Police warn and caution Ndalamei over gold scam
By Chibaula Silwamba
Wed 19 Oct. 2011, 14:00 CAT
INVESTIGATORS have recorded a warn and caution statement from former secretary to the treasury Likolo Ndalamei in the continuing probe into the gold scam. And police have seized 24 containers suspected to contain MMD bicycles which were to have been used for campaigns in the recently-held elections.
In an interview, police spokesperson Ndandula Siamana said a team of investigators drawn from the Police, Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) summoned Ndalamei yesterday and recorded a warn-and-caution statement from him.
She also said Dickson Jere, the former press aide of former president Rupiah Banda, would appear before investigators again after a three-hour interview on Monday at the premises formerly used by the disbanded Task Force on Corruption during the Levy Mwanawasa Presidency.
"Mr Dickson Jere and Mr Ndalamei appeared yesterday Monday for interviews then today yesterday a warn-and-caution statement was recorded from Ndalamei. Mr Jere has to appear again but we have not yet come up with a day," Siamana said. "Both of them were summoned in connection with the gold scam. For Mr Ndalamei, he was summoned being the Secretary to the Treasury then."
Siamana said the police were investigating a matter where they seized some containers belonging to the former ruling party, MMD.
"We have recovered about 24 containers at a place for Mr Saidi Patel where Major Richard Kachingwe had requested that these containers containing bicycles should be kept. We suspect that these containers have bicycles. Our investigations are still ongoing," said Siamana.
Pande, former minister of foreign affairs, who was also summoned and arrived with Jere and Ndalamei, said he was never quizzed over the gold scam but over MMD assets.
"I was quizzed about MMD vehicles as party vice-national chairman. It interrogation went well. They did it professionally. I have no complaints. They were asking me about the procurement of MMD vehicles and bicycles."
Asked if he accounted for the vehicles before the investigators, Pande responded: "those are the details which my lawyer should go into details."
Pande, however, expressed ignorance about the seizure of MMD containers by the police.
And Sikota, the lawyer for the trio, said he would not be dealing with the prosecution and trial of his clients through newspapers.
"It couldn't be right for me as an officer of the court to be conducting the trial through newspapers. I don't want to become part of the media circus surrounding my clients. The whole thing should not denigrate into a media circus," said Sikota, who was the key campaigner for Banda ahead of the September 20 elections that saw the defeat of the incumbent president and end of the MMD's 20-year rule.
President Michael Sata last week revealed that a Swiss businessman, Nichola Bogdan Buzaianu, was linked to the purchase of gold seized by DEC.
The President stated that Buzaianu secretly flew into the country on a private jet and met Banda, his son James and Jere.
Banda, in a press statement on Sunday, confirmed meeting Buzaianu but denied his guest was a fugitive as alleged by President Sata.
He said he welcomed DEC's investigations into the gold scam.
"All the relevant people involved in this transaction are available and will provide necessary answers to the investigating team but suffice to say that no gold went missing mysteriously as has been portrayed," said Banda through his administrative secretary Mikatazo Wakumelo.
In the ongoing investigations into the funding of the extravagant MMD campaign, police have seized about 42 vehicles from the party and over 1,000 bicycles from the MMD that were used for campaigning. The police are investigating the source of funds used to purchase the vehicles, bicycle and other campaign materials and how they were brought into the country.
Labels: CORRUPTION, DEC, DICKSON JERE, LIKOLO NDALAMEI, NDANDULA SIAMANA, RUPIAH BANDA
Read more...
Rupiah resisted to leave power, reveals Magazine
By Chibaula Silwamba
Thu 13 Oct. 2011, 14:00 CAT
RUPIAH Banda wanted to resist leaving power after his September 20 electoral defeat to Michael Sata, an influential London based investigative magazine has revealed.
In its October 7, 2011 edition, Africa Confidential, quoted Zambia's State House sources saying Banda was on the verge of declaring himself winner of the September 20 presidential poll after realising he had lost the elections to then opposition Patriotic Front (PF)'s Sata.
Africa Confidential reported that it was only the intervention of top advisors, electoral officials, founding president Dr Kenneth Kaunda, and United States and European Union diplomats on September 22 that persuaded Banda not to subvert the results and stay in office.
"The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), Justice Irene Mambilima, is reported to have threatened to resign and tell the world the truth if Banda did not accept defeat. US Ambassador Mark Storella warned Banda that if he did not respect the election results, he would only be able to maintain power by brute force," Africa Confidential reported.
"A despondent Banda, faced with advice and warnings from so many different quarters, gave in and shortly afterwards publicly conceded defeat."
