Police summon Muchima
By David Chongo in Solwezi
Mon 31 Dec. 2012, 14:00 CAT
FORMER lands deputy minister Elijah Muchima has been summoned by Mwinilunga police in connection with the abandoned works at the new Mwinilunga civic centre. But Muchima has branded the summons as political intimidation after being fired last week from the PF government.
North Western police chief Eugene Sibote confirmed in an interview yesterday that Muchima, who is also Ikeleng'i MMD member of parliament, had been called for interviews in the continued investigations over misappropriation of funds amounting to K900 million meant for the district's civic centre.
Sibote explained that police had made headway in the case after interviewing several other people and had also invited Muchima to appear before police today.
"The fact is, there is government money that was intended for construction of the civic centre but right now, there is nothing that has been done," he said.
Sibote explained that the contractor, who is reported to have been introduced to the council by Muchima when he served under local government and housing in the MMD regime, had abandoned the works.
He said police therefore wanted to get Muchima's side of the story as he had been mentioned by some people in the investigations.
However, when contacted for a comment, Muchima said he had nothing to do with the works by Buildtech, whose contract had been terminated following inertia to proceed with the project.
Muchima said he was the one who raised alarm against Buildtech to the then North Western Province permanent secretary Fabian Mumba that the works had stalled.
He argued that when the contract was awarded, he was minister for Southern Province contrary to assertions by Mwinilunga district council secretary Charles Chimwisa that he influenced the awarding of the contract when he served as minister under local government.
Chimwisa told the then North Western Province permanent secretary Dr David Shamulenge when he inspected the site last year that Buildtech, a Lusaka-based company, was introduced to the council by Muchima to construct the K37 billion office complex along Mwinilunga/Ikeleng'i road in early 2011 but the Buildtech abandoned the site the following June after accruing debts of nearly K600 million with suppliers and workers between March and June 2011.
He revealed that government had earlier released K500 million for commencement of works out of which K100 million was allocated to Urban Techniques, a council-approved consultant for the project while Buildtech received K400 million but the contractor only built a foundation to slab level.
"I am not the council. Why should this case come up now? They just want to do it because I am no longer in government. Even if I was minister of local government, what has that got to do with me? I was not there when they signed the contract. I was not there. This is an issue that we have discussed and discussed. They just want to find fault with me. Anyway, I will comply," said Muchima.
Muchima has, however, asked Mwinilunga officer-in-charge Boniface Chilufya to excuse him for some time to attend to some personal obligations and that he would only be available after Thursday, and police have effectively set next Friday for interviews.
Labels: ELIJAH MUCHIMA, EUGENE SIBOTE
Read more...
Sata fires Muchima
By Masuzyo Chakwe in Lusaka and David Chongo in Ikeleng'i
Tue 25 Dec. 2012, 12:00 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has with immediate effect revoked the appointment of Elijah Muchima as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
And PF cadres in Ikeleng'i celebrated when they heard that Muchima had been dropped from his ministerial position.
President Sata confirmed the revocation of Muchima's appointment during a swearing-in ceremony at State House yesterday.
Muchima, whose revocation of appointment comes barely two days after PF members in North Western Province petitioned President Sata for his removal on allegations of working against the government, has been replaced by Kabompo East MMD member of parliament Danny Chingimbu.
President Sata, who thanked Muchima for the services rendered to the nation during his tenure of office, wished the MMD Mwinilunga West Ikeleng'i member of parliament God's blessings in his future endeavours.
This is according to a statement issued by President Sata's special assistant for press and public relations George Chellah.
And President Sata wished Chingimbu success as he embarks on a new journey in his political career and service to the nation.
Meanwhile, President Sata yesterday morning swore in Palan Mulonda as Zambia's Ambassador to the United States of America.
He expressed confidence that Ambassador Mulonda would execute his duties to the satisfaction of the nation.
"The United States (US) is a very key development partner to Zambia. Therefore, we expect you, Mr Mulonda to represent us very well in Washington DC. We wish you well as you embark on your tour of duty," said President Sata.
