PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata has proved that he will be a danger to national security if entrusted with power to run the country going by his failure to uphold confidentiality in his own party.

Lusaka Province MMD task force spokesperson Chiwele Maimisa said it was not surprising that Mr Sata had been discovered by his own central committee members to cause confusion in the opposition party because the PF leader did the same way back during the days when he served as a constable in the colonial government in which he used to leak information leading to the arrest of Zambians.

And United Party for National Development (UPND) national youth chairperson, Joe Kalusa said Mr Sata was a danger to State security and should not be allowed to become Republican president after admitting that he had been personally leaking sensitive information against rival individuals in the country’s biggest opposition party.

On Wednesday, Mr Sata admitted that he had been leaking confidential information within the party’s central committee, saying he had been doing so to promote transparency.

Mr Sata also said he used to do the same when he was MMD national secretary.

Mr Maimisa said it was pleasing to note that Mr Sata had finally chosen to expose his true character of being a danger to national security and an untrustworthy person by admitting to leaking information which had in the end cracked his party hierarchy.

“It is not surprising that Mr Sata’s tricks have caught up with him because this is the man who used to report to the colonial masters every bit of information when others met to liberate the country.

“Zambians should be extremely careful with this man because the liberation he is talking about now may just mean taking the country back to his colonial masters going by the issues he went to advocate for during his recent trip to the United Kingdom,” he said.

Mr Maimisa said it was true that some PF Members of Parliament were currently disgruntled and were planning to leave the party, especially that Mr Sata did not seem to be set to go to the party national convention.

“In fact some MPs are now planning to petition the PF central committee to elect a person to be floated as a presidential candidate in this year’s elections because they feel Mr Sata is undemocratic and wants to continue imposing himself on the members,” Mr Maimisa said.

And Mr Kalusa said an opposition leader who admits having leaked information that is responsible for causing divisions among his leaders could plunge the country into chaos should he assume State power.

Mr Kalusa said even when UPND and PF ran the pact, Mr Sata leaked sensitive information to a private newspaper, a habit which showed lack of leadership skills. He warned Zambians that the country could degenerate into turmoil against other states should the PF leader become president.

He said Mr Sata should know that he would not become president of Zambia and that the challenge would only be between President Banda and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema.

Mr Kalusa said the weaknesses that had exposed Mr Sata, including his support for homosexuality, should make the PF leader forget about becoming president of this country.

Mr Kalusa also said in his usual dictatorial way of running the party, Mr Sata whose party had failed to hold the national convention, recently appointed Rebby Chanda as PF Copperbelt provincial chairperson despite having been rejected by the PF members who attended the provincial conference in Mufulira, in preference for former Masaiti PF secretary Sturdy Mwale who had since been suspended for challenging Mr Sata’s preferred candidate and tribesman.

[Times of Zambia]

Dr Machungwa said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that those who supported MrSata have learnt a lesson and the divisions are likely to continue.

He was commenting on divisions which have rocked the opposition party.

“More members will leave the PF because of the bad leadership exhibited by Mr Sata. He will only remain with people who have accepted to be insulted and shouted at,” he said.

He said Mr Sata’s negative attitude towards his members will cost him in the 2011 elections.

Dr Machungwa said Mr Sata’s dictatorial leadership will force all good members to leave the PF.

And Committee of Citizens (CoC) executive director Gregory Chifire said the divisions in the PF are a sign of Mr Sata’s type of government should he be elected president.

Mr Chifire said Kafulafut amember of Parliament George Mpombo, former works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti and former ambassador to Libya Mbita Chitala have contributed to divisions in the PF.

He said the three individuals and Mr Sata practise ‘politics of lies and fabrications.’

Mr Chifire said Mr Sata is good at using people to advance his cause.

He said Zambians are not ready to vote for Mr Sata because he has never been democratically elected at a party convention.

Mr Chifire said Mr Sata’s support for gay rights will extensively divide the party. He said MrSata has nothing to offer and deliver to the people of Zambia as he lacks leadership qualities.

Mr Chifire urged PF members who are still reluctant to leave PF to do so as MrSata is just wasting their time.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing Moses Muteteka says the Patriotic Front (PF) in Northern Province has continued to sponsor hooligans who are disturbing MMD meetings at which the ruling party is explaining to the people the projects it has implemented in the area.