Africa Confidential reported that delayed announcements of results and Sata's hints on polling day that the vote was being rigged encouraged suspicion and unrest over Banda's intentions and fuelled the protests in the Copperbelt towns of Kitwe and Ndola where two protestors died during large-scale rioting.
"One factor that gave the opposition confidence that rigging would be difficult was the deployment of some 9,000 observers to monitor polling stations across the country by a civil society organisation, the Civil Society Election Coalition. Using a method called parallel voter tabulation (PVT), monitors take a sample of voting intentions to project probable national results, much like ‘exit polls'," Africa Confidential reported. "The results are believed reliable enough to highlight anomalous voting patterns caused by ballot stuffing. The ECZ tried to stop PVT because it was afraid of inaccurate results being released. The ECZ was set up as an independent regulator but its powers remain limited because the necessary amendments to the Constitution have not been made."
Africa Confidential reported that Banda learned on September 21 that the vote was going against him and summoned the top directors of the Zambia Intelligence and Security Services to ask them to help reverse the result.
"The security men apparently told Banda they could not help because it was too late. Intelligence chiefs had for months complained that Banda no longer listened to their advice," Africa Confidential reported. "Junior intelligence officers, we hear, helped to prevent ballot-stuffing, having heard Sata, a former police officer, promise to improve their welfare. The conventional wisdom had been that Banda would swing the elections."
It reported that Zambia had seen unprecedented economic growth against the background of a booming mining sector and grateful businesspeople swelled the MMD's election war chest.
"After the vote on 20 September, it became clear that the key factor against Banda had been the 1.2 million newly-registered voters, some 90 per cent of whom are young, unemployed or impoverished students," Africa Confidential reported. "They are highly receptive to the charismatic Sata's offer of ‘salvation to the laboured'.
Voters also feared that a second Banda term would see a return to the blatant corruption of president Frederick Chiluba's time. Banda's open association with Chiluba harmed him."
Africa Confidential reported that Banda made the mistake of falling out with the Roman Catholic Church, which commands the faith of one-third of Zambians.
Africa Confidential reported that the Catholic Church believed that campaigns against it in the state-owned media were planned and coordinated by the government.
"Although this was Sata's third attempt at the presidency, his campaign message had not changed fundamentally: ‘More jobs, less taxes and more money in your pockets.' While the MMD attempted to dent PF support in its Copperbelt strongholds, it neglected to shore up its own areas of traditional support," Africa Confidential reported.
"The MMD is said to have borrowed large sums to finance its extravagant campaign, which was run by Banda's sons Henry and James, with the help of journalist Dickson Jere, Banda's Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations."
Africa Confidential reported that the Banda family was completely unprepared to lose the election.
"James Banda briefly ‘fled' to South Africa, fearing recriminations but soon returned. In the MMD, the pair are roundly blamed for the debacle," Africa Confidential reported.
Chief Justice Ernest Sakala declared Sata duly elected President on Friday September 23.
According to ECZ tabulation of results for the September 20 presidential elections, President Michael Sata obtained 1,170,966 votes (42.24 per cent), former president Rupiah Banda 987,866 votes (35.63 per cent), UPND's Hakainde Hichilema 506,763 votes (18.28 per cent), Charles Milupi 26,270 votes (0.95 per cent), Elias Chipimo Junior 10,672 votes (0.38 per cent), Tilyenji Kaunda 9,950 votes (0.36 per cent), Edith Nawakwi 6,833 votes, Ng'andu Magande 6,344 votes (0.23 per cent), Brig Gen Godfrey Miyanda 4,730 votes (0.17 per cent) and Fred Mutesa 2,268 votes (0.08 per cent). At least 2,772,264 people voted out of 5,167,154 registered voters. However, 39,602 votes were rejected.
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, CORRUPTION, COUP, DICKSON JERE, IRENE MAMBILIMA, RUPIAH BANDA
Read more...
PF accuses Rupiah of deception on Barotse issue
By Ernest Chanda
Mon 25 July 2011, 14:00 CAT
THE PF says President Rupiah Banda’s statement on the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 is meant to deceive the people of Western Province.
Commenting on President Banda’s recent acknowledgement that the Barotseland issue was a serious national matter, PF chairperson for local government Given Lubinda, in a joint statement with Freddy Milinga, said President Banda’s statement was in fact empty.
Lubinda said President Banda was trying to make some people believe that he was concerned about the matter when in fact not.
“The only logical conclusion that can be drawn from Mr Banda’s statement is that this is a political ploy and an afterthought aimed at hoodwinking people of Western Province into believing that he is interested in the matter of the Barotseland Agreement. Had he been genuinely interested, he would not have waited seven months to comment,” Lubinda said in a statement yesterday.
