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Government has disowned statements by some government officials on the constitution making process, describing them as personal opinions.
Chief Government Spokesperson Joseph Katema has told QFM News in an interview that statements being issued by government officials on the constitution other than those by the ministry of Justice are personal opinions.
Dr. Katema has since advised people not listen to personal opinions by government officials on the constitution, but get the government position on the issue through the ministry of Justice.
He says there are no contradictions in the government position on the constitution as perceived, stating that government’s position remains the same as stated by the minister of Justice.
Dr. Katema states that people should not complain about being misled by different statements by government officials, stating that the right information can only come from the ministry of Justice and the President.
MMD president Nevers Mumba says he cannot take the advice of MMD founding members Katele Kalumba, Mbita Chitala and others because they allegedly do not mean well for the party.
Recently, Dr Kalumba and Dr Chitala observed that Dr Mumba has contributed to the crumbling of the party and that the only way to save it from total collapse is to have a crop of new leaders.
Dr Mumba said in an interview yesterday that the MMD founding members who mean well are those who would approach him to address pressing issues instead of issuing statements through the media.
“Anybody in the country can make comments that they want. Those who mean well, they don’t go to the press. They come to the president at the office and make submissions,” he said.
“So those who go to the press to praise us for some of the successes we have enjoyed, we welcome that. But if you go to the press to speak against your own party, which you said you are a founding member of without making other efforts, then we have a lot of questions.”
Dr Mumba said some of the people who are saying that they are founding members are no longer MMD members.
The former television evangelist said founding members who are interested in strengthening the MMD would not go to the press but use the right channels.
Dr Mumba said people who go to the media to speak against MMD leaders could have a hidden agenda.
On allegations that MMD has been hijacked by outsiders, Dr Mumba said all Zambians are insiders and that there are no outsiders.
He said the talk of MMD being hijacked by outsiders does not exist in the former ruling party.
“When you come to join us today, you cease to be an outsider, you are an insider from today onwards,” he said.
Dr Mumba said any person who joins the MMD is considered a bona fide member and expected to contribute equally to the wellbeing of the party.
And Dr Mumba has said that his preoccupation is to deal with the issues affecting the Zambian people despite facing a rebellion in his party.
Dr. Mumba told Qfm News in an interview today that his focus is to provide leadership to the MMD and prepare the party for the 2016 general election.
Dr. Mumba maintained that the MMD is still a robust and forward moving political party.
He added that it is not the first time the former ruling party has found itself in a situation where party members are holding different views on an issue.
Dr Mumba stated that it was for this reason that he thinks any problem that arises in the party can only be resolved within the party.
Choma Green Eagles coach Justin Chinama has defended the state of the pitch at the club’s home ground Independence Stadium in Choma.
Promoted FAZ Super League side Eagles on Saturday hosts Nakambala Leopards in the Southern Province derby at Independence Stadium whose pitch raises eyebrows from visiting teams over its state.
Nkana slammed the pitch when they were held to a goalless draw by Eagles in their opening Super League fixture on 15th March.
But Chinama described the playing turf at Independence Stadium in Choma as OK.
He said his club does not find playing at their home stadium a challenge.
“The pitch is just Ok and we play on the same pitch with our opponents,” he said.
“We don’t have a problem with our home ground. This is our home ground so we must take advantage. If we can complain about our home ground where are we going to play from?” Chinama said.
Meanwhile, Eagles go into Saturday’s match against Nakambala targetting their first win in the two-game old campaign.
The number of arrested suspected PF cadres who were grabbing and illegally allocating land in Lusaka West Kalundu area has increased to 27 from 20, Lusaka Police Commissioner Lemmy Kajoba has said.
Kajoba said Police have managed to arrest another seven suspected PF cadres over the weekend bringing the total number of arrested cadres linked to illegal land allocation to 27.
“We picked up other cadres over the weekend and the number has now increased to 27 and others have already appeared in court,” Kajoba said.
Kajoba said some of the arrested cadres would today and tomorrow appear in court for their illegal actions.
“Among the group, others are expected to appear in court today and tomorrow but this does not mean they will be released because they have to help Police with investigation of others involved in illegal land allocations,” he said.
