Windfall tax on mines inevitable - Fr Mwewa
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Sat 07 Dec. 2013, 14:00 CAT
IT will be an act of betrayal to many Zambians if the PF government refuses to reintroduce windfall tax on the mines, says Fr Augustine Mwewa.
In an interview yesterday, Fr Mwewa, a former treasurer general of the Catholic Diocese of Ndola, said
the government was not being sincere with Zambians over windfall tax.
He said the PF government's failure to reintroduce windfall tax was a serious contradiction to its ideals of creating national wealth for the eradication of poverty.
"The Minister of Mines Christopher Yaluma has said the government had no immediate intentions to revise the mining taxation regime to bring back windfall taxes. This is disappointing because the PF campaigned on the premise of a pro-poor approach to government," Fr Mwewa said.
"It's not possible to end poverty without creating national wealth, without using the country's richly endowed national resource which is copper to remove the majority poor people in our nation from the shackles of poverty. We need to maximise revenue from the mines and reduce on outside borrowing because we have mineral resources."
He said it would be difficult for the PF government to derive tangible revenues from the mining sector without reintroducing windfall tax, which must be applied on excess profits from the mines.
Fr Mwewa said the reintroduction of windfall tax was inevitable in Zambia because appropriate mine taxes should be the major source of national financial sustainability, adding that genuine investors in the mines would not run away but stay and support the government's move.
He said issues such as finance minister Alexander Chikwanda going to parliament to seek powers to increase Zambia's debt ceiling from K20 billion to K35 billion could have been avoided if appropriate taxes were effected on the mines.
Fr Mwewa said the government must begin to demonstrate fiscal discipline to avoid external borrowing which was detrimental to the country's future economy.
"The government is expected to be sensitive to public opinion over this matter because they still have confidence that we have a listening government, a government that comforted us and made us believe that it will spearhead the creation of wealth through appropriate taxes such as the reintroduction of the windfall tax," said Fr Mwewa.
In 2008 under president Levy Mwanawasa, the government introduced a windfall tax on base metals at a minimum rate of 25 per cent with a revenue projection of at least US $ 415 million per annum.
For Copper, the windfall tax was pegged at 25 per cent at a price of US $ 2.50 per pound but below US $ 3.0 per pound, 50 per cent for the next 50 cents increase in price and 75 per cent above US $ 3.50 per pound.
But Rupiah Banda's government removed the windfall tax claiming that it was 'hurting' mining investment.
And following the election of the PF into government, pressure from the civil society mounted for the reintroduction of the windfall tax.
However, finance minister Alexander Chikwanda said those calling for the reintroduction of the windfall tax were 'lunatics'.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, WINDFALL TAX
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Opposition have failed to offer proper checks and balances - Fr Mwewa
By Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Mon 08 July 2013, 14:00 CAT
FATHER Augustine Mwewa says the MMD and UPND have selfish leaders who would take dangerous routes to get to State House.
But UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema said Fr Mwewa was a PF cadre while MMD's Nevers Mumba said he did not know Fr Mwewa and would therefore not comment.
Fr Mwewa, who is currently a student in Kenya, said the current crop of opposition parties in Zambia was an embarrassment to democracy because they had failed to offer proper checks and balances and were merely there for selfish reasons.
Fr Mwewa said Zambia needed a strong opposition like the way the PF was because without the opposition, democracy was meaningless in the country.
He said the current crop of opposition parties in the country was nothing to talk about because they lacked consistency.
"Opposition parties in this country are causing great wounds to our democracy. They are a shame and an embarrassment to democracy. They don't offer proper checks and balances. Their role is to attack the PF government whether they have done good or bad. We have no opposition in this country and we are slowly killing democracy if nothing is done. MMD is not going anywhere. UPND can't rule because the party doesn't know its role in this country. We hope we can have an opposition soon because the biggest opposition party (MMD) in the country is going down whether we like it or not," he said.
Fr Mwewa said Evelyn Mwanawasa's decision to withdraw from the Kafulafuta by-election race was a clear indication that the MMD was headed for political destruction.
Fr Mwewa said Mumba had destroyed the MMD because of being egocentric.
"Nevers is a proud person and proud people never go anywhere. He should remember that pride brought down Satan. Nevers is full of himself and he should come down. What kind of a leader is he if he can't listen to people? He should acknowledge if he is wrong so that people can help him. At the rate he is going, he will not go anywhere. Nevers and the MMD need help and the only way to help them is for them to admit that they need help," he said.
Fr Mwewa said Mumba had ruined the MMD and that it was impossible for the former ruling party to bounce back to power under his leadership.
He said Mumba's only goal was to become Republican president no matter the circumstances.
"Zambians can't trust the MMD because the party is being led by a pretender. The treasurer of the party tells the nation that the party doesn't have money. Nevers Mumba says the party has money. Mumba should face reality. From the word go, I said it and I will say it again, Nevers Mumba is not a good leader for the MMD party. The party needs Felix Mutati and once Mutati is on board, the other MMD faction will reconcile and rebuild the party that started democracy in our country," said Fr Mwewa.
When contacted for comment, Mumba said he did not know Fr Mwewa.
Fr Mwewa is former Catholic Diocese of Ndola treasurer general.
"I don't know who that is and I will not respond to whatever he said. That is below us," said Mumba.
But Hichilema said Fr Mwewa was a PF cadre.
He said Fr Mwewa should not be fooling himself because UPND was providing genuine checks and balances under a dictatorship government.
"Run this story so that people can see father's foolishness. He is just a PF cadre…Where was he when MMD president Nerves Mumba was beaten and harassed? Where was he when I was beaten, harassed and accused of murder? He must be concerned about the dictatorship that is going on in this country," he said.
Hichilema said Fr Mwewa should not turn his anger on UPND.
He wondered what sort of Bible Fr Mwewa reads, adding that he was a fake priest who wore priestly robs but was a mere PF cadre.
"Who knows that same pastor, or priest? Whatever his name is, or you tell me ten times, I will not know it. Who does he care about? He doesn't pay me a penny for offering checks and balances. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing," charged Hichilema.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, MMD, UPND
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Opposition and the corruption fight
By Editor
Tue 04 June 2013, 14:00 CAT
"We must resolutely fight corruption and culprits. The crooks, whether in government or private sector, must be brought to justice without hesitation," urges Fr Augustine Mwewa of Catholic Diocese of Ndola.
Fr Mwewa adds: "Fighting corruption without ceasing and bringing culprits to book is the only way Zambia will see meaningful development. Politicians and individuals resisting the fight against corruption do not mean well for Zambia. A country embroiled in widespread corruption has no future, and posterity will judge harshly leaders that decline to resolutely fight corruption…Those who have stolen from the poor must be brought to justice and in that way, we will set a good precedent and it will be a deterrent to others that would have intentions of stealing public funds, money meant for the poor."
Truly, there are, in the body politic, economic and social, many and grave ills, and there is urgent necessity for the sternest war upon them. There should be a relentless exposure of and attack upon every evil man or woman, whether politician or businessperson, every evil practice, whether in politics, in business, or in social life.
Our plea should not be for immunity but for the most unsparing exposure of the politician who betrays his trust, of the business person who makes or spends his or her fortune in illegitimate or corrupt ways.
There should be a resolute effort to hound every such man or woman out of the position he or she has disgraced.
