Sata appoints Lungu acting President
By Joseph Mwenda
Fri 05 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has appointed home affairs minister Edgar Lungu as acting president. And President Sata on Wednesday asked if defence minister Geoffrey Mwamba had stopped 'fighting' with justice minister Wynter Kabimba.
When he arrived at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport around 21:00 hours, President Sata jokingly instructed Lungu to discipline Kabimba.
"Mr President, have you seen this one? You must discipline him," he said as Lungu responded; "right now I can't do anything Your Excellency but I will discipline him as soon as you take off."
The President also told Inspector General of police Stellah Libongani to discipline his aide-de-camp whom he said did not know the way around the airport.
"What kind of ADC is this one", President Sata who normally flies to the airport by helicopter asked as he disembarked from the presidential Mercedes Benz. Where is the IG? Where did you get this man? Can you discipline him. He doesn't know this airport, I know this airport more than him," he said.
And President Sata jokingly referred to Mwamba and Kabimba as 'Fat Albert' and 'Thin Albert' respectively.
As President Sata approached the airport apron, Kabimba and Mwamba together with other government officials lined up to greet him.
When greeting Mwamba, President Sata asked: "Iwe Fat Albert, have you stopped fighting with Thin Albert?"
Mwamba responded that the two ministers had become best friends.
"Your Excellency, we are now best friends," said Mwamba while embracing Kabimba.
President Sata then congratulated them prompting those seeing him off to laugh as he referred to Vice-President Guy Scott as 'White Albert'.
Fat Albert is a character from the 1972-1985 animated TV series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.
President Sata took off for Beijing at about 21:30 hours aboard an Emirates commercial flight.
Labels: EDGAR LUNGU, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, MICHAEL SATA, PF, WYNTER KABIMBA
Read more...
Kabimba pledges to resign as Justice Minister
By Moses Kuwema, Mukosha Funga and Ernest Chanda
Tue 09 Oct. 2012, 12:00 CAT
JUSTICE minister Wynter Kabimba says he is ready to resign once the Anti-Corruption Commission avails him details of corruption allegations against him.
Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has asked Kabimba and his defence counterpart Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba to resign and pave way for smooth investigations against them.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, Kabimba said he would resign from the government as soon as he receives from the ACC the corruption allegations that linked him to some oil deals.
"I can assure you that as soon as I receive those allegations from the ACC, not through the press, I will be the first one to call it quits. I have not received anything from the ACC up to now. I am glad that the ACC itself says the allegations are based on press statements," he said.
ACC public relations manager Timothy Moono last week announced that the commission would institute a preliminary inquiry on Kabimba over allegations of corruption in some oil deals and defence minister Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba's alleged solicitation of contracts at Zesco Limited.
Kabimba urged the ACC to pursue their investigations vigorously and expeditiously and let the Zambian people know the truth about his wrongdoing.
"I owe the people of Zambia to act in an exemplary manner to step down as Minister of Justice.
I think I am in this position to serve the Zambian people and I can only serve them if they have confidence in me.
Once they lose confidence in me, then whom I am I serving? My appeal to the ACC is that they must serve me with those allegations and take them to the people publicly so that they can tell them what wrong I have done," he said.
And in his letter to the ACC, Kabimba thanked them for their vigilance and alertness which he stated they had exhibited in the matter surrounding his alleged corrupt activities.
"As a strong advocate personally in the fight against corruption and also in the stance taken by our party and subsequently our government, I hereby undertake to cooperate with your officers to the fullest measure as they undertake these investigations," he stated.
Kabimba hoped that the ACC would show the people of Zambia that there were no sacred cows in the fight against corruption.
Kabimba is alleged to have been involved in the award of an oil supply contract to Trafigura, while Mwamba is alleged to have physically solicited a contract from Zesco to supply poles.
Mwamba denied the allegations of soliciting a contract at Zesco, but said there was nothing wrong with him doing business because he had been a businessman for many years.
TIZ president Reuben Lifuka said the investigation process should be de-politicised for it to succeed.
"We do therefore appeal to the two ministers to examine their consciences and determine whether it is appropriate for them to continue to serve in their respective public offices in the midst of the investigations by the ACC.
It is our considered view that in the interest of a free and independent investigation, the two ministers should step aside until after the investigations have been concluded," he said.
"This is a litmus test for the PF leadership and now is the time to demonstrate the seriousness that President Sata and his ministers attach to fighting corruption.
As TI Zambia, we are anxious that the investigations by ACC are not politicised and it is necessary therefore that a conducive environment is created. It will be a serious blow to the fight against corruption if the announced preliminary investigation proves to be nothing but a diversionary tactic and with no real intention to bring to book those who may be found wanting."
Lifuka said if the two ministers continued in office, it would create a public perception of political interference in the work of the ACC.
He said as a result, such perception might have a long-lasting damage to the fight against corruption.
"It is our conviction that Hon Kabimba will not have a problem stepping aside, he was after all one of the leading advocates who called on former Minister of Transport and Communication - Hon Dora Siliya to step down at the time a tribunal was constituted to probe her alleged impropriety," Lifuka said.
"We wish to take this opportunity to equally counsel the PF government ministers like Hon Geoffrey Mwamba that serving in government is a call to public service and not an opportunity to further business interests.
No one is begrudging Hon Mwamba's family the opportunity do business with government, but what is in bad taste is for Hon Mwamba's family to take advantage of his privileged position to access government contracts."
He requested public servants seeking business from government through their companies to declare interest before doing so.
Lifuka warned that TIZ would invoke provisions of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act for ministers who fail to declare their assets and liabilities in a timely manner.
He said the fight against corruption in the country would only succeed if it remained objective and unbiased.
"There should be no sacred cows or untouchables in the fight against graft. The PF government owes it to the Zambian people to run a clean government and as such, there should be no allegation of corruption or impropriety which is too big or too small to be overlooked," said Lifuka.
"Similarly, there should be no minister, senior government official or party leader who is indispensable - all of them should be held to same ethical standards. To this extent, therefore, we welcome the decision of the Anti Corruption Commission to institute preliminary investigations against the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Justice, Hon. Geoffrey Mwamba and Hon Wynter Kabimba respectively."
Meanwhile, Kabimba, who is PF secretary general, says the party decided to adopt Steven Masumba as its candidate in the Mufumbwe by-election as a way of rewarding him for his sacrifice.
Kabimba urged all PF members to support Masumba.
He further urged political parties taking part in the by election to embark on peaceful campaigns.
"We want to see peaceful campaigns, this is just a competition for a seat. We are still Zambians all of us and therefore we cannot start fighting amongst ourselves just to win a seat.
My plea to all PF members and all our colleagues that will be participating in the Mufumbwe by-election is please go in there and campaign and give your message to the people and ensure that the repeat of the 2009 experience does not come around. The people of Mufumbwe need a peaceful life and appreciate competitive democracy," he said.
Kabimba highly rated his party's chances in the by-election saying the people of Zambia and Mufumbwe still had a lot of confidence in the PF.
And officially opening a workshop on the sanctity of life and the death penalty organised by Caritas Zambia, Kabimba said the debate on whether or not to keep the death penalty in the current constitution-making process would depend on what Zambians would say.
Kabimba, however, said President Sata did not want to see people die either from road traffic accidents, domestic violence, murder or execution.
"Government will not interfere with either the ongoing process or the submissions that people are making," he said.
Kabimba said the death penalty was not a deterrent against capital offences but stood only as a moral justification that society could avenge death on behalf of those killed by others.
And Joint Policy Action Support Grants (JPAS) chairperson Bishop Innocent Silwamba said there was need for the country to move from retributive to restorative justice.
"We see a paradigm shift in many parts of the world moving from retributive justice to restorative justice; we ask ourselves why Zambia has not followed suit," he said.
Bishop Silwamba said the death penalty was a violation of a fundamental human right.
Labels: GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, TIZ, WYNTER KABIMBA
Read more...
2 Retired Army Generals were paid K100m by an opposition party to assassinate President Sata-GBM
TIME PUBLISHED - Monday, September 10, 2012, 9:27 am
INVESTIGATIONS into the planned assassination of President Michael Sata have revealed that two retired army generals have been paid K100 million each by
a named opposition political party to implement the plot.
Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba disclosed to the Times of Zambia in an interview yesterday that he had information from security investigative wings that two retired generals received K100 million from an opposition political party.
“I have just received an update from our investigative wings and I am talking from facts with an informed point of view that two retired army generals have received K100 million from an opposition party to carry out the assassination plot.
“This is a serious development and I have also directed these investigative wings to go deeper and give more information so that we bring to book these people and the opposition party behind this,’’ Mr Mwamba said
Mr Mwamba said the matter would be probed further to verify the reports and bring culprits to book as this was a grave offence.
Mr Mwamba recently disclosed that an opposition political party was working with some retired army generals to assassinate President Sata.
An unverified alteration on the Wikipedia early this year alleged that President Sata had been assassinated on a Sunday morning in January.
To this effect, Mr Mwamba directed the investigative wings to institute thorough investigations involving the army generals and the political party.
The Minister explained that the two retired army generals had received the monies as part of payments to carry out the intended assassination on the President’s life.
He has warned that Government would not rest but ensure that the culprits working to eliminate the Head of State were apprehended and faced the law.
Mr Mwamba said it was not a threat that Government would deal with the perpetrators squarely because assassinating a Head of State was a serious offence under the laws of Zambia.
[Times of Zambia]
Labels: ASSASSINATION, GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, MICHAEL SATA
Read more...
