Five opposition Patriotic Front (PF) officials in Kasama who yesterday impounded a Ministry of Health truck on suspicions that it was carrying ballot papers have been detained for giving false information to a public officer.

The five were detained around midmorning today after a verification exercise which was conducted at Kasama Police station in the presence of all stakeholders revealed that the truck was only carrying spray pumps and chemicals for treating mosquito nets.

Northern Province Police Chief Charles Lungu who confirmed the development  to ZANIS said Police have since launched investigations to establish the motive behind the alarm.

Police Spokesperson Bonnie Kapeso when contacted  for a comment in Lusaka  stated  he could not comment on the matter as he had not received the report.

And speaking before the verification exercise, Christopher Chanda who identified himself as a member of the PF security committee said they received information from their colleagues in Mpika, that the Ministry of Health truck registration no. GRZ 914 BX destined for Kasama was carrying suspected ballot papers.

Acting on this information, the PF officials waylaid the truck at Tazara barrier around 20:30 hrs where they ordered  the driver to park the truck so that they can check its contents despite him having told them what he was carrying.

After a bitter exchange of words, the driver decided to drive off to JB Hotel where he was supposed to spend a night.

The uncompromising officials followed the truck at JB Hotel where they started removing the tent and opened two boxes.

However, it was not until the police officer in-charge appeared on the scene when it was resolved that the truck be driven to Kasama Police station to allow for a verification of its contents today.

Among the stakeholders who witnessed the verification of the contents were the provincial Electoral Officer Nixon Kwapu, the Provincial Health Director Dr. Fabian Kabulubulu and Administrative Officer Vincent Phiri.

And Health Spokesperson Dr. Canius Banda disclosed that the ministry had a meeting with all the nine provincial health directors at which it was emphasised that they should not engage in partisan politic.

He said it was regrettable that  the truck was impounded  but hoped that all citizens  would work hand in hand with the ministry to ensure that  it delivers its services  to the people.

He said the activities  of spraying against mosquitoes  must continue unhampered  with  or without elections.

ZANIS/HM/MK/ENDS

The Tonga Traditional Association (TTA) has endorsed the candidature of United Party for National Development (UPND)’s Hakainde Hichilema in the next week’s Presidential elections scheduled for October 30.

Speaking in a special programme on Musi-oa-tunya community radio station in Livingstone last night, President of the TTA Dickson Namanza disclosed that his association which comprised of 3.5 million people across the nation has decided to endorse Hichilema’s candidature because he is the only Presidential candidate who has so far promised good policies for the economic development of the country.

Mr. Namanza who is also Chairman of Lwiindi Traditional Ceremony said there is no doubt that Hichilema will transform the country’s social and economic problems should he be voted into power next week.

He said Mr. Hichilema is the only one who has come up with sound policies that includes free education up to university level, improvement of civil servants’ salaries the lowest paid not getting less than 3.5million per month among other pertinent issues.

ATT Chairman charged that education, health and agriculture sectors of the economy are among the key factors that Hichilema has pledged to improve on when he becomes President.

Mr. Namanza appealed to the electorates in the country to vote on merit in next week’s Presidential polls.

Meanwhile, UPND President Hakainde Hichilema is tomorrow expected to hold his campaign rally ahead of next week’s Presidential elections in Mambova, Kazungula district .

He is also expected to hold another rally in Livingstone .

ZANIS/NM/MK/ENDS

Southern Province Minister, Daniel Munkombwe, has said the issue of non-payment of housing allowances to teachers has become serious and embarrassing to government.

Mr Munkombwe has, however, assured teachers that government will do everything possible to resolve the matter once given another mandate.

He was speaking in Choma today when he addressed hundreds of teachers and other civil servants at the council chambers.

This was in response to complaints raised by teachers that government has failed to honour its obligation to pay the teachers their outstanding housing allowances since the year 2006.

Mr Munkombwe admitted that the complaint of non-payment of housing allowance has emerged as a serious issue at various meetings he has addressed in the province.

But he cautioned the teachers and other civil servants that they would be making a big mistake to vote for the opposition in the October 30 presidential poll.

Mr Munkombwe said this is because the MMD is committed to resolving all outstanding problems affecting teachers.

He assured the gathering that once the MMD candidate Rupiah Banda is voted into office, he would ensure that the plight of teachers is addressed by government.

“You can’t have a salary structure that is permanent. The MMD, under Mwanawasa, tried hard to improve your conditions of service. I know they are not adequate but we will continue adjusting your housing allowances and salaries, “he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Munkombwe has cautioned the people of Choma that the nation will be imperiled if they voted for Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata.

He said the only right candidate in the poll is the MMD’s Rupiah Banda.