There can be no neutrality when it comes to fighting corruption. We should seek justice for all and ensure the rule of law for the benefit of all. Seeking justice for all in part includes ensuring that those who have stolen public resources, those who have abused their offices to enrich themselves are arrested and prosecuted and, if found guilty, sent to jail. It also means that those who are suspected of corruption are treated fairly and are given fair trial and the full benefit of the due process of the law. This is what justice means. This is what fairness means. This is what the rule of law entails. It does not mean promoting impunity.
And Fr Mwewa is right when he says that politicians and individuals resisting the fight against corruption do not mean well for Zambia. Today we have politicians whose only discernible preoccupation is to defend the corruption of Rupiah Banda and his associates. This is all they are concerned about. They are not in any way concerned about the interests and rights of the people whom Rupiah and his associates stole from.
With the exception of Charles Milupi, the president of opposition Alliance for Democracy and Development, the leadership of our opposition is defending the corrupt and corruption. Hakainde Hichilema, president of opposition UPND, is today one of the staunch defenders of Rupiah and his corruption. Yet, not very long ago, this same Hakainde was in the forefront of denouncing Rupiah and the corruption of his league. Hakainde has made no effort to explain why he is today defending the corruption of Rupiah, which not very long ago he used to expose, denounce and hammer. This is dishonesty. This is being unprincipled. This is being a liar. And this is what Hakainde is - dishonest, unprincipled, a liar.
The corruption of Rupiah doesn't seem to be a concern to him. What seems to be a concern to him is how to become president of the Republic of Zambia. And in the quest of becoming president, Hakainde is ready to dip his head in a pit latrine of corruption without a feeling of nausea. The stench of Rupiah's corruption is not an issue for Hakainde in his quest for power. Today, this dishonest, this unprincipled, this lying politician is defending what cannot be defended - the corruption of Rupiah. But as Fr Mwewa correctly observes, "posterity will judge harshly leaders that decline to resolutely fight corruption". Hakainde typifies the man who in his life consistently refuses to see aught that is lofty, and fixes his eyes with solemn intentness only on that which is vile and debasing.
Now, it is very necessary that we do not flinch from seeing what is vile and debasing.
Let's get back to politics that is based on morality. Let's get back to the Kenneth Kaunda type of politics based on integrity. Let's try in a new time and in a new way to restore that concept of politics. Let's teach ourselves and others that politics should be an expression of a desire to contribute to the happiness of the community rather than of a need to cheat or rape the community. Under altered circumstances, we war with the same tendencies towards evil that were evident in Kaunda's days, and are helped by the same tendencies for good.
Let us not forget that the individual does best in a strong and decent community of people with principles and standards and common aims and values. And only politicians and political parties that are able to give this or contribute to this should be worthy of the leadership of our people and our country.
Those who seek power or public office must have the self-confidence to want power and to believe that their exercise of it can tilt the country in the right direction. Whatever the problems, challenges, the future of our country will depend on the integrity of its leaders and people. And we must be mindful of this fact whatever the trials and tests ahead.
If those in the opposition want to be taken seriously by the Zambian people, they have to start acting up to different standards than the ones they have been following in the last few months or years. They have to show concern for the interest of the people and not of a few individuals who they think have the key to them getting into power. There is no doubt that on the issue of corruption, the opposition, especially UNPD and MMD, have taken a position or an approach that is bound to destroy their standing in the eyes of decent Zambians.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, MMD, OPPOSITION, UPND
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Catholic priests petition Sata over deportation of Fr Banyangadora
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Wed 08 Aug. 2012, 11:30 CAT
FIVE Catholic Priests on the Copperbelt, who were in the seminary with the deported Lundazi-based Rwandese priest, Fr Viateur Banyangadora, have asked President Michael Sata to seriously consider revoking his deportation.
In an interview yesterday before celebrating mass for their 8th anniversary in priesthood, Fr Augustine Mwewa who spoke on behalf of Fr Eddie Mubanga, Fr Christopher Chowa, Fr Epimaque Rafiki and Fr Evaristo Chisenga said the manner in which Fr Banyangadora was bundled and deported to Rwanda like a criminal without any explanations and without any due regard for the Catholic leadership in the country, was unacceptable.
Fr Banyangadora, 40, a priest of Rwandese origin, was last week on Monday picked up by a combined team of security wings from his residence in connection with a homily he delivered on Sunday which was seen to have been inciting people to rise against the government.
But Fr Mwewa said the government had an obligation to tell the nation why Fr Banyagandora was deported without even consulting the authorities of the Church.
He said the rush by the Ministry of Home Affairs to deport the Lundazi-based priest had raised a lot of questions by the public and the faithful who had a right to know why he was deported.
"We met our colleague Fr Banyagandora in 1994 in the seminary; we did philosophy together in Mpima, a very down to earth man of God, very humble with a heart for serving the poor. They have no right to deport our priest for unknown reasons. That is unbecoming, a grave violation of human rights and abrogation of priestly privileges,"he said.
Fr Mwewa said President Michael Sata must come out in the open and revoke the deportation if it was true that the priest was deported for merely playing his role of questioning government on the gap between the rich and the poor.
Fr Mwewa said President Sata's government managed to win the elections because of his consistency on matters that affect the nation and it would be a grave mistake to deport a priest who was merely playing his prophetic role of being a voice for the voiceless.
"The voice of the prophet which exists in the clergy should not be intimidated, the social teachings of the Church and our political philosophy emphasises being the voice for the poor; it will be extremely unfortunate if the government deported our priest on those grounds," said Fr Mwewa.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, CATHOLIC CHURCH, RWANDA
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Remove Rupiah's immunity - Mwewa
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Fri 06 July 2012, 13:25 CAT
RUPIAH Banda's immunity must be removed because it has become vivid that he ran a corrupt regime full of thieves, says Catholic priest Fr Augustine Mwewa.In an interview yesterday, Fr Mwewa said
the record must be set straight for posterity that corrupt leaders were made to face justice and that was the main reason why calls for the removal of former president Banda's immunity should not die out.
He said Banda ran the country as if it were a family business where his children and friends had a larger stake than any other person.
Fr Mwewa said calls to take Banda to court were not acts of vendetta but a deterrent to future leaders to stay away from corruption and manipulation of the poor.
He said the country would not develop if corrupt leaders that suddenly find themselves holding government power were allowed to loot resources and go scot-free without facing justice.
"It will be sad if Rupiah Banda will not be investigated. Look at developed countries like France; the immediate former president Nicolas Sarkozy's home and offices were raided by French police days after losing elections and they searched for evidence that he might have been involved in illegal political campaign financing and corrupt charges. We should respect the rule of law if we want Zambia to develop and no playing politics of appeasement," Fr Mwewa said.
He said many Zambians were living in poverty because of selfish leaders who stole the poor people's hard-earned money.
Fr Mwewa said the country saw worse plunder of national resources within three years of Banda's administration and it would be regrettable if his immunity would not be lifted.
He said Banda owed Zambians an explanation on the blatant theft of national resources that the country saw during his tenure as Republican president.
Fr Mwewa said it was distressing that while many children in rural areas had died of malnutrition and heavy disease burden; there were revelations of massive plunder of national resources under Banda's regime.
