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Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu
LUSAKA Diocese Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu has advised Zambians against thinking that a perfect constitution is the only solution for the country’s problems.
In an interview with the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), Archbishop Mpundu said it is not only the constitution that matters but the people that are charged with the responsibility of managing institutions of governance.
Archbishop Mpundu said even countries that are deemed to have good constitutions still face many social and economic challenges.
He said what Zambia needs is a culture of honesty and integrity by people in government.
Archbishop Mpundu said there is need for moral realignment, especially for people aspiring for office in the country.
The archbishop has welcomed dialogue on the constitution-making process, saying it is only through exhausting all avenues of dialogue that all Zambians will appreciate the process.
POLICE in Lusaka have summoned musician Chama Fumba, alias Pilato, for questioning on Monday over his alleged defamation of the President through his song.
Lusaka Province commissioner of police Charity Katanga said in an interview yesterday that police have been unable to serve summons on Mr Fumba because he is reportedly shifting in hiding for fear of aggrieved members of the public.
Ms Katanga said police officers have been to Mr Fumba’s old home in Ndola but have not found him there nor at other residences they were directed to.
“We have tried looking for him so that we could serve him with the call-outs but we have failed to find him, so we hope that through the media he will be able to get this information,” she said.
She said police have summoned Mr Fumba to Lusaka Central Police Station for questioning on Monday at 11:00 hours.
And Ms Katanga said two Komboni Radio Disc Jockeys (DJs) were summoned on Thursday after information was received that they were playing the song on air.
She said two statements were recorded from the DJs, who denied playing the song and police set them free.
“The two were summoned after we received information that they were playing the song on air but in their interview they denied playing the song but statements were recorded from them,” Ms Katanga said.
And when contacted for a comment, Mr Fumba said he is in Nakonde and is not aware of the summons.
When asked if he would report to the police as requested, Mr Fumba said he would need to consult over the matter.
“I am around and I am somewhere working. I have not been communicated to and I am not aware of any summons,” he said.
Police this week received complaints from members of the public over Mr Fumba’s song titled: “ALungu Anabwela’.
The song in question is allegedly targeted at President Lungu.
Visiting World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti has observed that Zambia’s health system is underfunded.
Dr Moeti has since called on the government and its cooperating partners to invest more in the health sector.
And Moeti says Zambia is still carrying a heavy burden of communicable diseases.
She adds that the country is also starting to face an emerging problem of non communicable diseases, with health facilities that are not strong enough to deal with the problem.
She says the approach the Zambian government is proposing now and which the WHO strongly supports is to develop a strong health system.
Dr. Moeti says this entails the country working towards having more health facilities such as clinics, referral hospitals, adequate health workers and good data system.
Speaking at media briefing held in Lusaka this morning, Dr. Moeti noted that the WHO strongly believes this is the approach that can deliver in terms of dealing with the problems the country’s health sector is facing.
Dr. Moeti states the WHO will keep its work on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria while the approach will be modified slightly in order that it pays more attention to improving and building up a system that will deliver services to address these problems.
He says the intention of her organization is also to sustain the gains that have been made so far in addressing the problems of the country.
And Dr. Moeti has disclosed that in her interaction with the Zambian government it has been agreed that Zambia does not have capacity yet in terms of surveillance and follow ups of rumors of disease outbreaks.
She says the World Health Organisation is of the view that there is need for the country to build capacity by not only putting in place a system where the country will be ready to prevent an outbreak, but will be able to diagnose what it is.
Mike Mulongoti addressing the media at the conference
IT WOULD be cost effective to enact the new Constitution in a phased manner as it has been proposed by Government, People’s Party president Mike Mulongoti has said.
He said it was strange that some stakeholders were rejecting that non-contentious clauses such as the 50+1 percent for a presidential winner and a running mate should go through amendments.
Mr Mulongoti said it would be time consuming and costly to demand that non-contentious clauses in the Draft Constitution should be taken to the referendum when they could be passed through an amendment bill in Parliament.
He told the Daily Nation that he did not understand why some stakeholders were against Government proposed piecemeal amendments which would see the country go to the general elections with the 50+1 percent and running mate clauses in the new Constitution.
Mr Mulongoti stated that he was in agreement with Government’s proposed phased approach in enacting the Constitution so that contentious clauses such as the Bill of Rights could be taken to the referendum.
