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Cabinet to have a final say on Zamtel-Veep

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Vice president Guy Scott on Friday refused to dwell into the report on the findings on the sale of Zamtel in parliament on the basis that the final report is yet to be tabled before cabinet.

Dr. Scott says he did not want to prejudge the outcome of the cabinet decision on the sale of the parastatal company.

The Vice president was responding to P.F Kamfinsa Member of Parliament Moses Chishimba who wanted to know what will happen to people involved in the partial sale of Zamtel.

Mr. Chishimba says government should table measures to be taken against those in the transaction now deemed fraudulent by a commission of inquiry mandated to investigate its sale to Lap Green of Libya.

And justice deputy minister Ngosa Simbyakula has told parliament that government has no immediate plans to reconstitute the defunct taskforce on corruption.

Doctor Simbyakula has assured the house that government will use the existing law enforcement agencies to fight the graft.

The deputy minister was responding to Mr. Chishimba who wanted to know whether government has any future plans of reconstituting the task force on corruption which was disbanded during the MMD’s rule.

[ZNBC]

President Michael Sata questions motive behind those demanding inclusion of EFZ on constitution Committee

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President Sata

President Michael Sata has questioned the motive behind certain people demanding for inclusion of Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia on the committee of experts tasked to draw a new constitution of Zambia.

President Sata said he has appointed several Bishops most of them born again Christians to seat on the committee.

He said this at state house today during swearing ceremony for Justice permanent secretary, Patricia Daka Jere and Francis Kamanga for ministry of works and supply.

Mr Sata also noted that it is very difficult to balance appointments of people based on tribe.

He said the appointments of Mr Kamanga and Mrs Jere both from the Eastern Province are on merit.

He questioned why some people complain about his appointment being tribal when some sections of society such as the disabled have not complained.

The president also tasked Mrs Jere is a disabled lawyer to draft legislation to regulate internet journalism.

Mr Sata also told Mr Kamanga to put an end to the corruption at the road development agency.

He told Mr Kamanga to go country wide to monitor road construction projects and not leave to RDA.

Mr Sata also directed Mr Kamanga to upgrade all aerodrams in the country.

[ZNBC]

Ex- Zambia & Power Defender Jones Mwewa Is Dead

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Ex-Zambia national team and Power Dynamos defender Jones Mwewa is dead.

Mwewa’s death was confirmed this morning by his close friend and former defensive partner at both Power and the national team Ronald Mukosha.

“He died at his home here in Kitwe in Miseshi Township early Friday morning at around 03:00 hours,” Mukosha said who was also his neighbor and was there at the time of his death.

Mukosha said Mwewa had been unwell for some time.

Mwewa, 38 played in three Africa Cups after making his debut in the third and fourth playoff match against Ghana at the 1996 Africa Cup in South Africa that Zambia won 1-0 to pick up bronze.

The defender was part of the famous Under-23 team groomed by ex-Zambia coach Roald Poulsen that included Alex Namazaba and Vincent Mwewa.

Mukosha, who is now coach at Division 1 North club Kalulushi Modern Stars, said burial arrangements will be announced soon.

Mwewa is survived by a wife and four children and was until his death youth coach at Power.

He quit football seven years ago after winning two league titles with Power in 2000 and 1997.

Mwewa is the second member of the 1996 team to die this year after fellow defender Harrison Chongo who passed away in May during a year that has also witnessed the passing of ex-stars Willy Phiri and Mark Sinyangwe.

Youths’ alcohol abuse saddens Nkandu Luo

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A lady loitering with a tin of opaque beer
A lady loitering with a tin of opaque beer

THE rising number of young people in Zambia consuming alcohol should be a source of concern for all, Minister of Local Government, Early Childhood and Environmental Protection Nkandu Luo has said.

The minister has also castigated some parents who are selling alcohol to children instead of guiding them into fruitful activities.

Professor Luo said it was sad that the youth who should be spearheading positive programmes such as those on climate change were abusing alcohol at alarming levels and indulging in illicit activities. She said this during the ‘We have faith – Act now for climate justice’ Green Blaze concert at Barclays Sports Complex in Lusaka on Wednesday evening.

“I am very disappointed with you young people for your illicit activities. Instead of you working towards your future and advocating for justice so that the bigger powers can reduce the Green House effects, you are there drinking,” she said. She said the Government would ensure that bars and restaurants adhered to the minimum age of 18 years when selling alcohol.

