Banda violated the law over the mosque - Kapiji
By Chibaula Silwamba
Fri 02 Sep. 2011, 14:00 CAT
RUPIAH Banda violated the law by allowing the construction of a mosque in a residential area in Lusaka, says former lands minister Judith Kapijimpanga. And some residents of Rhodes Park, where the controversial mosque is being built contrary to the town and country planning Act, said President Banda had betrayed and inflicted injustice on them.
Commenting on President Banda's unilateral decision to give land to the Muslim community to build a mosque illegally in a Lusaka's Rhodes Park residential area, Kapijimpanga said the head of state had disregarded the laws and procedures in land allocation.
"Though I appreciate that land is held by the President on behalf of Zambians, in this case, the residents were not listened to. The residents are a bigger number and their voice should have been heard," Kapijimpanga said. "In this case, the President abrogated the town and country planning Act, which stipulates the zoning of areas."
Kapijimpanga said zoning must have been considered before the construction of the mosque in line with the town and country planning Act, which is administered by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.
"That particular mosque which the President is talking about is built in a residential area. The Muslim community must have purchased that house from a former civil servant and decided to build a mosque," she said.
"I remember there was a house there. But before a church religious centre is put up, the town and country planning Act must be taken into consideration.
The Act stipulates that areas should be zoned. For instance, if an area is for residential, it must be for residential houses. If it's for churches, it must be for churches, if it's for markets it must be for markets etc.
"In this instance, because that area was already zoned as a residential area, the local government minister had to consult stakeholders and when that stakeholders' meeting was held, a lot of residents around that area refused that there will be a lot of noise because Muslims pray loudly. That was why president Mwanawasa refused to sanction that project."
And a representative of the over 50 residents opposed to the construction of the Mosque said the people were angry with President Banda's decision.
"Now, we know what was happening. The President's stance on this issue is a betrayal. We are disappointed. People are still angry about this.
It's unfair and we feel defenceless," said the representative, on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation from the government.
"The issue was not about religion but the good of our community and the construction of that mosque is not adding any value. There is only one Muslim who lives around that area."
The representative explained that the residents had asked the court to determine the legality of the construction of the mosque but lawyers raised preliminary issues that it was premature for them to take the case for review to the court but that they should first of all take it to the lands tribunal.
"Therefore, judge Evans Hamaundu could not give us the leeway to take this case to be decided by the court.
Now that there are these revelations, we now know what was going on," the representative said. "But those who went to seek favours from President Banda should not feel comfortable that this matter has reached this stage. Injustice has been done and at an appropriate time, as residents, we want to pursue this matter to the final conclusion. It is unfair."
Addressing a meeting in Chipata last week, President Banda said he sacked Sylvia Masebo as local government minister, among other reasons, because she was rude and had created a problem between herself and the Muslim community by opposing the construction of the mosque.
But Masebo has maintained that she and president Levy Mwanawasa opposed the construction of the mosque because the project was against the law.
Labels: JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA
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Masebo is a good leader, says Kapijimpanga
By Moses Kuwema
Thu 07 July 2011, 04:00 CAT
SYLVIA Masebo is a good leader who carries her people wherever she goes, says Judith Kapijimpanga. In an interview yesterday, Kapijimpanga who is a former MMD national executive committee (NEC) member said Masebo's move had come at the right time and that it was inevitable.
“Masebo has always carried along her people when she leaves. If you remember the time she left the ZRP Zambia Republican Party she left with her people and went on to win on the MMD ticket and now that she has left, the chances of the MMD winning are very slim,” said Kapijimpanga.
She said Masebo's move was not in vain because she believed there was light at the end of the tunnel for her.
“A good leader follows what her people want and for Masebo to have made that move, I’m sure her people expressed discomfort with what was happening because if this was not the case she would not have gone ahead to contest the position of MMD chairlady at the party convention.
I support her decision under the circumstances she was working in because if you cannot manage to fit in, it is better to walk out...she was forced to walk out because the environment she was working in was not conducive,” she said.
Kapijimpanga said there was need for any political group to consider every member as their child and that selectiveness should not be the case.
Masebo was until last Thursday the MMD national women's affairs chairperson. She quit the party, citing President Rupiah Banda's continued hatred and undemocratic tendencies against her.
She said since the death of president Levy Mwanawasa in 2008, there had been evil schemes and fabrications, which have been printed in the government-controlled Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail including ZNBC and the internet.
Labels: INONGE WINA, JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, SYLVIA MASEBO
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COMMENT - The MMD is raiding the pension fund to raise campaign financing.
Explain $15m NAPSA deal - Kapijimpanga
By Patson Chilemba
Fri 04 Mar. 2011, 04:02 CAT
NAPSA should explain to Zambians why they single-sourced K75 billion worth of land from Meanwood, says Judith Kapijimpanga. And a senior MMD official yesterday said NAPSA director general Stanley Phiri should not pretend that he could do such a big transaction without State House knowing about it.
Commenting on National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA)'s claim that President Rupiah Banda did not influence the sale of 1,500 acres of land at an exorbitant price of US $15 million to Meanwood Properties Development Limited without following tender procedures, Kapijimpanga - who is former lands minister - said she smelt a rat in the transaction.
“The board NAPSA board should tell us whose money is kept there, why they single-sourced and why we didn't see tenders in the press. I do smell a rat, especially that there was single-sourcing and I didn't see any tenders in the press,” she said.
Kapijimpanga said NAPSA should explain how they arrived at buying land from Meanwood when they could have gotten it at a cheaper price from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing or Ministry of Lands.
“And being a statutory institution, it wouldn't have bought the land as such. It would have paid statutory fees like lodgment fees, survey fees, especially that it is a quasi government institution,” she said.
Kapijimpanga said Zambian workers should demand accountability from NAPSA on how they were using the people's hard-earned contributions to the institution.
“The people want to know what is happening to their money, especially that they NAPSA have said that they don't have immediate use for the land,” said Kapijimpanga.
She said the NAPSA board must resign should they fail to give a proper explanation on the transaction.
Some senior MMD officials recently expressed concern over what they termed as “scandalous” transactions at NAPSA, which President Banda is allegedly using to raise campaign funds.
And commenting on Phiri's claim that the transaction was merely commercial and above board, the MMD official said Phiri was pretending.
“If State House didn't know about this deal, Mr Phiri wouldn't have been in that job,” the official said. “And if State House didn't want Mr Robinson Zulu to be paid US $15 million for that land, he wouldn't have received such money. In short, what I am saying is that this is President Banda's deal, an MMD fund-raising deal.
“Our complaint is very simple. These people are doing all these things in the name of the party but we are not seeing benefits to the party. Instead, we are just making ourselves unpopular with the public who are angry about such transactions. People were beginning to forget about RP Capital and Mobile Hospital scandals but now we are bringing NAPSA.”