Kajoba said Kalundu areas in Lusaka West were suspected PF cadres were allocating land to themselves and selling is under the eagle’s eye of the Zambia police.
“I would like to confirm to you that the exercise has extended even to other parts of the country which has been experiencing illegal land allocations by suspected cadres,” Kajoba said.
Kajoba said the exercise has also extended to chongwe district were cadres had been illegally allocating land to themselves in the recent past.
The commissioner further said, the police were still investigating the cause of the death of cadre who was reportedly shot dead after clashing with police in Kalundu on Sunday lastweek.
And owner of the land in Lusaka west Siisii Lisulo said he was still living in fear because of numerous threats from suspected PF cadres.
“The police have not come back to check on us since last week when the deputy minister of home affairs Steven Kampyongo visited my farm ,” he said.
Lisulo said the cadres could come any day as threatened and feared that they would come with Paraffin to burn his house on the farm. Lisulo however said the area had been calm from the time the minster visited his farm.
“Even if it has become calm, you never know when the cadres can come back, we are still living in fear,” he said.
MMD vice president for administration Brian Chituwo
MMD vice president for administration Dr Brian Chituwo has no apologies to make to anyone for having private talks with Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Wynter Kabimba and Post Newspaper owner Fred M’membe to discuss some unknown agenda.
Chituwo said that he had no comments to make on allegations leveled against him and his counterpart Dr Michael Kaingu by MMD’s director of communications Muhabi Lungu that the two had a private meeting with M’membe and Kabimba over unknown agenda, shortly before the public spat demanding for an extraordinary convention.
On Sunday, Lungu challenged both party vice presidents Chituwo and Kaingu to explain to the nation and the party in particular the content of the meeting they held with M’membe and Kabimba.
He said the two should come out in the open and explain the agenda of having a meeting with Kabimba and M’membe at the Post Newspaper offices if it were not a scheme to destabilize the former ruling party.
And Chituwo said there was nothing wrong for him to meet people perceived to be enemies of the former ruling party because he was a senior member of the party.
He said as a senior member of MMD he should be entrusted with the running of affairs of the party and there should be no doubt for his credibility.
“I am not going to comment on what Muhabi said but I must state that I have no apologies to make to anyone. Yes we have had meetings with people but this has nothing to do with the problem that the MMD is facing.
“MMD needs to be transformed because in its current form the party is dying. I can meet anyone anywhere and that should not be a problem for anyone and as a senior citizen and a senior member for the party I should ensure that things are moving in the right direction,” Chituwo said.
Lungu made the challenge when he featured on Zambia National Broadcasting Cooperation (ZNBC) Television’s Sunday Interview where he alleged that both Kaingu and Chituwo had an agenda against the party president which manifested after meeting Kabimba and M’membe.
He charged that it was highly likely that the two MMD officials that met Kabimba and M’membe for some clandestine schemes to cause consternation in the party so that the general membership could rise against Mumba because he had remained a big threat to the Patriotic Front.
Lungu said party vice presidents Dr. Kaingu and Dr. Chituwo had confessed having held meetings with Kabimba and M’membe but had refused to divulge the details of their meetings.
The Constitution Coalition says the handing over of the draft constitution to the Permanent Secretary shows how the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) government has belittled the process.
Constitution Coalition Spokesperson McDonald Chipenzi observed that the draft constitution is the only document that has not been handed over to president which makes people wonder if the PF regard the document to be of great importance to the nation.
He said the handing of the document to the PS begs a lot of questions as all the documents including tribunal reports which in some case the tribunals were appointed by the Chief Justice have all been given to the president before anyone else.
He questions if people would be at fault if they started speculating to the reasons behind the behavior government.
“We are so surprised at how the government has belittled the constitution making process and the document itself. This is the first time that the commission or report of any committee has been handed over to the permanent secretary. All these others have been hand over to the president even if the appointing authority is the Chief Justice. This really shows how this government is not prioritizing the issue of the constitution making process,” observed Mr Chipenzi
“The other thing is that why has it gone through the ministry and not the president? so the issue or our speculations about abuses, doctoring may come true because this is the first time we are using dark channels to submit the constitution,” added Mr Chipenzi.
And Mr Chipenzi has challenged the government to release the document to the public as it is in their hands now.
