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A Lusaka man who was recently arrested for masquerading as a medical doctor says he resorted to pretending as a medical doctor because he needed to feed his family.
Bonaventure Ng’uni, 25 of Lusaka’s George Compound told Journalists outside the Lusaka Magistrate Court shortly before he was sentenced to three and half years that he does not have a job and life is hard.
Magistrate Sheila Mweene convicted and sentenced Nguni to three and half years imprisonment with hard labour on four counts for impersonating a public officer, obtaining money by false pretences and obtaining goods by false pretences.
“ I have two children and my wife is six months pregnant and I don’t have a job, life is hard and I thought I could make some money by posing as a doctor. Infact I never even administered any treatment, I was just promising people and getting their money,” Nguni revealed.
He added, “I’m so sorry for my actions and I apologise to the nation. I was driven into this crooked life because of hardships.”
Facts of the matter are that Ng’uni this year masqueraded as medical Doctor at Levy Mwanawasa Hospital where he swindled unsuspecting members of the public on the pretext that he could offer express medical care.
Ng’uni also obtained two laptops from Peter Lemba of UNZA Ridgeway campus after duping that he would pay for the laptops but he never did.
Ng’uni admitted to all the four counts.
And in mitigation Ng’uni pleaded for leniency before the court as he had two children and a six months pregnant wife adding that he was the sole bread winner of his family.
But Magistrate Mweene told Ng’uni that he had insulted the medical profession by masquerading as medical practitioner and had caused a lot of damage to society and therefore deserved a custodial sentence.
Choma Green Eagles are targeting to shock Nkana in this Saturday’s FAZ Super League Week 16 match at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
The two teams battled to a goalless draw in the reverse fixture played on the opening day of the season.
But Eagles coach Justin Chinama said the worst result his side wants to garner from Wusakile is a draw.
“The worst result we should get is a draw. We don’t want to start dropping points from the first game of the second round,” Chinama said.
Eagles went into the mid-season break placed eighth on the table with 17 points from 15 matches while defending champions Nkana are third with 29 points.
“If we can pick maximum points there it will be better,” he said.
Chinama predicted a tough encounter against Nkana.
“Second round matches are tough so we will give out our best. We know that they (Nkana) would want to defend the league,” he added.
The Super League resume this weekend after a two-week mid-season break with leaders Zanaco aiming to maintain their stay at the pinnacle of the table.
Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda (right) and Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) General Secretary Roy Mwaba
Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda has appealed to the Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) to engage in serious dialogue with government on the wage freeze imposed on the public service.
Speaking when he officiated at a one day consultative workshop on the 2015 national budget workshop organized by the ZCTU in conjunction with Freidrich Ebert Stiftung this morning, Mr. Shamenda stressed the need for trade unions to avoid rushing to the media whenever they are aggrieved.
Mr. Shamenda says dialogue is key to resolving any pressing issues affecting the well being of workers at any level.
The Minister states that it will be hard for government and other stakeholders to reach a positive conclusion on the wage freeze if the unions do not consider serous dialogue while the wound is still fresh.
Mr. Shamenda has since challenged the labour movement to convince government on merit than scream through the media if their calls are to yield positive results.
And Mr Shamenda says no government wants to see workers being exploited or abused adding that the Patriotic Front has clearly stated that workers should be fairly remunerated.
And speaking earlier, ZCTU President Leonard Hikaumba has observed that the country has continued to struggle with high poverty levels.
Mr. Hikaumba has also noted with sadness that efforts to create employment in the country have not been effective.
MMD Lunte Member of Parliament Felix Mutati has urged donor countries and development partners to deliver on their commitments to Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
Mr Mutati was speaking at a panel discussion organized by the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
Mr Mutati expressed concern that the official development assistance delivered to LDCs was lower than the commitments pledged.
The parliamentarian also urged LDCs to tap into local entrepreneurship talent, which he said was in abundance.
Mr Mutati also called on Least Developed Countries to foster regional integration and elimination of bureaucracy at borders to enhance trade.
