Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Labour Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga has said that all the appointments made in government are based on merit and not political affiliation or compensation for doing someone a favor.

His comments came after Shiwang’angu Member of Parliament Steve Kampyongo said most staff from the Post Newspaper have been appointed as compensation for covering the ruling party and cited Mr Malupenga as one of the beneficiaries.

The Permanent Secretary was taken to task for what they called underperformance of the Zambia News and Information Services staff in the districts whom they accused of not delivering to the expectation of the public.

Chairperson of the committee Kabinga Pande explained that ZANIS reporters in the district were never available whenever he and other MPs visits their respective area saying the merger of Zambia News Agency and Zambia Information Services have not worked to the advantage of the public as there have been no improvement.

But in his response Mr Malupenga said ZANIS which is a government mouthpiece was operating more than a mere a Public Relations department of government but noted that he will not take underperformance from his staff.

And Mr Malupenga has said that unprofessional coverage of the public media during the run up to the September 2011 polls has left government with debts amounting to billions Kwacha resulting from law suits.

Mr Malupenga said his ministry has so far settled about K20 million debts incurred by Chanda Chiimba’s documentary which was aired on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).

Speaking when he appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Information, Broadcasting and Labour yesterday, Mr Malupenga said his Ministry has a lot of debts resulting from unprofessional conduct of the Public Media which include ZNBC, Zambia Daily Mail and Times of Zambia.

Mr Malupenga told the committee that the Ministry has realized that Public resources were being used on such unbeneficial expenses and has written to the Attorney General to seek legal advice as to whether government should continue paying the debts or not.

[pullquote]Mr Malupenga said his ministry has so far settled about K20 million debts incurred by Chanda Chiimba’s documentary which was aired on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).[/pullquote]

He disclosed that the previous government committed itself to settling legal fees resulting from such law suits which he said was not fair for tax payers whose money is being used without their consent.

Mr Malupenga who appeared with his team to submit to the committee on the conduct of media houses during election time and whether they abided by the provision of the electoral code of conduct, he said the media operated below professional standards hence their failure to offer fair and balanced coverage to all players.

He noted that the media had in the past operated under the influence of politicians from the ruling party and the government which he said compromised their professional ethics.

He however observed that the Patriotic front Government has de-politicized the media by giving them a leeway to carry out their work professionally without any political interference.

He said the current government would like to leave the media operate independently hence the intention to offload 35% from the public media to the public so that government can have no control over the media houses.
He said the move will make the public media’s operations more professional and responsive to the expectations of the general public.

He further observed in his submission that the private media on the other hand were perceived to be pro opposition as they gave more coverage to the opposition than the ruling party which he justified that cannot be hanged as they are privately owned and controlled.

ZANIS

MMD presidential aspirant Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane has said the former ruling party is already tired to be in opposition.

Dr Musokotwane, who is former Finance and National Planning minister in the MMD Government, said the members were already tired in opposition and wanted to go back into power.

Addressing MMD members in Chipata yesterday, he urged the members to work hard in ensuring that they got back into power as soon as possible.

“The party feels that it is already tired to be in opposition and it is now time for the party members to work and get back into power as soon as possible probably in the 2016 general elections,” he said.

Dr Musokotwane said four other presidential aspiring candidates had already agreed to support whoever was going to emerge victorious at the party national convention.

He said the former ruling party had projected to retain its majority and wrestle power from the Patriotic Front (PF) in the 2016 elections.

Dr Musokotwane said during the MMD tenure, the money was sourced for the completion of the Chipata-Mchinji Railway line including the tarring of the Chipata-Mfuwe and Chipata-Lundazi roads as well as construction of many schools around the country.

He said MMD had proved to the nation that it was the most DemocraticParty as it was not involved in any violence after its defeat in the September 20 tripartite elections.

Earlier Lusaka Province MMD Women’s Chairperson Mary Phiri said theformer ruling party wanted a person who would not sell the party to other political parties.

She said the party in Lusaka province was behind the candidature of DrMusokotwane to succeed former republican president Rupiah Banda asparty president.

