A five year old boy in Kawambwa who was suffering from paralysis and has never walked since he was born has now started walking.

This was after a Medical officer, Rodgers Kaluba from Kenya’s Medicinal Plants University cured him by using some herbal medicines.

The boy, Movis Mushota, whose legs were bending, is from Lusambo village in chief Munkanta’s area in Kawambwa.

Both Dr. Kaluba and father to Movis, Soft Mushota, 40, confirmed the treatment of the boy to ZANIS in Kawambwa yesterday.

And the visibly happy Mr. Mushota explained that it is surprising to find that Movis who has neither stood up nor walked since he was born five years ago has now started walking.

Mr. Mushota noted that his child used to crawl and that he could not believe that he is now able to walk after being cured by Dr. Kaluba.

Mr. Mushota explained that after three days of massaging and treatment that included giving him porridge prepared from Soya beans, millet and sorghum, on his way home, the boy felt very hot at his back and started crying.

He further said after two weeks, Movis started standing and walking.

Mr. Mushota has encouraged those with different diseases to come in the open and see the doctor adding that he does not use Juju but believes in God whenever he is performing the treatment.

However, Dr. Kaluba also told ZANIS in a separate interview that it took him three days massaging Movis and giving him some herbs until after one week when he managed to stand up.

He also revealed that Movis whose legs were bending and was suffering from chronical rheumatism, anemia and sickle cell started walking after he gave him porridge mixed with Soya beans, millet and sorghum.

The doctor also said he trusts in God “the great physician” to cure people and not in himself.

Many people who have since been cured by Dr. Kaluba urged him to continue helping people with various illnesses in the district.

One of them, Rachel Mushota, 54, who is also a grand mother to Movis told ZANIS that she has been suffering from high blood pressure (BP) and was unable to walk up right but now she is able to stand and walk upright after being treated by the doctor.

Government has assured the nation that contents of the Freedom of Information Dill (FoB) will be made transparent during its enactment process.

In a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today Information and Broadcasting minister Mike Mulongoti said re-tabling of the bill will be a culmination of consultations both local and abroad.

Mr. Mulongoti, who is also chief government spokesperson, said consultations at home have been based on the earlier draft, which had more input from stakeholders and little from the affected public bodies especially government.

He added that consultations abroad were aimed at gaining from the experiences of countries that have the freedom of information acts in place and were specifically in areas of implementation and creation of institutions for management of records and release of information.

Mr. Mulongoti said as a result of these consultations government has realized that there has to be a separation of the types of information of general activities by public bodies from personal and that involving state security and the process of arriving at government decisions.

Mr. Mulongoti said government will also take measures to prepare public bodies by training officers who will handle records and release information.

He added that it will be convenient for government to have such officers acquainted and trained on the types of information they will have to release to the public.

The chief government spokesperson has further assured the nation that government will at an appropriate time make the bill public and expect submissions to the relevant parliamentary committee.

This follows concerns and calls by United Liberal Party (ULP) president Sakwiba Sikota for government to disclose the contents of the bill following President Mwanawasa’s pronouncement about re-tabling the freedom of information bill during his opening address to parliament recently.

A senior Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) official in Kafue, Lusaka Province has warned of disciplinary action against district party officials found campaigning for MMD presidential aspirants before the final whistle is blown.

MMD Kafue District Chairman Goodson Sansankuwa sounded the warning in an interview with ZANIS today saying he was aware that despite the president’s advice notto start presidential campaigns, some self proclaimed presidents were busy introducing themselves in some wards of the district.

Mr Sansakuwa who could not disclose the names of presidential hopefuls noted that the MMD succession should be left to the president alone.

He said all aspiring presidential candidates have been advised to stop declaring their interest before the party shortlists its own preferences and adopts the right candidate who will be floated for the 2011 elections.

And Mr Sansakuwa has disclosed that preparations for this year’s branch and ward elections in Kafue are progressing well and all contestants are ready.

Mr Sansakuwa said elections at the lower party structures in the district have reached an advanced stage with a lot of highly educated people showing interest to contest various positions as per announcement recently made by the party’s national executive committee.

Mr Sansakuwa who is also Kafue District Council Chairman and Kasenji MMD ward councillor said that he was happy with the calibre of people who are showing interest in contesting the elections at branch level because educated people previously used to shun politics as they thought it was meant for thugs.

He said intellectuals should realise that they can also contribute to national development by participating in party elections such as those MMD will hold.

