Chaos reigns at Mufulira PF polls
By Misheck Wangwe
Mon 03 Feb. 2014, 14:01 CAT
EXCHANGE of bitter words among PF members, some ministers and members of parliament characterised the Mufulira district elections on Saturday.
And Copperbelt minister, Mwenya Musenge, angrily left Mufulira's Hindu Hall saying he could not be part of an election where some people insulted and accused him of trying to manipulate the electoral college.
Meanwhile, PF Kankoyo member of parliament, Levy Chabala, exchanged bitter words with Chishimba Kambwili and accused the sports minister of causing confusion in Mufulira.
The elections failed to take place in the morning as scheduled due to confrontations among party officials that were clearly divided, forming camps within themselves.
The party officials only managed to cast their votes around 20:00 hours.
It took several interventions by returning officer, Dr Ngosa Simbyakula, who is also home affairs minister; PF deputy secretary general, Bridget Atanga and other senior party officials from the secretariat to restore calm.
Police officers also had a tough time calming the two camps that almost beat each other up.
Confusion started in the morning after Musenge was tasked to call out the names of registered and eligible voters for the district election.
Immediately after Musenge finished calling out the names, some party officials argued that some names were missing, while others contended that many eligible voters had been deliberately suspended, a situation they said would give advantage to other contenders.
At this point, some party members stood and started accusing Musenge, Kambwili and other senior party members of making attempts to manipulate the electoral college so that their preferred candidates could win the election.
Chabala exchanged bitter words with Kambwili, the national youth chairman, after the former challenged Kabwili to explain his role in a district election.
"I told Kambwili that you are not part of the electoral college, you are a minister, but not part of the electoral team. I told him that he had brought confusion. He Kambwili told me that 'Mwaiche naufulungana' (young man you have gone mad) and I responded by telling him that if I am mad then you are also mad and that's how we differed. We know that some of these MPs want to support their friends. They don't want people to get positions on merit, in a free and fair election. There was no need for them to be here," Chabala explained later after the confrontation.
But Kambwili said he went to the Mufulira district election in his capacity as a national youth chairman.
"As members of parliament, we should not behave as ordinary cadres. Chabala came to me and told me that I was the one behind the confusion. He wanted to go behind our backs and put some people that were not on the register. So, I told the returning officer, Dr Simbyakula, that we can't listen to one person. That's how he started using derogatory remarks against me. This is the problem we have in our party. We have young people that want to misbehave with impunity towards others. They think they are untouchables," Kambwili explained.
And Musenge in an interview said, he had left the election venue as a way of distancing himself from the confusion, because he had integrity to preserve.
"I was simply given a responsibility to announce the names of voters and some people started insulting me. I thought this was not correct and that's how I left. I don't want to be perceived as someone behind that confusion because I am not such kind of a person. I have had problems before in the party, I have been punished before. I was suspended sometime back and I don't want problems," said Musenge.
Meanwhile, a new executive that saw Dominic Mwale win against previous chairman, John Katati, has been ushered into office for the PF in Mufulira district .
The election results that were announced after midnight on Saturday saw Dr Mwale ascend to the position of Mufulira district PF chairperson, after he polled 93 votes against Katati's 75.
Michael Chisanga, who got 93 votes against 77 for Moton Chali, scooped the position of district vice-chairperson.
Peter Shula scooped the position of treasurer after he polled 89 votes to beat Mulenga Kosa who got 84 votes.
In the youth and women's league, Beatrice Kapansa was elected women's league chairperson, while the position of district youth chairperson was not filled up after the contestants, Brian Mulilo and Jackson Kalowa, tallied with 85 votes each.
Before the polls, PF deputy secretary general, Bridget Atanga urged party members to reconcile, unite and work together.
She called for an end to squabbles among PF members saying, these were adversely affecting the growth and performance of the party.
"We must learn to co-exist because we are one family and to this effect, I want to announce that all suspensions are lifted because we want to start on a new note," said Atanga.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, MWENYA MUSENGE, PF
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Congolese soldier kills Zambian truck driver
By Darious Kapembwa
Fri 31 Jan. 2014, 15:50 CAT
THERE is tension at Kasumbalesa border post after a Zambian truck driver was shot dead by Congolese security personnel on the Congo side. Copperbelt minister Mwenya Musenge has confirmed the development. Drivers have been refusing to cross into the DRC following the incident, saying they need to be guaranteed security.
According to a reliable source from the customs department at the border, Patrick Mwila, 30, a driver from GASS Transport belonging to a Somalian national, met his fate after he refused to give a Congolese soldier US$10 bribe so that he could access the Wisky, an area where transit trucks en route to Zambia and beyond park awaiting clearance.
"What happens is that during day time, the queues are controlled by police officers and when police knock off, the soldiers take charge. Now these Congolese soldiers want to earn a living, so what they do is that they charge 10 dollars for those that want to bypass trucks that are parked in front and enter into the Wisky for early clearance," the official explained.
"So Mwila saw trucks from behind bypassing him into the Wisky, so he attempted to do the same and that is how he was asked to pay 10 dollars but he refused that he had no money. So this soldier saw that Mwila was adamant, he started to remove the number plate from his truck but he resisted and was told not to get near the soldier but since he wanted his number plate, he continued to resist and that is how the soldier shot him and fled the scene," he said.
Mwila's body was reported to have been taken to Sodomico hospital mortuary on the Congo side.
The official said there had been no activities yesterday as drivers from the Zambian side were refusing to cross into Congo.
"Since morning, drivers have been refusing to enter Congo. There is virtually no movement; the only movement is that of Zambian trucks coming from Lubumbashi that are being allowed to guarantee their safety in Zambia rather than being trapped inside Congo," he said.
The official hinted that the border may be totally closed today to allow for every Zambian driver that may still be in Lubumbashi to cross back into Zambia.
And Musenge said there was need to find a lasting solution to end the killing of Zambian truck drivers by some trigger-happy security personnel in the DRC.
"Right now, our men are on the ground; we are trying to engage the consulate. It is very sad, but we are asking our people to exercise maximum restraint and calm. We want to provide leadership. We really have to find a lasting solution to these deaths at Kasumbalesa. It does not augur well to be losing lives at Kasumbalesa. This was an act of one unruly person. We really want to see justice done on this officer," Musenge said.
In July 2012, a Zambian driver, Derick Chanda, was burnt alive in Congo, leading to a border paralysis for almost a week as all SADC drivers boycotted entry into Congo.
In September last year, another Zambian, Wynter Mafikeni of Ndola, was killed and his body dumped 100 metres away from the truck he was driving.
And a Zimbabwean truck driver Patrick Murifi was shot in both legs in the Congo in September last year.
SADC drivers have bemoaned harassment and corruption by Congolese security personnel in that country
Labels: DRC, KASUMBALESA, MWENYA MUSENGE
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Opposition working with millers to undermine govt - Musenge
By Abigail Chaponda and Misheck Wangwe
Thu 21 Mar. 2013, 14:01 CAT
COPPERBELT minister Mwenya Musenge says the shortage of 25 kilogramme bags of breakfast mealie-meal in most parts of the country could be a political ploy by some millers and opposition political parties working together to undermine the government.