The official complained that there was too much money being received on behalf of the MMD that was not getting to the party.
“Our cadres on the ground are struggling to carry out party programmes because we are told there is no money and yet money is flowing in the party everyday,” the official said. “Mr Phiri knows what he has done. He knows that this deal stinks. That is why he is fighting so hard.”
Labels: CORRUPTION, JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, NAPSA
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Mangani and Kapijimpanga
Mon 31 Jan. 2011, 03:59 CAT
When people think only of themselves and their own particular political party or group, there is a danger of division and disunity in the nation. We need to understand what multiparty politics is really about or else we will end up using it as a device to weaken our people by setting one humble section of our population against others.
Without a clear appreciation of what multiparty politics means, we will continue to divide our people into petty political parties that bring no guidance to the nation. We will be dividing the ignorant and misleading people into factions supporting unscrupulous and greedy politicians.
Multiparty politics is not about division, disunity and hatred in the nation. It is about unity in diversity; it is about competition to serve and not a fight for survival. And in conformity with our belief in the unity of our people, we should not pay exaggerated attention to accidental differences within our multiparty political dispensation. Why should one hate his brother or sister, his neighbour simply because he or she belongs to a different political party? Why shouldn’t two people who belong to different political parties be friends?
Why can’t they share a meal or meet for a drink and discuss politics or other issues of mutual concern? It is not hatred alone which is contrary to the laws of charity but also indifference to the welfare of our neighbour. We have to treat everybody irrespective of their political affiliation as our fellow citizens, as our neighbours; “For you are all one in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 3:28).
We all need to work together regardless of our political ideas and affiliations. We have one country to live in and develop. We are one country, one nation, one people who are supposed to be marching together into the future. It is not the individuals that matter, but the collective. This is the time to come together and develop our country.
We don’t need to belong to one political party just as religious people don’t need to belong to one church, congregation or denomination. It should be the desire of our people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect that should drive our politicians' decisions and actions.
As we have stated before, this country will not be good for any of us to live in if it is not good for all of us to live in. Our politics should not be about hatred but love. No one can develop this country of ours – a country of more than 755,000 square kilometers with not less than 73 tribes – on hatred, on disunity based on political affiliations. Our people should not vote for anyone whose heart is full of hatred but for one who is best qualified to bring about the kind of Zambia they hope to live in.
Multiparty politics is about working with others who belong to different political parties. And to work with one’s political competitor, one must talk to him or dialogue with him so that he becomes one’s partner. Most of us are Zambians by nature and we belong to our political parties by choice. We must work unceasingly to lift this nation to a higher destiny, to a new plateau of compassion.
Let us try in a new time and in a new way to restore the politics of love in our country. Let us teach ourselves and others that politics should be an expression of a desire to contribute to the happiness of a community rather than of a need to divide people into hostile and irreconcilable groups. Let the winners of elections in our country be the best of us, in the moral, civic, and political sense, regardless of their political affiliations.
We are all free human beings, Zambians, and those in politics, public servants, and members of their political parties, in that order. This being the case, why shouldn’t politicians from different political parties talk to each other, keep each other’s company, eat and drink with one another?
Our politicians should learn to put the unity of our people first. They should put it ahead of any divisive partisanship. And in these times, as in times before, it is true that a house divided against itself by the spirit of faction, of political party, of tribe, of region, of religion, of race, is a house that cannot stand. So, we ask all our politicians, whatever their personal interests or concern, to guard against divisiveness and all its ugly consequences. We must always be mindful of this one thing, whatever the trials and the tests ahead.
We say this because the ultimate strength of our country will always lie in our unity, and unity in diversity for that matter, unity across our different political parties and individual politicians.
Given what we have said, why should someone be so worried about Lameck Mangani and Judith Kapijimpanga having a meal or a drink together at some hotel in broad daylight simply because the two belong to different political parties?
In a multiparty political system, in a plural political system, we live with the conviction that through open exchange of ideas and opinions, truth will eventually win out over falsehood, the values of others will be better understood, areas of compromise more clearly defined, the path of progress opened. And the greater the volume of such exchanges, the better.
We need more meetings of that nature among our politicians. And such meetings should not be restricted by political parties in any way. Moreover, in a multiparty political dispensation, there is need for a loyal position. And this means, in essence, that all sides in a multiparty political system share a common commitment to its basic values. Political competitors don’t necessarily have to like each other, but they must learn to live, interact and work with each other and acknowledge that each has a legitimate and important role to play.
And no matter who wins an election, both sides have to agree to co-operate in solving the common problems of society. We say this because in a multiparty dispensation worth the name, the opposition continues to participate in public life with the knowledge that its role is essential. The opposition is loyal not to the specific policies of government, but to the fundamental legitimacy of the state, and to the multiparty political process itself.
By talking to each other, by sharing a meal or a drink with each other, politicians with differences learn how to argue peaceably, how to pursue their goals in a friendly manner and ultimately, how to live in a world of political diversity.
Our politicians should learn to pay attention to uniting and working with other citizens who differ with them. They have come together from every corner of the country and should be good at uniting in their work not only with those who hold the same views as them but also with those who hold different views. It is imperative to overcome anything that impairs this co-operation among our politicians and their political parties.
Clearly, there is nothing wrong Lameck did for him to be nailed to the cross. In trying to fix Lameck, the MMD leadership will just cause more problems for itself.
Labels: JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, LAMECK MANGANI, MMD, PF-UPND
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MMD is on the deathbed – Inonge
By Darious Kapembwa in Kitwe
Mon 31 Jan. 2011, 04:01 CAT
MMD is on the deathbed, says Patriotic Front national chairperson Inonge Wina.
In an interview on Saturday before she addressed PF women in Chililabombwe, Wina said that when one saw the MMD panicking so much to an extent of buying defections, it meant its life had come to an end. She said it was the more reason why credible women like Judith Kapijimpanga had left the MMD to join PF.
“Men and women of integrity within MMD have seen that PF is a government in-waiting. In a few months, we will form government and teach MMD how the poor people should be taken care of instead of taking advantage of people’s poverty to buy their votes at the last minute,” she said.
Wina said women of integrity could not abandon the ideals of speaking for the poor simply because they were offered money by the MMD.
And addressing the women, Wina called for an independent audit of disbursement of funds meant for women empowerment programmes. She said it was sad to learn that PF women were being excluded from the so-called empowerment funds.
“Right now there is a lot of discrimination in the disbursement of these funds and I don’t know who we can call upon to audit these activities because we know you, as PF women, you’re being discriminated. But don’t worry, just be steadfast. Time is near when genuine poor people will be receiving these monies and loans because that is what PF and Mr. Sata stand for; the poor are priority number one,” said Wina.
