The Zambia Under-20 will face Zimbabwe in the Cosafa Youth Championship semifinals tomorrow.
Zambia qualified to the semifinal after finishing top of Group C at the ongoing event in Botswana after beating Mauritius 2-0.
Zimbabwe advanced on maximum six points after beating Swaziland 3-1.
The other semifinal will see Namibia face Madagascar after they beat South Africa and Mozambique by the same 2-0 score line respectively.
Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president, Reuben Lifuka has charged that the acquittal of Second Republican President, Fredrick Chiluba’s wife, Regina is a clear indication that the use of courts of law in investigating and <del>persecuting</del> prosecuting corruption cases in Zambia is not helpful.
Mr. Lifuka said the general implication of the outcome of Mrs Chiluba’s case is that more room has been given for corrupt people to engage in corruption and go scott free after plundering public resources because the law is weak.
He told QFM in an interview that the weakening of the law against graft and its interpretation has just given plunderers and all those who cannot account for the usage of public resources space to go scott free without being taken to task.
Mr Lifuka said that it was now a free season for all those engaging in corruption to go ahead and plunder as much as they can because they know very well that the law has no strength to bite.
Mr. Lifuka further said the Zambian courts have done themselves a de-service following the acquittal of Mrs Chiluba.
[pullquote]Mr Sata said Mrs. Chiluba has finally got what she appealed for and congratulated her despite the acquittal being at the expense of many Zambians.[/pullquote]
He said the acquittal also raised the question of the duplicity in handling of corruption cases. Mr Lifuka said there was a huge possibility of selective justice on culprits of the same offence on the basis of one’s status in society.
Meanwhile Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata has congratulated second republican president Fredrick Chiluba’s wife Regina on her acquittal by the High court on.
The a panel of three High court Judges quashed the three and half years prison sentenced slapped on Mrs Chiluba by a lower court on allegations of receiving stolen property.
Mr Sata said Mrs. Chiluba has finally got what she appealed for and congratulated her despite the acquittal being at the expense of many Zambians.
QFM
A MAN in his seventies has withdrawn his appeal to the Supreme Court against his conviction of defilement and the 15-year-sentence slapped on him by the Lusaka High Court for sexually molesting and impreganting his 14-year-old granddaughter.
James Mwale of Misisi Township in Lusaka on Tuesday withdrew his appeal to the Supreme Court bench consisting of Deputy Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima and Supreme Court justices Lombe Chibesakunda and Muyinda Wanki who sat in Ndola.
Mwale was convicted for defilement and given a 15-year sentence by the Lusaka High Court in 2009.
Facts of the case were that Mwale, between June 1, 2006 and July 31, 2007, in Lusaka had sex with his teenage granddaughter.
He was tried in the Lusaka magistrates’ court and convicted of the offence after which he was referred to the Lusaka High Court for sentencing.
It was on record that Mwale had informed the magistrate court that he had slept with his granddaughter because it was in his tradition, as a Tumbuka of Lundazi to have sex with grandchildren as a way to prepare them for marriage.
His wife, the victim’s grandmother also said it was in their tradition to surrender girls to their elders as a way to prepare them for marriage.
The girl was at the time living with her grandparents after they collected her from Lundazi when her parents died.
She was in Grade six at the time of the defilement and she eventually gave birth to a baby boy.
When the appeal came up on Tuesday, his lawyer, principal Legal Aid counsel, Nzovwa Chomba said he had instructions from his client to withdraw the appeal.
Ms Justice Mambilima said it was good for Mwale that he had decided to withdraw the appeal because her bench could have revised the sentence to give him stiffer punishment.
Meanwhile, the Chipata magistrate court has acquitted former acting Chipata Town Clerk Ronald Daka and two other senior council employees of five counts of theft by servant including money laundering charges.
The three senior employees were arrested by the Drug Enforcement Commission in 2003 for allegedly abusing more than K100 million provided by the Zambia Social Investment Funds and the UNICEF.
[ Times of Zambia ]
A Thirty-nine-year-old man of Chingola has died after a sawmill blade snapped and split his head into two parts.
Copperbelt Province police chief, Martin Malama confirmed the incident yesterday and named the deceased as Marvin Chisanga of house number 29 Mwata Road in Kapisha Township.
Dr Malama said before the accident, the deceased, who was a carpenter, was around 17:30 hours working at Kankoko Carpentry Workshop when the incident happened.
