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Shepolopolo Zambia women’s team this afternoon crashed Malawi 7-0 in an Equatorial Guinea 2012 African Womens Championship qualifier.
Zambia dominated their guests in the first leg match played at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka this afternoon to take a 4-0 lead into the break.
Noria Sosala scored her first of two goals on the day with less than two minutes played.
Kabange Mupopo made it 2-0 on 4 minutes before Sosala completed her brace in the 28th minute.
Mwila Bowa stretched Zambia’s lead to 4-0 10 minutes before the break.
Anne Kabaiji and Misozi Zulu were on target in the 50th and 57th minute respectively.
Man-of-the-match Bowa completed her brace in the 79th minute to give Zambia a comfortable first leg win.
The two teams meet in the return leg in a fortnight’s time.
Overall winner will face Banyana Banyana South Africa in the second round in May with the winner qualifying for the Equatorial Guinea tournament this November.
President Michael Sata has directed the Minister of Justice Sebastian Zulu to release the Zamtel Report to the public immediately in order to protect public interest and curb blantant lies from shameless detractors.
This is contained in a press statement made available to the media by the Special Assistant to the President for Press George Chellah.
President Sata said that the Commission of Inquiry that he constituted to probe the sale of Zamtel came out with brilliantly documented submissions.
“Since we have not released the Report to the public, our detractors and perpetrators of crimes against Zambia and its citizens have had a field day, regrettably supported by some sections of the media and opposition political party leaders who for strange reasons have axes to grind against the Patriotic Front Government,” President Sata says.
“To protect public interest and to insulate our people against blantant lies I direct that we release the Report with due immediacy. Arrange to furnish all foreign missions in Zambia with the Report. And most importantly, let the Ministry of Foreign Affairs send a copy to the Libyan Government using the fastest route.”
The Head of State has assured Hon. Zulu that the Minister of Finance Hon Alexander B. Chikwanda stands ready to aid the process should any financial needs involved in this exercise go beyond the Ministry of Justice’s allocation.
KARA Counselling and Training Trust, a non-governmental organisation that provides free HIV/AIDS services, is threatened with closure because some of its major donors have withdrawn support after an internal audit revealed glaring misappropriation of funds amounting to over K9 billion.
Kara Counselling and Training Trust board chairperson Lumba Kalumba said in an interview on Thursday that an internal audit conducted for 2011 has revealed glaring irregularities which have led to the closure of its operations in Choma, Kabwe and Mansa.
She said Kara Counselling and Training Trust main donor for its Kabwe programme Stephen Lewis Foundation and another donor, Tools of Self Reliance of the United Kingdom, for the same project have withdrawn their financial support.
Mrs Kalumba said Liechtenstein Development Service (LED), another donor which supported Kara Counselling and Training Trust Choma programme, is winding up because it is disappointed with the manner the NGO managed financial resources.
“We have discovered that we owe the National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) a lot of money coming to about K3 billion.
“Over the years, they have not been submitting NAPSA returns and ZRA Pay As You Earn (PAYE). We have also been asked by the Zambia National Aids Network (ZNAN), who made a claim of K5.7 billion which was given to us between 2004 and 2007,” Mrs Kalumba said.
She said the Kara Counselling and Training Trust board of directors has also discovered that its head office, which houses the executive director and about 15 members of staff, has completely run out of resources and cannot afford to pay salaries.
“We carried out some audit and found out that some funds for head office estimated at US$80,000 had been misappropriated. We decided to carry out audits for our other programmes outside Lusaka in Choma and Kabwe.
“In Kabwe, we found that money amounting to about K100 million has not been managed properly and we had to close down the programme,” she said.
Mrs Kalumba added: “In Choma again we found that money was misappropriated and funds ran out before the time they were supposed to, so we also had to close down operations. The hospice was closed in August last year while the day care centre was closed in December.”
She said there are about five hospices in Zambia and that Kara Counselling and Training Trust runs three of them. Mrs Kalumba said the organisation has closed down two of its hospices and has only remained with the one in Kamwala.
“We have found the misappropriation and misapplication of funds by the former director of finance to be so much that we have asked the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) to assist us to investigate this further,” Mrs Kalumba said. DEC acting public relations officer Samuel Silomba confirmed that DEC has instituted investigations at Kara Counselling and Training Trust but will give details at an appropriate time.