He said improving the taxation systems and establishing facilities like One-Border-Posts would reduce transaction costs for LDCs.
Other panelists at the discussion held at UN Headquarters in New York were Bangladesh Minister of Finance Abul Maal Muhith, Rwanda’s Finance and Economic Planning Minister Claver Gatete and Bond for International Development head of policy and public affairs Ms Joanna Rea.
The panelists emphasized the need to strengthen effectiveness of development cooperation and delivery of development results in LDCs.
This is contained in a statement issued to QFM News by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at Zambia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Chibaula Silwamba.
The United Party for National Development (UPND) has cast doubt on the authenticity of the still pictures of President Michael Sata chairing a Cabinet meeting released by State House yesterday.
UPND Vice President, Dr. Canicius Banda has wondered why State House did not invite media houses to State House rather than resorting to sending still pictures.
Addressing a media briefing in Lusaka this morning, Dr. Banda says State House should release motion pictures or better still invite different media organizations for a press conference for the country to be sure that President Sata is well.
He argues that in this technological era, it is possible and easy to make such pictures and allegedly deceive the masses that the Head of State is well.
Dr. Banda told journalists that it calls for more efforts from State House to ensure that the people are given a clear position on the state of affairs regarding the health of the President.
He says he personally believes that the pictures where released to allegedly deceive the people that President Sata is well and end the speculation that he is unwell.
Speaking at the same event, UPND President Hakainde Hichilema says the people of Zambia are living in fear because of the way the PF government is running government affairs.
Mr. Hichilema maintains that the alleged confusion in PF is greatly affecting developmental projects.
Meanwhile, Former Foreign Affairs Minister in the Chiluba administration, Kelly Walubita Senior, has joined the UPND stating that he is troubled to see the way the country is being run.
Others who have joined the UPND include; former ABZ Vice President Patricia Mwashingwele, former MMD Kabwata constituency Chairlady Mary Kaisala, former PF Lusaka District Chairlady Shell Mulyata and ABZ National Chairman Dexter Moono among others.
Meanwhile,United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has appealed to government to pay serious attention to the management of public resources.
Mr. Hichilema has told Qfm News in an interview that his party is vindicated by the statement by the International Monetary Fund that Zambia lacks economic and public finance management.
Mr. Hichilema says there is need for government to monitor how public finances are being managed.
He adds that government should also ensure that it does not exceed its borrowing limit by accruing debt beyond the expectations of the people.
The UPND leader has also reiterated his appeal to government to address the continued high cost of living considering that the majority of the Zambian people are struggling to afford a descent meal.
MINISTER of Health Dr. Joseph Kasonde
Zambia has threatened to withdraw the secondment of Dr Anthony Kasolo at the World Health Organisation Africa Office after he issued a statement questioning Zambia preparedness for an Ebola attack.
During a public discussion organised by the Post Freedom Committee of the Post Newspapers over the weekend, Dr Kasolo stated that Zambia was not ready to face a possible outbreak of the killer Ebola disease.
“We are not yet there to say we can touch our hearts and say we are ready to handle the Ebola virus, unless there is something being done that I am not aware of. Otherwise I am convinced that in our current status, we cannot handle the disease, that is my personal views,” Dr Kasolo stated.
But Health Minister Dr Joseph Kasonde said Dr Kasolo’s statement could warrant his recall from the WHO regional office in the Congo Brazzaville as it does not reflect the correct state of affairs.
Dr Kasolo who is the Director for Disease Prevention and Control Cluster has been working with the WHO Africa Office since 2004.
“We will have to consider our secondment of Dr Kasolo because he is undermining the efforts that we are making in. He cannot make such a statement without consulting with the people on the ground,” Dr Kasonde said.
“As a Ministry, we take great exception to such statements. The Ministry was not consulted and we have done a lot of preparedness to handle Ebola if an outbreak occurred,” he said.
Dr Kasonde told a media briefing in the company of WHO Country Representative for Zambia Dr Olusegun Babaniyi that Zambia has constituted a team which has already conducted training and awareness at all the major entry points including international airports.
