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Why the Rotten and President Controlled Anti-Corruption Commission is Incapable of Prosecuting Lusambo

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Why the Rotten and President Controlled Anti-Corruption Commission is Incapable of Prosecuting Lusambo

By Kapya Kaoma

Seeing Lusambo in handcuffs with a swollen face made the New Dark Regime happy; finally the chicken coming home to roost! My simple question is, where was the ACC when Lusambo acquired “over 100 houses” as reported? This is the question we Zambians must be asking? “President Lungu,” is the short answer. If so, what makes us believe that the ACC is not overlooking corrupt actions in the New Dark Regime for fear of President HH? This is the one billion question that should trouble every Zambian, especially now when the ACC is officially under the President’s Office.

The rotten ACC raided, arrested and courts acquitted many people during the PF era once they blasphemed against its god. If Lusambo is as corrupt as reported, and the ACC did nothing, how much damage would this maggots dropping investigative body do to the nation now that the President controls it? PF scavengers must be fairly investigated and punished. But the current AAC lacks moral standing to make apolitical investigations–that which were no crimes during the Lungu administration cannot become crimes under the New Dark Regime without accountability. We to investigate the corruption of the ACC and probe its own corruption. We don’t have the ACC, but the President Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). PACC is nothing but a maggot-filled carrion with the sole purpose of punishing the President’s opponents as opposed to protecting national coffers.

To depoliticize the investigations, we need an Independent Commission. But such an Independent body wouldn’t spare President HH and some of his closest allies either. So the President is comfortable using this rotten body to get even with his political opponents rather than protecting national coffers.

President HH’s fight against corruption may be well intended, but the drip, drip, drip arrests of former PF officials are slowly turning into political retribution in the public eye. This is due to frivolous cases that are not well investigated. The arrest and release and re-arrest format paints a picture of a desperate Regime in search of crimes by political opponents. The New Dark Regime may celebrate today, but tomorrow exists for a reason. As per Zambian tradition, unless today’s officials undress themselves before the new god, his UPND officials will be arrested for similar crimes by the same rotten ACC, when Baal is out of office. And henceforth a new god, the maggot-filled ACC to supplicate with new arrests of their former bosses.

But so is HH. Unless his immunity remains intact, he will be haunted. He has never been investigated for corruption. Some may argue that if he did anything wrong, he should have been arrested when he was in opposition. Such an argument ignores the fact that former administrations were under great pressure to ensure the freedoms of HH as an opposition leader; they feared diplomatic sanctions. Some cases were dropped for this very reason. In this regard, no investigation of his businesses has ever taken place and we shouldn’t expect anything now that the ACC is under his control.

Similarly, the assumption that HH is rich, thus he cannot be corrupt is unfounded. Across the globe, the rich are among the most corrupt people. So we shouldn’t be fooled by riches–if you give HH your open purse, he will claim it as his own. The truth will only be known when he is out of Office.

President Hichilema’s recent defense of his world tour as in Zambia’s interests as opposed to his private ones betrays logic. Aside from the fact that ambassadors represent Zambia’s interests in foreign lands and the President’s presence is not necessarily needed at every gathering, his trips are meant to promote his personal businesses in Dubai, New York, Glasgow and wherever he goes. Thus his opponents will surely find countless cases of corruption, conflicts of interest, and unethical business practices which could qualify as abuse of office. It is for this reason that his decision to have direct control of the ACC was simply unwise. Once he earns Zambia’s derogatory term, “former president,” his ministers like priests of Baal in jail to rot! For when it comes to political power, it is simply an allusion for a moment. Thereafter, ordinary persons, we all become. Another reason to use it wisely!

Mwanza Backs Under-Fire Janny Sikazwe

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Retired veteran Kalulushi FIFA referee Cornelius Mwanza has backed under-fire referee Janny Sikazwe, who has been heavily criticised for making some questionable decisions in the Africa Cup match involving Mali and Tunisia.

Sikazwe prematurely twice blew his whistle for full-time before the 90th minute besides flashing a controversial red card and awarding two penalties in the match.

Mwanza said the mistakes Sikazwe made as Mali beat Tunisia 1-0 were normal in refereeing.

He questioned why other match officials did not correct Sikazwe as he ended the match early.

“Those mistakes are normal in refereeing situations that is why there are four match officials, two assistants and the fourth official,” Mwanza said.

“These guys could have helped the referee by advising him that we still have some minutes to play before the end of the match. The other match officials contributed to what happened.”

Among the tournaments Sikazwe has refereed at are the CAF Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup.

“It’s normal in any given situation you can make such mistakes, stop watches and sometimes malfunctions. With new technology, the match officials have communication devices which the fourth official could have used to talk to Janny Sikazwe that there are more minutes remaining,” Mwanza said.

Mwanza is shocked that some Zambians have taken a lead in criticising Sikazwe.

