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.
Unbeaten leaders Nkana’s perfect start to the FAZ Super Division season comes under test when they face Green Buffaloes in Saturday’s away Week Four match at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.
Masautso Mwale’s Nkana have nine points while Buffaloes, who are also unbeaten, have a win and two draws.
Nkana heads to Lusaka still without a win or draw in the Capital against Buffaloes since bouncing back to the elite league in 2010.
Coming into this game, Buffaloes skipper Dennis Banda has warned that Nkana should expect a tough match at Woodlands Stadium.
“It will be a tough match, we and Nkana are yet to lose and you know Nkana have won three games,” Banda said.
And Nkana coach Masauso Mwale said:”I have seen Green Buffaloes, it will be a good game.”
Ahead of this fixture Buffaloes draw 2-2 with Lime Hotspurs while Nkana beat Kalulushi Modern Stars 2-0.
Elsewhere, Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola will host Saturday’s doubleheader when Forest Rangers take on Nchanga Rangers at 13:00 hours and Zesco United entertain Napsa Stars in the late afternoon kickoff.
Zesco are looking for their first home win and welcome fit again striker Lottie Phiri who is available for selection.
In Lusaka, Red Arrows host town mates Nkwazi at Nkoloma Stadium while winless Roan United take on Kabwe Warriors at Kafubu Stadium in Luanshya.
The Linos Makwaza coached side Konkola Mine Police face Lime Hotspurs at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe.
On Sunday, under-fire Power Dynamos take on second placed Konkola Blades in a doubleheader at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe in a 15:00 hours kickoff.
Meanwhile, Sunday’s doubleheader will also see third placed Kalulushi Modern Stars take on Zanaco in a lunchtime kick off at Arthur Davies.
Bishop Joe Imakando and Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia president Reverand Pukuta Mwanza (l) confer
The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia has charged that the Patriotic Front government’s fight against corruption lacks credibility.
Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) Executive Director Pukuta Mwanza in an interview with QFM says there is nothing tangible that has been achieved in the corruption investigations that have been conducted so far.
Reverend Mwanza has challenged the investigative wings to win the confidence of the Zambian people by producing tangible results in their investigations.
He adds that the fight against corruption is further weakened by the fact that corruption is deep rooted in government departments and institutions.
Reverend Mwanza says the PF’s fight against corruption during the two years they have been in power is yet to yield results.
Judge Annie Sitali has granted Rupiah Banda’s lawyers judicial review of Parliament’s decision to lift his immunity saying procedure was not followed.
Former President Banda was challenging the removal of his immunity from prosecution by Parliament.The Defence team representing the former president is lead by Prof Patrick Mvunga other include Eric Silwamba and Sakwiba Sikota.
His lawyers stated that the decision of the National Assembly of Zambia to proceed and to remove his immunity on a simple majority of 80 out of a total of 158 MPs was illegal and irregular.
Mr Banda’s lawyers further stated that the decision of the National Assembly to deny him an opportunity to be heard and adopt a summary procedure prior to resolving that he was amenable to the jurisdiction of any criminal court was contrary to the principal of ‘no person should be condemned unheard’ was therefore illegal and irregular.
He added that the decision to move the motion without due and proper inquiry as to whether the allegations presented as grounds constituted acts performed in his personal or office capacity was illegal and irregular.
The former President also contended that it was unreasonable for Speaker Matibini to proceed with the motion notwithstanding that a petition challenging the state’s intention to lift his immunity had been filed at the High Court and therefore subjudice.
Government says it will setup more University Teaching Hospitals (UTHs) across the country in a bid to decongest Lusaka’s UTH, which is the country’s only national referral hospital.
Health Deputy Minister Christopher Mulenga said government intends to create UTHs along the line of rail before considering extending the facilities to provincial centres.Mr Mulenga explained that government will soon start the process with the upgrading of Kitwe Central Hospital, Ndola Central Hospital and Livingstone General Hospital into full fledged University Teaching Hospitals.