And Musenge says he is disappointed with some police officers especially those manning road blocks and border posts for allowing smuggling of mealie-meal.
During a tour at Roan Antelope Milling on Tuesday, Musenge said possibilities of some partisan individuals playing tricks to paint a picture that the government was not working, could not be ruled out.
He said there were individuals wanting to undermine the government to gain political mileage.
"As far as we are concerned, milling companies are producing mealie-meal and the country has enough. The question is: where it is going? There is a puzzle that needs to be undone. There is something seriously wrong and we are making headways on these issues," Musenge said.
"These people think we don't know, we are aware of their plans. Some opposition political parties and some millers and some foreigners have come on board as well and are working together. They want to buy out mealie-meal in the Copperbelt because it is a strategically strong political province to make an impression that the government has failed so that they can vote the PF government out of power. Dr Kenneth Kaunda was removed from power because of the mealie-meal crisis and this is what these people are planning."
He said he had visited all the milling companies on the Copperbelt and found that there was plenty of mealie-meal and that he did not understand how the country could be experiencing shortages when the commodity was available in the country.
And Musenge said he was aware that some men in uniform were receiving kickbacks and conniving with some milling companies to allow them smuggle mealie-meal out of the country.
"We are also investigating police officers especially those manning road blocks and border posts. They are corrupt because they are receiving bribes and allowing the smuggling of mealie-meal. These people are not patriotic and once they are caught, they will be dealt with severely," he said.
Musenge said police officers should love their country more than anything easy because allowing smuggling of the staple food meant that they were killing the nation.
He said if police officers had failed to perform their duties, PF had patriotic members who were more than willing to perform their duties by intercepting smugglers.
"PF has patriotic members who are more than willing to work for their government, President and party to correct the situation. If police officers don't want to work, PF members can work. It is unacceptable for a country to run out of mealie-meal when millers are producing enough for the country and exports," said Musenge.
And Antelope chief executive officer Emmanuel Efstahiou confirmed that some millers were loading mealie-meal at night and exporting to other countries.
"It is true that mealie-meal moves at night when others are not watching. The government should do something about this situation because this is what is causing the shortages," said Efstahiou.
On Monday, Jamas Milling managing director John Coutlis blamed the current shortage of mealie meal on weak monitoring mechanisms by law enforcement agencies.
Coutlis accused law enforcement agencies of allowing rampant smuggling of mealie meal to neighbouring countries.
Meanwhile, police on the Copperbelt have impounded over 600 bags of mealie-meal at Kasumbalesa border destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Police officers deployed at Kasumbalesa have also impounded about 10 trucks laden with mealie-meal and maize.
Police sources yesterday disclosed that the Copperbelt command had deployed over 150 officers to curb smuggling which had caused shortages of mealie-meal in most towns in the province.
"The operation at Kasumbalesa border started on Tuesday and it will go on for some time because we want to end this smuggling problem. It is an open secret that the border is porous and these traders and millers have taken advantage of that and they have been transporting the commodity in huge quantities. It is shocking to see bulks of mealie-meal that illegally enter Congo and these traders are saying it's because of huge demand and good prices in that country. One bag in Congo DR costs over KR100," a police source said.
The sources said police had sealed off the border to end smuggling as the issue of mealie-meal had become sensitive.
The source said many millers had agents and secret depots at the border selling the commodity for them.
Labels: MILLERS, MMD, MWENYA MUSENGE, UPND
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Musenge censures squatters on Phoenix Materials land
By Mwila Chansa-Ntambi in Kitwe
Sun 22 Apr. 2012, 13:27 CAT
CHIMWEMWE member of parliament Mwenya Musenge has reprimanded squatters that have encroached on the land where Phoenix Materials is supposed to build the biggest shopping mall in Kitwe.
And the squatters have vowed to die defending ‘their land', accusing Kitwe City Council of giving preference to the rich when offering land. Meanwhile, Kitwe Mayor Chileshe Bweupe says KCC will not allow a situation where people want to create a ramshackle.
During the continued tour of his constituency on his way to Hybrid Poultry Farm on Friday, Musenge noticed a huge number of people gathered at the site where the Phoenix Materials Mall is supposed to be built.
This prompted him and his entourage to stop and find out what was going on.
Some people in the group told Musenge that they were there to share plots because the land in question was theirs.
Musenge then phoned Kitwe Town Clerk Bornwell Luanga who categorically stated that council had nothing to do with the land in question as it was on title and belonged to Phoenix Materials.
Musenge then told the people that the government would not allow them to take the law into their own hands.
Mickson Sakachima, Stephen Sandala, Kellys Kabwe and Martin were amongst the people that identified themselves as leaders of the group.
Musenge advised their followers to take the four men to the police if they had gotten any money from them because there was procedure involved in land acquisition.
He told the people that even if they used force or tried to be stubborn, it would not take them anywhere because they were the ones to lose out in the end.
Musenge shouted at a man who tried to interrupt his speech.
"Tondolo! Quiet! Just keep quiet! There is nothing you can tell me. This is not the first time this issue is coming up. Nibunkosa mitwe bwashani How hard hearted can one be? Maakanshi mukwete what powers do you have to start allocating land?" Musenge fumed.
"I have warned you that you are dealing with thieves and if they got any money from you, report them to the police. You are doing this at your own peril and do not cry foul if it backfires."
But the ‘squatters' claimed that they were not scared of anything and that they had followed the right procedure in acquiring the land in question.
"Ifwe natuipelesha ukufwilapo pali iyi land. Eco twabavotele pakuti batusunge. Twalile ku council kulya elo ba Dorothy Sampa batwebele ukucita apply nokulemba amashina yesu bonse nenkalata eko ili ku council but ifwe twaishile papa fye ati balakulapo shopping mall pano [We are prepared to die for this land. We voted for these people so that they look after us. We went to the council and Dorothy Sampa KCC acting public relations manager told us to apply and write down our names and that letter is there at the council but to our surprise, we just heard that there would be a shopping mall here]," claimed Enoch Machayi.
He claimed that the issue of the shopping mall was a non-starter and that the council just wanted to use it to give land to the elite and sideline the poor.
Another squatter complained that land application procedure took too long.
But Kitwe Mayor Chileshe Bweupe in an interview later warned that those who wanted to take the law into their own hands would face its wrath.
"Council's position on that matter remains the same. It is land on title and those people have got no reason to be defiant. We will not allow people to create a ramshackle coming from Chingola because we already have a mwa mulenga ramshackle coming from Ndola," Bweupe said.
He accused the former ruling MMD of having created the problem at hand by promising people that they would be given that land if they voted for the party.
"And as usual, our people bought into that idea but we are saying that is private land and it is on title. We will not entertain anyone who will say empower us because we voted for PF because we know that those people occupied that land as a result of the MMD campaign promise that if they voted for them, the land would be theirs," said Bweupe.
He urged Phoenix Materials Limited to immediately secure their land before the situation gets out of hand.
Hundreds of people every day gather on the land where Phoenix Materials is supposed to build a shopping mall, under the pretext of sharing plots.
