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POLICE in Livingstone have arrested and charged Sun International Zambia resort facilities manager Dean Pitt for allegedly using abusive language against staff at the hotel.
Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Lemmy Kajoba said yesterday that Police summoned Mr Pitt to Linda Police Station and a statement was recorded from him.
“I can confirm that Mr Pitt was called to Police after which a statement was recorded. He was charged for using abusive or insulting language. The matter goes to court next week,” he said.
Mr Pitt, too, confirmed in a telephone interview that he was called to the Police Station in relation to confusion and alleged use of insulting language to staff at the resort last Wednesday.
“Yes I can confirm but am not in a position to give any details because I have to sort out issues with management now,” he said.
The resorts assistant financial manager David Chisupa said in a separate interview yesterday that the insults were allegedly uttered after some workers went into a frenzy when a snake got into one of the offices.
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all”
(Psalm 34:19, NKJ)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Aren’t you glad we serve a Deliverer today? You might feel afflicted today, but God is working to bring you out of that difficult situation. It may not be in the way you thought, but you have to trust that God has your best interest at heart.
Afflictions can take on many forms—a sickness or hardship, a temptation, a coworker or family member. There are so many things that can come against us, but God promises in His Word that no weapon formed against us shall prosper! Those afflictions are only temporary. Stand in faith today believing that God is on your side. Remember, you and God are a majority. It doesn’t matter what your circumstances look like, get up every morning and say, “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” As you stand and trust the Lord, He will deliver you out of all your afflictions, and you’ll see His hand of blessing in every area of your life.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father in heaven, thank You for being my Deliverer. I trust that You have a good plan for me and that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. Thank You for Your strength and peace in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
Patriotic Front president Michael Sata has re-stated that that his party has never been against the Chinese investment in general.
Mr Michael said his party is only concerned with the conditions of service the Chinese offer to the Zambian workers.
He said that though Chinese investment could be encouraged, the investors from that country should respect Zambian laws.
Mr. Sata says that Zambian workers have continued to be paid low wages at the expense of the so called investment.
Mr. Sata also said in an interview with QFM that government should not be boasting about opening new mines.
He noted that what the government is simply doing is only recycling old mines and not opening news ones.
Mr. Sata further stated that if Luanshya Mine was sold on principle other than through corruption means, it would not have been changing ownership.
He has advised government to engage in proper management skills in the selling mines other than through corrupt means.
QFM
The case of the gay couple that have decided to co-habit publicly in Malawi is interesting. Homosexuality in Malawi is a criminal offence and so it is in Zambia. Amnesty International publishes a world map where they colour red any country in which there are human rights abuses. Zambia is in red, not because of political prisoners but because it criminalises homosexuality.
Many developed countries no longer consider homosexuality as a criminal offence but consider this as a human rights issue. Africans tend to be conservative and traditional on this matter and many of the readers will find the practice ‘offensive’ and ‘barbaric.’ On top of this, Zambia, has declared itself a ‘christian nation.’ There is no doubt that once this issue is brought up, there will be many who will come up with an arms length of Biblical quotations in support of the ban against the practice.
Let me make it clear from the outset that I have no doubt in my mind that homosexuality is un-natural. Indeed I go further to say that its practice is morally wrong. But, what I question is whether it constitutes a criminal offence. There are at least three main questions that should be considered before an act or practice is made illegal.
First: Is it an offence to persons?
Second: Is it destructive to property?
Third: Is it an offence to the State, i.e. does it interfere with governance?
I may be mistaken, but nearly every good law must fall into one or more of theses categories. There are many things that are morally repugnant but they are not criminal offences because they fall outside these principles. Adultery is morally wrong and illegal and rightly so, because ‘another’ person is offended. So are slander, abortion and murder. Libel is an offence against a person by attacking his character. Theft is illegal too because it concerns property and persons. Treason is offence against the State. There are some illegal practices that one would not classify as immoral. For example, drink-driving and over-speeding, but there is a potential to harm another person.
