Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
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.
National Restoration Party interim president Elias Chipimo Jr is flanked by vice president Charles Maboshe
THE National Restoration Party (NAREP) has urged the Patriotic Front (PF) to effectively plan for the implementation of a new people-driven constitution. NAREP president Elias Chipimo said the PF Government should not rush in coming up with a new constitution as it might have flaws.
Mr Chipimo said the party is of the view that the 90 day period set by the PF to implement a new constitution is inadequate and unrealistic. On October 14, President Sata assured the nation that his Government will deliver a new people driven constitution within 90 days.
Mr Sata said his administration attaches great importance to good governance and will as such ensure a new constitution is delivered within three months. But Mr Chipimo said in an interview on yesterday that it is not feasible for Government to deliver a good constitution within 90 days. He suggested that Government tackles the implementation of a new constitution in two stages.
Mr Chipimo said in first three months, the first stage can be tackled which is passing of non-controversial clauses. He said in the second stage of between 18 to 24 months, the sensitive and controversial clauses in the draft constitution can be addressed.
Mr Chipimo said Government should not complicate the delivery of a good constitution by rushing the process. Mr Chipimo said there is no room for errors as it has the potential to affect the implementation of a people driven constitution.
“If the constitution making process is rushed, it will not stand the test of time and so we appeal to this Government to take its time on this important process,” Mr Chipimo said.
He said President Sata should leave a good legacy by ensuring his administration produces a people driven constitution.
Former Republican President Rupiah Banda has welcomed investigations into the disappearance of gold at Drug Enforcement Commission which has been linked to Dr. Nichola Buzaianu.
Mr Banda has also welcomed investigations into the purchasing of LEXUS and the alleged missing vehicles.
Breaking his silence since he left office Mr Banda says that all the relevant people involved in the transaction involving the vehicles are available and will provide necessary answers to the investigating team.
Mr Banda however says that no gold went missing mysteriously at the DEC as has been portrayed.
He said that he is availble at any given time to answer to any clarification which President Michael Sata may want to know about.
The Former head of state, his son James and former Press aide Dickson Jere were last week linked to three fugitives whose gold was ceased by the Drug Enforcement Commission but mysteriously disappeared while in the care of the commission.
President Sata revealed that the fugitives arrived in the country by a private jet on 12th October and had a meeting with former President Banda.
Mr Sata told journalists that one of the fugitives Nicola Bordan Buzaianu was escorted to meet President Banda by Mr Dickson Jere and President Banda’s son James.
Below is the Stament in full
STATEMENT BY THE OFFICE OF THE FOURTH REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT
Following the numerous allegations made against former Republican President, Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda, I wish to make clarifications on the following issues:
That Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda has a number of friends both in Zambia and outside who have requested to meet him following his gracious exit from the Presidency after the September 20, 2011 elections. Mr. Banda has granted appointments to a number of visitors who have been coming to see him since he left office. To the best of his knowledge, he has not met anyone who is a fugitive.
That Dr. Nichola Bogdan Buzaianu, a Swiss-based businessman, requested to pay a visit to the former President during his planned trip to Zambia. Dr. Buzaianu applied to the Zambian authorities for permission to land at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport 48 hours before his trip to Zambia and the Zambian Government granted the landing rights to Dr. Buzaianu who arrived on Wednesday, 12th October, 2011.
That a request was made to the Zambian authorities to extend the usual courtesies to Dr. Buzaianu at the airport which was, in fact, done. He was received by a protocol officer at the airport and taken to the VIP lounge while his immigration formalities were done. He did the finger print biometric procedure at the airport before he proceeded to the customs and exited. He spent about one hour and 30 minutes at the airport while doing his formalities.
That all relevant security wings were at the airport when Dr. Buzaianu was doing the usual formalities and at no time did he hide his identity. The former President provided vehicles for his visitor to pick him at the airport together with the state security attached to the former President’s office. President Banda also requested his former press aide Mr. Dickson Jere to receive his guest on his behalf at the airport because his security did not know him.
That after leaving the airport, Dr. Buzaianu proceeded to the Taj Pamodzi Hotel where he was booked for an overnight stay and did not hide at all. He later paid a courtesy call on President Banda that same day. During his stay at the hotel, Dr. Buzaianu interacted freely with hotel guests and staff. If Dr Buzaianu was a fugitive as alleged, he would not have been openly moving around.
That the following day, Dr. Buzaianu proceeded to Mfuwe to visit the Chipembele Educational Centre, which he has been supporting as a philanthropic cause. Dr. Buzaianu proceeded in the normal way at the airport and paid his airport taxes before he left Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for Mfuwe International Airport. At Mfuwe Airport, Dr. Buzaianu was cleared in the standard manner as prescribed by the provisions of the Immigration and Deportation Act before he went to visit the school. He flew out the same day with airport permits for his flights from Mfuwe.
That President Banda welcomes the investigations of the sale of gold by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), which has been linked to Dr. Buzaianu. All the relevant people involved in this transaction are available and will provide necessary answers to the investigating team but suffice to say that no gold went missing mysteriously as has been portrayed.
That on the issue of purchasing or alleged missing of vehicles, President Banda also welcomes the investigations into this matter as he was not a procurement officer. All the people involved in this matter are around and are still serving even under this administration. So they will provide answers as they are better placed to explain where the missing vehicles are, if at all they are missing.
That President Banda is available at any given time to answer to any clarification which the current Head of State Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata may have concerning this matter or indeed any issue before they are made public. He remains committed to supporting the current President in order for him to succeed in running the Government. This is the position President Banda took when he made his farewell speech at State House after losing the last elections.
