Govt determination to improve lives impressive - Kabanda
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Sun 03 Nov. 2013, 14:01 CAT
SIMON Kabanda says the government's determination to improve the lives of many Zambians has been impressive.
Speaking at Kitwe's St Joseph Catholic Church in Buchi after a thanksgiving mass on the occasion of his 50th birthday, Kabanda who is Citizens Forum executive secretary said the change of government in 2011 had given many leaders an opportunity to contribute positively to national development.
He said many good things were happening in the country after a long time because of a leadership that had a heart for the people of Zambia.
"Regarding my life, some people have told me that Kabanda you have abandoned us, that these days I'm lukewarm about issues of governance, that I'm not speaking on behalf of the people and that maybe I just hated the MMD that's why after the change of government I have gone quiet.
My straight answer to all this is that I have not abandoned anybody. I have not abandoned the cause of justice...the change of government in 2011 has given us an opportunity to work hard to better the lives of many people, especially the poor," Kabanda said.
He said the energies that were being used to make constructive noise when there was a call for the change of government, have to be directed towards ensuring that the opportunities to better the lives of the people were fully utilised, so that the country could become a better place for everyone.
Kabanda said there was need to direct more energy towards promoting a culture of responsible citizens.
"As I am ageing now beyond 50 years old, my duty is to ensure that I participate actively and responsibly in bettering the lives of people. It is not time to simply speak on behalf of the people, it is time to work, to mobilise people into being more responsible citizens who should participate actively and responsibly in bettering the lives of others," Kabanda said.
And speaking in his homily during mass, Fr Peter Mwila commended Kabanda and a Catholic nun, Sr Mary Beti who were celebrating their 50th anniversary, to remain focused and determined in their work to serve the majority poor through promotion of human rights and the cause for social justice.
Labels: PF, POVERTY, SIMON KABANDA
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Technical Committee extends consultative period timeframe
By Ernest Chanda
Sun 10 June 2012, 12:59 CAT
THE Technical Committee on drafting a new constitution has extended the consultative period on the process to July 31, 2012. Committee spokesperson Simon Kabanda stated that in view of public demand for more time to study the first draft constitution and make submissions, it is important to extend the period.
"The feedback that the Committee has received from the time the first draft constitution was made public indicates that stakeholders, including members of the general public, need more time to study the contents of the first draft constitution," stated Kabanda in a statement yesterday.
"In response to the public outcry for more time, the technical committee has extended the time-frame for stakeholders and members of the public to comment on the first draft Constitution, from forty to ninety days. The public is now expected to study the first draft Constitution and make comments up to 31st July, 2012."
The Committee, which was appointed by President Michael Sata in November last year, started sitting in December the same year and released the first draft constitution to the public on April 30, this year.
The Committee gave the public 40 days within which to study the document and make submissions on the contents.
After the launch of the first draft constitution, it was planned that the document be discussed at community, district, sector group conventions and provincial levels where each province would hold a convention.
Thereafter, the committee would reconvene to consider comments made by the public and prepare a second draft constitution, which would be validated by the national convention.
The final draft constitution would then be released and submitted simultaneously to President Michael Sata and to the public.
The document draft constitution is also available on the technical committee website: www.zambianconstitution.org. (external link)
Labels: CONSTITUTION, SIMON KABANDA
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Decentralisation will reduce poverty - Zimba
By Misheck Wangwe in Samfya
Mon 19 Dec. 2011, 13:55 CAT
SAMFYA district commissioner Godfrey Zimba says the decentralisation policy, if implemented will help mitigate the impact of poverty and underdevelopment among the rural population.
Speaking when a group of journalists, musicians and members of the Citizens Forum paid a courtesy call on him, Zimba said the tenets of decentralisation were so rich that if implemented, the country would start recording unprecedented levels of development.
He said the PF government had placed the implementation of the decentralisation policy top on its national development agenda as it was aimed at empowering local authorities to get the skills and the resources needed for them to discharge duties in a most efficient and effective manner.
Zimba said by 2013, devolution of power would flow with the resources necessary to district levels.
"When we speak about the issues of decentralisation, it is not an easy issue to look at as it requires budgetary allocation and the much-needed political will. Devolving power means that we have to look at human resource at local government level and develop it for them to carry out duties effectively," Zimba said.
He said it was clear that the government had demonstrated the needed political will considering that the local authorities had received the larger chunk of the 2012 budget.
Zimba said Samfya district had many challenges and the people's desire was that they should be given powers through decentralisation to decide for themselves what kind of development should be undertaken in the district.
"Samfya is a unique district as we operate on three levels and geographically we are located as such; we have the islands, we have the wetlands and we have the mainland. The challenges faced in these areas are huge," Zimba said.
"From here to the wetlands, it's about 200 nautical miles and to travel on water, it's not easy but our people need health, education and many other services. Our hope is that with decentralisation, government will be able to reach our people in swamps."
And Citizens Forum executive secretary Simon Kabanda said the forum, in partnership with the Local Government Association of Zambia and the Press Freedom Committee of The Post, had embarked on sensitising the people on the importance of decentralisation as the type of governance people needed.
Kabanda said it was hoped that through strong advocacy and the political will that the PF government had demonstrated, the policy would soon be implemented.
