PFC condemns UPND cadres' attack of journalists
By Fridah Nkonde
Thu 01 Nov. 2012, 14:00 CAT
PRESS Freedom Committee of The Post chairperson Leah Kabamba has appealed to political leaders to keep their cadres in check and sensitise them on the need to refrain from violence, including violence against journalists.
In a statement condemning the attack on ZNBC journalists outside police headquarters by UPND cadres on Monday, Kabamba described the harassment of Brian Mwale and Gerald Singwa as unfortunate. The UPND cadres harassed the duo on alleged lack of fair coverage of the UPND by ZNBC. Kabamba expressed concern at the continued harassment of journalists.
"This is a serious affront to press freedom and if left unchecked, Zambia's ranking with regards freedom of the press will continue to slip. Brian and Gerald were simply carrying out their jobs when the cadres threw pan bricks at them, banged on their vehicle and hurled insults at them. Had it not been for the quick action of the police, the duo could have sustained serious injuries," Kabamba said.
She said journalists had an option to blackout people who perpetrated hooliganism. Kabamba stated that it had taken Zambia 48 years to get to where it was today, although the road to destruction through violence could take a shorter period and should therefore not be entertained.
Labels: CADRES, LEAH KABAMBA, PFC, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, THE POST, UPND
Read more...
Media bodies commend PF on FOI bill
By Fridah Nkonde and Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Mon 18 June 2012, 13:22 CAT
THE Patriotic Front government has gone above political rhetoric by bringing the Freedom of Information (FoI) which will ultimately become law in Zambia, says Anthony Mulowa. And Press Freedom Committee of The Post (PFC) has welcomed the proposed legislation of the FoI, urging "ordinary citizens" to lead in the formulation process.
On Friday, information permanent secretary Amos Malupenga announced that a taskforce working on a Bill had completed drafting the document and was expected to launch it next week for public scrutiny and comments.
According to Malupenga, the taskforce comprising civil society, legal experts, Transparency International - Zambia, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and other stakeholders had been working on the FoI for the past few months.
Welcoming the development, Mulowa, the Zambia Union of Journalists president, said the PF government had shown strong political will to bring about the FoI.
Mulowa said it was pleasing that the PF government had fulfilled its promise of ensuring that media reforms were brought to fruition.
"All media bodies were concerned with the FOI bill left by the MMD government which had certain flaws," Mulowa said.
"We are impressed that government has engaged stakeholders to review the bill and we are confident that the promise is being fulfilled by the PF government."
Mulowa said it was good that government would subject the bill to public for scrutiny and comment.
"This is what democracy entails because a lot of people will be able to comment," Mulowa said.
"Even people in the village can comment on this issue. It is important to appreciate the fact that it will be a people-driven law. It is quite remarkable and impressive in the history of Zambia. The government has to be commended."
Mulowa said having the FoI draft was a stepping stone in ensuring that people access vital information.
He said access to information would help people make informed decisions.
Mulowa said the onus was upon the members of parliament and the public to comment and offer criticism on the FOI bill draft.
PFC chairperson Leah Kabamba said ordinary citizens should take lead in shaping the FoI bill as it was a law that would benefit ordinary citizens.
She said the PFC would continue to sensitise ordinary people about the proposed bill.
"We have been going to chiefdoms to sensitise people about this bill because at the end of day, this bill will benefit the ordinary people and not just journalists," said Kabamba. "We will continue to encourage people to make submissions because when this becomes law, it will enable them to seek answers for the development they are not seeing."
And PAZA president Andrew Sakala said having the FoI draft bill ready was a good development for the media and society in general.
Sakala urged journalists and the public to take keen interest by making contributions to the long-awaited bill.
He said everyone was looking forward to the bill because it was beneficial to the public and media practitioners.
"Society has to be taken into consideration before the final bill is taken to Parliament. We are encouraged by the steps taken by government and the same should be done for other legislations," said Sakala.
Labels: ANTHONY MULOWA, FOI, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL, PFC
Read more...
PF won't be taken seriously if they fail to enact FoI - Kabamba
By Kabanda Chulu and Kondwani Munyeka
Fri 02 Mar. 2012, 10:59 CAT
THE PF government will not be taken seriously if they fail to enact the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill as promised, says Press Freedom Committee of The Post chairperson Leah Kabamba.
And several media freedom activists have said the term FoI must be changed to Access to Information (ATI) because it is not only journalists that will benefit when public information becomes accessible.
In an interview yesterday, Kabamba said the right to access information held by public authorities, alongside press freedom, would enhance democracy.
"The FoI Bill was withdrawn in 2002 from Parliament. Since there have been numerous pronouncements that it will be taken back but this has not worked and if this government says they will take it back, that is good but there will be no reason to believe or take the PF government seriously if they fail to honour their promise by July 2012," Kabamba said.
She challenged government to avail to the public the contents of the Bill that would be taken to Parliament.
"The Bill should be all inclusive by having views of all stakeholders and when in place, there will be increased transparency in the manner government operates. Since public bodies do things on behalf of people, the public have the right to request for any information about government activities," said Kabamba.
Last week, information minister Fackson Shamenda announced that government will take the FoI Bill to Parliament this July.
And participants to the budget transparency and access to information training workshop hosted by Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) and the International Budget Partners last week stated that government pronouncements should not be taken for granted.
"There is need for political will and despite having allies in government, we should not take things for granted because politicians are the same," stated the participants. "And there is need to correct the misconception that FoI will only benefit journalists, hence we want it to be referred to as ATI."
Meanwhile, MISA-Zambia says the country's on-going debate about the independence of the state-owned media clearly shows how relevant the media is to the country's growing democracy and development.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, MISA-Zambia acting chairperson Nalumino Nalumino said the media enables individuals to access information and impart ideas in society.
"…It is an indispensable tool in any democracy, especially for a budding democracy like Zambia. MISA-Zambia has for this reason outlined in its strategic plan an objective to enhance media professionalism in the interest of good governance and Zambia's democratic growth," said Nalumino.
Labels: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL, LEAH KABAMBA, PF, PFC, PRESS FREEDOM, THE POST
Read more...
PFC condemns harassment of journalists
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Tue 18 Jan. 2011, 03:59 CAT
NO democratic society can function without the basic principle of a safe working environment for journalists, according to the Press Freedom Committee (PFC) of The Post.
Commenting on the harassment of Post journalist George Zulu and photojournalist Collins Phiri by intelligence officers and former president Frederick Chiluba respectively, PFC chairperson Chansa Kabwela expressed disappointment with Chiluba’s threats against journalists who attempted to cover him on Saturday.
Kabwela also condemned intelligence officers who grabbed a recorder from Zulu and deleted all the information recorded at a public meeting addressed by Vice-President George Kunda.
“Threats such as those Mr Chiluba made against The Post photojournalist, Collins Phiri do not only affect the wellbeing of the individual journalists but also compromise the public’s right to receive accurate and factual information,” she said.
Kabwela said threatening journalists over some pictures or simple questions was unacceptable.
“This is clear affront to press freedom and generally the freedom of expression. We are deeply disturbed about this occurrence because we believe that any threats against journalists, whether physical or verbal, must be strongly condemned,” she said.
She expressed concern that the government was now using security agencies to harass journalists, especially those from the privately owned media institutions.
Kabwela said this was clear intimidation and should not be tolerated in a democratic society like Zambia.
She said journalists do not need any permission from the security agencies to collect information from various sources – be it from those serving in government, civil society, opposition political parties, the church and others.
“We wish to urge Vice-President (George) Kunda to take special interest in this matter and discipline the officer, unless he was operating on instructions from him to harass and intimidate Zulu,” said Kabwela.
Chiluba on Saturday threatened to smash a Post camera when Phiri photographed him viewing the building that should have been his institute for democratic studies, while an intelligence officer in Vice-President Kunda’s entourage last Friday harassed Zulu before deleting information on his recorder.
Labels: GEORGE ZULU, PFC, THE POST
Read more...
Leave Sky FM Radio alone - Kabwela
Fri 25 June 2010, 14:10 CAT
Lusaka, 25 June 2010 – Chairperson of the Press Freedom Committee of The Post – Chansa Kabwela – has called on the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services to desist from gagging the media as well as limiting the Zambian citizens’ right to express themselves.
Kabwela was reacting to the Minister’s threat to censure or revoke the license of Sky FM radio. Kabwela said, “The truth of the matter is that people are expressing their views on the governance of our country and because Zambia is a democracy, the citizens should be allowed to do just that”.
