Mujuru wants Zim to adopt Yuan
by Staff Reporter
06/09/2010 00:00:00
VICE President Joice Mujuru said Monday that Zimbabwe should consider adopting the Chinese Yuan, in line with the country’s policy of using multiple currencies to tackle hyperinflation. Mujuru said China is now Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner, with the Asian giant absorbing most of the country’s mineral and agricultural produce.
“Adopting the Chinese Yuan would be a logical step and could help solve some of the country’s liquidity constraints,” Mujuru was quoted as saying by South Africa’s 702 Talk Radio.
The multiple currency regime announced in January 2009 has been fraught with difficulties. Retailers are supposed to accept the Euro and the British Pound but those two currencies have never caught on, with most transactions being conducted in United States dollars, the South African rand and the Botswana Pula.
Shops have also struggled with change, forcing Finance Minister Tendai Biti to announce plans to import foreign smaller denomination notes and coins. Retailers have resorted to asking shoppers to take other goods in lieu of their change.
In some cases shoppers are given a "credit note" instead of their change when buying goods. The credit note can be redeemed for more goods later but only in the same shop.
Recent reports claimed some people had taken to washing dirty US$1 bills, worn-out from over-use to improve their appearance.
With the export sector still trying to recover from a decade-long economic crisis and the hoped-for windfalls from foreign donors not materialising, Zimbabwe has been hit by a liquidity crisis.
Finance Minister Biti last week said the multiple currency regime would remain in place until 2012 when ministers hope it would be replaced by a single currency for the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).
Labels: CURRENCY, JOICE MUJURU, YUAN
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Listen to Mineworkers Union of Zambia
By The Post
Tue 07 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
THE comments by Mineworkers Union of Zambia general secretary Oswell Munyenyembe deserve to be reflected on seriously. A government that does not listen to its people and ignores their sentiments on matters that affect them is courting trouble.
This seems to be the route on which Rupiah Banda is firmly entrenched. Rupiah has made it very clear by his actions and inactions that he is not in government to listen to what the people have to say and to deliver on their wishes.
We say this because the amount of arrogance and disregard for the interest of our people in many of the things that Rupiah claims to be doing for our benefit is startling.
Rupiah seems determined to mortgage our country in such a way that our children will remain slaves and serfs tied to the whims of international capital for generations to come. Rupiah does not seem concerned that some of the actions that he is taking are actually not sustainable but a recipe for strife and disaster in years to come.
Rupiah has the worrying obstinacy of an ignorant man who decides he knows everything and everybody must listen to him. It would be okay if Rupiah was being obstinate about leading the country in the right direction for the benefit of all. But that is not the case. It is very clear that the stubborn positions that Rupiah takes rarely, if ever, have anything to do with public interest.
It’s a question of doing deals. And what is more unacceptable is that personal or family interests are always in the vicinity of what should be serious government decisions. Rupiah now lacks the credibility to make decisions that can be trusted because of his public commitment towards patronage, nepotism, added to which is his government’s determined attempt to legalise abuse of office.
It cannot be denied that the government by its very nature is a difficult undertaking. Indeed, it is an undertaking that requires those who run it to sometimes make decisions that will not please everyone. This is understood.
But it becomes scandalous, if a government chooses for its mode of operation, conduct that readily opens it to suspicion and accusations of corruption and other forms of abuse of power.
But this is exactly what Rupiah has done. It is next to impossible to find any government decision, of an economic nature, that can be said to have been done solely in the public interest.
There is always this or that interest being served. Rupiah seems to have fully adopted Frederick Chiluba’s criminal commandist grip over the economy, where everything was run from State House. This is what opened Chiluba to the problems that he has faced.
The presidency by its nature commands a lot of power and unless one is very disciplined, the path to its abuse and consequent self-destruction is astonishingly easy for a president given our current constitutional arrangement. There’s virtually no check on the powers of the president. He reigns supreme as long as he remains in office.
But the powers of the president can also be a force for good if they are exercised with public interest and public good as the guiding principle.
Such an approach would also have to accept the principle that the powers the president holds are held in trust for the people and not meant for his or her illicit benefit. A president who thinks that the powers he holds are for his benefit and his family and friends is destined for disgrace. And this is what we see with Rupiah.
The propensity to use government power for personal benefit is what has eroded the confidence of our people in the decisions of the government. This is why we said the words of Mineworkers Union of Zambia general secretary Munyenyembe require some reflection.
What Munyenyembe and the Mineworkers Union of Zambia are concerned about is something that should bother a government that works in the public interest. For a while now, the Mineworkers Union of Zambia have been expressing concerns about a number of issues which suggest that they are not convinced that their government is making decisions taking into account the consequences on the welfare of their members and future generations.
Rupiah and his friends appear prepared to settle for very little whilst giving away a lot to some so-called foreign investors. Investment is not a bad thing in itself. If anything, it is important. But investment that robs our people of their dignity and endangers their enjoyment of their heritage is destructive.
The decisions that are being made should take into account the feelings of our people. This is because these decisions are supposedly made on their behalf. It is our people who will have to live with the consequences of Rupiah’s decisions long after it is forgotten that Rupiah was president.
Rupiah does not appear concerned at all about the consequences of his decisions. Our people are traditionally very welcoming to foreigners but this should not be taken for granted. There’s an increasing feeling that some of the foreigners who are coming to invest in our country are insensitive to the feelings of our people and dismissive of the contributions that they make.
It is these things that make Mineworkers Union of Zambia and others concerned about the deals that Rupiah and his government are making with all sorts of investors that are going to impact on the mining sector. Investment that is going to increase tension and polarisation in our country, although lucrative, according to Rupiah, needs to be weighed and weighed very carefully.
We already have problems with Chinese investment in our country. Many of our people are concerned about the way that the government seems prepared to mortgage our economy to our Chinese friends.
There’s nothing wrong with Chinese investment per se. It is the government that seems to do very little to ensure that this type of investment works in the interests of our people, especially those that are employed in the sectors that the investment targets.
Rupiah and his friends need to do more to ensure those that are coming to invest realise that good relations with our people are as important as a return on their investment. Bad relations with our people do not only endanger their investment but also our nation. An unhappy labour force is not a good guarantee for people and tranquillity.
It is only a matter of time before things get out of hand. This is what Rupiah and his friends should bear in mind as they celebrate this or that investment. They must ask themselves: how does this affect our people?
It is wrong for Rupiah and his government to accuse the Mineworkers Union of Zambia of being used by the opposition when they express their concerns about the quality of investors that government is attracting to our country.
If Rupiah and his friends were interested in doing what is in the public interest, they would take the concerns raised by the labour unions and use them to negotiate proper investment packages that address the demands of the people.
But this is not how Rupiah and his friends behave when they negotiate on behalf of our country. Instead of fighting to get the best possible deals, the best possible agreements, they behave like regional managers for the so-called investors and do everything to ensure that the investors get everything they want.
They are not even prepared to argue for a comma in the agreements if it benefits our people. Rupiah’s behaviour is endangering our country’s future independence. His ignorance has deluded him into believing that he is in control when he is daily ceding our independence to forces that he has no control over.
This is why he can even go so far as to tell donors, who are trying to help our people, to go away. This man has no clue and no idea of what is happening in his own country.
Labels: LABOUR, LABOUR DAY, MUZ, NEOCOLONIALISM, OSWELL MUNYENYEMBE
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Munyenyembe accuses govt of intimidating MUZ
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Tue 07 Sep. 2010, 04:30 CAT
MINEWORKERS Union of Zambia (MUZ) General Secretary Oswell Munyenyembe has accused the government of intimidating the union whenever it speaks out on issues affecting miners.
In an interview, Munyenyembe said MUZ was taken aback that
whenever they raised issues affecting miners, the government accused them of being used by the opposition.
He said it was sad that despite the various concerns raised by MUZ as regards the bringing of Vale, a Brazilian mining giant to start operating
in Zambia, the government had disregarded those concerns.
“We are taken aback that when we raise these issues, we are being intimidated by government. They are saying that we are being used by the opposition but do we need the opposition to tell us that miners are being mistreated?” Munyenyembe wondered.
He said MUZ’s views and concerns about Vale remained unchanged because the company had been mistreating workers in places where they were
already operating in other countries.
Munyenyembe said MUZ had information that Vale would be operating 50 per cent of Konkola North mine and that they had already began constructing a concentrator.
“As MUZ, our position on Vale is the same. Vale has no regard for workers’ rights. In Voiseyday where they are operating, they have even sued the president of a local union there for saying that they are treating workers like second class citizens,” he said. “In Canada, there is an indigenous tribe which Vale pays lower than others.”
Munyenyembe said Vale’s record was so bad that even when it came to compensating workers Vale always wanted to pay less.
“Now imagine if this comes to Zambia! Government does not listen to advice,” he said.
Munyenyembe said MUZ would see to it that Vale treats Zambian miners with respect and dignity.
Labels: LABOUR, MUZ, OSWELL MUNYENYEMBE
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Carnival Furnishers sues Changwe over K8m debt
By Maluba Jere
Tue 07 Sep. 2010, 11:20 CAT
CARNIVAL Furnishers has dragged gender deputy minister Lucy Changwe to court for failing to pay about K8 million for furniture she got on hire purchase.
According to an affidavit in support of default writ of summons, Carnival Furnishers Manda Hill branch manager Edward Tembo stated that at the commencement of the court action, Changwe was and still truly and justly indebted to Carnival Furnishers in the sum of K8,039,058.86 as at May 31, 2010.
