President Rupiah Banda has challenged the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to make suggestions on how the legal framework to fight corruption could be strengthened to protect the country’s meagre public resources.

Mr Banda said government recently approved a new National Anti-Corruption (NAC) policy under which a modern legislation would be enacted to enhance the fight against corruption.

The President however noted that during the fight against corruption, accused persons should be subjected to the due process of the law adding that their human rights should be respected.

He said government shall not interfere in the judicial process adding that the role of adjudicating cases would be left to the courts which should reach verdicts based on the evidence available and accused persons should be subjected to fair trial.

Mr Banda was speaking in Livingstone last night during the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) annual ball held at Zambezi Sun.

He further called on LAZ to give recommendations on how government could improve the justice delivery system so that it was efficient, corrupt free and fair.

Mr Banda said government was currently undertaking an access to justice programme aimed at decongesting the courts and the prisons adding that government was also constructing court infrastructure countrywide.

He also said the the constitutional review process and the African Peer Review Mechanism are important programmes aimed at improving governance standards in the country.[quote]

Mr Banda said the country needs a good constitution for the country and urged lawyers to participate fully in the important programmes adding that the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has been in the forefront of of advocating for a good constitution.

” Regarding the Constitutional Review Process and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), i understand that you are already participating in these important programmes and that your members are representing you in these processes,” he said.

”We in government consider these consultative programmes as key in engaging our people and improving on our governance standards,” he said.

Speaking earlier, out-going LAZ President Elias Banda said law was an important tool and instrument of social change.

He said the demand for legal services transcends all over the country but regretted that the services were only available along the line of rail.

And newly-elected LAZ president Stephen Lungu who poured 198 votes against his only rival Musa Mwenya who got 160 votes said the association would continue working with government.

President Rupiah Banda who was in Livingstone to officially opened the 18th Ordinary Synod of the Anglican Church and the Law Association of Zambia annual ball has since left for Lusaka.

He was seen off at the Livingstone International Airport by Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe and other senior government and party officials.
ZANIS/FM/ENDS/MM

Government has reiterated its commitment to work closely with the church to foster national development.

Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said this is because the church has always advised government on a number of cardinal issues.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha, also Information and Broadcasting services minister, said this at the 10th anniversary of Christian Faith Mission Church (CFMC) in Lusaka today.

He said it was for this reason that the church was invited to deliberate at the National Indaba on the way forward on the economic crisis the country was experiencing.

Lt.Gen Shikapwasha said government will always value the all the counsel and advise that the church gives to the government.

He said government working hand in hand with the church would help in the development of the country.

The Chief Government implored the church in the country to play a leading role in unifying the people of Zambia.

He also said the church was aware of government’s efforts in the fight against poverty and other vices in the country.

Meanwhile, Christian Faith Mission Church founding President Peter Chanda says there is need for all stakeholders in the country to unite in order to find the way forward on the current social- economic crisis the country was experiencing.

Pastor Chanda said there was need to come together and build the country regardless of one’s political and social status.

ZANIS/AJN/ENDS/MM

Kafue District Commissioner Winford Ngoma has called on the public and the private sectors to ensure that they allow their employees to actively participate in this year’s Labour Day celebrations on May 1st.

In an interview with ZANIS today, Mr. Ngoma said whilst the country was facing economic problems as a result of the world recession, there was still need for workers to be allowed to participate in the celebrations so that they express their views on what they are going through.

He said companies in the district should not use the world recession as an excuse for failing to allow their workers’ participation in the celebrations.
He explained that most companies in the district were operating fairly well and budgeting for their workers should not be a problem.

Mr. Ngoma said his office will do a roll call then take action against companies that will fail to participate in the celebrations.
He also called on companies fond of participating in the Lusaka celebrations to this year join their colleagues in Kafue district.

He said it was prudent that workers rights and job security are assured by them participating in the celebrations.

Mr Ngoma noted that preparations for this year’s celebrations in Kafue have reached an advanced stage and that these are being spearheaded by the labour movement in the district.
He said, so far, his office is happy with the relationship it has developed with the unions.

Meanwhile, the District Commissioner has urged the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia management to fully utilize funds government has released for rehabilitation, transparently and accountably.
He said it was important that NCZ shows government it is responsible and can account for the money even though it is not much.

Mr. Ngoma has urged management to also ensure workers at the plant participate in the celebrations for Labour Day.

ENDS/ZANIS/BS/KAFUE

The Patriotic Front (PF) says the much awaited victory of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa is a true sign of the people’s will.

In an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, PF spokesperson Given Lubinda said the South African election had an impact on everyone living in the sub-Saharan region .

Mr. Lubinda observed that the aspect of shortage of ballot papers at most polling stations is not a good thing considering the fact that South Africa has one of the heaviest investments in terms of human and economic resources in Southern Africa.

He, however, said the incident should not be seen as a plan by the ruling party to rig elections as such things do happen.

He said the win by the ANC is a welcome thing considering the fact that the elections were free and fair and that the will of the people must be respected by all peace loving south Africans despite their different races.

Mr. Lubinda said the people of South Africa have expressed their will and decided that Jacob Zuma should govern the country. He said the region should, therefore, respect the election of Jacob Zuma as new South African President.

He expressed happiness at the manner in which the general election was conducted and that South African’s still have confidence in the ruling ANC. He added that it is a good thing that the National Prosecuting Authority has cleared Zuma of all his charges.

ENDS/ISS/PK/ZANIS

Suspected armed robbers have stolen a Suzuki Motor Cycle TF 125 valued at K 19.5 million belonging to the department of Agriculture in Chongwe district.

District Agriculture Coordinator (DACO) Charles Simulunda disclosed the theft of the motor cycle to ZANIS yesterday.

Mr. Simulunda said the motor cycle was snatched at gun point last Thursday from one of his officers in Kanakantapa area. He said the matter has been reported to police in the district to hunt for the suspected robbers.

The motor cycle was bought for the department by Japan International Agency (JICA) for use under the Food Crop Diversification Support Project (FoDiS) and is the third motor cycle the department has lost in similar circumstances.

ENDS/MN/CMM/PK/ZANIS