THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has said the judgment involving Lusaka lawyer Rodger Chongwe’s claim for compensation should have first been registered in the Zambian courts before payment is considered.

LAZ president Steven Lungu said in an interview yesterday that the judgment should have first been registered in Zambia for it to have legal efficacy especially that no Zambian Government official represented the country when Dr Chongwe took the matter to United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) following the 1997 Kabwe shooting incident.

He said since Dr Chongwe did not exhaust all the local channels before taking the matter to the UNHRC, it was prudent that the matter was registered for it to have legal efficacy.

“One of the conditions for one to take the matter that far is to first exhaust all local channels but in this case, nothing like that was done,” Mr Lungu said.

He said the amount awarded to Dr Chongwe as compensation was too much as compared to what the Zambian courts award as compensation.

And Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha echoed the LAZ sentiments saying it was only correct to ensure the matter was registered in Zambia, especially that Dr Chongwe had not given reasons he took the case to UNHRC without first exhausting all the local channels.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said the LAZ observation was right because the Zambian Government should not be made to pay even for issues of Dr Chongwe’s alleged self imposed exile.

Gen Shikapwasha said issues of where Dr Chongwe took the matter and why he decided to take the matter to Australia were some of the legal aspects that needed to be heard before the compensation could be effected.

“For example, who forced Dr Chongwe into exile, is it not himself? And why should Government be made to pay for that?

These are some of the issues that need to be heard before even thinking of effecting payment,” he said.
He said it was sad that some opposition leaders speak the loudest on issues they did not have facts about but failed to apologise to the nation when Government presented the correct facts.

When contacted for a comment, Justice Deputy Minister Todd Chilembo referred all queries to the acting Attorney General(AG) Abyudi Shonga.
However, Mr Shonga’s mobile phone was not reachable.
On Monday, State House said President Banda in fact had on November 30, 2009 blocked the payment of US$6.7 million to Dr Chongwe because the amount was too excessive and was going to set a bad precedent.
President Banda’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere said Dr Chongwe’s compensation which initially stood at US$2.5 million had accumulated to US$6.7 million as a result of additional amounts in legal costs and loss of earnings.

Mr Jere explained that President Banda blocked the payment of the compensation which was eventually agreed upon after Dr Chongwe’s meeting with Justice Minister George Kunda who is also Republican Vice-President and later the AG, without the knowledge of the president.

[Times of Zambia]

President Rupiah Banda says the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has a lot to learn from the Communist Party of China (CPC) in its bid to accelerate development in the country.

President Banda notes that people entrust a strong, vibrant and good political party with power if tangible development is positively yielded.

Mr. Banda says the MMD and government as a whole has greatly benefited from the CPC which he says is now the world’s strongest political party.[quote]
President Banda observes that China has managed to pull through the global economic crunch because of sound economic policies set by the CPC.

President Banda said this in Lusaka today when a China delegation from the Communist Party of China paid a courtesy call on him at State House.

Mr. Banda said the MMD was determined to strengthening the ties between with the CPC in an effort to strengthen the economic policies of the country.
The President noted that this was important because good policies by the party in government always help to alleviate the sufferings of the people in the nation.

He pointed out that Zambia has further benefited from China through the Zambia- Tanzania railway line through job creation opportunities for the benefits of the peoples in Zambia and Tanzania.

The President further disclosed that a Zambia delegation would soon be travelling to China to explore best was of transferring some of the good policies initiated by the CPC through the Chinese government, to Zambia.

Vice President George Kunda, MMD National Chairman Michael Mabenga, MMD Chairman for Legal Affairs, Bwalya Chiti, and party Treasurer Sureshi Desai were some of the MMD top leaders who attended the meeting at State House.

And speaking earlier, Head of delegation and Central Community of the CPC Gao Guangbn said Zambia has recorded impressive success in her efforts to develop economically.
Mr. Guangbn, who spoke through an interpreter, commended President Banda for his wise and good leadership.

Mr. Guangbn, who is accompanied by senior CPC members, invited Zambia to participate at the Chinese Agriculture Co-operative Forum to be held next year.

He further assured President Banda of continued Chinese investment in various sectors of the economy.
ZANIS

President Banda and former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa today held closed-door talks at state house.

During the closed door talks the two presidents discussed the political and security situation in the great lakes Region.

This is according to a statement made available to ZANIS by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere.

Mr. Mkapa who is one of the mediators in the Great Lakes Region is in the country to brief President Banda on the Political and Security situation in the region ahead of the African Union Heads of State and Government summit to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia next month .

President Banda who is the current Chairman of the International Conference on Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) thanked Mr. Mkapa for the detailed brief presented to him.
President Banda said the brief was useful in handling the conflicts in the region.

Mr. Mkapa said the political and security situation in the great lakes region has normalized in some of the countries adding that there are still many challenges which need to be addressed in order to have peace and stability in the entire region.

Mr. Benjamin Mkapa and Former Nigerian President General Olusegun Obasanjo are the two mediators appointed to spearhead the peace process in the region.
ZANIS

 Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has challenged people to always check their facts before making any statements to the media.

 Lieutenant General Shikapwasha says the growing tendency by some opposition political party leaders of making careless statements without correct information are likely to cause confusion in the country.

He told journalists in Lusaka that it is important for people aspiring to lead the country to always put their facts rights before issuing any statements to the public.

 He said it was important to give correct information to the people because it is vital in building public confidence especially in those aspiring for leadership.

Gen. Shikapwasha challenged those aspiring to govern the country to always aim at saying the truth if they are to win the confidence of the majority Zambians.

Gen Shikapwasha cited the recent remarks by opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema that President Banda spent about K1 billion on his trip to Western Province and that the Ministry of information uses K60 million each month as some of the statements that needed to be verified.

He said Mr. Hichilema’s statement was unfounded because they could not be substantiated.

He explained that President Rupiah Banda as a Republican President has the right to visit any part of the country saying the money used in Western Province was far much less than a billion.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister said it was wrong for Mr. Hichilema to continue feeding members of the public with wrong information. Mr. Hichilema is quoted in the media as having said President Banda spent over K1 billion on his recent trip to Western Province to solicit for support.

 ZANIS

State House has dismissed allegations by some sections of the media that President Rupiah Banda has instructed the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to pay US$5.9million as compensation to Dr. Rodger Chongwe for the 1997 shooting incident in Kabwe.

Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere said in a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday that President Banda did meet Dr. Chongwe in the company of Solicitor General where Dr. Chongwe informed the President of the pending compensation following his successful complaint before the United Human Rights Committee (UNHRC).

Mr. Jere however maintained that President Banda instructed the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General to meet with Dr. Chongwe and agree on a reasonable compensation.

He stressed that at no time did President Banda instruct the Ministry of Finance and National Planning or the Attorney General’s office to pay Dr. Chongwe the reported sum of US$5.9million as claimed by the media.

Meanwhile, President Banda has reiterated his stance not to answer to the constant malicious and unfounded attacks by the media and his political enemies at the expense of providing leadership to the nation.

ZANIS