Needs of the youths
Fri 18 Jan. 2013, 13:40 CAT
Geoffrey Mwamba, the Minister of Defence, says that any country that does not attend to the needs of the youths is on a self-destruction path. We agree. A nation, a country, a society which values its future affords the highest priority to the needs of its youths. Truly, the future of the country depends on how well it addresses the plight of its youths.
Our young people, our youths are our most important natural resource, and we must prepare them for the future. And this realisation should stimulate us in working for the future of our young people. And with this in mind, we call on everyone to keep on working and struggling with enthusiasm, strength, firmness and unwavering confidence in the future. And the basic clay of our work should be the youth. We should place our hope in them and prepare them to take the banner from our hands.
Good leaders must be interested in the welfare of the youth. We expect them to feel the distress of our young people who are bearing the tragedy of high unemployment.
But dealing with problems and challenges facing the youth is not an easy thing. This is so because these young people carry on their shoulders many problems and challenges; they carry on their heads and backs the challenges and problems of the whole nation - the nation of the past, the present and the future. We need leaders of courage who will defend the truth and demand justice for our young people.
But the importance of our youths, of our young people is something that is being sloganeered about in our politics everyday. "The youths are the greatest resource of our country!" How often we hear that statement! And how true is it for our homeland! Our young people are indeed our greatest resource, our richest treasure, our best hope for the future. Yet today in Zambia, we hear of the frightening abuses of that resource, of its deterioration, exploitation. We sadly note that this resource is being abused amidst great suffering, a suffering which by and large seems to go unnoticed by those in our politics and is often inadequately responded to by government programmes.
We are therefore delighted whenever we hear of any government programme being initiated, being commissioned that is aimed at the youth. However, we always feel that much more needs to be said and to be done if we are to meet effectively the massive problems and challenges of our young people.
It is demoralising for our young people to find there is no work waiting for them when they leave school, college or university.
Most of the problems and challenges our youths are facing arise from the failure of the economy to provide sufficient jobs. While it is true that no economy is able to provide all the young people with jobs, joblessness among the youths in Zambia is not just a matter of a small number; it is an extremely serious problem.
In order to derive benefit from our economy, our young people must be able to participate in it; and for most of them, the primary means of economic participation is work. If we expect our young people to contribute to national development, we have to create opportunities for them to work. If we expect our young people to work and contribute to national development, then we must make it possible for them to do so.
In this regard, a profound responsibility rests on both the political authorities and those who hold powerful positions in the economy. Everything possible must be done to maximise job opportunities for our young people. And where the choice is between greater profits and greater employment for our young people, the latter must be chosen. This is a matter of the greatest urgency.
As long as these high unemployment levels among our young people remain the case, there can be no hope of achieving secure and prosperous future for our young people and indeed our country as a whole.
And as defence minister Mwamba has correctly observed, there is an enormous social cost to high youth unemployment. The harm caused by high youth unemployment is by no means limited to material matters.
While simplistic deductions must be avoided, there can be no doubt that a connection exists between high rates of unemployment among the youths and the distressing high incidences of crime, gangsterism, drug and alcohol abuse. Many of these social problems in turn impact negatively on the economy, resulting in a vicious circle which will only be broken by the provision of jobs to the great majority of our young people.
This country is theirs and ours, but in the last analysis, it is theirs, it belongs to the young people, the youths. Young people, full of vigour and vitality, are in the bloom of life, like the sun at six or seven in the morning. Our hope is placed in them. The world belongs to them. Zambia's future belongs to them. Zambia must care for her youths and show concern for the growth of the younger generation. Therefore, full attention must be paid both to their work and study and to their recreation, sport and rest.
The success of all that we are doing, of our political work, of all our government programmes must be measured by how much they address the problems and challenges of our young people, of our youths. The hopeless and desperate young people we meet everyday are a testimony to an unfinished job. There can be no keener revelation of our progress, of our soul than the way in which we address the problems and challenges being faced by our young people. The true character of a society is revealed by how it treats its young people. But as Dr Kenneth Kaunda once observed, our young people also have a responsibility to bear:
"The future of this country lies entirely in your hands, and we can provide you with opportunities, as indeed we are fast doing, but in the end it is your own effort that must count in making you a successful citizen or resident. In the end, it is your own willingness to contribute to the good of Zambia that matters. Hold these opportunities with both hands, and if I may borrow from the Scout movement, grow up always prepared to serve your country under any difficulties and at all times. Will you?"
Labels: ANDREW NTWENE, GBM, UNEMPLOYMENT, YOUTHS
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Let young people play a role in development - Mwewa
By Moses Kuwema
Fri 18 Jan. 2013, 13:40 CAT
YOUNG African Leaders Initiative president Andrew Ntewewe says Zambia will only stand on the path of economic development by letting young people play an effective role in national development.
Commenting on defence minister Geoffrey Mwamba's statement that any country that does not attend to the needs of the youths is on a self-destruction path, Ntewewe said it was true that a nation that does not consider its young people does not look at its own future.
"It will be on a self destruction path because the young people as we know them, have a lot of energy, skills and these young people are the ones that are supposed to be the backbone for national development.
They are supposed to play a key role in all areas of human endeavor. In particular in terms of economic development, they are supposed to use their energy for purposes of developing our industry and tapping
our resources so that Zambia can truly become politically and economically independent," he said.
Ntewewe said young people are the ones who could define the destiny and future of the country.
He said the number of youths was constantly on the increase and there was need for them to be engaged in national development of the country.
"If we do not look at these young people and ensure that they can effectively participate in our democratic system of government in ensuring that there is economic development and they play that role
then we are failing our own country because we are missing out on this great potential and skill that young people have," he said.
Ntewewe said the government has the responsibility of looking at the potential of the young people and harness it for the future of the country.
During the official opening of the intake 04/2012 of the youth training programme at Chiwoko ZNS camp on Friday last week, Mwamba said the government understood that matters of youths were crucial to
any nation.
He said the future of the country depends on how well it addresses the plight of the youths.
"Government is concerned that most of the youths in Zambia lack financial support to help them pursue further education for the betterment of their lives. This has been further compounded by the limited formal employment opportunities that are available in the country," he said.
Mwamba said it was equally of concern to see youths being exploited in a number of ways just for them to sustain bare existence.
Labels: ANDREW NTWENE, GBM, UNEMPLOYMENT, YOUTHS
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Hichilema's cadres assault cop
By Ernest Chanda
Fri 18 Jan. 2013, 14:00 CAT
UNRULY UPND cadres yesterday assaulted a police officer at Lusaka's Woodlands Police Station where their leader Hakainde Hichilema had been summoned to answer to charges of insulting President Michael Sata.
Hichilema was arrested and charged with defamation of the President over his utterances in Lusaka's Kalikiliki compound where he called President Sata a thief and accused him of being corrupt. The cadres assaulted constable Adam Banda after hitting him with a stone on the head.
Banda sustained a deep cut on his head and bled profusely before being rushed to the hospital. The cadres later got engaged in an altercation with other police officers, including spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela who they accused of assaulting Banda. Immediately Hichilema arrived at Woodlands Police Station, the cadres hurled invectives at police officers who watched helplessly. The arrival of one of Hichilema's advisers, Douglas Syakalima, heightened the commotion as he too engaged in a quarrel with a uniformed police officer from whom he demanded respect.
Other cadres, high on alcohol, hurled insults at police officers and threatened to beat them up; accusing them of being PF sympathisers. Earlier in the morning at Police Force Headquarters, Hichilema refused to be interviewed from the offices upstairs, fearing that his team could be tear-gassed.
Hichilema arrived at 10:00 hours in the company of his lawyers Sakwiba Sikota, Jack Mwiimbu and Martha Mushipe. Several UPND cadres, who also accompanied Hichilema, caused commotion and they complained about the teargas canisters that were used to disperse them at Lusaka's Central Police when Hichilema appeared for questioning last year.
"Last time you tear-gassed us upstairs. Let's be orderly, let's be orderly. Who is in charge here? There will be no interview upstairs, full stop; because you teargas people and you want to kill people upstairs. There'll be an interview downstairs, not upstairs," Hichilema demanded. Later the two parties reached a compromise and Hichilema was interviewed in one of the rooms on the ground floor. And after the interview before being taken to Woodlands Police Station for official arrest, Hichilema told journalists that he was not scared of being arrested. "They are even following me in court which is contemptuous of court. They have been coming to my house, so today I decided to come," said Hichilema. "They have charged me for a case where I said the President was protecting Wynter Kabimba when he went to the Anti Corruption Commission and he refused to be interviewed there, so I made a comment about that; that's what they have called me for. I know they've just changed because they know that the public had pressure on the Kalikiliki visit."
And Kanjela confirmed that Hichilema had been charged with defamation of the President.
"We've arrested Mr. Hakainde Hichilema the president of the UPND for defamation of the President, contrary to Section 66 of the Penal Code. He is appearing in court today (yesterday) at 14:30 hours; he's been released on bond. It is believed that on the 13th of January he had uttered some words which we believe are coming up to form the crime of defamation of the President," said Kanjela.
And Hichilema expressed fear that the government had planned to have him locked up even after he had been granted police bond. After he was granted police bond and told to appear in court at 14:30 hours, Hichilema told the police officer who was explaining to him that the bond would only last for a few hours, as the court would not extend it.
Hichilema was released on a KR5000 police bond with two working sureties.
"I'm supposed to appear in court today? Then they want the bond to expire so that they lock me up; that's what they have planned," said Hichlema. But a plain clothed police officer explained to him that even when he would be appearing in court, his bond would still be valid. "This bond is for today and you are appearing at the magistrate court at 14:30 hours," explained the police officer.
"Why don't you take me to court now?" Hichilema asked.
But Mazabuka UPND member of parliament Gary Nkombo chipped in and assured Hichilema that since they had signed the police bond, Hichilema would go home.