And Mrs Kalumba has advised boards of directors in other NGOs to be actively involved in how funds are spent. “Our management team had too much leeway to the extent that it became careless and started misappropriating funds because they knew that the board was not involved in a detailed manner,” Mrs Kalumba said.
She is also concerned that CIDERS, its major funder for the Lusaka-based anti-retroviral therapy clinic located near Kulima tower bus station, is pulling out within the next six months.
“This is the only programme within the organisation which has not fallen prey to financial mismanagement because it was not under the control of the financial director.
“This clinic is catering for 4,500 patients. We provide free services though there is a small user-fee of K50, 000 which was introduced late last year when we knew that donor funds would be removed,” Mrs Kalumba said.
She said her organisaion is trying to work with the private sector to save the ART clinic from collapse because it is the best facility in the sub-Saharan region that works alongside Government’s free ART.
“We will be distraught if in six months we have to close down because we don’t have partners. We have trained nurses and clinical officers in ART and they are working in various health institutions around the country,” Mrs Kalumba said.
She said she looks forward to DEC arresting some individuals who brought Kara Counselling and Training Trust to this situation. Ms Kalumba also said Grant Thornton is currently carrying out an overall audit at Kara Counselling and Training Trust.
The organisation was formed in 1989 after late Winstone Zulu went public to declare his HIV positive status. Among the pioneers of Kara Counselling and Training Trust are Father Kelly, Dr Katele Kalumba, Dr Mabuba Banda and Mr Kopeka Phiri.
MINISTER of Justice Sebastian Zulu says Government is ready to repossess Zamtel if negotiations with the Libyan owners LAPGreen fail to yield agreeable results.
Mr Zulu also says Government is yet to decide whether it will re-privatise Zamtel once the State repossesses the 75 percent shares sold to the Libyan company or nationalises it following earlier “security” concerns of having the wireless phone company in foreign ownership.
“The best way is to negotiate with them. If there is no settlement, eventually there will be a court process and we are ready for it,” Mr Zulu said. Mr Zulu told journalists in Lusaka yesterday that Cabinet is yet to decide whether Zamtel should be privatised if the decision eventually is to reverse the transaction.
“Cabinet will have to decide what to do. We have to see whether to privatise Zamtel or not,” Mr Zulu said.
He also hinted that the Libyan company could, as an alternative, be asked to pay a “little more” for the 75 percent stake in Zamtel, saying: “It (LAPGreen) could be owing the country for using Zesco’s fibre optic network which it did not pay for.”
Mr Zulu said Zesco’s optic fibre network was not considered at the time Zamtel was sold to LAPGreen. “They are using our fibre-optic network without paying. There is even no question of compensating them, maybe they will have to pay us for using optic fibre network,” he said.
He said the people making comments on the government’s plans to repossess Zamtel should study the report of the commission of inquiry set up to investigate the sale of Zamtel in order to comment intelligently.
mr zulu questioned the loyalty of the people speaking against the possible reversal of the transaction such as Situmbeko Musokotwane saying: “On whose side are they? Are they on the side of the Zambian people? This is national asset, and, therefore, if there was fraud and a Zambian stands up and says let’s expose the fraud, they should be supported.”
Recently, President Sata declared a showdown with LAPGreen over Zamtel, saying the Patriotic Front (PF) government is ready to face the Libyan company, which bought 75 per cent shares in Zamtel during the MMD reign.
The President described media reports suggesting that the Libyan firm intends to fight Government’s move to repossess the company to the ‘bitter end’ as unfortunate because the government had the power to simply repossess it anyway.
Mr Sata said it was surprising that the firm had taken a ‘confrontational stance’ despite the irregularities surrounding the transaction.
The controversial transaction has sucked in former Transport and Communication Minister Dora Siliya and former President Rupiah Banda’s son Henry, presently on a police wanted list.
Ms Siliya and Henry are said to have single-sourced RP Capital, the company that allegedly undervalued the assets of Zamtel, which used to employ 3,000 people but has now scaled down to 700 workers.
THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has said Dr Guy Scott does not only qualify to be Vice-President but in fact qualifies to act as President of Zambia in the absence of Mr Sata.
