PARLIAMENTARY chief whip, Vernon Mwaanga says the criticism of his statement to Parliament that diplomats should use established diplomatic channels to air their views is based on ignorance and misinformation.

Mr Mwaanga said this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday in reaction to criticism from some opposition leaders and civil society organisations over his statement to Parliament on Friday.

“The criticism of my statement has been based on ignorance and misinformation. There are established diplomatic channels through which grievances can be expressed to a host Government,” he said.

Mr Mwaanga said he is not against diplomats criticising Government but that they should use the established diplomatic channels to do so instead of going to the media to “give tutorials” on Parliament and Government decisions.

“I have been a top diplomat and I have served in Britain, Oslo and several other countries and I have been a foreign minister twice so I know what I am talking about. We cannot have a situation where diplomats behave like opposition parties to a host country,” Mr Mwaanga said.

He gave an example of how the Zambian Government withdrew the accreditation of a Zambian diplomat, Mr Ali Simbule, who publicly criticised the British Government in the manner it was handling the Rhodesia situation.[quote]

Mr Mwaanga said the British Government complained that Mr Simbule should not have made the statement publicly, adding that the Zambian Government agreed with them.

“Diplomacy becomes counter productive when you begin to criticise the Government that you are accredited to. This kind of thing does not happen in other countries, it is done by using established diplomatic channels,” Mr Mwaanga said.

He advised people who do not have an idea of how diplomacy is conducted to stay out of the debate.
“Diplomatic etiquette demands that established channels be followed.

My fear is that if the intolerance of other people’s views is allowed, the country will drift towards dictatorship. Some people cannot criticise my statement on how diplomacy should be conducted,” Mr Mwaanga said.

Mr Mwaanga said he has been a practising diplomat for many years and that the manner in which diplomacy should be conducted has not changed.
Recently, some diplomats expressed shock at the acquittal of Dr Chiluba.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Justice Deputy minister Todd Chilembo has urged Advocates to desist from making unwarranted attacks on the bench as they have a common cause.

He said there is need for advocates both in government and private sector to continue working together in the dispensation of justice in the country as opposed to attacking each other.

“I am aware that we are not expected to think in the same way. Indeed I am aware that we may have different opinions on a matter but this should not divide us and does not warrant attacks on each other and on the bench,” he said.

He said it was important that the government lawyers interact with their colleagues from the private sector so as to share ideas and experiences and urged the participants to practice the best practices in the legal fraternity.

“It is anticipated that when participants leave this place at the end of the workshop, they will utilize the knowledge they have acquired in the dispensation of justice. This is expected of them as officers of the court,” he said.

Mr. Chilembo said the unwarranted attacks only portrays the legal fraternity as a divided entity.He was speaking in Livingstone when he officially opened the 5th State Advocates’ Annual workshop at Chrismar Hotel, today.

The workshop that will run from 27th September to 3rd October is aimed at equipping the participants with the best practices in the legal fraternity as well as strengthening interaction and team work amongst legal practitioners.

It also aims at realizing the Ministry’s mission, facilitating the administration of justice and promoting of the observation of the rule of law in order to enhance good governance, both locally and internationally.

ZANIS/

President Rupiah Banda has arrived in Cuba for a three (3) day state visit at the invitation of his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro.

President Banda arrived at 12:10 Zambian time at Jose Marti International Airport, where he was received by that country’s Foreign Affairs deputy Minister, Marcos Robriguz.

President Banda told Journalists at the airport that Zambia stands to learn a lot from Cuba on how that country manages its economy using little resources.

He said Cuba may not be rich in terms of having money, but that its citizens and the government have the knowledge of how to use the little resources available.

The President further said Zambia will also learn a lot from Cuba in terms of agricultural science and medicine.

He said Zambia and Cuba share warm relations, adding that Cuba helped some African countries fight to win their political independence.

President Rupiah Banda further said Zambia has benefited from Cuba through the many scholarships that country has offered to Zambian students in various disciplines.

ZANIS

Former Defence Minister, George Mpombo has officially surrendered his official motor vehicle to government.

Works and Supply Permanent Secretary, Bizwayo Nkunika, told ZNBC News that Mr. Mpombo surrendered the government vehicle a week ago.

The law requires that government vehicles are surrendered fifteen days after one vacates office.

Mr. Mpombo resigned as Defence Minister some time in July this year.

