Thursday, April 25, 2024
Subscribe
Image Description
Headlines

Magande wanted to cancel Zambian Airways debt, RB

By editor
238
6,324 views

Share

President Rupiah Banda said  he has documents proving that former finance Minister, Ng’andu Magande, was going to allow Mr. Mmembe and his colleagues to get away with the debt.

He said the Post Newspaper had opted for the candidature of Mr. Magande during the October 30, 2008 presidential election so that he could cancel the loan.

The President said this when he addressed thousands of MMD cadres who matched to State House on Thursday in a show of solidarity with his leadership.

Mr. Banda also said he will not be compelled to act against the media by questionable persons at the Post Newspaper.

He said the Post which has been attacking him will only be closed by the huge debt owed to various public institutions.

Mr  Banda has demanded that Zambian Airways settles the 29 million US dollars debt it owes various public institutions.

Mr. Banda says the money could help build a number of schools and hospitals to serve the people.

The President says he was not there when Post Newspaper Editor, Fred M’membe, and his colleagues borrowed money to invest in the closed Airline.

/ZNBC/NEWS

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

238 COMMENTS

  4. What a president? How can you begin attacking indivuduals? Is M’membe your equal? You are a president and should not resort to attacking simple citizens. I am now very convinced that RB is a wrong character. Zambi deserives better than what we are getting from this man. I thiunk MMD is cancer. Lets amputet them before they infect the whole country

    • how do u explain a newspaper writing poor quality stories about one person on a daily basis? As a private citizen, the president has the right to reply. Fred Mmembe can’t have it both ways. His motives are clear and selfish – self preservation

    • Self preservation is natural. SHREK has made a mistake to take on the Post. Fred mmembe as an individual is nothing-but the Post is another story. Be careful who you take on, else you reap the whirlwind. Ask Chiluba. The Post also have a lot of documentary evidence on anumber of issue & you will now see a tit-4-tat state of affairs in the press soon. Those who live in Glass Houses should not walk about in the nude. Wait & see!!

    • Anonymous

      How do you explain the fact that apart from the POST no Zambian media publication is ever exposing corruption and other social ills?

    • RB has something personal against Fred M’membe and is using Presidency to attack innocent citizens. This sounds like KK UNIP back in office

    • Ten Kwacha,
      How come now the man who started this war is now the victim. The Post and its tandem of queers started attacking RB long before he became MMD candidate. The man never said anything against the Post. Now they are crying! boris bach!

    • I am with a 100 percent. We have a blind and deaf pilot and unffortunately the plane has already taken off……….HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • leave the president alone, Zambian Airways owes govt alot of money and like any other debtors they must pay back. we need schools and people’s salaries have to be paid. why should M’membe complain when there are thousands other companies and individuals who are paying govt.

    • Mr. Obby or whoever you are, Fred Mumembe has written 90 editorials and false innuendos against RB and as a result we Zambians are bitterly divided over stories where Mumembe can not tell us what money RB has stollen. We Zambians do have a sence of fairness and you can not write 90 editorials insulting someone as Nyamasoya, sugardaddy …. ad neuseum even a President and expect him to keep quiet while you undermines his government and his standing with the people. Rupiah too has a right to reply.

    • You have a very short memory. The Post started attacking RB long before he became Presidential candidate. Their attacks were personal. They called him ‘sugar daddy’, ‘corrupt,’ lier etc. You see, he has restrained himself for so long but he is also human. Mwanawasa used to retaliate immediately and they soon stopped attacking him. The Post have gone on and on and on and now they have nothing to contribute to national development except attack the man. If we don’t expect him to respond like this because he is the President, then we should also respect him as President.

    • Obby, get real mate! RB has nothing to do with the huge sums of money that Fred Mmembe and his friends owe…Fred and Nchito boys are typical Zambian jokers who after getting a few billions from task force, thought they could run an airline?! but alas, lack of appropriate business strategy ran them into the ground!!! Mmembe, just pay to Ceasar what you owe, simple as that, no more insults and inuendo, all the tax payers ask is that you PAY

  5. RB. Do you thing these MMD cadres know about business strategy and the global credit crunch?Instead of addressing these chimps please do something about the high poverty levels.I only hope that big belly of your explodes…

    • It is always helpful to understand the context in which somethings are done. A quick flashback to when levy came into office one of the first things he did was to go to parliament and reveal what FTJ was supposedly doing wrong. That drama is still going on uptoday. The major driving force for that was levy consolidating his power base. Once that was done. we saw levy become more at ease and was able to deliver some great works. The same situation here arises with RB. Once he consolidates his power base and gets rid of what he perceives as his detractors, real or imagined you will see a more articulate RB.

    • The morning shows you what the day will be like. If one fails to articulate oneself in the morning, then there is no hope that anything new will come up in the afternoon. More over, the time before afternoon is too short, only 3 years so we dont have the time for all this ‘consolidation of power base before delivering’ issue. After all it was supposed to be continuity from where LPM left off. If issues of consolidation were raised that time of voting, then everyone should have gone for the opposition, not MMD.

    • It is always helpful to understand the context in which somethings are done. A quick flashback to when levy came into office one of the first things he did was to go to parliament and reveal what FTJ was supposedly doing wrong. That drama is still going on uptoday. The major driving force for that was levy consolidating his power base. Once that was done. we saw levy become more at ease and was able to deliver some great works. The same situation here arises with RB. Once he consolidates his power base and gets rid of what he perceives as his detractors, real or imagined you will see a more articulate RB.

    • One issue most people are missing is that Zambian Airways was mismanaged. Like or dislike RB the issues of ZA were brought about by its management and Shareholders. All the major suppliers of Zambian Airways refused to provide the airline with any creditline. Pilots were flying into foreign countries with cash to buy Avgas. You start running an airline like a fleet of long distance buses!!!!
      Its always great to see local business people succeed but in this case they liked the acumen to run an airline. For your own info the planes were even really “Nigeria type”

    • They may be chimps to you, but these are the people that vote and foot soldiers who go from door to door during elections to win the vote. You can comment from your armchair in the UK and your opinion will never count to the masses of Zambians who will be voting. These are the people that make the bread and butter of politics. If they feel good, they will go on to campaign. They know what is good for them but do not patronise them just because you have received a little bit of education. Become a British subject and you would not even have this opportunity to be heard.

