The Citizen’s Forum (C.F) has described as unfortunate the turn of events following Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika’s statement about how Republican President Rupiah Banda helped him win a second term in office.

Citizens Forum Executive Director,Simon Kabanda says the statement by the Malawian leader on how President Banda contributed to his re-election for a second term in office and how the opposition in that country has reacted might dent Zambia’s democratic credentials and reputation.

Mr.Kabanda says Zambia has managed to build a good name with its multiparty dispensation in a bid to build democracy and good governance.

He however said that the manner in which the opposition has interpreted the statement by President Mutharika during the official opening of Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka last week, might put the country’s at a risk.[pullquote]Mr Mabenga said Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika’s remarks that President Banda helped him in the campaigns to secure his second term of office last year should not be mistaken for rigging elections.

He said Professor wa Mutharika was merely congratulating President Banda for the support rendered to him during that country’s general elections.
[/pullquote]

He says the remarks uttered by Malawi’s opposition leader John Tembo risk the country being wrongly judged.

Mr Kabanda adds that Zambians are not happy with how the whole issue has been turned into because it brings the nation’s credibility into disrepute and raises questions about the country’s democratic credentials.

He has since advised politicians to be careful with their utterances about political matters in other countries.

Malawi’s main opposition leader John Tembo was yesterday reported in a daily tabloid claiming that Mr Banda had sent some people to Malawi to help rig election results in favour of Prof Mutharika.

Meanwhile, Mr Michael Sata recently alleged that some Malawians had received Zambian national registration cards to vote for President Banda in next year’s elections.Mr Sata was quoted in the Sunday Post as saying some Malawians at the border areas with Zambia were obtaining NRCs as well as voters’ cards in readiness for the elections so that they could vote for the MMD.

The MMD has described as rubbish remarks by Michael Sata that some Malawian nationals are getting national registration cards (NRCs) and voters’ cards to vote President Banda.

MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga said it is folly for Mr Sata to allege that Malawians are getting NRCs and voters’ cards to vote for President Banda and the MMD in the 2011 tripartite elections.
“Mr Sata is a daydreamer and that comment from him is total rubbish. That is my comment,” Mr Mabenga said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.

He said there is no other person apart from Zambians who can be issued with NRCs and voters’ cards.
Mr Mabenga said Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika’s remarks that President Banda helped him in the campaigns to secure his second term of office last year should not be mistaken for rigging elections.

He said Professor wa Mutharika was merely congratulating President Banda for the support rendered to him during that country’s general elections.

[QFM ,Daily Mail]

United Party for National Development (UPND) Secretary General, Winstone Chibwe, has written to Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General, Winter Kabimba, proposing for a meeting to resolve the problems in the pact.

UPND Spokesperson Charles Kakoma revealed this to QFM in a telephone interview.

Mr Kakoma who expressed optimism that the pact will not break explains that the meeting will be composed of the PF/UPND National Governing Council.

He said the National Governing Council will soon sit to discuss the way forward in the UPND/PF pact which has been going through problems of late.

And earlier UPND President, Hakainde Hichilema, assured Zambians that the PF/UPND pact will not break.

There have been calls from stakeholders for the two presidents in this political pact that there is need for them to dialogue and find the way forward.

SACCORD Information Officer, Obby Chibuluma, said last week that the two presidents in the pact must hold a joint press conference in order to address the problems in the pact.
[ QFM ]

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) and the Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) have advised Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata to desist from making allegations that could affect relations between Malawi and Zambia.

And Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu has asked Mr Sata and any citizen with information that national registration cards (NRCs) are being given to non Zambians with a view to rig next year’s elections to report such manoeuvers to security agencies.

FODEP president Stanley Mhango said yesterday that politicians making rigging allegations should be factual and produce concrete evidence.

He said the allegations that President Rupiah Banda helped his Malawian counterpart Bingu wa Mutharika to rig elections have the potential to affect relations of the two countries.

SACCORD information officer Obby Chibuluma in a separate interview said rigging allegations against President Banda are serious and that people should provide evidence.

Mr Chibuluma advised Mr Sata to seriously reflect before making allegations that have the potential to affect the country.

Institute for Human Rights and Democratic Governance (IHRDG) director Franco Kapijimpanga said it was irresponsible for opposition leaders both in Zambia and Malawi to suggest that President Banda help Professor Mutharika rig elections.

Mr Sata recently alleged that some Malawians had received Zambian national registration cards to vote for President Banda in next year’s elections.

Malawi’s main opposition leader John Tembo was yesterday reported in a daily tabloid claiming that Mr Banda had sent some people to Malawi to help rig election results in favour of Prof Mutharika.

Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Lungu said the Government was not aware that there were some foreigners obtaining NRCs to enable them participate in next year’s elections.

Mr Sata was quoted in the Sunday Post as saying some Malawians at the border areas with Zambia were obtaining NRCs as well as voters’ cards in readiness for the elections so that they could vote for the MMD.
[ Times of Zambia ]

Suspected PF cadres yesterday blocked Vice-President George Kunda’s motorcade as he was heading to Ndola International Airport after addressing a campaign rally in Chifubu Township.

And more than five MMD supporters including the daughter of the party’s aspiring candidate Frank Ng’ambi were yesterday beaten by suspected PF

cadres who descended on them after they stopped the vehicle in which they were travelling on Kwacha Road in Ndola.

In Kitwe, suspected PF cadres on Sunday stormed Radio Icengelo with the view of attacking three former Patriotic Front (PF) Secretaries General when they featured on the radio station on Sunday.

In the Ndola incident yesterday, PF cadres who were in a convoy which included a vehicle in which PF leader Michael Sata was travelling disobeyed traffic police orders to stop to give way to the vice-president’s motorcade which was heading northwards to the airport.

A female police officer who tried to block the PF convoy was almost hit by the vehicles.

Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima condemned the development.
Ndola district police commanding officer Stella Libongani said police had received a report and investigations into the matter had been launched.

Mr Mbulakulima said opposition cadres blocked Mr Kunda’s motorcade, which was forced off the road at Ndola Fire Brigade along Nkana road to give way to a convoy of vehicles which included that of PF leader Michael Sata heading southwards to Chifubu.

Mr Mbulakulima, who is MMD Chifubu campaign manager, said it was unfortunate that Ndola had started experiencing some cases of violence after the arrival of Mr Sata, whom he alleged was accompanied by scores of imported cadres.

“It is unacceptable that a good number of people were beaten and vehicles damaged by some PF thugs. Why do we have a situation where some people from outside Ndola are now breaking the law with impunity; after all the parties participating in the elections pledged to see to it that the violence which happened in Mufumbwe does not repeat itself in Chifubu,” he said.

Mr Mbulakulima said as provincial minister, he would see to it that those who had intention to bring chaos in Chifubu would be visited by the law.

He said he would not allow a situation where the electorate was intimidated and harassed before they cast their votes.

He said the MMD would not retaliate despite being provoked because the ruling party does not want to be detracted because victory was certain with or without the intimidation of voters.

But PF campaign manager Willie Nsanda said the problem could have been caused by the fact that the vice-president used the same route to go to the airport when Mr Sata was heading for a rally in Chifubu.

“People were just excited today but I think the incident could have happened due to the fact that the route the vice-president used when going to the airport was the same one used by Mr Sata when coming from the airport,” he said.

Mr Ngambi confirmed that his daughter Lukundo 16, Clement Bweupe, the driver of the vehicle which had MMD campaign posters were rushed to the hospital where they received treatment after being beaten by the PF cadres.

Later, police in Ndola yesterday fired teargas canisters to disperse MMD and PF cadres who fought running battles at Chifubu market after the rallies held in the constituency.

The Times team which rushed to scene found police keeping vigil at Chifubu market as cadres from both sides stonned each other.

Four people were injured in the fracas which started around 18:00 hours. By Press time, cadres from both sides were seen still camped at Chifubu market.

In Kitwe, the cadres allegedly led by Kitwe Deputy Mayor Chileshe Bweupe camped at the entrance to the radio station waiting for the trio to finish the programme.

The trio who confirmed the incident castigated PF cadres and described their behaviour as cowardice.

But when contacted, Mr Nsanda denied having sent the PF cadres to go and attack the trio and said Mr Bweupe went to the radio station to go and place advertisements.

But Mr Edward Mumbi, Edwin Lifwekelo and Charles Chimumbwa who had to be escorted out of the Radio station by police said they had to quickly alert Copperbelt Commanding Officer Antoneil Mutentwa who in turn instructed officers from Riverside Police station to provide escort for them.

Mr Mumbi said it was shameful for the PF cadres to think the three former PF secretaries had no right to go to Radio Icengelo and tell the Zambians why they left the PF.

The three featured on the Radio station where they said they left the PF due to alleged lack of internal democracy and unity of purpose.
[ Times of Zambia ]

ACCESS Bank Zambia has introduced on the market two facilities that make it difficult for swindlers to fraudulently access other people’s bank accounts or replicate automated teller machine (ATM) cards, frauds which the market has witnessed in recent weeks.

