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The Week in Pictures
Govt. sets aside K5 billion for police riot gear
Government has set aside K5 billion for the procurement of riot gear equipment for the Zambia Police.
Home affairs Minister Lameck Mangani said the safety of the Zambia Police has been of great concern among some sectors of society.
Mr Mangani told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that with a lot of concerns raised, government has quickly set aside K5 billion for the procurement of riot gear equipment for the Police in the country.
He said government would ensure that riot gear equipment for the Police is procured before the end of this year.
He also said government would ensure that the K5 billion set aside is used for the intended purpose.
Mr Mangani said government is committed to ensuring that the Police are safe and protected.
ZANIS
577 children on ARVs in Luapula
A total of 577 children are said to be accessing paediatric anti-retroviral drugs in Luapula province at present.
Zambia Prevention, Counselling and Testing (ZPCT) Paediatric Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) expert Dr Mwanza Wa Mwanza disclosed this today.
Dr Mwanza said that despite a number of factors inhibiting paediatric Aids treatment initiatives in the country, Luapula province has managed to put 577 on treatment.
He ,however, said although the 577 figure may seem like an impressive population of children accessing paediatric ART, the province still has a long way to go to meet the WHO target.
He said according to the WHO, an indicator of good paediatric ART coverage should be 10 percent of the adult population that is on treatment at present.
He said 577 children on paediatric ART only represent 6.8 percent of the 8,027 adults who currently taking ARVs in Luapula.
He was speaking when he presented a paper on Paediatric ART and its challenges in Luapula province during a one-day provincial level policy dialogue meeting at Teja lodge in Mansa.
He cited among others, the shortage of qualified human staff to administer paediatric ART and inconsistent paediatric counselling and testing as some of the challenges facing Aids treatment among children.
He said delay in getting results for tested children was the bigger challenge as the whole country relies on only one Dry Blood Sample (DBS) machine at Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital in Ndola. The DBS is a medical process used for testing HIV in children.
“The current anti-body tests used in detecting HIV in adults are not reliable at the moment, so we use the DBS method. But the country has only one machine at Arthur Davison Hospital where we all send the blood samples and test results usually take three months to come back,” he said.
He said another management gap was lack of a system to track all cases of positive children with the involvement of the community as stigma was making parents shun having their children tested.
Dr. Mwanza called for consolidated mobilisation of both human resource, backed with capacity building in paediatric Aids treatment, and providing required equipment for testing HIV in children.
ZANIS
Solwezi by-election set for November 19
THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set November 19, 2009 as the date for the Solwezi Central Constituency by-election following the death of area Member of Parliament, Benny Tetamashimba last month.
ECZ senior public relations officer, Sylvia Bwalya announced in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that the Solwezi Central parliamentary by-elections would take place alongside three local Government by-elections in three provinces.
The local government seats are Katete in Chienge District in Luapula Province, Nakulenga in Zambezi District in North-Western Province and Kauba in Pemba in Southern Province.
Ms Bwalya said that aspiring candidates in the by-elections should lodge in completed and attested statutory declaration and nomination papers on October 29, 2009 between 09:00 and 15:00 hours.
She reminded the aspirants for the parliamentary by-ections to take nine supporters who should be registered voters within the constituency.
The parliamentary candidates would also be required to pay K500, 000 non- refundable nomination fee while those for municipal council by elections would be required to pay K75, 000 and K50, 000 for those in district local authorities.
The campaign period starts on October 29 at 15:00 and ends on November 18 at 18:00 hours.
Ms Bwalya urged the non-governmental organisations wishing to monitor or observe the elections to apply for accreditation from the ECZ, which is open until November 10, 2009.
[Times of Zambia]
Government Uncovers Plot: What Plot?
Lameck Mangani’s recent claim that the government has unearthed a scheme in which some prominent Zambians and some diplomats accredited to Zambia are conspiring to destabilize Zambia is a scam and an embarrassment to the people of Zambia.
Such a claim tells us volumes about the caliber of some of the current crop of government leaders. It is a clear depiction of the shallowness of some of our leaders.
The allegation that some diplomats accredited to Zambia are conspiring with citizens to destabilize the country is a very serious matter. It would be understandable if it was an MMD riff-raff who had made such an allegation, not a government Minister responsible for Home Affairs, even if such an allegation had any merit at all.
