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THE Kitwe High Court has sentenced two brothers of Solwezi to 30 years imprisonment with hard labour for murdering an old woman on suspicion that she was a witch.
Ms Justice Chilombo Phiri on Friday sent to jail Isaiah Kalimukuya, 37, and Tyson Kalimukuya, 34, both of Solwezi, after finding them guilty of murder.
The brothers murdered Lizzy Kasusute on February 24 this year.
Reading the sentence, Ms Phiri said cases of this nature are on the increase in Solwezi and that it was the court’s duty to ensure that perpetrators are punished.
She said citizens should not live in fear because of criminals.
Ms Phiri said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and that she found the two brothers guilty of murder, and convicted them of the offence.
“I sentence the two convicts to 30 years imprisonment with hard labour, and if you are not happy with my conviction, you can appeal to the Supreme Court within 14 days,” Ms Justice Phiri said.
During trial, Miriam Kasusute, 38, testified that on the material day, she was with her grandmother when Isaiah and Tyson appeared and accused her of bewitching their child and demanded that she goes with them to go and heal the juvenile.
Ms Kasusute said the Kalimukuyas dragged her grandmother to their home while beating her.
She narrated that before they reached the house, they received information that the child had died, and that it was at that point that the two convicts started kicking her in the stomach and broke all her ribs.
Ms Kasusute said when they reached home, Isaiah and Tyson placed the child on her grandmother’s laps and later smashed her head against the wall, killing her instantly.
The matter was later reported to the police who arrested the Kalimuyas and took them to court for murder.
President Edgah Lungu arrive at Commemoration of United Nations International Humans Rights Day at Government Complex in Lusaka , Picture by EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE.10-12-2015
President Edgar Lungu has expressed concern at the prevalence of hate speech being peddled on social media, which he says violates the rights and freedoms of others with impunity.
And President Lungu has reaffirmed government’s commitment to respecting fundamental human rights and freedoms as enshrined in the International Bill of Rights and in the Zambia’s constitution.
Speaking during the commemoration of the UN International Human Rights Day in Lusaka today, Mr. Lungu says as the nation celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the existence of the International Bill of Rights; the nation should not be oblivious to the emerging disturbing culture of hate speech and political violence in the nation.
President Lungu has called for self-restraint in the exercising freedom of speech and expression saying this is in order to respect and protect the rights and freedoms of others.
He says there is need to use the conducive legal and political environment for freedom of expression to advance the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
The Head of State has also reiterated his appeal to the Zambia Police Service to apply the Public Order Act in a transparent and fair manner, saying he expects no form of discrimination in the protection and promotion of human rights and freedoms.
He has further appealed to all political party leaders, supporters and sympathizers, to strictly adhere to the requirements of the Public Order Act in order to maintain law and order in the country.
Speaking at the same event, Human Rights Commission Director, Florence Chibwesha says though Zambia has recorded positive strides in the promotion of human rights, more needs to be done.
Ms Chibwesha says the commission will continue advocating for the criminalization of torture in the country because of its negativity on human beings.
Speaking earlier, United Nations Governance Advisor Michael Soko reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to continue protecting human rights of all people despite their political standing, race or religion.
And Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) President George Chisanga says his association is committed to promoting human rights in the country as highlighted in its Strategic Plan launched in 2013.
This year’s International UN Human Rights Day is being commemorated under the theme “Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always”.
President Edgah Lungu greets Mr Kakoma Kanganja Police IG at Commemoration of United Nations International Humans Rights Day at Government Complex in Lusaka , Picture by EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE.10-12-2015President Edgah Lungu with Florence Chiwesha Humans Rights Commission Director t at Commemoration of United Nations International Humans Rights Day at Government Complex in Lusaka , Picture by EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE.10-12-2015President Edgah Lungu with Florence Chiwesha Humans Rights Commission Director t at Commemoration of United Nations International Humans Rights Day at Government Complex in Lusaka , Picture by EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE.10-12-2015President Edgah Lungu with Florence Chiwesha Humans Rights Commission Director and Mr George Chisanga LAZ President at Commemoration of United Nations International Humans Rights Day at Government Complex in Lusaka , Picture by EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE.10-12-2015President Edgah Lungut at Commemoration of United Nations International Humans Rights Day at Government Complex in Lusaka , Picture by EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE.10-12-2015President Edgah Lungu with Florence Chiwesha Humans Rights Commission Director at Commemoration of United Nations International Humans Rights Day at Government Complex in Lusaka , Picture by EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE.10-12-2015
Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Chama has dismissed claims that he insulted the people of Southern Province, reports Pan African Radio Journalist Hermit Hachilonde.
The PF Secretary General has been making news headlines following his controversial tribal remarks which disparaged the Tonga Speaking people of Southern Province.
It is alleged that Davies Chama made a demeaning statement that Tonga women must bear their polygamous husbands many children so that one of them can be president after 100 years.