“He is simply trying to procrastinate so that he can corruptly buy some people to his side in view of the pending election. He has realised the negative impact of his government’s brutality on the innocent people of Western Province, and so he wants to make amends. But this is too late for him because some people have been maimed already, while his agents have killed others. We therefore call upon the people to be vigilant and not sell their souls for a few pieces of silver that Mr Banda wants to dangle.”
Lubinda said if President Banda were truly committed to tackling the Barotseland issue, his so-called team set up to look into the matter would by now have made their recommendations to him.
He said since President Banda had now placed the Barotseland issue on his political agenda, it must motivate people into further and indepth debate of the issue.
Lubinda said everyone remembered how Vice-President George Kunda mocked members of parliament who questioned the government’s motive in brutalising its own people.
“Banda failed to comment on the incident that occurred in Mongu on 4th February 2011. He instead chose to send his Vice-President to Parliament to trivialise the whole nasty saga. George Kunda, in answering questions from MPs on the matter, was comical in his explanations. Many people were disappointed when MMD members of parliament were tickled into laughter by Kunda’s mockery of such a serious national disaster,” said Lubinda.
“It is also a well established fact that the Patriotic Front and its president Mr Michael Sata have been directly supporting the idea of arriving at an acceptable conclusion of the restoration of the Barotseland Agreement. As a matter of fact, the Barotseland Agreement is as much a governance issue as it is a political one, and it deserves the attention of all serious-minded politicians and political parties. The PF shall thus continue to debate the mater whether Mr Banda likes it or not.”
Breaking his silence on the matter last week, President Banda said he was deeply troubled with the Barotse activists, whom he said resorted to unlawful behaviour during the January 14 Mongu fracas.
In a statement released last Monday by his press aide Dickson Jere, President Banda claimed that his government had all along been trying to resolve the issue.
Jere said it was unfortunate that in spite of what transpired early this year, some politicians had continued to take advantage and tried to hoodwink the people of Western Province into believing that the matter of the restoration of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 could be resolved overnight.
Labels: BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT, DICKSON JERE, GIVEN LUBINDA, PF, RUPIAH BANDA
Read more...
Rupiah to open farmers' union congress
By Kombe Chimpinde
Thu 07 Oct. 2010, 04:01 CAT
President Rupiah Banda is today expected to open the 105th Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) Congress at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Centre.
According to a statement from State House special assistant for press and public relations, Dickson Jere, President Banda will be opening the ZNFU Congress shortly after the country witnessed agricultural success last season through a maize bumper harvest.
“President Banda will deliver a speech this Thursday congratulating the ZNFU’s objectives and pledging his government’s wholehearted support for the continued growth and economic development of the farming sector,” Jere said in a statement.
“…the event will celebrate the great agricultural successes enjoyed by Zambia in recent years and will call on farmers, suppliers and government to work together to ensure a productive and healthy future for Zambia.”
He said the farmers’ congress whose theme is ‘Productivity, Competitiveness and Market Development' has attracted over 600 delegates from the agriculture industry countrywide.
Zambia secured bumper harvest, producing 2.78 million tonnes of maize indicating a surplus of more than one million tonnes.
And the president says that the theme that his adopted this year is a reflection of governments agriculture policies.
Labels: DICKSON JERE, RUPIAH BANDA, ZNFU
Read more...
Rupiah reshuffles ministers, PSs and ZRA Commissioner General
By Chibaula Silwamba
Wed 29 Sep. 2010, 04:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday reshuffled three Cabinet ministers and appointed Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) commissioner general Chriticles Mwansa as science and technology permanent secretary.
According to a media statement issued by special assistant to the President for press and public relations, Dickson Jere, President Banda made changes to government at Cabinet and permanent secretary levels.
“The President has transferred agriculture and cooperatives minister Peter Daka to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training where he will take over from Dr Brian Chituwo who has been moved to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. Dr Eustarckio Kazonga, who was until the transfer Minister of Local Government and Housing has been transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives,” Jere stated.
“President Banda has also appointed Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) commissioner general Chriticles Mwansa as new permanent secretary in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training. The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Science Technology and Vocational Training Ms Sherry Thole has been transferred to the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services where she will take over from ambassador Tens Kapoma. The President said he will redeploy Ambassador Kapoma to another position within the public sector.”
Jere stated that all transfers and appointments were with immediate effect.
Labels: DICKSON JERE, MINISTERS, PERMANENT SECRETARIES, RUPIAH BANDA, ZRA
Read more...
