Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister, Given Lubinda has said the PF government is working towards creating career service diplomats as opposed to political cadres serving as envoys.

He said Government has already started doing this adding that the realignment of missions abroad would continue.

Mr Lubinda also warned civil servants working in Zambia’s missions abroad to desist from all forms of corruption.

Mr Lubinda said the fight against corruption, which the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has intensified, would sweep across all sectors and institutions including missions abroad.

He said the Government was in a hurry to instil honesty and responsibility in Zambians to restore the economic dignity the country had a few decades ago.

The minister was speaking at the Zambian Embassy in Washington yesterday when he paid a courtesy call on Ambassador to the United States (US), Sheila Siwela and embassy staff in Washington DC.

“It is sad that even people in our missions abroad are caught up in corruption. We will fight it now and we will fight it in future because we want to clean up Zambia,” he said.

He said dishonesty among civil servants retarded development and distorted the country’s image at home and abroad.

Mr Lubinda reiterated that the fight against corruption was not targeted at certain individuals but at everyone who was perpetuating the scourge.

“I want to assure you that the fight against corruption is not against any individual. So we are not starting by asking the question ‘who is involved but we are asking where corruption is,” he said.

The minister said those that have engaged in corruption and had decided to hide in foreign countries would be caught by the long arm of the law.

“Those that stay away in foreign countries to avoid facing justice should know that it is temporary. Hiding in the spider holes will not help them,” he said.

Mr Lubinda said President Michael Sata and his cabinet were in a hurry to restore pride among the Zambian people in terms of development.

He urged Zambians working in missions abroad to work extra hard because it was only through hard work and honest that the country would develop.

He challenged civil servants to account themselves every day of their work by asking themselves what they have done for the country.

Mr Lubinda urged them to vigorously market Zambia and attract investors and tourists that would help develop the country.

Foreigners, he said, must be convinced that Zambia was a peaceful country in which enterprises could thrive.

The minister said the peaceful handover of power by former president Rupiah Banda to President Sata after the September 20, 2011 elections was testimony of Zambia’s peaceful nature and co-existence.

Meanwhile, Mr Lubinda said United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon will on February 24, this year pay a three day visit which would be followed by the visit of the President of Germany.

“It is our desire to capitalise on our peace, immense resources and good environment to attract high profile personalities and market tourism. Had we messed up on September 20, 2011, this could not happen,” he explained.

And Mr Lubinda has said the PF government was working towards creating career service diplomats as opposed to political cadres serving as envoys.

Earlier, Ms Siwela said Zambia’s relationship with the US has grown following peace and aggressive fight against corruption.

Ms Siwela said the move by the Government to give Zambians a constitution of their choice was also a recipe for improved relations between the two countries.

She said workers at the embassy were committed to marketing Zambia to the US and would work according to the policies of the PF Government.

[ZANIS]

President Michael Sata has called on civil servants to be patient with government over improved conditions of service. President Sata said that the government wants to ensure the hospitals and health centres are well equipped to prevent the needless loss of life.

The president said this in Lusaka Tuesday at a funeral service for Humphrey Jangulo, customer care manager at City Advertisers.

City advertisers is President Sata’s company.

Mr Sata said Jangulo’s death would not have happened if the hospital was well equipped. Jangulo 28, died of liver complications and malaria which a public hospital was unable to detect.

And family representative, Morris Jangulo thanked President Sata for sparing his time to attend Humphrey’s funeral. He described Humphrey as caring and hard working young man.

Meanwhile President SATA and Paramount Chief Chitimukulu who openly opposed the Patriotic Front ahead of the 2011 General Elections have reconciled. During a meeting at State House today, President SATA asked Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba speaking people to forget about the past. President SATA said Chief Chitimukulu should be free to advise the Patriotic Front government when it goes wrong.

President Sata has also noted that the government still remains committed to addressing the challenges that are being faced by the traditional leaders as a way of restoring the integrity of the traditional leadership in the country.

The President who spoke in Bemba has since urged paramount Chief Chitimukulu not to hesitate to call on the government whenever is in need of help.

Paramount Chief Chitimukulu who is unwell, called on President SATA in the company of paramount Chief Mpezeni and Chief Luchembe. Paramount Chief Chitimukulu was in LUSAKA for medical attention. Later President SATA wheeled Chief Chitimukulu out of state house on a wheel chair after a media photo session.

And president Sata has also hinted that he may be sending eastern province minister Solomon Zulu into the foreign mission and replace him with PF Chairperson for Mobilization Charles Banda.

ZNBC/QFM

A LUANSHYA magistrate has jailed a house wife for six months and fined her K270,000 for two counts of contempt of court and subornation of perjury for influencing two child witnesses to give false evidence in a trial involving four Chinese nationals accused of defiling and indecently assaulting two girls.

Hellen Kalunga, 42, of Roan Township was convicted of the offences before Mr Daniel Musonda on Thursday and sentenced on Friday last week.

She was sentenced to jail for three months simple imprisonment each on the two counts of surbonation of perjury and she was expected to serve six months because the sentences would run consecutively.

Kalunga was fined K270,000 for each of the two counts of contempt of court or in default six months imprisonment.

In the two counts, she was charged with contempt of court contrary to section 116 (1) F of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Kalunga on December 19, last year in Luanshya, interfered with and influenced two child witnesses aged 14 and 12 in a judicial proceeding before they gave evidence.

In count three and four, Kalunga was charged with surbonation of perjury contrary to section 104 (7) of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Kalunga on December 19 last year did aid, abet and counseled the two child witnesses to commit perjury.

The court said the prosecution called the child witnesses who testified that Kalunga counseled them on two occasions to give false evidence in court and told them to say the Chinese nationals appearing before a Luanshya magistrate were not the ones who allegedly defiled and indecently assaulted them.

The court said even a third witness, Rosta Chibuye testified that she heard Kalunga counsel the two witnesses and decided to report the matter to the police.

The court found that the evidence of the two child witnesses called by the prosecution was reliable and that to a large measure was unchallenged.

“In my view, the account of the witness called by Kalunga did not convince me as probable nor did it raise any doubt in my mind. As a result, I find her guilty as charged,” said the court