Beware of political opportunists
By Editor
Saturday July 21, 2007 [04:00]
Nearly a month after the political party presidents’ summit at Mulungushi International Conference Centre, there is enough evidence now why politicians should not be allowed to posture as servants of the people.
Going by the behaviour of some of our politicians over the constitution-making process in the aftermath of what was mistaken for a breakthrough over this process, the cynicism with which people view politicians is justifiable.
Prior to the inter-party dialogue among political parties, we do recall that most politicians were singing the song of going by the people’s will in the constitution-making process. Now that politicians think they have succeeded in geting what they have always wanted, they think that it is time to change the rhythm of the original song.
We are not surprised because our politicians are the kind of people who, once they see some light at the end of the tunnel in terms of personal benefits, they can go to the extent of buying the whole tunnel just to make sure that they can derive maximum benefits unto themselves.
Now that some of these unprincipled, job-seeking politicians have seen some potential benefits from the constitution-making process, they want to go to the extent of ‘buying out’ the entire process. They are now willing to sacrifice the will and wishes of the people just because some prospect of this or that benefit is blinking in their faces. What crass political opportunism is this?
Listening to some of our politicians and considering their sudden infatuation with a process which they were originally not so keen on, it is clear that they have all along been posing as servants so that they become the masters over all of us. It is truly funny, yet scary, that some opposition political leaders are now speaking as if they actually belong to the ruling party and not their parties. Even some members of the ruling party are sounding more reasonable than some of the so-called opposition leaders over the constitution-making process.
Maybe we can understand this and perhaps we need to be more fair to some of our politicians because after all, they need jobs and their parties are nothing but shells; their parties are just on paper and they are a nullity to our political process and they think they can only add value to themselves by trying to align themselves to the party in power.
We have repeatedly stated that when it comes to the constitution-making process, the people of Zambia can only trust politicians at their own peril. There is a consistent pattern of dishonesty and inconsistencies that serves to show why politicians should not be left on their own to deal with the constitution-making process.
As we have stated already, some of the politicians have conducted themselves in a manner that shows clearly that nothing positive should be expected from them in terms of their role in this process.
Our position remains the same on this matter: The people, and not politicians, will have to take a leading role if a genuine and long-lasting constitution has to come out of this process.
Yes, we have heard some politicians claim that they are an integral part of the political system and they cannot be reduced to by-standers, just to observe the process from the sidelines. Nobody denies the fact that this process should be a collective one because the new constitution should not be a product to serve the interests of a particular set of people.
This is the reason why we are opposed to the idea that politicians, under the mask of the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue, should now claim more relevance and importance to the constitution -making process when they have all along not shown any serious commitment. It is actually downright mockery to the people of Zambia for some politicians to talk about inclusiveness in this process when they want it to be hijacked by themselves and unto themselves.
The people’s wishes are well articulated in the Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission (CRC) report, and those who will go against the recommendations in the CRC draft report will certainly not be relevant to the process.
So even as the constitution conference bill is being circulated and debated, of prime importance will be the fact that its final form or content should be informed by the CRC draft report and recommendations. Anything short of that will not be of any use to the desires of the people of Zambia to have for the first time a constitution that they can truly claim to be theirs or their own.
Needless to say that it would be difficult to completely eradicate political opportunism in this process because some politicians simply cannot survive without being opportunists.
What is important, however, is for all of us to remain vigilant and ensure that political opportunists are not given space to push their pocket agendas in a serious process like this one. Obviously, the opportunists will not announce their arrival or disclose their identity, but they can be identified by their talk and their actions.
And so far we have already identified some of them. So, let’s keep our guard on high alert so that we can keep all political opportunists out of the constitution-making process.
Labels: CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE, CRC, DEAN MUNG'OMBA, EDITORIAL, ZCID
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ACC probes Mulyata
By Amos Malupenga and Noel Sichalwe
Saturday July 21, 2007 [04:00]
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata for abuse of authority of office following his intervention in the irregular release of an impounded bus belonging to MMD cadre Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM). ACC sources confirmed yesterday that investigations had reached an advanced stage and an official statement would be released “as soon as one or two things are done”.
“Investigations started as soon as the story appeared in the newspaper and so far, a lot of progress has been made into the investigations,” the ACC source said.
Meanwhile, works and supply minister Kapembwa Simbao said he had spoken to the RDA engineers from Livingstone concerning the matter and he was waiting to talk to Mulyata. He said after talking to Mulyata, he would prepare a report to be presented to President Mwanawasa on what transpired in the whole matter.
“What I discussed with RDA officers is just for my understanding and I can’t tell you. I will talk to the person I report to,” Simbao said.
Simbao also disclosed that he was approached by ACC officers who asked him about the same issue.
And intelligence sources yesterday criticised information minister Mike Mulongoti’s statement suggesting that Mulyata could have intervened in the GBM saga using his discretion on humanitarian grounds.
“We know the truth in this matter and it will be wrong for us to keep quiet and allow ministers like Mulongoti to mislead the nation,” the source said. “That bus was impounded for absconding the weighbridge, that is the main charge on the charge sheet. It might have been overloaded by the time it absconded the weighbridge but this cannot be proved officially because some passengers disembarked before reaching Livingstone bus station.”
The source narrated that the bus, belonging to GBM’s Germins Motorways, was impounded on July 7 around 20:00 hours.
“The bus was signalled by the Road Development Agency (RDA) officer-in-charge by the name of Siyanga Siyanga at the Livingstone weighbridge to pass through the weighbridge,” the source narrated. “But the driver of this bus who was later known as Charles Lungu ignored that signal.
So the officer-in-charge and two other officers gave chase. Along the way, the bus stopped and some passengers disembarked from the bus. The officers continued the chase and by the time the bus arrived at Livingstone station, the officers had caught up with the bus.”
The source said the bus driver was ordered to drive back to the weighbridge where the bus was weighed around 20:45 hours.
“After weighing, it was discovered that the bus was not over weight but it was impounded for absconding the weighbridge and a penalty fee of US $2,000 or an equivalent of K7.9 million for that offence was preferred,” the source said. “But around 23:00 hours, the officer-in-charge received a phone call from someone who introduced himself as a general manager for Germins Motorways.
This person offered Mr Siyanga K1 million for him to release the bus but the officer-in-charge refused insisting that he could only release the bus upon payment of the full US $2,000. Thirty minutes later, this person phoned again and raised the figure to K3 million but Mr Siyanga still refused, around 01:00 hours there was another phone call and the figure was raised further to K5.5 million but the officer-in-charge stood his ground.
“Around 06:00 hours, this person phone Mr Siyanga again but this time said he was ready to make a commitment to pay the US $2,000 except he would ask that the bus be released first. The officer-in-charge still refused saying he would only release the bus upon a full payment of US $2,000 whether or not it would be paid in instalments.”
The source said on July 9 in the afternoon, Mulyata went to Siyanga’s office and asked for the top most officer. Siyanga presented himself as the senior most officer at that time. The source said before that, Mulyata had stormed or harshly entered Siyanga’s office so Siyanga had asked who Mulyata was.
“But Mr. Mulyata said it was not important for him to know who he was,” the source said. “Mr. Mulyata then asked why there was congestion at the bridge because so many trucks were not cleared. The officer-in-charge tried to explain but he was told to shut up by the minister who later demanded to know how they were working.
“The deputy officer-in-charge, a lady by the name of Grace was by this time at the weighing scale and she told the minister to go with her so she could see how they were working. But the minister got annoyed and started blasting them saying they would lose their jobs, they didn’t know who he was.”
The source said at this point, Mulyata left the weighbridge and returned to his office.
“But the following day around 06:00 hours, Mr Siyanga’s immediate boss by the name of Ntinda who is also the deputy regional engineer phoned him to explain what transpired the previous day,” the source said. “Mr. Siyanga explained and he was told by Mr. Ntinda that the person they were talking to the previous day was minister Mulyata and that Mr Mulyata had summoned to his office at 08:00 hours all officers on duty that day together with Mr Ntinda.”
The source said Ntinda and the others officers went to Mulyata’s office at the appointed time.
“The officers found Mr Mulyata in the office, he was with Mr Gabriel Namulambe the sports minister. The minister started telling off the officers, especially the lady (Grace) whom he said she will never get married because she is uncompromising,” the source said.
“At this stage, Mr Ntinda apologised on behalf of other officers for the way the minister was treated the previous day at the weighbridge. Then they were ordered to leave. But as they were leaving his office, Mr Mulyata called back Mr Ntinda and the lady Grace who was shedding tears. The other two officers remained outside. It was at this point that Mr Mulyata asked Mr Ntinda to ensure that GBM’s bus was released.
“When he left the minister’s office, Mr Ntinda briefed Mr. Siyanga who said the bus could not be released before paying the penalty fee. Mr Ntinda did not say anything.”
When reached for comment yesterday, Namulambe confirmed he was present when Mulyata was talking to the RDA officers in his (Mulyata’s) office.
“But I cannot give the details of the discussion to the press though I am ready to talk to officials from the Ministry of Works and Supply if they approach me,” Namulambe said. “I remember finding him (Mulyata) talking to three RDA officers who were called to his office but the details of the conversation can only be given to the Ministry of Works and Supply.”
The source further said on July 11, there was no movement on this case because President Mwanawasa was in Livingstone and Mulyata was as a result busy with the President’s programme. This was the same time that finance minister Ng’andu Magande was also travelling to Livingstone and when he found congestion at the weighbridge, RDA officers told him what was obtaining including the story to do with the detained bus.
The source said last Thursday in the morning, Siyanga was at home when his boss the regional engineer and his deputy went to the weighbridge.
“But when they arrived at the weighbridge, they did not come out of their vehicles,” the source said. “This lady Grace phoned Mr Siyanga to tell him about the presence of the regional engineer and his deputy. Mr Siyanga told the lady that if the engineers were there in connection with the impounded bus, the bus should not be released until the fine was paid.”
