The printing of Zambia’s presidential ballot papers has begun in South Africa’s port city, Durban ahead of the election slated for this month (October 30 , 2008).

The Printing kicked off this afternoon after verification of the ballot paper dummies and appending of signatures earlier in the day by the Zambian delegation which is here to witness the printing process expected to be completed on Friday next week.

This afternoon (Friday) the 21 man Zambian delegation led by Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairperson Florence Mumba had an opportunity to tour South Africa’s Universal Printing factory where printing of the presidential ballot papers is being undertaken.

During the conducted tour of the factory, Company Special Projects Consultant Vik Vaid went through the whole process of printing in an effort to establish the firm’s credibility in the printing industry to the section where the Zambian presidential ballot papers are being printed.

While in the section where the presidential ballot papers are being printed, the Zambian delegation was given a chance to scrutinise sample ballot papers that have already been done.

The firm’s Special Projects Consultant told the delegation that printing will go on throughout the weekend while the other process of sticking and packaging would be done on Monday next week.

At the end of the tour, Universal Printing Company Managing Director, Bharat Mehta, assured the Zambian delegation that there would be no external influence over the printing of the presidential ballot papers.

Mr Mehta underscored that security and integrity was paramount to his firm hence it would ensure that no external forces interfered in the printing process.

“If anything happened our credibility will be affected hence integrity and ethics are important for us. We are conscious of the fact that we are responsible for what happens in Zambia and other African countries,” he said.

His remarks came in the wake of concerns from the opposition parties among them the PF on how secure the printing was at the printing firm.

The Zambian delegation comprises political parties and Civil Society representatives include ECZ Commissioner Jalasi, MMD’s Assistant Secretary for Research Felix Mwansa, Heritage Party Trustee Lorraine Miyanda, UPND’s Chairperson for Defence and Security and Patriotic Front General Secretary Edward Mumbi.

Others are Zambia National Women’s Lobby Vice Chairperson Helen Kauta Kalikeka, Forum for Democratic Process (FODEP) President Stanely M’hango and Kwezekani Banda from the Zambia Police.

Those who arrived later in the day include Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC)’s Ronnet Chanda, Daniel Maimbo of Transparency International Zambia and Anti Corruption Commission’s Royd Katongo.

Zambia goes to the presidential election on October 30 this year following the death of Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa who passed on in France’s Percy Military Hospital in August.

ZANIS/ENDS/CLM/SJK

National Revolutionary Party President, Cozmo Mumba, has appeared before the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for interrogation on corruption allegations.

Dr. Mumba arrived at the ACC office around 10 hours on Friday.

He later told Journalist that he is not guilty of the corruption allegation.

He however said he will corporate with the investigation until his name is cleared.

And ACC Public Relations Manager, Timothy Moono confirmed that Dr Mumba has been questioned by the ACC.

Mr. Mono could not however reveal the details of the interrogation as this would jeopardise investigations.

Dr. Mumba has been accused of receiving a bribe of 15 million kwacha in order to support Acting Presidential, Rupiah Banda.

[ZNBC]

THE Lusaka High Court has ruled that acting president RUPIAH BANDA should continue to enjoy presidential privileges and benefits.

ZNBC reports that this is in a case in which the Anti-Rigging Zambia Limited sued Mr BANDA saying he ceased to be vice president from the time he filed in his nomination papers for the presidential elections.

It said Mr BANDA was not entitled to perform presidential functions or the benefits of that office and that he should not enjoy or use public resources to fund his campaign.

But Lusaka High Court judge PHILIP MUSONDA ruled that article 43 (1) gave the acting president absolute immunity from having proceedings instituted against him in any court of law in respect of anything done or omitted to be done in his private capacity.

The judge ordered that Mr BANDA will continue to act as president and enjoy the privileges and benefits attached to that office until the democratic process resolves the issue of the presidency.

Judge MUSONDA noted that the case was a constitutional matter that had raised a novel issue and that there would be no order for costs.

He said during hearing attorney general MUMBA MALILA said that article 43 (1) of the constitution, a person holding the office of the president was not amenable to criminal or civil proceedings in respect of anything done during his tenure of office.

Mr MALILA said that the article was categorical and operated to prevent the institution of any court process against the acting president or as a person performing the functions of the president.

But lawyer for Anti-Rigging Zambia Limited KELVIN BWALYA argued that the article referred to when such a person was taking administrative action or an executive decision in consultation with cabinet.

Mr BWALYA argued that the filing of nomination papers as presidential candidate was not an executive function or that of a president because even any other person could have filed in the papers.

ZANIS/ZNBC/ENDS

Zambia has agreed financing deals totalling $170 million with European and African lenders and selected Chinese firms to build houses in key mining towns and a famed tourist city, a senior industry official said on Thursday.

Zik Zekko, the chief executive officer of the National Housing Bond Trust (NHBT), said 1,211 houses would be constructed in the new copper mining town of Solwezi in northwestern Zambia, the ancient copperbelt city of Kitwe and tourist resort city of Livingstone.

A surge in copper production has created critical housing shortages in the mining areas.

Zekko said Pan-African bank, the PTA Bank, Shelter Afrique, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and International Housing Solutions, an associate of the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) would be the principle financiers for the projects.