And earlier yesterday, PF cadres mounted a mini-demonstration with placards calling for Muchima's removal in solidarity with their Solwezi counterparts, who demonstrated on Friday against Muchima.
Meanwhile, Masumba said Muchima's accusation that he had teamed up with Mwinilunga district commissioner Victor Kayekesi against him was immaterial because the complaints were coming from the party.
He said he had tried to protect Muchima against accusations by PF cadres that he was working to frustrate the ruling party's growth in Ikeleng'i.
Masumba said he was the one who persuaded Kayekesi to withdraw an election petition against Muchima for Ikeleng'i.
And Kayekesi equally said he had no reason to fight Muchima.
"…That's why I withdrew my petition against him. But once you go against what your employers want, they have the right to fire you," said Kayekesi.
Muchima on Sunday said Kayekesi and Masumba had an agenda against him and wondered how he could de-campaign the PF and its government when he was working with them.
Labels: ELIJAH MUCHIMA, MICHAEL SATA
Read more...
MMD wants its MPs out of PF government
By Allan Mulenga, Kombe Chimpinde and Roy Habaalu
Fri 13 July 2012, 14:00 CAT
THE MMD national executive committee has given a 10-day ultimatum to party members of parliament who have been given positions in the government to relinquish their ministerial posts or face expulsion from the party.
But Elijah Muchima says there is nothing wrong with MMD members of parliament aligning themselves with the current government to offer development to the people.
Meanwhile, parliamentary committees deputy chairperson Chifumu Banda has ruled that President Michael Sata is empowered by law to appoint any member of parliament as minister or deputy minister.
The former ruling party has threatened to go for by-elections in all the nine constituencies represented by the affected members of parliament.
Party president Nevers Mumba declined to comment on the matter, saying he would extensively deal with the issue during today's press briefing.
"I will address those issues tomorrow (today), to deal with all national issues, that will be one of them and so I am reserving all my information to my one-time press conference tomorrow today," said Mumba.
Well-placed sources within the MMD's national executive committee (NEC) disclosed that the members of parliament serving as deputy ministers in the government have been told to relinquish their positions or face expulsion from the party.
The sources disclosed that this was arrived at during a caucus held yesterday at the party secretariat.
The sources said party members who have been appointed into President Michael Sata's government were summoned to exculpate themselves as to why they had continued to align themselves with the ruling party against the party's position.
"Yes, the meeting was held today (yesterday), this morning for more than two hours to determine the fate of our colleagues who have been given jobs by Mr Sata. So far, five of them have pitched up for the meeting.
Their names are as follows; Isaac Banda mines deputy minister, Forrie Tembo local government deputy minister, Dr Patrick Chikusu health deputy minister, Nicholas Banda agriculture deputy minister and the newly-appointed education deputy minister Patrick Ngoma," the sources said.
The sources further explained that senior MMD officials were shocked that some of the summoned members came driving their official vehicles flying the national flag.
But Muchima, who is MMD's Ikeleng'i member of parliament and lands deputy minister, said it was unreasonable for some senior party members to contemplate expelling him.
He said there was nothing strange about PF courting MMD members because even the MMD used to do so when it was in power.
Muchima said their appointments into government were all about rendering service to the public.
"All of us, both in MMD and PF, are there to offer a service to the people of Zambia. We are serving with the government. This is a game which was also done by MMD for a long time and even our former president Rupiah Banda, he was from UNIP, even Nevers Mumba came from another party. It's about service to the people of Zambia, it's not about individuals. As backbenchers, we lobby the government of the day to push for development…," said Muchima.
And Ngoma, who is Feira member of parliament and was appointed into government a few days ago, said he was ready for any action that would be taken against him by the party.
He, however, said he would issue a comprehensive statement after being furnished with the expulsion letter.
"My friend, we are in politics. When you are in politics, you must be able to deal with matters depending on how the politics is happening at that point of time. I am still waiting for them to write me. They are saying the meeting was there in the morning, so unfortunately, I have come very late. They have not briefed me anything yet.
