Some sections of the media have reported that the Central committee had been dissolved but PF deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri in an interview clarified what she meant when she said the subcommittees have been dissolved;

“What we have dissolved are sub committees such as the committee on health headed by the chairperson Joseph Katema, the youth committee headed by honourable Chishimba Kambwili and others.”

She said the position of chairperson in the subcommittees has not been touched because only the president has powers to appoint the chairperson.

She said all positions will be filled soon adding that the positions of chairman can only be filled through presidential appointment.

Ms Phiri complained that journalist have the tendency of misquoting facts when it is clear what she was saying.

“Some journalists are not professional, they played the clip on radio but failed to interpret what I said,” she said.

She appealed to journalists to clarify facts whenever they were not clear than rushing to report on things they are not clear of.

GREEN Party president Peter Sinkamba has called on the Government to honour freedom fighters with retirement packages and not just medals.

Mr Sinkamba said Africa Freedom Day symbolizes the progress that liberation movements across Africa have made to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.

“The nation was privileged to be blessed, and spiritually released, by the founding father Dr Kaunda,” he said.

Mr Sinkamba however said it is unfortunate commemorating Africa Freedom Day in Zambia;

“We have failed to genuinely honour our founding fathers for the sacrifices made to liberate us from foreign domination and exploitation. It all started in 1991 when the MMD Government recklessly repealed the State Leaders Retirement Benefits Act, 1990, after Dr Kaunda and UNIP lost election. Consequent to the repeal, most leaders lost their hard earned retirement or terminal benefits. In justifying the systematic obstruction and denial of terminal benefits, MMD leaders argued that UNIP leaders lost an election, and that loss of an election was not retirement. Yet, Dr Kaunda lost an election and he has been given his retirement package. This is double standards and shameful act in the eyes of every right thinking Zambian.”

Mr Sinkamba said that one of the affected former leaders, by the reckless decision of MMD, and inherited by the PF Government, is liberation veteran and former UNIP Secretary General Grey Zulu.
Grey Zulu one of the three surviving members of the first Cabinet honored on Africa Freedom Day with Dr Kaunda.

The old and ailing veteran served in various government and party portfolios from independence in 1964 up to 1991. He was the first Minister of Commerce and Industry in 1964, and later moved to Transport and Works in the same year. He was Minister of Mines and Co-operatives between 1965 and 1967; Minister of Home Affairs 1967 to 1970; Minister of Defence 1970 to 1973; Secretary General of the Party 1973 to 1978; Secretary of State for Defence and Security 1997 – 1985; Secretary General 1986 to 1991.

Mr Sinkamba said Mr Zulu even sued government and won the case.

“I doubt whether he has been paid his terminal benefits up to date,” he said.

Mr Sinkamba said, “Hundreds have since died, most as paupers, due to depressions, neglect, pain and suffering, following denial of hard-earned terminal benefits. Some who died such miserable deaths were also honoured posthumously on Monday. Some surviving, as was evident in pictures on TV and daily papers, are living in sheer squalor and destitution.”

Mr Sinkamba wondered why give freedom fighters medals instead of their terminal benefits.

“Of what value are the medals to them when, together with their families are living in squalor and destitution? Of what value are the medals to families and their clans when government neglect and greed directly or indirectly contributed to deaths of their beloved ones? Of what value are the medals to the families of the deceased when government has no clue of where they were put to eternal rest, or indeed who tenders their graves? Of what value are the medals to the young generation, when there is no library or museum in the country where the youths could take time to visit and read the history of persons whose names were called for honour so as they appreciate the contributions of the veterans to the liberation of the country and their roles post-independence?”

He said the cost of providing decent pensions and compensations to these gallant men and women, living and dead, cannot exceed K5 billion.

“Much as we know the country’s fiscal position has been weakened as a result of over-borrowing and over-consumption by government leaders and parastal chiefs serving post-1991, the Green Party believes we need to do pay Caeser that which belongs to Caeser. Government can paying compensations and pensions to these people by introducing a temporary Veterans and Heroes Levy of 3.0% applied to all political leaders serving government today starting with the President and his Vice, Ministers and their Deputies, MPs, Permanent Secretaries, District Commissioners, parastatal chiefs, and all other political appointees. After all, some of these political appointees have received gratuities two or more times in the last 20 years, yet our gallant forefathers are suffering in squalor and destitution.”

Zambian Voice Executive Director Chilufya Tayali has been acquitted of rape by the Lusaka Magistrate Court.
And Mr Tayali has vowed to take on all corrupt officials in President Edgar Lungu’s administration including former President Rupiah Banda.