The source said after some time, Mulyata also arrived at the weighbridge and the regional engineer together with his deputy got out of their cars to get the keys for the bus from Grace.
“She initially resisted but finally she released the key because these were her bosses. It is the engineers who later gave the key to the bus driver who later drove the bus away,” the source said. “The driver even refused to get the charge sheet and to the best of my knowledge, the US $2,000 has not yet been paid; at least as at Wednesday or Thursday the 19th. This is what all of us in the system know so when we heard Mr Mulongoti trying to protect Mr Mulyata, we were worried that justice will not be done because Mr Mulongoti speaks for the government.”
Simbao also disclosed that he was approached by ACC officers who asked him about the same issue.
And intelligence sources yesterday criticised information minister Mike Mulongoti’s statement suggesting that Mulyata could have intervened in the GBM saga using his discretion on humanitarian grounds.
“We know the truth in this matter and it will be wrong for us to keep quiet and allow ministers like Mulongoti to mislead the nation,” the source said. “That bus was impounded for absconding the weighbridge, that is the main charge on the charge sheet.
It might have been overloaded by the time it absconded the weighbridge but this cannot be proved officially because some passengers disembarked before reaching Livingstone bus station.”
The source narrated that the bus, belonging to GBM’s Germins Motorways, was impounded on July 7 around 20:00 hours.
“The bus was signalled by the Road Development Agency (RDA) officer-in-charge by the name of Siyanga Siyanga at the Livingstone weighbridge to pass through the weighbridge,” the source narrated. “But the driver of this bus who was later known as Charles Lungu ignored that signal. So the officer-in-charge and two other officers gave chase. Along the way, the bus stopped and some passengers disembarked from the bus.
The officers continued the chase and by the time the bus arrived at Livingstone station, the officers had caught up with the bus.”
The source said the bus driver was ordered to drive back to the weighbridge where the bus was weighed around 20:45 hours.
“After weighing, it was discovered that the bus was not overweight but it was impounded for absconding the weighbridge and a penalty fee of US $2,000 or an equivalent of K7.9 million for that offence was preferred,” the source said.
“But around 23:00 hours, the officer-in-charge received a phone call from someone who introduced himself as a general manager for Germins Motorways. This person offered Mr Siyanga K1 million for him to release the bus but the officer-in-charge refused, insisting that he could only release the bus upon payment of the full US $2,000.
Thirty minutes later, this person phoned again and raised the figure to K3 million but Mr Siyanga still refused, around 01:00 hours there was another phone call and the figure was raised further to K5.5 million but the officer-in-charge stood his ground.
“Around 06:00 hours, this person phoned Mr Siyanga again but this time said he was ready to make a commitment to pay the US $2,000 except he would ask that the bus be released first. The officer-in-charge still refused, saying he would only release the bus upon a full payment of US $2,000 whether or not it would be paid in instalments.”
The source said on July 9 in the afternoon, Mulyata went to Siyanga’s office and asked for the top-most officer. Siyanga presented himself as the senior-most officer at that time. The source said before that, Mulyata had stormed or harshly entered Siyanga’s office, so Siyanga had asked who Mulyata was.
“But Mr. Mulyata said it was not important for him to know who he was,” the source said. “Mr. Mulyata then asked why there was congestion at the bridge because so many trucks were not cleared. The officer-in-charge tried to explain but he was told to shut up by the minister who later demanded to know how they were working.
“The deputy officer-in-charge, a lady by the name of Grace was by this time at the weighing scale and she told the minister to go with her so he could see how they were working. But the minister got annoyed and started blasting them, saying they would lose their jobs, they didn’t know who he was.”
The source said at this point, Mulyata left the weighbridge and returned to his office.
“But the following day around 06:00 hours, Mr Siyanga’s immediate boss by the name of Ntinda, who is also the deputy regional engineer, phoned him to explain what transpired the previous day,” the source said. “Mr. Siyanga explained and he was told by Mr. Ntinda that the person they were talking to the previous day was minister Mulyata and that Mr Mulyata had summoned to his office at 08:00 hours all officers on duty that day together with Mr Ntinda.”
The source said Ntinda and the others officers went to Mulyata’s office at the appointed time.
“The officers found Mr Mulyata in the office, he was with Mr Gabriel Namulambe the sports minister. The minister started telling off the officers, especially the lady (Grace) whom he said she will never get married because she is uncompromising,” the source said. “At this stage, Mr Ntinda apologised on behalf of other officers for the way the minister was treated the previous day at the weighbridge.
Then they were ordered to leave. But as they were leaving his office, Mr Mulyata called back Mr Ntinda and the lady Grace who was shedding tears. The other two officers remained outside. It was at this point that Mr Mulyata asked Mr Ntinda to ensure that GBM’s bus was released.
“When he left the minister’s office, Mr Ntinda briefed Mr. Siyanga, who said the bus could not be released before paying the penalty fee. Mr Ntinda did not say anything.”
When reached for comment yesterday, Namulambe confirmed he was present when Mulyata was talking to the RDA officers in his (Mulyata’s) office.
“But I cannot give the details of the discussion to the press though I am ready to talk to officials from the Ministry of Works and Supply if they approach me,” Namulambe said. “I remember finding him (Mulyata) talking to three RDA officers who were called to his office but the details of the conversation can only be given to the Ministry of Works and Supply.”
The source further said on July 11, there was no movement on this case because President Mwanawasa was in Livingstone and Mulyata was as a result busy with the President’s programme. This was the same time that finance minister Ng’andu Magande was also travelling to Livingstone and when he found congestion at the weighbridge, RDA officers told him what was obtaining, including the story to do with the detained bus.
The source said last Thursday morning, Siyanga was at home when his boss the regional engineer and his deputy went to the weighbridge.
“But when they arrived at the weighbridge, they did not come out of their vehicles,” the source said. “This lady Grace phoned Mr Siyanga to tell him about the presence of the regional engineer and his deputy. Mr Siyanga told the lady that if the engineers were there in connection with the impounded bus, the bus should not be released until the fine was paid.”
The source said after some time, Mulyata also arrived at the weighbridge and the regional engineer together with his deputy got out of their cars to get the keys for the bus from Grace.
“She initially resisted but finally she released the key because these were her bosses. It is the engineers who later gave the key to the bus driver who later drove the bus away,” the source said.
“The driver even refused to get the charge sheet and to the best of my knowledge, the US $2,000 has not yet been paid; at least as at Wednesday or Thursday the 19th. This is what all of us in the system know, so when we heard Mr Mulongoti trying to protect Mr Mulyata, we were worried that justice will not be done because Mr Mulongoti speaks for the government.”
Labels: ACC, GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA
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I will not argue with Ng'uni - HH
By Chibaula Silwamba
Saturday July 21, 2007 [04:00]
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has said he will not waste his time arguing with ZCID spokesperson Newton Ng’uni because the FDD national secretary spends most of his time arguing. But Ng’uni demanded that Hichilema apologise to him for saying that he had issued a press statement that was not approved by all political parties in the Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue (ZCID).
Reacting to Ng’uni’s letter to him dated July 19, 2007 demanding an apology within 24 hours, Hichilema yesterday said Ng’uni had been exposed for releasing a press statement that was not approved by all political parties in the ZCID.
“Arguing with Ng’uni is waste of time. He spends most of the time arguing. My spokesperson will deal with him,” Hichilema said.
“If he insists that the statement was approved then he should show me a document signed by Mr Tiens Kahenya and Mr Winston Chibwe. The professional way of doing things is that all parties should sign on the document. Let him show me where Mr Kahenya and Mr Chibwe signed,” insisted Hichilema.
He said he could not apologise to Ng’uni.
“Apologise for what? Apologise to who?” he asked. “Instead Ng’uni should apologise to his own conscience for issuing that statement. He must be ashamed that he issued a statement that was not approved. He has now been exposed.”
He said he had more important issues to do than argue with Ng’uni.
“He can make noise as much as he wants but my position is the same,” said Hichilema.
Hichilema’s vice, Richard Kapita said he would be surprised if Hichilema apologises to Ng’uni.
“The president is right. It will be his choice to apologise or not but I will be very surprised if he apologised,” said Kapita.
Kahenya, who is UPND secretary general, declined to comment saying he did not want to add salt to an ‘injury’.
But Ng’uni, who is FDD national secretary, in a letter to Hichilema, stated that Hichilema and the UPND were accusing him of doing things he never did.
He stated that despite Hichilema having the capacity to find out the truth about what was happening in the ZCID, he and the UPND had continued to issue statements in which they accused him of things he did not even do.
Ng’uni warned that should Hichilema fail to apologise, he would respond in a manner that reflects the truth and corrects the record.
“I expect that you will issue the apology within 24 hours, failure to which I will assume that the false accusations made against me were done deliberately to injure my character. I hope you will find it within your personal dignity to reflect the truth on the statement in question,” Ng’uni stated. “As you know, sir, I’m not responsible for briefing you on the activities of ZCID. Therefore you cannot hold me responsible for the omissions of those who are tasked to brief you.
I’m sure that your representatives Messrs Tiens Kahenya and Winston Chibwe (UPND deputy secretary general) have availed you all the documents that ZCID has hitherto issued and you have had the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the contents therein. In particular, statement that was prepared on 8th July 2007 for public information on the ZCID roadmap.”
Ng’uni claimed that the UPND national management committee (NMC) had condemned him for having issued a statement on MUVI Television contrary to the ZCID position, but he had never appeared on MUVI Television.
On Thursday, Hichilema said Ng’uni’s statement that political party presidents had agreed on a roadmap on the constitution making process was not correct.