ZANIS/ENDS/CM/EB

Former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa says she will support Acting President Rupiah Banda for Presidency in the forth coming Presidential elections.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said she wants MMD to win the Presidential by election because she is a member of the ruling party.

She urged Zambians to vote peacefully and choose a leader of their choice for the nation to move forward with its developmental projects.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said during an interview with members of the press in Lusaka yesterday.

The former first lady   also disclosed that she would not accept a Job in Foreign Service if offered.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said she has a lot of duties to take care back home.

ZANIS/VP/MK/ENDS

By Mingeli Palata

With the Election Day fast approaching, it is important for Zambians to weigh in on all the contesting candidates so as make choices that will benefit our beloved country. As was well pointed out, my previous article only analyzed Rupiah Banda partly and Michael Sata but left out Hakainde Hichilema and Godfrey Miyanda. This led to some mistaking me for a UPND sympathizer.

Well I am not a UPND sympathizer, I strive to critique objectively as a matter of fact I have few questions to raise against Hikainde Hichilema and his party.

The name Hakainde Hichilema was unknown on the Zambian political scene until the untimely death of Anderson Kambela Mazoka. When Mazoka died, the need to quickly elect a successor was eminent. The funeral was characterized by a lot of politics with UPND members searching through the ranks of their party to find a suitable successor who would lead them to victory in the 2006 elections.

I recall that the succession was involving; names came up along with differing views from various members. Noteworthy were sentiments expressed by certain senior UPND members emanating from the Southern province propagating that Mazoka had to be replaced by a fellow Tonga. Those sentiments were then understood to have meant that our UPND colleagues set being a Tonga as prerequisite for any aspiring Presidential candidate. Weeks that followed, the name Hakainde Hichilema was brought up.

Some agued to say he was not a UPND party member or at least not an active one but that argument was quickly disputed when we heard that he supported the party underground and was close to the late Mazoka. Hakainde’s supporters gave his successful economic background and financial advantage in their arguments for HH. By the way all this was happening while the party had two Vice Presidents namely Sakwika Sikota and Robert Sichinga.

The nominations were then followed by a brutal election period that created a lot of rifts in the party with losing members like Sakwiba Sikota and Given Lubinda resigning to form their own political party; the United Liberal Party. Among the reasons that the aforementioned individuals raised for their resignation were vivid tribalism, electoral flaws and intimidation. Thus the UPND that was seen to be a party for all Zambians earned itself a tribal dent.

Enter Hakainde Hichilema. Seeing as most Zambians did not know the man, his supporters sold him as a successful (rich) economist and as the best man to turn Zambia’s economic and social misfortunes around. Listening to the man, it was and still is easy to tell that he brings unique and fresh ideas to the political landscape and possibly is the best candidate in this election. But unfortunately there are a few questions that he needs to answer.

With those tribal association set early in his political career, the weakest point Hakainde has is that very tribal dent. Please get it right. I am not saying that Hakainde is a tribalist or that Tonga people are tribal but when it comes to voters understanding the character of politicians, two things come in play; reality and perception.

HH may not be tribal but certainly voters associate him with tribalism especially bearing in mind the background given earlier in the article. Note that when those issues were raised early in his political career, HH either never opposed the tribal sentiments or did denounce them convincingly enough. So by actually accepting the party nomination to be a presidential candidate, Hakainde was seen to embrace those sentiments hence the tag.

For him to win back the hearts of all those keen Mazoka followers, HH needs to clear the air with regard to those perceptions.
His opponents have also questioned his source of wealth. Some say that HH was one of the people who were tasked to spearhead the privatization of state owned companies, an exercise which led to the collapse of Zambian industries and mass loss of jobs. What economic prudence did he exhibit in this process? If he really is the best man to take this country forward why didn’t he advice government against rushed privatization and the Structural Adjustment Programs?

If he is the good economist that we hear he is then he should have known the retrogressive effects of the IMF and World Bank policies, but why didn’t he resign on principle? Would we be wrong to conclude that HH is willing to do whatever benefits him as an individual regardless of the action’s adverse long term effects on the ordinary Zambian?
HH has to answer these questions.

Life has stages and certain offices such as the Presidency require great knowledge and experience. HH has never held any political office before not even a ward councilor or worse off a party ward chairman. He swung straight from the boardroom to the party presidency. It doesn’t work like that. In political office, experience and deep understanding of how government machinery works is paramount.

The presidency certainly is no easy task. We can’t afford a President training on the job. We can’t afford to experiment leadership with a man that has never held any political office what so ever. How then do we judge his abilities to be our countries’ commander in chief and chief executive officer?

