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Vice president George Kunda
Vice PRESIDENT George Kunda says government is not getting rid of the abuse of office offence but could not guarantee whether the offence will be contained in the revised Anti Corruption Commission Act.
Mr Kunda told Parliament yesterday that the abuse of office offence also exists in the Penal Code and that government wants to avoid the duplication of offences as it reforms the law.
He said government wants to re-align the law so that it makes sense by avoid duplication.
Mr Kunda said abuse of office would continue to be an offence in Zambia’s statute books, but that the offence will be contained is government’s pre-rogative.
He explained that there is need to update the laws so that they are consistent with the country’s constitution so that even accused persons can receive justice.
The vice president said government wants laws which are in accordance with principles of justice and acceptable to Commonwealth standards.
Government has come under heavy criticism from various stakeholders over its intentions to remove the abuse of office offence from the Anti Corruption Commission ACC Act.
[ QFM ]
Government has recognized the election of senior chief Mununga of the Shile area of Chienge district in Luapula province.
President Rupiah Banda announced yesterday in Chienge that he has signed the recognition of senior chief Mununga, after the courts disposed of his case in which his election was disputed.
The President was in Chienge to officiate at the Bwilile ceremony of the Bwile people of senior chief Puta’s area.
Mr. Banda said government knows that chieftainship has become a source of conflict in the country because there are people who claim the chieftainship which is not theirs.
He said if government had been slow in recognizing senior chief Mununga it was due to consultation process involved so that it could not make a mistake in its final decision.
The President promised that government would also attend to other problems raised by senior chief Puta concerning chiefs in the due course.
He said to address these issues government was going to do things properly according to the system that is in place.
Earlier senior chief Puta appealed to President Banda to prevail so that government would restore and recognize the chieftainship of four traditional rulers in his area.
The senior chief said four of his subordinate chiefs lost their recognition in 1953 due to individual inabilities.
He named the affected chiefs as Kalembwe, Chikwame, Chipungu and Mwabu.
He said the recognition of the four chiefs is important to Chienge area as to will easy his burden discharging traditional responsibilities single handed involving a large area.
[ ZANIS ]
Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) has expressed concern over the problems that have arisen because of the Direct Electronic Debit Account (DEDAC) system in the ministry of education.
ZNUT, Deputy National Secretary Catherine Chinunda said during a press briefing in Chipata that a number of teachers have so far experienced unnecessary deductions from salaries while others have gone for two months without salaries.
Mrs. Chinunda urged government to quickly address the situation saying it could affect the performance of teachers if left unattended.
“The teachers are being de-motivated as a result their performance may be poor and this could also affect the examination results among pupils in the country,’ she said.
Mrs. Chinunda disclosed that ZNUT is currently going round the country to determine the number of teachers that have been affected with the new payment system.
[ ZANIS ]
Kafulafuta MP George Mpombo making frantic calls to win back his freedom from a jail in Ndola after he was jailed for bouncing a chequeTHE Ndola Magistrates Court has convicted former Defence Minister George Mpombo on one account of dishonoring a cheque amounting to K10 million.
Ndola Chief Resident Magistrate Kelvin Limbani convicted Mr Mpombo in a case which came up for judgment.
Facts of the offence are that on December 18, 2009, Mpombo, with intent to defraud, issued a K10 million cheque to Colwyn Limited on an insufficiently funded account at Standard Chartered Bank.
Magistrate Limbani said the court had taken note of Mr Mpombo’s evidence that he had December 17, 2009 phoned Mr Terence Findley of Colwyn Limited and asked him not to deposit the cheque the following day since he had cash at hand.
Mr Limbani said the court was convinced that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that a cheque was issued and dishonoured and that the account was insufficiently funded.
He said the court was further convinced that the accused was aware of his obligation of paying back the money on December 18 and the consequences of not honouring that obligation.
Mr Limbani said since the accused had organised the money in cash on December 17, 2009, he should have deposited it in the account.
