UPND wants to merge with MMD
By Allan Mulenga
Sun 14 July 2013, 14:00 CAT
THE UPND senior leadership has tasked Mutale Nalumango to engage senior MMD officials among them Dr Brian Chituwo, Kabinga Pande and Kenneth Chipungu with a view to merge the two parties. The UPND wants to merge with MMD in order to dislodge the PF from power in the 2016 elections.
Sources disclosed that Nalumango, who recently defected from MMD to join UPND, has so far held meetings with the three senior MMD officials - the party's vice-president for administration Dr Chituwo, national chairperson Pande and chairperson for elections Chipungu.
Sources said Nalumango met the trio about a week ago to discuss the possibilities and the MMD leaders were of the view that party leader Nevers Mumba should work under Hakainde Hichilema.
Sources said the MMD leadership were agreeable to Nalumango's proposal for a merger.
When contacted, Nalumango said she would appreciate a merger although she does not know what people were thinking about.
She denied that the party leadership had tasked her to broker a deal between the two opposition parties, saying that she was talking to her counterparts personally.
"Nobody has tasked me anything. I am a member of the UPND and as a member of UPND, I feel UPND is the best party for now; therefore it becomes my responsibility to convince others to join UPND. It is just like being converted to Christianity, you need to share the Good News. You need to try to convince as many people as possible; you don't need to be given a task by somebody," she said.
"I believe if you are in any party, you want others to join because you have seen something good. It is not a task. Nobody has talked to me over that, but I strongly feel we are not just targeting MMD. Even PF if I have friends, I must talk to them and tell them what I think is wrong in their party and what I think is right in my party so that they make informed decisions."
Nalumango said it was her responsibility to convince friends in MMD to join UPND.
"I have never sat with anybody who has given me any name to target. So, that one is not true. But they are all my friends and as long as I meet them, I will talk to them and reason together. But if I meet them friends in MMD and such a situation arises that we discuss politics, I will definitely try to convince them without being tasked by anybody," she said.
"It is my responsibility, I can even talk to Wynter Kabimba to try and convince him. I don't have to be tasked, but it is my responsibility to try and tell people why they should move to UPND, why I think UPND would form a better government compared to others or is it to the current. That is my responsibility."
Nalumango, who is also former deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, said it was her desire that the two opposition parties could form an alliance.
"I really would wish there was a chance for the two parties to work together, but I can't tell you whether there will be a chance because I am not part of the decision-making body of either group. But there is need for unity of purpose. Do we have similar vision for Zambia? Because really to come together you need shared vision. In coming together, people must sit and agree. I would appreciate a merger, but I don't know what people are thinking about," said Nalumango.
And Chituwo denied working with Nalumango, saying that the party leadership had not given him authority to make arrangements for an alliance.
Dr Chituwo however said he would be willing to be part of a team negotiating for an alliance between the two opposition parties as he was a strong believer of a united opposition.
"It is very clearly known that for me, I have stood for a united opposition. Now, to say that I am working towards that it is not true, in the sense that I have not engaged in any talk because I have not had authority or permission of my party to engage the other colleagues," he said.
"But at intellectual level, if you analyse issues how best can we strengthen democracy. I don't know whether it can be interpreted as working towards a merger. When that possibility comes, I hope I would be in the team to work for the alliance because I think it is important. We are not talking about individuals; of course this has to be done through individuals and we have to believe in what we are doing."
Dr Chituwo said an alliance could only materialise if the opposition shared common values and principles.
"For that to happen, we need to have common values and principles and that is the starting point. You cannot just go into a merger when ideals are different and values are different. It means it cannot work.
"It is for the opposition to be united to have a common voice. I have always stated that the opposition is not meant to be distracted. The opposition is there to strengthen the values we have in respecting different opinions," said Dr Chituwo.
And when contacted for a comment, Chipungu referred all queries to the party's national secretary Kapembwa Simbao.
"Ask the national secretary, you call the national secretary. No, no I am not part of that team; I am not part of that team," said Chipungu before hanging up.
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, KABINGA PANDE, KENNETH CHIPUNGU, MMD, MUTALE NALUMANGO, OPPOSITION, UPND
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City University students demand refunds
By Namatama Mundia
Sun 27 Jan. 2013, 11:10 CAT
STUDENTS at City University have demanded to be refunded their monies after their institution was declared illegal by the General Nursing Council.
The students accused MMD vice-president for administration Dr Brian Chituwo of running an illegal nursing school.
The students, who stormed The Post Newspaper offices yesterday, said the General Nursing Council (GNC) last week told them that the university was illegal because it had not been registered by the council, the regulator of nursing schools in the country.
"The City University students were shocked to learn that after paying over KR6,000 per student as tuition fees, our institution is illegal. When officials from the General Nursing Council came to address us, to our surprise all lecturers ran away," said one of the students' representatives.
The students said the university, situated at former Precem Motel in Kabangwe area, was run by Dr Chituwo and Dr Patrick Chanda.
They appealed to President Michael Sata to help them recover the money they paid to the institution.
Efforts to get Dr Brian Chituwo, whom the students claimed was the owner of the university, proved futile as his phone went unanswered.
And a GNC officer, who was among officers who went to address the students, refused to give any information.
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, CITY UNIVERSITY, MMD, STUDENTS
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Chituwo faces expulsion
By Allan Mulenga and Kombe Chimpinde
Fri 21 Dec. 2012, 15:00 CAT
THE MMD wants to expel its vice-president for administration Dr Brian Chituwo from the party and replace him with Lucky Mulusa for siding with Major Richard Kachingwe.
And Mulusa, who is Solwezi Central MMD member of parliament, said there was a feeling by most members of the party of a need to get him into NEC, although he was not aware that he was the favourite to replace Dr Chituwo. Meanwhile, Dr Katele Kalumba says he readmitted Nevers Mumba into the MMD based on the information Mumba provided to him at the time.
Sources within the national executive committee (NEC) revealed that senior NEC members wanted to replace Dr Chituwo with Mulusa who had suddenly toned down on the expulsion of national secretary Maj Kachingwe.
Sources further said some senior party members felt offended by the recent remarks Dr Chituwo made over the expulsion of Maj Kachingwe and his differing with Mumba.
"We have been calm on these people Dr Chituwo and Catherine Namugala, otherwise we would have expelled them a long time ago. Just think about the statements these people have been issuing to the media. The other time we saw Dr Chituwo and Namugala addressing the press at the party secretariat denouncing Dr Mumba's decision to expel Kachingwe," the source said.
"The president feels they are indisciplined," said the source.
Sources explained that the fallout began when Mumba was 'hoodwinked' by Dr Chituwo and Namugala over the subject of the press briefing which was held at the secretariat by the duo.
"To our amazement, the two members of parliament deliberately chose to ignore the speech which Mumba was aware of. Instead, they went ahead and read a hastily prepared speech to the press," the source said.