Prof Luo said it was sad that some parents who were supposed to protect children from such vices were the ones selling beer to them because they wanted to make profits.She said the ministries of Commerce, Local Government, and Youth and Sport would work together and ensure that they saved the future of Zambia.

The ‘We have faith – Act now for climate justice’ is a campaign by youths and faith-based communities from African countries demanding for a fair, ambitious and legally-binding climate deal at the forthcoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 17th Conference of the Parties to be held in Durban, South Africa.

The youth are on a caravan journey that started in Kenya, Nairobi, on their way to Durban where the conference would be held from November 28 to December 9, 2011

[Times of Zambia]

The Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia asks to be included on the Constitution Committee

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The construction of a mosque in Lusaka's Rhodes park residential area is almost complete. Here workers, doing final touches to the surrounding

The Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia has cried foul over being left out of the 20 member technical committee appointed by President Sata to draft the new constitution.

Council Secretary General, Sheik Shaban Phiri says the Technical committee is not representative of all religions, which may be a threat to national unity.

He said that Muslims must be represented on the committee on account of their contribution to the country’s economic growth through the many businesses run by Muslims. Sheik Phiri has since disclosed that the council has written to President, Sata requesting for a redress of the matter.

And a clergyman has welcomed the appointment of a technical committee to draft a new Constitution but bemoaned the exclusion of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), a major church mother body.

Luapula Anglican Diocese Bishop Robert Mumbi said in an interview it was good that the committee had been appointed to immediately begin working on the new Constitution. Bishop Mumbi said he was impressed with the legal representation in the committee but said the President should still consider including the EFZ.

President Sata on Wednesday announced the appointment of a 20-member committee that included the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) and three bishops from the Catholic Church. “It may send a wrong impression that one major Church mother body is left out when there was no such intention on the part of Government,” he said.

And Bishop Mumbi said the committee should not be restricted to completing its task within 90 days because this might compromise its work quality. He said Zambians expected a Constitution that would stand the test of time and he hoped the public would be allowed to look at, and give comments on the draft before it was referred to Parliament or to a referendum.

And the Zambian People’s Pact (ZPP) said it was happy with the composition of the committee because most of the members had been part of the Constitution-making process in the past.

ZPP national secretary Peter Sinkamba said the committee, led by former chief justice Annel Silungwe, was solid enough to come up with a Draft Constitution that would be acceptable to the people. Mr Sinkamba said focus should be on the review of past constitution commissions from 1991 in order to come up with a Draft Constitution after 90 days.

Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Musa Mwenye said in Lusaka yesterday that the plan to use a technical committee followed by a referendum and thereafter enactment of the Constitution through Parliament without further debate, was the best route.

“The appointment of the 20-member technical committee was only done yesterday (Tuesday) publicly. I must say that we are studying the composition and I can’t give a conclusive position on the composition,” he said. He said LAZ would support any measures that would lend credence to an all-inclusive and comprehensive constitutional review process.

Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) executive director Lee Habasonda said while his organisation welcomed the appointment of the technical committee, there were, however, too many lawyers on the working group.

“The Constitution-making process is not just about law, it is also about socio-economic and political factors,” he said. “We also do not think that it is good for the minister of Justice to be part of discussion and process. To improve checks and balances, the minister should be involved when the draft is given to Cabinet,” he said.

UPND secretary general Winston Chibwe said the technical committee was not regionally all-inclusive and was tilted towards the Northern Province. Mr Chibwe said there was need for the president to reconsider his nomination of three Catholic bishops on the working group so that other Church mother bodies could be represented.

Zambia Land Alliance director Henry Machina said the committee of experts should critically look at the Land Chapter of the Draft Constitution and ensure that it provided protection to local people, particularly those who held customary land. “Our major concern is the displacement of rural communities who depend on land for survival by large-scale investors, often with inadequate or no compensation,” he said in a statement.

And the National Restoration Party national secretary John Phiri said there was need for the Patriotic Front Government to include youths in the Constitution-making process because it had the civic responsibility to do so.

[MUVITV/Times of Zambia]

K10bn fine elates Chingola residents

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Chingola town centre

CHINGOLA residents have expressed happiness at the court judgement that went in their favour against Konkola Copper Mines (KCM).

The Lusaka High Court last week ordered KCM to pay K10 billion as general and punitive damages to 2, 000 Chingola residents who suffered consequences of the company discharging effluent from its mining operations into Kafue River, the source of their water. The man who led the law suit, James Nyasulu Chimkowora said yesterday that he was happy that the court ruled in their favour.

