Sunday, June 14, 2026
18 C
Lusaka
Home Blog Page 4447

Nchelenge PF cadres accuse MP of neglect

4

Scores of Patriotic Front-PF cadres in Nchelenge district of Luapula province this morning matched to the district administration and demanded to be addressed by the district commissioner Royd Chakaba.

The cadres earlier defied police counsel to follow the normal channel and obtain a police permit.

The cadres insisted that they were not violent and that all they wanted was to bring their grievances to the attention of the government.

Police officers at Nchelenge station had earlier intercepted the demonstrating cadres in Kashikishi area and advised them to get a permit as provided for by the law and warned them against engaging in illegal activities.

The cadres are accusing the area Member of Parliament Raymond Mpundu of among other issues neglecting his electorates.

The cadres further claimed that some people loyal to the member of parliament have allegedly started conniving and are selling fertilizer which has just been delivered to the district intended for distribution to the vulnerable people.

However, Nchelenge district commissioner Royd Chakaba could not address the cadres because they had no permit.
Mr Chakaba advised the cadres to follow the law and obtain a police permit.

The district commissioner said he was ready to meet the cadres and hear their grievances but underscored the importance of abiding by the law and urged the grieving cadres to follow the procedure.

The cadres who remained calm were dispersed by police officers who kept vigil at the district administration offices.

ZANIS

Martin Mwamba hails Munyao

8

Ex-Zambia goalkeeper Martin Mwamba has hailed the performance of goalkeeper Daniel Munyau in Chipolopolo’s 4-0 win over Lesotho in the 2014 World Cup qualifier in Ndola on Saturday.

The Red Arrows goalkeeper Red Arrows kept a clean sheet in his 2014 World Cup qualifier debut when he replaced suspended Kennedy Mweene.

In an interview, Mwamba rated Munyau’s display on Saturday as good.

The former Power Dynamos keeper noted that Munyau was composed through out the match.

“That was good, he (Munyau) stood pressure despite playing in a big game like that one for the first time,” Mwamba said.

“He looked confident and with more games he will be a better keeper,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mweene is available for this Saturday’s Group D 2014 World Cup qualifier against Sudan in Ndola after serving a one match suspension following his red card on March 24 in Zambia’s 1-1 away draw against Lesotho in Maseru.

Zambia Sugar Plc Sugar in record production

4
Female workers packing sugar at Zambia Sugar
Female workers packing sugar at Zambia Sugar

Zambia Sugar Plc has posted strong results for the financial year ended 31 March 2013 with production exceeding 400, 000 tons for the first time.

According to final results obtained in Lusaka today, Zambia Sugar Plc saw its domestic sales for the year increased by 10% to 159 000 tons of sugar representing 41% of total sales.

Its sales to EU markets decreased to 121 000 tons in the year, whilst exports into regional markets increased by 23% to 104 000 tons.

It said it benefited from favourable prices in these export markets.

The company additionally produced speciality sugars for export to the EU markets and syrup for the local consumer market.

It said it continued to benefit from its well-established sugar marketing and distribution network across the country.

The firm’s operating profit improved from ZMW307 million in the previous year to ZMW316 million in 2012/13.

Its net finance costs decreased from ZMW155 million in the previous year to ZMW142 million in 2012/13 following ongoing repayment of the expansion related loan.

The company’s headline earnings for the year increased to ZMW137 million from ZMW125 million in the previous year.

Cane delivered by the estate increased from 1.90 million tons in the previous year to 1.94 million tons while Outgrowers delivered another record crop of 1.30 million tons cane, compared with 1.15 million tons in the previous year.

It said it is particularly pleasing that the Magobbo smallholder project, made up of 94 smallholder farmers, delivered 71 800 tons of cane at an average yield of 166 tons cane per hectare.

“In addition, the other smallholder scheme, the Kaleya Smallholders Company Limited (Kascol) supplied their second highest tonnage on record of 258 000 tons. Combined small grower cane deliveries for the 2012/13 season amounted to 10% of the total cane supply

In excess of ZMW630 million (2012: ZMW520 million) was injected into the economy through payments to employees, growers for the supply of cane, government in the form of taxation and to lenders of expansion capital in the form of interest.

In addition, a substantial portion of goods and services were procured locally.

The company remains committed to meaningful corporate social responsibility and in the past year, significant support was given to communities in the form of primary health care, education, sport and cultural activities.

An interim dividend of ZMW4.00 per 1 000 shares (2012: ZMW3.50) was paid to shareholders on 21st December 2012.

A second interim dividend of ZMW5.80 per 1 000 shares (2012: ZMW5.40) has been declared in respect of the year ended 31st March 2013.

This will result in a total dividend for the year of ZMW10.80 per 1 000 shares (2012: ZMW9.90), an increase of 9% year on year.