This has been disclosed by LAZ honorary secretary Paulman Chungu in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday.
“Our position is that Dr Guy Scott is perfectly qualified to be Vice-President and in the absence of the President, for whatever reason, to perform the functions of the office of the President as provided for in the constitution,” Mr Chungu said.
Mr Chungu said following the discussion and debate around the legal propriety of the appointment of Mr Scott as republican Vice-President, LAZ “applied itself to the relevant provisions of the constitution and also studied the position the Attorney-General has taken.”
Recently, former Vice-President George Kunda threatened to mount a legal challenge against the appointment of Dr Scott as republican Vice-President on grounds that his parents were not Zambian.
Mr Kunda, a state counsel and former LAZ president, threatened to take Dr Scott to court to determine whether President Sata should not appoint somebody else in that position.
President Sata scoffed at Mr Kunda’s interpretation of the law and Attorney-General Mumba Malila on Wednesday said there was nothing constitutionally amiss in appointing Dr Scott as Vice-President and that he could actually act in the President’s absence. The President described Mr Kunda as the ‘dullest’ lawyer in the world for failing to correctly read the law.
Mr. Malila said: “In the event that there is a vacancy in the Office of the President in terms of Article 38 of the Constitution or in case of temporary absence of the President in terms of Article 39 of the Constitution, the Vice-President could act as President even if he may not meet the qualification for election to the Office of President. What he cannot do is to stand as President.”
Some have described Mr Kunda’s statements as bordering on racism which must not be allowed to creep into Zambian politics.
MINISTER of Local Government, Housing, Early Child Education and Environmental Protection Nkandu Luo has warned that government will retire local government officers involved in corruption and fraud, to protect the integrity of councils.
Professor Luo said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that transferring council officers involved in dubious activities to other stations will not restore sanity in local authorities. She said government is working to ensure that all fraudulent activities in local authorities are brought to an end.
“All those who are being investigated for illegal activities if found wanting, will be retired. We are not going to transfer them to other districts because that does not help. We want to restore integrity in local authorities,” Prof Luo said.
She said investigations into allegations of mismanagement against town clerks at Kitwe City Council, Mongu Municipal Council and Kabwe Municipal Council have been concluded and the findings have been submitted to her office.
Prof Luo, however, said council officers under investigation will be given an opportunity to exculpate themselves, before any action is taken. She said government wants to ensure that local authorities operate in a transparent and efficient manner, for the benefit of the people.
Prof Luo said some local government officers have allegedly amassed wealth dubiously and own more than 10 pieces of land. She said during the MMD rule, local authorities experienced the worst form of abuse of resources and illegal allocation of land.
“Our officers in the local authorities are the richest if you did not know. Some of them own more than 10 pieces of land. They even have properties around the city which they obtained fraudulently,” Prof Luo said.
She said government will not hesitate to confiscate land which was irregularly obtained, to bring sanity to the local authorities. She said government is currently conducting a land audit in all parts of the country, to establish how much land was obtained illegally.
Prof Luo is sad that illegal settlers in Kitwe have encroached on most of the land meant for development projects. “We are just from Chimwemwe where we found a young girl building a house on land designated for a play park. We would like to warn all those who acquired land illegally to surrender it before the law visits them,” she said.
VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott yesterday recommended that political parties should limit their stay in office to at least 10 years to avoid being complacent.
Dr Scott said 10 years is enough and not wamuyayaya (eternal) as the case was previously. It was in reference to the UNIP reign of 27 years under first President Kenneth Kaunda.
This was the first time a senior Zambian political leader was discussing publicly the limiting of a political party’s stay in office instead of rolling out a strategy to stay in office forever as Zambia’s democracy continues to grow.
Dr Scott, who calls himself a Chola Boy (right-hand man of President Sata), cracked the audience with laughter over a breakfast meeting when he fluently recited a Bemba saying that goes: “Koswe nga akokola mung’anda ala lya nakasuba (when a mouse overstays in a house, it openly eats during the day).
Dr Scott was speaking during a question and answer session at a working breakfast at Hotel Intercontinental, hosted by the Patriotic Front (PF) Women’s League. Dr Scott caused more laughter and earned himself applause when he added that the “rat actually graduates from eating during day time to flipping through television channels.”
