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Prove your innocence in court, Katele Kalumba advise MMD leaders

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Dr Katele Kalumba
Dr Katele Kalumba

FORMER MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba has advised former leaders under investigations not to rush to the media to defend themselves but instead wait for security wings to conclude their investigations.

Dr Kalumba said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that there was no need for the former leaders under investigations to cry foul but should instead defend themselves in the courts if at all they felt they were innocent.

“My advice to those under investigations is that they should not rush to the media to defend themselves.

“If they feel they are innocent let them defend themselves in the courts of law instead of fighting their battles in the media. That is my only advice to them,” he said.

Several MMD former ministers are currently under investigations over alleged abuse of public resources.

And CARITAS – Zambia executive director, Sam Mulafulafu has said all corrupt leaders from the previous MMD government should be brought to book without delay.

In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Mulafulafu said corruption in the MMD government was rampant and that those who would be found to have abused public resources should face the law immediately.

He, however, said current leaders should be monitored to ensure they did not fall into the same trap.

Mr Mulafulafu applauded the Patriotic Front (PF) Government’s efforts to stamp out corruption saying, however, that the campaign against the scourge should be done within the rule of law.

He said the Government should sustain the fight against corruption so that the root causes of the vice were completely wiped out.

“Corruption in the last three years was rampant and as such former leaders found wanting should be brought to book. In the same vein, current leaders should also be monitored instead of waiting until they are out of office and this is where we go wrong,” Mr Mulafulafu said.

[Times of Zambia]

Guy Scott roasts George Kunda

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Republican Vice President Guy Scott
Republican Vice President Guy Scott

VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott has challenged MMD chairperson for legal affairs George Kunda to substantiate claims that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is using the fight against corruption to intimidate former leaders.

Dr Scott said Mr Kunda’s accusations were baseless and meant to divert attention from the fight against corruption.

The vice-president said the Government had seized cash, bicycles, motor vehicles, hotels, houses and several other properties suspected to have been stolen.

He wondered whether seizure of properties worth billions of Kwacha could be intimidation when former leaders who acquired them had no capacity to finance construction of high-class buildings.

He said the country witnessed one of the most expensive campaigns in the history of the country, undertaken by the MMD.

Dr Scott said instead of making accusations against PF, Mr Kunda should help explain how the MMD acquired the resources.

Mr Kunda on Tuesday told journalists that the PF Government was vindictive and targeted former government officials to silence the opposition.

He urged the former leaders to brace for hard times as the Government was seeking to arrest and victimise them.

But the vice-president said Mr Kunda should speak with facts and explain what security wings should do where cash, bicycles and other properties were being recovered.

The former vice-president also said the Government has set up commissions of inquiry to get to the bottom of questionable transactions.

“Let Mr Kunda say whatever he wants to say but the fight against corruption will continue. The Katundu (property) is there. It has been recovered but we don’t know where it came from,” Dr Scott said.

He said the Government has never fought the MMD from inception as alleged by Mr Kunda and that President Michael Sata had embraced every political party in the governance of the nation.

He said the appointment of MMD MPs to positions as deputy ministers was part of the plan to promote unity.

Dr Scott said if President Sata was president for PF members only, many people who served in the MMD would not have been involved in the governance of the nation.

[Times of Zambia]

LCC collecting K600m monthly from Intercity after getting rid of political cadres

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Council Public Relations Officer, Henry Kapata
Council Public Relations Officer, Henry Kapata

THE LUSAKA City Council is collecting revenue worth K600 million per month from inter-city bus terminus since political cadres were banned from running the bus station last year.

LCC public relations officer Henry Kapata said in an interview in Lusaka on Tuesday that in the past, revenue from the bus stations was being pocketed by cadres, a trend which has since been reversed.

Mr Kapata said since the directive by Vice-President Guy Scott to depoliticise bus stations and markets, cadres are no longer interfering with these facilities.

“Currently, we can confirm that the local authority is collecting K600 million per month, from intercity bus station,” he said.

