Andrew advises UPND, MMD to form alliance
By Stuart Lisulo
Sun 01 Dec. 2013, 14:00 CAT
ANDREW Banda says UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and his MMD counterpart Nevers Mumba should 'cease-fire' and form an alliance if the opposition is to win the 2016 polls.
But Mumba says it would be 'premature' to speak on the matter now. In an interview, Banda, who is a member of the MMD, said the time was right for both parties to put aside any differences, unite and form an alliance if the country was to have a strong opposition.
"I am actually flabbergasted that at a time when the country needs a strong opposition, some people are saying they can do it on their own. Nobody can do it on their own - none of the two can do it on their own. So mutual respect is very cardinal here; appreciating one's strength and weakness, and those that are in it for themselves (that is what is being exhibited) must be isolated," Banda said.
He said the country had now reached a level where strong 'checks and balances' were needed in order to hold the government to account.
"We need a strong, united opposition. We are all affected by a lack of delivery of farming inputs, lack of employment, load shedding and these issues of HIV/AIDS and strikes; that should be what bring us closer together as Zambians. So, when you see opposition leaders who are not agreeing to work together to check the PF, the responsibility will be now for Zambians to separate those that are selfish so they can lead on their own. What is happening now is very sad; one day you hear somebody from MMD attacks the UPND, then there's a counter-attack; in who's interest are they doing this? Meanwhile, the majority of the people are relishing for a strong opposition," he said.
Andrew, one of Rupiah Banda's sons, said it was important for the electorate to analyse and watch the two leaders in the opposition and assess whether they truly had the nation's interest at heart.
"If leaders in the opposition are failing to work together, they must be identified so that they can lead themselves. Zambians must pull towards uniting and rallying behind one leader that has the capacity to deliver the country to its rightful place," he said.
And in analysing recent by-election results, and the 'regional politics' at play, Andrew said it only 'made sense' for both opposition leaders to engage positively.
"I don't have any doubt that the MMD's strength lies in the East province, but if that is not managed properly (in Vubwi) and if they don't talk to each other, definitely they will split the vote. Eastern Province is a different ball game to Mansa. They still need to continue dialoguing about how to approach Vubwi and Malambo," he said.
But Mumba said speaking on the matter now would 'jeopardise' any opportunities around the issue.
"Of course our members can speak, just like Andrew has spoken and even from the UPND they'll speak, but I cannot speak now because we are going to be the final people to make a statement. So if I speak now, it'll be premature," said Mumba.
And when contacted, Hichilema said he could not comment on the issue of forming an alliance.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, MMD, UPND
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Mangani won't have it easy in E/Province - Andrew
By Francis Lungu
Wed 09 Oct. 2013, 14:01 CAT
ANDREW Banda says Lameck Mangani will not have it easy to organise the PF in Eastern Province because he does not have the ability to do so in the opposition MMD stronghold. But Mangani says Andrew is not in the MMD party leadership structure to speak on these issues.
In an interview, Andrew said the MMD was thankful to President Michael Sata for appointing Mangani as PF chairperson for the province because he would make it easy for the opposition MMD to mobilise.
Asked on Mangani's allegations that the MMD was winning parliamentary by-elections in Eastern Province because of the rigging structures left by his father Banda as it was impossible for a candidate to get a zero vote at a polling station no matter how poor he or she could be, Andrew said the PF leadership in the province was cheating President Michael Sata that all was well.
"We (MMD) thank (President) Sata and the PF for appointing Mangani provincial chairman. Let us see if he can organise the PF in Eastern Province," he said.
But Mangani wondered in what capacity Andrew was speaking within the MMD because he was not in the party leadership structure.
"Andrew is speaking as what, an MMD official or the son of Rupiah Banda who was once the leader of the party?" Mangani wondered.
He said Andrew should not be excited with the victory of MMD in Mkaika because the PF leadership in the province knows what happened and the tricks the former ruling party used to win.
"We are aware of what Andrew did during the campaigns in Mkaika, there is nothing to be excited about. Actually the PF is gaining ground in Eastern Province, the tide is changing in favour of the PF. I am not interested in politics of tribe if that is what Andrew is promoting because his father was MMD leader then he thinks can speak on MMD affairs," Mangani said.
But Andrew said the ruling party was losing elections in the East also because it was not doing the ground work.
"They did not do their work; that's all. Politics is about work; they did not campaign, and they were cheating the President (Sata) just like people have been cheating other presidents in the past, that all was well when things are not okay on the ground. There is no fertiliser in the country but they tell the President that all is well," Andrew said.
Statistically, however, Mangani said the ruling PF was penetrating into Eastern Province because it won the Msanzala Parliamentary by-elections, a seat previous held by the MMD.
He said the MMD just returned its Mkaika and Chipata Central Parliamentary seat, where Mangani himself lost.
"PF won all the three local government elections in Lundazi and won two out of three in Nyimba and even in Petauke, PF won two out of the three local government seats, so what is Andrew talking about?," questioned Mangani.
But Andrew claimed that Mangani was not his match in political mobilisation because he (Andrew) had been in politics for 25 years.
Meanwhile, Andrew accused Mangani of having personal hatred towards the Banda family, which behaviour he said was unAfrican.
"Mangani's behaviour is unAfrican and unZambian. One day, he wakes up, he says Rupiah Banda is meeting chiefs for him to stand again. Patronising leadership! What is it that he has against our family? Can he tell us where his father is so that we also talk about his family… But we are not interested in personalities; we are interested in the law. I was arrested and let the law take its course," he said in reference to his arrest over the political violence that characterised the Mkaika parliamentary by-election, in which MMD retained the seat.
"I was charged with an offence of violence in Chipata during the Mkaika parliamentary by-election and the matter is in court, and I will prove it in court that I am not the one who committed that crime and that those people (suspected PF supporters) prove that they did not abduct me," he said.
Andrew also maintained that he would go ahead with legal proceedings against ZNBC and the Zambia Daily Mail for reporting that he was brandishing machetes during the campaigns ahead of the Mkaika poll.
"I am not leaving you (ZNBC and Zambia Daily Mail); I am proceeding with this legal action against ZNBC and Daily Mail… the sooner they retract the better… They accused me of travelling with a machetes all over and hacking people… that thing is not dead; I am reviving it," declared Andrew.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, EASTERN PROVINCE, LAMECK MANGANI, MMD, PF
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What type of father is Rupiah?
By Editor
Sat 27 July 2013, 14:00 CAT
IT may be wise for Rupiah Banda to leave the determination of the corruption charges he is facing to the courts of law.
We know that Rupiah has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him but this doesn't end his prosecution. Evidence is being adduced by those who have accused him of corruption. And witnesses are being called to testify and be cross-examined by him.
