PRESIDENT Michael Sata says former Msanzala Member of Parliament, Joseph Lungu, has a constitutional right to resign his seat and join a party of his choice.

President Sata said constitutions world-over provided for resignations and that his Government had made budgetary allocations to take care of eventualities such as death or resignations of parliamentarians like the case was in many countries.

Speaking shortly after he swore in Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) general secretary Suzanne Matale, veteran politician and lawyer Rodger Chongwe and Father Elvis Chituba from the Catholic Church as the remaining members of the 20-man Constitution Technical Committee, the president said Colonel Lungu should not be condemned without good reason.

President Sata also swore in David Mabumba as deputy minister of Education, Mutaba Mwali as deputy minister for Transport, Works and Supply, and Brigadier-General Benson Kapaya as deputy minister of Agriculture.?“The biggest problem we have in Zambia like some American professor once said that ‘Everything is our business but our own business’.

Constitutions all over the world in the Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth countries provide for people to resign and for people to be fired,” the president said.

Mr Sata said there were circumstances that would always necessitate the holding of by-elections such as death and resignations while MPs could also be fired.

[pullquote]And they say that it’s an expensive by-election. We have provided for that in the Budget. Supposing you die, are they going to say by-elections are expensive?” President Sata asked.[/pullquote]

Col Lungu resigned as an independent legislator and joined the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) during a public rally at Nyampande Basic School in Petauke at the weekend.

Some civil society organisations and the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) have condemned the resignation of Col Lungu, saying it has caused a by-election that would be costly.

“You can either be fired by Parliament. You can either be fired by the sponsoring organisation, but then you find there are people condemning Col Lungu who resigned in Petauke. And they say that it’s an expensive by-election. We have provided for that in the Budget. Supposing you die, are they going to say by-elections are expensive?” President Sata asked.

And the president said what was important in composing the Constitution Technical Committee was not to “balance the people but to balance the brains.”?“I congratulate all of you. I have all the confidence in you.

The people will be talking. You see, in Zambia if talking was productivity, Zambia would be second to none. People will complain that you have not balanced but you do not balance people, you balance brains. Counting to see what we have balanced is not how we do things,” President Sata said.

Mr Sata appealed to the technical committee to use their vast experience to produce a document that would be appreciated by the Zambian people.?“You people understand the problems of the citizens. You are not the constitution commission because we have had so many commissions.

We have brought brains together for you to give us a document and you will draw your own terms of reference on how you are going to run the show,” the president said.

President Sata said the technical committee members were at liberty to use material from previous reports of the Constitution Review Commissions such as the Mainza Chona, Patrick Mvunga and Willa Mung’omba reports as well as other relevant materials as part of evidence for their report.

President Sata also announced that the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Roma Township will host the memorial service for the late Mainza Chona this Saturday.

[Times of Zambia]

President Michael Sata has instructed the law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the US$ 1 million held in Mpundu Trust Account.

The directive comes in the wake of revelations that Mpundu Trust has unexplained funds in one of the banks in the country.

“Information we have received is that Mpundu Trust is holding over US$1 million with one of our local banks. Considering the colossal amounts involved in this bank transaction, I strongly believe that it’s only fair and prudent for the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), in liaison with other law enforcement agencies to professionally and systematically investigate this matter,” President Sata said.

“Let it be known from the onset that the decision to probe Mpundu Trust is without malice or ill-motive but to simply set the record straight by ensuring that the due process of the law applies. We promised the Zambian people that accountability, transparency and fairness before the law will be the bedrock of our administration, this is what we are doing.”

In another related development, President Sata has directed the Minister of Finance, Hon. Alexander Chikwanda to ensure that billions of Government revenue which is lying idle in one of the local bank is reclaimed by the Ministry of Finance.

“There is a balance of K12.2 billion GRZ funds that must be moved to the Ministry of Finance Treasury Accounts and I want this to be done as soon as possible,” says the President.

Meanwhile, President Sata has expressed deep regret and sorrow at the death of Zambia’s Ambassador to Japan Dr. Mbikusita Wamundila Lewanika.

“Our dear brother, Dr Lewanika served this country diligently and devotedly in various government portfolios and this loss will definitely be felt by many,” the President said.

“Kindly convey on behalf of the People and Government of Zambia and indeed on my own behalf, our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the deceased’s family and friends.”

The President has authorised Her Excellency Dr. Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika, Zambia’s Ambassador to Brussels, who is also the deceased’s elder sister to travel to Tokyo on government expense to help with arrangements to repatriate the remains of the late diplomat.

Dr Lewanika died yesterday at 01:00 PM Tokyo time

Zambias very own C.R.I.S.I.S has been invited to attend the 54th Annual Grammy Awards to be held on  February 12, 2012 at the staples center in LA , USA. The Grammys are the biggest award show in music . He will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with top artists such as Kanye west , Lady Gaga , Jay-z , Katy Perry and more.

This is a good opportunity for him to get a wider audience for his music and also to make the world pay attention to the growth and marked improvement of the Zambian music industry.

He thanked his fans for their continued support;

“Thank’s for the love. You told me to keep believing because, I guess you could see further than I could. #Grammy Awards invitation is not exactly what I was expecting. Thank God for opening the doors to which I did not hold the key. My fans have been a great pillar of encouragement. I’m humbled by your loyalty. Let all your wishes come true today and always”

BY KAPA187

President Michael Sata has revealed that the MMD government illegally printed money from two other printers apart from De la rue.

The president says the fake money is currently circulating on the market.

He questioned why secretaries to the treasury and cabinet Evans Chibiliti and Joshua Kanganja who served in the previous government have remained mute on the matter.

Mr. Sata says the previous government also appointed a committee of three chiefs who are going round the country to destabilize the nation.

He says instead of going round to establish the welfare of chiefs, they are going round provinces using fake money to antagonize and dilute the effect of government.

President Sata said this at State house on Monday when he swore in three Deputy Ministers in the Ministry of Education, Works Supply, transport and Communication and Agriculture.

Those appointed include Brigadier General Benson Kapaya as Deputy Minister for Agriculture, David Mabumba as Deputy Minister for Education and Mutaba Mwali as Deputy Minister for Works and Supply.

The President urged the newly appointed Deputy Ministers to be loyal to their ministers and government.

Meanwhile, President Sata says those criticising the resignation of Msanzala Independent Member of Parliament George Lungu, should bear in mind that the constitution provides for such.

He says concerns on the cost of holding by-elections must be left to government which has provided money to hold these polls in an event that an MP dies or resigns.

The President was speaking at State House on Monday when he swore in three commissioners from the remaining 20 man committee appointed to draft the constitution.

Mr. Sata has since urged the commissioners to draw up a constitution that will stand a test of time.

He says the commissioners should draw up their own terms of reference on how they will draft the constitution.

Those sworn in as commissioners include CCZ General Secretary Reverand Susan Matale, Father Ivis Chituba and Rodger Chongwe.

[ZNBC]

THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has summoned Committee of Citizens executive director, Gregory Chifire and President Michael Sata’s son, Mulenga, over allegations that the latter has acquired two luxurious vehicles worth K1.8 billion.

And Mr Chifire has welcomed President Sata’s directive to have the two appear before the DEC over the allegations.

DEC acting spokesperson, Samuel Silomba, said in Lusaka yesterday that officers from the investigative wing have been trying to contact both Mulenga and Mr Chifire.

“I want to confirm that we are summoning the two and officers are trying to make contact with them, especially Mr Chifire. Even this morning officers were trying to contact Mr Chifire,” he said.

Mr Silomba has since encouraged members of the general public to report any suspicious matters to the Commission.

“We would like to encourage members of the public to have confidence in law enforcement agencies by providing information before they even decide to go public,” he said.

In an interview, Mr Chifire said in Lusaka yesterday that he was waiting for the DEC to summon him so that he could tell them what he knew.

President Sata directed that investigations be instituted into the allegations made by Mr Chifire that his son had acquired two luxurious vehicles within 60 days that the father had been in office.

“First of all I do not think it should be a media war, I was just a whistle blower. I am waiting for the summons from the DEC so that I go and say what I know and other businesses. The directive by the president is very welcome. I was just a whistle blower,” he said.

Mr Chifire said he could not make baseless accusations against the president’s son if he did not have evidence.

He, however, pointed out that he would not accuse Mulenga of being guilty because Zambian laws were clear that one was innocent until proven guilty.

“I would not say that he is guilty because our Constitution is very clear that everyone is innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law. I, however, stand by the statement I issued about the allegations,” he said.

Mulenga, who is Kabulonga Ward Councillor, had given Mr Chifire up to yesterday to apologise or face legal action.

According to Mulenga’s lawyers Mweemba Chashi and Partners, the President’s son warned that he would seek legal action unless Mr Chifire retracted his statement and apologised.

Mr Chifire had challenged Government to explain how Mulenga allegedly became rich suddenly when he had been selling dogs before his father became President.

The outspoken NGO leader alleged that Mulenga had suddenly acquired money and property in unexplained circumstances.

Among the properties Mulenga is alleged to own was a brand new Jeep costing about K800 million and a brand new Toyota GX, valued at about K1 billion.

But William Mweemba from Mweemba Chashi and Partners, said in a letter addressed to Mr Chifire that the statement attributed to the NGO leader was defamatory and had injured Mulenga as a businessman, professional civil Engineer and politician.

Following the accusations, President Sata ordered investigations into the matter and urged Mr Chifire to furnish the investigative wings with necessary information concerning the matter.

President Sata, who has received commendation on the directive, has vowed not to shield anyone from prosecution and has since advised Mr Chifire to put down a formal complaint with the law enforcement
agencies.

[Times of Zambia]

The  quest for six pack abs does not begin and end with ab workouts, but they are very important.

The aim of this workout is to train all the muscles of the core to produce a a pefect chiselled six-pack.

Perform this workout between 2-4 times per week ,with no rest in between moves, it should take you just 10 minutes to complete.

THE WORKOUT

This workout is for both men and women ,repeat each workout 3 times

The long-arm crunch

12 reps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-z5JXFif4A&feature=related
How its done 

•  Lie on your back with your knees bent and your arms straightened behind you.
• Then, keeping your arms straight above your head, perform a traditional crunch.
• The movement should be slow and controlled.

Why you should do it By extending your arms you add a longer ‘lever’ to the exercise, placing a greater strain on the upper region of the rectus abdominis.

The reverse crunch

12 reps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIupf5NKtt4&feature=related
How its done

•  Lie on your back and place your hands behind your head, then bring your knees in towards your chest until they’re bent to 90 degrees, with feet together or crossed.
• Contract your abs to curl your hips off the floor, reaching your legs up towards the ceiling, then lower your legs back down to their original position without letting your feet touch the floor.
•  This ensures your abs are continually activated.
• The exercise should be slow and controlled, with no leg swinging or overuse of hip flexors. Pay particular attention to the downward phase – it’s tempting to let your legs drop, but they key is to maintain tension in the abdominals throughout the entire exercise.

Why you should do it Although it’s important to remember that your rectus abdominis is actually one long muscle that travels from your lower chest to your pelvis and that most abdominal specific exercises train the entire muscle, the reverse crunch will emphasise the lower part of the stomach muscle.

Janda sit-up

12 reps

How to do it Lie on your back with your knees bent and hands placed behind your head. Then try ‘digging’ your heels into the floor, contracting your hamstrings, whilst performing an ordinary crunch.

Why you should do it The theory is that by contracting your hamstrings, you disengage your hip flexors, which in turn makes the muscles of the stomach work that much harder during the exercise.

The Jacknife

12 reps

How its done 

•  Place a mat on the floor, lie down on your back and extend your arms above your head.
•  Simultaneously lift your arms and legs toward the ceiling, until your fingertips touch your toes, then return to your starting position.

Why you should do it After specifically targeting (and pre-exhausting) the upper and lower regions of the rectus abdominis muscle, the jackknife exercise is a great way to comprehensively train the stomach muscles in their entirety in one exercise.

 The extended plank

45 second
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4T_rTIUnt0
How its done 

•  Get into a press-up position, placing your hands around 10 inches in front of your shoulders, with the toes of your shoes placed against the floor.
•  Hold this position with your back straight and try to continue to breathe as normal.

Why you should do it Very similar to the traditional plank, this specifically trains the transverse abdominis muscle – the deepest layer of abdominal muscle which wraps around the whole midsection. By extending your hands past the shoulders you force the muscles involved in the plank to work over a larger (and more difficult) range of movement

BY KAPA187