Zambia should become regional beef exporter, says Kazabu
By Selina Nyirenda in Lusaka and Cynthia Phiri in Choma
Fri 08 June 2012, 13:25 CAT
LUXON Kazabu says Zambia must be aggressive and position itself as a regional beef exporter. And Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Nicolas Banda says the government is determined to find best ways and resources to invest in the livestock sector aimed at controlling animal diseases.
In an interview yesterday, Kazabu who is also agriculture deputy minister said the country had a lot to learn from Botswana to boost the dairy sector.
"We must as a country strive hard to penetrate the European markets in terms of exporting beef. Like our friends in Botswana, the country is a desert but it's the largest exporter of beef in Africa," Kazabu said.
He said cattle diseases were a setback in the country's quest to become an exporter of beef.
"We just need to rehabilitate the dip tanks. That is also an obstacle because these tanks are located very far from where our people live, so by adding to the number of dip tanks that we already have, I think we will be shortening the distance," he said.
"Going forward, we have to look at how best we can support our people especially those in the countryside who do not have enough money to see how best we can help them so that they too can dip their cows. Because in the villages, the grazing of cattle is communal, so if one person is dipping his animals and the rest are not, I think that is a futile mission because the cattle will mix and in the process even the ones that are dipped will pick up some disease."
The Nkana member of parliament observed that the quality of the cattle bred needed to be improved.
"We need to improve the breed, the breeds of our cattle especially the tradition breed, we can still help our people improve the quality of their cattle in the countryside," he said.
Kazabu said dairy farming was another area that needed much attention and investment hence the need for the ministry to promote it.
"I know that there is quite a lot that is happening already but there is room for us to even do better," Kazabu said.
He said he was privileged to witness how dairy farmers in Kenya had a mapped a route for selling and collecting milk and hoped that would be adopted by local dairy farmers in the country.
Kazabu said such an initiative was a meaningful way of not only empowering the local people but fighting poverty as well.
And speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Choma District commissioner Golden Nyambe, Banda said issues of animal disease had hampered the livestock sector for years, posing a huge challenge on the country's ability to export beef products.
"As a country, we have not been able to export beef products because of animal diseases as a ministry and as the PF government we are determined to have this situation corrected," he said.
Banda said the Ministry of Agriculture was determined to make sure that the livestock sector was able to hit the acceptable standards of meat products, including milk production.
"We need to plan and sensitise our farmers to diversify other than just the mono crop of maize, we want our farmers at every level to do a mixed kind of farming; we are encouraging them to keep livestock," he explained.
Banda said economically, people keeping livestock made more money than those who just had about ten hectares of a maize field, adding that such kind of economic strides needed to be understood by farmers.
He urged farmers not to stop growing maize completely because it was the country's staple food but to diversify.
"It is important to continue growing the crop to feed other countries in the region. As Zambia we have been recording bumper harvest but we can also improve on the storage for the grain facilities so that the quality of grain is maintained after harvest and for it to also hit a good market locally and international, so our effort should be in that direction," said Banda.
Labels: CATTLE, LUXON KAZABU
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Kazabu quits UPND, joins PF
By George Chellah
Sat 02 July 2011, 04:00 CAT
LUXON Kazabu has resigned from the UPND and applied to stand in Nkana Constituency on the PF ticket. In a letter dated June 24, 2011 to the UPND secretary general, Kazabu, who is also party chairman for education, science and technology stated that he had resigned purely on principle and conviction.
“It is with deep regret that I have to inform you that after consultations with my family, friends and other people of good will and purely on a point of principle and conviction, I have decided to resign from the party with immediate effect,” Kazabu stated.
“You will recall that when I joined UPND on 30th October 2009, I publicly stated that I had stayed out of party politics for quite some time because of the fragmentation of the opposition. I further stated that following the formation of a pact between the Patriotic Front (PF) and the party I had decided to return to active politics.”
He stated that PF and UPND were and are still undoubtedly the biggest opposition parties in the country.
“I firmly believed then and still believe that working together, the two could offer a meaningful challenge to the ruling party in competing for political power and offering our people an alternative governing style,” Kazabu stated.
“Against the above background, the collapse of the pact is at variance with my conviction and expectations. Further, I do not agree with the alternative path, which the party has chosen to take in its resolve to participate in the forthcoming general elections, hence my decision to leave.”
Kazabu, who is also former Kitwe mayor thanked UPND president Hakainde Hichilema, the NEC and the National Management Committee (NMC) for giving him an opportunity to be part of the top leadership team as chairman for education, science and technology.
“I shall remain indebted for many years to come. Further, I shall treasure both the good and challenging times that we spent together during the short period of my membership. To the general membership of the party, I thank them for their support,” Kazabu stated.
“To my old and close friends, Hon Ackson Sejani and Hon Request Muntanga, I apologise upfront if they feel let down by the decision which I have made. It is my prayer and hope that our friendship and warm relations will live forever.”
And Kazabu has applied for adoption on the PF ticket in Nkana Constituency.
In his letter to the constituency secretary dated June 29, 2011, Kazabu wrote: “I write to apply for adoption as a parliamentary candidate in Nkana constituency on the Patriotic Front ticket in the forthcoming tripartite elections. For personal, academic, professional, work experience, community and business service and apolitical involvement details, I have enclosed my curriculum vitae. I trust that the party will give my application its serious and favourable consideration.”
Hichilema was recently quoted saying that the UPND was stronger than PF, which he claimed had lost popularity, especially on the Copperbelt.
Labels: LUXON KAZABU, MMD, PF
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Unite against MMD, urges Kazabu
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Wed 18 May 2011, 04:01 CAT
PEOPLE must unite against the MMD because it will be a disaster to have the same corrupt regime after the elections, says Luxon Kazabu.In an interview yesterday, Kazabu, who is former Kitwe mayor, said the calls for change of government were justified as President Rupiah Banda’s government had generally failed to meet the aspirations of the people.
He said the MMD deserved nothing but to be out of government after the elections because its achievements did not match the length of time it had been in government.
