DAILY
Friday 15, May 2020
‘Postponing 2021 elections will be constitutional crisis’ By AARON CHIYANZO POSTPONING the 2021 general elections will create a constitutional crisis that will have devastating consequences in the future, the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has warned. YALI president, Andrew Ntewewe said the election should be held as stipulated by the law amid the Covid-19 outbreak. Mr Ntewewe said during a radio interview yesterday that a Government that would continue after 2021 without holding an election would not be respected and considered credible. He said the decisions of such a Government would be considered null and void because Zambia operated on a democratically elected governance system. This follows insinuations that the 2021 elections might be postponed to a later date due the covid-19 outbreak. Mr Ntewewe said a Government that would assume power without being elected would be undermined by most citizenry. “The constitution gives every Government a five year mandate. So going beyond the 5 year term with holding an election would create a constitutional crisis. How will that Government make appoints, in whose mandate such Government can be executing their dues will be questionable,” he said. Mr Ntewewe pointed out that even if the 2021 elections were postponed, it was not known when Covid-19 would end. He questioned whether the nation would have to wait for 20 years if that was how long the pandemic would stay on. Mr Ntewewe said an the nation reverts back to normal amid the Covid-19 outbreak, there was need to allow the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to continue its earlier plans it prepares for the upcoming election.
‘Stop playing jokes about Covid-19’ By KETRA KALUNGA RESIDENTS in Kabwe must stop playing jokes about coronavirus as numbers can rise and make the Central Province capital an epicentre of the pandemic, Member of Parliament, Tutwa Ngulube has warned. And Mr Ngulube said those disputing the positive cases in Kabwe are hampering efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the district and the country as a whole. Some residents in Kabwe have disputed the 11 cases of Covid-19, announced by Health Minister, Chitalu Chilufya, on Tuesday. In separate interviews, some residents said they would only believe the seriousness of the reported cases once they see Covid-19 patients being attended to in the isolation centres. But Mr Ngulube urged the
people in his constituency and elsewhere not to be gullible but remain realistic because the disease was real and deadly. Mr Ngulube, who is also the deputy parliamentary Chief Whip, said he was concerned that people in the district were not adhering to the mandatory face mask wearing. Mr Ngulube said on Tuesday he distributed 1, 200 face masks to traders in the central business district and two hours later none of those who were given had them on. He has since urged the Kabwe Municipal Council and other stakeholders to ensure that face masks wearing was enforced. "Wearing of face masks is not there in Kabwe, I distributed 1,200 face masks around town centre but when I went back to check two hours later, none of them was wearing a mask," Mr Ngulube said.
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TANKER DRIVERS PRODDED …stick to health rules By PETER SICHALI
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HE Petroleum Tr a n s p o r t e r s Association (PTAZ) has directed tanker drivers to strictly adhere to preventive measures in various countries to curb the spread of COVID-19. PTAZ spokesperson, Benson Tembo, said however that his organisation was impressed that the drivers adhering to health guidelines in various countries. Mr Tembo said fuel transporters as essential workers had continued to operate so that the economic activities could not
be disrupted amidst Covid-19. He said fuel transporters would continue operating within the guidelines provided by Government to ensure that they delivered the commodity. "As fuel transporters we have been very compliant with the
directives provided by health authorities in countries we are traversing, "Mr Tembo said. Mr Tembo has advised tanker drivers to continue upholding professional conduct to avoid contracting covid-19. He said fuel transporters
had provided the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to drivers. And Mr Tembo has appealed to other cargo drivers to comply with directives by health authorities to avoid the spread of Covid-19.
‘Explain K10bn access modalities’ By NATION REPORTER
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has directed Finance Minister, Bwalya Ng’andu to explain clearly to citizens on the processes of accessing the K10 billion economic stimulus package. Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dora Siliya disclosed this during an interview on ZNBC Radio 2. Ms. Siliya said Zambians needed to know the right institutions that would administer the K10bn stimulus package and the conditions attached to accessing the funds. She said the President had tasked Dr Ng’andu to ensure that the public were provided
with the all the necessary information about the relief package. “The President has directed Dr Ng’andu to explain clearly on the processes of accessing the K10bn economic stimulus package,” she said. Meanwhile, Ms. Siliya, who is chief government spokesperson also called on Zambians to embrace patriotism amid the Covid-19 and stop making baseless allegations of corruption. She said it was counterproductive and a drain on national resources to prosecute baseless corrupt cases in the courts of law. Ms. Siliya also called on Zambians to be proactive and take personal responsibility to help combat the
spread of the Covid-19. She said except for front line workers, the government could not afford to buy protective equipment for every Zambian. Ms. Siliya called on parents not to let their children loose in public places as the Covid-19 pandemic persists.
South PF applaud Falls reopening
Colleges, varsities opening on hold - Mushimba
By SILUMESI MALUMO
HIGHER Education Minister Brian Mushimba has clarified that the re-opening date for universities and colleges has not yet been set. Dr. Mushimba said the ministry was c in consultation with all stakeholders. He, however, says in the consultations, priority was being made for those in their final year and those graduating. In an interview yesterday, Dr. Mushimba said institutions did not stop learning because online classes had been provided. He said re-opening of higher learning institutions required wide consultation to ensure the institutions do not become breeding grounds for the COVID-19. Dr. Mushimba said in due course a date would be set on when the universities and colleges would re-open. - ZNBC.
THE reopening of the Victoria Falls heritage site to the public by President Edgar Lungu has brought a sigh of relief to the people of Southern Province, Patriotic Front chairperson Lawrence Evans has said. Mr Evans said the closure of the falls and many other tourist sites in the tourist capital had resulted in close to 10, 000 workers losing their jobs.
He said the ruling Patriotic Front in the province applauded the President for easing some restrictions including the reopening of the Victoria Falls that he had imposed to stem the spread of Covid-19 in the country. He urged residents and authorities in Livingstone to adhere to the guidelines as outlined in Statutory Instruments 21 and 22 issued by the Ministry of Health aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19. Mr Evans urged the
residents to heed President Lungu’s call for people to live under the new normal of wearing masks, observing social distancing and avoiding handshakes, among others. “The gesture by the President demonstrates his
responsiveness to calls by stakeholders and the business community in Livingstone and love for the people of Southern Province who depend on tourism to a large extent for their socioeconomic sustenance,” he said.
