Former Southern Province Minister, Joseph Mulyata has been acquitted of charges of abuse of authority of office. This was in a case in which Mulyata was charged with abuse of authority of office in connection with the release of an impounded bus belonging to Lusaka businessman, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba.

Mulyata, 47, a member of parliament for Mongu central, was arrested on December 7 and released on K5 million bond the same day.

Particulars of the offence were that, on a date unknown but between July 13 and July 31, 2007 in Livingstone, Mulyata, being a person employed in the public service as then minister for southern province abused the authority of his office by directing officers from the Road Development Agency (RDA) to release a Germins Motorways bus registration MGL06.

The bus had been impounded for evading a weighbridge without paying the required fine, an act arbitrary and prejudicial to the interest of the Government of Zambia.

In his ruling delivered in a Livingstone magistrate’s court yesterday, Magistrate Edsen Shanduba acquitted Mr Mulyata saying he had been exonerated by one of the
witnesses.

Mr Shanduba said that prosecution witness Mubuyaeta Kapinda, who was then Road Development Agency (RDA) regional engineer, exonerated Mr Mulyata when he
testified in court that he willingly released the bus.

Mr Kapinda had told the court that he willingly released the bus after considering the circumstances that were prevailing at that time.

”After looking at the circumstances, I decided to release the bus. As a senior Government official, Mr Mulyata assured that the fine would be paid so I went
and got the keys and released the bus to the driver,” Mr Kapinda had said in his testimony.

Mr Kapinda had maintained in court that there was no directive from Mr Mulyata but a request that the bus be released and a fine to be paid later.

He explained that the Government did not lose in any way as the fine of US2000 for the release of the impounded bus had since been paid.

”The Government did not lose in any way. The decision to release the bus was purely my own,” Mr Kapinda had said.

In their submission, the defense stated that essential elements in the case had not been proved while in their submission the prosecution argued that Mr
Mulyata be found with a case to answer because he used his position as then southern province minister to release the bus.

The prosecution stated that Mulyata made the directive more than once while the defense argued that the prosecution had failed to say the exact words Mulyata
used in directing’the RDA officers to release the bus.

”In my view, the word directive, means to give orders and those orders must be followed. When a person is directed to do something, they do not have a choice.
Under these circumstances however, I do not agree that the request was in essence a directive.”

”The word directive is not synonymous with the word request. A request can either be granted or refused,” Mr Shanduba said.

Magistrate Shanduba maintained that according to the evidence adduced in court, the bus was released not because Mulyata directed the RDA officers but that Mr
Kapinda released the bus in his capacity as the then RDA regional engineer.

He said Mr Kapinda used his discretion to release the bus and it was on record that the US$2000 fine for the impounded bus had been paid.

In my view, there was no offence. Mr Kapinda exonerated Mulyata and in accordance with section 206 of the criminal procedure court of the Penal code, I
now dismiss this case. Mr Mulyata is now acquitted. Accused, you are now free. You can now go and sing a new song,” Mr Shanduba said.

Speaking in an interview shortly after being acquitted Mr Mulyata thanked his lawyers saying he was grateful that the case was finished and that he had been
vindicated.

”I have no ill feelings against anyone. Am just grateful that the case is over,” Mr Mulyata said.

University of Zambia (UNZA) Great East road campus students run amok Friday night and stoned vehicles in protest against governments alleged failure to increase their meal and project allowances.

But Quick action by vigilant officers from the Zambia Police Service prevented the irate students from stoning more motorists.

The current meal allowance is K10,000 per day while the project allowance stands at K300,000.

UNZASU President, Solomon Ng’ambi told ZNBC’s Effie Mpande who rushed to the scene that the students wanted their allowance to be hiked.

Mr. Ng’ambi said government last upped students allowances four years ago.

“The police officers have been deployed at the campus in order to protect public property,” the police said.

Although some students were arrested the police did not say how many.

Similar protests also took place at the Copperbelt University, where the government provides free bursaries to students who cannot afford to pay fees.

“The ring leaders of the protest have been identified and will be made to account for their action,” said Grace Mikunga, spokesperson of the Copperbelt University in a statement.

Student riots over low government funding levels of the two state-run universities have become increasingly common.

The government has said it plans to stop free bursaries offered to poor students because it has been the source of riots and demonstrations.

President Mwanawasa has called for politics of unity and development in the country.

Addressing people who welcomed him on arrival at Chipata airport this afternoon, Dr Mwanawasa said politics of insults and stone-throwing are over and that it was now time for politicians to embrace each other in developing the country.

The president said the new deal administration has done a lot to improve the standard of living of the people of Zambia since coming to power about six years ago.

Dr Mwanawasa thanked the MMD members and the nation at large for their prayers for his reconciliation with PF leader Michael Sata.

He said politics of reconciliation and unity should be encouraged in order for the nation to achieve sustainable development.

He said the reconciliation between him and Mr Sata will be meaningless if MMD members do not extend the same to those wishing to join the ruling party.