Kabwela has called on the government not to turn a deaf ear to the cries of the nation, reminding the minister that his continued threats to shut down the radio station were an affront not only to freedom of the press, but also to freedom of expression, which are both enshrined in the Zambian constitution.
Labels: CHANSA KABWELA, PFC, RADIO SKY FM
Read more...
The Pact is unstoppable, HH assures Zambians
By Ernest Chanda
Tue 01 June 2010, 04:30 CAT
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema during the newsmakers forum organised by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post at Lusaka’s Golfview Hotel on Sunday - Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza
A CONCERNED Zambian on Sunday took UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to task by demanding for an assurance that the PF-UPND Pact would not break due to politicians' selfishness.
During the newsmakers forum organized by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post featuring Hichilema at Lusaka’s Courtyard Hotel on Sunday, a Mr Chisola told Hichilema that he was concerned about the sustainability of the pact, as the nation goes to the 2011 general election.
"For me, I don't want to praise you like the others have done. The problem I have with you politicians is that you are very selfish. And it is this selfishness that has seen MMD continue in power up to today. If you people were not selfish MMD would have gone a long time ago, Chisola said," amidst shouts of approval from the audience.
"Now, I'm worried about this pact between your party and the PF. Is it going to stand until 2011 so that you do not give chance to the MMD? We do not want to hear that the pact has collapsed because you have refused to be Sata's deputy or Sata has refused to be your deputy. That is my fear, that when you choose a presidential candidate, will the other one accept to be vice-president? Please we beg of you. Do not let this pact break. If it does then all of us will be doomed because MMD will continue to bring misery upon us."
Chisola urged Hichilema and Sata to draw lessons from the outcome of the recent British election.
"Look at Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and Conservative leader, now Prime minister, David] Cameron; they had to bury their differences and look for a common ground. It doesn't matter who is in what party, and today Clegg is in government despite being leader of the smallest party. That is what we want you our politicians to do. Remove your selfishness and fight for a common cause, help us please!" pleaded Chisola.
In response, Hichilema assured Chisola that everything had been taken into account and the pact was unstopable.
"I appreciate your concern my brother and I can assure you that we will not disappoint you. In fact our governing committee has been meeting to harmonise our two manifestos. And the last time they met was Wednesday this week last week. So, we will not give chance again to the MMD to continue stealing our money," Hichilema assured.
Hichilema said the UPND-PF Pact government would boost the aviation industry in order to promote tourism.
"I believe that there is a lot of revenue we can get from our tourism sector. But before we think of improving it we should consider boosting our aviation industry. I believe in a national flag career rather than a national airline. You can have a national flag career and yet it is privately owned," Hichilema said. "And we shall remove visa fees on our tourism products. IF you remove visa fees on tourism you will have increased traffic and more earnings than when you maintain this fee. This fee has hindered a lot of tourist from visiting Zambia and the country has lost out on revenue."
Hichilema further said his government would increase constituency development fund from the current K600 million to K5 billion.
CK
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PF-UPND, PFC
Read more...
Respect media freedom, Chifuwe urges chief Mwanachingwala
By Ernest Chanda
Sat 20 Mar. 2010, 03:20 CAT
PRESS Freedom Committee (PFC) of The Post general secretary Sheik Chifuwe has urged chief Mwanachingwala of Mazabuka District to understand and respect media freedom.
And Radio Mazabuka station manager Bellon Chintombwa has observed that chief Mwanachingwala is scared of positions people want to take on particular issues.
Reacting to chief Mwanachingwala’s threat to ensure that Radio Mazabuka (MAZ FM) is closed, Chifuwe called on the chief to exercise self-criticism and reflect on what had happened.
He reminded chief Mwanachingwala that every leadership was compelled to adhere to the Constitution of the land.
“Chief Mwanachingwala should take self-criticism so that he should be able to reflect on what has happened. The question he should first ask himself is why are the people saying what they are saying now about him? What has changed about him that suddenly he should fall out with his people?”
Chifuwe asked. “We think he should reflect on this issue and find out why his own people are not happy about his leadership. If he does this then he will get to know the reasons. We would like to remind him that every leadership adheres to the Constitution of the land.
And what chief Mwanachingwala is doing is to threaten the very existence of constitutional provisions on fundamental human rights. We urge him to respect media freedom. Media freedom is part of the fundamental human rights that the chief should respect.”
Chifuwe said chief Mwanachingwala should allow people to freely discuss issues affecting them.
“He should keep clear of the media, particularly Mazabuka Radio. Let people freely discuss their leadership and chiefdom. Let them also demand what is expected of a leader in their chiefdom.
The chief should allow the media to operate freely so that the people he claims to be representing can get information and make informed decisions. People should be allowed to engage freely on issues that affect them,” said Chifuwe.
And Chintombwa asked chief Mwanachingwala not to be scared of people’s divergent views on issues.
“It’s unfortunate that during this era some people don’t understand the role the media plays. We know that chief Mwanachingwala is scared of the positions people take on particular issues.
But that’s the beauty of democracy; you cannot all have one opinion. Currently, we are the only community radio station in the district and why is it that of all the four chiefs we have, chief Mwanchingwala is the only one uncomfortable with this station?” Chintombwa asked. “The man has taken the chiefdom into disrepute.
He has gone ahead grabbing people’s land. And he thinks because I come from his chiefdom, then whoever does not speak in his favour is sent by me. He came to our station and asked who Justin Katilungu is. And before we could attend to him, he started threatening to close this station; this is not right.”
Chief Mwanachingwala is reported to have threatened to close Radio Mazabuka on grounds that they station was allegedly airing insults about him.
“I’m not interested in talking to you, you Mazabuka radio, why are you interested in our chieftainship? Don’t talk about Bellon and Mutelo because those are slaves who have got nothing to do with our chieftainship, those are slaves and don’t ring me anymore again. I’m telling you not to ring me again. I’m not your chief because you always insult me. I’m not your chief.
What are you talking about? You were asking Michael Sata, what questions were you asking Sata during the Livewire programme on Saturday? I was listening. I’m not a fool, don’t ring me anymore. I have been telling you several times to say don’t ring me, I will make your radio station closed if you are playing with me,” threatened Mwanachingwala before hanging up.
Labels: CHIEF MWANACHINGWALA, PFC, PRESS FREEDOM
Read more...
MISA calls for massive investment in the media
By Ernest Chanda
Fri 19 Mar. 2010, 03:50 CAT
MEDIA Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia chairperson Henry Kabwe has called for massive investment in the media in order to improve working conditions for media practitioners. And Press Freedom Committee (PFC) of The Post secretary general Sheik Chifuwe has lauded media diversity in the country.
Featuring on Lusaka’s Radio Phoenix yesterday, Kabwe said it was important to create an environment where the media could have enough resources for them to meet their challenges effectively.
He said currently it was hypocritical for the media to write about other people’s conditions of service when theirs were not good.
“There is need to create an environment that will ensure massive investment in the media. People ought to be remunerated fairly and according to their input. Sometimes I ask my colleagues why a journalist should cover a strike by workers who have not been paid for three months when he himself has gone without a salary for one year,” he said. “In my view, this is hypocrisy. So, we should call for massive investment in the media so that there could be enough resources for everyone.”
Kabwe called for unity in the nation despite people’s political inclinations.
“I think we should understand that we are Zambians before we become MMD, PF, UPND or whatever political affiliation. That’s the prime thing we should keep in mind. And if we remember that, then there will be no harassment of each other simply because we differ politically. I know that even at the NCC National Constitutional Conference people debate according to their political inclinations, not according to logic. This is a sad situation,” Kabwe said.
And Chifuwe said media diversity in the country had been quite effective in promoting media freedom.
“The diversity among media has enriched our democracy.Different people in the media have brought in a lot of ideas and this has helped in our push for media freedom. So, I think media diversity has not disadvantaged the media industry in the country. If anything the media have gotten stronger through this diversity,” said Chifuwe.
Labels: HENRY KABWE, MEDIA, MISA, PFC, RADIO PHOENIX, SHEIK CHIFUWE
Read more...
Introduction of public interest disclosure Bill long overdue – PFC
By Ernest Chanda
Wed 03 Mar. 2010, 03:50 CAT
THE Press Freedom Committee of The Post (PFC) has observed that the introduction of the public interest disclosure (protection of whistle blowers) Bill by the government has been long overdue. The bill is aimed at protecting people who give information that is of public interest to law enforcement agencies.
Appearing before the parliamentary committee on legal affairs chaired by Monze Central member of parliament Jack Mwiimbu yesterday, PFC chairperson Chansa Kabwela said if refined, the bill would help fight corruption effectively.
