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Mealie Meal price saddens RB

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President Rupiah Banda (file Picture )

President Rupiah Banda says government is working on measures aimed at reducing the price of mealie meal in the country.

Mr Banda says he is not happy with the mealie-meal prices, which are currently high.

The President says there is need to reduce the price of the staple food following the unprecedented maize bumper harvest recorded this year.

Mr Banda was speaking at Mount Makulu Basic School in Chilanga where he is holding public rallies to drum up support for MMD Chilanga Parliamentary candidate Keith mukata.

And President Banda has urged all MMD supporters to desist from engaging in any form of violence during and after the campaigns.
He said MMD members should instead tell the people what the ruling party is doing to improve their standards of living across the country.

President Banda said MMD supporters should convince people from other parties to join the ruling party, and be part of the development programs being implemented.

He also challenged other political leaders to publicly denounce violence and preach peace at all public fora.

Meanwhile, President Banda said that former Chilanga MP, Nng’andu Magande was expelled from the MMD because he continued to criticize the ruling party.

And on Mr Mukata, President Banda said the MMD candidate is a credible man who would develop the constituency if elected MP.

And Speaking at the same rally, Lands Minister Gladys Lundwe urged the people of Chilanga to give a chance to Mr Mukata so that he could help solve the land disputes in the constituency.

The President who also toured Mount Makulu Clinic is wednesday afternoon scheduled to hold another rally in Mwembeshi area.
[ ZNBC ]

The healing powers of the Mosi oa Tunya

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Cancer patients who have to endure excruciating procedures on a daily basis may be able to lessen their pain – by being transported to Zambia.

The patient need not even leave their bed.Just simply showing relaxing pictures of idyllic scenes and playing out relaxing sounds at a patient’s bed is enough reduce the feeling of pain for many patients.

This is according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, United States.

They set up a series of tests analysing patients undergoing bone marrow aspiration and biopsy (BMAB) – known to be a particularly painful form of cancer treatment.

A large needle is inserted into the back of the pelvic bone and bone marrow is drawn out. It can sometimes take up to ten minutes, and is often performed with just a local anaesthetic.

For some cancer sufferers, BMAB is a regular unwanted experience – and techniques such as hypnosis or sedation have been tested to try and help patients deal with the pain.

However, the researchers believe they have come up with a cheap, inexpensive way of making painful procedures like BMAB more bearable.

“We wanted to find a way to improve their experience,” explained Noah Lechtzin from the department of medicine at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

“So we did a study in which patients were assigned to either standard care, to have the procedure done with a nature scene and accompanying nature sounds, or a city scene and city sounds.

“We measured pain during the procedure.”

The nature scene consisted of typically relaxing images, such as Victoria Falls in Zambia, painted onto bed curtains surrounding the patient as he or she is being treated.

The city scene had pictures of your average urban environment. Busy streets, people rushing – an altogether more stressful experience.

To add to the atmosphere and help with the process, the nature scene added sounds of birds chirping and wind rustling through trees was played to the patient through headphones.

For the city scene, the noise of traffic was played instead.

They found these two simple additions to the hospital environment changed the way patients reacted to the invasive treatment.

Pain Scale

The severity of pain was measured using a ten point scale known as the Hopkins Pain Rating Instrument. Before and after a procedure, patients are asked to indicate how uncomfortable they felt.

Anything above a four is classed as moderate to severe pain.

A control group – which had neither nature nor city scenes – on average marked BMAB as 5.7 on the pain scale.

But, those patients exposed to the nature sounds and images recorded an average of 3.9 on the pain scale – a significant reduction.

The city scene had no significant effect on the ranking – patients found the treatment just as painful.

This, Mr Lechtzin says, shows that the reduction in pain is not simply just a case of distracting the patient.

“I certainly do think distraction must play a role. But there is a lot of thought that there’s specific elements to nature that people relate to and have particularly a soothing effect.”

He insists that the choice of picture is very important if the theory is to work to its full potential.

“I think there are certain elements of nature that are beneficial and others that could be frightening.