The remarks annoyed Southern Province traditional leaders that made them petition President Edgar Lungu to fire the PF Secretary General and his Deputy Mumbi Phiri for their divisive language.
Officiating at a PF Southern Province mobilization tour at Chikankata Primary school on Tuesday 8th December 2015, Mr. Chama protested that as a cultured person raised in a Christian family which upheld morality and Christian values, he cannot utter sentiments that discriminate a human being on account of one’s tribe.
He said accusations are aimed at scandalizing him for political mileage by some political opponents.
The PF SG further predicated that the accusation will be given prominent in the runner up to the 2016 general elections by his competitors.
“I want to talk about something that I was accessed about, I was accused that I insulted the Tongas, “babeja” where I come from, the mother who taught me was a Christian, I don’t insult, and I don’t insult, but these are politics! People are politicking! No Mr. Chama has insulted the Tongas, I don’t insult! I cannot insult my fathers, I cannot insult my mothers, Tongas are my fathers and my mothers, Chama said”
Vice President Wina launching the 2015 Global Nutritrion report, looking on is Hon. Given Lubinda, Minister of Agriculture and CSO-SUN National Coordinator William Chilufya
Vice President Inonge Wina has called for a multi-sectoral approach to addressing the high levels of malnutrition in Zambia.
Mrs Wina said Zambia’s nutrition status is by almost all measures still in a dire state.
She noted that it her duty to connect what all sectors of the government can do to improve food and nutrition security of the Zambians.
Mrs Wina said this on Tuesday during the launch of the Global Nutrition Report in Lusaka.
The launch was organised by the Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Civil for Society for Scaling up Nutrition (CSO-SUN) Alliance.
‘We can argue about differences in methodologies but the fact remains the same Zambia’s nutrition is worrying. The 2013/2014 Zambia demographic and health survey data show that 40 percent of children under age 5 were considered to be stunted. This is a reduction from the 2007 figure of 46 percent but is still high,’ she said.
Zambia aims to reduce stunting by 23% by the year 2023.
The Vice President said that the PF Government is concerned about the problem of malnutrition hence it is putting up measure to address the problem of malnutrition in Zambia
‘Government has established a cabinet steering committee on nutrition which is meeting regularly to agree on service delivery channels and track progress against targets. We would also like to revitalize the community welfare centres, as focal points for mothers and young children, to access a range of social welfare and nutrition service,’ Mrs Wina said.
She said Government is also revising the National Food and Nutrition Commission Act and strengthening accountability of the national food and nutrition commission (NFNC) to adequately coordinate across key sectors.
‘I am happy to let you all know that a decision was made at the 23rd Cabinet meeting held on 19th October 2015 to approve the introduction of a bill in parliament to amend the current NFNC no. 308 of 1967,’ she said.
The launch was also attended by Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda, his Deputy Minister and two permanent secretaries.
Speaking earlier, Mr Lubinda said that it was embarrassing that Zambia has such higher levels of malnutrition and that it is time to ensure effective diversification of Agriculture for the production of diverse foods.
And in his presentation of the highlights of the Global Nutrition 2015 CSO-SUN Country Coordinator William Chilufya urged the Government and all stakeholders to elevate nutrition across the 7th National Development Plan that Zambia is developing.
He also appealed to the Government to strengthen ability of the NFNC to fulfil its mandate.
‘We need to enhance the NFNC’s ability to coordinate the national nutrition agenda. This includes changing the placement of the NFNC within the Government structure, so that it has the authority to call all stakeholders to the table and hold them accountable to their responsibilities and commitments’ Mr Chilufya said.
He appealed to the Government to ensure that at the next nutrition for growth summit in Brazil, Zambia makes smarter commitments and above all implement them.
Veep Inonge Wina and CSO-SUN National Coordinator William Chilfya
When new Rhodes scholars first visit the prestigious Rhodes house at Oxford University they are inspired by portraits on the walls of some of the great students who have preceded them.
There is the late South African leader Nelson Mandela, the former US president Bill Clinton and pioneering Canadian neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield.
Women scholars will have had a trickier time being inspired, however. Until now there hasn’t been a single portrait of a female former Rhodes scholar.
That has all changed thanks to former student Kelsey Murrell, whose campaigning means that the first ever portrait of a female Rhodes Scholar has been unveiled, more than a century after the scholarship was founded.
Zambian activist Lucy Banda Sichone’s image will take her rightful place among the other luminaries who went on to achieve great thing in the world of politics, science and the arts.
Described as “a voice of conscience” and “a great daughter of the nation,” Ms Sichone made a name for herself by vigorously challenging and chastising government officials before her death in 1998 aged just 44.
The scholarship was founded by Cecil Rhodes in 1902 to enable foreign postgraduates to study at Oxford. Widely considered one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world, it was only opened to women in 1977.
The following year Ms Sichone became the first female Rhodes Scholar from Zambia.
Ms Murrell told The Independent: “She wasn’t wealthy or the head of state. I think it’s powerful to have a portrait of someone who made a difference in ways that aren’t always traditionally celebrated.”