University of Zambia lecturer Gerald Mwale said he was encouraged by Dr Scott’s statement on limiting the duration a party can stay in office at a time that most parties want to remain in office forever.
“This is very encouraging and ought to be commended because it shows that the current crop of politicians have a life beyond politics,” Mr Mwale said. “They don’t want to make politics as their economic livelihood as the case has been in the past… this type of thinking must be encouraged,” he said.
Dr Scott said it is easy to lose focus when one overstays, adding: “We constantly need to review Governments and for me, 10 years in power is enough.”
He said it is critical for Government to change hands in good time to enhance democracy. Dr Scott said economic prosperity is closely linked to political change. The MMD stayed in power for 20 years in which it changed Presidents three times.
He also disclosed that Government is working on plans to list more public companies on the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LUSE).
He was responding to a question from Luse chief executive Beatrice Nkanza, who wanted to know if Government intends to list more public companies on the local bourse in order to boost its growth.
“As soon as the ministries of Commerce and Finance work out policy memorandum, the Government will release huge chunks of public companies on the stock market,” Dr Scott said.
Dr Scott said the PF Government believes in a free market and will encourage privatisation.
“What we are fighting is the bogus privatisation that happened in the past two to three years. We don’t wish to repeat the mistake,” Dr Scott said. He said the PF Government will be happier with honest privatisation.
Dr Scott said during the last three years, selective rules were applied on certain foreign investments. He said there were special deals on taxation, immigration and other selective rules.
He said the PF Government will treat all foreign investments equally. And PF secretary-general Wynter Kabimba, who also attended the breakfast meeting, said it is criminal for political parties to use Government resources for their operations.
“We have tried to completely separate the party from Government. We will not dip our fingers into Government coffers,” he said. Mr Kabimba said the party is on an intensive recruitment drive for more members.
“We need more educated and dedicated members to join our party. We want people who can help to develop this country,” he said. Others in attendance were ministers for Defence Geoffrey Mwamba, Mines Wylbur Simuusa and Traditional and Chiefs Affairs Inonge Wina, among others.
Dr Scott also said President Sata should have actually become President in 2000 and not 20 years later after being “dribbled” and that as “his chola boy, I always knew he would lead the country one day.”
Ex-Zambia coach Dario Bonetti says he is excited to see Chisamba Lungu make the cut for the 2012 Africa Cup.
20 year old Chisamba will be making his Africa Cup debut at this year’s tournament to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
“I’m happy for Chisamba Lungu because I first called him in Cecafa tournament last year when nobody know him,” Bonetti said.
Chisamba of Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast in Russia is one of five other players including midfielder Jonas Sakuwaha from El Merriekh in Sudan going to the Africa Cup for the first time.
Meanwhile, Bonetti said he was shocked to hear that TP Mazembe striker Given Singuluma and midfielder Justin Zulu of in Israel were dropped for the Africa Cup trip.
“I’m very sorry for Given and Justin,” he said.
“I think the national group will miss Singuluma and Zulu’s quality.”
Meanwhile, Zambia face Namibia on Saturday in what is expected to be Chipolopolo’s final training game before heading to Equatorial Guinea on January 18.
The match will be played at Rand Stadium in Johannesburg and kickoff will be at 16:00 hours.
All the players are certified fit with the exception of defender Joseph Musonda who is a doubt due to a hamstring problem that has dogged him for the last one week.
The injury has seen him miss Zambia’s 7-0 win over Jomo Comos last Saturday and the 1-1 draw with South Africa on Wednesday.
Kitwe United spokesperson Dorothy Sampa has revealed the municipality-sponsored outfit plans to maintain coach Fred ‘Schemer’ Siame ahead of the 2012 Division One North campaign.
United missed out on winning promotion after finishing 9th on the log with 44 points.
They have failed to bounce back to the Super Division since it was demoted in 2006.
Sampa said the Garden Park side is satisfied with the performance of Siame who joined the Buchi Boys last year following the indefinite suspension of his predecessor Lawrence Mweemba on disciplinary grounds.
“We don’t have plans of making changes to our technical bench,” she said.
“We want to give an opportunity to our coaches to perform well this season,” Sampa added.
She said United’s failure to win promotion cannot be blamed on coaches but on the financial challenges the team faced last season.