“The important question is what the MMD has achieved, especially under President Rupiah Banda, to deserve another term in government. Their style of governance is characterised by rampant corruption. They don’t think about the majority poor and good governance is still a dream after 20 years of the MMD,” Kazabu said.
He said President Banda’s failure to uphold principles of democracy and good governance was the major reason why Zambians needed to change government.
Kazabu said it would be a political scandal to continue with a government that had serious blunders such as the failed constitution, the removal of the abuse of office offense from the ACC Act and the abuse of the public media and other state institutions.
“The corrupt tendencies of President Rupiah Banda had killed the little hopes that remained in the hearts of Zambians during the late Mwanawasa’s reign.
People strongly felt that the vigorous fight against corruption would restore the country’s hopes for economic prosperity of the country but unfortunately Rupiah’s administration came and killed this good spirit,” he said.
He said the forthcoming elections were the only hope and power that citizens had to make Zambia a better country full of opportunities for people.
Kazabu said there was need for the electorate to realise that the country could grow to greater heights if vigorous people in the opposition were given chance to rule the country.
He said the introduction of mobile hospitals where huge sums of money were spent despite people saying it was a misplaced priority, spoke volumes of how President Banda had failed to attend to the needs of the people.
Kazabu said every citizen had an obligation to demand free and fair elections so that the MMD could be voted out of government peacefully, without contentions.
Labels: LUXON KAZABU, MMD
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Take interest in your country’s affairs - Sichinga
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Wed 30 Mar. 2011, 04:01 CAT
Bob Sichinga has urged Zambians to take an interest in their country’s affairs and ensure that they learn their leaders’ roles and responsibilities if they were to effectively hold them accountable.
During a News Makers’ Forum organised by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post at Hotel Edinburg in Kitwe on Monday, Sichinga also urged Zambians not to believe President Rupiah Banda or Vice-President George Kunda when they stand on platforms and accuse opposition parliamentarians of failing to deliver development.
“No MP has the means of bringing development because the constituency has no allocation apart from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). No MP is responsible for development, no MP will bring you development because it’s not their responsibility, so when the President tells you that the problem facing your district is because you voted for this MP, he is telling lies, he is politicking,” he said.
“And when the Vice-President tells you that this MP resigned from our party because he failed to deliver development in his constituency, he is lying. The responsibility of development is entirely in the executive arm of government.”
Sichinga said the country’s poverty levels were unacceptably high despite the government's pronouncements that the economy was growing.
He said although the economy was growing, it was not being properly managed hence the benefits of economic growth were not trickling down to the ordinary citizens.
And Sichinga said if the opposition parties failed to work together, it was better to support the one that stood a better chance of winning.
“The opposition is divided and I want to acknowledge that. Without the opposition holding together, you have a reduced ability and you take a risk. It would be preferable for all opposition parties to be together but if they can’t be together, I would go for the one that stands a better chance of winning and set conditions,” he said.
He said the conditions would be for whichever leader is elected to seriously address the Constitution, implement decentralisation. He said that leader must not fly around but stay at home and address problems facing his or her people.
Sichinga, a former UPND vice-president also observed that his former party was not the same as it was in 2001 and that dynamics had changed.
“In 2001, how many MPs did UPND have? 49,” he answered. “How many did PF have? One but by the time we came to a close in 2006, PF had two MPs.
Then after the 2006 elections, UPND came back with 22 seats, PF came out with 42,” Sichinga said.
“I am not talking about quality here, am talking about the numbers and in Parliament, even if you just sit without saying a word, your vote counts. The situation is that we have one political party which is bigger than the other.”
Meanwhile, Sichinga said the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) should be supported by all political players and citizens.
And Luxon Kazabu urged people to emulate Sichinga’s character of always putting the country's interests ahead of his own.
Labels: LUXON KAZABU, PF, ROBERT SICHINGA
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Don’t blame media for revolts - Kazabu
Don’t blame media for revolts - Kazabu
By Ernest Chanda
Fri 25 Feb. 2011, 04:01 CAT
LUXON Kazabu says President Rupiah Banda should not blame the media on the revolutionary activities that have engulfed some North African countries.
Commenting on President Banda's caution that the Tunisia, Egypt and Libya uprisings should not come to Zambia, Kazabu - a former Kitwe mayor - said people were bound to react to any bad governance. He said the best way of preventing such developments is by giving people what they want.
"What is happening in North Africa is spontaneous; people are just reacting to bad governance in their respective countries. That's what happens when the populous become enchanted on issues of good governance,” Kazabu said.
“This has absolutely nothing to do with the media because when people are not happy with their government, they will not wait for the media to tell them. And that depends on what people get from their government. If people believe in what their government is giving them then they will stay quiet. But if they are not happy with things, they will always react. So it is wrong for President Banda to blame that on the media."
Kazabu said the lesson the government should learn from the North Africa press to help not push Zambians to emulate the pro-democracy demonstrations in Egypt, Libya and parts of the Middle East.
He said it was sad that Libya seemed to be heading for violence.
Labels: EGYPT, LUXON KAZABU, RUPIAH BANDA
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Corruption will continue haunting Chiluba - Kazabu
By Misheck Wangwe
Sun 20 Feb. 2011, 03:59 CAT
CORRUPTION will continue haunting Frederick Chiluba and the people who shield him from facing justice, says Luxon Kazabu.
Commenting on the suspension of the practicing licence of Mohammed lqbal Meer by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority in the United Kingdom over his dealings connected to alleged abuse and misappropriation of Zambian public resources, Kazabu who is former Kitwe mayor said no one would go free for protecting former president Chiluba from facing justice because he had remained guilty in the hearts of many Zambians.
Kazabu said Chiluba's refusal to apologise for stealing from Zambians would continue to haunt him.
“The nation has been offended by the former president Chiluba. It's clear in the eyes of many Zambians that he was being helped to manipulate the people and avoid facing the law. It's under moral grounds that those licences of UK lawyers were suspended by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Everybody who helped Chiluba run away from facing the law will be answerable for their misdeeds,” he said.
He said Chiluba’s misdeeds would continue haunting him and his colleagues if he does not apologise and return what he stole from Zambians.
