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NGOs told to keep away from Zambian Airways probe

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GOVERNMENT has told non-governmental organisations and the civil society to leave investigations on Zambian Airways to competent law enforcement agencies.

Deputy Minister of Justice, Todd Chilembo, said in a statement released in Lusaka yesterday that The Post newspaper was allegedly using the NGOs trade unions and the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to try and have “side investigations”.

“I note with concern that there are attempts to open up side investigations by The Post newspaper using non-government organizations, trade unions and the Law association of Zambia to investigate these matters,” he said.

He said that these organizations were not law enforcement agencies mandated to probe financial dealings in Zambian Airways.

“These organizations which have been invited to carry out the investigations should know that the Zambian law only allows legally constituted investigative wings to carry out such investigations. Therefore, they should not involve themselves in matters which are beyond their competence and mandate,” he said.

Mr Chilembo said that nobody was above the law and that the outcome of the investigations should not be preempted as they were serious and involved a lot of public funds.

He said that the investigations on financial dealings and activities at Zambian Airways were started following public complaints.

He said that these complaints included those from Members of Parliament (MPs) who demanded that law enforcement agencies follow up the matter.

“These investigations are now ongoing and the law enforcement agencies will make the final determination after gathering evidence,” Mr Chilembo said.

He said that the law enforcement agencies were professional and would give an opportunity to everyone involved to be heard before taking action, if any.

Siliya won’t be suspended says Kunda

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VICE-President George Kunda has said that President Banda will not suspend Minister of Communications and Transport Dora Siliya pending investigations of the tribunal into allegations leveled against her as no law warranted such an action.

And former Minister of Communications and Transport, William Harrington has asked President Banda to suspend Ms Siliya to facilitate investigations into allegations of abuse of authority and corruption.
At media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Kunda said the President would only act upon the report of the tribunal.

“There is no law or precedent which compels the Minister in question to go on leave or her suspension pending the conclusion of such an inquiry,”
Mr Kunda said.

He said that the tribunal to be set up by the Acting Chief Justice Ireen Mambimilima would conduct an inquiry not a criminal trial as Ms Siliya has not been charged with a criminal offence.

The Vice-President said there had been two of such tribunals set up to investigate ministers and it was on record that these ministers never went on leave nor were they suspended.

He said at the end of it’s work, the tribunal may make recommendations to the President in accordance with Section 14 of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act Cap 16 as regards to actions, criminal prosecution or other further actions as it thinks fit.

“The President will only act upon the report of the tribunal after it is rendered. This is the position of the appointing authority,” Mr Kunda said.

He said it was Government’s understanding that the tribunal to be set up was as good as a commission of inquiry under the Inquiries Act, Chapter 41, from which the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act borrows some of its provisions in Section 15 (10).

And in a letter to President Banda, Mr Harrington commended him for the support he has rendered to the decision by Justice Mambilima to appoint a tribunal to probe Ms Siliya.

He said President Banda’s directive to the Secretary to the Treasury Likolo Ndalamei to fund the tribunal that would be set up under the Ministerial and Parliamentary Code of Conduct was testimony of his personal commitment to fight corruption at all levels.
Mr Harrington however asked the President to suspend Ms Siliya from official duties in order to allow for a free and fair investigation against her.

Ms Siliya is alleged to have awarded contracts for evaluating Zamtel’s assests and supply of a radar system at the Lusaka and Livingstone International Airports.

“I am requesting you to consider exercising your prerogative as provided in the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia to suspend, in public interest, Ms Siliya from her official duties pending the outcome of the tribunal,” Mr Harrington said in a letter to President Banda.

He said that this was necessary and expedient to allow for a free, fair, transparent and unhindered investigative process by the tribunal.

Mr Harrington said thorough investigations may not be conducted if Ms Siliya was allowed to continue discharging her duties as officials at her ministry and outside may wish to testify or could be summoned by the tribunal.

He said such persons and witnesses may naturally feel inhibited to do so if Ms Siliya continued heading the ministry.

President Banda has welcomed Justice Mambilima’s decision to create a tribunal to probe the Minister and hopes that all those that were involved in this debate would allow the tribunal to do its work in a professional manner.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Renard Looking to Avoid Bumpy Road At CHAN

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Herve Renard faces his biggest test as Zambia coach since taking charge last May when he leads his men out against hosts Cote d’Ivoire in their opening Group A game of the CHAN tournament in Abidjan on Sunday evening.

