Health Minister Brian Chituwo has pulled out of the race for adoption as MMD Presidental candidate in the forthcoming bye-election.

Dr. Chituwo’s withdrawal came a few hours before the National Executive Committee meeting to select the party’s candidate at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in the Zambna capital, Lusaka.

MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba confirmed the development to ZNBC News at the party secretariat Friday.

Another candidate Cain Mweemba has also withdrawn from the race.

In his letter to Dr. Kalumba, Mr. Mweemba said his decision was done in the best interest of the party due to the limited time available before the presidential by-elections.

He challenged other presidential applicants to demonstrate selflessness by withdrawing from the race.

On Thursday, former Constitutional Review Chairperson Willa Mungomba announced his pull out from the race.

Thursday night Dr. Kalumba announced that five candidates had withdrawn from the race but refused to name them.

MMD National Publicity Secretary Ben Tetamashimba has disclosed that members including the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in the eight provinces have so far resolved to support acting Vice President Rupiah Banda as the party presidential candidate for the forthcoming presidential by-election.

Mr. Tetamashimba said the NEC members from the eight provinces will be the same NEC members that will vote in tomorrow’s NEC elections for the MMD presidential candidate for the imminent by-election.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka today, Mr. Tetamashimba said the eight provinces that have endorsed Acting President Rupiah Banda’s candidature are Eastern, Northern, Luapula, Copperbelt, Western, North Western, Southern and Lusaka province.

He said the NEC members have resolved to support Mr. Banda’s candidature in order for him to serve the country from were the late President Mwanawasa had left.

Mr. Tetamashimba said the MMD constitution does not call for a convention to choose a presidential candidate and as such the NEC can only do so if there has been no direction from the provinces to choose a presidential candidate.

He said it is not a political norm to start searching for a candidate to stand on the MMD ticket adding that Mr. Banda is supposed to be an automatic choice.

Mr. Tetamashimba said Mr. Banda qualifies to be an MMD candidate in the forthcoming presidential by-election because he has been in the MMD and NEC as a member since 2005 contrary to assertions that he is not eligible.

He said allowing Mr. Banda to become MMD presidential candidate will also ensure unity both in the party and the nation as he had worked closely with President Mwanawasa as republican vice president.

Mr. Tetamashimba said added that Mr. Banda was the most preferred candidate culminating into his appointment as vice president contrary to insinuations by some named politicians that they are the preferred presidential candidates by the late president.

He also noted that President Mwanawasa had written a letter to vice president Rupiah Banda appointing him as acting president before he left for Egypt where he suffered a stroke and was later evacuated to Paris, France were he subsequently died.

Mr. Tetamashimba said the President’s decision can not therefore be challenged by people who did not challenge it when he was alive and made the decision.

He said the Zambian people expect Mr. Banda to follow the economic footsteps of President Mwanawasa’s footsteps of building the economy and fostering national unity after the presidential by-elections.

The ruling party’s information and publicity chairperson has since called upon MMD members and NEC members to continue rallying behind acting president Rupiah Banda in tomorrow’s elections for the party’s presidential candidate.

Scores of MMD party officials and some cabinet ministers and members of parliament attended the media briefing which was dubbed “should the acting president Rupiah Banda be the MMD Presidential Candidate”.

ZANIS/CM/AM/ENDS.

The MMD is talking to various political parties to find ways of avoiding a presidential by-election.

MMD National Secretary, Katele Kalumba, says this is because the exercise is expensive.

Dr. Kalumba said in Lusaka, Thursday, that it will be costly for the country to spend 400 billion kwacha on the by-election.

Dr. Kalumba, without naming the political parties the MMD has engaged, said the ruling party is discussing with Secretary Generals to look at available options.

He urged the opposition and Non Governmental Organizations with ideas on how the country can move forward without getting into an election to engage the MMD.

Dr. Kalumba called on stakeholders to think seriously on how the country can move forward as one family.

He however said the MMD is ready to go into the presidential by-election if money to hold the election is available.

Dr. Kalumba further urged stakeholders in the electoral process to be mindful that the country will be holding tripartite elections in 2011.

Zambia is expected to hold a presidential by-election following the death of president Mwanawasa on August 19.

