PRESIDENT Sata has suspended the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) commissioner general Wisdom Nhekairo and his commissioner of customs Mukela Mutukwa to pave way for investigations.

President Sata was speaking yesterday at State House after the swearing-in ceremony for the ZAF commander that he has suspended the two commissioners at ZRA to pave way for thorough investigations.

He said ZRA is full of corruption and that he will soon set up a commissioner of inquire to probe ZRA and ensure that it is cleaned up.

“I ‘am very allergic to corruption and I want within one week to ensure that ZRA is probed,” President Sata said.

President Sata said he has suspended a contract between Zesco and a named Egyptian company that was hired by the previous government to pave for way for investigations.

“It has come to my attention that the Egyptian company was milking us money so I have decided to suspend this contract to pave way for investigation,” he said.

President Sata has also suspended the contract between a named Chinese company and State house because it was also siphoning government money.

President Sata urged the newly-appointed commander, who has taken over from General Andrew Sakala, to come up with initiatives that will generate income for the Air Force.

Mr Sata said it is important for the Air Force to engage in activities that will sustain them and not in activities that do not yield anything.
President Sata has also asked the ZAF commander to submit a detailed report regarding the jets that have been in Israel for 20 years.

“I need a genuine report to indicate whether it is necessary for us to bring those planes that are in Israel,” he said.

President Sata has also appointed former Gender Minister Sarah Sayifwanda to head the Gender Divison Ministry that will fall under Cabinet office.
“I have withdrawn Gender and it has gone back to Cabinet Office where Ms Sayifwanda will be incharge.I talked to Ms Sayifwanda about my decision to appoint her and she accepted,” Mr Sata said.

The President said Zambia will soon open up foreign missions in Argentina, Portugal, Spain and Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, ZESCO has terminated the contracts of all the seven directors that worked under former managing director Ernest Mupwaya.

The firm’s new managing director Cyprian Chitundu confirmed in an interview at his office last evening that the seven have already been replaced.
Mr Chitundu said the changes are normal and that the new management team has a new vision and a new direction.

“I can confirm that all the seven directors have been relieved of their duties. We are trying to set a certain standard and so we need fresh people,” Mr Chitundu said.

He said some of the former directors worked well, but that in every company, all the leaders need to have shared vision for the organisation to move forward.

Mr Chitundu said the new vision that the company is set to achieve has necessitated these changes and that they will bring development to the nation and also help the company to grow.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Celebrated HIV/AIDS activist, Winstone zulu has died. Family friend and fellow HIV/AIDS activist, Gezepi Chakulunta has confirmed the death of Mr Zulu to Muvi TV news.

Mr Zulu, who is arguably the first person to have come in public to reveal his positive HIV status, died in the early hours of today at the UTH.

Winstone Zulu was born in 1964 in Lusaka, Zambia, the sixth of thirteen children. After being diagnosed with HIV in 1990, he became the first individual in Zambia to publicly acknowledge his HIV status. In 1997, he contracted TB and, with access to effective medicines and treatment, was cured of the disease within that same year.

During his life, tragically, he has watched four of his brothers die from TB as a result of a lack of access to the anti-TB drugs that would have cured them and extended their lives.

These experiences made Winstone one of the preeminent global advocates on the dangers posed by the increasing spread of TB. As one of the few African activists involved in the global health movement on AIDS from its earliest stages, he was able to recognize the threat that TB poses on the modest successes of HIV/AIDS control.

Nelson Mandela said of Winstone, “There have been so few TB survivors who have stepped forward to share their stories. We need more advocates like Winstone to tell the world about TB and the effect it has on so many millions of people.”

“TB treatment gives patients more time. If my brothers had survived TB they might have lived long enough to access HIV drugs like me. They shouldn’t have died.” Winstone Zulu said at the time.

Speaking at numerous international conferences and events, Winstone sounded the alarm on the links between HIV/AIDS and TB and advocates for increased financial resources and improved programs to combat TB and TB-HIV.

Winstone’s experiences and actions make him a leader in TB advocacy and spoke volumes to the social attention and political will that could be generated by just one individual using his voice.

Mr Zulu is also noted as one of the pioneers of the establishment of Kara counseling.

Meanwhile, Treatment Advocacy and Literacy Campaign Country Coordinator, Felix Mwanza has described Mr Zulu’s death as a great loss.

Embattled opposition MMD Lusaka province Chairperson William Banda has appeared before the Lusaka Magistrate Court for mention.

This is in a matter where Mr Banda is charged with one count of proposing violence.

Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Joshua Banda has set November 2 for commencement of trial in the matter.

Magistrate Banda states that the Lusaka province MMD Chairperson will also undergo trial on November 3 and 4, 2011.

It is alleged that Mr Banda last month instigated MMD cadres in Chongwe District to attack their PF counterparts.

This was in the run up to the September 20 elections.

Mr Banda has denied the charge and has been released on Bail, after paying K60 million with two working sureties.
[ZNBC]

The Law Association of Zambia(LAZ) says it does not support the appointment of the current Director of Public prosecutions Chalwe Mchenga as High Court Judge.

Association President Musa Mwenye says LAZ called for the resignation of the DPP Mr Mchenga in December 2010 and that its position has not changed.

Mr Mwenya was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka today.

He also stressed the importance of having a judiciary that is independent, transparent and fair.

But on Monday President Michael Sata said he will not lead the nation on witch hunt and advised people with evidence on Mr. Mchenga to produce it to the Anti Corruption Commission or to him.

The President also expressed disappointment with media stories attacking the integrity and credibility of the Director of Public Prosecution -DPP- Chalwe Mchenga.

The President said he will not allow people who can not defend themselves to be judged in the media.

[ZNBC]

Four workers in Lusaka west have spent four days and nights in a garage in Lusaka west after their boss locked them up and went for hunting.

A check at the farmhouse which is located in Lusaka west Kasupe area found scores of residents keeping vigil at the place.

Davison Zulu, who is one of the four workers locked inside the garage, told MUVI TV News that he has spent four days and nights in the garage because his employer went away with the keys.

Police officers, fire brigade and health workers who rushed to the scene could not do anything as the workers pleaded them that they be left alone.

According to the workers, their employer locks them up every time he goes in the bush to hunt animals

MUVITV