Deputy Sports minister Steven Masumba has testified before the Lusaka magistrate’s court that he was honestly awarded with the diploma he is alleged to have forged because he successfully completed his accounting course.

Masumba told Principal Magistrate Wilfred Muma that it was painful to be accused of things he did not know.

He said the diploma in question was genuinely given to him by the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) because he passed all the three levels.

Masumba, 31, of NAPSA Housing Units, Ibex Hill, is charged with one count of obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretences contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

But in opening his defence yesterday, Masumba refuted the allegations saying there were not only untrue but also unfounded.

He said this was so because according to his full knowledge, the diploma in contention was awarded to him in an honest manner because he successfully completed the course contrary to NIPA‘s claims that he failed the examinations.

Masumba who produced before court a copy of his statement of results which he said he allegedly struggled to ‘fish’ out from Mwinilunga Trades Training Institute said he qualified in the entire course the reason why he was awarded with the certificate.

He said the statement of result produced by NIPA was not correct because it had a irregularities.

Masumba said contrary to the allegations, he amassed 82 percent in basic accounting level one while in level two he obtained 72 percent and not 38 and 57 percent as was alleged respectively.

He also refuted claims by NIPA that he was absent in some subjects in the third level and maintained that he sat for all the levels.

Masumba said the statement he produced before court was signed by NIPA examiner Clive Kawana whom he would call as one of his two witnesses.

He continues to defend himself on May 9, 2013.

Meanwhile, a witness yesterday told the court that out of the 20 bicycles alleged to have been stolen by deputy Foreign Affairs minister Gabriel Namulambe, only one was retrieved.

This is in a matter in which Namulambe is charged with theft by public servant.

Zambia Police Senior Crime Intelligence Officer Alfred Foloko told Principal Magistrate Wilfred Muma that according to investigations, the bicycles were not delivered to Lufyanyama as planned but were diverted to Namulambe’s constituency in Mpongwe.

Mr Foloko, 36, said around January 2012 a team was constituted to investigate the alleged theft of bicycles at the ministry of Mines.

He said it was later discovered that 20 bicycles had been stolen from the Kitwe bureau.

He said according to investigations, two of the bicycles were given by Namulambe to two employees while the other 18 were delivered to Mpongwe.

He said only one of the two bicycles was retrieved while the other 19 were not.

Trial continues on May 9, 2013.

Vice President Guy Scott has urged Zambians in the diaspora to wage a vicious counter campaign against the negative media campaign targeting President Michael Sata and the Patriotic Front (PF) government.

Dr Scott said it was the responsibility of every Zambian including those living outside the country to speak well about their own country when it comes under unfair attacks.

The Vice President said it was unfortunate that President Sata and PF government have been accused of bad governance record by certain sections of society when it was in fact true that progress has been made in the governance system of the country since the PF came to power in 2011.

Dr Scott cited the issuance of permits to all political players and equal coverage by the media as some of the positive strides scored by the PF government under the leadership of President Michael Sata.

The Vice President was speaking last night at the Zambian High commission when he addressed Zambians living in Kenya during a get together function.

On the appointment of opposition members of parliament into cabinet, Dr Scott explained that they were invited because the PF has the minority numbers in the house adding that the trend was not new as other former presidents like the late Dr Levy Mwanawasa also did the same to strengthen the governance system of the country.

“The appointments of opposition members of parliament are not meant to create a one party state as it is being alleged,” said Dr Scott.

The Vice President also dismissed media reports that campaigns by other political parties have not been going on in the country.

Meanwhile, Vice President Dr Guy Scott said investigations into allegations of corruption by former leaders is a universal trend which was not only happening in Zambia.

In apparent reference to former president Rupiah Banda who is currently undergoing court proceedings for alleged corrupt practices, Dr Scott gave an example of Brazil where former president Lula da Silva is being investigated.

And Dr Scott has assured Zambians living in the diaspora that the constitution road map is being driven by serious people and that the good job they are doing will culminate into a good document by July 2013.

and contributing to a question and answer session, former president Dr Kenneth Kaunda appealed to Zambians in the diaspora not to worry about the constitution road map as it is being handled by a team of able Zambians lead by Justice Annel Silungwe and other honest men and women who should wind up work by end of this year.

“I want to respond on behalf of the vice president the wonderful job being done by the PF back home”, said Dr Kaunda.

A Zambian catholic priest living in Nairobi Father Edeus Kalyepe asked the vice president to shed light on the constitution road – map which he said had lost momentum and was not within the 90 days promise made by the PF during its campaigns before the 2011 elections.

Meanwhile, Finance deputy minister Miles Sampa said government was looking at the possibility of creating an attractive package through which bank accounts could be opened for Zambians living in the diaspora in which they would be contributing funds to help devlop the country.

And president of the Association of Zambians living in Kenya Dr Dennis Mwanza said most of them here are want to come back home as soon as their tours of duty are over.

Among the prominent Zambians working in Kenya are former Copperbelt University vice chanvellor professor Mutale Musonda, former supreme court judge Dr Frederick Chomba, Evangelical Fellowship Church Director for East Africa Rev Dr Japhet Ndhlovu and Civil Society activist Samuel Mulafulafu.

Earlier, Zambian High Commissioner to Kenya Mary Zambezi said the mission in Nairobi had set-up a think tank comprising the prominent Zambians led by Prof Musonda to explore investment opportunities in Kenya to help create jobs and develop the Zambian economy.

ZANIS

Despite a court order releasing former President Rupiah Banda’s passport and official notification to immigration authorities approving his travel to Kenya for the inauguration, today authorities acting under instructions from President Michael Sata forcefully prevented him from boarding his flight, says his international lawyer Robert Amsterdam.

Former President Banda, who is currently facing a politically charged case, arrived to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka today for his flight to Nairobi bearing both his passport and a copy of the court order, but was stopped by immigration authorities that refused to process him, says Amsterdam.

At this point, an administrative assistant to former President Banda presented the court order from the Magistrate, which clearly orders the release of the passport and the permission to travel for the period of one week, and spoke by telephone with Zambia’s Chief Immigration Officer, who said “we have received orders not to process former President Banda from an authority higher than the court,” says Amsterdam.

“Today’s incident at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka represents a complete breakdown of the rule of law in Zambia, and a further indication that former President Banda cannot expect a fair trial,” said Amsterdam. “This shameful and embarrassing conduct is the result of an authoritarian state acting under the orders of a frightened and enfeebled president who is willing to break the law, violate rights, and ignore the judicial process in order to attack his opponents.”

Amsterdam continued: “Keep in mind that former President Banda has never been convicted of any wrongdoing, recall that the accusations against him are completely suspect, and, judging by thoroughly illegal handling removal of his immunity, it appears the Patriotic Front has lost all credibility as normal democratic government. This is not a normal case, and this is not a normal government, and today’s outrageous defilement of the judicial system is yet another reminder of the destruction wrought upon Zambia’s image as a democracy.”

United Party for National Development secretary general Winston Chibwe has described newly appointed Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe remarks against UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema as unfounded saying the opposition party was not moved by his allegations.

Chibwe said in an interview that Mr Munkombwe served in all Governments and there was a possibility he could still come back to the UPND to beg for a position when it forms Government in future.

“As UPND, we are not moved by the statement from Mr Munkombwe because we know what kind of a person he is. Since he has served in many Governments, when UPND forms a new Government, we know he will still come back to us to lobby for a position,” Mr Chibwe said.

He advised Mr Munkombwe to concentrate on his new appointment and work diligently instead of attacking the UPND at the expense of the much needed service delivery to Zambians.

Yesterday, Mr Munkombwe charged that the opposition UPND is not succeeding politically because of its leader Hakainde Hichilema who is allegedly running the party on tribal basis.

Mr Munkombwe, a veteran politician, said the Patriotic Front’s (PF) recent scooping of opposition held Livingstone parliamentarian seat from the UPND, was a good indication that the ruling party had safely penetrated the province.

He said politics of tribalism and individualism allegedly being championed by Mr Hichilema in Southern Province had continued to cost the party’s ability to grow.

“UPND also died the very day late Mazoka died. If you make individual calculations, you can see somebody who will form a Government like I saw that MMD will not form Government. I don’t think UPND in its current state can form a Government.

“As a veteran politician, I can’t even give advice to arrogant leaders. Tribalism in itself is insufficient because it only confines itself to a small area and not the country at large. This is dangerous,” he said.

He said the death of UPND leader Anderson Mazoka also marked the ‘death’ and continuous sinking of the opposition party under Mr Hichilema.

[pullquote]“UPND also died the very day late Mazoka died. If you make individual calculations, you can see somebody who will form a Government like I saw that MMD will not form Government. I don’t think UPND in its current state can form a Government.[/pullquote]

He said the PF managed to win the Livingstone seat because it never confined itself to campaigns on tribal lines adding that the party would continue to pull more votes within the province.

He advised Zambians to denounce politics bordering on tribal lines saying such political acts were not healthy to uniting citizens and subsequently fostering national development.

“I have been in politics for many years and I can see that the people of Southern Province are getting tired, irritated for voting for UPND under tribal and regional basis,” he said.

He said the people of Southern Province had seen nothing concrete with some politicians promoting tribalism hence most of them had resorted to joining PF because of its inclusive policies.

Mr Munkombwe said the Livingstone seat was scoped by PF due to team work exhibited by the PF leadership.

He said the victory could not only be attributed to him alone but the entire ruling party because they promoted the spirit of togetherness and running the party inclusively.

He urged Mr Hichilema to consider forming a coalition of already existing opposition parties saying that could be an avenue for him to form a Government in future.

He said President Michael Sata was moving national affairs in the right direction and was confident that Government would deliver tangible developmental projects that Zambians wanted.

He pledged to play a cardinal role of stabilising the ruling party to make it stronger as long as he was still energetic because he was impressed with its political ideologies.

He said he managed to work with all Governments in the past because he was hardworking, honest and combative in politics which had helped him to be co-opted by many Governments.

Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda says Government wants to increase the pace at which the Zambian economy is developing in order to improve the welfare of people in the country.

Speaking today when he met the Government leader of Shenzeng in the Chinese Province of Guangdong, Mr Chikwanda said government is not impressed with the rate at which Zambia is developing.

“We want it to develop 10 times at this rate, so we are currently working very hard so that we can develop the way that China is developing,” he said.

He said the country has enormous resources with a good climate and peaceful people who are culturally hospitable, which he described as value addition to economic development.

Mr Chikwanda observed that the most precious resource that a country could have is people saying China managed to develop because the construction works of its massive infrastructure was labour intensive.

He attributed China’s heroic performance in developing to the Cultural Revolution by Chairman Mao, the founding father of that country.

Mr Chikwanda stated that chairman Mao instilled confidence in the people of China saying people cannot make innovations without confidence.

“He made the Chinese people believe in themselves after which they worked together to contribute to the development of China,” he said.

He observed that Zambia has been lagging behind because there have been no innovations and that people have been adopting the western culture.

“People want to dress like those of the western,” he said.

Mr Chikwanda commended China for its support in implementing developmental programmes especially in infrastructure development, which he said is a major factor to development.

He stated that Zambia has nearly the same population as Shenzeng with a vast land of 752, 000 square kilometers though development in Shenzeng has grown at a tremendous speed.

And Mr Xu Qin said Zambia has the potential to grow due to its enormous natural resources of water and minerals.

Mr Qin said China wants to make Shenzeng as an economic model due to developments made through the establishment an economic zone.

Earlier, a high level delegation of Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and other government officials led by Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda today visited Shenzeng Museum to get a clear understanding of how the established economic zones transformed Shenzeng into one of the richest cities in China.

Shenzeng city leads in high-tech, financial services, foreign trade, shipping and creative cultural industries, which have also been enhanced with the country’s structural reforms and broader opening to the outside world.

ZANIS