She said the MMD lost because many parliamentary candidates were campaign managers themselves.

And Chipata District MMD Chairperson Sinoya Mwale said the party in the district was still intact.

Meanwhile, there was a near exchange of bitter words between Eastern Province MMD information and publicity secretary Joseph Banda and MMD Kanjala ward councillor Jelasi Phiri.

This was after Mr Banda stood and started addressing MMD members in English and Mr Phiri told Mr Banda to speak in Nyanja to make it easier for the people who had gathered to understand.

[Times of Zambia]

UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema has said his continued condemnation of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is not out of bitterness or jealous but meant to represent the “voiceless”.

Mr Hichilema has also charged that the suspension of Siavonga District Council is malicious and a ploy to sort out those against the re-alignment process affecting Southern Province.

Featuring on the Radio Phoenix’s ‘Let The People Talk’ programme in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Hichilema said contrary to assertions by some callers and other sections of society, he was not in any way bitter or jealous about his party not being part of Government after it broke away from the pact it had with the PF before the September 20, 2011 tripartite elections.

“Bitterness does not arise,” he said.

Mr Hichilema said he would continue to criticise the PF Government when it was wrong and offer solutions to that effect, saying he was speaking on behalf of the voiceless people by being vocal and that fighting for national issues called for fearlessness and firmness.

He said he was not bitter because being a Republican president did not mean appeasing oneself, but service delivery for the benefit of the entire nation.

He charged that the coming into power of the PF had resulted in the depreciation of the Kwacha against the United States Dollar, attributing that to among others President Michael Sata and Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Robert Sichinga “attacking” of the local currency by alleging that the MMD Government had printed fake currency notes in China.

Mr Hichilema challenged Mr Sichinga to apologise to the former ruling party, the Chinese government, Bank of Zambia and the country as a whole for allegedly lying, alarming the nation and creating “pressure” on the Kwacha. He commended Finance and National Planning Minister Alexander Chikwanda for setting the record straight.

Mr Hichilema reiterated that President Sata was exhibiting dictatorial attributes as if he came into power through a military coup by, among others, allegedly making decisions without consultations and ordering the police to arrest certain individuals without first conducting investigations.

He said under the PF Government, people were deemed guilty before ruling from the courts of law and that the fight against corruption was selective, unprofessional and vindictive, wondering why former Msanzala MMD Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Daka had his bank
accounts frozen before taking him to court.

On the re-alignment process, the UPND leader said despite it being convenient there was no need to do that as what was important was to deliver development in affected areas.

He said re-alignment was a recipe of conflict over land and cited Chilanga where he said there was a land wrangle involving Chief Shakumbila, because Mr Sata was making “grave mistakes” of not consulting.

He said the move by Local Government, Early Education and Environmental Protection Minister Nkandu Luo to suspend the Siavonga District Council was malicious as it was an instruction from Mr Sata aimed at silencing councillors and other officials against the re-alignment of Chirundu District to Lusaka.

Mr Hichilema said the re-alignment of Chirundu District to Lusaka would benefit the capital city at the expense of Southern Province.

Mr Hichilema said the PF Government had failed on the score of de-politicising the civil service as it had emulated the MMD by appointing cadres as District Commissioners and others deployed into Foreign Service.

On the recent rebasing of the Kwacha, he said the move was costly as the printing of the new currency notes would gobble an unbudgeted K1 trillion, the money he said would have been channeled to other needy economic sectors such as health and education.

He predicted a budget overrun. On the suspension of funding to the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC), Mr Hichilema said the move would render some youths benefitting or were about to gain from it jobless, saying the Government should have just corrected the wrongs the MMD had left instead of suspending funding.

On the appointment of Stella Libongani as Inspector General of Police, Mr Hichilema advised her to work professionally for the benefit of all Zambians and not to please the appointing authority or to work on instructions from the President.

[Times of Zambia]

The Descendants is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney) an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family’s land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries.

