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File: Chief Justice Ernest Sakala (c) reads a plaque at Livingstone High Court after commissioning the holding cells and Magistrates’ Chambers
Pressure has continued to mount for the embattled Chief Justice, Ernest Sakala, to graciously vacate office and pave way for the long awaited comprehensive judicial reforms and restore public confidence in the institution.
And the Judicial and Allied Workers of Zambia (JUWAZ) has taken a swipe at some misguided senior lawyers who have suddenly appointed themselves as defenders of the judiciary.
ZANIS reports that Judicial and Allied Workers of Zambia president, Peter Mwale said the recent unfolding of alleged rampant corruption and misconduct of members of the bench makes sad reading.
Mr. Mwale explained that judicial workers are of the strong view that unless the Chief Justice, Ernest Sakala vacates office, self cleansing of the judiciary will be impossible as public perception is that he is a major hindrance to progressive judicial reforms.
He further explained that it is indisputable that the judiciary has to be cleared on some serious corruption and misconduct allegations by the public, hence the judiciary itself cannot manage to clear itself from these allegations.
Mr. Mwale observed that the issues that confront the judiciary are enormous and need timely intervention from another arm of government, the executive that can initiate genuine comprehensive judicial reforms.
File:Elections officers sorting out their materials
By Diasporan
President Sata is a VERY GOOD LIEUTENANT!NOT A GENERAL! He needs to be given direction,tasks, guided,advised,checked on and supervised.
I feel that ALL ZAMBIANS, Chikwanda, Lubinda, HH, Chipimo, KK,kaponyas, farmers, civil servants, self employed, public sector are being held at ransom by one person!Its Sata Vs All Zambians!Does the Zambian constitution allow for IMPEACHMENT?
We have seen mismanagement, lack of diplomacy at home and abroad, the demeaning of people at ALL levels. The misuse of power in appointments and disappointments.
Let us STOP THIS ROT!Let’s ask for a new election TODAY!
If not we shall be saying “I TOLD YOU SO,WHY DIDN’T WE DO ANYTHING ?” Please ZAMBIANS baSata has run his course, now let Zambia be liberated, let us all together get mother Zambia back on track to prosperity and respect.
BaSata you are our elder, but please accept that you are as your VP said “AN OLD DOG WHO CAN’T BE TAUGHT NEW TRICKS”, Zambia is not yours to toy with, instead let’s not talk about Lozi, Tonga, Bemba or Chewa’s, let’s talk ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION! and get our country the right leader for this era.
Legal people guide us how do we go about getting a new election now!2016 is too, too far away, there will be no country left 90 DAYS WERE ENOUGH!
By Mr. Brown Chibale Kapika (Adedo – Zamucano President)
The tribunal against the three Suspended Judges should definitely go ahead and the Court Injunction should be further rejected by the Attorney General of Zambia.
There is no way President Michael Sata’s decision to Constitute a Tribunal towards conducting investigations of those three Judges be quashed.
Why are these three Judges scared of to be investigated? Why are these Judges panicking day and night or what are they hiding.If these guys are clean or innocent, why not come out and let the Tribunal go on and clear their names ? These are questions we should ask before condemning our President, or before passing on unreasonable comments over the Tribunal.
What comes from our learned Zambian High Court Judge in her ruling by granting Judges Nigel Mutuna and Charles Kajimanga leave to apply for judicial leave which would operate as a stay of Mr Sata’s decision to appoint a tribunal and suspend the judges and any adverse measures against the applicants.
The High Court Judge acted outside State Proceeding against the will of 13 million Citizenry of Zambia, this is because, before President Michael Sata made the decision of appointing a Tribunal to investigate these three Corrupted Judges, he (Sata) did this for Public Interest, not from his own individually interest. So we have to give him support, through backing him by taking this brave movement because it falls into our Public Interest, as a State Proceeding.
Its for this reason, every Zambian Citizen needs to see transparency into our only Judiciary System Operations . No one is above the Law, and every human-must be treated equal.
In this Case, we have to ignored Order 53 of 1965 Rules of Supreme Court 1965 (White Book), which states that, it is illegal, premature and consequently null and void for the President to appoint a Tribunal, but his powers is premised on Article 98(2),(30) and (5) of the Zambia Constitution.
