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If all goes well we hope to finish the upgrade well before the alloted time expires. Sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused
LT team
By Wesley Ngwenya
Let me start by confessing that I was not particularly a Barack Obama fan but was rooting for Hillary Clinton until she refused to apologize, in a New Hampshire town hall meeting, for authorizing the war in Iraq. It was then that I switched camp and followed Obama’s democratic candidacy. I fell in love with the candidate and loved to listen to how he articulated issues. At one time I came close to attending his big announcement rally in Springfield, Illinois having been living in Indianapolis at the time.
That is all history now. Come January 2009 he will be the first black and white president United States of America has ever had. Yes, I have to remind you that Obama is not purely black. In fact, he was not raised as a typical African American kid. He was raised by his white mother and white grandparents. Nonetheless, he is the first president with a different color that the country has ever had. This is quite a milestone and deserves a bottle of champagne for especially the African American and Africans in Africa.
In Kisumu, Kenya , the hometown of Barack Obama’s father, there were celebrations for days. I hear the President there declared a holiday in honor of Obama’s victory. Even here in Lusaka, Zambia we had an Obama victory party. After all the hype and celebrations, I started asking myself questions like—Why are Africans so excited about Obama becoming president? Is it because we expect him to be our savior for the many troubles that we face here? Or is it because he has broken a ceiling and consequently inspired millions of us and we can equally shout yes we can?
Personally, I sympathize with Obama because he faces many challenges that his predecessors never faced in the United States. His expectations, I fear, are so high that after four or eight years it will seem like he never did anything at all. He has the global economic crisis on his shoulders, the war torn Somalia and Eastern Congo, there is Iraq and Afghanistan, North Korea, emerging super powers China, India and Russia. Obama’s to-do list is endless. Let’s not forget the racism and how blacks don’t have similar opportunities that their white counterparts have.
Obama’s expectations at home are as high as those abroad. Even after Obama takes over in January, African Americans, unfortunately, will still have to face the same challenges that they have been facing for over three hundred years. There will still be crime and poverty in Gary, Indiana. There will still be unemployment in Detroit, Michigan and the many white bosses will not be hiring anytime soon. On the highways, the state police will still enforce the Driving While Black law. Right in the soon to be Obama’s neighborhood—Washington DC, black schools have dilapidated infrastructure, overcrowded classroom with low paid teachers.
What therefore should Africans look forward to with a new administration in the United States? I say let’s forget about expecting anything from the Obama administration and continue with our own business. Besides, his laundry list is too long and it is bad manners to bother someone when they are busy. Even if Obama had to try and help Africa, in one way or another, it will be a daunting and dreading task since he has to deal with Africa’s finest leaders such as the Mugabes, Kibakis, Odingas, and Bandas.
Finally, although I was equally excited about Obama’s win, on the other hand, I was saddened because a week before we also had elections, here in Zambia, where we elected a president. The contrast though, is that here in Zambia there were no celebrations about the leader we elected—in fact, it was like a funeral. It is the trend across Africa. We have to blame ourselves for the endless problems we experience because our choice of leaders remains much to be desired. Maybe Obama is our consolation or we should just put Africa for sale. Hey, who knows the Americans maybe interested and we shall be the fifty first state. Even better we get to vote for an American president.
Has Zambia Made Strides?
By Chanda K. Chishimba
Many people in Zambia have voiced their opinions on the direction that the country’s economy should take in order to raise the living standards of its people. Endowed with natural resources and blessed with a peaceful citizenry, the majority of people are still confined in the shackles of poverty. A greater part of the population is not in formal employment, agriculture remains predominantly peasant, education standards never seem to improve, infrastructure development and maintenance is an eyesore, income levels are low, and hopelessness is the order of the day.
Intellectual voices in the country have decried the lack of capacity for the government and the citizenry to turn development goals and objectives into practical realities. But the question I beg to ask is: What is Capacity Building and how is it relevant to development? My simple understanding of this broad concept is, ‘it is human resource development, equipping individuals with access to information, skills, understanding, and training. It is also organizational development, management of relationships between organizations and sectors, development of an institutional and legal framework, enhancing government regulation and oversight, and laying a foundation for economic and social progress.’ This to me can be summed up as development of a ‘standard way of doing things.’ Does Zambia have a coordinated system of developing the country?
