The Danish government has denied accusations that Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata was soliciting for funds from that country in return for Zambia’s recognition of gay rights once the PF forms government.

Danish Ambassador to Zambia Thomas Schjerbeck has denied the assertions describing them as false and should not be believed.

In an interview with QFM-Radio this morning, Mr. Schjerbeck has challenged those accusing the Danish government of holding talks with Mr. Sata on the gay rights to prove their allegations.

He has stated that it is wrong for the media and people to speculate that the Patriotic Front leader was soliciting for funds from gay supporting countries in exchange for the recognition of gay rights in Zambia once the PF forms government.

Mr Scjerbeck adds that the interview that the Danish media had with Mr. Sata was a private matter that has nothing to with Danish government.

He further says that the rumors and accusations are based on a false foundation.

Mr. Sata has recently come under attack from some organizations for allegedly soliciting for funds from donor countries in exchange for the recognition of gay rights in Zambia if he became President.

QFM

Critical water shortage has severely hit parts of Chipata town in Eastern province since last Friday after water pipe was damaged during road construction works.

Eastern Water and Sewerage Company Managing Director Wamuwi Changani disclosed during a media briefing in Chipata yesterday that Sable Construction Company damaged the 280 millimeter asbestos water pipe on Kanjala road.

The affected areas are Kanjala, Little Bombay,Chipata Motel, old Jim and Jere areas.

He added that the most hit of the area was Chipata Motel adding that the company would send a water baser to cushion the problem.

He urged the residents in the affected areas to pay attention to the schedule so that they do not miss the opportunity of access to water.

The Director assured the residents that water supply would be restored by May 14, since the company had already managed to source for the materials.

And Mr Changani stated that the utility company would continue to engage stakeholders to relate on ways of how to protect infrastructure without damaging and causing problems such as the bursting of pipes.

He stated that the company would continue meeting with stakeholders to ensure coordination improved and infrastructure protection to avoid inconveniencing the residents.
[ ZANIS ]

A prosecution witness has contradicted herself in evidence given to a Choma magistrate court during the ongoing trial of a Germany national facing a charge of defilement of a minor.

Julia Saboi,35, a businesswoman of Kabanana compound in Choma gave a different statement in court from the one she presented to the police.

This was after Saboi was twice made to read section 104 and the amended act no 6 of 1972 criminal procedure code no 150 cap 88 of the laws of Zambia.

Saboi, however, told magistrate Jacob Mbolela that she made a mistake in her earlier statement to the police and that she did not go through it hence her contradictory statement to the court.

This was in cross examination by defence lawyer Milner Katolo of Milner and Associates.

This is in a case in which Bernd Hieke is alleged to have defiled his eight year old step daughter.

In her earlier statement to the police which was read in court, Saboi had told police that she had attempted to insert her fingers into the private parts of the eight year old girl in the process of trying to ascertain if the minor had been defiled.

Saboi had told police that when she attemtped to insert her fingers, the minor screamed but during cross examination by defence she denied the act.

And another witness Flovian Mayuka 33 of Kabanana compound in Choma also told the court how she received a phone call from the mother to the alleged defiled girl to go and help her find out why there was some strange smell from the alleged victim’s private parts.

She narrated how they made the alleged defiled girl lie on her bed and started counselling her before they checked her private part.

Mayuka told the court that together with Saboi, he saw some kind of a red pimple and a cut inside the girl ‘s private, prompting them to question what happened.

The trial Magistrate adjourned the matter to 13th June, 2011 for continuation of trial as two medical doctors who are prosecution witnesses could not make it to court. One is reported to be out side country while the other is attending a workshop.

Last week an eight year (8) old girl of Choma testified before the Choma Magistrate Court how her stepfather alleged sexually abused her in their family house.

The named girl who is a grade three (3) pupil at one of the private Schools in the district said her stepfather is alleged to have been used to sneaking into her bedroom with intent to have sex with her.

She told the Magistrate court that her stepfather had allegedly sexually abused her twice in their home who during the act had threatened the little girl not to tell her mother.

She explained that the man had promised to continue buying her presents which the mother was not buying her because he loved her.
Bernd Hieke who is currently staying in Lusaka is a former employ of Southern Water and Sewerage Company.

Defence Lawyer made an application for a speedy trial because his client is out of employment as his contract was terminated by the Germany Technical Cooperation (GTZ) owing to the same case and is currently facing financial constraints.

