Former Defence Minister, George Mpombo has advised government to stop issuing what he termed as ”Reckless” statements on the acquittal of second President, Frederick Chiluba.

Speaking when he featured on Radio Mazabuka’s ” Live wire programme,” today, Mr Mpombo said the statements on the acquittal have potential of dividing the nation.

Mr Mpombo said there is need for government to handle Dr Chiluba’s acquittal in a manner that will be acceptable to the general citizenry and unite the country.

He warned that if not properly handled, the second Republican President’s acquittal could affected the economic and social development of the nation.

The former minister said statements issued by government leaders prior to the judgment of Chiluba’s case could have to a large extent influenced the out come of the case.

He also urged government to reconcile with the Roman Catholic Church saying attacks on the church are unacceptable and misplaced.

Mr Mpombo said government should pursue a consultative process and avoid antagonizing one particular church.

“An attack on the church is an attack to all catholics which is not healthy for the country,” he said.

But Chief government Spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha dismissed claims by Mr Mpombo that government has been reckless on the statements on Dr Chiluba’s acquittal.

Mr Shikapwasha, who is also Information and broadcasting minister, said Zambia is a democracy which allows divergent views as evidenced by the debate on those against and in support of the Dr Chiluba’s acquittal.

He said the Judiciary operates independently adding that Zambians should accept and respect the acquittal of Second President.

The minister said what is surprising is that even Patriotic Front leader, Michael Sata is accusing government of having influenced the court decision to acquit Dr Chiluba when he, himself (Mr Sata) when he was acquitted by the same court no one accused him of having influenced the judgment.

” People should learn to accept the fact that the Judiciary in court is independent, We know that some people wanted to see the former President go to jail,” said Mr Shikapwasha.

On the attack to the Catholic church, Mr Shikapwasha maintained that the statement he issued in parliament still stands.

ZANIS

Vice President Goerge Kunda says the 2011 presidential elections will be held under a new republican constitution.

Mr. Kunda has appealed to the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) to expedite the constitution process so that the presidential elections are held in a peaceful, free and affair atmosphere.

The Vice President said this at Solwezi Airport on his arrival from Zambezi district where he had gone to officiate at this year’s Likumbi Lya-mize traditional ceremony for the Luvale speaking people.

He said that the NCC should not make unnecessary delays in coming up with a new constitution before the 2011 polls saying the exercise is costly on the part of government as it is draining the national coffers.

“I appeal to the NCC members and secretariat to conclude the deliberations of the NCC before 2011 when Zambia goes to the polls because this exercise is costly. As government we want to serve resources being spent in this constitution ( making ) process,” Mr. Kunda said.

And Mr. Kunda has appealed to the Zambian people not to be cheated by the formation of the UPND/PF Pact calling it a failure and destined to collapse.

The Veep said the people at the grass roots do not know and understand the pact. it and that the Pact does not exist.

He said the ruling MMD is not threatened by the UPND/PF pact even if the co-pact leaders are going around the country telling lies and always criticizing government’s good fiscal policies that are bearing fruit..

Mr. Kunda accused the Pact’s leadership of being selfish saying they cannot develop the country.

The Vice President advised UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to start politics at grassroots opposed to being an opposition president.

He cited that he himself served at Mansa Municipal Council and rose in different government portfolios under his appointment as Second in Command, Veep.

The Vice President is in Solwezi to officiate at the 2009 North-western province MMD card renewal exercise.

He is accompanied by his wife, Florence, cabinet Ministers, Peter Daka, (Lands) Sara Sayifwanda (Gender), Michael Kaingu (Community Development and Social Services), Elijah Muchima (Information Deputy Minister), senior government official and MMD Deputy National Secretary Jeff Kaande, other senior MMD party officials.

Provincial Minister Joseph Mulyata, Commerce Deputy Minister Richard Taima, Agriculture Deputy Minister Daniel Kalenga, NWP Deputy PS Nkolola Hazemba, Defense chiefs, senior government officials, MMD party officials and patriotic Zambians were at hand to recieve the Mr Kunda.

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda has said that government fired former Task Force on Corruption Chairman Max Nkole because he defied government advise over former president Chiluba’s acquittal.

President Banda said Mr. Nkole’s failure to heed advise from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga following Dr. Chiluba’s acquittal amounted to indiscipline.

The President said this in Matsapha, Swaziland when he addressed the Zambian community living in that country.

He said Mr. Nkole went ahead to appeal against the former president Chiluba’s acquittal in Ndola High Court, ignoring advise from the DPP to allow his office study the judgment first before taking such a move.

Mr. Banda said the DPP had all the constitutional powers to prosecute all criminal cases without interference from anyone.
He said Mr. Nkole should have followed the advise from the DPP before appealing against the acquittal of Mr. Chiluba.

Mr. Banda disclosed that Mr. Nkole’s behaviour also made it difficult for him to renew his contract which expired in November last year.

Mr. Nkole’s contract as Task Force on Corruption ended on November 16, 2008.[quote]

“Mr. Nkole defied advise given to him by the DPP and decided to deal with the matter in his own way,” The President said.

Mr. Nkole’s appeal against the former president’s acquittal in the Ndola High Court has since been withdrawn by the DPP.

The president told Zambians community in Swaziland that the country was politically stable although it had faced some economic problems brought about by the global financial crisis.

Mr. Banda said he was happy that things did not become worse because there was fear of massive job losses due to closure of companies especially in the mining sector.

He said only one mine had problems and was put on care and maintenance but government has since sorted out the problem with over 1000 people who had lost their jobs re-employed.

President Banda hoped that the National Constitution Conference (NCC)would conclude its business soon and give the country a better constitution than the current one.

