ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE #61 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE/ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE/ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE Edition: #61 10 June 1999 Subscribe to Zambia News Online A fortnightly update of news from Zambia! ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE is written by Zambian journalists in Zambia and brings you the news from their point of view. It is assembled and edited by Africa News Network, part of South Africa Contact, the former anti-apartheid movement in Denmark. ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE is one of our individual newsletters and together with those from Mozambique, Namibia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Tanzania, Swaziland and Angola, provides up to date news through our established network of journalists in Southern Africa. These newsletters will be followed, in the very near future, by news updates from other countries in the region. ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE is brought to you through a co-operation between Africa News Network, South Africa Contact and Inform, Denmark's leading alternative information network. ***************************** FEATURE Feature: KAUNDA BID TO RETURN TO POWER IN LEGAL, POPULARITY HURDLES Stories: 1. CONGO REBELS ATTACK ZAMBIAN TOWN 2. ANIMOSITY AMONG OPPOSITION PARTIES GROWS 3. OPPOSITION MPs LOSE SEATS IN COURT RULING 4. ZAMBIA READY FOR Y2K PROBLEM 5. ZAMBIA-TANZINIA RAILWAY LINE CONDEMNED 7. GOVERNMENT CONFIDENT OF REVIVING ECONOMY 8. ZAMBIA QUALIFIES FOR AFRICA CUP SOCCER FINALS Feature: KAUNDA BID TO RETURN TO POWER IN LEGAL, POPULARITY HURDLES Former Republican President Kenneth Kaunda is stepping up his comeback campaign but is faced with an uphill battle of first ensuring his eligibility. In 1996, he was knocked out of the contest by a constitutional clause that barred second generations Zambians from bidding for the presidency but he now says that this would not stop him from running for the office in the 2001 elections. And while he charts the legal course in trying to win back his eligibility, Kaunda is also constantly on the move around the country to hold meetings with leaders of his party, the United NAtional Independence Party (UNIP). Other senior party members have also increased their public calls and demands that Kaunda contests the elections. "As far as we are concerned, Dr Kaunda is our candidate for the 2001 presidential elections," says UNIP's Information and Publicity secretary, Bwendo Mulengela. The UNIP central committing, the party's highest policy making body, has endorsed Kaunda as their candidate but the decision has to be approved by the party's national council. This is generally regarded as a formality especially that no one in the party would dare challenge him. Only once has Kaunda been challenged for the party presidency in his over 30 years as UNIP leader, and this was in 1992-93 when he came out of retirement to recontest the party presidency against Kebby Musokotwane. On his retirement, Kaunda had helped Musokotwane win the seat but decided to wrest it back because Musokotwane had allegedly failed to effectively run the party. Remaining party president is the easier part for Kaunda but getting the legal right to run for the Republican Presidency is a goal that is tougher than his followers may want to believe. But Kaunda seems more determined than before to get this opportunity to run for the presidency. This is despite the fact that he has a tougher task this time around than he did in the run-up to the 1996 elections which he could not contest because his parents originated from Nyasaland, now called Malawi, making him a second generation Zambian. Then, he was considered a Zambian, but a recent court ruling has worsened his position, by declaring that he is stateless - neither Zambian nor Malawian. Minister Without Portfolio Michael Sata, says that Kaunda cannot hope to contest the presidency for as long as he is stateless. He says that instead of getting tangled in political issues, Kaunda should first regularise his nationality. Sata, who is also national secretary of the ruling party, the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), said: "If he wants to stand in 2001 let him regularise his nationality first because he knows the requirements of our constitution." But Kaunda, who led Zambia to Independence in 1964 and ruled the country for 27 years, says that he is not stateless but a Zambian and should therefore be allowed to contest whatever election he so wishes. He has appealed against the High Court ruling that declared him stateless. In his appeal to the Supreme Court, Kaunda says he automatically became a Zambian by virtue of him being born in the country - at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali, a Northern Province town where his father, Reverend David Kaunda, had been stationed. Kaunda also argues that the 1964 independence constitution granted him citizenship as he was a British protested person. He also presents his 1962 application for a Zambian passport as evidence of his being a Zambian. The Supreme Court is yet to set a date for the hearing. The 75-year-old Kaunda seems so confident of being allowed to contest the presidency that he is calling for early elections, on the argument that a majority of Zambians would like to give a new mandate to another group of people to rule the country. Kaunda told street vendors in the Copperbelt Province recently, that he would not evict them from the streets, as the current government was going, if they voted him back into office. The MMD's Information and Publicity chairman Vernon Mwaanga, however, says that there will be no early elections as demanded by UNIP. He said this would be a waste of time and money as the MMD would certainly win again. Mwaanga says it is better to use the resources on continuing with developmental programmes until the due date of