MMD-hired voters emerge as Mulyata uproots communal tap
By Roy Habaalu in Mongu
Tue 27 Sep. 2011, 10:40 CAT
ALERT PF officials on Saturday impounded trucks carrying people that were suspected to have been ferried to vote in Sikongo on their return trip to Lusaka. And former Mongu Central member of parliament Joseph Mulyata has uprooted a community tap that was installed using Constituency Development Funds (CDF).
The Patriotic Front officials, led by Mongu district chairman Mulenga Tembo and other members, effected a citizens arrest on the suspected voters at Mulamba harbour around 14:00 hours.
Before going to the police station, the voters were briefly interrogated at the harbour, where they said they were told to travel and vote for Rupiah Banda and the MMD candidate Mundia Ndalamei.
"What can we do? We were just told that all was in place: food, transport and allowances for us if we voted for MMD and president Banda. We wanted money because we're suffering. Some of us were registered in Lusaka but arrangements to vote in Sikongo were made by the provincial administration," said one of the voters during an interrogation.
Sources at the Provincial Accounts Control Unit (PACU) said an accounts clerk was sent to Sikongo to pay voters coming from Lusaka and facilitate for their accommodation and meals.
"Those voters were paid K1 million each for the seven days they spent there. Billions of money meant for poverty reduction and developmental projects was sent to Sikongo to pay voters that were coming from Lusaka. One officer Abel Mkandawire, an accounts clerk, was the one paying those voters and the chap became arrogant because he thought MMD would win. The chap was openly campaigning for MMD and bragged that if MMD wins those that tried to block him would be dealt with," said the source.
"Government vehicles were released by the provincial office to help campaign for the MMD."
Western Province police commanding officer Phanwell Siandenge said the voters were released, pending further investigations. Meanwhile, a check by The Post in North Park area found the tap removed with only holes remaining.
"Mulyata himself removed that tap because he felt betrayed that his own relatives (Mbundas and Luvales) who are the majority in the area didn't vote for him. He was angry that they cheated that they would vote for him but things turned out otherwise. This Don't kubeba slogan taught us a bitter lesson," said an MMD official.
Mulyata had not been seen in public a day before voting and recently wrote to the police that his life was in danger.
Meanwhile, former Kanyonyo MMD councillor Yowano Chisambwe locked himself and family in the house for two days after PF supporters surrounded it, demanding that he be arrested.
The jubilant supporters told Chisambwe to take the list of alleged Linyungandambo members he had prepared to the police.
"He prepared a list of our names, warning that if MMD wins, we will be arrested. Come out and arrest us, we are here; arrest us. You thought you would steal forever; we are here, arrest us before we arrest you," they shouted.
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, CDF, CORRUPTION, JOSEPH MULYATA, MMD, PF, VOTERIGGING
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Rupiah can’t ensure fair elections, says MMD councillor
By Roy Habaalu
Mon 18 July 2011, 11:20 CAT
IT will be fatal to expect President Rupiah Banda to ensure free, fair and transparent elections this byear, says an MMD councillor. Mwenda Lishebo, who is MMD Mulambwa ward councilor in Mongu, said President Banda was a desperate leader riding on a desperate legacy.
He said it was public knowledge that both the print and electronic media had been turned into MMD propaganda tools and will continue to be such even as the country got closer to the elections.
“There is no doubt that it would be fatally risky to trust a desperate leader like President Banda who is riding on a desperate legacy to ensure free, fair and transparent elections,” said Lishebo in an interview from Mongu.
And commenting on the performance of the MMD in Mongu, Lishebo the incumbent Parliamentarian, Joseph Mulyata, had been the worst legislator.
“The man has simply been a disaster,” he said.
On the death of 92-year-old former Ngambela of Barotseland Maxwell Mututwa, Lishebo said Mututwa had done that which Napoleon could not do at the height of his glory over the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.
Lishebo said Mututwa’s works would remain a source of inspiration.
Mututwa, who was released from prison through a nolle prosequi after being arrested on treason charges following the January 14 Mongu fracas over the Barotseland Agreement, died at his home in Senanga last week.
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, JOSEPH MULYATA, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA, VOTERIGGING
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West MMD power struggles deepen
By Chibaula Silwamba
Tue 09 Nov. 2010, 04:01 CAT
MMD power-struggles have deepened in Western Province between supporters of incumbent provincial chairperson Simasiku Namakando and agriculture deputy minister Joseph Mulyata.
And MMD provincial secretary Sikwibele Mwapela, who is also Western Province minister, warned that members forming parallel structures in the party will be disciplined.
Meanwhile, Mulyata, who confirmed his plans to vie for the position of MMD provincial chairperson against Namakando, admitted there were just internal differences.
MMD insiders in the province confirmed that the power struggle had worsened and that there were two camps in the province – one supporting Mulyata while the other backs Namakando.
But when contacted, Mulyata said: “these power-struggles are in-house, you people.”
Mulyata said he would give a comprehensive comment later because at the moment the issues were being addressed internally in the MMD.
“You publish your information and when I see it that is when I will tell you my position,” said Mulyata amidst laughter when reminded of Namakando’s candidacy for the provincial portfolio.
Nakamando’s phones were not reachable as he was said to be at his farm in rural Western Province.
And Mwapela said the provincial elections would go ahead as planned between December 3 and 5, 2010.
“These wrangles which are there are not even real; we don’t even count them to be wrangles,” he said. “And we can’t hold other elections for Mongu district. Elections were already held in Mongu. If someone wants to form parallel structures in the party, then the party will discipline them. There is only one district executive in Mongu, which is led by Mr Mukubesa. That is the only one that we know; the rest are illegal.”
He said the provincial leadership was waiting for the MMD acting national secretary Chembe Nyangu to give a go-ahead to them to hold the provincial polls.
“MMD members are ready to go for that election and they are free to vote for their preferred candidate. No one will force them to vote for anyone. No! That is why we are multiparty democracy,” Mwapela said.
He said the people causing confusion were not even part of the electoral college.
“So how are they going to vote against? Why should they bring divisions that this one is for Mulyata and this one is for Namakando? As far as I am concerned as provincial minister and provincial secretary of the party, they are all our people. There are no divisions and we won’t allow divisions,” said Mwapela. “Even Mulyata is free to stand if he wants to stand. Anyone who wants to participate should be allowed to participate. We won’t allow any camp.”
Labels: JOSEPH MULYATA, MMD, SIMASIKU NAMAKANDO, WESTERN PROVINCE
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COMMENT - I absolutely commend Mayor Dawn Mumbwe for her actions. It is often said that there is as much corruption at the council level as there is at the national level. However, this example proves that there are many more eyes on the money at the local level than there are at the national and ministerial level. Can anyone in the ministries or parliament call for the impeachment of any government minister or the president because of embezzlement of funds? So bravo to Mongu's Mayor Dawn Mumbwe.
Mongu mayor impeached for demanding probe into abused funds
By Mwala Kalaluka
Thu 07 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT
NEWLY-elected Mongu Mayor Dawn Mumbwe has been ‘impeached’ for insisting that town clerk Frank Kalenga should temporarily vacate office to allow for a probe in recent audit revelations that highlighted
rampant abuse of funds at the MMD-dominated local authority.But
Western Province minister Sikwibele Mwapela has warned that the MMD would lose the Mongu Central seat to the opposition if moves to discuss the audit report continued to be blocked.
Mumbwe confirmed in an interview that she was interdicted during a special council meeting she called to discuss the findings of an audit and inspection report covering the period September 2009 to April 2010 undertaken by an auditor from the Western Province Local Government Office.
Mumbwe said the special full council meeting was held in the Mongu Council chamber on October 2, 2010 to discuss the above audit and inspection report that implicated Kalenga and other council officers in the mismanagement of council funds and government grants.
She said before the meeting in question, Mongu Central MMD parliamentarian and deputy defence minister Joseph Mulyata called her and told her to stop pushing for the special council meeting to discuss the audit report. “He called me and threatened me that ‘Ms Mumbwe, if you continue calling for the special council meeting it will backfire on you and we are going to impeach you’ and it has happened,” Mumbwe said.
“I have been interdicted. I am still a Mayor but I have been interdicted. I was interdicted on the 2nd of October because instead of bringing the audit report, the town clerk prepared a document showing that I had abused my office.”
Mumbwe said grounds on which she was interdicted were that she had abused her office when she asked Kalenga through a letter dated September 17, 2010 to vacate office and hand-over the keys to her following his defiance in notifying the councillors of the special council meeting to discuss the audit report.
Another ground that was that Mumbwe lifted the suspension of a councillor who challenged Mulyata to explain the misapplication of Constituency Development Funds (CDF) in Mongu Central.
The document further stated that Mumbwe, who was elected as Mayor on September 8, 2010, had breached her oath of office when she allegedly divulged to the public the audit and inspection report before it could be considered by the council.
