Government has clarified that President Levy Mwanawasa can only take up the mediation role in the Zimbabwean political impasse if the matter is collectively agreed by the Head of State in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region.

Chief Government spokesperson Mike Mulongoti said the decision to appoint South African President Thabo Mbeki to take up his renewed mandate in Zimbabwe’s political impasse was a collective agreement by Heads of Heads during last week’s SADC Extra Ordinary summit.

Mr. Mulongoti said any departure from that agreement has to be arrived in consultation with all Heads of State in region.

He disclosed that President Mwanawasa who has been in contact with President Mbeki has indicated that he can not take up the matter.

He however said President Mwanawasa being the SADC chair has provided adequate leadership and was deeply involved in matters relating to Zimbabwe.

Mr. Mulogoti, who is information and broadcasting services minister, added that president Mwanawasa being the head of state has other responsibilities.

Mr. Mulongoti was speaking to journalists following yesterday’s call by Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Opposition leader Morgan Tshangirai that President Mwanawasa should take up the mediation role in that country.

Mr. Tshangirai is quoted to have called on Mr. Mbeki to step down and allow Mr. President Mwanawasa who is the SADC chair to take up the new role.

Mr. Mbeki was during the SADC extra – ordinary summit given a renewed mandate to mediate in Zimbabwe following his successful role that resulted in that country having electoral reforms leading to holding of the March 29 harmonised elections.

The Minister stated that both parties in Zimbabwe have acknowledged that last month’s elections were free and fair except for the delay in the release of the presidential results which has raised a lot of concern.

Mr. Mulongoti however stated that president Mwanawasa cannot take up the role although the call by the opposition leader is a moral persuasion.

He said Dr. Mwanawasa has kept an open eye on what is happening in Zimbabwe so that if need arises for the region to offer assistance, he can consult with other heads of State.

He stressed any new development in Zimbabwe would be handled in the similar manner they were tackled during the extra ordinary summit held in Zambia and Tanzania.

Over 300 opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) in Mazabuka have resigned to join the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) ahead of tomorrow’s party card renewal exercise.

MMD Mazabuka District Chairman, Trywell Himoonga disclosed this to ZANIS in Mazabuka today.

Mr. Himoonga said the resignation of some UPND members, who include some senior party officials, meant that the party has been dismantled in the district.

He said the MMD has been enjoying overwhelming support in the district due to the massive investment taking place in the district.

He attributed the massive investment and developments in the economy to President Mwanawasa’s good governance policies.

Mr. Himoonga said the party from UPND will officially tender their resignations tomorrow.

The Taskforce on corruption has lifted the restriction that was placed on a trunk of emeralds belonging to the Governor of Lubumbashi in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Moses Katumbi.

Taskforce Chairman, Max Nkole said this follows an amicable resolution of issues concerning the settlement that Mr. Katumbi and the Zambian government reached.

Mr. Nkole was speaking at a press briefing in Kitwe after a meeting with Mr. Katumbi’s lawyers and ZANACO officials.

He said Mr. Katumbi and his lawyers will meet with ZANACO officials to ascertain the value of the emeralds.

Mr. Katumbi’s dollar and Kwacha accounts have been reopened.

Mr. Nkole said in the settlement, the money found in the accounts as at June 28 last year has been forfeited to the state.

He noted that in the kwacha account there was K159 million while in the dollar account there was $80,000.

Mr. Nkole also said Mr. Katumbi has also surrendered property worth over $5.5 billion to the state.

And Mr. Katumbi who was present paid tribute to president Mwanawasa and the Zambian government for successfully reaching the settlement.

Mr. Katumbi said he was pleased that the settlement was reached amicably.

He said this paves way for him to re-establish his businesses in Zambia.

Mr. Katumbi said Zambians and Congolese are one people.

He had lived in Zambia run a series of businesses.
[ZNBC]

The Lusaka Magistrate Court has rejected an application seeking to stay the defamation of President Mwanawasa’s case against Patriotic Front leader, Michael Sata.

Mr. Sata’s lawyers, Bonaventure Mutale and Edgar Lungu sought the suspension of the case in the Magistrate Court pending the determination of an appeal hearing in the Supreme Court emanating from the same matter.

Principal Resident Magistrate, Charles Kafunda has instead ordered that trial resumes before him on May 23.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sata and his co accused Patriotic Front Vice president, Guy Scot and Police Officer, CLement Andeleki have pleaded not guilty against charges of defaming President Mwanawasa in January 2006.