Hichilema said the presidents did not agree on any road map but that the constitution would be adopted although a constitutional conference.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, UPND, ZCID
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Kitwe police disperse protesting Copperbelt University students
By Zumani Katasefa
Saturday July 21, 2007 [04:00]
POLICE in Kitwe yesterday morning fired teargas canisters to disperse protesting Copperbelt University (CBU) students. Kitwe district police commanding officer Muhlakeni Zulu confirmed the development in an interview yesterday and said police had even surrounded the university campus to prevent further confusion.
Zulu said police were forced to move in after the students gathered on one of the roads with the aim of disturbing public peace.
“Yes we used teargas to disperse them, that is our weapon. Why should they disturb other people’s peace? And we are at CBU to protect property and public peace,” said Zulu.
He explained that the previous night, the students had a general meeting at the campus to discuss a number of issues among them the lecturers’ go-slow and to lobby for an early closure.
He also said that the students were demanding that the university senate reduces the passing rate.
But Copperbelt University Student Union (COBUSU) vice-president Chikumbutso Zulu condemned police action saying that it was unjustified.
He said students were not protesting about the lectures’ go- slow but protesting against the proposed university senate regulations for students’ progression rate.
“The senate proposed regulations, especially one which they stated that a student would need to have grade C+ or better in all the courses for one to progress to the following year,” he said.
He said after the proposals were made, the students held a general meeting at which they resolved to put pressure on management and lecturers to resolve the issue.
He said students had resolved to close the gates of the university campus in protest, and that this attracted police who moved and tear-gassed them.
He also claimed that a first year student pursing business administration /accounts collapsed after police fired teargas canisters while five others were admitted to Pamsco clinic.
“Our issue is an internal one, we wonder why the police are coming in. They have surrounded the campus for the past four days,” he complained.
But police commanding officer Muhalakeni Zulu said no one had collapsed or injured after police fired teargas.
Labels: CBU, STUDENTS
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Africa must export finished goods
NATURAL resources in themselves are not necessarily wealth unless they are transformed into finished products. Countries that possess natural resources such as platinum, gold, copper, diamonds and timber among others may, therefore, not necessarily be rich. But what counts is the processing of these natural resources into semi-finished or finished consumer products, which are then exported.
Most African countries still follow the colonial trend of exporting their resources to Europe and North America in their raw form, largely because they do not have the processing industries.
While Zimbabwe has a relatively small processing industry, it still exports quite a number of resources in their raw form and loses the full value of such resources should they be processed into finished and semi-finished products.
The country has a lot of timber but the focus is still on the export of hard timber logs and not the actual furniture (tables, beds, chairs, roof trusses, etc), which we are capable of processing here.
What is positive for the country is the development of the domestic wood-processing industry, which should consume the large volumes of logs that we export.
It is quite sad that today some of our furniture shops are stocked with imported furniture, notably lounge suites, yet we have the raw materials to make these products here.
This is the same story with many other African countries. Zambia, for example, exports copper and not the finished copper tubing and copper wires. Ethiopia, Angola, Kenya and Uganda export coffee beans to Europe, North America and Japan.
As coffee producers they do not export finished products such as roast ground coffee.
Hardly will one see packaged finished cocoa products such cocoa powder, chocolate and other cocoa beverages as "Made in Uganda" products in Europe and America. Southern Africa has some of the largest gold mines in Africa.
Platinum, diamond, copper, gold, uranium and silver, among others, are exported to Europe and North America as ore or semi-finished products.
Indeed, 50 percent of the diamonds that are produced and consumed by the Western world comes from Southern Africa.
Yet the world’s biggest diamond firm, De Beers, has its headquarters in London, where rough diamond becomes gem and fetches high value.
The tragedy is that big European companies buy raw materials from Africa at prices fixed by them.
They make fantastic profits, which do not in any way benefit the source countries.
Our tobacco, gold, timber, diamond and platinum go to processing plants of companies in Europe and North America.
But at the end of it, Zimbabwe and all these other African countries will not enjoy the profits they would otherwise accrue from exporting finished products.
The present trade regime, under which Zimbabwe and other African countries offer only raw materials at very low prices, which are fixed by the developed countries and then import the finished products from them at exorbitant prices, is unacceptable.
What Zimbabwe and other developing countries, therefore need, is appropriate technology and know-how to process the countless resources into semi-finished and finished products.
Labels: MANUFACTURING, ZIMBABWE
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Pius Ncube adultery saga not political
EDITOR — It is unfortunate that the Pius Ncube adultery saga is being viewed by some from a political angle when it is a social, religious doctrine case. Why should Pius, who publicly confirmed on national TV to the adultery, be considered a victim? The truth of the matter is that this case has nothing to do with him being a critic of the Government of Zimbabwe. Does that give him, if he did what he is accused of having done, the privilege to go around sleeping with women when the religious doctrine he swore to does not allow him to do so?
I do not think it is morally right to confuse issues, or is it being done to portray him as some kind of a saint when he publicly confessed to the adultery. It is unfortunate that some are choosing to see the other side and yet the man is sweating because he knows the evils he committed.
Of course, prior to the serving of summons, President Mugabe might have said that Catholic clergy swear to celibacy but later on engage in sexual activities, this is so because he is a practising Catholic and may have knowledge of what goes on within the church circles.
While one is presumed innocent until proven guilty, but what happens when one concedes the allegations, do we say he is innocent? If it were a criminal offence, would the judge enter a not guilty or guilty verdict?
Pius must face the music.
He should pay for all the lies he has peddled to the outside world, justice will prevail in the end and those who are lying about Zimbabwe would one day be judged.
It will not happen today, tomorrow, next year or in five years time, but we will all be judged for our deeds.
So in all what we do let fair play prevail, let us not be swayed by the crowd, be it our employers, buddies, and so on.
I know for one that lying is a sin, and for those of us who believe that judgment day will come, let’s tread carefully because we do not know when that day will be upon us.
Pius’ case has nothing to do with President Mugabe.
He did what he did by himself, so let him answer what he is being alleged to have done by himself.
"If a man is naked, please let us not tell him he is wearing a three-piece suit".
The only thing we can do is pray for Pius so that he can be forgiven for his transgressions, and given the strength to resist temptation.
Surfing Café.
Harare.
Labels: PIUS NCUBE, THE HERALD
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Justifying the unjustifiable
By Editor
Friday July 20, 2007 [04:00]
We do not take pleasure in criticising others, especially those who are very close to us like our information minister Mike Mulongoti. Much as this is the case, we feel duty-bound to set the record straight by correcting the erroneous and uninformed picture that Mulongoti painted on Muvi TV on Wednesday to the effect that Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata could have ordered the illegal release of an impounded bus belonging to MMD cadre Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) on humanitarian grounds.
We find Mulongoti’s attempt to mutilate the truth very unfortunate. Every time he decides to open his mouth, Mulongoti will do well to remind himself that he is a chief government spokesperson and everything he says represents government position on the matter.
So when we heard Mulongoti feebly trying to justify the unjustifiable, we took it that it was government’s position on the matter that the appointing authority would exercise discretion in dealing with Mulyata’s transgression against the law because he did what he did on humanitarian grounds. We are mentioning the appointing authority because we know that when it comes to punishment, it is this authority that metes out the punishment.
Mulyata broke the law that he swore to defend, a law that he himself was promoting two months ago by asking transporters and all stakeholders to support the government in implementing it.
We have listened to Mulyata’s justification of his illegal intervention in GBM’s questionable activity. His only reason is that GBM phoned and pleaded with him to release the bus against the law. He did not talk about anything to do with humanitarian grounds, anything to do with stranded passengers because he knows the truth. He was on the ground and saw that there was no one being inconvenienced by the Road Development Agency’s decision to impound the overloaded bus in line with the law. If anyone felt inconvenienced, it must have been GBM because he was losing income as the bus had been impounded. But this cannot be said to be an inconvenience on his part. He was merely paying for his illegal activities.
That is why we find it cheap that Mulongoti should attempt to cleanse GBM and Mulyata when it is clear that the two had connived to break the law. And it is surprising that Mulongoti who is expected to be in the forefront defending the law is the one trying to protect those breaking it and justifying their wrongdoing.
If Mulongoti did not know as much as some of us do on this matter, the best was for him to say as little as he knew. Trying to pretend to have answers for everything will one day land Mulongoti in trouble. Let him just do his work as a messenger. After all, who doesn’t know that all spokespersons are just told what to say?
In saying all this, we are not insisting that Mulyata should be fired by President Levy Mwanawasa. Our only interest is to ensure that the law takes its course. We want the law to punish all offenders and acquit all the innocent.
When we expose any wrongdoing, we are just trying to cleanse our society and expect that citizens will learn to respect the law because they would have seen what happens to lawbreakers.
Even if we want Mulyata dismissed, we can only talk about it knowing that it is Levy’s prerogative to appoint and disappoint. We can call for Mulyata’s dismissal today but if Levy wants to continue working with him, there is nothing we can do about it. We can only regret that and denounce him for it.
This has happened before. If we had a choice, we would not like to see MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga and national secretary Katele Kalumba, among others, anywhere near the corridors of power for reasons that are well known to the country. But because Levy has chosen to embrace criminality and people of questionable character, there is nothing we can do about it. That is his choice and people will judge him accordingly.
The same is true of Mulyata and GBM’s case. We feel we have played our role by exposing their illegal activities. And Levy, just like the investigating and the law enforcing agencies, should play their roles. If they decide to turn a blind eye to everything that has come out so far in this matter, we will still be happy knowing that our people know the truth and they will be the judges in this matter. If Levy, like Mulongoti, tries to justify Mulyata and GBM’s illegal activities, we are confident that our people will not be swayed to take falsity for the truth. Mulyata and GBM may tomorrow escape punishment because they rub shoulders with people in authority but our people will judge them for what they are.
We have submitted our findings before the people’s court and we are sure that in their wisdom, our people have seen where the truth lies. They have concluded the case and passed the necessary sentences.