Government dismisses Miyanda’s accusations

44
Chief Government Spokesperson, Kennedy Sakeni
Chief Government Spokesperson, Kennedy Sakeni

Chief Government Spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni has dismissed accusations by opposition Heritage Party leader Godfrey Miyanda that it was deceitful and dishonest for government to claim that the former President would have tampered with evidence if he was allowed to leave the country for South Africa to attend the African Presidential Roundtable meeting.

Brigadier General Miyanda argued why it was so when Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba told the nation that the State had completed investigations at the time the former President’s immunity was being removed.

But Mr Sakeni has described the accusations as misleading and misplaced.

He said the fact that Mr Banda is appearing in court does not in any way stop the investigative agencies from carrying out other investigations about him of suspected wrongdoing.

In a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr Sakeni stated that the immunity on the former President was removed not only to prosecute him but also to investigate him on any other suspected cases of wrongdoing which the investigative wings of government comes across.

Mr Sakeni, who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister, said there is therefore nothing deceitful and dishonest in the manner government is handling the ongoing investigations on Mr Banda.

He noted that investigative wings should be allowed to carry out thorough and exhaustive investigations in the former President’s suspected wrongdoing to give him an opportunity to respond to all the charges levelled against him.

Mr Sakeni further said government remains consistent and committed to the rule of law and good governance.

Last week former President Rupiah Banda was blocked by the immigration officers at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from travelling to South Africa where he was invited to go and make a presentation at the 2013 African Presidential Roundtable meeting in Johannesburg.

ZANIS

Priest accused of sponsoring Father Bwalya takes his case to Police

6

EMBATTLED St Peters’ Anglican Church priest, Father Richard Luonde has waged a spirited fight against congregants orchestrating his removal from the Chimwemwe congregation in Kitwe by reporting them to the police.

Fr Luonde said in the wake of Sunday’s incidence involving the locking of the church by irate members accusing him of using church funds to finance priest-cum politician Frank Bwalya’s political activities, that he knew the people who were undermining and trying to eliminate him and had decided to report them to police.

“We have reported the case to the police and I have people in mind who are behind I will not speak further because I don’t what to pre-empty police investigations,” Fr Luonde said.

He said he planned to hold a press briefing but only after he had discussed the matter with Archie Bishop Albert Chama who he was scheduled to meet today.

“I will be holding a press briefing where I want to come and challenge the people behind this because this is a prolonged issue which started way back and I only learnt its seriousness when they first locked the church in November last year and I had to cut the chain,” he said.

Fr Luonde said among the people undermining and trying to eliminate him was a senior Anglican priest from a nearby congregation.

“I have a lot of information about the people undermining and trying to eliminate me but I want to say they will not succeed as you can see I am still the usual Fr Luonde,” he said while laughing.

Bishop Chama when contacted refused to comment saying he had just arrived from abroad and that somebody else was handling the Chimwemwe issue.

But church warden, Sheba Malama said in an interview that the Chimwemwe congregation would remain closed until Bishop Chama personally goes to reopen and give them a new priest.

Ms Malama ruled out any option for reconciliation saying the church executive together with congregation members had made it clear that they did not want Fr Luonde around.

“If the Bishop who in this case is the only one to address this problem does not come, we will not have the church opened and if he is not willing to bring in a new priest, we have lay leaders who are capable of running the affairs of the church,” Ms Malama said.

On Sunday, confusion reigned at St Peters’ Anglican Church in Kitwe after irate congregants locked the church rising from differences with Fr Luonde who they also accused of inappropriate conduct in the congregation.

Sunday Service was blocked at the church as the building remained closed to the public.

Some Ministers’ intellectual limitation is laughable and a serious hindrance to development-FDD

24

President Sata has to urgently relook at the quality of some of his Ministers and Deputy Ministers because their intellectual limitation is not only laughable but a serious hindrance to national development.

The utterances by the Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President, Hon Harry Kalaba that President Nawakwi lacks understanding of the issues of subsidies is laughable.

We wish to educate Hon Kalaba that President Nawakwi is an accomplished graduate of economics who has served this country diligently in four different Cabinet Portfolios including that of Finance Minister.

It is people like Mr Kalaba who have limited and warped understanding of national issues that are putting President Sata at odds with the public.

