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New Chipolopolo call-up Fackson Kapumbu says he is not shocked to be included in the Zambia squad for the 24 March World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.
The Zanaco defender is in the 23-member team that is scheduled to regroup in South Africa on Sunday ahead of the away World Cup qualifier set for Maseru.
In an interview, Kapumbu told LT Sports that he had been looking forward to play for Chipolopolo.
“I am very happy to be called to the national team. I want to play against Lesotho,” he said.
“I am going to work hard in camp because I want to be in the starting line-up,” Kapumbu added.
Other local players in the squad are keepers Racha Kola of Zanaco and Joshua Titima of Power Dynamos, midfielder Mulenga Mukuka (Power), midfielder Rodrick Kabwe (Zanaco) and striker Bornwell Mwape (Nchanga Rangers).
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Zanaco’s stay in the Caf Champions League is looking very bleak after losing 1-0 at home to Orlando Pirates.
The Zambian champions were poor throughout and made a modest Pirates look very good.
Furthermore, two of Zanaco’s three Zambia call-ups were poor throughout right in front of Herve Renard who was in the stands.
Defender Fackson Kapumbu and the highly-rated Roderick Kabwe both failed to reach the bar set on the day by compatriot Collins Mbesuma.
Even ex-Pirates striker Davies Mwape showed more hunger than Kabwe against his old club throughout the game.
Meanwhile, Pirates secured their vital away win thanks to a 5th minute header from Ndumiso Mabena off a Daine Klate corner.
A draw in Soweto in a fortnight’s time will suffice for Pirates to advance to the second round of the Champions League.
Winner will play either TP Mazembe or Mochudi Centre Chiefs in the pre-group stage first leg on April 20.
Mazembe also won 1-0 in Gaborone today to setup a prospective big clash against Pirates next month.
File picture:Former President Banda and former First Lady Thandiwe interact with deaf children at an orphanage in Lusaka.
Former Rupiah Bwezani Banda, has said that he wishes to thank all Zambians for the solidarity shown to him during the period leading to and after the lifting of his immunity.
The former Zambian head of State, whose immunity was lifted by 80 of the Zambian Parliament’s 159 members on Friday evening, says he is deeply touched by the support that has come his way since the debate over the subject began.
“I watched the immunity debate on television in the company of my family and young colleagues. I could not help but admire and pricelessly appreciate the manner in which the opposition members of Parliament debated. I also received numerous phone calls of solidarity. I can give back nothing but my gratitude for the gesture,” President Banda says.
President Banda has further appealed to all Zambians to remain calm and show love towards one another. He adds that while he has the strength to withstand his new status, he wishes to remind all Zambians to equally have the strength to exercise self-restraint at all times and remember that Zambia is more precious than any individual interests.
Opposition Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) president Nevers Mumba has described as shameful and retrogressive the move by the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) to have former republican President Rupiah Banda’s immunity removed.
Dr. Mumba said that the removal of Mr. Banda’s immunity has been done in disregard of the nation’s viewpoint as people in the country did not ask for such an action to take place.
Dr. Mumba has told Qfm in an interview that the removal of the immunity of the former president is only political retribution and not the fight against corruption.
He observed that it is cheap politics for the ruling PF to pass a motion of removal of immunity of the former head of state when Members of Parliament from the opposition had left the House in protest against such a motion.
Meanwhile, Chief Government Spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni has said that International Lawyer Robert Amsterdam is welcome to enter Zambia to defend his client the former president Rupiah Banda in court only if he meets the country’s immigration qualifications.
This follows Mr. Amsterdam’s affirmation on Friday that he will be ready to defend the former republic president in Zambian courts for any corruption allegations leveled against Mr. Banda if the Zambian government will be courageous enough to allow him enter the country.
Mr. Sakeni has told Qfm in an interview that if Mr. Amsterdam is to operate in Zambia as a lawyer, he also needs to be registered to practice in the country.
Following the passage of a motion in Zambia’s National Assembly to remove the immunity of the former President Rupiah Banda, his international lawyer Robert Amsterdam describes the ruling party’s move as a “farce” that fails to pass the litmus test of legitimacy.
“We are disappointed but not surprised by today’s events,” said Amsterdam. “The ruling party’s witch hunt against the opposition began more than a year ago, including a defamation campaign against his son in which they failed to prove any wrongdoing. Now they want to start again with an attack against the internationally distinguished former president, with accusations based on light bulbs and lollipops.”