    • GET REAL, ZAMBIA IS EXPECTED TO POST THE HIGHEST GROWTH RATE IN THE REGION THIS YEAR. GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT AND STOP PEDDLING FALSEHOODS TO BRING DOWN A LEADER JUST LIKE MUMEMBE IS DOING.

  6. its common knoledge Mag en Fleg had an angreement. we already know that. Dora is in the firing line coz she is pushing the zambia airways debt agenda, everyone has a skeleton in their closets, from RB to membe to you also [the reader ] if we looked for it we will find it

  7. RB is bringing the Office of the President in to disrepute by making such trivial statements. What is the significance of making such statements at a publice ralley other than the fact that he was just playing to the gallery. His revelation has no significan or otherwise as Magande did nothing wrong as these were just intentions. The President should be able to rise above such banter

    • RB is a very confused and dull character. What is wrong about canceling a debt if that would keep the company running there by providing employment to the zambians? What is going to hapen is that the Government will not gain any money from Zambian airways because after auditing they will know that the directors did not do anything wrong but cost of fuel last year was just unbearable. RB is a very wrong man and now he has openned the doors to be attacked from all directions, from within and from outside MMD. Zambia is unfortunate that they could not see what problems Nyama soya would bring to this country.

    • myopic man,no company in the world with wasteful directors keeps jobs for it’s employees.all sink at the same time.including zambian airways

  8. But why talking to MMD cadres on such issues than having a press conference and adress the nation? What a President we have! Kaya..

  9. Was Magande going to do that alone? Mubwezeni Kumunzi………………….So The Post has given old granpa some sleepless nights huh!
    That was not going to be the first Company to have its debt cancelled,if you r a history Economist as u claim u r certainly aware of that.How much does yo Company AllenWest owe ZRA? thats so childish

  10. Chaliba wrong chimudala ichi. You did not know???. Things will actually get worse, just wait guys. In fact assisting ZA would have been the best thing to do. All countries do that. These dinasours have come back to haunt Zambia. These guys have never known to be correct. They have always, through out their lives never never been wise. Look at Kunda, everything that comes from him is also always wrong???

    • I totally disagree with you on this one. I guess being young, I will bear with you. These problems were not brough about by Kaunda. I might be wrong here but I think CIAO is talking about the current VP Kunda, and not K.K

    • President needs to reply to accusations. Thats what happens when you discard good journalistic practices of allowing the respondent an opportunity to give his/her side of the story. The post writes trashy stories with very poor writing and journalistic standards

    • Iwe anonymous, tell me which journalism school you’ve gone to for you to claim that The post has poor writing and journalistic standards? In all fairness, it is important to appreciate that the post gives us better stories and coverage of most of what is happening around. Can you compare it with other dailies? definitely not!!

  15. Don’t fight over zambian airways mr presido, that has nothing to do with many zambians who out of emloyement and those who have nowhere to run because of the many sufferings MMD has created. we want solutions to many problems zambia is facing and not not what you are talking about. zambian airways is a closed chapter, but let us discuss the issue at hand which is unemplyement and poverty. these are real issues and not zambian airways.

    • What are you talking about? Zambia is the only country in the region including south Africa and Botswana which is expected to post 4.5% GDP growth rate. Botswana will be less than 1% and South Africa will be just over 1%
      Please let Rupiah respond to someone who has accused him of every crime under the sun. Would you keep quiet yourself after 90 editorials against you

  16. I have always known that RB has had something against Magande. Anyway if Magande had an agenda about this whole issue, then he deserves it from RB.

  17. RB should behave his office..there is an inqury into ZA debt… RB is pre-emptying the out come of the inqury.. shame ‘Mr’ presido.

    But zambia bwafya.

  18. What nonsense! There is no time for politics mr president; you should be dealing with issues that affect the poor and those for national development. Can someone please tell me, are we already in 2011for him to start campaigning? GIVE US LEADERSHIP & FOCUS PLEASE!!

  21. “President Rupiah Banda said he has documents proving that former finance Minister, Ng’andu Magande, was going to allow Mr. Mmembe and his colleagues to get away with the debt.
    He said the Post Newspaper had opted for the candidature of Mr. Magande during the October 30, 2008 presidential election so that he could cancel the loan.”

    While I thank you President RB Banda for issuing these statements just to win political mirage for your 2011 candidature, I must write that I NEVER believe in claims of this sort. Can you please Mr President release those documents to prove your alleged Magande issues so that I can read them for myself and then take you seriously. I’ve had enough of…

    • Now, since you were the Vice President of Zambia, Mr President RB Banda, in the late former President LP Mwanawasa, your claims prove that you too are not clean from this Zambia Airways SAGA for you NEVER resigned from your appointment while then Minister of Finance N. Magande was letting your MMD government allow the POST and other ZA shareholders to take advantage of public money.
      Since the POST quoted Mrs Maureen Mwanawasa (Hon. Doc., ?) as supporting Magande for MMD and Zambian President by agreeing that late former President LP Mwanawasa supported Magande to continue his legacy, what role did the Mwanawasa family play and is playing in the Magande and POST link of working together?

    • Whatever happened , i fear for the Nchito brothers these guys are going to jail over mine air services deal. They have no neqwspaper for themselves to get enough public sympathy that Membe might get, Membe successfully blackmailed LPM unfortunately he miscalculated during the run up to the last Elections and cast a wrong widely publicised ballot. The post is asking Laz to be part of these investigations but E. Banda the LAZ president is a shareholder in MNB the law firm at the centre of this Saga. My prayer is if Nchiti goes in Membe should not be too lucky because he is the cause of all this mess.

  23. Now ba Bwezani? Common old man,ever heard of bad debt,if you are an economist am sure you have come across such terms.Yes the figure is too big to let go but thats very unpresidential to tell that to unemployed drunks who are hired to offer fake solidality.If NAPSA,ZRA,ZAMTEL,ZESCO,The COUNCIL was to demand immediate payment of long over due debts now.Non of the Companies today will remain operating inluding your Ministries.What Zambian Airways was requesting was a payment plan jst like what what everybody else is doing.SHAME

    • Wanzulu, ulibe nzelu. You cant see that Fred Mmember is using the Post newspaper to aggradise his shot self. How can you be so myopic?
      You have eyes but you cant see.