As FDD, we wish to reiterate President Nawakwi’s sentiments that:

1. The PF Government should stop playing with people’s lives. Food is a number one priority for any serious Government.
2. Some of these Deputy Ministers are lack basic understanding of the subject of subsidies and pose a danger of misleading themselves and confusing the general public.
3. The 6 billion kwacha that this PF government is spending, sending Ministers and their Deputies gallivanting across the country is wastage of tax payers’ money. That money should instead be taken to critical areas of our social sectors such as Ndola General Hospital which has currently run out of medicines.
4. The 2012/13 PF budget has collapsed due to governments reckless spending on unbudgeted for expenditures such as the never by-election circus.
5. President Kaunda built infrastructure such as universities, roads, hospitals and so on while maintaining subsidies on fuel, agriculture, health, and education. He did not tell us to stop eating because he needed money to build infrastructure.
6. Humility, compassion and the ability to listen are a mark of good leadership so our friends in the Government could do well to listen to what the people on the ground whose lives are hurting due to government’s sudden and inhumane removal of subsidies on fuel, maize and fertilizer.
7. We as FDD shall not engage ourselves in the polemics of politics because it does not put food on the tables of our citizens. We stand ready to offer this Government sound advice on how to effectively run the affairs of our great nation; however, Ministers must humble themselves.

Prepared and issued by: Antonio Mwanza
Spokesperson, Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD)

241,000 farmers to pilot e-vouchers

9

Government will this year introduce new the E voucher system to enable 241,000 small scale farmers access farming inputs.

The pilot project will be introduced in 10 districts across the country for the 2013/2014 farming season.

Deputy minister of chiefs and traditional affairs Susan Kawandami disclosed this during a sensitization meeting on the removal of maize subsidies with residents in Mitenge area of Chifubu constituency in Ndola yesterday.

Ms Kawandami who is also Chifubu Member of Parliament said the new system will be a pilot programme which will later be extended to other districts in the country.

She said government was concerned with the challenges that small scale farmers were facing in purchasing and access farming inputs.

“This system is flexible, it will enable farmers to have access to fertilizer, seeds and pesticides in a convenient manner, we do not want to have a system were our farmers delay to sell or acquire products and inputs because of having problems with the bank,” she explained.

Ms Kawandami said government would continue supporting small scale farmers despite removing the maize subsidies and double the payments for the Farmer Input Support Programme-FISP.

She said farmers will be allowed to butter fertilizer with maize in the next marketing season.

Ms Kawandami who is in her constituency to explain the benefits of the removal of maize subsidies urged the people to be patient with the government as they would soon realize the benefits of the decision.

ZANIS

Government rejects request to extend the Constitution making process by 6 months

59
PATRIOTIC Front secretary-general Wynter Kabimba
PATRIOTIC Front secretary-general Wynter Kabimba

Government has rejected a fresh proposal by the Technical Committee Drafting the Zambian Constitution-TCDZC to have a six months extension to the constitution making process.

Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba has maintained that the committee should conclude its programme of work by June 30, as earlier indicated.

Mr. Kabimba says allowing an extension entails that a further 44 million kwacha-rebased will be spent on the constitution building process, through a supplementary budget.

He says such expenditure will be unreasonable and outrageous in view of equally important social and economic development programmes.

Mr. Kabimba was speaking at a media briefing held at his office in Lusaka on today. The constitution making process has so far gobbled 100-million kwacha rebased. The technical Committee had written to Mr Kabimba requesting for a six months extension.

But Mr Kabimba has rejected the proposals demanding that the committee should stick to the earlier roadmap and handover its work by this month end.

“In January this year, the technical committee on drafting the constitution informed my office that they would hand over to government the final draft constitution by June 30, which is this month end. However the technical committee has come back to government through the Ministry of Justice with a proposal that the Committee be granted an extension of up to December 31 2013.”

He added, “This extension would entail a supplementary budget of Kr 44,000 or K44 billion. This expenditure is not only unreasonable but outrageous in view of other equally important social and economic development programmes which the governance has to finance.”

“It is therefore the position of government that technical committee should complete its programme of work by June 30. So there will be no extension,” he said.

He said this would allow the progression of the process and save the escalation of costs.

In another development, Mr Kabimba has commended the Judiciary for showing willingness to undertake judicial reforms.

Mr. Kabimba says Government is determined to undertake the process of enhancing judicial accountability and reform.

The Minister, who is also Patriotic Front-PF Secretary General, has pledged Government’s commitment to ensure that the presence of the High Court is made in all the provinces.

Mr. Kabimba says Government will work closely with the judiciary to ensure that there is a resident Judge in Chinsali, Mongu, Solwezi, Chipata, Kasama and Mansa.

There have been calls from a wide section of society, asking Government to reform the Judiciary in order to deliver prompt and quality justice.