Sources further revealed that Mulusa was sent by Mumba to monitor the happenings during the press briefing at the secretariat. But when contacted for a comment via the phone, Dr Chituwo refused to comment on the matter.
Namugala yesterday asked NEC to give Mumba a vote of no confidence and go for a convention to elect new office bearers.
And in an interview this week, Dr Kalumba, who is former MMD national secretary, said Mumba had told him that he did not belong to Reform Party.
Recently, Mumba's presidency was invalidated by Maj Kachingwe as national secretary.
However, the MMD decided to expel Maj Kachingwe. And Dr Kalumba said his decision to readmit Mumba could be challenged if new information resurfaces which indicates that he did not reveal the full facts.
"The national secretary as the registrar of candidates, of members, depends on the truthfulness of members to declare themselves as authentic individuals of integrity who cannot ride two horses at the same time. I did attend a meeting which was called by the late president Levy Mwanawasa and I remember there was honourable Ronnie Shikapwasha.
And we said it was not time yet to admit Dr Mumba. But also, know that the national secretary is the honorary registrar of members of the party. During that time under the constitution, the national secretary could be the only one who could make a final decision on any member who wanted to join the party," he explained.
Dr Kalumba said during his time, the national secretary had powers and privilege to register an individual and pronounce them member of the party before a few constitutional amendments were made at the last convention.
"Now, I re-admitted Mr Kavindele who had been expelled and Dr Mumba at that time on the basis of information they gave me that they did not belong to any other party," he said.
"Now if it is now known that he belonged to another party, then that decision can be challenged because they did not reveal the full facts. Mind you, at that time, we had lost the party president. I, as party national secretary, was trying to cast the net as wide as possible and it even cost me."
Dr Kalumba also explained why he had stayed away from defending any of the factions in MMD.
"I have principles too. The people I fight for and I stand for are people who I believe should be able to stand up for the truth. Anyone who wanted to be a member at that time revealed to me who he was. Now if that person did not reveal to me the truth in terms of his or her status and I made a decision on account of available information, when it is later known that the person was not truthful, that particular party has got its own system of resolving those kinds of issues," he said.
Dr Kalumba said MMD leadership must not digress from the party's founding values and principles.
He said the principles upon which MMD was formed were still valid and sound for new visionary leaders to correct wrongs created over the past years and remain vibrant.
"We may have gone wrong along the way but the principles are sound and young men and women of vision can bring it to life. We can't force them. They have to take the risk as we did in 1991," he said.
Dr Kalumba said he was saddened by what was obtaining in the MMD and the opposition in general.
"Zambia's achievements or reputation depends on its democratic foundation which was re-born in 1991. Political parties can rise and fall depending on the capacity of the leadership to read the sentiments and views of the country and ride on issues that concern ordinary people which is what President Michael Sata has done since 2001. He was able to ride on issues that touched on the ordinary people not fighting with each other," Dr Kalumba urged.
"That is how an opposition party becomes rational and an instrument of checks and balances. If that type of leadership is not exercised, then we do not have a democratic and legitimate opposition."
Dr Kalumba cited an example of how the opposition would engage the Mwanawasa government on several issues in an amicable way and discuss them behind closed doors during his time.
"Wynter Kabimba who was then secretary general of the PF, Richard Kapita representing UPND and myself, we were able, through the help of friends, when tensions arose in the country, to call ourselves and discuss," Dr Kalumba said.
"Because of this, I was able to convince Mwanawasa on a number of issues such as the 50 per cent plus one as national secretary of a governing party. So when I hear that people are being punished for going to State House I feel sad."
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, KATELE KALUMBA, LUCKY MULUSA, RICHARD KACHINGWE
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Mumba blames PF for MMD's woes
By Allan Mulenga and Tilyenji Mwanza
Mon 17 Dec. 2012, 14:00 CAT
MMD president Nevers Mumba yesterday accused his senior members opposing his decisions, of being arm twisted and paid by the ruling PF.
And MMD vice-president for political Michael Kaingu says his fellow vice-president for administration Dr Brian Chituwo does not qualify to competently speak on Major Richard Kachingwe's expulsion.
Meanwhile Mumba yesterday took time off from party squabbles and visited Rufunsa and Chongwe to check the extent of the Armyworms, which he said was spiritual and blamed it on bad governance.
Asked whether he would rescind his decision to expel Maj Kachingwe as advised by Dr Chituwo, Mumba said the matter was water under the bridge and would never be looked into again.
"We are never going to address that issue because it is a dead matter. The National Executive Committee (NEC) made a decision and that decision is final. We are not turning back or tabling it again despite what anyone says," Mumba said.
"But what I can tell you is what is happening in MMD was not birthed in MMD. It is a PF ploy and we know they are arm-twisting and paying off our members but this is bad, very bad. Let him (President Sata) concentrate on developmental matters," Mumba said.
On Saturday, Dr Chituwo differed with Mumba over the expulsion of Maj Kachingwe as national secretary.
Dr Chituwo insisted that Maj Kachingwe was still the national secretary.
But Mumba said the current wrangles in MMD were not caused by his members but by PF.
Mumba claimed that the PF wanted to get rid of him.
He said he had information that President Michael Sata wanted to create 30 by-elections.
Mumba challenged President Sata to also call for general elections instead.
"I am well informed that Mr Sata wants to have 30 by-elections and cost us all that money. But I am challenging him to contest his seat as well. Let him do this thing once and for all. Why is he so desperate to hound me instead of concentrating on the current calamity? He just wants Mumba out. He does not want me to stand. Let him call for a general election and let him see what will happen," he said.
Mumba said Dr Chituwo, as vice-president, should know that the decision was final as it was made by NEC.
And in an interview yesterday, Kaingu said Dr Chituwo was speaking from an uninformed point of view over the issues surrounding the expulsion of Maj Kachingwe.
Kaingu, who is also Mwandi MMD member of parliament, urged Dr Chituwo and other NEC members opposed to Maj Kachingwe's expulsion to contest the decision in the courts of law.
"The meeting which expelled Major Kachingwe, the vice-president administration didn't attend it. He was in Tanzania. So he may not be qualified enough to speak on behalf of that meeting. That meeting, you are aware, expelled Major Kachingwe when he invalidated Dr Nevers Mumba's election as party president. That meeting that we had invalidated the letter that Major Kachingwe wrote to Dr Nevers Mumba. Other than that, it also expelled Maj Kachingwe," he said.
"It is not true to say that the meeting was not constitutional because it was a NEC meeting. If anybody has difficulties with that, he can challenge that in court. You cannot just challenge things like that. As NEC, we make decisions and then we revisit our decision like that, we will be inconsistent.
Our chairman is the one who chaired that meeting and other than the president, the chairman is supposed to chair the meeting and the decision was made. It is not right for us every time there is a misunderstanding of interpreting the meeting, we should meet and revisit the decision that was taken. It doesn't work like that."
Kaingu asked Dr Chituwo to abide by the party's decision.
"Men and women who offer administration of leadership must learn to hold on to the decision they have made," said Kaingu.
