THE United Party for national Development (UPND), among various stakeholders, have welcomed Government’s decision to suspend the Patriotic Front (PF)-dominated Lusaka City Council (LCC) for alleged irregularities in allocation of plots.

The MMD, the National Restoration Party (NAREP), Committee of Citizens (CC), Transparency International Zambia (TIZ), Leadership in Development (LID) and Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) are among organisations that have agreed with Government’s action which will also include investigations on how over 100 plots were allocated.

They say that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) should ensure that the law takes its course.

Out of 102 plots, the councillors got 45, with 10 of them to the mayor while the deputy mayor got five plots. Members of the public were allocated 11 plots.

UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma appealed to the ACC to ensure that individual culprits are investigated on the alleged corruption.

Mr Kakoma said the law is very clear on how a person involved in corruption should be dealt with.

[pullquote]“It’s the PF and UPND councillors and members of Parliament who include Mr Lubinda himself that are running the Lusaka City Council, so what has he got to say about this,” Mr Nyangu said.[/pullquote]

He said, however, that it would have been better to suspend individuals implicated in the scam.

The MMD has said the ACC must investigate the matter and has demanded that the implicated political parties and individuals provide serious answers.

MMD acting national secretary Chembe Nyangu said: “The MMD would specifically address its demands to the PF spokesperson Mr Given Lubinda who is also the Zambia chapter chairperson for the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC). We have mentioned Mr Lubinda because not only is he PF spokesperson, he has also been using his portfolio at APNAC to issue unnecessary criticisms and insults on the MMD and His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda in particular,” Mr Nyangu said.

He said the MMD is challenging Mr Lubinda to shed more light on his alleged corruption over land allocations and that of his party.

“It’s the PF and UPND councillors and members of Parliament who include Mr Lubinda himself that are running the Lusaka City Council, so what has he got to say about this,” Mr Nyangu said.

Mr Nyangu said Mr Lubinda should shed more light on the plots he has acquired since he became MP on a PF ticket in 2006.

“Can Mr Lubinda tell the public about the position he took during the council meeting which resolved to discipline two erring officials allegedly involved in fraudulent land allocations. Mr Lubinda should convincingly distance himself from the land scam,” the statement reads in part.

CC executive director, Gregory Chifire said it is disappointing that councillors in the PF-dominated council have allegedly allocated plots to themselves.

He said the CC is particularly disappointed that PF Kabwata MP Given Lubinda who sits on the APNAC did not discourage his fellow party members in the council from allegedly allocating plots to themselves.

“This just shows that the PF has no capacity to run the country. If they have failed to run the council how can they be trusted to run the national resources,” he asked.

Mr Chifire challenged the PF to tell the nation what action the party will take against its councillors implicated in the scam.

LID executive director Moses Kalonde said that in 2006 the PF-led LCC promised to change the face of city but it has failed to do so.

“They promised that within 90 days, they would improve the running of the council but today they are the ones involved in the alleged illegal land allocations,” he said.

[pullquote]“They promised that within 90 days, they would improve the running of the council but today they are the ones involved in the alleged illegal land allocations,” he said.[/pullquote]

He said the council has not contributed anything to the development of Lusaka.

NAREP president Elias Chipimo said the law should take its course and he appealed to the government to extend investigations of corruption to all areas of governance.

TIZ president Rueben Lifuka said the scam is of grave concern.

Mr Lifuka said it is also of concern that there was alleged false use of council resolutions by some councillors and chief council officers in the creation of plots.

He recommended for a broader probe into the land allocation by councils as TIZ believes such a scam could be a nation-wide problem.

SACCORD information officer Obby Chibuluma said that the suspension of LCC should serve as a warning to other municipalities not to engage in illegal activities.

Mr Chibuluma said in an interview on January 22 that the suspension of the council signifies bad leadership by the councillors.

He said members of the public expect leaders to be transparent and accountable in their operations.

Mr Chibuluma said councillors are supposed to exhibit good leadership by serving the people and not treating the council as a personal-to-holder institution.

“It is unfortunate such a thing has happened because we expect councillors to be accountable and transparent and not behave as if the council is a personal-to-holder institution.

“It is a good move taken by Government to suspend the council and let it serve as a warning to other councils not to engage in illegal land allocation,” Mr Chibuluma said. He said the said plots in Lilayi were supposed to be advertised to allow members of the public an equal chance to acquire them.

[pullquote]“It is unfair and unfortunate that ordinary members of the public who are the voters that put these leaders in office find it almost impossible to acquire even the small pieces of land, when those that are supposed to be leaders and service providers are busy sharing plots,” he said.[/pullquote]

Operation Young Vote (OYV) executive director Guess Nyirenda said the government should repossess the plots and advertise them for the public to apply for them.

Mr Nyirenda said the law-breakers should be severely punished to deter other councillors from possibly doing the same thing.

“It is unfair and unfortunate that ordinary members of the public who are the voters that put these leaders in office find it almost impossible to acquire even the small pieces of land, when those that are supposed to be leaders and service providers are busy sharing plots,” he said.

On January 21, Government suspended the LCC for 90 days with immediate effect for allegedly illegally allocating land to itself without following the law governing the allocation of land.

