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Police cordon off the entrance to the Drug Enforcement Commission
Things have turned sour for Bennedict Chikoti who went public to deny that his daughter Angela Busanga Chikoti had been arrested in Pakistan for drug trafficking.
Mr. Chikoti 68, of Ndola has now been arrested by the Drug Enforcement Commission for giving false information to public officers concerning his daughter.
When his daughter was arrested, Mr. Chikoti told Zambia Daily Mail Newspaper reporters that the person who was arrested in Pakistan was not his daughter but someone who might have stolen her passport.
DEC Acting Public Relations Officer, Samuel Silomba says on November, 6 2011, Chikoti gave information which he knew or believed to be false to journalists.
At the time of the interview Mr. Chikoti claimed he had spoken to his daughter who was safe and happily married in South Africa.
But further investigations by the Commission, proved that the women under arrest in Pakistan was Angela Busanga Chikoti.
Mr. Silomba says the arrest of Mr. Chikoti must serves as a warning to all the people that are bent on misleading public officers by providing false information.
Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism Given Lubinda
THE Government has advised MMD presidential aspirant Kabinga Pande to concentrate on his campaign instead of dragging the Patriotic Front (PF) in his ill-conceived rhetoric.
Information, Broadcasting and Tourism minister Given Lubinda said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Mr Pande had diverted his energies from rebuilding his party to attacking the PF Government.
He said Mr Pande who is Kasempa Member of Parliament should stop cheap publicity meant to propel his desperate desire to ascend to the MMD presidency.
The minister was reacting to accusations by Mr Pande at a media briefing in Lusaka on Wednesday that the PF government was tribal and had embarked on ‘trial and error.’
But Mr Lubinda said it was clear that Mr Pande wanted to spark debate with the Government in order to boost his chances of taking over the MMD leadership.
The minister said Mr Pande should concentrate his campaigns on issues within the MMD and explain to the people what he intended to do
instead of misdirecting his efforts.
Bishop John Mambo said the Patriotic Front Government has an opportunity to be best government ever in Zambia if only they learn from the mistakes of the previous government.
Bishop Mambo told QFM that the PF should avoid being rigid in the running of the affairs of the country.
He said the mistakes that the MMD made should be a learning guide to the Michael Sata led government.
Bishop Mambo said the MMD’s downfall can partly be attributed to the sudden stubbornness of the former ruling party.
He explained that the then president Rupiah Banda allowed himself to be surrounded by wrong people who were mere job seekers.
The clergy added that it is the same people who ensured that corruption in the MMD became a way of life.
Bishop Mambo explained to QFM that the MMD stopped listening to the people labeling those who opposed certain pronouncements as opposition sympathizers.
President Sata has terminated the appointment of Hon. Lukulo Katombora as Southern Province minister.
President Sata says the decision to relieve Hon. Katombora of his duties was with immediate effect.
This is contained in a statement issued to Lusakatimes by George Chellah the Special Assistant to the President for press and public relations.
Consequently, the Head of State has transferred Hon. Miles Sampa from Lusaka to Southern Province in the same capacity.
And the President has appointed Kanyama PF Member of Parliament Hon. Gerry Chanda as Lusaka Province Minister.
President Sata has also appointed Mwansabombwe PF Member of Parliament Hon. Rogers Mwewa as the new minister for the Copperbelt Province.
Hon. Mwewa replaces Hon. John Kufuna who the Head of State says will be allocated a new ministry in a little while.
The President has also appointed three opposition MMD members of Parliament as deputy ministers.
These are: Mr. Elijah Muchima (Mwinilunga West), Mr. Stephen Masumba (Mufumbwe) and Mr. Isaac Banda (Lumezi). “These three colleagues will be allocated ministries shortly,” President Sata says.
“I would like to advise my colleagues who have been appointed to ensure that they work to the satisfaction of the Zambian people. We must guard against any form of abuse of state resources. Let us manage people’s resources in the most transparent and accountable manner.”
PARLIAMENT heard yesterday that the MMD Government borrowed US$145 million before the September elections in order to finance road programmes in a hurry.
Acting Finance and National Planning Minister Emmanuel Chenda told the House in a policy statement on estimates of revenue for his ministry that as a result of the move, the country’s target to raise the U$500 million bond has been reduced.
“This means that the planned amount for the bond reduced. One indication is in the numerous enquiries, which we have received from both local and international prospectors on our intended issuance of a sovereign bond.
“Indications are that the bond might be over-subscribed thereby giving us leeway to raise it to around $700 million. We are working on a mechanism to float a public tender so that there is fair competition, from both local and foreign prospectors,” Mr Chenda said.
