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INSPECTOR-GENERAL of Police Stella Libongani yesterday said the noose around the neck of fugitive son of former President Rupiah Banda is tightening following Police’s latest engagement with Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) in addition to already existing co-operation with Interpol.
Ms Libongani revealed this at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday but she declined to disclose the specific nature of discussions that the Zambia Police Service have had with the regional police.
She dismissed assertions that Interpol have failed to capture Henry.
Ms Libongani said Zambia Police have now engaged SARPCCO to ensure “no stone is left unturned in efforts to bring Henry back home to come and answer fraud allegations levelled against him.
“We have decided to engage South Africa on a bilateral level through SARPCCO to enforce investigations into the matter.
It is not that we have let go of Interpol. We are still working with them.
“This root to engage SARPCCO is meant to intensify our search so that we don’t leave a stone unturned,” she said.
Ms Libongani also said Henry’s photograph has not yet been displayed on the Interpol website because the Zambia Police have not been requested to submit it.
The Attorney-General and Police have issued a red alert for Henry who is wanted for questioning on fraud-related charges, which Minister of Home Affairs Kennedy Sakeni describes as ‘white-collar’ related allegations.
Henry is linked to the Cayman Island-registered company, RP Capital, which according to the Sebastian Zulu-led commission of inquiry put together an ‘unnecessarily complicated’ transaction to sell Zamtel to Libya’s Lap GreenN after allegedly grossly under-valuing it.
Henry is also linked to some East African companies that were given contracts to supply petroleum products to Zambia.
FDD President Edith Nawakwi-Zambia is ready for a Woman President
Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) leader Edith Nawakwi says the indication by the technical committee drafting the country’s constitution that it will include the 50 plus 1 clause in the draft is welcome.
Ms. Nawakwi says it is only wise that the technical committee considers most of the submissions made because the country can only progress if the outstanding issues are addressed.
In an interview with QFM, Ms. Nawakwi said the 50 plus 1 clause and making elective the position of vice president, were the main point of difference between the opposition and the former ruling party, the MMD.
She said it is honorary to listen to the calls of the people, especially on the submissions they have made to the constitution making process.
The FDD leader has since called for a quickened constitution making process for the country to move forward.
A fuel tanker on its way to Malawi to deliver the fuel that was donated to that country by President Sata
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Some fuel tankers ferrying fuel to Malawi, which President Michael Sata donated to that country
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President Sata and former president Kenneth Kaunda arrive for the requiem mass for the Late George Kunda at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka
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President Sata, former president Kenneth Kaunda and parliamentary chief whip Felix Mutati (r) arrive for the requiem Mass of George Kunda at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka.
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President Sata greets Dr Kaunda at the requiem mass of former Vice-President George Kunda at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka. Looking on are Vice-President Dr Guy Scott, FDD president Edith Nawakwi and Felix Mutati.
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Former President Kenneth Kaunda,President Sata and Vernon Mwanga share a light moment during the requiem Mass of George Kunda at the Cathedral of the Chld Jesus In Lusaka.
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President Sata shakes hands with MMD presidential aspirant Dr Nevers Mumba as Enock Kavindele looks on
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President Michael Sata greets chiefs from Central province on arrival at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus for the requiem mass of former Vice-President George Kunda in Lusaka.
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President Michael Sata greets chieftainess Serenje during the requiem mass of former Vice-President George Kunda at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka
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President Sata greets Chieftainess Nkomeshya of Chongwe.
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Vice-President Dr Guy Scott greets Service Chiefs during the requiem Mass of former Vice-President George Kunda at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka
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Ben Mwila speaks with Tourism and Foreign affairs minister Given Lubinda during the requiem Mass of George Kunda at the Cathedral of the Chld Jesus In Lusaka .
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Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Given Lubinda talks to Former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa during the requiem Mass of George Kunda at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus
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Former first Lady Vera Chiluba listens to Tourism and Foreign affairs minister Given Lubinda during the requiem Mass of George Kunda at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus In Lusaka.
