Britain gives Zambia K8.9bn for parliamentary reforms
By Fridah Zinyama
Wednesday June 18, 2008 [04:00]
THE British and Zambian governments have signed an K8.9 billion bilateral arrangement meant for support to the National Assembly over a three-year period from 2008 to 2011. And Minister for Development, UK Department for International Development, Gillian Merron said the grant was meant to encourage more Zambian citizens' participation in the democratic process.
During the signing ceremony yesterday at the ministry of finance, finance minister N'gandu Magande (left) said the grant would go towards the capacity development component of the Parliamentary Reform Programme 111 (PRP).
"The overall objective of this programme is to have a Representative and Responsiveness, Efficient and Effective, Accountable and Accessible and Linked (REAL) Parliament," he said. "A REAL Parliament will enhance the independence and effectiveness of the National Assembly as a representative agent of oversight and achieve the objectiveness of the reform in the democratic governance system of Zambia."
Magande said the financial assistance would go a long way in addressing the capacity development of the PRP 111, which will be implemented as a distinct component.
"The major objective is to develop the institutional, human and operational capacities of the members of parliament and the staff of the National Assembly in order to improve member constituent relations, an improved legislative system and an improved committee system," he said.
Magande said the assistance which DFID had provided to Zambia was a fulfilment of the goals of the 'Ten-year partnership Arrangement (1007-2011) which was signed in June, 2007 in the UK.
"Under the ten-year arrangement, the UK has been providing bilateral assistance to Zambia at the indicative level of at least K255 billion," he said.
And Merron said good governance was at the heart of development.
"An effective state is the single most important factor in determining whether progress takes place," she said.
Merron said the PRP 111 programme was meant to improve the effectiveness and independence of Parliament.
"By holding their government to account, Zambians will help it to more effectively meet their needs," she noted. "This is particularly important at a time when the Zambian government's revenue is increasing significantly."
Merron said this additional money would present the government with an opportunity to invest in far reaching programmes that will improve people's lives.
Labels: GRANTS, PARLIAMENT, UK
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Sata accuses Amusaa of being partisan over expelled PF MPs
By Brighton Phiri
Monday June 09, 2008 [04:00]
Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday asked Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa to stop being partisan over his request for him to declare vacant seats of the 26 expelled PF members of parliament. And Sata said he would seek audience with President Levy Mwanawasa immediately he arrives from London this week to discuss the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) in its current form.
In an interview, Sata wondered why the Speaker was dragging his feet to declare vacant the seats of the 26 members attending the NCC without the blessings of his party.
“The Speaker must stop being partisan. Why illegally keep those 26 members of parliament who have been expelled?” asked Sata. “The Speaker doesn’t produce MPs, but political organisations do. And when these political organisations decide to withdraw the mandate from the MPs, the Speaker must act accordingly.”
Sata said Speaker Mwanamwambwa risked leaving behind a very bad legacy of partisanship if he continued to keep the 26 PF members of parliament in the House.
On his planned meeting with President Mwanawasa, Sata said the conditions, which forced President Mwanawasa to speed up the sitting of NCC no longer prevailed.
Sata said the NCC had been hijacked by UNIP and UPND cadres who were calling for the introduction of freedom fighters’ benefits in the Constitution because President Mwanawasa rushed the NCC without proper planning.
“This NCC has been hijacked by UNIP and other minority groups. Now UNIP is talking about the freedom fighters’ benefits. UNIP is not on the ground. FDD is not on the ground and UPND is losing ground,” Sata said. “At the rate we are going with this sham NCC, they will only produce a document bigger than a Bible…it is going to be another Abel Muzorewa and Ian Smith affair where a minority group was brought into the liberation struggle negotiation for the sake of causing confusion.”
Sata disclosed that he had received complaints from among other NCC accredited members, some ministers, whom he said were complaining against the lavish allowances paid to NCC members.
He wondered why Vice-President Rupiah Banda wants the people of Katete to write him a letter for his office to release relief food when money was freely given to NCC members.
“I am going to ask for a meeting with President Mwanawasa over this sham NCC because it has lost its direction,” said Sata.
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, PARLIAMENT, SATA
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Zambian history is not complete without Nabulyato, says Amusaa
By Namakau Nalumango
Sunday May 04, 2008 [04:00]
DR Robinson Nabulyato shaped the Zambian Parliament into a true people’s Parliament, Speaker of the National Assembly Amusa Mwanamwambwa has said. Speaker Mwanamwambwa said this on Friday evening during the launch of the book titled African Realities: A memoir written by the late speaker Dr Nabulyato. Speaker Mwanamwambwa said the late Dr Nabulyato not only allowed serious and constructive criticism of the government policies by backbenchers but also protected the members’ right to speak freely in the House.
“Dr Nabulyato distinguished himself as a firm, resolute and principled defender of the tenets of parliamentary democracy, even during the adversities of the one party state, earning himself the appropriate title of ‘Mr. discipline’,” he said.
Speaker Mwanamwambwa observed that the political history of Zambia and especially the history of the Zambian Parliament could not be complete without a chapter on the role and contribution of Dr Nabulyato.
He said it was in that respect that the publication of Dr Nabulyato memoir at this time was more than welcome.
as a long serving Speaker of the National Assembly. His autobiography is therefore, a treasure of immeasurable hUNIP president Tilyenji Kaunda said that he is firmly anchored in the leadership of the party.istorical proportions which puts on permanent record events of our legislature from its inception for the sake of posterity,” he said.
Speaker Mwanamwambwa noted that African parliaments were generally not visible in the body of literature about the continent’s politics.
He said the book African realities in that respect filled that gap that had been “yawning in the historiography of Zambia”.
“This is a special day in the history of this nation because the launch of Dr Nabulyato’s autobiography comes at the time when Zambia, through the National Constitutional Conference (NCC), is seeking to produce a constitution that will stand the test of time,” he observed.
And Dr Nabulyato’s son Godfrey said the idea to write the book came about through continued requests from friends, relatives and colleagues to record his experiences in the struggle and contribution to independence of Zambia.
He said Dr Nabulyato started writing and putting his experiences to paper in his later years as Speaker of the National Assembly.
“His experiences as recorded in the book spans from his early childhood through teaching in the 1940s to 1998 when he retired as Speaker.
Dr Nabulyato was from 1954 to 1958 a member of the legislative Council of Northern Rhodesia.
He was elected Speaker of the National Assembly in 1969 and served as such from 1969 to 1988 when he was retired.
At the dawn of multi-party politics in 1991, Dr Nabulyato was recalled from retirement to serve another term as Speaker from that year to 1998.
His return marked the fact that Dr Nabulyato occupied the seat of the Speaker in all of Zambia’s three republics since 1969.
Labels: AMUSA MWANAMWAMBA, PARLIAMENT, ROBINSON NABULYATO
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Aid has weakened parliamentary system, say visiting MPs
By Florence Bupe
Thursday April 03, 2008 [04:00]
DONOR aid has weakened Zambia's parliamentary system, a delegation of members of parliament has observed. And the delegation has advised Western donors to spend more money on strengthening African parliaments to ensure that they hold governments accountable in the use of aid.
According to a report released by Africa All Party Parliamentary Group, the cross-party Western delegation, which toured four African countries, cited Zambia as one of the countries that were unable to effectively implement its own budgets due to influence from donor countries and agencies such as the World Bank and the Department for International Development (DFID).