So they are saying because they had already spoken to my colleagues. I didn't know that they were here at the secretariat. For now they are saying they still want to conclude their meeting and then thereafter they will be able to communicate to me," said Ngoma after constantly being persuaded to relinquish his new position when he went for a meeting at the secretariat by Rufunsa MMD member of parliament Kenneth Chipungu.
On complaints by some senior party members who felt disappointed after helping him win back the seat which was petitioned by the PF, Ngoma responded: "Who spent that money? No! No! They never spent anything in terms of the legal fees. It was borne by myself. I am telling you sir, that the legal fees were borne by myself, not by the party. It is not just me but all the other candidates who were petitioned. So we paid for everything."
And ruling on a point of order raised by Kawambwa PF member of parliament Nickson Chilangwa on whether the MMD was in order to threaten members appointed as deputy ministers with expulsion to persuade them to vote in a particular way on any future motions, Banda said while the former was right that the president had powers to appoint ministers from the House, it was extremely difficult for him to rule on the other submission over the threats of expulsion on MMD members serving in government in the absence of evidence.
"It is extremely difficult for the chair to rule on the other leg of your submission as you have not placed evidence on the table," said Banda.
Chilangwa said according to standing orders and privileges, no one can threaten, persuade or influence any member to vote on any motion in a particular way against their will.
He said according to Article 46.2 of the Constitution: "Appointment to the office of minister shall be made from amongst members of the National Assembly" and Article 47.3 which says, "Appointment to the office of provincial deputy minister and deputy minister shall be made from amongst members of parliament", President Sata is empowered to appoint any member of parliament as Cabinet minister, provincial minister and deputy minister.
"...We know that the president of MMD Nevers Mumba was appointed as an MP and even as Vice-President when he was president of the NCC party and was not expelled.
The late president Levy Mwanawasa appointed him even after the man (Nevers) had lost an election as presidential candidate. He was only fired after he started undermining the late president by holding press conferences at Government House, which had never happened in the history of Zambia," said Chilangwa.
» More from Main Story » Homepage
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, ELIJAH MUCHIMA, MMD, PF
Read more...
Muchima urges nurses to be compassionate in their work
By Sandra Lombe in Livingstone
Sun 31 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT
SOUTHERN Province minister Elijah Muchima has urged nurses to be compassionate and diligent as they execute their work.
Officiating at a combined Livingstone and Western schools of nursing graduation ceremonies and Livingstone General Hospital on Friday, Muchima said nursing was fraught with many challenges which required an exemplary attitude and work.
“Nursing is dynamic and I urge you to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way to learn new things in order to be abreast with emerging diseases and what they demand to ensure safe and optimal care provision,” he told the graduates.
He advised the graduates to stay clear of HIV and if they were positive, to seek medical treatment early.
Muchima said the government was firmly and steadily implementing the human resource for health strategic plan (HRH) to help address the human resource crisis.
He said measures, which include among others training, recruitment and retention of health workers, had been put in place to ensure that there were adequate health workers.
Muchima said the structure of the Ministry of Health was 51,414 but as of September 2010, the head count was at 30,788.
Labels: ELIJAH MUCHIMA, HEALTHCARE, NURSES
Read more...
COMMENT - So Minister Elijah Muchima, when is this going to change? It does not help the farmers to just know why they are not getting payed for their product or work. How about cash on delivery?
Delayed payment of farmers due to untimely budgetary allocation
Friday, October 29, 2010, 11:39
Southern province minister, Elijah Muchima has attributed the late delay of paying farmer’s maize grain sold through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to untimely budgetary allocation that was slotted to the agency during the 2009/10 farming season.
Mr. Muchima however said government was doing everything possible to ensure that all the maize from the season’s bumper harvest shall be secured and paid for.
Officiating at the Chungu , Lwiindi traditional ceremony of chief Chikanta of the Tonga people in Kalomo recently, Mr. Muchima said FRA before the maize buying extension exercise of September 30, to October 30, managed to buy 800,000 x 50 kilo grams of maize requiring a total of K62 billion to be paid out to the farmers.
