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A 25 year old woman from Serenje has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for assaulting her eight-year-old daughter.
Mirriam Musonda of Zambia township wailed uncontrollably outside the Serenje Magistrate’s Court after she was convicted.Musonda is on February 21, this year, alleged to have burnt her daughter’s hand on a brazier thereby occasioning bodily harm.
Before delivering judgment, magistrate Fidelis Ngosa described Musonda as a ‘heartless’ mother.
The juvenile testified that on February 20, this year, she asked her mother for money as she wanted to procure school books but that the latter refused.
The girl told the court that this prompted her to enter her mother’s bedroom and got a K5.00 to buy books.The juvenile further told the court that when her mother discovered about the missing money, she confronted the victim, who admitted to the offence.
The girl told the court that Musonda got incensed and burnt her right hand on a brazier.
“I shouted for help and I run to my aunt’s [late father’s sister’s] house, and my aunt and uncle then confronted my mother,” she said.But Musonda pleaded not guilty to the offence.
Musonda told the court that her daughter fell on the brazier as she tried to escape to her aunt’s house.
A medical report from Serenje district hospital certified that the juvenile sustained 20 percent burns on her right hand.In her mitigation, Musonda said she has a baby adding that she looks after orphans.
“I have a baby and prison conditions are not good for a child. I ‘m sorry for committing this offence,” Musonda said.However Magistrate Ngosa, told Musonda that her actions are inhuman.
“It is unthinkable that a mother can burn the hands of her daughter over a missing K5.00,” Mr Ngosa said.
Mr Ngosa said the court has a responsibility to protect children.
Prominent Lawyer Sakwiba Sikota has challenged the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to prosecute Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda for failing to report an alleged bribe offer within 24 hours in line with section 39 Sub-section 1 of the Anti Corruption Act No.3 of 2012.
Mr. Shamenda has been recently quoted in the some sections of the media as saying that he is ready to go to prison if refusing a bribe is a crime following the indication by the ACC that it had not instituted investigations on the allegations he made against Dangote official, Bala Zango.
Mr. Sikota who is also United Liberal Party President says in view of the clear provisions of section 39 Sub-section 1 of the Anti Corruption Act, Mr. Shamenda did commit an offence and should be prosecuted.
Mr. Sikota has told Qfm News in an interview that if the ACC does not take up the matter, people will lose confidence in the institution.
He adds that based on the statement by Mr. Shamenda himself, it is also open for any member of the public to make a complaint to the Acting Chief Justice for a tribunal to be set up to probe the Labour and Social Security Minister.
Mr. Sikota says this is because Mr. Shamenda’s conducts amounts to breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct.
He explains that Mr. Shamenda has admitted to having breached the law when failed to report the alleged bribe offer within lawful time of 24 hours.
Vice-President Guy Scott with Finance minister Alexander Chikwanda before a meeting at State House on July 14,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
Hjoe Moono
In Sunday 28th ’s editorial, the Post newspaper continues its attack of Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda (ABC) by citing the illegally recorded conversation of Hon. Chikwanda and the Post’s ‘Other Person’. The paper eulogises Dr. Scott and even has, on their front page, a headline reading: “Luapula backs Scott”, and continues to label ABC as a man without morals and absurdly asks if “Chikwanda has usurped presidential powers by the back door”, whatever that means. All this is based on private, privileged and confidential home discussions which the Post illegally recorded.
The paper downplays its grievous violation of the country’s laws by invading an individual’s privacy and now making a fortune through selling such illegally acquired information. Funny enough the editorial says ABC should not question the morality of the illegal recordings which invaded his privacy but should rather apologise. As absurd as this may sound to any sane person, that is what the paper said! It’s grossly absurd, silly, and strange, that the Post, which clearly has a case to answer here, is telling the nation that its conduct and behaviour should not be questioned because they feel they are doing Zambians a favour by “giving the Zambian people an opportunity to see through Chikwanda”.
