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Foreign Affairs Minister Chishimba Kambwili has warned Zambians serving in foreign missions not to take advantage of the change of government to steal public funds.
Mr. Kambwili says it is a common practice for staff serving in foreign missions to take advantage of a change of government to steal public funds.
He says the PF government will investigate and take account of all the public funds and any staff found wanting will have to account for their actions.
Mr. Kambwili says all foreign missions that have been mentioned in the auditor generals’ book will be taken to task and will have to answer to the allegations.
He was speaking with ZNBC News at State House shortly after being sworn in on Friday.
President Michael Sata receives an affidavit from Defense Deputy Minister Panji Kaunda at the swearing-in ceremony at State House
President Michael Sata Friday morning sent back nominated Member of Parliament Panji Kaunda from the Swearing in Ceremony at State House because he was improperly dressed.
President Sata told cabinet Ministers and deputies who were being sworn in that he had told Colonel Kaunda to go back and wear a suit.
Colonel Kaunda who is defence deputy minister showed up at State House where he was due to be sworn in, wearing a short and a T-shirt.
He later returned wearing a black stripped suit and joined the swearing in ceremony midway.
Colonel Kaunda’s father, first republican President Kenneth Kaunda was also present at the swearing in ceremony.
Two Zambezi Airlines planes on the tarmac at Lusaka International Airport
The PF government says it will work on re-introducing a national airline.
Newly appointed Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Yamfwa Mukanga says Zambia is a very rich country which is supposed to have its own national airline.
And government has promised to revamp the Railway sector in order to improve the country’s economic development.
Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga says the PF government appreciates the role that the railway industry plays in contributing in improvement of the country’s economy.
Mr. Mukanga noted that this is why he will work hard and ensure that all the railway lines are revamped throughout the country.
ZANIS reports Mr. Mukanga disclosing this in an interview in Lusaka shortly after being sworn in as new Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister.
Mr. Mukanga explained that Zambia’s road network has continued to deteriorate because there is too much pressure been put on them.
He said that if only other heavy goods can be transported through the railway line, the country’s roads were going to be in good condition.
He added that but due to lack of a vibrant railway sector, everything is been transported by the road hence the roads cannot live up to their life spun.
Mr. Mukanga has also pledged to remove all the corruption that has rocked the transport sector.
He charged that the transport sector is one of the sectors that have continued to record high number of corruption hence the need to change the picture by putting in place effective measures of curbing the vice.
Zamtel says it will cooperate with the new government in its probe on the sale Zamtel by the MMD government.
Zamtel managing director Hans Paulsen says the company will continue operating normally and has pledged to work with the commission that has been constituted to investigate the sale of Zamtel which saw Libya’s Lap Green Network acquire a 75 percent stake while the Zambian government retained 25 percent shares.
Mr. Paulsen was speaking to journalists in Lusaka today.
The sale Zamtel was condemned by some stakeholders after the then minister of communications Dora Siliya single sourced RP capitals of Cayman Islands to evaluate Zamtel assets and find an equity partner for government.
Meanwhile, Zamtel has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with World Vision to deliver water anode sanitation programmes to rural and peri-urban communities at a cost of K1.5 billion.
Mr. Paulsen said the MoU is in line with Zamtel’s objective of rolling out its water for life project which will see the company sink and rehabilitate boreholes country wide.
And World Vision national director Michael Veitenhans said world vision will continue partnering with the other stakeholders in implementing developmental programmes for the benefit of Zambians.
President Michael Sata has ordered for the revision of the current minimum wage which stands at K 419 000.
Mr Sata says the current minimum wage is unacceptable and shameful. He has ordered Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda to immediately revise it.
And President Sata is disappointed that 15 billion kwacha is owed to civil servants in unpaid gratuity. He is further saddened that over 8 billion kwacha is owed to the Ministry of justice.
He says a commission of inquiry will soon be appointed to investigate the payments of gratuity including the payment of over 500 million kwacha gratuity to an individual sitting at the National Constitutional Conference.
[pullquote]He says a commission of inquiry will soon be appointed to investigate the payments of gratuity including the payment of over 500 million kwacha gratuity to an individual sitting at the National Constitutional Conference.[/pullquote]
Meanwhile, President Michael Sata has withdrawn the nomination of Willie Nsanda and Samuel Mukupa as Members of Parliament.
The two were on Thursday nominated and appointed Minister and Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications.
The President says he has withdrawn the nominations of the two because he had over nominated by two people.
President Sata says instead of nominating eight people to parliament, he nominated 10.
MMD National Secretary Richard Kachingwe has described party members leaving the party following its recent election loss, as opportunists.
Major Kachingwe says the reported resignation of newly elected MMD Chongwe Member of Parliament Japhane Mwakalombe is disappointing.
He says although Mr Mwakalombe as a democratic right of association, it is morally wrong for him to put the electorate in Chongwe through a by-election so soon after the tripartite elections.
Major Kachingwe however says the MMD secretariat has not yet received the resignation letter from its Chongwe Parliamentarian.
He says MMD members must learn from the Patriotic Front, which remained focused even after being in the opposition for a long time.