He said the blade snapped while he was working and waged towards his head cutting it into two and left him dead instantly.
“The deceased died on the spot and his body was taken to a local hospital
mortuary awaiting burial,” he said.
In another incident, an unidentified man has died after being involved in a
hit-and-run road traffic accident that occurred around Masangano area just after
Fisenge Stream in Ndola rural.
[pullquote]“The deceased died on the spot and his body was taken to a local hospital
mortuary awaiting burial,” he said.[/pullquote]
Dr Malama said the deceased, aged between 25 and 30 years, was hit by an unknown motor vehicle around midnight on Tuesday and his body was found in a mutilated state.
[ Times of Zambia ]
The Government is determined to deliver a people-driven Constitution and will not deviate from the set roadmap to satisfy narrow and selfish interests, chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has said.
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said yesterday that the ongoing constitution making process had been transparent, broad-based and participatory.
He said that could be seen in the mandate and composition of the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) chaired by lawyer and economist Willa Mung’omba which had members from all sectors of society such as the Church, trade unions, politicians, youths, traditional rulers, lawyers, the media, farmers, civil society and others.
He said in a statement that during its three-year tenure, the 41 member CRC went to all the 150 parliamentary constituencies throughout the country and received submissions from the people on the Constitution they wanted.
Unlike in previous undertakings, the Government made legal adjustments to provide for the CRC report and the draft Constitution to be released simultaneously to the Government and the public.
The minister said consistent with the recommendation by the Mung’omba commission, the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) was put in place through an Act of Parliament.
He said the NCC comprising more than 500 members representing interests of society spent three years of extensive deliberations on the Mung’omba draft Constitution until August this year when it wound up its work and submitted its report and draft Constitution to the Government.
He said from this background, it was clear that President Banda’s Government had been focused on delivering a durable and people-driven Constitution through a transparent, participatory and democratic process.
He said it was, therefore, misleading for Civil Society for Poverty Reduction to choose to drag President Banda into the 50 per cent plus one issue because it was referred to the referendum after a two-third majority could not be reached during the NCC deliberations.
He said the issue had nothing to do with President Banda as it was a decision taken by the NCC in accordance with its set rules and procedures.
[ Times of Zambia ]
MMD chairperson for elections Mike Mulongoti has said the forthcoming party provincial conferences will only be attended by delegates who will carry identity cards and has since warned delegates to depart from unacceptable conduct.
In a statement released yesterday, Mr Mulongoti emphasised that only delegates with identity cards would attend the conferences and constitute the electoral college.
Mr Mulongoti said unacceptable conduct would render party members not to be in good standing and therefore not eligible to contest the polls.
He said preparations for provincial elections should be based on MMD election rules of 1999 and that provincial commissioners and electoral officers for each province had been appointed.
“Dates for the conferences leading to elections will be communicated directly to the commissioners, electoral officers, current provincial leadership and the public. Venues must be known and acceptable to all delegates,” he said.
Mr Mulongoti said during this period, all matters to do with discipline would be in line with the circular of August 25 this year from the acting national secretary.
He urged party members to study the electoral rules and the party constitution in order to safeguard their rights as enshrined in these documents.
Meanwhile, acting national secretary Chembe Nyangu has said campaigns for the MMD vice-presidency are illegal and should stop immediately.
Mr. Nyangu said he had received reports that some senior party members were going round the country campaigning for the position before the date of the convention and campaign period were announced.
He said all members should stick to the party’s guidelines and avoid any form of anarchy.
[ Times of Zambia ]
Education Deputy Minister Clement Sinyinda says examination malpractices continue to threaten the quality of education in Zambia.
And Mr Sinyinda has called for strict supervision in schools, to curb examination malpractices by students and teachers.
Mr Sinyinda says teachers who fail to teach their pupils adequately, are tempted to engage in examination malpractices.
Mr Sinyinda was speaking during the Education Sector Research Symposium in LUSAKA.
The symposium aims at examining how research can contribute to improving quality education.
And Examinations Council of Zambia Assistant Director for Research Joe Kanyika said examination malpractices have continued to be a challenge in the delivery of quality education.
[ ZNBC ]
United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema says the invitation of Sudanese president Omar Hassan Al Bashir to Zambia for Lusaka summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) shows that President Rupiah Banda has no respect for human rights.
