VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott says he has not yet received a letter from former members of the Technical Committee on Drafting the Constitution demanding an apology from him and the Minister of Justice Wynter Kabimba for allegedly saying they attempted to transfer government vehicles into their names.

In a telephone interview with the Daily Mail on Monday, Dr Scott said he would thus not comment on the matter.

“I cannot comment on that issue. I will have to consult my lawyer when I receive the letter. I have only seen a copy in the Daily Nation,” Dr Scott said

Mr Kabimba was not immediately available to comment on the issue.

It was reported that in a letter dated June 18, 2014, Mwansa, Phiri and Partners acting on behalf of Ernest Mwansa, Patrick Mvunga, Rodger Chongwe, Mwangala Zaloumis,
Reuben Lifuka, Chief Luchembe, Father Bantungwa and Suzanne Matale demanded an immediate apology from Dr Scott and Mr Kabimba.

“The retraction and apology must be prominently placed in the same newspaper that printed the libellous articles.

His honour the Vice-President and the honourable minister are given 14 working days in which to make the retraction and public apology of their statements,” the letter signed by an A.M Shilimi reads in part.

The former technical committee members stated that the words attributed to them are untrue, malicious and very misleading.

It is alleged that Dr Scott and Mr Kabimba accused the former members of the technical committee of trying to transfer government motor vehicles assigned to the technical committee to their personal names.

THE Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby says homosexuals need Jesus Christ and that the church should pray for them.

He told journalists in Kitwe yesterday that ‘gay people need the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ just like anyone else. The Church should therefore pray for them’.

Bishop Welby, who is head of the Anglican church, did not give his church’s specific position on homosexuals but said the church is still consulting on the matter.
The Anglican Church has been split on the issue of ordaining gay priests.

He said the church has an obligation to pray for homosexuals and that prayer is important to a Christian.

“We are trying to listen to what God is telling us on this matter as a church,” Bishop Welby said.

He, however, said there is need to treat everyone with respect and dignity.

“Homosexuality is a global issue, we need to treat others with respect and dignity. It is a human rights issue,” the bishop said.

Bishop Welby also said it is sad that evil-minded people use poverty, unemployment and religion to cause conflict in Africa.

And speaking at a church service at Cathedral of St Michael and All Angels Church in Kitwe, Bishop Welby called on the Church to pray hard so that it can have a positive impact on society.

He said reconciliation is a gift from God for Christians to live in harmony.

“Prayer is what renews our hope as Christians. Reconciliation is important; we need to learn how to love one another.

“We must be a church that loves one another, a church that reconciles with one another, we must be peacemakers. The church should be the unifying factor in communities,” he said.

Bishop Welby urged members of the Anglican Church in Zambia to be faithful witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to lead by example in their daily lives.

“Going to church does not make you a Christian. Being in church does not make you a Christian, otherwise even benches were going to be Christian. It is knowing and loving Jesus Christ that makes us Christians,” he said.

All People’s Congress (APC) president Nason Msoni has said that he still doubts Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba was delegated with Presidential powers to act as Republican President.

This is despite Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska confirming that President Michael Sata delegated Presidential power to Mr Kabimba by signing the instrument of delegation of the functions of President on Friday, 20th June, 2014 and Gazette Notice No. 385 of 2014 dated 27th June, 2014.

Mr. Msoni said that confirmation by Dr. Msiska has raised more questions than answers.

Mr. Msoni said this is because dates for the signed instrument of delegation functions of President and the publication of Gazette Notice No.385 of 2014 do not reflect the chronological order.

He questioned who was acting republican president between 20th June, 2014 when the instrument of delegation functions of President was signed and June 27th 2014 the date for the issuance of Gazette Notice No.385 of 2014.

Mr Msoni alleges that the two dates that the Secretary to Cabinet has indicated could have been backdated as cover up.

A Zambia Railways Livingstone bound goods train carrying an undisclosed quantity of copper concentrates derailed on Friday night at Magoye lay-by 30 km south of Mazabuka District.

The Goods train was transporting copper concentrates for a company called Bridge Shipping Zambia destined for export to South Africa.

Zambia Railways Central Region General Manager Mubanga Jawala confirmed the accident but declined to give further details.

