Malawian High Commissioner to Zambia David Bandawe has said that Malawian President Joyce Banda had a last minute engagement which prevented her from gracing Zambia’s 48th independence celebration where she was expected to be the guest of honor.

In an interview yesterday Mr. Bandawe said President Banda who was scheduled to arrive at Kenneth Kaunda international airport on Tuesday failed to turn up due to a last minute engagement in United Arab Emirates where she had been on a state visit.

Mr. Bandawe said the Malawian head of state was set to travel to Zambia until the very last minute when an emergency arose which required her urgent attention.

He said the head of state may visit the Zambia soon but that the details of the visit will only be availed once the visit was confirmed.

The Malawian president was scheduled to grace this year’s 48 independence celebrations after an invitation from President Michael Sata.

Meanwhile, President Sata has condemned the opposition MMD and UPND’s decision to shun the country’s 48th Independence celebrations signifying how the leaders of the two parties, Nevers Mumba and Hakainde Hichilema belittled the national event.

President Sata said this in a statement issued by his Special assistant for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr Sata said the Independence Day celebrations, attended by a multitude of people, was an opportunity for the opposition and the ruling Patriotic Front to come together and witness the historical event.

[pullquote]“This is simply because of the leaders of these political formations do not value our independence and the role our mothers and other freedom fighters played to make us who we are today as a nation,” Mr Sata said.[/pullquote]

Dr Mumba and Mr Hichilema announced that they would not attend the Independence celebrations. The two leaders have continued to shun several other national events held in the past.

“In our humble opinion, this prestigious event was an opportunity for both the ruling party (PF) and the opposition political parties to come together and witness this historical occasion. We are gratified that some patriotic leaders within the opposition took time to be part of this momentous occasion, which regrettably the MMD and UPND decided to shun.

“This is simply because of the leaders of these political formations do not value our independence and the role our mothers and other freedom fighters played to make us who we are today as a nation,” Mr Sata said.

Mr Sata said despite the ‘irresponsible’ calls of boycott by the leadership of the MMD and the UPND, many citizens turned out in numbers and joined hands in commemorating the national event which was an important day on the country’s national calendar.

“This action is an indictment on the leadership of MMD and UPND, and further signifies that Zambians are fatigued with the detestable messages, lies and negative politics of disunity from the two opposition political parties,” the President said.

Mr Sata said his administration stood with the Zambian people and would remain a devoted partner in moving the country’s unitary state forward and guaranteed to protect the lives and property of citizens as mandated by the Zambian people.

He added that complaints against the Police and other law enforcement agencies by some opposition parties were unjustified particularly that all citizens were expected to understand that they could not enjoy freedom in excess of their responsibility to ensure law and order.

Lusaka Resident Magistrate Prince Mwiinga said his decision in sentencing Iris Kaingu was based on records and not reports from the media.

This was in response to defence counsel Christopher Mundia who had made an application to have the Post Newspaper and Muvi TV cited for contempt for making running comments before his client was sentenced.

After spending two nights at Lusaka central prison Iris Kaingu appeared before Resident Magistrate Prince Mwiinga in a fully packed court room looking calm and clad in a track suit. She however appeared remorseful and scared when Resident Magistrate Prince Mwiinga started reading his judgment

When passing the sentence Magistrate Mwiinga said that he had taken into consideration the mitigation presented by the defence in which they said that the convict was a first offender and that she was only aged 20 when the offence was committed.He further said he also considered that Iris had lost her career having been expelled as a student from the Zambia Institute of Accountancy Studies (ZICAS).

The Magistrate also said that he had considered that she did not personally cause the publication of the material adding that he did not find aggravated circumstances in the case when arriving at the decision.

Magistrate Mwiinga bemoaned the rate at which young people were involving themselves in making obscene cinematography films tending to corrupt morals, saying this was the second case he was dealing with in seven months.He said it was the duty of the courts to met out sentences that would act as deterrents to would be offenders

The Magistrate said he also considered that the convict did not show any remorse during trial and that the two nights spent in custody should have served as a lesson to her.

Magistrate Mwiinga said that he had exercised leniency based on those grounds in the hope that she had learnt a lesson out of it.

He then said that the destruction of the material should be done after 14 days if there is no appeal raised.

S.A based zambian female rapper Ice Queen premiered her new video for the song “Life of the Party”

Shot and Directed by Giant figure studio’s & 8-Trakk Music Group; Edited by Blessing. Guest appearances by Don K and Lake flow

follow her on twitter @Cleo_icequeen
Check out a recent interview with her http://www.lusakatimes.com/2012/04/02/interview-female-rapper-ice-queen/
By Kapa187

Zambia’s biggest hiphop group Zone Fam is back with Contolola ,already getting massive airplay all over Africa. The Contolola video debuted on Mtv Base Africa on 24th October 2012.

Contolola means to take control.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HMt7cp4yLA

By Kapa187

Former Community Development Minister Michael Kaingu’s daughter Iris has been fined K10 million after she was convicted of making an obscene materials.
Lusaka Resident Magistrate Prince Mwiinga in passing sentence ordered Iris to pay the fine or serve nine months simple imprisonment.
By time of publishing, Iris’s legal team was processing payment.

It is alleged that on dates unknown but between December 1, 2010 and November 23, 2011 in Lusaka, Ms. Kaingu jointly and whilst acting together with another unknown person, Ms. Kaingu did make obscene cinematography films that were likely to corrupt morals.

In his judgement, Magistrate Mwiinga stated that after having watched the sex video himself, there is proof beyond reasonable doubt that the video is likely to corrupt morals of individuals that may get their hands on it.

He further stated that it was established that the duo where aware of the laptop webcam recording the entire scene.

Chief Government spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni has implored opposition political leaders that have vowed to frustrate the approval of the 2013 National Budget in parliament to be patriots.

Mr. Sakeni who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister said it is unthinkable for any political party worth its salt to advocate for politics that that do not add value to improving the wellbeing of ordinary Zambians.

He was reacting to recent pronouncements from the opposition MMD leaders that have vowed not to support the 2013 budget citing the appointment of some of its Members of Parliament as deputy ministers in the PF government.

Despite President Michael Sata’s clarification of the appointments as part of his desire to run an all inclusive government, this move has not gone well with the MMD party leadership who feel it is meant to weaken the party.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Sakeni pointed out that the PF government recognises the opposition parties as stakeholders in national development but should behaviour in a manner that will inspire Zambians.

He explained that government will remain steadfast in ensuring that its development plans are executed as outlined in its party manifesto to the satisfaction of Zambians.

Mr. Sakeni reiterated that the government is on course in implementing polices that will translate into tangible reduction of poverty, unemployment, underdevelopment and economic challenges that ordinary Zambians are facing.

He urged Zambians to unite and work hard in assisting government in developing the country for the betterment of all Zambians regardless of tribal groupings.

ZANIS