Mr. Kaunda arrived at the supreme court accompanied by his wife patience and other party officials at about 10:40 hrs this morning.

Returning officer for presidential nominations chief justice Ernest Sakala declared him as an eligible candidate for the 2011 elections after Mr. Kaunda successfully meant all the requirements.

And speaking after the nominations, Mr. Kaunda said his party once voted into power will ensure that it gives the people a new constitution within the first six months of its rule.

Other candidates expected to file in their nominations are FDD’s aspiring presidential candidate Edith Nawakwi and Zambians for Empowerment and Development (Z

MMD Deputy National Secretary Chembe Nyangu says there is no point for the party to take such a step as President Banda was legally adopted and endorsed by the convention which is the highest decision making body of the party.

Mr. Nyangu says it is worrisome that the opposition Patriotic Front has started coming up with gimmicks when it has realized that it has already lost the elections to the MMD.

In an interview with QFM, Mr. Nyangu has accused the PF of trying to find a weaker candidate to face in the forthcoming general election as it has realized that president Banda is a saleable and winning candidate.

The MMD deputy national secretary says the MMD will remain steadfast and will not to give the PF any chance by bowing to its demands.

Recently, the opposition Patriotic front advised the MMD to find a replacement for president Banda as presidential candidate for the forthcoming elections noting that president Banda is not eligible to stand for presidency as his parentage is questionable.

The MMD has adopted candidates for the 2011 Tripartite elections.

President Rupiah Banda says the selection process was transparent, meticulous and highly competitive.

Mr. Banda has since congratulated the adopted candidates and wished them success in their campaigns.

President Banda has however appealed to MMD aspirants that have not been adopted to continue supporting the ruling party and not to retreat into bitterness.

Mr. Banda who is also MMD President says the unsuccessful aspirants must note that the selection process was a balanced collective exercise which involved the entire party through NEC.

The President has also urged MMD members to put the interest of the party above their own and campaign vigorously and ensure that the MMD wins this years election.

This is according to a statement issued by President Banda’s special assistant for Politics Dr Francis Chigunta.