The bank was the first in Zambia to introduce a debit card that has a microscopic chip and pin facility to prevent fraudulent access to accounts.

Access Bank Zambia head of corporate communications and brand management, Glenda Tutula said the bank designed the chip and pin facility to reduce fraudulent incidences and protect customers from such practices.

Ms Tutula said the bank was the first in Zambia to introduce the ‘chip and pin’ facility, and was committed to enhancing security measures to increase safety among customers. The card is acceptable for use at ATMs globally.

She said the bank had also introduced the Access debit alert facilities, equally designed to protect its clients from fraud as the customer is notified automatically and electronically through the mobile phone at any time that a transaction takes place.

“Access Bank has introduced access debit alert, a text message which would be reflecting on the customer’s phone indicating that a transaction was being carried out,” he said.

Whenever money was being withdrawn from a client’s account, the system would send a text message to the customer detailing the time and date when the transaction took place as well as the branch where it was transacted and how much money was withdrawn.

“We have decided to come up with the chip and pin debit card and the access debit alert to protect our customers from being swindled and I am very optimistic this will increase our safety measures and help reduce incidences of fraud,” she said.

Ms Tutula said all Access Bank clients would have the chip and pin debit card and would be receiving a text message of their mobile phones through the access alert service.

The facility could help in addressing the frauds that some banks in the country have reported in recent weeks through the Bankers Association on Zambia (BAZ).

Meanwhile, the Bank of Zambia (BOZ) has said it is aware of the reported frauds presented by BAZ and the central bank is awaiting a comprehensive report from the association for it to determine the extent and amount of money lost in the recently reported frauds through debit cards and act accordingly.

BoZ governor, Caleb Fundanga has described the incidences as a temporary setback in efforts that the banking system in Zambia has been putting in place to avoid fraud.

Dr Fundanga said at the just-ended Zambia Agriculture and Commercial Show that there was need to maintain progress on the measures, especially through automation of transactions.

[pullquote]However, they said preliminary reports indicated that the most affected were retail bank customers who travelled and sought bank services from neighbouring countries.
[/pullquote]
Earlier, BoZ head of public relations Kanguya Mayondi had said the central bank was aware and was monitoring fraud reports through the updates obtained from BAZ, but could only act upon receiving a full report.

“BOZ is aware of the fraud cases reported by individual financial institutions through BAZ, but we will act on the matter upon receiving a comprehensive report from the bankers’ body,” said Mr Mayondi.

Debit card fraud alarms were recently revealed by some retail banking customers in Zambia who reported suspicious debit card transactions on their accounts across some local financial institutions.

However, they said preliminary reports indicated that the most affected were retail bank customers who travelled and sought bank services from neighbouring countries.

[Times of Zambia]

The Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) has made its submissions to the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) draft constitution, demanding the acknowledgment of some provisions in the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 in the new constitution.

BRE Senior Induna Ingangwana, who was flanked by Indunas Mukwakwa representing Senanga district, Ilubonda of Limulunga Royal Village and Induna Malenga representing Kaoma district, made the submissions to NCC Chairman, Chifumu Banda in Lusaka today.

In the submissions signed by the acting Ngambela, Litia Walubita, the BRE noted that the draft constitution did not consider the provisions of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.

The BRE proposed in the submissions that Articles of the constitution which define Zambia as a unitary state should acknowledge the Barotseland Agreement to be the instrument by which the unitary state is constituted.

The BRE said Part II of the Draft Constitution 2010 was not inclusive and proposed that Articles 4 (2), (3) and (5) be recast.

It proposed that the text of Article 4 (2), which establishes Zambia as a unitary, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural democratic state, should be changed to reflect the origins of the unitary state.

The royal establishment also submitted that for clause three of Article 4 to make sense, it should be supported by the acknowledgment of Barotseland Agreement of 1964, which enforces the unitary and indivisibility of the state.

Clause three of Article four states that ‘the Republic of Zambia shall no be ceded, in whole or in part, to another country’.

“This clause (clause 3 of Article 4) is an unnecessary overkill in the protection of the indivisibility of the unitary state,” reads the BRE submission in part.

On Article 4(5), the BRE said the clause was targeted at the Barotseland, which according to the BRE, was the only region of Zambia that has a clear right to establish a regional government.

Clause 5 of this article says ‘The establishment of a new state within the territory of the Republic of Zambia is prohibited’.

“It should be emphasized that this right preceded the birth of the Republic of Zambia and is, therefore, not bestowed on Barotseland by Zambia,” the BRE submission reads further.