Mr Chimkowora said the highest point of the judgment was not the amount of money the court had ordered the mining company to pay but the precedent that had been set. He said environmental protection laws as well as laws that empowered the general public against big industries were currently not strong. “Zambia has natural resources that require to be protected for our benefit. This is what this judgment has achieved,” he said. Mr Chimkowora said the ruling should be an example to the rest of the companies.

He said the judgment should not be seen as being against investors but as one that improved the welfare of the country. Another beneficiary of the judgement Esson Simbeye of Musuku Road in Kabundi central said this should serve as a wake up call for all the companies in the mining and other industries.

Reverend Simbeye said even if the money for compensation was not enough, the judgment had set a good lesson and raised hope for the residents of Chingola. The National Restoration Party (NAREP) on the Copperbelt said the judgment should serve as a warning to other companies to be sensitive to the rights of people that may be negatively affected by their operations.

Party provincial spokesperson David Chikwanda said the High Court decision was a step in the right direction as it was sending a warning signal to other companies to ensure that their operations did not negatively affect the people in nearby communities. “As NAREP, we welcome the High Court decision, although we believe that K5 million for each affected resident cannot be adequate compensation for the damage that the pollution has caused in the lives of the people, however, we believe that this is a step in the right direction,” Mr Chikwanda said.

The Zambia Institute of Environmental Management (ZIEM) said the judgment was a major milestone in the enforcement of environmental protection laws in Zambia. ZIEM chief executive officer Morgan Katati said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that his organisation welcomed the judgment by the Lusaka High Court although it felt the K10-billion compensation
was inadequate in comparison to the long-term ecological impact of the pollution of Kafue River.

Mr Katati said following the judgment it was his hope that other mining companies would take a leaf especially those operating above the ambient air and water standards.

[Times of Zambia]

Levy Mwanawasa directed Zambia Revenue Authority to buy scanners

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The late Republican president Levy Mwanawasa
The late Republican president Levy Mwanawasa

THE Kingsley Chanda-led Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) commission of inquiry has heard that late Republican president Levy Mwanawasa is the one who gave the instruction for the purchase of the controversial eight ZRA scanners from China.

Both deputy secretary to the Cabinet Evans Chibiliti and former minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokotwane said Dr Mwanawasa was the one who gave the instruction for the procurement of the eight scanners from China for ZRA.

In his submission to the commission yesterday, Mr Chibiliti said the purchase of the scanners was a result of diplomatic visits at head of State level and came up after the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to Zambia in 2007. He said during that visit, there was a request by Zambia to China asking for a concessional loan of US$100 million which was meant for earth moving machines, irrigation projects, grain silos, water and sanitation projects and the completion of the Government complex.

In the initial plan, ZRA scanners were not there but later there was a proposal from China that the Government should drop the water and sanitation project which was to cost $20 million and the irrigation project which was to cost $7.5 million of the concessional loan to instead procure eight scanners for ZRA from Nuctech, a Chinese firm at a cost of $27 million. Mr Chibiliti said the Zambian Government accepted that decision but ZRA objected, saying the scanners would be expensive to operate and maintain. “At ZRA technical level, advice was given against the purchase of the scanners, but the political level insisted that ZRA needed the scanners.

This is when Dr Mwanawasa gave instructions to then vice-president Rupiah Banda to proceed to procure the scanners. Initially he said 10 scanners must be procured but later when he realised that there were already two in the country, he said only eight should be bought,” Mr Chibiliti said. He said the procurement of the scanners was properly authorised by Dr Mwanawasa and his vice Mr Banda. Mr Chibiliti said he was against the purchase of all the scanners and to that effect, he wrote to then minister of Finance to advise against the purchase of the scanners.

He said Zambia did not need all the eight scanners purchased from China at a go but he did not receive any response from the minister until he left the position of secretary to the treasury after which the scanners were procured. Later, former minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokotwane also stated that the purchase of the scanners was under instruction from Dr Mwanawasa who asked former president Banda to procure the said scanners.

When asked the role of Ministry of Finance in providing support services for the scanners through the hiring of cargo scan, DrMusokotwane requested commissioners that he answers that question in camera. Later, when the media was called back, commissioners grilled Dr Musokotwane on the concessioning of Zambia’s six borders to a private company, saying that was a threat to national security.

Mr Chanda said the commission did not understand why the Government decided to allow the concessioner to buy and control the pieces of land that were housing the border infrastructure in Nakonde, Kasumbalesa and six other border areas.

But Dr Musokotwane said the Government did what it did because it wanted to upgrade borders and improve employment levels in the country which was being done in many countries of the world.

Meanwhile, former Finance minister N’gandu Magande yesterday told the commission that ZRA should be allowed to operate independently. The former Finance minister said this when Mr Chanda requested Mr Magande to make a comment on the governance system of ZRA when he appeared before the commission yesterday.

Mr Chanda said from the information obtained so far from the witnesses that appeared before the commission, there was indication that serious decisions were made at ZRA following instructions from the Ministry of Finance and State House. He said ZRA made serious decisions without getting permission from the board, adding that the board was in most cases just informed of such.

But Mr Magande said there was need to appoint competent people on the board of ZRA who would be in a position to understand the operations of the commission. He said appointing people who were competent was important because such people were in a position to make correct decisions which they were able to defend if questioned.

[Times of Zambia]

Zambia Returns Minus Renard

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Herve Renard failed to return home with the team on Thursday night from Nigeria.

Zambia lost 2-0 away to Nigeria in a friendly on Monday that was played in Kaduna.

However, a senior Faz official said Renard is in South Africa checking out Zambia’s training facilities where they will be camped from December until January ahead of the 2012 Africa Cup tournament to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea from January 21 to February 12.

“He has gone to Pretoria to check on the facilities at the High performance center Zambia we will setup camp,” the Faz official said.

Only Renard’s assistant Patrice Beaumelle was in the traveling party back to Zambia.

Meanwhile over a dozen local players and the TP Mazembe contingent of goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje plus midfielders Stophilla Sunzu and Rainford Kalaba and striker Given Singuluma landed at KK International airport on Thursday at 20:30 on South Africa Airways from Nigeria.

World Bank warns Zambia on dependence on mining in 2012 budget

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Kundhavi Kadiresan

The World Bank has warned Zambia that the tax shifts that have been introduced in the 2012 budget are likely to increase execution risks and lead to increases prices.

Addressing the media on the 2012 proposed budget, World Bank Country Director for Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe Kundhavi Kadiresan, warned that depending on revenue from the mining mineral royalty and the issuance of the bond on the international capital market, increased risks to the budget execution.

“Once there is increased uncertainty about revenue receipts in 2012 because of significant changes made to the tax structure. Also a greater reliance on mineral royalty, which is likely to be much more volatile than PAYE receipts, would increase risk,” Kadiresan warned. “And two, external borrowing would be difficult to organize given the state of international capital markets.”

The government’s 2012 budget is focused on a strategy aimed at equitable distribution of economic benefits. Towards that end, taxes on low income earners have been reduced, taxes on the mining sector have been increased, budget allocation to social sectors has been significantly scaled up with large increases for agriculture, education, health and infrastructure, user fees for primary health care services have been abolished and grants to local councils doubled.

“The overall thrust of shifts is to enhance pro poor orientation of government’s activities which is commendable,” she said. “These welcome shifts however come with attendant risks. Risks to budget execution are higher because of higher dependence on mineral royalties which are likely to fluctuate with world prices of export commodities and dependence on external borrowing (the planned US$500 million bond offer) from global markets in an uncertain international environment.”

Ms. Kadiresan said at the current market prices the government’s royalty increase (from 3 to 6 percent) was unlikely to cause serious economic hardships to the mining sector.

“However the situation could change if commodity prices go down significantly,” she said. “At that time, the government could come under pressure to review royalty rates. Frequent adjustment of royalty rates could, however, send a signal of unstable fiscal regime, thereby reducing Zambia’s attractiveness as a destination for investment for investment in the mining sector.”

She also said the rise in the royalty rate will alter the competitive ranking of Zambia.

On increased prices of essential goods, Ms. Kadiresan said “a sharp increase in expenditures while reducing tax burden on residents, combined with the recent monetary policy measures aimed at reducing lending rates, is likely to put upward pressure on prices.”

President Sata urged to include EFZ on the Constitution committee

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An opposition political party has requested president Michael Sata to include the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia on the technical committee appointed to draft the new constitution.

The Zambia for empowerment and development -ZED- which made the request says the Evangelical fellowship represents a large constituency of voters.

ZED president Fredrick Mutesa has also said the twenty member committee of experts in its current form is not balanced.

He was speaking in an interview with ZNBC news in LUSAKA on Thursday.

Dr Mutesa has observed that the last constitution making process under the MMD failed because of controversy surrounding the composition of the commissioners.

President Sata on Wednesday appointed the technical committee to draft the new republican constitution within a 12 months timeframe.

