Desist from fraud, DRC envoy advises border personnel
By Sandra Lombe
Monday April 02, 2007 [04:00]
DRC Ambassador to Zambia Johnson Wa Binana has advised people working in border posts to desist from engaging in fraudulent activities. And Ambassador Wa Binana said the Congolese Embassy had written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Zambia to explain the misconception on the ban of exportation of copper concentrates following several concerns from people.
Ambassador Wa Binana, who toured Sable Zinc Mine, which treats copper concentrates for Congo’s Ruashi Mine on Friday, said it was important for people working at border posts to follow the law in their operations.
Recently, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) banned the exportation of copper concentrates from Katanga Province so that the products could be processed within that country.
The situation caused a delay in the clearing of trucks at Kasumbalesa border.
Ambassador Wa Binana emphasised the closure of the three borders - Lonshi, Sakanya and Kasumbalesa - was aimed at allowing the government to break the bridge of corruption.
“People working in border posts should work clearly and not get involved in fraud. Even those clearing should work according to regulations stipulated,” he said.
However, Ambassador Wa Binana also emphasised that people should understand that the decision to ban the exportation of ore was not aimed at punishing Zambians.
He said the new system of control in border posts was not an individual’s idea.
Ambassador Wa Binana said there was needed to respect countries.
“The relationship of Zambia and Congo will continue normally but everyone should respect the others’ wants,” he said. “I have been receiving a lot of calls even from diplomats asking, they didn’t understand. People got their own thinking. Katanga governor Moses Katumbi was democratically elected he belongs to the majority of people that belong to the President, the decision came from there.
“Katumbi is just putting into practice what was agreed on. It did not come from his mind and it was not his decision.”
Ambassador Wa Binana said to achieve some of the targets there was need to fight corruption first.
He said the relationship between the two countries was very good and should be maintained.
He also said the Embassy had explained the matter regarding the ban on exportation of copper concentrates to the foreign affairs ministry.
Ambassador Wa Binana said over 90 per cent of ore left the country illegally and that the DRC government just wanted to control the situation.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24645
Dr Beyani urges people to demand new constitution
By Nomusa Michelo
Monday April 02, 2007 [04:00]
UNIVERSITY of Zambia (UNZA) lecturer Dr Cholwe Beyani has said democracy is a necessary ingredient for development and peace. During a Newsmakers Forum organised by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post in Kafue on Saturday, Dr Beyani called on Zambians to press government for a new constitution through any legal and political means necessary.
He said without a good constitution, the existing flawed electoral process would continue to undermine democracy.
“If the electoral process is flawed, then democracy is at risk,” he said. “Democracy is a necessary ingredient for development and peace. We need a system that will give us free and fair elections.”
Dr Beyani said under the current laws, elections in Zambia were free but not fair. “Our concern is that the electoral process is not yet fair, it may be free, but it is not yet fair,” he said.
Dr Beyani said the demand for 50 per cent plus one vote, was crucial so that the Republican President could be popularly elected.
“This has been the basic demand of the people, this is not a new issue,” he said. “You cannot have a President who is not voted in by the majority of the people.”
Dr Beyani said even the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which had its first democratic elections recently was way ahead of Zambia, as they had a run off election and resolved all contentious issues before the winner was announced President.
He said it was only greed, selfishness, corruption and lack of a clear vision for the nation that made the government blind to the people’s demand for the 50 per cent plus one vote amendment.
And Dr Beyani said the free education policy introduced by the government had no legal backing.
He also said it was possible to enshrine economic, cultural and social rights in the constitution if the people of Zambia demanded it.
And Kafue ward MMD councillor Guffar Hussein said the government would not rush to give people a constitution, which would only be changed by the next government.
“A constitution must outlive us. It should remain even when we are gone,” Hussein said. “If we want one constitution that will last, let us have a proper one. Let us do it properly.”
Youth activist Cornelius Mweetwa called on Zambians to de-politicise the demand for a new constitution.
Mweetwa said it was important for all citizens to put aside their political differences and fight for a common cause - the constitution.
“Let us not allow the demand for a new constitution appear to be championed by politicians, rendering it a political document,” he said. “Although it is a political document, it is our hope for economic development.”
And responding to a comment made earlier by Hussein that the draft constitution was a good document which the government would implement, Mweetwa agreed that the draft was a good document which encompassed the demands of the Zambians people, but stated that in 1996, the Mwanakatwe Commission came up with an equally good draft, but the product was the amended constitution the country has today.
Mweetwa also thanked The Post for sustaining debate on the constitution.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24658
Tsvangirai sees new hope on Zimbabwe crisis
By Reuters
Monday April 02, 2007 [14:37]
Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said a new African push could help solve his country's political crisis and he would participate in elections in 2008 if they were guaranteed to be free and fair.
Tsvangirai, who became a symbol of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's harsh rule after he was badly beaten in police custody last month, said African leaders had made progress on Zimbabwe at a regional summit in Tanzania last week.
"I think it is a positive step," Tsvangirai told journalists on Monday in Johannesburg, where he was seeking medical attention for a suspected skull fracture.
"The fact that the whole region had to convene an extraordinary session to discuss Zimbabwe is recognition of the depth of the crisis."
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit last week appointed South African President Thabo Mbeki to steer a new initiative aimed at starting talks between Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
While Mbeki has had little luck in earlier mediation attempts in Zimbabwe, political analysts say the country's deep economic crisis combined with regional pressure may push the two sides to the bargaining table.
Tsvangirai said he had "no doubt" that Mbeki would act with the full backing of SADC and that this could lend the initiative new force.
(For the latest international news, click on the World News link)
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