"Zambians must set a good precedence for the country by stopping disgruntled political leaders from abusing public funds. That's why investigating Rupiah is inevitable. This country has continued to lag behind because of thieves, and as long as we continue to tolerate corrupt activities in those holding very high positions in government, we will not see development," said Fr Mwewa.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, LEGAL IMMUNITY, RUPIAH BANDA
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Probing Rupiah is a must - Fr Mwewa
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Tue 11 Oct. 2011, 12:40 CAT
FR Augustine Mwewa says probing former President Rupiah Banda over allegations of corruption and abuse of public funds is a must and it must be done as stipulated by the law.
And Fr Mwewa says Zambians must be alert so that they do not allow ‘vultures' to surround or influence President Michael Sata's vision of fighting corruption and promoting good governance.
In an interview, Fr Mwewa who is former Catholic Diocese of Ndola treasurer general and currently studying at a Catholic university in Kenya said the issue of probing Banda should not be viewed as personal vendetta from President Sata but as a way of seeking justice over the abused public funds.
He said it would be wrong for some sections of society to confuse forgiveness and the fight against corruption.
"The probe we are talking about falls with the realm of eradicating corruption and promoting the rule of law. The fight against corruption is beyond personal differences and that should not be the basis for investigations. It is a matter of national interest because corruption has destroyed our country," Fr Mwewa said.
He said the issue of probing the former president and his government was not President Sata's issue but the people's resolve to stamp out a vice that had hindered national progress by bringing the culprits to book.
Fr Mwewa said the core activity for the new PF government was to implement their manifesto, enforce the law, and fight corruption in line with their campaign promise.
He said one of the major reasons why Zambians voted for change was that they wanted the new government to demonstrate political will towards the promotion of good governance by fighting corruption vigorously using the stipulated laws.
"We should not approach this important topic with personal issues.
It is imperative for me to mention that probing of the outgoing government is a must, however it should not be about the MMD alone but all those involved in the corrupt activities. That is to say, it should be done with a high degree of justice and objectivity. This is part of the change people voted for.
No wonder it is surprising to read that the new minister of Justice Sebastian Zulu is denying the depth of corruption in our judiciary. This is unacceptable and I ask myself is he the right person for this job? Corruption was so high in the MMD government that even a child could notice it," Fr Mwewa said.
And Fr Mwewa said disgruntled and corrupt politicians should not be allowed to surround President Michael Sata as they might influence the government adversely.
He said the Church, Non Government Organisations (NGOs) and the general populace must constantly provide checks and balances if the PF government was to perform to the expectations of the people.
"I applaud The Post for their alertness and consistency in providing the much needed checks and balances and they will continue doing it. It is my prayer that the probe of the immediate past MMD government will be done in the spirit of love, justice, rule of law, boldness, accountability and transparency if at all we are to get the change we desire," said Fr Mwewa.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, CORRUPTION, RUPIAH BANDA
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Don’t let MMD manipulate votes, cautions Fr Mwewa
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Mon 08 Aug. 2011, 11:59 CAT
OUTGOING Catholic Diocese of Ndola treasurer general Fr Augustine Mwewa says Zambians should not give room to the MMD government to manipulate this year’s elections.
Speaking when he featured on Radio Icengelo’s Face to Face programme on Saturday, Fr Mwewa, who will be on a sabbatical break to study for a Masters Degree in Mathematics at Catholic University in Kenya, said voters this year must ensure that benchmarks that render elections to be credible, free and fair are met.
He said the MMD government had a record of manipulating the demands of the people on many issues of governance such as the electoral process, the constitution, the fight against corruption among others.
Fr Mwewa said it was sad that due to selfish politicians and the MMD manipulation, the country ended up wasting huge sums of money on a futile constitution-making process.
He said the blame for the failed constitution must rest on MMD and the people that attended the National Constitutional Conference (NCC), refusing to heed to the demands for a people-driven constitution.
Fr Mwewa said the electorate must this year vote on moral grounds by refusing to give their votes to people that spearheaded the formation of the NCC, and those that attended.
“If it was in countries that have really developed in terms of democracy and good governance, we wouldn’t have entertained people that made the country lose money on a failed constitution and now they are seeking public office again,” Fr Mwewa said.
He said the more than K200 billion that the government wasted on the NCC would have greatly helped to improve the living standards of the majority of people surviving on less than a dollar per day.
Fr Mwewa said time had come for Zambians to analyse people seeking public office and to give their votes to credible candidates in good moral standing.
He said the country was in need of a Republican President that would push the agenda of the poor by fighting corruption vigorously and giving the people a credible constitution.
And during the same programme, Fr Elias Muma said citizens must open their eyes and scrutinise people seeking re-election ahead of the polls.
Fr Muma, who is the pastoral director, said the electorate must reject politicians that were responsible for the failed constitution, saying it was a serious mistake and waste of national resources by those that supported the formation of the NCC.
He said time had come for Zambians to start demanding high moral standing from people seeking public office.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, MMD
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COMMENT - It is not in the nature of politicians, to sacrifice for the greater good. There are those who do, but you cannot depend on them being the majority. It is the bread and butter of politicians to accrue power and connections. That is how they define success, for good or bad. What is needed is a constitution that effectively separates hiring and budgets of the powers of state, party from government, and government from state. What is needed, is a form of government that ensures that decisions are made by the people, not central government politicians. A system based on decentralisation and the principle of subsidiarity (local government decisions supersede provincial government decisions, which supersede national government decisions). A system that protects basic human and civil rights and individual or collective exploitation, through a national Constitution.
Those seeking political office must learn to sacrifice - Fr Mwewa
By Bright Mukwasa
Sat 30 July 2011, 13:59 CAT
THOSE seeking political office must learn to sacrifice, says Fr Augustine Mwewa.
Commenting on Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumango’s advice that people should avoid joining politics for money because they would end up being corrupt, Fr Mwewa said politicians should always struggle to be of service and be mindful that they were joining politics not to amass wealth.
“It takes one who understands that politics is about service especially in our country today to really take that stance,” Fr Mwewa said.
“Even those people who want to join politics ought to understand about service, service to the community, to promote the common good. It is about contributing positively to the wellbeing of humanity.”
Fr Mwewa said all politicians, especially Christians, have a responsibility to show strength of character by fighting for social justice and avoid corruption.
“In Zambia there should be a way of preparing those who want to join politics. They need to do a bit of political philosophy. They will understand there will be no insults. No hatred,” he said.
Fr Mwewa implored people contesting this year’s elections to be issue-based and preach values, such as love, upon which the Zambian society was anchored.
“We need change not for the sake of change, of course with continuity, if we say we have made economic progress we need to continue. Where we have failed they need to contribute, they need to sacrifice. They need to be bold enough not to be bought by investors,” said Fr Mwewa.
During the leadership and candidate training skills in Lusaka on Tuesday, Nalumango, who was until Parliament’s dissolution on Thursday MMD Kaputa member of parliament, said people that went into politics for money ended up being corrupt.
“But I will tell you that your performance when you get in will depends on the reason that drove you into there. If you go in for money most likely you will be corrupt because you won't find the money you were imagining,” Nalumango said.
“If it's fame and status then you want everybody to notice where you are. I thought really politics and governance; this power must be power to serve. Governance must be service. Therefore, for me I believe you should go into politics, and I did go into politics, based on my conviction that I can do something in my community in Kaputa.”
Nalumango said she believed most women could do more to change their communities for the better.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, POLITICS
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Mulafulafu counsels Rupiah on criticism
By Bright Mukwasa
Wed 04 May 2011, 04:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda must exhibit statesmanship in the way he responds to criticism, says Sam Mulafulafu. And Fr Augustine Mwewa has questioned President Banda’s advisors following his harsh response to criticism.
