Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
Henry Kapoko, the chief protagonist in the financial scam at the ministry of health has been denied bail for the second time.
But seven ministry of health suspects linked to the scam have each been granted half a billion Kwacha cash bail.
The six who include, Deputy Director Able Katongo, Senior procurement specialist Anthony Mwila, an accountant Royd Onde and internal auditor Justine Phiri.
Others are assistant director for administration Nobert Peleti and principal accountant Zukas kaoma.
The seventh suspect who has been granted bail is Lusaka businessman Fredy Chileshe.
Lusaka Magistrate Kenneth Mulife has ruled that the seven will remain in custody until they pay the bail charge.
Magistrate Mulife has also ordered the suspects to each provide two government working sureties who occupy managerial positions.
He ruled that the working sureties will also be charged half a billion Kwacha each in their own cognisance.
Magistrate Mulife granted bail to the seven suspects on the basis that the offences they are cited for, though serious are bailable.
He denied Kapoko bail on grounds advanced by the state that he had attempted to flee the country.
The matter has been adjourned to June 30, for mention.
says the strike by health workers at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and other parts of the country is illegal.
Mr. Liato said no dispute has been declared between government and the labour movement for the health workers to continue with the strike.
The minister said he is making arrangements to meet the striking health workers at UTH, Saturday.
Mr. Liato said the workers should resume work and allow government to look into their demands.
He said government is faced with serious financial limitations arising from the Global Financial Crisis and could not have offered more.
He has however thanked other civil servants that have resumed work after the signing of the 15 percent salary and wage increment.
Nurses and health workers at UTH and some parts of the country have continued with their strike despite government awarding a 15 percent pay rise.
Meanwhile, Police today dispersed nurses who had gathered near their hostels at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.
The officers who kept vigil at the health institution were stationed at the main entrance to the hospital, while others were inside manning entrances to closed wards.
UTH Public Relations Manager Pauline Mbangweta said the officers have been manning the hospital since the strike started to protect hospital property.
Ms. Mbangweta said management had received reports of thefts and had to ask for reinforcement from the police.
A ZNBC crew found nurses walking around UTH premises as the police officers kept a watchful eye.
Nurses at the hospital have continued with their strike despite repeated calls from Government and their union leaders for them to resume work.
Government and the public service unions signed a 15 percent salary and wage increment.
Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States of America Dr. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika has been honoured with a Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of her exemplary public service and extraordinary commitment to peace and women’s and children’s rights
Dr. Lewanika was honoured by the Board of Trustees of the California State University and California Polytechnic State University during her convocation address to the 2009 graduands at the University.
In her address, Dr. Lewanika said Africa which has for a long time been perceived as a dark continent has made significant contributions to the development and progress of many nations in the world for the good of human kind.
Dr. Mbikusita said contributions such as human capital, mineral wealth and cash crops were produced at the expense of many poor families.
Dr. Mbikusita said countries in the world now have become dependant on each other than ever before such that the economic crisis which affected some parts of the world has also hit other countries.
She has however expressed appreciation at the education that she had received from the same university 45 years ago, which has mounded her into the kind of person that she was today.
This is contained in a press release made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by first secretary Ben Kangwa.
Dr. -Lewanika, graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics and Education in 1964, and earned a Master of Arts degree in Education and Psychology in 1965 from the same University.
The California State University at San Louis Obispo is the institution from which George Makweti Isiteketo Lewanika, the current Senior Chief Amukena of Kaoma Diustrict, and the late Litia Mbikusita Lewanika, his immediate predecessor as Kaoma Senior Chief graduated in the 1960’s.
Ambassador Lewanika has long been a champion of peace and women’s and children’s rights. Her illustrious career includes roles as a teacher, lecturer, women’s rights activist, politician and diplomat. She currently serves as ambassador of the Republic of Zambia to the United States, a position she has held since 2003.
Dr. Mbikusita-Lewanika earned a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics in 1964 and a Master’s degree in education in 1965 from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in elementary education from New York University in 1980.
Early in her career, Dr. Mbikusita-Lewanika was a Lecturer at the Evelyn Hone College of Further Education and Mongu Teacher Training College in Zambia. She later held the position of Professor of Education and Teacher Training at the University of Zambia.
From 1980 to 1991, she worked for UNICEF, first as Regional Advisor for East and Southern Africa, and then as UNICEF’s Regional Advisor for West and Central Africa.
