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Police have shot dead a suspect linked to the recent stealing of property valued at K619, 450 from Mobile City Zambia Limited Shop in Kitwe.
Last Saturday unknown people broke into Mobile City Zambia Limited Shop No. 5 situated on Independence Avenue, Kitwe and stole K326, 450 cash, several phones and DVR.
Copperbelt Province Police Commanding Officer Sharon Zulu has confirmed that officers on Thursday shot the suspect only identified as Kamwefu unintentionally when attempting to apprehend him in Kitwe.
Ms. Zulu said the suspect was identified using CCTV installed at P N P Store near the Mobile City Shop which was broken into.
“Following the breaking at Mobile City in Kitwe on 02/07/22 between 02:40 hours and 03:30 hours in Kitwe. Police visited the scene and discovered that the CCTV Drive at Mobile City was also stolen but Officers used the Cameras at Pick n Pay next to Mobile City. After watching the footage, three Criminals were seen entering Mobile City and exiting during the time the breaking took place. Officers identified one as male Prince Mugala an Ex Convict. The two Security Guards from Armsecure who were guarding Mobile City also identified him as Kamwefu the Ex – Convict. A talk time seller only known as Dick also identified as Kamwefu the Ex – Convict who is known to street kids,” Ms. Zulu said.
“The street kids also confirmed that the said Kamwefu has bought a new Toyota Allison Registration number ADD 8363 silver in colour and that it has dent on the left side of the Vehicle he came to show them. Armed with that information, officers started looking for the said Vehicle and the said Kamwefu. Today the 7/7/22 at 09:30 hours, the Vehicle was spotted at Builders Ware House in Free Town Road in Parklands Kitwe and the driver was identified as the one of the criminals on the footage,” she narrated.
Ms. Zulu continued: “They (Police Officers) started trailing him from Parklands up to Kantanta Street in town is when he noticed a vehicle trailing him,. He increased speed and now officers fired three shots in the air to stop him but he increase speed going towards Wusakile. They fired four shots to deflate the tires unfortunately one caught him in head while others deflated tires and went off to hit into a wall fence at Shakaina School where he was found. He was rushed to Kitwe Teaching Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The body is in the mortuary.”
Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda has called on government and other stakeholders to continue supporting vulnerable families and educational institutions for people with special needs.
Archbishop Bishop Banda says there is a need for stakeholders to ensure that educational institutions such as Baulen Special Needs School are supported.
Speaking in a speech read on his behalf by Fr. Paul Bwalya at Baulen Special Needs School during the official handover of one by two classrooms in Lusaka today, Bishop Banda encouraged the general public to take responsibility for the future generation especially in educating children with special needs.
And Bauleni Special Needs Project (BSNP) Director, Yvonne Mwaula said Bauleni Special Needs is a centre of excellence which provides full access and quality education to vulnerable children with special needs ranging from mild to severe disabilities.
Sr. Mwalula said the centre offers skills training to vulnerable young people from different areas in Lusaka and other parts of the country.
Police in Kitwe have shot dead an ex-convict who is allegedly to have been among the criminals that recently broke into mobile city and got away with various goods and cash.
On July 2 ,2022, some criminals broke into the shop and stole cash amounting to K326,450 various phones amounting to K293,000 and different documents.
Copperbelt Police Commanding Officer, Sharon Zulu confirms that the shooting took place yesterday around 09:30 hours on Kitwe’s Kantanta street in Nkana East.
Ms. Zulu said after visiting the scene ( mobile city), police discovered that the CCTV drive at the shop was missing as well.Stating that her officers, instead decided to use the cameras at Pick N Pay, a shop next to mobile city, Ms Zulu disclosed that the footage there revealed three criminals entering and exiting the mobile shop exactly at the time the break in took place.
“After watching the footage, three criminals were seen entering Mobile City and exiting during the time the breaking took place,” she said.
Among the criminals identified included Prince Mugala, an ex- convict, whose identity the Police Commander stated was also confirmed by two Security guards from Armsecure, who were guarding Mobile City on the fateful day.
She said the ex-convict was equally identified by a talk time vendor and some streets kids who immediately shouted “Nikamwemfu” as he was fondly known.
Ms. Zulu stated that the street kids also confirmed that the said Kamwefu had bought a new Toyota Allion registration number ADD 8363 silver in colour which he showed them, a few days after the break in at mobile city.
“Armed with that information, officers started looking for the said vehicle and the said Kamwefu,” Ms. Zulu said.
The vehicle was spotted yesterday, July 7,2022 at Kitwe’s ‘Builders Ware House’ on Free-Town road in Parklands and that the driver was one of the criminals identified in the footage.
