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Former President Rupiah Banda will again appear for questioning tomorrow after a joint team of investigators failed to conclude their work today.
A relaxed Mr. Banda emerged from the DEC Headquarters under tight security around 13:37 after a three and half hour grilling by the investigators from the ACC, DEC and the Zambia Police.
Mr Banda was flanked by some MMD senior officials including MMD leader Nevers Mumba who was allowed to accompany the former Head of State inside the DEC offices for questioning.
And in interviews with Journalists, Mr. Banda appealed to MMD cadres to be calm.
Mr Banda also emphasized in a brief address to his sympathizers on the need for Zambia to remain peaceful and united.
“May I ask you to please, please remain calm. We have a duty and a responsibility to keep our country together and peacefully, even under provocation we must remain calm,” Mr. Banda said.
[pullquote]“This will give me chance to speak to the various authorities and as you know, we are going to go to court, this is going to be a prolonged affair and if necessary we don’t burn ourselves out. Please once again, may I say thank you and may God bless all of you.”[/pullquote]
“This will give me chance to speak to the various authorities and as you know, we are going to go to court, this is going to be a prolonged affair and if necessary we don’t burn ourselves out. Please once again, may I say thank you and may God bless all of you.”
Joint Government Investigative Team Spokesperson Namukolo Kasumpa told journalists that Mr. Banda’s questioning will continue tomorrow at 10 Hours.
Mrs Kasumpa also revealed that no charges had been laid on Mr. Banda as the investigations are still under way.
She however could not state if there will be any charges that will be placed against Mr. Banda.
And Mr. Banda’s lawyer Sakwiba Sikota refused to comment after his client was allowed to leave and appear again tomorrow.
Scores of MMD and UPND officials and their cadres surrounded the DEC Headquarters to give solidarity to the former President.
Former President Rupiah Banda has arrived for questioning at the Drug Enforcement Commission Headquarters.
Mr. Banda arrived in the company of his administrative assistant Mitakazo Wakumelo and several sympathizers at about 10:20 Hours.
MMD and UPND cadres sang songs of solidarity of the former Head of State.
Security is tight and the road leading to DEC offices has been sealed by armed police officers in riot gear.
Mr. Banda’s lawyer Sakwiba Sikota was the first to arrive at 10 Hours while MMD senior officials among Brian Chituwo, Kenneth Chipungu, Chembe Nyangu, Maxwell Mwale and Geoffrey Lungwangwa were denied entry into DEC offices.
And Mr. Sikota said President Michael Sata’s government is being vindictive by persecuting the former leader as part of an effort to weaken opposition parties by harassing and intimidating their leaders.
Mr. Sikota said there is a contradiction between the summons letter from the country’s anti-graft body and a statement to Parliament by Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba.
He said, “In their letter they said they want to invite Mr. Banda for interviews, in other words for purposes of investigation.
This seems to be quite different and in contradiction with what the Minister of Justice said in the house.” The Justice Minister said they had finished their investigation and that there were no further investigations to be done.”
Parliament last week lifted Banda’s immunity from criminal prosecution after the government urged the legislature to do so, claiming it will enable officials to investigate cases of corruption during the former president’s rule.
The removal of the immunity allows the government to prosecute Mr. Banda for financial impropriety he is alleged to have committed from 2008 to 2011.
File: President Sata serves lunch to former president Rupiah Banda at State House.
THE POLITICS OF PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY LIFTING IN ZAMBIA
On Tuesday, July 16th, 2002, the Zambian Parliament did what then was hailed a victory for people power, lifting late President Chiluba`s immunity. On Friday, March 15th, 2013, just over ten years after the fact, President Michael Sata`s Patriotic Front (PF) have lifted former President Rupiah Banda`s immunity.
There are very good reasons why former presidents should be prosecuted. The best reason is when there is provable evidence that they egregiously abused their office or they were involved in high level corruption, especially political corruption. This should, majority of the times, be accompanied by evidence that such alleged abuse of power or high level corruption be linked directly to the obtaining poverty levels of the people on the ground. Lifting of presidential immunity, in the absence of economic benefit to the people, becomes both a political gimmick to lure the people away from the failures of the incumbency and a ruse for political blame game.
Has Zambia become a better country democratically and economically after lifting Late Presidents Chiluba’s Immunity?