But Hichilema insisted and said: "They will cancel the bail there (at court), they'll not issue the bail; that's why they want court to be afternoon." But police officers assured Hichilema that his bond would be extended even at court.
Thereafter, Hichilema understood and was later ushered to his vehicle by his party officials and sympathisers.
Meanwhile, MMD president Nevers Mumba described Hichilema's arrest as ridiculous.
"Mr. Sata is digging a grave for himself. If the God I worship is there in heaven you watch the space. God will bring justice in this country; this cannot be allowed to continue," said Mumba.
"This is ridiculous! This is criminal! Not from our side but from those who wish to oppress our rights and take away our liberties. And we can promise them our liberties will not be lost over our blood."
Meanwhile, Hichilema appeared in the Lusaka Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon in connection with the defamation of the President charges but the matter could not take off because the state, according to his lawyer Sakwiba Sikota, was not ready.
Labels: CADRES, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, UPND
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Our rail system will surpass that of SA - Chirwa
By Henry Sinyangwe
Fri 18 Jan. 2013, 13:30 CAT
PROFESSOR Clive Chirwa says Zambia's rail system will surpass that of South Africa in the next five years owing to a strong strategy put in place for its resuscitation.
And a board for Zambia Railways has been constituted, with Mark Chona appointed as chairperson.
Professor Chirwa, who has been given a five-year contract to revamp the country's railway system following the failed concession between government and Railway Systems of Zambia, said yesterday during the announcement of the board that his team was determined to bring in new technology in the railway sector that would be better than that of South Africa.
"We will bring in better trains, better passenger coaches and everything else, perhaps even better than South Africa. South Africa has yesterday's technology. We are bringing in new technology which will enable us move this country forward," he said, adding that his desire was to work hard to meet the people's expectations.
"We have a vision which we have already presented to the board and we are presenting it to the nation on the 31st of January at an open forum where people will be able to listen on how we intend to build Zambia Railways.
"I would like to thank his Excellency President Sata for looking up to me, to say that 'okay, he is a son of Zambia who can do something for us' and I accepted that offer and I have come home and its good to come home and I want to do something for Zambia and I will try so hard to make sure that the expectations of the Zambian people are upheld and we will within three years see a railway system which we want to build together with the board."
And transport, communications, works and supply permanent secretary Dr Muyenga Atanga said the government was satisfied with the calibre of the appointed board members for Zambia Railways.
These include economic consultant Professor Oliver Saasa who is the board vice chairperson, commerce permanent secretary Stephen Mwansa, finance permanent secretary Pamela Chibonga, retired Zambia Railways employee Richard Chipanama, mechanical engineer Geoffrey Mulenga, private lawyer Ireen Dzeko Mbewe, business management consultant Jornam Mwansa, Solicitor General Musa Mwenye, and Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) chief executive officer Zindaba Soko.
"Most people are saying that we have been quiet, especially after the announcement by our leaders that Zambia Railways was repossessed to do away with the concession and that government took the initiative to source for somebody who can steer this system to progress. Government first needed to put in place a board which was a very important initiative. There was need to ensure that a properly selected board was put in place and that board is very important…," said Dr Atanga who is part of the board as a representative of the government.
And Chona said those who may have encroached on Zambia Railways land should move to pave way for its rescuscitation.
"Those holding on to ZR assets and those who may have encroached on the land which belongs to the company, this property belongs to the Zambian people and farmers, if you don't produce, it will be a white elephant railway system unless it has something to carry, so you must produce," said Chona.
Prof Saasa observed that most sectors of the economy had lagged behind due to the poor transport infrastructure.
"We have a major challenge in the state of infrastructure and the degree to which that infrastructure compliments and supplements the growth that we have recorded. This is where the railway system and roads come in because without the infrastructure that feeds in and supports the growth we have recorded, you will discover that most of the sectors will not record higher gains in terms of growth. The railway system has hampered this growth in the last 10 years," said Prof Saasa.
Labels: CLIVE CHIRWA, OLIVER SAASA, RAIL, ZAMBIA RAILWAYS
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Wynter to lead AU delegation
By Moses Kuwema
Fri 18 Jan. 2013, 13:30 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has replaced foreign affairs minister Given Lubinda with justice minister Wynter Kabimba as delegation leader for the Zambian party to the 20th African Union summit in Ethiopia.
Lubinda was dropped from the government delegation to the summit which would run from January 21-28 because of the disciplinary cases he is facing in the party.
And President Sata's special assistant for press and public relations
George Chellah confirmed that Lubinda would not attend next week's 20th ordinary session of the assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, saying he had taken his annual leave.
Chellah stated that Lubinda has been on leave since December 21, 2012 and another minister has already taken his position as acting foreign affairs minister.
"However, it should also be borne in mind that Lubinda is facing serious charges against the party, which will only be resolved at the forthcoming party Central Committee meeting," Chellah stated.
But Lubinda revealed recently that his leave would be coming to an end next week on Tuesday.
Kabimba and his delegation are supposed to leave on Wednesday, while President Sata would be leaving for Ethiopia either on Thursday or Friday next week.
Sources revealed that as the only cabinet minister, Kabimba would lead the Zambian entourage. And the sources have also revealed that in the absence of Lubinda, his deputy Dr Effron Lungu would go to the summit.
"Dr Lungu has actually been acting as foreign affairs minister during this whole time that Lubinda has been on leave. He has been acting just for administrative conveniences and not substantively," the sources said.
Lubinda's return to work would however, depend on the outcome of the Central Committee meeting that would be sitting this Sunday to look at the allegations that Lubinda is facing.
The Central Committee would look at the recommendations from the Edgar Lungu chaired disciplinary committee of the PF, that found the Kabwata member of parliament guilty of treachery and collaborating with the opposition political parties to discredit the ruling party.
During the same meeting, the Central Committee would also look at the recommendations from the disciplinary committee on the suspensions of former Lusaka Province PF chairman Davies Chama and his counterpart from Eastern Province Lucas Phiri and other leaders from Eastern Province.
Other issues to be tackled during the meeting include the adoption of candidates for the Mpongwe and Livingstone parliamentary by elections slated for February 28.
Labels: AU, EFFRON LUNGU, GEORGE CHELLAH, GIVEN LUBINDA, MICHAEL SATA, PF, WYNTER KABIMBA
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Senior chief Mwamba refutes Nkula's paramountcy claim
By Bivan Saluseki
Fri 18 Jan. 2013, 13:40 CAT
SENIOR Chief Mwamba has refuted claims by the acting Senior Chief Nkula (alias Kafula Mucheleka Lukaka) that President Michael Sata has instructed Bashilubemba (hereditary councilors ) to appoint him as Paramount Chief Chitimukulu.
Chief Mwamba yesterday said he found it to be very impertinent to bring the name of the head of state in such malicious and unfounded falsehoods, which gave the impression that the President was meddling in Bemba traditional affairs.
"Sub-Chief Chimba who acts as regent during the lengthy burial rites of Chitimukulu has vehemently denied having met the President. In fact the Supreme Court judgment No. 25 of 2008 clearly states: 'having affirmed the position that the choice of a Chitimukulu, Bashilubemba have a final say','' he explained.
"In fact, the acting chief Nkula's appointment to chieftainship has been shrouded in cunning jockeyship. He was hurriedly appointed Senior Chief Nkula and culturally installed by bypassing his elder brother the late Senior Chief Nkula (James Ngandu), just because there was a conspiracy by the late Mwine Lubemba Chitimukulu Mwango and his consort to prevent me from ascending to Chitimukuluship. But unfortunately that plan was aborted since State House quickly detected the conspiracy and demoted him to the position of chief Chikwanda. The conspirators in their hurried plans overlooked to check his family background since he has twins which according to Bemba tradition norms, anyone who has given birth to twins cannot see Babenye (tribal relics - sacred objects that are inherited with the name and post). This actually means in practice that he was automatically disqualified to hold any Bemba chiefly position. I don't even understand why he should even aspire to be the Paramount Chief when in fact his position as a Bemba chief will have to be reviewed by Ilamfya Bemba Supreme Council because of the anomaly."
According to intelligence reports, chief Nkula has been going round telling people that the President had instructed the Bemba council to make him the new Chitimukulu.
According to chief Mwamba, the Bemba political system is one of the most revolutionary in the world and admittedly succession is very intricate because their political system was highly complex.
For example, the positions of Senior Chief Mwamba and Senior Chief Nkula are the most senior in the Bemba hierarchy, but it does not automatically mean that anyone in those positions can succeed to the paramountcy.
Another guiding line is that there is no sequence of chiefly names leading to the paramountcy, but only relationships and a new Paramount may step up from being Mwamba or Nkula or from being a man with no earlier post.
Although Mwamba is regarded as the second in power and honour, he need not be the right man to succeed in every case as Paramount.
It is relationship that counts, not possession of a particular chieftainship.
The Chitimukulu died in April last year.
Labels: CHIEF MWAMBA, CHIEF NKULA, CHIEFS, MICHAEL SATA
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Bennett breaks ranks over John Nkomo tributes
Contested legacy ... John Nkomo with Vice President Mujuru and PM Morgan Tsvangirai
18/01/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
ROY Bennett broke ranks with his MDC-T party on Thursday over tributes to the late Vice President John Nkomo, accusing colleagues of “telling lies” and “stupidity”.
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai described Nkomo as “an eminent nationalist, a liberation war icon and a committed patriot who will be sadly missed by all Zimbabweans”, while extending “heartfelt condolences over the loss of such a committed Zimbabwean”.
The party’s spokesman Douglas Mwonzora said “Nkomo’s politics was different from that of his colleagues which is that of blood”, adding: “He was a reconciliatory man and befittingly he was leading the Organ on National Healing.”
But Bennett, the party’s treasurer who lives in exile in the United Kingdom, said the tributes showed that the deaths of prominent Zanu PF politicians were becoming “occasions for all sorts of nonsense and stupidity”.
