A HUMAN rights and governance consultant has advised former prime minister in the UNIP government Malimba Masheke to apologise to the people of Western Province for the area’s underdevelopment, arguing that it would be a travesty of reason to accuse the current administration of being responsible for the situation in the area.

Reacting to a statement by some concerned citizens presented by General Masheke on the recent happenings in Western Province, Mbinji Mufalo said it was unfortunate that the Barotseland Agreement was being used for political competitiveness.

“The issues I seek to share with you were evoked by sentiments recently expressed by Gen Masheke and maybe shared by his peers on the incarcerated individuals from Western Province, and that little attention has been paid to Western Province and that it is the poorest region in Zambia,” he said.

Mr Mufalo, who is a lecturer at the University of Zambia, said to argue that a president who had been in office for a period of slightly more than two years was responsible for the unacceptable and undesirable situation in some regions of Zambia was a travesty of reason.

He said while it could be acknowledged that there was poverty in Western Province, the situation was similar to other rural provinces of the country.

“The obtaining concerns and contentions on the Barotse question should serve to provide us a premise for interrogating our governance modes. There should be nothing partisan about the Barotse question,” he said.

Mr Mufalo attributed the current situation on the failures of the past leadership.

“I here ague that eminent persons like Gen Masheke and his peers should be honourable enough and say to the people of Zambia that we the political and governance elite have failed the people of Zambia and indeed rural provinces like Western Province over time and we apologise, other than evoking anti-Government sentiments,” he said.

He said he was happy that the Government was putting in place development frameworks to redress the under-development in rural Zambia.

He said Zambians should challenge people like Gen Masheke on what they did when they were in office.

Mr Mufalo said Gen Masheke and concerned parties should show leadership by advocating for broader consultative means of engaging the Barotse question.

[ Times of Zambia ]

The BRE has,therefore, condemned in the strongest terms some people in the Western Province who are calling for separation of the Barotseland from the rest of the country.

The Litunga of the Lozi people said this through his representative Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta at State House, when he presented a report of the Lozi National Council meeting held in Mongu recently.

He said the Baroste agreement of 1964 is very clear in outlining its objectives which are to promote peace and national unity.

Senior Chief Yeta said this when he led a 14 member delegation of Indunas at a meeting with President Rupiah Banda at state House.

He said the BRE has never advocated for violence in calling for recognition of the agreement but discussion.

He, however, said there are some sections of people in Western Province who think the agreement calls for separation of the area from the rest of the country.

And President RUPIAH BANDA said government will receive the report and will consider it with the seriousness it deserves.

The President said he was happy to receive the Litunga’s delegation at State House.

He noted that the mission which the delegation has undertaken is welcome as is aimed at helping in uniting the nation.
[ ZNBC ]

Following yesterday’s announcement by Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti that he will contest the vice presidency, party Legal committee chairperson Bwalya Chiti is said to be the latest member to show interest.

Sources told QFM that Mr. Chiti has also expressed interest in vying for the ruling party’s vice presidency.

Others said to be interested for vacant position since the party’s last convention in 2006 are MMD committee member Walisiku Lisulo, and foreign affairs minister who is also party deputy national chairman Kabinga Pande.

The MMD has set April 5th to 7th as the dates for the national convention.

Meanwhile MMD in Lusaka Central constituency have challenged party chairman for elections Mike Mulongoti to tell the nation what he has done for the MMD for him to contest the vacant position of party vice president.

Constituency chairman Chilekwa Munkonge says as much as the party constitution allows MMD members to contest for various positions of their choice, the vice presidential position requires someone who has contributed to the welfare of the general membership of the party.

Mr. Munkonge added that his constituency has resolved to rally behind Republican Vice President George Kunda for the party vice presidency ahead of the forthcoming convention slated for Kabwe in April.

He says Mr. Kunda has is the suitable candidate for the position as he has contributed to the welfare of the party and the general membership.

And Mr. Munkonge has further said that the majority of the MMD members have endorsed the candidature of Mr. Kunda as a preferred candidate at the convention daring Mr. Mulongoti to go ahead with his ambitions if he is able to withstand the pressure.

[ QFM ]

Government will next year begin issuing digitalised National Registration Cards.

Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Ndiyoyi Mutiti says government will change the NRC to enhance security features.

She explained that the current NRCs are vulnerable to forgery.

