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Vice President George Kunda has said no amount of bickering from the opposition political parties will detract government form pursuing its development agenda for the country.
Mr. Kunda alleged that the opposition political parties have nothing to offer for the people of Zambia.
He said it was strange that the opposition political parties cannot acknowledge the positive indicators of economic growth such as the single digit inflation rate and the general stability of the economy the government has made so far.
He was speaking on arrival at Livingstone International Airport this morning.
Mr. Kunda said Zambia has the potential to develop all her economic sectors especially if her citizens fully devote themselves to hard work.
And Mr. Kunda has said it was wrong for the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata to refer to the National Constitutional Commission (NCC) delegates as plunders.
The Vice President said there was a lot of decency at the NCC, adding that all the operations of the commission were guided by the law.
He explained that all the money being used at the NCC was budgeted for by parliament.
Mr. Kunda described Mr. Sata as a sadist who will never appreciate any positive stride the MMD government has making.
He said it would be dangerous for the people of Zambia to vote for Mr. Sata in the 2011 tripate elections because his characteristics have proved that he cannot be trusted.
He told hundreds of people that welcomed him at the airport that Mr. Sata should know that the NCC is comprised of men and women of integrity who are determined to give Zambia a constitution the country deserves.
Mr. Kunda has meanwhile advised opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilima to forego his association with Mr. Sata because he has no respect even for the UPND-PF pact members of parliament that are attending the NCC.
He said it is strange that Mr. Hichilima has kept quite over the unwarranted attacks by Mr. Sata instead of defending his MPs.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kunda has said the ruling MMD is the party for Zambia’s future because of its sound economic policies for the country.
He said the MMD government is now working on the 6th national development plan.
He has since appealed to the people of Southern province to vote for President Rupiah Banda in the 2011 tripate elections.
The Ndola Magistrate Court has charged former Defence Minister George Mpombo with one count of issuing a dishonoured cheque amounting to K 10 million.
Appearing before Ndola Chief Resident Magistrate Kelvin Limbani, and facing one count of issuing a dishonoured cheque contrary to section 33 sub-section 01 of the National Payment Act of the Penal Code of the Laws of Zambia was George Mpombo 55, a farmer of 05 Katonte farms in Masaiti.
Magistrate Limbani said the facts of the offence were that on 18th December 2009, Mpombo with intent to defraud, issued a cheque to Colwyn Limited of K10million on an insufficient funded account at Standard Chartered bank which rendered it defraud.
When asked to take his plea Mr Mpombo pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Limbani adjourned the case to March 17, 2010 for the commencement of Trial and March 5, 2010 for Mention.
The former Defence minister had initially preferred to have the deliberations of the Court proceedings translated in Lamba but failed due to non availability of a Lamba interpreter in Court,
The Magistrate further granted an application by Defence Counsel Bonaventure Mutale to dispense the personal attendance of the accused during Mention on March 5, 2010 .
He explained that the accused would be involved in Parliamentary duties since Parliament would be in session at that particular time, adding that the accused was an Area Member of Parliament for Kafulafuta constituency.
Magistrate Limbani further extended Mr Mpombo’s police bond.
Two Miners escaped death in separate mine accidents on underground at Non Ferrous Africa Mining Company (NFCA) in Chambishi.
The two miners Chungu Davies, a miner captain of house number 2123 Nkwale street and Lawson Kalunga of house number 6 Milambo street, both from Chambishi township, are battling for their lives in Sinazam hospital in Kitwe.
In an interview with ZANIS Kalulushi today, Sinazam Executive Director Xisheng Qin said the two victims were separatly rushed to the hospital. He described the miners’ condition as not stable.
Dr Qin said Chungu who was brought to hospital at 14:00 hours yesterday is nursing head injuries which made the miner to bleed profusely.
He added that Chungu is likely to be discharged tomorrow.
Dr Qin said on the other hand Kalunga suffered a raptured bladder and will henceforth be admitted in hospital longer.