Some may argue to say you may have all the experience but it could be experience in the wrong things. But just to qualify my position, look at how difficult it has been for HH to woo significant public sentiment at least much has Sata.
The UPND has perhaps the best technocrats and professionals to take this country forward coupled with the best ideas. But the truth is a few people understand how HH intends to create wealth for all Zambians. What is his magic trick? What is the core of his economic plans? What is the premise of the party’s manifesto?

Now get me right dear reader, HH may have answers to these questions but he has not been very successful at communicating to the average Zambian. The average person on the street does not understand what the UPND concept is as much he/she understands (for lack of a better example) the Patriotic Front’s concept of low tax and more money in your pockets or citizen empowerment.

I contend these gaps in HH’s camp such has the inability to rectify his image, address campaign issues and stale penetration among voters reveal his lack of experience. Little wonder most Zambians say he has been reserved for 2011.
Well; 30th October, all the best!

Editor’s Note: Look out for the next Analysis on Godfrey Miyanda

Acting Republican President, Rupiah Banda has said only the MMD can uplift the Zambian people’s living standards.

Mr. Banda said the people of Zambia have many problems which can only be solved by the party in government.

He said the ruling party had seen that the only way to improve people’s living standards was to encourage them produce more food and that was why the number of beneficiaries of the Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP) has been increased from 125,000 to 200,000 countrywide.

Speaking at a campaign rally held at Masumba in Mambwe today, Mr. Banda said government had made a deliberate policy for Zambians to produce enough food so that they even sold the excess produce to earn money.

We want to encourage you to grow more maize and that is why we have pegged the price of a 50 kilogram bag at K 55,000-00,’’ he said.

And Mr. Banda said agricultural production can only be enhanced if there was a good road network.

He said government would work on the Chipata/Mambwe road which was in a deplorable condition so that farmers could transport their produce to markets.

Mr. Banda observed that the road would be worked on between now and 2011 so that the opposition did not denounce the MMD during the campaigns of the 2011 general elections.

He said funds to work on the road were ready, adding that, in Malambo valley alone, government had allocated K 1.7 billion to rebuild the Luambe/Mwanya road.

Mr. Banda said the Chichele road in the South Luangwa National Park was also receiving K 2 billion, adding that, government would continue to maintain the Luambe/Lundazi to Chama road at a cost of K 33 billion.

And the Acting President has instructed relevant institutions to reduce visa fees to attract tourists to National Parks.

Mr. Banda said government wanted to raise enough money through tourism and it can only do that if more foreign tourists entered the country.

He also called on people in Mambwe to take advantage of the tourists by engaging in agro-businesses to supply lodges with various agricultural products.

Meanwhile, Mr. Banda has challenged parents to ensure they worked hard through agriculture to take their children to school.

He said education of children could be expensive but ignorant was more expensive and parents should find money through agriculture to take their children to school.

Mr. Banda said children were a liability to parents and the nation as a whole if they were not taken to school.

He said government was committed to education so that children from competed with the rest of the world for jobs.

Mr. Banda said government was taking education a priority and it will build 88 new schools by 2011, saying, even colleges would be build so that children attended higher education.

And speaking earlier, United Liberal Party (ULP) President, Sakwiba Sikota, called on the people of Mambwe to vote wisely on October, 30.

Mr. Sikota said only MMD could save people from the problems they were facing.

The rally was also attended by opposition party Presidents, Edith Nawakwi from FDD and UNIP President Tilyenji Kaunda.

ENDS/SM/PK/ZANIS.

A freedom fighter in Mufumbwe District in Northwestern Province has challenged the opposition political parties who were claiming that they would increase salaries and create jobs within three years to show what method they would use.

Mr. James Katemisha said in Mufumbwe that political leaders should tell people the truth because increasing salaries for workers does not just come like dreams but through the treasury.

Mr. Katemisha questioned those who were promising people that many people would be in employment, where  the jobs are going to come from adding that even in London where there are many industries many professionals were still roaming the streets

Mr. Katemisha has since advised electorates to vote for MMD and Rupiah Banda a person who has proved capable to drive the nation to prosperity.

Mr. Katemisha a former UNIP member mentioned that some political parties have nothing to offer because they have not identified themselves with any meaningful program as most of them have already been lined up by the MMD.

He observed that some political leaders who have personal to holder parties have no developmental issues to talk about and as a result they have resorted to insults only.

Mr. Katemisha urged all political parties to work for prosperous Zambia in which the citizens would live in harmony and become more committed to work for the development of the country.

Mr. Katemisha explained that leaders must stop practicing politics of hatred or castigating one another but to move forward.

Mr. Katemisha said Political parties should unite and love one another although they could have different political inclinations but should agree where necessary and work together for the good of the country.

ENDS/CK/PK/ZANIS.