He said he could not understand why some people were against Parliament enacting the new Constitution which he said would give chance to Members of Parliament to debate the document and make amendments where it would be necessary.
Mr Mulongoti said the advantage of using Parliament to make amendments to the Constitution was that the MPs would have a chance on the floor of the House to compel the Minister of Justice to make amendments to clauses that would be controversial.
He said that he was at a loss that the 50+1 percent which was a majoritarian system of electing a president was now being opposed to go to Parliament so that Zambia could hold the next general elections under the new electoral law.
“I do not see the problem with Government’s proposal that we could have a new Constitution in a phased manner.
We also do not have any quarrels with the referendum but may be the timing. Some people say holding the referendum simultaneously with elections is cost effective and I agree with that. But I am at a loss why there has been resistance that non-contentious clauses such as the 50+1 percent which is a majoritarian system of electing a president should be amended by Parliament.
Zambians have always agreed on this one and the running mate and it would make us go to the general elections next year with these clauses in the Constitution,” Mr Mulongoti said.
He explained that the first past the post system would not give political parties that would be competing in the elections next year a second chance to be voted for if the contenders failed to amass more than 50+1 percent of the vote.
Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) Induna Kalonga (l) confers with Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) Board Chairman Wilson Nyirenda SC (c) as Western Province PS Augustine Seyuba (r) listens on during Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Stakeholders Workshop at Country Lodge in Mongu District, Western Province
THE appointment of William Nyirenda SC as chairman of Finance Bank Zambia Plc following the arrest and resignation of Rajan Mahtani who was until this week the chairman of the bank, has been challenged.
Mulenga Fube, a governance activist, has protested the appointment of Mr Nyirenda as chairman of Finance Bank Plc citing conflict of interest because he (Nyirenda) is also the chairman of Patents and Companies Registry Agency (PACRA) where the alleged forgery by Dr Mahtani took place.
In a letter to Commerce Minister, Margaret Mwanakatwe, Bank of Zambia and copied to the Managing Director of Finance Bank Plc, Mr Fube said the fraudulent transfer of 500 000 000 shares from Zambezi Portland Cement to Finsbury Investment took place at PACRA, an institution chaired by Mr. Nyirenda.
Mr. Nyirenda when contacted confirmed his position at PACRA but said he was only going to respond to Mr. Fube’s complaint after seeing the letter.
When asked if his position as chairman of PACRA would undermine the investigations against Dr Mahtani, Mr. Nyirenda responded: “If that be the case, we shall respond when we see the document.”
Mr Fube said he had written a public interest complaint against Mr Nyirenda to the Minister of Commerce and the Bank of Zambia because the new Finance Bank chairman was deeply conflicted to chair the bank.
He complained that Dr Mahtani could not appoint Mr Nyirenda to succeed him as chairman of Finance Bank because the forgery allegations he (Mahtani) was facing were committed through PACRA.
Mr Fube said Mr Nyirenda’s appointment had the potential to undermine the due process of the law and could easily interfere with PACRA and public interest.
“The offences of forgery involving the transfer of 500 000 000 shares from Zambezi Portland Cement to Finsbury Investment can only be conducted at the Patents and Companies Registry Agency (PACRA), a public body chaired by Mr William Nyirenda SC. The acceptance of this appointment by Mr Nyirenda to be chairman of Finance Bank owned by the person being prosecuted conflicts with his position as chairman of PACRA, an institution where the forgery offences are alleged to have been committed. This conflict is likely to undermine the due process of the law and interfere with PACRA and public interest,” Mr Fube said.
He said the Bank of Zambia should consider Mr Nyirenda’s position as chairman at PACRA before approving him as chairman of Finance Bank so that the due process of the law could be protected in dealing with Dr Mahtani’s forgery case. Police early this week arrested Dr Mahtani for fraudulently transferring 500 000 000 shares from Zambezi Portland Cement to Finsbury Investment and he immediately stepped down as chairman of Finance Bank and immediately appointed Mr William Nyirenda to succeed him.
In a brief statement, Finance Bank stated that Dr Mahtani was arrested on an offence the State through suspended Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mutembo Nchito had entered a nolle prosequi and then Attorney General Mumba Malila made an undertaking that the matter had been permanently closed.