ZANIS reports that the minister said this after touring some construction works of health centres in Milenge district of Luapula province.
He stated that after the completion of Kitwe Central Hospital, Ndola Central Hospital and Livingstone General Hospitals, government will then extend the programme to other provincial centres in the country.
Mr Mulenga said it was the intention of the PF government to upgrade some current General Hospitals to Central Hospitals so as to bring health services to the people as close as possible.He explained that the rationale behind the programme was to provide and spread health expertise and skills to other facilities across the country.
Currently, the country has only one UTH in Lusaka, which is overwhelmed with demand of health cases from around the country.He also disclosed that government plans to upgrade St. Pauls Mission Hospital in Nchelenge district to a General Hospital when financial resources permit and the programme would be done in phases.
And Luapula Province Minister, Benson Kapaya has disclosed that cholera has broken out in Chiengi district.
Brigadier General Kapaya said the district has so far recorded one case and health experts have already started testing samples of water to verify evidence of cholera.
Meanwhile, Mr Mulenga says there is urgent need to revise the current tender procedures if developmental programmes are to be done quickly as this has direct bearing on development.Mr Mulenga has since called for the immediate revision of the tender procedures which has been in place for years saying most government projects are being delayed to start off.
He wondered why the most recommendations by various parliamentary committees have not been incorporated to quicken the process.
Mr Mulenga noted that most of government projects have taken long to be done due to tender procedures hence affecting the smooth execution.
And Mr Mulenga was infuriated when he discovered that most construction works by some named Zambian contractors have stalled.
He also said that PF government is in a hurry to develop the country in line with its 2011 electoral promises and warned it will not hesitate to engage Chinese Construction firms whom he praised to be doing a commendable job.
Mr Mulenga said he would suggest to Cabinet to consider just allowing Chinese firms to get main construction works while Zambian firms to be subcontracted but should work closely with Chinese firms.
[ZANIS]
Information and Broadcasting Deputy Minister, Mwansa Kapeya (c)
Deputy Minister of information and broadcasting services Mwansa Kapeya has said Government has observed with dismay at opposition Heritage party leader Brig-General Godfrey Miyanda’s growing appetite for cheap publicity by issuing inflated and misleading statements which he cannot substantiate. He was reacting to a press statement issued recently by Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda.
Below is the Press statement by Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda as appeared in the Zambian Watchdog dated 9th April 2013
Zambians are habitually good at shooting themselves in the foot. When they identify that something is wrong or not backed by law, they nevertheless go ahead to support, promote and/or contribute to the same wrong thing! Just now there is a second circus that has been going on for some time now, unjustifiably gobbling up billions of Kwacha, in the name of writing the so-called new constitution without legal backing.
When we first used the term “Tower of Babel” against the fallen NCC we were roundly condemned. Later that NCC (the First Twin) died in the manner we had predicted, in the process leaving behind its twin sister, whose name is still not yet clear. The Second Twin Sister was first named “Committee of Experts” by the President but did not seem to have any experts in the name of draftsmen. The President also appointed three Catholic Bishops to sit on the committee, but they did not accept, confirming that ZEC were never consulted. No enabling Act with defined terms of reference was promulgated. Many citizens and civil society organisations, including Transparency International, cried foul but are now quiet.
The Government has to date not indicated under which law the creature came into existence. Previous ones used to be under the Inquiries Act which civil society condemned. But today there is not even the Inquiries Act or any other provision of the law – it is ‘Donchi Kubeba’ all over again. The persons sitting on this Committee later dubiously claimed that they were created under “Article 44” even though the President never indicated so.