Other countries cited in the report were Tanzania and Malawi. The delegation observed that foreign aid may have weakened Africa's democracies by making governments less accountable to their elected national legislatures.
"Only two of Africa's 53 states have enjoyed uninterrupted democracy: Botswana and Mauritius," the delegation noted.
The parliamentarians charged that historically, donors have tended to work over and around parliaments rather than with them.
"Aid strengthens recipient governments, but risks making them more accountable to donors and less accountable to their own people," they said. "African parliaments have the potential to provide a safeguard to ensure that foreign aid is used to relieve poverty and promote economic development."
The group further highlighted the increasing importance of Chinese aid in Africa and warned that China was unlikely to become a major actor in strengthening parliaments.
Africa All Party Parliamentary group was formed in 2003 and it was set up to focus on issues that affect Africa as a continent and in particular issues relating to New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) as a policy priority in parliament.
Labels: DFID, DONORS, MPs, PARLIAMENT
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Parliament probs Shakafuswa's insults
By Mutuna Chanda
Monday March 31, 2008 [04:00]
THE office of the Clerk of the National Assembly has asked individual members of parliament that were present at the time Jonas Shakafuswa threatened Munji Habeenzu at Parliament to submit written statements today. This is in a matter where Chikankata UPND member of parliament Habeenzu has complained to the Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa against finance deputy minister Shakafuswa’s attacking him at parliament bar over a week ago for remarking that the National Assembly Motel had been turned into a brothel.
According to a letter dated March 28, 2008 and signed by an M. M. Mulele for the Clerk of the National Assembly, individual members of parliament that were said to have been present when Shakafuswa confronted Habeenzu are expected to submit written statements today.
“The Hon. member of parliament for Chikankata Parliamentary Constituency, Mr Munji Habeenzu has submitted a letter of complaint against the Deputy Minister for Finance and National Planning, Hon Jonas Shakafuswa alleging Hon Shakafuswa harassed, threatened and hurled insults at him on Thursday, 20th March, 2008 at about 22:45 hours in the National Assembly Bar at Parliament Buildings,” read the letter in part.
“It is alleged in the letter of complaint that you were present at the time the incidence took place. May the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly have your statement on this matter as a witness. The office of the Clerk of the National Assembly would like to have your submission in writing on this matter by Monday, 31st March, 2008.”
Among the members of parliament that have been written to are David Matongo (Pemba), Moses Muteteka (Chisamba), Gary Nkombo (Mazabuka Central), Douglas Syakalima (Siavonga), Given Lubinda (Kabwata), Mwenya Musenge (Nkana), Vincent Mwale ( Chipangali), Todd Chilembo (Chama North) , Paul Sichamba (Isoka West) and Claver Silavwe (Nakonde).
Last week, in his letter dated March 27, 2008 to Speaker Mwanamwambwa, Habeenzu stated that he and his family were now living under extreme stress and fear, as they did not know when Shakafuswa would execute his intentions.
"On the night of Thursday 19th March 2008 at about 22:45 hours, I went to the Speaker's bar. Upon my arrival, Honourable Jonas Shakafuswa M.P started hurling insults at me in presence of so many Honourable members of parliament and civil servants. Notable among those that were present were Hon Moses Muteteka M.P, Honourable Vincent Mwale M.P, Honourable David Matongo M.P, Hon Douglas Syakalima M.P, Honourable Todd Chilembo M.P, Honourable Garry Nkombo M.P, Honourable Clever Silavwe M.P and Honourable Paul Sichamba M.P. Sir, unfortunately, also present at the Honourable Speaker's bar were a number of journalists from various media houses," the letter read in part.
"Honourable Shakafuswa verbally assaulted and physically intimidated me accusing me of having caused discourse at his home by the manner in which I debated the Ministry of Health vote more than 10 days prior to this incident. In my debate on the floor of the House, I never referred parliament motel as a brothel in the manner that Hon Shakafuswa strongly suggested in his verbal assault against me.
Further to this unfounded accusation, he insisted that these activities must be left to those people who have got money to pay for sex and that since I was poor, an idiot and an imbecile, if I continued debating in the manner that he accused me of, he would resort to beating me up."
Habeenzu stated that he wondered why Shakafuswa harassed him at the bar over an issue that he debated in Parliament.
“I am humbly seeking your indulgence sir that this matter is addressed in order for my family and I to continue enjoying freedoms of speech, association and most of all liberty,” Habeenzu stated.
Recently, Shakafuswa threatened to beat up Habeenzu over his remark that National Assembly Motel has been turned into a brothel by members of parliament.
This follows Habeenzu's statement during the debate on the policy statement of the 2008 budget estimates for the Ministry of Health, that even parliamentarians were engaging in extra marital affairs at the motel where they were being accommodated.
But before Parliament adjourned, Shakafuswa threatened Habeenzu at the bar that he would be beaten up if he continued talking about what goes on at the motel.
However, Shakafuswa later apologised for threatening Habeenzu over his remark but Habeenzu maintained that he would not forgive Shakafuswa over his unwarranted behaviour and would write to Speaker Mwanamwambwa over the matter.
The women movement has since petitioned President Levy Mwanawasa demanding that Shakafuswa resign for regarding women as sexual objects.
Labels: PARLIAMENT, SHAKAFUSWA
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ZACA urges govt to improve revenue collection at RTSA
By Joan Chirwa
Wednesday March 19, 2008 [03:00]
GOVERNMENT should first improve revenue collection efficiency at the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) instead of implementing new road user fees, Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) chief executive Muyunda Ililonga has said. Appearing before a parliamentary committee on Communication, Works and Supply on Monday, Illilonga said RTSA was currently failing to collect revenue from motorists because of its low efficiency levels.
“The view held by many motorists is that RTSA is inefficient and is failing to collect existing government revenue as many motorists queue for many days to fulfill their tax obligations. The motorists are let down by the government agency that is failing to provide them service in good time and as a consequence, the money that is supposed to go to government is held back by the motorists,” Illilonga said. “So one of the ways that government can mobilise the revenue so desperately needed to develop and maintain our road infrastructure is by improving the collection efficiency by RTSA instead of increasing fees.”
Illilonga said the proposed increase to road user fees would also stimulate corrupt practices among government officials and citizens.
“Experience has shown that whenever the state imposes high taxes on the citizens, the temptation to avoid paying such taxes by conniving with the enforcement agencies becomes prevalent. This in real terms means loss of revenue to government and an increase in corruption cases,” Illilonga said. “As a consumer body, we also fear that an increase in the road user fees will translate into an increase in bus fares because business entities will simply pass on the fees onto the consumers.”
Illilonga said the proposed road user fees should not be implemented as the government is expected to raise additional revenue from increased mine taxes, the resources that could also be used for road construction and maintenance.
“The Zambian consumer is already heavily burdened with several other taxes and the proposed increase in licence fees will add injury to the already miserable consumer,” said Ililonga.
RTSA recently proposed a 400 per cent increase in road user fees, but it was later announced that the proposal was prematurely announced. The proposed fees have since been revised and are expected to come into law early next month.
