The contract signed between the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and KPMG indicates that the commission was expected to pay about K800 million before the three-week audit of the commission was concluded.

The details are contained on page (4) of the contract signed by Essau Chulu and Joseph Jalasi on behalf of ECZ while Hastings Mtine signed on behalf of KPMG, as a senior partner in the firm.

The contract states that 40 per cent of the total amount that was agreed upon – which was K708 million in addition to value-added tax (VAT) at 16 per cent – was due to be paid at the start of the exercise while 20 per cent was to be paid three weeks later, which was the duration of the work.

The other 20 per cent should have been paid upon presentation of a draft report and the final 20 per cent upon presentation of the final report.

The ECZ commissioners signed the documents on November 4, 2010 but according to minutes of a meeting of December 31, 2010 attended by five officials from KPMG and seven from ECZ, director of the elections body, Dan Kalale advised that his team was not prepared for the meeting and promised to get back to the audit firm later.

While the letter of engagement delivered to Mr Kalale by former ECZ chairperson Florence Mumba indicated that KPMG officials would report to Mr Kalale throughout the audit period, Ms Justice Mumba, in her letter dated October 15, 2010, informed the firm that the final report should only be addressed to her.

However, a letter authored by Secretary to the Treasury Likolo Ndalamei to Mr Kalale dated December 30, 2010, stated that the ECZ director was the only controlling officer for the commission, and urged him to submit audited books of accounts to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.

The letter indicated that the responsibility was not to be delegated to any other officer.

“You should submit to this ministry, in accordance with the law in your own signature, audited appropriated accounts in respect of each head of expenditure for which you are responsible, for incorporation in the financial report.

“This responsibility may not be delegated to any other officer,” Mr Ndalamei’s letter to Mr Kalale reads in part.

The secretary to the treasury formally writes controlling officers after the presentation of the national Budget every year, reminding them of their responsibility to manage their respective allocations in line with the Public Finance Act Section 7 (3) and financial regulation number five.

“As controlling officers, you are the chief accounting officer for your institutions,” Mr Ndalamei said in the letter.
Copies of special imprest statements are supposed to be sent to the office of the secretary to the treasury and copied to the auditor general’s office.

One of the signatories, Mr Justice Chulu, in an interview said he was unable to comment on the matter preferring to say something during the week since he had a family engagement.

In his memorandum to Ms Justice Mumba and commission members dated November 9, 2010, Mr Kalale advised that for ECZ’s power under Section 15 of the ECZ Act of 1996 to engage consultants up to the amount of K10 billion, the provision should be read with other laws as advised by the auditor general in her letter dated October 8, 2010.

He cited part 10 of the Constitution and the Public Procurement Act which state that even if such provisions existed, the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) should be informed in line with the ZPPA Act number 12 of 2008.

“Therefore, the appointment must be subject to tender laws and regulations,” Mr Kalale stated.

KPMG, in its letter of October 26, 2010 stated that it had accepted the terms of reference drawn by Ms Justice Mumba which stipulated that the firm should compile financial irregularities at ECZ ranging from impest retirement and adherence to internal audit guidelines.

Ms Justice Mumba quit her position on Thursday last week following a four-day work stoppage by workers demanding her resignation after revelations that she allegedly facilitated the single-sourcing of KPMG to conduct a three-week internal audit at K1 billion.

The allegation was strengthened by a letter written by Ms Chifungula dated November 9, 2010 describing the contract as irregular and in contravention of the Public Audit Act of 1980, the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia and the Public Finance Act number 15 of 2004.

And Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director-General Godfrey Kayukwa yesterday told the parliamentary committee on legal affairs, governance, human rights and gender matters that the commission had started investigations into allegations of corruption at the ECZ.

Appearing before the committee, Mr Kayukwa said he had authorised an investigation into reports of corruption at the elections body.

He said the commission had received a report of corruption from the former ECZ chairperson Justice Mumba, tendered through the commission’s secretary Erick Kamwe, and one from former director Dan Kalale.

Justice Mumba was demanding that a thorough investigation be conducted at the commission to include all employment contracts, while Mr Kalale registered a complaint of flouted tender procedure at the institution.

“We are investigating allegations of corruption at the ECZ based on information released by former chairperson Justice Florence Mumba through Erick Kamwe as well as the other report from Dan Kalale,” Mr Kayukwa said.

And later in an interview, Mr Kayukwa said investigations into the alleged cases of corruption at the commission were in the preliminary stages and the ACC was gathering more information on the two complaints.

He said the commission intended to complete the investigations before this year’s elections because the image of the commission had been cast into doubt.