[pullquote]He says although Mr Mwakalombe as a democratic right of association, it is morally wrong for him to put the electorate in Chongwe through a by-election so soon after the tripartite elections.[/pullquote]
Major Kachingwe says one can contribute to the governance of the country even from the opposition, by providing checks and balances on the ruling party.
He has urged MMD members to remain focused despite the setback.
He was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka on Friday.
Mr Mwakaolombe was Friday morning reported to have resigned as Member of Parliament for Chongwe.
And Major Kachingwe says the party is studying the fate of Members of Parliament appointed to serve in the PF government.
President Sata on Thursday appointed six MMD Members of Parliament as Deputy Ministers.
President Michael Sata has ordered investigations into the sale of Finance Bank and Zamtel.
And President Sata has directed Justice Minister Sebastian Zulu to determine how the sale of the two institutions was conducted.
President Sata says the Justice Minister should produce a report of the findings within 30 days.
Mr. Sata says a lot of Zambians have suffered as a result of the sale of the two institutions.
He says Zamtel and Finance Bank were very important institutions in Zambia to be sold within a very short period of time.
President Sata was speaking at State House Friday morning when he swore in his new Cabinet.
The Swearing in ceremony was attended by First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda and the traditional leader of the Ila speaking people Bright Nalubamba.
{ZNBC}
President Michael Sata has ordered that all exports from the country need to be cleared by the central bank.
The government, formed this week after Sata’s election win, is seeking more information on what is being shipped out of the southern African nation, Sata said in a speech in Lusaka, the capital, today.
Sata said all export payments had to be routed via the central bank, including those for copper, its main export.
“Nothing will be exported out of Zambia unless confirmation of payments is received from the Bank of Zambia,” Sata told a news briefing after swearing in his new cabinet.
Sata has long questioned copper export data and some experts say his concerns are legitimate. Copper accounts for three-quarters of Zambia’s export earnings, but the mining industry contributes only about 10 percent of its tax revenue.
Former President Rupiah Banda told Reuters in March audits had revealed that the Zambian mining sector owed up to $200 million in unpaid taxes.
According to Zambian figures, much of the copper exports are destined for Switzerland but little of them show up in Swiss customs data, raising questions about transparency.
The anti-corruption moves follow Sata’s decision to fire his respected central bank governor and the appointment of a new mines minister who may look at plans to boost tax receipts from mining companies.
{Bloomberg,Reuters}
Villagers walking along the great east road to access services such as health and markets in eastern province
Independent Member of Parliament for Lubansenshi constituency Patrick Mucheleka says the government should consider coming up with district development budgets.
Mr. Mucheleka tells QFM that this will help in accelerating development especially in rural areas were the poverty levels are still high.
The parliamentarian notes that the Constituency development fund which currently stands at about K700 million is not enough to cater for all the developmental projects especially in areas were the constituencies are too vast.
Mr. Mucheleka has further pledged to support any government programmes that will aim at alleviating poverty among other issues.
[QFM]
Republican President Michael Sata has with immediate effect dissolved the Energy Regulation Board (ERB)board.
President Sata has since appointed a commission to be headed by Patriotic Front General Secretary Wynter Kabimba to probe corruption allegations surrounding ERB.
He says there is need to ascertain why the prices of petroleum products in the country have continued to sky rocket.
The President has also demanded reports on the sale of Finance Bank Zambia Limited to First National Bank of South Africa and the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) Zambia National Building Society (ZNBS) deal to be availed to his office within 30 thirty days.
The $98 million NAPSA deal recently raised questions from several members of the public over the manner the transaction was handled.
The President also ordered investigations into the sale of Zamtel. President Sata has directed Justice Minister Sebastian Zulu to determine how the sale of the two institutions was conducted. President Sata said that the Justice Minister should produce a report of the findings within 30 days.
Mr. Sata also said that a lot of Zambians have suffered as a result of the sale of the two institutions. He said that Zamtel and Finance Bank were very important institutions in Zambia to be sold within a very short period of time.
President Sata was speaking at State House this morning when he swore in all appointed cabinet and deputy ministers. The Swearing in ceremony was attended by First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda and the traditional leader of the Ila speaking people Bright Nalubamba.
And President Sata has urged all those appointed in various ministerial positions to work to the best of their ability in order for Zambians to benefit from their services.
MMD Lusaka province chairperson William Banda has appeared in court on a charge of inciting violence against patriotic front (PF) cadres but has denied the charge.
Mr Banda has since been granted a 60 million kwacha cash bail, with two working sureties from recognized institutions.
The 65 year old of Lusaka’s Bauleni Township told Lusaka chief resident magistrate Joshua Banda that he understood the charge leveled against him, but pleaded not guilty.
Mr Banda is alleged to have incited violence by instructing MMD cadres to beat and chase the PF cadres contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Magistrate Banda further ordered the MMD Lusaka province Chairman to surrender his passport to court and to be reporting to the Lusaka central police officer in charge every Friday.
But one of Mr Banda’s lawyers Robison Malipenga informed the court that his client had no passport to surrender because it was among his property that was burnt after people attacked and burnt his house after the elections.
