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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.
In 1964, a Zambian grade-school science teacher single-handedly, and unilaterally, created a space program for his country. The program involved rolling aspiring astronauts down a hill in a barrel and clipping their rope-swings at the height of their arc to simulate weightlessness. He claimed his country would not only beat both the Americans and Russians to the moon, but do it within the year.
Spanish photographer Cristina De Middel‘s photo project, Afronauts, creates a fictional documentation of these efforts. The result is a fact-bending, visually striking fantasy that includes elephant-hugging astronauts, patterned space junk, weightless cats and an engineer day-dreaming at a rusted control panel. [pullquote]His story inspires a re-evaluation of the line between possibility and dreams[/pullquote]
“My intention is to drive the audience into reflection on what they consume as real,” says De Middel. “In the beginning most people believed everything [in the photos] was real. People asked if I had been in Zambia in the ’60s. They trusted the image but not me, which is quite funny.”
The forgotten Zambian space program was the brainchild of Edward Makuka Nkoloso, a science teacher who dared to dream big. Following independence for the central African nation in 1964, Makuka Nkoloso founded the National Academy of Science, Space Research and Philosophy, Zambia’s first (and completely unofficial) space academy.
As the self-appointed Director-General, Makuka Nkoloso announced in a 1964 op-ed, We’re Going to Mars! With a Spacegirl, Two Cats and a Missionary, that the academy would win the space race by putting a person on the moon by 1965. He even insisted that if the Zambian government and citizenry had not been distracted by independence celebrations, they’d be there already.
The Zambian government never seriously considered Nkoloso’s activities and let the program “die a natural death.” After the United Nations turned down Nkoloso’s funding request for $7 million, the program withered. Not surprising when you consider the training regime as described by Nkoloso:
“I’m getting them acclimatised to space-travel by placing them in my space-capsule every day. It’s a 40-gallon oil drum in which they sit, and I then roll them down a hill.”
Recruits also braved rope-swings. As they neared the arc of their highest swing, Nkoloso cut the rope in an attempt to replicate temporary weightlessness.
[pullquote]We’re Going to Mars! With a Spacegirl, Two Cats and a Missionary[/pullquote]
As deluded as he and his wannabe spacemen were, one can’t help but admire the sheer audacity and ambition of Nkoloso. His story inspires a re-evaluation of the line between possibility and dreams, and De Middel is his acolyte in the way she conflates invention and truth.
“Afronauts is the documentation of an impossible dream that only lives in the pictures,” says De Middel, “I rebuilt documents adapting them to my personal imagery.”
De Middel, who has diversified from news photojournalism into fine art, is always attracted to photography that avoids the usual documentary subjects and stories told in the same old ways, so it is no coincidence Afronauts has the look of b-movie film set.
Vice president Dr. Guy Scott has charged that some government officials are too slow to implement government policies.
Dr. Scot says this is the attitude that some government officials seem to be adopted from the previous MMD regime.
He says instead of concentrating on the work some senior government officials are busy competing and complaining against each other.
The republican vice president says the Michael Sata led government will not take kindly to such attitude towards work.
And the vice president says the Zambian government attaches great importance to issues surrounding climate change.
Speaking at a high level dialogue on climate change and preparations for RIO 20 conference in Lusaka today, Dr Scott said there is need to have an action oriented plan in order to address challenges surrounding climate change.
He says discussions on climate change should not just end in workshops but stretch further in implementing polices on climate change.
And United Nations resident coordinator Kani Wignaraja said there is need for the country to take a holistic approach in addressing challenges of climate change.
Spokesperson for the Contitution making committee Simon kabanda speaking during a press briefing on the extension of the constitution making period
The technical committee drafting the country’s constitution says there is no need to worry about the time frame for drafting the constitution.
Committee spokesperson Simon Kabanda says it is possible for the country to have a document within the specified time as long as all stakeholders have keen interest in the process.