Media associations condemn Jere’s behavior
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Saturday, September 26, 2009 6:11:41 PM
MEDIA associations yesterday condemned Dickson Jere for mistreating and sending away Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) photojournalist Emmah Nakapizye from the ongoing UN general assembly in New York, USA.
In a joint media statement, media associations expressed their utmost displeasure at the manner in which Nakapizye had been treated by President Rupiah Banda's press aide Jere.
"We further reiterate that we believe that Ms Nakapizye was carrying out her job as a professional photojournalist and to be treated in such a manner is tantamount to curtailing her freedom of expression and muzzling the press. Further, Mr Jere knows very well that in the absence of respect for the right of freedom of expression, which include rights to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, democracy is compromised," the seven media associations stated.
"Media organisations do need to remind those in public offices that they are public officials and therefore they are accountable to the people and when we carry out stories that do not seem to be palatable to them we are called 'gagged'. The government should not think we shall take this lying down, we shall continue to fight for freedom of information and the media."
The media associations that issued the statement include Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia, Zambia Media Women Association (ZAMWA), United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Press Association of Zambia (PAZA), Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ), PANOS and Zambia Union of Broadcasters and Information Disseminators (ZUBID).
And in a separate statement, the Press Freedom Committee of The Post (PFC) stated that it was shocked that Jere allowed his emotions rather than reason to make judgement and "expel" Nakapizye from New York.
The PFC stated that Jere's action did not only amount to gagging the media but also a direct infringement of Nakapizye's freedom of expression.
They stated that Jere's thinking belonged to the Stone Age and authoritarian rule where divergent views or distasteful images would be treated as a taboo to the ruler.
"We do not understand why and how Jere found the photographs of President Banda and opposition FDD [Forum for Democracy and Development] leader Edith Nawakwi at the African Union Summit offending to society or even President Banda himself. What was Jere hiding from the taxpayers in Zambia who sponsored President Banda's trip to the United Nations assembly in New York since he didn't want Nakapizye to capture his images?" the PFC asked.
"As a media watchdog committee, we are keenly watching who will pay back the travel expenses incurred by Ms Nakapizye arising from this reckless and senseless decision. We wish to urge Mr Jere to exercise utmost humility while President Banda can still allow him to walk the corridors of State House."
State House sources disclosed that Jere last week instructed officials in New York to ensure that Nakapizye was sent back home before President Banda arrived there.
"Dickson inquired about the journalists and photographers that were assigned for the New York trip and when he learnt that Emmah was among them, he contacted New York and instructed that the President should not find her there, that she must be put on the next flight back to Zambia. That's how Emmah was sent back and she is in the country right now as we are speaking," said the source.
Labels: DICKSON JERE, EMMAH NAKAPIZYE, PRESS FREEDOM, ZANIS
Read more...
Rupiah’s aide expels ZANIS photographer from New York
Written by Staff Reporter
Friday, September 25, 2009 5:13:52 PM
STATE HOUSE special assistant to the President for press and public relations Dickson Jere has barred ZANIS photographer Emmah Nakapizye from covering President Rupiah Banda at the UN General Assembly in New York.
State House sources disclosed that Jere last week instructed officials in New York to ensure that Nakapizye was sent back home before President Banda arrived there.
“What happened is that Dickson seems to have a problem with Emma ever since she took those pictures of the President with FDD president Edith Nawakwi at the African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia as well as the pictures that were taken of President Banda and his family in Mfuwe,” the source explained.
“Dickson took an issue with Emmah over that claiming that the pictures were maliciously taken. But Emmah tried to explain to her superiors that Ms Nawakwi was part of the Presidential delegation and she was seated with the President and that no one informed her that she was not to photograph certain people in the delegation.”
The source said Nakapizye is viewed by certain quarters, particularly at State House, as being anti-establishment.
“Dickson doesn't want her to be covering the President at all because of those two incidences; the issue of Ms Nawakwi and the Banda family holiday in Mfuwe. But it's now getting too much because just recently Emmah was enlisted on the delegation that was travelling to the UN General Assembly in New York to go and cover the President,” the source said.
“Dickson inquired about the journalists and photographers that were assigned for the New York trip and when he learnt that Emmah was among them, he contacted New York and instructed that the President should not find her there, that she must be put on the next flight back to Zambia. That's how Emmah was sent back and she is in the country right now as we are speaking.”
The sources said there were even plans by ZANIS management to transfer Nakapizye to another district.
“After the AU summit incident of Ms Nawakwi and the Mfuwe one, everybody thought that the dust had settled and Emmah would now be allowed to cover the President. But it's like Dickson has taken it personal,” the source explained.
“Can you believe that there is so much pressure on ZANIS management? The pressure is too much that management is even considering transferring Emmah to some district probably Kafue just because Dickson doesn't want her at Mass Media Complex. This is quite unfair.”
