ZAMBIA was ordered to pay Lusaka lawyer Rodger Chongwe $2.5m as compensation by an Australian court for the 1997 shooting incident in Kabwe by police where he and first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda were injured.

Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani said in Lusaka yesterday that Dr Chongwe has since the judgement almost 10 years ago been pushing to be paid that amount but the Government was still negotiating.

“Dr Chongwe took the matter of the Kabwe shooting incident to a court in Australia where Zambia lost the case because no official from Government attended any of the court sessions there.

“The court ordered that Dr Chongwe be paid US$2.5 million and he has been pushing for that amount since then,” Mr Mangani said.

Mr Mangani who refuted claims that President Rupiah Banda had authorised payment of US$5.9 million to Dr Chongwe as compensation said his ministry would investigate thoroughly and establish the people leaking such information to the media which he described as inaccurate.

Referring to a Post Newspaper story that at the weekend quoted sources from the Ministry of Finance who alleged that President Banda had authorised and directed that Dr Chongwe be paid $5.9m as compensation, Mr Mangani said the report was not true.

He said Government would not take kindly to people leaking inaccurate information bordering on national security with the aim of blackmailing Government and President Banda.

Mr Mangani said Dr Chongwe’s issue required legal opinion hence, the move by Mr Banda to write the Attorney General Mumba Malila seeking his opinion and guidance.

“And even that does not mean the President authorised the payment.
But even the US$2.5 million needs to be negotiated and at no time did the President authorise that the money be paid to Dr Chongwe,” Mr Mangani said.

He said those alleging that President Banda authorised the payment should provide evidence to that effect.

Mr Mangani said his ministry would investigate the matter and ensure that those leaking false and inaccurate information were brought to book.
He said it was worrying that information of this matter could be leaked with impunity disregarding national security and warned that Government would not take kindly with people trying to raise false alarm in the nation.

“There is need to bring sanity and as Government, we will ensure that those trying to raise false alarm are brought to book by investigating thoroughly,” Mr Mangani said.

Dr Chongwe could not be reached for a comment as he is out of the country.

[Times of Zambia]

CHIEF Justice Ernest Sakala has challenged those with evidence of corruption in the Judiciary to report to law enforcement agencies and “stop singing the song” if they don’t.

Mr Justice Sakala said some critics thrive on accusations that the Judiciary is corrupt and that such a negative perception is more damaging for the Judiciary than the allegations.

“I have said before that we do not tolerate corruption. But if anyone has evidence of corruption in the Judiciary, please report to the relevant authorities for the law to take its course. But if you have no evidence, stop singing the song,” Mr Justice Sakala said.

He said this on Friday when he opened the Magistrates’ and Judges Association of Zambia (MAJAZ) triennial conference at Baluba Hotel in Luanshya.

“The Judiciary continues to be faced with several challenges, the major one of which is the perception by certain sections of society about our ability to serve the people of Zambia in the delivery of justice,” Mr Justice Sakala said.

He said delays in the delivery of judgements, poor time-keeping, negative attitude towards members of the public and corrupt conduct by some members and staff of the Judiciary at whatever level contribute to the creation of a negative and damaging perception of the institution.

Mr Justice Sakala said while a good amount of criticism that the Judiciary gets is not factually supported, the conduct of some of its members does not help this arm of Government.

He said this creates doubt in the minds of the public over the Judiciary’s ability to dispense justice in a fair manner.

“As I have always said, it is the perception that is more damaging than the actual allegations, whether true or not. But I am pleased to inform this gathering that we have since employed a public relations officer, a qualified journalist with immense journalism experience, whose job description centres on demystifying the image of the Judiciary,” Mr Justice Sakala said.

He congratulated MAJAZ’s outgoing executive committee for completing its term of office free of industrial unrest by its members.

“This is unlike in the past when their worships unprofessionally resorted to illegal strikes as a means of demanding for better salaries and improved conditions of service,” Mr Justice Sakala said.

He said the objective of MAJAZ is to safeguard the independence of the Judiciary as an essential requirement of the judicial function and a guarantee of human rights and freedom under the rule of law.
Mr Justice Sakala said MAJAZ is required to promote the dignity of the judicial office.

He said he is happy that Lusaka resident magistrate Aridah Chulu had been elected to the regional committee of the council representing East, Central and southern Africa at the 15th triennial conference of the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association in Turks and Caicos Islands.

