Former Transport and Communications Minister in the Chiluba government, William Harrington has complained to Acting Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima that the current Minister of Transport and Communications Dora Siliya breached part II of the Parliamentary and Ministerial code of Conduct Act, Cap 16 of the Laws of Zambia.

Mr. Harrington said the complaint was on the allegations that Ms. Siliya awarded a contract in the sum of US$ 2 million to RP Capital of Cayman Islands, against the professional advice of the Attorney General.

RP Capital and Cayman has been contracted to value ZAMTEL assets.

Mr. Harrington argued that this was done without due regard or compliance with the provisions of the Zambia National Tender Board (ZNTB) Act, Cap 394 of the Laws of Zambia.

He said Ms. Siliya did also arbitrarily cancel a duly awarded contract by ZNTB for the supply, delivery and installation of a Zambia Air Traffic Management Surveillance Radar System.

The former minister said this was supposed to be installed at Lusaka and Livingstone in favor of SELEX Sistemi Integrati Company of Italy.

He said ZNTB had awarded the contract to Thales Air Systems of South Africa as the successful bidder.

He hoped that through the Acting Chief Justice’s Office, an independent and competent tribunal should take necessary steps under section 16 Act (3) to allow for thorough investigations on the allegations surrounding Ms. Siliya’s actions.

“I refer to the above quoted subject matter and hereby submit to your office a complaint pursuant to section 13 (1) as read together with section 4 (a) and (b) of the Parliamentary and Ministerial code of conduct in respect of the Honourable Minister of Transport and Communications Dora Siliya,” he said.

The former minister said the complaint was not meant to victimize Ms. Siliya but let her prove herself.

ZANIS/AJN/KSH/ENDS

MMD national chairman, Michael Mabenga, said the party was saddened by Nyirongo’s conviction but that the party would keep quiet on the matter because it was personal.

“First and foremost, as a party we are saddened on how things have turned to be. We feel it’s a lesson that we ought to operate transparently,” Mr Mubenga said.

“It is a sad development and that I have nothing much to say over the conviction of our member,” he said.

Mr Mubenga also said that despite the outcome of the case, the MMD was in control of Bwacha constituency.

“As a party we are in control of Bwacha constituency. We will be on the ground to explain to the people on what has happened,” Mr Mubenga said.

Nyirongo is MMD member of Parliament (MP) for Bwacha constituency in Kabwe.

And the MMD in Kabwe is saddened, too, by the jailing of Nyirongo on two counts of abuse of authority of office.

MMD Central Province provincial secretary, Roy Mulenga, said in Kabwe yesterday that the party sympathised with Nyirongo.

Mr Mulenga said, however, that sentencing was a warning to public service workers that they should observe the law when serving the public.

Mr Mulenga said that the MMD, too, declared zero-tolerance on corruption and so those tasked with the responsibility of serving the country should refrain from any form of abuse of office.

Principal resident magistrate Sharon Newa on Friday sentenced Nyirongo to two years on one count and four years on the second count of abuse of authority of office.

The sentences will run concurrently, meaning that she will only serve four years.

In the first count, Nyirongo was charged for directing a lands officer in the ministry to generate land offer letters to 10 people, who included relatives, family friends and party cadres.

In the second count, the former minister was charged for directing a junior technical officer in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Christopher Chewe, to subdivide a former ZCCM farm number 390A located in Kabwe into two plots for herself and Mr Chewe.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

PF spokesperson Given Lubinda said the fight between Mrs Chitika-Mulobeka and Mrs Mumbi in Parliament on Friday was unacceptable and disappointing, but that the opposition party would not take any action against them.

Mr Lubinda said the party regretted the dishonourable conduct by it’s MPs and urged other members not to trade on that path.

“We regret the scuffle at Parliament involving the two MPs. We don’t want to encourage dishonorable behaviour among our members, and members of Parliament for that matter. These are women, as you are aware society holds women in high esteem,” Mr Lubinda said.

He said it was unacceptable that women should undress each other through fights, when society holds them in high esteem.

Mr Lubinda, who is MP for Kabwata, said although he was not at Parliament on Friday, information gathered from the PF Chief Whip, Yamfwa Mukanga and a few MPs that were around, indicates that Mrs Chitika-Mulobeka provoked Mrs Phiri.