Chipimo denounces Sata assassination plot pronouncement
By Allan Mulenga
Tue 28 Aug. 2012, 10:20 CAT
NAREP president Elias Chipimo says Geoffrey Mwamba's pronouncements concerning an alleged attempted assassination of President Michael Sata are a political joke.
In an interview yesterday, Chipimo (above) said defence minister Mwamba's pronouncements should have been made in a more appropriate fashion by the relevant authorities, so as not to alarm the public.
He said it was the responsibility of investigative wings to deal with such allegations and not the defence minister.
"This is quite an alarming statement and if it was true, we would expect a much more professional approach to communicating this kind of information to the public. You would expect that there would be an official from the investigative wings, not from the Ministry of Defence, because it is not his job to investigate such an allegation. It is the job of the security wings of this administration.
"It would have been the police; it would probably even be security information handled by the internal security system of this country," he said.
Chipimo urged politicians to desist from making statements that would fuel tension in the country.
"We would urge politicians to desist from making statements that really should be made in a more appropriate fashion by the appropriate authorities. If the police, particularly the Inspector General of Police was to explain to us what was going on in this matter, it might carry a bit more weight and credibility. But as it stands right now, it is made to look as though it is mere politicking. This is the kind of politics that NAREP has been saying: 'we don't want to be part of'. We want to be a part of a constructive approach towards creating development in this country," he said.
"If you look at our history, there has always been accusations...Mrs Nakatindi Wina spent time in the cells under the pretext that she was part of some kind of conspiracy to overthrow the administration at that time. We saw that former president Kaunda was himself detained on Christmas Day by the late former president Chiluba over allegations that he was also involved in some kind of attempts to undermine a legitimately established government," said Chipimo.
On Sunday, Mwamba said that there was an assassination attempt on President Sata.
He said investigations were ongoing.
Mwamba was reacting to UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema who suggested that the defence minister should also be arrested because he had told people in November last year that there was a plot by opposition leaders and some retired generals to assassinate the President.
Labels: ASSASSINATION, ELIAS CHIPIMO, GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, MICHAEL SATA
Read more...
Those who will vote PF out are not yet born - Scott
By Moses Kuwema in Nakonde
Mon 21 Nov. 2011, 13:59 CAT
VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott says the people who will vote out the Patriotic Front from government are not yet born. And Vice-President Scott says he is not a gong'a fake Vice-President, contrary to what he said were people's perceptions.
Meanwhile, earlier during a rally at Waitwika Basic School, the PF candidate for Nakonde Constituency Abel Sichula caused an uproar in the audience when he mistakenly asked them to vote on the MMD symbol of a clock.
During a rally in Chilolwa area on Saturday, Vice-President Scott said there was still 20 more years of PF in government and he urged the people of Nakonde to join the rest of the country in supporting the party.
"A political party is not like a wife or husband where you swear at the church that you will live together until death, no! One day your children will chase the PF but they are too small. People who will chase the PF are not yet born; we still have 20 more years of PF," Vice-President Scott said.
Vice-President Scott said most of the people who were born after UNIP was already in power are the ones that voted them out in 1991.
"Now it is those people who were babies in 1991 that chased MMD in 2011, so babies who are behind your backs or those who are not yet born are the ones who will chase PF maybe after 2040. Now is the beginning of PF's time," he said.
Vice-President Scott said the MMD government lost power because they lost touch with the people and became corrupt.
"MMD was like a rat that overstays in a house; it starts misbehaving even during the day. Do you want to bring back the same rat in the house?" as the audience shouted in disapproval.
Vice-President Scott said the MMD as a party was now in its grave and there was no need of exhuming it.
He wondered why during the campaigns, the MMD came up with slogans like 'Nafuti nafuti' when there was a lot of corruption, poverty and unemployment in the country.
"Nafuti nafuti to what, corruption, poverty and unemployment? I am very happy that they lost, they confused themselves. You must learn to change as people of Nakonde. In the past 10 years I have been in opposition, I was so scared of the police, thinking that they would put me in cells for a weekend but now here they are guarding me and if you try to shake my hand, you will be in trouble," said Vice-President Scott amid laughter from the audience.
And Vice-President Scott, in apparent reference to the opposition that the PF candidate received from the party members in the constituency, said whenever there was an election, there were always complaints.
He urged the members to stop fighting among themselves but work hard to ensure that the PF candidate carries the day on November 28.
Meanwhile, defence minister Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, who is also the party's chairman for elections and campaign manager for the candidate, said he liked the people of Nakonde because they always worked with the government of the day.
"We already have a President for the country in Michael Sata. What we need now is for you people to vote for a PF member of parliament in Nakonde. You people do not believe that there is a change of government, so I brought you the Vice-President. This is not the man that was Vice-President but George Kunda was but you will never see him here; you will only see him on a bus maybe on his way to Tunduma in Tanzania," Mwamba said.
And during the rally at Waitwika Basic School, the PF candidate who was then appealing for votes from the people mistakenly told them to vote on the MMD clock and it only took one of the senior party members to correct the situation.
"People that have spoken here have said so much about the dead watch but please on November 28, vote on the boat," said the official.
Among other people that accompanied Vice-President Scott on his campaign trail were Northern Province minister Freedom Sikazwe, provincial permanent secretary Emmanuel Mwamba and other senior party officials.
Labels: GEOFFREY MWAMBA, GUY SCOTT, NAKONDE, PF
Read more...
TIZ and Caritas question Sata's corruption allergy
By Bright Mukwasa, Chibaula Silwamba and Masuzyo Chakwe
Thu 03 Nov. 2011, 14:30 CAT
Transparency International Zambia and Caritas Zambia have questioned the genuineness of President Michael Sata's allergy to corruption. TIZ says it is difficult for Zambians to believe that Xavier Chungu and Emmanuel Mwamba share in the vision of a zero tolerance for corruption that President Sata has espoused since assuming office.
And Caritas Zambia has said President Sata's botched plans to appoint forgery-convict and corruption suspect Chungu as Luapula Province permanent secretary is a scandal.
Commenting on the Chungu saga and President Sata's swearing in of Mwamba, who is currently before court over a criminal charge as Northern Province permanent secretary, Transparency International Zambia chapter president Reuben Lifuka said his anti-corruption watchdog organisation was deeply disappointed with the President's move to appoint or seek to appoint Chungu and Mwamba as permanent secretaries.
"Mr Chungu was prominently mentioned in the London High Court judgment - and Zambians continue to express anxiety at what they see as limited action by the previous government to recover assets that were mentioned in the London High Court process.
It is shocking therefore that even before these cases are concluded, the President finds it fit to appoint Mr Chungu as permanent secretary. Similarly, Mr Mwamba, as spokesperson of former President Frederick Chiluba, distinguished himself in the manner that he defended his boss on the various corruption charges levelled against him," Lifuka said.
"Clearly, it is difficult for Zambians to believe that both Mr Chungu and Mr Mwamba share in the vision for a zero tolerance for corruption. And if people have no confidence in the people appointed, how will these two discharge their functions?
The questions many people are asking is what is the political or national value of these appointments? It is a betrayal of trust of many people who sacrificed and rendered their support to the cause for change in this country."
According to the Zambian civil service structure, a permanent secretary is the highest civil servant in a ministry or province and is the controlling officer of public resources.
Lifuka said the PF government, and particularly President Sata, should realise that the motivation for change was driven by disillusionment and discontent in the manner that Zambia was governed.
"People were tired of the impunity, arrogance and the corruption of the previous administration. The Zambian people simply could not take it anymore ,that corrupt persons and those who had siphoned public monies were treated like heroes while the lives of ordinary poor Zambians counted for nothing," he said.
"It is a slap in the face for many Zambians to witness the same political traits of nepotism, state capture and cronyism creeping into this government, barely a month into office."
He said the appointments of people with pending cases raises doubts in the minds of Zambians including donors whether President Sata really has any serious intentions to fight corruption or he was simply using that as a political sound bite to attract attention.
Lifuka said many Zambians were worried that many of President Sata's appointments to positions of authority were seemingly driven by a sense of appeasement and cronyism.
"President Sata was elected to provide leadership to this country and not to be the source of employment for friends, relatives and supporters. Government should not be a gravy train and a cash cow but a vehicle for public service," Lifuka said.
"The President has the prerogative to make several appointments to the public service, but surely, is he saying that there are no serving permanent secretaries that performed well and deserve to continue in the service of this country? Is he also saying, there are only one or two serving civil servants who are good enough to rise to the position of PS or any other positions of authority?"
Lifuka urged the government to stick to their promise of professionalising the public service. He said it was sad to hear of the several political party sympathisers that would be going into the diplomatic service at the expense of several career diplomats trained at great cost to the country.
"We find it a sad indictment that the serious role of the diplomatic service is likely to be overran by short-term political considerations.
It is a pity that PF which campaigned on a platform of zero tolerance to corruption and a party that associated itself with the poor, has yet to demonstrate that it is capable of changing the political landscape of this country," said Lifuka.
"The PF government should not be held captive by private interests of its supporters, sympathisers or those who claim to have irrefutable evidence on the misdeeds of the previous administration. President Sata should guard himself against the temptation to abuse the excessive powers of the Presidency and the executive."
Lifuka urged President Sata that the constitutional powers he was wielding were not a badge of honour, but a serious shortcoming and a point people have constantly raised in all the constitutional review processes that Zambia has had after 1991.
"We still stand by our position that this excessive power is responsible for a lot of the corruption that we are witnessing in our country today. The usurping of powers of various government institutions including the Zambia Public Procurement Authority, is in part due to these excessive powers.
