Nevers Pulls Out of 2006 Elections

REFORM Party president pastor Nevers Mumba yesterday announced that he would not participate in this year's elections. More form source....

New Electoral Act and Bloggers

Under a new electoral act the media will not be able to publish speculative analysis, unsourced opinion polls or predict the result before the official announcement, unless they are willing to risk a five-year jail sentence or US$2,500 fine.

"All public and private media personnel shall not broadcast their own political opinion, commentary or assessment," reads one clause of the new act passed early this year. The law also compels the media to identify the source of any published opinion poll, and the margin of error.

Source: IRIN Africa

Does this act apply to bloggers?

Posting Nonsense

The article (Consecration Of Opportunism) aimed at Nevers Mumba is deeply flawed. It is not upto the Post editor to tell us how we should think. If the Post has an agenda to humiliate or bring down anyone they deslike so be it. We will simply stop reading their vile comments and hope they get bankrupt.

The Post is in the past, news in modern times is decided by readers not by by some stuck up fat editor with scores to settle. See, Digg is getting better than the New York Times.

Like any politician, Nevers Mumba has his shortcomings. What we need to concentrate on is his ability to deliver promises, especially to the less privileged Zambians of all creed.

News agencies have a role to play in society, to inform and enlighten period. Any attempt to influence people's perception and judgement is against the very basic ethics of News producers.

The Post is right to highlight current issues affecting us, but has not right whatsoever to tell us who we should vote for president.

Anderson Mazoka - R.I.P.

I met the late Mazoka when he was in London campaigning for the 2001 elections. He came across as an articulate, intelligent and humble politician. I was well pleased with his emphasis on using technology for development in Zambia. I attended a number of UPND functions though I was not a subscribing member of the party.

My heart goes out to his family and friends. Rest in peace...

Zambia's opposition leader Mazoka dies in S.Africa

Zambia's 63-year-old chief opposition leader Anderson Mazoka has died in a South African hospital, an official from his party said on Wednesday.
'Mr. Mazoka has died. All senior party executives are meeting now before a media announcement,' an official at his United Party for National Development told Reuters.
Mazoka died of kidney complications early on Wednesday, a week after Lusaka newspapers said he had been admitted to a Johannesburg hospital for a routine medical check-up.
Mazoka lost narrowly to President Levy Mwanawasa in 2001 presidential elections when Frederick Chiluba stepped down after his final five-year term as president. He was expected to lead an opposition alliance challenging Mwanawasa in elections later this year when the incumbent will defend his post.
Source: Reuters AlertNet

Zambia passes controversial electoral law

"The bill is at best cosmetic and aimed at hoodwinking the Zambian people that the forthcoming elections will be held under a new electoral law," read more

50 percent-plus-one Rule

Zambian government said the 50 percent-plus-one rule for winning presidency will not apply in this year's tripartite election, The Post reported Monday.

Information Minister Vernon Mwaanga was quoted as saying 'the 50 percent-plus-one is a constitutional matter. It will be dealt with under the constitutional reforms. It is not feasible to implement it this year because it is a constitutional matter.'

The current constitution allows the victor in the presidential election to be declared via a simple majority vote rather than the 50 percent-plus-one proposed by a panel appointed by President Levy Mwanawasa and backed by opposition parties.

Mwanawasa has said that the 2006 general elections will be held under the current constitution.

A hard lesson

Cold Feet star, James Nesbitt, is in Zambia reporting for ITV News on child victims of aids in Zambia. ITV News will show reports about James Nesbitt's trip at 6.30pm from Monday, 13 March 2006 to Wednesday. Full storyRead more

National Democratic Front Alliance

The alliance named National Democratic Front (NDF) is consistedof the All Peoples Congress, the Party for Unity, Democracy and Development, the Reform Party, Zambia Republican Party and the Zambia Development Congress.
A memorandum of understanding among the five political parties was signed by the leaders of the parties.
Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata who was scheduled to be part of the alliance pulled out at the last minute.
The NDF is the third opposition alliance formed this month in Zambia. On March 1 and 7 two other alliances were formed to challenge the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) in the elections late this year.