“We need whistleblowers if we have to sustain the fight against corruption because corruption is there both in the public and private sectors. We are convinced that the public interest disclosure (protection of whistle blowers) Bill No 12 of 2010 attempts to deal with the protection of whistleblowers – and this development in our view is long overdue,” Kabwela submitted.
She said there should be political will to enforce various pieces of legislation and the one governing the law enforcement agencies.
She said there were some other good laws in the country that were not enforced due to lack of political will among leaders.
“…as long as party cadres, who are de facto outside civil service discipline, are not only advisors, but also assume the responsibilities of controlling officers of the public purse at permanent secretary level, regardless of the party in power, the nation must expect diversion of funds and huge leakages of resources to serve both political and personal interests at the expense of national development,” she said.
“There are some good laws in place such as the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (Amendment) Act and the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Act of 2002, but the lack of political will to implement them results in selective justice which protects the strong preying upon the weak. There are thousands of inmates serving sentences for stealing chickens, bicycles, television sets, cows and so on and so forth. But many stealing billions get way with it.”
When asked by Chimbamilonga MMD member of parliament Brian Sikazwe to cite one example of people stealing billions of kwacha, Kabwela referred to various cases of abuse of public resources as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report.
And when asked further by Sikazwe why she singled out the civil service when the bill also catered for the private sector, Kabwela said there was emphasis on the civil service there was an element of taxpayers’ money.
And PFC general secretary Sheikh Chifuwe expressed concern that the bill did not cater for protection of whistleblowers in the offices of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and Investigator General.
He said the officers in these agencies needed to be catered for to ensure that whistleblowers were protected in the event that they exposed wrongdoing.
Chifuwe also bemoaned non-adherence to the general orders in the civil service.
He said there would be no talk of corruption and abuse of public funds in the public service if civil servants followed the guidelines in the general orders.
Earlier appearing before a parliamentary committee on information and broadcasting services, Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) president Andrew Sakala submitted that the ZNBC Amendment Bill 2010 did not meet the interests of media groups.
The bill seeks to broaden the system of collecting TV licence fees and change the word ‘licence’ to levy.
Under the proposed bill, TV levy will be included to the price of a television set in every shop so that whoever buys a TV will also have paid the annual K36,000 TV levy.
Sakala said it was good that the government had realised that what the public paid ZNBC was not a licence but a levy.
“For purposes of correcting the inherent mistake of a ‘levy’, which the ZNBC Amendment Act 2002 refers to as licence, the ZNBC Amendment Act 2010 is well thought out to correct this anomaly.
But generally the ZNBC Amendment Bill 2010 does not meet the expectations of the PAZA and other media interest groups in the sense of that it does not touch on the fundamental principles for which the amendments were sought – transform ZNBC from a state to a public broadcaster,” submitted Sakala.
When asked by Chimbamilonga MMD member of parliament Brian Sikazwe to cite one example of people stealing billions of kwacha, Kabwela referred to various cases of abuse of public resources as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report.
And when asked further by Sikazwe why she singled out the civil service when the bill also catered for the private sector, Kabwela said there was emphasis on the civil service there was an element of taxpayers’ money.
And PFC general secretary Sheikh Chifuwe expressed concern that the bill did not cater for protection of whistleblowers in the offices of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and Investigator General.
He said the officers in these agencies needed to be catered for to ensure that whistleblowers were protected in the event that they exposed wrongdoing.
Chifuwe also bemoaned non-adherence to the general orders in the civil service.
He said there would be no talk of corruption and abuse of public funds in the public service if civil servants followed the guidelines in the general orders.
Earlier appearing before a parliamentary committee on information and broadcasting services, Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) president Andrew Sakala submitted that the ZNBC Amendment Bill 2010 did not meet the interests of media groups.
The bill seeks to broaden the system of collecting TV licence fees and change the word ‘licence’ to levy.
Under the proposed bill, TV levy will be included to the price of a television set in every shop so that whoever buys a TV will also have paid the annual K36,000 TV levy.
Sakala said it was good that the government had realised that what the public paid ZNBC was not a licence but a levy.
“For purposes of correcting the inherent mistake of a ‘levy’, which the ZNBC Amendment Act 2002 refers to as licence, the ZNBC Amendment Act 2010 is well thought out to correct this anomaly.
But generally the ZNBC Amendment Bill 2010 does not meet the expectations of the PAZA and other media interest groups in the sense of that it does not touch on the fundamental principles for which the amendments were sought – transform ZNBC from a state to a public broadcaster,” submitted Sakala.
Labels: CHANSA KABWELA, JACK MWIIMBU, PFC
Read more...
Zukas explains why he rejects NCC’s degree clause
By Mwala Kalaluka
Sat 20 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT
Zukas said the 'degree clause' was taking the country back to the Welensky days.
VETERAN politician Simon Zukas has said he rejects the National Constitutional Conference's presidential degree clause because it is targeted against popular PF leader Michael Sata by a government that fears competition.
And UNZA political and administrative studies lecturer Dr Alex Ng'oma has argued that Zambia will not have a constitution that stands the test of time if people continue to look at faces during the formulation process.
During a Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD)/ Press Freedom Committee (PFC) of The Post-organised public discussion on the presidential degree clause in Lusaka last Wednesday, Zukas said the requirement was taking the country back to the Welensky days.
“We need this degree qualification in order to set a target for our youths that are being educated so that they can aspire to get a degree if they want to reach the top post in the land,” Zukas said.
“However, I think that there are…less complicated ways of encouraging children to improve their academic qualifications. From that point of view, I will reject that the condition that candidates for the presidency should have a degree. Well, maybe a degree would be useful, but a degree in what? I think that a degree in integrity, in ethics, in conflict resolution, that might be just useful to have as a qualification for a presidential candidate. I consider just a degree not good enough.”
Zukas said a president with a degree could end up being the most efficient plunderer of national resources. He said Zambia was being thrown back to the Roy Welensky days when the purpose then was to keep people out of the voting system.
“I see history repeating itself in having a clause that is targeted towards an individual, a likely candidate for presidency who has popularity with whom we are afraid to compete,” Zukas said.
He said this was the case with the parentage clause that was included in the 1996 Constitution, whose sole purpose was to keep out Dr Kenneth Kaunda from the election.
“This (presidential degree clause) is being targeted against Mr Michael Sata because of his popularity and because of certain governments fearing competition. So on that ground, I reject it,” Zukas said.
But a policy expert, Dr Weston Mafuleka, said being popular was not akin to suitability for the presidency.
“I am an academician and I will not take part in the rivalry between and among people that are fighting for power,” Dr Mafuleka said. “My views are based on what I think is best for the country.”
Dr Mafuleka said he supported the presidential degree requirement because a president was supposed to be a fulcrum.
“I think the president is a generalist,” Dr Mafuleka said. “He is somebody who is broadly read.”
Dr Mafuleka said Zambia had undergone qualitative change in terms of knowledge and skills in the 46 years of independence. He urged Zambians to utilise the human resource that had been churned out from public universities that were started by the founding fathers who never went far in their education.
“They have done that job and let them also allow their children that they have prepared to get into those functions,” Dr Mafuleka said. “Think of a president as a chief diplomat even without delegating the functions. If he is insufficiently enlightened, he will be outwitted by his opposing interlocutors.”
Dr Mafuleka said a first degree was part of capacity building for a future president of Zambia.
“He is the only one who claims the whole country as his constituency,” he said.
Dr Mafuleka said concerns that the degree clause was discriminatory could not stand because all forms of democracy were discriminatory.
In his presentation, Mung'omba CRC commissioner, William Harrington said he does not subscribe to the notion that anybody with a degree could make a good president.
“The clause is not necessary and it is a cause of conflict and it is discriminatory,” Harrington said. “Not everybody is going to attain a university degree because of the circumstances but age is a natural phenomenon.”
He said it was assumptive that everybody with a degree could know everything.
“Zambia's education system is not developed enough to warrant such a clause,” Harrington said.
He said the degree clause was yet again a betrayal of the desires and aspirations of Zambians.
And Dr Ng'oma said the problem with the current constitutional process was that it did not have the interest of all Zambians at heart.
“What I see in our country is a situation whereby if I do not like you, I will look for something to throw at you,” Dr Ng'oma said.
“It is a big mistake in my view to entrench in the constitution that a presidential hopeful must be a holder of a first degree.”
He said it would be unfair and unwise to accommodate such a clause in the constitution.
