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MMD youths dragged Major Kachingwe him from his office at the party secretariat in Rhodespark to the main road where he was forced to get onto a moving car belonging to one of the party officials
MMD leader Dr. Nevers Mumba has maintained that he is the dully elected President of the former ruling party.
Earlier in the day, MMD National Secretary Major Richard Kachingwe had announced the decision to validate Dr. Mumba’s presidency of the party.
Addressing a media briefing at the party secretariat in Rhodespark, Dr. Mumba said he was elected by a constitutionally organised national convention.
He said allegations that he was not a member of the MMD are baseless and unfounded.
Dr. Mumba also announced the expulsion of Major Kachingwe from the MMD with immediate effect for gross indiscipline.
“I had written to him to suspend him and asking him to exculpate him before the disciplinary committee, I still have the letter with me, he knew his days were numbered and out of frustration, he decides to expel the President from the party, this is unprecedented,” Dr. Mumba said.
“I wanted to protect him because I thought he was a civilized man, unfortunately he has proven otherwise and because of his gross indiscipline, I have with a very heavy heart decided to expel him from the MMD pending ratification by the National Executive Committee.”
He said Major Kachingwe had been compromised by the PF and was working against the ideals of the party.
“When I said lets rebrand the MMD, these are some of the elements I spoke about,” he said.
Dr. Mumba maintained that he does not hold dual membership saying the Reform Party was dissolved in 1997.
“I don’t belong to any other party apart from the MMD, the Reform Party was dissolved in 2007, 2007 was the last year we made the returns to the Registrar. I was readmitted to the MMD in 2008 by Katele Kalumba, records are there to show,” he said.
He also announced that MMD Vice President for Administration Dr. Brain Chituwo will reorganize the secretariat until a new acting National Secretary is appointed.
Major Kachingwe being manhandled by MMD youths who accused him of dividing the party
Zambia will now play one instead of two friendly games away to Saudi Arabia next week.
This is after an administrative delay with the teams’ departure from Lusaka that has seen uncertainty swirl around the trip over the last 48 hours.
The delay has also forced the cancellation of the first friendly game against hosts Saudi Arabia in Dammam on December 1.
FAZ spokesperson Erick Mwanza said in a statement that Zambia will play only one game on December 5 in Dammam.
“The team, which was initially listed for the Saturday 1st December 2012 flight at 21:20hours, will now leave on Sunday at the same time and arrive in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia early Monday,” Mwanza said in a statement.
Renard’s team comprising mainly of home-based players will have four foreign-based players in the travelling party.
The players are goalkeeper Luciano Pasquini of ISM Academy in Italy, Chisamba Lungu of FC Ural in Russia and clubless defender Kampamba Chintu.
Defender Aaron Katebe of Zimbabwean club Hwange FC completes the foreign quartet in the team.
The Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe has decided to invalidate the election of Dr. Nevers Mumba as party president.
In a letter to the National executive committee of the party, and obtained by media, Major Kachingwe said that he had decided to use powers vested in him by the constitution to cancel the election of Dr. Mumba to save the party from infiltration and destruction.
Major Kachingwe said that it had come to the attention of the party that Dr. Mumba is still a bonafide president of the Reform Party which he has not renounced or dissolved and that party records are still active at the registrar of societies.
Major Kachingwe said that this was against article 4 (A) (3) of the party constitution which stated that “to be accorded membership, a person must not be a member of any other political party in Zambia.
He also stated in the letter that when bidding for presidency, Dr. Mumba did not disclose the fact that his re-admission had been rejected and believably presented to the elections committee credentials obtained fraudulently.
Major Kachingwe noted that following Dr. Mumba’s expulsion from the party in 2005, his application for re-admission in 2008 was rejected at a meeting chaired by then party president, late Patrick Mwanawasa and attended by Kabinga Pande, Ronnie Shikapwasha and Mutale Nalumango among others.
He stated that this was also against article 6 (ii) of the party constitution which stated that “A member who is expelled from the party may be considered for re-admission upon re-application to the national Executive Committee.
Kachingwe further stated in the letter that the situation had potential to put the party into a dilemma if an election was to be held today because Dr. Mumba would be disqualified on technicalities for belonging to two political parties.
Dr. Mumba has also been accused of launching an illegal campaign for 2016 in Mufumbwe and sponsoring people to hound out the secretariat on flimsy allegations.
Meanwhile, MMD youths this afternoon hounded out party national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe out of his office, accusing him of dividing the party.
The youths dragged him from his office at the party secretariat in Rhodespark to the main road where he was forced to get onto a moving car belonging to one of the party officials.
