Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
Mongu District Commissioner Maurice Litula addressing Irate Mongu-Kalabo roads workers who are protesting for improved salaries and working conditions in Mongu
More than 150 works working on the Mongu- Kalabo Road in the bridge department in Mongu Western province today downed tools demanding for more money and better conditions of service.
The irate workers, who marched from Mandanga area to the District Commissioner’s Office, alleged that their employer AVIC international was not following laid down labor demands in addressing them on many issues.
David Mwiya an electrician who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved group alleged that workers at the bridge department have for a long time being subjected to inhuman treatment, unpaid for overtime hours, no proper working suits among others.
[pullquote]We are being treated like foreigners in our own mother land as if we do not have leaders, these Chinese always insult us, they fire us anyhow and they do not even pay us accordingly[/pullquote] Mwiya also alleged that Chinese instructors are fond of insulting works at any slight disagreement adding that workers were being fired at will on a daily basis.
“We are being treated like foreigners in our own mother land as if we do not have leaders, these Chinese always insult us, they fire us anyhow and they do not even pay us accordingly,” Mwiya complained.
He said the workers who are supposed to earn K800 at the end of the month have in the recent past being paid less the amount for reasons that have not been explained to them.
“We are being paid less the amount of money we work for, instead of getting K800 at the end of the Month we are always getting less the amount.” He added.
(Mongu-Kalabo Road) Workers at AVIC bridge department busy working on time for the bridges of Mongu- Kalabo Road
Mwiya also said the works are also being denied sick leave saying that if a worker was reported to be sick an amount was deducted from his pay to cover for the day.
“Even when you are reported sick, these people are always removing from our monthly pay to cover for the day,” he said.
AND addressing the irate workers after their compliant, District Commissioner Maurice Litula said he would hold a meeting with AVIC international management in an effort to get to the bottom of the matter.
Litula said government’s desire is to see both employers and employee work in harmony and that exploitation of Zambian citizens in any way will not be tolerated.
He said the Mongu-Kalabo road project is one road project that is at the heart of the Patriotic Front (PF) government but that does not mean that people should be mistreated.
“The PF government is committed to ensure that the Mongu- Kalabo road is completed in good time, but that does not mean that our people should be treated like there are nobodies,” Litula cautioned.
The Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested former Zambia Railways Limited Chief Executive Officer Professor Clive Chirwa for alleged Corrupt Practices involving over K280, 000.00
Prof. Chirwa was arrested yesterday and charged with two (2) counts.
In the first count, Prof. Chirwa is charged with failure to Disclose Interest contrary to section 28 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No.3 of 2012.
Details are that Prof. Chirwa, 59, between 1st November, 2012 and 31st December, 2012 as CEO of Zambia Railways Limited recommended at the Zambia Railways Board meeting that Clavel Incorporated Limited, a company in which he is a shareholder be given a contract to train Zambia Railways employees without disclosing interest contrary to section 28 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No.3 of 2012.
In the second count, Prof. Chirwa is jointly charged with Ms. Regina Mwale, 50, and Finance Director of Zambia Railways Limited for Abuse of Authority of Office contrary to section 99 (1) of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Details are that between 1st November, 2012 and 30th April, 2013 Prof. Chirwa and Ms. Mwale whilst acting together abused the authority of their office by authorizing a total payment of K289, 128.84 to Fallsway Apartments of Lusaka for accommodation for the benefit of Pro. Chirwa without following laid down procedures.
Prof. Chirwa and his co-accused who have since appeared in the Kabwe Magistrate Court have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Christopher Chibanku
CORPORATE AFFAIRS OFFICER
FOR/ DIRECTOR GENERAL
Born in Lusaka Zambia, on 2nd October 1992 to a Greek mother and Zambian father, Elefthrios Mukuka is an Electronic Music Producer / Composer / Film Scorer and Pianist. He is Currently studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, USA.
