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MMD Chisamba Member of Parliament Moses Muteteka (in glasses)
Chisamba Member of Parliament Moses Muteteka has been implicated in the financial anomalies at Chibombo District Council.
This came to light when Chibombo District Council officials appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government to answer audit queries involving about K255 million unaccounted for Constitution Development Funds (CDF).
Council acting treasurer Miriam Moono told the committee that her office was instructed by the Member of Parliament to pay K150 million to SARO Company for the purchase of six hammer mills for the named women organizations in the constituency.
Mrs. Moono explained that when the council procurement officer was sent to collect the six hammer mills at SARO Company, it was discovered that Mr. Muteteka had already collected the four hammers mills and solar panels and bicycles which were not paid for.
She stated that to date the council has no records showing the existence of the said beneficiaries of the hammer mills.
Mrs. Moono also submitted that a CDF vehicle had been procured at the cost of K75 million which she said is registered in the name of Mr. Muteteka under whose custody it is.
And Chibombo District Council secretary Mui Mui Nasilele bemoaned political interference in the administration of Constituency Development funds.
Mr. Nasilele has since attributed the weaknesses in the administration of CDF at Chibombo District Council to interference by area members of Parliament.
Local Government and Housing Minister Professor Nkandu Luo (l) addressing Zambians in New York on April 22, 2012. Looking on is Zambia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Sheila Mweemba. Photo by Chibaula Silwamba/GRZ
Local Government and Housing Minister Professor Nkandu Luo has urged Zambians in the Diaspora to invest back home and help develop the country.
Addressing Zambians resident in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations, Prof Luo said her ministry has come up with a housing initiative targeted at Zambians in the Diaspora.
“As a ministry, we urge you to participate in the construction of low cost housing in Zambia. Our housing stock deficit today stands between 2 million and 3 million, so we need to build at least 200, 000 houses every year all over Zambia, not just Lusaka,” Prof Luo said.
The minister explained that the houses would cost between US$10, 000 (about K51 million) and US$16, 000 (about K81million).
Local Government Minister Professor Nkandu Luo (c) meets with Ministry of Health spokesperson Dr Reuben Kamoto-Mbewe at Zambia's permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York on April 22, 2012. The duo were in New York on different assignments. Photo by Chibaula Silwamba/GRZ
She called for partnership with big foreign investors to build houses and other infrastructure that would enhance national development.
This is according to a press statement made available to Lusakatimes by Chibaula Silwamba First Secretary for Press at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations.
Prof Luo observed that countries like Ghana had economic growth, partly due to its nationals in the Diaspora that were investing back home.
“I am here to present an opportunity to you Zambians in the Diaspora that there is so much going on back home and you can participate,” Prof Luo said.
A Zambian national resident in USA, Cynthia Chirwa posing a question to Local Government Minister Professor Nkandu Luo on April 22, 2012 at Zambia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Photo by Chibaula Silwamba/GRZ
Henry Sakala – chairperson of the Zambian Family in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – said he and his colleagues were keen to participate in the low-cost housing project and other national development initiatives provided the procedures were clearly laid down and bureaucracy was removed.
Sakala said Zambians in the Diaspora remitted huge sums of money to their homeland every year than any other foreign country had ever given to Zambia.
A Zambian resident in New York Cynthia Chirwa urged the Zambian Government to enact dual citizenship to enable its nationals in the Diaspora to access loans and other facilities for them to re-invest back home.
In response, Prof Luo urged the Zambians abroad to make submissions to the Technical Committee on the constitution making process concern the dual citizenship.
A Zambian national resident in USA Webster Munyenyembe posing a question to Local Government Minister Professor Nkandu Luo during an interactive meeting at Zambia's permanent Mission to the United Nations chancery in new York on April 22, 2012. Photo by Chibaula Silwamba/GRZ
She recalled that dual citizenship was included in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) draft report.
However, Prof Luo urged the Zambians in Diaspora to invest home without using their demand for dual citizenship as a conditionality.
Prof Luo said President Michael Sata and his Government was working hard to improve the lives of Zambians.
