The Human Rights Commission HRC has called on traditional leaders to respect the rights of their subjects.Commission Communication and Public Relations Manager Samuel Kasankha, however, states that the traditional leaders have a right to endorse their preferred candidates.
Mr. Kasankha in an interview  says the commission is on high alert to ensure that the rights of Zambian voters are protected before, during and after the general elections.
Mr. Kasankhas comments come following Chief Mushota of the Chishinga people of Kawambwa district in Luapula province who is alleged to have vowed to punish any of his subjects campaigning for the opposition Patriotic Front.
The Human Rights Commission Public Relations Manager explains that the chiefs should realize that their subjects come from different backgrounds with different political affiliations.
Mr. Kasankha has since urged the electoral stakeholders to educate the traditional leaders on the importance of respecting their subjects.
Meanwhile Political Analyst Dante Saunders says traditional leaders risk losing respect from their subjects if they continue engaging in partisan politics.

The Small Scale Miners Association says plans of legalizing operations of illegal mining in Zambia have reached an advanced stage. And the Association has expressed concern at the increasing number of people dying as a result of illegal mining.

In an interview, Association Spokesperson Patrick Jeffery said the Association is engaged in negotiations with government over the legalization process.

Jeffrey meanwhile says the Association together with the youths who are involved in illegal mining will soon conduct a march past in honor of the developmental works that have been done by President Rupiah Banda s government.

Jeffery says his Association will also rally behind the MMD Wusakile adopted Member of Parliament Pavuma Kalobo in this years general elections.

The Patriotic Front says it does not have a policy of banning the public media from covering its activities. PF Secretary General, Wynter Kabimba, told the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia on Wednesday, 20th July 2011, that the PF Central Committee has never sat to pass a resolution banning the public media from covering it.
Mr. Kabimba told MISA Zambia Chairperson Daniel Sikazwe and National Director Sipo Kapumba, who requested for a meeting with the PF Secretary General to clarify the recent banning of the public media from covering the PF General Congress in Kabwe.
Mr. Kabimba told MISA Zambia that his party was frustrated that the public media tended to cover his party in negative manner which tended to harm its public image.
He complained that despite repeated efforts to reach out to the public media to create dialogue and mutual understanding, his efforts had yielded nothing.
Mr. Kabimba said his party expected the public media to exhibit the highest professional standards and adhere to professional ethics because they were owned by the Zambian public and, therefore, should show fairness in their coverage of different stakeholders, including opposition political parties, and to report fairly about them.
He assured MISA Zambia that the PF does not hate the public media, referring to the PF manifesto, which had elaborated his party's stand on the media and its support for a free press.
He said his party was ready to open dialogue with the heads of the public media, if government will permit them, so that the public media and the PF can appreciate each other and their role in strengthening Zambia's democracy.
In response, Mr. Sikazwe told Mr. Kabimba that MISA Zambia had gained a lot of insights from the meeting about the challenges the PF was facing in being fairly covered by the public media.
He assured Mr. Kabimba that MISA Zambia would engage all the stakeholders, including government and the public media, to see how the situation could be improved.
He further told Mr. Kabimba that MISA Zambia believed in dialogue with stakeholders, as evidenced by the recent meeting between MISA Zambia and Vice-President George Kunda, where a number of issues, including media operations were discussed.

United Party for National Development (UPND) has charged that the MMD adopted candidates for this general election do not inspire Zambians in any way.And the party says it will announce the adopted candidates for various constituencies at an optimum time.
In an interview,  UPND Vice spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says there is nothing new about the adopted candidates because most of  them have been in office before.
Mr. Mweetwa says most of the adopted candidates have helped in frustrating Zambians in parliament and cabinet, adding that no meaningful change will be made by the adopted candidates.
He says his party is aware that Zambians need a change of government hence the party is doing its best in ensuring that it delivers to the people.
Meanwhile, Former United Party for National Development Youth Spokesperson Ronald Manenga says he is overwhelmed and humbled by the news that he has been adopted as aspiring candidate for Chimwemwe constituency seat under the Movement for Multiparty Democracy.
Mr. Manenga said that the adoption process was a tough one especially that he was coming from a different political party.
He however says he is happy to be adopted and was considered for the race.
And Mr. Manenga has pledged to work on the road network in Chimwemwe constituency once voted into office as Member of Parliament.
He says it is saddening that the roads have not been worked on by the incumbent PF Member of Parliament Willie Nsanda.

