Early rains agitate farmers
By Ndinawe Simpelwe
Tue 04 Oct. 2011, 10:10 CAT
THE early rains experienced in some parts of the country have left some maize farmers fearing for their harvests. The farmers said they did not have proper storage facilities and feared that the rains would destroy the grain, most of which was still
in their possession. Emmanuel Chibwe, a farmer from Kasama said most storage facilities were still in a deplorable state and needed rehabilitation.
"The problem is that most farmers still have a lot of maize and the rains seem to have come earlier than expected. If it continues like this, then we will see some of the maize being destroyed by rain. The challenge is what to do with the maize before the rain intensifies," Chibwe said.
He said it was not possible for the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to buy all the maize from the farmers because it had its own challenges. Chibwe, who also runs a farmers' cooperative, however urged the new government to quickly look into FRA's challenges, especially by building new storage facilities and improving the existing ones.
The Meteorological Department of Zambia has described the rains that the country has experienced as an abnormal pattern.
ZMD revealed that normal rain was expected to start after October 10. Chibwe said farmers were now preparing for the new planting season and awaiting supplies under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
Labels: AGRICULTURE, FISP, KASAMA, RAINFALL
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FRA not sincere over rotting maize, say Kasama farmers
By Ndinawe Simpelwe
Tue 26 July 2011, 13:59 CAT
THERE is more maize going to waste than has been reported in the media, farmers in Kasama have revealed. Farmers talked to in Kasama revealed that the FRA was not being sincere over the handling of maize because more maize has gone to waste than is reported. Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Mwila Chola, said the FRA had not gone to all parts of the district to ascertain the real situation.
“The FRA should ensure that they reach all parts of the district because the 15,000 bags that we saw in the press was not the true picture. There is more that has gone to waste,” Chola said.
“We know that the FRA has done its best and has challenges but they should try to get to all parts where there are small-scale farmers to get the real picture,”
He said the small-scale farmers in the district had very poor storage facilities that could store the maize for a long time.
He said the farmers had made a loss because their hard work had not paid.
Over 20,000 bags of maize worth K1.5 billion was reported wasted in Kasama and Mpika districts which the FRA disputed.
The FRA said it only knew of 1,650 bags of maize that went to waste.
Another farmer Chomba Sinyangwe urged government to hasten in building more storage facilities in the country.
He said it was becoming frustrating for small-scale farmers to produce bumper harvests every year that only went to waste.
“It is sad that all that hard work has resulted to almost nothing. Our maize is rotten and there is no chance of saving it,” Sinyangwe said.
Sinyangwe said the government should plan in advance for the coming farming season.
He said it would be meaningless for the government to be caught up in problems after the harvest.
“I think this is not a new problem; we have been facing the same problem year after year. It’s just logical that the authorities put measures in place to solve this problem once and for all,” Sinyangwe said.
Labels: FRA, KASAMA, MAIZE
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Kasama headteachers vow to crush Rupiah
By Darious Kapembwa
Fri 13 May 2011, 10:30 CAT
SOME headteachers from various schools in Kasama have vowed to crush president Rupiah Banda and the MMD during this year’s tripartite elections. The headteachers talked to said they are angered by the behaviour of local government deputy minister Moses Muteteka and education minister Dora Siliya’s address to them.
Muteteka and Siliya last Saturday met the head- teachers at Kasama Girls High School where they instructed them to vote for President Banda and the MMD.
According to the head- teachers, Muteteka angered them when he disrespectfully rebuked them on why the MMD was fast losing popularity when they (headteachers) were supposed to be explaining various government programmes to people around the schools’ catchments.
“They came here telling us the usual rhetoric. Dora started first; she was saying she knows that all of us are politicians only that we have not come out in the open.
She asked us that, ‘why do you criticise government so much and yet you don’t praise the good thing that government is doing for you and the people when you are in schools that are receiving development?” one of the teachers said.
They said Siliya told them that Patriotic Front president Michael Sata was a bad person compared to President Banda.
“I think she got an idea of what they expect from us after elections because the whole mission here was to discredit Sata and PF and that is what unsettled all of us such that we murmured in disagreement, because she kept saying they government have a programme for us while Sata does not have.
But what programme is that which is only talked about when elections are near? So we want to try Sata because we have seen his party manifesto.
Otherwise their mission here is total failure because it is difficult to change a decided mind. We have suffered for too long and are resolved to teach them a lesson,” said another headteacher.
The school heads, however, said they became incensed by Muteteka who spoke like he was addressing ‘his children’.
They said they openly protested against Muteteka’s address until he apologised, sat down and called Siliya to address them.
“That young man, he started shouting at us like we are nothing, ‘eeh why are you not explaining? So we got angry until he said ‘sorry, maybe Honourable Siliya knows how to handle you since she works with you’,” said the headteacher.
When contacted, Muteteka failed to explain his encounter with the head-teachers and only said he and his two other colleagues Liato and Siliya were addressing workers according to their ministries.
“I don’t know what you mean. We are here the three of us myself, Honourable Liato and Honourable Siliya and we are working according to our ministries, so tomorrow I am going to Chinsali to address council workers,” said Muteteka.
Asked whether he addressed teachers at Kasama Girls High School, Muteteka hastily cut the line while Siliya was not reachable by press time.
Labels: DORA SILIYA, KASAMA, MANIFESTO, MMD, MOSES MUTETEKA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Kasama youths pelt Dora
By Darious Kapembwa in Kasama
Tue 10 May 2011, 04:01 CAT
DORA Siliya on Sunday prematurely ended her meeting at Kasama’s Chambeshi market
after irate youths pelted her, demanding that she leave the place immediately.
Siliya, who has been meeting teachers in various schools in Northern Province,
was scheduled to hold a meeting at the market but failed due to insecurity posed
by the irate residents.
When word went round that Siliya was expected to hold a meeting at 15:00 hours,
several youths gathered and vowed to punish whoever would convene a meeting in
the market which they claimed had been neglected for 20 years.
The youths said the market was only rehabilitated after Patriotic Front’s Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba was elected Kasama Central parliamentarian.
Before Siliya’s arrival, there was panic among MMD provincial leaders who were the first to arrive to assess the situation.
A handful of women gathered, accompanied by four paramilitary and two plaincloths officers, and started singing.
This incensed more onlookers and the first stones rained, prompting a senior police officer at the scene to call for reinforcement.
Some women who gathered to welcome Siliya pleaded with the youths to stop the violence and allow them to get the “K50 million” they were promised.
However, the youths said they did not need what they described as dirty money, saying Siliya should instead compensate Zamtel workers.
They said Siliya should tell President Rupiah Banda that Kasama was a PF stronghold.
As Siliya arrived at the venue of the meeting, the youths who camped at Makungo bus station drew closer and started throwing stones amidst shouts of “this market is being constructed by GBM” and “you failed in 20 years. What you are doing is like sneaking into someone’s matrimonial home in the absence of the husband. This meeting won’t go on.”