And Solwezi Central MMD member of parliament Lucky Mulusa said there was a lot of cowardice among NEC members over the happenings in MMD.
Mulusa said the MMD was in a tricky situation where Mumba's decision was being corrected by his vice-president for administration.
"It is important that members in MMD, especially senior leaders study the constitution of the party. It is also important that leaders are courageous enough to come out and drive whatever processes are being driven," he said. "People should start giving voices about whatever is happening in the party, so that there is constructive engagement."
Mulusa said party leadership should endeavour to bring unity to the party and ensure that there were no defections.
"We are in a tricky situation where the president's decision is being corrected by his vice-president Dr Chituwo. Let us all rise above this situation and ensure that the party, after the NEC meeting, emerges stronger and focused, guided by laid down policies and procedures. This is the only way that we are going to manage to move away from trigger events for defections," said Mulusa, in an interview yesterday.
And Mumba's former spokesperson John Ziba yesterday said the MMD president was a hypocrite, who should not be entrusted with the leadership of the party.
Speaking at a press briefing at Chainama Hotel in Lusaka yesterday, Ziba said Mumba liked using others to gain political mileage.
"He Mumba cannot be trusted. He is inconsistent with what he does. He can do one thing in public and do exactly the opposite in private. He is a hypocrite and he likes using others to gain political mileage. I worked with him closely when we were together in Reform Party and even in MMD," he said.
Ziba urged the party leadership to reject Mumba's dictatorial tendencies.
"I warned MMD members during elections that don't vote for this man because he is a wrong character. I know him better. Let him just go back to preaching because he is not a politician," said Ziba.
But Mumba laughed at Ziba's claims of knowing him personally and for issuing statements that he was a hypocrite.
"It is very funny for him to say he knows me because him and I have never mingled. He does not know me. Neither is he even a member of our party. You see, he was Levy Mwanawasa's assistant and was feeding from him and sadly that arm is gone. Those guys have no capacity at all in MMD, so I question what platform they are using," Mumba said.
"Ati John Ziba, who is he? He knows me! Awe sure! This is funny. We know they have been paid their 'tuma' monies,'. Let them just eat their monies in peace. But they want to bring on a fight with me together with the President. I tell them 'Bring it on'."
Meanwhile, Mumba yesterday visited Rufunsa and Chongwe to check the extent of the outbreak of army worms.
Mumba said the army worm attack had a spiritual connotation because of Zambia's bad governance.
"On a spiritual side, I have never seen anything like this. The last I remember is what happened in the Bible in Egypt. We need a day of repentance. This could be a spiritual thing because of bad governance. We need to repent and I call on the Church to help. We have sinned and we need to repent and I speak this as a pastor," he said.
Mumba also advised the government to declare a national disaster and bring in relief food.
"I am urging PF to take this matter serious. This is not political because if this is not addressed, come next year, we shall have a serious national economic disaster," said Mumba.
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, MICHAEL KAINGU, MMD, PF
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chituwo, nevers differ
By Allan Mulenga and Kombe Chimpinde
Sun 16 Dec. 2012, 14:00 CAT
MMD vice-president for administration Dr Brian Chituwo and party president Nevers Mumba have differed over the expulsion of Major Richard Kachingwe as national secretary.
Dr Chituwo insists that Maj Kachingwe is still the national secretary of the party.
And MMD chairperson for women affairs Catherine Namugala says the happenings in the party have brought shame to the membership.
Dr Chituwo said the action taken by Mumba to expel the Maj Kachingwe was unconstitutional and that it would be tabled at the next full National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
The MMD expelled Maj Kachingwe and replaced him with Kapembwa Simbao.
This was after Maj Kachingwe invalidated Mumba's presidency because he was still president of Reform Party.
However, Dr Chituwo, who was at speaking at a media briefing held at the MMD secretariat in Lusaka said Maj Kachingwe's proposed invalidation of Mumba's presidency was equally wrong but that NEC would deliberate on his alleged dual presidency in respect of the party's constitution.
"Two wrongs were committed. The first was the expulsion of ambassador Maj Kachingwe as national secretary.
The second was also the proposed invalidation of the election of Nevers Mumba as our party president. None of these actions are blessed by our constitution. Only the National Executive Committee and the lower organs have the authority to initiate disciplinary action and for that matter that leads to expulsion.
In this regard therefore, we see that the image of the party was severely dented and these two actions as you have seen have created anger among many of our loyal and faithful members," Dr Chituwo said.
"As such, it is our duty to assure the membership that the National Executive Committee will meet in the shortest possible time to consider the two issues alluded to; the membership of our president Dr Mumba and charges levelled against Major Kachingwe."
Dr Chituwo said MMD wanted to embrace the old tradition of dialogue within the party and not the arbitrary way of making decisions which the party had since embraced.
He said he was saddened at what happened at the party's secretariat in the last two weeks and that only a full NEC meeting would decide the way forward on the fate of the two individuals.
"As leadership, we are prepared to sacrifice in order to keep our party intact. Let us as members therefore pay allegiance to our party and not individuals. Our rallying point must always be the constitution. Human as we may be, we must admit when we make mistakes. That is great leadership," Dr Chituwo said.
"No one shall be above the constitution. The rules that we made ourselves in the conduct of business of the party."
And Namugala urged party's leadership to avoid abrogating the constitution.
"It is not easy right now to answer questions that come from the membership especially the women in the party. They are asking which way their party is going. They are actually saying you are misdirecting the party. The party belongs to them. Everyone has to have a say and their say is the constitution," she said.
"We need to respect the constitution. The happenings of the last two weeks have brought shame to the MMD. Where we have seen our national secretary being dragged by youths and the next thing we see is our president coming in triumphantly. All these things have created questions."
On assertions that she was among the six MMD members of parliament who wanted to defect to the PF, Namugala refuted the claims saying that she would remain a loyal member of the party.
"As for whether Namugala is resigning or not, I have nowhere else to go, Mr vice-president. I love my party and I will remain member of MMD and I want to assure everyone else out there who loves MMD the way I do to remain in MMD," she said.
Namugala urged party leaders to avoid insulting those that were in power, but offer constructive criticism.
"Leaders should not remain in MMD insulting those that are in power, but to remain in MMD to providing checks and balances; providing constructive criticism to the party that is in power.
As a party we should not be seen as a party that just insults," said Namugala.
Efforts to get a comment from Mumba proved futile as his mobile phone went unanswered by press time.
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, CATHERINE NAMUGALA, MMD, NEVERS MUMBA, RICHARD KACHINGWE
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Kachingwe claims Nevers Mumba’s election as MMD president is invalid
TIME PUBLISHED - Saturday, December 1, 2012, 1:39 pm
The Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe has decided to invalidate the election of Dr. Nevers Mumba as party president.
In a letter to the National executive committee of the party, and obtained by media, Major Kachingwe said that he had decided to use powers vested in him by the constitution to cancel the election of Dr. Mumba to save the party from infiltration and destruction.
