Ministry of Health Registry Clerk of Lukulu District in Western Province has been convicted to five years imprisonment with hard labour for money laundering involving over K73, 000.

Mbangu Katutu, 39, a Registry Clerk under the Ministry of Health in Lukulu District was arrested by the Drug Enforcement Commission in May 2016 for abuse of authority of office, theft, money laundering and theft by public servant contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence were that Katutu Mbangu, a Registry Clerk and working as a Payroll End User at Lukulu District Medical Office, on dates unknown but between 1st December, 2014 and 31st March, 2016 whilst acting together with other persons unknown did without lawful authority introduce his wife Rachael Nakweti Simasiku on the Government payroll as a Registered Nurse when she was not actually an employee of the Ministry of Health.

This resulted in Government losing K73, 839.11 as salary paid to her.

Mbangu has since been convicted to 3 years, 2 years and 5 years respectively on charges of theft by public servant, fraudulent false accounting and money laundering.

He will, however, serve for 5 years to run concurrently.

And the Commission through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit has arrested a businessman of Chipata District for money laundering involving K200, 000.

Kelvin Mwanza, 30, a businessman of Chimwemwe Compound in Chipata District has been arrested for theft and money laundering involving K200, 000 contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that Mwanza jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown on dates unknown but between 1stFebruary, 2016 and 15th March, 2016 did steal K200, 000 by unlawfully and fraudulently transferring the said money from an account holder under a named bank to his own domiciled at the same bank.

Mwanza later withdrew this money over the counter and also via Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

He used part of the money to purchase a plot in Chipata’s Mphando area.

Mwanza is currently in custody and will appear in the Chipata Magistrate Courts on 27th July, 2016.

Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja has revealed that an inquiry file has been opened over a Post Newspapers front page story which showed five men wearing police officers and posing with UPND campaign posters.

The story headlined Cops Protest alleges that about 22 police officers sought to be interviewed at a private location and five of them volunteered to be photographed displaying UPND posters, saying the police was the most affected government institution by the PF abuse.

The story further alleges that the police officers said they are sick and tired of this stupid abuse of officers by PF cadres now where our superiors cannot even defend professionalism in the police service anymore and that they have since joined the UPND Operation Watermelon, describing it as a protest move against their abuse by the PF government.

But Mr Kanganja told a media briefing in Lusaka today that the Zambia Police Service has never been partisan and will always remain impartial.

“It is in this regard that I am urging all peace loving Zambians to desist from bringing Police officers into politics. I am referring to today’s post newspaper edition No 7221 which has paraded purported Police officers supporting a political party. An inquiry file has since been opened,” Mr Kanganja said.

“I therefore, wish to assure all Zambians of our commitment to a peaceful, fair, credible and violent free election. Let the people of Zambia have trust and confidence in the Police. This is their institution mandated by law to protect life and property, preserve peace and maintain law and order, Ensure the security of the people of Zambia and Up hold the bill of rights.”

And Mr Kanganja has disclosed that the assertions by UPND senior officials namely Mr Garry Nkombo and Ms Silvia Masebo and the Post Newspaper of foreign nationals having been registered by the Electoral Commission of Zambia as voters have been found to be false.

He said on 13th May, 2016 a report was made by Mr Nkombo and Ms Masebo at Woodlands Police Station to the effect that over 500,000 foreigners had been registered by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)as voters.

Mr Kanganja said this according to their claim was a ECZ calculated act to rig the elections in favour of the Patriotic Front (PF).

“On 5th July,2016 the Nation would recall that the Post newspaper edition No 7200 carried a story with a headline “ECZ SOURCES EXPOSE GHOST VOTERS” in which the paper published 207 names of people purported to be foreigners but registered as voters by ECZ. The edition indicated that 178 were Malawians while 29 were Tanzanians,” he said.

“Considering the seriousness of the allegations as made by Mr Garry Nkombo and Ms Silvia Masebo and a story carried in this edition of the post newspaper investigations were instituted. After thorough investigations the 207 names as published in the post newspaper Edition No. 7200 have been found to be Zambians nationals from Chief Chanje Chiefdom Rukuzye ward in Chipangali constituency.”

He added, “To our great disappointment the details of the people published in the post newspaper edition were collected from residents of this same ward by the village Headwoman Katamanda whose real names are Alaina Phiri after being engaged by two women who were introduced to her by headman Mbobo, whose real names are Mr Tumeyo Mbobo Phiri a UPND chairperson for Rukuzye ward in Chipangali Constituency after being promised to be paid K2500 after the task of which a down payment of K500 was made. The Headwoman thereafter engaged two of her subjects Mary Manda and Lena Nkhoma to execute this task.”

He said when approached by the investigation team Headman Mbobo acknowledged having introduced two women who were later identified as Mrs Caroline Zulu Munyumbwe and Mrs Chona Malata both teachers at Katete Primary School who were conducting voter sensitizations workshops for the UPND at a church building in Mafuta Village, to Village Headwoman Katamanda.

“The investigations team further interviewed the people from whom voters cards were collected and their details of National Registration Cards were compared as also found in the provisional voters register for Chipangali ward Constituency and were found to be the same.”

Mr Kanganja said arising from the findings of this exhaustive investigation, Headwoman Katamanda Alaina Phiri and Headman Mbobo Tumelo Phiri have since been charged and arrested.

He said the duo were arrested and jointly charged for the offence of illegal practices relating to the poll, Contrary to Section 87 (1d) and Section 88 of the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2016 as read together with Section 21 (1c) of the Penal Code Act Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

“The duo appeared in court on Friday 22nd July, 2016 and are remanded in custody. A man hunt has also been launched for the two female teachers currently on the run. As regards to the 29 Tanzanians allegedly registered as voters by ECZ our investigations have established that they are Zambians registered as voters in Mbala and Mpulungu.”

