By Mingeli Palata

Nursing my green bottle while in that Zambia Institute of Marketing award giving ceremony at Sandy’s Creations a few kilometres south of Lusaka and seeing the former first lady in public after the funeral of our most beloved late President Mwanawasa was such a good thing for my Friday. I counted myself luckier when I heard that the guest of honour would be the ‘new’ minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Honourable Felix Mutati because then I could have firsthand insight into what this new cabinet has on offer. One thing though was for sure; Uncle Felix is a funny guy and nice guy so I knew we weren’t going to be bored.

He began by congratulating himself over his appointment (With a few cheers in the audience) and also for being the first minister to speak after the ‘rebranding’- in his own words. I am glad he spent some time

telling us all about his new job. He called himself the Chief Executive Officer in charge of marketing at a company called Zambia Plc. I thought that was a nice one. Yet I am not too sure about what followed then.
A point of emphasis in his speech was that his job is

to sell Zambia to the outside world, to attract investment in our country Zambia. He went on talking about how in the last few years the Government had done well in coming up with attractive packages to woo foreign investment.

My dearest Minister didn’t say much about local industry contrary to my expectations. He didn’t say how is his ministry would provide an enabling environment (Marketing) for local investors to have successful businesses. He did not talk much about incentives for the local lodge, carpenter, musician, farmer or the kantemba in chilenje. He did not talk about how is ministry should collaborate with the ministry of labour to ensure that foreign investors do not abuse Zambian workers or see to it that they adhere to our labour laws.

Nothing has changed, the new cabinet hasn’t heard the cries of the locals, they have not understood why they lost the urban vote but more importantly it just confirmed my fears of having the same old people who have failed us over the years run the affairs of beloved our country. Alas, the very composition of cabinet tells you that we are in for nothing but the same old politics and the same old policies that have failed us in the last 44 years. We are faced with new challenges which require new ideas and fresh minds. I expected better than that from the ‘new’ President. I was expecting a female vice President from civil society or from the business world for instance.

The likes of Situmbeko Musokotwane, Chileshe Kapwepwe and Vernon Mwanga are the same old people who tried and have failed this country.A walk in the main streets of Lusaka makes you think it was once a war

zone area or is some historical site. More than 60% of Zambia is living in abject poverty. No proper roads in the city, no good schools for our children and our medical facilities are nothing to write home about.  All this in a country that has 40% of Southern Africa’s water, a lot of fertile land, a good weather pattern, 8 neighbouring countries, peace and stability, available labour/manpower and what more could we be asking for than fresh brains with fresh ideas. Come on friends, Zambia is too rich to be poor.

Comrades, sometimes life is too busy and perhaps too comfortable that we barely notice the suffering that those who don’t have the luxury of an online newspaper are going through. Do you ever take time to think about that mother with three children living in a two

roomed house in Chibolya compound selling tomatoes at City Market and making just enough to buy a Pamela for her house hold. Think about her children’s education; a government school in Kanyama were kids sit on bricks and will be lucky if the underpaid teacher actually shows up that day. Think about her children who when sick probably won’t find drugs at Kanyama clinic and whose prospects of being attended to by a doctor are illusive.

God Help Zambia

Veteran politician, Vernon Mwaanga, has thanked President Rupiah Banda for nominating him Member of Parliament and appointing him Chief Whip in parliament.

Mr Mwaanga is confident that the new cabinet will work tirelessly towards improving the economic welfare for the people of Zambia.

He said despite the country experiencing diverse challenges in various sectors of the economy, President Banda’s administration would find sustainable solutions for improved economic welfare of the people in all sections of the Zambian society.

Mr. Mwaanga said this in a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr. Mwaanga, who is also former Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, pledged to work hard in his diligent service to the Zambian people.

He further promised to work with Parliamentarians of both the ruling and opposition parties in an effort to to promote democracy.

President Banda yesterday announced the new Cabinet in which he appointed Justice Minister as new Vice President and former economic advisor to late President Mwanawasa Situmbeko Musokotwane as Finance Minister.

“I would like to thank President Banda for nominating and appointing me as Chief Whip of the Zambian Parliament in his new administration. I also thank the Head of State for appointing a sober and balanced cabinet.