She urged women countrywide to stand firm and follow the party that they genuinely believed would liberate them from the shackles of MMD's poverty.
In apparent reference to PF women ‘rebel’ members of parliament, Wina said some women in PF pretended that they believed in the ideals that PF stood for but betrayed their own beliefs when money was laid in their faces in the name of supporting a national cause.
She said a party that used money to lure women was a party on a dying bed that had no programme for the poor.
She urged women to genuinely compete with men in aspiring for higher leadership positions.
“Consider the sufferings you are going through. Salvation does not lie in the money that MMD is giving you. Salvation lies in being faithful and genuine to the party that will bring the change that will respect all humanity and PF, Mr Sata in particular, is bringing that change,” said Wina.
Labels: INONGE WINA, JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, MMD
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Chalwe threatens to go for Kapiji
By Moses Kuwema
Mon 10 Jan. 2011, 04:01 CAT
LUSAKA Province MMD youth chairperson Chris Chalwe has threatened to block Judith Kapijimpanga from attending the party convention if she continues ‘attacking the President’.
Reacting to national executive committee (NEC) member Kapijimpanga's statement that she would continue speaking out on the violence perpetuated by Lusaka Province MMD chairman William Banda, Chalwe yesterday said it was their duty as youths and members of the defence and security wings of the party to block people like Kapijimpanga.
“As you come to the convention, you need to ensure that you are in good books with the party. If I were her, I would call William Banda and iron out the differences that might be there instead of rushing to the press,” Chalwe said.
Kapijimpanga recently said William Banda should be caged in order to have a violence-free 2011 general election.
But MMD acting national secretary Chembe Nyangu described as nonsense Kapijimpanga's statement on William Banda, saying the latter had every right to defend President Rupiah Banda’s interests.”
Labels: CHRIS CHALWE, JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA
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Statement on dirty politics was misunderstood - Namugala
By Edwin Mbulo and Patson Chilemba
Fri 16 July 2010, 13:50 CAT
TOURISM minister Catherine Namugala says her statement that politics were dirty, especially for women has been misunderstood by the people raising questions about her conduct.
But MMD national executive committee (NEC) member Judith Kapijimpanga said she had not misunderstood Namugala’s statement, and demanded that Namugala should remove the illicit vice of scheming against other women.
In an interview, Namugala who was in Livingstone to attend the Kavango-Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) Ministerial meeting, Namugala said what she said was to try and help make politics easy for the women.
“It is unfortunate that this is being misunderstood. What was meant to be a genuine statement has been misinterpreted but I hope the women will take what I said seriously,” she said.
However, Namugala could not respond to the specific complaints that people like Jonas Shakafuswa, Ng’andu Magande and Judith Kapijimpanga had raised against her.
She said Shakafuswa, Magande and Kapijimpanga were members of the ruling MMD and she would not talk about their comments in the press.
“My statement was meant for the women of Zambia, it was looking at why Zambian women are being discouraged from joining politics, and you know the people and the reasons why they said what they said. Both Shaka and Judy are members of our party, I don’t discuss such issues in the press,” said Namugala.
But Kapijimpanga wondered how Namugala claimed to have been misunderstood.
“The question is how? I think even my answer there was very explicit. I said I support Namugala’s statement totally, and in the wake of that statement I am glad she has realised. But how is that statement going to help us, especially that she’s the one who is engaged in that vice of making politics dirty?” she asked.
Kapijimpanga said principally and morally, women should rise to the challenge and take up leadership positions because they were very good leaders.
She said the conduct of women leaders like Namugala gave a minus to the demands by women to assume leadership positions.
Kapijimpanga said she was shocked to hear Namugala propagating the rights of women when she was the one who maligned them.
“I would not do what she does to other women. I would totally support her because I know she works hard,” Kapijimpanga said. “But then the vice, the illicit vice of wanting to malign others is the vice that she should venture to stop.”
Kapijimpanga wondered why Namugala complained of dirty politics when she had realised that the game was dirty.
“I have not misunderstood her because I said I support her statement and I am glad she has said it. Maybe she has realised that what she has been doing is bad. Icikwanka bachimona kumampalanya, once beaten, twice shy. I will be very careful next time. I would not totally trust a person after one has hurt me,” she said.
Kapijimpanga advised Namugala that she would better speak to women through her actions and not words.
She said she was not saying what she was saying out of bitterness, but out of love.
“Although she is talking about things which are right, she is incapable of helping the women because she has not done anything in that regard,” said Kapijimpanga.
Last Sunday, Namugala said Zambian politics were very dirty especially for women.
But others reacted by revealing the dirty politics Namugala practiced.
Shakafuswa narrated how Namugala incited for his firing as deputy science and technology minister, accusing him of having close links with former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa who was said to be interested in the presidency.
Kapijimpanga said Namugala refused to campaign for her in Kanchibiya, saying she would rather campaign for a dog.
Magande revealed how Namugala helped propagate the lies on Zambian Airways against him.
Labels: CATHERINE NAMUGALA, JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA
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Kapijimpanga challenges Namugala over 'dirty politics' comment
By Patson Chilemba
Mon 12 July 2010, 14:30 CAT
MMD national executive committee (NEC) member Judith Kapijimpanga has challenged tourism minister Catherine Namugala to practice what she preached.
Commenting on Namugala’s statement that Zambian politics were dirty, especially for women and there was too much character assassination, Kapijimpanga said Namugala was not the right person to talk about the rights of other women because she did not do the things she was asking for. She said Namugala had a habit of scheming against others.
“Like for instance probably I can say like for instance in Northern Province I can personally say I am one of those people she vowed not to support. In as much as what she is saying is correct, I hope she has realised that it is rough. So it is about time she started making the road clean for other women,” Kapijimpanga said.
She said women were enemies to themselves because those who had risen to the top tended to trample on the progress of other women.
Kapijimpanga said Namugala, despite being the provincial MMD chairlady for Northern Province, refused to campaign for her in the Kanchibiya by-election.
“You can ask even Jonas Shakafuswa. Jonas Shakafuswa told her to go and clear the ground for me in the last elections and she refused. She said ‘I would rather campaign for a dog’. If Jonas Shakafuswa is brave or Gabriel Namulambe is brave they will agree to that,” Kapijimpanga said. “So I am glad she has realised and I am happy and I support her totally, but she should lead and live by what she has said.”
She said women who had gone before others into leadership positions should not create buffer zones for the other women.
“We prefer to be alone in a man’s domain, which is the most unfortunate thing. Sometimes we are enemies to ourselves,” said Kapijimpanga.
Namugala on Sunday said Zambian politics were too dirty and rough for the women.
She said political parties, including the ruling MMD, should do more to make women feel more safer.
Namugala said there was too much character assassination in politics.