“It will be unfair to judge the performance of our coaches because of financial problems we faced last season. There were delays in paying allowances to players,” Sampa said.
Minister of Labour, Sports and Y Chishimba Kambwili (L)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refuted media reports that diplomats complained about the conduct of the immediate past Minister Chishimba Kambwili prompting President Michael Sata to carryout a mini-cabinet reshuffle.
Public relations officer Mushaukwa Lubinda has told QFM that Mr. Kambwili’s transfer to the ministry of labour, Youth and Sport is not as a result of the alleged complaints from the diplomats.
Mr. Lubinda says the decisions to move Mr. Kambwili is based on the fact that he performed exceptionally well thereby contributing to the improvement of working relations between the ministry and diplomatic corps.
He adds that the ministry is grateful to Mr. Kambwili for his dedication to service and that the ministry also remains confident that he will equally excel in his new portfolio.
In today’s edition, the Post has carried a story stating that diplomats complained about Mr. Kambwili’s behavior.
Libya’s LAP Green says it is keen to have the current situation surrounding Zamtel resolved as soon as possible.
In a statement released to QFM,LAP Green Chairman Wafik Shater says they welcome any opportunity to work with the Zambian Government to secure a swift and positive outcome that benefits both Zambia and Zamtel.
Mr Shater says LAP Green sees a very positive future for the company under the joint ownership with the Zambian government, and looks forward to further growing the business and to continue making a major contribution to the Zambian economy.
He says LAP Green is deeply committed to the future of Zamtel, and that since acquiring the company for $257 million in June 2010,they have quadrupled its subscriber base,securing more than 800,000 subscribers by the start of 2012.
Mr Shater states that a vibrant Zamtel is helping to satrenghten the Zambian telecoms sector through competition and choice.
He adds that since June 2010,over 1,700 jobs have been created at Zamtel including distributors.
United Party for National Development, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema
Republican President Michael Sata has described as useless a letter written to him by UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema dated 27th December, 2011 with regards the opposition leader’s Kabulonga house, NO. F/488A/14/A/3.
In his letter of reply to the UPND leader dated 11th January,2012 obtained by QFM,President Sata, in acknowledging receipt, said that he expected more meaningful correspondence from leaders of political parties which will assist solving the problems facing the country.
President Sata said that was unfortunate, when people that have never been cadres, just ascend to the top of a political party from nowhere. They do not understand the problems facing the country apart from problems facing their pockets, the president said.
In his letter to the President, Mr Hichilema observed that President Sata’s habit of abusing,demeaning,ridiculing and wrongly accusing innocent and defenceless citizens had worsened.
He pointed out that President during a visit to Mazabuka in November 2011 made wild allegations about him including allegations that he wrongly acquired his family house he is occupying in Lusaka’s Kabulonga residential area.
[pullquote]“You will have to look at the old cases like the privatisation of Roan Mine, Kajem Mine, Lima Bank and Intercontinental Hotel in Livingstone. All these are cases that are stinking with corruption,” Mr Sata said[/pullquote]
Mr Hichilema refuted that he has never been a liquidator of Lima Bank contrary to the President’s insinuations, AND that the said house which he says he bought through public tender has never belonged to Lima Bank.
He stated that the law should take its course should it be established that he wrongly acquired his house.
And yesterday, in apparent reference to HH who, at the time of the fast-track MMD privatisation programme under late President Frederick Chiluba’s administration, was working at Grant Thornton, President asked the new Director of Public Prosecution Mr Mutembo Nchito to go beyond existing cases of corruption and open some files from the past such as those involving the sale or privatisation of Roan Antelope Mining Corporation (RAMCOZ), Kagem Mine, Lima Bank and Hotel Intercontinental in Livingstone which the President feels were corruptly sold.
“You will have to look at the old cases like the privatisation of Roan Mine, Kajem Mine, Lima Bank and Intercontinental Hotel in Livingstone. All these are cases that are stinking with corruption,” Mr Sata said
The four companies were privatised by Grant Thornton, an international accounting and consulting firm, which United Party for National Development president Hakainde Hichilema, was a managing partner.
Mr Hichilema has constantly said the sale of the companies was above board.