They are accused of brining the president’s name into scandal and ridicule as well as portraying the Head of State as a dictator and tin pot lawyer.

The three accused persons are alleged to have accused President Mwanawasa of ordering police officers to arrest patriotic front cadres that lined up along
the parliament road as he went to officially open parliament in January 2006.

Magistrate Kafunda rejected the application on grounds that High Court Judge, Charles Kajimanga after hearing Mr. Sata’s appeal ordered that trial proceeds in the subordinate Court.

Magistrate Kafunda was displeased and disappointed that Mr. Sata’s lawyers did not inform the court in yesterday’s application about the High Court’s order.

[ZNBC]

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set June 26, 2008 as date for holding Milanzi constituency parliamentary by-elections in Ketete district of Eastern province.

The Milanzi constituency seat fell vacant after the death of United National Independence Party (UNIP) Member of Parliament Chosani Njobvu last month.

ECZ Public Relations Manager Chris Akufuna also announced that on the same date, there would be local government by-elections in four wards following the death and resignations of councillors in various wards in the country.

Mr. Akufuna said in a statement to ZANIS today that voting in the by-elections would run from 06:00 hours to 18:00 hours on Thursday, June 26, 2008 in respective polling stations.

He said candidates aspiring for parliament should have nine supporters who should also be registered voters in affected constituencies.

“The supporters must have in their possession green national registration cards and voters’ cards. Aspiring candidates will be required to pay K500, 000 non-refundable nomination fee,” he explained.

He said candidates aspiring for councillorship should also have nine supporters holding green national registration cards and registered voters in the affected constituencies.

He said aspiring candidates for the local government in by-elections in district councils should pay K50, 000 while those in municipal councils should pay K75, 000 non-refundable nomination fee.

Mr. Akufuna said statutory declarations and nomination papers would be lodged on May 29th this year between 09:00 hours and 15:00 hours.

“Aspiring candidates in the by-election should lodge completed and attested statutory declaration and nomination papers subscribed before a magistrate, local court justice, head of a primary school, head of a secondary school, principle of a college, commissioner of oath or election returning officer,” he said.

He said the campaign period for the elections would start on May 28 and end at 18:00hours on June 25, 2008.

Meanwhile, Mr. Akufuna has advised registered Non Governmental Organisations wishing to monitor the elections, to apply for accreditation at the ECZ from May 18 to June 19, 2008.

He said each political party wishing to contest constituency elections would be allowed to accredit up to 20 officials.

Mr. Akufuna has meanwhile cautioned political parties that only a maximum number of ten accredited members per political party and two accredited representatives of NGOs would be authorised to represent their respective political parties or NGOs at the collation centre.

He further added that not more than two political party members per participating political party would be allowed to witness the counting of votes at the polling station.

Police in Chipata today swung into action and impounded bicycles for failure by owners to observed traffic rules.

A check by ZANIS along Umodzi highway in the town centre found a police patrol vehicle laden with bicycles, which were later taken to the police station.

Police sources said bicycles in the district were a major concern of accidents because many cyclists failed to observed traffic rules, especially at traffic lights.

The police said some cyclists had a tendency of not stopping at the traffic light when they were supposed to do so.

The impounding of bicycles has also cheered motorists who said some cyclists were a menace to both pedestrians and vehicles on the road because they allegedly did not know even the basic rules of the highway code.

Recently, Eastern Province Minister, Charles Shawa expressed concern at the high number of road traffic accidents that happen in the region.

Mr. Shawa called for the expansion of the roads in the province to allow free movement of pedestrians and cyclists.

He said this would reduce accidents, which he said the rate at which they were occurring, was alarming.

Government has called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders in working towards averting the scourge of corruption in the country.

Copperbelt province Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima made the call this morning at his office when he flagged off 358 kilometre Anti-Corruption walk.

The 358 kilometre Anti-Corruption walk, which was flagged off from Kitwe two days ago, is being undertaken by Wendy Mwachilenga and Mr. Richard Mwanza and is expected to take the duo 15 days to reach Lusaka.

Mr. Mwanza and Ms. Mwachilenga had a stop over in Ndola yesterday.

Mr. Mbulakulima said government was always committed to fighting corruption at all levels of the Zambian society.

He said this was reaffirmed when President Levy Mwanawasa declared a zero tolerance to corruption at all levels.

He said the walk was meant to raise public awareness on the dangers of corruption to the national economy.

