Government has condemned attacks on the judiciary by opposition political parties concerning former president Fredrick Chiluba’s acquittal.

This follows media reports that President Rupiah Banda’s conscience is troubling him over Chiluba’s dubious acquittal.

Chief Government Spokesperson Lt General Ronnie Shikapwasha in a press release made available to ZANIS this evening said that political leaders should respect the office of the Chief Justice, for the betterment and equitable dispensation of justice in the country.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister said the office of the Chief Justice is a sacred institution in the land, which Mr Sata and Mr. Hakainde should not cheapen to gain political mileage.

He said the media report paints the picture that President Banda did actually acquit former President Chiluba, when in fact it was the courts of law that acquitted the former president.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha said there was no evidence that President Banda had a hand in the acquittal of Dr Chiluba adding that the President cannot, therefore, be under any pressure nor have a troubled conscience, as is being falsely touted by Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata.

He has since appealed to the people of Zambia to desist from making statements that suggest that the judiciary in Zambia is under manipulation and added that the same people making these statements will need the same courts to protect them.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha emphasised that government also finds no collusion whatsoever between President Banda and the judiciary in the dispensation of justice in the country.

Meanwhile, commenting on reports that Mr Sata addressed the police in Solwezi, Lt Gen Shikapwasha said the reports are only meant to intimidate and control the police saying no political authority can address the police.

ZANIS

the charges of circulating obscene materials.

The Post editor in July this year, sent graphic images of a woman giving birth without medical assistance outside the University Teaching Hospital, to various prominent people in Zambia, including the vice president. During a press conference President Banda condemned the circulation of the pictures and ordered her arrest.

Kabwela argued that she sent the pictures because she wanted to highlight the effect the strike had on the health care system. The baby shown in the photos died.

If found guilty Chansa would have faced a possible five-year jail.

Magistrate Charles Kafunda today said prosecutors had failed to prove its case against the Post editor.

“The prosecution failed to establish an element of a prima facie case and I therefore dismiss the case and subsequently acquit the accused. The state has however the right to appeal,” Kafunda told a packed courtroom.

Kabwela, dressed in a black suit and accompanied by her husband Henry, smiled as Kafunda read out the verdict.

She later told reporters outside the court that her acquittal was a victory for everyone affected by the doctors’ strike, which lasted two weeks in June.

The world summit on food security officially opened in Rome, Italy, on Monday with a call for decisive action for the total eradication of hunger in the world.

President Rupiah Banda is among world leaders attending the meeting being held at the Food and Agricultural Organisation -FAO- headquarters in Rome.

President Banda is accompanied by First Lady Thandiwe, Agriculture minister Dr Brian Chituwo and other senior government officials.

The President who arrived in Rome on Sunday is among heads of state and government scheduled to address the summit.

On Sunday, President Banda participated in a pre-summit consultative meeting on rural development.

The meeting was also attended by Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, and Brazilian leader Lula de Silva.
[ZNBC]

VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has accused United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema of auctioning his party to the Patriotic Front (PF).

Mr Kunda said Mr Hichilema has made a political mistake to join forces with PF president Michael Sata, whom he described as unpredictable and untrustworthy.

He said soon after arriving in Monze yesterday that Mr Hichilema has managed to divide the UPND because his ambitions of becoming the country’s President have melted into the pact with the PF.

“The UPND has cracked in Southern Province with Mr Hichilema’s desire to offload his party to the Patriotic Front. My brother Mr Hichilema has made a political fatal mistake for auctioning his party to the PF. Mr Sata will dump Mr Hichilema as soon as he achieves his ambitions,” Mr Kunda said.

He said some UPND members of Parliament have been conferring with the MMD on the future of their party and urged them to join the ruling party.

Mr Kunda said it is shameful for Mr Hichilema to enter into a pact with Mr Sata without the blessings of the majority of his party members.

He said Government is currently implementing a lot of development programmes in Southern Province and that those MPs who are genuine in the province have been commending Government.

Mr Kunda said while the UPND MPs are looking for development in the province, Mr Hichilema has been busy campaigning for Mr Sata in North-Western Province.

He said it is sad that Mr Hichilema, who is an economist, failed to read the motive of Mr Sata’s manoeuvres to use him for his political mileage.

Mr Kunda said he is in Southern Province to physically interact with the grassroots because that is where the voters are.

He said he would ensure that the people of Southern Province are sensitised about the evils of the pact between Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema.

He said most of the people who formed the UPND were from the MMD and it is only proper that they return to the ruling party.

Meanwhile, Mr Kunda has also cautioned the people in flood prone areas in Southern Province to be ready to move as the rainy season has started.

He said Government has distributed the farming inputs for the 2009/2010 farming season in good time.

And Mr Kunda has castigated some media houses for allegedly promoting anarchy by their failure to observe professional ethics.

He said while Government is pleading with the media to come up with a private members bill in Parliament for self regulation, it is important that media houses and professionals know that Government will table its own bill if they failed to do so.

And Mr Kunda said Government is not eager to regulate the media but that some named media houses have been propagating insults and anarchy in the country.

“Government is promoting community radio stations because they are supposed to propagate development in communities in which they operate. Some private newspapers that have been promoting anarchy are insulting Government and President Banda all the time.

This we believe is being unprofessional and Government would want to regulate things like training and the observance of ethics,” Mr Kunda said.
He said during a live programme on Sky FM Radio in Monze.

He said Government has a lot of statutory instruments which it can use to impose sanctions on media houses that are allegedly promoting anarchy.

MMD national chairman, Michael Mabenga has advised former Vice-President Enoch Kavindele to stop commenting on issues related to the ruling party because he ceased to be a member of the MMD a long time ago.

Mr Mabenga said Mr Kavindele is not the right person to issue retrogressive statements on the MMD because he is not a member of the ruling party.

“Mr Kavindele ceased to be a member in 2006 when he stood against the MMD and lost to the current Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Daniel Kalenga.

So, he is one of those people who are on the streets without a party and want to identify themselves with the ruling party when they are not,” he said.

Mr Mabenga was reacting to Mr Kavindele’s statement that the MMD will find it difficult to win the Solwezi Central parliamentary by-elections.

This was when Mr Kavindele featured on Radio Phoenix’s ‘Face the media’ programme last Thursday.
Mr Mabenga said Mr Kavindele is forcing himself onto the ruling party.

He said Mr Kavindele has not renewed his membership card for many years and that he does not attend any party functions.

“Ask Mr Kavindele, when did he renew his membership card for him to claim that he is a member of the ruling MMD? As far as I know, he does not belong to the MMD,” Mr Mabenga said.

He accused Mr Kavindele of being one of the people promoting confusion in the ruling party.

Mr Mabenga urged members of the public not to listen to Mr Kavindele because all his attacks on the MMD are baseless.

He said the MMD has done enough ground work and will win the Solwezi parliamentary by- election.

“He is saying bad things about the MMD because he is not part of us (ruling party),” Mr Mabenga said.

But Mr Kavindele said he is still a member of the MMD.
“If I am not a member, why did the party allow me to challenge President Banda 11 months ago during the elections of the MMD presidential candidate?” he asked.

Mr Kavindele said some MMD members are scared of him standing at the convention as party president.

“I know very well that they are scared of me challenging President Banda when the party calls for a convention because I will scoop the seat,” he said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]