Siliya failed to brave the hostile environment as stones continued to hit the market’s roof with police officers seemingly confused on the direction in which they were coming from.
Siliya tried to condemn the youths in her address but the confusion continued, forcing the crowd to flee.
She subsequently dashed to her vehicle and was hastily driven off. Later in an interview, Siliya claimed that her mission had been fulfilled because “a lot of people had gone to listen to her message”.
“What are you talking about? That intimidation by a few paid youths?” Siliya asked. “It did not work. The people that came to attend our meeting were too many compared to those unruly boys. What is important is that we have seen that the ground here is very fertile for the MMD but people should know that no one, not even you journalists at The Post, benefit from violence.”
When reminded that the meeting ended prematurely, Siliya said: “No, the meeting
is not supposed to last the whole day. What is important is that our message was
delivered.”
Labels: DORA SILIYA, KASAMA, MMD
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3,000 bags of maize get soaked at FRA depot in Kasama
By Ernest Mwape in Kasama
Mon 10 Jan. 2011, 04:00 CAT
MORE than 3,000 bags of maize at Kasama Food Reserve Agency main depot in Northern Province have been soaked.
During a check at the FRA depot yesterday, the 50 kilogramme bags of maize, which were covered in tents, were soaked outside the sheds and some maize had even started geminating. Some of the bags with rotten maize had been disposed of in a nearby rubbish pit.
The workers were found loading some bags of maize onto trucks as others separated the wet bags from the dry ones.
One of the workers, who sought anonymity, said the maize had not been properly kept, yet there was enough space in the warehouse.
“There was an oversight on the part of warehouse managers because instead of putting logs on the ground, they only spread tents and then stacked bags of maize; meaning that if the ground is flooded, bags could easily be submerged in water,” the source said.
The worker said maize was also likely to be soaked in Mpika, Chinsali and other districts where farmers’ associations were managing warehouses in the province.
When contacted for comment, FRA public relations officer Mwamba Siame regretted the incident.
“The Food Reserve Agency has received reports that there is soaked maize in Kasama with regret as the Agency has re-enforced its strategies to ensure that the stock is covered by increasing the workforce in some locations that are working on covering the stacks and loading maize en route to safe storage,” Siame said.
She said the maize was on the stack outside Kasama main shed because it was filled to capacity.
Siame said of the 127,000 bags of maize on the said stack, only 700 bags at the bottom were affected.
“The bottom layer of the stack was affected after heavy rains,” she said.
Siame said the workers were now sorting out the problem and about 480 bags would be salvaged.
“The remaining 126,300 X 50kg bags which was not soaked has been moved to safer storage,” said Siame.
Labels: FRA, KASAMA, MAIZE
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MMD councillor dares residents to protest naked
By Jack Mwape
Tue 04 Jan. 2011, 04:00 CAT
AN MMD ward councillor in Kasama says local residents are free to protest naked on the streets if they feel aggrieved by the alleged misappropriation of funds at Kasama Municipal Council.
Featuring on a live Bemba programme on Radio Mano community station, Francis Kombe, who is Julia Chikamoneka ward councillor, dared Kasama residents to protest if they felt aggrieved.
Kombe, who was initially interjected by the presenter Paul Chileshe to withdraw the remarks, however continued with his line of thought.
“As a council, even if people complain by (either) dancing in the streets or walking naked while carrying placards (to denounce the council), it won’t work,” he said.
Kombe said this in reaction to some Kasama residents who had criticised the council for allegedly abusing public funds at will as highlighted in the audit report of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing for the period January to December, 2009.
Kombe said that nothing would happen to Kasama Municipal Council even if people complained about the abuse of resources at the local authority because the audit report was still under consideration by the councillors.
He said the so-called alleged theft of public funds by council management and staff could not be used as a basis to investigate the council on misappropriation of funds.
Kombe also bragged that law enforcement agencies could not investigate the council based on complaints from local residents.
But former Kasama district commissioner Lieutenant Colonel Steven Chanda has demanded the immediate resignation of Kombe as MMD ward councillor for allegedly insulting the people of Kasama.
Colonel Chanda said it was only right that Kombe resigned on moral grounds for tarnishing the image of the council through his ‘insulting’ utterances.
He said it was unfortunate that Kombe chose to publicly insult the electorate for questioning the mismanagement of affairs at the council.
Colonel Chanda said Kombe as an elected representative, should have respected other people’s divergent views on issues of public interest.
He advised councillors to stop defending the council management and staff over the alleged misuse of public funds but instead wait for further instruction from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing on the outcome of the audit report.
Meanwhile, Kombe has apologised for using vulgar language against Kasama residents while on radio but refused to resign as ward councillor.
Labels: DEMONSTRATION, FRANCIS KOMBE, KASAMA
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GBM is afraid of PF losing in Kasama - Rupiah
By Bivan Saluseki and Chiwoyu Sinyangwe in Mungwi
Sun 12 Sep. 2010, 04:02 CAT
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday said he was hoping that there would be a parliamentary by-election in Kasama because MMD was ready.
Speaking at Kasama Airport when he arrived for Ukusefya pa ngwena traditional ceremony taking place in Mungwi, President Banda said he thought PF Kasama Central member of parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) would resign so that MMD and PF could meet in by-elections.
President Banda said looking at the results he got in the last by-election in Kasama, he was narrowing the gap in terms of results.
“I was hoping that we have another by-election but it looks like my colleague and cousin has looked and said ‘aah if I give up this, my party might lose altogether’. So he has re-thought and decided that he is not re-running and he is coming to ask you whether he should resign or not. It’s up to you to do whatever you want to do. But we were ready even for that by-election,” he said.
President Banda asked MMD members to continue to work hard.
He said he had not yet come back to thank the people in Kasama for the ‘4000’ votes MMD got in the last by-election.
“To others they may say you lost but why are you saying thank you for 4,000 votes? Before… the gap was much wider, but we are narrowing it,” he said.
President Banda called for unity in MMD.
“You know when you coming to an election, and 2011 is an election year, all kind of confusion starts coming through our heads and you start fighting over nothing. Things which before we could have solved peacefully but because we are nearing election, we are fighting like hell. But what we need is the opposite of fighting. We need unity, we need hard work, we need to go door to door and convince people. Zambian people are just like any other people. If you convince them, they will support you,” he said.
President Banda said there would be elections in 2011 but he had not declared them yet. He said people should not allow people to campaign unnecessarily, causing confusion and that MMD must guard its victories and work together.
President Banda thanked the church and civil servants for the works they were doing adding that Zambia was destined for great things. He said he was happy that the people in Northern Province were hard working looking at the crops they were growing such as coffee, tea and maize, among others.
