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The former government has defended the sale of Zamtel saying it was transparent, above board and according to the law.
Former Vice President, George Kunda has disputed the preliminary outcome of the Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate the sale of Zamtel to Lap Green of Libya, which established that the transaction was fraudulent and illegal.
According to the former Vice President, the transaction is well documented at the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA).
He has however, endorsed Government’s decision to table the Zamtel report before cabinet saying it is supported by law.
Mr. Kunda warned that a prospective reversal of the Zamtel transaction is a threat to foreign investment in the country.
He has described the setting up of commissions of inquiries, as unprecedented and stage-managed by the current Government.
Mr. Kunda, who is a lawyer, is saddened that the terms of references for the commissions of inquiries seem to be predetermined.
He has advised the Patriotic Front (PF) to inherit all liabilities and assets that were left by the previous government saying it is a norm of governance.
Former Education Minister, Dora Siliya and her 19-year old son have simultaneously appeared before law enforcement agencies in Lusaka.
This is connection with the seized 29 motor bikes belonging to the former minister in the alleged corrupt tainted, Rupiah Banda administration.
Ms. Siliya, was interrogated by law enforcement agencies at the defunct task force on corruption for close to two-hours.
She arrived for the interrogation at around 11: 24 hours clad in black accompanied by her lawyer, Sakwiba Sikota.
Her son later appeared at the Woodlands police station.
Ms. Siliya complained of excessive harassment by law enforcement agencies.
Meanwhile, Dora Siliya has remained tight-limped over the outcome of the Zamtel commission of inquiry.
A Sebastian Zulu-led probe team report has established glaring anomalies in the US$257million transaction to Libya’s Lap Green, which appears flawed, illegal and fraudulent.
Ms. Siliya, who was minister at the time of the transaction, referred all queries to her lawyers.
First republican president Kenneth Kaunda and Foreign Affairs deputy minister Dr Effron Lungu before departure for China at Kenneth Kaunda International airport in Lusaka
First Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda has assured the Chinese government that the PF government under the leadership of President Sata is ready to engage China as economic development partner.
ZANIS reports that Dr. Kaunda says President Sata does not in anyway hold any anti-Chinese feelings as the world tended to believe in the past especially in the run up to the September 20 tripartite elections which saw him ascend to the presidency.
He said President Sata is a truthful, genuine and honest man who always stands for the truth.
Dr. Kaunda said this today when he visited the China non-ferrous Metals Mining Company in Beijing.
Dr. Kaunda explained that President Sata had sent him to China as a special envoy to reassure the Chinese government and its people that the Zambian government is ready to support and work with the people of China.
He explained that President Sata has written a letter to the President of China Hu Jintao which will be handed over to his Vice President Xi Jinping tomorrow in which he outlines his readiness to work with China.
Dr. Kaunda noted that President Micheal Sata had sent him to Angola a few weeks ago on a similar mission to renew Zambia’s relations with that country.
The Rodger M. A. Chongwe Commission of Inquiry into the Barotseland Agreement 1964/ Mongu fracas of 14th January 2011 wound up sittings for public submission on 22nd November, 2011. The commissioners have gathered a wealth of information from the people of Barotseland and Zambia on the subject matter and are well equipped to come up with very sound recommendations. The people of Barotseland, Zambia, Africa and the world at large eagerly await the final report.
Having sat through not just one of these sessions but several and having followed keenly each of the sessions as the Commission of Inquiry went round, I am well aware that there was quite an array of submissions from the former detainees and activists, ordinary people and high profile personalities, chiefs and BRE representatives, Church bodies and civil society organizations and indeed many more! Clearly some of the submissions are just good enough for the trash-can but by far most of the submissions were really master pieces and will contribute to a rich reservoir of Information on the Barotseland question and on what really happened before, during and after the January 14 disturbances in Mongu and Limulunga Royal Village.