Her political career in Zambia began as a Member of Parliament, where she served from 1991 to 2001. From 2001 to 2002 she served as ambassador and special envoy for the Zambian president during his term as chairman of the African Union. In this capacity, she became involved in the Organization of African Unity, established to promote the unity and solidarity of African states and help the people of Africa achieve a better life.
Dr Lewanika was a founding member and later served as President of the Federation of African Women Peace Networks (FERFAP). That group has worked to promote the protection and rights of refugees; to cultivate and promote principles of democracy; to promote a culture of peace in Africa; and to participate and advocate for equal participation of women at the local, regional and national level.
Dr. Lewanika has been deeply involved in peace making. She led a peace mission to Burundi and Rwanda in 1995, the FERFAP peace missions to the Horn of Africa, and The Hague Peace Appeal in 1999.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to Namibia Mavis Muyunda, on Wednesday this week presented gifts to Namibian First Lady, Meme Pohamba, on her 61st birthday.
Mrs. Muyunda presented a bouquet of flowers, birthday cards, six meters of Batique Chitenge material and also conveyed fraternal greetings, congratulations and best wishes on behalf of the Zambian First Lady Thandiwe Banda and the Zambian people.
Mrs. Muyunda expressed gratitude for affording the Zambian delegation an opportunity to personally congratulate the Namibian First Lady on behalf of Mrs. Banda on her 61st that fell on Wednesday, 16 June.
Mrs. Muyunda observed that Zambian women admired and cherished Mrs. Pohamba’s commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable members of society and for the unwavering support that she has continued to render to Africa and the SADC region.
She said Namibia and Zambia have continued to enjoy the warm bilateral relations which stem from the common bond enshrined by the two countries National motto of “One Namibia one Nation” and “One Zambia One Nation”.
This is contained in a press statement from the Zambian High Commission in Windhoek, Namimbia issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
And in response, Namibian First Lady, Meme Pohamba thanked the Zambian delegation for the surprise gesture and the gifts presented to her.
Mrs. Pohamba said the actions by the Zambian delegation were a true reflection of the Zambia, Namibia friendship ties.
National Aids Council (NAC) Chairman Bishop Joshua Banda says the high HIV prevalence rate is a national challenge and concern that requires intensive and prevention interventions for both young people and adults.
Bishop Banda was speaking in Lusaka today at a luncheon to honor World Bicycle Relief (WBR) for providing 23,000 new and locally assembled bicycles to RAPIDS caregivers.
Bishop Banda said WBR is responding to a major issue of lack of transport by providing relief to communities affected by the AIDS pandemic.
He said RAPIDS caregivers play a vital role in the communities by looking after orphans and vulnerable children.
Bishop Banda said the bicycles will provide transport to enable caregivers to see and care for their clients more frequently.
He explained that caregivers used to spend hours walking to their clients which could have been used for other developmental issues.
Bishop Banda added the bicycles will help the achieving the goal of NAC in to reducing HIV incidence by 50 percent from base line by 2014.
Speaking earlier United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Melisa Williams said partnerships between home based caregivers and their clients are working to save and improve the quality of people’s lives.
Ms. Williams said the US government is working to better the livelihoods of people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.
She said the partnership between the US government and the Zambian government is working to improve the economic, health and educational well being of the Zambian people.
The Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) has approved 11 projects for implementation in various parts of the country.
Some of the projects approved for implementation include the construction of an explosive plant at Kafilonda explosive factory by EAL Zambia in Mufulira district, the construction of a packaging plant in Chinika industrial area by Merriman International Zambia.
Other projects are the construction of a management accommodation at Puku Ridge lodge by Sanctuary Lodges and Camps in South Luangwa, construction of a Telecommunications tower in Namwala game management area, Itezhi tezhi by Zain Zambia.
The construction of a piggery in Chisamba by Master Pork, construction of a Ferro Alloy Plant in Luanshya by Match Corporation, construction of a Borrow Pit on Libala/ Chilanga road by Road Development Agency (RDA) and the construction of an abattoir in Choma by Halaal Beef Company are among other projects approved by ECZ for implementation.
ECZ Principle Information and Communications Officer Irene Lungu said in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today that the 11 projects have been approved under the conditions of the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Act Cap 204 of the Laws of Zambia.
Ms Lungu said that the approved projects have a three-year implementation period.
She has since urged industries to address the Environmental and social concerns as a way of showing their corporate social responsibilities.