He said the assertions by Mr Nkombo, Ms Masebo and the Post Newspaper of foreign nationals having been registered by the ECZ as voters have been found to be false.

“We are warning people involving themselves in such illegal practices that they risk being arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the Law. All those that could have participated must surely know that the long arm of the Law will eventually catch up with them and they shall be brought to book as their action has the potential to compromise the security of our nation.”

And on the shooting of a UPND female cadre identified as Mapenzi Chibulo on 8th July,2016, Mr Kanganja said investigations are still ongoing.,

“I wish to once again regret the loss of life and wish to inform the nation that this is a serious matter that requires thorough investigation. The investigations are still ongoing and at an opportune time the nation will be accordingly informed. I would like to appeal to all citizens of Zambia to shun violence and remain peaceful before, during and after elections.”

President Edgar Lungu has announced that the Mpika district will be divided into three more districts.

Speaking at a rally in Mpika at Mining grounds, President Lungu announced that to further accelerate development, the 147 000 square kilometres district which is the largest district in Zambia would be split into three more districts.

“The creation of these districts will accelerate development and create jobs. You will have three more district hospitals, three police posts and three district offices among many other developmental advantages that come with this exercise,” he said.

President Lungu asked the jubilant crowd to retain the PF government into power for them to ensure continued development.

The Head of State is in Muchinga province on his re-election campaign trail.

United Bank of Africa which operates in Zambia and several other West African states has denied any involvement in the recent failed coup in Turkey.

Yenisafak, a Turkish newspaper, has alleged that the United Bank of Africa (UBA) played a key role in the distribution of funds for the facilitation of the failed coup.

But UBA Plc Head of Communications Charles Aigbe said the bank is aware of the on-going and spurious media speculation linking the institution to recent events in Turkey.

“In light of this we believe it is necessary to categorically state that UBA has no involvement in or connection to these accusations, which are clearly false. We remain focused and firmly committed to delivering on our strategy to build Africa’s premier banking institution,” Mr Aigbe said in a brief statement.

The newspaper alleged that John F. Campbell, a general in the US Army, is alleged to have orchestrated the military coup attempt in Turkey, which took place on July 15, but he has described the allegations as “ridiculous”.

CIA operatives were said to have transferred millions of dollars from Nigeria to Turkey within six months.

The funds, which were relayed by an “80-person special team of the CIA”, was used to win over the generals predisposed to the coup, led by Campbell, former U.S. commander of a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan, the newspaper alleged.

In total, “over $2 billion dollars were distributed during the process leading to the coup”, the report said.

The information was reportedly obtained from sources close to ongoing legal process of detainees in the government’s custody.

Campbell was said to have “organized and managed the soldiers behind the attempted coup”.

“Campbell also managed more than $2 billion money transactions via UBA Bank in Nigeria by using CIA links to distribute among the pro-coup military personnel in Turkey. After taking money from their bank accounts, the CIA team hand delivered it to the terrorists under the military dresses,” it said.

The failed coup plot was organized by the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) led by cleric Fethullah Gülen who’s on self-exile in America.

The report also inferred that American intelligence, military and other institutions “supported the FETO leader Gülen and his gangs for the military coup”.

While the coup shook Turkey, the joint efforts of the country’s citizens, politicians, media and police forces averted the potential forceful takeover of the government.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoga on Monday ordered the detention of 42 journalists, a post-coup crackdown which has affected more than 60,000 people in the European country.
Several military bosses, soldiers, police, judges and civil servants have been arrested in the past two weeks.

The UPND leader accused the current government of not owning up to their promise of spending 15% of the total budget on health as the share has gone down to as low as 8.3% under the leadership of President Lungu.

Mr Hichilema said it is possible for the country to do better in the sector and that one of the ways to improving the sector was by re-allocating funds to critical areas fundamental to the wellbeing of the nation.

“Zambia has some of the worst health indicators in the world. Why? Because government has failed to prioritise healthcare for the majority. Whereas the PF promised to spend 15% of the national budget on health in their manifesto, under President Lungu the share has fallen to as little as 8.3%.

“Is it possible for Zambia to do better? Absolutely, just compare our performance to that of Botswana. We have an under-5 mortality rate of 75 per 1,000 live births, more than double that of Botswana’s 36. Our maternal mortality of 398 per 100,000 live births is nearly three times that of Botswana’s 140.

“How can we do better? The UPND will build a healthy nation by re-allocating funds to critical areas that are fundamental to the wellbeing of our nation, such as water and sanitation. Our people are still dying from treatable diseases on a daily basis because they cannot access clean water; compounds are hotbeds for cholera outbreaks, while in the rural areas people are sharing water with livestock because there is no alternative,” he said.

He further explained that his Party plans to raise the standards of care in the sector by supporting healthcare workers as well bringing care closer to communities through extension services by environment health technicians and telemedicine.

“The UPND plans to raise the standard of care through supporting healthcare workers and bringing care closer to communities through extension services by environmental health technicians and telemedicine.

“Additionally, as a government that plans ahead we will support disease prevention measures and undertake preparatory measures for responding to epidemics.

“To ensure we have the resources we need to achieve our plans we will tackle corruption and cut spending on wasteful items, such as frequent by-elections and big budget international travel seen under the PF. We will also re-evaluate the amount spent on VIP healthcare abroad, which was recently revealed to total an average of K3.6 million per person,” he said.

He added “Under our watch spending on health will be for the benefit of the majority, not just a few well-connected individuals, because building a healthy nation is a key stepping stone on the path to a united, prosperous and equitable Zambia.”