The fundamental test of any immunity, in the case of Zambia for example, is whether from the first immunity lifting of late President Chiluba Zambia has become a better country democratically or economically. In democratic arrangements, immunity lifting must be undertaken against a clearly established evidentiary corpus, and not based on baseless allegations alone. Failure to deduce evidence pursuant to which a motion may be laid for immunity lifting, a ferocious precedent is set which would render the nation`s constitution a non-robust, political document or a weapon against which mild dictatorships may ingratiate themselves into full-blown demagogues.
[pullquote]If Zambia continues to be ruled by such mediocre leaders, the future of this great nation is in danger.[/pullquote]
Zambia is not the most corrupt nation in Africa, and despite that fact, Zambia is the only country to lift the immunity of two of its presidents in the 21st Century world of nations. The shame of it all is that this happens despite the guarantees of article 43 (3) of its constitution.
There is no denying for Zambia that the incumbents have lifted former presidents` immunities in bad faith. Any argument to the contrary must be weighed under the magnifying glass of reasonableness, as well as under the truth of the resultant experience. The lifting of the Chiluba immunity, for example, did not benefit the nation in anyway. On the other hand, it enriched commissioners and task-forces created to investigate and prosecute the alleged perpetrators. The Zambian people still remained disillusioned and poor. The argument oft-advanced by proponents of immunity-lifting is that it serves as a deterrence to would-be perpetrators. However, if that thesis was efficacious, today, Michael Sata would not be calling the shorts on his predecessor, Rupiah Banda. If immunity-lifting, indeed, serves as deterrence, and even as a just determinant of future administrations, in Zambia, it is a complete failure.
There are three reasons why the lifting of former President Banda`s immunity is inimical to Zambia`s future and current political nuance.
It was unwarranted. Unless the PF is hiding details from the public, the immunity clause should only be removed for serious offence, usually repeated offences the president committed while in power. If allegations are only trivial, then no president in the world is safe, because by its nature, the presidency is a high risky office.There is hitherto no evidence to suggest that Banda indeed abused the instruments of national governance. If the PF argues that Banda`s campaign money were stolen moneys, then the PF should also be to blame. Under the mantra of Donchi Kubeba, the PF encouraged its supporters to accept the so-called kickbucks alleged handed out by the MMD. The morality of such behaviour anywhere does acquiescent the PF to be blamed. Moreover, even under the Chiluba immunity, Sata himself was shielded from blame even when for the balance of Chiluba`s rule Sata benefitted from all the alleged corruption proceeds; Michael Sata was MMD`s CEO and chief executive mastermind. And if the PF had a case, they would themselves follow solidly-led legal protocols in the lifting of the immunity. In this case, a motion tabled in parliament lasted barely a day to pass, and that against well-designed legislative conventions. This, in itself, is a bad precedent for Michael Sata – it opens doors for his own immunity being lifted and prosecuted for this omission in future!
Such immunity lifting is a mark of cowardice on the part of the PF government. Since he came to power, Michael Sata has demonstrated in no uncertain terms that he is leading Zambia into autocracy. Within less than two years in power, he has isolated the opposition, bribed them with ministerial or semi-ministerial positions, and imprisoned two of the leading opposition leaders. While he is busy dealing a dearth blow to our young democracy, the economy is still lagging and instead of “more money” into their pockets, the people now have “no money” into their pockets. Zambia is not better than it was under Banda a year and few months ago.
[pullquote]The best we have built in Zambia may be getting destroyed before our own eyes[/pullquote]Such lifting of immunity is a ploy to dodge from being answerable to the people on economic or democratic dealings of the PF. It robs the nation of the needed opportunity to access the PF governance on merit. It defeats the social and political ethos of national solidarity and engenders a dangerous precedent to future regimes.
Since independence from Great Britain in 1964, Zambia has only been ruled by four presidents; Michael Sata is the fifth. There is need to emphasize that Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia`s first president built the nation`s structures. Second president, Frederick Chiluba, built the democratic foundation upon which Zambia thrives today. Third Republican President, Levy Mwanawasa, introduced to Zambia a multifaceted approach to tackling corruption. Rupiah Banda, fourth president of Zambia, consolidated Zambia`s economic gains. And the fifth president, Michael Sata, within the shortest period of his presidency, is erasing all the pluses Zambia has won across the years. The precedent he is setting is both injurious and inimical to his own legacy; what would preclude adjoining regimes from removing his own immunity and prosecuting him for all the undemocratic tendencies he has iced on the Zambian decaying cake!
