Tempers flared at the Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue (ZCID) regional workshop on the constitution making process in Kasama over the weekend after participants openly differed on the inclusion of age limit for presidency in the new republican constitution.

The members from both the ruling MMD and oppositions political parties exchange unpalatable words after they failed to agree on whether the new constitution should have a clause on age limit for presidency or not.

Some MMD members, who led proponents for the age limit, maintained that there was need for a maximum age limit to be enshrined the new constitution for someone to be republican president.

They suggested that 70 years be the age limit for a presidential candidate to aspire for the highest office in the land saying Zambia needed vibrant person to run the country.

However, the proposal sparked controversy among participants who accused the MMD of targeting an individual in their quest to have an age limit included in the new constitution.

The opponents who included mostly Patriotic Front (PF) members argued that putting an age limit in the constitution would be discriminatory to elderly people who wanted to aspire for presidency.

The PF members, who were emotionally charged, threatened to walk out the ZCID workshop if the meeting failed to reach a consensus on the issue of age limit.

This forced ZCID officials, who included Sharon Phiri and Lillian Pumulo, to put the issue of age limit for presidency to a vote after their efforts to calm the participants over the issue failed.

The vote however went in favour of those against the inclusion of an age limit in the new constitution thereby sending the PF members into wild celebrations.

THE Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has expressed happiness at the outcome of the just-ended Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government Summit.

MDC director – information and publicity, Luke Timdorinyoka, said the party was happy with the contents of the communiqué, although more could have been done.

Mr Timdorinyoka said that MDC was particularly happy that the Summit had urged the ZEC to expeditiously release the results, as that was the main bone of contention.

He was, however, quick to point out that the Summit could have done better.

Mr Timdorinyoka said the Summit could have deliberated the need to discard what he termed “silent diplomacy” by South African President, Thabo Mbeki.

He said the fact that President Mbeki had been retained as a facilitator for Zimbabwe indicated that other leaders agreed with him on his diplomatic style.

“Time for silent diplomacy is long gone and people now have to speak out and do so loudly,” he said.

On the way forward, Mr Timdorinyoka said the MDC would peacefully await the implementation of the SADC resolutions by the ZEC, saying the announcement of the presidential election results was key.

Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president, Rueben Lifuka, commended President Mwanawasa for convening the Summit to address the elections impasse in Zimbabwe.

He, however, said the outcome of the SADC Extraordinary meeting fell short of expectations.

Mr Lifuka reminded the SADC Heads of State of the importance of carrying the hopes and aspirations of millions of Zimbabweans who desired a better future for themselves.

He said that it was public expectation that SADC Heads of State would pass the test of credibility and help restore pride in the people of Zimbabwe and Africa by the quality of their decision.
Times of Zambia

A traditional ruler in Mazabuka has advised newly appointed Southern Province Minister, Daniel Munkombwe to serve the people in the Province without any Political biasness if development programmes in the area are to succeed.

Chief Mwanachingwala told Mr Munkombwe during a public meeting held at his palace today that he is a leader of all the people of Southern Province including those from the opposition political parties.

He also advised Mr Munkombwe not to abuse his appointment but ensure he delivers development to all corners of the province.

The Chief further advised the Minister to desist from being emotional but embrace even those that criticize his administration.

Meanwhile, Chief Mwanachingwala has commended President Mwanawasa for appointing Mr Munkombwe as provincial minister.

He said what has excited the traditional ruler is the fact that, the President endorsed the concerns they raised by Chiefs over the appointment of non-Tonga speaking Ministers in the province.

Chief Mwanachingwala also challenged those that were criticising President Mwanawasa for appointing non-Tonga speaking Ministers to come out in the open and support Mr Munkombwe.

He said it is wrong to criticise and fail to appreciate when your concerns have been addressed.

And in responding to the Chief’s advice, Mr Munkombwe commended the Chief for being courageous in advising him.

Mr Munkombwe said since he began his tour, non of the Chiefs has ever taken trouble to advise him without fear.

He promised to work with everybody including the opposition party.

The Minister however said he will differ with the opposition should they frustrate government programmes or insult President Mwanawasa.

The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) extraordinary Summit ended in Lusaka this morning with a call to the electoral authorities in Zimbabwe that the verification and release of the March 29 election results be expeditiously done in accordance with the law.

The Summit also urged all the parties in the electoral process in Zimbabwe to accept the results when they are announced.

In a communiqué issued after a 13- hour- closed door session chaired by President Mwanawasa and attended by seven other Heads of State and Government delegations from the 14-member regional grouping, the Summit said that the verification and counting of the votes must be done in the presence of the candidates or their agents who must all sign the authenticity of such verification and counting.

Reading the Communique in the early hours of this morning before an anxious horde of Journalists, SADC Executive Secretary Dr Tomaz Salomao said the regional body has also offered to send its election observer mission to Zimbabwe which will be present throughout the verification and counting of votes.

In the event of the verification and counting of votes makes it necessary for the parties to go for a second round of elections, the government of Zimbabwe has been urged to ensure that the runoff are held in a secure environment.

He also said the Summit appealed to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to ensure strict compliance with the rule of law and SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections.

Dr Salomao also disclosed that the Summit has also requested South African President Thabo Mbeki to continue his role as a mediator on Zimbabwe on outstanding issues.

SADC member States at the Summit, with the exception of Zimbabwe, held informal consultations with presidential candidates Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Independent candidate Dr Simba Makoni.

Dr Salomao said both opposition leaders confirmed that the elections were held in a free, fair and peaceful environment.

However, the two candidates expressed concern on the delay in announcing the results as well as lack of their participation in the verification process of the presidential results currently being conducted by the ZEC.

Presidential election results in Zimbabwe have not been announced 15 days after the elections were held. MDC have since lodged an appeal in the High Court to compel ZEC to release the results.

And later answering questions from journalists, Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande who is also Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers said that according to the reports from both the government and opposition representatives at the Summit, the elections were conducted in a free and fair atmosphere.

Mr Pande said both parties told the Summit that there was no crisis in Zimbabwe but that their bone of contention was delayed announcement of the presidential election results.

He said the Summit was confident that the resolutions would help in finding a lasting solution to the current impasse in Zimbabwe.

And in a Press Briefing soon after the release of the Communique, MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti welcomed the efforts of the SADC in resolving the post election impasse in Zimbabwe.

Mr Biti said the regional leaders had sent a clear message to the Zimbabwean government on their concerns surrounding the delay in the announcement in the presidential results, the rule of law, violence and militarisation.

He welcomed the renewed mandate of Mr Mbeki’s mediatory role in Zimbabwe but urged the regional body to break the quiet diplomacy approach as this would not help the situation in that country.

Mr Biti said the South African leader should deal with the situation with more vigour during his extended mediatory mandate.

The MDC Secretary General said that the party welcomed the outcome of the Summit but felt that fundamental concerns such as violence, intimidation, and militarised situation were still outstanding and described the situation in Zimbabwe as tense.

The Summit was attended by eight Heads of State namely South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki, Edwardo Dos Santos of Angola, Mozambique’s Armando Guebuza, Malawi’s Mbingu Wa Mutharika and Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Others are Namibia’s Hifikepunye Pohamba, Ian Khama of Botswana and host President who is also SADC Chairman Levy Mwanawasa.

Other countries which were represented at either ministerial or ambassadorial level included Lesotho, Mauritius, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Madagascar.

The SADC extraordinary Summit was convened to identify ways and means of assisting Zimbabweans in finding a solution acceptable to them and all parties involved in the recent elections.

The SADC intervention was anchored on its pursuit of two objectives namely to promote common political values, systems and other shared values which are transmitted through institutions that are democratic, legitimate and effective.

The intervention was also premised on the need to consolidate, defend and maintain democracy, peace, security and stability.

Earlier, during the official opening, President Mwanawasa appealed to the ruling and opposition party leaders in Zimbabwe to embrace the virtue of humility in charting the future of their beloved country that they rightly reclaimed from the colonial masters after a long and bloody liberation war.

President said the extraordinary Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Summit is not intended to put Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on trial over the current political situation in that country.

Dr Mwanawasa who is also SADC Chairperson said SADC can not continue to standby and do nothing when one of its members was experiencing political and economic difficult.
ZANIS/MK/CLM/BK

The Forum for Leadership Search – Zambia has announced that it will be petitioning First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa on her decision not to participate as a presidential candidate in the 2011 presidential elections.

Forum Executive Director Edwin Lifwekelo told ZANIS in Lusaka today that his organisation would be going round the country to collect signatures for the process.

