Part 1

Todays scripture

PSALM 139 : 13-14

Todays Word from Pastor Tupelo

Our God is a God of purpose.

Everything he has created, He created it to serve a particular function here on earth.

Every person on the face of the earth has a purpose that nobody else can fulfill.

You ought to ask yourself what is the reason for my existence?

You are not just taking up space, neither are you just a biological consequence, you are here for a reason.

God has a plan for your life and you have to discover that plan so that you can align yourself towards it. Jeremiah 29:11

Have you ever thought about the fact that you did not influence your existence on this earth? You didn’t plan to be born into this world, therefore your stay here is totally dependant on the one who brought you here.

He alone knows why he put you here and only He can communicate that purpose to you through His Word.

You are not here by chance God brought you here. Isaiah 43:1, Jeremiah 1:5

He was not taken by surprise when you where born. He planned for you for eternity, He made provision for you in his plan for man kind. He knows you by name, He even knows how many strands of hair they are on your head.

This means you are special in the sight of God because everything God created, He said it was very good according to Genesis 1:31

Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Michael Mulongoti, has described the burning of Radio Phoenix studios as a sad development to the country’s media fraternity.

And government has assured Radio Phoenix management that it would do everything possible to help the station get back to its normal operations after a comprehensive investigation on the cause of the fire was completed.

Mr. Mulongoti, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, said the burning of radio phoenix studios was a serious hindrance to the development of the station.

He was speaking in Lusaka today shortly after touring Radio Phoenix studios which were gutted yesterday after a suspected electrical fault.

He said the station was an equal partner to the development of the country’s media fraternity through the dissemination of information to the people in the country.

Mr. Mulongoti has since urged radio phoenix management not to panic as government was doing everything possible to facilitate the coming back of the station on air.

And Radio Phoenix Proprietor, Errol Hickey, said the fire burnt antennas, recording studios and the accounts and marketing departments to ashes.

Mr. Hickey further disclosed that over US$300, 000 is needed to procure the destroyed equipment.

He assured the country that the radio station would get back on air after threes days time.

The fire, which started at 14:30 hours, is suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault.

The inferno burnt the entire top floor of ZIMCO house on Lusaka’s Cairo road and destroyed all radio phoenix antennas, recording studios and the accounts and marketing departments.

ZANIS/TK/KSH/ENDS

Zambia Army Commander General Isaac Chisuzi has threatened to dismiss army officers who will be seen involving themselves in partisan politics.

General Chisuzi says army officers who will be seen indulging themselves in partisan politics will be instantly dismissed.

He explained that the command does not allow defence forces to engage themselves in partisan politics.

The Army Commander was speaking last night in a speech read on his behalf by Army Deputy Commander Iliad Mutwale at the 25th Anniversary of Intake 12 Silver Jubilee Celebrations at the Officers Mess.

General Chisuzi observed that in a democratic country, all defence forces are required to remain loyal to duty and support the government of the day in order to maintain peace and security in the country.

He however, commended defence forces in the country for exhibiting exemplary conduct and commitment to duty during the sickness, death and burial of late President Levy Mwanawasa.

General Chisuzi further urged all defence forces in the country not to indulge themselves in activities that might lead them into contracting the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

He said the ravages of the HIV/AIDS pandemic had brought about great challenges to the defence and security wings as it has claimed several of its most skilled human resource.

And speaking earlier, Zambia Army Intake 12 Senior Officers Representative Colonel James Phiri assured the nation that the intake will remain loyal and dedicated to duty with a view to fostering peace and security in the country.

Property worth billions of kwacha has been destroyed in a fire that gutted Radio Phoenix recording Studio on the 13th floor of ZIMCO House today.

The cause of the inferno, which swept through studio this afternoon, had not been established by press time.

Fire fighters had a tough time to put off the inferno in a bid to prevent it from spreading to other parts of the building.

Senior Maintenance Officer, George Chisanga, who was present at the scene, said the three fire tenders were rushed to the scene, but fire fighters struggled in reaching the affected floor due to lack of a long path for connecting the water pipes.

Lusaka city council LCC spokesperson, Henry Kapata, regretted that the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company had not put up hydrants in strategic places but that only One hydrant fire engine was available around the building.

He further noted that it was difficult for the council to assist as they only depend on grants to sustain themselves as a council.

Efforts to get a comment from Radio Phoenix management failed.

ZANIS/ENDS/AH/SJK

The United Party for National Development (UPND) in Sinazongwe is carrying out ground work campaigns to beat their contestants in the Presidential by election.

Sinazongwe District Vice Chairperson Bernad Kalata said the party was ready for elections and thanked the Acting President Rupiah Banda for announcing the elections early.