He added that the tenancy of his client is ending this month end and pleaded for the case to be speeded up.
[ ZANIS ]

Chief Sinazongwe of the Tonga speaking people in Southern Province says his chiefdom will support President Rupiah Banda in this years general elections.

The Traditional leader said this when Commerce and Trade Minister Felex Mutati paid a courtesy call on him at his Palace yesterday.

” The district ( as a whole also) expects to elect a Member of Parliament (MP) under the Movement for Muilt-party Democracy (MMD) ticket this year,” he said.

He said Southern Province expects to elect about 10 MPs under the MMD and they expect them to be appointed as cabinet ministers.

The chief said President Banda’s administration has done a recommendable job in Southern Province which is an opposition strong hold for the United Party for National Development (UPND).

Chief Sinazongwe said government has built a lot of infrastructure such as Schools, Health centres, the construction of the bottom road from Sinazeze to Chaboboma in Gwembe district, and the rehabilitation of the Maamba/Batoka road.

He said Southern Province has been in opposition for the past 15 years yet the government has continued to bring development to area.

“All the members of the opposition are benefiting from the development that government is has brought and the provision of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) that is being used to build a lot infrastructure and in Sinazongwe a magistrate court has been built,” Chief Sinazongwe said.

Mr Mutati said government will continue solving problems that are affecting the country and the district of Sinazongwe especially issues of the Maamba retrenches.
[ ZANIS ]

A serious rift has emerged between Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata and members of the central committee who have accused their leader of leaking confidential information to newcomers in the party.

PF founder member, Sam Zulu said in Lusaka yesterday that some members of the central committee had indicated that there were differences in the opposition political party where Mr Sata had resorted to play a “role of a swinger.”

When contacted, Mr Sata confirmed that he had been doing so because he did not believe in gossip but wanted transparency in running of the party.

Mr Zulu said there were complaints among the senior members that Mr Sata had decided to embrace newcomers such as Panji Kaunda, former Zambian ambassador to Libya Mbita Chitala, former Defence minister George Mpombo, and former Works and Supply minister Mike Mulongoti at the expense of the ‘old faithful’.

Some members of the central committee have said Mr Sata was fond of reporting every piece of information which came on his desk by virtue of his position, a situation which had raised questions about his credibility as a leader.

They said Mr Sata was at the centre of promoting gossip in the top party hierarchy because he wanted to impress newcomers at the expense of old members.

“What is happening in the PF is real disaster because a lot of members of Parliament are now even planning to defect to the ruling MMD just after Parliament is dissolved.

“Having been a PF member and still with friends in the opposition political party, some members have confided in me that there is actually a serious crisis which has totally cracked the PF hierarchybecause of Mr Sata’s divide-and-rule tactics.

“There are complaints that there is too much gossip in the party such that one cannot even confide in the PF leader for fear of being reported to the person under discussion,” Mr Zulu said.

He said with such happenings, several PF MPs who did not even attend the National Constitutional Conference were now planning to defect to the ruling party once Parliament was dissolved.

According to some members of the central committee, Mr Sata had decided to sideline two once-upon-a-time vocal party spokespersons Wynter Kabimba and Given Lubinda, accusing the duo of failing to campaign for him effectively and now preferred to use Colonel Kaunda, Dr Chitala andMr Mpombo whom he had unleashed to discredit the Government.

He said although Mr Sata had accepted Mr Mulongoti, he had hinted to some of the senior PF members that he was reluctant to work with the former MMD chairperson for elections because of his inconsistencies, and that the PF leader did not have trust in him.

“In fact very soon you will hear that Mr Kabimba has resigned because he is bitter while Mr Lubinda who Mr Sata wants to contest Keembe Constituency in this year’s elections is frustrated because he knows that he cannot beat the incumbent MP, Ronnie Shikapwasha and now thinks Mr Sata just wants him out of the party limelight.

“As for Mr Kabimba, the problems with Mr Sata started just after his (Kabimba’s) father publicly condemned his son for working with the PF president,” Mr Zulu said.

Mr Sata confirmed that he had been giving out information in order to promote transparency in the party.

“I believe in transparency and that is why each time anyone talks about someone, I go and tell the person under discussion. What is wrong with me doing that? In fact that was what I was doing even when I was MMD national secretary.

