The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) management has maintained that it has no money for salary increments of its workers.

ZNBC Director General Joseph Salasini charged that the corporation has equally been affected by the global economic recession, which he said has resulted in inadequate financial resources for salary increments.

Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka today, Mr. Salasini explained that the corporation is currently having financial difficulties which has made it difficult for the management to review this years salary collective agreements for workers.

He added that the corporation’s commercial sales have also reduced due to the economic crunch that have affected many companies doing business with ZNBC.

Mr. Salasini disclosed that the board and management of the corporation last week had a meeting with union leaders aimed at finding common solutions to the problem were such issuers were addressed.

He noted that the management is saddened with the decision taken by workers to stage a sit in protest compelling them to go contrary to the outcome of the meeting that they had last week.

The Director General further urged the workers to resume work adding that the work stoppage was affecting the smooth running of the corporation.

Mr. Salasini pointed out that there was no need for workers to continue with their protest as they work for the public institution mandated to serve the interests of the general public.

Today ZNBC unionized workers staged a sit in protest to press management to award them salary increment of about K700,000 across the board.

The workers have also called for the dissolution of the ZNBC management and board for alleged failure to run the corporation efficiently.

The workers, who locked their offices and stormed the office of the Director General, chanted slogans and displayed placards denouncing ZNBC management and the board members.

They accused the board and management of having gone against the collective agreement which states that workers salaries should be reviewed annually.

Zambia Union of Broadcasters and Information Disseminators (ZUBID) president, Simon Mwila said workers decided to down tools after management maintained that it will not increase workers’ salaries this year.

Mr. Mwila said the increment was inevitable because workers had been affected badly with the effects of the global economic meltdown.

Later in the day, the union held a meeting with the Minister of Information, Ronnie Shikapwasha in an attempt to resolve the problem.

ZANIS/MP/MM/KSH/ENDS

It has emerged that Bishop Noel O’regon of the Ndola Catholic Dioceses tried to cover up the case involving Father Davies Nsama of Pamodzi Catholic Church, who has been fined K10 million for marriage interference. This was after Charles Moto of plot 1337 Pamodzi reported the case of marriage interference to him.

Bishop Noel O’regon offered to buy Charles Moto a house in Lusaka so that he could not go ahead with the case.

Despite advising him not to go ahead with the case, Bishop O’regon condemned Fr Nsama and asked Mr Moto to go for an HIV test.

Mr. Moto however said he was aggrieved that the Parish Priest had caused him so much pain by interfering in his marriage and decide to go ahead with the case.

And Valentine Moto, elder brother to Charles said he was very disappointed that a person of Bishop O’regon’s calibre had offered his young brother a bribe of a house in Lusaka just to prevent justice to take its course.

Mr. Valentine Moto called on law enforcing bodies to stiffen laws against people that were perpetrating corrupt practices.

Earlier, the Chifubu Local Court in Ndola fined Fr Nsama K10 million for marriage interference.

The local court has since granted Charles Moto and Virginia Mphanza Moto a divorce on grounds that there had been marriage interference.

Local Court Magistrate Amos Banda sitting with Rosemary Muke and Aaron Banda passed the ruling.

Facts before the court where that Fr Nsama was the marriage counselor of Virginia Mphanza and Charles Moto, who wanted to dedicate their marriage to God, since their marriage of five years had not passed through church when they had initially married in 2004.

The Priest is alleged to have had been involved in an affair with the married woman.

He is alleged to have been offering the lady vehicle rides from her evening classes at Telephone house to her home since her husband was working from Lusaka where he was transferred in December 2008.

In his evidence Mr. Moto explained that on March 31st 2009, whilst in Lusaka he received an anonymous call advising him to phone his wife Virginia in Ndola and find out where she was.

He told the court that investigations revealed that his wife was involved in a relationship with the priest.

Father Nsama pleaded guilty to marriage interference, but refused ever having had sexual relations with Virginia.

He however agreed that he used to pick Virginia from school for rides before dropping her at her house.

He further said on March 31st he picked her up and took her on a drive to Luanshya.

And in her evidence Virginia 28, agreed that she was in an affair with the priest and that she regretted the entire episode.

She said the priest used to pick her from town after evening classes at 19:00 hours and would take her for rides in the night before dropping her home.

She said on 31st March 2009, she was picked by the Father who told her he was going to Hillcrest filling station to top up the fuel in his vehicle.

She explained that after reaching Hillcrest the Father did not stop at the filling station but instead drove to Luanshya where he parked at a restaurant and bought chicken and chips and came back to the vehicle and kissed her.

