Politics of hatred, envy
By Editor
Sat 13 Apr. 2013, 14:00 CAT
Hate, bitterness and revenge are luxuries we cannot afford.
If you want to be miserable, hate somebody. Hate does a great deal more damage to the vessel in which it is stored than the object on which it is poured. And what really matters is what happens in us, not to us. Hatred leads to great bitterness, which is a deadly misuse of the creative flow from above. Great amounts of brain power are used up when you ponder a negative situation and plot how to get even. This kind of thinking is completely unproductive.
People who burn bridges will be isolated and alone and will deal with neutrals and enemies the rest of their lives. That's why we should build bridges, not burn them. He who hates destroys the bridge over which he may one day need to pass.
Hatred is a poor travelling companion. Getting even always causes imbalance and unhappiness. When you hate, you are ignoring its impact on your destiny.
You can't get ahead when you are trying to get even. While you are straining under the weight of hatred, the person you hate is out producing.
In our politics, we have always advocated a loyal opposition, but some politicians of low political culture have failed to understand the essence of this and have denounced us for advocating such an approach to politics. They seem to think they can only thrive under a climate of growing political hatred in the country.
And what Fr Mambwe Mpasa is saying about the hatred against those in leadership by the opposition is true. The opposition seems to be against anything and everything about this government. And as Fr Mpasa observes, hatred against those in leadership by the opposition is making them oppose even good things that the government is doing. Truly, as Fr Mpasa observes, "Hatred is not good because if you go on harbouring hatred, it will blind you from seeing the good in others. So for those harbouring hatred, let them come out of it. Let's show love even towards government. Where there are mistakes, let us correct them with love."
We completely agree, both about the growth of hatred in politics and about its danger to individuals and the polity itself. We are increasingly witnessing politics of hatred and envy and identity politics writ large.
Political hatred is always and everywhere a product of political overreach. When politics reaches into our pockets, our bedrooms, our private lives - that is where hatred begins.
True politics, good politics rests on love. Equally, loyalty rests on love. The politics of hatred and envy that we are today witnessing in our country has no parentage in love, and claims the allegiance of today on the ignorance and blindness of the past.
Loyalty is a sentiment, not a law. It rests on love, not on restraint.
Every citizen's life in this country is inevitably mixed with every other citizen's life, and no matter what laws we pass, no matter what precautions we take, unless the people we meet are kindly and decent and human and loving, we will continue to live under a growing climate of political hatred. Love comes from human beings, rather from laws and institutions.
We do not believe in the law of hate. We may not be true to our ideals always, but we believe in the law of love, and we believe you can do nothing with hatred. We would like to see a time when our politicians love their fellow politicians and forget about their political outlook and affiliations. We will never be civilised until that time comes.
Some of this hatred is born out of envy over the political successes of opponents, of competitors. But envy leads to hatred. And if envy had a shape, it would be a boomerang.
Envy is the most ridiculous of ideas, because there is no single advantage to be gained from it. An old saying goes, "When you compare what you want with what you have, you will be unhappy. Instead, compare what you deserve with what you have and you will discover happiness." The problem with some of our opposition politicians and their supporters is their failure to accept their position, status or rank in the politics of our country. They want to be what they are not. They want to win elections where they don't deserve to win.
There is need for our opposition politicians and their supporters to realise that nothing gets you behind faster than trying to keep up with people who are already there. If envy were a disease, some of our opposition politicians would be very sick today. They are simply failing to accept the election victory of their competitors. Imagine what they would be saying today if the Patriotic Front had been in charge of the 2011 elections! They wouldn't have accepted the result.
And this explains why even today some of them are failing to accept results of parliamentary by-elections which are conducted by the same people, same institutions that conducted the 2011 elections.
It seems they are unable to take a break from their hatred and envy of the Patriotic Front and its leadership. And Frances Bacon observed, "Envy has no holidays. It has no rest." The envy that compares us to others is foolishness - "They are only comparing themselves with each other, and measuring themselves by themselves. What foolishness!" (2 Corinthians 10:12).
Richard Evans said, "May we never let the things we can't have or don't have spoil our enjoyment of the things we do have and can have."
What makes us discontented with our personal condition is the absurd belief that others are so much happier than we are. Thomas Fuller warned, "Comparison, more than a reality, makes men happy or wretched."
Hatred and envy consumes nothing but its own heart. It is a kind of admiration for those whom you least want to praise. John Chrysostorm reflected, "As a moth gnaws a garment, so doth envy and hatred consume a man."
There are many roads to an unsuccessful life, but hatred and envy are among the shortest of them all.
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Hatred blinding opposition leaders -Fr Mpasa
By Godfrey Chikumbi in Kawambwa and Cynthia Phiri in Pemba
Sat 13 Apr. 2013, 14:00 CAT
FATHER Mambwe Mpasa says hatred against those in leadership by the opposition is making them oppose even good things.
And Fr Mpasa says President Michael Sata has shown true statesmanship by lobbying for Felix Mutati's election as UNCTAD secretary general.
Fr Mpasa, who is Catholic Church Vicar General for Mansa Diocese, observed that too much hatred against President Sata and those in government had blinded some opposition leaders from seeing even the good things that the government was doing.
"Hatred is not good because if you go on harbouring hatred, it will blind you from seeing the good in others. So for those harbouring hatred, let them come out of it. Let's show love even towards government.
Where there are mistakes, let us correct them with love," Fr Mpasa said.
He called on the opposition to correct the government out of love and praise where things were good.
And Fr Mpasa said President Sata had risen above partisan politics to focus on national interests by advertising Mutati's name for the UNCTAD position.
He said President Sata never wanted to be confined to his own party when it came to doing what was good for Zambia.
Fr Mpasa implored Zambians to learn from the head of state to support talent regardless of where it was.
"The President has demonstrated how we should support each other where necessary without discriminating ourselves. What the President has done will remain good for Zambia," he said.
Fr Mpasa also commended MMD president Nevers Mumba for welcoming President Sata's support for Mutati's candidature.
Meanwhile, Pemba district commissioner Reginald Mugoba says it is unfair for the opposition to gain political mileage by peddling lies that the government is doing very little to put up infrastructure in the newly created districts when the government had lined up a comprehensive programme in Pemba.
Addressing scores of villagers when he handed over anew hammer mill from government to a local women's club on Wednesday, Mugoba lashed out at opposition parties for engaging in baseless arguments.
He said President Sata had not U-turned on his promise of decentralising the governance structures and that the granting of district status to Pemba was one such move meant to empower the local people to govern themselves.
"Government has a clear and well defined roadmap on infrastructural development in the new district, so I am just wondering why the opposition is engaging in baseless claims when they have no facts," he said.
He said the district administration had embarked on an aggressive campaign to woo investors to Pemba who would set up facilities service stations and banking facilities among others.
And Mugoba assured the Munyona women's club that the donation of the hammer mill was one of the many things they were yet to benefit them from government.
Meanwhile, a women activist of Pemba, Keziah Munsanje, described President Sata as the first President to put in place robust programmes aimed at economically empowering women.
Munsanje, who is both former Pemba UPND councillor and mayor for Choma, said none of the opposition parties had demonstrated willingness to improve the status of women especially in Sothern Province.
Labels: CATHOLIC CHURCH, MWAMBE MPASA, POLITICS
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HH prays for Sata's death - Kabimba
By Roy Habaalu in Kapiri Mposhi and Mukosha Funga in Lusaka
Sat 13 Apr. 2013, 14:00 CAT
WYNTER Kabimba says Hakainde Hichilema has been praying for President Michael Sata's death so that he can have a chance to become president. But Hichilema yesterday said Kabimba was just dreaming.
Drumming up support for PF candidate Eddie Musonda, for the Kapiri Mposhi by-election slated for April23, Kabimba, who is PF secretary general and justice minister, said Hichilema wanted to take over leadership the way did with UPND after Anderson Mazoka's death.
"HH Hichilema since 2008 has been praying that President Michael Sata dies. That's been his prayer so that he takes over the leadership. He wanted to take over the leadership the way he took over UPND leadership through the back door," he said.
Kabimba said the people of Zambia decided to vote for President Sata because of his rich political credentials and humility.
He said unlike Hichilema, who carried himself as a wealthy man with a lot of cattle, President Sata always served the interests of the poor.
But Hichilema, when contacted, said: "That is just confusion in Wynter's head. I have no comment. Kabimba must deal with his confusion.
Those are just his dreams. I can't comment on them. Let him continue with his imaginations."
And Kabimba said educated Zambians were the biggest cowards to change and in terms of moving the country forward.
"Those of us educated in this country have let this country down. We want to sit in the comfort zones of our offices while children and women are suffering. Today we see a lot of educated Zambians coming to us saying 'give me a job because I am more qualified than the person you sent to Malawi'. They want to come and replace Dr Phiri and myself," he said.
"This country will only change if we all agree that something went wrong under the MMD…that Zimba was a wrong candidate and leader for you in Kapiri. Tomorrow, Zimba will join Mulongoti's People's Party." Kabimba said the prosecution of Rupiah Banda was to prove that he ran a corrupt government.
Kabimba said the PF would prove that the MMD was a corrupt government.
"We are questioning Mr Rupiah Banda because his party stole money meant for hospitals and schools for your children, and HH says we are persecuting him. When we were in the opposition, we said MMD is corrupt and we are still saying it now that MMD, under Rupiah Banda, was a corrupt regime. They stole your money meant for development and improvement of your children's' livelihood. Are we wrong when we question him on behalf of the people of Zambia?" asked Kabimba.
