President Rupiah Banda has disclosed that the Zambian government paid a total of 8 million pounds to a named British law firm which was pursuing a case of corruption involving second republican president Dr. Frederick Chiluba.

President Banda said government further paid another substantial US$ 2 million over the same case.

Speaking to Journalists shortly before departure for Chipata, Eastern province, yesterday afternoon, President Banda said colossal sums of money were paid to Taskforce lawyers.

He advised the nation to forge ahead with other development projects as opposed to concentrating on the Chiluba case which he said was adequately dealt with by the courts.

Mr. Banda said a lot of eminent Zambians including former Commanders of the Defense forces have been tried in courts in Zambia with some acquitted but wondered why the same Zambians were mute on the matter.

He was commenting on the Law Association of Zambia which is aggrieved by the decision by Lusaka High Court Judge Evans Hamaundu reject an application to have the London Court judgment case involving second republican president Frederick Chiluba registered in Zambia.

And President Banda has challenged the British Government to release Dr. Chiluba’s co-accused Attan Shansonga to be tried here in Zambia.

Mr. Banda said despite the Zambian government writing a correspondences many years ago asking the British Government to release Mr. Shasonga, the British government has remind reluctant to release him.

On the forth-coming 2010 tripartite election, President Banda urged the British government to respect the Zambian laws because the Zambian courts have tried alot of eminent people including former commanders.

He further urged the British government against interfering with the Zambian law and to leave Zambia alone because she is a sovereign state capable of governing herself.

He took a swipe at some foreign diplomats accredited to Zambia against issuing statements as if they are opposition political parties.

On his trip to Chipata, President Banda said the commissioning of the Chipata/Mchinji railway line would help open up eastern province to the neigbouring Malawi and Mozambique and the entire region in terms of transporting goods and services.

Mr. Banda said the railway line could cut the distance from Chipata and Nacala in Mozambiaque by 800 km and another 500km from Chipata to Malawi.

He said the Chipata-Mchinji railway line was of economic value and hoped that government would source some funds to construct a dry port to accelerate economical development for the good of the peoples in the three countries.

He indicated that his Malawian counterpart Bingu Wa-Mtharika would attend the commissioning of the railway line but the Mozambiqican President Armando Emilio Guebuza is not coming to witness the commissioning of the railway because he is committed to other important national duties in his country.

President Banda, however, said President Guebuza has sent a representative to witness the commissioning of the railway line.

The Chipata-Mchinji Railway line was initiated in the late 1970s by the governments of Zambia and Malawi but was only completed under the leadership of President Rupiah Banda.

Meanwhile, President Banda has said First Lady Thandiwe has the right to empower women because she is the mother of the nation.

Commenting on opposition PF leader Michal Sata’s claims that the First Lady is ‘dishing out’ moneys to Mpulungu electorates, President Banda advised Mr. Sata and the civil society organsiations chief executive officers to desist from ‘finding faults’ but instead concentrate on development matters affecting the nation.

Mr. Banda is accompanied to Eastern Province by MMD Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga, Community Development Minister Michael Kaingu, Education Minister Dora Siliya and Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane among others

The President was seen off at the Lusaka ZAF City airport by Defense Chiefs, Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha, Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Fashion Phiri and other senior government and MMD officials.

QFM

Zambia’s annual inflation rate for the month of August has reduced from 8.4 percent in July to 8.2 percent, according to the Central Statistical Office.

The decrease for this month’s inflation rate has been attributed to the decline in the food prices. The Central Statistical Office this morning announced that between July 2010, and August 2010, annual inflation rates increased for clothing and footwear, household fuel and lighting, furniture and household goods, medical care, and other goods and services.

The annual inflation rates reduced for beverages and tobacco, transport and communication, and recreation and education. Of the total 8.2 percent, annual inflation in August 2010, food products in the consumer price index accounted for 1.4 percent points, while non-food products accounted for 6.8 percent.

The annual food inflation rate was recorded at 2.9 percent in August 2010 with the decrease being from 4.1 percent in July, 2010. Non food inflation rate was recorded at 13.4 percent in August 2010, with the increase from 12.6 percent in July 2010.