Of course, our people would like certain punitive and corrective measures to be taken against wrongdoers. But if those who are expected to take those measures neglect to do that, illegality will become the order of the day. When this happens, it will not be difficult for our people to see who is promoting or working against the rule of law.
As for Mulongoti, our advice to him is: “Play it cool and don’t be unnecessarily defensive”. When we expose or criticise, it is not our intention to destroy, even when something or someone is destroyed in the process. We want to contribute in the building of our country. That’s our main pre-occupation. We are no cynics because we know that cynics cannot build a society.
Labels: GBM, JOSEPH MULYATA, MIKE MULONGOTI
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Mulongoti defends Mulyata for breaking the law
By Noel Sichalwe
Friday July 20, 2007 [04:00]
People should not rush to call for Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata's dismissal over the GBM saga before considering the circumstances surrounding the issue, information minister Mike Mulongoti has said. Mulongoti, who is also chief government spokesperson, told Muvi Television on Wednesday that the Road Development Agency (RDA) was investigating the matter involving Lusaka businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba popularly known as GMB and Mulyata concerning GBM's bus that was released at Mulyata's instructions at the Livingstone weighbridge last week without paying the fine after it was impounded for overloading.
Mulongoti said he did not want to predetermine the investigations into the matter.
He, however, said when considering punishment, people should be careful not to rush to judge Mulyata because his decision to direct the release of the bus might have been made on humanitarian grounds so that passengers could not be stranded.
He said Mulyata might have used his discretion to protect innocent people who were on the bus and could have been stranded through no fault of their own.
However, the Statutory Instrument number 28 of 2007 states: "The owner of the vehicle and cargo detained shall be responsible for the vehicle and cargo detained at a weighbridge station and the Agency shall not be held responsible for any loss or theft or cargo or vehicle whilst the vehicle and cargo are detained at the weighbridge."
And when asked, in an interview yesterday, what humanitarian grounds Mulyata might have considered in the light of the Statutory Instrument, Mulongoti said there was need to separate the guilty from the innocent passengers. He said the innocent passengers could not suffer on account of the erring driver and perhaps that was why Mulyata directed the bus to leave.
After being reminded that the bus was detained for three days and released on the fourth day and that there were no stranded passengers to talk about, Mulongoti said when he made a statement on Muvi Television, he was not aware that the bus was impounded for many days.
He said he had earlier justified the release of GBM's bus because he did not realise that the bus was impounded for three days.
"I just made that statement and I went," he said. "I did not know that the bus was impounded for so long and that there were no passengers."
Asked whether it was justified for humanitarian grounds to override the law, Mulongoti said: "You don't punish the innocent passengers on account of the guilty. That is how we exercise morality."
"If there was a mistake on the matter, the bus was supposed to be impounded. You should be aware that in exercising the law, there could be innocent people who might be affected and they should be protected. For me, I didn't know that the passengers were already released when this issue was going on."
Asked whether it was right to release a bus which was impounded for overloading without paying the fine, Mulongoti said he could not support any wrong doing in the GBM and Mulyata saga.
"The principle is that what happened was a mistake," he said. "For now we must allow all the views to come out and that appropriate powers need to make a decision. The law does not exist in a vacuum and if a mistake is made, it had to be dealt with."
GBM last week phoned Mulyata asking him to direct the RDA to release his bus after it was impounded for overloading without paying the penalty fine.
And on a Sky FM Radio phone-in programme yesterday, many callers demanded that GBM and Mulyata should be punished for conniving to break the law.
A caller from Lusaka named Banda said Mulyata was a questionable minister who should not continue to be in office. Banda said GBM did not have a lot of money as he claimed because he had not done anything to improve the suffering majority in Zambia.
Another caller from Lusaka, Mark, said if MMD spokesperson Ben Tetamashimba has asked Copperbelt MMD chairman Terrence Findlay to resign after being placed under investigations for the alleged defilement, why was Mulyata still kept in the office.
Another caller named George said Mulyata and GBM had broken the law and should be taken to court where they needed to face justice.
A caller who chose to be anonymous said Mulyata has not changed from the days they used to trade together at Lusaka's town centre market. He said Mulyata should be punished for allowing an overloaded bus to pass through the weighbridge without paying a fine.
Tembo from Monze said the incident at Livingstone weighbridge was unfortunate and that Mulyata had failed to behave in the manner befitting his office.
Another anonymous caller condemned Mulongoti for a making a premature statement justifying the release of the bus without paying the stipulated fine for the offence. The caller said Mulongoti was not supposed to comment before investigations were completed. He wondered why GBM failed to pay a fine of K7.9 million when he claimed to be rich. He said GBM was violent even when campaigning for the Kabwata parliamentary seat last year.
Labels: JOSEPH MULYATA, MIKE MULONGOTI
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DEC charges Mumbuwa, 2 others for money laundering
By Sandra Lombe
Friday July 20, 2007 [04:00]
THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) through its anti-money laundering investigations unit has arrested and jointly charged former commissioner of prisons Jethro Mumbuwa and two others for money laundering involving over K500 million.
DEC public relations and liaison officer Rosten Chuulu yesterday said Mumbuwa of house number 17 Jasmine Street, Luangwa in Kabwe, Margaret Mwale 45 who is an accountant at the Ministry of Local Government and Housing of plot number 2666 Chilenje South and Bernadette Kaimbi 41 a businesswoman of plot number 9 Makeni Konga have been arrested for forgery, uttering of false documents, obtaining money by false pretences and money laundering.
Chuulu said the trio while acting together with other persons unknown on dates unknown but between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2006 forged local purchase order numbers 148941 worth K321,670,000.00 and K260,000,000.00 respectively by purporting to have supplied various foodstuffs to Zambia Army, ordinance directorate totaling K581,670,000.00 in favour of Mumjeka Enterprises when in fact not.
Chuulu said Mumjeka Enterprises is owned by Mumbuwa.
"The trio who were arrested and formerly charged on 16th July, 2007 have been released on police bond awaiting court appearance,” he said.
When contacted, Mumbuwa said he could not say anything on the matter.
"I can't say anything on that. I don't know what you are talking about. Phone me when I go to court," he said. "Take whatever you have from DEC, the information you have as gospel truth."
President Levy Mwanawasa recently terminated Mumbuwa's contract as commissioner of prisons and in his place appointed Gibbie Nawa who was Mumbuwa's deputy.
Meanwhile, DEC has arrested 23 Zambians in various parts of the country for trafficking in psychotropic substances weighing more than 30 kilogrammes.
Chuulu said the commission in Lusaka had arrested Rowes Chililamuzi of Simbule village, Mazabuka for trafficking in 15.2 kilogrammes of cannabis.
He said others from the same village are Keroni Sana, 28 for trafficking in two kilogrammes of cannabis and cannabis seeds, Bruce Sana 43 for trafficking in 1.1kg of cannabis and Oscar Hachibola, 22 for trafficking in 1.22 kilogrammes of cannabis and cannabis seeds
"In Eastern Province the commission arrested Henry Mwanza 30 of Enock village for trafficking in 9.2 kg of cannabis and being in possession of a muzzle loader gun," said Chuulu.
Labels: CORRUPTION, DEC, DRUGS
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GBM and Mulyata
By Davies Mulenga
Thursday July 19, 2007 [04:01]
I would like to register my utmost disappointment at the behaviour of Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata. First, President Mwanawasa is on record as having started the fight against curruption and all forms of evil deeds in this lovely country. It is for this reason that the President appointed a Cabinet of men and women who are of sound morals and deeds to help him fight these vices.
If Mulyata himself, who even sits in Parliament and makes the laws of the land, can be in the forefront breaking the same laws he makes, then what type of leaders do we have in Mwanawasa's government. I would urge the President to institute investigations in the matter and fire Mulyata if he is proved guilty.
This self-proclaimed rich man who even claims can command the Queen cannot at all destroy The Post because we are all behind The Post unless he says he wants to destroy the people of Zambia.
Let us all accept that laws should be followed by all of us.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=29219
Mode of adopting new constitution
By N Chisenga, Lusaka
Friday July 20, 2007 [04:00]
I refer to the article published in The Post of July 18, 2007 authored by Simon Kabanda. The topic of discussion was on the mode of adoption of the constitution entitled: “Difference between CC and CA”.
I think Simon’s contribution to the current debate needs commendation in that he has brought to the fore the key issues between the two modes of adoption and what the implications are.
This in my view is the way we need to be approaching debates of any kind. We first need to define/state the problem and give ourselves much background information on the matter before putting across arguments.
Currently, the debate seems to be very much skewed towards our learned colleagues in the legal fraternity for instance the President and the Minister of Justice on the one hand vs the legal minds in the Oasis Forum.
As one can appreciate, once lawyers hijack a platform and they are in disagreement, the matter can only be settled by a competent judge. Lawyers like economists are always in debate and very few agree in their debates.
But this is not a matter for lawyers only but for every Zambian regardless of their profession and that’s why those of us who know need to make public the issues at hand (if possible in local languages) so that every Zambian can participate in the debate!
Whereas it is indeed incumbent upon every Zambian to ensure that they know what the constitution is all about and how it affects them. I think it would go a long way in helping a number of Zambians without access to information, if civil society embarked on a series on sensitisation meetings at the lowest levels to explain the Constitution and why the current one needs changing via-a-vis the mode of adoption.
We need to be alive to the contentious issues first before we spend too much time arguing the mode of adoption. Thus far, one of the most contentious issues is that the Constitution gives too much power to the President.
What does the Constitution say about presidential powers and why does it need changing? Highlight the anomalies or ambiguities in the Constitution first before dwelling so much on the mode of adoption.
We need to understand why we need the current Constitution changed by bringing to light the issues and make them available in the public domain.
Once we are clear on these, it will make debate more meaningful.