Labels: PARLIAMENT, RTSA, ZACA
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PF leaders risk being cited for contempt, warns Machungwa
By Lambwe Kachali and Patson Chilemba
Saturday March 15, 2008 [03:00]
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) Luapula member of parliament Peter Machungwa has warned that his party leaders risk being cited for contempt of court should it go ahead to expel six parliamentarians. The six members of parliament are Saviour Chishimba (Kasama Central), Faustina Sinyangwe (Matero), Reverend Sampa Bredt (Chawama), Marjory Masiye (Mufulira), Percy Chanda (Kankoyo) and Barnabas Chellah for Wusakile Constituency.
The six will appear before the PF central committee today to answer charges of resignation from the party. Machungwa, who is spokesperson for PF members participating in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC), said party leaders should know that the targeted parliamentarians obtained an injunction restraining the party from expelling them.
“I don’t think our party would like to experience that (contempt of court), because it will show that the party is not obeying the law of the land. I think it would be unfortunate because one might be arrested for contempt,” he said.
Machungwa said the party should be frank enough by stating that the members were facing expulsion for participating in the NCC rather than raise trumped up charges against them.
“How come there are no charges against any member who is not attending the NCC?” asked Machungwa.
Chanda said the party was engaging into a long legal battle that would go beyond 2011.
Chanda said he was not surprised over the allegations because the party had been planning to do so immediately he went to the NCC.
He said he was ready to challenge the party’s decision should he be expelled.
“I have got evidence right from my constituency where PF officials had a meeting, saying that they should look for cases against me.
People are ready to come and testify in the courts of law. So it is not a simple matter. In this meeting, provincial and district officials categorically said that we have won the matter about participating in the NCC but now officials should look for other charges to rely on.
I have got people who will testify in the court, so I am not even worried, let them just go ahead,” said Chanda.
Masiye said whoever was fighting her for no cause would be fighting against God.
She said she was not worried about what her party might decide.
Masiye said PF members used to be very good “buddies”, until others chose to obey the law by participating in the NCC.
According to the letters dated March 14, 2008 addressed to the six members parliament, party secretary general Edward Mumbi directed them to appear before the committee in person.
Mumbi in an interview later said the committee would make the final decision over the matter.
He said it was sad that some party members were misbehaving instead of building and preparing the party for the 2011 crucial general elections.
He said PF was a respected party and would not condone any misbehavior especially from members of parliament.
Mumbi said serious measures would be taken to any members who disobeyed the party constitution.
And PF president Michael Sata said any measure that would be slapped on the six offenders would be welcomed by the party.
Asked why the party had chosen to discipline only six when many members of parliament especially those participating in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) withdrew their subscription from the party, Sata responded: “If you belong to a club, you pay membership fee and subscription fee.
Now if the top leadership i that club insult you or use strong language on you, do you have to withdraw your money? If you withdraw then you are telling everyone that you have resigned to that club and so you are no longer a member of that club. The same applies to these MPs. They are no longer members of PF,” he said.
Reminded that the members of parliament stopped contributing because he told them that he did not want their “blood money”, Sata said the excuse was unfounded and inconceivable.
“All I can tell you is that wait for tomorrow (today) and the central committee will make a final decision. Whatever decision will be passed, these people deserve it. Tomorrow everything will be laid bare. It will no longer be a secret,” said Sata.
Labels: MPs, PARLIAMENT, PETER MACHUNGWA, PF
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Poor debates: who is to blame?
By Editor
Tuesday February 12, 2008 [03:00]
The concerns raised by opposition UPND defence and security chairperson Captain Cosmas Moono about the low quality of debate in our Parliament deserve serious consideration by all of us. We cannot move this country forward with this type of leadership. This is not the type of leadership that can help make this country a good place for all of us to live in. Our politicians should know that this country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless it’s made a good place for all of us to live in.
From what Capt Moono is saying, it’s very clear to us that Zambia is in trouble today, is in poverty today, is in confusion today not because her people have failed, but because her political leaders have failed.
And what Zambia urgently needs today are political leaders to match the greatness of her people. Unless we face this fact, we shall pay the price that must be paid by those who wait too long to correct things, to sort out problems.
Some people may feel offended by Capt Moono’s remarks and may even attempt to accuse him of insulting and harassing members of parliament. But they will not succeed in hiding the imbecility of our members of parliament and indeed of our politicians in general.
There is no doubt that we have attempted to elect or select our political leaders on a basis that is bound to retard our progress as a nation. And it is time we turned our backs on this ugly attitude and realised that if we are to live in this complicated world of today, we have to start acting up to different standards from the ones we have been following in the election or selection of our political leaders.
When one listens to our parliamentary debates, one wonders why taxpayers’ money should be wasted to pay people such huge sitting allowances for talking rubbish, for sleeping in the House, for just shouting ‘hear, hear, hear’ and all such nonsense.
This is being very cruel or unkind to the poor people of this country. And we join Capt Moono in resenting bitterly this unconcern for the lives of the innocent poor men and women of this country.
Unless something is done to raise the quality of debates in our Parliament, our people will soon lose interest in the value of this very important institution.
Our people deserve to be represented by politicians who can use their brains and think everything over carefully and not by imbeciles. A common saying goes, “Knit brows and you hit upon a stratagem.” In other words, much thinking yields wisdom.
In order to get rid of the blindness which exists to a serious extent among our members of parliament, we must encourage them to think, to learn the method of analysis and to cultivate the habit of analysis. In this world, things are complicated and are decided by many factors.
We need politicians who can look at problems from different aspects, not from just one. It is well known that when you do anything, unless you understand its actual circumstances, its nature, and its relations to other things, you will not know the laws governing it, or know how to do it, or be able to do it well.
But the exercise of such an approach depends on the spread of democracy in our political parties. It cannot be brought into play if there is not enough democracy in party life. Only in an atmosphere of democracy can the standards of our members of parliament be lifted.
What really counts in the world today is conscientiousness, and our members of parliament and other political leaders should be most particular about being conscientious. They must not assume that the masses of our people have no understanding of what they themselves do not understand yet.
It often happens that the masses outstrip their politicians and are eager to advance a step and that nevertheless, our politicians fail to act as leaders of the masses and tail behind certain backward elements, reflecting their views and, moreover, mistaking them for those of the broad masses.
Clearly, there is need for our politicians to link themselves with the masses. And to do so, one must act in accordance with the needs and wishes of the masses. All work done for the masses must start from their needs and not from the desire of any individual, however well-intentioned.
This demands that our politicians be taught to love the people, listen attentively to the voice of the masses, identify themselves with the masses and, instead of standing above them, they should immerse themselves among the people; and, according to their present level, awaken them or raise their political conscientiousness.
However, the problem is that our politicians often pretend to know what they don’t know. They should not feel ashamed to ask and learn from the people and they should listen carefully to the views of the people. In other words, be a pupil before you become a teacher.
We should try as much as possible to rid our politics of impotent thinking; otherwise we will continue “lifting rocks only to drop them on our feet” as the old folk describe the behaviour of certain fools.
And let’s not forget what Mandela once said, “A leadership commits a crime against its own people if it hesitates to sharpen its political weapons which have become less effective.” Truly our Parliament has become a less effective political tool as far as the people’s interests and aspirations are concerned.