Hunt for Successor 43: Sata serves at the pleasure of Mmembe

62
The Post's editor-in-chief, Fred M'membe
The Post’s editor-in-chief, Fred M’membe

By Field Ruwe

Strange bedfellows

It is laughable how in his editorial of June 6, 2013, titled “Lies about Zambia,” Fred Mmembe of The Post passionately defends Michael (as he calls him). Indeed “politics makes strange bedfellows.” I didn’t know the 54 year-old Mmembe and 76 year-old president Michael Sata were on first-name basis. It is a no-no in our culture. More so that “Michael” is our head of state. Decorum calls for reverence, for god’s sake.
But again, you can’t blame poor young Mmembe. He lacks journalistic proficiency and aptitude. In journalism if you use the source’s first and last name the first time in an article, you must use only the last and not the first name on the rest of the references. In this case it is not “Michael” but “Sata;” or “Banda” and not “Rupiah.”
For Mmembe die-hards and fogies who blog rabidly, let me elaborate. In journalism we do not use courtesy titles such as Mr. Sata, or Mrs. Banda unless they are part of a direct quotation or are needed to differentiate between people who have the same last name. Presidents, living and deceased, can be called by their last name—Chiluba, Obama, Thatcher, Kenyatta, Nyerere and not Frederick, Barack, Margaret, Jomo, Julius. It is simply rude and discourteous.
So, where does Mmembe pluck the courage to treat the president with such contemptuous insolence and impertinence? Why has Sata not admonished him? I will add one more question: why does Mmembe feel all-powerful, threatening, and invulnerable?

Why Mmembe feels all-powerful

Reason: Mmembe knows King Cobra too well. He knows that the cobra does not have the venom he claims to possess; that his sharp teeth are as brittle as chalk; that his scary semantics are simply a front. Ladies and gentlemen, Mmembe knows that Sata brings with him a heavy baggage to the presidency; that president Sata is unprincipled, “satanic,” a liar, demagogue, thug, corrupt, and that he is a plunderer of our assets. I am quoting Mmembe verbatim. The words are his, and not mine. Now, before I am accused of libel, slander and defamation let me share with the reader the source of the afore-mentioned denigrating terms.

The term “Satanic” is contained in The Post editorial entitled “Watch satanic deeds.” In it Mmembe writes: “No one should believe the satanic pie in the sky promises. We all know this man and his satanic deeds. His deeds are there for all to see. They speak of him and who he is.”
The word “Satanic” can be defined as being profoundly cruel or evil; fiendish.

What the Post wrote about Sata between 1990-2011

Between 1990 and 2011, Mmembe assigned reporters, including George Chellah, Amos Malupenga, and those now serving as diplomats to track and trace the political and private life of Sata. What they discovered was glaring and is best described by Mmembe as satanic.
The Post’s findings made Mmembe to conclude thus:

“It is clear Sata will say anything if it helps him get elected…this is why people must listen very carefully to the promises Sata is making. They must ask themselves ‘what is this man’s true legacy?’ It is true he has done some good here and there. But his destructive traits far outweigh any benefits.”

Notice how Mmembe qualifies the word “destructive” with “thug.” He continues:

“who wants to return to the vigilante days? Who wants to return to the days when the corrupt, the crooked and the most shrewd reign[ed] supreme?” He is talking about the early MMD days.

In the early 1990s, Mmembe and Sata, both pioneers of the MMD, helped to create a climate in which the MMD frustrated and defeated KK. Sata, as MMD National Secretary, orchestrated a series of MMD vigilante demonstrations that were based on wanton destruction and looting in both Lusaka and on the copperbelt. Lives were lost.

Later Mmembe would write:

“In 2001 we saw Sata as national secretary of the MMD unleash a corruption-funded thuggery on Chiluba’s political opponents within the MMD. Ministers who did not agree with the third-term campaign, which Sata was championing, were being beaten and harassed in all sorts of ways.”

It is possible that, had Sata not embraced Mmembe this time around, Mmembe’s editorials would have read something like,

“I told you Michael was a thug.

The violence being committed by the PF militias is reminiscent of his yesteryear crimes. It is 2013, Michael has continued with his thuggish behavior. Whereas he orchestrated violence on the opposition from the MMD headquarters, he’s now doing it from State House. Not once has he condemned the behavior of his militia. He is glad they are beating the hell out of his opponents. That’s his nature. We have a violent president on our hands.”
The words “liar” “unprincipled” and “plunderer” are contained in several editorials. “This man has no principles,” Mmembe writes. “It is the same mouth that only yesterday was promising to defend Chiluba that is today saying he will not defend him and his fellow plunderers.”

[pullquote]Not once has he condemned the behavior of his militia. He is glad they are beating the hell out of his opponents.[/pullquote]

It has always been Mmembe’s conviction that Sata, a one-time staunch supporter of FTJ, participated in the plundering of Zambia’s assets and shared the spoils. Going by the editorials, it is clear that Mmembe took a keen interest in the Zamtrop account and followed the movement of the money and kept record of the people involved. That’s why he was bold enough to call FTJ a thief and Sata an accomplice. Later, he was incensed when Sata openly proclaimed that he would stop the prosecution of FTJ, Xavier Chungu, and Faustin Kabwe.