This follows the letter that Major Kachingwe wrote to the party national executive committee informing them of his decision to nullify the election of Dr. Nevers Mumba as party president.
Present at the secretariat was party vice president for administration Brian Chituwo and Kabinga Pande.
And speaking to journalists after the incident, Mr. Chituwo said that what has happened is unfortunate because there is a more proper manner in which issue of the party can be addressed.
Zambia captain Christopher Katongo says reaching the quarterfinals will be Chipolopolo’s major task at the 2013 Africa Cup in South Africa.
Katongo said reaching the last eight was crucial to Zambia’s bid to defend the Africa Cup.
“For now we can’t talk about the Africa Cup, I am not in camp I have to see the guys before I can say that we are ready.
“But the best thing that we have to do is to go into the second round that is the first step. To defend the trophy we have to go into the second round.” Katongo said.
The African Champions are in Group C alongside Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.
Herve Renard’s side will launch the AFCON title defence with an encounter against Ethiopia on January 21 before facing Nigeria four days later and wrap ups group fixtures against Burkina Faso on 29 January.
Chipolopolo will begin their final phase preparations for the Africa Cup on December 26 in South Africa.
Vice President Guy Scott has said that the Movement for Multiparty Democracy government had allocated K2.4 billion to the Office of the First Lady in 2010 but this was reduced to K1.4 billion in 2011.
He wondered why people were raising concern now that the PF government has provided K1.5 billion to the office for the year 2013.
The Vice President advised Members of Parliament (MPs) to constitutionalise the Office of the First Lady in 2016 if they so wish.
“Mr. Speaker Sir, we are not here to create a constitutional office. The Office of the First Lady used to be included under Cabinet all these years but if you wish to change, it can be done in 2016,” Dr. Scott said.
In an attempt to settle the controversy which arose over the K1.5 billion budget which parliament approved for the office of the First Lady, Dr. Scott said the Office of the First Lady enjoys general administration expenditure merely for activities under Cabinet Office allocation from Head 008.
Recently, parliament approved K1.5 billion allocation for the office of the First Lady but the move has raised debate with some civil society organisations and some parliamentarians arguing that the office was not constitutional.
Dr. Scott explained in parliament yesterday that previously, the office of the First Lady used to be catered for under Cabinet Office before the Patriotic Front government came into power in September 2011.
Recently, First Lady Dr. Christine Kaseba said the K1.5 billion budgetary allocation to her office was not meant for her salary but for operations.
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations George Chellah also said in a statement recently that the Patriotic Front government was being accountable and transparent in accordance to the promises it made to the people in its manifesto.
Mr. Chellah said it was a legal requirement that at the end of the year, the expenditure to the Office of the First Lady will be subject to an audit by the Office of the Auditor General.
He explained that it was not the desire of government to spend unbudgeted funds.
He said State House deserved commendation and not vilification and wanton condemnation exhibited by certain stakeholders.
FILE Engineers working on a diversion to repair the Lusaka-Chirundu road when it had collapsed
THE Road Development Agency (RDA) has signed two road contracts with China Henan and Gomes Haulage Limited for the rehabilitation of the Lusaka to Chirundu and the Livingstone to Sesheke roads worth about K300 billion.
RDA director Bernard Chiwala said China Henan would work on the rehabilitation of 51 kilometres Lusaka – Chirundu road at a cost total cost of K215, 187,851,108 within a period of 24 months.
Mr Chiwala said the rehabilitation would include clearing, drainage works, pavement layer construction, asphalt surfacing and line marking including furniture installation.
Mr Chiwala said Gomes Haulage would rehabilitate the 115km Livingstone – Sesheke Road at K87, 801,024,084 and was due for completion within one year.
He said the contractors were tasked to repair potholes, resealing and replacing drainage structures and other road infrastructure.
“Am optimistic that the contractor will execute the task within the stipulated time frame because they are professionals as can be seen from their track record,” he said.
Mr Chiwala said he expected the two contractors to start commence work within 90 days from the time of signing the contract.
China Henan representative Xu Chunhua said her organisation was grateful for being accorded an opportunity to work on the Lusaka–Chirundu Road.
Ms Xu said China Henan would employ more than 2000 local people to help speed up the rehabilitation of the roads.
She assured RDA that her organisation would execute the rehabilitation in the given time frame.
“Would like to assure RDA that China Henan will complete the rehabilitation of the Livingstone- Chirundu in the stipulated time frame,” she said.