Labels: MWENYA MUSENGE, SQUATTERS
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Government mulls repossessing Mulobezi railway
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Thu 05 Apr. 2012, 13:53 CAT
THE government may consider taking back ownership of Mulobezi railway owing to its deterioration since it was concessioned to Leonard Sifuba, says Mwenya Musenge.
Speaking during a 25-kilometre ride on Mulobezi train from Livingstone to Ndelevu on Tuesday, Musenge, who is transport deputy minister, said the government was providing K68 million per month to the Mulobezi railway for operational costs but the money was not appropriately accounted for as the historic railway had been left in a poor state.
"I agree that we need more funds to upgrade the rail infrastructure but my concern is that you have failed to even do maintenance works from K68 million which government releases on monthly basis," Musenge told Sifuba. "…You come up with a proper plan to improve the infrastructure with the little funds you receive."
He also blamed Zambia Railways for not taking measures to address the poor operations of Mulobezi railway.
"When you look at the wagons and coaches, they are not fit for humans and livestock transportation. Zambia Railways should become proactive and closely monitor the situation instead of sitting back. We need to change the mindset because there is 'I-don't-care' altitude in Zambia Railways," he said.
Musenge, who was accompanied by Southern Province minister Obvious Mwaliteta and only covered the 25-kilometre stretch of the 163 kilometre rail way, said the government would review its contract with the concessioner to improve the operations of Mulobezi railway.
He said the government may consider taking back the ownership of Mulobezi Railway to Zambia Railway because the facility had deteriorated since Sifuba was contracted.
Musenge said it was sad that after 48 years of independence, a 163-kilometre journey could take two days.
And Mwaliteta blamed the previous MMD government for not addressing the problem over the years.
Mwaliteta said there was no political will on the part of the Mulobezi and Livingstone area members of parliament to have the railway rehabilitated.
And Sifuba, who did not respond to Musenge's concerns, said the train was carrying 26, 000 litres of water weekly for supply to communities along the railway who lacked drinking water.
Labels: MWENYA MUSENGE, RAIL
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Musenge urges change of government
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Sat 16 July 2011, 13:10 CAT
SANITY at Kitwe City Council will only be restored after the change of government this year, says Mwenya Musenge. In an interview yesterday, Musenge said the
councils had been infiltrated by MMD cadres that were
determined to frustrate the developmental efforts of PF councillors and parliamentarians.Musenge, himself a councillor and Nkana parliamentarian, said the highly politicised MMD-orchestrated allegations that Kitwe mayor Elias Kamanga had abused his office spoke volumes about the unethical manner in which some senior officers at the council were handling matters.
Musenge said the country was in need of a leadership that would clean up the local government system and restore integrity in public and ceremonial offices such as the office of mayor.
He said some management officials in liaison with MMD cadres like Joe Malanji were fighting hard to strip the integrity of the office of mayor by withdrawing his official car and reporting him to the police on allegations that he gave fuel to late president Mwanawasa’s son, Patrick.
Musenge said it was not surprising that Kamanga was being persecuted because there were serious land scams among prominent businessmen and politicians that he (Kamanga) together with other councillors had unearthed.
He said it was undisputed fact that there was mismanagement of land in Kitwe.
“I feel these issues shall only be resolved when there is change of government, when (Michael) Sata takes over as president. The dignity of these mayoral offices has been put into disrepute and it is a shame to President Banda and his colleagues to be dragging such an honourable office into such petty matters. We are not saying corruption should be tolerated but the manner in which the matter has been handled,” Musenge said.
“Why should it take an MMD official to get hold of confidential documents of the council and level all sorts of allegations against the mayor on television? And who gave him those papers? It’s sad that confidential documents that are supposed to be under lock and key are flying all over the council,” Musenge said.
He said council officers were supposed to act professionally because they were technocrats that should guide the council on how to handle the affairs of the city on behalf of the residents.
Labels: CADRES, COUNCILS, MWENYA MUSENGE
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Mopani’s tax issues provoke debate
By Kabanda Chulu in Kitwe and Gift Chanda in Lusaka
Sun 13 Feb. 2011, 03:59 CAT
TAX payment irregularities revealed by the audit report at Mopani mines has silenced all arguments against the reintroduction of a simplified mining revenue collection system such as the windfall tax, says Dr Fred Mutesa.And Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) International has called for an industry-wide audit to be conducted in the mining sector to ascertain the true extent to which companies are evading taxes and how much Zambia has lost so far.
Meanwhile, Nkana PF parliamentarian Mwenya Musenge has challenged finance and mines ministers, Situmbeko Musokotwane and Maxwell Mwale, respectively, to stop acting as if they ‘know it all’ because their mining policies had failed resulting in Zambia losing millions of dollars.
Commenting on revelations of tax payment irregularities and inconsistent production figures that are submitted to the ZRA, Dr Mutesa, who is Zambian Empowerment for Development (ZED) president, said the right thinking Zambians had been vindicated for calling for fair and equitable taxes from the mines.
“If not properly checked, multinational companies such as Mopani and many other mines will continue to under invoice and under price for purpose of tax avoidance and evasion. So it is time to come up with a tax regime that is easier to enforce and collect revenue and also to compel the mines to do more on corporate social responsibility since copper is a waste asset and soon we shall very negative environmental liabilities,” Dr Mutesa said.
And CUTS stated that the irregularities reveled at Mopani mines were just a tip of an iceberg of how much more dirty business was going on in the mining industry. It stated that the government should own up on the basis of the revelations and carry out an industry-wide audit to ascertain the true extent of the tendencies to evade taxes as the only way to ascertain how much the country had so far lost in taxes.
CUTS further stated that the government should treat the revelations as a wake-up call to institute measures that would not only address the glaring revelations but end the abuse of the country's resources especially in the mining sector.
It urged the government to stiffen regulations under the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative which will compel the mining firms to release timely and accurately financial figures.
“There is no doubt that the weaknesses of Zambia Revenue Authority have been exploited and a lot of money siphoned out of the country through methods such as deliberate failure to appreciate the tenets of transfer pricing and through accounting manipulation. This is a clear sign of tax avoidance and evasion and this should be a wake-up call for the government,” CUTS stated in a press release.
CUTS also called for the reintroduction of the windfall tax.
“It is common knowledge that profit based tax system are a problem given the capacity of the Zambia Revenue Authority hence the urgent need to revert to volume and sales based taxes,” CUTS advised.
It stated that mining firms had continued to make profits even at the expense of the consumers’ health.
“Not long ago, Konkola Copper mine polluted the Kafue River for the second time putting the health of workers and consumers at risk. It is important that we take a courageous step on our natural resources and we must realize that Zambia will only develop from its natural resources, copper being the main product,” stated CUTS.
Mopani operates mining units in Kitwe and Mufulira is 73.1 per cent owned by the Swiss commodity trader, Glencore AG.
And Musenge said the MMD government and its ministers should listen and realise that Zambians had been given a raw deal by the so-called mining investors.
“The unpleasant thing is that we have lost money because of the adamancy by Situmbeko and Mwale who insist that the mines are not making profit,” said Musenge.
“In 2008 during debates to amend the mines and minerals Bill, I proposed the establishment of a Minerals Accountability Directorate which should monitor from extraction to finished products and come up with independent figures and then advise ZRA on how much to collect as revenue since ZRA lacks capacity to genuinely tax the mines.”