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A child drums during the requiem Mass of former Vice-President George Kunda
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A young drummer leads pall bearers during the requiem Mass of former Vice-President George Kunda.
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President looks at the casket for george Kunda when it was being drawn into the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka.
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Former president Kenneth Kaunda greets Cardinal Merdado Mazombwe at the requiem mass of former Vice-President George Kunda.
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President Michael Sata kisses the palms for Cardinal Merdado Mazombwe during the requiem mass for former Vice president George Kunda
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President Sata meets MMD cadres outside church during the requiem mass for Former Vice president George Kunda
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President Michael Sata greets an MMD Cadre before the requiem service for George Kunda
Government says it will not tolerate lawlessness by citizens who opt to protest as a way of airing their grievances.
Chief government spokesperson Fackson Shamenda says it is open for dialogue with distributors and traders in Tujilijili so that they can find a lasting solution to the lost jobs and capital investment.
This was after Distributors and traders in the banned alcohol sachets commonly known as Tujiljili staged a protest at the Patriotic Front secretariat calling on government to lift the ban.
Mr. Shamenda has called on the distributors to come forward and dialogue if their grievances are over job losses and business investment
Meanwhile, despite the recent ban on the sale of alcoholic sachets, commonly known as Tujilijili, traders at Ndola’s Kantolomba Market have defied the order and are selling the highly intoxicating brand.
A check by the Sunday Times found that the sale of Tujilijili at Kantolomba Market had continued. Some traders expressed ignorance over the ban while others said they wanted to clear the remaining stocks by selling them.
[pullquote]“This is a draw back, money from this business was our only source of income but we have heard of the ban, so I just want to clear the remaining sachets so that I could recover the money I used to order the Tujilijili,” he said.[/pullquote]
At some bars, it was business-as-usual over the sale of the sachets as a variety of the spirits continued to be displayed on stands. Among the brands displayed were Johnny’s Brandy, Royal Touch, ZedPineapple, Premium Pineapple and Officers Cane.
Charles Musonda, one of the traders, described the ban as a drawback because selling the highly potent spirits was his only source of income.
“This is a draw back, money from this business was our only source of income but we have heard of the ban, so I just want to clear the remaining sachets so that I could recover the money I used to order the Tujilijili,” he said.
Another trader, Mwansa Mukuka, said news of the ban had affected them because Tujilijili was popular, especially among the youth and profitable to the traders. Mr Mukuka said since the Government had declared the ban, they would follow the law and stop trading in the commodity as soon as they cleared their remaining stocks.
[pullquote]“Selling of this alcohol is my only source of income. These things are popular, I tell you, and it’s big time business for us here. I hope this ban is not true,” he said.[/pullquote]
“This ban will affect our business. These sachets are so popular and sell fast, now we have no choice but to follow the law,” he said. Keston Musukwa expressed ignorance over the ban, adding that the Tujilijili sales were still high and profitable.
Mr Musukwa said he had several boxes of the sachets and would continue trading in the commodity because he had not heard any news about the ban. “I haven’t heard of the ban. In fact, I’m hearing this from you, that there’s a ban on the trade of Tujilijili but for me, it’s business asusual,” he said.
He said ever since he started trading in the commodity, he had made profits that helped him earn a living and support his family. “Selling of this alcohol is my only source of income. These things are popular, I tell you, and it’s big time business for us here. I hope this ban is not true,” he said.
Police have apprehended the MTN employee linked to the One billion kwacha Lets Go BEEG Promotion fraud.
Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani says the suspect will be transported to Livingstone from Lusaka where he will answer charges leveled against him.
Ms Libongani was responding to questions from Journalists at a press briefing in Lusaka on Sunday.
She says police will take keen interest in all promotions.
Ms Libongani has explained that it is better to prevent fraud occurrences in lotteries and other promotions.