[ZNBC]

The condition of Home Affairs Deputy Minister Misheck Bonshe who is admitted to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) high cost medical wing is stable.

Mr Bonshe is admitted to UTH after failing ill about two months ago.

UTH Public Relations Manager Pauline Mbangweta told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that Mr Bonshe is responding well to treatment.

The UTH Public Relations Manager also said doctors at UTH were attending to the Home Affairs Deputy Minister.

ZANIS

Commissioner of Prisons Gibbie Nawa says the Zambia Prisons Service is looking forward to working together with the Malawi’s Prisons Service.

Mr. Nawa pledged to conduct joint comprehensive research programs on the systems which is an essential vehicle for change and excellence.

He was speaking during the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the agreement on the transfer of convicted persons between Zambia and Malawi in Kabwe yesterday.

Mr. Nawa said a meeting was held that recommended that steps be taken for the two Prison Services to come up with an MoU in order to enhance the cordial co-operation that exists between the two countries.

He explained that the signing of the MoU shows how committed the two countries are towards enhancing the warm relations that already exist.

Mr. Nawa added that this gives both countries a good reason for working together in this era of globalization where the world has become a global market of exchanging goods and services.

And Malawian Principal Secretary Tresphore Kang’ombe said the history of Zambia and Malawi has gone through many phases of great success and co-operation.

Mr. Kang’ombe said the road to the signing of the MoU has not been easy adding that members of the team spent a lot of time and effort to come up with these documents.
He said the task force team has been working tirelessly saying it is pleasing to note that they came up with what was expected of them.

Mr. Kang’ombe said he recognizes and appreciates the significance of establishing the long awaited friendly co-operation between the two countries.

ZANIS

Zambia is to award Cuban Commander-In-Chief, Fidel Castro Ruiz with the ‘The Order of the Zambian Eagle’, Zambia’s High Commissioner to Canada, who also oversees Cuba, Nevers Mumba has disclosed.

Dr. Mumba said Cuba has immensely contributed to Zambia’s health and the education sectors since time in memorial during Mr. Castro’s leadership.

He said the two countries have had several memorandums of understanding which will be cemented even more during President Rupiah Banda’s three day state visit to this country.

He told ZANIS in an interview here today that there are currently 41 Zambian students studying various disciplines in Cuban Universities and other tertiary institutions.

He said Cuba has also been sending several medical Doctors to Zambia for many years now.

President Banda is expected to arrive here at midday today, Monday September 28th, following an invitation by his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro Ruiz.

President Banda arrives from Caracas in Venezuela where he on Saturday joined other African heads of state and government in participating in the second Africa-South America summit.

The summit was held in Margarita Island in Venezuela.
Among other activities which President Banda will do here include laying a wreath at the monument of Cuban hero, Jose Marti before visiting Labiofam, which is a research centre for vaccines for malaria and other tropical diseases.

Dr. Mumba said Zambia will learn the technology and science of producing vaccines, adding that the two countries have already signed a memorandum of understanding in this area.

President Banda will also visit the Colon centre, which is a memorial site for Cubans who died in Africa while fighting for independence.

He said the President will on Tuesday meet the 41 Zambian students that are studying in various disciplines in Cuba.

President Banda will on Wednesday visit an African national heroes’ memorial centre before visiting Varadero tourist resort from which Zambia is expected to learn some tourism lessons.

Alongside President Banda’s three day state visit to Cuba, there will be a Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) meeting that would be held between the two countries.

The two countries will sign a memorandum of understanding after the JPC meeting.
He said Cuba has been able to stand on its own and build its economy despite trade embargoes imposed on it by the United States of America.

President Banda leaves Cuba for Lusaka on Thursday, 1st October 2009.
Before going to Venezuela, President Banda attended the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York last week.

ZANIS

THE Lusaka High Court has quashed contempt proceedings against Post News papers Editor-in-Chief Fred M’membe and two others.

Judge Albert Wood said yesterday that the facts from the record showed that the alleged contempt was not committed in the face of the court.

He said the record also shows that section 100 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) was not complied with.

This is in a matter in which Mr M’membe, deputy managing director Sam Mujuda and the author of the article Professor Muna Ndulo filed an application for Judicial Review following the decision by Chief Resident Magistrate Charles Kafunda that the trio be cited for contempt.

Prof Ndulo authored an article in relation to the Chansa Kabwela case that is before Magistrate Kafunda.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Editor’s Note:

Old, but published because of demand by people who want to debate the topic