JOIN DRIVERN TAXI AS PARTNER DRIVER TODAY!
11TH DECEMBER 2014
GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MEMBERS OF THE PRESS
WE HAVE CALLED A MEDIA BRIEFING TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW ISSUES OF CONCERN TO THE PARTY AND TO THE NATION.
THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF OUR PARTY MR. DAVIES CHAMA INFORMED THE NATION IN A PRESS STATEMENT ABOUT OUR CAMPAIGNS.
THE PF PRESIDENT, HON. EDGAR LUNGU WILL ON SATURDAY 13TH DECEMBER 2014, AMONG OTHER ACTIVITIES, HOLD A PUBLIC RALLY IN MONGU, WESTERN PROVINCE.
ON SUNDAY, 14TH DECEMBER 2014, HE WILL BE HOLDING A PUBLIC RALLY IN LUSAKA AT THE MANDEVU GROUNDS.
OUR CAMPAIGNS ARE GOING ON WELL SO FAR. PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU HAS DIRECTED THAT THE CAMPAIGNS SHOULD REMAIN PEACEFUL, ORDERLY AND VIOLENCE-FREE. SO FAR WE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THIS DIRECTIVE HAS BEEN ADHERED TO BY OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS.
WE WILL SPEAK TO SOME SPECIFIC ISSUES.
1. USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES- PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU HAS REITERATED THAT THE PARTY WILL USE ITS PARTY RESOURCES TO CONDUCT THIS CAMPAIGN. THIS IS TO PROMOTE A FAIR AND EQUAL PLAYING FIELD. HE HAS CALLED UPON WELL WISHERS, FRIENDS OF THE PARTY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO CONTINUE RENDERING THEIR SUPPORT SO THAT A SUCCESFUL CAMPAIGN IS HELD AND THAT WE ATTAIN VICTORY FOR OUR PARTY.
2. VISIT TO ZIMBABWE- AND OTHER COUNTRIES- YESTERDAY I ACCOPANINED THE PRESIDENT OF THE PATRIOTIC FRONT, HON EDGAR LUNGU TO HARARE TO MEET HIS EXCELLENCY DR. ROBERT MUGABE, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE. AS YOU ARE AWARE PRESIDENT MUGABE IS ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF ZANU-PF, A SISTER PARTY TO THE PF.
THE MEETING WAS MEANT TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TWO LEADERS TO BRIEF EACH OTHER ON THEIR RESPECTIVE JUST ENDED PART CONFERENCE AND CURRENT ISSUES AFFECTING THE TWO PARTIES. AS THE FIRST CONTACT AS RESPECTIVE PARTY PRESIDENTS, THE TWO RENEWED THEIR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE COOPERATING.
PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU TOOK TIME TO BRIEF PRESIDENT MUGABE ON THE EVENTS LEADING TO HIS ELECTION AS WELL AS AFTER THE ELECTIONS. HE EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT ZAMBIA’S DEMOCRACY HAS MATURED AND THAT POLITICS HAVE BECOME POSITIVELY COMPETITIVE. HE ASSURED PRESIDENT MUGABE THAT UNITY IS RETURNING TO THE RULING PARTY.
THIS MEETING WAS IMPORTANT IN MANY RESPECTS INCLUDING THE FACT THAT AS CHAIRPERSON OF SADC, PRESIDENT MUGABE WAS ASSURED THAT THE ELECTIONS SHALL BE HELD IN A FREE AND FAIR ENVIRONMENT. THROUGH HIM THE REST OF THE MEMBER STATES SHALL ACCORDINGLY BE ASSURED. AS AN IMPORTANT NEIGHBOUR, OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ZIMBABWE WERE ALSO ASSURED AS SUCH.
ALLOW ME TO DISPEL SOME REPORTS YOU MAY HAVE READ IN THE MEDIA. DURING THE MEETING, THE ISSUE OF FUNDING FOR THE PF WAS NEVER DISCUSSED. I WISH TO CONFIRM THAT THE PF HAS RECEIVED AND CONTINUES TO RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM LOCAL WELL WISHERS. THE NEED FOR EXTERNAL HELP IN THIS REGARD WILL NOT ARISE.
THE PF HAS CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND PARTICULARLY IN THE MEN AND WOMEN TASKED WITH THE DUTY OF MANAGING THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION. I THEREFORE, EXPECT THAT WE SHOULD ALL HAVE THIS CONFIDENCE AND BE READY TO ACCEPT THE OUTCOME OF THE 20TH JANUARY, 2015 POLLS.
BUT REMEMBER THAT OUR PARTY WENT THROUGH A SAD PERIOD OF WRANGLING AND WE NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE ISSUES ARE NOW BEHIND US.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE I WISH TO REPORT THAT PRESIDENT MUGABE IS WELL AND IN HIGH SPIRITS AND THAT HE CONVEYED GOOD TIDINGS TO THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA. ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT LUNGU AND ON MY OWN BEHALF, I AGAIN THANK PRESIDENT MUGABE FOR RECEIVING US AND TAKING TIME TO MEET US.
3. PAYMENTS TO FARMERS- WE HAVE SEEN THAT CERTAIN POLITICAL ELEMENTS WANT TO EXPLOIT THE ISSUE RELATING TO THE MONIES OWED TO OUR FARMERS BY THE FOOD RESERVE AGENCY(FRA). GOVERNMENT HAS SINCE RELEASED THE MONIES AND OUR FAMERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE BEING PAID. WE SHOULD ALSO STATE THAT THE MONIES OWED INCLUDES PAYMENTS TO TRANSPORTERS FOR DELIVERY OF INPUTS AND TRANSPORTING OF THIS PRODUCE. INFACT, PAYMENTS ARE SO FAR ADVANCED THAT WE WILL CLEAR THE BACKLOG OF PAYMENTS SOON.
TO THIS EFFECT, GOVERNMENT IS ALSO RELEASING SOME MORE PAYMENTS THIS WEEK TO HELP CLEAR THE OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS. YOU ARE AWARE THAT AGRICULTURE IS OUR TOP PRIORITY. WE RECOGNISE THAT AGRICULTURE PROMOTES ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE FOR OUR PEOPLE AND HELPS LIFT OUR PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY.
WE HAD DELIVERED ALL FERTILISER REQUIRED FOR THIS SEASON AT PROVINCIAL AND DISTRICT DEPOTS BY OCTOBER 2014. WE HAVE REVIVED THE NITROGEN CHEMICALS OF ZAMBIA, (NCZ) A COMPANY THAT WAS CLOSED FOR TWENTY YEARS. THIS HAS PROVIDED JOBS IN KAFUE AND HAS OPENED AN AVENUE OF BUSINESS FOR OUR PRIVATE SECTOR. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THIS HAS REDUCED THE COST OF MONEY SPENT ON IMPORTING THESE FARMING IN-PUTS.
I AM NOW AVAILABLE FOR A FEW QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ON THIS PARTICULAR MATTER. I THANK YOU.
THANK YOU
