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FORMER Foreign Affairs minister Kabinga Pande, former secretary to the treasury Likolo Ndalamei and former President Rupiah Banda’s special assistant for press and public relations, Dickson Jere, on October 17 appeared before law enforcement officers at the former Task Force on Corruption offices in Woodlands Extension.
The trio were questioned on matters relating to the missing gold at the Drug Enforcement Commission .Mr Pande and Mr Jere, in the company of lawyer Sakwiba Sikota, arrived in a white tinted Land Rover Discovery, registration number ABR 8930, at the offices at 14:35 and were followed by Mr Ndalamei.
Officers handling the cases stopped journalists from entering the premises. A handful of MMD cadres in party attire came to give solidarity to the men.The interrogation lasted for three hours.
Mr Ndalamei, who was the first to leave the premises, refused to speak to the press.“I have no comment over this matter,” he said as he drove away.
Inspector General of Police Martin Malama confirmed that investigations into the matter are on. “Officers are carrying out a thorough and professional job so that justice is delivered,” he said. Dr Malama said details would be given after investigations are concluded.
One female officer, whose identity is not known, stopped journalists from entering the premises. “Nobody from the press should be allowed inside, just allow this car in,” she said, pointing at the Land Rover carrying the people summoned.
Journalists, cameramen and photographers had a tough time trying to get a glimpse of the people who had been summoned. They borrowed a ladder from a nearby house, and mounted it at a wall fence next to the premises. The initiative by the media personnel was short-lived as officers ordered them to remove the ladder.
After a long wait, the Land Rover drove out of the premises as journalists gave chase. Mr Jere, who was followed to Spar Supermarket at Crossroads Shopping Mall by Muvi Television crew, described the episode as interesting. “Ask the police if I have been implicated. I have not appeared anywhere, I only escorted Mr Pande,” he said.
And when contacted for a comment, Mr Sikota said he could not comment. “I am in a meeting right now so call me at 20:00 hours,” he said.
The gold was seized in 2007 by DEC at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from two Zimbabwean nationals who tried to evade sanctions against Zimbabwe by trying to re-export the gold through Zambia.
President Sata said Mr Jere, and former President Rupiah Banda’s son, James, met with Swiss-Romanian businessman Nicolae Bogdan Buzaianu, a person the Drug Enforcement Commission has implicated in the purchase of the gold and is on the Commission’s wanted list.
Vernon Mwaanga with Rupiah Banda during the campaign
VETERAN politician Vernon Mwaanga says the MMD’s loss to the Patriotic Front (PF) in the September 20 general elections is a sign that it overstayed in power and stopped listening to advice and the will of the people.
The former MMD Chief Whip said in a statement issued in Lusaka on October 17 the change of government witnessed on September 20 is a reality check for the MMD and signal that the former ruling party had overstayed in power.
Mr Mwaanga said the change of government should, however, not lead to a repetition of the mistakes the MMD government may have made in its 20-year rule.
He said President Sata has made laudable moves which should be encouraged because it is important to put Zambia first, as leaders will come and go, but Zambia will always remain.
“It is my hope and expectation that President Sata, whom I credit with pragmatism, because I served with him in the 1991 cabinet, will use his power and authority to unite the country,” Mr Mwaanga said.
He said the PF government should take this as an opportunity to right the wrongs and bring about positive change in the country.
Mr Mwaanga said the change of government should not be an opportunity for retribution, vindictiveness and settling of old scores, because as the old adage goes “two wrongs do not make a right”.
He hopes the new government will build on the development the MMD government brought, while discarding the bad ones.
Mr Mwaanga said the loss of elections and power by the MMD came as a shock to many party members, particularly the younger ones, who have never experienced opposition politics.
He said some people do not realise that MMD was in opposition when it was formed after March, 1990 but it functioned as a responsible and mature opposition party up to November, 1991.
Mr Mwaanga said on September 20, the voice of Zambians was loud and clear because they voted democratically for change, and all citizens should accept their verdict and honour it.
