Saturday, December 26, 2009

(MONITOR UGANDA) Homosexuality forms bulk of Xmas sermons

Homosexuality forms bulk of Xmas sermons
By Monitor Team (email the author)
Posted Saturday, December 26 2009 at 00:00

Religious leaders yesterday condemned homosexuality as they led thousands of Christians in prayers to mark Christmas Day. Bishop of Kampala Archdiocese Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, who led celebrations at Rubaga Cathedral, told hundreds of Christians that homosexuality is immoral and forbidden.

“The Catholic bishops of Uganda applaud the government’s effort to protect families and the church teachings remain clear. Homosexuality acts are immoral and evil and are against the divine laws of nature,” he said.

He added: “The church condemns homosexuality because we were created in God’s image and we must remain that.”

The archbishop attacked donors whom he accused of forcing their harsh positions onto Ugandans desperate for aid.

“We shall not allow acts of homosexuality to be promoted in the country and we shall not accept the donors’ positions,” he said.

He, however, said MP David Bahati’s Bill that seeks to criminalise homosexuality is unnecessary since there are already laws that outlaw the practice.

The clause in the Bill that calls for the death penalty in cases of “aggravated homosexuality” is uncalled for, Dr Lwanga said, adding that it does not allow for rehabilitation.

At St. Paul Cathedral, Namirembe, Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira urged the faithful to oppose all external forces seeking to promote homosexuality in the country, adding that it is against the order of nature.

“We know what we want as Ugandans and we shall not be intimidated to accept homosexuality because it is against the order of nature,” he said, drawing a standing ovation from the congregation that included Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi.

Rev. John Bosco Sendagala, of Christ the King Church, Kampala, said everyone should fight homosexuality. The same call was made by the Bishop of Ankole Diocese, the Rt. Rev Dr. George Tibesigwa.

Voice of ‘dissent’

The only voice of dissent yesterday came from a Ugandan-born clergy but based in the UK. Dr John Sentamu, the archbishop of York, told the BBC that the Anglican Communion was committed to recognising that gay people were valued by God.

Reported by Mercy Nalugo, Ephraim Kasozi, Juliet Kigongo, Lominda Afedraru, Joseph Mazige & Flavia Lanyero

******

A reaction here on the Gay Uganda blog.

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(NYASATIMES) More earthquakes expected in Karonga

More earthquakes expected in Karonga
By Nyasa Times
Published: December 24, 2009

The latest in a series of earthquakes that struck Malawi’s northern district of Karonga between 6 and 20 December and left over 4,600 households in need of urgent humanitarian assistance has prompted the government to formally declare a national emergency.

Four people were reportedly killed and more than 260 injured by the earthquakes. Karonga district health officer James Mpunga said most of those requiring medical attention were hit by the falling walls of their houses while they slept.

“Most of the cases that we have received are those of victims who have suffered fractures,” Mpunga said.

James Chiusiwa, deputy commissioner for Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Authority (DODMA) said: “The situation is really bad … People who were affected by the earthquakes have been shifted to a camp where they are being assisted.”

While the full extent of the damage was not yet clear, innitial needs were already evident: “they include tents, especially family tents where each family can be sleeping. At the moment they are all sheltered in communal tents,” he said.

Besides immediate temporary shelter materials, water treatment tablets, toilet construction material and new boreholes, were a priority.

“So far the response has been encouraging. Organisations such as UNICEF [the UN Children’s Fund], the Red Cross, Chinese nationals in Malawi and others have come … to assist the injured,” he noted.

Not over yet

Chiusiwa said aid agencies and the government were caught off guard by the seismic events: “[They] had initially planned to deal with hail storms, floods and dry spells but natural calamities such as earth quakes were not in our plans because they are a rare occurrence here.”

Ranging between 5.4 and 6 on the Richter scale the quakes had been growing in intensity according to a statement released by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in the capital, Lilongwe, on 22 December.

“Seismological activity continues and is taking the form of an earthquake swarm [sequences of earthquakes in a relatively short period of time]. There is no certainty about when this is expected to halt.

“There is panic and much uncertainty in the area … as long as the community in Karonga district continues to feel tremors and experience periodically more severe shocks, life will not return to normal. People have been advised to sleep outside” the statement said.

Malawi is situated at the southern end of the Great Rift Valley – essentially a 5,000-kilometer-long fault line that runs north-south from Lebanon to Mozambique – a position that makes the country vulnerable to earthquakes.–IRIN

*Picture by Simon Msowoya, Karonga (Nyasa Times)

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Betrayal of the dead

Betrayal of the dead
By Editor
Sat 26 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT

LOYALTY is an important virtue. "A loyal friend is like a safe shelter; find one, and you will have found a treasure. Nothing else is as valuable; there is no way of putting a price on it. A loyal friend is like a medicine that keeps you in good health. A loyal friend will treat you as he does himself" (Sirach 6:14-17).

And accordingly we are advised: "Don't betray a friend for money. Don't betray a real friend for all the gold in the world. Don't think up lies to tell about your friends. Don't tell lies at all. It never does any good" (Sirach 7:12-18).