He however, observed that not all the farmers have been paid to date due to limited budgetary allocation which was given to FRA.
The district in the previous farming seasons saw FRA operating in only 7 buying satellite depots while this year it increased to 21 depots.
” We budgeted for K100 billion for FRA but with due respect even to our mothers, when you are an expectant mother and you are thinking of a giving birth to one child but upon delivery you give birth to triplets what do you expect of your financial planning for your babies?” the minister explained.
And FRA spokesperson, Mwamba Siame also confirmed in an interview that by mid October, a balance of K33.7 billion had been paid out with 29 billion balance to offset the farmers for their produce which is channeled through the local Finance Bank.
Mrs Siame however said the Agency was on a monthly basis remitting colossal millions of kwachas to 68 districts in the country engaged in the maize buying exercise from farmers.
She also disclosed that over 100 tarpaulins have been sent to the district to secure the bought grain that is on open slabs and storage sheds to protect it from excessive exposure to either sun or before the onset of rains.
The FRA is also hauling maize to a newly constructed storage shed in town with a capacity of 400,000 x 50 kilograms bags of maize that costed K1.1 billion and built by a Chinese contractor, Camco.
Meanwhile, government under the National Rural Water and Sanitation Supply programme with the cooperation of the Danish International Development Agency (DANNIDA) is engaged in the construction of Siachiba Dam in chief Simwatachela’s area of Kalomo to alleviate water problems faced by the rurals in the locality.
Kalomo district council secretary, Alfred Mungalu said the construction of the dam which has its works done by 40 per cent by CHOBRO Earth moving would cater for over 3,260 people in the dotted nine villages living around its vicinity. He said the project was one of the biggest GRZ/DANNIDA/Community funded project in the district apart from the drilling of boreholes being carried out in the same programme.
The construction of the dam is to cost over K1.168 billion and so far project chairperson, Ketson Siampule has commended the contractor for good workmanship at the site which he said 4.5 metres depth have been done. Siampule said the water body would alleviate water problems faced by the existence of dry boreholes in the hilly Simwatachela chiefdom part.
And the Kalomo community has expressed concern of the opening of the K1 billion district hospital project which started four years ago. The project undertaken by JOKA construction limited through the poverty reduction programme is suppose to house dual male and female surgical/medical wards together with a children’s wing including a theatre compartment and a maternity wing.
The current district hospital is rated as a grade 1 urban clinic operating without a theatre. However district health sources said almost all the works have been done with only few touches remaining.
Labels: ALFRED MUNGALU, ELIJAH MUCHIMA, FRA, LWIINDI
Read more...
COMMENT - Say no to the 'minimum wage', and instate a living wage, directly linked to the cost of living. End casualisation. Or, raise the minimum wage in the mines to $15/hour, and collect $10/hour in PAYE. That way, the miners get paid a real wage ($5/hour instead of $3/day) and the government still collects $1.16 billion in taxes from the mines. They could scrap all other mining taxes if they did that.
The plight of Sinazongwe coal mine workers
By The Post
Wed 20 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT
The workers at Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe have the right to receive a just wage. And we welcome the position taken by Elijah Muchima, the Minister for Southern Province, to try and end the gross abuse and exploitation of workers at this mine.
As Muchima correctly observed, problems at this mine are not new; “this mine has been a source of concern” for a very long time. All the other ministers before Muchima have had to deal with similar problems at this mine. Truly, Collum Coal Mine is treating its Zambian workers like 21st century slaves. The rights of workers, like all rights, are based on the nature of the human person and his transcendent dignity.
Among these rights are: a just wage; a work environment not harmful to the worker’s physical health or his moral integrity; social security and the right to assemble and protest poor conditions of service. Therefore, remuneration for work should guarantee people a dignified livelihood for themselves and their families.
And it is the duty of government to regulate industries and commerce to protect workers’ rights and to curb exploitation. As things stand today, the labour laws of our country do not adequately protect workers. The minimum wage is too low.