She said it is at this point when her officers started trailing ‘Kamwemfu’ who drove from Parklands via Kantanta street in Nkana East residential area into the Central Business District ( CBD).
Upon noticing the vehicle trailing him, Ms. Zulu said ‘Kamwemfu’ increased speed, prompting officers to fire three shots in the air to stop him.
Ms. Zulu added that the three shots never deterred ‘Kamwemfu’ from stopping which made her officers to fire four shots aimed at deflating the tyres but one of the bullets hit Kamwemfu in the head.
“unfortunately one shot caught him in the head while others deflated tyres and went off to hit into a wall fence at Shakaina School where he was found.”
The Copperbelt Police Commanding Officer said ‘Kamwemfu’ was rushed to Kitwe Teaching Hospital where he was pronounced dead and that his body is deposited in the mortuary.
José Eduardo dos Santos, Angola’s second president who ruled the mineral-rich state for almost four decades, has died aged 79, the government says.
He died in Spain where he was being treated for an undisclosed illness.
Dos Santos will be remembered for ending a long-running civil war in the early 2000s – he was dubbed the “architect of peace”.
But his legacy is soiled by high levels of corruption and human rights violations while he was in power.
Having graduated in petroleum engineering in the Soviet Union in 1969, Dos Santos was only 37 years old when he became Angola’s president a decade later, following the death of the first president, António Agostinho Neto.
At the time, just four years after gaining independence in 1975, the country was wracked by a civil war between the two groups that had fought Portuguese colonisation – Dos Santos’ MPLA and Unita.
The war lasted for 27 years and ravaged the country. About 500,000 people are believed to have died in the conflict.
It also drew in foreign powers, with South Africa – then under white-minority rule – sending troops to support Unita, while Cuban forces intervened on the government’s side.
The department of National Registration, Passports and Citizenship on the Copperbelt has urged parents and guardians to obtain birth certificates for their children and dependents.
Provincial National registration senior register Lisuba Kabanda said in an interview in Ndola that the department has been issuing birth certificates to children who have been registered.
“Having birth certificates becomes easier for children to acquire services such as health school enrollment as well as the National registration card, ” he explained.
Stressing that the issuance of birth certificates is ongoing throughout the province, Mr Kabanda said the birth certificate would have a national identity number which will be used when obtaining a green national registration card at the age of 16 years.
The national registration office has deployed new systems in districts that is able to issue out birth certificates within a period of five working days.
And the Senior Register has also encouraged members who have lost their loved one to collect death certificates.
He said death certificates may be required to settle deceased estates and obtain insurance or pensions.
Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe died in hospital on Friday, the facility treating him confirmed, hours after being shot at a political campaign event in an attack condemned as “absolutely unforgivable”.
“Shinzo Abe was transported to (the hospital) at 12:20 pm. He was in a state of cardiac arrest upon arrival. Resuscitation was administered. However, unfortunately he died at 5:03 pm,” said Hidetada Fukushima, professor of emergency medicine at Nara Medical University Hospital.
The assassination of the country’s best-known politician comes despite Japan’s strict gun laws and with campaigning under way ahead of upper house elections on Sunday.
Earlier Prime Minister Fumio Kishida abandoned the campaign trail and flew to Tokyo by helicopter where he addressed reporters in a voice that wavered with emotion.
“I pray that former prime minister Abe will survive,” he said, condemning “a barbaric act during election campaigning, which is the foundation of democracy.”
“It is absolutely unforgivable. I condemn this act in the strongest terms.”
The attack came before noon in the country’s western region of Nara, where Abe, 67, had been delivering a stump speech with security present, but spectators able to approach him easily.
Footage broadcast by NHK showed him standing on a stage when a man dressed in a grey shirt and brown trousers begins approaching from behind, before drawing something from a bag and firing.
At least two shots appear to be fired, each producing a cloud of smoke.
As spectators and reporters ducked, a man was shown being tackled to the ground by security. He was later arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, reports said.
Local media identified the man as 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, citing police sources, with several media outlets describing him as a former member of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, the country’s navy.
He was wielding a weapon described by local media as a “handmade gun”, and NHK said he told police after his arrest that he “targeted Abe with the intention of killing him”.
Witnesses at the scene described shock as the political event turned into chaos.
“The first shot sounded like a toy bazooka,” a woman told NHK.
“He didn’t fall and there was a large bang. The second shot was more visible, you could see the spark and smoke,” she added.
“After the second shot, people surrounded him and gave him cardiac massage.”