According to the republican constitution, the country is supposed to hold a by-election 90 days after the demise of a sitting president.
And opposition United National Independence Party (UNIP) on the Copperbelt province says it is not ready to participate in the forthcoming presidential by-elections.

UNIP national revival forum chairperson for Copperbelt province, Dick Mbao said in a statement to ZANIS today that the party has no single leader with a mandate to represent or compete favourably in the presidential by election.

Mr. Mbao stated that it was premature for someone to stand as a candidate because the party was going through a reconciliation process.

He said the party was yet to hold its national congress to elect members of the central committee who then should decide on the candidate.

“UNIP is preparing for the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections in 2011 and not for a by election,” Mr. Mbao added.

He described the participation of his party in the November presidential by-election as irrational.

He said it would be a waste of the party’s resources to participate in the presidential by election.

UNIP national revival forum is a party faction headed by General Malimba Masheke, the former party secretary general.

The country will hold a presidential by election following the death of President Levy Mwanawasa last month.  The late Dr. Mwanawasa was put to rest yesterday at the Embassy Park in Lusaka.

Meanwhile, opposition Patriotic Front (PF) says it is now ready to discuss issues concerning the forthcoming presidential by-election.

Party Spokesperson Given Lubinda told ZANIS that the party was waiting until the late President Mwanawasa was put to rest to air its views on the forthcoming presidential by-election.

Mr. Lubinda said the party would soon call for a press briefing at which a comprehensive statement would be issued and all issues concerning the presidential by-election would be exhaustively discussed.

He said the necessity for a free and fair election would be articulated during the press briefing.

Mr. Lubinda added that the need to maintain peace before, during and after the presidential by-election would also top the agenda.

ZANIS/GP/AM/ENDS

Chief Mwanachingwala of the Tonga people in Mazabuka district has argued that the late President Levy Mwanawasa did not prefer Finance Minister, N’gandu Magande to succeed him but a prominent Mkushi farmer, Costern Chilala

The chief told ZANIS in Mazabuka today, that the truth of the matter was that the late President preferred prominent Mr. Chilala to be take over from him.

He claimed that Mr. Magande was also aware of this fact.

Chief Mwanachingwala argued that Mr. Magande was far from being preferred by the President, adding that the late Dr. Mwanawasa, who he regarded as a friend, confided in him.

The traditional ruler said Mr. Chilala could attest to his statement.

The traditional leader also disclosed that the late President Mwanawasa had appointed Mr. Chilala as Vice President but the latter turned down the appointment, saying he was comfortable with his business.

Meanwhile, Chief Mwanachingwala has maintained that most chiefs in the province have thrown their weight behind Vice President and Acting President Rupiah Banda as MMD presidential candidate in the bye-election.

The chief however felt betrayed by his counterpart, Chief Nalubamba whom he said was one of those who earlier declared his support for Mr. Banda.

” He wanted me to make an appointment for him to meet the Vice President in Lusaka so why did he deny that most chiefs, including him are in support of RB,” asked chief Mwanachingwala.

Chief Mwanachingwala said the endorsement of Mr. Banda by the MMD Southern province executive committee was enough testimony of the overwhelming support the acting President has in the province.

He challenged Chief Mukuni to state his position and publicly announce the candidate he was supporting.

He said certain political decisions have negative impact on the living conditions of people especially those in rural areas.

Chief Mwanachingwala added that it was the duty of chiefs to help give direction of the country to the public.

ZANIS/HC/KSH/ENDS

The MMD’s chairperson for elections has demanded that the undisclosed presidential candidate be revealed to the other candidates eyeing the presidency.

Mike Mulongoti says the party constitution has no provisions for those who apply in an undisclosed manner.

He says this is because all party activities are done transparently.

Party National Secretary, Katele Kalumba, said, Wednesday 17 members including one undisclosed candidate have so far applied.

Dr. Kalumba said the undeclared candidate has had their membership status undisclosed until now.

He refused to name the undeclared candidate but described the person as a formidable force.