Minister of Local Government and Housing, Brian Chituwo who announced the suspension, has appointed Mr Solomon Finandi Sakala, the Copperbelt Provincial Local Government officer as the administrator.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life…”
(Proverbs 21:21, NASB)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Have you ever noticed that righteousness and loyalty go together? In other words, if we’re not being loyal — to our family, friends, country, job — then we aren’t going to experience God’s best. Loyal people are honorable people. When you’re loyal, you stick with someone through thick and thin. When you’re loyal, you keep your word — even if you get a “better” offer. Loyal people are respectful of their leaders. They honor their parents and defend their family. When you’re loyal, you are a person of integrity. You build trust and security in others.

Is this an area where you can rise higher? Can you be more loyal? Are you faithful in the things you’re committed to? Don’t let the distractions of everyday life keep you from pursuing loyalty. Look for ways to be faithful to those around you. Is there something you need to set aside for the sake of a loved one? Show your love by staying loyal. As you pursue loyalty and righteousness, good things will come back to you. Just as this verse promises — you will find that abundant life the Lord has planned for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise of life in Your Word. Show me any area where I can rise up higher in pursuing loyalty. Help me, by Your Spirit, to be more faithful and supportive to those around me. Let Your light shine through me as I pursue righteousness and loyalty today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Newly elected Southern Province MMD Chairman Edcar Keemba has said he is determined to work tirelessly and turn Southern Province into a stronghold of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy.

Speaking to ZANIS at Garden Motel in an interview in Lusaka today after the official opening of the Lusaka Province MMD Conference, Mr. Keemba vowed that even if Southern Province was the strong hold of the United Party for National Development (UPND), he and his team were fully geared to go full throttle to convince the people in the region to support the MMD.

Mr. Keemba said it was detrimental for the people of Southern Province to always belong to the opposition for a long time, saying it was now high time the people of the province thought of joining the ruling party.

He further said, he would persuade the people of Southern Province to support President Banda’s leadership, for the province to benefit fully from the programs unfolding in the province.

“Southern Province cant remain permanently a spectator. I will work hard to convince the people there to support President Banda in the fourth coming tripartite elections”,said Mr Keemba.

Mr. Keemba said he was going to talk to all the traditional leaders in the province to find the way forward with regard to supporting President Banda.

ZANIS

The Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has welcomed the call by Local Government and Housing Minister Brian Chituwo’s call for an investigation into allegations of irregular allocation of plots by the Patriotic front run Lusaka City Council.
TIZ Zambia chapter President Reuben Lifuka said in a statement that allegations of illegal land dealing at the Local authority are of great concern to his organization.

Mr. Lifuka has however called on Dr. Brian Chituwo not to narrow the probe to a few Councils as the allegations are not confined to PF controlled councils alone.

He stated that his organization has received information that alleges that the Kafue District Council which is controlled by the ruling MMD allocated three plots to each councilor in 2010.

Mr. Lifuka further stated that TIZ is aware that the Kafue District Council is alleged to have failed to follow the laid down procedures in allocating plots of which some beneficiaries are media personnel from three prominent media houses.

He added that information reaching his office revealed irregular allocation and non-adherence to laid down procedures in the manner the land in Shantumbu area was allocated where some senior government officials are beneficiaries.

The TIZ president said it is against this background that his organization recommends a much broader probe into the land allocation by councils adding that the problem is nation wide.

Mr. Lifuka has expressed worry that such illegal acts date back to 2005 saying that what is reported may just be a tip of the iceberg.

He has cautioned Dr. Chituwo to handle the matter professionally by avoiding the temptation of pursuing a political agenda which will not help to resolve the problems.

QFM

President Rupiah Banda has warned that the ruling party will deal ruthlessly with any person promoting disunity within the MMD.

President Banda said dishonesty has the capacity to weaken the ruling party.

The President sounded the warning when he opened the MMD Lusaka province Conference at Garden Motel today.

He has called on MMD members to promote unity among the party ranks.

The President was also particularly happy that Chongwe Member of Parliament Silvia Masebo who is among the delegates has continued to work hard in the party by mobilising members ahead of this year’s tripartite elections.

He has called on the new executive committee that will be ushered into office to work extra hard in mobilizing new members.

Vice president George Kunda, MMD chairperson Michael Mabenga, Acting National Secretary Chembe Nyangu and several cabinet ministers witnessed the official opening of the MMD provincial Lusaka conference.

MMD National Chairman Michael Mabenga said the ruling party is targeting to scoop all the seats in Lusaka province this year.

And President Rupiah Banda has said that the MMD has scored success in sustaining and promoting economic development in the country.

Mr Banda said the country has achieved a lot in the two years that he has been in office.

The President saids there were a lot of infrastructure development programmes in all sectors of the economy across the country.

Mr. Banda also said Government has embarked on an ambitious programme to rehabilitate and construct roads in the country.

President Banda also said Government will continue to support the Farmer In put Support Programme (FISP) to ensure farmers attain self sufficiency countrywide.

President Banda said his Government is determined to ensure that the income and living conditions for small scale farmers are improved.

Mr Banda said he is happy that the Zambian economy has continued to grow significantly.

President Banda said he is particularly impressed that Zambia has been voted the third fastest growing economy in Africa.

He also said Government will ensure that medical equipment is provided with all health facilities.

President Banda also said his Government has continued to construct both basic and high schools across the country

He has cited Mwembeshi High School which is being constructed at a cost of over 21 billion Kwacha and Luangwa High School at cost 46.6 billion kwacha.

Mr Banda said Rufunsa Girls’ High School is being constructed at a cost of K32 billion among other major projects in the Education sector.

ZNBC