“We actually look at faces. If it is a person you hate, we quickly come up with something that will stop that person to get involved in active politics,” said Dr Ng'oma.
Labels: ALEX NG'OMA, NCC, PFC, SACCORD, SIMON ZUKAS
Read more...
Police arrest Mpombo
By George Chellah and Abigail Chaponda
Wed 03 Feb. 2010, 04:01 CAT
File picture-Former defence minister George Mpombo (right) leaving the Lusaka play house after featuring on the Press Freedom Committee (PFC) organised discussion forum last year.
POLICE in Ndola yesterday arrested and charged George Mpombo with an offence of issuing a cheque on an insufficiently funded account contrary to the national payment systems Act. Mpombo's lawyer, Bonaventure Mutale, confirmed the arrest.
"He will be appearing before the PRM Principal Resident Magistrate on Friday 5th February, 2010 to take the plea and for trial. And he has been released on police bond with two sureties," Mutale said.
And Mpombo, who is Kafulafuta MMD member of parliament and former defence minister, said he reported to Ndola Central Police Station's anti-fraud section with his lawyer, around 10:00 hours.
He was summoned by Copperbelt commanding officer in charge of criminal investigations Daniel Kasonde.
"We took about an hour and we were attended to by Assistant Superintendent Kasonde and he had about three officers with him," Mpombo said. "When we went there, the police had said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has issued instructions that they proceed on the basis of the information available."
He said he would fully cooperate with police and that he was ready to appear before the court. Mpombo said African politics would not be complete unless a politician went through the police and the courts.
Early this month, Mpombo's K10 million debt to former MMD Copperbelt Province chairman Terence Findlay turned sour when he was reported to the police for allegedly bouncing a cheque in the same amount.
Confirming the incident to the Zambia Daily Mail, police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso said they opened a docket after Findlay presented his case.
However, the docket was closed after Findlay withdrew the case. This was after Mpombo paid the K10 million in cash.
Kapeso was also quoted by ZNBC as saying that Mpombo, through his personnel manager, paid the K10 million cash to Findlay who subsequently instructed the police to close the docket.
But well-placed sources in government revealed that Findlay was put under pressure by State House to report the matter of the bouncing cheque to the police as a way of criminalising Mpombo and therefore silence him.
"...The President was very excited when he heard this because he saw an opportunity to fix Mr Mpombo as a way of silencing him," the source disclosed.
Labels: GEORGE MPOMBO, PFC
Read more...
Kunda is enemy number one of the media - Chifuwe
By Chibaula Silwamba
Thu 24 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
Press Freedom Committee of The Post (PFC) secretary general Sheik Chifuwe
GEORGE Kunda is enemy number one of the media, Press Freedom Committee of The Post (PFC) secretary general Sheik Chifuwe charged yesterday.
Commenting on the Vice-President George Kunda driven punitive media bill that the government is working on, Chifuwe said Vice-President Kunda belonged to the Stone Age and was behaving like an emperor that wanted to preserve his stay on the throne.
“Mr George Kunda has identified himself as enemy number of one the media. It’s unthinkable that in this age and day, somebody holding such a high position of Vice-President and justice minister can even start brooding such ideas to come up with archaic laws against the media,” said Chifuwe in an interview in Lusaka.
“So a person who behaves in such a manner is an enemy of the industry and he shall be treated as such. You cannot pick the worst practices to use as a model in a country that is supposed to be democratic. We think that Mr Kunda does not belong to this age; he belongs to the Stone Age where he believes he is an emperor who is going to preserve his position at the expense of society.”
He said the actions of Vice-President Kunda would violate the rights of Zambians.
“We think that what Mr Kunda is doing is not only against the media but the human rights of the Zambian people. He is clearly curtailing freedom of expression, freedom of the press so that people cannot get divergent views, so that he regulates what information the people will get,” Chifuwe said.
“He wants to preside over an ignorant society so that he can perpetuate the misrule that has already been exhibited by this government. But you cannot stop people that are determined to govern themselves. So he has got a choice to rethink his Stone Age, archaic legislation.”
He observed that harmony could not be created in a country when other people were oppressed.
“In any case you can only oppress people so far, you cannot oppress them all the time. George Kunda might not account now for his decisions but one day he shall be made to account, no matter how long it takes. He might think he is clever now, but all the bad decisions will follow him,” warned Chifuwe.
“The best he can do now is to show a lot of humility and try to do what is right for himself rather than allowing himself to be driven by his self preservation and selfishness.”
Sources in the Ministry of Justice have revealed to The Post that the government, at the instigation of Vice-President Kunda was formulating a punitive media bill, which is a hybrid of media laws in Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
The source said the media bill is primarily being driven by Vice-President Kunda who is said to have vested interest in the matter in his continued quest to fix The Post and its editor Fred M’membe.
Labels: GEORGE KUNDA, PFC, SHEIK CHIFUWE, THE POST
Read more...
Banda’s reckless decisions are killing people, says Sata
Written by Patson Chilemba
Tuesday, September 08, 2009 3:36:33 PM
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata has charged that President Rupiah Banda has the propensity of making decisions which suit his pocket. During a discussion forum organised by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post at Mulungushi International Conference Centre on Sunday, Sata tabulated the various daring decisions President Banda had made in the short time he had been President.
He said President Banda did not realise that he was killing many people because of the many reckless decisions he made.
Sata said some decisions President Banda had made included stopping the appeal against former president Frederick Chiluba's acquittal, the unbudgeted for extension of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) mandate, instructing arrests of those who were critical of him and his government and the controversial signing of salary increments for senior government officials and constitutional office holders.
He said President Banda also influenced the outcome of the court action, which saw education minister Dora Siliya cleared on the finding of the Dennis Chirwa-chaired tribunal that she breached the Republican Constitution for disregarding the Attorney General's legal advice on the privatisation of Zamtel.
"Knowing him as I do, he can make decisions which will be for the good of the people of Zambia. Unfortunately, he has the propensity to make decisions, bold and daring decisions, which suits his pocket. We met at Kamwala protesting against salaries, Rupiah Banda pretended he was not going to sign. As soon as he was elected, that was the first decision he made. As we go on he is feeling the warmth of State House, he struck again, Rupiah Bwezani controversy. He hit us so hard with a smart girl and beautiful [Dora]," Sata said.
"Without budget approval, he makes another daring and bold decision, extend the NCC, and he approves expenditure of K97 billion. He doesn't see that we are dying. Our brother makes another daring bold decision, 'you can't appeal [against Chiluba's acquittal]'."
On some chiefs in Southern Province who criticised him for asking President Banda to remove Vice-President George Kunda and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga from their respective positions for frustrating justice in the nation, Sata said the chiefs' thinking would be different if some of Chiluba's US $28 billion was extended to them.
"I sympathise with them. That is freedom of expression. And then he [President Banda] makes another bold decision, everyone who criticises; arrest. It doesn't work. He can arrest all of us and in the end he will end up arresting himself, because there will be nobody to arrest," Sata said.
"What we want is a second opinion about comrade Chiluba. We want to assist comrade Chiluba to be free so that he is not looking behind. We want the Supreme Court to endorse his acquittal, the High Court endorse his acquittal, the London High Court endorses his acquittal. Then you will find he even changes his walking."
Sata said former intelligence-chief Xavier Chungu should come out and explain to the nation how the US $8.5 million dollars Chiluba claimed was his found itself in the Zamtrop account.
"We were told Farai Mchenga is studying. How long does it take for him to study the judgment? If they [lawyers] were going to study for four years, do you think they will be appealing successfully?" he asked.
Sata reminded Mchenga that what he did to others could also be done to him. He said Mchenga should realise that there were more high-ranking officials who were languishing in jail, with their names dented. Sata said President Banda was working with a bunch of opportunists, mercenaries who wanted to make money out of him.
"Rupiah Banda is not a young child, he is old like me. In seven to eight years, he won't be here. What are the people going to remember him for? Are they going to remember him of Dora, or remember him of Chiluba?" he asked.
He asked the people to continue speaking, saying Dr Kenneth Kaunda's one party state was more vicious than President Banda's regime. Sata said even late president Levy Mwanawasa was more powerful and more intelligent than President Banda. He said on his part, he had fought a good fight, but people were not speaking even after the electricity tariffs were hiked by the government.
"Speak out so that when Reggies Phiri goes to tell him in the morning he tells him the same thing. In the afternoon he tells him the same thing. You will find that those tunnels will be too long for him to run away," Sata said.
He said instead of bargaining for the people, Chiluba was busy bargaining for himself when he was in State House.
