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Nevers Mumba warned and cautioned
A JOINT Government Investigative Team on Thursday warned and cautioned former diplomat and MMD aspiring presidential candidate Nevers Mumba for abuse of office and corruptly acquiring public property and revenue.
Mr Mumba arrived at the former task force offices for questioning accompanied by his lawyer Sakwiba Sikota of Central Chambers.
Joint government investigative wing spokesperson Munganga Chanda confirmed the development, saying Dr Mumba was warned and cautioned over seven counts.
“I would like to confirm that the joint Government investigative team has warned and cautioned Dr Nevers Mumba,” Ms Chanda said.
Dr Mumba could not comment on the matter after the interview with the investigative team and Mr Sikota refused to say anything about his client’s interview with the police.
“How did you know that we were here? The police called you. So you talk to your reliable sources who called you here because you did not just dream to come here,” Mr Sikota said.
Ms Chanda said Dr Mumba was warned and cautioned on one count of abuse of authority of office contrary to section 99 (i) of the penal code cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.
She said Dr Mumba was also warned and cautioned over six counts of corrupt acquisition of public property and revenue contrary to section 33.
Ms Chanda said the cases are in connection with the funding which Dr Mumba solicited for from Barrick Gold, the owners of Lumwana mine in Solwezi, to fund the Zambia-Canada cultural exchange programme during the 2011 independence celebration in Canada.
Dr Mumba has sued the Daily Mail, over the same issues he is being questioned about by the task force.
She said Dr Mumba is again expected to appear before a team of investigators on Monday.
Dr Mumba is alleged to have solicited and received more than half a billion Kwacha (US$122,000) from the largest gold digger in the world, Barrick Gold, purporting to fund a Zambian cultural week as High Commissioner to Canada.
Documentation shows that Dr Mumba opened an account that could not be subjected to a government audit at Toronto’s Domion Bank.
The account was also not declared to the High Commission and the opening of the account was not sanctioned by the Zambian government.
Dr Mumba gave the restricted role of coordinating and raising payment vouchers subsequently signed by himself to one high commission staff member.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
RB, Mike Mulongoti and others could face arrest
FORMER Republican president, Rupiah Banda and 14 others who include some of his former ministers, may face arrest following Cabinet’s unanimous decision that they stand trial on allegations of corruption and breach of financial regulations.
Cabinet resolved on Wednesday that Mr Banda alongside former minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane and former Works and Supply minister, Mike Mulongoti should stand trial in connection with alleged irregularities at the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) which took place during the MMD’s reign.
The resolution is hinged on recommendations to Cabinet by the Kingsley Chanda-Commission of Inquiry in the 117-paged report that was handed over to President Michael Sata last month.
The report was released to the public yesterday by Finance and National Planning Minister, Alexander Chikwanda during a media briefing in Lusaka.
Mr Chikwanda said Cabinet held a meeting on Wednesday at which it was resolved that Mr Banda and 14 other officials listed in the report should stand trial on allegations of corruption, abuse of authority and generally breaching financial regulations.
The report contains a list of 14 people that should be prosecuted because of their alleged roles in suspected financial transgressions in the previous government and Mr Banda appears on top of the list while Dr Musokotwane, is second.
The report recommends that Mr Banda should be tried because he allegedly participated in the procurement of four extra-border cargo scanners and for his alleged role in increasing a loan from China from US$100 million to $125 million. A Chinese company, Nuctech, was single-sourced to come and manage the scanners.
Mr Banda has been a subject of debate on whether his immunity should be lifted so that he could have an opportunity to clear his name of allegations of impropriety.
Dr Musokotwane’s company, ZamBuild Investment Limited, is alleged to have supplied bricks to Varun Beverages of Lusaka, a company he is alleged to have earlier awarded tax concessions for five years.
But Dr Musokotwane said he was ready to face the law and that the State would have to prove in the courts of law that the business his company got to supply the bricks to the Pepsi Manufacturing Company was based on the tax deferment that Varun Beverages was given.
Dr Musokotwane charged the Government merely wanted to victimise political opponents as Cabinet could not discuss who should be prosecuted or not but that this role should be left to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and security wings.
The report has also named former minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Eustarckio Kazonga while Mr Mulongoti has been named over his alleged role in awarding of border concessions for the management of Nakonde, Mwami, Jimbe, Kipushi and Chanida.
