Government has described allegations that Chief Justice Ernest Sakala refused to shake hands with PF leader Michael Sata at the funeral of late retired Supreme Court Judge Peter Chitengi as only trivial.

Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said the whole incident has been blown out of proposition and was just a deliberate ploy to undermine the integrity of the judiciary.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister has since urged Zambians to ignore the allegations saying the nation has more urgent and important issues of development to deal with than be engaged in fruitless squabbles over the so-called handshake.

He said in a media statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka on Tuesday that the Post Newspaper story on the handshake snub leaves more questions than answers from the journalism professional and ethical point of view.

[pullquote]Lt Gen Shuikapwasha wondered why the Post Newspapers sought a comment from Mr Sata and others soon after the handshake snub but could not do the same to the Chief Justice for him to comment on the alleged incident.[/pullquote]

Lt Gen Shuikapwasha wondered why the Post Newspapers sought a comment from Mr Sata and others soon after the handshake snub but could not do the same to the Chief Justice for him to comment on the alleged incident.

“Why was nothing done to this effect there and then so that both sides are heard in line with standard journalism practice of ‘balance and fairness’ to both sides”, the minister wondered.

He said journalism ethics demand that a journalist balances his or her story by getting the views of both parties, adding that a one sided account is tantamount to a lie.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha said government therefore finds the so-called handshake snub a non-issue which some people want to exploit for selfish gain.

He further government is also appalled by the unwarranted attacks by retired high court judge Kabazo Chanda against the Chief Justice over the handshake.

The Minister said it is clear that retired judge Chanda has a grudge against the judiciary over his un-ceremonial exit from the bench hence his emotional and baseless outbursts over the so-called handshake snub.

[pullquote]“I ask Judge Kabazo Chanda to tell the nation why he unceremoniously left the bench. He should also tell the nation why he changed his name from a Mr Mumba to his current name Kabazo Chanda”, he charged.[/pullquote]

“I ask Judge Kabazo Chanda to tell the nation why he unceremoniously left the bench. He should also tell the nation why he changed his name from a Mr Mumba to his current name Kabazo Chanda”, he charged.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha said Judge Kabazo Chjanda should better keep quiet and leave the judiciary out of his personal misfortunes and disappointments.

He stressed that the judiciary is one of the important pillars of the country’s democracy which he said should not be cheaply dragged into the mud.

President Rupiah Banda is tomorrow expected in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s capital city, Kinshasa to join several other invited Heads of State and notable guests to commemorate the 50th Independence anniversary for that country. The Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire, a vast country endowed with immense economic resources, gained its independence from Belgium on June 30th 1960.

President Banda has not only been invited in his capacity as Chairperson for the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region-ICGLR, but also as a member of the Southern African Development Community-SADC, COMESA and indeed as a neighbouring Head of State.

Zambia’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Maybin Mubanga told ZANIS in an interview that President Banda is expected to arrive in that country around 09 hours. Mr. Mubanga said President Banda will be accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, Chief of Protocol Bob Samakai and other government officials.

Mr. Mubanga explained that Zambia played a significant role in the peace process for the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo saying peace in that country is cardinal for the enhancement of trade between the two countries. He noted that the 50th Independence anniversary and relative peace that the Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing have a big positive impact on Zambia especially that the country shares the longest border with Zambia.

He said preparations for the arrival of the President have been completed adding that that it is exciting to have President Banda in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mubanga has appealed to Zambians to guard the peace that the country is enjoying, jealously.
He said it is important for Zambians to draw an example from the Democratic Republic of Congo that instability derails development.

He advised Zambians to allow President Banda run the affairs of the nation without unnecessary interference.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is now recovering from a series of civil strife which claimed millions of lives either as a direct result of fighting or because of disease and malnutrition.

Current President Joseph Kabila became President of the Democratic Republic of Congo when his father Laurent was assassinated in 2001.

He was later elected President to rule the vast country in a historical Presidential first democratic election in 2006 to bring a new era of stability after years of war and chaos.

Over 20 heads of States have been invited to witness the historical event.
The King of Belgium and former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa are among the invited guests who have already arrived in DRC.

Others expected are Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, His Majesty King Mswati, Uganda President Yoweri Mseveni and Rwandan President Paul Kagame among others.

Meanwhile, President Kabila today unveiled a statue for the first President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kasavubu who ruled the country from 1960 to 1965.

The emotional ceremony was witnessed by the late President’s family who were led by his first daughter. After unveiling the statue, President Kabila who looked very touched went round greeting the crowd much to the excitement of hundreds of people who witnessed the event.

The celebration mood is high in the capital Kinshasa as all streets have been decorated with this country’s flags and posters alongside other flags for invited countries in the region and abroad

ZANIS

Former Church of God Overseer Bishop John Mambo has charged that the ruling Movement for Multi party Democracy (MMD) has lost direction.

Bishop Mambo says the ruling party has failed to uphold true leadership values going by the utterances by some senior members of the party. He says it is quite disappointing that internal wrangling in the ruling party involving senior party officials have continued, setting a bad example to other political parties.

He has also observed that statements coming from MMD Lusaka province chairman William Banda also confirm that the party is in problems.

Bishop Mambo says the ruling party is supposed to be held in high esteem in the way it conducts itself and set a good example to other young political parties in the country. Bishop Mambo has since advised the MMD to put its house in order if it is to retain power next year.

[Q FM]

MMD chairperson for information and publicity Dora Siliya has said the conduct of Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata at funerals is very irritating because he always seeks to attract wide political attention and presence in disrespect for the mourners.

But Mr Sata said he did not want to say anything on the matter because it was trivial but would only comment on serious matters affecting the nation.

Ms Siliya, who is Eductaion minister, said she expected elderly statesmen to be sombre and extend a heart of respect and maturity to the mourners and to the younger persons.

Ms Siliya said she had come across some mails from lawyers who were displeased with Mr Sata’s conduct at the funeral of the late Supreme Court justice Peter Chitengi.

She urged Zambians not to vote for the PF leader in next year’s elections to protect the image of the country because governance was a serious undertaking, which did not require people like Mr Sata.

Ms Siliya said the refusal by Chief Justice Ernest Sakala to shake hands with Mr Sata had been blown out of proportion.

She said it was common knowledge that Mr Sata canvasses for the attention of mourners by throwing his political weight around, instead of being humble for both the mourners and the dead.

Ms Siliya said the death of anyone brings emotions to close relatives, former workmates and relatives who get affected but Mr Sata made sure that he attracted their attention.

She said all Zambians should condemn attacks on the judiciary because it was an attack on the people of Zambia.

Ms Siliya said on several occasions, Mr Sata had sought to undermine important office holders like the chief justice in the name of politics.

Demands on the chief justice to apologise are unrealistic because Mr Sata and the chief justice are traditional cousins except that Mr Sata went beyond limits.
[ Times of Zambia ]

Various political parties have intensified preparations for the Chifubu and Luena parliamentary by -elections slated for August, 5.

The ruling MMD says it has started receiving applications from party members interested in contesting the two seats.

Party Spokesperson Dora Siliya told ZNBC that the National Executive Committee -NEC- will soon decide on a candidate.

She is confident that the MMD will scoop the Luena and Chifubu parliamentary by-elections because the MMD has a good track record.

And the Patriotic Front-PF Central Committee will meet on July 3 to consider applications for the Luena and Chifubu parliamentary by-elections slated for August 5.

PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba says the PF will then meet with the UPND to decide on the candidates to be fielded in the two by-elections.

Mr. Kabimba told ZNBC news that the chances of the PF-UPND pact winning the by-elections are high because they are a pact.

And FDD Vice president Chifumu Banda said the party will meet in the next two days to decide on whether to adopt candidates for the by-elections.

And UNIP President Tilyenji Kaunda said his party has already adopted a candidate for the Luena parliamentary by-election and will soon pick a candidate for Chifubu.

ZNBC