The criminal proceedings against Rupiah are being conducted in public and even before the case closes and the court delivers its judgment, the Zambian people will be in a position to determine as to whether or not Rupiah is being falsely accused of corruption. Trying to otherwise clear his name through news media utterances and outbursts will not do.
The Zambian people are not fools. They are following the proceedings in the courts of law and these are being reported verbatim in this newspaper. No one will be able to tell lies about what happened or did not happen.
Rupiah is actually being unfair to himself by trying to clear himself of corruption through such utterances and outbursts. This is so because by such utterances and outbursts, Rupiah is inviting others to respond and prove that he is not as clean a man as he claims.
And it is not surprising that the same Rupiah, who is claiming to be innocent and to be subjected to false criminal accusations, is telling his son Henry not to come back to Zambia because he will be tortured. By who? And for what?
Henry ran away from this country as soon as his father lost elections, without anyone pursuing him. Why? Henry knew what he had done. And the evidence that we are hearing from the courts of law is a clear pointer to why Henry ran away from this country and has refused to come back to face the law.
But it is shocking that Rupiah, a former president and head of state of this Republic, can publicly encourage his son to be a fugitive, to permanently stay away from being prosecuted for fraud and corruption.
There's no doubt Henry has a few explanations to make concerning his own conduct and that of his father. It seems Rupiah and Henry are not comfortable with both. But still, how can Rupiah encourage his son to run away from Zambian law enforcement agencies? As a former president of this Republic, Rupiah is supposed to lead in showing respect for the law. Why should other Zambian citizens be subjected to the laws of this country and its law enforcement agencies when his own son is being told by himself not to? What would happen to this country if everyone who is suspected of having committed a crime is allowed and encouraged to flee?
Under his rule, Rupiah allowed other people to be prosecuted for corruption. George Mpombo is still in court under charges which were brought against him by the state when Rupiah was president. Mpombo didn't flee the country. Rupiah had accused us of all sorts of things. We didn't flee. Rajan Mathani was accused of criminal acts he never committed and came back from England where he was receiving medical treatment to face Rupiah's criminal charges.
It's clear that Rupiah has no problems with lawlessness. What matters to him is who is being pursued. If it is another Zambian, it doesn't matter; if it is himself or his son, it matters. It seems to Rupiah the concept of the rule of law and equality before the law has little meaning when it affects him or members of his family.
Rupiah says "I will never allow him to come here. They want him to come here so that they can torture him. I tell him you have done nothing wrong, just stay where you are…" So, Henry is a fugitive because his father wants him to be a fugitive and has not allowed him to come back.
What type of father is this? And why should Henry be tortured when no one else has been tortured? Torture is not allowed in this country and those who torture others are committing crimes for which they must be prosecuted. And why should Henry be tortured when no other son of Rupiah has been tortured? James lives here and no one has arrested or tortured him! The other sons of Rupiah come in and out of this country without any law enforcement officers pursuing them. They have no immunity but no one has arrested or tortured them. The question is, why Henry?
The truth is Rupiah knows very well the many wrong things he was doing with his son Henry. And because of this, Rupiah doesn't want Henry to come back here because if he is arrested and prosecuted, many things will come out not only about Henry himself but also about the corruption of his father, Rupiah. From what has been heard so far, it's clear that Rupiah was using his son to do wrong things. What type of father is this who can send his son to do wrong things? Even asking Henry to stay away from Zambia when Rupiah knows that law enforcement agencies in this country are looking for him is encouraging his son to do wrong things. When law enforcement agencies are looking for your son, as a law-abiding citizen, the most logical thing to do is to ask him to give himself up and have his day in court. Only a reckless and criminally-minded parent can ask his son to be a fugitive.
But if Rupiah can ask his son to run away from law enforcement agencies, what can stop Rupiah from one day deciding to be a fugitive himself? It's easy to understand why state authorities think Rupiah, if given a chance, can flee - he sees nothing wrong with one running away from being made to account by law-enforcement agencies.
Without calling for vengeance - because you can't build a united nation on the basis of vengeance - it is interesting to note how Rupiah is calling others to virtues that he himself has never been willing to practice. Before teaching others, before changing others, we ourselves must change. We must be honest, sincere and kind-hearted. We should encourage the same high standards of integrity that we ask of others.
It is important to remind Rupiah that like him and his sons, all other human beings want happiness and dislike suffering. If Rupiah took that into account, he and his sons wouldn't have done the things they did.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Police detain Andrew
By Mwala Kalaluka
Fri 26 July 2013, 14:00 CAT
RUPIAH Banda's son, Andrew, was yesterday detained at Lusaka's Woodlands Police Station in connection with allegations of defaming President Michael Sata in public utterances he made in Chipata recently. Andrew's lawyer Milner Katolo said yesterday that his client, with two others, allegedly defamed President Sata.
Andrew, who had just finished giving his defence in a matter where he is facing a charge of solicitation of two per cent payment for every current and future contract that was to be awarded to Italy's Fratelli Locci, was picked up within the Lusaka Magistrates' Court premises by a team of police officers.
Andrew was in the company of Katolo and some family members when the plain-clothed police officers asked him to accompany them to Woodlands Police Station, where they said there were some people waiting for him.
Andrew asked the police officers to allow him a few minutes to discuss with his sister and they responded in the affirmative.
"Surely, a gentleman like me can't run away," said Andrew as he walked towards his sister within the court parking lot.
But within a few minutes, the police officers followed him and asked him to get into a motor vehicle that was parked in the vicinity.
When he pleaded for more time, the police officers dragged him to the vehicle amid complaints from family members and sympathisers.
He was immediately whisked away to Woodlands Police Station, where he was told to remove his shoes, belt and other valuables before he was taken into the cells.
Asked what was happening, Andrew responded: "Kuti defamation of the President kwa Chipata they are saying I defamed the President in Chipata."
Katolo said Andrew had not been charged yet but that police officers from Chipata were on their way to Lusaka to pick him up and take him there to be formally charged.
He, however, described the manner in which his client was manhandled by the police as disgusting.
Andrew's sister said her brother had not been feeling well lately and had been sleeping the whole morning yesterday.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, MILNER KATOLO, RUPIAH BANDA
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Andrew Banda calls for an all-Easterners caucus
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Wed 24 July 2013, 14:01 CAT
ANDREW Banda says there will be a caucus for all Easterners in the province to map out a strategy to ensure that they are not made irrelevant in the politics of the country. And Andrew maintained that MMD is the only vehicle left for Easterners to participate in Zambian politics.
Andrew yesterday said Easterners, even those that were out of the country, were expected to attend the meeting, whose venue would be announced later. He appealed to Easterners to crosscheck the MMD.
"We (MMD) are going to protect our province like the Southerners and the Northerners have protected their political parties. Why do they want the MMD to die today in a democracy? I challenge anybody to tell me whether what I have said is wrong, whether it is wrong for an Easterners to say we will protect MMD," he said.