And Sata said Chiluba could not claim to be a Christian because he was breaking God's 10 Commandments by coveting another man's wife, Regina.
Sata said Chiluba should not even hide in Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) when he was going there with another man's wife.
"Christianity is led by the 10 Commandments. 'Do to others as you would like them to do to you'. Wilakumbwa mukamunobe [do not covet another man's wife], so each one of you can answer. Ba Chiluba is a Christian, 10 Commandments, has he obeyed all the 10 Commandments? Wilakumbwa ba mukabene [do not covet another man's wife]," Sata said. "So don't go at Matero and hide in BIGOCA, elyo muleya naba mukabene, ebaleya mukulanda ati Hallelujah [and you even go with another man's wife who says Hallelujah]'. What Hallelujah? How is my brother feeling, Mr Mwanza? He is comforted by Hallelujah?"
Sata said no one could claim to be Christian when they were stealing.
"You fail to answer a simple question. Very, very simple question, 'comrade Chiluba please tell us, where did you get US $2 million dollars?' he fails to answer that one," he said.
On the media, Sata said those who were tampering with the media were playing with their own destiny.
"People who have tried to kill freedom of expression, it has killed them," he said.
Sata thanked The Post for its courage.
"Can you imagine if The Post newspaper was cowardly like all these organisations? Do you think they would even be brave enough to bring this when they know there was going to be controversy? So we say thank you to The Post newspaper. And when they are harassing you, we are with you," Sata said. "The Post is scoring a second point. In 1991, The Post was very instrumental in bashing UNIP. It was very instrumental in exposing UNIP, because without The Post exposing UNIP, it would have been very difficult to change the opinion of the people. And The Post continues, they harass their leaders, they continue. So we are very grateful."
On the sustainability of the PF-UPND pact, Sata said he did not know that the pact was significant until he started hearing statements from Vice-President George Kunda and President Banda wherever they went.
He said the pact was just beginning and it had not yet gone into the second gear. Sata said the pact had minimised differences between PF and UPND as he [Sata] could now go to UPND's strongholds just like Hakainde Hichilema would go to PF strongholds without any problem.
"Someone phoned me that Hakainde is talking to people in Chimwemwe [Kitwe]. I said great!" he said.
Sata said the pact had now been nursed for some time and would be launched before the end of this month. He said they had also talked to Heritage Party president Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda. On the same issue, comedian Ben Phiri said the pact should be sustained in the best interest of the Zambian people.
On whether PF and UPND had abandoned the planned impeachment of President Banda, Sata said the impeachment process had not been abandoned and the mistakes the President was committing were all adding to the issues that the members of parliament would use to justify the impeachment.
At the same forum, Siavonga UPND member of parliament Douglas Syakalima said opposition parliamentarians spoke for the people but were outwitted by the MMD's majority in Parliament.
Syakalima said nurses were on strike but no one wanted to go on the streets to demonstrate.
PF vice-president Guy Scott said most parliamentarians had been unable to speak because only a few people were allowed to do so.
"And also because it is the MMD Speaker, it is their Speaker. He was elected by the MMD," said Scott.
Scott said he was probably invisible to the Speaker. On the same issue, Sata accused Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa of being biased in favour of MMD and rebel PF members of parliament. Earlier before he addressed the people, Sata asked for a moment of silence in honour of late local government minister Benny Tetamashimba. Sata said the happenings over Tetamashimba should send a clear message on what President Banda should do to improve health facilities in the country.
"They have started chasing us in South Africa. In Congo, there is no road, in Mozambique we don't know the language," said Sata.
Labels: CHALWE MCHENGA, MULUNGUSHI INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTER, PF-UPND, PFC, RUPIAH BANDA, SATA, THE POST
Read more...
Only PF-UPND pact would offer Zambians relief, says Lubinda
Written by Staff Reporter
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 6:43:56 PM
KABWATA PF member of parliament Given Lubinda has charged that Zambia has a government under President Rupiah Banda that does not know how to govern.
And Mapatizya UPND member of parliament Ackson Sejani has said Zambians cannot continue to be ruled by a corrupt government.
Featuring at the newsmakers forum organised by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post to discuss the sustainability of the PF and UPND pact at Misuku Lodge, in Kabwe last Saturday Lubinda said the MMD government under President Banda had lost direction and only the pact would offer Zambians relief.
"Time is now for the MMD to leave and they are ready to do so because of the many scandals that they have committed under the helm of President Banda. The PF-UPND pact is the only hope for Zambia; Zambians asked for it and we have yielded to their pleas and as such I shall not fall like prophets of doom under [local government minister Benny] Tetamashimba are praying," Lubinda said.
He said the PF and UPND pact was not all about Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema but that the two leaders were answering to the clarion call the Zambian people had been making over the years for the two powerful opposition parties to merge to offer a formidable force against the MMD which had lost vision and ideas to govern the country.
He said the pact would remain sustainable because it was not driven by any individual or a small group of people but the Zambian people.
"What God has put together no man puts asunder; the pact is a God calling one because the Zambian people have suffered enough under the hands of the uncaring MMD government. Teta would like to dream and wish the pact ill but such shall not yield anything," Lubinda said.
He said the pact was not centred on merely removing the corrupt regime of President Banda but that it wanted to create a better Zambia where citizens lived better and had all social amenities.
"We have started the pact long way before the 2011 elections because we want to provide checks and balances to Rupiah, our desire is not to just grab power but ensure that the living standards of the Zambian people are better; we shall offer this oversight role now and better when we form the government in 2011," Lubinda said to the applause of Kabwe residents that jammed the venue where the forum took place from.
He said the pact had an agenda to deliver Zambians to glory. Lubinda said it was wrong to state that pacts had failed in the past as history was clear about the UNIP-ANC pact which brought about Zambia's independence and many other alliances too.
"In 1991, we saw the alliance of trade unions, the Law Association of Zambia, the church and many other organizations coming together to form the MMD which brought about multipatism, in 1972 we had the Chona declaration which was another successful pact and so was the UDA in 2006 whose objective was achieved," Lubinda said.
He said even in the 2008 elections there was a pact involving FDD president Edith Nawakwi and her counterpart for ULP Sakwiba Sikota who ganged up with President Banda.
"In 2008 Sakwiba reduced himself to being a servant to serving President Banda and even abated crime for jumping on choppers he did deserve to jump on to be serving Rupiah water, Nawakwi, Ben Mwila, Tilyenji Kaunda and Ken Ngondo also joined the pact and it never failed, so who are these prophets of doom saying our alliance shall fall," he asked.
Lubinda said the pact was aimed at providing a superior government, especially that it had experienced politicians at the helm.
He said it was nonsense to suggest that the two political parties stood on different ideologies as both leaders spoke with one voice on the many issues that continued to beset the nation and the people.
"The pact shall work because we have no alternative left; we wont break but we shall succeed because of the quality of leaders that we have from the two parties. The pact brings together diversity of skills and talent. Sata has got vast government and political experience while HH has a fresh breath and wide experience in the world of business as an economic manager," Lubinda said.
Lubinda said the many failures of the MMD government under President Banda provided a fertile ground for the pact to succeed in redeeming the Zambian people from the yoke of poverty, unemployment, despair and squalor. And co-speaker at the forum Sejani said the MMD had delivered vultures through its more than ten years of misrule.
"The movement which started prominently is today lying with no vision, no ideas, no skills to run Zambia; only the PF-UPND pact offers hope for the Zambian people. All we are seeing today in the MMD is competition and scramble to see who gets so much from the national treasury. The short eight months that Rupiah has been in government, eight stinking corrupt deals have been unearthed which is a scandal," Sejani said.
He said the deals among them were the letter MMD deputy national secretary Jeff Kande wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs asking for payments for MMD suppliers who never even delivered any goods as well as the importation of genetically modified maize.
"We saw the scandal of Selex single sourcing to repair a radar at the Lusaka International airport, the RP deal involving Dora Siliya, the K24 billion unretired imprest of ministers and their deputies as well as the hearse deals, mobile hospital one and the K27 billion scam at the Ministry of Health, all these are valid reasons to impeach Rupiah Banda," Sejani said.
He said the pact had two years to perfect and blend itself into a formidable force that should be ready to run the affairs of Zambia in a diligent manner.
"The PF and UPND have been in opposition for so many years and as such they have garnered the required experience to run a superior government whose progress shall be centred on the Zambian citizens; you asked for this pact and we have given it to you the Zambian people and as such you have to make it work no matter what," Sejani said.