And education minister Dr John Phiri said the PF would remove its candidate if he failed to live among his constituents after winning the elections.
Dr Phiri said MMD's Lawrence Zimba had neglected the children and people of Muteteshi. "To show how useless he (Zimba) is, he's now UPND. I came here with the secretary general of the party to tell Musonda to change the lives of these children. Even if you were bewitched by MMD, change for the sake of these children. If you forget these children and women and go to paradise (Parliament) you're finished. Parliament for many people is a big job. Don't just look humble because you are looking for votes," said Dr Phiri.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, JOHN PHIRI (PF), MICHAEL SATA, WYNTER KABIMBA
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Rupiah ran most corrupt govt in Zambia - East PF
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Sat 13 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT
THE PF in Eastern Province says Andrew Banda should remember that his father ran the most corrupt government in the country's history.
Reacting to Banda's utterances that the performance of the PF was pathetic when he featured on Feel Free FM's Big Issue programme on Wednesday, PF provincial vice chairperson Atany Mwamba said that the MMD under Rupiah Banda did far more damage than good to the country.
Mwamba stated that the PF was striving to correct the damage that the Banda administration did to the country. He stated that the PF government brought back Zamtel and Finance Bank, which were dubiously sold by Banda.
"Andrew Banda never went to the media to criticise the former president over these dubious dealings. People in Kafue and country at large are happy because the PF government has put life to Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia, which is a major employer in Kafue. His (Andrew's) father came to commission the Chipata-Mchinji Railway line but no one saw its importance because it became a white elephant the moment Rupiah Banda left for Lusaka. Zambia Railways is now back on the scene for everyone to see and this is something that Rupiah never thought of," Mwamba stated.
He stated that the government had started opening roads such as the Chipata-Vubwi road that were in bad state.
Mwamba stated that Banda's regime acquitted the late Frederick Chiluba but wondered why Andrew did not go to the media to condemn him.
He stated that it was very difficult for Andrew to accept his father's short stay in State House.
"My sincere advice to my cousin is to accept the situation and tone down, though it's a difficult undertaking. Corruption in MMD was so fashionable that if 'you are not corrupt, then you are not a guy'. Andrew should be the last person to condemn any government because the legacy his father left, which everyone talks about highly, was that of dressing trees and dogs with MMD chitenge material. I know it's his democratic right to express his views in any way," stated Mwamba.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, ATANY MWAMBA, CORRUPTION, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA
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Govt's economic reforms are fair, says Sichinga
By Kabanda Chulu
Sat 13 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT
COMMENT - Actually it's the Economist Intelligence Unit, part of the Economist Group, whose board has direct links to De Beers. Apparently the monitoring of actual exports makes the EIU 'nervous'. Or as the rap song said "The wood starts to creak, and out come the freaks." De Beers smuggles a lot of diamonds and other materials.
THE GOVERNMENT's economic reform programme is fair and offering some of the most attractive incentives in Africa, says agriculture minister Robert Sichinga.
Reacting to assertions by
Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) representative Sheila Rai that investors were
nervous about signs of regulatory controls that seemed to place capital restrictions on investors, Sichinga said the ongoing reforms in the economy were intended to make the playing field fairer and to encourage more foreign invenstment and ensure mutual benefit for both investors and Zambians.
"There are no capital controls and there are no restrictions whatsoever regarding profits that investors make. What we have done is simply to empower the reserve bank (Bank of Zambia) with an instrument to monitor the value of exports. We want to know for purposes of normal regulatory function that every government performs," Sichinga said during the joint Business Council for Africa (BCA)-Zambia High Commission investment forum held at Zambia House in London.
According to a statement released yesterday by press secretary Amos Chanda, Sichinga said Zambia had only a single agency (Central Statistical Office) that recorded export and import figures.
"But we have now created an instrument that empowers the reserve bank to check on these figures. This does not mean that investors will face any restrictions. Once they have paid the due taxes and met other statutory obligations, they can repartriate their profits," he said.
Sichinga extended invitations to British investors to explore the attractive opportunities Zambia was offering through the planned farming blocks across the country.
"We have enquiries from the Middle East, China, India and America regarding the aqusisition of land for them to produce food for their people.But the United Kingdom has been very slow. We are moving on and I urge you to respond. Our policy is to invite all and exclude none. The UK has a comparative advantage and I urge you to move faster," he said.
Labels: ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT, ROBERT SICHINGA, SHEILA RAI
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Judge Sitali refuses to stop Rupiah's corruption case
By Namatama Mundia and Mwala Kalaluka
Sat 13 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT
THE Lusaka High Court has refused to stop the criminal proceedings and investigations against former president Rupiah Banda but has allowed him leave to commence judicial review proceedings.
Judge Anne Sitali yesterday said the leave granted to Banda will not operate as a stay of the National Assembly's decision to lift his immunity.
This is a matter where Banda applied for leave to the High Court, seeking a judicial review of National Assembly Speaker Dr Patrick Matibini's decision to preside over what he described as an illegal and irregular motion that saw the lifting of his immunity last month.
In a ruling delivered yesterday, judge Sitali granted Banda leave to commence judicial review proceedings in the matter but was quick to say that this would not operate as a stay of the National Assembly's decision to lift his immunity.
Judge Sitali said she was aware that Banda was already facing criminal charges in the subordinate court but that she could not allow the granting of the judicial review application to operate as a stay because she was bound by the Supreme Court decision that civil proceedings ought not to be used to arrest criminal proceedings.
Judge Sitali said for one to be granted leave for judicial review, they had to prove that they had sufficient personal interest in the matter and had filed their complaint promptly; that is within a space of three months.
She said Banda was the country's fourth president and was, therefore, personally interested in the case for which he had applied judicial review.
She said Banda had fulfilled both requirements and that the only issue she had to resolve was whether he had an arguable case that could be investigated at the substantive judicial review hearing.
Judge Sitali said the state had not disputed the fact that there was a petition that had been filed in the High Court prior tithe moving of the motion that led to the removal of Banda's immunity but that when a point of order was raised by one of the members of parliament, Speaker Dr Matibini said no parliamentary motion could be curtailed over a matter in court. Judge Sitali said Speaker Dr Matibini relied on the principle of separation of powers. However, judge Sitali said in allowing justice minister Wynter Kabimba to move the motion that led to the removal of Banda's immunity, Speaker Dr Matibini had departed from the National Assembly's practice of not debating matters that were before court.
She said the Speaker on several occasions reminded parliamentarians that they could not discuss issues that were before the courts of law since the National Assembly of Zambia adopted the Laws of England.
Judge Sitali said she was satisfied that Banda had demonstrated that there was procedural impropriety and she granted his application to commence judicial review proceedings but that this would not act as a stay. Judge Sitali said she had not considered the other ground of
illegality.
"Leave to appeal is granted, "said judge Sitali.
The National Assembly has argued that its removal of Banda's immunity was in accordance with constitutional provisions and procedures of the House and thus there was nonprocedural impropriety.
In an affidavit sworn by National Assembly Deputy Clerk Administration Cecilia Nsenduluka Mbewe and filed in the Lusaka High Court principal registry, the Legislature argues that there was no requirement for a former president to be heard before the removal of his or her immunity.
"That during the presentation of the motion by the Honourable Minister of Justice, Honourable Jack Mwiimbu, member of parliament for Monze Central Constituency, raised a point of order in the House on whether, in light of the sub judice rule, the House was in order to debate the motion for the removal of the applicant's immunity when there was a petition before the
High Court on the matter," she stated in part.
"The Honourable Mr. Speaker ruled on the aforesaid point of order and accordingly guided the House that under the doctrine of separation of powers, the House had a very unique freedom to determine and deal with its internal proceedings and that insofar as the internal proceedings and procedures of the House were concerned, they were not amenable to the jurisdiction of the Court."
Mbewe submitted that on the basis of Dr Matibini's ruling, the House proceeded to debate and vote on the motion for the removal of Banda's immunity.
Labels: ANNE SITALI, CORRUPTION, RUPIAH BANDA
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UPND's Lukulu West candidate wanted PF ticket -Scott
By Moses Kuwema
Sat 13 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT
VICE-PRESIDENT Dr Guy Scott has disclosed that Misheck Mutelo, the UPND's candidate in the upcoming Lukulu Westby-election, wanted to stand on the PF ticket but he was late.
Addressing public meetings in the newly created Mitete district ahead of the April 23 Lukulu West by-election, Vice-President Scott said Mutelo even went to State House in his attempts to be adopted.
"Mutelo wanted to be a PF candidate in this election; he even went to State House but we could not accept him because he was late, so he went to UPND," Vice-President Scott said.
The PF is fielding Aileen Imbwae in the by-election.
And speaking later at another public meeting at Lupuyi Basic School, Vice-President Scott said relief maize would be distributed to those in need and not how they would vote.
This was in response to hunger complaints from the residents
of the area, and the late delivery of farming inputs.
Vice-President Scott said the government found the Farmer Input Support Programme very corrupt because the commercial farmers had taken over the exercise as opposed to small-scale farmers.
During the same meeting, one of the residents Katonda Liwawo said politicians should not only remember voters during by-elections but should be visiting them even afterwards.
Liwawo urged Imbwae to visit the constituency regularly once she was elected.
"Please remember us when voted and think of fulfilling your campaign promises. Don't feellike you are a king when you are voted in as member of parliament," said Liwawo.