President Mwanawasa reminded MMD party members that Mr Sata has not joined the MMD but still belongs to his party and that they should concentrate on rebuilding and consolidating the party in order to effectively implement the party’s development agenda.

And provincial minister Charles in his welcome remarks, said the people of Eastern province ae thanful to president Mwanwasa for his commitment to develop the province,

Mr Shawa said this can be seen in the many development projects and programmes taking place in the province such as the eletrification of Chama which the president and his Malawian counterpart Bingu Muthariak will commission on Tuesday.

And MMD Eastern province chairman Kennedy Zulu said his executive which was elected in office recently will ensure the ruling party is strong and united in the province.

President is tomorrow expected to address a puiblic rally in Vubwi constituency before proceeding to Chama where he will commission the Chama power project with Malawian president Bingu Mutharika on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a traditional ruler in Mwinilunga has commended president Mwanawasa for reconciling with opposition Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata.

Senior chief Kanongesha of the Lunda people in Mwinilunga told ZANIS that it is gratifying to see the two leaders reconcile.

“Truly we are all happy with the reconciliation of president Mwanawasa nd Mr Sata as political leaders,’ he said.

The traditional ruler stressed that reconciliation and forgiveness are the cornerstone of unity and development in the nation.

Senior chief Kanongesha urged the two leaders to honour their pledge to work together in developing the country.

He said the reconciliation of the two leaders should be emulated by other political players in the country.

Senior chief Kanongesha said development will be easy to attain if all politicians put their differences behind and work at national unity.

And senior chief Kanongesha has summoned church leaders to play a pivotal role in assisting to reconcile politicians in the country.

He said the church should play its role and help politicians to iron out their differences for the good of the nation.

Meanwhile, senior kanongesha has praised president Mwanawasa for providing traditional rulers with motor vehicles to enhance their mobility around their chiefdoms.

He said the development confirms the importance government attaches to the institution of chiefs in the country.

Luapula Provincial MMD women’s Secretary Sophie Mwansa has re-affirmed that the naming of the Chembe bridge across the Luapula river after President Mwanawasa was done in good faith.

In a press release to ZANIS in Mansa, Ms Mwansa stated that there was nothing wrong in naming the bridge after the republican president as it was a historical norm to name big infrastructure after national leaders.

Ms. Mwansa said the decision by councilors in Mansa to adopt and forward the name to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing must not be criticized because it acknowledged the Presidents’ efforts in realizing the construction of the bridge.

The MMD women’s Secretary said the resolution was justified because naming of structures after people was one way of appreciating and giving respect to past and present leaders.

She noted that naming of structures and sites after leaders considered as heroes was a custom as could be evidenced from names previously given to various infrastructure.

Ms. Mwansa cited the now razed Dag Hammarskjöld stadium in Ndola named after the late UN Secretary General, Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Bennie Mwinga Housing Complex in Lusaka, schools, roads and other places named after current and past heroes.

She said critics of the decision had no no satisfactory grounds.

Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Leslie Mbula, has hailed the role the church is playing in trying to stop the xenophobic violence that has been raging in some South African townships over the past few months, claiming several lives with hundreds of foreigners being displaced.

Mr. Mbula has also thanked the South African government for coming out strongly against these xenophobic attacks on foreigners which started early this year in some Tshawane townships and informal settlements (shanties) and later spread to similar area in Johannesburg.

The High Commisioner was speaking when Pastor Thembelani Jentile of Mamelodi Baptist Church in Tshwane paid a courtesy call on him on Friday.

This is contained in a press statement made available to ZANIS by Second Secretary for Press at the Zambian mission in Pretoria Philip Chirwa.

Mamelodi is one of the areas where early this year several foreigners were killed and others had their shacks burnt by rampaging locals who accused them of stealing their jobs and being involved in crime.

The foreigners involved are mostly those from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Somalia.

There has been no report of any Zambian being affected by these attacks.

Mr. Mbula said what was happening in South Africa created an erroneous impression that though independent politically, Africans could not live in harmony.

“Having suffered so much under the apartheid era, South Africans need to set an example by showing the world that they are able to live in harmony with others,” Mr Mbula said.

He was happy that high-profile South African leaders like ANC president, Jacob Zuma, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Minister of Home Affairs, Mrs. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, have recently come out strongly in condemning the xenophobia attacks.

The High Commissioner said it was important that both the party and govenment leadership in South Africa talked to the leaders of the communities involved in xenophobic attacks so that they (the communities) realized the importance of living in harmony with immigrants.

“Whether it’s Mamelodi, Alexandra or any othe community, the fact is that there are leaders there. We need to talk to these community leaders so that they sensitise their people about the evils of xenophobia,” he said.

And in reply, Pastor Jentile, a South African, said that the church felt sad about what was going on in the country at the moment. It was for this reason, he said, that the Mamelodi Baptist church would soon host a consultative conference involving all the stakeholders in the current conflict with a view to putting an end to xenophobic attacks.