Andrew claimed that geographical politics was practiced world-over, including in Africa.
"Of course, we all have to guard against injuring each other because of politics. You know, what is amazing is that the PF leadership has come here, they have beaten our people, they have insulted the former president (Rupiah Banda). Vice-President Guy Scott came here and called the former president 'chap' on Radio Breeze. Nobody wrote anything to condemn him for that. The President was here over the weekend; all he was saying was that imwe banthu bakum'mawa muchita monga kuvuli (Easterners are like the back). Why didn't you people write things like that and expose them?" Andrew asked.
He gave five reasons why he felt PF would lose this Thursday's Chipata Central by-election.
"My father, Rupiah, belongs to a clan, and there is no way he can be insulted by (Vice-President) Scott without an apology or without showing any remorse. The President said we are backwards; the other issue is the subsidies, which was underestimated by the PF. They have failed to deliver on many promises that they made," Andrew said.
He said load-shedding would also affect PF.
Andrew claimed that most powerful positions in the country had been given to Northerners.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, EASTERN PROVINCE, MMD
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Andrew Banda: like father like son
By Editor
Tue 23 July 2013, 14:00 CAT
ANDREW Banda says Easterners should hold on to MMD the way Tongas have done with UPND.
"Our colleagues the Tongas have held on to UPND, our colleagues from this place, our traditional cousins have held on to PF and here in Eastern Province they killed UNIP but MMD this time we are going to hold on to it," Andrew told an MMD parliamentary by-election campaign rally in Chipata.
What is wrong with Andrew? Why is Andrew canvassing so strongly and indeed, viciously, along tribal and provincial lines?
We wonder whether Andrew's party, the MMD, really has a national or tribal and provincial leadership. Anyway, Andrew is not different from his father, Rupiah Banda. His father in 2008 launched his presidential campaign on similar lines, urging the people of Eastern Province not to welcome anyone from other regions of our country and tell them to go and campaign where they come from. That was Rupiah in 2008. And this is Andrew, Rupiah's son, in 2013. This is a negation of all that the MMD was founded for and stood for.
But those who plant seeds of mistrust, discrimination, fear and selfishness will reap exactly that. The people they are teaching to discriminate against others purely on tribal or provincial lines, may successfully be taught to hate them next time. So that even from a personal and rather selfish angle, this way of electioneering must be condemned as completely unZambian unless, of course, we do not mean it when we speak of "One Zambia, One Nation".
It is good to remember that whatever we are in terms of tribes or regions, we have one common denominator and that is we are all Zambians. And as such, we have no reason whatsoever to look at other people in terms of tribe or region.
Every human person has a variety of identities that can be cultural, social, economic, religious or political. Such diversity should be a source of richness rather than exclusion and discrimination. Hence, people are often manipulated to believe in their ethnic identities as superior to others, and that leadership of a country, region or an organisation has to be dictated by one's ethnic group. Our cultural identity should be an unlimited source of life, rather than one of disunity.
Ethnic identities should form a positive diversity that can lead to unity of intentions and purposes of life.
In the Gospels we learn about the tensions between the Jews and the Samaritans (the conversation between the Samaritan woman and Jesus, John 4). At one point, when Jesus had been rejected by the Samaritans the disciples, James and John, proposed to Jesus to bring down fire (Luke 9:51-56) that would consume the whole Samaritan village, but Jesus rebuked them. In fact, Jesus later on showed that the Kingdom of God ought to include all the children of God without discrimination. To illustrate this, in answer to the question, "Who is my neighbour?" (Luke 10:25-37) Jesus deliberately chooses a Samaritan as the one who saved the man who had been injured.
The unity in diversity of the children of God is emphasised by Paul in Galatians 3:26-28: "You are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all of you who are baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Jesus Christ." Paul was dealing with divisions among different factions within Galatians community, whether Jews, Gentiles, the circumcised or the uncircumcised. What matters is that we are all children of God and, therefore, there should be no reason for discrimination.
Tribalism deforms nationalism. It is the competitive and excessive exaltation of one's own tribe. It seeks to assert its superiority over the others. But the Christian vision is universal, with all human beings seen as brothers and sisters within one family. It is not necessary that one's tribe should be superior to the other tribes in anything. It is enough that it be faithful to its own identity and purpose, that it contributes what it can to the common cause and receive the contribution of others in a mutual collaboration and exchange.
The practice of discrimination on ethnic or regional grounds is contrary to both justice and charity. We wish to emphasise that it is definitely against natural justice and Christian brotherly love to discriminate against members of a different tribe. Such tribal discrimination is particularly harmful in this country, where members of different tribes live side-by-side. Nothing but evil can be the fruit of tribal discrimination, a practice contrary to both justice and brotherly love.
We detest politics based on tribe or region, because we regard it as a barbaric thing. Tribalism or regionalism pollutes the atmosphere of citizen relations and poisons the minds of the backward, the bigoted and the prejudiced.
As we approach 50 years of independence and nationhood, it is intolerable and unacceptable that politicians like Andrew can have the audacity to publicly advocate tribal or regional politics, a cancer that is eating away at the fabric of societies in different parts of our planet.
We must instead ensure that tribe becomes only a God-given gift to each one of us and not an indelible mark or attribute that accords a special status to any. Tribalism is a blight on the human conscience.
And this is why Dr Kenneth Kaunda and his comrades fought very hard against tribalism. And we should never again allow our country to play host to it. Tribalism must be consciously combated and not discreetly tolerated. Tribalism and regionalism have been weighed and found wanting.
We must always be mindful of this one thing, whatever the trials and tests ahead, the ultimate strength of our country will always lie in the unity of our people. We should put the unity of the people first and put it ahead of any divisive partisanship, regionalism. And in these times, as in times before, it is true that a house divided against itself by the spirit of tribe, region is a house that cannot stand.
So, we ask all our politicians and their supporters to guard against tribal or regional divisiveness and all its ugly consequences.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Easterners should stick to MMD the way Tongas have stuck to UPND - Andrew
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Tue 23 July 2013, 14:01 CAT
FORMER president Rupiah Banda's son, Andrew, says easterners should hold on to the MMD the way Tongas have done with UPND.
And MMD leader Nevers Mumba says he has information that the PF intends to ferry some Malawians to vote in Thursday's Chipata Central by-election.
But home affairs minister Edgar Lungu says Mumba is just being naughty.
Drumming up support for MMD candidate Reuben Mtolo Phiri at Nadalitsika Basic School, Andrew who was in Mumba's campaign team, said the MMD was the only political party that had remained for the easterners.
"Our colleagues the Tongas have held on to UPND, our colleagues from this place, our traditional cousins have held on to PF and here in Eastern Province they killed UNIP but MMD this time we are going to hold on to it," he said.