In response, Imbwae beggedfor forgiveness from the residents for any wrongdoing thatshe may have committed when she served as member of parliament.
Imbwae said it was difficult for her to carry out certain developmental projects in the area because she was in the opposition.
"But now my party is in power and it will be easy for me to carry out these developmental projects because I can easily walk into any minister's office and ask for what is needed in the constituency," she said.
Earlier, when he addressed another public meeting at Washishi Primary School in Washishi which is one of the remotest parts of Lukulu West Constituency and near the Angolan border, Vice-President Scott said the area needed to be connected to the rest of the country.
"I have been looking forward to visiting this place; I was told you cannot come here by road. Ahuman being cannot live by himself, isolated from the rest of the world and country. We know you people are not happy to be isolated. We must open up the road on the border with Angola so that you can move freely," he said.
Vice-President Scott addressed four public meetings in Washishi, Kakunju, Lupuyi and Sikunduko areas where the residents are faced with almost the same problems that include lack of health facilities, safe drinking water, inadequate teachers and teachers houses, poor road network, among others.
Labels: GUY SCOTT, PF
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Nevers accuses PF of buying off MMD councillors
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Sat 13 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT
MMD president Nevers Mumba says Patriotic Front is buying MMD councillors like tomatoes. And Mumba says former president Rupiah Banda should not feel like a foreigner in his own country.
Featuring on Breeze FM's 'Political hour' programme yesterday, Mumba said the PF was using district commissioner to buy MMD councillors. He said the PF does not care about the billions of kwacha being spent on by-elections.
"From my experience from this 'New Hope Tour' I have made -I have been to Chama, Lundazi, Chadiza and Vubwi -it has become absolutely clear that the DCs are the ones (they are using to buy councillors); their mission is to buy many councillors from MMD and create unnecessary by-elections," Mumba said.
He said councillors were being bought like tomatoes at the market.
When asked by a caller whether he was also bought when he left his NCC party to join MMD, Mumba said he was not.
He said the buying of MMD councillors by the PF had not weakened the former ruling party.
"We have strong members that are going to be a backbone of our party, I have told our members that we need to convince ourselves that we are no longer in government and I have told our members that the first place towards victory for MMD is to first accept that we are no longer in government. We should not deceive ourselves that the benefits, the privileges we were having (while in government) that we were going to be having them now," Mumba said.
And Mumba said he would not stop reminding the PF to concentrate on fulfilling their campaign promises.
He said PF would not be voted back into government based on how many by-elections they create, but on the basis of fulfilled promises.
"Nevers Mumba is not an enemy of President Sata. Nevers Mumba as a matter of fact is one of the best friends of President Sata, because I tell him things that will make him a better President; it's my job as an opposition leader to do that. I need to tell the President that food security has to be a priority in the country and that mining needs to be strengthened so that investors can come in," Mumba said.
He said the PF was not elected into office to prove that it could destroy the opposition.
"I can tell you that if MMD and the opposition was completely destroyed today, this country will be a mess because nobody will be challenging this government on things that they are going to be doing and this will lead into turning the country into a one party state," Mumba said.
He said MMD would not be convinced that PF was doing the right thing by creating by-elections because the country had a lot of economic problems.
"My advice to PF is that as a political party, you should strive to be loved by the people. When you begin to buy everything and everybody to be known or to be supported, then you are not a popular party. The party that depends on money to buy its popularity is not a popular party. In fact, these are the parties that die immediately after they leave office," Mumba said.
He said going to the grassroots was what would win PF support and not harassing the opposition.
Mumba added that it was unnecessary for the PF government to humiliate the former head of state.
"Insulting opposition political parties, arresting opposition presidents and put them in jail, will not make them (PF government) popular. Going after former president Rupiah Banda and inconveniencing his life and trying to humiliate him before the international community as a new government, I think it's not necessary. I call for a more tolerant governance style in our country," he said.
Mumba said as a human being, Banda did his best during his time.
"None of us should feel like a foreigner in our own country, president Rupiah Banda should not feel like a foreigner. He did an excellent job as a human being, he is not God. He did his best and I think that we should allow the old man to retire and rest in peace and be applauded for the job that he did, instead of being rewarded with appearances in court for trumped-up charges," he said.
Some callers urged Mumba not to become Banda's spokesperson in Eastern Province.
Labels: CORRUPTION, MMD, NEVERS MUMBA, PF
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(HERALD ZW) Maize farmers want US$400/tonne
Friday, 05 April 2013 00:00
COMMENT - Farmers (including tobacco farmers) should pay their taxes in maize.
Farmers unions have submitted proposals to the Government to peg the producer price for maize this year at US$400 per tonne, up from the US$295 which the Grain Marketing Board is currently paying.
Private buyers are offering prices just above US$300 per tonne. The grain marketing season begins on April 1 and the Government is yet to fix the producer price for this year.
Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union second vice president Mr Berean Mukwende said production costs had been increasing by high margins every year while the producer price remained stagnant.
“We have submitted a proposal to Government. We are looking at a price of US$400 per tonne to recoup production costs. That is our recommendation because generally that is also the landing price for imported maize,” he said.
Mr Mukwende said the producer price would protect farmers from unscrupulous grain buyers who often rip them off by offering very low prices.
Maize production has generally declined in the country due to droughts experienced in some parts of the country and also low producer prices which have driven some farmers to shift to other crops like tobacco.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union vice president Mr Johnson Mapira said the GMB should not pay less than US$400 per tonne to restore confidence among farmers.
Mr Mapira urged farmers to aim for higher yields per hectare in order to get more returns.
“We encourage farmers to aim for at least four tonnes of maize per hectare. It is even possible for farmers to get 10 tonnes per hectare and if we multiply it by US$400, it is a lot of money,” he said.
He urged farmers to deliver their grain to the GMB early to prevent it from deteriorating in quality mainly due to pests.
Zimbabwe requires 1 384 million tonnes of grain for human consumption and 350 000 tonnes for livestock and other uses.
This year the country is again facing maize shortages and will have to import with agriculture experts calling on the Government to rehabilitate and install irrigation infrastructure as well as provide incentives for producing the crop. - New Ziana.
http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73459%3Athe-two-white-wicked-ambassadors&catid=93%3Amai-jukwa&Itemid=159#.UWH5BkpTsVc
The two white, wicked ambassadors
Sunday, 07 April 2013 20:35
Some will protest the unrestrained aggression of this title. I offer no apologies for stating facts as they are. If the American and British ambassadors, Bruce and Deborah, wish for a more favourable appraisal, they must put an immediate stop to their shameless acts of dishonesty as well as their wicked and unprovoked aggression.
Let this be made clear, Zimbabwe has not disengaged any nation nor has it been ostracised by the wider international community; we continue to enjoy cordial relations with peace-loving nations.
Brazil, China, Russia, Japan, South Africa, Qatar, India, and Indonesia a host of other countries are true friends of Zimbabwe.
If Britain and the United States wish to re-engage with Zimbabwe they simply need to unclench their imperial fists and shake the hand of friendship that Zimbabwe has extended to all peoples of this earth.
Zimbabwe has not expressed military aggressions against them. We have not sought to annex a chunk of Essex. We have not imposed sanctions against them. We have not sought to sabotage their interests in the region although this is within our capacity.
It is their clenched fist alone that needs reform.
We reject in the strongest terms the propaganda attempt by the British to paint themselves as benevolent hands somehow extending an olive branch to a nation otherwise living in the shadows.
This is nonsense.
The only countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe were white Western nations standing in racist solidarity with the 4500 British farmers that President Mugabe kicked out after Britain foolishly tried to pull fast one by reneging on their Lancaster House commitments.
We are not living in the shadows except to those who think that the West is the sunshine of this world. It is not.
Bruce and Deborah, the chief cheerleaders of these racist machinations that are dishonestly cloaked in the regal language of democracy and human rights, made for a pathetic spectacle these past few weeks.
Prancing about making a nuisance of themselves on social media networks, they were at pains to be seen as extending some kind of generosity for which the people of Zimbabwe needed to applaud them.
This fantasy exists only in their racist heads and cannot be allowed to carry on. It is necessary to now put the facts into perspective and rescue these rogue ambassadors from the captivity of their own delusions.
Only white nations
The only countries that “disengaged” and imposed sanctions — call them targeted or whatever sanitising term you wish — against Zimbabwe were white. This is quite a peculiarity.
Of all the diverse peoples of this earth is it a coincidence that only white nations imposed sanctions? These white former colonisers are so shameless as to claim they imposed these sanctions because they love Zimbabweans.
The contradictions are violent.
All other countries of this earth refused to join their racist and vindictive assault, which was in retaliation for our decision to kick out the British farmers. They stole that land and got their just desserts.
There are no Zimbabwean farmers in Britain and we will never apologise for kicking colonial criminals out.
Those greedy white former farmers salivating at the thought of compensation should read this clearly — not a penny will be paid. We will never tax Zimbabweans to reward British thieves.
They are very angry
The white world had grown accustomed to taking over the land and resources of others and getting away with it. Australia is a perfect example of this.
In that wicked example of white conquest, the indigenous aboriginals live on the periphery of society while criminals of white European extraction have established themselves as the lawful authority.
A similar effort is underway in Argentina.
The insatiable greed of the British is laying claim to the Malvinas, lands that are thousands of miles from Britain. It defies logic.
They have installed their kith and kin on that land and legitimise their shameless acts with empty democratic gestures to rubber stamp their theft.
