A witness yesterday testified in the Lusaka High Court that Chisamba Member of Parliament (MP) Moses Muteteka distributed cellular phones in exchange for votes during his campaigns in the 2011 tripartite elections.

This is in a matter in which losing Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Oswald Chulu has petitioned the election results of the opposition MMD MP.

Joyce Chibiya 51, a political cadre said she was one of the beneficiaries of the ZTE cellular phones which were given to her and others whom she could not identify at Chipokota Lodge in Chisamba.

Asked in cross examination by a defence lawyer Friday Besa whether she knew who was distributing the phones, Ms Chibiya said she knew that the phones were coming from Mr Muteteka.

She said the MP had told the gathering earlier that he would give them phones in exchange for their votes.

Mr Besa also asked the witness to show proof that the phone was given to her by Mr Muteteka.

In her response, Ms Chibiya insisted that it came from Mr Muteteka because she could not afford to buy a phone.

“There were a lot of people that received phones on that night but I can’t manage to mention their names, they were too many,” she said.

Ms Chibiya said the MP held a meeting at Mutoyo polling station where the electorate took him to task over promises he had been making on taking development to the area. The witness, who was being led in examination in chief by lawyers William Mubanga and Jack Mwiimbu, said Mr Muteteka then apologised to the electorate and promised to meet them later.

She testified that later she and other people were asked to meet at Chipokota Lodge and that she reached there around 20:00 hrs.

She found people distributing cellular phones and that was how she also benefited.

The mobile phones, she said, came from Mr Muteteka who had instructed his supporters to distribute them to the electorate in the constituency.

Hearing continues.

THE MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) will on Saturday decide whether to elect a party acting president as National Secretary Richard Kachingwe accused some members of trying to destabilise the former ruling party.

Major Kachingwe said in Lusaka yesterday that those advocating the change of entire leadership were not genuine members as they wanted to ‘kill’ the party.

He said in an interview that it was unfair for any party member to accuse the NEC of having cost the former ruling party the last elections.

“According to the rules of our party we have a convention every five years and we are just seven months into the mandate. Those advocating for an overhaul of the leadership are not genuine members. They are actually enemies of the party.

“In fact when we came into office we inherited a shell, a dead party.

We had to start all over putting up structures,” he said.

Maj Kachingwe said the NEC would this weekend decide whether the party should appoint an acting president or hold a convention to elect a new leader.

He said the party organ would be sitting on Saturday to chart the way forward.

“The NEC is the supreme decision making organ. It makes rules and we are meeting on Saturday to decide whether we should appoint acting president or hold a convention to elect a new leader,” he said.

Former Republican president Rupiah Banda has indicated that he would be resigning from the party’s top position.

Five members of the party have applied to take up the top party position after successfully lodging their applications by November 30, this year.

Those who have applied are former Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, Lunte Member of Parliament (MP) Felix Mutati, his Chisamba counterpart Moses Muteteka and former Zambian High Commissioner to Canada Nevers Mumba.

Asked whether the party had the resources to hold a convention, Maj Kachingwe said he could not talk about the party’s financial matters in the media and that the matter would be tabled before the Saturday meeting.

“The issue about financial resources is a private matter and there is no law that compels a party to reveal. However the greatest asset the party has are its members. It is these members who will raise the funds for the party,” he said.

[Times of Zambia]

Auditor General ANNA CHIFUNGULA has called on government to start prosecuting officers who misappropriate government funds.

Ms. CHIFUNGULA has regretted that action is not taken on culprits cited in the Auditor Generals reports.

She is hopeful that the trend will change under the new government.

The Auditor General’s report for Parastatal bodies for 2009 has revealed glaring irregularities.

The irregularities cited include unretired imprest amounting to K1.4 Billion,K14 Billion of unsupported payments and irregular payments totaling K4 Billion.

The parastatal bodies that have been found wanting include ZESCO, Road Traffic and Safety Agency and the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission -CEEC.

Others are ZSIC, Judiciary headquarters, State Lotteries Board and NATSAVE.

Meanwhile the Zambia National Building Society could have incurred a loss of K15billion through the sale of its housing units, if the Auditor General’s Office had not intervened.

Auditor General ANNA CHIFUNGULA said her office took action to stop the transaction upon receiving information from a whistle blower.

Ms. CHIFUNGULA said the ZNBS Board had proposed to sale the houses which it reverted from institutional to pool at a 70% discount.

This is contrary to the government sale of pool housing hand book which stipulates that 30% be slapped on sale of parastal houses.

Ms. CHIFUNGULA who appeared before the MWILA LUMBWE led commission of inquiry into operations of ZNBS said that the said Houses were not listed for sale by Former President RUPIAH BANDA.

And Mr. LUMBWE praised the Auditor General for preventing the transaction from going ahead by dispatching auditors to audit the institution.

And Caritas Zambia says the Auditor General’s reports should NOT be a mere exercise where action is not taken.

Caritas Zambia Director SAM MULAFULAFU says all people named in the Auditor General’s reports should be queried.

He has told ZNBC News in an interview that there is need for a deliberate measure to ensure that anybody cited in the Auditor General’s report is made to account for the irregularities highlighted

[ZNBC]

United party for national development UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has charged that the ruling Patriotic Front has grown the appetite to ridicule Zambians.

Mr. Hichilema has further charged that the fight against corruption under the Michael Sata led government is mere deception.

He says some appointments the president has made do not collate with the stance he has taken on the corruption fight.

Mr. Hichilema adds that as much as his party supports the corruption fight, it should be fought with action and not words.

And Mr. Hichilema has advised the government not to politicize the fight against corruption.

Mr. Hichilema says the fight against graft should be conducted in a professional manner and not in a selective manner.

Mr. Hichilema was speaking this morning on Let the People Talk on Radio Phoenix.

QFM

Father Frank Bwalya has charged that MMD presidential aspirant Nevers Mumba cannot be trusted with the leadership of the party.

Father Bwalya has described Dr. Mumba as a shameful lair, who cannot be trusted to run the affairs of the former ruling party,

Father Bwalya, who is the executive director of Get Involved Zambia, said that it was a pity and shameful for a leader to lie that he was cleared by the auditor general’s report while he served as Zambia’s high commissioner to Canada.

In an interview with QFM radio, Fr Bwalya said that Dr. Mumba has been exposed of his lies even before he attempts to take over the presidency of the former ruling party.

He has further questioned the rational behind Dr Mumba’s defence of former president Rupiah Banda against alleged corrupt activities.

He said that it was clear knowledge that the former head of state might be linked to corruption.

Father Bwalya has advised the MMD leadership to think clearly on the type of leader they would want to have.

He adds that Zambia needs political leaders who are clean and have a better vision for the country whether in opposition or the ruling party.

QFM