The Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD)in Luapula Province has added its voice in slamming party National Spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba for suggesting that the ruling party should find a leader to replace President Levy Mwanawasa when he returns.

And the MMD in Luapula Province has called on Zambians not to relent in praying for the full recovery of President Mwanawasa adding that there is nothing impossible with God.

Luapula Province MMD executive through its Provincial Party Chairman Major Chibwe Nsakasha said the MMD in Luapula was saddened by the suggestions to replace President Mwanawasa when he was still in hospital.

Major Nsakasha said that instead of contemplating leadership succession for President Mwanawasa it was only prudent for Mr Tetamashimba to pray for the full recovery of the President.

In an interiew today with ZANIS, Major Nsakasha termed Mr Tetamashimba’s action as inhuman and against the Zambian culture saying this needed to be strongly condemned.

He said that the Party in Luapula was strongly opposed to Mr Tetamashimba’s suggestions and that his remarks were aimed at disorienting the party in the absence of President Mwanawasa.

The Provincial Chairman said that remarks by Mr Tetamashimba would however, not have have any negative effects on the party’s unity in Luapula Province.

He said that the MMD membership in the Province remained united.

“We would like to disassociate ourselves from the recent media reports about our spoksperson Mr. Tetamashimba that president Mwanawasa should be replaced when he comes back from France we condemn the statement and Mr. Tetamashimba and urged the entire country to rally against it,” Mr. Nsakasha said.

Mr. Nsakasha was reacting to Tetamashimba’s remarks recently urging the MMD to consider President Mwanawasa’s successor when he returns from Percy Military Hospital in France where he is currently undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, Zambians have continued to pray for the recovery of President Levy Mwanawasa who is hospitalised at Percy Military Hospital in France.

Scores of Mumbwa residents in Central Province joined the rest of the nation in observing prayers for the recovery of President Mwanawasa during an inter-denominational service over the weekend.

The prayer service, held at United Church of Zambia(UCZ) attracted an over capacity crowd from various denominations within the District, who included Government officials,MMD as well as opposition Party officials.

Leading Mumbwa’s Clergymen, Pastor’s Fellowship Chairperson Ephraim Lungu, assured residents that the power of collective prayer could bring about intervention from God for the President’s healing.

Pastor Lungu, from Heritage of Faith Church, said that it was evident that Mumbwa residents were petitioning to God for the recovery of President Mwanawasa, and that this prayer needed to be accompanied by unquestionable faith in the power of God.

He disclosed that the Pastors of Mumbwa had gone as far as declaring ‘Mumbwa for Jesus’ because they had unanimously resolved that a unified voice of prayer would lead to prompt recovery of the President.

Another Preacher, Reverend Peter Simwanza of UCZ said that he was sure that the President health was under the auspice of God because he had not yet completed his spiritual mission for Zambia.

Reverend Simwanza said that he had prophesied long ago that President Mwanawasa was chosen by God to mold Zambia into a Christian Nation, and to steer it into greater heights of development.

He appealed to Mumbwa residents to be calm and optimistic, adding that prayers for the President’s recovery had already been granted.

Reverend Simwanza also urged Preachers from other Church bodies to ensure that inter-denominational prayer services be held frequently, in which people could pray for peace, progress and investment prospects of Mumbwa district.

The inter-denominational prayer gathering at UCZ became the second prayer service in Mumbwa to be devoted to the President’s recovery, in which multitudes of residents filled UCZ central church, with the crowds spilling over onto the hospital round-about road.

Early last week, Mumbwa’s Zambia Police Officer Commanding, Douglas Chamonda kick started the first prayer service devoted to the President’s recovery.

ZANIS/ENDS/CB/CMM/CLM

National Constitution Conference (NCC) 2nd Vice-Chairperson and Matero Member of Parliament Faustina Sinyangwe says Patriotic Front Members of Parliament (PF MPs) who are participating in the NCC have not committed any crime to seek for forgiveness from Party President Micheal Sata.