“In fact that Zulu has never held any position in PF and he is now just playing the role of fufuleza (meaning Vuvuzela) for the MMD,” he said.

He said there was nothing wrong in him embracing the newcomers in PF, adding that there were no membership cards in his party to distinguish new members from old ones.
[Times of Zambia]

Former Vice-President Lupando Mwape should disclose the real reasons behind his recall from China where he was serving as ambassador, the MMD has said.

MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu said in a statement yesterday that his party finds Mr Mwape’s “cowardly and veiled” attack on President Banda in yesterday’s edition of The Post “irresponsible, misleading and uncalled for”.
He said those who are privy to details behind his recall find his statement “hilarious”.

“Mr Mwape should shut up before he disgraces himself further. He must stop provoking others,” Mr Nyangu said.

Mr Nyangu said Mr Mwape must realise that the attacks on President Banda will not help him in any way and he should not deliberately mislead the public.

Mr Mwape alleged during the burial of former Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) vice-president Chewe Lupili in Ndola on Monday said he was recalled from his diplomatic posting because he was “too old”.

The former Vice-President also said President Banda has not initiated any development programmes and has just been implementing what President Mwanawasa initiated.

“Mr Mwape’s statement on President Banda’s government is coming from an extremely bitter and ungrateful heart,” Mr Nyangu said.

He said Mr Mwape should stop apportioning his own failures on innocent people including President Banda.

“Mr Mwape is entirely to blame for his recall. He cannot point a finger at anyone. It is saddening that Mr Mwape chose to vent his frustrations at a funeral,” Mr Nyangu said.

Mr Nyangu said Mr Mwape’s opinion on President Banda and development must be dismissed as careless talk which does not even deserve a response.

He said it is not anybody’s fault that Mr Mwape has chosen not to see the development strides President Banda and his government are making.

Meanwhile, JERRY MUNTHALI reports that the MMD in Northern Province has castigated Mr Mwape for attacking President Banda.

MMD Northern Province chairman Stephen Mukuka said in an interview from Kasama yesterday that Mr Mwape is not a factor in politics because he allegedly failed to explain Government policies when he was sent into the diplomatic service.

“Mr Mwape is nowhere to be in Northern Province. He was sent abroad so that he can explain Government policy but he couldn’t make it,” Mr Mukuka said.

He said he is happy that the people of Northern Province are rejoining the MMD because of the Patriotic Front’s alleged support for gay rights and the collapse of the United Party for National Development -PF pact.

“The people of Northern Province are not happy with the vulgar language of the PF. They have lost confidence in the leadership of the opposition party because of its support for homosexuality and lesbianism. We are appealing to them to vote for President Banda in this year’s elections,” Mr Mukuka said.

Mr Mukuka said 82 PF members from Tazara township in Kasama defected to the MMD on Monday.

He said the MMD’s tour of the 13 districts of Northern Province has yielded positive results as former members have been rejoining the MMD.

Mr Mukuka said the presence of Minister of Education Dora Siliya and Minister of Labour and Social Security Austin Liato has helped the MMD in the province to explain Government policy to the electorate.

The MMD tour of Northern Province started on May 3 and is expected to end on May 17.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

The House of Chiefs has condemned Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata for allegedly lobbying the British government to help to reinstate the disbanded Task Force on Corruption in Zambia.

House of Chiefs chairperson Chief Madzimawe said in an interview yesterday that such acts of desperation are not good.

The chief said it is surprising that Mr Sata went to lobby for the reintroduction of the Task Force on Corruption when he knows very well that there are existing structures in the country which adequately deal with cases of corruption.

He said what Mr Sata should be doing is to call on donors to financially assist existing structures such as the Drug Enforcement Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Zambia Police.

During his recent visit to London, Mr Sata is alleged to have also sought support to split Zambia through the Barotseland Agreement.

“The motives behind Mr Sata’s actions are difficult to understand. The House of Chiefs has preached over and over that politicians should talk about issues, but this seems to fall on deaf ears,” Chief Madzimawe said.

On the Barotseland Agreement, Chief Madzimawe said even Mr Sata himself, if elected President, would not like to inherit a split country.

He said seeking this kind of support is not beneficial to Zambia.

“We are a unitary state and calls for the secession of Western Province must be dismissed,” he said.

Independent Churches of Zambia president David Masupa said Mr Sata’s trip to the UK is regrettable.

