the ZICA annual ball dinner at Zambezi Sun Hotel in Livingstone
MINISTER of Finance Alexander Chikwanda has said material trappings have never been and will not be a thrust in his life.
Mr Chikwanda has also accused some media organisations of using individuals to “indulge in obscenities and falsehoods” against him.
The minister was reacting to media reports quoting former Anglican priest Father Richard Luonde and Chikondi Foundation president John Mambo suggesting that he is double-dealing the Zambian government with the mines.
He said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday that he opted to accept President Sata’s call in 2011 to reinforce the pushing forward of the development agenda which is already transforming Zambia in a way not seen before.
“We are on course in making an impact on reducing or better even eradicating pervasive poverty that engulfs our nation. I hasten to say material trappings have never been and will not be a thrust in my life,” Mr Chikwanda said.
He said some people for reasons best known to themselves have carried out an “insidious” slander campaign against him during his reign as Minister of Finance without moral reference.
Mr Chikwanda said the latest spate is over the Value Added Tax (VAT) General Administration Rule 18, which is premised on distortion from a classified letter which talks about the uncertainty on the VAT rule.
[pullquote]“Some media practitioners have unassailable advantage of perpetuating crusades against individuals who are perceived as inconveniences to them, shamefully, at the behest of political allies whose mission may have crash-landed,” he said.[/pullquote]
He said the VAT rule affects all exporters across the industry and not the mining sector but the mines were mentioned as an example because they have the largest accumulated backlog of refunds, which under the law have to be refunded.
Mr Chikwanda said the delays on the refunds have largely been on account of the rule requiring documentation from importers outside Zambia.
The minister said he has desisted from pouring scorn on people who are being used by some media institutions to scandalise him for avoidance of giving “legitimacy to their insinuations and credibility to their unconstrained enthusiasm” to slander others.
“Some media practitioners have unassailable advantage of perpetuating crusades against individuals who are perceived as inconveniences to them, shamefully, at the behest of political allies whose mission may have crash-landed,” he said.
Mr Chikwanda said the media is a very potent channel of communication and those with power to manage it should do so objectively with moral constraint.
He said he is heading a ministry entrusted with an onerous task of spearheading the management of the economy and staff at his ministry work exceedingly hard in an environment with poor work culture.
Mr Chikwanda further said the spirit of togetherness and fellowship in Zambia is very entrenched and that space for ardent apostles and high priests of hatred and malice will get increasingly narrower.
The article summarises as “Some media practitioners have unassailable advantage of perpetuating crusades against individuals who are perceived as inconveniences to them, shamefully, at the behest of political allies whose mission have crash-landed. That the spirit of togetherness and fellowship in the PF is very entrenched and that space for ardent apostles and high priests of hatred and malice will get increasingly narrower”.
In so much as the PF wants to embrace as many people as possible from different regions, we are approaching a time when very soon some will be declared excess buggage.
M’MEMBE IS ON RECORD PRAISING PF FOR THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS IN THE COUNTRY AND WESTERN PROVINCE IN PARTICULAR, HE CHOOSES TO SEPARATE MR CHIKWANDA FROM ALL THESE PROJECTS DESPITE KNOWING THAT ITS THE SAME MAN OVERSEEING ALL THE FINANCES…. NOT LONG AGO M’MEMBE WROTE AN EDITORIAL PRASING CHIKWANDA WITH THE HOPE OF BUYING HIS LOYALTY. MMEMBE MUST REALISE THAT NOT ALL SOULS ARE AS WEAK AS WINTER’S ALL MASEBO. THE LIKES OF LUBINDA, GBM, CHIKWANDA, KAMBWILI, KAPATA,LUNGU AND MAIN OTHERS ARE ABLE TO STAND ON THEIR OWN..
Apostles and high priests of hatred and malice…lol
kabolalas!!!!! you can run but you hide…. surely this man has strings attached in mines and industries such as ZAMEFA!!!!
Not sure where you grew up from. Apollo enterprises has been doing business with the Mines since before I was born, it’s not a mickey mouse company.
Apollo continues to run as a Company and no evil hatred shall make Apollo stop doing business with the Mines.
i meant to say, you can run but you can’t hide…. surely this man has strings attached in mines and industries such as ZAMEFA!!! conflict of interest baba….
RUNNING A COMPANY IS NOT AN ABOMINATION BUT RUNNING A NATION WITH AN INCLINED MIND TOWARDS PERSONAL DESIRES CAN BE HURTING TO THE CITIZENS. EMPLOYEES IN THESE COMPANIES CAN NOT COUGH. ALL THEIR CRIES END UP SILENCED BEFORE THEY REACH THE STATE HOUSE…COZ THEY THINK GIVING MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF EMPLOYEES IS A DRIAN IN THE COMPANY’S REVENUE BASE…ALL THEY WANT IS SWINGING IN AN OFFICE CHAIR LOOKING COMPANY ABNORMAL PROFITS COLLECTED….AT THE EXPENSE OF SWEATING EMPLOYEES….
