President Michael Sata today took to task senior officials from the Road Development Agency (RDA), Muchinga province administration and the Chinese road contractor, China Gun Xi on why works on the Matumbo road in Chinsali District have not yet been constructed.

President Sata also asked RDA chairperson Willie Nsanda, Acting RDA Chief Executive Officer Bernard Chiwala, Shiwang’andu Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament Steven Kampyongo and incoming Muchinga Province Minister Charles Banda why he was invited to commission the road project which was not yet ready.

ZANIS reports that President Sata wondered why he was invited to commission the road works when nothing has been done on the road project.

This was during the President’s visit to Chinsali district to commission road works on the Matumbo-Chama road in Muchinga Province today.

Mr. Sata questioned the RDA officials how the tax payers’ money has been used to pay the Chinese contractor, when construction works have not even commenced.

He strongly instructed the contractor, China Gun Xi, to expedite road works or risk having the contract revoked and given to another contractor.

A visibly angry Head of State said he was not interested in seeing heavy road equipment lined up but that he wanted the actual works to be done.

“I haven’t seen anything. What have I come to see? Where is the road? I came to see the road and not vehicles…I came to see the road we have paid for.

“We have wasted tax-payers money coming here from Lusaka. When I went to Shiwang’andu, I found a hydro power station which I was called for, how about the road here?” he asked.

President Sata who was speaking to the crowd which had gone to witness the commissioning of the road works said Member of Parliament and government ministers should work hard because they were elected to do so.

He said, had it not been for the people, there were not going to hold the positions they were holding.

He said he would again visit the area to check on the road works but that next time he would not announce his trip.

“The next time, I will be here, I will not inform you that I am coming. I will just come straight here,” he said.

He also warned that the government would not hesitate to terminate contracts of contractors who were failing to perform.

“There are many people that can do this job and if you have failed, we can replace you because people are suffering and these are the people that have been voting for governments in order to bring about development,” he said.

President Sata was accompanied by former President Kenneth Kaunda who churned out his Tuyende Pamodzi song to the crowd before the President spoke.

Earleir, Chief Chewe told the President that people in Muchinga province were appreciative of the efforts by the Patriotic Front (PF) government to develop the area.

Chief Chewe said the people of Chinsali would rally behind President Sata and the Government to ensure that the developmental projects were accomplished.

ZANIS

An outspoken Catholic clergyman , Father Frank Bwalya, says the passion shown by most Zambians in the constitutional making process will in the end see a Republican constitution that truly reflect the citizens’ aspirations.

Father Bwalya, who has been elected as Copperbelt Provincial Constitution Conference chairman,says this time around Zambians are determined to have a constitution that reflects their aspirations.

ZANIS reports the clergyman saying in an interview in Ndola today that from the various debates on the constitution only goes to show that Zambians have now become experts in constitution making process which no one can take away from them.

Father Bwalya said the conference will not let down the people of the Copperbelt as all resolutions submitted from districts will be considered in the final draft document for the province.

And father Bwalya says it is too early for people to start questioning the government on what it will do once the national constitutional convention takes place next year. He said the ball was in the hands of Zambians and should ensure that they support the process.

He said it was important progressive clauses in the constitution are supported so that it stands the test of time.

A ZAMBIA Air Force crew and senior government officials that included President Michael Sata’s secretary for Press George Chellah escaped unhurt after the helicopter they were in,crash landed in Shiwangandu area of Muchinga Province.

President Sata’s helicopter which was already airborne flew back and landed so he could ascertain they were no casualties.

A bystander was however, hurt in the aftermath of the crash.

Others on board included Muchinga Province minister Charles Banda and his permanent Secretary Charles Sipanje.

The officials were in Shiwangandu to witness the commissioning of a mini hydro power station by the head of state.

It is not clear what caused the ZAF aircraft AF 746 to crash land as air force’s head public relations referred all querries to the Ministry of defence

Defence minister Geoffrey Mwamba when contacted said he would issue a statement later in the day after investigations are carried out.