She says the Zambia Police Service is working with the Drug Enforcement Commission-DEC in investigating the matter.
MTN Zambia yesterday disclosed that the winner of the win BEEG Promotion is being investigated on allegations of fraud.
The winner was selected via a random draw which was monitored by Grant Thornton, the MTN appointed auditors for the promotion.
Information has however emerged that the winner of the ONE billion kwacha cash grand prize may have been fraudulently selected.
And the Zambia Police Service has sent fifty paramilitary officers to Livingstone to beef up security in the tourist capital.
Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani says the service has also stepped up investigations into the recent killing of a Spanish pilot and a security guard in Livingstone.
Ms Libongani has told journalists at a media briefing that a team of investigators led by Director of Criminal Investigations Department left for Livingstone on Thursday.
She says police will ensure that security is provided to all Livingstone residents, investors and tourists.
Ms Libongani has appealed to members of the public not to panic because the police have already put in place security measures to restore peace in the area.
Veteran Journalist and former Press Association of Zambia-PAZA-President, Ridgeway Liwena has died. Family Spokesperson Alfred Simate has confirmed the death of Mr. Liwena to the media in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr. Liwena died at the University Teaching Hospital-UTH- at 21:00hrs after succumbing to Cancer. He was 67.
Apart from serving as PAZA president, Mr. Liwena also served as Society for Senior Journalists President.
He has written quite extensively since independence, first as sports reporter on the Times of Zambia newspaper which he joined in 1966.
In 2003, Mr. Liwena was awarded a doctorate degree in Media Studies by Saint Clements University of the United Kingdom.
Until his death, Mr. Liwena was editor in chief of a privately owned tabloid newspaper, Today Zambia.
The Copperbelt University(CBU) which has been closed for a while yesterday re-opened. The institution, which was supposed to re-open last month, remained closed following heavy rains that caused damage to building at the Institution.
This follows the completion of repair works to damaged infrastructure. CBU Public Relations Manager Grace Mikunga has confirmed the re-opening of the institution to ZNBC News in Kitwe.
Mrs. Mikunga says repair works on the two hostels for female students have been completed. She however, says some repair works at the business office buildings are still going on and are expected to be completed soon.
A news crew that went to the institution found that some first year students had already started reporting to the University. Returning students at the University will report on the 29th of April.
The Kitwe based Copperbelt University Last month remained closed following damage caused by heavy rains to some structures at the institution.
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has challenged the patriotic front government to clearly state the allegations leveled against Henry Banda. Mr. Hichilema said that it is very difficult for someone to understand Henry’s case because government has not been clear about it.
In an interview with QFM, Mr. Hichilema said that the PF government should first state clearly the allegations leveled against Henry because the law is very clear that someone is innocent until proven guilty.
He said that he is better off not commenting on speculations as what the PF government is doing on Henry’s case. The UPND leader said that government should not run the country as if it is theirs alone but should realize that it belongs to Zambian of different affiliations.
And Zambia has engaged the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs’ Organization-SAPCO- to speed up the arrest of Henry Banda, son of former president, Rupiah Banda.
Banda has been placed by the Zambian government on international police –Interpol- red list as a wanted person in connection with alleged fraud.
He is reported to be in South Africa and government officials there have since said they would co-operate in having him extradited to Zambia to face charges.
However, Banda has hired a high profile international lawyer Robert Amsterdam to halt the Interpol bid to have him arrested and extradited to Zambia.
Inspector General of Police Stella libongani said that police are using all channels to bring back Henry.
She was responding to a question from journalists during a news conference in Lusaka yesterday.
Forest Rangers coach Hector Chilombo believes the 2-2 away draw his side recorded at Power Dynamos on Saturday is the turning point for the Dolla Hill outfit.
Forest have collected only four points from the first five fixtures of the 2012 FAZ Super Division campaign.
In an interview, Chilombo said the draw his side forced against the league defending champions is a sign of good things to come for the Ndola side.