After becoming a Rhodes Scholar in 2012, Ms Murrell noticed there were no women depicted on the walls of the University’s prestigious Rhodes House.
“I saw only, mostly white men,” said the 25-year-old who hails from the US state of Kansas. She added that she spent a lot of time in Milner Hall, where the painting of Ms Sichone will be placed.
“It’s the centre of everything,” she said. “It’s where you have balls and dinners so it’s really important that now when you walk in, you will immediately see a portrait of a woman.”
After leaving Oxford last year with two masters degrees, Ms Murrell became a deputy director at the Rhodes Project, a research charity that aims to promote gender equality through education and research.
Working with the charity and The Rhodes Trust, which awards the postgraduate scholarship to selected foreign students, her dream to have women immortalised in the halls too, became a reality.
“The Scholarship showed Lucy that life could be different,” said Ann Olivarius, her friend and Chair of the Rhodes Project, which jointly commissioned the portrait, painted by another Ms Sichone’s friends, Deidre Saunder.
Ms Olivarius added that “it encouraged her to feel that she had a responsibility to make the world better, that she was worthy and could make a difference.”
Ms Sichone went onto hold a number of government positions in her home country and founded the Zambia Civic Education Association (ZCEA) in 1993.
A widow, who lost her husband early, she left four children and a number of foster children when she died aged 44 in August 1998.
The portrait is chance to “honour her life and legacy,” said Ms Murrell. “I know that for the rest of my life I’ll be coming back to Rhodes House and I’ll know that my community values the kind of work that Lucy did and that it values women and it values black women.”
The Zambian parliament last night overwhelmingly agreed to remove the mixed member proportional representation clause from the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment Bill) National Assembly Bill (NAB) Number 17 of 2015.So what is this mixed member proportional representation that Zambians initially wanted to be included in the Constitution?
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION VOTING SYSTEMS
Proportional representation voting (PR) is the main rival to plurality-majority voting. Among advanced western democracies it has become the predominant voting system. For instance, in Western Europe, 21 of 28 countries use proportional representation, including Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The basic approach of proportional representation is simple: legislators are elected in multimember districts instead of single-member districts, and the number of seats that a party wins in an election is proportional to the amount of its support among voters. So if you have a 10-member district and the PF win 50% of the vote, they receive five of the ten seats. If the UPND win 30% of the vote, they get three seats; and if MMD gets 20% of the vote, they win two seats.
The mixed proportional systems were devised to solve the many problems caused by plurality-majority voting systems. As a rule, these voting systems provide more accurate representation of parties, better representation for political and racial minorities, fewer wasted votes, higher levels of voter turnout, better representation of women, greater likelihood of majority rule, and little opportunity for gerrymandering(manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favour one party or class)
Still don’t understand? Watch this clip.
Script
Queen Lion of the animal kingdom is looking to improve her democracy. She recently allowed citizens to elect representatives to the Jungle Council which governs the kingdom.
However, she recognizes that her citizens are not happy with the voting system. Let’s watch an election on one of the small islands of her Kingdom to see why:
On this island there are three political parties: the two big ones: Kea and Tuatara, and a small third party, Kakapo.
On election day, the citizens each cast one vote for a local candidate they want to represent the range they live in. The results are as follows:
With the average across the island that Tuatara gets 49%, Kea gets 48% and Kakapo gets 3%.
The election is run using First Past the Post, meaning that candidate with the most votes wins. Because Tuatara got the most votes in each range, they get to control 100% of the seats on the council.
And this is why so many citizens are unhappy. The majority of them, the 51% who voted for other parties, get no representation on the council at all.
This seems unfair to Queen Lion but she’s not sure how to fix it. The citizens like having local representatives and don’t want to change the range boundaries.
But luckily Kiwi, one of the citizens of this island, has a suggestion for Queen Lion on how she can make the system better while keeping local representation and leaving the ranges as they are.
The idea is called Mixed Member Proportional or MMP and it makes two changes: the number of seats on the council is doubled and each citizen gets two votes, not one.
Here’s how it works:
At first, election day for Kiwi is just the same as before.
He gets a list of candidates running to represent his local range on the council. Kiwi picks one and the winner will be the candidate with the most votes.
So far the system is no better Tuatara again wins all the local elections and still more than half of the citizens don’t have any representation. But here’s how Kiwi’s second vote and those extra seats on the council fix this.
Kiwi uses his second vote to pick his favorite political party.
These second votes are tallied up and show the percentage of support that each of the political parties has among the citizens as a whole and reveals how imbalanced the council is so far.
To fix this imbalance, members of the political parties are added, one at a time, to make the council more proportional.
Tuatara is the most over-represented and Kea the most underrepresented, so Kea gets the first empty seat.
This continues, adding one Kea at a time until both Tuatara and Kea are over-represented and Kakapo is under-represented, so they get the final seat.
Now, the jungle council represents, as close as possible, the actual preferences of the citizens which is a huge improvement over the old, first past the post method.
