President Rupiah Banda has maintained that he will only take-over as MMD party president when the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party officially ratifies his appointment .

Speaking at the Lusaka International Airport shortly after arrival from South Africa where he had gone to attend an emergency SADC extra-ordinary summit, President Banda maintained that he was still not MMD party president until he was formally adopted and ratified by NEC and the Party.

President Banda said he was still not MMD party President contrary to some statements from some sections of the society.

He however stated that he was willing to offer himself as Party President.

He further assured people fighting for the MMD Party presidency not to panic as the matter was being handled by NEC and the Party.

President Banda was reacting to some remarks made by some MMD Presidential hopefuls that they will not recognize him as interim party President because the decision was made by a few NEC members.

ZANIS/TK/MKM/ENDS

Zambia’s Second Republican President Frederick Chiluba said that the funds which the MMD party raised from well-wishers and private sources were meant for his personal use as well as MMD party activities.

Dr Chiluba said this when he started this testimony today in the magistrate’s court in the case in which he is accused of plunder of national resources.

Dr. chiluba testified that he was advised by former Zambia Intelligence Security Services Director General Xavier Chungu that money raised from private sources by the MMD party be screened and kept in the intelligence account.

Dr. Chiluba said this was meant to facilitate transparency and accountability of such funds.

He  further told the court that it was Mr. Chungu’s sole responsibility to manage and administer the account as Director General.

The former president testified that it has now become a golden rule for all political party’s NOT to disclose their source of funding.

He said no political party in Zambia has ever disclosed its source of funding since independence.

Dr. Chiluba further testified that many governments the world over use the intelligence account for activities that may be deemed illegal.

Dr Chiluba is jointly charged with Defunct Access Financial Services Directors Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu.

The former president will appear before the magistrate’s court on Wednesday for continued trial.

Chief Government Spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha, says there is nothing scandalous in the appointment of individuals who have held political positions, as Permanent Secretaries.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha says the action is not wrong when such individuals have reliquished their political positions upon being appointed to the civil service.

General Shikapwasha was reacting to a statement by Patriotic Front Spokesperson, Given Lubinda, who is quoted in a daily tabloid as questioning President Rupiah Banda’s appointments of some permanent Secretaries.

Mr. Banda appointed new permanent Secretaries recently and retired some.

General Shikapwasha also disclosed that Science and Technology Minister,Peter Daka, who left for south-Africa for medical treatment on Friday is being treated as an out-patient and that he has under-gone tests.

He said doctors are yet to recommend whether Mr. Daka should be admitted to hospital or not.

And General Shikapwasha said Chief-Justice Ernest Sakala’s condition is improving.

Justice Sakala was evacuated to South-Africa last week for medical treatment after suffering from a heart condition.

General Shikapwasha also described the condition of Chief whip Vernon Mwaanga as improving.

Mr. Mwaanga is undergoing routine medical check-up in South Africa.

[ZNBC]

Morgan Tsvangirai led opposition Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, says the resolutions of the extraordinary Summit falls short of the party’s expectations.

The opposition MDC, said in a statement released in response to the SADC Communique that its expectation that the SADC processes would be above board in fairly judging the situation in Zimbabwe has not been met.

The party said its National Council will meet this weekend to decide on the issues and make its definite position known regarding the issue of forming a government of national unity.

“Quite clearly the conclusions reached as reflected in the Communique fall short of our expectations. Most importantly they are not in accord with our National Council resolutions of 14th of November 2008 and 12th of December 2008,” added the statement.

“It was our expectation that the SADC processes would be above board and be beyond reproach. Regrettably once again we note that Mr. Mugabe was allowed to sit in during the closed session of the plenary meetings. Thus again Mr Mugabe has been unfairly allowed to be a judge in his own cause,” read the MDC’s statement in part.

The opposition party expected the SADC extraordinary Summit to come up with, what it termed as, a ‘just resolution’ to outstanding issues in the interest of ordinary Zimbabwean people and concerned parties.

The extraordinary SADC Heads of State Summit which closed in Pretoria this morning has resolved that a government of national unity be put in place in Zimbabwe by February 13, 2009.

The extraordinary summit urged parties in Zimbabwe to cause that country’s Parliament to amend Article 19 of the Constitution to provide for the establishment of the position of Prime Minister.

According to a Communiqué released at the end of the Summit, read by SADC Executive Secretary Tomaz Salomao, the Prime Minister designate, Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputies should be sworn in by February 11, 2009.

The extraordinary meeting also resolved that the allocation of ministerial portfolios endorsed by the SADC extraordinary Summit of November 9, 2008 should be reviewed Six months after the inauguration of the inclusive government.

“The parties shall endevour to cause Parliament to pass the Constitutional Amendment 19 by 5 February 2009,” read part of the Communique.

The meeting also resolved that the appointments of Reserve Bank Government and Attorney General would be dealt with by the inclusive government.

Zambia’s President, Rupiah Banda, was among the heads of state and governments that attended the 14 hour closed door meeting called to diffuse the political impasse in Zimbabwe.

Others in attendance were Botswana’s Ian Khama, Mozambique’s Armando Guebuza, Namibia’s Hifikepunye Pohamba, Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete and Swaziland’s King Mswati the third.

Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, and Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili as well as opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai were also in attendance.

ENDS/SJK/AM/ZANIS

CHOMA District Commissioner Laiven Apuleni has defended government against accusations of rigidity in the approval and disbursement of money to applicants under the Citizenship Economic Empowered Fund (CEEF).
Mr. Apuleni says government is just being cautious to ensure that the history of poor repayment that had characterized similar empowerment programmes in the past did not occur.
He was speaking in Choma yesterday when he opened a two weeks training programme in bricklaying and entrepreneurship organized by Choma trades institute.

Mr. Apuleni said government is cognizant of the setbacks in previous empowerment schemes which had failed to achieve their intended purpose as beneficiaries abused the facility by failing to pay back.

He said government would want to ensure that beneficiaries of funds under the CEEF are those with capacity to pay back.

Mr Apuleni encouraged business persons wishing to access the fund to come up with partnerships that will formulate business project proposals that can attract funding.

And Mr. Apuleni has bemoaned the shortage of adequate skilled personnel to work in the booming construction in the country.
Mr Apuleni said it is government’s desire that more people acquire necessary skills so as to effectively compete for jobs in the construction industry.

He said government through the ministry of science and technology has devised a policy that will provide short intensive courses to empower Zambians with the needed skills in the construction sector.
Mr Apuleni noted that there has been an increase in construction activities due to the prudent economic policies of the MMD Government.

He said it would not argue well for foreign investors to import human resource when Zambians are able to offer similar skills.

Mr Apuleni commended Choma Trades Institute for designing a course and seeking funding from the Technical Education Vocational and Entrepreneurship training Authority (TEVETA) in bricklaying targeting members of the local community.

He also commended TEVETA for the for the financial support saying this was testimony of government’s good policies intended to empower its citizens with skills.

The DC said the course is in line with government policy to encourage and provide for citizens to actively participate in economic development through enterprise development and self employment.

Under the TEVETA support, the institute will train 40 local people in brick laying and entrepreneurship skills.

Speaking earlier, Choma Trades Institute principal Tom Kampamba said the provision of free skills in brick laying and entrepreneurship to the 22 participants is one way government intends empower its citizens.
He disclosed that additional funds have also been secured from TEVEA to train women of Masuku area in Choma in tailoring and also another group of women in Kazungula district would be empowered with bee keeping skills.
ZANIS/CM/MKM/ENDS