the elections in 2001. Mwaanga, adds that the MMD's recent victory in four local government by-elections, was evidence of the party still being popular, contrary to assertions by UNIP that the MMD government had become unpopular. He pointed out in particular to a seat the MMD won in Chipata, the heart of UNIP's stronghold. But UNIP attributes its loss in these elections to alleged discrepancies in the voters' register. Spokesman, Bwendo Mulengela, says that the state must constitute an independent electoral commission to ensure free and fair elections. Kaunda's confidence in not only winning back his citizenship but also the presidency is reflected in his assurance that he would retire from politics soon after winning the presidency. Mulengela says that Kaunda will retire from politics soon after spearheading the party's return to power. He adds that Kaunda is grooming someone to take over from him. This confidence is, however, yet to be tested in court and at the polls. And with under 18 months before the elections, Kaunda could find himself also racing against time. And it is only time that will tell whether or not Kaunda's continued involvement in politics will be as mere rhetoric or active participation. STORIES 1. CONGO REBELS ATTACK ZAMBIAN TOWN Rebels fighting to topple the government of President Laurent Kabila in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, recently attacked a small border town of Kaputa in Northern Zambia, wounding three people, including a military man. They also looted and burnt shops before withdrawing back into Congo. The military man shot is a private, in the Zambia National Service, a quasi-military establishment which also focuses on agricultural production. The two other people shot were civilians. Without elaborating, government says that it has taken adequate measures to ensure that no more of such skirmishes into Zambia by any foreign troops ever take place again. Government spokesman, Newstead Zimba, says that residents in the areas have no cause for panic because they would be adequately be protected. he did not state whether Zambia has sent troops to the areas to ensure this protection of Zambians. Thousands of Congolese refugees have been streaming into Zambia through this town over the past three months following a rebel advance from eastern Congo to the central regions which border Zambia. While some countries in region, like Zimbabwe, Botswana and Angola have joined the war by helping Kabila fight back the rebels who are backed by Uganda and Rwanda, Zambia has opted to remain neutral and help fight a peaceful solution for the crisis. On June 26, Zambia will be hosting a peace summit to end the 10-month conflict. The summit to be held in Lusaka will ratify a cease-fire document drafted by the conflict's mediator, President Chiluba, the Organisation of African Unity and the United Nations. The truce will require the deployment of thousands of UN troops in Congo, which is Africa's third largest country. This would be followed by broad-based talks between the Congolese government, army and political groups. 2. ANIMOSITY AMONG OPPOSITION PARTIES GROWS Some opposition political parties are attacking each other with growing venom in the wake of the recent formation of an alliance of opposition parties. The Zambia United Front (ZUFRO), an alliance of six parties, has accused the recently formed Zambia Alliance for Progress (ZAP) of hating UNIP leader Kenneth Kaunda. ZUFRO chairman Mike Kaira says his alliance would not work together with ZAP in the effort to dislodge the ruling party, the MMD, because ZAP had a hatred for Kaunda whom ZUFRO is backing for the 2001 presidential elections. But a ZAP spokesman Kenneth Chiputa says ZAP, an alliance of six parties and a pressure group, has no reason to hate Kaunda. He says that if ZAP hated Kaunda, UNIP would not have been invited to join the alliance. UNIP has refused to join the alliance. And a founder of ZAP, Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika, says that the ruling MMD's recent victory in four local-government by-elections was evidence of the opposition being disunited. He says that if the opposition parties worked together on a negotiated electoral pact, they would have an improved chance of dislodging the MMD from government. Another key party, the United Party for National Development (UPND), has also refused to join any opposition alliance, contending that it is strong enough to on its own get into power. But UPND is bound to soon lose some support. Several members of the Zambia Democratic Party (ZDP) which has plans to merge with the UPND, are now demanding from their leaders that they switch to ZAP. They accuse the UPND down leadership of resistance in accepting leaders from other parties. The ZDP will soon hold an emergency consultative meeting at which the decision on whether to quit UPND would be made. 3. OPPOSITION MPs LOSE SEATS IN COURT RULING Two opposition party Members of Parliament (MPs) have lost their seats after a Lusaka High Court dismissed an application they had filed to contest against being expelled from their party. MPs Benny Tentamashimba and Patrick Kangwa were expelled from the National Party in March for allegedly backing another opposition party, the United Party for National Development (UPND) in recent local government elections. In dismissing the injunction filed by the two MPs, High Court judge Munyinda Imasiku, said he had nothing to do with the expulsion of two from their party. The two are expected to appeal against the court ruling. The party was represented in court by its out-going general secretary Dr Ludwig Sondashi who said the party was compelled to expel the two because they had also been inciting other NP members to join the UPND and also because they had refused to apologise to the party executive committee for their action. The NP, including the two, has five MPs in parliament. Dr Sondashi too is an MP but he has announced his retirement from active politics. He will, however, hold on to his parliamentary seat until the 2001 elections. 