Southern Africa Resource Watch (SARW) Zambia Representative Edward Lange said irregularities revealed in the audit report were a clear indication that Zambia should quickly be part of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) where the mines would be compelled to publish how much they paid in taxes.
“If The Post did not publish this report, we wouldn’t have known about it and it shows the arrogance and hostilities which these mines have towards Zambia because they have government backing. And time to build the capacity of ZRA is now so that we avoid losing out,” said Lange.
Government with support from co-operating partners commissioned a pilot audit conducted by Grant Thornton and Econ Poyry of Norway, that revealed inconsistencies in production and revenue figures Mopani submits to ZRA for tax administration.
Dr Musokotwane has not acted on the findings of the report despite receiving it in August last year before the budget announcement.
Labels: CUTS, EITI, FRED MUTESA, MOPANI, MWENYA MUSENGE, SARW, TAX EVASION, WINDFALL TAX
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PF MPs query Rupiah’s ‘achievements’
By Darious Kapembwa in Kitwe
Sun 07 Nov. 2010, 03:59 CAT
NCHANGA Patriotic Front member of parliament Wylbur Simuusa has said the MMD is using cosmetic expressions about President Rupiah Banda’s achievements in his two years in office in order to cheat people.
And Nkana PF member of parliament Mwenya Musenge has said President Banda’s greatest achievement in the two years he has been in office has been the weakening of laws that fight corruption.
In an interview, Simuusa advised President Banda and the MMD to let the ordinary Zambian people, especially those that live in poverty-stricken areas, to judge his performance in the last two years.
Simuusa, who is PF chairman for mines, said heaping praise on President Banda’s works in the last two years he had been in office could be likened to parroting because there were still a lot of challenges which had been created by the MMD government in the mining sector.
“I can summarise as parroting; these guys like parroting. They use too much cosmetic expressions to cheat people about so-and-so achievement. Can he tell us the figures that the country will gain from the variable profit tax he has insisted on since his government had rejected the re-introduction of windfall tax? The only achievement is that he is engrossed into campaigns too much. He’s every day campaigning and if he has achieved so much in stabilising the economy, why is it that it is still a challenge for people to eat?” asked Simuusa.
And Musenge said commissioning another person’s project was no achievement at all.
“Personally, I think that he has achieved so much in trying to create lacunas in our statutes that fight corruption in order to weaken them for his personal gains, and you see you cannot make and blow your own trumpet and judge to be the best. Let other people judge the strength of your trumpet,” Musenge said.
He wondered how the economy could be said to have improved when many families went without adequate meals per day.
Musenge said clean water and access to quality health care was still a challenge to many Zambians especially in the peripheral areas in his constituency.
And Chipili PF member of parliament Davies Mwila said President Banda had achieved a lot in weakening the labour movement in the country.
Mwila, who is PF chairperson for labour, wondered why there should be four unions in the mining sector.
“First and foremost, are the people benefiting from the so-called economic growth, even the so-called bumper-harvest? Why is mealie-meal still very costly? What are the benefits to the workers if a government can allow companies to subcontract in the mines and employ foreigners to render Zambians jobless; do you call such achievements? Has he addressed the issue of the minimum wage? It seems he is comfortable with workers getting K258,000 as a wage so much that he can call it an achievement,” said Mwila.
Labels: ACC, DAVIES MWILA, MWENYA MUSENGE, PF, RUPIAH BANDA, WILBUR SIMUSA
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Musenge implores Mpombo, Magande to avert by-elections
By Darious Kapembwa in Kitwe
Mon 13 Sep. 2010, 14:00 CAT
NKANA Patriotic Front parliamentarian Mwenya Musenge has pleaded with the two expelled MMD members of parliament Ng’andu Magande and George Mpombo to find a way of preventing by-elections in their respective constituencies following their expulsion from MMD.
And Musenge has accused the MMD of insincerity by promoting costly and avoidable by-elections when the same party denounced Charles Milupi for causing a by-election in Luena.
Commenting on the stance by Magande not to contest his expulsion from the party, Musenge said he applauded the decision by Magande and described the move as most honourable but that there was a way the misuse of resources through by-elections could be avoided.
“When Milupi resigned, MMD was going round saying Milupi was an irresponsible person who had caused an unnecessary by-elections, but MMD with Rupiah’s instigation have expelled the two MPs knowing too well that this will call for unwarranted elections, this shows how irresponsible Rupiah and his government are,” he said.
Musenge wondered why MMD could not have waited for the general elections if they were a responsible government.
He said holding three by-elections a few months before the general elections would have a serious effect on the country’s meagre resources.
He said experience had shown that billions of kwacha was spent in by-elections in Zambia.
Musenge said the Electoral Commission of Zambia would also demand for colossal sums of money in order to organise elections which was also a drain on the country’s coffers.
He said taxpayers suffered the most under the circumstances because their monies were spent in a “foolish manner”.
“So much as I agree with honourable Magande not to contest his expulsion which is more honorable, but I appeal to my two colleagues to find a way of stopping these by-elections to save resources, we know we are dealing with an irresponsible government because right now my people in Nkana Constituency have resorted to demonstrations over the poor state of roads and yet these guys will hastily look for money to waste in avoidable elections when they say there is no money for roads,” said Musenge.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, GEORGE MPOMBO, MMD, MWENYA MUSENGE, NG'ANDU MAGANDE
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COMMENT - Maxwell Mwale is a fool. So what if taxation 'will scare away investors'? They are not paying taxes, they are not paying dividends to their own shareholders or ZCCM-IH. The only Zambians who benefit from this rip-off are the corrupt politicians in the MMD who are being paid bribes by the mining companies for the right to STEAL the resources of the Zambian people. And the mining companies are even more corrupt. They know what they are doing, and they know how many people die because they are stealing their medications, and how many children they are robbing of a future - and they don't care. As long as they can make more profits for themselves. They may even enjoy destroying Zambia. They shouldn't even be allowed to flee the country, they should be rotting in a dungeon somewhere.
CSPR advises Rupiah to re-instate windfall taxes
By Kabanda Chulu in Kitwe
Sun 02 May 2010, 03:30 CAT
NKANA Patriotic Front (PF) parliamentarian Mwenya Musenge has accused the MMD government of committing itself to a lot of “rubbish” on issues relating to the mining sector resulting in Zambians not benefiting from the mineral resources.
And Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) executive director Patrick Mucheleka has advised President Rupiah Banda to swallow his pride and
re-introduce the windfall mining taxes that can be used in economic diversification.
Commenting on the current copper prices of US $7,600 per metric tonne, Musenge said people would only benefit from the mineral resources through a change of government.
“President Banda’s administration is not passionate about the wellbeing of Zambians and they are not committed to implement the laws that we make as MPs since this government has committed itself to a lot of rubbish on matters relating to the mining industry,” Musenge said.
“Imagine they are failing to implement section 136 of the mines and minerals Act which outlines sharing mechanisms of mineral royalties between central government and local authorities where mines are located and so far the MMD government has collected over K400 billion from 2008 but this money has not been disbursed to respective councils and only a change of government will allow Zambians to benefit.”