So, coming back to homosexuality, can it be classified as a criminal offence? The practice is arguably immoral but should the taxpayer’s money be spent on taking these people to court and incarcerating them in prison for something that they have no natural power to overcome on their own and is between mutually consenting adults? Wouldn’t resources be better spent to understand why people come to have this alternative sexual outlook? Homosexual practice is a moral issue that one has to answer to in their heart and before their Maker.
I do not think that the State should get involved in this. It may not be long before Zambia is in the world news again with another ‘comedy of errors’ trial, just like Malawi. In actual fact, it may be that the law enforcers in Zambia are casting a blind eye to this ‘breaking of the law’ going by the Vice President Rt. Hon. G. Kunda S.C.’s statement to the House of Parliament. Homosexual practice is rife in Zambia. Issues of sexual health are not adequately tackled if we hide our heads in the sand and pretend that this does not happen. There may be a case to revisit this archaic colonial law and expunge it from our statutes.
Frederick Chiluba in The Syagogue, Church Of All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria recently .
THE Supreme Court has set February 11 for the ruling in a preliminary matter in which former President Frederick Chiluba is challenging the enforcement of the London High Court judgement in the Zambian courts.
In the preliminary matter, Dr Chiluba, through his lawyer John Sangwa, is questioning whether the Zambian laws allow for a foreign judgement to be enforced in the country.
Dr Chiluba appealed to the Supreme Court after High Court judge Evans Hamaundu refused to hear the preliminary matter, stating that the court could only hear the issue together with the main case.
The former President is asking the Supreme Court to make an order to force the lower court to hear the preliminary matter.
The bench comprised Deputy Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima, sitting with justices Dennis Chirwa and Sandson Silomba.
Mr Sangwa told the court that he will rely on the heads of argument as grounds of appeal.
Solicitor-General Abyudi Shonga also submitted that he will rely on the heads of argument.
Two years ago, London High Court judge Peter Smith reduced damages against Dr Chiluba to US$57.4 million from the US$58.3 million he was earlier ordered to pay the Zambian government in connection with the Zamtrop and BK conspiracies, and for the breach of fiduciary duty.
And the case involving Minister of Education Dora Siliya has been adjourned to February 17, 2010.
The appellant’s lawyer, Bonaventure Mutale, told the court that the record of appeal was incomplete and asked for more time.
A tribunal was appointed to probe alleged breach of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act by Ms Siliya at the time she served as Minister of Communications and Transport.
Ms Siliya was found with no case to answer on all the charges, which judgement former Minister of Communications and Transport William Harrington is appealing against.
Meanwhile, the matter in which directors of the defunct Access Financial Services Aaron Chungu and Faustin Kabwe have appealed against a High Court judgement in which they are seeking the disclosure of a memorandum of understanding between the Task Force, Government and donors comes up on February 17, 2010, for hearing.
THE National Constitutional Conference (NCC) has rejected articles in the Mung’omba draft Constitution which would subject members of the National Assembly to a recall when they are not performing to the expectations of their electorate.
The conference voted unanimously to have Article 188 and Article 189 deleted as they could promote anarchy in the country.
In the Mung’omba draft Constitution, Article 188 stipulates that the National Assembly may censure a minister by resolution, supported by two-thirds of the votes of all the members of the National Assembly.
And Article 189 specifies that the electorate may recall members of the National Assembly who hold a constitution-based seat in a constituency.
Contributing to the debate, Commissioner Lucy Changwe said the articles, if included in the new Constitution, would be a recipe for power struggles.
Ms Changwe said the process can also have an effect on policy implementation as many programmes can be disrupted.
She said allowing 50 percent of the registered electorate to petition the removal of an MP who fails to perform can also be retrogressive to national development because it will be betraying the majority of the electorate who are not in favour of the petition.
“I am in full support of having these articles deleted completely without making any changes because they are a threat to development,” Ms Changwe said.