Tembo stated that the right ownership of the goods supplied and delivered by Carnival to Changwe, will only pass to her upon full payment or settlement of all the sums payable by her in terms of the said hire purchase agreement entered into.
He explained that Carnival Furnishers reserved the right to reposes and sell or dispose of the goods supplied and delivered to Changwe to satisfy the outstanding debt in full or in part and defray incidental costs and expenses.
Tembo averred that despite repeated demands both verbally and in writing by a demand letter dated June, 9, 2010, Changwe has refused, failed and or neglected to settle the outstanding debt.
He claims that Changwe has no bonafide defence at law or at will to Carnival Furnishers’ claim, saying judgment should be entered against her over the said debt.
And court records indicate that Changwe was on June 29, 2010 served with the summons stating that “judgment may be obtained against you and enforced without further notice unless within 15 days of the service of this summons, inclusive of the day of service, you pay the total amount of the claim and costs to the plaintiff or his solicitors send to court, with a copy for the plaintiff or his solicitors on admission, defence or counter claim for which the attached form should be used.”
And in a notice for entry of judgment, Lusaka senior resident magistrate David Simusamba on August 9, 2010 ordered Changwe to pay Carnival Furnishers the money she owes plus interest at the current bank rates.
“Take notice that judgment was entered on the 9th day of August 2010 in favour of the plaintiff Carnival Furnishers in the sum of K8,039.058.86 which interest thereon at current bank lending rates from the 31st May 2010 until full payment and K3,810,000.00 being in respect of costs of the action herein,” stated magistrate Simusamba.
Labels: EDWARD TEMBO, LUCY CHANGWE
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Accessible to justice system is the foundation of every democratic state – Dr Fee
By Kombe Chimpinde
Tue 07 Sep. 2010, 15:01 CAT
A functioning, fair and accessible system of justice is the foundation of every democratic state, the European Union (EU) has said. And the Danish government has said it is not impressed with the pace of improvements been made the Justice system of the Country.
Speaking at the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding for financial support of the Zambia justice service over the next three years between government and the three cooperating partners amounting to a total of US $11.35 million under the Support to Access to Justice programme, EU head of delegation Derrick Fee said that the European Union strongly values the independence of the judiciary.
“As we are convinced that it is only by ensuring that the judiciary is politically independent from the legislative and executive powers that it can enhance its legitimacy in the eyes of the Zambian people, “he said.
“As cooperating partners we have a great interest in ensuring that administration of and access to justice are improved in Zambia.”
Fee said there was need to allow the judiciary to operate independently as it was imperative that it discards all political interference, stressing that development of any nation was based on an effecient justice system.
“Today as EU, this ceremony provides me with an opportunity to remind you that EU is fully committed to these principles of justice,” he said.
“This falls within the wider concept which is at heart of the relations between the government of Zambia and the EU and its members states under the Cotonou Agreement.”
The EU head also said the MoU under the Access To Justice programme which has been been a pilot project facilitated by the Royal Danish Embassy since 2007 was meant to allow for a significant scaling up of activities through increased financing under the project.
“In this respect, the EU will contribute 6 million euro ,DANIDA 3.85 million euro and GTZ 1.5 million euro all in grant form,” he said.
And the Danish envoy Thomas Schjerbeck who signed on behalf of his government said he is not impressed with efforts being made in the prisons which were also catered for under the said programme.
“Denmark has a wider cooperation with Zambia as we have been working in many sectors but I was asking myself before we came today that if we only had one programme, what would that be? I think it would this one because we consider the independence of the legal sector as one of the most fundamental things in building democracy,“ he emphasised.
He said this was important if the human rights of the people were going to be secured.
“It’s a question of ensuring rights of people, women’s rights, children’s rights, poor people’s rights and as the Vice-President rightly said it doesn’t come overnight. It’s something which we can’t just take the Danish model and copy it to Zambia. We don’t expect the Zambian model to look like the Danish one it has to be tailor made in respect to differences of level of development, of geography, poverty levels which for us is one of the fundamental reasons for being in Zambia,” he said.
The envoy highlighted the slow pace of improvements in the system since its support to the programme commenced.
“Some of us have been visiting the prisons, I have been there several times and am not impressed with the speed of improvements. I am very, very thankful that a good number of things have been achieved as was mentioned like the parole institute to handle the audit of prisoners which are fundamental to action being taken. What am saying now is I hope that the poor persons especially those that are on remand who have not yet had their cases heard will be addressed as a priority,” he said.
He further added that judging by the human rights perspective this was an incredible task.
And speaking earlier after signing on behalf of government, justice minister George Kunda, said the Access to Justice programme was going to contribute to establishment of a more efficient system for processing cases.
“The programme will contribute to establish a more efficient system for processing cases, improving coordination in the sector and enhancing support to vulnerable people,” he said.
He noted this will also lead to an increase in non-custodial sentences and in turn reduce overcrowding in prisons.
Kunda who is also Vice-President admitted that there were numerous challenges remaining in the sector and that there was need to be honest in recognizing that it takes time and concerted effort of all key players to improve the quality of administration of justice.
The support will among other things support the programmes of the Zambia Police, Director of Public Prosecutions, Legal Aid Board and the Zambia Prisons Commission.
The Access to Justice programme is an initiative that has been supported by the Danish Embassy in Zambia since 2007.
Labels: DEREK FEE, GEORGE KUNDA
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Catholic priest questions huge gap between rich and poor
By George Zulu in Monze
Tue 07 Sep. 2010, 14:00 CAT
A CATHOLIC priest Constantino Cheepa has observed that the disparity between the poor and the rich in Zambia is too huge and unacceptable.
During the thanksgiving mass held in chief Chona’s area on Sunday, Fr Cheepa said the disparity between the rich and the poor in the country was too wide, subsequently leading to high poverty levels.
He said as a Christian nation, Zambians needed to work together in order to address the high poverty levels.
Fr Cheepa said the need to address the current poverty levels in the country was evident going by the discontent and frustration among the people.
“It has become very clear that among us worshipers and non-worshipers some of you are ‘stinking’ rich. You have amassed a lot of wealth. It is again true that among us here there are people who are ‘stinking’ poor and this is unacceptable in this world,” Fr Cheepa said.
He said it was sad that Africa and Zambia in particular had not taken an initiative to address poverty by investing in rural development and the people.
Fr Cheepa said developing an area did not require one to become a member of parliament, councillor or businessman.
He said development could take place through concerted efforts but it was regrettable that many people were preoccupied with enriching themselves.
He said it was sad that some people would soon flock to the area promising people development and other things as the country headed to the polls.
However, he advised people to be wary of such individuals because they were “bad neighbours.”
“A good neighbour will always think about others and it is also true that a bad neighbour is a danger to development. The solar panel being put at this school today should be taken care of. You should not be like a neighbour who decides to buy many shoes without considering others then you should know that the money he is using is stolen money and that will bring discontent among the people and himself,” said Fr Cheepa.
Solar panels worth US $10,000 have been mounted at Chona Basic School with the help of a Canadian Non-Governmental Organisation, Global-Light Project in partnership with Matantala Rural Integrated Development Enterprise (M-RIDE).
Labels: CONSTANTINO CHEEPA, POVERTY, SOLAR ENERGY
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Chibombamilimo’s influence can’t be dismissed – Sichilima
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Tue 07 Sep. 2010, 11:10 CAT
File Picture: Mbala MMD member of parliament Gaston Sichilima has said.
THE late Lameck Chibombamilimo’s influence cannot be dismissed, Mbala MMD member of parliament Gaston Sichilima has said.
In an interview, Sichilima said Chibombamilimo’s influence in Mpulungu could not be dismissed owing to the number of developmental projects he initiated in the area. Recently, MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga dismissed late Chibombamilimo as not being a factor in the forthcoming by-election.
Sichilima said although Mabenga had earlier issued a statement dismissing Chibombamilimo as a factor in the forthcoming by-election, the fallen legislator was still a factor and had a following.
“He Chibombamilimo was MMD member of parliament and what we are doing is working for the MMD,” he said.
Sichilima denied growing assertions that MMD was losing ground in Mpulungu and Mbala.
“There is no way MMD can lose ground in Mpulungu,” he said. “We are working, we have been working and we will continue working. The people are with us and we have delivered. Mpulungu is just a district that has been born out of Mbala district. So, the level of development in Mpulungu is equal to the mother district. In short, MMD is far away from anybody that would want to come there Mpulungu.”
Sichilima said Mpulungu suffered from severe underdevelopment when it was under the control of the opposition.
And Sichilima said the selection of MMD parliamentary candidate was still open and that the ruling party would not impose a candidate on the people of Mpulungu.
“We are a democratic party and the candidature the people are going to give us is the person we are going to put in there,” said Sichilima. “We are not like these other political parties who go to impose candidates.”
Labels: GASTON SICHILEMA, LAMECK CHIBOMBAMILIMO, MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD
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Mumbuna dropped from prosecuting PF MPs honking case
By Mwala Kalaluka
Tue 07 Sep. 2010, 04:30 CAT
LUSAKA Division Prosecution Officer (DPO) Frank Mumbuna has been replaced from prosecuting the honking case involving two PF parliamentarians after he exchanged words with chief resident magistrate Charles Kafunda in court last week.
And Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde yesterday said his office has received correspondence from Lusaka Police Division pertaining to Mumbuna’s dismissal from magistrate Kafunda’s court for unruly conduct.
This is in a matter where two PF parliamentarians, Jean Kapata of Mandevu and Mumbi Phiri of Munali are in court for allegedly hooting unnecessarily contrary to Section 233(1) and (2) of the Road Traffic Act number 11 of 2002. They are also charged with the offence of conduct likely to cause the breach of the peace.