    • Government is the biggest DEBTOR to most struggling institutions/businesses.I guess NAPSA,ZRA,ZESCO,COUNCILS,WATER UTILITY companies+RETIRIES are owed huge sums of money(Not forgetting External debts) by government.if all these parites are to demand immediate payment,the entire country would be sold out in order to payoff.GRZ is a major culprit so RB should not be too excited.He is heading the govt so let him first pay.How much have we heard about retiries not paid their terminal benefits until they DIE without ever receiving their hard earned dues?

  24. Arent Finance Ministers, Prime Ministers and Presidents in the world including the UK and America taking control of large chunks of some failing banks and writting off their bad debts? There is nothing wrong with what Magande was trying to do. Big car manufacturers especially in the US are heavily indebted and collapsing. They are appealing for and are getting public cash in return for restructuring and streamlining their operations.

    • Baba, I think RB is living in a different world form the one you and me are. If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be making cheap politics about what Magande was allegedly trying to do.

    • Gentlemen, i think there is a world of difference. The cause of the demise of ZA is yet unknown. If it were established that it was due to a global or national phenomenon beyond the control of management, which would severely impact the economy, then perhaps a bailout would be an option. Note that bailout in the west have been nationalisations. I doubt this is what Magande had in mind.
      If there is a possibility that monies borrowed by the business (separate legal entity) went into the pockets of Directors, then that is a clear case of fraud. My point is that until the truth is established, the government cannot do much.

  26. Mwaona manje? This guy is a total failure, he is now going to start a fight which he will never win….leave the post alone, Magande is a better person with brains than you RB, if he was going to cancel the debt which i doubt is true, it would have probably been a way to try and give the company some sort of long term loan. U address those people who have nothing to do but hoping by coming to your door step you will feed them so that they dont spend another nite without a meal. PLEASE START THINKING FOR ONCE, THOSE CADRES EXPECT SOME ACTION, not stories about Magande and the post.

    • I totally agree with you sir, those chaps just wanted some food at state house, now state house iz for cadres since when??????????????????

    • What ever you do, please don’t insult the people who went to support RB. I went too, and I have a job. Our politics in this country are becoming too polarised and we may soon start hacking each other and Mumembe will be responsible.

  27. Is this not a case of punishing those who did not support me for presidency!! Look at whats happening in the US and Europe. Aren’t private businesses getting financial help in order for them to stay in business. Apparently this can not happen pa Zed??

    • It can happen, but only to MMD cadres. Were they note asking some PS to pay outstanding debts to companies owned by cadres. ZA just happens to be in the wrong camp!!

  28. Now we can see a wolf coming out of the sheep’s skin. RB has been hiding there since november. lets see how the year ends.

  30. I NOW BELIEVE “CHIWAMINA GALU” RB HAS HIS OWN PROBLEMS BUT I THINK HE HAS THE RIGHT TO MENTION SOME OF THIS THINGS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE VENOMUS MEMBE”S CONSUMATE HATE EMINATES FROM.AND P/S STOP TREATING MEEMBE AS AN ORDINARY PERSON THE MAN HAS SINGLE HANDEDLY MANAGED TO CHANGE THE THINKING OF MOST OF YOU, WHAT EVER HE SAYS GO.LATES START INSULTING OUR LEADERS (ELDERS)IT GOES NO ONE CAN QUESTION HIM FOR FEAR OF HIS LANGUEGE AND BESIDES WHICH MEDIA ARE YOU GOING TO USE?ASK SIMUTANI

  31. Mmembe is a scam. Even the Media Institute of Southern Africa don’t believe him anymore. If he is arrested for Zambia Airways that has nothing to do with The Post.

  32. Was the decision to cancel the debt made at a cabinet meeting or Mangande made the decision at home? What documentary evidence has Nyama Soya got? Is he going to ‘leak government documents?? What a circus this govt has become….

  33. ELO YALILA IYABA SERENJE UMFWA, LEKAKO MPA MPA.

    Muza ululana manje mulilo wayaka. Magande must issue a statement or else people will believe the beef eater’s story.

    • its not the first time, have you forgoten how he showd his weakess when he cried like a baby the time they first announced LPM ‘s death, its inborn, thats RB for you.

    • I don’t know what has gone wrong with our country to have such Nyama-soya as presido, thats why tatwakabwele pa zed

    • WHO DO YOU WANT AS PREDO. MAY BE I CAN HAVE A GO AT HIM OR HER. RB IS PRESDO BECAUSE PEOPLE VOTED FOR HIM. REMEMBER NOBODY VOTED FOR YOU.

  35. Ba shikulu doesnt know anythin.instead of talking bout important issues such as Nitrogen chemicals,raising food prices,mealie meal shortage,messed up exchange rate…….etc his getting revenge for tha post attackin his “Smart Gelo” Siliya.He should know one thing,many have tried but have failed to close the post down.Give it a rest old man and concentrate on keepin your young wife happy………

    • RUPIA NEVER SAID HE WILL CLOSE THE POST DOWN. HE SAID THEIR DEBTS WILL CLOSE THEM DOWN. MUMEMBE HAS WRITTEN 90 INSULTING EDITORIALS AGAINST RB. IF IT WERE YOU WOULD YOU KEEP QUIET AS LONG AS RB HAS. BE FAIR

  37. I THINK WE ARE MISUNDERSTANDING THE TERM LEAKAGE.THE INFORMATION GVT HAS IS FOR THE GVT USE,SO IF YOU STEAL IT AND USE IT OR PUBLISH IT WITHOUT AUTHOLITY THATS LEAKAGE BUT YOU CANT ACCUSE THE GVT OF LEAKAGE IF THEY DECIDE PUBLISH THERE OWN INFORMATION

  38. Mr. President go on spill the beans. LPM did that on several occasions in fact him he used to leaked such data to the Post. All you good for nothing blind worshipers of Fred against RB’s disclosure are just a bunch of myopic sycophants

  42. Bamudala Ba Bwezani Kwati Nikumushi Pansaka. Mulechitako Ifyaba Diplomatic teka Sido mule laninga. Ati ngabalefwaya kuti baiminina pa Post ticket pantu mulebatanya Muchilonganino limbi namuchalo fye. Iyo mwashupa. Ngamwafulwa elyo mwachila ukubipa bashikulu

    • ELYO ABASUMA NIBANI? FRED MUMEMBE AIKALA UKUTUKA RB PAMYESHI SEVEN UKUTULA MU AUGUST. IMWE MULEFWAYE EKALE FYE TONDOLO, UMUNTU ALEMONAWILA UBUTEKO.

