Patriotic Front Deputy Media Director Antonio Mwanza has called for the disbandment of the board of the Financial Intelligence Center (FIC) and the dismissal of its Director General Mary Tshuma.

Mr. Mwanza argued that by publishing intelligence information in breach of the FIC Act Ms. Tshuma and her board, have abused the Authority of Office and misconduct themselves professionally, adding that Ms. Tshuma must in fact be reported to law enforcement agencies for Abuse of Authority of Office and professional misconduct, which included calling for a conference to divulge intelligence information to the public.

Mr. Mwanza said that FIC was the creation of government which has the duty to receive information from financial institution and make recommendation to Government for action and not to release to the public.

Mr. Mwanza said that the information released by the FIC is not actionable in the courts because they are based on rumors and suspicion.

“The information received by the FIC should not have been taken to the public but the government with specifications on the finding.”

Mr. Mwanza claimed that the action by the FIC is an act of abuse and profession misconduct.

“For this reason, we call the board to be disbanded for failing to honor it’s job and it’s director must be taken to court to answer charges for professional misconduct.”

Mr. Mwanza added that FIC Director General not only alarmed the public offenders but also made the fight against Corruption difficult, adding that it was wrong to suggest that the $4.5 million stolen when there is no proof the money was stolen.

Mr. Mwanza said the PF has put practical measure to fight corruption and has signed a law that will make the Auditor General to report directly officials that are linked to crime

As the Green Party, we are worried that President Donald Trump has wrong trade data for Zambia. As will be noted on the official website for the Executive Office of the President of the United States of America, the data reflecting Zambia is for Zimbabwe.

This development is extremely worrisome to us as the Green Party because it is evidence we have incompetent people running the country. Why should such a grave mistake happen when the country has a trade attache in the USA? Why should it happen when President Edgar Lungu has a special assistant in charge of economics and trade? Why should such a farce happen when we have a fully-fledged ministry of commerce and trade with competent staff who should on daily basis monitor global trade trends and accordingly advise government?

If I were in-charge of the country, a number of officials at State House, US Embassy in Washington DC, and at the ministry of Commerce and Trade would have been fired as a consequence.

It is shocking that despite the current threats to multilateralism and global trade through Trump’s “America First”and unilateral breach of WTO rules on trade tariffs, the PF Government has paid a blind eye to Zambia’s trade relationship, and trade data with the US.

We urge the PF Government to come out of slumber and develop a Trump strategy before he directs his “America First”arsenals towards our direction. If he can, with impunity embark on a trade war with Canada and EU, who traditionally are America’s closest allies, would he really hesitate to withdraw the assistance to Zambia?

The United States assistance, which is estimated at US$ 250 million per year, focuses on improving health with a particular focus on women and vulnerable children; reducing the incidence and impact of HIV/AIDS and other illnesses; increasing agriculture-led economic development to reduce rural poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition; mitigating climate change and wildlife trafficking; raising education quality and learner reading performance; and advancing civil society, governance, and human rights. The US also supports government’s efforts to root out corruption.

Zambia is a beneficiary of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and a variety of technical assistance and other support that is managed by the Department of State, US Agency for International Development, Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and other agencies. The bulk of US assistance to Zambia is provided through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), in support of the fight against HIV/AIDS.

We once again urge President Edgar Lungu, and his PF government, to promptly develop a “Plan B” strategy to confront the reality of Donald Trump’s “America First” policy otherwise, sooner rather than later, our great country may suffer grave consequences.

Yesterday at the G7 Meeting in Canada, Trump made it clearer that ever before: “We’re like the piggy bank that everybody’s robbing. And that ends”, he said. Man can never be any clearer than this. Those with ears have heard.

Peter Sinkamba
President

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has set 26th June, 2018 as nomination dates for mayoral and council chairpersons by elections in Lusaka, Kasenengwa, Chasefu, Chipangali, Lumezi, Lusangazi, and Chifunabuli Districts, two days before the Constitutional Court hear the question on serving councillors in affected districts.