When contacted yesterday, ZANIS director Gilbert Maimbo referred all queries to State House.
“I think the best people to answer that question is State House,” said Maimbo.
Labels: DICKSON JERE, EMMAH NAKAPIZYE, RUPIAH BANDA, ZANIS
Read more...
Rupiah in DRC for SADC talks
Written by Staff Reporter
Monday, September 07, 2009 3:06:55 PM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda this morning left for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to attend the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) heads of State and government summit. President Banda will only attend today’s sessions of the two-day Ordinary SADC Summit and immediately return to Lusaka in view of the death of Local Government and Housing minister, Benny Tetamashimba.
This is according to a statement by special assistant to the President for Press and public relations, Dickson Jere in Lusaka yesterday.
The president is expected to officially handover his role in the SADC Troika as per custom following the expiry of his term in the organ while new members will be picked at the Kinshasa summit.
Meanwhile, President Banda has also clarified that South African president, Jacob Zuma, will be coming to Zambia for a State visit in December as opposed to September as reported in the media.
He said President Zuma would visit Zambia from December 8 to 10 2009.
Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, DICKSON JERE, RUPIAH BANDA, SADC
Read more...
Rupiah leaves for Northern Province today
Written by Ernest Chanda
Friday, August 21, 2009 5:03:53 PM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda is today expected to leave for Northern Province on a two-day working visit. According to a statement released yesterday by special assistant to the President for press and public relations Dickson Jere, President Banda would be accompanied by tourism minister Catherine Namugala, agriculture minister Dr Brian Chituwo and lands deputy minister Michael Mabenga.
President Banda is expected to commission the recently constructed Kalungu Bridge in Kasama and inspect rehabilitation works on the Kasama-Mbala and Mpulungu roads.
He is also expected to pay a courtesy call on Paramount chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people before the start of his official business.
President Banda is also scheduled to hold meetings with church leaders, headmen and senior MMD officials in the province before returning to Lusaka.
Labels: DICKSON JERE, NORTHERN PROVINCE, RUPIAH BANDA
Read more...
Rupiah effects mini reshuffle
Written by Joseph Mwenda
President Rupiah Banda yesterday appointed Chisamba member of parliament Moses Muteteka as the new deputy minister in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.
Special assistant to the President for press and public relations Dickson Jere in a statement also announced the transfer of deputy Minister of Community Development and Social Services John Chinyata to the Northern Province in the same capacity.
The President has also moved Northern Province deputy minister Charles Shawa to Lusaka Province to replace Lameck Mangani, who was recently elevated to full Cabinet minister in charge of home affairs.
Jere said President Banda has appointed director of State Functions at Cabinet Office Eddie Mwanza as his principal private secretary at State House replacing Dr Austin Sichinga who was recently elevated to the position of Chief of Staff at state house.
Labels: CABINET, DICKSON JERE, RUPIAH BANDA
Read more...
Rupiah confers with NGOCC
Written by Correspondent
Friday, June 19, 2009 2:58:18 PM
President Rupiah Banda held a closed door consultative meeting with the Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) on Thursday.
According to a statement made available by Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere, President Banda and the NGOCC headed by Marian Munyinda discussed a number of issues affecting the nation.
The meeting discussed the constitution making process, women representation and the labour situation following recent strikes by civil servants.
The meeting also identified other issues that required consultation and agreed to meet again.
President Banda thanked the NGOCC leaders for embracing dialogue on issues concerning the country, which he said require concerted efforts to resolve.
The President was accompanied to the meeting by Gender minister Sara Sayifwanda.-JK
Labels: DICKSON JERE, NGOCC, RUPIAH BANDA
Read more...
Planting the seed of violence
Written by Editor
Yesterday, we received a letter from Rupiah Banda through his press aide Dickson Jere. He was responding to our letter of May 6, 2006 in which we petitioned him to quickly intervene and stop the MMD cadres from their physical and verbal violence against our journalists. In his letter, Rupiah states he does not condone violence.
He stated: "...His Excellency the President's position on condemning violence has not changed. Be assured that there are no orders to intimidate The Post or any other media institution. It is unfortunate that our cadres or suspected members have threatened violence. His Excellency the President will do everything possible to stop violence. Be assured that the attacks have no blessings from the party."
This is Rupiah's response to our letter through Dickson. We are not sure if Rupiah dictated this letter to Dickson or Dickson just used his initiative to deal with the situation. We say this because the letter is full of contradictions and blatant lies.