Mr. Kalata boaster that the presidential by election contest in the district was between Acting President Rupiah Banda and Hakainde Hichilema because the Patriotic Front (PF) party and Heritage party were non-existent in the district.

He said Hichilema was the only person with the calibre to rule Zambia and appealed for electorates to vote for him.

UPND District Secretary Peter Siavuulwe said the party would start with the intensification of the door-to-door campaigns.

“Here we are not worried. Even when elections were conducted today we will carry the day at the district level,” Mr Siavuulwe said.

And the Acting President Rupiah Banda will visit Sinazongwe District in Southern Province on Monday.

Sinazongwe District Commissioner Mungoni Simulilika confirmed the development to ZANIS that the Acting President would touch down at the Maamba Tonwnship’s golf Club at 07:30.

Mr. Simulilika said Mr Banda is expected to meet the chiefs in Sinazongwe District and hold a meeting with the Sinazongwe business community.

He said the president was also expected to hold a rally at Maamba’s Kanzize stadium before his departure to Choma at 12:30.

Meanwhile the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) in Sinazongwe has welcomed the Acting president’s visit to the district.

Sinazongwe District Constituency Chairperson, Simoni Chali, said Mr. Banda’s visit was a blessing to the Sinazongwe people.

“He will definitely get a 90 per cent vote here,” Mr. Chali said.

ZANIS/ENDS/TN/EB

The MMD says there is nothing wrong with the ruling party reconciling with second Republican President, Frederick Chiluba.

Party Spokesperson, Ben Tetamashimba, says the MMD should not be demonised over its renewed relationship with Dr. Chiluba.

Mr. Tetamashimba said although Dr. Chiluba is facing corruption charges, the former President remains innocent until proven guilty by the courts of Law.

He told ZNBC news that Acting president, Rupiah Banda, will base his governance style on reconciliation.

Mr Tetamashimba however, could not state how Dr. Chiluba has reconciled with the ruling party.

Dr. Chiluba renounced his MMD membership in the run-up to the 2006 elections and threw his support behind the opposition Patriotic Front.

[ZNBC]

The LUSAKA High Court has thrown out an application by Post Newspapers Editor, Fred M’membe, to dismiss contempt proceedings against him.

The Court has ruled that it will proceed to hear contempt proceedings against M’membe.

High Court Judge, Charles Kajimanga, says he is satisfied that the affidavit for contempt proceedings was duly deposed and sworn by Acting President, Rupiah Banda.

Judge Kajimanga also says he is not satisfied that there is no legal basis for vacating the exparte order.

On Tuesday, the Court granted the MMD presidential candidate permission to start contempt proceedings against Mmembe.

Mr. Banda had complained that the Post newspapers had disobeyed a court order restraining it from publishing defamatory articles about him.

The Injunction granted over the weekend stopped Mr. M’membe or his agents from publishing articles deemed as defamatory to Mr. Banda as MMD presidential candidate until the matter is heard.

However, before the injunction could be heard Mr. Banda said Mr. M’membe defied the Court order by publishing articles which he deemed defamatory.

This was one titled “RUPIAH A SHAMELESS LIAR” prompting the application for contempt proceedings.

[ZNBC]

Acting President, Rupiah Banda, yesterday advised Lukulu residents not to worry much about the Patriotic Front (PF) and Unity Party for National Development because the two were small parties whose leaders will be taught a lesson on October 30, the polling day.

Mr. Banda says the dominant parties in the district were the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) and the United Liberal Party (ULP) as it was proved in the 2006 general elections.

The Acting President was speaking at Lukulu Airstrip when he arrived from Kaoma where he held a campaign rally.

He pointed out that now that ULP has resolved to support the MMD, results will be more resounding than during the 2006 general elections.

“The presence of the two parties is a guarantee that will have a 100 percent votes here in Lukulu district,” he said.

Mr. Banda said he was confident that after the forthcoming elections, PF and UPND will be relegated into history books and will be remembered no more.

He said PF leader Michael Sata will only be remembered as a man who went round the country telling people to vote for him for the top job but failed.

As for UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema, Mr. Banda said he was a young man who will be taught a lesson of the need to start from bottom and not from the top.

“We want to teach HH humility and respect for people who are more experienced than him. We want him to come and kneel down before ULP leader Sakwiba Sikota and apologize for what he did to him,” he said.

Scores of people thronged Lukulu Airstrip to welcome Mr. Banda and his entourage.

Mr. Banda is scheduled to hold private talks with senior chief Imwiko and hold a campaign rally at Fernado grounds.

ZANIS/PSM/KH/CMM/SJK