” This is the turning point for Forest. We have secured a point against a team which is from playing continental football,” he said.
Chilombo acknowledged that Forest begun the season on a low note.
“We had a bad start to the league,we lost three games but we are picking up,” he added.
The former international also saluted his team’s never say die spirit as they came from behind twice to hold Power in Kitwe.
“Now we have to take advantage of the home ground advantage as we play two consective home games against Konkola Mine Police and Indeni,” Chilombo stated.
AFTER three months of attempting to get on stage in a foreign country, C.R.I.$.I.$ (Mr. Swagger) who is on tour of duty in the USA is set for his maiden performance in Los Angeles, California, where he will be a supporting artiste to one of US top rapper, E-40 on Thursday.
The performance will be starting at 21:00 hours at the Key Club, 9039 West Sunset Boulevard West Hollywood Los Angeles.
The show is one of C.R.I.$.I.$’ campaign to get music deals in America and get hooked up to America’s most happening rappers.
According to C.R.I.$.I.$, he is excited to be accorded this opportunity to showcase the Zambian rapping skills. This is the time for Zambia’s leading rapper to show what he is made of and what he can do on stage.
The self-acclaimed Zambian International Hip-Hop artist,has been invited by popular Los Angeles promoter, Sean Healey to be guest star at veteran Los Angeles, Bay Area rapper, E-40 who will be promoting his new album titled ‘Block Brochure.’
E-40 has been known for developing his own rap style and slange. He has worked with such notables as 2 Pac, Drake, Too Short, Dru Down, Spice 1 and many others.
This will be the first performance by a Zambian Hip-Hop artist in Hollywood.
The rapper is excited to be making his first appearance and says that it is an honour to be received with open arms by International promoters as well as fellow Zambians.
“It’s a great opportunity to network and develop relations with fellow industry people” said C.R.I.$.I.$.
The event was initially scheduled to take place on April 4, 2012.
The Key Club has hosted some of the biggest names in Hip-Hop. Most recently, new comer Kendrick Lamar made an appearance during which Dr. Dre came out on stage to show his support. Other notable names that have appeared at The Key Club include Snoop Doggy Doggy, Big Sean, J. Cole and many others.
C.R.I.$.I.$ has also been invited to make an appearance in Long Island, New York for an event called The Real Radio show which will be performed live, recorded and then podcast for the rest of the world to watch.
Zambia's Deputy High Commissioner to Malawi, Henry Ngilazi with wife Chansa Kabwela (First press secretary in Malawi)
Six tankers carrying 35,000 liters of fuel each that President Michael Sata donated to Malawi have arrived in that country under tight escort by Malawian police from Mwami border in Chipata.
Zambia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Malawi, Henry Ngilazi handed over the fuel to Energy deputy Minister, Vera Chilewani at the Memorial Tower in Lilongwe. Mr. Ngilazi said Zambia is honored to assist its neighboring country at this hour of need to ease movements during the funeral period of late president, Professor Bingu Wa Mutharika.
He said Zambia’s gesture is symbolic of the African tradition where the burden of funerals is made lighter by others through assistance and solidarity. Mr. Ngilazi said about 10 tankers will enter Malawi daily until the entire consignment is delivered.
And Mrs. Chilewani thanked Zambia for the gesture which showed true neighborliness. Malawi has announced that some of the fuel will be acquired through vouchers issued by the Office of the President and Cabinet while part of the commodity will be distributed to commercial outlets for sale.
The proceeds will be channeled into a special government account to offset other funeral costs. Prof. Wa Mutharika died on April 5 and will be buried on April 23, 2012 in his home village in Thyolo District.
This is contained in a statement made available to Qfm by First Secretary of press at the Malawian mission Chansa Kabwela.
Meanwhile, scores of Malawians are crossing over into Chipata in Eastern Province to buy fuel following a critical shortage in the neighboring country. Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Hlobotha Nkunika confirmed the development in an interview during the week.
