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Berlin Msiska appointed ZRA Commissioner-General

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President Michael Sata has appointed Berlin Msiska as Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General.

President Sata made the appointment in accordance with the provisions of Section 19 [1] of the Zambia Revenue Authority Act, Cap 321 of the Laws of Zambia.

And Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has expressed happiness with the appointment of Mr. Msiska as Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General.

In statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today, by Ministry of Finance Public Relations Officer Chileshe Kandeta, Mr. Chikwanda said he was confident that Mr. Msiska would work well at ZRA as he was qualified and competent in issues of revenue collection.

“Our new Commissioner General has impeccable credentials. It is for this reason that I have a deep sense of confidence in his professionalism and competence,” he said.

He added that “I have looked at the records and I am fully satisfied that he is a hardworking and patriotic Zambian as manifested by his record of service during his initial tenure as the first indigenous Commissioner General of the Zambia Revenue Authority,” said Mr. Chikwanda.

Mr. Chikwanda, pointed out that ZRA was the nerve centre of resource mobilisation in the country and on which financing of development programmes depended on.

He said this was why there was need to support ZRA without any undue influence by people working at the treasury, adding that they should not tolerate smugglers and tax evaders.

He also pledged to support ZRA should they need re-enforcement in streamlining areas of Value Added Tax refund administration, Customs and Mines Audit Operations among others.

“In this regard, you will fully be supported to execute your mandate without fear, favour or undue influence by all of us at the treasury. Do not tolerate smugglers and tax evaders. Streamline areas like VAT refund administration, Customs and Mines Audit Operations and let us know the areas in which you might need re-enforcement”, Mr. Chikwanda said.

The Minister has since urged Mr. Msiska to maintain high levels of integrity and seal the loopholes across all tax administration operational areas in order to collect resources thereby uplifting the welfare of Zambians and eradicate poverty through efficient.

Mr. Msiska is currently the International Monetary Fund (IMF) resident Advisor at the Mauritius based Africa Regional Technical Assistance Centre [ARTAC] representing thirteen African Countries.

The countries include Angola, Botswana, Comoros Islands, Lesotho, Mauritius, Madagascar. Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

He has also served as ZRA Commissioner General as well as Permanent Secretary for Financial Management and Administration at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.

[ZANIS]

President Sata was in order – Speaker

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President Sata inspects guard of honour.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Patrick Matibini has told parliament that President Michael Sata acted on the provisions of the law by stating that he will dissolve parliament if the opposition continue to frustrate his government efforts in parliament.

Dr. Matibini stated that article 88 part C of the constitution gives power to the President to dissolve parliament at any time.

He, however, stated that the National Assembly Powers and Privilege Act chapter 2 section 3 also gives powers to the Members of Parliament (MP) to have freedom in the house.

Dr. Matibini was making a ruling to a point of order raised by Malambo MMD MP, Maxwell Mwale, who wanted clarification on whether President Michael Sata was in order to threaten to dissolve parliament when the constitution provided for separation of power among the judiciary, executive and the legislature.

Mr. Mwale who is also former Minister of Mines in the Rupiah Banda administration said MPs were practicing their privileges and freedom of expression in parliament.

And the Speaker said the MPs enjoy freedom of speech in parliament which can never be questioned by anyone including the courts.

“Members of Parliament enjoy freedom of speech which, however, cannot be questioned by anyone including the courts of law,” he said.

President Michael Sata yesterday threatened to dissolve parliament if the opposition continued to shoot down government bills and motions the government is tabling in the house.

This follows the decision by opposition MPs to vote against a motion which was tabled in parliament by Finance Minister, Alexander Chikwanda for the constitution of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee for the first session of the eleventh national assembly.

[ZANIS]

President Sata to host luncheon for Chinese investors

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Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yuxiano Zhou

President Michael Sata is tomorrow expected to host a luncheon at State House in honour of the Chinese business people operating in Zambia.

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxio is expected to lead a team of 150 Chinese business executives based in Zambia to State House.

This is contained in a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations George Chellah

Zambia’s relations with China dates as far back as Zambia’s post political independence days. Zambia was the first country in Africa to sign diplomatic relations with China in 1964, and since then Chinese investors have become increasingly prominent players in Zambia’s key economic sectors.However,this hasn’t come without controversy.

In October 2010 two Chinese managers shot and wounded 11 Zambian coal miners.The MMD government later dropped charges against the two Chinese managers.