He explained that Kalunga’s condition was fare today as he was out of oxygen though he had problems with his hip bone.
Dr Qin noted that Kalunga also had a rare blood group O which was RH negative he said only five per cent of the Zambian population have the blood type.
He said the hospital was working hard to get Kalunga back to normal.
A check by ZANIS at the hospital found both patients in a stable condition though Kalunga was using tubes when eating.
And National Union of Miners and Allied Workers ( NUMAW ) Secretary General Goodwell Kaluba said his union was afraid at the rate of accidents at NFCA.
Mr Kaluba pointed out that the mine was quit scaring as was their source of worry to the members and the union at large.
He,however, appealed to NFCA to jack up in their safety standards and observe safety and to that effect it would be only prudent that when mines were inductioning people or new employees on safety.
Mr Kaluba urged the mines to be holding seminars concerning safety precautions in their operations.
But efforts to get NFCA proved futile at press time.
Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) has entered into a global ATM alliance with China Unionpay (CUP).
In a statement to ZANIS issued yesterday by Standard Chartered Bank Country Corporate Affairs Manager Joy Sata, the company’s global network will now provide ATM services to CUP cardholders in 20 different countries and territories worldwide.
She said the bank plans to extend this service to other African markets adding that this service is now currently available in Kenya, Zambia, Gambia, Uganda and Botswana.
Ms. Sata explained that China Unionpay cardholders will now be able to withdraw cash and perform account inquiries at over 2,000 Standard Chartered Bank ATMs across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
She said the deal by the bank is yet another demonstration of the importance the bank attaches to the growing Africa-China trade corridor.
The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) has opposed the adoption of a clause, by the National Constitutional Conference (NCC), to uphold the death penalty in the Constitution.
EFZ Executive Director Pukuta Mwanza says the death penalty should be abolished because it does not reflect the Christian values of the country.
Reverend Mwanza told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that according t biblical principles, no one has the right to take away another person’s life.
He saidd that those who commit murder should instead be subjected to life imprisonment with hard labour. He said this is one way of keeping such people away from society.
Reverend Mwanza expressed disappointment at the NCC’s decision to adopt the clause to retain the death penalty in the new Constitution. He also expressed displeasure at some clergymen who are in support of the idea.
On February 3 this year, delegates to the NCC agreed that the death penalty be retained in the new Constitution when they were considering article 31 clause two of the Mung’omba draft Constitution and Human Rights Committee report chaired by Commissioner Enoch Mulembe.
The clause states that a person shall not be deprived of life intentionally except in the execution of a sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the law in force of which that person has been convicted.
A Kitwe based High Court Judge Catherine Makungu has sentenced a 40 year old man of Kabompo district to six years imprisonment with hard labour for manslaughter.
Before Justice Makungu was Godwin Lumayi, 40, of Kabompo district in the North-western province, who was charged with manslaughter, contrary to section 199 of the penal code cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Lumayi pleaded guilty to the charge of killing his wife Joyce Sazhi 44, after a quarrel.
Facts before the court were that on September 26, 2008, Lumayi and his wife went to attend a male initiation ceremony known as Mukanda around 20 hours in Kambululu village in Manyinga area.
While at the ceremony, the couple started drinking beer with other people.
further fact in court indicate that upon returning home from the ceremony later that night, the two started quarrelling over an unknown issue which led to a fight.
It is alleged that Lumayi beat up his wife using fists and kicks.
The following day on 27th September 2008 around 05:00hrs, Sazhi died in their house due to internal injuries in the abdomen as indicated by a postmortem report that was presented by a medical officer from Kabompo district hospital.
Lumayi was later arrested and charged for murder and remanded in custody.
The court however reduced the charge to manslaughter after considering certain circumstances that led to Sazhi’s death.
In mitigation, Legal Aid Counsel, Humphrey Mweemba said Lumayi was a first offender who has five children.