Abe was bleeding from the neck, witnesses said and photographs showed. He was reportedly initially responsive but subsequently lost consciousness.
Officials from the local chapter of Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party said there had been no threats before the incident and that his speech had been announced publicly.
Kishida said “no decision” had been made on the election, though several parties announced their senior members would halt campaigning in the wake of the attack.
Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, held office in 2006 for one year and again from 2012 to 2020, when he was forced to step down due to the debilitating bowel condition ulcerative colitis.
He was a hawkish conservative who pushed for the revision of Japan’s pacifist constitution to recognise the country’s military and has stayed a prominent political figure even after his resignation.
Japan has some of the world’s toughest gun-control laws, and annual deaths from firearms in the country of 125 million people are regularly in single figures.
Getting a gun licence is a long and complicated process for Japanese citizens, who must first get a recommendation from a shooting association and then undergo strict police checks.
Japan has seen “nothing like this for well over 50 to 60 years”, Corey Wallace, an assistant professor at Kanagawa University who focuses on Japanese politics, told AFP.
He said the last similar incident was likely the 1960 assassination of Inejiro Asanuma, the leader of the Japan Socialist Party, who was stabbed by a right-wing youth.
“But two days before an election, of a (man) who is so prominent… it’s really profoundly sad and shocking.”
He noted, too, that Japanese politicians and voters are used to a personal and close-up style of campaigning.
The race to face Chipolopolo in Tuesday’s 2022 COSAFA Cup quarterfinals will be between Botswana and Namibia.
Botswana and Angola both won their penultimate Group A matches in Thursday’s doubleheader at King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban to maintain their 100 percent start.
In the day’s first kick off, Botswana beat Comoros 1-0 thanks to a 40th minute goal by midfielder Baokeditswe Talane.
Botswana are second only on goal difference heading into Sundays decider against high scoring Angola at the same venue.
Angola scored another three goals after beating Seychelles 3-0.
Julinho put the two-time champions ahead in the 14th minute, Megue converted a 78th minute penalty while and Vanilson wrapped up the game in the 90th minute.
Only one team goes through from Sunday’s game for the July 12 date against Chipolopolo who enjoyed a preliminary round bye.
Also on bye are Mozambique, Namibia, Madagascar, guest side Senegal and hosts South Africa.
Friday’s action will see Joint Group B leader’s eSwatini and Lesotho in action against Malawi and Mauritius respectively in their battle to play Senegal in the quarterfinals.
Ministry of Finance and National Planning says it is confident that the legal reforms in Public Debt Management once approved by Parliament will help in the economic recovery in the country.
Ministry of Finance and National Planning Permanent Secretary Mukuli Chikuba explains that one of the major economic reforms is the Public Debt Management Bill which has been taken to Parliament for consideration.
Speaking during a media engagement workshop on Economic management at Sandy’s Creation in Lusaka yesterday, Mr. Chikuba noted that the said Bill once enacted will provide a provision for Parliament to approve every loan acquired for the public sector.
“If you are the central government, parastatal or council and quasi-government, they will be no borrowing externally without the approval of Parliament.
“ The legislation also mandates the ministry of finance to publish very specific information on debt and also present it to Parliament,” explained Mr. Chikuba.
The Bill which has reached its first reading in the First Session of the 13 th Assembly seeks to provide for the raising of loans and grants; the issuing of guarantees; and the approval of loans by the National Assembly.
Other issues the Bill will tackle includes the issuing of loans by, or on behalf of the Government; the establishment of sinking funds; the establishment of the Debt Management Office and provide for its functions; the repeal of the Loans and Guarantees (Authorisation) Act, 1969, and the General Loan and Stock Act, 1931; and matters connected, or incidental to, the foregoing.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Finance and National Planning Assistant Director-Budget Officer Percy Musonda in his presentation indicated that the treasury will continue to implement government programs in line with the 2022 national budget.
Mr.Musonda said that the spending is expected to under the farmer input support program to support the input the 2022/2023 farming season which has been caused by the surging price of fertilizer.
“ Priority will also be given to social spending programmes including drugs and medical supplies and dismantling of arrears in order to unlock liquidity in the economy.
Further government remains hopeful that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme will be approved by the board,” he said.
If numbers don’t lie, President Hakainde Hichilema will make about 120 international trips by the end of his first term. The average cost per trip is what is hard to tell. The government should help us with that.
While in opposition President Hakainde Hichilema advised his predecessor to cut international trips. Very surprising to see him traveling even more.
He tried to deny having promised free education until after he was reminded of his Facebook posts on the issue. President Hichilema may also try to deny he condemned excessive presidential foreign trips. Here is one of his posts on Facebook:
“We advise Mr. Lungu to cut his international trips as they are a great cost to our country in this economic distress.”