President Mugabe said no to this, we could not accept domination in our own lands. Mugabe’s ‘chutzpah’ shocked the white world.
Never before had a nigger successfully sequestrated property from the white man. They had grown accustomed to pillaging the resources of indigenous peoples the world over and had elevated their criminality to a legitimate system of ownership.
Robert Mugabe challenged this, smashing their clay-pot doctrines of ownership to pieces.
He had to be taught a lesson.
Jumping up and down, frothing with racist rage, the British co-opted their American brothers and the rest of their white kith and kin. All other nations refused to take part.
This is an important point.
In the end it was only white countries that joined forces against Zimbabwe.
Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Britain, France, the United States and a handful of other pathetically vindictive white countries came together in ungodly alliance and imposed crippling sanctions.
At one time they went to the United Nations begging the rest of the world to join in their unrighteous crusade in a hope to legitimise what was clearly a racial affair.
The world said no.
To this day that racist club remains a shameless grouping of white nations that has tried every dirty trick in the book to paint themselves as friends of Zimbabwe when even drunkards in beer halls know that they are nothing more than Friends of Britain against Zimbabwe.
Shameless hypocrites
How would the people of Britain have reacted if the Kremlin had announced that it was working with the Conservative party to overthrow the Labour government of Tony Blair on the grounds that the invasion of Iraq was an unforgivable transgression that violated international law?
A great number of British citizens disagreed with Tony Blair’s decision to invade a foreign country.
An even greater number, perhaps in the millions, opposed his political ideology and certainly wanted him out of office.
Could we then say the British would embrace this external interference by Vladimir Putin?
I think not.
Would the people not scream treason if documents were uncovered showing the leader of the Conservative party working in cahoots with the Russians, giving them information on government officials and urging them on to sanction the country?
Would this not amount to one of the greatest scandals of British politics? Consider how they screamed themselves sore over cash for questions.
The people of Britain would resent external interference in their domestic affairs and rightly so.
They are a sovereign state. So how is it that Tony Blair confidently stood in the Commons and stated quite publicly that his government was actively working with the MDC?
How is that the WikiLeaks cables show Tendai Biti identifying Government officials and entities that should be placed on the sanctions list?
How is it that we read another cable of Morgan Tsvangirai shamelessly telling the ambassador to keep the sanctions in place and admitting that his public calls for their removal were merely for show?
They still perceive Zimbabwe to be a “sub-territory” where their jurisdiction presides.
They find comfort for their white supremacist ideas in leaders like Tsvangirai who lack the intellectual rigour to realise that they are being used to re-establish this jurisdiction.
Like Abel Muzorewa, Tsvangirai is not a bad man. He is simply being used as British tissue paper and will be disposed of in the rightful place for tissue paper when the time comes.
This is how the British operate.
The use, abuse and then dump padlock-brain puppets.
This glaring duplicity is apparent only to us; the likes of Bruce and Deborah are entirely oblivious.
How else could one explain how they esteem themselves celestial beings of the democratic order and seek to instruct us on the rule of law whilst at the very same time holding a man in Guantanamo Bay for ten years without charge and without trial?
The hypocrisy of Bruce and Deborah is born of an inherent superiority complex that bleeds into the depths of their very intellects from childhood and blinds them to anything that contradicts white domination.
It is a classic case of the Orwellian doublethink in which the depraved mind manages to hold two diametrically opposing thoughts.
This explains why the former white farmers actually think that they deserve compensation for land that they stole from us through violent subjugation whilst at the same time pleading reconciliation and a forgiveness of sins for their colonial misdeeds.
It is quite similar to bandit who waylays a horseman, takes his beast and possessions and flees.
On apprehension that bandit pleads the virtues of forgiveness and mercy but tactfully explains that bygones must bygones and how it is only right he be allowed to keep the horse.
In this way he is not only forgiven of his sins but gets to keep the loot as well.
The rest of us black mortals find this outrageous and are puzzled by this manner of logic, but Deborah and Bruce see it through an entirely different lens. That lens is white.
Diplomatic deodorant
In an effort to stem the stench of their duplicity these two hypocrites run around shouting into every ear that is willing to listen how generous they are and how great their love for Zimbabwe is.
They accomplish this through hollow and ineffectual charitable gestures. They call it aid.
After all these years of British and American generosity I would like to meet even just a single Zimbabwean who was set free from poverty by these said generosities.
I do not ask for a dozen such people, merely one. Not a single peasant in Zimbabwe has had their life changed by these self-serving aid programmes.
If you dare ask me for an example of a person set free by Robert Mugabe’s much-maligned land reform, I will send you to the tobacco floors and show you thousands.
It is unhealthy for the soul to take pleasure in the suffering of an enemy but one is permitted the occasional indulgence.
I took quite some satisfaction in reading of Madhuku’s recent emotional outburst in which he publicly railed against his former Western handlers, admitting that they had used him as a pawn to further their selfish interests.
Tsvangirai’s “Damascus moment” is also fast approaching.
As a child my father often used to say “murungu akaipa”.
In the naiveté of youth I thought him prosaic and extreme. His wisdom becomes evident with each passing day.
We have allowed these dishonest diplomats to carry on unchallenged for far too long. We are stepping into a new season in which we are taking these racist forces right by their demonic horns.
If they value the few remaining shreds of prestige they still enjoy amongst weak and gullible black minds of the Muzorewa persuasion, they would do well to keep a low profile as is becoming of diplomats.
* Mai Jukwa is a loving mother of three. She respects Robert Mugabe, is amused by Tsvangirai and feels sorry for Mutambara.
Labels: AMBASSADORS, GRAIN MARKETING BOARD (ZW), JOHNSON MAPIRA, MAI JUKWA, MAIZE
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(STICKY) (NEWZIMBABWE, NYT) Tasting good life, MDC-T slips off pedestal
COMMENT - What pedestal? Like all neoliberals, they are the 'Greed Is Good, Greed Works' party. If they would ever come to power, they would make ANY corruption among ZANU-PF look like amateur time. They are corrupt to their core, right from getting to power on the misery they visited on the Zimbabwean people through economic sanctions, to their desire to see tens of thousands of Zimbabweans die in a foreign invasion - just so they can get to power and sell off the diamond mines. They are the Movement for Death and Corruption (MDC).
(NEWZIMBABWE, NYT) Tasting good life, MDC-T slips off pedestal
Trappings of power ... Morgan Tsvangirai's new Harare home
13/04/2013 00:00:00
by New York Times
THE guests arrived in Bentleys, Benzes and BMWs. At a plush, riverside wedding in an upscale suburb, the wine and spirits flowed and tables groaned with the ample buffet. Politicians, celebrities, diplomats and business leaders mingled to the strains of Oliver Mtukudzi serenading the happy couple with his famous love song “Svovi Yangu”.
This was not the wedding of some stalwart of the dominant party that has ruled this mineral-rich nation for decades. Instead, the 60-year-old groom was a one-time labour organiser, Morgan Tsvangirai, the longstanding opposition leader and now prime minister in a once uneasy but increasingly comfortable unity government with President Robert Mugabe.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes,” said Misheck Shoko, a member of Parliament for Tsvangirai’s party, the Movement for Democratic Change.
“It must have cost a fortune. We cannot help but wonder: who paid the bill?”
As Zimbabwe prepares to choose a new president this year in long-awaited elections, voters are increasingly questioning the erstwhile opposition, the only serious challenger to the tight grip Mugabe and his Zanu PF party, have held on this nation for decades.
Tsvangirai’s underdog movement has long been the vessel of millions of Zimbabweans’ hopes for a more democratic, peaceful and prosperous future in what was once one of Africa’s most stable and wealthy nations. But four years of governing alongside Mugabe - and in some ways, analysts say, being co-opted by him and his allies - has taken a toll on its reputation.
Disenchantment
The disenchantment was evident in a survey last year conducted for Freedom House, a watchdog group based in the United States, that found support for Tsvangirai’s party had fallen to 20 percent from 38 percent two years earlier among voters who declared a preference.
By contrast, support for Zanu PF - the party that allegedly clung to power by beating, torturing and intimidating thousands in the last election in 2008 - grew to 31 percent last year from 17 percent in 2010, the survey found, though some analysts noted that an unusually high number of people declined to respond, probably out of fear.
Tsvangirai rocketed to fame as the courageous leader of a party that dared to challenge the rule of Mugabe, who has led this country since independence in 1980. Photographs of him beaten and bleeding from the head in 2007 galvanized global opinion against Mugabe’s brutal reign.
But these days, Tsvangirai’s lifestyle has been the talk of a nation where millions live on $2 a day. He has taken to traveling abroad with a sizable entourage, officials and analysts say, honeymooning in London and spending holidays in Monaco. He recently moved into a government residence that cost about $3 million to build.
His party entered the power-sharing government in 2009, after disastrous elections in which Tsvangirai won the most votes but withdrew from a runoff because of the violence meted out against his followers. Hundreds of people were killed in the crackdown. In a deal hammered out with Zimbabwe’s neighbours, Tsvangirai became prime minister, and the two parties agreed to share power.
In practice, Tsvangirai’s party has had almost no authority to change the fundamental structure of Zimbabwe. The army and police forces remained under Mugabe’s control. Tsvangirai’s party held ministries controlling the economy and social services, both of which have improved, but it has struggled to transform the architecture of Mugabe’s security state.