In an interview yesterday, Mulafulafu, who is Caritas director, said President Banda as head of political and economic affairs of the country ought to understand that he would always be criticised by other citizens.
“Other people will need to show input which sometimes might not agree with his opinion, but when he is responding, he has to respond in a normal way,” Mulafulafu said.
He said President Banda must also learn to hold his emotions when responding to criticism.
“All leaders around the world get criticised but they demonstrate their greatness through the way they respond to this criticism. Use polite language, express your opinion in a normal way,” he said.
Mulafulafu said no matter the criticism, there was no need for President Banda to respond arrogantly.
And Fr Mwewa asked President Banda and other political leaders to be sober in the manner they responded to the people they were leading.
He said it was important that leaders responded to people’s suffering with level-headedness.
“He should listen more to people that criticise him than to the ones that praise him, that’s how you grow,” Fr Mwewa said.
“The President coming out harshly also questions the responsibility of his advisors; what do they want for him, do they want his downfall? We know there is pressure to win elections and so forth but let’s try to be sober headed.
His advisors are failing to do a good job and should be fired,” said Fr Mwewa.
He said leaders were trading uncultured language because there was no effective public media to inform the people.
“Today we are talking of media freedom, let that freedom start with Daily Mail, Times of Zambia and ZNBC. For instance they can’t call me to interview me, to express my opinion. Media freedom must be demonstrated by ZNBC and the two dailies because they are publishing insults everyday,” he said.
He said there was need for President Banda to be civil in his language.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, RUPIAH BANDA, SAM MULAFULAFU
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Fr Mwewa warns govt of more criticism from clergy
By Misheck Wangwe, Kabanda Chulu and Abigail Chaponda
Mon 15 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT
CATHOLIC Diocese of Ndola Treasurer General Fr Augustine Mwewa has said President Rupiah Banda’s government should expect more criticism from the clergy if his government continues to be inept and failing to promote common good.
Reacting to President Rupiah Banda’s comments at the installation ceremony of the new Catholic Diocese of Ndola Bishop Alick Banda on Saturday, that young priests have been issuing unwarranted attacks and insults on his government, Fr Mwewa said the Republican President should expect more criticism as long as his government continues to exhibit bad governance.
Fr Mwewa said the young priests President Banda accused of insulting his government were in close contact with the majority poor people who face harsh living conditions caused by inept governance.
“I want to put it on record that nobody deserves to be insulted and the president was right when he said elders must be respected but I have never heard any insults coming from a priest’s mouth or a priest quoted in the media insulting. We are religious men. We don’t insult; what we merely do is to bring to the fore the challenges facing God’s people due to inequalities in the distribution of this country’s resources by those holding government power,” he said.
Fr Mwewa noted that in a democratic dispensation like Zambia, President Banda as the head of state must be ready to face criticism and was expected to act on the failures of his government.
Fr Mwewa added that any well-meaning Zambian would only take pride in a government that responds to people’s concerns and not an adamant one.
He said President Banda should not expect the religious to be smiling and showering praises on him when the people they are called to serve are wallowing in abject poverty due to lack of good leadership.
“President Rupiah must start reflecting on these issues. His government must priorities the plight of the poor, he should not politicise every issue. Appreciation is given where it’s due not in a situation were innocent souls are living in misery due to politics of tyranny and lack of good governance,” Fr Mwewa said.
Fr Mwewa said every well-meaning Zambian is looking forward to seeing a government that would devote its efforts to uplifting the living standards of the people and addressing issues of mutual concern.
He said while it was the role of the clergy to offer moral guidance in the society and the nation at large, they also had a divine obligation to comment on issues that affect the people, to denounce injustice and to ensure that there was a fair distribution of the country’s created wealth.
“Nobody owns Zambia. This country is for us all and everyone has a role to play for this country to attain the much-needed development. That is why it is important to listen to each other and divergent views must be embraced by those in authority,” he said.
And Fr Mwewa advised President Banda to detach himself from former president Fredrick Chiluba if he wanted Zambians to respect him and his government.
He said President Banda was insulting the intelligence of Zambians by associating with a person who had cases in a shameful and immoral alliance.
“President Banda would only gain the respect he desperately needs from the Zambian people if he begins to interact with individuals who are morally upright and not people who have brought misery to this country,” he said.
He said the general citizenry expects the president to be exemplary and to prioritise moral governance in the execution of his executive duties adding that his alliance with Chiluba was unacceptable and must be resisted.
On Saturday, President Banda said it was disturbing to see young priests in the forefront of insulting or using derogatory language when addressing elders.
President Banda has urged the Church to actively get involved in promoting political dialogue and reconciliation at both national and local levels as the country approaches the 2011 elections.
Speaking at the installation of Alick Banda as Bishop for Ndola Diocese at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Ndola , President Banda said Catholic bishops as shepherds of the people had a divine obligation to comment on issues of national importance.
Meanwhile, Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) president Bishop George Lungu has said the Church will continue having dialogue with government and any political party on issues affecting the people.
Bishop Lungu said the Catholic Church would continue to partner with government on issues that promote human dignity.
Vatican Ambassador to Zambia Apostolic Nuncio Girasoli said the church was looking forward to seeing the new Bishop overcoming the challenges facing Ndola Diocese.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, CATHOLIC CHURCH, FREEDOM OF SPEECH
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Sata calls for arrest of cadres that threatened Fr Mwewa
By George Chellah
Thu 07 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata yesterday said the threat on Catholic Diocese of Ndola treasurer general Fr Augustine Mwewa's life was unfortunate.
Commenting on MMD cadres' threat to kill Fr Mwewa for likening President Rupiah Banda to Zambian comedian Chintelelwe of Journey to Paradise who moves anyhow without a vision, Sata condemned the cadres' threats.
“What people should understand is that MMD has hired a president from UNIP and UNIP type of politics is what we are seeing now where they want to use other people to humiliate other citizens,” Sata said.
“The people MMD is trying to assault are innocent. The Catholic Church has suffered at the hands of this government. First, it was information minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha who insulted the Catholics by calling them murderers involved in genocide,” Sata complained.
“The President never spoke on that issue or later on come to the defence of Catholics against his minister's direct assault on the Catholic church. We have never heard anything from Rupiah and the police on those genocide allegations. Are we Catholics going to be slaughtered like chickens in our country by this government? Because now MMD cadres are attacking innocent priests and no one is saying anything.”
Sata wondered where hired MMD thugs could get the courage to go to the Dioceses in Ndola and attempt to attack a priest.
“And as these things are happening, the police are quiet. But what they shouldn't forget is that Zambians are getting ready for MMD thugs,” Sata said. “It doesn't matter in which form they come, they will be dealt with and dealt with accordingly. Tell Francis Kabonde Inspector General of police that, that's not a threat, it's a fact. If Kabonde can't guarantee people protection from these MMD thugs, what does he want them to do? You get thugs to go and attack an innocent priest, that's not fair.
“Let the MMD keep a distance from the Catholic Church. It's not intimidation the Catholic Church will be afraid of, what we want as Catholics is truth, justice and fair play. Remember in 1991, the late Mr Shapi was saying Catholics will go on a rosary but UNIP went out of office because of the rosary. Let them be careful.”
Sata said police must arrest the MMD thugs that threatened violence against Fr Mwewa.
