

“He (Sata) is good as governor and minister but I don’t think he can work as a president. I don’t hate him, but if voters elect him, it is their own fault,” Kaunda was quoted as saying by the state-owned Sunday Times newspaper.

Banda became acting president after the death in August of Levy Mwanawasa, praised by investors for stabilising the mineral-rich southern African nation and fighting corruption.

Analysts say Kaunda’s comments may swing a few more votes to Banda. No clear favourite has emerged ahead of the October 30 presidential poll.

State media also reported that the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s (ECZ) director of elections, Dan Kalale, said the budget for the poll would be 231 billion kwacha and that Zambia had asked donors to help finance it.

Finance Minister Ngandu Magande told Reuters last month he expected the cost of the election to widen the budget deficit beyond the projected 1.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), but it would be kept below 2 percent.

Reuters

Hundreds of Lusaka residents today thronged the Cathedral of the Holy Cross for the memorial service in honour the late President Levy Mwanawasa which marks a month since Dr. Mwanawasa met his demise.

Those in attendance included Acting President Rupiah Banda, First Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, Speaker of the National Assembly Amussa Mwanamwambwa, and Chief Justice Ernest Sakala.

Members of clergy, Cabinet ministers, Deputy Ministers, other senior government officials and members of the general public were also in attendance.

Former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa said the death of Dr. Mwanawasa should not bring an end to projects and programmes initiated by the late president Mwanawasa.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said soldiering on with the projects and programmes would be the best way to honour the late President Mwanawasa.

She pointed out that it would not be prudent for the new leader to embark on a new path and change direction as this would spell doom to gains and progress made in national development.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said Zambia has already been put on the path to prosperity.

And earlier, Pastor William Chanda of the Baptist Church paid tribute to former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa for endeavoring to assist the less privileged in society.

He has since urged Mrs. Mwanawasa to continue helping the underprivileged in society and continue putting God first during this trying time.

Also speaking during the memorial service, Acting President Rupiah Banda said Zambians will always remember and appreciate the late President Levy Mwanawasa for his exemplarily leadership and selfless service to the nation. Mr. Banda said the late Dr. Mwanawasa spared no effort to propel the nation forward for the benefit of the citizenry.
After the memorial service congregants proceeded to lay wreaths on the late President Levy Mwanawasa’s tomb at Embassy Park.

The late Dr. Mwanawasa died in Paris, France on 19th August, 2008 and was buried on 3rd September, 2008.

The late Dr. Mwanawasa was an active member of the Twin Palm Baptist Church.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has said it is ready to hold this month’s presidential election slated for October 30.

ECZ Chairperson Florence Mumba who is in Durban leading the Zambian delegation comprising political parties and civil society representatives, to monitor the printing of presidential ballot papers, said since the announcement of the polling date, the Commission’s officers have been on the ground conducting voter education.

Ms Mumba said the Commission had since drawn up a programme to help monitor progress and that ECZ was on course.

‘’We have done quite a lot of voter education and we started since the polling date was announced. As far as ECZ is concerned we are on course’’. Ms Mumba said.

On the involvement of stakeholders in monitoring the printing of ballot papers, Ms Mumba said this was necessary to ensure transparency and was happy that political parties and civil society had risen to the occasion.

However, she advised that political parties should ensure that their agents were at the polling stations much earlier to monitor every stage of the elections as this would avert possible suspicions.

Underscoring the importance of polling agents, Ms Mumba said it was entirely up to the various political parties to ensure that their polling agents were vigilant adding that ECZ was open and had nothing to hide.

‘’I would appreciate a polling agent who would be at the polling station a day before the polling as this would enable them count the number of voters who would pass through the station. However, it is up to political parties to make such a decision’’. She said.

In this vein, she has called a meeting to be held on Friday with various political parties where such issues would be ironed out.

On the 2011 tripartite elections, the ECZ Chairperson said ECZ would ensure that voting is made easier by removing unnecessary hurdles.

She noted that rural areas where people trek for long hours to go and vote would be addressed adding that once Government makes a decision on delimitation exercise, the Commission would be ready to implement the exercise.

‘’We would like to ensure that the Government of the day is elected by more than 2 thirds of eligible voters hence there are a few things that ECZ has to put in place to ensure that this is attained’’. She said.

Zambia goes to the presidential poll on October 30 and this has been necessitated following the death of Dr Levy Mwanawasa who died in August in France’s Percy Military Hospital.

ZANIS/ENDS/CLM

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson Florence Mumba has expressed confidence that this month’s presidential election slated for October 30 will be free and fair.

Ms Mumba has also allayed fears against rigging saying it is not possible for this to occur because ECZ has been transparent from the beginning by allowing various stakeholders to monitor the printing of presidential ballot papers which started in South Africa ’s port city, Durban yesterday (Friday).

Speaking to journalists last night at City lodge in Durban , the ECZ Chairperson who is leading the Zambian delegation here dismissed assertions that ballot papers could be premarked during the printing process hence triggering a breeding ground for rigging.