Mr. Mweemba mitigated that Lumayi has been in custody from 27th September, 2008, a period which was long enough to teach him a lesson.
He also said Lumayi had stomach problems and so he needed to be near the herbalists that were treating him.
He asked the court to exercise maximum lenience on Lumayi.
When passing judgment, Justice Makungu said she had taken into account the mitigation but sentenced Lumayi to six years imprisonment with hard labour with effect from 27th September, 2008, the day he was first detained in custody.
THE Government has paid the French oil firm, Total Outre’Mer, US$5.5 million for the acquisition of the 50 per cent shares in Indeni Oil Refinery but still owes it $16.7 million in other obligations, Ministry of Energy and Water Development Permanent Secretary Teddy Kasonso has said.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Mr Kasonso said the Government paid $5.5million as at the end of November last year but still has to pay outstanding debts amounting to $16.7 million, which it owed the former shareholder.
He was, however, happy that after acquiring 100 per cent ownership in Indeni, the firm was now running more effectively.
Mr Kasonso, who was accompanied by Director of Energy at the ministry Oscar Kalumiana, Indeni Oil Refinery managing director Maybin Noole and finance director Thompson Chikumbi however said, he regretted that there were numerous financial irregularities at the firm.[quote]
Mbabala Member of Parliament (MP) Emmanuel Hachipuka (UPND) chaired the parliamentary committee.
Mr Kasonso appeared before the committee to explain the financial irregularities as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ending 31 December 2007.
“The Government paid US$5.5 million for the shares and we still owe Total US$16.7 million,” Mr Kasonso said.
But Luena MP Charles Milupi (independent) questioned how the Government arrived at US$5.5 million to which Mr Kalumiana said independent auditors carried out an audit of the firm before deciding on the amount.
Mr Kalumiana said that Price Water House Coopers was the auditing firm that was engaged and at one point Total indicated that it wanted US$8.5 million but the two parties had to reach a compromise.
“In fact, Total was asking for US$ 8.5million and the auditors had to talk to them and reach an agreement,” Mr Kalumiana said.
But Auditor General Anna Chifungula said it was wrong for the Government to have engaged Price Water House Coopers, as it was not the registered auditor for Indeni.
As such, Ms Chifungula said there was a likelihood of conflict of interest in the whole auditing process, an observation that was also acknowledged by Mr Hachipuka, Nchelenge MP Ben Mwila (NDF) and Isoka West MP Paul Sichamba (MMD).
She said the other financial irregularity at Indeni was the withdrawal of funds that the Government had given the firm for its recapitalisation process.
Ms Chifungula said on November 27, 2008 the Government injected K16 billion to recapitalise the refinery but a day later, the money was withdrawn from the account.
“The bank documents here show that the money was withdrawn on November 28 and used to purchase US$4 million which was remitted to Total,” Ms Chifungula said.
During the period under review, Mr Kasonso said Indeni got its funding mainly from the sale of refined oil, light gases and crude oil processing fees.
Further, he said the Government injected K29 billion in installments for recapitalisation.
Mr Kasonso, however, agreed that one of the financial irregularities that Indeni experienced during the year under review was the payment of K91.950 billion towards recapitalisation as agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the shareholder but instead ended up paying K97.750 billion resulting in an overpayment of K5.8 billion.
As of December 2008, Mr Kasonso said the money had not been refunded to the Government.
On failure to follow tender procedures, the committee said Indeni procured various goods and services amounting to K84, 262,186,109 from Fluor SA, ZAMEFA, and Fancraft among others.
Mr Kasonso however, argued that it was a normal practice for refineries to contract rehabilitation works to specialised project managing companies without tendering.
He said for instance, the engagement of Fluor was discussed at the shareholder level considering that Fluor was a specialised and internationally recognised firm.
AUDITOR General Anna Chifungula has said the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) gave out loans worth more than K35 billion without insurance cover to three more companies apart from the defunct Zambian Airways.
