President Levy Mwanawasa has fired Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Vernon Mwaanga.

President Mwanawasa has also revoked Mr. Mwaanga’s nomination as ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy, MMD, Member of Parliament and parliamentary Chief Whip.

Mr. Mwaanga also ceases to be chief government spokesperson.

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

“His execellency the President, Mr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC has relieved Honourable, Vernon J. Mwaanga, of his duties as Minister of Information and
Broadcasting Services, revoked his nomination as Member of Parliament and removed
him as Chief Government spokesperson and Parliamentary Chief Whip with immediate
effect,” read the statement.

Mr. Mwanawasa further revoked Mr. Mwaanga’s nomination as member of the MMD’s
National Executive Committee, subject to ratification by NEC.

Mr. Mwanawasa said the manner in which Mr. Mwaanga handled his recent assignment to the neigbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, over the closure of the Kasumbalesa border, makes his position not tenable in government and the party.

“It is certain that your handling of this assignment makes your position in Cabinet
or any public or party office in this administration untenable,” President Mwanawasa
said.

According to a letter, dated April 11, sent to Mr. Mwaanga, President Mwanawasa
indicated his displeasure at the manner Mr. Mwaanga handled the assignment in that
country where he met DRC President, Joseph Kabila.

Mr. Mwanawasa said Mr. Mwaanga’s alleged irresponsible handling of the assignment,
as indicated by media reports, has been confirmed by a DVD which recorded one of the
press conferences held in that country.

“Initial Press reports coming from that country and reported in the Post Newspaper
indicated that your handling of thia assignment was extremely irresponsible and
substantially departs from my expectation on you as my Special Envoy,” read part of
Mr. Mwanawasa’s letter to Mr. Mwaanga.

“My fears were unfortunately confirmed when I received a DVD which recorded one of
the atleast 2 press conferences that you addressed while there,” read the letter in
part.

The president, however, wished Mr. Mwaanga the best in his future endevours.

ZANIS

Dismissed Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Vernon Mwaanga, says he has with immediate effect resigned from the MMD National Executive Committee, NEC.

This follows President Mwanawasa’s decision to relieve him of his duties as minister
and chief government spokesperson.

President Mwanawasa also revoked Mr. Mwaanga’s nomination as Member of Parliament.

Mr Mwaanga, who confirmed having received the dismissal letter from President
Mwanawasa to ZANIS this evening, said he decided to resign from the NEC following
the President’s intention to recommend Mwaanga removal from NEC.

Mr. Mwaanga said he accepted President Mwanawasa’s decision and thanked him for
giving him chance to serve in his administration.

Mr Mwaanga has however, expressed happiness that the border problems which affected
the mining companies have now been resolved.

He has since thanked President Mwanawasa, Cabinets Ministers, NEC and Members of
Parliament from all parties for working closely with him during the time he saved as
MP and MMD chief Whip.

ZANIS

The government will increase the price for the stake in state-owned Zambia National Commercial Bank (Zanaco) it is selling to Rabobank after criticism of the deal, a government agency said on Wednesday. The government has come under fire from trade union groups and some opposition parties for agreeing to sell the 49 percent stake in Zanaco to Dutch bank Rabobank for $8.3 million.

The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), which is supervising the sale, said in a statement that Rabobank and the government would appoint independent auditors to re-assess the net asset value of Zanaco, one of the sub-Saharan country’s largest retail banks.

“(The government) and the strategic investor will commission an independent auditor to determine the net asset value of the bank … on which basis the price adjustment will be made,” the ZDA said.

The ZDA said the purchase price for Zanaco was based on the bank’s financial assessments conducted in December 2004. Since then, the bank’s assets had grown and it was making more profit.

“Over time, however, the financial status of the bank has changed, and there is therefore need to assess the change which will result in a price adjustment as provided for in the sale and purchase agreement,” the ZDA said.

The ZDA said the government had agreed with Rabobank to maintain rural branches that serve farmers for a period of 10 years after complaints that farmers would not manage to obtain favourable terms and services from other multi-national commercial banks.

“Contrary to apprehensions and concerns by the public, (Rabobank) has agreed with the government that it will maintain all existing rural branches for a period of 10 years with the exception of possible relocation of branches,” the ZDA said.

The agency said plans to float a further 25.8 percent of Zanaco held by the government on the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE) would be concluded soon, but gave no exact date.

Under the deal, the government would retain 25 percent shares after the LuSE listing, while minority shareholders would retain 0.2 percent shares.

The sale of nearly half of Zanaco has dragged on for nine years and has been surrounded by controversy after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) placed the privatisation of the bank as one of the conditions for Zambia’s access to IMF loans.

Government has revealed intentions to open up an Immigration border post at Ndunga on the border with Angola this year.

Kabompo District Commissioner, Teddy Chipimpa, said government is concerned at the rampant illegal traffic across the border.

Mr. Chipimpa said the absence of an immigration post has created an increase in illegal hunting and fishing between Zambian and Angolan nationals.

He was speaking at a meeting held at Chief Chiyengele's palace yesterday..

The district commissioner implored both Zambian and Angolan nationals to comply with existing immigration laws of both countries.

He said government is ready to launch the construction of the immigrations border post at Ndunga this year.

ZANIS

UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president Hikainde Hichilema, says his party is strengthening its structures so that it can be ready for the 2011 tripartite elections.

Mr Hichilema who did not state clearly whether UPND would abandon the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) if he was not elected as presidential candidate in 2011 said his party wanted to avoid the predicament of 2006.

The other members of the UDA are Forum for Democracy and Development and the United National Independence Party.

“The UDA’s strength is dependant on the coalition of the three political parties but UPND is putting its resources together starting from the grassroots for the elections in 2011,” Mr Hichilema said in Ndola after a card renewal meeting and fundraising braii at Shalom Park.

“The party has embarked on campaigns for the 2011 tripartite elections in time for it to be a strong party with a strong candidate,” he said.

Mr Hichilema earlier said there were a lot of mistakes made under the UDA, which resulted into the coalition losing last year’s tripartite elections.

“There were a lot of arguments in the selection of the UDA president, members of parliament and mayors, resulting into loss of time for campaign.

“I was elected UPND in July and I was chosen as UDA presidential candidate in August after arguing so much among stakeholders,” he said.

Mr Hichilema said UDA had only 45 days for its campaign, while MMD had an advantage as it campaigned for almost two to four years.

And Mr Hichilema said since democracy had been achieved in Zambia, what was required was economic and social development.

He said the opposition and the ruling party should concentrate on the agenda of social and economic development.

Daily Mail.