Transparency International Zambia has charged that vice president George Kunda lied to Parliament when he stated that TIZ objected to the ratification of Mr Abyudi Shonga as Attorney General.

In a statement released to QFM today, TIZ president Rueben Lifuka said to the contrary, TIZ in its submission to the parliamentary select committee stated that they were reluctantly recommending Mr Shonga’s ratification, and that nowhere in their submission did they object to the ratification.

He said they informed the Parliamentary Select Committee of the reasons for the qualified recommendation, which include allegations that had come to their attention that the Attorney General had travelled with the Inspector General of Police who had remained in office despite the ongoing criminal investigations, to South Africa for matters related to the investigations.

Mr Lifuka said they emphasized to the Select Committee that the allegations were not made by TIZ, but by reliable sources who brought this to their attention and that they were following up on the issue to satisfy themselves of the veracity of the allegations, and urged the Committee to do the same and satisfy themselves that these allegations were not true as part of the process of scrutiny of the appointee.

He stated that import of their submission was not to mislead the Committee as alleged by Mr Kunda but to spur the Select Committee to engage in more robust due diligence.

[pullquote]Mr Kunda told parliament when he wound up debate on the motion to ratify the appointment of Mr Shonga,that Transparent International Zambia was the only organization that opposed the appointment of Mr Shonga because of falsehood and misinformation.[/pullquote]

He further added that the vice president elected to leave out the essence of TIZ’s submission and rushed into libeling the organization as peddling in falsehoods and doubting its credibility.

Mr Lifuka said on the same day that Mr Kunda made his statement, the republican president was swearing in six High Court Judges to whom TIZ made its submissions on their appointments.

He further added that Transparency International Zambia in fact recommended the ratification of Mr Abyudi Shonga twice for the position of Solicitor General, and that in the recent incidence; they reconfirmed their satisfaction with his qualifications and suitability for the position but highlighted the allegations that had reached them about his conduct in the investigation of the IG.

Mr Lifuka said TIZ finds the vice president’s attacks regrettable and a sure sign that the political leadership in the country is slowly becoming irrelevant to the country’s democratic aspirations.

On Thursday las week, Vice president George Kunda accused Transparency International Zambia of presenting falsehood to the Parliament Select Committee when they appeared before the committee appointed to scrutinize Mr Shonga’s appointment.

Mr Kunda told parliament when he wound up debate on the motion to ratify the appointment of Mr Shonga,that Transparent International Zambia was the only organization that opposed the appointment of Mr Shonga because of falsehood and misinformation.

Mr Kunda recommended that such organizations should never be allowed to appear before the parliamentary committees.

Parliament unanimously ratifed the appointment of Abyudi Shonga as Attorney General.

QFM

THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set April 29 as the date on which the parliamentary by-election will be held in Mufumbwe constituency following the death of Mr Misheck Bonshe.

According to a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday by ECZ public relations manager Cris Akufuna, this is the same date when the Milanzi constituency by-election will be held.

The polls will take place from 06:00 hours to 18:00 hours.

Mr Akufuna said aspiring candidates in the two by-elections should lodge completed and attested statutory declaration and nomination papers subscribed before a magistrate, local court justice, head of primary school, head of secondary school, principal of a college, commissioner of oaths, election officer or returning officer on April 8, between 09:00 hours and 15:00 hours.

Aspiring candidates for the Mufumbwe parliamentary seat should take along with them nine supporters who must be registered voters in the constituency.

The supporters must have in their possession their green national registration cards and voters’ cards while the aspiring candidates will be required to pay K500, 000 non-refundable nomination fee.

The campaign period for the by-elections commences on April 8, after 15:00 hours, and will end at 18:00 hours on April 28.

Registered non-governmental organisations wishing to monitor or observe the elections are advised to apply for accreditation from ECZ.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Patriotic Front (PF) has distributed campaign badges bearing the portrait of its leader Michael Sata for the 2011 elections, three months after the United Party for National Development (UPND) distributed similar badges with leader Hakainde Hichilema’s picture.

PF cadres in Lusaka are distributing Mr Sata’s portrait with a message that he is the one contesting the 2011 elections.
The portraits in form of badges are bearing a message saying ‘Sata for 2011’.

Three months ago there were similar badges for UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema that also stated that he was going to contest the 2011 elections.

But when contacted for a comment yesterday, PF spokesperson Given Lubinda said that it was not of concern to anyone if the PF was campaigning for next year’s elections or not.

Mr Lubinda said no one would tell the PF when to campaign because whatever happened 2011 elections were coming.

He said if there was campaign material for Mr Sata or Mr Hichilema the people would next year vote to determine their leader.