“I am convinced that the accused was fully aware of his obligations and since he had cash in hand on December 17th 2009, he should have deposited it. “Therefore, I find suppositions by the accused that he had called Mr Findley on December 17th 2009 asking him not to deposit the cheque as a mere afterthought meant to conceal the fact that he willfully had intent to defraud and I, therefore, convict him,” he said.
In mitigation, defence Lawyer Bonaventure Mutale asked the court to accord Mr Mpombo leniency by giving a penalty of a fine as opposed to a custodial sentence because the complainant had suffered no loss.
“I am humbly asking the court to accord maximum leniency to the accused person by considering a penalty of a fine as opposed to imposing a custodial sentence, considering that he repaid the debt at the earliest opportunity and that the complainant has suffered no loss,’ he said.
He further said the circumstances surrounding the case did not show any aggravation.
Mr Limbani reserved sentencing on August 9, 2010 and remanded Mr Mpombo in custody. – ZANIS.
Marketeers at Chipata’s Kaumbwe market today wake up to a rude shock when they found their trading stands burnt to ashes.
About 300 stands have been burnt to ashes following an inferno which swept through the entire market last night.
A check by ZANIS found the trading stands completely burnt as the owners and on lookers looked on in disbelief.
And when interviewed, one of the marketeers , Petronela Mwale, revealed that the fire started around midnight and was believed to have been started by some unknown people.
She said that alert shop owners and Chipata Municipal Council fire bridged prevented the fire from making further damage.
Meanwhile, Kaumbwe Market Chairperson, Clement Mwelwa, revealed that last year, fire also gutted the market destroying some trading stands.
Mr. Mwelwa said that the fire that was experienced last year and that of last night both started from the same place on the eastern side of the building area.
[ ZANIS ]
TWO Zambian drivers who operate the long distance haulage bus, Zambia-Namibia, were arrested and detained in Katima Mulilo last week Thursday for allegedly contravening the Namibian Transport Act. A police source said Masauso Sakala and Lucky Mudenda were detained for 10 hours after traffic officers at a road block arrested them for picking up Namibian passengers on the way to and from Windhoek.
The police source also said the charges constitute a fine or imprisonment as the two contravened the permit issued under the Namibian Road Traffic and Transport Act.
“They were taken in after countless warnings on several occasions to stop picking up Namibian passengers,” said the source.
Sakala and Mudenda, who were charged for carbortage, are out on bail of N$5,000 each and the case was postponed to 17 August 2010 pending further investigations.
The Road Transportation Act, Act 74 of 1977 reads: “A person undertaking a public road transport service must have the necessary permit, operating licence or ad hoc authorisation; and be registered in terms of this Act in case of minibus taxi-type, metered taxi, bus-type and coach-type services…” the permit reads.
Some Zambia-Namibia bus conductors, who declined to be named, this week told Informanté that their transportation permit allows them to trade, that is to pick up passengers within the borders.
“There are many foreign buses trading in Namibia but they do not suffer the harassments that befall us weekly when we drive through the town. The permit does not limit us to board foreigners’ only,” they complained.
A tertiary student, Jane Malumo, who boarded the bus when the arrests were made, said the bus was trailed and stopped 20 km before Katima. She said the officers demanded all Namibian passengers jump out and luggage thoroughly checked adding that they were subjected to victimisation and harassment.
“This bus is always searched at the borders and in town every time they drive through. Chaos broke out when the police came and demanded that Namibian passengers dock out of the bus,” she said.
A local mini-bus operator, who declined to be named, said the Zambian Bus is allegedly causing mayhem at the town as they get local customers that they should be transporting to Windhoek.
“The Zambian bus is not profiting us local operators in anyway. The bus boards both foreign and local passengers depriving us of making a living too,” said the operator.
Kafulafuta MP George Mpombo making frantic calls to win back his freedom from a jail in Ndola after he was jailed for bouncing a chequeKafulafuta MP George Mpombo in his jail cell in Ndola after he was jailed for bouncing a cheque
THE general public in Eastern Province has been urged to be on a look out for measles symptoms in unsuspecting patients.