PROS

• Hawaii was a very nice setting for the movie.
• George Clooney did a good job in this movie , you will really feel for his character.
• Amara Miller, a first-time actress, was an absolute natural as the naughty but lovable 10-year-old Scottie .
• Sid (Nick Krause ), the some-what annoying   friend of Alex ( Shailene Woodley)  ,provides the comic relief in the movie

CONS

• At times the movie seems to drag on with no direction.

FAVORITE QUOTES

Matt King: I don’t want my daughters growing up entitled and spoiled. And I agree with my father – you give your children enough money to do something but not enough to do nothing.

Sid: How often do adults just haul off and hit you like that?

CONCLUSION

This movie is supposed to be a comedy/drama , but it is more of a serious drama . This is a good thing because it touches on real life themes which would be cheapened if too much humor was put in the movie.  Clooneys role as the absentee father who grows into the task of parenthood because of unexpected events , was portrayed excellently . It is quite a sad movie , but it makes you realize the importance of family .

RATING

4 out of 5

BY Kapa187

Church of God Bishop John Mambo has expressed sadness over the practice of homosexuality in the country.

He was speaking in a telephone interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Bishop Mambo said that Zambia is a Christian nation and such practices should not be tolerated in the country.

Bishop Mambo urged the government to engage the church and the civil society in fighting the vice that is slowly corrupting the country.

He noted that homosexuality is not in the Zambian culture and God created man and woman for intended purposes.

Bishop Mambo added that foreign rules should not corrupt the country’s good morals in order to eradicate poverty by involving the Zambian people in illicit activities.

He said that government should not accept donations from any donors who are advocating the performance of homosexuality in order to be assisted.

Bishop Mambo appealed to the public not to entertain such acts as it is forbidden in the bible and added that as a country we should emulate Christ.

He was commenting after two men from Matero township were found to be involved in homosexuality activities.

ZANIS

The United Party for National Development (UPND) says Chiefs Mukuni and Chikanta will be the ones to respond to Chief Mwanachingwala’s claims that the UPND forced some traditional leaders to reject the government’s realignment of some districts in southern province.

UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has told QFM that it would not be right for the UPND to start exchanging words with Chief Mwanachingwala who has accused the party of having influenced the chiefs’ decision to reject the realignment of some districts.

Mr. Mweetwa adds that it would also be illogical for the party to respond to media reports as Chief Mwanachingwala has not officially communicated to UPND on his concerns that the party politically engineered a meeting for traditional leaders.

Last weekend some chiefs in southern province led by chiefs Mukuni and Chikanta resolved during a meeting not to allow government to realign Chirundu and Itezhi- tezhi districts Lusaka and Central provinces respectively.

However, Chief Mwanachingwala has urged the government to view the resolutions null and void saying the UPND had forced the chiefs to reject the realignment of the districts in southern province.

Meanwhile, Former Local Government and Housing deputy Minister Moses Muteteka has commended the minister of local government Nkandu Luo for suspending Siavonga district council on allegations of corruption.

Speaking to Qfm in Lusaka yesterday, Mr. Muteteka said there is need to ensure that elements of corruption in the local governance system are discarded without hesitation.

Mr. Muteteka has however demanded for an explanation from the current minister on what she is doing about the report into corruption allegations involving the previous Lusaka City Council which he says had a number of flaws.

He says it will be prudent for government to take action on the LCC report before embarking on investigating other councils.

Yesterday, Professor Luo suspended the Siavonga district council with immediate to pave way for investigations into the alleged corrupt practices by senior officers.

She said her ministry has received reliable reports that some senior council officers who among them is the council secretary were involved in the illegal allocation of plots.

QFM

President Michael Sata has appointed newly elected Msanzala PF Member of Parliament Colonel Joseph Lungu as Deputy Minister of Defence in-charge of Rural Development and Zambia National Service. This is contained in a congratulatory messages released to the media by State House today.

The President sent heartfelt congratulations to all Patriotic Front (PF) functionaries who worked tirelessly to defeat the opposition MMD-UPND alliance in the just-ended Msanzala parliamentary by-election.

The President said the Msanzala victory signifies the ruling party’s grand entry into Eastern Province and further affirms the people’s resolve to endorse and support PF’s efforts to deliver the change they voted for on 20th September 2011.

