The United Party for National Development (UPND) Alliance Partner, Kelvin Bwalya Fube has said that UPND Alliance President, Hakainde Hichilema is the best leader that he has worked with so far in his political career.

And Mr. Fube, fondly known as KBF, has cleared the air on the numerous lies that have been concocted against UPND Alliance leader, Hakainde Hichilema’s work relationship with those he has worked with in the past.

In a radio interview on Radio Phoenix’s Let The People Talk yesterday, Mr. Bwalya stated that contrary to the numerous lies that have been told about him, Mr. Hichilema was the most focused, principled, responsible, resilient, and hard-working person he has ever worked with.

“There has been a lot of lies and misrepresentations by people about Mr. HH in the past that he is like this…he is like that…I don’t find these difficulties in working with him myself. Why? Because we both have similarities in working for the good of the Zambian people. For example, we graduated on the same date; we are almost the same age; we are both principled to work. We are both self-made men who are [also] financially independent,” he charged.

KBF has also appealed to Zambians to rally behind UPND Alliance in the forthcoming general elections slated for 12th August.

He says Zambians should take the money that PF are offering them, saying it was theirs, but that they should keep it in their minds to vote for President Hichilema and the Alliance to liberate themselves.

“PF today has money; they have regalia; they have logistics; they have more cars than we have in the Alliance. Take their money, take their Chitenge, eat! After all, it is your money, it is stolen money, but in your hearts as Zambians…and am trust Zambians…you know what to do…on polling day, go to that booth and exercise your right to vote and vote for UPND Alliance,” he said.

Ruling Patriotic Front Luapula Constituency Candidate Chanda Katotobwe has handed over a BMW motor vehicle to a PF supporter who had his vehicle damaged by opposition UPND supporters in Lusaka last month.

The motor vehicle valued at K95,000 and fuel worth K5,000 was handed over to Mr Michael Mali, aged 34, a resident of Lusaka as a replacement after UPND cadres damaged his vehicle during their road show along Zambezi Road in Roma Township.

Mr Katotobwe has since appealed for peace as the country heads to the August 12th general elections adding that the PF has no appetite for violence.

He further called for tolerance and maximum restraint among PF supporters even in the face of provocation from opposition supporters.

Speaking during a brief handover ceremony of the vehicle, Mr Katotobwe advised PF supporters not to apply any physical revenge when attacked by opposition members.

He stated that the best form of revenge should be in the Ballot Box on election day by electing President Edgar Lungu and all the other candidates standing on the PF ticket.

“Our gesture today is meant to demonstrate that as the PF, we stand for peace always. We have replaced the damaged BMW with this new one because we do not believe in retribution. Our message to our members is that we only revenge on election day in the Ballot Box by ticking on PF candidates,” Mr Katotobwe stressed.

He added, “We only have one Zambia and we should do everything to safeguard the peace that we enjoy in this country. Political violence is a vice that should be condemned by all and we hope that this gesture will be used to promote a culture of tolerance and co-existence among political party supporters.”

The PF Luapula Constituency Candidate also commended President Edgar Lungu for signing a peace pledge ahead of the election which he said is a clear demonstration of the Head of State’s commitment to peace building.

“We are the ruling and winning party hence we have the responsibility to safeguard peace and property. This is the main objective of this gesture because we want to quench violence. As the ruling party, we don’t envy violence and we have the mandate to protect all before and after August 12th,” Mr Katotobwe said.

He added, “President Lungu is the ruler of this country and all the people of Zambia including opposition people are under his rule and as a party President Lungu has won elections using the ballot paper in 2015, 2016 and even this year, we will use the ballot paper to win.”

The vehicle handover ceremony which took place near the PF office on the scene of the attack on Zambezi Road was attended by PF Member of the Central Committee Paul Moonga, Lusaka PF Mayoral Candidate Chilando Chitangala and senior PF officials from Mandevu Constituency.

And receiving the vehicle, Mr Mali thanked Mr Katotobwe and the PF for the gesture lamenting that his movements were severely affected after his vehicle was damaged.

He pledged to promote and advocate for a spirit of tolerance among political supporters in an effort to maintain peace ahead of the August 12th polls.