We urge the President to be cautious and note that the constitutional powers that he enjoys, can be a double-edged sword, which can make or break him as a leader," he said.
Lifuka urged President Sata to take time and listen to the complaints that the people of Zambia were raising on his appointments and general running of government.
"These sentiments are raised in good faith and he should learn from the MMD leadership which insulated itself from the public and thought they knew it all," said Lifuka. "Zambia is bigger than any one person and President Sata will be making a serious error of judgement if he assumes a position of omnipotence in the managing of national affairs."
And Caritas Zambia executive director Samuel Mulafulafu said it was disappointing that Chungu could be given a position where he was required to be a controlling officer.
Mulafulafu said President Sata had been talking about making the corruption fight his first priority but nobody would think that appointing such people to positions of responsibility was a way to fight corruption.
"We want to completely condemn that appointment. The President owes it to the public to explain why, among all the many Zambians that are able and professionally qualified to take up that position, he had to go ahead and choose Xavier to take up the position of permanent secretary for Luapula Province," Mulafulafu said.
He said Zambians had been watching the way the new government was unfolding and President Sata had a lot of good will from the public in terms of being directed.
Mulafulafu said such appointment would erode any confidence people had in the PF government, especially on the corruption fight as it was a complete contradiction of what he says about fighting corruption.
He said the appointments should be reversed as they were a hindrance to the Zambians, who wanted a clean government.
Mulafulafu said former president Rupiah Banda was removed from power because of not being sincere with the public .
He said Banda went on a programme of reversing the gains that were made in the corruption fight.
He warned the Sata-led government that what it was doing might cause problems for it.
"We are watching as civil society very closely," said Mulafulafu, who headed a consortium of NGOs that conducted the Parralel Vote Tabulation (PVT), which safeguarded President Sata and the Patriotic Front's votes in the September 20 election.
And sources said the appointment of Mwamba had put the judiciary at the crossroads because he was still appearing in court over a contempt of court charge.
"The President must have allowed the security wings to vet the names of his appointees because this situation might expose him to embarassment if Mr Mwamba is found guilty in the on-going court case," said a judiciary source.
"The President must desist from making decisions or appointments that will put him in the position where he will be seen to be antagonising the judiciary or the legislature. There is need for separation of powers."
Mwamba is still facing a criminal offence before the Lusaka High Court for contempt of court for allegedly authoring and publishing two contemptuous articles that circulated on the Zambian Watchdog website that analysed a murder trial.
Labels: CARITAS, CORRUPTION, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, MICHAEL SATA, TIZ, XAVIER CHUNGU
Read more...
MPs cheer Dora Siliya
By Chibaula Silwamba
Fri 07 Oct. 2011, 14:40 CAT
MEMBERS of parliament yesterday cheered Dora Siliya as she made her way to vote for Speaker in the Chambers while information minister Ronnie Shikapwasha was called ‘Chanda Chimba', likening him to freelance journalist Chanda Chimba III.
In their inaugural gathering in the House since their election last month, parliamentarians burst into cheers when former education minister and MMD Petauke Central member of parliament Siliya's name was called to cast her vote for the Speaker.
Siliya, who was dressed in a cream white body fitting suit and a matching Queen's hat, stood up and after leaving her seat, turned around facing her neighbour Kunda and posed for the ruling PF legislators, much to the amusement of the members.
Her action attracted more laughter as information minister Given Lubinda shouted: ‘bokosi! buttocks!"as everyone joined in the laughter.
Siliya won parliamentary re-election in her campaigns where she was urging voters to admire her buttocks.
In trying to tell men not to engage in homosexuality which she had accused the PF of advancing, Siliya was often telling male voters to admire her beautiful and soft buttocks and not their fellow men's.
When Lt Gen Shikapwasha's name was called, PF parliamentarians shouted: "Chanda Chimba! Chanda Chimba!"
Lt Gen Shikapwasha, as minister of information in the Rupiah Banda-government, was a supporter of freelance journalist Chanda Chimba III, who produced hate-speech laced documentaries prior to the September 20 tripartite elections that ended the MMD's 20-year reign.
Some MMD and UPND parliamentarians called PF nominated parliamentarian and Eastern Province minister Solomon Mbuzi "ambuya! grandfather!"
The parliamentarians remarked: "No weapons allowed here" in reference to Mbuzi's walking stick.
But in response, a joyful Mbuzi, who is around 76 years old, raised the PF symbol towards the UPND and MMD parliamentarians.
As home affairs minister Kennedy Sakeni, who is also Mansa Central member of parliament, was walking to the polling booth, PF MPs shouted ‘boma! boma! government! government!' while foreign affairs minister Chishimba Kambwili shouted: "Shikapwasha mwaikatwa, mwakakwa Shikapwasha you are arrested".
Vice-President Guy Scott, Lubinda, defence minister Geoffrey Mwamba and other PF ministers received cheers from their fellow PF members that also shouted: "boma! boma!"
Vice-President Scott proceeded to shake hands with his predecessor Kunda.
Meanwhile, as he was going to vote, UPND's Kalomo Central member of parliament Request Muntanga shouted: "Don't kubeba!"
The session was mainly joyful though most former ministers looked sombre.
Labels: DORA SILIYA, GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, GUY SCOTT, MPs
Read more...
K350 billion leaves Finance Bank
By George Chellah and Maluba Jere
Wed 15 Dec. 2010, 04:00 CAT
FINANCE Bank has recorded withdrawals of more than K350 billion as uncertainty over the bank’s future increased among corporate and individual depositors.
And Lusaka High Court judge-in-charge Philip Musonda has reserved ruling to December 27, 2010 on whether or not shareholders of Finance Bank Zambia Limited (FBZL) should be granted an injunction to restrain Bank of Zambia (BoZ) from taking possession of the bank.
According to sources within FBZL, the bank had continued recording high withdrawals following the BoZ take-over last week Friday.
“Just like you have reported today Tuesday, as of yesterday we actually recorded withdrawals in the range of K350 billion by both individuals and corporate depositors of the bank. You must understand that out of the approximately K350 billion, about K250 billion alone was from the main branch at the head office,” the sources said.
The huge withdrawals also sent panic within the bank forcing the new managers, First Rand Bank to instruct all branches to phone and assure top 20 depositors that their money was safe and the bank was still sound.
“Of course some of the people called were still doubtful of our assurances,” the sources said.
The sources disclosed that the huge withdrawals were an indication that people had lost confidence in Finance Bank.
“You can see, it is clear that people have lost faith in the whole exercise by the central bank that is why they are withdrawing money from the bank at this very fast rate because banking is based on trust,” the sources said.
“I doubt if we are really capable of meeting the withdrawals of about K350 billion from our coffers. At this stage, it’s obvious that the K1.2 trillion you wrote about is the one that is now being used to make things look stable within the bank.”
And ministry of finance sources complained that they had now learnt that the decision taken by BoZ governor Dr Caleb Fundanga was not even brought to the attention of the central bank’s management committee.
“This decision on Finance Bank never involved the BoZ management committee. We are told that it was only a few people who dealt with this issue. I say so because had the decision on Finance Bank involved the management committee, they would have come up with a better option,” the source said.
“There were better options in dealing with Finance Bank instead of this highly suspicious scheme as accurately reported by The Post. But having read what you have exposed, we now understand why even the management committee was kept in the dark about this whole scheme.”
Kasama Central PF member of parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba popularly known as GBM yesterday said he transferred over K1.5 billion from Finance Bank on Monday.
“I transferred that money to another bank because I don’t want to sink with Finance Bank. It happened to me when I was dealing with Meridien Bank. I almost sank with them because immediately I withdrew the money over K2 billion at that time the bank went under,” Mwamba said.
“The same thing applied to Commerce Bank. The same applied again to Credit Africa Bank (CAB), when I withdrew my money that bank went under. I feel that Finance Bank is no longer safe. I don’t want to sink with them or lose my money.”
He said it was clear that Finance Bank had become a political bank.
“And those of us who are in the opposition should be careful because our accounts will be scrutinised. Fortunately, in my case I have never been in minus with Finance Bank. I have always been in credit for fear that if you borrow they can embarrass you,” Mwamba said.
“That’s why I transferred over K1.5 billion from one account and today Tuesday I am doing the same from another account because it’s not safe anymore.”
Chongwe MMD member of parliament, Sylvia Masebo, was also found at Finance Bank’s Mulungushi branch yesterday instructing bank staff to transfer undisclosed amounts of money to other accounts.
And judge Musonda has reserved ruling to December 27, 2010 on whether or not shareholders of FBZL should be granted an injunction to restrain BoZ from taking possession of the bank.
Judge Musonda reserved ruling to that date after an inter-parte hearing in chambers yesterday.
The shareholders of FBZL have asked the court to declare that powers vested in the BoZ by the Banking and Financial Services Act chapter 387 of Zambia can not be used to deprive the shareholders of a financial service provider of their interest in the said entity and vest the same in the government.
The shareholders also want an injunction restraining BoZ or its agents from taking possession of FBZL or otherwise from depriving them (shareholders) of their interests in FBZL until after the trial of the court action or a further order.
According to a statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High court recently, Finsbury Investment Limited, Clarkwell Limited, Job Albert Samuel, Estate of the late Pat Bwalya Puta and Patrick Chamunda are seeking an injunction against BoZ.
They stated that BoZ was about to act in breach of the provisions of the Bank and Financial Services Act by taking possession of FBZ and transfer the same to the government.
The shareholders argued that the action by BoZ would not compensate them in any way.