Gomes Haulage managing director Leroy Gomes expressed gratitude for being awarded the contract because it was an indication that RDA had confidence in local contractors.
Mr Gomes said the contract would facilitate the creation of jobs to locals in Livingstone .
“I must commend RDA for considering Gomes Haulage to rehabilitate the Livingstone to Sesheke road because we will be able to create jobs for local residents in order to speed up the rehabilitation process,” he said.
Barclays Bank Zambia Plc has expressed happiness at the positive strides which government and many civil society groups have made towards reducing the rate of new HIV/AIDS infections.
Barclays Bank Zambia Plc Managing Director Saviour Chibiya noted that government and other stakeholders have been providing anti-retroviral treatment and increased awareness campaigns on HIV preventive methods.
Mr. Chibiya said this when his bank donated hampers worth K5 million to Saint Nicholas Village Orphanage Ecumenical Centre in Lusaka today.
He said this in speech read on his behalf by the Barclays Bank Acting Managing Director Banja Kayumba.
He however said the fight against the disease was still raging because everyone was affected in one way or another.
Mr. Chibiya said the onus was upon all Zambians to play a significant role in making a difference as the country strives to fight the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Saint Nicholas Village Orphanage Ecumenical Centre Matron Ireen Chinyama said the institution was keeping sick children who had no parent or guardian to look after them.
Ms. Chinyama said the orphanage has also embarked on educating and sensitising people on HIV/AIDS.
Zambia tomorrow commemorates world AIDS day under the theme “Getting to Zero, I am a youth making a change for an HIV free Zambia”
Deputy Inspector General of Police Solomon Jere says he is waiting to see what allegations the United Party for National Development (UPND) will lodge against him at the International criminal court.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Solomon Jere says he is waiting to see what allegations the United Party for National Development (UPND) will lodge against him at the International criminal court.
Dr. Jere in an interview with QFM news says it will be up to the UPND to prove whether he has committed any crimes that are worth taking to the ICC.
Dr. Jere has however noted that the UPND has a right to complain following the channels that they feels would enable them seek justice.
He however does not believe that as an individual or either the police have committed grave crimes that would warrant the attention of the ICC.
UPND claims it has started compiling names of people it intends to submit to the ICC with Dr. Jere being one of those people.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Kennedy Sakeni
Chief Government spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni has said stakeholders challenging the Public Order Act should find time and look at the latest United Kingdom Public Order Act.
Mr Sakeni who is Information and Broadcasting Minister said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that stakeholders raising concern over the Act should not look down on things simply because they were called Zambian.
“Our law has been fashioned in keeping with international best practices. Public Order Acts in particular are designed to help authorities to keep law and order,” he said.
“However, despite the numerous arguments made so far over this subject matter, as a responsible and law abiding Government we are restrained from saying much on this matter because it is in the court and we shall wait to be advised by the Attorney General’s Chambers,” Mr Sakeni said.
During the week, the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) filed a petition in the High Court challenging the constitutionality of the Public Order Act.
LAZ president James Banda revealed in a statement released to the media that the LAZ Litigation team had filed the petition challenging certain provisions of the Public Order Act.
Mr Banda said that the action had been taken in the public interest and was in line with LAZ’s objectives which include promoting the rule of law and the rights and liberties of individuals and also promoting the reform of the law both by the amendment of and removal of imperfections in the existing law.
Opposition MPs have accused Dr Matibini of taking a position to protect Dr Scott of not providing satisfactory answer to the House and members of the public to justify the allocation of K1.5 billion to the First Lady.
Reading a three-paged petition signed by 66 opposition MPs, MMD Chief Whip Geoffrey Lungwangwa said at a press briefing at Parliament media centre that by protecting Dr Scott, the Speaker was allowing Government to use Parliament to break the law and abrogate the Constitution.
“From the event of today, it is abundantly clear to us that Mr Speaker has deliberately taken a position to protect the Vice President who has not been able to provide a satisfactory answer to the House and the general public.
“By protecting the Vice President, the Speaker is allowing Government to use Parliament to break the law and abrogate the constitution,” Professor Lungwangwa said
He said the MPs swore allegiance to protect and defend the constitution and would not support a system of presiding those abrogating the Constitution.
He said the Speaker allowed Dr Scott to continue with triviality of a serious constitutional matter which required Government to seek Parliamentary ratification to a proposal for a new office of the First Lady.
Prof Lungwangwa said Dr Scott has failed to answer whether the money allocated to the First Lady was for salaries or not.
