Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) leader Edith Nawakwi says President Michael Sata’s defence of Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba who is under probe by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is a clear indication that the minister is above the law.

Ms. Nawakwi says it is unfortunate that even the order of protocol puts Mr. Kabimba, as PF Secretary General above the Speaker of the National Assembly.

She says ACC Officers are only trying to perform public duties on behalf of the Zambian people should be allowed to operate independently.

The FDD leader adds that any public officer suspected of corrupt activities should be subjected to investigations by the ACC and that the anti graft body need not to seek permission carryout their mandate.

She says justice should be seen to be done in the corruption crusade the PF government has embarked on.

On Thursday, President Michael Sata urged the ACC not to investigate his ministers through the media.

He further said the ACC should seek his permission before investigating senior members of the ruling Patriotic Front party.

QFM

Mike Mulongoti has described justice minister Wynter Kabimba as a political dwarf who should stop overrating himself.

Mr Mulongoti says Mr Kabimba has no political following and does not deserve protection from the head of state.

The former Minister’s sharp reaction came in reaction to Friday’s edition of the Post newspapers in which Mr. Kabimba has been quoted saying that the PF is reluctant to give jobs to Mr Mulongoti and Lameck Mangani.

Mr. Kabimba said PF has been reluctant to admit Mike Mulongoti or give a position to Lameck Mangani because the party wants to run a civilised country and avoid what is happening in MMD.

In an interview, Kabimba said the beating up of MMD national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe by MMD members was an act of uncivilised leaders that had hijacked the party and were very desperate for power.

“That’s why we have been reluctant to admit people like Mulongoti to the membership of the party. That’s why we have not been able to give a position to Mangani to be a member of the party, to take any position in the party because such members act out of desperation,” he said.

Kabimba said the PF wanted to run a democratic and civilised country and what MMD was exhibiting was neither civilisation nor an act of democracy.

But Mr Mulongoti said he has never applied for membership to the ruling PF and was merely working to bring down the MMD government.

Mr Mulongoti told a media briefing Friday afternoon that the PF manifesto does not conform to his ideals and that most of its contents are exaggerated.

He further charged that the PF constitution also contains clauses that are similar to those of the UNIP government.

ZAMBIA has intensified its push to re-establish a national airline to help boost the tourism industry in line with the new government’s plan to re-align tourism as one of the frontline economic sectors.

Deputy Minister of Tourism and Arts, Hon. David Phiri, who is leading the Zambian delegation at the 2012 World Tourism Market (WTM) here, says it has become evidently clear that the country’s tourism sector will not get to its desired position without a national airline.

Mr. Phiri attended the Ministerial Session that discussed a range of issues aimed at boosting the global tourism industry.

“The question of connectivity is a central factor in the development of Zambia’s tourism sector. This can only come about where there is a viable national airline. There is consensus in both government and industry that Zambia needs a viable national airline and I know that President Sata is keen on this,” Mr. Phiri said.

The minister said the new PF administration has allocated unprecedented amounts of money to the tourism industry and provided generous tax incentives for the next five years for Zambians wishing to develop tourism infrastructure in national parks.

The minister said: “What the new government has done is unparalleled in the history of our country and we are determined as a ministry not to fail the President in his bold and broad vision to rejuvenate this important sector of the economy.”

But these efforts will bear fruits once the problem of connectivity is resolved through the establishment of a national carrier. The minister is pleased that the Zambia High Commission in London has opened discussions with prospecting investors who are proposing to lease out aircraft to Zambia for the establishment of a national a carrier.

The minister’s delegation includes: the Permanent Secretary Ms. Charity Mwansa, Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB) managing director Mr. Felix Chaila and senior staff from the ministry and ZTB. The minister will later this afternoon host cocktail for tour operators and leading media outlets in London at the Zambia Stand at Excel Centre, UK’s premier exhibition arena.