Kazabu said the suspension of Chiluba's UK-based lawyers was an indication that time had already started catching up with people who were enjoying money that was stolen from Zambians in the second Republic.
He said the hope of many Zambians was that Chiluba would one day appear again before the courts of law so that true justice could be done.
Kazabu said it had become clear that Chiluba was being protected by the current government from facing justice over the alleged abuse and misappropriation of public resources.
He said the high morals exhibited by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority in the United Kingdom following the suspension of Chiluba's lawyers was inspiring and should be a lesson for the Zambian government and the Judiciary.
“Our Judiciary in its own wisdom decided to acquit Chiluba over the corruption cases and on the other hand government refused to appeal to the higher court despite demands from Zambians that his cases should be appealed to the High Court. But time has its own ways of catching up with wrongdoers and one day justice would be done,” said Kazabu.
Labels: CORRUPTION, FREDERICK CHILUBA, LUXON KAZABU
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Kazabu urges sustained calls for abuse of office reinstatement
By Florence Bupe
Sat 08 Jan. 2011, 04:01 CAT
IT is a fallacy for anyone to feel comfortable over the removal of the abuse of office clause from the Anti Corruption Commission Act, says Luxon Kazabu.
In an interview, the former Kitwe mayor said those that supported the removal of the abuse of office clause from the ACC Act should know that nothing had changed as far as people’s demands for the law were concerned.
“They may have changed the law but Zambians have not changed,” he said.
Kazabu urged Zambians to sustain their demand for the abuse of office clause to be reinstated in the ACC Act.
He said it was saddening that the government had gone against the wishes of the majority Zambians who were opposed to the removal of the clause from the law.
He said the suggestion from the government that the Penal Code could be used to follow up cases of abuse in the public sector was not good because the Penal Code was inadequate and ineffective in addressing the problem.
“We know that there are so many cases that have been brought under this code but in most cases, the culprits have gone scot-free,” Kazabu said.
“On the other hand, we know of a number of people who have been successfully convicted under the abuse of office clause, simply meaning the clause was an effective instrument in the fight against corruption.”
Kazabu said the removal of the clause was retrogressive to the corruption battle but stressed that Zambians would not go to sleep over the matter.
The government last year removed the abuse of office clause from the ACC Act despite opposition from a wide section of the public.
Labels: ACC, LUXON KAZABU
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Violence is William’s trademark - Kazabu
By Florence Bupe
Sat 25 Dec. 2010, 03:58 CAT
LUXON Kazabu says political violence will continue for as long as the government insists on working with people like Lusaka Province chairperson William Banda. In an interview, Kazabu, a former Kitwe mayor, said the country’s democracy had regressed because of leaders who had dictatorial tendencies.
“This year, we have seen an ugly development in the form of political violence and this is unfortunate because we are supposed to be a civilised society. But what do you expect when you have people like William Banda whose trademark is violence?” Kazabu said.
He said the country had been drawn back to the governing systems of the one-party state, in which opposing views were not tolerated.
“That kind of behaviour is unacceptable in this day and age. Democracy will only thrive with divergent input, but how can we achieve this when others are being slaughtered?” he asked.
Kazabu said there was need for the political leadership to change its approach if the country’s democracy was to thrive.
And Kazabu said the year 2010 had been disappointing for most Zambians because of various negative developments in the country’s governance.
He said the constitution-making process failed to meet the aspirations of the majority of Zambians.
“The expectations and aspirations of the people have once again been frustrated and betrayed. For instance, critical provisions such as the 50 per cent plus one clause have been left out,” Kazabu said.
“This implies that after next year’s elections, we will still go back to questioning the legitimacy of a president elected by minority votes.”
Kazabu also said the judiciary had proved that it practised double standards in the dispensation of its duties.
“We are still grappling with the shock of the Mufumbwe judgment. There are other similar cases that have been dragging on,” Kazabu said. “Government is managing this country like Animal Farm, where some animals are more equal than others.”
Kazabu also urged Zambians to continue mounting pressure on the government to reintroduce the windfall tax as a way of increasing revenue which could be used to develop infrastructure across the country.
Labels: CADRES, LUXON KAZABU, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, WILLIAM BANDA
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Abuse of office clause removal worries Kazabu
By Florence Bupe
Wed 17 Nov. 2010, 03:59 CAT
LUXON Kazabu says no one in their right state of mind can be happy about the rem-oval of the abuse of office clause from the ACC Act.
Reacting to defence minister Kalombo Mwansa’s statement that Zambians should be happy about the removal of the clause from the ACC Act, Kazabu, the former Kitwe mayor, said Zambians could not be happy because the shield against the abuse of public resources was being removed.
“How can we be happy when the law that is meant to protect our resources is being removed? It is unthinkable for anybody who means well to be happy when the shield is being removed,” Kazabu said.
Dr Mwansa on Monday urged Zambians to be happy with the removal of the abuse of office clause from the ACC Act, saying the government had simply streamlined the law.
Dr Mwansa explained that the government would use the Penal Code to prosecute those abusing public office and resources.
But Kazabu argued that the Penal Code in its current form was not effective enough to deal with the offence of abuse of office.
“This simply means whoever steals our money simply gets away with it,” he said.
Kazabu further said there was nothing wrong with maintaining the clause in the ACC Act because it added strength to the law against corruption.
He said Dr Mwansa’s argument that the existence of the law in the ACC Act was a duplication was unreasonable.
“If we have to duplicate certain clauses of the law to ensure double protection of our resources, why should we get rid of it? Actually, without the abuse of office clause, we are lame,” he said.
Kazabu said those in the MMD were trying to get rid of the abuse of office clause because they feared the law could catch up with them once out of office.
However, he warned that Zambians were alert and would still fight to ensure that those who have abused public resources face the law.
Kazabu also described as surprising Vice-President George Kunda’s remarks that he does not regret taking former president Frederick Chiluba’s corruption cases to the London High Court because he was just acting on behalf of government.
“When he took the matter to London, he did so with the full conviction and belief that he was doing so in the best interest of the Zambian people. It is therefore incredible that he can make a complete roundabout and detach himself from the matter,” said Kazabu.