He said opposition members of parliament moved a motion in Parliament to urge the government to start implementing section 136 of the mines and minerals Act but MMD parliamentarians refused to support it, claiming they were not consulted.
“The MMD is stealing these funds meant for the councils and President Banda will be answerable and personally I did not support the removal of windfall taxes and I am not part of that collective responsibility because as MPs we should be making laws that suit the wishes of the people and not what is happening,” said Musenge.
And Mucheleka said it was not too late for the MMD government to re-introduce the windfall taxes.
“Government should be seen to be collecting more revenue from the mines and as civil society we are calling for the restoration of the windfall taxes so that these funds can help in the economic diversification process and President Banda should swallow his pride and re introduce these taxes,” said Mucheleka.
But mines minister Maxwell Mwale said the government would not re-introduce the windfall taxes because it would scare away investment in the sector.
“Zambia is not the only destination for investment and such laws will scare away investors who will take their money to other countries,” said Mwale.
Labels: CSPR, MWENYA MUSENGE, PATRICK MUCHELEKA, RUPIAH BANDA, WINDFALL TAX
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Musenge urges citizens to petition govt over proposed ZNBC amendment Bill
By Kabanda Chulu in Kitwe
Wed 24 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT
COPPERBELT Province PF chairperson Mwenya Musenge yesterday said people should petition the government against the proposed ZNBC amendment Bill that seeks to imprison people for failure to pay television levy and to grant more powers to the information minister.
The Bill which has passed through Parliament waiting for presidential assent, seeks to, among other things, remove the Appointments Committee for the ZNBC Board, provide for the collection of television levy by various agents such as television receivers and tuner retailers on behalf of ZNBC and empower the minister of information to exempt some people and organisations from paying television levy.
The government has argued that the Appointments Committee as contained in the current ZNBC Act was notorious and meant to favour people from the civil society.
But Musenge said there was need to stop the desperation with which the MMD government was trying to rule the country.
“If need arises, we shall engage the support of the international community and we shall soon get signatures and mobilise people to petition government against this Bill and generally laws are followed when acceptable to people and should not be imposed,” said Musenge. “And this Bill will not be fair because failure to pay television levy will land someone into prison and why should people be forced to watch ZNBC TV which always broadcast propaganda messages from the President and his ministers? Actually this Bill and many others which the MMD want to be in place before the 2011 elections must be stopped because they will just put more pressure on the suffering Zambians.”
Labels: MWENYA MUSENGE, ZNBC
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Rupiah doesn’t want to develop C/belt, charges Musenge
By Mwila Chansa
Mon 15 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) Copperbelt provincial chairman Mwenya Musenge has charged that President Rupiah Banda does not want to develop the province. And former Zambia’s deputy high commissioner to Kenya Dorothy Chilongo has said the MMD is a finished party that has run out of ideas.
Speaking during a PF provincial meeting at Buchi community Hall in Kitwe on Saturday,
Musenge demanded that the government immediately starts giving the Copperbelt 40 per cent of mineral royalty tax for road repairs.
Musenge wondered how President Banda could accuse PF-run councils of not doing anything when his government had deliberately been blocking the Copperbelt from accessing its share of the mineral royalty tax.
“Some of the mineral royalty tax is supposed to remain in mining communities. But Rupiah Banda and his government do not give us this money as Copperbelt. Whenever we ask the Minister of Mines about it, he says it is in a separate account,” he said.
“We want to know how much is in that separate account and they should give us our 40 per cent so that we start repairing our roads because Rupiah Banda as President does not want to develop this place.”
Musenge also expressed disappointment with President Banda’s ignorance on the collection of land rates.
“When Rupiah Banda went to Ndola, we saw him accusing us of misusing money through land rates. It is sad that Rupiah does not know how land rates are collected,” Musenge said.
He said President Banda should bear in mind that councils had been stripped of most of their sources of revenue and that the money they collected quarterly through land rates was the one they used for providing services and paying salaries.
Meanwhile, Musenge urged PF members to embrace integrity and refuse to be bought.
He said PF members should learn to condemn bad deeds at all costs and that it was only when the country reached a level where people could not compromise on their principles that true and visible development would occur.
On elections, Musenge urged the district leadership to avail to the members, guidelines on how elections would be conducted.
Musenge said all positions in the party were open for challenge.
He said since most Copperbelt towns had conducted elections up to ward level, he had asked PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba to exempt them but that Kabimba had said he wanted registers to ascertain that elections had been truly conducted.
Musenge urged all districts to quickly submit the said registers.
And Chilongo who defected to the PF from MMD said she could no longer stay in the MMD because the party was finished.
Chilongo said the MMD had lost the original ideals on which it was founded and that the party had been taken over by corrupt and selfish leaders.
Chilongo said the MMD government had not only overstayed in power but they had become too comfortable.
She likened the behaviour of some MMD leaders to a rat when it overstays in a home.
Chilongo pledged to work with the grassroots in strengthening PF.
Meanwhile, PF member of the central committee Timothy Walamba said the people of Luapula Province were not ready to be demoted by President Banda’s promise to chiefs that he would select a vice-president from Luapula if they delivered the province to MMD.
Walamba said the people of Luapula already had someone from their midst as republican president before and that they did not want a vice-president.
He said president Banda should have promised the people of Luapula that he would revive some of the long-pending projects such as the Mununshi Banana Scheme, Luena Sugar Plantation and Mansa Batteries among others.
“These are the developments that the people of Luapula want and not a vice-president.”
And another member of the central committee Sylvia Chalikosa urged PF members to elect loyal people in leadership positions to avoid a repeat of the ‘rebel’ parliamentarians who turned against the party immediately after going to parliament.
She also urged PF members to beware of infiltration as the country drew closer to 2011, noting that some people will not genuinely join the party but will only do so in a quest to be adopted.
Labels: COPPERBELT PROVINCE, DEVELOPMENT, MWENYA MUSENGE, RUPIAH BANDA
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Rupiah should have been given free man of the air status, says Musenge
By Speedwell Mupuchi
Sat 06 Feb. 2010, 04:01 CAT
COPPERBELT Patriotic Front (PF) chairperson Mwenya Musenge has said Kalulushi Municipal Council should have conferred President Rupiah Banda with the status of free man of the air.
Commenting on Kalulushi Town Clerk Maxwell Kabanda’s announcement that the council at a meeting on Monday February 1, resolved to confer the status of free man of the city on President Banda, Musenge described as foolish the decision by the council. Musenge said PF councillors did not support such a position.
He said although he had not been informed about a full council meeting that made the resolution, the decision was shameful.
“In Kalulushi council, MMD members are more by one councillor, so they MMD are using the arrogance of numbers to come up with that foolish position. Otherwise no single person in Kalulushi is supporting that position,” Musenge said. “We should try to move away from such appeasement, appeasing someone who is doing literally nothing. He should have been conferred as a free man of the air because he is always flying and it could have been accepted.”
Kabanda said the local authority conferred the status on President Banda for the positive economic policies he had made in the development of the town.
