Justice Ernest Mwanamwambwa has expressed concern over the increased cases of defilement.

Justice Mwanamwambwa said despite the amendment which was made on September 28, 2005, on defilement, some men have continued to engage in the act that involved children under the age 16.

Justice Mwanamwambwa said that for the past eight to 10 years there has been an increase in reported cases of defilement, which prompted the judiciary to make amendments to the Law dealing with defilement.

He was speaking at the opening of criminal sessions of the High Court in Chipata today.

“The changes were made on September 28, 2005, which amended the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia, but before the amendment there was no minimum sentence for defilement”, he said.

Justice Mwanamwambwa said before the amendment there was no minimum sentence for defilement as sentences ranged from One day to a minimum of life improsonment.

He said the 2005 amendments set the minimum sentence for defilement at 15 years improsonment adding that the same minimum sentence was set for rape and indecent assault.

“In my view Courts should impose sentences far above the minimum of 15 years, such long sentences that are meant to achieve three main objectives. One is to keep the culprits away from society so that they do not repeat the offence,” he said.

The second was to aim at warning people with similar intentions, to desist from indulging in defilement of children while the third was to register societies disapproval towards defilement.

Justice Mwanamwambwa noted that before the amendments, defilement was only confined to men who had canal knowledge with girls below the age of 16 years adding that it now also covers women who indulge in the same act with boys below the age of 16 years.

Justice Mwanamwambwa disclosed that the second major change that was brought about by the September 2005 amendment was child trafficking.

Before the amendment child trafficking was not an offence, which on conviction, attracts a minimum of life improsonment for ordinary child trafficking but that when a child is trafficked for sexual purposes, it attracts the minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.

He said the amendment also introduced a new criminal offence in relation to the girl children and women known as sexual harassment under Section 137A (1) of the Penal Code.

He has also advised women to leave within their limits at wouk places and institutions of learning.

And Eastern Province Prisons Commanding officer Aaron Katota said a total number of 1,124 cases would be dealt with.

Senior superintendent Katoka said a total number of 534 cases were from Chipata, while Petauke and Katete had 177 and 134 respectively.

He said other cases to be dealt with from Lundazi and Nyimba district were 136 and 143 respectively.

The Centre for Elections and Governance (CEG) has welcomed the decision by President Mwanawasa to recall Zambia’s Ambassador to Libya, Mbita Chilata.

CEG Trustee Gershom Musonda said in a statement today that Mr Chitala was appointed to nurture relations between the two countries and be supportive of ways the Zambian government was working with the rest of the continent and not to behave in an unprofessional manner.

Mr. Musonda said Mr. Chitala’s role was to do things in line with government policy and consult at all times when doing things, either official or private, but hinging on relations between Libya or the rest of Africa.

“We think his statement was aimed at making Libya, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa appear to be more progressive in moving the African Union agenda. There was also an impression created that the rest of the leaders on the continent were either slow to move or were mere laggards who should be left behind for now,” he said.

He said if Mr. Chitala had consulted on the matter, he could have been advised to be diplomatic because he was an appointed agent by the Zambian people through the Head of State.

He reminded Mr. Chitala that achieving a United Africa cannot take four nations only as he proposes but that the process needs rigorous consultation and active involvement of stakeholders, because Zambia is a multi-party democracy.

“We do not want our country to be tied to international agreements anyhow because one person feels so. The idea of One Africa should be supported by all of us citizens and consider interests of our future children who will be there long after we are gone,” he added.

Mr. Musonda said the President was in order to recall Mr. Chitala and that this should be a warning to other diplomats who want to champion causes when they have no authority to do so.

He urged President Mwanawasa to continue screening the diplomatic service where some diplomats have taken it as an opportunity to do personal businesses.

He said Dr. Mwanawasa should also consider sending more younger officers in the diplomatic service who are energetic and eager to serve Zambia diligently.

President Mwanawasa this morning left Addis Ababa for London where he is scheduled to undergo a routine medical check up.

Dr Mwanawasa was in Ethiopia to attend the African Union, AU, Heads of State and Government summit which officially closed yesteday.

ZANIS reports from Addis Ababa that President Mwanawasa who was accompanied by First Lady, departed Addis Ababa’s Bole international airport at 03:30 hours Zambian time for London.

He returns home this Saturday.

And Briefing Zambian journalists last night at Addis Ababa’s Sheraton hotel, President Mwanawasa said the Zambian people should not be apprehensive about his visit to London because he was merely going there for a routine medical check which he undergoes every after three months.

The President said he was in good health.

