FORMER Republican President Rupiah Banda has been summoned to appear before the Government Joint Investigations Team over allegations of corruption and other criminal activities.

Mr Banda, who was defeated in the September 20, 2011 general elections, becomes the latest high-profile figure to be summoned before investigative wings after several of his former Cabinet ministers availed themselves for questioning.

His son, Andrew is already on trial over corruption charges in road contracts signed between the Road Development Agency and Fratelli Locci Construction Company, an Italian firm.

His other son Henry, who is based in South Africa, is being sought by law enforcement agencies for corruption related matters but has refused to avail himself.

According to a summon dated February 4, 2013 signed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director-general Rosewin Wandi, the former President is expected to appear at the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) head office in Lusaka on Thursday this week in the morning.

“The Government Joint Investigations Team has been carrying out investigations into allegations of corruption and other criminal activities in which you have been named,” Ms Wandi said in the summon addressed to Mr Banda.

Ms Wandi noted that the investigations team was aware that Mr Banda enjoyed immunity as former President but that it was in his best interest to defend himself against allegations levelled against him.

“We are mindful that you currently enjoy immunity from prosecution on offences allegedly committed, while you served as Republican President.

“However, it might serve your interests to avail yourself the opportunity to provide answers to the allegations made against you without losing your immunity,” she said.

The ACC chief advised Mr Banda that in an event he decides not to avail himself, the law enforcement agencies will pursue other legal avenues.

[Times of Zambia]

Government has said that it is highly irresponsible for Dante Saunders to call for the impeachment of President Michael Sata over the appointment of the Chief Justice, as reported in today’s Daily Nation newspaper.

Chief Government Spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni in a statement released to the media said that the call is shallow, unresearched and unfounded as there is no such an appointment that the President has made in the office of the Chief Justice.

Mr Sakeni said that constitutional appointments by the President, including that of the Chief Justice, are subject to rigorous scrutiny by relevant oversight institutions, including parliament.

Mr Sakeni stated that the call for impeachment, therefore, does not arise as there are adequate safeguards in the appointment of constitutional office holders.

Mr Sakeni reminded Mr. Saunders that Parliament comprises men and women of high integrity as representatives of the people who perform their duties diligently as has been demonstrated in the past.

Mr Sakeni said that it was, therefore, mischievous for Mr. Saunders to insinuate that Parliament has been endorsing illegalities in the appointment of constitutional office holders by the Executive.

He has advised Mr. Saunders to desist from dwelling on speculations and displaying his ignorance on issues he least understands.

Mr Sakeni added that Government takes great exception to Mr. Saunders’ allegation that Government wants to use the Judiciary, the Police, Drug Enforcement Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission and other wings of Government to fix its perceived political opponents.

Mr said that this was a fallacy which government wishes to dismisses with the contempt it deserves.

He further said that the PF Government had demonstrated its unwavering commitment to the rule of law and separation of powers among the three arms of Government.

Mr Sakeni stated that the Government does not influence the operations of the Judiciary because they believe in a professional and independent Judiciary as seen in the fact that all suspects in the on-going corruption and Abuse of Authority cases are enjoying their full rights as provided for in the country’s legal and justice system.

The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has commenced legal action against Justice Winter Kabimba over his allegations that the opposition party is behind the killing of Western Province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta’s houseboy, Johan Lyakoka.

Justice Minister Winter Kabimba is quoted in today’s edition of the post newspapers alleging that the UPND is behind the killing of Johan, but Southern province police commissioner Charity Katanga has disclosed that results of a postmortem carried out show that Johan was killed in a road traffic accident.

UPND Livingstone by-election campaign manager Garry Nkombo says the UPND will pursue Mr. Kabimba through the legal channels on the matter.

Mr. Nkombo told a media briefing in Lusaka this morning that his party is also writing to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) on the breach of the electoral code conduct by Mr. Kabimba and Mr. Mwaliteta, as PF campaign manager for Livingstone, for issuing inflammatory remarks contrary to the conduct.

He has also appealed to President Michael Sata to discipline Mr. Kabimba stating that he is not only a threat to himself, but to the party and the country as a whole.

The body of Lyakoka, aged 19, was found lying in the early hours of Saturday on the tarmac along the Livingstone-Lusaka road opposite Crossroad Lodge a few meters away from where the deceased and his colleagues were sleeping.

After the postmortem yesterday, the body of Mr Lyakoka was taken to Sioma District in Western Province for burial.

PF Member Lawrence Nyambe claimed that the United Party for National Development (UPND) had gone too far with its ‘mapatizya formula’ in that an innocent life had been lost but UPND campaign manager for the Livingstone by-election Gary Nkombo refuted the murder allegations.In an interview outside Batoka Hospital mortunary yesterday, Mr Nyambe said everything points to the fact that Mr Lyakoka was not killed by ordinary criminals but by political opponents using the UPND’s ‘mapatizya formula’.

“The best way to mourn this young man is that we are going to make sure that we win the February 28 Livingstone by-election,” he said. The deceased did not have a shirt and shoes on when his body was picked by the police.

[QFM]

Zambia Railways Chief Executive Officer, Professor Clive Chirwa’s plans to construct an underground rail line for passenger trains in Lusaka to decongest traffic in the City has received support from the Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ) President saying that it was technically possible to create an underground rail line in Lusaka as suggested.

Institute President Bernard Chiwala told ZNBC that Zambia has the knowledge, experience and expertise in creating and managing underground tunnels especially on the Copperbelt.

The EIZ president said that Engineers from the Copperbelt can be engaged to help create a tunnel in Lusaka where rail line can pass.

Last week Prof Chirwa unveiled designs to revamp the railway sector and turn it into a 21st century railway system that was modern and profitable.

Professor Chirwa said 90 percent of the railway stations in the country were beyond repair and there was therefore need to sink the railway station underground particularly in Lusaka adding that this would go a long way in improving the outlook of the sector.

He said this at a public discussion hosted by the Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) where he presented new architectural designs and a computer generated simulation on the new look railway system.

Explaining the simulations of the model, Prof. Chirwa said ZRL would establish electric powered trains to run on the rail track that will be rehabilitated.

He said having electric trains would be cheaper than using coal to move the machines.

He explained that the company was already considering three ways of doing it.

Prof. Chirwa said the first way would be to have a solar panel while the second one is to generate power from Lusemfwa and the third option was partnership with ZESCO whom he said had pledged to support the reconstruction.

He further highlighted nine modules to categorise development of the second 921 kilometre railway line that will be built from Chingola to Livingstone at a cost of US$120 million.

The modules have about 100 kilometres each and they include Mayoba 105km, Choma 112km, Monze 101km, Naluama 101km, Chisamba 109km, Luanshima 103km, Kafulafuta 104 km, Mabote 94 km, and Chingola 92 km.

He stated that ZRL’s core business model would be to build partnerships with businesses that are centered on five divisions namely.

The divisions are freight, passenger, inter-mine, engineering design and infrastructure commercial.

Prof. Chirwa said these five areas will give ZRL a platform to become not only the country’s major employer with over 10, 000 jobs and also make it one of the biggest contributors to the national economy.