President Banda said he was happy that people in the province had responded to government developmental programmes and support. He said, for instance, people in the province had used the fertilizer support programme to grow the maize.
“Without you responding, these things could not happen. Together, we can build this nation,” President Banda said.
He said policemen had few better houses but everything starts and grows.
President Banda, who seemed to be in hurry and kept on consulting provincial leaders while at the dais, said many people in Kasama were building new houses and development was coming or going to come to Kasama.
After his speech, President Banda proceeded to greet MMD and government officials, some of who had given up and thought they would not get a chance to greet him.
And provincial chairman Griever Sikasote said MMD in the province had endorsed President Banda for 2011. He said MMD was determined to scoop all the 10 seats lost in 2006.
Sikasote said MMD would also scoop the Mpulungu seat.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, GBM, KASAMA, PF, RUPIAH BANDA
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COMMENT - It is absurd and almost criminal that council employees are not paid on the dot at the end of every month. More than that, it is an open invitation to corruption. How are council workers supposed to pay the bills if they are not paid? Other than getting paid 'on the job'? Councils need to get serious about their financing, and they should receive 50% of national revenues. As it is, Zambians get double taxed by paying PAYE and local levies as well.
Kasama Council workers demand salaries
Thursday, July 29, 2010, 14:16
Some workers at Kasama Municipal Council in Northern Province have complained of non-payment of their salaries for the past four months now. The workers at the Council have threatened to go on strike if management does not pay them their salaries arrears by this month-end.
Some council employees, who preferred to be anonymous, told ZANIS in Kasama yesterday that they
have not received their salaries since March, this year. The workers have since accused Council management of being insensitive to their plight.
They charged that management had deliberately chosen to render a deaf ear to the suffering of workers and their families.
The workers revealed that Council was collecting millions of Kwacha from revenue sources but wondered how the funds were being utilised.
They explained that despite management making promises to pay workers their monies nothing tangible had so far happened.
The workers have since appealed to Government authorities to intervene in the problems that have rocked Kasama Municipal Council.
Efforts to get a comment from Acting Council Town Clerk Victor Kakoma proved futile.
But Kasama Mayor Fidelis Chishoma yesterday also complained that Councillors had not been paid their sitting allowances for meetings that they have had in the last four (4) months.
Mr. Chishoma said the Councillors were entitled to sitting allowances each time they met for council meetings but regretted the non-payment of their dues.
He, however, claimed that Kasama Municipal Council currently did not have adequate funds to pay its workers and Councillors their monies and urged the affected individuals to be patient with the local authority.
[ ZANIS ]
Labels: COUNCILS, KASAMA, SALARIES
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Kasama teachers resolve to strike
By Ackson Phiri in Kasama
Sun 27 June 2010, 03:00 CAT
TEACHERS in Kasama have resolved to go on strike if they are not paid their June salaries by the end of the month.
The teachers passed the resolution during a meeting called by their union leaders from Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ), Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) and the Zambian National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) held at Kasama Boys High School recreation hall on Friday.
The teachers said it would be better for them to stay away from classes if their salaries were delayed again this month.
They charged that they had an obligation to fend for their families and subjecting them to untold misery by delayed salaries would not be entertained anymore.
The teachers also resolved to hold peaceful demonstrations in future at the office of the permanent secretary in the event that their salaries were not forthcoming.
They have since asked the government to normalise irregularities on their payslips in order to get their dues on time.
The teachers urged the government to speed up the payment of outstanding claims such as rural and remote hardship allowances to eligible teachers in order to motivate them to work extra hard.
They further appealed to their national union leaders to consult teacher members before commencing negotiations with the government for salary increment and improved conditions of service.
They castigated union leaders for bargaining without their input during the last salary negotiations with government, adding that it was pointless for their district union leaders to call for a meeting to report about past negotiations.
And speaking at the same function, SESTUZ Kasama district chairman Maxwell Chiwele appealed to teachers to desist from any form of misconduct saying the teachers’ unions would not defend indisciplined members.
Chiwele said conditions of service and the code of conduct were very clear on the responsibility and functions of public service workers and as such teachers should not misbehave while on duty.
He further disclosed that the three teachers’ unions were currently negotiating among themselves with a view to merging in order to enhance their bargaining power during negotiations with the government for improved conditions of service.
Labels: KASAMA, SALARIES, STRIKE, TEACHERS
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SMEs urged to learn new business techniques
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 22:20
ZAMBIA Development Agency (ZDA) Regional Entrepreneurship Development Officer Shental Siajunza has called on Small and Medium Entrepreneur (SME ) business organisations to develop interest in learning new techniques in running their businesses.
ZDA Regional Entrepreneurship Development Officer made his call at a one day workshop organised by COMESA at Kasama Lodge on Monday this week.
Mr. Siajunza said SMEs should take advantage of the workshop and advance in running their business profitably and effectively through joining relevant trade organisations.
He pointed out that by linking with relevant organisations like COMESA they could avoid paying trade taxes to councils and exorbitant border charges.
Mr. Siajunza thanked Zambia national Commercial bank for sponsoring the workshop to expose the SMEs in Kasama to modern trade techniques and enhance the development of the district.
He further praised COMESA for offering free a free training kit to SMEs in Kasama which would go a long way in enhancing smooth business operations.
Mr. Siajunza pointed out that SMEs should making joint trips when importing items abroad to cut down on costs which could result into economic growth of their businesses.
Meanwhile Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) Head Business Banking SME Manager at Head office Chibamba Lopa said his Bank is proud to sponsor SME workshop to empower local businesses in national.
Mr. Lopa said ZANACO is aiming at promoting and empowering Small and Medium Business Entrepreneurship by providing conducive business climate to it clients and achieve economic growth.
The Head Business Banking SME Manager disclosed that his bank has reduced Bank interest rate to 20 Per cent from 32 with effect from May 1 this year.
Mr. Lopa added that ZANACO is also geared in offering short tern loans, credit facilities in overdrafts and make their customers comfortable by spending shorter times at their branches national wide.
[ZANIS]
Labels: COMESA, KASAMA, SMEs, TRADE, WORKSHOPS, ZDA
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Catholics cannot be intimidated by cadres - Kasama priests
By George Chellah and Chibaula Silwamba and Masuzyo Chakwe
Sun 28 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT
The Catholic Church in Zambia cannot be intimidated by misguided MMD cadres whose actions are de-campaigning President Rupiah Banda, 41 diocesan priests of Kasama Archdiocese have said.
The priests have called on Zambians to dismiss the MMD smear campaign unleashed against the Catholic Church with the contempt it deserves.
In a statement issued at Motomoto Pastoral Centre on behalf of the other priests, Kasama Association of Zambian Diocesan Catholic Clergy (KAZADCC) chairman, Reverend Father Justin Mulenga expressed dissatisfaction with the recent attacks on the Catholic Church in Zambia.