However, every Zambian knows well that, Our Judiciary System is very rotten, and it has been in such a state for the past 47 years. We have seen and witnessed Criminals and Murderers being acquitted by the same Judges in our Courts. We have seen and witnessed Chief Justice’s taking over some sensitive Cases from Judges and acquitting culprits. We still remembered what happened to one of Our leaned Chief Justice who went so far, and later acquitted a son of a President for a first degree Murder . We still have a lot of very, very rotten eggs within our Judiciary System.
Many Judges have been over stayed to promote corruption within the System. It is high time for President Michael Sata to cleans the Judicial structure of Zambia and the Chief Justice must resign or be fired.
Moreover, it is so painfully and sad, to find out that, a High Court or Supreme Judge or Justice gets a monthly Salary of more than K75 million which is too much compared to other Civil Servants like teachers, police officers, nurses etc who are still living in minimum wages up to K2.5million kwacha Salaries per month. What a marginal shame ? This are real tendencies and products of Corruption. The PF Government have to do something over this issue.
Minister of Finance and National Planning Alexander Chikwanda
The Minister of Finance says empowerment policies such as the citizen Economic Empowerment Commission are not helpful as they only favour the elite who usually do not pay back loans.
Alexander Chikwanda also says the empowerment commission only encourages corruption because of patronage.
Mr Chikwanda who was speaking to businessmen during a Zambia Association of chambers of commerce and industry dinner, also said empowerment programs only make people dependant.
He feels that government should instead create an environment for citizens to prosper through personal creativity rather than offering
them money as empowerment.
And Mr Chikwanda also advised the Chambers of Commerce President Geoffrey Sakulanda not to use dinners to resolve problems with government over the economic environment.
Mr Chikwanda says dinners are not ideal because most people are too tired or hungry to concentrate on the speeches made during the event.
Mr Sakulanda has listed a number of problems facing the private sector which included high cost of doing business and access to finance.
A 46 old adulterous father of seven children from Chipata has been embarrassed after he was forced to hide in the bush for over six hours awaiting nightfall to return to his village because the owner of the woman he was having sex with went away with his clothes.
William Lungu of Kaigowe Village in Chief Nzamane’s area was completely naked when his lover’s husband got his clothes while he was in the sexual act.
Lungu was exposed at a traditional court, which also ordered him to pay two herds cattle and three goats for for sleeping with another man’s wife.
The woman involved was named as Sinefa Mwanza, the wife of Machila Mwanza from the same village.
Sinefa has also been handed down the same penalty, although her family is demanding that the animals should come from Lungu since he was the one who made advances towards Sinefa.
The traditional court heard that Sinefa had lied to her husband, Mwanza around 14:00 hours that she was going to fetch water.
But as his wife left for the river, Mwanza pretended that he would go out to watch a soccer match at the football pitch where many people from the same village had gathered for the game.
However, he left the football football match before it even started and trailed his wife to the river, but he was shocked to find his wife having sex with Lungu.
Mwanza said he waited for Lungu and Sinefa to supposedly climax before he grabbed their clothes and ran away.
He said that he got Lungu’s shirt, trouers, under wear and pair of shoes. He also took with him his wife’s skirt and under wear.
Lungu tried to chase after Mwanza, but he stopped after realising that he was stark naked.
Lungu admitted having committed adultery with Sinefa but refused to pay four cattle and six goats, insisting that the erring woman should cover him halfway because the offence was committed by the duo especially that they are consenting adults.
Lungu has now become talk of the village and surrounding areas where he is mocked as a shameless adulterer hiding his nudity in the bush. The adultrous couple has become a source of gossip in Chief Nzamane’s area.
Some people posing as pastors are cashing in on unsuspecting believers after asking them to deposit large amounts of money before giving them prayers for welath creation, healing, deliverance and protection from evil spirits.
The pastors are charging between K3 milion and K5 million for their prayers to be answered but if they do not have the required amounts, they are turned away because God cannot entertain their prayers.
A woman from Lusaka told the Sunday Times of Zambia that she was asked to pay K3.7 million for the prayer service she needed to be conducted.
The woman, who requested that her identity be withheld said she heard from her friends that a named pastor was in the country conducting prayers for various needs, including healing, wealth creation and deliverance.
