DEFENCE Minister Edgar Lungu has said Government will hold a referendum to adopt a new constitution despite the huge cost if that is the aspiration of the people.

Mr Lungu said Government would go with the aspirations of the people after taking ample time to study the final draft constitution.

He said this during the launch of the African Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS) Zambia Community Chapter held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.

“We will have an ample time to go through the draft constitution and when we complete the process we will go by the direction of the people, if they want a referendum we will go that direction even though it is an expensive venture to undertake,” Mr Lungu said.

He said most countries reviewing their constitutions were against the referendum as it was an expensive exercise, but if it was the aspiration of the people, Government would have no choice but to conduct it.

He said there were various articles of interest that needed to be looked at before Government enacts the final constitution.

“Going forward we have not abandoned the process we will complete it to the later, he said.

Mr Lungu also hailed the security wings for upholding the constitution and contributing to the democratic dispensation of the country.

“The defence and security institutions were among the oldest and most experienced in the region and have remained the bedrock upon which our democracy and peace is anchored. That’s why Zambia has remained a bastion of peace since independence,” Mr Lungu said.

The ACSS is the pre-eminent U.S Department of Defence Institution for strategic studies, research and outreach in Africa which offers a range of academic symposiums, workshops and programmes throughout the US, Africa and Europe.

In Zambia, the Chapter is being launched in partnership with the ACSS, Dag Hammerskjold Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies (DHIPS), the US Embassy and would be based at the Copperbelt University.

US Embassy Charge de Affaires David Young said the partnership between Zambia and US security officials through the ACSS was symbolic of the two countries’ commitment to deepen cooperation between the two countries.

Mr Young said in a speech read on his behalf by Lieutenant Colonial David Wallin that the center would help advance national, regional and global security.

And Copperbelt Vice-Chancelor Naison Ngoma said security issues were sensitive and that security personnal should not allow people that do not understand security issues to be commenting on the matter anyhow.

Professor Ngoma also noted that there should be political will to have a good defence and security in the country.

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) Secretary General Wynter Kabimba has attributed the on-going wrangles in the MMD to its leader Nevers Mumba whom he said hijacked the former ruling party.

Mr Kabimba said Dr Mumba took over the MMD after it lost power but that instead of uniting the party, he has now pushed it to near extinction.

On Tuesday, the two MMD vice-presidents Michael Kaingu and Brian Chituwo together with party spokesperson Dora Siliya and Solwezi Central MP Lucky Mulusa held a press briefing where they bemoaned that the party was dying a slow painful death and called for a convention.

“What those people are complaining about is the lack of leadership in the party and they have reason to do so. Where did Dr Mumba come from? Where was he when they were fighting battles for the party?” Mr Kabimba asked.

Mr Kabimba, who is also Justice Minister, said it was inconceivable that Dr Mumba could turn around and accuse State House of destabilising his party when the general membership was complaining about his style of leadership.

He said the former ruling party had found itself in the current malaise because Dr Mumba hijacked the party and that the MMD should sort out their problems without dragging other people into it.

The Judge Rhoyda Kaoma led tribunal constituted to investigate former Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo for alleged professional misconduct and interference in the operations of the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) today handed over the report of its findings to President Michael Sata.

Speaking shortly after the formal hand over of the report, Tribunal Secretary Mathew Zulu disclosed that the tribunal’s 130 page report would also be made public electronically through the Judiciary’s public relations officer Terry Musonda at 14:00hrs today.

The Judge Kaoma tribunal’s investigations centered around allegations that Ms. Masebo abused her Ministerial office and interfered in the operations of ZAWA when she ordered the withdrawal of 19 Safari hunting licenses in breach of the Zambia Public Procurement Agency ACT No. 12 of 2008.

Ms. Masebo was also being investigated in relation to the dismissal of senior ZAWA management officials in breach of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act, Chapter 16 of the Laws of Zambia.

Meanwhile President Michael Sata has elevated Jean Kapata as new Tourism and Arts Minister.