President Michael Sata with former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi during his private visit to Zambia
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President Michael Sata is embraced by former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi at State House
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President Michael Sata talks to former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi at State House
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President Michael Sata talks to former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi at State House
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President Micheal Sata is welcomed at the Bloemfontein Military Base in South Africa for the ANC centenary celebrations
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President Sata and First Lady Dr. Christine Kaseba on arrival at Bloemfontein in South Africa to attend the ANC Centenary celebrations
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President Sata and his South African Counterpart Jacob Zuma at the Vista University in Mangaung for the ANC Centenary Gala Dinner
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President Michael Sata with other African Heads of State and Government officials during ANC 100th anniversary at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein,South Africa
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President Sata and his Malawian counterpart Bingu Wa Mutarika embrace each other at Bleomfontein Military Base in South Africa. There has been a diplomatic row between the two leaders
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A makeshift Seventh Day Adventist Church building in Hillview Park in Lusaka was vandalized by a family which is claiming ownership of the piece of land upon which the structure has been erected. Hillview Park SDA Church assistant administrative elder Ketson Kandafula said it was the third time since its construction two years ago that the structure was being vandalized and that efforts to seek police intervention had proved futile
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A makeshift Seventh Day Adventist Church building in Hillview Park in Lusaka that was vandalized by a family which is claiming ownership of the piece of land upon which the structure has been erected.
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An explosion on January 3rd ripped through an oxygen plant at the Universal Mining and Steel Plant in Kafue. Above is part of the building which took the brunt of the explosion.10 workers were injured one of them required an amputation of his leg.
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An explosion on January 3rd ripped through an oxygen plant at the Universal Mining and Steel Plant in Kafue. Above, onlookers sift through the damaged building which took the brunt of the explosion
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An explosion on January 3rd ripped through an oxygen plant at the Universal Mining and Steel Plant in Kafue. Above is part of the building which took the brunt of the explosion.
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President Michael Sata shakes hands with British High Commissioner to Zambia Carolyn Davidson (r) as her husband High Commissioner Thomas Carter (second from r) and Chinese Ambassador Zhou Yuxiao (l) look on during an annual cocktail party for the diplomatic community at State House
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President Michael Sata interacts with ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Zambia during an annual cocktail party for the diplomatic community at State House
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President Michael Sata talks to outgoing Vatican Ambassador to Zambia Nicola Girasoli during an annual cocktail party for the diplomatic community at State House
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President Michael Sata listens to Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao during an annual cocktail party for the diplomatic community at State House
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President Michael Sata talks to Nigerian High Commissioner to Zambia Folake Marcus-Bello during an annual cocktail party for the diplomatic community at State House
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Former Senior Private Secretary of former Republican President Rupiah Banda, Rapson Chilufya, announces his resignation from the opposition the Movement for Multi Party Democracy at a press briefing in Lusaka
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MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya accompanied by sympathizers leaves the former Taskforce on Corruption offices in Lusaka
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Zambia Police spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela talks to journalists after MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya was quizzeed at the former Taskforce on Corruption offices in Lusaka
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Police impounded a truck load of bicycles which were suspected to have been bought using stolen money by former Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale. Here the truck parked at Chipata Police station. Its was impounded from Mr Mwale's house in Mambwe district.
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Police impounded a truck load of bicycles which were suspected to have been bought using stolen money by former Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale. Here the truck parked at Chipata Police station. Its was impounded from Mr Mwale's house in Mambwe district.
Government has dismissed assertions that its imminent repossession of Zamtel may erode investor confidence in the country.
Outgoing Foreign Affairs Minister Chishimba Kambwili wondered how investors would lose confidence to invest in the country when all Government was doing was to clean up the process of investment.
Mr. Kambwili said it was clear that the sale of Zamtel was fraudulent as reflected in the report of the Commission of Inquiry that was set up to probe the sale of the telecommunication company to LapGreen of Libya.
He told the media that the report indicated that the deal was marred with corruption.
He said Government would leave no stone unturned to rid the country of corruption in order to ensure that all investment transactions coming into Zambia were done in a clean and transparent manner.
Mr. Kambwili urged Zambians to read the report on the sale of Zamtel which Government intends to avail to everyone in order for them to understand the levels of corruption that surrounded the sale of the telecommunications company.