There is, however, one interesting question that should arise at this point:
Exactly who decides which members of the parties get those extra seats?
The way it works is that, before the election, the political parties make a list of their favorite candidates in the order that they want them to get on the council.
So, if there is only get one extra seat, the name at the top of their list is chosen. If they get two seats, the first two are chosen, and so on.
This makes MMP a bit different from other voting methods in that it makes political parties an official part of the way the election works.
This may give the party leaders greater control over their members because they can reward or punish their actions by changing their placement on the party list.
While this may be a disadvantage of MMP there are a number of other benefits that Queen Lion, in particular, likes.
Because fewer votes are wasted, it mostly Eliminates Gerrymandering and prevents minority rule.
It also gives more choice to the citizens by encouraging political diversity.
This point is worth expanding on.
Notice how, with MMP, the percentage of votes for the local representatives isn’t the same as for the parties. This is because in the local elections, citizens have to vote strategically.
For example, Kakapo voters don’t like Tuatara at all, but they can tolerate Kea. Since there are so few Kakapo voters they know that their candidate doesn’t have a chance of winning the local election, so it’s really a race between the two big parties. Thus many of the Kakapo will vote Kea in the hope that he might win and be their representative.
However, when it comes to voting for their favorite political party, this strategy doesn’t matter. The more votes a party gets the more representatives it has on the council.
So citizens are free to vote for smaller parties they like like knowing that every vote counts.
Queen Lion reviews her options and decides to switch her Kingdom to MMP. Now, for the first time, the Jungle Council is a true reflection of what her citizens want.
Conclusion
The mixed member proportional representation was about making sure we are all repersented in Parliament.
Subject to clause (1) of Article 78 of the Constitution of Zambia the central function of the legislature is to make, amend or repeal laws. So to effect policies into law they pass through a legislative process which is summarised below for translating a policy or legislative proposal into law. Also all legislative proposals come to the National Assembly as the legislature in the form of a Bill and a Bill cannot become law unless it is goes through the necessary approvals plus the assent by the Presidency as the last step. Both the Constitution of Zambia Bill N.A.B Number 16 and the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill N.A B Number 17 have been presented to the National Assembly as government legislative proposals and the process is described herein below.
2.Understanding the legislative process vis a vis the Constitution making process
A diagram has been used to illustrate the ongoing legislative process in a simplified manner so that we know where we are coming from, where we are and where we are going.
Generally government instructions are sent to Drafting Department at the Ministry of Justice. Within Justice there is an Internal Legislation Committee chaired by the AG (the PS, SG and drafters are members). Once they approve a Bill, it goes to the Cabinet Legislation Committee and then to Cabinet. Cabinet approves it for publication in the Gazette as a Bill before it goes to Parliament. In the case of the Constitutional Bills there was a technical team appointed by the Republican President to consider all the past reports of the four Constitutional Review Commissions and on that basis draft a Constitutional Bill and a Report thereon. The Constitutional Bills were drafted as an outcome of the Report of the technical committee.
The Stages that a Bill passes through to become Law
First Reading: A formal presentation is made by the sponsor to introduce the Bill at this stage there is no debate but an objection can be made for example if, in the case of a constitutional amendment, thirty (30) days have not elapsed since it was published in the Government Gazette as prescribed by the Constitution. (See paragraphs (a) and (b) of clause (2) of Article 79 )
Second Reading: The Minister concerned as the sponsor of the Bill opens up this Stage by undertaking a second reading speech outlining the purpose and the general principles of the Bill. A general debate ensues and the debate process is broken down in two parts after which there is a vote that channels the Bill to Committee stage which is the first part of the Second Reading. These two parts are :
(We are here)
PART ONE • Committee Stage: Most Bills are referred to the standing committee with a mandate closely related to the subject matter of the Bill in issue. So in this case the Constitutional Bills have been referred to the Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights and Gender to consider the text of the constitutional Bills and to make recommendations in the form of a Report which contains comments and proposals on each clause of the Bills after hearing witnesses and experts that appeared before it. This Report containing the comments and proposals is referred back to the Main House and is subjected to what is known as the report stage in the legislative process.
In the current scenario, the Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights and Gender matters has recommended that the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment ) Bill should be withdrawn reasons being that most of the witnesses and experts that appeared before it to give evidence could not reach a consensus on most of the critical issues in the Bill. The Committee also reported on the link between the two Constitutional Bills and how it would be an academic exercise to consider the non-contentious one without taking into account the relationship between the two Bills especially noting that the contentious issues were contained under the Schedule to the Constitution of Zambia Bill.
