Former Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister in the Chiluba regime Steven Chilombo says he will not stand in this years presidential elections due to logistical constraints.

Mr. Chilombo said he will stand in 2011 as a presidential candidate after launching his Trinity Christian party.

Mr. Chilombo has since advised Zambians as they go to the polls to  consider voting for a president who is God fearing in order to continue with the fight against corruption and poverty.

He urged all politicians to have a mandate that will improve the welfare of citizens through issue based politics and not politics of insults.

Mr. Chilombo said it is through politicians recognizing  the sovereignty of God, that they will be able to change their way of doing things  thereby  improving  the lives of the majority citizens .

Mr. Chilombo was speaking during a press briefing  in Lusaka today.

Patriotic Front Leader Michael Sata has successfully filed in his nomination as presidential candidate for the forthcoming presidential elections slated for October 30.

And the high court has dismissed with costs a court injunction by PF rebel Member of Parliament Savior Chishimba to restrain the PF leader from contesting the presidential by election.

Mr. Sata who was expected to file in his nomination around 09:00 hours was however delayed by the court injunction.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) officers commenced the filling in of nominations for the Mr. Sata after the injunction was dismissed around 11:00 hours.

And speaking to scores of jubilation PF cadres  that gathered at  the  Supreme court grounds after successfully filling in his nomination the PF leader urged the cadres not to succumb to provocation of any kind.

Mr. Sata who was flanked by his wife Dr. Christine Kaseba also called on the party membership to remain calm during the campaign and election period.

Meanwhile Mr. Sata has charged that Kasama central Member of Parliament Savior Chishimba connived with a named MP from another party and were allegedly paid 2 million dollars by two Europeans.

And there was jubilation among PF cadres that gathered at the Court grounds after PF Legal Chairperson Edgar Lungu announced the dismissal of the court injunction.

The cadres who gathered at the Supreme Court as early as 06:00 hours chanted PF slogans in solidarity with Mr. Sata until the PF leader emerged from the supreme court after successfully filling in his nomination.

Mr. Sata is the first presidential candidate to file in his nomination for the October 30th polls which was necessitated by the death of President Mwanawasa.

Other presidential candidates expected to file in their nominations are the ruling party’s candidate Rupiah Banda who is also Acting Republican President and opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) candidate Hakainde Hichilema.

PF Kasama Central MP Savior Chishimba yesterday sort a court injunction in the high court to restrain Mr. Sata from contesting the forthcoming polls on grounds that he had violated the party constitution because he had never been voted at a party convention.

The high court however dismissed the injunction arguing that the reasons given for the injunction were not clear.
ZANIS/CM/MK/ENDS

The Lusaka High Court has dismissed an injunction which sought to stop Patriotic Front President, Michael Sata, from filing in his nomination papers on Tuesday, ahead of presidential elections.

After a four hour inter-party hearing, Judge Phillip Musonda, ordered that Mr. Sata should proceed to file in his nomination papers.

The court action against Mr. Sata, was taken by Kasama Member of Parliament, Saviour Chishimba.

The injunction application has been dismissed because it lacks merit and does not disclose sufficient reasons.

On Monday, Dr. Chishimba attempted to foil Mr. Sata’s scheduled filing in of nominations before the Supreme Court by applying for the injunction.
Dr. Chishimba argued that he has been disadvantaged as an interested person in the PF presidential candidature.
He claimed that Mr. sata contravened the PF constitution provision which stipulates the holding of a convention to elect the PF presidential candidate.
According to a statement of claim filed before the Lusaka High Court, the Patriotic Front has been in existence since 2001 but has never held a convention appointing anyone as PF presidential candidate.

Dr Chishimba also wanted an order restraining the Electoral Commission of Zambia from accepting Mr. Sata’s nomination papers until the matter was determined by the Lusaka High Court.

[ZNBC]

Patriotic Front-PF- Leader, Michael Sata’s scheduled filing of Presidential nomination papers before Chief Justice, Enerst Sakala, suffered a set back, Tuesday morning.

The High Court is yet to determine an injunction application filed against Mr. Sata by his Kasama Member of Parliament, Saviour Chishimba.

