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.

The MMD has denied sentiments expressed by late President Levy Mwnawasa’s nephew Peter Shakafuswa that there was disunity in the party.

Masaiti Member of Parliament George Mpombo said currently all members were fully united and were on the ground mounting door to door campaigns.

He said the party on the Copperbelt was fully geared to face the opposition and was confidence that it would emerge victorious.

He urged Zambians not to gamble on leadership but allow MMD to continue with the good polices it had initiated.

Briefing the press at Sherbourne Guest House in Kitwe today, Mr. Mpombo also rebuked Patriotic Front Leader Micheal Sata for alleging that he would scrap-off the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission, saying this was an important tool to empower Zambians.

Mr. Mpombo, who is also the Campaign Manager for the Copperbelt said Mr. Sata was practising politics of destruction.

He explained that the Citizens Economic Empoerment  Commission was wholly supported by all Members of Parliament adding that there was no way it could be scrapped off.

He warned Zambians to be wary of some politicians who were only interested in turning the clock-backwards.

Mr. Mpombo who is also Defence Minister, NGO’s and some politicians and ordinary Zambians who were condemning the Electoral Commission of Zambia (E.C.Z.).

He said the E.C.Z. should be left alone to operate independently without any interference.

ENDS/PK/PK/ZANIS.

Attorney General Mumba Malila has described a statement stating that a presidential candidate to be elected in this month’s by-election would not be subjected to the 2011 elections as legally incorrect and misleading.

Mr. Malila said the person to be elected in the presidential by- election would have to serve the remaining three year in accordance with the constitution.

He told ZANIS in a press statement that the current national assembly which is five years from 2006 will come to end in 2011.

Article 88 (6) of the constitution states that the National Assembly stands dissolved at the end of five years from the date of its sitting .

In view of that provision, he said the new president to be elected will in fact join an existing National assembly to make parliament.

He said the new president will not affect the term of the National Assembly .

“ The constitution does not say a person who has served two terms will not be eligle for re-election. he determining words are twice been elected for purposes of limitation,’ he added.

The Attorney General was reacting to Patriotic Front (PF) Leader Michael Sata statement that there will be no presidential election in 2011.

He said whoever will be elected president this month end is supposed to rule for the term of five years.

Mr. Malila has since implored political leaders to seek the advice of their advisers on the constitutional issues provisions before making statements on legal issues which could be totally misleading to the public.

ENDS/MK/PK/ZANIS.

The National Constitutional Conference (NCC) chairman Mr Chifumu Banda has announced that NCC will soon launch its website to provide downloadable information on anything concerning the NCC including its mandate, composition and verbatim debates in order to enhance public participation

“Through this website, stakeholders including members of the public will be able to make their views and demands known through the ‘have your say’ window.

He was speaking at Kozo lodge in Choma, when he opened a four days workshop for the private and public the media personnel drawn from Lusaka, Southern and Western province.

NCC chairperson also said that there is need for the media to understand the process of constitution making, in order to report on them with accurate precision because the media has an
important role to play in the constitution making process.

Mr Banda said from the inception of the NCC, it has extensively involved the media to disseminate proceedings.

He said the NCC is obliged by law to open all its deliberations to the public in order to remain transparent and accountable to the people of Zambia.

Mr Banda also said that he is happy that three of the four aspiring Presidential candidates have pledged to continue with the constitution making process once elected.

He disclosed that Acting President Rupiah Banda, PF President Michael Sata and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema have all committed themselves to support the NCC.

He said Mr. Sata was recently quoted in the media, saying he will continue with NCC but would ensure the three church mother bodies and the Non governmental Organisation Coordinating Council are brought on board. And the NCC say’s the door is still open for the three church mother bodies and other stakeholders who have boycotted the process to get on board.

Mr. Banda said Mr. Hichilema has also pledged to continue with the process but will give it a specific time frame within which to conclude its mandate.

And Mr. Banda said the Secretariat is devising ways and means of having live NCC deliberations transmitted on all community radio stations countrywide.

ENDS/CM/PK/ZANIS.

UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema has appealed to the people of Zambia to give him a mandate to rule them on 30th October so that he brings economic and social change, fights poverty and brings jobs to the youths.

He said this in Kabwe yesterday when he was addressing scores of people at a rally that was held at the Lukanga grounds.

Mr. Hichilema charged that Zambia needed a strong, healthy young man who understood economics.

“A lot of youths who are graduates are roaming the streets because there are no jobs for them, I want to ask you the people to give me a chance so that I bring about jobs for the youths,” he said.

The UPND president said he would bring about jobs because he was an employer and he new just how to bring economic change to the country of Zambia.