When the President announced the establishment of this so-called “Committee of Experts”, he did NOT state under which law he had done that. Further he included a Cabinet Minister, the then Minister of Justice Hon Sebastian Zulu. Justifying the inclusion of the Minister, he stated that this would make it easier for the Committee to resolve problems that may arise in the course of their assignment since Minister Zulu who had direct access to the President would revert to him. This obviously meant that the President would be kept up to date on what was going on (was he a secret member of the committee?) No wonder the President always condemned the contents of reports being presented to him even BEFORE he had read them. He knew in advance what was in a report that had not yet been presented to him! Now we are told the Silungwe Committee will take their report to the President; under which provision? At least the NCC was created under an Act of Parliament, the NCC Act. What is our issue? It is that without an enabling law we, the People, remain at the mercy of the Executive to decide as they please.
I recall attending the last public meeting of the Committee at the Government Complex sometime in April 2012. The committee was about to embark on their paper trail of expensive but unjustified tours of the hinterland. Since there was no proper or legal definition, I asked them two questions: how were they going to decide who attends the regional meetings that they were embarking on? How will they decide which submissions to accept after the people have submitted? The Chairman, His Lordship Mr Justice Annel Silungwe, categorically stated that they would not allow new submissions but only comments. He avoided the second question. We ask this question again: how will the Committee decide which submissions or even comments to accept or not accept? What is their mandate to do so? Why should a Committee that was tasked to use existing materials decide to conduct their own plebiscite after the failed NCC fiasco? Is the President obliged to follow the recommendations that will be submitted by this irregular Committee? One of the Members of this Committee, Mr Kabanda, popularised the maxim “process protects content”. What law is his committee following?
A government of laws and not of men means one that respects and observes the law at all stages of an undertaking such as the constitution-making process. We are convinced that Zambians will once again be taken for a ride. With the routine poaching of opposition MPs, promoted by the President himself, the numbers in the National Assembly are daily being manipulated and inflated in favour of the Executive with no legal safeguards. Fellow Zambians, the writing is on the wall; do not come and say that we did not ‘kubeba’ you!
GODFREY MIYANDA,
BRIGADIER GENERAL,
HERITAGE PARTY
In reaction to this the PF Government issued the following statement through Hon Mwansa Kapeya,MP,Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting services
Government has observed with dismay, opposition Heritage party leader Brig-General Godfrey Miyanda’s growing appetite for cheap publicity by issuing inflated and misleading statements which he cannot substantiate.
His allegation that the ongoing constitution review process is illegal and a waste of money, as reported in the media, is a case in point.
The utterances are unfounded and uncharacteristic of a man who once held a high position of responsibility as Republican Vice President which demands a high level of integrity and honesty in dealing with serious national issues.
Contrary to Gen. Miyanda’s assertions, the current Constitution Review Process is a build-up on the previous but futile attempts by the MMD Government when they were in office.
In constituting the Technical Committee Drafting the Zambian Constitution, His Excellency President Michael Chilufya Sata acted within the powers vested in him by the laws of Zambia, in particular, Articles 33 and 44 of the Republican Constitution.
There is no basis whatsoever that in appointing the Technical Committee Drafting the Zambian Constitution, the Republican Constitution or any other law was breached.
The absence of a piece of legislation, especially designed to deal with the aspects of the constitutional reform being undertaken under the auspices of the Technical Committee Drafting the Zambian Constitution, does not in any way subtract from the legality and constitutionality of the ongoing constitution review process.
We challenge Gen. Miyanda to specify any illegality in the ongoing Constitution Review Process and how the absence of a legal framework, as he alleges, will hamper the successful delivery of a new Zambia Constitution.
Unlike the previous Governments, the Patriotic Front Government has demonstrated its utmost commitment to a people driven Constitution as evidenced by the process so far which has been highly transparent and participatory by the people of Zambia from all walks of life.
Interestingly, Gen. Miyanda and his Chairperson for Mobilisation Mr Godfrey Milambo, are delegates at the ongoing National Convention on the new Republican Constitution at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Centre.
It is therefore an act of extreme dishonesty and hypocrisy for Gen. Miyanda to play to the gallery by pretending to condemn the ongoing Constitution Review Process in which he is a participant.