Labels: CITIZENS FORUM, DECENTRALIZATION, SIMON KABANDA
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Corrupt leaders must not be tolerated - Citizens Forum
By Kombe Chimpinde
Thu 08 Dec. 2011, 13:00 CAT
CORRUPT leaders must not be tolerated, says Citizens Forum executive director Simon Kabanda. Commenting on ex-South African police chief Jack Selebi whose 15-year jail sentence on charges of corruption was upheld by that country's Supreme Court on Friday, Kabanda said leaders who engage in corrupt activities must be reminded that they are not above the law.
"I want to remind our leaders about a Bemba saying umulandu taubola (A crime is never too old to be tried). If an official is shielded today, they should not think they will be shielded forever. When they hide behind the authorities they should not think that they are above the law," Kabanda said.
"The law catches up with those that perpetrate wrong doing regardless of their status or political affiliation. What is important for our leaders to learn a lesson from what has happened to Selebi all the time is avoid wrongdoing at all times."
Kabanda observed that the case of Selebi was not different from that of some current and senior government officials who engaged in corruption in Zambia.
Kabanda stressed that it was imperative for the country to ensure that the judiciary was independent from the executive and party in power for the effective prosecution of cases of corruption involving senior government officials.
"That is also a demonstration that the courts in (South Africa) are independent and that the executive does not interfere in cases before the law. That's also something we (Zambians) should learn, that the courts must operate freely," said Kabanda.
The Supreme Court of Appeals last week upheld Selebi's conviction for taking bribes worth US$156,000 from convicted drug dealer Glenn Agliotti for him (Selebi) to turn a blind eye to his (Agliotti's) business.
Selebi was a senior member of South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC) and the most senior official appointed by the government to have been sentenced for corruption.
Labels: CITIZENS FORUM, CORRUPTION, JACKIE SELEBI, SIMON KABANDA
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Stiffer punishments will deter corruption - Citizens Forum
By Kombe Chimpinde
Mon 17 Oct. 2011, 12:30 CAT
There is need for more progressive and stiffer laws that deter public officers from engaging in corrupt activities, says Simon Kabanda. And Kabanda has also demanded that President Banda be investigated over allegations linking him to corrupt activities during his tenure.
In an interview, Kabanda who is Citizens Forum executive secretary, said President Sata's assurance that his government would restore the abuse of office clause demonstrated his commitment to fighting corruption.
Last year, the MMD government amended the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Act of 1996 to remove section 37, which provided for the prosecution of public officers found to have abused their offices.
"The announcement is a relief to Zambians. It is encouraging to know that the current President does not tolerate corruption. The reason why it (abuse of office clause) was removed was that the former president Rupiah Banda wanted to be free of anything after his tenure had come to an end. He knew what he was doing, and therefore legalised wrongdoing. So we are so happy that the provision is coming back and we hope that is a signal of many more of such pieces of legislation to come," Kabanda said.
"We need to strengthen the Anti Corruption Act as the President pointed out, so that there can be stiffer punishments. Stiffer punishments will be a deterrent to those who may wish to engage in corruption activities."
He said the removal of the abuse of office clause would make it difficult to prove some cases of abuse of office or theft of public funds.
"When we strengthen the law, it will be easier to prosecute cases of corruption, hence we are going to move in the right direction. We urge the members of parliament especially those that had supported the removal of the clause from the ACC Act not to continue to frustrate the wishes of Zambians by supporting the reinstatement of the clause when it is presented before Parliament. This is not time for politicking. What they should be thinking of is the good of the country," Kabanda said.
He said any opposition party that would not support the re-introduction of the abuse of office clause would simply be decampaigning itself.
Kabanda said that calls by various sections of society to have Banda investigated on allegations of corruption were justifiable.
"President Banda showed Zambians that he loved corruption. He embraced corruption and wrongdoing. Theft by public servant for him was okay. That is why he pushed for the removal of the abuse of office clause from the ACC Act. What is needed is for him to also be investigated," said Kabanda.
Labels: ACC, CITIZENS FORUM, SIMON KABANDA
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Probe NCC microphones procurement, Kabanda urges DEC
By Moses Kuwema
Thu 06 Oct. 2011, 14:00 CAT
THE Citizens Forum has written to the Anti Money Laundering unit of the Drug Enforcement Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the procurement of microphones by the National Constitution Conference (NCC) secretariat in April 2010.
Citizens Forum executive secretary Simon Kabanda (right) stated that the procurement of the microphones at a time when the NCC was winding up its business and the amount of money involved raised a lot of questions. He wondered why the NCC secretariat decided to spend K1.8 billion at a time when it was concluding its work.
"Were these microphones a necessity for the NCC or merely a luxury? If they were a necessity, why were they not procured in 2007 when the NCC began its sittings? Why did these microphones not come in their original boxes? Were they new microphones or they were second hand whose prices had been inflated to the prices of new ones?" Kabanda wrote.
He stated that the NCC chairperson, Chifumu Banda, observed that the old public address system that was being used by NCC worked much better than the newly-acquired one and wondered if it made sense to discard something good and efficient and replace it with an ineffective and problematic one.
"The supplier did not provide the right card to install in a computer for programming the public address system and this led to the failure to use the computer which came with the microphones. Why did the supplier not provide the right card to install in the computer?" he asked.
Kabanda stated that while only four loud speakers were mounted in the conference hall, up to 16 speakers may have been procured and wondered why the NCC procured more speakers and used only four.