In nine months, President Hichilema has made seventeen internatioanl trips. Meaning he is making an average of two foreign trips per month.
As usual, simple math can help to predict the number of foreign trips the president will make by the end of his first term.
Two foreign trips in a month. In one year (twelve months) is two times twelve trips. In five years is two times twelve times five.
Even if HH spends less than his predecessor used to on trips, he still needs to cut his international trips to protect his integrity.
He advised his predecessor to reduce traveling when the country was in experiencing economic distress. Today the country is in a worse situation. Two international trips per month are too much for the country in this economic distress.
The government should not hesitate to help us with the average cost of these international trips. The very simple math could help predict what the country would save if HH decided to cut his international trips in half.
Anyone who pays attention would agree that Zambia is not benefiting much from these trips. The main theme of HH speeches abroad has always been the previous government’s shortcomings. Explaining how bad his predecessor was.
The Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati has implored Zambians in the diaspora to positively market the country for Zambia to benefit from global opportunities.
Mr. Mutati notes that no one can market Zambia in international space better than Zambians themselves adding that for this reason Zambians in the diaspora should not to shy away from opportunities to market the country.
Speaking at the official closing of the Diaspora conference in Livingstone of Southern Province, Mr. Mutati disclosed that Zambia is in the process of launching a satellite project in the next two years.
He noted that his Ministry has since identified Zambians in the diaspora who possess the necessary skills to help formulate a strategy to launch a satellite project in the country.
The Minister stressed the need to recognize the achievements attained by Zambians in the diaspora which can be utilised locally, adding that through such, the country will join the champions league.
“Zambians are being recognised out there, hence the need to lift them up locally so that they carry our flag,” Mr. Mutati stated.
The Minister tasked the organisers of the Diaspora Conference to come up with tangible results from the conference that he will present to President Hakainde Hichilema.
He noted that it was time to move from conversations to transactions so that such initiatives can bear intended results.
Mr. Mutati told the conference organisers to table out issues that the team will be focused on and time frames so that Zambians locally remember the conference with something.
Also in attendance was Southern Province Minister Cornelius Mweetwa, Livingstone City Mayor Constance Muleabai, and Bank of Zambia Governor Denny Kalyalya among other dignitaries.
President Hakainde Hichilema said during the official opening of the conference in the tourist capital that time has come to maximize the power of partnerships to deliver a memorable experience in Zambia.
Mr Hichilema added An experience that will cause a transformational ripple effect that contributes to sustainable development.
Visiting Italian President Sergio Mattarella says his government appreciates the steps taken by the Zambian government to offer free education to all.
President Mattarella has to this effect called for the removal of social-economic and cultural obstacles that hinder children, especially young women from completing their education.
Speaking when he delivered his keynote address to the National Assembly of Zambia yesterday, the visiting Italian President stressed that the free education policy guarantees freedom for all the citizenry despite one’s gender.
“We must work to remove all the social, economic and cultural obstacles that don’t allow young people, especially girls to complete their education.
“In this sense I have deep appreciation for the Zambian authority that is aimed at guaranteeing free access to education for all, ” he told the House.
He underscored on the need to invest in the education sector so as to better the future of the young generation.
Meanwhile President Mattarella says the African continent is the future of the global world.
He said there is need to invest in Africa for a better future for all humanity.
“Africa is the continent of the future, the time for Africa is now, Africa is the present. Presently, we must invest in Africa for a better future,” He stated.
Stressing that that Europe and Africa have a shared responsibility of tapping in the potential of the young people in Africa which can be of great benefit to humanity, the visiting Italian President said the potential of young people should not be allowed to go to waste.
President Mattarella revealed in his address that by 2050 young people in Africa will present over 25 percent of the global workforce.
“60 percent of the one point four billion African population is aged 25 and below and by 2050 according to estimates young Africans will present over 25 percent of the global workforce.
“We have a shared responsibility, the numerous potential which can be of benefit to all humanity, should not be wasted.”
In the same address, President Mattarella praised Zambia for being a model of democracy in the region and the continent as a whole adding that the Southern African country has gone through an important path of consolidating its democracy and the rule of law.
He said Italy wants to build partnerships with countries like Zambia that uphold democratic tenets and the dignity of humanity.
“In Intensifying relations with the African continent, Italy and the European Union know that they can count on countries like Zambia who have gone through an important path towards the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law.
“Our ambition is to build a partnership focused on common interests and shared values, respect for the dignity of all the people,” He said.
