MINES, Energy and Water Development Minister, Christopher Yaluma is facing a lawsuit for failing to pay more than K480,000 for accommodation at Lusaka’s luxurious Fallsway Apartments.

It is alleged that Mr Yaluma spent 203 nights without paying for accommodation services. Vali’s Properties Limited a company engaged in accommodation and hospitality services has since asked the Lusaka High Court to order the Minister to pay the total sum of K488, 980.61 owed to it.

The money was for accommodation services offered to Mr Yaluma on various dates between June 2012 and March 2013. The company was also demanding for payments of damages for breach of agreement for payment of bills, interest , costs and any other relief the court may deem fit.

It stated in a statement of claim filed before the principal registry that on about June 4, 2012, Vali’s Properties Limited and Mr Yaluma orally agreed that the minister would occupy one of its three bed-roomed villas known as Fallsway Villas. Meanwhile five retired Zambia Army soldiers have sued Government for unlawful termination of employment.

Andrew Phiri, Mathew Bwalya, William Phiri, Lameck Haambole and Geoffrey Bwalya have sued Attorney General Mumba Malila for wrongful termination of employment in the alternative, damages for breach of contract.

The soldiers stated in their statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High Court that they were at all material times retired soldiers of the Zambia Army based at Arakan barracks in Lusaka.

They said on various dates between January 2010 and July 2010 they were reengaged in the Zambia Army on contracts for one year period in accordance with the Attorney General instructions which regulated the terms and conditions of service for officers and warrant officers re-engaged on contract.

The five said they diligently performed their obligations under the contracts until sometime in May 2010 when the defendant through the newly appointed Army Commander unilaterally and without any notice or inquiry terminated their contracts.

The termination was based on allegations that the contracts were not supported by any piece of legislation including the Defence Act chapter 106 of the Laws of Zambia.

THE African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) has described as magnanimous Minister of Home Affairs Edgar Lungu’s decision to cancel the US$210 million contract awarded to ZTE Corporation for the supply of the public security safety network.

And Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has demanded that officials who negotiated for the contract be suspended immediately.

APNAC says the tender process was allegedly characterised by corruption.

On Wednesday, Mr Lungu terminated the contract awarded to ZTE Corporation to pave way for investigations following allegations of failure to comply with procurement regulations, requirements and processes.

APNAC chairperson Cornelius Mweetwa said in Lusaka yesterday that the minister should have taken action long before Wednesday.

“I want to commend the minister of Home Affairs for his magnanimity to cancel the contract, which was surrounded by corruption,” he said.

Mr Mweetwa, who is UPND deputy spokesperson, said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) should have been proactive in detecting the corrupt activities that surrounded the awarding of the contract and provide the minister with necessary information.

He said the ACC should not wait for the minister to commence investigations because it is their responsibility and mandate to investigate such matters.

“If the ACC will always wait to be reminded to do its work, then we will start questioning their relevance,” he said.
TIZ executive director Goodwell Lungu said in his letter to Mr Lungu dated September 5 that suspending the officials will pave way for smooth investigations by the ACC.

“The TIZ demands that all the officials who took part in the signing and negotiating of this deal, regardless of their status and position, be suspended with immediate effect,” he said.

“By copy of the letter, we wish to inform you that the TIZ has handed over a 57-page dossier of evidence to the ACC on this matter for action,” he said.

Mr Lungu said the government officials should desist from engaging in wasteful secret procurement deals.

Attorney General Mumba Malila has appealed against the High Court’s decision to allow former Petauke Central Member of Parliament (MP) Dora Siliya and two others to re-contest by-elections in three constituencies.

Mr Malila who is appealing against part of the judgment delivered by Judge Mungeni Mulenga on September 3, 2013 said the judge overstepped her boundaries when she issued a global order requiring ECZ to accept the nominations papers from Ms Siliya, former Malambo MP Maxwell Mwale and former Mulobezi MP Hastings Sililo.

He has in his memorandum of appeal to the Supreme Court filed four grounds on which he is basing his arguments.

Mr Malila said Ms Justice Mulenga erred in law and fact when she held that Supreme Court judgments were binding on all parties including ECZ when she refused to give effect to the Supreme Court judgments which upheld the nullification or nullified the elections of Ms Siliya, Mr Mwale and Mr Sililo to the National Assembly on the basis that the trio had been involved in corrupt or illegal practices.

He said the lower court was wrong in law and fact when it held that ECZ was only mandated to act on the report issued under section 104 (6) of the Electoral Act number 12 of 2006 to take the action outlined in section 22 of the Act barring persons from contesting for any position for a period of five years.

Mr Malila said this was notwithstanding the fact that the law does not require the Supreme Court of Zambia to render a report to the ECZ upon its nullification of a seat on the basis of corrupt or illegal practices.