Another resident Webster Munyenyembe said there were many American investors interested to invest in Zambia and called for dissemination of information about the procedures on investment.
Mr Munyenyembe said there was need to curb corruption in Zambia to boost investor confidence.
Prof Nkandu Luo address Zambians in New York
The Zambians expressed happiness that the Government had banned the consumption of infamous sachet-packed Tujilijili beer, and was addressing street vending, fighting corruption and improving infrastructure. Additionally, they requested the Government to help them acquire land on which they could build their houses and set up their investments in Zambia.
File: Former President Rupiah Banda hands over the instruments of power to President Michael Sata as Chief Justice Ernest Sakala looks on at the inauguration ceremony at the Supreme Court in Lusaka
By Gray Soko
It is now six months since the PF took over from the MMD and many are still wondering if the PF really has a different vision for Zambia from what the MMD had or is just seeking to improve on the MMD policies.
Some have asked the PF to clearly spell out what its direction for Zambia is. So far the PF has only been clear on what it will not do i.e. it is not for nationalization or introduction of the mining windfall tax. On these points the PF has been very explicit. The question that one begs to ask is whether there is a clear new direction the PF will take to move Zambia forward.
Recently the Minister of Finance said the PF was basically following the MMD 6th Development Plan, this may be because of the short time between the budget implementation and the PF coming to power but there were no major policy shifts indicated when the President opened Parliament either. The approach to the rehabilitation of the road network for example is still following the MMD style of road mending instead of taking a holistic approach to the road and rail network. Unless the network is changed, huge amounts of money will continue to be spent annually on mending roads. We have yet to hear of plans to open up new roads that will be different from the “ Cape to Cairo” network and open up new areas for development. We still hear the same MMD ideas on the agricultural and tourism side. “More money in your pockets” will only be realized if there is a major shift on job creation. We need to hear more about industrialization and value addition and trust Bob Sichinga is working overtime on this and not following the rhetoric of his predecessor.
On the governance side, apart from downsizing the cabinet with an increase in deputy ministers there have been no major changes. The much debated post of District Commissioner is very much in place and is generally being filled by party loyalists rather than professional administrators. President Sata has however indicated he wants the efficiency of the “colonial” commissioners to be reintroduced with the help of the British. There is of course a wish for effective decentralization but as Ms Nawakwi recently observed, unless there are concrete constitutional provisions, we shall continue talking about decentralization for decades without any tangible results. The PF Secretary General has scoffed ideas on federalism because of the “size” of the country which I find rather surprising. I would have expected that he would welcome ideas on how to make decentralization more effective and practicable rather than cling tenaciously to the “manifesto”. It is time we seriously took on board “Think Tanks” to put in place effective programmes and not rely on the self righteousness of party manifestos.
[pullquote]apart from downsizing the cabinet with an increase in deputy ministers there have been no major changes[/pullquote]
The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (MMD) has come under fire from some MMD constituencies who have perceived him as not offering effective “checks and balances” to the PF. This may be far fetched because as of now there have really been no major policy shifts anyway. The MMD itself is taking a long time to recover from the September 2011 blow and unless a new visionary leader emerges to energise the party, it may be on unstoppable slide into oblivion like UNIP. With its parliamentary seats declining due to successful petitions, we may have a repeat of a defacto one-party state. We still have good political leaders ( General Miyanda, Charles Milupi, Elias Chipimo Jnr, Hakainde Hichilema , Edith Nawakwi ) but until they realize that in their divided small state their ability to influence events is minimal, the political landscape of Zambia will remain the same.
The expectations of the Zambians for the PF government to make a difference are indeed great and after six months of “stabilization” in government I expect the PF government to blaze a new trail for Zambia to move forward. With all our resources, material and human, we should not be where we are in the next five years.
Elias Chipimo jr and his vice Charles Maboshe talking to shop owners and vendors during the NAREP's Clean up of Freedom way campaign in Lusaka
National Restoration party (NAREP) president Elias Chipimo Junior says New Generation Party leader Humphrey Siulapwa needs serious prayers.
Recently, Siulapwa labeled Chipimo as an under five politician.