[pullquote]However, he explained that Government had not yet made a decision on Zamtel and had therefore called on Zambians to desist from commenting on the matter until a decision was made by Cabinet.[/pullquote]
He said genuine investors would not lose confidence in investing in Zambia but would rather support Government’s action to clean up corruption in the country.
However, he explained that Government had not yet made a decision on Zamtel and had therefore called on Zambians to desist from commenting on the matter until a decision was made by Cabinet.
Yesterday, former Minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokotwane said that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government risks compensating LapGreen of Libya between US$400 million and US$1 billion if it reverses the sale of Zamtel. Dr Musokotwane said that the compensation will include the US$257 million purchase price, extra investments LapGreen has made and the positive turn around in business.
“We can’t be sure whether this money will ever be recovered because in accordance with the PF manifesto, they will choose party cadres to manage the company. How will the company then remain profitable and protect jobs?
“This type of arbitrary action damages the reputation of Zambia as a destination for investments. It has taken more than 20 years to build confidence in the investor community that an investment made in Zambia is free from political seizure,” Dr Musokotwane said.
He said Libya is part of the capital-rich Middle East, which is exporting capital all over the world, thereby creating jobs for young people.
“Their confidence in Zambia and Sub-Saharan Africa was growing as they seek to diversify their investment from Europe and America. Now, we are busy spoiling all this and we expect to develop our country and create jobs?
“Will it surprise us when our currency begins to lose value quickly as it is doing now because the public is getting nervous about the safety of their money while those planning to invest hold back the inflows of their money into Zambia due to similar fears?” he said.
[pullquote]“Will it surprise us when our currency begins to lose value quickly as it is doing now because the public is getting nervous about the safety of their money while those planning to invest hold back the inflows of their money into Zambia due to similar fears?” he said.[/pullquote]
Dr Musokotwane said by constituting the Zulu-led Commission of Inquiry into the Zamtel sale, President Sata lost an opportunity in failing to appoint independent commissioners who would have provided non-biased views on this important subject.
He said since Mr Zulu and other politicians on the commission were fully aware of President Sata’s public pronouncements on Zamtel sale that it was fraudulent, it cannot surprise anyone that their report had to tow the same line of thinking “or else they would have been sacked from their jobs.”
Dr Musokotwane said findings of the then latest audit report on Zamtel by Ernst and Young, a reputable international audit firm, showed that Zamtel was insolvent with enormous and unsustainable debts against few and obsolete assets.
“Let the PF refute the fact that an insolvent company faces liquidation as was the case with many parastatals before, leaving behind untold suffering by former workers who would remain unpaid for years…let the PF refute that saving the company, jobs and indeed service provided was done in the best interest of the country,” he said.
[pullquote]He said since Mr Zulu and other politicians on the commission were fully aware of President Sata’s public pronouncements on Zamtel sale that it was fraudulent, it cannot surprise anyone that their report had to tow the same line of thinking “or else they would have been sacked from their jobs.”[/pullquote]
He said the US$257 million paid for Zamtel is the best price that Zambia has ever received for any parastatal company ever sold and is seven times more than what was paid for ZCCM units that became Konkola Copper Mines.
Dr Musokotwane appealed to the PF government to settle down, ‘sobre up,’ and focus on developing the country.
“Creating a mindset that focuses primarily on hunting for mistakes committed by the previous Government even where there is no justification just slows down development. Let those same energies be used to develop industries, infrastructure, jobs and business opportunities,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kambwili, who is now Minister of Labour, has appealed to investors especially in the mining sector to respect the country’s labour laws.
[pullquote]“Creating a mindset that focuses primarily on hunting for mistakes committed by the previous Government even where there is no justification just slows down development. Let those same energies be used to develop industries, infrastructure, jobs and business opportunities,” he said.[/pullquote]
He said it was saddening that investors in the country have continued to disregard the country’s labour laws with impunity.
Mr. Kambwili said Government would not hesitate to take punitive action against investors who continued to verbally abuse Zambian workers and offer them bad conditions of service.
He said investors need to respect the culture of the Zambian people saying it was against the Zambian tradition for people to use abusive language.
Mr. Kambwili also urged Zambian human resource managers working with foreign investors to advise their counterparts on how to conduct themselves whilst in the country.