Comprehensive List

Number Constituency Candidate adopted
1 Chisamba Moses Muteteka
2 Katuba Dr Patrick Chikusu
3 Keembe Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha
4 Bwacha Godfrey Pende
5 Kabwe Central Jane Chileshe
6 Kapiri-Mposhi Lawrence Zimba
7 Mkushi North Sydney Chisenga
8 Mkushi South Musonda K. Mutale
9 Mwembeshi Bornwell Matawe
10 Mumbwa Dr Brian Chituwo
11 Nangoma Prof. Luke Kanyomeka
12 Chitambo Mushili Malama
13 Muchinga George Kunda
14 Serenje Maxwell Kabanda
15 Chililabombwe Trudy Ng’andu
16 Chingola Severine Kazenene
17 Nchanga Mwape Christon
18 Kalulushi Spartan Musowoya
19 Chimwemwe Ronald Manenga
20 Kamfinsa Itayi Chinkuli
21 Kwacha Joe Malanji
22 Nkana Divo Katete
23 Wusakili Pavyuma Kalobo
24 Luanshya Simon Kachimba
25 Roan Goodward Mulubwa
26 Kankoyo Shadreck Musozya
27 Kantanshi Deferred
28 Mufulira Evans Chibanda
29 Kafulafuta E. Chishimba
30 Lufwanyama Anne Chungu
31 Masaiti Michael Katambo
32 Mpongwe Gabriel Namulambe
33 Bwana Mkubwa Kelvin Chaume
34 Chifubu Frank Ng’ambi
35 Kabushi Rapson Kopulande
36 Ndola Central Emmanuel Mulenga
37 Chadiza Allan Mbewe
38 Vubwi Dr Eustarckio Kazonga
39 Chama North Darius Mumba
40 Chama South George Lungu
41 Chipangali Vincent Mwale
42 Chipata Central Mtolo Phiri
43 Kasenengwa Victoria Kalima
44 Luangeni Angella Cifire
45 Milanzi Whiteson Banda
46 Mkaika David Phiri
47 Sinda Levy Ngoma
48 Chasefu Yotam H. Banda
49 Lumezi Isaac Banda
50 Lundazi Mkhondo Lungu
51 Malambo Maxwell Mwale
52 Nyimba Forrie Tembo
53 Kapoche Nicholas Banda
54 Msanzala Peter daka
55 Petauke Central Dora Siliya
56 Kawambwa Elizabeth Mulobeka
57 Mwansabombwe Sunday Maluba
58 Pambashe Dr Bulangeti Chisha
59 Bahati Besa Chimbaka
60 Chembe Mwansa Mbulakulima
61 Mansa Central Dr Chitalu Chilufya
62 Chipili J. Kapungwe
63 Mambilima John Chinyanta
64 Mwense Dr Jacob Chongo
65 Chiengi M Mampi
66 Nchelenge Beny Y. Mwila
67 Bangweulu Sylvester Chifwembe
68 Chifunabululi Chiliyea Kapekele
69 Luapula Daniel Chisala
70 Kafue Bradford Machila
71 Feira Patrick Ngoma
72 Chilanga Keith Mutaka
73 Chongwe Japhen Mwakalombe
74 Rufunsa Kenneth Chipungu
75 Chawama Donald Chilufya
76 Kabwata Dr Peter Machungwa
77 Kanyama Yohane Mwanza
78 Lusaka Central Muhabi Lungu
79 Mandevu Dr Carnicius Banda
80 Matero Faustina Sinyangwe
81 Munali Majory Mwape
82 Chilubi Rosaria Fundanga
83 Chinsali Chileshe Kapwepwe
84 Shiwang’andu Major Celestino Chibamba
85 Isoka East Catherine Namugala
86 Isoka West Paul Sichamba
87 Nakonde Clever Silavwe
88 Chimbamilonga Brian Sikazwe
89 Kaputa Mutale Nalumango
90 Kasama Central Deferred
91 Lukasha Benard Mpundu
92 Malole Humphrey Musonda
93 Lubasenshi George Mwamba
94 Lupososhi Albert Mulonga
95 Mbala Mwalimu Simfukwe
96 Mpulungu Given Mung’omba
97 Senga Hill Kapembwa Simbao
98 Kanchibiya Sunday Chanda
99 Mfuwe M. Songolo
100 Mpika Central Danny Chisanga
101 Lunte Felix Mutati
102 Mporokoso Brian Mundubile
103 Chavuma Kenneth Konga
104 Kabompo East Danny Chingimbu
105 Kabompo West Daniel Kalenga
106 Kasempa Kabinga Pande
107 Mufumbwe Stephen Masumba
108 Mwinilunga East Newton Samakayi
109 Mwinilunga West Elijah Muchima
110 Solwezi Central Lucky Mulusa
111 Solwezi East Richard Taima
112 Solwezi West Humphrey Mwanza
113 Zambezi East Sarah Sayifwanda
114 Zambezi West Prisca C. Pulu
115 Choma Siachona Simalonga
116 Mbabala Laiven Apuleni
117 Pemba Joshua Simuyandi
118 Gwembe Chisangano Malungo
119 Dundumwezi Sebastian Hambokoma
120 Kalomo Central Sikaduli J. Munsaka
121 Katombora Jelasi Barthlomew Sikonda
122 Mapatizya Lloyd Jembo
123 Livingstone Lukolo Katombola
124 Chikankata Trymore Mwenda
125 Magoye Bevin Mweene
126 Mazabuka Central Maxwell Mwiinga
127 Bweengwa Bbuku Tsibu
128 Monze Central Dr Victor Mukonka
129 Moomba Isabel Nanja
130 Itezhi Tezhi David Diangamo
131 Namwala Robby Chizyuka
132 Siavonga Noah Siasimuna
133 Sinazongwe Muti Beyani
134 Kalabo Central Richard Mwapela
135 Liuwa Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane
136 Sikongo Mundia Ndalamei
137 Kaoma Central Austin Liato
138 Luampa Josephine Limata
139 Mangango Mwendoi Akakandelwa
140 Lukulu East Dr Christopher Kalila
141 Lukulu West Misheck Mutelo
142 Luena Mwangala Mwaopo
143 Mongu Central Joseph Mulyata
144 Nalikwanda Pro. G. Lungwangwa
145 Nalolo Mrs Catherine Akayombokwa
146 Senanga Central Charles Mututwa
147 Sinjembela Mubika Mubika
148 Mulobezi Michael Kaingu
149 Mwandi Michael Kaingu
150 Sesheke Frank Kufakwandi