Looking at the number of participants and the diverse sectors they represent ranging from youth and women organizations, students, traditional leaders, academia, the clergy, the labour movement, civil society, civil servants to political actors and other stakeholders from all corners of Zambia, Government is confident that the product that will come out of the ongoing National Convention on drafting the new republican Constitution, will meet the aspirations of the Zambian people.
Government further restates its commitment to delivering a people-driven Constitution and will not be swayed by undue and unwarranted criticism.
Government has directed all the Millers on the Copperbelt to sell their commodities to traders with licenses only in order to curb the cartel of smuggling Millie Meal into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) via Kasumbalesa border post.
It also directed the millers to stop stocking Millie meal in warehouses and stores around the border post in Chililabombwe as they were encouraging smuggling of the commodities to DRC that had resulted into critical shortages of the commodity in some parts of the country.
This directive was issued yesterday by Agriculture Deputy Minister Rodgers Mwewa and Home Affairs Deputy Minister Alfridah Kansembe when they visited Antelope and Olympic Milling companies in Luashya and Mufulira Districts respectively.
Mr Mwewa said the Government was concerned with the number of traders who were buying the commodity and yet never pay tax adding that most of them were involves in the smuggling cartel.
He however, told Millers to comply with the new Government policy and said the exportation of flour to DRC would be scrutinized by the police officers on the road because it was recently reported that some millers were packaging Millie meal into flour sacks.
He urged Millers to apply for exportation permits that would indicate the the registration numbers of the trucks that would be used in the transportation of flour to DRC via Kasumbalesa border post to avoid other inconveniences.
“ The reason we are doing this is sustain the food security in the country and serve the Zambians, please do not just look at the profits you make from selling the commodity to Congolese but the well being of our people, we do not want our people to suffer because of you,” He told the millers.
Ms Kansembe told the Millers not pull out the from the new Governments directives and to continue selling the Mealie Meal to traders at the recommended price.
She said despite the export ban been lifted, the Government will continue controlling the the exportation of the commodity within the country through the police.
“Police officers will continue monitoring and inspecting all the trucks transporting goods to the DRC, patrols will also continue until the situation normalizes” she said.
And Antelpe Milling managing director Eleftherios Kaldis Said his company will comply with the new directive and will ensure that the local people have Millie Meal in the homes at all times.
THE Kitwe High Court has sentenced a 27-year-old housewife to 17 years Imprisonment for murdering her husband.
Miriam Lungu, of Kwacha Township in Kitwe was charged with murder of Sydney Lungu contrary to section 200 of the Penal Code after she murdered the deceased on December 7, last year.
In passing sentence, High Court Judge Judy Mulongoti said with due consideration to Lungu’s mitigation, she was compelled to slap a stiff punishment on the accused because of the serious nature of the offense.
“You killed your own husband whom your children called father, and now your children will no longer have someone to call father,
“I therefore sentence you to 17 years imprisonment with effect from the date of your arrest,” Ms Justice Mulongoti said.
Ms Justice Mulongoti noted that the deceased attacked the accused with bear hands whilst the accused used excessive force in defence.
Facts before court were that on December 6, last year, Mr Lungu returned home around 20:00 hours and found his wife and children already sleeping, something that was unusual as he normally found them awake that time around.
It was then that Mr Lungu inquired why they had slept early and upon doing so, his wife responded that she had nothing to do and in the process, a quarrel erupted.
The court heard that Lungu suggested to the deceased that he takes any complaint he had against her to her parents instead of making baseless accusations.
Lungu narrated that an agreement was arrived at to go to her mother’s place but that when they reached the entrance, the deceased refused to go in and instead started pulling her around and beating her.
She testified that her right eye was injured in the process and she was only rescued by passers-by.
Lungu said she ran to her matrimonial home and that her husband followed her and continued beating her.
She told the court that after persistent beating she picked an alternator cover and hit him with it because she was afraid he would kill her.
