Government has challenged Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata to prove his allegation that Vice President George Kunda has sold about 1.2 million hectares of land to Chinese investors in Serenje.

Chief Government Spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ronnie Shikapwasha asked the PF leader to provide evidence of his claims.

Rev Shikapwasha said he has consulted with the Vice President who has assured him that he had never discussed, let alone offered any land in Serenje to anyone.

He said it is morally wrong to tell lies about the Vice President or the Chinese .

“I challenge Mr. Sata to give evidence to prove which land in Serenje had been sold by the Vice President and which Chinese paid for it,” he said.

Rev. Shikapwasha was reacting to an article published in the Post Newspaper of Friday 24th in which the Mr. Sata is quoted to have stated that the Vice President had sold all the land in Serenje to the Chinese.

Rev. Shikapwasha who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister described Mr. Sata as a pathological liar who does so in the hope of getting public sympathy or gaining political mileage.

He told ZANIS in a press statement that Zambians are too well aware of the tactics of Mr. Sata and will not be hoodwinked into turning against the government through lies and innuendos.

“Mr. Sata would like the public to believe that he is a better and morally upright leader should refrain from campaigns of lies and innuendos,” he added.

He said government is aware that the PF is facing serious difficulties wining votes in Chitambo constituency in Serenje District where the party is contesting the parliamentary seat.

On the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) , Rev. Shikapwasha has advised to consult with its officials in order to establish whether or not the NCC Act has a provision for extension of its life and determine whether it can complete its work within this year.

Mr. Sata has also alleged that Vice President had no reason to suggest the extension of the current sitting of the NCC, a legally constituted body that is meeting to adopt a new constitution for Zambia.

ZANIS

says that a few individuals in the public service are the ones tarnishing the image of the county in the eyes of the international community.

Mr. Mbula only 2 per cent of the public service workers are corrupt.

He said about 98 percent of Zambia’s civil servants are decent, clean, honest and devoted to their duties.

“It is the remaining 2 per cent who are tarnishing Zambia’s reputation abroad by getting involved in criminal activities such as corruption and embezzlement of public resources,” he said.

Mr. Mbula made the remarks when a 15 member delegation of senior and middle management of Zambian civil servants in accountancy and human resources paid a courtesy call on him at the Zambia Chancery in Pretoria, South Africa yesterday.

The High Commissioner said recent reports on public servants getting involved in corruption and embezzlement cases of public funds did not augur well for the country’s reputation abroad.

He stated that despite Zambia having had five free and democratic elections since 1991,which was a good record by standards, the perception by the outside world that Zambians are corrupt are the ones receiving the wide publicity in international media.

Mr. Mbula has since advised the Zambian civil servants to be vigilant so that frauds are detected on time.

He further urged civil servant to make it their business to report any suspicious activities to the respective authorities like the police and the Anti Corruption Commission.

“We should not wait for external auditors to detect thefts in our ministries ,that is why we have internal auditors in each ministry ,if we hear anything lets us not hesitate to report such activities the police or Anti Corruption Commission, lets not allow the few self and corrupt people to tarnish our country’s image,” appealed Mr. Mbula.

He further appealed to the civil servants to perform their duties with honesty and integrity to preserve the good name of the country in the eyes of the international community.

Meanwhile delegation leader, Frank Musunga, Chief Human Resources Development in the Ministry of Educate, assured Mr. Mbula that his delegation will endevour to apply the knowledge gained from the course for the betterment of the country

The 15 were part of the 29 Zambians civil servants drawn from the various ministries and departments attending at two-week senior and middle management course in Pretoria which ends on July 31,2009.

This is contained in a press statement by second secretary of press,Philip Chirwa .
ZANIS

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has announced that government has resolved to sell 75 cent shares of the Zambia Telecommunications Corporation (Zamtel) to a private equity partner and retain 25 per cent shares to enable the company operate profitably.

Speaking in Ndola today when he addressed Zamtel management and employees at Zamtel College, President Banda said the partial privatization of the company was the only way to resolve the financial problems the company is facing and enhance the viability of the company.

President Banda said Zamtel needs about US200m to recapitalize it and if that is to be done, it would mean cutting funds from social services such as health and education which is not a better option than privatizing the institution.

He said government will hold the 25 percent and possibly later sell them to the public through the Lusaka Stock Exchange.

He said government will follow the regulations of the Zambia Development Agency in privatizing the institution.

However, the president said the equity partner has not yet been identified but government will ensure that it gets a strong and credible partner who will revitalize the company so that it can efficiently contribute to the economic development of the country.

He added that government will also ensure that the workers who will be retrenched as a result of the privatization are given reasonable packages that will help them sustain their lives while those who will remain should be given better conditions of service than what they are given currently.

He said a successful privatization of the company will lead to improvement of the ICT sector in Zambia and will also serve the interest of all stakeholders.

President Banda urged Zamtel employees to remain calm and committed to work while government works on the company privatization process.

And President Banda said Government will not give an operating license to any new mobile service provider until Zamtel under a new partner is established so as to protect the company.[quote]

The president noted that even though privatizing Zamtel will entail the liberalization of the International Gateway, the company will still have the optic fibre network under installation as its competitive advantage over its competitors.

And Finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said government has decided to sell the larger potion of the shares to attract more commitment from the investor.

Reacting to some Zamtel employees who felt the 25 per cent that government will hold is too little, Dr Musokotwane said even if the shares appear small, government will benefit more through tax remission which is about 30 per cent on all the investor’ profits.

Speaking earlier Communications and Transport Minister Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa said Zamtel is a sleeping economic giant that can bring significant development if its problems are resolved.

And Zamtel Managing Director Mukela Muyunda said Zamtel was capable of contributing to the economic development of the country if the financial problems the company is facing are sorted out.

Mr. Muyunda said the company management was willing to work with government in finding a lasting solution to the problems surrounding the operations of the company to ensure that it once again operates positively.

He however acknowledged government efforts in finding a solution to the financial problems of Zamtel.

He urged workers to remain committed to duty while government works on the privatization process.

ENDSLNN/PK/ZANIS

Development (UPND) electoral pact has inspired other political parties to form an electoral pact.

National Revolution Party (NRP) Cosmo Mumba confirmed in Lusaka today that consultations are underway among political parties without representation in parliament for the possible formation of an electoral pact.

Mr. Mumba said the proposed pact is likely to be the biggest and strongest pact as it is targeting all registered political parties in the country without representation in parliament.

He said the pact would be all-inclusive as it would seek to encompass diverse views on how the country should be run and developed.

Mr. Mumba said the idea behind the formation of the pact is to ensure that there is political stability in the country ahead of the 2011 general elections.

He disclosed that so far 16 political parties have been approached of which four have responded in the affirmative.

Mr. Mumba, who did not disclose the names of the four political parties, said the four parties have since entered into an agreement that spells out how the pact would function.

He said the consultative process was a painstaking exercise as it looked at pertinent issues that include consulting various party members at the grassroots about the possible formation of the pact.

Mr. Mumba pointed out that the political parties without representation in parliament are cautiously proceeding in a bid to ensure to harmony in the pact.

He accused the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) pact of failing to fully represent the views of their members due to lack of consultation and planning.

Mr. Mumba said the current status of the PF/UPND pact was likely to bring about confusion among members of the two parties due to lack of consultation.

He said the consultation team for the possible formation of another electoral pact has since engaged the Zambia Centre for Inter Party Dialogue (ZCID) in all its discussions.

Mr. Mumba said the idea to engage ZCID is meant to encourage dialogue among the parties involved and avoid any forms of animosity.
ZANIS