Provincial Medical Officer, Dr. Kennedy Malama, said people should be on alert to identify measles whilst in its early stage and ensure treatment is done.
Dr. Malama was speaking during the Provincial Epidemic Preparedness Committee meeting held at Luangwa House in Chipata today.
He said the symptoms of measles were fever, skin rush with reddish soars and soar eyes, adding that, immediately people saw the symptoms, they should seek medical attention from health institutions.
Dr. Malama noted that if the disease was not treated quickly, it affected the brain, lungs and intestines, saying it may eventually lead to death.
‘’ The symptoms should be known so that people do not delay in seeking medical attention. The rush with reddish soars starts from the back of the neck and spreads to the face and later the disease goes to the brain, the lungs and intestines,’’ he said.
Dr. Malama also cautioned people not to be using herbal medicines to treat measles, adding that, some herbs were very strong and they damaged vital organs in human bodies such as kidneys, resulting in death.
He was responding to the concerns raised by Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Eularia Syamujaye, who said some people especially in villages were still using traditional way of treating measles where mothers secluded the sick children by taking them to the bush and gave them treatment.
‘’ There is need for all to take children to health centers unlike using herbal medicine which may be strong and damage vital organs like kidneys and may also lead to death,’’ Dr. Malama said.
He said measles was with the people of the province and there was need to give the disease all the attention it deserved.
The Doctor said he was proud that the province reached at least 95 percent of the target but there was still more to be done.
He observed that the region recorded 1, 025 cases of measles and there was need to reach out to remote places to immunize children with the support from district leaders.
Meanwhile, Director of Public Health and Research at Ministry of Health, Dr. Victor Mukonka, commended the Provincial Epidemic Preparedness Committee for responding quickly to epidemics.
Dr. Mukonka said the province reacted very quickly and contained the situation in a shortest time.
He however said the province still had a problem with measles which he said was a preventable disease, saying, through immunization, the battle could be won.
Dr. Mukonka said there should be routine immunization and leaders at various levels should help mobilize communities to end the problem.
‘’ For many years we have not seen cases of measles and new cases mean that children have not been vaccinated for a long time,’’ he said.
The Patriotic Front (PF) in Kabwe has suspended the party’s Bwacha Constituency Chairperson Saidi Chibwana for various reasons.
The action taken by the opposition party has angered several members who expressed displeasure, adding that better means of resolving whatever problems arose, should have been applied, rather than suspending Mr. Chibwana.
In an interview with ZANIS today, Mackdonald Phiri, a resident of Makululu, expressed disappointment with the decision arrived at by the Central Province PF Executive Committee to suspend Mr. Chibwana for unknown reasons.
Another Kabwe resident, Priscilla Chibwe of Chimanimani Compound said the suspension of Mr. Chibwana would weaken the strength of the PF in Bwacha Constituency, as the suspended official had established a strong foundation for the opposition party in the area.
[pullquote] The letter further accused Mr. Chibwana of forming parallel structures called PF ‘B’ with a view of consolidating his position, for him to contest as an independent if not adopted by the Patriotic Front to contest during next year’s presidential and general elections.[/pullquote]
The other information reaching ZANIS in Kabwe was that more PF Bwacha Constituency Committee members have been suspended from the party.
The suspension letter addressed to Mr.Chibwana, gave him 7 days within which to exculpate himself against four reasons which served as the basis for his suspension.
Mr. Chibwana who also is Ngungu Ward Councilor, was alleged to have been corrupting Ward officials to win their support.
The letter further accused Mr. Chibwana of forming parallel structures called PF ‘B’ with a view of consolidating his position, for him to contest as an independent if not adopted by the Patriotic Front to contest during next year’s presidential and general elections.
When contacted for a comment, Mr. Chibwana confirmed having received the suspension letter, without saying much.
He however, urged his supporters to remain calm and desist from any form of violence, as his superiors were dealing with the matter.