Major Kachingwe said that it had come to the attention of the party that Dr. Mumba is still a bonafide president of the Reform Party which he has not renounced or dissolved and that party records are still active at the registrar of societies.
Major Kachingwe said that this was against article 4 (A) (3) of the party constitution which stated that “to be accorded membership, a person must not be a member of any other political party in Zambia.
He also stated in the letter that when bidding for presidency, Dr. Mumba did not disclose the fact that his re-admission had been rejected and believably presented to the elections committee credentials obtained fraudulently.
Major Kachingwe noted that following Dr. Mumba’s expulsion from the party in 2005, his application for re-admission in 2008 was rejected at a meeting chaired by then party president, late Patrick Mwanawasa and attended by Kabinga Pande, Ronnie Shikapwasha and Mutale Nalumango among others.
He stated that this was also against article 6 (ii) of the party constitution which stated that “A member who is expelled from the party may be considered for re-admission upon re-application to the national Executive Committee.
Kachingwe further stated in the letter that the situation had potential to put the party into a dilemma if an election was to be held today because Dr. Mumba would be disqualified on technicalities for belonging to two political parties.
Dr. Mumba has also been accused of launching an illegal campaign for 2016 in Mufumbwe and sponsoring people to hound out the secretariat on flimsy allegations.
Meanwhile, MMD youths this afternoon hounded out party national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe out of his office, accusing him of dividing the party.
The youths dragged him from his office at the party secretariat in Rhodespark to the main road where he was forced to get onto a moving car belonging to one of the party officials.
This follows the letter that Major Kachingwe wrote to the party national executive committee informing them of his decision to nullify the election of Dr. Nevers Mumba as party president.
Present at the secretariat was party vice president for administration Brian Chituwo and Kabinga Pande.
And speaking to journalists after the incident, Mr. Chituwo said that what has happened is unfortunate because there is a more proper manner in which issue of the party can be addressed.
QFM
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, MMD, NEVERS MUMBA, POLITICS, RICHARD KACHINGWE
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PF is being inconsistent on street vending - Chituwo
By Fridah Nkonde
Mon 08 Oct. 2012, 14:20 CAT
FORMER local government minister Brian Chituwo says street vending has become a complex problem that will bring about a lot of other problems if left unchecked.
In an interview on Saturday, Dr Chituwo, who is MMD vice-president for administration, said street vending was illegal under the local government Act Chapter 281 of te Laws of Zambia.
"It is actually true that our country is becoming very dirty. Councils and the local government are mandated by law to look after the welfare of the residents. When President Michael Sata was in the Ministry of Local Government and Housing), the law on street vending and other laws like the nuisance Act were there. We expect some of the things to change now that he is President," Dr Chituwo said.
He said it was unfortunate that former local government minister Professor Nkandu Luo, who was just in the process of engaging the street vendors and removing them from the streets, was no longer in the ministry.
Dr Chituwo said there was need for the PF and its government to consider other people's rights because laws were already there.
"It's sad that PF is so inconsistent on issues…today, this minister says this on street vending, and the next day, another minister says the opposite.
There is need for them to just say, 'look, move out of the streets and go to the markets'. This might be very difficult but it is for their own benefit. It's painful but they need to be bold enough to find a lasting solution to this problem. We need some order," he said.
Dr Chituwo said there was also need for the government to ban the manufacturing and selling of plastic bags because they contributed greatly to making the country dirty.
Meanwhile, Dr Chituwo said there was need for people to stop buying from the street vendors, adding that it was unfortunate that Zambians found it very hard to buy from designated places.
Dr Chituwo wondered why it was difficult for Zambians to maintain cleanliness in the country when other countries in the world had managed to do so.
"We need a by-law to stop people from making the country dirty. If a law is put in place, people will be scared of littering the streets, and urinating in the streets because they will be scared of being punished. Just imagine how many people buy from the streets... you will find a lot of people in town buying vegetables and other things through the window when driving," he said.
Dr Chituwo advised the local government ministry to get out of their offices and begin engaging all interested parties so as to render Zambia a cleaner city.
On June 28, 2007, Sylvia Masebo, as Minister of Local Government and Housing issued Statutory Instrument number 44 of 2007 - the Local Government (Street Vending and Nuisances Amendment) Regulations providing for various penalties for various nuisances.
Among the offences and fines include:
Throwing litter on, or along a street or prescribed road (500 penalty units or K90,000);
Defecating in any unauthorised place (2,500 penalty units or K450,000);
Sale of local produce in any street or in any public place, other than a market established by the Council, except with permission of the Council including:
(a) Food
(b) Any other item or produce
(c) Live animals/birds (1,500 units or K270,000);
and Depositing or allowing to accumulate or keeping upon any premises any dirt, filth, refuse, rubbish or any offensive matter likely to become offensive (2,500 units or K450,000).
However, regulations are not enforced and everyone is indiscriminately throwing litter and trading in undesignated places including streets.
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, MARKETEERS, PF, SYLVIA MASEBO
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Kunda must apologise to Sata, says Kapeya
By Roy Habaalu
Thu 20 Oct. 2011, 14:00 CAT
GEORGE Kunda must apologise for insulting President Michael Sata, Mpika Central PF member of parliament Mwansa Kapeya has said. Kapeya made his remarks on Tuesday in Parliament during the debate on the President's speech presented during the official opening of Parliament last week. Kapeya said God was punishing the MMD for its misrule.
"The punishment has just started, friends. With the losing of elections last month and
in a couple of months to come, MMD will be completely dead and buried forever, thank you. God will punish them for having not listened to the wish of the Zambian people," Kapeya said.
At this point, Mumbwa Central MMD member of parliament Dr Brian
Chituwo rose on a point of order, asking whether or not Kapeya was in
order to talk about an issue which happened outside the House.
But Kapeya said the statement that "Sata would never rule Zambia" was
made in Parliament.
"I am mentioning the name of Honourable George Kunda because he said
this in here on the floor of this House that His Excellency Mr Michael
Chilufya Sata would never, ever rule this country, here in this
House," he said.
Kapeya said Kunda repeated the claim during a meeting at Kabala
village in Mpika.
During a campaign rally at Mombo Basic School in Mongu in July last
year when he went to drum up support for Mwangala Maopu, the MMD
candidate in the Luena by-election, Kunda, then vice-president, said
the country's opposition political parties were erratic, as they had
no vision or plan for the country.
"We are going to rule as MMD beyond 2030 whether you like it or not. I
was talking about Vision 2030. What that means is that we are going to
rule as MMD beyond 2030 whether you like it or not. These other
parties, Mr Michael Sata of PF, HH, we have never seen their
manifestos, we have never ever seen. Every day they are changing,
shifting goalposts…they are erratic. They have no plan for the
country," Kunda said.
Earlier, Petauke Central MMD member of parliament Dora Siliya
congratulated President Sata on his election as Republican President.