Meanwhile, officials in Tsvangirai’s party, many of whom suffered poverty while fighting to remake Zimbabwe, began enjoying the trappings of power. Government ministers, members of Parliament and other officials were awarded fancy cars and travel allowances. Tsvangirai traded his trade-unionist leather jacket for tailored suits.
Personal scandals
His personal life has been a source of embarrassment as well. His wife Susan died in a car accident in 2009, and his romantic life since has been the subject of extensive news coverage, much to his party’s chagrin. When he was planning to marry Elizabeth Macheka, his current wife, another woman challenged, claiming that she had been married to Tsvangirai in a traditional ceremony in 2011.
The matter ended up in court, with a magistrate ruling that Tsvangirai was in fact already married under customary law. He was forced to cancel plans for a legal wedding, and instead called the ceremony last September a celebration.
Another woman also filed court papers, claiming that she and Tsvangirai had been engaged. Tsvangirai did not respond to repeated interview requests, but he apologized publicly to supporters for his messy search for a new wife, saying: “I had no intention to hurt anyone. It was a genuine search.”
Other problems have erupted. In Chitungwiza, a stronghold of Tsvangirai’s party, a corruption scandal has engulfed the town council. Elected officials stand accused of selling access to hundreds of pieces of city-controlled land for about $4,000 per plot and pocketing most of the money.
Council members from Tsvangirai’s party, with the help of their former adversaries, parcelled off soccer fields, playgrounds, wetlands and areas set aside for schools and churches. Land in Chitungwiza is not privately owned; individuals and businesses lease it from the government. But there is a long waiting list, and bribes to city councillors helped people jump the line.
For many, the painful irony is that thousands were pushed out of Chitungwiza by Mugabe’s government in a 2005 demolition campaign to eviscerate opposition strongholds. Hundreds of homes and businesses were destroyed, and today housing is scarce and expensive.
City employees are supposed to receive land for houses, but many are waiting - and officials from Tsvangirai’s party are now accused of profiting from the misfortune.
Corruption
Never Tarugarira, a janitor and handyman at a community centre, has been on a waiting list since 2005, but his number has never come up. So he rents two tiny, fetid rooms for $100 a month, eating up much of his pay-cheque - that is, when he gets one. He has not been paid for the past five months because of the city’s fiscal woes.
“Some nights we go to sleep without eating,” he said.
Alice Chihambakwe, another Chitungwiza resident waiting years for a plot, says her husband goes to work every day at the city’s sewer plant, but has not been paid in months. Two of her children had to postpone crucial high school exams because the family could not pay the fees, about $30 per child.
“Our lives are on hold,” Chihambakwe said, weeping softly.
The councillors proved easy marks for corrupt bureaucrats from Mugabe’s party, said Amos Matanhike, a former town clerk in Chitungwiza.
“The problem is that most of the M.D.C. councillors are very young,” Matanhike said. “They did not have houses, they owned no property. So these youngsters took that opportunity, and they got onto the gravy train.”
Once it got wind of the scandal, Tsvangirai’s party tried to take action, firing the councillors involved. But the minister for local government, a Zanu PF appointee, vetoed the dismissals, so the councillors remain.
Critics say the former opposition party has been naïve, falling into a trap set by Mugabe to co-opt and compromise them.
“Old Bob must be chuckling and enjoying himself right now,” said Munyaradzi Gwisai, a prominent activist. “He has them right where he wants them.”
Nelson Chamisa, a top official with the Movement for Democratic Change, says Tsvangirai remains the best hope for change in Zimbabwe.
“He is the next big thing in Zimbabwe,” Chamisa said. “He is the only game in town.”
He called Tsvangirai’s ceremony “a basic wedding” and that he deserved sympathy after the tragic death of his previous wife.
“At times people are very harsh and unkind to a very noble man,” Chamisa said.
Asked who paid for the wedding, Chamisa said, “There are many people who wish him well.”
Labels: 2013 ELECTIONS (ZW), FREEDOM HOUSE, MDC CORRUPTION, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI
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“Pro-Democracy Terrorism”: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is a Propaganda Front funded by the EU
By Tony Cartalucci
Global Research, April 12, 2013
Land Destroyer
The NYT admits fraudulent Syrian human rights group is UK-based “one-man band” funded by EU and one other “European country.”
In reality, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has long ago been exposed as an absurd propaganda front operated by Rami Abdul Rahman out of his house in England’s countryside. According to a December 2011 Reuters article titled, “Coventry – an unlikely home to prominent Syria activist,” Abdul Rahman admits he is a member of the so-called “Syrian opposition” and seeks the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad:
After three short spells in prison in Syria for pro-democracy activism, Abdulrahman came to Britain in 2000 fearing a longer, fourth jail term.
“I came to Britain the day Hafez al-Assad died, and I’ll return when Bashar al-Assad goes,” Abdulrahman said, referring to Bashar’s father and predecessor Hafez, also an autocrat.
One could not fathom a more unreliable, compromised, biased source of information, yet for the past two years, his “Observatory” has served as the sole source of information for the endless torrent of propaganda emanating from the Western media. Perhaps worst of all, is that the United Nations uses this compromised, absurdly overt source of propaganda as the basis for its various reports – at least, that is what the New York Times now claims in their recent article, “A Very Busy Man Behind the Syrian Civil War’s Casualty Count.”
The NYT piece admits:
Military analysts in Washington follow its body counts of Syrian and rebel soldiers to gauge the course of the war. The United Nations and human rights organizations scour its descriptions of civilian killings for evidence in possible war crimes trials. Major news organizations, including this one, cite its casualty figures.
Yet, despite its central role in the savage civil war, the grandly named Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is virtually a one-man band. Its founder, Rami Abdul Rahman, 42, who fled Syria 13 years ago, operates out of a semidetached red-brick house on an ordinary residential street in this drab industrial city [Coventry, England].
The New York Times also for the first time reveals that Abdul Rahman’s operation is indeed funded by the European Union and a “European country” he refuses to identify:
Money from two dress shops covers his minimal needs for reporting on the conflict, along with small subsidies from the European Union and one European country that he declines to identify.
Photo: “Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (Reuters)
Abdelrahman leaves the Foreign and Commonwealth Office after meeting Britain’s Foreign Secretary, William Hague, in central London November 21, 2011.
Abdelrahman is not the “head” of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, he is the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, run out of his UK-based house as a one-man operation.
And while Abdul Rahman refuses to identify that “European country,” it is beyond doubt that it is the United Kingdom itself – as Abdul Rahman has direct access to the Foreign Secretary William Hague, who he has been documented meeting in person on multiple occasions at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. The NYT in fact reveals that it was the British government that first relocated Abdul Rahman to Coventry, England after he fled Syria over a decade ago because of his anti-government activities:
When two associates were arrested in 2000, he fled the country, paying a human trafficker to smuggle him into England. The government resettled him in Coventry, where he decided he liked the slow pace.
Abdul Rahman is not a “human rights activist.” He is a paid propagandist. He is no different than the troupe of unsavory, willful liars and traitors provided refuge in Washington and London during the Iraq war and the West’s more recent debauchery in Libya, for the sole purpose of supplying Western governments with a constant din of propaganda and intentionally falsified intelligence reports designed specifically to justify the West’s hegemonic designs.
Abdul Rahman’s contemporaries include the notorious Iraqi defector Rafid al-Janabi, codename “Curveball,” who now gloats publicly that he invented accusations of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, the West’s casus belli for a 10 year war that ultimately cost over a million lives, including thousands of Western troops, and has left Iraq still to this day in shambles. There’s also the lesser known Dr. Sliman Bouchuiguir of Libya, who formed the foundation of the pro-West human rights racket in Benghazi and now openly brags in retrospect that tales of Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi’s atrocities against the Libyan people were likewise invented to give NATO its sought-after impetus to intervene militarily.
Unlike in Iraq and Libya, the West has failed categorically to sell military intervention in Syria, and even its covert war has begun to unravel as the public becomes increasingly aware that the so-called “pro-democracy rebels” the West has been arming for years are in fact sectarian extremists fighting under the banner of Al Qaeda. The charade that is the “Syrian Observatory for Human Rights” is also unraveling. It is unlikely that the New York Times’ limited hangout will convince readers that Rami Abdul Rahman is anything other than another “Curveball” helping the corporate-financier elite of Wall Street and London sell another unnecessary war to the public.
Labels: NEOCOLONIALISM, NEOCONSERVATISM, SYRIA, TERRORISM
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Nevers' reasoning is saddening
By Editor
Fri 12 Apr. 2013, 14:00 CAT
Nevers Mumba says "what is happening to president Rupiah Banda is very sad, very, very sad for Zambia, very, very bad for democracy. A man did his very best in three years, brought some of the most accomplished development of our country and all that he gets at the end is the removal of his immunity, being harassed! I think we don't need this as Zambia, we need to be mature, we need to be accommodating and we need to be loving and allow the president to serve and go and settle at their farms".
It is very, very sad for Zambia and very, very bad for democracy that a man who wants to be president of this country can think in the very narrow and selfish way Nevers is thinking. No individual, whatever his merits, should be placed above the collective, above the common good of our homeland and of all our people.
Rupiah is not the first president of a country to be prosecuted for corruption. And Zambians are not the first people to prosecute their presidents who have abused their trust. Many countries have done it. It has been done in Europe, Asia, Latin America and in other parts of Africa. Corruption is a scourge no government, no people should tolerate.