He said personal protective equipment has also been procured and all provincial medical personal are on high alert.
“I would like the nation to know that there is no immediate threat to Zambia and Zambia in its history has never recorded Ebola. The Ministry is perturbed by Dr Kasolo’s sentiments because they are misleading,” Dr Kasonde said.
George Chellah fidgiting with microphones before President Michael Sata made a very short speech during the funeral service of the accident victims in Ndola
George Chellah – public relations disaster
George Chellah should be discharged of his duties for making one of the worst public relations gaffes in the country. The irresponsible handling of the president’s “working holiday” by him should be used in schools of journalism and mass communication as an example of lack of interpersonal communication skills, and simply sheer ignorance. It has since become clear that Chellah is an unprofessional and immature presidential press aide who is unable to manage a crisis and deal with rumors and toxic fabrications. Actually his ineptitude has helped to engage the rumor mill into an irreversible gear.
The past three weeks have been unprecedented in the annals of our country.
Never has a living president, anywhere in the world, left his people in such a tormented, distraught manner, and in such a state of confusion. It was not like a healthy bubbly Sata was in Mfuwe for a working holiday. It was an emaciated, weak, and lethargic Sata jumping on a plane to Israel at short notice. In a country where many people are gullible enough to believe anything fed to them, Sata’s sudden trip raised eyebrows and rumors began to change by the hour. Instead of addressing them, Chellah chose to keep quiet.
Chellah should know that he is not only the president’s spokesman, or writer of news releases, he is also the damage controller—leader of the management crisis brigade at State House. Simply put, he is the president’s fire fighter employed to extinguish blazes.
A press aide of Chellah’s position should know how to handle rumors, quips, and platitudes that involve the president.
In the case of the president’s behavior the past three weeks, Chellah should have devised a strategy aimed at changing public perception in favor of the president. He should have been responding promptly in order to save the president’s face.
To respond three weeks later is a clear indication that Chellah does not know the role of a press aide as defined above. He is simply a reporter trained to gather news. His duty is to find out the “who,” “”what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” and “how,” of a story and write it. I have no idea what level of journalism he has reached; it is definitely of substandard or kindly put, mediocre.
The release of Sata’s pictures on Monday, July 14, 2014 was the cheapest of shorts by a failed public relations department at State House. I will not waste time insisting that Chellah be fired because Sata has no clue what I am talking about.
This calls to the attention why a president must have a college degree of some sort. A person in State House must be of sound learning and must use thought and reason, coupled with intelligence and good judgment. He must know when he is hurting his people and when to stop. That’s all I can say.
As for Chellah, looking at Sata’s recent pictures felt like having a paranormal encounter with a ghost. There was a little heart-thump at seeing him. Even some of his cabinet members were for a moment driven into a spectral suspension. I bet many readers were equally petrified because in as far as they were concerned, the president was critically ill and near death. In fact some, including his closest confidantes, believed he had already expired and would be brought back home as cargo. And Chellah’s silence seemed to rather confirm the perception. Such was his unskillfulness. Had he acted professionally and corrected the erroneous impression right from the start, he would have saved the nation the rotten feeling of grief.
Chellah knows very well that the state in which the president was before July 22, 2014, the date of departure, was worrisome. Some pictures showed him underweight, with head and facial bones protruding. As Chellah prepared the trip, he should have taken all reasonable steps to ensure truthful information about the president’s condition was provided to the media. In his press release he should have stated that apart from meeting Israeli officials, the president would be undergoing medical treatment or a medical check-up.
Upon arrival at Tel Aviv airport he should have taken pictures of the president being met by an Israel official as is required protocol whether on official visit or not. He should have sent the pictures to Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail and of course ZNBC. In other words, he should have stuck to real journalism principles: report the facts; don’t speculate on the unknown, nor create news on the basis of lies. And as rumors continued to swell, he should have been feeding the Zambian media with images and updates.