Mr. Kabanda says the country has for a long time lagged behind on the constitution, stating that this is an opportunity that should not be wasted for the country to have a good document.
He notes that the technical committee is aware that the public is anxiously waiting for the document, adding that it is gratifying to see the interest shown by young people in the process.
Mr. Kabanda was speaking in Lusaka this morning during the media breakfast meeting on the youth campaign on the constitution making process organized by the young African leaders’initiative (YALI).
He has since re-assured the public that the first draft of the constitution will be availed at the end of this month, as earlier promised.
Officiating at the event, information, broadcasting and labour deputy minister, Rayford Mbulu said government is committed to ensuring that the constitution making process is not a preserve of a privileged and advantaged few, but a process that embraces all stakeholders.
Mr. Mbulu says the media, largely, has a responsibility to analyze and explain constitutional jargons in the draft constitution in order to enhance public understanding and participation in the constitution making process.
He says it is also a responsibility of the media to create space, in their coverage, for the voice of youths to be heard loudly in the on-going constitutional process.
And YALI board Chairperson Andrew Ntewewe says young citizens are patiently looking forward to seeing the content of the new constitution of the country, hoping that government will continue standing by its pronouncements regarding some contentious issues in the document.
Mr. Ntewewe says there will be no need for the PF government to switch goal-posts now that they are in government.
He says YALI remains optimistic that the process of coming up with the constitution will be a success.
Speaking earlier, deputy public affairs officer at the American Embassy, Adam Jagelski says the American government is pleased to be part of YALI’s mission of empowering young leaders in creating change through promotion of education, good governance and development of entrepreneurial skills.
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) says it has made progress in investigating allegations of corruption against a company associated to the former first family regarding a contract which was awarded for the rehabilitation works at Livingstone central prison.
ACC public relations manager Timothy Moono has said at a media briefing in Lusaka today to mark the end of the first quarter that arrests for individuals allegedly involved in the matter will soon be made.
Mr. Moono notes that a lot of money was paid to the company in question but that no rehabilitation works have been done up to now.
Mr. Moono has also stated that the Commission is currently working on obtaining mutual legal assistance with the French Government and other jurisdictions in order to facilitate investigations in those countries in the Alstorm group of companies’ case.
This is in case where former senior government officials in the MMD allegedly received bribes to award several contracts to the French company for the construction and maintenance of infrastructure at Kariba North, Kafue Gorge and Victoria Falls hydro power stations.
And Mr. Moono has also disclosed that the commission is also investigating then allegations of corruption regarding the award of a tender by the Road development agency (RDA) to a company that had no capacity to do road works.
He further disclosed that the ACC has also concluded investigating into allegations of corruption in the procurement of the hearses adding that an arrest has been made and the suspect will appear in court soon.
He also confirmed that former local government minister Silvia Masebo who was implicated in the matter has since been cleared.
Mr. Moono added that the allegation in the procurement of oil which allegedly made the country lose K2 trillion will be investigated once the Report that was done by the commission of inquiry has been availed to the Commission.
Meanwhile Mr. Moono has noted that the ACC in the first quarter of this received a total of 517 reports of suspected cases of corruption out of which 369 lacked elements of corruption and as such advice was given on who the matters needed to be handled.
He adds that the Commission also recorded 13 arrests countrywide while 2 convictions and 1 acquittal were also recorded.
Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Steven Masumba who was yesterday arrested by the Anti Corruption Commission over his allegedly forged accounting qualifications has pleaded not guilty to the offence.
Appearing before Principal Magistrate Wilfred Muuma, Masumba 31 pleaded not guilty to the charge of obtaining pecuniary advantage through false pretences contrary to section 309a (2)c of the Penal Code as read with section 41 of the ACC Act number 42 of 1996.
Facts before the court were that on dates unknown but between December 1, 2005 and August 25, 2008, Masumba obtained employment for himself as an accounting officer at Lusaka Business and Technical College.