In his editorial titled “Sata is not a Messiah,” Mmembe writes: “It is not difficult for anyone to realize or guess why Mr. Sata today has become the most ardent defender of people who plundered public resources. This is simply because they are his financiers,” clearly insinuating that Sata is a corrupt politician.

Today, an anti-Sata-Mmembe would have led us to where the Zamtrop money is buried. It is possible he would be insisting that Xavier Chungu and Faustin Kabwe be rearrested to help recover the money. He would be calling Sata a thief and a plunderer and accusing him of having pocketed $40 million said to be in the Zamtrop account. Where is the money?” he would be asking.

In “Don’t allow thieves to govern” editorial, Mmembe writes: [Sata] is a populist who will say what he thinks his audience wants to hear…he has no morals to defend and no principles to fight for.” He calls him a “demagogue” of the worst kind. In his editorial “Cheap demagogy” Mmembe writes: “Zambians should not be cheated by the demagogy that Sata is engaging in. This man will say anything to be elected but Zambians will not be fooled.”
In other words Sata is a liar.

Had Mmembe remained a critic of Sata, he would  have written; “I told you so. Michael lied that he would put money in our pockets in 90 days. That’s who he is, a liar who will do anything to win an election.”

Questions surrounding Sata’s origin

Don’t forget that Mmembe has often called Sata dishonest because of the president’s ambiguous and highly suspicious background. His Wikipedia biography is a slap in the faces of Zambians. Sata himself has claimed to have been born under a tree. Where in Mpika? We do not exactly know. He does not tell us who he grew up with in Mpika. There is no mention of the schools he attended; the games he played; his best friends; his teachers; and level of education. None of his close friends and teachers has cleared the air; and none of those who served in the police force have surfaced to tell us why he was dismissed. Chiluba tried to expose Sata when the two became rivals.

Here are Chiluba’s own words:

“Let me ask Mr. Sata to tell the country the truth. Were you a police constable in the colonial government which was oppressing us or a freedom fighter? Were you imprisoned for your participation in the fight for independence? Or can you say why you were jailed and dismissed from the police force? Remember I was in office for ten years as President and I had records on every one of my Ministers. As the appointing authority of the Prisons and Police Services Commission I came to know the truth about you Mr. Sata.”

Mmembe knows why Sata was dismissed—he has his own version. He knows how Sata got to England to work as a sweeper, and his role as a member of UPP. Lest we forget, it is Mmembe’s newspaper that first brought Sata’s origin to the fore. At the height of KK’s citizenship wrangle, The Post reported for the first time that Sata was from Tanzania and that he came to Zambia as a child. This was after Mmembe and his staff had reported that FTJ was a Congolese whose father was Luka Chabala Kafupi.

Sata’s failure to provide a succinct biography to the media has pushed the rumors to another level. In 2001, his close associate, Willie Nsanda revealed that Sata’s middle-name was not Chilufya, but Zondwa and that he indeed was a Tanzanian. Years later, MMD Chief Government spokesman Ronnie Shikapwasha and other opponents challenged Sata to come clean and tell the nation who he really was.

Sata assassination hoax staged from The Post offices?

This is the kind of stuff that makes Sata serve at the pleasure of Mmembe. He has removed the venom from his fangs and can get anything he wants from him. He can even cause the president to fake his own assassination. I have said it before and will say it again that the Sata assassination hoax of January 23, 2012 was the biggest lie ever told. It did not originate from the UK or US, but from The Post offices.

In my article of January 29, 2012 titled “Did Fred M’membe stage the Assassination Hoax?” I offer my own version of how I still believe the hoax was planned and provide “evidence” in form of mails from The Post Managing Editor Bivan Saluseki to me. The prank was staged by Saluseki, Mmembe, and George Chellah. They altered the Wikipedia biography of Sata and deleted it soon after alarming Zambians. Defense Minister GBM vowed to find the anonymous editor and “bring him to book.” He has since kept quiet about it.

The Wikipedia deleted version can still be detected by the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Department (JWID) by using its high-level intelligence communications system. What happened to the US and British embassies’ pledge to help the Zambian government to catch the culprit? Saluseki, Mmembe, and Chellah ought to be arrested and subjected to a polygraph test provided by the U.S. or UK. Of course they won’t because Sata has called off the investigation. Reason: It points back to the trio.