He said there was no reason for the Zambian people to continue to be ruled by a corrupt government that even failed to provide for their needs adequately.
Sejani said the MMD were dead scared of the pact and had now resorted to sponsoring small political parties and threatening tactics to dismantle the alliance but that such efforts would not yield any positive results.
Siavonga UPND member of parliament Douglas Siyakalima and his Lubansenshi PF counterpart Lazarus Chota said the pact was formed in affirmation to the clarion calls of the Zambian people.
Syakalima said: "The pact has become a self propelled grenade and has come about because of the clarion call from the Zambian people who in the last 20 years have continued to suffer at the hands of the MMD."
Syakalima said there was need to change the governance system of Zambia.
He said the government destroyed the education, agriculture and many other economic sectors and time for it to leave was now.
Syakalima said the PF and UPND had realised the need to remove the government through the pact so that it could replace what he termed as the rotten governance system of the MMD with a superior one.
Chota said: "No one whether Nyama Soya or Teta will stop the pact which is here to stay. MMD kuya bebele, even in Parliament they are scared and now they want to resort to fighting us because we are a think tank in the House."
Chota said the MMD would clock 20 years in 2011 and yet it had nothing to show in as far as development was concerned.
Other parliamentarians who attended the forum - Nkana PF parliamentarian Mwenya Musenge, Chingola PF parliamentarian Dr Joseph Katema and Kanchibiya PF Davies Mwango also attended the forum and appealed to the people to sustain the pact as it was their creation.
Labels: ACKSON SEJANI, GIVEN LUBINDA, PF-UPND, PFC
Read more...
Judgment day is near
Written by Editor
WE have stated before that of all possible negative human attitudes, the one we hate most is disloyalty. Loyalty and firmness of principles are among the ones we value most. And we would say that the one we detest the most is betrayal of principles, and the one we most admire is loyalty to principles.
The Post, and the Press Freedom Committee of The Post of which Chansa Kabwela is chairperson, in addition to being our newspaper's news editor, has contributed greatly over the last 18 years to women organisations’ campaigns. Who in NGOCC can today deny The Post's selfless contribution to the realisation of the objectives and programmes of the women's organisation? And who in Women for Change can today deny The Post's contribution to the building and strengthening and to the popularising of this NGO's programmes and objectives?
And how does The Post commitment and contribution to these organisations and their programmes compare with that of Rupiah Banda?
Despite our efforts, our great contribution to these organisations, not even one day did we ask them to do anything for us, to defend us or extend any favour to us. We have never even asked them to take a certain political position or not to support this or that political cause, political party or politician. We have always known that there are elements within NGOCC and Women for Change that have been working to deliver these organisations to Rupiah, to make them campaign for him and support him in all sorts of ways. We have never questioned them or denounced them for doing so.
We respect people’s choices. But let them do whatever they are doing with Rupiah without trying to antagonise us because if they do - as they have done - we deserve the right to defend ourselves. We have always said when it comes to dealings with us, everyone should do what suits them and their immediate interests. We know some of them have a lot of problems and they need to be on good terms with those in power to survive. We don't have such problems.
We don't want anybody to have any difficulties on our account and moreover Rupiah has run out of ways to revenge against us, to make us suffer, to make things more difficult for us. We have always felt this is the best way to show our respect for our comrades and show our newspaper's sincere and selfless policy.
It won't do us any harm not to be supported by NGOCC or Women for Change. But it is totally unacceptable for them to be so treacherous and to allow these organisations that have been built by the efforts of so many good people to be hijacked by treacherous, opportunistic and selfish elements who want to use them to get some favours from Rupiah.
The NGOCC of today has lost it. It is not the NGOCC of Inonge Wina, Petronela Chisanga, Lucy Muyoyeta and other selfless and progressive women activists and leaders. These wise, selfless women took NGOCC to very high heights but the opportunists of today have brought it down.
We know that it's just a small band of opportunistic elements who are trying to deliver NGOCC and Women for Change to Rupiah. But why should we allow them to do so as if these organisations belong to them, as if other people have not made a contribution to the building and strengthening of these organisations? There is need to expose and isolate these opportunistic elements. We have spoken to many members of NGOCC, they are not happy with what is going on.
But we have asked them - why have they been quiet if they are not happy? Why have they allowed these elements to misrepresent them without challenging them? It will be interesting to see how the progressive elements within NGOCC and Women for Change will deal with the opportunists that are trying to hijack these organisations and use them to serve personal ends, leverage them to get favours from Rupiah.
And these elements can have the audacity to question our respect for women. Who has done more than The Post in this country over the last 18 years to promote and honour the contribution of our women? Isn't it Chansa's Press Freedom Committee that every year honours the contributions of our women? They shouldn't forget that this is the heroic Lucy Sichone's newspaper. Why did The Post win Lucy's respect? We leave it to them to answer.
We know what is behind this determination to stain the clean history of The Post, which has set an unprecedented example in terms of advancing the dignity of women, if not their aim of slandering our newspaper and its editors, undermining its moral authority and destroying it.
These people know very well that all these charges of pornography against us are a lie, a falsehood because they know what our norms are. Anyway we are used to their baseness. How can they survive if not with lies? How can they explain their treachery, their failure to deliver to women the basic things they need, if not with lies and calumny, trying to discredit those who challenge them and expose their inadequacies?
We are sure that the masses of our people will obey their instincts and not be swayed by the volume and intensity of that campaign Rupiah and his treacherous women are waging against The Post.
Meanwhile, we are not going to be demoralised or discouraged by this kind of campaign; we are not going to change. We are going to keep on applying the same policy and maintain our norms. What is important to us is having a clear conscience and the support of public opinion in our country.
We know that the heart of this confrontation is our determination to reiterate our editorial independence and to demand respect for our rights and the rights of the people. All this is now under attack by desperate opportunists who are bound to fail.
For us, it is a strict duty of justice and truth not to allow fundamental services to remain unprovided. How can we allow women to give birth in the open, at bus stations, on the street and yet claim to be very respectful to those women? And after that be courageous enough to accuse those who are trying to bring the plight of these women to the attention of their leaders - political, civic, religious and otherwise - of circulating pornography. Human life is a precious gift from God the source of all life. Every person, whether rich or poor, has an equal right to receive health care.
It is not hatred alone which is contrary to the laws of charity but also indifference to the suffering, to the welfare of our neighbour, our fellow citizen.
Rupiah and his treacherous women cannot call others to virtues which they themselves do not make an effort to practice. As we have stated before, one cannot claim to uphold the sanctity of life if they don't care about where and how a mother gives birth and about a mother and her child dying in childbirth. But it seems for these hypocrites the body of a woman is more important than her life and that of her baby.
This is probably why Edith Nawakwi is saying "we must look at Zambian women who are being treated like they have no brains". It is therefore important for the women's movement to decide whether to go with these treacherous women or to repudiate them and their deeds full of vanity. The choice is theirs and the judgment day is near.
Labels: CHANSA KABWELA, COURTS, EDITH NAWAKWI, NGOCC, PFC, THE POST, WFC
Read more...
PF-UPND pact will redeem Zambians, says Lubinda
Written by Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Monday, June 29, 2009 2:50:47 PM
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) spokesperson Given Lubinda has said that the PF-UPND pact will redeem Zambians. And several Copperbelt residents who attended the news makers forum organised by The Post Newspapers' Press Freedom Committee and held at Kitwe Little Theatre welcomed the formation of the pact. Speaking during the forum, Lubinda expressed optimism that the pact would work and achieve its purpose.
"Make no mistake, the first pact was formed in 1963, the other in 1972 and they all delivered. For those doubting that the pact will not work, it is going to work because it is people driven," he said.
Lubinda said other pacts formed previously failed because they were narrowly formed around an election.
"We have formed the pact not because we want to get rid off nyama soya; that will come later, this pact will work because it is formed on the basis of the people of Zambia. It has brought together the best brands of the young, the old and the mature," he said.
Lubinda also said that those in the pact should not be cowards. He said the MMD was shaken by the pact adding that they were frantically trying to discredit it but they would not manage. Lubinda said the pact was also not in a hurry to announce its presidential candidate but would first put everything in order before making such an announcement.
"PF and UPND have no differences, the only difference which is there is presentation of policies. We are going to make the announcement when the time is right but for now, allow us to live together," he said.
And Lubinda said there were so many Chinese doing jobs that were supposed to be done by Zambians on the Copperbelt.
"Government is now paying back for the money that they got to rig elections. It is pay back time for the Chinese. Let the Chinese offer technical support, we are going to provide the labour," he said.