Katite, who spoke on behalf of the group, said youths had for a long time been sidelined.

“President Rupiah Banda and the MMD have neglected the youth of Chongwe for a very long time now. The government has been telling us that there’s a youth fund, our youth groups which are registered have applied on many occasions but to no avail,” Katite said.

“We have also seen of late that our area Chongwe member of parliament Sylvia Masebo has been harassed for no apparent reason just because she voted against Banda during the MMD selection of a presidential candidate in 2008 and now you can see the hatred the president has exhibited again at our area member of parliament for not voting for him.”

Katite said President Banda, upon assuming office, dropped Masebo from her ministerial position despite having received hundred per cent support from the area.

Katite also supported senior chieftainess Nkomeshya’s sentiments on the lack of development in her chiefdom.

And welcoming the defectors, PF member of the central committee Geoffrey Chumbwe said the defection of the MMD members would enable his party to penetrate the rural parts of Lusaka Province.

“We used to have a lot of problems in Chongwe rural and these are the people that used to give those problems, those on the grassroot. We are so proud that they have finally decided to join us,” Chumbwe said. “People used to peddle malicious lies about Sata but people have now realised that all those were lies. Now MMD will not get any rural vote in Lusaka, we shall demolish them completely.”

Traditional leaders under chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II last week declared ‘Soli land’ a no-go area for the MMD.

According to resolutions of the meeting for chakwela makumbi traditional ceremony of the Soli people of Lusaka Province, which was attended by over 300 headmen, the headmen resolved to bury the MMD as a result of its sustained malicious attacks against the chieftainess.

Mr. Shakafuswa, who was Deputy Minister of Finance but was fired by President Rupiah Banda, is a former UPND member, who defected to the MMD in 2006.

Announcing his defection, Mr Shakafuswa has explained that he had a torrid time in the MMD under President Banda.

Meanwhile, Independent Dundumwezi Member of Parliament, Edgar Singombe and United Liberal Party (ULP) M.P, Batuke Imenda have also joined the UPND.

And welcoming the 3 M.Ps, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has described 2011 as a favorable year for Zambia.

Mr Hichilema said at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that Mr Sata’s popularity had reached a new low despite the vigorous campaign launched for him by The Post, which he described as a PF information department.

He said Mr Sata’s popularity had drastically gone down and that The Post had failed to revive it.

Mr Hichilema said the newly-coined slogan that PF had formed a pact with the people of Zambia was a smokescreen having realised that there was nothing left for Mr Sata.

“They want change, what change do they want because they have been in Government for over 57 years? What has been changing are titles, today he is governor tomorrow he is minister and so on,” Mr Hichilema said.

He said The Post had resolved to stop covering UPND and wondered why the tabloid had started fabricating lies that his party was discussing formation of an alliance with the ruling MMD.

Mr Hichilema said apart from personal attacks against leaders and calling them by their tribes, Mr Sata did not know how to articulate issues and did not even understand economic management.