Otherwise, we all start politicking and if the debate is not convincing in so far as government is concerned, the President swore to defend the Constitution whether it’s a good one or not.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=29220
Levy’s successor
By Brian
Friday July 20, 2007 [04:00] Print Article Email Article
Debate on Mwanawasa’s successor has started already. 2011 Presidential and Parliamentary elections might look too far for most people but 2011 is just around the corner.
As such the right time to find Mwanawasa’s successor is now so that the successor’s candidature is sold countrywide if at all MMD has to bounce back to office.
I’m sure Mwanawasa is having sleepless nights trying to identify whom he could pick from his Cabinet and the MMD at large as his successor to run for 2011 presidency.
But one does not need to go deep searching as to whom he can pick from the MMD itself simply because they all don’t give us hope for a national president beyond 2011. Moreover, they would have overstayed in power to expect anything new from them.
My advice to Mwanawasa and the MMD as a party is that they must cast their net wide enough and look for a 2011 presidential candidate beyond there party boundaries. To do this, MMD and Mwanawasa must look for a candidate of high calibre and good moral standing in society. In view of the foregoing, Hakainde Hichilema would be the most suitable person to take over from Levy and take Zambia forward in national unity and development. Zambians must open up there eyes and see that Hakainde Hichilema has the qualities of a national leader we have been lacking from the day Kenneth Kaunda left State House.
Most of you readers will agree with me that Mwanawasa is surely thinking seriously of his life after 2011. As such, he needs a good successor who will continue with the fight against corruption if at all Zambia has to attain zero tolerance on corruption and other good policies that he has embarked on in the last 6 years.
Labels: CORRUPTION, GBM, JOSEPH MULYATA, MWANAWASA
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Calling for Findlay's resignation
By Editor
Thursday July 19, 2007 [04:00]
The call by MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba for the party’s Copperbelt Province chairman Terrence Findlay to step aside from his position pending the conclusion of his defilement investigations is very welcome. And in welcoming this call, we want to remind our leaders, especially those in government and the ruling party that justice is a very difficult thing to give. In most cases, our leaders proclaim that they want justice for all but rarely do they live by such proclamations. Lawyers often say that justice should not only be done but should be seen to be done.
There is a Zulu saying which states that: “A leopard licks both its white and black spots”. This saying is used to illustrate how justice is supposed to be administered. Just as a leopard licks all its spots, justice should be administered fairly to all by those in authority or positions of leadership.
In the last few days, we have exposed two MMD cadres – Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata and Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) - who have broken the law but there has been a deafening silence on the matter from Tetamashimba and his party colleagues. We have not heard anyone from the MMD condemning or asking Mulyata to step aside pending investigations in his alleged breach of the law. The same is true in the case of GBM.
We are not saying Tetamashimba’s call for Findlay to step aside is wrong. It is a very good thing and the right way to go. What we are saying is that no one is above the law, that no one should be shielded from facing justice for personal or other considerations. If the MMD detests illegality and immorality as we have heard from Tetamashimba, then illegality and immorality should be frowned upon in MMD regardless of who is involved. Defilement is against the law just like releasing an overloaded vehicle at a weighbridge without the owner paying the penalty is illegal. If the MMD believes in justice for all, why just call on Findlay to resign and allow Mulyata with GBM to proceed like it’s business as usual? Is it because Findlay is not as wealthy as GBM proclaims to be? Or is it that Tetamashimba is so fearful that he might be molested by the bulky but empty GBM? Is it that Mulyata is so special that the MMD cannot afford to lose him, even for his illegal activities?
We have noticed that Tetamashimba in his statement yesterday called on, not only Findlay but also, all those with questionable activities to maintain a good distance from the MMD so as to save the party from embarrassment, ridicule and disrepute. The question is, why did Tetamashimba pluck enough courage to only mention Findlay as if he does not know other offenders in MMD? Why was he shy to mention Mulyata? Why was Tetamashimba shy to mention GBM, a well-known batterer who even physically and verbally abuses his own family members? Who doesn’t know that only two months ago, GBM was busy sweet-talking, through an emissary, his driver he had assaulted to withdraw a complaint before a magistrate’s court? If this complaint was not withdrawn, GBM would today be a convict with a criminal record. But the MMD is quiet about all this because they are used to embracing criminals in their party.
It is clear that most of these men and women in MMD, as is the case with most politicians, are insincere.They are shameless liars who want to blame us for their own mistakes. We know that we will be called all sorts of names and labelled all kinds of tags for offering constructive criticism, for exposing their criminal activities.
However, we are not bothered by the slander against us because we know that a person who speaks the truth does not have friends. Bearers of the truth are often not welcomed. But people should not put the blame on the darkness if they bump into a pole. If they knowingly go into a dangerous situation, they should not be surprised if they get hurt.
Today, Findlay can have the audacity to accuse us of tarnishing his image for reporting that he is being investigated by the police for defilement. Are we the ones investigating him? Are we the ones who reported him to the police? Are we the ones who summoned him to an identification parade?
Is it a crime for us to report the facts as they are on the ground? How are we tarnishing his image by reporting that he was paraded in order for the girl to identify him as the man who defiled her? Is Findlay saying that he never appeared on the police identification parade in Ndola when there are so many people who witnessed this and know about this defilement allegation?
We know politicians have no sense of shame and self-esteem but let them be fair with other people. Only the other day, GBM lost his head and insulted us in the same way he insults his family members and employees. This was after we lifted the lid on his tin of questionable activities.
Now we will have to wait and see who between Findlay and ourselves is tarnishing the other’s name. However, we are comforted by the realisation that it is only the truth that will set us free and condemn those criminals abusing us. We are not saying we should not be criticised. All we are saying is that those who choose to criticise us should do so with facts and in truth just as we do when we criticise others.
Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, EDITORIAL, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, MMD
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Step aside, Teta asks Findlay
By Patson Chilemba and Zumani Katasefa
Thursday July 19, 2007 [04:00] P
MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba has asked the party’s Copperbelt chairperson Terrence Findlay to step aside from his position until the defilement investigations against him are concluded. Meanwhile, Findlay yesterday accused The Post of tarnishing his image. And police sources in Ndola have revealed that Findlay is also being investigated for production of pornographic films. In an interview, Tetamashimba urged Findlay to save the party’s image by stepping aside.
“These are immoral things. MMD is not a bad party but there are individuals who are bad. We in the party should start having morals. The normal thing is to step away from this position. In my view, if a leader is being investigated with serious offences, they should help MMD by stepping aside,” Tetamashimba said. “It’s not just Findlay; anybody who has cases that puts the name of the party into disrepute should step aside.”
Tetamashimba said defilement investigations against Findlay were painting a negative image on the credibility of the MMD.
“This is painting a bad image on the credibility of the party. In your headline you are saying MMD chairperson and not Findlay the businessman. You are connecting MMD to Findlay, he’s not only MMD Copperbelt chairperson but also a businessman,”
Tetamashimba said. “If you continue mentioning yourself as chairman, you are destroying the name of the party. The best thing is to step aside.”
Police sources in Ndola disclosed that Findlay is alleged to have defiled a girl under the age of 16. The sources confirmed they are investigating Findlay and that last Saturday, an identification parade was conducted and the girl positively identified him as the man who had unlawful carnal knowledge of her although her friend identified another man.
The source further said a docket has since been taken to the Director of Public Prosecution’s office for determination.
But Findlay yesterday said he was not aware about the investigations.
"I am not aware about that, I am just learning about that for the first time," said Findlay who sounded very low.
Findlay even denied knowledge of the girl adding that the story had just tarnished his image.
He wondered why The Post had decided to run the story without getting his side.
"Why do you want to get my comment when you have already published the story? I am just hearing that from you. You have tarnished my image," he said.
And police sources said that Findlay was also being investigated for production of pornographic films. They said that Findlay used to ‘share’ the same girl with his friend of Indian origin who is also based in Ndola.
The sources said it was discovered that Findlay had been defiling the girl after her grandmother discovered pornographic tapes in her school bag.
The sources indicated that Findlay has not yet been charged because investigations had continued.
Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, MMD, TERRENCE FINDLAY
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Oasis to petition Parliament over adoption of constitution
By Bivan Saluseki and Chibaula Silwamba
Thursday July 19, 2007 [04:03]
POLICE has granted the Oasis Forum and Collaborative Group on the Constitution a go ahead to picket Parliament over the adoption of the new constitution. And UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has said no political party in the ZCID will hoodwink his party in the constitution making process. Meanwhile, Patriotic Front (PF) spokesperson Given Lubinda yesterday called for reconstitution of the ZCID board.
Oasis Forum spokesperson Musa Mwenye yesterday said the picketing would start at 13:00 hours today. Mwenye urged political parties and individuals that support the Forum's stand over the constitution to turn up en masse at Parliament grounds.
He commended UPND for distancing itself from the ZCID roadmap. Mwenye said UPND had realised the danger in the ZCID roadmap.
"The party has woken up to the fact that ZCID roadmap is prone to manipulation," he said.
Mwenye said ZCID's roadmap could not represent the views of the people as contained in the Mung'omba Constitution Review Commission report, which even MMD as a party supported.
He said all political parties should adopt the Mung'omba CRC on the mode of adopting of the constitution as the only credible position.
"It's not too late for this extremely unnecessary acrimony over the constitution to be broken especially that the acrimony has been created by a few politicians' desire to hijack the process of constitution making that rightly belongs to the people," said Mwenye.
And Hichilema warned other ZCID members against having side meetings and issue press statements without the approval of all political party members.
Meanwhile, UNIP president Tilyenji Kaunda yesterday said political parties must not fail Zambians in their enthusiasm and search for a new Republican constitution.
Commenting on Zambia Center for Inter-Party Dialogue (ZCID) spokesperson Newton Ng'uni's statement that the recent presidents' summit agreed on a road map on the constitution making process, Hichilema yesterday said those that thought UPND could be hoodwinked were wrong and would not accept other members of the ZCID to be issuing statements that had not been approved.