A few days ago, chief government spokesperson Reverend Ronnie Shikapwasha endorsed and justified the violence from the MMD against Post journalists. He said the beatings will continue unless we apologised to Rupiah for the insults that we have been throwing at him. He said we should not complain against violent attacks from the MMD cadres because we were just harvesting what we sowed.
If Rupiah does not condone violence, why has he kept quiet on Reverend Shikapwasha's justification of the violence against us? Does he seriously expect us to believe when he says there are no orders for the MMD cadres to intimidate Post journalists when his chief government spokesperson is asking us to apologise or face the wrath of their cadres?
Again, does Rupiah think anyone will believe him when he says he will do everything possible to stop this violence? Is it true that the attacks have no blessings from the party when the MMD Lusaka Province youth chairman Chris Chalwe was threatening violence in the face of Reverend Shikapwasha? On Monday, a day before Rupiah's reply to our letter, our journalists were threatened at State House during the Africa Freedom Day celebrations.
Anyway, we are not surprised. This is how deceitful Rupiah is. He says things that he really does not mean. Clearly, Rupiah is not interested in addressing this issue of violence by MMD cadres. He seems to be enjoying reports of MMD thugs harassing innocent journalists and citizens. In a bid to shield the cadres, Rupiah is saying, "it is unfortunate that our cadres or suspected members have threatened violence".
There are no suspected members. Not to leave any matter for conjecture, we have provided Rupiah with pictures showing known MMD members and officials in action against our journalists. In one of the pictures, Dickson prominently appears in the background. So why should Rupiah be talking about suspected MMD members when he has been given evidence that his members are committing crimes in his name? Some of these acts of violence have been committed in full view of the police who just watched without help. It appears the police have surrendered their powers to MMD thugs because their commander-in-chief is on the side of the law-breakers.
So Rupiah should not cheat anyone that he abhors violence. If he does, he should not be claiming it. He should be seen to detest this thugery from the MMD.
Maybe we are expecting too much from Rupiah. How can he take decisive steps against this violence when he recently told cadres at State House that enough was enough from The Post and he had resolved to hit back? He even told the cadres to be on standby for further instructions. Is this the man who the public can expect to put an end to this criminal behaviour by the MMD cadres?
It is said that one does not achieve greatness by claiming greatness. A man is judged by his actions, not his boasting.
Like we have said before, perpetrating violence against innocent journalists and other citizens is not a solution. Violence begets violence. The seeds of violence that Rupiah and his Reverend Shikapwasha are busy planting today will tomorrow germinate into violence that will devour them. Nelson Mandela once said that "government violence can only do one thing, and that is to breed counter-violence."
Rupiah is not the first leader to have resorted to violence in order to deal with his enemies, real or imaginary. Maybe he is so stubborn that he wants to learn from his own mistakes.
As human beings, we are expected to co-exist in the diversity of views and opinions. When arguments or differences occur, reason needs to be the foundation of an argument. Only those who cannot reason should resort to violence.
Labels: CADRES, DICKSON JERE, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, RUPIAH BANDA
Read more...
Rupiah to attend Zuma's inauguration
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe
Thursday, May 07, 2009 3:18:09 PM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda is on Friday scheduled to leave for South Africa to attend the inauguration of South Africa's President-elect Jacob Zuma.
In a statement issued by special assistant to the President for press and public relations Dickson Jere, President Banda was invited by the South African government to be among several other African heads of state and government at a ceremony to be held tomorrow in Pretoria.
Jere stated that President Banda would be accompanied by first lady Thandiwe and foreign affairs minister Kabinga Pande.
Jere stated that President Banda was scheduled to return to Lusaka on Sunday.
Labels: DICKSON JERE, JACOB ZUMA, RUPIAH BANDA
Read more...
Rupiah blames Attorney General’s chambers for Siliya’s troubles
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 6:31:39 PM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday accused the Attorney General's chambers of having misled communications and transport minister Dora Siliya and warned that he will reorganise the chambers to avoid the recurrence of the confusion.
In a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday by President Banda's chief analyst for press and public relations Dickson Jere, the head of state claimed that Siliya was misled in her signing of the Memorandum of Understand (MoU) with RP Capital Partners Limited of Cayman Islands.
"President Banda noted that the tribunal did find as a fact that Honourable Siliya MP was somewhat misled by the confusion in the Attorney General's chambers. It is, therefore the President's decision to reorganise the Attorney General's chambers in a bid to prevent the reoccurrence of the same confusion in future," Jere stated.
"Further the President wishes to announce to the nation that he has received a letter of resignation from Honourable Ms Dora Siliya MP and Minister of Communications and Transport who has decided to step down in view of the tribunal's findings. The President has since accepted her resignation and thanked Honourable Siliya for her contributions to the government of the Republic of Zambia and the nation at large. The President wished Honourable Siliya well in her future endeavours and thanked her for the bold decision she has taken."