Kabanda said without President Banda’s political will, Kalulushi town would not have seen the emergence of the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) housing scheme at a cost of K220 billion and that of Mukuba Pension Trust.
About 438 houses are expected to be built under the NAPSA housing scheme while another 500 houses under Mukuba Pension Trust.
But Musenge said the construction of houses by NAPSA and Mukuba Pension were programmes initiated by late president Levy Mwanawasa.
“He was actually supposed to commission the construction of those houses but unfortunately, he passed on. It’s unfortunate that the town clerk lied to people in Kalulushi that these are developmental projects brought to the district by Rupiah Banda. If the town clerk is soliciting a promotion, he should come out properly, this is not the type of leadership we want,” said Musenge.
“Construction of houses, for how long has that project been idle for them to confer such a status on RB? There is no single foundation apart from two brick pillars in preparation of laying the foundation stone. As PF on the Copperbelt we shall not accept to be fooled by cheap propaganda to try and sell MMD on the Copperbelt.
“If these are the schemes they are working with Chiluba because he portrays himself as political dribbler, they are wasting their time. Chiluba, there is no way he can sway the thoughts of people on the Copperbelt.”
According to sources in Kalulushi, the proposal to confer the status on President Banda was moved by deputy mayor, Robby Machai.
According to the sources, there was no counter proposal but merely an observation by a PF councillor, Agnes Bwalya, that the move was aimed at getting political mileage.
The source said Bwalya wondered why a person who had just taken over the presidency should be conferred with such big title and that the response was that “if we have him President Banda, he will help us”.
Labels: MWENYA MUSENGE, RUPIAH BANDA
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Musenge’s arrest angers scores
By Mwila Chansa and Zumani Katasefa
Mon 11 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
NKANA Patriotic Front (PF) member of parliament Mwenya Musenge was yesterday taken to Kamfinsa Remand Prison following his arrest on Saturday. And Kantanshi PF member of parliament Yamfwa Mukanga has said the arrest of Musenge in connection with the riot at Chisokone market is politically motivated.
Musenge was initially detained at Kitwe East Police Station on Saturday but was yesterday taken to Kamfinsa prison.
He was formally arrested by police and charged with causing damage to a building and property during riotous behaviour contrary to section 82 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Musenge was questioned on the riot that took place at Chisokone market on Thursday from 14:30 hours to 17:00 hours at Kitwe Central Police Station.
Musenge’s lawyer, Derrick Mulenga from Derrick Mulenga and Company disclosed that police said they were waiting for “further instructions from above” before they could grant Musenge bond.
There was tension outside the Kitwe Central police station as Musenge was being questioned.
Scores of PF cadres mostly from Chisokone market gathered outside the police station awaiting the outcome of the matter.
PF national youth secretary Eric Chanda clad in party attire with a poster that read “Abash MMD intimidation, arrest ZANAMA murderer, release ZATMA detainees, leave PF members alone” was forcibly thrown out of the police station by police officers, who accused him of misconduct.
The officers led by the officer-in-charge only identified as Hachuunde forced Chanda out.
At this point, Hachuunde wanted to chase all the people sitting on the lawn outside the police station but he restrained himself after noticing that he was being captured on camera by MUVI television.
PF women’s league Kitwe District treasurer Godfrida Chulu said ZANAMA was like another president.
Chulu said the ramshackles within Chisokone market were as a result of ZANAMA’s lawlessness.
Police then took Musenge out of Kitwe Central Police Station using the back door in an effort to evade the cadres who waited outside.
However, word went round that Musenge had been taken to Kitwe East Police Station and the cadres organised themselves and soon after, there was a convoy leading to Musenge’s detention centre.
The women were heard scheming that marketeers at Chisokone would boycott trading today to press for Musenge’s release.
At Kitwe East Police Station, police in riot gear barricaded the entrance to the station as they kept vigil.
Among the people present at Kitwe East Police Station were Chipili member of parliament Davies Mwila, Mukanga, PF member of the central committee Timothy Walamba, Kitwe deputy mayor Chileshe Bweupe and Bupe ward councillor Elias Kamanga
And Mukanga said the PF were prepared to resolve the matter in any way that the government wanted it resolved.
Mukanga said police should have arrested the Zambia National Marketeers Association (ZANAMA) security neighbourhood officers who allegedly beat Charles Kalenga who later died instead of arresting Musenge.
Mukanga said Musenge went to Chisokone market to stop the protesters from taking the coffin round the trading place.
Nchanga member of parliament Wybur Simuusa described the arrest of Musenge as ridiculous.
Simuusa said police should have arrested the entire ZANAMA leadership for operating illegal cells at a market where they had been allegedly torturing and beating people.
“When there was a protest at CBU Copperbelt University government accused PF of being behind that, when KCM workers protested it was again PF that was accused of inciting miners to protest. Government even ordered the arrest of those miners. They government should know that people are not happy with them,” Simuusa said.
PF spokesperson Given Lubinda charged that the decision to arrest Musenge was not made by police in Kitwe but by President Rupiah Banda and Vice-President George Kunda.
Lubinda in a telephone interview said Musenge’s arrest was a political decision made by politicians in Lusaka.
“We find this the denying of police bond to be extremely unacceptable behaviour by police. If Musenge caused the fracas at Chisokone market, he is an MP of fixed abode, he can’t run away if he is given bond,” Lubinda said. “Police’s behaviour is demeaning to MPs’ office and it only goes to show that the police have no respect for that office. The same thing happened to Mumbi Phiri Munali member of parliament and Jean Kapata Mandevu member of parliament who were detained on a frivolous issue.
“Police in denying bond to Musenge are suggesting to the public that he committed a non-bailable offence or that he can skip bond and run away to Congo if he is given bond. That is insulting to the office of MP.”
Lubinda warned that if there were elements in MMD orchestrating the kind of treatment being given to Musenge, they would only have themselves to blame for the loss of respect to the office of member of parliament.
Lubinda wondered why police had not arrested the people that were running an illegal cell but were quick to arrest a parliamentarian who only wanted to restore order at the market.
Meanwhile, ZANAMA chairman general Elvis Nkandu said those who protested against the alleged beating and consequent death of Kalenga were not marketeers but hired thugs.
He said ZANAMA security officials never caused the death of Kalenga, claiming the deceased was never beaten.
Nkandu claimed that Kalenga climbed the ceiling in an attempt to escape from the ZANAMA cells.
Some ZANAMA officials are now referring to the cells as a storage room after the protest.
Labels: MARKETEERS, MWENYA MUSENGE, ZANAMA
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Rupiah is giving ZANAMA too much power – Musenge
By Zumani Katasefa and Mwila Chansa
Sat 09 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT
NKANA Patriotic Front (PF) member of parliament Mwenya Musenge has accused President Rupiah Banda of giving Zambia National Union of Marketeers (ZANAMA) too much power.
And ZANAMA vice-secretary general Enock Chifuka accused police of working in collaboration with the PF and failing to protect ZANAMA offices from being damaged from rowdy Chisokone marketeers.
Speaking to journalists after he appeared before police at Kitwe Central Police Station for questioning in connection with the protest at Chisokone Market on Thursday which left ZANAMA offices destroyed, Musenge said it was very unfortunate that ZANAMA had been given so much power by the Republican President.