“I went there seeking to be prayed for and I was asked to pay K3.7 million. So I explained to this man that I did not have the money and could only afford to pay K500,000 but I was told that I am not serious and my prayers could not be answered with such a small amount. That is how I left,” she said.
The development has attracted criticism from church bodies, who have called for a scrutiny of all churches that are mushrooming in various communities.
In separate interviews, Bible Gospel Church of Africa (BIGOCA) presiding Bishop, Peter Ndhlovu denounced the act, describing it day-light robbery.
Bishop Ndhlovu warned people to be wary of fake pastors who were going around charging people for prayers and report such practices to the police to effect arrests.
Bishop Ndhlovu said he was also aware of the reports where people were swindled by the fake pastors on the pretext that their prayers would be answered if they paid some money.
He observed that there was growing desperation among people to accumulate riches and that this was dangerous.
“It is very disappointing that there is this growing desperation from people. It is wrong to commercialise the Word of God. Healing, deliverance and others can only be done by God and people should not be cheated by these fake pastors that they can perform such miracles,” Bishop Ndhlovu said.
He called on the three Church mother-bodies to take keen interest in the matter and make a thorough investigation.
Bishop Ndhlovu said people behind such acts were tarnishing the image of the Church in the country and should face the law.
“We need to scrutinise foreign elements coming in the country and preaching things that they know they cannot do but they are here to take advantage of the desperation by people,” he said.
Bishop Ndhlovu said he heard of an incident where a man from Mazabuka approached a pastor in Lusaka’s Chudleigh area for prayers but was turned back because he was not financially sound.
He said many of the victims of such events were women.
Worship Centre clergy, Max Nyirongo also condemned those masquerading as pastors stop the practice.
Reverend Nyirongo said he was shocked with the development, especially that people were using the gospel to swindle people.
“A genuine pastor will not charge anyone for prayers. Prayers are for free and not for a fee,” he said.
He said those perpetrating such prayers were taking advantage of the desire from people to want to gain wealth. He also called on people to be wary of such practices and report the incidences to the police.
UPND MP for Monze central Jack Mwiimbu (L) and Douglas Siakalima (R)
The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has openly annonuced that it is ready to sponsor demonstrations and civil disorder to protest the suspension of the three judges in Zambia.
The party has also opposed the subsequent setting of the tribunal to hear the judges’ cases and called for Malawian judge, Lovemore Chikopa to Malawi go back to Malawi following recent adjournments to the appeal hearings against the tribunal.
UPND political advisor to the president Douglas Siakalima made the announcement during a an event in Lusaka where 400 members from the MMD led by former Lusaka Province chairperson, William Banda joined his party.
Mr Siakalima said the party would protest the suspension of judges Philip Musonda, Charles Kajimanga and Nigel Mutuna.
“We must mobilise this party. This party must be a mass party. There is going to be chaos in this country if the PF is not stopped, there will be chaos in Zambia. And I am not joking, I am just warning you,” he said.
My advice to Judge Chikopa is that he should go back to his country,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Banda said his decision to join the UPND had caused severe harm to the former ruling party, especially in Lusaka.
“My joining the UPND has sent shockwaves to the PF and especially the MMD because I have brought with me prominent people from all structural levels of the party at the provincial level. We want to move the UPND forward and strengthen the party from the grassroots,” Mr Banda said.
He said despite the criticism over the defection to the UPND, he would remain committed to boosting the opposition party’s performance ahead of the next general elections.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines…yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17–18, NKJV)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
We all face challenges and obstacles in this life. We all have dreams in our hearts, and at times, it looks like they’re not going to come to pass. During these difficult seasons, we have a choice. We can get negative and discouraged and talk about how things are not going to work out, or we can switch over into praise and thanksgiving which opens the door for God to move on our behalf.
A lot of times people think, “I’ll have a good attitude as soon as I get over this health issue.” “Joel, I’ll give God praise when I get through these tough times.” But that’s not how faith works. As long as we’re negative, discouraged and focused on our problems, it limits what God can do. You’ve got to give God praise first, and then the breakthrough will come. You’ve got to change your focus first, and then things will change in your favor. Praise always precedes the victory.