Mr Nkunika said his office had cleared a lot of Malawians to buy fuel from the local filling stations in Zambia.
“Although it is difficult to clearly state how many Malawians, that include companies and individuals, that have been cleared to buy fuel from filling stations in Chipata District, many more are still coming in and my office is clearing them to buy the commodity here in Chipata,” Mr Nkunika said.A check at local filling stations found convoys of vehicles bearing Malawian number plates waiting to refuel.
The Malawian nationals have been ordered to get clearance from the provincial administration before buying the fuel.
And VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott is tomorrow expected to lead a ministerial delegation to Malawi to attend the burial of that country’s late president Bingu wa Mutharika.
Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Given Lubinda confirmed that Dr Scott would lead a delegation, which would comprise himself, his Gender counterpart, Inonge Wina, and Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister, Belinda Kawandami.
Mr Lubinda said in Lusaka yesterday that the delegation was expected to leave for Malawi this afternoon for late Mutharika’s burial tomorrow.
Professor Mutharika died of cardiac arrest on April 5.
THE Government has finally repossessed the controversial 12-hectare farm land in Lusaka South following continued absence of the rightful owner, sources have confirmed.
The repossession comes barely two weeks after Grace Musonda called the Sunday Times from South Africa to find out about the land in question.
Ms Musonda then said the piece of land was bought by her late husband, Cedric Granger Musonda, who registered it in her name in the early 1980s.
“My husband bought the land in Chilanga which was registered in my name between 1980 and 1982. He was working for Zambia National Wholesale at the time, and I was working for Zambia National Commercial Bank before we moved to Kitwe in 1982,” said Mrs Musonda, whose husband died in 1996.
However, her absence has sparked wrangles between suspected political party cadres who have continued to build on the farmland and other interested parties, including Zesco managing director, Cyprian Chitundu.
The Lusaka Province planning department issued an order stopping the reconstruction of houses by the squatters, warning that if they continued, they risked facing demolitions.
The sources informed the Sunday Times in Lusaka that the Government had decided to reclaim the land in view of the failure by the title holder, Ms Musonda to claim it and help end the controversy.
The ownership of the farm, located on the boundaries of Lusaka and Chilanga districts, was being contested by Mr Chitundu though records at the Ministry of Lands indicated that Mrs Musonda was the bona fide title holder.
“The Government has realised that the rightful owner is not coming forth to claim it and it has been repossessed because Grace Musonda is also nowhere to be seen. The Government has powers to repossess land if it deems fit and the next course of action will be decided,” the source said.
The source added that the Government would not allow continued encroachment because the farm was located near the country’s largest borehole.
Meanwhile, Lusaka Province chief planner, Maxwell Zulu said the department had issued a stop order on further constructions.
Mr Zulu said in a separate interview that the department noted that further encroachment posed a danger to the water point for Lusaka.
“We have issued a stop order and we have always said that those that are building are just wasting their time and money because we will demolish those structures. Shaft five (borehole) is the major source of water for Lusaka and it will be a disaster if these people are allowed to settle there because they will contaminate the borehole,” Mr Zulu said.
He cited the breakout of typhoid in Lusaka’s Makeni area as one example where the impact of drinking contaminated water had been felt, adding that the department would do everything within its mandate to stop the encroachments.
But chairperson of the residents, Stephen Kalande defended the encroachment, saying the decision to bar the residents from constructing was baseless.
Mr Kalande said the water point was 100 metres from where the residents were building houses and would not pose any danger to the water source.
Mr Kalande said the water point was being used as a scapegoat.
“This is just a scapegoat, otherwise we are far from the borehole,” he said. “We have not received the stop order but if the Government has repossessed the land, then they should allow us to continue building.”
The battle for the land has persisted since early 2000 when political party cadres invaded the plot.
While the party cadres were scrambling for plots at the farm, Mr Chitundu claimed the ownership of the piece of land before the magistrates’ court ruled in 2008 that the rightful owner of the farm was Ms Musonda.