Foreign Affairs minister Kabinga Pande and his counterpart for Commerce, Trade and Industry Felix Mutati saw off the President to London.

Others at the airport were Local Government Deputy Minister Ben Tetamashimba, Copperbelt minister Mwansa Mbulakulima, Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and the AU Patrick Sinyinza, embassy officials and other senior Ethiopian and Zambian government officials.

While in Ethiopia, Dr Mwanawasa attended among other engagements the African Peer Review Mechanism, APRM, under the auspices of NEPAD and the Committee of 10 on the United Nations Reforms.

The President also held bilateral talks with India’s External Affairs Minister Anand Sharma who extended an invitation to him to attend that country’s summit on India-Africa coming up in April this year.

He also held bilateral talks with World Bank President Robert Zoellick and Food and Agriculture Organisation Director General Dr Jacques Diouf who pledged assistance towards Zambia’s economic development.

The President also conferred with Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe on issues of common interest.

On the outcome of the summit in relation to this year’s theme ’Industrial Development in Africa,’ Dr Mwanawasa observed that Africa had vast resources which needed value addition to make them competitive on the global market.

Dr Mwanawasa who was flanked by foreign affairs minister kabinga Pande and Commerce minister Felix Mutati during the briefing, observed that without adding value to her natural resources, Africa was exporting both jobs and its natural resources to industrialised countries.

The President said to enhance her competitiveness on the global market, African countries should enhance their production base so that they export finished products at a higher value.

On Zambia’s benefits from the summit, Dr Mwanawasa said the country was provided with an opportunity to exchange ideas with its peers on the continent and that it had a chance to meet with Indian, World Bank, the Food Agriculture Organisation officials whom he asked for assistance towards the effects of the floods afflicting the country for which they pledged support.

The President described the bilateral talks with these partners as fruitful and that they were willing to assist Zambia.
The President also touched on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) meeting which he attended along with other heads of state and government last Wednesday ahead of the official opening of the main AU summit.

Dr Mwanawasa disclosed that Zambia was currently working on her APRM report and that the country mission was led by former Mozambican First Lady Gracia Machel.

The President said Zambia was awaiting assessment by the Committee on its APRM progress.

Dr Mwanawasa said while such institutions were doing well, there was also need to sensitise the people on such institutions.

He attributed the delay to review Zambia’s APRM record to the fact that the country was dealing with the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).

In addition, the president said government had acceeded to the APRM at a time when the component was not budgeted for but that there was now provision in this year’s budget for it.

Dr Mwanawasa disclosed that during the APRM meeting, Benin was reviewed while Rwanda and Uganda presented their annual APRM reports whose quality he said was encouraging.

On the proposed Union Government, President Mwanawasa said the matter was discussed during the summit which officially closed yesterday although the heads of state and government did not go into details.

A committee comprising two representatives from each region would report back on the matter in July at an extraordinary session billed for Egypt.

The President who is also the SADC chairperson, said the Zambian government and the southern African region has accepted that the concept of a union government was desirable but that it was necessary to consult the people on the matter saying it was not an issue where a President could single handedly make a decision.

The Third Ministerial Committee that took place from 27 to 28 November last year here underlined the need to reinforce and revitalise the structures of the African Union while putting in place a mechanism as well as appropriate structures to expedite the process for the establishment of the Union Government.

The audit report compiled by a high level panel of the continental body has brought out several factors crippling the AU including lack of better qualified staff at African Union missions.

On the UN reforms, President Mwanawasa said the AU had maintained its stance of having two representatives on the UN Security Council with the right of veto.

And on Zambia’s unsuccessful bid to head the AU Commission through its candidate Dr Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika, Dr Mwanawasa stated that the loss did not reflect Zambia’s inadequacies of the campaign or candidate.

‘’We accept the loss because in a democracy you win or lose. She came second to the winner Gabonese foreign affairs minister Jean Ping but we wished she had won’’, the President said.

The President also expressed happiness at COMESA Secretary General Erastus Mwencha’s victory as AU Commission Deputy Chairperson.
Dr Mwanawasa hoped that Dr Mwencha who hails from Kenya, will make significant contribution to the continental body.

he Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) has mobilised financial resources amounting to US$300,000 from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

Addressing the Extra-ordinary Annual General Meeting at the African Union headquarters on the theme “Curbing The Spread of HIV/AIDS’’One Mother at a Time,” in Addis Ababa yesterday, First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa who is OAFLA Chairperson hoped the funds would soon be transferred to the OAFLA account to enable the organisation to put the money to use quickly.