  43. There we go again, washing dirty linen in public. Why can’t government bring to book those who are involved in the Zambian airways scandal with an intention save their airline. Don’t throw away the baby with the bath water. Zambia man

  44. RB is right on this one. Zambian Airways and the post got aways with the huge debt because Levy was alive, since Levy is not here to defend them that’s why they are in this mess. If Levy was alive today Zambian Airways will still be running and the post won’t be writing about RB and Dora as they do today. RB is not best leader but he don’t wash down the debt Zambian airways has. Let’s be fair for once.

  45. Much as RB has his own weakness Fred has gone too far. We know that no bank worth its salt would give a loan over geared and overtrading company. ZA was surviving on borrowed money rather money generated from. They borrowed new debt to pay old ones. All these loans were obtained by conniving and coercion. Apparently, why target banks which survive on Govt favours and controls e.g FBZ, Investrust, DBZ, ZSIC. Why not Barclays, Zanaco, Citibank etc.
    Govt institution have been ransacked by Fred. ZA and the Post owe huge amounts to ZRA, NAPSA, NAC, ZESCO, LWSC. Can’t you sycophants smell a rat. Or is it just hatred for RB by devil worshpers.

    • RB what? We need the post more than we need RB. At least we have seen the results of their work. We dont hate RB , its just that he is not being ‘ president’ in his dealings. Let him investigate the ZA saga quietly. He should also with the Dora saga seriously than he is doing. By the way do you have facts about the Post debts.

    • WHAT WE WANT IS A NESPAER WHICH TELLS US WHAT IS WRONG ABOUT RB AND WHAT IS WRONG WITH SATA AND WHAT IS WRONG WITH HH. WE DON’T WANT A PAPER THAT HAS LOST ITS MISSION AND IS PURSUING MEMBE’S PERSONAL INTERESTS. WE WANT AN INFORMED CITIZENRY NOT A COUNTRY OF MUMEMBE PARROTS. FRED MUMEMBE PLEASE PAY YOUR DEBTS AKASUBA KAWA.

  48. You pipo when are going to learn.Zambia is for all Zambians.The Post has to dues for doing

    business but the Govt also should listen.Trading in insults will not solve any problem.
    Be wise guys lets move forward.

    • YOU ARE VERY RIGHT, BUT ZAMBIANS HAVE LEARNT INSULTS FROM MUMEMBE AND WE DON’T SEEM TO KNOW ANYTHING ELSE. THANKS FOR BEING DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE MUMEMBE PARROTS HE HAS SPAWNED IN ZED.

  49. I like the story but the problem is a few people have come out to support RB`s statement what could be the matter? Moreover can someone please tell me what RB has achieved in his 4 months period of holding office? How can we assess his achievemnet? Economist please help?

  50. It amazes me on how dull some devil( Fred) worshipers can be. Fred bastardizes their thinking knowing most of his readers are nothing but gullible fellows who have no discernible sense of judgment. If Fred is wrong let the law visit him as much as it will visit dora. Fred collects VAT, PAYE NAPSA and he refuses to remit. He is just a thief as his friend Chiluba. He owes billions of Kwacha to Govt institution. Pay back that money. We need it for medicines, our schools, etc. You bought LPM but you can’t always have your way.

    • Number 50, are you sure about what you are talking about?? Get your facts correct before you start accusing Fred and the post of not remiiting taxes.

  51. You guys if Welensiki our colonial master came back today he would cry,not because of any thing good but the slow progress were archiving.Zambia does not have a problem of credit crunch but poor management.They all behave like they fell from the same guava tree.Stop politics of just talking .Look at the exchange rate do something.

  52. $29 million may seem a lot particularly if presented in the context of opportunity cost for what it could have been used for ie schools, roads, hospitals etc (bear in mind that the money would still not have ended in these sectors as most likely bonuses to Bank Managers and National Airports Management – Lol). Point is the airline is required for ZED and like anywhere else where airlines are struggling, Governments are coming in to save them. Not so long ago Italia Airlines was in the doldrums with Hundred of millions in euro debt – the government had to do everything to assist and thus the merger with Lufthansa. The main thing required by Zambian Airways is to restructure the loans

  53. I find it rather ridiculous that the president should comment on this matter the way he has, especially considering the fact that there are state prosecutors and lawyers who are entrusted with establishing the facts. If the documents against Mr. Magande are available, why doesn’t he just leave it up to the courts of law? Had it been the late LPM, I would even have taken such comments seriously because he was a lawyer but RB has no legal procuration to address legal matters. I think he is demeaning his presidency.

    • you right Nine Chale. Why can’t Nyama Soya bring corrupt leaders to book instead he is trying to please ka chiluba who has become so pompous as to think he is the annointed one. RB leave Mmembe and the POST alone, OUT come 2011

  57. Fred find business strategy and not political strategy to turnaround you ailing companies.
    Your friends dubiously acquired ZA. They were lawyers involved in negotiating a Management By out of Mine air. I thought you insulted HH because he negotiated the sale of that Hotel in Livingstone and later HH was made a mere board chairman, not shareholder. Plus you also insulted HH coz of the former lima bank house he is living in. What kind of Corporate governance are you applying to the NCHITO’S. Nchito was singlehandedly picked by levy to amass wealth on task force. Is this the new tendering process? KANO NGA EBO.

  58. There is nothing demeaning about the president talking about this issue. Those who are well informed will agree with me that he is not the first president whether in Zambia or world to have commented on how company directors/owner are defrauding the public coffers. During Enron and worldcom sagas Bush commented vehemently. Obama has warned executives in banks against abuse. Those scandals which rocked the UK in the 90 and early 2000 there were comments from the PM. On bailing out. How do you bail out a company with no turn around survival strategy? Bailed out SHOULD be on the industry as a whole not individual rogues.

  59. Gentlemen the debt is indeed high, but we seem to miss a line from what RB said: “the Post which has been attacking me will only be closed by the huge debt owed to various public institutions”. So what is the real drive here? Is it payment of the debt or closure of the Post? With the Post incapacitated because I believe it will not go away, the mice will come out to play!!

