The National Restoration Party (NAREP) has welcomed the move by the Anti-Corruption Commission to probe PF Mongu Central Member of Parliament and North Western Provincial Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu.

NAREP Youth League Secretary General Bwalya Nondo said in a statement to media yesterday that if the minister is found wanting the law must take its full course.

He however cautioned the ACC not to be selective when handling corruption cases involving government officials.
“We don’t know how far the Anti-Corruption Commission has gone in probing Honourable Kambwili concerning the advert that was published in the Daily Mail a few months ago congratulating him for the degree he obtained at Copperstone University”, said Mr Nondo.

Mr Nondo recalled that in the recent past ministers alleged to be involved in corruption activities were fired before the investigations were launched.

However, he wondered why Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili has not been suspended following the adverts that were published in the Daily Mail a few months ago congratulating him for the degree he obtained at Copperstone University.

“The minister involved was not suspended while others in the past were fired even before the investigations could take place”, he said.

He alleged that the PF government is using the Anti-Corruption Commission to intimidate those that have fallen out of favour with the party and those with a different view from them.

Mr Nondo said the general public wonders as to how independent the Anti-Corruption Commission is because of its selected investigations.

“There have been so many ministers who have been accused of being involved in corrupt practices but the Anti-Corruption Commission has not moved in to probe them. Some ministers have been probed but nothing positive has come out. Stop hoodwinking Zambians, we want see results not political gymnastics”, Mr Nondo observed.

He has since appealed to ACC not to be impartial in the way it functions adding that whoever is involved in corruption must be dealt with regardless of their political belonging.

“We call on His Excellency, President Michael Sata to immediately suspend the honourable minister in question and pave way for proper investigations because there is no way we can have a minister who is being probed for corruption in office. We also urge the general public to report anyone involved in corruption”, he noted.

Speculation is high as to the whereabouts of Zambia’s 5th Republican president -Michael Sata. President Michael Sata was last seen in public on 25th May during the African Freedom day celebrations.His frail appearance that day coupled with his failure to to show up for the official opening of the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka later that day fueled rumours about the president poor health status.

On the 22nd June the government announced that the President Sata was in Tel Aviv Israel on a working holiday,the 2nd working holiday he has had this year,the first being in London in February 2nd 2014.

According to the government, the president was in Israel at the invitation of invitation of out-going Israeli President His Excellency Mr. Shimon Peres.However, at the time President Shimon Peres was reportedly on his way to the United States of America.Israel media reported that President Sata was admitted at Sheba medical centre.Government however insisted that the President was on working holiday in Israel.

Meanwhile the Zambia Voice has disputed media reports that President Michael Sata arrived back home from his working holiday in Israel on Friday aboard the presidential challenger and has stated that it was doubtful that the Head of State could have landed at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

“I was at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport much earlier than the time some sections of the media have reported the presidential challenger landed. Some of the colleagues from the media found me there and there was no plane that landed at the airport at 22:05 hours. The presidential challenger could not have landed at the Kenneth Kaunda International without anyone seeing it. It is highly likely that someone is not saying the truth,” Mr Tayali said.

Zambian Voice executive director has since challenged government to show proof of President Michael Sata’s arrival in the country since the Head of State has not appeared to the public including some of his own ministers.

There are unconfirmed reports that the President flew back into the country on Saturday afternoon around 15 hours aboard the presidential challenger that landed at ZAF Mumbwa airforce base.The presidential chopper is then said to have picked him from Mumbwa ZAF airforce base and taken him to State House.

Mr Tayali charged that speculation could have been avoided if there was transparency in the handling of the office of the President.

He said even the presence of the sentries at State House could no longer be relied upon as a sign of his presence because in the past, they have remained there even in his absence.

Widow of late freedom fighter, Simon Kapwepwe, Salome, says the golden jubilee of Zambia’s independence is an important national event that all Zambians should celebrate.

And Lubwa Mission Superintendent, Elija Chisulo, says the golden jubilee was an important event to his institution as it was where most freedom fighters emanated from.

Mrs Kapwepwe says the jubilee of Zambia’s independence was a cardinal development that every Zambian should celebrate.
She said Zambians should not shun the jubilee celebrations because of the various social-economic challenges such as lack of employment but celebrate the jubilee in unity.

ZANIS reports that the late freedom fighter’s widow said this in an interview at her home in Chinsali district today.
Zambia this October 24 celebrates her 50th independence anniversary with a number of activities in various districts in the country.

And Lubwa Mission Superintendent, Elija Chisulo, says the jubilee was an important event to his institution as it was where most freedom fighters emanated from.

Rev Chisulo told ZANIS at Lubwa Mission that the jubilee celebrations were important to his mission as it was where the father of the nation, Kenneth Kaunda, comes from.

He said the jubilee was also significant as it was marks the coming of Christianity by late David Kaunda, the father of Dr Kaunda, who came from Malawi.

He said when the late Mr Kaunda and his wife, Nyamunyirenda, settled in the area, they collectively erected a church which attracted other missionaries from other parts of the world to do missionary work in the area.

Former Defense Minister Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has called on Zambians more especially leaders to bury their political and tribal differences and endeavor to unite as Zambians.
Mr. Mwamba, popularly known as GBM, has since urged the people of Zambia to foster peace and unity as the country celebrates Heroes’ and Unity days.

The Kasama Central lawmaker has also urged the people of Zambia to recognize and appreciate the role Heroes played in the country’s liberation.

Mr. Mwamba, who is also Patriotic Front (PF) Kasama Central Member of Parliament, says this is the time that Zambians should unite and not to look back on the differences they have had in the past.

He says people should realize that they need each other for development and thus the need for them to remain united in a bid to promote peace and stability in the country.