Andrew claimed that Zambians had the worst government in the last fifty years.
"This is a government which lies; don't vote for these people again! Don't vote for PF candidate Lameck Mangani and don't vote for PF. Don't vote for our father who came here yesterday (Saturday). I would like to thank you for coming in large numbers," he said.
And Mumba said Zambians hate liars like the PF.
He said those who vote for Mangani took pleasure in suffering.
"I have come here to tell you that if you vote for Mangani, it means you want your problems to continue. I am a pastor and if I tell you to do certain things, you should listen. We told you about the PF, that you will have problems. They (PF) told us that we will have money in our pockets, do we have money now? They cheat in the morning in the afternoon and in the evenings," Mumba said.
He said if the people of Chipata Central vote for Mangani, it means they like lies.
"Do you have jobs? Do you have money in your pockets? I have never seen a President who lies like Sata from the time I was born! When we were in government we paid attention to agriculture but the PF promised to give you 15 bags under Farmer Input Support Programme; have they given you?" Mumba asked.
He said President Michael Sata promised to work with the poor but he had forgotten everything when he became President.
Mumba said some people were having one meal a day because of the government's removal of subsidies.
And Faustina Sinyangwe said Mangani is a 'political prostitute' who has continued to change political parties.
And in an interview at the Chipata Central Police Station yesterday shortly before two MMD officials appeared in Chipata Magistrates' Court for defamation of the President, Mumba said the MMD was concerned with the information that they were receiving.
He said the MMD would deploy a number of their youths to ensure that no Malawian comes to vote in Zambia.
"We want to warn the PF that our eyes are open that this time around if they are going to use any means that is not legal, we will find them and confront them on those matters. So those rumours that we are receiving from their camp that they are going to use people from Malawi will be exposed if they are going to continue with that. They (PF) are desperate now because of the condition of the election," Mumba said.
He said MMD was getting an overwhelming response from the people of Chipata Central.
But Lungu, who is also PF's campaign manager in Chipata Central, refuted Mumba's allegations.
He said Mumba was just being naughty because the PF could not bring Malawians to vote in Zambia.
"…In fact we are trying to hold a meeting with ECZ to ensure that there are no importations of voters in any way. How can we be committing a wrong? Nevers is just being naughty! It's imminent actually that they (MMD) are heading for a loss. We even had a meeting yesterday Sunday with the campaign team to say how do we fight this scourge (of alleged ferrying Malawians to vote in Zambia] which they perpetuated on Mangani in order to win the seat which was one of the grounds for nullification," Lungu said.
He said the PF does not even know how the issue of importing Malawians to come and vote in Chipata works.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, EDGAR LUNGU, REUBEN MTOLO PHIRI, RUPIAH BANDA
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Andrew comes to Rupiah's defence
By Moses Kuwema
Tue 09 July 2013, 14:01 CAT
THE fears by the government that Rupiah Banda may flee the country are fears of a threatened little man, says his son Andrew.
Commenting on Vice-President Dr Guy Scott's defence of the cancellation of former president Banda's passport because he could disappear, Andrew wondered how his father could flee.
"How can my father flee this country? And go where? And do what where? Those are fears of a threatened little man. Is Henry Banda Rupiah Banda? Henry has his reasons why he has not come back. I was in India and I came back and I am in Chipata right now. You cannot judge the standard of another person just because he is his father," Andrew said.
Asked on the revelations that his father had waged a campaign against the PF government outside the country, Andrew asked for proof.
"Have they got proof of that? When the PF were in opposition, they were going all over embassies and discrediting the MMD government. Did you hear anybody's passport being taken away? Did you hear anybody being stopped and their passports being taken away? Let us be fair. What does the law say? The law must not apply to others and then others it must not apply. In any case this matter is in court, why is it being discussed openly by politicians?" wondered Andrew.
During a radio programme on Chipata's Breeze Fm on Friday, Vice-President Scott said the government did not want to look stupid if Banda disappeared from Zambia like his son Henry.
"The problem that we have is that we have a chap, Banda, who is facing charges… we have a chap whose son is being sought by the police for the last 18 to 20 months and has not appeared in Zambia and has not answered any callout. They have not even made his whereabouts known. Do you consider them a flight risk or not? I think it is only reasonable to say let us think about this thing and let us not let him disappear or go and start campaigning against us from outside like he is doing with Robert Amsterdam. They go to South Africa in order to hold a press conference against the PF. Or they write articles in newspapers against the PF in America," he said.
"We must take all factors into consideration. We will look stupid if he went off to some conference in Tanzania on smart partnership and we never saw him again. We will feel embarrassed. He is not locked up. He is free in Zambia but the question of leaving the country is a complicated one. It is not a simple one."
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, CORRUPTION, GUY SCOTT, ROBERT AMSTERDAM, RUPIAH BANDA
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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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Power doesn't excite me, says Kabimba
By Mwala Kalaluka and Allan Mulenga
Sun 08 July 2012, 13:24 CAT
WYNTER Kabimba says
Andrew Banda should not think that everyone gets excited of being close to those in power the way he was when his father went to State House.Reacting to comments by former president Rupiah Banda's son, Andrew, that Kabimba would soon realise the challenges that came with privileges of being close to the head of state, Kabimba said being close to those in power did not excite him.
Andrew, in reaction to Kabimba's earlier statement that Banda and his children ran a corrupt regime, said Kabimba was not the supreme law to judge others and that Zambians should wait for relevant investigative wings to probe the former head of state and his family.
But Kabimba, who is PF secretary general, said: "I want to tell Andrew Banda that this is not the first time that I am in a position of power. I was town clerk for Kitwe City Council at a very young age. I was head of department for Lusaka City Council at a relatively young age and I became Town Clerk for Lusaka City Council at a relatively young age."
He said he worked with governors at that time and that he was also close to presidential power.
"I didn't have to be related to them but I was close to those in the corridors of power," Kabimba said. "I have never been excited of being close to people in power. It is not one thing that has excited me the way he Andrew was excited when his father was at State House."
He said his principle was to be conscious of his proximity to the corridors of power because he had been there before.
Kabimba said when one had power in their possession, they must not abuse it but that they must use it to uplift society.
"I will use the little power and the privilege which the people of Zambia have given me to be close to the President to make the President serve the people of Zambia better than any other president has done," said Kabimba.
"I will use my relationship with the President to see to it that the President is a better President for all Zambian people so that he serves the Zambian people better than Rupiah Banda and Chiluba, because the two are not examples of good Zambian presidents."
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, PF, WYNTER KABIMBA
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Andrew Banda and the challenges of power
By The Post
Fri 06 July 2012, 13:25 CAT
WE agree with Andrew Banda that there are challenges that come with power, with privileges of being close to the head of state. We also agree with Andrew that there are people who try to use, manipulate for their own selfish ends those in power, those close to those in power. There are endless streams of very dangerous and manipulative favour-seekers.