Meanwhile, Masumba showed Journalists a purported original copy of the diploma in question shortly after the court adjourned indicating that he had successfully obtained an Accounting Technician Diploma from the National Institute for Public Administration (NIPA).
Trial in the matter commences on May 24th 2012 and Masumba’s bond has been extended.
LOCAL Government and Housing Deputy Minister Steven Masumba was yesterday arrested over his accounting qualifications but he argues that he did not forge his academic papers.
According to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Mr Masumba claims to hold an Accounting Technician Diploma from the National Institute for Public Administration (NIPA).
However, Mr Masumba scoffed at his arrest, saying he has all the necessary documents to prove that he graduated from NIPA.
He said his arrest is the work of his political enemies, who he alleged want to ensure he is completely ruled out of politics.
“I have all the necessary documents to prove I hold the diploma from NIPA. I have the list of graduands as published in the press and my name is there. I also have pictures of myself receiving the diploma from Nevers Mumba who was the guest of honour as then Vice-President at the graduation ceremony,” Mr Masumba said.
“This is meant to demean me. I am sure they are now celebrating but I want to assure you that the courts of law will tell you the truth at the end of all this. I am a very determined politician and I will remain firm and I will work to the expectations of the people,” Mr Masumba said.
The ACC charged Mr Masumba with obtaining pecuniary advantage through false pretences contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
ACC public relations manager Timothy Moono confirmed the development at a press briefing held in Lusaka yesterday.
“The ACC received reports that Mr Masumba sought employment at Lusaka Business and Technical College by falsely pretending that he held the qualification. We have today arrested him and he will appear in court tomorrow,” Mr Moono said.
Mr Masumba is MMD member of Parliament for Mufumbwe Constituency and one of the opposition political party legislators who were appointed as deputy ministers by President Sata.
Mr Moono said Mr Masumba was arrested for one count of obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretences contrary to section 309a (2)c of the Penal Code as read with section 41 of the ACC Act number 42 of 1996.
Mr Masumba is alleged to have, on dates unknown but between December 1, 2005 and August 25, 2008, obtained employment for himself as an accounting officer at Lusaka Business and Technical College.
I strongly feel that Fred Mmembe is pushing his luck too far by trying to scandalise anyone who doesn’t agree with him in any way. I know that has been his character, but I’m saying this in relation to what he said or wrote in his Sunday’s tabloid about his honour judge Nigel Mutuna after delivering judgement in the case between the state and JNC holdings and Post newspaper ltd for which he is the editor, that he expected this kind of behaviour and conduct.
To the contrary it’s Fred Membe’s behaviour and conduct that can be questioned. No doubt he had expected the courts to quash the case and allow him not to pay back the money that he owes the bank because he is Sata’s senior cadre who sings the highest praise and support for him even when it’s not necessary and he expect Sata to treat him like levy Mwanawasa did to him when he was alive.
We know that DBZ has been ordered by the powers that be, to discontinue the case or else why would the bank not strive to get its money back like it has always done to other people? Can Mmembe deny that his Post newspaper and HNC Holdings owe the bank?
To me it’s him whose behaviour and conduct are horrible and not the judge and people like Dr Rodger Chongwe should be the last person to question the integrity of judges.
What Mmembe should not forget is that Zambia is bigger than him or Sata and very soon they will also get out of power and be made to account for their deeds and behaviour. We know that had Mwanawasa been alive, no doubt Mmembe’s companies should have kept borrowing billions of kwacha from the public institutions as evidenced by the fact that former finance minister Ngandu Magande was even soliciting for more loans for Mmembe’s companies even when they had failed to pay back other loans.
Had Levy been alive no one in Zambia was even going to know about the tax evasion at airport and the careless lending of huge of money by public institutions to few individuals. Mmembe expects President Michael Sata to treat him like Mwanawasa did, but will Sata continue to flout rules to continue pleasing his so called senior choir master?