[ZNBC]

Law Association of Zambia drop its plans to sue ZNBC

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LAZ president Musa Mwenye
LAZ president Musa Mwenye

The Law Association of Zambia has dropped plans to sue the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation -ZNBC- for breaching the ZNBC Act and the Republican Constitution.

LAZ President Musa Mwenye says the council in June was concerned by the manner ZNBC operated, breaching the Act as evidenced in its unfair news coverage.

Mr. Mwenye says LAZ is now satisfied that ZNBC has improved its news coverage.

He said the association is also happy that the Ministry of Information has made it public not to interfere in the operations of the public media.

Mr. Mwenye was speaking at a joint media briefing between LAZ and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in Lusaka on Thursday.

He appealed to government to speed up the process of enacting the Freedom of Information Bill.

Mr Mwenye says the Freedom of Information law is a very important weapon in fighting corruption.

At the same briefing Information and Broadcasting Minister Given Lubinda praised LAZ for not proceeding with legal action against ZNBC .

Mr. Lubinda says the professional conduct that ZNBC has started exhibiting is testimony to the new government’s policy of non interference in operations of the Public media.

The Minister said President Michael Sata has made it clear that he will not interfere in the operations of ZNBC and other public media houses.

Mr. Lubinda has asked other institutions and the public that have cases with ZNBC to consider withdrawing them in order to save the government from paying tax payers money in litigation cases.

And ZNBC Acting Director General Victor Nyasulu has assured the public that ZNBC will Endeavour to operate professionally.

[ZNBC]

Sale of Zamtel was fraudulent- Sebastian Zulu

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President Michael Sata receives an affidavit from newly appointed Minister of Justice Sebastian Zulu at the swearing-in ceremony at State House
File:Minister of Justice Sebastian Zulu at State House

President Michael Sata says cabinet will decide whether to reverse the sale of Zamtel to Libya’s Lap Green following the Commission of Inquiry’s report which has revealed that the transaction was fraudulent.

Minister of Justice Sebastian Zulu, who headed the Commission, this morning presented the report to the President and during the presentation stated that findings of his investigations revealed irregularities in the transaction.

Zulu said the technical committee of the commission has established that the sale of Zamtel by the Zambia Development Agency was hasty and that Lap Green failed to satisfy at least three of the procurement requirements and that it was shocking that they were awarded the bid.

He also reported that RP Capital, the firm that was engaged to evaluate the assets of Zamtel, was illegally appointed to do the work and that it irregularly undervalued the assets of the country’s biggest telecommunication company.

“We have established that ZDA hastily engaged RP Capital and they did this under duress. The firm then went on and carried out an incompetent and misleading valuation,”

Zulu reported. “They claimed that Zamtel was valued at US$38 million when it had a book value of US$81 million. The (MMD) government endorsed the sale of Zamtel at a cabinet meeting held on 23, July, 2009 against an incompetent valuation.”

He also disclosed that negotiations for the sale were not done independently by ZDA and that the government directed ZESCO to authorize the use of its optic fiber network by Lap Green.

“The managing director of ZESCO was even threatened with dismissal if he refused to sign for the use of the optic fiber,” Zulu said.

In response, President Sata told Zulu to write a cabinet memo and to make a formal report to cabinet.

“Cabinet will decide whether to reverse the sale or not,” President Sata said.

He also directed Zulu’s Commission of Inquiry to extend its investigation to the National Airport’s radar system, which was procured irregularly.

The President also announced that the government was “hunting for money hidden in the neighborhood” by the previous government.

Government to recapitalize DBZ – Chikwanda

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Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda
Government has announced plans to recapitalize the operations of the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ)

Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda says DBZ has an important role to play in encouraging more investment among Zambians.

Mr. Ckikwanda said this is why government would strive and ensure that it increases the budgetary allocation to the bank if many people are to benefit.

Speaking during the ACCA 2012 Budget Analysis programme on ZNBC TV last night, Mr. Chikwanda stated that the Patriotic Front government is interested in seeing that a lot of sectors that can foster economic development are revamped.

He further acknowledged that the budgetary allocation for DBZ in the 2012 national budget is inadequate hence government will engage various stakeholders to raise enough revenue for the bank.

And Mr. Chikwanda has maintained that government will not re-introduce the windfall tax for mining companies.

The Finance Minister said the government’s decision not to bring back the tax is in line with protecting investment in the mining sector that employ more than 40,000 Zambian miners.

Mr. Chikwanda explained that the increase in mineral royalties’ tax is sufficient enough for government to raise resources to run and boost the country’s economy.

