Works and Supply minister Mike Mulongoti says government respects the court’s decision over the acquittal of second Republican President, Dr Fredrick Chiluba.

Mr Mulongoti said government also respects the withdrawal of the appeal of the Direct public prosecution (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga.

The minister, who is also Acting MMD spokesperson, said the court used its legal channels in Dr Chiluba’s cases and as such government did not interfere in the matter.

He was reacting to an article which appeared in one of the daily newspapers yesterday which reported that cabinet secured Dr Chiluba’s acquittal.

However, Mr. Mulongoti has refuted claims that government interfered in Dr Chiluba’s acquittal adding that the court has the mandate to adjudicate on Dr Chiluba’s case.

He noted that President Banda had never spoken about Dr Chiluba’s case as he ( President Banda ) knew that the courts had judicial powers over the matter.

The minister has accused some parts of the media of wanting to be prosecutors adding that some of the media organizations are using people who do not fully understand legal matters.

Meanwhile, Chief government spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasa says government had no hand in the court ruling in former President Dr Fredrick Chiluba’s acquittal.

Rev Shikapwasha said in a statement to ZANIS last evening that government has had no influence in the judicial process of Dr Chiluba’s case adding that the court rulings were made independently.[quote]

Lt Gen Shikapwasha explained that members of the diplomatic corps those of the co-operating partners Group Torika raised a lot of issues with president Banda including the fight against corruption .

He noted that it is untrue that the group believed that President Banda’s government was accommodating those alleged involved in corruption

Rev Shikapwasha, who is also information and broadcasting minister, said some of the issues raised arise from misrepresentations by some sections of the media and society with political interest to serve, about the judicial process.

The minister noted that the Director of public prosecution DPP determines how a prosecution should proceed in an event he is not satisfied with the court ruling ,and it is up to him to determine whether to appeal or not.

He said that in Dr Chiluba‘s case, the task force on corruption which was prosecuting on behalf had to consult the DPP on whether to appeal or not against the judgment.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha noted that Government respects the London judgment against the former president Chiluba, adding that Government also explained this to the co-operating partners and the group Troika the status of enforcement of the judgment.

He assured cooperating partners and all diplomats accredited to Zambia that government is committed to fight against corruption and to strengthen the institutions that exist in the fight including anti-corruption .

The minister noted that government stands for a judiciary that is free and independent of all forms of influence from government , from co-operating partners ,NGOs and foreign governments.

ZANIS

The Forum for Democratic Process (FODEP) has condemned PF-UPND Kasama Central Parliamentary candidate Geoffrey Mwamba for practicing politics of tribalism in his campaigns towards next month’s Kasama Central by-elections.

Geoffrey Mwamba popularly known as “GBM” recently said Kasama was for Bembas alleging that MMD candidate Burton Mugala was a foreigner from Muyombe area.

FODEP President, Stanley Mhango told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that Mr. Mwamba’s statement was contrary to the democratic standards of the country.

Mr. Mhango further said the statement by Mr. Mwamba was based on tribal politics adding that the statement is a danger to democracy in the country.

The FODEP President said what the PF-UPND candidate needs to understand is that politics of tribalism are long gone.

Mr. Mhango said it was unfortunate that Mr. Mwamba could issue such a statement based on political tribal lines.

He has since called on Mr. Mwamba to consider reversing his statement that Kasama is for Bembas.

The Kasama Central seat fell vacant after the resignation of area Member of Parliament (MP) Dr. Savior Chishimba from the Patriotic Front (PF).

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda says land management and the distribution of land by Zambians living in the diaspora is one of the biggest challenges government is currently facing.

Addressing scores of Zambians living in New York last evening, President Banda said Zambian citizens should acquire land and develop them.

He said government was devising ways of easing the process of acquiring land, especially by Zambians living abroad.

He said he has since advised the Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane and the Minister of Lands Peter Daka to find ways of making the process of acquiring land uncumbersome.

President Banda said land was very valuable hence Zambians, regardless of where they live, should acquire pieces of land for agriculture and other investment.

He urged Zambians living abroad who wish to apply for land to specify where they would want to acquire land.

And President Banda has asked Zambians in the diaspora to consider investing in their country and return home after their various adventures and other activities.

He said he has opened an office at State House which receives specific requests and concerns of the many Zambians in the diaspora.

The President said Zambians should remain patriotic regardless of what they were doing in foreign countries because they would in future return to their country of origin.

He said South Korea was today an economically successful country because its citizens that once lived in the diaspora were patriotic enough to invest back home in terms of education, technology and skill.

“South Korea is now a developed country because Koreans that were living here in America, in the Silicon Valley on the west coast decided to go back home and apply the knowledge they had in their country. So you can do the same,” he said.

President Banda reminded Zambians in America and other foreign countries to return home and apply their knowledge and invest their moneys back in their country.

“I am very confident that our country will develop if we remain united and manage our resources together in a very good manner,” he said.

He reiterated that the Zambian economy was now doing well because of the sound economic policies and good governance implemented by the late President Mwanawasa in the last eight years.

He said although Zambia was affected by the ongoing global economic crisis, the country managed to keep companies and industries running.

Mr. Banda said only Luanshya Mine was closed for a short period of time but has since been reopened, with 1500 people getting back their jobs.

He said the copper prices that had dwindled by about 70 per cent have since started going high again, an indicator that would make it regain its economic stamina.

President Banda said government was diversifying the economy to reduce dependency on copper alone.

He said to this effect, government was encouraging direct foreign investment to help improve the economy of the country.

Earlier at the same function, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kabinga Pande urged Zambians living abroad to continue behaving in a manner that is acceptable to the country they live in.

Mr. Pande said Zambians have been known to be law abiding citizens even in foreign countries.