All countries of the world, including our own country, have laws to punish wrongdoers. These laws were not enacted to punish only the poor and humble citizens and let the kings and presidents got scot-free when they commit crimes. It doesn't matter and it shouldn't matter who you are or what you have been; what merits you possess or what accomplishments you have delivered. If you commit a crime, the law should take its course. And Rupiah is not being prosecuted outside the law. The Constitution of the Republic of Zambia clearly provides for the removal of presidential immunity if a person who was president but is no longer president is believed or is found to have committed a crime while serving as president. Rupiah is believed to have abused his office to enrich himself and his family at the expense of the collective Zambian people. What is wrong with removing his immunity and taking him to court?
We know that the philosophy Nevers is propagating comes from Rupiah himself. Rupiah made it very clear that he was not happy with the prosecution of Frederick Chiluba for corruption by the Levy Mwanawasa-led MMD government. Throughout the years Rupiah was Levy's vice-president, he never voiced his opposition to the prosecution of Chiluba. The only time Rupiah found it unacceptable to prosecute Chiluba for corruption was when he himself became president. Why? It is because he didn't want that to happen to him after he left office.
Rupiah knew very well that he was incapable of not abusing his office to enrich himself, his family and friends. And in pursuance of that, Rupiah did many wrong things, including the abuse of the Judiciary to free Chiluba from going to jail. It was not that humble magistrate Jones Chinyama who decided on his own to acquit Chiluba. It was a decision that was imposed on him to carry out and he carried it out with shame. It was not the decision of that spineless Director of Public Prosecutions Chalwe Mchenga to stop the appeal of Chiluba's acquittal. It was a decision that he was told to carry out and he carried it out. Behind all that was Rupiah and those in the Judiciary he had abused to serve his interests.
All this doesn't sadden Nevers. All this is what Nevers wants this nation to continue doing.
Good nations and good people respect the good contributions of their leaders but are never blinded by that when it comes to punishing wrongdoing. The Brazilians, and indeed the whole world, have great respect for their former president Lula Da Silva. But today they have placed him under investigation for corruption following the successful prosecution of his aide who was found to be corrupt. This is what the rule of law means. Even the most popular, most respected, most admired, the most adored ruler is not placed above the law.
The Italians have their former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi being prosecuted for all sorts of abuses. Is it because they have no respect for those who have governed the affairs of their country? Is it because they have no love in their hearts for their former rulers?
What about the French people? Former president Jacques Chirac was prosecuted for corruption. And Nicolas Sarkozy is also being investigated for corruption. Does that mean the new rulers of Italy and France are bad and vindictive people?
The current President of Brazil was an aide to Lula. Are we being told that she has turned against Lula and has become vindictive and hateful?
We are saddened by Nevers' narrowness and shallowness of mind and thought. Being a former religious leader, we expected Nevers to think in a bit more upright way and have a correct interpretation of things.
We were taught that there was a constant struggle between good and evil, and evil had to be punished. We were also taught that those who committed crimes and were responsible for injustice, evil and all those other things that upright people are fighting against today would be punished in hell. Could that be interpreted as an expression of hatred, vindictiveness? There is no greater love for a wrongdoer, a politician who abuses public trust and corruptly abuses his office to enrich himself than to remove his immunity and have him prosecuted and stop him from enjoying the fruits of his crime.
And the Zambian people have to be consistent on this issue. Every politician who abuses his office, who steals from his poor people deserves to be prosecuted and, if found guilty, sent to jail. This is a standard that should not be violated or bent because we like somebody, he is our friend or political ally. Friend or ally, the law should always take its course. And it won't matter how many times we do it. If our presidents don't learn, each and every one of them will lose their immunity and one day, one of them will go to jail.
Labels: CORRUPTION, MMD, NEVERS MUMBA
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Rupiah fails to appear before probe team
By Mwala Kalaluka
Fri 12 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT
RUPIAH Banda yesterday failed to appear before the Government Joint Investigations Team due to his lawyers' 'busy' schedule.
Sources disclosed yesterday that the former president's lawyers said they were busy with the court matter where he has challenged the removal of his legal immunity by Parliament in the High Court, which is expected to come for ruling today.
"The lawyers indicated that they will be busy. So we have agreed on Monday," the source said.
And GJIT public relations officer Namukolo Kasumpa also stated in a press release yesterday that Banda had been summoned to appear before the probe team at the Drug Enforcement Commission offices at 10:00 hours yesterday in connection with allegations of corruption.
"However, the former president's lawyers advised that they had other prior commitments and could not therefore present their client today but committed to present him on Monday 15th April 2013, at the same time and venue," Kasumpa stated.
"The Government Joint Investigations Team has in the last month interviewed the former president under warn and caution on issues of Mphundu Trust, Baobab land, and campaign materials for the 2011 polls, and effected an arrest on the Nigerian oil transaction. Yesterday's summoning of the former president is a continuation of the ongoing interviews and investigations."
Banda is already facing abuse of authority of office charges in the Lusaka Magistrates' Court.
Labels: CORRUPTION, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA
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MMD is a party for crooks - Kabimba
By Roy Habaalu in Kapiri Mposhi
Fri 12 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT
JUSTICE minister Wynter Kabimba says MMD is a corrupt party for crooks.
During a rally at Nchembwe Basic School in Mpunde ward in Kapiri Mposhi ahead of the April 23 by-election, Kabimba, who is PF secretary general, said the former Kapiri Mposhi member of parliament Lawrence Zimba defected to UPND because he did not want to be associated with MMD's corruption.
"People are suffering because there was a government that didn't care. People are suffering because MMD is a party for crooks and the corrupt. MMD is the most corrupt party in Africa and the world, that's why God gave you President Michael Sata in 2011," he said.
Kabimba said MMD had turned Zambia into a pigsty.
"People are suffering, teachers and pupils are living in schools and houses like pigsty. A pig is a pig; even if a pig wears a suit for a human being, it doesn't become a human being, it remains a pig. Even if it wears overalls for a miner, it remains a pig and Zimba comes from a corrupt party for crooks. He has decided to join a political party that wants to divide this country on tribal lines," Kabimba said.
He said despite its dominance in Southern Province, UPND had nothing to show for it.
Kabimba appealed to the people of Kapiri Mposhi to turn up en mass on April 23 and guard their votes.
The UPND is fielding Zimba and the ruling PF re-adopted its 2011 losing candidate Eddie Musonda.
Labels: CORRUPTION, MMD, PF, WYNTER KABIMBA
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Govt should stick to monitoring new BoZ Act implementation - Newall
By Kabanda Chulu and Gift Chanda
Fri 12 Apr. 2013, 14:00 CAT
GOVERNMENT should restrict itself to monitoring the implementation of the new Bank of Zambia Act because any extension of its application towards currency control will negatively affect the economy, says First Quantum Mineral (FQM) president Clive Newall.
Government has made amendments to the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) Act whose objective is to regulate foreign exchange inflows and outflows and amounts remitted, and monitor international transactions in services and investment in the form of equity and debt securities abroad.
The new Act also seeks to maximise international money transfers into and out of Zambia and monitor profits and dividends received in respect of investments abroad.
There are concerns that these new regulations would scare away investors especially that the Zambian economy was based on free market policies hence some investors might consider pulling out or scaling-down their investments.
But government has argued that the new Act would stop capital flight and compel investors, especially mining companies, to spend foreign exchange locally to result in stability of the kwacha.
When asked to comment on the matter and if FQM, which owns Kansanshi Mines Plc, had engaged the Zambian government to dialogue on the Act, Newall confirmed that conversations had been held with government about the new law.
"We have been given assurances that it is simply legislation to allow monitoring of currency movements, rather than currency control. We will, of course, monitor the implementation of this Act and enabling legislation as any extension of its application towards currency control would be an unwelcome development," stated Newall, in an emailed response.
"We cannot, in any case, overlook the increasingly heavy administrative burden being placed on investors by this and similar recent measures."
Meanwhile, First Quantum Minerals has indirectly acquired a 3.7 per cent stake in Zincore Metals after its "takeover" of Inmet Mining Corporation last month, the company has said.
First Quantum, which operates in Zambia, acquired control of Inmet Mining Corporation on March 21, 2013.
Inmet holds 7,820,500 Zincore Shares representing 3.7 per cent of the issued and outstanding Zincore Shares.
"Together with Zincore Shares indirectly held by First Quantum prior to its acquisition of Inmet, First Quantum has control of 49,888,245 Zincore Shares, representing 23.7 per cent of the issued and outstanding Zincore Shares," the company said in a statement.
Zincore Metals is an exploration company focused on the identification, acquisition, exploration, evaluation and development of primarily Zinc and related base metals projects in the Americas.
First Quantum Minerals (FQM) is Zambia's biggest copper producer and is currently spending US$2 billion on its Trident project which it says would help increase its Zambian copper production to almost 700,000 tonnes yearly by 2015.
The company is also spending US$1.3 billion to $1.4 billion on an expansion at Kansanshi, already Africa's biggest copper mine.
Labels: BOZ, CLIVE NEWALL, FIRST QUANTUM MINING, MINING
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Sata promises to protect Zambians' interests
By Joan Chirwa-Ngoma in Beijing
Fri 12 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has promised to protect the interests of Zambians in his pursuit for increased investments in the country.
And President Sata has asked China not to colonise its neighbours such as Taiwan but treat them as equal partners in development.
Meanwhile, President Sata charmed a packed auditorium of prospective investors, Zambian government officials and senior executives of China Nonferrous Metals Corporation (CNMC) Group when he constantly passed jokes and insisted on pronouncing certain words and names in Chinese.