Conclusion

Mmembe is a dangerous self-serving opportunist and a neurotic liar who can best be described as a predator and a narcissist whose behavior is characterized by egotism, vanity, and pride. He seeks self-gratification, and domination. He sees himself as a powerful and influential individual and enjoys dumping shame onto others. He truly believes that people are hooked to the stuff he peddles. His hypocritical “Lie about Zambia” editorial is preposterous. Read it again and you will see him licking his own wounds.

The hastily written article exposes him as a desperate megalomaniac and a ranting media neophyte who is suffering from a great deficit of self-esteem. His claim about an international campaign to discredit the president and Zambia is outrageous and another of his many lies. In his usual witch-hunting stance he fails to mention the names of “some of the Zambians and their foreign agents” involved in this so-called syndicate created to “discredit Zambia and the government of Michael Sata.” Like the narcissist he is, he casts his net wide to implicate others.

Mmembe wishes to give the impression that critics of the president and his PF party are paid conspirators and traitors who hate Zambia. Instead of directing his raw sentiments on former president Rupiah Banda and naming all his collaborators, he is dragging us all in. There is no Zambian who is campaigning against his own country. Of course Zambians are free to campaign against Sata if they find him wanting, just as Mmembe himself did in his quest for adulation, and admiration. Mmembe, of all the people, does not have the moral compass to stop others from expressing the same freedom of expression he enjoyed as a renegade.

Field Ruwe is a US-based Zambian media practitioner, historian, and author. He is a PhD candidate at George Fox University and serves as an adjunct professor (lecturer) in Boston. ©Ruwe2012

Gays’ case moved from open court

11
James Mwape one of the suspect allegedly involved in a homosexual relationship entering the court room in Kapiri Mposhi
James Mwape one of the suspect allegedly involved in a
homosexual relationship entering the court room in Kapiri Mposhi

Trial involving two Kapiri Mposhi men accused of being in a homosexual relationship was yesterday moved from open court to camera following sordid revelations that bordered on vulgar language.

James Mwape is alleged to have had carnal knowledge of Philip Mubiana against the order of nature between april 11 and april 27, this year.
The trial of the two men, both aged 21, resumed in a Kapiri Mposhi magistrate’s court yesterday presided over by Kabwe principal resident magistrate, John Mbuzi.

Murmuring filled the court as Mr Mbuzi decided that the matter be heard behind closed doors due to improper language.

During trial, a witness, Judith Wakumelo told the court that the two suspects were fighting and taken to the Police.She told the court that she was insulted by one of the suspects in the process of separating them while fighting prompting her to take them to the Police.

Asked by defence lawyer Sunday Nkonde whether the two were found having sex, Wakumelo told the court that no one found the two having sex.

She said during the arrest of the two men, she heard Mubiana telling police officers that he was female.Ms Wakumelo, of Ndeke township in Kapiri Mposhi, said after their release from police custody, the accused men continued staying together, which prompted the police to re-arrest them.

She said Mwape told police officers that he acted as Mubiana’s husband at the time the two were staying together.

“I heard phillip tell the police that he was both male and female and that he wasn’t a woman. James at first refused to respond but later said that he was Phillip’s husband,” Ms Wakumelo said.

Another witness Sharon Mubiana the sister to one of the accused told the court that on the material day she called her neighbors to come and help separate the two accused who were fighting.

She told the court that after managing separating the two with the help of neighbors they took them to Police were they were locked up, but that later she managed to have her brother released on Police bond.

Ms Mubiana who turned hostile in court told the court that she went back to report the two to the police the second time upon realizing that the two might meet again and start fighting.

In the second count, Mubiana is alleged to have permitted Mwape to have carnal knowledge of him against the order of nature.
In count three, Mwape on may 5, this year is alleged to have had carnal knowledge of Mubiana against the order of nature.
In the last count, Mubiana allegedly permitted a fellow male, Mwape to have a sexual encounter against the order of nature.
Trial continues today.

Zambians should not ascribe to notions of spells as the cause of the current road accidents.

18
Three people died  in a fatal road accident that occurred within the town center of Mkushi
File:Three people died in a fatal road accident that occurred within the town center of Mkushi

Former Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) Executive Directive Bishop, Paul Mususu says Zambians should not ascribe to notions such as spells, demons among others as the cause of the current happenings such as road accidents and violence.

In an interview with QFM, Bishop Mususu said in as much as the people are concerned about the frequent road accidents, an accident is an accident and happens any how hence people should not demonize and spiritualize them.

Bishop Mususu said there is need for people to stop being careless on the road and driving under the influence of alcohol.He added that there is need to ascertain how many unlicensed drivers are on the road.

He said once such matters are looked into, then Zambians can become superstitious and begin to talk about the spiritual world.

Bishop Mususu further added that Zambians should sober up and trust that God is able to protect the nation and desist from giving so much credit to satanic forces in the country.