In light of the above, is Zambia then capable of developing a standard to which its citizens can identify themselves? The answer is yes we can. We need the political will of our leaders as well as the citizenry to achieve high levels of development. Zambia needs to develop a cohesive system that is home grown and takes into account the skill sets of ordinary Zambians, the cultures of its people, and the available resources. We need a standard which many people understand, is not complicated and is easily implementable. This idea of trying to copy everything western has led to our current situation. We fail to note that each country has its own traditions and cultures, its own standards, and its own objectives, goals and priorities. Zambia needs to invest heavily in its human resource by upgrading institutions of learning, computerizing schools so students can have access to information and increase their computer skills, providing continuing education to those entrusted with policy formulation and implementation, introducing legislation that requires licensing for any person wishing to engage in financial advisory, teaching, insurance, engineering, medicine etc. These must be licenses renewable every 2 years or else can be revoked. It is not enough just to be a member of, say, the Engineers Institute of Zambia. We need a well knit system that monitors, evaluates, and makes recommendations based on its findings.
We cannot rely on our foreign partners to develop our own system. As long as they provide funding for some projects, they will always have a role to play in how we implement our objectives. Only we know what our priorities are and we are better situated to resolve them. Donors can still be our partners in our efforts, but we need to place them in check. Farfetched as this may seem, if we have the will to do this, our lives and those of our children will surely be improved. It takes commitment and courage to achieve these goals and I am positive that Zambians can take up this challenge with the right political will. Let us realize that we owe this as much to our future generations as we do to ourselves. Development in Zambia will not come without breaking sweat. We can all play a role in the progress of our country. This should not be left to politicians alone because we have seen what happens when we do this. The choices we make today, will determine our future.
Compulsory HIV testing may soon be made a reality for everyone by government.
Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao said compulsory testing will help people make informed decesions about their health and lives in general.
Mr. Simbao said voluntary counselling and testing has its own limits and thats why its important people are compellled to have an HIV test.
He was speaking with ZNBC’s Faith Kandaba in Dakar, Senegal at the ongoing 15 th ICASA conference.
He said people need to know their status.
The minister also said government will soon be embarking on an aggressive programme to improve AIDS information and education.
[ZNBC]
President Rupiah Banda has appointed and sworn in MMD founder member Borniface Kawimbe as Luapula Province Minister.
Swearing in Dr. Kawimbe, President Banda urged the new provincial Minister to pay special attention to the development needs of the province.
He said Luapula Province has great economic potential which should be fully exploited for the benefit of the people.
Dr Kawimbe replaces Chrispine Musosha who was recently transferred to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing as Deputy Minister.
President Rupiah Banda has also appointed and sworn in State House Legal Advisor Darlington Mwape as Zambia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Geneva – Switzerland.
President Banda urged Mr Mwape to use his vast legal experience to effectively represent the country in Geneva.
[ZNBC]
The Minister of Agriculture has ruled out further subsidies on the cost of mealie meal.
Brian Chituwo said it is not practical to subsidise the cost of the staple food beyond the existing maize concessions from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
He said government is already subsidising the cost of mealie mealie through the off-loading of cheaper maize stocks from FRA to the millers.
Dr. Chituwo however told ZNBC that government is determined to ensure mealie meal prices remain below sixty thousand Kwacha per 25 kilogram bag of breakfast.
He accused some mealie meal traders of quoting high prices despite buying the commodity at low prices from millers.
And Dr. Chituwo observed that early buying and delivery of agricultural inputs will act as a long term measure to boost food production in ZAMBIA.
[ZNBC]
By Mingeli Palata
As per custom, every Tuesday I make it a point to visit the local convenient store, that way I get myself an extra pizza: one for the evening and one for my breakfast the following day. The buy is awesome but for the wait. So just as well I bump into an old friend of mine who for purposes of this article I will call Tim.
I met Tim about 7 years ago, together we were very active youth advocates committing ourselves to various activates such as school debates, model united nations and the youth parliament. Between ourselves we represented the Zambian youth to the fullest both at home and abroad on various forums a time during we both gained respect for each others ability to analyze and articulate issues.