After two forgettable tournament outings, Renard knows the stakes are high at CHAN even with a modest squad at his disposal while his reputation as Zambia coach too will come under some scrutiny.

The situation hasn’t been helped after Zambia’s preliminary group stage ejection from the 2008 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in January where the graph slumped rather than soared as his side won one, drew one and lost their final Group B game.

Earlier on in August, things didn’t go well for the Frenchman at the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup in his first major tournament in charge where Zambia finished third in a competition they qualified to the quarterfinals on bye.

Against Cote d’Ivoire, Renard’s misfiring strike force must show some character to give Zambia a good start and the pressure will be more on the Zanaco forward Given Singuluma to inspire.

Singuluma sparked briefly at Cecafa with a brace in Zambia’s opening game against Djibouti before the goals dried up in the teams subsequent two Group B matches against Kenya and Sudan.

The midfield however, is an easy one for Renard where he is blessed with some reliable personal.

Defensive midfielder Kebby Hachipuka is an authoritative figure every time he takes to the field for Zambia but should Renard choose to be predictable, the Green Eagles player be on the bench with Lusaka Dynamos’ William Njobvu favored to start.

If attack was a problem for Zambia then one should look at Renards defence.

Meanwhile, in a dramatic turn of events, Elijah Tana is set to join the team on Monday in time for Wednesday second Group A game against Senegal in Abidjan.

However, Nyambe Mulenga from Zesco United and Francis Kasonde of Power Dynamos will share the leadership duties in defence while Renard could replace Tana with George Chilufya (Not to be mistaken with the ex-Nkana defender) and hand the promising Nchanga Rangers defender his international debut.

Zesco goalkeeper Jacob Banda has a serious problem dealing with set pieces and it will be interesting to see whether Renard plays his inconsistent home-based first choice number one.

Govt concerned with depreciation of Kwacha

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Government says it is disturbed with the current volatility of the Kwacha on the foreign exchange market.

Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, said the continued depreciation of the local currency against the US Dollar is unjustifiable.

Dr. Muskotawne said this when he addressed various stakeholders in the financial market at his office in Lusaka today.

He said there is need to revisit the foreign exchange supply in the country as a measure of safeguarding the Kwacha from further depreciation.

Dr. Musokotwane maintained that the rate at which the local currency is trading against the US Dollar is too high to be attributed to the fall in Copper prices and the global economic crisis.

He has since urged major players in the financial market to ensure that they create a balance in trade adding that the current trends in the foreign exchange rates are totally unjustifiable.

And speaking at the same occasion Bank of Zambia Governor, Caleb Fundanga, urged major business entities in the country to desist from trading local goods in foreign exchange.

Dr. Fundanga warned that the trend may lead to instability in the local currency which could lead to an unfriendly business environment.

He, further, urged business houses such as manufacturers to ensure that they buy foreign exchange quantities that are bearable to the market.

In attendance at the meeting were representatives from the ministry of nergy, Nyiombo transport, Zain Zambia, Omnia Fertilisers and Millers Association of Zambia.

Others representatives in attendance were from Simba Milling Company, Superior Milling, Zambeef and Zamanita.

ZANIS/CM/PC/ENDS/SJK

M’membe and Nchito told to stop panicking over ZA credit scam

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ronnie_shikapwashaGovernment has dismissed media reports suggesting that government is plotting to arrest private Post Newspapers proprietor, Fred M’membe, and defunct Zambian Airways Chief Executive Officer, Mutembo Nchito, for alleged theft by agent.

Chief Government Spokesperson and Information Minister, Ronnie Shikapwasha, described as untruthful the claim by the Post Newspaper edition of February 20, 2008 that government is planning to nab the duo for the inability by the defunct Zambian Airways to meet its financial abligations with National Airports Corporation.

Leutenant General Shikapwasha, however, indicated that investigative agencies of government are probing Zamban Airways as a follow-up observation made by Members of Parliament concerning the financial relationship between Zambian Airways and National Airports Corporation and other institutions.

“I want to state that whereas it is true that investigative agencies of government are probing Zambian Airways as a folow-up to observations made by members of Parliament concerning the financial relationship between Zambian airways and NAC and other institutions, there is absolute no truth in the claim President Banda or government is plotting to silence the two over the matter or indeed on any other matter,” Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha said.

Gen. Shikapwasha told ZANIS in a Statement that the investigative agencies were simply performing their normal operations, as they have done in many other cases involving other institutions in the past.

He explained that the agencies had competent professionals that have their own jurisdiction to decide on the course of action to take on cases upon completion of investigations.

