Hundreds of Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) cadres in Central Province yesterday held a solidarity march in support of President Levy Mwanawasa’s new role as chairman of the southern Africa development community (SADC).

The drum beating, ululating and chanting cadres clad in the party’s Chitenge
material bearing Mr. Mwanawasa’s  portrait, were drawn from all the six districts in
the province and gathered at Central Province Minister, Mr. Sydney Chisanga’s office
in Kabwe.

And addressing the cadres, Mr. Chisanga thanked them for their overwhelming support
for the President’s new role, saying as a nation, Zambia had always strove to
promote peace, good governance and economic prosperity within the country, the
sub-region and Africa as a whole.

Mr. Chisanga recalled that since his ascendance to republican president, Mr.
Mwanawasa had declared a zero tolerance to corruption because he realized that with
high levels of the vice, there could be no good governance, no economic prosperity
and ultimately no peace.

He said the New Deal Government, under the able leadership of President Mwanawasa,
had worked very hard to eliminate hunger in the nation.

‘Today, Zambia is a maize surplus area, able to feed its people and some of our
neighbours who have experienced food deficit in the recent past.  In short, Zambia
has become a major player in the region, not only in the area of politics, but also
in the economic arena as a  result of the able leadership of President Mwanawasa,”
Mr. Chisanga said.

The provincial minister said he was convinced that the conferring of the
chairmanship of SADC on Mr. Mwanawasa could not have come at a better time than now.

Mr. Chisanga however, observed that Zambia’s assumption of the chairmanship of SADC
was not an MMD affair but a national one despite people’s political affiliations.

He urged all peace loving Zambians to rally behind Mr. Mwanawasa so that he could
diligently discharge his functions as SADC chairman on one hand and Republican
President on the other.

Mr. Mwanawasa assumed the chairmanship of SADC from Lesotho’s Prime Minister, Prof Pakalitha Mosisili, after the just ended SADC heads of states and governments summit held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.

Earlier, MMD Provincial women Chairperson, Ms. Grace Mulando said the cadres wished to congratulate Mr. Mwanawasa for assuming the chairmanship of SADC.

She said President Mwanawasa’s new role had many hurdles because the southern
African region was facing a lot of taunting political and economic challenges
needing active attention.

“We therefore urge all Zambians to give the president maximum support as he steers
the region to higher heights,” she implored.

President Mwanawasa has with immediate effect terminated the appointment of, Mundia Sikatana, as Foreign Affairs Minister and has since replaced him with Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, Kabinga
Pande.

President Mwanawasa indicated in a letter addressed to Mr. Sikatana that the
termination of appointment is due to his failing health which has been observed
recently.

The president, however, acknowledged the distinction manner in which Mr.
Sikatanadischarged his duties during the time he served in Cabinet.

This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS by Special Assistant to the
President for Press and Public Relations John Musukuma today.

“The President Mr. Levy Mwanawasa has with immediate effect terminated the services of Honourable Mundia Sikatana, MP, as Cabinet Minister,” read part of the statement.

The president indicated that Mr. Sikatana will, however, remain MMD nominated Member of Parliament until such a time when appropriate placement or further consideration is made.

President Mwanawasa thanked Mr Sikatana for diligently serving the nation adding his
contribution to the effective implementation of agricultural policies has helped
government achieve improved productivity and food security in the country.

Mr. Mwanawasa has also promoted Tourism and Natural Resources Deputy Minister,
Michael Kaingu, to the position of Minister in the same ministry and appointed
Kapoche Member of Parliament, Fashion Phiri, as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

And in a letter of transfer addressed to Mr Pande, Mr Mwanawasa said he has alot of
confidence that Mr. Pande’s leadership qualities would help guide the ministry of
foreign affairs to enable it effectively achieve its mandate.

Mr Mwanawasa said the ministry of Foreign Affairs is critical to the development of
the Zambian eceonomy.

Speaker of the National Assembly Amusa Mwanamwambwa today seriously reprimanded Nkana Patriotic Front  (PF) Member of Parliament Mwenya Musenge for breaching parliamentary etiquette and privileges through his unparliamentary behavior at the National Assembly Motel in January this year.

The Speaker has also severely warned Members of Parliament to desist from using
riddles, innuendoes and insinuations during debates in the house as they risk being
misunderstood.