After reading the affidavit, judge Musonda said the case was best suited for an inter-parte hearing considering the complexity and urgency of the matter.
And judge Musonda has allowed Attorney General Abyudi Shonga to join the proceedings.
In an affidavit in support of ex-parte summons for leave for a non joinder of party, Shonga applied to join the proceedings pursuant to Order 15 Rule 6 (2) (b) (ii) of the Supreme Court practice 1999 edition.
He stated that the case before court raised a wide public interest and policy saying FBZ was a bank in which the depositors (public) were likely to be affected by the outcome of the case.
Shonga explained that as custodians of public interest and policy, it would be in the interest of justice to have the state join as an intervener.
He said there would be no prejudice to any of the parties to the action if the state joined the proceedings.
Judge Musonda has asked the parties to file written submissions in the case on December 17, 2010.
Labels: BOZ, CORRUPTION, FINANCE BANK, GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, PHILIP MUSONDA
Read more...
GBM pleads not guilty to assault
By Namatama Mundia
Thu 16 Sep. 2010, 15:10 CAT
KASAMA Central PF member of parliament Geoffrey Mwamba has pleaded not guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Taking plea before Lusaka chief resident magistrate Charles Kafunda, Mwamba, 51, popularly known as GBM gave his occupation as a businessman and politician of house number 10, Roan Road, Kabulonga.
GBM, who is charged with one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to section 248 Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia, denied the charge. A calm-looking and jovial Mwamba arrived at court in the company of his wife, Chama.
Particulars of the offence allege that Mwamba on September 5, 2010 in Lusaka did assault Chama Mwamba, his wife, thereby causing actual bodily harm.
Magistrate Kafunda asked if Mwamba understood the charge, and he responded in the affirmative.
“Yes, I understand the charge and I deny it,” Mwamba said.
After plea, Mwamba’s lawyer Mumba Kapumpa applied that the matter be withdrawn because the couple had reconciled.
“…Since he (Mwamba) has been charged, there has been communication and reconciliation between the complainant Chama and Mr Geoffrey Mwamba. To this effect, the complainant has given a statement of reconciliation to the police to withdraw the matter,” Kapumpa said.
But Kafunda said: “Let us set trial dates first and that application can be handled later. Right now, I have a lot of cases to attend to. I will restrict myself to plea because the matter came up for plea.”
State prosecutor Mwewa Musonda indicated to the court that the prosecution would call four witnesses.
And magistrate Kafunda adjourned the matter to October 21, 2010 at 14:00 hours.
Labels: COURTS, GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA
Read more...
It’s unfortunate that Rupiah is hoping for a by-election - Shakas
By Patson Chilemba
Tue 14 Sep. 2010, 04:01 CAT
KATUBA MMD member of parliament, Jonas Shakafuswa, yesterday observed that it is unfortunate that President Rupiah Banda could be hoping for by-elections instead of protecting the meager resources to develop the country.
Commenting on President Banda’s remarks in Kasama over the weekend that he was hoping that there would be a by-election in Kasama, Shakafuswa wondered what President Banda’s priorities were.
“It is very unfortunate because he is the one who should know what problems exist in raising money. People are not being paid on time. The contractors are not being paid on time. So he should be concerned about saving money on behalf of the Zambians. And it shouldn’t just be political rhetoric,” he said.
Sahakafuswa said he did not support the wastage of national resources on unnecessary by-elections.
“That is why you see I had to spend time with him Kasama Patriotic Front member of parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba convincing him that the people of Kasama did not want to be the ones who are causing unnecessary expenditure of the meager government resources,” Shakafuswa said.
“So to me what GBM has done has to be commended. He wanted to do away with his party but we went there, told him that ‘no, it isn’t the party which is in contention here, it is the nation spending money, and the people of Kasama after the by-election of Saviour Chishimba you want to give them another by-election’.”
Shakafuswa said President Banda called himself “father of the nation”; therefore he should not restrict himself to the MMD but the nation as well.
He said if he were father of the nation he would have embraced people like George Mpombo and Ng’andu Magande.
“Late Mpulungu MMD member of parliament Lameck Chibombamilimo, the member who he never even reconciled with, and I asked them to say when they reconciled with Chibombamilimo. They never reconciled,” said Shakafuswa. “Rupiah Banda forgets that when he wants power he forgets that he is the father of the nation. When he wants power for himself he forgets that he is the father of the nation.”
Speaking at Kasama airport when he arrived for Ukusefya pa ngwena traditional ceremony last Saturday, President Banda said he thought GBM would resign so that MMD and PF could meet in the by-election.
“I was hoping that we have another by-election but it looks like my colleague and cousin has looked and said ‘aah if I give up this, my party might lose altogether’. So he has a re-thought and decided that he is coming to ask you whether he should resign or not. It’s up to you to do whatever you want to do. But we were ready for that by-election,” said President Banda.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, JONAS SHAKAFUSWA, RUPIAH BANDA
Read more...
It will be irresponsible for us to divorce - GBM
By Chibaula Silwamba
Tue 14 Sep. 2010, 04:02 CAT
IT will be irresponsible for us to divorce, Kasama Central PF member of parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) said yesterday. In an interview after he was arrested for assaulting his wife Chama, GBM said he had reconciled with his wife.
“She is the mother of my five children and grandmother of my three grand children so it will irresponsible for the two of us to divorce,” GBM said.
“I have said sorry to my wife for what happened and she has accepted my apology. I also continue to apologise to the public and I expect that they will accept my apology. I am really sorry. My wife and I have lived together for more than 32 years. This means that we have spent more than half our lives together, so it will be very irresponsible for us to divorce at this stage. What happened is unfortunate and I most regret it. Those who have followed my family life know that I love my wife and she loves me. This is how we intend to continue living as a family.”
Earlier, officers at Woodlands Police Station in Lusaka formally arrested GBM for assault.
GBM, who arrived at the police station arm-in-arm with his wife around 14:00 hours - was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and will appear in the Lusaka Magistrate’s court on Thursday.
“I have been formally arrested and I will appear in court on Thursday September 16, 2010,” GBM said.
GBM was at Woodlands police station for about one hour. After being arrested, he waited for a while to have his police bond signed because the officer-in-charge was away. When the officer-in-charge arrived, GBM and his wife went to the officer-in-charge’s office to finalise the bond process.
Lusaka businessman Sydney Chileshe and National Revolution Party (NRP) leader Cosmo Mumba signed for GBM’s bond as sureties.
GBM, who held Chama’s arm as they were leaving the police station smiled while his wife looked shyly.
GBM’s lawyer Mumba Kapumpa refused to comment and stopped his client from making any statement to journalists.
Last Sunday, GBM battered his wife Chama over a marital dispute. A medical report revealed that she sustained a cut on her forehead and general body pains.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, PF
Read more...
Sata replaces GBM with Simbyakula
By George Chellah
Tue 14 Sep. 2010, 04:01 CAT
PF leader Michael Sata has appointed prominent legal expert and former Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education (ZIALE) director Dr Ngosa Simbyakula as acting party chairman for elections. Dr Simbyakula replaces Kasama Central member of parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba popularly known as GBM, who was suspended last week for assaulting his wife, Chama.
In a letter to Dr Simbyakula dated September 9, 2010, which was also copied to PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba and Mwamba, Sata notified Dr Simbyakula of his new portfolio.
“I am pleased to inform you that I have decided to appoint you as acting chairman of the election committee of the Central Committee,” read Sata’s letter.
“Please liaise with the secretary general who shall brief you on any outstanding election programmes which will require your immediate attention.”
Dr Simbyakula is an advocate of the High Court and Supreme Court of Zambia. He was admitted to the Bar in 1981 and has been practicing law since then.
He is also a qualified arbitrator.
Dr. Simbyakula has been lecturing at the University of Zambia (UNZA), School of Law since 1990.
He served as Dean of the School of Law from 1993 to 1998.
Dr. Simbyakula previously served as permanent secretary for the Copperbelt Province, permanent secretary Ministry of Justice and permanent secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dr Simbyakula was director at ZIALE from March 2006 to December 2009 and he also served as vice-chairperson of the Revenue Appeals Tribunal since April 2004 till this year.
Meanwhile, the Southern Province PF youth league conference, which convened in Choma over the weekend, has resolved to mobilise and campaign for the party in the province.
PF Southern Province youth chairman Brave Mweetwa said the youths resolved to support PF leader Michael Sata as a presidential candidate in 2011 general elections.
“The youths resolved as follows: To condemn the culture of political violence and called for a clean and non-violent campaign and that all parties should publicly denounce violence as the PF has done, the youths also called for exemplary behaviour and good conduct among all the leaders of the party for the youth to emulate,” Mweetwa said.
“The youths also declared that Zambia will be a corrupt free nation under PF after the 2011 general elections, the youths called for an independent judiciary free from MMD interference and direction, the youths resolved that the provincial youth committee should spearhead the mobilization and recruitment of all the youths in the province.
“The youths called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to extend the voter registration period as many people in the province are not aware due to lack of publicity and the youths have also called upon the party to provide a motor vehicle in the province for youth party mobilization.”
Labels: GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, MICHAEL SATA, NGOSA SIMBYAKULA, PF
Read more...
GBM’s decision to resign was a honourable one - CCZ
By Kombe Chimpinde
Mon 13 Sep. 2010, 14:00 CAT
KASAMA Central member of parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba's earlier decision to resign as member of parliament was a very honourable one, Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) have said.