Vice-President Kunda told Parliament last week that he took the matter involving Chiluba to the London court as government instructed him, not out of personal interest.
Labels: ACC, CORRUPTION, KALOMBO MWANSA, LUXON KAZABU
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RB will be haunted for removing abuse of office clause
By Chibaula Silwamba in Lusaka and Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Thu 30 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
Lungu said section 37 of the current ACC Act that was removed was in direct contravention of Article 20 of the UNCAC on Illicit enrichment. TRANSPARENCY International Zambia (TIZ) executive director Goodwell Lungu yesterday charged that President Rupiah Banda and his government will forever be haunted for removing the abuse of office offence clause from the revised Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Act.
And Luxon Kazabu said it is clear that the fight against corruption has been totally undermined and is close to zero with the removal of the Abuse of Authority of Office clause from the revised ACC Act.
Commenting on the government’s removal of the abuse of office offence from the revised ACC Act, Lungu said posterity would judge President Banda's administration harshly. He said the government’s action to remove section 37 of the current ACC Act from the Anti-Corruption Bill had dealt a very serious blow to the fight against corruption as it was a direct ploy to legalise abuse of office in Zambia.
“We want to put it on record that the internationally accepted definition of corruption focuses on bribery and abuse of public office and is aptly captured in all the major anti-Corruption Conventions including the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) protocol against corruption which Zambia is a party to, further defines corruption as including the living beyond of one's means,” Lungu said.
“The SADC Protocol Against Corruption is very clear as it defines corruption as ‘any act referred to in Article 3 and includes bribery or any other behaviour in relation to persons entrusted with responsibilities in the public and private sectors which violates their duties as public officials, private employees, independent agents or other relationships of that kind and aimed at obtaining undue advantage of any kind for themselves or others’.”
Lungu said section 37 of the current ACC Act that was removed was in direct contravention of Article 20 of the UNCAC on Illicit enrichment.
Lungu said despite having an article that clearly was against abuse of public office and living beyond one’s means, which in most cases results in public officers failing to account for property they cannot account for, Zambia was embarking on steps going backwards instead of strengthening its legal framework to comply with the mandatory provisions of the UNCAC.
“It is therefore inconceivable to imagine how a government that boasts of having ratified the UNCAC can at the same time act contrary in compliance with the UNCAC. We want to advise President Banda’s government that this move will live to haunt them forever no matter what justification they use,” Lungu said.
“We as Transparency International Zambia, due to our relent efforts in the fight against corruption are extremely appalled and want to put it on record that the architects on this piece of legislation have further undermined the objectives and measures of the current Anti-Corruption policy that clearly calls for the strengthening of anti-corruption laws and not completely weakening such laws which the government is now doing.”
Lungu said TIZ had taken time to reflect, study and comment on President Banda’s speech during the official opening of Parliament when he indicated that anti-corruption laws would not be dictated by foreign interests.
According to the National Assembly Bill number 41 of 2010 presented to Parliament last Friday for first reading by acting leader of government business Mkhondo Lungu, section 37 which catered for the offence had now been replaced by concealment of offence.
The bill states that a person commits an offence if they intend to defraud or to conceal the commission of an offence under this part or to obstruct an officer in the investigation of any offence.
And Kazabu, a former Kitwe mayor, said it was impossible for the country to create a corrupt free government because it was being led a corrupt regime.
He said it was ridiculous for government to state that they removed the abuse of authority offence from the ACC Act to harmonize the laws.
Kazabu said the best protection government leaders could have after leaving office was to do the right thing and conduct government business in a transparent manner and not removing critical clauses that were meant to enhance accountability.
He said that the removal of abuse of office offence from the ACC Act was one of President Banda’s maneuvers to protect himself and his corrupt friends from future prosecutions.
He said President Banda wanted to legalise stealing of public resources especially for people who support him.
He said the move was aimed at protecting the mischief of President Banda’s government even after he leaves office.
He said it was sad that the head of state was busy destroying the great efforts that were made by the late president Levy Mwanawasa in the fight against corruption.
Kazabu said it was illogical for government to remove the abuse of office offence from the ACC Act when the Act had contributed significantly to the fight against corruption.
“Rupiah wants to protect himself and his friends after they leave government. That’s why he is busy removing pertinent acts in the constitution that will one day find him wanting. It is clear that the fight against corruption has been totally undermined and it is close to zero,” Kazabu said.
Labels: ACC, LUXON KAZABU, RUPIAH BANDA
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Levy’s legacy of corruption fight has also died - Kazabu
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Thu 19 Aug. 2010, 04:01 CAT
LUXON Kazabu has observed that late president Levy Mwanawasa’s crusade against corruption is resting with him at Embassy Park in Lusaka. And an Anglican priest in Kitwe has charged that Vice-President George Kunda and other ministers who served under Mwanawasa are insincere people who are just interested in amassing wealth and not serving the country.
Commenting on the second memorial of Mwanawasa which falls today, Kazabu, who is former Kitwe mayor, said President Rupiah Banda deceived the nation when he campaigned on the legacy of the late president under the notion “building on the promise” but dumped what Mwanawasa stood for the day he entered State House.
Kazabu said it was clear that the country was being run by insincere people who were busy wining and dining with thieves.
“We will remember Mwanawasa as a leader who had values, who knew what was right for Zambians. He dedicated his leadership to the rule of law and not of men. He stepped up the fight against corruption and we saw many crooks being prosecuted for stealing national resources,” Kazabu said.
“We are not seeing these things today because we gave power to their fellow crooks and they are looting national resources that’s why they have abandoned the fight against corruption and its resting with Mwanawasa at Embassy Park in Lusaka.”
He said if Mwanawasa were to come back from the dead, he would be disappointed to find that his closest friends whom he trusted betrayed him and allowed individuals like former president Frederick Chiluba to go scott-free despite having abused resources belonging to the Zambian people.
Kazabu said when Mwanawasa took over power in 2001, people had hopes because the country started showing signs of prosperity but things drastically changed when President Banda took over the government.
He said it was shameful to note that under President Banda the Judiciary, which had high integrity had been terribly compromised.