For a person to be called principled, they must at one point or another in their life exercise loyalty.

Principledness demands commitment. It is not easy to live a life of dedication to principles. This is because it does not always appear beneficial. More often than not, a principled life demands sacrifice and self-denial of things that many others consider as rights.

This is why principled people are not in the majority. But even amongst the unprincipled, loyalty is a virtue that is expected. It is expected that friends will defend friends.

Betrayal is an appalling social vice which almost everybody frowns upon. But loyalty is not possible without love. We say this because love is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and fairness.

It is also not possible to have loyalty without truth. Again, we say this because charity in truth is the principal driving force behind the loyalty a person has towards another and indeed to all humanity.

To defend the truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear witness to it in life are therefore exactly an indispensable forms of loyalty. Loyalty, in fact, "rejoices in truth" (1Cor 13:6).

One of the most repugnant human experiences to witness is betrayal of loyalty of any kind. A friend betraying a friend, a husband betraying a wife and vice versa, or a parent betraying a child. It is always a sad thing to witness.

But it happens so often, so repeatedly. One form of betrayal which could rank the worst is the betrayal of somebody who is not there to defend themselves - betrayal of the dead.

One of the common fallacies that many of us suffer from is the belief that when we are gone, our friends will do what they would have done if we were there. We expect them to act in the best interest of our friendship.

But time and again, experience has shown that some people will be loyal to you only when it is convenient to them, only when you are there to give them something in return. This is the loyalty of George Kunda.

No one can deny that George was one of, if not the closest confidants and lieutenants of late Levy Mwanawasa. Levy did not have an easy presidency. He did not seem to have many people that he could trust. He had worries about a lot of people, even people that he worked with closely.

But George was not one of those people. One would not be wrong to say that Levy felt completely comfortable with George and trusted him completely.
Levy's relationship with George was not without its problems.

George caused Levy a lot of problems and drove him into a lot of disastrous political errors. Levy received a lot of public criticism and was viciously harangued by many people including ourselves for mistakes that were caused by George. But up to the time of his death, Levy remained loyal to George and kept him as a close confidant.

With the passing of Levy, his record, his failures and achievements have naturally come into public scrutiny. If ever Levy would have expected somebody to defend him, George Kunda and not George Mpombo would have been the person he would have expected to defend him. Life being what it is, it is Mpombo and not Kunda defending Levy today.

Hardly a word in defence of Levy has escaped Kunda's mouth. Kunda seems even to have serious problems mentioning Levy's name in public. What a shame, what a pity!

What a Judas Iscariot! It is said that "anyone can claim to be your friend, but some people are friends in name only. The grief caused when a close friendship turns sour is as bad as death. Some people will be your friend as long as things are going well but they will turn against you when trouble comes." (Sirach 37:1-4).

If all Kunda did was failing to defend Levy, he might be forgiven. But attacking Levy and his record in defence of their criminal schemes with Chalwe Mchenga goes beyond any level of morality.

Recently, Kunda in trying to defend Mchenga resorted to attacking the removal of Mukelabai Mukelabai from the office of DPP. According to Kunda, Mukelabai was hounded out of the office. Kunda was saying this ostensibly to attack The Post. But in truth what Kunda was saying was that his former boss, Levy hounded Mukelabai out of the office.

We say this because it was Levy who demanded the setting up of a tribunal to investigate Mukelabai for incompetence and breach of the Constitution. The Post supported that position but was not in any way able to remove Mukelabai from office. It was only Levy who could demand the constitution of a tribunal. And this he did. As a consequence of it, Mukelabai had to go. Kunda was at that time Levy's right hand man.

How can he today attack Levy's actions? Could Kunda say what he is saying today if Levy was alive?

This is the betrayal we are talking about. To try and ingratiate himself to Rupiah Banda and prove his value, Kunda is prepared to kick at Levy's record. This is something Levy would never have expected. But Kunda has decided to show his true colours by fighting his friend who is not able to defend himself.

There is a lesson in this. Those that govern should do their best to surround themselves with honest and principled people. People who will tell them the truth in every situation and not minions who tell them what they think they want to hear. Such people will betray at the slightest excuse.

Today we wonder what type of love George had for Levy. We say this because it's not possible to have loyalty to someone that you hate, that you don't truly love. If true religion rests on love, it is equally true that loyalty rests on love. Loyalty is a sentiment, not a law. It rests on love and on nothing else. Where there is no love, there can be no loyalty.

Today Rupiah may pride himself in the loyalty of George. But he should stop and think about George's loyalty to Levy. George had known Levy for many years but today he has so easily turned his back on him, on his memory and on his legacy. What will happen to Rupiah at the end of all this who George hardly knows?

George's behaviour shows that maybe his relationship with Levy was not based on truth.

He may have been showing Levy one side of himself while on the other side keeping his true feelings hidden. Now that Levy is not there, George feels comfortable to publicly express views that he could only have spoken in whispers before. George's attack on Levy is morally reprehensible and not expected of a person holding the office that he is.