“Criticism will always be there but the worst is that as Zambians we are even in the forefront criticizing Janny forgetting about the good he has done for mother Zambia.

We are not at the Africa Cup; we are being represented by Janny so we have to console him so that he forges ahead. That is not the end of his career, he has got potential he can still do better than what happened yesterday,” he said.
Sikazwe has been a FIFA international referee since 2007.

“The simplest thing Janny could do right now is to accept the mistake he made and forge ahead. That is not the end of his career; those are mistakes which each and every referee can make,” he said.

Football administrator Ricky Chisenga Mamfunda said Sikazwe should be rebuked over his mistakes at the Africa Cup.

“Honest rebuke is better than dishonest praise. Standing with someone in difficult times should not blind us from the clear and obvious mistakes that were committed. Genuine love is not short of honest rebuke,” Mamfunda said.

George Mpombo calls for the bringing to book of what he described as fertilizer crooks

Chief Editor
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George Mpombo calls for the bringing to book of what he described as fertilizer crooks

THERE has been a well-orchestrated ripping of government through the supply of low quality and underweight bags of fertilisers which must be nipped into the bud, says George Mpombo.

Mpombo says “Tamanga or flyby night companies must not be entertained as part of the process to phase out costly drain pipes.

The Mast lead story of Monday, January 10, revealed that part of the fertiliser supplied to the government by various sources was of low quality and underweight.

Government sources revealed that upon being subjected to tests by the Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), part of the consignment was found to be of low quality.

“These fertilisers were meant for various parts of the country, but the most affected was that going to Southern Province. In fact, even the quantities were discovered to be underweight. So the government asked these suppliers to replace the fertilisers,” the sources told The Mast.

But Mpombo, a former defense minister under the Levy Mwanawasa MMD administration, said the matter needed to be thoroughly investigated in order to bring the crooks to book.

“There has been a well-orchestrated syndicate ripping off the government through supplying low quality and underweight bags of fertilizers. The scum must be nipped in the bud before government loses huge sums of money,” he said.

Mpombo, who once served as Kafulafuta member of parliament, noted that: “these criminal activities are a serious threat to national food security as crop yield is highly compromised.”

He added that the “unsuspecting peasant farmer despite his hard work is robbed of the fruits of his labour”.

Mpombo advised the UPND government to ensure specifications of the fertilizers are confirmed before receipt and distribution.

“There is need to float the tender process openly so that transparency and accountability is attained to ensure credible suppliers with strong track record are picked,” he said.

He added that the supplier must have the capacity and integrity to rectify any shortcomings in the supply chain.

“Tamanga (run) or flyby the night companies must not be entertained as part of the process to phase out costly drain pipes,” said Mpombo.

According to the Mast, when contacted, agriculture minister Reuben Mtolo Phiri confirmed the fact the fertiliser supplied was of low quality and underweight that and said the government had since informed the suppliers and asked them to replace the commodity.

“No one has refused. How can they refuse because we did the test, isn’t it? So, all we’re doing is we sample here and there and when we find that the fertiliser is not good enough, we ask them to replace it. Yea, we have gotten those reports and our men are on it.

“Yes, we’ve gotten those reports. I can confirm and our men are on it,” said Mtolo.

“…Yes, but you know what, let me say something to you. Some of these stories might look very sensational but the effects they have on the economy can be very, very devastating.

“So, be very careful the way you write this story. We are on top of things. Every corner where we are receiving a problem, we are making sure that the fertiliser is being replaced. Depending on how you write it, it can become a very difficult situation. Even farmers who have received good fertiliser will start saying we have bad fertiliser.

“This is where responsibility and patriotism could come in. Whoever is giving you this information, be very, very careful because we could end up into a lot of complicated situations.

“This is what I have to say to you, The Mast. It’s a very sensational story for you. But depending on what you write you could create a very, very unnecessary problem. You’re calling me for the second time, it means you are very pleased with what you’re doing. And I can just caution you that be very careful. Be extremely careful.

“The reason I’m saying that, is this; you could be given this information by a group of people who think they themselves could not get involved. Now, we are busy checking the stock, alright! We’re busy checking the stock to make sure everywhere we have got good quality fertiliser being given to our people.”

SOURCE: The Mast

UPND Youths warn PF members against attacking president Hichilema

Chief Editor
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UPND Youths warn PF members against attacking president Hichilema

UPND Lusaka Province Youth Chairperson Anderson Banda has urged some Patriotic Front members to stop dragging the name of President Hakainde Hichilema into disrepute.

Mr. Banda said that it is shocking that some PF leaders are allegedly maligning President Hakainde Hichilema and the Presidency whenever they are summoned by law enforcement officers.

He has advised PF Information and Publicity Secretary Raphael Nakachinda and Former Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo to instead focus on clearing their names.