Banda’s international lawyer also questioned the manner in which the motion to remove immunity was passed:
“The Speaker allowed the motion to move forward despite repeated objections by half of the house, and proceeded to rush through the debate and vote despite a walkout by opposition MPs,” said Amsterdam. “Removal of presidential immunity is a serious measure, and one that should have broad multiparty support, or at least the dignity of a personal appearance by the head of state. Instead, the PF had to beg, borrow, and bribe by appointing opposition members as deputy ministers in order to just barely exceed 50% of the total seats.”
Amsterdam continued: “The removal of former President Banda’s immunity fails to pass the litmus test for legitimacy. Keeping in mind that this is the same government that only days ago fired live rounds into crowds of voters, the same people that have repeatedly arrested opposition leaders on bogus grounds, and the very same Justice Minister, Wynter Kabimba, who himself defiantly refused to answer corruption questions before the authorities, there can be little doubt about where the PF stands on matters of justice.”
“Removal of Banda’s immunity is totally unrelated to justice. It is a crass political strategy aimed at removing potential competitors to the successor of an ailing, enfeebled president,” said Amsterdam.
Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini yesterday said Parliament is an autonomous institution which has unique freedom to debate and deal with own internal matters independently.
Dr Matibini said under the separation of powers, Parliament is given freedom to debate matters and does not get orders from any institutions hence the House was free to observe its own rules and procedures.
This was in his ruling to a point of order raised by UPND Monze Member of Parliament (MP) Jack Mwiimbu regarding the removal of legal immunity of former President Rupiah Banda.
This was shortly after Clerk of the National Assembly Doris Mwinga read the order of the day in which Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba was to present to the House the motion of removing legal immunity of Mr Banda.
But Mr Mwiimbu, asked Dr Matibini for guidance because the motion at hand was a subject of a court injunction which was served to the Clerk of the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon.
He said on various foras, Dr Matibini categorically stated that no matter before the Courts of Law should be discussed in Parliament.
“The Office of the Speaker said once a matter is in court, your hands are tied and can’t do anything until such matter is resolved in court.
“When the matter is before High or Supreme Court, we shouldn’t discuss it,” Mr Mwiimbu said.
He said the motion to remove Mr Banda’s immunity was taken to court and wondered what powers MPs had to debate over the motion.
“The motion being discussed is a subject of litigation and we feel we shall not be in a position to debate the matter since it’s before the court,” he said.
He argued that members found it hard to debate on the motion before the courts.
But Dr Matibini explained that Parliament was an independent institution and does not get orders from any other institution hence was free to observe its own rules and procedures.
He said the court documents served to the Clerk of National Assembly could not apply to the House because it currently enjoyed freedom to determine its own matters in the spirit of separation of powers through its Standing Orders.
Dr Matibini said Parliament had its own internal proceedings which were not amenable to any court of law and it was at this point that he called upon Mr Kabimba to move the motion.
At this point, several opposition MPs raised on points of order wanting to get more clarifications from Dr Matibini arguing that they could not debate the matter before the court and that the motion should have been brought to the House by the Head of State.
After a lengthy argument, Dr Matibini suspended the House for 15 minutes for consultations but the period clocked over an hour and when he came back, he told the members that his position was that the motion should be tabled in view of his earlier explanation.
He said a number of opposition MPs who have been expelled from their parties were currently still in the House because he had guided that the matters could only be determined after the courts had discharged them.
MMD Chembe MP Mwansa Mbulakulima and his Nalikwanda counterpart Geoffrey Lungwangwa disputed Dr Matibini’s ruling in their points of order.
MMD Sinda MP Levy Ngoma said the members had been abused by the Office of the Speaker and after that they all walked out of the House.
After continually pressing for further explanations from Dr Matibini, the MPs around 17:07 hours walked out of the House leaving almost all their seats empty to the surprise of their PF counterparts.
They assembled within the main passage of the House and held a caucus meeting.
Security officers from the National Assembly also sealed off all doors and could not allow anybody to walk out of the premises.
A heavy presence of armed police officers in full riot gear also came to Parliament gates as some of Mr Banda’s sympathisers attempted to break the National Assembly gate.