He said government does not have any reasons to sit on a document that does not belong to them alone but the public as well.
Meanwhile Mr Chipenzi has commended the technical committee for making it clear to the public that they no longer have the document.
He said now that everyone knows who has the document they know who to target their demands to.
The technical committee hand over the draft constitution to the Ministry of Justice on Monday 31st March 2014.
Kabwata Member of Parliament Given Lubinda has said that he is not ready to have a bitter exchange of words with Vice President Guy Scott who recently likened him to a dog with a bone, following his testimony against former tourism minister Sylvia Masebo.
Mr Lubinda said that he is still trying to understand what motivated the vice president to use strong language against him.
Mr. Lubinda told Qfm News in a telephone interview that he will keep his discipline by avoiding further commenting on the matter through the press.
He said that he considered himself a disciplined man who does not use strong language against fellow human beings.
Mr. Lubinda has also appealed to his family and supporters not to begin answering back to Dr. Scott as this will show immaturity.
The Kabwata parliamentarian has said that he handles such attacks with the dignity they deserve and a sober mind.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwnda is flanked by Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba (left) and Bank of Zambia Governor Michael Gondwe (right) at a media breakfast at Taj-Pamodzi hotel in Lusaka
The Zambian Voice Executive Director Chilufya Tayali has challenged the Minister of Finance and National Planning Alexander Chikwanda and his counterpart Central Bank Governor Michael Gondwe to resign with immediate effect for failing to provide answers to the falling Kwacha against major foreign currencies.
Speaking at a press briefing Mr Tayali expressed concern that the kwacha has continued to depreciate while the two people charged with the responsibility of having a stable currency remain in office.
He said it is only right for the Mr. Chikwanda and Dr. Gondwe to resign because they seem not to understand their responsibilities of ensuring that both the country’s economy and currency are stable.
“I don’t know how my father Mr. Chikwanda is moving from his home going to the office, when he reaches his office the dollar is at this much by the time he is taking his cup of tea the dollar has gone up,” said Mr Tayali.
He further wondered why the minister is failing to explain to the public what has really gone wrong as he is the person running the country’s economy.
“The Minister of Finance needs to explain to the zambian people in clear terms why our kwacha is tumbling and for how long does he expect this rough to take. The press briefing he had did not articulate these issues and its an indictment on his performance,” he said.
He further called on the republican president to fire the Minister if he does not resign on his own because he has proved that he is not up to the challenge of running the country’s economy.
“President Sata should not take chances on such delicate issues to show the door to ministers who clearly show and confess their failure openly,” added Mr Tayali.
And Mr Tayali has called on the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture Wilbur Simusa to immediately sort out the challenges facing the agriculture sector in the country.
He said the minister should ensure that efficient farmer input distribution as well as better crop collection and marketing is put in place so as to avoid subjecting people to high mealie meal prices.
And on the constitution making process Mr Tayali called for more civil sensitisation to ensure that people understand what the are demanding for.
He said there is need to ensure that every one is included in the call for the new constitution.
Kasama General Hospital management has appealed to government to speed up its upgrading to a tertiary level hospital following the commencement of its modernisation.
Hospital Medical Superintendant Dr Elijah Mutoloki says with the arrival of the state of the art medical equipment, the hospital has made great strides in providing quality health care to people of Northern Province.
He said with the expected arrival of a CT scan and Renal Dialysis machine, the hospital will provide improved and much needed health services to the communities adding that this development had increased the number of patients preferring to get medical services to his hospital.
Dr Mutoloki also praised the Ministry of Health for sending a team of 14 specialist doctors under the Jubilee Medical Outreach programme to Kasama General Hospital to offer specialized treatment and health care services to the numerous complicated medical cases on the hospital’s referral list.
He said in five days the specialist doctors have attended to over 1,000 patients and successfully performed 130 surgical operations which included the removal of a large tumor on the head of a 66 year old Kasama woman who had carried it for over 30 years.
“I want to thank the Jubilee Team for choosing to come to Kasama General Hospital. All patients on the waiting list for referral to UTH or Ndola Central have been cleared. We have no pending cases,” he said.