He said the cadres are cooperating following several meetings with them through the market and bus managers, tasked to run the facilities.

He dismissed reports that some cadres were defying the Vice-President’s directive by clinging to bus stations and markets.

Mr Kapata said the focus now is to ensure that the revenue from intercity, which is an international bus station, is ploughed back into the facility by modernising it.

He said part of the money will be used to establish a police station and improve sanitation at the bus station.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Cancelling Fratelli contract possible – State

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THE Road Development Agency (RDA) says it is ready to terminate the over K300 billion Pedicle Road contract awarded to Fratelli Locci of Italy, from whom former President Rupiah Banda’s son Andrew has admitted receiving a “payment” which he says is not a” kickback”.

RDA management last week met to assess the unimpressive pace at which Fratelli Locci, owned by one Antonello Locci, is mobilising equipment for the project which should have started on October 26, 2011.

The agency is preparing a report to the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication on the delayed project for consideration.

“We were discussing that last week because we thought that it will be important for us to do a report in terms of status of the project and where it should have been at this moment…once we do that they (the ministry) will give us guidance as government.

“If they tell us to terminate, we have no quarrel, we can terminate immediately but at least we will have advised our Government on the loss that RDA will incur and RDA represents government. Our role here is to give Government professional advice…” RDA senior manager for construction and rehabilitation Ronald Nyangu said in an exclusive interview in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr Nyangu said the RDA management is not happy with the pace at which Fratelli Locci has been mobilising equipment for the 70 kilometre road, which has been on the drawing board for years now.

He clarified that RDA has not yet paid Fratelli Locci anything because of the public outcry.

Mr Nyangu said the Italian firm, which has already reaped K142.6 billion from the Zambian government for the two contracts it was awarded to rehabilitate township roads in Ndola and Mufulira under the MMD government’s so-called “formula-one”, has submitted performance security and an advance guarantee from Banc ABC, requesting the RDA for an advance payment for the Pedicle project.

He could not give his impression on the quality of Fratelli Locci’s work that gobbled the K142.6 billion because the “formula-one” project was being supervised by some officers who were recently fired from RDA.

Mr Nyangu added that after assessing the Pedicle Road project, management found that despite the slow pace, Fratelli Locci is on course to mobilise equipment.

“So we found it difficult to terminate immediately and instead what we did as management was to consider whether to terminate the contract, especially in the light of the cries we are getting from the people.

“We also recognised the fact that if we terminated then, Government would be liable to pay termination costs. There will be costs for loss of profit by the contractor, and then there will be cost for the equipment he has mobilised and to demobilise that equipment. Then there are other costs that go with termination of the contract and all those will be lumped on government but meanwhile, nothing will have been done,” he said.

Mr Nyangu could not confirm if it is true that Fratelli Locci was introduced to the RDA by Andrew Banda.

“I wouldn’t say that Fratelli was introduced to RDA by one of the sons of the former President because my role here is to implement projects…when we tender, we do open tender and anyone who has capacity on the Zambian market is free to participate in that tender. When they tender we evaluate, and once we evaluate there is a process that we follow.

“So whether they were introduced by the former President’s son or not, that I would not know because I look at the documents as they come and those documents don’t indicate how this person has come. We have so many contractors from China and South Africa who are introduced on the Zambian market by many different people, but for us to consider them they produce papers that show that they are qualified to do that kind of job,” he said.

Tarring of the Pedicle Road, the shortest route between Copperbelt and Luapula provinces, will cost Government exactly K313, 887,290,717.78 70 and is scheduled to be completed on October 25, 2013.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Mumbi could face arrest for circulating stories that Sata has only 7 months to live

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William Banda with Edward Mumbi at the Lusaka magistrate court recently

RETIRED politician Edward Mumbi faces possible arrest if security reports linking him to a group of people circulating stories that President Michael Sata’s health has greatly deteriorated are corroborated, the Daily Mail has learnt.