Labels: CATHERINE NAMUGALA, JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA
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Politicians’ language worry Kapijimpanga
By Patson Chilemba
Tue 04 May 2010, 04:10 CAT
MMD national executive committee (NEC) member Judith Kapijimpanga has described as unfortunate the language being used by political leaders in the country.
Commenting on attacks and counterattacks involving President Rupiah Banda and opposition political party leaders and other citizens, Kapijimpanga asked political leaders to use language acceptable to society.
She said the language being used by political leaders in the media was un-African. Kapijimpanga said she feared for Zambia because of the name calling that had characterised politics.
"We are slowly coming out of file in as far as cultured language is concerned... the statements in the print media in the recent past are unfortunate.
And I am calling for civility amongst our political players, because our children or youths who want to join the political parties, or want to join the political line of career will think that is the language that ought to be used to put the message across, which is not the case," she said.
Kapijimpanga backed MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba's call for civility in politics from both the ruling and opposition parties.
She said emphasis should be on development rather than name calling.
"We have only got one Zambia, and we need to develop it," said Kapijimpanga. "I am supporting Katele Kalumba, I think that the comment from Katele has come at the right time. Yes, I think he is very magnanimous to point out that the language being used is not civil, and we are throwing away our cultural norms."
Kalumba was quoted in last week’s Thursday edition of The Post advising political leaders to use language that would make politics a noble profession.
President Banda has engaged in personal attacks against other political leaders and citizens who have also countered by using strong language against him.
Recently in Milanzi, President Banda said UPND president Hakainde Hichilema was cheating himself to think that he would be the PF-UPND pact's presidential candidate because Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata would stand.
But Hichilema reacted by saying President Banda had a small brain to think like that.
President Banda followed up his earlier statement by launching wholesale attacks on Sata, Hichilema and Chilanga MMD member of parliament Ng'andu Magande, asserting that they were puppets of The Post and that Change Life Zambia executive director Fr Frank Bwalya was an ugly man.
During the Kuomboka ceremony, UPND cadres were beaten at the airport where they had gone to welcome Hichilema and their leader then said President Banda would be chased like a dog in next year’s elections if he did not control the situation.
But President Banda, during the campaigns in North-Western Province prior to and after the by-elections called Hichilema a son of a dog on grounds that he also called him a dog, President Banda also described Sata as a real mad man.
On Saturday in Livingstone, President Banda described Hichilema as a desperate puppy and a man who had run mad because of his quest to become Republican president.
Labels: JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, MMD, POLITICS
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Kapiji condemns William over Ng’ombe land
By Patson Chilemba
Thu 08 Apr. 2010, 04:00 CAT
MMD national executive committee (NEC) chairperson for land Judith Kapijimpanga yesterday condemned Lusaka Province party chairman William Banda for allegedly grabbing land from Ng’ombe displaced residents.
Commenting on the revelations by leader of the former Ng’ombe residents Stephen Ludaka that Banda and his cadres violently harassed Ng’ombe displaced residents in Lusaka over the weekend in an attempt to grab land from them, Kapijimpanga said MMD leaders should be exemplary in their conduct by upholding law and order.
She said it was not Banda’s duty to repossess the land from the people, which was lawfully given to them.
“I feel we should be exemplary, and we should uphold the rule of law. If indeed there is something wrong the residents have done regarding land, the onus is on the chairman to report to relevant authorities so that something is done about it, in the confines of the law,” Kapijimpanga said.
“Because it is not correct as members of the party in power to harass people over land matters, all the chairman should do is report to the commissioner of lands so that those people can be given necessary notice for repossession or allocation to other people who are interested.”
Kapijimpanga said she failed to understand what the problem was because the Ministry of Lands had a list of Ng’ombe residents who were allocated land.
“I hope what I have read in The Post and what I have been told is not true, because I do not expect our Lusaka Province chairman, a man of his standing to do something like that,” Kapijimpanga said.
“There was an instruction from late president Levy Mwanawasa when the council evicted those people from that land they had squatted on. At that time I was a minister, and we lawfully allowed the affected families to settle there. They may not have had the money to develop, but as citizens let us support the rule of law, and if indeed there are others who are interested in that land, I think we should report to the relevant authorities so that land is procedurally taken back.”
Kapijimpanga condemned Banda’s action.
“That is why I am insisting that we should uphold the rule of law, because I think we are putting the President’s name into disrepute because all land is vested in the President for and on behalf of the people of Zambia. And if we as MMD start to be unlawful about land matters, then the President in whose name land is vested, we are putting his name into disrepute,” Kapijimpanga said.
“It makes very sad reading because William Banda is a very senior member. If it is true that he has gone to Ng’ombe residents to grab land, I would like to know why, because we have got a commissioner of lands.“
Kapijimpanga said it was unlawful to grab land from other people, unless one had title deeds or documents to show cause.
“The Commissioner of Lands should be informed if the people have not developed land in the designated 24 months, so that a re-entry process is started. And the people who are interested can be allowed,” said Kapijimpanga.
Ludaka, who has gone into hiding following MMD cadres’ threat on his life, said Banda and a group of MMD cadres went to the land the government allocated to former Ng’ombe residents along Kabwe road and started harassing them, forcing them to surrender over 127 plots to them.
Banda could not deny the allegations that he led a group of cadres to Ng’ombe displaced people’s land to compel them to surrender the land to MMD cadres.
Labels: JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, LAND RIGHTS, NG'OMBE
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Stay out of politics, Kapiji warns chief Muchinka
Written by Staff Reporter
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 5:00:41 PM
MMD member Judith Kapijimpanga has cautioned chief Muchinka against engaging in partisan politics and demanded a retraction of the statements attributed to the chief in the Saturday Post.
Kapijimpanga, who is MMD national executive committee (NEC) member, said she had been forced to go and see chief Muchinka of the Lala people of Central Province after reading the story in the Saturday Post where the traditional leader was quoted as having said that the ruling party would not bribe their way to victory in the forthcoming Chitambo by-election.
Trouble started when Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata's entourage bumped into Kapijimpanga's entourage at the chief's palace in Serenje.
Kapijimpanga appeared hesitant to take a photo with Sata, saying she was scared that her party might fire her.
However, after some persuasion, Kapijimpanga finally gave in and posed for a picture with Sata's entourage.
A few minutes after Sata and his entourage had left, Kapijimpanga called Post journalist Patson Chilemba, saying the chief had denied the story he had authored.
"...the chief says that, that story you wrote, which has come out in today's [last Saturday's] Post is not true. He is demanding a retraction. Please retract that story," Kapijimpanga said.
But Chilemba told Kapijimpanga that every word attributed to chief Muchinka was correct.
As the telephone conversation continued, Kapijimpanga asked chief Muchinka to speak to Chilemba to deny the statements he had earlier issued.