What Zambians expect from the Minister—and other Ministers as a matter of fact–is to get the police and other investigative organs of the government to investigate his suspicions thoroughly. If the findings of such an investigation confirm his suspicions, the government can seek to prosecute Zambian citizens involved in the alleged plot through the existing legal channels. And rather than rushing to the media to castigate the diplomats, a sensible government would logically write to the home governments of the diplomats involved for their action if their diplomats are found to be wanting.
It is not in the interest of any one for the Minister to unashamedly alarm the nation with unfounded allegations of a conspiracy to destabilize the country. If there is any truth to his allegations, why can’t he name the individuals involved?
Making such a serious claim without naming the culprits can only lead to rumor-mongering and mistrust among the citizenry. President Rupiah Banda needs to caution his Ministers against making such reckless allegations. If they do not have anything important to tell the people, they would do well just to shut up than to continue to embarrass us.
Henry Kyambalesa
Lusaka residents owe LCC over K30 billion- Makanta
Peri-urban areas in Lusaka owe the Lusaka City Council (LCC) over K30 billion in unpaid ground rates.
LCC Public Relations Manager, Chanda Makanta disclosed to ZANIS in Lusaka today that the residents have defaulted in paying ground rates hence the accumulation of this money.
Ms Makanta said this has made it difficult for the council to provide services which people from these areas need.
She said due to the debts the council is unable to construct and maintain roads, provide water facilities and other services.
Ms Makanta said it was for this reason that LCC has introduced good incentives for residents to encourage them start paying the ground rates to the council.
She said the council is giving a 30 percent discount to all residents who will pay K50, 000 monthly rates between now and 31st December this year.
She added that another 30 percent will be given for every extra K50, 000 that will be paid while other households goods like cooking oil, mealie meal will be given depending on the amount paid.
Ms Makanta said apart from getting the money to provide services to the residents, paying ground rates will enable the residents be issued with occupancy licences.
She said occupancy licences will provide a guarantee of ownership for their houses and properties.
Ms Makanta disclosed that the mayor of Lusaka will launch the incentives programme in Bauleni compound tomorrow.
ZANIS
RB hates Levy and his anti-corruption legacy – HH
Opposition UPND President Hakainde Hichilema says the UPND-PF pact is here to stay.
Addressing hundreds of Senanga residents at Senanga Market yesterday, the opposition leader said people talking ill of the UPND- PF pact should not be taken seriously.
Mr. Hichilema said the pact was a people driven initiative which called upon the opposition to unite.
He alleged that in the current leaders, Zambia lacked visionary leadership that would propel the country towards economic development.
Mr. Hichilema accused President Banda of hating Mwanawasa and his legacy of fighting corruption.
He alleged that President Banda was an enemy to anybody within government and the MMD who was against corruption.
He urged Senanga residents to obtain National registration Cards so as to prepare for the Voter Registration exercise.
And Mr. Hichilema has described the late former Senanga Central UPND Member of Parliament Albert Situmbeko as a gallant man who was committed to serving the people of Zambia.
Speaking when he visited the widow of the former MP, Mr. Hichilema said the demise of Mr. Situmbeko was a great loss.
Mr. Situmbeko who died last month served as MP for Senanga Central from 2001 to 2006 before retiring from active politics.
ZANIS
Grandstand: Proudly Zambian
Zambia is built on a very strong foundation and I won’t let anyone tell me otherwise.
The news that a named Chinese contractor working on the US$65 million stadium in Ndola has decided not to use Chilanga cement for the project is shocking.
This is not an advert for Lafarge but Chilanga Cement is as iconic as Mosi Lager, two local products that are undisputed leaders on the Zambian market.
Chilenga’s quality is taken with so much pride and its price is one of the mostly closely followed indexes after mealie meal.
According to a report in the Zambia Daily Mail on Wednesday, the Chinese contractor allegedly claims Chilanga does not meet the specifications required for the stadium that is currently at foundation stage.
The report says both parties used the same type of analysis equipment with the Chinese firm testing their samples of the brand on site located at the old Monkey Fountain State Forest in Hillcrest.