President Mattarella says Zambia’s democratic model is important as it focuses on human rights.
“Zambia’s experience is important, because it expresses a democratic model which is authentic to Africa, with focus on human rights and it’s a benchmark and example of the region, ” he said, indicating that Zambia has for a long time adhered to the long tradition of upholding peace.
President Mattarella assured parliament that Zambia can continue to count on the long standing relations that the two countries have enjoyed over the years.
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President Mattarella said Zambia and Italy both enjoy bonds of cordial friendship that can be traced since the country’s independence.
Italy has contributed to the socio economic of Zambia and its people through the implementation of various programmes.
President Mattarella says Italy desires is to further strengthen the existing relations started by Zambia’s founding Father the Late Dr Kenneth Kaunda.
President Mattarella’s address to the National Assembly lasted about 18 minute and largely dwelled on climate change, immigration, Russian invasion and the need for increased cooperation between Europe and Africa.
The Italian President who is in the country on the three days official visit was accompanied to parliament by his wife Laura and Italian Ambassador to Zambia, Antonino Maggiore.
Prior to his address to the National Assembly, President Mattarella’s motorcade arrived at Parliament building 17:05 local time and was received by the Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti.
President Matteralla was later taken to the Speakers offices where he signed the visitors book and exchanged gifts before proceedings to the chamber.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, all members of parliament were yesterday gathered in the chamber to listen to President Mattarella’s address.
Former Uganda Airlines chief executive officer, Mr Cornwell Muleya who was arrested last month for allegedly disobeying the Inspectorate of Government (IG) orders has been produced in court and charged formally.
Mr Muleya was on Wednesday arraigned before Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court after spending a night in custody and charged with disobedience of IGG’s orders contrary to section 35 (a) of the Inspectorate of Government Act, 2002.
According to prosecution, Mr Muleya between May and June 2022 willfully and without reasonable justification or excuse, refused to comply with an order of the Inspectorate of Government dated May 23, 2022 requiring his attendance to give evidence and produce documents to the Inspectorate of Government, regarding mismanagement of public funds, procurements and recruitment of staff at the Uganda Airlines.
Mr Muleya, however, denied the charges and asked to be released on bail arguing that he is a law abiding citizen and ready to report to court whenever required.
He also told the presiding court magistrate, Asuman Muhumuza, that he had been summoned by the IGG as a witness in the ongoing investigations into the mismanagement of the national carrier and not as a suspect.
Mr Muhumuza asked Muleya to deposit his old and new passports in court and also pay Shs1.5 million cash for his bail. Each of his four sureties was bonded Shs50 million, not cash.
Former Uganda Airlines chief executive officers Mr Cornwell Muleya in the dock at Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court where he appeared on June 22, 2022 to answer charges of disobeying the IGG’s orders
Mr Muleya was sent on forced leave on April 29, 2021 amid accusations of—among others—financial mismanagement, unethical conduct in the recruitment of personnel, failure to supervise staff, and curb corruption at the national carrier.
He was also accused of delaying the operation of the Airbus planes, delaying the implementation of the ground handling and self-handling programmes as well as presiding over abuse of the procurement system.
He was later suspended on May 21, 2021 along with other five top managers. Among these were the human resource manager, Mr Joseph Sebbowa, and the director of safety, Mr Bruno Oringi.
Mr Muleya’s contract was consequently terminated on February 15.
The deputy IGG, Patricia Achan Okiria said Mr Muleya’s actions had forced the ombudsman to invoke its powers under the IGG Act. The provision empowers the inspectorate to issue a warrant of arrest to apprehend any person to whom summons have been served but is a no-show.
He is also set to appear before the Anti-Corruption Court to answer another charge related to the IGG’s investigation into alleged mismanagement and abuse of office at the airline.
“He did not carry out his functions and duties well. Next week, we are likely to be in the Anti-Corruption Court, so I don’t want to delve into those matters now,” she added.
It will be a perfect case of hunter turned hunted if Mr Muleya is arraigned before the anti-corruption court.
The Zambian was the first to pen a dossier in which he made a case for an investigation into the operations at the airline.
In a January 27, 2021 report sent to President Museveni, Mr Muleya accused some members of the board of directors at the time of pushing “for the promotion of self-interest” and in other cases colluding with some managers to make a quick buck.
Many would say that the arrest is a form of witch-hunt to the sacked Uganda Airline CEO but the deputy IGG says this is not true.
“This is not witch-hunt. That matter(of termination of contract) is in in industrial court, for us we are looking at mismanagement of Uganda airlines during his tenure. The other matter is to be determined by court and we can’t go into it. For us looking at the mismanagement aspect because government invested a lot of money in the airline and was put to waste,” Dr. Achan said.