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Ms Chifungula said that in 2007, the DBZ gave out funds without insurance cover, contrary to disbursement procedures.
Ms Chifungula said that Zambian Airways obtained K12 billion, Moba Investment Limited got K3. 8 billion, African Textiles Zambia got K5 billion and Consolidated Mining Limited which got K14 billion bringing the total to K35 billion.
“The bank gave out over K35 billion without any collateral and this is against the Banking Act which clearly says that before one gets a loan they should have collateral.
“I can’t go to the banks with only my hands and say I want money. Even you, there is no way you can go to the bank and ask for money they will ask you for collateral,” Ms Chifungula said.
A search by the Times at the Patents and Companies Registration Office (PARCO) showed that Elias Simbeye of 6719 Mberere Road in Olympia Extension, Lighton Simbeye and Rabby Nambule of the same residence were the shareholders in the company in Consolidated Mining Limited.
The nature of business for Consolidated Mining was milling, transport and trading.
On the other hand, Ibrahim Ismail Yousuf of plot 12920 Mumbwa Road in Lusaka and Mohamed Zuneid Ismail of 16 D/687/ Mosque were the shareholders in African Textiles Zambia.
The nature of business for African Textiles Zambia was manufacturing and general trading.
On Moba Investment Limited, the search showed that the shareholders were Alex Kaoma of flat M6 Lubambe Centre in Parklands Kitwe, Nelson Kaoma of plot 5059 Zebra Street Nkana East, Kitwe and Virginia Kaoma of plot 5059 Zebra Street, Nkana East in Kitwe.
IRATE Lusaka residents have blamed their area councillors and Members of Parliament (MP) of failing to address the perennial floods in the city and have warned that politicians risked de-campaigning themselves if nothing was done.
Mr David Mkandawire of Chaisa Township said the problem of floods in Lusaka needed urgent attention and threatened to de-campaign politicians who had taken the electorate for granted.
He said politicians were failing to deliver on their election promises and had not met the people’s expectations.
Mr John Phiri of Mandevu said it was sad that the issue of floods had continued despite promises from politicians who had not done much to resolve the problem.
Mr Phiri called on the area councillor to find ways of resolving the problem and claimed that in the last few days, most schoolgoing children had not been able to go to school because the roads were impassable.
He said it was saddening that despite paying land rates to the council, little improvements to their livelihood had been made.
“We are disappointed because no one seems to be in a position to help us. We have not seen any improvement either on our roads or other necessities and worse still, when it is rainy season, you cannot even pass,” he said.
And a marketeer at City Market Jane Sakala who spoke on behalf of other women blamed the council of failing to work out a programme on how to address the floods in the city.
Mrs Sakala said in the last few days, because of the heavy rains, there was little business because customers shunned the market.
She called on the law enforcement agencies to investigate how the council was using the levies collected from the marketeers.
But Kanyama Patriotic Front (PF) MP Gerry Chanda blamed the Government for failure to release grants for nearly all the councils rendering them unproductive.
Col Chanda said currently, most councils had no source of revenue because all the houses and other sources of income were sold.
He said calls for him and other councillors to resign were not genuine but politically motivated, as people wanted to gain political support over the situation.
But Local Government and Housing Minister Eustarkio Kazonga said councillors should be sincere because the Government had been releasing all the grants for the capital projects to all the 72 councils.
Dr Kazonga said last year for instance, the Government had released all grants and other entitlements by December for the councils to undertake various projects including drainages.
He said that the Government was doing its part but the councils were failing the people because they were not delivering the service to the residents.
Dr Kazonga called on all the councils countrywide to put to good use funds they were receiving so that the residents could be served.
He said the Government had also released the Constituency Development Fund, which the councils could use to mitigate the effects of the floods and work on things like drainages.
Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said that PF councillors in Lusaka should resign because they have failed the residents following the floods that the city has experienced after the heavy rains.[quote]
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Gen Shikapwasha said the poor drainage system in
Lusaka should be a concern of the councillors considering that residents were paying too much in the form of rates.
