Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo says he has no regrets over his actions which led to his 30 day suspension from Parliament.

On Tuesday, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Patrick Matibini ordered Mr. Lusambo to leave the House after the House resolved that he be suspended for 30 days for his inappropriate conduct within the precincts of Parliament last October when he slapped Roan MP Chishimba Kambwili.

But Lands Minister Jean Kapata survived a seven days suspension for unbefitting behaviour for pouring water on Mr Kambwili but the House, after an electronic voting, resolved to keep her in the House.

But in a Facebook post, Mr Lusambo said he does not regret his actions.

“With respect to my suspension from Parliament announced by the Honourable Mr Speaker, i wish to state that I have accepted the decision of the members. However, I wish to state that I have no regrets over my actions as they were driven by strong principles to defend the Republican Constitution and the Republican President,” he said.

“I also believe that there is nothing to reflect upon following my suspension because it is far better to die for a principle than to allow disgruntled, desperate and visionless politicians abuse the President through unsubstantiated allegations.”

He added, “As a Member of Parliament and Minister, I swore to protect the Constitution and took an oath and pledged my total loyalty to His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and I will continue to do so inside or outside the House. To the great people of Kabushi, I wish to reassure you that I will continue representing your interests as I have always done from the day I walked into Parliament. I will use the 30 days to reengage further with you as we push for development in our beloved constituency,” said Mr Lusambo.

But Mr Kambwili has asked President Lungu to fire Mr Lusambo because he is not apologetic.

“I am glad I have been vindicated and the pathological liar that saw it fit to turn the grounds of parliament into a boxing ring has been put to shame. President Lungu posterity and the morality you spoke highly about in parliament last week must drive you to fire this man, he is becoming more and more of an embarrassment as time goes on, it is frightening to know that this is the man who welcomes all foreign heads of states and various diplomatic dignitaries,” Mr Kambwili said.

He said Zambia and Kabushi deserve far much better.

Mr Kambwili hopes that the police can now step in and arrest this man for assault, something he denied to the whole nation with impunity.

“I am not surprised that the MMD die hard is unapologetic nor remorseful because that’s his nature. Honestly what do the young people of this country have to look up to in a man that can lie through his teeth irrespective of his high position in society?”

“What a shame, what a shame indeed. In a week where President Lungu has been given enough evidence of Bowman’s gross indispline that continues to have a negative impact on the already bleak legacy of President Lungu. The whole country strongly believes that the president will now surely terminate his services to at least save himself from this embarrassment,” Mr. Kambwili said.

Former Katuba Member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa has appealed to leaders to listen to the cries of the people.

Mr. Shakafuswa who is also a member of the ruling PF and seen to be President Edgar Lungu’s close ally said leaders should provide answers to those that are led when they ask.

“Sometimes it is wrong to bury our heads to evil deeds,” Mr. Shakafuswa said.

“Been looking at some street talk and what I have found coming out of the ‘Led’ needs serious answers. I feel leadership needs to have a way of addressing concerns raised than brushing everything aside,” he advised.

He said he has come across genuine concerns which need proper answers.

“Especially on corruption and corrupt practice. Is it true that the Procurement system has been hijacked? Are decisions being influenced by corrupt practices? Are bids reflective of competition and fair pricing? Do we have practical example of corrupt practices?”

First Quantum Minerals Ltd has refuted a tax assessment issued by the Zambia Revenue Authority accusing the firm of failing to declare over K70 billion in taxes.

In a statement, the Canadian based miner said claims made by ZRA regarding underpayment of customs duties are untrue.

FQM President Clive Newall said his firm confirms that it is in possession of a letter from the ZRA, dated March 19, 2018, noting an assessment for import duties, penalties and interest on consumables and spare parts of 76.5 billion Zambian Kwacha.

Mr. Newall however said FQM unequivocally refutes this assessment which he said does not appear to have any discernable basis of calculation.
He said FQM will continue working with the ZRA, as it normally does, to resolve the issue.

First Quantum’s stock dropped 12.4 percent to C$18 on the Toronto Stock Exchange before it was halted.

On Tuesday, the ZRA revealed that it had uncovered $8 billion tax scam at an unspecified “prominent mining company”, nearly double the total amount the country collected in taxes in last year.

The ZRA said it had issued a preliminary tax assessment of 76.5 billion Zambian kwacha to the unnamed company for classifying imported goods as mining machinery, which attract no custom duty.

He said the import duty on items other than mining machinery ranges from 15 to 25 percent, ZRA said adding that the company had been engaged in the conduct for the last five years.

“We have since notified both the mining (company) and the clearing agent of this unacceptable act of cheating,” ZRA said, without naming the company or the clearing agent.