Earlier, UPND Kalomo MP Request Muntanga rose on a point of order on why there was a heavy presence of paramilitary which he said were intimidating the law makers.
In his ruling, Dr Matibini said the measures were constituted because of reports that some cadres had wanted to come to Parliament to create confusion in view of Mr Banda’s immunity motion.
“Obstruction is not the best thing we should do and I think I am being very diplomatic and this is an august House and we need to respect the dignity of this House,” The Speaker said in reference to opposition MPs who kept on raising obstructing ZNBC cameras.
Dr Matibini later allowed Mr Kabimba to move the motion in the House and later when the motion went to a vote, opposition MPs who were recently appointed to ministerial positions voted with the ruling party for the motion.
The Human Rights Commission has expressed satisfaction with the manner in which the just ended Livingstone parliamentary by- election was conducted.
In a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, Commission Chairperson Pixie Yangalilo commended the electorate, political parties and their supporters for maintaining peace during the elections.
Ms Yangalilo disclosed that a preliminary assessment conducted by the commission revealed that voting went on smoothly in spite of the clash reported in the media between the Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Party for National Development (UPND) supporters over alleged vote buying.
She said the allegation has already drawn the attention of the police, calling on the police to handle the matter professionally.
Ms Yangalilo reiterated the commission’s concern over the recurring instances of violence by political party cadres saying it is an infringement on human rights among political parties and their supporters.
She added that any act of violence goes against the democratic tenets,norms and values that Zambia has ascribed to since the country embraced multiparty system in 1991.
She said there is need for all political players to desist from using violence to meet their political ends if Zambia is to be seen as a beacon of democracy and also a human rights respecting country in the region.
Ms Yangalilo has since commended the electorate in Livingstone central constituency for turning out to vote and exercise their rights despite the violence that had arisen leading to the postponement of the by-election.
Some residents in Solwezi, who are buying maize from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) meant to cushion the shortages of the mealie meal in the district, are reselling the grain on the black market.
District Commissioner, Crispin Likando, said it is regrettable that the people have resorted to reselling the maize after they buy it from FRA at a reduced price.
Mr Likando said most marketers have taken advantage of the situation and have engaged themselves in the reselling of FRA maize.
He said this situation is defeating the intention of government to cushion the shortage of mealie meal and provide cheap maize for the people in the district.
Mr Likando said a screening exercise of the buyers has been instituted as a control measure to stop unscrupulous marketers from accessing the grain.
The FRA has been selling maize to the people at KR 50 per 50 kilogram bag following a spate of shortages of mealie meal in the district. The marketers are reselling the maize at KR10 per 5 litre container instead of KR 7.50
Mr Likando said the district requested for 30, 000 metric tonnes of maize from FRA but the agency has been releasing it in batches of 4, 000 metric tonnes to the market every week.
United Party for National Development (UPND) Deputy Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has said his party is happy to have a few united and disciplined members than a bunch of indiscipline and treacherous members.
Mr. Mweetwa told ZANIS in a telephone interview in Lusaka yesterday that the UPND will not accept to work with the PF government using the backdoor approach.
He said if government is serious about working with the opposition it should come out in the open and declare interest instead of using backdoor means of appointing UPND members as deputy ministers.
Mr. Mweetwa said his party does not want to abandon its role of providing checks and balances to government and will defend its position as the opposition in all matters of governance..
He further encouraged UPND members intending to work with or join the ruling Patriotic Front government to openly declare interest and resign from the party.
Mr. Mweetwa said members of the opposition should always remember that they are there to provide checks and balances to the government.
He said it will not be right for the nation to have people singing the same song instead of pushing government to work where needed.
Commenting on the two Deputy Ministers that were recently appointed by President Sata as Deputy Ministers in the Ministry of Commerce and Information respectively Mr. Mweetwa expressed ignorance on any action taken by the party, referring all queries to the disciplinary committee.
Recently Sinjembela Member of Parliament Njeulu Poniso and Kalabo Member of Parliament Chinga Miyutu were allegedly suspended from the opposition UPND for accepting to serve in the PF government.
Zanaco get set for one of their biggest matches in their CAF participation when they host 1995 champions Orlando Pirates in a much anticipated regional derby.
The Bankers host Pirates at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka in a CAF Champions League first round, first leg game.