Character Over Reputation

"Political and church leaders, actors and actresses, singers,
writers, athletes, professors, engineers, doctors, lawyers and
practically everyone (although they may not be even aware of
what it truly means) are undoubtedly concerned about their
REPUTATION.

Even if we give high regards to integrity and dignity as values
taught everywhere in the world, we have been continuously
startled by news of moral downfalls. We've all heard of
government officials being persecuted, famous professional
athletes linked to drug usage, popular actors involved in
crimes, businessmen proven to have committed unethical
practices, and preachers not measuring up to what is expected
from them. Sadly, the list seems endless.

More than ever, there is a necessity for us to instill in
ourselves not just good reputation, but more importantly, good
character. Most of us are so concerned about our image - on how
others may look at us. Let me make this clear though. I am not
saying there is something wrong in assuring that we maintain a
good image. A learned person knows better not to give more
importance to reputation than his character. There is a big
distinction between the two."

Author Codi Morieta describing the importance of character over reputation.

No Need for Foreign Monitors in Peaceful Zambia

"As far as I am concerned, there is no need to bring in foreign observers to monitor this year's elections because we are sure that Zambians are capable of handling such affairs without difficulties,"

French ambassador to Zambia, Francis Saudubray emphasising that Zambians were naturally peaceful people

Bloggers Exempted From Election-law Regulations

A House of Representatives panel voted to exclude the Internet from the definition of "public communication" in the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002, taking a first step towards immunizing bloggers and other online pundits from election-law regulations that would have gagged them. It seems the House didn't buy critics' arguments that doing so would  transform the Web into one big bulk mail campaign fed by soft money. "We don't expect bloggers to check with a federal agency before they go online," said House Administration Committee Chairman Vernon Ehlers, a Michigan Republican, referring to the Federal Election Commission. "They shouldn't have to read FEC advisory opinions (or have) to worry about running afoul of federal election laws." Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald, a California Democrat, agreed. "Bloggers should be treated no different from talk radio," she said. "Talk radio hosts have protections under the First Amendment. While I may disagree with their positions on the issues of the day, I will nonetheless fight for their right to speak their mind."

Source: Siliconvalley.com

Zambia's Power Vacuum

If there is anything I have learnt in my years of living away from home is the importance of family. Where I live, everything revolves around family activities. The local community with all it's ills strives to maintain family stability.

As a Zambian who believes in strong family values, it makes me so envious. And it hurts to watch our country lose the grip on family values. Family, more importantly children should come first at whatever cost.

I have met young people who have become so disillusioned with Zambian leadership. One twentysomething Zambian confided me that he would rather live illegally in a foreign country than stay in Zambia. I have no background information on this young man, but he mentioned one point that sums up my purpose for posting on this blog tonight. In his words he said " Zambia needs leaders who have the fear of God rather than leaders who worship mercedes cars."

Let's get our priorities right and fill ZAMBIA’S LEADERSHIP VACUUM with the relevant leadership.

Tories to use US internet tactics

Mr Montgomerie, a Christian Conservative, favours the use of the internet to challenge reporting in the mainstream media, especially the BBC which he regards as “target number one”, and to build up grassroots campaigns in favour of Conservative ideas, if not formally the Tory party. Some rightwing Tories have accused the BBC of a leftwing bias.

more fom source....

Zambia to pass new electoral laws before poll

Zambia to pass new electoral laws before poll: "Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa said on Friday he would introduce new laws aimed at reforming the electoral system ahead of general elections later this year.

Mwanawasa said the new electoral laws would be implemented to make this year's elections free and fair following persistent complaints from the opposition that the current system favours the ruling party."

BREAKING FROM THE PAST

Dr. Nevers Mumba has outlined AN ECONOMIC PLAN FOR REFORM AND WEALTH CREATION IN ZAMBIA
.

The topic of our Economy is timely, as it is very important to take stock of our past economic development efforts, including the mistakes and good policies of the past and assess the current economic conditions in order to put up a future strategy.