Security reports show that the group which could be led by Mr. Mumbi, a former MMD supporter, has given President Sata only about seven months to live due to “unspecified” ill health.

Mr. Mumbi, who once served as a secretary general of the PF, distanced himself from the reports, saying whoever was circulating the report was doing so in bad faith as he has not wished Mr. Sata “ill” ever since he quit politics and Mr. Sata won the September 20 election.

President Sata is not “happy” with the reports and has reacted by saying that they in fact border on “illegality” via a phone interview, through his special assistant for press and public relations George Chellah yesterday.

Mr. Chellah, who “hoped” the reports were “untrue” for the sake of Mr. Mumbi, advised the retired politician to “lay low” rather than incriminate himself on a potentially “illegal” exercise that could land him in serious trouble.

“If what you are saying is true, Mr. Mumbi’s action clearly borders on an illegality,” Mr. Chellah said. “As far as we are concerned the President is enjoying good health. What is sad, however, is that this is not the first time this rumour is being maliciously circulated.”

Mr. Chellah cautioned Mr. Mumbi saying, “Mr. Michael Sata, the President, is not the same Michael Sata he knew as an opposition leader…he has become President of Zambia and despite the fact that we don’t engage in meaningless verbal exchanges, we would like to caution Mr. Mumbi not to be a part of the group of people peddling these “UnAfrican” rumours because Mr. Sata is President and that makes such statements illegal, sensitive and alarming.”

Mr. Chellah added: “The President has a country to run, poverty levels to reduce and such reckless reports are an unnecessary distraction which must be avoided by all means. We have tolerated him in the past but we won’t tolerate him any more if he continues on this reckless path.”

Mr. Mumbi, who opted to drive over to the Daily Mail when contacted, practically pleaded with the newspaper saying, “I have nothing against Mr. Sata as a President and an elder brother because he has the people’s blessings to rule the country after being democratically elected. I think the people linking me to the “unChristian” reports are MMD elements who are disappointed by my quitting after I discovered that they were in the habit of burying money underground.”

Mr. Mumbi—despite having announced that he had quit politics—has been linked to reports of an MMD faction that is counting on “ill health exit” by Mr. Sata in order to take over government.

The politician, who addressed himself as “former PF secretary general” long after he had left the party, citing irreconcilable differences, told the Daily Mail that he is now just happy to rear chickens for a living.

During the election campaign period ahead of September 20, Mr. Mumbi was used extensively like a blunt object by the MMD propaganda wing, to punch as many holes as possible in Mr. Sata’s character and the PF as a party but all his efforts were futile.

He was counted in the same once ‘mighty’ league as Chanda Chimba III, Edwin Lifwekelo and Humphrey Siulapwa of the New Generation Party and cast President Sata in bad light, whenever the State-run media gave them an audience.

Yesterday, however, he said, “Even if you are a rocket scientist, you have to be mad to criticise Mr. Sata’s policies in three months. However, I still maintain that I differed with him on principle.”

ADD president Charles Milupi condemned the people circulating rumours about the President’s health saying it is spiritually and morally wrong for anyone to say the President may die soon.

“Let’s put our politics on the right path and stop peddling lies. It’s wrong,” he said. Mr. Milupi said only God knows when anyone will die. He said those wishing the President to die will not benefit from his death in any way.

“Even if President Sata died today, they won’t take over the PF and the MMD won’t come into office,” Mr. Milupi said.
The people spreading such alarming and false rumours must stop immediately.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

WORKOUT LIKE HUGH JACKMAN

  Hugh Jackman does some intense workouts to get in shape for movies like “Wolverine” and “Reel Steel”. Here is a sample of his workout  it is divided into two phases ; bulking up and cutting.

Phase one: bulking up

I do no more than an hour – but the training is pretty intense,” says Jackman. Perform this circuit twice a week, with at least two days’ rest to allow your muscles to recover and function at full tilt every time you attempt it. For each exercise in your workout, use the rep structure below. Make sure you are lifting the maximum possible weight – so that you are close to failure with the last rep of every set.