He said due to a strong appeal from Zambians in diapora, the NCC has agreed that Zambians should be allowed to have dual citizenship.

Mr. Banda said the current constitution did not allow Zambians to have dual citizenship but the NCC felt that the constitution should be changed to allow that.

The President said there were several reasons why Zambians seek citizenship from other countries.
He said if Zambians who sought citizenship from other countries still wanted to remain Zambians, they should not be denied that opportunity.

And the Association of Zambian Nationals in Swaziland (AZANAS) has appealed to government to speed up the processing of new passports for Zambians living abroad.

AZANAS President Dickson Mukunda said only few Zambians in living in Swaziland had so far acquired new passports.

Rev. Mukunda said the rest were still waiting for the passport one year after submitting the forms to the Zambian Mission in Mozambique.
The AZANAS president also appealed to the President Banda to extend the deadline for the renewal of passports.

President Banda said he would ensure that the Passport Office speed up the issuance of passports to Zambians living abroad.

Those who attended the meeting included Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, Zambia’s Ambassador to Mozambique Agness Ngoma and government officials from both countries.
ZANIS

Former President Frederick Chiluba has refuted media reports suggesting that he celebrated the death of his predecessor, Levy Mwanawasa.

He said some sections of the media misunderstood him when he observed that whenever there is a change of leadership the country’s environment also changes.

The former Head of State said this at a thanksgiving service dubbed ‘Thanksgiving Service for the Acquittal of the Former Republican President’ organised by the clergy from various Pentecostal churches in Lusaka yesterday.

He said no-one should rejoice over another person’s death because all human beings are destined to die at a certain time.

“I did not rejoice over the death of President Mwanawasa. I meant to say that change of leadership in the country changes the environment but I was misunderstood by our colleagues from the press. No one should celebrate the death of another human being because everyone will die,” Dr Chiluba said

And Dr Chiluba has described his acquittal by the Lusaka magistrates court as God’s act and that President Banda did not in any way influence the court’s decision to acquit him on six counts of corruption charges involving US$500,000.

“President Banda had nothing to do with this acquittal. This acquittal is purely by the grace of God nothing else,” Dr Chiluba said.

.
He reiterated that Zambians must continue to uphold his declaration of the country as a Christian nation when he was President.

Dr Chiluba said that now that he has been acquitted he will concentrate and spend more time preaching the word of God.

He said that the eight years he spent facing corruption charges in court have helped to bring him closer to God because he met a lot of people who spent time praying with him.[quote]

“I am a great friend of all the Christian denominations in the country. The past eight years has brought me closer to God. Had it not been for the false accusations, I would not have been closer to God,” he said.

He thanked his wife Regina for having endured the times he had been sick and going to court.

Dr Chiluba has also hailed his spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba, Dr Justine Kangwa, lawyers John Sangwa and Robert Simeza and all support staff for not deserting him when he faced the corruption charges.

Liberty Christian Centre bishop, Eddie Mulenga, said the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation has been further strengthened by Dr Chiluba’s acquittal.

Bishop Mulenga said Dr Chiluba’s acquittal is an indication that God has delivered the former Head of State because of his honest leadership when he was Republican President.

He commended the media in the country for their consistency in informing the nation about Dr Chiluba’s court proceedings.

Dunamis Church apostle, Dan Pule, said Dr Chiluba’s acquittal is a victory for all Christians.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Swaziland for its relentless efforts aimed at addressing security concerns in the SADC region.

The President was speaking yesterday during a State Banquet hosted in his honour by King Mswati III, at Lozitha Royal Palace.

The Kingdom of Swaziland is the current chair of SADC’s organ of political, Defence and Peace in the region.[quote]

Mr Banda said the process so far made in Magadascar negotiations had been possible due to the role Swaziland had played in the early days of the crisis.

“In the same vein, I wish to applaud SADC’s efforts through its special envoy former President Joachim Chissano of Mozambique for trying to restore peace in Madagascar. We look forward to a successful mediation in the interest of our sub-region,” President Banda said.

The president said there was need for urgent revival of the Zambia-Swaziland Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) of Cooperation because the two countries shared a historical bond friendship and affinity.

He said the common desire of the two countries for economic growth and sustainable development gave them impetus to explore new areas of economic, social and political cooperation which would be beneficial to both countries.

Mr. Banda said Zambia and Swaziland enjoyed common membership to international organisations such as the African Union, the Commonwealth and the United Nations.

At these fora, the two countries shared common positions like the Africa’s common stance on the reform of the United Nations as embodied in the Eluwlini Consensus.

President Banda said in addition, Zambia and Swaziland shared same aspirations as they both envisage an African Continent free from debt, disease, poverty, economic stagnation, oppression and conflict.

He said the two countries should show the same resolve which characterized efforts in support of the liberation struggle in Southern Africa.

The President re-affirmed government’s commitment to cooperate and increasing of interaction with the people and government of Swaziland.

And King Mswati said he was pleased that SADC had continued to uphold dialogue whenever conflicts arose because this approach had continued to pay dividends in the region.

The King said the negotiations aimed at ending the political crisis in Madagascar were encouraging because all parties had been willing to put aside their political interests in the interest of their country.

He said the Swazi nation has continued to protect and preserve its cultural heritage which had become their symbol of identity and unity over time.

“These cultural ceremonies have been passed on from generation to generation and they make us unique,” King Mswati said.

The King said the Reed Dance traditional ceremony which President Banda was invited to witness had been unifying the people of Swaziland as a nation for a long time.

He said the ceremony brought chastity pride and nationalism to the young girls in the country.