Opposition Federal Democratic Party (FEDEPA)has described as immoral and hypocritical for people who have never appreciated President Levy Mwanawasa to suddenly appear on the scene showing concern about his health.

Without mention the people being referred to, Party President Alfred Sayila said this in a Press Statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Reverend Sayila also alleged that some prayers being conducted in the country may not be coming from people with clean hearts and who wish to see Dr. Mwanawasa healed and resuming his national duties.

He called on all people gaining popularity over President Mwanawasa’s illness to desist from making comments or forming personal opinions meant to distress the situation.

Reverend Sayila said citizens should understand that the republican constitution takes care of the succession issue adding that all leaders thinking of replacing President Mwanawasa were liars and glory seekers.

President Mwanawasa is hospitalised in Percy Military Hospital in Paris, France.

ZANIS/ENDS/BK/CLM

United Church of Zambia (UCZ)Copperbelt Presbytery Bishop Committee Njase says the divisions being experienced by the ruling Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD)over President Levy Mwanawasa’s illness is an embarrassment to the Party and the Country as a whole.

Bishop Njase said there was urgent need for the MMD senior NEC members to stop the succession wrangles and get united in the spirit of love and continue praying for the President’s speedy recovery.

He said it was unfortunate that some NEC members Like Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Benny Tetamashimba were being judgemental on the illness of the President instead of praying ceaselessly for his quick recovery.

Bishop Njase said this at Kitwe’s Buchi hall today during the MMD Copperbelt Provincial Prayer Meeting held to pray for President Levy Mwanawasa who is currently admitted to Percy Military Hospital in Paris,France.

He said the MMD NEC members must be the first ones to express deep sorrow over the President’s fate and request Zambians to pray ceaselessly for his quick recovery to enable him continue with his programmes of developing the nation instead of fighting over succession.

He noted that the many utterances that were being made over the President’s illness were unfortunate and called on all stakeholders to unite and pray for the President.

Speaking earlier, at the same function Copperbelt Provincial Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima called on party cadres not to be used as tools of political hooliganism at such a critical moment in the nation’s history.

Mr Mbulakulima said this was not time for the MMD to start fighting but time to provide good leadership and not mislead the nation.

He expressed happiness that the Copperbelt had remained united and continued to pray for the President’s quick recovery in Unity Love and peace.

He urged the party to remain focused adding that it would not do them good to start fighting especially that President Mwanawasa had created a legacy of good leadership and enjoying a lot of donor and investor confidence world wide.

The prayer session was attended by several party cadres from the Copperbelt, District Commissioners and Christians from all walks of life.

ZANIS/ENDS/LKC/CLM

Opposition Patriotic Front Leader Michael Sata has defended his request for Cabinet to establish a medical board that would be allowed to fly to Paris, France where President Levy Mwanawasa is hospitalised to monitor progress on his health.

Mr Sata maintained that his call was in good faith as it would dispel speculations about the President’s health.

The PF leader’s request has come under fire with some quarters of society describing it as insensitive.

Speaking during a Media briefing in Lusaka today,Mr Sata also said Zambia needs to unite now as opposed to bickering during this tough period when the Head of State was hospitalised in France.

Mr. Sata was reacting to United Party for National Development(UPND)President Hakainde Hichilema’s criticism over his request to Cabinet.

The PF Leader categorically slammed Mr Hichilema for allegedly spreading false rumours about the health of President Mwanawasa and Mr. Sata himself.

Mr Sata observed that what was at stake now was the nation and not an individual party adding that Mr. Hichilema should stop cheap politicking and instead address himself to national issues.

Mr. Sata who claimed that he was more close to the President than Mr. Hichilema said the UPND leader was creating unnecessary tension in the country.

Mr. Sata pledged his party’s commitment to helping Cabinet manage the affairs of the country in the absence of President Mwanawasa saying there was no need for squabbles.

And speaking earlier, PF Information and Publicity Chairman, Given Lubinda hailed Cabinet and Government for the sober manner in which they have handled the illness of the President.

However, Mr. Lubinda appealed to Cabinet to speedily do whatever was within their means to ensure that they curtailed the speculations surrounding the health of the President.

Like the PF leader, Mr. Lubinda is also for the idea of the establishment of a medical board to investigate the health of the President saying the process was not dependent on a politician or individual but Cabinet based on collective resolution as per Article 36(1) of the Constitution of Zambia.

