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.

QFM

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.

ZNBC

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.

[QFM]

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.

[Times of Zambia]

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.

ZNBC

Opposition MMD Members of Parliament who have been appointed to Government by President Sata have pledged to deliver to the expectations of Zambians.

Nyimba Member of Parliament Forrie Tembo has praised President Michael Sata for appointing him as Deputy Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism.

And another MMD Chilanga Member of Parliament Keith Mukata who has been appointed Deputy Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry says he is humbled by the appointment.

Mr. Tembo says President Sata’s inclusion of MMD MPs is a clear sign that he wants to live by his promise of reconciling the nation after the September 20th tripartite elections.

He says the main task of every politician should be to deliver service to all Zambians.

Mr. Mukata says President Sata’s decision to appoint him from the opposition is a clear indication that he is in a hurry to develop the country with the participation of every Zambian.

In his appointment of Cabinet and Deputy Ministers President Sata has appointed six MPs from the former ruling party, MMD.

These are Nicholas Banda of Kapoche who is Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Forrie Tembo of Nyimba, Keith Mukata of Chilanga and Josephine Limata of Luampa who is North-Western province Minister.

Others are Livingstone MP Katombola Lukulo who has been appointed Southern Province Minister and Katuba MP Dr Patrick Chikusu who is Deputy Minister of Health.
[ZNBC]

FORMER Finance and National Planning Ministers Ng’andu Magande and Situmbeko Musokotwane have said the Republican constitution provides for the postponement of the budget presentation to the National Assembly in an election year to allow for the new government to draft the financial plan in accordance with its priorities.

Mr Magande said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Act No 20 of 2009 amended Article 117 of the constitution provided for an extension in an election year. According to the constitution, the Ministry of Finance shall subject to clause 2 cause to be prepared and laid before the National Assembly not less than the second Friday of October before the commencement of the next financial year estimates of revenue and expenditure of the government for the financial year.

Immediate past minister of Finance and National planning Dr Musokotwane said it was envisaged that in an election year it would be difficult to meet the Constitution requirements of the second Friday of October. He said the minister of finance in a new government has within 90 days to present the budget from the date of the swearing in of the new President. “The constitution already provides for delayed presentation of the budget in an election year. So it is not a proposal required but mere
implementation of what the constitution already says.

“It is obvious that the new government would not have enough time to present the budget,” he said. Business consultant Bob Sichinga on Tuesday proposed that the new government should be given more time to prepare the budget. According to the constitution the budget is supposed to be presented on the second Friday of October.

[Times of Zambia]