FORMER Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Edward Mumbi has challenged British High Commissioner Carolyn Davidson to explain Committee of Citizens executive director Gregory Chifire’s allegations that her government is funding the Press Freedom Committee of The Post to bolster Patriotic Front (PF) campaigns.

Mr Mumbi was commenting on Ms Davidson’s open letter to the Times of Zambia over allegations that the Department for International Development (DFiD) is funding PF president Michael Sata’s campaign ahead of this year’s tripartite elections.

Mr Mumbi said Ms Davidson has still not addressed Mr Chifire’s allegations in this week’s Monday edition of the Times.

“Having read the letter from Ms Davidson, she has not addressed the issue of her government funding the Press Freedom Committee of The Post and has not clarified the issue of her government investing five million pounds to enhance Zambia’s domestic observation of the elections among other things. What is this domestic observation all about?” he asked.

Mr Mumbi said Ms Davidson has made her point clear but something is still missing in her response to Mr Chifire’s claims.

He challenged Ms Davidson to explain how the Press Freedom Committee of The Post has been accused of getting funds from the British government for PF campaigns.

Mr Mumbi urged Ms Davidson to address the issues raised by Mr Chifire, instead of talking about what Zambians already know.

“Ms Davidson should not jeopardise the good relationship Zambia has with Britain. She should just explain why her government wants to involve itself in internal politics by allegedly funding the Press Freedom Committee of The Post.

Mr Mumbi said explaining the links between The Post and the British government does not affect the relationship Zambia has with Britain.

On Monday, Mr Chifire accused the DFiD of using The Post to fund PF through seemingly innocent electoral programmes.

Mr Chifire said Mr Bob Sichinga has been going round the country to campaign for the PF with donor funds, using the Press Freedom Committee of The post.

“We, therefore condemn this donor agency which is sponsoring PF campaigns,” he said.

And Ms Davidson said claim that the British government is funding the electoral campaigns of the PF is not true and Mr Chifire has not provided any evidence to support his claim.

She said the British government is committed to helping Zambia deliver free and fair elections, in which all stakeholders have confidence in the whole process.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

The British government has reaffirmed its commitment to assisting Zambia to hold free and fair elections.

The former colonial master has invested over 5 million British pounds pounds in funding the electoral registration process, training of Zambia police in electoral duties and enhanced local observation in this year’s tripartite election.

British High Commissioner to Zambia disclosed that none of the 5 million pounds that has been allocated has gone fund any political party to do its political activities.

High Commissioner Davidson said this in a media statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today in reaction to media reports alleging that DFID was funding Mr. Sata’s electoral campaigns ahead of this year’s elections.

She stated that her government is happy with President Rupiah Banda’s pledge and determination of Zambia in holding free and fair elections.

The British envoy hailed the Zambian government’s efforts in delivering an electoral process which inspires confidence locally and internationally.

High Commissioner Davidson further stated that the response from the Head of DFID Zambia is clear and disassociate the UK and other donors from the claims in the media reports.

She has since urged the media to double check their facts in order to avoid harming the excellent relationship between Britain and Zambia.

Early this week, Committee of Citizens Executive Director, Gregory Chifire was quoted as saying that the British government through DFID was allegedly funding the electoral campaigns of the Patriotic Front (PF).

Mr. Chifire was further quoted as having said that the British government and other donors fare engaged in activities to undermine the Zambian government.
ZANIS

Police in Chingola District on the Copperbelt have arrested three.

Chinese Nationals for being in possession of suspected Copper ore worth over 232 million kwacha.

And a 25 year old man of Livingstone’s Linda Compound died in police custody, in the area last Friday.

In the Chingola incidence, District Commissioner Tobias Maliti confirmed the arrest of the three foreign nationals to ZNBC News in a telephone interview.

Mr. Maliti says the three nationals who were arrested on Saturday by state police and Konkola Copper Mines KCM security personnel will appear in court on Tuesday.

Mr Maliti who has thanked state police for arresting the trio has expressed concern at the increase in the cases of copper theft in the District.

Death

And a 25 year old man of Livingstone’s Linda Compound died in police custody, in the area last Friday.

Police Service Spokesperson Ndandula Siamana has named the deceased as Thomas Mungaila.

Ms Siamana says the late Mungaila was charged with disorderly behaviour, following a drinking spree with his two colleagues.

She states that Mr Mungaila and his colleagues exhibited disorderly behaviour after he suspected them of having stolen his phone.

Ms Siamana says it is suspected that Mr Mungaila could have died as a consequence of having been beaten by his two colleagues.

She revealed that the deceased’s colleagues, Roy Sinkala and Jacob Chikote both of unknown age, have been picked as suspects.

Ms Siamana says the late Mr Mungaila was found with bruises on his head.

She says Mr Mungaila’s is at Batoka Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem.

Ms Siamana says the police service is saddened with the death of Mr Mungaila.

This is contained in a statement released to ZNBC News in Lusaka on Monday.
[ ZNBC ]

Over five hundred Patriotic Front Members-PF in Mwense District have defected from the party to join the ruling MMD.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, former PF Twikatane Branch Chairman for Mweshi ward in Chipili constituency Lawrence Bwalya said people in the area have decided to join the MMD because their area member of parliament Davis Mwila has failed to develop the area.

He says the MP has no capacity to develop the constituency and reduce poverty as it is seen in other constituencies in the country.

