The U.S Embassy in Lusaka has signed a grant with FORGE a U.S based non government organization that supports refuges to establish internet service at Maheba Refuge Settlement in North Western Province.

The internet connectivity is aimed at empowering residents of Maheba Settlement with an easy gate way to the rest of the World without obtaining gate passes.

The internet connectivity is also aimed at allowing Refuges at Maheba Settlement to research information about their legal rights and information regarding their countries of origins.

Speaking after the signing ceremony in Lusaka today Charge d’ Affairs at the U.S Embassy in Lusaka Stephen Schwartz said internet services make people understand issues well hence them making informed decisions.

Mr Schwartz also noted that communication is vital as it lifts people from poverty due to the knowledge they acquire and apply on sustainable issues.
He said connecting Maheba Settlement will encourage stakeholders to peruse initiatives that will lead to lasting solutions for refuges at the settlement adding that it will encourage self sufficiency.

He said the facilities will not only make refuges make informed decisions on certain issues but will help them to peruse solutions to their daily challenges as refuges and take control of their livelihood.

FORGE has been working in Zambia for the past seven years providing various services to refuges with a focus on preparing them for repatriation to their countries of origin.

Among the services FORGE has been involved in include early childhood education, agricultural finance, health care, women’s empowerment and computer technology.

[ ZANIS ]

A 42 year old widow in Livingstone has gruesomely been murdered by her Land lord in unexplained circumstances.

Southern Province Police Commander Remmy Kajoba was not reachable for comment on the matter but a family spokesperson Martha Mwanamwalye confirmed the murder with ZANIS.

Mrs Mwanamwalye, who is the elder sister to the deceased said her younger sister whom she named as Veronica Mwase aged 42 and a widow was murdered by her Landlord on Friday 13th August 2010.

According to Mrs. Mwanamwalye , her young sister who was a resident of Dambwa Site and Service Kashitu in Livingstone knocked off on the evening of Friday 13th August, 2010 around 20:00hrs.

“When she arrived home from work, her land lord who is physically challenged in the company of his named brother assaulted her with knife for the simple reason of bugging on the door, “she said.
The murder took place between 21:00hrs – 23:00 hrs when she got home.

And According to eye witnesses the Landlord asked why she had banged the door when she entered the room she occupied, the Landlord who is a lame man on crutches then knifed her.

The Landlord had been seen walking with a knife the whole day. The Landlord was with his young brother who people suspect held the late Veronica as his brother knifed her.

The two brothers have since been arrested and charged with murder.
The deceased widow is survived by three children and one grandchild.

The grandchild is from her 15year old daughter who was defiled last year at school.
The named landlord is in police custody pending court appearance for a murder charge
[ ZANIS ]

Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) says the registration of the London Court judgment must go all the way to the Supreme Court.

TIZ executive director Goodwell Lungu in a statement released to QFM today says it is TIZ’s unwavering position that this is a matter of immense public interest which cannot be abandoned at this hurdle.

Last week High Court Judge Evans Hamaundu dismissed an application by the State to have the London Court judgment against former President Fredrick Chiluba and his co-accused in which they were found liable of defrauding the Zambia government of US$46 million registered.

Mr Lungu says it is unimaginable that the Attorney General can abandon the cause at this stage given the rather large judgment sum which should be recovered from the judgment debtors.

He says the Attorney General should pursue the registration of the London judgment to its logical conclusion.

Mr Lungu reminds that Zambian public that government has already used the same London High Court judgment to extract payments from defendants such as Atan Shansonga,Bimal Thaker,Cave Malik and their insurers in the United Kingdom and that properties in Belgium were recovered with a gross value of US$8 million in a claim against four European defendants on the same allegations against Dr Chiluba and others.

He adds that as far as TIZ is concerned, the finding against Dr Chiluba and his co-accused by the London Court remain valid, and that the ball is back in the court of the Attorney General and the Zambian Government.

QFM

THE latest report of the Auditor General on 21 parastatal institutions has revealed financial irregularities at the dissolved Task Force on Corruption in which Lusaka lawyer Mutembo Nchito’s firm was one of the legal firms engaged irregularly and benefited from K1.8 billion in legal fees.

MNB Legal Practitioners and other laws firms were paid US$20,000 every month whether there was work done or not and there was no justification for the fixed amounts.

The total amount paid to three local firms is more than K1.8 billion ($375,333.33). Other law firms that were paid similar amounts under the same terms were Zulu and Company, Sambo Kayukwa and Company and Mundia and Company.

One foreign company DLA Piper Rudnick was paid $1.3 million in the same period. The companies were paid money whether there was work done in any month or not.

Meanwhile, THE Auditor General’s Report for 2008 on parastatals has revealed that about K4.5 billion was paid out to 20 officers who did not have existing contracts of employment with the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

The Auditor General’s report states that the amount was paid out to the officers as salaries, gratuity, housing allowance and accumulated leave days.