“It is a known fact that salaries of employees attending to the First Lady are either State House or Cabinet,” he said
President Michael Sata has directed defence chiefs to deploy military personnel to Lukulu district in Western Province to quell an uprising that is being perpetrated by a group called ‘Barotse Liberation Army’.
The President disclosed that the Barotse Liberation Army has allegedly recruited 628 ex-militias and other individuals to cause anarchy in the area.
President Sata said the Barotse Liberation Army recruited about 275 ex-military personnel and other individuals yesterday to destabilise the area.
He said this during the 15th graduation ceremony for the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Lusaka today where 62 officers from the Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force (ZAF), Zambia Police and defence officers from SADC countries graduated.
President Sata said there was need for the army to be ready at all times to respond to such matters in order to preserve peace in the country.
Mr. Sata also stated that government’s desire was to have a defence force that was grounded in professionalism and officers that have knowledge not only of military issues but also on other matters.
He pointed out that government was determined to equip the defence forces with the necessary tools saying the country cannot have any army that has no ammunition.
The President said the army must be ready at all times to respond to emergencies because there were politicians who claim that Zambia was a totalitarian state even when they were able to be covered fully by the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), which is a government broadcaster to air their views on national matters.
[pullquote]“We have a vulnerable Luapula Province, we need to train marines and protect our people,” he said.[/pullquote]
Meanwhile, President Sata said he will soon send Minister of Defence Geoffrey Mwamba and defence chiefs to the Democratic Republic of Congo (CONGO DR) to discuss the security situation in that country with their colleagues in order to ensure that Zambians living in the border area with that country are safe.
He said Zambia will always support missions that promote peace and will thus stand ready to collaborate with other countries in that respect.
The President said it was the responsibility of every citizen to ensure peace in conformity with the United Nations protocol on peace.
Mr Sata said the country’s security wings should invest in marine troops to protect the country’s water-fronts from external interference resulting from civil unrest in some neighbouring countries.
“We have a vulnerable Luapula Province, we need to train marines and protect our people,” he said.
He reiterated Zambia’s commitment to peace in the region for the sake of economic growth and were necessary troops would be deployed to help
restore order.
He said security commanders would be granted permission to go and confer with their counterparts in the war-troubled neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and check on the possibility of engaging in a peace mission.
“South Africa unlike us, has deployed security in DRC, because of the volatile situation there, we shall give you permission to go to Congo and meet your colleagues and discuss,” Mr Sata said.
Mr Sata said he was happy with the training of graduating students at the Defence Services Command and Staff College which drew 62 participants from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) member countries and from Eastern Africa.
He said it was important that the security wing expanded their knowledge and skills through training to counter challenges and get involved in national development.
He also called on the security personnel not to engage in corrupt activities.
Mr. Sata also said government was in a hurry to develop the country and uplift the living standards of Zambians.
He further stated that unless the fight against corruption is won, efforts which government is making to develop the country will be frustrated.
Mr. Sata has since urged the people in the country to help government fight corruption.
He also implored defence officers to avoid corruption urging them to be vigilant and to consider themselves as part of the solution in fighting corruption.
And Defence Services Command and Staff College Commandant Henry Nyundu said the new graduates were ready to take on more challenging assignments.
Brigadier General Nyundu has meanwhile urged government to source funds for the construction of a modern staff college that will have appropriate infrastructure and adequate facilities.
Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) today walked out of the House to the surprise of ruling Patriotic Front (PF) members in protest over the allocation of K1.5 billion to the First Lady in 2013 national Budget.
This happened when United Party for National Development (UPND) Monze MP Jack Mwiimbu rose on a point of order to get clarification whether Government had created office of the First Lady in view of K1.5 billion allocation.
UPND Kalomo MP Request Muntanga also wondered why Government could allocate such huge funds when there was no office of the First Lady in existence.
But Vice President Guy Scott told the House in response that the allocation of the funds did not mean Government had created the office of the First Lady in the country.
Dr Scott explained that First Ladies from across several countries were allocated with resources and that the Zambian First Lady was committed to assisting in areas of improving health services.
“First Ladies are supported in many countries and there is no office what we have is Cabinet office,” Dr Scott said
It was at this point that the opposition MPs stood up and walked out of the House leaving MMD appointed Deputy Ministers with PF members.
[pullquote]“Why walking out…they should be around in the House and listen to their questions,”Dr Scott said[/pullquote]
Other who remained are MMD Keembe MP Ronnie Shikapwasha, MMD Chipangali MP Vincent Mwale, MMD Mpongwe MP Gabriel Namulambe and
Kasenengwa MP Victoria Kalima.
The walk out of the MPs however, never interrupted business in the House as deliberations conducted by Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini went on smoothly.