"Where did the rest go to? All the above questions raised suspicions that this colossal amount of money may have just been laundered. Now that the NCC is no more, we wish to know where the PA system with all the microphones and the computer are, and what they are being used for. To this effect, we are requesting that you investigate this issue to establish the facts surrounding this questionable transaction. We would appreciate if you could communicate to us the findings of your investigations and make them public as this is an issue of national interest," stated Kabanda.
Labels: CORRUPTION, PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS, SIMON KABANDA
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Probe NCC microphones procurement, Kabanda urges DEC
By Moses Kuwema
Thu 06 Oct. 2011, 14:00 CAT
THE Citizens Forum has written to the Anti Money Laundering unit of the Drug Enforcement Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the procurement of microphones by the National Constitution Conference (NCC) secretariat in April 2010.
Citizens Forum executive secretary Simon Kabanda (right) stated that the procurement of the microphones at a time when the NCC was winding up its business and the amount of money involved raised a lot of questions. He wondered why the NCC secretariat decided to spend K1.8 billion at a time when it was concluding its work.
"Were these microphones a necessity for the NCC or merely a luxury? If they were a necessity, why were they not procured in 2007 when the NCC began its sittings? Why did these microphones not come in their original boxes? Were they new microphones or they were second hand whose prices had been inflated to the prices of new ones?" Kabanda wrote.
He stated that the NCC chairperson, Chifumu Banda, observed that the old public address system that was being used by NCC worked much better than the newly-acquired one and wondered if it made sense to discard something good and efficient and replace it with an ineffective and problematic one.
"The supplier did not provide the right card to install in a computer for programming the public address system and this led to the failure to use the computer which came with the microphones. Why did the supplier not provide the right card to install in the computer?" he asked.
Kabanda stated that while only four loud speakers were mounted in the conference hall, up to 16 speakers may have been procured and wondered why the NCC procured more speakers and used only four.
"Where did the rest go to? All the above questions raised suspicions that this colossal amount of money may have just been laundered. Now that the NCC is no more, we wish to know where the PA system with all the microphones and the computer are, and what they are being used for. To this effect, we are requesting that you investigate this issue to establish the facts surrounding this questionable transaction. We would appreciate if you could communicate to us the findings of your investigations and make them public as this is an issue of national interest," stated Kabanda.
Labels: CITIZENS FORUM, CORRUPTION, PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS, SIMON KABANDA
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Citizens Forum urges politicians to make corruption fight a campaign issue
By Chibaula Silwamba
Tue 19 July 2011, 14:00 CAT
POLITICIANS must sign social contracts with Zambians assuring to bring back the abuse of office clause and fight corruption, says an anti-corruption advocate.
In an interview yesterday, Citizens Forum executive secretary Simon Kabanda urged politicians to make the fight against corruption a campaign issue and assure Zambians that they would fight the vice. He said it was unfortunate that corruption had become endemic and was being practiced openly in and outside the government.
“What is worse is that even the law that was being used to punish those who were abusing their offices for corruption has been removed. Therefore, the first thing we want the politicians who are campaigning for election to office this year is that they must assure us that Section 37 of the ACC Anti Corruption Commission Act will be brought back,” Kabanda said.
“The assurance that we want from the politicians is for them to put it in writing and sign a social contract with the people of Zambia to say that ‘our political party or myself as a presidential candidate will ensure that these provisions of the law to fight corruption are brought back so that corruption can be curbed in our country’.”
He said word-of-mouth assurances would not be adequate.
“Even if they say they are not going to allow corruption and will prosecute culprits waste resources, it will not work because the provision for doing that has been removed,” Kabanda said.
“What has happened after removing that provision is that people are not scared anymore. When that provision was in place and people were being prosecuted, a lot of people were afraid to abuse their offices. Yes, corruption was going on but certain people were afraid ‘that the law will catch me’. But that fear has been removed by removing Section 37 of the ACC Act.”
The Rupiah Banda-administration in November last year removed Section 37 from the ACC Act.
Labels: CITIZENS FORUM, CORRUPTION, SIMON KABANDA
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Push for DPP’s resignation, Citizens Forum urges LAZ
By Patson Chilemba
Sat 07 May 2011, 04:01 CAT
THE new LAZ should lead the way in mounting pressure on Chalwe Mchenga to go, says Simon Kabanda. Kabanda, who is Citizens Forum executive director, said people had high expectations for the new Musa Mwenye-led Law Association of Zambia.
He said the position taken by the previous Stephen Lungu-led LAZ for Director of Public Prosecution Mchenga to vacate office should be upheld and effected.
“We are happy with the people that LAZ has put into office. So what we would want to urge them is that they should uphold the decision that was passed by the previous LAZ executive regarding the fate of the DPP Mchenga,” Kabanda said.
“We want them to be putting pressure. This new executive must ensure that they put pressure to ensure that the decision is effected. And this is what we expect from them, nothing less than that.”
Kabanda said not only had the image of the Judiciary been tainted because of political interference from the Executive, people also had a lot of questions on the Judiciary because of people like Mchenga.
He said LAZ should work towards restoring the image of the Judiciary, and one of the ways towards achieving that was pushing judicial officers like Mchenga out of the way.
Kabanda said Mchenga had committed a lot of injustices against the people of Zambia by trying to get in the way of justice over important cases like the attempt to free convicted Kashiwa Bulaya and the decision to withdraw an appeal on former president Frederick Chiluba’s acquittal.
He said illegality should not be allowed to continue rearing its ugly head in judicial offices.