While studying at the famous Berklee College of Music, the 20 year-old Greek-Zambian composer, film scorer, music producer and pianist Eleftherios Mukuka focuses on writing and exploring music that brings together the Greek traditional/Byzantine and Arabic music with the Sub-Saharan African and Jazz music, in both classical and Electronic music form. His diversity in genre and innovative approaches to fusion music keep his listeners excited and culturally unbound. Eleftherios has performed in Zambia, Greece and the USA.
He is inspired by the likes of Edward Maya, Robert Miles and Liquideep.
Majority of video was shot at Chaminuka Lodge, Zambia. It was directed by Kenny Roc of Ground Xero, Zambia.
All three people in the music video (Eleftherios, Alan and Mercedes) are childhood friends! They all grew up in Lusaka and have know each other since primary school! (Mercedes Milner is the actress in the video).
Even though they had been friends for many years, Eleftherios Mukuka and Alan Thompson only started working together in 2011.
Both Eleftherios Mukuka and Alan Thompson are currently studying in the USA. Eleftherios in Boston, MA and Alan in Tulsa, OK.
The mixing engineers for the song “Heart” are: Eleftherios Mukuka & Maksim Krykhtin. Maksim is a close friend of Eleftherios and a fellow Berklee student. They have worked together on several projects and continue to do so.
The video is simple, uplifting, romantic and proudly Zambian!
File: Michael Sata flanked by the Minister of Justice Sebastian Zulu, Attorney General Mumba Malila, Solicitor General Musa Mwenya and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mutembo Nchito, stressed the need for constant dialogue and interaction between the executive and the judiciary. This was during a closed-door meeting at State House with a selected number of Supreme Court and High Court judges from across the country after they requested to meet with himJudges are annoyed with the disproportionately excessive salaries awarded to the Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions, Solicitor General, among others; calling them a form of bribe for the current office holders to continue bringing Patriotic Front-inclined frivolous cases to court.
The Daily Nation has learnt that DPP Mutembo Nchito and SG Musa Mwenye were each earning K343 million a year while a High Court Judge earns K218 million a difference of K135 million while the AG Malila was earning K353 million.
This is compared to the Judiciary where the Chief Justice earns K272 million a year Deputy Chief Justice K267 million, Supreme Court Judges K226 million and High Court Judges K218 million.
Judicial sources told the Daily Nation that judges have questioned the huge salaries given to President Sata’s ‘crack squad’ that he appointed at the start of his term of office comprising Attorney General Mumba Malila, Solicitor General Musa Mwenye and Director of Public Prosecution Mutembo Nchito.
The awards, they said were not only immoral but illegal since there was no approval by Parliament.
They said it was shocking that President Michael Sata had awarded the said officers huge salaries leading to a situation where the said officers now earn more than High Court judges and the Chief Justice, who as per procedure should be the highest earning Judicial officers.
They have since demanded for an explanation on how the said officers’ salaries were excessively increased without Parliament’s approval.
The sources said this was pure constitutional anarchy exhibited by the Executive to reward the ‘crack squad’ to quote President Sata’s own words, but warned that this was bound to backfire in the very near future as this was a negotiated bribe.
“All salaries and allowances from the President to all constitution office bearers must be approved by Parliament without exception. This is for purposes of transparency and accountability and seniority of rank.
“The judges feel these special salaries for the ‘crack squad’ must be tabled in parliament to have a national character and approval. Because of these strange and special salaries, you can see and understand why these gentlemen are always acting very strangely in their execution of their official duties,” said the sources.
And civil rights activist Brebner Changala said this was unfair as judges were more qualified and held more serious responsibilities than other state legal officers and should therefore be remunerated better.
“These people are junior to the judges on the bench and when did Parliament sit to agree that judges would get lower salaries than the ‘crack squad’. I demand that government explains this anomaly and can they tell us if this was deliberately done to entice a favoured group of citizens to work for Patriotic Front.
“This also confirms why the judiciary is in disarray and being threatened by massive arrogance from the Executive. Why should a small group of people take up salaries for the entire Judiciary and why were the salaries increased through a statutory instrument instead of a motion in parliament,” he said.