The World Travel Market (WTM) is global networking exhibition staged annually in London as the Leading Global Event for the Travel Industry providing a vibrant business event with a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and International travel professionals

Meanwhile, Government has said that the country will have a national airline in place before the UNWTO general assembly to be co-hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe next year.

Transport, Communication, Works and Supply Minister Chris Yaluma told parliament this morning when he delivered a ministerial policy statement.

Mr Yaluma told the house that government intends to establish the national airline which will be the nation’s flag carrier.

He said his ministry has been actively consulting and engaging various stakeholders to see how this vision can be realised.

And Mr Yaluma has said that his ministry is optimistic that the blacklist imposed on Zambian planes from flying in the European airspace will be lifted.

He said that the European Union has given Zambia three million Euros under the European Development Fund to go towards putting in place measures to address the concerns that necessitated the blacklist of Zambian planes.

The Minister adds that the International Civil Aviation Organisation coordinated validation mission team is expected in the country from the 12th to 15th of December 2012 to come and verify the extent to which Zambia has improved in the areas that necessitated the ban.

Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED) says failure by President Michael Sata to reprimand Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba for his conduct when he went to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) sends a wrong signal about the PF government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.

ZED leader Fredrick Mutesa has told QFM News that President Sata’s decision not to take disciplinary action against Mr Kabimba after he refused to be questioned by the ACC gives an impression that there are sacred cows in the corruption fight that the PF is championing.

Dr. Mutesa says what needs to be understood is that the people of Zambia are not demanding for the suspension of Mr. Kabimba because of the allegations leveled against him, but are not happy with his conduct at the ACC.

He has noted that the conduct exhibited by Mr. Kabimba amounts to interfering with the operations of the ACC.

Dr. Mutesa adds that leaders in the country should lead by example by ensuring that they uphold the rule of law.

President Sata has stated that he will not suspend any of his ministers being probed by the ACC in the absence of proof of the allegations they are facing.

QFM

A 21 year Kabwe woman who is allegedly to have indecently assaulted a five year old boy and infecting him with a sexually transmitted disease yesterday walked to freedom after the court acquitted her.

Kabwe Principal Resident Magistrate John Mbuzi said the there was no collaboration evidence to link the accused Tashila Mwale to the crime and therefore acquitted her.

In his ruling Magistrate Mbuzi said as per amendment of the juvenile Act referred to in subsection (b) evidence of any other person can only be used to collaborate that of a child and that there was no collaboration evidence to that effect and found the accused not guilty of the offence.

This is in a case in which Ms Mwale was allegedly to have indecently assaulted a child in which the Prosecution team called three witnesses later the court found the accused with a case to answer put her on her defence.

This is in case in which Ms Mwale was appearing in court on charge of indecently assaulting of a five year old boy.

Facts before the court are that, Ms Mwale on March3, 2012 is allegedly to have unlawfully and indecently assaulted a child contrary to section 157 Amended by Act number (1) of the Laws of Zambia.

During the trial the boy testified how the accused person had sex with him after covering his face with a blanket.

The boy who also identified the accused person who was seated in a accused dock told the court that , Ms Mwale called him to her house where she allegedly undressed him and started playing with his private parts and later had sex with her and was given K200 and was warned against telling her mother.

And mother to the boy, Lister Namachila narrated to the court that she noticed that child had sores as he was urinating and that she took her son at the hospital where she was told that the disease was transmitted by a woman.

She said upon asking her son he revealed that it was Ms Mwale who indecently assaulted him.

And arresting officer Osward Silungwe testified that he made up his mind to arresting the accused person after interviewing both the accused person, the boy and the mother to the boy.

Young Women Christian Association of Zambia (YWCA) Regional coordinator Juliet Kawanda said it was saddening that some perpetrators of crimes are left to go scot free while the lives of the others are violated.

She said there is need for the police and prosecution team to put their house in order and investigate the matters sexual offences thoroughly so as to send a warning to would offenders.