A leader who does not have loyalty to his own comrades is a dangerous traitor who does not deserve trust from anybody.

George's behaviour also demonstrates how remarkable Levy's efforts were at fighting corruption. This is so because George has demonstrated that Levy was alone in fighting corruption. Even his closest confidant was against him. Levy's fight was a lonely one.

That he was able to do what he did demonstrates what we said when Levy was alive: there was something noble about Levy. George has demonstrated how difficult it is to fight corruption in our country. If George could harbour such a deep resentment for the fight against corruption whilst working as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, what hope is there for our country?

Against this background, the successes that have been scored in the fight against corruption need to be fairly assessed. It has not been an easy fight. And people like George will continue to do everything to ensure that the corrupt are protected and defended.

Defending Levy goes against their desire to defend the corrupt. Between Levy and the corrupt, George has chosen the corrupt.

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Kunda is slippery over Levy’s legacy – Mpombo

Kunda is slippery over Levy’s legacy – Mpombo
By George Chellah
Sat 26 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT

FORMER defence minister George Mpombo has accused Vice-President George Kunda of being slippery over president Levy Mwanawasa's legacy. And Mpombo has urged Kunda to be truthful over decisions that were adopted by the Levy Mwanawasa administration and desist from attacking his late friend.

Reacting to Vice-President Kunda’s remarks that the late Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mukelabai Mukelabai was hounded out of office in similar circumstances as the ones facing his successor Chalwe Mchenga, Mpombo described Vice-President Kunda as a spineless individual who usually takes a petty attitude on important national issues.

Mpombo wondered why Vice-President Kunda was distancing himself from decisions made by the Mwanawasa administration and yet he was part of it.

“He Vice-President Kunda has become slippery. He is trying to distance himself from all fundamental issues, which were discussed and he was there,” Mpombo said. “For once he has to be sincere with his late friend. It’s not good to appear as though whatever decision was taken when he was minister of justice was just thrusted down his throat. It’s not good to chicken out every time.”

He said Vice-President Kunda should resign on moral grounds.

“It’s desperation… it amounts to a lot of desperation. It’s morally distasteful to be dragging people Post editor Fred M’membe in this matter,” he said.

He said Vice-President Kunda was a man of principles built on shifting sand.

“His principles are not anchored on anything sustainable. He would behave according to the wind. He is spineless, he has brought a lot of embarrassment to the government,” said Mpombo.

“He adopts a petty attitude over important national issues. It undermines the credibility of the office of the Vice-President. He must be an inspiration to even his colleagues, the lawyers.”

He said Vice-President Kunda was trying to destroy the legal profession.

Last Sunday, Vice-President Kunda accused Post editor Fred M'membe of trying to take over state power by scheming to control the office of the DPP and other constitutional offices.

He vowed that the government would not allow a situation where all institutions were answerable to M’membe and described that as treason.

“Now the DPP’s office in this country, this thing has got a historical background. The targeting of the DPP’s office, the targeting of constitutional office holders, the targeting of the Judiciary; it is meant to weaken these institutions for the public to lose confidence in them. It’s a well-calculated enterprise, this. Now it started with the late former director of public prosecutions Mukelabai Mukelabai, may his soul rest in peace.

He was hounded out of office in similar circumstances. Now, we have the current DPP who has only served from that time in 2002, for just a short period of time; again a similar thing. Now, is it that only DPPs make mistakes? Why are they targeted? I’ll tell you the answer.

The answer is about making money. People they want to control these offices, they want to control State power so that they can select who has to be prosecuted and when,” Vice-President Kunda said. “Once you are accused by a newspaper they will continue hammering on you, hammering on you until you are convicted; that is not justice.

They want to intimidate everybody in the country, to intimidate the judges so that when cases come before those judges they know. And institutions for example like TIZ, Transparency International Zambia, you know their bread and butter is fighting corruption.

So, they need a user-friendly DPP. Forget about human rights, forget about justice. Once you go in some of these courts, once you are accused by them they are the judges, the prosecutors, the executioners, everything in one person. So now what they want is to control these institutions.

Now, just imagine if this kind of thing is allowed and we shall not allow it because it’s a recipe for anarchy in this country, we shall not allow it. And the DPP is not going to resign; he is firmly performing his functions. Now if you allow a situation like this where all institutions are answerable to Post editor-in-chief Mr Fred M’membe you are finished as a country.”

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Kunda instructed lawyers to prosecute Chiluba, says Malila

Kunda instructed lawyers to prosecute Chiluba, says Malila
By Patson Chilemba
Sat 26 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT

FORMER Attorney General Mumba Malila yesterday said Vice-President George Kunda instructed the lawyers to prosecute former president Frederick Chiluba’s cases.

Commenting on the statement by government that Vice-President Kunda travelled to London for a case government had with Donegal International and not the plunder cases involving Chiluba, Malila said Vice-President Kunda served as Attorney General at the time the cases started.