Changala questioned the role of Parliament in constitutional emoluments.
‘Is this the much talked about judicial reforms done at State House? Who negotiated these uncharitable salaries and allowance? Is this not corruption that the PF and President Sata have been talking against for a long time now? Can the government give a comprehensive and clear statement on these seemingly dubious salary increments?’
According to the Statutory Instrument No 59 of 2012 obtained by the Daily Nation and signed by Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda, the salaries for the Secretary to Cabinet, Attorney General, Solicitor General, Director of Public Prosecutions, Auditor General and Investigator General were higher than that of the Chief Justice and other judges by a K100 million.
But judicial sources said historically, all government employees except the Secretary to Cabinet earned less than High Court judges and that was the reason why most of the people that had served in these offices aspired to be judges because of the accrued benefits.
On the 28th June 2013, I attended a symposium under the auspices of the Zambia Land Alliance. Mr. Goodwell Lungu, Director of Transparency International Zambia paused a question which struck me somewhat. I had a crisis of my own!!! His question was simply this:
“How many people have read the Constitutional Bill of Rights and understand them fully”?
This was terrible. Although I have read the constitution of Zambia many times, I have not really read the provisions in the Bill of Rights to fully appreciate what they mean and their implications. Over the ensuing weeks and months after that episode of self introspection, I realised that there was a real need to address this knowledge deficit.
In this segment of “Your Rights”, I shall endeavour to explore the thorny and sometimes explosive issue of Freedom of expression.
What the constitution says
Freedom of expression is one of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Zambian Constitution under Article 20. The aforementioned Article 20 (1) provides thus:
“Except with his own consent, a person shall not be hindered in Protection of the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, that is to say, freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to impart and communicate ideas and information without interference, whether the communication be to the public generally or to any person or class of persons, and freedom from interference with his correspondence.”
The above provision in the Zambia Constitution is all encompassing and guarantees the freedom of the individual to hold opinions and communicate those opinions without interference.Since the constitution is the fundamental law of the land, Article 1(3) of the Zambian Constitution entrenches the Supremacy of the Constitution by providing thus:
“This Constitution is the supreme law of Zambia and if any other law is inconsistent with this Constitution that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.”
Absolute vs Subjective rights
The discourse which normally presents difficulties is with regard to the application of other laws which have an impact on the proper implementation of Article 20 (1) of the Constitution. It is often argued that Human Rights are not absolute. This postulation is not without justification.
It is an established principle of International Law, that some rights are absolute, while others are subject to other considerations for them to be enjoyed. In this discourse, limiting or restricting Human Rights means doing something that prevents someone from fully enjoying a particular right. For example, if you lock someone in a room or cell you are limiting their right to liberty; they cannot fully enjoy the freedom to move about as they wish. Although a right to liberty and freedom is a human right, this right is not absolute as it can be denied on grounds of effecting a lawful arrest or as the case may be, imprisonment.
It is worth of note that there are a small number of human rights that cannot be balanced against the rights of others, or the interests of the wider community. These are what are referred to as absolute rights. These rights can never be limited or restricted, whatever the circumstances even in a state of war or emergency.
One example of an absolute right is the right not to be tortured or treated in an inhuman or degrading way. There can never be any justification under the Human Rights dispensation to torture or treat someone in an inhuman or degrading way, regardless of the circumstances.
With regard to Freedom of Expression though, this is one of the Human Rights which is not absolute as it is subject to restrictions under some other laws or public interest considerations. However, in the Zambian case, the Constitution is categorical on the issue of other considerations which can affect the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression.