Set 1 8 reps (120 secs rest) 
Set 2 6 reps (120 secs rest) 
Set 3 4 reps (120 secs rest) 
Bonus set 1 rep max with a spotter

The Workout


Bench-press

  • Lie on a bench holding a barbell above your chest with both hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
  • Lower the bar to your chest, then push explosively back to the start.
  • When you push the heavier sets, use a spotter, to avoid crushing your ribs.

 


Incline dumb-bell fly

  • Lie on a incline bench, holding two dumb-bells above your chest, palms facing in.
  • Open your arms sideways until your upper arms are parallel with the floor, twisting the dumb-bells to face your feet as your arms move down.
  • Engage your chest to return your arms to the start position, reversing the twist


Close-grip barbell press

  • Lie on a bench below a barbell rack. Hold the bar with your hands about 20cm apart.
  • Keep your elbows tucked in to your sides and lower the bar slowly to your chest.
  • Then push back upwards in a controlled motion.
  • You should feel this working the centre of your chest and in your triceps.


Tricep dip

  • At a dip station get into the starting position with arms straight.
  • Keep your wrists locked and abs tight. Bend your arms at the elbows until they reach 90 degrees.
  • Then push back up. To add weight, hold a dumb-bell, weight-plate between your knees.


Press-up

  • Get into a press-up position.
  • Keeping your elbows tucked in and core locked tight, lower until your nose is an inch from the ground.
  • Push back to the start position.
  • To build more muscle, Jackman gets a spotter to place a weight plate on his shoulder-blades.


Phase two: cutting

In the second 6-week phase of Jackman’s regime, use lighter weights, higher reps and vicious cardio sessions to strip body fat without losing muscle. “Training wise, speed it up,” Jackman says. Perform the same circuit as Phase 1 but with lower weights and higher reps. Then perform a cardio session .

Interval cardio

 Warm up, then Sprint hard for 15-20 secs. Rest for 30 secs. Repeat for 10 sprints. After some time you will be able to sprint for longer times.


BY KAPA187

Chamanga, Nyirenda Battle To Best Jan 10 Deadline

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James Chamanga and Thomas Nyirenda are in a serious fitness race before Herve Renard names his final 23-man team on January 10.

Faz communications officer Erick Mwanza said in a statement that the injured duo is set for a fitness test this weekend.

Both striker Chamanga of Dailan Shide in China and defender Nyirenda of Konkola Blades travelled with the team to its South African training camp after Christmas nursing injuries.

Chamanga suffered his injury in December who Nyirenda sustained his in November.

And Mwanza revealed that the Israeli based duo of Roger Kola and Justin Zulu were expected to join the team at its Johannesburg training camp by Thursday morning.

Zambia to start importing fuel from Angola

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Zambia plans to start importing refined petroleum products from neighbouring Angola to lower the cost of fuel.

Energy permanent secretary George Zulu has told Reuters that oil-rich Angola was willing to supply Zambia with petroleum, which the country has been importing from the Middle East.

Mr Zulu says a technical team led by the minister of energy will travel to Angola next week to discuss the details of importing finished petroleum products.

He says government has been looking at ways of bringing down the cost of fuel and that so far it seems the answer lies in importing fuel from neighbouring Angola.

Mr Zulu adds that technical team traveling to Angola would also explore the possibility of jointly putting up a pipeline from Angola to Zambia.

Zambia relies on semi-refined oil imports from the Middle East but has been studying plans to import crude oil from Angola and set up a new oil refinery locally.

President Michael Sata apologised to Angola in October for the MMD government’s backing of the former UNITA rebels led by Jonas Savimbi in the country’s 27-year civil war.

QFM

By-elections,ballots to be printed outside – ECZ

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ECZ Director Priscilla Isaac
ECZ Director Priscilla Isaac

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has said that ballot papers for the forthcoming Msanzala parliamentary by-election will still be printed outside the country.

