The African Union (AU) has hailed Zimbabwe’s power-sharing deal as a “turning point” for the nation and urged the world to give it full support.

A statement issued late on Friday by AU Commission chairman Jean Ping welcomed this week’s accord between President Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwean opposition.

“The chairperson commends the Zimbabwean parties for arriving at this agreement which marks a turning point in the efforts aimed at promoting reconciliation, stability and fostering conditions conducive for the recovery of their country,” it said.

The AU praised South African President Thabo Mbeki’s “skillful diplomacy and tireless efforts” as a mediator.

“The chairperson urges the international community as a whole to do its utmost to support the implementation of this agreement and provide the requisite assistance to that end,” the statement added.

Giving first details of the deal reached on Thursday, an opposition senator said on Friday that Mugabe would keep his job and head the cabinet. Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main opposition MDC group, would be prime minister and chair a council of ministers supervising cabinet, the senator said.

Zimbabweans are desperate for an end to a political crisis that has destroyed the economy, hitting the once-prosperous country with the world’s highest rate of hyper-inflation and sending millions of refugees into neighbouring countries.

Reuters

Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD founding member Akashabwata Mbikusita-Lewanika says it is wrong for the opposition to dwell on petty issues.

Mr. Mbikusita-Lewanika says this is particularly wrong when the country is faced with enormous challenges of food crisis, global warming, unemployment and HIV/AIDS.

He urged the opposition to instead concentrate on real issues and offer workable solutions to daunting challenges faced by the country.

Mr. Mbikusita-Lewanika told ZANIS in an interview that the electorates are looking for leaders and political parties that would articulate pertinent issues of national importance.

He has since expressed confident that MMD’s Rupiah Banda will emerge victories in the forthcoming presidential election because ruling party is focused on developmental issues.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set October 30, 2008 for the presidential by-election.

Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) in Mufulira says the proposed poll pact between the Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) is a good  for Zambia ‘s democracy .

District FODEP chairperson Tennyson Nyirongo told ZANIS in interview today that the proposed talks are healthy for the country’s democracy as it will enhance the voice of the opposition.

Mr. Nyirongo said the two political parties agreement on the pact is a sign of political maturity emerging among the opposition parties .

He noted that the opposition has remained fragmented for a long time hence contributing to their failure to adequately represent the voters.

Mr. Nyirongo was commenting on the proposal electoral pact by the PF leader Michael Sata and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema for the October 30 presidential by election.

And Mr. Nyirongo also said FODEP in the District has identified forty (40) monitors who will participate in the forthcoming election.

He said the names of monitors have since been submitted to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for accreditation through their national office.

In another development,The Patriotic Front-PF- has dismissed reports suggesting that it has entered into an electoral pact with the United Party for National Development, UPND.

PF leader, Michael Sata, says there has been no pact for the two parties to adopt a single candidate in the October 30 Presidential election.

Mr. Sata told a campaign meeting in Kafue, Thursday, that reports indicating that the two parties have agreed to field UPND president Hakainde Hichilema in the election, are false.

The PF leader said Mr. Hichilema will contest the election on his party’s ticket.

ZANIS/PS/CMM/MK/ENDS.

The World Bank has observed that Zambia has made remarkable progress in the public sector reforms and doing business index.

World Bank Country Representative Dr. Kapil Kapool disclosed that Zambia is now rated 100 out of 181 whose progress in the public reform programmes are being monitored.

Dr Kapool said this at a media breakfast meeting to give a summary of Zambia’s performance on the 2004-2009 doing business indicators in Lusaka today.

He said Zambia has now moved 16 steps from last year when it was rated 116 out of the 181 countries globally.

Dr. Kapool attributed the improvement to the streamlining of the Patents and Companies Registration Office (PACRO) and the computerization of various institutions that facilitate businesses in the country.

He noted that most institutions have improved and reduced their time of operations such as issuing of licenses and registration of companies despite their system of operations remaining the same.

Dr. Kapool however said that there is need for Zambia to strive towards reducing the time and costs of exporting and importing goods into the country especially at border posts.

He added that the delays in exporting and importing goods out and into the country impacts negatively on the competitiveness of both exporters and importers respectively.

Dr. Kapool further called on government to work towards improving the labour market and employment conditions.

He added that there is also need to build on the momentum gained so far and address challenges such as transportation cost and labour market rigidities.

Dr. Kapool noted that the business environment in the country can receive a major boost if government addresses critical reforms is areas such as energy, telecommunications, railway systems and agriculture.

He has however commended government for putting in place mechanisms that have enabled the country record progress in improving its doing business index at global level.

And Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Likolo Ndalamei said government will continue working towards improving business in the country.

Mr. Ndalamei said government wants Zambia to become the best investment destination in future adding that the country cannot create wealth for development without investments.

He said the fight against corruption through institutions created for the task by the late President Mwanawasa has also impacted positively in doing business effectinely in the country.

Mr. Likolo also assured the World Bank of government’s commitment to addressing issues and challenges observed in the annual assessment.

The Doing Business is an annual assessment of selected business indicators on how countries are fairing in the implementation of private sector reform programmes.

It is however not a comprehensive index measure. Currently Zambia is among the 181 countries across the globe that is annually assessed since 2004.

ZANIS/CM/AM/ENDS

Kafue District Council Chief Administration Officer, Maurice Hichilema has urged the district voter education committee to work hard and be non partisan in its community election sensitization exercise on the forthcoming presidential by-elections.

Mr.Hichilema, said today that the responsibility that lay ahead of the committee was very demanding and the committee should not be influenced by politicians who could make them fail to sensitize communities freely.

He was speaking today in Kafue during a meeting held by the district voters’ education committee (DVEC) in the council chamber.

Mr. Hichilema said the presidential by election was just a month away and therefore, the committee should ensure that it worked extra hard to encourage more voters to participate in voting.

He said the district has this year been allowed to employ 17 ward community voter education facilitators to sensitize communities on the importance of participating in elections as compared to 2006 when only five facilitators were employed.

Mr. Hichilema informed the members that the committee would have to ensure that people living in the remotest parts of the district were also reached and education on issues of the forthcoming elections.

He said the Electoral Commission of Zambia would work closely with the district council and other committees to ensure that the elections were held under a free and fair atmosphere.

And Kafue District DVEC Chairperson, Francis Kanyembo, appealed to members to work together so that the voter education sensitization exercise throughout the district was carried out without any difficulties.

Mr. Kanyembo said despite the programme coming at short notice, it was important that the committee did not put the name of the Electoral Commission of Zambia into disrepute.

He said the committee should ensure that democratic principles were highly valued and respected in the country.

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Acting President Rupiah Banda has expressed confidence of   the party scoping the forth-coming October 30 Presidential by-elections.

Mr. Banda says the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) is a strong Party which will never be intimidated by the opposition political parties even if they teamed up in the October 30 Presidential by-elections.

The Acting President was speaking to Journalists shortly after arrival from Chililabombwe where he had gone to watch the joint Zambia/Togo 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup qualifiers game in which Zambia won by a goal.

Mr. Banda said the MMD  was ready to  win the opposition in the forth-coming October 30 Presidential by-elections because the party  is  credible  and  capable of delivering to the Zambian people.

He appealed to the MMD members to campaign vigorously to ensure that the Party continued in government and fulfill the late President Mwanawasa’s vision of developing the country.

Mr. Banda said it was the late President Mwanawasa’s wish that the MMD party continued in government in a bid to uplift the living standards of people and propel the country’s national development to greater heights.

Earlier, Mr Banda called for  mature and issue based campaigns.

Mr. Banda made the call at Kasompe Airstrip in Chingola this morning before departure for Lusaka.

He said the forthcoming by-election messages must be based on the developmental agenda of the country.

He said the people of Zambia wanted to know how the political leadership of the nation would help the citizens to provide answers to people’s basic needs.

He said it was the MMD’s agenda to provide more schools, health centres and provide the necessary leadership that would improve the livelihood of Zambians.

Mr. Banda said politics of name calling and insults were long gone as Zambians were now focused on development in all the sectors.

He said the MMD cadres and members should send the right campaign messages to the people of Zambia so that on October 30, 2008 all may vote for the ruling party for continuity with programmes that the late President left in place.

Meanwhile Mr Rupiah Banda is tomorrow expected in Chipata to attend the Kulamba traditional ceremony of the Chewa people of Katete district on Saturday.

According to the program released ZANIS in Chipata by the Eastern Province administration in Chipata yesterday, Mr. Banda is expected to touch down at Chipata airport at 09 hours.

He will then go to Mama Rula lodge for a briefing before traveling to Katete to pay a courtesy call on Paramount chief Kalonga-Gawa-Undi at Mkaika headquarters, where the ceremony would be held on Satruday.

The programme also states that after the courtesy call, Mr. Banda will depart Katete for Chipata where he is expected to pay condolences to senior chief Nzamane of the Ngoni at his palace, on the death of his son.

The Acting President will have a night stop in Chipata before going back to Katete to attend this year’s Kulamba ceremony.

He is expected back in Lusaka on Sunday.
ZANIS/SM/KSH/ENDS