And CCZ secretary general Reverand Susanne Matale has said Mwamba popularly known as GBM is trivializing gender violence which was a very serious matter. In an interview with Post online Rev. Matale described as disheartening the statement by GBM where he said wife battering was normal. Mwamba had last week battered his wife after a marital dispute.
The ordeal was followed by Mwamba's suspension from the position of elections chairman of PF by party president Micheal Sata who categorically stated that he hated violence and that he would not tolerate any form of violence whether it was coming from his party or other parties.
Police have since opened a docket on the case.
Rev. Matale condemned the position in trying to justify and trivialise gender based violence as normal.
“It is very disheartening to read that Mr Mwamba thinks beating women is normal. His behaviour is characteristic of an unaware, negligent and primeval human being, which I hope he is not. If my assertion is correct then he is not suitable to be a leader or a legislator or indeed a husband,” Rev. Matale charged.
“The culture Mr Mwamba is holding on to is no longer valid in the 21st Century. You do not batter your wife because you love her. This notion is contrary to the values of love, care, compassion, forgiving. Violence is not part of love.”
Rev. Matale who sounded emotional reminded Mwamba that women were not objects or tools for pleasure or mistreatment by men stressing that women were God’s creation who must be accorded full respect and equal treatment with men.
She has also advised Mwamba to desist from the public and drop into private life on moral grounds.
“He should take my earlier advice to drop out of sight into private life. Parliament should not tolerate men who are violent against women or indeed who are violent at any time. Mr Mwamba’s earlier decision to quit Parliament was a very honourable one. The moral equation far outweighs the cost of a by-election in my view,” she observed.
She noted that Parliament should come up with a mechanism that was going to deal with parliamentarians, whether male or female, who have violent characteristics like the one exhibited by Mwamba.
Meanwhile Matale has called on the leadership of the PF to firmly deal with Mwamba who they said should not be treated lightly.
“The PF should not treat him with kid gloves because he is a political leader and he cannot compare himself to everyone. He carries a responsibility to the nation, he should lead by example and he should not reduce himself to low levels of integrity. Gender violence is a very serious matter and should not be trivialised,” charged Rev. Matale.
Labels: CCZ, GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, PF, SUZANNE MATALE
Read more...
GBM should be ashamed
By The Post
Sun 12 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
Conflict is a natural part of human relations. By conflict, we mean a difference of opinion about how things should be handled or done. We also mean varying views about how situations or indeed even resources should be handled.
It is natural for even the most accommodating friends and relations to have differences. It is therefore important that we all learn how to handle conflict in such a way that society is able to function properly.
From the time we are born, we are trained in one way or the other to handle conflict. Babies cry to get the attention of their mother and therefore get whatever it is that they need. Children are impatient about their demands. They want everything now; they cannot wait, and they want it all their way. This is what defines their existence at that stage in their lives. And as adults, we deal with children with an understanding of the limitations that they have because of the stage at which they are in their development. We take the opportunity to teach them stage by stage how to behave and what not to do. This is normal in dealing with children.
But we have problems when adults begin to behave like children. When an adult believes that he or she always has to get his or her way and it is okay to throw a temper tantrum regardless of where that might lead, then there is a huge problem. Such an adult, although adult in body, may actually be a baby trapped in a fully grown person’s body.
Unfortunately, this is what we see in the behaviour of Lusak, grandmother, sister and daughter to somebody. This is a person that is supposed ta businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, otherwise known as GBM. This man comes across as a person who has failed to learn the discipline of containing his emotions and appetites. It is wrong for a person of his age to resort to violence against his wife over domestic differences. It is even more disastrous that such a person was an elected representative of the people of Kasama. That in itself should have told him that his behaviour ought to be exemplary. Resorting to wife battering can never be justifiable under any circumstances. GBM’s wife is a grown woman, a mothero mean the most to GBM and yet he chooses to deal with her as if she were rubbish. That behaviour speaks volumes about GBM’s inner being. There is something wrong with this man. It seems violence replaces his ability to communicate every time he has a problem. He has a childish and reckless belief that violence is excusable because of who he is. We say this because it is not the first time that GBM has been involved in violence. It looks like to him, it is normal to fight. But this is not acceptable human behaviour. It seems even workers have been brutalised by him. It would appear GBM has never learnt any self-control.
The violence that GBM meted against his wife has given an appropriate, if not unfortunate, opportunity to condemn this shameful practice that still haunts our society. There are men who believe that they are entitled to control their wives or even girlfriends by any means possible. And violence is just one of them. Violence against another human being should never be condoned, but worse still, violence against a defenseless wife should never be accepted. GBM humiliated his wife, his children, his own family by this foolish behaviour and yet from the way he is going about issues, he does not seem to be remorseful at all. GBM believes he is entitled to this kind of behaviour. We should realise that the violence that GBM meted against his wife was not only an offence against Mrs Mwamba. It is also an offence against society. When people brutalise their wives, they brutalise society as well. They leave scars on those women and their children that come to haunt society in years to come.
There is a good reason for society to abhor this shameful and anti-social behaviour.
It is good that for whatever reason - and it seems that childish ego is not far from it - GBM has decided to resign from politics. We say it is good because a person who can inflict such violence against his wife, a person he is supposed to love, defend and care for, cannot be expected to love society. It demonstrates that his involvement in politics may be driven by the same childish ego that has led him to resign. In other words, GBM by his conduct has proved that he can never be a servant of the people.
It is good that his party decided to suspend him as soon as these matters became public. We say this because it is not right for political parties to impose leaders upon our people who are given to anti-social. It is not always that political parties move against their senior members when they conduct themselves in shameful ways. In fact, more often than not, politicians tend to protect each other and hide behind the notion that whatever those problems are, they are private. There is nothing private about wife battering. This is something that we all must condemn in the strongest terms possible. In fact, as a newspaper, we have included in our disciplinary code the offence of spouse battering. This offence renders the offender liable to instant dismissal. We will not condone violence against spouses regardless of who is involved. We are a private entity and therefore, we believe that the obligation on public leaders is even higher than what is ours.
There is a tendency in our society to believe that people’s anti-social behaviour can be separated from their performance as leaders. In other words, we seem to believe that somebody can be scandalous and despicable in their private lives and yet be able to perform in a leadership position. If somebody cannot manage their behaviour, how can they be a leader?
There is also a worrying trend of Rupiah Banda’s government turning everything into politics, even if it means condoning violence and other illegal activities from people that are close to him.
We have in mind here a number of instances where Rupiah has appeared impotent to take action against his people who do wrong things. Not very long ago, we carried a picture in the paper of Gastone Sichilima, a deputy minister in the Office of the Vice-President at the time, engaged in a fist fight with a member of the public. Rupiah and his shameful government did nothing about that. They were quiet. To them, it was normal for a government minister to engage in violence as long as they thought it advanced their political ends. To this day, not even the police took an interest in that matter. No one was arrested or even questioned. We have no doubt that if Gastone had been an opposition member of parliament, disgraced Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde would have been quick to act.
There is also the case of Solomon Musonda who shot a person. It took Rupiah and his minions ages to decide to have this man arrested. Even when he was arrested, they did everything to give him preferential treatment. Instead of charging him with attempted murder, they found some silly charge to give him. His treatment by the police was also different to what they routinely give to those that they consider their enemies. What about the case of losing MMD Mufumbwe by-election candidate Mulondwe Muzungu’s son? Again, although that poor boy killed people in a road accident, it took unnecessarily long for anything to be done. The only reason that they were not able to move, as they do when its opposition members, was because of politics. It is wrong for the government to do things whose effect is to condone wrong behaviour.
This is why we say that it is good that GBM’s party decided to take the difficult decision of acting against one of their senior members. What GBM did is not defensible under any circumstances. It should also help us to take a clear position against violence of any type.
We do not believe, however, that Rupiah believes that violence is wrong. We say this because we now have enough instances where Rupiah has given equivocal comments on questions of violence, not least against this newspaper and its reporters. It is not too long ago that William Banda issued threats of violence against this newspaper. No marks will be given for guessing what has happened to William Banda for issuing those threats because it is obvious that nothing will be done or could be done. William Banda’s violent forays are executed under the protection and blessing of Rupiah himself.
As for GBM, he should be ashamed of himself. It is time for him to grow up. If he cannot respect himself, at least he should respect his children whose mother he batters.
Labels: GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, PF
Read more...
Politicians taking Zambians for granted - AVAP
By Patson Chilemba
Sun 12 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
ZAMBIAN politicians are taking people for granted, Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) director Bonny Tembo charged yesterday.
Commenting on the recent by-elections caused by Luena member of parliament Charles Milupi and the MMD’s expulsion of their members of parliament George Mpombo Kafulafuta and Ng’andu Magande Chilanga and the resignation of George Bwalya Mwamba GBM as Kasama PF member of parliament, Tembo said AVAP was deeply concerned that a lot of national resources kept being wasted through unnecessary by-elections.
“Now we have a series of by-elections. There is Mpulungu, Namwala is on the standby. In Chilanga it’s obvious Magande is very clear he doesn’t want to be associated with the plunder of having by-elections. Now we have Kasama. How much are we going to spend? Already the ECZ Electoral Commission of Zambia is being overstretched,” Tembo said.
“They politicians are taking people for granted because they use money to entice people to say they are good people who can deliver.”
Tembo said since 2007, the country has had over 12 parliamentary by-elections.
He said the first of these “careless” by-elections was caused by Rose Banda who resigned from UNIP to join the MMD.
“The people feel betrayed and people say ‘why vote’? What are they benefiting after eating those short term gains, after the campaign back to poverty?” Tembo said.