Storm
Former Uganda Airlines chief executive officers Mr Cornwell Muleya in the dock at Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court where he appeared on June 22, 2022 to answer charges of disobeying the IGG’s orders
Storm brewed at the national carrier as the battle for control threatened the success of the airline, a few years after its revival.
A January 27, 2021 dossier to President Museveni by Mr. Muleya indicated that intrigue, corruption and interference were the order of the day.
According to the report, some board members have on several occasions met with some members of the management team to inflate invoices in a bid to make money out of the airline and that this has led to division among the management team as well as inefficiency in the management of the airline.
The report indicated that managers working with backing from some of the board members to inflate invoices have on several occasions to slow down some of the airline projects as they push their own selfish agendas with protection from the “godfathers” on the board.
The report indicated that some board members view the CEO as being too rigid and not flexible on the issue of corruption as people find it hard to work with him.
“They advised that I must try to understand how business is done in Uganda because these practices are normal in this country, otherwise I will find myself alone. They have gone so far as to suggest that our ethical approach to management may be one of the reasons why we are experiencing delays in the release of company project funds from the ministries within government.”
According to the Uganda Airlines CEO, it has been told him directly in the face that many projects have failed to take off because he has refused to give kickbacks to some government officials to give a green light to the projects.
It was reported that in 2019, the airline contracted services of Abbavater as its publicity and promotions agency to design and perform sales and marketing activities but little did they know that the Commercial Director then had connections in the company yet it was under her department to supervise it.
“When the company was contracted to do this work, management was not aware that some of the managers within the airline, including the Commercial Director whose duty it was to manage this service, had intimate connections with this company. This only came to light after the agency’s services to the airline were found to be below par to a point where management had to recommend to the board to terminate their contract.”
The report said that investigations found out that the agency had either bribed its way into the airline or attempted to bribe some managers in order to get the contract.
President Museveni would later order investigations into the mismanagement of the national carrier among other issues which later led to Muleya’s suspension.
His contract was later terminated.
And Mr. Muleya is now pursuing litigation in order to clear his name and receive compensation after his contract was terminated in February 2022, 9 months into a suspension.
Muleya along with up to 12 others at the national carrier were Suspended in April 2021, a month after the CEO had been offered an 18 months contract extension.
The board including its chairman were also suspended initially for 3 months with an interim board put in place to oversee the airline.
After 9 months, the interim board decided to terminate Muleya’s contract but did not disclose the reasons for this only stating officially that allegations against him were substantial.
Muleya’s lawyers argue that “Despite glaring irregularities, our client was directed to keep away from the company premises without any lawful or just cause. Moreover, no promised investigation into alleged mismanagement by our client ever took place. In fact, no investigation report has ever been produced to this end,”
The noticed goes on to add: “In spite of the blatant illegalities, you purported to extend our client’s illegal suspension by another three months vide your letter dated 20th August 2021.We need to emphasise that the law does not provide for extension of suspension beyond the period provided under Section 63 of the Employment Act.”
“You issued the said termination notice with the full knowledge that our client was never heard in any disciplinary proceedings. Additionally, you were aware that our client’s contract of employment did not have a termination clause,”
What is Muleya’s demanding through the courts?
Immediate reinstatement as the Chief Executive Officer of the company.
An unconditional apology for the material inconvenience, reputational damage and loss he suffered.
Shs 3.5 billion ( USD 978,000) in damages and other costs including salary arrears.
The CEO’s background
Former Uganda Airlines chief executive officers Mr Cornwell Muleya in happier times
Muleya has also previously worked with Air Mauritius Limited as the Chief Finance Officer, and at Zambezi Airlines Limited, as the Chief Executive Officer.
He has also worked as the CEO at ALS – Aircraft Leasing Services, based at Nairobi, and at Air Uganda as the CEO, from 2013 until 2014.
In October 2019, Muleya was appointed Acting CEO at Uganda Airlines, while the company searched for a substantive CEO.
He replaced Ephraim Bagenda, who was named director of engineering and maintenance at the national airline.
He is also the Founder & Director of Cornwell Aviation Consultants Limited, an aviation consultancy based in Lusaka Zambia.
Witch-hunt?
Muleya’s arrest comes at a time when he filed a case in which he wants government to compensate him to a tune of shs3.5 billion over termination of his contract with the national airline.
A 13 year Bulk Supply Agreement between ZESCO and the Copperbelt Energy Corporation has been signed effective 1st April 2022.