Mr Mulongoti has also been mentioned over the award of the Kasumbalesa Border Post concession, while former Transport and Communications minister, Geoffrey Lungwangwa has also been named.
But Mr Mulongoti said he was available to stand before any security officer to explain the transaction at Kasumbalesa Border because all the money came from a private company and that no single “ngwee” came from the treasury.
Mr Mulongoti said the chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry, Mr Chanda, should have declared interest instead of participating in the probe as he also allegedly participated and lost during the tender process.
He said Mr Chanda also allegedly benefitted from the Chirundu Border project as a consultant and was paid Government money.
Mr Mulongoti wondered why Mr Chanda did not invite him to testify when sittings were opened instead of naming them in a report which did not portray his side of the story.
He said it did not make sense to open tenders for a project that would be funded by a private investor who was willing to handover the project to the Zambian Government after recovering their profits.
The report also states that former Secretary to the Treasury, Likolo Ndalamei would have to answer over his alleged role in the cancellation of the Nakonde border construction project.
Incumbent ZRA director of administration, Tenthani Banda, has also been named and so has former ZRA Commissioner-General, Wisdom Nhekairo over his alleged role in the contract to a company called Bradwell.
Mr Nhekairo’s predecessor, Criticles Mwansa will have to justify the alleged direct bidding of Nuctech, Cargo Scans and the procurement of four additional scanners and reduction of the tender floatation period from eight weeks to one week.
The report states that the additional scanners were clearly not needed.
Former Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) director-general, David Kapitolo, is mentioned for alleged failure to verify information made available to ZPPA by ZRA in relation to the direct bidding of the companies.
[Times of Zambia]
Promoted Indeni Begin Coach Hunt
Promoted Indeni have launched a search for a new head coach following the departure of trainer Tenant Chembo who has joined Zesco United.
Earlier this week, Zesco coach Wedson Nyirenda appointed Chembo as his second assistant trainer.
Indeni Secretary Steven Sinyinza said the “Oil Men” are scheduled to name a new coach next week after interviewing applicants.
Sinyinza said Indeni wants to recruit a coach who can withstand pressure in the Super Division.
“So far, we have received eight applications from interested coaches,” he revealed.
Following Chembo’s departure, assistant coaches Steven Tembo and Emmanuel Chimfwembe have taken charge of the Indeni Sports Complex side who have commenced their pre-season training.
In 2010, Chembo guided now demoted Lime Hotspur s to Super Division promotion.
Renard Comes To Mbesuma’s Defence
Herve Renard has said people shouldn’t read too much into his in-and-out substitution of striker Collins Mbeusma.
The Golden Arrows striker came on to little impact in Zambia’s 2-2 draw against Libya on Wednesday in the teams penultimate Group A match in Bata in the first half only to be substituted again with less than a quarter of an hour left to play.
“I know for some people it is difficult to understand but me I don’t have problems with changing tactics three or four times in a game,” Renard said.
“I brought Collins to hold the ball and to come from behind to shoot because it was difficult to cross from both sides. The pitch was very bad especially on the left and on the right.”
Renard said it will be unfair to criticize the striker on his performance during his first appearance at this year’s Africa Cup.
Mbesuma had two good chances on goal but was denied by the veteran Libyan goalkeeper Abod Samir.
“I wanted him to hold the ball and we got some chances but it was sometimes difficult I think he did well,” Renard said.
“But in the last 10 minutes I wanted to play players faster some players were tired because of the pitch then I put some pace with Felix Katongo.”
Meanwhile, Zambia shift camp across to the Island of Malabo on Friday ahead of their final Group A match on Sunday there against co-hosts Equatorial Guinea that will decide the course of the second placed sides destiny in the Africa Cup.
Zambia, on 4 points from two games, needs a win or a draw against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday to join them the Africa Cup co-hosts in the February 4 quarterfinals.
Equatorial Guinea has qualified to the quarterfinals with a game to spare on 6 points from two games played.
PF loses another parliamentary petition
The PF has yet again lost another parliamentary election petition. This time around PF has lost the Kapiri Mposhi election petition which is the second judgment. Ndola high court judge Mwinde Siavwapa has declared the election of MMD‘s Lawrence Zimba valid, dismissing with costs PF’s Eddie Christopher Musonda’s petition.
