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Whenever money was being withdrawn from a client’s account, the system would send a text message to the customer detailing the time and date when the transaction took place as well as the branch where it was transacted and how much money was withdrawn.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

Mr Kunda said government is concerned with the plight of school going children who travel long distances in pursuit of higher education.

He said government will also consider building another high school within Chifubu Township because of the growing number of children in need of higher education in the constituency.

Mr Kunda said this during a campaign rally to drum up support for MMD candidate in the Chifubu parliamentary by-elections, Frank Ng’ambi at Kaniki Basic School this afternoon.

He said the pledge was not an empty political rhetoric but something that government will translate into reality by committing financial resources in the 2011 national budget.

He has since called on people of Chifubu to be weary of unrealistic political promises from the opposition.
[pullquote]He said the pledge was not an empty political rhetoric but something that government will translate into reality by committing financial resources in the 2011 national budget.[/pullquote]

The Vice President also said government will soon start degazetting land for the people of Kaniki area who for a long time have been deprive of land of their own.

He said government will also start resettling people in the area in accordance with the laws of Zambia adding that no Zambian will be deprived of owning land.

Mr Kunda said that government would also ensure that people interested in engaging in meaningful agriculture are encouraged.

He noted that government through the good leadership of President Rupiah Banda has built the country through good policies whose fruits have started showing as evidenced by the construction of schools, hospitals and other infrastructure.

The Vice President said through good investment policies more companies have invested in the country and this has created more jobs for the citizens.

Mr Kunda has also encouraged women to form groups and register themselves in order for them to access both the women development fund facilities under the ministries of Gender and Community Development.

He said government has allocated K5 billion to each ministry for women empowerment while another K5 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of Youths for Youth empowerment.

He also urged the youths to refuse being used as agents of violence but instead form groups that will enable them access the K5 billion youth funds.

Mr Kunda reiterated that his government will continue increasing funds to the three ministries every year through money raised from taxes in mining, agriculture and other economic activities.

He also called on the people of Chifubu to vote for MMD’s frank Ng’ambi in the August 5, by- elections.

Mr Kunda said voting for the MMD candidate will easily drive development in the area and which will in turn lead to better lives for the community.
And speaking earlier, Local Government Deputy Minister Moses Muteteka urged the people of Chifubu to vote for the MMD candidate.

He said that if voted, the MMD will ensure that it delivers all its promises to the people of Chifubu.

Mr Muteteka said that government has also allocated money for the construction of road infrastructure in the constituency.

And MMD Member, Evelyn Mwanawasa appealed to the people of Chifubu to Vote for Mr. Ng’ambi as a way of honoring the late President Levy Mwanawasa.
[ ZANIS ]

Mr Lubinda said that the pact is here to stay and that the reported problems and confusion are part of strengthening the two parties.

He said that the pact should not be judged by the problems it is encountering, but from the way it will rise.

The PF Spokesperson noted that the pact has acknowledged that they were differences and they have resolved them.

He stated that possibilities of a split are just rumours and that the perceived problems have strengthened the two parties.

And Mr. Lubinda has urged political party cadres not to allow themselves to be abused by politicians who survive on violence.

Mr Lubinda said that cadres especially youths, must ensure that violence free elections are held, for the benefit of peace.

He said that youths should ensure the coming by elections are held in violence free environment.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set this Thursday August 5 as the date for parliamentary by-elections for Luena and Chifubu constituencies and local government elections in six wards in various districts.

The by-elections in Luena Constituency in Western Province and Chifubu Constituency on the Copperbelt Province respectively follows the resignation of area member of Parliament Charles Milupi while the Chifubu polls are as a result of the death of Patriotic front (PF) member of Parlaiment Benson Bwalya.
[ QFM ]

The council of churches in Zambia has charged that the 2010 NCC draft constitution has failed to meet the aspirations of the Zambians.

The churches said that the draft constitution has failed to meet the aspirations of the people as it has fundamentally departed from the people’s submission as contained in the Mung’omba draft constitution and report.

The churches added that the aspirations of the people are very clear on what they wanted the country’s constitution to look like.

In statement issued in Lusaka this morning signed by the CCZ members, consisting 21 churches, they said that NCC draft constitution has left out certain cardinal and fundamental rights such as right to shelter, food, water, sanitation and environment, and the right to education after basic school level which must be enjoyed by all.

They further noted that the NCC draft constitution has, instead of devolving the powers of the president, increased the powers.

[pullquote]They further noted that the NCC draft constitution has, instead of devolving the powers of the president, increased the powers.[/pullquote]

The churches further noted that accessibility to the NCC draft constitution has been another constraint in the current constitution making process.

The church also said that the current constitution making process and the NCC draft constitution leaves much to be desired.

They also say that the will of the Zambian people as reflected in their submissions to the Mung’omba constitutional review commission has been disregarded with impunity by those charged with the responsibility to defend the aspirations of the citizens.

QFM