Gen Shikapwasha said the people were paying rates but wondered where the funds were channelled to. He challenged the councillors to explain where the funds were going to saying there was a possibility that it was channelled to PF activities.
“Mr Sata should concentrate on helping the councillors to solve the drainage system instead of him talking about the NCC which he refused to be part of,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
He said that Zambians wanted to see development and as a result, he said that councillors should show that they could deliver rather than continuous politicking.
Gen Shikapwasha said the issue of drainage was about life and the councillors should therefore look at the matter with a sense of urgency.
Kitwe District Commissioner (DC), MacDonald Mtine said one needed not to be told that most drainages in the city were blocked because it was clear for anyone to see.
Mr Mtine said the problem of poor drainage system in the city was a straight and direct responsibility of the council and that the local authority should account for it.
Copperbelt Provincial Local Government Officer, Solomon Sakala also expressed concern at the poor state of drainages saying his office had noted how the problem was causing most streets to flood after heavy rains.
The Forum for Progressive Politics (FPP) has advised Zambians to learn a lesson from the arrest of former Defence Minister George Mpombo, by police in Ndola, for allegedly issuing a K10 million cheque on an insufficiently funded account.
FPP Secretary General Charles Kafumbo says Mr. Mpombo’s arrest should be an eye opener to many Zambians who are in the habit of issuing cheques on insufficiently funded accounts.
Mr. Kafumbo told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the arrest of Mr. Mpombo will serve as a deterrent to other would be offenders.
He said it is unfortunate that the former Defence Minister issued a cheque on an insufficiently funded account to Colwyn Limited owned by Ndola businessman Terence Findlay.
In January this year, an accountant from Colwyn Limited reported Mr. Mpombo to Police for issuing a K10 million cheque to the company on an insufficiently funded account.
Mr. Mpombo was arrested on Tuesday and has since been released on police bond with two working sureties. He will appear before Ndola Magistrates Court tomorrow.
Caleb Fundanga talking to journalists during the quarterly media briefing in Lusaka
Bank of Zambia (BOZ) Governor Dr. Caleb Fundanga says in an information age, knowledge and effective use of computers along with sound education will be the cornerstone of a vibrant and modern society.
Dr. Fundanga said it is important therefore to enhance computer literacy by making computers accessible to citizens especially youths in the country.
He said BOZ realises that government has limited resources to address the challenges facing the people in the country at once hence the Central Bank’s decision to continue donating used computers to various schools around the country.
T he BOZ governor disclosed that his bank has so far donated a total of sixty (60) computers to various schools including Mumbwa High School and David Kaunda Technical High School.
Dr. Fundanga was speaking in Mumbwa today when he handed over five (5) computers and learning materials to Mumbwa High School.
He expressed hope that the donated items would sustain and improve academic performance of the pupils in the beneficiary schools while bridging the digital divide.
And speaking earlier, Mumwa High School Headteacher Kizito Kalonga thanked BOZ for the generous gesture saying it will go a long way in improving the academic performance of pupils at his school.
Meanwhile, Mumbwa High School Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Board Chairman Gracious Hamatala said the importance of computers in this fast changing world cannot be over emphasised.
He said it is gratifying to note that there are institutions that were eager to supplement government’s efforts in providing quality education to the citizenry.
He urged school authorities to ensure that the computers are put to good use.
The Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) says negotiations for salaries and improved conditions of service for civil servants are progressing well.
CSAWUZ president Leonard Hikaumba disclosed this to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today.
Mr. Hikaumba said the negotiations which started last month are progressing well and are expected to be concluded before the expiry of the current collective agreement on 31st March, 2010.
Mr. Hikaumba who could not give more details on the matter said an update on the negotiations would be given to the civil servants at an appropriate time.
He appealed to the civil servants to exercise patience and give enough time to the union and government to quickly conclude the negotiations.