He said there were many badges that were being distributed including those of him and UPND Member of Parliament (MP) for Siavonga Douglas Syakalima saying that they would also contest next year’s elections.

He accused the Times of Zambia of chasing the wind by asking him on the campaign material that was being distributed.

“You Times of Zambia, it seems you have a lot of talk time to chase the wind. You can write what you want because PF’s campaign is not of concern to anyone,” he said.

But deputy UPND spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said he was not aware of the development but there was nothing wrong if it was true that campaign materials were being distributed.

“In case it is true, there is nothing wrong because the two leaders have agreed to work together and they can campaign,” he said.

Mr Mweetwa said Mr Hichilema could also campaign for the elections because both leaders were possible candidates for the 2011 elections.

He said that he did not believe it was Mr Sata distributing the material but his supporters because even UPND members could do the same.

[Times of Zambia]

THE MMD on the Copperbelt has recommended that its national executive committee (NEC) expels former Minister of Defence George Mpombo for his decision to take part in the red card campaign against President Banda and Government.

But Mr Mpombo says he is not part of the red card campaign but will merely attend meetings of the organisers when invited.

MMD Copperbelt chairman Joseph Chilambwe said in an interview in Luanshya on Sunday that the ruling party has nothing to lose if it expels Mr Mpombo.

“I have already recommended that he should be expelled from the party. There is nothing we are pleading for. Our recommendation is to kick him out of the party. Let him join a political party of his choice or he should form his own political party,” Mr Chilambwe said.

He described Mr Mpombo as an ungrateful person who is now allegedly insulting President Banda and the MMD leadership who made him MP.

“The MMD has made Mr Mpombo what he is today and it is sad that he is now insulting President Banda and the party,” Mr Chilambwe said.

He wondered why Mr Mpombo is bitter when he resigned on his own from Government and also relinquished his position in the NEC.

Mr Chilambwe said it is unfortunate that Mr Mpombo now wants to destroy the MMD, which he wants to use to contest the party presidency.

“I don’t know why we are keeping Mr Mpombo. They should suspend him or expel him from the party because he is confusing us. He is not popular and there is nothing we are pleading for,” Mr Chilambwe said.

He advised the Patriotic Front to be wary of Mr Mpombo because the Kafulafuta member of Parliament allegedly insulted the United Party for National Development leadership when he resigned from the party to join the ruling MMD.

But Mr Mpombo said on Sunday that it is not a big deal for him if Mr Chilambwe has recommended his expulsion from the MMD.

He said Mr Chilambwe is not an elected provincial chairman and that he will always dance to the tune of the appointing authority.

He clarified that he is not a member of the red card campaign but that he would attend meetings when invited.

On Sunday, MMD spokesperson, Dora Siliya asked Mr Mpombo to resign from the party because his decision to join the red card campaign is evidence that he does not support the ruling party’s policies and programmes.

Ms Siliya said it is disappointing that Mr Mpombo has allowed himself to be used to allegedly create anarchy in the country through the red card campaign.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

President RUPIAH BANDA says people who have continued to attack him over his visits to other countries are doing so out of ignorance.

The President says his meetings with other Heads of State are important especially in maintaining good neighbourliness.

He told ZANIS in NAMIBIA that the meetings are also used to explore new avenues for trade between countries.

President BANDA was in Namibia to attend the inauguration of HIFIKEPUNYE POHAMBA and Namibia’s 20th Indepedence anniversary celebrations.

He returned home last night.

And President BANDA has called for a speed agricultural revolution between Zambia and Namibia.

The President says some farmers in Namibia have expressed interest in joint agriculture ventures with Zambians in Western Province.

He said this is important because both countries have a lot to learn from each other.

Mr. BANDA told ZANIS in an interview in Namibia yesterday that Namibia is an important neighbor to Zambia because of the many common interests the two countries share.

[pullquote]He says it is disappointing that president Banda has decided to pay a blind eye to the various challenges the nation is facing and has instead focused on attending to every international event that comes up in his diary.[/pullquote]

Meanwhile, National Revolution Party (NGP) president, Cosmo Mumba has accused republican president, Rupiah Banda of turning his office into a tourism ministry.

Mr. Mumba says president Banda is failing to attend to pressing issues in the country because he is always traveling out of the country.

He says it is disappointing that president Banda has decided to pay a blind eye to the various challenges the nation is facing and has instead focused on attending to every international event that comes up in his diary.

He has challenged president Banda to attend the issue floods which has ravaged most parts of the country among other things.
Mr. Mumba adds that there is a serious increase in the level of unemployment and poverty in the country which also requires the president’s attention.