Judge Siavwapa says allegations of bribery contained in the petitioner’s claims had no effect on the overall results of the elections. According to the official result Zimba polled sixteen thousand five hundred and seventy five votes while Musonda who was his closest rival only polled nine thousand five hundred and nineteen votes and UPND candidate Robby Chungwa polled six thousand six hundred and fifty four votes.
MUVITV
JCTR concerned with many unbudgeted for Government projects
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has expressed concern at the many activities that government is embarking on which are not budgeted for.
The JCTR cites the creation of new districts and the rebasing of the Kwacha which were not provided for in the 2012 national budget.
In a statement released to QFM, JCTR says government out to depart from this kind of spending immediately or the country will be talking about the unusual problems of budget overrun which contributes to poor budget performance and ultimately poor service delivery.
It has since demanded that government disclose to the public the total cost of rebasing the Kwacha and the source of money.
JCTR cautions that if the country fails to instill discipline in the way public resources are being spent, the three zeros being knocked off the from the currency now will soon resurface.
And the JCTR has observed that while rebasing may enhance confidence in the currency in the short run, it is important to realize that it may fuel inflation especially in the absence of other initiatives to tame inflation.
It explains that people always have an illusionary feeling that they have lost buying power and thus tend to increase the price of goods and services.
The JCTR says the transition must therefore be managed to maintain people’s confidence in the currency by widely disseminating information on the rebasing exercise.
It further says that government’s ultimate focus should be to ensure that the convenience that comes with transacting with a rebased currency results in enhanced economic growth and economic development.
QFM
ZESCO temporary withdraws application to hike Electricity tariffs
ZESCO has withdrawn its application to hike electricity tariffs by 25 percent.
ZESCO Managing Director Cyprian Chitundu says the withdrawal has been necessitated by lack of a board at the Energy Regulation Board to approve the tariff.
Mr Chitundu however said ZESCO will go ahead and apply for 25 percent increment within the next two months.
He assured Zambians that the tariff increment will not affect the poor as those that consume one to 100 watts of power will not be affected.
Mr Chitundu was speaking in an interview with ZNBC’s Katwishi Bwalya in Siavonga this morning.
Mr Chitundu said ZESCO has been advised that the application can not be approved because there is no board to act on the application.
ZNBC
Sata off to Ethiopia for AU Summit, Finance Minster to act as President
Republican President Michael Sata has left for Addis Ababa Ethiopia for the 18th African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government Summit at which all African leaders except for Madagascar will participate in the proceedings of the highest continental organ.
This is the first high-level meeting the President will be undertaking since assuming office in September last year.
President Sata who is accompanied by first lady Dr. Christine was seen off at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport by Vice President Guy Scott, Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba, Finance minister Alexander Chikwanda and other senior government officials.
The AU summit started on Monday with the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC) meeting, while the Executive Council (EC) summit opens today.
During the summit whose theme is “Boosting Intra Africa Trade”,the new US$150 million AU headquarters will be opened on Saturday and thereafter the ceremonial opening of the Heads of State and Government summit.
Finance Minister ALEXANDER CHIKWANDA will act as Republican President during the time the President will be away.
QFM
Secretary General and the Finance Manager of Zambia Red Cross Society arrested for theft and money laundering
The Drug Enforcement Commission has arrested the Secretary General and the Finance Manager of Zambia Red Cross Society for theft and money laundering offences involving over K1 billion.
DEC acting public relations officer Samuel Silomba tells QFM that Charles Mushitu, 44, of plot No. 31326 Chalala in Lusaka and Sydney Chituta, 31, of plot No. 797 Chilenje in Lusaka have been arrested for theft by clerk or servant contrary to section 272 as read with 278 of the Penal Code Chapter 87, and for money laundering contrary to section 7 of Act 14 of 2001 of the Laws of Zambia.
Mr Silomba explains that it is alleged that on dates unknown but between 1st January 2008 and 31st December, 2011, the duo did steal a total of K1.4 billion, funds which came into their possession by virtue of their office as Secretary General and Finance Manager, respectively.
He says the stolen funds were meant for water and sanitation projects in Southern Province.
He adds that the two suspects are believed to have acquired property which includes houses, cars, and plots.