“We, the 41 diocesan priests of Kasama Archdiocese, assembled in Kasama for the meeting of the association of Zambian Diocesan Catholic Clergy this 25th day of March 2010, wish to express our disgust at some of the recent attacks and insults by purported Catholics, MMD cadres and others on the Catholic Church, its bishops and priests,” the statement read in part. “We, accordingly issue the following statement; in the first place, we wish to publicly declare our faith in the Catholic Church, its leadership and indeed its social teaching as regards upholding justice, human rights, peace, development and good governance. As pastors, we have the mandate to preach the good news of Jesus Christ without fear or compromise. We therefore recommit ourselves to stand for the truth and speak for the weak, the poor and the voiceless in our society.
“We wish to clarify that Caritas Kasama and its parent body Caritas Zambia operate under the auspices of the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC). Their mandate is to promote the social teaching of the Catholic Church. It is not an opportunistic body just formed in order to take part in partisan political campaigns. As a matter of fact, Caritas Zambia has been in existence longer than the political parties in the country. Undertaking civic education is a legitimate right that Caritas Zambia will never abrogate. The organisation will continue speaking the truth and helping the poor to make informed decisions on matters affecting them.”
Fr Mulenga stated that the priests protested in the strongest terms the recent stage-managed calls by bribed MMD cadres and marketeers on Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu to resign.
“Those masquerading as members of the Catholic Church when they are actually hired mercenaries should stop their senseless actions forthwith. The Catholic Church in Zambia cannot be intimidated by misguided party cadres whose actions are actually de-campaigning President Rupiah Bwezani Banda and his administration,” Fr Mulenga stated. “It is strange that the MMD top leadership of Hon Michael Mabenga and Hon Katele Kalumba seem to have sanctioned Mr. William Banda’s campaign strategy reminiscent of UNIP in its dying days by remaining silent. We deplore the dirty campaign methods being employed by the MMD in the country especially Lusaka and the Copperbelt and call on the perpetrators to stop poisoning the political atmosphere in the country. Zambia is a free and democratic country, which should not be dragged back to the by-gone days of the one party rule, characterised by manipulation, mud-slinging, character assassination, intolerance and violence.
“We call on our fellow Zambians, Civil Society Organisations, church leaders and all people of goodwill to dismiss the MMD smear campaign unleashed against the Catholic Church with the contempt it deserves. We also advise political parties that ‘those who live in glass houses should not throw stones’. We shall continue to give credit where it is due as well as praying for our mother Zambia. May God bless our beloved country.”
And during the celebration of the Eucharist in Monze, the Pope’s representative in Zambia Archbishop Nicola Girasoli said it was well known and convincing that the Catholic Church was not an association that desired to promote a specific plan or a project.
"Very often we may not be correctly understood in our ministry of evangelisation. But we all know and are convinced that the Catholic Church is not an association that desires to promote a specific plan or a project," he said.
He said the Gospel today reminds people that the ministry consists in two main commitments: to announce the good news of the gospel and to love the poor and the afflicted.
Archbishop Girasoli said the Catholic ministry is more challenging everyday and people expect a lot from them.
"We commit ourselves to be ministers of the gospel and men of the eucharist. Our fidelity to the priestly commitment of celibacy in chastity, as well as detachment from material things will be an eloquent witness to the people of God,” he said. “In our priestly ministry, we are also called not only to serve and love the poor, but also to give voice to voiceless, to be promoter of their rights and to support their expectations."
He said Pope Benedict XVI underlines that in order to be more effective in the ministry, there was need to be non-partisan, which concretely meant that they shall always be on the side of the gospel, and on the side of God.
Archbishop Girasoli said he was aware of the difficulties priests faced in Zambia where they faced a shortage of financial and sometimes even pastoral means.
"But generally, I would say that I am very proud of how committed our priests are here in Monze and more in general in Zambia," he said.
He said without priests, the Catholic Church could not achieve the salvation of souls.
Labels: CATHOLIC CHURCH, KASAMA
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‘Destroyed section of Serenje-Mpika road vindicates opposition’
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Thu 11 Mar. 2010, 04:40 CAT
PATRIOTIC FRONT (PF) Northern Province chairman Frederick Chisanga has observed that the destroyed section of the road between Serenje and Mpika vindicates the opposition’s cry that the MMD is not serious about development.
In an interview from Kasama yesterday, Chisanga advised the MMD to stop maligning the opposition PF controlled councils of having failed to develop roads in their areas because Serenje council was not controlled by the opposition.
He wondered how a serious government could neglect a key road such as the Great North Road that linked Zambia to neighbouring Tanzania as well as to the country’s only port in Mpulungu.
Chisanga said Vice-President George Kunda should be ashamed that while he had been on rampage and going places to discredit the opposition, the dilapidated Serenje-Mpika stretch passed through his constituency.
Chisanga said if MMD was performing better than the opposition, they would not have neglected the portion of the Serenje-Mpika road to deteriorate to the levels that it had.
“And if we are to go by their standards of judging performance, then Vice-President George Kunda has failed and should resign for failing to take development to his constituency,” Chisanga said.
“Serenje is not a PF stronghold. It is an MMD stronghold. Why did they let the road dilapidate to desperate levels?”
And Chisanga said the Road Development Agency (RDA) in Northern Province was always under-funded.
He observed that there was nothing tangible that the RDA could do in terms of road repairs and maintenance because they were operating on a shoestring budget.
Labels: FREDERICK CHISANGA, INFRASTRUCTURE, KASAMA, PF, ROADS
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Kunda asks mayors to desist from making political statements
By Agness Changala
Wed 28 Oct. 2009, 04:01 CAT
VICE-President George Kunda has asked mayors to desist from making statements that are perceived to be political. During the installation ceremony of the Lusaka mayor and his deputy on Monday, Vice-President Kunda said political partiality could not be entertained on the part of mayors, as they were civic leaders.
“I wish to comment with great concern on the recent press statement made by a named mayor regarding the presidential visit to Kasama. As a mayor, one becomes a city or municipal father/mother as such political partiality cannot be entertained,” he said.
Vice-President Kunda said political partiality in the administration of duties in the office of mayor was a drawback on the developmental efforts of the council.
Prior to the Kasama Central by-election, Kasama mayor Fidelis Chishoma warned that President Rupiah Banda should not be surprised if he received a hostile reception in Kasama for his bad leadership.
And Vice-President Kunda said this year's Constituency Development Funds (CDF) would only be released to the councils once they retired the funds, which were disbursed last year.
He said the management of CDF had remained a challenge for most councils.
He warned that the government would not tolerate the misuse and misappropriation of public funds.
Vice-President Kunda challenged councils in the country to devise alternative means of raising revenue.
“In particular, councils countrywide should intensify on the rate collection efforts. There are a lot of properties countrywide which should be included in the rating rolls of various councils,” Vice-President Kunda said.