Being a member of parliament has become like any other job which our people undertake to get a salary, a wage, a benefit. It has ceased to be a leadership undertaking. And this probably explains why our members of parliament seem to be just there for their own personal benefit and not for the collective good of the nation and the communities that elected them.
A lot of things need to change if our people are to benefit anything from the representatives they send to Parliament. But again, our people themselves should take blame because our members of parliament don’t elect themselves; they are elected by us, by the people. Of course, one can say these are fraudulent elections which are manipulated to falsify the will of the people.
But again, why should our people accept to be manipulated so repeatedly? It is our people’s duty to elect high calibre people to political leadership. If they fail to do so, they should have no one else to blame but themselves.
It is really a question of reaping what you sow. You can’t elect imbeciles and expect quality debates in Parliament just as you wouldn’t expect to reap oranges if what you had planted were tomatoes.
We can only hope we are learning something from all this and when it comes to the next elections, we will elect quality people as councillors, members of parliament and indeed as president of our Republic.
But this has to start from the people we choose as leaders in our political parties. If we choose idiots to lead our parties, we can rest assured, come 2011, we will have an idiot for president and idiots for members of parliament. Again, we will be complaining about their quality. But who is to blame?
Labels: MPs, PARLIAMENT
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Opposition MPs' quality of debate worries Moono
By Mutale Kapekele
Tuesday February 12, 2008 [03:00]
THE low quality of debate by opposition members of parliament is embarrassing, United Party for National Development (UPND) defence and security chairperson captain Cosmas Moono has observed. Capt Moono said it was sad that opposition members of parliament failed to speak intelligently for the people they represented in Parliament.
“As the UPND, we feel nauseated and embarrassed by the low level of debate in our Parliament,” Capt Moono said. “We expect senior members of parliament to deliberate intelligently and to understand the ideals and principles of Parliament.”
He alleged that some of the UPND members of parliament were sponsored by the MMD to attack personalities when there were a lot of important issues they could discuss.
Capt Moono said it was unacceptable for members of parliament to use their “stomachs to think”, when their constituencies had a lot of issues that needed to be tabled in Parliament.
“There are a lot of issues affecting our citizens – blackouts, floods, hunger, homelessness and the K900 billion that government failed to utilise in the last financial year,” Moono said. “These are issues that should be debated in Parliament.”
He said the UPND would not accept any member who did not follow party lines when debating in Parliament.
Capt Moono said the country would make very little progress if members of parliament did not improve their debate and that UPND members would be “plucked out” if they did not learn to control their outbursts in the House.
“The Bible says if an eye is bothering you, you could pluck it out. In the same vein, if these UPND members continue to disrupt progress and our vision, we shall have no choice but to expel them,” Capt Moono said.
“It’s better if we had one MP than to have 1,000 who were retrogressive in thinking.”
Capt Moono said indisciplined members of parliament were putting UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and the party in an embarrassing position.
“As opposition, our role in Parliament is not to glorify the MMD but to act as watchdogs for our people and to ensure that the government was taking developmental issues seriously,” he said.
Capt Moono said Patriotic Front members of parliament were also embarrassing the opposition.
“How can you have MPs disrespecting their party president in Parliament?” asked Capt Moono.
Labels: COSMAS MOONO, MPs, PARLIAMENT, UPND
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Parliament's role will fail if govt doesn't act - Milupi
By Lambwe Kachali
Saturday December 01, 2007 [03:00]
Luena member of parliament Charles Milupi has said the oversight role of Parliament will be a failure if the government does not take action over recommendations made by the parliamentary committees on abuse of public resources. Moving a motion in Parliament on Thursday to adopt a report of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on outstanding issues as contained in the report of the Auditor General for the year ended December 31st 2004, Milupi who is committee chairperson said the long list of outstanding issues did not augur well for parliamentary democracy. Milupi said the outstanding issues report needed serious attention.
“Mr Speaker, the oversight role of parliament through your committee systems can only be effective and therefore benefit this nation if there is timely and comprehensive follow up action by the executive on the recommendations of the committee,” he said.
He said it was unfortunate that the government had continued to ignore important reports without proper explanations.
“As may be observed in the report, government did not make considerable efforts in implementing the recommendations of the committee of 2003 accounts in which 60 percent (183 out of 303) issues were addressed and recommended for closure. However, there was a rather worrying downturn on the report of 2004 accounts where only a paltry 14 per cent (28 out of 196) of the queries were addressed,” Milupi said.
He also observed that the delays to implement the recommendations were due to poor record keeping in government institutions.
“Also the inability by the Auditor General to carry out verifications because documents in a number of cases were not available,” Milupi said.
“The Auditor General has been unable to pursue the recovery of the public resources due to lack of vital information and inability to trace some of the companies that accessed credit funds. Because of this, an amount in excess of K70 billion has been lost and has had to be charged against public funds. Seventy billion Kwacha in 1995 was a huge amount. Therefore, the value of opportunities to this country is correspondingly high,” he said.
Milupi urged the Ministry of Finance to ensure that controlling officers that failed to report progress on the recommendations be sanctioned. And seconding the motion, Chipangali member of parliament Vincent Mwale emphasised the importance of record keeping.
Labels: CHARLES MILUPI, PAC, PARLIAMENT
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Use parliament to share good ideas with govt, Maureen advises MPs
By Nomusa Michelo
Sunday November 18, 2007 [03:00]
FIRST lady Maureen Mwanawasa has advised opposition members of parliament to use parliament to share their good ideas with government. Maureen said Zambia is a democratic country, which allows people to freely contribute to its development.
“Economic development is very important. While we are politicking let us ensure that we are not derailing the economic development of our country,” she said. “If you have a good idea, if you are a politician, you are on the other camp and you are concerned about the country going forward, don’t keep that knowledge to yourself because it would be detrimental.”
Maureen said at the end of the day there has to be a party in power, to govern the country.
“Others have to play the role of opposition but not just politicking. We have to grow our country,” she said.
And Maureen also called on Zambians to take advantage of the good policies the government has put in place by investing in various sectors of the economy.
“This economy is driven by private sector, so the role of government is to put in policies, which can work,” she said.
Maureen said the challenge of reducing poverty in the country is still high.
“In the urban areas we still have a big challenge because we need to grow our industrial base in order to create employment opportunities,” she said. “We still need lot of industries to open up because we still have a backlog of people who are not working.”
Labels: MAUREEN MWANAWASA, PARLIAMENT
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Zambia's loan contraction process is not transparent, says Lewanika
By Bivan Saluseki
Wednesday October 17, 2007 [04:00]
Western Province Jubilee Zambia secretary Mwangelwa Mbikusita-Lewanika has said Zambia's limits and purposes of getting new loans were highly ambiguous and not open to scrutiny. Lewanika yesterday said Zambia had in the past borrowed excessively and recklessly, and did not manage the debt well.
"The level of public expenditure, in particular on developmental projects, has not been commensurate with the high levels of borrowing, especially during most part of the first 10 years of the Third Republic, as evidenced by the high levels of plunder," he said.
Currently, the legal prerogative to procure new loans lies in the hands of the Minister of Finance and National Planning and Parliament does not need to approve the entry into loan agreements.
"This anomalous situation must be stopped. To achieve prudent procurement of loans by the government of the day, the loan contraction process should be enshrined into the national constitution," he said.