I submit that Zambians must awake and demand that this government rule according to the rule of law, not to the rule of a man; Michael Sata. I further submit that immunity lifting on our two presidents has ceased to be “historic”; it has become “barbaric”. We are prying to the ferocity of political machination rather than to reason and facts on the ground. If Zambia continues to be ruled by such mediocre leaders, the future of this great nation is in danger. The democracy and peace we have thus enjoyed may be a thing of the past. We must guard against hero-worship of leaders like Michael Sata and speak out loudly with all the authority our constitution has accorded us. We should not bask in the shadows of the ruling machine; Zambia is the people who choose governments. If the people must desire, they can change the government in power at an earliest election. The best we have built in Zambia may be getting destroyed before our own eyes. Where is a new generation of Zambians who should stand up to those currently dragging our beloved nation into a nation of fear and intimidation? Where is a breed of Zambian leaders who will stand up for democracy, and win?
By Charles Mwewa Author: King Cobra Has Struck: My Letter to President Michael C. Sata [2012]
Heritage Party President Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda has question the process used to lift Former President Rupiah Banda’s immunity. In a statement released to the media, citing several flaws, General Miyanda questioned the rationale behind the summoning of the former head of State despite the fact that the Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba telling the nation that the Government was ready to go to trial and the investigating wings had completed their work.
Below is the full statement.
STATEMENT BY BRIGADIER GENERAL GODFREY MIYANDA ON THE PURPORTED LIFTING OF THE IMMUNITY OF FORMER PRESIDENT RUPIAH BWEZANI BANDA
An analyst and human rights activist has urged that in view of the purported lifting of the immunity of former President Rupiah Banda (RB) debate be stopped;
I disagree. It is important to continue debate regarding the process in spite of RB’s new status because this is another assault by the executive on one of the pillars of our democracy: the legislature.
Those proceedings were conducted in bad faith as they were predetermined and the Motion itself is flawed.
Bad faith arises because of the questionable process schemed by the Executive, including bringing this contentious constitutional issue on the last day of seating and holding a caucus to instruct the PF MPs and opposition Deputy Ministers how to vote; the issue is not partisan but constitutional and legal.
[pullquote]Bad faith arises because of the questionable process schemed by the Executive, including bringing this contentious constitutional issue on the last day of seating and holding a caucus to instruct the PF MPs and opposition Deputy Ministers how to vote[/pullquote]
Further, some MPs supporting the Motion introduced prejudicial and extraneous matters. Honourable Nkandu Luo gave ‘evidence’ that President Banda spent one million dollars in her Munali constituency. Honourable Panji Kaunda gave ‘evidence’ about his family without formally declaring interest; another MP claimed that for 20 years his constituency has not been developed and that all this time his people had been suffering. These submissions were prejudicial.
These MPs are potential witnesses who should give evidence on oath and be cross examined at the trial. Are these the grounds for lifting RB’s immunity? Was he answerable for what happened 20 years ago? Interestingly why not mention 49 years ago?
The Motion is flawed because it is speculative and inconclusive. It is not for the accused former President to prove his innocence or provide the proof before he is arraigned and prosecuted.
I contend that a motion under Art 43 is like an indictment or a criminal charge in the ordinary courts because the direct outcome of an affirmative resolution is the trial and punishment of the former President. Hence in such proceedings the National Assembly acts as a quasi-court.
[pullquote]Are these the grounds for lifting RB’s immunity? Was he answerable for what happened 20 years ago? Interestingly why not mention 49 years ago?[/pullquote]
I contend that proceedings under Article 43 (3) are akin to a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) in a subordinate court, verifying and determining whether the allegations indicated meet the requirements set in the specific provision under which the Motion has been moved.
I say so because the purpose of a PI in a criminal proceeding is not to try the accused but to establish whether there are sufficient grounds to warrant sending a case to the appropriate court to try the matter because the court conducting the PI has no jurisdiction to try the case but acts as a sieve for another court. The proceedings in a PI are inconclusive, just like the proceedings in the National Assembly, as they do not try the accused but refer him or her to the ordinary courts of the land.