Strange thing is, isn’t this the same product that is helping meet the short-fall and forming part of the building blocks for the 2010 World Cup structures in South Africa and passed the bill of some of the world’s biggest construction groups contracted to do the job who also have track records in public works globally?
And isn’t the same product a top brand in the great lakes region and is also a familiar sight in mineral-rich Katanga?
Ultimately, where would the Kariba Dam be today without Chilanga?
We hope Government will not be convinced by this Chinese contractor to import 1600 tons of the stuff from China as the firm building the stadium intends to do.
The stadium deal is not a grant but a loan and we still have to pay it back anyway so we must surely have some leverage in the whole show.
The Chinese contractor will find it very hard to sell me the news that there is a fault-line in Chilanga to even knock that very strong Proudly Zambian feeling out of me.
Some Zambians and Diplomats conspiring to distabilse the nation-Mangani
A scam has been unearthed in which some prominent Zambians and some diplomats accredited to Zambia are allegedly conspiring to destabilise the nation.
Home Affairs Minister, Lameck Mangani, says the Zambians and the diplomats have been holding dark corner meetings.
Mr. Mangani has warned that any schemes to incite Zambians to rise against the government will attract the wrath of the law.
He was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka on Thursday.
Mr. Mangani said it is worrisome that the majority of people who attended Wednesday’s meeting of NGOs were from the diplomatic community in Zambia.
He described as illegal, the meeting at which NGOs resolved to publicly show their displeasure against the refusal to appeal against the acquittal of former president Frederick Chiluba.
And Faith Based Organizations have condemned the planned demonstrations by Civil Society Organizations (CSO) over the acquittal of former President Dr. Fredrick Chiluba.
Christian Coalition (CC) Pastor Clergy Chombela says the planned demonstration will not be beneficial to people in the country as it is aimed at bringing confusion.
Pastor Chombela told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that there are a lot of developmental challenges that the CSO’s can concentrate on rather than holding demonstrations that will only benefit a few individuals.
He explained that most Non Government Organizations (NGO’s) were established with the call function of assisting the vulnerable groups in the country.
He pointed out that despite demonstrations being a right of any person in a democratic state, NGO’s should always strive to concentrate on issues that will benefit all the people in the country.
Pastor Chombela has further advised people in the country to take a leading role in the developmental process of the country by engaging themselves in serious governance matters than politics.[quote]
And Evangelical Youth Alliance President Moses Lungu has said there is need for Zambians to establish good channels of airing their grievances if the country is to develop.
Reverend Lungu noted that demonstrations are not a good way of addressing issues adding that they paint a bad picture of the country to the outside world.
He Explained to ZANIS in a separate interview that CSO’s should at all costs refrain from such activities that can destroy the good image and heritage of the country.
He also charged that the planned demonstrations can reduce investor confidence hence the need for CSO’s to direct their energies and resources towards building capacity and empowering the youths.
Yesterday a consortium consisting of 18 Civil Society Organization threatened to hold countrywide demonstrations and campaigns against the acquittal and the restoration of Dr Chiluba’s immunity.
ZANIS
Drowning could be the cause of Buffaloes’ death in Itezhi Tezhi.
The World Wide Veterinary Services (WVS) has ruled out food poisoning and disease outbreak as the cause of death of the 35 buffaloes on Musa River in Itezhi Tezhi.
According to a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by WVS Chief executive officer Dr. Luke Gamble said the deaths are as result of drowning due to the herd stampeding whilst trying to cross the river.
Dr. Gamble explained that the reason they ruled out food poisoning is because only buffaloes were found dead and not any other animals within the proximity.
He added that the vultures were present and they all looked healthy despite eating internal organs of these carcasses.
Dr. Gamble further said other animals such as Impala, warthog, hippo, among others were still drinking from the same area and no fish was found dead.
He stated that disease outbreak was also ruled out because there were no other buffaloes spotted sick within the same area and the number is too big to die instantly.
He said that stampede is therefore the only reason that could have caused the death of the buffaloes unless the blood test proves other wise.
Dr. Gamble noted that the bank of the river at which the buffaloes entered to cross was quiet steep with deep waters.
Dr. Gamble further said the stampede might have been caused by a pride of lions which were actively hunting their prey.
Early this week ZAWA reported that 30 buffaloes were found dead and floating in the Musa River and the death toll had risen to 35 later in the week.