It is these who have made good men and women in the political and civic leadership of our country fall. But as we have stated before, if you are honest, truly honest, you won't be manipulated into doing wrong things, into abusing power or public office, you won't be corrupted. If you are unassuming and have a clear understanding of the worth of people and of yourself, you won't be corrupted.
There is need to maintain eternal vigilance about this throughout one's life, especially one's public life. There is need to examine everything one does, checking to see whether it is correct or not, whether or not one has let oneself be carried away, be used, be manipulated.
And as we have also stated before, the exercise of power must be the constant practice of self-limitation and modesty. Public office, or power as it is sometimes called, is not something one should treat as personal, something one should enjoy or use to amass wealth and gain oneself things that are not one's due.
We have over 47 years of experience in self-rule, in self governance and this should teach us what can be done and what cannot be done, what is acceptable and what is not, what one can get away with and what one cannot get away with.
By now, we should all know, especially those who are in power, the importance of incorruptibility as part of the essence of self-respect. There is no one who will not appreciate opportunities to enjoy the good life. But this should not be by using one's position to get oneself or those close to one anything that isn't one's due.
We all know what damage abuse of office does to the authority of the state. Corruption destroys the authority of the state. If you destroy the authority of the state, the consequences are terrible. It is a matter not of the criticism of others, of those who had the privilege to govern or of those who were very close to those who governed, but of the destruction and negation of all the values and merits.
We have had two regimes since our independence that one can without hesitation say were corrupt. The first one is that of Frederick Chiluba and the second one is that of Rupiah Banda. No one can in all honesty accuse Kenneth Kaunda and his regime of corruption. And no one can accuse Levy Mwanawasa of corruption. Yes, there could have been some corrupt elements with corrupt practices in Levy's regime but not by Levy himself.
Similarly, for the nine months Michael Sata has been in government, we have not heard anyone meaningfully, justifiably and truthfully accuse him of stealing public funds or enriching those close to him. Of course, lies, malice, calumny will always be there.
It was there against Kaunda with some malicious people claiming he had stolen US $4 billion and books from State House. They failed to find even a dime or a page of a book that KK had stolen or even by mistake taken that wasn't his due, that didn't belong to him. We also used to hear all sorts of innuendos, insinuations, lies about Levy being corrupt.
We will not be surprised to hear lies of corruption against Michael. But if there is anything that is true that points to corruption, that can be said to be abuse of office against Michael, he should be made to account for it now or in the future. No one should be given impunity against wrongdoing, against corruption.
As for the families and friends of our presidents, what they should learn is that this country always has only one president. The wife of a president is not a president; the children of the president are not small presidents and the friends of the president are not co-presidents.
If they truly love this country, if they truly love their relative or friend who has become president, they should not be overbearing on him to do wrong things, to abuse his office or power. Their legitimate role is to protect him from wrongdoing, from being manipulated by criminals whom he may not realise are criminals out to do wrong using his authority or office.
But what we saw under Chiluba was the holding of the state captive by criminals of all shades, stripes or hues. The state became a tool for amassing wealth, for robbing the Zambian people and enriching themselves. This repeated itself under Rupiah. Rupiah's family and friends, and indeed himself, used the presidency to enrich themselves.
Even people like Andrew who were generally not greedy, not corrupt increasingly became tempted by power, by the opportunities offered by their closeness to State House, to the president to enrich themselves. It does not surprise us that Andrew is today being investigated here and there for corruption.
The advice Andrew is giving, although he did not strictly follow it himself, deserves to be heeded. Andrew is certainly not being honest about how badly his father and his brothers ran government and how they were corrupted to abuse state resources and government business to enrich themselves.
Andrew is not courageous and honest enough to talk about these things, to reveal and admit what they did. But Andrew knows what he is talking about and is to some extent right. Power corrupts and absolute power, they say, corrupts absolutely. We know of cases of good comrades who, little by little, fell into the clutches of very experienced and manipulative criminals in subtle ways.
And as we have stated before, one of the most important American contributions to democratic practice has been the development of a system of checks and balances to ensure that power, public office is not abused.
It is a system founded on the deeply-held belief that power is used well when its potential for abuse is curbed, and when those holding power are held as close to the people as possible. We should not allow Chiluba and members of his regime to get away with their crimes, their corruption.
Similarly, Rupiah and those who abused power with him should not go scot-free; they need to be called upon to account. No one should be allowed to get away with impunity. Of course, everything should be done within the confines of the law.
The rule of law should prevail above any expediencies of the moment. We are not the only ones in the world calling for accountability from those who have been entrusted with the governance of our country. Many African countries are prosecuting their former rulers who abused public resources and power. It is also being done in Asia and Latin America. Even the Europeans are doing it.
The French are prosecuting their former leaders who abused public office and resources. Can this be said to be retribution, vengeance, hatred or inability to coexist and tolerate each other? No. It is simply the rule of law taking its course, without placing anyone above it.
It is accountability in public affairs that is being safeguarded and practiced. Is this wrong? No. It is the way honest societies and honest people deal with each other, administer public affairs. Wrongdoers, corrupt elements need to be made to account for their wrongs, their corruption.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, FREDERICK CHILUBA, WYNTER KABIMBA
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Kabimba will soon realise the challenges that come with privileges of being close to a head of state - Andrew
By Kombe Chimpinde, Allan Mulenga and Christopher Miti
Fri 06 July 2012, 13:24 CAT
FORMER president Rupiah Banda's son, Andrew, says Wynter Kabimba will soon realise the challenges that come with privileges of being close to the head of state. Andrew said in an interview that Kabimba was not the supreme law to judge others and that Zambians should wait for relevant investigative wings to investigate Banda his family.
He was reacting to Kabimba's statement that there was nothing to remember Banda's regime for apart from the fact that he and his children ran a corrupt regime, inherited from Frederick Chiluba.
Kabimba's statement followed Andrew's recent remarks that the current government would be judged against what his father did in the three years of his rule.
"I also know that being secretary general of the party, there are certain privileges that Wynter enjoys. He went to India two months ago; who hosted him? Can he tell the public why he was visiting India and why he moved from Jaypee Vasant Continental Hotel to another hotel? Ask him who paid for that," Andrew said.
He said Kabimba was not the right person to comment on corruption.
Andrew said being a president's son, just like being secretary general of the ruling party, attracted a lot of privileges.
"I challenge Wynter to deny that he had been making appointments, fast-track appointments for businessmen in India on the phone, some of them by-passed the normal channels. These are the privileges he has as long as he does not abuse them," he said.
"If you go and ask Wynter or any of the President's children, those who are mature, you will be surprised how many people are approaching those people in big offices for favours. That is just Wynter, what about the son of the President? It's easy to point fingers at others."