Patriotic Front Parliamentary Candidate for Kanchibiya Constituency Sunday Chilufya Chanda has promised to dedicate the next 5 years to working with the women cooperatives in the district in order to fast track rural development, increase food production and eradicate poverty through income-generating activities at community and household levels.

Speaking when he addressed residents of Chakopo, Chanda observed that gender inequality and limited access to credit, healthcare, and education have posed a number of challenges for rural women.

He also observed that the Patriotic Front under the 2021-2026 manifesto, has committed to fast-tracking the pace at which women get out of the poverty cycle.

He said while the COVID-19 pandemic had negatively impacted the country’s economy, there is also an opportunity for Kanchibiya District to work with the cooperative movement in responding to demands for agricultural products within Zambia and beyond.

“I believe that women are strong contributors to the economy, and form a large proportion of the agricultural workforce nationally and globally.

He said women, especially through the cooperative model, can do much more given equal resources and made a commitment to the women of Kanchibiya to see this through.
“We are committing to give our women the same access as men to agricultural resources. Once this happens, Kanchibiya will see an increase in production on women’s farms, reduce hunger at community and household levels and lift many out of the vicious poverty cycle”, He stated.

Mr. Chanda has stated that the agenda to empower women is central to the PF’s 2021-2026 manifesto. He said the empowerment of rural women in areas like Kanchibiya was crucial for ending hunger and poverty.

” When we deny or give a blind eye to women’s rights and opportunities, we are denying their children and Kanchibiya at large a better future,” he said.

“So we are serious about strengthening the women cooperative movement in the District through economic integration, agriculture and food security initiatives in order to end hunger, help lift them out of poverty and bolster food security at household and community levels.” Mr. Chanda added.

Mr. Chanda who has been on the ground for years implementing various projects in educational support, infrastructure in sectors such as health and agriculture in his personal capacity intends to upscale these activities in line with the PF 2021-2026 manifesto to help women, youth, and all the citizens of Kanchibiya.

THE UPND Chilanga candidate for Chilanga District Council (CDC) chairpersonship, Champion Tembo has assured the people of Mondengwa ward in Chilanga constituency that the non-compliance of labour laws by some companies in the area will come to an end when UPND forms government.

The residents in Mondengwa ward told the UPND council chairperson aspirant that there are some companies that have reintroduced slavery in the area by paying them slave wages and denying them leave days and off days which has even resulted in many not having registered as voters.

Speaking yesterday when he addressed the people of Chimamu, Mondengwa, Supelo and Malcolm areas in a door to door campaign, Champion Tembo assured the residents that a Hakainde Hichilema led government is not going to condone the corruption that goes on between labour laws enforcers and some companies which result in company’s administrations not to respect its workers.

He said as a faithful disciple of Hakainde Hichilema, he is not going to tolerate people who just get appointed to work to frustrate the works of the people who are chosen by the people.

“This slavery error is going to end with Hakainde’s rise to power. The man detests corruption and I am very confident that these companies which corrupt labour officers so that they get away with the abuses they’re dispensing on its workers will be made to do the correct thing,” said Tembo. “Even me as a faithful disciple of Hakainde Hichilema, I am not going to tolerate a scenario in my district where a government appointee, just an appointee, spoils the works of a government, a councillor, council chairperson and an MP who are directly chosen by the people.”

And Champion Tembo, who’s also the UPND Chilanga district deputy party Chairperson, has told the people that the UPND government is going to end their suffering because Hakainde Hichilema is a visionary leader who is going to broaden the revenue base by turning the potential in the minerals, land and agriculture into wealthy.

He said the money which is going to be saved from a halt in corrupt activities and the money which is going to be realized from the broadened revenue base is going to be used to empower women and the youths, to set up healthy facilities, to set up resource centres and put up solar powered water points.

He also assured the residents that the social cash transfer is going to be maintained and improved because the corruption which has currently rocked the scheme which even saw a former minister get arrested will be cut off.

Champion Tembo was in the area to drum up support the UPND president, Hakainde Hichilema, Chilanga constituency aspiring MP (Sipho Hlazo), Mondengwa ward aspirant (Jabulani Mutema) and his candidature.