“There are many diverse challenges ahead, but I am convinced that this team of Ministers and their Deputies, Senior Government officials appointed will be able to handle the challenges through hardwork to improve the conditions of the Zambian people,” Mr. Mwaanga said.

ZANIS/MM/KC/ENDS/SJK

President Rupiah Banda has unveiled a new Cabinet, dropping Finance Minister Ng’andu Magande and deploying the Inspector General of Police, Ephraim Mateyo into foreign service.

President Banda has appointed Minister of Justice, George Kunda as his Vice President. Mr. Kunda still holds the portfolio of Minister of Justice as well.

Mr. Banda called on the new cabinet to work extremely hard in order for government to fulfill promises the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) made during the pre-election campaigns.

He made the reshuffles at cabinet and deputy ministers’ level during a press conference at State House this afternoon.

Among those that have been dropped from cabinet are Local Government and Housing Minister Sylvia Masebo, Agriculture Minister, Ben Kapita and Minister for Gender, Patricia Mulasikwanda.

The President has maintained George Mpombo as Minister of Defence, Kabinga Pande for Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Lungwanga for Education and Felix Mutati for Commerce, Trade and Industry.

Others that have retained their portfolios are Minister of Communications and Transport Dora Siliya and her deputy Mubika Mubika.

The new Finance Minister is Situmbeko Musokotwane who was until today, Economic Advisor to the President while his deputy is Chileshe Kapwepwe, who has also been nominated as Member of Parliament.

Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha has moved to Information and Broadcasting Services where he will be deputized by Elijah Muchima who was deputy minister for Defence.

The new Home Affairs Minister is Kalombo Mwansa, who was Minister of Mines and while his deputies are Misheck Bonshe and David Phiri who was at information and Broadcasting in the same capacity.

The deputy Minister for Mines and Minerals Development, Maxwell Mwale has been elevated to full Cabinet Minister at the same ministry while his deputy is Boniface Nkhata continues in the same capacity.

Minister of Health, Brian Chituwo has moved to Agriculture in the same capacity while Daniel Kalenga and Albert Mulonga have maintained their positions as deputy ministers in the same ministry.

Tourism Minister Michael Kaingu and his counterpart for Community Development, Catherine Namugala have been swapped in the same capacity.

Vera Chiluba has been joined by Mubita Mwangala as deputy ministers at the ministry of Tourism, Environment, and National Resources.

John Chinyata remains at Community Development as deputy minister while Friday Malwa is the other deputy minister in the same ministry.

Clement Sinyinda has maintained his position as deputy minister for Education.

Local Government and Housing deputy Minister, Ben Tetamashimba has been promoted to full cabinet Minister in the same ministry and his deputy will be Chrispine Musosha, who was Luapula Province Minister and Lwipa Puma, who was deputy minister for Health.

Deputy Minister for Local government, Eustakio Kazonga is now at Defence in the same capacity.

Works and Supply Minister, Kapembwa Simbao moves to Health as Information Minister, Mike Mulongoti takes over at Works and Supply in the same capacity.

Mr. Simbao will be deputized by Mwendoi Akakandelwa who was until today deputy minister at Community Development.

Science and Technology will continue to be headed by Peter Daka, who will be deputized by Finance and National Planning deputy minister Jonas Shakafuswa.

At the Ministry of Labour has been taken over by Austin Liato, who was deputy at the same ministry while Ronald Mukuma, who was minister of Labour, has been moved to Lands.

The deputy minister for Lands is Nasim Hamir while former deputy minister Tourism, Todd Chilembo is now at ministry of Justice ion the same capacity.

Sports Minister, Gabriel Namulambe is now new Minister for Presidential Affairs at State House and his position at Sports has been taken by Kenneth Chipungu, who was until today, Minister for Northwestern Province.

Mr. Chipungu will be deputized by Angela Cifire, who has maintained her position and a Dr. Kalila.

The new Gender Minister is Sarah Sayifwanda, replacing Patricia Mulasikwanda who has been dropped.

Northwestern Province has been taken over by Joseph Mulyata while Northern has been taken over by Charles Shawa who was until today Minister for Eastern province.

Boniface Kawimbe has been nominated as Member of Parliament and is Minister for Luapula province while Isaac Banda is new Minister for Eastern province.