“I got a metal object, an alternator cover and hit him because I wanted him to stop beating me. I did not know that he would die. All I wanted was for him to stop beating me,” She said.
In mitigation, Lungu pleaded for leniency through her lawyer Ignatius Chongwe from the legal aid counsel.
Mr Chongwe pleaded that his client was a first offender who had children and would be tormented on the demise of her husband.
He asked the court to consider the circumstances in which this happened bearing in mind that convict was the weaker sex.
He also asked the court to consider the plight of the children who would lose both parents if stiff punishment was meted.
Gay rights activist Paul Kasokomona yesterday appeared before the Lusaka Magistrate Court and denied soliciting for moral support for homosexual rights to be respected in Zambia amidst claims that he has been unduly and harshly detained by the State.
If convicted of the offence, Kasonkomona 38, an employee of Engender Rights Zambia was liable to serve a one month sentence or an option for a fine.
The calm looking Kasonkomona who is represented by Lusaka lawyer, Sunday Nkonde among three others, told resident magistrate Lameck Ng’ambi that he understood the charge but he was not guilty.
Mr Ng’ambi had since granted Kasonkomona a KR5, 000 bail in his own recognisance with two working sureties after Mr Nkonde told the court that his client should be granted bail because he was of fixed abode and on HIV/AIDS treatment.
He is charged of one offence of idle disorderly conduct contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that Kasonkomona, 38 of Chululu Garden Township on April 7, 2013 at Lusaka being a person in a public place namely Muvi TV studios on a programme called “The Assignment” did solicit for moral purposes for homosexuality rights to be respected in Zambia.
The State prosecutor who called up the matter yesterday informed Mr Ng’ambi that Kasonkomona’s matter was scheduled for allocation and plea after which Mr Ng’ambi allocated the case to his court.
Mr Nkonde then asked the court to grant his client bail because he was of fixed abode with no suggestion of being a flight risk in anyway.
Mr Nkonde said Kasonkomona was an AIDS activist in fixed employment under Engender Rights Zambia who was ready to abide by bail conditions set out by the court.
Trial would commence on May 15, this year with the State lining up five witnesses to defend its action.
Meanwhile Kasonkomona has sued Attorney General Mumba Malila claiming for punitive damages for false imprisonment by the Zambia Police service.
He stated in a statement of claim filed before the court by his lawyer that he was on second line of treatment of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis but his medication had been disturbed because the medicine was in the hands of the Police.
President Michael Sata bidding farewell Diayutai State Guest House staff shortly before departure from Beijing China to Lusaka on April 11,2013-Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
THE monitoring mechanisms in the financial sector set up by the Government are not meant to stifle foreign investment but enhance the investment opportunities and planning purposes, President Sata said.
The president who was speaking to a group of prospective investors at a trade forum organised by the Zambian Embassy in Beijing and China Non-Ferrous Metals Mining Company (CNMC), allayed fears the monitoring of the financial sector would endanger foreign investment as it was meant to protect local and foreign interests.
“Zambia has a liberal economy were import duty on most heavy equipment has been removed to encourage investment while our corporate tax is low,” he said.
The president was making reference to the recently amended Bank of Zambia (BoZ) Act which among others ams at halting illegal capital flight through.
Mr Sata however, bemoaned the small percentage of Zambia’s exports to China adding that the country was ready to work with China in areas like large scale agriculture prospects in order to benefit from the large import market.
“In Zambia we don’t look at what nationality a person is but the ideas they bring. We have no ill feelings for foreigners and the association between the countries is rewarding,” Mr Sata said.
He encouraged the Chinese business executives to visit Zambia and intended areas of investment saying the beauty of the country lay in its diversity.
The president also witnessed signing ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding that will see Chinese companies set up bases in the Chambishi multi-facility economic zone which is the first to be pioneered by China in Africa by the Chinese government owned mining conglomerate CNMC.