Ms. Kapata, who was until her elevation Community Development Deputy Minister has replaced Chongwe Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo, who was last week relieved of her duties as Tourism and Arts Minister.

The President’s special assistant for press and public relations George Chellah told journalists this morning that Mkushi North Member of Parliament Ingrid Mphande has also been appointed as the new Community Development Deputy Minister.

The Patriotic Front-PF is not yet ready to proceed with the matter in which the Lusaka High Court granted Kasama Central Member of Parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba an ex-parte injunction restraining the party from expelling him.

When the matter came up before Justice Annie Sharpe Phiri, PF lawyer Dean Mumba indicated that the party had not given instructions to proceed with the matter.

Mr Mwamba was on February 21 granted an ex parte injunction as no charge was formally communicated to him about the purported expulsion.

The Northern Province PF executive committee expelled Mr Mwamba and recommended to the party leadership to expel him for allegedly bringing the name of the party into disrepute.

In December 2013 Geoffrey Mwamba resigned from his ministerial position of Defense Minister.He explained that his resignation was as a result of differences he had been having with President Michael Sata following his visit to incoming paramount chief Chitimukulu, Henry Sosala.

He said that the action he took was out of principle adding that mid last year President Michael Sata sent him to Northern Province to discuss the impasse between Bashilubemba and government over the enthronement of Paramount Chief Chitimukulu and that the Head of State was aware of what was discussed. Mwamba said that the continued silence and disparaging remarks against the Chitimukulu by government had annoyed the people of Kasama and Northern Province as a whole hence his decision to quit from government.

“They have told me that they are not happy with the decision by government to degazette Chief Mwamba as the Chitimukulu. This matter has been discussed at length with the President. But you see people here are asking me as their MP what is happening. There is no answer. I cannot tell them anything because the President has said nothing over the issues and my fear is that when I come back in 2016 to ask for votes they will reject me because it would have meant that I have failed them,” said Mwamba.

President Sata has refused to recognise Chitimukulu, Henry Sosala who was installed by the Bemba Traditional Council.The Presidents preferred candidate is Chief Chewe of Chinsali District in Muchinga Province.Unconfirmed reports suggest that money has been released to initiate a process of over throwing Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba speaking people.

Finance Bank Zambia Chairman Rajan Mathani has praised the PF government for handing back the Bank to the rightful owners and serving it from what he termed as ” jaws of death and total annihilation”.

“My heart is filled with gratitude and thanks giving to our lord Jesus Christ who sustained, established, granted growth, delivered from Jaws of death and total annihilation and now steering FBZ to greater glory for his name”.

He further commended the current administration for being a people’s government that listened to the cries of its citizens as well as for its intolerance towards injustices perpetrated by the previous administration.

“On behalf of the board of directors, Management, members of staff, our loyal customers and indeed the entire nation we record our gratitude to your government for being a principled, fair and listening government bold to redress injustices and restore the indeppendence of our judiciary”.

“This spirit has also been proven in your recent revocation of SI 55 and SI33 for the entire benefit of the nation”. Mr Mahtani said.

And speaking at the same function. Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has described the action by the former ruling party, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) on its move to grab and sale Finance bank for $5 Million, an amount not even half the banks value, as the last franchise of morality.

Mr. Chikwanda claimed that the action by the MMD would have incapacitated Zambia and the Region because the bank has been a supporter of small scale businesses as well as small scale farmers, who are the economic engine of the country and the region.

The Minister noted that his party, the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), came to liberate the country’s economy, claiming that the PF came into office with a view of promoting a free market economy without undue influence from government.

He added that the president’s move to repossess the bank and return it to the rightful owners has been vindicated as can be seen from the good economic performance of the bank which has continued to grow since it was returned to the owners.

And the Finance Bank chairman has revealed that the bank will before the end 2014 list on several Stock Markets.

Mr. Mathani said his bank is in the process of listing on the Lusaka stock exchange, Nairobi stock exchange, and London Stock exchange as it extends it tentacles to other markets.

The duo were speaking at the Finance Bank Zambia limited financial result for the year ended 31st December 2013 cocktail party at Pamodzi hotel last night.