It is easy to complain that employers are paying slave wages without looking at the minimum wage that the government has sanctioned. As things stand today, the minimum wage in this country is K268,000 per month. Any employer who pays a salary not less than K268,000 is within the law and there is no justification for government officials to castigate them for paying such low salaries. Why should the government harangue employers who are not paying salaries that are not below the minimum wage?
There is no need for government officials to talk tough and pretend to be on the side of the workers when the legislation they have put in place allows for the exploitation of workers. Efforts which enable workers to improve their conditions should be valued and promoted by everybody in the nation.
There is need for the government to set a just minimum wage and ensure that employers give a just wage to their employees. And for a country that has declared itself a Christian nation, there is need to realise that human work is a continuation of God’s creation, a duty, a means of pastoral development, redemption and sanctification. We are all called to use our talents through our work in order to build the good of our society. The conditions of Sinazongwe coal mine workers merit special attention.
The roles of business owners and management have central importance from the viewpoint of society, because they are at the heart of that network of technical, commercial, financial and cultural bonds that characterise the modern business reality. For this reason, the exercise of responsibility of business owners and management requires constant reflection on the moral motivations that should guide the personal choices of those to whom these tasks fall. The motive of business should be not only to make profit but even more to contribute to the common good of society.
We should ask ourselves: are the owners of Collum Coal Mine responsibly promoting just wages and working conditions for their workers? Businesses should be characterised by their capacity to serve the common good of society. The sense of responsibility in economic initiative should demonstrate the individual and social virtues necessary for development. A business enterprise must be a community of solidarity.
There is need to realise that people’s work concerns not only the economy but also, and especially, personal values. Work is rooted in respect for human dignity. It is done by a collection of individuals who have chosen to come together and to unite their minds, wills and hearts for the common good. Every effort should be made that the enterprise becomes a community of persons.
All workers have the right to receive a just wage. Employees have a strict duty to give their employers efficient and conscientious work for which they have a right to a just wage. Work provides an opportunity for each of us to show that we are God's image.
This is so because God is Creator and we, every woman and man, show forth God’s image when we continue creation through our work, our labour, our engagement in shaping our country of the future. The dignity of work must be recognised with just wages and safe conditions. All forms of capitalism that place profit before persons and are based on the exploitation of one by another should be condemned.
The situation in Sinazongwe has continued because it has been allowed to continue. The government has not been serious enough to stop it. And the truth is that although government officials have been critical of the wages and working conditions at Collum Coal Mine, this has been nothing more than lip service.
It will be interesting to see if the ultimatum given to Collum Coal Mine by Muchima to improve conditions of service for the workers by the 30th of October will be met. It will be interesting to see what will happen if this ultimatum is not met. Will Muchima close that mine? We doubt it.
We may just end up with the same old story and the same old noise. It is not possible to understand how a government that is strongly opposed to what has been going on at Collum Coal Mine could have tolerated the same for such a long time.
The government knows very well, and it has always known, that the conditions of work at Collum Coal Mine do not measure up to acceptable standards and the workers have been “getting slave salaries”. But what has it done? What will happen if the owners and management of Collum Coal Mine simply say they are paying salaries that are not below the statutory minimum wage of K268,000?
This government is much more keen to go to Parliament and quickly change laws that allow its leaders to steal with impunity but has no time and resources to enact laws that protect workers. What affects them is done very quickly and the resources are always available. But what affects the workers and other people is only attended to on the platform of lip service.
For over nine years, Collum Coal Mine has been exploiting and humiliating workers of Sinazongwe with the full knowledge of their government but nothing has been done to correct the situation. Labour laws are being violated with impunity. Muchima is telling us that at Collum Coal Mine, workers are employed with no contracts and conditions of service and the administration seems to be very naughty.
But nothing has been done for nine years to straighten up things while Zambian coal mine workers continue to be treated “as animals”. We can only hope that Muchima will take things differently and change things for the betterment of Sinazongwe coal mine workers and abolish this 21st century slavery of Sinazongwe coal mine workers.
Labels: CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, ELIJAH MUCHIMA, MINERS, SINAZONGWE
Read more...