Additionally the ingredients of the Motion were never debated by any of the supporters of the Motion, including the Minister who moved the Motion.
[pullquote]Who informed the GJIT of the resolution, when and how? Did the Speaker or his office communicate to the GJIT in the night for them to summon RB based on the proceedings that were concluded on Friday after 19.00 hours?[/pullquote]
Last but not least the fast-tracking of the GJIT summons to President Banda is suspicious. The Motion was debated on Friday 15th March, 2013 and within hours they had issued their summons that was covered by the media.
Who informed the GJIT of the resolution, when and how? Did the Speaker or his office communicate to the GJIT in the night for them to summon RB based on the proceedings that were concluded on Friday after 19.00 hours?
It is the practice of Parliament to edit the record of proceedings before passing them as a true record. This includes circulating the verbatim record to be corrected by MPs who debated. Has editing been done?
There is no need to summon President Banda to answer questions. The Minister informed the House that the State was ready to proceed to trial because the GJIT had finalized their investigations.
[pullquote]There is no need to summon President Banda to answer questions. The Minister informed the House that the State was ready to proceed to trial because the GJIT had finalized their investigations.[/pullquote]
Did he lie to the members? Besides, Article 43 is intended to prosecute a former President after removing his or her shield; that is why the Motion has to disclose in full what the acts are that bring the allegations within the ambit of that Article.
To interview him may amount to badgering and harassing him. Is the State not ready and do they now want to go fishing for evidence?
THE STATE MUST GO TO COURT WITH THE CASE THEY HAVE LAID BEFORE THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WHICH THE MPs ENDORSED AND RESOLVED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, unless they are now not ready! The State should not be allowed to bring other charges that were not determined by the National Assembly.
It is the duty of the accusers to prove their case before he can respond, that is if the court finds him with a case to answer. If there is no case to answer end of story; there are no short cuts in these proceedings.
STATEMENT BY ZAMBIAN VOICE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MR. CHILUFYA TAYALI ON THE LIFTING OF RUPIAH BANDA’S IMMUNITY
As organization that promotes good governance, justice and human rights, we want all our leaders to be accountable. We are therefore in support of all initiatives, procedures, processes and laws that help leaders to be accountable. We are also in support of the immunity removal of a former leader if at all there cases that he should answer.
However, on the issue of Rupiah Banda, we wish the matter was handled differently than the route taken for the sake of moving forward as a nation. We see this move as retrogressive.
Firstly, we do not support the removal of Mr. Banda’s immunity totally because the process lacks integrity by those who are orchestrating it.
Secondly, how can you have a man like Wynter Kabimba be the mover of the motion when he himself was just dubiously cleared by the ACC?
[pullquote]As far as we are concerned, Mr Kabimba has not been cleared in the eyes of the Zambian people because his counterpart GBM could not have spoken from without when he made the allegations.[/pullquote]
As far as we are concerned, Mr Kabimba has not been cleared in the eyes of the Zambian people because his counterpart GBM could not have spoken from without when he made the allegations.
Mr. Kabimba himself admitted that corruption took place in the oil transaction because one of the bidders offered him money but he refused to take the bride.
It can be assumed that he refused money from this company because he had already taken from the other company.
The immunity debate in parliament was also hypocritical to have people like Gabriel Namulambe contributing to the motion when they are the beneficiaries of the alleged plunder.
Mr. Namulambe should not even be near the leadership of this Country if our leaders are to be measured by the same yardstick being used on Mr. Banda.
Panji Kaunda also debated the issue as if taking the opportunity to avenge for the suffering of his father. What happened to Kenneth Kaunda was bad but should we continue embarrassing our leaders.
[pullquote]The immunity debate in parliament was also hypocritical to have people like Gabriel Namulambe contributing to the motion when they are the beneficiaries of the alleged plunder.[/pullquote]
The fundamental question should be, how does Zambia benefit from this?
Apart from embarrassing our former leaders when the International community is dignifying them, the common person on the street will not benefit at all.
Since leaving office, Mr. Banda has brought pride to Zambia as a Statesman on different International assignments. Why do we want to destroy this pride?