She said during that time, her husband phoned her and she hesitated to answer the phone.

Virginia disclosed that the priest also proposed love to her but she turned down the proposal saying she was already married .

She said the priest however stated that the affair would be a secret.

Local Court Magistrate in his ruling, ordered Father Nsama to pay Mr. Moto K10 million compensation in monthly installments of K4 million starting on May 10th, another K4 million on June 10th and K2 million on 10th July.

The Magistrate also advised Virginia to be faithful in future if she married again .

Meanwhile, business came to a standstill at Chifubu market as word went round that a Catholic Priest was in Court for marriage interference.

Scores of people rushed to the court grounds and almost attacked the priest forcing court officials to call for police, who later whisked the priest away.

ZANIS/PC/CMM/ENDS.

The opposition United Liberal Party (ULP) has put in place programmes that would enable the party compete favourably in the 2011 general elections.

ULP president, Sakwiba Sikota, said the party has embarked on a daily recruitment membership’s exercise.

Mr. Sikota said in an interview in Lusaka today that the party membership has been growing since the recruitment exercise started.

He added that a lot of people have shown interest of joining the opposition ULP.

He also said the party has put in place continuous programmes that would help in developing the party’s manifesto.

Mr. Sikota further said that ULP has been informing Zambians on what the party’s intentions were and what the party would stand for in 2011.

He said ULP has also been participating and contributing to different national issues affecting the country.

He said, with the different programmes put in place, the party would make the party much stronger by 2011.

Mr. Sikota noted that ULP was still a force to reckon with in the country’s politics, adding that the people of Zambia should not look down on the party.

He said the ULP was still very popular and that the party had support not only in Lusaka but also in other parts of the country.

ZANIS/AJN/KSH/ENDS

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has welcomed the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) for deciding to hold a summit for political Party Presidents.

CPD Executive Director, Neo Simutanyi, said the dialogue would be important towards political development in the country.

Dr. Simutanyi told ZANIS in Lusaka today that the meeting is critical as it will allow political leaders to meet and discuss important political issues affecting the country.

He noted that the dialogue meeting will also bring about mutual respect and understanding among political parties in the country.

He has further encouraged representatives at the meeting to come up with constructive ideas that are aimed at improving the current political situation in the nation.

Dr. Simutanyi also advised that there is need for politicians not to have different positions after the meeting but to agree on common issues that will benefit all Zambians.

Dr. Simutanyi, who is a political analyst, added that ZCID should also consider consulting other stakeholders to make their submissions if the meeting is to produce goods results.

He explained that stakeholders such as civil society groups, members of the public, economists and the church should be included in the planning.

He added that holding a dialogue meeting is the only way political leaders will be given a diverse view of important political issues to be ironed out.

He explained that the dialogue is important towards economic and social growth of any country and therefore, there is no need for any party to shun the summit.

Dr. Simutanyi further said ZCID and political parties should sensitize people on what will be discussed during the meeting so that they could make their submissions

ZCID has set April 25, 2009 as the tentative date for a summit of political party presidents, where they are expected to discuss various issues concerning politics in the country.

Cabinet would soon sit to discuss how much money Zambia will contribute towards the rebuilding of Zimbabwe’s collapsed economy.

The Zimbabwean government, during a Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) extra-ordinary meeting held in Swaziland early this month, presented a US$10 billion to the SADC organ to help rebuild that country’s economy.

Chief Government Spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that Zambia’s official position on how much to contribute towards rebuilding Zimbabwe’s collapsed economy would only be known after cabinet sits to discuss the matter.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said government had not yet made a decision on the amount it would contribute towards the rebuilding of Zimbabwe.

He however said government was working on modalities to help the neighbouring Zimbabwe to resolve its economic crisis.

He said Zambia will also work on its financial obligation to enable her render financial assistance to Zimbabwe, which is currently seeking US$10 billion for its economic resuscitation.

Recently, Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) leaders resolved to give financial assistance to Zimbabwe to help that country come out of economic doldrums.

ZANIS/TK/KSH/ENDS

Embattled Radio Icengelo Station manager Fr Frank Bwalya has been fired from the Catholic-owned community radio station.

And Fr Bwalya has accused Government of master minding his removal from the radio station where he had been serving as Station manager in the last eight years.

Speaking live on Radio Icengelo yesterday morning, Fr Bwalya revealed that he received his expulsion letter from Ndola Diocese Bishop, Noel Oregon

Fr Bwalya has also asked Republican President, Rupiah Banda, to step down for allegedly failing to defend the Zambian Constitution.