Mumbwe said during the special council meeting where she was interdicted, Mulyata chased some members of the public that came to follow the discussion on the audit report.
“Some stakeholders who were inside when they realised that it was not the about the audit report, they walked out,” Mumbwe said. “Currently workers have stayed for six months without being paid.”
Mumbwe said local government permanent secretary Timothy Hakuyu directed Mongu Council to discuss the audit report and send recommendations to his office but that Kalenga and the director of finance a Muyapekwa responded to the report and sent recommendations without the input from the councillors.
Mumbwe has since called on the Ministry of Local Government to constitute a different body to discuss the audit report and ignore Kalenga’s unilateral response.
But Mwapela, who is also MMD provincial secretary, has advised Mulyata not to block the deliberations on the audit report.
Mwapela said it was disappointing that MMD councillors were failing to work together and he asked Mulyata to be in the forefront and meet with the councillors to discuss the audit report.
“If the council has not done anything wrong, there is nothing to hide,” said Mwapela. “We are heading for election; if he continues with that kind of confusion, MMD will lose that seat, Mongu Central.”
Efforts to get a comment from Mulyata proved futile by press time.
Labels: AUDITING, CDF, CORRUPTION, DAWN MUMBWE, FRANK KALENGA, JOSEPH MULYATA, MAYOR, MMD, MONGU
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MMD blames Mulyata for Luena by-election loss
By George Chellah and Mwala Kalaluka
Sun 15 Aug. 2010, 04:01 CAT
THE MMD is blaming defence deputy minister Joseph Mulyata over its loss in the Luena constituency parliamentary by-election. But Mulyata has dismissed the allegations saying he should not be used as a scapegoat for the party’s loss in Luena.
Meanwhile, the MMD secretariat has blocked a delegation of about 20 Mongu district MMD executive committee leaders that travelled from Mongu to Lusaka to report the alleged ‘misdeeds’ of their local top party leadership during the Luena by-election to President Rupiah Banda at State House.
Well-placed MMD sources yesterday disclosed that the MMD Luena campaign team had complained to the party secretariat over Mulyata’s alleged misconduct.
“What happened is after Mulyata’s fight with Simasiku Namakando Western Province MMD chairperson, he was withdrawn from the Luena campaigns and sent to assist labour minister Austin Liato who was campaigning in the Kaoma local government by-elections,” the sources said.
“But it seems Mulyata was not happy with that decision. That’s why he began using his people to campaign against the party in the constituency in his absence.”
The sources disclosed that Namakando’s previous attacks on President Banda were heavily used against the MMD in Luena.
“Actually, the people that were de-campaigning the President and the party in Luena took advantage of the differences the President had with Namakando, particularly the President’s letter to Namakando,” the sources said.
“You remember that issue where the President wrote to Namakando telling him that he did not solicit for his support or that of the province. They made copies of the President’s letter and they were busy distributing them in Luena during the campaigns telling the electorate that ‘look at this letter President Rupiah Banda wrote to Namakando, the President has clearly stated here that he doesn’t need your support so he doesn’t care about the people of Western Province’. These copies were distributed in Luena and our internal investigations indicate that Mulyata was behind all this.”
The sources said Mulyata was also suspected to have sent a group of MMD officials from Mongu and Luena constituencies to protest against the Namakando led executive.
“These people are in Lusaka and their mission was to meet President Banda. They wanted to meet the President so that they can hand him the petition but they didn’t succeed. Instead, they ended up camping at the secretariat with the hope of meeting the acting party national secretary Chembe Nyangu,” the sources said.
“Whilst at the secretariat, these chaps were even telling the party staff there that ‘you and the President are in these offices today because of us Western Province’. They were so rude that some were even openly chanting Charles Milupi’s ADD slogans, right at the secretariat. There was confusion until security people from Lusaka Province were called in to come and remove them.
“As a party, we have investigated who these people are and we have discovered that Mulyata had a hand in this. In fact, Mulyata was even spotted at Hebert Young Hostel giving money to some of these people. That in itself is evidence enough to us that he brought those people here because why would he be spending his money on people he didn’t bring to Lusaka? We have no doubt that this is the same team that decampaigned the party in Luena.”
The sources said senior party officials were now linking Mulyata to ADD.
“Some senior people in the party are so upset with Mulyata. Actually, the secretariat is even in the process of reporting him to the President. They strongly feel that there is no way, a deputy minister who is appointed by the President can be working against the party,” the source said.
“We all know that Mulyata wants to challenge Namakando as provincial chairman. But he is doing it the wrong way. He is just destabilising the party in the province through his fight with Namakando.”
But Mulyata dismissed the allegations against him as malicious.
“I have no comment. I am an MMD district chairman for Mongu. We have party structures but it’s unfortunate that my colleagues have gone to the press. We have our party structures that they should have followed,” he said.
Mulyata said he was not aware of all the issues raised against him.
“I was in Kaoma campaigning, which is 300 kilometres from Luena with Honourable Liato. So how can I be implicated in the Luena issues? It’s very unfortunate. Those that are implicating me just want to use me as a scapegoat for the loss we have suffered in Luena,” Mulyata said.
“The people in Luena know the truth on why we have lost and whoever wants to find out let them go to Luena. It’s unfortunate that my colleagues have gone tribal. This is a tribal fight.”
And in an open letter to President Banda, the group that returned to Mongu on Friday afternoon complained that MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu made it clear that he did not want to meet them.
According to the letter that was signed by seven of the 20 MMD leaders and cadres, the delegation decided to seek audience with President Banda in order to inform him that many of the people he believed were representing the interests of the party in the province were strong opposition sympathisers.
Among those that appended their signatures to the letter were Mongu District MMD vice-chairman George Mbangweta, Mongu district youth chairman Joe Kalinda, Mongu Constituency youth chairman Kazungo Tololi, Luena Constituency vice-secretary Sile Mubukwanu and Luena Constituency treasurer Mukelabai Mubita.
Others are Limulunga Ward youth chairman Mickey Nyambe and Mongu District treasurer Frida Mwakamuwi.
“We the genuine MMD members in Mongu write to bring to light the destruction our top party leaders in Western Province are doing in relation to the party strength and popularity at grassroot level,” the letter read in part.
“Our campaigners in Luena were starved to the extent where some had resorted to picking cassava leaves for relish. They did not complain as they were told there was no money. To their disappointment, three days after the elections it was discovered that two whole animals were hidden at a cold room in Mongu.”
The group stated that this and many other deliberate lapses by the top MMD leadership infuriated the campaigners who demanded to be given the meat.
“Upon discovery of the hidden animals carcases, campaigners now had cause to believe that even money was there but as well hidden for their selfish interest,” they stated.
“When pressure was given for them to release the meat and whatever coin was left, they called the police to disperse the members by force as if they are not part of the giant MMD family.”
The group stated further that following failure to liaise with their local party leadership with a view of ironing out the grievances, a donation was made for 23 party officials to take those concerns to the MMD secretariat in Lusaka.
“Upon arrival at our secretariat, the delegation was advised to put the petition in writing which was done and taken back to the secretariat the following day. The deputy national secretary made it clear that he did not want to meet the delegation and in due course, call-boys from Kanyama constituency were called to beat these peaceful and party loving officials,” the group stated.
The delegation stated that after this intimidation and lack of genuine concern for the party exhibited by the secretariat, they decided to seek audience with President Banda.
“But as it is a known practice that to meet you (President Banda), we had to be cleared by the same secretariat, spanners were fastened ever tighter, though it is still our wish to meet you,” the group stated.
“Now as we go back Your Excellency, we decided to lightly let you know what kind of leaders you have in Western Province. We have concrete evidence to that effect but the secretariat wouldn’t give us chance.”
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, JOSEPH MULYATA, MMD
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By-elections: Mulyata manhandles Namakando over rations
By Mwala Kalaluka in Luena
Mon 12 July 2010, 13:20 CAT
THE MMD’s campaign in the Luena by-election started on a violent and shaky note after Mongu Central parliamentarian Joseph Mulyata manhandled provincial party chairman Simasiku Namakando over food rations.
And MMD provincial youth chairman Njamba Musangu has claimed that Charles Milupi is a desperate liar who has now realized the mistake he made to cause a by-election in Luena.
Highly placed MMD sources told The Post in Mongu that the incident that could have a negative effect on the ruling party’s campaigns in Luena happened last Wednesday morning at provincial minister Richard Mwapela’s residence.
“MMD Mongu District chairman and deputy defence minister Joseph Mulyata on Wednesday morning 7th July 2010 insulted and used unpalatable language and violently abused MMD provincial chairman Simasiku Namakando in full view of hundreds of MMD cadres and the public at the residence of provincial minister Richard Mwapela. It took about 30 minutes for Mwapela to restrain Mulyata from causing damage on Namakando who was visibly sick,” the source said.