Fair enough, in 2013 the Post wrote glaring praises of ABC, and we all saw through ABC as a man who is loyal, dedicated, and disciplined in his work and service to the nation. Even when the economy was nose diving, all was well as the Post did not see the need to speak ill of ABC. Now when the economy is on recovery, the exchange rate stable (though depreciated), suddenly ABC is the devil we should be wary of as per the Post’s ‘new illegal private recording assessment’?
Clearly, such shape shifting by the Post should not get them any sympathy, it would be absurd to sympathise with a business that abuses people’s lives in the guise of doing the nation a favour by invading their privacy, and then selling such to make a profit. God would, and should punish any sane person that sympathises with a business that has no respect for the lives, families and privacies of citizens, a paper that sees itself as some form of deity and believes in the infallibility of its editors, and a business that does not pay its dues as prescribed by the law. We cannot, and should not allow to constantly be swayed in our political moods and decisions by the self-centred aims of a business that does not pay legal taxes.
The paper’s arrogance to address its dues and taking responsibility in illegally recording people’s lives and publishing these without permission is disheartening. Clearly, the reports of the past few days shows an obsessive desire to regain the people’s confidence by ill reporting of friendships that have fallen off.
If all of us were to be recorded in our private homes and bedrooms while having our good red French wines and Whiskeys, then our courts would have to operate 24 hours a day without rest.
Who has never said anything in private that they would not say in public? I certainly have said so many things about my friends, bosses, lecturers, etc etc– in private–things I would however, not say in public nor allow to be published. Morality is in our actions, actual actions, not perceived nor created by a deity run publishing house. Let matters and lectures of morality be left to those schooled and called to the duty of moral teaching: Our priests, imams, Bishops etc etc. Excessive citing of scripture to justify one’s aims is mere deceit, and clearly the use of the Lord’s name in vain and vanity pursuits is blasphemy!
The paper wants ABC to apologise, it wants him to be on knees and seek forgiveness because his house was invaded by the Post. It clearly wants ABC under its grip, they tried it in 2013 when they, like they did to Kabimba and now Dr. Scott, sung praises of ABC’s honesty, hard work, dedication, love for the nation, statesmanship, etc. Clearly ABC did not respond to their carrot dangling, he must have had better things to do than get excited with media coverage. Or perhaps he was wise enough to see through their schemes?
As the saying goes, “You cannot tell a crooked road until you see a straight one besides it”. The Post have Chikwanda on Dr. Scott, can they too publish Dr. Scott on Chikwanda? If we are indeed to harshly judge ABC’s morality as defined by the Post, can there be a counter publication of Dr. Scott’s private, privileged conversations recorded as he drinks his Scottish Whiskey and relaxing at his farm?
We cannot tell Dr. Scott’s “Private Morals” and so it will be immature for any sane person to assume that ABC is immoral. No! But we do know, however, that the now praised Dr. Scott has on record engaged publicly in tribal and racist rants. If that is anything to go by, then we cannot even imagine his private conversations.
As the Bible says: You will know them by their works, not words. The violation of individuals’ privacy and non-adherence to legal tax requirements have clearly shown us who the so called media deities truly are: An inherently unreliable and deceitful bunch of media practitioners who regard the truth as a transitory, flexible concept, which could be molded to suit their current purposes, interests and financial aims.
Finally, let us ask ourselves: Should we judge a man from his private words spoken in private and in confidence rather than his works shown in public? Clearly only a delusional and misguided deity would say yes!
MUFUMBWE member of Parliament (MP) Steven Masumba says he feels sad and sorry for his mother following the Lusaka High Court’s decision to uphold a one-year jail sentence slapped on him by the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court.
Speaking to journalists in Lusaka shortly before he was ferried to prison, Masumba said High Court judge Chalwe Mchenga’s decision has left his family, especially his mother, in shock.
“It has an impact on my family and more importantly to my mother. I think she is in shock right now as I speak. But I have put all this in the hands of God and I know at the right time God is going to redeem me from this situation,” he said.