Acting CSO director, John Kalumbi, further revealed that a comparison of retail prices between July 2010 and August 2010 shows that the national average price of a 25 kg bag of white roller meal reduced by 7.1 percent, from k 37, 809 to k 35,137.

The average price of white breakfast meal also reduced by 2.7 percent, from k59,306 to 57,690. Mr. Kalumbi also adds that the national average price of a 20 litre tin of Maize grain increased by 2.5 percent, from 18,567 to k19, 031.

The CSO acting director says that the national price of 1kg of tomatoes reduced by 11.3 percent, from 3,607 to 3,201. He added that the national average price of 1kg of dried kapenta also reduced by 2.1 percent, from k 53,748 to k52,621.

QFM

Patriotic Front (PF) leader, Michael Sata, has declined to comment on insinuations from some sections of society that he will not need UPND leader, Hakainde Hichilema, in the 2011 tripartite elections.

Mr Sata who refused to give his position on the matter said in an interview that the issue is too petty for him to comment.

He said he could not involve himself in dealing with such petty political matters which are better placed to be dealt with by his juniors in the party.

Mr Sata said he could not comment because he is too senior to deal with such a matter.

The PF leader said also said he is too senior to comment on delay by Police to deal with a case involving Gender Deputy Minister, Lucy Changwe, in which she is being investigated for bouncing a K10 million cheque.
[QFM ]

The United Party for National Development, UPND, has dared expelled Namwala Member of Parliament (MP), Robbie Chizyuka, to join the ruling MMD and re-contest his seat on the ruling party ticket if he is popular as he claims.

UPND Secretary General, Winstone Chibwe, said Major Chizyuka would be defeated resoundingly if he choose to re-contest on the MMD ticket.

And Mr Chibwe said if Major Chizyuka decides join the MMD he would not be resigning from the UPND because he was expelled a long time ago from the party.
[pullquote]Mr Chibwe maintained that Major Chizyuka is a finished politician who destroyed his political career the moment he chose not to adhere to party regulations.[/pullquote]
He noted that the outspoken Namwala MP would merely be joining the ruling MMD, adding that his joining of the MMD means nothing to the party.

Mr Chibwe said there are many instances where an MP has resigned from the UPND to stand to join the ruling MMD and re-contested the same seat and have ended up losing.

He cautioned Major Chizyuka that he is destined for the same situation since he has shown high interest of joining the ruling MMD.

Mr Chibwe maintained that Major Chizyuka is a finished politician who destroyed his political career the moment he chose not to adhere to party regulations.

National Revolution Party President, Cosmo Mumba says he has gone on a two day fasting and prayer period following the dismissal of an application for the registration of the London High Court judgment by the Lusaka High Court.

Dr. Mumba told QFM in a telephone interview that he has gone on a two day period of fasting and prayer to petition God to punish second republican President, Frederick Chiluba, for all the alleged crimes he committed while he served as president.

He says his fasting and prayer programme began today at 14 hours and will end on Saturday August 28, 2010.

He adds that the Zambian government might be shielding Dr. Chiluba from being punished for all his deeds but that he will not be spared by God after he is done with his fasting and prayers.

Dr. Mumba has also backed Change Life Zambia executive director, Father Frank Bwalya’s calls for demonstrations against the Lusaka High Court’s decision to refuse to register the London Judgment.

And Alliance for Development and Democracy ADD president, Charles Milupi says government’s adamancy not to appeal against the High Court’s decision throw out an application seeking to register London High Court judgment is a mockery of the judicial process.

Mr. Milupi notes that the costs incurred in pursuing the case against former President Fredrick Chiluba and others in the London High Court leading to the Court’s judgment are too huge for the State not to appeal against the High Court ruling.

He says it is surprising that the MMD government can allow the loss of such amounts of public funds without even attempting to appeal.

Mr. Milupi says the decision by government not to appeal to the Supreme Court sends a signal that it is okay to loot the country’s wealth under the MMD government and get away with it.

He says this is also an indication that there is no real desire on the part of the current government to curb corruption.

Mr Milupi says embezzlement of public resources should not be permitted and government should be seen to take action against culprits.

[QFM]