The sources said Namakando was unshaken and unmoved in the face of such a serious challenge from Mulyata.
The sources said Mulyata was incensed by reports that MMD district officials, which he heads planned to boycott the campaigns because they were not given ration money, as they went in the field for campaigns.
“This made him vent his anger on provincial chairman Simasiku Namakando,” the source said.
“Reports indicate that Mulyata accuses Namakando of failing to recommend him to NEC as campaign manager for Luena by-election. Visibly unhappy with the incident were the campaign manager Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa and his vice Mwapela and other party officials who felt that if Mulyata had a grievance he should have handled himself in an official manner befitting a minister of government.”
The sources said during the fracas Mulyata told Namakando that he would challenge him at the provincial party conference for the position of provincial MMD chairman.
“After leaving Namakando, Mulyata turned on Namakando’s driver only identified as Mwangala with a view of beating him,” the source said. “The incident, which shocked the public and unbefitting of a member of parliament, minister and district party leader took place as MMD party cadres and officials were being dispatched to Ushaa, the nomination centre for the Luena parliamentary by-election. The incident is likely to cast a negative shadow on MMD’s campaigns and success in Luena by-elections.”
The sources said the party membership in Mongu was shocked with Mulyata’s conduct and he had since been asked not to be part of the campaign team in Luena.
“It was Namakando who handpicked Mulyata to be MMD Mongu District chairman when Mulyata had lost constituency elections, district elections and provincial party elections in 2005,” the source said. “Namakando even picked him to contest the 2006 parliamentary elections when he was rejected by the lower organs of the party.”
The sources said Mulyata’s conduct was likely to be discussed by the provincial MMD executive after the Luena by-elections.
“However, permission will be sought from the party president Rupiah Banda before Mulyata is charged with misconduct against a senior party officer Namakando and bringing the image of the party into disrepute,” the source said.
Efforts to get Mulyata proved futile.
And reacting to Milupi’s assertions that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) was tolerating the MMD’s usage of schools for their campaign in Luena, Musangu said Milupi had just realized that he was losing the by-election.
Musangu said Milupi’s accusations were not true because the MMD only used schools when community development minister Michael Kaingu went around the constituency disbursing women empowerment cheques to ‘women’ during metings.
“That was a government programme,” Musangu said. “Milupi is now becoming desperate because he has realized that he is losing.”
Musangu said the people of Luena would vote for the MMD because they were tired of lack of development.
On Milupi’s assertions that MMD candidate Mwangala Maopu had been meeting teachers and head teachers from Luena with a view to influencing them to vote for the MMD, Musangu said Maopu could only do that, if at all it were true, when he was still District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) for Mongu.
“At that time he was not yet a politician,” said Musangu.
Maopu opted to go on early retirement to contest the Luena by-election on the MMD ticket.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, FOOD, JOSEPH MULYATA, SIMASIKU NAMAKANDO
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Govt distributing relief maize in Luena ahead of by-election
By Mwala Kalaluka in Luena
Sun 27 June 2010, 12:10 CAT
President Banda and first lady Thandiwe posing in front of a heap of salt during the tour of the Salt and Chemicals Company in Wavis Bay, Namibia
THE government is hastily distributing relief maize in several areas of the vast Luena Constituency in Western Province ahead of the August 5, 2010 by-election.
And Induna Sundano Sinvula of Mwene Chiengele’s Mushuwa Royal Establishment in Mongu has said there is nothing the MMD could give the people of Luena now.
A check by The Post in Ikwichi area of the constituency on Friday found a group of men off-loading 50 kilogramme (kg) bags of maize packed in Food Reserve Agency (FRA) sacks.
The bags of maize spotting some pests on them were being offloaded from a Fuso truck registration number ABM 6320 and stored in one of the buildings at Ikwichi Rural Health Centre.
In the vicinity, former Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Charles Milupi who is re-contesting the Luena by-election on the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) ticket was addressing a campaign meeting.
Milupi, who is ADD leader, then approached the relief food distributors and asked them why they were coincidentally distributing it in view of the by-election campaign.
One of the men told him that the maize was to be distributed as food for work.
It was established that the government had within a week distributed relief maize in Isambai and Kate areas of Luena among others.
In an interview, Milupi said the relief food distribution was an indication of desperation in the MMD camp because they knew that they were losing Luena and Western Province.
“They have to go and get votes from elsewhere,” Milupi said. “We cried for relief food. There was nothing. The government could not bring relief food.”
On further inspection of the bags of maize, Milupi exclaimed and pointed out that the maize was rotten as seen from some pests on the sacks.
“People of Luena are being given rotten maize!” he exclaimed. “You want to kill the people even before they vote.”
Milupi said most residents of Luena had just harvested their maize and it was surprising that the MMD was desperately trying to buy votes through relief food distribution in June.
Milupi said the MMD’s desperation was also noted in the manner community development minister Michael Kaingu upped the women empowerment funds, which he personally distributed in some areas of Luena.
“All of a sudden because of the by-election in Luena, Kaingu himself moves from polling station to polling station,” he said. “This is the desperation of the MMD.”
Milupi said his campaign in Luena had so far placed the MMD in a desperate mode.
He said even the cheques that Kaingu had issued to ‘women’s clubs’ in the constituency could not be cashed at the banks in Mongu.
“Most of them (women) have been to the banks in Mongu to try and cash the cheques but they have been told to register a club first and that they need to pay K260,000 to open an account,” Milupi said.
“That process will last more than two months and by this time…the by-election will be over. Our suspicion is that the K5 million cheques are not backed by cash. That is how cruel the MMD party is that they can come and cheat.”
“I want to warn MMD and Mulyata who are involved in these schemes, that is the start of the concept of a warlord,” he said. “That is the start of a failed state.”
Milupi said that was how failed states like Somalia started.
“That is what Mulyata and his people want to start,” he said.
Milupi said Mongu District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Mwangala Maopu, who is the potential MMD candidate in the Luena by-election had continued intimidating headmasters in the constituency.
However, Maopu recently declined to confirm whether or not he would contest the Luena seat and insisted that he was a civil servant.
But some teachers at Mange Basic School where MMD provincial chairman Simasiku Namakando addressed a campaign meeting on Thursday said the MMD would win because they were fielding Maopu.
Milupi said the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) had not allayed ADD’s fears that the forthcoming by-election in Luena would not be free and fair because the ruling party had engaged in the abuse of public resources to gain an advantageous position.
The MMD and the PF/UPND Pact are yet to officially announce their respective candidates in the by-election.
And Induna Sinvula in an interview at Ikwichi said the MMD government had failed the people of Luena.
“There is nothing they can give us now, which they did not give us then,” Induna Sinvula said. “How many times have we been crying for development? The government is not taking our complaints seriously.”
Induna Sinvula said although he was expected to be non-partisan, as a traditional leader, he would tell his children to vote for somebody who had exhibited exemplary leadership.
Milupi said the ADD had also verified reports that Mongu Central MMD parliamentarian Joseph Mulyata was indeed training some youths to go and fan violent acts in Luena, the Mufumbwe-style.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, CADRES, CHARLES MILUPI, CORRUPTION, JOSEPH MULYATA, MAIZE, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, RUPIAH BANDA, SUNDANO SINVULA, THANDIWE BANDA
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Mulyata training MMD cadres for Luena poll
By Agness Changala
Mon 21 June 2010, 04:00 CAT
MMD Mongu Central member of parliament Joseph Mulyata has been accused of training cadres to fight the opposition during the Luena parliamentary by-election. But Mulyata denied training cadres to fight the opposition, saying the cadres he was training were meant to defeat the opposition in ballot papers.
MMD member Mark Mungungu who raised the allegation said yesterday that if Mulyata was chosen as campaign manager for Luena, there would be more violence in Luena than was experienced in Mufumbwe.
Mungungu insisted that Mulyata was training cadres to fight the opposition. He said the same cadres were unleashed on him at Mongu Airport during the funeral of one the local businessmen Mukumbuta who died two weeks ago.
“The cadres are meant to attack the opposition in Luena and I know them because they are the ones he sent to harass me when we were at the airport,” he said.
Mungungu said he was not afraid to speak out on issues that affected him because he was a free citizen.
And two other people, who chose to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation, said Mulyata was training cadres but were not sure what they were meant for.
The duo said it was true that the very cadres manhandled Mungungu over his money at the airport two weeks ago.
But Mulyata said he was training the youths to defeat the opposition at the ballot and not to beat them because MMD did not want violence in Luena. He said violence caused people not to vote freely; hence the need to discourage it.
Mulyata said the youths he was training were all over the area but he had asked them not to cause violence.
“I have told them, no violence, bola panshi; let’s just go and vote and as I speak to you, the situation is very good for us,” Mulyata said.
