Andeleki applies for Livingstone seat on PF
By Kombe Chimpinde in Lusaka, Edwin Mbulo and Brina Siwale in L
Tue 15 Jan. 2013, 14:00 CAT
FORMER Registrar of Societies Clement Andeleki has applied for the vacant Livingstone seat on PF saying the area is now ready to deliver the ruling party's first win in Southern Province. By press time, Andeleki was joined by former permanent secretary Gladys Kristafor and seven others.
Confirming his application to be considered for adoption as PF parliamentary candidate for Livingstone, Andeleki said in an interview that he thought it prudent to serve the people of Livingstone where he had spent most part of his life.
"I consider that I should first render services to the people of Livingstone. That is where I was born, that is where I grew up. This is where I started my first life. I do consider that home is home whether you are being fed on milk or not and I think this is the best thing to do," he said.
"As you may know Livingstone has never had effective representation for many years and because of that, Livingstone has had a number of challenges and one of the challenges that our people here are facing is that we do not have a university, we still have a problem with the sewer system in the police camp… simple things…the bridge between Libuyu and Maramba remains a danger spot and you find that the people who have been handling Constituency Development Fund have not effectively put priority in the areas of development in Livingstone.
Land has also been a big issue because these opposition people have been giving land to people who are not eligible just because they have money. I thought it is important to go back home. That is why I had to relinquish my lucrative job and see what I can contribute here."
Asked if his decision to relinquish his position as chief Registrar of Societies would not vindicate speculation that he had been compromised by the PF and was being used to frustrate the MMD, Andeleki said he pursued the MMD just as he did with the PF and UPND.
"The issue that I was compromised by the PF and that I harassed the MMD is not true because as you are aware that arose from the time I served MMD the notice of default. I served the PF a notice requesting them to register their branches in pursuant to Statutory Instrument number 64 of 2004, I served a similar notice to UPND and you can verify this from Mr. Winstone Chibwe the secretary general of UPND but MMD opted to say 'we are going to damage your character because we don't owe the Registrar of Societies any money. They said 'we know you are being used' but if I was being used I would not have written to the PF. UPND and PF registered their branches upon receiving these notices but MMD decided not to pay and it brought that showdown so I don't think I persecuted the opposition in order to favour the PF, the ruling party," Andeleki said.
"MMD, being a big party has a duty to set an example by paying tax. The greatest challenges we have in the Republic of Zambia is corruption and tax evasion. People don't want to pay tax to the government but how can government operate. MMD is one of them. If I became a lawmaker, I would push for government to criminalise tax evasion. I know that under the PF, 20 years down the line we shall cease to be a donor dependent country."
Andeleki said he was confident the PF would scoop the Livingstone seat.
"Mark my words today, PF is going to win the by-election in Livingstone this time around and I am saying this because of the good profile that PF has set for itself. One of them is control of expenditure on the part of government. You are aware that government officers who serve in highest offices are only entitled to one vehicle as opposed to the MMD era where one person could have 10 vehicles. There is control of fuel usage…you know there has been misapplication of resources," he said.
Andeleki said he would rally behind the PF even if he were not adopted.
"One thing is that I grew up a very poor boy, I even had no shoes. I started from Zero," said Andeleki. "I don't like to be eating or getting satisfied while the rest of the people, the general population are suffering. If it means going to the street I will go to the street together with the people. I will rally behind my people. I am not going back to be chief Registrar of Societies. If they are going to adopt a person other than me I am going to campaign for that person as long as he is a candidate for PF that is what we are going to see. What we want to see here in Livingstone is development. I trust my party's adoption system and what I am saying is let the best candidate be adopted."?
Confirming receipt of applications from the nine hopefuls in an interview, PF district secretary Geoffrey Kampamba named them as Colonel Collins Mwanamwale, Captain John?Mwamulima, Liven Apuleni, Lawrence Evans, Alvin Sindowe, Gladys?Zaloumis Kristafor, Clement Andeleki, Zhondwayo Soko and Wilfred ?Mweene.
Kampamba said he was expecting two more applications.?
The Livingstone seat fell vacant following the resignation of Reverend Howard Sikwela who ditched the UPND citing that opposition party's hostility towards the PF government and threats on his life. The Livingstone by-election is scheduled for February 28th together with the Mpongwe polls.
Another aspiring candidate Evan Lawrence, a prominent Livingstone businessman, said the tourist capital needed a candidate who could foster development.