“There is a general perception, and I want to underline this, the general perception in the country is that the Executive has an influence on the decisions the Judiciary makes. Now that perception should not be proved right, the principal actors like the DPP should go so that the image of the Judiciary can be restored,” said Kabanda.
Last year, LAZ came up with a position for Mchenga to resign over assertions that the Executive had usurped his powers.
President Banda had disclosed during one of the meetings that he stopped an appeal in the matter where Chiluba was acquitted by the magistrates’ court over corruption charges.
Labels: CHALWE MCHENGA, DPP, LAZ, SIMON KABANDA
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This year’s polls will be rigged - Kabanda
By Roy Habaalu
Mon 14 Mar. 2011, 04:01 CAT
THIS year’s elections will be rigged and manipulated, says Simon Kabanda. During the declaration of the national conference on the people’s constitution at Mulungushi International Conference Centre on Saturday, Kabanda said those who steal votes had already started doing so.
“I know that even this year elections are going to be rigged, they will be manipulated. Votes will be stolen. I am speaking with a heavy heart. From 1991, I have been monitoring elections and we witness these things. I am a witness of the stealing of votes in this country,” Kabanda said.
He said those who steal votes had started going into compounds asking people to submit details on their voters cards and National registration Cards. Kabanda alleged that the MMD had been telling people that they could only access loans if they submitted their details.
“I am not saying it (rigging and manipulation) may happen; it is going to happen this year. When we say this, we’re called prophets of doom alarming the nation. No, we just want the nation to know that we may not prevent rigging but can ensure that those who rig don’t get the power,” he said.
Kabanda said it was surprising that when votes from other areas reached Lusaka, they changed colour and shape.
“In 2006 we monitored elections in Kapoche and were surprised that a presidential candidate got 30,000 but the registered number of voters was 27,000. When it comes to counting votes, we are surprised that they change colour and shape when they reach Lusaka,” said Kabanda.
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, SIMON KABANDA, VOTERIGGING
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It’s media’s duty to expose wrongdoing - Kabanda
By Ernest Chanda
Thu 03 Mar. 2011, 04:01 CAT
The Post should not be blamed for exposing evils in society, says Simon Kabanda. Reacting to President Rupiah Banda's accusation that the newspaper sets the agenda for media institutions in the country, Kabanda, who is Citizens Forum executive secretary, said it was the duty of every newspaper to expose wrongdoing.
He said it was wrong for President Banda to accuse the newspaper wrongly instead of addressing the issues the newspaper had been raising.
“Why is it that every time The Post exposes a wrong in this country, the paper is blamed by the government? Not too long ago over Finance Bank, The Post was blamed. Instead of admitting that the government had mishandled the Finance Bank issue, our finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane blamed The Post. This is not right,” Kabanda said.
He said if government leaders did not want to be exposed, they should live above board. Kabanda said only those doing wrong things should be afraid of exposure.
“In my view it is the government leaders themselves who are setting the agenda through the wrong things they do. And it is the duty of every media institution to expose to the public whatever is wrong in society. So far as members of the public are concerned, we are happy with what The Post is doing. As for the government, let them avoid making wrong decisions and things will be okay for them,” said Kabanda.
Addressing the media at Lusaka's City Airport before departure for Mporokoso yesterday, President Banda accused The Post of setting the agenda for other media institutions.
The accusation followed his special assistant for press and public relations Dickson Jere's concern over a question from a journalist who wanted President Banda's reaction to Wednesday's lead story in The Post, which exposed a fund-raising scam involving the government's use of the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) in a land acquisition transaction involving about US$15 million.
As President Banda was answering the question, Jere chipped in and called for what he described forward looking questions instead of mere reactions.
As he continued his explanation President Banda said The Post was not the only newspaper available in the country.
“And also they are setting your (other media) agenda. Why every day are you following The Post as if it's the only newspaper here? It's like you are encouraging scandalising other people also,” said President Banda.
Labels: NAPSA, SIMON KABANDA, THE POST
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It’s media’s duty to expose wrongdoing - Kabanda
By Ernest Chanda
Thu 03 Mar. 2011, 04:01 CAT
The Post should not be blamed for exposing evils in society, says Simon Kabanda. Reacting to President Rupiah Banda's accusation that the newspaper sets the agenda for media institutions in the country, Kabanda, who is Citizens Forum executive secretary, said it was the duty of every newspaper to expose wrongdoing.
He said it was wrong for President Banda to accuse the newspaper wrongly instead of addressing the issues the newspaper had been raising.
“Why is it that every time The Post exposes a wrong in this country, the paper is blamed by the government? Not too long ago over Finance Bank, The Post was blamed. Instead of admitting that the government had mishandled the Finance Bank issue, our finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane blamed The Post. This is not right,” Kabanda said.
He said if government leaders did not want to be exposed, they should live above board.
Kabanda said only those doing wrong things should be afraid of exposure.
“In my view it is the government leaders themselves who are setting the agenda through the wrong things they do. And it is the duty of every media institution to expose to the public whatever is wrong in society. So far as members of the public are concerned, we are happy with what The Post is doing. As for the government, let them avoid making wrong decisions and things will be okay for them,” said Kabanda.
Addressing the media at Lusaka's City Airport before departure for Mporokoso yesterday, President Banda accused The Post of setting the agenda for other media institutions.