ZANIS
Five Lusaka clinics to be upgraded into hospitals
Government says it is in the process of upgrading five clinics in Lusaka into full hospitals in order to decongest the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao said the clinics to be upgraded include Chawama, Matero, Chilenje, Kanyama and Chipata.
Mr Simbao said this in a press release signed by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Embassy in America, Ben Kangwa on Tuesday in Washington DC and made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
The Health Minister however stated that a general hospital would be built by the Chinese in Lusaka’s Chainama area in order to complement the work being done at UTH.
Mr Simbao said this was because government is grappling with health matters and takes such issues seriously.
Meanwhile, Mr Simbao has said that there has been a significant drop in the HIV prevalence in some parts of the country.
He however said Luapula and Western Provinces have shown high prevalence rates adding that the high cause of the prevalence rates in the two provinces is yet to be established.
Mr Simbao further said government through the Ministry of Health (MOH) has made Anti-Retroviral (ARVs) drugs accessible to 219, 000 people throughout the country.
He said government is committed to funding HIV programmes through the procurement of ARVs for treatment of HIV patients.
He added that government also hopes to scale up the ARV programme treatment to 300, 000 Zambians who need the treatment.
Mr Simbao said government is committed to the fight against corruption adding that it would ensure that donor funds are used prudently.
Commenting on the K27billion scam that rocked the Ministry of Health, Mr Simbao said investigations were still going on and that those involved in the scam would be tried by the courts of law as fairly as possible.
ZANIS
RB urges students abroad to return to Zambia after graduation
President Rupiah Banda has urged Zambian students studying abroad to be patriotic enough to return to Zambia and apply their education to developing the country.
President Banda said Zambian professionals should be patriotic enough to accept to work even in rural areas upon completion of their studies locally or abroad.
He said this in Havana yesterday when he addressed Zambian students studying in various disciplines in Cuba.
He said although there is unemployment in Zambia, the country still has a shortage of manpower especially in the medical field.
“Please come back home with a spirit of sacrifice like Cubans. A country is built by its own people through their patriotism and hard work,” he said.
President Banda hoped that Zambian students studying abroad would accept to work anywhere in the country after they complete their studies.
“Many of you are on scholarships from the government of Zambia and we want you to come back and work in Zambia. But you must be willing to go to rural areas,” he stressed.
The President noted that his government was in the process of rebuilding the country hence the need for educated Zambians to devote their energies and knowledge by working for their country.
And the representative of the Zambian Students in Cuba, Luyando Mapanza requested government to provide some requirements for students studying abroad.
Mr Mapanza said students were facing a challenge of lack of attires such as protective clothing and other requirements in their studies.
He also asked government to find a way of constantly informing students in the diaspora about what was happening back home.
“We promise to give back to Zambia our best when we complete our studies,” he pledged.
In another development, African diplomats accredited to Cuba have paid profound tribute to President Rupiah Banda for honouring former Cuban President, Fidel Castro, with an Order of the Eagle of Zambia First Division for his commendable service to his country and others.
Speaking on behalf of other diplomats, Congo Brazzaville’s Ambassador to Cuba, Pascal Onguemby, said Africa’s envoys in Cuba were happy with President Banda’s reasons for awarding Mr. Castro.
Ambassador Onguemby said President Banda was a great man hence he thought about honouring the former head of Cuba, who is still the commander in chief.
He was speaking yesterday when 15 out of 22 African diplomats accredited to Cuba paid a courtesy call on President Banda at his lounge.
He said Africa was proud of President Banda’s gesture to Cuba, adding that diplomats were grateful for his advice for them to be loyal to their countries and to Cuba.
And the diplomats joined President Banda in calling on the United States of America to lift the economic sanctions imposed on Cuba.
Meanwhile, President Banda has told African diplomats accredited to Cuba that African heads of state and government were determined to transform the continent into a united and prosperous territory.
Mr Banda said African heads have been meeting to agree on how to drive Africa towards a formidable and economically viable continent.
He said although Africa was faced with many problems, the continent was capable of heaving out of its current economic status if all its countries’ leaders cooperated with one interest.
Diplomats that attended the meeting are from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Libya, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Ghana, Namibia, Angola, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sarahari, and Burkina Faso.