“You know it’s difficult for me to say anything, extremely difficult, he Vice-President Kunda was Attorney General before me, and he is the one that instructed those lawyers obviously, yah. And I am not very certain when and how or whether he travelled for that particular matter when instructing the lawyers, or whether he had to sit down with them. I can’t recall,” he said.

Asked if it was the Attorney General who instructed lawyers to prosecute state cases such as the one involving Chiluba, Malila responded: “Yes, and he was Attorney General then. Yes, he was the Attorney General. The Attorney General is the one who contracts lawyers, lawyers to represent the state.”

Justice deputy minister Todd Chilembo was quoted in last Thursday’s Daily Mail as having said it was regrettable for Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata to call for Vice-President Kunda’s arrest when he had nothing to do with the US $5 million that Sata was talking about.

His remarks came in the wake of Sata’s call for Vice-President Kunda’s arrest for alleged failure to account for the US $5 million paid to the London High Court during plunder cases involving Chiluba.

Chilembo asked Sata to get his facts right.
Chilembo said Vice-President Kunda travelled to London for a case the government had with Donegal International and not for the plunder cases involving Chiluba.

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Attacking Lungu is wicked intimidation - Prof Hansungule

Attacking Lungu is wicked intimidation - Prof Hansungule
By Ernest Chanda
Sat 26 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT

Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Stephen Lungu
PRETORIA-based Professor of law Michelo Hansungule has described the government’s attacks on Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Stephen Lungu as wicked intimidation.

In an interview from his base in South Africa, Prof Hansungule encouraged LAZ to continue protecting the people of Zambia.

“LAZ and Stephen Lungu should continue developing Zambia through their fearless voices on matters of public interest. MMD must understand that statements from their ministers against Lungu in particular and LAZ in general is wicked intimidation which is very disappointing really for a party which came to power on the bandwagon of democracy,” Prof Hansungule said.

“In Zambia, we need not just LAZ voice but a million voices of free men and women including children to develop. No country where the government intimidates its people has developed. Look around at history and tell me one which did. The different views and discourses especially against government is the raw material by which development is made.”

Prof Hansungule wondered why the government should call for Lungu’s blood when he was operating professionally.

“It is amazing how politics make people drunk with power. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. It's a long time since a wise man uttered these words. Today, they sound exactly like they were uttered this morning. Why should our politicians itch for Stephen Lungu's blood? You want the blood of someone who is saying the right thing?

What exactly is wrong with us humans?” he asked. “The Law Association of Zambia has a right to comment on issues of public interest in the way they not MMD see it. I thought the MMD should surprise us at least once by coming out to congratulate Stephen and his colleagues for being true to themselves and doubt DPP Mchenga. More than forty years after independence, the ruling party still cannot tolerate different views! When are we going to 'grow up' politically and celebrate different and opposite views?”

He said there was nothing wrong with people questioning Chiluba’s acquittal since the former president plundered public resources.

“The right of participation is enshrined in the Constitution and it is so in all major political systems. A key element of this is the freedom of expression and I am glad deputy ministers Todd Chilembo and Gaston Sichilima know it hence always press conferences and press statements to castigate those who try claim it to communicate their views.

Holding dissenting opinions from the ruling party is precisely the stuff freedoms of opinion and expression is made of,” he said.

“Did the ministers really think that we should all share their opinion on such a divisive issue as Chiluba's acquittal? If they have chosen not to oppose the acquittal for whatever reason (s), should all Zambians and their various professional and non-professional bodies not think differently from the MMD? What exactly is wrong with calls for appeal in Chiluba's acquittal or for LAZ to question Mchenga's stance?”

Prof Hansungule said Chiluba’s acquittal would be a subject of public discussion for a long time.

He said Chiluba had up to now not explained how he acquired the US $8 million he deposited in the Zamtrop account.

“MMD must accept that this issue will be a subject of public discourse for a long time to come. Chiluba whom they are supporting has not explained how he came to be in possession of eight million United States dollars. He has not explained and I seriously doubt if he can.

To my knowledge, there is no Christian who is a Christian who cannot be bothered to explain how he or she came to possession of such a large sum of money. Chiluba claims to be a Christian.

His salary as president for ten years is public knowledge. If this cannot be established in the established courts of law up to the highest court using institutions of state, can we still claim Zambia is a democracy based on the rule of law?” asked Prof Hansungule.

“Given the clear stand the MMD and President Banda have taken on Chiluba and his acquittal, this matter should be taken to the people for them to make their verdict in 2011.

We are dealing with the issue of corruption here and it is important all voices are heard on the issue. We must go to the people with Chiluba's salary for the ten years he was president which is public knowledge at Government Printers in Lusaka; add 20 per cent for his allowances and deducting it from eight million USD, ask people to ask the MMD who know him better to explain for him where he got the rest?

The $8 million is the money Chiluba himself admitted to have in the infamous Zamtrop account therefore he must be able to shed light on through his personal and political friends. 2011 should be an interesting year. The elections should be decided on Chiluba's case. Let's ask people to make their decisions against this background.”