Lawrence, the proprietor of Ng'ombe Breweries, said the city had lost its glory of being one of the leading manufacturing towns in the ?country.? "We need to bring Livingstone back to the way it was 20 or 30 years ago. This city used to have a lot of manufacturing companies that we do not have anymore. Currently Livingstone only has two manufacturing companies and these are Ngo'mbe Breweries and Msanza Milling which is not enough," Lawrence said.
He said opening up more industries would reduce high levels of unemployment among the youths.?"We have so many youths who are jobless and putting up more? manufacturing companies will be able to create jobs. That is one area?that I would want to work on if I am elected as member of parliament,"?Lawrence said.?He said another area that would be vital would be making education a priority because it was the only key to national development.
Lawrence said people of Livingstone needed an MP who understood their challenges and was able to work with them. I have lived in Livingstone for a long time and I know the challenges that people face here. People should choose a local because we have seen people from Lusaka coming here and wanting to stand. We need a local MP who understands and is able to work with the people," said Lawrence. "With the UNWTO (World Tourism Organisation congress to be co-hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe) coming we need someone who will work tirelessly and follow up the development that is going on in the city."
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, CLEMENT ANDELEKI, LIVINGSTONE, PF
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Andeleki caused a lot of misery to MMD - Kaingu
By Allan Mulenga and Kombe Chimpinde
Fri 11 Jan. 2013, 14:00 CAT
CLEMENT Andeleki caused a lot misery to MMD, says Michael Kaingu. Commenting on the resignation of Andeleki as Chief Registrar of Societies, Kaingu, who is MMD vice-president for political, said it was because of Andeleki that Nevers Mumba had not yet been registered as party president.
"How can that be honourable after he has caused a lot of misery to our president? It is because of him that our president is not a registered MMD president up to today. We will meet him in the political arena. We are ready for him," he said.
Kaingu accused President Michaael Sata of using government machinery to wipe out MMD.
"Maybe yesterday it was Andeleki, we don't know how many other civil servants are being used to fight MMD...the police and many others. So, we are saying that this government is using government machinery to fight us," he said.
"He was trying to deregister MMD when he was actually a PF cadre. PF was using him to fight MMD. What that means is that this government is actually up to no good. It is fighting democracy. What is clear is that this government is using civil servants to fight MMD."
Andeleki announced his resignation yesterday, saying he wanted to serve government in a different position.
He said in an interview that remaining in his job was no longer tenable.
Andeleki's name shot to prominence last year when he deregistered MMD for failing to pay statutory fees in form of annual returns worth KR390,000.
The decision was, however, overturned by the Lusaka High Court which deemed it excessive.
"I have resigned my position as Registrar of Societies of the Republic of Zambia, a position I cherished so much, in order to serve the nation on another level. The level I was at is no longer tenable," Andeleki said.
"I have no doubt in my mind that this agency of government will continue to propel to higher heights even in my absence."
Asked about reports that he was earmarked for a political position in the PF, Andeleki declined to confirm the report.
"What I am saying is I have left this position to serve Zambians at another level, the same Zambia, the same nation in another position. It depends on what you mean by political position; you know my qualifications. If I am going to serve, I can only serve in government but to go and be a chairman for the MMD in some province for instance, certainly no," he said.
Andeleki thanked Zambians for their support and cooperation rendered to him in his execution of duties, which he said he was proud of.
He particularly paid glowing tribute to the Church and civil society organisations and the appointing authority for the trust bestowed on him.
Andeleki also reiterated the need for implementation of the societies Act, which is before Cabinet.
"The government must speedily implement the Act because that is very important. You know Zambia is a custodian of democratic tenets," he said.
Recently, the PF suspended its Maramba ward councillor for organising a political meeting for Andeleki.
Confirming the suspension, Livingstone district chairman Fred Chibuye said despite several warnings to Moses Simbaya not to organise a meeting for Andeleki, who was a civil servant, Simbaya still went ahead and organised it.
"We had received reports that Simbaya was organising a meeting for Andeleki and we told him not to as this was going to be tantamount to creating parallel structures. He still went ahead despite us telling him that we needed clearance from the secretary general Wynter Kabimba," said Chibuye.
However, when contacted Andeleki said he addressed youths and women on on how they could effectively form and manage clubs and not on politics.
"We held a workshop at which I addressed young men and women on club formation. It was not a political meeting," said Andeleki.