Mike Mulongoti has attributed the delay in announcing the date of elections to the pressure the MMD is facing.

Mr. Mulongoti says the delay by the MMD government to announce the date of elections can best be described as indecency.

He says decency demands that the date of elections is announced and not kept a secret.

In an interview with QFM, the former works and supply minister further adds that the date of elections can never be kept a secret forever.

He has further observed that delay in the announcement of the elections date might be proving to be a disadvantage on the part of the MMD.

Mr Mulongoti has further noted that whether elections are delayed, Zambians are already decided on which political party they want to form the next government.
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The Patriotic Front Executive at Kitwes Chisokone market have unearthed a scam in which some Zambia National Marketeers Association have allegedly hired a group of thugs to beat up Patriotic Front members into the market.

PF Chisokone Branch Chairman Mulunda Mwanza has disclosed the development to Tumfweko.
Mwanza has since appealed to the police to ensure that order and sanity is instituted in the market.
In an interview with Tumfweko.com , Mwanza charges that ZANAMA has connived with a group of thugs to beat marketeers perceived to be PF members or any group found supporting the party.
He however says the PF members will not sit idle and watch ZANAMA take advantage of marketeers.
And Mr. Mwanza has urged marketeers to be united and defend themselves in any way possible.
He has since warned ZANAMA president Elvis Nkandu to put an end to the scam and respect the party affiliations of marketeers.
But ZANAMA Vice president Sydney Kayombo has dispelled the allegations.
Mr. Kayombo says it is unfortunate that Mr. Mwanza has continued to make false allegations against ZANAMA, adding that the association respects all marketeers and does not in any way intimidate them.

Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Musa Mwenye says he will not allow calls for his resignation to derail the operations of the association.

Mr. Mwenye says the LAZ executive has resolved not to respond to such calls, as doing so would only detract the association from dealing with real issues.

He explained in a telephone interview that LAZ will remain objective and not allow any interference in its operations.

The LAZ president has in the past weeks come under attack from some sections of the civil society for his statement on the operations of the Zambia National broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).

Mr. Mwenye says the association will not comment on an agenda which he said is being pushed by individuals who are known to be commentators.

Munali adopted MMD parliamentary candidate Marjory Mwape has vowed to defeat incumbent Mumbi Phiri of the Patriotic Front. Ms Mwape a former 'rebel' PF Mufulira Member of Parliament recently defected to the ruling party.

And Ms. Mwape has stated that she will continue to work for the people of Mufulira where she served as Member of Parliament from 2006 to date.

Speaking in a telephone interview, Ms. Mwape says her key objective in politics is to ensure that she contributes to the development of the country.

She says being adopted in the ruling party is more achievable to work, than working with what she described as a disorganized Patriotic Front.

The Patriotic Front Executive at Kitwes Chisokone market have unearthed a scam in which some Zambia National Marketeers Association have allegedly hired a group of thugs to beat up Patriotic Front members into the market.

PF Chisokone Branch Chairman Mulunda Mwanza has disclosed the development to Tumfweko.com.
Mwanza has since appealed to the police to ensure that order and sanity is instituted in the market.
In an interview with Mwanza charges that ZANAMA has connived with a group of thugs to beat marketeers perceived to be PF members or any group found supporting the party.
He however says the PF members will not sit idle and watch ZANAMA take advantage of marketeers.
And Mr. Mwanza has urged marketeers to be united and defend themselves in any way possible.
He has since warned ZANAMA president Elvis Nkandu to put an end to the scam and respect the party affiliations of marketeers.
But ZANAMA Vice president Sydney Kayombo has dispelled the allegations.
Mr. Kayombo says it is unfortunate that Mr. Mwanza has continued to make false allegations against ZANAMA, adding that the association respects all marketeers and does not in any way intimidate them.