Despite the committee’s recommendation to withdraw the Bill government wants to proceed to enact what they are terming as the “non–contentious clauses of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment ) Bill and yet again they have not given any position or explanation as to which clauses these are out of the whole text. Nor have they provided an explanation on the implications for the distinction between contentious clauses and non-contentious clauses. The significance of the failure by government to identify and distinguish contentious from non-contentious clauses and their implications is that it is actually a good way for government to conceal how far they have departed from the rational for seeking a new Constitution in the first place. Thus taking us back to the same place we were with a political document rather than a development document and if that is the case one has to ask the question why bother with the amendment if there is no change? The government knows very well that by identifying the contentious from the non-contentious clauses the people will soon establish we are back at square one and we have not moved forward. See the note below on the importance of revisiting at every stage the reasons for seeking a new Constitution.
Part 2 • Report Stage After debate and agreement on clauses and the whole Bill, the Clerk reports on the Bill to the plenary, usually just stating (addressing the Speaker) that, the Bill passed “with amendment” (without giving the details) or “without amendment”.
Third Reading: there is no debate at this stage. The Speaker puts the question to the whole House that the Bill be read a third time. Once it is passed, the clerk prepares the copies for assent. According Clause (2) of Article 78 no Bill can be sent to the President for assent unless it has gone through the Third Reading
• Presidential Assent or veto subject to clause (3) of Article 78 If the President assents the Bill becomes a Law when the President signs the first of the copies. Coming into effect is another matter of course and depends on what the Act itself provides or does not provide, since the default position is that it becomes a Law upon publication in the Gazette. publication in the Gazette – clauses (6) & (7) of the Article 78
3. The Public Interest Issues that need to be addressed
Basically if the Bill passes the Second Reading there is no more debate and at the moment we are one more stage away from the Third Reading yet there has been no debate on each clause to justify why each clause should stand. Why would that be a problem? Since there is a recommendation to withdraw the Bill and this is what the Committee has taken to the House the most reasonable and logical thing to do is to debate the merits for either withdrawing the Bill or proceeding to the next stage.
In the event that government and other supporting MPs insist on proceeding to the next stage it is recommended that opposing MPs particularly opposition MPs must insist, in the public and national interest, that:
Clarification and identification of the contentious and non-contentious clauses and the implications of the distinction on the overall product should the Bill go through; and
The mode of debate should constitute a thorough and exhaustive clause by clause public debate to justify why the clauses have been adopted and the public interest purpose they would serve in strengthening democracy and the democratic institutions of our country. Because the focus for all should not be politics but public and national interest that serves all Zambians and not just a few people.
It must be pointed out that we do not support the current mode of adoption of the Constitution which in effect is virtually absent as it does not involve the people because the process of enactment of the new constitution champions the prioritization of politics over the national and public interest. A clause by clause debate is supported followed by a referendum for the whole Constitution Bill. However under the circumstances the vital point to note is that a clause by clause debate even in this unsatisfactory process will help among other things to:
Carry and keep the people updated on the proceedings that are a determining factor of their legal, social, political and economic destiny in this country rather than keeping them uninformed on the issues being discussed. This crucially provides the basis for justifying a referendum because people would go to a referendum fully informed and aware of the value of the overall constitutional text and the spirit behind the principle of each clause that is debated. In the absence of such a debate how will people make an informed choice to vote on the Constitution at the referendum? So this process would help Zambians recognize they to have a major role in this process and have a responsibility to ensure the outcome is the desired one;
Focus and direct MPs and the general public to the reason why we are seeking a new constitution in the first place. We need to keep asking ourselves at every stage why we want the current Constitution changed. The answer is rather simple to move away from a constitution as a political document that serves a few people on the basis of patronage by adopting a constitution that is a development document that embodies a collective development agenda for a more equitable and democratic society that benefit’s all Zambians;
Clarify the meaning of the clauses to be adopted and reveal how the clauses individually and collectively work together to achieve the original purpose for seeking a new constitution. We cannot lose sight of this;
Remind MPs that a Constitution should prioritize development and national welfare over politics; and
Provide tangible evidence that there is a mechanism in place for MPs and the government to be transparent and accountable to the people of Zambia in the Constitution making process which is important for establishing the legitimacy of the new Constitution.
The other issue is also on the aspect of Government stating that it has no position in the matter, this is a matter that needs to be addressed and solely so before we reach the Third Reading Stage. The moral aspect of this is that the sponsor of a Public Bill not having a standpoint view on the legislative smacks of a dereliction of duty especially that they are also supposed to provide policy guidance on how they intend to shape future legislation. Furthermore the question of how they can engage in a meaningful debate on an issue where they have “no position” also arises. The far reaching logical consequences of such a statement could derail the process or even corrupt it. The point being made is that if you have no position on the Bill that could amount to abandoning the Bill and if a Bill has been abandoned how you can proceed to the next stage.
This is a very critical time in the governance of our country and all relevant stakeholders are urged to take the up the mantle by engaging their Area Members of Parliament so that citizen justice is not only done but seen to be done in the quest to enact a new people’s driven and people serving constitution for the Republic of Zambia.
President Lungu Swearing New Police IG Kakoma Kanganja
PRESIDENT Lungu has warned that Government will not shield anyone serving in public office once found wanting for corruption.