‘’There is no possibility that ballot papers would be pre marked. When people talk about rigging we would like to know what they really mean and at what process this would occur’’, She said.

In addition the ECZ Chairperson said that Zambia as a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had to adhere to the electoral code of conduct and noted that it is in this vein that the Commission would like to uphold its credibility.

She observed that the laws were such that they would not promote flouting and they were plain for anybody to see.

On the company printing the presidential ballot papers, Universal Printing Company rebranding to Uniprint, Ms Mumba said she was impressed with the level of technology invested into the firm.

The ECZ Chairperson described the printing firm as professional saying she was amazed at its equipment and this gave the Commission confidence that a good job would be done.

Printing of over 4 million presidential ballot papers started yesterday (Friday) in Durban . Universal Printing Company, an accomplished firm in the printing industry with vast experience in handling printing jobs on electoral materials for various African countries including South Africa has been contracted by ECZ to undertake the work at the cost over US$400 000.

The cost also covers the printing of ballot papers for Kanchibiya constituency which has since been dispatched, Ndola Central and Mwansabombwe. By elections for the three constituencies also takes place at the same time with the presidential election.

And a 21 man Zambian delegation comprising political party and civil society representatives are in Durban to witness the printing of ballot papers up to the packaging stage. The work is expected to be completed on Friday next week with the ballot papers being dispatched the following day (Saturday).

ZANIS/ENDS/CLM

Part 1

Todays scripture

PSALM 139 : 13-14

Todays Word from Pastor Tupelo

Our God is a God of purpose.

Everything he has created, He created it to serve a particular function here on earth.

Every person on the face of the earth has a purpose that nobody else can fulfill.

You ought to ask yourself what is the reason for my existence?

You are not just taking up space, neither are you just a biological consequence, you are here for a reason.

God has a plan for your life and you have to discover that plan so that you can align yourself towards it. Jeremiah 29:11

Have you ever thought about the fact that you did not influence your existence on this earth? You didn’t plan to be born into this world, therefore your stay here is totally dependant on the one who brought you here.

He alone knows why he put you here and only He can communicate that purpose to you through His Word.

You are not here by chance God brought you here. Isaiah 43:1, Jeremiah 1:5

He was not taken by surprise when you where born. He planned for you for eternity, He made provision for you in his plan for man kind. He knows you by name, He even knows how many strands of hair they are on your head.

This means you are special in the sight of God because everything God created, He said it was very good according to Genesis 1:31

Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Michael Mulongoti, has described the burning of Radio Phoenix studios as a sad development to the country’s media fraternity.

And government has assured Radio Phoenix management that it would do everything possible to help the station get back to its normal operations after a comprehensive investigation on the cause of the fire was completed.

Mr. Mulongoti, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, said the burning of radio phoenix studios was a serious hindrance to the development of the station.

He was speaking in Lusaka today shortly after touring Radio Phoenix studios which were gutted yesterday after a suspected electrical fault.

He said the station was an equal partner to the development of the country’s media fraternity through the dissemination of information to the people in the country.

Mr. Mulongoti has since urged radio phoenix management not to panic as government was doing everything possible to facilitate the coming back of the station on air.

And Radio Phoenix Proprietor, Errol Hickey, said the fire burnt antennas, recording studios and the accounts and marketing departments to ashes.

Mr. Hickey further disclosed that over US$300, 000 is needed to procure the destroyed equipment.

He assured the country that the radio station would get back on air after threes days time.

The fire, which started at 14:30 hours, is suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault.

The inferno burnt the entire top floor of ZIMCO house on Lusaka’s Cairo road and destroyed all radio phoenix antennas, recording studios and the accounts and marketing departments.

ZANIS/TK/KSH/ENDS

Zambia Army Commander General Isaac Chisuzi has threatened to dismiss army officers who will be seen involving themselves in partisan politics.

General Chisuzi says army officers who will be seen indulging themselves in partisan politics will be instantly dismissed.

He explained that the command does not allow defence forces to engage themselves in partisan politics.

The Army Commander was speaking last night in a speech read on his behalf by Army Deputy Commander Iliad Mutwale at the 25th Anniversary of Intake 12 Silver Jubilee Celebrations at the Officers Mess.

General Chisuzi observed that in a democratic country, all defence forces are required to remain loyal to duty and support the government of the day in order to maintain peace and security in the country.

He however, commended defence forces in the country for exhibiting exemplary conduct and commitment to duty during the sickness, death and burial of late President Levy Mwanawasa.

General Chisuzi further urged all defence forces in the country not to indulge themselves in activities that might lead them into contracting the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

He said the ravages of the HIV/AIDS pandemic had brought about great challenges to the defence and security wings as it has claimed several of its most skilled human resource.

And speaking earlier, Zambia Army Intake 12 Senior Officers Representative Colonel James Phiri assured the nation that the intake will remain loyal and dedicated to duty with a view to fostering peace and security in the country.