THE National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) had in 2008 applied for 200 hectares of land to the Ministry of Lands before it eventually bought 1,500 acres from Meanwood Development Properties Limited, contrary to assertions that the ruling MMD used the purchase of the land to raise money for the party.
And MMD has denied allegations that the US$15 million land transaction between National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) and Meanwood Development Properties Limited was an attempt for the ruling party to fraudulently fundraise for its campaigns.
The revelations that in fact NAPSA had applied to the Ministry of Lands for land long before it purchased 1,500 acres of land from Meanwood Development Properties Limited dispels assertions that the MMD and President Banda used the purchase of the land to raise money for the ruling party’s campaigns.
The MMD and President Banda have been accused of influencing NAPSA to purchase 1,500 acres of land from Meanwood Development Properties Limited at a cost of US$15 million to raise money for campaigns this year.
The land in question was subjected to valuation by Pam Golding Properties before the transaction could be completed.
According to a the letter from then NAPSA director general A M Chibumba addressed to then Minister of Lands Bradford Machila in 2008 and obtained by the Sunday Mail, NAPSA had applied for land at Baobab School area.
Dr Chibumba in his letter said NAPSA was applying for 200 acres of land adjoining the Baobab College on Kafue Road in Lusaka.
“I make reference to the meeting held in your office with the undersigned on Wednesday 16th January 2008 and the contract signing ceremony between NAPSA and National Housing Authority (NHA) held on December 4, 2007 at which you echoed your commitment to support NAPSA in the foregoing subject matter,” reads part of the letter.
The letter also reads that NAPSA has planned a massive investment in real estate projects development with an initial start in Lusaka before expanding to other towns.
NAPSA has said the transaction followed all the procedures and investment guidelines in acquiring land from Meanwood.
NAPSA has denied any form of external influence from anywhere, including President Banda in the transaction.
“We wish to categorically state that the issue of any external influence from anywhere, including the Republican President does not arise at all. Further, the board and management of NAPSA operate within the confines of corporate governance structures with no influence from the President or indeed any other external bodies,” reads a statement by NAPSA dated March 9, 2011.
Mr Machila confirmed last night that he received a letter from NAPSA applying for 200 acres at Baobab School area along Kafue Road.
Mr Machila said the Ministry of Lands could not offer the said land to NAPSA because the land had been allocated to Legacy Holdings as developers at the time.
And the Gemstone and Allied Workers Union of Zambia has castigated Patriotic Front Kabwata Member of Parliament Given Lubinda for claiming that there has never been any application from NAPSA to acquire land for property development.
GAWUZ president Sifunilo Nyundu said in an interview yesterday that Mr Lubinda should have done his research properly before alleging that NAPSA had flouted procedure in acquiring 1,500 acres from Meanwood Development Properties Limited.
Mr Nyundu said Mr Lubinda’s statement was careless and meant to mislead the nation on the purported illegal transaction.
Meanwhile, MMD acting national secretary Chembe Nyangu said the allegations are a total fabrication by some people whose motive is to scandalise President Banda and the party.
Mr Nyangu said in an interview on March 12 that the MMD was not aware of the business transaction between NAPSA and Meanwood Development Properties Limited.
Mr Nyangu stated that it is grossly unfair to the MMD and President Banda to be dragged into a business transaction that happened without the knowledge of the party.
“The position of the party is that we are unaware about that transaction and at no time did President Banda or the party hold a meeting to coerce NAPSA to buy land from Meanwood Development Properties Limited.
We know that those accusing the MMD are trying to get at the President,” Mr Nyangu said.
He said NAPSA and Meanwood Development Properties Limited had agreed on their transaction and that the two institutions did not consult the MMD because the party was not part of the transaction.
He said it is not correct for people to continue insinuating that the MMD is corruptly abusing parastatals such as NAPSA.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
No smoke without fire \:d/
Eh eh nambala !
The land NAPSA applied for had already been allocated. NNAPSA never showed interest to apply for land elsewhere in Lusaka. They never attempted to follow up with the Ministry of land and ask for another piece of land. Why?
Besides, the 200acres land application does not take away from the fact that their land procurement transaction with meanwood was illegal.
Why has NAPSA not offered any explanation on the exorbitant price they paid to meanwood?
By the way I offer no comment on statements from MMD rented NGIs
PF is desperate..watch their space..!
Even in Lusaka to buy a piece of land for that price is fo.olisness. something is not right somewhere, heads will roll over this callous act of theft. These are heartless criminals that don’t give a hoot to millions of retirees that will never get to enjoy their hard earned pension money.