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Attacking Lungu is wicked intimidation - Prof Hansungule

Attacking Lungu is wicked intimidation - Prof Hansungule
By Ernest Chanda
Sat 26 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT

PRETORIA-based Professor of law Michelo Hansungule has described the government’s attacks on Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Stephen Lungu as wicked intimidation.

In an interview from his base in South Africa, Prof Hansungule encouraged LAZ to continue protecting the people of Zambia.

“LAZ and Stephen Lungu should continue developing Zambia through their fearless voices on matters of public interest. MMD must understand that statements from their ministers against Lungu in particular and LAZ in general is wicked intimidation which is very disappointing really for a party which came to power on the bandwagon of democracy,” Prof Hansungule said.

“In Zambia, we need not just LAZ voice but a million voices of free men and women including children to develop. No country where the government intimidates its people has developed. Look around at history and tell me one which did. The different views and discourses especially against government is the raw material by which development is made.”

Prof Hansungule wondered why the government should call for Lungu’s blood when he was operating professionally.

“It is amazing how politics make people drunk with power. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. It's a long time since a wise man uttered these words. Today, they sound exactly like they were uttered this morning. Why should our politicians itch for Stephen Lungu's blood? You want the blood of someone who is saying the right thing?

What exactly is wrong with us humans?” he asked. “The Law Association of Zambia has a right to comment on issues of public interest in the way they not MMD see it. I thought the MMD should surprise us at least once by coming out to congratulate Stephen and his colleagues for being true to themselves and doubt DPP Mchenga. More than forty years after independence, the ruling party still cannot tolerate different views! When are we going to 'grow up' politically and celebrate different and opposite views?”

He said there was nothing wrong with people questioning Chiluba’s acquittal since the former president plundered public resources.

“The right of participation is enshrined in the Constitution and it is so in all major political systems. A key element of this is the freedom of expression and I am glad deputy ministers Todd Chilembo and Gaston Sichilima know it hence always press conferences and press statements to castigate those who try claim it to communicate their views.

Holding dissenting opinions from the ruling party is precisely the stuff freedoms of opinion and expression is made of,” he said. “Did the ministers really think that we should all share their opinion on such a divisive issue as Chiluba's acquittal? If they have chosen not to oppose the acquittal for whatever reason (s), should all Zambians and their various professional and non-professional bodies not think differently from the MMD? What exactly is wrong with calls for appeal in Chiluba's acquittal or for LAZ to question Mchenga's stance?”
Prof Hansungule said Chiluba’s acquittal would be a subject of public discussion for a long time.

He said Chiluba had up to now not explained how he acquired the US $8 million he deposited in the Zamtrop account.

“MMD must accept that this issue will be a subject of public discourse for a long time to come. Chiluba whom they are supporting has not explained how he came to be in possession of eight million United States dollars. He has not explained and I seriously doubt if he can.

To my knowledge, there is no Christian who is a Christian who cannot be bothered to explain how he or she came to possession of such a large sum of money. Chiluba claims to be a Christian.

His salary as president for ten years is public knowledge. If this cannot be established in the established courts of law up to the highest court using institutions of state, can we still claim Zambia is a democracy based on the rule of law?” asked Prof Hansungule.

“Given the clear stand the MMD and President Banda have taken on Chiluba and his acquittal, this matter should be taken to the people for them to make their verdict in 2011.

We are dealing with the issue of corruption here and it is important all voices are heard on the issue. We must go to the people with Chiluba's salary for the ten years he was president which is public knowledge at Government Printers in Lusaka; add 20 per cent for his allowances and deducting it from eight million USD, ask people to ask the MMD who know him better to explain for him where he got the rest?

The $8 million is the money Chiluba himself admitted to have in the infamous Zamtrop account therefore he must be able to shed light on through his personal and political friends. 2011 should be an interesting year. The elections should be decided on Chiluba's case. Let's ask people to make their decisions against this background.”

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It seems Kaande is more powerful than Rupiah, says Namakando

It seems Kaande is more powerful than Rupiah, says Namakando
By Patson Chilemba
Sat 26 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT

SIMASIKU Namakando has challenged President Rupiah Banda to state whether or not he is behind Jeff Kaande’s disparaging remarks on the dissolved Western Province MMD executive.

Reacting to MMD deputy national secretary Kaande’s statement that the chairperson for the dissolved committee Simasiku Namakando and his executive were no longer MMD members because they took the party to court, Namakando wondered why President Banda had kept quiet over the matter. He said it seemed that Kaande was more powerful than President Banda.

“The President is allowing this person to continue undermining his authority.

If the President came and told the people of Western Province that he has reconciled with his provincial chairman, who is Jeff Kaande to overrule the President? Now the question is the President is keeping quiet. What is his official authority position? Are we members of the MMD or not, like what Kaande has said?” Namakando asked.

“We thought when we reconciled with the President, the President knew that yes, we went to the courts of law, but he called me and my friends to meet him and I even went with him to Liuwa as his provincial chairman. Now who is Jeff Kaande to overrule the President? This is the problem that we are having in the MMD.”

