Former presidents of Botswana and Zambia, Festus Mogae and Kenneth Kaunda have condemned the criminalization of homosexuality and sex work by Malawi and some African countries, warning that would inhibit the fight against HIV/Aids.

The two former Southern Africa leaders are visiting Malawi on five-day visit in their capacity as Champions of HIV free Generation in their quest to advocate for an HIV free generation.
A Malawian publication, Nyasatimes reports that the two former presidents were quoted at a news conference in the capital Lilongwe on Wednesday/
According to Nyasa times, the two leaders said Malawi should ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, arrests or detention.
Mogae, who chairs a team dubbed ‘Champions of an HIV-Free Generation’ that comprise prominent African anti-Aids activists, said homosexuals and sex workers were part of society and they should not be stigmatised or discriminated.
“People who practice homosexuality should not be criminalized or stigmatize to avoid the spread of new infections,” said Mogae.
The former Botswana president appealed to African governments to provide condoms in prison as he said it is where there is a lot of breed of HIV infection through homosexual acts.
“Why is it that men who go to prison without HIV infection when they come out they are tested positive,” he said.
On his part, Kaunda called for a change of approach and urged such leaders to start recognising the minority groups, if the fight against the pandemic is to yield positive results.
He said the continent is faced with perpetrators of worst crimes therefore punishing gays and lesbians is not necessary.

Courtesy Zambian Watchdog

Islamic Council counsels Zambian electorate

Leaders who have failed to deliver have no moral right to seek a second term of office, says the Islamic Council of Zambia.
In an interview with the Watchdog Friday, Islamic Council of Zambia (ICZ) national coordinator Adam Phiri said it is disappointing that poverty levels in Zambia and Africa as a whole have continued to rise despite governments claiming economic developments in the mining, agriculture and tourism sectors.

Phiri, the official spokesperson for ICZ said Leaders who have failed to deliver meaningful economic development such as those in the ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy and the Patriotic Front should not be given any chance near the corridors of power.

“Leaders who have failed don’t have any moral right to seek for another chance; Members of Parliament who have failed have no moral right to ask for a second term. They should not be given that chance because they have failed, asking for people to vote for you when you have failed is immoral and unacceptable even before God, President Banda has drastically failed, Sata was in government and he failed so why give them a second chance?” Phiri asked.

He said those claiming votes should seriously explain to the people why they needed to be voted for as opposed to making empty developmental promissory notes, adding that Zambia needs young leaders with fresh and independent minds to govern.
Phiri said the much talked about economic growth did not translate into feasible results as it did not trickle down to the grassroots whose poverty levels were still high.

“There is a problem, leaders don’t want to account for the promises they make during elections. How many promises did President Banda make during the 2008 elections? Where many and one of those is to give Zambians a constitution which will stand the test of time but nothing has been done,” he said.
Phiri said leaders must learn from events in some African countries such as Tunisia, Libya and Egypt where people have revolted against their leaders and governments.
“What happened in Egypt and other parts of the continent must be a lesson enough especially to those in leadership because it can spill over to other parts of the continent and Zambia inclusive, it may not be through an uprising but people can use a vote to kick out leaders who have failed, leaders who are corrupt. The Egypt situation is an eye opener,” he said.

Phiri said the reason people voted was to seek positive change in their lives.

“Let us not vote for leaders who are liars, leaders who say this today but do another thing tomorrow, let them give the people a time frame in which they will deliver their promises,” he said.

general miyanda on sata

General Miyanda refutes media reports on endorsing Sata
By Chris Habeenzu
As Zambia slowly but steadily nears the 2011 tripartite elections, a number of politicians have sprung up to endorse some political front runners to govern the country. While that is happening some political parties are positioning themselves and are into discussions to either go into political alliances while others are flexing their muscles to show how popular they are.
Recently Opposition Heritage Party leader Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda featured on a privately owned radio station, radio Phoenix and said he admired how popular Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata's popularity a statement that was misunderstood by even some media organizations.
The misunderstanding was much to displeasure of the general whose phone was on Thursday flooded with calls of his sympathizers who wanted to find out whether he truly issued the statement.
"I only came to know about that misrepresentation of facts when some people even as far as Mansa were calling trying to find out whether I issued that statement to say that I had endorsed Mr. Sata, he said, adding"I can't support Mr. Sata."
The General Miyanda revealed that in 2008 Presidential by elections the PF leader alleges that he was bribed K100M for him to take part in the polls.
The HP leader adds that he wrote to the Electoral Commission of Zambia(ECZ) to complain over the matter to the electoral body has not responded to up to now.
"In 2008 by elections Mr. Sata injured me by alleging that i was bribed hundred kwacha for me to contest in the election so that i can splitting the votes and i demanded for an apology from him and up to now he has not responded. I also wrote to the ECZ to complain about the matter but to my disappointment the ECZ forged a document that I had withdrawn my complaint which i didn't," General Miyanda said.
The Heritage Party leader further states that prior to the 2008 presidential by elections, Mr. Sata was instrumental in hounding him together with others from the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) among other much more sensitive matters which the general decline to mention.
He said though he is a forgiving person the statement and Mr. Sata's deeds can't warrant his support and endorsement for this year's elections.
And the Heritage Party leader revealed that his party is currently engaged in discussion with other political parties on the possibilities of coming together in the upcoming general elections.
General Miyanda says he is discussing with some political leaders among them Alliance for Development and Democracy (ADD)'s Charles Milupi and UPND's Hakainde Hichilema.
"What i can say is that we are engaged in discussions with some political leaders on how we can work together until such a time will be able to inform our supporters on the way forward," he revealed.

Envoy hopeful of African energy potential
By Chris HABEENZU
Nigerian High Commissioner to Zambia, Folake Marcus-Bello says Africa has great potential to improve its energy sector.
Ms Marcus-Bello said yesterday that in the advent of the African Freedom day commemorations, it is important that economic development is also put on the agenda.
The Nigerian envoy explained that Africa’s trade volumes have shown great signs of improvement in the past few years.
Ms Marcus-Bello further noted that African countries have rich natural resources however they are embroiled in conflict.
Africa's energy sector has not been fully exploited due to increased conflicts which are mainly suspected to sponsored by outsiders.
Nigeria is one of the countries that has massive deposites of oil but the region has never exprienced any peace thereby plunging this world oil giant nation into a corrupt nation.

Zambian woman arrested in Kenya for Drug trafficking
By Chris HABEENZU
A Zambian woman has been arrested in Kenya for drug trafficking.
Catherine Banda was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after police found over half a Kilogram of cocaine concealed in assorted tins and cosmetic tubes in her baggage.
Ms. Banda who is in her thirties was coming from Lahore, Pakistan aboard a Kenya Airways flight to Ndola.
She was intercepted as she was about to board a plane after successfully checking in her baggage.
Zambia Drug Enforcement Commission-DEC spokesperson John Nyawali confirmed Ms. Banda’s arrest and says that she has since been remanded at Langata Women’s Prison after being denied bail by the Kibera magistrate court in Nairobi.
And Mr. Nyawali has disclosed that a 23 year old student at Zambia Centre for Accountancy Studies-ZCAS in Lusaka has been arrested for trafficking in cocaine.
He said Sasha Wartten, a first year Banking and Finance student was arrested from Northmead where he was found with six sachets of pure grade cocaine.
Wartten, a resident of Northmead was arrested from the premises of one of the popular night clubs in the area.
He was found with the cocaine on his body as he was about to supply to some people.
Mr. Nyawali said Wartten was one of the major suppliers of cocaine to students at ZCAS and some patrons of night clubs around Northmead area.
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