He, however, cautioned other opposition political parties not to provoke his men. Mulyata, who is also MMD Mongu district chairman, declared that his party would scoop the Luena seat. He said MMD had campaigned in all the wards and polling stations.
“People shall not vote for the opposition again. They are saying ‘we have suffered for the past 15 years the seat has been in the hands of the opposition’,” he said.
Mulyata said his party did not fear competition from others. He said come August, 6, 2010, MMD would be celebrating victory in Luena. He said those who voted for former Luena parliamentarian Charles Milupi would not do that again because they were disappointed with Milupi as he did not consult them before resigning to form his party, the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD).
Labels: CADRES, JOSEPH MULYATA, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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Kunda likens PF-UPND pact to a sinking ship’
By Mutuna Chanda in Solwezi
Thu 12 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT
VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has warned Solwezi Central voters that they will be jumping into a sinking ship, which he referred to as Titanic, if they join the PF-UPND pact.
But UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has said the MMD have been caught pants down, causing them to panic about the PF-UPND pact.
Meanwhile, North Western Province minister Joseph Mulyata was on Tuesday delighted to see residents who had attained voting age being in the majority at the rally that Vice-President Kunda addressed in Sandang’ombe after the previous ones were mainly attended by children who were non-voters.
Addressing Sandang’ombe residents to drum up support for MMD’s Solwezi Central candidate Albert Chifita, Vice-President Kunda said the PF-UPND pact had nothing to offer because it was his party’s administration that controlled the national budget.
“These other parties are no match for MMD,” Vice-President Kunda said.
He asked Solwezi residents to reject the PF-UPND pact because the two parties individually were characterised by divisions.
“In both of these parties there are factions,” Vice-President Kunda said. “In PF there are 22 members of parliament who are called rebels. They have been expelled from the party, they are on their own. In fact in Parliament they support us. UPND there is Major (Robbie) Chizhyuka, so what kind of party do they want to bring? Please reject the pact. These are parties of confusion. Let us not join parties of confusion.”
Vice-President Kunda also welcomed 16 defectors from the PF-UPND pact.
He called on political leaders not to deploy youths to engage in violence.
“As leaders let us not deploy our youths in violent activities, in activities that can destroy this country,” Vice-President Kunda said.
But Hichilema, in an interview, said Vice-President Kunda’s memory card was low and needed to be renewed because he wrongly linked him to the violence during the Mapatizya by-election which was held before he became UPND president.
“You realise that maybe George Kunda is losing his mind, he’s talking of Mapatizya. I was not president of UPND, was I? So how can he attribute; first let’s assume it was true that Mapatizya was violent, I was not president of UPND. I think his memory card has run low. Maybe he needs to renew it if it’s possible for a man in his situation. Beyond that the Mapatizya formula was never a violent formula. It was a formula to catch people rigging elections. This is what Mapatizya formula is about. And we shall apply it to catch those who are rigging elections,” Hichilema said.
He also said the violence that Vice-President Kunda attributed to Sata in Chawama was actually an MMD scheme.
“Chawama was an MMD issue he is actually giving his own admission that the Chawama was an MMD way of doing things,” he said. “So he is really like a lawyer who is a bit foolish in this sense because he is giving himself an admission of guilt. That was an MMD affair. We have nothing to do with that it is only correct that we attribute it to the MMD because the MMD is the violent party.”
He said the MMD was the one that was violent going by the happenings on nomination day when the ruling party’s cadres besieged the PF-UPND pact’s rally site and attacked opposition members and supporters.
And Hichilema said Vice-President Kunda’s statement that he had given up the presidency of the pact to PF leader Michael Sata was an attempt to divide the two parties which the pact was aware of.
“There is nobody campaigning for anybody between us,” he said. “What we are seeking are better lives for the people of Zambia.”
He said there was no need for Vice-President Kunda to worry if he was unpopular.
Hichilema further challenged the Press Freedom Committee (PFC) of The Post to organise a public debate comprising President Rupiah Banda and Vice-President Kunda against him.
“Why don’t you organise a debate someday. Hakainde here, Rupiah Banda here,” said Hichilema. “For those two you know, I want to be alone on one side and the two of them on the other side so I can face them they can combine their forces we have a debate on how to run issues of development.”
And Vice-President Kunda instructed Mulyata to immediately sink a borehole at Sandang’ombe basic school which only had one.
The school which was built in 1956 only has three teachers.
Vice-President Kunda pledged that a full basic school would be constructed in the area.
He urged Chifita to follow up on the school building project among others if he was voted as member of parliament for Solwezi Central on November 19.
And Mulyata said police would follow those who terrorized Sandangíombe residents together with those who sent them.
He also said the MMD government would not talk to an opposition member of parliament if residents voted for one.
And health minister Kapembwa Simbao pledged that the government would put up a health post in Sandang’ombe area under the community mode which would involve residents in the construction process.
Labels: GEORGE KUNDA, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, JOSEPH MULYATA, PF-UPND
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Mulongoti urges govt officials to work for national development
Written by Ernest Chanda in Solwezi
Friday, August 28, 2009 2:59:48 PM
WORKS and supply minister Mike Mulongoti on Wednesday warned government officials against staying in offices at the expense of national development.
Speaking when he met North Western Province minister Joseph Mulyata and permanent secretary Dr Eustern Mambwe, Mulognoti said the government would find it difficult to deliver if its representatives were not involved in field work.
Mulognoti who is inspecting roads and bridges in North Western and Copperbelt provinces, said this in response to Mulyata and Dr Mambwe who told him that they would have loved him to stay in the province for at least two weeks to see the number of problems needing immediate attention.
“I know that there are other national needs like the NCC [National Constitutional Conference], there’s also parliament which just adjourned. But I still make sure I find time to move around the country and work…Work is out there in the field waiting for us to do it. And for you Mr Mulyata, 2011 is just around the corner, you and I have to report to our people what we have done. For Dr Mambwe, he has all the time to wait because he is a civil servant,” he said.
Earlier, Mulongoti grilled Mulyata and Dr Mambwe for trying to stop him from visiting the province when he sent a notice from Lusaka.
“Minister I must put it on record that I was not happy when you tried to stop me from visiting the province. When I sent a letter that I was coming to the province, I got a reply that you people would not be ready for me. I was told that you would be busy with the Likumbi Lyamize ceremony. But my programme in the province ends on 26th, which is today, so I was surprised when you tried to stop me when your ceremony starts on 28th. Perhaps any one of you can explain to me why I should not have visited the province,” said Mulongoti.
But both Mulyata and Dr Mambwe were at pains to explain the reasons, except to say that there was no proper communication between the two government officials.
Labels: EUSTERN MAMBWE, JOSEPH MULYATA, MIKE MULONGOTI
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Mulyata owes govt K51m in unretired imprest – PAC
Written by Katwishi Bwalya
Friday, May 15, 2009 2:27:48 PM
THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday heard that North Western Province minister Joseph Mulyata owes government K51 million in unretired imprest. Auditor General Anna Chifungula, who is a permanent witness of PAC, informed the committee that Mulyata owed government K51 million in unretired imprest, which he obtained when he served as Southern Province minister in 2007.
Chifungula said an extra K21 million was irregularly paid to Mulyata and the payment voucher for the money had gone missing.
Chifungula also revealed that local government deputy minister Chrispin Musosha had not retired K38,211,010 imprest, which he got when he served as provincial minister for Luapula in 2007.
Clement Siame, the former Luapula Province permanent secretary, had also not retired imprest amounting to K9,605,000 as well as Mr Kalumba, another former permanent secretary for the same province, who got imprest amounting to K35,248,000 million which had not been retired to date.
The revelations were made when Luapula Province permanent secretary Jazzman Chikwakwa and his Southern Province counterpart Darius Hakayobe appeared before the committee separately.
Both Hakayobe and Chikwakwa were taken to task for not ensuring that the government officials retired the imprest.
Committee chairperson Charles Milupi wondered why Hakoyobe was not aware of the K21 million that was paid to Mulyata and why he was paid.
In response, Hakayobe told the committee that on many occasions he had written to Mulyata asking him to retire the imprest and Mulyata had been promising to do so.
"We have advised him [Mulyata] and I have talked to him personally and he said he was going to retire but he hasn't," Hakayobe told the committee.
The committee took Hakayobe to task on why he did not follow the financial regulation number 96(6) which allows a constitutional office bearer to retire imprest within 48 hours upon return from duty.
The regulation further states that failure to retire the imprest within 48 hours, the controlling officer should report the culprit to the Secretary to the Treasury for disciplinary action.
Hakoyobe could also not explain why there was an over-payment of K13 million to a contractor working on his official residence.
He caused laughter among the members of the committee when he confused himself in response to the queries raised.