“It is very, very unfortunate because ZANAMA has been given so much powers by our Republican President because of so called title deeds because each time they ZANAMA call, the President responds to their wishes. This is what you expect,” Musenge said. “About 6,000 miners lost their jobs here on the Copperbelt Province, it was not very important to Rupiah Banda and he never bothered.
And it does not bother him up to now, he is not bothered and he never rushed to come and comfort people who had lost jobs, the miners. But he rushed here to come and glorify ZANAMA who are now…this is not a first case there is already a court case where they ZANAMA broke ribs of one person and the case is dragging on in court.
“We know that something is going on wrong. Now here is a life that has been lost. How can somebody say I created this confusion? Why? Why did they beat a person, these are things we are talking about.”
He said there was no way he could agitate for confusion in his area as member of parliament.
Musenge said police were still investigating his alleged involvement in the protest and the consequence of burning the ZANAMA offices.
Musenge said the police had promised to get back to him once his involvement in the matter was proved.
And Chifuka said it was sad that some political parties such as the PF were trying to make political capital out of the death of Chisokone marketeer Charles Kalenge.
He said the security neighbourhood watch under ZANAMA never beat the deceased.
“Surprising enough, you know that the Copperbelt is dominated by the PF, they twisted the story that the ZANAMA had killed a person,” he said.
Chifuka said the time some PF members heard that the deceased was admitted to Kitwe Central Hospital, some PF members led by Mulonda Mwanza mobilised people at Chisokone Market in readiness for the protest.
Chifuka said goods worth about K200 million were damaged in the ZANAMA office, which was set ablaze by the irate protesters.
Marketeers at Chisokone market on Thursday run amok following the death of Kalenge who they alleged was beaten to death by ZANAMA officials. The marketeers carried Kalenge’s coffin into the market in protest against his death and set ZANAMA offices on fire. However, ZANAMA officials claimed that Kalenge fell from the ceiling after he attempted to escape from the ZANAMA cell where he was detained.
Labels: ENOCK CHIFUKA, MARKETEERS, MWENYA MUSENGE, RUPIAH BANDA, ZANAMA
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I can now afford to go on holiday – Rupiah
Written by Katwishi Bwalya, Mutuna Chanda and Masuzyo Chakwe
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 2:38:08 PM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday said he can now afford to go on holiday because the price of mealie-meal is much cheaper for Zambians.And President Banda said he does not know how to go about the issue of job losses in the mines, although the government is working at ways of protecting jobs in the industry.
Meanwhile, Patriotic Front (PF) Copperbelt chairman Mwenya Musenge has said it is very irresponsible for President Banda to go on holiday when there are massive job losses in the mines.
Speaking to journalists before departure for a ten-day holiday in Mfuwe, President Banda said those criticising him over the holiday should instead go to the field and work.
“Let them decide that themselves and go to the fields and work, instead of criticising others because everybody is going on holiday and I hope you [author] will go to have a little bit of rest and so on…now that the mealie-meal is a bit cheaper, have a little nshima and so on and that is normal,” President Banda said.
President Banda said he had now shamed his critics who thought he was not going to reduce the price of mealie-meal in the country.
“I hope they realise that we are a serious government and we listen when our people complain. We try to find workable ways all the time and we are not talking but thinking all the time. We are very happy that there is a good response from the millers. Now we want to concentrate on production so that next year we can have more maize,” President Banda said.
“Twice, we have done it [reduction of fuel] and we will sustain it because we have worked it out. We could even have lowered it even more but we are considering that for the future, which is why we are going step by step and slowly, and we have done it and nobody has done it before.”
And President Banda said the government was planning to ensure that mine workers did not remain unemployed due to the current economic problems, although he did not know how to go about it.
“What we are considering is to ensure if possible that our workers do not remain unemployed. How we are going to do it, we don't quite know yet, but we are definitely making plans to continue with our people in Luanshya employed. I think that is our first step and what happens afterwards, we will look into that,” said President Banda.
President Banda is accompanied by first lady Thandwe and children, his two older sons Nenani and James with their wives and children. He was seen off by Vice-President George Kunda, Cabinet ministers and MMD cadres.
Meanwhile, President Banda also appealed to Zambians to avoid excessive drinking or engaging in activities that were likely to disturb peace during the festive period. He urged Zambians to use the Christmas period to reflect and plan ahead for the coming year.
In a statement issued by State House chief analyst for press and public relations, Dickson Jere, President Banda wished Zambians a peaceful Christmas and urged them to spend the day with family and friends. He said Christmas should also be a day on which Zambians should remember the Lord Jesus Christ through prayers. "Let this be time for families to be together and plan for the New Year," he said.
President Banda advised road users, especially public transport drivers to take extra caution when driving to avoid road accidents, which were usually prevalent during the festive season. He reminded Zambians, especially the youths, to always be careful and mindful of the deadly HIV and AIDS and that prevention was always better than cure.
And President Banda revealed that the government was considering sending humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe.
“We are not quiet, we are working. Yesterday we had a long meeting and we have been asked by SADC to join the rest of the SADC area in providing humanitarian assistance to the parts of Zimbabwe that are closest to us,” President Banda said.
“So the Minister of Health is working on that and most likely this weekend, he will probably be traveling there. We are making plans to assist and that is more important than just politicking.”
But Musenge said President Banda was supposed to be busy engaging mine investors and speaking with the people this time when there were massive job losses in the mines, instead of going on holiday.
“Government should quickly come up with a solution to the job losses in the mines,” he said. “Government should be ahead of the issues happening in the mining sector. They should engage the mines and ensure by the time they are coming to lay off workers, they will have exhausted all the channels.”
He said instead of resting for 10 days, President Banda should be on the ground to explain to miners what action the government was taking in saving their jobs.
“Rupiah Banda has failed to live up to his campaign promises in which he used to tell the people that 'ndani azaphika nsima lelo? Ni Banda'. He gave people an impression that their problems were going to be overcome and that is what they are looking to instead of him going for a holiday,” Musenge said.
“They are worried about how they are going to put food on the table and feed their families and this cannot happen when they are losing jobs and government does not seem to be doing anything serious about it.”
Musenge said mining companies should not rush into laying off workers but ensure that they made their proposals to the government on how jobs could be saved in the face of low copper prices.
Labels: MWENYA MUSENGE, RUPIAH BANDA
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Musenge on Garnerton land
Written by Robby Musukuma, Australia
Friday, December 19, 2008 1:07:46 PM
My full support goes to Nkana PF member of parliament Mwenya Musenge for the stance he has taken on the allocation of 30 hectares of land in Garnerton, Kitwe because Zambians are having difficulties getting the same land which is being allocated to foreigners so easily.
A good case in point can be found in Chingola where local farmers in Chimfinsa Farming area have struggled to be allocated farming areas by the Chingola Municipal Council, and at one point these farmers were told not to plant [long term] crops like cassava because the area was to be given to someone else. But these farmers have been in this area for years to a point where they have formed a farmer’s co-operative.