NAPSA,ZESCO,STAN CHART and MINES are this year’s major funders of MMD campaigns BUT NAPSA BOSS AND RUPIAH WILL DANCE PELETE OVER THIS SCAM.
BE PART OF THE REVOLUTION AS THE WIND OF CHANGE BLOWS.
SATA 2011 COME WHAT MAY.
No smoke without fire!!. MMD will stop at nothing to miuse our much earned tax payers money to fund their campaigns. we need to stop this disease. we need to move Zambia ahead and in PF and Sata , we can have hope to liberate this nation from plunderers.
Ba LT I SINCERELY REQUEST YOU TO DO AN ARTICLE ON THE ZAMBIAN EMBASSY IN BEIJING. I HAVE HEARD OF A FEW PROBLEMS IN ZAMBIAN EMBASSIES AROUND THE WORLD WHICH WHEN I TRAVELLED TO THOSE COUNTRIES I NEVER ENCOUNTERED AND SIMPLY WROTE THEM OFF AS EXAGGERATIONS. I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE WORK OF AN EMBASSY WHICH OF COURSE IS TO PROMOTE AND SAFEGUARD ZAMBIAN INTERESTS. BUT AS FOR THE EMBASSY IN BEIJING, THEY MAY BE DOING A GOOD JOB IN APPEASING THE TWO GOVERNMENTS CONCERNED BUT THEY ARE FAR BEHIND WHEN IT COMES TO ATTENDING TO ZAMBIAN CITIZENS. EVEN WHEN YOUR SITUATION IS DETERIORATING TO THAT OF A DESTITUTE THEY WILL NOT EVEN ASSIST YOU. I WONDER REALLY IF THESE PEOPLE AS ZAMBIANS EVEN HAVE HEARTS
THE PEOPLE WE HAVE THEIR DO NOT EVEN APPEAR QUALIFIED, THE LEVEL OF DIPLOMACY IN RESPONSES TO QUERIES IS EXTREMELY LOW, THE ATTITUDE YOU RECEIVE FROM THEM IS VERY UPSETTING AND YOU WONDER WHY THEY WILL TREAT A FELLOW ZAMBIAN LIKE A BEGGING DOG. AN EMBASSY SHOULD BE THE PLACE WE CAN LOOK FOR HELP AND ASSYLUM FROM OUR FELLOW ZAMBIANS. HOW CAN A DIPLOMAT GIVE YOU A RESPONSE SUCH THINGS DONT JUST HAPPEN THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT THEM WHEN YOU REQUEST INFORMATION? IN A DESPERATE SITUATION REALLY THESE ARE THE PEOPLE TASKED TO ASSIST YOU WITH LAWFUL EMERGENCIES AND THEY SAY TO YOU WE DO NOT ACT UNTIL WE GET PERMISSION FROM LUSAKA WHICH CAN TAKE WEEKS
Imwe Ba NAPSA you cant spend that amount of money. There is no way NAPSA can fail to get land from the Ministry of Land if they were seriously looking for land.
AFTER FURTHER INQUIRIES YOU ARE THEN TOLD THAT SORRY WE ARE ACTUALLY NEW AND DONT HAVE MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH THESE SITUATIONS. THESE NEW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR OVER A YEAR. YOU CAN IMAGINE AFTER ALL THESE FRUSTRATIONS I WAS EVEN ADVISED BY COLLEAGUES IN CHINA THAT THAT IS HOW THINGS ARE THERE. ONE GIRL WHO WAS STRANDED THEIR AFTER LOSING THE PARENTS AND DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL WAS TOLD THAT THE EMBASSY IS NOT EQUIPPED TO ASSIST HER WITH A TICKET HOME AND CAN ONLY COME IN TO HELP IF SHE IS A DESTITUTE. SHOULD SOMEONE COME WITH EVIDENCE OF BEING A PROSTITUTE BEFORE THEY CAN RECEIVE HELP SURE. I AM GLAD TO BE BACK IN AMERICA WHERE THERE IS A BIT MORE CIVILISATION, ALTHOUGH I DOUBT IF I WILL EVER BE ABLE TO ACCESS MY ACCOUNTS IN CHINA WITH THE LOW LEVEL OF COMPETENCE AT OUR EMBASSY
Lets face the reality.
The Zambian Embassy is not meant to help Zambians living or studying in that country NO NO NO.Not at all. They are meant to help nationals of their to have access to Zambia in whichever the condition.They are meant to arrange trips for politicians to visit.They are meant to help the bursaries committee pay students their monthly top ups.