"We are alert and awake, other groups in ZCID know that they can't use the UPND to push their agenda," Hichilema said. "Some people think that we are polite and can deceive us but we operate on the principle of being polite and firm. We reason through things."
He said ZCID should do the right things if it were to be relevant to the constitution making process. He said it would not help the ZCID for its spokesperson to be issuing statements that were 'incorrect' and not approved by the ZCID member political parties.
"How do you make statements that have not been approved by the whole group? That means you have other agendas. That statement is for the spokesperson and the people he is conniving with and not all political parties," Hichilema said. "We know that some people from the MMD will go to ZCID to preserve their positions but we are not there for that, we are there for the people of Zambia."
Hichilema said political parties and the civil society should work together with all Zambians in the process. And Tilyenji said the constitutional conference was an opportunity to make things right in Zambia.
"We as political parties must work hard to win the trust and confidence of all key stakeholder interests that we mean well and shall deliver a constitutional process whose outcome shall be acceptable to all Zambians," said Tilyenji at a press briefing at ZCID offices in Lusaka.
He said political party leader must be able to identify matters of national importance on which consensus among them was possible. Tilyenji said it was good for the public to know that on some particular issue of national importance all political parties were of one mind.
Tilyenji also said political party leaders had a responsibility to build bridges across party lines and to treat one another with courtesy and decorum. And Lubinda said ZCID board chairman Katele Kalumba should immediately convene a board meeting to resolve the impasse between the board and PF.
"If ZCID must succeed, then we have to reconstitute the whole board. The levels of mistrust are so deep that we cannot possibly sit and chat the way forward in any meeting under ZCID," he said.
Lubinda said PF would not participate on any ZCID activities for as long as issues of neutrality remained unresolved.
"We demand to be treated with respect and not to be ridiculed by a member of the ZCID board," he said in relation to a statement issued by Newton Nguni yesterday.
Lubinda said PF and UPND had 65 members of parliament in total and could not be controlled by small parties with only a total of eight members of parliament.
"When we were forming ZCID it was not our intention to create a monster which is ballooning day by day to a point where a few members of the board develop this notion that they are supervisors and spokespersons of political parties," he said.
Lubinda said the presidents' summit did not refer to the ZCID roadmap.
He said PF reserved its right to take whatever action it deemed appropriate, which included a total and irreversible pull out from ZCID.
And PF secretary general Edward Mumbi said there was unfaithfulness in ZCID hence PF's pull out. He said the PF had been vindicated as other parties like UPND were now distancing themselves from the ZCID roadmap. Nguni said Zambians must take note of the conduct of PF after agreeing to the roadmap both at board and summit of president's level.
"This shows that there is no guarantee that all stakeholders will support the referendum question," said Nguni.
"The oasis Forum would like guarantees that the new constitution would be subjected to a national referendum. If this is their only demand, then all differences should be resolved because that could be done without affecting the tow-stage enactment process outlined in the ZCID roadmap."
Labels: CONSTITUTION, GIVEN LUBINDA, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MUSA MWENYE, OASIS FORUM, PF, TILYENJI KAUNDA, UNIP, UPND, ZCID
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NGO Bill is dictatorial, says Habasonda
By Sandra Lombe and Bivan Saluseki
Thursday July 19, 2007 [04:01]
SOUTHERN African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has said that the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Bill is dictatorial. The Bill provides for the coordination and registration of NGOs, establish the NGO's board including the Zambia congress of NGOs. According to the bill, the NGO board shall consist of 10 part-time members appointed by the minister of home affairs.
The members shall comprise two members appointed by the minister, one person each from the ministries of health, home affairs, finance, community development and local government. The chairperson and vice-chairperson shall be appointed by the minister from amongst the members.
The board would register NGOs; regulate their work and area of work and NGOs operating in Zambia.
According to the bill, the board would prescribe the rules and procedures for the audit of the accounts of NGOs, advise government on the activities of the NGOs and their role in development in Zambia.
The board would also provide policy guidelines to NGOs for harmonising their activities to the national development plan for Zambia.
The board shall establish and maintain a documentation centre on NGOs and their activities in Zambia and such other information as might be necessary for the understanding and promotion of the contribution of NGOs to national development.
Under the bill, an international NGO shall not operate in Zambia without registration.
The NGOs are also supposed to indicate among other things proposed annual budgets and sources of funding. There shall be a transitional registration period not exceeding 90 days from the date of the commencement of the Act for the registration of NGOs, which are in existence at the commencement of the Act.
The bill states that it would provide for enhancement of the transparency, accountability and performance of NGOs. But SACCORD executive director Lee Habasonda in an interview yesterday said the bill would put too much power in the minister.
"It is dictatorial. It's limiting space of NGOs. It is not good to enact it at the time Zambia is assuming leadership at regional level," he said. "The bill will limit space for NGOs and is like subtracting from Zambia's good record."
Habasonda said the NGO Bill had been done in a secretive manner. "It was not done in a transparent manner. The AG refused to have a meeting with NGOs. We think the bill being tabled is not in good faith," he said.
"We wish to remind lawmakers that when they leave, they may need to serve in NGOs, they must not make bills for individuals." He said the minister could reject the representatives if he wished.
Labels: LEE HABASONDE, NGO BILL, NGOCC, SACCORD
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Guelleh applauds Pan Africanism
By Noel Sichalwe
Thursday July 19, 2007 [04:01]
DJIBOUTI President Ismail Omar Guelleh has said Pan Africanism can no longer be depicted as an unrealist dream of Africans. Speaking at a banquet hosted in his honour at Lusaka's Hotel Inter-Continental on Tuesday night, President Guelleh said Africans could now count on each other in a globalised world to improve the living standards of the people.
President Guelleh said Pan Africanism represented the unshaken determination for Africans to achieve what other countries and continents in the world have achieved.
"Let us be optimistic and realistic at the same time without losing focus on the daunting challenges we have," he said.
President Guelleh said the successful economic policies implemented in Zambia and good governance programmes could work for the benefit of Zambians.
President Guelleh said his visit to Zambia gave him an opportunity to share the experiences of poverty and poverty eradication programmes together with the development process.
He said despite his country being near huge financial markets, its geographic proximity did not help to improve the economy.
He said they had to create a conducive environment for private investment to improve the economy.
President Guelleh said his country had to take a business-oriented approach in reaching out to the huge financial markets to improve the living standards of the people.
And President Mwanawasa said since President Guelleh assumed office in 1999, he had managed to pacify his country after ending the civil conflict which was in Djibouti.
He said President Guelleh deliberately took inclusive measures to address the concerns of all the ethnic groups of Djibouti.
President Mwanawasa said Zambia was ready to learn from the experiences of Djibouti's economic success to avoid pitfalls.
He commended Djibouti for its initiatives undertaken within the framework of Inter-Government Authority on Development (IGAD) and the League of Arab States (LAS).
President Mwanawasa said as a peacemaker, Zambia was encouraging Djibouti to pursue the noble cause and the diplomatic course of action until the lasting peace was realized in Somalia.
Labels: ISMAIL OMAR GUELLEH, PANAFRICANISM
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Zimbabwe to step up price blitz, slammed by US
17/07/2007 17:00 HARARE, July 17 (AFP)
Zimbabwe's government was set to intensify its pricing crackdown, despite being condemned by the White House on Tuesday as a reckless move that would further fuel inflation and exacerbate food shortages.
Nathan Shamuyarira, ZANU-PF's secretary for information and publicity, said a meeting of the party's politburo on Monday, chaired by President Robert Mugabe, had decided to extend the three-week old Operation Dzikiza (Operation Reduced Prices) as it had already shown to have brought prices down.
"We got a full report from the ministerial taskforce and the politburo was very impressed that prices were coming down," Shamuyarira was quoted as saying on the website of the state-run Herald newspaper.
"The politburo came up with a number of measures to tighten and intensify the process and these will be tabled before the central committee ... but we were quite impressed with the process."
The central committee's recommendations will then be "implemented by the relevant arms of government," said the Herald without giving further details.
Retailers and manufacturers, grappling to cope with an inflation rate now believed to be well over 5,000 percent, had been raising their prices several times a day until the government ordered prices to be cut in half on June 26.
Some 3,000 retailers and manufacturers have been subsequently arrested for violating the edict, most of whom have been slapped with fines.
Manufacturers have said the government-imposed prices mean they are unable to cover their costs and stores are fast running out of supplies, although the black market is prospering as a result.
With affordable food fast running, the United States government announced it would send 47,400 metric tons of additional food aid to Zimbabwe as President George W. Bush's spokesman delivered a withering assessment of the price blitz.
"The regime's reckless attempts to address self-imposed hyperinflation have resulted in the arrest of at least 2,000 businesspeople, widespread hoarding and profiteering by police and government officials, and shortage of basic staples," said Tony Snow.
"Its irresponsible economic policies will only worsen inflation, unemployment, growing food shortages, and poverty," he said, adding that more than four million Zimbabweans were projected to go hungry.
Snow said Washington would provide 47,400 metric tons of additional food assistance to ease the suffering of roughly half a million Zimbabweans, and that total US aid would feed about 1.4 million until Zimbabwe's 2008 harvest.
Mugabe, barred from the United States and European Union over allegations he rigged his re-election in 2002, has repeatedly told his Western critics to stop interfering in the country he has ruled since independence in 1980.
One of his most outspoken domestic opponents, Bulawayo Archbishop Pius Ncube, has previously called on outside help to topple Mugabe but his image as head of the Catholic Church took a battering Tuesday when state media published pictures that appeared to show him in bed with a married woman.
A lawyer for Ncube said the archbishop was challenging an adultery suit filed by the woman's husband.