Zanaco coach Keagan Mumba says the match is a matter of national pride against Pirates who are unbeaten against Zambian opposition since ejected Mufulira Wanderers 2-1 on aggregate in the second round of the 1996 Champions League.
“We are receiving so many coaches giving us advice like (Boniface) Simutowe, Fred Nasilele it is the country we are representing,” Mumba said.
“We are ready, we know the pedigree of Pirates.”
A home defeat for Zanaco will see them join Power Dynamos in the hall of shame who are currently the only Zambian team to lose at home to South African opposition in CAF club cup competition.
Meanwhile, Mumba has two absentees heading into the game with key defender Kunda Mushota injured while midfielder Maonga Kabuku is serving a suspension after accruing two yellow cards in the preliminary round.
The spotlight will fall on defender Ziyo Tembo who has looked authoritative in recent games alongside Mushota at the back as he gets ready to face Pirates striker Takesure Chinyama who has scored five goals in the competition so far.
Meanwhile, there is much anticipation as to whether Roger De Sa will gamble on playing Collins Mbesuma in front of his home fans after not seeing any action in the preliminary round.
Winner over both legs will face winner of Saturdays other first round tie involving TP Mazembe and Mochudi Centre Chiefs in the second round on April 20.
Parliament has today removed former President Rupiah Banda’s immunity from prosecution because of alleged corrupt activities and misappropriation of public funds. The motion passed with 80 for Yes, 3 for No while 4 were absentees.
Presenting the motion Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba said Mr Banda during his tenure, abused the authority of office, and corruptly acquired public property and misappropriated funds or revenue in respect of crude oil contracts with a Nigerian Petroleum Corporation.
Mr Kabimba said on December 21, 2011, the Government Joint Investigations Team (GJIT) conducted a search on the property of former Energy Minister Kenneth Konga in Lusaka in which the team came into a possession a letter dated November 25, 2008, which letter was personally signed by Mr Banda requesting for supply of 45, 000 barrels per day of Term Crude Oil from the Nigerian firm.
“The GJIT has established that the Zambian government paid the sum of US$2.5 million to the Nigerian company for the said crude oil facility through the Zambian government’s Nigerian Procurement Agent called Sarb Energy Ltd.
“The team also established that Henry Banda, son to Mr Rupiah Banda, was involved in the oil deal with the sole responsibility of deciding where the Nigerian firm assigned to uplift the crude would remit the proceeds for the transaction. Mr Henry Banda opened an off-shore account with Barclays Bank in Singapore into which the proceeds were remitted on behalf of his father,” Mr Kabimba said.
“The diversion of the proceeds Mr Speaker constitutes abuse of authority of office, fraud and misappropriation of public funds on Mr Rupiah Banda’s part for which he must be prosecuted by the GJIT,” He said.
According to Mr Kabimba, further investigations revealed that Mr Rupiah Banda and his family in 2011 spent more than K20 billion on the purchase of election campaign materials and this sum was personally handled and disbursed in cash by Mr Banda and his sons.
He told the House that Mr Banda disbursed the funds through his Senior Private Secretary and the MMD Campaign Centre Manager and that he also disbursed the sum of K60 million paid in three installments to each parliamentary candidate in all the 150 constituencies.
Mr Kabimba said Mr Banda also disbursed K2 million to each local government candidate for the total of 1, 400 wards.
“The GJIT has now established that K21, 907, 847, 170 cash was personally disbursed by Mr Rupiah Banda and his family and that the MMD never had such sums of money in its bank account at any time. During the period, Mr Banda purchased bicycle spares and accessories from Atlas Cycles and printed fabrics from in India at declared value of K371, 908, 000 with duty at K81, 076, 292 while 42 Toyota Hilux Vigo from Western, a United Arab based firm with valued at K1, 869, 840, 000 and K892, 434, 129 as duty.
Similarly, materials including branded candy lollypops, 40 used Bedford Trucks, branded T-shirts, caps, badges, hats, balloons, hand flags and flags were bought from various suppliers in the Emirates, United Kingdom and China.
Others were bought from Japan, Malawi and South Africa that included 77 used light trucks, 2, 407 bales of printed fabric, T-shirts, badges and hats, balloons and various motor vehicle types all valued at K10, 107, 847, 170.