Mumbuna was last Tuesday dismissed from prosecuting the case after he made rude remarks against magistrate Kafunda.
When the matter came up for continued hearing of the defence yesterday, another police prosecutor, Dennis Manda, took up the cross-examination of witnesses from where Mumbuna had left after his dismissal.
And Kabonde said in an interview yesterday that his office had received correspondence from Lusaka Police Division relating to Mumbuna’s dismissal from court by magistrate Kafunda.
“But you know that officer (Mumbuna) is under Lusaka Province. He has a CO (commanding officer). That is the man who can take action,” Kabonde said.
Asked if he was officially aware of the matter, Kabonde said: “Like all of us read in The Post and there are some correspondences. So we are waiting from the commanding officer. We read about it and correspondence from Lusaka Division. They have written to us that they are handling the matter.”
But when reached to comment on whether Mumbuna’s replacement by Manda in the honking case meant he had also been replaced as Lusaka DPO, Lusaka Province police commanding officer Greenwell Ng’uni described the issue as administrative.
“That is an issue of administration we can’t discuss to the press,” Ng’uni said.
When told that his office had written to the I.G’s office over Mumbuna’s dismissal, Ng’uni expressed surprise over the revelation.
“Who has written? I am not aware. Lusaka, we have written the I.G! No, no, who has written?” Ng’uni asked. “I was supposed to write.”
However, when told Kabonde had just confirmed that his office has received correspondence from Lusaka Division over Mumbuna’s matter, Ng’uni reiterated that the issue was administrative.
“These are administrative issues,” said Ng’uni.
Efforts to get Mumbuna proved futile as his phone went unanswered. Last Tuesday, the Lusaka Magistrates’ court room was stunned by the drama between Mumbuna and magistrate Kafunda.
When the defence witness, Phillias Phiri, who is Mumbi’s son, was being cross-examined by Mumbuna, there was some noise from the holding cells within the court premises.
Magistrate Kafunda alerted Mumbuna that there was noise in the court premises and he should do something about it. But Mumbuna said it was not his responsibility to stop people from making noise.
However, magistrate Kafunda reminded Mumbuna that as DPO, he was in charge of the court premises and it was therefore his duty to stop the people from making noise around court premises.
Magistrate Kafunda further reminded Mumbuna that it was his duty as DPO to ensure that court proceedings were not disturbed.
But Mumbuna said if magistrate Kafunda wanted that done, he should have addressed him in chambers and not in open court at a time when he was cross-examining.
The exchange continued with Mumbuna saying he was not going to allow magistrate Kafunda to humiliate him the way he was being humiliated.
However, magistrate Kafunda advised Mumbuna not to get into a heated exchange with him.
Magistrate Kafunda said he was not going to condone the rudeness that Mumbuna was exhibiting in open court since he was a senior prosecutor.
But Mumbuna said he could not allow anybody to humiliate him in front of all the people and to disturb his cross-examination.
When magistrate Kafunda told Mumbuna that in his arguments with him, he was failing in his duties of making sure that the proceedings were not disturbed, Mumbuna replied that he had never failed in his duties and that was why he had been appointed DPO.
This prompted magistrate Kafunda to dismiss Mumbuna from prosecuting the case until another prosecutor was found.
After the pronouncement was made, Mumbuna parked his bags, thanked the magistrate and walked out of court before saying: “I can’t allow anybody to humiliate me.”
Mumbuna’s stunt with magistrate Kafunda left everybody in the courtroom bewildered and the accused didn’t know what to do.
Magistrate Kafunda stood down the case and went back to his chambers.
A few minutes later, the court marshal came and informed the people that the case had been adjourned to September 6, 2010.
This is the second time that Mumbuna is being dismissed from court for misbehaving.
In 2004 Mumbuna, as North-Western Province DPO, was dismissed by a senior resident magistrate in Solwezi from prosecuting cases.
He was later transferred from North Western Province to Lusaka.
Labels: CHARLES KAFUNDA, COURTS, FRANCIS KABONDE, FRANK MUMBUNA, GREENWELL NG'UNI, JEAN KAPATA
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Mpombo, Magande expulsions shows that MMD is un-democratic - Katuka
By Kombe Chimpinde
Tue 07 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
Opposition UPND Mwinilunga parliamentarian, Stephen Katuka, has said the expulsion of MMD's Chilanga member of parliament N’gandu Magande and his Kafulafuta counterpart, George Mpombo, proves that the party is totally undemocratic.
In an interview with Post Online, Katuka said the expulsion of the two parliamentarians who have been valuable members is an indication that the MMD has lost ground and that it is an undemocratic party.
“We all know that the only reason why those two were chased was because they expressed their intentions of challenging Rupiah Banda at the MMD's National Convention which is their democratic right,” he said.
“This must open the eyes of Zambians. They have seen for themselves now that there is no democracy in MMD. They don’t want anyone to challenge someone who was just poached from UNIP.”
Katuka said the behaviour that the ruling party has exhibited against people who wanted to challenge President Banda was not good on a wider perspective and was a dent on Zambia's young.
He also observed that the MMD had to ensure that Mpombo “was dealt with” just to make sure President Banda went unopposed.
“Mpombo has been a victim of the MMD evil schemes since he made his intentions known to challenge President Banda at the coming convention ,” he said.
“..there is a possibility that even his case of bouncing a cheque which led to him been sentenced was politically motivated as Lucy Changwe Gender deputy Minister who committed the same case is still walking freely in the streets of Lusaka,” he said.
He also observed that the selective prosecution of cases by the Director of Prosecutions was dangerous for the country.
Katuka observed that Zambians were watching and that time was coming when Zambians would stand up and hold the MMD accountable.
“The MMD can push Zambians to a certain level but not beyond. It is not right, people must be free to express themselves, of course it's not only us that are watching, Zambians are watching what is happening,” Katuka reminded.
He further said the UPND would use the expulsion as a campaign tool as it exposes the dictatorial tendencies of the MMD's top leadership.
Labels: GEORGE MPOMBO, MMD, NG'ANDU MAGANDE
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UK firm hails Zim economic prospects
By Bright Madera
LONDON-based Amstel Securities NV says Zimbabwe’s economy is "the final frontier market in Africa" and very attractive. Zimbabwe with the potential to grow its GDP to US$12 billion by 2015 is begging to draw foreign investment on the back of huge investment potential.
The securities firm said investors have
ignored the country’s tremendous recovery potential brought about by the liberalisation of the economy in February last year. According to the International Monetary Fund, the country’s economy is estimated around US$9 billion having doubled from last year’s value of US$4,4 billion.
The country’s key driver for growth is the mineral wealth, especially in low cost in platinum production with new projects this year worth US$1 billion already underway.
Zimbabwe also offers significant opportunities in the agricultural sector, which is expected to grow by 30 percent this year, buoyed by increased production in tobacco.
Power generation that has threatened the viability of industries also offers opportunities for investors to develop hydro-power projects as well as the tourism sector.
Tourism is the country’s quick win sector, which after a decade of massive decline is forecast to generate about US$1 billion in revenue.
"We consider post-conflict Zimbabwe, the final frontier market in Africa, a high conviction idea, which has been overlooked, reads part of the report, "Zimbabwe has good recovery potential, propelled by the dollarisation of its economy in 2009."
Dollarisation has restored the country’s economy enforcing fiscal discipline.
"These improvements have made Zimbabwe a much more vibrant economy with good further recovery potential," added Amstel Securities.
On the back of economic developments in Zimbabwe Amstel’s coverage of AIM-listed LonZim gives the investment company a fair value of 45p per share implying upside their discounted cash flow valuation per share of 77p.
Amstel said there would be a surge in projected revenue as all of LonZim subsidiaries are expected to perform beyond expectations.
LonZim has got a 51 percent shareholding in Forget Me Not Africa, The Leopard Rock Hotel, and Tradanet, a micro finance company.
FMN Afica supports telecom operators covering 19 million people with unified messaging services after entering into a deal with Safaricom and Econet Wireless Zimbabwe.
The investment company also has a 60 percent shareholding in Zimbabwe Stock Exchange listed firm Celsys Limited, Paynet Zimbabwe 100 percent, Millpal Chemicals 100 percent, Fly540 Zimbabwe, 90 percent, Aldeamento Turistico of Mozambique 80 percent and a 51 percent shareholding in Panafmed Limited in South Africa.
LonZim this year announced its plans to list on the ZSE in the last quarter of the year, and shares would be fully fungible between AIM and ZSE.
LonZim is currently capitalised at US$9 million.
A dual listing will strengthen LonZim’s growth prospects as new investments will become easier and result in maximising shareholder value.
Labels: AMSTEL SECURITIES NV, LONZIM, NEOCOLONIALISM
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Court revokes ACR licence
By Chakanetsa Chidyamatiyo
THE High Court has revoked its earlier judgment and nullified African Consolidated Resources’ mining claims in Marange as it emerged the company fraudulently acquired the rights.
Justice Charles Hungwe on September 25, 2009 declared ACR and its subsidiaries — Heavy Stuff, Olebile, Dashaloo and Possession Investments — the rightful owners of the mining claims. However, yesterday Justice Hungwe overturned his own ruling in light of the new revelations.
ACR, the judge ruled, had concealed important information in the September 2009 case.
He said ACR had fraudulently acquired the mining rights because its subsidiaries were yet to be registered at the time of obtaining the mining rights.
"I find that applicants have no locus standi in judicio (no standing at law) to seek the order that they seek in the counter application on the basis that they do not have any title to any claims in the Marange diamond fields.