President Banda, who is accompanied to Cuba by First Lady Thandiwe Banda, Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande and senior government officials, leaves Cuba for Zambia today.
He has been in Cuba since Monday for a three day state visit following the invitation by Cuba’s President, Raul Castro Ruiz.
ZANIS
The Death Penalty in Zambia
After reading news articles in both the Times of Zambia and the Zambia Daily Mail on the subject relating to capital punishment in Zambia, and whether or not the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) should adopt the recommendation made by the Mung’omba Constitutional Review Commission on the issue, I have found it necessary to make the following comment:
There are many forms of crime which may attract capital punishment in some countries; they include murder, treason, economic sabotage, and large-scale drug-trafficking. Without slighting the seriousness of other capital crimes, murder is perhaps the most deserving of the death penalty. A person who willfully takes the life of another person, therefore, commits the ultimate crime – a crime for which the death penalty is a fitting and well-deserved form of punishment.
There are numerous caveats which lend support to such an inflexible stance; let us briefly consider some of these caveats:
1) By killing another person and, therefore, violating the person’s right to life, the murderer dehumanizes himself or herself to the extent that he or she deserves to be expelled from the community of living humans.
2) People who commit murder in societies which have corporal punishment already know the consequences associated with such a heinous crime. For such people, the punishment is, therefore, self-inflicted; after all, it is a punishment every societal member can choose to avoid in the first place! Is it not immoral to protect the life of an individual who finds pleasure in committing murders – the ultimate disregard for other people’s lives?
3) As Ernest van den Haag, a U.S. Professor of Jurisprudence and Public Policy, has concluded, “The severity and finality of the death penalty is [commensurate with] … the seriousness and the finality of murder.” In short, the death penalty functions as a reasonable and generally acceptable form of retribution (or appropriate punishment) for murder. The punishment fits the crime, so to speak!
4) The death penalty serves well as a more dreadful deterrent to murder than life imprisonment and, among other things, as an effective incapacitation of murderers.
5) It would be immoral for the government to collect tax revenue from law-abiding members of society, some of whom are kith and/or kin of murder victims, and commit it to the protection and upkeep of duly convicted murderers sentenced to life imprisonment.
6) Prison escapes of hardcore criminals are not uncommon – even in countries which can afford to provide highly secure prison facilities, such as the United States. There is also the potential for criminals to be released from prison by mistake. On March 26, 2002, for example, Clifton Blecha (a convicted murderer concurrently serving a life sentence and a 24-year prison term at Colorado State Penitentiary in Canon city, United States) was mistakenly paroled due to a paperwork mix-up. He was initially jailed in 1988 on a burglary conviction, and later convicted of murdering a fellow inmate in 1994. (BeDan, M., “Paperwork Mix-Up Frees Murderer,” Rocky Mountain News, May 3, 2002, p. 7A.)
However, the application of capital punishment calls for a fundamental redress of any apparent inadequacies in a country’s criminal justice system so that the punishment can be administered fairly, impartially, with reasonable consistency, and upon an objective and exhaustive assessment of circumstances leading to the commission of murder.
Unfortunately, such expectations cannot easily be met in poor countries like Zambia, pseudo democracies, and totalitarian states worldwide.
There is, therefore, a need for the Zambian government to constitute an ad hoc panel of local legal experts to determine whether or not the Zambian criminal justice system meets the foregoing expectations. If it is be found to be wanting, the Republican president and the Zambian Parliament need to seriously consider the prospect of placing a moratorium on capital punishment, to commute the prison sentences of any individuals who are currently on the death row to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, and to decide on modalities for periodic reviews of the moratorium.
Over the years, we have heard calls by some segments of Zambian society for the abolition of the death penalty in the country. I believe a decision on whether or not capital punishment should be abolished in Zambia can only be made by the citizenry through a referendum designed specifically for this purpose, and after exhaustive national debate on the issue, not by the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).
Henry Kyambalesa
Civil society calls on chiefs to remain non- political
Two civil society organizations have maintained that chiefs should not be actively involved in politics for the sake of national unity.
The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) and the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) says chiefs preside over a huge population of people in the country hence the need for them to remain neutral politically.