Mr. Mwenya’s admonishment by the speaker follows a report by the committee on
privileges and absences for threatening violence on Namwala Member of Parliament
Robby Chizyuka on January 18, this year.

Mr. Mwenya allegedly physically assorted Major Chizyuka and poured a glass of
alcohol on him at the National Assembly Motel on the material day after accusing him
of calling Patriotic Front leader Micheal Sata a ‘Dog and that Mr. Sata was a ‘mad
person’.

In his ruling, Mr. Mwanawmwambwa said he had noted with dismay the unparlamentary
behaviour by some Members of Parliament of who willfully contravene rules during
debates in the house.

He said Mr. Mwenya’s conduct within parliamentary precinct falls far below the
minimum standard  of behavior of an elected Member of Parliament.

He said threatening violence on a fellow MP within the precincts of parliament is an
offence punishable by the House.

“Section 3 of the powers and privileges Act CAP 12 of the laws of Zambia states that
there shall be freedom of speech and that this shall not be liable to be questioned
outside the National Assemble,” he said.

The Speaker told the House that freedom of speech enables MPs to debate freely and
that no Member of Parliament is to question from outside parliament a fellow MP on
what transpired on the floor of the House.

He said therefore Mr. Mwenya, as a leader is expected to be tolerant and exercise
self control because his conduct when under provocation will not be easily
differentiated from an MP to that of an ordinary person.

He said he had decided to be lenient on the defaulting MP because of the
recommendation of the committee that he be admonished because at the time of the
parliamentary breach, the MP was new and had not fully acquainted himself to rules
of the House.

Mr. Mwanamwambwa however seriously warned the PF MP that a repeat of any
parliamentary breach will attract a severe penalty.

He said debates by MPs should  be issue-based instead of engaging personalities
outside parliament who cannot defend themselves.

He said during debates on the floor of the House, MPs should be factual, clear and
precise in order to avoid being misunderstood.

In his response to the exculpatory letter issued by the Clerk of the National
Assembly over his conduct, Mr. Mwenya admitted having breached parliamentary rules
by pouring a glass of wine on Major Chizyuka.

President Mwanawasa says he has no intentions of dismissing Ministers of Legal Affairs, George Kunda, and Information and Broadcasting, Mike Mulongoti, from government.

President Mwanawasa desribed as malicious, calls from some sections of civil society
for the dismissal of thre two ministers adding that his administration has alot of
confidence in the two ministers.

Mr. Mwanawasa assured the the nation that the Mr. Kunda and Mr. Mulongoti would
maintain their portifolios in government they were hard working.

The president addressed scores of Ndola residents who gathered to welcome him at
Ndola International Airport this morning.

The president also said the national constitutional conference Bill would go ahead
in the interest of enhancing democracy in the process of enacting the new
Constitution.

Mr. Mwanawasa commended opposition political parties, the civil society and Zambians
for helping sustaing order and peace during the just ended Southern African
Development Community, SADC, ordinary Summit held in Lusaka.

And President Mwanawasa has instructed MMD Provincial Chairman, Terence Findlay, to
compile a list of primary schools that were still asking pupils to pay user fees,
despite government having implemented the free education policy at primary level.

This followed a concern raised by Mr. Findlay over complaints from parents claiming
that they were being asked to pay school fees despite government having scrapped off
user fees.

Mr. Mwanawasa, however, advised that if the fees being charged were Parent Teachers
Association, then there was no need to complain as such is not channeled to
government coffers.

Earlier, Copperbelt Deputy Minister, Mwansa Mbulakulima, in his welcome address
congratulated Mr. Mwanawasa on his assumption of the SADC chairmanship.

ZANIS
 

The Oasis Forum in Northern Province has called for an immediate withdrawal of the National Constitution Conference Bill which is currently under debate in Parliament if the country is to come up with a people-driven constitution.

The Oasis Forum made the call in Kasama over the weekend during the launch of the
Red Ribbon Campaign held at Ludo Lodge.

Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) Provincial Chairman, Reverend Patrick Mwanza,
said withdrawing the bill would be the best way to accommodate other citizens in the
constitution making process.

Rev. Mwanza observed that the current constitution making process appears to be
difficult for Zambians, adding that it is unfair to people who submitted to the
Mungomba Constitution who want the constitution to be adopted through the
constituent assembly.