"Every time you come here either because you are not in charge that is why you find there is so much laugher. That laugher, take it as judgement on your performance," Milupi said. "Things are being written that are ridiculous and that is why people are laughing and ultimately it is the waste of the committee's time because next year you come with exactly the same things because you don't have a firm hand on what is happening below you. More so it is a minister asking you to the wrong thing, you are very free do it."
The committee wondered why Hakoyobe's administration had not improved its financial performance.
Milupi observed that it was unfortunate that Hakayobe did not work according to the rules in his the discharge of duties as controlling officer.
"Mr Hakoyobe, we have been going through these financial regulations and you have been leaving assuring us you are going to do things correctly, even this year you have not done," Milupi said.
And the committee wondered why the Luapula Province administration failed to account for K1,019,596,615 billion in unretired interest.
"Mr Chikwakwa, we are getting worried with the performance of the accountants who are sent in provinces to support you the administrators. We think that these are the ones who should direct you on how the regulations and the procedures are but we are not seeing that," Milupi said.
Chikwakwa in response said the financial irregularities were among the things he wanted to correct in the province but civil servants were fighting him as portrayed in the media.
"I want to thank the members for identifying these lapses because I am sure the beginning of this year when I moved to Luapula my name has been in the national press with a misunderstanding with Luapula civil servants and Jazzman Chikwakwa as permanent secretary," said Chikwakwa.
"These are some of the issues I came to discover when I moved to the new office and in the way of trying to bring the people concerned to correction, then there was this type of repercussions, newspapers writing about Jazzman Chikwakwa and so on."
Labels: JOSEPH MULYATA, PAC
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I’m the most cheated person, says Rupiah
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Solwezi
Saturday, April 18, 2009 4:40:14 PM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda on Thursday evening told MMD members that he is the most cheated person in the country. And President Banda revealed that some people gave him three bags full of money to kick-start his campaigns for the presidency last year.
Meanwhile, North Western Province minister Joseph Mulyata assured President Banda that people in the area would vote for him as head of state and the MMD in 2011.
Addressing MMD members at Royal Solwezi Hotel at a party officials' meeting that comprised members mainly from North Western Province and a few from Copperbelt Province, President Banda said people who wanted to get favours from him spoke ill of each other and went to report to him.
Sources who were in the meeting said President Banda said he was able to tell who was lying to him by virtue of being experienced.
"The President made reference to one civil servant who used to ignore him before he was Republican President but that after he became President he said 'you fit in well as a President, unlike [late president Levy] Mwanawasa; he was very bad'," the sources disclosed. "Then he also said there are people who have some sort of a register; it's like they mark that whoever goes on a trip with the President and those people who are usually with the President on a trip become a target of ill talk. He even gave an example that some people would even go to the extent of concocting lies about a person whom he was probably with at the time, that that person was reportedly holding dark corner meetings with the opposition. But he said he was able to tell that those were just lies."
The sources disclosed that the MMD members demanded before President Banda that they be helped in accessing Citizens Economic Empowerment (CEE) funds.
The sources said President Banda directed commerce minister Felix Mutati to explain to them how they could access the CEE funds.
"President Banda told us that since not everyone can access these funds, they should choose capable people who can access these funds and do business that would succeed such that when cadres are in need of help they could access it from these people," the source disclosed. "He also urged us not to find extra wives when we access CEE funds."
The sources said the MMD members also petitioned President Banda that they be recognised at official government functions.
"Rupiah told us that it's not possible that all of us in our large numbers could attend a government function but he advised that whenever there was a government function, they could choose say at least 10 people to represent the party and this could be done on a rotational basis to allow as many people attend government functions," the sources disclosed. "The President told us that we should feel free to attend these functions because they belong to the ruling party."
The sources said President Banda said when he was adopted as MMD presidential candidate during the 2008 by-election, the party did not have sufficient campaign funds such that he even wondered why he accepted to be adopted as candidate.
"He said of the K400 million which the MMD had in its ZANACO account, K200 million was supposed to be payment for work that some people had done for the party, so only K200 million was remaining," the sources disclosed. "So he said that he conferred with his wife [Thandiwe Banda] and wondered why he had accepted to be adopted as candidate because there was no money for campaigns. He explained that the wife said 'don't worry, God will bless'. He then said the following day some people brought to him three bags full of money and that that's how they kicked off for the campaigns. He then said that they would go for campaigns for maybe four days and when the money finished, he would call off the campaigns but that he would be surprised that whenever they got back to Lusaka the following day, more money would be given to them in bags by wellwishers who were encouraging him that 'go and do the campaign so that when you win you would look after us well'."
The sources said President Banda said people could only give money to a party that had a following.
"The President said that even if some papers were portraying pictures as if a certain party had a lot of people and he said that he couldn't even mention this paper because the MMD cadres knew it but that it was good enough because business people knew where to take the money; they were taking money to a party which had a following which was MMD," the sources said.
Another source disclosed that President Banda told MMD cadres to know the programmes of the party if they wanted to perpetuate the MMD's rule in power.
The source said President Banda urged the MMD cadres to learn from the Communist Party of China and UNIP whose cadres knew the programmes of the parties, hence their respective long stays in power.
"He said the Communist Party in China would continue ruling the 1.4 billion people of China because the members understand the party's programmes," the source disclosed. "He also said that UNIP was able to rule for a long time because the members knew the programmes of the party which they were able to explain to people. So if the MMD wanted to rule many years beyond 2011, the members also need to know the programmes of the party and explain them to the people."
The source disclosed that President Banda also said this year's MMD card renewal exercise would be held and that when party elections were held, all members were free to contest any position.
"On elections for the MMD presidency, he said anyone was free to contest but that people should be careful not to say nasty things when campaigning because if they lost, they would still be needed to work together with the President and the party," the source said.
The source disclosed that President Banda also made the Copperbelt MMD choir repeat a song which was denouncing PF leader Michael Sata that he would never rule Zambia.
"The President made the choir sing the song that was sang at the airport again and even danced to it together with the women. The song was saying that Sata would never rule Zambia," the source disclosed.
According to the source, President Banda repeatedly referred to Sata as a serpent.
The source disclosed that President Banda turned down an invitation to officiate at an MMD fundraising dinner dance, which was scheduled for Friday evening in Solwezi.
The source said President Banda explained that his doctors could not allow that as he would be strained due to his tight schedule.
The source said President Banda also said the teeth he had were not only for eating and laughing but for biting.
The source said President Banda said he could bite to instil discipline in the party.
"The President also said when he appointed [former science deputy minister Jonas] Shakafuswa some people said 'how can you reappoint Shakafuswa?' Then I said 'azapunzila ni mwana' [translated he will learn, he is still young], then he continued misbehaving'," the source said. "He also said [former energy deputy minister Lameck] Chibombamilimo was quarrelling with civil servants and threatening them that they would feel his weight. He said he expected Shakafuswa and Chibombamilimo to be remorseful but that they were not."
And sources disclosed that local government minister Benny Tetamshimba assured the MMD cadres that their financial empowerment was being addressed.
The sources said Tetamashimba bragged that President Banda's leadership had done more and was the only one that had managed to deliver 10 bales of MMD chitenge materials in each of all the 150 constituencies, 30 days after the 2008 presidential election.
Meanwhile, addressing MMD cadres who had gone to welcome him at Solwezi Airport on Thursday afternoon, President Banda said the purpose of democracy was not to fight or insult each other.
"We the Zambian people opted for democracy; we decided that we'll have democracy where everybody can express their political views by joining the parties of their choice," President Banda said. "We did not change that the purpose of this democracy should be to insult each other or to fight each other or to call each other bad names. That's why I myself, as the President I understand why those others are very much pained by the victory that I acquired. They don't like it; they wish it was them, unfortunately it is you who decides who is going to be your next President."
In an apparent reference to Sata, President Banda said the opposition leader "fell so badly" that he was targeting him through criticisim.
He said this in response to a song that the MMD Copperbelt women's choir sang which was asking detractors to let President Banda work and rule the country.
"Mulekeni Banda abombe mwamutenya tenya eh! Mwamutenya tenya eh! Mwamutenya tenya mwefipuba! [Translated let Banda work; you fools have disturbed him!]," the women sang as President Banda sang along briefly through the chorus, though in a low tone that was barely audible.
President Banda also praised Lumwana and Kansanshi mines as well as Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) for being the only copper mining companies that were operating fully despite the economic downturn.
He said though the government was a target of criticism that it had not done anything, it had only been in power for a few months with a national budget that was approved in Parliament in the last few weeks.
President Banda said no one could perform magic in implementing things immediately because it took time to implement some of the projects.
However, he promised to deliver within the means of the government and that his administration would work.
He said his administration was mandated by Zambians to work for them and that he would ensure delivery.
He urged Zambians to work with civil servants on the ground in delivering development projects.
He also called for investors to exploit mineral extraction in North Western Province.
He said the province was endowed with so many minerals.
President Banda thanked the people of North Western Province for having voted for him and that his administration would work to deliver as mandated.