The third issue is that as we bend down scavenging the rubble, the clever ones, who orchestrated the removal of the immunity, will be busy looting from the reserves.
This is like giving a bone to a dog to destruct it, while thieves get away with their crime.
[pullquote]We need accountability but not at the expense of other corrupt leaders blindfolding us so that they can steal.[/pullquote]
Instead of thinking of developmental issues, we will be preoccupied with this case, losing a lot of money and getting nothing out of it.
The only people that will gain are the Prosecutors, bearing in mind that the DPP is also defending himself in courts, and the lawyers have not really helped the situation thus far.
We need accountability but not at the expense of other corrupt leaders blindfolding us so that they can steal.
Our position is that we reconcile as a nation and move forward. It is time to develop and not unraveling issues that will not benefit us.
Most of the politicians both in Government and opposition are not clean in one way or the other so why play Holier Than Thou.
Former Bank of Zambia Governor Caleb Fundanga has warned against a return to foreign exchange controls in Zambia.
Commenting on the Bank of Zambia Amendment Bill of 2013 which seeks to strengthen monitoring of foreign exchange flows in and around the Zambian economy, Dr. Fundanga said there is need to trade cautiously over the matter.
He said the initiators of the Amendment Bill should realize that the need for stricter regulation should not amount to controls.
“I have not thoroughly read through it but I believe the spirit of the bill is to regulate the flow of forex but one thing we need to realize is that returning this economy to forex controls would cripple the economy,” Dr. Fundanga said.
Dr. Fundanga: “If there is need to strengthen regulation, I believe we should instead strengthen existing institutions such as the ZRA.
We don’t need new instruments to monitor forex because the cost of regulation will ultimately add to the cost of doing business.”
He said the Zambian economy needs a stable and business friendly environment in order to continue posting positive growth.
Opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has demanded that the Electoral Commission of Zambia be dissolved for allegedly failing to effectively administer elections.
Mr. Hichilema said the ECZ has become useless and ineffective and should be dissolved.
He said the recent poor conduct of the Mpongwe and Livingstone bye elections was a clear indication that the current ECZ has no capacity to effectively manage elections.
“The rampant electoral fraud which is going unabated by the ECZ is a matter of serious concern. We have resolved as the UPND to demand that the ECZ be dissolved because it is useless,” Mr. Hichilema said.
“We demand for an independent electoral commission. A situation where the Head of State appoints Commissioners is unacceptable. We would like a situation where the Chairperson of the ECZ is elected from amongst an independent committee.”
Mr. Hichilema said numerous cases of electoral malpractices were reported to the ECZ in the Mpongwe and Livingstone and there was no action taken.
“As far as we are concerned, our candidates Rapson Chilufya and Regina Musokotwane won those elections in Mpongwe and Livingstone respectively.”
He also castigated the Human Rights Commission for rushing to issue a statement that the elections were credible without verifying their sources of information.
“This Human Rights Commission said the elections were free and fair, how do you qualify that when presiding officers from a certain tribe were removed on the eve of the election and replaced with officers from another tribe? How does an election become credible when Ministers were seen dishing out money as people queued to vote?”
Konkola Blades are the Week One leaders in the Faz Super Division after a 3-2 away win over promoted Nkwazi.
Blades usurp promoted Kalulushi Modern Stars, who beat Konkola Mine Police 2-0 on Saturday, from the top of the table on goal difference.
Brian Chewe put Blades ahead in the 12th minute at Edwin Emboela Stadium before Robert Tembo added the visitors second exactly 12 minutes later.
Keagan Phiri put Nkwazi back into the hunt in the 50th minute but Humphrey Kaseneko stretched Blades lead two minutes later.
Nkwazi’s consolation came in the 72nd minute through Stewart Chikandiwa.
Meanwhile, Green Buffaloes coach Patrick Phiri’ reunion with Napsa Stars who fired him last October ended in an uneventful scoreless draw at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.
However, Napsa striker Harry Milanzi put some shine on this otherwise dull affair with a sparkling performance and was later given a standing ovation after he was substituted 10 minutes from time.
Tourism Minister Sylvia Masebo (middle) speak to Senior Chief Mukuni (next to her) as Information and Broadcasting Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga (left) look on
Tourism and Arts minister Sylvia Masebo says she will resign if the UNWTO general assembly slated for August this year turns into a flop.