Today, if you’ve been dwelling on the wrong things and focusing in the wrong direction, switch over into praise and thanksgiving. Begin to declare that God is good. Declare that He is faithful. Declare His praises and open the door to victory in every area of your life!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God, today I humbly come before You, lifting You up and magnifying Your holy name. Thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. I bless You and honor You for Your goodness in Jesus’ name. Amen!
— Joel & Victoria Osteen
MMD presidential hopeful Felix Mutati says the former ruling party failed to take advantage of the large crowds during campaigns ahead of last year’s elections because the party leadership did not have the message that could touch the people.
Mr Mutati, who is Lunte member of Parliament (MP), said the opposition party had no direct touch with the people as it spent time with flamboyant investment pledges that had little meaning to an ordinary person.
The MMD was kicked out of power last September after 20 years with corruption tag placed on its back and it is now looking for a new leader after the retirement of former president Rupiah Banda.
Mr Mutati, who is one of the contenders for the party’s top job, said in an interview on Friday that time had come to rekindle the morale of the people on the grassroots so that they could be able to realise that the party was still alive.
“Our message missed the target, the message did not touch the hearts of the people and we need to activate the engagement with the people. People don’t need flamboyant investment pledges which did not touch them,” he said.
Mr Mutati said it was wrong for politicians to take advantage of the poor people by using them as tools of helping them to get into power.
He said the MMD presidency was a tough race with good competitors but was confident that he would emerge victorious on the May 25 when the election will be held.
The former Commerce minister said he had travelled to 64 districts of the country as he sought the mandate to be at the helm of the former ruling party and was pleased that party structures still existed at the grassroots.
Earlier, Mr Mutati paid tribute to the Lions Club of Mulungushi for its continued assistance to the needy in society and urged the people to support the poor.
Speaking when he officiated at the donation of a wheelchair by the Lions Club to Siachobe, Mr Mutati said the club had come a long way in creating opportunities for other people in society.
He said the club had been built on the principle of creating opportunities for others, providing unconditional service as well as making partnerships with the poor people.
Lions Club of Mulungushi president Ben Siame said the club members had been the bearer of messages of hope for the needy people in society.
Power Dynamos rallied to inflict on Nkana one of their biggest derby defeat in eight years.
Power crushed Nkana 5-1 to stun Linos Makwaza and end his unbeaten run at the helm of Nkana against his former club from three encounters.
Nkana took the lead in the 29th minute through Joseph Milanzi with a superb curling shot.
However, Power leveled against the run of play 11 minutes later through midfielder Mukuka Mulenga.
Power took the lead in the 44th minute when defender Govender Simwala took advantage of some poor defending to make it 2-1.
Captain Joseph Sitali added a third in the 74th minute before Graven Chitalu made it 4-1 five minutes from time.
Kennedy Mudenda completed Power’s comeback with a fifth goal deep into injury time.
Power’s last major biggest derby win over Nkana was in 2004 when they won 3-1 in Wusakile.
FAZ Super Division week 12
19/05/2012
Green Buffaloes 0- Zanaco 1
Nakambala Leopards 0- Konkola Mine Police 1
Red Arrows 0-Green Eagles 0
Napsa Stars 2-National Assembly 1
Zesco United 2-Nchanga Rangers 0
Nkana 1- Power Dynamos 5
Roan United 2-Forest Rangers 1
20/05/2012
Konkola Blades-Indeni
Zimbabwe based defender Aaron Katebe says he is determined to fight for a place in the Chipolopolo starting line-up after being included in the 26-man provisional team for the June World Cup qualifiers.
After playing full 90 minutes in Zambia’s score-less draw against Angola on Wednesday, coach Herve Renard yesterday included the Hwange United player in the squad which enters camp next week ahead of the 2 June, 2014 World Cup qualifier against Sudan.
Katebe promised to continue working hard in order to sustain a place in the national team.
“Yes, I am ready to challenge for a starting line up place but it is a big challenge for me. My dream is to play for the national team,” he said.
Katebe stated that he was happy to have marked his debut with a place in the starting 11 in Wednesday’s friendly in Luanda.
“It was good for me as a young player although it was not easy to play against Angola,” he added.
Katebe also paid tribute to Renard for handing him a national team call up.
The MMD-National Executive Committee (NEC) has resolved to apply the fifty plus one percent threshold during its convention to elect its next leader. The decision was arrived at during a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Lusaka on Friday, ahead of its Thursday extra-ordinary convention.