ECZ Director Priscilla Isaac in a statement released to media explained that the Commission will outsource the printing of ballot papers because the Government Printers is still not able to meet the full requirements and specifications for the printing of ballot papers.

Ms Isaac said that the tender process for the identification of a printer has started and that all stakeholders will be advised once the Commission has identified a suitable printer to print the ballot papers for the Msanzala parliamentary by-election and four local government by-elections.

The ECZ Director was earlier in the day quoted by ZNBC News as saying ballot papers for the forthcoming by-elections will be printed locally, and that the selected local printer would be announced in due course.

Meanwhile Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) president Alex Ng’oma has backed calls to have ballot papers for the forthcoming Msanzala parliamentary by-elections printed locally.

[pullquote]President Michael Sata recently said the Chongwe, Nakonde and Magoye by elections were the last to use materials printed abroad.[/pullquote]

In an interview with Qfm, Dr. Ng’oma has expressed happiness that Zambians have now realized that printing election materials outside the country is a costly exercise.

Dr. Ng’oma said that it was time for the PF government to implement its pronouncements of investing in the Government Printers.

He explained that government should heed the calls by stakeholders in ensuring that the country’s electoral system is desirable in upholding democratic tenets.

President Michael Sata recently said the Chongwe, Nakonde and Magoye by elections were the last to use materials printed abroad.

QFM

Zesco Unveil Nyirenda, Mumba Moves To Zanaco

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Zesco United today unveiled their new coach while Zanaco appointed Wedson Nyirenda successor.

Nyirenda was unveiled to the press at the Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola on Wednesday morning as new Zesco coach on a three year deal.

The former Zanaco coach returned to Zesco three years after leading them to their first and second league titles in 2007 and 2008.

He joined Zanaco in 2009 where he won the league title that season before resigning last term after two subsequent modest and trophyless years.

Meanwhile, Zanaco have replaced Nyirenda with Keagan Mumba who leaves Konkola Blades after one season in charge of the Chililabombwe club.

Mumba has signed a three-year deal as Zanaco bank on him to replicate his 2011 success at Blades who he guided to a rare third place finish

Kansanshi mine strike is illegal says FQM

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First Quantum Minerals

First Quantum Minerals says the strike action by miners at its Kansanshi mine in Solwezi is illegal.

Workers at the Kansanshi mine, Zambia’s largest copper mine which produced 231,000 tonnes of the red metal in 2010, downed tools on Tuesday demanding 100 percent pay rises and bringing production to a halt.

Company spokesperson Godfrey Msiska says there was no deadlock reached and as far as the management is concerned the strike is illegal.

He confirmed that the strike action by the workers has entered the second day today, with workers blocking the gate to the mine plant.

Mr Msiska has appealed to union officials to convince the workers to go back to work so that negotiations, which had been suspended because of the strike, could resume.

[Reuters]

PF government will never interfere in the operations of any media organization-Lubinda

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Given Lubinda
Given Lubinda
Information, Broadcasting and Tourism minister Given Lubinda has reiterated that the Patriotic Front government has never and will never harbor intentions of interfering with the operations of the media.

Mr. Lubinda says the PF government will never interfere in the operations of any media organization, not even the public media.

He says government believes that journalists once given the leeway are capable of operating professionally.

Mr. Lubinda notes that media organizations are capable of finding the balance for their news,hence can not be criticized for not covering any politician regardless of political affiliation.

and radio Q-FM Managing director Asan Nyama says the current PF government has an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the previous government in dealing with the media in the country.

Mr. Nyama says the previous government failed to initiate policies that would have benefited the stakeholders in the media in the area of coverage.

He says under the previous MMD government, the state attempted to transform the private media into state run media by dictating the operations of most private radio stations including QFM.

Mr. Nyama recalls that most private media houses that covered opposition political parties were perceived as enemies of the MMD government.

He says it is therefore important for the Patriotic Front government to leave a legacy by ensuring that the freedom of information bill is enacted.