This Agreement was signed for two years after the expiry of the Bulk Supply Agreement between the two institutions that had been existence from 21st November 1997 to 31st March 2020.
Zesco Managing Director Victor Mapani told a Media briefing that the tenure of the agreement has been set at 13 years making it a delicate balance between having an adequate period of time to cover long term investments and giving the two parties the flexibility to get back to the table and iron out any matters that may arise.
He also said that the agreement contains newly agreed and more cost reflective energy and demand charges payable by CEC for its power purchases from Zesco.
Eng. Mapani said this agreement also contains clear terms of supply for each party to supply power to customers within the country across each other’s network.
He said the agreement also allows either party to develop power generation, transmission,distribution and supply infrastructure and does away with teritorial exclusivity clauses that existed in the previous agreement and opens up the Zambian electricity sector industry to competition.
Mr Mapani said the allowable power and outage hours for both parties were adjusted to 120 hours over five years from 144 and 180 for Zesco and CEC respectively.
The expiry of the old Bulk Supply Agreement was preceded by unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a successor agreement which was followed by a two-year period of trade on disputed terms between the two parties. Zesco Managing Director Victor Mapani
In recognition of the unsustainable nature of the relationship, the two parties resumed negotiations in January 2022 with a view of having an agreement in place effective 1st April 2022.
Some of the major items that have been addressed in the new Bulk Supply Agreement are as follows;
The Tenure of the agreement has been set at 13 years.
This term is a delicate balance between having an adequate period of time to cover long term investments and giving the two parties the flexibility to get back to the table and iron out any matters that may arise; within a reasonable period.
The just signed Bulk Supply Agreement contains newly agreed and cost reflective Energy and Demand charges payable by CEC for power purchases from ZESCO, and reciprocal tariffs for Transmission Use of the System, Domestic Wheeling and International Wheeling.
In addition, the Bulk Supply Agreement allows and contains clear terms of supply for either party to party power to customers within the country across each other’s network.
The agreement also allows either party to develop power generation, transmission, distribution and supply infrastructure, in any part of the country.
Therefore, this does away with the territorial exclusivily clauses that existed in the previous agreement, and opens up the Zambian Electricity sector industry to competition, as envisioned by the ongoing reforms in the energy sector such as the development of the open access framework.
The allowable power and outage hours for both parties were adjusted to 120hrs over five years from 144hrs and 180hrs for ZESCO and CEC respectively.
This reflects increasing operating efficiency by both parties.
This supply limit in the bulk supply agreement was also adjusted, to reflect CEC’s expected level of consumption.
Unlike the old Bulk Supply Agreement, the new agreement contains tariff adjustment provisions that can be used by the two parties to adjust the tariff if necessary, during the term of the agreement.
These provisions are in addition to the annual indexation of tariffs that adjusts them for the inflationary effects.
Further, thus Bulk Supply Agreement also demands the setting up of payment security by the two parties in order to reduce the risks of non-payment for the services rendered.
The visiting Italian First lady Laura Mattarella has commended her counterpart, Mutinta Hichilema for coming up with the “Stay in School Initiative project” which is aimed at keeping girls in school.
Ms Mattarella said the initiative is excellent as it also empowers women and youths with skills on how to make reusable sanitary towels thereby making them self-reliant.
Ms Mattarella said this today when she visited the “Stay in School Initiative project in woodlands with her counterpart Mutinta Hichilema.
And Mrs Hichilema said about 185 women from across the country have so far been trained in making reusable sanitary towels.
She said the project will be rolled out countrywide as it has received overwhelming response from the general public and cooperating partners.
Mrs Hichilema stated that the project is being implemented with other stakeholders such as traditional leaders and head teachers among others.
She noted that with the free education policy that government introduced there was a big gap with regards to girls not attending classes especially in rural areas hence the reason for the establishment of the project of making reusable sanitary towels.
Mrs Hichilema disclosed that some cooperating partners have come on board and donated sewing machines and other materials to the project.
Earlier, Italian President Sergio Mattarella has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to support Zambia reach an understanding with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on its debt restructuring programme.
Mr Mattarella said his country is ready to help Zambia in its economic recovery trajectory.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on President Hichilema at State house today, Mr Mattarella said this is one way of strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.
“Italy stands ready to help Zambia in many sectors of the economy such as Mining, Agriculture, health and education among others. Zambia is a beacon of peace and a promoter of democratic tenets,” he said.
He explained that Italy is committed to further strengthen ties with Zambia by setting up businesses and infrastructure development among others across the country.
Mr Mattarella also praised Zambia for its resolve to fight corruption saying the vice retards economic development.