He said Zambians could clearly see that there were double standards in the dispensation of justice.
Kazabu said posterity would judge everyone who worked with Mwanawasa in the fight against corruption but later abandoned his ideas after his demise.
And Fr Richard Luonde said it was impossible for Zambians to trust leaders like Vice-President Kunda because they had proved that they were just interested in amassing wealth than serving the country.
Fr Luonde said the legacy of Mwanawasa could not be felt today because the people he worked with betrayed him and abandoned what he stood for.
“If one is a pretender, he will remain a pretender for the rest of their lives. This is what we are seeing in people who worked with Mwanawasa. They are just interested in eating and nothing else,” Fr Luonde said.
“They are double-tongued people who can change at any time. But time will tell; one day they will be out of power and people will remember them for their deception.”
He said the pages of prosperity were being reversed by the MMD government that was encouraging corruption and abuse of power contrary to what Mwanawasa believed in.
Fr Luonde said Mwanawasa’s body turned in his grave with disappointment looking at the way the people he trusted like President Banda were running the affairs of the nation and mistreating the people he respected like former finance minister Ng’andu Magande and his defence counterpart George Mpombo.
Mwanawasa died on August 19, 2008 at Percy Military Hospital in Paris, France.
Labels: GEORGE KUNDA, LEVY MWANAWASA, LUXON KAZABU
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Changwe’s case is a test to Rupiah - Kazabu
By Mwala Kalaluka
Sun 20 June 2010, 04:01 CAT
FORMER Kitwe mayor Luxon Kazabu yesterday said President Rupiah Banda is on trial in the matter where gender deputy minister Lucy Changwe bounced a K10 million cheque on a house purchase transaction.
But President Banda yesterday said he has not yet received the letter from the Mkushi resident, Rogers Musonda, the one to whom Changwe issued the cheque that bounced.
Commenting on revelations by Musonda that the cheque that Changwe issued to him as part payment towards the purchase of a house bounced, Kazabu said Changwe’s case was a test to President Banda.
“We have a precedent. Honourable (George) Mpombo who in fact got money from a friend because of the mutual relationship between the two was at electronic speed arrested and charged for that offence of bouncing a cheque,” Kazabu said in an interview from Kitwe. “So really not only myself but the whole nation is expecting the police to move on this case with the same speed.”
Kazabu said if this was not done, the police would be telling the whole world that Zambia was a country with a dual justice system.
“Which actually can’t be accepted as we are all equal in the eyes of the law,” he said. “And this one (Changwe’s case) should be taken much more seriously because we are dealing with a minister and if ministers are going to behave in that manner they will not have the people’s confidence.”
Kazabu agreed that President Banda was aware of the matter since he had been written to.
“It is a test for the President because we have come to know now,” Kazabu said. “The President is actually on trial. He has to prove to the people of Zambia, the Constitution that he swore to uphold requires him to take appropriate action where a government leader, in this case Lucy Changwe, commits an offence under the Penal Code.”
Several other people have demanded for the immediate prosecution of Changwe over the bounced cheque issue involving a Mkushi resident who sold a house to her.
In his letter to President Banda, the resident, Musonda, said being the father of the nation he was of the strong belief that President Banda would help him in the matter.
Musonda stated that the cheque issued in his favour by Changwe, who is also Mkushi North MMD parliamentarian, was meant to be a delayed part payment of the first agreed installment of the house purchase, which was due on December 16, 2009.
But President Banda said through his press aide Dickson Jere that he had not yet received Musonda’s letter.
“His Excellency has not yet received the letter. He will give his response once he receives the said letter,” said Jere in response to a press query.
Labels: LUCY CHANGWE, LUXON KAZABU, RUPIAH BANDA
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The cause of our forefathers has been betrayed – Kazabu
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe and Masuzyo Chakwe in Lusaka
Wed 26 May 2010, 04:00 CAT
THE cause of our great forefathers has been terribly betrayed, UPND chairperson for education, science and technology Luxon Kazabu has observed. And General Malimba Masheke has appealed to the leadership in the country to work and maintain the cause of those who fought for independence to get Zambia free from poverty and create employment for the people.
Commenting on the Africa Freedom Day, which fell yesterday, Kazabu said freedom fighters engaged in the struggle to
ensure that after attaining independence, the country’s resources were properly harnessed to benefit everyone.
Kazabu observed that currently, no one could confidently stand and say that the country’s resources were benefitting every citizen.
“Most of our people are living a hopeless life whereby they hardly know where the next meal will come from,” he said.
Kazabu added that in a land of plenty like Zambia, it was a paradox that people should be wallowing in so much poverty amidst plenty natural resources.
He called on all citizens to reflect on the reasons why the country’s forefathers went into the freedom struggle.
“If our forefathers had to come back to life, they would have very harsh judgment for us for having betrayed their noble cause,” he said.
Kazabu said the current generation especially those in leadership still had a chance of cleansing themselves by doing things that would add value to every citizen as opposed to focusing on their own narrow interests.
He said when God gave Zambia all her natural resources, He did not mean that they should only be enjoyed by a few.
“Let us re-focus and remember the many people out there who need to be helped. We should ensure that when our people go to hospitals, they find adequate medicines, we should ensure that there are motivated nurses and doctors to treat them, we should ensure that our children go to schools where teaching and learning can be done effectively,” he said.
Kazabu said there was need to create an environment conducive for living.
Kazabu said issues of sanitation, clean drinking water, and better standards of living for people could be achieved if resources were properly harnessed.
And Gen Masheke, who is former prime minister in Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s government, congratulated Zambia for reaching this far.
He said those in leadership should work and maintain the cause of those who fought for independence to create employment for the thousands of youths who were queueing up during the recruitment of police and Zambia Air Force (ZAF) officers.
Gen Masheke said those in authority should not throw away wealth to investors without Zambians getting something out of it.
“I wish we owned something in the mines,” he said.
He said he was very encouraged with Australia’s Prime Minister who said from 2012, all mines would pay super profit tax which is supposed to increase Australians’ tax revenue collection from the mining sector.