Mr. Mbulakulima said all patriotic citizens should embrace the fight against the vice so that Zambia could become a corruption free country.

He added that the walk was also intended to woo support from private and public institutions, civil society and the international donor agencies, who he said should become partners in the fight.

The minister said institutions fighting corruption have realised that they needed other stakeholders to play a part in order to win the fight.

Mr. Mbulakulima said one of the major dangers of corruption was that only few individuals amassed huge resources to themselves at the expense of the majority poor.

He said the fight should be enhanced until a positive change in the behaviour and the way of conducting business was evidently seen by everyone.

ZANIS/CN/KSH/ENDS.

One sunny Saturday morning Chileshe was very discouraged. From his seat upon the low wall surrounding his property, he gazed sadly at his simple home, the one he had just finished building in Chilenje .His wife frequently appeared at the open door. Her furtive glances in his direction reminded him that the Mealie Meal bag was almost empty and he should be at work finishing of the website he was designing for a local company.

Nevertheless, his well built muscular body sat stolidly on the wall. His slow mind was struggling patiently with a problem for which he could find no answer. The hot, Zambian sun beat down upon him mercilessly. Beads of perspiration formed on his brow and trickled down unnoticed to lose themselves in the hairy jungle on his chest.

Chileshe was too engrossed in his thoughts to notice the white Toyota corolla that had pulled up into his driveway.

“Shani boyi,”the smiling face of Kabwe, his best friend, said as he approached him.

“Mwalila?” Kabwe went on to say.

“Panono,” Chileshe replied barely looking up.

“How can you say panono? You have just finished building your own house. Though the painting and the finishings leave much to be desired but at least its yours. You are an Unza graduate, one of the best engineers around. You have even taught yourself how to design websites. You have a beautiful wife. Boyi I think God has blessed you. Now lend me K100 000 from that bulging wallet of yours. I will return it next week. You won’t even miss it,” said Kabwe.

“If I did have K100 000,” Chileshe responded gloomily, “I would not even lend it to you, for it would be all I have.”

“What!” exclaimed Kabwe with genuine surprise. You don”t have any money, yet you sit like a statue on the wall. Why not design some websites or do some PJs?
Where is your energy my friend? Is there something bothering you?”

“Yes, there is something bothering me,” agreed Chileshe. “It began in a dream, a senseless dream in which I thought I was a man of means. I owned massive houses. The most beautiful houses I’d ever seen. I had my own private jet, parked right here in Chilenje. I dined with people like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. The politicians here trembled in my presence. My wallet was full of $100 notes. It must have been $100 000. I was freely giving beggars $100 notes. I had enough money to buy my wife fine clothes and jewelry and whatever I desired. My wife would go shopping in Paris, New York and London. Only when she needed things like Chibwabwa would she shop in Lusaka. It was such a glorious feeling of contentment. You would not have known me as that hard working friend. Nor would you have known my wife, she was so free from stress and her face was shining with happiness. She was the smiling bride of our early married days.”

“Yes, that was a pleasant and senseless dream indeed”commented Kabwe , “but why should such pleasant feelings turn you into a miserable statue on the wall?”

“Why indeed!” lamented Chileshe. “It’s because when I woke up and remembered how empty my bank account was, a feeling of rebellion swept over me. Lets discuss this Kabwe. As youngsters we were both top students and even got ZCCM scholarships. As young men, we played hard but still graduated from Unza with distinctions. As grown men we have been satisfied to work long hours and spend our money freely. We have earned millions of kwacha in the years that have passed, yet to know the joy that comes from wealth we must dream! After half a lifetime of labor, you my close friend comes to ask me for K100 000.Why can’t we acquire wealth more than enough for food, clothes, cars and these substandard houses we are building.”

“Think of our sons,” Chileshe continued, “aren’t they following our footsteps? They will also go to school, get more degrees than a thermometer and still struggle with money like we do.”

“I have never heard you talk this way in all the years of our friendship Chileshe,” a puzzled Kabwe said.

“Never in all those years did I think like this before. From morning till night I work hard as an engineer, hoping some day God would recognize my deeds and reward me with great prosperity. That is just not happening. So my heart is sad. I wish to be a wealthy man, a man of means. I wish to own lots of land, lots of houses and wear the finest clothes. I’m willing to work for these things with all the strength in my back, with all the skill in my hands and with all the intellect in my mind, but I wish my labor will also be fairly rewarded,” cried Chileshe.