Mr. Banda told Journalists at a Media briefing in Lusaka that the UPND in Lusaka will not allow Mr. Nakachinda and Mr. Lusambo to disrespect the President from his agenda to develop the nation with their cheap politicking.

He said the UPND government has brought normalcy and independence to all institutions of governance and law enforcement agencies.
Mr. Banda said President Hichilema will not be diverted from bettering the lives of Zambians.

He has advised Mr. Lusambo and Mr. Nakachinda to instead be grateful that the law enforcement agencies are giving them an opportunity to clear their names from the various allegations.

Meanwhile, Mr. Banda said the opposition political parties must realize that politics of character assassinations, insults and mudslinging are outdated.

AND UPND member Chilekwa Munkonge has expressed disappointment with the lack of respect for the Presidency being exhibited by some opposition politicians.

Mr. Munkonge said that much as democracy provides for freedom of expression, the use of strong language against President Hichilema is uncalled for.

He said that politicians being summoned by law enforcement agencies for investigations should not bring in the name of the President because they are being summoned for their own deeds.

Zambia Police Arrest and Charge Nakachinda for Defamation of the President.. Again

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Zambia Police Arrest and Charge Nakachinda for Defamation of the President.. Again

Police in Lusaka have warned and cautioned PF Member of the Central Committee Raphael Nakachinda for the offences of Proposing violence and Defamation of the President.

Zambia police service spokesperson Rae Hamoonga has said that Mr. Nakachinda has since been detained in custody.

Mr. Hamoonmga said the alleged offences are in relation to utterances Mr. Nakacinda made during his campaign trail in Chilenje’s Mapoloto area between 6th to 12th January, 2022.

He said that this was contained in a recording which went viral on various social media, where he alleged that President Hakainde Hichilema and his foreign friends are planning to evict residents of Mapoloto and to build a shopping mall.

Mr. Hamoonga said in the same recording the accused is alleged to have used vulgar language against the Republican President.

This is the second time that Mr Nakachinda is being charged for defamation of the president after UPND youths reported him to Zambia Police last year for defaming President Hakainde Hichilema.

Mr Nakacinda has appeared in court since and pleaded not guilty to defaming President Hakainde Hichilema.

It was alleged that Nakacinda, 43, a businessman of Kafue district, on December 13, 2021 in Lusaka with intent to bring the name of President Hichilema into hatred, ridicule and contempt, did cause to be published defamatory matter by word of mouth, where he addressed people at the High Court of Zambia, which was also broadcasted by Muvi television that: “His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema had summoned Judges at his private residence, intimidating and coercing them to frustrate PF legal battles.”

But Nakacinda denied committing the offence when he took a plea before Lusaka chief resident magistrate Dominic Makalicha.

Magistrate Makalicha recorded a plea of not guilty and adjourned the case to January 20, 2022, for commencement of trial.

Nakacinda is represented by lawyers Makebi Zulu and Jonas Zimba.

Kagem Mine Should Answer to the 2021 Audit Report on Parastatals about their losses and not me-Emmanuel Mwamba

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Kagem Mine Should Answer to the 2021 Audit Report on Parastatals about their losses and not me-Emmanuel Mwamba

Former Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Emmanuel Mwamba has said that Kagem Mine Board Chairperson Sixtus Mulenga should respond to the Auditor General’s report that showed that Kagem had made losses in the least five years instead of responding to him.

In response to Dr. Mulenga’s remarks urging the Minister of Mines Paul Kabuswe and all well-meaning Zambians to treat Mr. Mwamba’s post on his Facebook page as false and ignore it, Mr. Mwamba said that the information from his post was extracted from the 2021 Auditor General’s Report on Parastatals that stated that Kagem was among a list of companies that declared losses and never submitted dividends to the state.

Mr. Mwamba further added that the Auditor General’s Report on Parastatals has consistently named Kagem Mining Limited as one of the companies that have not rendered any dividends in the last five years.

Mr. Mwamba further said that the Auditor General’s Report on Parastatals revealed that out of 33 companies in which IDC holds shares, 21 recorded a net loss of K3.8billion in 2018, K7.3 billion in 2019, and K17.3 billion in 2020 and that these companies included ZESCO, Zambia Railways, and Kagem Mining Ltd and Kagem Mining is owned by ZCCM-IH (25%) and Gemfields (75%).

Mr. Mwamba further said that Kagem Mine was the single largest producing emerald mine in the world and Zambia is the second-largest producer of emeralds after Columbia.

Mr Mwamba said that the Auditor General’s Report stated that a review of the State-Owned Enterprise (SOEs) Situational Analysis Brief issued in September 2021 revealed that out of the thirty-nine (39) companies that were operational, twenty-five (25) companies reported losses during the period under review as indicated in table 7.7 of the report on page 40, which include Kagem Mining

Yesterday Dr Sixtus Mulenga described as laughable and ignorant an article which was written by former Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Emmanuel Mwamba where he claimed that the gemstone giant posted losses in 2020.