"I Dora Siliya representing the Nsenga people of Petauke wish to
congratulate the President, His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata
for showing such tenacity in leading the Patriotic Front from an
opposition party to a party in government within just 10 years. And we
on this side of the House wish Mr Sata God's blessings and guidance as
he leads our country Zambia," Siliya said.
During the run-up to last month's elections, Siliya spread falsehoods
that President Sata supported homosexuality and did not deserve to be
President.
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, GEORGE KUNDA, INSULTS, MICHAEL SATA, MWANSA KAPEYA
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LCC audit contains breaches - Dr Chituwo
By Moses Kuwema
Sat 25 June 2011, 04:01 CAT
LOCAL government minister Dr Brian Chituwo says
the audit report on the Lusaka City Council contains aspects that border on the breaches of a criminal nature. During a briefing at his office yesterday, Dr Chituwo said the local government ministry would have to institute the law enforcement agencies to follow up the findings.
“At the moment, I’m not quite sure whether it would be prudent to release the entire report. I think we shall be advised by the Ministry of Justice as to the appropriateness of releasing the entire report.
For now it is clear that the law was not followed because the local government Act is very clear that before the local authority disposes of any land, it has to seek the permission of the minister. That was not done,” Dr Chituwo said.
He said when the law enforcement agencies move in, consideration would be given to innocent people who bought the land in Lilayi in that they innocently believed that the land was available in the right manner.
“There are quite a number of recommendations from the committee among them are to consider prosecution because the transactions were illegal,” he said.
Early this year, Dr Chituwo announced the suspension of the council following reports that the local authority has been involved in some land allocation scams.
He said the government decided to suspend LCC to pave way for investigations into the alleged illegal land allocation.
The council remained suspended for 90 days before Dr Chituwo later extended the period by another 90 days.
The PF-dominated Lusaka City Council has been accused of illegally allocating land to itself without following the law governing the allocation of land.
Meanwhile, Dr Chituwo directed the LCC not to renew the existing leases or offer leases for car wash bays on the roads reserve or any designated area such as play parks.
Dr Chituwo said the intention of the government was to improve the road network by redesigning any particular road that would enhance the easier flow of traffic.
Labels: AUDITING, BRIAN CHITUWO, LCC
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Lubinda urges government to release Council audit
By Moses Kuwema
Sun 29 May 2011, 07:10 CAT
KABWATA member of parliament Given Lubinda has challenged local government minister Dr Brian Chituwo to quickly avail the audit report on the Lusaka City Council to the public. In an interview, Lubinda said it was wrong for Dr Chituwo to keep the document of public interest to his chest.
“It is strange that a document such as the audit report of the capital city's council is being kept to the chest of people, people need to know.
And as Patriotic Front we are anxiously waiting for the report. Maybe President Banda is going to make it public at today's Saturday function because that is their style of doing things,” Lubinda said.
On Friday, local government and housing permanent secretary Christah Kalulu confirmed that the audit report for the Lusaka City Council was out and that Dr Chituwo would make it public at a later stage.
Early this year, Dr Chituwo announced the suspension of the council following reports that the local authority had been involved in some land allocation scams.
He said the government decided to suspend LCC to pave way for investigations into the alleged illegal land allocation.
The council remained suspended for 90 days before Dr Chituwo later extended the period of the suspension for another 90 days.
The PF-dominated Lusaka City Council has been accused of illegally allocating land to itself without following the law governing the allocation of land.
Labels: AUDITING, BRIAN CHITUWO, GIVEN LUBINDA, LOCAL GOVERNMENT
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COMMENT - Didn't minister Chituwo come out of the Ministry of Health?
Councils lack strict financial regulation, says Chituwo
By Kombe Chimpinde and Florence Bupe
Sat 12 Mar. 2011, 04:00 CAT
LOCAL government minister Dr Brian Chituwo says there is a need for robust systems in district councils for improved service delivery. And the parliamentary committee on local governance says it is worrying that councils are failing to account for public funds.
Dr Chituwo said
there was gross mismanagement of resources in district councils due to lack of stringent financial control systems. “There is a need for proper monetary systems that allow for checks and balances,” he said.
Dr Chituwo said he had tabled audited accounts of all councils before Parliament, with Lusaka City Council as a priority. His ministry would publicise the findings of the Lusaka audit once investigations were concluded.
Parliamentary committee on local governance chairperson Regina Musokotwane said it was worrying that many councils were still failing to account for use of resources.
He said most councils had neglected the issue of unretired imprest, which constituted the larger part of unaccounted for funds.
Committee member Dr Solomon Musonda castigated Chama District Council secretary Newton Ng’uni for entertaining debt swaps in cases of unretired imprest.
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, LOCAL GOVERNMENT
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Lusaka City Council suspended over plots
Saturday, January 22, 2011, 8:54
THE Lusaka City Council (LCC) has been suspended with immediate effect. The council will remain suspended for 90 days and Government has appointed Solomon Finandi Sakala, the Copperbelt Provincial Local Government officer as the administrator.
Minister of Local Government and Housing, Brian Chituwo announced the suspension of the council yesterday following reports that the local authority has been involved in some land allocation scams.
Dr Chituwo said at a media briefing that Government has decided to suspend LCC to pave way for investigations into the alleged illegal land allocation.
The Lusaka City Council has been accused of illegally allocating land to itself without following the law governing the allocation of land.
Out of 102 plots, the councillors got 45 plots, 10 plots were given to the Mayor while the deputy Mayor got five plots and members of the public were only allocated 11 plots.
“In order to understand the matter, my office requested for a written report from the local authority. The report forwarded to my office by the council does not give much detail on who allocated the plots and how the beneficiaries were picked,” Dr Chituwo said.
Dr Chituwo said he would soon appoint a committee to audit the allocation of land in Lilayi.
He said the piece of land in Lilayi that is alleged to have been shared among the Mayor, his deputy and councillors is titled and should have been advertised. Dr Chituwo said the council did not even bother to seek authority from the ministry as stipulated by law.
“Therefore, it has become necessary for the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to suspend the Lusaka City Council in accordance with the Local Government Act, Cap 281 of the laws of Zambia to pave way for investigations into the Lilayi land allocation,” he said.
Dr Chituwo said the council should have realised the importance of seeking authority from his office to allocate plots on the piece of land in question. He said his office should have authorised the council to deal with the piece of land in terms of transfer, disposal or even in the mode of exchange or swapping.
Dr Chituwo said it is the understanding of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing that any proposed allocation of land should be done through the Plans, Works and Development Committee.
“In order to understand the matter, my office requested for a written report from the local authority. The report forwarded to my office by the council does not give much detail on who allocated the plots and how the beneficiaries were picked,” Dr Chituwo said.
He said the council failed to explicitly state how it decided to allocate councilors one plot each.
The Minister wondered whether it has been the trend that the Mayor and his councillors should have a lion’s share of plots each time there was a piece of land earmarked for allocation.