Labels: ECONOMY, PIUS NCUBE, ZIMBABWE
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Levy projects Zambia’s agro revolution
By KASUBA MULENGA
PRESIDENT Mwanawasa says Zambia will be turned into a major exporter of agricultural and food products by the year 2015. The President said to this effect, Government had embarked on the promotion of the production of a wide variety of crops so that agriculture could become the mainstay of the country’s economy in the near future. Mr Mwanawasa said this in Lusaka last night at State banquet hosted for visiting Djibouti President, Ismail Omar Guelleh, at Hotel Intercontinental.
“In the agricultural sector, my Government wishes to turn the country into a major exporter of agricultural and food products by the year 2015. Already, the country has achieved self-sufficiency in the production of maize, the staple food of the Zambian people,” Mr Mwanawasa said.
He said in its endeavour to achieve economic development, Government had elected to prioritise agriculture, mining and tourism. He said Zambia was offering incentives to local and foreign investors with a view to increasing the production of wealth that would help raise the living standards of the people. In the mining sector, the President said the attractive incentives Government had offered had triggered tremendous expansion of the industry across the nation.
“The investment incentives have also contributed to a remarkable expansion in the tourism sector. Your Excellency has been afforded a chance to sample one of our most spectacular tourist attractions just outside the city of Livingstone: the Mosi-O-Tunya - the smoke thatthunders.”
He also said Government strongly believed that the interaction between Zambia and Djibouti should transcend the political sphere and trickle down into trade and culture. The President said such interactions would enable the two countries strengthen longstanding political relations and bonds of friendship at all levels.
“My Government strongly believes that your visit to Zambia will constitute a turning point in the political relations of our two countries,” President Mwanawasa said.
He said Mr Guelleh’s visit to Zambia went beyond fostering a better understanding between the two Governments and providing an insight into the developments to closer cooperation in the cultural and economic fields. President Mwanawasa also appreciated the Djibouti Government’s great interest in the establishment of an African Union Government at the Accra, Ghana, African Union summit held about two weeks ago.
Mr Mwanawasa said his Government fully understood Djibouti’s advocacy for the consolidation of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law as prerequisites to the formation of a continental government.
And Mr Guelleh said President Mwanawasa’s good leadership since he headed Government in 2002, deserved international support and emulation because Zambia had made many economic strides which the local people should be proud of.
He said his visit to Zambia was mainly dedicated to sharing Djibouti’s experiences on how it had struggled in fighting poverty and the way it had contributed to the restoration of peace and security in the Common Market for East and Southern Africa and other regions.
Mr Guelleh urged Africans to ensure that the continent no longer depended on other developed nations’ support.
Labels: AGRICULTURE, GREEN REVOLUTION, MWANAWASA
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State ponders $600m debt cancellation
By NANCY MWAPE
Finance and National Planning Minister, Nga’ndu Magande, said efforts to obtain debt relief under the enhanced HIPC initiative from the remaining creditors had been stepped up. In April 2005, Zambia’s external debt amounting to US$3.8 billion out of a total US$7.2 billion was cancelled.
Following the qualification to the HIPC initiative completion, Government entered into negotiations with both multilateral and bilateral donors to discuss cancellation of the remaining debt.
Mr Magande said in an interview in Lusaka that his ministry was currently having discussions with remaining bilateral creditors namely Brazil, Bulgaria, Russia, India and Iraq. He said Russia had agreed that a team goes to that country for discussions while Brazil had not yet replied to Government’s request.
Mr Magande said following the opening of an embassy in Brazil, Zambia’s ambassador assigned to that country had been asked to approach Brazilian Government on outstanding debt.
The minister, however, hoped that Brazil would reply to Government’s request soon.
Commenting on the debt owned to Iraq, Mr. Magande said Government had not yet approached Iraq as it was considering using the United Nations’ system once security stabilised in that country.
He added that Government was also in discussion with India though the remaining debt was not huge.
Mr Magande said through India’s ambassador in Zambia, Government was in discussion to find out exactly how much debt had remained.
“We do owe India not more than US$30 million. The problem is that, the money we owe India belongs to so many companies, and we are trying to reconcile our information with them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Government will soon launch an aid policy and strategy aimed at strengthening the efficiency of aid.
Mr Magande said in line with the strategy, a foreign aid reporting and monitoring system would also be developed.
He added that as a first step, the ministry would create an integrated database on external aid to ensure reliability and comprehensiveness of aid financing included in the budget.
Labels: DEBT, MAGANDE
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Mugabe critic sued for adultery
A prominent critic of President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo, Pius Ncube, is being sued for alleged adultery. The lawsuit has been filed by the husband of a woman who worked as a secretary in the archbishop's office. Lawyers for Archbishop Ncube called the allegations an orchestrated attempt to discredit him.
The archbishop, who denies the allegations, has openly denounced Mr Mugabe as a "megalomaniac". Earlier this month in an interview with the BBC, he argued that a case could be made for the overthrow of the president.
Zimbabwean state radio said Onesimus Sibanda was demanding 20 billion Zimbabwe dollars (about $160,000, or £80,000 on the country's black market exchange rate) in damages from the archbishop.
It said his wife, Rosemary Sibanda, had "admitted the affair to" the state broadcasting company. Attorney Nick Matonzi said it was "some kind of orchestrated attempt to embarrass the archbishop", who he said would deny the allegations in court.
Earlier this year, Archbishop Ncube called for mass street protests and said people must be prepared to stand in front of "blazing guns" to force Mr Mugabe from power.
Labels: PIUS NCUBE, ZIMBABWE
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Only holistic framework can stabilise prices in Zim - Gono
By Kingsley Kaswende in Harare
Wednesday July 18, 2007 [04:00]
RESERVE Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor Dr Gideon Gono is convinced that only a holistic framework can stabilise prices in the country, without inducing shortages in the market. Dr Gono said the country’s ongoing price reduction blitz must avoid the law of unintended consequences.
Dr Gono, the principal advisor on the economy, was understood to have criticised the price cuts in the country after he wrote to minister without Portfolio Elliot Manyika, who was then acting as chairperson of the cabinet taskforce of price stabilisation and controls, that it would create shortages in the market.
“Advice that is being given by me should not be misconstrued as opposition to the current price stabilisation measures that seek to cushion consumers against the unbridled profiteering we have been witnessing through daily and in some cases hourly price increases. That madness needed to be dealt with decisively,” he said.
The government directed that all prices be reduced by up to 50 per cent and then be frozen in a move criticised by the opposition MDC as an election gimmick.
Prior to the order, prices of commodities had shot up by over 300 per cent in a matter of days and the government said it would step in to cushion the consumers.
According to the government, this was the work of elements trying to use economic pressure to ensure an illegal regime change.
But, in what seems to be a reversal of fortunes, consumers that enjoyed the price cuts are now grappling with shortages of basic food products, which supermarkets have failed to restock adequately claiming that they no longer have reasonable returns in their businesses.
Dr Gono’s advice was that the price reduction should take a holistic approach and not crate shortages.
“To the extent that inflation control is the core function of the central bank and, therefore, of this governor, it is important that the nation realises that apart from attending to consumers’ plight, there is need to attend to the production side to avoid the emptying of shops without replacements the next day,” he said.
Dr Gono said it was important that the cost of any business be covered in the consumer’s final price paid, with an allowance for a “reasonable” profit margin.
He said the current price blitz needed to put more focus on the empowerment of the majority of people through a broad-based small and medium business development programme with roots in local ownership at the grassroots level.
Dr Gono had written to Manyika that a “holistic package of measures that would uplift the general supply of goods and services in the economy” was needed.
“I write to make recommendations on the ongoing efforts meant to stabilise prices in the economy,” Gono stated. “It is our strongest conviction that only through a holistic framework can we stabilise prices, without inducing shortages in the market.”
Dr Gono is one of a few people in the country who are close to, and have direct access to the president. He is touted by some as President Mugabe’s choice as heir apparent. But Dr Gono said he had no political ambitions and that he was not in bad books with some cabinet ministers and senior ZANU-PF members.
“I am not a politician, but a technocrat and practical governor of the central bank whose duty is, among other things to give advice to the government in its various forms and I’m doing exactly that without fear or favour. I do not hold any political ambitions either. As governor I hold an apolitical office in the land and I have no enemies in ZANU-PF, MDC or any other political party,” he said.
Labels: GIDEON GONO, PRICING, RBZ
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GBM and Mulyata saga
By Editor
Wednesday July 18, 2007 [04:00]
It is good that works and supply minister Kapembwa Simbao has summoned Road Development Agency (RDA) officers in Livingstone to explain what happened in the matter Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata is reported to have connived with an MMD cadre to break the law.
When we first reported that Mulyata had connived with an MMD cadre and Lusaka businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) to illegally release the latter’s bus which was impounded by RDA officers for overloading, we were called all sorts of names and accused of all sorts of things.
Now it is time for Mulyata and GBM to account for their actions, of course taking into consideration what the law says. That is why we welcome Simbao’s move to investigate this matter and get to the bottom of it. In his investigations, we expect Simbao to be fair and objective. Fairness and objectivity will require Simbao not to look at the faces or names of the people involved but just to confine himself to the facts on the ground and the applicable law.
So far the facts on the ground are that RDA officers the previous Sunday gave chase to GBM’s bus which absconded the weighbridge in Livingstone. After catching up with the bus, the officers managed to redirect it to the weighbridge and upon weighing, it was established that the bus was overloaded. This being an offence, the officers proceeded to do the necessary calculations in penalty fees which came to US $2,000. Thereafter, the bus was impounded pending payments of the penalty fee as provided by the law.
But because the owner of the bus is such a rich and powerful man that he can even move the Queen from Buckingham Palace at his pleasure, he just picked up the phone and talked to Mulyata, asking him to intervene and release the bus against the law. And since Mulyata is equally such a powerful man in Southern Province, he just directed the provincial roads engineer to do something about that matter, notwithstanding the law. And so GBM’s bus was illegally released. These are the brief facts.
