Government has maintained that Zambia has never hosted the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) secret prisons as reported by the international media

Clarifying reports in some sections of the international media, Defense minister George Mpombo told parliament in a ministerial statement that Zambia was not one of the countries with the secret US states.

He stated that Late Republican President Dr. Levy Mwanawasa had opposed the US plans to set up a base, the position which has never changed.

He said the article from the United Kingdom Guardian weekly issue of Friday , January 23 2009 was not true.

The Minister’s response follows a point of order that Patriotic Front (PF) Vice President Guy Scott which he raised over UK’s paper revelations of the CIA secret prisons existence in Zambia.

But US Ambassador to Zambia Donald Booth also denied the existence of the CIA prison facility or any similar entities in Zambia .

In a press release, Ambassador Booth said there had never been any such prison facilities in Zambia

ZANIS /AH/GP/MKM/ENDS

A Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) has urged the National Constitution Conference (NCC) to seriously review and adopt Article 149 in the Willa Mung’omba Draft Constitution that has the provisions of the Presidential running mate proposal with a view to avoiding the costly running of the Presidential by-elections.

Chikondi Foundation President Bishop John Mambo says there is need for NCC to adopt Article 149 that provides the adoption of the Vice President as a running mate of a Presidential candidate in case a calamity befalls the President.

Bishop Mambo, who is also Nyamphande Orphanage President, told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that NCC plenary should adopt Article 149 as it will play a crucial role in bringing political stability as well as help to foster economic development in the country.

The Lusaka-based Clergyman said there is need for the NCC not to dilute the provisions contained under Article 149 in the Willa Mung’omba Draft Constitution as this would help to prevent political divisions and fighting’s in the country’s political parties.

Bishop Mambo, who is a former CRC Commissioner, said that the NCC should work-out special modalities that would answer to the needs and aspirations of the Zambian citizenry in the final constitution.

He observed that if the new constitution is to stand a taste of time, NCC members should ensure that the views of the majority Zambian were reflected in the final constitution.

Bishop Mambo was reacting to the NCC which yesterday deferred to the full NCC plenary the Article 149 in the Willa Mung’omba’s draft report on whether a Republican Vice President should be a running mate to a Presidential Candidate or be appointed by the President.

And Bishop Mambo has thrown-out calls by some opposition political parties to institute an independent body to audit the National Constitution Conference (NCC).

Bishop Mambo said there was no need for some opposition political parties to start calling for an independent audit body because the NCC had not misapplied funds and that its mandate was costly for it to misapply funds allocated to the exercise.

The clergy has since called on the opposition to fully support NCC to enable it execute its duties with the stipulated time.

ZANIS/TK/MKM/ENDS

The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) has called on government to ensure that the 2009 budget was designed in a manner that would address the country’s challenges which have come as a result of global economic recession.

PF vice president, Guy Scott, said the opposition party is concerned with the negative impact of the global financial crisis.

Speaking during a media briefing at the party headquarters in Lusaka today, Dr. Scott said there was need for government to heed to calls from his party to cut on its expenditure.

He said cutting government expenditure would help address some of the challenges the country is facing due to the prevailing global financial meltdown.

And the PF vice president has urged government to expeditiously issue a report on the alleged secret Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) prisons in the country as reported in the international media.

Dr. Scott said his party was waiting for a report from government because the American government through its embassy in the country has since denied operating secret CIA prisons in Zambia.

The call for the report follows an order from US President Barrack Obama to close secretly operated CIA prisons in various countries, including Zambia as reported in some sections of the international media.

Meanwhile, PF spokesperson Given Lubinda alleged that most of the Permanent Secretaries which were recently appointed to government were not competent to run the civil service because they did not have the technical knowledge and experience.

Mr. Lubinda charged that the appointments amounted to abuse of office and a campaign strategy by the ruling party for the 2011 elections.

He further alleged that most of those appointed to the position of permanent secretaries are people that campaigned for President Banda during for the October 30th 2008 presidential elections.

Meanwhile two former senior MMD official and ministers in the second republic have defected to the opposition PF.

The duo, who held various portfolios in the Fredrick Chiluba led government are Kuyoto Kunyanda and William Harrington.

They announced their resignation from the ruling MMD to join opposition PF at the same media briefing, citing weaknesses in the MMD leadership.

ZANIS/CM/KSH/ENDS

A 64 year old man of Libubu village in Lukulu district, who is suspected of practicing witchcraft, has escaped lynching when angry villagers attacked him.

Raymond Kamukuye and his family escaped death after two men armed with traditional guns stormed his home after rumours went round in village that he was practicing witchcraft. After realizing that he had escaped, the duo burnt his house.

Kashizhi ward councilor, Kakaba Kapalu, expressed disappointment at the action the villagers took saying mob justice was against the laws of Zambia.

He has since called on well wishers to assist the family with food and shelter since their entire property was destroyed in the fire.

And Lukulu District Commissioner Edward Kasempa has directed that all activities of witch finding should be stopped.

He said people were wrongfully accused of witchcraft and suffered at the hands of villagers.

Mr. Kasempa said accusing people of witchcraft was primitive and it caused divisions and death in the community.

He pointed out that such accusations have also undermined development in the country.