The good news for political parties and councillors is that ECZ is prepared to accept the nomination of any councillor who is adopted by any party or decides to run for these elections without requiring a councillor/deputy Mayor or Vice Council Chairperson to resign their positions.

The Constitutional Court, one of the highest court in the land will on 28 June, 2018 will now be limited to determining whether a councillor who wins mayoral or council chairperson elections would have to resign at all.

ECZ has already filed before the Constiturional Court that only Members of Parliament are the ones not eligible to contest elections, a position that has now created a level-playing field between serving councillors and non councillors to contest mayoral and Council Chairperson elections.

Shortly after ECZ filed their position before the Constitutional Court, the Commission proceeded to announce nomination and elections dates for elections, paving way for councillors, deputy mayors and Council Chairpersons who intend to run for these elections to do so, without any need for them to resign.

State institutions in Zambia don’t wait for the Courts to decide a matter which is before Court before they could proceed with discharging their mandate. ECZ had upto August 16, 2018 to conduct mayoral by elections for Lusaka.

The Courts in Zambia also operate in their own world. They care less about whether processes are turned into academic exercise or not. When the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) had moved the Court to order that Ministers vacate from office during time petition was filed, it was the Court that protected the ministers and refused to grant that order. However, shortly before the 2016 general elections, the same Court ruled that ministers had stayed illegally and ordered them to pay back, when they had watched them stay and refused the LAZ applications for them to leave. The result is here to be seen today as to who has paid back even a ngwee.

That is why it was strategic for those who petitioned President Lungu’s eligibility to stand again in 2021 to do so many years before the 2021 general elections because time doesn’t wait for anyone. It was also strategic that the question of councillors was put before the Court and ECZ had to explain to the Court, paving way for councillors, deputy mayors or vice chairpersons who intend to contest to do so.

Basically, the decision of ECZ to announce election dates after it filed its position in the Constitution Court has opened up an opportunity for every councillor, deputy mayor or council chairpersons to run for forthcoming elections without them resigning, and where the person wins an election, it will depend on what the Court will have said to determine whether they can hold a seat as ward-based councillor and at the same time as a mayor or council chairperson.

By Isaac Mwanza

Today’s Scripture

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back…”
(Isaiah 54:2, NIV)

Increase Your Capacity to Receive

God has many blessings in store for you! He has favor in your future like you’ve never imagined. He wants to take you places that you’ve never even dreamed. But in order for us to partake of all these blessings, we have to increase our capacity to receive.

Think about this: if you have a one-gallon bucket and someone has fifty gallons to give you, the problem is not with the supply. The problem is that you don’t have the capacity to receive the fifty gallons. But if you get rid of that small container and get something larger, then you will be able to receive more. It’s the same way with God. If we think we’ve reached our limits, the problem isn’t that God doesn’t have the resources or the ability. The problem is that our container is too small. We have to enlarge our vision and make room for the new things God has for us. Our attitude should be, “Yes, the economy is down, but I know God is still on the throne. I know wherever I go His goodness and mercy follow me.” When you have that kind of attitude, you’re increasing your capacity to receive so that you can live the abundant life He has in store for you.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, today I choose to believe and increase my capacity to receive from You. I release limited thinking and old mindsets and choose to meditate on Your word. I open myself to everything You have in store for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Finnish Ambassador to Zambia Timo Olkkonen has said that the revelations contained in the 2017 Financial Intelligence Centre report are alarming.

Mr. Olkkonen has since commended the FIC for bringing to light the misuse of public resources, tax evasion and corruption.

In an interview with QTV News, Mr. Olkkonen said that from a good governance point of view, it is less important to think about the communication structures in which the FIC revelations were made.

Mr. Olkkonen said that it is important that public discourse is centered on the facts and evidence that has been discovered and not communication channels the FIC should have used.

Mr. Olkkonen stated that that if there is evidence of misuse of public funds or tax evasion, these crimes need to be followed up regardless of the process of how they were made public.

Mr. Olkkonen Stated that law enforcement agencies have an obligation and responsibility to follow up the revelations contained in the FIC report.