He has also urged the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to guard against “merchants of malice” who want to use it for vengeance against others.
“I have never, and will never, shield anyone serving in public office once found wanting by the law on charges of corruption,” he said.
President Lungu said this during the commemoration of the United Nations International Anti-corruption Day under the theme ‘Break the Corruption Chain’ at Government Complex in Lusaka yesterday.
The head of State has also warned public officials and contractors that should they siphon public funds or any other public resources intended for projects, they will face the law.
President Lungu urged the ACC to always remain vigilant so that it can resist overt and covert attempts by some people who seek to use it as an instrument to settle scores.
He directed that all public institutions that have not yet created integrity committees to do so because this is now a requirement by law.
President Lungu urged Zambians to break the corruption chain by exposing corrupt acts and reporting these to relevant authorities with confidence that they will be protected against unlawful reprisals.
“This year’s theme demands of us, individually and collectively to exercise high moral integrity in order to fight corrupt practices. This entails that we should be responsible and patriotic citizens always willing to blow the whistle whenever and wherever corruption manifests its ugly face,” he said.
He said there is no better way of describing corruption any more than that it is a social problem which leaves devastating effects on governments globally.
He said corruption also robs the poor of their right to enjoy public goods and services.
“Corruption is simply an evil that fuels greed and self-interest because individuals charged with positions of authority abuse their positions for personal gain thereby doing a dis-service to the poor in society,”
“My government re-affirms its commitment to zero tolerance to corruption and will continue respecting the autonomy of operations of the law enforcement agencies, to enable them exercise professionalism and diligence,” he said.
And ACC chairperson Justice Timothy Kabalata said the commission will continue devising ways aimed at breaking the corruption chain in the country.
Justice Kabalata said corruption is devastating on the country’s economic growth, and that if left unchecked, can do the nation more harm.
Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president Lee Habasonda challenged political parties to tell the nation where they get their funding during campaigns as a matter of transparency.
He also called on political parties to avoid corruption during the 2016 election campaigns to avoid losing public funds in court cases.
Mr Habasonda also called for a stop to the harassment of the ACC, saying it must be allowed to operate independently.
And African Parliamentarians Network against Corruption (APNAC) Zambia Chapter chairperson Cornelius Mweetwa called on President Lungu to see to it that the Access to Information Bill is speedily enacted in a bid to promote transparency and accountability in the running of public institutions in the country.
President Lungu with Vice President Mrs Wina and Home affairs Minister Davies Mwila
VICE-President Inonge Wina has called on the World Bank and other cooperating partners to amend procedures and reduce red tape to help the country address its economic challenges.
Mrs Wina said Government has taken note of the country’s fiscal position and necessary remedial measures have been taken.
The Vice-President was speaking in a speech read on her behalf by Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska, at the launch of the sixth economic brief by the World Bank which focuses on energy and examines the measures needed to mitigate the impact of the power crisis in 2016.
“Without getting into details, I would like to remind this meeting that the President has taken bold measures on the fiscal deficit and to ensure that we have a prudent fiscal position,” Mrs Wina said.
She said the measures taken on the monetary side are aimed at addressing the volatility of the exchange rate that will in turn rein in on increasing food and commodity prices.
Mrs Wina said criticisms and merely pointing out challenges being faced does not provide any answers.
“We need to put in place a series of solutions to the difficulties we are facing. I call upon the World Bank and other cooperating partners to be resolute in this regard by reforming their procedures and reducing on red tape in such times of difficulty,” she said.
And Mrs Wina also said Zambia’s energy sector is poised to be one of the major contributors to the country’s foreign exchange considering the measures that Government has taken to counter the energy deficit.
She said the sector will help strengthen the country’s external sector that is in deficit and build reserves that will underpin future growth and assure foreign direct investments.
The Vice-President said firm steps were taken that seem painful now, but will deliver in the long run, in a much sustainable way.
Speaking at the same function, World Bank country manager Ina-Marlene Ruthenberg said the country faces the toughest economic challenges which have been caused by external headwinds and domestic pressure which have intensified over the last few months.
Ms Ruthenberg said insufficient fiscal buffers were built up in the times of higher copper prices, thus limiting the room for manoeuvre.
And minister of Energy and Water Development Dora Siliya reassured that Government is doing its best to end the power deficit.
Ms Siliya, who was represented by director of energy in her ministry, Oscar Kalumiana, said Government has put in place short and long-term measures to counter the effects of the power deficit.
She said Zambia intends to import a further 200 megawatts of electricity from another ship which will soon dock in Mozambique.
The power will be bought in two segments of 100 megawatts, beginning in January and later in March.
The minister said the Itezhi Tezhi hydropower plant, is expected to offload 120 megawatts, while the Maamba coal powered plant will add 300 megawatts to the national grid once it is complete.
Ms Siliya said now that electricity tariffs have been adjusted upwards, many companies both locally and abroad have expressed interest in investing in power generation.