Masumba said he feels sorry for the people of Mufumbwe, who voted for him because the jail sentence imposed on him will have a negative impact on his parliamentary duties
“I would not wish to say much but obviously my personal decision is that I feel, morally, the issue of being MP there (Mufumbwe) needs to be consulted very well or else I do not feel like continuing,” he said.
Masumba said Mr Justice Mchenga’s decision to send him to prison is the will of God and there is nothing he can do about it but wait for God to redeem him.
The Lusaka High Court has upheld a one-year jail sentence slapped on Masumba by the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court for possession of a fraudulently obtained accounting diploma.
Masumba is alleged to have falsely obtained a technician accounting diploma from the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA).
Masumba is alleged to have falsely obtained a technician accounting diploma from the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA).
Masumba submitted in his grounds of appeal that Mr Muma erred in law and fact when he found that he falsely pretended to have a diploma, obtained pecuniary advantage and failed to report an error on his qualification.
But High Court judge Chalwe Mchenga said in a judgment delivered in Lusaka yesterday that Mr Muma was on firm grounds when he convicted and jailed Masumba to 12 months imprisonment because the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
“The appellant [Masumba]should in fact consider himself to be lucky in the sense of the adverse observation against him, he still ended up with a sentence of 12 months imprisonment.
“The sentence does not come to me with any sense of shock. Consequently, the appeal against conviction and sentence is dismissed Tthe appellant’s conviction for obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretences and the sentence of 12 months is upheld. Leave to appeal is granted,” Mr Justice Mchenga said.
He dismissed Masumba’s grounds of appeal because there was no miscarriage of justice in refusing to admit into evidence Masumba’s 2003 examination result transcript.
Mr Justice Mchenga said the prosecution evidence was not contradictory and that he was not prosecuted for failing to report that he was erroneously listed for graduation.
He said the prosecution’s evidence is complementary and not contradictory, contrary to Masumba’s submissions.
Mr Justice Mchenga said the sum total of the prosecution witness’s evidence is that Masumba graduated and received an accounting technician diploma signed by a NIPA official when he knew he failed one course.
He said Mr Muma’s findings cannot be faulted because Masumba falsely pretended when he presented himself and obtained employment at Lusaka Business and Technical College as a person who had graduated after completing a course.
“I find that the prosecution evidence proved that the appellant made a false pretence before being employed. The appellant was not employed because he had a diploma certificate signed by a NIPA official but because he presented himself as having a diploma certificate after attending NIPA and passing the accounts technician course,” he said.
Mr Justice Mchenga said Mr Muma found Masumba to have acted dishonestly when he obtained employment using a false document.
“Having found that the records at NIPA were authentic, it is inconceivable that the appellant had failed one course and absconded another and, therefore, not completed the course and not qualified as an accountant,” he said.
Mr Justice Mchenga said Masumba was employed on the basis of the irregularly obtained diploma and was allowed to work as well as earn money.
Masumba’s lawyer Mutakela Lisimba said he will appeal against the High Court’s judgment.
Particulars of the offence are that Masumba obtained employment for himself as an accounting clerk at Lusaka Business and Technical College by falsely pretending that he held a qualification of accounting technician when in fact he did not.
The offence is alleged to have been committed between December 1, 2005 and August 25, 2008 in Lusaka.
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has advised former Sports Deputy Minister Stephen Masumba to seriously consider the interest of the people of Mufumbwe and resign his position as area Member of Parliament on moral grounds and pave way for fresh elections to asher in a new representative to complete the remaining months.
FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi has observed that the continued clinging on to the Mufumbwe seat by Mr. Masumba despite his conviction is not only a disservice to the people of Mufumbwe but an affront to representative democracy as well as the entire democratic process of the country.
Mr. Chipenzi who noted that Mr. Masumba’s stay in office as MP is due to the weaknesses in the current defective but functional Constitution, advised the former Deputy Minister to put the collective interests and needs of the people who elected him by resigning on moral grounds.