Speaking when she featured on the community radio station, Zambezi FM Radio station in Livingstone today, Mrs Sinyangwe said the MPs have not gotten themselves in conflict with anybody to seek for forgiveness.

Mrs Sinayangwe said the MPS have not formed a political party but have decided to take part in the constitution making process because they felt it was an important process that could not be boycotted.

She said though she was part of the NCC, she still had support from the people of Matero.

And Mrs Sinyangwe admitted that the constitution making process was not a cheap exercise.

”The constitution making process is not a cheap one. Even President Levy Mwanawasa said it but he bowed down because the opposition demanded for it,” she said.

Recently, Patriotic Front President Micheal Sata said he was ready to forgive MPs currently taking part in the NCC if they went back to him to ask for forgiveness.
ZANIS/ENDS/FM/CLM

Government has announced that out-grower farming schemes in farming blocks would be opened in all the nine provinces in the country in order to boost agriculture activities and enhance food security .

Agriculture and Co-operatives Deputy Minister Daniel Kalenga said government has since embarked on an exercise to put up infrastructure in the farming blocks such as good roads, electricity, water for irrigation which small scale, medium and large scale farmers can utilize to enhance crop production.

Mr. Kalenga said the agricultural sector which will further be promoted through crop diversification in the farming blocks has the ability to contribute to poverty reduction in the country.

The Deputy Minister announced this in Kanakatapa area in Chongwe district yesterday when he officiated at the 32nd Lusaka Provincial and Agricultural Show whose theme is Growth and Diversity through Credit and Finance.

He reiterated government’s committed to supplying subsidized agro inputs to ensuring that vulnerable but viable farmers are supported as they are key players in promoting food security at household, community and national levels.

Mr. Kalenga also disclosed that government has commenced a country-wide construction and rehabilitation of fish ponds .

He added government in collaboration with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has approved a K664 million for the transformation of Kaunga Rural Development Project based in Luangwa district into a Farmer Training Centre .

And speaking earlier, Lusaka Provincial and Agricultural Show Chairperson, Bernadette Simbwalanga appealed to government to revive the Lima and Co-operative banks where farmers could access soft loans through credit facilities.

Mrs. Simbwalanga further commended government for engaging the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in the purchase of agriculture produce.

She has however urged farmers in the country to strive to add value to their crops if they are to compete favourably on the international market.

Meanwhile, chief Mumena of the Kaonde people in Solwezi district has implored government to promote mechanized methods of farming among small scale farmers in Zambian in order to increase food production.

Chief Mumena observed that the current farming methods among many small scale and peasant farmers were not effective enough to address food shortages in the country.

The Chief said Zambian farmers needed to increase food production so as to cushion the negative impact of the looming hike in food prices.

He told ZANIS in an interview that government should therefore partner with traditional leaders in finding means of averting the looming food shortages in the world.

The traditional leader has since urged other chiefs to partner with government in rolling out modern means of food production.

He further called upon his subjects to keep enough food for their domestic consumption.

Movement for Multi party Democracy (MMD) National secretary Dr Katele Kalumba has called on party members not listen to politics of division.

Dr. Katele said the country at this moments needs to concentrate on praying for President Levy Mwanawana’s quickly recovery so that he can come back and lead the nation and the party.

Dr. Kaumba stated that this was not the right time to talk about the succession when the party president is bed ridden in Percy’s Military Hospital in France.

Speaking when he addressed women that gathered at the secretariat this morning to pray for Dr. Mwanawasa, Dr Kalumba said the party spokesperson Ben Tetamashimba did not consult with the National Executive Committee (NEC) over his statement.

The National secretary remarks follows utterances attributed to the party spokesperson that the party should choose a successor to levy When the president comes back from France.

Dr Kalumba has further urged urged all Zambians to continue praying for the president’s quick recovery.