"What about this I'm hearing about the statements alluded to me?" chief Muchinka asked, as Chilemba responded: "It is the interview you gave me on Thursday last week."
However, chief Muchinka said he wanted a retraction of the statements he had earlier issued.
Chilemba then read the story to chief Muchinka and challenged him to deny any sentence in the story if his demands were genuine.
In response, chief Muchinka only said: "But does that [statements he issued in the Saturday Post] mean corruption?" before the phone-line cut.
A few minutes later, Kapijimpanga called and asked Chilemba to retract the story but the reporter refused to do so, insisting that the story was accurate.
After a few hours, Kapijimpanga called Chilemba and said she had cautioned chief Muchinka against involving himself in partisan politics.
"I also came here to talk to the chief on the prospects of campaigning for the MMD. We came to lobby for the MMD from the chief," she said.
On the Nansanga farming block, Kapijimpanga said chief Chitambo had given a go-ahead when she was lands minister to sell the land in question.
Last Thursday, chief Muchinka said desperate last-minute developmental efforts in the area would not help the MMD because people were now clever.
"They started working on Chansa Road when they heard that the Vice-President would be coming. We chiefs and subjects complain. The vehicles never used to move freely on that road because it was full of stones. But they started working on it when they heard that the Vice-President [George Kunda] would be coming," chief Muchinka said. "[But] that won't help them because people are clever that they have done this because of elections. Why didn't they do this before the votes?"
Chief Muchinka also said the traditional leaders in the area were not consulted by government over the Nansanga Farming block.
"How can they sell my land? That land belongs to the chiefs. We have got the House of Chiefs, it is just that there is no say [in the House of Chiefs]. They don't do anything. They ask us to send submissions, but nothing happens," said chief Muchinka.
Labels: CHIEF MUCHINKA, CORRUPTION, JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, MMD
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Kapiji, Teta and Shakas face disciplinary action
Written by Allan Mulenga
Wednesday, December 03, 2008 9:19:27 AM
MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga yesterday said the party will take disciplinary measures against Judith Kapijimpanga, Benny Tetamashimba and Jonas Shakafuswa for issuing statements to the press. And Mabenga charged that Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata is running a government on the streets.
In an interview, Mabenga said the MMD leadership would discipline erring members because the national executive committee (NEC) had earlier issued a statement directing members to address issues affecting the party through the secretariat.
"We already told our members not to issue any statement to the press and they have disregarded our directives. So we will institute disciplinary measures on all members, including Kapijimpanga who has been today [yesterday] quoted in The Post," Mabenga said.
Asked about local government minister Benny Tetamashimba and science and technology deputy minister Jonas Shakafuswa's recent press statements, Mabenga said the matter was being handled by the secretariat and that he would not give any further information to the media because they wanted to ensure discipline in the party. He said the MMD was not divided and that there was nothing like ‘light blue’ or ‘true blue’.
Mabenga said there was need for MMD members to give undivided support to President Rupiah Banda, saying whatever challenges President Banda was likely to face in his day-to-day discharge of duties would trickle down to the party.
"We put him to lead us to victory, so we need to support him. We won the presidential election because we put a right man to lead the party and all Zambians," Mabenga said. "As members, we were convinced that he would take over from the late president Levy Mwanawasa."
Mabenga said MMD members and the people of Zambia expected a lot of things from President Banda.
"We expect him to do more for the people and we know that he is capable of doing it. We would want him to take full control of this country. People should support the party and President Banda so that he delivers," he said.
Mabenga said the party had engaged in re-organisation at all levels, so as to prepare adequately for 2011 elections.
"We have continued with party re-organisation which we commenced even before the demise of president Mwanawasa. The exercise is being done at branches, constituencies, districts as well as provincial levels," Mabenga said.
When contacted, Kapijimpanga, Shakafuswa and Tetamashimba declined to comment on the matter.
On Monday, NEC member Kapijimpanga said the issue of ‘true blue’ and ‘light blue’ had the potential to divide the ruling party. Kapijimpanga said new comers in MMD often disregarded those they joined in the party. She said at the moment, MMD needed to find out why it was losing grip with the grassroots.
Kapijimpanga’s comments came in the wake of MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba’s statement that only true blue members of the party would determine his fate. This was after Tetamashimba’s statement that Kalumba was trying to justify his failure to deliver Chiengi Constituency to President Banda.
Tetamashimba had earlier called for an audit of the October 30 presidential election to ascertain why President Banda lost in constituencies where the ruling party has members of parliament.
President Banda lost to Sata in Chiengi Constituency.
In response to Tetamashimba’s statement, Kalumba urged MMD members not to insult the people of Zambia who did not vote for President Banda.
Kalumba said parliamentarians could not force people on who they should vote for because human beings were capable of making their own decisions.
Kalumba also said only the "true blue" [original or MMD founder members] could determine his fate in the party.
Shakafuswa then asked Tetamashimba to shut up because his public statements were weakening the party. Shakafuswa said the issue of ‘true blue’ and ‘light blue’ had arisen because people were beginning to re-assess their positions in the party because of Tetamashimba’s provocative utterances and actions.
And Mabenga accused Sata of running the government on the streets, saying the PF leader had no engagements.
"If Michael Sata has no engagements day by day, let him ask us, we will give him something to do. It seems he has nothing to do at all times. He is talking about protests now because his plan A had failed. Now he wants to try plan B which is engaging in violent protests not what he claims to be peaceful," said Mabenga.
Labels: JONAS SHAKAFUSWA, JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, MICHAEL MABENGA, POLITICS, SATA
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Kapijimpanga links PF MPs’ popularity to Sata
Written by Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Thursday, November 13, 2008 8:20:49 AM
MMD chairperson for lands Judith Kapijimpanga has observed that 90 per cent of Patriotic Front (PF) parliamentarians are in their positions because of people's liking for PF leader Michael Sata.
And Kapijimpanga has said the MMD needs to work extra hard in reconstituting its grassroots in places such as Northern Province because they have lost grip there.
In an interview on Wednesday, Kapijimpanga, who recently lost the Kanchibiya Constituency seat in Mpika district to PF's Davies Mwango, said the popularity of most PF parliamentarians could be attributed to Sata and not necessarily themselves.
"For example, you will find that there are certain areas where the person who won never even campaigned but he still won because of Sata. So it was like I was contesting against Sata and not the parliamentarian," she said.
And Kapijimpanga said the MMD had lost grip in Northern Province and needed to seriously reconstitute its grassroots.
She said the party needed to have sincere members who would honestly represent it.
"My observation was that you would find members in some branches purporting to be MMD but meanwhile they were also supporting PF. We need to revamp the entire grassroots, not just in Northern but also on the Copperbelt and Lusaka as well because the voting patterns were not different from 2006," said Kapijimpanga.