The gathering included United Nations Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa Elizabeth Mataka, UNAIDS Deputy Director Deborah Landey and other distinguished representatives.

Mrs Mwanawasa expressed gratitude to the First Ladies on the continent for their continued support towards the attianment of OAFLA’s goals.

Mrs Mwanawasa however said the organisation has been unable to implement many of its planned activities under the Strategic Plan because of financial constraints.

On HIV/AIDS, the First Lady said in order to stem the tide of the pandemic, there was need to put African women at the centre of HIV/AIDS interventions.

She noted that this is especially relevant as women comprise 51 per cent of the population and gave birth to the remaining 49 per cent.

Mrs Mwanawasa said it was common knowledge that in Africa, HIV/AIDS carries the face of a woman adding that women all over the continent are dedicating their lives to caring for the sick.

She stressed the importance of developing a holistic approach for the African woman that covers broadening access to financial resources, improving health and education, reducing the amount of time that women spend on domestic errands such as fetching water.

At the same meeting, Mrs Mataka urged the African First Ladies to continue uniting Africa through the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Mrs Mataka advised OAFLA to ensure the establishment of more income generating activities for women.

And in her welcoming remarks, Ethiopian First Lady who is also OAFLA’s Vice Chairperson Azeb Mesfin, said African First Ladies had a big task in the fight against HIV/AIDS on the continent.

She said there was need to create awareness on the impact of HIV/AIDS on the African women and observed that women and children were mostly hit by the pandemic.

OAFLA had its last annual General meeting in Accra, Ghana in July 2007 and some of the issues contained in the organisation’s action plan include prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT), promotion of use of microbicides and female condom, initiation of programmes to provide nutritional food for People Living with HIV/AIDS

Kabwe District Commissioner Jennipher Chileshe has expressed grave concern at the rampant brewing of illicit beer in the area and called for stringent measures to end the trend.

Ms Chileshe observed today that the brewing of Kachasu and other illicit beer in compounds in the area was on the increase and singled out Makwati compound as one of the worst hit areas.

Ms Chileshe was speaking during a tour of shanty compounds to assess the number of houses that had collapsed as a result of continuous heavy rains in the district.

She said it was unfortunate that a great number of unemployed youths and adults were involved in heavy drinking.

Ms Chileshe called on Kabwe Municipal Council to work out immediate measures including patrols by council police officers to curb the illicit trade and end excessive beer drinking especially among youths.

Meanwhile, over 30 houses have collapsed in Kabwe over the past few days and the number was likely to swell as the heavy rains continued.

Ms Chileshe, who led members of the district disaster management committee on an on the spot check of destroyed homes in Katondo, Makwati, Nakoli and Makululu compounds, said her office would release comprehensive figures after the committee compiled all data including figures from the various ward councillors.

She attributed the increasing number of fallen houses to poor structures and lack of drainages.

Ms Chileshe said there was urgent need to improve storm water drainages in the district to avoid further loss of property.

The District Commissioner was accompanied by Kabwe deputy Mayor Teddy Sinkala and affected ward councillors.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has appealed to all political parties and candidates participating in the Kanyama by-elections to avoid confrontation and violence in the run-up to the February 21 by-elections.

And the Electoral Commission of Zambia has warned of legal action against political parties and party supporters that will be found influencing electorates that they surrender their voter’s cards.

Addressing the press in Lusaka today, ECZ Commissioner Joseph Jalasi says as the date for the by-elections draws nearer it is important that political parties and Kanyama aspiring candidates avoid campaigns of character assassination in order to help have free and fair elections.

Mr. Jalasi said political parties participating in the Kanyama by-elections must avoid name calling and disruption of other political parties meetings in a bid to enhance the countries young democracy.

He further urged political parties and the candidates to familiarize themselves with the electoral code of conduct in order to avoid electoral malpractices.

Mr. Jalasi said there is need for all political parties, candidates and election agents to familiarize themselves with the electoral code of conduct and avoid violating the provisions in the Electoral Act in order to help strengthen the Zambian electoral system.

And the Electoral Commission of Zambia has warned of legal action against political parties and party supporters that will be found influencing electorates that they surrender their voter’s cards.

ECZ Commissioner Joseph Jalasi said at the press briefing in Lusaka today that it is a criminal offence to exert undue influence on a person to surrender a voter’s card or to receive such cards with the sole purpose of disenfranchising a person.

Mr. Jalasi said the Commission will not take kindly of political parties and their supporters that will be found collecting voter’s cards from electorates and further warned of legal action against the violators of the Electoral Act.