Revamping Public Relations section of State House cardinal
I am cognizant of the fact that Chellah is dealing with a very difficult president, a master of diversionary tactics and a consummate schemer whose motto is “my way or the highway.” The dreadful feeling of being in Sata’s service is unimaginable and Chellah may be applying silent rules of non-interference as a result. But that is no excuse. It is characters like Sata that a savvy and well-qualified press aide relishes. He finds a way to become the president’s brain and a master of the two. He educates him on the importance of communicating with the public; and encourages him to hold press conferences at least on quarterly basis; and above all, he makes him to appreciate openness, truthfulness, and love for his people.
Obviously Chellah has failed, and for three years he has been press aide, he has lamentably failed to provide an effective moral strategy of dealing with the president’s behavior. We have watched him embrace the president’s tyrannical rule and his gullibility has led to a disastrous public relations performance by any presidential press aide in modern times.
Let me end with these words: The police and intelligence wings should not be pursuing online news editors for spreading rumors that Sata is in bad health. Instead, State House should revamp the public relations section and employ well-qualified staff. The president’s press aide should be a holder of a minimum bachelor’s degree in mass communications and journalism with vast experience in media (print and electronic), and public relations. He should have knowledge of how government works, its economics, public policy, and should be able to manage emergencies, crises, and have an upper hand on gossip-based media. That is what Zambians deserve.
MMD die hard youth leader Bowman Lusambo captured during the gathering to demand for the release of the Zambian draft constitution.
Press statement for immediate release
HH SHOULD TAME HIS LOOSE TONGUE
As MMD youths, we have spent the last few days restraining ourselves from commenting on statements attributed to UPND President Hakainde Hichilema in which he derides the MMD membership. Mr Hichilema refers to the MMD membership as a bunch of people out of their minds. As far as we are concerned, the attacks on our membership by Mr Hichilema were unsolicited.
Recent media reports will show that none of our senior members has launched an attack on the UPND and its leadership. As the MMD, we have withheld ourselves from commenting on the suitability of Mr Hichilema as a leader of the UPND or indeed why we think the UPND should always stay far away from the echelons of power.
But the recent attacks on the MMD by Mr Hichilema should not pass without comment. We feel compelled to respond and defend our image as the country’s largest political party. We feel the need to comment because we want to set the record straight and dismiss some innuendos that Mr Hichilema attempts to create but miserably fails.
The MMD is a party with millions of members countrywide. We are the only political party with active structures in all the wards of Zambia. When one insinuates that people staying in the MMD or even defecting to the MMD are out of their mind, that statement can be interpreted to mean that our entire political establishment is of unstable mind and should have checked in into Chainama Hills Hospital.
We therefore submit that since Mr Hichilema is now a psychiatrist, his diagnosis on the state of mind of the MMD membership is so inaccurate that it might warrant that the psychiatrist himself should have his head examined.
We cannot in our right sense of mind accept statements that lack wisdom, basic tact and are targeted at an aimless target. By choosing to issue that statement, Mr Hichilema is shooting aimlessly. He is shooting in the dark. He is shooting with his eyes closed.
Our advice to Mr Hichilema and the UPND is noble and gentlemanly. Tame your tongue and practice mature politics.
Zambians have moved on from your type of Ingombe Ilede politics where you pick your targets aimlessly and hoping to shot. Zambians want solution based politics. Zambians want politicians that will offer solutions to the many challenges that young Zambians are facing.
By attacking the MMD, Mr Hichilema confirms what most Zambians have always suspected. The UPND leader’s insatiable appetite for power and his willingness to decimate anything or anyone that stands in the way. There is nothing wrong with ambition, unlike in the business world where Mr Hichilema seems to have had some decent levels of success, politics is a different ball game where the mandate to serve is delegated from the public. In politics, people choose who will serve them. There is no bull dozing and aimless shooting. Mr Hichilema’s style of hostile cooperate takeovers to grow his business empire which has been well documented cannot be used in politics.
In politics, one has to go out and lobby for support. In a democracy like ours, Mr Hichilema cannot buy support from Zambians as if he is buying shares in a rundown security firm in Livingstone.