Daniel Munkombwe, Ackimson Banda, Adons Mufalali, Mwansa Mbulakulima and Lameck Mangani have returned their positions as Ministers for Southern, Central, Western, Copperbelt and Lusaka Provinces respectively.

President Banda has also maintained Army Commander Isaac Chisuzi, Zambia Air Force Commander Samuel Mapala and Zambia National Service Commandant Raphael Chisheta.

Mr. Banda said the defence forces should be congratulated for keeping the country safe during the funeral of late President Mwanawasa and later during and after the holding of the presidential by-election.

And President Banda has stressed that the defence forces and the Zambia Police Service must ensure that no person in the country is allowed to disturb peace and stability.

He said those aggrieved about the outcome of the presidential by-election should not engage in violent activities but seek legal redress in the courts of law.

He added that the country has adequate laws that have kept the country stable in terms of peace and development.

“The worst fear for me is to see Zambians to go and seek refugee in other countries,” he said.

The President reiterated that he and his new cabinet would work extra hard to improve all economic sectors of the country in order to improve living standards of the over 11 million Zambians.

“We are anxious to get to work and be in harmony to deliver on the promises we made to the people of Zambia during our campaigns,” he said.

He congratulated Zambians for voting in a peaceful and democratic manner during the just-ended presidential by-election.

ENDS/KSH/AM/PK/ZANIS.

by Mingeli Palata

So there it is, scores of people on the copperbelt letting out their displeasure with the outcome of the just ended October 30th elections. Had I wrote this article a day earlier saying there are deep feelings of unsatisfaction or contempt among people in the urban areas, I would have been called sorts of names. Dear friends, for me incidents like these (which must be condemned by the way) do bring out important questions that we all must consider critically.

Comrades ours are challenging times, the world’s major markets are in turmoil, our dearest copper has low prices, Meali meal is at K75, 000.00 a bag, fuel is taxing us and our pay hasn’t changed all this in a country without a cabinet. All these are issues that make the majority of Zambians not forget the elections and go on with their lives. Every time you take a taxi and ask the driver how business is going, you are certain to get the usual complaints about money being scarce and the lost hope after the number one urban candidate lost the election.

But let’s face it, the elections are done and a recount is on; all I would say is all the best. I contend that we should be looking forward to the 2011 Elections and see how the complaints and feelings of being cheated that were expressed in the last elections are avoided in the year 2011. The question is what can we do between now and 2011 to prefect the electoral system and avoid post election complaints from stakeholders after the 2011 elections?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have candidates congratulate each other after one has won the election? Because certainly for me, the most moving, charming and gracious speech that Senator John Mccain has given to date is his conceding speech in Arizona. He spoke so well, congratulating Barack Obama for his resounding victory and assuring Americans that they have made a good decision. I thought to myself and said that is the way it is supposed to be; mature politics.

Yet again ours is a small democracy hence so immense is the need for us to constantly engage ourselves in building and improving it. In retrospect, elections and what comes afterwards should give us an idea of how we are doing and what needs to be done to improve the process of Democracy.

The just ended elections were marred by allegations of rigging, irregularities such as people voting days later, inconsistencies in the number of registered voters and the actual voters in certain areas, the list goes on. The decision by the Electoral Commission of Zambia not to conduct a fresh registration of voters disfranchised a lot of people; you had an election where less than 4 million people chose the fate of the rest of the 10 million plus people. Arguably for the likes of HH and Sata who have a huge following among young people and those who have just come back home, they can cry foil saying a potential vote in their favour was not given an opportunity to make the choice. So yes there should be a continuous registration of voters. Voting is an important process in which all Zambians should participate, a notorious fact that cannot be over emphasized. It should be readily available and made easy for all Zambians. So let’s have continuous registration of voters.

There was also a lot of smoke still on the registration of voters, in some provinces opposition political parties feel that the numbers did not tally. There was a low turnout of voters yet the numbers are not so different from that of 2006 come on guys! That is the kind of thing that raises suspicions. Obviously since 2006 people have died and moved or even lost their voters cards, the numbers can’t obviously be the same or close to the same. Did you notice?

