THE MMD has charged party chairman for information and publicity, Benny Tetamashimba, for allegedly bringing the party into ridicule and giving out false information.

But Mr Tetamashimba said in reaction that he had not received the charge letter and that it was only President Mwanawasa who had the power to discipline him as the appointing authority.

MMD deputy national secretary, Jeff Kaande, said in Lusaka yesterday that the party national chairman, Michael Mabenga, would constitute a disciplinary committee of six national executive committee (NEC) members to look into the case.

Mr Kaande said at a Press briefing that Mr Tetamashimba had breached the party constitution through statements he issued regarding President Mwanawasa’s health and succession.

Mr Tetamashimba, who is Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister, recently said there was need for the party to consider President Mwanawasa’s successor once he returned from France where he is undergoing medical treatment.

Mr Kaande said the party had charged Mr Tetatamashimba with two charges, which he was required to respond to as soon as possible.

“Under our disciplinary regulation 7 (B), Mr Tetamashimba has been charged with conduct likely to bring ridicule and contempt to the party and under 7 (J) for giving out false information,” he said.

Mr Kaande said it was not right for Mr Tetamashimba to talk about the party president’s succession now as it was premature.

“The President has only been sick for two weeks. It’s normal for anybody to be sick. Does that period really call for succession?” he asked.

“Doctors are advising that the man (the president) is improving. Our leader is capable of leading and he is still there,” he said.

Mr Kaande also refuted claims by Mr Tetamashimba that party national secretary, Katele Kalumba, had invited women and youth leaders from all the provinces as his campaign strategy for the presidency.

Mr Kaande said the people that Mr Tetamashimba claimed to have been invited by Dr Kalumba were supposed to attend a meeting organised by the Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue (ZCID), which had been put off because of the President’s ailment.

Mr Kaande said the party could not expressly suspend Mr Tetamashimba as he was also deputy minister who was appointed by the President.

“We have opened a disciplinary action against him and the national chairman will constitute a committee to sit and decide his fate. We hope by that time our president will have come. If they say suspend him, we will have to suspend him and then explain to the HE (His Excellency),” he said.

Mr Kaande said the party did not mind whether Dr Kalumba was campaigning or not as there were so far 19 other people who indicated that they wanted to contest for the presidency of the party.

He said in an event that the party had no vice-president, the party national chairman took over as acting president in the absence of the president.

Dr Kalumba has since recommended that Mr Tetamashimba’s fate be decided by a committee comprising chairman for security, Ronnie Shikapwasha, chairman for legal, Bwalya Chiti and chairperson (women), Vera Tembo.

According to a letter dated July 14, 2008 obtained by the Times of Zambia written by Dr Kalumba to the national chairman, others recommended are chairman for youth, Patrick Musonda, chairman elections, Mike Mulongoti and trustee, Grace Njapau.

Mr Tetamashimba said the committee had no power to suspend him as he was a Government official.

“It’s only the president who can suspend me. The appointing authority is not here and no one can disappoint me until after elections,” he said.

He said he was against the idea of Dr Kalumba becoming party president as he was facing corruption charges in court and had allegedly taken advantage of Dr Mwanawasa’s absence to launch his campaign.

Mr Tetamashimba said he had evidence that Dr Kalumba had called for a meeting for the provincial leaders.

He challenged Dr Kalumba to come out in the open instead of speaking through Mr Kaande.

[Times of Zambia]

MMD National Secretary, Katele Kalumba has questioned why party chairperson for Information and Publicity Ben Tetamashimba is making Presidential ambitions an issue.

Dr. Kalumba says the issue currently is praying for Dr. Levy Mwanawasa’s quick recovery.

Asked whether he has any presidential ambitions, Dr. Kalumba said it is not an issue now.

He explained that people who have Presidential ambitions have announced their intentions.

Dr. Kalumba said he has NEVER said anything against Mr. Tetamashimba and advised him to STOP putting words in his mouth.

Mr. Tetamashimba, at a press briefing in Lusaka Tuesday, accused Dr. Kalumba of using President Mwanawasa’s illness to further his presidential ambitions.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kalumba says he has written to the party disciplinary committee to examine the petitions received from provincial and district party members countrywide against Mr. Tetamashimba.

[ZNBC]

President Levy Mwanawasa has called for the eradication of corruption on the African continent.

President Mwanawasa says corruption needs to be eradicated from the continent because it resulted in the misappropriation and misapplication of scarce resources.

Dr. Mwanawasa said this in a speech read on his behalf by Vice-President Rupiah Banda at the official opening of the 39th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference in Livingstone today.

President Mwanawasa said in order to develop and attract the needed levels of investment, the countries needed to aggressively fight corruption in a concerted manner.

Dr. Mwanawasa said Zambia was determined to relentlessly fight and root out corruption in the country.

‘’We in Zambia are determined to relentlessly fight and root out this scourge. It is not easy, but it must and shall be done,’’ he said.