Dr Mutoloki observed that referrals are a burden to the Hospital and patients because they cost a lot but because of the medical jubilee outreach programme huge savings will be made.
He said the resident medical team and support staff have appreciated the presence of the jubilee team because they are getting continuous medical education.
And Northern Province Clinical Care Specialist Dr Lawrence Phiri has commended government for embarking on a programme to provide specialist treatment to rural patients that are unable to access such services.
Dr. Phiri said the initiative by the Ministry of Health to take Specialist Doctors from around the country will provide quality health care services to many patients.
The Province Clinical Care Specialist said the move will reduce the number of referral cases from provincial hospitals to University Teaching Hospital.
The Ministry of Health in commemorating Golden Jubilee Independence Celebrations initiated a Medical Jubilee outreach programme that provides specialist Doctors to treat and perform surgical operations in provincial centers to patients on the referral list to UTH and Ndola Central Hospital.
Residents of Misisi, Ngwenya and Kuku compounds of Lusaka are appealing to government to legalize their settlements to enable them have access to basic social needs such as water, health services, schools and proper roads.
The settlements, which have no schools, health services, clean drinking water and proper road networks, are home to a lot of people yet Government insist they are illegal settlements therefore not mandated to provide these services to them.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, Charles Kafumbo, a resident of Kuku compound, said the compounds have been in existence since independence and that it is saddening that 50 years after independence, the settlements are still illegal.
Mr Kafumbo who is also vice president for Zambia Direct Democracy Movement (ADDM) party said, politicians always go looking for votes in these settlements but forget to appreciate the people’s vote by going back there to improve their livelihood by making the settlements legal so that the area can finally be developed.
And when contacted for a comment on the situation in these settlements, Acting Public Relations Officer for Lusaka City Council, Mulunda Habeenzu, said the compounds are informal settlements and can only be legalized through the Housing and Improvement Area Act approved by the Minister of Local Government and Housing.
Mr Habeenzu said some of the problems the residents are facing can be sorted out without involving the government, an example being Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company being in charge of providing water to the residents of Lusaka city.
He said the areas will be recognized as legal once they are recognized as improvement areas.
MMD National Youth Secretary Tobias Kafumukache addresses journalists at the party secretariat in Lusaka
Movement for Multi -Party Democracy (MMD) National Youth Secretary, Tobias Kafumukache, has warned other opposition political parties to stay away from the wrangles that have rocked the former ruling party.
Mr Kafumukache said the ongoing issues surrounding the MMD presidency is an internal party issue and that the MMD youth wing expects no outsiders to interfere with the matter.
Mr Kafumukache made the remarks after some alleged reports that some UPND sympathizers and UPND medial aligned organisations have launched a campaign to support embattled MMD leader Nevers Mumba.
In a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Kafumukache has since warned of stern action against outsiders championing the support of Mr Mumba and urged them to immediately stop.
Mr Kafumukache stated that it is the members of MMD themselves who have resolved to remove Mr Mumba because he has failed to lead the party.
And Mr Kafumukache has said the MMD has drastically lost popularity due to Mr Mumba’s crippled style of leadership.
Mr Kafumukache has further maintained that an emergent extra ordinary convention is the only solution which will help to rejuvenate the party and to save it from total collapse.
The former ruling party’s leadership is divided following the decision by top party officials who are calling for the removal of current president, Nevers Mumba and convening of a convention to elect fresh office bearers.
The Young African Leaders Initiative YALI says the language being used by politicians in the country is not inspiring young people to join politics.
Speaking in an interview YALI Executive Director Andrew Ntewewe said it is unfortunate that politicians especially those in government have continued to use unpalatable language towards one another thereby making bad examples of themselves to young people aspiring to be politicians.
He said what the politicians are doing is planting a bad seed which has a potential to influence young people in the country to think that politics is about insulting each other.
He further noted that people in leadership should avoid using language that is demeaning to others and should realize that politics is not a platform for insulting others but for providing a service to the public.
He added people in top leadership should use language which is not only civil but language which gives confidence to the people they are serving.
“When you are occupying certain positions that people look up to there are things you just can’t say in public because you feel that way by virtual of protecting the office,” said Mr Ntewewe
He urges the top leadership in the country to sober up and reflect on the language they are using in public and the picture they are painting to the young people aspiring to be leaders one day.