The Professional Teachers Union of Zambia PTUZ says teacher unions will receive the 10 billion Kwacha disbursed towards dismantling of teachers arrears with caution.

However, PTUZ has demanded that the money be paid to teachers immediately saying the arrears have been long over due.

Speaking in an interview, PTUZ Secretary General Kangwa Musenga further demands that the government pays the arrears in full.
And Mr. Musenga has urged the government to show transparency in the disbursement process so that society does not think that the government is trying to hoodwink teachers for votes.

The Government has disbursed another 10 billion Kwacha towards the dismantling of arrears for other personal emoluments for teachers.

The 10 billion Kwacha which has being released brings the total amount disbursed in the last three months to 40 billion Kwacha.

Central, Eastern, North Western and Luapula will receive 1 billion Kwacha each, while Lusaka, Southern will received 1.2 billion Kwacha.

Copperbelt will receive 1.5 billion Kwacha while Northern will receive 1.1 billion Kwacha respectively.

The Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) has announced that starting next week; it will host a series of debates among political parties at aimed at helping them present their economic and social policies.

EAZ president Isaac Ngoma announced at a media briefing held at the Golden bridge hotel in Lusaka.

Mr. Ngoma says the debates will be centred on issues and topics corresponding to the present ministerial portfolios and that each party will be asked to nominate a different representative for each debate.

He said the objective of the debates will be to help the general public understand the issues and choices that confront them.

Mr. Ngoma hopes that voters will use the debates to challenge and engage those who will seek office to represent them in parliament and councils, as well as those who compete for presidency.

He also hopes that Zambians and non-Zambians who have the welfare of the country at heart and who will participate in economic affairs as investors, traders, financial institutions and cooperating partners will also gain insights into the respective parties policies.

And Mr. Ngoma has deplored recent violence against members of the press.

He however hopes that all media outlets in Zambia will make a much stronger effort to report comprehensively and impartially on the forth coming elections.

There was tension at the border post as the irate drivers ran amok bringing business at both Tunduma and Nakonde border to a stand still.

They also attempted to set on fire a fuel tanker belonging to one of the companies in Tanzania carrying fuel destined for Zambia.

However, quick action by the Zambia Police and their Tanzanian counterparts saved the fuel tanker from being set on fire.

The tanker has since been escorted by armed Zambia police officers and it is parked at Nakonde police station.

The strike action by the Tanzanian truck drivers which has entered day-4 today failed to be resolved yesterday during a meeting addressed by the Mbeya Region minister John Mwakipesile at Tunduma border in Tanzania.

Paramilitary police officers in both Zambia and Tanzania are keeping vigil to thwart any violence by the drivers.

The chanting drivers said their strike action can only be called off after their grievances have been met in full.

The truck drivers are demanding for increased salaries and improved conditions of service.

They have vowed to continue with their strike action saying time has come for them to speak and demand for what is right and good for them.

The international drivers are now demanding to be addressed by the Tanzanian Republican President Jakaya Kikwete or his vice president saying their issue is very serious and should be addressed by senior Government officials and not regional officials.

The strike action has affected revenue collection by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RATSA) offices at Nakonde.