Mr. Muteteka said in a telephone interview from Chinsali yesterday the PF is unsettled by what the MMD has done for the people of Northern Province, and has therefore resorted to violence.

He said the reason for that behaviour is that the PF has no issues on which to campaign, and has chosen violence as a way of venting its frustrations on the MMD.

He said on Wednesday night the MMD uncovered a ploy in which some PF youths in Chinsali were strategising on how to disturb the MMD meetings, and threatened Minister of Education Dora Siliya, who is in the same entourage as Mr Muteteka and Minister of Labour and Social Security Austin Liato.

Mr. Muteteka said the youths became unruly, but police managed to apprehend some of them in connection with the violence.

“It is just normal for the PF to appreciate that we have delivered development, but what they are doing is backward type of politics,” he said.

Mr Muteteka said he has also discovered that PF MPs in the province are abusing Constituency Development Fund (CDF) money by engaging their relatives and friends and giving them money for contracts that they are not executing.

He said in one incident, he discovered that a named MP paid a purported contractor K60 million for the construction of a clinic, but the project has been at foundation level for the past seven months. Nothing is happening at the site.

Mr. Muteteka said it is unfortunate that the PF MPs have taken advantage of the huge allocations of CDF, which is supposed to benefit the people in the communities.

But he warned that any contractor who will be discovered to have got CDF money for unexecuted projects will be dealt with accordingly.

And Mr Muteteka has said as MMD youth chairman, he is disappointed with the PF leadership for abusing youths to work against the government, which is working hard to empower young people with survival skills and resources.

He urged the PF to discipline its cadres involved in acts of violence against the MMD.
[ Zambia Daily mail ]

THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has been challenged to publish the grounds on which the association wanted the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to rely on in appealing against the judgment involving former president Frederick Chiluba.

Former Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Edward Mumbi has also challenged the association to publish the entire judgment so that members of the public can read and make informed decisions on the acquittal of the former Head of State.

In a letter to LAZ president Musa Mwenye dated May 11, 2011 concerning his statement of May 10, Mr Mumbi said it was surprising that almost two years after the judgment was passed, the association had failed to publish the said judgment from which calls for the resignation of Chalwe Mchenga had emanated.

“Publishing the judgment would have greatly assisted the public make informed decisions on the case of Dr Chiluba.

“In fact, the failure by LAZ to publish the judgment in the case of Dr Chiluba is what has led to unjustified and misguided attacks on Mr Mchenga, magistrate Jones Chinyama and the judiciary,” he said.

Mr Mumbi said LAZ was perceived to be in the forefront of attempting to destroy the credibility of the judiciary and the justice system in Zambia.

“In order to restore the credibility of LAZ and show that the association believes in fairness and justice, I challenge you as LAZ president to ensure the entire judgment in the Chiluba case is published for people to make informed decisions on the acquittal of Dr Chiluba and the reasons or grounds which LAZ expected that the DPP should have relied on in appealing the judgment are published immediately before issuing any further misleading statements,” Mr Mumbi wrote.

He also challenged Mr Mwenye and LAZ to behave differently from uninformed civil society organisations by ensuring it published judgments in which the public may have interest so members of the public could read on their own and appreciate the contents.

[Times of Zambia]

Zambia is among Least Developed Countries that will face a gradual phasing out of grant aid from donors because of its good economic performance.

Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has told journalists in Turkey that Zambia’s income per person has grown from US $330 to $1 200 in the last ten years.

Dr Musoktwane says the donors are reviewing their position with countries that are posting positive economic results including Zambia.

He says Denmark has already given a three year notice while Holland has also indicated its intention to do the same even though the withdrawal period is yet to be agreed upon.

Dr Musokotwane says the process of phasing out aid dependency will be gradual and will be negotiated from country to country.

[pullquote]Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has told journalists in Turkey that Zambia’s income per person has grown from US $330 to $1 200 in the last ten years.[/pullquote]

He says Zambia should be ready for the move because it can not depend on aid permanently.

Zambia is deemed as one of the country’s that can graduate from the LDC category to the middle income status because of its increased per capita income.

Members of the Least Developed countries must have a per capita income of about 7-hundred and fifty or less but Zambia has per capita income of 1-thousand 2-hundred.

Other factors that make a nation a Least Developed country include high economic vulnerability in relation to population size, diversity of goods exported and instability of exports of goods and services.

ZNBC

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]