President Levy Mwanawasa has urged Zambians to be more positive about Chinese firms and their workers, a plea that comes a week before Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to Zambia. In a meeting with supporters late on Thursday, Mwanawasa said he regretted violent anti-Chinese protests that erupted in the country last year and described China’s involvement in the Zambian economy as helpful.

MAGISTRATES in Lusaka have resolved not to attend to any cases involving the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The boycott is as a result of a statement made by ACC director general Nixon Banda that magistrates were not competent to handle corruption cases.

The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) described the decision by the magistrates in Lusaka to boycott hearing cases from the ACC as unfortunate and called for immediate intervention.

The magistrates held a meeting to discuss statements attributed to Mr Banda on whether they should continue handling ACC cases or not. They concluded that they would only start handling ACC cases once the matter was soundly resolved.

This came to light when former Zambezi East member of Parliament (MP) Maxwell Mukwakwa appeared on charges of bribery.

Magistrate Sharon Newa informed both parties in court chambers yesterday when the matter came up for hearing that the magistrates had resolved not to handle cases of such nature and others relating to ACC and had been adjourned Sine die with liberty to restore.

LAZ president William Mweenba said in an interview yesterday that magistrates and the ACC should immediately call for a meeting and resolve their differences.

He said LAZ expected the magistrates to accept the apology made by the ACC director general who regretted publicly for having accused the court of lacking knowledge to preside over corruption cases.

Mr Mweemba reiterated that the ACC should have used the right to appeal to the High Court if it was not happy with the rulings from the subordinate courts.

He said magistrate courts were critical in the judicial system and the boycott by the magistrates should be resolved amicably.

In his statement, Mr Banda had stated that magistrates’ understanding of corruption was very low and that they were treating corruption cases like any matter.

The ACC chief said in Kitwe it was disappointing that despite overwhelming evidence and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)’s confirmation, the magistrates threw the cases out of court.

Mukwakwa was accused of bribery after he allegedly gave a Post reporter, George Chellah, K350,000 last year.

Lawyers representing both parties said the matter should be resolved urgently because cases would pile up. They said a lot of cases were at the courts and new ones were coming in.

“We understand the matter at hand, but we pray that the matter is amicably resolved as soon as possible to reduce the workload already at hand, the delay would mean new cases delayed too,” they said.

On Wednesday, Mr Mweemba and High Court registrar Mwamba Chanda said the statement by the ACC was made in bad faith and warned that in future such attacks should be avoided.

The judiciary complained and described Mr Banda’s remarks as unfortunate, especially that it was made by a qualified lawyer.

Mr Banda has since apologised to the Chief Justice, members of the judiciary, especially the magistrates to whom the statement referred.

“ACC is committed to work together with the judiciary who are key stakeholders. I did not mean to undermine the integrity of the judiciary in any way,” he said.

Times of Zambia 

The Judiciary says it takes great exception to remarks by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)- Director General, Nixon Banda, about Magistrates’ alleged incomptence in handling corruption cases.Registrar of the High Court, Mwamba Chanda, said Mr. Banda’s remarks on Magistrates were most unfortunate especially that they were made by a qualified lawyer.

THE Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is geared to rid the civil service of all forms of corruption and warned that within this year, a lot of prominent people who are suspected involvement in the cancerous vice will be prosecuted.

ACC vice-chairperson Christine Mulundika and Director General, Nixon Banda, warned that there would be no “sacred cow” in the anti-corruption drive and culprits should expect a tough time.

Ms Mulundika and Mr Banda said the fight against corruption was for all Zambians as the crime was worse than the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

Speaking in Kabwe when they introduced two new commissioners to Central Province heads of Government and civil society yesterday, the two said the commissioners had the capacity to clean up the civil service.

Introducing commissioners, Webby Kalikiti, a lecturer from the University of Zambia and Elizabeth Lupeta, a retired head-teacher, the two said the commission would not relent in its fight.

Mr Banda said the commission would pursue corruption cases regardless of who was involved and promised Zambians that before the end of this year a lot of “big fish will be netted.”

For sometime now, there had been allegations that the commission was selectively clamping down on corruption suspects, which he said was not true.

“This year, you will see quite a lot of big fish being netted in. There have been accusations that we have been selective in our fight but in the next few months you will see a lot of big fish being prosecuted,” Mr Banda said.

The commission was geared to wipe out corrupt practices among civil servants saying it had put in place several measures to achieve that and called on Zambians to join the fight for a better future.

One of the measures embarked on to combat the crime in the civil service was the introduction of the integrity committees in Government wings.

He said that on January 30, Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr Joshua Kanganja, would swear in the committee members from various provinces who had been trained.

The committee had already been set up in about eight Government departments and local authorities in Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces.

Earlier, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Central Province Minister Sydney Chisanga and Permanent Secretary Denny Lumbama.

Speaking in Mr Chisanga’s office, Ms Mulundika said that for sometime now the fight against corruption seemed to have been left to President Mwanawasa and the commission alone.

She said ministers and other senior Government officials should be in the forefront in the drive saying it was high time the officials supported the crusade.

The commission would assume that all those who were quiet about the issue were not in support of the commission and they could be involved in some corrupt practice.

Corruption had an effect on the lives of all Zambians and therefore there was need for concerted efforts in fighting the scourge.

In Mr Lumbama’s office, Mr Banda and Ms Mulundika appealed to the provincial leadership to move the ACC offices away from the main Government offices to make it more independent and accessible to all.

Source: Times of Zambia

CHINESE President, Hu Jintao is expected in Zambia next month on a state visit. Chief Government spokesperson, Vernon Mwaanga, announced in a statement yesterday that the Chinese leader would arrive on February 3, accompanied by his wife, Liu Yongqing.

GOVERNMENT has directed water utility companies to amend their articles of association to incorporate new management concepts such as board composition and corporate governance.

Kitwe Town Clerk, Ali Simwinga, told a special full council meeting in Kitwe that he was in receipt of a circular from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing through which participating local authorities in the establishment of water utility companies had been directed to amend articles of association.

Mr Simwinga said government wanted amendments so that water utilities could maximise the existing organisational structures.

“The strategy of allowing councils to run water supply and sanitation services were to encourage groups of local authorities to establish commercial utilities.

This is why government started the implementation of the water policy, which promoted decentralisation, and commercialisation of water supply and sanitation services to promote efficiency and sustainability in service delivery,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Simwinga revealed that government had disbursed K120 million for pothole mending and marking of Kitwe urban roads.

Mr Simwinga thanked government for the money, which he said would go a long way in improving the road network.

“We have also received another K5 million under the Lands Development Fund from the Ministry of Lands.

The money will help the council to construct drainages and prepare layout plans.

THE five-day post election seminar for members of Parliament came to a close on Thursday.

The seminar, which was officially opened by Speaker of the National Assembly, Amusaa Mwanamwamba last Sunday was closed by his deputy, Mutale Nalumango.

During the official opening, Mr Mwanamwambwa urged MPs to uphold the principles of democracy if they were to positively contribute to good governance.

Mr Mwanamwambwa called on MPs to show commitment and belief in the principles of democracy and express them in an open and sincere manner.

He was satisfied with the content of the seminar, which he described as important to the life of MPs who sought to be effective in their parliamentary careers.

The seminar was attended by Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa, Baleka Mbete, Senior Advisor Parliamentary Reform Project Zambia, John Bosley and Registrar of Members’ Interest in the House of Commons, Alda Barry.