He appealed for maximum cooperation to be given to investigative agencies to enable them complete investigations expeditiously.

“What the investigative agencies are doing is one of their normal activities  as agencies have done in many other cases in the past. As in any matter investigated by those agencies, the principle of innocence until proven guilty is observed to the letter. There is no need to panic over mere investigations,” he said

He said there is no need to panic for people involved in the Zambian Airways financial credit scam because the principle of innocence until proven guilty is observed.

ZANIS/KC/ENDS/SJK

Tana Set To Miss CHAN

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Veteran defender Elijah Tana will for the successive time in 13 months be missing from a major continental tournament involving Zambia.

And Herve Renard’s 21-member Caf African National Championship (CHAN) team were by press time Friday afternoon expected to land in Abidjan ahead of Sundays opening Group A match against hosts Cote d’Ivoire.

Tana is now confirmed a no-show for the CHAN that kicks off in Cote d’Ivoire this Sunday after he failed to travel to Abidjan and opted instead to sign a deal with promoted Angolan club Clube Recreativo da Caála.

The call was surely an easy one than the aging defender would want to admit and who is in the twilight of his footballing career.

Tana’s decision is clearly based on economics reigning supreme over patriotism.

With Caala who are believed to have offered him a one year deal, Tana will have a salary waiting at the end of this month that makes more sense than the uncertain wait for a CHAN allowance from Faz.

With Tana ruled out and Hichani Himoonde also absent due to injury, it leaves Francis Kasonde of Power Dynamos and Zesco United Nyambe Mulenga as Renard’s most internationally experienced hands in defence at CHAN.

Meanwhile, this is the second time Tana’s loyalty to the cause has been questioned.

Early last year, a half-fit Tana missed action at the 2008 Africa cup of Nations in the midst of a national outcry for his inclusion in the final team in a must-he-mustn’t-he situation.

Ex-Zambia coach Patrick Phiri and former Faz president Teddy Mulonga were attacked for dropping a wobbling Tana and whose valuable experience by the duos critics was said to be necessary for Chipolopolo’s seemingly uncertain cause in Ghana.

Am sure Phiri and Mulonga should be feeling a little sense of vindication this time around.

Meanwhile, construction of the multi billion Kwacha 40,000 seater Ndola Stadium is expected to begin in 3 weeks and will take 26 months to complete.

The project will be handled by Anhui Foreign Economic Construction company of China at a cost of US$70 million.

FRA reaps over K2 billion profit from maize exports

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Government has disclosed that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) made more than K2 billion as profit from maize exports during the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 crop marketing season.

Agriculture and Cooperative Deputy Minster Albert Mulonga told parliament today that the Agency exported about 246 Metric Tonnes of maize to seven countries in the southern African region.

He named the countries as Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania.

Mr. Mulonga explained that during the 2006/2007 marketing season, the country exported a total of 60,730 MT of maize valued at K58, 103 billion were as in 2007/2008 season the FRA exported 241,000,64MT at a value of K185, 906 billion.

He also disclosed that during this some period the profits were broken down as K6, 852 billion for 2006/2007 and K2, 696 billion for 2007/2008.

Mr. Mulonga was responding to a question asked by United Party National Development (UPND)’s Luampa Member of Parliament (MP) Mwiya Limata who wanted to know how much profit was made by FRA from maize exports in the following years 2006 ,2007 and 2008 and to which countries .

And Agriculture and Cooperative Minister Brian Chituwo clarified that these exports have nothing to do with current maize shortages in the country.

Dr. Chituwo explained that FRA only exports maize to neighboring countries when the country has enough grains to satisfy the local market.

Dr. Chituwo was answering to a question raised by UNPD Monze central MP Jack Muiimbu who wanted to know why FRA was exporting the staple food when the country does not have enough for the local market.

He said FRA is an Agency mandated by government to safe guard the food reservoirs of the country, adding that it only exports when it has more than enough.

He explained that the reason why FRA exports its surplus it is because it is the only way it raises funds to pay back the small scale farmers that supply maize to the Agency.

The Minster further said that FRA is expected to use some of the profits to improve it storage capacity by rehabilitating and constructing more maize storage facilities across the country.

ZANIS/MM/AM/ENDS

RB welcomes tribunal to probe Siliya

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President Rupiah Banda has welcomed the setting up of a tribunal by Acting Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima to probe allegations leveled against Transport and Communications Minister Dora Siliya.

State House Chief Analyst for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere confirmed this in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr. Banda hoped that all those involved in the ongoing debate would allow the tribunal established under the Ministerial and Parliamentary code of conduct to conduct its work in a professional manner.