The accusation followed his special assistant for press and public relations Dickson Jere's concern over a question from a journalist who wanted President Banda's reaction to Wednesday's lead story in The Post, which exposed a fund-raising scam involving the government's use of the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) in a land acquisition transaction involving about US$15 million.
As President Banda was answering the question, Jere chipped in and called for what he described forward looking questions instead of mere reactions.
As he continued his explanation President Banda said The Post was not the only newspaper available in the country.
“And also they are setting your (other media) agenda. Why every day are you following The Post as if it's the only newspaper here? It's like you are encouraging scandalising other people also,” said President Banda.
Labels: SIMON KABANDA, THE POST
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Govt accused of secret dealings with mine owners
Thursday, February 10, 2011, 8:48
The Citizen Forum says it suspects that government has secret dealings with the mine owners as evidenced by government’s refusal to reintroduce the windfall tax despite the continued rise in the price of copper on the international. The price of copper on the international market has hit the unprecedented $10,000 level per tonne.
Citizens Forum Executive Secretary Simon Kabanda says it does not make sense for government to continue insisting that it will not reintroduce the windfall tax when the price copper price on the international market has continued to rise.
Mr. Kabanda noted that the Zambians need to benefit from the proceeds of copper adding that whatever government was trying to hide about its deals with the mine owners will be uncovered one day.
And Mr. Kabanda has urged government to take legal action against Mopani Copper Mines for flouting the law on remittance of tax to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
Mr. Kabanda says reports that Mopani Copper Mines’ tax remittances have been inconsistent with the production output are disappointing.
He says it is not in order for the mining company to try to evade tax when it is already enjoying tax rebates on its profits.
Labels: CITIZENS FORUM, CORRUPTION, NEOLIBERALISM, SIMON KABANDA, WINDFALL TAX
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Inaction against violence worries Kabanda
By Roy Habaalu
Fri 14 Jan. 2011, 04:01 CAT
VIOLENCE is not likely to come to an end because political leaders are not taking action against culprits, says Simon Kabanda. In an interview, Kabanda, who is executive secretary for the Citizens Forum, said some politicians believed that they could only win an election through violence. He said those who were known to be violent should be expelled from their parties.
“We have not heard of any political leader, especially the MMD, disciplining anyone involved in violence. The MMD has not expelled those who have proved to be violent,” Kabanda said.
Kabanda said it was shameful that violent MMD members were being promoted to higher offices.
He said as a result of accommodating brutal people, the country would lose an opportunity to end violence.
He said it was not enough for President Banda to condemn violence at airports and rallies.
“We have seen that violent cadres from the MMD have not been disciplined or arrested. They boast that ‘boma ni boma’ government is government. We have seen that violent people in MMD have been given high positions and task forces are being created for them,” he said.
He said the President had a big role to play in ending violence.
He said the police should not wait for the President to issue instructions for them to act.
Kabanda said the police should be seen to be firm in dealing with violent politicians regardless of their affiliation.
Labels: POLITICAL VIOLENCE, SIMON KABANDA
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Stop vote-rigging - Kabanda
By Christopher Miti in Nyimba
Fri 19 Nov. 2010, 03:59 CAT
CITIZENS’ Forum executive secretary Simon Kabanda says there is a need for measures to be put in place to prevent people tampering with votes in an election. And Caritas Chipata has described the voter registration in Eastern Province as “shameful”. Meanwhile, people in Nyimba’s Chamillala ward have said the Vice-President should not be appointed by the President.
In an interview on Wednesday, Kabanda, whose organisation is currently carrying out awareness meetings aimed at ensuring that disabled people’s rights are enshrined in the Constitution, said there was a need to change the law that governed the declaration of votes and the swearing in of the President.
“From the past elections, what has been discovered by the courts and also what those who monitor the counting of votes have discovered is that sometimes the votes are tampered with. One candidate would get a certain amount of votes and yet when the votes from the constituency go to the national centre, the ECZ, they find that the figures that are given are different from what was recorded in the constituencies…,” Kabanda said.
He said what was recommended by the Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission that a president-elect should not be sworn in until after 90 days was supposed to be followed.
“What was recommended by the Mung’omba Commission was also recommended by the Electoral Reform Technical Committee 2003; that was the same thing that was recommended by the Mwanakatwe commission in 1993. So it is clear that to strengthen our multi-party democracy, we need not to rush into swearing in the president-elect. Look at Brazil, the woman who was elected has not been sworn in.
In other countries even the United States, they do that, so why can’t we learn some good practices from other people? This will help us to avoid problems. A few weeks ago, I was in Kenya to find out how they managed to have a successful referendum on the constitution but on the sidelines of that discussion, I also inquired what led to that post-election violence. One of the reasons why people were furious was actually the rush in swearing in the president-elect,” he said.
Kabanda appealed to Parliament to ensure that Article 34 of the Constitution was amended before next year’s election.
And Caritas Chipata Governance unit programmes officer John Mthaziko Zulu said the issuance of National Registration Cards had negatively contributed towards the low voter registration in the province.
“This exercise is becoming shameful because as I am talking to you, I am the chairperson of the Chipata District Voter Education Committee and my voter facilitators have not received any money from the time the period was extended. They are in the field and they are just working without money and when you find that some facilitators are not in the field, you can’t question them. And this is not happening only here but even in other provinces,” said Zulu in an interview in Nyimba on Wednesday.
He said the facilitators who were also school leavers might soon start demonstrating over the unpaid allowances.