Mr. Hichilema says it is shocking that president Banda has invited a wanted person to Zambia.
Mr. Hichilema in an interview with QFM this afternoon says it should not come as a shock to Zambians that president Banda embraces human rights abuses.
He adds that reports that the MMD has its own militia are a clear conformation that the Zambian president embraces human rights abuses.
He explains that president Banda found it fit to invite president Al-Bashir to Zambia because he sees nothing wrong with the Sudanese president.
Mr. Hichilema says president Banda should respect the values of the International Criminal Court which has issued an arrest warrant for the Sudanese leader for genocide committed in Darfur.
Mr. Hichilema has since called on the Zambian people to vote for change in the 2011 election and put in place a government that will respect human rights.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has expressed concern that President Rupiah Banda has invited indicted Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to participate in a regional conference scheduled for 15th December.
QFM
Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province has called for male circumcision clinics.
Paramount Chief Mpezeni said as a tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS circumcision should be encouraged adding that HIV/AIDS is everyone’s concern.
The Paramount Chief said this in a speech read on his behalf by his representative George Zulu at a luncheon which was held at US Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella’s residence in Sunningdale in Kabulonga.
He added that there was need to fight the disease by returning some of the good customs practiced in traditions such as circumcision.
Present at the luncheon was Republican President Rupiah Banda and Defence Minister Kalombo Mwansa.
Meanwhile Paramount Chief Mpezeni has said that he is looking for an investor from the United States of America (USA) to partner with his people in putting up a factory at Feni his headquarters to manufacture coal-bricates.
Paramount Chief Mpezeni said that this would be an alternative to charcoal energy.
He said with America’s advanced technology, the industry could go a long way in stopping the savage destruction of the forest for charcoal.
The Paramount Chief also gave Ambassador Storella a white shield and a black knob-Karee a symbol of peace between the Ngoni and the Americans.
ZANIS
President Rupiah Banda has with immediate effect remitted the prison sentence of Lusaka Lawyer Nsunka Sambo and his client Victor Chilekwa who were jailed for three years for contempt of court by the Supreme Court.
Special Assistance to the President for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere said in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today that the remittance is with immediate effect.
And President Banda said he has decided to remit the remainder of the sentence imposed on Sambo and Chilekwa following their request for him as President to exercise his constitutional power of prerogative of mercy.
The President has since ordered the release of the duo from custody at Lusaka Central Prison where they were serving their prison sentence.
He said the release is on the condition that the duo does not commit a similar offence up to the period of their respective date when they were to complete the sentence.
President Banda has remitted the sentence imposed on the two convicts in exercise of the powers vested in him as head of state under article 59 (d) of the constitution of Zambia.
Sambo and Chilekwa were jailed for three years by the Supreme Court on March 30 this year for writing insulting letters to the bench after they lost a court appeal in a matter between Masiye Motel Limited and Rescue shoulders and Estate Agency Limited.
ZANIS
Everything is set for the commemoration of the International Anti-Corruption Day which falls tomorrow with activities lined up for the event.
Anti-Corruption Commission Public relations Manager Wezzy Chomba told ZANIS in Lusaka that preparations for the national commemoration have been concluded.
Mr. Chomba disclosed that the event is expected to be graced by the republican Vice President George Kunda at Mulungushi International Conference Center.
He said the event is also expected to be attended by High commissioners accredited to Zambia and the African Parliamentary Network on Corruption who he said will deliver a speech through its chairperson Given Lubinda.
Mr. Chomba said the commission has done a lot of sensitizations in communities and schools and has managed to constitute a national steering committee which he said is being chaired by the secretary to the cabinet Joshua Kanganja.
He said members of this committee have been trained to help handle matters related to corruption and how it could best be prevented.
He said the commission is also doing its best to prosecute people involved in the scourge although he could not disclose the number of cases still in the courts of law.
Mr. Chomba also disclosed that the commission has discussed with the ministry of education which he said is considering including corruption in the school curriculum so that pupils are taught on the evils of corruption.
Zambia tomorrow will join the international Community in commemorating this day which falls every year on December 9. It was declared by the United Nations Assembly on October 31, 2003.
ZANIS
Choma Town Clerk, Enock Kandingwa says there is need to harness the power of the media, to help stop malpractices in the electoral process.
Mr. Kandingwa says the media should utilize its watchdog role in protecting the interest of the general public and encourage the peaceful conduct of elections.