Dr. Mulenga said that the emerald mine ceased production in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the Facebook post by Mr. Mwamba is false and should be ignored by well-meaning Zambians.

Dr. Mulenga said that most companies scaled-down production while some closed due to the impact of Covid-19, adding that Kagem, the largest emerald producer in the world, is the only company which paid workers in full for one year despite halting its operations.

Dr Mulenga said this when Mines and Mineral Development Minister Paul Kabuswe and Lufwanyama Member of Parliament Kenny Siachisumo toured the gemstone mine recently.

Earlier, the minister visited Grizzly Mine where he urged management led by Company Vice Chairperson Abdoul Ba to be transparent in their operations.

Mr. Kabuswe said management should ensure there is skills transfer to employees to encourage artisanal mining.

And Mr. Ba commended Government for its support and pledged to continue supplementing its efforts through corporate social responsibility programmes.

In response, Mr. Kabuswe urged the workers unions to be proactive and vigilant in fulfilling their mandate and cautioned management against intimidating workers.

He urged Kagem Mine and Grizzly Mine to collaborate and tar the over 40-kilometer road which connects Kalulushi District to the two mines.

The Audit Report on parastatals for 2020 can be downloaded on the link below

https://www.ago.gov.zm/?wpfb_dl=246

What Chishimba Kambwili said about Bowman Lusambo

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What Chishimba Kambwili said about Bowman Lusambo

By LT Blogger

I want to be a benevolent opposition leader, but Bally has zero accomplishments to his name

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I want to be a benevolent opposition leader, but Bally has zero accomplishments to his name

By Sean Tembo – PeP President

1. In Zambia, or should I just say in Africa, being an opposition leader is akin to being a leper. No one wants to publicly associate with you under the guise of avoiding the irk of the Government of the day, whether actual or imagined. If you are fortunate enough to make it and become Republican President, however, then the tide changes and everyone will want to associate with you.

Everyone will claim to have been with you as you fought for power in the trenches. In my particular case, however, when I do manage to hold a conversation with a “well-wisher”, the theme is often that I condemn the Government too much. That is unfair on the Government. That my checks and balances are laced with malice because I regret having exited from the Opposition Alliance because if I did not, then I would have been a Minister in the new dawn administration now. That going forward, I should be a benevolent opposition leader and occasionally say nice things about the new dawn administration.

2. That is a compelling submission indeed. However it is premised on the assumption that the new dawn administration has been doing good things and bad things and that I only cherry-pick and amplify on the bad things in an effort to paint them black.

Well, maybe that is really the case but from my standpoint, it isn’t. I genuinely do not see anything good that they new dawn administration has done in the past 5 months. And if I pushed myself to say something good about this new government, I would be lying. And I don’t want to lie. I know for certain that people do point to certain perceived accomplishments of the new dawn administration such as removal of cadres and political violence, payment of retirees, payment of farmers, fight against corruption, freedom of expression etcetera. So let us dwell a little bit on these issues and discuss them in greater detail.

3. Removal of cadres from the streets and end in political violence: it is a fallacy for anyone to think that UPND has removed cadres from the streets and that political violence has ended. UPND Cadres are even more lawless than PF cadres. Just a few weeks ago when Nakachinda appeared at Chelstone Police, they went there and assaulted innocent people and damaged vehicles right at a police station.

The police managed to apprehend a few of them around NRDC area but they were subsequently released without charge. At least the PF cadres that stormed Lusaka Central Police, when PF was in power, were taken to court and convicted. Additionally, during the Kabwata parliamentary by-elections nominations about three weeks ago, UPND cadres led by William Banda attacked three women who were part of the PeP Choir Group and they damaged my party bus and stole an Invertor, amplifier and one playing drum. After the attack, they didn’t even run away, they even started playing our drum right there.

The single police officer who had the courage to confront them was assaulted and his uniform torn, on accusations that he was a PF supporter. No police reinforcements came. The docket is right there at Kabwata Police and despite the fact that the assailants were identified by the victims, no one has been arrested to date. One of the PeP Choir women who was assaulted had to be admitted at Levy Mwanawasa Hospital and was five months pregnant. She subsequently miscarried.

So what is the difference between the PF cadres who attacked us in Cairo Road and the UPND cadres who attacked our women choir members in Kabwata during nominations? If you asked me I’ll tell you that the PF cadres were better because they attacked their fellow men, compared to the UPND cadres who attacked our women choir members. So you need to forgive me if I do not join the chorus that Bally has removed cadrerism and given the opposition freedoms of expression and assembly.