Until this is done, Mr. Sata can not proceed to file his nomination papers.

Lusaka High Court Judge, Philip Musonda, was scheduled to deliver the ruling at 08:30 hours but is still locked in an inter-party hearing with lawyers representing Dr. Chishimba and Mr. Sata.

Mr. Sata was scheduled to file his nomination papers for the October 30 presidential election at 09:00 hours.

Dr. Chishimba is seeking an injunction to restrain Mr. Sata from filing his nomination papers arguing that he has been disadvantaged as an interested person in the PF presidential candidature.

He claims Mr. sata contravened the PF constitution provision which stipulates the holding of a convention to elect the PF presidential candidate.

And Mr. Sata’s lawyers, Bonaventure Mutale and Edgar Lungu, have filed a preliminary application to challenge Dr. Chishimba’s injunction application which they claim does not disclose the reason for the court action against their client.

The Lawyers also argue that the injunction application has not disclosed the capacity in which Mr. Sata has been sued.

The Lusaka High Court has this morning been hearing an application for an injunction against Patriotic Front Leader, Michael Sata from filing in his nomination for the October 30 poll.

The injunction by PF Kasama member of parliament Xavier Chishimba said this is because no convention was held as per party constitution to appoint Mr. Sata to represent the opposition party.

Mr. Chishimba said he is also interested in contesting the Republican Presidency on the PF Ticket.

This is contained in an application filed in the Lusaka high Court Monday.

Dr. Chishimba contends that he is an interested and disadvantaged PF member who wanted to stand for the PF presidency.

He argues that Mr. Sata’s presidency in the PF is ultra vires to the party constitution that requires that the party holds a convention every five years but in vain.

Dr. Chishimba foiled Mr. Sata’s scheduled filing in of nominations before the Supreme Court by applying for an injunction against it.

The application for an injunction sent shock waves among angry Patriotic Front members who trooped to the Lusaka High Court and sang songs in solidarity of their party president.

Dr. Chishimba’s lawyer Mutakela Lisimba and Mr. Sata’s lawyers Bonaventure Mutale, and Edgar Lungu were locked for over two hours in chambers of a Lusaka High Court Judge.

According to a statement of claim filed before the Lusaka High Court, the Patriotic Front has been in existence since 2001 but has never held a convention appointing anyone as PF presidential candidate.

[ZNBC]

The opposition Patriotic Front-PF- has charged that the recent decision by the Food Reserve Agency-FRA- to increase the price of maize is political.

PF leader, Michael Sata, alleges that the move is aimed at winning support from farmers ahead of presidential elections scheduled for October 30.

Mr. Sata has accused the FRA of collaborating with government to disadvantage farmers who sold their maize at 45 thousand kwacha.

Government has increased the floor price of maize.

A 50 Kilogram bag of maize now costs K55,000.00 from K45,000.00

In a letter addressed to FRA Board Chairman, Costain Chilala and made available to ZNBC news, Mr. Sata said government should compensate all the farmers who sold their maize at K45,000.00.

Mr. Sata also said the decision to increase the price of maize will have an effect on the price of mealie meal in the country.
[ZNBC]

The United National Independence Party- UNIP- says it will not participate in the October 30, Presidential by-election.

UNIP President, Tilyenji Kaunda, says his party will instead support Acting President, Rupiah Banda.

Mr. Kaunda told Journalists in Lusaka, Monday, that his party decided to back Mr. Banda because he is the only candidate who has principles that UNIP also believes in.

He said the decision to support Mr. Banda was not influenced by anyone but was taken based on principles.

Various opposition political parties have already endorsed the candidature of Mr Banda.

They include the United Liberal Party, All Peoples Congress and the Zambia Conservative Party among others.

Meanwhile, acting President, Rupiah Banda has urged residents of Kabompo, Zambezi and Chavuma districts in Northwestern province to cooperate with explorers from gas mining industries in the their areas.

Mr. Banda said exploration works would begin in the three districts in the next few week.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Mines and Minerals Development Minister, Kalombo Mwansa, at the Mbunda Liyoyelo traditional ceremony at Chief Chiyengele’s Kayombo traditional capital over the weekend.