Lusaka mayor Robert Chikwelete urged the central government to be effective enough by releasing funds on time.
Chikwelete said the K10 billion that was provided to the council for the construction and unblocking of drainages in the city was a drop in the ocean.
Chikwelete thanked his fellow councillors for re-electing him to serve as mayor of Lusaka and pledged his commitment to making the city better.
Labels: GEORGE KUNDA, KASAMA, MAYOR
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Cops bar Mpulungu PF-UPND cadres from celebrating victory in Kasama
Written by Emmanuel Kapampa in Mpulungu
Monday, October 19, 2009 7:03:10 AM
POLICE in Mpulungu have refused to grant a permit to the PF-UPND cadres who wanted to hold a solidarity march to celebrate their victory in Kasama Central.
The PF-UPND cadres in Mpulungu were yesterday planning to hold celebrations that were slated for Sunday for their Kasama Central by-election victory but police in the area thwarted their plans.
In a statement co-signed by the pact's district chairman Reuben Chisenga and district secretary Muchinzi Mwazya, they stated that the solidarity march would not go ahead as planned.
And in a separate interview, Mwazya said his members were greatly disappointed that police had infringed on their constitutional rights to assemble and freely express their feelings by denying them a permit.
He dismissed some of the reasons advanced by police to deny them a permit as flimsy.
Mwazya said among the many reasons given by police were that the celebrations could have triggered a counter reaction from MMD cadres that could have endangered peace in the township.
He however noted that a celebration was not a protest of any kind and felt that police had treated his members unfairly because if MMD had won, they would have been allowed to celebrate without any restrictions.
Mwazya also pointed out that it wouldn't have been possible for the PF-UPND pact to give police a seven day notice in advance as they were claiming because it was not clear who would have emerged victorious in Kasama.
''The PF-UPND pact will now watch closely and with interest on how police will react if MMD wins any by-election in the near future. We shall closely observe how they are going to handle such a case,'' Mwazya stated.
Mwazya appealed to police to be professional and discharge their duties in the public interest.
He further added that his members were saddened because they had been denied a chance to celebrate together with their colleagues in Kasama, saying the Kasama central by-election was an important victory for the PF-UPND pact.
Efforts to get a comment from police in the area proved futile by press time.
The PF's Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba on Friday won the Kasama central by-election with 10 688 votes and was followed by MMD's Burton Mugala who got 4184 votes.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, ELECTIONS, KASAMA, PF-UPND
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Rupiah, Chiluba are licking their shame – Sata
Written by Patson Chilemba in Lusaka and Chibaula Silwamba in Kasama
Saturday, October 17, 2009 12:46:16 AM
RUPIAH Banda and Frederick Chiluba are now licking their shame over the MMD's defeat in the Kasama Central parliamentary by-election, Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata charged yesterday. And newly-elected Kasama Central PF parliamentarian Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba said his victory is just the beginning of the PF-UPND pact success and road to forming government in 2011.
Commenting on the PF's landslide victory in the Kasama Central by-election that was held on Thursday, Sata said President Banda was deceived to think that former president Chiluba was popular.
“Mr Chiluba and Mr Banda, they are licking their shame. They must be licking their shame because Banda thought Chiluba is very popular in Northern Province, but he has now proved that that man is very unpopular in Northern Province. He's [Chiluba] a liability for him, and we would like to encourage President Banda to keep Mr Chiluba nearer him all the time,” Sata said. “We are pleading with the President to keep Mr Chiluba close to him all the time, because it makes our job easier.”
Sata said Chiluba had become sick in South Africa as a result of the MMD defeat and many more were going to be sick.
He said President Banda miscalculated the reality on the ground in Kasama because he was misled by his minions who included Vice-President George Kunda and MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga.
“They thought that if you go and pick rejects from PF such as [former PF secretary general] Edward Mumbi and Guy Mulenga, and they go to Kasama, start talking rubbish, unsubstantiated rubbish, they think that will take them somewhere. And Rupiah Banda was misled by George Kunda and Michael Mabenga to say 'pick Kenneth Kaunda and Frederick Chiluba to Ukusefya Pang'wena'. Because since that ceremony started, none of those two gentlemen have ever been to that function,” Sata said.
“I was with Frederick Chiluba in government for 10 years, he never attended a single Ukusefya Pang'wena. They thought Frederick Chiluba was very influential, but I am glad now they can swallow their pride. And you know they thought Kasama Central was as easy as Chitambo for them to rig, because they did everything, even the 4,000 that they got, that was not genuine.”
Sata said MMD had been taught a lesson and PF would now move to Solwezi-Central to help the pact partner UPND win that seat. He challenged the remaining PF rebel members of parliament to follow Saviour Chishimba's example by resigning from the party so that PF could recover their seats.
On President Banda's statement that he would have been miserable if Chiluba had been convicted and sent to jail, Sata said what President Banda said was an understatement. He said President Banda would continue to be miserable for interfering with natural justice in the nation by supporting Chiluba.
“He is going to be much more miserable. For example, Kasama is making him more miserable, and many more constituencies will make him more miserable. That is why he should keep Frederick nearer. And that is why I am saying, if all those rebels can resign starting from Chawama, Matero, all of them if they resign and then we go there and teach Rupiah Banda a lesson,” Sata said. “We need to teach him a clean lesson. Clean, no violence, no corruption, no intimidation.”
Sata said President Banda was supporting Chiluba because they were birds of a feather, going in the same direction.
“We told the people of Kasama, umutaba weshilu, bakombola elyo lipenene. So we told the people to eat, and they ate and enjoyed. But they never gave them [MMD] a vote. They got the money, they ate the chicken, they drank the kachasu, sugar, and finally they even stoned [tourism minister Catherine] Namugala to say 'you haven't brought enough',” he said.
Sata said because PF knew MMD's rigging tactics, they asked the electorate to sleep outside the polling stations on the eve of voting and they did just that to perfection as some even waited at the stations until the results were announced.
He said even the kneeling of Lusaka Province minister Charles Shawa to plead for the people to vote for MMD could not help their cause. Sata also said he felt sorry for Paramount chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people who had earlier asked the people to vote for MMD losing candidate Burton Mugala
“They said 'why are you kneeling down now because you don't give us basic amenities,'” said Sata. “Now that the election is over, let police arrest Namugala for dangerous driving because she knocked somebody and that person is in hospital.”
Sata said he would travel to Kasama soon to say thank you to the people for retaining the seat to PF.
Former foreign affairs minister Mundia Sikatana said the MMD was wired badly in Kasama because of President Banda's abusive language.
“Abusive language must stop. The leadership of the party is never seen at the party headquarters,” said Sikatana
Sikatana said MMD had lost Mwamba who was a very faithful member and assisted the party a great deal.
The PF overwhelmingly scooped the Kasama-Central when their candidate Mwamba amassed 10,688 votes against MMD's Mugala who got 4,184, leaving a difference of 6, 504 between them.
