Recalled Zambia’s high commissioner to Canada Nevers Mumba has responded to allegations of financial irregularities at the Zamnbian embassy in Canada. Dr Mumba has said that he is innocent and said that he will only return home when he gets a Foreign Office clearance officially.

He denied any allegations of “financial irregularities,” in an exclusive phone interview with the Daily Mail yesterday.

“Our office books have been audited thoroughly and I can’t recall any irregularities,” Pastor Mumba said, “I am happy this is an allegation and not a charge. I am open for investigations and the Auditor General can return to Canada and carry out another audit if there are any doubts…I am a God-fearing man and I fear tax-payers’ money. I have never stolen public funds.”

The fire and brim-stone pastor, who has been in diplomatic services for about two and a half years, has been placed on the spot for alleged “financial impropriety” by President Sata in a statement signed by his special assistant for press and public relations George Chellah.

“Information so far suggests serious financial impropriety at the Zambian mission in Toronto which is under the supervision of Dr Nevers Mumba,” President Sata’s statement said adding that the preacher-turned-diplomat was “resisting recall.”

The President wants Pastor Mumba to “corporate with authorities while in Zambia on a personal visit” he must be prepared to personally pay for rather than use tax payers’ money.

But Pastor Mumba said, “I can’t come home until after December 31 when my tour of duty expires. I have applied for local leave twice and twice it has been denied because I have been told to stay here until my tour of duty extension expires at the end of December. I am not coming.”

Pastor Mumba suggests that he could be getting the “heat” because his name has lately been linked to a list of a possible successor of Rupiah Banda, who resigned after he lost an election to President Sata on September 20. He declined to elaborate.

[pullquote]Pastor Mumba suggests that he could be getting the “heat” because his name has lately been linked to a list of a possible successor of Rupiah Banda, who resigned after he lost an election to President Sata on September 20. He declined to elaborate.[/pullquote]

However, he said he will make his political position clear once he retired because at the moment he is still a servant of the government led by “President Sata…I am still a government worker and will remain so until I come back home.”

The Pastor said he did not resist a “recall” notice sent to him but asked that his return be extended to the end of December so that he can find a place for his family to return back to rather than become destitute on arrival.

“I need time to find a place for my family to stay,” Pastor Mumba said, “I also needed time to bid farewell to friends while I was in service in Canada. I will return soon.”

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Maxwell Mwale, Former Mines and Minerals Minister in the Rupiah Banda led administration has been arrested. Sources familiar with the development have disclosed that Mr. Mwale, who is also Malambo Member of Parliament(MP), was arrested Wednesday, afternoon after long hours of interrogation.

Mr. Mwale has been arrested in connection with the alleged disappearance of gold at the drug enforcement Commission (DEC) offices in Lusaka. He is said to have been denied police bond and has been detained at Woodlands Police Station.

Mr. Mwale is expected to be taken to court tomorrow. Recently, Mr. Mwale was summoned to appear before a combined team of law enforcement agencies over the gold which, Republican President, Michael Sata claim was stolen.

He becomes the latest high profile official in the previous administration to be thrown in the cells following revelation by the Police command that all those linked to the missing gold will start appearing in court this week.

Meanwhile, Former Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) Commissioner Aaron Zulu who was arrested on Tuesday has appeared in the Lusaka Magistrates’ court for mention.

This is in a matter where Mr. Zulu is charged with abuse of authority.

The former DEC Chief is alleged to have abused his authority on July 8 this year by directing the sale of one hundred and eighteen point 897 Kilograms of Gold to Societe Financier Du Seujut SA.

The gold was allegedly sold at the value less than the market price.

Mr. Zulu is set to appear for another mention on November 23, pending consent from the Director of Public Prosecutions -DPP- to prosecute the matter.

Meanwhile, Principal Resident Magistrate Aridah Chuulu has granted Mr. Zulu a Five Million Kwacha cash bail.

Magistrate Chuulu has also ordered Mr. Zulu to avail two working sureties in their own recognizance.