Mr Sansakuwa has also advised those with intentions of joining the MMD to get familiar with the party’s regulations and manifesto

He warned that MMD in Kafue will not support any imposter not conversant with party regulations and procedures to avoid misleading members.

Mr Sansakuwa said he will defend his position as District Party Chairman when district elections are held. He boasted of being a NEC material and capable of taking the party to greater heights.

Meanwhile, Acting United Liberal Party (ULP) Secretary General Sikwindi Sitwala and the entire Mumbwa ULP constituency executive has with immediate effect resigned from ULP to join the United Party for National Development (UPND).

Mr. Sitwala together with over 5 000 party cadres announced their resignation at a media briefing in Lusaka today.

Mr. Sitwala explained that his exit from ULP has been necessitated by dictatorial tendencies exhibited by ULP leader Sakwiba Sikota.

He cited the nomination of people to sit on the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) as one such issue where the ULP leader allegedly single-handedly chose people to sit on the NCC without the input of other party members.

Mr. Sitwala said the decision to join UPND was based on the fact the UPND is democratic and has an able leadership.

The MMD in Southern province has reacted sharply to opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) president, Hakainde Hachilema in which he has accused government of failing to assist flood victims.

The ruling party has also asked the UPND leader to apologise to the people of Zambia for insulting and using derogatory remarks against President Mwanawasa and his ministers.

Provincial Secretary, Emmanuel Siamwela said the attacks on government are baseless and done ignorantly because government through the office of the Vice President responded in barely two days after the flood struck Mazabuka, Monze, Namwala and other districts.

Mr Siamwela said Mr Hachilema should have consulted the office of the Vice President before rushing to the press because flood victims have been assisted with Tents, Mealie meal, Kapenta and Beans to the victims.

He advised Mr Hichilema to desist from politicising the flood situation but assist government find ways of mitigating the effects of the floods.

Mr Siamwela said the MMD will not tolerate politicians inciting flood victims to rise against government when they failed to provide humanitarian assistance.

The party provincial secretary was reacting to a story in today’s Post newspaper, headlined MMD’s service delivery is below par.

Mr Siamwela also accused Mr Hchilema of concentrating on attcking government because his mother’s village was swept away by floods.

He also challenged Mr Hichilema why he decided to visit a few selected villages in Mazabuka and Monze instead of the extending his tour to other districts such as Kazungula, Sinazongwe and Siavonga districts.

Mr Siamwela has commended the Catholic church, Redcross, World Vision Zambia and Albidon Zambia limited for donating food aid to the flood victims of Mazabuka.

Meanwhile, President Levy Mwanawasa is tomorrow expected in Mazabuka district in Southern province to tour flood ravaged areas.

The President is also expected to visit Monze and Namwala districts which have equally been hit by floods.

This is according to a programme released to ZANIS in Mazabuka by District Commissioner, Misheck Chiinda this morning.

Mr Chiinda said Dr Mwanawasa will depart Lusaka at 09:30 hours by Chopper and will land at Mbiya Basic School where he would visit over 40 families affected by floods and are temporarily accommodated in tents by Government.

He said the President will also conduct an aerial view of Itebe area in Chief Mwanachingwala which has remained inaccessible since the district was hit by floods three weeks ago.

According to the programme, Mr Chiinda said Dr Mwanawasa is expected to arrive in Monze district at 11:20 hours and depart for Namwala at 13:00 hours where he is also expected to tour flood affected areas before winding up his schedule.

And Magoye UPND Member of parliament, Ben Mweemba says President Mwanawasa’s visit to Mazabuka to check on the flood victims is significant for the people of Mazabuka.

Mr Mweemba told ZANIS in Mazabuka today, that the visit will bring to light the hardships the flood victims are going through and how government can expedite the distribution of humanitarian assistance to the victims.

He said President Mwanawasa deserves to be commended for fulfilling his promise to visit the people affected by floods.

” I personally spoke to the President and he assured me he would visit my constituency, am excited with the visit,” said Mweemba.

Magoye constituency, which covers Chiefs Mwanachingwala and Hanjalika, have been severely hit by floods that have caused havoc on crops, livestock and left scores of families homeless.

Government through the office of the Vice president has responded quickly and dispatched tents, Mealie meal, Beans and Kapenta in all the centres opened to provide temporal accommodation to victims.

Deputy Minister in the office of the Vice president, Friday Malwa physically donated the food stuffs to the victims two weeks ago.