After exchanging courtesies we naturally dived into a chit chat about what is happening on the political scene. I asked him what he thought of the events that were unfolding then in the Zambian political arena. To set him in context I cited the alleged tribal remarks, violent threats, daylight bribery and corruption attributed to certain leaders in society.
To my disappointment, my colleague told me that there was nothing wrong with politicians engaging themselves in the aforementioned vices, in his own words he told me that ‘it’s just the way the game is played’. He further asked me not to be easily swayed with reports in the papers and mere street hearsay after which he added an invitation for me join the youth wing of a popular political party to which the same allegations were attributed to.
Naturally I turned down his offer, citing my beliefs in honesty and fairness, the list is endless. I recall my colleague’s last words of advice in which he asked me to become ‘exposed’ and to stop being naïve. By then my pizza was ready and so I excused myself promising to make some time for the two of us to continue our discussion. Of course I wasn’t going to see him again, I was only being courteous.
Walking home that Tuesday, I began to think about what my friend told me.I thought of one of my mentors who has held public political office for over 20 years now.He often gives me the same advise, telling me that if I want to make in the ‘game’ I should stop being naive and come to terms with the reality on the ground and not my text book politics.
What is disappointing is that politics of today’s Zambia has been reduced to the something more of the usual procedure. For instance you know that after every election, all those who campaigned for the President will be given ministerial posts, not because they are capable of delivering but because they are loyal. As to what positive impact such appointments bring to society only the President knows. Now just imagine if Ministerial posts were given to those deserving and qualified- purely on merit, it will mean that the best brains in the field will be called for national duty. Ministers will cease to be political appointees meant to appease the faithful but will be serious civil servants set to impact real change on people’s lives.
If I go on to suggest that perhaps the President should have picked someone from the opposition let’s say Given Lubinda to be Minister of Local Government and Housing, someone will call me naïve. But at the end of the day, UPND, MMD, PF , ULP, HP are all Zambians who want to serve their country, the only difference among them is that they plan on different routes of getting to the same destination- development.
Every time I read the news on LT, I become angry. I become angry with the way my fathers, mothers and uncles and aunties are toying with the governance of this country. You know it was funny the other day to see Mumbi Phiri a PF member of Parliament claiming that she made a mistake on voting for that controversial salary bill. That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Now being a former African youth parliamentarian myself, I am aware that Parliamentary procedure can be complicated but the Zambian system is perhaps the easiest model in Africa.
If an urban member of parliament is lost then one wonders …perhaps she just has no idea what has been happening in Parliament since she took her oath. Driving to the point, UPND and PF voted for that bill and have no excuses. As I stated earlier and I will stick to my point; the constitutional office bearers don’t deserve a salary increment because the country’s economy is being affected negatively by the global economic crisis hence the people will be suffering. The salaries can only be justified if they will be increased across the board. But I know you may be thinking come on Mingeli, the reality is that the bill has already been passed.
But what reality is this? Perhaps they all mean to say that I should realize that politics is a dirty game in which one has to do what has to be done to gain political expediency regardless of whether it breaks the law or not and at the expense of the poor. Is it the reality of politics being a conveyer belt to personal gain and not public service- bringing about meaningful change in people’s lives? Comrades, I don’t think I can ever come to terms with politics being referred to as a game.
I don’t think it is a game, on the contrary it is an honorable course undertaken by those disposed to servitude and those motivated by sheer determination to improve the livelihood of the millions who look up to them. A game is a gamble; you can not gamble with people’s lives nor can you toy with the expectations people have from you once they cast that ballot in your favor.
Look, red is red, black is black. Difference should be appreciated and intimidation never a method to bring people to terms with your opinions. Rules of engagement should be followed by the letter and not meant to be broken. If that is not the reality, I would rather remain in my naivety.
GOVERNMENT has formed a task force to tackle the rising food prices. The task force will come up with a national action plan and bring out interventions needed in the short, medium and long-term.
The task force will be chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
Chief Government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha, said this at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday.
He said Government had taken note of the concerns expressed by various people and organisations about the state of food security in the country and how this had impacted on the prices of mealie meal and its availability.