Community Development Minister Emerine Kabanshi (r) shakes hands with Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) Vice President Newman Bubala (l) after delivering his speech as Western Province Minister Poniso Njeulu (c) looks on during Labour Day Celebrations at Mongu Stadium in Mongu on Friday.
Western Province Minister Poniso Njeulu says Mongu District is receiving the lion’s share of developmental projects that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is implementing in the province.
Mr Njeulu said the district has become the mirror of development prompting many people in the province to realize that PF is the only party that can bring meaningful development.
Speaking when Mongu central Member of Parliament Nathaniel Mubukwanu who is also southern Province Minister paid a courtesy on him in Mongu today, Mr Njeulu said the district has the best road network in the country.
“The PF government has rehabilitated the township roads in the district giving me the confidence to inform you that the district which is in your constituency now has the best road network in the country”, he said.
Mr Njeulu said the developmental projects progressing well in the district like the Mongu Kalabo road clearly demonstrates government’s commitment towards improving the livelihoods of the people in western province.
And speaking earlier, Mongu Central Member of Parliament Nathaniel Mubukwanu who is on a tour of his constituency to monitor developmental projects said his constituency could not have developed without the able leadership of President Lungu.
Mr Mubukwanu expressed happiness with the developments that his constituency has recorded since the PF Government came into power.
He said President Lungu is determined to ensure that the PF Government remains relevant to the people of western province by bringing development close to their door steps.
“Am happy to say that the constituency has received the full share of development owing to President Lungu’s commitment to develop the country as a whole”, he said.
Mr Mubukwanu will check on developmental projects that are being implemented both under the constituency development funds and by the provincial administration.
The University of Zambia (UNZA) management has promised to pay lectures the excess teaching allowances next week on Tuesday.
The UNZA lecturers have been on a work stoppage since Monday on June 1 demanding payment of the excess teaching allowances.
UNZA Registra Kavwanga Yambayamba said in a Circular addressed to academic staff made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today that the management will pay the excess teaching allowances on Tuesday next week.
Dr Yambayamba appealed to the lectures at the highest learning institution to call off their work stoppage as their grievances are being addressed.
Dr Yambayamba has assured the academic staff that they will be paid their excess allowances next week on Tuesday 9th June and has since urged them to resume their normal teaching activities on Monday 8th June 2015.
Academic staff at UNZA went on a work stoppage on 1st June and gave the management one month period in which to pay them the excess teaching allowances.
FAZ Super Division leaders Zanaco on Saturday look set to open a ten-point lead at the summit when they host Nkwazi at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
Both sides clash in this week 12 Lusaka derby in high spirits following their respective midweek victories.
The Bankers thumped Red Arrows at home while the Police side disconnected champions Zesco United 2-1 away in Ndola.
With second placed Zesco who have 20 points not in action, Mumamba Numba’s Zanaco could move to 30 points if they beat Nkwazi.
However, Nkwazi are not push-overs and are further motivated by the possibility to go second should they win at Sunset.
Nkwazi are third on the table with 19 points after 11 games.
“Zanaco’s game is different from the match against Zesco. We just have to work hard so that we have a positive result,” Nkwazi coach Elijah Chikwanda said.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Lusaka’s Woodlands Stadium is hosting a double-header involving Nkana, Napsa Stars, Green Buffaloes and Red Arrows.
Bottom placed Napsa face Nkana in the lunch time kickoff match before Buffaloes tackles Arrows in the Lusaka derby.
The only game on the Copperbelt this weekend will see improved Forest Rangers host National Assembly at Dola Hill in Ndola.
Mighty Mufulira Wanderers led by inspirational skipper Taonga Bwembya have travelled to Mazabuka to confront Nakambala Leopards at Nakambala Stadium.
Meanwhile, FAZ has postponed the potentially explosive Copperbelt derby between Power Dynamos and Zesco set for Kitwe.
FAZ Super Division Week 12
Green Eagles Vs Nchanga Rangers
Nakambala Leopards Vs Mufulira Wanderers
Forest Rangers Vs National Assembly
Lusaka Dynamos Vs Konkola Blades
Zanaco Vs Nkwazi
Napsa Stars Vs Nkana
Green Buffaloes Vs Red Arrows
Government has agreed to reduce mineral royalty tax for underground mines to 6 percent from a proposed 9 percent in a bill to be presented to parliament for approval later this month.