One off-key feature of the submissions deserves comment and proper analysis. I refer to submissions made by a clique of Nkoyas coming under the umbrella of the so called Nkoya Royal Council, what I call the Nkoya Mixup. I want to emphasize that this is just a clique because not all Nkoyas and all people with Nkoya blood flowing in their veins like myself subscribe to the warped reasoning and distorted view points presented by this clique. The major thrust of the presentations made by this clique include the notion that Nkoyas are not part of the Barotse Commonwealth, the Barotseland Agreement 1964 was a greedy document meant to benefit only a single tribe called Lozi and the fact that Nkoyas deserve to have a province of their own covering Mumbwa, Itezhi-tezhi, Kaoma Lukulu and Kasempa.
Clearly what these submissions have done more than anything else is to expose the glaring ignorance of this clique of Nkoyas who seem to be hell bent on trying to rewrite history to suit their imagination and fantasies. Contrary to the notions of this Nkoya Clique which unfortunately have received more publicity and media attention than other Nkoyas, chiefs and commoners alike who are more level headed, please take note of the following points:
I) The Nkoyas are part of the 30 plus, tribal groupings that make up the Lozi commonwealth, the Barotse Nation who in the wisdom of our forefathers decided to unite themselves under the rulership of one dynasty. This unity was consolidated by one, Lubosi wa Nyambe nicknamed ‘Mawaniketwa, Lewanika lya mafuci’ (mbunda for one who unites nations) popularly know as King Lewanika the Great. Let me quote one learned Mbowe, Mbunda, Nkoya man (simply put, Lozi) in the name of Professor Sitwala Namwinji Imenda. In a letter to the Post Newspaper dated Tuesday, September 21, 2010 the Prof had this to say: “For those that may not know, Silozi is the national language of Barotseland. Malozi are not of one tribe. Malozi are the people of Barotseland – constituted by 37 tribes ( amongst whom are Ma Mbowe, Ma Kwandi, Ma Kwangwa, Ma Subiya, Ma Kwamakoma, Ma Kwamwenyi, Manyengo, Mambukushu, Mayeyi, Mankoya, Maluvale, Mambunda, Machokwe, Maluchazi, Malunda, etc.). Silozi, as a language, together with other national symbols like the Barotseland national anthem, the Barotseland national flag, and others symbolized the sovereignty and autonomy of Barotseland.”
II) In 1905 under King Lewanika, Barotseland was subdivided into lilalos (Areas) and each Silalo was placed under a chief. A number of lilalo make up a Sikiliti (District) placed under a Resident Prince referred to today as Senior Chief. Kaoma District formerly Mankoya has thirteen (13) lilalo of which only two seem to be under the intoxication of the Nkoya Royal Council rebelling against the Resident Prince Senior chief Amukena II and demanding that Kaoma should be divided between the two of them so that they are elevated to the position of Senior Chiefs. The remaining eleven (11) chiefs some of whom are also Nkoyas are in total harmony with the Resident Prince and accept the historical fact that they are part and parcel of the Lozi Empire under the Litunga.
Two of these, Chief Libinga who described himself as a Subiya-Nkoya and as more than three-quarters Nkoya and Chief Mwanatete who described himself as much Nkoya as anyone else can be, made submissions to the Chongwe Commissions sitting in Kaoma. The submissions of these two chiefs cleared the notion that the Nkoyas as a whole are opposed to the authority of the Litunga and consequently against the Barotseland Agreement 1964. They both stated that there has and is only one Royal Establishment in Barotseland, the Barotse Royal Establishment and that the so called Nkoya Royal Establishment and its twin sister the Nkoya Royal Council are new creations aimed at promoting the divide and rule policy first muted by President Kaunda’s UNIP and polished by Chiluba’s MMD government.
