Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) Executive Director Wesley Chibamba has demanded that the Teachers who were fraudulently on Government payroll with forged qualifications should pay back the money they drew as net salaries.

Mr. Chibamba said there is not justification to fraud and the money should just be paid back without fail to deter would-be offenders in the near future.

And the TIZ executive Director noted that the qualification audit should be extended to all civil servants because public offices in Zambia have a lot of impostors and that’s why incompetence in Government can be seen by everyone now.

Mr. Chibamba alleged that political party cadres are given jobs they do not deserve in Government.

“They do not qualify for the positions they were holding. It can be argued that they worked and therefore deserve the money, it can also be argued that we have a shortage of teachers”

“This is no excuse for fraud. A lesson should be made out of them”

“We would like this qualification audit to extend to all civil servants, we have a lot of impostors in government and that’s why we have such incompetence. Cadres are given jobs they do not deserve” Chibamba said

The artist who painted Socialite Iris Kaingu’s body which has become a latest internet sensation in Zambia has defended his artistry.

Caleb Chisha said it is unfortunate that most Zambians who have condemned his work on Iris’s body do not understand art.

Chisha said he has received thousands of phone calls from people who has criticized his work.

This week, photos of an almost naked Iris having her private parts painted by Chisha hit the internet with most social media users castigating the art work and describing it as immoral.

But Chisha said most Zambians do not understand art.

“Have received a thousand calls and messages from people because of this body art I did on Iris Kaingu, it’s unfortunate most Zambian people don’t understand what art is and the message behind this work I did,” Chisha said.

He said, “historically women in Africa walked around in the nude. After colonization, western ideals were forced upon our people and custom changed. Nowadays, the female body is not as celebrated and women aren’t allowed to express themselves through clothing without ridicule.”

“To emphasize this. I have done a beautiful illustration of an African Princess. Three things I would like to highlight, 1. Society needs to understand that by our actions in body shaming others we make people lose confidence in themselves. We need to be a society that builds each other up. You are confident, bold, beautiful, fearless! You are you! We are all beautiful.”

Chisha added, “2. Contrary to what most believe, this is a part of our culture and not the modernized dress of present dat. We need to unite and preserve what is still left of our traditions and customs so that future generations have their feet firmly in the ground.”

“3. Lastly, you are beautiful in your own skin. You are wonderful made by God. You must be celebrated. If short shorts or tight little skirts are what make you feel beautiful, you should express that. You have the freedom to! Go ahead and celebrate what God blessed you with Iris.”

And Iris has thanked Chisha for the work done on her body called Painted Princess.

“Thank you Caleb Chisha for helping me with this project*painted Princess*. A project exploring the historical beauty of cultural body paint,” Iris said.

In October 2012, Iris who is Former Higher Education Minister Michael Kaingu’s daughter was fined K10 million after she was convicted of on one count of making obscene material likely to corrupt morals after her pornographic video was leaked on the internet.

The Civil Society Constitution Agenda (CiSCA) says it is vindicated by the recent Constitutional Court ruling that highlighted some constitutional breaches committed by President Edgar Lungu and his government at the time the presidential petition was lodged in Court.

CiSCA Chairperson Bishop John Mambo says consistently, CiSCA has been revealing constitutional breaches being committed by the current government and its leadership and continuously called on the executive to respect and uphold the Constitution as per their oath which they have deliberately ignored.

Bishop Mambo says the judgment in the recent case of Godfrey Miyanda v. Attorney General [2016/CC/0006] in which Brig. General Miyanda petitioned the Constitutional Court among other concerns, the holding of the National Referendum alongside the 2016 General Election, the Constitutional Court categorically brings to the fore serious constitutional breaches President Lungu and his government committed to which he must be held accountable.

He says according to the Constitutional Court judgment, President Lungu who was an incumbent at the time, never stepped aside and handed over power to the Speaker of the National Assembly when the presidential petition was filed in Court, as prescribed in the Constitution under Article 104.

He adds that CiSCA and the general citizenry know too well that when the presidential petition was filed on 19 August, 2016, ensuing a dispute over the validity of elections’ result and outcome, President Lungu refused to hand over executive power to the Speaker as expected and enshrined in the Constitution.

Bishop Mambo says his organization finds this act by the President and those who advised him as a total abrogation of Constitution as the Court judgment has confirmed.
He states that the President, as a lawyer, cannot claim ignorance to this clear constitutional provisions and consequently to the breach.

Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza has said the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) has lost its relevance to the Patriotic Front (PF).

Commenting on calls from some PF Members in some provinces to have the Finance Minister Felix Mutati fired, Mr. Mwanza said the ruling party now can go for elections without forming an alliance with the former ruling party.

Mr. Mwanza further stated that if the PF will win or lose the 2021 elections, it will purely depends on themselves and their performance.

Mr. Mwanza has since urged President Lungu to learn from the fall of Zambia’s fourth President Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

Mr. Mwanza said Zambians told Rupiah Banda to reduce his love for foreign travels and concentrate on local travels but he ignored the advice.

“You can’t have a President even in 2017 who keep the globe map on his desk”

“He needs to get out more frequently and interact with people, listen even to those who may have divergent views”

“If he keeps getting assurances that all is well from those close to him, he may wake up to the sane rude shock that sent RB crying”

“And those that were mostly not giving him the best of advice run away, like vultures, to PF” Mwanza said

President Edgar Lungu has congratulated the Zambia National Soccer Team for their 1 – 0 win against Algeria in the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup return leg qualifier in Constantine, Algeria on Tuesday night.

The President has said the good and impressive start by Chipolopolo in the 2018 World Cup Qualifier tournament signifies the glorious performances ahead.

“I happy for the victory that the Chipolopolo boys posted in last night’s 2018 FIFA World Cup return leg qualifier against Algeria. The team has shown resilience and commitment to deliver good results for Mother Zambia. It is therefore imperative that as Zambians we rally behind the Chipolopolo to build their zeal and momentum for more victory.”

The President hailed the incorporation of some players from the Under-20 team into the senior team as a well thought out move and emphasised the need to address shortcomings which were encountered during the first two matches so far played.

“As Patron, I wish to urge the Football Association of Zambia leadership to continue supporting the Chipolopolo Technical bench for the team to achieve desired results. I convey my profound congratulations to the Chipolopolo and the entire bench. May the Almighty God continue to guide you and grant you blessings in this journey,” the President said.

“This performance by our soccer team represents the model Zambian citizen doing duty for mother Zambia abroad. These are the envoys Zambia desires that in both their private and public capacities, their focus is to project positively the cause of their country. The boys’ determination to win is an act in the direction. In all areas of our lives, one great lesson we learn from the football team is that national interest must always supersede our narrow personal interest as it were,” the President says.