The 12 companies will bring among things state-of-the-art smelting technology meant to provide subsidiary services to the US$2 billion Chambishi Copper smelter which has been CNMC’s largest offshore investment.
In extending the invitation to investors interested in setting up a national airline, Mr Sata said Zambia was a springboard to the entire SADC region which would bring benefits with entry of a national airline.
“I was looking forward to meeting investors interested in helping us set up a national airline,” Mr Sata said.
The president who was on a seven-day state of China lhas left Beijing with his delegation that included his Press aide George Chellah, three Cabinet minister and other senior Government officials.
Mr Sata’s visit which included talks with his host President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang was described as fruitful after the signing of six bilateral agreements which would provide concessional loans and technical assistance from China to Zambia.
The Thematic working group on devolved governance at the ongoing National Convention has deleted clause1 (b) of article 203 of the First Draft Constitution in order to bar Members of Parliament from attending the Provincial Assemblies that have been established under draft constitution.
The working group voted to delete the clause after a heated debate by delegates some of whom especially MPs who wanted the clause to stand so that they could participate in decisions making at lower and higher level.
Chembe MP Mwansa Mbulakulima contended that MPs needed to attend the provincial conventions so that they are kept aware of the happenings in the various areas but his bid failed after a huge number of delegates argued that their presence at the provincial assembly was not needed as there are many learned people in provinces who are jobless and can handle matters at that level.
Father Matthews Ngosa and a few others supported Mr Mbulakulima by insisting that MPs deserve to be members of the provincial assembly so that they could represent their area well if they know what was prevailing at local level.
But Chief Chipepo and Bishop John Mambo noted that MPs have a lot of committees to attend to hence the need for them to give others chance to participate in the governance of the country at provincial level.
Bishop Mambo stated that MPs should contrite on their legislative role at national level and leave the other task at provincial level to losing candidates and other well informed Zambians who qualify to be members of the Provincial Assembly.
The Chairperson of the group, Chief Mazimawe curtailed the debate after he noted that almost all the speakers were against the clause and called for a vote to put the matter to rest.
Article 203 provides that there shall be established in each province a Provincial Assembly consisting of the Provincial Minister, Mayors or Council Chairpersons of the district councils in the province, three chiefs representing all the chiefs in the province and three of an organization representing persons in commerce and industry operating in the province.
Others to attend the provincial assemblies are the three representatives of organization representing farmers operating in the province, three representatives of faith-based organizations operating in the province and a representative each from organizations operating in the province representing women, youths and persons with disabilities.
And the working group has recommended that labour leaders, pensioners, senior citizens and federation of employers be part of the provincial assembly.
Meanwhile the group has not adopted the resolution from Western province that the constitution should provide for the establishment of the Barotse National Council in accordance with the tradition of the people of Barotseland so that members of the council shall also be members of the provincial assembly of Western province.
The thematic working group on devolved governance comprises Chiefs, Political party leaders and representatives, Members of Parliament, former senior public service workers and Mayors and former Mayors and Town Clerks.
Zambia is among the six countries in Africa which are on track to achieving the low child mortality rate.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative Iyorlumum Uhaa commended the Zambian government for the strides it is making in the health sector.
Dr Uhaa who could not name the other five African countries doing well however said Zambia needs to re-double her efforts in accelerating the challenges associated with child deaths.
Dr Uhaa who commended Zambia’s efforts in health delivery while speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday however, bemoaned the long distances between one health centre to the other.
And visiting UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Geeta Rao Gupta urged the government to utilise the platform by engaging all stakeholders to address the challenges in the health sector in the remaining couple of years before the United Nations 2015 Millennium Development Goal on achieving quality health care.
Ms Gupta also echoed similar sentiments that Zambia has made great strides in maternal and child health especially in areas of immunization, malaria prevention and control as well as access to anti retroviral drugs.