He said people want the constitution to be adopted through constituent assembly
which was more representative and non manipulative unlike the NCC.

And another discussant, Robert Bwalya, wondered why Zambia Centre for Inter Party
Dialogue (ZCID had sidelined non governmental organisations and the church in its
deliberations on the constitution.

He said it was sad that the ruling party and some opposition parties were now
advising the church to concentrate on religious matters instead of discussing the
constitution.

Mr. Bwalya explained that the church was there to represent the majority of the
people and always intervene whenever stakeholders failed to reach consensus.

Chief Government Spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti, has dismissed First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda’s assertion that there is a stand-off  between government and the civil society over the ongoing Constitution making process.

“Government will take this opportunity to tell the former president that that it is
not true that there is a stand off between government and the civil society over the
process in which the majority wants a National Constitutional Conference to adopt
the new Constitution,” read part of Mr. Mulongoti said.

Mr. Mulongoti has since informed Dr. Kaunda that the process, which saw the
establishment of a National Constitutional Conference, is supported by most civil
society organisations and majority Zambians.

Mr. Mulongoti, who is also information and broadcasting services minister, told
ZANIS in a statement that government is ready to meet Dr. Kaunda with the view of
getting his opinion on the ongoing constitution making process debate and help him
understand the process that led to establishment of the national constitution
conference Bill, which is currently in Parliament.

“Government is ready to meet Dr. Kennth Kaunda, former republican president, to hear
his views on the ongoing debate on the Constitution making process in the country
and help him understand the process that led to the national constitutional
conference Bill now in Parliament,” Mr. Mulongoti said

He, however, explained that the process of establishing national constitutional
conference is a consequency of dialogue involving government and other stakeholders.

He added that the outcome was a compromise between a Constituent Assembly, with
legally binding powers as proposed by  the Constitution Review Commission, CRC, and
the publication of government White paper under the Inquiries Act.

He named the Citizen’s Forum, Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP), Evangelical
Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) Council of Churches in Zambia (CCF), Oasis Forum, the Law
Association of Zambia (LAZ), Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) and the Zambia
Episcopal Conference (ZEP) as having made submittions to the Parliamentary Committee
on Lega Affairs over the process.

“It can not be true therefore, that there is a stand-off when many civil societies
have come forward to submit to the parlkiamentary committee on legal affairs. These
include the Citisens Forum, Foundation for Democratic Process, Evangelical
Fellowship of Zambia, Council of Churches in Zambia, Oasis Forum, The Law
Association of Zambia, Transparency International Zambia, Zambia Episcopal
Conference and Saccord,” He said.

He said the Bill can not therefore be withdrawn, to appease a few individuals
opposed to the process.

“Many consultations have been taken place resulting in the ZCID roadmap and the
submissions to the parliamentary committee opn legal affairs. The Bill can not,
therefore, be withdrawn to appease a few people who wish to things to go their way
and so precipitate a stand-off,” Mr. Mulongoti added.

The Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has urged Government to increase funding to the Auditor General’s Office to enable it to effectively scrutinise the use of public funds.

FDD vice-president, Chifumu Banda, said Government should allocate and timely disburse enough financial resources to the Office of the Auditor General to ensure it conducted thorough audits on public funds.

“The reason why law enforcement agencies sometimes do not take action on most cases raised in the auditor general’s report is that the auditors there do not do a thorough job before concluding their findings,” he said.

Mr Banda, who is also Chasefu member of Parliament, said the Auditor General’s cases sometimes ended up at the Director of Public Prosecution chambers because of insufficient evidence against suspects.

He alleged that sometimes the findings were sensational and did not warrant prosecution.

Mr Banda was commenting on recent complaints by Auditor General, Anna Chifungula, that law enforcement agencies were delaying in taking action against suspects cited in her reports.

He also dismissed suggestions that the Auditor General’s office should be given powers to prosecute public officers found wanting.

“There must be division of labour.

The job of officers at the Auditor General’s office is to scrutinise how public funds are used, and if there are cases warranting prosecution, let them recommend to law enforcement agencies.

“Let them be empowered and given more resources so that they do a thorough job if their cases have to be prosecutable,” he said.

The Auditor General’s reports have been revealing misappropriation of public funds in huge amounts.

However, little action has been taken against individuals and institutions mentioned in the findings.