Mr Silomba says further, Mr Mushitu was found with an AK47 Rifle with 30 rounds of ammunition without authority, and he has since been charged with being in possession of an offensive weapon contrary to section 85 of Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
The two suspects have since been released on bond and will appear in court soon.
QFM
15-year old boy braves the pit-latrine to save a day old baby
A 15-YEAR-OLD boy of Mwaiseni in Isoka district in Muchinga Province has saved a-day-old baby that was thrown into a pit latrine by its mother in an attempt to kill it.
ZANIS reports that efforts to get a comment from Police spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela for comment on the matter failed by press time.
However, Police sources in Nakonde confirmed the incident yesterday saying that the baby weighing 3.4 kg was thrown into an 8 meter-deep pit latrine by its mother around 11:00 hours yesterday.
The infant was only retrieved alive at about 16:10 hours.
The rescue operation team led by detective inspector Dominic Tembo lowered a 15-year-old boy, Patrick Sichone into the pit latrine whilst tied to a rope to rescue the baby boy.
The rescued baby was immediately rushed to Isoka District Hospital where it is currently admitted and its condition is said to be stable and out of danger.
Mother to the baby who has since been arrested by the Police has been identified as Asha Nambaya a single mother with three children of Mwaiseni village in chief Kafwimbi’s area in Isoka district.
And the boy who rescued the baby said he accepted to be lowered into the pit latrine to rescue the baby because he saw it crying inside the pit latrine and was convinced that it was was alive.
Sichone said he was happy to have saved a human life especially that it was an innocent baby who was thrown into a pit latrine by its mother in an attempt to kill it.
Meanwhile, Society for Women Against AIDS in Zambia (SWAAZ) Coordinator for Muchinga and Northern Province Maggie Siame has condemned the behavior of some women who were in the habit of throwing away children.
Mrs. Siame said the law should deal firmly with such women once arrested adding that her organisation was worried with the increased cases of women dumping children in Isoka district.
She also disclosed that her organization will take care of the baby boy that is currently receiving treatment at the district hospital and will continue taking care of it even after it has been discharged until such a time when authorities would decide otherwise.
ZANIS
Zambia Revenue Authority Commision of Inquiry Report out, Cabinet acts on its recommendations
Cabinet has directed the reversal of the concession of three borders namely Kasumbalesa, Nakonde, Jimbe, Kipushi, Mwami and Chanida and the reversal of the tax concession offered to Varum Beverages Limited, the promoters of the Pepsi Zambia project.
Finance and national planning Minister Alexander Chikwanda revealed during a press briefing in Lusaka today that Cabinet has deemed it desirable and expedient to reverse fraudulent procurements regarding Zambia Revenue Authority related contracts with Bradwell International, and Cargo Scan.
He says in addition, Cabinet has directed the implementation of other administrative measures incidental to the same as recommended by the Zambia Revenue Authority commission of inquiry.
Mr Chikwanda says Cabinet at its sitting of Wednesday 25th January,2012 accepted without reservations the report on the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the operations of Zambia Revenue Authority.
He says consequently Cabinet has ordered the termination with immediate effect the Cargo Scan contract on the operations and maintenance of Smith Detection scanners, the Bradwell contract on the operation and maintenance of Nuctech scanners, and that Nuctech be compelled to perform their contractual obligations of installation, operation and maintenance of the eight scanners.
Mr Chikwanda adds that the pre-requisites for the installation and operations of the scanners shall be met by government, and that ZRA assumes ownership of the scanners and work out appropriate measures for loan repayment for the scanners.
The finance minister has also disclosed that Varum Beverages Zambia Limited will have to pay outstanding tax arrears and criminal investigations will be instituted on persons found wanting for unlawful conduct, for granting the company a tax deferment of 5 years.
Mr Chikwanda says the PF government has no scores to settle warning that there will be no sanctuary given to those who have committed crimes against society through fragrant abuse of office and trust which the people of Zambia reposed in them.
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Zambia’s Inflation slowed down to 6.4 % year on year , index rebased
Zambia’s inflation was at 6.4 percent year-on-year in January, the Central Statistics Office said on Thursday after a rebasing of the consumer price basket that made comparisons to previous months nearly impossible.