She said an initiative dubbed “A promise Renewed” gives Zambia hope to preserve the productive age group from 18 to 36 who constitute 75 percent of the country’s population.
She added that these gains were possible through the efforts of Zambian government through increased investments in programmes implemented by the Ministry of Health as well as donors using global fund such as the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Ms Gupta reiterated her organisation’s commitment to assisting Zambia to identify and reach-out to disadvantaged children in remote communities noting that it was un-acceptable for mothers and children to die in a premature manner amidst plenty of health care interventions.
Ministers have defended the Patriotic Front (PF) government’s economic reform programme as fair, liberal and offering some of the most attractive incetives on the continent.
Leading the presentations at the joint Business Council for Africa (BCA)-Zambia High Commission investment forum held at Zambia House in London, Hon. Robert Sichinga, the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, said the ongoing reforms in the economy were intended to make the playing feild fairer, encourage more foreign invenstment and ensure mutual benefit for both investors and the people of Zambia.
“There are no capital controls and there are no restrictions whatsoever regarding profits that investors make. What we have done is simply to empower the reserve bank (Bank of Zambia) with an instrument to monitor the value of exports. We want to know for purposes of normal regulatory function that every government performs,” Hon. Sichinga said.
He dispelled assertions Ms.Sheila Rai, a representative of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) that the investors were nervous about signs of regulatory controls that seemed to place capital restrictions on investors.
“In the past the only agency that recorded export and import figures is the Central Statistical Office but we have now created an instrument that empowers the reserve bank to check on these figures. This does not mean that investors will face any restrictions. Once they have paid the due taxes and met other statutory obligations, they can repartriate their profits,” he said.
The minister invited British investors to explore the attractive opportunities Zambia was offering through the planned farming blocks across the country.
“We have enquiries from the Middle East, China, India and America regarding the aqusisition of land for them produce food for their people. But the United Kingdom has been very slow. We are moving on and I urge you to respond. Our policy is to invite all and exclude none. The UK has a comparative advantage and I urge you to move faster.”
Other key speakers included Zambia Development Agency director-General Andrew Chipwende, EIU editor Ms. Shefali Rai, and invenstors’ representatives Mr Markku Virtanen and Mr. John Rabb (non-executive director of Zambeef.) More than 70 representatives of UK investors attended the meeting.
Hon. Col. Panji Kaunda (deputy minister of works, supply and communications) and Hon. Richard Musukwa (deputy minister of mines) also spoke at the conference.
Col. Kaunda outlined the various infrastructure develoment projects the PF government has put in place to open up all parts of the country and to create effective connectivity with neighbouring countries.
Hon. Musukwa said the changes the goverment was effecting in various sectors of the economy were aimed at increasing transparency and ensuring that citizens benefitted from their natural endowed resources.
Power Dynamos dependable midfielder Emmanuel Chimpinde has been ruled of this Sunday’s FAZ Super Division doubleheader Week Four match against Konkola Blades at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
This is a blow for unimpressive Power who have so far recorded one win, a draw and a loss heading into Sunday’s match against second placed Blades who have two wins and a draw in the new campaign.
“He has an ankle injury when we played Nkwazi and will miss the Konkola game,” Power coach Beston Chambeshi said.
Winger Lubambo Musonda who has a stomach problem is also a doubt for this match after missing Thursday training.
“Lubambo is sick and hopefully he will recover tomorrow (Friday). He has stomach pains,” Chambeshi said.
However, midfielder Mulenga Mukuka is back in training after recovering from an eye problem picked from last weekend’s away match against Nkwazi that ended 2-2 in Lusaka.
And Chambeshi has finally confirmed that midfielder Venecious Mapande has clinched a loan deal from Zanaco that will see him at Power until the end of the season.
Mapende made his debut in Power’s home 1-0 defeat to Kabwe Warriors on March 24.
Meanwhile, Sundays doubleheader will also see Kalulushi Modern Stars take on Zanaco in a lunchtime kickoff at Arthur Davies.