The MMD National Executive Committee is meeting, Friday to elect a candidate for the forthcoming presidential by-election.
[ZNBC]

Scores of MMD members, among them Vernon Mwaanga, Mbita Chitala, Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika, Joe Mwale, former Vice President, Christon Tembo, Vera Tembo, and a number of other serving deputy ministers, gathered at Chrisma hotel today to announce their support for Mr.  Rupiah Banda.

Barely a day after Republican President and leader of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Levy Mwanawasa was buried, some founder members of the party have launched a strong appeal to the National Executive Committee (NEC) to elect the acting President, Rupiah Banda to succeed the late.

Veteran politician, Vernon Mwaanga said Zambians needed to rise above mourning the deceased President and find another capable leader to carry the mantle of development.

Mr. Mwaanga, who is former Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and chief government spokesperson, told a press briefing in Lusaka today that Mr. Banda, who is also Vice President, had massive experience in issues of governance.

He said the current situation in the country was an emergency and therefore required a successor of Mr. Banda’s caliber, adding that the latter was mature, and capable of continuing with the current economic development of the country.

“We lost our president and we put him to rest yesterday, but we need rise above mourning and move forward and develop our country,” he said, adding that, “I know Rupiah Banda very well, we joined the foreign service on the same date in September 1964”.

He added that Mr. Banda was the best candidate for the forthcoming presidential by-elections because he had attributes of unifying the country and continuing with the economic gains the country has recorded in the recent past.

Mr. Mwaanga explained that he loved all other presidential aspirants in his party but noted that they should hold on until 2011 when the country goes to the normal presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.

“It is not about selling each other’s commercial interest but about pushing this country forward. Those who will lose should not be disappointed but unite to ensure that Rupiah Banda wins the forthcoming elections,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Vice President, Christon Tembo said the MMD should unite and chose Mr. Banda because he was a better candidate than other aspirants.

Lieutenant General Tembo said the ruling party should not doubt the correctness of their choice to have Mr. Banda as the candidate for the forthcoming presidential by election.

He said he left the MMD in 2001 because of differences over the third term bid by former President, Frederick Chiluba but was now ready to assist the party because it had transformed itself into a democratic club.

“Rupiah Banda will get a landslide. This is the time to remain united. I am available to assist in anyway you want me to,” he said.

Former ambassador to Libya, Mbita Chitala advised the party NEC to choose the acting President whom he said was the best candidate and had been a bonafide member of the MMD.

“Our advice to the 56 members of the NEC is that they pick a candidate who will continue stabilizing the country and provide continuity,” he said.

Mr. Chitala also appealed to the opposition political parties to consider allowing the MMD to complete the term of presidential office through Mr. Banda.

“To the NEC, please give us Mr. Banda. We are outsiders but we are founder members of the MMD and we are advising you to hear us,” he said.

Another member of the MMD, Wendy Sinkala said party members should not be detracted and hoodwinked by people who were campaigning against Mr. Banda.

Ms. Sinkala said Zambia and the ruling were going through an extra ordinary period of losing a President, a situation that required caution to deal with.

Meanwhile, a founder member of the MMD in Eastern province, Rosalynn Daka, said Mr. Banda was good a campaign manager who helped the ruling party win support in Eastern province, which was predominantly for the opposition.

The ruling party NEC will tomorrow choose a presidential candidate for the forthcoming by-election which was necessitated by the death of Dr. Mwanawasa.

The late President died in France on August 19th, after suffering a stroke on June 29th, 2008.

Among the candidates vying for the presidency under the MMD ticket are Minister of Finance, Ng’andu Magande, former vice President Enoch Kavindele, Lusaka businessman Sebastain Kopulande, Minister of Health, Brian Chituwo, party members Billy Phiri, Cain Mweemba and many others.

ZANIS/KSH/YS/AM/ENDS

The Embassy part is now open for the public to lay wreaths. Government, yesterday, on the burial day restricted access to the burial site in a bid to avoid over-crowding and accord the late President Mwanawasa a dignified burial.

Only a selected group of dignitaries and some family members were accorded the opportunity to lay wreaths during the funeral service.

However, access to the burial site has been opened to members of the general public and members of the public will now also have access to Embassy Park, where Mwanawasa was buried.