Kasama residents had been celebrating since 01:50 hours on Friday when Mwamba was declared winner of the hotly contested by-election.
And speaking shortly after returning officer for Kasama Central Constituency Alfred Nsama Muonga declared him dully elected member of parliament, Mwamba popularly known as GBM said he foresaw his victory coming.
“It was expected,” Mwamba said.
Asked if his victory would boost the pact between PF and the UPND, Mwamba responded: “Precisely of course...This is just the beginning of everything.”
“I, Alfred Nsama Muonga, being the returning officer for Kasama Central Constituency, do hereby declare that I have in accordance with the law ascertained the results of the poll in the said constituency and that they have been given to Ng'ona Maggie [APC] 40 votes, Ntalasha Christy [independent] 50 votes, Muhammad Hamir A [independent] 170 votes, Chansa Alexandar A [UNIP] 189 votes, Mugala Burton [MMD] 4,184 votes, Mwamba Geoffrey B [PF] 10,688,” announced Muonga around 01:50 hours on Friday morning. “I further declare that a total of 126 ballot papers have been rejected as invalid. Further I declare that a total of one ballot paper has been disputed. I, therefore, declare that said Mwamba Geoffrey B to be this day dully elected as member of parliament for Kasama Central constituency."
After the declaration of Mwamba as member of parliament, PF supporters including some civil servants and police officers jubilated.
Mwamba's supporters attempted to lift him but failed, instead they just surrounded him in celebratory mood amid cheers as he walked to his vehicle. "MP! GBM! PF!" shouted the supporters. "Mugala walala! Walala! Mugala walala! MMD yalala! Yalala! MMD out! Kuyabebele!"
Mwamba and his supporters drove in a long convoy to his residence.
I am tired. I have to go and sleep now. I need to reflect on a lot of things, said Mwamba as he was being driven out of the Civic Centre amidst tight security provided by Sata’s bodyguards.
The jubilant supporters spent the whole night and yesterday singing, ululating and dancing throughout Kasama town.
Motorists had been hooting in celebration while cyclists, who have joined in the celebrations, rung bells of their bicycles.
Mwamba's victory is the talk of Kasama.
Youths and the old, and all those with energies to sing and dance are being driven around the townships celebrating - like they were rejoicing a political revolution.
PF supporters had camped at various polling stations from 18:00 hours on Thursday when counting of votes started.
MMD members were nowhere to be seen since the election results were announced.
Meanwhile, MMD campaign manager Shawa congratulated Mwamba and the PF for winning the by-election, adding that despite losing, the MMD government would continue with its numerous developmental projects in Kasama Central Constituency.
Shawa, who is also Lusaka Province minister, congratulated Mwamba and the PF.
“They have won and we congratulate them for that, a thing which they don't usually do," Shawa said. "If it was MMD that had won they would have accused us of rigging. But I am very happy and I want to thank the people of Kasama we worked well together, we were very peaceful and I thank them for that.”
He said the MMD had made improvements compared to the results of the presidential elections last year.
“We have put up a better fight if you compare with the presidential results,” Shawa said. “There was voter apathy and some people might have stayed away because of fear of violence because our [PF] colleagues were violent.”
He said although the MMD were peaceful, the PF were violent.
“The PF even tear gassed our person. I wonder where they got the tear gas from,” Shawa said. “And we must not cling to tribal politics.”
He assured that government would continue with development projects in Kasama.
“He [Mwamba] will depend on government and the MMD government will continue with its development projects like building schools, clinics, building roads in Kasama,” said Shawa.
The Kasama Central parliamentary seat fell vacate following former PF ‘rebel’ member of parliament Chishimba's resignation from his portfolio and the party.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, CHILUBA, KASAMA, RUPIAH BANDA, SATA
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Rupiah is the most corrupt – Hichilema
Written by George Chellah and Patson Chilemba
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has charged that President Rupiah Banda is the worst, most corrupt and dangerous President Zambia has ever had. And Lusaka lawyer Wynter Kabimba yesterday challenged the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to make its position clear on former president Frederick Chiluba’s acquittal following President Rupiah Banda’s revelation on the matter.
Reacting to President Banda’s remarks on Chiluba’s acquittal during a closed-door meeting in Kasama last Sunday, Hichilema said President Banda had come out in defence of Chiluba’s acquittal because he wanted to protect himself from the corruption he is currently involved in.
“He wants to shield himself away from the current corruption so that nobody asks him how he ran his government when he leaves,” Hichilema said. “He is basically exonerating himself from the current corruption he is involved in like the RP Capital and Zamtel deal. That’s why he is coming out this way on the acquittal.”
He said the biggest problem Zambia was faced with was President Banda.
“He is the one interfering with the judicial process. People must target Rupiah because he is the one who is mismanaging the judiciary. Rupiah is just confirming what we have been saying that he is the one who instructed for the appeal to be stopped,” Hichilema said.
“That’s why he fired Max Nkole. It is very sad… this is what I have always said that Rupiah is in State House for himself. It is him who has destroyed the country. So far he is the worst President Zambia has ever had.”
Hichilema said President Banda was offering a poor quality leadership coupled with a corrupt mind.
“He is the lowest, the worst, most corrupt and the most dangerous President we have ever had. It's leadership with no vision, interfering in the judicial process, corrupt and also dictatorial,” said Hichilema.
And Kabimba said President Banda confirmed works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti’s earlier statement on Chiluba's acquittal.
“There is no doubt listening to what Mulongoti said about Chiluba’s acquittal and what Rupiah said in that closed-door meeting…it’s now clear that it was a Cabinet decision to influence the acquittal of Chiluba. The government must have had a hand in the acquittal of Chiluba,” Kabimba said.
“However, what is surprising is how the same Cabinet that was so committed to see that justice runs its course in this matter under Levy Mwanawasa can today state to the people of Zambia that Rupiah would have regretted if Chiluba was sent to jail. After Levy’s death last year, Rupiah has failed to sustain or uphold Levy’s legacy.
“The decision by the DPP to withdraw the appeal that was lodged by the Task Force on Corruption was in line with the government’s decision to stop this matter. That’s what is very clear from all these pronouncements...”
Kabimba challenged LAZ to make a clear statement on the issue.
“This matter is still in court and we have commenced judicial review proceedings to challenge the appeal and yet the people in government including the President keep on making prejudicial statements against these proceedings. The people that have been culprits are Mulongoti, Vice-President George Kunda and Rupiah himself,” Kabimba said.
“This must worry LAZ vis-à-vis the question of the independence of the judiciary. I challenge LAZ to come in the open and take a clear position whether these rantings are clear for the administration of justice in our country. They should be able to ask what is behind these pronouncements.”
Kabimba said LAZ had been very vague with its position on the matter.
