By Maurice Makalu

There are media reports that there are some Muslim organisations who are planning an anti-Israel convoy that will start from Cape Town in South Africa and pass through several African countries including Zambia enroute to Gaza.

This must not be allowed in Zambia at all costs. The blockade of Gaza, though inhuman, is a political feud between Hamas and Israel because Hamas does not recognise Israel’s right to exist and wants to wipe it out of the face of the earth. The West Bank where Fatah rules is not blockaded because Fatah recognises Israel’s right to exist.

This persistent behaviour by a select few extremistic Muslims and their organisations to get involved in politics of hate, retribution and vengence is the reason the Pope expressed concern over the emergency of what he termed “Political Islam.” And he was being extremely mild. Zambia must add its voice to the Holy Father’s by NOT allowing that convoy on our soil.

Africa has known what it means to be occupied and ‘blockaded.’ We recognised it as a political predicament and fought it as such. If Arab Muslims want to support their Arab brothers, let them do so politically, not religiously. If they do it religiously, they should advance peace and unity not hatred and vengence.

It is even an insult for these people to want to start this convoy in South Africa, in the bid to liken Israel’s blockade of Gaza and just the whole Palestinian issue to Apartheid. The story of apartheid is not complete without the story of the ANC’s struggle; a struggle which was violent only when ANC was provoked. Overall, the ANC’s struggle against apartheid was non-violent; and this non-violence was epitomised in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in which the occupied reconciled with the occupier in pursuance of peace and unity.

Hamas’ founding charter is violence to exteminate Jews; they do not respond to violence, they provoke it. Unapologetically! ANC never sought to exterminate boers. South Africa must not allow anybody, individual or organisation, who sympathises with such a cause to even set foot on its soil. Such people will dent the legacy of the ANC’s struggle and its values. Nelson Mandela is not an icon for nothing!

Say NO to political Islam in all its skins.

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata has condemned the organisers of his meeting with Zambian residents in London when it was clear that only few people would turn up for his address.

The PF leader, who is in London, was expecting to address a huge crowd but was disappointed that only a handful of people attended his meeting.

The meeting almost flopped following the decision by many Zambians to shun the gathering at Oxford University, forcing Mr Sata to sound verbal attacks against the organisers.

The meeting was attended by former Kafue member of Parliament Bob Sichinga and former Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum secretary general, Kasuka Mutukwa.

Sources in Mr Sata’s delegation said the PF leader was in London to raise money to hire a chopper and other campaign activities apart from medical check-ups during his tour.

“On Saturday, two days before the meeting that took place on Monday, Mr Sata was asked to address Zambians in the UK but only met less than 20 people and sounded his displeasure to the organisers,” the source said.

Former MMD and ZADECO member Mbita Chitala, who is also in the UK, addressed the Oxford gathering to explain why he was in support of the PF leader.

Mr Sata is alleged to have been invited to give a lecture on how to build a strong opposition party in Africa by some UK-based Zambian students who are said to have been researching on opposition politics in Africa.

The source said Mr Sata was also planning to meet Zambian residents in Manchester and London on unspecified dates and unknown agenda.

“It appears Mr Sata also wants to be exposed to possible sponsors and partners in the UK as Zambia draws closer to the general elections.

“Mr Sata is also expected to meet Zambian communities in Manchester and London on unspecified dates,” said one source who attended the meeting at Oxford.

The seminar was about populism and opposition politics in Africa and was called by the department of politics and international relations at Oxford University.

Other topics discussed at the Oxford gathering included ‘Popular politics and resistance movements in South Africa’ by William Beinart of Oxford, ‘Opposition politics in Zambia and the rise of ethno-populism’ by Miles Larmer of Sheffield and ‘In search of the populist vote’ jointly done by Nic Cheeseman of Oxford and Rob Ford of Manchester.

Mr Sata was invited to Oxford University to speak at a workshop entitled Democracy, Populism, and Opposition Politics.

“We invited him simply because he has been a successful opposition leader and so we asked him to speak about how he has improved the performance of the PF from its inception to the last presidential by-election,” said Nic Cheeseman, who is head of the organising team and also a lecturer at Oxford University.

And when asked about his support for gays and lesbians, Mr Sata tried to backtrack from his earlier position, saying he did not support or advocate gay rights.

Recently, Mr Sata told a Danish media crew that Zambia recognised homosexuality and that laws were already there although what was remaining was to implement them.

[Times of Zambia]

DEFENCE Minister Kalombo Mwansa says the Ministry of Defence has not procured any arms or equipment amounting to US$100 million in the recent past.

Dr Mwansa said his ministry and the ministry of Finance and National Planning have no records indicating that the country procured arms worth that amount.

He said former Minister of Defence George Mpombo’s allegations that President Banda was involved in such a deal are unfounded and should be treated with contempt.

“It is uncalled for, for anyone to misinform the nation on such a sensitive matter which borders on national security. The Ministry of Defence was only compelled to respond because people have continued to comment on the matter without facts,” he said.

Dr Mwansa, who was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, said the ministry has a legal and stringent arms procurement process in which the President is not involved at all.

“It is clear that the President, or indeed the son of the President (James Banda), cannot be connected to the supply of equipment or arms to the Ministry of Defence. The procurement process is very stringent and does not directly involve the Head of State or State House,” Dr Mwansa said.

“It is unfair for Mr Mpombo to allege that President Banda was involved in an arms deal which in fact did not take place.

“We have never procured arms worth such an amount in the recent past and we have not made such a deal with any such company,” Dr Mwansa said.

Dr Mwansa said the President’s son James has had no dealings with the Ministry of Defence and implicating him in such a manner because of his relationship with the President is uncalled for.

[pullquote]“Even after approval is given, a contract will only be signed after the Attorney General has scrutinised it and given his legal opinion and through this whole process, the President has no role whatsoever,” Dr Mwansa said.[/pullquote]

He said because of the sensitive nature of arms procurement, it is the duty of the Ministry of Defence to ensure the strictest confidence and that the President despite being the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces is not involved in the procurement process.

“Even after approval is given, a contract will only be signed after the Attorney General has scrutinised it and given his legal opinion and through this whole process, the President has no role whatsoever,” Dr Mwansa said.

He said the President deals with matters of policy and strategy and procurement of equipment for the armed forces is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence.

He cautioned citizens to be wary of the excitement related to the approaching elections as people tend to say things even if they do not have the evidence to back their words.

Dr Mwansa also wondered why it took so long for Mr Mpombo to make these revelations. The allegations against the President were only made after Mr Mpombo was arrested on charges of non-retirement of imprest during his tenure as Minister of Defence.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Former Defence Minister George Mpombo has pleaded not guilty to three counts of theft by public servant, forgery and uttering false document in the Lusaka Magistrate court.

Mr. Mpombo has denied all the three charges leveled against him after taking plea before Chief Resident Magistrate Joshua Banda Wednesday this morning.

Particulars of the offense are that between June and September 2008, the Kafulafuta parliamentarian being a public servant as Minister of Defence, did steal 18-Million Kwacha which came into his possession by virtue of employment.

In the second count, it is alleged that Mr. Mpombo, jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown, did forge a document.

The document in question was a Tax invoice number 6358, and receipts number 2846 and 4468, purporting to show that it was genuinely issued when in fact not.

The Kafulafuta MP is further alleged to have fraudulently uttered false documents namely two receipts, a tax invoice and retirement of special imprest forms to Winter Simwinji Mhlanga.

Mr. Mpombo is being represented by Lusaka Lawyer Wynter Kabimba.

And Magistrate Banda has set June 7 as the date for the possible commencement of trial in the matter.

[ZNBC]

While stakeholders have continued to campaign against the Tujilijili (alcohol sachets), the opposition Patriotic Front is using the brand as a campaign tool.

MMD Lusaka Province Chairman William Banda has revealed that one of the tujilijili brands has a PF symbol.

Mr Banda says it is wrong for the firm producing the alcohol sachets to use the PF’s “Don’t Kubeba” slogan as its brand.

Mr. Banda told journalists at a media briefing that it is clear that the firm is supporting the opposition PF.

He explains that Zambia needs credible investors who do not align themselves with political parties.

Mr. Banda has urged the Zambia Development Agency to scrutinise investors who come into the country to set up businesses.

[ZNBC]

Government says it will do everything possible to ensure that surviving textile companies don’t collapse. Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati said since 2003 textiles industries have been facing numerous challenges, not only in Zambia but in the Africa region.

Mr. Mutati cited the allowing of materials from outside Africa as one of the reasons for collapsing of textiles industries. The Commerce Minister was speaking when he toured Kariba Textiles in
Livingstone today.

He said Government has come up with a statutory instrument which will compel the Government to buy from local industries so that jobs are preserved and local textile companies are expanded.

Mr. Mutati urged companies to take advantage of the AGOA forum to market their products which will be held in Lusaka in June.

And Kariba textile Managing Director Ali Desai has appealed to the Government through various departments like health to consider his company when it comes to procuring blankets. He also expressed concern over the heavy duty paid when buying materials.

The minister, who is in Livingstone to visit various industries, he is also expected to visit Fallsway timber later tomorrow.