He has since instructed police officers to arrest the two men and anyone who was found practicing witch finding in his district.

ZANIS/PC/MM/KSH/ENDS

University of Zambia (UNZA) students will start receiving their meal allowances Friday.

Education Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa who confirmed the development at a media briefing in the capital Lusaka also said it was regrettable that students rioted due to unpaid meal allowances.

He said there was no need for the students to resort to violence.

UNZA students on Tuesday night rioted and stoned vehicles on the Great East road in protest against delayed payment of their meal allowances.

[ZNBC]

Second Republican President Frederick Chiluba says that there is still $8.5 million in the Zamtrop account which belongs to him. He said this today when he was winding up his defence in a case where he is accused of plundering national resources.

Dr Chiluba testified that three audit firms that audited the Zamtrop account established that there was an outstanding amount of $52 million out of which $43 million belonged to the state.

Dr. Chiluba said auditors who included Price waterhouse Coopers and Grant Thorntorn confirmed that the $8.5 million belonged to him.

The former President started his defence on Tuesday before Ndola high court deputy registrar Jones Chinyama who is sitting as a magistrate in Lusaka.

Dr. Chiluba’s lawyers asked for an adjournment of the case to February 9, to enable the defence bring ten witnesses.

The former president together with Mr. Kabwe and Mr. Chungu is accused of stealing public funds amounting to $500 million.

And yesterday Dr Chiluba said his heart breaks when people say he did nothing for Zambia during his tenure of office.

The former president testified that he has done a lot for the country citing the empowerment policy in which sitting tenants were sold houses at what he called give-away prices.

Dr. Chiluba said he managed to create a middle class in Zambia which never existed since independence through his policies.

The former head of state also testified that it was NOT true that he woke late president Mwanawasa from sleep to adopt him as MMD presidential candidate.

He said to the contrary, he was written to by the late Mwanawasa to be considered for the MMD presidency ahead of the 2001 elections.

Dr. Chiluba testified further that he gave Dr. Mwanawasa K600 Million and three motor vehicles for his campaign trail using money from private sources and well-wishers.

And Dr. Chiluba disclosed that $1 Million was spent by the MMD to buy a building called Black Velvet in Lusaka where the party intended to be accommodated.

UPDATED

MMD National Secretary Katele Kalumba has urged party members to give the National Executive Committee a chance to ratify President Rupiah Banda as acting party president.

Dr. Kalumba says other members interested in the MMD presidency should wait until the next party convention.

He said in Lusaka, wednesday that President Banda should be allowed to assume party leadership for administrative convenience.

The NEC is scheduled to meet on February 7, to consider the proposal for Mr. Banda to act as President of the ruling MMD.

And a senior MMD official in Kafue has challenged some MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) Members who are allegedly holding dark corner meetings to come out in the open if they want to form their own political party.

MMD District vice Treasurer John Mwansa said the party in the District has received information that some MMD NEC officials and some prominent businessmen were meeting at a named guest house contemplating to form a political party .

He said that those contemplating should just come out in the open than hiding in the name of the MMD.

He said that the party in Kafue will not be taken by surprise if the new political party will be formed because Kafue has been a breeding place for the opposition political parties.

He said MMD is not afraid to face any opposition political party in any given election because it is already established.

Mr. Mwansa however, stated that any one is free to form a political party because that is his or her democratic right. He appealed to the entire MMD members not to fall prey to such activities and to concentrate on rebuilding the party.

He stated that the 2011 elections will be more tough because a lot of new parties which will be formed to challenge the ruling MMD.

And Mr. Mwansa has hailed the decision by some NEC members to appoint to Republican President Rupiah Banda as party President.

He said the decision to be adopted by the NEC when they meet will enhance unity in the party.

Mr. Mwansa urged Mr. Banda to do his best to ensure unity in the ruling party if the MMD is to scope the 2011 general elections.

He said the President has shown maturity and wisdom adding that the party is going to be stronger with him as Acting Party President.

ZANIS/BS/MKM/ENDS

The Federation of Free Trade Unions in Zambia (FFTUZ) and the Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) have condemned the riotous behaviour by some University of Zambia (UNZA) students who are demanding increased meal allowances.

Speaking in separate interview with ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, FFTUZ president, Joyce Nonde-Simukoko, said it was sad that the students resorted to riotous behaviour over the allowances.

Mrs. Nonde-Simukoko said it would always be better for the students to use the right channel when aggrieved on certain issues other than resorting to riotous behaviour.

She added that it was also not fair for the students to stone and damage public property, which she said was very dangerous to people’s lives.

The FFTUZ president said students need to be responsible and intellectual in the way they were addressing issues affecting them.

Mrs. Nonde-Simukoko also said the students should realize that government would be required to repair the same property they were destroying.

She said students should instead demonstrate peacefully than resorting to riotous behaviour.

And CSAWUZ vice president Beatrice Nyirongo expressed disappointment at the riotous behaviour by the UNZA students.

Mrs. Nyirongo said it was very irresponsible for UNZA students.

She said it was wrong for the students to start attacking the members of the public who were innocent people.

On Tuesday night , some University of Zambia (UNZA) students ran amok and rioted demanding meal allowances.

ZANIS/AJN/KSH/ENDS