The 2009 Budget and Expenditure Tracking Survey (BETS) has revealed a number of inadequacies in both the education and health sector on the Copperbelt province.In the health sector, of the six health institutions covered only two in Mufulira (Mokambo and Kawama West) have no maternity wards as a result, cases are conducted in isolation rooms or referred to higher institutions in cases of complications and during the night as they do not operate at night.
The survey also reveals that a children ward exists at only one of the six health institutions which is Kamuchanga district hospitals as all other health centers both in Mufulira and Kitwe have no children wards.
On staffing of professional health workers, a serious shortage of key qualified staff at visited health institutions were discovered, especially at rural health centres.
On infrastructure development, the survey reveals that there was no construction, renovations, rehabilitation s or extensions undertaken at any of the three health institutions visited in Mufurila district during the period under review.
Meanwhile in the Education sector, out of the six basic schools covered, only three were planned for construction and extension, two of those are Kitwe while the other is Mokambo basic school in Mufurila.
The survey also reveals shortages in staffing, inadequate grants to meet needs of schools and delays in disbursement of grants from the ministry of education among other things.
And making recommendations based on the findings of the Budget and expenditure survey, Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) Provincial Liaison officer Pascal Bwalya said more effort should be directed at introducing maternity and children wards at all clinics to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates even further.

He also recommended that the ministry of education review the free education policy to allow for increased and effective participation of communities in project management.

Mr. Bwalya said while much has been done in improving health delivery, a lot still needs to be done with regard to improving maternal and children health care services especially in Peri-urban and rural areas.
The survey covered six health institutions in Kitwe and Mufulira namely Chavuma Health centre, Zamtan Health centre, Ndeke health centre, Kamuchanga District hospital Mokambo Health centre and Kawama West clinic.

It also covered six basic schools namely Riverside, Kitwe, Lima, Mokambo, Mupambe and Central basic school.

And commenting on the findings of the 2009 budget and expenditure tracking survey Kanfinsa PF  'Rebel'  Member of Parliament Michael Nyirenda said there has been no link between the communities and the MPs office hence the gaps.

He said the survey was two years behind and most of the noted inadequacies in both the education and health sectors had already been tackled by the current government.
ZCSD in collaboration with its partners, Bethesda Zambia and Advocacy on Human Development of Kitwe and Mufulira respectively conducted a BET survey in the education and health sectors.

"Rebel" Kamfinsa PF Member of Parliament Michael Nyirenda has dismissed as baseless, continued accusations that he has failed to effect development in his constituency. Aspiring Kamfinsa MP Tresford Chisela told flava fm recently that after a conducted tour of Kitwes Ndeke area, it was discovered that the road network was in a deplorable state among other things.

But Mr. Nyirenda says the road which connects AMIS to Ndeke Village is being attended to saying delays were due to lack of funds.

He blamed the damage on the road to shoddy works but assured that it would be repaired before the tripartite elections.

Mr. Nyirenda was however, quick to point out that aspiring Kamfinsa MPs were free to point out wrongs in his constituency.

And Mr. Nyirenda said he was proud of his works in the constituency further urging his critics to understand that Kamfinsa constituency does not only cover Ndeke area.

Kaweche Kaunda has applied to contest the Malambo Parliamentary seat in Mambwe district of Eastern Province on opposition PF ticket.

And former Petauke district commisioner and former diplomat, George Zulu, has applied to contest the Luangeni seat on a PF ticket.

Kaweche, who is Dr. Kenneth Kaunda's son, confirmed the development in an interview yesterday beforegoing for the PF provincial interviews that were held in Chipata.  He said he consulted the people of Malambo on which party ticket he should stand on.

"Its not me who decided that i should stand on PF ticket but the people of Malambo.  Somewhere in October last year, I went to the people of Malambo. I asked them which party they want me to stand on so thats how i was guided to do what i have done," Kaweche said.

He said PF's popularity in Malambo was very healthy.

"I have followed the will of the people of Malambo. I went to all the chiefdoms in the area and consulted the people," Kaweche said.

He said it was unfortunate that the people of Malambo were not in charge of the abundant resources in the area.

About Three people have applied to stand on the Malambo seat on the PF ticket.

 

Organization's executive director Smart Chanda has told QFM that it is important that government comes out clear on the illnesses that the detainees having been suffering from after being released from detention.

Mr. Chanda adds that it is sad to note that four people have died under strange circumstances after being released from detention.

And Mr. Chanda has condemned Senior Chief Mushota of the Chishinga people of Kawambwa district in Luapula province for vowing to punish his subjects supporting the opposition Patriotic Front.