He said people should critically scrutinize candidates who presented themselves to them.
Tembo said there was also need to reform the laws governing the elections.
“If there is a law to say ‘anybody who causes a wasteful by-election has to bear the cost or has to be prosecuted’, I am sure that these politicians will be able to abide. Look at Kasama-Central, Savior Chishimba abandoned the electorate, then last year we had the by-elections,” Tembo said.
“GBM without finishing one year he has abandoned them. So you will make people suffer. People are suffering. For them to queue and in the heat of the Sun, especially those which are coming on 28th October, people are going to queue for long hours. They are going to suffer.”
Tembo said some politicians even had the audacity to say that the people would accept their resignations or their decisions to expel their members of parliament.
“Which people are going to understand?” asked Tembo.
The MMD last Saturday expelled Magande and Mpombo.
Magande has since declared that he would not contest his expulsion and the Chilanga seat.
A few days later, GBM resigned as Kasama-Central member of parliament a few hours after receiving a letter of suspension from his party leader Michael Sata.
GBM allegedly assaulted his wife Chama on Sunday after a domestic dispute.
A few months ago, Milupi caused a by-election when he resigned as Luena independent member of parliament only to re-contest the same seat on the Alliance for Development and Democracy (ADD) ticket and won.
Labels: AVAP, BONNIE TEMBO, GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, SAVIOUR CHISHIMBA
Read more...
COMMENT - GBM could easily lose 120 lbs.
Leaders should be exemplary in their conduct – Sata
By Patson Chilemba in Lusaka and Bivan Saluseki and Chiwoyu Sin
Sat 11 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday said political leaders should be exemplary in their conduct. And senior chief Mwamba of the Bemba speaking people of Kasama yesterday said PF leader Michael Sata has shown that he is able to discipline members of his party.
Meanwhile, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM’s) decision to resign as Kasama area member of parliament has left most people here shocked. Commenting on the resignation of Mwamba, popularly known as GBM, as Kasama PF member of parliament, Sata said leaders should be exemplary to the people.
“The MMD have not suspended MMD Serenje member of parliament Dr Solomon Musonda, with us we have suspended GBM. The whole point is if people want to be leaders they must show a good example which people must emulate,” he said.
Sata said he still did not know if GBM had resigned because he only heard about the matter in the press.
“If he wants to resign as MP, the place to resign is Parliament, not us. The Speaker doesn’t act on copies. He decided on his own to come, and he decides on his own to go. Nobody can stand in his way,” Sata said.
“The Constitution as it is now, you can’t rule out by-elections. It’s either we have to put in the Constitution some pledge by those who are aspiring to be MP because the point is you can’t avoid a by-election.”
Sata said people like Dr Musonda were very lucky because they could have faced disciplinary action had they been in PF. He said leaders should be well mannered.
“It doesn’t matter how much money you have. It doesn’t matter how nourished you are. But we go to every election to go and plead to the poor people to vote for us. We must respect them. We don’t have any monopoly of inflicting pain on others,” Sata said.
“The whole point is if there is a by-election, which I very much doubt, we have no choice. This is the second person we are losing and this helps send a message that our central committee should be very, very careful when scrutinizing would be candidates.”
Sata said the majority of rebels in PF were people who were accepted from other political parties.
He said the party did not have problems with original members like Roan PF member of parliament Chishimba Kambwili.
“It is new comers where we have problems. For example Bhahati, Chimbaka came from MMD, Wusakile, Barnabas Chellah came from MMD, Kawambwa, the woman Elizabeth Chitika came from FDD. The list is endless,” Sata said.
“And this is making it very difficult. We trust people, we trust Zambians as PF. That is why we don’t have cards because if we had cards there will be a strain of saying ‘you must be so many years holding that particular card’.”
Sata said he did not condone violence.
“Whether it is from Dr Musonda, MMD Lusaka Province chairperson William Banda with screw drivers, whether it is from GBM, violence is violence,” said Sata.
GBM on Thursday resigned as member of parliament a few hours after receiving a letter of suspension from his party leader, Sata.
Mwamba allegedly assaulted his wife Chama on Sunday after a domestic dispute.
In a letter to Sata dated September 9, 2010, which was also copied to Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa, GBM stated that he had resigned in order to concentrate on his business.
Earlier in the day, Sata temporarily relieved GBM of his duties as party chairman for elections following his domestic problems.
In a letter to GBM dated September 9, 2010, Sata stated that he had taken the decision in the interest of the party and the public at large.
And chief Mwamba, who is related to GBM, said Sata was right to put his members, and PF as a house, in order because every party needed discipline.
“Society needs guidance. Leadership is self discipline and we should give good examples,” he said.
“According to what I heard, Sata suspended GBM and I think that’s what led to his resignation. As leaders we need to be patient and respect the decision of the leaders of our parties. Whereas I don’t ascribe to whatever happened to GBM and his wife, I think he should reconsider and finish his term. It’s costly for the government and the political party itself. The PF will lose a lot of money which can be used for other purposes.”
Chief Mwamba said generally, the Kasama central populace was sad at the rate of the resignations.
He said Kasama was reeling from the resignation of Saviour Chishimba, and beginning to carry on, only to have another resignation.
“It’s frustrating to the people to be voting and especially to me who is close to GBM as a family member,” he said.
On GBM’s businesses suffering as a result of politics, chief Mwamba said there was also a tendency in African politics to fix political opponents.
“There’s a wrong tendency of cat and mouse where you squeeze each other. Businesses are affected but this is a sad state of affairs. It will mean that those in government, when they go out, they will also be squeezed. Politics should be politics. Business should be business,” said chief Mwamba.
And some Kasama residents have expressed shock at the resignation of GBM.
Kenneth Mutale said GBM should have known that his actions beating the wife were wrong for a leader.
Martin Mulenga said: “It also shows that as leaders we should learn to control our emotions. To me both decisions by GBM were emotional. He beat the wife out of emotion and he has resigned out of emotions.”
Meanwhile Northern Province PF chairman Frederick Chisanga has declared that even though the people were shocked with GBM’s decision to resign, the party was ready for any by-election.
Chisanga said most Kasama residents had refused to accept GBM’s resignation.
“People came to my home and said his decision to resign as MP was not in good faith. I also told him (GBM) that he should have stepped down as chair for elections and not as MP. Now we are going to have two by-elections here,” he said.
Chisanga said the by-elections would be costly for the party and government.
“But psychologically, we are ready…It’s only that the by-election is in the same place. We are looking at the period of time, it’s too short for elections. But generally we are always ready in case RB President Rupiah Banda dissolves parliament,” said Chisanga.
“But to tell you, in Kasama, we are shocked. It has come as a surprise. He GBM promised that he is coming to Kasama tomorrow today to explain.”
When news of GBM’s resignation began to filter through, in this rural town in the morning, scores of people milled around newspaper vending points to find out what exactly had befallen Kasama.
Some tried to confirm and reconfirmed from friends with others saying they would wait for Sata to tell them.
GBM’s resignation has somewhat changed the ceremonial mood leading to Ukusefya pangwena, to that of politics in Kasama.
Some of the people who supported GBM, poured scorn for both his decisions while some PF constituency officials rushed to the local radio station to calm down people.
Meanwhile, MMD acting national secretary Chembe Nyangu has said the ruling party is going to win the Kasama Central seat following the resignation of area Member of Parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba.
In an interview after Zain Zambia and some journalists called on provincial minister John Chinyanta at the provincial administration in Kasama yesterday, Nyangu said the MMD had already started campaigning in the area following the resignation of Mwamba.
Nyangu said the ruling party has been vindicated over its opposition
to the election of Mwamba last year.
“When we were saying MMD is ruling party and the people should vote for MMD…but the people went ahead and voted for opposition Member of Parliament,” Nyangu said. “The MMD is the ruling party and what we told the people a few months ago has happened. It hasn’t taken long and we have been vindicated that the MMD should have been voted into power.
“Within one term of parliamentary term, two Members of Parliament have resigned. But the question is why? It means there is something wrong within PF. We are saying this time it is our time seat and we are getting it. That is why I have come here. He Mwamba resigned yesterday and I am here, meaning what? It’s to prepare for
the forthcoming bye-election.”
He regretted that Mwamba’s businesses had suffered due to the MP’s
involvement in politics.
“The loss of business due to joining politics is personal. I don’t know how much he was spending on PF activities but if PF means him financing PF, then it is most unfortunate that his business has suffered,” said Nyangu.
And MMD Northern Province vice chairman Gaston Sichilima has charged that the PF is broke and that is why it is calling for early elections.
Sichilima said PF's popularity was waning fast in Northern province and that MMD was on the mission to recover its fortunes in the area.
“PF is not just slowly…but it’s melted completely,” Sichilima said.
“Even the presence of PF in Northern Province is going to actually
go.”
Sichilima charged that the PF was broke and that was why it was calling for early polls.
“These are indications of failures,” said Sichilima. “…There is no money so they are calling for their masters to fund them. As we are talking, they are stepping in their banks. Where they are getting the money we know, and when their master funds them, they will beef up their economies on individual basis.”
Labels: CORRUPTION, GASTON SICHILEMA, GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, PF
Read more...
GBM resigns after suspension
By George Chellah
Fri 10 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
Lusaka businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba popularly known as GBM yesterday resigned as Kasama Central PF member of parliament a few hours after receiving a letter of suspension from his party leader Michael Sata for assaulting his wife.
In a letter to PF leader Michael Sata dated September 9, 2010, which was also copied to Speaker of the National Assembly Amusa Mwanamwambwa, GBM stated that he had decided to resign in order to concentrate on his business.