“You cannot have a newspaper which is always fighting people. I cannot sue them because I do not have a small brain and I do not make money out of suing others, I do business. We will just continue talking about these issues but things will be fine one day,” Mr Hichilema said.

He said if he won the elections, he would provide free education to the Zambian people and grow the economy by re-introducing windfall taxes for the benefit of the Zambian people.

The UPND leader said The Post newspaper was becoming unprofessional by not calling UPND to seek clarification each time they made accusations.

“We are ahead and The Post newspaper and their candidates are trailing. This is the reason they are panicking and fabricating lies about alliances which do not exist,” Mr Hichilema said.

The UPND president called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to resolve anomalies on the voters’ register, and that he had asked for a meeting with them to discuss some important electoral issues.

He said this would guarantee free and fair elections and bragged that he had been to the United States of America to discuss democracy which some leaders like Mr Sata had never done.

Commenting on yesterday’s Post lead story which disclosed that President Rupiah Banda had instructed MMD members to desist from attacking UPND during campaigns, MMD sources doubted the possibility that the negotiations would yield positive results going by the two parties’ past differences on similar negotiations, though a few UPND officials and members of parliament might cross over to the ruling party.

The MMD sources said they were not surprised that President Banda, who is also party president, had given instructions to his members not to attack and denounce the UPND during campaigns.

The sources said this was because efforts had been made in the past for the MMD and UPND to come together but the negotiations did not result into formation of an alliance due to the opposition party leader Hakainde Hichilema’s “greediness”.

“We are aware that shortly before UPND went into a pact with the PF, Hichilema with a few of his officials had been having meetings with MMD with a view of coming up with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on how the two parties were going to work together against the PF,” the sources said. “About four or five meetings were held to discuss the same.

MMD parliamentary chief whip Vernon Mwaanga VJ represented the MMD in those discussions. The MMD offered to give UPND a few Cabinet positions, a few positions at deputy minister level, some district commissioner positions and a few postings into missions abroad,” the source said.

“HH was offered a senior ministerial position but he was uncomfortable with that because he wanted the Republican vice-presidency.”
The sources said the MMD was uncomfortable to give Hichilema the Republican vice-presidency because, in their view, he had no experience running government affairs.

“So, the MMD proposed to put HH on some kind of a probation by appointing him as a senior minister, initially, and later as Republican vice-president after getting some experience on how to run government,” the sources said.

“Most of the UPND officials involved in these negotiations were happy with the MMD’s proposals but when they were supposed to conclude the negotiations at their last meeting, which was held at UPND Mazabuka Central member of parliament Garry Nkombo’s residence, HH turned up and said UPND was not willing to close the deal with MMD because there was nothing for him.

When he was reminded that there was something for him because a senior ministerial position awaited him, HH responded that that was not what his people expected.”

The sources said this last-minute disagreement led to the collapse of the UPND–MMD negotiations.

“A few days later we just heard the UPND and PF announcing the formation of the PF-UPND pact,” the source said. “This is the background information, which many Zambians might not be privy to.

If you remember, not too long ago, when there were problems in the PF-UPND pact, VJ made a statement that the chiefs and generally the people of Southern Province were willing and more comfortable to partner with MMD and not PF.

It was because of that background that VJ said what he said. But, of course, HH even had the courage to deny VJ’s statement and dared VJ to disclose which UPND officials he met when HH is one of those VJ met.

“Again, when this same PF-UPND pact died, we the MMD resuscitated our negotiations with the UPND. These negotiations are on-going although we don’t know how the conclusion will be, looking at the past experiences.”
The sources said there were various meetings taking place at high level between UPND and MMD to try and consummate this marriage.

“No wonder you hear most of the UPND leaders and members praising President Banda and his government? Do you hear HH and UPND leaders any more attacking President Banda and his government programmes?

We in MMD also just concentrate on PF and Sata. The instructions are that while these negotiations are ongoing, there should be cease-fire on both sides. Things might just change if these negotiations fail,” the source said. “However, the indicators so far are that the two of us MMD and UPND are unlikely to agree except for a few UPND MPs and officials who might cross to the MMD.”

According to MMD sources, President Banda, during a recent caucus at State House, directed the party to desist from attacking the UPND and Hichilema but denounce the PF and its leader Sata.

And Nkole said Zambians should vote into office a leadership that is committed to tackling the rampant corruption currently obtaining in the country.

In an interview, Nkole, who is former Task Force on Corruption chairperson, said Chiluba did not walk the streets as a free man because justice was aborted midway.

Nkole said he agreed with Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Musa Mwenye’s remarks that it set a bad precedent to stop former president Chiluba’s cases midway.

He said the case should have gone to the higher courts because it had both constitutional and criminal implications.

Nkole said the magistrates’ court’s judgment which acquitted Chiluba did not address important constitutional questions such as the opinion of the Auditor General.

He said it would be important to hear what the High Court would say about politicians keeping their private money in a public account.

Nkole said the precedents set by the courts had a bearing on the governance of the country because the conduct of politicians must be seen to be legal and lawful.

He said Zambians wanted Chiluba to be cleared so that his conscience could be free on the cases that were levelled against him, and necessitated the removal of his presidential immunity to face prosecution.

“In so far as justice has been suspended midway by the powers that be means that he doesn’t walk the streets as a free man.

I have said that Dr Chiluba’s cases should have gone up to the High Court or Supreme Court for him to be acquitted. He would have cleared the air that the allegations which were levelled against him were frivolous,” Nkole said.

“In so far as it has not gone up to the High Court or indeed the Supreme Court it’s difficult to say that Dr Chiluba remains an innocent person.”

Nkole said as a professional, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga, fully knew that frustrating the due process of the law midway was unconstitutional.

“I don’t believe that he Chiluba feels totally cleared by the courts of law,” he said.

Nkole said in the cases involving Chiluba either party to the proceedings could appeal, which the Task Force did.

“It means that the case is still outstanding in so far as the right to appeal has been refused by the state…it means that the case still remains suspended up to now. And because the case has not been cleared by the highest courts of the land, it’s difficult to believe that Dr Chiluba’s conscience is free,” Nkole said.

“There is one thing the public don’t know which is that late president Mwanawasa had written to say that ‘in the event of a dispute arising concerning the opinion given by the Task Force and that of the DPP on the matters which were in court at the time, president Mwanawasa said that he preferred that the opinion of the Task Force should be the one to prevail’.”

Nkole said he used the executive powers given to him by president Mwanawasa to lodge an appeal in Chiluba’s acquittal, on the understanding that there was a conflict of opinion on whether to appeal or not.

“President Mwanawasa had his own reasons for writing that letter which arose from the issues surrounding the former DPP Mukelabai Mukelabai and the circumstances that led to Mukelabai to leave office,” Nkole said. “From that time on I think president Mwanawasa did not fully trust the complete professional discretion of the DPP’s office. And although these events have occurred after Mwanawasa’s death i.e. the refusal to appeal, I think it just vindicates what Mwanawasa’s fears were.”

Commenting on ministers’ 21-day countrywide campaign trail under the pretext that they are touring government projects, Chitala, a former deputy minister of finance and one-time ambassador to Libya, said use of public resources for political campaigns was illegal.

“Abuse of public resources is not only unlawful, it is also immoral and should be condemned by all democracy loving people,” Chitala said.

He said the Electoral Code of Conduct prohibited chiefs from taking partisan positions.

Chitala said use of public resources and chiefs’ involvement in partisan politics was punishable.

“The country has gone back to the authoritarian system of the one party state of UNIP,” Chitala said.

He said President Banda’s MMD had eroded all the gains from the reintroduction of multiparty democracy attained in 1991.