Eye witnesses however, said the aircraft seemed to develop what could be described as power failure and failed to ascend before spiralling out of control towards a tree and then coming to rest near a tent erected to provide shelter.

People under the tent scampered for safety from the malfunctioning aircraft whose propellers tore off part of the marquee.

Another helicopter in the entourage was reported to have failed to take off.

President Michael Sata has observed that the country’s power deficit situation is at a critical stage.

President Sata has therefore directed ZESCO to carry out a feasibility study in the country and establish where more mini power hydro stations can be developed.

He noted that the increasing power demand and the absence of investments in new energy infrastructure over the past years has rendered the
available power supply increasingly limited and unavailable for expansion to areas where people have no access to electricity.

President Sata said this in Shiwangandu, Chinsali district this morning when he commissioned the $4.3 million one Mega watt Shiwangandu mini hydro power station.

He said that although Shiwangandu hydro power station is only 1 mega watt, it shows his government’s commitment to creating a better Zambia for all by bringing electricity closer to the people, especially in rural areas.

President Sata said government working through ZESCO will replicate the Shiwangandu power station by building other mini hydro power stations on various small rivers in the country.

The President was in the company of 1st republican president Kenneth Kaunda, mines, energy and water development minister Yamfwa Mukanga,transport, communication, works and supply minister Chris Yaluma,traditional affairs minister Nkandu Luo and Muchinga province minister Charles Banda.

Others are Shiwangandu MP, stephen Kampyongo, Chinsali MP Christopehr Mulenga, Chinese ambassador to Zambia, ZESCO Managing Director Cyprian Chitundu and traditional leaders among others.

And speaking at the same occasion, first republican president Kenneth Kaunda called on Zambians to fully support President Sata because he has proved to be a man of action.

Dr. Kaunda said the people of Zambia should be assured that they are under the leadership of a president who is hardworking.

And speaking earlier, United Nations Industrial Organisation (UNIDO)Chief for renewable and rural energy unit Diego Masera observed that increasing the share of energy from renewable sources can reduce local pollution, insulate countries from fuel price volatility and improve the balance of payment.

Dr. Masera said without access to modern energy, it is not possible to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

[QFM]

The Non Governmental Organising Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has called on Justice Minister, Wynter Kabimba, to apologize to the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) following what transpired yesterday when he refused to be interrogated in private.

NGOCC Chairperson, Beatrice Grillo, described as unfortunate for Mr Kabimba to have declined being probed over alleged corrupt acts levelled against him.

In an interview with ZANIS yesterday, Ms Grillo wondered why the Justice Minister behaved in the manner he did, adding that Mr Kabimba should understand that carrying out investigations on him does not tantamount to condemnation but is only a mere check on the deeds of an individual.

She stressed that if the Justice Minister is not linked to any unacceptable act, then he should not worry as the law enforcement agency will protect him.

Ms Grillo added that what Mr Kabimba displayed towards the ACC was not pleasing, saying leaders are supposed to lead by example.

Ms Grillo further implored politicians to give space to the law enforcement agencies to carry out their work in a professional and more effective manner if their work has to yield tangible results.

She said if leaders resort to acting as the case was for Mr Kabimba, it will only set a wrong precedent over leaders as the same thing may occur tomorrow even with other leaders.

The NGOCC chairperson has since advised Mr Kabimba to once more avail himself to the Anti- Corruption Commission for investigations to be launched.

Yesterday, the ACC failed to interrogate Justice Minister, Wynter Kabimba, as he insisted to be probed in the midst of his sympathisers.

ZANIS

Expelled MMD National Secretary Major Kachingwe says the decision by the party’s National Executive Committee to expel him is frivolous and null and void.

Major Kachingwe told Journalists at his residence in Lusaka that MMD President Nevers Mumba is raping the party constitution with impunity.

“I’m not resisting going out of the party but I will not go and leave illegality behind. I have to fight to ensure that the party remains a law abiding entity,” he said.

“They struggled to form a quorum at their meeting last evening and the majority of NEC members attended only by proxy which is illegal in the MMD. They spent four hours trying to form a quorum. The MMD does not recognize voting by proxy.”