“Dear Sir, I have decided to tender in my resignation as Patriotic Front member of parliament for Kasama Central with immediate effect to enable me concentrate on my business, which has been affected due to my involvement in active politics,” GBM stated.
“It is a pity that I have made this decision without consulting my people of Kasama Central but I am sure they will understand my situation. And I will be traveling there Kasama to go and explain the circumstances and at the same time I wish to thank them for showing confidence in me for electing me as their area member of parliament last October 15, 2009, under Patriotic Front ticket. Indeed, on my own behalf I wish to thank you for serving in your party as member of parliament and chairperson of elections MCC.”
Earlier in the day, Sata temporarily relieved GBM of his duties as party chairman for elections following his domestic problems.
In a letter to GBM dated September 9, 2010, Sata stated that he had taken the decision in the interest of the party and the public at large.
“I would like to inform you that following your domestic problems which have attracted wide spread media publicity since Tuesday September 7, 2010, I have with immediate effect decided to temporarily relieve you of your chairmanship of the elections committee of the Central Committee until further notice. I have decided to take this decision in the interest of the party and the public at large,” read Sata’s letter.
GBM on Sunday beat up his wife Chama following a marital dispute. Chama sustained a cut on her forehead and complained of general body pains.
And during a live programme on QFM radio yesterday, Sata said he did not condone violence.
“I condemned Dr Solomon Musonda, MMD member of parliament for Chitambo. I have not said anything yet on GBM not because I don’t want to say anything. It’s because I don’t want to interfere with the process of law, which the police is doing at the moment,” Sata said.
“I don’t like violence whether violence is at Lameck Chibombamilimo’s funeral, whether violence is with Dr Musonda or violence with Honourable GBM…because the blood you are spilling is very precious. There is no factory where they make blood.
“People of Zambia must learn to be tolerant. The people of Zambia will forgive me…you have seen I have kept quiet on GBM’s case. I don’t want to interfere in this matter because the police are already handling the matter but I don’t like violence.”
On the mining sector, Sata said the government could not abandon the development agreements.
“All the townships on the Copperbelt were built through the mining industry. The roads you are seeing today and part of the hospitals were built through the mining industry,” Sata said.
“And those things we took them into consideration by putting them in the development agreements. This government cannot abandon development agreements and when Finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has no money, he wakes up in the morning and says he wants to raise the money.”
Sata challenged mines minister Maxwell Mwale to advertise the development agreement between the Chinese and the Zambian government in Chambishi. He criticised the Chinese investment zones.
“In South Africa you had Bantustans, the Bantustans failed. Today you have Chinese economic zones. You have so many investors who are coming here and why are you piling so much favours on one nation, the Chinese?” Sata asked. “These are the pitfalls which you young people are going to be in big big trouble to pull out because when you have a zone for the Chinamen, they will treat you like dogs.
“You can’t go there zones freely, it’s their own, you have annexed the land to them. This is the only country which is going back to Bantustans. You don’t give an area to foreigners and you say ‘it’s an economic zone’. So those are the difficulties, which we have.”
Sata praised the wisdom of King Lewanika of Barotseland who safeguarded the interests of his people.
“People of Barotseland signed the Barotse agreement. The reason why they brought that Barotse agreement is to protect the people of Barotseland. King Lewanika was the unifier,” Sata said.
“He Lewanika gave concessions outside Barotseland, not within Barotseland and he allowed Barotseland to be for the Lozis. Now that’s a policy Zambians must adopt. We can learn something from that.”
Sata said Zambians were fed up with President Rupiah Banda’s administration.
“In 1991, there was no opposition in Zambia. Everything was one-party. It was the Party and its Government (PIG). But the people of Zambia made up their mind even those who were suppose to rig on behalf of Kenneth Kaunda rigged against him. And that’s what’s going to happen next year,” said Sata.
Labels: GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, MUMBA KAPUMPA, PF
Read more...
Kawandami, Milupi celebrate their victories
By Kabanda Chulu and Abigail Chaponda in Ndola and Mwala Kalalu
Sat 07 Aug. 2010, 04:00 CAT
NEWLY elected PF Chifubu member of parliament Susan Kawandami has Zambian women have every opportunity to become leaders in the country. And MMD campaign manager Mwansa Mbulakulima has accused the Patriotic Front (PF) of engaging in corruption and intimidation to secure victory.
Meanwhile, Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) leader Charles Milupi yesterday said his retention of the Luena parliamentary seat is a statement to the MMD that people had suffered enough.
Anticipation of excitement swept through the main auditorium at Lowenthal Theatre in Ndola on Thursday night when jubilant PF cadres chanted slogans in praise of their political leadership and denounced the policies of the MMD government.
The PF cadres, who started arriving around 19 hours, stormed the theatre hall carrying vuvuzelas, drums and whistles and started celebrating victory even before the official results were announced by returning officer Roy Kuseka.
Later, Kawandami was declared winner after amassing 6,976 votes against the MMD’s Frank Ngambi’s 4,539 votes, while Bryan Banda of ADD got 412 votes with Poko Mambwe of UNIP receiving 221 votes.
Speaking after Kuseka declared her as duly elected member of parliament for Chifubu, Kawandami advised women not to be scared of men when aspiring for leadership positions.
“When this campaign started, I knew that I was going to win the election and I told Ng’ambi that I was in a winning boat and that he should also come on board to become one of us and I am proud of the people for giving me this support.
As you know I stood among men and have emerged victorious and this is a stepping stone for women and they should come forward to stand because they have every opportunity to be leaders of this nation,” she said.
And PF campaign manager Willie Nsanda said former president Fredrick Chiluba had been taught a lesson and that he should avoid campaigning for the MMD.
“We came to teach the boys of Ndola how politics are conducted, starting with their boss Dr Chiluba who doesn’t know that he is finished in politics and he must now stop because he campaigned in Chimwemwe and Chifubu but we have hit him pants down,” he said.
PF chairman for elections Geoffrey Mwamba said President Rupiah Banda should be ashamed of using Chiluba in trying to bring disunity in the country.
“We are proud of the people of Chifubu for bringing shame on RB, Dr Chiluba and the entire MMD government and it is now clear that Michael Sata is a man of the people and come 2011 he shall rule this country,” said Mwamba.
But Mbulakulima said the difference recorded between PF and MMD was insignificant thus demonstrating that MMD had made in-roads into what is claimed to be the PF stronghold.
“MMD is up and running and in 2011 we shall give them a good run. If you ask me if elections were free and fair, my personal answer is that there was a lot of intimidation from PF. This could have contributed to the apathy we saw yesterday,” he said.
“This hooliganism has continued. Even today as they celebrate, they are burning tyres and deforming billboards in Chifubu. This kind of behaviour should be condemned at all costs.”
When asked if MMD was considering petitioning the outcome of the elections, Mbulakulima failed to give a categorical answer.
“That is up to the government spokesperson to answer but talking as campaign manager, I saw some elements of corruption and our officials reported this matter to Electoral Commission because one PF chairman was seen dishing out K5,000 notes and when confronted he fled,” said Mbulakulima said.
And Ngambi pledged to continue being a servant of the people.
“I will remain open and will be willing to work with you people and will be available for any assistance and if requested will help Kawandami to bring development to Chifubu,” said Ngambi.
And MMD campaign manager in the Luena parliamentary by-election, Prof Geoffrey Lungwangwa, yesterday attributed his party’s loss to the absence of party structures in the constituency for the past 14 years.
And addressing journalists shortly after he was declared winner of Thursday’s Luena by-election by returning officer Chrispine Kalihonga at Mongu Civic Centre yesterday morning, Milupi said his win was a victory for democracy.
Milupi, who was the constituency’s former Independent parliamentarian, polled 3,688 votes, the MMD polled 2,800, UPND polled 1,806, UNIP 115 and the ULP polled 116 out of a total of 8,630 votes cast.
The number of eligible voters in Luena is estimated at over 14,000 and it has a total of 42 polling stations in eight wards.
“I would like to thank the wonderful people of Luena who have withstood so many temptations to come up with a positive result,” Milupi said amidst unrestrained cheers from the crowd of supporters.
“I think this victory is a victory for democracy. The people have been allowed to make their decision based on the issues concerning Luena, concerning Western Province and issues affecting this country, Zambia.”
Milupi said he thanked the people of Luena wholeheartedly for re-electing him, amidst vote buying and grabbing of voters’ cards by some of his competitors.
“By this action we have reset the politics of Zambia,” Milupi said.
“Politics of insults, politics of violence is not what is wanted in this country.”
Milupi said for those politicians that liked engaging in such vices, the people of Luena were telling them that electoral malpractices were not sufficient to win an election.
“If we can do so much for so little, what if we were given the opportunity to control the treasury of the country?” he asked. “What is required is integrity, dedication, hard work and commitment.”
Milupi said it was sad that from a middle-income country at independence, Zambia was now being defined as a least developed country.
“This can no longer be tolerated,” Milupi said. “Enough is enough. We have suffered enough in this country. I advise those who are still on the fence, those who were waiting to see what was going to happen in Luena Constituency that the victory has been achieved.”
After his statement to journalists, Milupi’s motorcade drove around Mongu town before proceeding to Limulunga, which is in Luena Constituency.
And in an interview shortly after Milupi was declared winner, Prof Lungwangwa, who is also communications and transport minister as well Nalikwanda MMD parliamentarian, said that although Milupi had retained the Luena seat the winning margin had been extremely narrow compared to the over 2000 that Milupi beat the MMD with in 2006.