Judge Mutuna delivered the judgement where he ordered Mmembe’s Post Newspaper and JNH holdings to pay back the billions that they owed Development Bank of Zambia.
Surely the fact that the judgement did not go Mmembe’s way does not warrant careless attacks on the honourable judge and competent courts with good track records. Please let’s all not allow a situation where the courts only become competent when the judgement goes in our favour and when it goes contrary even when we are wrong, then the courts and our judges become the subject of ridicule.
As far as Mmembe is concerned, he is untouchable and only others should be made accountable or go to jail and not him or his surroundings. But the question I would pose to everyone is, is Mmembe surely as white as he has successfully painted himself over the years?
If the judgement was delivered at the time of president Rupiah Banda, no doubt Mmembe was going to cry foul that it was influenced by State house as he always did when ever any judgement never went his way. Does Mmembe even want to question how he got those loans of billions of Kwacha from public institutions because we all know the kind of names he called Mwanawasa before and after the loans and other favours. Before Mwanawasa was a cabbage among other things who was very corrupt as far as Mmembe was concerned, but the moment he allowed them to evade tax at airport and gave them billions of loans from govt banks, the once corrupt and cabbage president became normal and a Saint.
We have seen this even now the way Fred Mmembe is praising Sata, as if it was not him who called president Sata names before. We also know that Membe’s support for Micheal Sata is not genuine but it’s just because they are personal benefits as seen by the awarding of good appointments to his surrounding by the president and the discontinuation of his cases among other things. However, it should be plainly told to the man Mmembe that, it is said that you cannot fool all the people all the time. In fact some people you can’t not fool. Not every one of us in Zambia believes that Mmembe is the saint he claims himself to be.
Sex workers or prostitutes who parade the streets at night to sell sex to desperate men will be handed jail terms or fines in a crackdown that shall commence soon. This is according to Inspector-General of Police Stella Libongani.
Ms Libongani described prostitution as a ‘public nuisance’ that will see the offenders get charged with either idling or disorderliness or both contrary to Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
The offence attracts a fine or a possible jail sentence depending on the circumstances and evidence produced.
“As you may be aware,” Ms Libongani said, “There is no offence known as prostitution under our laws rather the act itself is a ‘nuisance’ under the Public Order Act Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.”
Ms Libongani said, “Those who will be caught will either be fined or taken to court. But for second and third offenders, they will be taken to court directly even if they have money to pay so that the court can mete out stiffer punishment.”
She was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday where she spoke tough against prostitution, which she said is getting out of hand in the country, especially amidst HIV/AIDS whose numbers in Zambia are dropping, according to the Ministry of Health.
Ms Libongani also warned police officers that are fond of asking for ‘sexual favours’ from prostitutes to stop the habit because they will be charged with various offences alongside the prostitutes they coerce into sex in return for freedom after they arrest them.
She said police officers are supposed to behave in an exemplary manner during their course of duty. Ms Libongani was responding to reports that some police officers are fond of abusing sex workers in their custody.
But plans by the police to round up sex workers have received mixed feelings from some non-governmental organisations that look at the rights of women in Zambia. Women for Change executive director Emily Sikazwe said the intention by the police is welcome but that sex workers should be given alternative jobs before they are ‘stripped’ of their livelihoods.
Ms Sikazwe said yesterday that she believes sex workers are not even happy with the tough and often dangerous ‘job’ but only do it because they have no alternative or decent way of earning money and so they end up ‘selling’ their bodies to men they do not even love.
“It’s not all sex workers who enjoy being in that field of prostitution. In fact, most of them are driven into it due to lack of decent income- generating activities,” Ms Sikazwe said. “So the move by the police is welcome but we need to give them (sex workers) alternative jobs.”
The Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) said arresting sex workers will not solve the problem of prostitution. Chairperson Beatrice Grillo said as along as men have money to buy sex, the vice shall continue.
“So, the police cannot just say that they would round up the sex workers. If men were not going after these women, there will be no prostitution around the streets,” she said.
