The MMD has distanced it self from party members engaged in business transactions with government ministries using the name of the party.

Meanwhile the Police Service has received correspondence from the opposition PF regarding payments made to MMD members at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

MMD National Secretary, Katele Kalumba, has directed the party’s treasury to study the allegations and subsequently submit a detailed report to his office.

Dr. Kalumba said in a statement on Thursday that the report will then be submitted to the acting party president for action.

He said the MMD does not use its influence to help party members or supporters to gain advantage in their business transactions.

Dr. Kalumba said persons who support the MMD do so because they share the party’s ideological positions on good governance, economic empowerment of citizens, poverty reduction and the fight against corruption.

MMD deputy national Secretary, Jeff Kaande, is reported to have written to Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Susan Sikaneta, asking her to pay over K1 billion to seven food suppliers who had pledged financial support to the ruling party.

ZNBC

Chief Justice, Ernest Sakala, has constituted a four member tribunal to probe alleged abuse of office and corruption against Transport and Communications Minister, Dora Siliya.

The tribunal to be chaired by Justice, Dennis Chirwa, from the Supreme Court, starts sittings on March, 2 at the Supreme Court.

Other members of the tribunal are Justice, Peter Chitengi from the Supreme Court and Justice Hamaundu from the High Court.

Deputy Director of the subordinate courts, Maka Phiri, will be the secretary.

This is contained in a statement issued to ZNBC news by Registrar and Director of court operations, Mwamba Chanda.

The proceedings of the tribunal will be open to the public.

The setting up of the tribunal follows a petition to the Chief Justice by former Transport and Communications Minister, William Harrington.

He had petitioned to investigate Ms. Siliya for allegedly breaching the parliamentary and ministerial code of conduct Act.

Civil society organisations also presented a petition to the Chief Justice over the manner in which Ms. Siliya engaged RP Capital Partners of Cayman Island to value Zamtel assets.
/ZNBC/NEWS

President Rupiah Banda said  he has documents proving that former finance Minister, Ng’andu Magande, was going to allow Mr. Mmembe and his colleagues to get away with the debt.

He said the Post Newspaper had opted for the candidature of Mr. Magande during the October 30, 2008 presidential election so that he could cancel the loan.

The President said this when he addressed thousands of MMD cadres who matched to State House on Thursday in a show of solidarity with his leadership.

Mr. Banda also said he will not be compelled to act against the media by questionable persons at the Post Newspaper.

He said the Post which has been attacking him will only be closed by the huge debt owed to various public institutions.

Mr  Banda has demanded that Zambian Airways settles the 29 million US dollars debt it owes various public institutions.

Mr. Banda says the money could help build a number of schools and hospitals to serve the people.

The President says he was not there when Post Newspaper Editor, Fred M’membe, and his colleagues borrowed money to invest in the closed Airline.

/ZNBC/NEWS

President Rupiah Banda has with immediate effect fired Science and Technology Deputy Minister, Jonas Shakafuswa and Energy Deputy Minister, Lameck Chibombamilimo.

Mr. Banda announced the dismissal of the two when he addressed thousands of MMD cadres who matched to State House on Thursday to show solidarity with his leadership.

The President also said he would also dismiss MMD MPs who are not loyal to the party and face them in their constituencies during by-elections.

Mr. Banda warned that he will take action against all government and MMD leaders speaking ill of his administration.

He said he is aware that there are some bad eggs within government and the MMD whom he will be getting rid of.

The President said as republican President and Acting MMD president he will not tolerate indiscipline.

Earlier, MMD Lusaka Province Acting Chairperson, Cleophas Chimembe said his members will not sit idle while President Banda is being insulted.

Mr. Chimembe said personal attacks on the president will not derail the MMD’s commitment to fulfilling promises made during the last election campaign.

Zambia went to the polls on 30th October,2008 in a presidential election following the death of President Levy Mwanawasa.

THE registration of the London High Court judgement against former President Chiluba and 21 others in the Lusaka High Court has stalled.

Attorney-General Mumba Malila said this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.

“Unfortunately, that has stalled after the death of Judge Japhet Banda who was presiding over the matter,” Mr Malila said.

He said this was not under Government’s control and that there was nothing much that could be done.
Mr Malila said Government was still waiting for the Judge-in-charge to allocate the matter.

Two years ago, London High Court Judge, Peter Smith reduced damages against Dr Chiluba to US$57.4 million from the US$58.3 million he was earlier ordered to pay the Zambian government in connection with the Zamtrop and BK conspiracies and for the breach of fiduciary duty.

This is according to Judge Smith’s final judgement against each of the 21 defendants in the London civil case brought by the Attorney-General of Zambia.

“Upon handing down of judgement in this matter following the hearing on June 7, 8 and 11, 2007, it is ordered that there be final judgement against each of the defendants in the following sums being inclusive of interest and credits required to be given to the claimant (Government) in respect of recoveries made,” Judge Smith’s order read in part.

The Judge also ruled that a Mr Meer, a partner in a London law firm, Meer Care and Desai, the first defendant, pay US$11.135,665.61
Former Zambia Security Intelligence Services director-general Xavier Chungu was ordered to pay US$57,261,390.72 for conspiracy and another 56,442,027.90 for breach of fiduciary duty, among others.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Twelve Members of Parliament representing 50 others from the opposition and independent will tomorrow present a petition to Republican President Rupiah Banda seeking redress to the displaced people of Sichifulo in Southern province.

The 50 members of Parliament are from the Patriotic Front-PF, Forum for Democracy and Development-FDD, the United Party for National Development-UPND and Independent MPs.

Namwala MP Robbie Chizhyuka who is the Spokesperson for the 50 told ZANIS in Lusaka today that the 50 MPs are seeking the President’s intervention to the plight of over 8, 500 people of Sichifulo who have been forced out of Sichifulo Game Management Area where they have lived for 23 years.

Major Chizhyuka who is also Chairperson for the Indigenous People’s Association said that the 12 MPs will be led by to Statehouse by Independent Luena MP, Charles Milupi, PF Chimwemwe MP, Willie Nsanda and UPND Katombora MP, Regina Musokotwane.

Major Chizhyuka explained that the people of Sichifulo were displaced last year to pave way for hunting and photographic safari by a named foreign company.

He explained that at the time of displacement between November and December last year, the people of Sichifulo were both agriculturalists and pastoralists producing over 7,381 by 50 kilogram bags of maize and owned 7,432 herds of cattle.

Major Chizhyuka said the petition will be handed to the President at Statehouse at 14:30 hours.

ENDS