His comments follows attacks on the FIC following the publication of the report of its investigations.

Meanwhile, on assessing the implications of the FIC report to foreign investments, Economist Chibamba Kanyama told QFM News said that foreign portfolio investors generally want to invest their money in countries where financial systems are secure and most of them have invested their money in Zambia because of their confidence in financial systems such as the Bank of Zambia Anti-money laundering monitoring system.

When information such as the FIC report is released,an investor’s first reaction is to assess whether their money could be caught up in some of the channels they have invested such as the commercial banks. As such, information released by FIC gets monitored by investors as well. Mr. Kanyama said investors have a right to know what is going on in a country in which they have invested, whether good or bad and make decisions based on the available information.

Mr. Kanyama has also advised the government that if they have issues with the center, it is important to engage FIC indoors and not publicly.

Editors Note: Mr.Kanyama’s comments to QFM were taken out of context and have been corrected.Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Seasoned broadcaster Maureen Nkandu is next weekend scheduled to wed Journalist Cosmas Chileshe in Lusaka.

Maureen, 53, who is now based in Johannesburg, South Africa will tie the knot with Cosmas, 41, at a ceremony at the plush Inter Continental Hotel Lusaka.

Their relationship hit public sphere when Cosmas divorced his wife of 15 years with whom he had four children in a messy divorce.

The fall out from the divorce led to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalling Cosmas Chileshe from his diplomatic role as First Secretary-Press at the Zambian mission in Washington D.C.

Cabinet has approved the introduction of a bill in the next sitting of parliament that is aimed at combating violations of personal privacy that may be generated by personal collection, processing, transmission, storage and use of information.

According to a statement released to the media by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting services, huge amounts of personal data generated and collected can be used as inputs in developing countries’ pursuit to achieve their national visions and consequently, attainment of their socio-economic transformation.

“Government feels it is time to put in place appropriate legal frameworks concerning data protection in order to give legal rights to individuals, who themselves are the data subjects in respect of personal data held about them,” read the statement

Below is the full statement detailing the resolutions of the cabinet meeting held on Friday 8th June

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON THE DECISIONS MADE BY CABINET AT THE 9TH CABINET MEETING HELD AT STATE HOUSE ON FRIDAY, 8TH JUNE, 2018

Cabinet has approved in principle to introduce in the next sitting of Parliament the Data Protection (Repeal) Bill, 2018 with a view to repealing and replacing the Electronic Communications and Transactions (ECT) Act, No. 21 of 2009.

At the 9th Cabinet Meeting held today, Friday, 8th June, 2018, at State House, His Excellency the President Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu and his Cabinet discussed five (5) substantive items.

1. The Data Protection (Repeal) Bill, 2018

Cabinet approved in principle to introduce in Parliament in the next sitting, the Data Protection (Repeal) Bill, 2018

Zambia signed the African Union (AU) Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection on 29th January, 2016 during the 26th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments of the African Union.

The goal of the Convention is to address the need for harmonised legislation in the area of cyber security and data protection in the Member States of the African Union.

Following this continental agreement, each Member State, is required to develop a mechanism capable of combating violations of privacy that may be generated by personal collection, processing, transmission, storage and use of information.

Cabinet fully supported this move especially in the advent of the Information Communications Technologies (ICT) which has fundamentally changed the way people and organisations, namely, businesses, nonprofit agencies, governments and criminal enterprises interact.

Through digital platforms, huge amounts of personal data are generated and collected which can be used as inputs in developing countries’ pursuit to achieve their national visions and consequently, attainment of their socio-economic transformation.

Government feels it is time to put in place appropriate legal frameworks concerning data protection in order to give legal rights to individuals, who themselves are the data subjects in respect of personal data held about them.

2. The Revised National Transport Policy and the 2018 – 2028 Implementation Plan

Cabinet further, approved the Revised National Transport Policy and its Implementation Plan. The current policy was approved by Cabinet in 2002 and a number of things have since changed in the transport sector, thereby, requiring a revised policy in order to formulate a framework which will facilitate the creation of an integrated, efficient, cost effective and sustainable transportation system.