Labels: CLEMENT ANDELEKI, MICHAEL KAINGU, MMD, NEVERS MUMBA
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PF suspends Maramba ward councillor for organising Andeleki's meeting
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Tue 01 Jan. 2013, 13:00 CAT
The PF has suspended its Maramba ward councillor for allegedly organising a political meeting for Registrar of Societies Clement Andeleki.
Confirming the suspension, Livingstone district chairman Fred Chibuye said despite several warnings to Moses Simbaya not to organise a meeting for Andeleki, who was a civil servant, Simbaya still went ahead and organised it.
"We had received reports that Simbaya was organising a meeting for Andeleki and we told him not to as this was going to be tantamount to creating parallel structures. He still went ahead despite us telling him that we needed clearance from the secretary general Wynter Kabimba," said Chibuye.
However, when contacted Andeleki said he addressed youths and women on Friday on how they could effectively form and manage clubs and not on politics.
"We held a workshop at which I addressed young men and women on club formation. It was not a political meeting," said Andeleki.
And several PF branch officials staged a peaceful protest outside the post office calling for the dismissal of Chibuye whom they accused of frustrating party development by suspending the Maramba ward councillor.
Speaking at the Livingstone Post Office where the demonstrators had gathered under the watchful eyes of police in riot gear, Limas Mwame, who is Namatama ward vice-chairperson, said the party had on two occasions failed President Michael Sata by failing to secure the Livingstone parliamentary seat.
"It is the wards who have the people. Why should we be used for elections only? We have failed the President on two occasions and it is not us to blame. This is a wakeup call as the entire province has no credible leadership. Last night (Saturday) he wrote the letter suspending councillor Simbaya," Mwame said.
He said the party was not growing as there were too many suspensions within the party at district level and the ward members were not benefiting.
And Zambezi ward chairman Thomas Daka said the district chairman and the constituency chairman were not all elected as they were acting.
"When we give advice with value, they refuse to listen. During the two by-elections, we de-campaigned ourselves at district and constituency levels so we want people who are elected because Fred Chibuye and Fred Kwibisa are all not elected as district and constituency chairman," said Daka.
Labels: CLEMENT ANDELEKI, MOSES SIMBAYA, PF, THOMAS DAKA
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Nevers pleads with Andeleki
By Tilyenji Mwanza and Kombe Chimpinde
Sat 08 Dec. 2012, 12:00 CAT
MMD president Nevers Mumba yesterday pleaded with Registrar of Societies Clement Andeleki not to be hard on the opposition party. And Mumba says the decision to appoint Kapembwa Simbao as party national secretary is final.
Sources disclosed yesterday that Mumba complained to Andeleki during their meeting that the latter, as Registrar of Societies, was taking sides over the issues in MMD. According to sources, Mumba told Andeleki that he was making his presidency difficult.
"Ba Mumba pleaded with Andeleki that there was no need to be hard on him and the party. He said Andeleki was siding with Major Kachingwe. Mumba told Andeleki that even over the dual membership, he should have just called him so that they sit down and resolve the matter instead of rushing to the press. He told Andeleki that he was no longer Reform Party president and if he called him, he would have explained to him what happened," said the sources.
The sources said Mumba told Andeleki that there was need to find a way of working together. The sources said Andeleki told him he was merely following the law on the deregistration of MMD.
According to the sources, Andeleki told Mumba that he could not comment on the dual presidency because the matter was in court.
Mumba arrived at the Registrar's office after 10:00 hours and refused to come out of his vehicle until Andeleki was made available to him.
Mumba did not wait long in his vehicle as Andeleki went and told him his offices were open to the public.
Andeleki dismissed journalists from being part of the meeting and was locked in a meeting with Mumba for almost an hour.
Addressing journalists after meeting Andeleki, Mumba disclosed that MMD had paid all its debts to the Registrar.
"I'm glad to say the balance has been paid and I want to assure our members that there is nothing to worry about. I want to assure them that its leadership have cleared its outstanding bill," said Mumba.
And Mumba said issues surrounding the appointment of Simbao were closed.
"We cannot go back into discussing that issue at this forum. The decision was made and we shall go by it; it is a dead and closed matter," Mumba said.
"NEC made a decision. We are moving forward. We are not moving backwards. We cannot go back into discussing that issue."
On Thursday, MMD chairperson for elections Gabriel Namulambe said the appointment of Simbao as national secretary was erroneous.
Namulambe demanded a full NEC meeting to discuss the expulsion of Maj Richard Kachingwe and Mumba's dual presidency.