Going forward, we would like Mr Hichilema to realize that the MMD and its leadership under Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba is busy touring all parts of Zambia, galvanizing our membership and welcoming new ones that have realized that the MMD is the only political organisation with the blue print for Zambia’s social and economic transformation.
With that agenda, it will become very difficult for the MMD leadership to constantly respond to Mr Hichilema’s Ingombe Ilede politics. Our leadership is preoccupied with finding solutions to Zambia’s problems and sharing those solutions with Zambians across the country. We will not engage in catfights with Mr Hichilema and his UPND. We wish he could allocate some of the adrenaline he exhibits when attacking the MMD to growing his party beyond Monze, Namwala and Choma.
In conclusion, Mr Hichilema and the UPND should realize that the MMD youth wing has enough in the arsenal to encounter any misdirected attacks on the MMD. As much as we are restrained, we will not take attacks on our good party sitting down. We will respond. We will fight back. We will protect the good image of our mighty MMD.
Issued by: Bowman Lusambo-MMD Die Hard National Youth Coordinator
14/07/07
Information Deputy Minister Puniso Njeulu, Mansa Mayor Monga Silondwa and Luapula Province Assistant Secretary Joshua Kamanya throwing the materials before being destroyed
Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services, Poniso Njeulu, says pirated audio visual products worth over K9 million have been seized
throughout the country this year.
Mr Njeulu says it is sad that the country has continued to be robbed of the needed revenue through piracy, adding that there is need for concerted efforts from all stakeholders if the fight is to be won.
He said government has declared a zero tolerance against piracy, adding that this will be achieved through the review of the Patents, Trademarks, and Companies Act and the introduction of the hologram, a security feature which by law should be affixed on all audio visual works for sale on the Zambian market.
ZANIS reports that the Deputy Minister said this during the destruction of pirated audio visual products worth over K2 million in Mansa.
Mr Njeulu has since commended law enforcement agencies for working tirelessly in stamping out piracy.
Earlier, Luapula Province Minister, Benson Kapaya, commended the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services for intensifying the fight against piracy in the country.
Gen Kapaya observed that Luapula Province has talented individuals in various arts disciplines who, if protected, can contribute significantly to job and wealth creation in the country.
He said this in a speech read for him by Luapula Province Assistant Secretary, Joshua Kamanya.
Gender Minister Inonge wina , Sylvia Masebo Chongwe MP and the candidate for Mangango Rogers Lingweshi Lyambai having the light moment shortly he successfully falls in his nomination at Mangango Primary school
A multitude of PF members from Shikombwe ward in Mangango constituency yesterday stormed the office of Kaoma district commissioner demanding to be told why Taundi Chiseke, the former Member of Parliament, has not been adopted to re-contest his former position.
The group of about 200 discontented members led by Mr Albert Mubanga and Ms Mirriam Kashwashwa said the decision by the PF leadership to field Rogers Lingweshi as PF candidate for the Mangango by-election will cause the party to lose the August 19 polls.
The PF members contended that the constituents were not consulted and were displeased with their national chairperson Inonge Wina and the chairperson for elections, Sylvia Masebo whom they accused of not respecting the people’s wishes.
And Kaoma district commissioner Joster Manjolo told the irate PF cadres to exercise restraint as their preferred candidate had some legal impediments which hindered his candidature and urged them to unite so that the PF could emerge victorious after the by-election.
Mr Manjolo said the PF is on course to deliver development to all the people in Mangango constituency in accordance to the party manifesto that led the political organisation to assume power in 2011.
Meanwhile, UPND’s Kenny Ndumba warned that if the Electoral Commission of Zambia halts the on-going campaigns in the constituency, then the UPND they will have no alternative but to seek an injunction to restrain the continuation of the by-election.
Mr Ndumba said the UPND is geared to win the Mangango by-election because its candidate Godwin Putu is popular in the area, adding that the PF should seek to test the popularity of the party in the constituency.
He said that when he was a campaign manager for the two former MPs Akakandelwa Mwendoi and Taundi Chiseke he worked hard and that saw the duo win the elections, saying he was confident that even in this year’s by-election the UPND candidate, whom he is backing, will not yield positive results.