4. Payment of Farmers for Maize Supplied to Government Last Year: this is again a fallacy. Amid much pomp and fare, the new dawn administration announced that farmers will be paid on 3rd January 2022. Bally subsequently posted on his page that the farmers had been cleared. However it later emerged that not all farmers had been paid and there are no timelines given for payment of the remaining farmers.

The Secretary to Treasury announced that out of the approximately K1.5 billion that was owed to farmers, only about K900 million had been released leaving a balance of about K600 million. However, our sources indicate that the actual amount that was released was actually around K200 million, meaning that Government still owes as much as K1.3 billion to farmers for last years’ crop, with no timelines or commitments on when this money will be released. Clearly, there is a lot of dishonesty and lack of sincerity on the part of the new dawn administration regarding this matter.

Suffice to mention that we are talking about citizens who worked an entire year to produce that maize and that is their only source of income for the entire year which they need to use to meet their household needs.

If I was President of this country, I would not, in good conscience, go and spend weeks in America and Europe attending useless talk-shops while farmers remain unpaid. I would fail to swallow the T-bone steak that my hotel would serve me, knowing that the money am wasting overseas can help to pay one or two farmers. So forgive me if I do not join in the chorus of believing that Bally paying K200 million out of the K1.5 billion owed to farmers is an accomplishment that I should congratulate him on.

5. Fight Against Corruption: So far, Bally’s fight against corruption is laced with a lot of sensationalism. And for some of us who have been around the block for a while, we cannot help but be reminded of Mwanawasa’s sensational fight against corruption which saw a Task Force being created and staffed by his lawyer friends who walked away with billions of Kwacha’s of taxpayers’s money.

So far I see a pattern whereby false information on the corruption fight is leaked to News Diggers who paste it all over the place only to turn out not to be true, meanwhile the objective of alarming the public would have been achieved.

This was the case with the reported alleged use of the Presidential Challenger Plane to carry US dollars from Turkey as well as the reported 49 properties allegedly owned by Bowman in Lusaka, which reduced to four properties the day after the sensational News Diggers headline.

So far I see a pattern whereby false information on the corruption fight is leaked to News Diggers who paste it all over the place only to turn out not to be true, meanwhile the objective of alarming the public would have been achieved.

Some of us see through these matters and we are not going to be hoodwinked by this marriage between the new dawn and News Diggers which appears to be aimed at exaggerating the successes in the fight against corruption.

Of course, like any well-meaning citizen, I want the perpetrators of national looting to be prosecuted and the money recovered, but that has to be done in a sober manner free from any malice or personal vendettas. My idea of a successful corruption fight is actual convictions and not just arrests.

Anyone can allege and arrest, but the truth of the pudding lies in the conviction. So again forgive me if I do not join in the chorus of believing that the new dawn administration has scored successes in the fight against corruption. Until such a time that am convinced that Bally’s fight against corruption is different from Mwanawasa’s and that it is not laced with malice and vengeance, I will not be ready to give him a pat on the back.

6. So it appears that we are back to square one. I am really itching to be a benevolent opposition leader and I genuinely want to say something nice about the new dawn administration, but my only handicap is that I am unable to identify anything good that Bally and his new dawn administration have done so far. But I am an open-minded person.

I am fully aware that I am fallible. It is possible that I might not have seen the good things that the new dawn administration has achieved so far, and so am appealing to all those who might have better eyes than mine to share with me any accomplishments of the new dawn administration so far.

Because from where I stand, Bally has zero accomplishments to his name. Unless one wants to argue that getting an IMF bailout loan is an accomplishment, or increasing fuel prices is an accomplishment, or engaging in voyages of discovery across the globe is an accomplishment, or paying 30 pensioners out of approximately 227,000 pensioners is an accomplishment, or appointing party members into the civil service is an accomplishment, or giving student loans to 2,000 out of 10,000 eligible university students is free education or refusing to shift to Nkwazi house because it is below his standards is an accomplishment, or having a 34 member cabinet when he condemned bloated cabinets when he was in opposition is an accomplishment, or paying farmers K200 million out of the outstanding K1.5 billion is an accomplishment, or giving mining houses a defacto tax holiday when copper prices are at an all-time high of above $11,000 per metric tonne is an accomplishment, or planning to privatize Indeni and Zesco is an accomplishment, or giving the police a shoot-to-kill order while on the other hand claiming to be a Christian nation that does not carry out the death penalty is an accomplishment, or awarding an exorbitant fertilizer contract to the husband of your cabinet minister who then fails to deliver after being paid 100 percent upfront is an accomplishment, or appointing an archaic finance minister who believes that fuel price increments will not affect the youth because they don’t drive is an accomplishment?

Please do share with me any of the new dawn administration’s accomplishments so that I may have something nice to say about Bally and his government. I very much want to be a benevolent opposition leader, so please help me to become one.

