Maravi

DPP drops espionage case against Sata

DPP drops espionage case against Sata
By Mwala Kalaluka
Thu 23 Sep. 2010, 08:10 CAT

DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga has dropped a 2005 High Court Espionage case against PF leader Michael Sata, which involved planting of explosives at Konkola Copper Mine in Chililabombwe. This is in a matter where Sata stood charged of Espionage, contrary to Section 3 (d) of the State Security Chapter 111 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence were that Sata between June 30, 2005 and July 21, 2005 in Chililabombwe on the Copperbelt, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown and for purposes prejudicial to the interests of the Republic of Zambia did without lawful excuse counsel or procure miners at Chililabombwe, Konkola Copper Mines 590 m level to plant explosives, an act which was likely to interfere with carrying on of mining, a necessary service.

On August 15, 2005, Mchenga had stated that pursuant to the powers vested in him by Section 254 of the Criminal Procedure Code, he certified that the above was a proper case for trial by the High Court as a Summary Procedure case.

But in response to correspondence from Sata’s lawyers, Ellis and Company, which date from as far back as December 12, 2005, Mchenga in his latest letter dated September 20, 2010 stated that the Espionage charge against Sata had been dropped.

“I write to advise that the above captioned case will not be cause-listed because I have decided to drop the charge against him,” Mchenga stated.

Mchenga was responding to several letters from Ellis and Company Legal Practitioners where they requested that Sata’s Espionage case should be cause-listed for the next available criminal session or that Mchenga having issued a certificate for the matter to proceed into summary trial, should advise whether the state intended to proceed with the prosecution of the case.



http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=13945

Rupiah turned Parliament into a campaign ground – Madyenkunku
By George Chellah
Wed 22 Sep. 2010, 04:01 CAT

SYACHEYE Madyenkuku yesterday said President Rupiah Banda’s recent speech to Parliament compromises the stature and status of the House.

And PF vice-president Guy Scott said President Banda broke the rules of Parliament and his speech will have an unfortunate effect on the debate.

Commenting on President Banda’s speech during the official opening of the National Assembly last week, Madyenkuku, who is also PF vice chairman for mobilization, described President Banda’s address as unfortunate.

“It compromises the stature and status of that sacred House. Parliament is a very sacred House where you discuss only matters of legislation and promulgation of government policies sincerely,”
Madyenkuku said.

“Now we are seeing a situation where Parliament is being turned into a campaign football ground. What will stop others from using Parliament as a political battlefield? We send those people for serious business.”

He said Parliament was not a launch pad for political campaigns.

“Parliament is supposed to be used as a platform for projecting government activities in the next 12 months and give a vision to the country of what is expected. If a campaign has to be part of that speech it must be not so obvious,” Madyenkuku said.

“You can’t go out that plainly and declare…basically he has declared his campaign for 2011. You don’t do that in Parliament. To make the opening of Parliament an election campaign launch means that even the government will lose concentration.

“The focus will be on the campaigns even the civil service will not have any serious supervision because the executive is now focusing on the campaigns. The ministers have already taken a cue from the President that ‘now you go out and campaign’.”

He said future Presidents must desist from using the opening of Parliament as an open political battlefield.

“Fortunately, this is going to be the last time he President Banda is going to address Parliament before elections are called,” Madyenkuku said.

“It’s obvious and indications are that the opposition are forming government next year.”

And Scott said President Banda was campaigning.

“Most people have said the obvious about his speech, obvious in the sense that he was breaking the rules. Parliament is not a rally ground, the President’s speech is supposed to be like a Queen’s speech in the British Parliament. You give a preview of legislation but that’s not what he did,” Scott said.

“He basically started boasting about his achievements, denying any mistakes and denying corruption. He was campaigning. It will have an unfortunate effect on the debate, which is coming now, which is the debate on the motion of thanks for the President’s speech because everyone is going to be campaigning now.”

He said even the President’s published speech contained jokes about named people.
He said President Banda admitted that the agricultural marketing system was not adequate.

“That’s in complete contrast to what the government said when Mapatizya UPND member of parliament Ackson Sejani and myself introduced a motion urging the government to sort out the agricultural marketing system. The MMD killed the motion saying ‘we have got very adequate agricultural marketing system so there is no point’. But here is Banda himself saying we are consulting,” he said.

Scott said there was nothing new in President Banda’s speech.
“The rest of the speech is stuff we have heard, it’s songs we have heard before,” said Scott.

On Friday last week during the official opening of the fifth session of the tenth National Assembly in Lusaka, President Banda disclosed that he had hired a personal physical trainer in preparation for the 2011 election campaigns.

He said since the election would not be for the faint hearted, it was important to prepare himself physically.

“Let me share a little secret with this August House. I have recently hired a personal physical trainer and intend to be fighting fit for the campaign year. I urge all members to do likewise, though through proper fitness and not by having domestic fights,” said President Banda.

“2011 will not be for the faint hearted. I will fight to win this election so that I can continue to fight to win for Zambia. We have set the foundations, now is the time to build a stronger Zambia.”

Labels: CHALWE MCHENGA, CORRUPTION, DPP, MICHAEL SATA

posted by MrK @ 5:51 PM