III) Nkoyas were as much part of the Barotseland Agreement 1964 as any other ethnic grouping in Barotseland. Mr. Weddington Mucala Situtu, an elected member of the Barotse National Council (1963-65) in his submission before the Chongwe Commission sitting in Kaoma pointed out that the Barotseland Agreement 1964 was a collective effort of all the people of Barotseland, Nkoyas included and actually pointed out the names of the Nkoyas who participated in the final council meeting that authorized Litunga Mwanawina Lewanika III (who was himself Lewanika’s Nkoya Son) and his entourage to travel to London and sign the Barotseland Agreement 1964. I quote from Mr. Situtu’s written submission: “In that council we had all the ethnic groupings of Barotseland represented. It included two Mbundas Mr. Kalyangu and Mr. Meshach Muti, one Luchazi a Mr Kapatiso and two Nkoyas Mr. Simon Urgent Liyoka and Mr Kashiwa Mutaima as elected councilors from the then Mankoya District. Mwene Mutondo and Mwene Kahare, were represented by their Ngambelas, Mwanashihemi Ngwelela and Mwanashihemi Muleka respectively. They were part and parcel of the Barotseland Agreement 1964. It is unfortunate for one ethnic group to disassociate itself from an Agreement which their fathers were a part to.”
Clearly the Nkoyas were part of the whole process unless they want to tell us that they regret being part to it and want to back out now so that they can consolidate the Nkoya Royal Establishment and probably end up signing the Nkoyaland Agreement 2011! In any case like Dr Chongwe noted at the commission’s sitting in Kaoma, the Nkoya Mixup is an issue that can be amicably resolve if the parties are willing to dialogue, make compromises and reach a consensus.
President Sata shakes hands with Commission of inquiry on the sale of Zamtel chairperson Sebastian Zulu at State House
By C.Muzyamba
I can almost relive that day, the day Chief Justice Enerst Sakala declared Patriotic Front leader Michael Chilufya Sata duly elected President of the Republic of Zambia at exactly 00:34 hours. This was after he polled a staggering 1, 150,045 votes representing 43% of total votes cast, against his closest rival Rupiah Banda with 7 constituencies remaining to be counted. Zambians from all walks of life woke up from their slumber and found themselves caught up in a record breaking euphoria.
They celebrated Michael’s victory, Dandy Crazy’s award winning song could be heard everywhere “don’t kubeba wilalilalila eeshi…”, Cars hooting, People clad in their PF Liguria and others almost half naked were spoted celebrating in the streets of Lusaka. It was a big party!! It was indeed a joyous moment for my beloved country.
It was the only day a stranger could jump on a bus from town to Parliament buildings for free as long as he chanted the Don’t Kubeba slogan. It was as though Zambia had just become independent from the pawl of colonialism. Comrades from the Old school described Michael Sata’s victory to be sweeter than the Day Zambia got her independence in 1964.
WHY ZAMBIANS CELEBRATED
a) Zambians celebrated the break in the monotony of the MMD, a party which ruled Zambia for two decades
b) Zambians celebrated because they had put in a power a “Man of Action”, a man who had promised them more jobs, lower taxes and more money their pockets ( so in principle they expected Sata to lower taxes, create jobs and reduce the cost of living)
c) They celebrated because they felt they had defeated a tyrannical regime which was embroiled in corruption ( In principle they expected to see a Zambia that is free from any stench of corruption)
d) They celebrated because they envisaged structural changes within 90 days!! Infrastructural development in the name of roads, buildings,rail-lines, etc
e) They celebrated because they were going to be given a new constitution within 90 days
f) They celebrated because they were going to see the re-introduction of Windfall Tax within 90 days
Now you should note that these are not promises I made up, these are promises Michael Sata gave us the people of Zambia and we voted him into office on this premise.[pullquote]By the way I am at pains trying to find a reason as to why the PF government is spending K3billion on each Commission of Enquiry when we have regular bodies such as the ACC,DEC, Auditor General’s office that are mandated to carry out such investigations[/pullquote]
60 days down the line we can do a simple analysis which you people who are educated call “Monitoring and Evaluation”. This is a mid-term review of Michael Sata’s performance using his promises extrapolated above as benchmarks or objectives.
OBJECTIVE No. 1
Fight against corruption (In principle Zambians expected to see a Zambia that is free from any stench of corruption)
Well Mr President, receive kudos from me for coining the phrase “Allergic to Corruption”, however this phrase alone is not enough to hoodwink critical Zambians into believing that you are truly fighting corruption. Fighting corruption means not tolerating any form of corruption.
Single sourcing of Apollo a company belonging to Alexander Chikwanda to renovate State house is not fighting corruption.