Meanwhile, Kapijimpanga said it would be good for Zambia to have a female Vice-President.
Commenting on calls by some sections of society for President Rupiah Banda to appoint a woman as his Vice-President, Kapijimpanga said there were a lot of capable women both within the party's hierarchy and other inactive but fully paid-up members who could be looked at for the position.
She said there were many intelligent women that could take good ideas and drive the party forward.
On her future plans, Kapijimpanga said she was still actively involved in politics and may consider contesting Kanchibiya Constituency in future but that would depend on the people's decision.
Labels: JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, PF, SATA
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PF MPs riding on Sata's popularity - Kapiji
Written by Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 8:31:07 AM
MMD Chairperson for lands Judith Kapijimpanga has observed that 90 percent
of Patriotic Front (PF) parliamentarians have made it to their positions not because of what they can offer but because of people's liking for PF leader Michael Sata.
And Kapijimpanga has said the MMD needs to work extra hard in reconstituting its grassroots in places such as Northern Province because they have lost grip there.
In an interview yesterday, Kapijimpanga who recently lost the Kanchibiya Constituency seat in Mpika district to PF's Davies Mwango said the popularity of most PF parliamentarians had got to do with Sata and not necessarily themselves.
"For example, you will find that there are certain areas where the person who won never even campaigned but he still won because of Sata so it was like I was contesting against Sata and not the parliamentarian," she said.
And Kapijimpanga said the MMD had lost grip in Northern Province and needed to seriously reconstitute its grassroots.
She said the party needed to have sincere members who would honestly represent it.
"My observation was that you would find members in some branches purporting to be MMD but meanwhile they were also supporting PF. We need to revamp the entire grassroots not just in Northern but also on the Copperbelt and Lusaka as well because the voting patterns were not different from 2006," said Kapijimpanga.
Meanwhile Kapijimpanga said it would be nice for Zambia to have a female Vice-President.
Commenting on calls by some sections of society for President Rupiah Banda to appoint a woman as his Vice-President, Kapijimpanga said there were a lot of capable women both within the party hierarchy and other non-active but fully paid up members who could be looked at for the position.
She said there were a lot of intelligent women that could take good ideas and drive the party forward.
On her future plans, Kapijimpanga said she was still actively involved in politics and may consider contesting Kanchibiya Constituency in future but that would depend on people's decision.
Labels: JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, MMD, PF
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Davies should not comment on MMD issues, says Sikasote
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Sunday October 19, 2008 [04:00]
MMD Northern Province chairman Griever Sikasote yesterday said the husband of losing Kanchibiya parliamentary candidate Judith Kapijimpanga, Davies, had no authority to comment on issues of the party because he was not an MMD official.
And Sikasote said Kapijimpanga had the MMD’s support during the campaign period, contrary to what she and her husband were claiming.
But Davies said he was more MMD than Sikasote and vowed that he would never allow people like community development minister Catherine Namugala to destroy his wife.
Reacting to Davies who accused him and Namugala of practising tribalism and being behind his wife’s loss, Sikasote said Davies should not be issuing statements on behalf of his wife because he was just a husband.
“As a province, I am the chairman and I got seven vehicles. Even my vehicle was given to the party officials to help in the campaign. It is just that the people have rejected Judy, Period! And there is no issue of support. Party officials were sleeping in the villages so what she should be doing is thanking the party for supporting her,” Sikasote said.
He said in an election like the previous one, there were a lot of meetings going on and Kapijimpanga should be grateful that she was supported.
“Why should the husband be commenting on appointments of the party when he is not even an official? Was he part of the appointing authority? The only qualification he has is that he is married to Kapijimpanga,” Sikasote said. “It is like you, can your husband know what is happening at The Post? He (Davies) is not an official of the party and he is not part of the province so he has no authority to comment on issues of the party in the province. Period! He has no authority. He is just a husband.”
Sikasote said the fact that Vice-President Rupiah Banda had accepted defeat was a sign that MMD must move forward. He said when Kapijimpanga was complaining about being abandoned by the MMD, she was speaking out of shock of the loss.
He said this was a general election and other members of parliament could not be withdrawn from the constituencies to stop campaigning for Vice-President Banda.
Sikasote said he could not be a tribalist because he even worked for Zesco for many years. He said being a tribalist was never a cornerstone of his success, but that it was hard work and professionalism that had brought him up.
“Some of us grew up after independence and got educated in the 70s. The UNIP government had killed tribalism, and if you hailed from Northern Province, you were sent to Southern Province for school so there is no tribal arrangement,” he said.
Sikasote said in 1997, he was elected provincial treasurer under the MMD and if he had a tribal inclination, he would have not been elected. He also said he was elected provincial vice-chairperson twice and now he was chairperson so he was not new.
He said he retired as a director at Zesco and none of the other directors were his relation.
“So people should not speak from without, it’s not fair,” Sikasote said.
Sikasote also said Kapijimpanga had asked to remain in the constituency and campaign for Vice-President Banda.
“How can she remain when she has been rejected in her constituency? Let the party officials of Northern Province campaign for the president. Let her pull out so that her loss does not impact on the presidency,” said Sikasote.
But when contacted for a comment, Davies said he might not be a party official but he was an MMD member since time immemorial. He said Sikasote was from the opposition FDD and brought confusion to MMD.
“I am more MMD than Sikasote at any given time. Let him just defend his tribalism and stop accusing me of not being MMD. Their support for Rupiah Banda is fake because they were supporting Willa Mung’omba. They should just tell the nation the truth,” said Davies.
Davies said Namugala was bad-hearted and very destructive.
But if she and Sikasote have something against Judy, let them come out in the open instead of using politics to fight my wife. This is not the first time they are fighting her. They did the same during the 2005 MMD convention. They decampaigned Judy. Griever just got to support Judy when it was clear that she was headed for victory.”
On Friday, Davies accused Namugala and Sikasote of practicing tribalism and being behind his wife’s loss in the Kanchibiya by election.
He said his wife had been totally abandoned by her own party.
Labels: GRIEVER SIKASOTE, JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, MMD
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Accusations of tribalism rock MMD
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Saturday October 18, 2008 [04:01]
The husband of losing MMD Kanchibiya parliamentary candidate Judith Kapijimpanga, Davies has accused community development minister Catherine Namugala and Northern Province MMD chairman Griever Sikasote of practising tribalism and being behind his wife's loss.
But Namugala said she did not want to respond to Davies because he did not hold any position in the MMD.
In an interview yesterday, Davies accused Namugala and Sikasote of being tribalists. He said his wife was totally abandoned by her own party.
"No one was sent there to go and campaign the way they did with the Milanzi by-election and even if resources were sent, she needed human resource; people who were going to be helping her there.