ACC are telling lies, I don’t own 15 properties-Amos Chanda

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ACC are telling lies, I don’t own 15 properties-Amos Chanda

Former State House Press Aide, Amos Chanda has refuted reports by the Anti-corruption Commission that he was warned and cautioned in connection with being in possession of fifteen (15) properties reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.

In a statement released to the media, Mr. Chanda said that he does not have the 15 properties they have lied about and challenged ACC to name these Properties title by title, location by location, and physical addresses.

Mr. Chanda further revealed that when he got to ACC offices, he was presented with a list of over 30 properties and mining licenses that they alleged belonged to him, but chose to exercise his right to remain silent because, of all the properties, he could only recognize four title deeds in his name, two of which are developed and the others are just bare land acquired from the ministry of lands and various councils.

Below is the full statement

I have read with utter shock that the ACC spokesperson Queen Chibwe has continued with a pattern of obnoxious lies since the commission’s illegal raids on me on October 27, 2021.

I can confirm that today, the ACC summoned me and presented me with a list of over 30 properties and mining licenses that they alleged belonged to me.

I exercised my right to remain silent because of all those properties I could only recognize four title deeds in my name, two of which are developed and the others are just bare land acquired from the ministry of lands and various councils.

The interrogators assured me that they took note of my position and that no statement would be issued over the matter until they verify ownership.

During this interview, the ACC also “donated” three properties to me located in Roma Park, Lusaka. They told me that I owned the double-storey buildings in Roma Park and they wanted to know the value. I told them I don’t know the value of the properties I did not own,  so they can ask the owners.

I neither have the 15 properties they have lied about and so I challenge them to name these Properties title by title, location by location, and physical addresses.

It is a shame that a state institution would have no shame to lie. I have always said ACC must present their case before a competent court but it appears they enjoy malicious attacks on my integrity.

Properties have addresses such as road name, title number and towns where they are located. Please name these items and present the matter before a judge so we can prove our innocence.

The commission also asked how I afford school fees for my two children who at Baobab College and the one who completed in Grade 12 at St Mary’s last year.

They also asked what my salary was at Zambia Daily Mail, London Mission, and State House. They asked me about 25 cows at the farm, 43 goats, and 50 cows in Namwaala.

This is the summary of the proceeding of today, not the lies Queen is telling. They asked me about bank loans and relationships with at least six people I have neither met nor have knowledge of whatsoever.

I will seek legal advice about this pattern of lies.

Bowman Lusambo Arrested and Charged for being in possession of property suspiciously acquired

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Bowman Lusambo Arrested and Charged for being in possession of property suspiciously acquired

The Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested and charged former Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo for corrupt practices.
The Commission has also recorded a Warn and Caution statement from former State House Press Aide, Amos Chanda.

Mr. Lusambo, 45, of Chamba Valley area in Lusaka, has been charged with four (4) counts of being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to section 71 (1) of the forfeiture of proceeds of crime act no. 19 of 2010.

He has also been charged with two counts of concealment of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime, contrary to section 71 (1) of the forfeiture of proceeds of crime act no. 19 of 2010.

Details in the four (4) counts of possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime are that between 1st day of May 2015 and the 31st day of December, 2021, in Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces, he was in possession of property number f/609/e/44/13/9, property number Ndo/ln_77505/1, property number Masai/ln_1005309/1, and property number Palab/ln_73112/17.

The above properties are reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.

Details in the two (2) counts of concealment of property reasonably to be proceeds of crime are that Mr Lusambo, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, on dates unknown but between the 1st day of May 2015 and the 31st day of December 2021, in the Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces of the Republic of Zambia, did conceal property number Masai/ln_100328/218 disguised in the name of Mbachi Nkwazi and property number Ndo/ln_1004844/191 disguised in the name of Gatbro International Limited.

The properties are reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime. Mr Lusambo has since been released on bond and will appear in court soon.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chanda was warned and cautioned in connection with being in possession of fifteen (15) properties reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.

ZCTU welcomes Government Policy not to separate Married Couples in Civil Service through Transfers

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ZCTU welcomes Government Policy not to separate Married Couples in Civil Service through Transfers

The Zambia Congress of Trade Union has welcomed the government decision of reuniting all married couples within the public service and local government who were separated from their families on account of transfers.

Acting Secretary to Cabinet Patrick Kangwa has announced through a Circular that married couples working in public service, Judiciary, and local government should not be separated on account of transfers.

ZCTU President Chishimba Nkole said that reuniting couples is timely and will bring stability in families that were on the verge of collapsing due to distance.

Mr. Nkole said the development will increase productivity among civil servants as they will not be worried about traveling to meet their spouses.

He has however urged the government to ensure that transfers should not result in some civil servants ending up being demoted due to lack of positions in some areas.