They are not meant to help Zambian students handle their hardships, they cannot even accommodate a stranded zambian who goes to collect his ticket on his return home and has been delayed by them even for a week.They cant even ask him where he is spending his nights in the capital after travelling for 38 hours by train.They cannot even send a sweeper to hold a simple party to congratulate the graduating
graduating students especially that they are partriotic enough to decide go work for Zambia despite the peanuts. They dont even care about any mistreatment faced by students from school administrations. They dont even know that students are part and parcel of the development of the our economy. Students barely know their Ambassador. If you try to visit other country’s embassies,the Ambassador’s and counsellor’s offices are the warmest and most parental offices of all. More than the reception.This is a dream that will never be realized in a zambian mission abroad.
The Zambian Government should realize that,they know things on paper but students know things practically and through students alot concerning investments and other international issues eg agreements to be made between one…
between one country and Zambia,student can provide good and valued data to profit our Nations.
Oh my God,Still sleeping are those Diplomats.Well its not their problem but all pipo have their duties and responsibilities,meaning helping Zambians abroad is not indicated on their job responsibilities.WHO GIVES THEM? I FEEL SORRY FOR ANY STUDENT THAT TRAVELS TO CHINA FOR STUDIES. imagine if this is what those on bursaries face…it is even worse for self sponsoring students, for them the embassy even confesses that it doesnt know them and they are not its duty. As for the payments they always delay by minimum of 2 to 3 months and the excuse is that auditors are checking accounts.
Hey,one Ambassador once asked a first secretary;hey what problem has that student brought,we are so busy
we are so busy here and we have more important things to do.Not handing ****** students,its not our job.Actually that Ambassador is a lawyer by profession…..
Another Ambassador one of a kind was more than welcoming and he would not rest if he hears no voice of a student in a week.He would invite students give the counsel,update them about home,encourage them and try to handle their academic issues.So what,,no schools took Zambian students for granted just like students from Congo,Gabon etc.They study with one heart coz their embassies are their for them.Any unclear things a diplomatic car is parked at the school’s administration office.Only order is considered. But should it just be policy of ambassador or the other, if one individual is not ur relative of if ur relative is hated u get
u get a different service from the other. I am now in maryland and i will confess that even just on phone the case here is different. its sometimes slow but slightly more professional. in china???/ Zed Embassy ????????????????BIG NO.I WONDER i WONDER I REALLY WONDER .
We should be well informed anyway.
Zambian Embassies arent for Zambians on trips,on studies and on tour no.
Only for political pride and negotiations.VISA na fimo fimo
if you’re in a foreign country and need help or are in trouble, remember that if u r not a favoured politician or relative, it is better for you to look for the nearest zambian community than for the embassy who are an elite group of mafia
NAPSA THATS A LOT OF MONEY TO BE DECIDED ONLY BY THE DIRECTOR $15M NOT EVEN THE PRESIDENT CAN ALONE SACTION THAT.SO EXPLAIN WHO AT ZPPA AUTHORISED THAT DEAL WHICH PAPERS DATES DID YOU USE?
Sad situation in our Embassy indeed indeed. I wonder what training these people are given when they’re sent off. Are these people even vetted and what instructions are they given when they take off. Because this reflects badly on government and foreign affairs policy. The Minister should really reevaluate the standards and work ethics. Unfortunately from what am getting its like the Ministers are treated so well they can comprehend the damage
Who is the author of this one sided article? Because it was prepared in the speed of light pace it lacks substance. The Minister’s confirmation on having received the letter does not in any way pledge transparency in the eyes of potential plunder. After all this could have been a well planned move, buy time and roller blind people then emerge with what we’re seeing now. Something is surely portentous Ba NAPSA ukushita land pali K47, 000,000,000 aini mwebantu K47 Billion because umo nabeshibila ba NAPSA ni Lesa twafweni.
I want to refute claims that I ever (please mark the word EVER) planned to purchase 1,500 acres of land from Meanwood Development Properties Limited at a cost of US$15 million. My initial plan was to acquire 200 hectares of land at Baobab School area an application denied by the then Menstrual of Lands Mr. Bedford Umuchila in 2008. The Menstrual informed me that The Press-dent Mrs Ala Bi or sorry Master Ala Bi through Minwood Under-development Properties Unlimited had instead reserved special land valued at US$15 million mwalishiba fye efyo kateka aba namaka pa Zambia and because of ukumpatikisha I ended up diverting workers contributions into purchasing that white elephant of a land. Please forgive and nshaka bwekeshepo especially that ubuteko nomba bwala cinja
It’s because of such foolishness that I encourage all of you on this blog including those who have not yet registered but can influence to do so. There is so much s’tupidity in Rupiah’s rule that he together with Chiluba need to dance to the tune this year.