He made reference to a tribute by the United States embassy which said Nkomo was a “patriot who dedicated his life to Zimbabwe's sovereignty and prosperity” – hardly any more gushing than those of Tsvangirai and Mwonzora.
“Excuse me. We may not like to speak ill of the dead, but let's not tell lies,” stormed Bennett, a white former commercial farmer once jailed for assaulting Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa in parliament.
He went on: “How can anyone with any sense say that John Nkomo dedicated his life to Zimbabwe's prosperity? Since the 1980s, he has sat at the heart of the beast that has destroyed Zimbabwe's economy. He has held the hand of the dictator that has obliterated our hopes and freedoms.
“He must now be remembered by the choices he made. He chose to oppose the people, rather than serve them. He walked around in tailor-made suits while Zimbabweans walked in rags. He received private medical treatment in South Africa, while Zimbabweans in South Africa were dying in the townships.”
Bennett said his advice to “the Americans and others who appear to be bending over backward to show their neutrality in 2013” was: “Better to shut-up and say nothing than to insult the millions of Zimbabweans who have been murdered and impoverished by Zanu PF.”
Meanwhile MDC leader Welshman Ncube said Nkomo was a “unifying force” while Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa spoke of Nkomo as a “stabilising force in everything”.
Added Dabengwa: “He didn’t like to hurt the feelings of anybody. He was diplomatic and if he knew he did not agree with you, he wouldn’t use the word ‘no’, but would find a diplomatic way and from that point. I think people felt he was a stabilising factor.”
COMMENTS
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Dzimbabwe
This is why MDC must be careful about apparent support they get from those of the pale skin to borrow Jukwas Favorited term though it leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth just by saying it. For once I am tempted to use jukwa'a language. This is the heart of the difference between white Zimbabweans and black Zimbabweans and in indeed with the west. We have an axe to grind with Zanu PF but that axe is different between us and the whites. Bennet has just shown what really is in his heart and that is something personal and not national. Sorry Pachedu, this time Pachedu Na Mudhara John. He did have his wrongs but many if us are more grateful than we are angry at him. You and us can not and will never share the experience of having been liberated by chimurenga. That's an experience that will always give you and us a different perspective on the current and past national leaders. I am not saying they have been angels over the last 30 years NO, but when a father pays your school fees, feeds you and gives you a point to start from in life you will not stand on his graveside and say this man was a bad man even if on one or two occasions he forgot to pay school fees and went drinking with his money. We are what we are today, we are sought after in all these countries today because independence empowered us and gave us an opportunity for education that many of us might never have had. Again many things went wrong, and horribly wrong over the last 30 years but in the eyes of a normal black Zimbabwean who tasted apartheid and understood its macro implications, (not just the fact of not going to the same bars- that's nothing) the man and women who brought independence (and please that's not just Mugabe, Nkomo and the Ovets - its many Zimbabweans men women, boys and girls) will always have a special place in our hearts. We know and would like to correct what they did wrong but we will not forsake them. This is something that Morgen and many other politicians apart from those in Zanu, understand very well and Bannet can never share or understand this experience, ever.
Rest in peace Mtwana wenhlabati.
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Rafique702
Bennet is the only one who is able to call a spade a spade....we will all die......do we fear that if we call it as it is we will die, we will die regardless!!!!.....So would it be correct to speak well of Hitler by his grave side?and say he was a good man who contributed to his country..well yes he did...but is that a balanced testimony? I work with Black South Africans who are good people on a one on one basis but stick together regardless of whether they are right or wrong against an "outsider"... ......is this why we then attack Bennet?because he criticized while white?..what if this criticism came from a black man? we have to get over this pretending to give people titles and accolades at their grave sides..Mugabe has been praising Murderers for years...remember Bennet was violated by Zanu, would we you say good things about someone who abused you at their grave site...yes John Nkomo was a moderate but he carried on the usual Zanu way so when inflation raged on and people suffered was it well with him?Is he not also culpable for the misrule by Zanu?..Was he unaware of the torture, killings and maimings and starvation..I will let you know for a FACT the John was USED by Mugabe to frustrate the Matebeleland Zambezi water project....did he do that to keep the peace????.if not did he stand against corruption???.....Bennet indeed has a point...we are not hear to insult the dead but we must not give praises where they are not due......
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GottaBeMe
Shame on you bro.
Without ZANU and ZAPU I doubt if I was going to have a chance to receive the good education I received. I doubt if I was going to make it to be what I am now if there was no independence of 1980 that these guys fought for. However ZANU made too many wrong moves but I will not completely wipe them off. I appreciate the liberation we had in the 80s and 90s.
I grew up in Kwekwe so I saw some of the Gukurahindi stuff in the Midlands. Still everything ZANU is not bad. I am sorry for your poor soul.
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Jacques Marneweck
It's called "accountability" And I think its more disrespectful of the dead to sing there praises and pretend they where someone they where not than to remember them as who they where. It's like killing them again by wiping away there history. The west still have a bad view of Hitler even tho he managed to make the most indebted country the most powerful in less then a decade. But we remember him as a monster that pushed for race based laws just like zanu and that is how it should be. And by all accounts Hitler did all that Mugabe did but he actually at some point in his career at least put the majority first.
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nhamodzenyika
What a load of Rubbish, Zimbabweans are the most racist lot under the sun and judging from the posts we read on these forums, one thinks there is a level of being delusional as well amongst ZImbabweans. If something thats right is said by a white Zimbabwean, he is then reminded of his skin colour and all sorts of vile cr*p that ZANU has fed to its people.
What Bennett is saying is spot on, that c*nt Nkomo must rot in hell and as Bennett puts it he sat in the heart of the beast and massaged it all along. His fellow people from matebeleland were massacred and never once did this man ever publicly call for an inquiry. Clearly he was now sorted and had a position in government so stuff the rest. Bulawayo or should i say the Matebeleland region continues to fall apart, industry closing, water woes, no development and yet people like Nkomo, Khaya Moyo etc sit as puppets in the ZANU machine that nearly wiped clean its own people.
I support Bennett for he is brave enough to tell it as it is not Tswangirai who is trying to entice the lot.
Zimbabweans are like South Africans and the ANC, one track mind, no good can come from a white person period. The west should pull its plug on even Aid to these useless countries and watch what happens, cause as a people governance and management are so alien to Africans its shocking.
Good Words Bennett and always speak your mind, if they don't like it, punch em like you did that monkey in parliament
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greatcontroversy
Arikutaura chokwadi murungu uyu. Nkomo obviously supported all the evil done by Zanu, all the people they have killed, he was put of it in a way unlike Dabengwa who made up his mind not 2 be partt of that evil.....
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Mthwakazi
well said my brother Roy is telling the truth Nkomo must burn in hell he died a zanu he is zanu
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Ngoko
Fools in abundance
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berekanai
Why monkey and why not say 'punch them like you punched that man'. Is monkey the only word that is suitable for Chinamasa? To me it shows that you have used the platform to express your racist attitude. By nature you are a racist and people like you do not have any room in Zimbabwe no matter how poor we might be. Why not stay in your homeland where there are no problems and leave everything to those who want to sort out the problems faced by Zimbabweans? Shame on you!!
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Wilberforce Majaji
Hahaha u r such an idiot. I have no idea why such idiots get the blessing of a computer. You are fighting a losing battle son. Bennett will never set foot in Zimbabwe again. He will remain a prisoner of hope. The hope,of once again returning to his farm. Let me make clear to you and your ilk, Rhodes like you will be crushed ruthlessly and without remorse. Just for punching Chinamasa, Bennett went on a good diet program for 2 years in a rural jail.imagine what will happen if he comes back now. Zimbabweans will be relentless in making sure, once and for all, that Bennett and his selous thugs like you will never again be given the chance to subjugate te great people of Zimbabwe
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Elma Sabudo
You should endeavour to promote free speech and free press .Our judiciary has liable laws enforced through civil courts and more such as inflammatory can be enacted .But that is very impossible Robert Mubage will be locked up as well .
Last time you posted Indianapolis as place of residence and yet nothing has been learned ever since that is the sad part of your story .An African wants enslaved living in the West caught in dichotomy of hate along racial lines and cannot see beyond that .
The implications of your misguided drivel is not only Bennet will never step back to Zimbabwe but other black Zimbabweans too ,because of nihilistic behaviour like yours .And more Africans perishing escaping repressive country's ,with more naturalised and contributing within their new founded homes .Making it impossible for Africa to catch up with current modernity .
SHAME ,DAI MAGARA KU ZIMBABWE ZVE NHAI BHUDI .MARI YE TICKET MAKATENGA MA SHARES .
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Wilberforce Majaji
Whilst in your vile attempt to soil me by misquoting everything I've said it is your right and you're free to say wha pleases you, try or not! What is interesting, however is you seem to portray the Mage that you know me! Look, I don't use a pseudo name like he coward that you are! If you want to know all about me ask me or those who know me. Talking about things that you don't know is a b1tch a$$ trait.
You may continue to parade as if you know my situation, I'll leave that to folks like yôu! It could be that you get some sort of satisfaction from talking about things you don't know. But what I know is this, I'm a free man and I don't need your lecture to put food on my table.
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Elma Sabudo
Here is what you posted BHUDHI with typos .
"He will remain a prisoner of hope. The hope,of once again returning to his farm. Let me make clear to you and your ilk, Rhodes like you will be crushed ruthlessly and without remorse ".
For free speech !!! ,your quoted drivel is a catalyst of Rwanda genocide and yet you live in developed country where free speech is enshrined in the constitution and enforced by courts system .You should school your party about it not incite hatred .
I am not trying to soil you ,but displaying your limited intellectual threshold driven by an IQ of a mosquito BHUDHI.Now that you are marinated ,learn to unite and debate with civility .