“I am proud to be a Zambian and to have witnessed a peaceful transfer of power, at a time when the African continent has been under a microscope after the ugly scenes which have been witnessed in other parts of our continent,” he said.
[pullquote]“I am proud to be a Zambian and to have witnessed a peaceful transfer of power, at a time when the African continent has been under a microscope after the ugly scenes which have been witnessed in other parts of our continent,” he said.[/pullquote]
Mr Mwaanga said political power should not be for individual leaders but for citizens who have acquired a new appetite for the rule of law, democracy, good governance and want to practise politics of inclusion.
He said it is, therefore, necessary for Zambians to give the PF led-government of President Sata time and an opportunity to play out its economic and governance agenda.
Mr Mwaanga said every new government deserves to be given a chance to prove itself to the electorate and even to make its own mistakes. He urged Mr Sata to get to work so that the economic gains and other achievements the country has made during the last few years are not reversed, but enhanced.
Mr Mwaanga said the election of Mr Sata as fifth President marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.
He paid tribute to former President Rupiah Banda for the manner he conceded defeat and the orderly transition of power he facilitated. Mr Mwaanga said Mr Banda should be left to retire in peace and dignity because there are many good things he did for Zambia which should not be forgotten in the euphoria and excitement of the PF victory.
He hopes the MMD, a party he helped found 20 years ago, will accept the present political reality and become an effective, constructive, mature and responsible opposition.
Meanwhile, a senior MMD official says most members of the party were sidelined during the Presidential campaigns, another reason that could have led to the loss during the elections.
[pullquote]Mr Mwaanga said Mr Banda should be left to retire in peace and dignity because there are many good things he did for Zambia which should not be forgotten in the euphoria and excitement of the PF victory.[/pullquote]
The official, who declined to be named , said the party organs were left out and that instead, it was State House staff and former President Banda’s children that were put in charge of the campaigns.
“We were totally forgotten during campaign time as MMD senior members. The campaigns were hijacked by government officials and President Banda’s children. Only the national secretary, Major Richard Kachingwe, was included in the campaign team,” the official said.
He said the people that surrounded the former President lied to him and made him believe that everything was in place.
The official said some popular members of the party were not adopted during campaigns and were sacrificed for people that were hand-picked by a certain group within the party.
He said the same people that surrounded Mr Banda are the very ones that have now run away from him.
Mighty Mufulira Wanderers remained unbeaten under new coach Kellies “paymaster” Mwaba from fourth games in charge.
On Sunday, Mighty beat Chambishi 2-0 at Shinde Stadium in Mufluira to keep their now slim chances of promotion bright with four games to go after 30 matches played.
Ex-Power Dynamos goal machine Mwaba has now recorded three wins and one draw since taking charge at Shinde three weeks ago.
Wanderers are 4th on 51 points, six behind second placed Indeni who lost 1-0 away to Division 1 North leaders Konkola Mine Police at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe on Sunday.
Konkola Mine Police a have now moved up to 61 points after 30 games played.
President Michael Sata has said today that the zero-tolerance stance against corruption adopted by the new administration is irreversible. The President reaffirmed that the government is firm on its fight against corruption both in the public and private sector with full commitment and vigour.
“During the campaigns we made an undertaking that we shall robustly fight corruption and we shall do just that. The policy of this government is that any person who has aggrieved the Zambian people economically and otherwise, in the past or present, must face the law,” says the Head of State.
“Make no mistake about it, because we are resolute on combating corruption and all its offshoots even if it means losing friends. We are ready to make that sacrifice for the sake of the Zambian people whom we promised and as a result they gave us the mandate to preside over this country’s affairs.”
President Sata said the law enforcement agencies will investigate any past and present acts of corruption and ensure that the culprits are prosecuted within the due process of the law.
“I’m confident that professionalism and exemplary ethical conduct shall be the bedrock of this process,” said the President through a media statement issued by his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relation George Chellah..