Lubinda said true leaders of this country were those in the opposition side adding that every little progress that the MMD government seemed to make was because of pressure from the opposition.
Speaking at the same forum, UPND vice-president Richard Kapita said the pact had made the MMD to panic. He said UPND members had all approved the formation of the pact with PF and they were ready to work to realise its purpose.
Kapita said the PF-UPND pact would get more than 50 percent vote during an election.
He said if only the PF and UPND had come together a long time ago, they would be running this country.
He said in 1991 the MMD won the elections because it entered into a pact with the people of Zambia such as unions and churches.
Kapita said President Banda had failed to run the country, adding that Zambia was in a big trap of getting into serious debts.
"Around 1970s we were owing over US $7 billion, KK built schools, roads out of this money, and this debt was cleared but this government has started borrowing, we already owe US $2 billion.They would borrow more money to buy hearses and mobile hospitals, even animals are annoyed with President Banda," he said.
He said chiefs in the country were also not happy with President Banda's style of leadership.
"The pact has unsettled them, this is why the MMD are panicking; worried, they have even started a campaign to discredit the pact. The MMD has divided this country along region and tribal lines," he said.
Kapita said the UPND and PF would go and camp in Chitambo Constituency and support the PF-UPND pact.
Kapita also said that President Banda did not consult anyone on the appointment of Dora Siliya as education minister.
"Yesterday (Saturday) he gave students from the University of Zambia (UNZA) K10 million to support Dora. Students use that money wisely but do not accept Dora," he said .
Kapita urged people to start mobilising themselves and ensure they obtain national registration cards in readiness for the 2011 elections.
"People should continue mobilising, even the OP (Office of the President ) want the pact to work, but they are being misused by politicians, they do a noble job," he said.
And Kapita said threats to fire nurses would not help solve the situation.
"Nurses have been threatened that they would be fired, a few years ago government fired 300 doctors but they found jobs in other countries, we are not encouraging them to be on strike, we are just saying that government should give them their demands," he said.
And PF vice-president Dr Guy Scott said Zambians are fade up with the MMD government.
Zambezi west UPND member of parliament Charles Kakoma said UPND would not pull out of the pact saying that the pact is irreversible.
And former Radio Icengelo Station manager Fr Frank Bwalya said it was sad that President Banda had failed to handle the situation in the country.
Fr Bwalya who was in the audience, was made to make remarks after people in the audience demanded that he should say something.
"I want to tell Banda that this country can survive without him, but it cannot survive without nurses."
He said the pact is the work of God.
"This is why the monkey did what it did, it was the answer that the pact is going to work," he said.
Labels: GIVEN LUBINDA, PF, PFC, THE POST, UPND
Read more...
Judiciary is compromised, observes Kabimba
Written by George Chellah
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 4:07:51 PM
LUSAKA lawyer Wynter Kabimba has observed that the country's Judiciary is compromised. And Kabimba called on Zambians not to remain peaceful when they are being abused. During the newsmakers’ forum organised by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post (PFC) at Hotel Intercontinental last Sunday, Kabimba said the ruling MMD had compromised all institutions in the country.
"Every institution in the country has been compromised by the MMD including the Judiciary where I belong. They can dismiss all my cases I don't ... care," said Kabimba who is also Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general.
He said the PF/UPND pact was a revolution.
"In any revolution there are going to be casualties. Revolutions are based on people power. We need as Zambians to stand up for once and say this is nonsense. In Thailand the government went, why? Because the Judiciary there is in line with the people's demands," Kabimba said. "If we turn out in numbers and go out of this room and say this is nonsense. We are going to turn these institutions into people institutions because right now they are Nyama Soya institutions."
He said no human being could remain peaceful if they were being abused.
"You can only remain peaceful if you are not being abused... As a revolutionary myself it's either I win or I die for my country," Kabimba said. "As someone who comes from where we keep ng'ombes [cattle], if you steal my cattle, I will not remain peaceful that day. I won't even go to the police, I will make my own police station, be my own magistrate and sentence you there and then."
And Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) chairperson for the legal subcommittee, Charles Chanda said the fight against abuse of power by those in public offices would never be won under the current administration.
"The cherished democratic ideals of Constitutionalism, rule of law, good governance, transparency and accountability shall never take root in this country but will forever remain empty political rhetoric under the Rupiah Banda administration. [High Court] Judge [Phillip] Musonda, on an application for judicial review has found that the Honourable justice [Dennis] Chirwa led tribunal exceeded its jurisdiction when it found that Dora Siliya had breached the Constitution. This is indeed a dangerous precedent that has been set which will impact adversely on the rule of law, transparency, accountability and good governance," Chanda said.
"If ministers can ignore the advice of the learned Attorney General, why should they follow the advice of the Auditor General and other constitutional office bearers? In other words, if the learned Attorney General advises government or the Minister of Finance and National Planning to meet its obligations or settle its liability say for instance the payment of Dora Siliya's costs, the minister can decide to ignore such advice. Equally, the Director of Public Prosecution after seeking the learned Attorney General's advice on policy matters can decide to ignore such advice."
He said judge Musonda's finding does not mean that Siliya was not in breach of any procedure or law whatsoever.
"The tribunal found that Dora had eight breaches ranging from the ZDA Act, the Public Procurement Act, acted contrary to the law by signing a contract binding Zambia instead of the Minister of Finance and National Planning, ignored the advice of the learned Attorney General and also attempted to cancel a validly awarded tender," Chanda said.
"Furthermore, she appointed RP Capital Partners Limited to value Zamtel's assets. However RP Capital Partners Limited is not a registered valuation Surveyor in Zambia in terms of the Valuation Surveyors Act and as required by Zambia Development Agency Act for it to conduct valuation of Zamtel's assets. Therefore, their appointment was in breach of the relevant law."
Chanda said the nation was made to believe that Siliya had made a conscious decision to resign from her ministerial post.
"However, the unfolding events are a sign that this was a planned scheme of deceiving the public. One is left to wonder the President's swiftness in re-appointing when to date he has not finished studying the tribunal's report as he has not issued a comprehensive reaction to it as he had promised the nation," he said.
He said what was challenged by Siliya was the finding that she had breached the Constitution.
"Therefore, it was only this aspect that was under review. The other findings were not challenged and therefore she still stands in breach as charged on those aspects. Judicial review is a procedure where a sitting Judge does not look at the merits of a decision i.e. whether the decision is right or wrong," Chanda explained.
"But looks at whether the procedure used to arrive at that decision was the correct one or whether the person making that decision had the powers to make it. Therefore, the finding by judge Musonda that the tribunal exceeded their powers does not mean that Dora has been exonerated of all other allegations that were found to have been committed by her.
"Furthermore in his judgment, judge Musonda states that he has squashed the decision on the basis that the learned Attorney General's advice is not mandatory and therefore non compliance of it is inconsequential. By making such a finding, judge Musonda delved into the merits of the findings to determine what amounts to constitutional and what amounts to unconstitutional. Clearly this is not the role of the court in a judicial review application. The court should not have made any determination except to restrict himself to jurisdictional issues."
Chanda said the judgment was contradictory in that on one hand, the judge said article 54(3) was misinterpreted while on the other hand he holds that the tribunal had no jurisdiction to pronounce on constitutional issues.
"If indeed article 54(3) was misinterpreted then it follows that the tribunal had jurisdiction to pronounce on constitutional issues. How else could the Constitution be misinterpreted by one who had no jurisdiction to interpret it?" asked Chanda.
"It is evident, therefore, that the judge did not only review the tribunal's finding but dealt with the application as an appeal as well when he considered the interpretation or misinterpretation of article 54(3). In short he dealt with the merits of the case."
Labels: CORRUPTION, JUDICIARY, MMD, PFC, PHILIP MUSONDA, WYNTER KABIMBA
Read more...
Judiciary is compromised, says Kabimba
Written by George Chellah
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 5:17:40 PM
LUSAKA lawyer Wynter Kabimba has observed that the country's Judiciary is compromised. And Kabimba called on Zambians not to remain peaceful when they are being abused.
During the newsmakers forum organized by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post (PFC) at Hotel Intercontinental last Sunday, Kabimba said the ruling MMD had compromised all institutions in the country.
"Every institution in the country has been compromised by the MMD including the Judiciary where I belong. They can dismiss all my cases I don't ... care," said Kabimba, who is also Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general.
He said the PF/UPND pact was a revolution.