Labels: CITIZENS FORUM, SIMON KABANDA, VOTER REGISTRATION, VOTERIGGING
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Stop vote-rigging - Kabanda
By Christopher Miti in Nyimba
Fri 19 Nov. 2010, 03:59 CAT
CITIZENS’ Forum executive secretary Simon Kabanda says there is a need for measures to be put in place to prevent people tampering with votes in an election.
And Caritas Chipata has described the voter registration in Eastern Province as “shameful”.Meanwhile, people in Nyimba’s Chamillala ward have said the Vice-President should not be appointed by the President.
In an interview on Wednesday, Kabanda, whose organisation is currently carrying out awareness meetings aimed at ensuring that disabled people’s rights are enshrined in the Constitution, said there was a need to change the law that governed the declaration of votes and the swearing in of the President.
“From the past elections, what has been discovered by the courts and also what those who monitor the counting of votes have discovered is that sometimes the votes are tampered with. One candidate would get a certain amount of votes and yet when the votes from the constituency go to the national centre, the ECZ, they find that the figures that are given are different from what was recorded in the constituencies…,” Kabanda said.
He said what was recommended by the Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission that a president-elect should not be sworn in until after 90 days was supposed to be followed.
“What was recommended by the Mung’omba Commission was also recommended by the Electoral Reform Technical Committee 2003; that was the same thing that was recommended by the Mwanakatwe commission in 1993. So it is clear that to strengthen our multi-party democracy, we need not to rush into swearing in the president-elect. Look at Brazil, the woman who was elected has not been sworn in.
In other countries even the United States, they do that, so why can’t we learn some good practices from other people? This will help us to avoid problems. A few weeks ago, I was in Kenya to find out how they managed to have a successful referendum on the constitution but on the sidelines of that discussion, I also inquired what led to that post-election violence. One of the reasons why people were furious was actually the rush in swearing in the president-elect,” he said.
Kabanda appealed to Parliament to ensure that Article 34 of the Constitution was amended before next year’s election.
And Caritas Chipata Governance unit programmes officer John Mthaziko Zulu said the issuance of National Registration Cards had negatively contributed towards the low voter registration in the province.
“This exercise is becoming shameful because as I am talking to you, I am the chairperson of the Chipata District Voter Education Committee and my voter facilitators have not received any money from the time the period was extended. They are in the field and they are just working without money and when you find that some facilitators are not in the field, you can’t question them. And this is not happening only here but even in other provinces,” said Zulu in an interview in Nyimba on Wednesday.
He said the facilitators who were also school leavers might soon start demonstrating over the unpaid allowances.
Labels: CARITAS, SIMON KABANDA, VOTER REGISTRATION
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Marching backwards in very long strides
By The Post
Sun 14 Nov. 2010, 04:00 CAT
THERE is need for Rupiah Banda to pay attention to the corruption in the country’s road sector.
We say this because corruption remains rife in this very important sector, with bribery, intimidation and fraud in most cases hiding beneath a veneer of apparent compliance through specified procurement and financial management procedures.
Not so long ago, the Auditor General’s office exposed glaring irregularities surrounding the Road Development Agency (RDA). The report for 2006-2009 revealed that the RDA overcommitted the government by over K1 trillion through overprocurement of contracts in the 2008 annual work plan. We were also told that the agency did not retire imprest totalling K19.1 billion since 2004. The report also highlighted issues of unauthorised contract variations and overruns in some road projects in Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces amounting to K93 billion among others. It is also common knowledge that donors were the first to raise concerns on these irregularities and withheld funding to the road sector pending the release of the audit report. After the report was released, we are aware that the donors made recommendations of what they expected the government to do to for them to resume funding to the sector. Some donors have now slowly started releasing funds on selected projects in the road sector.
But given the serious nature of the road sector, it is difficult to understand why Rupiah left the situation unattended to until the donors raised concern. Does it mean that no one was aware of the wrong things that were going on at RDA? Did it have to take donors to sound the alarm and demand an audit over the irregularities that had become the order of the day? Does it mean that there is no other body that could have been checking what this agency was doing? What happened to the so-called commitment towards the fight against corruption, continuing with Levy Mwanawasa’s legacy?
Many have questioned Rupiah and his government’s commitment to the fight against corruption. Rupiah and his minions have been very defensive over these issues, denying the existence of corruption. However, the developments at RDA are but some of the clear indications that there is little, if not nothing, happening with the fight against corruption. And we agree with Citizens Forum executive secretary Simon Kabanda that there is no way the RDA could overcommit the government to a tune of over K1 trillion without their knowledge. Rupiah and his minions cannot play ignorant on this matter.
Any country that is serious with development and improving the living standards of people cannot allow the mess that Rupiah tolerates in the road sector. In countries where such things are not tolerated, Mike Mulongoti wouldn’t be in government today.
Roads are the arteries of modern economic activity. They play a key role in our economy but most of them are in a bad state, and non-existent in some cases. The rainy season is here and the poor state of some of these roads will actually worsen. Very soon some areas in the country will be cut off as the water levels rise in the water bodies. These same roads that have been neglected are being used for transportation of farming inputs. The country’s mining sector also heavily relies on the roads to move minerals and equipment. Given the major role that road infrastructure plays in this country, it is surprising that Rupiah and his minions could allow the situation to get to a level where donors could withhold funding for road works.