President Banda is in New York to attend the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), which officially opens on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009.

On the sidelines of the main General Assembly, President Banda will hold bilateral meetings with selected heads of state and government.

President Banda will on Wednesday be among hundreds of high level delegates at the UN Secretariat for the general debate in which heads of state and government will address the General Assembly.

The President will deliver Zambia’s national statement to the assembly on Thursday 24th September during the continued high-level general debate, which ends on 30th September.

President Banda is also expected to meet US President Barak Obama who will meet heads of state and government from the sub-Saharan African region to discuss the relationship between this region and the United States of America.

Other items on the agenda for President Banda in New York are meeting Zambians leaving in the United States of America (USA), American business community and attending meetings by the Africa Travel Association and the Clinton HIV/AIDS Foundation.

Mr. Banda will during the meeting with the American business community, showcase Zambia’s investment potential in many economic sectors in order to lure foreign investors to do business in the country.[quote]

President Rupiah Banda is accompanied by First Lady Thandiwe Banda, Minister of Commerce, Felix Mutati, Foreign Affair Minister Kabinga Pande, Tourism minister, Catherine Namugala, Minister of Health Kapembwa Simbao, Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Tens Kapoma, Special Assistant to the President for Economic and Development Affairs, Dr. Richard Chembe, his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere.

Other key issues that would be discussed during the 64th General Assembly will be the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), world financial and economic crises and its impact on development, disarmament, UN reforms, including Security Council reform and revitalisation of the General Assembly.

It will also review the peace building commission and the Human Rights Council as well as consider issues relating to system wide coherence, sustainable development and HIV/AIDS.

The theme of the General Assembly is “Effective responses to global crises, strengthening multilateralism and dialogue among civilisations for international peace, security and development”.

The General Assembly, which was established in 1945 under the UN Charter, is a chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN and is a unique forum for multilateral discussions of full spectrum of international issues.

ZANIS

The Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) has commended different stakeholders in the way they are handling campaigns in Kasama Central in the build up to the October 15 by-elections.

AVAP Executive Director Bonny Tembo told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the build up to the by-elections have so far been excellent and no party has been found wanting.

Meanwhile Mr Tembo said AVAP will this week open an election complaints desk in the constituency were political parties will be reporting all alleged cases of malpractice ahead of the by-election.

He said AVAP will work hand in hand with the District Complaints Management Committee of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to deal with all cases of malpractice and ensure that the elections are transparent.

Mr Tembo said that his organization has also dispatched observers in all the eight wards of the district to monitor campaign activities, and do voter sensitization in the constituency.

He has meanwhile said the ECZ has conducted itself in a professional manner by engaging all political parties, and monitors, in pre-election briefing and explaining the electoral code of conduct.

Mr Tembo said this has built confidence in the electorates and other monitors adding that he is hopeful of a clean, transparent and peaceful bye election this time around.

He has also commended political parties and their candidates for the peaceful way they conducted themselves during the filing in of nominations last week.

Mr Tembo said unlike in Chitambo were they were reports of violence during the nomination day, the Kasama nomination was peaceful and no reports of violence or any wrongs were recorded.

He has further appealed to political parties to engage in clean and issue based campaigns and avoid name calling.

He said no political party should be allowed to import cadres from Copperbelt, or Lusaka adding that they are a major source of violence in most by-elections.

Mr Tembo has also commended the Police for maintaining order but urged them to mobilize more police officers to Kasama in order to deal with any case of violence that may arise.

The Kasama Central seat fell vacant after the resignation of area Member of Parliament (MP) Dr. Savior Chishimba from the Patriotic Front (PF) who has since formed his party, the United Progressive Party (UPP).

The six candidates who filed in their nomination last week include Burton Mugala of the MMD, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba of PF and Alexander Chansa of UNIP while APC has filed in Maggie Ng’ona.

Others are Christine Ntalasha and Amir Mohammed both independent candidates.

The ECZ has set Thursday 15 October as the date for the Kasama Central parliamentary by election.

ZANIS

-Vice President George Kunda says the electorate in Kasama voted for opposition Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata because they believed his lies that he would build them houses, improve the roads, schools health centre within 90 days of being in State House.

Vice President Kunda says people have now fortunately realized that Sata was telling them lie making most of them to rejoin the ruling MMD.

He said this in Kasama today when he addressed a huge rally held at Chishimba Basic School to drum up support to MMD candidate Burton Mugala in the forth coming parliamentary by-election set for October 15, 2009.

He said MMD is delivering in terms of implementing its developmental projects not only in Northern province but the country as a whole adding that notably there is great transformation in Kasama where the people are constructing their own houses and other business structures.

The Vice President appealed to the Kasama municipal council to release the K400 million Constituency Development Fund (CDF) adding that another K600 million will be released by the central government.

Mr. Kunda said all the main roads including the feeder roads were being rehabilitated to enhance trade in the province.

He said now that the copper prices are rising and the Kwacha has stabilized, government has embarked on a number of developmental projects to further develop Kasama.

He said Zambia, with its 73 tribes lives in harmony, does not want to practice tribalism.

Mr Kunda said the ruling party MMD was developing Zambia based on its priorities reflected in its manifesto and the Fifth National Development Plan. From which the opposition PF and other political parties were copying.

And speaking at the same function, MMD aspiring candidate Burton Mugala appealed to the Kasama electorates to vote for him as their new Member of Parliament (MP) because he has lived with them for the past 22 years.

Mr. Mugala said if elected as their new MP, he would easily access resources for the people of Kasama and thereby develop the area at a faster rate.

The Kasama Central seat fell vacant following the resignation of Savior Chishimba.

The Vice President is expected back in Lusaka tomorrow soon after he completes he schedule.

ZANIS