After his inauguration President Michael Sata called on Chinese investors to adhere to the country’s labour laws.He said Patriotic Front -PF- government was concerned that there was unlimited number of Chinese expatriates who were coming into the country to take up jobs which Zambians are capable of doing.
The President however said the PF government welcomes Chinese investment that will benefit the local people and the investors themselves.

Power is Ready for Arrows Says Joseph Sitali

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Power Dynamos Captain Joseph Sitali has declared the Arthur Davies outfit ready to face Red Arrows in Saturday’s Barclays Cup Semifinal
clash in Lusaka.

Sitali stated that Power have prepared adequately ahead of the last four game against the Airmen set for Nkoloma Stadium.

“I think we are ready for the game and we have prepared well for Red Arrows,” he said.

The midfielder predicted that the 13:00 hours kickoff Barclays Cup clash between Power and Arrows will be tough.

“The game will be 50-50 but going by our preparations we are going to win in Lusaka,” Sitali stated.

In the other semifinal match scheduled to kickoff at 15:00 hours, Power’s city rivals Nkana will take on Konkola Blades in a repeat of the week 27 Super League fixture which ended 1-1 in Kitwe almost a fortnight ago.

President Sata owes Dr Buzaianu no apology

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President Michael Sata

President Michael says he has no apologies to make to Dr Nicolae Buzaianu over the gold scam.

The President says he found Dr Buzaianu’s demands unfortunate.

This is contained in a Press statement released by George Chellah, Special Assistant to the President on Press and Public relations

“Dr Buzaianu’s demand for an apology and compensation is completely groundless and is utterly unacceptable for Zambia,” says the President.

President Sata says Dr Buzaianu was at liberty to exhaust all legal avenues available to him.

“Infact, we need Dr Buzaianu to come to Zambia and help with investigations. More details that require his clarifcation are coming out hence the need to have him in person,”says the President.

On October 15, 2011, the President revoked the appointment of Dr Buzaianu as Zambia’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO in Paris, France.

This was after the President disclosed to the nation that Dr Buzaianu, an individual who is on the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) watch-list in connection with the gold scam, flew into the country from Geneva, Switzerland aboard a private jet.

Whilst in the country, Dr Buzaianu met former president Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, his son Mr James Banda and former State House press aide Mr Dickson Jere.

Earlier this week Mr.Buzaianu,as distanced himself from what is slowly turning into an increasingly embarrassing ‘Gold-gate’ scandal.

The Swiss national has hired Lusaka lawyer Sakwiba Sikota to defend him in the scandal that has already sucked in former President Rupiah Banda, his son James and a former press assistant at State House, Dickson Jere.

Bozaianu, 42, a self-proclaimed philanthropist, confirmed in correspondence obtained by the Zambia Daily Mail from his lawyer that the gold was bought not by himself, but by some two South African companies he named as Societies Financiere du Seujet SA and Valsior SA.

Mr Bozaianu wants Mr Sikota of Central Chambers to compel, legally, the Zambian government to pay him US$1 million for “injuring” his reputation.

Inonge optimistic of new constitution

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Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Inonge Wina

Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Inonge Wina is optimistic that the committee of experts constituted to give Zambia a new constitution will not fail, like the NCC did.

Mrs Wina has called on women to openly participate and contribute to the draft constitution.

And Mrs Wina has expressed disappointed at the number of female parliamentarians retained in parliament in the 2011 tripartite elections.

She says the women in the rural areas aspiring for political positions at various levels fail because they are not empowered with resources.

Mrs Wina was speaking during a prayer breakfast meeting organized by women in business for female parliamentarians and women in influential positions.

Speaking earlier, Non Governmental Organizations Coordinating Council -NGOCC -Board Chairperson Beatrice Grillo said women in parliament need to stand together to support the right thing despite their political affiliation.

She says the NGOCC is willing to assist female parliamentarians with research that will promote the well being of the vulnerable groups in society.

And Evelyn Banda one of the organizers of the prayer breakfast applauded President Michael Sata’s vision to appoint more women into government.
[ZNBC]

Police nab one of the four suspected rapists

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Chingola town centre

Police on the Copperbelt have arrested one out of the four men alleged to have gang raped a woman in Chingola Thursday morning.

Copperbelt Acting Police Chief Milner Muyambango says Douglas Chanda was arrested Thursday afternoon while the other three suspected rapists are on the run.

Mr Muyambango says the incident happened around 2400 hours Wednesday night into Thursday morning when four men attacked two women who were walking from a funeral house.

One of the women managed to escape from the bandits while the other was caught and dragged to their house where they repeatedly raped her from 0100 hours until 0400 hours Thursday morning.

And police in Ndola have launched a manhunt for a gang of four armed men who robbed a woman of thirty million Kwacha at gun point in her home in broad daylight.

Mr Muyambango has told ZNBC News that four men went to the home of Suatna Sairan at 1000 hours on Wednesday and found the woman in the kitchen.

He says the four bandits forced the woman at gun point to take them where the money was kept.

The cash was in Zambian Kwacha and United States Dollars.

Mr. Muyambango says in both the Chingola and Ndola incidents the victims have told the police that they will identify the culprits.

[ZNBC]

It is sad that President Sata has continued to disregard the Law- Mwiimbu

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File:Members of Parliament listen to President Sata's speech

PARLIAMENT heard that a tribunal should have been established to recommend to the president on whether former Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director-general Patrick Kayukwa should be dismissed or not.

Issuing his maiden speech and commenting on the president’s address to the House, Monze Member of Parliament (MP) Jack Mwiimbu (UPND) said it was saddening that President Michael Sata had continued to disregard the law on some key decisions he was making.

“Within one month, violations of the law have been done by the Patriotic Front. For instance, the removal of the ACC director-general which was incorrect, inconsistent and against the law. “A tribunal should have been set up to recommend to the president,” Mr Mwiimbu said.

He told the House that it was sad that the president had nominated 10 MPs to the House when such was not supposed to be the case, and that he also had earlier abolished the position of secretary to the Treasury without following the law. “It is your duty therefore as ministers to give correct advice to the President and I am appealing to you to be doing so,” Mr Mwiimbu said, in reference to ministers in the House.

Mr Mwiimbu also told the House that UPND would hold the PF Government accountable to the many promises the president made during election campaigns such as the restoration of the Barotseland Agreement, and delivering a sound Constitution within 90 days.

He denounced sentiments against the perceived alliance between UPND and the MMD, saying his party would also enter into such pacts with the ruling party on issues affecting the Zambian people.

“I want to state categorically that the PF is envious of the perceived alliance but I can assure them that we shall too have an alliance with them on the increase of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to K5 billion; we shall have an alliance with them on the issue a good Constitution being given to our people and many other issues affecting our people,” Mr Mwiimbu said.

Solwezi East MP Richard Taima (MMD) also cautioned the president against making policy pronouncements that could be detrimental to the governance of the country, such as the release of prisoners that were jailed for poaching offences.

Mr Taima alleged that because of the pronouncement that people should not be jailed at the expense of killing animals, some residents in Mpika were now harassing Zambia Wildlife Authority officers.

He also called for the increment of CDF to K5 billion, saying the MMD government had led the way by raising the fund from the initial K30 million to the current K720 million
[Times of Zambia]

The Demise of Zambian Tennis

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File:Children from Kidz Tennis academy learning how to play Tennis.

By Mathews Chansa

Do you remember Dick Mpheneka, Andrew Makwaza, Mambo Njovu, The Kangwa, Simunyola , and the Kapungwe brothers, John Mwalongo, Lighton Ndefwayi, Sidney Bwalya, Kachinga Sinkala, Brandon Kasulumbe or even perhaps Edgar Kazembe? I am guessing the last name might be the only familiar one – and only slightly at that if you are a real Zambian tennis fan.

Zambian tennis has been on the downward spiral since the late 1990’s with Lighton Ndefwayi and Sidney Bwalya being our last great tennis players and our Davis Cup heroes. Yes Edgar Kazembe has won a multiple Zambian and regional singles and doubles titles but do people really
know him?

Where is all the talent? Zambia was a huge sporting nation with one of the top soccer teams in the world, we had the Olympic champion boxing team,world class swimmers and the recent netball team medalist at the All African Games. Zambia boasts great weather, and passionate coaches, so why are we not producing world class tennis players?

The answer is complicated but it boils down to mismanagement and money. The national association is grossly under-funded and where there was once an entire organization committed to tennis in Zambia, the organization is now manned by a one-man show in the name of Tolani Zulu and few supporting casts in Lusaka and Copperbelt. He has single handedly kept the association alive by constantly soliciting sponsors and for bringing new life into Zambia tennis, bringing back the Zambia and Copperbelt junior and Senior open. He has also gone further by having former tennis greats based abroad to be part of the development process. This is one great step in the right direction. Lets’ hope it is the first of many. I remember watching South African Jeff
Coetzee, Wesley Moody and Zimbabwean Wayne Black at the Zambian ITF Men’s Satellite Open at Lusaka Club when I was a junior player and it was incredible.

So where are our talented juniors going? College. Thirty percent of all top Zambian juniors have previously and still finding their way into US colleges where they are moving through the colleges ranks and only a very few or none are then venturing out onto the tour. The top juniors in Zambia have no other opportunity even if they are good enough to turn professional; there is no support in the way of funding, training or coaching to help them make the transition from the junior ranks to the pro level.

College has been good to a lot of Zambian players as it has been giving them a great education and – for some – a spring board into coaching positioning and possibly owning their own tennis facilities.

But we have lost and still losing too many as these players have nowhere to turn after the great support they receive in college.This is my take on the situation. The sport has no international tennis heroes to catalyze and create an army of tennis followers,youngsters with the character and the desire to excel like their heroes.

The sport has grown to become an elitist one played almost entirely in social clubs. One figure, one successful Zambian tennis player, in the international ATP or WTA circuit, could kick-start an avalanche of interest in the sport. He or she could do for tennis what Kalusha Bwalya and Charles Musonda did for Zambia football, They served as the reference of limitless possibilities for the youth of Zambia , with the hunger and desire to escape from poverty into a new world of fame and fortune. This is the hunger that creates champions and heroes.

Tennis has to become a street game. It has to be grown from the schools. It has to have facilities in the communities. But more than anything else it has to have an authentic hero to illuminate the path so others can follow.

Zambia’s lower middle-income rating meaningless – Chikwanda

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Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda

FINANCE and National Planning Minister Alexander Chikwanda has said Zambia’s re-classification to a lower middle-income bracket is meaningless because it has not benefitted many ordinary Zambians.

Mr Chikwanda said the re-classification was made at a time when the prices of copper – the country’s leading foreign exchange earner – rose to around US$10,000 per tonne, which influenced the figures but did not have economic benefits for many Zambians. He said Zambia remained poor and a major policy shift was urgently required by focusing on the fight against corruption while strengthening the capacity for financial management systems and improving agriculture and other sectors.

During a meeting with visiting World Bank executive director for Africa group Hassan Ahmed Taha at the ministry of Finance, Mr Chikwanda said previous governments had paid little attention to critical issues that ensure real development, such as corruption. The World Bank team is in the country to receive the Government’s economic and social development roadmap to help provide assistance, especially in the short-term targets that President Michael Sata wants to achieve within 90 days in power, as well as long-term targets.

Mr Chikwanda said the fight against corruption was important because it protected wrong actors while condemning hard workers, and that money meant for development went into the pockets of a few people.
He said the Government would listen to the World Bank because Zambia was a member and that the bank needed support for it to succeed, more so that it helped influence Zambia’s qualification to the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) completion point to win debt write-off. “I wonder if we can qualify now that copper prices have gone down. When that information was being compiled, the prices of copper went up to around $10,000 per ton,” Mr Chikwanda said.

He said Zambia was not able to finance the national Budget using its locally-sourced finances despite being graded as a lower middle-income nation and urged the Bank to continue providing Budget assistance.

Mr Chikwanda said the re-classification was influenced by the conditions that prevailed at the time and it was clear that the country had not developed since the attainment of independence from Britain in 1964. Mr Chikwanda said at independence, Zambia’s employment portfolio stood at 400, 000 people out of a population of about three million and that 47 years afterwards, the number had only moved to 600, 000 out of 14 million people, representing 25 per cent.

The minister said the population had continued to grow while the capacity of industries to create jobs had remained static.

Mr Chikwanda said minor improvements had been made such as the country’s ability to finance 90 per cent of the national Budget while 35 per cent of the previous budgets were externally financed, but that required restructuring by allowing for borrowing to save the social sector from collapsing further. He said there was need to invest in the energy and agriculture sectors to stimulate job creation while meeting the energy deficits the country was experiencing.

And Mr Taha called for improved investment in the education sector as an engine for economic development. He assured that the World Bank would continue to provide Budget assistance to Zambia despite being re-classified to lower middle-income status until it was certain that the Government could stand on its own.

And World Bank alternate executive director Denny Kalyalya, who is a former Bank of Zambia deputy governor, told the minister that the Bank had been transformed and was no longer running programmes based on restrictive conditionalities.

[Times of Zambia]

We won’t look into the Barotseland Agreement of 1964- Roger Chongwe

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File:Police officers in riot gear aboard a van going to quell riots in Mongu.

The Commission of Inquiry appointed to look at the cases of the January 14th riots in Mongu in which 2 people died has clarified that it has no mandate to talk about the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.

Commission Chairperson Roger Chongwe noted that although the riotous behavior was as a result of the abrogation of the Agreement by parliament,the commission was only appointed to ascertain cases of the fracas.

He pointed out that the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 is a valid document hence the commission will not restrict people from submitting on the matter provided that they feel it was related to the case of the riots.

Mr. Chongwe was speaking in Mongu during his opening remarks of the first submitting setting of the commission.

He said the commission will receive and respect all the evidence that brought about the anger and frustrations in the people in Mongu.

Mr. Chongwe has since appealed to all the people that wish to submit their reports not to feel intimidated by anyone as they are protected by the law.

And Mr. Chongwe has appealed to Western Region Police office to submit its report on the cause of the fracas.

He said the Police should submit its report at 14:30hours today.

President Michael Sata on 6th October, 2011, appointed a commission of inquiry into the Barotseland Agreement and the commission has began its submitting processes in Mongu.

Independence Day in Pictures

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President Sata (left) his predecessor Rupiah Banda (right) and Paramount Chief Mpezeni (centre)

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President Sata with his predecessor Rupiah Banda

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Former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa greets President Sata and First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba (far left) and Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba (left) during the Independence Day celebrations at State House

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President Sata talks to former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa during the Independence Day celebrations at State House

5.

Former president Kenneth Kaunda and vice president of Malawi Joyce Banda watch the Independence Day celebrations

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Traditional dancers entertain guests during the Independence Day celebrations at State House

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President Sata (centre) First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba (right) and Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba about to cut the Independence Day cake

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President Sata (centre) and First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba (right) cut the Independence Day cake while Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba observes

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Former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa and former president Rupiah Banda

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President Sata honours Edward Tapalu with the order of the distinguished service second division

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The Patriotic Front choir entertain guests during the Independence Day celebrationss at State House yesterday.

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The Happy Jazz Band entertain guests during the Independence Day celebrations at State House

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President Sata interacts with members of the Happy Jazz band

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Patriotic Front members lift Information, Broadcasting and Tourism minister Given Lubinda

Independence Day Celebrations in Oslo Norway

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ARTISTS OF THE WEEK : DIVINE TRIBE

Entertainment Editor
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Divine Tribe are a gospel group consisting of 3 people ; Borniface Mwanza (Bishop), Taurai Njaramba (Whizzy) and Andrew Phiri (Detox). They started of as back up dancers for the likes of Runnel and Ruff kid.  They gave there lives to God and started to perform at their church,Northmead Assemblies of God.

RISE TO FAME

  • They recorded and released their first album ,”Kumwamba” in 2006.  This album helped Divine tribe to get more exposure , they went from being only know at their church to being know county wide.
  • There aim was to spread  a positive message through their music . they set their sights on establishing themselves  as examples of moral purity and trends among young musicians in Zambia.
  • In 2010 they released their second album “Higher ground“
  •  Higher grounds combines a variety of music styles , fusing Zambian , Nigerian and east African vibes.
  •  They have collaborated with Kenya’s music heavy weight kanji and the legendary Limit X from Uganda, on a song called “Help is on the way”
  •  Locally they have collaborated with the likes of Ephraim, Matthew Ngosa, T.P, Aaron, the amazing angie, DMK, Hezron “Hezijones” Ngosa and a number  of producers such as Raydo (Digital X Entertainment) Daxon and killa beats(K-Army) TK (Roma Side Studios) Big Bez (Sound Factory Entertainment) and NOX (Luchi Records) .
  • The  hit song off the album “Everyday” was the first gospel video to be played on MTV Base and is also playing on One Gospel and Channel O

MUSIC

FAVOUR ft Ephriam

EVERYDAY

 

BY KAPA187

Sale of 75 percent ZAMTEL shares shameful – Kavindele

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North West Rail Company Chairman Enoch Kavindele
North West Rail Company Chairman Enoch Kavindele

Former republican Vice President Enoch Kavindele has described as shameful the sale of 75 percent shares in ZAMTEL to Lap Green at 257 million United States (US) Dollars.

Mr. Kavindele stated that at the time of ZAMTEL’s sale, the market value for the telecommunications service provider was estimated at over 3 billion US dollars saying selling the parastatal company at a giveaway price of 257 million US dollars was unreasonable.

Mr. Kavindele who served as Vice President in the Chiluba and Mwanawasa governments said this in Lusaka today when he made his submissions before the Sebastian Zulu led Commission of Inquiry on the sale of ZAMTEL and the 98 million US dollar NAPSA deal.

And a former ZAMTEL employee Victor Mulenga has called for the immediate repossession and nationalization of ZAMTEL.

Mr. Mulenga who is among the over 2000 workers who lost their jobs after the sale of ZAMTEL said the transaction was not made in the interest of the nation hence the need for its speedy reversal.

“The previous government promised to protect our jobs and improve service delivery but after the transaction the opposite happened, over 2000 workers lost their jobs and the service became pathetic,” he pointed out.

And a former ZAMTEL Technical Director Wood Simbeye submitted that the previous government was responsible for the losses ZAMTEL made in the two years prior to the company’s sale to Lap Green.

Mr. Simbeye who worked for ZAMTEL for 22 years told the commission that the previous government was the worst settler of debts which in most cases exceeded K100 billion stretching over long periods of time.

He noted that during the time he served in ZAMTEL, the parastatal never made losses but instead accrued significant profits saying the previous government’s pronouncements that the service provider had been making losses for many years were baseless and unjustifiable.

And ZESCO Project Director for Kafue Gorge lower Christopher Mubemba narrated how ZESCO was forcefully made to sign an indivisible right of use agreement with ZAMTEL to make the telecommunications provider more attractive to potential buyers.

Mr. Mubemba said under the agreement ZAMTEL was to use ZESCO’s optic fibre network because ZAMTEL’s system was non functional.

He complained that the agreement which was signed on 17th December 2009 under extreme coercion from the previous government had stifled the expansion of the ZESCO network.

He told the commission that ZESCO got a raw deal from the agreement and intends to terminate the agreement by following the due process.

Submissions in the matter continue until Monday next week when the commission concludes its sittings.

Former Minister of Communications and Transport Dora Siliya who headed the ministry at the time of ZAMTEL’s sale is expected to appear before the commission tomorrow afternoon.

ZANIS

President Sata threatens to dissolve parliament

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President Sata and First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba during the openig of parliament

President Michael Sata has threatened to revoke the constitution and dissolve parliament if the opposition members of Parliament (MP) continue shooting down bills government is presenting in the house.

The President said his government will then call for a fresh election and tell the Zambian people that the opposition was not interested in fighting corruption.

He explained that the opposition MPs had given his government a first vote of no confidence by shooting down the motion for the constitution of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) stating that his government would not hesitate to dissolve parliament if the MPs continue voting against progressive bills.

Mr. Sata wondered how the opposition Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) and United Party for National Development (UPND) voted against the bill that when most of the proposed names of the committee members were from the opposition.

“How do opposition MPs vote against the motion to constitute members of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) when the committee was dominated by themselves with only one MP from the Patriotic Front,” he asked.

He charged that the opposition MPs voted against the motion because they wanted to protect the removal of immunity of former President Rupiah Banda.

He has however explained that that his government is not in a hurry to remove the immunity of the former Republican President Rupiah Banda.

Mr. Sata said this when he swore in Secretary to the Treasurer, Fredson Yamba, Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary (PS) Christopher Mutembo and Permanent Secretary in Charge of Administration in the Office of the Vice President Annie Sinyangwe at State House today.

The President has meanwhile observed that the civil service in the country has deteriorated.

He said the civil service which should be the hub of government had gone down over the year owing to the appointment of cadres by the former MMD government into the civil service.

Mr. Sata said the civil service was important in running of government adding that countries like Italy did not have political appointments to man government but was using the civil service.

He expressed concern at some District Commissioners (DCs) on the Copperbelt who he said had continued to boast of government’s fertilizer support programme describing them as being of former president Rupiah Banda.

Mr. Sata has since directed the newly appointed Copperbelt PS to ensure that he deals with such DCs.

He has also directed the PS and the Secretary to the Treasurer to ensure that they fight corruption which he said was disadvantaging a lot of people.

“We want to fight corruption in order for us to take the money to the people,” he said.

He advised them to desist from engaging in any corrupt activities either concerning money or any other things.

The Opposition MPs on Tuesday voted against a motion which was tabled in parliament by Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda to constitute members on the Parliamentary Accounts Committee for the first session of the eleventh national assembly.

ZANIS

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