We know that there is some funding that has been obtained from other sources – probably less demanded sources in terms of accountability. But that is not a solution because there are many roads that require the government’s attention and we could have still managed to benefit from the donors who have withheld funding to the road sector. Given the serious need for good infrastructure, roads in particular, it is saddening that we could find ourselves in a situation where donors have to withhold funds on account of lack of accountability.
It is not too long ago from the time donors withheld funding to the Ministry of Health following revelations of theft by ministry workers involving K10 billion. Yes, the donors have resumed funding after measures were taken to stop the theft, but it remains to be seen whether or not the measures taken are sustainable. And one would have thought that we could have drawn a few lessons from that episode to avoid further embarrassment involving blatant abuse of donor funding meant to benefit our people, especially the poor. But it is clear that we did not learn from that episode and it is difficult to understand whether Rupiah and his minions have any sense of care at all.
It is very clear that there is no political will in the fight against corruption. If there was, if Rupiah and his minions were trying to be seen to be doing something, we would not have had such embarrassing developments regarding abuse of donors funds. We would have at least seen a reduction in irregularities in the Auditor General’s report as opposed to the current scenario. If Rupiah and his minions were serious, they would not have been allowing questionable deals to be signed right under their noses, sometimes involving their kith and kin. It is amazing that Rupiah and his friends have so much energy and time to feather their nests and work towards securing their hold on power when there is so much serious work to be done. Our people wallow in abject poverty, the education system leaves much to be desired, the health sector is dogged with numerous challenges ranging from poor remuneration, shortage of drugs and staff, among other issues.
Any serious government would be working tirelessly to ensure that people are liberated from the shackles of underdevelopment. Any serious government would ensure that donor aid and local public resources are used prudently and for the benefit of the people. Any serious government would ensure that those trying to rob the people, the kleptomaniacs, are caged and pay back. Any serious government would put its people first. But that is not the case with Rupiah’s government. All we see is serious work towards self-preservation and enrichment; praises for kleptomaniacs; pomposity towards donors when they question the usage of their tax-payers’ monies.
But this arrogance will not take Rupiah anywhere. They should sort out the problems that have dogged the road sector and put things on track. We know that there are some roads that have been done and others, which are being worked on in Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western provinces. But this is just a fraction of the country’s road network and there are many other roads that need attention. Rupiah and his friends need to address the problems at the RDA. We are aware that changes have been made at management and board levels but this is not enough. There is need to address the corruption that exists even beyond RDA. One cannot just focus on the government agencies without looking at the ministry involved, in this case the Ministry of Works and Supply. The rot starts from there up to the lowest levels. And one cannot address the problems at the bottom without paying attention to the top. Empty talk about the so-called measures that have been put in place to fight corruption will not do.
This country needs serious resolve and commitment to fight abuse of resources and ensure that this terrible cancer which has permeated all echelons of our society is stopped. The thieving that is currently going on should be stopped forthwith or our people should forget about any meaningful development.
No one will develop Zambia for us. We have a duty and responsibility to develop this country. We will get all the aid we need but as long as we do not have integrity, a sense of honesty and justice, we will not achieve much; we will be marching backwards in very long strides.
Labels: CORRUPTION, MINISTRY OF WORKS AND SUPPLY, RDA, SIMON KABANDA
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It’s difficult to believe RDA over-committed govt - Kabanda
By Moses Kuwema
Sun 14 Nov. 2010, 04:00 CAT
SIMON Kabanda has observed that it is difficult to believe that the RDA over-committed the government without it knowing.
Commenting on the revelations in the Auditor General’s report in which the Road Development Agency over-committed the government to over K1 trillion in road contracts and the subsequent firing of some of its directors, Kabanda argued that the Minister of Works and Supply as the ‘overall boss’ must have known about the issue.
“The over-commitment was not done without the government knowing because the Minister of Works and Supply has authority over the RDA so he is supposed to know what is happening with the institution that he oversees. The minister oversees all the contracts that the RDA enters into,” Kabanda, who is also Citizens Forum executive secretary, said.
He also said the issue of over-commitment could also have been used to siphon money into people’s pockets and as such called for a thorough investigations and bringing to book everyone involved.
And Kabanda has said there is need for the Auditor General’s office to be given power to prosecute cases of misappropriation that are highlighted in their reports.
He said with the current situation, the Auditor General’s office risked becoming meaningless.
“If the Auditor General had the powers to prosecute, by now those people could have been prosecuted. The government must review the powers of the Auditor General so that they don’t just end at giving us the report but go further to prosecute,” Kabanda said.
Kabanda said the firing of directors at the RDA was not enough and called for further investigations into the matter.
Labels: CORRUPTION, MINISTRY OF WORKS AND SUPPLY, RDA, SIMON KABANDA
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Chief Luembe bemoans govt’s unfulfilled promises
By Christopher Miti in Nyimba
Tue 19 Oct. 2010, 06:40 CAT
EASTERN Province Royal Foundation vice-chairperson senior chief Luembe has observed that Zambians have suffered the consequences of fruitless promises. And Citizens Forum executive secretary Simon Kabanda said a good constitution is a cure to numerous problems that the people are facing in the social sector.
During an awareness meeting organised by the Citizens Forum on the plight of the disabled children at his palace, chief Luembe of the Nsenga people said it was bad that
traditional leaders were accused of belonging to the opposition whenever they complained about the problems that people faced.