“I as Minister of Local Government and Housing hereby announce the suspension of the council for 90 days through the statutory instrument number 11 of 2011and appoint Mr Solomon Finandi Sakala, who is Copperbelt Provincial Local Government Officer as administrator,” Dr Chituwo said.
“As a council, we presented our report and we maintain that whatever was done, we followed the law. The general public will judge us after the investigations,” Mr Chisenga said.
But Lusaka Mayor Daniel Chisenga has maintained that the allocation of land in Lilayi was done in accordance with the law.
Mr Chisenga said the public will have to judge the council after all the investigations have been done and the report on the investigations released.
He said the council welcomes the investigations as it has encountered investigations in the past and all officers found wanting had been dealt with according to the law.
“As a council, we presented our report and we maintain that whatever was done, we followed the law. The general public will judge us after the investigations,” Mr Chisenga said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, CORRUPTION, LAND, LAND RIGHTS, LUSAKA
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‘It’s unfair to bar people contesting MMD presidency’
By Sandra Lombe in Livingstone
Wed 12 Jan. 2011, 04:00 CAT
IT will be unfair to bar people wishing to contest the MMD presidency and vice-presidency, says local government minister Dr Brian Chituwo. In an interview last Thursday, Dr Chituwo said MMD members should be allowed to contest whatever positions they wished for because they had the right to do so.
Dr Chituwo, who is Mumbwa Central parliamentarian, said democracy should be allowed to prevail during the MMD national convention.
“It is not in our party constitution that the president should not be challenged. Our constitution states that every member has a right to elect and be elected. People should stand,” Dr Chituwo said. “Our constitution does not bar anyone from offering their services. Those wishing to do so, let them do so and challenge.”
Dr Chituwo said previously, party presidents had been challenged at the national convention.
“It’s healthy to challenge and it’s democracy,” he said.
He said he would re-contest the position of MMD chairman for health, which he currently held because he was still youthful and energetic.
“If anyone wants to challenge me... democracy allows people to be challenged. If I lose, the people have decided,” he said.
Dr Chituwo said he would love to be adopted to re-contest his seat to enable him to complete the works he had embarked on with his team.
He said MMD was doing well in Mumbwa.
“I want to stand because I have created a very solid team and the team will accelerate development. There is need to be part of the team. The opposition is trying their luck. As things are now, they have to work harder,” he said.
Dr Chituwo said he was a very young man and would retire in 2016.
“We never know. There’s life after being an MP and a minister,” said Dr Chituwo.
The MMD is this year expected to hold its national convention, and several people have expressed interest to contest party positions.
The NEC last year adopted President Rupiah Banda as the sole candidate at the national convention and all the provincial party committees endorsed the decision.
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, MMD
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MMD is ready for alliance - Chituwo
By Chibaula Silwamba in Lusaka and Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Sat 04 Dec. 2010, 04:02 CAT
MMD is ready for an alliance but Hakainde Hichilema should decide if the UPND wants to stay in opposition perpetually, a senior government official has said. And a senior MMD member says the UPND will be left without people if they do not quickly join the ruling party.
Speaking on Radio Mus-o-Tunya's Good Governance programme on Thursday in Livingstone, local goverment minister Brian Chituwo said he did not understand why UPND leader Hichilema was behaving in the manner he was despite the fact that UPND and MMD manifestos were similar.
"I have never spoken about this issue but since I'm in Southern Province, let me say that it is better for HH to get an opportunity like this one alliance. Let him not turn down the opportunity. If he has chosen to remain in the opposition in perpetuity, it is his decision. I'm offering him a chance,” Dr Chituwo said.
He said the MMD valued Hichilema so much that it would be better for the two parties to consolidate what he termed as the MMD's winning powers.
Dr Chituwo said Hichilema was being offered a chance by the MMD to join the 'winning' team.
"Let the young man take the chance," Dr Chituwo said.
And commenting on the continued suspension of the Livingstone City Council, Dr Chituwo said his visit to the tourist capital was for consultations and that he would soon come up with a report on the suspension of the Livingstone MMD-led city council.
Dr Chituwo said that the government had a process to follow and that Vice-President George Kunda's recent statements that the council would remain suspended was done in conformity with the law. He charged that the Livingstone City Council had been a problem since time immemorial and that government would not tolerate bad local governance.
Meanwhile, MMD Southern Province secretary Emmanuel Siamweela yesterday said the UPND would be left without people if the party did not quickly join the ruling party.
In an interview, Siamweela also confirmed parliamentary chief whip Vernon Mwaanga's remarks that MMD’s lower levels and the UPND were negotiating the possibility of forming an alliance.
"Informally we are negotiating, but we have not yet been given approval to undertake formal negotiations and many of them UPND members are joining us and we hear what people are saying," Siamweela said. "So, I want to confirm VJ's remarks. What is happening on the ground is what he is saying."
He said the people of Southern Province, mostly UPND members, were tired of being in opposition and were advocating for an MMD-UPND alliance so that they could also have a Cabinet minister after next year's polls.
He said UPND members at lower levels were threatening to ditch their leaders unless they heeded their demands.
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MMD
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Kitwe mayor complains to Chituwo over provincial officer's conduct
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Fri 19 Nov. 2010, 04:04 CAT
KITWE mayor Elias Kamanga has urged Copperbelt Province local government officer Solomon Sakala not to behave like a policeman or a school prefect for mayors on the Copperbelt.
Reacting to Sakala’s threats of disciplinary action on him for allegedly going out of the country without clearance from Cabinet Office, Kamanga said Sakala’s threats were totally misplaced. Kamanga said he found Sakala’s threats quite strange, especially that he was not his supervisor.
“Is it not amazing that the office of the provincial local government officer should threaten the office of the mayor which by government protocol is equivalent to deputy minister?” he wondered.
“It is actually gross insubordination for a provincial local government officer to dress down my office and indeed any mayor in the press in the manner that has now become fashionable for the provincial local government officer.”
Kamanga said he had since complained to local government minister Dr Brian Chituwo over Sakala’s conduct.
He said he was comforted by the fact that Dr Chituwo agreed with him that Sakala had overstepped his limits by addressing himself to the elected office of mayor.
He said he had been very reluctant to issue press statements because he did not want his office and the council at large to be misunderstood but that the continued innuendoes and insinuations in some sections of the media had made it imperative for him to clear the air.
Kamanga said, in fact, the Zambian delegation to the meeting he went for in Namibia was led by local government deputy minister Moses Muteteka and that before he went out of the country, he personally phoned Dr Chituwo, who said it was okay for him to go.
When contacted, Sakala said he did not want to comment on the matter.
“I do not want to comment. I have never spoken to Mr Kamanga,” said Sakala.
Local government permanent secretary Timothy Hakuyu said he could only make a proper comment after fully understanding the context of the briefing by Kamanga. However, Hakuyu said the issue of quarreling in the press over seniority was unacceptable.
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, ELIAS KAMANGA, SOLOMON SAKALA
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Govt hasn’t neglected L/stone – Chituwo
By Sandra Lombe in Livingstone
Thu 11 Nov. 2010, 09:30 CAT
Dr Brian Chituwo says the government has not neglected the people of Livingstone and the Livingstone City Council.