And Namulambe has accused senior party members questioning his visit to State House of intimidating him.
In an interview, Namulambe, who is also Mpongwe MMD member of parliament, said there was nothing wrong in MMD members going to State House to see President Michael Sata.
"I went to see the President to discuss the issues of Mpongwe-Machiya road. The party president is aware about it because I told him that I will be going to see the President. The party chairman is aware that I was going to see the President. I didn't hide. I told them they are all aware," he said.
"There is nothing secret about it. It was purely developmental. The truth of the matter is that I went to State House at 10:00 hours yesterday Thursday. I managed to meet the President."
Asked on whether he would write a report on his visit to State House when requested to do so by the party leadership, Namulambe said he would ask them to put the request in writing instead.
"In the first place, there is nothing wrong in any person seeing the President. The fact is that the party officials, I had informed them that I was going to see the President. What is wrong? I am not disputing. I went to see him," said Namulambe.
Labels: CLEMENT ANDELEKI, GABRIEL NAMULAMBE, KAPEMBWA SIMBAO, MMD, NEVERS MUMBA
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What type of political parties should we have?
By The Post
Fri 19 Oct. 2012, 17:00 CAT
Clement Andeleki, the Chief Registrar of Societies, says political parties that fail to gain political ground within two years will be deregistered. He further warns that political parties that do not actively participate in elections but only endorse others would also be deregistered once the amendment of the societies Act is done.
According to the Chief Registrar of Societies, political parties were supposed to take part in elections instead of just endorsing, ratifying other political parties during elections.
We disagree with chief Registrar of Societies. Direct participation in elections should not be a condition for the continued existence of a political party. It is not necessary for every political party to have its name and candidates on ballot papers at election time. There are many examples in the world of very important political parties that do not directly participate in elections.
In South Africa, the South African Communist Party, which has been in existence since 1921, does not directly field candidates in elections. But its members participate in elections under the African National Congress. Not directly fielding candidates in elections cannot reduce the importance of the South African Communist Party's participation in the politics and governance of that country. This is a party whose members and leaders made gigantic sacrifices in the struggle against Apartheid.
Its members and leaders displayed heroism, an incredible sense of discipline and a capacity for selflessness, as well as a quiet determination not to bend the knee to the dictates of tyrants. This was not done in pursuit of political positions through participation in elections.
This party is a product of, and is propelled by, a willingness to make sacrifices for a loftier purpose than just by participating in elections. There is a recognition, among those who struggle for loftier purposes, of the need for a united front and of the fact that no struggle can be waged effectively in isolation.
And as Nelson Mandela once noted, "For many decades, communists were the only political group in South Africa who were prepared to treat Africans as human beings and their equals; who were prepared to eat with us; talk with us, live with us and work with us".
There are many political parties in other parts of the world that have subordinated themselves to broader movements and do not directly participate in elections, but have continued to legally maintain their independent existence, identity and character. For instance, there may be no need for a green party to directly participate in elections when it can easily support a more broad-based party that is willing to embrace its agenda if elected into power.
Endorsing a candidate of another political party and campaigning for that candidate is, and should be, an acceptable and important form of political participation. In the 2008 presidential elections, FDD under the leadership of Edith Nawakwi and Sakwiba Sikota's United Liberal Party decided to support the candidature of Rupiah Banda and went all over the country campaigning for him. Can one say that was not meaningful political participation on the part of FDD and United Liberal Party?
Political parties do not need to be deregistered or to disband themselves simply because they cannot directly field candidates in an election. There is nothing wrong in a political party identifying itself with another political party that is probably bigger or more popular than itself.
Political parties are not there just to participate in elections. They can participate in elections if they want to, but there are also many other important and necessary political activities that they can engage in outside elections.
Political parties can be as varied as the societies in which they function. And their function, in whichever way they choose to participate, is dead serious: to provide a peaceful and fair method by which the citizens of a democracy can select their leaders and have a meaningful role in determining their own destiny.
We know that democracies make several assumptions about human nature. One is that, given the chance, people are generally capable of governing themselves in a manner that is fair and free. Another is that any society comprises a great diversity of interests and individuals who deserve to have their voices heard and their views respected. As a result, one thing is true of all healthy democracies: they have many political parties or groupings.
And all should be free to raise their voices and participate in the democratic political process. In this way, democratic politics acts as a filter through which the vocal demands of a diverse populace pass on the way to becoming public policy.
