Immigration Department Public Relations Officer Mulako Mbangweta has revealed that a Zimbabwean national and a banker by profession identified as Maureen Mudiwe was arrested at Chirundu border post when she attempted to use the newly introduced computerized Zambian passport.

The said Ms. Mudiwe alias Maureen Chileshe had earlier obtained both the green national registration card and the passport by false representation.

Ms. Mbangweta said the act is contrary to section 13 1C of Cap 87 of the laws of Zambian adding that the suspect is currently detained at Central prison awaiting court appearance soon.

Ms. Mbangweta also disclosed that a number of civil servants are also involved in the in the scam.

She warned that Zambian nationals regardless of their status who may be involved in aiding foreign nationals in acquiring Zambian documents will be brought to book as the offence endangers national security.

Ms. Mbagweta said the department is concerned and has noted with displeasure how some foreign nationals have possibly acquired Zambian documents such as the green national registration cards and Zambian passports.

And the Immigration Department has also arrested and deported three foreign nationals to their countries of origin for various immigration offences.

Immigration Department Public Relations Officer said the three were arrested in different circumstances after a routine operation by the department.

Ms. Mbangweta said those arrested include a South African national of Egyptian Origin and a Congolese national.
She said the Zimbabwean national and proprietor of Mofosholo Enterprises in Chirundu Johannes Voster 58 was arrested and subsequently deported for illegally entering the country after he had earlier been warned to enter the country with legal documentation.

Ms. Mbangweta noted that Mr. Voster’s presence in the country is likely to be a danger to peace and good order and was therefore deported under section 26 (2) of the immigration and deportation Act cap 123 of the laws of Zambia.

And in a related incident, Ms. Mbangweta disclosed that a South African national of Egyptian origin identified as Muhammad Sheikh 47 was arrested and deported to his country of origin for perpetual immigration offences

Ms. Mbangweta explained that Mr. Sheikh had once been issued with an employment permit after giving false information to a public officer and was also once convicted to nine months imprisonment with hard labour.

She described Mr. Sheikh as a perpetual offender in immigration laws whose deportation resulted from his conduct that is likely to be a danger to peace and good order of the country.

ZANIS/CM/AM/ENDS

The United Party for National Development (UPND) has, with immediate effect, dissolved the Lusaka province and Kanyama Constituency party executive committees.

UPND Information and Publicity Chairman, Charles Kakoma disclosed this in a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr. Kakoma said the dissolution of the two party executive committees was in line with the National Management Committee’s (NMC) resolution to recognize and strengthen the party in readiness for future elections.

He said UPND would continue to reorganize the party at all levels as mandated by the NMC.

Mr. Kakoma said the members of the dissolved executive committees would however, remain members of the party and may be given other responsibilities.

He said the party would soon announce the new interim executive for Lusaka Province and Kanyama constituency.

ZANIS/WM/KSH/ENDS

The Supreme Court in Zambia has reserved ruling in a case where the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) has applied for a presidential vote recount in last year’s poll.

Acting Chief Justice Irene Mambilima, sitting with other four Supreme Court Judges Marvin Mwanamwambwa, Sandson Silomba and Dennis Chirwa reserved ruling to March 11th, 2009.

This was after the matter came up for hearing before her Tuesday morning.

PF leader Michael Sata’s lawyer Bonaventure Mutale submitted that some of the constituencies and polling stations were allegedly supervised by unauthorized persons who had no legal mandate to do so.

Mutale alleged Chisamba, Mwembeshi, Michinga, Serenje, Milenji, Nakonde, Mbala and Senga Hills as some of the constituencies where returning officers were not legally mandated to supervise the elections.

He also submitted that the affidavit by the respondents stated that some names were merely transposed, saying this was an admission that there was a serious error.

But Solicitor General Dominic Sichinga submitted that the court should dismiss the application for a recount as it had insufficient evidence.

And Christopher Mundia submitted that it was extravagant for the petitioner to apply for a recount in all 150 constituencies when no evidence had been adduced.