ZANIS/ENDS/CBM/CLM

Secretary to Cabinet Joshua Kanganja has warned permanent secretaries and other senior government officers against resisting to release relevant and important information to stakeholders on the country’s governance.

Dr Kanganja said he has received reports from various stakeholders on the failure by senior government officers to respond to stakeholders when they are in need of information on the country’s economic, social, corporate, political, and democratic development.

Dr Kanganja charged that government officers must ensure that relevant and adequate information is provided to stakeholders who have genuine reasons to have access to the various types of information.

He said this in Lusaka today when he officiated at a seminar for senior government officials on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

Dr Kanganja explained that the challenges that Zambia as a country faces in realizing good governance should be brought to the fore so as to enable all stakeholders in society to propose remedies to addressing the challenges.

“I do not want to receive any more reports that a permanent secretary or any other senior government official does not want to release information to genuine stakeholders”

“Those offices you are occupying public offices, hence you must be accountable and attend to stakeholders when they are in need of information,” Dr Kanganja.

Dr Kanganja said government officials should not view the APRM as a blame apportioning exercise but rather as a genuine opportunity to show case Zambia’s determined efforts to release and actualize good governance principles.

“WE should equally ensure our co-operation with the APRM secretariat by providing all the information which is critical in producing the country’s self assessment report,” Dr Kanganje said.

Dr Kanganja said the Zambian government’s contribution to the APRM process should continue to demonstrate the good efforts being sewn to enhance good governance in the country.

He explained that the APRM process to which the Zambian government has committed itself is meant to assist African countries and its leadership in developing credible and satisfactory governance systems.

Dr Kanganje added that countries accredited to the APRM process are accountable for the governance situation in their respective countries through a self country assessment report and the peer review of the president.

ZANIS/YK/AM/ENDS.

Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II today joined hundreds of Chongwe residents at St Paul’s Roman Catholic Church to pray for the quick recovery of President Mwanawasa.

The prayer meeting was also attended by Lusaka Province Minister Lameck Mangani and Area Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo.

Speaking during the prayer meeting, Ms. Masebo urged Zambians to remain steadfast in praying for the quick recovery of Dr. Mwanawasa.

Ms. Masebo, who is also Local Government and Housing Minister, further urged Zambians to preach love, unity and peace.

She has since called on Zambians to ignore ill-timed remarks on Dr. Mwanawasa’s illness and condition.

Earlier Lusaka Province Minister Lameck Mangani expressed delight that Zambians, including traditional leaders and the clergy are praying for the quick recovery of Dr. Mwanawasa.

Mr. Mangani reiterated that this not the time to start quarrelling as all people should be pre-occupied with praying for the speedy recovery of President Mwanawasa.

Delivering a homily entitled “Jesus the same yesterday, today and tomorrow” People’s Destine Bible Church, Pastor Newman Bubala urged Christians to pray without ceasing.

And Ms Masebo said people calling for an independent medical team to assess president Levy Mwanawasa are only being insensitive and inconsiderate.

She said such thoughts are cruel and unecessary because the President has only been in hospital for less than three weeks.

Ms. Masebo told ZNBC News in Chongwe, that Dr. Mwanawasa has been ill before and managed to recover fully.

Some political party leaders recently called for an independent team of doctors to travel to France to assess the president’s condition and give an independent report.

And United Church of Zambia, Reverend Simumba prayed for national stability.

Local Government and Housing Minister Sylvia Masebo and Lusaka Province Minister Lameck Mangani were with the President in Egypt when the president was taken ill.
ENDS/JT/AM/ENDS

The National Constitution Conference (NCC) is happy that institutions that initially boycotted its existence are indirectly participating in the deliberations.

NCC spokesperson Mwangala Zaloumis says some organizations which boycotted the conference are commenting and making recommendations on the deliberations of the NCC.

She said that some institutions are even allowing their members to debate on certain clauses when asked by the NCC.

Meanwhile Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has welcomed the proposal by the Democratic governance committee of the NCC that the President be elected by a 50 plus one majority vote.

TIZ Executive Director, Goodwell Lungu says the proposal by the committee should be commended because the 50 plus one clause helps the country to have a President who is elected by the majority.

Mr. Lungu hopes the proposal will be upheld by the NCC plenary when it meets later this year.

He told ZNBC News that it is important the clause is even maintained and included in the constitution when the conference takes its recommendations to parliament.

On Monday the Democratic governance committee of the NCC proposed that the 50 plus one election vote for the President be included in the constitution.