Who mans the register anyway? What guarantee can we have that it cannot be tempered with ghost voters? People who have died and moved voting? Something needs to be done to address such suspicions. In my opinion it all goes down to the autonomy of the Commission. To whom does the commission owe its allegiance? Wouldn’t it be better to have its independence more guaranteed? Who appoints the head of the commission? Is that something we should be thinking about while revising the constitution?

President Rupiah Banda won with not more than 5% difference in votes with Michael Sata. If you combine the UPND and PF Votes, the MMD is out numbered. The system of simple majorities does not give a country a majority President. Most leaders in these systems are a minority in that few people voted for them as compared to those who voted against them (By virtue of voting for other candidates). The essence of a democracy is that the majority wins, now you have an election with a President wining with minority votes, do you still call that Democracy? That is why countries like Zimbabwe and Kenya has the 50 + 1 system. Under this system a Presidential candidate can only be declared the winner if he or she passes the 50 + 1 mark. This ensures that the President elect is in the majority and is accepted by all players as being the one with the most votes. You will also find this line of thinking when you look at the systems in the United Kingdom and in America (With the two major political parties).

Otherwise you will have the likes of Michael Sata crying foul and hoping that a recount would overturn the tides, after all it’s only a 3%! I implore you to begin thinking about the 50 + 1 system for the next elections. That will help. Note that even the catholic fathers noted that the country is more divided after the elections than before and if you critically think about it, it’s because the majority of Zambians voted  for Michael Sata and Hikainde Hichilema, if you combine the two votes, MMD is beaten by far, so the ‘majority doesn’t always win’.

Zambia’s main opposition leader Michael Sata has launched a court challenge to demand a recount of the vote in the Oct. 30 presidential election, his party’s lawyer said.

“I know that (my colleagues) are currently in court filing a petition. I am now working on some more documents which we will submit to the court next week,” Winter Kabimba, lawyer for Sata’s Patriotic Front, told Reuters.

“We are actually going for a vote recount which must be done by way of a petition.”

Sata, who lost the poll to Rupiah Banda, has branded the election to find a successor to late President Levy Mwanawasa a fraud. Mwanawasa died from a stroke in August, two years into his second five-year presidential term.

Political tensions have been rising in Zambia, Africa’s biggest copper producer.

Zambian police arrested 38 people on Thursday after violent protests over the arrest of a priest and radio presenter in the country’s second-biggest city, Kitwe, a police spokesman said.

Police said the arrest of Frank Bwalya, a priest and manager of Catholic-run Radio Icengelo, which has been critical of Banda’s government, sparked the riots.

Reuters

United Party for National Development (UPND) in Ndola has condemned the walking out of parliament by Patriotic Front (PF) members of parliament on Tuesday as retrogressive in the enhancement of development in Zambia.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Ndola, district Chairman Kanyaka Musa said the move was not developmental in any way but instead shows the failure by the PF parliamentarians to deliver to the people who elected them.

Mr. Musa said election time was over and it was now time to work and address the people’s needs. He urged the PF party members to accept the loss of their president in the just ended presidential by-election and focus on the future.

Mr. Musa also deemed unnecessary the planned demonstration by the PF members on Saturday on the Copperbelt.

He observed that the PF have already petitioned the presidential by-election and wondered what benefits the demonstration would bring about, apart from creating anarchy in the country.

He urged the PF party leaders to avoid actions that would create an atmosphere conducive for violence in the country.

On Tuesday this week, some PF MPs walked out of parliament in protest against the temporal appointment of Defence Minister George Mpombo as leader of government business in the absence of a Republican Vice President who is yet to be appointed by the newly elected President Rupiah Banda.

The PF MPS also argued that the MPs that were appointed by the late President Mwanawasa were not supposed to sit in parliament unless they are re-appointed by the new president.

ENDS/LNN/PK/ZANIS.

Scores of unruly rioting youths, Taxi and Mini Bus drivers today went on rampage in Kitwe Town centre and Chimwemwe Township damaging buildings and destroying property worth millions of Kwacha.

And Zambia Police Commissioner Francis Kabonde has announced that all the political and social functions have been canceled in Kitwe until the situation returns back to normal.

The Youths and drivers who were chanting Anti Government political slogans, smashed windows at the Olympic Milling shopping centre which houses various shops and in the process looted some mealie meal and beef belonging to Zambeef Zambia.

