Southern Province Minister, Joseph Mulyata, has castigated a commercial radio station in the province for allegedly giving platform to some people to attack government and President Levy Mwanawasa.

Mr Mulyata says SKY Fm radio, which is based in Monze, has neglected its duties to afford government an opportunity to defend itself against the attacks by the opponents. 

He said the radio station has been conducting live interviews featuring some individuals who have been attacking government and President Mwanawasa without affording government a similar opportunity to explain its position.

Addressing heads of government departments in Monze, Mr Mulyata said government is
unhappy with the radio station’s failure to give balanced reporting and fair coverage.

He said government did not give SKY FM an operating licence to air anti-government
programme but issues of development that are beneficial to the community.

Mr Mulyata stated that government does not stop the radio station from reporting on
anything but what was needed was to be professional so that people with hidden agenda do not use the facility to destroy others.

The minister said reports reaching his office about the alleged unprofessional conduct of the institution were a matter of serious concern especially that people were being given wrong information about government.

“When you invite a person who wants to attack government, why don’t you invited somebody from government to the same platform so that there is balance?”, Mr Mulyata
asked.

The minister was reacting to reports that oasis forum chairperson Bishop Paul Mususu
was featured on a live interview programme on SKY FM in which he castigated government over the constitution making process.

Mr Mulyata explained that government has not refused to enact a new constitution but
that it will not circumvent the process of doing so.

He said there is no need for anybody to attack President Mwanawasa over the constitution when he has shown willingness to give the country a new constitution.

President Mwanawasa has called on Chiefs in the country to cooperate with government when releasing land for development purposes.

Mr. Mwanawasa said investors will need more land for the expansion of the existing investments and the involvement of Chiefs was cardinal.

Mr. Mwanawasa, who advised the Chiefs to use the available land effectively, however cautioned the Chiefs against issuing land to bogus investors.

He was speaking in Lusaka today at the official opening of the First Session of the Second House of Chiefs.

He told the Chiefs that careless issuance of land to foreigners will lead the country to a second colonization.

And President Mwanawasa has reiterated his advice to the Chiefs in the country to refrain from settling succession disputes through courts or by involving government.

Mr. Mwanawasa emphasized that courts have no experience in handling traditional matters, saying it was the responsibility of Chiefs to deal with issues of succession themselves.

The President said despite his earlier advice, succession disputes are still being referred to the courts and the government.

He reiterated that it would be futile to have the House of Chiefs which fails to resolve uncalled-for wrangles in Chiefdoms, adding that in order to reduce on succession wrangles, all Chiefs should have family tress deposited with the Provincial Local Government Officer and the Ministry of Local government and Housing.

He further advised politicians to refrain from involving themselves in succession wrangles.

On boundary disputes, President Mwanawasa has directed the Ministry of Lands to provide up-to–date boundary maps of all the Chiefdoms in the country.

The president said there is need to physically mark out traditional Chiefs’ boundaries on the ground in order to deal with the ever-increasing boundary disputes among Chiefs.

He explained that when disputes arise, a map from the Survey Department is used to arbitrate in these disputes showing the general Chiefs’ boundaries.

Mr Mwanawasa noted that the creation of new districts in certain cases has placed Chiefdoms in two or more districts, saying there is need to reconcile provincial and district boundaries as there are mere government administrative boundaries and do not alter Chiefdom boundaries.

He directed that Chiefs whose boundaries may have been affected by the creation of new districts do not lose their customary and traditional role in the affected districts.

President Mwanawasa said there is no district in the country that has no Chief saying all 72 Districts in the country should have a Chief representative in their councils to ensure that the culture of that particular area is not lost.

He directed the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to ensure that no Chief in the country is disadvantaged on account of creation of new districts by government.

Opposition United Party for National Development President Hakainde Hichilema was among Cabinet Ministers and Senior government officials who attended the opening of the House of Chiefs.

President Mwanawasa has called on Chiefs in the country to cooperate with government when releasing land for development purposes.

Mr. Mwanawasa said investors will need more land for the expansion of the existing investments and the involvement of Chiefs was cardinal.

Mr. Mwanawasa, who advised the Chiefs to use the available land effectively, however cautioned the Chiefs against issuing land to bogus investors.