[pullquote]“How can I be bought and at what price? Who buys off a man of my stature ‘nolufumo ulukulu so’ (with a big belly like this?)[/pullquote]

He said the NEC meeting of Monday night breached the constitution by expelling him without giving him a hearing.
“The MMD is an organisation which operates on the basis of law, it’s not run like a Church organisation where the Pastor collects all the Church taxes.”

He dispelled rumours that he has been bought by the PF government to cause confusion in the MMD.

“How can I be bought and at what price? Who buys off a man of my stature ‘nolufumo ulukulu so’ (with a big belly like this?)

Major Kachingwe said Dr. Mumba held a hastily organised NEC meeting in order to evade the court process which is already underway.

“It was very canny for a man of God to try to circumvent the court process by expelling me before the Wednesday interparte hearing so that the court will say that i don’t have any locus standi on this matter.”

[pullquote]“I have read people asking on the INTERNET why I overlooked Dr. Mumba’s eligibility when accepting his nomination papers. People have questioned my judgement on that score but why are they not questioning the Pastor for presenting wrong credentials,” he said.[/pullquote]

Major Kachingwe vowed to continue fighting until all the illegalities that have emerged during Dr. Mumba’s reign are addressed.

“I have read people asking on the INTERNET why I overlooked Dr. Mumba’s eligibility when accepting his nomination papers. People have questioned my judgement on that score but why are they not questioning the Pastor for presenting wrong credentials,” he said.

“At this level of leadership, you turn to trust people running for such offices because you believe they are of high caliber. So people should now be questioning the man of God for submitting wrong credentials.”

Major Kachingwe also predicted that the MMD will be extinct in the next three months if Dr. Mumba continues at the helm of the party.

The Law Association of Zambia has been inundated with requests from various stakeholders to comment on the alleged investigations by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of the two members of the Executive namely Hon. Wynter Kabimba and Hon. Geoffrey B. Mwamba. We as an Association have not commented on the matter in order to allow the ACC to carry out its work without undue influence. However, we were at the outset sceptical at the genuineness of the investigations considering that the two were serving cabinet ministers. We however, hoped that the ACC would act professionally.

The recent events surrounding this so called investigation are making us lean towards a view that the whole process is a masquerade by the ACC and the government to hoodwink the public that the government is investigating the two Ministers in an attempt to convince the public that Government is serious about the fight against corruption.[pullquote]The Minister of Justice being at the helm of the justice system in the country should be the last person to display the kind of behaviour broadcast in the press yesterday[/pullquote]

The behaviour of the Hon. Minister of Justice in firstly writing to ACC to demand for a report, secondly to threaten to sue them and lastly to refuse to be interviewed in the absence of his sympathisers or PF Party cadres is a mockery of the justice system and has only served to undermine the criminal justice system.

The Minister of Justice being at the helm of the justice system in the country should be the last person to display the kind of behaviour broadcast in the press yesterday. As a lawyer, the Minister need not be reminded that he swore an oath to defend and protect the constitution and this includes respecting law enforcement agencies. It has always been the practise that suspects are interviewed in the presence of their lawyers and not party cadres or sympathisers. We fail to see why the Minister should demand to be treated differently.

It is clear to us that for as long as the Hon. Winter Kabimba and Hon. Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba remain in their positions it will not be possible for the ACC to carry out their investigations independently

Accordingly, if indeed there is a serious fight against corruption, we call upon the Republican President as appointing authority to send the two Ministers on Leave until the investigations are concluded.

We further demand that the ACC act firmly in dealing with suspects no matter what position they hold. The ACC have clearly acted unprofessionally in dealing with these matters and this selective type of treatment must stop with immediate effect. We doubt they would have allowed that kind of behaviour had it been from an ordinary member of the public

At the same time the ACC are urged to act speedily and professionally to conclude their investigations because the longer an investigation takes the more damage is done to one’s reputation should one be eventually exonerated.

JAMES BANDA
PRESIDENT