PF literally camped there, all the PF MPs camped in Kanchibiya. None of our MPs from Northern Province camped there. And the reason is very simple. It is people like Catherine Namugala and Griever Sikasote who think that Northern Province only belongs to their tribe because they are tribalists," Davies said.
He said from the beginning, Namugala and Sikasote never wanted Kapijimpanga to be close to the hierarchy of Northern Province because they think it belonged to them only.
"And if you remember at one time, Namugala was even fired by Mwanawasa because she made announcement that ‘Aba bemba baliteka pafula’ (Bemba's have ruled for many years) and Mwanawasa didn't like people who were full of tribalism and she was fired at some point and the only time she was re-appointed is when Richard Kachingwe (former MMD deputy national secretary) went to plead with the president and pleaded that 'No, Your Excellency people wont look at this as a good point because we are talking about 30 per cent women representation'," Davies said.
"That's how Namugala came to government, but she made it a point that she decampaigned my wife. Even when the adoption process started, she said 'I would rather support a dog than Judith Kapijimpanga’. So how are we going to be in a party where people are going to be selective in their dealings?"
Davies said Namugala was not a person of integrity and he had no apologies to make on this issue. He dared Namugala to challenge him on this score if she felt that she was a person of high morals and integrity.
"I know a lot about her and let her dare me. Namugala thinks she is a very intelligent person. She is not intelligent. I am not making excuses. Even Griever Sikasote has been misleading Rupiah Banda that Northern Province is okay, but there it is.
That by-election is not the true reflection of what the people wanted. Judy would have won the election if they had supported her but they never supported her, they never! It is the likes of Griever Sikasote and I am not making apologies to anyone: Namugala and Sikasote are behind my wife's loss.
Not that the people of Kanchibiya didn't want her, they are the ones who were decampaigning her. They didn't want her in the beginning, they wanted a lady called Patricia Mukwala to be the candidate," he said.
Davies said if people like Namugala surrounded Vice-President Banda, then MMD was in trouble. He said Vice-President Banda needed people with morals to surround him.
"I am not going to sit down and see MMD being wrecked by restless people. We are true supporters of MMD. I personally started MMD with my uncle Mr Humphrey Mulemba and I am still here. I am a true supporter of MMD and I have never changed from supporting MMD.
I supported the late president Mwanawasa from the first to last day and I am going to continue supporting MMD on that issue, but if we are going to have reckless people like Namugala coming and destroying Northern Province because of their own benefits, then we are in trouble.
Ask her where her integrity is. Even Sikasote has got no morals. I am not going to be a diplomat like Mrs Kapijimpanga," he said.
Davies said only desperate people could do desperate things and that was why Namugala would hoodwink people not to go to Kanchinbiya and campaign for Kapijimpanga.
He said PF president Michaela Sata knew that Kapijimpanga was a credible candidate.
"Ask Sata, he will tell you that Judy has performed in Kanchibiya. She was one of the few MPs in MMD that worked because if you go to Kanchibiya today, you will see clinics, roads and developmental projects," he said.
Davies said Namugala knew that if Kapijimpanga won the election, she had no chance of being given a ministerial job. He said president Mwanawasa appointed Namugala as a minister because he had a limited choice.
"How many women won the elections but if he had a choice he would have appointed a woman of integrity even where he lies, may his soul rest in peace. People of Northern Province must learn. There should be no tribalism. When making a programme for Rupiah Banda for Northern Province, they didn't want to go to Kanchibiya.
They wanted Rupiah to first go to Isoka where Namugala comes from. I had to call them myself and ask 'You guys, what are you doing? Let's go to Kanchibiya, that's where the elections are'. I was questioning why the acting president wanted to go to Isoka and not Kanchibiya where the elections were," he said.
Davies said there was a lot of tribalism in Northern Province and the people who were practicing tribalism were Namugala and Sikasote and this could never be disputed. He said Mwanawasa knew this and that was why he never appointed Sikasote in any position during his tenure.
"They are just full of lies. You have seen how the MMD had taken a causual approach to Kanchibiya. They just said it was a PF stronghold, but that's not the reality on the ground. Go to Kanchibiya, we lost because we had no support. Judy was alone. She was like an orphan. No one supported her.
So MMD should not say that 'Judy was not popular, and Judy has caused us embarrassment'. They have caused themselves embarrassment. They never supported their candidate and I have no apologies to make to anyone," Davies said.
But when contacted for comment, Namugala said she would avoid discussing this issue, saying if she responded, she would be attacking Kapijimpanga who did not raise the matter.
She said looking at where Kapijimpanga had come from (the loss), she (Namugala) didn't want to start arguing with people.
"I don't think we should come to that. We have lost as a party and we are not happy with that so I think for me I don't think you should write that story because Davies Kapijimpanga doesn't hold a position in the party. It will not even help his wife," she said.
Namugala said looking at where her constituency was situated, she wondered how she could practice tribalism in Kanchibiya.
"You know where Muyombe is and where Kanchibiya is. How do I practice tribalism and how do I affect the outcome of the election in Kanchibiya?
I am very far from where Judy is and if I am not a factor, how does my not supporting her make Judy lose?
Those stories don't make sense and I think it is unfair for Mr Kapijimpanga to blame individuals for his wife's loss in Kanchibiya," Namugala said.
She said it was sad that Davies wanted to get personal over his wife's loss.
"I am very far and this is not the first time she lost; she lost in 2006. How does tribalism come in? There are no Tumbukas in Kanchibiya, so how does practicing tribalism make her lose in Kanchibiya? Namugala asked.
She said Northern Province had many tribes and she was not in any way trying to dominate any tribe in the province.
"So I don't think it is fair for any one to call another person a tribalist. Judy lost in 2006, did we have anything to do with that? So when he says we did not offer support I think that is very unfair.
We all wanted Judy to win. Personally, I know that Judy did a lot of developmental work in her constituency and we felt she can be given a chance to continue with those projects. So for Mr Kapijimpanga to say those things, it is being unfair and ungrateful," said Namugala.
Labels: CATHERINE NAMUGALA, GRIEVER SIKASOTE, JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, MMD, TRIBALISM
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MMD neglected me, says Kapiji
By Chibaula Silwamba in Mpika
Friday October 17, 2008 [04:00]
LOSING MMD Kanchibiya parliamentary candidate Judith Kapijimpanga has complained that MMD parliamentarians neglected her during the election campaigns. And newly-elected Patriotic Front (PF) member of parliament for Kanchibiya Constituency Davies Mwango said his victory is an indication that PF leader Michael Sata will win the presidential election on October 30.
In an interview yesterday, Kapijimpanga said the results of the Kanchibiya parliamentary by-election were shocking but conceded defeat and pledged to help Mwango with ideas on how to develop the constituency.