Mr Justice Sakala said he is confident that Mrs Chulu will adequately represent both the region and the Zambian Judiciary in the council for the next three years.

He urged the conference to come up with recommendations on how best to protect the independence of magistrates and the conditions of service for the lower bench.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Where there is no vision…the people perish…”
(Proverbs 29:18, AMP)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

What is the vision you have for your life? Do you see yourself rising higher? Do you see yourself increasing and growing in the blessing of God?

Friend, if we are going to live the abundant, overflowing life that God has promised us, we have to have a vision for it. We have to see ourselves so blessed and so filled that we overflow on to the people around us. We should have so much joy that others are joyful just being in our presence. We should have so much peace that people just feel calm when they come around us. We should be overflowing in our resources so that we can turn around and be a blessing to others. But it all starts with having a vision for overflow.

I want to challenge you today, start seeing yourself living the abundant life God has promised. Start seeing yourself increasing in influence. As you begin to see yourself in His overflow, you’ll begin to receive His overflow, and you will be able to experience the abundant life He has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

“Heavenly Father, thank You for desiring to bless me so that I can be a blessing to others. Help me have a vision for overflow. Help me see my life the way You intend for it to be so that I can embrace the abundant life You have promised. In Jesus’ Name. Amen..”

Business was brought to a standstill at Chirundu Border post as the much awaited commissioning of the Chirundu one stop Border post, which is reportedly one of the busiest border post in the sub region.

Movement of traffic, human and goods alike, was at stand still as early as 08:00 hours in readiness for the opening of the border post separating Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The one stop border post will definitely ease the movement of the goods and human traffic between the two countries, a development that has been hailed by the two governments.

President Rupiah Banda opened the border on the Zimbabwean side while Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe did the same on the Zambian side.

Afterwards the duo re – affirmed their countries’ regional intergation with Mr. Banda saying the development has come at a critical phase in his country’s economic relationship with other countries for the benefit of the regional trade.

Mr Banda said the opening of a one stop boarder post OSBP, is a milestone in facilitating effective trade in the COMESA region and beyond.

The president further said the region cannot continue to do business without the complete overhaul of infrastructure and harmonization of the trade polices adding that the North – South corridor would be able to meet the challenges of inter regional trade.

He noted that the one stop Boarder facility was born out of the COMESA council of ministers in 2005 in Kigali , Rwanda were it was recognized that the flow of trade in the north-south corridor could be enhanced by establishing a one stop Border post in the Eastern and Southern African region.

The president stressed that making Chirundu a one stop boarder post will ease congestion and will reduce transit times for traders and transporters adding that this will promote efficient flow of goods resulting in increased trade.

Mr Banda noted that Chirundu’s strategic location of trade between Southern and Eastern Africa and its gate way between two busy regions is ideal as a pilot site for the One Stop Boarder Post OSBP control programme.

He however noted that the boarder will is expected to serve as a model for other one stop boarder posts in the region.

And President Mugabe says the one stop boarder post will lead to the accelerated harmonization of COMESA, SADC and EAC integration programmes.

Mr Mugabe noted that the establishment of a one stop boarder post will stimulate economic activity with improvement of infrastructure and smoothen traffic on both sides .

He appealed for development and cooperation partners to join Zambia and Zimbabwe in the development of Beitbridge into a one stop boarder post to compliment efficiencies at chirundu and trunk North-South routes.

He also appealed to member state in the North – South Corridor to also priorities the establishment of the one stop boarder post to smoothen trade in the region.

And speaking earlier Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Hideto Mitamura said a one stop boarder post is important as it will promote economic development in Africa.

The ambassador noted that this will generate growth and reduce poverty in the region adding that this will accelerate economic development and promote the growth of African countries.

He said the Japanese government is grateful to see the completion of Chirundu one stop boarder adding that it is important for economic development in the region.

The ambassador noted that once a one stop boarder post becomes operational, delays will fall adding that this will reduce costs for businesses and increases their competitiveness by ensuring that products reach faster.

Meanwhile COMESA, Director of infrastructure Development Amos Marawe said the creation of a one border post will limit the duplication of border agency interventions in the region.

Mr Marawe added that the one border post at chirundu is leading forward for creating other single border stops , not only for this regions but for the Africa as a whole .

He noted that the one stop boarder post is making a positive and important contribution to the realization of Africa’s integration ambitions.

Mr Marawe noted the need for the central corridor and the eastern community to to take the lead as the COMESA region has taken the lead to ease aid to trade between countries in the region.

ZANIS