He was speaking in Choma today, at the opening of a four-day provincial media training workshop, organised by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) at Kozo Lodge.
Mr. Kandingwa stressed the importance of the media in following the activities of elections with interest, and to also advise members of the general public on how to vote and help them know their rights and responsibilities in the realm of politics.
He noted that, more often than not, Journalists have tended to concentrate on reporting on the personal attributes of candidates, instead of focussing on the burning issues affecting the electorate.
Mr. Kandingwa observed that, for citizens to make well informed decisions during elections, there must be a free media.
He however noted that, while the media must be free to articulate independent and diverse views, it must be reliable, truthful and trusted, bearing in mind that, the media usually served as the means through which the public learnt much out about the atmosphere of an election and the aspiring political players.
“The media therefore needs to report fairly and accurately on campaigns of all political parties involved in an election so that the electorate can make informed choices, “he said. “The media needs to provide all the people with accurate information about the whole electoral process,” he went on.
Mr. Kandingwa hoped the training being conducted by the ECZ, would help enhance media reporting on the electoral process in Zambia.
ECZ is conducting training workshops for media personnel throughout the country, ahead of the 2011 tripartite elections.
ZANIS
Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata has welcomed the reduction in the nomination fee for presidential candidates. The Electoral Commission announced yesterday that it had reduced the nomination fee from K20 million Kwacha to K10 million following consultations with stakeholders.
Mr. Sata however states that despite the fact that more people will be able to participate in the presidential elections in 2011 following the reduction in the nomination fee, Zambians know who is a real leader and who is not.
He says though this intervention might lead to fears of vote splinting, it is better because more people will be attracted to participate in the presidential election and not just flooding the parliamentary race.
However, United Party for National Development (UPND) Spokesperson CHARLES KAKOMA has said that the reduction of the presidential nomination fees will increase the number of presidential candidates thereby splitting the votes.
Mr. KAKOMA however said that the reduction will give an opportunity to small parties and the less privileged to contest the 2011 general elections.
And MMD Chairman Michael Mabenga said that the revision of nomination fees is welcome as this will allow several candidates to participate in the election. Mr Mabenga said that the reduction in nomination fees will allow all aspirants meet the nomination fees.
And Committee of Citizens Executive Director Gregory Chifire said the move is in the best interest of democracy. Mr. Chifire told ZNBC News that the move by the ECZ will afford poor citizens an opportunity to vie for the office of the Presidency. Mr. Chifire has however expressed fear that having so many Presidential candidates will only confuse voters and divide votes.
And MMD Copperbelt Province Youth Chairman Evans Chibanda said the development will accord many Zambians chance to run for the Presidency.
But, opposition Patriotic Front PF Spokesperson Given Lubinda challenged the ECZ to explain the rationale behind the reduction in the nomination fees. Mr. Lubinda said the commission should have taken time to address critical issues such as the allocation of air time to political leaders on public media institutions.
Meanwhile, Alliance for Democratic Development -ADD President Charles Milupi says his party is not affected by the reduction of nomination fees. Mr. Milupi said that Zambians will have the challenge of selecting the presidential candidate. The New Generation Party (NGP) has also welcomed the reduction of the nominations fees.
Electoral Commission of Zambia(ECZ) announced the reduction of presidential nomination fees for the 2011 general elections from 20 million to 10 million kwacha.
President Rupiah Banda has pardoned Lusaka Lawyer Nsunka Sambo and his client Victor Chilekwa, who were jailed for three years for contempt of court by the Supreme Court.
Sambo and Chilekwa were jailed for three years by the Supreme Court on March 30, this year, for writing insulting letters to the bench.
This was after they lost a Court appeal in a matter between Masiye Motel Limited and Rescue Shoulders and Estate Agency Limited.
The President has remitted the three year sentences of the two, following a request they made to him.
This is in exercise of the powers vested in him as Head of State, under Article 59 (d) of the Constitution of Zambia.
The two had requested the President to exercise his constitutional powers of prerogative of mercy, to remit their sentences.
The President has said in the order to the Commissioner of Prisons that the two be released from custody immediately, on condition that they do not commit offences similar to those for which they are convicted and sentenced, during the period up to the
respective date when they would have completed serving their sentences.
This is contained in a statement issued to ZNBC News in Lusaka today by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations DICKSON JERE.
ZNBC
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© Lusaka Times
