Government says it is shocking to learn that evacuation of Patriotic Front-PF leader Michael Sata to South Africa for medical treatment has been politicized by the PF.

Acting Information and Broadcasting Minister George Mpombo says it is unfortunate that the PF is seeking to make political capital out of good intentions by government.

Mr. Mpombo described the report attributed to PF Vice President Guy Scott that it is the wish of Mr. Sata to refund the government whatever will be spent on his treatment as a simple gesture of cheap politics.

Mr. Mpombo, who is also Defence Minister, pointed out that it is inhuman to trivialize an illness for cheap politics.

He said the decision by President Levy Mwanawasa to evacuate Mr. Sata to South Africa was well intended and made in good faith.

Addressing the Press in Lusaka today, Mr. Mpombo said the report attributed to Dr. Scott reflects poor judgment by the PF.

Mr. Mpombo noted that it appeared Dr. Scott wished government did not evacuate the PF leader to receive specialist treatment.

He alleged that Dr. Scott has shown that he has hidden interests saying no wonder that some people my incline to speculate that some PF leaders aspiring to take over from Mr. Sata do not wish the PF leader well.

He emphasized that there was little time to waste to evacuate Mr. Sata after Doctors assessed his condition.

The Acting Information Minister pointed out that Dr. Scott’s remarks are beneath decency and surprising given that he of all PF leaders should be grateful that government acted with speed to save the life of his president.

Mr. Mpombo said at such a time, people should learn to come together and pray for the quick recovery of someone ill and not to engage government is cheap politics.

He pointed out that no amount of talking will stop government from doing good things for any Zambian who finds themselves in difficult situations such as the one Mr. Sata was in.

Mr. Mpombo explained that the evacuation of people of different status in society is an exercise that is undertaken by government at its own cost and no patient is required to refund the state.

Mr. Mpombo, who on behalf of government wished Mr. Sata a steady and quick recovery, said Mr. Sata is entitled to the service that government provided him at government cost which is non-refundable.

And responding to Dr. Scott’s reference to the need to provide specialist treatment at home the services for which people are evacuated to South Africa, Mr. Mpombo said Dr. Scott should be aware that the New Deal Administration has invested a great deal in the establishment of specialized units, including the cancer unit at UTH.

He noted that this is an ongoing exercise which started during the tenure of President Mwanawasa.

The Post Newspapers today carried a story in which Dr. Scott is quoted as having said it is Mr. Sata’s wish to refund the government whatever money will be spent on his treatment.

In the early hours of Saturday 25th April, Mr. Sata suffered a heart attack and was evacuated to South Africa for specialists treatment by government.

A political activist has commended government’s quick action to evacuate P.F Leader Michael Sata for specialised treatment.

Mr. Ferdinard Kapompole said the government’s move, especially President Mwanawasa, clearly demonstrated maturity in the country’s political landscape by separating politics from health care.

He pointed out that the gesture was a concrete indication that the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation was real.

Mr Kapompole told ZANIS in Kitwe today that all patriotic Zambians should pray for Mr Sata to recover quickly so that he would continue to lead his party.

Mr Kapompole advised that it would be immoral for anyone to politicise Mr Sata’s illness, especially the government’s quick response.

He also supported those in favour of the 50 per cent plus one vote as it would benefit for those political parties who would contest the election for the position of presidency.

On Saturday, Mr Sata was evacuated to South Africa for specialised treatment after recommendations from doctors at Care for Business Medical Centre in Lusaka where he was diagnosed with a heart attack.

United National Independence Party (UNIP) says the party will continue to emulate the values that its founder Dr Kenneth Kaunda in order to build and strengthen the once ruling party.

UNIP party president Tilyenji Kaunda said the party has a duty to continue building and strengthening the party through unity as one of the values left by the founding fathers.

Mr. Kaunda was speaking when UNIP party members gathered to celebrate first republican president Dr. Kaunda’s 84th birthday which falls today at his Kabulonga offices in Lusaka today.

He said the “one Zambia, one Nation” slogan is evidence of one of the values that have translated into national unity.

Mr. Kaunda said the participation of Zambia in the liberation struggle of other countries under Dr. Kaunda’s leadership also demonstrates his values for human equality and dignity.

He has also assured Dr. Kaunda that his party will rally behind him in his campaign against HIV/AIDS.

And Dr. Kaunda has urged the party to start building cooperatives throughout the country in order to build and strengthen the party.

Dr. Kaunda said cooperatives which existed during his tenure as republican president were aimed at empowering people and wondered why cooperatives were done away with in the second republic after he left office..

Meanwhile the first republican president has urged Zambians to continue embracing the virtue of love in order to maintain the peace and unity the country has so far enjoyed adding that love is beyond tribe and color.

ZESCO Limited is sourcing for an additional US$44 million to complete rehabilitation projects at both Kariba and Kafue Gorge power stations.

Energy and Water Development Acting Permanent Secretary, Oscar Kalumiana said government is ready to help the utility company source the funds adding that it aware that the company is unable to make profits because of the unattractive tariffs.

Mr. Kalumiana said this in Siavonga yesterday after touring the Kariba North Bank power stations with Members of Parliament.

He noted that electricity tariffs in Zambia and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region needs to be revised as they are low adding that this was making it difficult for power utility companies to borrow from big multilateral lenders because they find the tariffs unattractive for investment.

Speaking earlier, ZESCO Director of Customer services, Teddie Mwale said ZESCO needs to invest US$3 billion in the coming years in order to contribute significantly to the growth of the economy.

Mr. Mwale noted that currently only 25 percent of households in the country have access to electricity adding that more investment needs to be pumped in the sector to enable more households have access to the essential commodity.

Mr. Mwale disclosed that ZESCO will this year bring down staff costs significantly to in order to enhance efficiency of operations.

And Kawambwa member of parliament, Elizabeth Mulobeka urged ZESCO to conduct more sensitization in Schools on the need for them to switch to energy serving devices in order to caution the current load shedding.

Meanwhile, a Member of Parliament has called on ZESCO limited to consider investing in thermal power plants to enhance its current generation capacity.

Namwala Member of Parliament, Robbie Chizyuka says the utility company would spend less money and time in generating power from thermal power plants than from hydro power given the readily available coal at the Maamba coal mines in Southern Province.

Mr. Chizyuka said this in Siavonga when Members of parliament from various committees toured the Kariba North Bank power station.

Mr. Chizyuka said it was clear that ZESCO was not going to resolve the current power deficit by merely rehabilitating equipment at power stations but that the utility company needs to investment money in establishing new power plants.

But ZESCO Acting Managing Director, Musonda Chibulu said ZESCO did not have money to invest in thermal power plants.

Mr. Chibulu noted ZESCO was currently not making any returns on investment because the tariffs were too low.

He however said ZESCO was ready to support and buy power from other utility companies like the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) who are thinking of investing in the thermal power plants.

And Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament, Garry Nkombo urged ZESCO to optimize the existence of mini- hydro plants for effective implementation of the rural electrification project.

He noted that there were existing power plants like the Itezi tezi, Musonda and Chishimba falls among others which if invested in would greatly contribute to ZESCO’s current generation capacity.

Mr. Nkombo, who is also the chairperson of the parliamentary committee on energy, further advised government to consider investing the money collected from the new mining tax’s in new power plants.

And Government will this year set up a US$6 billion Hydro Power Station at Chanda Falls in Chavuma District of North-western Province.

Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga says the new Power Station is expected to supplement the existing power generation of ZESCO.

Mr. Konga has however urged ZESCO to be forward-looking if the utility firm is to answer present and future challenges in the energy sector.

He says there is need for ZESCO management to plan ahead if the energy sector is to meet the current and future demands.

Mr. Konga was speaking in Chavuma district in the North-western Province when he toured the ZESCO local branch on his familiarization tour of ZESCO operations in the area.

The minister expressed disappointment that ZESCO authorities at the Chavuma ZESCO branch failed to avail him with the necessary data and future estimates.

Mr. Konga, who is Chavuma Member of Parliament, further expressed disappointment at the way ZESCO generators were being maintained in the area.

He cautioned ZESCO managers that government is spending huge sums of moneys on ZESCO operations hence the need to ensure generators and other installations are well looked after.

And Chavuma ZESCO Branch Mechanical Technician Alister Mtonga informed the minister that there was only one reliable machine in the entire district.

Patriotic Front Leader, Michael Sata, who suffered a heart attack on Friday, is said to be out of danger.

Mr. Sata who is still in the intensive care unit at Johhanesburg’s Milpark clinic in South Africa, is also reported to be responding well to treatment.

This is according to PF Spokesperson, Given Lubinda.

Mr. Lubinda said in the Zambian capital, Sunday that Mr. Sata’s condition has tremendously improved from the time he was flown out to Milpark clinic on Saturday.

He said doctors attending to Mr. Sata said the PF leader will be moved from the Intensive care unit to the cardiac ward in a few days time.

Mr. Lubinda said the opposition party is hopeful that Mr. Sata will soon recover and return home.

Government facilitated Mr. Sata’s evacuation after President Levy Mwanawasa issued a directive to fly out him out for specialised treatment.

Patriotic Front President, Michael Sata has been flown to South Africa for treatment after he suffered a severe heart attack

Mr. Sata who is leader of the biggest opposition party in Zambia was flown to South African’s Mile Park clinic in Johannesburg at 01:30 hours today.

Health Minister, Brian Chituwo confirmed to ZNBC news that Mr. Sata suffered a severe heart attack.

Dr. Chituwo said President Mwanawasa gave a directive that the PF leader be immediately evacuated to South Africa for emergency treatment.

He said the plane carrying Mr. Sata landed in South Africa at 03:30 hours and he was immediately taken for treatment.

Dr. Chituwo said government will give an update on the condition of Mr. Sata.

Milpark Hospital clinic confirmed Sata’s admision.

“He has been admitted to the cardiac care unit, which is a cardiac intensive care unit,” said Amelda Swartz, spokeswoman for Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg.

“He is in a stable condition,” she said.

Swartz said Sata had suffered a heart attack before coming to the hospital, and would have an angiogram on Saturday afternoon as part of his treatment.

The United Party for National Development (UPND) will field Chimwala Phiri for the forthcoming Milanzi Constituency parliamentary by election.

Briefing the press in Lusaka today, UPND acting party president Richard Kapita said the party endorsed Mr. Phiri following exhaustive consultations with local party members.

Mr. Kapita expressed confidence that UPND would scoop the Milanzi seat because its candidate is the best representative of the people of Milanzi and is popular in the area.

And Mr. Phiri said he is very happy to be associated with a party that has a clear vision of how to develop the country.

Mr. Phiri disclosed that a number of political parties approached him to stand on their party tickets but that he chose the UPND because it has an established and mature leadership.

He expressed confidence that he will scoop the seat because he commands tremendous support from the people of Milanzi.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has set June 28 for the election.

The Milanzi parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of area Member of Parliament Chisoni Njovu.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kapita has disclosed that party president Hakainde Hichilema is in China to learn how that country is successfully managing its economy.

Mr. Kapita said China has initiated rural projects that are helping to improve the livelihood of the rural population, hence UPND wants to ensure that Zambians living in rural areas benefit from such initiatives.

He said the UPND president will meet top officials in that country to discuss a range of issues.

And answering questions from journalists during the briefing, Mr. Kapita said the 50 percent plus one threshold for the election of the Republican President is welcome.

He said a popular president should be elected by the majority of the people from across the country not only from one region.