During an interactive session at the China-Zambia Economic and Trade Forum organised by CNMC and the Zambian Embassy in China in partnership with Zambia Development Agency and Zambia Tourism Board, President Sata said the government would protect the interests of the Zambians in sourcing for investments from foreign countries.
During his meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior government officials, President Sata talked about how passionate his government was to attract valuable investments in a quest to reduce massive unemployment among the youth.
Yesterday, he continued his call for massive Chinese investments in Zambia's key economic sectors considering the country's potential for growth owing to several factors such as vast land, abundant water and mineral resources and conducive weather conditions.
But when one prospective Chinese investor who did not mention his name asked if the Zambian government would allow the use of Chinese currency, the Yuan, in transactions conducted by investors from China, President Sata said despite China and Zambia having more or less the same policies, his government would ensure the interests of Zambians came first.
"China comes first to China, other things come second. So Zambia also has to protect what it has. But that doesn't mean it should make you stop doing business in our country," he assured, adding that the Zambian government would protect Chinese investments in the country.
President Sata said Zambia had the most liberal foreign exchange policies in Africa which should excite the Chinese investors to invest in the country's economic sectors.
"You can take away your money at any time if it is acquired in a proper way. If not, I am afraid you will have to ask Chairman Mao Zedong to come and help you," he cautioned in a joking manner. "Zambia remains one of the most liberalised economies of Africa despite steps being taken to put measures to regulate the flow of money (through the amendment of the Bank of Zambia Act)."
President Sata said the Zambian government does not discriminate against investors but looked at the ideas being brought to Zambia.
"The Zambian government will only look at your ideas; it will not look at your colour or your eyes. Zambians have no ill feelings against foreigners, so the best way forward for any serious investor is to visit the intended destination for investments," he said. "Come and see Zambia for yourselves."
President Sata also asked China to help Zambia resuscitate Zambia Airways, a national carrier that was liquidated in the early 1990s.
"If you help us bring back Zambia Airways, we will bring China, Hong Kong, Taiwan together, but don't colonise them. Treat them as equal; we don't want you to colonise them," he said. "And once Zambia Airways starts, its first stop will be Beijing."
President Sata also jokingly told the Chinese to invest in Zambia's agriculture sector to help feed many of their relatives who had nothing to eat.
"We are exporting a small percentage of products out of Zambia. Come to Zambia and help feed people here in China. I saw your relatives in the mountains who have nothing to eat," he joked as the auditorium was sent into laughter. "Come and taste our fresh beef; it's not like here where you get milk even from ceramic tiles… If you are too slow, everybody else will be coming to Zambia and your position will be taken. The Indians are also coming to Zambia to invest."
And earlier, President Sata refused to deliver his speech while seated at the high table but opted to stand at a common podium, saying he was strong.
President Sata wound up his state visit to China yesterday and is expected in Zambia today.
Labels: LABOUR, MICHAEL SATA, MINING
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Pregnancy-related causes claim a life every 4 hours - Dr Kaseba
By Fridah Nkonde
Fri 12 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT
FIRST lady Dr Christine Kaseba says a woman dies every four hours in Zambia from pregnancy-related causes.
During the launch of maternal newborn and child health roadmap in Lusaka yesterday, Dr Kaseba said although progress had been made in the reduction of maternal, under-five and infant mortality rates over the years, the reductions had not resulted in significant progress as death still remained unacceptably high.
"Most of these women die during childbirth and the first one week of delivery. We also know that the poorest women have more than twice as many children as women who live in the wealthiest households.
Challenges remain because almost 850 children die daily from preventable diseases. Many more thousands of children are suffering from illnesses caused by lack of clean water, poor nutrition, and adequate health services and care," Dr Kaseba said.
She said low access to family planning results in frequent unplanned and unwanted pregnancies and contributes to increased risk of abortions, stillbirths, prematurity and babies born with low birth weight.
She said sick children were less likely to reach school age healthy, well nourished, confident and ready to learn.
She said Zambia should end preventable child deaths and that no woman should die while giving life.
"As women, we need to ensure that household and communities practice health seeking behaviours. As husbands, and father, you need to recognise that you play a major role in ensuring access of health services to women and children and communities are strongly encouraged to mobilise themselves to ensure that they mobilise necessary logistics including transport for referral of pregnant women and sick children for health care," she said.
Dr Kaseba appealed to the government to address the high poverty levels which mostly affected women and children.
She also urged medical officers to pay due diligence in providing the required health services that would improve lives of women and children.
UNICEF deputy executive director Geeta Rao Gupta said the agency was committed to support the Zambian government-led effort to identify the most disadvantaged children and reach those communities where the burden of mortality was highest.
Labels: CHRISTINE KASEMBA, HEALTHCARE, WOMEN
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Ndoki health centre on verge of collapse, says Luwingu DC
By Edwin Phiri in Luwingu
Fri 12 Apr. 2013, 14:00 CAT
LUWINGU district commissioner Mambwe Katontoka says Ndoki Rural Health Centre is on the verge of collapse due to huge cracks developing on the walls.
Katontoka who travelled to the area to ascertain the state of the government building constructed in 1998, said it had become very dangerous and pleaded with the Ministry of Education to surrender one of the unoccupied teachers' houses to be used as a centre for the time being.
"Yah, this is what rains can do sure to this building providing health service to the community!" she said to herself.
Katontoka said the institution was meant to cater to over 50,000 people and others from villages situated in Chilubi district, adding if closed, the local people would suffer.
Katontoka also disclosed that Ruthens Construction Company engaged to construct a maternity annex at the health centre had vanished after only delivering over 300 pockets of cement, door and window frames, wheel barrows and brick force wire spider trances.
She said the cement which was delivered between November 2011 and February 2012 had since expired, hardened and could not be used in any construction.
And speaking on behalf of Ndoki residents, Francis Kasonde said the community was ready to contribute over 25 per cent to see the construction of a new rural health centre, including staff houses if government assured them of funding as soon as possible.
Kasonde said it would be unfair for the government to close the centre without providing a lasting solution to help people access health services.
He said the population in that area had grown adding that patients including pregnant mothers could not afford to walk over 60 kilometres to Shimumbi Health Centre and over 200 kilometres to Luwingu District Hospital respectively.
Kasonde asked the district commissioner to talk to the District Education Board Secretary for possible use of a classroom block as a temporary health centre during school holiday rather than completely closing the institution.
And Ndoki school head teacher Geshom Chibuye said following the crises, the school stands with the community to release a teacher's house to be used as a temporary health centre as government looks for other avenues.
And when contacted for comment, provincial infrastructure officer for Northern and Muchinga Province Francis Mulenga said Ndoki Rural Health Centre was declared unfit because it could collapse any time.
Mulenga also said the Ministry of Health was doing everything possible to ensure that the construction of maternity annex was done within this year.
He said the contractor engaged to do the maternity annex in Ndoki had his contract terminated and government was considering sending another contractor to finish the job.
Labels: HEALTHCARE, MAMBWE KATONTOKA
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Kaonga laments sleeping conditions for mothers in Chimbokaila
By Fridah Nkonde
Fri 12 Apr. 2013, 14:00 CAT
SLEEPING conditions at Lusaka Central Prison do not provide incarcerated mothers and their children space that is safe and secure, says Zambia Prisons Service Lusaka province regional commander Chrispin Kaonga.
And Gender and Child Development deputy minister Esther Banda says government and the Zambia Prisons Service will ensure that children whose parents are in prison receive the necessary attention like any other child.
Meanwhile, out of 105 female inmates at Lusaka Central Prison, 10 have circumstantial children of which six were males and four are females.
During the Ministry of Gender and Child Development's donation of assorted items to prisoner mothers and their children at Lusaka Central Prison on Wednesday, Kaonga said babies were delicate and required environments that were clean and conducive.
"But now we can't find that environment in the prison at the moment. We have people with different kinds of ailments in prison and children are supposed to be protected at all times. Lusaka Central Prison is a place where you find female inmates, those that are convicted and those still appearing before the courts of law. We even have the newest baby that was born last week," Kaonga said.
She said the food that was found in prison was that of grown up people, adding that they had challenges when it came to feeding of the babies because they did not have provisions of milk and porridge for the children.
"Your coming here minister would provide a way of finding a solution to this problem. The space that we have is not adequate. We would want to have a nursery in prison where babies can be kept during the day but due to competing needs we have failed to have one. We would want these children born from prisoners to become meaningful and responsible citizens of this country because they are prisoner not by design but because their parents are prisoners," he said.
And Banda said her ministry had embarked on a programme targeting children living with their incarcerated parents.
"This programme will among other things focus on gathering of information on children living with their incarcerated parents for us to come up with appropriate intervention measures, creating of linkages with other stakeholders in order to provide alternative care for children whose parents are in prison and mobilisation of necessary resources to support children whose parents are in prison," she said.
She said her ministry would also ensure that women prisoners benefit from the women economic empowerment programmes upon being released so that they could lead better and productive lives.
Labels: HEALTHCARE, WOMEN
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(BUSINESS DAILY KE) Eleven presidents witness Kenya’s change of guard
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe received a rousing welcome at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani from Kenyans who thronged the stadium to witness the Uhuru Kenyatta's inauguration. Photo/Emma Nzioka
Media Group
By EDWIN MUTAI
Posted Tuesday, April 9 2013 at 20:19
In Summary
* The ceremony was witnessed by 11 presidents, five prime ministers, four vice-presidents, two former heads of state and one former first lady.