"The outcome of the elections is quite shocking to me because the response I got during my campaign trail was completely different from the results," Kapijimpanga said. "I have conceded defeat but I would like to outline that this is one of the quiet MMD by-election we have ever had from the time I went into politics...the most quiet in the sense that there was no MMD backup."
Kapijimpanga observed that Sata and his parliamentarians had camped in Kanchibiya to campaign for Mwango.
"But there was no MMD member of parliament in the constituency so I was literally alone until the last three days before polling day. I actually feel neglected by my fellow members of parliament," Kapijimpanga complained.
Asked if she could foresee the same voting pattern in the forthcoming presidential polls, Kapijimpanga said the MMD had to campaign hard to avoid a loss.
She said she would stay on to campaign for MMD presidential candidate Rupiah Banda.
"Sata made sure he was everywhere in Kanchibiya, he was campaigning like he was a candidate contesting," Kapijimpanga said. "So, maybe, if there is a repeat of the same, it could lead to the same type of results but now that he is done with Kanchibiya, I don't think he will come back and camp in a manner which he did...but if we work hard ourselves...I am staying on to campaign for our candidate and my party and I hope people will realise that it's the government in power that provides money for the projects."
Kapijimpanga dismissed insinuations that she had collapsed upon hearing that she had lost.
"I never collapsed. That is a lie," said Kapijimpanga amid laughter.
Asked about reports that she had withdrawn about K250 million from the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZNCB) Mpika branch to finance her campaign, causing the bank to struggle to pay other clients, Kapijimpanga laughed but did not dismiss the report.
"I am not going to make any comment on that laughs. In a campaign you need money so a lot of money is used. I won't go into that matter," said Kapijimpanga as she continually laughed.
And after being declared duly elected member of parliament, Mwango declared that a wind of change had come.
"It's time to change. My victory is a litmus test that Sata will win elections," Mwango said. "I would like to thank the people of Kanchibiya for this honour. It means a lot of things that can't be expressed in words. I am so happy. The people have spoken."
Mwango appealed to the losing candidates to join him to develop Kanchibiya.
"MMD and UPND are welcome on board; whatever ideas they have for Kanchibiya they must bring them forward to me. Time of campaign is over, people have spoken, and we must work together now," he said.
However, Mwango accused the MMD and Kapijimpanga of electoral malpractices during the campaign period.
"The MMD had put in about K1.7 billion to bribe people to vote for them. We have evidence which we can produce, some people have cheques, see this one," said Mwango while pointing to a cheque leaf alleged to have been issued and signed by Kapijimpanga to Mansha East Community School. "They also bought blankets, bicycles and other goods which they were distributing to voters. In fact, some MMD cadres were arrested and detained at Kasama police for buying voters' cadres in Kanchibiya."
Mwango pledged to improve the road network, school facilities, clean water supply and health facilities in his constituency.
"I would urge the government to share national resources equally and not discriminate areas with opposition parliamentarians," said Mwango.
Mwango polled 5,508 votes, 3,269 votes more than his close rival Kapijimpanga who got 2,239 votes.
Independent candidate Selicious Mukate came third with 662 votes while UPND's Emmanuel Mulenga polled 62 votes.
Kanchibiya Constituency has 20,722 registered voters but only 8,607 people cast their vote in the Tuesday by-election.
Returning officer for the Kanchibiya parliamentary by-election, Daniel Nkondwa announced the results at about 04:16 hours. People had waited for the results since Tuesday night.
Mpika electoral officer Gilbert Bwembya said the delay was because drivers who had been assigned to pick ballot boxes from four polling stations in Chundaponde area, situated about 130 kilometres from the town, had by-passed the polling stations.
"The ballot boxes from Lulimala, Ngweshi, Mwendachabi and Kapilya polling stations were brought about 01:00 hours and 02:00 hours this morning," said Bwembya. "All in all, there was voter apathy in this election because out of the 20,722 registered voters, only 8,607 people voted."
Labels: JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, MMD
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Kapiji seeks Kanchibiya seat, campaigns for Rupiah
By Amos Malupenga
Tuesday September 16, 2008 [04:00]
Former lands minister Judith Kapijimpanga yesterday urged the people of Kanchibiya Constituency in Mpika to vote for her and MMD presidential candidate Rupiah Banda to guarantee continued development in the area.
In an interview, Kapijimpanga said it would be difficult for the MMD to rekindle its glory if they did not allow Vice-President Banda to continue where late president Levy Mwanawasa left.
“I would humbly urge our people to consider putting Rupiah Bwezani Banda in the saddle to enhance continuity and development because if we cut the tape now, it will be difficult to rekindle our glory,” Kapijimpanga said. “I also appeal to the people of Kanchibiya not to make experiments but vote for me and thereby allow me to finish the projects that I started.”
Kapijimpanga said from the time she lost to opposition Patriotic Front candidate in 2006, she noticed that the constituency had back-peddled in development issues. She said the Chiunda Ponda Road, which was a major project, stalled after she left the seat. She said the same was true of most community schools she sponsored. Kapijimpanga said even the rehabilitation of government schools slowed down.
“That’s why I feel I would be the best person to be put back in this parliamentary office,” said Kapijimpanga. “I can proudly say that I, through the government, enabled projects like clinics in Luchebe, Kabinga, Chinkobo and at Chikakala in Mpepo chiefdom.”
Labels: ELECTIONS, JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, RUPIAH BANDA
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MMD under pressure for female president
By Patson Chilemba and Lambwe Kachali
Sunday April 20, 2008 [04:00]
THE ruling MMD should adopt a woman to contest the 2011 presidential elections, party National Executive Committee (NEC) member Judith Kapijimpanga yesterday said. In an interview, Kapijimpanga, who is MMD chairperson for lands, urged the party leadership to create an enabling environment for women who have the potential, are educated and have demonstrated good leadership skills to contest the presidency. Kapijimpanga said MMD had a lot of prominent and educated women who could lead the party. She urged women in the party to come out and declare their intentions.
"It could be a man or woman (for president), but this time, they could give chance to women," Kapijimpanga said. "As the saying goes, when you are looking for the best man for the job, usually that man could actually be a woman."
Kapijimpanga said there must be unity of purpose among women if they were to rise to senior positions in the party.
She urged women to desist from the tendency of pulling each other down.
"We need to support each other as women," Kapijimpanga said.
When asked to name some women leaders in her party that were up to this challenge, Kapijimpanga said although she knew some, she would not mention any names.
Asked if she was interested in the MMD presidency, Kapijimpanga said she had not given it a thought.
However, Kapijimpanga said she would depend on God to help the party choose a leader and that she would accept the candidate the party would adopt for the elections.
Kapijimpanga also said the MMD should create strategies to ensure that it remained in power after 2011.
"We should embrace the grassroots and listen to them more. We shouldn't like throw out everything they say," said Kapijimpanga.
Labels: JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, MMD, PRESIDENCY
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