Gen Shikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services said Government was aware that a number of districts were facing food insecurity arising from a number of factors.
These factors include the general rise in food prices, effects of the failure of the global economic systems, irresponsible sale of maize in some communities and households and the floods experienced last rainy season.
Gen Shikapwasha said Government was taking appropriate interventions to prevent people in any part of the country from starving.
The government has estimated the shortfall at 100,000 metric tonnes.
“Government is currently assessing the level of food insecurity in parts of the country that experienced floods or poor rainfall and is moving maize from surplus to deficit areas,” he said.
Gen Shikapwasha said there would be need to import the shortfall to last until May next year when the nation would rely on its own produce.
He said Government would continue providing relief food to people in areas that experienced food shortages because of floods.
Gen Shikapwasha said this would be one of the main activities within the rehabilitation programme.
He said Government had so far distributed 5,714 metric tonnes of maize out of which 3,254 metric tonnes had gone to Southern Province which was the most affected by the floods.
Gen Shikapwasha said the exercise would continue throughout all affected areas.
“Government’s only concern is that some people who have maize or can afford to buy mealie meal want to be listed among relief food beneficiaries, and some wards currently benefiting from relief food are more secure than those left out,” he said.
Gen Shikapwasha said Government was reviewing the situation to see if new vulnerable people could be taken on board.
He said Government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) would continue to conduct rapid vulnerability and needs assessment.
He said the findings of the vulnerability and needs assessment would inform Government on how much various parameters had changed.
“I wish, however, to point out that there is no need for panic and people should not be misled by those trying to make political mileage out of this situation,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
He said the rising mealie meal prices should not be used as an issue to incite unrest in the country because Government was taking all necessary measures to address it.
“Moreover, it’s misleading to suggest, as the Patriotic Front has done, that President Rupiah Banda promised to reduce mealie meal prices,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
He said President Banda emphasised the need to increase food production and increased subsidy on fertiliser for beneficiaries under the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP) so that peasant farmers could increase production.
Gen Shikapwasha assured the people of Zambia that there was no need for the planned protects by the PF cadres.
He said information obtained yesterday from the provinces showed that the highest wholesale price for breakfast meal was K57,000 for 25 kilogrammes while roller meal was pegged at K51,000.
Gen Shikapwasha said some retailers added a mark-up of K10,000.
He was concerned that there was a big variance of retail prices between the line of rail and the rural towns.
“The difference is explained by the cost of transportation of either maize or mealie meal from surplus to deficit areas,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
He said the task force on the rising food prices was studying the matter and was expected to advise Government on how best to deal with the situation.
Gen Shikapwasha said PF president Michael Sata was supposed to seek dialogue with Government or look at the interventions in place.
He said the fertiliser issue had also been taken out of context because neither President Banda nor Government promised to reduce the price of fertiliser across the board.
Gen Shikapwasha said the subsidised fertiliser was not for the open market but for targeted people belonging to cooperatives and benefiting from the FSP.
On the recent job losses on the mines, Gen Shikapwasha said Government would ensure that it negotiated with the mining companies to find ways of mitigating the situation.
On the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe, Gen Shikapwasha said Government was concerned about the situation.
He said Zambian officials would only intervene in the matter when their Zimbabwean counterparts invite them.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) general secretary, Tiens Kahenya has been expelled from his position and the party for activities deemed harmful to the party.
Mr Kahenya was expelled by the UPND’s national management committee (NMC) for alleged gross misconduct, insubordination and behaviour detrimental to the party interests.
This is according to an expulsion letter dated December 4, 2008, signed by UPND vice-president, Richard Kapita.
Mr Kahenya is accused of holding secret meetings to destabilise the party as well as releasing confidential information about the party to unauthorised people.
Other allegations leveled against him are that, without reasonable cause, he had been peddling malicious falsehood against the party president, Hakainde Hichilema, with the intent to bring him into disrepute.
Mr Kahenya is, among other things, accused of peddling false rumours that the party president stole proceeds from the sale of cattle donated to the party.
Mr Kapita reminded Mr Kahenya that the last national management committee meeting offered him an opportunity to substantiate the claims but he opted to keep quiet.