He also notes that Mr. Masumba’s continued clinging on to the parliamentary seat has neither political nor financial benefits hence the only casualties in the continued appeals are the people of Mufumbwe who are being denied effective representation in parliament.
Mr. Chipenzi was commenting on the High Court’s decision to uphold the 12 month sentence slapped on Mr. Musamba by the Magistrate Court for using a fraudulent diploma to obtain employment.
Below is the full statement issued to the media by the FODEP Executive Director.
There is need for the convicted Mufumbwe PF Member of Parliament, Steven Masumba, to seriously consider the interests and needs of the electorates in Mufumbwe Constituency by resigning his position following the High Court’s decision to uphold his conviction.
Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) strong feels that Mr. Masumba’s continued stay as Mufumbwe MP despite his conviction but clinging on due to the weaknesses in the current “defective but functional” Constitution is a disservice to the people of Mufumbwe and an affront to representative democracy and the entire democratic process in Zambia.
In as much as the law does not allow him to vacate his seat until the court appeal process has been exhausted, Mr. Masumba has a moral duty and responsibility to value and respect the collective interests and needs of the people of Mufumbwe by resigning as MP by invoking the provisions of Article 71 (2) of the Current Republican Constitution which dictate that a member of the National Assembly can vacate his/her seat if he/she is sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months. This will facilitate the holding of a parliamentary by-election so that another person is elected to effectively represent the people of Mufumbwe for the remaining two years before 2016 while he fights his legal battles as an ordinary person.
However, FODEP is also alive to the provision of Article 71(3) which allows a convicted MP to continue “occupying” the seat until the final determination of the court appeal process despite being a “duck on ice”. It states, “notwithstanding anything contained in clause 2 where any member of the National Assembly has been sentenced to imprisonment …appeals against the decision or applied for a free pardon… the decision shall not have any effect for the purpose of this until the final determination of such appeal or application provided that:
i) Such member shall not, pending such final determination, exercise his functions or receive any remuneration as a member of the National Assembly;
ii) If, on the final determination the member’s appeal or application, his conviction is set aside or granted a free pardon…he shall be entitled to resume his functions as a member of the National Assembly…”
It seems that Mr. Masumba is banking on the provision of clause 3(ii) at the expense of effective representation and service delivery to the people of Mufumbwe which does not put him in good standing as a good leader who should take the interests of his people rather than pursuing a path of self-preservation.
With the foregoing, FODEP appeals to Mr. Masumba’s conscience and avoid being selfish by clinging on to the parliamentary seat whose duties he cannot discharge effectively due to his conviction. His failure to resign has neither economic nor political benefit to him but only deprives the people of Mufumbwe of the much needed development through effective parliamentary representation.
Defense Minister Edgar Lungu inspects the Quarter Guard mounted by Zambia Army Western Region Headquarters during an Official visit in Mongu District, Western Province
MMD president Nevers Mumba has commended Minister of Justice Edgar Lungu for opening up dialogue over the constitution-making process.
Dr Mumba said Mr Lungu has shown willingness to expedite the constitution-making process by promoting dialogue.
He said this when he featured on the Sunday Interview on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) television.
“I must commend Mr Lungu for being open to dialogue so that issues surrounding the constitution can be discussed,” Dr Mumba said.
He, however, said the constitution-making process should not be trivialised.
He urged Government to keep its campaign promise of delivering a people-driven constitution.
FAZ have confirmed the kickoff time of Zambia’s mid-week 2015 Africa Cup Group F home qualifier against Niger on October 15.
Football House announced on Tuesday that the Wednesday fixture will kickoff at 18h00 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Both of Zambia’s last two Group F home qualifying games will be mid-week fixtures.
The final match will be against Cape Verde on Wednesday, November 19 and will be tentatively set for National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka in what will be the two sides final Group F qualifying fixture.