Dr Mwanawasa urged delegates to actively participate in the exchange of views on corruption so that a workable solution to weed out the vice on the continent can be found in a bid to make the CPA Africa region corrupt-free and a better place to live in.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mwanawasa has said the theme of the conference ‘Global Warming: Challenges for Parliamentarians and Parliaments’ was a very important theme because the issue of climate change was now considered to be one of the defining issues which pre-occupied the minds and activities of world leaders.

Dr Mwanawasa added that the issue of climate change required sustained, concerted and high level political attention and intervention.

He said dramatic changes of climate were already visible adding that the impacts were increasingly becoming severe.

‘’Notable among these and close to home are the devastating floods and droughts affecting most parts of our continent, especially the Southern African sub-region,’’ he said.

President Mwanawasa observed that the consequences of climate change caused largely by developed countries were more severe for the developing countries and the continent.

‘’This is because our means to adapt to, and mitigate the effects of climate change are limited, thus worsening the plight of poor on the continent,’’ he said.

Dr Mwanawasa also observed that climate change caused social, economic and security dislocations for humankind.

He said the Zambian government was doing all it could to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol which seeks to cut greenhouse emissions.

Dr Mwanawasa said government through the National Adaptation Programme of Action of 2007, has identified health, agriculture, forestry, wildlife, water and energy as sectors mostly susceptible to climate change.

He noted that recent research by the Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa in conjunction with the University of Zambia on the economic impacts of climate change on Zambian agriculture had revealed that the country has been experiencing an increase in drought frequency and intensity in the last 20 years.

He observed that this had led to detrimental consequences for the agricultural sector and had threatened food security for vulnerable groups.

Dr Mwanawasa observed that the study had revealed that temperatures had been increasing by 0.6 degrees Celsius per decade since 1970 adding that the increase in temperatures had slowed down the regeneration capacity of the local Miombo forest which was traditionally a resilient and balanced eco-system.

He said the objective of government was to strengthen national coordination of efforts intended to respond to the climate change and integrate climate change responses into the national development process.

He said government intends to put in place coordinated mechanisms to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on the country’s national development.

And on conflicts on the continent, Dr Mwanawasa bemoaned the conflicts that have continued to rock the African continent in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Darfur region of Sudan, Chad and Somalia.

He said the situation prevailing in those countries were unacceptable because Africa needed peace and harmony to develop.

He expressed happiness that Kenya had put up a practical resolution to the problems in their country to ensure that peace and development continues.

He urged the CPA Africa region to lend its voice of encouragement to all the people of Zimbabwe so that they could resolve their political challenges amicably.

Dr Mwanawasa said the region and the rest of the world were doing their best to assist Zimbabwe but noted that it is themselves who must initiate the reconciliation process.

The conference was attended by over 300 delegates. The countries represented included Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
ENDS/FM/AM/ZANIS

Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) National Secretary Katele Kalumba is being accused of using President Mwanwasa’s illness to further his presidential ambitions.

The accusation is from MMD Chairperson for Information and Publicity Ben Tetamashimba.

Mr. Tetamashimba said Dr. Kalumba is twisting issues to gain political mileage using Dr. Mwanawasa’s illness.

He challenged Dr. Kalumba to state his position over his ambitions for the presidency.

Efforts to get Dr. Kalumba failed.

Mr. Tetamashimba also accused at a press conference he held, sections of the ruling party of trying to overwork Dr. Mwanawasa.

Mr. Tetamashimba said his succession remarks have been twisted by some people within the MMD to suit their political ambitions.

He maintained that he stands by his pronouncement aimed at preventing a situation where President Mwanawasa is overworked.

Mr. Tetamashimba said he would not allow people with a hidden agenda to twist his succession remarks and criticize him.

Mr. Tetamashimba advised the First Family to be weary of some sympathizers as their sympathy is not genuine.

The MMD spokesperson evoked mixed feelings and reactions after he was quoted to have said that the MMD should discuss the issue of succession when President Mwanawasa returns home from France where he is receiving medical attention.

Meanwhile,cabinet has been asked to show leadership in responding to questions being raised on what would happen if the President is unable to resume work.

Former Vice President, Nervous Mumba however urged cabinet to follow the constitution should such a thing happen.

He said the current illness of President MWANAWASA should not divide the nation and called on all sectors of the nation to unite.

Dr. Mumba also said the current ailment of the President should not be used as a tool for some people to advance their political ambitions.

He told a media briefing in Lusaka, that the current differences that have arisen in the MMD because of the illness of the President should not be entertained any further.

And the Bank of Zambia (BOZ) says President Mwanwasa’s illness will not affect the economy.

Bank Governor, Caleb Fundanga said the country has over $1 billion in reserves.

He said this is enough to cover any foreign exchange withdrawals by investors, who may be uncertain with President Mwanawasa’s illness.