Mr Kabimba said “Mr Banda’s personal handling of such large sums of moneys and his activities constitute acts of money laundering and, or the presumption that the funds in question came from the national treasury as public funds for which he is liable to prosecution.”
He said Mr Banda and his family prepared their own loan agreements to procure a loan of $1, 000, 000 from Hands Industries, a firm listed in Dubai as a dealer in clothing and not a financier, for Mpundu Trust.
The GJIT established Nyiombo Investments procured the said unsecured loan for Mpundu Trust, whose directors were Thandiwe Chilongo Banda, spouse to Mr Banda and two other people who in February 2012, resigned and Mr Bnda also became a director.
The Justice Minister said without any reasonable explanation from Mr Banda, the presumption that the said loan constitutes gratification under the ACC Act was inevitable, hence an offence for prosecution.
Other offences brought to the House included money laundering activities such as the acquisition of a $200, 000 Higer Bus, branded bulbs worth $60, 000, importation of shoes worth $300, 000 from Mauritius and importation of 38 trucks from the UK worth GP100, 000.
“In view of the foregoing, I submit that this House should resolve that criminal proceedings against former President Rupiah Banda would not be contrary to the interests of the State whatsoever and the GJIT must proceed to prosecute Mr Banda,” he said.
The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) in Livingstone says the loss it has suffered in the Livingstone parliamentary by-election is a minor setback .
The opposition party says the setback will not stop it from fighting alleged undemocratic tendencies by the ruling Patriotic Front government.
And the UNPD members in Livingstone say they will support the move by the party to petition the Livingstone by-election results which saw the PF candidate emerge victorious.
In an interview with ZANIS in Livingstone today, UPND Livingstone spokesperson Neto Halwabala said the loss was just a minor setback which he attributed to violence allegedly perpetrated by the ruling PF whose candidate Lawrence Evans scooped the seat with 10,173
votes against his closest rival Regina Musokotwane of the UPND who got 7,805 votes.
Mr Halwabala said the fact that the run up to the elections was characterized by political violence forced many voters to stay away contributing to high voter apathy witnessed in the polls.
He also explained that the arrests of the president Hakainde Hichilema and other senior UPND officials and attempts to frame the party over the deaths of two PF cadres also contributed to the loss of the seat.
Mr Halwabala further said heavy police presence in the city which was seen as intimidation by the electorates forced many to stay away from voting.
“Losing this seat is just a minor setback which will not stop us from fighting injustices and other undemocratic tendencies by this government,” said Mr. Halwabala.
“Our voters were also forced to stay way due to fear of been intimated by heavy police presence and the arrests of Mr. Hichilema and other party officials a few weeks ago also instilled fear among most of our sympathisers,” said Mr. Halwabala.
Mr. Halwabala further said much as the UPND wanted to be in power, its main concern now was to ensure that the PF government uplift good democratic tenets and deliver promises it made to the people of Zambia.
He said UPND was worried at a number of issues such as the numerous by-elections the PF was creating at a great cost to the country and the alleged breakdown of law and order.
“Much as we want to form government, our main worry at the moment is numerous wanton creation of by-elections at a high cost to government, and the break-down of law which is now characterized by police brutality,” Mr. Halwabala said.
Meanwhile, UNPD members in Livingstone say they will support the move by the party to petition the constituency by-election results which saw the PF candidate emerge victorious.
Mr. Halwabala said it was clear that the polls were not free and fair because the elections were marred by political violence.
And Mr. Halwabala said UPND has performed better without being in a pact with the Movement for Multi-party democracy (MMD) during the March 14 polls.
The UPND spokesperson thanked the people of Livingstone who he said even after the violence and intimidation managed to vote for the party.
The PF won the elections after its candidate Lawrence Evans polled 10,173, followed by UPND’S Regina Musokotwane with 7,805, MMD’s Fred Siasutwe got 1,579, and UNIP’s Green Mwanagombe trailed last with a paltry 67 votes.
National Restoration Party (NAREP) National Secretary Mike Muyawala, Presidential Spokesperson Chilufya Lechembe and National mobilisation Chairman Probby Chama have officially resigned with immediate effect.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka this afternoon, the trio who gave no reasons for their resignation said in the course of next week the nation will be informed of their reasons and the way forward.
Speaking on behalf of the trio, Former NAREP National Secretary Muyawala thanked their former party leader Elias Chipimo Junior, the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the entire NAREP family for the time they spent together.