“Threatening violence is an offence. Let the police arrest those criminals who went to the Diocese. They shouldn't just be quick to arrest PF cadres. When the PF cadres were alleged to have poured Chibuku on Faustina Sinyangwe, they rushed to arrest them but these thugs who attacked the security guard in Ndola are free,” said Sata.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, CADRES, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, SATA
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Zambia is headed for doom if Banda continues after 2011, says Fr Mwewa
By Abigail Chaponda
Fri 01 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
CATHOLIC Diocese of Ndola treasurer general Fr Augustine Mwewa has said Zambia is headed for doom if President Rupiah Banda continues to be President after the 2011 elections. And Fr Mwewa has likened President Banda to Zambian comedian Chintelelwe of Journey to Paradise who moves anyhow without a vision.
In an interview, Fr Mwewa said President Banda is the biggest liability that the country had produced and that having him for a President after 2011 would be a disaster.
“President Banda is a liability and if we continued to have him as President after 2011, we are headed for doom. He needs to change if he wants to be a good leader. He is a good example of failure. He tolerates corruption and he is a liar, he trades on lies to make people like him,” Fr Mwewa said.
“President Banda's lies are dividing the nation. And the problem is that once you try to correct President Banda and his ministers, you become enemies. What kind of leaders are they if they can't listen to advice?
I would rather live in a different country than have President Banda as President again.” Fr Mwewa challenged President Banda to take charge of his position as President and to stop Vice-President George Kunda from acting as President.
“The President doesn't act like the Republican President. He is more interested in moving about. This is why I am saying that he is like Chintelelwe of 'journey to paradise'.
He doesn't know what he wants, he moves around the country and outside anyhow he pleases without any vision at all,” Fr Mwewa said.
“President Banda should emulate his Malawian friend President Bingu wa Mutarika, he has regulated his movements and that of his ministers. Why can't he do the same? He should stop wasting taxpayers’ money.”
Fr Mwewa said President Banda should stop being petty and personal and that he should learn to listen to what people were saying before he drives the nation into a ditch.
“I advise the MMD government to go back to school and learn politics. They seem not to understand what true politics are. They should go back to school and read,” he said.
He said it was high time that Zambia had good and able leaders not tourists who were only interested in viewing the wonders of the world.
Fr Mwewa said President Banda was frustrating development in the country and that if elected President in 2011, Zambians should do something before he destroys the nation.
“I will not stop talking until this government change their ways. I will always pray for them to change and become better leaders because they have disappointed us a lot,” he said.
And Fr Mwewa said 2009 had not been a fruitful year because the government had upset many people.
He said Zambians were not happy with the way the government was running the affairs of the nation.
“The year 2009 has been a bad and terrible year for me and many Zambians out there. Our government has failed to run the country but they have fattened their pockets. The MMD government has failed because of their bad leadership,” he said.
Fr Mwewa also said regulating the media was one way of destroying The Post newspaper adding that without The Post Zambia would have been feasting on lies from government-owned media institutions.
“One thing the government should bear in mind is that we are not going to allow them to regulate the media. We know why they want to regulate the media; it is because they want to destroy The Post. Everyone knows that The Post is the mouthpiece of the country and we are not going to allow the government to intimidate The Post,” said Fr Mwewa.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Name the priests who had insulted Rupiah, Fr Mwewa challenges Kunda
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Thu 19 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT
NDOLA Catholic Diocese treasurer Fr Augustine Mwewa has challenged Vice-President George Kunda to disclose the names of the Catholic priests who have insulted President Rupiah Banda.
And Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) president Bishop George Lungu said it has never been the policy of the Catholic Church to insult the Republican President or any government leader.
Commenting on Vice-President George Kunda's statement on a live programme on Sunday evening on Monze's Sky FM Radio that Catholic priests had joined the trade of insulting President Banda, going against the teaching of Jesus Christ and the Church about forgiveness and reconciliation, Fr Mwewa said he expected a person of Vice-President Kunda’s calibre to state which priest had insulted the President.
“He specified that priests from Ndola and at that diocese; it’s me and Fr Miha who appear in The Post because the state-owned media do not interview us. So what it means is that they get The Post and read and say priests are insulting the President. I have never insulted the President. If I speak out when I see something wrong, am I insulting the President? Let him prove that Catholic priests have insulted the President,” he asked.
He said he would continue speaking about issues as long as he saw something wrong in the way things were being done
“Am I insulting the President when I say that he is contradicting what the late president Levy Mwanawasa stood for?” Fr Mwewa asked. “We speak on behalf of the majority and it is unfortunate and unfair for the Vice-President to say what he said. I respect the President but if he is not performing to the people’s expectations, we will speak out. Why would I lose my dignity by insulting a big person like President Banda? Jesus Christ said we will face prosecution and this is not the first time,” he said.
Fr Mwewa said statements that the Task Force on Corruption was created for one person were totally wrong because there were many other cases that were prosecuted by the Task Force.
He said Vice-President Kunda was the one who had been changing positions on Chiluba.
On toning down their language, Fr Mwewa said he would not attack personalities and he could never reduce himself to that.
He said he would continue to speak out as a Zambian and if any other leader including Michael Sata or Hakainde Hichilema insulted or were not doing their work, he would still talk.
And Bishop Lungu said the Catholic Church and its leadership would not shy away from their duty of speaking on behalf on the silent poor.
"We will do this, even if it makes our political leadership uncomfortable. At the just-ended Second African Synod Meeting of Catholic Bishops in Rome, Italy (4th - 25th October), we resolved as African Bishops to redouble our efforts in engaging politicians and governments so that they can work for justice and peace," he said.
He said he recently mentioned in Chipata that it was indeed a great pity that the Catholic Church's relationship with the Zambian government was at its lowest ebb since the re-introduction of multiparty democracy in Zambia.
"As a country, we have many challenges in the field of health, education, agriculture and governance. We urge our politicians to rise to the occasion and for a change, listen to the aspirations of the people. It cannot be business as usual. Our people are suffering," he said.
Bishop Lungu said Vice-President Kunda was on record saying that that the government was funding mission hospitals.
"Let me remind government that the government is not doing the Church a favour by seconding personnel and giving funds to Catholic health institutions and schools. As a Church, we have built the infrastructure, sourced for doctors, teachers and medicines.
It is not too much to ask government to supplement our efforts, especially since our schools, health institutions, agricultural projects, our radios - all serve the Zambian people without discrimination of any sort. The money that this government gives us to run these institutions is our money: tax payers' money," Bishop Lungu said "Provision of health and education is a primary responsibility of government. We are saddened that sometimes, politicians speak as if this is not their role.
In fact, many times when government gives us funding, it is too little and is often too late."
He called for a conversion of hearts from especially Catholic politicians. Bishop Lungu said Catholic politicians had a duty to stand up for their faith, uphold their faith at all times and educate fellow politicians who may not know how the Catholic Church operated.
Bishop Lungu, in the same vein, called upon priests to courageously continue to preach justice and peace without fear. He, however, urged them to tone down their language.
"They should not imitate the language of politicians. The language of a priest and any Christian, for that matter, must be one that promotes dialogue. This, however, does not mean that the truth should be compromised.
Further, the Catholic leadership is aware of the many good politicians in government, and the many good priests who are working well with government," he said.
Bishop Lungu said Zambia had many challenges and problems but the potentials were greater. He said the Catholic Church was ready to cooperate with the government and with all other denominations and people of goodwill to apply the potentials for the good of the nation.
Bishop Lungu said the continued bickering in the nation only detracts the country from concentrating on issues of development.
"It also gives opportunity to our detractors to exploit the situation. As Catholic Bishops, we have recently resolved to meet the Republican President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda soon. Possibly early next year, so that we can engage him in dialogue. Let us all be a people who enhance reconciliation, justice and peace at all times," said Bishop Lungu.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, CATHOLIC CHURCH, GEORGE KUNDA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Where is Rupiah taking this country?
By Editor
Sun 08 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT
Making some observations on Rupiah Banda’s governance, Fr Augustine Mwewa asks the question: “Where is he taking this country so that people can follow him properly?” And he added: “We need a clear plan about the future of this country. President Banda is busy consolidating his hold on power at the expense of providing social services. He cannot listen to those with opposing views; he thinks they are his enemies.”
Although Rupiah today appears confident and seems to be enjoying being President, many problems lie ahead. As Fr Mwewa has correctly observed, Rupiah doesn’t seem to know where he is headed and that is very dangerous. Rupiah’s greatest achievement during the first 12 months of his presidency is directionless leadership: he appears to be confident and in control, but no one, including himself, seems to know where he is leading.
Rupiah has failed to define the purpose of his government. We perceive no outlook roots. We can detect no sense of direction. Rupiah has a strong sense that he can undo what Levy Mwanawasa did. But he doesn’t seem to understand why it was right to do it. He doesn’t seem to accept the politics of freedom and choice that lay behind the agenda that was being pursued by our country over the last seven years or so. Rupiah grasped that he had to adopt Levy’s rhetoric. But he will in the end be judged not on what he says but on what he does.
Rupiah is being guided by the wish to destroy Levy’s legacy; and by the determination to be re-elected in 2011. That is not a recipe for governing well. You cannot run a government forever on that basis. Rupiah’s group, we mean himself and those around him, is a motley assortment of contradictory elements brought about to win power in last year’s election and use it to keep their jobs and have access to government resources. That will to win power and use it for personal benefit is the one idea that Rupiah and his minions hold in common. But with the passage of time, that will prove insubstantial glue. The signs of division may today appear very small, but they will grow.
To be successful, a president must assume a wide range of roles, tasks and responsibilities, but none is more important than the role of leader. And Rupiah is seriously lacking in this role – that of leadership. Leadership is the process of influencing and inspiring others to work to achieve a common goal and then giving them the power and the freedom to achieve it. Without leadership ability, a president can never rise above mediocrity. Yet, leadership is not an easy role to learn; the skills needed to do it well are many and are constantly changing. A lazy person like Rupiah who is just enjoying travelling and braiis will not be able to master them. Gone are the days when presidents relied on fear and intimidation as their primary leadership tools. Today the Zambian citizenry is more knowledgeable and demands a more sophisticated style of leadership.
A lazy and visionless leader like Rupiah will not take this country anywhere because you can’t lead anyone else further than you have gone yourself. The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet. It is said that a mediocre teacher tells; the good teacher explains; and the great teacher inspires. Rupiah can neither explain, demonstrate nor inspire. Rupiah is a president who stands for nothing in terms of public good. And because of standing for nothing, Rupiah falls for anything, for things like cheap and questionable but highly damaging deals like that of RP Capital and the acquittal of Frederick Chiluba.
Leaders must invoke the alchemy of good vision. And this is why it is said that the rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man’s foot enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher. It is said that the first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. The first task of a leader is to keep hope alive. And the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing. And Rupiah does not have this only thing we are talking about. There is no example Rupiah can give.
Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character; being able to do what is right when no one is watching and putting first things first. Rupiah has put his leisure, personal aggrandisement above the interests of his people.
And because of this, Rupiah has not been able to be honest with the Zambian people. Being honest is the best technique a president can use. Right up front, tell people what you are trying to accomplish and what you are willing to sacrifice to accomplish it. But all that we see from Rupiah is abuse of power – for personal glory and to free his friends like Chiluba from justice. It is said that the highest proof of virtue is to possess boundless power without abusing it. It takes tremendous discipline to control influence, the power that you have over other people’s lives. Power is the ability to do good things for others. And this is why it is said that leadership is action, not position. Ethics must begin at the top; it is a leadership issue and the president must set the example, have a basic integrity and a firm sense of principle.
Clearly, leadership is the ability of a single individual through his actions to motivate others to higher levels of achievement. And for this reason, leadership is practised not so much in words as in attitude and in actions. Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there; they cause change. They motivate and inspire others to go in the right direction and they, along with everyone else, sacrifice to get there. This is what Fr Mwewa is talking about. This is the type of leadership that will take our country forward in long strides.
There is need for Rupiah and his friends to realise that they are leading the country into a ditch in all sorts of ways, politically, economically, socially and otherwise. And one of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognise a problem before it becomes an emergency. This is a test Rupiah has consistently failed. We have all made mistakes in our careers. But few have been consistently wrong on all the great issues that have faced our nation over the last 12 months as Rupiah has done – violence, acquittal of Chiluba, fuel shortage and so on and so forth.
The character of Rupiah is also an issue that is impeding progress. The man is stubborn for nothing. And he boasts of being stubborn, thinking it’s a good thing, a virtue. However, of all the properties which belong to honourable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character. It is said that tough times never last, but tough people do.
What the last 12 months have taught us is that leadership is very vital to the future of our nation. But in the end, putting aside all the theories and concepts, good leadership will be achieved, not by the formality of structures, but by the integrity of the participant and by the willingness of the individuals to work together and be inspired by a larger vision.
And as Wangari Maathai has correctly observed, many people have come to understand that while it is necessary to hold their governments accountable, it is equally important that in their own relationships with each other, they exemplify the leadership values they wish to see in their own leaders, namely justice, integrity and trust. This is the only way to proceed if we have to construct a leadership that will meet our challenges and help us see a reversal of fortunes in our country.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, CORRUPTION, NEOLIBERALISM, RUPIAH BANDA
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Rupiah is divorced from reality – Mwewa
By Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Mon 26 Oct. 2009, 04:01 CAT
CATHOLIC Diocese of Ndola treasurer general Fr Augustine Mwewa has said President Rupiah Banda is teasing Zambians by proclaiming that there are no problems in the country.
Commenting on President Banda's claims when he commissioned Chambishi Copper Smelter (CCS) last Monday that there were no problems in Lusaka, Livingstone, Kasama and Chipata, Fr Mwewa, who spoke in his individual capacity, said the head of state was divorced from reality.
"There's need for the element of sincerity and humility," Fr Mwewa said.
"When he says that there's no problem at all it's like he's teasing us on the Copperbelt who are going through difficulties. It's like he's not in touch with reality. That is why I have been talking about people standing up even in MMD.”
He charged that it was a lie for President Banda to claim that the problems that people read of were imaginary.
"I'm happy that on the Copperbelt people are watching Muvi TV and they know that what The Post has been writing is the truth,” he said. "During the by-election in Kasama, someone called me from there and people saw the corruption and some people beat those who were using government vehicles in campaigns so people are alert. I'll not be stopped to say he (President Banda) is telling a lie. I go to Kitwe every week sometimes twice a week. In Chambishi we have relatives and not all is well."
Fr Mwewa said he grew up in a former mining town and that the different areas on the Copperbelt were no longer what they used to be.
"Our roads are gone," Fr Mwewa said.