Mr. Chipimo however says he is very encouraged to see Siulapwa back in the country and is keen to hear what agenda he has for the country.
In an interview with QFM, Mr. Chipimo said whoever decides to make a contribution to the country must be allowed to do so, adding that for now; he will commit Siulapwa’s work under God’s guidance.
[pullquote]it is time politicians introduced a new kind of politics were instead of pulling each other down, they uplift each other[/pullquote].
He says it is time politicians introduced a new kind of politics were instead of pulling each other down, they uplift each other.
Mr Chipimo states that as a party that represents the future generation, NAREP wants to offer a kind of politics that encourages debate on ideas and not personal attacks.
POLICE in Mansa have arrested a conman who had been going round purporting to be President Michael Sata’s son and swindling unsuspecting organisations and members of the public out of huge sums of money.
The man was arrested along with his accomplice, a Kitwe resident who was posing as a police officer.
The two had been going round swindling companies and individuals out of money and gifts using the name of the president.
‘Michael Mpanga Sata’, 30, was arrested together with his partner in crime, Paul Chileshe, who acted as his bodyguard and carrying a non-existent police rank of inspector colonel.
The two had been going to different parts of the country where they presented themselves as Mr Sata’s son and a police officer assigned to protect the president’s son, respectively.
The fraudulent activities came to a dead end when some alert members of the public in Mansa reported them to the police who immediately instituted investigations and discovered that they were just imposters.
Luapula Province Deputy Commissioner of Police, Aaron Mushanga, said yesterday that the two were charged with impersonation.
“One of them presented himself as a biological son of the president while Chileshe, 30, presented himself as a security officer as they solicited for money and gifts.”
“The police arrested the duo because Mr Michael Mpanga Sata, with intent to defraud, falsely presented himself to be the biological son of His Excellency while Mr Paul Chileshe falsely presented himself as a security officer at the rank of inspector colonel assigned to be the body guard. This rank does not exist in any security wing in Zambia,” Mr Mushanga said.
He urged all business entities not to give favours, gifts or render free services to any person falsely using the president’s name.
“The public is humbly requested to assist the police in reporting any person or persons suspected to be impersonating in order to gain favours or gifts so that the law could visit such people,” he said.
Government says it will not go back on its promise to come up with a people-driven Constitution which will stand the test of time.
Information, Broadcasting and Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda said in Lusaka yesterday that the ongoing Constitution-making process was not a preserve of a privileged few in society but a process that would embrace all stakeholders before the document is finally adopted.
Mr Shamenda said the Constitution-making process was all-inclusive of sectors in the Zambia.
He said this yesterday during a media breakfast dubbed; ‘Youth Campaign on Constitution- making,’ organised by Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) at Golden Bridge Hotel in Lusaka.
Mr Shamenda said the media should play a key role to inform and educate the public on comments of the draft constitution for them to participate effectively.
“Using their reporting and editorial skills, the media have a responsibility to analyse and help breakdown constitutional and other forms of jargon in the draft constitution in order to enhance public understanding and participation,” he said.
In a speech read for him by his Deputy Minister, Rayford Mbulu, Mr Shamenda said the Government was committed to having a broad-based constitution.
He said the Government was thankful for the support that Zambia had continued to receive from various cooperating partners in the Constitution-making process.
The US Embassy in Zambia recently sponsored three youth leaders from YALI to attend the President’s Forum for young leaders in Washington DC.
Mr Shamenda hailed YALI’s missions of empowering young people to create change through promotion of education, good governance and development of entrepreneurship skills.
“This is a commendable initiative which is in line with Government’s agenda to empower youths so that they contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.
Constitution Technical Committee Spokesperson, Simon Kabanda, assured that the first draft would be released next week to members of the public for scrutiny and comments.
Mr Kabanda said his team would not extend the framework but work as mandated by President Michael Sata.
He said after releasing the document, people should make comments on various provisions to be received through Constitution conventions at three levels of district, provincial and sector conventions.
Mr Kabanda said the launch of the first draft document would also be accompanied by the launch of a website to enable people forward their comments.