  60. There you go dementing President could you not have chosen a different forum for your announcement. sad indeed for Zambians to have such a hopeless leader.Give hope not fear. the very opposite of Obama

  63. There are pieces that don’t fit inthis story.Is the post that owes the money or fred m’membe and colleagues?Indeed the debt is way too colossal that we the people will not let it flow just by.The intiative of investing in our own airline is most welcome but it seems someone didn’t calculate their risks right ,And magande,what were you thinking washing your dirty underwear in public?We rspect you the role played in the master plan set by our greatest of all leader Dr L.P mwanawasa.But even judas iscariot had to pay for his sins.So magande ,”the law will visit you”.And lastly,RB ,reduce on your tours,that is supposed to coincide with the last 1 year of your reign.

  65. What does Mmembe own to offset such a huge debt? Does he think that his fellow loud mouths PF will help him out. The debt is just too huge for his type. Having being used to make accusations on others, he cant fathom that he is now on the receiving end. The guy has not yet come to terms with the reality of his situation. I am untouchable he say, how long, how long sir?

  66. Mangande is too engrossed in his make belief luxuries to contemplate that a dark cloud is hanging over his head. Mmembe is just too demented to face reality until he faces 100 days in prison with many joly fellows too happy to have him as a mate, a bed mate.

  67. SATA believes he is too clever to be affected. After forcing his too shallow colleagues to get loans of over K90million each and pocketing the K500million Euro funds, he feels justified for all the ‘ sacrifices made’.

  68. The dark cloud hanging over Mmembe is too heavy to bear and understandably, he chooses to live in denial. The guy is too broke and so indebted that he cant believe that all this is real. He will soon wake up!

  69. Independent media is crucial for the development of democracy, no denying about that, but this should be attended with professionalism and ethical practice. The best and most productive times of the POST were when the were above reproach as far as professionalism and practice of ethics were concerned. Mmembe by pride through these outside and pretended that the achievement made by POST was entirely as a result of him, the man Mmembe. Pride comes before a fall and how well this lesson will apply to Mmembe.

  70. The last time I checked the story was that, Magande was not going to cancel the debt, but allow the Zedian Airways to restructure the debts servicing. Further comments reserved to heare what Magande will say.
    on Bye Election, RB is lying to himself that he can win the B-Election to be held in Shaka’s constituency and that of magande.

  71. Mmembe must have personally contributed to SATA’s campaign seeing the extent of the desperate attempt to secure an illegal bail out.

  72. HK In what land of fantancy are you living in to dream that Mangande can win a bye election. Mangande just managed to win (doubtfull) by forcing issues through the courts.
    Please let us handle issues with at least imaginable estimations.

  73. Only assets under colateral can be used to liquidate the loan under the law. The Bank can also go ahead and recover the money from the Assets held by the borrowing Company or individual if this was stipulated in the borrowing agreement. I doubt Membe & Nchito Bros. borrowed the money in their individual capacities.
    So it is like floging a dead horse. The ZA debts will die with ZA..finish…

  74. This issue of THE POST and ZAMBIAN AIRWAYS is getting out of hand .MMEMBE has the power of the media[post newspaper] and he is able to twist the issue in his favour .What more with that ignorant FRANK BWALYA of RADIO ICENGELO and illiterate SATA yapping nonsence everyday and is being covered by the POST .Even when MMEMBE will commit murder ,his post-drank readers will never agree.Let HIM face the LAW because no one is above the LAW.

  75. HK How can a business with a debt so huge that it could not afford to buy its own planes except the inhereted kites? Their situation was like a man who was living on borrowed time. A man who is a walking dead. He is dead but still walking.

  77. 72: encourage your RB to expel Magande, Shaka, Masebo and many other former levy’s allies, then you see the MMD tumble off the Lusaka rural and Central province.

  78. HK That is an unachievable wish, out of reality. You are saying if all of us borrow money using fake business firms then THAT IS IT, we have no obligation as individuals to account for the money? Please I am sorry but that is wishful thinking.

  79. HK Mangande even now knows that that attempt to even decide stand as a presidential candidate was forced on him by the desperate situation he was in. His whole body and outlook millitates againsnt the notion that he could be a President. Some people you just need to look at their faces and that is it.

  80. Big nations always try to prop up national airlines or the bigger commercial ones operating within their sovereignity.

    Nothing strange about trying to Keep Zambian airways running. Find out how much many was being made by the various businesses and people via flying Zambian Airways and then add the value of lifestyle given to zambians to travel. Believe you me it is more $29million. Secondly , only Zambians are suffering as a result of this mess. This Govt and those of you who imagine the individuals at Zambian Airways are selfish are misguided because we are now again at the mercy of others like SAA or Kenya Airways or even the very private Zambezi express. Protecting companies is ok

  81. Big nations always try to prop up national airlines or the bigger commercial ones operating within their sovereignity.

    Nothing strange about trying to Keep Zambian airways running. Find out how much many was being made by the various businesses and people via flying Zambian Airways and then add the value of lifestyle given to zambians to travel. Believe you me it is more $29million. Secondly , only Zambians are suffering as a result of this mess. This Govt and those of you who imagine the individuals at Zambian Airways are selfish are misguided because we are now again at the mercy of others like SAA or Kenya Airways or even the very private Zambezi express. Protecting companies is ok

  82. I just came back from home and the Dora Siliya saga is bad but the truth has not yet been revealed. What I found amusing is that The Post editor is castigating Dora (I’m not siding with the woman) and yet Zambian Airways hadn’t paid VAT for a while (I believe the Editor and the formser state prosecutors are shareholders and they must’ve known this. If one lives in a glass house……. One has to be clean, super clean if one is to point fingers at others.

  83. You seem not to understand and confused with the vengeance on Membe. Membe is not my favourite person, but Rupia and his team is completely wrong on trying to tie the failure of ZA on him. Let the audit be done, and Membe and fellow shareholders have called for it. DORA is going in, if not after the tribunal, then when Rupiya is booted out. The POST will remain intact.

  85. Let those that stay in glass houses not throw stones. That I believe is wise advice even if coming from a dagga smoking fellow.

  86. HK Just be honest, Mmembe is not a clean GUY. He might not have been in this situation if he had not invested in ZA. Greed caught up with him and he thought by investing in ZA he was spreading his wings to safe land. No he is jumped out of a Plane thinking he was carrying a parachute only to discover he was carrying a load of cement. Down he goes.

