Works and supply minister, Mike Mulongoti has said there is nothing wrong with the Drug Enforcement Commission DEC to implicate former defense minister, George mpombo in the just unearthed K3.3bn scam at the defense ministry.

The DEC yesterday announced the unearthing of a scam in which 98 companies made claims worth k3.3 billion for the supply of goods and services to the ministry of defense without supporting documents.

The disclosure is said to have been made as a result of the ongoing verification exercise of claims of supply of goods and services to government department.

Government Critics have taken this as a ploy to silence the former defense minister who is also kafulafuta member of parliament, George mpombo.

But Mr. Mulongoti said that there is nothing wrong if he is only being asked to account based on the fact that he was once a civil servant.

Mr. Mulongoti said that everyone must own up to the laws of this country and begin to respect regulations that are in place as laid down by the constitution of this land.

He has also urged Zambians against castigating law enforcement agencies in the country stating that they are put in place to ensure that the law is followed to the later and if they find faults, it is their duty to ensure that culprits are dealt with.

The WORKS and Supply Minister said that the general public demands are certain level of accountability from senior government officials and if there seems to be a problem with how funds are utilized; those responsible should be taken to task.
[ QFM ]

POLITICAL stakeholders in the country have expressed mixed feelings over the formation and launch of the political movement, National Movement for Progress (NMP), by former Minister of Finance and National Planning Ng’andu Magande.

United Party for National Development (UPND) spokesperson Charles Kakoma has described the formation of NMP as a pipedream and a serious misjudgment of the prevailing political scenario in the country.

Mr Kakoma said in an interview in Lusaka that Mr Magande must have considered combining forces with any of the major political forces in the country.

He said although the UPND respects Mr Magande’s democratic right to vie for any political office, history shows that political parties formed on the eve of general elections have never succeeded.

“There is no doubt that he is doing this out of frustration with the MMD. We respect his decision but history has shown us that forming a political party on the eve of elections does not work. How do you form a political party ‘two days’ before elections?” Mr Kakoma asked.

Mr Kakoma charged that Mr Magande, who was Chilanga Member of Parliament (MP) until he was expelled from the ruling MMD a couple of months ago, has no political base anywhere in the country.

He said that Mr Magande is allegedly trying to use the late UPND president Anderson Mazoka’s strategy of launching the political party in Solwezi.

Mr Kakoma said history will not repeat itself for Mr Magande.

“He (Mr Magande) is trying to repeat history. He wants to make North-Western Province his base but it will not work because he has no political base anywhere in this country,” Mr Kakoma said.

He said that Mr Magande’s NMP has joined a long list of ‘paper political parties’ that do not have a following.

“At the moment, the people of Zambia have settled for three major political parties – the MMD, PF and UPND – and these are the only parties with a following. The people of Zambia will only have a choice of their leaders from these three parties,” Mr Kakoma said.

MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga said Mr Magande is free to form a political party in accordance with Zambia’s rule of law and democratic tendencies.

Mr Mabenga said, however, that the formation of his political party is not a threat to the ruling MMD as the latter is a giant well poised among all political parties in the country to scoop the 2011 general election.

He said this in an interview from Western Province yesterday.

United National Independence Party (UNIP) vice-president Njekwa Anamela said the formation of NMP and Mr Magande’s intention to contest the 2011 elections are welcome in a democratic dispensation.

Mr Anamela said UNIP is, however, not threatened by the formation of NMP, saying its launch is a mere addition to Zambia’s competitive political environment.

He said, however, that although it is the nature of multi-partism to have many parties competing, it is ideal to have few formidable parties to enable the majority to make an effective choice.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”
(Matthew 6:14–15, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

In life, we all have unfair things that happen to us. We can choose to hold on to the hurt, become bitter and angry, and let it poison our future; or, we can choose to let it go and trust God to make it up to us. You not think that you are able to forgive because someone hurt you so badly. You might say, “Joel, you don’t know how I was raised.” “My ex-spouse caused me a lot of pain.” “This friend betrayed me.” “I just can’t let it go.” But realize, you don’t forgive for their sake; you forgive for your own sake. When you forgive, you are taking away their power to hurt you. But if you hold on to that offense and stay angry, you are only poisoning your own life and disconnecting yourself from God.

Forgiveness is like a door on your heart. If you shut the door and refuse to forgive, then God cannot forgive you. But when you open the door and allow forgiveness to flow from you, then His forgiveness can flow into you. Choose to forgive and open the door to receive God’s life, peace and healing today.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for the gift of forgiveness that sets me free. Help me to truly understand what it means to forgive so I can receive Your forgiveness. Search me today and have Your way in my heart. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Patriotic Front Nchanga Member of Parliament Wilber Simusa has charged that the MMD is desperate to hold on power.

Mr. Simusa said that it is quite unfortunate that the MMD is claiming to be in talks with the UPND over the alliance between both parties.

He said that he has had interactions with the UNPD members and they have denied having talks on the perceived alliance with the MMD.

Mr. Simusa said that the UPND knows that the MMD is a sinking ship and they can’t associate themselves with the UPND.

Mr. Simusa in an interview with QFM radio added that the MMD will stop at nothing to destabilize the Pact.

He said that the MMD knows that it will be out of power next year and it is desperate to hold on to power.

He said that it is the reason that the MMD has started the propaganda of saying that it is holding talks with the UPND on the possible alliance.

[QFM]