"In any event the counter application suffers from a fatal defect in that it does not join in these proceedings the parties whose rights would be adversely affected by the order they are seeking.
"Not only that the counter-claim must in the very least in order to qualify as such in terms of the rules, be an answer to the main claim by first respondent; it is not," Justice Hungwe ruled.
He said ACR’s subsidiaries were guilty of fraud through misrepresentation.
"Only a person can be granted a prospecting licence. Since none (of the subsidiaries) was incorporated, there was no person to release a certificate of mining," he said.
Justice Hungwe said the September 29 case had proceeded on the assumption that the subsidiaries were duly incorporated.
"It seems to me now that quite a lot of information was kept away from the court," he said.
He also noted that the Marange area had been reserved against prospecting at the time ACR fraudulently sought the mining rights.
"The notice was displayed at the Mining Commissioners’ notice boards in Mutare and Harare.
"It is incompetent for one to procure a licence in an area reserved," Justice Hungwe said.
The judge dismissed ACR lawyer Mr Jonathan Samukange’s argument that no one suffered prejudice after the ACR subsidiaries were subsequently registered.
On if the Mines and Mining Development Ministry came to court with dirty hands, Justice Hungwe said the rule applied where one is a fugitive.
"Analysis is that first respondent (Mines Minister) has not disqualified himself the protection of this court.
"The principle of dirty hands does not apply to respondents because they are not a fugitive to justice.
"There are other ways to secure compliance," Justice Hungwe said.
He said the Mines Ministry had come to court because they were in compliance of an order of the same court and thus could not be classified as justice.
"It would be inappropriate to hold that they are in contempt of court," Justice Hungwe said.
He dismissed Mr Samukange’s argument that the same case was pending in the Supreme Court.
"There is ample authority . . . nothing prevents seeking of rescinding of judgment," he said.
Advocate Farai Mutamangira acted on behalf of the Mines Ministry.
Labels: AFRICAN CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES PLC, MARANGE DIAMOND FIELDS
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Blair’s memoirs, irony at play
By Tichaona Zindoga
THE memoirs of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in a book titled "A Journey" have received wide reviews, which predominantly hammered home the one truth that Blair is an archetypal bigot.
This ranges from his narcissistic view that he "was a big player, was a world and not just a national leader". He as strongly as ever supports fellow warmonger and liar, former US leader George W Bush whom he declares "cleverer" than his critics imagine.
He goes right down a 1994 night when he made love to his wife and supposedly got support for his political ambitions.
Amidst the interest that has been generated by the pen of this man who left the scene in June 2007, waking a murderous legacy of neoliberal interventionism and the so-called global war on terror, one reader noted a particularly disturbing attribute of Blair.
In Tony Blair, the world has seen the emergence of a "Zombliarism" (or such term), the dead that won’t lie down.
If that ironic role as a Middle East "peace envoy" plus a couple of other moral grandstanding activities do not suffice, Blair’s continued obsession with Zimbabwe makes this apparently immortal (im)moral and political ghost quite alive.
In his autobiography, Blair says globalisation has made military intervention in "rogue regimes" overseas more necessary than ever, without sensing the irony of his own exported rogue-ness.
The man, who relishes the prospect of attacking Iran one day, chiefly regrets not having been able to topple President Robert Mugabe during his tenure at Number 10 Downing Street.
He would have "loved" to topple the veteran leader who decided to empower hundreds of thousands of families previously condemned to arid areas by British colonial systems.
He wrote: "People often used to say to me: If you got rid of the gangsters in Sierra Leone, [Slobodan] Miloševic, the Taliban and Saddam, why can’t you get rid of Mugabe?
"The answer is I would have loved to, but it wasn’t practical (since, in his case, and for reasons I never quite understood, the surrounding African nations maintained a lingering support for him and would have opposed any action strenuously)."
Looking back just a year ago, in July, Blair called for that which he had failed to do in his 10 years at Number 10 Downing Street.
"I think whoever has the possibility should topple Mugabe," he said.
Without, even at this time as well, sensing the strong irony he added of President Mugabe, whom he accused of destroying the country, that "many people have died unnecessarily because of him".
In all this one finds basically two levels of the Blair ghost.
On the one hand is the troubled, wandering and inconsequent spirit that could not effect regime change in a small country called Zimbabwe during a whole 10 years and ended up groveling for just anybody’s help through a German newspaper last year.
This led one analyst to slam back not only his ineffectiveness (the analyst is on the regime change side, apparently) but also the very folly of not having opened talks with Zimbabwe, which might have benefited both parties.
Said the analyst: "When the ordinary Zimbabwean hears that Tony Blair is now leaving office without ever setting foot in the country that he talked about so much at international gatherings, they will wonder what he hoped to achieve by shouting from afar."
Yet on the other hand of this nuisance is a symbolic dimension of this evil spirit that is represented in a political philosophy that he started.
It will be noted that since Blair started his anti-Zimbabwe war, beginning by reneging on his government’s commitment to fund land reform in the country when his New Labour won power in 1997, a stand-off between the two countries has gone on.
His successors, Gordon Brown and the current coalition involving Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron and Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg, have maintained cool relations with Zimbabwe.
This British-exported standoff has also applied to the US and the EU among other Anglo-Saxon powers.
Those who fed into Blair’s Zimbabwe misadventure, like him, do not seem to comprehend why Zimbabwe and President Mugabe in particular continue to enjoy support not only from Africans but also other progressive forces across the globe which has made UK-US intervention in whatever guise unacceptable.
To them that see things in black and white — absolute contradictions — the inherent justness of Zimbabwe’s cause especially where resources are concerned, as opposed to their historical injustice, just does not matter.
Unfortunately, the evil in the Machiavellian Blair and his philosophy is very much alive.
His appetite for international affairs, we are told, has been sharpened by his role as a mediator in the Middle East!
He says that he feels "indeed a greater urge to leadership".
Thus he tries, as arrogant as ever, to systematise interventionism, saying: "If change will not come by evolution, should it be done by revolution?
"Should those who have the military power contemplate doing so?
"The leader has to decide whether the objective is worth the cost. What’s more, he or she must do so unsure of what the exact cost might be or the exact price of failing to meet the objective . . . In this context, by the way, indecision is also decision . . . Omission and commission both have consequences."
This adventurism not only seems to project his warmongering demon but also rings of war projected as a business, and business executed without feeling.
This makes his vaunted reawakening in the Middle East as unfortunate as it is omi-nous.
It has been observed that Blair has reaped millions of dollars for his involvement in the Mideast, not as a bona fide statesman, but as a supporter of Israeli apartheid against its occupied Palestinian counterpart.
A million-dollar "peace-broker" award that he was proffered by Israel seemed to confirm this depravity, which also was a slap in the face of his Iraqi war founded on lies.
A critic was quoted as saying of the accolade: "This prize looks like a payment for services rendered.
"It will make people feel that he’s not really a peace envoy, he’s an envoy operating in the interests of the Israeli state in the Middle East."
This subplot makes Blair, even supposedly contained within the pages of a book, a sick and morbid character both in deed as in spirit and philosophy.
Labels: NEOCONSERVATISM, TONY BLAIR, WAR CRIMES
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Jumani’s DNA matches Kamuzu’s, SA’s backstreet tests reveal
By Nyasa Times
Published: September 6, 2010
The long-awaited preliminary DNA paternity tests have revealed that Jim Jumani Johansson is the biological son of the late tin pot tyrant Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda. If the revelation is anything to go by, then the dreaded Pandora’s Box has been opened.
The overnight celebrity Johansson is entangled in a cobweb of a legal tussle to change his surname to Kamuzu Banda, the Malawi’s founding president. The backstreet preliminary DNA paternity tests indicate Jumani is the son of Kamuzu, as he was fondly called, Nyasa Times understands.
According to a source close to Jumani, the 37-year-old Kamuzu lookalike, who is also demanding a DNA test for his paternity to Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda had his DNA and Kamuzu’s DNA matched in South Africa private test which was facilitated by a local unnamed medical expert.
“Jumani’s DNA with Kamuzu matched. Kamuzu’s DNA was secretly taken from the College of Medicine for the purpose of preliminary tests. Jumani has a strong case,” said the source, whose identity shall remain anonymous in line with the known strict adherence to the Nyasa Times editorial policy of respecting our sources.
Members of the Kamuzu family obtained the injunction against Johansson after he reportedly visited Lilongwe offices of the Blantyre Newspapers Limited, one of business empires of the late Malawi’s tyrant ruler who ruled Malawi with an iron fist for 31 years.
Apparently, the High Court has ordered that Jumani can visit the business empire of the founder president for business purposes only not as Kamuzu’s son.
Jumani, as he is popuraly known, was also granted freedom by the same court earlier to use Kamuzu’s name.
According to the ruling by Mzuzu High Court Judge Lovemore Chikopa merely using the name Kamuzu Banda would not cause any damage to the ‘genuine’ Ngwazi dubbed Father and Founder of the Malawi nation.
“People should be free to call themselves whatever they want unless by so doing, they are causing damage to the person. No such damage has been shown to have been caused in this matter,” reads Justice Lovemore Chikopa’s ruling on miscellaneous Civil Cause No 15.
“An order restraining him calling himself Dr Banda’s son would save no useful purpose as many other persons and/or institutions are referring to him in that regard,” Justice Chikopa ruled.
Kamuzu’s most feared intelligence chief (at the notorious Police Special Branch) Martin Focus Gwede revealed that Jumani was a true son of the former dictator thereby adding salt to Jumani’s claims.