He said the third and final document would be subjected to a referendum. The Constitution of Zambia Bill would be used by Parliament to enact a new Constitution.
YALI board chairperson, Andrew Ntewewe, said the Constitution should include major areas such as backing of human rights, accountability and separation of powers.
He said the Constitutional Technical team should consider extending the days for the public to make comments on the first draft document as young people needed to understand issues more broadly.
US Embassy deputy public affairs officer, Adam Jagelski, said his government would continue to support various initiatives and skills development programmes such as the Constitution-making process and empowering youth.
The University of Zambia Council has said that any withdrawal of labour by UNZALARU members will be premature under provisions of the Industrial and Labour Relations Act.
UNZA Council Chairperson Sherry Thole in a statement released to QFM News has since urged all members of staff acting under the reported go-slow to desist from the activity in order to allow the collective bargaining process to run its course.
Mrs Thole says the Council has not received any official communication from UNZALARU regarding the reported go-slow.
She states that the collective bargaining process between the UNZA Council and UNZALARU is still on-going and that to date, no dispute has been declared by either of the parties.
Mrs Thole was reacting to some media reports that the University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union has resolved to go on go-slow until government revokes the 4% increment awarded to grant aided institutions.
Lands, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma.
Government has maintained its stance to exploit and mine uranium in a secure and safe environment for the benefit of the Zambian people.
Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Chris Yaluma said uranium mining was not harmful to people provided measures are taken into consideration.
Mr. Yaluma disclosed in a speech read for him by his Deputy Isaac Banda at a uranium workshop in Lusaka yesterday that government has engaged a Finnish Geological Survey to work with the Zambian experts to enhance the aspects of safety, health and environment in the uranium regulations.
He said concentration of naturally occurring uranium does not raise the radiation levels above the recommended safe levels by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
He hoped that the workshop will clear some of the fears and misconceptions on uranium exploitation and mining.
And speaking earlier, Finnish Ambassador to Zambia, Pertti Anttinen,said his government was happy to provide support to Zambia’s Ministry of Mines towards a secure exploitation of mineral resources.
Ambassador Anttinen emphasized that the exploitation of uranium has to be done securely in every aspect in order to safeguard the wellbeing of the people and the environment.
The Zambia police service has arrested one person believed to be behind the murder of the pilot and the security guard in Livingstone on the 18th April 2012.
Police spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela says the suspect identified as Frank Muloshi aged 20, of Chilobela village in Livingstone was nabbed by police today, April 24, 2012 around 10:00 hours when he was being pursued by the members of the public.
Others being pursued are suspects by the names of Lucky Dube aged 26 of house number 10, Libuyu compound and Ronny Crispin Mfulo aged 25 of Nalime village in Livingstone both believed to be of foreign nationality were apprehended on Sunday after a tip of from members of the public.
The three are charged with two counts of murder contrary to section 200, three counts of aggravated robbery contrary to section 294 and one count of attempted murder contrary section 215 of cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.
File: Dr Katele Kalumba and Faustin Kabwe bundled in a police car after their sentencing to jail by a Lusaka magistrate Court
The Lusaka high court has set August 10th 2012 as the judgment day for former MMD National Secretary Katele Kalumba and his co-accused. This is in a matter in which Katele Kalumba, former Access Financial Services directors Aaron Chungu and Faustin Kabwe and former Permanent secretary in the then Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Stella Chibanda had appealed against their five year sentence for corruption by the Lusaka magistrate`s court.
A panel of three High Court Judges among them Lusaka high court Judge in charge Jane Kabuka , Justice Nigel Mutuna and Judge Evans Hamaundu set 10th August 2012 as the judgment day because it is earliest date due to the commitments all the judges have.
In 2010, a Lusaka Magistrate Court convicted Dr Kalumba together with six of his co-accused on corruption charges. Lusaka High Court deputy director of court operations Edward Musona sitting as magistrate convicted Dr Kalumba together with his co-accused when he delivered judgment in the long running corruption trial.
The corruption charges relate to the payments made to US security companies Systems Innovation and Wilbain Incorporation involving US$20 million during the time he served as Finance minister in former president Fredrick Chiluba’s Government.