Members of Parliament
PARLIAMENT last night overwhelmingly agreed to remove the mixed member proportional representation clause from the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment Bill) National Assembly Bill (NAB) Number 17 of 2015.
The House voted 110 in favour of pending the proposal with 39 objecting and 1 abstaining.
This followed protracted debate by members of parliament (MPs) on whether or not the clause must remain on the bill.
The Proportional Representation Clause sought to increase the number of members of parliament by 94.
Overall the Amendment Bill number 17 of 2015 seeks to amend non-contentious issues in the 1996 Republican Constitution such as 50 percent plus one Presidential Electoral Threshold and Vice Presidential Running Mate Clause.
Minister of Justice Ngosa Simbyakula in proposing an amendment to the bill meant to remove the proportional representation (PR) clause said this was necessitated by the need to provide for further consultation.
“We are proposing that the proportional representation be packed for the time being for further reflection and consultation to a later stage. The Patriotic Front is not discarding this principle of PR. We thought the people of Zambia should further reflect on this proposal,” Dr Simbyakula said.
During debate, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Chishimba Kambwili said it would be irresponsible for the Government to pass the clause which would entailed more costs.
He noted that the proposal includes increasing the number of MPs to 94 but that Government at the moment cannot meet the cost of more MPs.
He wondered why UPND would object to pending the costly proposal when they (the opposition party) complained that the Cabinet is bloated after it was increased by three.
He said instead of spending money on 94 more MPs it would be more prudent to spend the money on timely payment of salaries for civil servants and for buying medicines.
‘It would be irresponsible for us as the people in Government to add on the number of MPs when we have few doctors, few nurses. That money you want to pay (more) MPs let us go and pay for more teachers, more nurses and buy drugs in hospitals,” he said.
Kawambwa MP Nickson Chilangwa said MPs should earn their seats and suggested that the number could be increased by splitting big constituencies.
UPND MPs Jack Mwiimbu and Garry Nkombo objected to pending the clause because it is what the people wanted to see in the constitution of Zambia.
Finance Minister Alexander ChikwandaParliament has approved K14.9 billion in supplementary estimates covering the financial year 2015.
The supplementary estimates were approved after 107 Members of Parliament voted in favour against 40 who voted against the estimates with one member abstaining.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda who presented the supplementary estimates told Parliament that there have been significant movements in some of the fundamental macroeconomic variables that have negatively affected the country’s fiscal position.
He says the depreciation of the Kwacha against major currencies also meant that government had to spend more than the budgeted amount on items such as debt service, drugs and other goods and services that are acquired using the foreign currency.
Mr. Chikwanda states that the adverse performance of the Kwacha also led to significant shortfalls in the refinancing of fuel importation which resulted into additional pressures on the budget.
He adds that the unfavorable weather pattern that has been experienced in the last two years has left the country with an unprecedented shortfall in the supply of electricity, necessitating the importation of emergency electricity at a relatively high cost.
Mr. Chikwanda says a supplementary provision is therefore required to cover the cost for the importation of electricity.
Meanwhile, Government owed mining companies K5.25 billion in VAT refunds as at 8th December, 2015.
Finance Deputy Minister Christopher Mvunga has told Parliament in response to a question by Mazabuka Member of Parliament that among the mining companies owed is Kansanshi Mine plc which is owed K1.89 billion, KCM which is owed K1.24 billion and Mopani Copper Mines K1.69 billion.
Mr. Mvunga says the amounts owed to the mining companies are being paid as and when the tax payers provide the necessary documentation evidence for VAT claims.
He says ZRA is still awaiting documentation from all the mining companies with outstanding VAT claims that have been withheld.
Mr Amos Chanda
Japan has offered to help Zambia overcome the current electricity deficit by investing in research to ascertain which alternative sources of energy it would invest in.
This was discussed during a meeting at State House today between President Edgar Lungu and the visiting Japanese Prime Minister’s Special Envoy, which touched on various issues including the current power deficit, economic development, the UN Security Council and other issues not of public consumption.
Briefing Journalists at State House this afternoon shortly after the meeting, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda says the Japanese Prime Minister’s envoy noted the need for Zambia to invest in various projects aimed at cementing the energy security.
Mr. Chanda says the Japanese Government has pledged to help Zambia attain this energy security because it is a prerequisite for industrial development.
He says the Japanese have since pledged to bring technology into the country that will make the energy demand adaptive to the environment in the country.
He adds that the Head of State has since assured Japanese investors that Zambia will remain a liberalized economy and that their investment is secured and protected.
And Mr. Chanda says the President also informed the Japanese delegation that Zambia stands by the African position regarding the reform of the UN Security Council.
The delegation which is led by the Japanese Vice Foreign Affairs Minister Hitoshi Kikawada also extended an invitation to President Lungu to attend the first TICAD conference in Africa that will be held in Kenya next year.
TICAD is an open, multilateral and international forum that discusses the future development of Africa.
Fred M’membe
Post Newspapers Proprietor, Fred M’membe, and Reporter have taken plea before High court Judge, Eddie Sikazwe.