Gwede claimed he first saw Jumani and two other Kamuzu sons in the United Kingdom in 1975 when he accompanied Kamuzu and Mama Cecilia Kadzamira. The entourage, according to Gwede included John Tembo, Kamuzu’s right hand man.
“One day Dr. Banda invited me to follow him somewhere and he said Tembo should not come…We went to his house in London and while we were there l saw three boys, and one of them is this one,” Gwede told in the Weekend Nation recently.
He alleged in an interview with the paper that the late Dr. Banda confided in him that the three children including Jumani were his and that he was visiting them to give them money for their upkeep.
The frail and heavily-bearded ex-top police spy singled out John Tembo who was seen as Kamuzu’s closest ally as as the person not even to be told (in confidence) about the fatherhood of Kamuzu, according to the weekend paper.
Published sources give the following account of Kamuzu and his children.
During Kamuzu’s rule, it is believed that he accumulated at least US$320 million in personal assets, believed to be invested in everything from agriculture to mining interests in South Africa.
The most controversial part of this is the suspicion that his two grandchildren, who currently reside in the US and South Africa, are the heirs to the Banda fortune.
One of the grandchildren graduated from law school and left for the US, while the other remains in South Africa.
They may now learn about the existence of these anonymous grandchildren, but most importantly; ‘who and where are Banda’s children?’, most Malawians would like to know. Equally important is the identity and the whereabouts of their mother.
Labels: HASTINGS KAMUZU BANDA, JIM JUMANI JOHANSSON, MALAWI
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No hero lectures from tribalists: Moyo
by Jonathan Moyo
05/09/2010 00:00:00
IF there is one telling development which has exposed the incurable poverty of leadership in the two MDC formations and further underlined the irretrievable irrelevance of both parties to Zimbabwe’s political history and future, it is their astonishing inability to understand the meaning and context of national heroism and their shocking readiness to unashamedly wave ethnic flags to justify their opportunistic tribal nonsense under the treacherous cover of the so-called inclusive politics of the moment.
There are three highlights that have defined the background to this development. The first highlight was the amazing but clearly opportunistic if not mischievous call by Prime Minister Tsvangirai to have the late Chief Khayisa Ndiweni - who died on August 4 2010 - declared a national hero.
Apart from being a cheap ploy to appeal to Matabeleland voters, Tsvangirai’s call to have Chief Ndiweni declared a national hero provided clear evidence not only that he does not understand the meaning and context of national heroism but also that he has no qualms about distorting and corrupting national heroism in his vain hope of winning back the Matabeleland vote that he used to take for granted but continues to lose by the day.
The second highlight of the background to the issue in question was an ill-fated attempt by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to seek a prominent officiating role in the 2010 programme to commemorate national heroes last month under the claim that doing so would be in keeping with GPA politics.
That incident demonstrated that Tsvangirai is desperate to be seen as a significant and positive part of our country’s liberation memory because he and his foreign handlers and kitchen cabinet know only too well that history records him as a celebrated opponent of the gains of the liberation struggle.
Tsvangirai’s desperation to use, if not abuse, his office as Prime Minister, to have an official role in the annual programme to commemorate national heroes as a consequence of the September 15, 2008 GPA stands in sharp contrast to the dignified and disarming way in which the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo, an icon of the liberation struggle, dealt with the same issue following the implementation of the historic December 22, 1987 Unity Accord.
Just check the record and you will not find even one instance when the late Vice President Nkomo, who is universally acknowledged as Father Zimbabwe, ever asked or demanded to be accorded an official role in the annual programme to commemorate national heroes in the name of real national unity which was forged in 1987.
If Nkomo did not do it with the liberation history on his side, why on earth is Tsvangirai trying to do it when the history and legacy of the liberation struggle are clearly not with him?
National heroism
Is it not obvious to Tsvangirai and his henchmen that the 1987 Unity Accord with its liberation politics of national unity is far much more fundamental and far much more important to the history and future of this country than the 2008 GPA?
Is it not self-evident that the former is permanent while the latter is by definition temporary and therefore going nowhere?
But these questions, revealing as they are, stand beside the point because the issue at stake is about the misunderstanding of the meaning and context of national heroism by the two MDC formations and their readiness to seek tribal refuge in the face of very serious national matters.
The third highlight of the background to the issue in question was when the leaders of the two MDC formations, particularly Tsvangirai, Mutambara and Welshman Ncube, sought to compete with one another over what they imagine is a Ndebele vote by feebly and disingenuously claiming that the late Gibson Sibanda, who passed away on August 24 2010, deserved to be accorded the status and honour of a national hero.
While the very cheap and unfortunate tribal intentions of Tsvangirai and Mutambara in their dishonest quest to have Sibanda declared a national hero were palpable, it was left to the Midlands’ Welshman Ncube to beat the drums of discord the loudest as he ironically waved a tribal flag in pursuit of national hero status for Gibson Sibanda ostensibly on behalf of the people of Matabeleland.
On September 1, 2010 Newsday reported amazing tribal stuff from Welshman Ncube in a front page article headlined “Matabeleland is marginalised”.
The newspaper quoted Ncube as saying: “On Wednesday last week (August 25 2010) I was at the late Gibson Sibanda’s house where community leaders were discussing the now common inclination to treat people from this region (Matabeleland) as second-class citizens.”
Ncube was further quoted as claiming that: “Clearly there’s a strong perception within the region of such marginalisation and it does not matter whether that is the reality or not but there are obvious actions that have given rise to this belief and that ought to be addressed...
“People should be treated fairly and equally but in the minds of the people of Matabeleland this is not happening. Personally I’ve not sat down and confirmed that nowadays if you are from Matabeleland you cannot be made a national hero. But even without the study the belief from the region is that it is so.”
These tribal sentiments attributed to Welshman Ncube by Newsday are as mind boggling as they are disappointing, not least because they contradict and even undermine Ncube’s otherwise excellent and principled, as yet to be acknowledged contribution to the political stability that Zimbabwe enjoys today, following the failed 2008 destabilisation agenda of the enemies of our country.
Debt of gratitude
In many untold ways, Welshman Ncube has been the voice of reason and maturity from the opposition ranks that helped and even ensured the success of GPA negotiations. Zimbabweans owe him a debt of gratitude for that.
It is against this backdrop that his latest tribal ranting over the granting of national hero status to the late Gibson Sibanda is mind boggling.
In the first place how in God’s name does the granting or not granting of national hero status to an individual called Gibson Sibanda become a regional issue for all the people in Matabeleland?
In other words, how does the granting of national hero status empower the people of Matabeleland and conversely how does the failure to grant him that status marginalise them?
Surely, there’s some gibberish to be unpacked here.
One of the now well-known, widespread but unacceptable tactics of politicians from Matabeleland over the last 30 years is to link and tie their personal interests and fate with the interests and aspirations of the people from the region.
This is a terrible tribal cul de sac.
It is sad that Welshman Ncube has fallen into it as part of his quest for the inconsequential post of the presidency of his MDC formation currently led by Mutambara in the hope of becoming yet another unelected Deputy Prime Minister, all in a bizarre effort to checkmate Thokozani Khupe, whose irrelevance is tempered by the fact that she defeated Ncube at the polls such that her position as Deputy Prime Minister has the support of the electorate as an elected Member of Parliament.
Otherwise it is absurd for Welshman Ncube to suggest that the people of Matabeleland define their situation in terms of the personal interests and fortunes of politicians from the region including whether such politicians are declared national heroes.
That sort of thing does not put food on anybody’s table; it does not pay school fees and does not pay medical bills, let alone build roads or clinics among other essentials of life. Like their compatriots elsewhere in the country, the people of Matabeleland are preoccupied with policies over personalities and what they want more than anything else is the development of their communities.
Welshman Ncube’s claim that there is now a perception that if someone is from Matabeleland then they cannot be made a national hero is inflammatory rubbish which should be condemned in the strongest terms because it is ridiculously false.
What is instructive is that Ncube himself admits that his claims are not based on any study or reality and he is thus unable to vouch for them as fact.
Inflamatory behaviour
But if that is the case, why is Welshman Ncube peddling things that he does not know? That kind of inflammatory and divisive behaviour under the cover of tribalism is not the mark of national leadership.
The attempt by the two MDC formations to use a tribal card to have the late Gibson Sibanda declared a national hero is insulting not only in national terms but to the people of Matabeleland who deserve to be treated with respect without being put in the political pockets of individual politicians from the region who have hidden personal agendas that have nothing whatsoever to do with community or national development.
In the circumstances, and given the issue at hand, that the two MDC formations suffer from an incurable poverty of leadership underpinned by their irretrievable irrelevance to Zimbabwe’s political history and future as exemplified by their incredible inability to understand the meaning and context of national heroism with the status they’ve sought for the late Gibson Sibanda as a case in point, it has become necessary to clarify three fundamental and important issues arising from the foregoing:
In the first place, there is no reason why 30 years after our independence we have people, including those who should by now know better, creating unnecessary confusion about the meaning and context of national heroism when it is, in fact, an open-and-shut case.
Nobody can or will ever be declared a national hero if they do not have a consistent lifetime record of not just opposing imperialism, colonialism and neo-colonialism in Zimbabwe but also of doing so in a manner that entails self-evident personal sacrifice.
In the second place it is unacceptable and indeed objectionable in the extreme for individual politicians from Matabeleland, and indeed from any region or tribe for that matter, to seek selfish positions under the banner of tribal marginalisation.
Politicians like Welshman Ncube who now wants to lead his MDC should seek party and government office on the basis of their own individual track records in serving the people on the delivery front on the ground and not on the basis of primordial instincts, such as tribalism, which are easy to assert but difficult if not impossible to prove.