Lewanika said there were problems or shortcomings in the ways and means the debt has been incurred and that was a direct result of the fact that the legal framework governing the contraction process was inadequate.
He said the current loan contraction process was not transparent and lacked accountability, noting that under the current legal framework, the loans and guarantees (authorisation) Act, Cap 366 of the Laws of Zambia, gave a blanket authority to the government to borrow.
"In view of that, there is need to put in place measures that would ensure that the resources will be spent on Zambian people, especially the poor. Such measures include the Debt Mechanism, which is a broad participatory, transparent and accountable way of disbursing toward poverty eradication any savings coming from debt relief or cancellation," he said.
He suggested that the Constitution and Act of Parliament must provide the authority to borrow while terms of reference or guidelines to negotiating loans should be in the statute itself, at least, as regulations.
He said the public should be involved in the loan contraction process.
"Parliament should have its constitutional powers to approve all loans and have them gazetted and made available for public examination before being signed," he said.
Labels: DEBT, JUBILEE ZAMBIA, LOANS, PARLIAMENT
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PF MPs’ stance on Chiluba
By Godwin Yoram Mumba
Friday June 29, 2007 [04:00]
I am writing to you to express my disappointment with Patriotic Front members of parliament who have shocked me with their myopic stance on former Republican president of Zambia Fredrick Chiluba’s ‘fraud case.” From their outbursts in support of Chiluba, one can safely conclude that these MPs are but a bunch of ignorant and amateurish historians anchored in quicksand of deceit and arrogance. They should realise that Chiluba stole, period! And let him face the music like anybody found stealing.
Assuming that President Mwanawasa also has made mistakes such as in stripping Chiluba of his presidential immunity without giving him an opportunity to defend himself before Parliament, overlooking Zambian sovereignty by taking Chiluba’s fraud case before the English court; I contend these mistakes, if at all they are mistakes, are totally outweighed by Chiluba’s misdeeds as in the following:- US 58 million dollars stolen by Chiluba.
How many people died in hospitals, UTH in particular, as a result of Chiluba’s stubbornness. We still remember doctors’ standoff with Chiluba just before Mwanawasa took over?
The sale of parastatal companies at supersonic speed leaving many Zambian workers in limbo led to many others lose their lives in the process.
One may ask what happened to Memaco? Who has been selling our copper and cobalt and where are the proceeds from these sales.
PF Bemba MPs are trying to tell us that the late Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe is synonymous with Fredrick Chiluba by trying to canonise the latter by associating him with our clean Kapwepwe. This is an insult not only to late Kapwepwe but also to the Bemba-speaking people as well.
Incidentally, Chiluba’s confession statement of political dribbling and engineering evokes memories as to what killed Kapwepwe.
Perhaps God has preserved me all these years specifically to tell the story that the death of Kapwepwe points to the political dribbling and engineering so much glorified by the PF Bemba MPs.
What sort of political leaders are these PF members of parliament who have already forgotten that this country has not experienced clandestine deaths since 2001? Let them research and tell us why and how the following innocent citizens died between 1991 and 2001:
Ronald Penza, Wezi Kaunda, my brilliant lawyer and friend Edgar Chellah and many others too numerous to mention.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=28425
Sata's temporary pullout of ZCID
By Mulenga
Friday June 29, 2007 [04:00]
PF's Michael Sata's "temporary pullout of the Zambia Center for Inter-party Dialogue meeting demonstrates how irrelevant he has become to the constitution-making process.
I find it extremely extraordinary for Sata to always show dissenting views.
He similarly pulled out of a part alliance prior to the September elections last year on flimsy circumstances because he felt his party was strong enough to go solo. Sata must learn to work with others and be democratic and supportive to collective issues. If he is against the idea of a
Constitution Conference, leave him out and let us forge ahead.
We are not going to make any progress by bickering over trivial issues. Those who want freinds must first be friendly themselves. Similary, those who want democracy must demonstrate the attributes of democratic people.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=28427
Behaviour of some members of parliament
By Viva The Post! Given
Friday June 29, 2007 [04:00]
I wish to comment on the behaviour and the integrity of some PF MPs. I would love to categorically talk about Dr Chishimba, the MP for Kasama. I was shocked to see him on the MUVI TV morning show where he was busy mascarading himself as a true Zambian by defending former Republican president Frederick Chiluba.
I personally doubt his integrity. What he has to know is that what Chiluba stole was not from Northen Province alone but belonged to our country, Zambia. I’m happy with the majority Zambians who have decided to remain quiet over Chiluba’s judgement. Truly, my fellow Zambians, should we allow tribalism to continue misleading innocent Zambians? Of course not!
I have come to understand that PF as a party is using tribalism where they are able to defend thieves openly on tribal lines. Thank God that PF could not make it in last year’s elections.
This is because we were going to see all plunderers coming back in our country. One thing I can remind Dr Chishimba is that Chiluba is the same man who was preaching about rule of law.
Let him and others face the law because we need our money back. What he stole does not belong to Bembas but to Zambians. I’m now convinced beyond doubt that true Zambians have seen what true political parties are. Defending Chiluba? I’m therefore delighted with the Post newspaper’s fight against corruption. Please continue until the war is won. I’m looking forward to the day when the Zambian judgment will be delivered. How can you associate Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Kapwepwe to this criminality. What a shame! I don’t think I can waste time to cast my vote for these MPs defending a wrong cause.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=28423
Farewell to Blair
By Isaac Makashini, USA
Friday June 29, 2007 [04:00]
Finally, the British people and the world of politics have bade farewell to Tony Blair, leader of the Labour Party for thirteen years, and Britain's Prime Minister for a decade.
Blair stepped down on Thursday, June 27th, nine months after he first announced his intentions to leave office.
What a way to go for the young, vibrant, articulate and charismatic Tony, who ten years ago, at the age of 43, became Britain's youngest Prime Minister in nearly two centuries!
I am not a political analyst by vocation, but I have followed Tony's leadership with keen interest, and intrigue.
To his credit, he has been perhaps one of the most successful leaders the Labour Party has ever had.
He led his party to three successive elections, the British economy recorded significant gains, he demonstrated great leadership, patience and perseverance in securing peace in Northern Ireland, and his interventionist policy in Sierra Leone helped bring an end to the brutal civil war in that country.
He was also a very strong ally of Africa in poverty eradication as can be seen in his initiative to push for a substantial aid increase for Africa at G8 Summit in 2005.
But Blair leaves at a time when his popularity has been severely battered. Approval ratings were at their lowest, and the relationship with his successor, Chancellor Gordon Brown, was becoming increasingly acrimonious.
Blair's undoing was his support of the Iraq war at a time when 75 per cent of the British people and most European leaders opposed the war.
As Michael Brown, a former conservative member of parliament has correctly noted, "Iraq will be engraved on Tony Blair's political tombstone when the history books of his premiership are written."
As Blair leaves Number 10 Downing Street, I believe that his departure provides several lessons to our politicians in Zambia:
1. The skills and charisma needed to win an election are not the same skills that it takes to run the government. There is no doubt that Blair was abundantly endowed with the former, but increasingly exhibited poverty in the latter, especially during the last few years.
2. It is politically suicidal to ignore public opinion on any major policy issue.
Our present government has sadly been treading this path on the issue of the constitution.
3. Politicians must not have a bloated estimation of their personal abilities and political strengths. Such an attitude leads to pride, arrogance and spurning the ideas of others.