And Mulyata assured President Banda that people in the districts of North Western Province had told him that they would vote for the MMD and President Banda in 2011.
He said North Western Province was peaceful and that the people only desired development.
President Banda was accompanied by mines minister Maxwell Mwale, Felix Mutati [commerce], Dr Brian Chituwo [agriculture], Peter Daka [lands], Sarah Sayifwanda [gender], Tetamashimba [local government], aides and other top government officials.
Meanwhile, a group of drunk Solwezi youths mobbed President Banda's motorcade at Solwezi market as he was being driven from the airport to Royal Solwezi Hotel where he was due to meet MMD cadres.
This happened as President Banda's Toyota Landcruiser VX, which was among the vehicles in the entourage slowed down at the humps at the market.
The youths, many of whom flocked from nearby bars lifted their bottles of beer and mobbed President Banda's vehicle.
President Banda waved at the youths while they blocked the vehicle for close to three minutes.
Police and other security officers panicked as they jumped out of their vehicles trying to keep the drunk youths away from President Banda's vehicle.
Labels: JOSEPH MULYATA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Guard blocks Liato from entering Kansanshi Mine
Written by Mulimbi Mulaliki in Solwezi
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 10:01:54 AM
LABOUR minister Austin Liato and North Western Province minister Joseph Mulyata were on Monday prevented from entering Kansanshi Mine administration block by a security guard.
Liato and Mulyata, were visiting the mine in view of the global financial crisis and the problems mines were facing.
However, the duo was blocked from entering the mine by a guard and no senior mine officials were on hand to receive them because they had journalists in their entourage.
The guard said he had been instructed not to allow the minister and his entourage in.
But Liato expressed concern over management's alleged arrogance towards the government. He castigated Kansanshi Mine management over their poor industrial relations and attitude towards senior government officials.
Liato accused the mine of disrespecting government officials.
"There is a serious degree of disrespect for authority. Even though you had notice that we were coming, no officer was available to welcome us and I have difficulties to understand your style of management," Liato said.
"What is surprising is that what is normal with other mining companies is very abnormal here at Kansanshi Mine. If you treat me a minister like this, what about a poor Zambian you have employed?"
Liato refused to speak to the company public relations manager Godfrey Msiska and instead demanded to address the full management team. However, Msiska later went to call First Quantum Minerals Limited director of operations Matt Pascal and human resource manager Linda Mambwe.
Liato said his visit to the mine was of great importance in view of the global financial meltdown and the government was concerned and wanted to secure jobs for the Zambians.
"These colleagues in the media are the ones who in fact brought out the issue of the current global financial crisis and we move with them so that the country and the world could be informed. I am wondering why you don't want them to be present," said Liato.
Kansanshi Mine has been denying most senior government officials entry to the mine.
Early last year, when President Rupiah Banda was still vice-president, he was denied entry into the mine because he did not make an appointment.
The Human Rights Commission was also denied entry in the mine for having journalists in its entourage.
Labels: AUSTIN LIATO, JOSEPH MULYATA, KANSANSHI MINING PLC, KCM, LABOUR
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Mulyata's case takes new twist
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Friday March 07, 2008 [03:00]
A state witness in former Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata’s corruption case has been recalled to explain President Levy Mwanawasa’s alleged involvement in the matter. This came to light yesterday when one of Mulyata’s lawyers re-applied before Livingstone magistrate Edsen Shanduba to recall a state witness to clarify on President Mwanawasa’s alleged involvement in Mulyata’s case.
Magistrate Shanduba has since ordered that a state witness be recalled to clarify conflicting statements on the role that President Mwanawasa is alleged to have played when Mulyata ordered for the irregular release of the impounded bus belonging to Lusaka businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) from the Livingstone weighbridge. This is in a matter in which former Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata is charged with abuse of office.
Making the ruling, magistrate Shanduba said when he first rejected the defence’s application on Tuesday to recall state witness Edward Ntinda for further cross examination, it was not clear as to why the defence wanted Ntinda recalled.
“It is on record that when he (Ntinda) discussed with Honourable Mulyata, he said that he (Mulyata) told him that he was directed by the President to release the bus. The issue is a serious matter as the President is not a matter in this case. I cannot refuse that he (Ntinda) be recalled so that the name of the President is cleared,” magistrate Shanduba said.
In making the application, Sangwa said: “We would like to rely on the same reasons we made earlier. We would like to submit that through cross examining Mr Chibulu, we have realised there is a conflict that needs to be resolved as to what Mr Ntinda told the court.”
Another defence lawyer Mutemwa Mutemwa said the issue that needed to be reconciled was the allegation relating to President Mwanawasa who was not part of the case.
“If the court disregards the matter, the President’s name would be brought into disrepute. The purpose is to reconcile the witness’ statement and not to discredit him,” Mutemwa said.
But prosecutor Dennis Simwiinga objected to the application saying the defence had not cited any law with regards to the application and had not indicated whether it was an appeal against magistrate Shanduba’s Tuesday’s ruling in which he rejected the same application.
“We agree that the President is not in the dock, he was merely mentioned by a state witness who was extensively cross examined by the defence. Justice as it may be, they have the right to call the President if they so wish. We reiterate that the defence must not use this ground to try and delay the prosecution. It is therefore our humble application that this application should not succeed,” Simwiinga said.
And Anti-Corruption Commission investigations officer Musonda Chibulu under cross examination told the court that when interviewed, Mulyata said he had received a phone call from GBM requesting him to help have his impounded bus released. He said he did not know Mwamba and neither did he benefit anything by securing the release of his (Mwamba’s) bus.
Chibulu said Mulyata told him that he was merely passing the request from GBM to RDA officers at the Livingstone weighbridge because being a senior government official, he knew the statutory requirements which stated that the impounded bus should have been released only after the prescribed fee of US $2000 was paid.
“It is wrong for the minister to go against the law he helped formulate, he should have told GBM that it was not possible to release the bus,” Chibulu said.
And when reminded that it was a Mr Kapinda who released the bus, Chibulu said Kapinda released the bus under extreme pressure from Mulyata.
Chibulu said his primary concern was to establish the manner in which the bus was released. He said according to a report written by Ntinda, Mulyata had ordered the release of GBM’s bus.
It is alleged that Mulyata, who was employed in the public service as a provincial minister for Southern Province, between July 5 and 13, 2007 in Livingstone abused the authority of his office by directing officers from the Road Development Agency to release a Germins Motorways bus registration number GML 06 belonging to GBM that had been impounded for evading the weighbridge without paying the required fine, arbitrarily and prejudicial to the interest of the government of the Republic of Zambia
Trial continues.
Labels: CORRUPTION, JOSEPH MULYATA, MWANAWASA
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There's something noble about Levy
By Editor
Sunday January 06, 2008 [03:00]
President Levy Mwanawasa is not one of the most experienced and polished of our politicians. He makes many mistakes and sometimes can be unnecessarily stubborn and arrogant. But there is something very noble, very decent, very sincere about this man. Of all the top politicians we have dealt with close to 17 years now, he is the most friendly and the most yielding.
Apart from one issue – the constitution review process, Levy has yielded on many things. Even on the issue of the constitution review process, he hasn’t been totally stiff-necked; he has given some concessions of one form or another.
We can list a number of issues – big issues – on which Levy yielded after some protracted struggle or public protest. The Kashiwa Bulaya nolle prosequi is one among many such issues.
And now when the issue of corruption by Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata started, Levy was defensive. And it appeared he would never abandon his minister. But yesterday Levy yielded and dropped Mulyata from his government.
This makes Levy appear to be sincere and patriotic. Experience is the foundation of leadership. And once again, Levy has demonstrated that obligations to the people should always take precedence over loyalty or commitment to an individual, no matter what they mean to us or have done for us. Of course a leader must temper justice with mercy.
The mark of a great leader is the ability to understand the context in which he is operating and act accordingly. Government can only carry out its mandate if there is discipline, and where there is no discipline there can be no real progress.
And to maintain discipline, those in leadership have to have continuous dialogue with the people they are elected to serve and not only listen to their inner demons; they have to at all times listen to what the people say and act accordingly.
We know that some bad people have accused Levy of being weak; of being remote controlled by The Post over the decisions he has sometimes taken, especially when it comes to dealing with corrupt elements or those suspected of corruption. Of course there is no truth about this. The only thing that is true is that sometimes a leader needs to yield to the demands of the people.
And as we have stated before, yielding is legitimate and essential in two cases: when the yielder is convinced that those who are striving to make him yield are in the right – in which case honest political leaders frankly and openly admit their mistakes – or when an irrational and harmful demand is yielded to in order to avert a greater evil. And in politics, one must not be too stiff-necked, too harsh and unyielding; it is sometimes necessary to yield to those moving towards us.