ZRA’s assessment suggests the total value of goods imported goods was between $30 billion and $51 billion if about $8 billion is unpaid levy charged at between 15 and 25 percent.

Almost a year ago, ZRA Commissioner General Kingsley Chanda invited companies and people living in Zambia to declare their hidden assets in tax amnesty.

The ZRA said in a statement that Zambia, which collected 39.1 billion kwacha in taxes last year, netted 4.4 billion kwacha in hidden assets from the amnesty after smaller companies stepped forward.

The Zambia Revenue Authority may extend the period of the audit should it find a pattern of “consistent, systematic, premeditated” tax evasion, it said in a statement.

“We are announcing the preliminary assessment of 76.5 billion kwacha issued to a prominent mining company for misclassifying consumables and spare parts at importation for the last five years,” the tax authority said, without identifying the company. “The said items were declared as mining machinery, which attract customs duty at zero percent, when in fact not.”

It added, “Last year, the amnesty on interest and penalties was announced to allow tax payers to clean up their tax accounts. Those with issues were expected to engage ZRA and have a waiver on interest and penalties. A post amnesty review shows that only small and medium companies stepped forward and the Authority raised about 4.4 billion kwacha from the programme. Unfortunately, most large companies did not participate despite numerous reminders and extensions.”

“We would like to assure the public that the amnesty programme was not a joke and our promise to deal with non-compliance is real. In line with this objective, the 2018 theme for ZRA is “Rewarding compliant tax payers and punishing non-compliant tax payers to the maximum”. The Authority has therefore started detailed audits on all mining companies for compliance in all applicable tax types in order to ensure all taxes due are collected.”

The Authority said, “The planned audits will cover the statutory period of 6 years to start with. However, if the findings will review a pattern of consistent, systematic, premeditated cheating (tax evasion), we shall criminalise the act and cover longer periods to achieve the intended objective.”

“We are taking this case very seriously and we shall pursue all available options to the Authority to recover all taxes on behalf of the Zambian people. We also wish to announce that starting 26th March 2018, our investigation teams and auditors will commence the audit of all mining firms in Zambia. We are, therefore, appealing to all other companies and players in the Mining Sector that may have been involved in illicit tax activities to make self-disclosure before we discover them. This will help them minimise their exposure to penalties and interests.”

It warned, “To those that are evading tax or contemplating doing dubious activities, our warning to them is to stop immediately and start complying. The Authority will definitely catch up with them and take all measures to collect taxes, penalties and interest due.

MMD National Secretary Raphael Nakacinda has described Opposition United Party for National Development-UPND president Hakainde Hichilema as a contraceptive to national unity as well as national dialogue.

Responding to a caller who identified himself as Mubita who wanted to know what ‘rat’ was in local institutions which has led to mistrust from opposition UPND to insist on having the Commonwealth leading the dialogue process, Nakacinda said the “rat” was the UPND who wanted to use the dialogue process for selfish motives.

He said the UPND leader was a contraceptive to national unity and dialogue because he was not interested in the dialogue process but that his interests was a process that would satisfy his selfish and narrow partisan political motive that would increase his political fortunes both locally and internationally.

“Mubita said what is the rat with institutions that we have established ourselves such as ZCID, I can tell him that at the moment the rat we have is the UPND. I can describe Mr Hichilema as a contraceptive to national unity and national dialogue because he is not interested in that process; he is interested more in a process that will give him as an individual some political mileage, its no longer about national dialogue, its not no longer about advancing democracy…it is basically about a political agenda and we cannot allow that. Otherwise if we allow such contraceptives in our society, we will not be able to conceive the idea of national unity in diversity, we will not be able to conceive the idea of having a democracy that will mature to the point where we differ but still call each other brothers and sisters,” he said.

Earlier Nakacinda had belaboured to explain that there was no need for the country to have foreigners captaining the country’s dialogue process when there are institutions such the ZCID, NGOs and Church mother bodies who can be used to settle disputes.

He noted that in Kenya the challenges which seemingly were bigger than ours as the losing candidate went as far as swearing himself in have been sorted out without the involvement of foreigners, while here the country is still grappling with the same issues for more than 2 years.

“If Kenya can have elections argue and resolve their issues within a shortest possible time in the interest of their country, here 2 years people are still referring to a non issue thereby creating unnecessary tension.”

He further wondered what has gone wrong with ZCID in the eyes of the UPND leader for him to have so much contempt towards the institution he belongs to and which his party was chairing few months ago.

And Nakacinda has urged government and the ruling party to stop being dismissive in their response to concerns raised by citizens.

Commenting on a number of corruption and reckless spending allegations by government Nakacinda said corruption was a cancer which needs to be fought against without a bias.