FAZ Super Division Week 25
27/09/2014
National Assembly 0-Red Arrows 1(Adubelo Phiri 50″ pen)
Honour Janza has named a 17 home-based players as part of his provisional side for next weeks 2015 Africa Cup Group F qualifier doubleheader against Niger.
The home-based players will go into camp on October 1 in Lusaka before Janza names his overseas call-ups over the coming days.
Janza has dropped and recalled some high profile faces from the FAZ Super Division his the squad.
Out goes goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata of Nchanga Rangers while Red Arrows’ Daniel Munyau and Joshua Titima from Power Dynamos make the team.
Meanwhile, Zanaco midfielder Roderick Kabwe has been recalled after he was snubbed for Zambia’s opening Group F qualifiers against Mozambique and Cape Verde.
This is despite his outstanding performance in the August 31 friendly against Sudan that Zambia won 3-1 in Lusaka.
Also in the team is Nkana striker Ronald Kampamba including Konkola Blades frontman Humphrey Maseneko who was initially called up for last weeks Zambia’s domestic-based players monthly get-together.
Midfielders:Roderick Kabwe (Zanaco), Fwayo Tembo (Clubless), Shadreck Malambo, Bruce Musakanya (Both Red Arrows), Larry Bwalya (Nchanga Rangers), Charles Zulu (Zanaco)
Strikers: Patrick Ngoma (Red Arrows), Ronald Kampamba (Nkana), Julius Situmbeko (Power Dynamos), Humphrey Maseneko (Konkola Blades)
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe chats with Zambia Foreign Minister Harry Kalaba and Rwanda’s Foreign Ministers Louise Mushikiwabo at UN Headquarters on Monday 22-09-2014. PHOTO | CHIBAULA D. SILWAMBA | ZAMBIA UN MISSION
Government today held a series of meetings with German Institutions aiming at appreciating their cooperation with Zambia in Frankfurt ,Germany.
Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba is today Mr Kalaba made a stopover for the meetings today on his way to Zambia from New York, USA yesterday were he was attending the UN General Assembly..
This is according to a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by first secretary press and public relations at the Zambian Embassy in Germany, Yvonne Shibemba.
The Minister is scheduled to meet with the Director of international Chamber of Industry-Foreign Trade,Dr.Jurgen Ratzinger, German Development Bank (KFW) Director of the department for “Africa Regional Programs”and KFW Head of Division Infrastructure Southern Africa Dr. Martin Witte.
Mr Kalaba held meetings with officials from Division Commerce, Rural Development and Natural resources, foreign Trade location Policy, Ministry of Trade, Wiesbaden and the Germany society for International Cooperation (GIZ).
He was accompanied by Zambian Ambassador to Germany, Bwalya Chiti and the honorary consul of the Republic of Zambia to the Federal State of Hessen in Germany, Jorrit Plambeck.
VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott raises PF symbol to the cheering crowd
THE Government and the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) is currently peaceful and stable contrary to squabbles being reported by some sections of the online media, Vice President Guy Scott has said.
Dr Scott said everything was fine and peaceful within the Government and PF in Lusaka and across the country.
He was speaking in Livingstone today at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport upon his arrival to open the Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) 58 annual conference.
Dr Scott, who was accompanied by Local Government and Housing Minister Emmanuel Chenda, was received by Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe, Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Forrie Tembo, LGAZ president Mulenga Sata, Livingstone Mayor Milford Maambo, Livingstone District Commissioner Omar Munsanje and other senior Government officials and PF members..
“On Sunday, I welcomed President Michael Sata back from New York and today we had a cabinet meeting where we agreed everything peacefully and the party is also stable.
The Government is progressing and everything is very peaceful this morning. When you read about lies in some online publications, it is because they have nothing to write about,” Dr Scott said.
And speaking at the same gathering, Mr Munkombwe asked party members to work with established party structures.
He said only established structures help the ruling party to grow.