MMD Spokesperson, Dora Siliya, says the party will during its provincial conventions, which will be dotted across the country, amend its constitution to facilitate the inclusion of fifty plus one percent threshold.
Ms. Siliya declared her party ready in hosting the much-anticipated provincial conventions.
Meanwhile, MMD presidential candidate Kapembwa Simbao has ticked off fellow aspirant Enoch Kavindele for suggesting that only those with a lot of money should be at the helm of the former ruling party.
Mr Simbao said Mr Kavindele’s remarks suggesting that only someone with a lot of cash should be elected to the MMD presidency during the convention set for next week Friday were off the mark.
Speaking to journalists at Pine View Guest House in Chipata yesterday, where he was canvassing for votes, Mr Simbao, who is Senga Hill Member of Parliament, said it was an illusion for the former Republican vice-president to speak on those lines.
“It is an illusion for a person to think on those lines because money will not go anywhere and whatever he said is untrue,” he said.
Mr Simbao said one’s wealth should not be a yardstick for party members in electing the party president.
He said party members would “only sniff on the money without even touching it” because the money did not belong to them.
Mr Simbao said the former ruling party used a lot of money in the 2011 general elections but it tumbled to then opposition Patriotic Front.
He was happy that the Bill on the abuse of authority of office had been assented to, saying it would restore dignity to the fight against corruption in Zambia.
“I am happy that the Abuse clause has been restored in order to give more powers to investigative wings like the Anti-Corruption Commission to do their job,” Mr Simbao, a former Cabinet minister in the MMD government, said.
He said corruption had dented many countries and should be fought at all levels.
“I will carry on with the corruption fight if I am given the mandate to lead the MMD as party president,” he said.
Mr Simbao said his chances of winning the elections were high considering the support he was garnering from party members around the country.
He said once given the mandate to lead the party, he would travel to the rural areas to meet and serve the people as if he were the republican president.
Mr Simbao said some former presidents failed to visit places such as Chilubi Island and Senga Hill because they did not want to serve the people but instead wanted people to serve them.
He said he would come up with new strategies as party president in order for the former ruling party to get back into power in 2016.
Meanwhile, Mr Simbao said it was not right for African countries to have a presidential running mate because of mistrust.
He was opposed to the Draft Constitution which stipulated that the presidential candidate should have a running mate for the position of vice-president.
He said the clause had not worked well in Africa because of differences after both got into power.
Mr Simbao was scheduled to hold meetings in Katete, Petauke and Nyimba districts of Eastern Province.
FILE: Vice President’s wife Charlotte Scott (right) is taken on a tour of a computer laboratory by Rhodes Park School teacher Rachel Chakalashi after the flagging off of the I-Connect 4G School Day in Lusaka
Republican Vice President, Guy Scott’s wife Charlotte, has advised the Patriotic Front-PF- government must implement its campaign promises.
She says many Zambians are expectant of the campaign promises on massive employment, alleviation of poverty and improved service delivery.
Mrs. Scott who is also chairperson of the Ministers wives’ Association also says minister’s wives would complement government’s efforts of helping the needy through various developmental projects.
She said this when ministers wives association visited the PF secretariat in Lusaka.
And PF National Deputy Chairperson Elizabeth Phiri says the PF should emulate the Chinese communist party that has ruled the country for ninety years.
And PF Deputy Secretary General Bridget Atanga encouraged ministers’ wives to venture into politics.
FILE: Din Nawa a Limulunga Royal Village resident contributing to the debate during the occasion of the FES/CPD dissemination workshop on the findings of the study on the “position of Barotseland in Zambian’ held at Dolphin Lodge in Mongu
The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) says the leaving out of the controversial Barotseland Agreement issue in the first draft constitution by the technical committee erodes people’s confidence in the Patriotic Front government’s commitment to bring the matter to rest.
EFZ Executive Director Pukuta Mwanza says the move is contrary to the assurances made by government to deal with the matter through the constitution making process.
Reverend Mwanza says the Barotseland agreement is a national matter of high concern to the general public which requires an amicable solution.
He explains to QFM News that the matter should have been included in the draft constitution to allow Zambians deliberate and decide on the way forward.
He has since backed calls to have the agreement settled through the constitution making process stating that the issue is constitutional and can only be settled through the constitution.
