The UPND says it is disappointing that the enactment of the access to information law has taken too long.

UPND Deputy Spokesperson Edwin Lifwekelo said in a statement that it is now over a decade since the process started.

Mr Lifwekelo said the MMD government introduced a bill in parliament but withdrew it at second reading stage to allow for more consultations which he said they never took back to parliament until they were voted out of power.

He said the Patriotic Front in opposition promised to bring back the bill
if voted into power adding that it is now two and half years since PF came into power and have not taken the bill back to parliament.

It’s now “don’t kubeba”. The UPND demands that the PF government immediately takes the access to information bill to parliament in the next sitting,” Mr Lifwekelo said.

He added, “It’s becoming clear that the PF government wants to continue governing in secrecy so as to deny Zambians the right to know about scandals in government like what’s going on to the
awarding contracts through State House. The fear that access to information bill may be inconsistent with existing legislation is a lame excuse.”

Mr Lifwekelo continued, “Where there is a conflict between the access to information law and subsidiary legislation the access to information law should to the extent of that inconsistency prevail.”

He said the PF Government must also with immediate effect halt the
intimidations and harassment of journalists especially those
from private and electronic media.

Mr Lifwekelo said the harassment of a Post Journalist and that of Hot FM Collins Changwe should end.

“UPND condemns in the strongest terms harassment of journalists. Journalism is not a crime and the Zambia Police Service must stop this brutality onjournalists with immediate effect. The PF Government must allow journalists to freely operate without intimidation and harassment. Publication of false news law should be repealed. The penal code has enough meat to deal with offenders,” he said.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia says it is not privy to the arrangements Patriotic Front Secretary General Wynter Kabimba is alleged to have made to facilitate the entry of some foreigners into the country to conduct the Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT) and what role they played in the 2011 elections.

ECZ Public Relations Manager Cris Akufuna in a statement issued to QFM News today says Mr Kabimba is better placed to shed more light on the matter.

Mr Akufuna says the position of the Commission is that the 2011 tripartite elections were conducted transparently and within the full provisions of the electoral laws.

He explains that in addition to the many local election monitors the commission accredited in the 2011 elections,700 International observers were also accredited by the commission, of which 554 were from various international organizations, whilst 149 comprised observers from foreign missions , of whom five were from Kenyan High Commission.

Mr Akufuna adds that six officers from the independent Electoral Boundaries Commission of Kenya were also duly accredited by the ECZ and not smuggled into Zambia to observe elections.

Mr Akufuna says the Commission has been compelled to issue the statement following continued media reports casting doubts on the credibility of the 2011 presidential election results, with respect to the involvement of foreigners in Parallel Voter Tabulation.

Government has urged councils on the Copperbelt to revive their Integrity Committees ( I.C ) if corruption can be prevented in the local authorities.

Copperbelt Provincial Local Government Officer Joseph Mulyata says I.C’s can help in the reduction of corrupt practices in councils especially when allocating land.

Mr. Mulyata said it was not a secret that land allocation in the local authorities were often not transparently and accountably done.

He said this was the reason the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has carried out exercises of ridding most councils in the country of corruption especially in matters of land allocation.

ZANIS reports that the local government officer said this during the orientation Workshop for Councillors and Management by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) at Affs Guest House in Kalulushi District yesterday.

Mr. Hamulyata said it was important that Councillors and officers appreciate the role of the IC at the place of work.

He told the members of the IC to carry out their functions without fear because the law was on their side and should have no fear of victimisation from anyone.

Speaking earlier, Council Town Clerk Eddie Mumba said the Kalulushi Municipal Council established its IC in 2010, but had not been active due various reasons, such as transfers of some officers.

Mr. Mumba said in 2014 the IC was reconstituted by appointing new members to service the committee and those members had been attending workshops to educate their members.

Police are appealing to the woman whose nudity was captured on a video posted on social media to come forward and assist in bringing the people behind the video to book.

Police Spokesperson Charity Munganga Chanda told QFM News in an interview that the woman should forego her embarrassment of the ordeal and come forward and help Police to bring the perpetrators to book.

Ms. Chanda disclosed that no one has come forward so far to give information leading to the arrest of the people behind the video posted on social media of a nude woman who was harassed after being caught committing adultery.

Ms. Chanda said the Police are continuing with their investigations on the ground to establish people behind the video.

Police have offered a reward of K5, 000 for anyone with information leading to the arrest of the people behind the nude video.

And Police have appealed to the church and members of the public to partner with it if the rampant circulation of pornographic pictures and videos on social media in the country is to be curbed.

Ms. Chanda said Police hold the position that the church and members of public have a role to play in guarding against moral decay.

[QFM]