FORMER republican President Frederick Chiluba has urged Zambians to ignore United States of America-based Zambian clergyman Edward Chomba’s denunciation of the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation because he is a fraudster.

And chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has said Zambians should pay no attention to Bishop Chomba because he is a fake clergyman.

Dr Chiluba said Bishop Chomba is not a credible representative of the clergy because he was ex-communicated from the Church ‘for his immoral and dishonest conduct.’

He said this in a statement issued by his spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba in Lusaka on April 1.

“The so called Bishop Chomba is officially married to five women in South Africa, Malawi, USA and recently Nigeria.

Owing to the scandalous nature of the life of Bishop Chomba, it is imperative that Zambia takes precautions towards fraudsters who will besiege it during this sensitive period of elections,” Dr Chiluba said.

Bishop Chomba on April 1 told Radio Pheonix’s ‘Let The People Talk’ programme that Zambia should never have been declared a Christian nation because Government was allegedly presided over by corrupt politicians.

He said the politicians did not consult the Church before making the declaration.

But Dr Chiluba said Bishop Chomba is an impostor and hypocrite who was excommunicated from the Church in 2007 by Arch-bishop Timothy Paul Baymon.

Arch-bishop Baymon is the Arch-bishop of the International Communion of the Holy Christian Orthodox Church and President of the World Bishops Council.

The former head of State said the Church should not allow people such as Bishop Chomba to masquerade as members of the clergy in Zambia and use the platform to champion dangerous causes.

“We call upon the clergy to scrutinise and root out impostors like Mr Edward Chomba so that people know that he does not represent any church in Zambia or the USA as reported by some sections of the media,” he said.

And Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said in an interview in Lusaka on April 1 that Bishop Chomba is fake because he was excommunicated from the Church in 2007 for immoral conduct.

“Edward Chomba is not a bishop, and he is misleading the public because he was excommunicated in the USA in 2007. So, he has no right to talk about Government and about the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation,” he said.

Gen. Shikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said Bishop Chomba does not qualify to be a clergyman because he is married to five women.

He said Mr Chomba was ex-communicated by International Communion of the Holy Christian Orthodox Church arch-bishop Timothy Paul Baymon.

Meanwhile, KANYANTA KATONGO reports that Committee of Citizens executive director Gregory Chifire has said Zambians should not take Bishop Chomba seriously because he is not credible.

Mr Chifire said Bishop Chomba should come out in the open and declare his political ambitions instead of misleading Zambians.

He said in an interview in Lusaka on April 1 that Bishop Chomba is not a true Christian leader because he is married to five women.

“Bishop Chomba should tell the nation about his relationship with Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata, who allegedly gives him money,” he said.

He said Bishop Chomba should join Mr Sata in PF and stop hiding in the Church.

Mr Chifire said Bishop Chomba’s remarks were uncalled for.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja says the fight against corruption is for every Zambian and not the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Government alone.

Dr Kanganja said when he opened the dissemination workshop for ACC policy to permanent secretaries in Lusaka on April 1 that Zambia will only eradicate corruption if all stakeholders join the fight against the vice.

“There is a tendency in this country to think that the fight against corruption is the responsibility of ACC and Government alone. This is a wrong concept which should not be entertained.

We ought to take the corruption fight very seriously because if we do not, we will cripple the nation economically and disadvantage the poor,” he said.

Dr Kanganja said Zambians should take a firm stance on the fight against corruption for the country to make progress.

He said citizens should refuse bribes and report all people engaged in corrupt activities to the ACC and other investigative agencies.

To permanent secretaries, he said their role as chief executive officers in Government is important in the fight against corrption because they promote transparency, accountability and efficiency in the delivery of public service.

“The fight against corruption is the responsibility of all of us. Your role is even greater because of the job you do in ministries, departments, agencies and provinces,” Dr Kanganja said.

He said the development of the National Anti-Corruption Policy and its implementation Plan indicates Government’s commitment to fight corruption.

The National Anti-Corruption Policy will be implemented within five years from 2010 to 2014.

Dr Kanganja said corporate and political will from permanent secretaries will be needed to successfully achieve the implementation of the policy.

Earlier, Commonwealth Governance secretariat advisor Roger Koranteng commended Zambia for the firm stance it has taken against corruption.

Dr Koranteng said Zambia is among leading African countries in the promotion of good governance, which includes the fight against corruption.

“Fighting corruption is like waging war. It is important for Zambia to sustain the fight against corruption. Zambia cannot fight corruption if it does not have a good administration. I am happy to say Zambia has a good administration in the fight against corruption,” he said.

And ACC director-general Godfrey Kayukwa said the workshop will highlight the role of permanent secretaries as chief executive officers in Government in the implementation of the policy against corruption.

[ Zambia daily Mail ]

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The Zambia National Marketeers Credit Association (ZANAMACA) has warned politicians against using youths as tools of violence.

And ZANAMACA has called on youths to unite and resist temptations and falling prey to violent political activities.

Commenting on the alleged clashes between MMD and Patriotic Front cadres that rocked the Kamwala market over the running of market, ZANAMACA President Frank Mupila said young people are vulnerable to the activities of politicians who are using them as tools for violence in politics.

Mr. Mupila told ZANIS in Lusaka in an interview today that there is need for top leadership in younpolitical parties to unite the young people and engage them into dialogue as opposed to fighting.

Mr. Mupila further said there is need for the adult society to give direction to young people so that they stay away from acts of violence and contribute to the development of the nation.

“The reason why youths are always fighting and causing violence is because they are vulnerable to the activities of politicians who are using them in politics. There is need to give direction to the young people so that they stay away from acts of violence,” he said.

He added that party cadres from the ruling MMD and opposition should embrace each other in order to develop the nation.

He, however, disclosed that his organization has set up a number of sensitization programs and workshops with the young people in an effort to educate them on the country’s development agenda.

He appealed to youths to stay away from acts of violence and to reject selfish politicians who are in the habit of using them when approached.

The ZANAMACA chief regretted that there was a growing tendency of every politician in this country of approaching young people in retrogressive ideas at the expense of poverty, unemployment and HIV/AIDS.

[ ZANIS ]

President Banda has reiterated his condemnation of political violence in the country.

Mr. Banda said violence should be strongly condemned regardless of whether it was perpetuated by the MMD or the opposition political parties.

The President has since directed the police to ensure that all those involved in the act are brought to book and punished.

He was commenting on the clashes between suspected MMD and PF cadres in Lusaka yesterday.

President Banda said it was ridiculous that the two political parties were involved in acts of violence without any justifiable reasons.

He stressed that it was immaterial for citizens to start debating on who was wrong or was not wrong as violence affected everybody.

“I don’t care who did it, or didn’t do it, it was all wrong .If anyone is found guilty will be locked up,” he said.

ZANIS

The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has strongly condemned the decision by Shoprite management to dismiss all workers who have been on strike in the last four days.

ZCTU Director of Public Relations and International Affairs Martin Chembe in a statement released to QFM today says the trade union demands the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of all the fired workers.

Mr Chembe says it is immoral for Shoprite management to fire workers when government through the ministry of Labour and Social Security is meeting the management and the union to try and find a solution to the situation.

He says ZCTU is aware that Shoprite management and the National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers (NUCIW) are currently holding meetings with the ministry of Labour in an effort to resolve the situation.

He adds that the action by Shoprite management clearly shows that it is has little regard for workers’ welfare and the efforts being made by government to find a lasting solution.

Mr Chembe further says that it also shows that management does not respect labour laws governing industrial relations and has since urged government to act quickly and decisive on the issue.

He states that the labour movement will not allow foreign investors to focus on profit maximization without paying any attention to the welfare of workers, adding that workers should not be used as tools for production.

Mr Chembe has since appealed to dismissed Shoprite workers to remain calm as the union deals with the situation.

QFM