She said MPs have a parliamentary code of conduct which regulates them, and there is no need for them to be recalled by the electorate.
Commissioner Daniel Munkombwe said adopting the article will be dangerous for the country because people will start to look for faults just to get rid of certain individuals in Parliament.
Mr Munkombwe said the electoral system provides for MPs to work for five years and that the electorate are there to make choices regarding MPs during an election.
“If an MP does not work according to people’s expectation, the electorate will be free to speak through the ballot paper instead of petitioning their removal before the elections are held,” he said.
Commissioner Benson Chingombe commended the committee members for deciding to do away with the articles, saying they are a threat to democracy.
Mr Chingombe said if the articles were to be adopted, Zambia would be headed for disaster.
Earlier, Commissioner Richard Mwitwa argued that the articles should be included in the national Constitution because this would make MPs accountable to their electorate.
Mr Mwitwa said if Article 189 is reinstated, the electorate will be given power to offer checks and balances.
“As it is now, MPs can choose whether to work for the people or not. I am in support of this article as people will have the authority to remove MPs who don’t perform,” he said.
Zambia national soccer team coach Herve Renard and the technical bench watching the international friendly match against North Korea at Nkoloma stadium recently
Zambia team physician Dr Joseph Kabungo has given the squad at the Africa Cup in Angola a clean bill of health ahead of the match against Cameroon on Sunday.
Dr Kabungo said in an interview from Lubango where the team is based that all the players were fit with no major injuries.
However, winger Clifford Mulenga missed Friday’s training session due to a stomach upset.
“Some players have slight knocks but nothing that can stop them from training and are all ok except for Clifford (Mulenga) who has a stomach upset and didn’t train,” Dr Kabungo said.
Meanwhile, the team returned to full training on Friday after taking Thursday afternoon off but not before a light midday workout the day after drawing 1-1 in their opening game on Wednesday evening in Lubango.
Zambia face Cameroon in a must-win match on Sunday in the two sides penultimate Group D game in Lubango.
Cameroon are bottom of Group D with 0 points, while Zambia and Tunisia are joint second on 1 points each, two less than leaders Gabon who beat the Indomitable Lions 1-0 on January 13.
Meanwhile, LT will carry live video streaming of Sunday’s match that kicks off at 20:30 Zambian time.
Seven foreign firms, including Kuwait’s Independent Petroleum Group (IPG) have submitted bids to supply 1.4 million tonnes of petroleum feedstock to Zambia over two years, the procurement authority said on Friday.
The preferred cargo mixes for Zambia’s Indeni Refinery and TAZAMA Pipeline operations and the Zambian market is a blend of standard export grade crude, naphtha or condensate and straight run gas oil, the tender document said.
The southern African country is the continent’s top producer of copper and uses a lot of diesel in the mining operations that are the backbone of its economy.
IPG, whose deal for the supply of oil to Zambia expired last month, is competing with Lukoil International Trading and Supply Company (LITASCO) of Russia, Glencore Energy UK Ltd, Vitol SA, Trafigura SA, Addax Energy SA and Kenya’s Gulf Energy Ltd.
“They are now given 21 days starting on Monday in which they should submit their evaluation and recommendations for award of contract,” Shadreck Shawa, the head of purchasing at the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) said.
“We should be able to select the preferred bidder within a month because even if there are issues that will arise, these should be negotiated within two weeks,” Shawa said.
The issues to be agreed with the winner would include the timeframe for the supply of the first cargo through the port of Dar-es-Saalam in Tanzania, the ZPPA said.
The 1,440,000 tonnes buyer’s option will be brought in cargo lots of 60,000 to 90,000 tonnes at evenly spread intervals, according to tender specifications.
Shawa said BNP Paribas has given bid security amounting to $2 million each for IPG, LITASCO, Glencore, Vitol and Addax. Trafigura has a $2 million cover by ING Bank of Holland and Gulf Energy the same amount by PTA Bank.