  87. the magande issue is not news. he went public on the bailing out of the zambian airways well before nyama soya came into office. so what is he telling us now? we want the presence of the president in economic positive way and not the direction he has taken. shame

  91. Interesting, so RB dropped Magande coz he is scared of him? What a useless presido we have! Afterall Magande was going to be a far much presido than this flog faced man.

  92. Now cadres have started confiscating mealie meal from traders for allegedly overcharging. Who said UNIP was dead?

  93. Viva The Post. The people’s mouthpiece. Mmembe feels and expreses what we ordinary zambians feel and cannot otherwise utter.
    Bwezani is reacting to the heat and this is a good thing. tho he is putting the presidency in disrepute.
    He is also campaigning for Magande. Magande has a vision for Zambia and Zambians. Bwezani thinks his sons and himself. His day is coming and fast. he doesnt know all worship him for the power he now has. He has no real freinds unlike king Fred. he shall die of a shock the day he leaves statehouse.
    He is so shockingly childish.

    • Yes ..you can get a street cleaning job in Zambia. Just go there and they will be happy to have you as graduate street sweeper. Such jobs are available in zambia ..dont waste your time go to Zambia.

  95. I need to get something clear here: Is M’membe the Post, or is the Post Newspaper M’membe? Then what the heck is the problem with Fred as a shareholder of ZA doing some explaining over the hundreds of billion Kwacha that is owed to the Zambian people! How many times has his editorial called Richard Sakala , uh a thief for stealing a typewriter (worth hundreds of Kwacha) form PHI. Hey Sakala went to jail for that matter. Now thank you Scribes at the Post for the juicy stories about theiving Siliya, we appreciate it. We would further appreciate your long articles on Zambian Airways. Running an Airline is more than pen and paper.

  96. I think this type of politics Mr Banda is starting is y we r still hang up wit chiluba and not going any where. i personally dont think it was wrong of Magande to think of debt cancelling for ZA. Many real zambians, by that i mean, people wanting to see a better zambia would agree that ZA made us a bit proud, not much but proud we were. Offcourse am not saying that debt shouldnt be paid, but if we, the people can do something about, y not cancel it. it would have been the olive branch zambian investors having been dying to see since the Kaunda era of Zambia 1st! so Mr Banda ( Mr President) i think politicising issues isnt the way to go.

  97. I need to get something clear here: Is M’membe the Post, or is the Post Newspaper M’membe? Then what the heck is the problem with Fred as a shareholder of ZA doing some explaining over the hundreds of billion Kwacha that is owed to the Zambian people! How many times has his editorial called Richard Sakala , uh a thief for stealing a typewriter (worth hundreds of Kwacha) form PHI. Hey Sakala went to jail for that matter. Now thank you Scribes at the Post for the juicy stories about theiving Siliya, we appreciate it. We would further appreciate your long articles on Zambian Airways. Running an Airline is more than pen and paper.

  99. Knowing Fred, he is getting what he wanted. He wants zedians to see (or not see as the case may be) the true colors of the current leadership so that come next elections MMD is gone. I can predict that the MMD will not rule beyond 2011 and they will be buried in the east like the late UNIP. Despite all the staff that is going on, the truth will always always triumph. Watch this space!!!

    • Spot on. Nyama Soya is so predictable. Even the sacking of Shaka and Chibombamilimo, I think they wanted it and Nyamasoya played right in their ring. I am starting to be embarassed for the presido we have. I swear the late Chama Chakomboka, God bless his soul, would have been a better president than this malabishi.

  100. Dear god, Please save zambia, definately things are not well and we can no longer pretend. We your people are so weak and can not fight the almighty, save us oh god we plead. we have nobody to look after us. we are orphans. help us all god. AMEN

  101. President Banda just exhibited bad leadership. Zambian airways was heavyly in debt, but that shouldn’t have deterred the government from bailing them out and appointing professionals to take charge of the airline. He didn’t mention to his hypnotic audience or did he forget, that other businesses that depended of the airline’s operations also suffered. He must be covering his back. Blaming Magande isn’t going to solve economic problems of the nation.

  102. New revelations indicate that the strongest opposition political party in Zambia is the UPND as it has 22 MP represenation in Parliament while the PF/Undereducate follows in 3rd with 19 non-rebel MPs since the rebel MPs are either part of the MMD, the governing political party, or UPND or independent as the PF/Undereducate leader Undereducate Michael C. Sata has chased the rebel PF MPs from his own disorganised PF/Undereducate political party.
    Thus, the would be joining of Mr Shakafuswa, Chibombamilimo, Magande, Maureen Mwanawasa (Hon. Doc., ?), etc to the UPND Team in 2011 just before the tripartite elections will probably see the reshaped U-Team forming a new and best GRZ forall Zambians.

    • That data is just an analysis based on what I have been reading. I have been out of touch with my intelligence providers for some time because school issues have become tricky. However, I will be back on track in 3 or so weeks and will be able to get enough information with good credibility.

      Whatever the case, I believe that Zambians will see a serious force in the youthful UPND very soon as president HH has already officially launched the U-Team’s campaign to form GRZ in 2011. This data is in the press and not speculation.

  105. we are being taken back to some of the kk era and the full of chiluba period , is this the reason FTJ supported akulu mpuno? God in 2011 give us a Moses to delivery us from this messy

  106. This is the most sickening childish behaviour I have ever heard coming from a whole entire head of state. If Rupiah is joking, all his dirty linen will sooner than later be lined up in public for all to see, and there is a lot of it we know.

  107. I am wondering why does it have to be the post that was campaigning for Magande, i thought Maureen is the one who mentioned Magande as one who Mwanawasa had wanted.And all the post did is to report. I think Rupaih has a problem.I think he also should differiate between Post and Membe as well as Zambian Airways from individuals. Individual are not the company.
    By the way Magande worked Very well as Minister and there was progress but am not seeing progress with our Presido. May be with time will see.Am woundering also why has he fired the two deputy minister were they speaking against him or were they not doing the job right.MMD seems to be disorganised these days they spaek against each oth

    • Magande is said to be getting ready to challenge RB for MMD presidency so what Banda is doing is trying to bring down Magande before the convention. On corruption I think RB is more corrupt than Magande otherwise how does he (RB) explain his association with VJ, Chiluba, Mulongoti, Tetamashimba and so forth.