But so far, the law states that in case of an overload offence, any accredited weighbridge on behalf of the Agency (RDA) shall impose the prescribed compensation for road damage to the owner of the vehicle in accordance with the Act. The compensations shall be calculated and charged by an authorised weighbridge officer. The compensation shall be paid on the spot and before the detained vehicle in question can be released. If any dispute on compensation arises, the vehicle shall not be released until the dispute is settled.
This is the law without exceptions. And it is good that this matter will be dealt with by Simbao because he is the one under whose hand Statutory Instrument No. 28 of 2007 which contains these provisions was gazetted on April 2, 2007. We therefore expect that more than anyone else, Simbao understands better the spirit of this law. If this is the case, we expect Simbao to defend the law that he enacted on behalf of the people of Zambia.
Without doubt, GBM and Mulyata have assaulted the law, they have breached it and we are all waiting to see what the enforcement agencies will do about this matter.
Whatever they will do, the people charged with this responsibility of enforcing the law should realise that they will be setting a precedent. In our view, this precedent should be in the interest of the public. A strong message should be sent that public officers should at no time, during performance of their duties, abuse their power and authority because this is a form of corruption. A strong message should also be sent that when President Levy Mwanawasa says his is a government of laws and not men, he means what he says. Otherwise, no one will take his pronouncements seriously if some people will be shielded from facing the law after they transgress it.
We do not expect double standards from Levy because we know of some ministers whom he dropped at the mere fact that they were being investigated, even before it was established that they had committed an offence. Levy will add credibility to his fight against corruption only when he is seen to stand by his words, otherwise he will render credence to the wide perception that his fight against corruption is selective, that it only matters when it is his enemies who come in conflict with the law.
And we do not think that this perception is entirely wrong because we heard that some high ranking officials in government were saying that The Post is being petty by following up the GBM and Mulyata’s saga. We heard that these officials said GBM is a good man whom we have chosen to harass because of our pettiness.
It was surprising for us to hear those sentiments coming from people who are legislating these laws on our behalf. Clearly, some of our members of parliament do not seem to know that in fact, their primary responsibility is to make laws for our country on our behalf. We wonder if some of these so-called members of parliament even know how serious their role is.
For them, what counts more is their personal relations with the offenders of the law. If they are in good terms with the offender, they will go to great lengths in ensuring that their friend, their party cadre or business associate is saved from facing the consequences of breaking the law. That’s why Mulyata saw nothing wrong in breaking the law because he had to assist his ruling party colleague against the law.
But is this the country or society we want to build for ourselves where those who have contacts with the powerful will get away with murder? The rule of law which is championed by Levy and his administration requires that no one be above the law.
Labels: EDITORIAL, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, JOSEPH MULYATA, RDA
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UPND disassociates itself from ZCID's roadmap
By Masuzyo Chakwe and Bivan Saluseki
Wednesday July 18, 2007 [04:00]
THE United Party for National Development (UPND) has disassociated itself from the Zambia Centre for Inter-party Dialogue (ZCID)’s roadmap. And the Oasis Forum says it would petition SADC heads of state during the summit over Zambia’s constitution impasse. UPND chairman for information and publicity Charles Kakoma said yesterday that the publication in the media was without their knowledge and approval.
He said the ZCID committed the UPND to a programme and roadmap without consulting it and therefore the said roadmap had no blessings from the party.
Kakoma said the party’s official position on the constitution was that it would support the adoption of the constitution through a constitution conference (CC) based on the understandings that the CC was the same as the constituent assembly (CA).
“We therefore do not agree with the ZCID’s position that the CC is different from the CA. There is no roadmap which was discussed and agreed upon at the Summit of political party presidents. The only agreement was to present a CC bill to Parliament. The issues of the roadmap and contents of the draft constitution were supposed to be referred to various political parties for further scrutiny before they could be presented to the second Summit of presidents,” he said.
He said UPND was opposed to the piecemeal amendment of the constitution as suggested in the ZCID roadmap.
Kakoma said their position was that the contents of the new constitution should be agreed upon and adopted by the CC, then subjected to a national referendum before presentation to Parliament for enactment in total.
“We are opposed to the piecemeal amendment of the constitution because that is what has been done to the constitution reviews since independence, resulting in the current bad Constitution that is not acceptable to the majority of Zambians in a multiparty democratic dispensation like ours,” he said.
He said the constitutional conference bill should be published and distributed to all stakeholders including the ZCID, political parties, the Oasis Forum before presenting it to Parliament.
“The contents of the bill should be agreed upon before presentation to Parliament. We do not agree with the ZCID’s programme of sensitising people countrywide before the contents of the CC bill are known and agreed upon. What we are going to sensitise the people about?” he asked.
Kakoma said there were no stakeholders who should be excluded from the constitution-making process as suggested by some political parties.
He said the party’s position was that all stakeholders including the Oasis Forum should be part of the constitution-making process.
“We wish to reaffirm our commitment to an inclusive constitution-making process that is acceptable to all stakeholders. We remain committed members of the ZCID. We however wish to strongly advise the ZCID that all major decisions should be discussed and agreed upon by member parties before implementation or publication. We wish to assure the public that despite what has transpired, the UPND will continue to participate in the ZCID activities,” said Kakoma.
And Oasis forum convener Rev Suzan Matale yesterday said the ZCID process was open to political manipulation.
“It is not surprising that some of the arguments advanced by ZCID for parliamentary supremacy, are the same arguments made by the Chiluba administration in rejecting the recommendations of the Mwanakatwe CRC. Some of the people involved in ZCID were in the Chiluba administration,” she said.
Revr Matale said the Forum would picket Parliament, march the streets, hold public discussions and petition even the SADC heads of state if need be.
“Our message to SADC is, do not wait until the constitutional impasse in Zambia becomes a major conflict before you start convening heads of state meetings and appointing special missions to Zambia,” she said.
Rev Matale said the Forum did not seek to earn a living from the process, but make a meaningful contribution to the country by having a constitution that represented people’s collective aspirations.
She said the government was working on the constitution conference bill without the broad involvement of stakeholders.
“We are fully aware that once a bill is tabled in Parliament, only government can withdraw and we do not want this complication and therefore demand that government should not introduce the bill before all stakeholders and interested Zambians have had a chance to scrutinise it and make comments,” said Rev. Matale.
Labels: CHARLES KAKOMA, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, OASIS FORUM, UPND, ZCID
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Simbao summons L/stone RDA officers
By Noel Sichalwe and Bivan Saluseki
Wednesday July 18, 2007 [04:00]
WORKS and supply minister Kapembwa Simbao has summoned Livingstone Road Development Agency (RDA) officers that impounded a bus belonging to Lusaka businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba popularly known as GBM. And finance minister Ng'andu Magande yesterday confirmed having discussed with RDA officers at Livingstone weighbridge over the impounded bus.
In an interview yesterday, Simbao said he summoned the RDA officers to brief him on what transpired before he could talk to Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata who is reported to have ordered the release of the bus against the law.
Mulyata is said to have used bad language against, and threatened, RDA workers in order to secure the illegal release of the bus. The bus was released without its owner paying US $2,000 penalty fee for the offence of overloading.
"We have asked the officers involved to come to Lusaka so that they can tell us what happened," Simbao said. "The officers are supposed to come today (yesterday) and then we shall know the story. After that, we shall talk to the minister (Mulyata) and find out what happened."
Simbao also said according to Statutory Instrument number 28 of 2007, the owner of any overloaded vehicle is supposed to pay an appropriate penalty fee on the spot before the vehicle could be released.
"Where an authorised weighbridge officer has found that the vehicle and its driver after corrections is complying with regulations, and or any related payment has been settled, the officer shall give a notification as set out in Form PR 4 to release the vehicle," the Statutory Instrument states. "In case of an overload offence, any accredited weighbridge station on behalf of the Agency (RDA) shall impose the prescribed compensation for road damage to the owner of the vehicle in accordance with the Act. The compensations shall be calculated and charged by an authorised weighbridge officer. The compensation shall be paid on the spot and before the detained vehicle in question can be released. If any dispute on compensation arises, the vehicle shall not be released until the dispute is settled."
And finance minister Magande confirmed being told by the RDA officers about the impounded bus though he did not know that it belonged to GBM. He said he was on his way to Livingstone and just before the weighbridge, one of the trucks had blocked the road and he stopped over to see what was happening.
Magande said the officers explained to him the cause of the traffic and what had happened to the bus and how they were failing to collect the penalty fee. He said the officers told him that the driver by-passed the weighbridge and they wanted the payments for the offence of overloading.
"I did not really have to make any decisions," he said.
Magande said the driver of the bus who was at the weighbridge had been fired. He said it was surprising that someone who had been fired had gone to collect the bus. He said ordinarily, it should have been the owner of the bus to collect it instead of a fired driver.
"I found the issue, they told me," Magande said. "I said 'if that's what the law says, everybody should follow the law'. They must continue to apply the law. I said 'it's a big offence'."
Magande said the overloading and bypassing the weighbridge, as told to him by the officers, was a big offence.
"It's a big offence. That is obviously not very good. I asked him (driver) why did you do it? He said 'I was being obstructed'."
Magande said he did not know Mulyata was involved until the officers briefed him. He said the officers told him that the owner of the bus had phoned the minister over the same bus and the minister was trying to prevail on them. Magande said he even asked the driver if he was aware that his boss had spoken to the officers' boss.
Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president Reuben Lifuka has demanded that President Mwanawasa take appropriate action against Mulyata for interfering in the work of junior government officers.
Lifuka said TIZ was totally disgusted with Mulyata's apparent interference in the execution of duty by members of staff from the RDA. Lifuka said the fight against corruption clearly was being hampered by such actions and Mulyata should know that he was given the privilege to serve the people and not to abuse his authority by protecting wrongdoers.
Labels: JOSEPH MULYATA, KAPEMBWA SIMBAO, MAGANDE, RDA
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