OUCCCH NOW THAT IS GOING TO HURT LIKE BAST@@RD!!!.
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Wilberforce Majaji
So there is a lot of civility in what you just said? Listen, I don't have time to debate with you. Besides, why would you want to debate with someone with a "limited intellectual threshold". So I'll do you a favor. You are free not to read what I say but best believe, I won't stop
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Ngoko
Notice to the Public
DEAD BODY, AVOID PROXIMITY
placed by Ngoko
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GottaBeMe
I agree with freedom of expression, but to go like this is neither moral nor right.
This shows that Bennett wants all these guys dead. I hate that, I now support the assertion that he should never set his foot in Zim. He has offended many. When Smith was killing and oppressing our fathers Bennett was quiet. Shame on him. Ngaanovhiya mbudzi vakuru titaure nyaya.
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shumba
Listen to what Roy is saying, do not just read his words. There is nothing right mukoma. The man is angry with whoever has said the right thing, at the right time. The Late cde Nkomo, Nyongolo, Tongogara, JZ etc and Mugabe and company are well known throughout the world for their contributions to the struggle for black freedom. Is that racist? And you think it is right for somebody from planet Z to ridicule their contributions and turn their graves into rubbish dumps. Makadyeyi nhayi mukoma. Mucharutsiswa nani vangodobori vakapera kufa, kwasara tsikamutanda chete.
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GottaBeMe
Nhamodzenyika, I got a question for you. Are you white?
Yes/no please.
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Toots
I do not believe Bennett's anger is directed at the late John Nkomo or Zanu-PF at all. He is not even angry at the Americans.
For years, the man worked his arse off raising funds for Tsvangirai's MDC-T. The man invested huge amounts of time and money in the MDC-T dream. His main objective was to land his stooge in State House so that he can undo everything that Zanu-PF had done. He wanted to restore white Rhodesia with a black President. He did that task so successfully that Tsvangirai nearly sneaked into StateHouse. But that dream is now water under the bridge.
Bennett never imagined that his front man would one day sup with and eulogise over the same people that he planned to dislodge from power.
Bennett is not angry with Robert Mugabe, Simon Moyo, John Nkomo, Welshman Ncube, Dumiso Dabengwa or the American Embassy.
His profuse anger is directed at Morgan Tsvangirai for defrauding him and misappropriating the time and money that he sweated for to invest in the MDC-T project.
He gambled and lost. Simple.
His anger is completely understandable, but also laughable
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Mozart
Did Bennett lie? It's critical that you read past the man's skin colour??
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Chivhu Mdhara
Nkomo and co liberated Zimbabwe and they should be thanked for that and they handsomely rewarded themselves farm, cash and company. The fact that they were part of the liberation struggle does not give them the right to abuse us. They acted as if they are the only ones who fought for this country. In as much as we abide by the African values of honouring the dead, we should not go overboard so as to loud the works of a man who has been part of the machinery that has left millions starving and millions in the diaspora. Let us not forget those who are living as ophans because of the political differences with the regime that Nkomo so vehemently supported. People talk about how the Nkomo family is feeling. Have the same people considered how the victims of politicall violence felt when thier loved ones were taken away. May Nkomo rest in peace. We honour him for the scars that he had on account of the struggle but also still see the scars that his party has left on our children and our people.
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GottaBeMe
Good points in there.
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Black Light
Accurate! A man's life, villainous as it might seem should be put on a balance of scales and judged accordingly. He participated in the treacherous and deadly war to liberate this country from a toxic, inhumane system that was colonialism, sought to expand the previously marginalized and disenfranchised Black capacity by education policies and died while seeking their economic empowerment. Were all these undertakings, policies and decisions correct? Not even close, but will Mr. Bennett claim that mantle of immaculate morality for himself?
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berekanai
Well said indeed!
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imbofungawega
Thank you for respectfully putting the issue into proper perspective. This really could be our defining point as Zimbabweans. Understanding each other with compassion and stepping forward with a common purpose. What perceptions we had of each other along racial, tribal, or other should really be understood in the context that for the long run cutting the nose to spite the face is not doing anyone any good. We probably should worry more about what our current existence means. True we do not speak ill of the dead. They rest, but we are still here. So yes we still have got to make this work.
RIP Vice President Nkomo.
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GottaBeMe
This is the best comment I read today. Well balanced.
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Jukwa
Dzimbabwe
The 'pale' in 'pale devil' is merely a means to physically IDENTIFY an invader in a Black land.
And the 'devil' in 'pale devil' identify the KNOWN history of beastly barbarianism practiced UNPROVOKED by european invaders against indigenous peoples!
The evil euros are not devils on account of their pale pigmentation. NO!
They are horrible creatures; BECAUSE OF THEIR HISTORY OF BEASTLY AND BARBARIC ACTIONS!
So please feel free to say 'pale devils'.
From now on, it shouldn't leave a 'bad taste' in the mouth now that you know it represents the truth about a set of criminal invaders from European & Arabian Peninsulas. lol
And by the way, you are observing correctly that the differences in groups of human; forms, geography of origin, and culture ARE REAL & NATURAL.
They are not artificial.
And they ARE NOT to be ignored in interactions.
The pale devils & their weird culture, ARE invaders in African Ancestral lands. And they need to be gone from Africa!
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Patience Nyangove
munyori wanyatsoreva zvako iwe very objective and Bennet must also realise at some point in his life he was supporting and one of those people who were ill treating and killing of black Zimbabweans but many of us embraced him back and made him one of our own that does not mean we are blind to the wrongs he committed against us
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nyamuzinga takesure
Thanx Patience.Yes at one time Bennet was also on the wrong side of the spectrum,but our people embraced him. Thats what reconciliation is all about. Thats what the Americans, judging from their tone are trying to achieve.This is the way forward.As long some people keep spitting venom.We will always be on each other's necks.
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GottaBeMe
Thanks Patience. Bennett was quiet when our fathers and mothers were being ill-treated. He must shut up or go fly a kite!
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Makate
Well said, thank you very much !!!!
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Life!
There is a lot truth in what Roy said, however it was the wrong time and from a wrong official.Those nasty words are better left for me Life! To dish out....spicy rhetoric uncut! Roy you are screwed! Stay safe.
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Ngoko
Notice to the Public
DEAD BODY of Life!
AVOID PROXIMITY
placed by Ngoko
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Life!
Why are you always wishing me death? I am not calling for truce anymore... we are going to war!
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Ngoko
Public Warning
DANGER! Life's decomposing CADAVAR
Advanced state of decomposition
AVOID PROXIMITY
By ORDER
Ngoko 24/7
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Life!
Your elimination papers have been signed, and the order will be carried out as directed.
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Mhanzi Mhanzi
Well said mudhara
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zvinhu_zviedzwa
Bull's eye!
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Sabakas
Breaking ranks? More like breaking wind(just commenting on the picture)
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Jukwa
Nice interpretation of the facts. lol
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zvinhu_zviedzwa
TO ROY BENNET
If I may ask....Who is Bennet?
Answer....Some WHITE *** nestled in the UK after stealing diamonds from Charleswood farm where he canvassed his diamond mining activities under green leaves.
Benet, shut up....because you are not Zimbabwean that's why you went to your country of origin misrepresenting to the word as exiled.....wakamboona exile kumusha kwako??
You never worked with Nkomo and your assertions are just fictitious....Ncube and Chamatama at least worked with him in the GNU and they comments are acceptable
Bennet....you will never set your foot in this country...you MORONIC WHITE thief!
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DZ
A white scumbag who stole from Zim never paid taxes or declared diamonds that he robbed us off, has supported regime change and was charged with treason and ran off and now has an opinion on our of our heros. He needs to focus on managing his ill gotten wealth in the Cayman Islands or Mauritius or wherever his offshore accounts are and F off. We wont be lectured to by former Selous Scouts. Pamh*ta
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zvinhu_zviedzwa
Taura zvako DZ.....I will not give a white a$$hole an opportunity to lecture me....NO!
Benet looted the country's resources then sponsored terror groups during elections and financed regime change agenda.....dai aiva mutema zvaiva nani....varungu imbudzi mhani! Vanoba uchiwona hiding under so called human rights laws....to hell with Benet....he is not entitle to comment on our HERO let alone open his PINK lips.
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AmaiZim
Try learning to spell correctly you fool
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zvinhu_zviedzwa
MRS WHITE PIG....you have no case in defending your kith and kin
Benet will not set foot in this country.....this time Chikurubi maximum is waiting for him.
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Ndinodyagochajongwe
Zvinhu, It takes a pig to know a pig, no matter the colour. Was your mother a pig? or was your father a pig F u ker? whatever the case, you sure have inherited all the traits of a pig. Go oink oink to your pen!
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Mashco
U are an idiot , used condom,a morron bafoon tsvina voetsek
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zvinhu_zviedzwa
WHITE PIGs will not intimidate us TRUE PATRIOTS......ask Bennet we send him to a jail in Mutoko!
Your words are just like a fly in soup....it does not change the soup in fact the soupd becomes a death trap for a fly.....i liken you to a white fly
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berekanai
I did not hear him say the same when Ian Smith passed away, it would have been different if he had given the same comments at that time. Most of the whites, not all, pretend to be in the same boat with the majority of Zimbabweans but hell no, we know all about it. However, there is a little bit of sense in what he is saying although there might seem to be a motive behind. Nkomo should have distanced himself from the dictator just like some of his colleagues did. He is a freedom fighter who has got innocent people's blood on his hands and thats the truth.
Labels: JOHN NKOMO, MDC, ROY BENNETT
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Mining tax rakes in US$137 million
18/01/2013 00:00:00
by Business Day
ZIMBABWE has received a windfall from platinum and gold mining companies the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority revealing that mining royalties contributed $136.9m to the country’s coffers last year.
The revenue collected from royalties was well above its target of $130.1m. Mining companies have been contesting the mineral royalty and mining fee increases the government implemented last year.
Mining executives and analysts have said the exorbitant fee increases affected profitability. The country’s chamber of mines has been lobbying for a review of royalties and fees.
"The increase in the rates of royalties on gold and platinum from 4.5% and 5% to 7% and 10% respectively further contributed to the positive performance," tax authority chairman Sternford Moyo said.
New revenue collection powers last year resulted in Zimplats, which is now 51% owned by local Zimbabwean groups, giving up its fight over a $33.8m revised income tax assessment.
The company is now contesting the interest and penalties on nonpayment. Zimplats CEO Alex Mhembere has previously said the tax demand could delay the company’s planned projects to ramp up production.
But after an indigenisation pact under which Zimplats would vendor-finance black Zimbabwean groups to acquire its shares, the government was expected to lower royalties and mining fees, Impala Platinum said after the signing the deal. This could happen as early as June.
Moyo said company tax contributions at $442.7m had firmed 14% against a target of $415m set for the period. This was a result of "recapitalisation by some large companies".
But Zimbabwean companies still faced challenges, including "lack of credit lines, energy shortages and high interest rates" on capital. Gross revenue collections for last year amounted to $3.45bn compared with a targeted $3.23bn.
The yields on bonds of Aquarius Platinum - which operates Zimbabwe’s Mimosa platinum mine in partnership with Implats - slid 158 basis points to an eight-month low after Anglo American Platinum’s (Amplats’) announcement on Tuesday that it will cut production.
It plans placing four mine shafts in South Africa on care and maintenance, cutting 14,000 jobs in the process.
Production cuts at South African platinum mines, which account for three-quarters of world supply, drove the price of the metal to a three-month high on Tuesday. The rally extended a 9.9% increase last year amid violent labour protests.
Labels: MINING, TAXATION
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(WHAT'S LEFT) Al Qaeda’s enemy in Mali, friend in Syria, and air force in Libya
Posted in Al Qaeda, Libya, Mali, Syria by what's left on January 17, 2013
By Stephen Gowans
New York Times reporters Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt, writing on January 16 about the
“hazy threat from Mali militants,” note that, “The group most worrisome to American officials is Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, which emerged out of Algeria’s civil war in the 1990s and originally was strictly focused on overthrowing Algeria’s government.”
US officials didn’t find AQIM so worrisome when the Islamist group was focused on overthrowing Libya’s government. At the time, Washington was happy to allow Islamist militants to destabilize a government that wasn’t wholly congenial to US business interests.
As the Ottawa Citizen’s David Pugliese reported last year, Libyan leader Muamar Gaddafi had “said the rebellion had been organized by AQIM and his old enemies the (Libyan Islamic Fighting Group), who had vowed to overthrow the colonel and return the country to traditional Muslim values, including Sharia law.”
AQIM’s goals for Libya raised no alarm in Washington, but according to Mazzetti and Schmitt, the organization’s vow to convert Mali to Sharia law is setting off alarm bells in Washington.
To assist AQIM and other Islamist rebels in Libya, the United States led NATO into an air war against the Gaddafi government. Acknowledging AQIM’s role in the Libyan rebellion, some of the Canadian pilots who participated in the NATO air campaign jokingly referred to themselves as part of “Al-Qaeda’s air force.”
Washington’s use of jihadists to topple leftist and nationalist governments stretches back to its 1980s alliance with Islamist rebels, including Osama bin Laden, in Afghanistan. Today, al Qaeda-linked militants play an important part in the US-backed effort to overthrow the Syrian government.
To mobilize public support for jihadist rebellions, US officials and news media sanitize Islamist militants as “freedom fighters” or part of a “popular movement for democracy.” Few people anymore believe that the Islamists seeking to overthrow the Syrian government represent a popular movement for democracy. They are, instead, a movement for Sunni religious domination.
After the AQIM triumph in Libya, the organization turned to attacking the US consular building in Benghazi. With its transition from US cat’s paw to US enemy, Washington changed its naming protocol. Now AQIM would go by the moniker Gaddafi favored–terrorists. Which is also how Western officials and news media prefer to describe the organization today, now that AQIM’s goals in Mali collide with the West’s goal of maintaining a puppet regime in the country.
Were the AQIM working in Mali to topple a leftist or economically nationalist government, Washington and Western news media would be hailing the jihadists as a force for democracy.
Labels: AL-QAEDA, LYBIA, MALI, SYRIA, WORLD WAR III
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Uganda Dictator Museveni's Grip Slips Following Critical Lawmaker's Mysterious Death
By Dr. Vincent Magombe
01-09-13
A Young Lawmaker's Death Puts General On Defensive
The recent death of Ms. Cerinah Nebanda, a critically-minded ruling party politician, is being compared by some Ugandans to the demise of Mohamed Boazizi, a young Tunisian street vendor, whose death triggered an unstoppable wave of opposition and protests against dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Ben Ali, who had ruled Tunisia with an iron grip, tried hard to clamp down on the ensuing popular uprising, but was rapidly swept away by People power.
Uganda’s Gen. Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled with a similar iron grip since he fought his way to power in 1986, after a six-year long bush war, is being accused by the family and political allies of the late member of parliament, Ms. Nebanda, of having a hand in the death of the politician, who was only 24.
Just a few days before her sudden death on December 14, Museveni had publicly admonished Ms. Nebanda, warning her to stop criticizing him and sabotaging government policies relating to the country’s newly found oil wealth. Critics are demanding for a more transparent oil-governance and management regime. (Here Nebanda is shown in Parliament at the 2:00 minute mark in a past meeting last year being critical of the president for unfulfilled campaign promises)
Cerinah Nebanda had castigated the Museveni regime and her own National Resistance Movement (NRM) ruling party over bad-governance, rampant corruption and unending intimidation of critical politicians.
Museveni’s political opponents and the family of Ms. Nebanda were even more intrigued by the actions and reactions of the regime, and in particular the president himself, in the wake of the Parliamentarian’s death.
Museveni ordered the arrest of the senior pathologist, Dr. Sylvester Onzivua, who had been mandated by parliament and the deceased’s family, to carry out an independent investigation into the cause of the death. He was traveling with samples from Nebanda's body to South Africa; it's unclear what the regime has done with the samples. The doctor was charged with "smuggling" body parts. A second doctor, Chris Baryomunsi, who also supported the independent forensic testing was also arrested.
Parliamentarians were outraged after the arrest of the doctors.
Museveni also ordered the arrest of several parliamentarians who had raised doubts about the government’s own explanations of how Nebanda might have died; with the regime claiming tests administered in London from samples sent by the government found traces of cocaine and alcohol.
Museveni also went wild, throwing angry abuses at any politician and critic who suspected foul play as an "idiot" "fool" and "despicables". He warned critical lawmakers that they could be arrested inside Parliament and advised them to flee to the U.S. embassy instead, perhaps an indication by the general that the blank check policy he once enjoyed from Washington has ended.
Most critics of the Museveni regime, including the Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, don't believe the government's version of the cause of Ms. Nebanda's demise. Many of them believe she was poisoned.
This contrasts with the government line that she died of alcohol and drug misuse.
As a result of the ruthless clampdown on any form of criticism of the government’s poor handling of the Nebanda affair, Ugandan parliamentarians went into over drive.
They collected signatures to recall parliament into session for an emergency sitting, and mobilized themselves into what is fast becoming the most significant bi-partisan legislative rebellion against the Museveni leadership. Museveni's spokespersons said the government was "barring" Parliament from calling the special session.
Museveni Power Meltdown
Museveni’s extra-hostile reaction to the recall of Parliament, together with his inability to contain the uncharacteristic rebellion by the Members of Parliament, particularly those from his own NRM party, may not have yet resulted in the Tunisia-type mass revolt.
But no one can doubt the fact that the dictator’s iron grip on the country and his NRM party is in serious jeopardy. The violent attempt to silence his critics has turned Museveni into a hate figure right across the political divide, and more and more Ugandans are becoming convinced of the need for political transformation sooner rather than later.
The hemorrhaging of Museveni’s support within his own ruling party must be the most worrying crisis that he has had to deal with in his 26-years in power. In the past, opposition within his own party was limited to a few individuals, and whenever Museveni raised his voice, the majority of his senior party members quickly jumped back into the fold.
The death of the young member of parliament from his own NRM party seems to have solidified the resolve of Museveni’s critics across the board, but more profoundly, it seems to be bringing home some truths to the majority of NRM politicians and party supporters across the country – that Museveni’s popularity is waning fast, and it is not a good thing to side with a loser.
With an increasing number of NRM supporters turning their backs on Museveni, and the rest of the country already readying themselves for a Tunisian-type struggle, the question that must be asked now is – could this the beginning of the end for President Museveni's 26 year-long rule in Uganda?
The answer to this question will be known as Ugandans start to organize new rounds of popular protests in the months ahead.
With growing evidence indicating that pro-democracy activists are indeed mobilizing as they have in the past, Museveni’s political journey in 2013 will be full of dramatic twists and turns, and things could easily turn for the worse for Uganda's long-ruling dictator unexpectedly and without warning.
"Speaking Truth To Empower."
Dr. Vincent Magombe, a London-based journalist and broadcaster, is also Director of Africa Inform International.
Labels: CERINAH NEBANDA, HUMAN RIGHTS, YOWERI MUSVENI
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Mugabe presses for Africa President
16/01/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has urged the African Union (AU) to
consider appointing a president to help foster greater continental unity and integration.
Mugabe, who was speaking to journalists in Harare Tuesday after meeting outgoing AU chairman and Benin President Boni Yayi, said the vision of the Organisation of African Unity's founders for greater continental integration and unity was still to be achieved.
“We really have not become integrated as an African people into a real union. And this is the worry … that we are not yet at that stage which was foretold by our fathers when they created this organisation,” he said.