Conditions under which Freedom of Expression can be curtailed
The Constitution as the Supreme Law of the Land provides for circumstances under which the freedom of expression may be curtailed. Article 20 (2) and (3) of the Zambian Constitution provides thus:
“Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this Article to the extent that it is shown that the law in question makes provision-
a) that is reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; or
b) that is reasonably required for the purpose of protecting the reputations, rights and freedoms of other persons or the private lives of persons concerned in legal proceedings, preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, maintaining the authority and independence of the courts, regulating educational institutions in the interests of persons receiving instruction therein, or the registration of, or regulating the technical administration or the technical operation of, newspapers and other publications, telephony, telegraphy, posts, wireless broadcasting or television; or
c) that imposes restrictions upon public officers; and except so far as that provision or, the thing done under the authority thereof as the case may be, is shown not to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.”
The right to Freedom of Expression is a qualified right. This means that the right can be restricted under more general circumstances when balanced against the rights of others or the interests of the wider community. In Human Rights discourse, this is a question of proportionality. Article 20(2) and (3) provides for circumstances under which the freedoms of expression as explicitly provided under the Constitution may be curtailed. For example, there is provided circumstances of national security, public order, public health and public morality.
Conclusion
The circumstances under which freedom or expression may be curtailed are so broad as to make the right to freedom of expression non-existent. This therefore requires discretion, proportionality and common sense. It is opined that the broad spectrum of circumstances under which freedom of expression may be curtailed make it very easy for people tasked with the responsibility of exercising discretion to use their own interests, whims and caprices as a benchmark for allowing for divergent discourse.
Therefore, there is a need to have a strong institutional framework to protect and guarantee the freedom of expression within the spirit of the constitution. As a rule of statutory interpretation, nocitur asociis requires that a statute be understood in the context and not by particular provisions. Article 20(1) is an empowering provision for proponents of freedom of expression. However, the provisions in Article 20(2) and (3) take away the freedoms provided for under Article 20 (1). Therefore, it is the responsibility of those tasked with the exercise of discretion to apply the provisions of Article 20(2) and (3) by application of the principle of proportionality. A proportionate action is one that is reasonable and not excessive in the circumstances. Freedom of expression?
Forum for Democracy and Development FDD leader, Edith Nawakwi
Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) leader Edith Nawakwi has charged that the entire ministry of health should be charged for systemic genocide for failing to procure enough BCG drugs a vaccination for newly born babies.
Ms Nawakwi has told Qfm news that it is unacceptable for the ministry of health to completely run out of such an important vaccine.
Ms. Nawakwi says there is need for government to get serious and ensure the medical stores has enough stocks of drugs at all times.
Ms Nawakwi explains that waiting until the drugs are finished is not right because the procedure for procurement takes long which may put many lives at risk.
The FDD leader has since demanded that the minister of health and his staff be fired for failing to procure enough BCG vaccines, Anti Retro-viral therapy drugs and Tuberculosis drugs.
First lady Dr. Christine Kaseba(left) talks to mobile hospital delegation leader dr.Dr. Welani Chilengwe(right) in Mkushi.
First Lady Dr. Christine Kaseba has urged Mkushi residents to maximise the services that are being offered by the Mobile Hospital Unit that commenced operations in the district on Monday.
Gracing the official launch of the 8 day Mobile Hospital service at Mkushi Show Grounds, Dr. Kaseba encouraged residents to turn in large numbers for the 8 days of this program.
Dr. Kaseba also spent time at the District Hospital where she was orienting Health Workers on skills pertaining to management of Cervical Cancer Patients.
Meanwhile, delegation Leader for the mobile hospital unit Dr. Welani Chilengwe stated that mentorship of Health Staff and skills transfer were amongst other services that are included in the program.
Dr. Chilengwe explained that the 2 services were recently incorporated in order to consolidate the management of various illnesses incuding Cervical Cancer.
He further added that the mobile outreach program had generally been well received in other parts of the country.
He said that the program was likely to surpass the 3000 residents target that had been initially projected for Mkushi.
“if possible, we can even serve the whole community”, he remarked.
Dr. Chilengwe assured residents that the program included many services, adding that the services were being conducted promptly on daily basis.
A complete unit of mobile hospital fleet of trucks arrived in Mkushi on Sunday before commencing operations on Monday.