There was tight police security at the supreme court grounds as the presidential application for a recount was been heard.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sata urged PF cadres after the hearing to remain calm and peaceful as they proceeded to their respective places.

Vice President George Kunda has described comments being made in the Post Newspaper on the signing of the Zamtel MOU as information leaked, incomplete, selective, premature and illegally possessed and that the comments do not portray the complete picture of the matter in dispute.

Mr. Kunda said people must not follow the statements being published in the Post Newspaper as they are unfounded, incomplete, erroneous and politically motivated.

He said that people must follow the Ministerial statement that the Minister of Communications and Transport Dora Siliya issued in Parliament as it was reflecting a true status quo based on the documents available to government.

The Vice President further said that it was unfortunate that the Zamtel mater has been heavily politicized by the Post Newspaper and that it appeared to government that the paper had acted as investigator, prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner of the matter.

Mr Kunda said there was nothing irregular in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between government and the RP Capital of Cayman Islands for the evaluation of Zamtel assets as the departments concerned had followed all the necessary legal procedures.

Mr. Kunda was speaking at a press briefing on the clarification of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between government acting through the Ministry of Transport and Communication and Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) and the RP Capital Partners Cayman Islands Limited.

He said government did not use illegal means in signing the Zamtel MOU with the RP Capital of Cayman Islands for the evaluation of Zamtel assets as all the necessary legal procedures were carefully followed and referred to the Attorney General’s Chambers for clearance.

Mr. Kunda further said that people must not rush into condemning government as the signing of the Zamtel MOU was clearly dealt with by an Acting Principal Counsel and the Solicitor General before the Attorney General dealt with the matter when he returned back from the African Union Human Rights Duties abroad.

He said people must not just politicize the signing of the Zamtel MOU as the Solicitor General who acted in the Attorney General’s capacity had made further consultations and approved the signing of the Zamtel Memorandum of Understanding between government and RP Capital of Cayman Islands.

Mr. Kunda explained that the MOU has covered the provisions of consultancy services for the valuation of Zamtel assets and the possible sale of the government stake in the Zamtel Company.

The Vice President further said that people should not condemn the tender process which was followed by government and applied to the RP Capital partners as prescribed in the Public Procurement Act as it did not require an advertisement and only required a limited selection or single sourcing.

He also denied reports that a fee of US$2 million had been paid to RP Capital and Partners adding that a fee of five percent of the value of the company within the minimum fee of US$2 million will only be paid upon a successful sale of the company.

Mr. Kunda said the measure will be subjected to Tender Board approval being obtained under the legal requirements of the Zambia Development Agency Act.

ZANIS/TK/AM/ENDS

The Minister of Transport and Communications has denied reports that she canceled the tender for the supply of radars at Lusaka and Livingstone international airports.

Dora Siliya explained at a press briefing in Lusaka that the tender procedure to buy radars is still in progress.

Ms. Siliya also said a number of allegations regarding the tender procedure leveled against her office have been forwarded to the Anti Corruption Commission.

Ms. Siliya said SELEX, an Italian Company, was asked to repair radars at the two airports at its own cost, while the tender procedure was still in process.

The Minister said the offer from SELEX will save government K50 billion, that was to be used for the project.

The Transport and Communications Minister said SELEX was given the go ahead because it is the company that manufactured the radars in question

And the Vice president says there is nothing irregular or unusual about the Memorandum of Understanding signed between government and RP Capital on the valuation of ZAMTEL assets.

George Kunda, who is also Justice Minister, described assertions that the Solicitor General’s opinion was disregarded as totally misconceived and misled.

Mr. Kunda explained that government has in the past used the Single sourcing or limited selection in engaging the services of experts for key consultancy work.

He said single sourcing was used in engaging the expertise of lawyers in a number of matters.

And Mr. Kunda has maintained that the MoU signed by Communications and Transport Minister Dora Siliya was cleared and approved by the Solicitor General.

The Solicitor General acted on behalf of the Attorney General who was at the time abroad on national duties.

The Vice president said issues surrounding the MoU has been highly politicised by the Post Newspaper and opposition political parties.

/ZNBC/NEWS