Gen Masheke said in 1969 when he was out in the bush, Zambia was getting something from the mining industry, which was the biggest economic field.
He said there could be no development if the government did not control the mines. Gen Masheke said if the government did not control the mines at the time, there would be no tarred roads and clinics in all the country’s districts.
He said currently, the government did not own anything, as there were no industries in the country. Gen Masheke said everything had been sold out and the government only depended on tax from a few people in formal employment.
He said what comes into the country in terms of foreign exchange was beneficial only for a few.
Gen Masheke appealed to the Zambians not to allow wealth to disappear from the country. He said there were so many young Zambians who were unemployed.
He urged the government to create industries and share the country’s wealth equally.
Gen Masheke also appealed to those in leadership to work for the people and not for themselves.
The country joined the continent to commemorate Africa Freedom Day yesterday and several people were honoured by President Rupiah Banda.
Labels: AFRICA FREEDOM DAY, LUXON KAZABU, MALIMBA MASHEKE, NEOCOLONIALISM, WINDFALL TAX
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Kunda is an ordained liar, says Kazabu
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Tue 18 May 2010, 04:00 CAT
UPND chairperson for education, science and technology Luxon Kazabu has charged that Vice-President George Kunda is an ordained liar. And Kazabu has urged former president Frederick Chiluba to show some degree of integrity by taking a stance that goes beyond personal interest.
Commenting on Vice-President Kunda’s statement in Luapula Province that opposition leaders that were promoting violence risked being extradited to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague to answer for their crimes, in reference to the violence that characterised the Mufumbwe by-elections, Kazabu said telling lies was not compatible with the Office of the Vice-President.
“It is very shameful and embarrassing for a person who holds the position of Vice-President to become an ordained liar,” he said. “He Vice-President Kunda was not in Mushima in Mufumbwe where those churches were burnt. I was in Mushima and I told the story to your newspaper as I saw it. He was never in Mushima himself.”
Kazabu said Zambians knew that the MMD did not get along with the Catholic Church and it was not difficult to guess which party was responsible for smashing the Catholic Church’s windows in Mufumbwe.
He maintained that MMD were the aggressors in Mufmbwe and wondered why they wanted to shift the blame on the UPND.
“It is amazing that our people are being pursued and questioned for this and that. What sort of a society is this? The normal thing would have been for the police to pursue the aggressors,” he said.
“Kunda is in Luapula and busy accusing UPND of violence. Someone holding the position of Republican vice-president should not tell lies just to keep his job. Leaders should not be associated with telling lies. They should tell the truth as it is.”
He said it was sad that Vice-President Kunda who was once a specialist in law had turned out to be a liar. Kazabu also dismissed Vice-President Kunda’s claim that the newly launched party by former Luena parliamentarian Charles Milupi was a breakaway from the UPND.
“Again that is a lie. It is not a secret that in 2006, Milupi applied to be adopted to stand on the MMD ticket in Luena and he only changed his mind to stand as an independent after they refused to adopt him. So Milupi’s party is a splinter from MMD and a satellite for MMD,” he said.
“Can Kunda for once stand credible and match his position? We can’t have a vice-president who tells lies in the morning, in the afternoon and at night. It is a tragedy for the nation.”
Last weekend, Vice-President Kunda said opposition political leaders perpetrating violence would be extradited to The Hague to answer charges of their crimes.
And Kazabu said Chiluba had become politically unstable because of the problems he was going through.
“In 2006, he supported PF because he thought that the late president Levy Mwanawasa was going to incarcerate him for the crimes he committed. President Rupiah Banda did all he could to help Chiluba walk away from his crimes and now MMD has become his darling,” he said.
“I feel sorry for the former president, notwithstanding all that he has gone through. He should show some level of integrity and take a stance based on the truth and not personal interest.”
Kazabu said it remained to be seen how effective Chiluba’s mission to Luapula would be.
“It is important to realise that the chiefs who were gathered there each only hold one vote. The wind of change is blowing across the country and it is unstoppable. MMD should start packing their bags because come next year, they will be dead and buried,” said Kazabu.
Labels: CHILUBA, GEORGE KUNDA, LUXON KAZABU
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Rupiah is shielding MMD cadres – Kazabu
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Wed 05 May 2010, 04:10 CAT
UPND chairperson for education, science and technology Luxon Kazabu has observed that President Rupiah Banda’s branding of UPND as a violent party is a ploy to shield MMD cadres who were the real aggressors in the Mufumbwe by-election. And Kazabu has urged the ruling MMD not to behave as if they were landlords of Zambia.
Giving a detailed account of events that surrounded the by-elections in Mufumbwe, Kazabu who was part of the UPND campaign team camped in Mushima ward said the local people and the police knew very well the persons in the fore-front of instigating violence in the area.
He said MMD cadres led by a man identified as Lampen pounced on whoever they suspected or believed to be supporting the opposition UPND.
Kazabu recalled that on April 20, 2010 UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was scheduled to address a rally in Mushima ward but before he could address it, he and his entourage decided to pay a courtesy call on chief Mushima as per tradition.
“When we walked to the chief’s palace, we found a crowd armed with sticks and all sorts of ammunition you can imagine shouting that, ‘We don’t want you here! Go back!’ Even the chief himself was saying that,” he narrated.
“The vice-president Mr Richard Kapita remarked that ‘what kind of a chiefdom is this?’ We were undaunted because we wanted to fulfill tradition so those people the chief and the crowd said president HH with three or four people could go into the palace and pay the courtesy call. There was a temporary ceasefire.”
He explained that after Hichilema paid the courtesy call, he went back to the rally site and addressed a peaceful gathering.
“In the evening, going into the night after that rally on that day, the aggressors who are the MMD pounced on whoever they believed to be supporting the opposition. They were led by a lumpen called Lampen and that is the one who spearheaded attacks on known UPND supporters,” he said.
Kazabu narrated that the same Lampen ran a hammer mill located just near the two churches that were burnt by MMD cadres.
“The burnt churches were near Mushima Basic School where the MMD had their camp. As a matter of fact, the same school was used as a polling station. That is a serious anomaly and I challenge them to deny it,” he said.