FLASHBACK: Participants of the Luapula province consultative meeting going to resume proceedings after a break
President Rupiah Banda says Luapula province is an ideal area for economic development.
And the President has reiterated government’s commitment to evenly take development to all parts of the country.
Mr. Banda says his administration was committed and determined to put logistics in place to ensure that development activities take place in the entire country.
The President said this today when he officiated at Bwilile ceremony of the Bwile people in Chienge district of senior chief Puta in Luapula Province.
“This is a wonderful province that has got many resources. You have minerals, water and land required for economic development and what is remaining is for government to make it possible for the area to develop,” President Banda said.
He said government is determined to support various development in the natural resource rich province which apart from a good rainfall pattern also has vast mineral deposits, aqua by-products like fish and game, among others.
The President said his administration was going to ensure the road infrastructure in the province is improved as one of the priorities to kick start required economic development.
Mr. Banda also said government will continue to invest in the education sector as a foundation of enhancing development in the country.
He told senior chief Puta and his subjects that the Zambia would develop if her citizens were not educated and properly trained.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to investment in education evidenced by the ongoing nationwide construction of more schools, teachers and medical staff training programmes, among others.
“You cannot develop if people are not properly educated and trained,” President Banda said.
President Banda also cited the need for adequate health facilities as another priority area for development, saying only a health population can effectively work hard to develop the country.
He mentioned that the country will therefore require hospitals with adequate medicines and trained health personnel.
He said government was going to deliver on its development commitments it has outlined by properly planning the distribution of resources equally among the people of the country.
And senior chief Puta has appealed to government to build boarding facilities at Ponde high school where girls and boys are currently renting houses in the nearby villages.
The traditional leader who spoke through the Bwilile Traditional Committee chairman Denson Chishimba said that the situation of pupils renting houses is retrogressive to the pupils, especially girls.
He said since teachers have no control on the pupils, they are engaging in early sexual encounters.
He urged government to consider building boarding facilities at Ponde because the government vision for advancing the girl child education cannot be realized with the current situation.
Chief Puta has appealed to government to increase fertilizer allocated to the area because the inputs given to the district does not meet the demand.
He further appealed to government to also upgrade a Chienge police post into a police station so that it can be provided the capacity required to deal with crime challenges the area is facing due to population growth.
He said the area also requires a magistrate court, instead of taking the cases to Nchelenge which was making most cases to be discharged as witnesses failed to travel in some instances.
Meanwhile President Rupiah Banda has also thanked the people of Chienge district for being consistent in their support of the MMD government to move forward for economic development by voting for the MP from the party.
The President said MMD as a party will always be grateful for this support that the people of Chienge have shown.
President Rupiah Banda says he has accepted the outcome of the two parliamentary by-elections held yesterday in Chifubu and Luena constituencies.
The President has also congratulated Patriotic Front (PF) winning candidate in Chifubu Susan Kawandami and Charles Milupi who won in Luena.
The President said in Chienge today that though the MMD lost the two parliamentary by-elections, the ruling was still happy that it has taken all but two of the nine local government by-elections held across the country.
He said the ruling party accepts the results because that is the democracy that the MMD government is promoting to allow people top choose the leaders they want.
He said PF has returned its own seat through its candidate Susan Kawandami in Chifubu while the former independent MP for Luena Charles Milupi had returned his seat under the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) that he recently formed.
He wished the two winning MPs well as they start their work in parliament.
The President also said he was happy that the MMD has reduced the losing margin in both constituencies.
He said in 2006 the MMD lost Chifubu seat by 10,000 margin but it reduced that to only 2,000 in yesterday day’s poll.
He said in Luena the ruling party had lost with a huge margin in the previous election but it only lost by 300 votes this time around.
Mr Banda said the ruling party is happy that it is making progress in gaining support in constituencies that were strongholds of the opposition.
He charged that the reduced margins have made the opposition to know that the MMD is a strong party.
The MMD losing candidate in the Chifubu by-election, Frank Ngambi , has pledged to work with the PF elected member of parliament Susan Kawandami and the people of Chifubu in poverty reduction programmes.