The CSO rebased the inflation basket to 2009. Inflation was at 7.2 percent year-on-year in December under the previous calculations.
The process of revising the CPI basket started before the elections in September last year, it said.
Analysts said inflation might edge up when the rebasing of the currency comes into effect in the next six months.
The government plans to lop off three zeros from the kwacha, which would make it 5.09 to the dollar, using Thursday’s exchange rate of 5,090.
“The danger to inflation lies on … initial price pressures that may come with Kwacha rebasing,” said Chibamba Kanyama, a member of the local think-tank, Economics Association of Zambia.
“We expect price increases by traders taking advantage of ignorance on deflated prices.”
The statistics agency also said the surplus on the trade account narrowed to 132.5 billion Kwacha in December from 194 billion Kwacha in November.
[Reuters]
The Worrying Calibre of Zambian Political Opposition
By Dr. Daniel K. Maswahu
In any competition everyone naturally celebrates number one. The laurel, the gold medal and the high table are all reserved for the fastest, the smartest, the brightest. Everyone loves a winner – just look at the staggering numbers of Manchester United supporters, fans (these actually bet and gambled money and possessions on the team) and sympathisers (these never placed any monetary or material bets, but to their credit did buy that over-priced T-shirt with Man U colours and made sure everyone knew about it). When “Chipolopolo” – the Zambia National soccer team win a game, even the neighbourhood dogs sense something is afoot from the increased number of (amateur) drunkards sleeping in the drainage ditches.
Number two? Ummm. Errr. The runner-up? Number two only gets credit for keeping number one just that tiny bit ahead. Let’s face it – if it wasn’t for number two snapping at the heels of number one, number one may not have broken that world record. Some top athletes make themselves ‘number two’ and so compete against themselves and their previous performances.
The term performance is in the Zambian political context somewhat alien. It is not given the significance it deserves with very desperate previous heads of state shamelessly taking credit for the forces of nature (rainfall and subsequent bumper grain harvests), the high price of copper and related metals on the world metal markets, and a predecessors efforts.
Performance in the minds of many Zambians equates to a big supermarket (think Shoprite, Pick and Pay or Game) just waiting (and begging) to be looted. This category of people characteristically hide the perverse inclination to take, take and take some more and not give or provide proportionate labour under accusations of tribalism. They unfortunately have no insight into their condition. The spirit of service that is required to raise an individual, a family, a community, a nation does not strike a chord with them. These people do not ask what they may give to their country – they ask only what they can get. Remember this next time you accuse someone of tribalism.
The Game of Politics
The stakes in the game of politics are obviously higher with loses being measured in terms of human life so one would expect greater respect and understanding for performance (or lack thereof). The only preparation Zambian political parties have prior to a stint in power is as opposition parties. The two political parties that have dominated the better part of Zambia’s 47 years in existence (UNIP and MMD) were before coming into power illegal, outlawed and considered borderline (and sometimes outright) terrorists. Their period of opposition prior to taking power was of course punctuated by the arrest of key leadership figures. The circumstances were somewhat improved for the Patriotic Front, but they had their share of time in the wilderness rendered twice as bitter by two very controversial presidential election polls that many now consider as having been snatched from out of their grasp. The argument for this “theft” of previous presidential election votes has everything to do with the drama that occurred when the then Chief Justice threatened to announce the September 2011 Presidential poll results to the world after incumbent Rupiah Bwezani Banda was caught in the spasms of a fit of denial generated by his own questionable governance and aggravated by a bunch of no-good “supporters” who predicted his “victory”.
Neither UNIP nor MMD had any concrete (or just plain ordinary) plans or agenda to cater for the event of them being kicked out of power – such was their intoxication. Their role as a post-ruling opposition party was and has never been clearly defined from within or from outside the party. Weaning (more like tearing) them from sucking (abusing) government coffers and resources has had dramatic effects on the existence and functions of these entities. They are now mere shadows of themselves after being or are currently being hounded by their sharp nosed successors.
And this is precisely where the challenge lies. Once they came into power, there was a very fatal blurring of what belonged to government (the People) and what belonged to the party. PF are one step ahead on this one as they have no plans of staying any longer than two terms and can therefore comfortably map out a survival strategy for being in the opposition. There are some who are of the opinion that part of the solution is to fund opposition parties that have at least one third of total parliamentary representation. Those that oppose this view argue that if a political party cannot carry out simple book-keeping practice or even raise funds, they should not be allowed within bungee rope distance of the economy of an entire nation.