Namakando said Kaande recently told the people of Western Province, during his recent trip to the area that he did not recognise President Banda’s reconciliation with the Namakando-led executive.

“So for Kaande to continue talking the way he is talking, we don’t know whether it is the official position coming from His Excellency or it is his Kaande’s way of running the party. I think only the President knows what the official position is, so he has to come out and tell us,” he said.

Namakando said only President Banda could show the way forward over the reconciliation.

He said he was surprised over the manner things were being run because the national secretary had no power to overrule the President.

Namakando said his committee thought that the reconciliation with President Banda was the official position of the party.

“Let me give you an example; when the late president Mwanawasa suspended the national chairman, Honourable Michael Mabenga, it was himself again who reconciled with him, and the national secretary never challenged him anywhere. But in this case, Jeff Kaande is challenging the authority of the President,” said Namakando.

“In the Western Province he said he doesn’t recognize what President Banda did because he was not part and parcel of that meeting. So we don’t know why things have changed now, we don’t know whether what Kaande is saying is the official position from the President or he is undermining him. Only the President can tell us.”

Namakando said he expected President Banda to state his position over the matter and to tell Kaande that he was undermining his authority in the party.

Recently, Kaande said Namakando and his committee were no longer MMD members because they took the party to court.

Kaande said they should reapply to rejoin the party.

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Situation at UNZA is potentially explosive - workers unions

Situation at UNZA is potentially explosive - workers unions
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Sat 26 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT

THE three University of Zambia (UNZA) workers unions have stated that the current situation at the institution is potentially explosive.

In a statement signed by UNZA lecturers and researchers’ union (UNZALARU) general secretary Dr Fenson Mwape, University of Zambia and Allied Workers Union (UNZAAWU) general secretary Chrispin Munyukwa and University of Zambia Professional and Senior Staff Association (UNZAPROSSA) deputy general secretary Joseph Daka, the unions stated that time for accountability had come.

“We demand that the university council and management meet us on or before December, 28, 2009 to tell us what they may or may not have done so that our next course of action is based on informed positions.

We hope they will treat this demand with the seriousness it deserves. Every responsible person at the university should know that the current situation at the institution is potentially explosive,” they stated.

They stated that in the middle of this year, the university experienced a strike by all members of staff, which arose mainly out of the failure by the university management to liquidate outstanding contractual obligations and to facilitate meaningful collective bargaining.

They stated that this was a reflection of the collapse of the management system at the university and demanded the voluntary resignation of both the council and management.

“In numerous meetings we held with the university council in the quest to resolve the impasse, council assured us that they were consulting the relevant authorities with a view to finding a lasting solution to the challenges UNZA faced. The council, through the chairperson pleaded with us to give them up to the end of the first semester of the 2009 academic year and they produce results,” they stated.

The unions stated that in view of the assurances from council and in the best interest of students who had remained on campus for some time without any attention from staff they called off the strike.

They stated that since the strike was called off, they had constantly reminded the authorities of the need for them to meet their commitments.

“Unfortunately, both management and council have remained mute on whatever efforts they were making to address the issues before the commencement of the second semester on December, 27, 2009.

We have constantly appealed to council and management to ensure that all the contentious matters are resolved before students return to campus because we do not want to be erroneously accused of using students as ponies in our battles,” they stated.

“To crown it all, even the minister of education has continued to arrogantly ignore our numerous requests for a meeting with her so that we could, together, address the matters disturbing peace at the universities.”

They stated that at the moment two of the organisations at the university were still negotiating for improved conditions of service for 2009.

The unions stated that the management with the full backing of the council had done everything possible to delay and frustrate the collective bargaining process.

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Munyenyembe warns KCM chief against stubbornness

Munyenyembe warns KCM chief against stubbornness
By Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Sat 26 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT

MINE Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) secretary general Oswell Munyenyembe has warned Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) chief executive officer Kishore Khumar against being stubborn to the workers.

Munyenyembe said it was sad that Khumar was always stubborn to the workers and the union, and warned him that if he continues to do so, he may put his job at risk.

"If he continues to be stubborn and stops listening to us, he will find his job in flames. He says he has support from government, but is it the government that goes underground or it is the workers?" he asked.

Munyenyembe said each time the union wanted to engage in dialogue with Khumar, he always turned them away.

"Khumar wants to take what is happening at KCM to every mining house, like the issue of the three per cent salary increment. We shall not allow this situation. We believe in dialogue.

Each time we call him for dialogue he does not want that. He thinks he can get support from the government. We as the union we are there to protect the workers," he said.

Munyenyembe also said that the union was disappointed with the high number of expatriates at KCM.

"During ZCCM we had 100 expatriates in the country but today KCM has 169 expatriates," Munyenyembe.

He wondered why KCM could employ expatriate mine surveyors and accountants as expatriates, when the competent Zambians were just loafing.

Meanwhile Munyenyembe disclosed that a miner died at Mopani Copper Mine's central shaft in the early hours of Thursday.

