The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has said it is ready to hold this month’s presidential election slated for October 30.

ECZ Chairperson Florence Mumba who is in Durban leading the Zambian delegation comprising political parties and civil society representatives, to monitor the printing of presidential ballot papers, said since the announcement of the polling date, the Commission’s officers have been on the ground conducting voter education.

Ms Mumba said the Commission had since drawn up a programme to help monitor progress and that ECZ was on course.

‘’We have done quite a lot of voter education and we started since the polling date was announced. As far as ECZ is concerned we are on course’’. Ms Mumba said.

On the involvement of stakeholders in monitoring the printing of ballot papers, Ms Mumba said this was necessary to ensure transparency and was happy that political parties and civil society had risen to the occasion.

However, she advised that political parties should ensure that their agents were at the polling stations much earlier to monitor every stage of the elections as this would avert possible suspicions.

Underscoring the importance of polling agents, Ms Mumba said it was entirely up to the various political parties to ensure that their polling agents were vigilant adding that ECZ was open and had nothing to hide.

‘’I would appreciate a polling agent who would be at the polling station a day before the polling as this would enable them count the number of voters who would pass through the station. However, it is up to political parties to make such a decision’’. She said.

In this vein, she has called a meeting to be held on Friday with various political parties where such issues would be ironed out.

On the 2011 tripartite elections, the ECZ Chairperson said ECZ would ensure that voting is made easier by removing unnecessary hurdles.

She noted that rural areas where people trek for long hours to go and vote would be addressed adding that once Government makes a decision on delimitation exercise, the Commission would be ready to implement the exercise.

‘’We would like to ensure that the Government of the day is elected by more than 2 thirds of eligible voters hence there are a few things that ECZ has to put in place to ensure that this is attained’’. She said.

Zambia goes to the presidential poll on October 30 and this has been necessitated following the death of Dr Levy Mwanawasa who died in August in France’s Percy Military Hospital.

ZANIS/ENDS/CLM

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson Florence Mumba has expressed confidence that this month’s presidential election slated for October 30 will be free and fair.

Ms Mumba has also allayed fears against rigging saying it is not possible for this to occur because ECZ has been transparent from the beginning by allowing various stakeholders to monitor the printing of presidential ballot papers which started in South Africa ’s port city, Durban yesterday (Friday).

Speaking to journalists last night at City lodge in Durban , the ECZ Chairperson who is leading the Zambian delegation here dismissed assertions that ballot papers could be premarked during the printing process hence triggering a breeding ground for rigging.

‘’There is no possibility that ballot papers would be pre marked. When people talk about rigging we would like to know what they really mean and at what process this would occur’’, She said.

In addition the ECZ Chairperson said that Zambia as a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had to adhere to the electoral code of conduct and noted that it is in this vein that the Commission would like to uphold its credibility.

She observed that the laws were such that they would not promote flouting and they were plain for anybody to see.

On the company printing the presidential ballot papers, Universal Printing Company rebranding to Uniprint, Ms Mumba said she was impressed with the level of technology invested into the firm.

The ECZ Chairperson described the printing firm as professional saying she was amazed at its equipment and this gave the Commission confidence that a good job would be done.

Printing of over 4 million presidential ballot papers started yesterday (Friday) in Durban . Universal Printing Company, an accomplished firm in the printing industry with vast experience in handling printing jobs on electoral materials for various African countries including South Africa has been contracted by ECZ to undertake the work at the cost over US$400 000.

The cost also covers the printing of ballot papers for Kanchibiya constituency which has since been dispatched, Ndola Central and Mwansabombwe. By elections for the three constituencies also takes place at the same time with the presidential election.

And a 21 man Zambian delegation comprising political party and civil society representatives are in Durban to witness the printing of ballot papers up to the packaging stage. The work is expected to be completed on Friday next week with the ballot papers being dispatched the following day (Saturday).

ZANIS/ENDS/CLM

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]