* The dignitaries were entertained by a military band — Maroon commandos— Mwomboko dancers from Kiangai in Kirinyaga, Sarakasi Dancers from Nairobi and Chuka drummers from Meru among other groups.
* Uhuru sworn in as president
At exactly 1.35pm Tuesday, Uhuru Kenyatta took the oath of office as Kenya’s fourth President amid jubilation from over 60,000 Kenyans who thronged Moi Sports Centre Kasarani to witness the historic occasion.
Five minutes later, a visibly excited Deputy President William Ruto was sworn in at a ceremony witnessed by 11 presidents, five prime ministers, four vice-presidents, two former heads of state and one former first lady.
Mr Kenyatta and Ruto received deafening applause from their supporters who arrived at the stadium as early as 3am to secure vintage positions to capture unfolding events during the colourful ceremony that was marked with a 21-gun salute.
Mr Kenyatta took five minutes to conclude the swearing-in after his supporters interrupted every sentence of the Oath of Office and the Due Execution of the Office, which was administered by the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Ms Gladys Shollei, and witnessed by the Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court, Dr Willy Mutunga.
Mr Kenyatta, who was clad in a grey suit and accompanied by his wife Margaret, was overwhelmed by his supporters who repeated the words he uttered as Ms Shollei led him to take the two oaths.
“I Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta…. I Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta chorused the supporters drowning his oath and prompting pleas from military commentator Warrant Officer 2 Gibson Mwandawiro.
Mr Ruto got a similar reception after a standing ovation when he was called to take his place at the inauguration square for the oath-taking.
Clad in a dark suit
He was clad in a dark suit and was accompanied by his wife Rachael during the swearing-in which also took five minutes.
Article 141 and 148 of the Constitution require a president-elect and his deputy to take the oath of allegiance and oath of due execution of office before assuming official duties.
Immediately after Ms Shollei declared Mr Kenyatta president and Mr Ruto as his deputy, the stadium erupted into ululation, clapping, song and dance.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who lost to Mr Kenyatta in the March 4 presidential poll did not attend the event together with all leaders elected on the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) ticket.
Pomp and colour preceded the occasion which saw dignitaries enter the venue of the inauguration in style.
The first to arrive was the Chief of Defence Forces Julius Karangi and his service commanders followed by the Chief Justice.
Chinese Second Vice-President Xi Jinping was the first foreign dignitary to arrive followed by former Zambia President Kenneth Kaunda who was accompanied by Vice-President Guy Scott.
Labels: 2009 BUDGET, ELECTIONS, ROBERT MUGABE, UHURU KENYATTA
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(BUSINESSDAILY KE) Zimbabwe moves to shut down Stanchart for non-compliance
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe. Zimbabwe has threatened to shut down British-owned Standard Chartered Bank and two mining companies that have not complied with its indigenisation laws. AFP
By KITSEPILE NYATHI, NATION CORRESPONDENT in Harare
Posted Monday, April 8 2013 at 12:25
Zimbabwe has threatened to shut down British-owned Standard Chartered Bank and two mining companies that have not complied with its indigenisation laws.
According to state media, the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board (NIEEB) has told Stanchart as well as foreign owned mining firms, Metallion Gold and Duration Gold that they will be closed down until they became compliant.
The transacting public was also ordered to stop doing business with the companies with immediate effect.
“Persons, businesses and government departments dealing with these companies are by this statement given notice of the intention of government to shut down these businesses until such time that they comply with the law,” the government owned Sunday Mail quoted NIEEB as saying.
President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF has been pushing a policy that compels foreign owned companies to cede 51 per cent of their local shareholding to indigenous Zimbabweans.
But the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono has resisted attempts to force foreign banks to comply with the law saying the sector is too sensitive.
Dr Gono’s stance has angered loyalists of the veteran ruler who say the criticism would harm his re-election bid as Zanu PF intends to use the empowerment programme to anchor its election strategy.
Empowerment minister Saviour Kasukuwere last week said the government was ready to shut down foreign banks that had not complied with the law despite concerns that Zimbabwe is starved of foreign investment.
“It is essential that any institution working in a given space be the one which is accommodative, which is supportive of the aspirations of the nationals,” he said.
“It would be a terrible thing for us to have institutions which oppose our aspirations in this country.”
Mr Kasukuwere said most banks had submitted empowerment plans to his ministry and they were being assessed.
“The banks must comply with our 51 per cent ownership threshold and they have brought their submissions to us,’ he said.
“Barclays Bank has done that while others are in the process of doing so, others have already submitted,” he said.
“Where we think that their submissions do not meet our expectations we have referred back to them to make the necessary corrections.”
Critics say the policy has slowed down foreign investment in Zimbabwe, a country that is recovering from a decade long economic collapse blamed on a violent land reform programme launched by President Mugabe at the turn of the millennium.
Labels: NATIONALISATION, STANCHART, ZIMBABWE
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(STICKY) (NEWZIMBABWE) Kenyans give Mugabe rousing welcome
Man of the moment ... Kenyatta waves to crowds as he arrives at the Moi Sports Centre
09/04/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe was cheered wildly at a sports stadium in Kasarani on Tuesday as he joined 11 other heads of state to witness the swearing-in of Kenya’s new President Uhuru Kenyatta.
President Salva Kiir of South Sudan was the first head of state to take his seat at the inauguration podium followed by South African President Jacob Zuma and others including Nigeria’s Goodluck Jonathan, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete and Joseph Kabila of the DRC.
Kenya’s Business Daily reported on its website that “but it was Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni who received a rousing welcome from Kenyans who thronged the stadium” to witness the inauguration of Kenya’s fourth President.
Mugabe might be fighting for his political career in Zimbabwe ahead of elections later this year, but across the African continent, he is seen as a hero for his outspoken attacks on the West and fighting for African liberation.
The 89-year-old veteran leader saluted the cheering Kenyans with his trademark fist – the symbol of his Zanu PF party.
In Kenyatta, Mugabe sees a potential ally. Western countries led by the United States and Britain publicly urged Kenyans to vote for Kenyatta’s rival, Raila Odinga, who was conspicuous by his absence from the inauguration. He is believed to have gone on holiday in South Africa, snubbing Kenyatta's invitation.
Kenyatta – facing prosecution for crimes against humanity over his alleged role in the bloody post-election violence which left over 1,000 people dead in 2007 – turned the Western hostility into a campaign issue, and his message resonated with Kenyans who helped him trounce Odinga by over 800,000 votes. Odinga's court bid to overturn the results was dismissed.
Western countries – citing the impending charges against Kenyatta at the International Criminal Court headquartered at The Hague – sent only special envoys to the inauguration and have vowed to maintain only “essential contact” with Kenyatta’s government.
Museveni, picked by the African heads of state to represent them, said Kenyan voters had rejected “blackmail” by the West.
“I want to salute the Kenyan voters on one other issue – the rejection of the blackmail by the ICC and those who seek to abuse this institution for their own agenda,” he said.
Museveni said he supported the ICC because he hated impunity. But “the usual, opinionated and arrogant actors using their careless analysis have distorted the purpose of that institution,” he noted.
“They are now using it to install leaders of their choice in Africa and eliminate the ones they don’t like.”
After he was sworn in, Kenyatta pledged that Kenya would strive to uphold its international obligations “as long as these are founded on the well-established principles of mutual respect and reciprocity.”
“We must remember that no one country or group of countries should have control or monopoly on international institutions or the interpretation of international treaties,” President Kenyatta said.
Labels: ROBERT MUGABE, SALVA KIIR, UHURU KENYATTA
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Banda barred from leaving Zambia
09/04/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
ZAMBIA’S former President Rupiah Banda was prevented from leaving the country to attend Tuesday’s inauguration of Kenya’s new President Uhuru Kenyatta, his lawyer said.
Banda – facing corruption charges – obtained a court order allowing his passport to be released for a week to enable him to travel.
But his international lawyer Robert Amsterdam said immigration authorities “acting under instructions from President Michael Sata forcefully prevented him from boarding his flight” at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka.
In a statement, Amsterdam added that an administrative assistant to former Banda presented the court order from the magistrate, which clearly orders the release of the passport and grants permission to travel for the period of one week.
The assistant also spoke by telephone with Zambia’s Chief Immigration Officer, who – according to the lawyer – said “we have received orders not to process former President Banda from an authority higher than the court.”
Amsterdam said the incident “represents a complete breakdown of the rule of law in Zambia, and a further indication that former President Banda cannot expect a fair trial.”
“This shameful and embarrassing conduct is the result of an authoritarian state acting under the orders of a frightened and enfeebled president who is willing to break the law, violate rights, and ignore the judicial process in order to attack his opponents,” Amsterdam continued.
Banda was charged with abuse of authority in connection with a Nigerian oil deal. Prosecutors say he misappropriated more than US$11 million during his three years in office.
The charges were made possible after Banda was stripped of immunity from prosecution.
His lawyer Amsterdam insisted Tuesday that “the accusations against him are completely suspect”, adding: “Judging by the thoroughly illegal handling of the removal of his immunity, it appears the Patriotic Front has lost all credibility as normal democratic government.
“This is not a normal case, and this is not a normal government, and today’s outrageous defilement of the judicial system is yet another reminder of the destruction wrought upon Zambia’s image as a democracy.”
Labels: LEGAL IMMUNITY, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA
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