Mr. Lifwekelo said the first lady has leadership qualities that can add value to Zambia’s democratic dispensation and to uplifting the standards of women and the country as a whole.

He added Mrs. Mwanawasa can contribute significantly to both the political and economic governance of the nation.

He however stated the responsibility of choosing credible leaders lies with political parties.

Mr. Lifwekelo said political parties such as MMD need to be given time to identify a credible leader that will take over from president Levy Mwanawasa.

President Mwanawasa has appealed to the ruling and opposition party leaders in Zimbabwe to embrace the virtue of humility in charting the future of their beloved country that they rightly reclaimed from the colonial masters after a long and bloody liberation war.

Officially opening the Summit at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Centre today, President says the extraordinary Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Summit is not intended to put Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on trial over the current political situation in that country.

Dr Mwanawasa who is also SADC Chairperson said SADC can not continue to standby and do nothing when one of its members was experiencing political and economic difficult.

Dr Mwanawasa said SADC can not continue to standby and do nothing when one of its members was experiencing political and economic difficult.

‘’It would be unwise for a neighbour or neighbours to turn a blind eye when another neighbour’s house is on fire’’.

The SADC Chairperson who is also Zambia’s President said the region was at pains to see the fruits of the Zimbabwean independence struggle endangered as a result of political differences among political parties.

President Mwanawasa said that the Zimbabweans should put national interest above all the other interests and to take judicious decisions that would make Zimbabwe, the region and Africa proud.

He further said the Zimbabwean leaders should make these decisions fully aware that at critical times, great men and women have take bold steps for the benefit of posterity.

‘’That critical time has come for them and that time must be seized now’’, he said.

President Mwanawasa said SADC concern hinges on the failure by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to announce the results of the presidential elections which has given rise to a climate of tension in that country.

The situation has further been aggravated by the inability of the High Court of Zimbabwe to determine the matter speedily following opposition MDC’s appeal to compel ZEC to announce the results.

Dr Mwanawasa said this situation has left Zimbabweans, the SADC region and the international community in the dark as to who won the recent Zimbabwe elections.

The extraordinary Summit in Lusaka convened to address the post election impasse in Zimbabwe is being attended
eight Heads of State namely South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki, Edwardo Dos Santos of Angola, Mozambique’s Armando Guebuza, Malawi’s Mbingu Wa Mutharika and Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Others are Namibia’s Hifikepunye Pohamba, Ian Khama of Botswana and host President who is also SADC Chairman Levy Mwanawasa.

President Mugabe is represented by a delegation of three ministers who include Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengege, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Rural and Social Amenities Minister Emmerson Munangagwa.

Opposition leader Morgan Tshivangirai who arrived in the morning is also in attendance.

And Dr Mwanawasa who hailed the Heads of State for responding to his call at short notice noted that their presence was a clear testimony of their unwavering commitment to the achievement of the objectives of the regional body.

He urged the Heads of State to discuss the prevailing situation in Zimbabwe in an open, objective and honest manner.

‘’This Summit, therefore should focus on helping Zimbabwe to find an answer that genuinely reflects the will of the people. I have no doubt in my mind that the presence of the Zimbabwean leadership at this SADC extraordinary meeting attests to their disposition to heed our advice and their willingness to steer the country out of the current situation’’, President Mwanawasa said.

‘’The challenge before us is that we should identify ways and means of assisting our Zimbabwean brothers and sisters in finding a solution which will be acceptable to the people of Zimbabwe and all parties involved in the recent elections’’.

President Mwanawasa explained that SADC‘s intervention is anchored on the pursuit of two objectives of the regional body namely to promote common political values, systems and other shared values which are transmitted through institutions that are democratic, legitimate and effective.

In addition, he said the intervention is premised on the need to consolidate, defend and maintain democracy, peace, security and stability.

He expressed confidence that the Summit will successfully achieve its objective given the good will portrayed by the people of Zimbabwe and the region.

The SADC Heads of State have since gone into a closed door session which will culminate in the release of a communiqué on its stance over Zimbabwe.

And American Ambassador to Zambia Carmen Martinez said the political situation in Zimbabwe should be addressed amicably without violence and intimidation on the people.

Ms Carmen who commended Zambia for holding the extraordinary Summit said Africa should have solutions to its problems hence the SADC region was key in finding solutions to the situation in Zimbabwe.