The Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) has says it is now receiving overwhelming support in eastern province in the areas that it has held campaign rallies .

Party chairperson for Community Development and Primary Health, Bernadette Mvula told ZANIS in an interview that the people of Eastern Province have switched their support from the ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) to the PF .

Ms Mvula who is also a PF Member of the Central Committee (MCC) said the party yesterday held a rally in Nyimba where people from all walks of life attended and brought out issues that affect them.

She charged that her party observed that this time around there is a political wind of change just like the 1991 general elections where the opposition MMD emerged victorious due to the bad economic policies implemented by the then ruling party, United National Independence Party (UNIP).

Ms Mvula alleged that her party was aware that the ruling MMD wants to rig the October 30 Presidential election.

She warned that the Taskforce that is probing former government officials for corruption charges would be extended to the current government officers.

“They will be sorted out for corruption when PF comes into office because we can clearly see that things are not going the way they should,” she said.

Ms Mvula charged that the reduction on the price of farming inputs from K200,000-00 to K50,000-00 under government’s Fertilizer Support Program (FSP) is a gimmick meant to gain political mileage for the ruling party.

She also said that it will be ideal for the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to be buying maize from farmers on cash basis if farmers are to be motivated.

And Ms Mvula says the PF once elected into office will improve the key sectors of the economy by broadening the tax base in order to reduce it further.

She explained that the broadening of the tax base will enable the party to reduce taxes , thereby encouraging investments which would mean more money in the pocket for Zambians.

ZANIS/HN/SM/MK/ENDS

By Mingeli Palata

You need not have special abilities to see that Michael Sata is a very popular man and is poised for a convincing victory after October 30th. Michael is one of Zambia’s most talented and outstanding politicians. Having served in both the UNIP and MMD governments, he boosts unparalleled experience and has a clear understanding of what the average Zambians are going through. He currently is the only politician that seems to have a quick fix herb to Zambia’s economic and social incapacities. Michael Sata is a strong wilted land great leader; he is one of the few leaders who has the ability to alter public sentiment to his favor. Sata indeed has great oratory skills!

In the last three months however, Rupiah Banda and his cronies have done exactly what any political strategist was hoping they would not do, if they are to win this election. The first bit come way before our late beloved President was buried; a proposed increase in salaries for ministers and constitutional office bearers. This not only amounted to wrong timing but constituted of the highest immorality on the part of ministers seeing as the vast majority of Zambians are still wallowing in abject poverty 44 years after independence and 17 years after this very government took over from much condemned Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.

The second mishap was the very composition of Rupiah’s campaign team. Mr. Banda courted individuals with questionable characters and backgrounds. Individuals whose very names bring back horrifying memories of corruption and abuse of public resources. Yes dear readers, individuals who our late President distanced himself from as much as he could. With this, Rupiah’s ability to continue our late president’s good progress was compromised.

As if that was not enough RB then engaged himself in questionable conduct beginning with the distribution of sugar during a campaign event, use of public resources and machinery by his MMD supporters, chanting tribal sentiments at a rally in Eastern province (when he asked people in the eastern province to vote for him because he is from the eastern province), deliberate reduction of commodity prices such as fertilizers and fuel during an election period coupled with the suspicious operations of the Electoral Commission of Zambia in the last two weeks.

At Present, RB is not the most favorite candidate among the general populace with less than 12 days to go before the polls. From that perspective, the election is widely expected to turnout in Patriotic Front’s favor.

However, just the idea of this country being led by a man of Michael Sata’s standing injects jitters in the spines of most well meaning Zambians. Unlike the majority of the public who are swayed by political tricks and jargons, a few Zambians have taken the time to examine the political, social and personal career of Michael Chilufya Sata.

In close contact, he has appealed to many as a crude, unyielding, cunning and jagged experienced politician, a man who knows neither etiquette nor regard for people with opposing views. Some still remember that Michael Sata was one of those in the forefront of propelling Dr. Chiluba’s third term bid, though it later tuned out that Sata promoted the third term for his own political expediency.

To most of us, memories of the Chawama violence saga where innocent Zambians were brutally injured with machetes and beaten by unruly cadres are still fresh. Michael Sata is a man known for unbecoming foreign policies statements that may turn out to injure our nascent economy and relations with friendly countries. Most of the promises that Michael Sata has made like giving free fertilizer are unsustainable and smart Zambians know that are but rhetoric from an experienced politician desperate for a vote.