Andrew, however, said he was one of those that respected the office of the president and that he could not speak for his other brothers, one of whom is in 'exile'.
He further said Kabimba cannot shut him up because he also has a stake in the affairs of the country.
Andrew said Zambia was for all its 13 million citizens and that he would not accept to be shut up by Kabimba.
He maintained that the government would be judged against what his father did in three years.
"They (PF) promised the people jobs, they promised the people a lot of things so let them deliver on their promises. Let's dialogue; there is no need for hatred. We have accepted that there is change but let the PF deliver on their promises," he said.
Andrew said he did not insult anyone when he issued his first statement on the performance of his father.
Andrew said the people of Zambia would salute the government if it delivered on its promises.
He said the fact was that his father was history and that there was no need for Kabimba to come out strongly on him and his family.
"My father is history, he is not in politics, that's the fact I don't dispute that but you cannot constantly come out strongly on this man and his family. I don't think this is the best way to go about it.
"Wynter must provide leadership, he is a leader. Let them (PF) build on what the other man (Banda) left. Nobody, even myself I am not perfect, I make mistakes, fine. You cannot be attacking the man always. I don't think we should approach politics like that, I don't believe that," said Andrew.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, RUPIAH BANDA, WYNTER KABIMBA
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PF government will be judged against Rupiah's reign - Andrew
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Tue 03 July 2012, 13:24 CAT
ANDREW Banda says the performance of the current government will be judged against what his father, Rupiah Banda, did in three years. In an interview, Andrew who is former Zambia's deputy high commissioner to India claimed that his father performed well in his three-year rule.
"So if they (PF government) do not perform, people will compare that 'when Rupiah was there for three years, he was able to build schools, he was able to do this and that. So the performance or the barometer of this government is RB," Andrew said.
"The man (Rupiah) performed, that's a fact and everything is there to see. In that three years the man was there, everything is visible to see. You can see roads, hospitals, schools, mention it and I am not being biased."
Andrew said people were fatigued with MMD. "Twenty years was too long for a party to be in power. Perhaps that's one of the reasons that also led to the loss," Andrew said.
Andrew said the current government should work to ensure that people get jobs and also focus on real issues.
Asked about his relationship with President Sata, Andrew said he does not know.
"I know him (President Sata) he used to be my secretary general when I was in MMD. So he is somebody I know but I cannot claim that I have a good relationship with him because I don't know now. I only met him briefly at the inauguration with my father because I am the only one who escorted my father," he said.
Zambians kicked Banda out of power in last September's general elections even against the backdrop of the former head of state engaging in rapid developmental projects ahead of the elections.
The government recently recalled Andrew from India. He is currently facing a probe over allegations that he solicited two per cent cut from an Italian contractor, Fratelli Locci, and over money believed to be proceeds of crime.
Andrew has denied the charges and is yet to appear in court.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, PF, RUPIAH BANDA
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Probe team warn, caution Andrew
By Bright Mukwasa
Wed 30 May 2012, 13:29 CAT
FORMER president Rupiah Banda's son, Andrew, was yesterday warned and cautioned by the investigative wings for allegedly soliciting for payment from an Italian construction firm and over money suspected to be proceeds of crime.
And the investigative wings also formally charged Zhongui Mining Company, through their lawyer Bonaventure Mutale, for alleged corrupt practices with former mines minister Maxwell Mwale.
Investigative wings in late April interrogated Andrew, who is also deputy High Commissioner to India, for allegedly soliciting for a cut from Italian construction company, Fratelli Locci for a road contract transaction entered into with the government, and over money suspected to be proceeds of crime, allegations he denies.
Investigative wings spokesperson Namukolo Kasumpa said Andrew appeared before the probe team where he was warned.
Kasumpa said Andrew had been cautioned for allegedly soliciting and receiving gratification contrary to the anti-corruption Act No 3 of 2012 and for being in possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime contrary to section 71(1) of forfeiture of proceeds of crime Act No. 19 of 2010.
"Mr Banda is alleged to have solicited a two per cent payment from an Italian Construction Company against payment received from the Road Development Agency on both current and future projects. The solicitation is alleged to have been by way of an agreement dated 22nd June 2011 signed by Mr Banda and Antonelli Locci and witnessed by Mr Banda's daughter," Kasumpa told journalists yesterday.
"Mr Banda further failed to account for the deposits made to his Stanbic Bank personal account amounting to K360,330,000. The money is suspected to be proceeds of crime."
His lawyer Sikota told The Post early this month that investigative wings have asked Andrew to submit a long list of things he used to buy in his house.
And Kasumpa said Zhongui Mining Company and Mwale would appear in court on Friday, June 1, for alleged corrupt practices with a public officer contrary to section 19(2) as read with section 40 and 46 of the anti-corruption Act No. 38 of 2010.
"Particulars of the offence are that on dates unknown but between July 1, 2011 and August 31, 2011 at Lusaka district, Zhongui Mining Company corruptly gave K473,466,485 million as gratification to one honourable Maxwell Moses Boma Mwale, a former minister in the Ministry of Mines as inducement or reward for the awarding of Mining Prospecting Licences for its mines in North Western Province and other subsidiaries," said Kasumpa.
Mwale is already facing cases in court for alleged abuse of public resources.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, BONAVENTURE MUTALE, CORRUPTION, COURTS, RUPIAH BANDA
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Andrew to stay on until probe is concluded
By Joseph Mwenda
Sun 06 May 2012, 15:00 CAT
ANDREW Banda says he will stay in the country until the investigative wings are satisfied with their findings on all allegations against him.
In an interview yesterday, Andrew who is former president Rupiah Banda's son and Zambia's deputy High Commissioner to India, said his decision to stay was arrived at following media reports that he was avoiding the team of investigators.
Investigative wings are probing Andrew for allegedly soliciting a cut from an Italian construction company Fratelli Locci and over K190 million, money suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Andrew, with his lawyer Sakwiba Sikota, reported at the former Task Force on Corruption offices on Tuesday and took three hours with the team of investigators.
Investigators asked Andrew to report back for further questioning the following day, but he did not do so.
Andrew however explained that his lawyer was only able to do so on Thursday because he was busy on the agreed date.
"My lawyer is one of the busiest lawyers south of the equator and therefore he needs time to organise documents that he is asked to submit to the investigators, so the question of failing to appear before the investigators does not arise," Andrew said.
He said because of such insinuations, he had decided to stay in the country until the investigations were concluded.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended my leave until tomorrow (today) in which I have to go back to India but I will stay here. My fear is that if I go, the report will be that I ran away," he said.
Andrew said he had been cooperating with the team that is probing him.