False noise
It is notable that for all the false noise they make about change and because they are unacceptable neo-colonial creations of British and American authorities from whom they are now trying to free themselves at the eleventh hour, the two MDC formations find themselves so ideologically orphaned that they have become not just poor but terrible imitations of Zanu-PF in a hopeless bid to be relevant to the Zimbabwean and African situation ahead of the next polls at which foreign puppets will be punished severely by the electorate.
A further examination of these three considerations will help explain the matter at hand starting with the issue of how the two MDC formations have become so cornered as to necessarily become terrible imitations of Zanu-PF.
However you look at the matter, the fact that the MDC formations and their media hacks have spent the last six or so weeks preoccupied with the question of the definition of a national hero proves beyond doubt that the two parties and their leaders are now firmly stuck in Zanu-PF’s national agenda but only as terrible imitations.
What this means is that despite their bombastic talk about change, political reform and all the donor-driven jazz, the MDC formations are not alternatives to Zanu-PF but are poor imitators.
That is why they want to have their sellouts declared as national heroes and that is why they want to copy, always in a very bad way, everything that Zanu-PF does including copying Zanu-PF revolutionary songs such as Nyatsoterera.
Have you noticed that when you hear MDC youths singing without listening to the lyrics the music is very much Zanu-PF?
Ask any musician and you’ll be told that you sing music and not lyrics or words and so there’s no prize for guessing what matters more between the music and the words not least because the latter can be changed as many times as anyone wants while the music stays the same!
What makes the two MDC formations terrible imitations of Zanu-PF is that they want to sing Zanu-PF music on which they have put treacherous British and American lyrics which do not resonate with the history and future of the national situation.
That is causing a discord which is frustrating the leadership of the two MDC formations while irritating the general public which can no longer stand the charade.
Then there is the issue of how the two MDC formations are playing with fire through their attempts to invoke tribal issues, especially in Matabeleland.
The fact is the less said about this matter the better because it speaks for itself.
However, this much needs to be said.
The late Vice President Joshua Nkomo was Father Zimbabwe and not Father Matabeleland.
Tribal position
That alone should be enough food for thought to all political pretenders out there who suffer from backward political ambitions.
Some two years ago Welshman Ncube went to Matabeleland and told the people there that he would not seek the presidency of his party because in his view then it was not possible for somebody from Matabeleland to become President of Zimbabwe.
That is the justification he used in defence of Arthur Mutambara’s leadership of his MDC.
This was clearly a tribal position.
Now Ncube wants to replace the same Mutambara while relying on the worst form of the same old tribal argument.
Everyone can see that Ncube now understands that a Shona president of his party has no chance of winning a national election but may, and this is not guaranteed, benefit from a protest vote in Matabeleland to the point of being a kingmaker and even a Deputy Prime Minister or even Deputy President.
It is therefore clear that Ncube still subscribes to the same regressive tribal philosophy that got him to hire Mutambara in 2008 except he now would rather have the spoils to himself now that he believes his party has no electoral votes outside Matabeleland and there is no reason to have those votes benefit somebody from Manicaland like Mutambara.
Well, as already mentioned this is a matter better left unsaid for it speaks for itself on the ground better than any words from any politician.
The ball game would be very interesting and meaningful if Welshman Ncube’s audience and indeed constituency were outside Matabeleland.
The case of Raila Odinga in Kenya is instructive for the likes of Welshman Ncube and even Tsvangirai.
Odinga is a Luo from western Kenya but his electoral constituency is in Nairobi’s Kibera Township.
There’s another point for consideration by Welshman Ncube and the like-minded.
While it is very true that all good politics are local since there is no physical place called national, it is also true that all localities are increasingly becoming melting pots with multiple ethnicities.
For example, at least 20 percent of the population in Bulawayo is not Ndebele and that percentage is growing. Food for tribal thought!
Then there is the whole question about who is a national hero.
It is understandable that the two MDC formations have seized on this issue as part of their terrible imitation of Zanu-PF in the hope of becoming relevant to the political history and future of Zimbabwe.
Bottom line
But let us be very clear; it is not possible by definition for anybody associated with or involved in the 1999 formation of the MDC to ever be a national hero.
That is impossible and there is no need to waste time about that.
In summary and by definition a national hero in Zimbabwe is somebody who, in their lifetime, persistently and consistently opposed imperialism, colonialism and neo-colonialism in a heroic fashion involving recognisable personal sacrifice.
Put differently, a national hero is somebody who in his lifetime either did heroic things involving personal sacrifice to contribute to the attainment of our national independence, meaning our sovereignty, or/and to the defence of that independence or sovereignty.
Anybody who made personal sacrifices to either contribute to the prevention of our independence or to the overthrow of that independence on behalf of imperial or colonial or neo-colonial interests is a sellout and not a national hero.
That is the bottom line.
That is why, like elsewhere around the world, our national heroes are either comrades who fell during the liberation struggle or others who were with them in Zanu-PF (which is inclusive of Zipra and Zanla comrades since the 1987 Unity Accord) who have since departed for the eternal world.
Because it is about their pursuit and defence of our independence and sovereignty, an overwhelming number of our heroes will be men and women in uniform from our armed forces.
If you don’t understand this ask the Americans and they will educate you about their own national heroes with reference to who is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
What we have in Zimbabwe about national heroes is not different from what they have in the US.
Of course, there are other awards of excellence and achievement which people can claim or be bestowed.
The status of national hero is one of a kind and is not given to every Jim, Jack or Jane.
Nobody, including those who were either involved in the liberation struggle, who has collaborated with our colonisers in a fake so-called struggle for democracy since 2000, should ever dream of becoming a national hero by dint of that treacherous fact.
This article was originally published by the Sunday Mail
Labels: JONATHAN MOYO, MDC
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Donors ditch MDC-T for Zapu
By Zvamaida Murwira
TRADITIONAL Western donors and some multilateral financial institutions have allegedly ditched MDC-T in favour of Dr Dumiso Dabe-ngwa’s Zimbabwe African People’s Union.
Highly-placed MDC-T sources revealed last week that the traditional financiers were getting fed up with the party’s infighting and factionalism — a development that has seen party projects suffering and workers’ salaries slashed.
One of the projects that have been affected is the production of the party newsletter, The Changing Times, while the Prime Minister’s newsletter’s days on the streets are reportedly numbered.
The source said donor funds had dried up and the PM’s newsletter would continue to be produced because printers were paid in advance after which it will disappear from the streets.
Donor fatigue has taken its toll on the party as some workers who were part of the parallel government structures in the PM’s Office and party workers are also going to be affected.
Some workers in the parallel government from the PM’s Office have allegedly been earning lucrative salaries ranging from US$700 to US$7 000, while most civil servants earn less than US$200.
Some workers in the party who were receiving additional packages because of their ties with some senior party officials are likely to find themselves in the same category with their peers.
Contacted for comment, MDC-T spokesperson Mr Nelson Chamisa declined to comment saying that he did not want to be dragged into The Herald’s "lies".
"You manufacture lies and you want to bless your story with putting my voice. I will not do that," Mr Chamisa charged.
However, the donor community is reported to be setting their eyes on the recently launched Zapu whose congress saw a sizeable number of Western and American diplomats attending the event.
These are traditional MDC-T financiers.
Morale is reported to be at its lowest among party workers in the parallel government and those in the party, who used to earn fat salaries, said another source.
Those who have been earning ordinary salaries from the party are on the other hand celebrating because happier days for their peers have now come to an end.
"The party is in the red. There was a pool of funds by Western donors who now seem to have been fed up by the constant bickering and infighting and they want to try their chance at Zapu," said one source.
Another source said the fact that the party had failed to recruit a new director of communication to replace Luke Tamborinyoka, who has been reassigned to the PM’s Office, was an indication of the hard times the party was going through.
Instead, the party settled for Mr William Bango, who is now doubling up as director of policy and research.
"This is an indictment of the party being in the red. The feeling was that we should recruit from outside but because there is no money we are having to settle for Mr Bango, who is now doubling up with his other portfolio," said the source.
The Changing Times, whose initial print run was around 100 000 and was distributed for free across the country, was cut to less than 1 000 before production completely stopped in recent weeks.
"The last time when The Changing Times was being produced, it was only being distributed in limited quantities and areas — only in Harare in particular not in those areas, which it also used to be distributed," said the source.
Another source said the MDC-T launched a new party card recently in a bid to contain the donor flight.
"But again the launch was a disaster because no one can buy the party cards. It cost US$12 for an ordinary member, US$24 for provincial members while ministers and other senior members pay about US$120. Can an ordinary person afford US$12?" asked another source.
Zapu president Dr Dumiso Dabengwa dismissed reports that Western donors were eyeing his party saying the party was funded by its members.
He said the presence of diplomats at their congress where he was elected president was neither here nor there as they had invited them to witness the event.
"We have not been funded by any outsider except our members; if you check our books you will notice that we have not received a single cent from any outsider. I am talking of individuals, let alone a country or international organisation," said Dr Dabengwa.
He said his party had written letters to some donors merely to fund some workshops and activities aimed at enhancing democracy but up to now no money was forthcoming.
He did not disclose the identity of the donors or whether they were local or foreign.
The MDC-T has in the past been dogged by infighting, which has seen some clashes at Harvest House as the party approached congress.
Labels: DONORS, MDC, ZAPU
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Akon, Sean Paul show world class
by Showbiz reporter
05/09/2010 00:00:00
MEGA-STARS Sean Paul and Akon put up what fans described as a world class performance at the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Saturday in a show that was however, undermined by some organisational hiccups.