Alexander Mpombo. Chizungu chizungulusha mutu. So even you are not blind to membe’s evil agenda? Now do something about it while you can. Don’t just cast aspersions on the obvious. We know about the cartel but expect people like you Alexander to defeat Membe for us and not cry like us. At least you have a stick in thy hand. Kill the snake. You can’t hope to charm it. Oboola mpanda njoka izamuluma. PF used Membe as their sword and now their own sword will kill them. Term a lion to devour your enemies and when they are finished it turns on you as it’s next meal.
@OldRugsOUT, for those of us who understand financial accounting, Mickey Mouse has exceeded its earnings comparable to any period for the last 10 years! Mickey Mouse has only resurected because of close association with ABC. What happened to Minestone, Robert Hudson if you were there in that period as you say? These were bigger than Mickey Mouse! Note BY, RB content! I end there!
Preach it Reverand!
its not a secret anymore, ati there plans have c
rush landed. Membe,s and Summer Kabwamba. kikikikikikiliki. Indeed things have fallen apart
Mr Chikwanda expended all his energies accusing the media of indulging “in obscenities and falsehoods,” rather than clearing his name. Much as we too may have noticed that some media tabloids are advancing political agendas, we do not agree with how you have gone about to answer the listed accusations, namely: do you have business interests in the mines (are you one of their suppliers)? Kindly answer the question squarely and don’t bring in fresh accusations of your own.
I agree with you. Much as I have recently noticed that the Post is out to get this guy, he has not cleared any allegations leveled against him. It’s sheer evasiveness and diversion of attention at work here. And I don’t even see how our economy is headed to any good, as he claims
The question is: ARE YOU A SUPPLIER TO THE MINES, Mr Chikwanda?
Yes, that is the question. Stop beating about the bush.
Well spoken Chikwanda, tell off the Lunatics, to quote you, “We shall not take advise from the street, some uninformed and others informed.”
This is the same Chikwanda who received massive praise and the entire editorial dedicated to him for simply opening a bank (branch) in Kabompo or Zambezi. The way I know M’membe, he may have differed with Alex
Tomorrow it will be HH being mocked for losing the bye-election
Silly Zambian politics of attacking the messenger….if you have nothing to hide just defend yourself with facts eg. “I have no interests in ABC Corporation go and check at the Registrar of Companies.” This is the selfsame reason he has been defence of the mines paying their fair share BUT who can blame him when their is no leadership by default the Fossil is probably the President at the moment with the deadwood in State House.
Zambians WAKE UP!!
Why didn’t Mr Chikwanda declare in the first place that he was a supplier untill someone had to investigate him? Could it then be said that the contentious issue of tax in the mines is a coincidence or is it because someone somewhere is getting favors to supply?
Comrades,GBM was not a finance minister but when het tried to supply to ZESCO, there was a serious aproar that the minister of defense should have declared interest. We all know that he has been in business all his life.
South Africa just declare two weeks ago, that no minister or the president himself, not even their family members will be allowed to do business with government or companies related to government beginning three months time, why this brings in double standards.
How about the countless other contracts GBM’s companies had with gov’t? GBM is no angel but a corrupt thug.
when people where advocating for windfall tax ,our dear finance minister called them insane ….now it appears that some people in govt have taken a lukewarm approach to sensible taxation in the mines because they are receiving personal windfall tax through their personal companies …we are rushing for the euro bond when the money is with KCM ,Zambia sugar,Lumwana, Lafarge what is wrong with us ? why are we suicidal in economic management?
Chikwanda should be able to come out strong and castigate this evil media house called the post run by M’membe. Chikwanda should take a leaf at GBM who don’t fear M’membe and his puppet Wynter. These two I.D.I.O.T.S should be tamed as they have killed PF and divided the Zambians. M’membe is only interested in spearheading his agenda against individuals but that will not happen. Look at how he has dented HH’s image as a tribalist, we can’t allow this cartel to completely divide this nation. ABC your character is being dented by the post, every Zambian now know M’membe’s agenda. He wants to kill off all of Wynter’s strong opponents.
“Some media practitioners have unassailable advantage of perpetuating crusades against individuals who are perceived as inconveniences to them, shamefully, at the behest of political allies whose mission may have crash-landed,” he said.
CRASH LANDED INDEED! I WONDER WHOSE MISSION IS STILL FLYING HIGH?
Uncle Chikwanda, we advised you to reject Mr Sata’s call to serve in his cabinet. Now your name is being dragged into the mud by M’membe because he sees you a threat to his cartel. When you wanted to resign, Mr Sata pleaded with you to stay. We, your relatives would like you to call it a day but then again that would make life easier for M’membe and his agenda.