Yesterday, the Government directed all Ministries, Provinces, and Spending Agencies that transfers of officers in the public service should not separate family units, henceforth.

Acting Secretary to Cabinet Patrick Kangwa says the government has decided that married couples working within the Public Service, Judiciary, and Local Government Service, should not be separated on account of transfers.

Mr. Kangwa says this is important in order to address issues of low productivity, broken families and also to uphold the existing national values and principles, among others.

In a Cabinet circular minute number 2022 to various offices, Mr. Kangwa said addressees must advise the affected officers, who are interested in re-uniting with their families, to apply for possible transfers through their respective Service Commissions or relevant authorities for consideration.

Expedite the process of establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Division of the High Court

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Expedite the process of establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Division of the High Court

ActionAid Zambia has called for a process of establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Division of the High Court to be expedited.

ActionAid Zambia country director Nalucha has noted with concern the increase in cases of economic and financial crimes, reports of unaccounted for public resources, failure to follow procurement procedures and taxpayers’ money mismanaged and embezzled year-in-year out as highlighted in the Auditor General’s reports and the Financial Intelligence Centre reports.

Ms. Ziba said that the creation of the economic and financial crimes court is long overdue, adding that the government must also consider strengthening investigative wings on the management of financial crimes.

Ms. Ziba further said that ActionAid Zambia continues to recommend and support the need to review and holistically implement the Public Finance Management Act, amendment of the Anti-corruption Act of 2021, the introduction and actualizing the lifestyle audit practice among public officers, and the domestication of the International Conventions on Anti-Corruption to enhance the fight against financial crimes.

Conflict in Mozambique has the potential to directly affect Zambia if left unchecked-HH

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Conflict in Mozambique has the potential to directly affect Zambia if left unchecked-HH

President Hakainde Hichilema has warned that the conflict in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province has the potential to directly affect Zambia if left unchecked.

President Hichilema spoke on arrival back home after attending an Extraordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit of Heads of State and Government in Lilongwe, Malawi that mainly looked at the security situation in Cabo Delgado Province.

President Hichilema and his entourage landed in Lusaka around 19:00 hours via the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) base and was received by service chiefs.

The Head of State hailed SADC for its commitment to peace, stability and security in the region and for mobilising its own resources in combating terrorism in Cabo Delgado.

“We just concluded the Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), which considered the report of the Organ Troika Summit plus Personnel Contributing Countries (PCCs) to Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province,” President Hichilema posted on his official facebook page after the summit.

“The Summit among other matters conveyed deep condolences and sympathies to the Countries and families of personnel who lost their lives while on tour of duty to the SADC Mission in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province. We also applauded SADC for its unequivocal commitment to peace, stability and security in the region and for mobilising its own resources in combating terrorism in Cabo Delgado, which we acknowledged was unprecedented in Africa,” he said.

“The Summit further commended the Government of the Republic of Mozambique for its initiative in implementing the Cabo Delgado Reconstruction Plan, to ease the suffering of the people of Mozambique. The Summit reaffirmed its unflinching support and commitment to ensuring that peace and stability returned to Mozambique in order for the people of that country to live sustainable livelihoods,” President Hichilema said.

The summit chaired by SADC Chairperson and Malawi’s President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera was attended by DR Congo leader Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, Mozambique’s Filipe Jacinto Nyusi and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.

According to the SADC Communiqué, the summit considered the report of the Organ Troika Summit plus Personnel Contributing Countries (PCCs) and the Republic of Mozambique held on 11 January, 2022 and commended the SAMIM leadership and the troops for conducting successful operations and for the achievements recorded since the deployment of the Mission in July 2021.

The summit further commended Member States that have provided personnel, equipment and financial support, as well as making additional pledges towards the deployment of the SADC Mission in Mozambique for their commitment to regional peace and security and especially the enormous sacrifice made despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economies.

The summit approved the Framework for Support to the Republic of Mozambique in addressing terrorism which outlines, among others, actions for consolidating peace, security and socio-economic recovery of the Cabo Delgado Province.

The meeting noted the good progress made since the deployment of the SADC Mission in Mozambique and extended its mandate with associated budgetary implications, and that it will continue to monitor the situation going forwards.

Summit acknowledged the expression of gratitude to SADC by the Government of the Republic of Mozambique for the continued regional support to Mozambique to combat acts of terrorism and violent extremism in some districts of Cabo Delgado Province, despite the limited resources and the current challenges imposed by the COVID 19 Pandemic.

Summit welcomed the initiative of convening an International Conference to support the economic and social reconstruction of Cabo Delgado Province, and called upon the international cooperating partners to support the initiative.

Cut of my Head if we change our UPND Candidate for Kabwata By Elections, says Katuka

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Cut of my Head if we change our UPND Candidate for Kabwata By Elections, says Katuka

United Party for National Development (UPND) national chairman Steven Katuka has dismissed as nonsensical insinuations by some political opponents that the party wants to change its Kabwata parliamentary candidate because Andrew Tayengwa is unpopular.