Clearly, the right to participation in governance requires participatory democracy. Participatory democracy requires, not only democratic structures, but also the reign of democratic values in the hearts and minds of the people. Democratic structures without the corresponding democratic values in the hearts and minds of the people are rootless. There is need for a democratic culture characterised by the respect for the constitutional rights of the people. Our Constitution gives our people the right to form political parties of their own choice.
And it doesn't say that these political parties have to gain ground within a specified time through participation in elections for them to remain legally in existence. Imposing such a requirement would amount to taking away an important constitutional right of our people. But the question is: for what? What is troubling the Chief Registrar of Societies on this issue? What is really his problem?
We should be more interested in a lively spirit of democracy that will give full meaning to the political rights of our people as provided for in our Constitution and ensure success in fostering the welfare and progress of our country.
In any true democracy, more is needed than political institutions and practices such as voting and representation in Parliament. We must hold on to some values and norms, some expectations and aspirations. This is the environment, the atmosphere, that makes democracy work. This is the so-called "political culture" which we feel is so necessary in Zambia today if multiparty democracy is to succeed.
The fundamental value we must have is a respect for diversity and acceptance of pluralism. Gone are the days when everyone was supposed to think the same way, belong to the same party, and support the same programme.
A fundamental condition for the establishment of democracy is, therefore, the recognition of the rights of the person and social groups without any discrimination. A real democracy has to be built on the basis of justice, moral values and has to look to the common good. Democracy rests upon human rights. And these rights are not endowments of our governments, but the gifts of our Creator, and are enshrined in our Constitution.
There is no perfect form of human government. Abuses can take place in every system, but the fundamental value of democracy is to allow the participation of citizens in the government of their country. In this regard, democracy as a system of government is consonant with human rights and the respect of human dignity and freedom.
In fact, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is explicit in affirming the value of political participation: "Everyone has the right to take part in the government of one's own country, directly or through freely chosen representatives."
Trying to put too many and unnecessary qualifications on the rights of political parties to legally exist violates the political rights of our people as provided for in the Constitution. And this being the case, what the Chief Registrar of Societies is proposing should not be allowed to be taken to Parliament and be made law. It should be opposed rigorously.
And it would seem the Chief Registrar wants to exercise a lot of power over political parties. This shouldn't be allowed. His role should be limited to the orderly facilitation of the work of political parties and not to be prescribing criteria for their existence.
Labels: CLEMENT ANDELEKI, PARTIES
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Andeleki seeks to deregister inactive political parties
By Fridah Nkonde
Fri 19 Oct. 2012, 14:00 CAT
REGISTRAR of Societies chief registrar Clement Andeleki says political parties that fail to gain political ground within two years will be deregistered.
In an interview yesterday, Andeleki said parties that did not actively participate in elections but only endorse others would be deregistered once amendment of the societies Act chapter 119 of the Laws of Zambia was done.
"This is the view that we are going to take after amending the act. We have been consulting with stakeholders and we will even be presenting the amended Act to Parliament very soon," he said.
Andeleki said it was unfortunate that most political parties in Zambia were just there to endorse other parties when it was election time and also gain donor funds.
He said there were 47 political parties in Zambia but only about six participated in elections.
Andeleki said deregistering political parties that did not actively participate in elections would prevent most other parties from using politics as a business.
He said people were supposed to use politics to benefit the whole country and not just to satisfy their desires.
"One thing I know for sure is that when a political party starts, it obviously starts from one town, say Lusaka and later on grow into a fully fledged political party with physical presence in all the provinces. That political party should be able to take part in elections instead of just endorsing other political parties. We are trying to bring sanity in the manner in which societies are being operated in the country," he said.
He said his department would not allow other political parties endorsing and ratifying other political parties during elections because all parties were supposed to take part in elections.
And Andeleki said his department would engage church mother bodies to come up with a code of conduct for all church leaders.
The Council of Churches in Zambia in a Communiqué from the CCZ 29th general conference stated that the church mother body was looking forward to engaging with the Registrar of Societies to iron out problematic issues in the Act.
But Andeleki said the Church in Zambia was facing a lot of problems because the Act did not make provisions for the regulations of church leaders.
He said the Act only concentrated on the Church and not the individual.
"How do we discipline church leaders when the Act does not make provisions for such regulations? These are some of the grey areas that are found in the Act. There are a lot of people who are claiming to be pastors and bishops. Some even go as far as preaching in the buses and collecting offering…it is not right," he said.
Labels: CLEMENT ANDELEKI, PARTIES
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