He said both the opposition and government should not use corruption as a tool for fighting political opponents because it is a cancer with the potential to collapse operations of government institutions and cause havoc in the governance of the country.

Further Nakacinda advised that those charged with the responsibility to govern the country should communicate facts to those asking questions because they are duty bound to do so.

“The back starts with those in government, it is expected that people will raise issues and say that we are not comfortable with certain transactions, the issues raised on fire tenders, don’t be dismissive. What is so wrong in trying to find out….after all you have a duty as government, as President and everybody else responsible to peep where people are asking questions….that is why you were elected, you did not go there by imposing yourselves, you are enjoying the mandate of those that put you in office…so clarify issues, if you can establish an inquiry on a licked dossier, why can’t you do the same on the Fire Tenders, just clarify issues.

“Government has a duty to communicate facts and put to to rest these issues. If there is an issue raised against any individual let them step aside so that they can be cleared and if they are cleared they continue,” he said.

On the speech in parliament by the President last Friday, Nakacinda said the speech should be reflected in the governance of the country.

He said the contents of the speech should trickle down to government departments and how the people conduct themselves both those in government and opposition viz a viz corruption and integrity.

Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has suspended Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo from the service of the house for the maximum period of thirty (30) days.

The Speaker said the conduct of Mr. Lusambo of assaulting a fellow member, within the precincts of Parliament is unbefitting of the conduct expected of a Member of Parliament and more so a Minister.

This is during a ruling by the Speaker on a point of order raised by Chishimba Kambwili against then Minister for Copperbelt Province Bowman Lusambo in Parliament today.

“This is a House of honour, decorum and dignity and I am duty bound to ensure that the honour, decorum and dignity of the House is protected and preserved at all times”, said the Speaker.

He stated that he will not tolerate indiscipline and misconduct from Mr. Lusambo or any other Member.

ZANIS reports that Dr. Matibini requested Mr. Lusambo to reflect on his conduct more so as a Minister and trusts that he will change and conduct himself in a manner befitting a Member and Minister.

The Speaker acted in accordance with section 28 (2) of the National Assembly Powers and Privileges Act which requires a resolution to suspend a member from the House with Members voting positively to the question.

He revealed that during the suspension, Mr. Lusambo shall not enter the precincts of the Assembly extending to the National Assembly Motel.

Dr. Matibini also stated that he shall not participate in any activity of the Assembly or any committee that he is assigned in, in his capacity as Member of Parliament.

He also noted that he shall not be paid a salary or allowance that he is entitled to as a Member.

And Lands Minister and Mandevu MP Jean Kapata survived her seven day suspension as she had apologised and reconciled with Mr. Kambwili

Ms Kapata’s seven day suspension was recommended by the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges but was put through a vote.

MPs voted 35 for and 66 against Ms. Kapata’s suspension for pouring water on Mr Kambwili after an altercation.

The Committee recommended that both Mr Lusambo and Ms Kapata be suspended as their actions were unparliamentary.

Mr Lusambo was asked to take a walk of shame out of Parliament through the main entrance after his suspension was handed down by Speaker Patrick Matibini.

President Edgar Lungu says Zambia is eager to learn from Israel how that country has utilized the military to boost its agriculture and the economy.

The President Lungu notes that Israeli military has helped the country boost agriculture stating that the Zambian military should learn from that country.

President Lungu said this when he met Israeli Minister of Defense Avigdor Liberman at state house today to discuss how Zambia and Israel can boost their economies through agriculture.

The head of state noted that the bilateral relations between Zambia and Israel should result in economic growth if best practices especially in agriculture which Israel has implemented well are emulated.

He said during his visit to Israel last year, he learned how the defense had helped boost agriculture, technology growth and other industries.

The President stated that he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Kenya where they agreed to scale up cooperation in various sectors including peace and security.

President Lungu said he was glad that the Defense Minister considered coming to Zambia during his visit to Africa as he was looking forward to his visit.

He said Zambia is also looking forward to the much anticipated Israeli – Africa summit which he said would scale up cooperation between Israel and the region.

And Liberman commended Zambia for the efforts to scale up bilateral cooperation with his country following the meeting between his Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Lungu last year.

Liberman said President Lungu’s visit to Israel has contributed greatly to the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Israeli Minister of Defense was accompanied to state house by non-resident Ambassador to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia Gershon Kedar, Ministers Chief of Staff Sharon Shalom, Advisor of International Relations to the Minister Sigalit Chaham, Director Policy and Political Military Bureau ZoharPalti and Minister Military Secretary Yair Kulas.

The Israeli Minister of Defense’s visit is a follow up to the visit President Lungu undertook last year when he was invited to that country for a state visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.