People are free to lay their wreaths for the duration of the national mourning period from 04 to 08 September 2008.
State House Staff today joined other mourners in laying wreaths at Embassy Park in Lusaka where President Levy Mwanawasa was yesterday put to rest.

State House Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations John Musukuma, State House Project, Planning and Implementation Officer Jack Kalala and State House Legal Advisor to the President Darlington Mwape lead State House Staff in laying wreaths on the tombstone of the late Dr. Mwanawasa.

Some State House officers could not hold back their tears as they openly wept during the proceedings.
President Mwanawasa died two weeks ago after a stroke and was buried at Embassy Park in Lusaka yesterday.

The funeral was attended by African Heads of State and envoys from Britain and the United States of America (USA).

During Mwanawasa’s funeral, thousands of mourners sat in tents at the parliament complex in the capital city Lusaka.

Flags flew at half-mast, as thousands of Zambians watched the burial broadcasted live on State television.   Businesses, banks and shops closed in a show of solemn respect.

Five Air Force jets flew overhead, and a 21-gun salute honoured Dr. Mwanawasa as he was lowered into his grave in a copper-plated coffin.

President Levy Mwanwasa died at Percy Military Hospital in Paris, France on August 19 following a stroke he suffered in June this year on the eve of the African Union heads of State and government Summit in Egypt.

He is survived by a wife Maureen and six children.

Meanwhile, renown Zambian Musician Daputsa Nkhata alias Sister’D’ appealed to the Zambian people not to relent after the mourning period but to soldier on in unity.

ZANIS/KC/AM/ENDS

First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa has said the last two months have brought anguish and pain to her soul.
Mrs. Mwanawasa said the period during the sickness and consequent death of her husband has been difficult and full of pain.

In a message read on her behalf by her Senior Private Secretary, Florence Chawela, Mrs. Mwanawasa sadly said the burden without her husband will not be easy.

“This day is your 60th birthday and our 20th marriage anniversary. We had agreed on a big combined celebration. Now this month, which was meant for celebrations, is a death and mourning month. Celebrations will have to wait until we meet again,” lamented Mrs. Mwanawasa.

She described her late husband as an agent of unity, good governance and an ambassador of true leadership.

“You were a visionary leader. You believed in equality under the law. Bold in justice and I will treasure the years we practiced law together,” said Mrs. Mwanawasa.

She said her late husband believed in working hard for Zambia and died in the battle front.

“You died a sad man ,though, because no one believed you,” she said.

And Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande, broke into tears as he read the last paragraph of the obituary for the late Dr. Mwanawasa.

Mr. Pande could not hold his pain as he read: “You laid your own ground of good work. We will do well to build on his foundation.”

Mr. Pande, who earlier in the obituary outlined the many development programmes and achievements during Dr Mwanawasa’s, term said his commitment to the improvement of agriculture in the country is evident.

“He turned the Zambian economy from doldrums to prosperity. He died on duty while fulfilling his ideals of democracy and integration which he believed in,” said Mr. Pande.

The African Union-AU Chairperson, Jakaya Kikwete, has described the late President Levy Mwanawasa as a dependable ally to Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.

And Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Chairperson, Thabo Mbeki, said Dr. Mwanawasa was a true African who believed that solutions to Africa’s problems lied in Africans themselves.

Mr. Kikwete, who is also Republic of Tanzania President, said Africa has lost a great Pan- African who will always be remembered for his unceasing interest of Zambia and Africa at heart.

Mr. Kikwete, who also described the late Dr. Mwanawasa as a visionary leader, said the late President served Zambia and the region with commitment.

The AU Chairperson and Tanzanian President was speaking in Lusaka today during the church service for the Late President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr. Levy Mwanawasa, at Parliament buildings.

He further said Dr. Mwanawasa turned the economy of Zambia into a better and admirable one on the continent.

“This is the most difficult occasion of my time to mourn and bid farewell to a great leader and champion who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of his people. He was a man of strong conviction. We, from Africa, are grateful to God for the time we spent with the late President,” said Mr. Kikwete.

Mr. Kikwete further said the late Dr. Mwanawasa served the people of Zambia with love, peace and unity.

He called upon politicians to pick up from where the late President has left.

“We will miss you. We pray to God that your soul rests in internal peace,” concluded Mr. Kikwete.