He noted that the B+ rating for Zambia improved investor confidence and created conditions in which increased borrowing from the international community to finance infrastructure needs were more affordable.
Mr Chenda, who is Agriculture and Livestock Minister said with the change of Government, commitment to corruption fight, strengthening of the public service and corporate governance had improved confidence locally and internationally.
In 2012, his ministry would focus on building stakeholder confidence by consolidating the existing policies and programmes with the aspirations of the PF Government by strengthening legislation in various areas.
The minister said Government would have provisions for competitive tender participation unlike what obtained previously.
“We will consign any public officer, in any ministry, any province, or any other public institution who perpetrates or entertains acts of impropriety, misuse of resources, and disregard of procurement regulations – to law enforcement agencies for prosecution and moral rehabilitation,” Mr Chenda cautioned.
Mr Chenda noted that it was not correct to continue to live with the perception that the public service was the axis of corruption and
financial indiscipline in Zambia.
The Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) would be involved in negotiations with development partners and other financiers, to ensure that the observance of procurement procedures was watertight.
And Education Minister John Phiri in winding up policy debate on his ministry noted that the Government would continue to develop
infrastructure at secondary, primary and tertiary levels throughout Zambia.
[Times of Zambia]
File: 8 accountants from ministry of Home Affairs who where jailed for five years each for theft by public servant by the Lusaka magistrate court being escorted to prison after the conviction
The Ndola Magistrates Court yesterday convicted five former Cabinet Office accountants and slapped them a combined sentence of 31 years imprisonment for money laundering and misappropriating public funds amounting to over K2 billion.
The case has been pending for the past three years.
Among the jailed are former Chief accountant Innocent Hatombwe, 40, of house number 6 Mbala road in Kansenshi, former Principal accountant John Chitalu Musonda, 50, of house number 4745 G Tanzania road in Northrise and former local government officer Peter Mwape Kapesebele, 31, of house number 121 Petauke road in Kansenshi.
Others are former accounts assistants Susan N’cube Mpongosa, 34, of house number 5790, Victor Mulenga road and Clement Liwena, 35, of house number 30 Feira road both of whom stay in Kansenshi.
The five are alleged to have between May 2007 and October 2008, being employees in the public service at the Copperbelt provincial accounting unit, stolen money amounting to over K2 billion.
The five committed an offence of theft by public servant contrary to section 277 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia and laundered money contrary to section 7 of the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act 14 of 2001.
Facts before the court were that Hatombwe did between January 2008 and January 2009 engage in illegal business transactions involving over K200 million and used some of the proceeds to buy a vehicle for himself.
Mpongosa is said to have, between January 2007 and January 2009, engaged in illegal transactions involving over K90 million and used part of the proceeds to buy a house in Kansenshi Extension.
High Court deputy registrar Kelvin Limbani sitting as chief resident magistrate, sentenced Hantobwe to eight years, Musonda to seven years, Kapesebele to six years, Mpongosa to five years and Liwena to five respectively.
In mitigation, defence lawyer Geshorm Mubanga of Mubanga and Associates asked the magistrate to be lenient on all the accused as they have families to look after and were not working from the time they were arrested.
But Magistrate Limbani said cases of theft in government have been on the increase and have affected the lives of many innocent citizens because of few selfish individuals.
“Therefore, measures and actions have to be taken so that public funds are safeguarded and all those who keep public funds must keep them for the intended purpose,” he said
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Britain’s royal family will tour the globe next year to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee marking 60 years on the throne, Buckingham Palace announced.
According to the Buckingham Palace Prince Andrew, the queen’s second son, will visit India while Princess Anne, her daughter, will visit Mozambique and Zambia.
In what is likely to be the most high-profile part of the itinerary, William – the queen’s grandson and second in line to the throne, will travel with his wife Catherine to Malaysia, Singapore, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.
Prince Edward,The Queen’s youngest son, and his wife Sophie will visit the Caribbean.
The queen’s first cousin Edward, the Duke of Kent, will visit the Falkland Islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean.
The Queen and Philip will remain in the UK for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations but make an extensive tour of every region supported by the Royal Family.
The Queen will be 86 in April and the Duke, who turns 91 next year, has already publicly stated he is reducing his workload.
The Queen came to the throne on Febuary 6, 1952 and was crowned on June 2, 1953.She celebrated her Silver Jubilee 25 years in 1977 and her Golden Jubilee 50 years in 2002.
The only other British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee was Queen Victoria in 1897.Queen Victoria is the great-great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II and she reigned for 63 years.
File:Professor Nkandu Luo talks with Elias Mpondela
Plans are underway to review the National Housing Policy to ensure more people have access to decent accommodation.