Traders without stands conduct business from parking lots at the new Soweto market in Lusaka.
A VARIETY of expired goods have flooded Soweto Market in Lusaka with scores of residents scrambling for the merchandise while some people have expressed worry over the development.
The goods range from body lotions, soaps and detergent pastes which have flooded the market, and are suspected to be from different retail shops within the capital city.
Customers interviewed by the Sunday Times were told that some of the products had been discarded by retail outlets but were again found at the hands of traders who were selling them to unsuspecting members of the public.
“There are so many expired goods at Soweto Market and people are just buying. I hope the authorities can do something to stop this because there is no way a product is discarded from the shop and later is found at the black market,” Michael Banda, a regular customer at Soweto said.
Mr Banda said products such as radios and DVD players that had been discarded in shops owned by foreign nationals were finding themselves at Soweto Market, and some of these were damaged.
He appealed to the Lusaka City Council (LCC) to look into the matter and protect consumers from buying products that were considered to be harmful.
Emelda Nkowani said many people had interest in the products because they were sold at relatively cheap prices.
“Because of poverty, people always want cheap products and you always find crowds buying these damaged products, and I wonder if the work and how long they work when they get home,” she said.
She said some women had ended up damaging their faces because of using expired body lotions.
Catherine Ng’uni, who had once bought a bottle of lotion from the street, said the expired products were harmful.
“When I got the lotion, I thought it was just fine but I discovered that with time my face was not looking smooth and it took time to realise that it was because of the lotion I bought on the street,” she said.
She advised other people to be cautious when buying lotions from the streets to avoid health complications.
THE Zambia police in collaboration with the International Police (INTERPOL) are investigating an Internet-related crime where about 30 Zambians have been swindled out of millions of Kwacha by a named US-based organisation that promised to recruit them for lucrative jobs in the US.
The Zambians were told to pay about K3 million each for the processing of papers to work in the US through a named focal person in Lusaka, who is now being sought by the police.
One of the irate affected persons told the Sunday Times that the fake job opportunity started late last year, where they were asked to submit curriculum vitaes and other necessary documents required to process for their exit.
Internet crime is now on the rise and various security wings globally are working with INTERPOL to crack down on the scourge.
The source, who declined to be identified, said in Lusaka during the week that most people fell for the deal and registered with the now runaway person to clinch the US deal.
“We paid about K3 million each and this focal person is nowhere to be seen and we want our money back. We have reported the matter to the police and INTERPOL has been involved to try and catch the person who was coordinating things here. Right now he is nowhere to be seen and I believe we were swindled, so we just want to be refunded,” the source said.
The source said the group was by now expected to be in the US but that contacts with the US-based organisation had since vanished.
He said even the focal person in Lusaka had lost touch with the alleged US organisation and this might have forced him to ‘disappear’ as well.
“We have been trying to find him but he is now illusive and we have sensed that he is running away, hence the decision to involve INTERPOL to help us in this matter,” the source added.
Police spokesperson, Elizabeth Kanjela when contacted said she was in the process of providing further details on the matter.
File:A youth in business -cashing in on Tujilijili (brandy or gin packed in small sachets)
Distributors and traders in the banned alcohol sachets commonly known as Tujiljili yesterday staged a protest at the Patriotic Front secretariat calling on government to lift the ban.
The protesters who carried banners say they have lost jobs and called on government to lift the ban.
They said they have huge stokes of alcohol which they cannot sale anymore and they have lost their capital because of the ban.
But chief government spokesperson Fackson Shamenda says government will not tolerate the lawlessness by citizens who opt to protest as a way of airing their grievances.
Mr. Shamenda says government is open for dialogue with distributors and traders in tujilijili so that they can find a lasting solution to the lost jobs and capital investment.
Mr. Shamenda has called on the distributors to come forward and dialogue if their grievances are over job losses and business investment.