“You wouldn’t want to have rocks that potentially dangerous animals could hide behind, whereas our scene was a very open picture that had running water, the sounds had birds chirping and wind rustling through trees – so I think there are certain elements that are helpful.”

His hope now is that hospitals will see these findings as a way of cheaply and easily helping patients deal with BMAB and other painful experiences – even if by just adopting the idea of displaying a particular picture.

“It’s a large mural that can hang on a hospital curtain, it can be wheeled on a stand from bed-to-bed. Fairly inexpensive, doesn’t require any training and is easy to use.”
[BBC NEWS]

Two men jailed for 3 years for the theft of 50litres of Beer

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An unidentified youth drinks opaque beer

Two men of Livingstone’s Libuyu Compound almost caused a circus in the Livingstone Magistrate Court yesterday when they where sentenced to 18 month imprisonment with hard labour for stealing 50 litres of opaque beer among other items.The men were sentenced to 18 months imprisonment each in both counts of the crimes committed and the sentences to run concurrently.

Appearing before Magistrate Andrew Kasongo was Steven Tembo,25,and Smart Muleya,28 both of the same area who pleaded guilty to two counts
of burglary and theft contrary to Section 301(a)and Section 272 of the penal code.

Facts of the matter are that on October 11,2010 Tembo and Muleya while acting together broke in and stole goods worth K150,000 in the property
belonging to Silva Masese and on a later date within the same month committed a similar offence to Sharon Shilumbwa where they stole goods worth K670,000.

In the first count the offenders invaded House No 34,home to Businesswoman Silva Massese where they stole a wallet with money in it and 50 litres
of Chibuku beer which the lady had temporarily stored in the house.

The wallet without any money in it,together with three empty containers that had had beer in them,was recovered during Police patrol in Libuyu.

In the second count,the duo broke in the house of Sharon Shilumbwa within the same area in Linda compound and stole a 1 plate cooker,1 Voters Card and 1 NRC belonging to the complainant.

Before passing Judgement,Magistrate Kasongo asked the men what they have done to the beer that was in the container.

The men responded in unison that they drunk it.

In mitigation,Tembo asked the court to exercise leniency as he did not know what he was doing while Muleya said it was an act of the devil.

Magistrate Kasongo sentenced the men to 18 months imprisonment each in both counts and the sentences to run concurrently.

Bonetti Delays Return, Again

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Dario Bonetti’s return to Zambia has again been postponed.

Radio Phoenix quoting Faz today reported that the absent Zambia national team coach and his three assistants return to take up their duties next week has been postponed.

This is because the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup which Bonetti was expected to lead Zambia to in Angola has been cancelled after the 2010 hosts failed to give Cosafa the necessary guarantees for the staging of the event.

Bonetti has not returned to Zambia since Zambia beat Yemen 1-0 away in a friendly international on September 18.

The Italian later linked up with the team in Rome ahead of their October 10 Africa Cup Group C qualifying match against Libya that his side lost 1-0 before returning to his homeland after the loss.

Bonetti also failed to attend the Caf/Fifa World Cup 2010 Symposium held in Egypt last week for African national team coaches and instead Faz technical director Honor Janza and Zambia assistant coach Lucky Msiska attended the three-day workshop.

Weekend Scorecard: Nyirenda Salutes Team

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Wedson Nyirenda has said he is pleased with a honorable finish by Zanaco in the Caf Confederation Cup mini-league stage.

Zanaco failed to reach the Confederation Cup semifinals but managed to finish third in Group B in their debut appearance in a lucrative stage of a Caf club cup mini-league competition.

“We have run honorably,” Nyirenda said about Zanaco’s performance who ;picked up a US$ 239,000.00 cheque for finishing third. “We have done Zambia proud. Given a chance next season Zanaco will do better.”

The team finished on 5 points from 6 games losing two away games and drawing one on the road in their final game away to bottom placed finishers in group B Haras El Hodoud of Egypt against whom they drew 1-1 with on Sunday in Alexandria.