Meanwhile, Government has said it was slow in stating its position on Party Spokesperson Ben Tetamashimba so as to give him a chance to reflect on his statement.

Chief Government Spokesperson Mike Mulongoti said it was regrettable that Mr. Tetamamshimba wants to be seen as championing succession when the all whole nation has united in offering prayers for the quick recovery of the President.

He reminded Tetamashimba that he was on record of having said President Mwanawasa should continue heading the Party until 2011 but wondered why he is now championing the succession issue.

Mr. Mulongoti who is also Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services was speaking at the Press briefing held at his Kabulonga residence in Lusaka today.

Mr. Mulongoti, who was flanked by his Deputy David Phiri, advised Mr. Tetamashimba not to be arrogant but instead show Leadership and humility towards the illness of the President rather causing anguish to the first family over his statement.

Mr. Mulongoti further said Tetamashimba being a NEC member and a junior minister failed to consult his colleagues in NEC before issuing the statement which he describe as embarrassing to the government.

‘it was further surprising that he wants to be seen speaking authoritatively on the Party presidency when in fact it was his opinion and doesn’t reflect the Party position,’ he added..

The MMD constitution clearly stipulate on how and when elections from the lower organs of the party are held that eventually culminate into a Party convention.

He added that as much as government respects freedom of expression, it will be wrong for anyone to say anything on the condition of the President rather than that of the medical team in France that is treating him.

The Minister said that has advised the general public to ignore MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba’s statement over the succession of President Levy Mwanawasa.

And responding to questions from the Press on the statement in the foreign media attributed to Zimbabwean President Mugabe that he doesn’t like Dr. Mwanawasa, Mr. Mulongoti said he has asked the Minister of Foreign Minister to issue an appropriate statement.

Mr. Mulongoti has also assured investors not to panic over their investment in the country as there is political stability.

Mr. Tetamashimba has been roundly condemned following the statement he made for the party to start considering a successor to President Mwanawasa, when he returns home.

ZANIS/AH/MK/ENDS

National Constitution Conference (NCC) Vice Chairperson, Faustina Sinyangwe has reiterated that NCC will not formulate a constitution that will bar any Zambian aspiring for the position of Republican President despite the age.

Mrs. Sinyangwe said the formulation of the constitution is a national programme which requires all NCC members to put national interest first and not selfish motives.

She said it is not true that the NCC is there to bar certain individuals and urged members of the public to treat the claims as rumours .

Speaking in Mazabuka during a special phone NCC programme at Mazabuka Community Radio station yesterday, Ms Sinyangwe said targeting certain individuals would defeat the essence of coming up with a people driven constitution.

She urged Zambians to support the current constitutional making process because government has embraced the spirit of openness as evidenced by the involvement of the media in publishing NCC proceedings.

Ms Sinyangwe who is also Patrotic Front (PF) Matero Member of Parliament (MP) further said government has released resources for publicity to ensure consensus is reached in the formulation of the constitution.

She commended government for attaching alot of importance to the formulation of a people driven constitution.

Ms Sinyangwe urged members of the public to form listening groups to ensure they participated fully in the debates going on.

Meanwhile Mrs. Sinyangwe says she is not ready to apologise to PF President Michael Sata for participating in the constitution making process because her decision to participate was done in consultation with the electorate.

Ms Sinyangwe said her participation in the NCC was backed by people in her constituency adding that going against their wish would have been wrong.

Ms Sinyangwe said she is ready to be prosecuted for participating in the constitution making process by the PF leadership for disrespecting the party directive not to do so.

She also dismissed claims that the PF MPs participating in the NCC are planning to form a political party but said they are to represent people.

Ms Sinyangwe said Political parties and other organisations that boycotted participation in the NCC will regret because they will be governed by the same constitution they refused to participate in.

And Ms Sinyangwe said she will not subject herself to any reconciliations with strings attached with her party President.

ZANIS/HC/MK/ENDS