The first phase of investigations into the Zambian Airways saga have been completed and the docket has been forwarded to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration.

Inspector General of Police, Francis Kabonde, says the probe looked into the alleged failure by Zambian Airways to remit passenger service charges to government as agents of the National Airports Corporation.

The police chief also disclosed that a warn and caution statement has been taken from all the four directors of Zambian Airways.

These include the two Nchito brothers and Post Newspapers Editor, Fred Mmembe.

He said investigations into other areas of operations by the airline are continuing.

The investigations are being carried out by the police, the Anti Corruption Commission and the Drug Enforcement Commission.

And Mr. Kabonde has reiterated that the investigations are not targeting any individual and appealed to the public to be patient.

He also said the investigations are have nothing to do with politics.

Meanwhile, the MMD Youth in Bwanamukubwa Constituency have appealed to Trasnparency International Zambia (TIZ) to put pressure on Mutembo Nchito to resign and pave way for investigations into his alleged dealings in Zambian Airways.

Youth Chairman Enock Chungu in a statement said, since Communications Minister Dora Siliya graciously resigned her Cabinet Ministerial position following the findings of the Tribunal, it is only healthy for TIZ to help in facilitating the speedy resignation of Mr. Mutembo Nchito in view of the allegations leveled against him and that investigations must be done for the truth to come out.

He described the allegations leveled against Mr. Nchito as critical which he said needed to be investigated once he stepped down for the process to be free and fair.

Mr. Chungu commended Ms. Siliya for what he termed as her smart resignation which exhibited maturity to the people of Zambia both in Government and the Private sector.

He added that the MMD Youths also want the Law Association of Zambia to help in the facilitation of Mr. Nchito’s case without unnecessary reservations.

Mr. Chungu added that the Zambain Airways issue is thorny and needs similar openness involving all stakeholders as was the case in the Dora Siliya situation.

He said Zambians want their money back which was drained in the Zambian Airways saga which could be used for other pressing issues of the country.

ZANIS/CN/CMM/PK/ENDS.

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) says the agency has embarked on the rehabilitation of silos and grain storage sheds around the country ahead of the crop marketing season that commences in June.

FRA Public Relation Manager, Mwamba Siame, said the rehabilitation of the silos and grain storage shades across the country is aimed at increasing the grain storage capacity.

Mrs. Mwamba disclosed this in an interview in Lusaka today said the rehabilitation works are on those sheds which are in deplorable state.

She said once completed the silos will have the capacity to store over 100,000 metric tones of grain.

Mrs. Mwamba said the agency in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives signed a contract with Camco of China worth US11.6 million dollars to construct and upgrade storage shades around the country.

She explained that the projects started last year and is expected to run until next year (2010).

She also said that the agency has apart from rehabilitating and upgrading the storage shades also started building new shades across the country.

Mrs. Mwamba said particular focus will be in areas in Central , Copperbelt, Northern and part of Eastern and Southern provinces.

ZANIS/GP/MKM/ENDS

A 28 year old businessman of Livingstone this morning appeared in the magistrate court for mention in a case involving the defilement of his six-week old baby.

Before Magistrate, Andrew Kasongo, was Mubu Susiku, of house number A71 Dambwa Kashitu extension, charged with defilement contrary to Section 138, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Susiku, who is the biological father to the infant, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Facts before the court were that on March 1 2009, around 21:00 hours, Susiku allegedly defiled his six-week old baby.

Magistrate Kasongo has set May 12, 2009 as date for commencement of trial.

ZANIS/ENDS/AMM/SJK

Home Affairs Minister, Kalombo Mwansa, yesterday made an on-the-spot check on the on going construction of houses for police officers in Livingstone’s old Tandabale market situated in Maramba.

Speaking shortly after inspecting the housing project, which has reached an advanced stage, Mr. Mwansa said he was impressed with the works done so far.
He commended the contractor of the project for constructing good houses which he said were of high standard and good quality.

The minister, however, said there was need to finish up the project on time so that the 68 houses under construction can be handed over to government in order for police officers to move in immediately.

Earlier, site supervisor, Samuel Willima, assured the minister that the houses would soon be completed, but was not in a position to give a specific time frame.

The minister, who is in the Southern Province on official duty, also toured the Livingstone Central Prisons before he proceeded to Katombora Reformatory School in Kazungula district.

ZANIS/ENDS/NM/EB

Ministry of Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Ndiyoi Mutiti has reiterated government’s commitment to facilitate the repatriation of Democratic Republic Congolese (DRC) refugees who are in Zambian refugee camps.

And Ms. Mutiti has appealed to Congolese refugees to take advantage of the facilities that have been put in place by the Zambian government to repatriate them.

She said according to the survey which was carried out in January this year, at least 18,549 refugees are expected to return to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Ms. Mutiti added that refuges should freely return to their country because peace and stability has now returned to DRC.

She was speaking at the official closing of the fifth session of the tripartite commission on voluntary repatriation of Congolese Refugees living in Zambia.

And speaking at the same meeting, DRC Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and Security of Congo, Sanda Byanza said the two day meeting, which was among the Zambian Government, Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was a success.

Mr. Byanza said the meeting was a milestone in the lives of refugees living in Zambia.

He has since called on the refugees to corporate with the Zambian government by returning to their country, adding that their citizenship was needed for the development of that country.

The tripartite commission agreed to resume the organized voluntary repatriation programmes on May 19th, 2009 and this programme is scheduled to end this year.

ZANIS/AC/KSH/ENDS

THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has supported President Rupiah Banda’s plans to reorganise the Attorney General’s chambers if the measure will enhance efficiency.

Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, LAZ president, Elijah Banda said the association was in support of the president’s decision.

“Any such change is welcome if it will help enhance efficiency in the operations of the office of the Attorney General’s chambers,” Mr Banda said.

He said the Attorney General’s chambers had performed well as it was run by eminent lawyers who, by LAZ standards, had done extremely well.

Mr Banda said LAZ had so far not discovered any shortcomings in the way the lawyers in the Attorney General’s chambers had been operating.

He said despite the lawyers at the chambers working well, the president, as the appointing authority, had the powers to make changes.

“The president is the appointing authority and he is at liberty to make changes where he sees the need to do so. For as long as he considers to do so, he has the legal right,” Mr Banda said.

He said the president could not be compelled to divulge reasons for the changes, as when making appointment for such officers, he did not inform the public why he had done so.

“It is not important for the president to give the public the reason for the changes because the decision is entirely in the hands of the appointing authority,” Mr Banda said.

On Tuesday, President Banda said he would reorganise the Attorney General’s chambers to prevent the recurrence of confusion, which surrounded the provision of legal advice to former Transport and Communication minister, Dora Siliya.

The president noted that the tribunal found that Ms Siliya was somewhat misled by the confusion in the Attorney-General’s chambers and it was, therefore, necessary to reorganise it.
[Times of Zambia ]