Govt gives Collum Mine ultimatum to improve workers conditions
By Sandra Lombe in Livingstone
Wed 20 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT
CHINESE-RUN Collum Coal Mine has been
given up to October 30 this year to improve the workers’ conditions of service. Southern Province minister Elijah Muchima described the plight of the workers as sad, saying they were subjected to
slave wages and worked under
hazardous conditions. Mushima explained that the workers at the mine earned between
K57,000 and K500,000 per month.
[OK. That is $100,- per month max. So this is what we are supposed to give up the mines for? 'Jobs' of hard physical labour, that pay $3,33 PER DAY? This is what the MMD calls 'development'? I hope that the free trade/privatisation SCAM is clear for all to see now. The mines must return to Zambian hands. It matters not 'how well they are run' when the country or the people do not benefit. And to say that 'they bring jobs' is an insult to every Zambian. There is more money in agriculture than these slave wages. - MrK]
“The provincial administration summoned administrators for shaft one, two and six to discuss the happenings of the Collum mine in Sinazongwe district. This mine has been a source of concern. My predecessors complained about the mine and when I was at local government I complained. They are giving slave salaries to Zambians. The law is very clear on labour conditions,” Muchima said.
“Underground miners get K22,000 per day while those upper get K20,000. They get K2,000 as lunch allowance. They used to provide food but it was fit for pigs, not human beings. What can one buy from K2,000? You can’t survive on Coca-Cola when you are doing a hard job.
And this is a mine, which has been in existence for the past nine years. Only one administrator, Rui came. We had a good meeting with him and we have expressed our disappointment. As government, we have to make the situation conducive but with this mine, it’s different.”
Muchima disclosed that workers at the mine had no contracts, conditions of service and no one had a permanent job.
He said the mine management seemed to be “naughty” but no one would be protected in the event that they committed a crime.
“Contrary to what people are saying that the Chinese are above the law, no one will be protected when they commit a crime. We are not promoting anarchy,” he said. “Zambians are being treated as animals.”
Muchima said the mine administrators complained about the lack of a market for coal but he wondered why they could not reduce the number of workers so that they could remunerate them well.
He said the government would resolve the problems at the mine because they wanted to protect the interests of Zambians.
Muchima said the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) and ministries of health, labour, local government and mines were involved in the matter to ensure that the mine was safe.
Muchima said the discharge of water from the mine contaminated a nearby stream and there were no toilets underground.
“On 1st November 2010 we want to see that they have complied with the conditions of service and others. On 2nd November we will visit the mine. Nobody should be fired due to the protest,” he said.
Muchima said the Chinese embassy had also directed the
managers at the mine to improve the workers’ conditions of service.
In 2006, then Southern Province minister Alice Simango openly wept after she toured Collum Coal Mine and saw the workers emerge from a tunnel half-naked and barefoot.
Simango, who was blocked from entering the mine by the Chinese, later recommended that it be closed to protect human life.
Last year, operations at the mine were suspended indefinitely following two accidents in which two people lost their lives.
Labels: ALICE SIMANGO, CHINESE COLLUM COAL MINE, ELIJAH MUCHIMA
Read more...
Mining in N/Western Province has not benefitted locals, says Muchima
By Jane Mwakasungula in Solwezi
Thu 12 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
INFORMATION deputy minister Elijah Muchima on Monday said people of North Western Province have not benefitted from the mining boom in the province. In an interview, Muchima said the people's outcry in the province was that they had not benefitted from the mining industry because of importing labour from other regions of the country.
He said there was need to incorporate the indigenous inhabitants so that the investment could be protected.
"Indirectly, the people of North Western Province are supposed to be benefiting more than any other in the nation... There are people coming from outside. The outcry of the people in North Western Province is that they have not benefitted from the mines which are making huge profits. We need to protect the investment in the province, but in protecting investments, we need to incorporate the owners. The people are not benefitting, apart from Lumwana which has a different arrangement. The MMD has brought a big development. These are the mines that have landed in Zambia which were not possible in the UNIP era. If you look at the development pattern, it’s not the North Westerners who are benefitting more,” Muchima said.