The purpose of this discussion is to give some thought to the clearly important role that opposition parties play in the Zambian context of democratic governance and to see whether the values they stand for while they are in opposition reflect on the type of governance standards they will “inflict” or propagate when they are ushered into power.
The Issues in Your Face
Despite losing on the simple grounds that they did not champion the people’s concerns (poor health facilities, poor and inaccessible quality education, rampant employment, markedly poor living conditions for the few employed – a.k.a. more money in the pocket) the current opposition do not seem to have taken note of these concerns. It is not rocket science to be able to figure out that these matters will continue to be the issues that the electorate decide on even in the future when asked where to best place their vote. As regional (tribal) voting was practised by all stake holders, the overall effect of this alleged stumbling block mathematically cancels itself out, so let’s not even go there.
The following are my views about what the current opposition should be talking about if they are to be taken as serious contenders come 2016 (yes, let’s all get over the 90 days please).
Corruption
Essential civil servants
We all know that the Zambia Police Service are the all time top scorers in this category. The cause is simple. There is a civil service code of ethics that labels a police officer indisciplined (and therefore subject to instant dismissal) if he or she complains about living in a “dog house” such as the one below (Mongu Police Camp) or complains about lack / delay of payment of their salary.
It should not take the sympathy and good will of a top ranking civil servant in the Ministry of Home Affairs to have such fundamental issues noticed and dealt with. At the end of the day, the ones who are morally indisciplined are the employers of the police officer who make it impossible even when “the economy is improving” or we are registering “bumper harvests” for police officers and other civil servants to earn a decent living wage.
This ethos governing the rights (or lack thereof) of essential civil servants to complain is entirely valid, but the employer should know that there arrives a point at which professionalism is thrown out of the window because the unpaid and poorly housed civil servant must somehow fend for his or her family. And even though some say that civil servants should not engage in politics, a decently paid civil servant makes an excellent “campaign manager” and vice-versa. Government is still the largest employer in the country, so the MMD must have unwittingly recruited many “campaign managers” in the September 2011 elections.
The Workshop Culture
In this same line, the phenomenon of having workshops for ridiculously obvious and unnecessary matters in remote and exotic places such as Siavonga and Livingstone deserves mention. The infamous Kapoko used this gapping financial loop-hole at the Ministry of Health to enrich himself sufficiently to buy a Hummer and a posh lodge (besides running a private nursing school). Holding a workshop is a culture that is merely secondary or a reaction to poor salaries.
The cancellation by President Sata of a Permanent Secretaries 6 day Livingstone outing last week may not recover all the costs incurred, but more importantly sends a clear signal of what the PF government’s current and future priorities are. Kachunga Edwin Simusamba, UPND Deputy National Chairman for Finance and Economics who would undoubtedly hold a senior government position if UPND came into power has posted sentiments on the Zambian Watchdog website describing this cancellation as “extravagant” making me and many others wonder when exactly the meaning of this word changed.
Permanent Secretaries and the acting Secretary to the Cabinet of all people should be aware of the message contained in Cabinet Office Circular No. 7 of 2006. Recovery of part of the allowances should be simple given they only attended two of the six days of the workshop. Protea Hotel Livingstone can (of course) be negotiated with as they now have at least 40 fully paid but unoccupied rooms which are still free to be leased out. The long term loses are what should be prevented and cancelling such a misadventure for senior officers leaves them and all concerned in no doubt about PF government priorities.
I would have expected Mr Simusamba to demonstrate some knowledge of the difference between systemic and individual errors and accordingly offer improvement of workers’ salaries as a long term solution (thereby adding to UPND popularity, but he prefers to be fixated with the short term). This simple move would directly cut down on the hundreds of unnecessary workshops tabled within the civil service. The function of the opposition is not to merely deliver mindless, knee-jerk, negative opposition, but considered and well thought-out proposition.
The recent groundless call by UPND to impeach President Sata further conveys the impression that we are dealing with a bunch of disgruntled, frustrated elements with no sense of direction. UPND needs to seriously refocus and realise that the issues are not about Sata, but about taking care of the very valid concerns of the people.