Scheduled to have started at 6:30 pm, the show only kicked off after 9pm as the thousands of people who had bought tickets struggled to access the giant stadium where only a few gates were available for entry.
Riot police had to be called-in to control the restive crowds who where still struggling to get into the stadium as late as 8pm.
Again, inside the stadium, the VIP areas whose tickets cost between US$50 and US$100 ended up being free for all as the organizers failed to ensure enough security was available to control access.
Fans were also outraged at what they described as extortionate prices for beverages.
However the artists did not disappoint when the show eventually got underway with the locals led by Winky D warming up the crowd for the headline acts.
Urban grooves stars Extra Large, Leonard Mapfumo, ExQ and Cindy also put in commendable performances.
Dancehall superstar Sean Paul took to the stage just before 11pm and wowed the crowd with his hit song ‘Hold My Hand’ accompanied by a live band and dancing girls clad in lingerie outfits.
The Jamaican star also delighted the crowd with a rendition of Bob Marley’s song Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile Akon dimissed has claims he missed a flight to the Victoria Falls that had been organized by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA).
The state tourism promotion body claimed it had arranged the trip with the US-based star prior to his arrival in the country with spokesman Sugar Chagonda insisitng everything had been put in place only for the star to fail to turn up.
However Akon’s management said the publicist said the trip – aimed at promoting the country’s tourism products – had not been discussed with him.
“Neither Akon nor his management team agreed to visit Victoria Falls on a commercial flight that morning,” his publicists said.
Labels: AKON, HARARE, HIP-HOP, SEAN PAUL
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Rupiah is using ZAMTEL money to campaign – Sata
Friday, September 3, 2010, 9:27
Patriotic Front, PF, president, Michael Sata, has mockingly praised President Rupiah Banda for being sincere in his statement that the benefits from the privatization of ZAMTEL have already started coming in.
The PF leader has accused President Rupiah Banda of using the money from the sale of ZAMTEL to send First Lady, Thandiwe Banda, to go round the country to campaign for him. Mr. Sata explains that all the money that came from the sale of ZAMTEL has been consumed by President Banda.
In an interview with QFM, Mr. Sata says President Banda’s sincerity that the sale of ZAMTEL has already started benefiting the country is good.
He says so far one of the benefits the President is talking about is the loss of 1, 669 jobs at ZAMTEL.
Mr. Sata further says the President is the only one who has benefited from the privatization of ZAMTEL by government.
Mr. Sata explains that all the money that came from the sale of ZAMTEL has been consumed by President Banda.
He adds that ZAMTEL is still using Zambian tax payers’ money despite the new owner Lap Green Networks taking over running of the company.
He has since challenged president Rupiah Banda to show Zambians the benefits of ZAMTEL’s privatization, apart from the loss of 1, 669 jobs at the company.
[QFM]
Labels: CORRUPTION, MICHAEL SATA, RUPIAH BANDA, ZAMTEL
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PF senior leader Dr Chileshe Mulenga resigns
Monday, September 6, 2010, 17:05
Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Central Committee, Chileshe Mulenga has resigned from the PF citing dictatorial and undemocratic tendencies. Dr Mulenga, who is believed to have been among PF sterwards that crafted the party manifesto, says his resignation is a matter of principle that can not be compromised.
He says he has also declined his appointment as Chairperson of the PF Research Bureau. Dr Mulenga said he can no longer belong to a party in which its okay to dissolve duly elected constituency committees, for the sake of making greedy political opportunists comfortable.
This is contained in Dr Mulenga’s resignation letter dated 4th September 2010, addressed to PF leader Michael Sata and made available to ZNBC news in LUSAKA Monday.
He said he can not remain in an organisation where the constitution is compromised and dictatorship and misrule are ordained.
Dr Mulenga however, said he will continue to support Zambia’s democratisation through other channels open to him.
ZNBC
Labels: CHILESHE MULENGA, MICHAEL SATA, PF
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Sata’s inconsistent — Ronnie
Monday, September 6, 2010, 9:06
PF Leader Michael Sata (left)
The Government has said the U-turn by Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata on mining taxes is a clear sign that the opposition leader is inconsistent on various national matters.
Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said in Lusaka yesterday that the Government had been focused and consistent in everything it did in the mining industry for the benefit of the miners and the Zambian people.
When the Government in 2008 introduced the windfall tax, Mr Sata was against the idea saying the tax was to blame for the job losses and reduced investments in the country’s copper mining sector.
He said at the time that the tax regime had hiked tax rates in the sector by more than 50 per cent and increased mining costs.
Mr Sata on Friday told Reuters news agency that the Government should restore mining agreements with foreign investors which it cancelled and reinstate tax concessions, in a major u-turn from his previous position.
Mr Sata, previously a strong advocate of higher mine taxes, said the Government should reinstate development agreements it signed with the foreign investors to restore investor confidence and attract further investments.
Some foreign investors such as Canada’s First Quantum Minerals have threatened to take Zambia to court for suspending the development agreements, which waived payment of taxes by the foreign mines for periods of between five to 17 years.
Zambia’s mine taxes include a 15 per cent profit variable tax, 25 per cent corporate tax and a three per cent mineral royalty.
Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale said Mr Sata’s comments were aimed at wooing voters ahead of the 2011 presidential election.
“The PF leader has always advocated higher mining taxes but has now changed…,” Mr Mwale told Reuters.
Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said in April that although the Government was talking to the mining firms on the development agreements, it expected them to accept the existing taxes, especially after Zambia scrapped a controversial 25 per cent windfall tax.
Foreign mining companies operating in Zambia include London-listed Vedanta Reources Plc, Equinox Minerals, Glencore International AG of Switzerland and Metorex of South Africa.
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha, who was responding to questions from journalists at Lusaka International Airport, said the Government had proved that its policies were better even if Mr Sata was known for constantly criticising them.
He said the mining sector was booming and the economy in general was growing.
[ Times of Zambia ]
Labels: MICHAEL SATA, MINING, RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA, WINDFALL TAX
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In praise of resource nationalism
By Dr Guy Scott
Wed 25 Aug. 2010, 04:00 CAT
We are standing on the lip of a great escarpment, gazing down a wide valley to the vast, seemingly unpopulated expanse beyond. The numerous hills and ridges are colour coded: yellow, black and dusty green mean “near”; memory blue means “far”; but how far is “far” I cannot begin to guess. In the near distance pools of sunlight scud across the ground, like spotlights being operated by someone wishing to draw our attention to the finer, not-to-be-missed details of what is laid out before our marvelling eyes.
Suddenly the whole vista is blanked out; it is as if we had been watching a documentary on MultiChoice and the signal just disappeared. A cold, swirling mist has driven in; it is thick enough to render the tops of the pine trees beside us invisible. Mystified, we notice that it is raining in the pines, and only in the pines! Bits and pieces of memory, some possibly false, inform me that pine trees are able to “milk” mist; their needles have a chemistry that relaxes the surface tension in tiny mist droplets, forcing them to coalesce into larger drops that fall to the ground just where they are needed. Well I never.
I can only lament that an adequate account of the high plateau that lies behind us, currently shrouded in the mist, is beyond me. So here is an inadequate one.
The terrain is predominantly gently rolling short-grassland laced with bracken, and heavily scored with water channels. These channels come together and form some quite respectable rivers which must, inevitably, fall to the lower lands 1000 metres below. And from the right vantage points below you can indeed see tall waterfalls literally falling over the plateau edge and tumbling down near-vertical cliffs. Returning to the grassland up on the plateau, this is dotted with thousands of small msitu, almost all smaller than the average Kabulonga garden, alleged to be the remnants of the ancient rainforest that once thickly covered the northern portion of Central Africa. I am not sure I buy that.
Lest you be tempted, by the landscape and the weather, to imagine you are in Scotland, take note of some of the fauna. Roan antelope, staring through their black masks, are in constant abundance, hanging out in breeding herds or as solitary bulls past their mate-by date. Reedbuck and eland, both species seeming curiously skittish, also appear to be endemic. Though we saw none, leopard are reported to be present at one of the highest densities in Africa.
At various times of the year beasts from the miombo (brachystegia) woodland below pass through: herds of zebra are common and elephant are sometimes seen.
At certain times of the year the plateau blooms with hundreds of species of flower - including many orchids unique to the area - and shows off whole flocks of butterfly. Some of the birds, too, are unique or virtually unique to the area. There is even a mammal, a species of elephant shrew, that exists only here.
My guess is that about half the readers of this column - and you are an educated lot - had heard of the Nyika Plateau before reaching this point. And about half again were aware that it juts into Zambia, thanks to the peculiar logic of defining colonial boundaries by the watershed between two water catchments (in this case the Luangwa and the Lake Malawi-Shire River catchments). And hardly anyone, I bet, knows that the first initiatives to establish tourism on the plateau were made by the Northern Rhodesian government in 1953. Well now you know.
It has taken me a while to get to the Nyika; circumstances having sidetracked me from earlier efforts. In the 1960s and 1970s I was prevented from visiting by the twin facts that my then wife was Yugoslav and that President Hastings Banda would brook no communists passing through his country - which you have to do to reach the Zambian side of Nyika. In vain I protested that though Tito might be a communist my wife was anything but. I got together with Simon Zukas - a fellow “communist” suffering under the same ban - and we hatched a plot to drive to the foot of the escarpment in Isoka district and climb up to the Zambia rest house. I do not remember why we never put it into action.
Five years ago I planned to accompany my current wife's family to Nyika.
Unfortunately Levy Mwanawasa ordered that Michael Sata be arrested and incarcerated in Chimbokaila. I had to stay in Lusaka as an observer of the whims and vagaries of the Zambian system for the administration of justice.