Munyenyembe named the deceased as Damson Mwansa.
"He died after a rock fall at 2140 meters level, he was 47," said Munyenyembe.

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StanChart optimistic on 6% GDP growth

StanChart optimistic on 6% GDP growth
By Fridah Zinyama
Fri 25 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT

STANDARD Chartered Bank has expressed optimism that the country will attain the six per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which the Central Statistical Office had indicated could be achieved by the end of the year.

The Central Statistical Office (CSO) had in October revealed that the country would attain a GDP rate of 6.3 per cent which would be propelled by growth in the mining, agriculture and construction sectors.

In an interview, Standard Chartered Bank head of Zambia Global Markets Dealing Stanley Tamele said experts in the economy were optimistic that the country would attain a 5.8 per cent growth rate if not the 6 per cent which was projected all things being equal.

“At the moment, we strongly believe that the mining and construction sectors have greatly contributed to this growth rate,” he said. “This is because of the good copper prices which have persisted over the past few months.”

Tamele said the meeting of production targets by the mining sector was still likely to contribute to the growth of the GDP next year as well.

Earlier, Tamele had observed that the original gross domestic product (GDP) of 5 per cent which government had projected was more attainable than the 6.3 per cent which the CSO had released.

“The revised GDP growth rate for Zambia, for 2009 is 4.3 per cent which is attainable,” he noted. “Furthermore, the original target of 5 per cent may not be a far off reality...”

Tamele had said the year had opened off on a negative note as this was the height of the global financial crisis but there had been tremendous recovery in Zambia mainly due to the copper prices that have now risen to levels that were not expected to be attained during the financial crisis.

“Zambia is still highly dependant on copper and the current prices that are above the US$6500 per tonne are favourable to the economy as that is above break even levels for the mines. The end result is a positive growth,” said Tamele.

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Chavez threatens to oust Toyota

Chavez threatens to oust Toyota
By CARACAS (Reuters)
Fri 25 Dec. 2009, 11:00 CAT

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has threatened to expel Japanese carmaker Toyota unless it produces an all-terrain model of 4x4 vehicles used for public transport in poor and rural areas.

The fiery socialist, in a speech late on Wednesday, also said he would not hesitate to expel and expropriate plants from other Asian and U.S. automobile companies operating in Venezuela if they failed to share technology with locals.

"What's this that Toyota doesn't want to make the 'rustic' model here?" Chavez said, during a ceremony in Caracas to hand owners the keys to economically produced cars that Venezuela's government has imported from Argentina.

"We must force them. And if they don't, then they should leave and we'll bring another company in ... The Chinese want to come and they make 'rustic' models."

During a decade in power, Chavez has nationalised large swathes of the Venezuela economy including the oil and power sectors as part of his "21st century revolution" but has so far left car manufacturing relatively untouched.

He turned on Toyota, the world's biggest automaker, when a transporter said there was a scarcity of all-terrain models to serve people in under-privileged areas.

Caracas' poor mainly live in hillside slums, while many rural areas lack decent roads, meaning tough 4x4s are the main means of transport.

Chavez ordered his Trade Minister Eduardo Saman to carry out a "severe inspection" of Toyota, and warned other companies they must start sharing technology with Venezuelans.

"You tell the people at Toyota that they have to produce this model and we are going to impose a quota, and if they don't meet it, we will punish them," he told Saman, adding that the state would not hesitate to expropriate Toyota's facilities and pay appropriate compensation.

CAR INDUSTRY IN TROUBLE

Following Chavez's speech, Toyota has asked the Japanese government to verify the true intentions of his remarks as he has not contacted the company on the issue, Toyota's Tokyo-based spokesman Yuta Kaga said on Friday.

Spokesmen for Toyota's Venezuelan unit, which operates an assembly plant in the eastern state of Sucre, were not available to comment on Thursday.

But a source at the company said Toyota had stopped assembling the model in question which he identified as Land Cruiser 70 in 2007, with the government's full knowledge.

It planned to import instead, but had not received the necessary licence, he added.

"The government was informed, it can't be a surprise," the source said, adding that most Toyota managers were on holiday but were communicating with each other about Chavez's speech.

In addition to Toyota, Japan's Mitsubishi as well as Hyundai and General Motors have assembly plants in South America's top oil-exporting nation, whose people are known for their love of cars.

"Companies who come here to set up must be ready to transfer technology to us," Chavez said.

"If they don't want to, they should go away. I invite them to pick up their things and go," he added, saying companies from allies like China, Russia, Belorussia and Iran were ready to take their place.

Lack of access to dollars at the official exchange rate, and labour disputes, have combined with a recession to hit the automobile industry hard in Venezuela this year.

According to latest figures from the Venezuela Automobile Chamber, car sales in November were down 40 percent at 10,075 units, compared with the same month last year.

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(HERALD) US$50m too little for agriculture

US$50m too little for agriculture

Editor — As the effects of Finance Minister Tendai Biti’s budget proposals begin to unfold, it has become clear that he is trying to undermine the progress being made by newly-resettled farmers as he has allocated a measly US$50 million towards supporting the farmers.