He noted that the statement was the initial reaction of President Banda to the tribunal's findings.
"President Banda reacts to the tribunal findings: His Excellency the President Mr Rupiah Banda on Tuesday [yesterday] released his initial reactions to the findings of the tribunal constituted to investigate the various allegations against Honourable Ms Dora Siliya MP, Minister of Communications and Transport.
The President made the following observations and decisions;
(1) President Banda thanked the Judiciary and in particular the tribunal headed by justice Dennis Chirwa for the expeditious manner it handled its proceeding. President Banda said the setting up of the tribunal and its findings showed that Zambia's Judiciary is independent and must be supported at all times," Jere stated. "
(2) President Banda said those that are not happy with the findings of the tribunal should refrain from making unwarranted statements in the press which could undermine the integrity of the Judiciary. President Banda appealed to the dissatisfied parties to follow the normal appellate procedures provided for in the law as opposed to attacking the tribunal."
He stated that President Banda noted the findings of the tribunal on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Communications and Transport and RP Capital Partners of Cayman Islands.
"President Banda said he will table the matter as was intended even before the tribunal to Cabinet for determination. The nation will be kept informed on any further decision that will be taken on the matter," stated Jere. "(5) President Banda appealed to the nation not to lose focus on the various and difficult problems affecting the Zambia Telecommunications Limited (Zamtel) and in particular the workers' plight."
Jere stated that President Banda observed that Zamtel had continued incurring huge debts. When contacted for comment yesterday, Siliya sought to know the caller and upon learning that the caller was from The Post, she hung up.
On February 9, 2009, President Banda described as nonsense the argument that Siliya was illegally handling the privatisation of Zamtel. He said Siliya was on the right track regarding the partial privatisation of Zamtel. President Banda said Siliya was smarter than some of the people who were questioning her.
"As to the argument that she did it illegally, that is nonsense. First of all, when the Attorney General gives an opinion, he does not give the opinion to the public. The opinion given by the Attorney General is given to the particular client. If the Vice-President writes to the Attorney General and say 'I want your opinion on this', the Attorney General must write that letter to him. And if the minister writes to the Attorney General, the Attorney General must reply to her, not to the public," President Banda had said.
"So just that should worry you as Zambians that your country has become so lawlessness that everything that is discussed in government offices, letters are exchanged and proliferated and given to the whole world. How are you going to run this country? It is something, which, again, falls in the line of indiscipline, which means that there is a lot of indiscipline around. People are peddling government documents. So we will find a way to stop this."
And February 17, 2009 Vice-President Kunda stated: "the MoU was finally signed on 22nd December, 2008 by all the parties. Thus at the time of signing the MoU, the Solicitor General had cleared and approved the MoU which had taken into account comments of the Solicitor General. For all intents and purposes, the Solicitor general was acting on behalf of the Attorney-General."
But the tribunal found that Siliya breached Article 54 sub Article 3 of the Constitution when she selected RP Capital Partners Limited to value Zamtel's assests.
Labels: ATTORNEY GENERAL, DICKSON JERE, DORA SILIYA, RP CAPITAL PARTNERS, RUPIAH BANDA
Read more...
Rupiah’s press aide harasses Post journalist
Written by Staff Reporter
Friday, January 16, 2009 9:27:44 PM
STATE House chief analyst for press and public relations Dickson Jere yesterday publicly harassed Post journalist Chibaula Silwamba at State House and accused The Post of being unprofessional.
And Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA- Zambia Chapter) has expressed disappointment over Jere's conduct.
Meanwhile, Post managing editor Amos Malupenga has advised Jere to be level-headed and quickly understand the role of his office. Silwamba said the incident happened just after he finished covering President Rupiah Banda and Chinese commerce minister Chen Deming's meeting at State House, where the latter and finance minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane signed framework agreements and a letter of exchange.
Silwamba said after the function in the conference room, he and Radio QFM journalist Wamunyima Walubita walked to the passage, where Jere found them.
He said Jere confronted him, shouting on top of his voice, much to the dismay of onlookers. Silwamba said Jere was raising his hands and pointing at him as he rebuked him.
“Mr. Jere was shouting at me, saying 'How do you write that? What kind of journalism is that? Where did you learn your journalism?'” Silwamba narrated.
He said when he asked Jere to single out the story he was complaining about, he could not do so but continued to angrily shout at him.