Special assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda told Bloomberg that the decision was taken because the costs of production in underground mines are far higher than open-pit operations.
Mr Chanda said open-pit mines will pay the 9 percent rate.
The new tax system is due to come into effect on July 1.
Companies including Glencore Plc and Vedanta Plc operate the biggest underground mines in Zambia, Africa’s No. 2 copper producer, and stand to benefit the most from the royalty cut.
Government introduced a royalty-only tax system for mines this year, charging 20 percent for open-pit operators and 9 percent for underground mines.
President Lungu driving a caterpillar after the launch of the Solwezi-Chingola rehabilitation works
President Lungu has commissioned the ugrading of township roads in the North western province.
President Lungu said he wants to improve the lives of people through a good road network that will spur economic development across the country.
Meanwhile, Local Government and Housing deputy minister Danny Chingimbu said government is committed to fighting poverty in the North Western province through construction of township roads in Solwezi, Kasempa, Zambezi and Chavuma districts.
Mr Chingimbu has since appealed to Councils in the North Western province to come up with a proper maintenance schedule for the new roads that will soon be upgraded in their districts.
President Lungu is on a three day working visit in the North Western province.
Mukinge Mission School of Nursing Senior Tutor Chiyaze Nyongi has praised government for financing the construction of the 25 rooms hostel and a kitchen for students at the institution.
Mr. Nyongi said the construction of the hostel is progressing well and the structure will be ready for commissioning before the next academic intake which commences in July this year.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Kasempa that the construction of the Kitchen will start after the completion of the hostel in line with the phased flow of funding from government.
Mr. Nyongi has however said there is need for more student hostels due to the rising number of students enrolling at the health institution.
He further said the recent introduction of E-learning in nursing schools by government will also require more hostels as the students will be required to be accommodated for short residential classes at some point.
And Mr. Nyongi said the upgrading of Mukinge School of nursing from offering enrolled nursing courses to registered nursing has greatly improved the student’s enrollment.
Mr. said the school remains committed to offering quality education and contribute to the required human force in the health sector.
President Lungu commissions the Solwezi-Chingola road at St Dorothy in Solwezi on Thursday 4th June.Picture by Henry Salim
President Edgar Lungu has officially commissioned works for the rehabilitation of the Solwezi- Chingola road with a caution against shoddy works.
President Lungu has warned the contractor that his government will not accept substandard works.The Head of State said government will spend over K1 billion on the road and wants the project to be completed within the stipulated 24 months.
President Lungu says he is excited that his administration has fulfilled its promise of rehabilitating the Solwezi- Chingola road.
The President said despite the road being an important link to Zambia, it has remained poor for a long time.
And President Lungu has also urged RDA to supervise the works diligently to avoid poor workmanship.
Green Party leader Peter Sinkamba
GREEN Party President Peter Sinkamba has provided a lawyer to represent a 58-year-old man of Sinazongwe who was dragged to Choma Magistrate’s Court for cultivation of marijuana which he claims to treat epileptic patients and exorcise bad spirits.
Maxon Siansimba, a farmer of Bulozya Village is charged with unlawful cultivation of psychotropic substances. It is alleged that on May 24, this year in Sinazongwe, he unlawfully cultivated 15.1 kilogrammes of cannabis plants from which marijuana can be extracted.
When the matter came up for plea before Chief Resident Magistrate Willie Sinyangwe on Friday last week, Siansimba admitted the charge but he was not being represented by a lawyer.
He told the court “I admit the charge. I smoke the marijuana. I also use it to protect people from epilepsy. I also administer it on infants to protect them from bad spirits”.
When asked if he had lawful authority to administer the drug, Siansimba replied in the negative and he appeared yesterday for written facts Mr Sinyangwe.
Legal counsel Clement Tafeni of Kuta Chambers Legal Practitioners who represented Siansimba in the matter, made an application.
“We would to charge the plea to not guilty on the basis that the accused has been charged that he was cultivating psychotropic substances and he told the court that he was cultivating the plant to treat epileptic patients,” Mr Tafeni said.