The opposition leader further said electricity would be given to the town through the Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company .

He added that Zambia China Mulungushi Textiles which has since been closed would be revived because it not only created for employment for the people of Kabwe but also contributed to the economy of Zambia.

On health, he said that the best medical services would be brought to the town of Kabwe and Zambia as a whole as opposed to now were only rich people and politicians had access to best medical services.

And Siavonga Member of Parliament (MP) Douglas Syakalima urged the people of Zambia not to over burden old men by putting them in the office of presidency.

He said the office of the president was a very sensitive office that needed strong and energetic people .

Speaking at the same rally, Moomba MP Fidelis Mooya said that UPND was interested in punitive measures to fight corruption and not preventive measures that the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) was talking about.

He said that Zambia did not need people who had stolen and added to the suffering of the people but rather needed change.

And Mazabuka MP Garry Nkombo appealed to the Zambian people not to vote for a presidential candidate that was unpredictable by changing their minds on particular issues.

He said that Zambia was a poor country because it has been managed poorly and hence needed change to bring about riches in the country.

The Ruling MMD has urged the opposition parties taking part in the forthcoming presidential by-elections to desist from accusing the party of a ploy to rig the elections.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka today Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande said all opposition accusing the ruling party of conniving with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to rig the election are wrong .

He said such political parties are trying to give excuses of not accepting the party’s victory in the October 30 presidential Election.

Mr. Pande who is also Kasempa MP said MMD is the mother of democracy in Zambia .

He said such allegations being leveled are affecting the functioning of the party.

He said the MMD is happy with the work of the ECZ of which the party was not involved.

Mr. Pande said like any other political party was equally affected by the decisions made by the commission.

Mr. Pande said the Acting President Rupiah Banda is entitled to use government property sating that the use of the helicopter and some government vehicles should not be viewed as abuse of government resources.

He however urged the opposition to concentrate on campaigning and take a part in improving Zambian politics and not politics based on personal matters.

Mr. Pande also urged the rest of the nation to vote wisely in the October 30 presidential elections.

Earlier in the day , the Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) had accused the MMD’s presidential candidate Ruphia Banda of engineering the attempts to steal the ballots at the Airport.

And MMD Spokesperson and Acting President Rupiah Banda’s Elections agent Benny Tetamashimba yesterday challenged Patriotic Front’s Given Lubinda to go to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to verify whether the MMD was using public funds in hiring planes for its campaign rallies.

He queried why the MMD shouldn’t hire planes when it is something Mr. Sata has also done.

Mr. Tetamashimba further asked the Patriotic Front to stop causing confusion for political mileage and appealed to the party’s President Michael Sata to accept defeat honourably after losing the presidential by-election set for 30th October, 2008.

ZANIS/GP /MK/ENDS.

The opposition United Party for National Development(UPND) and Patriotic Front (PF) have rescinded their earlier decision that the extra ballot papers be sent to various districts.

UPND president Hakainde Hichilema said his party has lost confidence in the manner Electoral Commission of Zambia(ECZ) is handling the ballot.

Speaking at press briefing in Lusaka today, Mr. Hichilema demanded that the extra ballot papers should be destroyed or burnt without any negotiations.

“we demand that the 600,000 ballot papers be destroyed or burnt forthwith without any further negotiations,” he said.

He charged that the conduct in which the ECZ has been handling the ballot papers is not only disappointing but also provocative and annoying.

He said the recent alleged attempts by the driver at the airport to steal ballot papers are a clear and damning indictment on the part of the ECZ as an institution.

Mr. Hakainde said his party is prepared to defend its victory saying no amount of threat will make him resign or surrender.

He added that UPND is putting up measures to ensure that the political machinations by the ruling party are stopped.

And the Patriotic Front (PF) has demanded that the extra six hundred thousand ballot papers be destroyed in the presence of all political stakeholders.

PF member of Central Committee, Samuel Mukupa said the interception of ballot papers in the Kalabo vehicle has cast doubts.

Mr. Mukupa told ZNBC news in Lusaka, that everything possible should be done to ensure free and fair elections.

He said also said the inclusion of 4 hundred thousand voters who were not reflected in the 2006 voters’ register raises suspicions.

Earlier, this week, the PF was part of the four political parties which had agreed that the extra ballot papers should be sent to districts but not polling stations.

Candidates from the four political parties contesting the October 30 presidential poll, agreed to the arrangement through their representatives during a meeting with ECZ officials in Lusaka.

The meeting was called by the Electoral Commission of Zambia to resolve the issue surrounding the extra ballot papers.

ZANIS/MM/MK/ENDS