Stagecoach to help road safety in zambiaPerth-based transport giants Stagecoach are helping to improve road safety standards in Zambia by providing vital training for bus and coach drivers.
The company is providing funding for Stagecoach Driving Instructor Neil Rettie to spend 12 months helping to make driving standards in the African state better as part of Transaid’s Professional Driver Training Project.
Having spent three months in the Lusaka region of Zambia last year during which he trained more than 60 bus and coach drivers, Neil has now set off for a second three-month spell in the country where he will continue to deliver a “Safe and Skilled Driving” course to transport operators.
He will also be working alongside the Zambian Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) to help them develop and implement their curriculum.
Neil said: “I’m looking forward to getting back to Zambia. I’ll be working with some of the same companies as previously as well as some new ones, to try and help improve the driving standards of bus and coach operators.
“I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge and it’s a great opportunity for me to share my skills with others. We received very positive feedback the first time round and all the drivers are very keen to learn and to improve their skills.
“It’s so important to ensure that driving standards are high, not only to protect the drivers and their passengers but also to improve the safety of other road users.”
The aim of the project is to address the huge shortage of skilled drivers through improving driver training and safety standards, in order to reduce the number of road crashes which occur in the Lusaka region.
Road crashes are the third highest cause of premature death in Africa after HIV/AIDS and malaria.
In Zambia, the Road Transport and Safety Agency estimates that road accidents cost the country around £167million each year, which equates to around three percent of Zambia’s GDP.
Many accidents can often be attributed to poor driving skills and poor vehicle maintenance which Transaid’s project is trying to address
Optical assistant Pauline Coldwell and manager Reinhard MuckenhubekHELP is in sight for millions of Zambians thanks to a Specsavers campaign to raise money for a new eye clinic in the poverty-stricken country.
The Specsavers branch, on Little Westgate, has been donating £1 for every eye test, and will continue to do so throughout January, with the aim of raising more than £3,000.
The money will go to eyecare charity Vision Aid Overseas, who plan to build a dedicated eye care clinic and teaching facility in the Zambian capital, Lusaka.
A quarter of Zambia’s 12 million population is estimated to have eye health problems, and the new clinic will help deal with life-limiting but treatable conditions that are rife in the country.
Philip Mokrysz, director of the Little Westgate store, said: “I would like to thank our customers for their ongoing and truly lifesaving support. The difference we are able to make with a pair of glasses can be as simple as whether someone is able to work or not.
“Our store and the local community in Wakefield are really getting behind this project and we’re delighted to be able to assist the Zambian people and their government.”
Specsavers Wakefield has joined stores across Britain to raise more than £300,000 to fund the new facilities.
Since 2003 more than a quarter of a million glasses have been collected and recycled by Specsavers stores for Vision Aid Overseas for use in developing countries.
Vice president george Kunda receives a gift from ZNBC acting managing director Juliana Mwila during the launch of TV2 in Lusaka
2.
LEADING BY EXAPMLE’. Lusaka Mayor Robert Chikwelete loads garbage into a wheelbarrow when he re-launched the Keep Lusaka Clean campaign in Chaisa township.
3.
Lusaka Mayor Robert Chikwelete educates Lusaka residents on the use of chlorine when he re-launched the Keep Lusaka Clean campaign in Chaisa township
4.
President Banda shares a meal with President Joseph Kabila of Democratic Republic of Congo, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos (with back to the camera) of Angola, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and President Ipukefinye Pohamba of Namibia at Teratona Hotel in Luanda, Angola
5.
President Rupiah Banda and President Jose Eduardo dos Santos (right) of Angola listen to President Jacob Zuma of South Africa (center) at Teratona Hotel in Angola
6.
President Rupiah Banda talks to Luapula Province Minister Boniface Kawimbe (r) and Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha (c) Lusaka International Airport
7.
Press Association of Zambia president Andrew Sakala (right) is flanked by vice president Amos Chanda at a press briefing in Lusaka.
8.
