Former Access financial services limited directors’ Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu have asked the government to constitute a commission of enquiry to investigate and establish whether there has been collusion between the judiciary and the Task force in the prosecution of their case.

Mr. Chungu said they have come across a signed memorandum of understanding between certain donor countries and the Task force on corruption whose content on the advised counsel violates the constitution and undermines the administration of justice in the country.

Mr Chungu disclosed that the MOU has an attached restricted strategic plan of the task force , of which clause 2.5 says that the successful prosecution of the cases will depend to a large extent on the integrity and competence of the magistrates assigned to handle the cases.

He stressed that the clause alludes to a clear collusion between the Task force and the Judiciary noting that this has instilled fear in them, that their trial in the courts of Law and the results are predetermined.

They have since written to the Vice president George Kunda , Justice Minister and the Director General Anti-corruption commission ACC to investigate possible violations of the ACC Act in the interaction between the Task force and the Judiciary.

Mr. Chungu was speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka today.

ZANIS/AH/MKM/ENDS

Bishop Mambo has reiterated his earlier call on the National Constitution Conference (NCC) to consider implementing the 50+1 percent clause in its draft and final constitution with a view to enhancing transparency in the country’s electoral system.

Bishop Mambo says the NCC should not dilute some of the important recommendation that were made by the Zambian poeple in the Willa Mung’omba draft constitution if the new constitution is to stand the taste of time.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that there is need for the NCC delegates to ensure that the 50+1 percent is implemented in the new constitution in order to spell out electoral malpractices in the electoral system of the country and enhance confidence in the electorates.

Bishop Mambo, who is also Church of God former Regional Overseer, said that the NCC should work-out modalities that would ensure that the views and recommendations of the people in the Willa Mung’omba Draft constitution were respected and represented in the final constitution.

He said the 50+1 percent clause should not be ignored in both the draft and final constitution because the majority Zambians had supported the clause.

He however commended the NCC delegates for working tirelessly to ensure that the draft constitution was published in July this year.

Bishop Mambo also called on the NCC delegates to devote most of their time to working on the draft constitution in an effort to complete the process within the stipulated 12-month time frame.

Meanwhile, Bishop Mambo has supported calls from the cross-section of the society that the appointment of Ambassadors and High Commissioners should go through a process of ratification.

Bishop Mambo said there is need for government to support calls for the ratification of Ambassadors and High Commissioners in order to avoid shortcuts in appointing envoys in foreign embassies.

He further said that the ratification of Ambassadors and High Commissioners would also help in building transparency and accountability in the utilization of public resources in foreign embassies.

President Banda says the Chinese and Indian investors are able and willing to invest in Zambia’s mining sector.

President Banda said a lot of investors coming from the Asian countries are interested in investing in the mines , a move he said would spur economic development in the country.

Speaking shortly before his departure for Libya at Lusaka international Airport , Mr. Banda told journalists that Chinese investors have the potential to take up all the investment if other investors left.

President Banda has gone for a two day state visit to Libya where he will hold bilateral talks with his Libyan

counterpart Colonel Muammer Ghadaffi.

Mr. Banda said among other issues he expects to be briefed on is the current position over the united states of Africa .

The president stressed that he will make his position known over the united states of Africa after discussions and consultation with other colleagues in the region.

He is accompanied by foreign Affairs minister Kapinga Pande , Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane and other senior government officials

ZANIS/AH/MKM/ENDS

Today’s Scripture

“A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner [finds its way eventually] into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up” (Proverbs 13:22, AMP).

Today’s Word from Joel and Victoria

Did you know there are resources and blessings laid up for the righteous? There are funds that will eventually be transferred over into the hands of the people who will use them for God’s purposes. In the Scripture God is called the Lord of the Sabaoth. That means He is “the God who puts His armor on and goes to war against those who hold His treasure from His purposes.” Just imagine God getting His armor on and going into the forces of darkness and saying, “Okay. I’ll take those funds. I need them for my children. I’ll take these businesses, these ideas, these contracts. They have My children’s names on them.”

Friends, God is fighting your battles for you. He has immeasurable favor that He is going to transfer into the hands of the righteous. The key is to make sure you’re in the righteous group. Make sure you are honoring God with your life and keeping your heart pure. Let go of any weights or any sins that are holding you back. As long as you stay in faith and live righteously before Him, God has promised abundance, promotion, and funds that already have your name on them!