Nkana have denied speculation they are in talks with Beston Chambeshi to take over from Zeddy Saileti.
The executive committee is said not to be happy with Saileti after eleven games in charge since he was promoted to the post following the death of Masauso Mwale in a car accident on May 24.
“No it is not true at all. That issue has never been discussed nor has Chambeshi been approached,”Nkana secretary Ken Mwansa told the press over the weekend.
According to sources the pressure to bring in Chambeshi increased after Nkana lost 1-0 at home to Zesco United on July 9 when they suffered their second league loss of the season, just a fortnight after Nakambala Leopards beat them by the same margin.
Last Saturdays 3-1 win over Nchanga Rangers was expected to be Saileti’s final game in charge, an allegation Nkana have denied.
Meanwhile, the news of plans to replace Saileti with Chambeshi is said not to have gone down well with Nkana players who want the interim coach to be given a chance to prove himself.
Saileti has won six games, picked up two draws and three losses in all competition
The Zambia National Women’s Lobby ZNWL has challenged stakeholders in the country to take practical steps towards ensuring that more women are put in decision making position if the nation is to make major strides in development.
ZNWL Executive Director Juliet Chibuta said gender equality is a key ingredient to development hence the need to have equal participation in the country’s decision making positions.
Speaking at the launch of the gender audit research handbook in Lusaka today Ms. Chibuta said the country still has a long way to go in attaining meaningful gender representation in key decision making positions in both the private and public institutions.
Ms Chibuta explained that the Gender Audit was initiated so as to have a true picture of women’s representation in decision making positions in various institutions and that the findings provides a mirror for organisations in diverse sectors to see the gender balance in their management structures which will help them compare themselves to others in the sector.
She noted that though sidelined, it has been proved that women are prudent managers than men as can be seen from the 2012 research by Credit Suisse on Gender Diversity in Corporate Leadership which indicated that it was more profitable to invest in companies that had women in management.
And Ms Chibuta has noted the need to prioritize gender mainstreaming interventions for the socio-economic empowerment in the country.
She also explained that it is anticipated that the audit will promote greater involvement of women in decision making processes and structures.
Meanwhile Ms. Chibuta explained that today’s launch will be followed by audits every year so as to ascertain women’s participation in decision making positions.
Ms. Chibuta implored or stakeholders to ensure that practical steps are put in place which will ensure gender equality in institutions.
She noted that political parties should not only use women to win votes but also make sure that they are given chances to stand as candidates at local government and parliamentary levels respectively.
FILE: Action Aid Zambia Country Director Pamela Chisanga addressing protestors
In reaction to the government’s announcement yesterday of the conclusion of an audit report into Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), ActionAid Zambia spokesperson Pamela Chisanga said:
“We commend the government for the speedy conclusion of this audit however it must now share the key findings publicly to indicate whether the issues within the January 2014 audit have been followed up on.
“ActionAid has noted the worrying manner in which companies reduce taxable profits in countries where they generate their revenue. The earlier audit showed that KCM was selling its copper to a Vedanta subsidiary in Dubai – Fujairah Gold – that led to an under-pricing of the copper.
“This is a clear attempt by KCM to reduce its profits. We know how tax avoidance by multinationals happens, and there are clear case studies from Zambia that other countries are now using to identify ways to close these tax loopholes. The KCM audit should provide further evidence that needs to be used to institute measures to curb tax avoidance by multinationals.”
During a briefing with ActionAid in May, Minister of Mines Christopher Yaluma insisted that the government had already undertaken a comprehensive audit of KCM and so another audit was not necessary.
However, Zambia Revenue Authority announced a few days later that it had ordered a new forensic audit. This followed hundreds of protesters marching on the Lusaka headquarters of KCM in a demonstration organised by ActionAid in reaction to a YouTube release of a video of Vedanta’s executive chairman Anil Agarwal, apparently bragging to a trade conference about the huge profits Vedanta makes from the KCM mine, far larger than those publicly reported.