This was after Defence lawyer Sakwiba Sikota, applied for bail saying his client is facing a bailable offence and is of fixed abode.

ZNBC

Allegations of financial irregularities at the Zambian mission in Canada have disturbed President Michael Sata.

The President is concerned that information obtained so far suggests serious financial impropriety at the Mission in Toronto, which is under the supervision of Dr Nevers Mumba.

The President hopes that Dr Mumba’s impending visit to Zambia will provide law enforcement agencies an opportunity to engage him on the financial matters at the mission, he supervised as High Commissioner until his recent recall.

Mr SATA disclosed that Dr Mumba has been resisting his recall but now intends to come home on a private visit for some political engagements.

The President hopes Dr Mumba’s visit is self sponsored.

Mr Sata says the state shall recover from Dr Mumba any taxpayer’s money that would be spent on this purely private adventure.

Dr Mumba is among some former government officials being considered for the MMD presidency following former president Rupiah Banda’s abrupt retirement from politics after his September 20 polls defeat.

[ZNBC]

President Michael Sata has named a 20-member Technical Committee to draft the new Republican Constitution. This is contained in a statement released by the press aide to the President George Chellah.

The President said in carrying out its functions, the Technical Committee shall refer to all previous Constitutional Review Commissions.

“There are expected to refer to the Chona Constitutional Review Commission, Mvunga Constitutional Review Commission, the 1991 Constitution of Zambia, and the Mwanakatwe Constitutional Review Commission Report and Draft Constitution,” the President said.

“The Technical Committee will also review the Mung’omba Constitutional Review Report and Draft Constitution as well as the Zaloumis Electoral Reform Technical Committee Report and the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) Report and Draft Constitution.”

President Sata emphasised that the Technical Committee shall review the Mung’omba Draft Constitution and use it as the basis upon to develop the new constitution.

The Head of State said the Technical Committee is also expected to consult widely and take into account the submissions forwarded.

[pullquote]The President said the committee shall draw up its programme of work and submit the same to the Secretary to Cabinet within 7 days of its first sitting.[/pullquote]

“They are expected to consult local and international experts on constitutional law and practice, the members of the public at all provincial centres and incorporate in the new national constitution the views of the people as resolved in the provincial constitutional conventions.”

The committee is furthermore expected to consult and take into account the submissions of sector groups.

“The Technical Committee shall draft the national constitution based on its findings from the review process and best international constitutional practices and provisions of international conventions on human rights,” the President said.

“They shall also draft the Constitution of Zambia Bill to set the commencement date for the new Constitution, deal with transitional and other issues for the effective transition into a new constitutional regime under the Fourth Republic to be enacted by Parliament.”

The President said the committee shall draw up its programme of work and submit the same to the Secretary to Cabinet within 7 days of its first sitting. The President has also directed the committee to submit the whole report to him.

The Technical Committee shall be composed of the following eminent experts:

1. Hon. Justice Annel Silungwe, SC Former Chief Justice shall be Chairperson

2. Dr. J.B. Sakala JB Sakala and Company shall be Vice- Chairperson

3. Rev. Susan Matale Council of Churches

4. Mr. Willa Mung’omba Mungo’omba Associates

5. Hon. Sebastian S. Zulu, SC Minister of Justice

6. Ms. Charity Mwansa Permanent Secretary-Lusaka Province

7. Professor Patrick Mvunga Mvunga and Associates

8. Chief Luchembe Northern Province

9. Prof. Margaret Munalula University of Zambia

10. Mr. Ernest Mwansa Mwansa Phiri and Partners

11. Dr. Rodger Chongwe Chongwe and Associates

12. Mr. Paulman Chungu Law Association of Zambia

13. Mr. Simon Kabanda Citizens Forum

14. Mr. Reuben Lifuka Transparency International-Zambia

15. Mrs. Mwangala Zaloumis Dove Chambers

16. Dr. Winnie Sithole-Mwenda Ministry of Justice

17. Mrs. Thandiwe D. Oteng Ministry of Justice, who shall be the Secretary to the Committee

18. Three Catholic Bishops

The Technical Committee shall be supported and advised by the following draftspersons:

1. Mrs. Eva Jhala Bemvi Consultants
2. Mrs. Patricia D. Jere Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Ministry of Justice
3. Mr. Andrew Nkunika Acting Principal Parliamentary Counsel,

Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) National Secretary Major Richard Kachingwe has dispelled reports that a committee formed by the party’s national executive committee is investigating former President Rupiah Banda. Maj Kachingwe said the committee, headed by the party’s chairman for international affairs Kalombo Mwansa, wants to review the MMD’s performance and establish why it lost the September 20 polls.

Maj Kachingwe said the committee, comprising the party chairperson for legal affairs Bradford Machila, NEC trustee Jane Mkhalipi, chairperson for health Lumba Kalumba and Senga Hill member of Parliament Kapembwa Simbao, has been receiving written submissions from all constituencies and will also receive oral submissions at provincial centres.

“I have written to all provincial chairmen and chairladies informing them of this committee led by Dr Kalombo Mwansa. It’s not investigating president Banda and our members should ignore such reports,” he said.

Meanwhile, with two weeks to go before the party secretariat can close the door to anyone wanting to express interest in the former ruling party’s leadership, 9 top MMD members – mostly former ministers and diplomats, and a businessman – have thrown their hats into the ring and decided to run for party president.

The contenders officially include Zambia’s High Commissioner to Canada Nevers Mumba, former Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Felix Mutati and Austin Chewe, a businessman.

A list in the possession of Daily Mail confirms that the nine are the only ones that have applied to their party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to be considered for the once upon a time, most coveted job in town following Mr Banda’s decision to retire.

Mr Banda announced his intentions to quit the MMD presidency after he suffered defeat to Mr Sata in the September 20 elections. MMD national secretary Richard Kachingwe confirmed having received applications but refused to disclose the names of the people that hope to succeed Mr Banda.

Major Kachingwe said, “We have about nine to ten people who have applied from the time we invited applications for the presidency.” He said the party expects to receive more applications as the November 30 deadline draws near.

Asked to name the people wishing to contest the MMD presidency, Major Kachingwe said: “We will announce the names of the people interested after we reach the deadline.”
Other strong contenders for the job are former Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Kabinga Pande and former Minister of Local Government and Housing Brian Chituwo.

The rest are Chisamba member of Parliament Moses Muteteka, Charles Ngesa, a party member based on the Copperbelt, and Mr Nason Msoni, who contested the Kabwata parliamentary seat as an independent.

Party stalwarts say members championing Pastor Mumba as a possible successor to Mr Banda are demanding huge campaign funds from the diplomat. The party bigwigs believe the move has scared interested candidates from announcing their intentions for the party‘s highest position following the monetary demands that are rife in MMD.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

THE Zambian government is not yet ready to increase its shareholding in the mining companies until such a time that Cabinet thoroughly examines the matter and advises on how to proceed, Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda told accountants during a post-budget discussion last weekend.

“There has to be a Cabinet memo to state that Government wants to increase its stake in a company and as far as I’m concerned, there has been no such memo,” Mr Chikwanda said, “In the absence of a Cabinet memo, I can’t state for a fact whether there is any immediate intention for us to increase our stake in the mines.”

In October, Mines and Minerals Minister Wylbur Simuusa told journalists in Lusaka that Government may seek to “increase” its stake in the mining companies currently operating in Zambia but largely in foreign hands.

Mr Simuusa said it was a generally acceptable trend (upping the stake) in the world and would not be uniquely Zambian if it occurred. Mr Simuusa added that if any increase would be effected, it would be done in consultation with the owners of the mines. No short- cuts would be taken as Zambia respects investors but at the same time wants to ensure the mineral wealth is “spread around” in times of good prices.

Zambia wants to use proceeds from the mining companies to reduce poverty and create jobs.

[Zambia Daily Mail]