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 ]

The Patriotic Front (PF) has expressed disappointment with the United Party for National Development (UPND) for stating that it will not back the PF in the Mporokoso parliamentary by-election.

PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba says it is disappointing that the UPND has decided to make such a decision.

Mr. Kabimba was , however, quick to state that the UPND, just like any other institution has a right to make any political decision.

He says the PF will not force their pact partners to support them in the 3rd March parliamentary by- elections.

Mr. Kabimba has since reiterated his call to the UNPD not to take issues concerning the PACT to the media.

He says the UPND as partners in the PACT should learn to address matters through established channels rather than through the media.

UPND national youth chairperson Joe Kalusa is quoted in today’s Times of Zambia as saying that his party will not support the PF in the Mporokoso by-election because it is clear that there is no longer a pact between the two parties.

However, UPND spokesperson Chales Kakoma has dismissed reports that the party has resolved not to support the PF in the Mporokoso by elections.

But UPND national youth chairman Joe Kalusa has maintained that UPND youths will not back the PF in Mporokoso.

He says the PF has been working as a single party, and does not see the reason to support them in the Mporokoso by elections.

Speaking in an interview with QFM, Mr. Kalusa has challenged the UPND top leadership to give the reason why they should support the PF.

[ QFM ]

Samson Zulu, one of the founder members of the Patriotic Front (PF) has written to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to have the PF leader Michael Sata and two others arrested for having allegedly masterminded his abduction and harassment in June 2009.

Mr Zulu said in a complaint letter to the DPP that there were omissions in the case he reported to the Zambia Police Service on June 5, 2009, after his traumatising abduction, assault and humiliation which happened on the same day while he and his colleague Mubanga Chileshe were addressing a Press briefing at Courtyard Hotel.

According to a letter dated February 7, 2011 obtained by the Times of Zambia, Mr Zulu said he wanted justice to prevail by arresting and prosecuting Mr Sata and others.

He said following the conclusion of two court cases involving The People Vs Judge Ngoma and others unknown and The People Vs Anshell Kampengele, George Lemba, Francis Mumba and others unknown in which the four of the seven accused body guards of Mr Sata were convicted and sentenced for assaulting his colleague and himself, it was now time to arrest the master mind.

“I submit that the other two, Roy Mulenga Kasama and Clement Nchinga have not been brought before the courts of Law together with the master mind of this whole crime Mr Michael Chilufya Sata and other known senior party officials,” he said.

Mr Zulu said that facts before the police and the courts of law are that he was assaulted and abducted from Courtyard Hotel and bundled and delivered to a place he came to know as the national secretariat of the PF along Luanshya Road in the light industrial area of Lusaka before Mr Sata.

Mr Zulu said it was at this place that Mr Sata ordered the abductors to continue beating him while he and other senior party officials kept on interrogating him to reveal the sponsors of the Press conference.

“Your honour, there is adequate facts and material evidence both with the police and courts of law which you may wish to evaluate as regards my complaint to your office in the matter,” he said.

He said Zambia was about to hold tripartite elections this year and as a victim of politically motivated violence, he could not sit idle and watch the vice escalate to unprecedented levels.

He said he was scared for his life and had reported the matter to police.

“Mr Sata is a senior citizen and political leader in Zambia, and, therefore, must lead by example and not the one syndicating such crimes which undermine the very fabric and fundamentals of this young democracy.

“I wonder what will happen to this country if by default he rigged his way to power using violence. I, therefore, plead that with you and other relevant authorities for the sake of posterity to ensure that justice is applied firmly and fairly without discrimination to all despite one’s standing in society,” the letter to the DPP read.

Mr Zulu has also written to Police Inspector General (IG) Francis Kabonde on the need to arrest Mr Kasama and Mr Nchinga for the offence of assault.

Mr Zulu in a letter dated January 14, 2011 to Mr Kabonde said the two suspects who were on the run had been spotted in Lusaka town centre on many occasions and that police had also been notified on the development.

He said he was disappointed that no arrest had been made.

[ Times of Zambia ]

Government has embarked on the construction of a multi- billion kwacha housing project in Misisi compound as part of the expansion of Lusaka Central Business District.

Local government Permanent Secretary Timothy Hakuyu said this when he appeared before the parliamentary committee on government assurances, Tuesday.

Mr Hakuyu has assured the people in Misisis and Kuku Compounds that they will be compensated through the housing project.

He added that the residents will not pay rentals for the government houses.

Mr Hakuyu told the committee that this is part of the expansion of Lusaka City.

He further said that a business complex has already been designed.

And National Housing Authority Chief Executive Officer Elias Mpondela said a Chinese company called China National Complete Trans Import and Export group will take part in the construction project.

Mr Mpondela said the project which will cost 200 million US dollars will take six years to be completed.

ZNBC