The President emphasized that the crusade against corruption will be done without malice or witch-hunt and shall be non-selective because he does not believe in selective justice.
[pullquote]“This government has not made a decision at any level regarding the removal of anybody’s immunity. And nobody has even talked about it either from the party or government’s side. It is therefore, preposterous that some political stakeholders and leaders among us are attempting to frustrate this crusade by throwing innuendoes and half-truths on this noble cause,” said President Sata. [/pullquote]
“This government has not made a decision at any level regarding the removal of anybody’s immunity. And nobody has even talked about it either from the party or government’s side. It is therefore, preposterous that some political stakeholders and leaders among us are attempting to frustrate this crusade by throwing innuendoes and half-truths on this noble cause,” said President Sata.
“I must repeat that, we are unwavering on this score and nothing other than justice shall prevail. As for those who have expediently decided to side with corruption and the corrupt, we leave it to the Zambian people to see and know them for who they are and what they stand for. A moment ago, we all campaigned on the platform of fighting corruption, so what has changed?”
File:One of the Kitchens at Nkhrumah Teachers' training College in Kabwe(2009)
Nkrumah College of Education (NCE) students in Kabwe Monday morning staged a peaceful demonstration demanding among other things that their institution be transformed into fully fledged University.
The students who marched along Luapula streets and kept singing the national anthem and reciting the Lord’s prayer in unison, met a barricade of police officers in riot gear at the junction of Luapula and Munkoyo street about 500m from the college.
The Police pushed the students back up to the college gate where Central Province Permanent Secretary Deny Lumbama later addressed them.
Nkrumah student’s union (NKRUSU) president, Martin Chishimba says students feel government is delaying to transform the college into a fully fledged university and thereby denying them facilities of University.
Chishimba says the students are concerned by the delay especially that from 2009 when the institution was declared a university, it is still operating under college conditions and yet it has qualified lecturers to teach University level.
He says the students are also demanding that their institution be completely delinked from the University of Zambia so that it can be moderating examinations independently.
He also says students are demanding to be considered for bursaries like their colleagues at UNZA and Copperbelt University.
Another complaint they have is that the school demands full payment of K1, 800, 000 from them as school fees and yet they will not be in school for a full term.
And addressing the students Central Province Permanent Secretary, Deny Lumbama who was flanked by his deputy Luke Mankapi, says his office will channel the demands to the ministry of education for parliamentary approval.
He appealed to the students to get back to their studies while government looks into the matter.
Mr Lumbama promised students that his office will deal with the issue of payment as it is a local matter.
Ex-Chipolopolo Midfielder and Nkana Trainer Linos Makwaza says he is honored to be appointed Zambia under-20 national soccer team assistant
coach.
Makwaza is a member of the Keagan Mumba led unde-20 technical bench which will guide the junior national soccer team at the November COSAFA Youth Championship in Botswana.
“I feel honored. Working for the national team is a very important job, I am grateful for the appointment,” Makwaza said.
The Power Dynamos legend added that he hoped to contribute positively to the grooming of young stars on the local scene.
“It is good to work with young players and it’s better we encourage them because they are the future national team,” he stated.
Makwaza also expressed optimism that the Zambia under-20 national soccer team will perform well at the region tournament in December.
A losing independent parliamentary Candidate for Chipangali Constituency Million Tembo has called on President Michael Sata to consider making reshuffles at the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
Mr Tembo says some officers at the Electoral Commission of Zambia should be removed for conducting inefficient polls during the just ended tripartite elections.
Mr Tembo has told ZNBC News in Lusaka on that some officers should be removed for failure to ensure ballot papers were available in polling stations at break of dawn.
Mr Tembo says he is one of the candidates who was disadvantaged by the failure of the Commission to deliver ballot papers on time.
Mr Tembo has accused the Commission of delivering ballots in Chipangali’s Musandile and Lukuzye Wards at 15 hours.
He says this caused many voters to turn back from polling stations after waiting for a long time while others were made to vote all night.