Last Thursday, Mr. Zuma condemned the xenophobic attacks that have characterised tghe violence in Alexandra township north of Johannesburg since the beginning of the week, noting that xenophobia (hatred for foreigners) had no place in a democratic, free South Africa.

Addressing a graduation ceremony at the University of Zululand, of which he is chancellor, in Kwazulu-Natal, Mr. Zuma declared: “Our people should avoid taking out their frustrations owing to unemployment or crime on immigrants. It is Alexandra today and could be another area tomorrow, if we do not deal with the matter now.”

Menwhile, Mrs. Madikizela-Mandela, a senior member of the ANC National Executive Committee, apologised to foreigners who were recently attacked in Alexandra township, where several people were killed and hundreds others forced out of their homes.

“We are sorry. Please forgive us. It is not South African to do this, South Africans are not like this,” she sid, adding that her apology was aimed at the homeless victims and those who were killed or injured in the violent attacks in the township,” she said.

And Mrs. Mapisa-Nqukula declared that her department (ministry) will not deport foreigners just because they were being attacked.

“We will integrate the displaced people back into the comunity. We cannot deport them back to their countries just because they are vulnerable,” she told the local press after a tour of Alexandra.

Opposition United Party for National Development, UPND, says it is geared for the June 29 Milanzi Constituency by-elections.

The opposition party National Chairman, Edward Kasoko, told ZANIS in an interview on Wednesday that his party was confident of winning the elections.

Mr Kasoko, who is also UPND Mwembezhi Constituency MP, explained that this is because the party has given the Milanzi electorate a good candidate.

The opposition party has nominated, Chimwala Phiri, the election that comes up following the death of area MP Chosani Njovu.

He said Mr Phiri, who was former MP for the area from 1996 to 2001, has the experience required to address development problems affecting the people of Milanzi.

And The Movement for Multi-Party (MMD) has adopted Rueben Banda as its candidate in the Milanzi parliamentary by-election scheduled for next month.

Mr. Banda is the Eastern Province MMD secretary.

MMD Information and Publicity Chairman, Ben Tetamashimba said Mr. Banda was among 10 people who had applied for adoption.

He was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka.

Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe says Patriotic Front president ,Micheal Sata is a formidable force
who should not be written off even if people may not like him.

Mr Munkombwe said in his reconciliation message, Mr Sata clearly indicated that he was not joining the MMD, a
move that clearly showed that he had an honest intention and should not be rejected by anyone.

Mr Munkombwe said this in Livingstone today when Science, Technology and Vocational Training deputy minister Lucy Changwe paid a courtesy call in him at his office.

He said following the reconciliation, the MMD and the Patriotic Front will now face each other in a properly
marked field.

Mr Munkombwe said Mr Sata had realised that it was difficulty to play outside the field hence the move to
reconcile.

Mr Munkombwe described the reconciliation as progressive and appealed to Zambians not to take a
leaf from other African countries where their differences were leading their countries into
problems.

”We should not start learning to have problems. People should not emulate those countries that are in
problems because that is not our tradition. It does not pay to live in isolated political camps,” he
said.

And Science, Technology and Vocational training deputy minister Lucy Changwe said Mr Munkombwe was a veteran
politician whose words of wisdom could go a long way in unifying the country.

Ms Changwe said the government had a huge mandate from the people of Zambia to deliver development and to
ensure that resources are equitably distributed.

She said government was trying everything possible to improve the learning environments in higher institutions.

And Vice President Rupiah Banda has commended President Levy Mwanawasa and opposition Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata for reconciling after many years of exchanging unkind political words.

Mr. Banda said the reconciliation between Dr. Mwanawasa and Mr. Sata has quenched any prospect of a political disaster, adding that this development entailed that the two would now focus their energies on national development issues.

He said Zambia needed spirit of reconciliation for the posterity of the future.

He said the country has for the first time, scored a huge reconciliation milestone since attaining Independence on October 24, 1964.

“I take this opportunity to express special and indeed ward felicitations to the President Levy Mwanawasa, for the initiative he has taken of rapprochement with the PF leader Mr. Sata. Everybody agrees that this development exhibited by the two leaders, will mean that the country will now focus much of its energies on national developmental issues,” he said.

This week, President Mwanawasa and Mr. Sata held private talks at State House and help a joint press briefing at which they announced that they had put aside all their differences.

The mandate of the Task force on Corruption has been extended indefinitely.

This now means that the Task force will continue pursuing, and executing its duties by investigating cases involving plunder of the Country’s resources.

The latest pronouncements also mean that the Task Force which was instituted six years ago will continue operating in its current form.

The anti graft wing will also source its funding from Central Government.

This is contained in a statement released to ZNBC news in Lusaka by Task force Public Relations Officer, Victor Makai.

Task Force Executive Chairman, Max Nkole thanked government for the decision to extend the mandate of the institution.
[ZNBC]