Appointing people who defended and were involved in corruption scandals is in itself creating breeding ground for corruption. While prosecuting former MMD comrades who were involved in corruption might send a stern warning to would-be perpetrators it should however not be a witch-hunt. Let it not be a means of settling political scores.
Appointing people who are directly or indirectly related to you Mr President, you who is allergic to corruption is a race against logic.
OBJECTIVE No.2
Lower Taxes, More Jobs and More Money in your pockets
(so in principle Zambians expected Michael Sata to lower taxes, create jobs and reduce the cost of living)
The recent announced 2012 budget is void of any form of framework intended to create Jobs especially among the youth who put Michael Sata into office.
The announced tax regime falls short of meeeting the expectations of the Zambians of lower taxes, more jobs and more money in “yowa” pockets. The people in formal employment are still heavily taxed leaving them with very little disposable income to invest in a quest to have more money in their pockets.
VAT remains constant and it should be noted that this is tax on consumption meaning that everybody in the country is subjected to this Tax and it has a significant effect on the cost of living.
The Tax base still remains very narrow, contrary to the PF’s promise of expanding the Tax base. We however give you credit for increasing the tax threshold to K2m. thumbs up.
OBJECTIVE No.3
90 days promise (People expected to see structural changes within 90 days including the finalization of a new constitution within 90 days)
We have seen a serious digression on this one. The PF is now even accusing us of misquoting them saying they did not say they will give us development within 90 days but rather that they will only kick start the process. They have U-Turned on their promise on delivering a new constitution and re-introducing the windfall tax in the mining sector within 90 days.
By the way I am at pains trying to find a reason as to why the PF government is spending K3billion on each Commission of Enquiry when we have regular bodies such as the ACC,DEC, Auditor General’s office that are mandated to carry out such investigations.. Seriously, it’s very mind-boggling for me.
The honeymoon is over, the euphoria has despaired into oblivion and all we are left with is the reality of unfulfilled promises by the PF government. The people who voted and celebrated the PF’s government are left wondering and asking questions yet nobody is there to give them answers.. Maybe Sata has done a “Ka don’t kubeba” on them,the same principle he told them to use against the MMD.
I am aware that there are a lot of cadres who refuse to see the mistakes in Sata and the PF at large and you will know them by their comments over this article. We should not fear to offer checks and balances to our government. Let us look at the bigger picture which is Zambia and as such all manner of maneuvers aimed at disadvantaging the Zambians should be condemned in the strongest terms possible!!
It is clear that Michael Sata has defaulted on his promissory note to the Zambians and we will not allow him to make the gullibility of the majority of Zambians a lynchpin for his political and personal aggrandizement!! We shall continue to talk!!
MY Home Town (MHT) managing director Silas Mungala says he will cooperate with law enforcement agencies to establish whether public funds were used in the purchase of the 29 electric motor bikes that have been seized from MMD outspoken Petauke Member of Parliament Dora Siliya.
Mr Mungala said in an interview from his base in Choma on Monday that it is unfortunate that the issue of the seized electric motor cycles valued at about K140 million has brought about political undue excitement.
“I will be able to lay everything to rest. I want someone to come to me in an official manner so that we can lay everything to rest,” Mr Mungala said.
He said there are many of such electric motor cycles running in all parts of the country which his organisation has supplied for sale.
“Those motor cycles are all over the country, we bought them for sale. Unless I see them, that is when I will be able to confirm that they are the ones,” Mr Mungala said.
Mr Mungala said the electric motor cycles will be easy to identify if they are the same ones supplied to the MHT Petauke Chapter because they are branded.
He said unless there shall be an official enquiry on the seized electric motor bicycles, he would not be able to comment on the matter.
Mr Mungala challenged the Government to make an official inquiry to My Home Town in as far as the motor bikes that were confiscated from Ms Siliya, the former Education Minister in the MMD government.
“Unless I get an official query on the matter that is when I will be able to give a statement. If there is an official inquiry let them come to me but as far as I am concerned no bicycles belonging to My Home Town have gone missing,” Mr Mungala said.
He, however, said his organisation has not received reports that the motor bikes are missing, adding he would have been the first to report the matter to police had there been claims of missing bicycles.