Zanaco lost 1-0 in the opening game to FUS Rabat before drawing 1-1 with Haras in Lusaka and later beat two-time Confederation Cup winners CS Sfaxien of Tunisia 1-0 in Lusaka.

Nyirenda’s side later lost 2-1 away to Group B runners-up Sfaxien in the return leg and Zanaco remained unbeaten at home with a 1-1 draw against this year’s Confederation Cup semifinalists and Group B toppers FUS in their penultimate pool match.

Zanaco now face the daunting task of winning their next eight matches in the bid to hold on the Super Division title as they play catch-up to challengers Zesco United and second placed Nchanga Rangers.

Zanaco’s first match this weekend will come on Octiober 24 when they play Super Division debutants Lime Hotspur in the Barclays Cup semifinals at Arthur Davies stadium in Kitwe.

SCOFaz Super Division

Week 27

16/10/2010

Konkola Blades 4(Chipulu Chileya 10″, Felix Sunzu Jnr 13″, Claude Bwalya 71″, Aaron Katebe 75″)-Lusaka Dynamos 0

Green Buffaloes 1(Nathan Sinkala ?”)-Red Arrows 2(Mwape Mwelwa 33″, Dube Phiri 45″)

Choma Eagles 4(Kebby Hachipuka, Kizito Cheelo, Lewis Macha (2))-City of Lusaka 0

National Assembly 0-Nchanga Rangers 3(Moses Mulambi 38″ pen, Kysin Sikaonga 59″ 89″)

Power Dynamos 0-Roan United 2(Ken Mwaba ?”, Kelvin Muzungu 76″)

Zesco United 4(Clifford Chipalo 43″, John Chingandu 53″ 69″, Humphrey Luputa 54″)-Forest Rangers 1(Frazer Mwelwa 41″)

13/10/2010

Kabwe Warriors 1(Elson Mkandawire 47″)-Nkana 0

Postponed

Zanaco-Nkwazi

CAF Confederation Cup

Group B

17/10/2010

FUS Rabat 2-CS Sfaxien 1

Haras El Hodoud 1-Zanaco 1

Group A

16/10/2010

AS FAN 0-Al Hilal 0

Ittihad 2-Djoliba 0

WEEK 33

South

Green Eagles 1  Nakambala Leopards 0

Profund 0 Warriors-Livingstone Pirates 0

Zesco Shockers 1 Kalomo Jetters 1

Nampundwe 5 TP Rangers 0

Lusaka Tigers 1 Luena 2

Kafue Celtic 0  Lusaka City Council 0

Paramilitary 1 Young Green Eagles 1

Communite 1 Riflemen 2

Mazabuka United- Kummawa (not played)

North

Ndola United 0  Mining Rangers 1

Kitwe United 1 Indeni 0

Lime Hotspurs 1 Mufulira Blackpool 0

Medical  Stars 0  Muchindu 1

Prison Leopards 2 Chingola Leopards 0

Mansa Health Stars 0 Chindwin Sentries 0

Mufulira Wanderers v Kalewa  (abandoned)

Chambishi v Kalulushi Modern Stars (abandoned)

Government gives Collum Coal mine two weeks to improve workers’ working conditions

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File picture: Collum Coal Mine workers
File picture: Collum Coal Mine workers

Chinese Investors at Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe District have been given two weeks in which to improve working conditions at the mine or face government action.

Southern Province Minister, Elijah Muchima who issued the ultimatum at a media briefing in Livingstone tuesday, said the mine owners have up to October 30, to put their house in order or face the law.

The Minister has summoned Management of Collum Coal Mine to his office for a meeting on 1st November.

Mr Muchima said the investors at the mine will have to show that they have complied with the law at the meeting which will also be attended by officials from the Ministry of Labour, and the Environmental Council of Zambia.

He observed that miners have been subjected to slavery conditions and all of them are employed on part time, despite a number of them clocking nine years of service.
Mr Muchima has also directed that no employee should be fired for having participated in the protest over the weekend.