“Chiefs are traditional leaders for all of us, be it in opposition or ruling party, so they should show that leadership by being above politics.

Chiefs are too senior to be intertwined in politics. They should be fair to all of us as their children,” Chitala said. “It is not good for chiefs to be partisan. Chiefs that are partisan will not have respect from their subjects.”

The MMD has been parading chiefs on the state-run Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) TV to endorse the re-election bid of President Banda.

Dr Chitala, who was President Rupiah Banda’s campaign manager in the 2008 presidential elections, said the PF had the best development programme that could address the country’s problems as expressed in the party’s manifesto.

“Examining political work already accomplished, together with the vision as reflected in a manifesto, the PF and president Michael Sata have provided us with a sure way of our country starting afresh and getting rid for good this man-made disaster.  It is immensely gratifying that the people have a choice,” Dr Chitala said. “While the people do not yet know the programmes of other political parties, one good choice is to support the Patriotic Front and president Michael Sata whose manifesto has been published and has undertaken to establish a committee of experts to review the recommendations of all previous Constitutional Review Commissions and draft a constitution that will be submitted to a referendum and if accepted by the people, to be enacted as our fundamental law within 90 days of taking office.”

He stated that the PF had committed itself to resolving serious issues such as the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 and to providing a people’s constitution.

“This is a patriotic undertaking and that is why all former pact sympathisers such as Col. Panji Kaunda, consultants such as Bob Sichinga, MMD members such as Hon George Mpombo have endorsed Mr. Michael Sata and the Patriotic Front,” Dr Chitala said. “This is the best chance to have a progressive party that has committed itself to providing us with a multi-party constitution that will address such issues as devolution of power which is the main grievance of the Barotse question and the need to do away with the one party state infrastructure that has prevented our democracy from blooming and blossoming into a real democracy.”

Dr Chitala stated that although some people could not see it, the time for change had come.

He stated that Zambians had a historical duty to re-dedicate themselves to ideals that advanced the nation to peace, prosperity and happiness for all.
Dr Chitala stated that the PF manifesto provided Zambians an opportunity to see development in many areas.

“Of the political party manifestos that have been published, only the Patriotic Front manifesto addresses the issue of poverty eradication meaningfully.

President Sata and the PF have undertaken to invest massively in the social sector as well as in public works, agriculture, housing development, mineral development, industry and so on. The manifesto promises to review the mining policy so that Zambians benefit from their God-given wasting asset of copper, cobalt and gemstones,” he stated. “The manifesto promises the lowering of taxes- PAYE and zero rating for VAT purposes of essential commodities such as transport, food, medicines, education, agricultural inputs, the increasing of salaries to  public servants, the prompt payment of all pensioners, the construction of more than two million houses, the development of one major project per province to create more than one million employment opportunities in the first three years, abolish nuisance taxes such as user fees in hospitals and levies in schools, commit itself to affirmative action, institute media reforms to be in line with democratic needs and so on. The annual GDP growth rates are expected to exceed 10 per cent and our country’s GDP will more than treble. These yearnings are attainable and they will be achieved by the PF supported by the people’s coalition.”

Dr Chitala stated that it was inevitable to remove the MMD from power so that the country was saved from further misery.

“It is therefore necessary to implore all the people,  the people in Mbala,  Mpulungu, Senga Hill, Isoka, Nakonde , to the people of Western Province and other provinces that clamour for devolution and desire to settle the Barotse question, to the progressives in the MMD, UPND, ADD, NAREP, FDD and all other political parties that want change from this corrupt  disaster, to students that want free education and guaranteed job opportunities, to the sick people that desire not to be  denied assistance for lack of money, to the pensioners that want to be paid their pensions promptly,  to all workers and peasants that want to improve their conditions, to the intellectuals that desire excellence instead of patronage and nepotism, to all citizens that want a united and peaceful Zambia, ‘the Hour for Change has come again’,” stated Dr Chitala.

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