"Chambishi is no longer the same. Go to former mining towns, things are worsening; the infrastructure; our education standards are deteriorating. Our President; his advisors where are they? Mr. Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika where is he? I respect that man a lot but he's disappointing the nation. I know he can't come out and say ‘I have been advising the President but he is not listening to me".
"He said President Banda was not a leader of the MMD alone but of the whole country.
"He's leading the country as a President but the things he has been saying, he has a lot to lose; insulting the opposition," he said.
Fr Mwewa appealed to President Banda to do things and run the country correctly.
"He should not be a liability," he said. "Those surrounding him, they need to advise him properly."
Fr Mwewa urged President Banda to make political statements that did not ridicule him as head of state and asked him to be humble enough to admit the problems the country was going through.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Rupiah is insulting Zambians - Fr Mwewa
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Thursday, August 20, 2009 4:56:51 PM
CATHOLIC Diocese of Ndola Treasurer General Fr Augustine Mwewa has observed that President Rupiah Banda had a big influence in the outcome of former president Frederick Chiluba's corruption case.
Commenting on Chiluba's acquittal and President Banda's statement on the matter, Fr Mwewa charged that President Banda was insulting Zambians by thanking them for having accepted Chiluba's acquittal.
Fr Mwewa, who spoke in his individual capacity, said President Banda had a big influence in the outcome of the case.
"Personally, I saw it coming," Fr Mwewa said. "The moment Chiluba entered into that relationship with Rupiah Banda and the way Rupiah Banda related to Chiluba. Rupiah Banda is insulting us by saying that Zambians have accepted; which Zambians have accepted? Which Zambians is he talking about? We are not fools, we are not stupid. He had a big influence on the outcome."
Fr Mwewa branded President Banda as a danger to Zambia's fortunes.
"The longer he stays in power, the longer it will take to turn around the country," he said. "I personally as a Zambian I haven't accepted [Chiluba's acquittal]. I believe Chiluba stole according to the London judgment which he didn't dispute. He was fighting its registration. Chiluba is not innocent when his wife was convicted for having received stolen property, they were even discussing this on SABC [South African Broadcasting Corporation]. We are contradicting ourselves."
Fr Mwewa said President Banda, in Chiluba's case, acted in the same manner he did over the woes that education minister Dora Siliya faced after the tribunal found her to have breached the Constitution. He said President Banda immediately reappointed Siliya after High Court judge Philip Musonda cleared her of having breached the Constitution.
"The President did the same over the Dora Siliya case. Barely a few hours after judgment was passed, he reappointed her," Fr Mwewa said. "Zambians rise to the occasion and say 'no!' The President is guilty by saying that Zambians have accepted and that he never made a comment on the case. He was making comments saying all sorts of things like 'he [Chiluba] was a damn good president'. President Mwanawasa must be turning wherever he is. It's sad for this country."
Fr Mwewa complained that Zambia's systems had collapsed and that even the Judiciary seemed to have failed Zambians.
"If a person loses that sense of shame then the conscious is dead," said Fr Mwewa. "This is what we have seen in the current crop of leaders. The current government seems to have lost it. The same government made Zambians rise to the occasion to push for the lifting of his [Chiluba] immunity and today they are siding with him. People, we are the government and if we leave it to politicians we are doomed. So registering the London judgment should be our preoccupation."
Fr Mwewa expressed doubt that the Zambian government under present circumstances would continue pursuing the registration of the London judgment. He said the poor Zambians paid for the costs that were associated with the case against Chiluba and that they were the ones who had lost in the judgment.
Fr Mwewa said the judgment had sent a signal that Zambian prisons were only for the poor.
On Monday, Ndola High Court Deputy Registrar Jones Chinyama acquitted Chiluba on all counts of embezzling public funds amounting to US $500,000 but convicted former Access Financial Services Limited (AFSL) directors Aaron Chungu and Faustine Kabwe and sentenced them to five years imprisonment.
On the same day in Kabwe during the 28th general conference of the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) at Mulungushi University, President Banda said nobody could deny that Chiluba did a lot of good things for the country.
President Banda said he had avoided commenting on Chiluba's cases before the judgment.
"Today is a very important day for the Zambian community. As we are speaking now, our former president Chiluba is in court and the verdict is being pronounced on him. I have kept quiet at all times because I believe that we need the Judiciary to adjudicate on these matters," President Banda said after 13:00 hours. "Soon you will know what the Judiciary will decide. I have however been criticised from many quarters saying because I am silent, I am not saying anything against president Chiluba, I am therefore condoning whatever he did. That is judging someone before justice. We know in our country that one is presumed innocent until what? Everyone here knows that, even the children.
"But there are grown-ups in our country who say no, he is guilty even before he is proven guilty. That is not fair to a human being. I have refused to be part of that, it's good I am here today so that no one can say I influenced the verdict. Very soon you will hear what the verdict is, and whatever the verdict is, there is a human being involved who also deserves justice. Today it is him, tomorrow it is me. Tomorrow it is anyone of you."
On Tuesday, President Banda thanked and congratulated Zambians for accepting the acquittal of Chiluba on corruption charges.
Speaking at State House in Lusaka after he swore in Hildah Chibomba as Supreme Court judge, Abyudi Shonga Jr as Solicitor General and bestowed the status of state counsel on United Liberal Party president Sakwiba Sikota and Director of Public Prosecution Chalwe Mchenga, President Banda said there was anxiety about what would happen to Chiluba before the judgment.
"I want to thank the Zambian people, your honour the Zambian people today, for having accepted the decision of the Judiciary. I congratulate them because all of us were anxious; we wanted to know what will happen to one of our former presidents. The Zambian people really have to be congratulated for respecting the Judiciary, for respecting this noble institution. Whoever thought of it, wherever he came from, was a very wise person and that's why this should continue to thrive," President Banda said. "In those countries where the Judiciary has been despised and branded and replaced with things less than the Judiciary, the problems have never ended. We are very happy here in Zambia that we have a Judiciary for which we are very proud."
Recently in Mansa on Radio Yangeni, President Banda said he would not treat Chiluba as a leper even if he were convicted for corruption by the courts of law because he did a lot for the country.
President Banda said he had a lot of respect for Chiluba who he described as having been a damn good president.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, CHILUBA, RUPIAH BANDA
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International Ministers Fellowship attack Sata, HH and Fr Mwewa
Thursday, August 13, 2009, 6:47
The International Ministers Fellowship and Affiliated Churches (IMFAC) in Zambia has condemned Catholic Diocese of Ndola Treasurer General, Augustine Mwewa, for attacking government before veryfying issues.
IMFAC Executive president, Paul Mulenga, said Father Mwewa’s utterances in the media showed that he had no respect for government leaders and reverends of pentecotal churchs.
Dr Mulenga told ZANIS in an interview in Chipata that Fr Mwewa attacked General Ronnie Shikapwasha in the Post newspapers yesterday without verifying, adding that the minister had put it clear that he was misquoted by the daily tabloid.
He was reacting to utterances by Fr Mwewa in yesterday’s Post newspaper that General Shikapwasha did not deserve to be government spokesperson because he was allegedly shallow.
He also said it was unchristian by Mr Hichilema to call a Minister who is a Reverend that he belonged to a category of pigs in the animal farm.“If Fr Mwewa verified with General Shikapwasha where he said he was misquoted by the Post, he would not have attacked him like that. What I can see is that he respects only those that are in Catholic church and if this attitude continues, there will be no unity between independent pentecostal churches and the Catholic,” Dr Mulenga said.