The 2014 Africa Golf Confederation president’s cup tee off on Tuesday morning with top amateur golfers from across the continent battling for honour at Nkana Golf Club in Kitwe.
Zambian captain Timothy Sondashi leads his compatriots Aaron Simfukwe junior, Denmark Mulambo and Peter Munyinya to try and win a major international trophy.
The Zambian golf team will compete against top international amateurs from Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi.
Simfukwe heads into the president’s cup in good form just a week after sensationally defending the Chibuluma and Roan Open championships back to back early in the month.
Chipolopolo midfielder Mulenga Mukuka has finally made his full debut in the South Africa Premier Soccer League one year after arriving there from Power Dynamos.
Mukuka, who is on-loan from Mamelodi Sundowns, started for his new club Bloemfontein Celtic as they lost 3-0 to SuperSport United on Saturday night.
The midfielder had stayed at Sundowns for a year without playing because of injury before he was loaned to Celtic.
On Saturday, Mukuka showed flashes of class before being substituted in the second half last night.
And Celtic stand-in-coach Fadlu Davids believes that midfielder Mukuka will be a hit with fans.
“He has a lot of potential and is a very flexible type of player who can play in different positions,” Davids said.
“Today (Saturday) we used him in midfield but he can be used upfront as well. He will definitely get match-fit and adjust to our style of play and get better and better.”
THE Post Newspaper has continued blackmailing, demonizing and slandering Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda so as to psychic public hatred among citizens so that they could rise against the minister, civil rights campaigner Brebner Changala has charged.
Mr Changala has also said the continued attacks on Mr Chikwanda were meant to estrange the Finance minister from President Sata so that the Head of State could fire his long-time friend, comrade and compatriot.
Mr Changala said insinuations that Mr Chikwanda had usurped power from President Sata was an attempt to generate public anger and hatred against the Finance minister and has cautioned Zambians to be wary of the Post Newspaper with its propensity to propagate hatred against the people they did not agree with.
He said the Post Newspaper was demonizing Mr Chikwanda because of the favours they had lost following the dismissal of Wynter Kabimba as justice minister and secretary general of the PF.
Mr Changala said inciting and propagating hate speeches against defenseless citizens such as Mr Chikwanda for purposes of separating him from President Sata was not the calling of decent media houses.
He said the Post had gone as far as secretly recording a private conversation Mr Chikwanda was having in his house with the criminal motive of maligning, blackmailing and psychic public hatred against the Finance minister so as to distance him from the Head of State who is a long-time friend and colleague.
Mr Changala has called on what he termed a docile Cabinet to rise and defend Mr Chikwanda who was one of their own and warned that when the Post would be through with the Finance minister, anyone of them would be the next target on the ‘chopping board of slander and blackmail.’
“Why does the Post Newspaper want to control the PF? How much have they got to lose if they stayed away from the PF? PF is not their party and it does not belong to them. I know they want to have control over PF and the government. What have they lost after the dismissal of Wynter Kabimba as justice minister and secretary general of the PF? The Post must stop this behaviour of attacking every Zambian they do not agree with,” Mr Changala said.
He recalled that the Post Newspaper attacked, demonized and verbally abused first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda when it suited them.
Mr Changala said the Post Newspaper demonized, abused and slandered second Republican president Frederick Chiluba up until to his death, adding that the hatred the newspaper exhibited against president Levy Mwanwasa before he yielded to their manipulation was despicable.
He said President Sata, the man they were now praising, was equally a victim of slander, verbal abuse and blackmail when his chances of becoming president were still remote.
Mr Changala stated that immediate past president Rupiah Banda was a victim of the sustained hatred of the Post Newspaper, adding that the newspaper would continue with its campaign against Mr Chikwanda whose only crime was decency.
“Now they are on Mr Chikwanda and who is the next in the line of this dangerous campaign of human destruction. Let the Post Newspaper tell us how much is at stake in the PF for them to have gone vile against citizens perceived to be obstacles to their desires?” Mr Changala wondered.