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, thank You for fighting my battles on my behalf. I commit all my plans to You and surrender every area of my life to Your purposes. Thank You for Your favor and blessing on me today and always. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Joel Osteen Ministries

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has called on all media institutions in Zambian to heed to the call by President Rupiah Banda to ensure that they fall under one salutary media ethics regulatory board in order to make the profession more dignified.

MISA Zambia chairperson Henry Kabwe said the media ‘s disunity and lack of common ground has sent a wrong massage to the Zambian people were media ethics and professionalism is concerned.

Mr. Kabwe expressed sadness that the citizens have no knowledge on which code of ethics the Zambian media base their conduct on adding that this has made it hard for the ordinary citizens to seek redress on the ethical issues concerning the conduct of the media.

“ We would like to remind all journalists that while they facilitate the freedom of expression and access to information , they owe their allegiance to the Zambian people they serve,” he said..

Mr. Kabwe however stated that media‘s ethical conduct can not be enforced under statuary regulation because the media is a watch dog of the three arms of government which is supposed to provide checks and balances.

He said the statutory regulation on the media by the three arms of government might be used to hamper the role of the media as a watchdog.

He appealed to the media to ensure that it familiarizes itself with the Media Council of Zambia MECOZ so that many media ethical complaints could be handled internally to avoid actions that would cost the media and lead them to closure.

He further appealed to all media in Zambia to come under one non statutory media ethics body that will enforce media ethical conduct .

The MISA chairperson said the media has an obligation to adhere to media ethics as it carries out the duty of serving the Zambian people.

This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

The media Associations have already begun the process of coming up with a strengthened non statuary media ethics regulatory body that should encompass all media in the country.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kabwe also appealed to government to waive tax on key media inputs and broadcasting equipment so as to make the media more sustainable and viable.

ZANIS/AH/MKM/ENDS

THE National Constitutional Conference legislative committee has proposed to increase seats for members of Parliament from 150 to 250.

The proposals were made during the committee’s sitting at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.

MMD Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga submitted to committee chairperson Mutale Nalumango that 200 should be elected MPs, 40 from interest groups and 10 should be nominated.

“When making this Constitution, we should be futuristic. Ten years from now Zambia’s population will not be the same, so, we should look at increasing the number of seats for MPs,” Mr Mwaanga said

He said having such a number of legislators would help to represent people adequately.

Supporting the submission, Malole Independent MP Emmanuel Munaile said some Constituencies were too vast and that increasing the number of Parliamentary seats would benefit Zambians.

“Some of our Constituencies are too vast to be covered by one MP. So, the proposed 250 seats is a welcome move,” Mr Munaile said.

Several committee members supported the proposal except four committee members who argued that increasing the number of seats would be costly.

Former UPND Luena MP Chrispine Sibetta argued that having 250 MPs would be a drain on the country’s resources and that Parliament chambers had no capacity to accommodate such a number.

After committee members failed to reach a consensus, Ms Nalumango subjected the proposal to a vote following which 31 committee members voted for the number of seats to be increased with four members voting against.

Under the current Constitution, the President has powers to nominate 8 MPs.

Zambia Daily Mail

President Rupiah Banda  this morning  laid a foundation stone for the construction of the Pepsi plant whose owners are to invest about US$ 30 million for the period of six years .
The company will also  employ 214 Zambians in various capacities and create over 600 indirect jobs in various capacities, there by reducing  the pressure on the job market.

Speaking  at the ceremony held at the Pepsi bottling plant in Lusaka’s Mungwi  road  today,  Mr. Banda  said government  will continue to lay a solid foundation for diversifying the economy in order to sustain the country’s  economic growth.

He said, this will minimize the negative impact arising from the global economic down turn.

Mr. Banda added that government is also committed to  the development of a vibrant and competitive manufacturing sector .

Mr Banda however said the plant will add  value to the Zambian  economy and will contribute to the realization of the  vision to transform Zambia  into a middle income country by 2030.

He stressed that with  the re- introduction of  Pespi, Zambians will enjoy affordable high quality drinks and related products at competitive prices adding that the project will save and earn the country foreign exchange.

Mr.  Banda stressed that the launch of the company  has come at a good time when the  slow down  in the global economy has exerted considerable pressure on most of the economies around the world.

And  commerce , trade and industry minister Felix  Mutati noted the need to diversify the economy  so that  investors can come in and invest in  many sectors

Mr. Mutati thanked the Indian government for its continued commitment  in assisting Zambia  through  providing employment to the local people.

He noted that both the company  and the Zambia government and its citizenry will benefit from the investment.

ZANIS/AH/MKM/ENDS