United National Independence Party, UNIP, supporters in Northern Province have maintained that the entire UNIP executive led by party president, Tilyenji Kaunda, should resign and pave way for fresh elections in the party.

Speaking on behalf of UNIP members opposed to Mr. Kaunda’s leadership, veteran politician, Daniel Chanda, accused
the current UNIP leadership of illegally holding office following the alleged expiry of mandate in 2005.

Mr Chanda said UNIP followers in Northern province passed a vote of no-confidence in the Kaunda led executive hence the decision to challenge leadership’s continued stay in office.

He urged UNIP members countrywide to support General Malimba Masheke led faction calling itself the UNIP National Revival Forum because it seeks to protect the integrity of the former ruling party.

Mr Chanda, who is former UNIP Mungwi District Chairman, said it was wrong for the current UNIP executive to label the Revival Forum as illegal when in fact it is the one illegally holding on to party leadership.

He warned that UNIP in its current form has lost direction and was headed for doom if genuine members do not rise to the occasion and preserve the interests of the party from detractors.

Mr Chanda also wondered why the Kaunda led executive was opposing calls for fresh elections in order for the party to usher in new office bearers with the vision of taking UNIP forward.

Efforts to get a comment from UNIP acting secretary general Reverend Alfred Banda proved futile.

Currently, UNIP is embroiled in a leadership struggle involving the Tilyenji Kaunda led executive and the Gen. Malimba
Masheke faction, with supporters of each camp now resorting to violent acts to justify their agenda.

Ends/WS/ZANIS/SJK

Political parties and some non-govenmental organisations intending to strike over a move to increase ministers’ salaries must ensure the protests are peaceful.

Information Minister, Mike Mulongoti, said although members of the public have a right to demonstrate, they should ensure their action is peaceful.

He said Zambians should also question organisers, what the motive for the protests is for.

Mr. Mulongoti said the civil society and political parties should use the right channels to air their grievances against government.

He said in an interview with ZNBC news that use of dialogue and the courts, to resolve problems is a better option.

The Chief Government Spokesperson was reacting to calls by civil society to start countrywide demonstrations over the planned salary increments for ministers and other constitutional office holders.
[ZNBC]

The Supreme court has nullified the election of Samuel Chitonge as Patriotic Front Member of parliament for Mwansabombwe in Luapula Province, on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The court said this is because the poll was not free and fair.

The supreme court judgement set aside a High court ruling in favour Mr. Chitonge.

Chief Justice Ernest Sakala sitting with supreme court justice, Denis Chirwa,Peter Chitengi and Christopher Mushabati said the trial judge had erred in law and fact when it ruled in favour of Chitonge.

The court observed that there were a lot of anomalies that characterised the poll in Mwansabombwe.

This was an appeal against the high court judgement of July 17 this year in an election petition in which Chitonge was declared duly elected.

In the apeeal the losing candidate, Maybin Mubanga said there were a number of malpractices during the election campaign.

Chief government spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti says there is no one acting as vice President in Zambia.

Mr. Mulongoti said the Vice President, Rupiah Banda carries his position and continues acting as head of state.

He said this is because President Levy Mwanawasa did not appoint anyone to act in the position.

Mr. Mulongoti said Mr. Banda was appointed by President Mwanawasa to act as head of state.

The chief government spokesperson told ZNBC news that minister of defence, George Mpombo is acting leader of government business in Parliament.

INDENI Petroleum Refinery has offloaded six million litres of diesel onto the market to lessen shortages in different parts of the country.

Indeni director-general, Michael Faulkner, said in Ndola yesterday that the company had since Saturday introduced measures to ensure Zambia had sufficient supplies of diesel.

“We have already offloaded two million litres out of which 1.5 million litres are being distributed to different parts of the country by oil marketing companies (OMCs) and have 500,000 litres. An additional four million litres will be released to the OMCs today,” he said.

In an interview shortly after Copperbelt Minister, Mwansa Mbulakulima called on him at the refinery plant, Mr Faulkner said the diesel shortages would no longer be justified.

Mr Mbulakulima said following the action taken by Indeni, he was hopeful that the shortages would be addressed.

The minister said there was no justification for some OMCs to continue hoarding the commodity for speculative reasons.

Meanwhile, the flow of diesel in Lusaka yesterday improved although some filling stations ran out of the commodity within hours of being supplied.

Meanwhile, the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has appealed to the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) and Government to clearly state the fuel supply situation in Zambia and the expected future trends.

Executive director, Songowayo Zyambo said in a statement yesterday that the ZNFU desired a clear statement from the ERB and the Government on the status of fuel supply in the country.

Mr Zyambo said such information would help ZNFU members plan their activities meaningfully.

“The picture portrayed so far is that oil marketing companies are the ones responsible for the erratic supply of diesel.

“We want to know why the OMCs are behaving in this way and whether the ERB and Government are putting in measures to compel OMCs to supply fuel,” the statement reads in part.

Mr Zyambo said ZNFU was concerned about the fuel price increases and the current erratic supply because agricultural activities need a lot of fuel for ploughing, harvesting, spraying and other operations.

He said the wavering supply of fuel was creating much anxiety to the farmers.

However, the ERB explained that the current consignment of fuel that was bought at a higher price necessitated the hike.

ERB board chairperson, Sikota Wina said in a statement yesterday that the other factor that had contributed to the price increase was the exchange rate which represented a depreciation of 4.3 per cent.

Mr Wina said had the Government not reduced tax on fuel in June, the price upward adjustment could have been more severe, at 25 per cent than the current 13.

“Additionally, there was no price increase from October 2007 to March 2008 and a small increment in April 2008 due to the Government subsidy which amounted to K96 billion,” he said.

Dear sissy,

How are you and the family? I am well and love being here at Havard university. Who would have thought a boy from Kalingalinga would land at Havard! I miss my wife and kids though. As you you know I left Mary 7 months pregnant. Please check on her once in a while for me. She isn’t so impressed that I won’t be there when the baby is born and will only get to see the baby when he/she is 3 years old. Its a tough choice I had to make but I think my getting a pHD will eventually pay off.

Okey my little sissy take care and greeting to my brother-in -law and the kids.

Yours Max

Dear Max,

It was nice hearing from you and that you are fine. Indeed,we as a family are proud of your academic achievements. However, you should know that your in laws are very upset that you left Mary heavily pregnant with two other kids to look after. I did go to see her. I think you can tell she is depressed. She feels you value your education more than your family.

Max, I sometimes tend to side with her too. You have hardly spent time with your wife and kids the last 2 years. You just came back from the U.K where you were doing your masters. Your family still stay in a small, dilapidated rented flat in Rhodes Park. Max junior calls you uncle Max instead of Daddy because he’s only spent 1 full year with you, out of his 3 years of existence. Now you are talking of coming back to Zambia after 3 years! Your children will not know you. I hope you will at least be coming for holidays.

Anyway. I hope your pHD brings you much happiness. Sorry for being harsh.You know I love you but sometimes your little sissy has to tell it as it is.Your kids are paying a huge price for your pursuit of a better life. Take care.

love Beauty

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

Government says it is saddened by the misinformation and distortion of facts surrounding the health of President, Levy Mwanawasa.

Defence Minister, George Mpombo, said the distortion of facts on President Mwanawasa’s illness should be discouraged due to its potential to breed confusion in the nation.

He advised members of the public should rely on information updates from government as the only authoritative source.

He was speaking in Zambezi district when he officiated at the 26th Lunda Lubanza traditional ceremeony held over the weekend at Senior Chief Ishindi’s Mukandakunda Royal Palace.

He explained that the information updates that government is releasing to the nation is based on factual records obtained from the medical team attending to Dr Mwanawasa at Percy Military Hospital in Paris.

He said doctors attending to Dr Mwanawasa have consistently indicated that that he is making steady progress in his recovery.

He urged the church, the civil society and patriotic Zambians to continue praying for Dr Mwanawasa’s full recovery.

ZANIS/KC/SJK.

The opposition Patriotic Front-PF- says all is set for its first convention scheduled for next month.

PF Secretary General, Edward Mumbi has since urged all party members to apply to contest their preferred positions.

Mr. Mumbi said all positions, including the presidency, are open for contest.

He however, indicated that he has not received any application from party members.

Mr. Mumbi said party members should begin to apply to contest positions to avoid crying foul during the convention.

He said all logistics have been properly catered for.

Mr. Mumbi said the next PF Central Committee meeting is expected to decide on the venue for the PF’s first convention.

Kasama Central Member of Parliament, Saviour Chishimba recently indicated his intention to challenge PF leader, Michael Sata.