Mr Kapita alleged that the expelled official only spoke in clandestine meetings where he continued with the allegations.
“From the above stated matters, it is clear that you have offended the party and in the premise, NMC has no option but to expel you from your position as secretary general and from the party forthwith,” he said.
In accordance with article 70 of the party constitution, Mr Kapita said, the NMC recommends appropriate action while Mr Kahenya was free to exculpate himself over the allegations.
Times of Zambia
SEVERAL Zimbabweans trying to enter Zambia through the Victoria Falls border have been turned back after being screened for cholera by health authorities deployed in Livingstone.
Immigration department spokesperson, Mulako Mbangweta confirmed the development but could not give figures as the screening was being handled by a multi-sectoral cholera task force.
Ms Mbangweta, however, said the health officials were at the border checking on people who were entering the country and only those certified to be cholera-free were being allowed entry.
More than 500 people in Zimbabwe have died of cholera and the government there has declared the epidemic a national disaster.
Ms Mbangweta said the screening process had continued to ensure the disease was kept away from Zambia.
“Our immigration officers at the border have confirmed that health officials have been stationed at the border to check on those entering the country and depending on what the health authorities say, some people are being turned back,” she said.
A cholera task force source at the border said several people had been denied entry into Zambia.
The source also said the frequency of one crossing the border had been reduced to twice a week to avert the spread of the disease to Livingstone.
The source said in its tightened screening measures to ensure that cholera did not spread to Zambia, the task force had also confiscated uncertified food and destroyed it.
“The cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe is serious and we are not taking any chances,” he said.
He said some of the goods confiscated by the team included game meat, fruits and others that the Zimbabwean nationals carry for sale in Zambia.
He said the situation could have been more threatening if the neighboring Victoria Falls town had been severely hit by the disease, but it was concentrated in the capital, Harare, and surrounding towns.
Other measures intensified to thwart the spread of the disease included thorough hand washing by both the traveling public and the officers manning the check point.
Many Zimbabweans cross into Zambia to sell wares that include cellular phones, sweets and chocolates.
Times of Zambia
By Chanda K. Chishimba
Often times Zambians have grappled with the problem of lack of job opportunities, shrinkage of industries in the post- SAP implementation era, lack of drugs in hospitals, low education standards, and a general low life standard. Many of these issues have led to the erosion of confidence in the government. Hopes of a better life grow fainter each day. In my view there is so much that our government can do to stimulate economic activity which in turn would lead to the creation of jobs and improve the living standards of its people.
1. Government needs to make a sacrifice on the way it spends resources of the state. Cut down the size of government by eliminating the position of Deputy Minister. I don’t see what D/Ms do which cannot be done by a Minister. It would be more prudent and cost effective to strengthen the office of the PS and other Ministry Directors. These are the professionals who run Ministries. Further, we need to let the Ministers and other government officials pay their own cell phone bills. The bills are a drain on government resources. There is no concrete proof that all cell phone calls they make are for government business. The amount of money saved from these adjustments can be redirected to improving infrastructure such as schools and roads. This would lead to the creation of new jobs. And then the issue of hundreds of government officials, the police, army, and air-force seeing off or receiving the President whenever he travels outside the country is quite ridiculous. This takes away the valuable man-hours that these individuals would have put into their work if they had not gone to the airport to perform a function less important than the one for which our people might benefit.
2. Government should seriously consider the issue of Chiefs owning so much land. This land can be used to create new industries, which would in turn create jobs for the Chiefs’ subjects. As a matter of fact, it would be important to stick a clause in the agreements with the new companies, that the Chief should be paid a certain amount as royalty. This royalty is what will sustain the Palaces and make the Chiefs less beggars than what they are today. This move would eliminate the chiefs’ participation in politics and improve their standing in the eyes of their subjects. The current practice where a chief owns thousands of hectares of land is just plain right retrogressive and a barrier to expansion and development. We all fully understand the importance of chiefs in our heritage, but this is the 21st Century and the role of chiefs must be upgraded to economic and social development participants.