Fr Bwalya alleged that the MMD approached and requested Bishop Oregan to silence him, but said he was glad that the Church had fired him for telling the truth and speaking for the poor and under privileged in society.

Meanwhile, Fr Bwalya accused Bishop Oregan of heeding to political calls and complaints from the ruling party to fire him from the station over anti-Government remarks he has been making on a bemba Radio Programme called “Uleta Pabwingi Tonaula.”

The Priest who started his address on air with the Zambia National Anthem, refused to give his full message on radio, saying he would only disclose the contents of his information to his followers and the Zambian people in the manner he wanted to and not dictated by the Police.

He added that while the MMD was celebrating his removal from Icengelo, he would stay quiet  for three days after which he would rise and fight all the injustices and evils in society.

Fr Bwalya said he would not go anywhere after the expulsion but would continue to serve as a volunteer worker at Icengelo Radio Station were he would be slashing grass, digging pits and clearing the gardens and flowers for free because that is where he belonged.

The Priest said he had been struck by his own people but will arise when the dust settles to ensure that a better Zambia was created in 2011.

He also disclosed that he has no intentions of forming a political party, but would use his organisation, the ‘New Liberation Struggle Change or Die Zambia’ to ensure that a new leader who loves the Zambian people genuinely was put into power in 2011.

Fr Bwalya alleged that President Banda has no genuine love for the Zambian people except for a few evil doers that he was glorifying in his Government, hence the need to vote for a new leader in 2011.

Father Bwalya said he would use his organisation to campaign for a certain leader who would scoop the 2011 Presidential elections.

Fr Bwalya said President Banda must be removed from Office for failing to grant him his constitutional right of freedom of association and assembly.

He said that President Banda had sworn to protect the constitution but the alleged failure to allow him to hold the rally calls for his resignation.

Fr Bwalya called on Government to cut the number of cabinet ministers and abolish the position of deputy ministers to ensure that funds saved from these positions could go to procure drugs and as bursaries to universities.

ZANIS/ENDS/LK/EB

Inspector General of Police, Francis Kabonde, has appealed to Copperbelt residents to be careful with some members of the clergy and civil society using the effects of the global economic crisis to upset the peace currently prevailing in the Country.

Speaking in an Interview with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Kitwe today, Mr Kabonde said destroying peace had devastating consequences and very difficult.

Mr Kabonde said restoring peace after losing it is not easy, hence the need for the clergy and civil society to remain calm as the number of people losing jobs increased due to the credit crunch.

He said Zambians must be careful with people who were taking advantage of the credit crunch to fun trouble in the country, saying Zambia was not the only country whose companies closing were and citizens losing jobs due to the global economic crisis.

He disclosed that police had deployed over 4000 officers from Lusaka and round the Copperbelt to maintain law and order following the insistence by Radio Icengelo Station Manager, Fr Frank Bwalya, to go ahead with his rally which was canceled by police.

He said police were interested in trouble-makers because they were servants of the people employed to keep peace and ensure that it was maintained at all times.

Mr Kabonde said about 1,500 police officers from Lusaka were deployed to Kitwe while another 2,500 Copperbelt-based law enforcers were also deployed to ensure that the lives of innocent citizens were protected.

He, however, commended Fr Bwalya for changing his mind over his intentions to go ahead with the planned public rally in the spirit of peace and tranquility.

Mr Kabonde added that the police were happy that fr Bwalya preached peace to his followers and made his intentions for 2011 known to his supporters during his address which was aired on Radio Icengelo, but ssid law enforecers will continue being vigilant to ensure law and order prevail.

He, therefore, said some of the police officers that were deployed to Kitwe would be withdrawn because their was nothing peculiar in the message Fr Bwalya aired on Radio Icengelo.

The IG said the decision to cancel the rally was not because the police were compromised by government but that Zambia was a sovereign state with laws of the land which must be respected by all.

He noted that the press conference advertisements and campaigns which Fr Bwalya was running on Radio Icengelo were likely to cause a breach of peace, hence the decision by police to cancel his meeting.

He further said it has never happened in the history of Zambia for any member of the clergy or priest to hold a Public rally and admonish government over its policies as the church has always be known to preach unity and reconciliation in the land.

Mr Kabonde observed that the messages and preparations that were being made by Fr Bwalya prior to his intended public press briefing did not guarantee any peace and were in conflict with the current democratic tendencies.

He observed that the police were aware of the provisions of the constitution as regards freedom of expression and that there was need for people to take it cautiously.

The IG said there was need to have peace in order for freedom of expression to exist.

ZANIS/ENDS/LK/EB