The Minister of local government said one of the strategies government intends to use is the public private partnership -PPP.
Nkandu Luo who is also minister for Early Education and Environmental Protection said once this is successful, the initiative will ease the housing deficit of more than 1.5 million units.
Already about K6 billion has since been provided for in the 2012 national budget.
The Minister disclosed this to parliament when she presented her Ministry’s 2012 Estimates of expenditure loans and investments.
She also said that government will continue with the construction of modern retail markets in both urban and rural areas.
Professor Luo says her ministry will grade roads in unplanned settlements to improve the environment.
[ZNBC]
-President Michael Sata Hands over the chairmanship of the Greatlakes Region to his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni during the official opening held at Speke Resort Hotel in Kampala ,Uganda
President Michael Sata says the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region has made progress on peace, stability and democratization over the past two years.
President Sata noted that this is despite pockets of conflicts and political crises within the region.
President Sata is confident the deliberations of the on-going Heads of States Summit on the Great Lakes Region in Kampala, Uganda will draw on principles of democracy and good governance.
He said the holding of free and fair democratic elections in a number of member states, are also indications of the collective efforts aimed at forging peaceful relations among nations in the region.
ZANIS reports that the President was speaking in Kampala yesterday when he delivered a key note address to the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Summit.
At the same occassion President Sata handed over the chairmanship of the ICGLR to his Ugandan counterpart President Yoweri Museveni.
And President Museveni told the fully packed conference hall that the problem of sexual and gender based violence could only be solved by coming up with legislation that criminalizes the offence.
This week was the 2011 Mr Zambia competition . It was held at Taj Pamodzi Motel in Lusaka. About 90 men were flexing their muscles for the top prize. In the end the reigning MR Zambia , Sylvester Mwila , regained his title. It takes a lot of hard work and discipline to develop a super hero-like body. All the participants should be commended .
Herve Renard has said he hopes striker Emmanuel Mayuka will pick a team with European pedigree following recent interest from high profile clubs on the continent.
Mayuka has been linked with defending French champions Lille and English club Wigan over the last 30 days.
“I hope he will choose one team that will compete in the European cup because it should be the next step for Emmanuel Mayuka,” Renard said at the end of training at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
“And one improves a lot when you are playing in the European Cup.”
Renard said he has always believed Mayuka would make it in Europe after joining Young Boys of Switzerland from Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel last year.
“We are proud for him. I never doubted his talent now we have to pray for him to get a very strong team in Europe,” Renard said.
Meanwhile, Zambia will leave for Angola on Saturday ahead of their friendly game against their hosts in Doudo on Sunday.
Renard said he is taking a 20-man team for the friendly.
Aspiring Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) presidential candidate Nevers Mumba has described President Michael Sata as the best opposition political leader Africa has ever produced.
And Dr. Mumba has disclosed that he will join the Patriotic Front (PF) government in its celebrations to mark 90 days of being in power.
Dr. Mumba said President Sata is a visionary man hence his 10 years persistence of being in the opposition and later becoming Head of State.
He was speaking on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) television live sponsored political programme dubbed “National Watch” monitored by the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Lusaka today.
Dr. Mumba called on President Sata to allow opposition political parties in the country to constructively criticize his government’s policies just the way he criticized the MMD when it was in power.
He, however, cautioned the Patriotic Front against limiting itself to its 90 days deadline of delivering development adding that electoral pledges on development cannot be done in 90 days.
And Dr. Mumba has described the electoral defeat of the MMD in the September 20, 2011 tripartite elections as a blessing in disguise.
Dr. Mumba has since urged MMD members to quickly recover from the election loss to the PF adding that the gap in the previous election results was minimal.
He explained that Zambians wanted regime change at the time and that there was no way the MMD would have influenced the people to vote for it.
Dr. Mumba reiterated his call to MMD members to remain optimistic and realistic if the party is to retain power in the 2016 General Elections.
And responding to a question from the moderator of the programme Kunda Mando on whether he was a politician or a Man of God, Dr. Mumba stated that he cannot separate politics and God.
He explained that he can only influence the development of this country if God continues to speak to him.
Dr. Mumba also said he will provide the best leadership once elected MMD president.
He argued that he had more time to influence MMD members because he was not a Member Parliament (MP).
He also pledged full support to whoever will be elected as MMD president in an event that he tumbles.
First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba -Sata shares a light moment with her Ugandan counterpart Mrs Janet Museveni after a courtesy call at State house
The Zambian First Lady, Dr Christine Mwela Kaseba Sata, in her key note address, said as medical doctor specialising in reproductive health she has witnessed the painful effects of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)
“I have seen the anguish and pain both physically and emotionally that women, girls and children undergo,” Dr Kaseba remarked. “I look forward to the day when every woman will be empowered to fight this,” she added.
Speaking at a meeting of First Ladies of the Great Lakes region Dr Kaseba said one in every three women in the great lakes region has been beaten, coerced into sex and abused. “You can’t claim development when peace is absent. We have every reason to be concerned,” she emphasised. She called for the domestication of all international protocols that banish SGBV.
The First Ladies of the 11 member states of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) were on Wednesday meeting at Speke Resort Munyonyo ahead of regional summit. Their recommendations will be presented to the heads of state for consideration.
At the same meeting Uganda’s First Lady Janet Museveni said the sexual violence women are subjected to cannot be justified on the basis of culture.
Mrs Museveni called for support and defense of victims of what she termed as “shameful acts.”
She said the vice of sexual gender based violence was on the increase because of the disintegration of the family values and invasion of foreign cultures.
“Now is the time for our governments to be up and running in passing laws that can bring care and justice to the victims,” Mrs Museveni stated. “We need to rebuild African structures and family support systems where everyone feels more supported, secure and loved… where one is the brother’s keeper,” she added.
She listed rape, defilement, sexual threats, exploitation, humiliation, assault, molestation, incest and female genital mutilation (FGM) as some of the sexual offences commonly committed against women and girls.
She also mentioned early marriages which she said have increased maternal deaths as other forms of sexual violence. “The First Lady hastened to add that boys and men are also subjected to SGBV during detention, refugee and war situations.
Mrs Museveni called for enforcement of laws, support to institutions like FIDA (federation of women lawyers), sensitisation and media awareness campaigns through the use of the media. Men, she added, must be actively involved to change the mindset just like the religious leaders.
Gender minister Syda Bbumba said the Ugandan Constitution prohibits all abuses and acts that undermine women’s dignity and provides for enjoyment of women’s rights. She also cited three laws passed by parliament; the Prevention and Punishment of trafficking of people 2009, the Domestic Relations Act 2010 and Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Bbumba said plans were underway to develop a curriculum for SGBV for police training colleges to make the region a safe place for girls, boys, men and women. The Minister cited the consequences of SGBV as; HIV infection, fistula, insecurity, low productivity and unwanted pregnancies.
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions secretary general Roy Mwaba
Zambia Congress of Trade Unions leadership has refused to step down despite repeated calls by their members to do so.
Addressing the media today, ZCTU Secretary General Roy Mwaba said there were no prospects for him or the Union president Leonard Hikaumba to step down adding that those calling for their resignations had no concrete grounds to do so.
“What is happening is political. They claim that we were campaigning for the MMD, I would like them to show evidence that we did that. Let them tell the nation the venues of the rallies we are said to have attended,” Mwaba said. “Besides, the MMD is still there, let them tell the nation when we joined the party. Mabenga is not dead, let him say so.”
Mwaba further claimed that the Union had at no time met with former President Rupiah Banda and that they had requested for an audience with the latter three times during his reign but the letters were not responded to.
“Our policy is to work with the government of the day in pushing the agenda of the working class and the voiceless. No union the world over, can succeed in its mandate without maintaining cordial working relations with the government of the day,” he said. “We could not deal with a party in opposition (during the MMD rule) because we needed to find answers to workers problems by discussing with the government being the custodian of labour laws and decision makers on the applicant of resources. The PF is now in government and the ZCTU cannot deal with the MMD.”
The Union has also demanded that the country should remain united and called upon the government to promote the ‘one Zambia one nation’ slogan to ensure that peace prevailed in the country.
“Peace is very expensive and we cannot afford to lose it,” Mwaba said. “We demand that ‘one Zambia, one nation’ be upheld at all times. We do not want to fragment the country because if that happened, we will regret! We demand tolerance, respect for all and the recognition that no one has the monopoly of knowledge. We should embrace different opinions to move the country in a positive direction.”
File:President Sata with Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao oitside State House
China has hailed efforts made by President Michael Sata to cement relations between the two countries.
The Communist Party of the People’s Republic of China -CPC says China appreciates President Sata’s efforts to enhance relations.
CPC member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and Secretary of Beijing Municipal Committee Liu Qi said this when he met Vice President Guy Scott.
Mr. Qi cited the recent visit to China by first president Kenneth Kaunda as special envoy to China as an important indication of President Sata’s commitment to consoliadte relations.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Qi who spoke through an interpreter also noted that relations between China and Zambia are deep rooted.
Dr. Scott who is leading a delegation of officials from the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), to China said there was a lot to learn from Beijing.
[ZNBC]
