THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has transferred a lawyer who has been serving on the combined team of security personnel investigating corruption in the previous administration to Chirundu in unclear circumstances.

This has raised eyebrows as the move is suspected to be a cover up of corrupt activities that he may expose against some senior officials.

Mr Tresford Chali has also been moved from the legal department to customs services division with immediate effect following a memorandum authored by Commissioner General Berlin Msiska dated January 26, 2012 to the office of the director of Human Resources.

The development comes in the wake of a recommendation by Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Maxwell Nkole in a letter dated December 22, 2011 to the Attorney General for Mr Chali to be appointed co-prosecutor in the Pepsi deal and the single-sourced deal on the installation and management of scanners at some border posts.

Mr Msiska has noted that Mr Chali’s department lacked the ability to supervise subordinates by allowing him to operate from the task force offices without written authority from ZRA.

“I have received repetitive complaints from Mr Chali’s division about his irregular reporting for work and commitment to his duties. One such complaint was that Mr Chali was reporting from the task force office under the Inspector General’s office without written authority from ZRA,” Mr Msiska stated in his letter copied to the Board Secretary and Commissioner Customs Services.

The ZRA report constituted to probe allegations of corruption has revealed that Mr Chali objected to the deal in which Cargo Scans earned huge sums of money per month on the scanners that were procured using tax payers money.

“The commission noted that an assistant legal officer by the name of Tresford Chali had recommended for the termination of the contract in his legal opinion, on Cargo Scans rendered on March 10, 2011. As at November 2011, ZRA had not terminated the Cargo Scan contract,” the Kingsley Chanda Commission of Inquiry wrote in its report that was released by Minister of Finance and National Planning Alexander Chikwanda recently.

In his letter to the attorney general which was also copied to the director of public prosecutions (DPP), Mr Nkole recommended that Mr Chali should be attached to the combined team of security officers as a co-prosecutor in the Pepsi deal in the event that arrests were effected.

Mr Nkole said Mr Chali was already working with the team and had provided much valuable advice in finding critical evidence needed to compile the case file.

“This request is made against the understanding that Mr Chali possesses capacity and authority under the ZRA Act to, not only investigate but to prosecute on behalf of the institution,” Mr Nkole wrote.

But Mr Chali has since received a transfer letter to Chirundu on the same date that Mr Msiska wrote to the human resources asking them to transfer him.

The letter authored by acting director of human resources Oneson Musabi dated January 26, 2012 when the directive was issued, states that Mr Chali must move to Chirundu with immediate effect as a senior customs collector.

“By copy of this letter, the finance division is advised to amend their records and pay you subsistence allowance. Further, they should start paying you hardship allowance and arrange to pay you disturbance allowance as soon as you move to Chirundu, while administration department is advised to arrange transport to move your family and personal effects as soon as you are ready,” the letter to Mr Chali says.

Mr Msiska has instead recommended senior inspector of taxes Mrs Mahongo Machayi and ZRA prosecutor Eugene Chisenga for the taskforce assignment.

Mr Chali’s legal opinion rendered in March last year on the scanners was that the contract between ZRA and Cargo Scans be terminated and that ZRA should instead seek a refund or set off the money spent on buying spares and that the property must revert to the tax collector.

He recommended that ZRA should only pay Cargo Scans for the maintenance of the scanners during the period when the scanners were non-operational as opposed to paying them all the time.

Mr Chali referred to Clause 9.3.1 which did not oblige ZRA to give reasons for terminating the contract.

When he announced an all-round fight against corruption after assuming power, President Michael Sata urged Zambians to report incidents of corruption to law enforcement agencies.

[Times of Zambia]

MINISTER of Justice Sebastian Zulu has disclosed that he is in the process of preparing a cabinet memorandum recommending the registration of the London High Court judgment against former President Chiluba’s co-accused persons.

Mr Zulu said in an interview yesterday that he will table the matter before Cabinet for the possible registration of the judgment in the Zambian High Court, involving 19 persons who a London High Court found guilty of stealing over US$100 million public funds.Mr Zulu said Cabinet will make the final decision on the matter.

Get Involved Zambia executive director Father Frank Bwalya recently called on Government to consider registering the London High Court judgment. The case involves former Finance Minister Katele Kalumba, former Zambia Security Intelligence Services chief Xavier Chungu and former Finance permanent secretary Stella Chibanda among others.

The accused were found guilty of stealing public funds from a Zambia Intelligence bank account dubbed Zamtrop. The judgment was delivered by Judge Peter Smith in 2007 in London’s Royal Courts but Government under then President Rupiah Banda failed to locally register the judgment for enforcement.

Mr Zulu said Government is determined to recover the monies alleged to have been stolen, adding that the US$100 million involved is “too colossal to be ignored and forgotten”.

“Government is in the process of making a decision because US$100 million is a lot of money. Government will not just forget this easily. We are going to pursue it and cabinet will decide. I am in the process of recommending that we pursue the matter…I will prepare and present a cabinet memo for cabinet to decide,” Mr Zulu said.