Mr. Ngambi , who made the pledge this morning during a press briefing, said he was still committed to fulfill his electoral promises saying he would achieve his goals by working with the newly elected MP.
He urged the Chifubu electorate with workable development ideas to submit proposals to him saying he and the new MP were going to access funds for women empowerment.
He said he will remain a servant of Chifubu people adding that the electorate in the area should feel free to approach him on matters of development.
And Provincial Miniter Mwansa Mbulakulima said the PF had won the seat with reported electoral malpractices in both Kaniki and Twatasha Basic School areas.
He said there was a PF Official who was dishing out K5, 000 notes to voters and when the police went for him, he was on the run.
Mr Mbulakulima called for neutrality and fair play from NGO’s monitoring elections to follow up the issues and to condemn any act that was bad whether committed by the ruling party or the opposition.
He said the MMD has started making inroads comparing the results of 2006, 2008 and 2010 because the support for the party in the area was on the rise.
He said the rate at which the party was going, it was evident that MMD will over run the opposition in the 2011 general elections.
Mr Mbulakulima added that though the MMD lost the MMD still feels that Ngambi was the best candidate from the four who stood.
He said the ruling party had put up a brilliant campaign despite intimidations on the voters from the PF.
He said the party would continue to re-organize itself for the 2011 tripartite polls.
[ ZANIS ]
George Mpombo
MMD Kafulafuta Member of Parliament George Mpombo has been suspended from Parliament for a period of seven days for calling George Kunda as the most stupid vice president in a story published in the Post newspapers edition of 5th July 2010.
This was after Mr Mpombo was found guilty by the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Support Services of breaching parliamentary privileges and etiquette.
Mr Mpombo was to have committed contempt of the house for attacking the vice president’s debate outside the House.
The Parliamentary committee recommended that he be suspended from the House for two months in accordance with the provisions of section 28(1) of the National Assembly powers and privileges Act.
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumango in making the ruling however said that owing to the fact that parliament shall be prolonged after it adjourns sine die today, Mr Mpombo will only be suspended for a period of one week.
Mrs Nalumango further said that Mr Mpombo who was not in the House will in addition not take part in the business of the House or of its Committee.
She further said that the former defence minister will during the period of his suspension not receive any salary or allowance and will not be allowed to undertake any activity in his capacity as Member of Parliament in his constituency or anywhere else outside parliament.
She added that Mr Mpombo’s attacks on the vice president amounts to gross misconduct and was totally unwarranted.
Mwense Member of Parliament Jacob Chongo raised the point of order on 7th July 2010 on whether Mr Mpombo was in order to make derogatory remarks against the vice president who is the leader of government business in the House and insult him in the press on matters raised in the House.
[ QFM ]
The Opposition UPND has scooped the Kariba Ward Bye election beating their only contender the ruling MMD.
Announcing the results at the council chamber last night around 21: 00 hours, Presiding Officer Mulambwa Mwanan’gono declared UPND candidate Mubiana Lubinda as having been dully elected as Councillor for Kariba Ward.
Mr. Mubiana got a total of 875 votes beating MMD candidate Alfred Simakole who managed a total of 467 votes.
A total of eight votes were rejected by the presiding officer.
Meanwhile the ruling MMD has retained Mpima ward in Kabwe and Mailo ward in Serenje respectively after beating UPND/PF pact candidates in by-elections held yesterday.
MMD candidate Christine Mutale – Chilufya got 304 votes beating UPND/PF candidate Dorcas Munansangu Miyanda who only managed 299 votes out of the total of 3, 723 voters.
Returning Officer, Andrew Bwali declared Mrs. Chilufya as the duly elected councillor for the Mpima ward adding that 10 votes were rejected.
And speaking later, MMD national Youth chairperson, Patrick Musonda, commended Mrs. Chilufya for the victory as the opposition had applied too much pressure on the ruling MMD in the area.