Mr. Katuka who spoke to QFM radio station accused the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) of spreading the propaganda because it is scared of the UPND candidate, and has since offered to have his head cut off if the party changes its Kabwata parliamentary candidate Andrew Tayengwa.

Mr. Katuka said that the party did its homework before adopting Mr. Tayengwa and that the party is ready to accept the outcome of the by-election as it has done in the past elections.

Mr Katuka is, however, optimistic that the party will emerge victorious once the election is held.

And Christian Coalition president Charles Mwape has charged that any political party that will change its candidate for the Kabwata by-election should be held responsible for the cancellation of the by-election.

Professor Mwape said that reports suggesting the change of candidate are unfortunate and should not be tolerated and recommended that going forward, any political party whose candidate withdrawal from the race should be given the responsibility of printing the ballot papers and paying fresh nomination fees.

United Progressive Party –UPP- Kabwata parliamentary candidate Francis Libanda
United Progressive Party –UPP- Kabwata parliamentary candidate Francis Libanda

Meanwhile, former United Progressive People (UPP) Kabwata parliamentary candidate Francis Libanda has rubbished accusations suggesting that was paid by the ruling UPND to withdraw from the by-election, a move that necessitated the cancellation of the election by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

Mr. Libanda said that as much as he regrets the cost implications of his action to the nation, especially that the ballot papers have arrived in the country, at no time in his life has he been associated with the UPND which is being accused of paying him to withdraw from the race.

Speaking when he addressed a media briefing in Lusaka today, Mr. Libanda said that the decision to withdraw from the race was born out of his desire to have a clean conscience, stating that it beats his conscience to think that he should have participated in an election process that is shrouded in corruption.

Mr. Libanda said that the reason he pulled out is that one of the candidates was reported to the drug enforcement commission (DEC) by his political party official for money laundering, while another candidate his own party officials questioned his credentials, to the extent of petitioning his adoption to contest the by-election.

Kitwe Catholic Priest Rev. Fr. Collins Chileshe Chansa put to rest

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Kitwe Catholic Priest Rev. Fr. Collins Chileshe Chansa put to rest

Kitwe Catholic Priest Rev. Fr. Collins Chileshe Chansa who was found dead in his room on Monday has been buried today at Francisdale Cemetery in Fatima, Ndola.

Fr. Chansa, 61, is said to have died 24 hours prior to being discovered dead.

Three Catholic Bishops, several Priests, Religious Sisters and brothers were among the mourners.

The funeral procession started with Mass in the Fatima Secondary School Chapel at Francisdale Mission in Ndola before mourners proceeded to the cemetery – located just meters away from the school.

Ndola Diocese Bishop Benjamin Phiri led mourners during funeral Mass he celebrated together with Solwezi Diocese Bishop Charles Kasonde and Mpika Diocese Bishop Edwin Mulandu.

In his preaching, Bishop Phiri, a Canon Lawyer, said death was a way of going to God.

Bishop Phiri further thanked Bishop Mulandu, Bishop Kasonde, Priests, Religious Sisters and all mourners for mourning Fr. Chansa.

“We ask God in this Eucharist that he may look kindly upon our brother Collins who has gone into heaven, that he may be compassionate with him, forgive him those things he did not do well and look more on the things he did do well,” Bishop Phiri said.

“I am particularly grateful to my brother Bishops in spite of the Covid; they came physically to be present here. I have received condolences from all the Bishops,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bishop Mulandu has paid tribute to Fr. Chansa, whom he said inspired him to become a Priest.

Bishop Mulandu recalled how he served as an altar boy under Fr. Chansa in the late 1980s in Kitwe prior to going for Priestly studies.

“Fr. Chansa touched many lives in various ways. Allow in my reflection to focus on his special care for the young people, the youths because I am one of those whose life as a priest touched as a young person,” Bishop Mulandu said.

“I am proud to say I was his altar boy and it was during this time that I was inspired to become a priest by this young, energetic friendly priest of about 26 years old,” he said.

Meanwhile, at the time of his death Fr. Chansa was preparing to open a Psycho-Social Counseling Centre of the Diocese at Mount Olivet in Mufulira.

Fr. Chansa last August celebrated his 36th Priesthood Anniversary.

The charismatic Priest was born on 25th April, 1960 in Luanshya.

Fr. Chansa served at several Parishes and Diocesan institutions among them Mount Olivet Minor Seminary in Mufulira, St. Joseph – Itawa Parish, St. Francis Parish in Kalulushi, Pamodzi Parish in Ndola, Kwacha- Bulangililo Parish in Kitwe and St. Peter’s Ipusukilo Parish in Kitwe.

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