The two accused persons denied ever publishing classified information.
In this matter it is alleged that Mr. M’membe and Funga on April 17, in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown did publish classified information without authority.
The letter in question was addressed to President Edgar Lungu by the Anti Corruption Commission Director General.
When asked whether they understood the charge the two accused persons answered in the affirmative and denied the charge.
This case was referred to the High court by Lusaka magistrate Humprey Chitalu after the State received instructions from the DPP to do so.
The matter has since been adjourned to the 26th of January 2016 for commencement of trial.
Meanwhile, High Judge Eddie Sikazwe warned Reporters against dramatizing the proceeding in court.
Judge Sikazwe said he will be forced to summon a Journalist to appear before him once he receives a complaint from the parties.
He warned that Media houses should not play with the English language to change what was said in court.
HH’S “ANGLO PROMISE” AS SOLUTION FOR THE COPPERBELT BLEEDS AS MINING GIANT SHEDS OFF 85000 JOBS – STATEMENT BY SUNDAY CHANDA, VICE CHAIRPERSON, PF MEDIA AND PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
Lusaka, Zambia, 09th December 2015 – Addressing a meeting in Chingola a few weeks ago, UPND leader Mr. Hakainde Hichilema was categorical in telling Zambians on the Copperbelt that if elected to Office, he would bring back Anglo American to take over KCM and create Jobs. While Mr. Hichilema is still rejoicing that 4000 miners lost their jobs on the Copperbelt, we want to remind him that his prescribed remedy, Anglo American shares have fallen to a record low as the company said it would sell huge chunks of its business and shrink its workforce by nearly two-thirds. We wish to inform Mr. Hichilema that his prescribed remedy Anglo American will effect changes will see the workforce drop by 85,000, from 135,000 to 50,000. The group has been forced to restructure after the collapse of commodity prices slashed profits. Anglo will also suspend dividend payments for a year, and consolidate from six to three businesses.
Zambians must disappointed that while Mr. Hichilema sought to score cheaply from Glencore’s shedding of 4000 jobs, he has been promising people on the Copperbelt jobs through Anglo American which is shedding 85,000 jobs. We challenge Mr. Hichilema’s hypocrisy to contrast these figures with the 4000 jobs lost on the Copperbelt Province. We are also demanding for Mr. Hichilema to apologize to the miners on the Copperbelt for insulting them that they were born miners and all they have done is mining and as such PF’s diversification option would not work. This is definitely skewed reasoning on the part of Mr. Hichilema because he himself was born in a cattle-rearing family but did anyone stop him from studying economics?
Apparently, Mr. Hichilema believes Zambians are so gullible and have suffered collective amnesia to forget Anglo American history with the Copperbelt Province. When Glencore shed off 4000 Jobs on the Copperbelt, there was jubilation in UPND as they assumed the miners would easily get swayed by being promised to be taken back to the period Anglo American pulled out of Zambia during the reign of late President Levy Mwanawasa. Zambians recall how the privatization exercise earlier in the years and Anglo American’s decision to pull out condemned Copperbelt to a Ghost City. Yet Zambians know that Mr. Hichilema remains one of the key beneficiaries of Zambia’s privatization exercise to the extent that he cannot tell Zambian miners how much he was paid for valuing their assets.
Zambians cannot trust Mr. Hichilema’s judgement on key national matters. He has never told Zambians how much he was paid for the services he rendered to the privatization exercise which impoverished thousands of Zambians on the Copperbelt thereby crippling the Copperbelt Province. Mr. Hichilema as a Capitalist, is a defender of capital who speaks for capital. He has never defended the interests of the miners, not even during the privatization of the mines. His record clearly shows that he has and will continue to defend Capital interests as priority to those of the workers.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has disclosed that a total of 1, 424, 918 new voters were registered as at 3rd December 2015.
And ECZ Public Relations Officer Raphael Phiri said the Commission undertook 1, 350, 012 updates of voter transfers, card replacements and amendments and 33, 120 notifications of deceased voters during the same period.
Mr. Phiri has since urged citizens in possession of Green National Registration Cards and who are above the age of 18 years to ensure that they register as voters before the end of the mobile voter registration on 13th December 2015.
And Mr. Phiri said in a statement said the 14 days mobile voter registration in March 2016 will take place as earlier announced on dates to be determined by the Commission.
‘All persons living with disabilities are reminded to ensure that their disability is recorded by a registration officer even if they are already registered. The public is also reminded that individuals who registered as voters in 2005/6 and 2010/11 do not have to register again as their voter’s cards are still valid,’ Mr Phiri said.
‘Further, No fee should be charged for issuance of a voter’s card. Members of the public should report any registration officer demanding payment to register as voters to the police.’
Lusaka Province is leading the pack with 264, 142 new registrations closely followed by Southern Province with 242, 341 new registrations.
Northwestern and Luapula Provinces have recorded the lowest number of new registrations at 62, 878 and 82, 493.