The Policy will also ensure optimal maintenance and rehabilitation of existing transport infrastructure, and will also ensure infrastructure are environmentally friendly, and gender sensitive. The Policy will promote regional corridor competitiveness and will be servicing people with special needs.

Government understands that transportation is the first step to development. Economic activities cannot take place without an infrastructure base. Because of its intensive use of infrastructure, the transport sector is an important component of the economy and a common tool used for development. This is more so in today’s global economy where economic opportunities are increasingly related to the mobility of people, goods and information.

The integrated mode of transportation of goods and passengers which this Policy will promote will enhance cost efficiency in transport service provision, thereby providing economic and social opportunities and benefits that will result in positive multiplier effects such as better accessibility to markets, employment and additional investments.

3. The Electronic Commerce and Transactions (Repeal) Bill, 2018

At the same Meeting, Cabinet approved in principle, to introduce the Electronic Commerce and Transactions (Repeal) Bill, 2018 in Parliament to define the legal framework that will support growth of e-Commerce; e-Government; e-Transactions; e-Payments; e-Banking; e-Trading; e-Market Places; Digital Currency Markets; and other digital innovations.

The Bill when enacted will stimulate growth in the utilisation of electronic transactions and payment platforms that promote transactional efficiencies in service delivery and contribute significantly to social economic growth of the country. The Bill will improve intergovernmental coordination through e-Government by aligning ICT investments.

Further, the enactment of the Bill will build trust and confidence in the general citizenry to perform online transactions using various available payment platforms which include credit cards, debit cards, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) bill payments, kiosks and mobile phone applications.

The Bill will also repeal and replace certain parts and sections in the existing Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, No. 21 of 2009 which has been found inadequate to govern electronic transactions and promote electronic commerce.

4. National Policy on Wetlands

In winding up the programme for the day, Cabinet approved the draft National Policy on Wetlands and its Implementation Plan.

The Policy aims to provide for a functional, productive and resilient wetland system that will contribute to addressing climate change, maintenance of biodiversity, provision of ecosystem and sustainable livelihoods as well as promote a coordinated approach to management and conservation of wetland ecosystems in Zambia.

This Policy is important mainly because wetlands in Zambia are threatened by a wide range of issues that include the spread of Invasive Alien Species, encroachment of shrubs, expansion of human settlement, pollution, mining, river damming for hydropower generation, draining, climate change, genetically modified organisms and channelisation.

Further, the uncoordinated and fragmented approaches in the management of wetlands by different agencies based on their different mandates has contributed towards the unsustainable management of wetlands in the country, a matter which has since been addressed in the Policy.

Cabinet emphasised the need for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to carry on board key stakeholders in the implementation of the Policy, in particular, the Ministries of Transport and Communications, and the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection.

5. Centenary Commemoration of the End of World War I and the Northern Province Expo

Cabinet also approved the proposal to commemorate the end of WWI in Zambia (tentatively to run from 14th to 25th November 2018) because of the role that the Country played during the war.

Cabinet adopted the event as a State Function due to its significance to the Northern Province and the country at large; and also approved the hosting of the Northern Province Tourism and Investment Expo to be held alongside the Centenary Commemoration of the WWI for the purpose of marketing the Northern Tourism Circuit as a potential destination.

It is necessary to hold the Centenary Commemorations in Northern Province to ensure that the untold history of the end of the WWI, now more than ever before, must be highly publicised. Zambia needs to tell this untold history to the world and clearly state that the country played a significant role in WWI. Zambia will leverage this indescribable history and market the country as a world class tourism and investment destination for many years to come.

The Commemoration of the end of WWI in Zambia will potentially bring together over 19 foreign countries that participated in the East Africa campaign. The world will know Zambia not only as a Southern African State, but rather as a pioneer of peace because of the role it played during the war. This will further make the world realise, acknowledge and record that the last bullet of the First World War was fired on Zambian soil.

The centenary commemoration will further cement the strong multilateral ties Zambia has with the United Kingdom, Germany and other foreign countries that took part in the WWI.

8th June, 2018