He, however, clarified assertions that Ms Siliya is the matron for MHT stating that the Petauke law maker is in fact an ordinary member of the organisation.
Meanwhile, JIMMY CHIBUYE reports that Lusaka lawyer Sakwiba Sikota has accused the Patriotic Front (PF) of harassing and persecuting Ms Siliya and other members of the opposition MMD for nothing other than political vindictiveness.
Mr Sikota said Ms Siliya and other members of the MMD are being persecuted for crimes they have not committed.
But Chief Government spokesperson Given Lubinda has charged that Mr Sikota is being myopic in his thinking by accusing Government of persecution when the police are still investigating the matter.
Mr Lubinda said the PF Government is not using the police to harass and persecute any MMD member and advised Mr Sikota not to be a “cry baby” to win public sympathy.
Mr Lubinda said the police will not follow people who are innocent but will endeavour to pursue and interrogate individuals they suspect to have acted against the law.
He said Government will not allow any person or institution to interfere with the operation of the police because it wants security wings to conduct their duties professionally for justice to be dispensed.
Mr Sikota said at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday the action by the police to search Ms Siliya’s house and subject her to interrogations on how she came in possession of 12 motor cycles, under the brand name of My Home Town, amounts to harassment and persecution.
On Friday last week, Police searched the premises of Ms Siliya and asked her to provide proof of ownership to the 12 motorised bicycles, 12 pieces of MMD branded chitenge materials and four motor vehicles found at her house.
But Mr Sikota said many Zambians have motor vehicles and they have not been asked to provide proof of purchase of the said vehicles as the Taskforce has requested Ms Siliya do so.
“The persecution of our client has been extended to even her son who was called to the Taskforce over the same issue. This is the extent of the persecution and harassment of the Siliya family that the State is engaged in,” Mr Sikota said.
Mr Sikota said Ms Siliya, who is also is a patron of My Home Town Petauke branch registered under the Societies Act Cap 119 of the Laws of Zambia informed the Taskforce that she received the motorised bicycles from My Home Town head office in Choma who have distributed the motor cycles to other branches in Namwala, Ndola and Lusaka.
He said the alleged witch-hunt should stop because it is clear and evident and wondered why the police have targeted Ms Siliya on the My Home Town motor cycles and not others involved in the project.
Mr Sikota said Government should stick to good governance and the worldwide principle that one is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
He said the country is being taken back to the dark days of SITET and the Leadership Code when everyone was a suspect and subject to arrest for having any form of property.
File: President Banda with his candidate of choice Kennedy Zulu who was one of the first NEC members to defect to PF
Zambia’s fourth president Rupiah Banda lamented at what he described as persecution of some of the ministers who served in his administration. Mr Banda said he was surprised that this was happening despite him having accepted to hand over power peacefully.
He said he did not understand why some PF members were grabbing bicycles from MMD members in Chipata even after the former ruling party handed over power peacefully.
Mr. Banda travelled to Chipata by road and was escorted by three official vehicles.
Zambia’s fourth president said he now felt betrayed by a number of MMD members whom he thought were loyal to him at the time he was at the helm of the country and the party.
Addressing his sympathisers in Chipata at the weekend, Mr Banda said he was disappointed with members who deserted the party shortly after realising the MMD’s 20-year reign had come to an end.
This was Mr Banda’s first visit to Eastern Province after being defeated by Patriotic Front’s leader, Michael Sata in polls held on September 20.
Mr Banda said he has learnt a lot of lessons from the loss and that he has come to know which people were genuine members of the former ruling party.
The former head of State apologised to the people in the province for supporting the candidature of former MMD provincial chairperson, Kennedy Zulu at the party’s provincial conference prior to the tripartite elections.
Chipata business executive, Chilufya Chishala, was the preferred candidate for the position of MMD provincial chairperson but Mr Banda intervened and endorsed Mr Zulu and instructed delegates at the conference to support his candidate.
Mr Zulu was, however, among the first National Executive Committee members of the MMD to defect to the ruling PF after the elections.