Dr Mulenga observed that the Catholic Church was practicing partisan politics as shown by the Treasurer General of the Ndola diocese, saying, Fr Mwewa was being used by the opposition.
He also advised Patriotic Front Leader, Michael Sata, not to refer to General Shikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting, as a fake pastor.
Dr Mulenga observed that Mr Sata belonged to the Catholic Church and it was the reason he was fond of attacking reverends of Pentecostal churches.
“Mr Sata, being a political leader, must respect the clergy regardless of denominations they are coming from. IMFAC would like to call on all peace-loving Zambians to join hands in condemning the language of people like Mr Sata, Fr Mwewa and UPND leader, Hakainde Hichilema,” he said.
Dr Mulenga said the Catholic Church was not the only denomination which contributed to national development, saying his organization was also doing a lot of projects in the country but that could not make it start despising other churches.
He also said it was unchristian by Mr Hichilema to call a minister who is a reverend that he belonged to a category of pigs in the animal farm.
“If you are reacting to what General Shikapwasha said, you must have respect because such language belongs to people of the world,” Dr Mulenga said.
He said IMFAC has respect for all Catholic Bishops and it believed that Fr Mwewa was not fit to be a Christian and a priest of a church like the Catholic because the clergy in the Catholic Church were Christians who should not use wild language.
Dr Mulenga advised political leaders to handle national issues with maturity, adding that if they continued using wild language, they were not going to receive any vote from all independent church members which he said had a large following.
Fr Mwewa is reported in the Post newspapers dated August 11, 2009 to have said that General Shikapwasha did not deserve to be government spokesperson because he was shallow.
According to the Post Newspapers, General Shikapwasha is alleged to have attacked the tabloid and the Catholic Church when he commented in a ministerial statement in parliament last Friday.
ZANIS
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, IMFAC, SATA
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Rupiah is a liar - Fr Mwewa
Written by Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Sunday, April 05, 2009 7:57:05 PM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda is a liar and has totally failed to manage the affairs of this country because of his lies, Catholic Diocese of Ndola treasurer general Fr Augustine Mwewa has charged.
And Fr Mwewa has said President Banda is the worst President Zambia has ever had because he
lacks vision on how to rule the country.
In an interview yesterday, Fr Mwewa said he was not afraid to tell President Banda that he was a lair and taking Zambians for a ride.
He said he was ready to go to court for telling the truth about President Banda's failures.
"President Banda is a liar. I am not speaking from without. Look at the lies that he has levelled against Zambian Airways and The Post Newspapers editor Fred M'membe. We can clearly see that President Banda and his government has a grudge against M'membe and The Post because they criticise him and are not afraid of them," Fr Mwewa said. "We are not going to tolerate President Banda and his government intimidating us. I am not going to keep quiet about the current MMD government and their failures; they are taking us for a ride."
Fr Mwewa said all the lies that President Banda had told about The Post and Zambian Airways were slowly manifesting and that he [President Banda] would soon be ashamed.
"When campaigning President Banda said he was going to rule Zambia for three years only so that he can continue with the legacy of the late president [Levy] Mwanawasa but from the look of things, he wants to stand in 2011. This shows that he lied to the Zambian people," he said. "I think there is no point of voting in 2011 because President Banda and his government are going to use state machinery to rig the elections."
He wondered why Zambians had allowed President Banda to feed them with lies when it was evident that he had failed to run the country.
"I am wondering why we have continued to be governed by a lair. I am ready to go to court for telling the President the truth. I am non-partisan and he is not going to fire or suspend me from MMD for telling him the truth," he said.
Fr Mwewa said President Banda had a duty to rule the country as opposed to fighting and attacking institutions like The Post and individuals such as M'membe who were criticising him positively.
"We refuse the one party state that President Banda is trying to bring back. Wisdom is not the monopoly of the MMD government. This is not UNIP, UNIP politics are gone, we should cultivate and nurture democracy," he said.
And Fr Mwewa revealed that people from the Office of the President (OP) were trailing him and were questioning members of his parish on his activities.
"The MMD government is panicking, that's why they are sending people from OP to spy on me. They are also scared of [Radio Icengelo station manager] Fr Frank Bwalya because he is a threat to them, they can't allow him to have a press conference," he said. "People of Zambia, should anything happen to me, the government has sent people from OP on me. They have been asking people about me, what I am doing and if I am selling Fr Bwalya's t-shirts. But this is a sign of a panicking, scared and failing government."
Fr Mwewa challenged President Banda to change the way he was ruling the country because he was headed for a disastrous end.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Rupiah is a liar - Fr Mwewa
Written by Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Saturday, April 04, 2009 4:07:53 PM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda is a liar and has totally failed to manage the affairs of this country because of his lies, Catholic Diocese of Ndola treasurer general Fr Augustine Mwewa has charged.
And Fr Mwewa has said President Banda is the worst President Zambia has ever had because
he lacks vision on how to rule the country. In an interview yesterday, Fr Mwewa said he was not afraid to tell President Banda that he was a lair and taking Zambians for a ride. He said he was ready to go to court for telling the truth about President Banda's failures.
"President Banda is a liar. I am not speaking from without. Look at the lies that he has levelled against Zambian Airways and The Post Newspapers editor Fred M'membe. We can clearly see that President Banda and his government has a grudge against M'membe and The Post because they criticise him and are not afraid of them," Fr Mwewa said.
"We are not going to tolerate President Banda and his government intimidating us. I am not going to keep quiet about the current MMD government and their failures; they are taking us for a ride."
Fr Mwewa said all the lies that President Banda had told about The Post and Zambian Airways were slowly manifesting and that he [President Banda] would soon be ashamed.
"When campaigning President Banda said he was going to rule Zambia for three years only so that he can continue with the legacy of the late president [Levy] Mwanawasa but from the look of things, he wants to stand in 2011. This shows that he lied to the Zambian people," he said.
"I think there is no point of voting in 2011 because President Banda and his government are going to use state machinery to rig the elections."
He wondered why Zambians had allowed President Banda to feed them with lies when it was evident that he had failed to run the country.
"I am wondering why we have continued to be governed by a lair. I am ready to go to court for telling the President the truth. I am non-partisan and he is not going to fire or suspend me from MMD for telling him the truth," he said.
Fr Mwewa said President Banda had a duty to rule the country as opposed to fighting and attacking institutions like The Post and individuals such as M'membe who were criticising him positively.
"We refuse the one party state that President Banda is trying to bring back. Wisdom is not the monopoly of the MMD government. This is not UNIP, UNIP politics are gone, we should cultivate and nurture democracy," he said.
And Fr Mwewa revealed that people from the Office of the President (OP) were trailing him and were questioning members of his parish on his activities.
"The MMD government is panicking, that's why they are sending people from OP to spy on me. They are also scared of [Radio Icengelo station manager] Fr Frank Bwalya because he is a threat to them, they can't allow him to have a press conference," he said. "People of Zambia, should anything happen to me, the government has sent people from OP on me. They have been asking people about me, what I am doing and if I am selling Fr Bwalya's t-shirts. But this is a sign of a panicking, scared and failing government."
Fr Mwewa challenged President Banda to change the way he was ruling the country because he was headed for a disastrous end.
Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, RUPIAH BANDA
Read more...