Mr. Chikwanda added that government‘s decision to hike the mineral royalties’ was in order to create a win-win situation to ensure that investment is not lost in the mining sector but rather encouraged.

He said to this effect, both mining firms and government will benefit from improved metal prices on the international market.

Mr. Chikwanda has since assured Zambians working for the mines that government would ensure that they are part of the economic growth in the sector through improved conditions of service.

He further explained that if workers in the mining sector are paid well, government would be able to increase its revenue base through various taxes such as Value Added Tax and the Pay As You Earn (PAYE).

Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda last Friday presented the 2012 national budget were he proposed an increase in the mineral royalty tax and other corporate taxes instead of re-introducing the windfall tax.
[ZANIS]

Constitution making process will not cost more than K300 billion-Justice Minister

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Justice Minister Sebastian Zulu
Justice Minister Sebastian Zulu

JUSTICE Minister Sebastian Zulu has said the new Constitution to be drafted by the newly-constituted team of experts will not cost more than the K300 billion the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) consumed.

No allocation has been made in the 2012 Budget for the new Constitution but Mr Chikwanda told Parliament that the Government would use other avenues to secure funds to enact the document, whose process has started within the 90 days of the Patriotic Front (PF) in Government.

He said the roadmap to be taken on the Constitution-making process would be determined by a team of experts that has since been instituted and it would be the same body that would be able to state how much the exercise would take. “The cost will be determined after this team of experts is constituted but it won’t be like what the NCC spent,” Mr Zulu said in response to an oral question by Kamfinsa Member of Parliament (MP) Moses Chishimba (PF). The parliamentarian asked what the roadmap for the making of the new Constitution was and how much money would be spent on the Constitution-making process.

Kalomo MP Request Muntanga (UPND) in a follow-up question wondered how the Government would draw the funds for the exercise which has not been provided for in the Budget but Mr Zulu said “The minister of Finance knows how to source such funds even when not in the Budget.”Muchinga MP George Kunda (MMD) asked the minister to confirm that the Constitution-making process would gobble more than a general election to the tune of K300 billion since it entailed the holding of a referendum. Mr Zulu in response said in as much as it was true that a referendum would have to be held, it would be premature to determine the cost of the Constitution-making process.

Lunte MP Felix Mutati (MMD) wondered whether it would not be prudent now that the activity of the Constitution had been known to make provisions in the Budget as it is debated for the cost of the exercise to be known, to which Mr Zulu said the proposal would be considered. Monze MP Jack Mwiimbi (UPND) asked the Government to state categorically and inform the Zambians that the pronouncement by President Michael Sata to deliver a new Constitution within 90 days had now been buried, to which Mr Zulu said the process had started within the promised period.

Siavonga MP Kennedy Hamudulu (UPND) wondered why it would be premature for the minister to state how much the exercise would cost when he had indicated it would not be more that what the NCC spent. Mr Zulu in response said the process would not take more than one year like the latter did and so it would be less costly.

Nalikwanda MP Geoffrey Lungwangwa (MMD) stated that it was a presidential directive that the Constitution should be ready within 90 days and so the minister was abrogating the directive but Mr Chikwanda said he was not aware of the directive.

Meanwhile, the Government has considered the complaints raised by the people in Luapula Province regarding the seizure of the breast milk substitutes which were being sold in violation of the law.Minister of Health Joseph Kasonde told the House in a statement that the Government had taken into consideration that there was only one outlet for the breast milk substitute products which was Shoprite Mansa.

“The ministry has decided to suspend the exercise for now and decided to call a stakeholders’ meeting this week to discuss the issue and chart the way forward,” Dr Kasonde noted.

[Times of Zambia]

Maxwell Mwale arrested over MMD bicycles and pleads not guilt

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Maxwell Mwale
Maxwell Mwale

Former Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale has pleaded not guilty to one count of failing to account for property believed to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.

Mr Mwale took plea this morning before Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate, Joshua Banda.

It is alleged that on October, 18, 2011, Mr Mwale jointly with others had in their possession 261 bicycles which were reasonably suspected to have been obtained unlawfully.

Meanwhile, Mr Mwale has been released on bail.

Chief Resident Magistrate Joshua Banda has granted Mr Mwale a K30 million bail in his own recognition.

Mr Mwale has also been ordered to give two working sureties in their own recognisance.

Earlier, Defence Lawyer Sakwiba Sikota and Sunday Nkonde applied for the bail saying that their client is facing a bailable offence.

ZNBC

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