Mr Lubinda said that Mrs Phiri was allegedly provoked because of her decision to abide by the party position not to participate in the National Constitution Conference (NCC).

“I am informed that Honourable Phiri was actually provoked because she is among those MPs that have decided to follow the party’s position on the NCC. It’s totally unacceptable behaviour,” he said.

Mr Lubinda said he and other MPs that have decided to go by the party’s position on NCC have been subjected to unwarranted provocation by their colleagues who have decided to sit on the NCC.

Mrs Chitika-Mulobeka and 15 other PF MPs have agreed to sit on the NCC against the party’s blessings.

However, Mr Lubinda urged MPs who have taken opposing positions on the matter to respect one another’s freedom of choice.

“Let those who went to the NCC and those who decided to follow the party’s position not to be on each other’s throat. What I am saying is: can we allow each other to enjoy our freedom of choice. We should not allow jungle mentality to override our human dignity,” Mr Lubinda said.

He said the PF would not take any action on the matter but would allow the law to take its course.

Mrs Phiri has opened a docket for Mrs Chitika-Mulobeka at Woodlands Police Station, although police say it would let the National Assembly handle the matter since the scuffle happened within Parliament premises.

Today’s Scripture

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back…” (Isaiah 54:2, NIV).

Today’s Word from Joel and Victoria

God has many blessings in store for you! He has favor in your future like you’ve never imagined. He wants to take you places you’ve never even dreamed of. But in order for us to partake of all these blessings, we have to increase our capacity to receive.

Think about this: if you have a one-gallon bucket, and someone has fifty gallons to give you, the problem is not with the supply. The problem is that you don’t have the capacity to receive the fifty gallons. But, if you get rid of that small container and get something larger, then you will be able to receive more. It’s the same way with God. If we think we’ve reached our limits, the problem isn’t that God doesn’t have the resources or the ability.

The problem is that our container is too small. We have to enlarge our vision and make room for the new things God has for us. Our attitude should be, “Yes, the economy is down, but I know God is still on the throne. I know wherever I go His goodness and mercy follow me.” When you have that kind of attitude, you’re increasing your capacity to receive so that you can live the abundant life He has in store for you.

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, today I choose to increase my capacity to receive from You. I let go of limited thinking and old mindsets, and I open myself to everything You have in store for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Joel Osteen ministries

Chief Macha of the Tonga people of Choma in Southern Province says the recommendation in the Mung’omba draft constitution that proposes that chiefs participate in political activities and stand for any elective office should not be allowed.

In an interview with ZANIS in Choma today, Chief Macha said traditional leaders should not be allowed to stand for any elective political office because they already hold public offices by virtue of them being chiefs.

He said there should however be a provision that chiefs who want to participate in political activities be required to relinquish their traditional positions so that the vacancy occasioned is immediately taken up by the next heir to the throne.

He said the integrity of chiefs needs to be upheld and that allowing them to participate in active politics will compromise their good standing in society.

Chief Macha said chiefs are not there to make money but to offer leadership as the ascendancy to the throne is not through appointment or an election but through a meticulous selection process.

And executive director for the Youth Development Organisation, Partner Siabutuba said chiefs are peace brokers because they are perceived to be politically neutral.

He said the clause in the Mung’omba draft constitution recommending that chiefs participate in political activities will create problems for the country.

Mr Siabutuba said there is need to separate chiefs from politics as their role is clearly defined.

He said in the present political dispensation in which there is antagonism among political parties, chiefs would be casualties of such political rivalry.

ZANIS/ENDS/CM/CLM

Mr. Shawa said contrary to the rumours going round, his Royal Highness Mwine Lubemba who is currently admitted to the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka was receiving the best treatment from medical personnel.

Briefing the Press in his office in Kasama yesterday (Saturday), Mr. Shawa said he was concerned that some people were spreading falsehood that the Paramount Chief was dead when in fact he was in a stable condition.

The Minister has since appealed to the people of Northern Province to pray for the quick recovery of the paramount chief.

He said he was in constant touch with the Chief and always pays him a visit whenever he is in Lusaka.

Mr. Shawa has also paid tribute to medical personnel at Kasama General Hospital for making a timely decision to evacuate the paramount chief Chitimukulu to Lusaka.

Paramount Chief Chitimukulu was last week evacuated to the University Teaching hospital following recommendations by medical personnel at Kasama General hospital.

ZANIS/ENDS/HM/CLM