He was speaking in Lusaka today at the official opening of the First Session of the Second House of Chiefs.

He told the Chiefs that careless issuance of land to foreigners will lead the country to a second colonization.

And President Mwanawasa has reiterated his advice to the Chiefs in the country to refrain from settling succession disputes through courts or by involving government.

Mr. Mwanawasa emphasized that courts have no experience in handling traditional matters, saying it was the responsibility of Chiefs to deal with issues of succession themselves.

The President said despite his earlier advice, succession disputes are still being referred to the courts and the government.

He reiterated that it would be futile to have the House of Chiefs which fails to resolve uncalled-for wrangles in Chiefdoms, adding that in order to reduce on succession wrangles, all Chiefs should have family tress deposited with the Provincial Local Government Officer and the Ministry of Local government and Housing.

He further advised politicians to refrain from involving themselves in succession wrangles.

On boundary disputes, President Mwanawasa has directed the Ministry of Lands to provide up-to–date boundary maps of all the Chiefdoms in the country.

The president said there is need to physically mark out traditional Chiefs’ boundaries on the ground in order to deal with the ever-increasing boundary disputes among Chiefs.

He explained that when disputes arise, a map from the Survey Department is used to arbitrate in these disputes showing the general Chiefs’ boundaries.

Mr Mwanawasa noted that the creation of new districts in certain cases has placed Chiefdoms in two or more districts, saying there is need to reconcile provincial and district boundaries as there are mere government administrative boundaries and do not alter Chiefdom boundaries.

He directed that Chiefs whose boundaries may have been affected by the creation of new districts do not lose their customary and traditional role in the affected districts.

President Mwanawasa said there is no district in the country that has no Chief saying all 72 Districts in the country should have a Chief representative in their councils to ensure that the culture of that particular area is not lost.

He directed the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to ensure that no Chief in the country is disadvantaged on account of creation of new districts by government.

Opposition United Party for National Development President Hakainde Hichilema was among Cabinet Ministers and Senior government officials who attended the opening of the House of Chiefs.

Two London law firms, including one run by Nelson Mandela’s personal UK lawyer, were involved in a conspiracy to launder part of $46m stolen by former president FTJ Chiluba, a London high court judge ruled yesterday at the end of a secret four-month trial.
Both firms are under investigation by the UK’s Serious Fraud Office and the City of London police for handling the proceeds of crime.
The lead defendant in the London case is the central London law firm of Meer Care & Desai who handled $10m of the stolen money, which was used to fund lavish lifestyles for Chiluba’s family and friends. One example of this was his $500,000 purchase of hundreds of suits and monogrammed shirts from an exclusive boutique in Switzerland, as well as 72 pairs of handmade, high heel shoes to extend his short stature.
Iqbal Meer is Nelson Mandela’s lawyer in London who handled the business end of his best selling autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. During the course of the trial Mr Mandela provided a character reference. He is also a trustee, along with David Attenborough, of the Mandela Statue Fund, which last month was given permission to erect the 9ft bronze in Parliament Square. Tony Blair heads the list of honorary patrons.
The judge concluded that Meer, despite his “long and distinguished career”, must have known that the money was tainted. “I am satisfied that no honest solicitor in his position would have done what he did.” His unquestioning acceptance of the money – transferred to a London bank account by the Zambian intelligence service – was “classic blind eye dishonesty”.
After the judgment hearing, Meer’s lawyers said: “Mr Meer is disappointed with the outcome. He maintains that he acted honestly at all times and he is consulting with his legal advisers regarding an appeal.”
His partner, Naynesh Desai, is the lawyer of choice for a stellar list of international cricketers, including Ian Botham and Allan Lamb in their libel action against Imran Khan in 1996, the Pakistan all-rounder Wasim Akram, Mark Ramprakash and Mohammed Azharuddin. Mr Desai was not accused as a conspirator and the judge found him an honest witness. But he was made equally liable with Meer under the Partnership Act.
The second law firm, Cave Malik & Co, of Edgware, north London, which handled $3m , is run by Bimal Thaker, a British citizen and a close associate of the Chiluba circle who had previously practised in Zambia. The judge described Thaker as “a thoroughly dishonest witness”.

for update on the trial check www.iqbalmeer.com