“We are not there yet. As we stand here people will look at us, as me Anglophone, him Francophone, you see. There is also Lusophone, but we are Africans first and foremost. Africans, Africans! Look at our skin.
“That’s our continent, we belong to one continent. We may, by virtue of history, have been divided by certain boundaries and especially by colonialism.
The AU replaced the OAU in 2001 but a proposal to set up a "United States of Africa" mooted by slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi failed to gain enough support from his counterparts with many doubting his real motives.
Heads of state chair the AU on a region-based rotation system with the AU Commission, which sits in Addis Ababa, serving as the organisation’s executive and administrative arm.
But Mugabe suggested that time was right to press the vision of the OAU’s founders for a continental presidency.
He said:
“Our founding fathers in 1963 showed us the way and we must take up that teaching that we got in 1963. That we are one and we must be united … get out of the regional shell and get into one continental shell. The continent of Africa!
“This is what we must become. And there, we must also have an African head. He was talking of the president of Africa. Yes, we need one. We are not yet there.
“This is what we must go and discuss, but we must also discuss the issues that divide us.”
The Zanu PF leader also insisted that elections to choose a substantive government expected this year would be free of the violence experienced in 2008.
He told his counterpart:
“We have also had divisions, political divisions, but I am glad that we all appreciate that whatever political affiliations we belong to, we are Zimbabweans.
“That is the understanding. That is how we have groomed ourselves into that kind of understanding and I think our elections are going to be very friendly elections in the sense that they will be a political fight but it will be a fight in the knowledge that we belong to each other.”
Labels: AU, ROBERT MUGABE
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President mourns Nkomo
Thursday, 17 January 2013 14:54
Herald reporter
President Mugabe has expressed shock at the death of Vice President Nkomo. Announcing the death at State House, President Mugabe who is also the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces President Mugabe said Vice President Nkomo who has been battling with cancer in the past few years passed on at St Anne’s Hospital this morning. “ "
The moment we are in are sad moments, we have lost our Vice President John Landa Nkomo."
“He was suffering for a long time from cancer and all of a sudden we heard the situation had deteriorated yesterday.
“He was taken to St Annes Hospital and he passed on sometime this morning. I would like to express on behalf of Government, our party Zanu-PF, my own self, Cabinet, our sincerest condolences to his family, to his dear old mother, relatives and his friends.
“We have lost a real revolutionary, a fighter for freedom, a friend of the people, a lover of children, he will be dearly missed by all of us,” President Mugabe said.
Meanwhile, the United States has also expressed its condolences to the family and the people of Zimbabwe on the death of VP Nkomo.
It said Vice President Nkomo was a patriot who dedicated his life to Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and prosperity, whether as a teacher, a politician, an advocate for Zimbabwe’s independence, or as a public servant,
"As a leader of PF ZAPU and ZANU-PF, Mr. Nkomo played an important role in shaping the course of Zimbabwean history. May he rest in peace," the embassy said.
Founding member of the African National Congress between 1958 and 1959.
Joined the National Democratic Party in 1960 before joining the Zimbabwe African People’s Union in 1961.
Arrested on several occasions by the Smith regime and detained at Gonakudzingwa in 1966-68.
Joined the African National Council where he was deputy secretary-general in 1971.
Attended the Geneva Conference as part of as part of the Zimbabwe African People’s Party (Zapu) delegation that was led by the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo in 1976.
Was seriously injured in a parcel bomb that killed Cde Jason Ziyapapa Moyo in 1977.
After the country gained independence in 1980, he became Member of Parliament for Matabeleland North between 1980 and 1985.
Served as Deputy Minister of Industry and Energy in 1981
Was Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office responsible to the Deputy Prime Minister from 1982-84.
Became Member of Parliament for Tsholotsho between 1985 and 1990.
Was appointed Minister of Labour, Manpower Planning and Social Welfare from 1988 to 1995.
Served as MP for Bulawayo North between 1990 and 1995.
Was re-elected legislator for Bulawayo North from 1995 to 2000.
Was Minister of Local Government and Rural Development in 1995 before being appointed Minister of Local Government and National Housing in 1997.
Between 2000 and 2001, he was Minister of Home Affairs.
In 2002, he was appointed Minister of State in the President’s Office Responsible for Special Affairs.
He became Speaker of the Parliament in 2005 up to 2008.
Nkomo was appointed Minister of State in the President’s Office responsible for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration, 2009 after the inception of the Inclusive Government.
He was appointed Vice President in December 14, 2009.
Labels: ANC, JOHN NKOMO, ROBERT MUGABE, ZANU-PF
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Locals to pay $I53m to Zimplats
Sunday, 13 January 2013 00:00
Locals that include the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Fund (NIEEF), Zimplats employees and members of the community that will benefit from the indigenisation of Zimplats are expected to pay $153 million to the miner for the ground that it was forced to release by Government in 2006, according to the Indigenisation Implementation Plan (IPP).
The IPP forms part of the term sheets signed between Government and Zimplats on Friday. On May 24 2006 Government and Zimplats signed the Release of Ground Agreement (ROGA) through which the platinum miner ceded claims that were not covered under its long-term expansion programme.
At the time, it is claimed that the ground had 36 million ounces worth of resource.
Last week, Government and Zimplats concluded a term sheet in respect of the proposed indigenisation of Zimplats’ operating subsidiary Zimbabwe Platinum Mines (ZPM) in a deal valued at $971 million.
Under the agreement, 31 percent of ZPM will be sold to the NIEEF, while an employee share ownership trust for the benefit of all full-time indigenous employees and the Zimplats Mhondoro-Ngezi-Chegutu-Zvimba Community Share Ownership will be offered 10 percent each, translating into a 51 percent holding for the locals.
Locals will be entitled to appoint directors to the board.
However, Zimplats will retain the balance of 49 percent of ZPM but will continue with the management of the mine.
The Australian Stock Exchange (ASE)-listed company announced last week that it will release the shares only after they have been “fully paid for”.
“Zimplats will facilitate the transaction by providing vendor funding to the indigenous entities at an interest rate of 10 percent per annum. The vendor financing will be repayable from 85 percent of the dividends declared by ZPM.
“The proceeds, as and when received by Zimplats, will be declared as a dividend to shareholders or used as future funding for ZPM.
“Zimplats will hold as collateral against the Indigenous Entities debt any Indigenisation Shares not fully paid for,” said the company in a regulatory filing made to the ASE last week.
As part of some curious conditions set by Zimplats, it expects to be exempted from withholding tax on the interest that will be paid by locals to Zimplats for vendor financing.
Also, the miner is pushing the Government to amend the 2012 Mining Regulations so as to slash the rentals payable by Zimplats, including the level of Additional Profit Tax (or windfall tax) and the royalty rates it pays.
These amendments are expected to be made by June 30 this year.
“It was further agreed that by 30 June 2013 the Government would use its best endeavours in the utmost good faith to, amongst other things, amend the 2012 Mining Regulations in such a manner so as to reduce all ground rentals payable by Zimplats to the same levels as were in force immediately prior to the promulgation and coming into force of the 2012 regulations and amend the Mining Agreement and fiscal terms currently applicable to Zimplats such that Additional Profits Tax and royalty rates are no worse than those granted or provided to any other Platinum Group Metal mining entity operating in Zimbabwe,” added the filing.
Last year, Government through Statutory Instrument 11 of 2012 increased application fees for platinum claims — for both ordinary and special prospectors — from $200 to $500 000. Registration fees for the metal also jumped from US$500 to $2,5 million.
For a long time, Zimplats has been haggling with the Government over a US$34 million tax bill accrued Additional Profits Tax, which are triggered when a company makes windfall profits. It, however, eventually conceded liability of the $34 million tax bill.
Meanwhile, the company’s executive director and chief finance officer, Mr Patrick Maseva-Shayawabaya, is set to step down in March this year.
His successor will be appointed soon.
“Zimplats announces the resignation of Patrick Maseva-Shayawabaya as an executive director and chief finance officer of the Zimplats group of companies with effect from March 31, 2013.
“Patrick’s resignation has been accepted with regret and a successor will be announced in due course.
“Having joined the group in 2001 and been appointed to the board in 2004, Patrick has made a significant contribution to the group over many years and his fellow directors and management thank him and wish him well for the future,” the company said in a statement.
Mr Maseva-Shayawabaya becomes the second key official to leave the company after board chairman and non-executive director Mr David Brown in June last year.
Labels: INDIGENIZATION AND EMPOWERMENT ACT (ZIMBABWE), NIEEF, ZIMPLATS
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Indigenisation’s mega deal
Sunday, 13 January 2013 00:00
Last Friday, the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Saviour Kasukuwere, signed one of the country’s biggest indigenisation deals with Impala Platinum and Zimplats mining company after protracted negotiations. Below is the speech that Minister Kasukuwere gave after signing the deal.
It gives me great pleasure to announce yet another milestone in the indigenisation and empowerment programme. Following our agreement with Anglo Platinum and Mimosa Mines late last year pertaining to their indigenisation plans, today we conclude what is undoubtedly
the biggest indigenisation transaction with Impala Platinum and Zimplats mining company. The latter is the biggest mining company in the country and a very significant global player in the international platinum market.
Policy background
As such the transaction being concluded today is a flagship achievement of the policy objectives of our Government pertaining to the empowerment of indigenous Zimbabweans. This policy imperative seeks to involve the indigenous person in the mainstream economic activity of the country largely centred on the exploitation of natural resources.
It also seeks to ensure the equitable ownership of the country’s resources and full participation of indigenous Zimbabweans in other sectors of the economy to guarantee social and economic justice for all. The main goal of this policy imperative is to reverse the pre-1980 policy effects that sought to marginalise indigenous Zimbabweans from mainstream economic activity to the periphery.
The programme of indigenisation and economic empowerment is a national approach designed to benefit all indigenous Zimbabweans on a broad basis by guaranteeing broad participation in economic activities. The legal instruments implementing the policy decisions of Government direct that where exploitation of natural resources is involved communities, employees and the nation at large must participate as key indigenous shareholders.