More than 60,000 metric tonnes of wheat harvested in Zambia last year has not been sold because of cheap imports from neighbouring countries.
The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) says it has formally written to the ministry of agriculture to complain about the continued import of wheat which is choking the local industry.
ZNFU President, Jervis Zimba, says government allowed three millers to import about 7,000 metric tonnes of wheat in September last year but the millers allegedly imported about 20,000 metric tonnes.
He told jounalists that the flooding of the market with imported wheat will suffocate the local industry, which has blossomed over the past few years.
Mr. Zimba also said government has rejected a proposal to increase the floor price of maize from K65,000 to K75,000 to enable farmers make a profit.
Last month, government announced a maize floor price of K65,000.
[ZNBC]
FORMER High Court judge Kabazo Chanda has called for the amendment of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct to leave out Supreme Court judges from being appointed to sit on tribunals.
Mr Justice Chanda said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the appointment of members of the Supreme Court bench to sit on tribunals was a potential source of conflict between judges of the Supreme Court and those of the high court.
He was reacting to the decision by Lusaka High Court Judge Philip Musonda to overturn the ruling of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct tribunal comprising two Supreme Court judges and a high court judge.[quote]
The Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act of 1994 stipulates that the tribunal shall consist of three persons appointed by the chief justice from amongst persons who hold or have held the office of judge of the Supreme Court or the high court.
“I think that the law should be amended to leave out Supreme Court judges from the tribunal because they are the final arbiters,” Mr Justice Chanda said.
He said before the amendment of the law, the chief justice could avoid creating conflict by restricting his appointments of members of tribunals to persons who hold or have held the office of judge of the high court.
Mr Justice Chanda, who served on high court bench from 1988 to 1997 before resigning to start lecturing, said the chief justice should as much as possible keep away from appointing supreme court judges because tribunal decisions could be challenged in the high court.
Similarly, he said, although the chief justice may also sit as a high court judge, he should avoid doing so because it would not augur well if his decision were overturned by other members of the Supreme Court bench.
Mr Justice Chanda said there was need for the chief justice to ensure harmony in the judicial fraternity
An 11 KV ZESCO power distribution switch board in Lusaka has been gutted.
The fire, which started between 10:00 hours and 11:00 hours on Thursday burnt equipment in the distribution centre, leaving parts of the industrial area and town centre without power supply.
The incident comes barely two days after one of ZESCO’s main substations on Leopards Hill road caught fire.
A ZNBC news crew which went to the power station, situated along Mumbwa road, found that the fire brigade had managed to put off the fire.
ZESCO limited acting managing director, Musonda Chibulu, said the company is already putting temporary measures in place to restore power supply.
On Monday night the whole nation was plundged into darkness after a 330 KV transformer at the ZESCO Leopards Hill Sub station caught fire.
Earlier, ZESCO Limited announced that it had managed to restore normal power supply to all parts of the country.
ZESCO Senior Manager Marketing and Public Relations, Lucy Zimba, however said load shedding in Lusaka will remain pronounced.
On Monday night, the country plunged into total darkness after a Zesco transformer exploded in Lusaka.
The 330 KV transformer is situated at ZESCO Leopards Hill Sub station.
Former Finance Minister, Ngandu Magande, says the ruling MMD should not forego its national convention,as doing so would damage the integrity of the party.
Mr. Magande says the move would be undemocratic.
He says the MMD should not be like some opposition parties that refuse to hold conventions.
Mr. Magande said in an interview with ZNBC news that people calling for the cancellation of the convention must be told that the gathering is in the best interest of the party.
He said the MMD is a party founded on the tenets of democracy which must be respected and upheld at all times.
MMD National Secretary, Katele Kalumba, said it is important for the ruling party to hold its national convention to strengthen intra party democracy.[quote]
Dr. Kalumba said the convention will also allow the MMD to endorse President Rupiah Banda as its candidate for the 2011 presidential elections.
He is confident that the MMD will emerge even stronger after the convention.
Dr. Kalumba was reacting to calls by some members who want the party to forgore the convention to avoid wasting resources.
Dr. Kalumba said the entire MMD National Executive Committee-NEC-is behind the adoption of President Banda as presidential candidate for the 2011 elections.
Dr. Kalumba told ZNBC news that NEC feels that President Banda is a credible leader capable of winning the elections.
He stressed the need for party unity saying the NEC is unanimous in it’s resolve to field President Banda and not any other person in the 2011 polls.
There have been calls from some MMD members urging the party to cancel its convention ahead of the 2011 general elections.
The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has appealed to President Rupiah Banda to quickly intervene in the current impasse between public service workers and government before the situation gets out of hand.
And ZCTU Secretary General, Roy Mwaba, has appealed to
striking public workers to immediately resume work following the signing of the 2009 collective agreement between government and the various public workers’ unions.
Mr Mwaba said the pronounced silence by the Republican President over the protracted strike by public service workers and failure by government to dialogue with labour leaders does not inspire any confidence among the striking workers.
He said the strike was a serious national matter involving human lives over which continued silence by the highest office in the land should be questioned by all well-meaning Zambians.
“We are clearly disappointed that government seems to be spending more time on fighting the opposition and squabbling over internal political matters regarding the MMD presidency at the expense of addressing serious national issues such as the strike action where lives of innocent Zambians are being lost,” he said.
Mr Mwaba said it was sad that government appears not to have direction in dealing with serious national issues such as the high levels of poverty, the high cost of social services and rampant corruption and lack of accountability in government.
He said the current strike action by public service workers should be blamed on government’s failure to effectively address labour matters in the same manner it addresses other issues which were even of less importance.
He added that the loss of lives that has been recorded in the country following the strike by health workers could have been avoided if government had listened to calls from the congress to expedite negotiions with public service workers over improved conditions of service.
And Mr Mwaba has advised the striking teachers and nurses to call for a cease fire as they have made their stance on the recently awarded 15 per cent salary increment known to the government and other stakeholders.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the ZCTU Secretariat in Kitwe today, Mr Mwaba said time had come for the public workers to cease fire and re-strategise instead of continuing with the fight which might land them into problems.
He said the signing of the collective agreement between government and the unions meant that the 15 per cent salary increment awarded to all public workers was now law and binding, adding that all those who will continue with the strike risk losing their jobs.
He observed that the striking workers must now retreat and strategise for the future by merging all the public service unions into one which will have a powerful bargaining power unlike the current situation where there were a lot of squabbles and infighting among the various labour unions.
Mr Mwaba said government structures and systems made it possible for the unions to bargain fairly and in an objective manner, hence the need to re-strategise and come up with a more effective bargaining tool.
He also commended the striking workers in the public service for conducting themselves in a mature and peaceful manner during the period they have been on strike.
Government has awarded a 15 per cent salary increment to all public workers which they have since rejected.
Five male suspects today escaped from Namwala Police station cells in the early hours of the morning after they over-powered a lone police officer on duty.
Southern Province commanding officer, Lemmy Kajoba and District Administrative officer, Mr. Godwin Sanjase both confirmed the development to ZANIS and said the suspects allegedly picked a quarrel and became violent prompting the named police officer to go over and investigate in a bid to quell the fracas.
Mr. Kajoba explained that immediately the police officer on duty opened the door all the five suspects who were caged in one cell pulled him inside and locked the door before making their escape.
He said the lone officer could not do anything as he was locked inside the same cells.
But Mr. Sanjase said the officer should have been alert enough to determine whether the suspects were embroiled in a real fight or were merely tricking him and that he should have instead called for help from other officers to quell the alleged fight.
“It is unfortunate that the officer on duty failed to read the suspects’ mind, otherwise the escape could have been prevented,’ said Mr. Sanjase.
Meanwhile, Namwala Police have launched a man hunt for the suspects and have appealed to members of the public to help in tracking them down.
The PF/UPND pact has given President Rupiah Banda a 24 hour ultimatum to fire Education Minister Dora Siliya.
UPND President Hakainde Hichilema who spoke on behalf of the pact demanded that President Banda fires newly appointed Education Minister Dora Siliya for abrogating the Public Procurement Act of 2006.
He questioned what criteria the High Court ruling had used to clear former Communications and Transport Minister Dora Siliya, whom the tribunal found guilty of abrogating the Public Procurement Act of 2006 by entering into a contract with the RP capital of evaluating the Zamtel Assets without the Attorney General’s approval.
Hichilema has denied assertions that he has been inciting public service workers to press on with the strike action in order to bring down the MMD government to facilitate entry of the opposition into office.
Speaking in Lusaka today when he addressed scores of PF and UPND cadres at the UPND secretariat in Lusaka today, Mr. Hichilema denied having incited civil servants to go on strike to pressure government to improve their conditions of service.
Mr. Hichilema maintained that it was government itself that caused civil servants to go on strike because of not honoring its campaign promises contrary to assertions made that the opposition PF and UPND were fueling strikes in the country.
He explained that during the 2008 presidential poll, government had promised the people of Zambia that it will not increase salaries for constitutional office holders but that it went ahead to increase its salaries after wining the elections while neglecting civil servants.[quote]
Mr. Hichilema said awarding of hefty salaries for constitutional office holders together with corruption scandals in ministries and government departments incited the public servants to go on strikes contrary to government reports that it was the opposition that was fueling strikes in the country.
He said workers in the public service were knowledgeable enough to demand for their improved working conditions adding that the opposition had no hand in the recent strikes that had left operations in government health facilities paralyzed.
Mr. Hichilema said the treason charges leveled against him were baseless, unfounded and only meant to intimidate him as he was speaking for the majority poor Zambians.
The UPND leader warned that he will not hesitate to incite people to demonstrate if government continued to accuse the PF/UPND pact of fueling political violence in the country.
Mr. Hichilema said the treason charges lacked substance and has since vowed to continue speaking for the voiceless in the country.
Information and broadcasting minister Ronnie Shikapwasha
Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has advised people unhappy with the High court ruling on the Dora Siliya tribunal to seek legal redress.
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha says Ms. Siliya has been cleared by the court, and concerns over her appointment as Education minister are unfounded.
He was reacting to concerns by UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and the Patriotic Front over the re-appointment of Ms. Siliya to cabinet by President Rupiah Banda, Wednesday.
Mr. Hichilema said when he addressed cadres in Lusaka, Thursday that it is a fact Ms. Siliya abrogated the public procurement system by entering into a contract with RP Capital without approval from the Attorney general.
And PF National Youth Secretary Eric Chanda said in a statement that the re-appointment of Ms. Siliya allegedly shows political interference in the Judiciary.
The Lusaka High Court on Tuesday quashed the findings of the Dennis Chirwa tribunal that found former Communications and Transport minister Dora Siliya in breach of the constitution.
Lusaka High Court Judge Philip Musonda ruled that the Dennis Chirwa tribunal exercised excessive jurisdiction when it invoked Article 54 sub-section 3 to declare Ms. Siliya in breach of the constitution.
Ms. Siliya was Wednesday re-appointed to cabinet as Education minister taking over from professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa who has been moved to Communications and Transport.
Kitwe residents have rejected the proposed 66 per cent electricity tariff increase by Zesco.
And Energy Regulation Board chairperson, Sikota Wina, says Zesco’s application to review tariffs has been made at a time when the electricity sector was facing supply challenges owing to the power deficit in the Southern African region.
Speaking during the official opening of the public hearing on the Zesco Tariff Review held at Endinburgh Hotel in Kitwe today,Mr Wina said the application comes at a time when the world was undergoing economic recession which has resulted in a relative reduction in demand for electricity in Zambia.
He noted that some major consumers in the mining industry have scaled down their operations, a situation which he said has led to a reduction in power demand.
Mr Wina observed that the ERB was mindful of the concerns of the public regarding the performance of the utility as has been manifested in power black outs experienced on Monday.
He added that his organisation has been conducting a detailed and analytical review of the Zesco application and utility’s performance vis-a-vis the multi-year tariff framework effected in January 2008.
And speaking later at the same function, Zesco acting Managing Director, Musonda Chibulu, said his firm was in dire need of over US $800 million to construct new and rehabilitate existing infrastructure.
Mr Chibulu said the company was in need of millions of Dollars to complete its major rehabilitation projects and meet the Millenium Development Goal on increased access to power for all citizens by 2015.
But a representative for Kitwe residents, Councillor Christopher Kangombe, said the proposed increase was unreasonable as it has come at a time when over 10,000 people on the Copperbelt had lost their jobs due to the global economic crisis.
He observed that the current state of the economy has resulted in excess capacity of electricity as a result of industry scaling down or closing down.
He added that an increase in tariffs would work to worsen the situation as industries would be less competitive and have increased costs.
Another resident, Neville Ravensdale, said Zesco has taken so much power to people who cannot afford to pay for electricity.
Mr Ravensdale said it was unfortunate that the company was forcing a few profit making companies to subsidise incredibly expensive projects.