“If really as President Banda claims, our people were the ones that burnt those churches, the first target would have been Lampen’s hammer mill because it is located just near those churches.”
He said UPND as a responsible party with responsible leaders urged their cadres to keep away from the areas where the MMD were allegedly instigating violence.
Kazabu said UPND had no trouble-makers such as the likes of William Banda and others in MMD.
He said when President Banda went to address his rally at Mushima Basic School grounds, the UPND leadership made sure that they evacuated their supporters to a place called Kamatete just to ensure that there was no confrontation between the two camps.
“And President Banda will confirm himself that there were no problems at his rally,” he added.
Kazabu explained that when President Banda paid a courtesy call on chief Mushima, he sought to know the people that burnt the churches and the traditional leader categorically told him that the MMD were responsible.
“And the chief’s own children who are UPND members were present during this meeting. That is when the President made those pledges to assist the two churches that were burnt,” Kazabu explained.
He said after the burning of the churches, word went round that the MMD would re-enforce themselves by bringing in thugs from Mufumbwe boma to cause more havoc and UPND members were gripped with fear but leaders encouraged them not to panic.
He also recalled that on the day Hichilema paid a courtesy call on chief Mushima, three UPND members ran to their camp and reported that they had been knifed by MMD cadres.
He said the UPND camp quickly organised transport and took the three to Kasempa District Hospital but when foreign affairs minister Kabinga Pande arrived, he allegedly manipulated the three to claim that they had been attacked by the UPND.
Kazabu said when some of the UPND members who were headed for Lusaka heard of the MMD’s diabolical plan to attack the UPND camp, they advised that the Mushima camp moves to Kasempa for security reasons but he Kazabu and his colleagues vowed not to go anywhere and that if it meant being killed, they would just be killed.
And Kazabu said the MMD were not landlords of Zambia but were only privileged to be in power at the moment.
“Yes, we are in the opposition but we are not tenants. We have an equal stake with them. As politicians we have a responsibility to guide our cadres to behave in a manner that will help this country otherwise we might set it on a fire that we might fail to put out,” said Kazabu.
“We should deliver our campaign messages without injuring each other physically. This country needs everyone’s contribution. Personally I have sufficient capacity to debate any issue.”
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, CADRES, LUXON KAZABU, RUPIAH BANDA
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MMD is using NCC to fix, divide opposition – Kazabu
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Wed 24 Feb. 2010, 08:40 CAT
FORMER Kitwe mayor Luxon Kazabu has charged that the MMD is now using the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) to fix and divide the opposition.
Commenting on the various progressive clauses in the Mung’omba draft constitution that have been rejected by the current NCC, Kazabu said the delegates to the conference had betrayed Zambians by serving the interests of the MMD and not the wishes of the majority Zambians.
He said it was disheartening that the constitution making process had lost direction as the people entrusted to come up with a people-driven constitution through the NCC were busy trashing critical recommendations for the sake of pleasing the MMD government.
He warned that the country risked going back to the constitution making process with every change of government because the people had been let down by those entrusted with the task.
Kazabu said civil society organisations and churches that initially declined to participate in the NCC had been vindicated, adding that the conference had been abused by the inbuilt MMD majority that were pushing the party’s agenda and not the people’s as prescribed by the Mung’omba draft constitution.
He said it was sad that critical clauses such as the 50 per cent plus one vote required for one to be declared Republican president had been subjected to a referendum when Zambians categorically stated through the Mung’omba draft constitution that the threshold would enhance fairness and legitimacy to the electoral process.
Kazabu said Zambians were tired of a minority government whose legitimacy remained questionable throughout their terms hence the recommendation for the 50 per cent plus one clause.
He said the NCC’s decision to throw out another provision that allowed political parties to merge after an election or during the life of a serving Parliament was not in the best interest of the country but a move meant to disadvantage the opposition.
“The MMD is scared. It is now using the NCC to fix and divide the opposition so that it becomes weak. This should not be allowed in our country, people should be able to resist politics of tyranny being practiced by the ruling party because Zambia is a democratic state and the wishes of the people must prevail every time,” Kazabu said.
He said it was regrettable that clauses that the MMD were comfortable with in the draft constitution had been quickly endorsed while those that were critical and meant to empower the majority people had been rejected maliciously.
Kazabu charged that a huge chunk of taxpayers’ money being channelled to the NCC was just being wasted because of the manner in which business was being handled at the conference.
Labels: CONSTITUTION, DEAN MUNG'OMBA, LUXON KAZABU, MMD, NCC, POLITICS
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Banda has tasted his own dosage of tribalism – Kazabu
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe and George Chellah in Lusaka
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:20:08 AM
FORMER Kitwe mayor Luxon Kazabu has said President Rupiah Banda has tasted his own dosage of tribalism. And former defence minister George Mpombo yesterday urged President Banda to learn to contain himself at public functions and desist from using vulgar and unpalatable language as head of state.
Commenting on President Banda's call to Kasama residents not to vote for Kasama Central PF parliamentary candidate Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba because he was a tribalist, Kazabu said President Banda's political quinine of tribalism that he prescribed for Zambians had come back to haunt him.
“It's this President that wrote a prescription about tribalism,” Kazabu said. “He's the one that went to Eastern Province last year and made those remarks that were meant to promote tribalism. So that political quinine he prescribed for us, he is being given a dose. He should be the last to complain about tribalism because he is the one who is in the forefront promoting it.”
Kazabu said he did not agree with tribal sentiments irrespective of who originated them, and that tribe should not be used to ascend to political office or any other position.
On President Banda's likening of Lusaka businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) to a big sack of mealie-meal, Kazabu said President Banda had lost the standing of a statesman.
“Even though he’s gone to Kasama to campaign, he cannot describe one citizen as a sack of mealie-meal,” he said. “He can campaign but still use acceptable language.”
Kazabu said President Banda's administration had failed and urged Kasama residents to lead the way in MMD's exit.
“I get surprised when I hear people shower praises on this administration,” Kazabu said. “I begin to wonder that maybe there is something wrong with me but when I look I discover that I am on the right side of things. It is just these bootlickers that shower praises.”