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema confers with Alliance for Better Zambia leader Father Frank Bwalya
The Alliance for Better Zambia (ABZ) has charged that President Michael Sata’s trip to New York was a “scandalous waste of money” because the Head of State did not do anything while in the United States.
ABZ leader Frank Bwalya said it was unacceptable that President Sata could have led a huge delegation to New York for the United Nations (UN) general assembly summit, a function he did not attend.
Fr Bwalya said President Sata should have stayed home to attend to many other important national issues rather take an astronomically expensive trip to New York and not perform any function.
He said the ministers who travelled with him would have ably represented President Sata as they did and that his presence in New York was irrelevant.
Fr Bwalya said moving a president to far places like the United States often cost a lot of money and that President Sata should have considered the cost implication of his trip that did not help Zambia in any way.
The ABZ leader said President Sata was on record as condemning the abuse of public resources through costly trips that did not benefit Zambians, adding that it was shocking that the Head of State could engage in wasting public resources in the manner he was doing.
Fr Bwalya said President Sata’s voice was still on a named radio station on the Copperbelt where he repeatedly condemned the practices of wasting public resources through expensive presidential trips.
“While President Sata was busy wasting public money on trips that he could have easily delegated to his ministers, some hospitals on the Coperbelt that had acquired dialysis machines did not have consumables for the machines to operate,” he said.
Fr Bwalya said people had to travel all the way to Konkola hospital to access the services of a dialysis machine yet the country had a President who was ‘roaming around the world doing nothing.’’
“Our party, the ABZ, thinks that President Sata’s trip to New York for the United Nations (UN) summit was a scandalous waste of public money. President Sata should have stayed home to attend to many important national issues rather than travel to New York and not perform any function. The ministers would have represented him ably as they did. Moving a president to a far place such as the United States costs a lot of money,” Fr Bwalya said.
He said that many employees in local authorities and public service such as the Times of Zambia and the Zambia Police were not being paid their salaries and advised President Sata to demonstrate that he cared about the suffering of the people by making prudent decisions.
He explained that President Sata was commending his ministers for representing him well at the UN and wondered why the Head of State had travelled all the way to the US just to address his ministers after the UN summit was finished.
“Our position is not that he should rest or recover but we are concerned with the wastage of public resources. They say ‘ichikalipa chumfwa imwine’ (he who feels the pain knows it) and so we believe he is well. We will continue calling on Mr Sata to be moderate because this is a scandalous wasteful of money,” Fr Bwalya said.
President Sata and First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba alights from the plane on arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from New York on sepember 28,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
The Christian Democratic Party says it is overwhelmed with joy to see President Michael Sata actively involved in the affairs of the nation.
Party president Dan Pule said his party is happy that contrary to speculation over the president’s state of health, he was at hand to open the fourth session of the 11th National Assembly and later went to the United States on national duty.
Dr Pule told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that this should shame the prophets of doom who are bent on spreading falsehood concerning the health of the Head of State.
He prayed that God should continue to bless President Sata and grant him good health until he completes the mandate that was given to him by the Zambian people.
And Dr Pule has advised government against exporting raw maize but instead add value to the product in order to create employment for the people and earn more money for the country.
He said 50 years after independence, Zambia should not be exporting raw maize butt encourage the exportation of finished products like mealie meal and stock feed.
Dr Pule noted that at the time Zambia was experiencing food shortages, it had to import mealie meal from South Africa because the South African government refused to sell Zambia maize but mealie meal.
He said this created a lot of job opportunities for South Africans and that their government managed to make more money from exporting a finished product instead of selling raw maize.
The National Democratic Party leader further stated that despite the maize bumper harvest that the country had in the last farming season, there is need to keep some maize in reserves owing to the unpredictable weather patterns the country has been experiencing of late.
He said the nation needs to have some maize in reserves in an event that the yield next year is not as good as it has been this year.