“What is happening is that young people start to think that politics is a dirty game when the truth is that politics is a game of service, that it is a game that ensures that people have access to basic necessities and that people are suppose to compete effectively for public office,”
” Its not about insulting one another as people in leadership are portraying it,” explained Mr Ntewewe.
Mr Ntewewe’s comments come’s in the wake of republican vice president Dr Guy Scott’s use of unpalatable language towards Kabwata Member of Parliament Given Lubinda barely a week after the president practically insulted his ministers when he described them as useless.
The body of a 13 year old female juvenile has been discovered by passers-by near Zambezi Market in Lusaka’s Ng’ombe compound.
The girl who is suspected to have been defiled before being murdered went missing on 30th March 2014 and was only discovered today 1st April around 06:00 hours.
Zambia Police Spokesperson Charity Chanda said police officers who visited the scene of the crime found some used condoms besides the dead body.
Mrs. Chanda said the deceased who was wearing a black skirt and a white shirt has since been identified.
She said investigations into the matter have been instituted in order to bring the perpetrators to book.
Mrs. Chanda said in a statement that the body of the deceased is lying in UTH hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.
She said the Zambia Police is concerned with the number of dead bodies that have been picked in different places in Lusaka in the recent past.
Mrs. Chanda said police have therefore intensified patrols in all parts of Lusaka and are appealing to the general public with information that may lead to the apprehension and prosecution of the assailants to report to any nearest Police Post or station.
Nkana will face 2013 Confederation Cup semifinalist CA Bizertin in the knockout round of this years tournament.
The Tunisian club is the second successive Northern African club Nkana will face in African club competition this season after Zamalek of Egypt humiliated them 5-0 in the last 16 of the 2014 CAF Champions League.
That defeat handed Nkana one more shot in Africa after they were demoted to the Confederation Cup.
Nkana will host Bizertin in the first leg on April 19 at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe before travelling to Tunisia on April 25.
This will be the two sides first ever meeting.
And winner over both legs will go into the April 29 group stage draws to be held in Cairo.
Meanwhile, Bizertin were eliminated from the 2013 Confederation Cup at the semifinals by eventual winners and compatriots CS Sfaxien 1-0 on aggregate.
Outspoken Youth and Sports Minister, Chishimba Kambwili has said that he is not among the Ministers President Michael Sata referred to as useless.
Mr. Kambwili said this was why he is neither upset nor offended by President Sata’s remarks because he is sure that he does his job both as Minister and Member of Parliament accordingly.
He added that he also considers the President’s remarks as those coming from a parent counseling his own child.
Mr. Kambwili however said that it was only those Ministers that are not doing their jobs diligently and correctly that should be worried about the Head of State’s remarks.
He said that when President speaks generally that some Ministers are useless and a Minister gets upset, it means such a Minister knows that he or she is indeed useless.
Mr. Kambwili has told Qfm News in an interview that as far as he is concerned such statements coming from President Sata that some Ministers are useless is actually an encouragement for Ministers to work hard.
He said that this was why he has never felt insulted or demoralized by the President’s remarks on the performance of Ministers in government.
[pullquote]He said that Zambians are not interested to know if the President has a useless government formed out of useless Members of Parliament, but are instead interested in seeing development in all corners of the country and the country attaining some of the MDGs.[/pullquote]
Meanwhile, The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has counseled President Michael Sata to develop a culture of mature and responsible leadership by showing respect to his Ministers and Members of Parliament.
This follows President Sata’s recent reference to his Ministers as useless.
CCZ President Alfred Kalembo told QFM News in an interview that the Church does not support the continued public humiliation and abuse of Ministers and Members of Parliament by the President.
Rev. Kalembo said that CCZ took great exception to President Sata’s public outbursts against fellow leaders both in government and outside government.
He said that Zambians are not interested to know if the President has a useless government formed out of useless Members of Parliament, but are instead interested in seeing development in all corners of the country and the country attaining some of the MDGs.
And Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) Executive Director Pukuta Mwanza has reiterated that the admonishment of Ministers should be done out of the public eye.
Reverend Mwanza says reprimanding government officials in public sends a message to the public that government is not working in one accord.