"You have to understand that the Zambian government spent money for two investigators to travel to India for four days and a nights to question me from there over this matter. But the moment I heard what they wanted to ask me, I offered that I must be questioned from my country because I am not Indian. My hair is Zambian, my skin texture is Zambian, my front and side elevation is Zambian even kayendedwe kangu (the way I walk) is Zambian, so why interrogate me from a foreign country? That is why I advised those investigators to apply for my leave to come to Zambia. They did not even spend 10 minutes talking to me, I offered to come here on the same flight with the investigators," Andrew explained.
Asked when he intended to report for work in India since his leave days were over, Andrew said the investigators will clear him once they were satisfied with the findings.
"I did not come here on my own, I was asked to come by the ministry (of foreign affairs) and it is not for me to apply. My point is that I feel it is the right thing to do. We have to allow this matter to come to its conclusive end. I am not comfortable to go and leave room for speculation. That is not good for my persona," said Andrew.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Cops ask Andrew Banda for his shopping list
By Bright Mukwasa
Fri 04 May 2012, 14:00 CAT
INVESTIGATIVE wings have asked former president Rupiah Banda's son, Andrew, to submit a long list of things he used to buy in his house, his lawyer Sakwiba Sikota said yesterday.
Investigative wings on Tuesday interrogated Andrew, who is also deputy High Commissioner to India, for allegedly soliciting for a cut from an Italian construction company, Fratelli Locci and over K195,800,000, money suspected to be proceeds of crime, allegations he denies.
Andrew failed to turn up the following day for further questioning as his lawyers were still compiling documents vital to the investigation.
But Sikota said: "They have given us a long list of things that they want to find out from him. The only things they have not asked us to provide is the grocery that he used to buy in a house, practically everything else."
Asked what things on the list investigators had asked Andrew to submit and if he was ready to furnish them, Sikota responded: "I am told everything apart from the groceries. That's why we say it is harassment, not everybody is asked to do that. Well if he doesn't, they are going to lock him up like they did Dora Siliya."
He said that was why the investigations against the Bandas were perceived as harassment as nobody else had ever been asked to do such.
He claimed the Bandas never got cleared by "this government" and it would carry on harassing them.
Investigative wings spokesperson Charity Chanda said the investigations against Andrew were still going on.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Andrew Banda fails to appear before cops
By Bright Mukwasa
Thu 03 May 2012, 09:00 CAT
FORMER president Rupiah Banda's son, Andrew, yesterday failed to appear before investigative wings as his lawyers were still compiling "some documents vital to the investigation".
Investigative wings on Tuesday interrogated Andrew, also deputy high commissioner to India, for allegedly soliciting a cut from an Italian construction company Fratelli Locci and over K195,800,000, money suspected to be proceeds of crime, allegations he denies.
"From yesterday's Tuesday interview, we agreed that the lawyers were going to avail Mr Andrew Bwezani Banda to the team this afternoon…but unfortunately they could not make it because there were some documents which we needed which are supposed to help us with investigations. But they are still compiling them and when they are ready they will get back to us," joint investigative team spokesperson Charity Chanda told journalists yesterday.
"They lawyers will communicate because those documents are vital to our investigations."
But Andrew in an interview on Tuesday denied the allegations, saying the agreement was a normal business transaction with the company he had known even before he was in government circles.
"I can never deny the Locci neither do I expect them to deny me because we had an agreement which was made a long time ago…the percentage two per cent that they are talking about is a business agreement as per normal, nothing like soliciting for anything, nothing because I have not received anything from them to do with commission," Andrew said.
"If I had that kind of money, I would not even be where I am. It is genuine that I had an agreement with these people so I could recover for the services that I provided to them to register their company in the country, the logistics…there's an agreement I do not dispute that."
Andre also said investigative wings asked him about the close to K100 million in his account but wondered what was wrong with him having such an amount.
He said he was a diplomat and a businessman running a transport company that ferries poles for Zesco and it was not impossible for him to have that amount.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, CORRUPTION, RUPIAH BANDA
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Cops pick up Rupiah's son Andrew at airport
By Moses Kuwema
Sat 28 Apr. 2012, 15:40 CAT
THE joint team of investigations yesterday picked up former president Rupiah Banda's son Andrew from the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport. Sources said Andrew was picked up from the airport around 14:00 hours upon arrival on an Ethiopian Airways flight.
And spokesperson for the joint team of investigators Charity Chanda said Andrew was in the country to help with investigations.
When asked if Andrew was released, Chanda responded: "Nothing happened, we just had a brief…he is coming back tomorrow at 09:00 hours at the former Task Force on corruption. We are calling him for investigations.
I will give you the details tomorrow. Just know he is in the country to help with investigations. The rest of the details I will give them to you tomorrow today."
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, CORRUPTION, COURTS, RUPIAH BANDA
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I have known Fratelli Locci since 2001 and worked with them-Andrew Banda
TIME PUBLISHED - Wednesday, January 4, 2012, 10:04 am
THE case in which former President Rupiah Banda’s son Andrew has been linked to an Italian construction company—Fratelli Locci—has taken a new twist with the former President’s son admitting receiving a “payment” from the Italian company but denied the fact that the payment could have been a “kick-back”.
Mr. Banda, who spoke via phone from his New Delhi, India base also said he is willing to meet the police—whom he has apparently not met yet—regarding the issue as soon as he returns to Zambia from India.
“I am not afraid of the police. I will hand myself to them in broad daylight when I return because I am aware that they want to speak to me,” Mr. Banda said, adding, “I am also aware that the authorities have spoken to my daughter Ketiwe at Stanbic and that they have also spoken to my auntie Mrs Zekko about this matter in my absence.”
Mr. Banda, a diplomat, told the Daily Mail that his relationship with Fratelli Locci owned by Mr Antonelli Locci is “above board” and that he has known the company and owner since 2001.
“I can’t deny knowing Fratelli and receiving money from them because my small transportation company has done work for them and I have been paid for that, that’s how I know the company,” Mr. Banda said.
The diplomat, who also clarified that James is his older and not younger brother, regretted that efforts to reach him when the story broke proved futile as he could have answered the questions had James not refused to assist the Daily Mail with his contact number.
Andrew Banda joined the growing list of high-profile Zambians that have been linked to questionable deals, entered into during his father’s three-year administration, in addition to his younger brother Henry whom police are looking for right now.
The police could soon consider putting a reward on Henry’s head, said Mr. Rae Hamoonga, the acting police spokesperson, in an interview yesterday.
“We have not reached a stage where we must place a reward on Mr. Banda’s head yet,” Mr. Hamoonga said. “What we have done is that we have intensified our search for him so far.”
The Daily Mail yesterday carried a story linking Andrew Banda to a 2 percent payment from Fratelli who have told law enforcement agencies that they made the payment out to Mr. Banda’s company AB Logistics under pressure from the diplomat after he allegedly threatened he would terminate the K300 billion Pedicle Road contract.