Mr. Musonda urged his party to adquatly prepare for future elections to ensure victory adding that Mrs. Chilufya had experienced a number of challenges during the campaigns.
“MMD is still the only party that is democratic and the only party people want to continue ruling this country. Mrs. Chilufya you have brought pride to the party and therefore we congratulate you for your victory,’ He said.
Earlier, Provincial MMD chairperson Boyd Mutonka said the victory was just one of the many more coming and urged party members not to wait until there is an election but to start all the preparations now.
[pullquote]“MMD is still the only party that is democratic and the only party people want to continue ruling this country. Mrs. Chilufya you have brought pride to the party and therefore we congratulate you for your victory,’ He said.[/pullquote]
In Serenje district, returning officer Milton Sakala declared MMD candidate Douglas Mukosha as winner of the by –election who beat PF candidate Morison Mwape Mukando.
Mr. Sakala announced that MMD’s Kalunga got 401 against Mukando’s 378 out of the 788 voters who cast their votes.
Alliance for Democracy and Development nominated candidate Charles Milupi and his wife
Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) president Charles Milupi has won his Luena Constituency seat contested by five other candidates yesterday.
Returning Office for Luena by elections , Chrispin Kalihonga declared Mr. Milupi as a duly elected member of parliament for Luena Constituency at 10:30hrs this morning.
Mr. Milupi scored 3, 688 against ruling MMD’s Mwangala Maopu who scored 2,800 votes while UPND’s Muyunda Ililonga came in the third with 1,806.
UNIP’s Mutakela Mutakela was fourth with 115 votes while Musole Sikatala from ULP scored 116 votes.
The total number of voters in the Luena by election stood at 8, 630 and the rejected ballot papers where 115.
And Charles Milupi who was present when results where been announced thanked the people of Luena for giving him votes and also voting in a peaceful manner.
Mr. Milupi said his party will concentrate in mobilizing itself throughout the country adding that it will field candidates in both parliamentary and ward seats in next year’s general elections.
Meanwhile, the ruling MMD has retained both the Mpima Ward in Kabwe and Mailo Ward in Serenje respectively, after beating the UPND/PF pact candidates in by-elections held yesterday.
In Mpima Ward, the MMD candidate Christine Mutale Chilufya got 304 votes, beating the UPND/PF candidate Dorcas Munansangu Miyanda, who got 299 votes out of a total of 3, 723 votes cast.
The Returning Officer, Andrew Bwali who announced the results at the Kabwe Civic Centre last evening, declared Mrs. Chilufya as the duly elected councillor for Mpima Ward. 10 votes were rejected.
And speaking later, MMD national Youth chairperson, Patrick Musonda, commended Mrs. Chilufya and all the MMD party officials and caders who campaigned vigorously for the winner, adding that the going was not easy, as the opposition campaigned viciously.
Mr. Musonda said it was disappointing that the MMD appeared like orphans as they campaigned on foot, adding that, the fact that the people of Mpima still voted for the ruling party was an indication enough that Zambians still wanted the MMD to continue ruling the country.
He said it was going to be a shameful thing if the ruling party lost, especially that the UPND president Hakainde Hichilema, campaigned for Mrs. Miyanda.
Mr. Musonda urged the MMD party to ensure that campaign logistics were available next time there would an election, and that the party should reorganize itself, having members who should be sincere and truthful to one another.
“MMD is still the only party that is democratic and the only party the people want to continue ruling this country. Mrs. Chilufya you have brought pride to the party and therefore we congratulate you for your victory,’ He said.
Earlier, Central Province MMD Chairperson Boyd Mutonka said the victory was just one of the many more coming and urged all the party members not to start organizing themselves only when there was another election, but be well organized at all times.
In Serenje District, the Returning Officer Milton Sakala, declared the MMD candidate Douglas Mukosha as the winner, beating the PF candidate Morison Mwape Mukando.
Mr. Sakala announced that the MMD’s Mukosha got 401 votes, against Mukando’s 378, out of the 788 votes cast.