Reacting to Senior Chief Mukuni of the Toka-Leya people of Southern Province’s call for the National Constitution Conference (NCC) to create a mechanism that would allow at least 10 chiefs to be appointed to parliament without undergoing an election, SACCORD Information Officer Michelo Mwango said the idea was not welcome.
Ms Mwango told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that chiefs ought to remain in the advisory role to politicians and desist from having political ambitions.
She said chiefs’ participation in politics would compromise their stand on many issues taking place in the country.
She said chiefs should maintain their status quo and desist from engaging in politics and ensure they remain outside the political bracket.
Ms Mwango said there are various other avenues chiefs can use in order to effectively participate in national development without becoming parliamentarians.
And FODEP Information Officer MacDonald Chipenzi told ZANIS in an interview that chiefs should not engage in politics because they preside over a huge number of people in the country.
Mr Chipenzi said there are various platforms available for chiefs to articulate and air their views on issues in the country other than actively engaging themselves in politics.
He said chiefs have a duty to remain neutral in political matters and that the appointment of chiefs to parliament would mean that they become partisan as they may at times be asked to take a vote on some controversial matter.
He urged the chiefs to use the existing structures available to effectively represent the people instead of insisting on been political.
Mr Chipenzi said the code of ethics categorically state that chiefs should be non partisan and remain neutral so that they do not influence their people’s choice of a leader.
The FODEP Information Officer further warned that chiefs risk losing their respect and dignity by getting into politics as the politics currently prevailing in the nation were those of insults.
ZANIS
Join politics, Ronnie tells vocal NGOs
GOVERNMENT has challenged civil society organisations, which yesterday resolved to honk against the acquittal of former president Fredrick Chiluba every Friday, to come out in the open and form a political party.
Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said the civil society organisations, which also demanded the resignation of Vice-President George Kunda and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga had lost direction.
And Dr Chiluba said the objectives of the organisations were to use his name in an attempt to bring down a legitimate government.
Yesterday 17 civil society organisations urged citizens to honk and wear black clothes every Friday to express their displeasure over the Government’s position not to appeal against the acquittal of Dr Chiluba.
Speaking during a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, spokesperson for the 17 civil society organisations and Caritas Zambia executive director Sam Mulafulafu said the organisations were further calling for the resignation of Mr Kunda and Mr Mchenga claiming they had failed the nation.
But Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said the civil society should instead form a political party so that they could squarely be met in the political arena.
He said by honking and holding campaigns, they were in a way agitating for anarchy in the nation and that the Government would not allow such.
“It is sad that even respected NGOs have lost direction and have joined in this dirty campaign over Dr Chiluba . The best they should do is form a political party so that we can meet in a political arena,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
He said if the civil society grouping had an issue against Dr Chiluba, they should seek legal redress than resorting to demonstrations and anarchy.
Gen Shikapwasha however warned that the Government would not sit idle and watch the civil society disturb the country’s peace.
In an interview, Dr Chiluba’s spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba, said the Government should be wary of the NGOs, which were using Dr Chiluba’s name to fight President Banda’s Government.
Dr Chiluba said as far as he was concerned, the acquittal meant that he was cleared of all criminal cases and that his immunity would be automatically restored.
“We are aware that this plot by the NGOs is a disguise of a plot against President Banda’s Government and are just using Dr Chiluba’s case to achieve their hidden agenda,” Mr Mwamba said.
Mr Mwamba said following the acquittal, the immunity was automatically restored and those with issues against the former president should seek parliamentary intervention to lift Dr Chiluba’s immunity.
Currently, he said, there was no criminal case against Dr Chiluba as the case in London was a civil matter.
“It’s saddening that the NGOs which are supposed to be protecting human rights are in the forefront abusing the laws,” Mr Mwamba said.
Among the civil society groups were the Transparency International Zambia (TIZ), Non Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC), Women for Change (WfC), Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP), Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), Young Leaders Integrity Alliance (YLIA), Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD), Citizens Forum (CF), Zambia Civic Education Association (ZCEA), and Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP).
“We call upon all Zambians who love this country and are worried about corruption to wear black and honk or whistle every Friday at 17:00 hours for 10 minutes. We call upon all ministers and senior Government officials who hate corruption to join in this campaign,” Mr Mulafulafu said.
[Times of Zambia]