And Livingstone council deputy mayor Aggrey Njekwa has said that the continued suspension of the council decampaigns the MMD in the 2011 general elections.
Commenting on the continued suspension of the council, Dr Chituwo, who is local government minister, in an interview admitted that the three-month suspension period had elapsed.
“The council has been suspended since February; it’s true the three months suspension has passed. We have not neglected Livingstone residents and the council. We are concerned and the bottom line is that we are doing something,” he said.
However, he promised to give more details later.
And Njekwa last Friday expressed disappointment over the council’s suspension, which he said was long overdue.
Njekwa, who is also Lizuma ward councillor, appealed to Dr Chituwo to take note that the suspension period of three months had elapsed.
“I want to register our concern over the continued suspension of Livingstone City Council (LCC). The period of suspension has taken long. I am appealing to the local government minister to take note that the period of suspension of three months has elapsed and any further extension of the suspension deems it illegal. The best way forward is to harmonise the situation in Livingstone for the betterment of the residents,” he said.
“It is disheartening that today LCC is operating without the appointed administrator, meaning every decision is being made by the Town Clerk which shouldn’t be the case. There is no way the central government can be operating with the local authority. A collective measure should be taken within the shortest time beyond that its rendered invalid.
He said Dr Chituwo should urgently study the matter of the LCC and come up with a resolution.
“The President has said Livingstone is a special place for him. How does it become special when the elected councillors have been suspended without him as Head of State caring much for the people of Livingstone?” he asked.
“The suspension of the Livingstone City Council decampaigns the MMD and the area member of parliament who has failed to offer leadership in this matter. The MMD stands no chance of scoping the Livingstone constituency either way as MPship (parliamentarian) or councillor despite the MP promising that they will work to make sure the MMD wins.”
Labels: AGGREY NJEKWA, BRIAN CHITUWO, LIVINGSTONE
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Govt postpones re-opening of training institutions
By Moses Kuwema
Sat 11 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
THE Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training (MSTVT) has postponed the opening of all MSTVT training institutions for the third term.
In a statement, science and technology minister Dr Brian Chituwo stated that the institutes that were supposed to open on September 13, 2010 would instead open on October 10, 2010.
Dr Chituwo stated that the postponement had been necessitated because the MSTVT institutions would be used for the purpose of the 2010 census programme which runs from September 12 to October 10, 2010.
Dr Chituwo advised all students attending training at MSTVT institutions not to travel to their respective colleges until October 11, 2010.
He named some of the affected colleges as Northern Technical College (NORTEC), Luanshya Technical and Business College (LTBC), Gemstone Processing and Lapidary Training Centre (GPLTC), the Technical and Vocational Teachers’ College (TVTC), Kitwe Vocational Training Centre (KVTC), Mwinilunga Trades Training Institute (MTTI), Solwezi Trades Training Institute (SOTTI), Zambia Institute of Business Studies and Industrial Practice (ZIBSIP), Kabwe Trades Training Institute (KTTI), Nkumbi International College (NIC) and Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce.
Others are Mansa Trades Training Institute (Mansa TTI), Lukashya Trades Training Institute (LTTI), Choma Trades Training Institute (CTTI), Kasiya Secretarial and Business College (KSBC), Livingstone Institute of Engineering and Business Studies (LIBES), Kaoma Trades Training Institute (Kaoma TTI), Mongu Trades Training Institute (Mongu TTI), Lusaka Business and Technical College (LBTC), Lusaka Vocational Training Centre (LVTC), Zambia Air Services Training Institute (ZASTI), Ukwimi Trades Training Institute (UTTI) and Chipata Trades Training Institute (Chipata TTI).
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, EDUCATION
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Where are the patients who were on the floor?
By The Post
Thu 09 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
It is said that it is better to “mask no difficulties nor claim any easy victories”. It is better to admit failure than to mask it. Before we know what is happening, the people will find out what the truth is. We are saying this because of what happened at the University Teaching Hospital yesterday.
The acting Minister of Health Dr Brian Chituwo went on a visit of the University Teaching Hospital which seemed calculated to show that what we have written about that hospital may not be true. It seems that from the time that we showed those pictures of people lying around in pathetic surroundings, the University Teaching Hospital management decided to move those people.
That is not a bad thing, assuming those people have been moved to better facilities and are receiving the kind of medical care that their conditions require. What is unacceptable is the attempt to mask the crisis that engulfs our country’s medical sector and particularly the University Teaching Hospital. It is good for a minister such as Chituwo to visit the hospital and to get a first-hand impression of what is actually happening.
This is not about politics, this is about the lives of the people that have elected them to provide the kind of service that the University Teaching Hospital is supposed to provide. Pretending that the University Teaching Hospital does not have problems of congestion and inadequate medical care will not change the truth on the ground.
It is wrong for a public institution to try and address a serious crisis using cheap public relations gimmicks.
It is clear that since the publication of those pictures, people have scampered to move patients around and one hopes that no atrocities were committed in the process. It is nonsensical for people to do this kind of thing instead of addressing the underlying problem.
It is a well known fact that the University Teaching Hospital is not adequately equipped. And it is not uncommon for people to sleep on the floor. It is also not uncommon for the place to stink due to lack of cleaning materials and disinfectants necessary to keep the hospital clean.
These are not things that we are manufacturing. These are things that people who use the hospital or even just visit relatives who use the hospital will know very well. It is shameful for the government to try and mask this problem in any way. The management at the University Teaching Hospital should also not be allowed to mask this problem. Can anyone say that the University Teaching Hospital is functioning the way it is supposed to?
We say this because it is clear that the reason the press were called was to give an impression that all was well at the University Teaching Hospital. The management ensured that people had been moved which is even a more serious indictment of the institution. Why were people not moved before we published the information that showed the pathetic conditions under which our people were being kept?
The acting managing director of the hospital wants to blame the congestion on nurses who he claims were not transferring people to admission wards. What kind of nonsense is this? Is he telling us that the management of the hospital did not know that people were sleeping on the floor? Is he telling us that the management are not supposed to know when such things are going on? Who is managing the University Teaching Hospital then?
This is what happens when there is a total failure of leadership. Rupiah Banda and his government are not truly concerned about what is going on in our hospitals. And because of that, they either do not know and worse still, they do not care to know what is going on in these places.
If they were interested, the management would know that they would not get away with that kind of sloppy behaviour. But more importantly, if they cared, they would make sure that the hospitals were adequately resourced.
But they know that when they are sick, an air ambulance will whisk them away to some five-star hospital arrangements in South Africa. There is no real concern for the health of the whole nation. As for the projects to build hospitals and other facilities, there is no doubt that those works are engulfed in massive corruption.
And when they are finished, so much over-expenditure would have happened. This or that commission would have been paid to someone. This is the interest that the government has in these facilities. This is the same interest that is there in the procurement of mobile hospitals.