[QFM]

Government not bothered by what the world thinks of Zambia- Lungu

47
Home Affair Minister Edgar Lungu
Home Affair Minister Edgar Lungu

Government says it does not care what the outside world thinks about Zambia’s image as long as it is doing the right thing.

Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu told QFM News in an interview that people saying the PF government is denting the country’s image to the outside world do not understand facts.

Mr Lungu said the impression of the outside world concerning Zambia is of less concern to the government as long as it ensures there is accountability in the country’s governance.

He said that the only way that those in government can be accountable is by learning from the mistakes of their predecessors, and not to impress the outside world by doing the wrong things.

Mr Lungu added that government is not bothered by the perception of outsiders as long as it has the support of the Zambian people.

He said governance is a balancing act which calls for balancing of the interests of the citizens and a larger majority of the people as opposed to the interest of an individual.

Mr.Lungu said those crying out that government is denting the country’s image to the outside world through its actions should appreciate that it is trying to balance the interest of the majority.

[QFM]

Car set ablaze after ramming into pedestrians and killing two

19
Car set ablaze by angry residents after it killed two pedestrians
Car set ablaze by angry residents after it killed two pedestrians

Enraged residents in Kitwe on Saturday, in what has now become a norm, set ablaze a Toyota Corolla after it ploughed through a group of pedestrians instantly killing two of them including an eight-year-old girl.

The accident happened in Chimwemwe Township in the aftermath of the Zambia soccer team victory against Lesotho as people took to the streets to celebrate the triumph.

Kitwe Police confirmed the accident that happened in Kamwanya area along Ebert Stanley Road around 19:00 hours and left the girl identified as Chanda Chansa of House Number 9253 dead along with another unidentified middle-aged man.

A Times crew that visited the scene of the accident yesterday found the Toyota Corolla registration number ACR 4026 reduced to a shell.Police said the vehicle was being driven by a youth who just got it from home without permission.

In celebrating Zambia’s victory, the youth jumped into the vehicle and drove around in a frenzy in the neighbourhood like other motorists were doing.

“Unfortunately, the young man has no driver’s licence and is not experienced and so while driving, he failed to control the vehicle and ended up careering off the road and plunged into six pedestrians among them an eight-year-old girl who died on the spot,” a police source said.

Aaron Chileshe, who lives near the spot of the accident said he was at home around 19:00 hours when suddenly he heard a bang.
Mr Chileshe said when he rushed to check what had happened, he found that a vehicle had swept six pedestrians into a wall fence which collapsed on them.

“We quickly retrieved the victims who, among them was, the eight-year-old girl who died on the spot,” Mr Chileshe said.

He said it was then that irate members of the community mobilised and pushed the vehicle to the other side of the road before setting it ablaze.
He said police came before the vehicle was set ablaze but were driven away by the stone throwing residents who only wanted to see ‘instance justice’ administered.
[Times of Zambia]

UPND challenges State over Kabwe roads

9
Ashford Roads Zambia limited (ARZ) has started preliminary road constructions in kabwe. Above (ARZ) works going on along Buyantanshi road leading to Bwacha constituency
Ashford Roads Zambia limited (ARZ) has started preliminary road constructions in kabwe. Above (ARZ) works going on along Buyantanshi road leading to Bwacha constituency

Opposition UPND youths in the central province have appealed to the government to push ARZ, the road contractor working on roads in Kabwe to speed up the works.

Provincial youth chairperson, Milner Mwanakampwe, said the residents of Kabwe have lost their patience over the slow pace at which the road works are being done.

The youths complained that the dustcoming from the ripped-off tar roads was becoming too much and posing a health hazard to the people.

Mr Mwanakampwe claimed that the central province has received a raw deal from the PF government on infrastructure development especially in the road sector which he said lacked serious supervision on the contractor engaged to do the works.

Mr. Mwanakampwe accused government of having a hand in the contractor saying if it was not so, the contract could have been terminated for failure to do a good job and in time.

“It appears government has failed to supervise this contractor that is why he is taking his time. The PF government should know that it will be held responsible for health problems the people will face out of this dust,’ he said.

Mr. Mwanakampwe further urged government to seriously address the youth unemployment in Kabwe especially that the PF was voted into power mostly by youths.

Mr. Mwanakampwe charged that instead of providing youths with employment, the PF government is abusing them.

He further accused government of failing to help youths who are working for industries in Kabwe such as those at Kabwe Industrial Fabrics (KIFCO) and Zambia Aluminium Lead Copper (ZALCO) to ensure that their conditions of service were improved.

‘ The workers at these and other companies in Kabwe are working under poor conditions as some have gone for months without salaries which is bad. It is sad that Mulungushi textiles cannot, up to now, open to offer employment to more youths still loitering the streets,” he said.