He says in Chipangali only 18 thousand people voted against 40 thousand 511 registered voters.
And Mr Tembo who was not adopted by the MMD says the party will fall into oblivion if its does not purge itself of corrupt elements in the Constituency, district and provincial executive committees.
File: Michael Mabenga mourns his daughter during her funeral in Lusaka
The Lusaka High Court has granted an application to subpoena Airtel and MTN to provide call records of murder suspect David Chitika upon the death of his wife, Gladys Mabenga.
This is in a matter where Mr Chitika is accused of murdering Gladys Mabenga.
Mr Chitika is alleged to have murdered Gladys last year following a domestic dispute.
He opened his defence on Monday 17th October 2011.
A postmortem conducted by a Lusaka Pathologist Professor Neil Nkanza revealed that Gladys died as a result of strangulation.
But a previous post-mortem conducted by Dr Dennis Musonda cited Cardio-Respiratory Arrest, consistent with hanging, as the cause of Gladys’s death.
However Gladys’s family rejected Dr Musonda’s post-mortem.
This prompted the conduct of a second postmortem by Professor Nkanza.
The opposition MMD has demanded to know the specific allegations being leveled against former President Rupiah Banda prompting some sections of society to call for the lifting up of his immunity so that he can be prosecuted.
MMD national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe says it is only after the charges against the former leader are made clear that the party’s National Executive Committee will be able to give its position on the matter.
Major Kachingwe also told QFM that it is surprising to note that some people are trying to create an issue over the collaboration between the UPND and MMD.
He has denied reports that the two political parties are trying to form a pact in order to frustrate the policies of the PF government.
He notes that it is however, a constitutional right of the UPND and MMD to associate adding democracy in the country can only be nurtured if people are allowed to make use of the democratic principles which among them encourage freedom of assembly.
And Major Kachingwe has maintained that the MMD will support all the progressive policies that the new government will put in place for the benefit of the Zambians.
He adds that the MMD will ensure that it offers meaningful contribution to the country’s governance system by proving checks and balances and only criticize were necessary.
MICHAEL Sata inspired the nation with his address to parliament. He is a big dreamer and he will need to keep dreaming to continue directing the people where he wants our country to go. The question is how will the implementation process be? Does he have the right kind of people to drive his dreams into reality? So far so good, he has settled well in the driver’s seat, many pronouncements have been made and now we await implementation. He has also in just a few weeks exposed how the MMD government started sleeping on duty. As for the MMD this loss of power should come as no surprise, as the victory a few years ago was a struggle.
Any well meaning Zambian should be able to see clearly that if what has been pronounced comes to pass, we will be living in a better Zambia, no doubt about that. If Michael sata is able to achieve even half of his dreams and pronouncements, he will be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with other African great leaders.
I was one of the critics of Michael Sata, yes checks and balances must be put in place, our leader’s intensions must be questioned
, and only then, will we have credible leaders. My passport does not say the republic of MMD nor does my National registration card say the republic of PF, It says “The Republic of Zambia”, and that’s what we should all stand for. Political parties will come and go, leaders will come and go, but our country will always be there. Readers of my articles have no doubt noticed, I’m not one who is greatly troubled by hostile criticism. For me So long as the topic is “Zambia” my thinking aligns reasonably congruently with the current status.
Often times than not, when the Head of State officially opens Parliament with his address, we hear from almost everyone saying that the speech was good. And in most cases, they are really good.
Almost all outlines what the government intends to do, and the list is mouthful, touching on almost all the sectors. But President Michael Sata’s speech was a little different. He only touched on the core issues which he believes will define his legacy. Did anyone hear him talk about sport? No, why? This is something that the minister can ably handle. As for other sectors like mining, the PF policy is clear on that too.
Through-out the campaigns, the PF had hammered the point that they were aiming at making major changes within the first 90 days. And from the look of things, they are on track. We have already seen major policy changes. Signs are that this is not going to be business as usual.