[pullquote]“There is no way we can just forget about all this money which was gotten from the [Zambian] people through the Zamtrop account. This matter has to be pursued,” Mr Zulu said.[/pullquote]

Mr Zulu said Government would in due course announce its decision on the matter after procedures are addressed. He said it is important and responsible for Government to pursue the matter because it involves public funds which should benefit Zambians.

“There is no way we can just forget about all this money which was gotten from the [Zambian] people through the Zamtrop account. This matter has to be pursued,” Mr Zulu said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Zambia’s coach ,Herve Renard is doing a good job so far . We have reached the quater-finals and should go further this time around.

He expelled Cliford mulenga from the African Nations Cup squad for a breach of team rules.

Mulenga broke a curfew, along with three other unidentified players, after Zambia’s win on Sunday over Equatorial Guinea in their last group match. While the trio apologised, Mulenga, with a reputation for being head strong, did not.

“The coach has made it very, very clear why he had made that decision and it is in the interest of teamwork and unity and that cannot be compromised,” the association’s press officer Erick Mwanza told reporters in Bata, where Zambia are preparing for their quarter-final against Sudan on Saturday.

Hopefully this will not affect the rest of the team , Renard has to make sure the team is physically and mentally prepared for this weekends game.

Playing career

Born in Aix-les-Bains, Renard played as a defender for French sides AS Cannes, Stade de Vallauris and SC Draguignan in a playing career which lasted from 1983 to 1998.

Coaching career

Renard began his coaching career with SC Draguignan in 1999, leaving in 2001. He was Assistant at Chinese side Shanghai Cosco from 2002 to 2003, and managed English side Cambridge United in 2004. He became manager of AS Cherbourg in 2005, leaving them in 2007. He next became Assistant to Claude Le Roy for the Ghana national side. He was appointed manager of the Zambia national team in May 2008. At the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, he led Zambia to the quarter final stage of the tournament for the first time in 14 years. Renard left his duties as Zambia manager in early April 2010 with only two months remaining on his contract. Two days later he agreed to become manager of Angola. He resigned from his position as Angola manager in early October 2010, and was replaced by Zeca Amaral.

USM Alger

On January 21, 2011, Renard reached an agreement with Algerian club USM Alger to become the head coach of the club.

Second spell in Zambia

Following the dismissal of coach Dario Bonetti on 10 October 2011, the Football Association of Zambia offered him a coaching position. On 22 October 2011, it was announced that he would return for a second stint as coach of Zambia on a one-year contract.

Renard has revealed that he wears the same white shirt at every match for superstitious reasons, which date back to beating Tunisia in the first match at Angola 2010.

“In 2010, we played the first game against Tunisia and I was wearing a white shirt,” said the Frenchman.

“The second game I changed because I said I can’t wear all the time the same, and I put on a blue shirt and we lost against Cameroon.”

“I think I won’t change – but don’t worry, I clean it after the game. It is very clean – no problem.”

BY KAPA187

The evaluation of ZANACO is said to have been fraudulent, irregular and massively undervalued.

And the Net Asset Value methodology used to evaluate ZANACO was problematic and unprofessionally done.

These are the findings established by the Technical Committee on the privatization of ZANACO.

Technical Committee Advisor to the Commission of Inquiry Michael Musonda said the Net Asset Value could only have been used if the bank was on the brink of liquidation.

Mr. Musonda submitted to the Sebastian Zulu chaired committee of inquiry that ZANACO had never been known to be on the brink of liquidation.

He told the committee that the method used by the evaluator, Price Waters Coopers, was illegal and unwarranted.

Mr. Musonda submitted that the most ideal value method which was the market valuation price of the 49 per cent stake in the bank could have been in the range of between US$18.4 million and US$23.4 million .

He said this was in contrast of the between US$8.1million and US$8.8 million established by the evaluator to be the market price.

Mr. Musonda submitted that the then ZAMBIA Privatization Agency-ZPA abrogated its mandate by allowing DFID to engage an evaluator of ZANACO assets.

He said that responsibility should have been solely handled by ZPA.

[ZNBC]

MMD presidential hopeful Dr. Nevers Mumba has warned that the lifting of former president Rupiah Banda’s immunity will spell disaster.

Dr. Mumba says calls to lift the former president’s immunity will dent Zambia’s image both locally and internationally.

Dr. Mumba says he will not subscribe to stakeholders calling for the removal of the former president’s immunity.

He has suggested that the provision in the constitution which guarantees presidential immunity be removed so that there are no calls to lift the immunity of former president whenever they leave office.

Dr. Mumba notes that it has now become a trend to call for the lifting of former presidents’ immunity whenever they leave office.

Dr. Mumba has advised President Michael Sata to ensure that he unites the country rather than concentrate on the removal of his predecessor’s immunity.

He says it is clear knowledge that the current government is still a minority government as can be seen from the number of people that voted for the MMD.