Meanwhile, The two Chinese collum coal mine supervisors who shot at protesting miners Monday appeared in a Choma Magistrates court.

Xiao Li Shan 48, and Wu Jiu Hua 46, have been charged with attempted murder contrary to section 215 of the Laws of Zambia.

They appeared before Magistrate Willie Sinyangwe.

Particulars of the offence are that the two supervisors, on October 15th 2010 jointly and whilst acting together, unlawfully attempted to murder Boas Siapwaya.

In the other 12 counts the duo are alleged to have unlawfully attempted to murder the other 12 miners that were injured in the shootings.

The two, who preferred to use Chinese in court, were assisted in interpretation by Chris Xing.

They were represented in court by Kalenge Mulenga from Ambient Associates.

Magistrate Sinyangwe noted that the accused were appearing before him for mention as the offence they are charged with can only be tried in the High Court.

The magistrate stated that the matter would be referred the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further instructions.

Magistrate Sinyangwe adjourned the matter to November 2nd for mention waiting for instructions from the DPP while the duo has been remanded in custody.

[ZNBC]

Siliya directs FRA to pay farmers

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Education Minister Ms. Dora Siliya

Petauke Central Member of Parliament Dora Siliya has ordered the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in Petauke district to immediately pay farmers their money for the maize sold to the agency.

And Ms Siliya has also called for the immediate dismissal of Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) Marketing Manager Vincent Nyatola for failure to account for K32 billion allocated to the district for the purchase of maize in the area.

The visibly annoyed minister said she will recommend for the immediate dismissal of the ZNFU Manager and his subordinates if they fail to account for the money received for the maize purchase in the district.

Ms Siliya who is also Education Minister wondered why ZNFU whom have been contracted to help with the purchase of maize have not yet paid farmers their money despite government releasing funds for exercise.

Ms Siliya said government had released about K32 billion from the start of the marketing season and wondered where the money has gone if the intended beneficiaries of the funds who are farmers have not yet received it.

The Minister said this in Petauke yesterday when she met ZNFU officials to follow up on complaints from farmers that they have not received their money since July despite them selling the maize to the agency.

She said government is working hard to better the lives of many Zambians especially farmers but expressed disappointment that officials entrusted with government resources want to abuse it for their personal gains.

But ZNFU Marketing Manager Vincent Nyatola told the minister that about 9000 farmers have so far been paid their money in the district.

He said over 817, 000 bags of maize have been bought and assured the minister that he will follow guidelines to ensure that all farmers receive their money

Mr Nyatola said the delay to pay all the farmers is as a result of inadequate funding as the district requires K51 Billion to carter for all the farmers in the district.

Ms Siliya is in the district to check on developmental projects and hold a series of meetings with the local people.

[ ZANIS ]

Ill-treatment of workers, disgraceful – ZFE

The Zambia Federation of Employers ZFE says it is disgraceful to see investors mistreating local workers who fight for their right.

Commenting on the shooting of 12 miners by Chinese nationals at Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe district , ZFE president George Chabwera said it is sad that such incidences have continued to happen despite the country celebrating its 46 years of independence.

Speaking in a telephone interview Dr Chabwera said the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) should direct all investors in the country to engage themselves with the Zambia Federation of Employers to run them through workers Industrial and Labour laws.

Dr Chabwera said it is unfortunate that the Chinese nationals resorted to shooting as a way of solving problems instead of engaging in proper dialogue with the workers.

Twelve miners including one onlooker were on Friday, 15th October 2010, shot and seriously wounded by Chinese nationals at the Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe district in Southern Province, as they were presenting their grievances of poor working conditions to Chinese management at shaft two.

Police have since arrested the two Chinese nationals who shot the miners.
[ QFM ]

Girl-child abuse rife in Kapiri

Girls from community teams playing Social football. Such events are used to educate and sensitize the girls on health and social matters like HIV AIDS.

A rapid assessment conducted by the Forum for African Women Educationalists of Zambia (FAWEZA) on the livelihood of young girls in Kapiri Mposhi has revealed that truck drivers are sexually abusing several of them.