Recently, Secretary to Cabinet Joshua Kanganja assured civil servants that government was committed to improving the conditions of service of civil servants in the country.
SOME United Party for National Development (UPND) members of Parliament have described as unfortunate Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata’s statement that they are part of alleged plunderers at NCC.
Bweengwa MP Highvie Hamududu said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that it is unfortunate that some leaders are making loose comments on a serious national governance issue.
“What we are doing is to review the Constitution, as a result of the NCC Act we passed in Parliament. We are therefore obliged to participate in the process.
As UPND, we have done our honest part by participating in the process. We ensured that the controversial 50 percent plus one clause was referred to a referendum,” he said.
Mr Hamududu said UPND has represented the people of Zambia effectively at the NCC.
“We want to move away from old politics. We are tired of bad politics,” he said.
Mr Hamududu said it is time to introduce a new type of politics.
“We shall elevate politics to a level of real issues because the Zambian people want solutions to the many challenges they are facing.
“Some of these people who are talking were in Government before. Frederick Chiluba was not ruling alone, they were also there,” he said.
Mr Hamududu said no individual will be allowed to become bigger than the pact.
“No individual must behave bigger than others in the pact. People must not be excited because this is about real change,” he said.
Chikankata MP Munji Habeenzu said UPND members are not at the NCC for monetary gains as alleged by some political leaders and non-governmental organisations.
“What I know is that we are at the NCC for a good cause,” he said.[quote]
UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma and Mapatizya MP Ackson Sejani refused to comment on the matter.
Mr Kakoma said he could not comment on insinuations.
Mr Sejani said, “You cannot contain the comment I have as Zambia Daily Mail, so I have no comment.”
Matero PF MP Faustina Sinyangwe challenged Mr Sata to produce a schedule indicating that the MPs signed for the amounts of money he mentioned when he featured on ‘Let the People Talk’ programme on Radio Phoenix.
“He said I received K89 million, but I have not seen that money,” she said.
Mrs Sinyangwe said it is not inspiring for leaders aspiring for higher office to tell lies.
“As far as I am concerned, we are doing a noble job at the NCC of coming up with a Constitution for Zambians,” she said.
Mrs Sinyangwe wondered why Mr Sata was insinuating that UPND is part of the plunderers at the NCC, when he is in a pact with them.
“I said it the first time I commented on this pact that it will not work because of some selfish leaders,” she said.
Bishop Shern Kaumba of Life Transforming Ministry International has taken a swipe at the department of Social Welfare in Mazabuka for using armed Police officers to close down Docsek orphanage centre.
Bishop Kaumba who is orphanage centre director, told ZANIS in Mazabuka yesterday that the use of armed police scared the children as it was the first time they were seeing police brandishing guns as they were being bundled in the vehicle.
” What has happened to the children is traumatising and I feel the action taken by the department and Police is harsh and should be condemned by all stakeholders because those children did not go in conflict with the law. I feed the children with three meals, have proper beddings and what else do they need?” he wondered.
Bishop Kaumba said 11 orphans were withdrawn at gun point for unknown reasons.
He said he has petitioned the District Commissioner’s office to intervene in the matter because there is no justification in the closure of the centre which has not in any manner abrogated the law.
The office of bailiffs under the sheriffs in Mongu swung into action on Monday and seized property worth millions of kwacha from Western School of Nursing and Midwifery for non payment of National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) contributions accumulating to K9, 555, 445 million.
Western School of Nursing and Midwifery failed to adhere to a contract they entered with NAPSA in November last year on contributions. NAPSA sued and the school was convicted upon admission of the offence on August 29 last year but only paid K1million of the said amount.
Some of the property seized at the school includes two photocopying machines, two 21
inch TV sets, two Computers, two small deep freezers, two one plate
cookers, student tables, chairs and mattresses.
If the institution fails to pay the owed money within five days, the property
will be auctioned.
ZANIS