“I have a case before you the people of Eastern Province for defending Kennedy Zulu as provincial chairperson,” Mr Banda told his supporters who met him at the Chipata-Lundazi Road junction.
He urged MMD members in Chipata not to be ashamed following the loss but to remain united and reorganise the party so as to be able to take on future elections.
Mr. Banda said the MMD scored many successes in the economy citing the rehabilitation of roads, construction of new hospitals and schools as some of the developmental projects the MMD successfully executed during his reign.
‘MMD did a lot during my tenure in office. More roads, schools, hospitals have been built across the country, there is no need of being ashamed of ourselves, instead we should be proud of that,’ he said.
The former head of State was later driven to his Chasimpa Bwezani Farm on the Chipata-Mfuwe Road,
And acting provincial chairperson, Ezekiel Mtonga said the MMD was strong in the province.
Mr. Mtonga said the defection of the former provincial chairperson, Mr. Zulu to the PF had not disturbed the party.
As Zambian women joined the rest of the world in commemorating 16 days of gender activism to raise greater awareness around women’s rights, a Jerabo man in Kalulushi allegedly killed in cold blood his 18-year-old wife and later tried to cover up the suspected murder, Police confirmed yesterday.
It is not clear what time the senseless murder occurred but the victim has been identified as Prescosia Chama.She has left behind a one-year-old baby she had with the same Jerabo.This is according to police spokeswoman Elizabeth Kanjela.
“It appears he beat her up quite a lot and when she died, he tried to cover it all up by tying a wire around her neck and hanging her with the same wire in order to make it appear like a suicide,” Kanjela said, “but the post-mortem shows that she did not commit suicide. She could have died as a result of the violent beatings.”
Ms Kanjela told the Daily Mail that Joseph Soko, who has a history of violence, has been arrested and “will appear in court as soon as possible to answer murder charges.”
The infamous Jerabos—a street lingo term which means ex-jail boys or plain thieves—are notorious for their disregard for the law in particular and human life in general.
Their favourite pastime is to hijack on highways truckloads of copper destined for exportation from the various mining houses in the Copperbelt province or beating up people, mostly womenfolk.
In April they stormed a Kitchen Party in Kitwe and beat up the women who were having a party there because one of the girls in the party, the host apparently, had refused to marry one of their copper-thief bosses.
Chama, whose one-year-old child is unlikely to grow up with both parents, is not the only Zambian woman who has been brutalised and killed needlessly in Zambia in recent years as studies show “a sharp rise” in violence against women.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Kitwe United Chairman Michael Kalima says the legendary club regrets
its failure to win promotion to the elite league this year.
In the ended Division One North campaign, Kitwe United finished on
number nine with 44 points in 34 games.
Kalima said at the beginning of the season the Buchi Boys targeted to
win promotion and started the campaign on a good note.
“We started well and our aspiration was to play premier league
football next year but when you look at the last nine games we have
played, we have not performed well and when you don’t play well, you
should expect the worst,” he stated.
Kalima said:” We do regret our failure to win promotion, you see every
team’s expectation is to win the league and qualify to the Super
Division but things may not turn out to be the way you expected”.
He acknowledged that club supporters are disappointed with poor
showing of the Garden Park outfit this year which has led to the
team’s failure to bounce back to the Super Division.
“Yes! The supporters are disappointed.obviously after changing the
technical bench the fans expected the performance of the team to
improve,” Kalima said.
He further promised that Kitwe United will strive to win promotion to
the elite league next season.
Herve Renard has said Felix Katongo’s 2012 Africa Cup ticket has been downgraded from confirmed to standby.
Felix’s modest showing against Nigeria has forced Renard to give the Green Buffaloes midfielder who is struggling with fitness issues an 11th hour deadline to be ready for the Africa Cup.
“He was average against Nigeria but it wasn’t a surprise it is normal he is in the process to pass the test,” Renard said before departure for week-long tour of India where Zambia will play two friendlies against their hosts in Goa on November 25 and 29.
“At the moment no, but the Africa Cup is on January 21, that’s two months. There is enough time if he is able to make it.
“I like Felix Katongo but am not sure for him to be in the final 22. If I left him at home how will he improve?”
Felix is part of the 20-man India-bound team that comprised of 16 home-based players and four foreign-based players.
Renard also warned that three foreign-based players must impress him before Christmas to justify their call-ups.
Defenders Francis Kasonde and Hichani Himoonde from TP Mazembe who are fringe players for both club and country have two games in India to try and make Renard happy.
Renard said he is also looking forward to seeing how Chisamba Lungu of Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast in Russia performs in India.
“They have one month to show us that they can compete,” Renard said.
MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya drives out of her yard after police searched her house in Lusaka
Petuake Member of Parliament Dora Siliya has maintained that the Twenty-Nine electric motor cycles impounded by police are a donation from “The My Home Town Project”.
Ms Siliya says through her Lawyers, Central Chambers, that she is a Patron of “My Home Town”, Petauke Chapter and that there is no secret that the electric motor cycles are a donation.
Addressing the press, Central Chambers Lawyer Sakwiba Sikota says his client received the motorised bicycles from ‘My Home Town’ head Office.
The bicycles are said to have been distributed other branches in Namwala, Ndola and Lusaka.
November, 18, Police conducted a search at the house of Ms Siliya and on Saturday police impounded a truck carrying 29 electric motorised bicycles which the driver said was delivering to Ms Siliya.
The Patriotic Front has assured Zambian diplomats abroad that those working genuinely as professionals, should not be afraid of being recalled.
PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba says the country’s envoys should not think that the ruling party has embarked on a witch hunt meant to axe sympathisers of the former ruling party – the MMD.
Mr. Kabimba says this when he addressed Zambian diplomats and their spouses at “Zambia House” in Brussels on Monday.
This is contained in a statement released to ZNBC by first secretary for press at the Zambian mission in Brussels Samuel Ngoma.
Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s office, Edgar Lungu says the PF government was not going round for purposes of retribution.
And Director of International Relations, Longa Chibesakunda, says the ruling party wants Zambian diplomats who will serve the country wholeheartedly.
The three-man PF delegation is in Brussels as guests of renowned German’ good governance NGO, Friedrich Ebert Stiftang to familiarise themselves with parliamentary democracy.
The National Union of Communications Workers – NUCW has challenged the Zambia Development Agency -ZDA- to clear the air on the intricacies surrounding the sale of ZAMTEL to lap green of Libya.
The union is concerned with latest unconfirmed media reports that the sale of the telecoms firm might have been marred by irregularities.
NUCW President Patrick Kaonga told ZNBC News on Tuesday that the nation needs to be put in a clear picture on the sell of ZAMTEL and not rely on mere speculation.
And when reached for a comment, ZDA Director General Andrew Chipwende says it will be premature to comment on the matter as government has already intimated that cabinet will soon make a decision on the sale.
Mr. Kaonga says his union has tried to meet ZDA management over the matter but the meeting has failed to materialize.
He says the sale of ZAMTEL to lap green may have serious implications on the future of the telecommunication firm in the wake of unfolding revelations.
Last week the commission constituted by President Michael Sata to scrutinize the sale of ZAMTEL to Lap green established that the transaction was illegal and fraudulent.
President Michael Chilufya Sata says the government will not foot the bill of former President Rupiah Banda, who has been invited as co-leader of the International Observation Mission for the Presidential and Legislative Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by the Jimmy Carter Centre.
This is according to a statement released by Special assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations George Chellah.
Mr Sata stated that while he congratulated his predecessor for the appointment, he could not allow tax payers money to be spent on personal programs.
“Since the invitation is to Mr Banda as an individual, government has difficulties in spending taxpayers’ money on other people he would want to accompany him on this purely exclusive invitation,” President Sata said.
Meanwhile, State House has urged the business community and the general public to be wary of a flurry of tricksters masquerading as agents of President Sata as they solicit for financial assistance and job placements.
“State House wishes to caution any individual or organization in both the private and public sector approached in the name of the President or any senior State House official to exercise due diligence,” the statement said.
“The business community and the general public are therefore, advised to report any such matters to law enforcement agencies and State House stands ready to testify in any court case that may be brought against such fraudsters.”
