Katuba member of parliament, Jonas Shakafuswa, and Mpulungu member of parliament, Lameck Chibombamilimo have been expelled from the MMD.

MMD national secretary, Katele Kalumba, announced the expulsion of the two MPs during a press briefing in Lusaka on Tuesday.

Dr. Kalumba said the NEC made the decision during a meeting held to discuss various matters related to discipline in the party.

He said the MMD will soon inform the speaker of the national assembly about the decision.

Dr. Kalumba said NEC has evidence indicating that the two officials have arrogantly made statements in the media and conducted themselves in a manner which has embarrassed the party.

This was after they were relieved of their duties as deputy ministers.

Last Thursday, President Rupiah Banda fired Mr. Shakafuswa who was Science and Technology deputy Minister and his counter part at Energy Mr. Chibombamilimo.
/ZNBC/NEWS

The civil society on the Copperbelt Province has petitioned Vice President George Kunda to immediately drop Task Force Prosecutor Mutembo Nchito.

Led by Mufulira District Commissioner Daiford Mulwa, the civil society handed over their petition to Copperbelt Provincial Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima at the provincial Administration office this morning.

Installation Forum spokesperson Dr Paul Mulenga said there was need for Mutembo Nchito to be dropped with immediate effect because it was not right for him to continue as Task Force prosecutor while he is the executive director of Zambian Airways, a defaulting company he claimed owed Zambia a lot of money.

“ ( Mr ) Mutembo Nchito can not continue to be on the task force when he executive director of Zambian Airways a company which owes our public institutions a lot of money that can be channelled to developmental projects,” Dr Mulenga said.

He said criminal charges should be instituted against Mr Nchito as there was conflict of interest surrounding the matter.

And Constituency Concerned Citizens Forum (CCCF) said that the embattled Task force Prosecutor should step down on moral grounds.

CCCF member Wilbroad Mutoloka said it be prudent for Mr Nchito to step down to allow for the smooth flow of justice.

Authentic Advocates for Justice and Democracy (AAJD) Publicity Secretary Josephat Changwe has applauded the New Generation Party for speaking out against Mr Nchito.

Mr Changwe said government should immediately appoint an inquiry on the operations of the Zambian Airways so that the nation could know the truth.

ZANIS/PC/Ends/MM

THE Patriotic Front (PF) in Livingstone says the party did not perform well in the just ended presidential election because the party structures at the grassroots level are weak.

PF Livingstone Constituency Chairman Cosmos Mwamba said the PF membership did not exist at the grassroots adding that the party only existed at the constituency level.

”There are no structures of PF as at now on the ground. We only have a structure at the constituency level but we want this to change so that we can be more organised in 2011,” he said.

He said in order to address the problem and to avoid a repeat of the 2008 Presidential Election, the party had embarked on a mass recruitment of members.

Mr Mwamba said the party was doing everything possible to ensure that it emerges victorious in the 2011 presidential and parliamentary elections.

He also dismissed claims hat the party was just for Bembas and Easterners adding that everyone was free to join the party.
ZANIS/ENDS/FM/MM

The wife of second republican president, Frederick Chiluba, Regina has been jailed for three and half years for illegally receiving government funds and property.

Regina Chiluba was found guilty of receiving stolen government funds to buy three houses on the Copperbelt and and over three hundred thousand United States dollars while former President Chiluba was in office.

Principal Resident Magistrate, Charles Kafunda, on Tuesday convicted and sentenced Mrs. Chiluba on four counts.

Magistrate Kafunda told a courtroom packed with Chiluba supporters that she had failed to explain how she had received the questionable properties and goods.

“These were serious allegations and were casually explained by the accused, and I now convict you accordingly and sentence you to three-and-a-half years simple imprisonment,” Kafunda said.

A shocked silence filled the court when the conviction was read out. Her husband Dr Chiluba shook his head.

Some relatives began to silently weep and had to be helped out and one fainted inside the court. Others began to sing gospel songs.

Soon after judgment was passed, a court clerk took Mrs Chiluba’s fingerprints while the Dr. Chiluba joined her in the dock.

She was then led to a waiting car and driven to the Lusaka Central Prison to begin her sentence.

As he left the court, Dr. Chiluba said his wife’s sentence would just be a “passing phase.”

Political Party cadres have been banned from attending proceedings of the tribunal constituted to probe corruption allegation against Communications and Transport Minister, Dora Siliya.

Tribunal Chairman Judge, Dennis Chirwa, issued the directive today, a day after MMD harrased former Communications Minister, William Harrington.

Mr. Harrington is one of the individuals and civic groups that have petitioned the manner in which Ms.Siliya handled the partial sale of ZAMTEL among other things.

Judge Chirwa further directed that any cadre dressed in political attire will not be allowed in the court premises.

Earlier Judge Chirwa summoned MMD Presidential advisor, William Banda, who had been accused of inciting the cadres to insult Mr. Harrington. But Mr. Banda denied the accusation.

Meanwhile, the tribunal has started sitting with Mr. Harrington being the first witness.

[ZNBC]

President Rupiah Banda has appealed to the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) supporters to refrain from harassing people at the ongoing Tribunal investigating the conduct of Transport and Communications Minister Honourable Dora Siliya.

President Banda said the complainants and witnesses at the Tribunal should be allowed to testify without any interference so that the truth can be established.

In a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by State House Chief Analyst for Press and Public Relations ,Dickson Jere , Mr. Banda said he does not want would-be witnesses to the Tribunal to use the presence of MMD supporters as scapegoats for failing to testify.

“Let us allow the Tribunal to conduct its work in a transparent and impartial manner. Every witness should be allowed to testify without interference from anybody,” President Banda said.

The President said he was the believer in the rule of law and therefore would not condone members of the MMD or indeed any other political party to intimidate or interfere with the ongoing Tribunal.

President Banda appealed for calm among the MMD supporters saying they should refrain themselves from harassing people, including Journalists, even when provoked. He said violence should not be condoned at any given time.

ENDS/EB/AM/ZANIS

Copperbelt Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) Youth Chairman Richard Mofya has been suspended with immediate effect.

The development follows allegations linking him to a group of individuals allegedly discrediting Republican President Rupiah Banda.

Mr Mofya is said to have partnered with a pressure group headed by one Mr Kaputula of Ndola by working against Mr Banda through issuing of disrespectful remarks and events aimed at tarnishing the image of the President.

Copperbelt MMD Provincial Youth Publicity Secretary Morgan Ntankula said in a statement obtained by ZANIS today, that Mr Mofya has been given aw week in which to exculpate himself before a final decision will be made on his future in the ruling party.

Mr Ntankula said that the Provincial Vice Chairlady Mrs Dorothy Mukulama will take over as the MMD youth chairman in Mr Mofya’s absence.

He added that the ruling MMD was proud to announce that the party had received nine opposition Patriotic Front (PF)members of parliament and thirty-one councillors who he said have indicated their willingness to rejoin the MMD.

ZANIS/CK/ENDS/MM