4. ZAMBIA READY FOR Y2K PROBLEM All the major utility and service provider companies in Zambia say they have taken adequate steps to stem the anticipated Y2K computer crisis bound to arise with the turn of the century. At a meeting held in Lusaka recently with Zambia's Y2K National Task Force, the companies said all was in place to ensure that computers continue operating and services provided. Among companies assuring the public that all will be well, are the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (Zesco) which supply hydro electricity to all parts of the country, the Zambia Railways. airlines and commercial banks. 5. ZAMBIA-TANZINIA RAILWAY LINE CONDEMNED A railway line that links Zambia to Tanzania is no longer safe for use. Chinese experts who helped construct the railway line in the early 1970s, say bolts on some of the bridges along its route had fallen off and several slippers were loose. "The situation is too dangerous as some day, locomotives might plunge into the river," Lu Xuejian, a delegation leader of a visiting Chinese team said in Lusaka recently. The observation was made after the Chinese made a three-day inspection of the railway line which runs from Kapiri-Mposhi in central Zambia, to the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Mr Lu said, however, that restoring the safety of the line did not require much capital as most of the structures were still in good shape. The railway line was built as an alternative export and import route for Zambia after the southern route was cut following United Nations political and economic sanctions against the then Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and South Africa. 6. LANDMINE KILLS FOREIGN CONSULTANT Adverse effects of Zambia's support for the liberation of neighbouring Zimbabwe during the 1970s, continue to be felt. A foreign consultant died recently when the car in which he and two other people were travelling was blown up by a landmine. Denis Berejena, of Interconsult, was killed instantly while his driver Walter Illi of Kenya and Patson Chazebuka, a local government administrator, suffered severe injuries in the explosion on a road in Sinazongwe, in southern Zambia. They were on an inspection tour of a road which is to be rehabilitated to facilitate development in the remote valley district. The road was for many years disused because several landmines were planted on it by the then Rhodesia troops to deter Zambia's support for liberation groups. Five other landmines have been diffused on the road, following the fatal one. And the Zambia Campaign to Ban Landmines has called on the government to provide information to the public on which areas of the country have land mines. Several border areas in the south of the country are believed to be heavily mined. 7. GOVERNMENT CONFIDENT OF REVIVING ECONOMY Zambia, whose developmental programmes are impeded by a $7 billion foreign debt, is confident that it will revive its economy with the help of further foreign support. The confidence follows a pledge by Zambia's cooperating partners to give the country $630 million for balance of payment support and for project assistance. Finance Minister Edith Nawakwi says that with this kind of support, Zambia would be able to meet almost all its budgetary obligations this year and that this would virtually guarantee improvement of the economy. Zambia needed $660 million of external financing of its budget. While some countries like Japan have indicated that they would release their pledge almost immediately, other countries are tying the promise to Zambia's continued pursuit of good governance and a strict adherence to the Structural Adjustment Programme. 8. ZAMBIA QUALIFIES FOR AFRICA CUP SOCCER FINALS Zambia beat Madagascar 3-0 in a group qualifying match to qualify for the Africa Cup soccer finals to be co-hosted by Nigerian and Ghana next year. Zambia still have one group qualifier to play against neighbouring Congo, but the match will be a formality. With 13 points from five matches already bagged Zambia's qualification is assured. The fourth team in the group is Kenya. This is the 12th time, since the 1974 debut, that Zambia will be playing in the finals of the competition held every two years but which it is yet to win. ********************************** ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE/ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE/ ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE A fortnightly update of news from Zambia! If wish to receive more information about ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE, about Africa News Network, our other newsletters or upcoming newsletters, please send an E-mail to: AfricaNN@inform-bbs.dk Letters to the editor can be sent to: editor@inform-bbs.dk (Mary Tingay) We can also be contacted by fax and by phone at: Fax: + 45 35 35 43 32 Phone:+ 45 35 35 96 32 If you know of anyone else who might be interested in subscribing to ZAMBIA NEWS ONLINE, please let us know and tell them about us! To subscribe send an e-mail to: subscribeAfricaNN@inform-bbs.dk For a one year subscription: Students US$17 Pounds Sterling 11 DKK99 Individuals US$22 Pounds Sterling 14 DKK128 Institutions US$100 Pounds Sterling 60 DKK680 NGOs US$50 Pounds Sterling 30 DKK340 Further information, on multiple subscriptions, special rates or subscribing by fax or mail, available on request. Subscriptions can be paid by credit card (VISA, American Express, MasterCard, JCB, Eurocard, Dankort), bank transfer or international cheque. If subscriptions are paid by cheque, it will be necessary to add US$10 to cover exchange. For details on how to subscribe, please send us an E-mail or fax. Postal address: Zambia News Online, Wesselsgade 4, Post Box 25, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. (c) 1999 South Africa Contact ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytaf-06.11.99-01:35:04-7301