“This is the only country that I have seen where lawyers do not side with poor people. Lawyers all over the world have been known to be instruments of social change where injustice has reared its ugly head against the people,” Kabimba said.
“Lawyers are not siding with the poor people, which is a spirit that we can’t be proud of as lawyers. Neither can the people of Zambia be proud of the legal profession anymore. This is the issue that I would like LAZ to take a position on.”
Kabimba said the government was eroding the independence of the judiciary.
“With these statements, isn’t the government itself sending bad signals to the public about the independence of the judiciary? The President is saying the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) can appeal if he wishes. How does the DPP exercise his powers against these prejudicial statements that are being made?” he asked.
And in a letter to the LAZ president dated October 15, 2009, Kabimba stated that the statements from government had the effect to erode the independence of the judiciary.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, KASAMA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Voting in Kasama poll begins
Written by Chibaula Silwamba in Kasama
Thursday, October 15, 2009 6:26:21 PM
Voting in Kasama Central parliamentary by-election has began and candidates have expressed confidence of victory in today's by-election.
The election is being held in Kasama, a town in the Northern Province of Zambia.e
And some Kasama residents chased, threatened to beat and burn a vehicle for commerce minister Felix Mutati and health minister Kapembwa Simbao on Tuesday night when they allegedly wanted to distribute blankets and mealie meal to potential electorate.
In separate interviews yesterday, Patriotic Front candidate Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, MMD's Burton Mugala and independent candidate Christy Ntalasha said they would win the elections.
Speaking on behalf of Mugala, MMD deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande said the ruling party would get the seat.
"MMD is winning on Thursday. It will be our day. I am here so that I can take honourable Mugala to Parliament," said Kaande. "I am confident because of the work we have put in as a party."
And Mwamba said he would have the last laugh and shame the MMD.
"The campaign is going extremely well; I think all is under control and it looks like the people of Kasama Central of all tribes have decided who they want to be their next member of parliament. Beyond that, I think PF has done very well in terms of its campaign, we have equally concentrated in rural areas where previously the MMD have always been winning us from but this time around I think we have done very well," Mwamba said. "I have personally spearheaded the campaign in rural areas and all seems to be well. My chances of winning I would say they are 101 per cent because the people that I have so far visited have decided that I will be the right person to represent them in Parliament."
He said he had a lot of money therefore he was not going to Parliament as a job seeker.
"My key position would be to talk on behalf of the people of Kasama and not to enrich myself or not to go to the NCC [National Constitutional Conference] so that I could earn a bit of money. To me money is not my priority; I think I have enough money," Mwamba said. "It's not a member of parliament who thinks that these should be the key areas it's the people themselves because each area of this constituency has got different problems. So I will first of all listen from the people from each and every ward, they will tell me, they will present to me the problems that they are facing and thereafter we will sit down, digest and see how we move forward."
He said he would personally mobilise funds for the development of the constituency.
Ntalasha said he had explained his vision and dreams for Kasama and he was confident that the voters would favour him with their votes.
"For me the campaign went on well except few intimidations from the ruling party. I have done what I should have done and I explained my dream and vision for Kasama Central and the whole nation. Now it's up to the voters to make a choice," she said.
Ntalasha said he would also champion media freedom if elected member of parliament.
"I believe that democracy and the media go together. I believe in a free and independent media," said Ntalasha.
All Peoples' Congress (APC) candidate Maggie Ngona and independent candidate Muhamad Ayub Hamir said they were far addressing campaign meetings but offered to give interviews later. UNIP candidate Alexandar Chansa could not be reached by press time.
Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) executive director Bonny Tembo confirmed that some people at New Town market threatened to burn Simbao and Mutati's vehicle.
"We were informed by our monitors who witnessed the incidence. The ministers had blankets, mealie meal and money to give to the would-be voters. But that area where they went is PF and people were very much alert and when our monitors saw what was happening they called us. Angry people had to chase Mutati and Simbao and wanted to set ablaze their vehicle," said Tembo. Despite several attempts to phone Simbao and Mutati, their mobile phones were not going through.
Chief Mwamba and an AVAP official Michael Mwale called for peaceful elections today.
"We want the people to vote wisely. They should scrutinise their candidate very well," said Mwale.
Chief Mwamba said cadres coming from outside were the ones that usually cause violence.
"The language has been crude. But the people are willing to go and vote," said chief Mwamba.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, KASAMA
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Vioneni vimasilu! Onani! Onani!, Banda derides PF MPs in Kasama
Written by Chibaula Silwamba in Kasama
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:21:49 AM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has described PF members of parliament as mad people after they drove on Kasama-Mporokoso road near the venue where he was addressing a campaign rally on Monday. And President Rupiah Banda said he would have voted for the Michael Sata-led Patriotic Front (PF) in the 2006 elections if he was a resident of Chilongoshi in Kasama.
Meanwhile, Northern Province minister John Chinyanta has accused Kasama mayor Fidelis Chishoma of stealing about K23.3 million public funds meant for development projects in his ward.
President Banda made derogatory remarks against PF parliamentarians Mwenya Musenge (Nkana East Constituency), Elfridah Mwamba (Lukashya Constitue-ncy) and other PF campaigners when they drove past Chilongoshi, where the head of state was holding a campaign rally, along the Kasama-Mporokoso road.
As the three vehicles belonging to PF drove past Chilongoshi while the parliamentarians and others on board flashed the PF symbol, President Banda instantly shouted: “Vioneni vimasilu! Onani! Onani! [Look at those mad people! Look! Look!]”
After President Banda shouted in his Chewa dialect, his interpretor identified as Kapungwe interpreted the statement into Bemba: “Ati fimoneni ififuntile fileya uko. Namakofi filichitefi, nani felefwaya ukuma pano? [The President says see those mad people displaying their fists. Who do they want to beat here?]
President Banda said the PF members wanted to see if people had attended his rally.
“You saw our friends passing here just to have a peep and see whether you turned up for the meeting. Thank you for coming and showing them that you have come to pay attention to our message,” President Banda said.
He also said he would have voted for the PF in 2006 if he was resident because Sata had convinced the people of Kasama that the whole country would vote for him and his party.
“They managed to convince you, they told you stories and things that made you believe that the rest of the country had gone PF,” said President Banda, adding: “If I was living here at Chilongoshi, most probably I would have also voted for PF, God forbid. I would have done it! But now we know the truth. Everybody here knows the truth. When the results of the elections came out in 2006 it became clear that the rest of the provinces of Zambia did not pick PF.”
President Banda told the gathering that Sata was scared of him.
“Mr Sata will never be at the same place as I am at the same time. As soon as he hears that the President is coming, he takes the shortest cut out of the place to run away. He was invited to Ukusefya Pangwena and he was here in Kasama but he heard that I was coming because I had also been invited. He couldn’t go there, he went to a small room in the darkroom just peeping to hear the results of the ceremony. He doesn’t go anywhere where I go. He is scared of me. He is the snake but he is scared of me a human being. Now how can you be a President if you are scared to appear in public?” President Banda said.