Prosecution of former presidents and close associates.
Still on the subject of systemic errors, the recurring pattern of prosecution (intended and ongoing) and arrest (if ever) of former presidential candidates and those closely associated with them is a clear indication of a flaw in the system. Human nature is such that it will seek loop-holes in the system through which crimes may be carried out without punishment. The long term solution is very simply – seal off the loop-holes, which in this case are:
-drastically reduce the powers of appointing key civil servants by the office of the president (less powers of appointment and more appointments based on merit and track record thereby rendering the arms of government truly independent and more professional) and
-spread out and balance powers of office of the president by constitutional constraint requiring an elected vice presidential running mate. This will more clearly define the lines of power and additionally avoid costly re-elections.
Last but not least, the MMD bear the name of being democratic, but have repeatedly and flagrantly violated this primary ethos that brought them into being (with two consecutive top leaders namely the late Levy Mwanawasa and more recently Rupiah Banda being hand-pick instead of being democratically elected). I would expect them to champion and demand constitutional inclusion of intra-party democracy as a necessary requirement before any party is let loose on the national stage, but this may be asking too much given their total lose of direction. MMD need to clean their house big time by electing leaders who understand the fundamental meaning of democracy and are free of corruption and abuse of public resources to ever regain public confidence.
Part of the very simple reasons the top-most MMD leadership took liberties with public resources is that they over-stayed in power and felt they are only accountable to the group of people who hand-picked them (NEC) and not the Zambian public.
These are but a few of the critical issues I would expect mature opposition political parties that are in the business of serving the public for the long term to discuss.
Just as the ANC is celebrated in South Africa, Zambia should be celebrating the engineers of our important political milestones, not prosecuting and arresting them. The onus lies on the one hand with UNIP and MMD to re-capture the cause and arguments they were prepared to suffer and even die for that brought them into existence, and for PF on the other hand to elevate us to the next level by administering the necessary justice and end this pattern of ex-presidential prosecution and arrest by sealing the loop-holes. Those same causes and arguments are the reasons that there is today a Zambia proud and free, soaring upwards into an open blue sky like the magnificent fish eagle on our flag and coat of arms.
Government to decide whether to compensate Libya’s LAPGreen
ATTORNEY-GENERAL Mumba Malila says Government will soon decide whether to compensate Libya’s LAPGreen Network following the reversal of the sale of Zamtel as the firm (LAPGreen) denies any wrongdoing during the acquisition of the 75 percent stake in Zamtel.
Mr Malila says Government will analyse the matter of compensating LAPGreen, after assessing the losses the country suffered in the transaction.
“The acquisition was done under a piece of law which provides for compensation and what remains is to determine the level of compensation, depending on the losses the country suffered,” Mr Malila said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
He said court action will commence in the High Court if the two parties fail to reach a compromise on compensation.
And in a statement released by LAPGreen on Tuesday, the Libyan telecommunications company complained that the Zambian government has not given it an opportunity to meet and discuss the matter.
“We are deeply worried by the announcement by the Zambian government that it is acting to reverse the sale of Zamtel, which is 75 percent owned by LAPGreen,” the statement reads.
The company says it has over the last few weeks made numerous attempts to find an amicable solution that satisfies both parties to the transaction and secure the best possible outcome for its employees and subscribers.
LAPGreen insisted that its acquisition of Zamtel was made through an open, transparent and competitive bidding process, overseen by well-respected international professional organisations and in strict adherence to Zambia’s established legal framework.
“We hope this situation can still be amicably resolved and we welcome an opportunity to work with the Zambian government to achieve this.
LApGreen said under its ownership, Zamtel has moved from a state of near insolvency to become a national success story.
“As well as growing Zamtel’s subscriber base by over 600 percent in just over 18 months, we have created 1,700 jobs in Zambia,” the statement reads.
The actual number of jobs according to government reports is actually 700 which is down from 3,000 when the company took over.
The government after a probe has established that RP Capital grossly undervalued the company before it was sold to LAPGreen and that thus far Zambia has only received US$15 million from the Libyan company out of the agreed US$257 million.
The transaction has sucked Dora Siliya, the outspoken Petauke legislator, George Kunda and Situmbeko Musokotwane, the former Finance Minister who yesterday faced investigators at the former task force offices.