But now I have made it. How do I feel? Well, I feel proud. And let me be clear: I do not mean proud as a citizen of the world; nor do I feel proud as a tourist collecting offbeat destinations; nor do I mean proud as someone who has done a little bit to advance the cause of nature conservation. I feel proud as a Zambian. I feel proud to be a citizen of a country which has a share, even if a minority share, of the responsibility to protect and manage such a wonderland. I believe in the governments of nation states and their obligations. I do not believe in fancy projects or institutions that purport to be better placed than a legitimate government in the management of resources.
Of course, what I am saying is controversial. The fashion, these days, is for internationalism in the management of resources. But does internationalism work? Think of Copenhagen before you answer. The United Nations may be a useful talking shop but it has no single soldier or citizen of its own. Its wars, whether in Korea, Iraq or Somalia are American wars, fought with UN approval as a fig leaf. Multinational companies may indulge the conceit that they soar above the mundane limits of the nation state, but in the final analysis it is national governments that save them from themselves, or clip their wings. Ask the finance houses; ask BP.
Did you know that the Rhodesian UDI economy - and thus Smith's illegal government - was powered by Zambian hydroelectric kilowatt hours? Did you know that ZESCO, the same ZESCO that is currently in the process of emptying our pockets, did not even charge Ian Smith and his pals for the power supplied?
Where was the Central African Power Corporation CAPCO, the supranational supervisor of the common power system? Being based in Salisbury it perhaps overlooked its responsibilities to the Zambian taxpayer. The IBRD division of the World Bank, which lent Zambia the money for its power infrastructure, should have been well able to do the sums and work out that Zambia was being screwed. It chose not to, perhaps because some of its professional staff were Rhodesians. In the end it was Zambian nationalists, patriots, who brought matters to a fair resolution.
I am not saying that governments always do the right thing. They very often do not, but they are the only bodies, ultimately, with the power to do good, even if they chronically abuse it doing nothing or doing evil. Nor am I confusing what I have called “resource nationalism” with the claims of “Big People” to land or mineral or other resources on the grounds that they are nationalists or patriots or “ethnically qualified”. The ongoing development by two Big Men of Lusaka's last remaining stretch of green belt - Lusaka East Forest Reserve, originally established to protect the headwaters of the Chalimbana River - is not resource nationalism; it is resource despoliation. And ultimately this government is responsible for it, and will hopefully be held to account one day.
Back to Nyika. The current southern African fashion for trans-frontier “peace parks” has of course reached there - it has been a trans-frontier park, in effect, for over half a century. The money that the peace park movement is bringing to it is obviously most welcome if well used. Commercial development consistent with preserving the environment, i.e. eco-tourism, is obviously also a good thing. However, tourism potential would seem to have its limits in such a remote place; for example no operator is prepared to restart the Zambian rest house in the face of competition from the Malawian side of the park, where German aid has been used to build a hotel which looks like it belongs in an Alpine ski resort. Yet another example of aid interfering with the workings of market economics!
But in the final analysis Nyika's survival in its present form depends upon the two national governments, each of which owns part of it. Current threats are not severe but might count as small warning clouds on the horizon. Current pressure for meat, land and wood can only increase. The Malawian uranium deposits currently being opened up for mining seem to be well north of Nyika, though there is talk of tapping hydropower for the mines from inside the park area. Hopefully, nothing will get out of hand.
But if it does, send for the resource nationalists.
Labels: GUY SCOTT, NEOCOLONIALISM, PF
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COMMENT - The editor could have added the case of Fred M'membe, where the judge 'disappeared', forcing him to spend a weekend in jail instead of being bailed.
Winning court cases with govt’s help
By The Post
Mon 06 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
THERE’S an increasing number of statements from senior government and ruling MMD officials suggesting that they exert undue influence on the judiciary.
This is a very worrying development that should not be taken lightly.
MMD national chairman and lands deputy minister Michael Mabenga has joined the list of those who are bragging about things they should be ashamed of.
A self-respecting government in a democracy would not say anything that undermines the integrity of the judiciary whatever the perceived benefits might be. But this is exactly what Mabenga did the other day when he declared that “people like Ng’andu Magande could not have won elections in Chilanga without the help from government. Magande had won through a court ruling”.
The words spoken by Mabenga require no interpretation. What he said is very clear. But the import is very worrying. Mabenga is not scared to take a public platform and tell the nation that Magande could not have won his election petition in our courts of law without the help of government.
That statement raises the obvious question: what help did government give Magande without which he would not have won the election petition?
Our people have not forgotten that the decision in the Magande election petition took long and seemed to have had some twists and turns.
In that regard, could Mabenga be telling us something that he really ought not to? We ask this because it seems Mabenga is saying that government played an unspecified role in ensuring that Magande won the election petition.
In the context of the many concerns that our people have about the way that our governments seem to get favourable decisions in highly contested matters, Mabenga’s statement is reckless and dangerous. But probably we shouldn’t condemn Mabenga’s statement because the man may be telling the nation some uncomfortable truth.
Mabenga is confirming the fears that many of our people have regarding the way our judiciary operates in relation to those in power. At least from what Mabenga says, it is clear that our government interferes with the judiciary. And Mabenga seems to be sure that Magande would not have won the election petition regarding the Chilanga parliamentary seat without government influence.
It still leaves the question: how did government ensure that Magande won the petition? Was it by creating false evidence or indeed was it by ensuring that the decision of the judge was favourable to those in power? We are asking all these questions because Mabenga says Magande didn’t win that election; he only won it through a court ruling with the help of government.
In a word, what Mabenga is telling us is that there’s an election fraud here that has been sustained through our court system. The fact that this was possible then would suggest that it’s even more possible now. This is what must concern every citizen. Courts exist to make decisions according to the law regardless of the identity of the people involved.
But Mabenga is not the only one who has told the nation that somehow the government has undue influence on the outcome of certain cases. Our people have not forgotten that while the decision in the case involving Frederick Chiluba was still being read in our courts, Rupiah was busy asking the nation, in a way that suggested he knew the outcome, to accept the decision. How did Rupiah know that Chiluba was going to be acquitted?
It was very clear from comments that followed from people like Mike Mulongoti that the government had ensured that the Chiluba decision went in a particular way. This position was also strengthened by their decision to withdraw an appeal that had been legitimately filed against Chiluba’s acquittal.
And Rupiah himself went on to make it clear that he had decided not to appeal Chiluba’s acquittal. This was against the background that such a decision could only be made by the Director of Public Prosecutions. What this demonstrates is that having ensured that Chiluba was acquitted, Rupiah made sure that the matter was removed from the courts.
This also, in some way, ties up with the recent decision by the High Court not to register the London High Court judgment so that it could be enforced against Chiluba and recover for the Zambian people more than US$ 46 million that he and his tandem of thieves had stolen from government.
Again, although the decision of the High Court was clearly wrong, Rupiah ensured that it was not appealed, in total disregard of all the serious ramifications that the decision was going to have.
These comments by people like Mabenga, Rupiah and even Mulongoti do nothing to enhance democracy and the rule of law. If anything, they are a danger to the peace and stability of our country. We say this because conflict is a natural part of any society.
By this we mean to say that every nation at one time or another has to deal with competing interests and the conflict that arises from that.
The organs of the state exist to ensure that those competing interests or conflicts that arise are settled in a manner that is consistent with civilised co-existence in accordance with the rule of law. The courts are a very important organ of the state.
They are supposed to ensure that all conflicts that cannot be resolved by consent through dialogue or some other methods are settled in a civilised manner.
By this we mean that the courts come in and examine the issue and decide according to the established principles and norms enshrined in our laws. What is even more important than the decision that the court makes is the assumption that the parties to the dispute are going to accept the determination that the court makes.
But the acceptance of the court’s determination is based on the belief that the court makes its decision solely on the basis of the facts before it and the law applicable.
This assumption crumbles when people get the impression that one of the parties to a matter that is before a court has an unfair advantage by being in a position to exert undue influence on the court.
When this happens, people lose confidence in the decisions of the courts, and society is then in danger of disintegrating because everybody decides to be their own judges – they take the law into their own hands. And when this happens, both the law and the rule of law, that is democracy itself, are threatened.
The comment by Mabenga feeds directly into a notion that is widely held by many of our people. We may choose to remain quiet about it and pretend all is well, the courts' decisions have been accepted without question, but that will not help anyone.
This is why our courts have to do more to demonstrate to our people that the decisions they make, particularly in politically sensitive cases, are based on nothing else but the law.
When the courts begin to make decisions that are contradictory even on the surface, then we have a problem. Let us look at what has happened with judge Evans Hamaundu’s decision in the Chiluba case and superimpose that with Mabenga’s comments. Judge Hamaundu made a decision that ignored his own earlier decision.
Mabenga comes in and basically brags that the government is able to make people who should lose their cases win them. When we look at these two instances, and to that add the highly questionable acquittal of Chiluba by magistrate Jones Chinyama, we see a worrying trend that should not be ignored. The fact that it is unpalatable should not be used to sweep this problem under the carpet.
If the judiciary is perceived as a subservient extension of the executive, it will not be long before anarchy breaks out in our country. Everything possible needs to be done to ensure that our people retain confidence in our courts' ability to deliberate and determine matters freely and fairly without the government’s direct or indirect undue influence.
Anything short of this will render our judiciary moribund and of no use to our society. What Mabenga has said should cause the judiciary to pause and reflect on its relationship with those in power, those occupying State House.
Labels: CORRUPTION, JUDICIARY, MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD
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