He further said Ms Justice Mulenga erred both in law and fact when she found that there was a lacuna in the law as she failed to give a full effect to the purpose of section 22 of the Act whose declared purpose of section was to bar persons who have been found to have committed illegal or corrupt practices from standing in by-elections resulting from a nullification on the grounds of illegality or corruption.

Mr Malila said the Judge was wrong in law and fact as she overstepped the boundaries of the case by issuing a global order requiring the ECZ to accept the trio’s nominations.

This he said was notwithstanding the fact that there were other criteria and qualifications, other than participation in illegal and corrupt practices required for the acceptance of such nominations.

Ms Justice Mulenga on Tuesday quashed the decision of the ECZ that purported to bar the trio from re-contesting their seats and ordered ECZ to accept nomination papers from them on the date it would set.

ECZ has since set September 10, 2013 as the date for filing of nominations and September 26, 2013 for the by-elections.

Government has accorded a State Funeral to Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Chief Government Spokesperson.

ZANIS reports that Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska revealed the development in a statement this evening.

Dr. Msiska said d this is in accordance with the Guidelines on State Functions.

Mr. Sakeni died in Lusaka this afternoon at the age of 56, at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

The Late minister was also Mansa Central Member of Parliament and the Party’s Chairman for Luapula Province.

The late Mr. Sakeni was transferred to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services as Minister on 6th July, 2012, from the Ministry of Home Affairs where he served in the same capacity.

Funeral for the late minister is being held at his residence in Lusaka at House Number 5369 Brentwood Drive in Woodlands

According to Dr. Msiska, Burial arrangements will be announced later.

Opposition National Restoration Party (NAREP) says it is concerned with the levels of electoral malpractices being witnessed in the ongoing Mkaika by-election.

NAREP National Secretary, Jevan Kamanga says his party is aware of the vote buying that is taking place in Mkaika.

He alleged that the ruling PF was paying money to the voters and promised to give them more if the party wins the Mkaika seat.

ZANIS reports that this according to a statement made available in Lusaka today by Mr. Kamanga.

Efforts to get Acting Government Spokesperson Fackson Shamenda was not immeadiatly available for comment on the matter as his mobile phone was switched off by broadcast time.

However , the opposition party’s National Secretary said his party finds this very unfortunate in a democratic state and hopes that the Electoral Commission of Zambia and the Police will investigate this matter and bring the culprits to book.

Rev. Kamanga said the party has been informed that some PF party members were last night giving K500 to groups of 20 people of Mkaika in exchange of their voters cards.

He said the party is also aware of the areas they are targeting in a bid to lessen the votes of the other candidates.

Rev. Kamanga wondered what the ruling PF thinks they will benefit from these actions saying it’s now very well known to everyone that the PF will do anything it takes to win the election.

He further reminded the PF that they cannot fool the Zambian people forever.

Rev. Kamanga said the people of Zambia are more important than a by election and the PF must start treating the citizens of this country with the respect they deserve.

He said the PF will not become popular by buying votes from the people as people will instead realize how corrupt they are.

Rev Kamanga has also advised the Zambian people especially the youths not to be used by selfish politicians.

“As a party that truly cares about the people of this country, NAREP will remain committed to doing the good things and will not resort to vote rigging or any such behaviour that will compromise with our party principles”.

Three opposition Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) carders were last evening assaulted by suspected Patriotic Front (PF) cadres in Katete District at Tikondane Lodge near St Francis Hospital.

ZANIS reports from Katete District that Eastern Province Police Commissioner Grace Chipalila has confirmed the development in an interview, today.

Ms. Chipalila named the three as Abraham Zulu an MMD counselor, Jeremiah Njovu and Micheal Phiri elder brother to Patriotic Front Candidate David Phiri.

The trio were allegedly beaten up by cadres suspected to be from the ruling Patriotic Front after they were followed to Tikondane lodge at around 23 hours last night.

The police commissioner said police has however not made any arrests to this effect as the victims have failed to identify the suspects.

Ms. Chipalila has however assured Katete resident of enough security in the district during and after the polls.

And Patriotic Front Candidate David Phiri who is the young brother to Micheal Phiri said has dispelled assertions linking him to the assault incident.

Mr. Phiri told the media in Katete t his father’s residence that he has not been in contact with his brother for some time and only met him yesterday when he went to pick his vehicle at their fathers’ house.

He said he is aware that his elder brother belongs to the opposition MMD and that he has no problem with his brothers’ decision.

He noted that every person has the right to join a party of their choice.

Meanwhile Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba has condemned the action by the alleged PF cadres.

Mr. Mwamba said it is wrong for anyone to take the law in their own hands adding that the three should have been taken to the police for further action after they were found in the act.

He said the PF has always insisted on maintaining peace during its campaigns.

He added that it is however unfortunate that the MMD cadres went on to campaign after the close at 18 dishing out money and other materials.

Phiri, Njovu and Zulu who have been hospitalized at St. Francis Hospital were yesterday beaten up by suspected PF cadres after they were alleged to have been found giving out money and other campaign materials.