He also told journalists that Standard Chartered Bank would place a bond with Zambian pension funds and insurance firms on the Lusaka Stock Exchange to raise $34 million of the $170 million for the housing projects.

“In all the three pilot projects, a total of $170 million is required to build houses (and) hence we have had to consider going outside our market to source funding,” Zekko said.

Zekko said contracts had been awarded to Chinese firms, Yangtsi Jiang, China Jiangxi and Sichuan International Technical Corp., to construct the houses.

The houses would be sold to Zambians, enabling the NHBT to repay loans from foreign lenders, while foreigners would only be considered if there was not enough demand from locals.

The NHBT had also applied for tax exemptions on imported building materials to enable it to price the houses cheaply.

The NHBT was also in talks with the German-based Africa Development Corporation to fund more houses.

He said financiers were also watching closely the political climate ahead of the presidential elections due on October 30.

“As long as we don’t throw stones (during presidential elections) in October, everything should be fine,” Zekko said.

Reuters

It’s not every day you see a wild elephant standing next to you at the reception of a hotel.

But in the Mfuwe Lodge in the 9,500 sq km South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, the sight of elephants strolling around the lobby is a regular occurrence.
It was unwittingly built on the route to the herd’s favourite mango trees and the pachyderms have seen no reason to change the path trodden by generations before them.

Andy Hogg, 44, director at Mfuwe Lodge, said the herd appears every November as the mangoes ripen: ‘This is a totally natural phenomenon, the elephants come here of their own accord and it is certainly a rare but magnificent sight.’

The herd is led to the lodge each day by the matriarch, Wonky Tusk.

‘There is ten in that herd and it is only that herd that comes through. It is a strange thing,’ said Andy.

Guests are not allowed to get too close to the beasts and there have been no incidents yet.

Associated Newspaper limited

Former State House Press Aide Richard Sakala Thursday appeared for mention in the Lusaka Magistrates Court.

This is in a matter where Mr. Sakala has been put on his defence after he was found with a case to answer for abuse of authority of office.

Mr. Sakala who is jointly charged with a Lusaka resident, Nellie Mwila will defend himself in two other offences of forgery and executing a valuable security.

He told the court that he intends to call 12 witnesses in the case.

Magistrate Sharon Newa has set october 20, 28 and 29 as dates for Mr. Sakala defence hearing.

Mr. Sakala and Ms. Mwila were put on their defence after the state proved beyond reasonable doubt that they had engaged in the alleged offences.

And Magistrate Newa refused to grant Mr. Sakala’s lawyer an order to allow the court provide statements recorded from witnesses by investigating officers before the matter was taken to court.

Magistrate Newa said there is no authority which can allow the court to do so.
[ZNBC]

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Kitwe has arrested a Nigerian national and a 19 year-old Zambian for trafficking in cocaine powder and crack cocaine.

The Commission has also arrested two American nationals, among several Zambians that include a Zambia National Service (ZNS) staff sergeant for illicit drug trafficking.

DEC Public Relations and Press Liaison Officer Rosten Chulu confirmed the development to ZANIS in Kitwe today.

Mr. Chulu said Raphael Devine Obumnema 36, a mechanical engineer of Matero in Lusaka was arrested in Kitwe together with Brenda Mwila Chanda 19, a student at National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) in Lusaka for trafficking in nine sachets of cocaine and ten sachets of crack cocaine.

He said Brenda Chanda is pursuing a Diploma in Law at the Institute. Mr. Chulu said both suspects are currently remanded in custody awaiting court appearance.

Meanwhile, the Commission in Chipata, Eastern Province, has arrested Lambert Koeller Jafar 25, an American national for trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 32 grams and hashish weighing 10 grams.

DEC Public Relations and Press Liaison Officer Rosten Chulu confirmed to ZANIS that in the same province the Commission also arrested three people in Lundazi for trafficking in 6 by 100 kilogrammes and 50 kilogrammes of cannabis weighing 16 kilogrammes.

He named the suspects as Lingster Mwale, Christopher Mwale and Issac Mwale.

In Livingstone, another American national was arrested for trafficking in diphenhydramine.

DEC Public Relations and Press Liaison Officer Rosten Chulu disclosed that Loller Sherry Garrison 67, was arrested at Livingstone International Airport for trafficking in 20 capsules and 20 tablets of diphenhydramine weighing 100 grams without authority.

Others arrested in Southern Province include James Muzime Halale 40, Gift Kamamba 30, Bibien Banda 43, Josphine Mbewe 30, Lazarous Hamisikili 40 for trafficking in cannabis.

In Lusaka, the Commission arrested eight suspects for allegedly trafficking in drugs.

DEC Public Relations and Press Liaison Officer Rosten Chulu named the suspects as Moses Muzonga, Andrew Nyangu, Malita Nyirenda, Isaac Zulu, Pearson Kavani, Jane Nkhuwa, Rabson Tembo, Ken Chilufya all of Garden, John Laing, Msisi, Villa Elizabetha and Jack compounds.

And in Luapula, the DEC arrested eight people for trafficking in various quantities of cannabis while in Solwezi three suspects have been nabbed for allegedly trafficking in drugs.

ENDS/CM/AM/ZANIS