He said it was saddening that the majority of the employees in the mines were not the locals and wondered why everyone was interested in the once Cinderella province.
When asked about the need for expertise in the mines, Muchima concurred with opposition leaders’ sentiments that there was no need for foreign investors to bring cheap labour when North Western Province had abundant labour.
“Which expertise? A driver, we can train our own drivers. A watchman. We can train a watchman. Even in the field of high levels, there are people also from North Western. There is supposed to be a quarter for the people of the province, the owners of the land. You go to Britain, there are certain quarters for the British, go to South Africa, there are certain quarters for South Africans, the same thing even to the province; there should be a quarter to the owners of the land," he suggested.
Asked whether his proposal should be applied nationally, Muchima said it would be appropriate.
He said there was need to reverse the biased measures taken by the proprietors of the mines and warned that a protest would follow if the act continued.
Muchima accused Kansanshi Mining of importing labour force at the expense of the locals.
Meanwhile, Muchima who is Mwinilunga West member of parliament accused Solwezi council of mismanaging resources.
"Recently, there have been rates paid to the council in billions. But when you come down, nobody knows where these billions have gone. What we hear is wrangles and wrangles and wrangles. We need to put proper management in the council and that is when people are going to benefit. Otherwise, when two elephants are fighting, it's the grass that suffers. The differences being experienced at the council are making the people not see the developments," said Muchima.
Labels: ELIJAH MUCHIMA, NEOLIBERALISM, NORTHWESTERN PROVINCE
Read more...
Muchima gives Chinyama ultimatum to withdraw attacks against him
Written by Moses Kuwema
Friday, June 05, 2009 11:04:52 PM
MWINILUNGA West MMD member of parliament Elijah Muchima has given Rodwell Chinyama a seven-day ultimatum to withdraw the attack on his character failure to which he would take legal action.
Chinyama who claims to be the MMD branch chairman for Mwinilunga West accused Muchima of manipulating the party elections by ferrying most of his cadres from rural places to contest district elections.
However, in a statement, Muchima challenged Chinyama to tell the nation about his position in the MMD and when he was elected as Mwinilunga West branch chairman, and his party card number.
“Chinyama has never resigned from All People’s Congress party where he is a chairman. MMD has never changed rules and regulation for dual membership,” Muchima stated.
He urged Chinyama to resign from his party and join the MMD and be a member who should follow the party’s rules and regulations, not bringing confusion.
Muchima stated that the village where he comes from, Chinyama is not even known adding that instead people know him as a crook.
“Mr Chinyama has no reputation to talk about, he is my dependant and I support him financially and materially, he is just biting the finger that feeds him,” he stated.
Muchima charged that Chinyama was being used by three constituency officials who were scared of elections because of their malpractices during the last elections where they did not account for the money given to them.
“They are also scared of the youth empowerment fund which some of them are implicated and I am an advocate of transparency and accountability,” he added.
Muchima stated that Chinyama should be charged for impersonating as MMD branch chairman adding that he also trespassed at his house.
He stated that it was necessary to involve all the wards to elect their leaders because that was what the party constitution stated.
Meanwhile, some MMD officials in Mwinilunga district have refuted allegations by Chinyama that he was a branch chairman for Mwinilunga West Constituency.
This was contained in a letter signed by Jackson Chilengi (MMD district secretary), Edwin Sawomba (Mwinilunga West chairman), Goodson Kapaku(Mwinilunga West secretary), Jameson Kalilombe (MMD district treasurer), Alex Moyela (district vice secretary), Daniel Manjomba (MMD district youth chairperson), Francis Mubambe (youth vice chairman) and Rodgers Lukwesa (youth publicity)
During a joint meeting held on Tuesday, the members discovered that Chinyama was not a member of the MMD but the All People’s Congress party.
The members stated that allegations labelled against Muchima were not true because he only came to the aid of the district party leadership by contributing towards the constituency elections after it was discovered that the party had no capacity to carry out the elections.
Labels: ELIJAH MUCHIMA, MMD, RODWELL CHINYAMA
Read more...
