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LUAPULA Member of Parliament (PF) Peter Machungwa has said people criticising president Rupiah Banda’s trips abroad are malicious and want to mislead the public.
Dr Machungwa said in an interview yesterday that the presidential State visits had brought benefits to the country because a lot of investors were attracted to Zambia.
Commenting on President Banda’s recent trip to Namibia, Dr Machungwa said yesterday the head of State was a number one public relations manager of the country and should be allowed to visit other countries.
He said even heads of State from developed countries also visited other nations to strengthen bilateral relations as well as create networks for economic development.
Dr Machungwa said it was sad that some opposition political leaders were in the forefront criticising the president when they understood how the Government system operates.
Dr Machungwa said Zambia needed to benefit from the goodwill of other countries for her to develop and reduce poverty.
Commenting on the aid freeze, Dr Machungwa said it was a pity that the opposition political leaders wanted donors to withdraw funding as a way of discrediting the Government.
Dr Machungwa told Zambians to be wary of political statements that are meant to gain political mileage such as expelling the Chinese investors when the world had accepted the Asian country because it was the biggest investor in the world.
The Ba Ushi Cultural Traditional and Development Association on the Copperbelt which echoed similar sentiments however appealed to President Banda to use his diplomatic experience to facilitate twinning of some towns in Zambia with the French and Chinese.
Association president Stephen Chitwa said in a statement yesterday that doing so would enhance development .
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday said co-operating partners should not blackmail the Government by withholding donor support as a way of resolving challenges faced in various sectors of the economy.
The president said he would not allow diplomats who present credentials to him to continue holding Government to ransom using threats to withhold funding because Zambia was a sovereign State.
On arrival yesterday at the Lusaka International Airport from Namibia where he had gone for a State visit, the president said donors themselves choose areas they would like to fund and the Government never forced them.
The president said donors did not have the right to interfere in the internal affairs of the country and urged Zambians to stop rejoicing in their conduct.
President Banda said Government was grateful for the assistance it received from foreign donors but they needed to understand their limits and respect Zambians.
“Do not rejoice in things like that. We should not allow donors to feel that they can interfere in the internal affairs. This is a free country. This is a sovereign country,” President Banda said.
Mr Banda said donors were at liberty to select areas they would like to help Zambia in but the help must not be accompanied by attempts to interfere with the governance of the country.
“They themselves chose to come and help in the road sector, in the health sector. We are very grateful for what they have helped us with but they should not interfere,” he said.
Mr Banda arrived around 13:00 hours and was welcomed by Vice-President George Kunda, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Peter Daka, Energy Minister Kenneth Konga, Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti and Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa.
Also present were service chiefs, Government and other officials.
The president was accompanied to Namibia by Government Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga and First Lady Thandiwe Banda.
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said claims by Namibia’s National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) that about 20 Namibian freedom fighters died while he was Foreign Affairs minister in the first Republic are false.
The president said he was ready to step down if he participated in the death of the freedom fighters because his conscience would not have been clear to lead a country with such a background.
Mr Banda said the NGO was merely working to impress colonial masters and bringing the name of the government of Namibia into ridicule.
NSHR executive director Phil ya Nongoloh, alleged in The Post of yesterday that President Banda should help the organisation establish the fate of freedom fighters who disappeared without a trace on the Zambian soil.
“There is no such a thing and the allegations are totally false. These are the people who are working for the people who colonised us. They are always trying to bring up these matters,” Mr Banda said.
The NGO listed about 20 Namibian freedom fighters that allegedly disappeared when Mr Banda was Foreign Affairs minister during the UNIP era.
President Banda said the only crime SWAPO, the ruling Namibian party, committed in their mind was that the liberation party successfully fought for the freedom of Namibia.
The Namibian freedom fighters were said to have supported a peaceful change called the Détente Affair in southern Africa and fled to Zambia where they were killed.
Nangoloh claims that the Détente Affair also led to the expulsion of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) from the bases in south-western Zambia.
NSHR is a national private, independent, non-profit making and non-partisan human rights monitoring and advocacy organisation.
It was formed in 1989 by a group of concerned citizens and it envisages a world free of human right violations.
MMD chairperson for Communications and Transport Peter Daka has said it was not obligatory and a must for Chief Justice Ernest Sakala to have shaken hands with Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata.
Mr Daka who is also Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister said every person by virtue of being a human had rights and Mr Justice Sakala had personal rights whether to shake hands with people or not because it was not compulsory.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Daka said Mr Sata should know that Mr Justice Sakala was obliged to accept his personal choice and his refusal to shake hands with him was a personal decision that should not be politicised.
“Chief Justice Sakala has personal rights whether he should greet people or not because it depends on what he wants based on his individual capacity and why should Mr Sata politicise the whole issue.
“He should stop making politics whenever he goes for funerals and should have respect for everybody,” Mr Daka said.
Mr Sata should know that Mr Justice Sakala was a respectable person in the country because of his high integrity and he should desist from dragging him into cheap politics.
He said it was time Mr Sata thought of retiring from active politics instead of attacking high ranked officials for no apparent reasons and always wanting to gain political mileage whenever he went for a funeral.
And former Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Edward Mumbi has accused the PF/UPND Pact of conspiring with The Post to instill fear in judges and neutralise the independence of the Judiciary.
Mr Mumbi said in a statement yesterday that it was immoral to attack people who could not defend themselves.
He was also commenting on the story that the chief justice refused to shake hands with Mr Sata.
He said objective people could read through a conspiracy by the pact and The Post to discredit the chief justice because his refusal to greet anyone was not newsworthy.
“People will soon see discredited people who will be used to discredit the judiciary. These criticisms are merely serving selfish political ends for leaders in the PF/UPND Pact,” he said.
He said the PF/UPND Pact was planning to disturb the Judiciary as Zambia approaches elections because there was a plan to defame people and engage in violence, which would attract litigation.
President Banda said to justify the conspiracy, The Post had even gone to an extent of publishing a picture of former president Frederick Chiluba shaking hands with Mr Justice Sakala, which had nothing to do with the case at hand.
He said when former Kasama MP Saviour Chishimba petitioned Mr Sata’s presidential candidature, Mr Justice Sakala was still the chief justice and the courts allowed him to contest.
The PF leader recently won another case in the courts and he praised the courts for their independence but because of his inconsistency he had now changed.
And a Lusaka lawyer Christopher Mundia said the encounter between Mr Justice Sakala and Mr Sata did not warrant political insinuations because the two were traditional cousins.
“I have known the current chief justice for many years having worked with him closely in the national group and do not believe that he intended to offend Mr Sata but purely a light moment between the two cousins as Bembas and Ngonis have always joked at many funerals,” he said.
Mr Mundia said to use the encounter to embarrass the chief justice was unfortunate because political hatred brewing in the country could later explode to unimaginable magnitude.
Although the incident happened at a funeral, the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) should do everything possible to defend the Judiciary.
He said the chief justice did not mean to offend Mr Sata but it was just a light moment between the two traditional cousins.
Education Minister Dora Siliya
Education Minister, Dora Siliya has said it is wishful thinking for teachers to think that government will provide their accommodation needs at the expense of attaining universal primary education by 2015.
Ms Siliya said government realizes that accommodating the over 80,000 institutional teachers is currently a problem but that its priority at the moment is to make access to education much easier for every child in the country in line with the Millennium Development Goals MDGs.
She said government is addressing the infrastructural needs in the education sector but that this year’s focus is on addressing schools infrastructure needs rather than the teacher’s accommodation problems.
She added that her Ministry is building about 1,000 houses this year alone but that this is still not sufficient to meet the accommodation needs of the teachers.
Ms Siliya has, however, challenged the banking sector to come to the aid of government by making available loans to teachers to enable them build houses.
She said this will also be an opportunity for the private sector to make more profit considering the fact that government has provided the private sector with a very conducive environment to operate.
[ QFM
The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolutions of Disputes, SACCORD, has demanded for an explanation from Chief Justice Ernest Sakala for his conduct towards Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata who he refused to shake hands with.
SACCORD Information Officer, Obby Chibuluma said the Chief Justice owes Zambians an explanation on the matter in which he refused to greet Sata.
He said it is raises concern to see the man who is the returning officer in the presidential elections showing personal grudges against some political leaders in the country.
Mr Chibuluma said Mr. Sakala as the father of justice should embrace every citizen in the country regardless of their political affiliation.
He expressed disappointment that the Chief Justice could happily shake hands with people facing corruption charges in the courts of law,and yet refuse to shake hands with innocent people such as Mr. Sata.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chibuluma has called on the PF youths not to rush into demanding for the resignation of the Chief Justice.
He said the Chief Justice should first be given a chance to explain the motive behind his refusal to shake hands with the PF leader.
[ QFM ]
Nkana have decided that they will not hire a new coach to take the place of Benjamin “Kawilo” Chilongo who suddenly quit this week.
Club officials have stated that Fedelis “Josmar” Chungu and Fred “Schemer” Siame will be in joint charge of the team.
However, Chungu and Siame will maintain their first and second assistant titles.
Chilongo, how joined Nkana this season, is said to have quit due to internal pressures at Nkana with reliable sources claiming he failed to cope with pressure from Nkana’s hard-to-please fans with some allegedly harassing him with phone calls.
He leaves Nkana in 7th place on the Faz Super Division in their first season back in the top flight since being promoted his year.
TP Mazembe claimed their first win on their week-long training camp tour of Zambia on Thursday when they beat Nchanga Rangers in Chingola in an international club friendly played at Nchanga stadium.
The DR Congo giants beat Rangers 1-0 courtesy of a goal from their Zambia international striker Given Singuluma.
TP drew 1-1 with Zesco United and Power Dynamos in their previous games.
They face Power again tomorrow at Arthur Davies in Kitwe.
FLASHBACK: Patrick Mwanawasa and his cousin Jonas Shakafuswa arrive for the Chakwela Makumbi traditional ceremony
THE MMD in Masaiti District has resolved to float late president Levy Mwanawasa’s son Patrick as parliamentary candidate for Kafulufuta constituency in the 2011 general elections.
Area MMD chairperson Michael Katambo said since current MP George Mpombo had lost popularity, the party decided to float Patrick as parliamentary candidate for the 2011 elections.
He said in an interview yesterday that the decision was arrived at after several meetings at grass root level where the proposal to float Patrick was supported by the majority.
“We want to uphold the legacy of late president Mwanawasa by floating his son as Kafulafuta MP and because he is a committed member of the party,” Mr Katambo said.
When contacted Mr Mpombo said he did not care, as it was too early for the party to endorse anyone for next year’s elections.
And Patrick said he was interested in Kafulafuta constituency but would only comment if the MMD national executive committee (NEC) or ordinary residents of the area raised the matter.
“I won’t say much until higher authorities say so. I hold the people of Kafulafuta closely and dearly to my heart,” he said.
Mr Katambo said Mr Mpombo had lost favour in the constituency hence the need to replace him with somebody people would accept.
He urged Mr Mpombo to stop telling the people that he single handedly influenced the construction of schools and health institution in the area because the projects were part of government’s nation wide plans to deliver services to the people.
Mr Mpombo held a meeting in Kafulafuta constituency last weekend where he alleged that he had single handedly initiated the development in the area.
[pullquote]And Patrick said he was interested in Kafulafuta constituency but would only comment if the MMD national executive committee (NEC) or ordinary residents of the area raised the matter.[/pullquote]
“How can he claim to have single handedly influenced the development, it is not true, those are part of government projects being taken countrywide,” Mr Katambo said.
The Government was constructing a high school at Masangano area and upgrading Sankute clinic into a district hospital.
Mr Katambo said the district had also resolved not to vote for Mr Mpombo for any position at the next convention.
But Mr Mpombo said he was the one who initiated the projects by lobbying the Government.
He said he had a meeting in the constituency to explain to the electorate the reason why he resigned as Defence minister and that he was still MMD.
“I had a meeting to explain certain things to the electorate, I told them that l am still MMD and nobody is going to push me. And believe me I did not speak anything ill against president Banda during the meeting,” Mr Mpombo said.
He said he was still popular in the area and he was sure of retaining the seat if he contested.
And the MMD has started holding elections at various party structures as a build up to the national convention that takes place soon after the provincial executive committees.
MMD chairperson for elections Mike Mulongoti said he had directed that all elections for executive committees should take place by 15 July 2010 in all the constituencies that have not held them.
These would be followed by district after which provincial elections that would be addressed by President Rupiah Banda would be held.
He said in a media release in Lusaka yesterday that the elections must be held by next month in a memorandum addressed to all provincial and district chairpersons.
“This serves to inform you that party elections for all the executive committees should be held by 15 July 2010 in all the constituencies that have not held them to date,” Mr Mulongoti said.
The provincial executives have already declared President Banda the sole presidential candidate while other interested members are still allowed to contest the position.
A NEW commercial bank has opened its doors on the Zambian market with a base rate of 19 per cent for the local currency, the Kwacha while nine per cent is for the United States dollar loans.
The bank has pledged to offer credit facilities for working capital, term loans for new projects, expansion and diversification of existing projects, and export finance.
The International Commercial Bank (ICB) of Malaysia would launch its first user-friendly account, the Sungapo account, where depositors would not require any minimum balance but only a small amount for opening accounts.
The bank is offering export-import finance, motor vehicle loans, project finance, letters of credit, bank guarantees and customised credit facilities to the small and medium-scale enterprises.
According to a media release by the bank’s board chairperson Bornwell Chiyabi, the bank also has a current account product for small and medium scale entrepreneurs while the other one is for non-governmental organisations, churches and other non-profit institutions.
ICB offices are situated at the corner of Great North Road and Washama Road in Villa Elizabetha, near ZRA.
ICB chief executive officer Madhava Murthy said the new products would be launched soon.
National Constitutional Conference chairperson Chifumu Banda (L) and spokesperson Mwangala Zaloumis, during the launch of the draft constitution in LUsaka.
National Constitutional Conference (NCC) chairman Chifumu Banda has urged Zambians to read and understand the draft constitution without getting too personal.
Mr. Banda says that the public should use the 40 days period to make comments and contribute to the making of Zambia’s constitution.
He added that it is important that Zambians should be sober and that whatever comments and contributions will be made will be taken on board.
Speaking on ‘Public’s Last Say’ last evening, Mr. Banda stated that the anger from the people will not make a change and that the only way that the country will move forward with the constitution is by making contributions.
And Mr. Banda has defended the draft constitution saying that nothing much has changed from the Mungomba draft constitution.
[ QFM]
Chief Justice Ernest Sakala talks to his Australian counterpart Justice Michael Kirby at the opening of the 6th judicial integrity meeting in Lusaka.
The Patriotic Front has accused Chief Justice Ernest Sakala of intending to deny party president Michael Sata fair election results in next year’s elections
The Chief Justice is the returning officer for the presidential elections.
In a telephone interview with QFM, PF National Youth Secretary General, Eric Chanda, said the refusal by the Chief Justice to shake hands with Mr. Sata is a clear indication that Mr. Sakala has unjust and partial intentions to deny the PF leader a fair election.
Mr. Chanda said the Chief Justice as a returning officer in the presidential election should not have personal grudges with presidential aspirants regardless of their political affiliation. He said the office of the Chief Justice demands fairness and impartiality in the execution of duties.
And Mr. Chanda has called for the immediate resignation of Chief Justice Ernest Sakala on grounds that he refused to shake hands with PF leader Michael Sata.
He said the resignation of the Chief Justice should be on ethical and professional grounds since his action degrades people’s confidence in the office of the Chief Justice.
On Wednesday Chief Justice Ernest Sakala refused to shake hands with Patriotic Front president Michael Sata at the requiem mass of retired Supreme Court judge Peter Chitengi at Saint Ignatius Church in Lusaka.
[Q FM]
Mr Teddy Mulonga presenting the specially decorated expedition 206 Zambia `happiness bottle' to the two Coca-Cola expedition 206 team members - Antonio Santiago and Tony Martin.
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Coca-Cola expedition 206 team members sampling a typical Zambian dish at Queen Calabash restaurant.
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Dr Kenneth Kaunda dancing with air hostesses from Zambezi Airlines during the launch of the Harare route in Harare
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Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi(centre) talks to some Zambians during the launch of the Zambezi Airlines route to Zimbabwe in Harare
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Agriculture Minister Peter Daka and small and medium scale farmers President Rodgers Phiri shake hands after a meeting in Lusaka
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An Election registrar conducting the voter registration exercise in Lusaka
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Zambezi Airlines chairman Maurice Jangulo makes a speech during the launch the airline's route to Harare
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Western Province Permanent Secretary Seth Muleya getting out of the caterpillar meant for rural road unit during the Africa Public Service day in Mongu
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John Phiri of metrological department talks to Western Province Permanent Secretary Seth Muleya when he inspected the metrological department stand during the Africa Public Service day in Mongu
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Some mourners walk past the casket of the late former High Court Judge Peter Chitengi at the Supreme Court in Lusaka
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Some lawyers walk past the casket of the late former High Court Judge Peter Chitengi at the Supreme Court in Lusaka
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Lawyer Irene Kunda wife of George Kunda and professor Patrick Mvunga at the funeral of the late Judge Peter Chitengi in Lusaka
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Pallbearers handling the casket for the late former High Court Judge Peter Chitengi during a funeral session at the Supreme Court in Lusaka
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Pupils at Kamwala secondary school outside their class during learning hours.
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One of the old classroom blocks at Kamwala secondary school.
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National Constitutional Conference chairperson Chifumu Banda and his deputy Russell Mulele left, during the launch of the draft constitution in LUsaka.
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National Constitutional Conference chairperson Chifumu Banda and spokesperson Mwangala Zaloumis, on the right, during the launch of the draft constitution in LUsaka.
Bharti Airtel of India the mobile company which recently acquired Zain Africa assets has said it will invest US$150 million in Zambia towards the enhancing of the 2G and 3G network coverage in the country.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka this afternoon,Bharti Airtel International Chief Executive Officer Manoj Kohli said the investment will be carried out over a two to three years period.
He said Bharti intends to take 3G services deeper by enhancing the coverage and quality and the wireless broadband available to more towns and cities in the country.
[pullquote]Mr Kohli added that Bharti Airtel will also bring affordability to the Zambian customers by making services more affordable in form lower tariffs.[/pullquote]
He said this will entail that more and more Zambia will be able to utilize wireless broadband on their mobile phones using the Bharti Airtel 3G services. Mr Kohli said this will happen in the next three to six months.
Mr Kohli said the Zambia market provides a lot of encouragement to Bharti Airtel and commended Zain Zambia for the work done to take on market leadership.
He said Bharti Airtel will take a bigger leadership in network coverage across Zambia including in rural areas of the country.
He said it is clear from the meetings he held with Zambian officials in the ministry of communication and the regulators that the agenda of Bharti Airtel and the Zambian Government is completely alike because both are looking forward to building a prosperous Zambia.
Mr Kohli added that Bharti Airtel will also bring affordability to the Zambian customers by making services more affordable in form lower tariffs.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) says it is carrying out sensitisation programmes following the outbreak of measles especially in some parts of Lusaka. Ministry of Health Spokesperson Dr. said the ministry has set aside some funds to contain the further spread of measles to other parts of the country.
Dr. Mbewe said the most affected by the vice were children under the age of five and it was for this reason that the ministry will hold a child health week in July.
He told ZANIS in a telephone interview in Lusaka today that the ministry has a mandate to safeguard the lives of children in the country.
Dr. Mbewe pointed out that the ministry intends on increasing the number of children to be immunised during the child health week next month.
He urged parents and guardians in the nation to ensure that they take children 5 years and below to the nearest clinic when child health week starts.
He added that the ministry was still compiling more data on the measles situation in the country.
From January to April 2010 Lusaka was worst hit by an out break of measles with Chawama Clinic recording 36 cases, Kanyama recorded six, Mandevu recorded four and Makeni recorded three cases.