    • President RB Banda is just trying to destroy the chances of both Mrs Maureen Mwanawasa and Mr Magande N from leading the MMD in 2011 as he is strengthening his position to lead MMD in 2011 presidential elections. This is sadly not the best way to do it for he is weaking MMD, but I am glad that he is simply helping the UPND Team to gain more strength as people notice what M”membe’s real aims are in his POST newspaper editorials and his support for the Undereducate.

  110. Whatever happened , i fear for the Nchito brothers these guys are going to jail over mine air services deal. They have no neqwspaper for themselves to get enough public sympathy that Membe might get, Membe successfully blackmailed LPM unfortunately he miscalculated during the run up to the last Elections and cast a wrong widely publicised ballot. The post is asking Laz to be part of these investigations but E. Banda the LAZ president is a shareholder in MNB the law firm at the centre of this Saga. My prayer is if Nchiti goes in Membe should not be too lucky because he is the cause of all this mess

  112. “The President says he was not there when Post Newspaper Editor, Fred M’membe, and his colleagues borrowed money to invest in the closed Airline.”

    ……and we say we have a president in Zambia???? we’ll be watching very keenly to see what happens to FTJ and his cohorts Mr President Sir. You really seem to loathe Magande

  113. Mr. President, when you are carrying out your duties, do not use your emotions to try and intimidate people. What i saw on ZNBC Main News was nothing but an arrogant President who started his tenure in the name of being humble and reasonable only to turn out to be on this verge to serious dictatorial tendencies.

    Mr. Banda, you will fall sooner than you went up. Stop being advised wrongly. Sometimes you need to use you own insight and not what bootlickers are telling you. I am afraid, when the name Magande came out of your mouth and how you claimed that Post Newspaper was trying to sell Magande to the electorate. To me it came out as your punishing Magande and the those aligned to him.

  115. Fred Membe ni spoiler wa fitu get him to the gallows. he has no regard for others. Wedidn’t know his record was also dented. Get the man. Muntu umo wamusebanya, simply because his an editor of a paper. He has been using that to weaken his enemies. Please learn to do un to others that you would want them to do to you, simple. you can’t get it on both ways.

  116. We should always discuss realy issues.Let the security wing investigate the affairs of ZA just like the tribunal set up for Siliya.

  117. we as zambians should learn to understand to tackle the causes and not the effects of a problem, finger pointing from one side to the other does not solve problems. some issues have been there defore RB and he shall leave them. mmeembe should learn not to attack people so relentlessly, but rather gather all the evindence and print, then let the populace judge. every person has a breaking point, whether RB or mmeembe himself. he should tell the people how he allowed ZA to engange in all this questionable behaviour since he was an interested pary, not to insult the very people who would have bailed it out.

  118. I think our President has very wrong advasers.He just showed how messed up he has been when he publicly sounded so hash that even the people who wants to see his behaviour wen sad were happy.

    • Ba Muze, please realise that it has been the post that has been consistently publishing all these half truths, the point is that, ZA is owing, what the dierctors should do is come up with a planned way forward, not for the post to keep on attacking RB and Dora. the issue is that ZA is still owing. had it not been for the post articles, i very much doubt that RB would have given this response. you will appreciate that ihis investigation covers not only the ZA, but also BOA, finance ministry, investrust, DBZ, inter-market etc., why are all the other players not as loud as the post and why is the post not mentioning them.

    • Ba Muze, you should appreciate that it has been the post that has consistently written about RB and Dora. when the man says otherwise, you shout blue murder. the investigation includes BOZ, DBZ, finance ministry, investrust, intermarket etc, why is the post quite on all the players, why concentrate only on RB and Dora. we must learn to consider all angles before passing judgement, the post has become very good at ignoring all the other angles to suite themselves and consider the same to fix others. the truth is that ZA is owing, the sooner that own up the better.

  119. I didn’t know that this beef was coming from the election issues, can we please learn to burry some issues and move with our lives…

    • the issues are not coming up from the elections, the issues are coming from the consistent twisting and hiding of the full picture by the post. if they had decided as shareholders to call all other parties involved to plan a way to save ZA, we would not be talking about this issue, it would have been solved. instead they decide to divert attantion bey attacking RB and Dora. the same truth they talk about should be accorded to everbody. they accused KK of stealing so much money, the money has never been found, they accused KK of killing pipo, these allegations have never been proved, nor have they ever set the record straight or apologised.

  120. I am a zambian but i don’t think RB is my president. This is a wrong chap. Fellow zambians,this is not the time this man should be talking about Magande. RB should never compare himself with Ng’andu Magande. Look at his poor reasoning, if magande had remained Finance minister the economy could not have become as bad as it is with this Stumbeko man. Despite RB’s telling cadres about unproven intentions that Magande had, Magande should be appreciated. RB has no vision for our country, this man is a very dull character please. Is there any way to immediately remove this chap from power?b4 its late?

    • Magande was until recently a minister, he refused to pass on the benefits of cheap fuel imported into the country saying that the kwacha had lost its value, it did not loose so much as we have seen recently. now that he is a backbencher, he is advising government to buy cheaply now and keep the price down to mitigate against the kwacha, the same reasoning he refused to accept when he was minister. he once said that increasing salaries for ministers was a drop in the ocean, what has changed about this man today. the truth will come out and you will see who is a better human being, no one is perfect.

  121. let Urgly RB show us documents that Magande wanted to write off the debt of Zambian airways and his thinking is just like the way he looks I wonder what that wife of his wanted from that old frog.

    • dr true, let us debate more maturely, attacking RB’s wife will not sort out the ZA issue, nor will the post attacking RB and Dora do that, we should all push both the post and government to tell us the whole truth so that we can all come up with informed decisions. that is the only way we can move forward. even if RB and Dora resign today, the issue of ZA will still be hanging. had it not been for judge Zikonda, even ZSIC would have given ZA US$4,000,000.00 dollars of tax payer money. let us tackle the issues at hand and not the bystanders, in any case Tandi is not in government.

  122. ONE CAN EVEN WONDER WHY A LEADER CAN START ATTACKING A MEDIA BODY INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH THE LIKES OF SATA HIS MAJOR OPPONENT, HIM HE GOES TO A PRIVATE FIMOFIMO.ANYWAY AS A SAYING GOES’A COWARD HYENA (RB) LIVES LONGER.