Mrs. Masebo was speaking this morning at Zambezi Sun Hotel during meeting held for the Local Organising Committee and National Steering Committee tasked to prepare for the UNWTO.
Ms. Masebo has called upon all those tasked to oversee the preparations to work hard or risk being fired or disciplined.
She said the PF government expects Zambia to successfully host the UNWTO adding that that the resources which have been disbursed by government towards the organising of the UNTWO conference need to be used prudently.
“If you steal money meant for this conference you should consider yourself fired,” she said.
The Tourism and Arts Minister has further more warned institutions which have been funded not to change the projects which they have received funding.
“I have suddenly noticed that some institutions are going against what was agreed as projects to be under taken under the UNWTO and I will not allow that.”
Ms. Masebo commended the local media for highlighting important issues in the preparations for the UNWTO conference.
She however appealed to the media in Livingstone to be factual and not cover issues and statements that are retrogressive to the promotion of the tourism sector.
File: Former President Rupiah Banda addressing a public rally
Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has cautioned that the removal of former President Rupiah Banda’s immunity to answer corruption allegations should not be viewed as a way of settling old political score.
In a statement released to the media by the Zambia Chapter President Lee Habasonda, TIZ welcomed the lifting of Mr Banda’s immunity , adding that it would provide him with an opportunity to be heard and clear his name of any allegations of corruption.
Below is the full statement
Transparency International Zambia Welcomes lifting of former President Rupiah Banda’s Immunity
Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) welcomes the lifting of immunity of former President Rupiah Banda but wishes to caution that this should not be seen as a way of settling old political scores. TIZ notes that the lifting of former President Rupiah Banda’s immunity will provide him with an opportunity to be heard and clear his name of any alleged wrong doing with regard to the many allegations of corruption, abuse of office and money laundering that have been levelled against him.
TIZ urges the former president to cooperate and allow the due process of law to take its course. If his actions were legitimate we believe he has no need to fear but utilize this chance to give his side of the story.
TIZ would also like to use this opportunity to remind the PF government and President Michael Sata in particular that the lifting of Mr Banda’s immunity should serve as a timely lesson that there is need at all times for leaders to respect and protect public resources on behalf of citizens who entrust them with authority and power.
We want to reiterate that the Zambian society needs leaders that plant seeds of integrity, accountability and transparency and not dishonest. We wish to add that TIZ will continue monitoring PF leaders and will not hesitate to support any efforts to ensure that any leaders who do not show good stewardship or fall short of the values relating to integrity, accountability and transparency are made accountable and face the law.
We also hasten to note that the lifting of immunity of a former Head of State is a very serious measure. To this end, we implore investigation agencies to ensure that this undertaking does not become an exercise in futility and neither should it be seen to be a political tool to victimise the former Head State.
We expect the cases to be on firm grounds given the attention the matter has received and further urge that the investigations should be done with the highest professionalism and seriousness they deserve. We have learnt lessons from the late Chiluba cases and these require to be taken into account this time around.
Lee M. Habasonda
Transparency International Zambia Chapter President
THE RESIGNATION OF THE NAREP NATIONAL SECRETARY AND TWO OTHERS
It is with great disappointment that we learn of the resignation of our National Secretary Mr. Mike Muyawala, Our Media Liaison Mr. Chilufya Luchembe and our chairman for mobilization Mr. Probby Chama. It is not surprising or worrying that the trio decided to leave the party and we wish them well as they take their next step.
We wish to bring it to the attention of the Nation that this resignation does not stop us as a party from prosecuting Mr. Muyawala and Mr. Chilufya for the money they failed to account for that was set aside for the campaigns in Mpongwe, a seat we were confident of winning as a party but failed because of the high levels of irresponsibility and lack of honesty demonstrated by them. We therefore wish to advise Mr. Muyawala and Mr. Luchembe to account for the money meant for campaigns but were diverted to their own pockets because of selfishness. I further wish to remind them that our party NAREP will start disciplinary charges against them until they account for the funds in question. It is very unfortunate that after rushing to the media, they failed to give reason as to why they were resigning from the party.
May I also state that their resignation is a blessing to the party as it came at the right time when the party is shaping itself with credible leadership that can be trusted by the Zambian people to run the affairs of this country. We are very much confident that the party has remained intact and will even be much stronger without the trio.