Dr. Fundanga said this at the Banks quarterly media briefing.

He admitted that the Kwacha suffered some depreciation when the President was taken ill but was quick to note that it also appreciated last week.

Dr. Fundanga said there is no need to panic and urged citizens to work harder to sustain the current economic growth.

President Mwanawasa suffered a stroke late last month and is currently admitted to Percy Military Hospital in France.

ENDS/AM/TK/ZANIS

The current medical updates on President Mwanawasa’s health are correct and should not be doubted.

The Vice President said Dr. Mwanawasa is making slow progress to recovery.

Rupiah Banda said the president’s condition has not worsened from the time he was admitted to Percy Military Hospital in, Paris – France.

He assured the nation that the updates being given are a true reflection of the progress made so far.

Mr. Banda said government has reported everything the nation wants to know about the President’s health and will continue giving reports to the nation.

He said this before leaving for Livingstone.

The President was admitted to hospital after suffering a stroke while attending the African Union summit in Egypt.

[ZNBC]

THE National Constitutional Conference (NCC) democratic governance committee yesterday endorsed a clause of the draft Republican Constitution, which recommends that a winning presidential candidate must have not less than 50 per cent plus one vote.

The committee, chaired by Foundation for Democratic Process executive director, Stanley Mhango, recommended that clause 95 (1) be retained to enhance legitimacy, curb regionalism and integrate Zambians through a popularly elected leader.

Contributing to the debate, University of Zambia dean in the school of social sciences and humanities, Professor Bizeck Phiri, said the clause would help integrate the people in the country.

“This clause does not pose any serious problem. It will bring legitimacy to the people who aspire to be leaders in the country,” he said.

Article 95 (1) states that elections to the office of president shall be conducted on the basis of a majoritarian system, where the winning candidate receives not less than 50 per cent plus one of the valid votes cast and in accordance with article 125.

Mapatizya MP, Akson Sejani, said it would be morally wrong to strike out the article as the majority of the petitioners had recommended that the president should get not less than 50 per cent plus one vote.

Mr Sejani said the clause was one of the benchmarks on which the Constitution making exercise would be judged, as the people overwhelmingly petitioned that the clause be added in the new Constitution.

Press Association of Zambia president, Andrew Sakala, said there was need to add the clause in the new Constitution, arguing that it would enable political parties field credible candidates so that they could compete at national level.

Mr Sakala said the issue of re-runs should not be the reason for shunning the system, saying democracy was not a cheap exercise.
Bwalya Chiti and Chief Kashiba also supported the 50 per cent plus one vote.

Health Deputy Minister, Lwipa Puma, however, opposed the idea of enshrining the clause arguing that the exercise was costly.

Dr Puma said the money to be spent on the exercise could instead be channeled to other needy areas such as education and health sectors.

Dr Puma’s sentiments were also echoed by Luapula Province Minister, Crispin Musosha, who said there was no need to experiment ideas, which were costly.
[Times of Zambia]

Dear Jelita,

I hope you are fine. As you know I travelled to Zambia two weeks ago. It was so nice to be at home. I took a flight from New York to Johannesberg, then connected to Ndola. The first thing that hit me was how dirty the place looked. It pained me that up to now our Government can’t improve the way the country looks. However, as I went to buy fruit at Shoprite I quickly felt at home among our friendly people. It was even nice seeing the Kaponyas as they rushed to get my shopping bags from me-ofcourse at a fee!

I then travelled to Chingola. Thats when my heart really sank. The Kitwe-Chingola road is so congested with trucks. We were travelling at 20km/hr and guess what, we were travelling behind a huge truck carrying explosives for the mines! It didn’t even have an escort car to warn motorists. It was almost impossible to overtake, for one, the road is narrow and there were other trucks, buses,cars heading in the opposite direction. I’ve never been so terrified. I quickly noticed a new driving pattern. People were just overtaking anyhow and it was up to the on coming car to slow down. It took us over an hour to crawl to Chingola.

Honestly can’t the authorities do something about that road! The mines are making so much money. I mean copper is over $8000/ton. Can’t they build roads for their trucks instead of endangering the public? That Kitwe -Chingola road needs to be a dual carriage way at the least. Foolishly enough I saw some factory being built near the road along the Kitwe/Chingola road. If in future someone wants to expand the road what are they going to do about these plants that are built so close to the road? If the local government has no money they should at least close the road to trucks say from morning to evening which is the time the general public mostly travels. Or they could set up toll roads as a way of collecting revenue.
I’m so cross with the government,they were so quick to sell our mines and didn’t take our peoples needs into consideration.

Is it the Chingola council responsible or do we point a finger at the President?
If you have the address of the idiot responsible for this please forward his/her address to me.
Well sorry for being so political but I was really pissed. More next time.

love Womba

Editor’s Note

Please feel free to send us your lifestyle story through the Contact Us link above with the subject Lifestyle and we shall get it published.