3. Government can also implement a radical shift in the way duty and taxes in border towns are spent. It would serve our people well if government can allow every border town to keep 45% of revenue from duty and taxes in that town or even province. This is the money which can be used to improve schools, build hospitals, build roads and create new industries and jobs. This measure would also ensure that people will start to move back to rural areas where they can find employment, thus, relieving the urban towns of much of the currently suppressed carrying capacity. Our rural towns will experience development never seen before. The practice of all revenue eventually ending up at the central treasury has failed because the funds almost always are diverted to less essential activities.
4. I would also propose legislation that would enable Zambians manage a portion of their individual retirement funds. Enforce legislation that would create Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA). As employees earn income, a certain percentage should be saved in an IRA and people can determine their own investment choices. With the Lusaka Stock Exchange now providing most people with investment alternatives, this would be a sure way to create wealth, lessen the burden in retirement, and leave children with an inheritance. The current system where NAPSA manages retirement funds for the people is subject to so many bottlenecks. No wonder people never get their pension funds after years of hard work
The path to economic development is not easy. Sacrifices must be made by both the governed and those with the mandate to govern. It is not enough to sit back and ask the citizens of Zambia to tighten their belts when those in power cannot embrace the same. We need to be steadfast in our endeavors to improve the livelihoods of our people. These challenges have been tackled successfully in many parts of the world, and Zambia should not be an exception.
President Rupiah Banda, has described as unreasonable plans by some opposition political leaders and cadres to demonstrate over rising food prices.
“Somehow the Patriotic Front thinks they can do it with demonstrations, they look ridiculous, there is no basis for that and Zambians have shown that they are not interested,” said Mr. Banda.
President Banda said opposition politicians should appreciate dialogue as an effective way of resolving issues affecting the economic welfare of the people as opposed to confrontation means.
Mr Banda said there was nowhere in the world where demonstrations have been used as an effective method of solving issues.
He was speaking to journalists shortly before departure to Burundi where he is expected to attend a one day heads of state and government summit on the Burundi peace process.
Commenting on the one day Burundi peace process summit, Mr. Banda said the summit was important as it was aimed at finding ways of bringing peace to that country.
“As you know our friends in that country have not experienced peace like us. So leaders in the region called for a one day summit to see what we can do to bring peace to that country,” said Mr. Banda.
He noted that Zambians should be grateful that the country has, since independence, enjoyed peace and tranquility.
Meanwhile, Mr Banda said he was aware that fugitive former Zambia Intelligence Service Director, Xavier Chungu, arrived in the country, adding that he will allow the law to take its course on charges of abuse of authority, among others placed on the former intelligence chief.
Mr. Banda, who is accompanied by Agriculture Minister, Brian Chituwo, Local Government and Deputy Minister, Eustarkio Kazonga and other senior government officials left the country aboard a Presidential jet Challenger at 06:25 hours.
Former intelligence Chief, Xavier Chungu’s lawyer, Nicholas Chanda said that he asked his client to return to Zambia because he had no case.
“I advised him to come back because the State had amended its charges unless it wants to start the cases afresh,” Mr Chanda said.
Mr Chanda said he asked Chungu to surrender himself to the police because he did not want him to appear as if he was running away from something although there was no case against him
And chairperson of the Task Force on Corruption, Max Nkole denied that the Task Force on Corruption had struck a deal with the former intelligence chief.
Mr Nkole said assertions that the Task Force had a deal with Chungu to make him a State witness were false because the latter voluntarily took a plane to come back home at his own cost.
He said Chungu’s return would be helpful to both the prosecution team and the defence.
“We are not trying to persecute him but to seek the truth out of him, everything boils down from him. He becomes relevant not only to the prosecution but also the defence,” he said.
Mr Nkole said the decision to have Chungu become a State witness depended on prosecutors who were handing his cases.
“However, the accused is at liberty to decide whether to become a State witness or for the defence,” he said.
He said in law, an accused person could opt to become a witness but in the present state Chungu still remained charged with various criminal cases.
Mr Nkole said Chungu landed in the country at midday and that the Task Force on Corruption was interested to know how he escaped and those who aided him would be prosecuted.
On whether certain cases Chungu was facing would be amended, Mr Nkole said this depended on procedure and the prosecution team who would decide if they would have to start the cases afresh.