NAREP is a party that was founded on principles and shall remain principled in all that we do. With this in view, it is rather difficult for leaders who do not believe in our values which are excellence, integrity, responsibility, service, equity, humility, commitment, sense of community to remain in our party. We want to demonstrate good leadership and earn the respect and recognition from the people of this great nation.
In conclusion, we wish to inform the nation that NAREP will make public the next course of action that we intend to take against Mr. Muyawala and Mr. Chilufya. May I also worn Mr. Muyawala and Mr. Chilufya to stop issuing any statements about our party and instead concentrate on thinking of how they will pay back the funds the party entrusted in them to conduct campaigns in Mpongwe, but were regrettably not used for the intended purpose.
Irate Chililabombwe residents on Saturday afternoon burnt a Toyota Corolla which lost control along the Chingola- Kasumbalesa road and hit six pedestrian resulting in the death of one juvenile.
The other five people who were hit by the same Toyota Corolla have been hospitalized.
The White Toyota Corolla, registration number ACP 6282 lost control around 12:40 hours hitting the six pedestrians who were standing along the road near PP Zambia area resulting in the death of a seven year old juvenile.
The driver of the vehicle identified as Winter Chilanga, 25, of house number W 418, Lubengele Township in Chililabombwe, ran away for fear of being lynched by onlookers.
The five pedestrians suffered severe injuries and are admitted to Konkola Mine Hospital where they are receiving medical attention.
Police sources said the officers that rushed to the scene were scared by the angry mob which was brandishing various weapons and by the time the police mobilized themselves, the car was completely gutted.
A truck from one of the local garages that attempted to tow the corolla from the accident scene had its wind screen broken by the mob.
One perpetrator in the setting of the car on fire has since been nabbed and charged with arson while the driver of the vehicle has also been arrested for causing death by dangerous driving.
Copperbelt Province Minster Mwenye Musenge says the Patriotic Front government remains committed to improving educational standards and infrastructure development under the ministry of education countrywide.
Mr Musenge said government in the 2013 national budget has set aside funds to rehabilitate and construct more schools so that educational standards are taken to higher levels both in rural and urban areas.
Mr Musenge said this at a fundraising lunch for Lupiya Basic School of Masaiti district held at Savoy hotel in Ndola yesterday.
Lupiya Basic School is scouting for funds to rehabilitate infrastructure at the school and construct more classrooms, teachers’ houses and toilets.
Mr Musenge pointed out that government will therefore ensure that schools both in rural and urban areas receive the help they need in order for every Zambian child to have access to better education services.
He said government will also ensure that electricity reaches schools and sanitation facilities are improved.
Mr Musenge added that more houses for teachers both in rural and urban have also been earmarked for construction.
Mr Musenge also appealed to teachers’ countrywide to become leaders of integrity so that they bring pride to the country in their respective work.
Speaking earlier Masaiti District Educational Board Secretary (DEBS) Binos Mubonde said the district is faced with inadequate funds to improve infrastructure..
Mr Mubonde said it was pleasing that schools like Lupiya were taking initiatives to improving their schools’ outlook through such ventures.
He thanked the PF government for prioritising education in its manifesto as evidenced by the opening of four secondary schools on the Copperbelt.
Mr Mubonde said the task of raising educational standards was a mammoth one which requires the involvement and support of everyone.
Collins Mbesuma says Orlando Pirates will not underestimate Zanaco despite enjoying a 1-0 away win in their CAF Champions League first round, first leg over their hosts on Saturday at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
Mbesuma played an impressive opening 70 minutes despite not finding the target but did enough to torment his compatriots in his first competitive club game back in Zambia since 2003.
“We are waiting for the next return leg and we are not going to underrate them just because we beat them,” Mbesuma said.
“We are going to go all out they are a good team but we got one chance and scored.”
Mbesuma said he was also pleased with his performance before his was replaced by Oupa Manyisa in the 70th minute.
“My performance was okay you know you are playing away from home it is difficult all the time so you need to play tactically as the coach said so that you do not concede,” Mbesuma said.
Mbesuma now switches focus to Zambia who enter camp today in Johannesburg ahead of their March 24 away to Lesotho in a 2014 FIFA World Cup Group D qualifier in Maseru.