Upon verification however, the Auditor General discovered that the payments were irregular in that none of the payees had contracts of employment with UTH

The report has also revealed that as at December 2008, the hospital owed staff amounts totalling K26 billion in leave travel benefits, salaries and terminal benefits, gratuity, long service bonuses and settling in allowances.

According to the hospital’s financial statements, statutory contributions amounting to more than K1 billion were not remitted to respective institutions such as the Zambia State Insurance Corporation, Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA).

And the Auditor General has revealed that except for 2003 and 2001 when profits of K8.8 billion and K17.1 billion were recorded, Zambia railways Limited (ZRL) recorded losses in all the other years under review.
“As of December 2008, the losses had accumulated to about K148.6 billion,” the report reads.

The report revealed that the working capital position of ZRL worsened from a deficit of about K28 billion in 2002 to a deficit of K75.8 billion in 2008 thereby exposing the company to the risk of insolvency.

A scrutiny of the concession agreement with railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ) revealed that apart from the US $3.5 million in the investment plan for rolling stock, there was nothing to compel the concessionaire to invest more in the 20 year lifespan of the agreement.

[Times of Zambia/Zambia Daily Mail]

UNITED Liberal Party (ULP) president Sakwiba Sikota has sued United Party for National Development (UPND) losing candidate in the Luena Parliamentary by-election Muyunda Ililonga for libel.

Mr Sikota has also sued UPND secretary-general Winston Chibwe on behalf of party members over an alleged defamatory leaflet that was published and circulated in Luena during campaigns for the August 5 by-election.

According to a statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High Court, Mr Sikota says the leaflet entitled ‘Luena News’ was false and malicious.

He says the leaflet also alleged that President Banda had given him money to cause confusion in Luena Constituency before the by-election.

Mr Sikota says the defamatory and false campaign leaflet was widely circulated in Luena Constituency and Mongu district.

“The natural and ordinary meaning of the article is that the plaintiff [Mr Sikota] is a violent man who regularly beat up his father; that he is prepared to accept bribes from other political parties; and that he is a hypocrite who claims to be against domestic violence and corruption when in fact he engages in the same,” he says.

Mr Sikota argues that the leaflet also meant that he is not fit to be a political leader and that he is only bent on causing confusion.

He says none of the allegations were true because he never used to beat up his father nor received any money from President Banda or the MMD for use in the Luena by-election.

Mr Sikota says in consequence he has been seriously defamed and has suffered considerable hurt and embarrassment, including hate, scorn and ridicule from the public.

He says the leaflet was published in a sensational manner in spite of the fact that the defendants knew well that they were making unsubstantiated and false allegations.

“In publishing, printing, and circulating the said defamatory leaflet, the defendants did so with sole malicious aim of damaging the plaintiff’s political and personal reputation,” Mr Sikota says.

He is, therefore, claiming exemplary and punitive damages for libel, and an injunction restraining the defendants from further publishing the same or similar libel.

He is also claiming interest on any award that may be given at the current bank rate from the date of filing the writ of summons until payment.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha says government will soon consult the late Dr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa’s family on how best to remember the former head of state.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said that government would also consult other stakeholders to work modalities on how best to remember former Presidents.

He said the consultations would begin within the next few days and would also seek ways of honoring former Presidents including those that die while in office.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha has meanwhile said that government supports the initiatives by the family of the late President Mwanawasa to hold functions as a way to remember the late President.

He said this in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today ahead of the second anniversary of the death of President Mwanawasa.

He said August 19 this week will mark the second anniversary of the third head of state Dr. Mwanawasa who died at Percy military hospital in France in 2008 after an illness.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister said the family of the late President will therefore hold a number of functions to commemorate the day adding that government will support this concept.

He has since appealed to Zambians who are able to support these functions to render their help in the love and memory of the late President.

Dr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa who was Zambian third republican President died on August 19, 2008 in France after an illness and was buried at Embassy Park in Lusaka on September 3, 2008.

ZANIS

Government says it has put in place stringent measures to curb illegal land allocations and acquisition in the country.

Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu said in the month of August alone about 25 arrests have so far been made arising from illegal demarcation, and sale of land.

Mr. Lungu said the suspects are currently appearing before the Lusaka Civic Centre Fast Track Court while others have been released on police bond.

This is according to a press statement by Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu availed to ZANIS this evening.

Mr. Lungu has since assured the public that his ministry through a Task force set aside to curb illegal land allocations is looking into complaints being raised by the public on illegal sale of land.

Mr. Lungu has however warned members of the public to desist from buying land from people without following the laid down procedures.

He said ignoring the laid down procedures on how to acquire land will remain a risk on the part of the public as they will continue loosing their hard earned resources.

Mr. Lungu has further advised the public not to purchase land without confirming validity of the title deeds of the seller from the ministry of Lands.

Meanwhile Mr. Lungu has appealed to members of the public to report all suspected people dealing in illegal sale of land to relevant authorities.

ZANIS