Magistrate Banda asked the defence to avail him with the police report which highlighted the fact that Banda’s passport was among the things that were burnt in the aftermath of the September 20, general elections.
Earlier Mr Malipenga asked the court to grant his client bail saying he was entitled to bail according to the provisions of the law.
Magistrate Banda has set 3 October 2011 as dates of commencement of trial.
File: Post Newspapers editor- in- Chief Fred M'membe
FORMER Republican President Rupiah Banda has discontinued contempt proceedings against Post newspaper Editor-in-Chief Fred M’membe.
According to a notice of discontinuance filed in the Lusaka High Court by Mr Banda’s lawyer Sunday Nkonde of SBN Legal Practitioners dated September 29, 2011, the former President stated that he was discontinuing the case pursuant to Order 17 of the High Court Rules, Cap 27 of the Laws of Zambia.
The court proceedings were initiated against Mr M’membe in 2008.
On September 26, 2008 Mr Banda, who was acting President then, filed a writ of summons and statement of claim in the High Court to seek damages for defamation by The Post.
Through his lawyer Mr Christopher Mundia, Mr Banda applied for an ex parte order of interlocutory injunction to restrain The Post from publishing libellous words against him.
The ex parte order was granted on September 27, 2009, but the next day the newspaper published allegedly defamatory articles, which were
perceived to be a defiance and disregard of the injunction order the court granted earlier on.
Mr Mundia then filed summons for leave to commence contempt proceedings against Mr M’membe.
But on October 2, 2008 The Post, through its lawyers George Chisanga and Remmy Mainza, raised two preliminary issues.
The first preliminary issue was whether it was proper for Mr Mundia to swear to the affidavit on behalf of Mr Banda in such a highly contentious matter.
The second was whether the ex parte order for leave to commence contempt proceedings, granted to Mr Banda, must be vacated on grounds that such an order is provisional and is liable to be vacated on sufficient grounds.
In his ruling, Lusaka High Court Judge Charles Kajimanga who was presiding over the matter said he was satisfied that the affidavit in support of an ex parte application for leave to commence committal proceedings was properly deposed and he accordingly dismissed the preliminary issues.
This prompted Mr Mainza and Mr Chisanga to appeal to the Supreme Court where two judges heard the appeal.
In the judgement they said the Supreme Court clearly understood that Mr Mundia’s application for leave to commence contempt proceedings against M’membe was in compliance with procedure under Rule 2(1), (2) and (3) of the Supreme Court Rule
MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu has said the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) will have the final say on the fate of its members that have been appointed in yesterday’s Patriotic Front (PF) Government cabinet.
Reacting to President Michael Sata’s appointment of some of the MMD members to his cabinet prominent among them the party’s newly-elected Chilanga Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Keith Mukata as Commerce Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, Mr Nyangu said in an interview yesterday that the move was allegedly a ploy to weaken the opposition.
Mr Nyangu charged that although the country’s Constitution empowered the President to appoint anyone, it was morally wrong to get members from other parties.
Asked what course of action the former ruling party was going to mete out to its members appointed by President Sata, Mr Nyangu said the NEC would decide the fate of those that had been appointed to serve in the PF government.
He added that the party’s constitution was explicit on the fate of those that “cross floors” to join other parties as they would automatically be expelled.
Other appointed MMD members include newly-elected Katuba Constituency MP Patrick Chikusu as Health Deputy Minister, Nicholas Banda for Kapoche as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Forrie Tembo for Nyimba as deputy information and Broadcasting Services minister.
Others are MMD Luampa MP Josephine Limata as North-Western Province Minister and MMD Livingstone MP Katombora Lukulo as Minister in Southern Province.
The United Party for National development-UPND says it is in consultation with other political parties with representation in parliament on how best they will work together when electing the next speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly.
UPND Spokesperson Charles Kakoma says consultations have reached an advanced stage with the opposition MMD, FDD and the ruling Patriotic Front.
Mr Kakoma says as soon as the parties involved conclude discussions; the nation will be informed on the way forward.
He says the discussions also involves some independent Members of Parliament and further hints that the next parliament will be unique in the sense that there is no dominant party.
But MMD Deputy National Secretary Chembe Nyangu says he is not aware about the purported discussions among opposition political parties.
The ruling PF has 60 members of Parliament, MMD has 55, UPND 28,while FDD and ADD have one MP each.
The House will also have three Independent members of Parliament.
file:Roan MP Chishimba kambwili talks to journalists
The Patriotic Front government says it will continue to strengthen Zambia’s diplomatic relations.
Newly appointed Foreign Affairs Minister Chishimba Kambwili says Zambia has for a long time enjoyed bilateral relations with several countries and that the PF government’s task will be to strengthen the relations through exploring new areas of corporation
Mr. Kambwili was speaking to ZNBC News soon after being named as the new Foreign Affairs Minister by President Michael Sata at State House on Thursday.
He says that his main task will be to consolidate Zambia’s diplomatic relations so that the country’s voice is heard in international bodies.
Mr. Kambwili who is PF Roan Member of Parliament further says that the Foreign Affairs Minister he shall ensure that Zambia abides by the entire international protocols which it has signed.