Worse off, the organization of the Patriotic Front itself gives a glimpse of Sata’s leadership style. Since inception, the party has never held any internal elections. The question is who holds the structures? Who appoints people in positions? It appears like the whole party is by ad-hoc arrangement. The fact that PF has never held a single election to qualify its party structures shows that the party’s leadership has little regard for democratic procedure. It would be very dangerous for Zambia to elect a President with a poor Democratic background. What stops him from declaring himself a life President? If a party’s office bearers are not elected, does the party have checks and balances? Are party members free to express their opinions?

The Good Book says ‘he that is faithful in little things is faithful in big things’. Going by that maxim, it then follows that Michael’s ability to protect our democracy and interests is questioned.

If that is not enough, let’s critique this man further. Every organization is founded on a set of principles and ideologies. Life has it that everything that happens is backed by strong reasoning. What is the background to the Patriotic Front? Why was the Patriotic Front founded?

UNIP was founded to liberate Zambians from colonial masters, MMD was formed bring about multi party politics and free trade. With these reasons came fundamentals, core vales and beliefs that govern the respective political parties. Therefore the fundamental values and beliefs of a party have a bearing on how the party will run its government once elected.

What about the Patriotic Front? Why was it founded? What are its fundamental values and beliefs?

The Patriotic Front was formed after Michael Sata disagreed with Dr. Chiluba’s choice of the late President Mwanawasa as successor. If that background is anything to go by then the Patriotic Front was formed out of frustration by a disgruntled leader with Presidential ambitions; Michael Sata. This background makes it easy to conclude that the Patriotic Front is a personality cult. It means that the party’s sun rises and sets on one man, without whom there is no party. The party is about Michael Sata unless if I can be persuaded otherwise but indications make the later obvious. Under such circumstances democracy, objectivity, checks and balances are not guaranteed.

Would it be wise for Zambians to hand their fate to one man? Is he trusted to protect the constitution? Can he be trusted to lead Zambians from economic wilderness to the ‘Promised land? I leave these questions to be answered by voters on the 30th of October.

Essentially this election has transformed into a referendum on weather or not Rupiah Banda can be trusted to continue the policies of the late President. What has happened now is MMD has run the campaign recklessly and hence have fallen short of public favor. People generally do not trust Rupiah Banda and his associates to run this country so as a result they have turned to Michael Sata’s appealing promises and rhetoric of low taxes and more money in your pockets without critically analyzing the man and what he stands for.

I challenge Zambians to look elsewhere for answers. In this search they should look for someone who can protect the constitution, improve livelihood, reduce corruption and who is best suited to continue with the economic strides made by the Mwanawasa administration.

Anyone short of the aforementioned elements is a dangerous choice for Zambia; Mwanawasa’s work risks being buried with him.

FULFILLING YOUR PURPOSE

Todays scripture

Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—as is written about me in the Scriptures.(Hebrews 10:7 NLT)

Todays word with pastor Tupelo

In all your deeds, in your talk, your walk, God’s purpose must be reflected. You are a carrier of good news. Don’t strive with others, you are a blessing. Walk in love; remember you are a true representation of Jesus on the earth. The Bible says in 1 John 4:17, ‘as he is so are we in this world’. Paul said in the bible that we are Christ’s ambassadors therefore we should conduct ourselves as such. 2 Cor 5: 20. We are not moved by things outside our purpose. We ought to be focused on our purpose. We are people on a mission. We are pressing on towards the mark (goal) of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus so that at the end of it all we can say like Paul, ‘I have fought a good fight, I have run my race, I have kept the faith.’

It doesn’t matter where you are in life, maybe you feel like there’s no reason for living.I want you to know today to never give up. It’s never too late for God, He loves you and His plans towards you are good. In whatever you’re going through, you can turn to him today. He says, “call unto me and I will answer you and I will show great things that you know not.’’ Call unto him today and let God bring meaning and hope to your life again.

Northern Province Education Officer (PEO) Selisho Chanda has reiterated that government has not scrapped off the re-entry programme for girls who fall pregnant while at school.

Mr. Chanda has since urged parents not to keep their girl children who have given birth at home but to send them to school again.

He noted that education was an important factor to national development hence the need to allow the girl child to progress in the country.

