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MMD chairman for legal affairs and former vice president George Kunda has accused Republican President Michael Sata of using his instruments of power to intimidate his political opponents.
Mr. Kunda during a media briefing in Lusaka today said the MMD will have brace itself for hard times this year because the PF is a vindictive government which is dedicated to vengeance, retribution and an eye for eye principle.
The former vice President has also claimed that President Sata’s New Year massage to the Zambian people on Saturday was characterized with attacks and threats which spoiled the New Year festivities for individuals like him.
Mr. Kunda has further observed that the PF is most unlikely to provide good democratic governance because of its alleged selective fight against corruption targeting certain individuals.
At the same occasion MMD’s Situmbeko Musokotwane said the MMD is proud to have scored a number of economic successes the time it was in office.
Dr. Musokotwane notes that the single digit inflation rate and the anticipated economic growth that the country recorded in the year 2011 were as a result of the MMD’s good economic policies.
The former finance minister noted that there is need for the PF government to restore investor confidence saying most of the potential investors are holding on to investment because the current government has not given assurance of the good and favorable investment climate.
Northern Province Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Mwamba
A provincial taskforce comprising officers from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and the Zambia Police (ZP) set up to investigate allegations of theft, fraud, illegal tendering and corruption at the Northern Province Administration and line ministries has unearthed financial scams worth billions of Kwacha involving government officials in the previous administration.
Provincial Taskforce Chairperson Mary Chikwanda, who is also Provincial Police Commissioner for Northern Province has confirmed the development.
She said the Task-force was constituted by the Permanent Secretary for Northern Province, Emmanuel Mwamba in line with President Michael Sata’s vision and policy of zero tolerance against corruption.
Ms Chikwanda states that the Taskforce has so far seized trucks, luxury motor vehicles, houses and a building complex in Kasama owned by government officials currently under investigations.
She said the investigations have so far exposed financial scams at Provincial Administration, departments at Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education involving over K3billion.
Ms Chikwanda says last week, the Commission also exposed theft of K131.5million stolen at the Road Development Agency (RDA) in the province and had since questioned and will likely arrested an accountant at the department.
She adds that the Accountant at RDA, Ernest Chibuye has since been suspended from work after being questioned for allegedly paying K131.5million from the coffers of RDA to a company called Ertafa General Dealers without seeking authority from or knowledge of his superiors.
She further adds that her team is also pursuing cases of K1.6billion and K400million paid to a bogus company for projects whose works have never been undertaken and have never commenced.
The Provincial police Commissioner also states that the Taskforce is also investigating the purchase and installation of a set of traffic lights in Kasama, whose initial cost was estimated to be only K90million but the provincial administration spent over K750 million on the project.
She also reveals that the other irregularity regarding the traffic lights was that the former Permanent Secretary and now Member of Parliament for Mbala Constituency, Mwalimu Simfukwe never referred the matter to the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) as required by law since the threshold was above the provincial tender committee limit of K500 million.
The Traffic Lights contract was awarded to a company called Cornerstone Construction.
And Northern province Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Mwamba has revealed that Cornerstone Construction Company has abandoned 7 government projects awarded to the company in Mbala, Kasama, Isoka and Luwingu.
He expressed concern that there were many companies that were dubiously awarded contracts for government works or projects in the province but acted fraudulently by abandoning works after being paid initial amounts or cash advances.
He encouraged the Taskforce to pursue all such matters.
Meanwhile, the Provincial TaskForce has summoned an ACC investigation officer based in Kasama on allegation that he bounced a K15 million Barclays cheque.
Ms Chikwanda emphasised that her office will not discriminate or spare anyone but will allow the law to take its course.
THE Immigration Department has maintained that it will not renew the work permit of a Nigerian pastor in-charge for Winners’ Chapel in Lusaka Victor Femi Adeniji following reports of his verbal abuse against church members.
Chief Immigration Officer Anderson Phiri said the department would not renew pastor Adeniji’s work permit because of his continued reported misconduct.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Phiri said the department had received many complaints over Pastor Adeniji’s behaviour, which prompted it to reject his application to renew his work permit.
“I can confirm we have refused to renew his work permit because of the reported abusive language and conduct to church members.
“This is not acceptable because when people come to Zambia they have to do things correctly but if he uses bad language on the locals, we shall also not renew his work permit,” he said.
Mr Phiri advised members of the Winners’ Chapel to consider engaging another pastor because the department would not renew pastor Adeniji work permit again.
On Sunday, tempers flared and confusion reigned at Winner’s Chapel in Lusaka’s Libala Township when placard-carrying congregants demonstrated against the Immigration Department’s refusal to renew the work permit for pastor Adeniji.
The congregants who accused some of the members of the church of being behind the development, demanded that the Immigration Department immediately renews the pastor’s work permit.
FORMER vice-president George Kunda has denied allegations that he or his firm, Messers George Kunda & Company received K190 million in respect of the Zamtel transaction.
And Mr Kunda has said his firm received K3.5 billion from the Ministry of Finance on behalf of its client, Sun Pharmaceuticals Limited in a matter against the Development Bank of Zambia.
Mr Kunda said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that it was not necessary to constitute a commission of inquiry on him over the K3.5 billion money for the Sun Pharmaceuticals and in the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) transaction.
On allegations that his firm received K190 million, the former vice-president said the only sum of money received by George Kunda & Company from ZDA in October 2010 was K100 million.
He said the K100 million was paid in respect to a matter between now Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba versus Zambia Privatisation Agency (ZPA), Minister of Finance, Magaba Nyirenda, Katema Mutale, Charles Mwamba, Oliver Munyonsi and William Nkonde.
He said this was in respect of the sale of Savoy Hotel in Ndola.
“The ZDA inherited this matter from the ZPA. The amount paid by ZDA is backed by a Supreme Court Judgment (Appeal No. 68/2006) wherein Mr Mwamba was awarded a sum of US$46,000 plus 40 per cent interest from April 29, 1998 to date of payment and costs.
“Pursuant to this judgment the ZDA as successor to ZPA refunded $46,000 directly to Mr GB Mwamba & Company again pursuant to a court order,” he said.
He said the payment of K100 million is also supported by the necessary Bill of Cost in respect of the same matter as directed by the court in its order for costs.
Mr Kunda said all supporting documents were available at ZDA.
“It is common knowledge that law firms receive fees, legal costs and client’s money and George Kunda & Company is no exception. It may be that ZDA paid the K100 million from the Zamtel proceeds. We understand from inquiries made at ZDA that other creditors including some law firms, were also paid from the same proceeds including allowances for members of staff at ZDA,” he said.
He said as a law firm, they could not answer for the error made by ZDA, saying it was an error as they did not control the operations and financial affairs of the agency.
He said his company was merely a victim of an error made at ZDA.
[pullquote]“It is unfortunate that Mr (Sebastian) Zulu and Ms Dimple Ranchold (Chairperson of the Zamtel Commission of Inquiry) decided to release unverified information with intent to defame the firm of George Kunda & Company and as proprietor. It must also be pointed out that we have never been called by the technical committee appointed to inquire into the sale of Zamtel to testify as witnesses and state our side of the story,” he said.[/pullquote]
“It is unfortunate that Mr (Sebastian) Zulu and Ms Dimple Ranchold (Chairperson of the Zamtel Commission of Inquiry) decided to release unverified information with intent to defame the firm of George Kunda & Company and as proprietor. It must also be pointed out that we have never been called by the technical committee appointed to inquire into the sale of Zamtel to testify as witnesses and state our side of the story,” he said.
He said he learnt about the alleged payment of K190 million through the media.
He said the firm had since decided to commence legal action against media organisations which carried the story that he had received K190 million.
Mr Kunda explained that as former vice-president and minister of Justice and now MP for Muchinga, he was not practicing in the law firm at the time the alleged payment was made.
“In view of the foregone it is not necessary to appoint a commission of Inquiry with its attendant financial cost to the tax payer in form of sitting allowances. All the information pertaining to this matter is available at ZDA,” he said.
He further said that it would be unfair to subject him to a commission of inquiry composed of politicians appointed by the president which is chaired by his principle accuser, the Minister of Justice.
“Such politicians are determined to ensure that my political career is ruined so that they can rule Zambia without any formidable opposition. With the president having pronounced me guilty already there is no way I can receive a fair hearing,” he said.
Mr Kunda said while some people were arguing that he should have declared interest, he said he had been filing declarations of assets and liabilities with the Chief Justice which includes a declaration of companies and firms in which he holds shares or interest.
On allegations that his firm received K3.5 billion, Mr Kunda said George Kunda & Company received the amount on behalf of Sun Pharmaceuticals Limited.
“The case between Development Bank of Zambia and Sun Pharmaceuticals Limited commenced in 1995 in the High Court that is to say 17 years ago in which case George Kunda & Company was acting for Sun Pharmaceuticals Limited,” he said.
He said at the time he was not in Government and that the case arose out of a loan agreement.
He said arising from the Judgment of the Supreme Court, the court awarded Sun Pharmaceuticals Limited compensation towards over payment.
Mr Kunda said the matter was between Sun Pharmaceuticals Limited and DBZ but that with the passing of the Development Bank of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 11 of 2001, Government assumed the debt portfolio and liabilities of the bank.
He said arising from this, the Government was obliged to settle the debts of DBZ including the Sun Pharmaceutical debt.
‘The money was paid from the Compensation Fund in installments and not in one lump sum of K3.5 billion and the firm has accounted for all the money. It is not possible for the Ministry of Finance to pay money to George Kunda & Company or indeed to any law firm without a court order and supporting documents,” he said.
He said the said monies represented compensation and party costs due to Sun Pharmaceuticals Limited.
[pullquote]‘The money was paid from the Compensation Fund in installments and not in one lump sum of K3.5 billion and the firm has accounted for all the money. It is not possible for the Ministry of Finance to pay money to George Kunda & Company or indeed to any law firm without a court order and supporting documents,” he said.[/pullquote]
He said the money was not paid to George Kunda and Company as legal fees for work done for Government or the Development Bank of Zambia.
“This is not the only case DBZ has been sued by borrowers. There are other similar cases e.g. the famous Match Corporation case. To the best of my knowledge, Government has been paying billions of Kwacha to many claimants through various law firms and it is surprising that George Kunda and Company has been targeted for libelous attacks,” he said.
He said while some people are arguing that he should have declared interest, this could not arise because the firm was not acting for the Government.
In his New Year message, President Michael Sata said law enforcement agencies had made progress in arresting MMD leaders and that Mr Kunda would be the next target.
Did you think that weights were the only way to develop a strong, muscular chest? Think again. You can build your chest – and your arms – without lifting a single barbell or dumbbell.
Work through these push up variations to add layers of new upper-body muscle in just eight weeks. The first phase builds, endurance the second boosts strength and the final phase adds explosiveness and speed so you can pack on more size.
THE WORKOUT
Wide press-up
Weeks 1 & 2
Perform these exercises 2 or 3 days a week in the order shown, with at least 1 day’s rest between workouts.
Complete three sets of each, resting 1-2 minutes between sets.
Aim for sets of 10-15 reps.
If that’s beyond your chest efforts, just do the best you can.
Perform a standard press-up, but with your hands placed wider than shoulder-width apart.
Alternating shuffle press-up
Weeks 1 & 2
Start in the classic press-up position.
Move your right hand to the left until your two hands are next to each other.
Slide your left hand further left until your hands are shoulder-width apart again.
Perform a press-up and repeat, moving to the right. That’s two press-ups, but only one rep
Diamond press-up
Weeks 1 & 2
Perform these exercises 2 or 3 days a week in the order shown, with at least 1 day’s rest between workouts.
Complete three sets of each, resting 1-2 minutes between sets.
Aim for sets of 10-15 reps. If that’s beyond your chest efforts, just do the best you can.
Perform a press-up with your hands close enough for the tips of your thumbs and index fingers to touch. That’s the diamond shape.
One-arm press-up
Weeks 3, 4, 5 and 6
Perform these variations 2 days a week, completing 4 sets of each variation, resting 1- 2 minutes between sets.
Again, aim for 10-15 reps per set, or as many as you can.
You’ll need a 10-20cm high box. Or the stairs or a step
Perform a press-up with your right hand on the floor and your left hand on the box. Switch arms and repeat. That’s one rep.
Cross-over box press-up
Weeks 3, 4, 5 and 6
Do a one-arm press-up with your left hand on the box.
From the starting position, lift your right hand to beside your left.
Move your left hand down to the floor, with hands shoulder-width apart. Do a press-up. That’s one rep!
Hands-on-box diamond press-up
Weeks 3, 4, 5 and 6
Perform these variations 2 days a week, completing 4 sets of each variation, resting 1- 2 minutes between sets.
Again, aim for 10-15 reps per set, or as many as you can.
There’s a clue in the title: perform a diamond press-up, but with both hands on the box.
Dynamic box press-up
Weeks 3, 4, 5 and 6
Place your hands on a box in the diamond press-up position.
Lower your body and press explosively off the box, so your hands land on the floor with the box between them.
Watch that chin. Immediately lower your body and press explosively up so your hands land back on the box in the starting position. That’s one rep.
Time to get serious
Weeks 7 & 8
Thanks to your hard work you will have now built base muscle endurance (weeks 1 and 2), and added strength. This final phase develops the explosiveness and speed which will give you a performance edge in any sport that uses your upper body.It doesn’t come easy, though: You’ll now complete the same exercises as in weeks 3 to 6, but as a circuit, performing one exercise after the other with no rest in between. Try to perform 10 reps of each exercise. That’s a set. Rest for 1-2 minutes, then repeat for a total of four sets. Collapsing is optional. Do this twice a week, allowing 3 days of rest between sessions. You’ll need it.
This requires a lot of hard work and discipline , that is the only way you will see results . Dont give up , and remember, ” no pain no gain!!!”
MINISTER of Foreign Affairs Chishimba Kambwili has dismissed assertions by United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema that foreign investment is threatened under the leadership of the Patriotic Front (PF).
And Mr Kambwili says diplomatic relations between Zambia and Malawi have never been strained.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Kambwili said the PF government has managed to build investor-confidence since it took over power on September 23, 2011, contrary to Mr Hichilema’s claims that foreign investment is under threat.
“We have travelled to so many countries and the amount of investment that will flow into the country is overwhelming.
“Just last week, we received a delegation from Australia, which is interested in investing in mining and agriculture and they want to start up new power generation plants, so I am left wondering what investment Mr Hichilema claims is threatened,” Mr Kambwili said.
He said investor-confidence has been strengthened because of the peaceful transition of power after the September 20 tripartite elections, which ushered the PF into office.
“There is no investment that has been threatened. We have built more investor-confidence. The confidence has been complemented by the peaceful transition which showed that Zambia is a stable democracy. It is the UPND and Mr Hichilema who want to show that Zambia is not stable,” Mr Kambwili said.
He also said Zambia has received numerous applications from foreign investors interested in the public private partnership (PPP), adding that works at the Chambishi and Lusaka East Multi-Facility Economic Zones (MFEZ) are progressing well.
He described Mr Hichilema as a disgruntled element who has failed to make it in politics.
“The UPND leader is so frustrated because he has realised that he is leading a political party which is anchored on nothing but tribe. He better go back to auditing books instead of wasting his time on politics. The UPND will not cross the Kafue River at the rate it is going,” Mr Kambwili said.
He added: “Some people have been saying that the Tonga-speaking people are tribalists, it is not the Tongas who are tribalists, they are actually very good people. There are just some disgruntled people like HH who are creating an impression that the Tonga people are tribal.”
But UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said Zambia is in an unfortunate position to have a Minister of Foreign Affairs like Mr Kambwili, who allegedly continues to display politics of antagonism as he did when he was in the opposition.
“It is extremely hard for some of our colleagues in the PF to realise that they are now in Government and that they have a responsibility to behave in a befitting manner on behalf of all Zambians.
He added: “I don’t like to get into the tribal arrangement but each time a minister stoops so low to talk about tribe, it worries me.”
Mr Hichilema is quoted as having said foreign investment is threatened under the leadership of the PF.
He said the recent statement the President made on the alleged fake money in circulation heightened the concerns of investors.
Mr Hichilema advised President Sata not to be careless with his statements on the economy of the country.
And Mr Kambwili says diplomatic relations between Zambia and Malawi have never been strained.
“The relations between Zambia and Malawi have never been sour. Zambia complained about the way President Sata was treated to show that opposition leaders should not be mistreated, otherwise relations have been cordial,” Mr Kambwili said.
THE MMD national executive committee (NEC) says it will not expel from the party, members who are currently being investigated for allegedly engaging in corrupt practices during former President Banda’s tenure.
MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu said party members who are under probe for abuse of office will continue to receive the party’s protection until their cases are concluded in the courts of law.
Mr Nyangu was reacting to concerns from various stakeholders that the former leaders from the opposition party who are under probe for corruption should resign from the MMD on moral grounds.
“The NEC will continue to provide protection to all members, including those who are under investigations for allegedly engaging in corrupt practices.
“Their cases have not yet been concluded in the courts of law and we can only expel our members when we prove that they have committed grave offences with tangible evidence,” he said.
Mr Nyangu said it is sad that some people from within the opposition and outside the party are calling for the resignation of former government leaders from the MMD, when their cases have not yet been concluded in the courts of law.
He said people should not rush into calling for the resignation of MMD members who are facing corruption cases but that they should understand that only the NEC can expel them, after the courts have found them guilty of plundering public resources.
Mr Nyangu called for calm and unity in the party and urged party members to work hard and mobilise more members in readiness for the 2016 tripartite elections.
He said all MMD members should put their political differences aside and focus on rebuilding the party.
Mr Nyangu said this will help to strengthen the party ahead of future elections.
THE latest audit report on the Zambian mission in Ottawa, Canada, which was headed by Nevers Mumba (right) shows numerous accounts of misapplication of Government funds running beyond half a billion Kwacha and in some instances questionable transactions made without permission from the Secretary to the Treasury as required by law. This is according to Zambia Daily Mail, which is in possession of the Audit Report.
Dated December 31, 2010, the report – not yet in public domain – places the eloquent pastor’s mission on trial for the following reasons:
• Unauthorised use of revenue amounting to K403,900,000 million (US$80,780) from a revenue account to operational account without approval
• No receipts for procuring stores items valued at more than K50 million
• Misapplication of almost K1 billion (US$254,619.9) released to renovate No.9 Mission Inn Grove, pastor Mumba’s official residence. The audit report has established that of the total amount released, only about K365 million went towards the renovations while explanations on how the rest was used remains vague to the knowledge of the Auditor-General. The audit was concluded as early as May 2011 on Pastor Mumba’s watch.
• The report also points out that banking was delayed for up to more than 49 days contrary to financial regulations No. 121 while the embassy in some instances engaged and paid companies to do works that were never completed and in other instances failed to collect refunds for undelivered services.
The external debt at the Ottawa mission under Pastor Mumba also rose by 34 percent for unexplained reasons while several figures failed to add up. The report findings are the exact opposite of what the pastor said when interviewed from Ottawa by the Daily Mail in October after President Michael Sata stated that impropriety cases existed at the mission.
Pastor Mumba during the interview told the Daily Mail that as far as he was concerned, he had been cleared by the AG’s office and saw no reason why President Sata was accusing him of impropriety.
Pastor Mumba’s lawyer, Sakwiba Sikota, a State Counsel, has dismissed investigations on his client’s activities as a witch-hunt and in some cases a circus, suggesting that investigative authorities were “clowning”.
He reckons the investigations shall yield no results as Government lacks a strong case to take to court as President Sata steps up his efforts to fight graft which he says has contributed to high poverty levels in Zambia at more than 65 percent.
The pastor has also admitted to raising money from Barrick Gold but denied any sinister motive as he fights the new allegations that could jeopardise his bid for the top job in the MMD.
The MMD is looking for a leader to provide a strong opposition to the PF after Rupiah Banda said he wanted to resign from active politics following his defeat at the hands of President Sata.
The race for the MMD most coveted job could reduce to Pastor Mumba, Felix Mutati, Situmbeko Musokotwane, Kabinga Pande and Moses Muteteka in the final analysis even though indications are that more could show interest in the job.
Pastor Mumba could not be reached for comment by the Sunday Mail yesterday while his lawyer, Sikota, said he could not comment on his behalf until he sees the audit report.
Faz is hoping to add Kenya and Namibia to their friendly match program in South Africa before Zambia heads to the Africa Cup.
Faz is talking to the Namibian and Kenya FA’s about playing them this weekend or next week.
“We have dates of January 7 and 14 free,” said Faz general secretary George Kasenegle.
Zambia already has one friendly secured against South Africa on January 11 at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.
Meanwhile, a friendly against Kenya is a bit tricky as the Harambee Stars will be away West Africa on January 14.
Kenya will be in Dakar to play a friendly against Senegal away.
Senegal invited Kenya because they believe the Harambee Stars playing style is similar to Zambia’s whom they face in the two sides opening Group A game on January 21 in Bata, Equatorial Guinea.