He was accompanied by Chilanga district party chairperson, Chisambwe Chinyama and district chairlady, Lizzie Chanda.

Others were district deputy IPS – Media, Chrispine Chambwa, district deputy chairlady, Esther Mutema and some Mondengwa ward officials.

Zambia goes to the polls on August 12, 2021, in an election where the opposition is widely considered to emerge victorious owing to the current economic challenges caused by rampant corruption, and the deteriorating human rights abuses by police and political party carders.

Choma Central Constituency Patriotic Front Campaign Manager Jackson Makwamba has condemned UPND Choma Central Constituency candidate Cornelius Mweetwa for referring to the PF as human waste.

Addressing electorates at Simpwezye village of Nakeempa ward, Makwamba says the UPND candidate has realized that people of Choma can no longer be cheated hence using hate speech against the ruling party.

Mr Makwamba stressed that hate speech by the UPND will not stop the people from voting for the PF candidate Kenneth Moola who is development-oriented.

He said people of Choma Central Constituency have realized that UPND has taken them for granted by retaining people who are known for sarcasm devoid of development.

Mr Makwamba has urged the people of Simpweze village to reject UPND candidates because they have failed to bring development in the last 22 years.

The former Choma Mayor however said that the PF government has a serious program to put up a Mini hospital in Nakeempa village.

Yesterday, UPND CHOMA Central Constituency candidate told the people of Masuku ward that Mr Moola is a good person but the party he contested is as good as fecal matter.

Meanwhile Late Daniel Munkombwe’s wife, Ann Munkombwe has advised women in Southern Province to stand up and reject leaders who have been in power but have failed to sacrifice their own resources.

Meanwhile, Late Daniel Munkombwe’s wife, Ann has advised people of Choma Central Constituency not to vote for leaders that have failed to roll out development.

Mrs Mukombwe says immediate past UPND Choma Central Constituency Cornelius Mweetwa has failed to put up communal projects such as dip tanks and clinics.

Addressing electorates at Simpwezye village in Nakeempa ward , Mrs Munkombwe challenged women in rural areas to stand up and vote for people who will address their challenges.
She said women are the ones who face challenges when a leader is incompetent.

Mrs Munkombwe said its high time for voters to start rejecting with some leaders who do not stand with them in difficult times.

And senior citizen Gift Choongo has challenged the people of Choma to question leaders that have been representing them for ten years without development.
He said its embarrassing to have leaders who do not show love to their people.

He said people of Nakeempa will teach UPND Choma Central Constituency candidate Cornelius Mweetwa and UPND a lesson during this year’s elections.

Mr Choongo said the people have been cheated for a long time by the UPND candidate Mr Mweetwa.

The Civil Aviation Authority has refuted allegations that it refused to grant the UPND Air Flight Rights for its campaign Choppers.

The Authority has learned with sadness about the story circulating on Social and Electronic Media alleging that it denied granting of airspace clearances for five campaign helicopters for the UPND.

In a statement, the Authority’s Public Relations Manager Sepiso Zimba says she is not privy to any such purported application for airspace clearances or any other application for the five helicopters as alleged.

Ms. Zimba has explained that the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority which is normally copied in any such applications has not recommended, to the Zambia Air Force, the non-granting of the alleged airspace clearances in the absence of the subject applications.

She said there are no official records at the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority to substantiate such allegations and therefore regrets the anxiety or distress these unfounded allegations may have caused the general public and other stakeholders.

“Firstly, the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority is not privy to any such purported application for airspace clearances or any other application for the five helicopters as alleged. Secondly, the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority which is normally copied in any such applications has not recommended, to the Zambia Air Force, the non-granting of the alleged airspace clearances in the absence of the subject applications,” Ms. Zimba said.

“There are no official records at the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority to substantiate such allegations; and Lastly, the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority regrets the anxiety or distress these unfounded allegations may have caused the general public and other stakeholders,” she said.

“The CAA wishes to reiterate its commitment to the fair promotion and maintenance of aviation safety and security in the discharge of its mandate.”