CATHOLIC priest Fr Frank Bwalya has been accused of fathering a child with a woman he worked with while he was head of Radio Chengelo in Ndola.

Fr Bwalya, who has since abandoned his ecclesiastical responsibilities and is now head of a political association called Change Life Zambia, is said to have fathered the child with the named woman he employed at the radio station.

Sources at Chengelo Radio station in Ndola confirmed that Fr Bwalya is suspected to be the biological father of a male child with the woman, who has since been married to another clergyman.

When contacted for a comment on the revelations, Fr Bwalya could neither confirm nor deny the allegation.

When asked if it is true that he has a child in Kitwe, Fr Bwalya corrected the author saying: “You mean Ndola?”

Asked to confirm the allegation, Fr Bwalya said he had no comment.

When asked how he felt that some people are accusing him of having fathered a child, Fr Bwalya repeated: “No comment”.

Asked if he knew the woman with whom he is alleged to have a child, Fr Bwalya just quipped: “I said no comment.”

Sources in Ndola insisted that Fr Bwalya allegedly brought the named woman at the radio station and that the two had an affair.

“I have heard about it and according to what I have heard; Fr Bwalya has a child with one of the workers here. It was Fr Bwalya who facilitated her coming. She is now married to a bishop and that is all I know,” the source said.

When contacted by phone, the woman with whom Fr Bwalya is accused of having a child refused to comment.

Asked if it is true she has a child with Fr Bwalya, the woman in apparent shock exclaimed: “What!” She then cut the line.

Further attempts to call her were futile as she did not answer the phone, which was eventually switched off.

The age of the child could not be established.

Fr Bwalya has formed Change Life Zambia as a platform to propagate his political messages, particularly those against the government.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said he will not succumb to external pressure to force him to exercise his prerogative of mercy on the 22 incarcerated treason suspects for allegedly advocating the secession of Barotseland from the rest of the country.

President Banda explained that as Head of State he could do that but without pressure from anyone not even the Catholic Bishops.

Mr. Banda stated that he had sought audience with the Catholic clergy but he regretted that they opted to rush to the press when they had dialogue and discussed the matter at length with them.

Mr. Banda was speaking to Journalists at the Lusaka City Airport shortly before his departure for Isoka, Northern Province where he is expected to officially commission the upgrading of the 393-kilometre Isoka-Muyombe-Chama-Lundazi road.

The Bishops contended that the suspects in custody must be accorded their rights as provided for in the constitution and other related legislation and appealed to the Republican President to use his prerogative to release them.

And President Banda is happy with the assurance by the Litunga that Western province will remain part of Zambia contrary to calls for its secession by some Lozi people.

Mr. Banda noted that key people in his government hailed from Western province and he thanked the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) through the Litunga for working with the Government of the Day.

Asked on the forthcoming MMD national convention, President Banda said MMD members were free to contest any position of their choice.

Mr. Banda said it is the delegates to decide who they want to elect as their leader and those aspiring for party positions should be ready to be rejected by the people.

President Banda, however, advised aspirants for various positions at the convention against being personal but instead strive at service delivery.

He was commenting on MMD chairman for elections Mike Mulongoti and others who had declared their intentions to stand for the position of party vice president.

While in Isoka district, President Banda will commission the Isoka-Muyombe-Chama-Lundazi road that provides a direct link to Lusaka from the Eastern to Western and Southern provinces and connects the Eastern, Northern and Copperbelt provinces.

President Banda and his delegation are expected to return to Lusaka after completing his one-day working visit in Isoka district.

QFM

Government says the 419 thousand kwacha minimum wage was arrived at after thorough consultations with various stakeholders including employers and employees.

Labour Minister Austin Liato says it is sad that people especially from the opposition have continued to criticize the increment saying it is too small to meet the daily needs of an ordinary Zambian citizen.

Mr. Liato said the minimum wage was a product of government and workers because this was done after wide consultations with relevant stakeholders.

Mr. Liato told the Zambia News and Information Service -ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka, Thursday that it was premature for anyone to use the minimum wage to gain cheap political mileage.

The Labour Minister also stated that government took into account all companies who are providing employment to many Zambians before arriving at the minimum wage.

He said government could not have gone beyond the K419 000 agreed minimum wages as it could have disadvantaged some small companies.

Mr. Liato said government’s aim was to strike a balance between workers and their employers.
[ ZNBC ]

The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) committee for party modernization has called on the Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde to step down.

Committee chairperson Chiwele Maimisa says Mr. Kabonde’s failed to take appropriate action against PF leader Michael Sata who allegedly was a ring leader in the abduction and assault case in which four party cadres have been convicted by the magistrate court.

Mr. Maimisa alleged that the Inspector General of Police selectively chose to arrest the cadres and let Mr. Sata who he says was a master minder to go scot free.

He says if Mr. Kabonde does not step aside, his committee will march to State House in protest and ask Republican President Rupiah Banda to retire the IG.

Mr. Maimisa added that the police should not be seen to be selective in enforcing the law adding that this is a danger to the country’s security.

And Mr. Maimisa has also questioned the statement that Mr. Kabonde is reported to have made when he appeared before the parliamentary committee on security that the operations of the police have on many times been disturbed by politicians.

He says his committee is giving the IG up to Tuesday next week to reveal to the Zambians the politicians who interfere with the operations of the police as the statement raises more questions than answers.

[ QFM ]

The United Party for National Development (UPND) in north-western Province has said its leader Hakainde Hichilema is the right person to stand as the pact’s presidential candidate in the forthcoming elections.

Provincial party trustee Smart Kaholo told QFM that the people of north-western have endorsed Mr. Hichilema as the right candidate to contest the presidential election on the UPND-PF pact ticket.

Mr. Kaholo added that time has come for the country to have a new breed of young visionary leaders.

He says Zambians do not need recycled leaders especially those that have the UNIP mentality.

Mr. Kaholo asaid old politicians including PF leader Michael Sata should leave the political arena to the younger generation.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kaholo has said the ruling MMD has lost its significance in north-western province because it has failed to deliver development to the people.

He bemoaned the lack of quality radio and television services in the province adding that the government has not shown political will in improving the broadcast services in the province.
[ QFM ]

President Rupiah Banda has thanked the Litunga for stating that Zambia is one country and that there should be NO violence over the Barotse Agreement of 1964.

Mr. Banda says he is happy that the Litunga through the Barotse Royal Establishment stated that the Barotseland is part of Zambia.

He explained that it has always been government’s position that the Barotseland is part of Zambia and that ZAMBIANS are one.

Mr. Banda told journalists shortly before he left for Northern Province that every Zambian should embrace peace.

He will be in Isoka to commission road works on the Isoka-Muyombe-Chama-Lundazi road.

Meanwhile, President Banda said he will not be pressured to release those charged with treason over the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.

He said as a Republican President he will make a decision on the matter when it is necessary.

[ZNBC]