Kazabu urged traditional leaders not to take political sides for them to retain the respect of their subjects. He accused the traditional leaders that campaigned for MMD of having nostalgia of the one party state in which they were obliged to support the government of the day in an environment where political opposition was non-existent.
And Mpombo said the nation expects President Banda to set very high standards in terms of using palatable language.
“Whatever the circumstances, we should use language which is considered to be palatable. The culture of insults should be avoided because regardless of what happens we are going to remain the same people at the end of the day,” Mpombo said. “We should avoid using blood-curdling language. People must describe each other in acceptable language. That language was improper, we must avoid vulgar language. The President should contain himself at these functions not to use disparaging language. He needs to sustain democratic tenets in the campaigns. If the President gets used to such a language then obviously a wrong message is being received.”
And Mpombo urged the MMD to uphold democracy.
“I will continue to agitate for democratic reforms in the party and I have no apologies to make to people like information minister Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha. Shikapwasha can go ahead and hatch plans and plots to throw me in jail on tramped-up charges if he wants,” Mpombo said. “If Kenneth Kaunda was jailed on tramped-up charges, who am I? It's the likes of Shikapwasha who are making the party unpopular because they have thrown all their principles.”
Mpombo said the diabolical skills of Shikapwasha would not work.
“He can go ahead. I would ask the President to replace Shikapwasha. It's important that good governance is maintained in the country. When you have people issuing threats to newspapers and all, that is a threat to democratic principles,” Mpombo said. “The time is now, it's important for the President to come in so that he could confirm all these statements from Shikapwasha. He should come in and restore sanity because these threats coming do not augur well. But my point is very clear, if Shikapwasha wants to execute his diabolical skills he can go ahead.”
Mpombo said unless the MMD changed its attitude and strategies, they would be severely depleted on the Copperbelt and that the MMD was under threat in Lamba land. He said President Banda must show leadership.
“If political chaos continues, it doesn't help the country. If you go on threatening people that amounts to incubating a boil, repression is seed for anarchy or resentment. If you repress people don't think you are okay, you are simply incubating a boil. The country should not live on threats, “ he said.
Mpombo said Vice-President George Kunda was a wrong person to talk about upholding the late president Levy Mwanawasa's legacy, particularly that he has abandoned his friend's beliefs and principles.
“He was together with Mwanawasa when they were establishing the Task Force on Corruption and all that but he has abandoned his friend. He is a wrong man to say he is following the legacy of Mwanawasa,” Mpombo said.
On MMD sympathiser Andre Mtine's statement that he should resign from the party, Mpombo said: “Mtine is just a cheap political hoodlum who is seeking the government's attention because his businesses have reached rock bottom. He is one gentleman with no integrity.”
And Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Dispute (SACCORD) executive director Lee Habasonda said it was shameful that President Banda and the MMD who are supposed to protect the Electoral Act were the ones violating it in Kasama.
Habasonda condemned the donations, which the ruling MMD was making in Kasama ahead of tomorrow's parliamentary by-election.
“We are saddened that the head of state has not restrained the people in his team and himself from engaging in politics that are killing democratic elections in the country,” Habasonda said. “The government should take development to any part of the country at anytime than make these promises when there is an election.”
Habasonda wondered why the MMD had not condemned the tribal sentiments emanating from its camp. He also wondered why nobody has condemned former president Frederick Chiluba for campaigning for the MMD candidate.
“…You remember that when Dr Kaunda supported HH, the government threatened to cut his benefits. But we are not hearing anybody threatening to cut Chiluba's benefits,” Habasonda said.
Labels: GEORGE MPOMBO, LUXON KAZABU, RUPIAH BANDA, TRIBALISM
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It’s malicious for anyone to accuse Magande of corruption – Kazabu
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Saturday, March 21, 2009 8:22:43 AM
FORMER Kitwe mayor Luxon Kazabu has said it is extremely malicious for anyone to accuse former finance minister Ng'andu Magande of corruption going by the letter he wrote to transport minister Dora Siliya.
Commenting on the letter that Magande wrote to Siliya, which was recently released by Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata and published by The Post, Kazabu described as unfair attempts to malign the former finance minister.
"Unless you say that those who taught us the English language did not do a good job," Kazabu said. "In that letter, he was telling his fellow minister that there is this other option that you can explore as regards Zambian Airways."
He said it was unbelievable that the government sought to protect foreign investment but participated in sinking local investment.
"It's incredible that if you check carefully, foreigners have had massive support from the government," Kazabu said. "The most recent case is the government helping the mines; I mean let's face it, these investors in the [copper] mines are foreigners. We have done away with windfall taxes. It is unbelievable that in the wisdom of government, they do away with windfall taxes to help the mines get through the economic meltdown but you can't help your own local company get through economic difficulty. We are the same people who are on record of wanting to empower Zambians because if we empower Zambians and Zambian companies, they are the only ones who are going to develop Zambia."
He said going by the letter published in The Post, no one - including Magande - suggested forgiving or cancelling Zambian Airways' debt.
"No one is saying Zambian Airways should get away with the debt; it's just a grace period that Peter Magande was proposing and surely that can't amount to any corrupt act," he said.
Kazabu defended Magande's standing.
"I feel very bad myself because Peter Magande is one of the very few Zambians who stand out in terms of integrity and many people including the international community know this," he said. "Magande was simply trying to pull up those who are down, but then we pull down one who is trying to pull up those who are down? Now who will pull up those who are down? No one will. Any well-meaning Zambian who read that letter will know that there was no corruption involved."
He further criticised chief government spokesman Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha's attempts to tarnish Magande's image.
"It is unbelievable that a chief government spokesman could speak the way he did," said Kazabu. "Let's be fair in judging each other. If Shikapwasha was in Magande's shoes, how would he feel if he were judged like that?"
The government has recently engaged in an incessant attempt to malign Magande following President Rupiah Banda's announcement to a group of MMD cadres that he had a letter the former finance minister wrote where he suggested forgiving Zambian Airways of its debt.
Labels: LUXON KAZABU, MAGANDE
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