At press time, the Daily Mail could not reach Fratelli but the company lawyer Overs Banda, former Local Government Permanent Secretary called the newspaper and said he “doubted” whether Fratelli had been paid by the Road Development Agency.
“If they had been paid any percentage, I would also have been paid as the lawyer, so I don’t think they have been paid just yet hence the reason they have not even moved on site,” Mr. Banda said.
But Daily Mail investigations show that Fratelli has already been written a warning letter for failing to be on site five months after they were awarded the contract that runs into billions, to the Road Development Agency’s dismay.
The standard procedure at RDA is to pay a contracted company between 10 to 15 percent of the quoted amount for a job as a down payment in all contracts and this must apply to Fratelli, contrary to Mr. Banda’s view.
Mr. Banda also felt he was receiving “negative media attention” just through mere association because “Henry and James are my brothers, which I think is not fair because I am an individual family member.”
President Sata has embarked on an anti-graft fight that has sucked various former leaders such as Petauke legislator Dora Siliya, former Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane and former Vice-President George Kunda.
The President has said no amount of “witch-hunt” or “retribution” cries shall slow his anti-graft fight as he tries to reduce poverty levels and create jobs in a country where some 65 percent of the population live in abject poverty, despite vast mineral wealth.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, CORRUPTION
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Rupiah's son okays probe of his father
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Wed 04 Jan. 2012, 14:00 CAT
RUPIAH Banda's son Andrew, has asked the state to investigate his father if there are suspicions of wrongdoing during his tenure of office as president. And Andrew says he is equally ready to cooperate with the investigative wings because he has nothing to hide.
Calling India yesterday, Andrew, the second-born son of Banda, said even though he was very far from Zambia, he was aware of everything that was happening and it naturally affected him.
"It is my blood. I can never get away from that. I am affected by all this. But in all fairness, if the state feels that there is something that could have gone wrong during the tenure of the office of my father, let them investigate," he said
"It's like if you come out and say that ‘Mr Banda is a wizard' ‘Mr Banda is a wizard', prove that he is a wizard and if he is not a wizard, the people will say he is not a wizard and it will be proven. So if they have made all these allegations against my family, let them investigate including myself. Let them investigate and if the truth comes out, I will be found guilty or innocent. I cannot stop the investigations. Once they have done that, let the public be informed."
Andrew said he had no power to stop the investigations but if called, he would cooperate with the investigative wings.
The state-owned Zambia Daily Mail on Tuesday carried a story, which linked Andrew to corrupt activities.
The paper stated that Andrew coerced, threatened and received about K2 billion in two installments as a ‘kick-back' from an Italian company known as Fratelli Locci owned by Antonello Locci.
The paper alleged that Andrew was warned and cautioned by the police regarding the two percent payment running into billions of kwacha paid out to his company AB Logistics into his Indo Zambia bank account.
Andrew said his account at Indo Zambia Bank had never at any point held more than K300 million.
He said he was just a simple guy who runs a very simple transport company.
Andrew said there was documentation to account for all the money that had been received in his account and people had even been interviewed on the source of his income.
"I have never reached even K1 billion. If I had one billion it would be too much for me. That's why I am a civil servant. So to write that K2 billion was banked in my transport money account… I would like anybody to go and check my account to find out if I have ever held more than K300 million. I don't have that kind of money I can tell you that," he said
"If the money was deposited in that account, they can go and check that. I have no problems. I have another account at Stanbic Bank, my personal account where even my humble salary goes in, that account has never gone above K300 million."
He said he had known the Locci family since 2006 and he would never deny them.
Andrew said the Locci family had never given him K 2 billion.
He said he could have introduced them to Zambia but they had never paid him that kind of money.
Andrew also denied ever being warned and cautioned.
"I have never been warned and cautioned, I have never been called and maybe I am yet to be called by the investigative wings and if they do, I am a law abiding citizen and I will come immediately to give the side of my story. I have nothing to hide. I will come during the day, not at night. When the time comes I shall come. When they call me, I will come to give the side of my story," he said.
He explained that before he left to go into the diplomatic service, he used to operate from Olympia Park.
"But after I left, there was no point for me to have an office there. I am not a very flamboyant businessman. I left my accountant to look at the things that would have come in. I have always operated from Olympia Park but I no longer operate from there," he said,.
According to state media reports, Locci was awarded a contract by the Road Development Agency and was being probed as the government was concerned with the slow rates works had taken on the road that connects Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
But Andrew said the Pedicle Road was not being constructed and what was happening at the moment was a probe to find out how those people got the contract.
He said the project had not even been launched yet.
"So at what point did they start working, unless I am lost myself. I am so far away from there. Even for investigative wings to give information to the newspaper, how can they give a story if indeed it is true and I don't believe that it is true that the investigators have released information to the Zambia Daily Mail that they warned and cautioned me when they have never warned and cautioned me," he said.
"Where did they warn and caution me? Was it here in India or Lusaka and on what date. They said they tried to contact me. On which number did they try to call me on? I challenge them to tell me. There was no side of my story because I understand that a warn and caution statement is not done on the phone or in one's dreams. It is done at the police station and I have not received a call to that effect."
Andrew said he had never been summoned nor had he ever received a call-out.
"And surely they know where to find me. And I will cooperate with them when the time comes if they want to interview me. So how do they allow a story to go like that, that we warned and caution him. I find that not right so on the basis of that I wanted to clarify matters because I have nothing to hide," he said.
Andrew said there were all these investigations going on about the Banda family and that was one of the reasons they are trying to establish if he got involved in things like that.
"And they have a right to do that but it's got to be factual. Is it true that in my account, there is K2 billion which was paid and on which day? Is it true also that I was warned and cautioned? When did they give warn and caution statements? They have not called me yet so at what point did they give a warn and caution statement? And me I am saying that I am ready to cooperate, if they want to call me and clarify matters, I am available but I think it's not right to the Zambia Daily Mail to say that when I was contacted, I referred all matters to accountant Mr Fred Chimfumpa. I don't know who this Charles (reporter) is, he has never spoken to me," he said.
Andrew said he was aware that investigations had been going on for the last three months with some of his family members being interviewed but he had not been called yet.
"So I find it absurd that they can write that," said Andrew.
When contacted over the story, Zambia Daily Mail managing editor Isaac Chipampe refereed all queries to his deputy Anthony Mukwita who he said dealt with editorial matters.
Mukwita said the paper tried to get in touch with Andrew but failed to get hold of his number.
Mukwita said out of respect, the paper then decided to get hold of Andrew's brother, James but he was not very helpful.
He said this was a clear sign that the paper had tried to get in touch with Andrew.
Labels: ANDREW BANDA, CORRUPTION, RUPIAH BANDA
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