“He said, 'where have you seen that kind of journalism?' He said as a journalist who worked for an international media organisation, they don't write stories the way The Post did,” Silwamba narrated. “Mr. Jere said: 'we don't do that kind of journalism as international journalists. No! No!'”
Silwamba said he told Jere that if he was complaining about the stories he had written on President Banda during his tour of Northern Province last week, he was ready to challenge anybody because all the stories were accurate.
At this stage, Jere said the names mentioned in a Post story concerning some people purporting to have been appointed by President Banda in foreign service and stayed at a lodge for free, imposter story, were inaccurate.
“Mr Jere was shouting that none of the people alleged to be imposters were from State House. 'There is no David Banda here [at State House]',” Silwamba narrated.
Silwamba said after Jere realised that he was being challenged on anything he said, he decided to stop shouting and opted to talk to other journalists before walking away.
Recently in Northern Province during President Banda's visit to Paramount chief Chitimukulu palace in Mungwi, Jere refused to tell Post photojournalist Collins Phiri where the President was landing from.
Phiri had asked Jere to tell him where President Banda was landing from so that he and Silwamba could cover the President on arrival.
“Jere rudely responded, 'I don't know!'” Phiri narrated.
Phiri and Silwamba said after President Banda's political advisor Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika heard the manner in which Jere responded, he directed The Post journalists to the venue where President Banda was landing.
“Akashambatwa, who was in the same vehicle with Jere, presidential affairs minister Gabriel Namulambe and driver, decided to open the window of the vehicle. He said he did not really know where President Banda would land from but he gave us a rough direction. And for sure when we followed the direction Aka gave us, we found a presidential motorcade there waiting for President Banda,” Phiri said. “Surprisingly, Jere also came there. That shows that he knew where the President was landing from but did not just want to tell us.”
In another incident last month, Jere instructed security personnel to block Chipata based Post journalist Christopher Miti from attending President Banda's function in Chipata during his visit there.
Miti said after President Banda featured on Radio Breeze FM in Chipata, he invited journalists for dinner at Mamalula Lodge. He said when he and other journalists from Radio Maria, Breeze FM, Times of Zambia and Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) went to Mamalula Lodge, security personnel told him that they had been told not to allow a Post journalist to enter.
“When my colleagues from other media organisations went inside, they told Jere that, 'we have a colleague, Christopher Miti, from The Post.' But Jere told them that, 'we did not invite The Post,'” Miti narrated.
Miti said when the function started, President Banda asked a ZANIS journalist if he [Miti] was there.
“My colleague from ZANIS told me that the President wanted to know if I was there. It seems the President wanted me there but I had been blocked. The journalist from ZANIS told the President that I was not there. Jere did not say anything,” said Miti.
And MISA-Zambia chairperson Henry Kabwe implored Jere to exercise tolerance towards the media in responding to queries in a dignified manner befitting his office. Kabwe said as chief analyst for press and public relations, Jere was expected to exhibit high standards of professionalism and ethics in dealing with the media. He appealed to Jere to use appropriate channels should he feel aggrieved with the way the media reports.
"MISA Zambia equally implores the media in Zambia to be factual, fair and balanced in their reportage," said Kabwe. On Monday, Jere told The Post to go ahead and publish the trash they always publish when he was contacted over the alleged imposters who were staying at a lodge in Lusaka without footing the bills purporting that State House would foot the bills as President Rupiah Banda had offered them jobs in the diplomatic service. And Malupenga said it was clear that Jere was headed for a tough time with the media if he did not change his approach.
“It is clear that Dickson is dangerously puffed up with pride, which is usually not associated with public relations practitioners,” Malupenga said. “I urge him to sober up and be level-headed. He should understand that the main role of his office is to bridge the gap between his boss in State House and the media. Of course, we know that some people get confused when they operate from State House and start behaving like they are small presidents. Dickson is mistaken if he thinks that discrediting The Post is the only way for him to show Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda that he is working well. If Mr Banda is not aware, Dickson's first newsroom experience was with The Post, the newspaper he is despising today.”
Malupenga advised Jere to be aware that his behaviour in his official capacity reflected on the character and instructions he has received from the appointing authority.
“We have been ignoring Dickson's misbehaviour for sometime because we thought he was trying to find his feet in the new office,” said Malupenga. “But it appears this is his way of doing things. Unfortunately, it is a wrong way of doing things. In case he is under the illusion that he can trample on The Post's credibility with impunity, let him be informed that he is striving after the wind. He has embarked on an exercise in futility. Many before him in that institution have tried to annihilate The Post but they have lamentably failed.”
Labels: AMOS MALUPENGA, CHIBAULA SILWAMBA, DICKSON JERE, MISA, RUPIAH BANDA, THE POST
Read more...