And Dr. Mumba has warned that the country is bound to lose a number of investors because of the government’s handling of investors.

He claims some foreign investors have started contemplating taking their investments to other countries.

Dr. Mumba was speaking this morning on Livingstone based ZAMBEZI FM’s Journalist programme monitored by QFM.

QFM

A European man, believed to have been forcing girls to have sex with his dog, has been arrested.The man has been on police wanted list since October last year but cannot be identified for now because there have been threats on his life since the story broke out.

Last year, irate Kalulushi residents ran riot and demanded the man’s arrest after a 16-year-old girl narrated her ordeal during a public meeting at the Kalulushi Mine Club.The man evaded the wrath of the residents and relocated to an unknown destination before his capture.

In an interview in Kalulushi on Monday, Copperbelt commissioner of police Mary Tembo confirmed the arrest. “We arrested the man in Ndola and he will be appearing in court in the first week of February,” Ms Tembo said.

She said police in Ndola have taken over the investigations from their Kalulushi counterparts. In October residents stormed the man’s residence, shattered windows, looted household goods and partially set the house ablaze.

The residents also thronged Kalulushi police station and accused the officers of corruption and allegedly intimidating key witnesses.

The residents engaged police in skirmishes and demanded the arrest of the suspect, who had fled his home. Police fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd, but the residents later regrouped and blocked roads with logs and stones.

The girl narrated how the man allegedly drugged her and forced her to have sex with his dog for over 45 minutes. “I was at home cleaning plates when my friend asked me to escort her to see her boyfriend of European origin. When we arrived at his place, my friend introduced me to him and I was offered a drink, which I took. A few minutes later, I started dozing and when I woke up, I found a dog having sex with me,” the girl said as tears rolled down her cheeks.

She accused police of allegedly tampering with evidence and that her life was in danger because some police officers allegedly issued death threats against her and her mother.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

The Zambia National Congress of Trade Unions -ZCTU- is urging government ministers NOT to issue statements regarding salaries for workers, before the conclusion of negotiations.

ZCTU Secretary General ROY MWABA, says such statements can affect the bargaining process for conditions of service.

He told ZANIS in an interview today, that the labour movements have the mandate to represent the workers adding that they should be left alone to do their work in the most professional manner.

And Mr. MWABA has urged government to treat all public workers equally.

He says salary increments should be across the board for all public workers.

Mr MWABA also said that remunerations should also be based on qualifications of a worker regardless of the public institution that one works for.

ZNBC

Mbesuma is not in the starting line up at the AFCON ,but he is on the bench and should be ready to perform at his best when called upon.

CAREER

Mbesuma made his debut for Zambia in 2003 and had won four caps by the end of that year, while at the same time being a key member of Zambia’s under-23 side that almost qualified for the Athens Olympics.

His performances for the Olympic team caught the attention of Kaizer Chiefs who bought him in January from Roan United in Zambia, where he averaged a goal every other game.

He scored on his debut in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League in 2004 against the Black Leopards but injured himself in the process and spent several weeks on the sidelines.

MOVE TO EUROPE

Mbesuma was named PSL Player of the Season in 2005 after scoring a sensational 35 goals in one season with Kaizer Chiefs. After such an achievement a move to a more prestigious league looked assured, and indeed it was enough to catch the eye of Sam Allardyce, manager of Bolton Wanderers .  Mbesuma was eventually signed to by then-Portsmouth manager Alain Perrin on a three-year contract in the summer of 2005.

He appeared overweight early in the season when playing for the reserve team. Mbesuma never started a match for Portsmouth; he only came on for a total of 4 brief substitute appearances, all in the first half of the 2005/06 season.

In July 2006 he began a season long loan with CS Marítimo where he appeared to be regaining his form – netting in vital goals early in the season and receiving the Swan d’Or, an auspicious monthly Portuguese football award. However his form soon dipped and his goal tally climaxed at a total of just seven goals. He returned to Portsmouth in June 2007 after playing 23 games for the Portuguese team.

On 4 August 2007, it was announced that Bursaspor signed Mbesuma for an undisclosed amount.

On 17 September 2007, Mbesuma was fined 5000 Euros by Bursaspor for failing to return on time to his Turkish base after helping Zambia to beat South Africa in an African Cup of Nations qualifier. This kind of behaviour by Mbesuma was condemned and described as irresponsible by the Zambian FA (FAZ) Mbesuma has a long standing reputation of poor timekeeping. This problem dates back to his time at Zambian outfit Roan United.

BACK TO FORM

On 23 May 2008, Mbesuma mutually terminated his contract with Bursaspor and signed with Mamelodi Sundowns. After an unimpressive stints at Mamelodi Sundowns and then Moroka Swallows FC his contract was terminated at the end of the June 2010.After being clubless for several months he joined Golden Arrows on 20 December 2010 for a six month deal. He scored his first goals (a brace) against Amazulu on 16 January 2011.

He is included in Zambia’s team at the on-going AFCON.

BY KAPA187