“In any revolution there are going to be casualties. Revolutions are based on people power. We need as Zambians to stand up for once and say this is nonsense. In Thailand the government went, why? Because the Judiciary there is in line with the people's demands,” Kabimba said.
“If we turn out in numbers and go out of this room and say this is nonsense, we are going to turn these institutions into people institutions because right now they are Nyama Soya institutions.”
He said no human being could remain peaceful if they were being abused.
“You can only remain peaceful if you are not being abused... As a revolutionary myself it's either I win or I die for my country,” Kabimba said.
“As someone who comes from where we keep ng'ombes [cattle], if you steal my cattle, I will not remain peaceful that day. I won't even go to the police, I will make my own police station, be my own magistrate and sentence you there and then.”
And Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) chairperson for the legal subcommittee, Charles Chanda said the fight against abuse of power by those in public offices would never be won under the current administration.
“The cherished democratic ideals of Constitutionalism, rule of law, good governance, transparency and accountability shall never take root in this country but will forever remain empty political rhetoric under the Rupiah Banda administration. [High Court] Judge [Phillip] Musonda, on an application for judicial review has found that the Honourable justice [Dennis] Chirwa led tribunal exceeded its jurisdiction when it found that Dora Siliya had breached the Constitution. This is indeed a dangerous precedent that has been set which will impact adversely on the rule of law, transparency, accountability and good governance,” Chanda said.
“If ministers can ignore the advice of the learned Attorney General, why should they follow the advice of the Auditor General and other constitutional office bearers? In other words, if the learned Attorney General advises government or the Minister of Finance and National Planning to meet its obligations or settle its liability say for instance the payment of Dora Siliya's costs, the minister can decide to ignore such advice. Equally, the Director of Public Prosecution after seeking the learned Attorney General's advice on policy matters can decide to ignore such advice.”
He said judge Musonda's finding does not mean that Siliya was not in breach of any procedure or law whatsoever.
“The tribunal found that Dora had eight breaches ranging from the ZDA Act, the Public Procurement Act, acted contrary to the law by signing a contract binding Zambia instead of the Minister of Finance and National Planning, ignored the advice of the learned Attorney General and also attempted to cancel a validly awarded tender,” Chanda said.
“Furthermore, she appointed RP Capital Partners Limited to value Zamtel's (Zambia Telecommunications Company) assets. However RP Capital Partners Limited is not a registered valuation Surveyor in Zambia in terms of the Valuation Surveyors Act and as required by Zambia Development Agency Act for it to conduct valuation of Zamtel's assets. Therefore, their appointment was in breach of the relevant law.”
Chanda said the nation was made to believe that Siliya had made a conscious decision to resign from her ministerial post.
“However, the unfolding events are a sign that this was a planned scheme of deceiving the public. One is left to wonder the President's swiftness in re-appointing when todate he has not finished studying the tribunal's report as he has not issued a comprehensive reaction to it as he had promised the nation,” he said.
He said what was challenged by Siliya was the finding that she had breached the Constitution.
“Therefore, it was only this aspect that was under review. The other findings were not challenged and therefore she still stands in breach as charged on those aspects. Judicial review is a procedure where a sitting Judge does not look at the merits of a decision i.e. whether the decision is right or wrong,” Chanda explained.
“But looks at whether the procedure used to arrive at that decision was the correct one or whether the person making that decision had the powers to make it. Therefore, the finding by judge Musonda that the tribunal exceeded their powers does not mean that Dora has been exonerated of all other allegations that were found to have been committed by her.
“Furthermore in his judgment, judge Musonda states that he has squashed the decision on the basis that the learned Attorney General's advice is not mandatory and therefore non compliance of it is inconsequential. By making such a finding, judge Musonda delved into the merits of the findings to determine what amounts to constitutional and what amounts to unconstitutional. Clearly this is not the role of the court in a judicial review application. The court should not have made any determination except to restrict himself to jurisdictional issues.”
Chanda said the judgment was contradictory in that on one hand the judge said Article 54(3) was misinterpreted while on the other hand he holds that the tribunal had no jurisdiction to pronounce on constitutional issues.
“If indeed Article 54(3) was misinterpreted then it follows that the tribunal had jurisdiction to pronounce on constitutional issues. How else could the Constitution be misinterpreted by one who had no jurisdiction to interpret it?” asked Chanda.
“It is evident, therefore, that the judge did not only review the tribunal's finding but dealt with the application as an appeal as well when he considered the interpretation or misinterpretation of article 54(3). In short he dealt with the merits of the case.”
Labels: CORRUPTION, PFC, WYNTER KABIMBA
Read more...
Press Freedom Committee
Written by PFC
Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:38:54 PM
THE Press Freedom Committee (PFC) of The Post is a public/community outreach programme, which was formed in 2000 with a view of promoting and protecting press freedom and freedom of expression by providing a public platform for expression of all shades of opinions without any form of discrimination. The Committee also facilitates training programmes on various issues such as HIV and AIDS.
Objectives of PFC: 1. To promote press freedom and freedom of expression in order to enhance participatory democracy, good governance, transparency, accountability, individual and national development. 2. To advocate and lobby for media reforms and the promotion and protection of the professional interest and ethics of journalists both in Zambia and in the sub region. 3. To provide a forum called “News Makers’ Forum” to various interest groups such as political parties, church leaders, women and youths, NGOs, unions etc in order to express their views, opinions and ideas on various national issues. 4. To collect new and views from various stakeholders in the process of national development and democracy building for dissemination to a wider audience through newspaper articles and; 5. To undertake any incidental activities that are compatible with The Post Newspaper’s editorial policy, and with the spirit of building a vibrant, independent and well informed citizenry willing and actively participating in defending and promoting democratic principles and values. With regards the training of reporters on TB, it is this objective that provides us the guidelines. As PFC, we believe in having well trained reporters that report accurately on issues.
Labels: PFC, THE POST
Read more...
PFC writes SADC over journalists’ harassment
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 1:50:17 AM
THE Press Freedom Committee (PFC) of The Post has written to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) over the continued harassment of Post journalists by MMD cadres.
In a letter dated May 18, 2009 addressed to the SADC executive director and copied to the International Press Institute, Human Rights Commission Zambia, World Association of Newspapers (WAN), the Zambian government spokesperson and several foreign missions in Zambia, PFC chairperson Chansa Kabwela stated that of late, reporters from The Post had experienced expulsions from meetings where public officers had been officiating, as well as physical harassment and confiscations of equipment while on duty.
"The latest was the beating up of an innocent street vendor of The Post newspaper. The beating has been justified by the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services - Reverend Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha as follows, 'The Post Newspaper is reaping what it sowed because you cannot have a newspaper that reports negatively about the Republican President most of the time. If you plant mangoes, you will harvest mangoes. That is how the principle goes'," she stated.
Kabwela stated that if leaders condoned violence, what today may only be faced by The Post, may tomorrow degenerate into widespread violence, causing all sorts of problems that come with instability of a nation.
"In addition, if the government supports the violence in a bid to make our reporters submissive and afraid to perform their duties, we will be infringing the people's right to know and also to exchange their opinion freely. As an institution, we have written the Republican President - His Excellency Rupiah Bwezani Banda, but to no avail. We also don't believe that violence should be used to resolve or deal with the irritations the newspaper articles may have created to the government leaders," she stated.
"Thus, following the continued harassment of The Post Newspapers' reporters and newspaper vendors by the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) party cadres, it has become incumbent upon me to write you and seek your indulgence in this matter. Any intervention intended to avert a possible degeneration of the situation that you may render is deeply appreciated."
Kabwela noted that it was the committee's understanding that Article 20 of the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport stated that 'state parties shall take necessary measures to ensure the freedom and independence of the media'.
However, she stated that this SADC protocol had seriously been disregarded by the Zambian government by justifying and supporting the harassment and abuse of journalists working for The Post newspaper.
She stated that similarly, harassment of media workers was a violation of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19 which stated that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression and that this included the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Kabwela stated that Zambia was a signatory to these instruments and that it was the right of journalists to perform their duties and be protected.
She added that in the last eighteen years, the paper had dealt with all manner of abuse from past and present regimes.
"We have in the past managed to overcome such turbulences in one way or the other and one of these ways has been to involve groupings such as Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the United Nations (UN), to which Zambia is a member, as well as institutions to which the paper is a member, such as the World Association of Newspapers," stated Kabwela.
Post journalists have continued to suffer at the hands of MMD cadres who have vowed to continue meting physical punishment as long as the newspaper continues being critical of President Banda.
Labels: CADRES, PFC, PRESS FREEDOM, SADC
Read more...