And let us not forget that this is the only way citizens can take part in the governance of their country. Citizen participation is the lifeblood of any democratic governance, and without it democracy will begin to weaken. How much a government can be influenced by the citizens is a testing ground for any democracy.
The ideals of free expression and citizen participation are easy to defend when everyone remains polite and in agreement on basic issues. But those who protest government actions or decisions do not agree on basic issues, and such disagreements may be passionate and angry.
The challenge is then one of balance: to defend the right while maintaining public order and countering attempts at intimidation or violence. To suppress such disagreements and protests is to invite repression. There is no magic formula for achieving this balance.
In the end, it depends on the commitment of the majority to maintaining the institutions of democracy and the precepts of individual rights. Democratic societies are capable of enduring the bitterest disagreements among its citizens – except for disagreement about the legitimacy of democracy itself.
Now we administer the affairs of a nation in which the extra-ordinary growth of population has been outstripped by the growth of wealth and the growth in complex interests.
The material problems that face us today are not such as they were in 1964, but the underlying facts of human nature are the same now as they were then. Under altered external form, we war with the same tendencies towards evil that were evident in the early years of our Republic, and are helped by the same tendencies for good.
There are, in the body politic, economic and social, many and grave evils, and there is urgent necessity for the sternest war upon them. There should be relentless exposure of and attack upon every evil man whether politician or businessman, every evil practice, whether in politics, in business; or in social life.
We hail as benefactors every man who, with merciless severity makes such attack, provided always that he in his turn remembers that the attack is of use only if it is absolutely truthful. The liar is no whit better than the thief, and his mendacity takes the form of slander, he may be worse than most thieves. It puts a premium upon knavery untruthfully to attack an honest man, or even with hysterical exaggeration to assail a bad man with untruth.
An epidemic of indiscriminate assault upon character does no good, but very great harm. The soul of every scoundrel is gladdened whenever an honest man is assailed, or even when a scoundrel is untruthfully assailed.
Our plea is, not for immunity to but for the most unsparing exposure of the politician who betrays his trust, of the big businessman who makes or spends his fortune in illegitimate or corrupt ways. There should be a resolute effort to hunt every such man out of the position he has disgraced.
Expose the crime, and hunt down the criminal; but remember that even in the face of crime, if it is attacked in sensational, lurid, and untruthful fashion, the attack may do more damage to the public mind than the crime itself. It is because we feel that there should be no rest in the endless war against the forces of evil that we ask the war to be conducted with sanity as well as with resolution.
The men and women with the muck-rakes are often indispensable to the wellbeing of society; but only if they know when to stop raking the muck, and to look upward to the celestial crown above them, to the crown of worthy endeavour.
There are beautiful things above and round about them; and if they gradually grow to feel that the whole world is nothing but muck, their power of usefulness is gone.
If the whole picture is painted black, there remains no hue whereby to single out the rascals for distinction from their fellows. Such painting finally induces a kind of moral colour-blindness; and the people affected by it come to the conclusion that no man is really black and no man is really white, but they are all gray.
In other words, they neither believe in the truth of the attack, nor in the honesty of the man who is attacked; they grow as suspicious of the accusation as of the offence; it becomes well-nigh hopeless to stir them either to wrath against wrong-doing or to enthusiasm for what is right; and such a mental attitude in the public gives hope to every knave, and is the despair of honest men and women.
This is the way we think we should look at the arrest and prosecution of Mulyata and at his being dropped from Levy’s government. Of course we shouldn’t forget that in our country, and as far as we know, in the jurisprudence of many civilised countries, a person is regarded as innocent until he is convicted. But if criticism is valid, it must be made.
Labels: ACC, JOSEPH MULYATA
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Mulyata thanks Levy
By Amos Malupenga in Lusaka and Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Sunday January 06, 2008 [03:00]
President Levy Mwanawasa yesterday fired Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata following his arrest by the Anti-Commission Commission for abuse of authority of his office. And Mulyata yesterday thanked President Mwanawasa for having given him an opportunity to serve the country as minister. President Mwanawasa, through his special assistant for press and public relations, John Musukuma, announced Mulyata’s dismissal.
In his letter to Mulyata, President Mwanawasa stated: “I am informed that you have finally been arrested and must have appeared in court for plea on 17th December 2007. Under the circumstances and assuming that the Anti Corruption Commission are now serious, I regret that I have no option but to remove you as Provincial Minister pending the outcome of those criminal proceedings.”
Meanwhile, Mulyata accepted his dissmisal wholeheartedly.
“I will continue to serve him. He is the only one I will serve," said Mulyata.
Mulyata is charged with abuse of authority of office and will appear in court in February.
Particulars of the offence are that Mulyata, being a person employed in the public service as a provincial minister for Southern Province between July 5 and July 13, 2007 in Livingstone, abused authority of his office by directing officers from the Road Traffic and Safety Agency to release a Germins Motoways bus registration number GML 06 belonging to Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba that had been impounded for evading the weighbridge without paying the required fine, arbitrarily and prejudicial to the interest of the government of Zambia.
Labels: ACC, JOSEPH MULYATA
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ACC and Mulyata's case
By Editor
Thursday October 18, 2007 [04:00]
Justice can sometimes be a very difficult thing to administer. That’s why from time to time we hear and see inconsistencies from those who have declared to bring about justice by fighting corruption, injustice and other evils in society.
We have said before that those who declare to be for justice should emulate one of the most feared and yet admired wild animal - the leopard. Just as a leopard licks all its spots, justice should be administered fairly to all by those in authority. Indeed, the leopard licks both its white and black spots.
We cannot say that those in authority today are licking both their white and black spots when it comes to issues of corruption and good governance. In a number of cases and for reasons best known to themselves, inertia has been seen in those who are supposed to investigate or prosecute certain culprits.
But what they forget is that skinning a large beast is much more visible than skinning a mouse. A mouse can be skinned without anyone noticing. Usually, this saying refers to actions done in secrecy and still remain unnoticed.
That’s why those who really want to sit on cases like the one involving Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata are facing a mountain to climb. They are attempting to skin an ox, which is a very visible activity, and yet they are behaving as though they are attempting to skin a mouse.
It is good that Anti-Corruption Commission director general Nixon Banda has restated that Mulyata will be arrested and taken to court to answer charges of abuse of authority of office. We say it is good not because we really want to see Mulyata nailed to the cross.
We say it is good because we want everyone to realise that involving oneself in corruption or indeed any other vice does not pay. We want people to realise that what happens to those that decide to engage in evil things is not admirable.
That is why we get upset and fight when we see those who transgress the law receiving undue protection from the powerful in society. We get upset and start battles aimed at redressing this not because we have grudges or axes to grind with those who are alleged to have committed certain offences.
We do this because we want justice for all. We do not want to be double-tongued, declaring that there are no sacred cows in the fight against corruption while at the same time shielding individuals from the long arm of the law.
Nixon Banda is today telling the nation that there has been no interference in the Mulyata case. This is far from the truth. But we forgive him, and many others in authority who would want to support and reinforce his point, because we realise that a polecat is not aware of its smell. One is often blind to his or her own weaknesses.
It cannot be sustainably argued that there has never been any interference in the Mulyata case because those who have followed this matter both within and outside Anti-Corruption Commission know what has been happening.
But we can excuse those who have become too blind to see because we hear that some people have been consulting witchdoctors to protect themselves from any calamity or eventuality. Maybe that is why even President Levy Mwanawasa would say he is satisfied with the performance of his ministers, yet some of them have been found wanting by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who wants them prosecuted for their misdeeds.
The truth is that there has been interference in Mulyata’s case from some quarters. We know it, just like Nixon Banda and many others do.
That’s why Mulyata was never suspended during the time he was being investigated. Even after the Director of Public Prosecutions indicated that there is sufficient evidence to warrant his prosecution, Mulyata has continued to perform official duties.
And Mulyata is not the only one being shielded in this way.
As we write, Luapula Province minister Chrispin Musosha is being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission for alleged abuse of authority of office, but he has not been suspended. Surprisingly, his permanent secretary Alfred Kalumba who is being investigated for abuse of some money was suspended as soon as investigations were commenced.
These are the double standards and inconsistencies we are talking about. Clearly, the leopard in the fight against corruption is not licking both its white and black spots.
Anyway, we will leave this matter here for now. What we would like to emphasise to those in authority is that the Anti-Corruption Commission, the police and Drug Enforcement Commission will only be seen to be credible when they are not just talking about justice but are also seen to be administering justice.
This is the only way to build confidence in these important institutions for our country’s democracy and good governance. When those in authority choose to undermine the very institutions they are expected to empower and protect, there will be nothing worthwhile to talk about.
It cannot be denied that the Anti-Corruption Commission and its sister organisations like DEC and the police are trying their best to live up to people’s expectations under very difficult circumstances. In some cases, their good and professional works are frustrated by those in power, especially politicians.