“We are working hard so that we can have credible elections. We want to make the findings of our investigations public before the next elections,” he said.

And ECZ spokesperson Cris Akufuna has said the confusion that rocked the commission will not affect preparations for the March 3 Mporokoso parliamentary by-election.

Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Akufuna said representatives of the 16 political parties that attended the January 28, 2011 meeting were assured that the by-election would be held as earlier planned.

He said ECZ would today brief officers mandated to oversee the by-election.

The Mporokoso seat fell vacant following the resignation from the MMD of area member of Parliament Maynard Misapa after President Rupiah Banda sacked him as Sports deputy minister.

Meanwhile, acting ECZ chairperson Pricilla Isaacs has said the Ministry of Finance and National Planning has assured the commission that funds are available for payment of outstanding arrears to mobile voter registration officers.

Submitting to the parliamentary committee on legal affairs, governance, human rights and gender matters yesterday, Ms Isaacs said the commission had initially received adequate funding at the commencement of the mobile voter registration exercise but that funding to the institution had been irregular.
[ Times of Zambia ]

United Party for National Development (UPND) Namwala Member of Parliament Robbie Chizhyuka has said Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata could divide Zambia if he is elected president in this year’s elections.

Major Chizhyuka has advised Zambians to support President Rupiah Banda for the country’s unity and stability is to be maintained.
He said in Lusaka at the weekend that he was glad he had been vindicated on the views he had been sharing with the Zambian people on the pact between the PF and UPND.

Maj Chizhyuka said Mr Sata could divide the country if he was elected as president because he had allegedly shown dislike for some provinces.

“There is no pact in Zambia, the pact died the day it was formed. It is dead because it was a selfish agreement made without the interests of the people.

“We make Mr Sata president then we have instability. Can Mr Sata espouse unity? He will divide the nation, that is why he doesn’t campaign in Western and North-Western provinces,” he said.
He also said UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema did not stand a chance of winning this year’s elections.

Major Chizhyuka said Mr Hichilema should heed advice to work with the MMD for him to remain relevant to Zambia’s politics.
[pullquote]“There is no pact in Zambia, the pact died the day it was formed. It is dead because it was a selfish agreement made without the interests of the people.

“We make Mr Sata president then we have instability. Can Mr Sata espouse unity? He will divide the nation, that is why he doesn’t campaign in Western and North-Western provinces,” he said.[/pullquote]
And UPND Copperbelt provincial chairperson Elisha Matambo has urged the electorate not to vote for PF councillors and MPs because they had allegedly failed to deliver on their election promises.

Mr Matambo said during a UPND Kitwe District conference held at Buchi Hall at the weekend that the PF should not be voted for as doing so would be to retard development in the country.

He said there was enough evidence in the manner PF had worked, especially on the Copperbelt where the party’s MPs and councillors had failed to deliver, while its party president Mr Sata had served in various governments, but had not made any significant contribution to the country.

Mr Matambo said the electorate were looking for hope and that was why there was need for UPND to carry out door-to-door campaigns for its leader, Mr Hichilema.
[ Times of Zambia ]

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) Chipili Member of Parliament Davis Mwila has been sued by his employee over unpaid salary arrears amounting to K164 million.

According to a statement of claim before the Kitwe High Court, Timmy Simuyile, who is the complainant in the matter, has sued Mr Mwila of house number 80, Mukuba Natwange in Kitwe, as a defendant.

Mr Simuyile claimed that Mr Mwila had accumulated salary arrears amounting to K164, 000,000 at the rate of K2, 000,000 per month for the seven years he had been in employment.

He said he had been a driver and election campaigner for Mr Mwila, who is a business executive and a parliamentarian.

Mr Simuyile claimed that Mr Mwila promised to buy a house for him at a cost of K60, 000,000 upon his election as MP but had not done so despite winning the polls.

He explained that he travelled to Tanzania on four occasions to collect motor vehicles on behalf of Mr Mwila at a rate of K2, 000,000 per trip, which amounted to K8, 000,000, but that he had not been paid the money to date.

He further claimed that Mr Mwila had sold all the four motor vehicles imported which he used to drive and now intended to sell the last Mitsubishi Fuso truck which he was currently driving without paying the money due to him.

Mr Simuyile is now seeking an order to compel Mr Mwila to pay K164, 000,000 salary arrears, K60, 000,000 value of the pledged house and K8, 000,000 charges for transporting the four vehicles.