As such, all indigenisation transactions in the mining sector seek to dispose shares to community share ownership trusts, employee share ownership trusts, pension funds and the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Fund as designated entities.
Our emphasis on broad-based participation has clearly shown that the indigenisation programme in the main does not benefit elite indigenous persons but rather broad groups of indigenous Zimbabweans. To date, my ministry has achieved for communities around the country value in the form of shares in mining companies in excess of US$1 billion.
Apart from this capital value due to communities, the trusts will henceforth begin to benefit from annual dividends declared by mining companies.
In addition, more than US$110 million has either been pledged or paid out to community share trusts by mining companies as seed capital for initial community projects.
In addition to the above, more than 800 companies in our database have proposed to dispose shares to employees through employee share ownership schemes.
This in itself will benefit hundreds of thousands of workers throughout the country as part owners of the business. It is therefore apparent that the greatest beneficiaries of the programme to date are not well-to-do individuals but broad-based masses.
This is in line with keeping our international obligations as a State to eradicate poverty within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals by harnessing resource exploitation for the good of communities, employees and Zimbabweans at large. Key international and regional instruments governing the responsibilities and conduct of states require that we implement measures to promote and protect the rights of all peoples to benefit from their natural resources and both the Africa Union and the United Nations instruments are emphatic about these entitlements.
The policy objectives and measures of our indigenisation and empowerment programme in part enable us to achieve these binding obligations for the betterment of our people and the eradication of poverty and want.
Policy misconceptions and distortions
When we embarked on this historic programme many critics subjected our Government’s intentions to distortions and misrepresentations. This unfortunate trend still persists to date. Initially it was said that the indigenisation law amounted to compulsory acquisition of shares by Government in non-indigenous businesses and a number of people criticised us on the basis of misinterpreting the word “cede” in the indigenisation regulations. The regulations were amended to provide that shares in companies were to be disposed through a sale on fair terms.
As a result, shares in non-indigenous businesses, as in this transaction, are acquired under the programme for full value and this has been demonstrated through a series of transactions that have been concluded with major foreign investors. Some of our colleagues in Government have been peddling falsehoods that the law will be amended to make exemptions for investments in certain areas of the economy. The law will not be amended and not the least because there is no need to do so.
The triple Ps policy by Government envisages the promotion of strategic investments in key economic drivers. Further to this, Parliament in its wisdom in crafting the Indigenisation Act providing for a regime of lesser shares in order to promote strategic interests.
We have shown that the provisions of the law allow Government to lower the threshold of indigenisation in areas such as massive infrastructure investments for a certain period of time. Unfortunately, despite our overtures to implement this regime our colleagues have continued to engage in cheap politicking and unnecessarily confusing the investors.
The implementation of the indigenisation policy has always been tempered with reason and sound advice and at every turn we have sought to explain its basis to foreign investors in order to allay their fears and create an atmosphere of certainty.
Our track record in implementing this policy is borne in testimony by the support and understanding of important foreign investors who have committed to remain operating in the country.
Some of the notable transactions concluded to date are Zimplats, Mimosa, Unki Mine, PPC and Blanket Mine in the mining sector, Schweppes and BAT in the manufacturing sector, Meikles Africa in hospitality sector, Old Mutual and Ecobank Zimbabwe in the financial services sector.
All of the above transactions have displayed remarkable investor confidence in our country, an area which is pivotal in the implementation of our indigenisation and empowerment policy. Some of these companies, soon after indigenising, have gone on to commit to expansion and growth, with PPC taking a decision to set up an additional US$200 million plant in the country.
The platinum companies are at an advanced stage of considering a multi-billion-dollar refinery and companies such as Blanket Mine intend to make an extra US$37 million investment over the next four years. We believe that we have a clear policy and in instances where there has been ambiguity we have always sought to clarify and explain it.
Our measure of investor confidence is thus demonstrated by the successful partnerships we have sustained and will continue to grow with reputable international investors such as Implats, Aquarius Platinum, Anglo Platinum, Ecobank, Caledonia, PPC, BAT, Schweppes and Old Mutual, among others.
As Government we are cognisant of the need for foreign investment in successfully turning around our economy and supporting development in our economy. However, we believe that foreign investment should be attracted in a sustainable manner and we do not believe in foreign investment that does not promote the development of our people and our country.
Historically we have seen foreign investors come and exploit our resources and our people while taking all the profits away in the form of dividends. This is not a sustainable model of doing business.
What we have achieved with Implats in this transaction is a sustainable model of partnering with foreign investors for the development of our country and our people. We believe that this model not only will serve to promote economic growth through expansion in partnership, but create employment as well.
Such employment creation is critical to the upliftment of our people’s lives and this is what the policy of indigenisation and empowerment ensures by building strong sustainable companies with investors like Implats that recognise the importance of locals as key stakeholders.
Moreover, and in order to consolidate the policy objectives of Government, my ministry is currently developing a robust and comprehensive Economic Empowerment Policy which will usher in a new paradigm in our country. Among other things, this new policy will focus on creating new businesses largely owned by indigenous Zimbabweans, propose new ways of accelerating rural development and growing the economy to levels never seen before.
In conclusion, I would like to acknowledge and appreciate the effort by Impala to comply with our national laws. This effort will by no means go unnoticed and going forward in this newly established strategic win-win partnership we feel confident that both our expectations will be met in a sustainable way.
The business is no longer theirs but ours and as Government and people of this country we will endeavour at every turn to promote and protect this investment.
I would like to encourage other companies, particularly in the banking sector, to comply with our national laws as non-compliance will no longer be tolerated. Uncalled for defiance and arrogance will not be tolerated as all companies must respect the law and desist from provoking the State. There will be no sacred cows and no stone will remain unturned to ensure that the policy is fully implemented.
Labels: INDIGENIZATION AND EMPOWERMENT ACT (ZIMBABWE), SAVIOUR KASUKUWERE
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COMMENT - There is no need for speeches on Zimbabwe "moving beyond a relationship defined by aid" - let the people get paid for the value of their diamonds, platinum and gold. Presto, no more 'need' for aid.
US ambassador barred from Mutare meeting
16/01/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
THE United States ambassador to Zimbabwe says “Zanu PF protesters” barred him from entering a library in Mutare on Wednesday where he was due to give a speech
calling for the United States and Zimbabwe to “move beyond a relationship defined by aid”.
Bruce Wharton said he had been looking forward to “engaging in a dialogue with the citizens of Manicaland” at the Turner Memorial Library only to be met by about 130 placard-waving protesters “not interested in a conversation”.
The United States embassy later said Ambassador Wharton had been “prevented” from entering the library after spending nearly 20 minutes “listening to their [Zanu PF supporters] messages written on placards and verbal”.
“He was met with no opportunity for constructive conversation,” the Embassy said in a statement, while insisting that the United States “values the right to peaceful protest”.
Ambassador Wharton “recognises the critical need to work together to build a way forward”, the Embassy statement went on, “but believes that this must begin with a respectful sharing of ideas”.
Wharton was remaining in Mutare on Wednesday with further scheduled visits to USAID projects and meetings with businesspeople, academics, local authorities, and citizens.
The US embassy distributed a speech which Ambassador Wharton was due to give during the visit to the library.
Wharton would have told his audience that the United States is was ready to help Zimbabwe get back on its feet “so that it can again be a nation of economic opportunities, of respect for the rule of law and the rights of all people”.
“Those are values that reflect the core of what Americans share with Zimbabweans and that we should pursue together,” he was going to say.
Zimbabwe and the United States, according to Wharton, also needed to “prepare to move beyond a relationship defined by aid”.
“The people of Zimbabwe are fully capable of feeding themselves, meeting the nation’s health and education needs, building a dynamic political system, and restoring what was once one of the strongest economies in Africa,” his speech said.
Wharton was also going to tell his audience that the United States “backs principles and institutions, not individuals or parties” in Zimbabwe.
“It is not for the U.S. or foreigners to say how Zimbabwe should govern itself or its democratic practices. Instead, using the Zimbabwean constitution, laws, the Global Political Agreement, and the SADC Roadmap, Zimbabweans have agreed how they will comport themselves,” he was to say.
“It is against those commitments that Zimbabwe will be judged by the Zimbabwean people and friends of Zimbabwe alike. But, in any human interaction, one’s credibility rests on maintaining one’s word and one’s honour.”
Labels: AID, BRUCE WHARTON
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Vice President John Nkomo dies
17/01/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
VICE President John Landa Nkomo has died aged 79. Nkomo, who has been battling cancer, died at around noon Thursday, presidential spokesman George Charamba said.
"I can confirm that Vice President Nkomo has sadly passed away," Charamba said. Zanu PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo said Nkomo was rushed to Harare's St Annes Hospital on Wednesday night after his conditition "deteriorated".
Water Resources Minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, a cousin to Nkomo, also confirmed his death. The news was "devastating to the family", he said.
Meanwhile, the United States embassy issued a statement expressing its condolences to Nkomo's family and the people of Zimbabwe "on the death of Vice President John Landa Nkomo".
"Whether as a teacher, a politician, an advocate for Zimbabwe’s independence, or as a public servant, Vice President Nkomo was a patriot who dedicated his life to Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and prosperity," the embassy said.
"As a leader of PF Zapu and Zanu PF, Nkomo played an important role in shaping the course of Zimbabwean history. May he rest in peace".
Labels: GEORGE CHARAMBA, JOHN NKOMO, SIMON KHAYA MOYO, ZANU-PF
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Curbing the mushrooming of splinter unions
Thu 17 Jan. 2013, 14:00 CAT
The discourse between Zambia Congress of Trade Unions president Leonard Hikaumba and labour minister Fackson Shamenda over splinter unions provokes laughter. Hikaumba is asking the government to help in curbing the mushrooming of splinter unions as they undermine oneness.