A similar survey was conducted by CAMFED in 2007 and revealed the existence of various forms of violence, both sexual and physical, in schools against female pupils by male school teachers and schoolboys.

FAWEZA programmes manager, Edith Ng’omba said FAWEZA Central Province chapter undertook a rapid assessment of safety and the security situation of girls in Kapiri Mposhi because of high presence of travellers both foreign and locals.

Ms Ng’omba said truck drivers in Kapiri Mposhi made their temporary resting sites en route to various destinations and that put a number of schoolgirls at a high risk of sexual abuse and exploitation.

She said a large farming community surrounded the town with scattered squatters and village settlements located far from most schools and pupils walked long distance, making schoolgirls vulnerable to abuse.

Ms Ng’omba said this at the weekend when she presented to Education Minister Dora Siliya a pictorial album consisting of different pictures on girl-child abuse and exploitation situation in Kapiri Mposhi.

She said the objective of the campaign was to identify spaces where girls experienced most violence and highlighted situations and factors that were threats to school girl’s safety and security in Kapiri Mposhi.

She said the campaign was aimed at engaging school managers, community leaders and the general public to make them recognise the risk factors that compromised girls’ safety and put in place regulations to protect them and ensure their retention in schools.

“As you may be aware, Kapiri Mposhi town lies on the highway to the northern part of Zambia and to the borders of Congo, Tanzania and other east African countries. As such it has a high presence of travelers, both foreign and local,” Ms Ng’omba said.

She said FAWEZA found that weekly boarding pupils such as girls lived in rented lodging, making them vulnerable to sexual violence.

She said the girl-child in such situations were at a higher risk of dropping out of school due to pregnancies since Kapiri Mposhi had an influx of truck drivers.

And speaking when she received the album, Ms Siliya called on various organisations to work closely with her ministry to address challenges faced by vulnerable children in many communities.

She said her ministry was aware several children, especially the girl-child, were faced with all forms of abuse such as sexual harassment and organisations dealing with the welfare of children should join the crusade to advocate for better livelihood.

Ms Siliya said her ministry would organise a seminar where organisations and stakeholders dealing with the welfare of children could meet to discuss how the plight of underprivileged children could be addressed.
[ Times of Zambia ]

84-year-old man nabbed over defiling granddaughter (3)

POLICE in Ndola have arrested an 84-year-old man of Mushili Township for allegedly defiling his three-year-old granddaughter.

Copperbelt police chief, Martin Malama confirmed the incident and said the man was detained at Masala Police Station while investigations in the matter were continuing.

“Yes, it is true that an 84-year-old man of Mushili Township is detained at Masala Police Station for defiling his three-year-old grand daughter but as at now, I cannot disclose his name because we are still investigating the case,” Dr Malama said.
[ Times of Zambia ]

12 PF cadres nabbed

PF cadres

Twelve Patriotic Front (PF) cadres have been arrested for allegedly attempting to disrupt a public rally that was addressed by Vice-President George Kunda in Mpulungu on Sunday afternoon.

Northern division police chief Chewe Mukuka confirmed the incident in an interview from Kasama yesterday.

“They have been taken to Mbala police station because we do not have cells in Mpulungu. They should be appearing in court soon,” Mr Mukuka said.

The cadres have been charged with conduct likely to cause the breach of peace after they descended on the slogan-chanting MMD cadres with a boat, which is the symbol for PF.

And MMD chairperson for information and publicity Dora Siliya has condemned the PF for exhibiting a high appetite for violence without realising the people they want to harm were also Zambians.

The cadres descended on the rally with a boat that was carrying people who acted like paddlers just a few minutes before the vice-president arrived to start addressing.

The Electoral Code of Conduct prohibits any cadres from campaigning within the vicinity of a public rally being addressed by a rival party.

Mr Mukuka said however that apart from Sunday’s incident the campaigns where Mr Kunda addressed were generally peaceful.

Mr Kunda’s public rally was held within the township near the council offices.