Mr. Banda said people of Kabompo, Zambezi and Chavuma would soon see heavy earth moving mining equipment vehicles which would be used to explore gas and oil deposit sites.

He said the exploration would pave way for the setting up of gas and oil industries in the three districts if results come out positive.

He pleaded with the people in the three districts to exercise maximum cooperation with explorers and investors, adding that government has put in place provisions for the local communities to benefit from the industry.

Mr. Banda said the local people would benefit through infrastructure development in the districts once the industries were fully operational.

And Senior Chief Sikufele and Chieftainess Nyakulenga of Zambezi district pledged solidarity with Mr. Banda’s administration.

The traditional leader said all chiefs and their Indunas in the said districts were solidly united to support Mr. Banda in the October 30th presidential election.

He said the MMD government had successfully developed the Northwestern province hence the need to continue supporting it.

Chieftainess Nyakulenga said the people of Northwestern province would appear ungrateful if they did not vote for Mr. Banda in the light of the development of mines, explorations of gas and oil deposits and continued tarring of Mutanda Chavuma road which he said were economic drivers for wealth creation and poverty reduction.

ZANIS/MK/CMM/KSH/ENDS.

Government says there are possibilities that the price of fuel could be reduced by about one thousand kwacha.

Finance Minister, Ngandu Magande, also says there will be a further price cut on fuel following a reduction of oil prices by oil producers and exporting countries.

Mr. Magande however told ZNBC news in Livingstone, Monday, that this will depend on information gathered by a technical committee mandated to study possibilities of reducing the price of fuel.

The committee was formed after Acting president, Rupiah Banda, directed Mr. Magande and his Energy counterpart, Kenneth Konga, to find ways of reducing the cost of fuel.

Mr. Magande said government has not immediately reduced the prices of fuel because the country is still consuming old stocks.

Petrol costs about K9,700.00 per liter, while diesel sells about K8,400.00.

And Several Lusaka residents have welcomed the proposal by acting President, Rupiah Banda,aimed to reduce the price for fuel.

Residents talked to by ZNBC, Monday, said Zambia has the highest pump price for fuel in the region and any form of intervention is welcome.

One of the motorists, Victor Silungwe, said the reduction in fuel prices should not be politicised.

Mr. Silungwe said low fuel prices will reduce production and transport costs.

Another motorist, Edgar Ngoma, said reducing fuel prices will boost production in the country.

Government has appointed a team of experts to study how best to keep fuel prices low.

[ZNBC]

MMD chairman for elections, Mike Mulongoti, has cautioned the electorate against voting for an opposition party in October 30 polls because it will be difficult for an opposition party to govern because of their numbers in Parliament.

Mr Mulongoti told a campaign rally in Chief Kopa’s area in Mpika that the number of MMD members in parliament would render it difficult for any other government to operate.

Mr Mulongoti, who accompanied acting President, Rupiah Banda, to Northern Province where he attended Ukusefya Pa Ng’wena traditional ceremony, was also in the area to drum up support for the MMD parliamentary candidate, Judith Kapijimpanga, for the Kanchibiya by- election slated for October 14.

He said if such a government introduced bills that were at variance with MMD policies, the bills would not be supported and might lead to dissolution of Parliament.

Mr Mulongoti told the gathering that opposition leaders should not cheat them that once voted into Government, they would automatically assume control of power as their numbers together still fell short of the MMD majority.

He said even if the Patriotic Front and the United Party for National Development put their members of Parliament together, it would still be difficult for them to pass laws.

Mr Mulongoti called on the people of Kanchibiya to vote for Ms Kapijimpanga because she had experience in the House and in Government and most importantly because she hailed from the same area and understood their problems.

Speaking earlier, MMD spokesman, Bennie Tetamashimba, reminded the people that most development work being done in the area was initiated before the 2006 election when Ms Kapijimpanga was MP, which showed that she was a hard-working MP.

MMD national chairman, Michael Mabenga, also urged the people to vote for Ms Kapijimpanga by giving an analogy of one child from a household and another from the neighbourhood.

[Times of Zambia]