Mr. Chanda has reminded Chief Mushota that every citizen has the right to belong to a party of there choice and that his intimidation of the subjects is an infringement on their rights.

He has since urged government not to engage traditional leaders in partisan politics saying the trend is a threat to democracy.

Meanwhile hope for Human rights has condemned the harassment and assaulting of the Muvi TV editorial staff by suspected MMD cadres.

Mr. Chanda says it is saddening to note that government has been so reluctant to deal with MMD cadres who he says have been harassing people and allocating land illegally.

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Kitwes Independent Riverside Ward Councilor Christopher Kangombe says government should acknowledge that it has failed to protect Zambian workers from abuse by foreign investors.
He said it is unfortunate that Zambians are suffering abuse at the hands of investors despite having labour laws in place.
Councilor Kangombe charges that investors are taking advantage of the weak labor ministry and have continued to subject Zambian workers to abuse.
Councilor Kangombe has since challenged labour minister Austin Liato to seriously address the issue adding that failure to do so will confirm that government has been corrupted by investors.
Councilor Kangombes comments come following media reports that a site manager at Joint Venture Civil mining contractors had beaten his worker for reporting five minutes late for work at open pit at Mopani mines in Kitwe.

Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA ZAMBIA) has told political parties to instill discipline in their cadres.
And MISA has urged media practitioners to desist from covering areas that pose a threat to their lives.
Reacting to the harassment of a Muvi TV news crew by suspected MMD cadres, MISA Chairperson Daniel Sikazwe says the harassment of media personnel is tainting Zambias image.
He says the institute is saddened by the continued attack of media personnel by cadres from various political parties.
Mr. Sikazwe has since called on the police to ensure that all the people behind the act are brought to book.
More than 100 ruling MMD cadres yesterday morning severely beat a MUVI TV news crew and further confiscated their equipment.
The respective also almost raped the female journalists, who were among the Muvi TV news crew.
The journalists had gone to Nakachenje area in Lusaka West to interview a woman who was attacked by the same MMD cadres, who a few days ago grabbed her land.

The United Party for National Development (UPND) on the Copperbelt has questioned the motive behind the continued closure of Radio Lyambai in Mongu especially that the country is headed for the tripartite elections.Provincial spokesperson Kennedy Kalunga says the party finds the closure of Radio Lyambai in Mongu to be totally unacceptable considering the fact that Zambia is a democracy.

Mr. Kalunga says the continuous closure of the radio station is detrimental not only to the people of western province but the entire nation.

He says Radio Lyambai was not only the platform for political views but also helped communities in Western Province to learn about various life issues such as HIV and AIDS.

Mr. Kalunga says in a statement that the people of Western Province cannot be denied an opportunity to listen to divergent views emanating from the 2011 campaigns.

He has since appealed to government to immediately re-open Radio Lyambai in Mongu that was closed following the Barotseland disturbances.

And the Copperbelt spokesperson has called upon Zambian people to vote for the UPND saying it will allow media institutions operate freely away from government interference by making sure that the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) comes into being.

Mufulira Resident Joe Mwale has charged that the government has neglected its people for failing to provide a constitution that meets the peoples aspirations.Speaking to flava fm , Mr. Mwale noted that the government has remained selfish in wanting to provide a constitution that favors the people.
He says the government has an obligation to ensure that the country has a constitution that meets the needs of its citizens.
Mr. Mwale has since called on the next government after the general elections to come up with a constitution that will stand the test of time.
Meanwhile Mr. Mwale says Vice President George Kunda should first apologize to the Zambian people for wasting tax payers money instead of trying to re-introduce the failed constitution amendment bill.
Over the weekend Vice President George Kunda said Government will re-introduce the failed constitution amendment bill which failed in the last sessions of parliament.
Vice President George Kunda says the bill failed because it was sabotaged by the opposition.
Mr. Kunda says Government is determined to bring the bill back to the house because it contains good and new reforms.