He said he has since written to the Acting Chief Justice informing her that he had instructed the Secretary to the Treasury to make financial provisions for the tribunal’s operations.

“I wish to say that I am happy that the tribunal has been constituted and I am confident that justice will prevail,” President Banda said.

The President has also since appealed to all Zambians to refrain from making comments, which could be prejudicial on the matter as it is now before a competent tribunal.

He said the nation should wait for the final verdict of the tribunal after conducting its proceedings.

ZANIS/AJN/AM/ENDS

Rabid dog victims in Itezhi tezhi rises

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The number of people bitten by a suspected rabid dog in Masemu compound in Itezhi-tezhi district of Southern Province has risen to 22. According to Itezhi-tezhi police and the District hospital, the number of people that have been bitten by the dog has increased from 7 to 22 sending panic in the local people who are now living in fear of the rabid dog.

Bernard Kawenga, one of the victims, said that he was bitten by the dog on Wednesday as he was coming from visiting a friend in Masemu compound.Mr Kawenga said his waist has been severely hurt by dog bites.He said that he could not be given medicine at the Itezhi-tezhi district hospital because the drug is unavailable at the hospital.

However, he disclosed that he has since started the treatment doses bought from Mumbwa following a K300, 000 donation made by fellow marketeers.

When contacted by ZANIS for comment, Itezhi-tezhi district hospital authorities said that the hospital has no medicine for dog bites adding that all those affected have been referred to buy the medicine from Mumbwa at K300, 000.

Itezhi-tezhi District MMD chairperson who had his relatives bitten by the dog has appealed to the District Veterinary office and the police to hunt and kill the dog before many people are bitten by it.
He said that 22 people who have been bitten cannot afford to buy medicine at K300, 000 from Mumbwa.

He said that presence of the dog in Masemu Compound has created fear and panic among parents as they feared to send children to school because of fear of being bitten by the dog.

“We appeal to the veterinary department to hunt the dog that is terrorizing people in Masemu compound ,the dog started biting people on Monday and yet the police and the veterinary department have not yet killed the dog and it is equally biting other dogs” he said.

On Tuesday this week, seven people were severely bitten by a suspected rabid dog in Chibloya and Masemu compound.

ZANIS/ENDS/FM/CLM.

Late Bob Litana granted a State Funeral

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President Rupiah Banda has declared a State Funeral for the late Bob Litana, a former Cabinet Minister and Member of the Central Committee in the United National Independence Party, UNIP.

Secretary to the Cabinet, Joshua Kanganja, in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today, explained that the move is in recognition of the distinguished service of late Litana rendered to the nation.

Dr. Kanganja said the late Mr. Litana, who died yesterday, the 19th of February, would be buried on Sunday 22nd February in Ndola at his farm near Fiwale Mission.

Dr. Kanganja directed that all flags should fly at half mast and public functions of an entertainment nature should be postponed or cancelled.

ENDS/AC/AM/ZANIS

Citizen calls for land audit

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A senior citizen has called on Government to budget for the total Zambian land audit in the next budget so that Zambia could plan effectively on its land utilization for productivity.

Mr. Humphrey Ngulube told ZANIS in Ndola today that it was important for Government to institute a land audit with the help of donors for effective planning.

He said the nation needed to know the amount of land that was idle, partially being used and effectively being used.

He said it was important also to know the soil types and how they could best be utilised in fighting poverty through food production.

Mr. Ngulube added that there was need to ascertain the total useful land hectarage as a country, province by province which should further be broken into districts.

He said there was a lot of land between towns and provinces which was either idle or under utilised and the amounts of this land was not yet on Government books.

Mr. Ngulube advised that it should be public information on how much land was in reserve forests, game areas and traditional hands so that the national planning process for development should capture the whole picture.

He said if Government had on its books the total land which was not being utilised, it could be easy to direct and redirect investments coming from outside to needy areas.

He proposed that land audit should also become a periodic Government exercise like the taking of population census so that after every ten years, the nation needed to have current data on the actual land use.