Mr. Nyama has further stated that if former vice president George Kunda allowed the freedom of information bill to be passed in parliament during the MMD’s rule, he would not be complaining about coverage by the public media.

QFM

I have known Fratelli Locci since 2001 and worked with them-Andrew Banda

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Andrew Banda
Andrew Banda

THE case in which former President Rupiah Banda’s son Andrew has been linked to an Italian construction company—Fratelli Locci—has taken a new twist with the former President’s son admitting receiving a “payment” from the Italian company but denied the fact that the payment could have been a “kick-back”.

Mr. Banda, who spoke via phone from his New Delhi, India base also said he is willing to meet the police—whom he has apparently not met yet—regarding the issue as soon as he returns to Zambia from India.

“I am not afraid of the police. I will hand myself to them in broad daylight when I return because I am aware that they want to speak to me,” Mr. Banda said, adding, “I am also aware that the authorities have spoken to my daughter Ketiwe at Stanbic and that they have also spoken to my auntie Mrs Zekko about this matter in my absence.”

Mr. Banda, a diplomat, told the Daily Mail that his relationship with Fratelli Locci owned by Mr Antonelli Locci is “above board” and that he has known the company and owner since 2001.

“I can’t deny knowing Fratelli and receiving money from them because my small transportation company has done work for them and I have been paid for that, that’s how I know the company,” Mr. Banda said.

The diplomat, who also clarified that James is his older and not younger brother, regretted that efforts to reach him when the story broke proved futile as he could have answered the questions had James not refused to assist the Daily Mail with his contact number.

Andrew Banda joined the growing list of high-profile Zambians that have been linked to questionable deals, entered into during his father’s three-year administration, in addition to his younger brother Henry whom police are looking for right now.

The police could soon consider putting a reward on Henry’s head, said Mr. Rae Hamoonga, the acting police spokesperson, in an interview yesterday.

“We have not reached a stage where we must place a reward on Mr. Banda’s head yet,” Mr. Hamoonga said. “What we have done is that we have intensified our search for him so far.”

The Daily Mail yesterday carried a story linking Andrew Banda to a 2 percent payment from Fratelli who have told law enforcement agencies that they made the payment out to Mr. Banda’s company AB Logistics under pressure from the diplomat after he allegedly threatened he would terminate the K300 billion Pedicle Road contract.

At press time, the Daily Mail could not reach Fratelli but the company lawyer Overs Banda, former Local Government Permanent Secretary called the newspaper and said he “doubted” whether Fratelli had been paid by the Road Development Agency.

“If they had been paid any percentage, I would also have been paid as the lawyer, so I don’t think they have been paid just yet hence the reason they have not even moved on site,” Mr. Banda said.

But Daily Mail investigations show that Fratelli has already been written a warning letter for failing to be on site five months after they were awarded the contract that runs into billions, to the Road Development Agency’s dismay.

The standard procedure at RDA is to pay a contracted company between 10 to 15 percent of the quoted amount for a job as a down payment in all contracts and this must apply to Fratelli, contrary to Mr. Banda’s view.

Mr. Banda also felt he was receiving “negative media attention” just through mere association because “Henry and James are my brothers, which I think is not fair because I am an individual family member.”

President Sata has embarked on an anti-graft fight that has sucked various former leaders such as Petauke legislator Dora Siliya, former Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane and former Vice-President George Kunda.

The President has said no amount of “witch-hunt” or “retribution” cries shall slow his anti-graft fight as he tries to reduce poverty levels and create jobs in a country where some 65 percent of the population live in abject poverty, despite vast mineral wealth.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

RB immunity removal shouldn’t be rushed – ZCTU

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Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary General Roy Mwaba addresses journalists as ZCTU Trustee Sifeniso Nyumbu (left) looks on at Courtyard hotel in Lusaka

THE labour movement believes that it is possible for former President Banda to lose his immunity from prosecution but that the process should be handled cautiously to avoid setting a bad precedent.

Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary general Roy Mwaba said it is in the interest of the nation and transparency that the allegations of plunder levelled against the former head of State are cleared.

Mr Mwaba said there have been numerous allegations of plunder levelled against Mr Banda which need to be cleared.

Mr Mwaba said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that ZCTU supports calls to remove the immunity of Mr Banda so that he can defend himself over allegations that corruption in the MMD government was carried out under his directive.

He said the Patriotic Front (PF) government should exhaust all options before deciding whether or not to table a motion in Parliament to lift the immunity of former President Banda.

“The issue of removing the immunity on any former President is a sensitive one but it is also part of the democratic process and good governance of any country. There are so many allegations pointing to President Banda. We are happy that President Sata has instituted commissions to probe some of these corrupt activities committed by former leaders in the previous government,” Mr Mwaba said.

He said Government should wait for the reports of the commissions of inquiry before tabling the motion in Parliament to lift Mr Banda’s immunity.

“We are eagerly waiting to hear the findings of the National Pensions Scheme Authority, Zambia Revenue Authority, Zambia National Building Society, Zamtel, Finance Bank and many other commissions of inquiry that have been instituted by President Sata to investigate corruption in the former MMD government.

“We should study these findings carefully and see if they will point to former President Banda being involved in corruption,” Mr Mwaba said.

And former Commissioner in the Willa Mung’omba Draft Review Commission John Mambo said Parliament should proceed and lift the immunity of the former head of State if the commissions of inquiry reveal overwhelming evidence of impropriety and corruption on his part.

Bishop Mambo, who is also former Church of God regional overseer for eastern and southern Africa, said calls to remove former President Banda’s immunity are welcome and should be supported by all well-meaning Zambians who support the fight against corruption.

He said all former leaders in the MMD government who, have been cited for plunder of national resources should be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to would- be offenders.

“I think it will be unfair to the Zambian people to allow President Banda to go without being probed. There are various allegations that have been made against him which need to be cleared,” Bishop Mambo said.

He said he is disappointed that some leaders in the former MMD government allegedly abused resources, without considering the suffering of the majority of Zambians.

Bishop Mambo, however, cautioned that lifting Mr Banda’s immunity would set a bad precedent as all former heads of State might be subjected to prosecution over the decisions they made while in office.

Recently, President Sata said the crusade against corruption would be done without malice or witch-hunt and would be impartial because he does not believe in selective justice.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

MMD backpedals on sacking ministers

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MMD National Secretary Richard Kachingwe
MMD National Secretary Richard Kachingwe
THE MMD has rescinded its decision to expel members of Parliament (MPs) who have been appointed as deputy ministers in the Patriotic Front (PF) ?Government, party national secretary Richard Kachingwe has announced.?

And President Michael Sata has welcomed the decision?by the MMD’s decision not to discipline its members who have accepted to serve?in the PF Government.?

Mr Sata said in a statement released by his Special Assistant for?Press and Public Relations George Chellah that he was grateful for the?political maturity exhibited by the national secretary of the MMD.?

The president said the appointment of deputy ministers from the MMD into Government was done in good faith and in the interest of the country.?

“It’s good that Major Kachingwe has withdrawn the former ruling party’s threats to expel MPs who have been appointed into Government.?This is how it should be,” he said.?

Maj Kachingwe, however, said the party would find it problematic if the?MPS appointed into Government shifted party allegiance to the PF.?

He said during a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the former?ruling party would not take disciplinary action against the MPs unless?they shifted their allegiance to the PF.?

Maj Kachingwe last week said the MPs who had been given positions in the Government had been given enough time to reflect on their action and that the MMD was now going to take disciplinary action against them.?

Maj Kachingwe had said the MPs should decide whether to join the?PF or remain MMD members.?And Maj Kachingwe has maintained that party president Rupiah Banda?would not contest the party presidency at the party convention.?

He said Mr Banda would hand over the presidency to whoever would emerge victorious at the convention.?

[Times of Zambia]