And SADC Chairperson, Thabo Mbeki, said the late President Mwanawasa fought for the good and improvement of living standards of the people of Zambia and the SADC region.

Mr. Mbeki, who is also South Africa President, said SADC will remain and continue the fight which Dr. Mwanawasa has left for the betterment of the people of the region.

“The ultimate death of Dr. Mwanawasa is an enormous loss not only to Zambia but the SADC region as a whole. On behalf of the SADC region and indeed on behalf of all South Africans, I convey my condolences to the first family and the people of Zambia,” said Mr. Mbeki.

He described the late Dr. Mwanawasa as a soldier committed to the welfare of Africa and serving his country and the region with humility.

“To honour him, let us ensure we act in a manner that will enhance democracy and development as he would have loved. Let us double our efforts and continue the good work his has done for the region,” said President Thabo Mbeki.

He noted that during the late Dr. Mwanawasa’s tenure he did a lot to improve lives of Zambians and introduced important and viable programmes in the region.

And A Clergyman has said the late President Levy Mwanawasa fought a good fight and has fulfilled his mission on earth.

Reverend William Chanda from the Baptist Church, where the late President used to congregate, said after serving and thoroughly completing his mission on earth and in Zambia in particular, Dr. Mwanawasa past on and rested.

Rev. Chanda said this during the late President Mwanawasa’s funeral church service.

He said even if Dr. Mwanawasa was the number one man in the country, he humbled himself and gave his life to God.

“Remember that our days are numbered; let us reunite ourselves to God like the late did. Let us also be committed to hard work,” Rev. Chanda reminded the crowd.

He noted that the only one who is perfect is God.

Rev. Chanda asked the National Constitution Commission (NCC) to seriously consider the death of a President in the constitution, saying it is not good for people to start campaigning even before a President is buried.

And in a prayer for the nation, Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) Secretary General, Suzanne Matale, asked for unity and peace during this time of mourning.

Rev. Matale prayed for a President who will rule zambia with passion and humility.

And in his prayer for political leaders, Bishop Harrison Sakala also prayed for peace and wisdom to the political leaders in the country.

Bishop Sakala cautioned political leaders to know that peace is expensive and that they should understand that authority comes from God.

During the same service the late Dr. Mwanawasa’s children Patrick, Mirriam and Chipotonga read scriptures from the Bible.

Maya Ntanda, a niece to the late President, read the Bible script on behalf of Mirriam.

Dr. Mwanawasa has since been put to rest at the Embassy Park in front of Cabinet office today.
Dr. Mwanawasa, who died in Paris on August 19, 2008, leaves behind a wife and six children.
ZANIS/ENDS/CBM/EB

Several foreign dignitaries have arrived in Zambia to attend the burial of the late Republican President, Dr. Levy Mwanawasa. Government has confirmed that 15 heads of state will attend the funeral of President Mwanawasa, who died at Percy Military Hospital in France on August 19.
The first dignitaries to jet in were the representative of Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom, the Duke of Gloucester and Lord Malloch Brown, Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.Others who arrived on the same plane are the German representative Ambassador, Mathias Mulmenstadt who is his country’s Africa director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ghanaian President, John Kufuor, will lead a 20-member delegation. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kabinga Pande, said this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr Pande said Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, would lead a 30- member delegation.

He said Zimbabwean opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, will also be at the burial.

Other heads of state who have come for Dr Mwanawasa’s burial are Botswana President Ian Khama, Tanzanian leader Jakaya Kikwete who is also African Union chairman, Southern African Development Community chairperson, Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, and Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo,

Namibian President, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Mozambique’s Armando Geubuza, Malawi’s Mbingu Wa Mutharika and his predecessor Bakili Muluzi.

Others are Gambian President Yahya Jammeh and his Chadian counterpart, Idriss Deby, Lesotho Prime Minister, Pakhalitha Mosisili and Swaziland Deputy Prime Minister Albert Shabangu.

Mr Pande said other foreign dignitaries expected into the country included Chinese Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi and his Liberian colleague, Olubanke King Akerele.

A church service at Parliament is expected to commence at 09:00 hours but mourners are advised to be at the venue by 07:00 hours.