A unitary state is one that has politics relating to or based on a system of government in which authority is centralized.

The BRE further argued that Article 213 (1) of Part XII of the draft constitution is inadequate as far as legislation for provincial, districts and local authorities administration is concerned.

BRE said this aspect of government administration should be placed under the Litunga (King of the Lozi people) and the council as per Barotseland Agreement of 1964.

“Accordingly, for Western province (Barotseland), the power given by the Constitution to Parliament to legislate for administration of provinces, districts and local authorities should be made subject to the provisions of the Barotseland Agreement 1964 as enshrined under Clause 8 of the Barotseland Agreement 1964,” the submissions read in part.

Clause 8 of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 states that “The Government of the Republic of Zambia shall take steps as may be necessary to ensure the laws for the time being in force in the Republic are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement”.

The BRE is also condemning Article 290 (2) of Part XIX of the Draft Constitution, saying it has failed to include land vested in the Litunga within the definition of customary land.

The establishment therefore proposes that Clause II of Article 290, which defines customary land, should be amended by inserting land vested in the Litunga as part of the customary land.

“Under Article 293 (1), the powers of the President over minerals and petroleum should not be so sweeping as to override the existing powers of the Litunga over land in Barotseland,” say the BRE submissions to the NCC.

The BRE further suggested that this article should therefore be re-aligned with the provisions relating to the control of land in Barotseland.

“Arising from the foregoing, Clause 2 of this Article should be deleted from the Draft Constitution,” read the submissions.

And after receiving the submissions, NCC Chairperson, Chifumu Banda commended the BRE for its response to take part in the national task to come up with a new constitution.

Mr. Banda said the BRE has always been responsive to issues of national interest and importance.

“It gives me great pleasure to receive submissions from the BRE because you as the BRE are always involved in responding to the national duty,” he said.

He said it was very encouraging that many other royal establishments have commented on the draft constitution.

“You can not build a strong nation without a strong royal establishment,” he said.

The NCC launched the Draft Constitution on June 22nd, this year and provided 40 days for the public to make comments.

The period for making submissions was scheduled to end yesterday, August 1st, 2010 but the NCC has continued to receive submissions from members of the public and organisations because the day following the deadline is a public holiday in Zambia.

NCC Spokesperson, Mwangala Zaloumis said when asked about why the BRE submitted comments after the August 1st deadline, that this was because today, (Monday) is a public holiday.

She said over 1,000 submissions have been received by the NCC in the last 40 days.

But when asked whether NCC will stop receiving submissions tomorrow, Tuesday 3rd August, Mrs. Zaloumis did not give a categorical answer but said, “It will depend. We will see because the plenary sits on the 10th of August”.

The NCC was appointed in 2007 by the late President Levy Mwanawasa to review the Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission (CRC) draft constitution and come up with a new constitution before the 2011 general elections.

The NCC concluded its reviewing work in April this year and adjourned to allow the secretariat to prepare an initial draft constitution, which was launched for comments by the members of the public on June 22nd, 2010.

ZANIS

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has thanked Zambians for rejecting a culture of violence during election campaigns.

And President Banda has lashed out at some opposition leaders in the country for criticizing him for his trips abroad.

Speaking on arrival at Livingstone International Airport today, President Banda said he is happy that various leaders in the country including the church have spoken against violence during election campaigns.

He said the ongoing campaigns for the Luena and Chifubu parliamentary by elections have been peaceful, an indication that the people have listened to their leaders on the need to observe a violence free campaign.

President Banda said he is grateful that Zambians want peace and democracy to prevail as evidenced by the mature manner campaigns have been conducted in Luena and Chifubu constituencies.

The President said the MMD was poised to triumph in the 2011 presidential and general elections because it has always withstood the pressure of the opposition.

He said the MMD has always won elections despite opposition parties ganging up against it simply because the Zambian people feel the MMD is the best party to be in power.

President Banda told hundreds of Livingstone residents who welcomed him at the airport that the MMD is determined to reduce poverty and improve the lives of Zambians.

He described as wishful thinking by some opposition leaders to tell Zambians that this country will not have problems once they ascended to power.

And president Banda lashed out at some opposition party leaders who are always condemning his trips abroad.

He explained that Zambia has ratified several treaties with various international organizations and the country is under obligation to fulfill the requirements of the treaties.

President Banda said Zambia cannot isolate itself from the rest of the world when it is a member to regional bodies and other international organizations.

President Banda is on a two days official visit to Livingstone during which he will grace the Bene Mukuni traditional ceremony of the Toka leya people of Kazungula district.

ZANIS