He said police kept on advising the PF provincial leaders who were leading the campaigns to leave but they kept on returning with the boat on the road.

“Each time we spoke to them, they would agree to control their cadres but they acted contrary to what they promised,” Mr Mukuka said.

And Ms Siliya said the MMD would never engage in violent acts because whether the cadres were from PF or UPND, they remained Zambians.

“Even us in the MMD want a credible opposition. Zambians deserve a credible opposition,” Ms Siliya said.
[ Times of Zambia ]

You can’t beat Banda, farmers tell HH, Sata

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PF Leader (L) and UPND Leader (R)
PF leader Michael sata and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema
SMALL-SCALE farmers yesterday said Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata and United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema cannot perform better than President Rupiah Banda.

The farmers have also said opposition leaders should stop criticising President Banda’s trips abroad because they were beneficial to the country.

Zambia Small-Scale Farmers Network (ZSSFN) board chairperson Boyd Liambai said in Lusaka yesterday that Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema did not have the capacity to do anything better than what President Banda had done.

Mr Liambai cited achievements such as the decision by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to buy farm produce worth K1.5 trillion from farmers while distribution of farming inputs had already started.

The Government had increased the Constituency Development Fund from K200 million to K600 million and the number of people accessing in-puts under the farmer input support programme had also been tripled.

Mr Liambai said the schools and rural health centers had also been improved in the country, which must be appreciated.

“We would like to request Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema to be truthful in their dealings more especially when they are talking about issues affecting the people of Zambia,” Mr Liambai said.

He condemned the recent wave of attacks on President Banda by some clergy, businesspersons and politicians in the name of democracy.

Mr Liambai said the president had ensured that there was improved infrastructure development such as the completion of the Choma-Namwala Road, the Chipata-Mchinji railway line which projects had all been completed within the two years that President Banda had been in power.

He reminded Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema that the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) had been revamped and could produce 20,000 tonnes of fertiliser.

“What more do people want better than this? We are therefore appealing to the people of Zambia more especially those in Chilanga and Mpulungu where there are by-elections not to listen to Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema but treat their word with contempt,” he said.

Mr Liambai said the agricultural and other policies were among the best in the SADC region and urged Zambians to embrace the Government for continued prosperity.

He said the trips being undertaken by the president were necessary and accused the two leaders of taking advantage of poor people to tell lies on the President’s trips abroad.

PF loses Thandiwe case

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First Lady Thandiwe Banda giving a hammermill to women in Luapula

THE Lusaka High Court has thrown out an injunction in which the Patriotic Front sued First Lady Thandiwe Banda for assisting the vulnerable, alleging that she is abusing Government funds.

In his ruling, Judge Phillip Musonda said the application should not have been brought before court by a person of average comprehension.

He said the application for an injunction was against a wrong party as she has no role to play in receiving or spending Government funds.

Judge Musonda also said no evidence of abuse of public funds was presented. The court said the assumption that she was abusing funds is speculative and that the injunction to stop her, as a first lady, from using Government resources, does not meet the test of irreparability of damage when this practice has gone on for 44 years.

“This injunction on disbursement of funds illustrates a serious misunderstanding by the plaintiffs,” Judge Musonda said.

He said to grant the injunction against Mrs Banda will be violating the Constitution and the Financial Control Management Act.
Judge Musonda said the two statues have appointed officers to receive, pay and audit Government revenue.

He said granting the injunction can also amount to an intrusion in the Auditor General’s constitutional function, the Minister of Finance, Secretary to the Treasury, controlling officers who are personally liable for unauthorised expenditure and internal auditors’ statutory functions.

Evelyn Kangwa and Majorie Nakaponda filed an application for an injunction against Mrs Banda seeking the court to restrain her from acting in any capacity not supported by any law of the land. They wanted the court to restrain Mrs Banda from disbursing moneys and distributing goods which are not provided for in the estimates of expenditure by Parliament.

The plaintiffs, through their lawyer Wynter Kabimba, were also seeking the court to restrain Mrs Banda from using the facilities in the absence of disclosing the source of the monies and goods and also to restrain her from using official Government facilities and services for alleged party political activities until after trial.

Judge Musonda said Mrs Banda has no role directing, disbursing or controlling expenditure. He said Zambia has been independent since 1964 and that all first ladies in the country have enjoyed these facilities which are a practice world over.
Judge Musonda said the United States, United Kingdom andthe entire Commonwealth Africa exercise the same practice which attained the status of a constitution convention.

He said Vera Chiluba set up the Hope Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, which was identified with her while Mrs Maureen Mwanawasa set up the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative.

He said the current first lady states that she wants to join hands with all charitable and non-governmental organisations to help various organisations depending on their needs.

The court said Mrs Banda’s sentiments demonstrate that her approach is non-partisan and wondered how distributing goods to the needy or towards poverty alleviation can cause irreparable harm when more personalised charitable work by previous first ladies did not cause irreparable harm.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Simeza initiated plans to bribe judge, magistrate — Mohan

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INK Tech managing director Mohan Mathews yesterday told the Lusaka High Court that Lusaka lawyer Robert Simeza allegedly initiated the plans to bribe a magistrate and judge to secure the bail of his convicted client, Rathi Kumar using the late Sajid Itowala.

Testifying in his defence before Supreme Court Judge Gregory Phiri sitting as High Court judge, Matthews said Mr Simeza was the one who introduced the deceased to him so that they could work together and help Kumar flee the country.

Matthews testified that the magistrate was allegedly first paid K150 million by the deceased after getting it from him and in turn the magistrate advised Rathi to behave like a mental patient in court.

This move was meant for him to recommend Rathi to go for a mental check up at Chainama Hospital, which was done and later be assisted to flee the country from the mental hospital.

This is in a case where Mohan, is jointly charged with Crown Paints brothers Idris and Shabir Patel with one count of murder.

It is alleged that the trio in July last year, whilst acting together with other persons unknown, murdered Itowala.

He told the court that earlier Mr Simeza had allegedly asked him to inform Rathi that they come up with plans to assist him flee the country and signed a cheque to purchase two air tickets, for Rathi not in his real names and the one for his mother in law, a Mrs Pitti.

Mr Simeza then organised to meet a National Airports official Fred Malama who was also allegedly bribed to ensure that he helped him with a check-in plan prior to the duo’s arrival at the international airport and he gave them two boarding passes.

He said on April 29 last year, Mr Simeza allegedly organised everyone involved alongside Rathi’s mother-in-law and they all went to Chainama to assist Rathi escape from hospital enroute to the airport.

“Shaun and Chileshe broke the main gates to Chainama mental prisons, switched off the lights but were disturbed by the alarm system and immediately ran away before they could rescue Rathi. The security men rushed to the prisons section and got Rathi back to Kamwala Remand Prisons.

Matthews said Mr Simeza allegedly advised him that there were so many ways of killing a rat and that Rathi’s father would be in the country to sort out the mess, and when he arrived he called for a meeting with Sajid.

It was at this point that Sajid allegedly told Rathi’s father, Mr Simeza and Matthews that he needed more money to assist Rathi with bail since by then he had already been convicted to four years.

He said his father organised altogether US$750,000, $450,000 for the judge who was going to handle the bail at the High Court and the $300,000 for the magistrate who allowed the bail application.
The defence continues today.

[Times of Zambia]

Kunda to leave for China tomorrow

Vice President George Kunda is tomorrow Tuesday October 19, expected to travel to China to grace the Zambia National Pavilion Day of Expo.

The Expo which would be held in Shanghai in China will take place on October 24, 2010.

Mr Kunda is expected to lead a delegation of Ministers and government officials.

This is contained in Press Statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Senior Private Secretary to the Vice President Kenneth Ngosa.

Mr Ngosa explained that the Expo 2010 is a grand international event and a happy reunion of people from all over the world.

More than 200 Nations and International Organizations are expected to take part in the exhibition.

[ ZANIS ]