“Indeed, this is a momentous achievement for our party as it has demonstrated to all doubting minds that in fact, our historic victory last September was understated due to the widespread electoral mal-practices by the previous regime,” President Sata said.

“With sincerity of heart, I take this opportunity to express my utmost appreciation to our secretariat and the rank and file of our party for this well-deserved victory. You are further encouraged to work harder to mobilise and explain our party programmes across the entire length and breadth of the country.”

And President Sata has also commended the PF for decisively winning a ward seat in Zambezi West constituency in North-Western Province and another two wards in Petauke district.

The President assured that PF will never take the goodwill and support it is enjoying from the Zambian people for granted.

“As a broad-based party with a proven national appeal we will therefore continue to work even harder to gain new ground. We are determined to break all tribal and ethnic barriers just ensure that our people receive the desired development in their respective regions, “the President said.

[pullquote]“Indeed, this is a momentous achievement for our party as it has demonstrated to all doubting minds that in fact, our historic victory last September was understated due to the widespread electoral mal-practices by the previous regime,” President Sata said. [/pullquote]

The Head of State said the Msanzala and Zambezi victories send a clear message to the opposition alliance that time for misplaced bitterness and unjustified criticism is long gone because Zambians were more interested in messages of hope and assurance such as those enabling the ruling party to win elections.

“We are more confident in the collective wisdom, understanding and judgment of the Zambian people now than ever before because they are able to distinguish genuine criticism from sour grapes and mere media stunts by those who do not mean well for this country,” President Sata said.

“As custodians of the Zambian people’s interests we will continue to listen, uphold the rule of law and deliver to the best of our abilities to move this country forward. Grave bitterness and negativity will be left to those with sectional interests to protect.”

CHIEF Mwanachingwala of Mazabuka has said that the resolutions by some chiefs in Southern province who met in Choma over the re-alignment of Chirundu and Itezhi Tezhi districts by President Sata should be declared null and void because the resolutions were politically engineered by the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).

Henry Chibulu reports from Mazabuka that Chief Mwanachingwala said government should not take the resolutions seriously because they do not reflect the views of the chiefs but the UPND leadership.

He said traditional rulers who attended did not know the agenda and were forced to travel by the opposition UPND which also paid them allowances.

The traditional ruler said government should call for an Indaba and explain to chiefs the benefits of re-aligning the districts as most of them are ignorant on the matter adding that the opposition is taking advantage of government’s failure to allow dialogue on the matter.

Chief Mwanachingwala said the Choma meeting was political and did not represent the aspirations of the traditional rulers and their subjects but was meant to drive the hidden agenda of the UPND.

He wondered what could be expected from a stage managed meeting, stating that the chiefs who attended the meeting did not think on their own but were being pushed by the UPND to issue such statements.

Chief Mwanachingwala has disclosed that Mazabuka central member of parliament, Garry Nkombo called him to fix an appointment to discuss the issue regarding the re-alignment of Chirundu and Itezhi Tezhi districts to Lusaka and Central provinces respectively.

He said chiefs in the province should not allow themselves to be used by the UPND to fight government without exhausting dialogue.

Chief Mwanachingwala said chiefs in the province are eager to meet President Sata to discuss the matter and help them understand the benefits of re-aligning the districts.

The traditional ruler has since advised his colleagues to take advantage of the newly established ministry of Chiefs and traditional affairs to express their grievances to government instead of being misled by the opposition to fight government.

And Chief Mwanachingwala has advised the UPND leadership to stop issuing statements without consulting him.

He said he is disappointed with the UPND for misinforming the nation that he attended a meeting for chiefs in Choma when he did not.

Chief Mwanachingwala said he is aware that the UPND want to create friction between him and the government by using his name.

He said he will not allow the UPND to destroy his good image before the government.

Meanwhile, Chief Mwanachingwala has invited Southern province minister, Miles Sampa to visit him at the palace.

The chief said Sampa is free to work in the province adding that no one has the right to order for his removal except the appointing authority.

QFM