4. Democracy is about people. People's ideas and aspirations must not be buried by politicians' personal beliefs, opinions and agendas.
This easily results into disillusionment in the people and nose-diving unpopularity, even among those who once deeply admired your leadership.
I wish Tony Blair all the best as he takes up the new role as the Middle East peace envoy.
Labels: PARLIAMENT, PF, SATA, TONY BLAIR
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PF won't attend Levy's proposed indaba - Sata
By George Chellah and Brighton Phiri
Thursday May 03, 2007 [04:00]
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata has said that his party will not attend President Levy Mwanawasa's proposed indaba because it is useless and a waste of valuable time. Sata said he was only ready for President Mwanawasa at the proposed Zambia Centre for Inter-party Dialogue (ZCID) presidents’ summit next month.
Meanwhile, Lusaka lawyer, Rodger Chongwe, has said that President Mwanawasa's reverse action on the constitution-making process would cause animosity and confusion among Zambians. Sata yesterday said President Mwanawasa was wasting Zambians’ time by proposing a national indaba to discuss the constitution-making process.
“An indaba for what? Levy is a liar and I cannot trust him. On public functions, he is a different person and at State House he is also a different Levy. He called an indaba last time at Mulungushi and proposals were made during that meeting, but did that indaba yield anything?" Sata asked.
"So it's a waste of valuable time and I can't trust him because he had done it before. Levy's indaba is useless and a waste of time and PF won't attend it because we don't need another talking workshop. We need things to happen now, we want a new constitution now! It's time for action."
He urged President Mwanawasa to just give in and let the people's will prevail. "Let him not continue being stubborn," Sata said.
Asked whether he was ready to meet President Mwanawasa at the ZCID's summit of presidents, which will be held sometime next month, Sata replied: "I will very much be there...I am ready for him. We will be there to meet him since it's dialogue. Even if he will, he becomes emotional and begins speaking in tongues like he usually does when he sees me. I will also speak in tongues from Mpika... it's dialogue."
And during MISA-Zambia’s Face the Media programme on Radio Phoenix yesterday, Sata said there was need for pressure to force President Mwanawasa on the constitution. "Nothing comes for nothing. Anybody trusting this government on this matter is wasting their time. Let's rise and get a referendum to amend Article 79 to bring a constituent assembly. Let's all be united without violence," Sata said. "This government is provoking us so that we get involved in violence. They want to come and say that there is violence so we can't do this."
And Joyce Macmillan from the Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) said the existing constitution has no clause for its self-destruction. "The government's argument is an obstacle. The new constitution is urgent for us as women. Women constitute half the population of this country. You can't expect this country to develop if women continue to be where they are," she said.
And Lusaka lawyer Dr Chongwe said President Mwanawasa's reverse action on the constitution-making process would cause animosity and confusion among Zambians. Dr Chongwe asked President Mwanawasa to revisit his promise to go by the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) recommendation on the adoption of the new constitution through a constituent assembly. "Zambians should not be quarrelling because the Constitution is a national issue. We are all reminded that the CRC recommended that the new constitution should be adopted through a constituent assembly," he said. "There was no provision in the terms of reference of the CRC that suggested that the new constitution should be adopted through an Indaba."
He said it was possible for the Zambians to agree on the adoption of the new constitution without calling each other names. "President Mwanawasa publicly agreed to the recommendation of adopting the new constitution through a constituent assembly. Maybe President Mwanawasa has forgotten...we have not forgotten. He can't have a reverse action," Dr. Chongwe said. "The only option is for the government and the stakeholders to agree on the Constituent Assembly. We should not be fighting."
On Tuesday, President Mwanawasa said it would be cheaper to adopt the new constitution through an indaba. He said he was prepared to call for a national convention to discuss the constitution-making process. "When we met to discuss the issue of the national indaba, my proposal was well received by the civil society who were present at State House. But I don't know whether State House ties people's mouths such that they cannot speak out while inside there. But when they went out, they went to renounce what we had agreed on the national indaba," President Mwanawasa said.
"That proposal is still open. It will be cheaper for us to adopt the Constitution... for us to ensure that those portions of the Constitution that require amendment are looked into. It will be cheaper...yes, I know that some people will not get the money from the donors which they are getting for waging war against us. But I agree, the option is still open. I am prepared to call the national convention, but that can be when it is supported by the people."
Labels: CONSTITUTION, PARLIAMENT, PF
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Teta's behaviour won't affect me -Lubinda
By Noel Sichalwe
Sunday April 08, 2007 [04:00]
I will not allow Tetamashimba’s behaviour to have a bearing on me, Kabwata Patriotic Front (PF) member of parliament Given Lubinda has said. And Lukashya PF member of parliament Alfridah Mwamba has said works and supply deputy minister Ben Tetamashimba’s point of order to nullify her seat was riddled with malice. But Tetamashimba said the MMD and himself had no need to suffocate PF and its president Michael Sata.
Lubinda and Mwamba were commenting on a ruling by Speaker Amusaa Mwanamwambwa, who dismissed Tetamashimba’s point of order where he was seeking to nullify the seats of PF members of parliament, Kabwata’s Lubinda, Lukashya’s Mwamba and Kanyama’s Henry Mtonga on grounds of dual membership.
Tetamashimba alleged that the trio belonged to United Liberal Party and Patriotic Front. Lubinda said the point of order did not mean anything to him and that his performance in the House was the same as before. He said from the start he knew that the point of order was frivolous orchestrated by a highly vindictive person whose survival was on buying recognition.
“I was extremely confident because I did everything with a clear conscious and at no time did I make a decision without due regard to provisions of the law,” he said. “I had no reason to doubt the integrity of the institution charged to make the ruling.
Therefore, it does not excite me that it has come to pass. I shall not have any retribution to Teta. He is of no consequence to me and I would not allow his behaviour to have a bearing on me and the people of Kabwata constituency. Teta is too minute to occupy my thoughts.”
Lubinda said he did not expect Tetamashimba to be ignorant and lack serious judgment by failing to understand the circumstances relating to his parliamentary seat. He said Tetamashimba’s analytical ability and power of judgment on issues left much to be desired even for the performance of duties as deputy minister. “Now that this is done, I challenge him to take me on a plain field so that Zambians are given an opportunity to distinguish who the fool is,” he said.
And Mwamba said after looking at the people involved in the matter, Tetamashimba was trying to revenge when he was flashed out of United Party for National Development (UPND) a few years ago. Mwamba said some people thought that when they went into Parliament, it was a battlefield for settling old scores. “When we are called honourables in the House, we should behave as such. We should not use Parliament as a boxing ring,” she said. Mwamba said in Tetamashimba’s case, he was elected to the House under National Party in 1996.
She said before Parliament dissolved, he started masquerading as UPND general secretary. Mwamba said Tetamashimba was subsequently flashed out of the House because he dared the law. “I am very satisfied with the ruling because the matter was investigated thoroughly,” she said. Mtonga refused to comment.
However, Tetamashimba maintained that the constitution did not allow verbal alliances to sponsor candidates like the PF-ULP pact. He wondered how the National Assembly stated that there was a binding alliance between the two parties when Sata had said there was never an agreement. Tetamashimba said it could not be a coincidence that all ULP members of parliament sat behind party president Sakwiba Sikota in the House. He said Mtonga resigned from ULP in January this year and that even at the time of the ruling, the trio was belonging to the two parties which the constitution did not allow.