    • Zoe, you should realise that the problem is not mmeembe attacking RB or vise versa, the problem is that ZA is owing money and the post are shareholders, all parties especially the post should exercise maximum restraint and not to insult others under the guise of free media in the country. RB as an individual has as much right as you to defend himself from anybody whether he is president or not. the post must concentrate on resolving the problems their shareholding in ZA has brought. why are they not showing the same enthusiasm with regards the mines retrenching over 5000 employees, it just shows that they are an interested party.

    • And you want to pretend that this saga did not arise out of the outing of Dora Siliya as a corrupt and lying fimofimo in collaboration with RP’s son Henry. You can shuffle and twist but you are not going to muddy the waters. The issue here is about ZAMTEL. The Post does not owe any public institution any money. The Post got a $3m loan from Investrust Bank to invest in ZA. Investrust is a private bank………and it is not gone into a fit of tantrums. RP and his supporters like yourself will end up with a lot of egg on your faces. Zambia has changed and we will pursue public thieves to the end of the world be they in office or not.

  124. Am sure it wasnt going to be Magande’s decission ALONE to cancell the debt. He was to bring it before parliament and they were going to give it a yes or no vote. Guys,correct me if am wrong. Saving ZA was also going to be a good thing for the country. We need our own airline in the country

  125. R.B just ensure that you finish off these guys once and for all. If you dont they come and finish you off like FTJ.

  127. If the Fred group were lent our money without proper colateral & all due diligence by semi GRZ organs, Prez should be more concerned about these corrupt organs than the borrowers.

  128. Its called “Trashing your opponent” . RB is dead scared of Magande, and Zambians are not dull.This issue will come to haunt RB in 2011. He wants to stand as MMD candidate again after he said he only wanted one term.Power is sweet and corrupting. If Magande was in charge the kwacha would NOT loose value as fast it is now, Guys, by Dec 2010 the dollar will be K10, 000 if not more. If RB is wshing dirty GRZ linen in public but making it personal, its going to go to parliament for a vote. Look now Zambia has no airline, and you still want toursim to grow, HOW …. ???

    • Zambia has not had an airline since Zambia Airways. There has been Zambia Express and now Zambian Airways. These are not national carriers so don’t get confused just because they have ZAMBIAn in their logo. Similarly British Airways is not a British national airline. Please get your facts right. You do not need to have a national carrier to promote tourism. Zambian Airways was a regional airline so how did it promote tourism? One would argue that it did not because all visitors who used it had to go to South Africa or Tanzania first! It benefited Zambians who go shopping to Joburg. Efflux of FOREX!

  129. WHAT MAGANDE HAD INTENDED TO DO WAS GENUINE. ZAMBIAN AIRWAYS WAS NOT GOING TO BE THE FIRST AIRLINE TO BAIALED OUT BY THE GOVERFNMENT. JUST IN JANUARY, AIR TANZANIA WAS BAILED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT COS THEY COULD NOT JUST MEET THE COST OF AVIATION FUELS. NOW A LOT OF ZAMBIANS HAVE BEEN OFFLOADED ON THE STREET. ON THE OTHER HAND THE DIRECTORS OF ZAMBIAN AIRWAYS ARE STUBOORN AND SELFISH; THEY SHOULD HAVE ASKED THE GOVT NICELY FOR A BAIL OUT. THEY WANTED TO BE A GOVT ON THEIR OWN. SO THEY MUST BE SORTED OUT FOR THIS-ARREST THE DIRECTORS OF ZAMBIAN AIRWAYS FOR CAUSING MISERY TO ZAMBIANS AND FOR MONEY LAUNDERING

  130. Mmembe had no bone to chew with RB till the day RB declared interest in the presidency…..we all knew what magande was up to as far as Zambian Airways is concerned. That POWERFUL lobbying mmembe put up for magande was purely for selfish reasons.

    This man keeps throwing stones at people and then hides behind MISA ,TIZ, and the rest of his relatives in NGOs. I still remember the words of NEO when he told of mmembe and his blackmail tactics…of late he has been on about his ability to publish confidential documnets to even cause a run on some banks…..!!! This man is sick.

  132. Rigger … Do u think this GRZ has the stomach to start a national carrier ? By saving Zambian Airways would have benefited Zambia, say after a bail-out GRZ changes the debt into equity say 35% and will have a say in operations hence make it the national carrier. being regional, most tourists fly into JHB then connect to L/Stone or Lusaka, and this was the role Zambian Airways played. It was good business SAA to pay ZA to fly into Lusaka twice a day and L/stone, now it will problematic, this will affect tourism … loss of jobs, etc. Most Govts are helping out companies now e.g. US GM.GRZ has lost an opportunity to play role in the industry due to pettiness of RB.

  133. I’m NOT defending the shareholders here … national issues at stake here. Now we will have Kenyan Airways or Tanzanian Airways flying into Lusaka with smiling Zambians from shopping in Joburg … we hold our heads in Shame. If the owners of this ZA were not Zambians RB would have helped them e.g. mines windfall tax cancellations. We are fast to help foreign companies and our own are dying ….

  134. Fellow Zambians, the parties involved are ZA (a private company), government and the post. the post is the investor in ZA, if the post as an invetsor has wronged, they must be judged as such. RB is not governement. if RB or government has wronged, they should also be judged equally.

  135. R.B, soldier on.Post is not zambia.Please expose them and dont be afraid.Let the Zambian pipo knw da truth.We r behind u.

    • Hello i saw this coming long time in 1667, as i looked thru my kaleidoscope. MMembe arrested for percuniary advantage in Zedian airways

  138. #129! U HAVE HIT A POINT! BUT HOW DO U ASK NICELY? I THINK GOV JUST SEEM DE SITUATION EN COME EN PUT A CONDITION 4 THE BAIL OUT! ITS NOT LIKE GOV DOES CHARITY!

  139. Running a country is not a one man show. You cant go about destroying people like Magande that has so far proved that he was indeed working at the Ministry of Finance unlike some other Ministers.

    I for one I am ready to protest and get RB impeached for lack of leadership. Let us not wait for another 2 years.

Comments are closed.

Read more

Local News

Company

Trending

Categories

© Lusaka Times

Discover more from Lusaka Times-Zambia's Leading Online News Site - LusakaTimes.com

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading