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Zambia plans to start importing refined petroleum products from neighbouring Angola to lower the cost of fuel.
Energy permanent secretary George Zulu has told Reuters that oil-rich Angola was willing to supply Zambia with petroleum, which the country has been importing from the Middle East.
Mr Zulu says a technical team led by the minister of energy will travel to Angola next week to discuss the details of importing finished petroleum products.
He says government has been looking at ways of bringing down the cost of fuel and that so far it seems the answer lies in importing fuel from neighbouring Angola.
Mr Zulu adds that technical team traveling to Angola would also explore the possibility of jointly putting up a pipeline from Angola to Zambia.
Zambia relies on semi-refined oil imports from the Middle East but has been studying plans to import crude oil from Angola and set up a new oil refinery locally.
President Michael Sata apologised to Angola in October for the MMD government’s backing of the former UNITA rebels led by Jonas Savimbi in the country’s 27-year civil war.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has said that ballot papers for the forthcoming Msanzala parliamentary by-election will still be printed outside the country.
ECZ Director Priscilla Isaac in a statement released to media explained that the Commission will outsource the printing of ballot papers because the Government Printers is still not able to meet the full requirements and specifications for the printing of ballot papers.
Ms Isaac said that the tender process for the identification of a printer has started and that all stakeholders will be advised once the Commission has identified a suitable printer to print the ballot papers for the Msanzala parliamentary by-election and four local government by-elections.
The ECZ Director was earlier in the day quoted by ZNBC News as saying ballot papers for the forthcoming by-elections will be printed locally, and that the selected local printer would be announced in due course.
Meanwhile Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) president Alex Ng’oma has backed calls to have ballot papers for the forthcoming Msanzala parliamentary by-elections printed locally.
[pullquote]President Michael Sata recently said the Chongwe, Nakonde and Magoye by elections were the last to use materials printed abroad.[/pullquote]
In an interview with Qfm, Dr. Ng’oma has expressed happiness that Zambians have now realized that printing election materials outside the country is a costly exercise.
Dr. Ng’oma said that it was time for the PF government to implement its pronouncements of investing in the Government Printers.
He explained that government should heed the calls by stakeholders in ensuring that the country’s electoral system is desirable in upholding democratic tenets.
President Michael Sata recently said the Chongwe, Nakonde and Magoye by elections were the last to use materials printed abroad.
First Quantum Minerals says the strike action by miners at its Kansanshi mine in Solwezi is illegal.
Workers at the Kansanshi mine, Zambia’s largest copper mine which produced 231,000 tonnes of the red metal in 2010, downed tools on Tuesday demanding 100 percent pay rises and bringing production to a halt.
Company spokesperson Godfrey Msiska says there was no deadlock reached and as far as the management is concerned the strike is illegal.
He confirmed that the strike action by the workers has entered the second day today, with workers blocking the gate to the mine plant.
Mr Msiska has appealed to union officials to convince the workers to go back to work so that negotiations, which had been suspended because of the strike, could resume.
Given Lubinda Information, Broadcasting and Tourism minister Given Lubinda has reiterated that the Patriotic Front government has never and will never harbor intentions of interfering with the operations of the media.
Mr. Lubinda says the PF government will never interfere in the operations of any media organization, not even the public media.
He says government believes that journalists once given the leeway are capable of operating professionally.
Mr. Lubinda notes that media organizations are capable of finding the balance for their news,hence can not be criticized for not covering any politician regardless of political affiliation.
and radio Q-FM Managing director Asan Nyama says the current PF government has an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the previous government in dealing with the media in the country.
Mr. Nyama says the previous government failed to initiate policies that would have benefited the stakeholders in the media in the area of coverage.
He says under the previous MMD government, the state attempted to transform the private media into state run media by dictating the operations of most private radio stations including QFM.
Mr. Nyama recalls that most private media houses that covered opposition political parties were perceived as enemies of the MMD government.
He says it is therefore important for the Patriotic Front government to leave a legacy by ensuring that the freedom of information bill is enacted.
Mr. Nyama has further stated that if former vice president George Kunda allowed the freedom of information bill to be passed in parliament during the MMD’s rule, he would not be complaining about coverage by the public media.
THE case in which former President Rupiah Banda’s son Andrew has been linked to an Italian construction company—Fratelli Locci—has taken a new twist with the former President’s son admitting receiving a “payment” from the Italian company but denied the fact that the payment could have been a “kick-back”.
Mr. Banda, who spoke via phone from his New Delhi, India base also said he is willing to meet the police—whom he has apparently not met yet—regarding the issue as soon as he returns to Zambia from India.
“I am not afraid of the police. I will hand myself to them in broad daylight when I return because I am aware that they want to speak to me,” Mr. Banda said, adding, “I am also aware that the authorities have spoken to my daughter Ketiwe at Stanbic and that they have also spoken to my auntie Mrs Zekko about this matter in my absence.”
Mr. Banda, a diplomat, told the Daily Mail that his relationship with Fratelli Locci owned by Mr Antonelli Locci is “above board” and that he has known the company and owner since 2001.
“I can’t deny knowing Fratelli and receiving money from them because my small transportation company has done work for them and I have been paid for that, that’s how I know the company,” Mr. Banda said.
The diplomat, who also clarified that James is his older and not younger brother, regretted that efforts to reach him when the story broke proved futile as he could have answered the questions had James not refused to assist the Daily Mail with his contact number.
Andrew Banda joined the growing list of high-profile Zambians that have been linked to questionable deals, entered into during his father’s three-year administration, in addition to his younger brother Henry whom police are looking for right now.
The police could soon consider putting a reward on Henry’s head, said Mr. Rae Hamoonga, the acting police spokesperson, in an interview yesterday.
“We have not reached a stage where we must place a reward on Mr. Banda’s head yet,” Mr. Hamoonga said. “What we have done is that we have intensified our search for him so far.”
The Daily Mail yesterday carried a story linking Andrew Banda to a 2 percent payment from Fratelli who have told law enforcement agencies that they made the payment out to Mr. Banda’s company AB Logistics under pressure from the diplomat after he allegedly threatened he would terminate the K300 billion Pedicle Road contract.
At press time, the Daily Mail could not reach Fratelli but the company lawyer Overs Banda, former Local Government Permanent Secretary called the newspaper and said he “doubted” whether Fratelli had been paid by the Road Development Agency.
“If they had been paid any percentage, I would also have been paid as the lawyer, so I don’t think they have been paid just yet hence the reason they have not even moved on site,” Mr. Banda said.
But Daily Mail investigations show that Fratelli has already been written a warning letter for failing to be on site five months after they were awarded the contract that runs into billions, to the Road Development Agency’s dismay.
The standard procedure at RDA is to pay a contracted company between 10 to 15 percent of the quoted amount for a job as a down payment in all contracts and this must apply to Fratelli, contrary to Mr. Banda’s view.
Mr. Banda also felt he was receiving “negative media attention” just through mere association because “Henry and James are my brothers, which I think is not fair because I am an individual family member.”
President Sata has embarked on an anti-graft fight that has sucked various former leaders such as Petauke legislator Dora Siliya, former Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane and former Vice-President George Kunda.
The President has said no amount of “witch-hunt” or “retribution” cries shall slow his anti-graft fight as he tries to reduce poverty levels and create jobs in a country where some 65 percent of the population live in abject poverty, despite vast mineral wealth.
Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary General Roy Mwaba addresses journalists as ZCTU Trustee Sifeniso Nyumbu (left) looks on at Courtyard hotel in Lusaka
THE labour movement believes that it is possible for former President Banda to lose his immunity from prosecution but that the process should be handled cautiously to avoid setting a bad precedent.
Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary general Roy Mwaba said it is in the interest of the nation and transparency that the allegations of plunder levelled against the former head of State are cleared.
Mr Mwaba said there have been numerous allegations of plunder levelled against Mr Banda which need to be cleared.
Mr Mwaba said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that ZCTU supports calls to remove the immunity of Mr Banda so that he can defend himself over allegations that corruption in the MMD government was carried out under his directive.
He said the Patriotic Front (PF) government should exhaust all options before deciding whether or not to table a motion in Parliament to lift the immunity of former President Banda.
“The issue of removing the immunity on any former President is a sensitive one but it is also part of the democratic process and good governance of any country. There are so many allegations pointing to President Banda. We are happy that President Sata has instituted commissions to probe some of these corrupt activities committed by former leaders in the previous government,” Mr Mwaba said.
He said Government should wait for the reports of the commissions of inquiry before tabling the motion in Parliament to lift Mr Banda’s immunity.
“We are eagerly waiting to hear the findings of the National Pensions Scheme Authority, Zambia Revenue Authority, Zambia National Building Society, Zamtel, Finance Bank and many other commissions of inquiry that have been instituted by President Sata to investigate corruption in the former MMD government.
“We should study these findings carefully and see if they will point to former President Banda being involved in corruption,” Mr Mwaba said.
And former Commissioner in the Willa Mung’omba Draft Review Commission John Mambo said Parliament should proceed and lift the immunity of the former head of State if the commissions of inquiry reveal overwhelming evidence of impropriety and corruption on his part.
Bishop Mambo, who is also former Church of God regional overseer for eastern and southern Africa, said calls to remove former President Banda’s immunity are welcome and should be supported by all well-meaning Zambians who support the fight against corruption.
He said all former leaders in the MMD government who, have been cited for plunder of national resources should be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to would- be offenders.
“I think it will be unfair to the Zambian people to allow President Banda to go without being probed. There are various allegations that have been made against him which need to be cleared,” Bishop Mambo said.
He said he is disappointed that some leaders in the former MMD government allegedly abused resources, without considering the suffering of the majority of Zambians.
Bishop Mambo, however, cautioned that lifting Mr Banda’s immunity would set a bad precedent as all former heads of State might be subjected to prosecution over the decisions they made while in office.
Recently, President Sata said the crusade against corruption would be done without malice or witch-hunt and would be impartial because he does not believe in selective justice.
MMD National Secretary Richard KachingweTHE MMD has rescinded its decision to expel members of Parliament (MPs) who have been appointed as deputy ministers in the Patriotic Front (PF) ?Government, party national secretary Richard Kachingwe has announced.?
And President Michael Sata has welcomed the decision?by the MMD’s decision not to discipline its members who have accepted to serve?in the PF Government.?
Mr Sata said in a statement released by his Special Assistant for?Press and Public Relations George Chellah that he was grateful for the?political maturity exhibited by the national secretary of the MMD.?
The president said the appointment of deputy ministers from the MMD into Government was done in good faith and in the interest of the country.?
“It’s good that Major Kachingwe has withdrawn the former ruling party’s threats to expel MPs who have been appointed into Government.?This is how it should be,” he said.?
Maj Kachingwe, however, said the party would find it problematic if the?MPS appointed into Government shifted party allegiance to the PF.?
He said during a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the former?ruling party would not take disciplinary action against the MPs unless?they shifted their allegiance to the PF.?
Maj Kachingwe last week said the MPs who had been given positions in the Government had been given enough time to reflect on their action and that the MMD was now going to take disciplinary action against them.?
Maj Kachingwe had said the MPs should decide whether to join the?PF or remain MMD members.?And Maj Kachingwe has maintained that party president Rupiah Banda?would not contest the party presidency at the party convention.?
He said Mr Banda would hand over the presidency to whoever would emerge victorious at the convention.?
Get Involved Zambia Executive Director Father Frank Bwalya says he will endeavor to engage the Zambian government in quite diplomacy in order to ensure it delivers according to the people’s expectations.
Fr Bwalya says his organization failed to collaborate with the previous MMD government because it was full of stubborn people.
Father Bwalya says the previous MMD regime thought they knew how to better run the affairs of the nation than anyone else.
He says his organization tried in vain to bring to the attention of the former MMD government the many challenges that the country was facing.
Father Bwalya says his organization will continue to stand for what the majority Zambians aim for.
Former Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane
FORMER Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane says he supports the idea of probing all former leaders.
Dr Musokotwane said at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that he supports President Sata’s fight against corruption, which he feels will provide an opportunity to establish if any of the MMD former leaders misconducted themselves.
“I welcome the setting up of commissions of inquiry. I am confident they will explain the process of valuing a company and some of us will be cleared,” Dr Musokotwane said.
He said the MMD is proud of its record in privatising some parastatal companies which he said was efficient.
He said Zamtel would have sunk if Government had not taken the decision to sell the telecommunications company.
“Those who are saying the company was sold for less do not know what they are saying,” he said.
Dr Musokotwane said he expects the commission on Zamtel to explain what is involved in valuing a company. Zamtel presently has about 700 workers down from about 3,000 before privatisation.
Former Zambian High Commissioner to Canada Dr Nevers Mumba
Former Zambian High Commissioner to Canada Dr Nevers Mumba has sued Zambia Daily Mail and its Managing Editor Anthony Mukwita for defamation of character.
Dr. Mumba is seeking compensation of over five hundred million kwacha following the publication of an article in the newspaper dubbed ‘Nevers in five hundred million kwacha gold scandal’.
Dr Mumba is further seeking an injunction restraining the paper, its servants and agents from publishing, printing distributing same or similar articles about him.
According to the statement of claim filed before the Lusaka High Court, Dr Mumba is claiming for damages including aggravated or exemplary damages for defamatory libel contained in the said article.
Dr Mumba contends that he is a politician and member of the MMD, who has held various positions the last being that of Zambian High Commissioner to Canada.
He said he is also an ordained pastor and founder of Victory Ministries and a television evangelist widely known both in Zambia and internationally.
Dr Mumba stated that Mr. Mukwita is the Managing Editor of the Zambia Daily Mail and was responsible for all articles published in the newspaper.
He said the defendants caused to be published a false and malicious story about him which was widely circulated throughout Zambia and the world both in print and electronically online.
Dr Mumba said the words in the article were false and published out of malice and reckless disregard for the truth.
He said the words in their ordinary and natural meaning were understood to mean that Dr Mumba was a criminal who was connected to an illegal criminal scheme involving five hundred million kwacha.
File: Former President Rupiah Banda addressing a public rally
The opposition MMD has refuted media reports that former President Rupiah Banda is soliciting to retain the party presidency during the forthcoming party convention.
MMD national secretary Richard Kachingwe says the National Executive Committee (NEC) has already made a decision to replace Mr Banda during the party’s convention.
Major Kachingwe explains that Mr. Banda is currently acting to ensure that the handover of the party presidency is done in a systematic manner.
He has since advised all those wishing to contest for the position of party president to do so stating that the closing for applications will be done 24 hours before the elections.
And MMD national secretary Richard Kachingwe has urged the public media not to use the party to clear its past mistakes.
Major Kachingwe told journalists in Lusaka today that the public media should take responsibility for the actions that could have dented their image.
President Michael Sata has urged the Zambia Security Intelligence Service (ZSIS) to contribute to the fight against corruption. Addressing the ZSIS senior officers’ conference today, on the theme:“Efficient and Effective Intelligence: Key to Enhanced National Security, Sustainable Economic Development and the Fight Against Corruption,” President Sata directed the intelligence service to fight the scourge with renewed vigour.
“The Patriotic Front (PF) government will spare no effort to fight corruption which the previous regime had embraced. As government, we are aware that corruption has been a major factor hindering national development and service delivery to the majority of our people,” President Sata said.
“In this fight, you should not be swayed by attempts by some elements who are deliberately misconstruing government’s efforts in order to gain political mileage. These elements have gone to the extent of promoting tribalism and regionalism to further undermine the government at the expense of national unity, peace and stability.”
“It is this same corrutpion we are fighting which has given birth to the tribalism and regionalism they are trying to use to divide our people in a bid to protect themselves against possible prosecution. Our people lack essential services due to corruption and no wonder we are very resolved to fight this scourge,” the Presiden said.
The President said he was aware that the PF’s ascendancy to power has heightened the expectations of Zambians who had lost hope under the previous regime.
“Whereas our government is working hard to live up to people’s expectations, some opposition groups and their sympathisers are sowing seeds of discord in our people by discrediting the efforts by the government towards the realisation of its goals of devlivering to the people,” President Sata said.
The Head of State and Commander-in-Chief directed the ZSIS Director-General and his senior managers to ensure close monitoring and negation of these manoeuvres which border on subversion.
“The theme for the conference for the could, therefore, not have come at a better time than this one given the subversive activities being hatched by some elements that are bitter about having lost the September 20 elections,” he said.
President Sata reminded the gathering that as senior managers, they carry the responsibility of ensuring that the service remains a noble institution by setting high standards of integrity and professionalism.
And ZSIS Director-General Mr Regis Phiri pledged the intelligence service’s total loyalty to the Head of State, the Government and the people of Zambia.
South Africa has downgraded its January 11 friendly match against Zambia in Pretoria to a mare training game.
According to Kickoff.com, this is after three South African Premiership clubs refused to release its players for national duty for the friendly.
Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows have all refused to release any players for that game including the other friendly involving Ghana.
South Africa face Ghana in Rustenberg on January 15 in another friendly.
Zambia will face South Africa at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.
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.