Labels: PARLIAMENT, PF
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Immature MPs
By Editor
Wednesday April 04, 2007 [04:00]
A few months ago, we stated that the nation is not getting much from its investment in the National Assembly. This was at the time Speaker Amusaa Mwanamwambwa cautioned members of parliament against making insulting running commentaries in the House, especially when a member is debating. We concurred with Speaker Mwanamwambwa and criticised the members of parliament for being childish and less serious whilst on very serious national duty.
With our objective criticism, we hoped our members of parliament would see sense in that and change for good. We were wrong. The situation degenerated to very embarrassing levels last week when opposition Roan Patriotic Front member of parliament Chishimba Kambwili was ejected from the House by chairman of committees Mukondo Lungu for making noise or exhibiting childish behaviour in other words. Before this incident, there were several appeals over a number of days by Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumango for decent behaviour from our members of parliament. These appeals fell on deaf ears.
This is indeed a very sad state of affairs because it looks like most of our members of parliament do not seem to know why they are in Parliament. Luapula Anglican Bishop Robert Mumbi has called on our members of parliament to stop politicking and start serving the people.
We do not think that this call will yield the necessary results going by the way our members of parliament are conducting themselves. It is good that now the parliamentary debates are being carried live on radio and a large number of our people are following these debates, especially those along the line of rail.
In all fairness, we can say that from what we have seen and heard from most of our current members of parliament, one would not be wrong to conclude that it is the worst composition of members ever in the history of the country. We wonder how the few members who seem to know why they are in Parliament are feeling to be associated with this huge joke of parliamentarians.
Like Bishop Mumbi observed, our people are faced with many problems and challenges which need urgent solutions from our parliamentarians and the people’s representatives.
But these people who are supposed to provide these solutions seem to be clearly lost, they are at sea. It is very difficult to understand why a member of parliament from a constituency heavily riddled with poverty can choose to make noise or make some childish insulting running commentaries in the House instead of discussing the state of affairs of his people who are perpetually living in squalor.
Parliament is a place for debate, and meaningful debate for that matter. We wonder if these members were sent to Parliament by their representatives for political comedy.
With this current state of affairs, anyone’s dream to use Parliament as a vehicle for reform will remain a pipedream. As things stand today, such reforms have to come from elsewhere. Today’s Parliament is a big joke, it is actually a circus.
These members of parliament even forget that they are parents who are supposed to be models to their children and the people they represent. But instead of being such models, most of our members of parliament have proved to be an embarrassment.
These members have actually reduced the integrity and honour of the National Assembly. National Assembly has now become a place for jokers and job seekers, people who lack depth on serious national matters. No serious-minded person would want to associate himself or herself with this mediocrity we are seeing today in Parliament.
But a lot of our taxpayers’ money is spent on running this institution which is supposed to be an important pillar of our democracy and good governance. This high expenditure should bring returns to the taxpayer because it is an investment.
Members of parliament have a crucial role to play in guiding and directing the conduct of government business in the House. If there is a lapse in this area, government’s performance is negatively affected. We have seen in the past how some effective members of parliament positively contributed for the benefit of the country.
We are not saying there should be no light moments in the House but what is happening currently goes beyond humour. It is a manifestation of lack of appreciation of the business that keeps them in the House.
It is not too late. Our members of parliament can redeem themselves and serve their people in a worthy manner, not what they are doing today. And these members should be compelled by a sense of honesty and responsibility to take their parliamentary duties in the House more seriously and in a dignified manner so as to set good standards for the country and our people.
Speaker Mwanamwambwa and the others working with him should not relent in inculcating a sense of responsibility and maturity in our irresponsible and immature members of parliament. Our people deserve better from these members who speak for them in Parliament.
Labels: EDITORIAL, MINISTERS, PARLIAMENT, PF, SATA
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Some PF MPs are mercenaries - Sata
By George Chellah
Wednesday April 04, 2007 [04:00]
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday said some of his members of parliament were mercenaries. And Sata has incorporated all former United Liberal Party (ULP) officials, who are now PF members of parliament into the PF central committee. Meanwhile, Sata commended the four Copperbelt mayors - who left Ndola airport on Sunday where they had gone to welcome President Mwanawasa after MMD cadres started chanting anti-PF slogans - for their maturity and patriotism.
Addressing a press briefing at Lusaka's Taj Pamodzi Hotel, Sata accused some of his members of parliament of not propagating party policies. "Some members of parliament are showing signs of infiltration but we will check that. We have reached a stage at which we are knowing each other. They propagate the policies of MMD than the MMD itself. We are knowing each other now because we were getting anyone even those we didn't know, but we are watching," Sata said. "I am glad we didn't go to State House because if we did, we would have made more mistakes than this government. We would have appointed people we didn't know to positions, people who could have failed to work. But God delayed it that, 'you won't, first you cleanse yourselves.' We still have a lot of mercenaries."
When asked to clarify his statement that PF still had a lot of mercenaries, Sata responded:"What I meant was that some people jumped on the bandwagon of the popularity of PF. We didn't know them. For example, a number of members of parliament we didn't know them. Probably that's why when they are debating in parliament they debate contrary to party policies," Sata said. "Even the mayor Nakazwe, we didn't know her but she was in Lusaka. She was just thrust on people. But we have dealt with a little mercenary in Lusaka so we are knowing them now." He also criticised the Members of Parliament's debates in the House.
"I expected people in parliament to talk about Rabobank but you are just there busy making interjections. I expected our colleagues in parliament to support the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ). "I expected our colleagues to take the government to task, Nyirongo (former lands minister) has been dismissed even Muteteka has been dismissed but the Commissioner of Lands has been suspended. Even on the issue of Finance Bank, you should raise questions. When you are MP, you should talk about national issues and not just your constituency. "Our Parliament has let me down. You are busy talking about removing street vendors, what type of people are we? PF's policy we said we will build houses and then demolish. Our parliament is so quiet, we are talking about things that are irrelevant."
And Sata praised the four Copperbelt mayors who left Ndola airport on Sunday where they had gone to welcome President Mwanawasa after MMD cadres started chanting anti-PF slogans. "I would like to commend the PF mayors for their maturity and PF patriotism, which they did. If you want to be liberal, go out! You can't be liberal in PF. Be confrontational but without violence," Sata said. "I am accepting the apology from them (government) on behalf of PF because Sylvia (local government minister Sylvia Masebo) is not a woman who easily apologies unless she is knocked down and she has been knocked down."
He said it was only a civic duty to welcome the President when he goes for official duties. "But when he goes to his farm, that’s private. Mayors are not going to accompany him to count the number of bags he has produced. When he goes to meet Copperbelt Province MMD chairman Terence Findlay Mr. Findlay that's not a civic duty," Sata said. "Some people have been saying Sata and Guy Scott are dictators, yes! We are democratic dictators. We are just democratically dictating in the right direction. We are democratic dictators. I would like the party to come first."