He is also seeking an order of preservation and attachment of a motor vehicle known as Mitsubishi Fuso truck, registration number ACL 9266, pursuant to order 26 rule 1 and 2 of the High Court rules, interests, costs and any other relief the court might deem fit.
In his defence, Mr Mwila denied owing Mr Simuyile salary arrears amounting to K164 million.

He also denied owing any other amounts, adding that Mr Simuyile had never been his election campaign manager.

[ Times of Zambia ]

Government has today released K15 billion to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for various programmes under the continuous voter registration exercise.

The funds are additional to the K101 billion earlier released for the process between January to December, last year.

According to a Press Statement availed to ZANIS today by Ministry of Finance & National and Planning Public Relations Officer, Chileshe Kandeta, the release of K15 billion manifests Government’s commitment to the voter registration exercise in ensuring that as many Zambians as possible participate in this years tripartite.

The Commission had in the recent months requested for funds from the Government to effectively carry out its mandate ahead of this year’s tripartite polls.

“K15 billion has today been released to the ECZ for various programmes under the continuous voter registration exercise. The funds released manifests Government’s commitment to the voter registration exercise in ensuring that as many Zambians as possible participate in this years tripartite,” Mr. Kandeta said.

ECZ failed to pay the voter education facilitators who participated in the voter extension exercise that ended in November last year including the registration officers in the field in most of the districts.

[ ZANIS ]

Patriotic Front President Michael Sata has refuted claims of his party’s involvement in the impasse at the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

Mr. Sata said the PF has always been against dismissed Director Dan Kalale and at no point has the opposition party been involved in the operations of ECZ.

The PF leader said in response to the allegations labeled against his party by former PF member Samson Zulu.

Mr. Zulu has alleged that the PF has a hand in the differences at the ECZ which have seen chairperson Justice Florence Mumba resign.

The former PF member has further said that the fact PF has only commented on the matters at ECZ after the resignation of Justice clearly shows that the party is involved and challenges the leadership to come out in the open to clear the party’s name.

Yesterday, Global Justice Advocacy Campaign manager Samson Zulu on qfm mid-day news accused the opposition PF of having a hand in the impasse at the ECZ.

[ QFM ]

Zambia has been selected to the board of the African Union Anti Corruption Bureau at the ongoing African union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The anti corruption bureau acts as an advisory board to the African Union on fighting corruption.

QFM’s David Bweupe reports that the new board was approved by African heads of State and Government during the opening of 16th African Union summit which was attended by vice president George Kunda today.

Zambia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are the three Southern African countries representing the region on the anti graft bureau.

Other members to the board have been drawn from the four other regions of the continent.

Vice president George Kunda is attending the meeting representing President Rupiah Banda.

The Anti Corruption Bureau was formed following the adoption of the African Union convention on corruption in Mozambique Maputo in 2003.
[ QFM ]

Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata has challenged Minister of Local Government and Housing Dr. Brian Chituwo to state on whether he has appointed any investigative wings to investigate the alleged plot scandals at the Lusaka city Council.

Mr. Sata said under the statutes the local Minister should only suspend the council to pave way for investigations.

Mr. Sata has urged Dr. Chituwo to disclose the investigative wing that he has instructed to carry out investigation in the alleged plot scam involving the PF councilors at Lusaka city council.

The opposition leader noted that the government is trying to use the accusations against PF councilors as a political weapon being used to destabilize the opposition party.

Mr. Sata has also blamed the Dr. Chituwo for the theft scandals that recently rocked the Ministry of Health saying the theft scandals could have been prevented if the Dr. Chituwo who was the then Minister of health did not dissolve the Central board of health.

Mr. Sata was speaking in an exclusive interview
[ QFM ]

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“…I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope…”
(Acts 2:26, Message)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Where have you pitched your tent today? In other words, what are you expecting to happen in your life this year? What kind of attitude do you have? If your thoughts are stuck and you’re focusing on what’s wrong or what’s not working, then it’s time to dig up your tent stakes! It’s time to pack up your belongings and move out of the land of discouragement. It’s time to move out of the “Not-going-to-happen” subdivision and move out of “Can’t-do-it-ville.” It’s time to pack your bags and move into the land of hope, faith and expectation!

Every time you catch a negative thought and choose to dwell on God’s promises, it’s like you are packing your bags. Every time you declare God’s faithfulness, you are taking a step in the right direction. The Bible says that those who hope in the Lord will never be put to shame. As you turn your focus toward Him, you are pitching your tent in the Land of Hope — a land where His peace, blessing and victory reign forever more.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for ordering and directing my steps. Thank You for taking me to the land of hope! I choose to set my mind on You, knowing that You are faithful. I release the past and invite You to fill me with Your peace, blessing and victory today and always. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen