The Zambian Government has repaid the K13 billion donor funds that were allegedly misappropriated last year by some Ministry of Health officials.

Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao said the Zambian Government was committed to paying back the donor funds, and assured that the balance of K16 billion from the K29 billion would also be paid back.

Speaking in Lusaka yesterday during a media breakfast on the update of the recent Zambian delegation’s visit to Geneva Switzerland, Mr Simbao said the alleged misappropriation of funds at the ministry last year was embarrassing for the Zambian Government.

Mr Simbao pledged Government’s commitment to the proper utilisation of donor funds in the country’s health sector.

“We are fully committed to utilising donor funds for their intended purposes, I must admit that what happened at the Ministry of Health last year was an embarrassment for all off us.

“What our people did, and I insist on our people, because its not the Government who stole the money, is very embarrassing,” he said.

Mr Simbao said the ministry would not spend any funds on workshops and seminars in 2011.
[pullquote]“We are fully committed to utilising donor funds for their intended purposes, I must admit that what happened at the Ministry of Health last year was an embarrassment for all off us.

“What our people did, and I insist on our people, because its not the Government who stole the money, is very embarrassing,” he said. [/pullquote]

All workshops and seminars would instead be funded by donors and other partners.

“We have realised that there are some people who have been travelling all year round, leaving work piling in their offices because of seminars,” he said.

While in Geneva, Mr Simbao held discussions with officials from the United Nations HIV/Aids agency (UNAIDS) who assured him that the UN was interested in seeing Zambia’s image restored, and being able to access funding normally.

He reassured the donors that all money spent by his ministry would from now on be with the approval of only the permanent secretary.

The funds would now be subjected to both internal and external audits.

The Swedish government had insisted on all its funds to the government, being approved only by the permanent secretary (PS), and that no one acting in that position should approve spending of these funds.

Because of the stringent demands by the donors, the Health permanent secretary had been unable to travel outside the country.

As a result, the PS was not even able to attend the recently held World health Assembly meeting.

This measure had been taken to ensure the PS was always available to approve spending of donor funds.

Mr Simbao said all wrong doers in the Ministry of Health would be subjected to the due process of the law.

The ministry was anxious about the outcome of the courts ruling on the alleged misappropriation of donor funds by the Ministry of Health last year.

The ministry had also suffered the loss of manpower through the suspension of 35 officers, allegedly connected to the scam.

“Whatever the courts decide will be good for us, we will be able to know whether to restore our suspended officers, or make replacements, so we are waiting for the courts to decide, as the absence of 35 members of staff has stressed our operations,” he said.

World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative Olusegun Babaniyi said the UN had appreciated that the Zambian Government had shown it was not supporting the misuse of donor funds.

Dr Babaniyi pledged the continued support by the UN to help Zambia get back to its previous position with regard to donor funding.

And Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) for Global Fund chairperson Mwingache Siamwiza said the CCM had decided to appoint the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the principle recipient of global funds meant for the health sector.

The CCM had suspended the Ministry of Health from being the principle recipient of the funds and the UNDP would now receive and disburse all global funds to the ministry.

“Global Fund had made the decision not to disburse the funds for round four, because the Ministry of Health had not met the required conditionality at the time, but following the minister’s visit to Geneva, the ministry would have access to US$8 million,” he said.
Times of Zambia ]

Forum for Leadership Search Zambia says the constitution making process should be without foreign influence to allow Zambians to decide how the process should proceed.

Exuctiive Director Edwin Lifwekelo said it is wrong for foreigners to instigate Zambians to boycott the constitution making process.

Mr. Lifwekelo claimed in a statement to ZANIS today that some of the leaders representing civil society organizations are foreigners and have no interest in the welfare of the Zambian people.

“They have a foreign agenda. They have always danced to the tune of foreigners that’s why they are even supporting homosexuality in our country and want Zambia to be a secular state,”Mr. Lifwekelo said.

He notes that the constitution making process must not be a reflection of the 2011 presidential elections.

[pullquote]“They have a foreign agenda. They have always danced to the tune of foreigners that’s why they are even supporting homosexuality in our country and want Zambia to be a secular state,”Mr. Lifwekelo said.[/pullquote]

He states that it will be wrong to use the 2011 presidential elections as a basis for a new constitution because the country will not expire after 2011.

Mr.Lifwekelo explained that political parties and civil society that have refused to make submissions to the draft constitution lack moral values and are doing so at their own peril.

He has appealed to all Zambians to make submissions so as to add value to the people’s driven constitution.

Mr.Lifwekelo stated that Zambians should not allow foreigners to dictate how constitution making process should proceed as they are prophets of doom who aim to derail the process.

He also advised Zambians not to be hoodwinked by selected selfish individuals who don’t like President Rupiah Banda.

He commended the secretariat of the National Constitution Conference for finally coming up with the draft report.

ZANIS/

By Wesley Ngwenya

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) last week announced the commencement of voter registration on 21st June, 2010. This registration will be open to anyone who is eighteen years old or will turn eighteen before 31st July 2011. This registration will run for an initial period of ninety days.

Although the registration has come a little late ECZ should be commended especially for extending the registration to those who have not yet turned eighteen years old. Adverts are running in the media informing the public about this registration process. However, there are a few questions to consider as ECZ embarks on this task.

Firstly, how are voters in rural areas informed regarding this voter registration process considering that they have no access to newspapers, televisions and radios? Are there other medium that ECZ should consider so that they can reach this rural population?

[pullquote]What ECZ should have done is set up registration centers in all primary and secondary schools. They could also have used colleges, hospitals, rural health centers, post offices, markets and banks. This is where Zambians are found who are eighteen years and above. [/pullquote]

Why are they using mobile registration? The adverts are telling us to check the internet and see where their mobile vans will be at a particular time. Are you serious you expect us to get on a bus pay K7,000 round trip to town so we can go online to see where your van will be? Besides, what technology are you using to ensure that you can monitor the vans at all times?

Why did ECZ have to spend so much money using these ineffective vans? Was this the most efficient and effective method to reaching out to voters? Were the stakeholders consulted before it was decided on whether or not to use registration mobile vans? Could it be that this method was chosen because it was more porous and easier to get kickbacks?

What ECZ should have done is set up registration centers in all primary and secondary schools. They could also have used colleges, hospitals, rural health centers, post offices, markets and banks. This is where Zambians are found who are eighteen years and above. Setting up registration centers in these places would be much less expensive compared to the opted method. Besides, this would be more efficient and effective. I am willing to show and challenge ECZ that using mobile registration vans is more expensive than using permanent centers.

Mobile registration is certainly ideal for rural areas where schools and clinics are few and people are spread far apart. In addition, to permanent centers, mobile centers can be used too so as to better deliver the service to the Zambian public. But using mobile registration centers in Lusaka does not make sense at all when ECZ knows where people live, go to work, or go to school.

The Electoral Commission is asking for people who lost their voter’s card to provide a police report before registration. This is clearly a bad move on part of ECZ. How many Zambians will be able to afford to go through the tedious process of obtaining a police report, let alone pay K22,000 for it? Before writing this article, I sampled roughly about twenty people who lost their cards and none of them can afford to pay the required amount to obtain one. Maybe what they need to do is provide free police reports for all those who have lost their cards.

[pullquote]Zambians may not be interested in voting because they actually do not see the use. Yes, it is the constitutional right of every Zambian who is aged eighteen and above to vote. However, there are more pressing issues in the hearts and minds of many Zambians.[/pullquote]

The issue of registration hits home to me because in 2008 I was denied the opportunity to register as a voter simply because I was not in the country in 2006. Electoral Commission of Zambia failed to update voters’ registers so that people like me could equally have voted during the presidential elections. I have kept an eye in my neighborhood to see if I will ever see these vans but nothing yet.

It has been over a week since this registration supposedly started but I have not heard anyone who has registered yet. Will it be another week or another month before we see the registration vans? The chairperson for Electoral Commission of Zambia Florence Mumba, this weekend, blamed the politicians for the low turnout of prospective voters. Personally, I think what she should have said was ask the politicians to appeal to the Zambians to register to vote.

Zambians may not be interested in voting because they actually do not see the use. Yes, it is the constitutional right of every Zambian who is aged eighteen and above to vote. However, there are more pressing issues in the hearts and minds of many Zambians. There are poverty, diseases, and unemployment issues. Voting for people who look the same, speak the same language but are using different slogans is not one of them. As for me, I keep watching so that when that van passes my neighborhood I will register. I am eagerly waiting to cast my vote.

Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has described as childish and irritating United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema’s remarks that President Banda should apologise for allegedly misbehaving and extending his bullying tactics to the donor community.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said Government is not surprised with Mr Hichilema’s outbursts because he is ignorant of governance issues.

He said Mr Hichilema should tone down and develop the habit of respecting President Banda.

“Let Mr Hichilema tone down because he should remember what the Bible says, that what you do unto others is bound to happen to you.

“The unpalatable language which Mr Hichilema has continued to use against President Banda is unacceptable and demeaning to the head of state,” he said.

Gen Shikapwasha said President Banda should be respected because he was elected by the majority of Zambians.

He said Mr Hichilema should study how politics is conducted because he is still new in politics.
[pullquote]“Let Mr Hichilema tone down because he should remember what the Bible says, that what you do unto others is bound to happen to you.

“The unpalatable language which Mr Hichilema has continued to use against President Banda is unacceptable and demeaning to the head of state,” he said.[/pullquote]
Gen Shikapwasha said Mr Hichilema might fool members of the UPND-Patriotic Front (PF) pact with his outbursts, but his conduct will be judged by the majority Zambians.

“What Mr Hichilema and his PF counterpart, Mr Michael Sata, should concentrate on is trying to find solutions to the many challenges the pact is facing as opposed to attacking President Banda,” he said.

Gen Shikapwasha said President Banda’s recent statement on donors has been blown out of proportion by some people who are trying to gain cheap political mileage.

He said there is no cause for President Banda to apologise over the recent statement as he was merely expressing his views over the matter.

Gen Shikapwasha said the relationship between Government and donors is still cordial, contrary to assertions by some members of the public and opposition political party leaders.

He said Government is working hard to deliver development and social services to the Zambian people, but that its efforts are being obstructed by unnecessary criticism by the opposition.

Mr Hichilema was quoted by yesterday’s edition of The Post newspaper as saying that President Banda owes donors and Zambians an apology for misbehaving.

And Gen Shikapwasha said Government is ready to dialogue with the donor community on issues affecting the country.

He said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Government’s doors are open for the donor community to sit down and discuss issues of national interest.

“The administration of President Banda stands ready to discuss anything which concerns donors and any other issues which will benefit Zambia as a country than using the media,” Gen Shikapwasha said.

He said it is important for donors to seek audience with Government when need arises.

“The donors that have intentions of seeking an audience with Government are more than welcome to do so at any given time,” Gen Shikapwasha said.

On Monday, British High Commissioner to Zambia Tom Carter said he will seek an audience with President Banda to discuss the use of aid in the country.

Mr Carter said the partnership between donors and the Zambian government is of key importance.

“The partnership with the Zambian government is significant as we all try together to deliver the long-term goals of reducing poverty in Zambia and achieving the Zambian government’s target of reaching middle-income status by 2030,” he said.

President Banda recently advised diplomats accredited to Zambia to stop meddling in the internal affairs of the country.

Mr Banda said diplomats should not be made to interfere in the internal matters of Zambia because the country is a sovereign state.

“There has been too much peddling of stories in the media by diplomats who feel that because their respective countries are donating to the road or health sector, they can use that as blackmail,” he said.

The President said the diplomats should appreciate the spirit of warmth being given by Government instead of resorting to public statements regarding funding to Zambia.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

Heritage Party (HP) president Godfrey Miyanda has said Chief Justice Ernest Sakala is not obliged to shake hands with Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata because greeting is a personal choice.

Brigadier General Miyanda also said that claims that the refusal by Justice Sakala to greet Mr Sata implied that the chief justice will scuttle Mr Sata’s 2011 presidential ambitions were off the mark.

The general also wondered why eminent people like Michelo Hansungule and John Mambo had joined the melee to add credibility to an otherwise empty noise at a funeral.
[pullquote]“What has happened to Zambia? Why should a mere greeting become a serious political issue and be turned into a national debate?

“There is no need for the chief justice to apologise to anyone unless he wants to. Since when did greeting become a duty?” he asked.[/pullquote]

He said to accept or not accept a greeting was a personal matter and that there was no need for Chief Justice Sakala to apologise to anyone.

General Miyanda was commenting on the greeting row that erupted after Chief Justice Sakala allegedly refused to shake hands with Mr Sata at the funeral of justice Peter Chitengi.

“What has happened to Zambia? Why should a mere greeting become a serious political issue and be turned into a national debate?

“There is no need for the chief justice to apologise to anyone unless he wants to. Since when did greeting become a duty?” he asked.

He said several opposition leaders had been rejecting President Rupiah Banda’s invitations to State functions because it was their right and that no one must make an issue out of it or make it a duty.

Gen Miyanda said Mr Sata’s statement that the chief justice would scuttle his 2011 dream was divisive and based on speculation.

“How can a refusal of a greeting interfere with ballots? Is it the chief justice who votes in all constituencies or does he carry ballots in his pockets? President Sata must provide cogent evidence or else withdraw this divisive statement,” said Gen Miyanda

He said Zambians must reject Professor Hansungule’s new definition of multi-party politics.

He said the idea of forming many parties suggests that people see matters differently and that they might reject even a greeting that they perceived not genuine.

He said Prof Hansungule was wrong to suggest that funerals were gatherings for reconciliation.

“We have several contentious issues facing our country, including the constitution-making process, the electoral process, security, tribalism, regionalism, poverty etc. Does the professor suggest seriously that we should all go to funerals to resolve these issues and for SACCORD to move its headquarters to Leopards Hill Cemetery?

If the 50 per cent plus one issue was tabled to be resolved at a funeral, there will be no reconciliation but fist fights and gnashing of teeth,” he said.

Gen Miyanda was also surprised that Bishop Mambo supported Prof Hansungule and added that a greeting might just be an act to dupe a naïve person into believing that one had found a friend.

“The bishop and most likely the professor know of one Judas Iscariot who hugged Jesus Christ just before he sent him to the gallows!” he said.

He said Zambians must remember the purported reconciliation between President Sata and late president Levy Mwanawasa.

“A lot of fanfare was made after the secret get-together. President Sata has declared that the reconciliation was a “gimmick”. Was Mr Sata’s greeting at St Ignatius also a gimmick?” he wondered.

He recalled that when Mr Sata went to greet him outside St Ignatius Church, he extended his hand voluntarily because he accepted the greeting.

“No one forced me that is how it should be although I did not like to be hugged,” he said.

He has called upon lawyers and Zambians to roundly condemn what he termed pettiness.
[ Times of Zambia ]