Sata also announced the restructuring of the PF central committee. "We are not forming a shadow cabinet and it's not that they are the best but we are reconstituting the party. We have looked at the contribution of the people we are allocating positions," he said. According to the new PF central committee structure, former secretary general Dr Guy Scott is now vice-president, Nchanga member of parliament Charles Chimumbwa is the new secretary general and UNZA lecturer Dr Chileshe Mulenga will be his deputy.
Sata also incorporated all former ULP officials - who are now PF members of parliament - into the PF central committee. Henry Mtonga is now the vice national chairman as well as chairperson for national security while Given Lubinda and Elfrida Mwamba are party spokesperson and chairperson for lands respectively. Others appointed into the central committee are Dr Peter Machungwa and Alex Chama as chairpersons for transport and energy respectively.
Labels: MPs, PARLIAMENT, PF, SATA
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Magande advises MPs on road funding
By Chibaula Silwamba
Saturday March 31, 2007 [04:00]
FINANCE minister Ng'andu Magande on Thursday told parliamentarians that appealed to him to allocate more money for roads in their constituencies that their appeals were falling on deaf and wrong ears. Responding to Dundumwezi member of parliament Edgar Sing'ombe and his Mfuwe counterpart Mwimba Malama who asked him to release more funds for roads in their constituencies, Magande said the money for roads was allocated and dispensed by the Ministry of Works and Supply.
Magande said even if the parliamentarians approached the Road Development Agency to fund the road constructions in their constituencies, it would not be possible because the RDA had already planned which roads to work on for this year. He said RDA had a seminar for parliamentarians where their personnel explained how they planned for road works. Magande therefore expressed surprise that some parliamentarians were still asking him to fund the roads even after RDA explained to them how roads were funded. He said the parliamentarians' appeal for him to allocate more money to roads was therefore misplaced.
"Your appeal is not only falling on deaf ears but wrong ears," Magande said.
Sing’ombe and Malama had requested Magande to release more funds for roads in their areas. Malama said he and his constituents were even ready to slash grass at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning for the money to be released for the two roads in his constituency. He said Mukungule and Nabwalya roads were very bad despite the area's tourism potential. Malama expressed surprise at his fellow parliamentarians that got posh vehicles just for the sake of comfort.
He said with posh vehicles that some of his colleagues got on loans from Parliament, they would not reach most areas in the constituencies because the roads were very bad. Malama caused laughter in the House when he said he losses appetite at lunch time when he remembers that his people were starving.
Labels: MAGANDE, PARLIAMENT, ROADS
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State risks legal action over mine deals if…
JERRY MUNTHALI
Minister of Justice, George Kunda, on Thursday night warned that Government risked being taken for arbitration in the United Kingdom (UK) and lose huge sums of money in legal fees if it breached provisions of the mine development agreements. Debating the Income Tax Amendment Bill, which passed the second reading, Mr Kunda said although Zambia made its own laws as a sovereign state, it could be taken for arbitration in London if it breached provisions of the agreements.
He explained that the mines were losing a million dollars………….. at the time Government entered into the development agreements. Mr Kunda explained that at that time, Government was desperate to sell the mines to avoid their collapse and investors dictated certain terms since they were bringing in the money. Winding up the debate, Minister of Finance and National Planning, Ng’andu Magande, said there was an agreement for tax to remain at 25 per cent for 25 years.
He, however, said Government would negotiate the development agreements where there were provisions to do so. And Minister of Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Brian Chituwo, told Parliament on Thursday that Government has allocated K11.2 billion to double the number of beneficiaries to the bursaries scheme this year. In a policy statement on the vote for the estimates of expenditure for his Ministry, Dr Chituwo said this was aimed at enabling more vulnerable students acquire life-long skills.
Dr Chituwo was also happy that the Gemstone Processing Centre under his ministry had started operating from its own campus to train small-scale miners. He said this would help to scale up small-scale mining in the country and that 60 people had since been trained in gemstone identification, processing and polishing. Dr Chituwo also said following the release of the grade seven, nine and 12 results by Minister of Education, Geoffrey Lungwangwa, the institutions under his ministry which trained youths in various skills were well positioned to absorb those who dropped out.
But he was also concerned that institutions under his ministry had incurred a K30.9 billion debt for statutory and personal emoluments and he urged them to set side funds from the monthly grants to pay off the debt.
Labels: MINING, MINISTERS, PARLIAMENT
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No genuine freedom on silver platter – Sichinga
By Noel Sichalwe
Saturday March 24, 2007 [02:00]
THERE is no genuine freedom that comes to people on a silver platter without much struggle and bloodshed, business consultant Bob Sichinga has said. And Oasis Forum chairperson Bishop Paul Mususu has said most politicians have no loyalty to principles and their ideologies. And many Zambians have expressed frustration at the government's delay in enacting the new constitution.
At a Press Freedom Committee of The Post public discussion on the constitution-making process on Thursday night, Sichinga, who is former Kafue member of parliament said no genuine freedom was a product of bequeathal from the powerful, the power holders to the governed. Sichinga said there was no genuine freedom that came to people on a silver platter without much struggle and bloodshed anywhere in the history of man's politics and governance. "All Zambians who seek change have deluded themselves that the goodwill and good naturedness of the President or his government was so good that they will cede power passed on the lackadaisical demand from a few disgruntled elements in the nation," he said. He said it was difficult to believe whether President Mwanawasa had formed the CRC with good intensions.
He said President Mwanawasa was only compelled by Zambians to initiate the process of having a new constitution. Sichinga said from the interaction he had with President Mwanawasa, there would be a lot of excuses as to why a new constitution should not be implemented. He said the excuses could range from floods and the problems in Zimbabwe as a way of delaying the process. "There is no genuineness by this government to finding a solution to this problems," Sichinga said.
"It is not even Parliament that will bring about this change. I have just come from there. During the election period, the constitution was not even a campaign issue. The constitution must have been the most urgent issue to address poverty when people campaigned last year."
He said despite having a new electoral Act of 2006, there were over 50 election petitions in court this year. He said people would as change as many members of parliament as possible but that there would be no development. Sichinga said at the moment, people should have agreed about the constitution, especially that there have been three successive CRCs in the past 20 years.
He said there was an urgent need to reform the legislature, judiciary and executive in order to balance the distribution of power. Sichinga said it was not possible for Parliament to pass genuine laws because they were all endorsed by the standing orders committee that comprise government ministers.
He said previously, members of parliament have presented media bills in Parliament but that they have not been enacted up to now because the government has opposed them. "Although on paper an MP can bring an Act, it will be shot down," he said. "That is why I am saying Parliament cannot bring about change." Sichinga said the President enjoyed powers to convene and dissolve Parliament and that these powers could be abused.
He said there was need to have a situation like in Ethiopia that allows the law to take effect four weeks after being approved by Parliament if the President resists to endorse it. He said under the current Constitution, there was no budget law that allowed the equitable distribution of budgetary allocation to enhance development. Sichinga said it was important to discuss the constitution matter with all stakeholders.
He said there was need to leave behind a legacy for the next generation and a good constitution for all Zambians. "The biggest problems with us Zambians is that we are too scared to stand up for what we believe in," he said. Bishop Mususu said the struggle for a new constitution needs the participation of all citizens. He said President Mwanawasa's statement that people would not eat the constitution was true but that the constitution would make people eat.
He said the constitution struggle was more agonising as compared to the ease with which the Chiluba third term bid was fought. He also reiterated that there shou 