Mr. Muyawala said the trio are still making consultations across the country and beyond on the next course of political action.
He said by the time the reasons will be communicated a huge number of members from NAREP would have also resigned.
He noted that to every leader, is a group of followers adding that the same applied to them.
The three have further wished their former party well in all its future endeavours.
The Road Development Agency (RDA) has awarded a KR562 million contract to Sino Hydro Zambia Limited for the construction of more than 45 kilometres (km) of the dual carriageway between Kitwe and Chingola on the Copperbelt province.
RDA Director Bernard Chiwala said the contract will be undertaken within 24 months from the date of execution and the contractor is expected to mobilize within 60 days.
Mr. Chiwala stated that the scope of the work will be to construct among other things an entirely new south bound road on the existing road, new junctions and drainage structures and a new bridge over Mwambashi river more than 12 km from Kitwe.
He was speaking at the signing of the contract in Lusaka today.
He expressed happiness at the awarding of the contract saying the project will translate into several benefits among them enhanced safety features, improved carrying capacity and ease of transportation.
Mr. Chiwala said the Kitwe-Chingola road was a vital road link forming part of north-south corridor but has recently seen a reduced carrying capacity due to increased mining activities.
And Mr. Chiwala has disclosed that as part of the government’s link Zambia 8000 project, RDA will be awarding another contract at the end of the month for the design of the Lusaka-Kapiri dual carriage way following the evaluation of tenders.
He added that the contract was for phase one (1) of the entire road link from Lusaka to Kapiri Mposhi with phase two (2) for the Kapiri Mposhi to Ndola dual carriageway to be awarded by the end of August this year 2013.
Mr. Chiwala affirmed that the link Zambia 8000 project underlined government’s intention to empower Zambians through the creation of the much needed employment of about 24,000 people, especially for youths.
And Kitwe City Mayor Chileshe Bweupe said the signing of the contract to construct the Kitwe-Chingola road marks a milestone for the people of Kitwe who have been calling for the road to be done for many years now.
Mr. Bweupe disclosed that about 20 lives were lost on the same road last year alone with more than 50 injured adding that those statistics stand to reduce once the road is improved.
And Sino Hydro Zambia Limited Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Liu Benjiang said his company was happy to be given the contract and pledged to excel in its work as this was the first time the company was working in Zambia.
Mr. Benjiang stated that the company will devote its expertise and advanced equipment to provide a high quality road that will benefit the country socially and economically.
President Michael Sata has advised Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president James Banda to desist from deliberately misleading the country on matters of governance.
In a press statement released to the media by his Special Assistant for Press and public relations George Chellah, Mr Sata observed that there was a rising trend by Mr Banda to issue political and unwarranted statements by purposely interpreting speeches from the Executive out of context.
Below is the full statement.
For Immediate Release
PRESIDENT SATA RESPONDS TO MR. JAMES BANDA
LUSAKA, Friday, March 15, 2013 – His Excellency, Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, President of the Republic of Zambia, has advised Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Mr. James Banda to desist from deliberately misleading the country on matters of governance.
President Sata said there is a rising trend by Mr. Banda to issue political and unwarranted statements by purposely interpreting speeches from the Executive out of context.
“As Head of State, I am certain that I appointed a professional Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who has been allowed to execute his tasks professionally. And we are comforted by the fact that there are some leaders within the opposition such as Mazabuka UPND Member of Parliament Hon. Garry Nkombo, who have publicly appreciated the professional manner in which this office has acted thus far,” President Sata said.
“Mr. Banda should realize that we are fully aware of our duties and limitations as prescribed by the Constitution; no wonder the DPP is able to act as professionally as we believe he is acting because we are not interfering in his job. Moreover, as the Executive we are equally entitled to complain on a matter of public interest especially when we believe there are alleged criminal activities, which we feel should be pursued; and this certainly does not amount to giving an order to the esteemed office of the DPP.”
The President advised Mr. Banda to show leadership and halt this increasing tendency of deliberate distortions because a sober and sincere analysis of important national matters is required from him as an individual and the organization he represents.
“We deserve clear and factual guidance whenever we are being criticized and not opinions based on what is in the media. This government remains open to dialogue and consultation and we urge Mr. Banda and other stakeholders to utilize these available forms of engagement,” he said.