Mkushi District last received mobile hospital service early last year.
Patriotic Front (PF) cadres yesterday fumed at the Police officers for refusing them entry into the Lusaka magistrate’s court premises to witness their colleagues’ court proceedings who appeared for plea.
A group of PF cadres exchanged bitter words with the police officers with some injured in the process a situation which incensed their friends accusing the police of being biased as they conducted national duties.
They tried to force their way into the court premises but were overpowered by the police who managed to lock them outside the main gates but were also adamant and decided to wait for their colleagues until they came out.
Earlier the PF accused persons, Innocent Kalimisha, 30, of Chawama a passenger assistant chairperson at Intercity Bus Station, Pharai Zulu, 38 a businessman, of Kamwala South and Victor Kalichi, 34 of Kanyama, all of Lusaka pleaded not guilty to five counts of assault and three charges of malicious damage to property.
It is alleged that the trio jointly with others unknown did in count one, cause actual bodily harm on Christopher Shakafuswa on August 31, 2013.
In count two, they allegedly caused actual bodily harm on Bernard Chanda, in the third count they assaulted Isaac Manda and in the fourth count the trio assaulted Christopher Katema.
Further, Kalimisha, Zulu and Kalichi jointly and whilst acting with others unknown allegedly assaulted Kanyanja Musale, thereby causing him actual bodily harm.
The accused were also slapped with three counts of malicious damage to property contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
In the sixth count the trio allegedly broke 27 chairs, 17 tables, a steel gate at Northmead Secondary School all valued at K19, 508 property of the Government.
In the seventh count they were accused of willfully and knowingly damaging a vehicle registration number ALG 6969 belonging to Mr Shakafuswa valued at K2, 566 while in the eighth count the trio allegedly damaged a vehicle registration number ALL 814 belonging to Mr Mukasa valued at K9,000.
Magistrate Ireen Wishimanga then recorded a plea of not guilty in respect of all the accused persons in all the eight counts.
After the court adjourned the case, the trio told the police that “Mukabebe ati tukafwilapo pali PF,” meaning go and tell them that we shall die over PF.”
While carrying a bible they complained over the manner they were being treated by the police saying only God knew what was happening and would ensure justice prevailed in the matter.
They vowed that no amount of intimidation would destruct them from defending the PF all times.
The matter was adjourned to October, 4, 7 and 8, 2013 for possible opening of trial.
The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) resumed operations on Monday after more than 1,000 Tanzanian workers ended a two-week strike, the company said.
The strike over unpaid wages by 1,067 workers crippled operations at the loss-making railway, which is used to transport copper from Zambia to Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port for export.
Spokesman Conrad Simuchile said salary arrears were cleared after the Zambian and Tanzanian governments made payments totalling more than $6 million.
The Chinese-built railway has suffered from falling cargo traffic and years of inadequate investment by the two state shareholders.
Mr. Simuchile said that over the past eight months revenue had averaged $1.53 million per month against an estimated average expenditure exceeding $2.5 million, of which salaries alone constituted an average of $1.3 million.
The 1,860 km railway had previously threatened to sack all striking workers in Tanzania if they did not return to work, saying their salary arrears were being resolved.
Tanzanian Minister for Transport Dr Harisson Mwakyembe informed the National Assembly in Dodoma that despite the fact that the strike, organised by the Tanzania Railway Workers’ Union (TRAWU) was not legal, government took into consideration the suffering of workers and their families and issued instructions that no punitive measures should be taken against the workers.
The strike started on August 23, 2013 with workers demanding arrears in payment of salaries for the months between May and August this year.
“After long discussions with my Zambian counterpart, Yamfwa Mukunga, the government of Zambia has disbursed US Dollar 5 million already received by the management of TAZARA and Tanzania has given 2bn/- as contingency for TAZARA.
The company has been instructed to recover debts from clients amounting to USD 3.17 million,” he said.