Mr. Chanda said this when Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Lillian Kapulu inspected schools in Northern Province recently.

The PEO said government is determined to empower the girl child with the necessary education skills so that they were able to fend for themselves in the near future.

He however bemoaned a high number of abortion cases among school girls in Northern Province.

Mr. Chanda has since warned girls against aborting pregnancies because they were accorded second chances of earning education even after having children.

ZANIS/KC/KSH/ENDS

Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) president, Hakainde Hichilema has said he would scrap off the proposed new salaries for the ministers and senior government officials.

“I will allocate the money meant for new salaries of ministers and others to civil servants, water improvement and other services,” he said.

Mr. Hichilema also said that he will not use his salary for himself if elected president of Zambia this month end.

Mr. Hichilema said the presidency was not there to make one rich but to provide service to the people of Zambia.

He said he already has a lot of money and therefore, there would be no need for him to draw a salary during the whole period he would serve as president of Zambia.

Mr. Hichilema said he would donate his salary to women and youth program for them to venture into various business activities.

Mr. Hichilema said to be a president was a serious business which required a strong and alert person, who would ensure there were better roads, clinics, schools and other necessities.

He has since urged Serenje residents to choose him as president in the October 30th, 2008 presidential election.

He said people should not elect people who have grown over retirement age.

Mr. Hichilema reiterated that his government will pay K3.5 million as a minimum salary for government workers.

He said starting from next school term, education will be free from grade one up to university level.

Mr. Hichilema alleged that the MMD did not have its own policy on agriculture and that what it was using now was a UPND policy.

He added that the ruling party had failed to achieve desired results in the agriculture sector because it was using a “borrowed” policy.

He said currently, there was widespread hunger in the country because people were failing to produce sufficient food due to alleged poor implementation of the “borrowed” agriculture policy.

The UPND leader said his first problem to tackle will be agriculture, adding that his government would for three years, provide free fertilizers to farmers so that they could produce more food.

Earlier, UPND provincial chairperson, Ferdinand Chipindi said time had come for the people of Zambia to change government.

Mr. Chipindi said the only person who could deliver goods and services to Zambians was Mr. Hichilema.

And provincial chairlady, Christine Lemba, urged women to rise and vote for Mr. Hichilema on October 30th this year.

Mrs. Lemba said women were the most vulnerable people in Zambia and hence the need for them to vote for Mr. Hichilema because he had their interest at heart.

ZANIS/KC/CMM/KSH/ENDS.

A combined team of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), Zambia Police Service, Examinations Council of Zambia today went on a fact finding mission to establish the truth over allegations by the Anti- Rigging Zambia limited that they had impounded a truck in Kafue laden with ballot papers.

Speaking to Journalists at his office before the exercise, ECZ Director Daniel Kalale said that he had invited the Anti- Rigging Zambia to attend the press briefing to clarify this issue at hand to the nation.

But the Anti Rigging Zambia did not attend the meeting and instead directed the ECZ to go to Kafue police post to verify the matter for themselves.

The team went to Kafue Police Post and Zambia National Service (ZNS)in the same district to verify the matter where officers who were spoken to expressed ignorance over the matter.

At the Police post when asked whether such an incident had occurred, Chief Station Officer Moses Malumbe expressed ignorance over the matter.

At ZNS Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Kabwe equally said he had no idea about the matter and that it was shocking news.

“I don’t know anything, if you want you can go round and check for yourselves,” said Lt Colonel Kabwe.

When asked what ECZ would do having found no evidence regarding the issue, Mr. Kalale said he would consult the Attorney General on the action to take further.

Mr. Kalale warned people from issuing sensitive stories that were unfounded as these could breach the country’s peace.

Press reports indicate that Anti-Rigging Zambia claimed to have intercepted an Examination Council of Zambia truck in Kafue carrying both examination and ballot papers to their designated districts.

ZANIS/ENDS/NS/CLM

Acting President Rupiah Banda has announced that the price of fuel will further be reduced.

And Mr. Banda has maintained that the reduction in crude oil and fertiliser prices is not politicking but a service to benefit the Zambian people.

Speaking at a rally at Chimusanya Basic School in Chongwe today, Mr. Banda said the price of oil on the world market had reduced from US$180 to less than a US$100 per barrel hence the need for the ruling Government to be in tandem with such a trend.