Mr. Bwalya says people in Chipili constituency are encouraged by the performance of the Republican President Rupiah Banda on the economical and infrastructure development in the country.

He says people of Chipili constituency also do not support homo-sexuality, a stance the PF leader Michael Sata taken.

Others that defected to join the ruling MMD are Danstan Mwape former PF vice District Chairman for Mwense District in Luapula Province and his vice Dickson Chibwe.
[ ZNBC ]

Community development and social services Minister Michael Kaingu says about 3000 women clubs have benefited from the 15 billion kwacha empowerment funds that was allocated to the ministry.

Mr. Kaingu says his ministry is also waiting for the last allocation from the ministry of finance and national planning for the whole country to be covered in the distribution of the funds.

He told QFM that the ministry is working hard to ensure that most clubs and organizations access the funds that were released to the ministry.

Mr. Kaingu has since called on more women in the country to apply for the funds so as to be beneficiaries of the empowerment funds.
[ QFM ]

Tourism and Natural Resources minister Catherine Namugala has appealed to politicians in the country to preserve the country for future leaders.

Ms. Namugala says it will be unfair for leaders in the country to destabilize the peace the country has continued to enjoy for 47 years at the expense of young people in the country.

The tourism minister noted that political leaders need to ensure that their political careers add value to the country’s economical growth.

Ms. Namugala has since advised political leaders to resolve their differences through proper dialogue instead of politics of name calling.
[ QFM ]

The Bishops Council of Zambia has said Zambians should not tolerate international organisations that are working to destabilise the country’s peace by meddling in its political affairs.

Council director Isaac Chabwera said yesterday it was wrong for international fund agencies to back activities that aimed to influence the success of a particular political party.

Dr Chabwera was reacting to reports that the Department for International Development (DfID) was using a media organisation to fund the Patriotic Front (PF)’s campaign activities.

He said such underhand methods by the DfID and the PF should not be condoned and that Zambians would not be easily misled.

“Let organisations such as DfID use their money for progressive activities that will advance development in our country,” he said.

Committee of Citizens executive director Gregory Chifire revealed at the weekend that DfID was using the Press Freedom Committee of the Post newspaper to fund PF campaign activities.

However, Dr Chabwera said it was not possible that funding political party activities was part of the DfID mandate in Zambia.

He said it was not right that such an international organisation should be used to unlawfully un-sit a democratically elected Government through support of an opposition party.

And Public Concern Zambia urged the DfID to ensure it was not deemed irrelevant by its decision to fund political parties with intentions to remove the ruling party.

PCZ director Steve Banda said funding of a political party by an organisation such as the DfID amounted to interference in Zambia’s sovereignty.

Mr Banda said if the DfID was interested in facilitating for media freedom in Zambia, it should look at programmes that supported other media bodies as well.

He said supporting one media organisation to champion one political party’s cause, did not amount to fighting for media freedom.

“If the DfID is funding The Post, it should also know that the newspaper was in partnership with the PF, which has been condemning the work of donor countries and their organisations’ work in Zambia,” he said.

Mr Banda said international organisations should respect Zambia’s democracy and support the media to remain impartial and defend the country’s dignity.

“These organisations should be more transparent in the manner they conduct activities and they should not bring in confusion,” he said.
[ Times of Zambia ]

President Banda has said the Catholic Church in Zambia has played a monumental role in the development of the country.

The President noted this in his congratulatory letter to Monsignor Evans Chinyemba on his ordination as Bishop of the Diocese of Mongu.

This is contained in a statement issued by President Banda’s special assistant for press and public relations Dickson Jere.

“The Catholic Church in Zambia has played a monumental role in the development of this country, notably in social sectors such as health in which it runs 69 hospitals, rural health centres, hospices and orphanages; education in which the church operates 221 schools, and countless social and development centres which serve all Zambians regardless of their religious background,” the President said.

He said Bishop Chinyemba has ascended to the office at a time when the Catholic Church is undergoing important changes, given the consecration of Monsignor Benjamin Phiri as Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Chipata on Saturday April 9, 2011, and the ordination of Monsignor Charles Joseph Sampa Kasonde to the position of Bishop of Solwezi a year ago, on May 29, 2010.

The President said the cleric’s appointment by Pope Benedict XVI is a demonstration of the Catholic Church’s confidence in the bishop’s ability to shepherd God’s people in Mongu.

“I believe your ordination has occurred in God’s time, and in His grace and strength you will be able to excel in your mission and ministry,” Mr Banda said.

And Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) spokesperson Father Paul Samasumo thanked President Banda for recognising the role that the church plays in the development of the country.

And President Banda has reiterated his pledge to continue working with the Catholic church for the good of all Zambians, reports ZANIS.

In a speech read on his behalf by Minister of Defence Kalombo Mwansa, President Banda said the Catholic Church, just like any other church in the country, is a partner of Government as it has the similar aim of developing the country.

Mr Banda said the Church and Government are inseparable partners in the promotion of the social well-being of the Zambian people through education and healthcare provision, among others.

The President said this at the episcopal ordination of the newly-appointed Mongu Diocese Catholic Bishop Evans Chinyemba at Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral in Mongu on Saturday.

President Banda said that Government and the church leadership must advocate peace, especially as the country goes to the polls this year.
[ Zambia Daily Mail]