ActionAid is calling on the Zambian government to introduce legislation to mandate the auditor general to audit all mining companies in Zambia.
MINISTER of Justice, Wynter Kabimba, has observed that it is becoming increasingly credible that various forms of instability in Africa were being caused by forces outside the continent.
Mr. Kabimba noted that the school of thought which held that the causes of constitutional instability, for instance, were located outside Africa and driven by forces whose interests were not Africa’s interests, was firmly gaining ground today. He hoped the continent could acknowledge the importance of African unity and solidarity in addressing the problem.
Mr. Kabimba was speaking in his capacity as president of the Council of African Political Parties (CAPP) at the opening of a two-day experts’ workshop on constitutionalism and the rule of law in Pretoria on Monday.
CAPP is a forum of political parties on the African continent who have come together in unity to pursue the objectives of achieving the goals of a prosperous and peaceful continent.
The workshop, which has drawn participants from over 20 African countries, is meant to brainstorm around expanding the African Union (AU) doctrine on unconstitutional changes of government and to engage stakeholders in promoting and implementing the African Charter on democracy, elections and governance.
Mr. Kabimba said the workshop represented one of the many platforms for actualising some of the essential aspects of mutual aspirations and the basis of the cooperation, which is constitutionalism and the rule of law, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the AU in 2013. The MOU aims to strengthen institutional ties and cooperation in delivering programmes and activities aimed at promoting democracy, good governance, human and people’s rights, constitutionalism, the rule of law, and free and fair elections in Africa.
He hoped that while drawing attention to resolving the questions of unconstitutional change of government, popular uprising and all other aspects connected to the issues of constitutionalism and the rule of law, the main causes giving rise to unstable governments and the lack of respect for the rule of law would be candidly dealt with.
The Minister said it was gratifying to note that the workshop would provide opportunities for CAPP and other stakeholders to further explore areas of collaboration, synergies and complementation. It will also provide as an opportunity for the parties to interrogate ways of enhancing the capacity of organisations such as CAPP and the African Conference on Constitutional Court to enhance their effectiveness.
And South Africa’s Chief Justice, Mr. Mogoeng Mogoeng, called for immediate measures to address all factors that have been identified in order to improve on the rule of law in Africa.
Mr. Mogoeng, who is also vice-president of the African Conference of Constitutional Courts, said the Judiciary has to be insulated from interference from external forces if constitutionalism was to be guaranteed.
He said the continent should also be alive to the fact that the Judiciary had some corrupt elements that were compromising the drive to instil constitutionalism and the rule of law in systems of most African countries. He said the Judiciary should not only be independent but also be accountable to the people.
Mr. Mogoeng said the Judiciary in Africa has been sidelined from playing its part in ensuring the rule of law. He called for the urgent introduction of regional courts on the continent.
And International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) regional director, Ambassador Moorad Mustaq, urged the participants to brainstorm on whether the AU set aside its own rules when it readmitted Egypt after being suspended following instability in the country’s leadership in the last few months.
The workshop, which runs until 16th July, 2014, is organised by the AU’s Department of Political Affairs through International IDEA.
Civil Rights Activist Brebner Changala has re-submitted his writ of Mandamus for judicial review in which he is seeking relief on the decision or indecision by Cabinet to consider the question of the physical and mental capacity of President Michael Sata.
This is despite the High Court’s earlier decision to dismiss his initial application for judicial review in a matter he asked the court to constitute a medical board to examine the health of President Sata.
Mr. Changala says he re-submitted his writ of Mandamus this morning in the same court through his Lawyer Makebi Zulu.
He states that despite his re-submitted writ of Mandamus retaining the same content as the earlier writ dismissed on grounds that it lacked merit and was frivolous and vexatious, he is hopeful that his matter will considered on merit.
He says only this time he wants three Judges to look at the matter and for the court to allow him being the applicant, and the Attorney General, who is the respondent, to be heard.
Mr. Changala says his ultimate goal to push for the establishment of a medical board to examine the health of President Sata, is to ensure that the Head of State is working for the very purpose that he was elected by the Zambian people.