And President Hakainde Hichilema hailed Italy for the huge contributions it renders to Zambia in all sectors of the economy such as energy, Agriculture among others.
Mr Hichilema noted that the coorporation between the two countries spans many years ago when successful leaders of Italy and Zambia initiated a warm relationship.
The President further called on Italy to support Zambia in its journey to access the IMF bailout which is expected to cushion the country’s challenges in many sectors of the economy.
“Indeed Zambia is grateful for Italy’s contributions and support in all the sectors of the economy especially in energy, education, agriculture among others,” he said.
Mr Hichilema added that Zambia is endowed with mineral resources which needs value addition, stating that Italy can help in that area in a bid to transform the country.
He further assured Italy of Zambia’s continuous upholding of democratic tenets, peace and stability in order to foster social and economic development as democracy is the hallmark of development.
The President commended his Italian counterpart for visiting Zambia as the move will spur deeper mutual understanding between the two countries.
The Italian President who is accompanied by First Lady Laura Mattarella arrived in the country yesterday.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) President Saboi Imboela has accused the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security of interfering in the internal affairs of the opposition political party.
Ms. Imboela’s NDC group and the George Sichula-led faction are battling for the NDC leadership. Mr. Sichula and Ms. Imboela both claim to be party president of NDC.
In a media statement issued on Thursday morning, Ms. Imboela said the NDC was saddened by the levels of insecurity being brought about by political cadres at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
She alleged that President Hakainde Hichilema appointed former NDC official Josephs Akafumba as the Permanent Secretary at Home Affairs in order to destabilize political parties.
“We gave President HH the benefit of doubt when he appointed Mr. Rikki Josephs Akafumba as the Permanent Secretary at Home Affairs, but it has become more apparent that the reason why he took Mr. Akafumba to Home Affairs was to destabilise political parties using any means possible, including illegal ones. As NDC, we were very happy to see the Ministry issue a statement yesterday, but while they tried to be professional and objective at the beginning of the statement, they let politics get the better of them and as they concluded they made mention of the so called two NDC factions,” Ms. Imboela said.
“Factions exist in the political arena and not in government ministries, let alone at the Registrar of Societies which has all the records of the NDC and other parties. When politics produce factions, administration should be relied upon for records to prove who has a legal claim to an organisation. But both the statement from the Ministry yesterday and a letter from the Chief Registrar that we have already taken to the Anti Corruption Commission refer to factions that the ministry should not be dealing with. Does this, therefore, mean that anyone in this current government can just produce minutes and deliver to the ROS, and they will effect changes? Never before have we seen the ROS deal with factions, as they always look at their own records for clarity. Innocent until proven guilty exists even for organisations,” she said.
Ms. Imboela said the recent documents circulated claiming to contain NDC office bearers from the Registrar of Societies was vague.
“We have resolved to submit yesterday’s statement as one of the documents that the Anti Corruption Commission should examine, because as stated earlier, factions exist in the political arena and not democratic institutions like the Registrar of Societies, Electoral Commission of Zambia and others. Only a court order can or should make these institutions act against the registered legally documented leaders of an organisation, unlike what we are seeing now. Clearly unprecedented, clearly undemocratic and very political. It may interest Mr. Nephas Chifuta to know that the so-called Extra Ordinary meeting that took place on the 18th of September 2021 had people and names that we do not know of. We have submitted letters by ourselves and our lawyers several times to effect changes on the list of NDC, but Mrs. Thandiwe Mhende wrote to us that nothing can be done to the list of NDC until the court cases are over,” she argued.
Ms. Imboela added:”It is for that reason that we have left the list of subscribers as it is. So to see a letter purported to be coming from NDC and yet we have no knowledge of it is very shocking. And to see the ROS effect changes using that same fraudulent letter is even more worrisome and they are just trying to cover up the fact that they made changes to the list without our consent. Mr. Chifuta also talked of the ministry not wanting to be ‘forced’ to do illegalities based on falsehoods and yet this is clearly the complaint that we have against his ministry. His statement has caused a lot of concern and fear in us, as the apparent bias that we have been talking about was clearly manifested.”
“We are, however, very happy to see him pledge that the ministry will execute its mandate as provided for by law without fear or favour and I hope he knows that what that means is that the ministry should respect the status quo unless the court says otherwise. The matter in court is that Mr. Akafumba sued Dr. Chishimba Kambwili for allegedly claiming to be NDC President and NDC as a party was never sued. So to legitimize their so-called ‘other faction’ which is clearly a conflict of interest issue with his boss, is not only saddening but illegal and malicious,” she concluded.