When asked about where Chungu had come from, Mr Nkole refused to disclose on grounds that this could compromise the security of that country.
Prior to his escape, Chungu was facing a number of cases in court.
In one count for instance, Chungu was alleged to have abused authority of his office as ZSIS director general by making irregular payment of US$70,000 to church organisations abroad on February 16, 2000.
In the second count, Chungu on February 12, 1999, allegedly stole US$16,846 cash which came into his possession by virtue of his employment.
Then senior resident magistrate, Douglas Zulu, discharged Chungu following an application by the Anti-Corruption Commission to withdraw the case on grounds that he was facing a similar charge in another court.
A senior official in the labour movement has slammed at some trade unionists that are fond of misusing public funds.
Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) General Secretary Darison Chaala said that it is sad that some trade union officials were being dragged to police by some members for misusing contribution fees.
Mr. Chaala cited Copperbelt and eastern provinces has some of the places where members have taken such action which is tarnishing the image of the union. He said officials found involved in such acts should stop as disciplinary action will be taken against them.
Mr. Chaala noted it was unfortunate that most of the leaders that are holding positions have a record of financial abuse.
The official further bemoaned the current divisions in labour movement which has resulted in the proliferation of trade unions. He said this has brought about rivalry and lose of focus on the part of trade unions in achieving their goals.
Mr. Chaala was speaking at a one day training workshop for Civil Servant and Allied Workers Union of Zambia members held at Highway park lodge in Kafue yesterday.
Mr. Chaala has urged the labor movement to swallow their pride and come up with one strong union which will consolidate and formularize into a union group as a bargaining unit. He disclosed that seven (7) trade unions are already in the process of merging so that one union is formed.
He named the seven unions as Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZANUT), Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ), Primary Education Teachers Union of Zambia (PETUZ) NAPSA, AGRITEC, Health Workers Union of Zambia and Civil Servant and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAUZ). He said that the unions have resolved to merge after realizing that government is encouraging splinter unions in order to weaken the labor movement.
Mr. Chaala disclosed that government last Friday signed the memorandum of understanding with CSAUZ to consider increasing the 2008 housing allowance to all its members. He however said Government is however still reluctant to assent to housing alliances arrears owed to its members to September 2008.
And speaking at the same function, CSAUZ organizing Secretary Mr.Kabisa Muyaywa said that the labour movement has a political role by influencing politicians to make good decisions which will benefit the workers and the society.
Mr. Muyaywa said that privatization policy which was introduced by the formers second republic President Dr. Chiluba has a negative impact on the labor movement because most of the workers lost jobs and this has drastically reduced membership of the trade unions in Zambia.
ENDS/ CK/PK/ ZANIS.
An environmental watch dog in Kafue says it will not relax but ensure that the Kafue steel plant adheres to its commitment of controlling polluting now that the company has started testing of machinery at the plant.
Kafue District Environment Stakeholders Committee Chairman Wilfred Ngulube said that residents in the district have not ignored the issue of pollution which was raised at the inception of the steel factory construction.
Mr. Ngulube said all what residents want to see is that the management at the company does not take them for granted and start emitting dangerous gases in the atmosphere a situation which will endanger their lives. He said whilst they appreciate the jobs to be created once the plant is in full operation, it was important environment issues raised by locals be looked into by the company.
Mr. Ngulube said Kafue residents have been exposed to pollution for a long time and subjecting them any further will not be taken lightly. He said the committee is looking for ward to seeing pollution monitors being installed at the plant just as management had promised.
Mr. Ngulube disclosed that the committee has however been carrying out sensitization campaigns on pollution. He said it was time Zambians started embracing pollution free environment if they to remain healthier.
Mr. Ngulube also called on the community to work with the committee in order to reduce pollution in the district. He said the community should be alert and report any forms of pollution that they come across in the district.
Mr. Ngulube also called on the Kafue District Commissioner Henry Bowa to assist the committee by providing an office for them. He said pollution is one critical issue in Kafue and it should not be dealt from homes but should have an office where the residents will be freely putting down their complaints.
ENDS/YZ/PK/ZANIS.
© Lusaka Times