First Lady Thandiwe Banda and Wife of Vice President George Kunda, Irene, inspect tailoring products made by the State House women’s club as the organisation’s chairperson Betty Kanyanga (left) looks on at the handover of a refurbished school building in Lusaka.
9.
Zambia Development Agency Acting Director Muhabi Lungu (left) is flanked by Communications Manager Margaret Chimanse at a press briefing in Lusaka.
A 28-year-old housewife is battling for her life in Luwingu District Hospital after her husband brutally battered her and later burnt her private parts with burning firewood.
Both hospital authorities and relatives to the victim confirmed the incident to Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Luwingu on Friday.
Narrating the ordeal, the mother to the victim Rachael Chomba said her daughter was burnt on her private parts using firewood by her husband on suspicion of flirting with another man.
Mrs. Chomba said her son-in-law Amos Kanswe Sumpa, who was drank at the time of incident, also inflicted other bodily injuries on his wife.
She explained that her daughter is complaining of severe pain on her private parts owing to the burns and she is confined to her hospital bed as she was unable to walk.
Mrs. Chomba has since appealed to the police and civil society organisations to help her get justice over her daughter’s brutal assault by her husband.
And police in Luwingu have launched a manhunt for the suspect, who is on the run.
The hospital authorities have described the condition of the burnt woman as stable and the incident happened on New Year’s Day at Sumpa village in Chief Tungati’s area.
ZANIS
The MMD in Mazabuka has ignored directives by party National Secretary, Katele Kalumba not to conduct any party elections until his office issues a circular to do so.
In Chikankata constituency party officials have already started the process of ushering in new office bearers while in Mazabuka Central, ward and branch officials were being mobilised to conduct free elections.
Party administrator for Mazabuka and Monze districts, Clement Matente disclosed this to ZANIS in Mazabuka today.
Mr. Matente explained that MMD deputy national secretary, Jeff Kaande has issued fresh directives to conduct the elections in the two districts within 21 days.
He said Mr. Kaande maintained that the directives he issued to dissolve the district and constituency executives in the two districts when he visited Mazabuka still stand despite his boss saying no district or constituency executive had been dissolved.
Mr. Matente who is also Southern Province Treasurer said he will ensure all the districts abide by the instructions from the deputy national secretary.
He said the party is dead in Mazabuka and Monze because the dissolved party executive committee officials did not have the interest of the party at heart.
Mr. Matente said ushering new blood would help rebuild the support the party has lost in the two districts.
A Copperbelt based political Sage has called on political parties intending to float presidential candidates next year not to go for upstarts because time for political experiments was long gone.
Mr. Humphrey Ngulube told ZANIS in Ndola yesterday that the 2011 presidential elections should not be peddled by political upstarts because leadership must always have a track record.
He said 2011 was a crucial year as the country will be going to the polls to elect a leadership cadre that should steer the developmental agenda of Zambia from its current stage to a higher one.
Mr. Ngulube said Zambians should be careful with the choice of leaders that will be parading before them for votes and should critically scrutinize each candidate with care.
He said even if Zambians should not be looking for perfection in the human beings that political parties will offer for presidency, they should be looking at a political leadership track record of honesty, integrity, accountability, tolerance, humility, openness and passion to see the country moving forward in unity.
He said leadership was about offering a service to the people and any leader who wanted a position in order to amass wealth; take advantage of the privileges of the position of leadership for personal aggrandizement was seeking a position for wrong reasons.
He said Zambia needed tried and tested political leadership that was driven by the passion and conviction rooted in the spirit of patriotism and national building.
Mr. Ngulube added that there was need to promote unity, respect and the underlying values of “one Zambia one Nation” because time for tribal politics and regional isolation was over.
He also appealed to the Church to pray for the right leadership which should emerge as a result of prayer and much seeking of God about the direction of the nation after 2011.
He said the Church had a critical role to play through preaching love and unity for the nation and praying for God’s direction for the leaders that would be chosen.