The development means Namibia are looking like favorites to face Zambia on one of the two open friendly dates before the team leaves its Johannesburg camp where they have been since December 27 for Bata on January 18.
The Power Dynamos’ reserve team Young Power have won promotion to Faz Division 3 league.
Young Power Dynamos are coached by ex-Power player Mwenya Chipepo.
The side comprising of mostly under-20 players, won promotion after emerging champions of the Copperbelt Amateur Football League.
According to the final CAFA league table confirmed by fixture secretary Peter Kasongo, the Arthur Davies reserve side topped the provincial 20-team league with 77 points.
The development means Power sponsors Copperbelt Energy Corporation will this season have two teams competing in the Faz premier league, one in the Super Division Power Dynamos and Young Power in Division 3.
Meanwhile , Chipepo said he is excited to have won promotion from the amateur ranks to a Division 3.
“I am happy! This is a good development. Its means Power will stop buying players at will,” he said.
“We want to groom players from a tender age, so that once they are selected to play in the main Power Dynamos Team they won’t find it strange,” Chipepo added.
United Party for National Development, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema
United Party for National Development, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has castigated the PF government for what he termed as failure to liberalize the airwaves to facilitate for expanded coverage areas of radio stations and private television stations.
Appearing last night on Mobi TV’s open forum, Mr. Hichilema charged that the PF government’s delay in liberalizing the airwaves is betrayal to the voters because they promised in their campaign messages to do so as soon as they get into office.
He said the media should not be fooled by statements from government that it is committed to liberalizing the airwaves and also to enacting the freedom of information bill saying the PF government could have done so within its first 90 days if indeed they were committed.
He said the PF government went ahead to rename airports and other structures as well as form districts without discussing with anyone adding that this should have been the case with liberalizing the airwaves.
He said the PF government should show some support for the media by immediately liberalizing the airwaves so that all private media houses can go nationwide.
Mr. Hichilema said UPND is of the view that all media houses should have nationwide coverage and that the only factor that should hinder this should be the media houses’ capital and not government’s grip on rights to the airwaves.
Lately Mr Hakainde has stepped up his attack on the PF Government. On Saturday, The UPND leader said that Zambia needed leaders who should inspire confidence. Mr. Hichilema said that the current developments being undertaken in the Patriotic Front left much to be desired.
Mr Hichilema observed that President Sata failed to inspire a lot of people because of his leadership style. Mr. Hichilema accused the president of not living up to the promises that were made during the campaigns. He also said that the president lied to the Zambians on many things when he assumed the office of the presidency.
Mr. Hichilema said that the windfall tax and the constitutional making process were some of the issues that the president made when he was still in opposition, but has failed to deliver in the time frame he promised
Zambia’s President Michael Sata has assured opposition MMD Members of Parliament that he has appointed as deputy ministers of full government support. The President has said that it is unpatriotic for any institution or leader to harass and intimidate the MMD parliamentarians that were currently serving in the Patriotic Front (PF) government.
This is contained in a press statement made available to the media by Special Assistant to the President, Press and Public relationships, George Chellah.
“I would like to assure my brothers and sisters from the MMD whom we have appointed in government not to lose sleep over threats from the former ruling party because they have the full backing of both the party and the government. Therefore, nobody should claim or behave as though he or she owns them,” President Sata said.
“These are patriots who have weighed the options available and concluded that national duty comes first. Let me emphasise that my party and government is willing to back our colleagues should any legal action against them arise as a result of these government appointments bestowed on them.
“And let those who have made it their preoccupation to criticise every progressive and positive move this government makes know that as a party and government we shall give all MMD parliamentarians working with us 100 per cent support.”
The Constitution of Zambia provides for the appointment of ministers from amongst all members of Parliament.
Yesterday MMD warned of disciplinary action against Members of Parliament (MPs) who have been appointed deputy ministers by the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).
MMD national secretary, Richard Kachingwe said that the ‘treacherous’ MPs had been given enough time to reflect on their actions and that the party was now going to take disciplinary action against them.
Major Kachingwe however, said MPs should decide whether to join the PF or remain members of the MMD.
“Time is running out and they (MPs) must make up their minds. Do they belong to MMD or PF. They have a tendency of camping at State House. These are treacherous and vacillating MPS.
“The party’s patience has now run out and very soon they will be shown the exit door,” he said.
He said the people of Zambia and posterity would harshly judge the MMD MPs who had been given jobs in the Government. Maj Kachingwe said the people had elected the MMD MPs so that they
could offer checks and balances to the PF Government but that they had abandoned their role.
“At the level of MP, you are honourable and this requires that one should stick to principles. You can’t betray your own constituency which put you in office,” he said.
He appealed to the electorate not to give such members a second chance as they had abused their trust.
When reminded that the MMD government under the leadership of President Levy Mwanawasa also appointed MPs from the opposition to serve as cabinet and deputy ministers, Maj Kachingwe said the
conditions were different because the PF’s decision was aimed at weakening the opposition.
He said the appointments were being done with impunity saying the ideal way was for the ruling party to consult the party before appointing their MPs.
Maj Kachingwe said the party would soon be writing to the affected MPs informing them of the next course of action.
Welcome to 2012 and we trust you all had a wonderful and super festive season. We want to express great thanks to all the visitors to our site and the many people who provided vital and priceless information in the comments section. We greatly appreciate your input in taking Lusakatimes to the level it is and we acknowledge that more needs to be done on our part.
2011 was a tricky and difficult year because of the elections that brought historical traffic spikes to the site.Our main goal was to ensure that the site remained available even in the face of heavy traffic. We are glad we were able to achieve that.
With the beginning of 2012, we don’t foresee any traffic surge,but predictable steady growth, except perhaps during the Africa Cup of Nations (If our National team makes good progress). With less focus on dealing with traffic spikes we expect to do more things to improve other aspects of the site, which were largely neglected in 2011.
Already we have started work on the mobile version of the site, which those who access the site with either iPhone or Android powered phones have noticed. We are aware of the problems people with blackberry phones are facing and are working hard to resolve that.
Our Facebook (FB) account was wrongly created as an individual profile.( Well, it was not clear at the time whether you were creating a company profile or individual profile). So, it turns out that as an individual profile you can only have 5 000 friends. 5 000 friends is undoubtedly more than the 150 recommended threshold for individual friends by experts, but as a news site, 5000 does not cut it. And that explains why most of your FB friend requests have not been attended to.
Also there seems to be a cap on the number of items you can post to the FB individual page within a certain time frame. Again that explains why not all items published on Lusakatimes makes it to our Facebook pages.
To remedy the issue, we shall be transitioning our profile from individual profile to company profile and with that we can instead have more Fans rather than friends and that number can go as high as our work allows. There might be issues in the transitioning and some friends accounts maybe be lost, but we shall issue a further update when we do that during the course of this month.
By the way , our twitter page works great, and EVERYTHING published on LT gets “twitted”. It is another way to keep track of what is happening our site. We also have plans to start a Google+ page and we shall publish the details when this is ready.
Lastly, we wish you a successful 2012 in whatever you do and look forward to your great feedback. As per LT tradition. nothing said against us in the comments is ever deleted or censored. It is a great way to learn where we need to improve.
INFORMATION, Broadcasting and Tourism Minister Given Lubinda has advised his Malawian counterpart Patricia Kalyati not to be mischievous over President Michael Sata’s decision to forgive that
country’s President Bingu Wa Mutharika over Mr Sata’s deportation from that country in 2007.
Mr Lubinda was reacting to Ms Kalyati’s statement yesterday that the Malawian government had not yet received official communication from the Zambian government over the decision by President Sata.
In a telephone interview from Malawi yesterday, Ms Kalyati told the Times of Zambia that her government had not received official communication over President Sata’s decision to let “by-gones be
by-gones”.
“I have been out of office and I have not received any official communication. May be my counterpart at Foreign Affairs has. We have just heard about it through the media, your other colleagues also
called from Zambia,” she said.
But Mr Lubinda advised his Malawian counterpart against being dogmatic because it was President Sata who was injured and decided to forgive his Malawian counterpart.
“I think that they should not be dogmatic because it is unnecessary. President Sata decided to bury the hatchet and he mentioned to that country’s former President Bakili Muluzi that he had decided to forget about the past,” he said.
Mr Sata on Friday said he had decided to forgive President Wa Mutharika. He told journalists at State House in Lusaka that “let by-gone be by-gones” and that he was hoping to visit Malawi soon.
“The main reason for Dr Muluzi’s visit was to reconcile Zambia and Malawi. The President (Muluzi) wants us to forget the incident where I was deported from Malawi.
“We feel that Zambia and Malawi are bigger than Michael Sata and Bingu Wa Mutharika,” Mr Sata said.
TEMPERS flared and confusion reigned yesterday at Winner’s Chapel in Lusaka’s Libala Township when placard-carrying congregants demonstrated against the Immigration Department’s refusal to renew the
work permit for Victor Femi Adenji, the church’s pastor in-charge.
The congregants, who accused some of the members of the church of being behind the development, demanded that the Immigration Department immediately renews the Nigerian pastor’s work permit.
Speaking on behalf of the congregants, Pastor Andrew Simbaya said there was no chaos in Winners Chapel as portrayed by some people in
the media.
Pastor Simbaya accused some former church leaders and disgruntled members of instigating the non-renewal of Pastor Adenji’s work permit.
“They wanted to be controlling the church and every man of God from Nigeria who has been sent here, they have complained about them. Even when we were given a Zambian pastor they started complaining to our head office in Nigeria until the pastor was transferred to Kenya,” he said.
He wondered why the same people had always been complaining against Pastors. “Every Pastor who refuses to be controlled by them and if he is of foreign origin, they are going to complain to the immigration by generating all manner of accusations.
“Coming to the fact that accountants have been hired and been fired I am privileged to have saved in FMC and I am a chartered accountant by profession.
“Some of these accountants who have gone to complain there have failed to account for church funds. And it was because our ‘father’ (Pastor) asked them that please account for the monies because I need to present a report to head office.
“That’s when they got agitated together with people whose tenure of office has ended and started bringing confusion,” he said amid shouts from congregants.
He has since appealed to the government to intervene in the matter so that Pastor Adenji could stay and continue to do God’s work in Zambia.
He said people were being healed of HIV/AIDS and other ailments as many were experiencing miracles because of the work of the pastor. Mr David Nangana, chairman of the Church Elder’s Council said that as a church they wanted the Pastor to stay.
He said the elders’ council was in full support of Pastor Adenji. Earlier, some congregants almost harassed one of the members identified as Rachael Chileshe for allegedly having gone to the media
to discredit the Pastor.
Ms Chileshe said she was being harassed whenever she went to Church over the matter concerning Pastor Adenji.
“When they saw me come out of the vehicle, they closed the gate just because I was on air where I rebuked the Pastor. That is what they said in the Daily Nation which was not correct and from that day I have been intimidated. I have the right to worship and associate. Each time I sit in church they will remove the person sitting next to me and put a security officer,” she said.
She said she was among the members who met the former Labour Minister, Simon Kachimba.
The Immigration Department said it refused to renew Pastor Adenji’s permit following reports of verbal abuse on Church members.
Immigration Department, Public Relations officer, Justin Siame, said the Department had received several complaints regarding Pastor Adenij’s conduct.
“We wish to put it on record that his application was rejected purely on a number of complaints received from his flock for having been using unpalatable language towards them and generally being abusive, including hiring and firing of accountants, a situation which almost resulted in a near-protest against his presence in Zambia.
“The Department tried to mitigate this by summoning him to the office and cautioned him for his uncalled for attitude but to no avail. The Department, therefore, is obliged as a matter of maintaining internal security to flush out anyone who endangers the peace of the country,” Mr Siame said.
Meanwhile, Information, Broadcasting and Tourism Minister, Given Lubinda, whom the church alleged was supposed to “grace the occasion” yesterday, said he had not received an invitation from Winners Chapel International.
“I was in the office on Saturday from about 09.00hrs to 16.00 hours and if there was such invitation I would have known. It is sad that some pastors are beginning the New Year on lies,” he said.
A pastor Thomas, who was receiving the media told the Times of Zambia crew that the Minister was expected to grace the occasion.
The Federal Government of Nigeria says it was using the appropriate diplomatic channels to avert a crisis to address Pastor Adenji’s issue.
According to a Nigerian newspaper, ‘This Day’, the Permanent Secretary of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador, Martin Uhomoibhi, said the Nigerian government was already aware of the
matter and was taking advantage of the fact that a good relationship existed between the two nations to resolve the matter.
He was hopeful that Zambia would not do anything to jeopardise its relationship with Nigeria. “It is like business; there is always a risk in it. So, you take risks. We will normally not do anything that would hurt our diplomatic relations,” he said.
The permanent secretary was speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Nigeria recently.