The opposition MPs assembled at the Parliament building public foyer where they held a caucus meeting.
When contacted for a comment, MMD Chief Whip who is also party Nalikwanda MP Geoffrey Lungwangwa said they would call for a press briefing within the course of the day to issue a comprehensive statement.
But speaking in an exclusive interview, Dr Scott wondered why the MPs could abruptly walk out instead of listening to answers their questions.
“Why walking out…they should be around in the House and listen to their questions,”Dr Scott said
The MPs after a long stay outside, however started trooping inside the House one by one after the mid-morning tea break
Meanwhile, the Zambia Direct Democraacy Movement (ZDDM) today presented a petition to Dr Matibini in protest of allocation of the
K1.5 billion to the First Lady.
Presenting the petition signed by ZDDM president Edwin Sakala and his vice Joshua Kafumbo to Mr Pande at the entrance of the main gate to
Parliament, the duo stated that the office of the First Lady never constitutionally existed.
“Our understanding and that of our membership is that the office of the First Lady does not constitutionally exist hence does not qualify to be allocated such funds as there is no justification to support it hence our Hon August House is in the wrong to vote for the allocation,” the duo said
They appealed to Mr Pande to lobby the Parliamentarians to revisit the bill and that the office of the First Lady should be formally constitutionalised before funds were allotted to it.
In another development, ZDDM raised concerned on continued stay in office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mutembo Nchito and why Parliament ratified him as they alleged that he had some criminal cases in courts such as K14 billion owed to then Zambian Airways where he was a director.
In receiving the petition, Mr Pande who was accompanied by MMD Kasenengwa MP Victoria Kalima and UPND Mbabala MP Ephraim Bbelemu, assured the duo that he would deliver it to Dr Matibini saying they had raised issues of national matters.
Lusaka football fans had an opportunity to view the AFCON trophy and have a photo of them taken with Chipolopolo captain Christopher Katongo. Above fans take photos with Katongo at Arcades Shopping Mall in Lusaka.
2.
Some kids pose for a picture with Chipolopolo captain Christopher Katongo and the AFCON trophy at Arcades Shopping Mall in Lusaka.
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Paramilitary officers pose for a picture with Chipolopolo Captain Christopher Katongo and the AFCON cup trophy in Lusaka
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Vice president Dr Guy Scott (centre) with Amatheone Agri Germany Chief Executive Officer Carl Bruhn (right) and Mumbwa Member of Parliament Dr Brian Chituwo (left) during the launch of Amatheone Agri Zambia in Mumbwa on Tuesday, November 27, 2012.
Lusaka football fans yesterday had an opportunity to view the AFCON trophy and have a photo of them taken with Chipolopolo captain Christopher Katongo. Above fans take photos with Katongo at Arcades Shopping Mall in Lusaka.
Chipolopolo captain Christopher Katongo says he is thrilled to note that several months after Zambia won the 2012 Africa Cup, local fans are still eager to look at the converted trophy.
Scores of fans in Kitwe thronged Stanbic Bank on Thursday morning to view the AFCON trophy accompanied by Katongo who is the bank’s envoy .
The seemingly excited fans formed a long and meandering queue to catch a glimpse of the trophy which was heavily guarded by several armed police officers during the two-hour Stanbic Bank organised public event.
Speaking to journalists, Katongo said the fans’ unending interest in the trophy is a motivation to the Chipolopolo Boys to work hard at next year’s Africa Cup in South Africa in a bid to defend the cup.
“It’s exciting to find people still celebrating over the cup we brought into our country Zambia. This is giving us strength to work hard and bring back the trophy next year,” Katongo said.
Chief government Spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni has dared the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) to go ahead and prove its ignorance to the international community by submitting names to the International Criminal Court (ICC) of people it accuses of human rights abuses.
The UPND has indicated that it has started compiling names of people it intends to submit to the ICC over the violation of human rights.
Mr. Sakeni said that the opposition UPND should be free to take whatever action it wishes to take because that is its constitutional right.
Speaking to QFM News, Mr. Sakeni said that government will not stop any opposition political party in the country to expose its ignorance in the manner that the UPND intends to.
He said that government is not surprised with the behavior of the UPND stating that even its leadership is questionable.
Mr. Sakeni stated that it is surprising to see that some leaders of the opposition aspiring to lead the country are always frustrated and never provide any solutions but only criticize.
The Chief government Spokesperson said that the government will not be shaken by whatever the opposition intends to do because it realizes it has a very important task of improving the provision of services to citizens of the country.