He said it is not right for a leader of a political party to lobby for such kind of support from former colonial masters who have recognised Zambia as a sovereign state.

Reverend Masupa said most people will recall that Mr Sata was against the Task Force and called it an illegal body which practised selective justice.

“Mr Sata is showing citizens that he is not a serious leader and the British government must begin to see this and ignore him,” Rev Masupa said.

He said it has now become clear that Mr Sata is desperate for power and will go to any lengths to try to assume power.

“He has shown that he does not care about the people of Western Province by calling for it to be separated from Zambia,” he said.

Rev Masupa said the MMD is a responsible Government which cannot allow Zambia to be split into two.

He said Western Province is part of Zambia and this is the reason Government has initiated several projects in the province.

Committee of Citizens executive director Gregory Chifire said Mr Sata is a man of “double standards” who is on record as having labelled the Task Force an illegal institution.

Mr Chifire said the PF leader has shown that he has no leadership qualities and does not understand what it means to be a sovereign state.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

Former Finance minister Ng’andu Magande says the ruling MMD will not have it easy in this year’s elections.

Mr. Magande says the type of leadership the MMD has continued to provide to the country will make it hard for them to bounce back into power.

He has also noted that the ruling party’s campaigns will be hard especially with the expulsion of senior members.

Mr. Magande says it is evident that the MMD’s chances of winning this year’s elections are blink.

He adds that the concerns raised by former Vice president Lupando Mwape and the criticism coming from former works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti is a sign that the Rupiah Banda administration has failed.

He says Zambians will now judge for themselves if the MMD has worked according to their expectations.

Mr. Magande said this in an interview with QFM.

QFM

The Lusaka Magistrate Court has set June 15 as judgment a case in which Enviroflo Limited Director Angelique Elsing was sued by her maid for defamation of character contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

51 year old Elsing, a nurse by profession and director at Enviroflo Limited, appeared before Chief Resident Magistrate Mwaka Mikalile for allegedly telling , Rosemary Mbuzi, her maid ,that she was HIV positive.

Angelique told the court during cross examination by the defense lawyer that she did not fire Rosemary on grounds that she is HIV positive and did not at any point tell her that she was HIV positive.

She told the court that Mbuzi, who worked for her for 4 years, refused to renew her contract last year in September after it expired and that the she only got concerned about the Mbuzi’s health as she had developed lymphnods when she resumed duty from leave.

The court further heard that after Mbuzi’s husband died, his employer hinted to Elsing ‘s husband that the deceased had died from HIV related illness.

In addition, she told the court she had heard that Elsing was saying that Rosemary’s daughter was not growing well as she always slept in class.

The accused told the court that she then told her maid to go for Voluntary Testing and Counseling (VCT ) as there could be possibility of one becoming infected from an infected partner. However, Mbuzi did not go for counseling as advised by her employer.

The court also heard that when Mbuzi told her employer that she had TB (tuberclosis) last year, the accused wrote a letter to the doctor to asking if Rosemary’s TB was conten or not and got a response was that it was not.

Elsing further said after Mbuzi refused to sign forms to renew her contract she only got a phone call from a named private television station in November last year that she fired Mbuzi for being HIV positive.

During chief cross examination by the complaint, Mbuzi insisted that Elsing told her that she was HIV positive and that her daughter has also been sick.

She said her employers’ remarks has dented her image and human dignity.

Magistrate Mikalile urged the contending parties to make written submissions to the court before June 15, 2011, the date which has been set as judgment.

ZANIS

Four Zambian U.N. peacekeepers in Sudan’s contested Abyei region were yesterday shot and wounded by unknown attackers, the United Nations said.

The oil rich Abyei region is another north/south flashpoint.

The attackers shot the Zambian peacekeepers in Goli north of Abyei town on Tuesday afternoon, Hua Jiang, spokeswoman for the U.N. Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) said.

She said one of them was seriously wounded, and all were evacuated to Abyei for treatment.

In a separate incident more than 80 rebels and civilians were killed when insurgents attacked a camp in south Sudan, the army said on Tuesday, in the latest violence to mar preparations for the region’s independence.

People from Sudan’s oil-producing south overwhelmingly voted to secede in a referendum in January, promised in a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of civil war with the north.

Celebrations over the independence vote have been marred by a wave of tribal violence and clashes between the south’s army and renegade militias.

QFM