He stated that Siansimba is charged under Section 9 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Act, as amended by Act No. 13 of 1994 which among others, provides that no person shall be guilty of the offence under this section if the plant is cultivated for purposes of medicine.
But DEC public prosecutor Francis Mphanza objected to the application saying he was not sure whether the submission was to change the plea or submit that his client was not guilty.
The court granted the application and Mr Tafeni applied for Siansimba’s bail which the court granted in the sum of K10, 000 in his own recognisance with working sureties. Trail was set for August 14, this year.
And Mr Sinkamba said in a statement yesterday that he was in contact with Siansimba and Mr Tafeni is under instruction to apply for a constitutional bail pending determination by High Court.
“Our contention is that in the last 21 years that the Act has been in force, Government has willfully neglected to delegate an institution or authority to permit the cultivating or administration of marijuana for medicinal purposes,” he said.
He said neither the ministry of Health nor DEC has been delegated with such permitting authority while some herbalists freely administer herbs for medicinal purposes to patients.
Deputy Inspector General of Police in Charge of Administration Kakoma Kanganja has warned police officers against communicating official documents and statements on social media.
Mr. Kanganja said police officers have to be mindful of their interactions on social media networks adding that such acts may land one in problems if found wanting.
The Deputy Inspector General in charge of Administration warned that police officers should not involve themselves in politics.
He said the loyalty of all officers is to the President and the government of the day.
He added that the Ministry of Home Affairs is in the process of amending all disciplinary procedures which will also be effected on all officers including superiors once found wanting.
Mr. Kanganja said he is aware of the lack of post IDs for officers that graduated in 2012 a situation which had affected promotions for other officers.
He said officers should follow orders adding that no one should refuse transfers as they all attested to serve anywhere when posted.
He explained that refusal of transfers has caused pressure and distortions on the payroll.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kanganja has instructed police supervisors to remove all junk vehicles from police premises.
He said once a police report has been issued for vehicles involved in road accidents police should ensure that the said vehicles are collected.
He was speaking today when he visited Katete District police station on his familiarisation tour of the Eastern province.
Mr. Kanjanga is in the province to look at achievements, staffing levels, state of infrastructure, transport and discipline among other administrative matters.
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has warned that he will not hesitate to dismiss anyone undermining his authority for appointing members from the opposition political parties in his administration.
The President has advised members of the Patriotic Front (PF) who are not willing to work with people from the opposition to leave the Party.
He wondered why members from PF were questioning his decision to appoint people from the opposition political parties when they never did so with the late President Michael Sata.
“Take this lesson from Mr Sata who was working with the people from the opposition and appointing them without any excuse at all, why should I be questioned?” he asked.
Mr Lungu said this at Solwezi Council grounds yesterday during the launch of the rehabilitation of township roads in North Western Province.
He said the standards that he was using were the same as those that the late President Sata used.
“If you want to move out from the party you are free to do so, we will run Government on merit,” he said.
The President said he wanted to work with everyone and those that did not want to do so, should give way for others to work.
The President had received reports that some people were trying to undermine provincial minister for North Western Dawson Kafwaya, who was appointed from the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).
“This message is also intended for those that want to undermine the provincial minister Dawson Kafwaya, when I picked him I knew he would deliver, I knew he was Kaonde and from UPND but above all he is a Zambian, let him work peacefully.”
“Amos Malupenga is permanent Secretary here, I don’t know what tribe he is, for all I know is that, he is a journalist, you can make recommendations but it’s me who has the final say and I will not hesitate to fire you if you frustrate my provincial administration,” he said.
He advised Mr Kafwaya to work under his pleasure as he was the one who appointed him and the only one who could fire him.
He urged the provincial administration to listen to what the people wanted in the province as they were their masters.
The President said he was in the province to deliver to the promise to work on the roads which were in a bad shape.
Mr Lungu told the residents who had gone to witness the launch that Government had entered into partnership with China to deliver 4000 solar driven milling plants for people to buy mealie meal cheaply.
He said the milling plants would be in the country before the end of this year.
Local Government and Housing deputy minister Danny Chingimbu said among the roads to be rehabilitated in the province include 25 kilometers of roads in Solwezi, 9.27 kilometers in Kasempa and 11.5 Km in Zambezi.
President Edgar Lungu during the launchPresident Edgar Lungu during the launch