Mr. Mwanakampwe urged government not to go ahead with its proposal to increase the retirement age to 65 years saying this will disadvantage youths seeking employment.

He said government should instead bring down the retirement age to between

45 to 50 years so that retirees could still have the energy to do their own businesses.

ZANIS

Former President Rupiah Banda granted leave to commence contempt proceedings against immigration officials

48
Left to right, Former Zambian President Rupiah Banda, Swedish Ambassador to Kenya Joan Borgstam and Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Ahmed Hassan leave the hall after opening the two-day conference on the Kenya 2013 elections.
FILE: Left to right, Former Zambian President Rupiah Banda, Swedish Ambassador to Kenya Joan Borgstam and Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Ahmed Hassan leave the hall after opening the two-day conference on the Kenya 2013 elections.

Former President Rupiah Banda has been granted leave to commence contempt proceedings against immigration officials who blocked him from travelling to South Africa to attend a conference on Friday last week.

On Friday Mr.Banda filed an application through his lawyers, before Ms Justice Kabuka asking her to send Mr Milomo and immigration officer Peter Mwansa to prison for disrespecting acourt ruling.Mr Banda contended that the conduct of the duo to block him from leaving the country when the court gave him permission to do so has been and is still contemptuous of court and prayed to the court to commit them to prison for contempt.He said that the failure by Mr Milomo and Mr Mwansa to obey a court order was unjustified, illegal and contemptuous.

Lusaka High Court Judge-in-Charge Jane Kabuka earlier today granted the former republican President an ex-parte leave to commence contempt proceedings against immigration Director General Moola Milomo and immigration officer Peter Mwansa.

“Upon hearing the application, it’s hereby ordered that leave be and it is hereby granted to commence contempt proceedings against the two,” Ms Justice Kabuka said in her ruling.

If found guilty  after hearing the arguments from both parties,Mr Milomo and Mr Mwansa could be sent to prison for a specified term under the Laws of Zambia.

Last Friday  the former Head of State was prevented by immigration officers at Kenneth Kaunda International airport from travelling to South Africa to attend a conference.Mr.Rupiah Banda was due to fly out on a South African Airways 07:15 hours flight as a guest of the Boston University’s African Presidential Centre which is hosting the 2013 African Presidential Roundtable in Johannesburg.

Despite being shown the Court Order signed by Lusaka High Court Judge-in-Charge Jane Kabuka, the immigration officers said they understood what the Order said but could do nothing about it, as the instructions they were implementing had come from the Chief Immigration Officer Moola Milomo.When contacted, Mr Milomo said he, too, was acting on instructions from “above”.

Home Affairs minister, Edgar Lungu told journalists on the same day that Mr Banda was stopped from going outside the country because he was on a travel ban and it was feared by the investigative wings of government that he would tamper with potential witnesses in the ongoing investigations against him.

However,LAZ vice president George Chisanga said that the disobedience of the court order especially by the executive wing of government as exhibited last Friday would only seek to greatly undermine the justice system and the rule of law that courts were created to protect and foster.He said such a state of affairs if not stemmed could lead to complete lawlessness and break down of society.

Chronology of events surrounding Rupiah Banda’s trip

27th May- Press release stating invitation of Former President Rupiah Banda by the Boston University (BU) African Presidential Centre to make a presentation at the 2013 African Presidential Roundtable to be held in Johannesburg South Africa.Press release also stated that Rupiah Banda had since written to President Sata, informing him about the South African assignment which would run from 5th to 8th June, 2013 under the theme “The Cost of Democracy”.

29th May – acting President Edgar Lungu describes the former president as a flight risk and says in addition to his office (Ministry of Home Affairs) sanctioning or rejecting Mr Bandas request, the former President would need clearance from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

30th May- Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mutembo Nchito in a telephone interview says he will study the merits and demerits of the former presidents request.The DPP said he was not in the country but would deal with the issue (Mr Bandas trip) when he returned.

3rd June- Chief resident magistrate Joshua Banda dismissed an application by former President Rupiah Banda’s lawyers to have his passport released, stating that the application was wrongly before the subordinate court.

4th June- date of scheduled trip to South Africa

6th June- The Lusaka high court orders that former president Rupiah Banda’s passport be released.
The Boston University African Presidential Centre re-books the former head of State flight for 7th June departing Lusaka at 07:15hrs

7th June-( morning) Former Republican president Rupiah Banda blocked from traveling to South Africa by Immigration officers at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

7th June-(late afternoon) Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu issues statement that Mr. Banda was not allowed out of the country for fear of interfering with on-going investigations which have not been taken to court yet. Mr. Lungu also says that the Office of the Attorney General was not served with the Thursday’s court order to allow Mr. Banda go out of the country.