What is comforting, however, is the fact that we shall all be judged by our deeds, not words. In saying this, we take cognisance of the adage: “Great talkers are never great doers.”
Labels: ACC, EDITORIAL, JOSEPH MULYATA
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Mulyata will be arrested soon - Nixon Banda
By Edwin Mbulo
Thursday October 18, 2007 [04:00]
Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Nixon Banda has disclosed that Southern Province minister, Joseph Mulyata, will soon appear in court to face charges of alleged abuse of authority. Banda also said there was no interference from President Levy Mwanawasa in Mulyata’s case.
Speaking in Livingstone on Tuesday night during the ACC organised Integrity in Public Life discussion forum held at New Fairmount Hotel, Banda said the ACC had received tremendous support from President Mwanawasa who has declared zero tolerance for corruption when investigating people in public office.
He said President Mwanawasa had not interfered in the operations of ACC but that the commission had a mere obligation to inform him so that he takes administrative action.
“I did mention that the case has reached an advanced stage and very soon you shall be hearing that the case is going to court,” said Banda in reference to his Livingstone’s Radio Musi-oa-Tunya talk show appearance on Monday.
“What is appearing in the press is like whenever there is a case involving some senior officer, then there is interference,” Banda said. “When we carry out investigations, we have received tremendous support from the President.
He has said that ‘let me know so that I take administrative arrangements’. It would not be fair for the President when he has travelled out to hear that we have arrested one of his ministers.”
The ACC has been investigating Mulyata over alleged abuse of authority of office following his intervention in the irregular release of an impounded bus belonging to Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) in July this year for absconding a weighbridge in Livingstone.
GBM was expected to pay a penalty fee of K7.9 million before the bus could be released. However, the bus was released without paying the fine.
And Banda said arising from the baseline report of 2004 which revealed that there was high level corruption in eight institutions, namely the Ministry of Lands, Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), the Police Service, immigration department, the Pension Board, Lusaka, Ndola and Livingstone City councils, there was need to fight corruption from within the institutions.
Banda said the ACC was not running away from its operations by forming integrity committees but it was merely institutionalising the fight against corruption.
“We are not running away from dealing with the issues of corruption but we want the institutions to have in-house cleaning initiatives as it has worked in Tanzania where corruption levels in institutions is low,” he said.
Banda appealed to Livingstone residents to report corruption cases and stated that there were a lot of malpractices in land allocation in Kazungula.
“I was in Kazungula and just like the deputy mayor has highlighted here, the issues of land alienation come out,” he said.
And Livingstone deputy mayor Jorum Mwinde complained that islands on the Zambezi River had been given out to investors without regard for national security.
Mwinde said Ilombe and Sikoma Islands had been given out to a foreign investor and that the Islands had graves and shrines in Simonga, 10 kilometres west of Livingstone
“There is also a piece of land which was given out to a foreigner on title and is over the stipulated 250 hectares,” he disclosed.
In answering Mwinde’s concerns, Ministry of Lands chief lands officer, Darliso Siasumo, assured that he would check records in Lusaka to study the plans.
Siasumo said the islands could be allocated to investors for development but plans of developments must leave a piece of land facing a neighbouring country so that in case of security concerns, the government could move on site to occupy that land.
“If the plans were consented to by the chief and the council passed a resolution to process the titles and we discover that the land is over 250 hectares, we will advise the chief that we cannot allocate titles,” said Siasumo.
Labels: ACC, JOSEPH MULYATA, NIXON BANDA
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Panic hits Mongu over fish disease
By Mwala Kalaluka in Mongu
Monday September 03, 2007 [04:00]
And Mongu MMD member of parliament Joseph Mulyata said people in the area now have to think twice before they consume any fish. A check by The Post around some fish selling points established that people trading in fish at Mulamba Harbour were reluctant to give any interviews to the press for fear that wide publicity on the disease would lead to loss of business on their part.
But some fish traders talked to said they had been advised not to say anything on the disease without authority from the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE).
However, two who sought anonymity said the situation needed to be given immediate attention even though the number of fish with blisters had reduced drastically.
They asked the government to move faster and address the situation, which they said is contributing to their economic decline.
“Alukoni ku ambola ni mina kaza litapi musina ling’olo le lizwa ku ba Mulonga (we cannot speak to you on the fish disease if you do not have a letter from the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE),” said one of the leaders at Mulamba Harbour .
The BRE are key stakeholders in the preservation of the fish resource in the province and has been instrumental in the implementation of the annual fish ban.
Western Province permanent secretary Patrick Kashinka said only a conclusive test on samples would reveal whether the ‘strange’ disease is harmful to humans or not.
Kashinka said they were still awaiting the results from the samples that were sent to Lusaka recently.
“The samples were sent to Lusaka so that we know what is causing this disease and also to know if it is harmful to people,” said Kashinka.
Asked to comment on the fish disease, Mulyata, who is visiting his constituency, said he had lived in Mongu all his life but had never witnessed such a problem in the rivers.
“Samples have been taken to find out what is the cause of this disease in the fish,” he said.
Mulyata said despite this disease, some people were still eating fish.
Asked if he was eating Mongu fish as well, Mulyata hesitantly said: “You have to think twice because we do not know what kind of disease this is.”
He said the government would continue to examine the situation as it had serious economic ramifications on the province, already considered the least developed in the country.
Some restaurant workers talked to said the high demands for the Zambezi bream had reduced following the outbreak of the fish disease.
According to Scidev.net, a scientific on-line news agency, a team of scientists from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Thailand’s Inland Aquatic Animal Health Research Institute and the Network of Aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific recently identified the fish disease that was first spotted by fishers in Caprivi area of Namibia in December last year, as Epizotic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS).
They indicated in their findings that the disease was caused by a fungal pathogen and that infected fish develop large sores and die from secondary infections.
The researchers stated in their report that this was the first known outbreak of the disease in Africa but they could not establish how the pathogen got into the Zambezi River. When EUS broke out in Asia in the late 1970s, approximately 80 per cent of the fish population perished. In December last year, fishermen in Namibia reported finding sores on fish caught in the Zambezi.
The government imposed a two-month ban on fishing to safeguard the public.
A similar ban was imposed in Botswana and was only lifted at the end of March this year.
Labels: JOSEPH MULYATA, MONGU
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Mulyata calls for tarring of W/Province road network
By Mwala Kalaluka
Wednesday August 29, 2007 [04:00]
SOUTHERN Province minister Joseph Mulyata has urged fellow parliamentarians from the Western Province to fight for the tarring of the entire road network in the area during their time in the House. And Mulyata, who is also Mongu Central member of parliament, complained that some sections of society have continued to portray him in bad light despite the good work he has done in rehabilitating the feeder roads in Mongu town.
Featuring on a ZNBC Radio One programme Zambia Ni Lifasi Kacenu, Mulyata said a good road network was important for the economic aspect of any area.
“My only request fellow members of parliament from Western Province is that we are supposed to fight for better roads because this is what we came to Lusaka for,” he said. “Western Province is the only province in this country which does not have a good road connecting it to a neighbouring country.”
He said there was a good road linking Nakonde to Tanzania, Chirundu and Livingstone to Zimbabwe including the Copperbelt to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “For us it is only this short road that enters Namibia from Sesheke,” Mulyata said. “If you open the road network, people will be able to move properly and also sell their goods easily.”
On the Mongu-Kalabo road project, Mulyata said even though K20 billion was released towards the placement of bridges on the 72 kilometre road stretch, the money was not adequate.
“But we said let us just use this K20 billion for now so that in the next budget we can move another step,” he said. “We want all roads in Western Province to be tarred, that is our agenda.”
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) recently instituted investigations against Mulyata following his intervention in the release of a luxury coach belonging to Lusaka businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM), which was impounded at the Livingstone WeighBridge for overloading.
Meanwhile a report published in the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) report for 2006, quotes NRFA director Raphael Mabenga stating that the three road sector agencies namely the Road Development Agency (RDA), Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) and NRFA last year undertook a study trip to New Zealand to understand how other road user charges such as road taxes, weighbridge fines should be collected, receipted, banked and monitored to avoid leakages.
The problem of overloading has been cited as one of the major constraints against efforts by stakeholders in the road sector to attain their objective of improving the core road network of 40,113 kilometres by 2013. But Mulyata said it was sad that even though he had put in a lot to improve the road network in Mongu, some people were still bent on tarnishing his image and social standing.
“I have done a very good job and most of the roads in Mongu town are now tarred,” said Mulyata.
However, the roads that Mulyata claims to have rehabilitated fall under the RDA’s Accelerated Urban Road Rehabilitation programme that was commenced in several towns around the country using fuel levy last year. Mongu was apportioned over K5 billion for the improvement of about eight kilometers of the link roads in the town.
Labels: JOSEPH MULYATA, ROADS, WESTERN PROVINCE
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