Then Lusaka High Court Deputy Director of Operations Edward Musona who sat as a Lusaka magistrate handed Dr. Kalumba a five-year sentence with hard labour after being found guilty on one count of corrupt practices by a public officer.
Ms. Chibanda was sentenced to 5 years simple imprisonment on 5 out of the 9 corruption charges while Access Financial Services Limited Directors Aaron Chungu and Faustin Kabwe were also jailed for 5 years each with hard labour.
Magistrate Musona said he had sentenced Kalumba to five years imprisonment with hard labour because he had not shown remorse, repentance and regret over his involvement in the matters before the court.
The new Mighty Mufulira Wanderers executive committee has promised to lobby Mopani Copper Mines to take up full sponsorship of the club and facilitate the rehabilitation of Shinde Stadium.
Wanderers Chairperson Peter Daka said his executive will soon engage Mopani,who currently provide a monthly grant to the legendary club.
“We have been told that Mopani are going to give us a chance to speak to them over sponsorship,” he said.
Daka added that besides Mopani, his executive was scouting for sponsorship from local corporate entities and individuals.
“We have been talking to a lot of people in Mufulira over sponsorship and their response has been positive. We believe that we are going to get the assistance we need.We are trying to put back Mufulira Wanderers where it was, we have a vision for the club,” he said.
And Daka demanded commitment from players as Wanderers continue seeking promotion back to the elite league.
Wanderers have been languishing in Division 1 North since suffering their brief one season return to the top flight in 2005, just two seasons after they were demoted for the first time in the clubs history.
Nkana coach Linos Makwaza says the team will adjust should key striker Evans Kangwa move abroad in June as reported.
Kangwa has publicly stated that he will be leaving Nkana in June to join an unnamed club abroad on an initial short-term deal.
Makwaza said that Kangwa’s departure would hurt Nkana but that eventually the club would have to learn to leave without their young star.
“At some point it (his departure) can hurt us but we should be ready for that,” Makwaza said.
“Football is not a one-man-show. If Evans gets a contract somewhere it is good for him and we should find a replacement for him.”
Kangwa has so far scored one goal in three games for Nkana this season but missed the teams’ away match at Konkola Blades last Saturday due to an injury.
Meanwhile, Nkana host Zesco United this Saturday at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
Striker Francis Kombe and defender Stephen Kunda are expected to be part of the Power Dynamos’ midweek Faz Super Division Week 2 fixture against National Assembly at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
Kombe and Kunda have been cleared to play in the Faz Super Division by Faz in the wake of their involvement in the 2011 Finland match fixing scandal.
“Yes we have managed to register them today (Tuesday) after Faz cleared them to play for us,” Power secretary Justin Kapoma said.
“It is now up to the coach to decide whether to play them or not.”
The duo has been training with Power since they were deported in the second half of last season by Finnish authorities for their part in the match fixing scandal while playing at RoPS.
Meanwhile, they are will come face-to-face with fellow convicted player Donwell Yobe who was cleared last week to play for Assembly and scored in the team’s 1-1 draw against Zanaco.
Zone fam will be performing in the tourist capital ,livingstone , for the first time on 19th May 2012. The show will be at Capital theater. Other artists will be Massaj ,Jemah B and K-9.
PRESIDENT Sata has appointed Mr Charles Mpundu as director-general of the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) and Elizabeth Nkumbula as commissioner of the Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board.
Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Labour permanent secretary Amos Malupenga announced this yesterday at a press briefing at his office.
He said Mr Mpundu replaces Mr Stanley Phiri at Napsa while Dr Nkumbula takes over from Mr Peter Mbewe at Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board.
In making the appointments, President Sata said the two deserved the appointments.
Mr Mpundu has over 20 years of experience in financial services in both the private and public sectors.He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
He has served as commissioner and chief executive officer for the Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board, director of investments at Napsa and general manager at Cavmont Merchant Bank.
Dr Nkumbula has a Phd in Business Administration with a major in Finance.She has over 20 years experience in the building society industry.
She has held various key management positions at the Zambia National Building Society including the Pan-African Building Society where she was managing director.