A check by a ZANIS crew that rushed to the scene found that five wagons laden with 33 metric tonnes of copper concentrates but slipped off the rail and overturned in Magoye.
A salvage operation was however tasked to remove the copper concentrates from the wagons onto waiting trucks.

Workers were found busy reinforcing the rail line that got damaged in order to normalise train operations and passage.

A technical team dispatched to the scene to ascertain the cause of the derailment is yet to conclude investigations.

However, workers at the scene attributed the derailment to alleged over loading on the five wagons.

In December 2010, a Zambia Railways train derailed in Kapiri Mposhi disrupting the travelling public and goods transportation while another derailed in Ndola after slipping off the rail line when transporting lime.

The Zambia Railways obtained a US$120 million loan two years ago from the Euro bond to upgrade rail infrastructure in the country and improve operations.

Three other passengers sustained multiple injuries and are admitted at Zimba Mission Hospital where they are receiving treatment.

Provincial Police Commissioner Mary Chikwanda, who confirmed the incident yesterday, identified the deceased as Masuk Bektas, 53 who was driving from Lusaka to Livingstone.

Ms Chikwanda named the three passengers as Huseyin Erben, 28, Aykut Kaesa, 16, and Nathal Zorlu, 46 who are believed to be also officials from the embassy.

She said Mr Bektas, who was driving a Toyota Altezza registration number ALP 574, careered off the road and overturned due to alleged excessive speeding.

Ms Chikwanda said in an interview that the accident happened on Sunday around 07:20 hours about 15 kilometers from Zimba Township.

“Mr Bektas, a diplomat from Turkish Embassy died on spot due to excessive speeding, the car overturned to the right side of the road and he (Mr Bektas) sustained head injuries,” she said.

Ms Chikwanda said the three passengers who sustained multiple injuries, were immediately rushed to Zimba District Hospital for treatment.

She said that Mr Erben sustained bruises on his right hand while Mr Kaesa, a juvenile, sustained a swollen leg.

Ms Chikwanda said Ms Zorlu suffered a backache and was also admitted to Zimba mission hospital while the body of Mr Bektas was lying at Zimba Mission hospital mortuary.

Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda has bemoaned the high levels of corruption obtaining in Zambia’s Judicial system.

Speaking in Lusaka today during the launch of the Judiciary Service Charter Justice Chibesakunda noted that the perception of corruption in the country’s judiciary is real as there are some individuals whom she termed as bad eggs within the judiciary and urged the public to be on lookout such people.

“Distinguished invited guests, ladies and gentlemen, corruption affects everyone and every institution, and therefore the need to rid our society of corruption or indeed any perception of it, cannot be over emphasized.

“In the case of the judiciary, public perception is that there is corruption in our judicial system. Sadly, this is not just a perception, it is reality. There are a few bad eggs within the judiciary,” said the Acting Chief Justice.

[pullquote]“Some people in the copperbelt do not know who the acting chief justice is; they don’t know whether I’m a man or woman and some officials are taking advantage of that. They go to bars and get beer in my name saying Iam the acting chief justice can I have a beer.”[/pullquote]

She said the local court has been a source of concern as due to litigants appear in person hence making them more prone to abuse.

“The local court has been a source of concern. The local courts are to most litigants the face of judiciary. Litigants in the local courts appear in person so they are more prone to abuse. They are more likely to fall prey to unscrupulous court officials and unfortunately, but true, even to adjudicators seeking bribes to secure a more favorable outcome or judgment,” she explained.

She added that scourge was so rampant such that some Judiciary officials have been impersonating her on the Copperbelt and in the process obtaining free things such as beer.

“Some people in the copperbelt do not know who the acting chief justice is; they don’t know whether I’m a man or woman and some officials are taking advantage of that. They go to bars and get beer in my name saying Iam the acting chief justice can I have a beer.”

The Acting head of the country’s judiciary said it is not a perception that corruption exists in the Judiciary but a reality which all should know.

She further said such acts are not only morally wrong but also undermines the public confidence in the outcome of judicial matters.

Justice Chibesakunda however said there is need to rid of the cancer from the system if Justice is to be offered to Zambians.

And Transparency International Zambia Acting President Kalungu Sampa said the Service Charter which was initiated by his organisation will help reduce the possibility of corruption in the Judiciary.

He said the Judiciary deserves credit on the launch and that TIZ together with the Judiciary will now embark on sensitisation in all provinces.