Police had a tough time as they fired tear gas canisters to repel the stone throwing youths and drivers who were protesting against the detention of Radio Ichengelo Station Manager Father Frank Bwalya.

A check around the City centre by ZANIS in the Company of Zambia Police Commissioner Francis Kabonde, Copperbelt Police Chief Antoneil Mutentwa and the the Local Command, found scores of people throwing stones in Chimwemwe Township, Town centre and Chisokone Market.

The entire road network in the City was blocked with burning tyres and logs placed in various places, while at the Zambia Institute of Business Studies (ZIPSIP) teargas canisters were fired to disperse political slogan chanting students who wanted to join the riot.

Police sealed off the entire City which is deserted where business halted as people were scampering from the area in fear of the violent scenes.

Taxi and Mini drivers who accompanied Father Bwalya from Kalulushi where he was detained, drove in a convoy of cars flashing lights and honking in the city centre where they created confusion.

Mr. Kabonde said Police arrested 38 people in connection with the riot which started around 10:30 hours, when father Bwalya was being taken to Kitwe Police headquarters where he was formally charged and released on a K10 Million bond in his own recognisance.

Mr. Kabonde said Father Bwalya who was arrested yesterday around 17:00 hours for engaging in acts intended to promote hostility between sections of the community has been slapped with three charges and would appear in Court on November 27 this year.

He said the Roman Catholic Priest has been charged with issuing statements likely to cause hostility between groups in society through the election programmes he had been broadcasting live on Radio Icengelo in the just ended presidential by-election.

He has also been charged for alleging that the October 30, 2008 Presidential by-election was fraudulent and that the current President Rupiah Banda was illegitimately elected.

Appeal to the media

Mr. Kabonde appealed to both the electronic and print media in the country to be sensitive when disseminating information to members of the Public.

“If you the media are not careful with the way you are disseminating information to members of the Public you may bring despondence and a breach of peace in the country”. Said Mr Kabonde.

He said Peace once lost was very difficulty to retain especially that the Copperbelt was near the region where some neighbouring countries were at War.

He added that the media had a duty to ensure that there was peace in the country and advised all those that were aggrieved by anything to do so through the courts of law.

Mr. Kabonde said that Father Bwalya was earlier warned by the police to stop disseminating his programmes because they were capable of brining discontent on the Copperbelt but he continued.

Mr. Kabonde appealed to the people of the Coppertbelt to remain calm and ensure that undesirable characters who could bring confusion in the Country did not do so.

And father Frank Bwalya appealed to Taxi and Bus Drivers in the City to desist from throwing stones and engaging in other acts of violence.

ENDS/LK/PK/ZANIS.

MMD Spokesperson, Ben Tetamashimba, says the current high mealie meal prices are unjustified.

He told ZNBC news said that government feels the exorbitant prices are being instigated by persons opposed to the current administration.

Mr. Tetamashimba said government will not sit idle and watch Zambians go hungry because of selfish individuals.

Mr. Tetamashimba who is also Local Government Deputy Minister feels the high mealie meal prices may be a recipe for anarchy.

He also disclosed that President, Rupiah Banda, had a meeting with all the millers where it was resolved that the prices of mealie meal should be reduced.

Mr. Tetamashimba suggested that the price of roller meal should not exceed 50 thousand kwacha while that of breakfast must be arround 55 thousand kwacha.

Government has been called upon to deal ruthlessly with millers that are hoarding maize for profiteering and speculative motives aimed at embarrassing government.

And Forum for Leadership Search (FLS) Executive Director Edwin Lifwekelo says the move has resulted in inflated prices of mealie meal at the expense of the citizenry.

Mr. Lifwekelo told ZANIS in Lusaka today that some millers are bent on causing an artificial shortage of the staple food for political expediency.

He said finding a lasting solution to the sky rocking mealie-meal prices calls for all stakeholders to work together to address the problem.

Mr. Lifwekelo urged critics to stop demonizing President Rupiah Banda over the escalating mealie-meal prices as the matter should not be politicized.

He said the price of mealie-meal has nothing to do with the President Banda’s campaign promises but urged stakeholders to give an opportunity to President Banda to provide leadership over the matter.

Mr. Lifwekelo  urged Zambians to be wary of leaders who are bent on alarming the nation.
ZANIS/KC/AM/ENDS