We can not allow this mediocrity to continue happening in this Country, not anymore. Enough is enough and Zambians cannnot stomach this s’tupidity from the MMD any much longer
This explanation still does not make sense and the application for 200 hectares of land will not make this other transaction transparent
1500 acres = 607 hectares of land.
If NAPSA needed a large piece of land, one would ask as to why they only applied for 200 hectares of cheaper land from the ministry of lands instead of going to buy 607 hectares at unjustified cost.
The application for land of 200 hectares indicates that is the amount of land NAPSA needed for its projects and not the dubious transaction they entered into.
This then calls for an investigation.
NAPSA you suck! you keep our hard earned money until we die only to mis use it that way? If you go to NAPSA to get a loan against your earning it will take centuries until retirement for you to get that money but you have the audacity of playing with our savings like that? You will one day answer you quarks.
One does not need to be a rocket scientist to see that sumthing is amiss here. 15mita dolaz, worth of bare land, no no no. These chaps are first class thieves. PERIOD!!!
he director has a small brain indeed. The Minister of Lands does not ive land. The powers are vested in the Commisioner to whom he should have applied for land. Its sad, he did the right thing in a wron way. Hence his openning up of this wrotten deal. He must also explain the coffee farm funding, a rotten deal. I encorage the post to look inot it and find oiut how NAPSA management stole monmey throuh this scheme! Shame to the shameless people
Ba PF, pure clay in their heads.
The problem with PF is that they cannot support any meaningful development because to them it means that they lose votes. They would rather see Zambians continue in poverty so that they use it as a tool to enter State House. They have absolutely no interest in matters that lift the living standards of Zambians.
No wonder UPND pulled out of the Pact, they tried to pump sense into PF that good politics is about improving the lives of Zambians not Chilufya going to State House. As we now know, UPND realised, albeit rather late, that their colleagues were looking at politics that would line their pockets.
As far as PF is concerned, this NAPSA thing has to be shot down at all costs because it is a cornerstone of the Sixth National Development Plan. In PF’s reasoning, if you want to shoot down RB, kill the Plan (all development plans for that matter), otherwise he will get another term of office – Gospel according to
Chilufya =PF.
Anyway, never mind the empty tins, sensible voters have picked up the plot thanks to all who have provided facts. Let PF cadres waste their precious time arguing and decampaigning themselves, it can only good for MMD. They have already done it with the demise of the Pact, so we encourage them to make more noises, pleeeaaaseeee!!!!
#28 H.H. Sata – We shall track the movements of this $15m. We know how it is going to move- Meanwood will pass this money to some insititution which will in turn make a donation to Thandiwe etc.
I think certain issues should not be seen or discussed with biases. The NAPSA deal concerns all working Zambians regardless of their political affiliation and thus should be analysed with that in mind. It is important that NAPSA fulfills its obligations to its members, both present and in the future. The decisions that the Fund Managers (or NAPSA Management) make will have a bearing on our future. NAPSA should therefore be careful with how they spend contribution income. One question they should have asked is whether buying land at that amount was the most viable investment.
H.H. Sata i would like to find out from you if from the bottom of your heart you believe that the National Development Plans are just like any policy documents that we have had in the past or are really going to be implemented? There is literally nothing that government can show to have been achieved from what was planned in the FNDP. By the way I am not politically affiliated but just interested in discussing these issues. Where is the money that was collected from the mineral royalties? Can’t that be used to fund the planned programmes rather than using NAPSA as the main source for development? I know that retirement funds play an important role in financing development but they should NOT be tied to certain projects as theirs is to realise profits from their investments.
When NAPSA builds houses they have to sell them at market prices, as the case is with the houses they built near Leopards Hill cemetry. How many Zambians can afford that? Can NAPSA therefore be used as an answer to the housing shortage in Zambia?
# 25 Happ Kafupi. . . Oh scandalous coffee farm purchase is on record with NAPSA’s scams. The ACC got involved and the owners of the farm Mubuyu Farms Limited got it back. Weather they got their purchase price back in full from the bogus sellers we don’t know. So this is not new to NAPSA it seems ni normal. . .
Village Country 30-32 Well said. This chap H.H Sata is not a Zambian. He is attacking PF instead of giving us reason why we should accept that the transaction is correct. Why should an entity like NAPSA pay $ 10,000.00 per acre for land they can easily acquire at a decent price. We should also look at how Meanwood has acquired its land in Lusaka.
#32 well said. NAPSA houses on Leopards Road and Nyumba Yanga are not an answer to the housing deficit of over 1.8million units. A one bedroom house at this site is going for K300million while the so called high cost 3 bedroom houses are going for K850million!On another note can Meanwood provide water, roads etc to Ndeke Housing development area now that they have raked in $15million from this scandalous deal.