While there are a number of issues that the President raised in his address, some of them stand-out, and they need to be pointed out. From where I stand, the issue of the constitution, the development of the rural areas, the education sector and the anti-corruption fight, are very critical.
Some people have already started arguing that it may not be possible to get a constitution within 90 days. Well, I think it is possible. For a start, we have had a number of constitutional review commissions, with the last one being the Wila Mung’omba-chaired commission. This commission did produce a draft constitution, which many critics hailed as being good. Before that, there was the John Mwanakatwe Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), which also produced a very good draft constitution.
In the case of the Mwanakatwe CRC, the Frederick Chiluba administration literally ignored all the good recommendations that were made including the holding of a referendum. In the end, what was produced was a republican constitution, which was very discriminatory and has no place in a modern society. This is a constitution that was clearly designed for an individual – it was aimed at preventing Dr Kaunda from contesting for the presidency in the 1996 elections.
As for the Mungomba CRC, we all know that the damage to it was done at the National Constitution Conference (NCC). This was another case of not only wasting the country’s time, but also abuse of the country’s resources with all those sitting at the NCC getting hefty perks. What was the essence of having an NCC when the commission had already gone round the country to get people’s views which were clearly reflected in the draft constitution that was produced by Mung’omba and team.
Clearly, we all know what we want in the constitution, and as such, there is no need to waste a lot of time and resources on the exercise. Like the President said, all that is needed is small team that can look at the recommendations that have been in the past. That said, we would want to see provisions like the 50 plus one, having the vice-president as a running mate, dual citizenship and cabinet outside Parliament among others.
Then, the second important pronouncement by President Sata regards the development of the rural areas. For a long time, rural areas have received a raw deal in terms of development, and yet they have been very faithful to successive governments. People are not prepared to settle in the hinterlands after retirement simply because these places lack essential social amenities, and this is 47 years after independence. We know that the majority of our people in the rural areas are peasant or small-farmers, and they have been responsible for feeding this country’s with the staple food as it is them who produce the bulk of the country’s maize. But for all their efforts, the deal that they have got is really raw. Few of them are able to send their children to school, pay medical bills and so on and so forth. These rural dwellers have no access to electricity, schools and hospitals. When they work hard to produce food, government determines the price of the maize. And because the government wants to please the lazy urban dweller, who wants to buy mealie meal at a give-away price, the floor price of maize is in most cases low if not poor. If indeed the urban dwellers thinks that maize is or should be that cheap, why not grow it themselves? And even when it is low, it takes a long time for the farmer to be paid his dues. Wanting to settle a few bills, the farmer is forced to sell his maize to a briefcase businessman, who will pay him cash but at a much lower price.
People are scared of settling in their home villages upon retirement simply because of these scenarios. We need to make rural areas attractive, if we are to have people settling there instead of the densely-populated townships.
Then, there is the issue of the corruption fight. Quite evidently, we saw the previous government take a lukewarm response towards corruption. This was evidenced by the fact that they could even amend the anti-corruption law that dealt with abuse of office. By them removing the clause, they made it attractive for civil servants in particular to engage in corruption. What was needed was for them to stiffen the penalties for those engaging in corruption, not the other way round.
And finally, it is good to see the government committing itself to improving the education sector. No nation or society can develop without enough investment in education. This, the country’s early leaders realised, the reason they went about building secondary schools, teacher training colleges and a university shortly after the country gained independence. And do not forget, this education was absolutely free.
Is it not shame that several years after independence, the country can only boast of three public universities, the University of Zambia (UNZA), the Copperbelt University (CBU) and if you like, the Mulungushi University? To all intents and purposes, the MMD failed to build on the foundation that was laid by the UNIP government.
Clearly, we can do better as a nation. And the PF government seems to have realised that. So far, so good!
Daimone Siulapwa, a Businessman, Critic, Author and Political analyst. He is the Executive Director for Diaspora Advocacy Centre (DAC) in Lusaka. He writes in his own capacity
FORMER Lusaka Division police commanding officer, Chendela Musonda has welcomed President Michael Sata’s announcement to implement police reforms in the country.
In an interview with the Times yesterday, Mr Musonda said the reforms would help the police to expand and at the same time improve its operations, which in turn would benefit the general public.
He said he was hopeful that President Sata would deliver on his promise to reform the Zambia Police Service, adding that reforms had been long overdue.
Mr Musonda said the delay in implementing the reforms had contributed to failure by the police service to be transformed.[pullquote] lack of transport at police stations was another issue that hampered the efforts of the police to effectively fight crime in the communities.It was frustrating for police officers to fail to rush to a crime scene or even be able to respond to emergency calls from the public because the service had no vehicles for its officers to use.[/pullquote]
President Sata said, when he announced the police reforms, that big police divisions would be headed by police commissioners, which would add to efficiency of the police instead of deputy police commissioners as was currently the case.
Mr Musonda, who is currently working as a senior legal consultant for the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) in Lusaka, also called for motivation of police officers to be made a top priority in order to avoid making them vulnerable to corruption and enhance the fight against rising crime.
“There is need to motivate the police officers such as giving them better perks, accommodation and other tools to prevent them from falling prey to the vice of corruption,” he said.
He said crime, which was relatively high especially in Lusaka Province, needed the combined efforts of the police and the general public to be able to wipe it out.
Mr Musonda said lack of transport at police stations was another issue that hampered the efforts of the police to effectively fight crime in the communities.
He said it was frustrating for police officers to fail to rush to a crime scene or even be able to respond to emergency calls from the public because the service had no vehicles for its officers to use.
Mr Musonda further called for intensive training programmes from the police top brass to the reserve police in order for them to update themselves on new policing methods and the law.
He said experience alone was not enough but constant upgrading would help the service improve its services.
Mr Musonda said that the nation would not develop if there was no investment in good security.
Senanga UPND Member of Parliament Likando Mufalali has accused Republican President Michael Sata and the Post Newspapers editor in Chief Fred Membe of being tribalists.
Responding to media reports associating UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema with former President Rupiah Banda, Mr. Mufalali claimed that President Sata and the Post Newspaper are bent at tarnishing the image of the UPND.
Mr. Mufalali charged that the UPND leader had a right to associate with anyone he feels and wondered why this should be an issue.
He explained that Zambians should not allow the Post to divide the country.
Mr. Mufalali has further accused President Sata’s of practicing regionalism adding that plans create a tenth Province to be called Muchinga are aimed at pushing development in Northern Province at the expense of other parts of the country.
Mufalali also noted that most road construction projects announced in the parliament speech by the president are in his tribal region.
He said that the decisions that President Sata has made so far are questionable and that Zambians must brace themselves for more surprises from the PF government.
KITWE town clerk David Kabanda and director of finance Benson Mwila have been suspended from the Kitwe City Council (KCC).
Local Government Service Commission chairperson Charles Sambondu confirmed the suspension of the duo in a telephone interview on October 16 from Lusaka. Mr Sambondu, however, refused to disclose the reasons why they have been suspended.
“I can confirm that Kitwe town clerk and director of finance have been suspended, their suspension is with immediate effect. There are certain issues that we are investigating,” Mr Sambondu said.
But sources at the council yesterday said that Mr Kabanda was suspended for allegedly refusing to reverse the sale of an institution house to a former employee who has since retired.
The source charged that Mr Kabanda is an innocent person saying the sale of the house to the named retired employee was done before he was appointed town clerk for Kitwe.
“The Kitwe town clerk David Kabanda was suspended for refusing to reverse the sale of the institution house that was sold to the former employee who has retired but what is important to know is that the sale of the house was backed by council resolution and was done before Mr Kabanda was appointed town clerk,” the source said.
The source further said the director of finance is being investigated in connection with the plots in Kitwe West on the Kalulushi road where some funds have allegedly been misapplied.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr Kabanda failed as his phone went unanswered while Mr Mwila said he has not received any communication over his suspension.