Magistrate William Banda delivered judgment Friday morning and stated that the state had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt that Mr. Tayali had raped Ruth.

He said there was overwhelming evidence before the court that Ruth had consensual sex with Mr. Tayali.

Magistrate Banda ruled that the state failed to prove that there was any struggle before the sexual encounter as they were no physical marks on the bodies of the two.

He added that the medical report also did not report of any physical injuries on Ruth’s body.

Magistrate Banda said Ruth only reported the case to the police to save her relationship with her ex-fiancé, Joshua Muleya.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tayali told Journalists shortly after being acquitted that he felt relieved and vowed that the outcome has given him more resolve to expose the ills of society.

‘It gives me so much relief especially in my work as an activist. I have had people who have dismissed based on this case, much more, I have had serious disappoint especially with the state, each time I raised issues instead of them answering to my issues, they were dwelling on this case,’ Mr Tayali said.

He added, ‘I’m very very disappointed especially with the people at State House like Amos Chanda, instead of answering to the issues I was raising, they went on rampaging , ranting over a case which was subjudice. It made me wonder, now this is not just about me, it is about the respect that this government has for the judiciary.
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Mr Tayali said, ‘If government officials and the executive will be commenting on cases at will without any consideration, how much pressure are they putting on the judiciary?’

‘I think this victory if I could call it victory or this acquittal sends a message to the executive that if people are raising questions about their governance, let them not be quick to fix them, they were hoping they were going to fix me using this case.’

He said, ‘This man (Magistrate Banda) has shown the executive who have been campaigning, am rejuvenated now.

All the corrupt people now including RB, am coming. I have no rape case now.’

Mr. Tayali was facing one count of rape for having unlawful carnal knowledge with Ruth Zulu on 16th July 2012 without her consent.

And ZANGO Youth Consortium chairperson Kayimbo Katengo has described Tayali as a disgrace to the youths in the country.

“It is with a heavy heart that I being a Board founding Member of the Zambian Voice inform that nation today that I am deeply disappointed with the conduct of our Executive Director, Chilufya Tayali. It was on noble ideals that we set up the Zambian Voice. Our aim was win the trust of all members of society in delivering justice; human rights and a corrupt free Zambia. Over the last few years of its existence, the Zambian Voice has made a lot of progress. Sadly, Mr Tayali has unilaterally decided to turn the organisation into a one man arena,” he said.

In a statement made available to Lusaka Times this morning, Mr Katengo added;

The revelations that he alleges to expose concerning Former President Rupiah Banda and the Former Chief Justices seating on the Mutembo Nchito Tribunal are not only unfortunate but make Mr Tayali a disgrace to the youth. We have championed for youth empowerment through personal mentorship development. It is shameful for Mr Tayali to abuse that trust which emissaries of our society placed in him as an emerging civil society leader in Zambia. Today, without a thread of shame, Mr Tayali has the audacity to speak out against these individuals.

There is no prognosis of justice in Mr Tayali’s utterances. Actually, Mr Tayali is not a paragon of integrity.

Following Mr Tayali’s unfortunate conduct, he has disadvantaged millions of young people across the country from receiving personal mentorship leadership development from prominent figures of our society because now they will be concerned about the safety of the information they share with their apprentices. His outrageous outbursts must be ignored by well meaning Zambians as the after shock of a dying horse.

It is public knowledge that Mr Tayali campaigned for the PF and President Edgar Lungu despite clear guidelines that the Zambian Voice shall not engage in politics. It is regrettable that Mr Tayali can be championing a crusade against President Edgar Lungu.

Tayali must show respect for judicial officers. Former Chief Justices honestly embraced him. It just shows how ungrateful and dishonest some youth can be. I am deeply saddened that Tayali has sold his Soul to the highest bidder. We championed the DBZ loan saga with a passion, today it is not a factor. We demanded for integrity from public leaders, I wonder where Mr Tayali’s integrity stands in all his recent public utterances.

RESPECT FOR THE PRESIDENT

I take this opportunity to kindly ask my good comrade Tayali to tone down in his speech and be civil when discussing the President. His Excellency, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu deserves to be respected by all citizens and residents in Zambia. The bitterness coming from the Zambian Voice is not inspiring for many ordinary Zambians in championing good governance.

MY RESIGNATION FROM ZAMBIAN VOICE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mr Tayali’s conduct has compromised the very foundation on which the Zambian Voice thrived. It was citizens from all walks of life that we interacted with that gave Zambian Voice the information on so many issues going on in our country. The treacherous conduct of Mr Tayali has robbed the Zambian Voice of the respect it enjoyed in the eyes of ordinary Zambians.

It is on this ground that I officially announce my resignation from the Zambian Voice.