The minister assured that the workers have already received salaries for the month of May and arrears for the months of June, July and August would be taken care of.
Commenting on the effects of the strike, the Minister said 13 freight trains with 252 wagons carrying 10,080 tonnes of copper, manganese, fertilizers, oil and cement suspended activities. Again more than 46,000 passengers missed out on the services.
Zambian President Micheal Sata with Foregn affairs Minister Wylbur Simuusa and Ambassador Steffen Kongstad, President of the third meeting on States paries 3MSP at the Fouth meeting of States paries to the Conevntion on Cluster Munition at Govrernment Complex In Lusaka – picture By Eddie Mwanaleza.
The more than 100 governments attending the Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions this week should strongly condemn Syria’s use of the weapon, said the Cluster Munition Coalition as the meeting opened Monday in Lusaka.
Syrian government forces began using cluster munitions in 2012 and the use has continued into 2013, causing numerous civilian casualties, according to Cluster Munition Monitor 2013, the annual report of the Cluster Munition Coalition.
“Three years after becoming international law, this Convention is making a real impact in ridding the world of cluster munitions, but problems such as use of the weapon in Syria remain,” said Sarah Blakemore, Director of the Cluster Munition Coalition.
“Ensuring more countries join the Convention on Cluster Munitions is an important means of strengthening the global stigma against use of this indiscriminate weapon. We call on all countries that have not yet joined the Convention to do so without delay.”
A total of 112 countries have already signed or acceded to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions, and requires the clearance of cluster munition remnants within 10 years as well mandating assistance for victims.
Of these countries, 83 are States Parties while the other 29 have signed but not yet ratified the Convention.
Representatives of governments, UN organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Cluster Munition Coalition including cluster munition survivors from Ethiopia, Laos, Tajikistan and Vietnam will attend the meeting, which was opened President Michael Chilufya Sata.
This is the first time the meeting will be held in Africa, previous meetings of the Convention were held in Lao PDR, Lebanon, and Norway.
Nearly all of the 49 states in Sub-Saharan Africa including Zambia have joined the Convention on Cluster Munitions, with the exception of Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritius, South Sudan, Sudan, and Zimbabwe.
Nineteen African countries have signed but not ratified the Convention. Cluster munitions have been used in several African countries, including in Angola, Chad, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Uganda, and Zambia.
NORTH-Western province minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu (left) with Likumbi lya Mize national chairperson Ackson Mbunji, Defence minister Geoffrey Mwamba and PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba (right) kneel and clap as a show of respect while entering senior chief Ndungu’s palace to pay a courtesy call on the traditional ruler during the commemoratiog of this year’s Likumbi Lya Mize traditional ceremony over the weekend in Zambezi
Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba has refuted a news story attributed to him in Monday’s edition of the Post Newspaper under the headline “Easterners are sly.”
In a statement, Mr. Mwamba said the story is a malicious attempt by the newspaper to malign his image.
Below is Mr Mwamba’s statement.
WE, THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA WILL NOT SURRENDER OUR DESTINY TO BWINJIMFUMU’S CLANDESTINE SCHEME
A Big Thank You To You All!
My endorsement for President Michael Sata has laid bare a clandestine scheme to prop-up and impose puppets. Its architects have resolved to fight anyone in their way and ensure they succeed with their devious scheme. They are deceiving themselves.
Today, 9th September 2013, the Post Newspaper bears a screaming and mischievous headline: “EASTERNERS ARE SLY-GBM”. Let me mention that while the malicious headlines by the Post Newspaper are inconsequential to me and I’ll leave it up to the reasonable minds to see through their lies and distortions, I want to tell them that they have no capacity to come between me and my cousins in Eastern Province as is the case with Today’s Headline. In the context of my statement with reference to Mkaika, SLY meant CLEVER.
My cousins in the Eastern Province know that attempts by the Post Newspaper to insinuate and misrepresent the context of my remarks are hogwash and should be rejected with utter contempt.