Ms. Mutiti told the parliamentary Committee on Government Assurances that the three year project will cost about 15 million US dollars.

Shesaid equipment for the project has already been bought and that the installation of software has started in Lusaka.

She also said government will also computerise the department of National registration, Passports,and Citizenship.
[ZNBC ]

LUSAKA lawyer Rodger Chongwe has continued attacking the Zambian Government because he has failed to secure US$7 million which he was awarded by the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) following a shooting incident in Kabwe in 1997.

In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, former Patriotic Front PF secretary general Edward Mumbi said Dr Chongwe wrote the Government last month asking for S7 million claiming that there was interest that had accumulated since the ruling was passed.

“I want Dr Chongwe to deny what I am saying. He is asking for money from the Government as compensation but as a lawyer, he knows that the ruling cannot be enforced in Zambia,” Mr Mumbi said.

He challenged Dr Chongwe to state how elections were rigged, especially that he was minister of Justice and Government advisor.

Mr Mumbi said Dr Chongwe should not continue making empty allegations that the Government had been rigging elections but should explain the formula he was using when he was in Government.

He said the ruling by the UNHRC was not enforceable in Zambia because it had not been registered in line with the law.

He said Dr Chongwe did not exhaust all the local channels before taking the matter to the UN body.

Mr Mumbi said Dr Chongwe had now become bitter because he campaigned for President Rupiah Banda during the 2008 presidential elections hoping to be rewarded with the release of his dues.

He said the Government had rejected the appeal, which was consistent with the position taken by late president Levy Mwanawasa, who said the ruling was not enforceable in Zambia.

He said because of anger, Dr Chongwe had continued to criticise President Banda as a tactic to force the Government to invite him but was surprised that was not happening.

“It is a fact and public knowledge that he campaigned for President Banda because our late president Levy Mwanawasa, one of Zambia’s eminent lawyers, wrote to Dr Chongwe informing him there was no law that provided or supported the registration of such a foreign judgment in Zambia.

“Dr Chongwe, being a former Legal Affairs minister and chief adviser to the Government, should tell Zambians how he advised the Government he served in preparing the rigging of elections,” Mr Mumbi said.

[ Times of Zambia ]

Cabinet has approved a 2-million U.S dollars budget to finance the hosting of the 2011 Africa Growth Opportunity Act-AGOA forum in Zambia.

Commerce Minister Felix Mutati says the funds will be used to finance various activities in line with the forum.

Mr. Mutati said the forum is expected to be attended by over 300-U.S based companies.

An additional 3-thousand delegates will also be drawn from Africa.

Mr. Mutati said a ministerial Committee has already been established to look into logistics ahead of the forum, which is slated for June this year.

The AGOA meeting will address among other things extending Zambia’s market access into the U.S.

Mr. Mutati told ZNBC Business News , Wednesday that while market access has been opened into Europe, it has been difficult for Africa to access the US market.

He said the forum will create business linkages between the U.S and other countries.
[ ZNBC ]

Six people have died, while two have sustained injuries, in a road accident involving three vehicles in Luanshya on the Copperbelt.

Copperbelt Police Commanding Officer Martin Malama told ZNBC news that the accident happened around 09:00 hours Wednesday morning.

Dr. Malama said the accident involved a Volvo Truck, A toyota Corrolla and a Mitsubishi Pajero.

He said the dead include three passengers who were travelling on a Toyota Collora, and three others who were on an unregistered Mitsubishi Pajero.

Three passengers on a Volvo truck escaped unhurt.

Eye witnesses said the truck hit into the two vehicles.

And Dr. Malama said police are investigating the cause of the accident.
[ ZNBC ]

MMD Chairperson for Elections Mike Mulongoti has declared his candidature for the MMD Vice-Presidency at the forth-coming party national convention.

Mr. Mulongoti, who is also Works and Supply Minister told Journalists, Wednesday that he has decided to contest the position of party Vice-Presidency because of his vast experience.

He said he has done a lot for the party and feels now is the right time for him to serve the MMD at a different level.

Mr. Mulongoti also urged party members, especially young people, to aspire for various party positions and defend the principle of democracy in the party.

He also said he will ensure that he campaigns with dignity and appealed to all party members aspiring for various positions to do same.

Mr. Mulongoti said all party members vying for positions in the party should be given chance to contest without intimidation.
[ ZNBC ]