ZANIS/CN/EML/ENDS

Pictures of the week

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AN unidentified job seeker displaying a placard along Church road in Lusaka
AN unidentified job seeker displaying a placard along Church road in Lusaka
BABY Faith Mwape recuperating at the University Teaching Hospital after surgery last month
BABY Faith Mwape recuperating at the University Teaching Hospital after surgery last month
MUFULIRA MP Majory Masiye spotted at Parliament speaking on the phone
MUFULIRA MP Majory Masiye spotted at Parliament speaking on the phone

KABWATA MP Given Lubinda and his counpertpart from Munali at the Supreme Court after filing in a petition against Dora Siliya's alleged ministerial misconduct
KABWATA MP Given Lubinda and his counpertpart from Munali at the Supreme Court after filing in a petition against Dora Siliya's alleged ministerial misconduct

MUNALI MP Mumbi Phiri spotted at the Supreme Court
MUNALI MP Mumbi Phiri spotted at the Supreme Court

VICE president George Kunda with Dora Siliya addressing a press briefing in Lusaka on the sale of ZAMTEL
VICE president George Kunda with Dora Siliya addressing a press briefing in Lusaka on the sale of ZAMTEL
PF youths matching along Independence avenue
PF youths matching along Independence avenue
PF cadres
PF cadres
PF cadres singing party songs
PF cadres singing party songs
FINANCE minister Situmbeko Musokotwane making a presentation when he appeared before the parliamentary committee on estimates
FINANCE minister Situmbeko Musokotwane making a presentation when he appeared before the parliamentary committee on estimates
THE shortage of mealie-meal has continued to bite in Lusaka and other areas. Here Lusaka residents mob a National Milling Corporation outlet for the commodity
THE shortage of mealie-meal has continued to bite in Lusaka and other areas. Here Lusaka residents mob a National Milling Corporation outlet for the commodity

LT Update

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This is to let all our visitors know that the lusakatimes.com website will not be available from midnight Zambia time to facilitate a major upgrade of the website.

We hope to bring up the site by Saturday afternoon or earlier if all goes well. We anticipate teething problems after the upgrade as this is a major upgrade we shall be doing. That explains why we have chosen Friday night to give us enough time in case things wrong. We hope the ample weekend time will enable us to have the site back to 70% operational capacity by Monday morning.

Sincere apologies for any inconvenience this upgrade may cause.

Team LT

KCM retrenches 700 at Nkana

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KONKOLA Copper Mines (KCM) has laid off 700 workers from Nkana Integrated Business Unit smelter in Kitwe, company spokesperson Raul Kharkar confirmed yesterday.

He said the decision to shut down the smelter was purely technical.
Mr Kharkar said the reason behind the shutting down of the Nkana smelter was that the company had started using its newly constructed smelter, which was put up at a cost of US $370 million.

“Yes I can confirm that the Nkana smelter has been shut down but right now I am in Lusaka so I don’t have the exact figure of the affected employees although I know that it’s between 600 and 700,” Mr Kharkar said.

The KCM spokesperson said the company had, however, absorbed some of the miners that had lost their jobs at the Nkana smelter into the newly constructed one.

And National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (Numaw) national secretary, Goodwell Kaluba said in a separate interview that a number of people at the smelter was given retrenchment letters.
[Times of Zambia]

I was not coerced to support govt , Traditional Ruler

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CHIEF Siachitema of Kalomo has refuted recent media reports that he was coerced by southern province minister

Daniel Munkombwe to issue statements in support of government’s move of evicting over 8,500 settlers of Sichifulo game management area (GMA) of Kazungula district.

Chief Siachitema denied of having informed United Party for National Development (UPND) Parliamentarian that he was coerced into issuing a statement in support of government over the removal of settlers in the GMA.

He added that the Province Minister did not send a vehicle to pick from together with other chiefs as alleged by the Parliamentarian.

He said utterances by a named parliamentarian from Southern Province may deteriorate working relations between civic leaders and chiefs

“That is another statement from him not for me, I didn’t say anything to him and I challenge him to come and substantiate his statement,” Siachitema said

The Chief maintained that people should not be allowed back in Sichifulo game management area.

over 8,500 squatters which consisted 72 villages commonly known as the ‘Nduzya community’ were evicted last October after defying several Zambia Wildlife Authority
(ZAWA) director general, Lewis Siawana’s orders to relocate.

67 villages were in chief Nyawa’s area of Kazungula while three fell under the chiefdom of Siachitema of Kalomo district.

The Sichifulo game management area was established in 1941 by the evicted squatters who encroached in it claiming they were given the pieces of land by the two chiefs
in 1985.

Three UPND parliamentarians last week walked out from the chambers at parliament following Tourism minister Catherine Namugala’s sentiments that the Sichifulo GMA settlers had been evacuated to pave way for game safari hunting and photographic tourism.

ZANIS/MM/MKM/ENDS

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