But Shamenda's response is that the forming of splinter unions will not stop as long as there is no leadership provided by ZCTU. And he says that the government is not going to regulate anything, but that ZCTU could solve the problem by being relevant and accountable to their members.
We all know that the current legislation that allows for the proliferation of trade unions was a product of the MMD. Before that, ZCTU was protected and enjoyed the monopoly of being the sole representative of all Zambian workers. What is Hikaumba asking for? What does he want the government to do to curb the mushrooming of splinter unions? Does he want the government to legislate against splinter unions? But the government says it won't regulate that because that is not the problem. The government says the problem of splinter unions is a product of poor, irrelevant and unaccountable trade union leadership.
No one has forced the labour movement to fragment or proliferate. Yes, there is a law that allows for pluralism in trade unions, splinter unions. But that law does not make it mandatory for trade unions to proliferate and to fragment. It is the workers and their leaders who choose to proliferate and fragment.
We have consistently questioned the wisdom of having more than one union in an industry and even of having one confederation in the country. This is a small country, with a small economy and workforce. The numbers of workers in our small industries are also very small. Fragmentation of these small number of workers through the proliferation of trade unions does not in any way strengthen workers' representation. It instead weakens it. This fact is well known to all our trade unionists and their members and they have repeatedly raised concern over this issue.
But if this fact is well known, why are we still seeing so many trade unions being formed in one industry by workers and their leaders? If this is a very well known fact, why do we still have more than one trade union confederation in one country? There can only be one explanation and that explanation is the one given by Shamenda: the presence of an irrelevant and unaccountable trade union leadership; the absence of leadership provided by ZCTU.
Truly, there can only be one explanation for this: selfishness, greed and vanity. There are trade union leaders who don't care much about the plight of the workers, who care much about their own positions. And Hikaumba should ask himself why he should continue being at the helm of ZCTU when he has failed to unite the workers, curb splinter unions and strengthen the labour movement. Hikaumba has been at the helm of ZCTU for many years now, what has he done, what is he doing to strengthen the labour movement? Can Hikaumba explain and justify his continued leadership of ZCTU in the current situation and circumstances?
Hikaumba is talking about curbing splinter unions without explaining why the situation is what it is. Why? Is it because it will expose his leadership deficiencies?
The truth is Hikaumba has failed to unite the workers of Zambia both within ZCTU and outside ZCTU.
But why are workers allowing themselves to be led by the current crop of trade union leadership which is simply out to benefit itself at their own expense?
We all know that unity and solidarity make strength. And probably that is why ZCTU sloganeers about solidarity and has named its headquarters Solidarity House. But what solidarity is ZCTU championing?
We all know that while this universal truth - unity and solidarity make strength - is not relevant to the trade union movement alone, no other institution depends on it more than the trade unions and nobody can gain more from it than the working people. The capacity of workers to negotiate, promote and defend their rights and conditions depends to a large extent on their opportunity and ability to act collectively. Divisions and scattering of this collective strength weakens their position towards their employers and reduces the possibility that trade unions will represent workers' interests in an optimal way, be it at the level of enterprise or professional sector or within the framework of the socio-economic institutions of our country.
What we have said about ZCTU and Hikaumba also equally applies to the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Zambia and its leader Joyce Nonde-Simukoko. They have both failed to unite the workers of Zambia and increase their capacity to negotiate with their employers for more progressive or better conditions of service.
All acknowledge that one of the major weaknesses of our trade union movement today is lack of unity. The proliferation and fragmentation of trade unions over the last two decades has badly undermined the efficiency, effectiveness, representativeness and credibility of our trade unions. Today we have two trade union confederations in the country - ZCTU and FFTUZ - competing with each other, to the sole benefit of the opponents of the workers' welfare. For what? In whose interest?
There is need for our trade unions to start playing an indispensable role as guardians of workers' rights and conditions. They are not doing so well on this score today. To play this role well, unity and coherence in trade union policies and solidarity and mutual support will be more essential than ever.
The random creation of unrepresentative and ineffective unions has become the cause of divisions, confusion and abuse of trade union scene in our country. With good leadership, this problem can be minimised. A critical look at the reasons for this proliferation and fragmentation of trade unions will always reveal that they are rarely inspired by the true principles of freedom of association and trade union pluralism. They rather find their origins in the multiplicity of factors of distorted political, historic, legal or economic nature, or may be a consequence of the selfish ambitions of certain trade union leaders.
Trade union unity - both in action and in structures - should be the most urgent priority for the trade union movement in our country if its wants to be truly of value to the workers and to preserve or restore its credibility for the future. And only those who are capable of uniting our workers and their unions should lead the labour movement. This is the criterion on which trade union leadership should be weighed and judged. Only those who can increase unity should stay in the ranks of our trade union leadership.
Labels: FACKSON SHAMENDA, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, TRADE UNI0NS
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MMD suspends entire Copperbelt provincial executive committee
By Allan Mulenga and Agness Changala
Thu 17 Jan. 2013, 14:00 CAT
THE MMD has suspended the entire Copperbelt provincial executive committee. But Copperbelt Province MMD chairperson Joseph Chilambwe says the real fight to kick Nevers Mumba out of MMD had started.
And suspended MMD chairperson for women affairs Catherine Namugala has applied for an injunction to restrain party's acting national secretary Kapembwa Simbao and the MMD, from expelling her.
MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu yesterday suspended the entire Copperbelt provincial executive committee with immediate effect.
Nyangu said the party had appointed provincial secretary Tryson Simukoko to take care of the province for administrative purposes.
Nyangu said the committee had been suspended for indiscipline.
But Chilambwe accused Nyangu of being used by Mumba and Dora Siliya to champion their selfish interests.
He said people on the Copperbelt would not be cowed into supporting Mumba's failed leadership.
"You know the people he is playing with are the owners of the party. This is where the party has been built. We should thank them for what they have done, it is the end of Nevers Mumba on the Copperbelt," he said.
"We don't care about the suspension. This is now the real fight. I am still the chairman on the Copperbelt and my people at the province and at district level will continue working and we will continue fighting for the good cause of our party. Even if they do that, those are the kicks of a dying horse. Mumba will never resuscitate the party, but he will see what will follow."
Chilambwe urged Mumba to respect the wishes of the people and step aside as party president.
"Those who will remain with Mumba, they will remain and we will forge ahead. It a silly thing for a seasoned politician to behave the way they have behaved. How do you suspend without even letting the people you are suspending know? We are still talking about the constitution in MMD, where somebody can just wake up in the morning and suspend people," he said.
Chilambwe accused Nyangu of being used by people like Siliya and Mumba to champion their agenda.
"We should follow what the people outside there are saying. The people outside there if they say 'no we don't want you' because they are the voters; these are the people who are holding the party together. We want to have a real leader because you can't be a leader without the people. Let us see who is right and wrong. The people out there will judge. We knew where it was going, even before when Dora Siliya was calling us disgruntled. Dora Siliya was not there when we were fighting for democracy in this country. She was working for ZNBC and she never fought for anything. She just jumped into the bandwagon and she became the spokesperson," said Chilambwe.
And Namugala, who is also MMD Mafinga member of parliament, has asked the court to determine whether the election of Simbao is legitimate.
In this matter, Namugala has sued Simbao in his personal capacity as the first defendant as well as in his capacity as MMD acting national secretary.
According to documents filed in the Lusaka High Court principal registry on Monday, Namugala stated that Simbao and the MMD, through Mumba's group in the national executive committee (NEC) had hatched a plan to expel legitimate members including herself for standing up to protect the
party's constitution.
She stated that she was reliably informed that Simbao and Mumba's faction, in the name of disciplinary committee, had decided to expel her for standing up for her rights as a member of the party as per Article 9 of what was in their constitution.
"That if I am expelled, the decision of the defendants shall have serious repercussions to the nation as there will be a by-election," Namugala stated. "That further my legal proceedings will be academic as I will no longer be a member of the party I love so much of which I am standing up
to protect the constitution."
Namugala urged the court to grant her an interim injunction to restrain the defendants or other agents or servants or whatsoever from expelling her until the determination of the matter.
And Namugala stated that the meeting of the NEC of December 3, 2012 at which Simbao was elected, did not form a quorum and as such was illegal and null and void according to Article
18(2) of the MMD constitution.
She stated that the proceedings and adoption or appointment of Simbao as acting national secretary was null and void because apart from failing to form a quorum, the NEC meeting was attended by non NEC members.
Namugala contended that the NEC had no power to appoint or elect Simbao as acting national secretary which power was deposited only in the convention Article 20 (5) which recognised the deputy national secretary of the party to deputise the national secretary.
She stated that on December 24, 2012, Simbao wrote her a letter of disciplinary action in which he purported to act in pursuant to powers vested under him under Article 46 (i) and 3(3) of the party constitution when he was not a national secretary or deputy national secretary elected by the party convention.
Namugala also stated that the party's constitution had no provision of
acting national secretary nor did it recognise such position save for the deputy national secretary.
She stated that Simbao purported to charge her with two offences which she replied to, despite him being there illegitimately and unconstitutionally.
Namugala stated that as a result of the above, she has asked the court for an injunction to restrain Simbao and the party from expelling her.
She has asked the court for an order to nullify the appointment of the
Simbao as acting national secretary and a further order to nullify the
purported NEC meeting of December 3, 2012 and its proceedings as null and void because of its failure to form a quorum.
Namugala further asked the court to award her costs and any other relief the court may deem necessary.
Namugala stated that the party had been having problems with Mumba and his group which had been disregarding the constitution.
Meanwhile, Lusaka High Court judge Fulgence Chisanga has set January 23, 2013 as date for inter-parte hearing.
Labels: CATHERINE NAMUGALA, JOSEPH CHILAMBWE, KAPEMBWA SIMBAO, MMD, NEVERS MUMBA
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