The office of the fourth President Rupiah Banda has issued a media statement addressing the reasons advanced by Government on why he was stopped from attending the inauguration ceremony in Kenya on Monday.
Below is the full statement.
THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA OFFICE OF THE FOURTH REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT
Press Release
GOVERNMENT HAD NO RIGHT TO DEFY COURT ORDER
LUSAKA, 11th April, 2013—FOLLOWING numerous queries that we have continued to receive from the media regarding the statement that was issued by Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Hon. Mwansa Kapeya on Tuesday, 9th April, 2013 on His Excellency Rupiah Bwezani Banda’s abortive trip to Kenya, we now wish to respond.
To begin with, the statement appears to have been hurriedly constructed without much reflection. The government is saying that they stopped the former President from travelling because he would have arrived in Nairobi a few hours after newly-elected Kenyan President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta’s swearing-in ceremony which took place that very Tuesday, 9th April, 2013.
Whilst it is true that former President Banda was due to attend festivities and activities connected with President Kenyatta’s inauguration, one should realise that these festivities and activities are not restricted to only the swearing-in ceremony.
It is much like telling someone who seeks leave to attend a funeral upcountry that they will not be given leave to go because they will arrive a few hours after the burial. There is a lot that happens at an inauguration apart from the actual swearing-in ceremony, just like a funeral is not only about the internment of the body.
The reasons given by the Deputy Minister are extremely lame when you take into account the following facts:
The request for the former president’s passport was made in good time to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on Friday, 5th April, 2013.
The DPP promised to get back that same day, but by 17:00 hours he had not responded to the urgent request despite several reminders that the matter was urgent.
Over the weekend, the DPP did even bother to respond to calls placed to him over the same even though it was clear that time was of the essence.
The former President was left with no option but to apply to the Court on Monday, 8th April, 2013 for the release of his passport to travel to Kenya.
The Court on Monday granted the Order and the lawyers started chasing after the personnel from the Government Joint Investigations Team to secure the release of the passport but only managed to do so late on Monday afternoon.
The Order from the Court in the relevant section read, “IT IS HEREBY ORDERED and DIRECTED that the passport being held by the Government Joint Investigation Team be released to the Accused person immediately to enable him travel to Kenya.”
The passport was not released immediately as Ordered and the first available flight was the one he booked, Kenyan Airways flight KQ724 which was scheduled to depart Lusaka at 11:00 hours the following day.
The Order from the Court had envisaged that former president Banda could be out of the country up to Monday, 15th April 2013.
It is unheard of for immigration officials to ask a Zambian national leaving the country why they are going out. All that is required of them is to see if one has a valid passport.
The Immigration official at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport clearly stated that he was acting on instructions from his superiors.
The immigration officials, or even the Minister of Home Affairs, had no right to question the Order given by the Court, which was clear and unambiguous in allowing the former President to travel to Kenya.
The immigration officials at the airport have given different reasons for stopping H.E. Rupiah Banda from those advanced by Hon. Kapeya. To compound things further, the Acting President Edgar Lungu has provided a third version.
The question as to whether the immigration officials acted on their own initiative or followed orders from above is an important issue which has been left unclear by the conflicting government accounts.
What is worrying is that the Executive feels that they are entitled to overrule a judicial pronouncement, and this does not augur well for the Rule of Law and investor confidence in the protection of the law in Zambia.
Another very worrying aspect is the question of whether or not the investigations against the former President are fair and independent.
From the statement by the Deputy Minister to the effect that, “The country is aware that Mr Rupiah Banda was warned and cautioned by the GJIT for many other offences in which he is due to be arrested” clearly shows that the investigators are being directed by politicians and not acting impartially and fairly.
Such a statement that the former President was going to be arrested should have come from the investigators and a politician.
This goes against the international norms that investigators should never receive directives from political players. This is a clear abrogation of the Rule of Law and independent and fair investigations.
___________________________________________________