The only time the allocation of farms to these Zambians is talked about is during election time when politicians take advantage of these vulnerable Zambian farmers in the Chimfinsa area to vote for them over the same issue but nothing is done. If these Zambians are to be removed from this area, they don’t even have another area to go to for farming and most likely, they will just be condemned to poverty, and yet the government wants to reduce poverty.
It takes express decisions at council meetings in Zambia to allocate land just to foreigners but not to our fellow Zambian citizens.
http://www.postzambia.com/content/view/2842/64/
Rupiah’s govt
Written by Concerned Citizen
Friday, December 19, 2008 1:08:17 PM
I do not mean to be disrespectful to Rupiah Banda but I am convinced that he was never ready to be President of this country. I believe Rupiah was not psychologically prepared because, as I recall, the man had resigned to his farm before Levy Mwanawasa appointed him vice-president.
Rupiah has no direction and this is why he has not told the nation how he intends to tackle the pressing issues which we are facing in this country like high mealie-meal prices and the effects of the global financial crisis.
Besides, we have had crippling load shedding and unfortunately, our government has never informed the nation on how it is going to address this problem.
It is my opinion that Rupiah and his government are weak, irresponsible and without direction.
Labels: KITWE CITY COUNCIL, LAND RIGHTS, MWENYA MUSENGE
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‘Dirt’ at Kitwe council irks Nkana MP
Written by Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Thursday, December 18, 2008 9:37:33 AM
NKANA Patriotic Front member of parliament Mwenya Musenge has vowed he will not accept to be part of the “dirt” being swept under the carpet in the name of being part of Kitwe council.
In a statement on Tuesday, Musenge also charged that there was a lot of manipulation of councillors at Kitwe City Council.
He was reacting to a statement by Kitwe mayor Divo Katete who advised him to desist from being “controversial for nothing” and instead provide leadership that would earn him respect.
On Monday, Katete said Kitwe City Council had no apologies to make over its decision to offer 30 hectares of land in Garneton for the construction of houses for 300 Chinese nationals.
Katete said whether Musenge liked it or not, he was part of the council that resolved to give 30 hectares of land for construction of the houses.
But Musenge said Kitwe City Council had failed Zambians.
“The land we have in Zambia was God given to Zambians and not to the Chinese. The first people who are supposed to benefit are the locals. I might be petty, I need to be guided, if it is in order for over 2,000 peope to apply to the council for plots and be charged K300,000 non-refundable fee on application and out of all these people, a paltry 200 or 300 people are allocated plots. Surely, is that in order?” he asked.
Musenge also wondered why land could not be gazetted for Zambians if the same could be done for Chinese.
Musenge also said the Keep Zambia Clean campaign seemed to have gone with the wind because even the five vehicles given to each constituency for the programme were now being used to transport council workers.
Labels: CORRUPTION, DIVO KATETE, KITWE CITY COUNCIL, LAND RIGHTS, MWENYA MUSENGE
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PF MP protests land offer to Chinese
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Friday, December 12, 2008 4:28:11 AM
Patriotic Front Nkana member of parliament Mwenya Musenge last Saturday walked out of a full council meeting in protest against the offer of 30 hectares of land in Garneton for construction of houses for 300 Chinese nationals.
In an interview on Monday, Musenge said he could not be part of a decision that would sanction the settlement of Chinese when thousands of applications for land by Zambians had been pending for years without being processed.
Kitwe City Council last Saturday resolved to offer 30 hectares of land to the Zambia China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone Development (ZCCZ) Limited.
ZCCZ had initially applied for 36 hectares of land in Garneton next to Chambishi Metals to construct houses, cafes, canteens, gymnasiums and a sports field for an expected number of 300 Chinese.
Musenge complained that Zambians had not been served first, hence his decision to walk out of the council meeting.
“I got a bit frustrated,” Musenge said. “I could not agree with the council resolution to give land to the Chinese in Garneton when we have the majority of our people, here in Kitwe, we have thousands and thousands of applications...and at the end of the day they cannot access that land. Meanwhile, we are able to give a large chunk of land to the Chinese.”
Musenge said in the council meeting, he asked that President Rupiah Banda re-look at the directive made by his predecessor late Levy Mwanawasa for the allocation of 30 hectares of land but that his idea was blocked.
“I had asked in that meeting that ‘what can we do because at this level there is no way we can allow this thing to go through?’ And they said ‘No, land is vested in the President and these directives came from the Republican President that we need to give land so there is nothing that we can do’,” Musenge said. “And I asked ‘why can’t we give Rupiah Banda to look at this issue and see whether it is in order to give such land?’ And they said ‘No, even if he looked at it there is nothing that he can do because it has already been given’. In that case, I decided to walk out because I did not want my name to be part of those that approved that resolution.
“From the look of things, we have created an artificial shortage of land…and because of that artificial shortage of land that we have created, there is now too much corruption in land allocation at the council.”
During the council meeting that approved the offer of 30 hectares of land to ZCCZ, councillors were told that some Zambians would be accommodated on the premises.
The council resolved to sign a memorandum of understanding with ZCCZ to indicate that Zambians would be accommodated on the premises.
Labels: CHINESE, FDI, KITWE CITY COUNCIL, LAND, MWENYA MUSENGE, PF, ZCCZ
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PF plans protests over high mealie-meal prices
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Sunday, November 30, 2008 3:29:03 PM
THE Patriotic Front (PF) on the Copperbelt has applied to hold non-violent protests simultaneously in all towns against high mealie-meal prices among other things this Saturday.
In a letter dated November 24, 2008, addressed to the Copperbelt Police chief, PF provincial chairman Mwenya Musenge also cited the increments in salaries for the Republican President, ministers and members of parliament as well as the high cost of fertiliser as reasons for the protests.
"We the Patriotic Front on the Copperbelt Province wish to carry out peaceful, non-violent protest marches on December 6, 2008 in all the towns of the Copperbelt namely Ndola, Luanshya, Kitwe combined with Kalulushi, Mufulira, Chingola and Chililabombwe," Musenge stated.
"The protest marches will run simultaneously in all the Copperbelt towns and the reasons for the protests will be as follows: high mealie-meal costs; high fertiliser costs; and increments of President's, ministers and members of parliament's salaries."
And in an interview, Musenge said he earlier had a chat with the acting Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde who advised him to go ahead and apply for a police permit.
However, Musenge said he failed to understand why the police insisted on the old provisions of the law when the Public Order Act was clear on holding processions.
"The Public Order Act says that police must be notified seven days in advance," Musenge said. "This is to enable them provide security. It does not say that we should apply to hold a procession."
However, he said the peaceful procession would go ahead as planned by the party in the province.
"The police should just guide on whether they are comfortable with us going ahead in the format we have suggested or they wish us to hold one as we had earlier proposed to them in the one which was cancelled," he said. "And we only agreed to cancel that one because of the violence that broke out."
He also said the marches were meant to protest against the retrenchments of workers on the mines.
"We cannot sit by and watch our brothers and sisters being retrenched," said Musenge.
Two weeks ago, police cancelled a PF permit to demonstrate against the election of President Rupiah Banda and to press for the removal of Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) director Dan Kalale for allegedly presiding over fraudulent elections.
Labels: INFLATION, MEALIE-MEAL, MWENYA MUSENGE, PF
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