There is need for our leaders to be compassionate towards our people and their suffering. If they are going to build hospitals, let them make appropriate structures which cost the nation reasonably.
These projects should not be opportunities for corruption. In that same spirit, let them find the resources to improve hospitals that already exist so that our people don’t have to buy wheelbarrows with which to carry their sick, chasing Rupiah’s mobile hospital wherever it may be anchored for the time being. People like Chituwo are deliberately missing the point that our people are making about the nonsense that Rupiah’s mobile hospitals are.
No one can deny that the hospital infrastructure around the country has collapsed or tottering on the brink of collapse. Even major hospitals like the University Teaching Hospital, Ndola Central Hospital, Kitwe Central Hospital, Livingstone General Hospital and others are in a sorry state of disrepair.
Against that background, does it make sense for people to fail to provide resources for the University Teaching Hospital to operate properly and yet be prepared to bring container hospitals which they are calling mobile hospitals? The crisis at the University Teaching Hospital is merely symptomatic of what is going on in the whole medical sector.
No amount of public relations will change that situation. Rupiah and his friends should stop the corruption that has denied our people medical services for a long time and start addressing the systemic malaise that has crippled the health sector. We need to be able to start somewhere. And the University Teaching Hospital is not a bad place to start from.
Chasing people from the floors where they were sleeping at University Teaching Hospital has not dealt with the problem that our country has with medical care. The crisis of the medical sector will not be sorted out by a few Rupiah Banda-driven tenders. These problems require real leadership; selfless leadership that goes to the root of the problem.
It is disappointing that the only solution that the government could find to the problem of congestion at the University Teaching Hospital seems to have been chasing some patients and probably hiding some of them away from public view. We need to look at this problem of healthcare honestly and sincerely.
It is only when we do that that we can hope to find genuine solutions. Maybe the first place where we should expect some honesty is on the question of where those patients who were sleeping on the floor have gone. The government needs to tell us.
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, HEALTHCARE, STUPIDITY
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Patients on floors moved into wards as Chituwo tours UTH
By Agness Changala and Moses Kuwema
Thu 09 Sep. 2010, 04:04 CAT
UNIVERSITY Teaching Hospital (UTH) management has moved out the patients that were sleeping on the floor in the hospital wards.
This move follows a story and pictures that were published last week on Sunday, which depicted the desperate situation at the hospital where patients were found lying on the floor.
An on-the-spot check at the Filter Clinic and D block ward where the pictures were taken revealed that the floors were free of patients and no mattresses was found in the corridors.
Acting health minister Dr Brian Chituwo toured the Filter Clinic and other wards at the hospital.
Dr Chituwo said his presence at the hospital was not planned, but he merely passed through on his way to the office to interact with the members of staff.
After the tour, Dr Chituwo said the government had finished upgrading clinics around Lusaka and that UTH would be decongested once these clinics are commissioned.
“We don’t believe as a health institution we have anything to hide, we are going to fix the problem with management at UTH and if it would be beyond them, there are linkages with the Ministry of Health headquarters that can be ventured into in addressing this problem,” said Dr Chituwo who is science and technology minister.
UTH acting managing director Dr Luckson Kasonka explained that the congestion was created by the nurses who transferred patients to the admission wards every two hours instead of 30 minutes.
Dr Kasonka said in future the hospital would work towards having two or more nurses tasked to take the patients to admission wards so that the Filter Clinic is left free.
However, Dr Kasonka said it was difficult to de-congest the place completely because a lot of patients needed to be attended to at once even with the shortage of manpower.
But sources talked to before Dr Chituwo’s visit said the story and pictures that were published in The Post prompted the minister to visit the institution.
They said the order that was seen yesterday at UTH was temporary and they commended The Post for bringing it out the problem.
“Although some people were in trouble after that story came out, it is good. You people are doing a commendable job but we know this won’t last because very soon, it will get back to congestion,” one of the sources said.
They explained that the sister-in- charge, who was on duty that day, was accused of wilfully allowing the media to take pictures of the congestion at the wards.
Meanwhile, Dr Chituwo said people should not judge the failure or success of mobile hospitals before they see the benefits.
He argued that the government’s decision was aimed at reaching people who could not access services in health centres located several kilometres away from their homes.
Dr Chituwo said the government should only be challenged after the initiative fails.
He further observed that the fertility rate in the country was very high especially in the rural areas.
Dr Chituwo said as a result of the high fertility rate, the dependency population had also increased.
“For instance in rural areas you will find a young girl with a pregnancy or a baby behind her back, this creates high dependency levels and when you have a high dependency population then you have a problem,” Dr Chituwo said.
He said in rural areas people did not only have one wife but three and each of the wives could have as many as five children.
Dr Chituwo said the high fertility rate added more agony in the provision of heath care in the country.
[Brian Chituwo couldn't find his behind with both hands if the population of Zambia was 6 million, instead of 12 million. Blaming population growth is the last refuge of the incompetent and the retarded. There is money in the mines, go and get it. And stop blaming outside factors, like demographics. - MrK]
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, HEALTHCARE, STUPIDITY, UTH
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Govt to receive US$100 million from EU in budget support - Situmbeko
By Florence Bupe
Fri 23 July 2010, 14:00 CAT
THE Zambian government is this year expected to receive over US $100 million in budget support from the European Union (EU), Minister of Finance and National Planning Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane has disclosed.
Responding to a question from Chipili member of parliament Davies Mwila who wanted to know how much money the Zambian government was expecting from the European Union for poverty reduction programmes this year, Dr Musokotwane said a total of US $104.48 million would be received.
The funding is expected to go toward infrastructure development in the road and health sectors, as well as direct budget support and Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability programme (PEMFA).
“A total of US $45.94 million go toward direct budget support, US $32.3 million is expected to be used in the road sector, US $10 million will be under PEMFA,” Dr Musokotwane said.
“The health sector will receive US $16.1 million while the mining sector will have nil, the programme came to an end last year.”
Dr Musokotwane further disclosed that the country received US $92.47 million and US $124.55 million in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
And in response to Kanchibiya member of parliament Davies Mwango’s question on how much debt Zambia has contracted from China since 2008, finance deputy minister Chileshe Kapwepwe explained that US $76 million was borrowed.
“Government has contracted three loans from China totaling US $76,100,000. Of these loans, two were contracted from the Export Import Bank of China while one amounting to US $18,700,000 was contracted from the government of China,” she said.
Meanwhile, acting health minister Dr Brian Chituwo informed Parliament that an estimated 41,000 HIV related deaths occurred as at the end of 2009 Dr Chituwo said government was instituting measures to ensure that donor funds were utilised for the intended purpose in order to revamp donor confidence in the sector.
“In an effort to curb the wanton misappropriation of donor funds in the ministry (of health), we have formed committees to audit procurements in the ministry. We are also taking action against those who have been found wanting and they are currently in the courts of law,” said Dr Chituwo.
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, DAVIES MWILA, SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE
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