He disclosed that Government has already purchased oil from the Middle east whose pump price would be reduced further once the stock arrives in the country.

The Acting President noted that fuel was an engine to national development adding that improving the lives of the Zambian people was on the MMD agenda.

Recently, the acting President announced a reduction in fuel prices by K2 000 and promised that the country should expect price slashes in essential commodities.

And at a Kasama rally a few days ago, Mr Banda announced a cut in the fertiliser for farmers under the Fertiliser Support Programme from K200,000 to K50, 000 for a 50 kilogramme bag.

He also said Government had decided to increase the number of beneficiaries from 120,000 to 200,000 representing an increase of 15 percent from 60 to 75 percent on fertiliser subsidies.

ZANIS/ENDS/KC/CLM

Acting President Rupiah Banda has warned Zambians against voting for the opposition as this would cost the country colossal sums of money.

Mr Banda also said if Zambians voted for the opposition in the October 30 presidential election, the country risked losing donor support.

Speaking at a rally at Chongwe’s Chimusanya Basic School today, the Acting President said voting for the opposition will cost Zambia K500 billion as the new president from this wing would automatically dissolve Parliament.

Mr Banda said the dissolution of Parlaiment if an opposition Government is voted into power would mean going for another general election that would cost the country K500 billion.

The Acting President said it is therefore imperative to vote for the ruling MMD to avoid a scenario where the country would be turned into a laughing stock by the global community.

He urged the Zambian electorate to vote for him because the late President Levy Mwanawasa entrusted him with running the affairs of the nation.

The Acting President requested the Zambian people to given him the mandate to rule the nation under the MMD for the remaining three years in order for the legacy of the late Dr Mwanawasa to continue.

‘’Give the mandate for the next three years, as you are aware l have been running the nation in my capacity as vice president and in certain instances l have acted as President each time the late Head of State was out of the country’’, said Mr Banda.

He challenged the Zambian people to vote for him as he already had experience in governing the country unlike opposition leaders who were novices.

Mr Banda reiterated that voting for the opposition leaders would plunge the nation into chaos as their dealings were questionable.

At the same rally, Chongwe MMD District Chairman Edward Mwaangwa assured Mr Banda of massive support on October 30.

Mr Mwaangwa said Rufunsa Constituency resolved to rally behind the Acting President just as they supported the late president.

He said Mr Banda should be supported as there was need for continuity.

Earlier, Area Member of Parliament Kenneth Chipungu attributed the loss of the Kanchibiya seat to the opposition PF due to the demise of the Dr Mwanawasa saying the MMD was still mourning their instrumental leader.

Mr Chipungu however told the rally that this time the opposition had no chance to win the October 30 presidential polls.

And Lusaka Province Minister Lameck Mangani reminded the Zambian people not to disown Mr Banda as the opposition leaders were only bent on insults.

Mr Mangani said MMD believed in mature politics as opposed to petty issues adding that Government was focused on service delivery.

Those present at the rally were Headmen Sheleng’I, Mwanduwa, Malisawa, Ndauzeni, Lutanti and Chimusanya of Chongwe district.

ZANIS/ENDS/ KC/CLM

The Patriotic Front PF, has challenged the ruling Movement for Multi Party (MMD)to disclose the source of the alleged K6 billion spent on campaign chitenge material .

PF spokesperson Given Lubinda alleged that his party had information that the MMD was using money from the national treasury for its campaign chitenge material bearing the face of Acting President Mr Rupiah Banda.
chitengi which will be distributed to across the country.

Mr Lubinda who was speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka today, claimed that the MMD were about to distribute the campaign material and challenged the party to disclose its source of the money.

The PF has urged the ruling MMD to stop distributing the chitengi materials and called on the acting president to ensure that the October 30 elections were free and fair.

At the same press briefing, the Unemployment Association of Zambia president Mpundu Mwanawela pledged to back Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata.

Mr Mwanawela said his association had made such a decision because they believed PF would address the poverty levels and the high unemployment in the country.

But when contacted for a comment on the matter, Chief Government Spokesperson Mike Mulongoti simply said the allegations were unfounded and described the PF as immoral and evil.

Mr Mulongoti who is also Campaign Manager for Acting President Rupiah Banda urged the PF to observe dignity in their campaigns and remain mute if they had no real issues to talk about.

ZANIS/ENDS/AH/CLM