“The results are out, Honourable Milupi, yes he has retained his seat in Parliament but the margin has been extremely narrow,” Prof Lungwangwa said. “MMD as a party is still very popular. First when you compare the performance; our performance in this by-election and the performance of the UPND, UPND are not a factor.
We stand a better chance of doing very well next time around.”
Prof Lungwangwa said the MMD had no structures on the ground in Luena and that they had to put up structures during the campaign period.
“The absence of party structures might have affected our performance,” Prof Lungwangwa said. “We did our best, but of course these are elections…for the last 14 years we never had a presence in Luena Constituency.”
Prof Lungwangwa said come 2011 the MMD was going to win the Luena seat. He also said he was not aware that there was controversy over his appointment as the campaign manager in the Luena elections.
Prof Lungwangwa said the MMD’s victory in Kaoma Central’s Longe Ward by-election indicated that the ruling party was still strong in the province.
However, there was visible discontent and frustration among some MMD youths upon realising that they had lost the by-election, which they said they could have won on a silver plate.
Some of them were heard saying that they were going to stage a protest to press for the immediate resignation of the party's top leadership in the Province.
Labels: ADD, BY-ELECTIONS, CHARLES MILUPI, CHILUBA, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, MWANSA MBULAKULIMA, PF, SUSAN KAWANDAMI
Read more...
RTSA refutes allegations of being used by MMD
By Mutale Kapekele
Thu 24 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has refuted allegations that it is being used by the ruling MMD to harass bus operators who are in opposition political parties.
On Tuesday, Kasama Central PF member of parliament Geoffrey Mwamba complained to RTSA director Fredrick Mwalusaka over harassment of his bus drivers by traffic officers.
But in a statement issued by RTSA principle publicity officer Khozi Mwila, Mwalusaka expressed disappointment with Mwamba’s allegations.
“RTSA is disappointed by the allegations from Mr Geoffrey Mwamba that the agency is being used by the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) to cripple his transport business,” Mwalusaka stated. “The Agency operates on the principles of good corporate governance which includes fairness, accountability, transparency and professionalism.”
Mwalusaka stated that it was regrettable that individuals of different politic affiliations always wanted to associate the operations of the RTSA with politics.
“RTSA is meant for the greater good of the general populace, as mandated by law,” he stated. “At no time has the RTSA received any instructions from any political party to fix any transport operator. It is unfortunate that the matter has been politicised when in fact the two impounded motor vehicles in question which operate as Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and are owned by Mr Mwamba were at the time of the RTSA patrols, found to be defective.”
According to Mwalusaka, one bus belonging to Mwamba was impounded on 18th December, 2009.
“The owner was instructed to ensure that the motor vehicle was taken to RTSA on 21st December, 2009 for re-examination to ensure that the defects were rectified in an effort to safeguard the lives of travelling passengers,” Mwalusaka stated.
“Further on 20th December, 2009, another Marcopolo coach owned by Mwamba was impounded for being driven by an unlicensed driver, overloading, defective wipers, defective indicators and a defective gear box.”
He stated that it was inevitable that the buses were impounded.
“In view of the defects found with the buses, it was inevitable that such kind of motor vehicles be impounded as part of RTSA’s larger programme to make the transport system safer for all road users,” he stated. “As it is a requirement by law that all drivers move with their driving licences whenever in control of a motor vehicle, it is within the RTSA’s mandate to impound motor vehicles driven by drivers who fail to produce driving licences as it could be assumed that the driver is unqualified and therefore people’s lives could be at risk.”
He described as unfortunate that Mwamba’s visit to the RTSA appeared to have been “ill-intended” as the matter was amicably resolved with Mwamba agreeing to rectify the defects on the motor vehicles.
Mwalusaka stated that RTSA would not stop implementing and enforcing road traffic regulations and urged all road users to adhere to traffic rules if they did not want to be inconvenienced.
Labels: BUSES, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, KHOZI MWILA, MMD, RTSA
Read more...
Sata vows to shock, teach MMD a lesson
Written by Bivan Saluseki in Kasama
Friday, September 18, 2009 5:27:38 PM
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata yesterday rallied thousands of his supporters, overshadowing the ruling MMD and opposition UNIP during the filing of nomination papers for the Kasama Central parliamentary by-election. But both MMD and UNIP said they were not a write-off.
By press time, PF's Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, commonly known as GBM, UNIP's Alexander Chansa and MMD's Burton Mugala had filed in while an independent candidate was still being awaited amid reports that he had withdrawn.
Sata said he would shock and teach MMD a lesson in Kasama this time. He said former president Frederick Chiluba did not scare him on being de-campaigned.
Just before the nomination, Sata visited Buseko main market to greet some marketeers and check on sanitation facilities, a move which, seemingly worked to the advantage of PF as the same traders snaked their way to the nomination centre.
At Buseko, marketeers cheered and ululated while others jostled to greet Sata.
The commotion nearly caused a stampede as traders squeezed through the market alleys to either get in front of Sata or just to greet him.
"Kanshi emo achili uyu muntu, shikulu [This man is still fit]!" one marketeer thought loudly.
Sata said he had gone to check on the biggest market in Kasama, which had no toilet.
"This is the biggest market, but no toilet," he told the traders.
Sata later went to another market along Mpulungu Road where, another huge crowd awaited him. He told them to head to the nomination centre.
And in an interview, Sata said the MMD would be shocked.
"The Kasama polls, MMD is in a big shock. MMD arranged...[Saviour] Chishimba was supposed to resign from PF and join MMD and when Rupiah Banda expelled Chibombamilimo, [President] Rupiah Banda knew when Chishimba was going to resign. That's when they started this fake repair of a road to Mpulungu and that road to the chief. The whole point is, this election we are going in, we have a second chance to tell the people... for them [MMD] to come and show us what they have done. First of all, 45 years of independence, what is here? What have we seen? We don't want job seekers. Chishimba was a job seeker. We have adopted a person who is not a job seeker. The money which they are getting from NCC, our candidate has already got it," he said.
Sata said GBM hailed from Kasama and was a son of a chief.
"See how they have neglected and abandoned chiefdoms in this area. They are the most neglected in the whole country. Nobody cares. They can go and put a small fake bridge and say that they have brought development," he said.
Sata said there was no sign of MMD in Kasama.
"Have you seen any sign of MMD? If they win the election, it will be something else," he said.
On his being de-campaigned by Chiluba, Sata said he was not scared.
"You see, if they want to open old wounds...first of all, what is Chiluba going to tell the people? Chiluba ruled for 10 years, what did he do for Kasama? What did he do for Northern Province? Chiluba ruled for 10 years. Let Chiluba show us here one little toilet which he sunk in Kasama. Let him come. He can't scare me. [Dr Kenneth] Kaunda at least we are seeing something. Kaunda at least we can forgive him because he is a brother-in-law to Rupiah but they can all come. Kuti bantemba bonse, baisa [they can all gang up against me], we are ready for them. You have seen there is no sign of Rupiah Banda here, no sign of Chiluba here, no sign of a BIGOCA Bible here," he said.
Just before GBM could file his nominations, Sata's supporters nearly turned the area around the civic centre into a rally. The cadres and their officials surged forward as they tried to break the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) - police cordon.
The PF supporters were incensed with police's decision to block them from proceeding to the nomination room because it was not yet time for the PF candidate to file.
One of the police officers pushed Sata who was among the cadres and this riled Sata's supporters.
The officer was nearly roughed up by Sata's bodyguards but for quick intervention by a senior police officer who apologised and allowed a few supporters to accompany Sata and GBM.
After filing in his nomination, GBM said he was the best candidate.
"This is my home town. All my ancestors were born here and were buried here," he said.
GBM said he would do what people want.
"It's the people who should tell the MP," he said.
GBM said Kasama had come to a standstill and that showed how popular he was. His campaign manager Willie Nsanda warned that he would not tolerate trouble in Kasama this time.
UNIP candidate Alexander Chansa came out of the nomination room around 10:30 hours with a handful of supporters.
Humble looking, but trembling slightly, Chansa said he was confident of winning.
"I don't have few supporters, I have plenty of them. The others are around the council chamber," said Chansa pointing to a small group that had safely tucked itself upon a hill next to the police station.
Asked if he felt intimidated by PF since the group wanted to go inside the nomination room even when he was still there, Chansa said: "No, no, I am not."
Chansa said he was a local businessman and had lived in Kasama most of his life.
He said UNIP had trained him in the former Soviet Union in political education for a year. Chansa said he worked for Kasama Municipal Council for 19 years and was quite successful in business.
"I am a local person whom they live with, whom they share problems with," he said.
Chansa said he would continue where Chishimba ended because most of the issues were on the drawing board.
"What is more important is to work with the people," said Chansa.
Chansa later headed to his group of supporters, addressed them before driving with them in a van away from the pomp at the PF side.
MMD managed to woo some supporters, mostly women.
MMD's Burton Mugala, who was the third to file, said he would scoop the seat.
Mugala, commonly known as 'Igwee', rated himself high.
"I have no opposition. I rate myself high. The reasons are simple. I am a local person. You fell in Kabwata, are we fools to allow a person who failed in Kabwata to come and win here? No!" he said.
Mugala said GBM was an imposed candidate on Kasama.
Mugala said water and electricity problems needed to be sorted out in Kasama.
Works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti and other senior MMD officials accompanied Mugala.
The Kasama by-elections are slated for October 15, 2009.
Labels: GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, MMD, PF-UPND, SATA
Read more...