I have profound respect for Easterners as much as I do for all Zambians from all corners of the country. The Post Newspaper drew another blank here! Just to drum it into the ears of the Post Newspaper and Fred M’membe- GBM stands for UNITY in the Nation, in the Party and in Government. Unlike them, I’m not a divisive and polarizing person.
Today, we can assure them that the collective courage and wisdom of the Zambian is about to break the Bwinjimfumu Cartel! The destiny of our country lies in the hands of its people as chief architects and NOT in the Post Newspaper. In case the Post Newspaper forgets, We, The Zambian People, will always Determine Our Own Destiny.
Yes as citizens, we will not always agree on so many things but one value we all must share is our agreed love for Zambia. With this love, we have a duty to defend our inheritance for posterity’s sake.
NORTH-Western province minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu (right) with PF sectary general Wynter Kabimba and Defence minister Geoffrey Mwamba during a courtesy call on senior chief Ndungu(not in picture) of the luvale people of Zambezi over the weekend
Tiny Cape Verde showed Zambia how to do it in the 2014 World Cup qualifier by winning their crucial away decider.
Like Zambia, Cape Verde’s road to Brazil was benefactors of free three points from FIFA after their March 24 Group B qualifier away to Equatorial Guinea who had initially beaten them 4-3 in Malabo.
The Islanders under their coach Lúcio Antunes, whose day job is an air traffic controller, went to Tunisia on Saturday one point behind the four-time World Cup finalists whom they beat 2-0 in Rades.
That shock result saw Cape Verde sneak into top spot on 12 points, one ahead of Tunisia to book their playoff qualifying date.
File Picture: Police officers push a PF youth who wanted to start a fight with UPND cadres at the Lusaka magistrate court
A series of escalating violent attacks unleashed by the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party during the Mkaika by-election have prompted the Coalition for the Defence of Democratic Rights (CDDR) to seek international sanctions against prominent members of the Zambian government.
Eyewitness reports and sources indicate to CDDR that on Sept. 4-5, a militia of PF cadres, allegedly organised under the direction of Defence Minister Geofrey Bwayla Mwamba and Deputy Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo, planned several premeditated violent attacks against supporters of the winning candidate.
“This is not the first, second, or third time the PF have incited political violence since coming to power, and the inability of the police to deliver any accountability means that we must target the assets and travel privileges of those responsible,” said Robert Amsterdam, international counsel to the CDDR. “We have a situation in which the ruling party is behaving as an criminal organisation, using violence, intimidation, and racketeering to infringe upon basic civil rights such as freedom of speech and assembly.”
According to evidence collected by the CDDR, late in the evening on Sept. 4 in Katete District, a PF militia attacked a group of Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) supporters, including Jeremiah Ndlovu, Abraham, and Michael Phiri. Mr. Phiri, who is the elder brother to the defeated PF candidate David Phiri, told local media that the PF militia abducted him by force and brought him to his father’s home, where the losing candidate was personally present to supervise the violent assault against his own family member.
According to witnesses, on the following day this same militia allegedly planned premeditated attack in Mkaika against the son of the former president Andrew Banda. In full view of members of media and eyewitnesses, the militia repeatedly assaulted Mr. Banda, using an axe as a weapon. Witnesses tell CDDR that several calls to the police to intervene were ignored. The next day, police prevented him from visiting the hospital for treatment of his injuries, placing him under arrest on assault charges.
“Full responsibility for these illegal acts of violence lie at the feet of President Michael Sata, who has never once spoken out against thuggish behaviour by PF cadres,” said Amsterdam. “It is clear that in the face of a landslide defeat in Mkaika, the PF does not offer ideas for leadership, but only resorts to brutal messages of intimidation.”
The CDDR announces that evidence of the criminal conduct of the PF will be presented in briefings filed before the United States government, the European Union, and other international organisations in order to explore possible sanctions against individual PF officials, such as travel restrictions.
More information about the CDDR, including the full report to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, can be read on http://cddr-zambia.org.