Just last month, President Banda and Sata posed for photographs while cracking jokes during the funeral of local government minister Benny Tetamashimba at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka. They also did the same at the funeral of Sata’s grand-daughter in Lusaka.
President Banda also encouraged members of various political parties to attend his and opposition political parties’ leaders to do so that they could listen to their messages and make informed decisions.
At the same rally, MMD candidate Burton Mugala said he placed his “buttocks on President Banda” because he was the only one with money for development.
At another rally at Mumana Lupando, President Banda accused Kasama mayor Chishoma of stealing public funds.
“When I arrived here, I was told that you elected a councillor [now mayor Chishoma] here who has eaten your money,” President Banda said. “Don’t vote for them.”
Since his arrival on Saturday, President Banda has repeatedly expressed anger at Chishoma over his forewarning to him last week that he should expect a hostile reception in Kasama.
And Chinyanta accused Chishoma of stealing money meant for development in his ward.
“Your councillor Mr Chishoma is our mayor. Now listen, the government sent you K15 million for road rehabilitation but that project was not done. We sent you K8.3 million for the construction of a market but nothing has been done,” Chinyanta said. “We are with the Minister of Finance here. He has given us K600 million for CDF, make sure you elect upright leaders; Don’t elect people who will steal your money. Don’t elect someone like the mayor who steals your money. Be careful! 15th October vote Mugala!” Chinyanta said only the government could develop the area and not Mwamba.
“Mwamba is bosting that he is the 10th richest person in Zambia but how come he has failed to build the palace for his relative chief Mukonge,” said Chinyanta.
Labels: KASAMA, PF-UPND, RUPIAH BANDA
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Rupiah is a chief liar, Sata tells Kasama residents
Written by Patson Chilemba in Kasama
Sunday, October 11, 2009 4:04:36 AM
PF leader Michael Sata has said President Rupiah Banda’s visit to Kasama will accord residents there an opportunity to listen to the chief liar. Commenting on Kasama mayor Fidelis Chishoma’s statement that President Banda should not be surprised if he received a hostile reception in Kasama because of his bad leadership, Sata urged PF cadres not to be hostile to him but instead listen attentively to his lies.
“Listen to him because yesterday you listened to (Catherine) Namugala’s lies. You listened to Edward Mumbi’s lies. Now let us listen to the chief liar. Let Rupiah Banda talk so that people can see his lies. If you scare him you won’t know what is in his heart,” Sata said.
Sata also commented on tourism minister Namugala’s assertions that people should not vote for the PF candidate in the forthcoming Kasama by-election, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba because his party president was unemployed.
Sata said what Namugala failed to tell the people was that President Banda was an irresponsible leader, who was gallivanting around because he had failed to address pressing national issues. Sata said it was good that Namugala admitted that her government had failed to provide employment to the people. He said the MMD was scared of him because he had a powerful voice to speak for the masses.
“I speak the truth that is why Rupiah Banda and his government are scared. They have failed to finish the road to Luwingu and Mansa for 17 years and yet you are still smiling at them,” Sata said. “Women are growing bald heads because of carrying water on their heads.”
Sata said former PF secretary general Edward Mumbi was on radio saying that he joined the MMD because he had seen that President Banda was a man of unity, and who was against tribalism. Sata asked Mumbi not to accuse the PF of fanning tribalism in Kasama because it was President Banda who instructed the people of Eastern Province to chase away presidential candidates who did not hail from that region during last year’s presidential election.
Sata challenged Mumbi to just tell the people why he came back with his mouth shut when he went to observe the printing of ballot papers in South Africa last year.
Sata said the MMD was in fact more tribal because it had incorporated people like Charles Shawa, Jeff Kaande and Namugala in the campaign and sidelined MMD leaders who hailed from that region, such as Brillian Sefuke, Jairos Simunyola and Bernard Mpundu.
Sata also asked Northern Province deputy permanent secretary, Ms Zyambo, to resign from her position if she wanted to become partisan.
“In the past she has never asked for a women interdenominational prayer meeting but because she has seen that there are elections she wants to call all women to instruct them to vote for Mugala,” said Sata.
Labels: KASAMA, RUPIAH BANDA, SATA
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It’s going to be rough for us - Kasama MMD chairlady
Written by Patson Chilemba in Kasama
Saturday, October 10, 2009 4:31:00 PM
In an interview, Sefuke said it would be rough for the MMD because they had a very weak campaign manager, Lusaka Province minister Charles Shawa.
Asked how she rated MMD's chances in Kasama Central with regard to what was obtaining on the ground, Sefuke responded: “We have a very lazy campaign manager. Shawa has never escorted the candidate in the campaigns. He always stays at the Guesthouse, sleeping. So what can you expect?”
Asked to categorically state her position on the matter, Sefuke said: “It's going to be rough [for MMD] but I can't predict. But it will be rough because Shawa is too lazy and Mugala is just fighting on his own.”
Sefuke said Shawa was so stingy with the party's resources and had acquired nicknames from the MMD cadres in the process.
“He just wants to benefit alone. At the command post, they are calling him King Herald or bashi Chola, because he has a bag of money that he is carrying all the time,” Sefuke said. “I am the district chairlady of Kasama. I am even more senior than Shawa, politically.”
Sefuke further said she could not take part in the MMD campaigns because she and the other party members were told to stay away.
“After Mugala filed in the nominations, I went to attend a party meeting of which Shawa was chairing as campaign manager. Then Fred Mukuka [MMD provincial secretary], stood up and told the members that they had decided that Simunyola should not be part of the campaigns, and they had spoken to him,” Sefuke narrated. “Then he went on to say, 'the second person we don't need in this campaign is this madam seated here, Brillian Sefuke. We don't want you here because you were an interested party and applied to contest, and now since you are the losing candidate, we feel you will be filtering information to the PF because of your in-law [PF candidate Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba]. You are not the only one we are chasing; we don't want Bernard Mpundu in the campaigns and many others'.”
Sefuke said she was then asked to leave the meeting and she thanked them for being honest for telling her to stay away from the campaigns.
“They want to put me in this position so that after elections, they will come and tell me that 'how can you campaign for a member of another party and probably suspend me,” Sefuke said. “So these people are victimising me to the highest point, and I feel they are doing this because I am a woman.”
Sefuke said she and her late uncle Emmanuel Kasonde had spent so much on the MMD and newcomers like Shawa would not push her out of the party.
She said Shawa came from UPND and wanted to contest the Luangwa seat on the same party ticket in 2006.
“He was a headmaster, so he wants to bring that school mentality to the political scene,” said Sefuke.
Labels: CHARLES SHAWA, KASAMA, MMD
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