“We have problems with roads and a number of issues. We have a maternity ward at the clinic just here near the palace, it was built four years ago but it is still very dormant. It has not been handed over. Now what are we waiting for to do these things? All these are some of the projects that we have been complaining about but it’s falling on the deaf ear,” chief Luembe said last week.
He said he was privileged to have attended a seminar organized by a certain Non-Governmental Organization with the President and traditional leaders raised many issues pertaining to national development. However, chief Luembe said the chiefs were not heard.
“We have our member of parliament here who can tell them the truth about the problems in the constituency but he has been ignored in most
cases,” he said.
“Now this is bad because an MP cannot be government to do things on his own. Now because of this a rural person like me will accuse an MP that he is not doing anything to help the people but it’s not true.
If truly things starts from the grass root level as they say, they should be listening to our complaints. As we are nearing elections you will find that so many bicycles are coming in. Vote for me! Vote for what!
Some of us are even being accused of belonging to parties they we don’t even belong to. I am non-partisan, I belong to nobody and I receive any visitor. As a traditional leader I am a father of everybody.”
Chief Luembe said he embraced all people but it would be wrong for politicians to link him to any political party.
He said the issues that traditional leaders such as roads, clinics and schools did not belong to any political party but the community.
Chief Luembe said the government should think of the poor people in remote areas.
And Kabanda, who toured all the four chiefdoms in Nyimba, said it was important for certain things to be enshrined in the constitution so that the government could be compelled to follow them.
Kabanda said there was no hope that certain rights could be included in the constitution because the constitution making process had been closed.
“Where we are now there is no hope that these rights are going to be included in the new constitution although they have been proposed in the draft constitution. Government has halted the constitution making process. We would like to appeal to you the traditional leaders if you can implore the government to take care of the constitution making process,” Kabanda said.
He also emphasized the need for the electorate to sign social contracts with the elected leaders.
Kabanda said the health sector had collapsed in the country. Kabanda made the remarks after he helped to take an expectant mother, who was being transported on a bicycle, to the hospital. The woman was being taken to Chinambi clinic, about 15 kilometres from her Kapitu village. By the time she was assisted by Kabanda, she had covered about eight kilometres.
Labels: CHIEF LUEMBE, CHIEFS, SIMON KABANDA
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Govt must abandon mobile hospitals – Longwe
By Agness Changala
Wed 08 Sep. 2010, 04:01 CAT
GOVERNMENT must abandon mobile hospitals and instead build more physical health infrastructure, gender activist Sara Longwe has advised.
Longwe said it was shameful that the government had spent so much money on the failed National Constitutional Conference (NCC) process and increased salaries of constitutional office holders and other officers at the expense of solving problems in the health sector.
She said the quality of health services in the country had deteriorated and the construction of the few hospitals was just a drop in the ocean because Lusaka alone needed about 10 big hospitals to cater to the existing population.
“They are just a drop in the ocean. They plan to procure mobile hospitals without proper roads,” Longwe said.
She said Zambia had no infrastructure, which could support the operation of mobile hospitals. She said people wanted hospitals which they could easily access.
Longwe said the evacuation of government officials and politicians to other countries for medical attention should be banned to enable them to seek treatment from the local hospitals.
She said such an approach could force them to improve the conditions in the hospital because currently they did not care about their people.
Longwe wondered why the state’s application to register the London High Court judgment which found former president Frederick Chiluba and others guilty of defrauding Zambians was dismissed because the money involved, if recovered, could have been ploughed into the health sector.
She said Zambia had no leadership and it was being run on autopilot.
“There’s no leadership, we are self-governing,” she said. “With this situation, the women are the ones who suffer most, nurses are not being paid and these issues were brought to their attention by Chansa Kabwela but they decided to ignore.”
Longwe said most nurses and other health workers’ altitude was demoralising and insulting because they were frustrated.
She urged the government to invest in human resource and hospitals if the future of the country was to be secured. Longwe advised women not to vote for the current government because it had failed to govern the nation.
And Citizens Forum executive secretary Simon Kabanda said the problem of congestion at UTH was a sign of a breakdown in governance.
Kabanda said the government had failed to govern the nation going by the manner in which the health sector was being managed.
Kabanda, who described the situation as nauseating, said what was happening at the hospital was the reality of the health sector in many parts of the country.
He appealed to the government to redeem itself from failure and exhibit concern for the suffering citizens.
“And government has an opportunity to redeem itself by ensuring that the next budget pays particular attention to the health sector before it completely collapses,” Kabanda said.
Kabanda said time and again Citizen’s Forum had drawn the attention of the government to the situation at UTH, and other health centres in the country but the government had been paying a deaf ear to their pleas.
In April this year, the NCC procured microphones at a cost of K1.8 billion at the time it was concluding its work.
Kabanda, who objected to their decision, argued that abuse of funds by the NCC could not be allowed, when the health sector was limping.
He said several clinics of Lusaka had no syrups for children and mothers stood outside clinics helplessly carrying their sick children, as they were told that there was no medicine for their babies.
He said most Zambians did not have means to procure drugs from private pharmacies, an indication that the situation was worse in other parts of the country, which were equally neglected.
Congestion at UTH has continued to be a problem, with patients in some wards lying on the floor.
An on-the-spot check at the Filter clinic and D block ward on Saturday revealed that patients were subjected to sleeping on the floor in the wards and the corridors in some cases.
Labels: HEALTHCARE, MOBILE HOSPITALS, SARA LONGWE, SIMON KABANDA, UTH
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