Although Biti admitted that the sector contributed the most amounts to the country’s GDP last year, he has allocated the paltry amount. Biti’s move has led to clashes in the inclusive Government over how to spend half a billion dollars from the International Monetary Fund. The dispute could create further tensions in the already shaky power-sharing deal.

He has earmarked the US$50 million of the funds for agriculture, a sector that represents about 16 per cent of the economy and a majority of the country’s workforce.

But farmers say the government should spend the bulk of the funds on assisting their sector.

Economist Alfred Mutasa told Al Jazeera that the situation has heightened tension between supporters of the two factions.

People in Zanu PF think he has been very obstructive in that sense.

Concerned Zimbabwean.

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(HERALD) Chapfika chairs Indigenisation Board

Chapfika chairs Indigenisation Board
Herald Reporter

President Mugabe has approved the appointment of the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board as provided for by the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act.

The 13-member board has representatives from interest groups, indigenisation and empowerment experts and other key sectors such as women, youth, the disabled and ministries of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, Mines and Mining Development and Industry and Commerce.

Former Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development and later Agriculture Mr David Chapfika will chair the board.

Mr Chapfika is an indigenisation and empowerment expert, who is a professional banker. He has worked for several banks in Zimbabwe and carried out international banking consultancy for the World Bank.

Other members of the board include Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba, Ms Sitholakele Masuku, Mr Adam Molai, Ms Sheila Sidambe, Engineer Musanhu — all indigenisation and empowerment experts — and Mr Thankful Musukutwa, the Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.

Other board members are Mr Prince Mupazviriho, Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, Mr Spencer Chihota representative of the youth; Mr Farai Mutamangira, a lawyer; Dr Desire Sibanda from the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion.

There is also Mr Dayford Nhema from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and Mr T. Mungoni, who is the national research and advocacy officer for the National Association of Societies for the Care of the Disabled..

The board is expected to spearhead the implementation of the indigenisation and economic empowerment objective of achieving the 51 percent indigenous stake in all major companies of the economy.

Addressing the appointees after making the announcement yesterday, Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere said the objectives of the board are to advise the minister on the Government’s indigenous and economic empowerment strategies.

It should also advise the minister on appropriate measures for the implementation of the objectives of the Act and the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Fund. It will oversee compliance with the charter and perform other functions as may be permitted or required or conferred to the board under the Act or any other enactment.

The rationale for indigenisation and economic empowerment was premised on the realisation that the majority of Zimbabweans had a natural right to benefit from the exploitation and utilisation of the country’s resources.

Minister Kasukuwere said indigenous economic empowerment was the only sustainable way of achieving socio-economic and political stability.

"This strategy calls for mutually beneficial partnerships between indigenous Zimbabweans and foreign investors. I think time has come for us to reject unfounded claims that our minerals have no value yet day and night we see truckloads of granite stone leaving the country and our poor communities just watch with no benefit accumulating to them," he said.

The minister warned the board members against corruption saying this would affect the main objective of empowering indigenous Zimbabweans.

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Friday, December 25, 2009

(LUSAKATIMES) Zambia: President Banda Should Retire Kunda

Zambia: President Banda Should Retire Kunda
By Henry Kyambalesa

I have found it hard recently not to comment on calls from some segments of Zambian society for Vice President George Kunda to be arrested or to resign. But after analyzing his utterances when he was featured on Radio Phoenix’s “Government and You” program on 20th December 2009, it would be unpatriotic for me not to bolster such calls. In fact, it would be irresponsible for any patriotic Zambian not to join the bandwagon!

While on the radio program, Kunda accused Fred M’membe of trying to take over state power by scheming to control the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and other constitutional offices for the purpose of making money. He also found it necessary to urge Hakainde Hichilema to leave the PF-UPND pact – a complete departure from the theme of the radio program by the country’s Vice President who has seemingly found it necessary to delve into partisan politics as if such a duty is prescribed in his job description!

What kind of national leader is this who could make statements that are laughable even to a five-year-old?

Such statements would be excusable if they were made by any of the riff-raffs in the MMD. The learned lawyer is clearly no longer of a sound mind! This perhaps explains his inability to see anything wrong with enacting legislation designed to muzzle private media institutions so that they can become propaganda tools for the government like ZNBC, ZANIS, Times of Zambia, and Zambia Daily Mail.

The duties of the Republican Vice President and Minister of Justice are too consequential to be discharged by a person whose utterances are akin to those of a mentally challenged individual. As Vice President, for example, Kunda (as provided for in Part IV of the 1996 Republican constitution) is expected to preside over Cabinet and/or govern the nation if and when any of the following obtains with respect to the incumbent Republican President: absence from office, resignation, impeachment, death, or incapacitation (mental or physical).

Kunda’s behavior is clearly inimical to the security and constitutional rights and freedoms of the citizenry. In fact, his insinuations of wrong doing by selected members of society can very easily lead to assassinations of innocent citizens by loyal members of the country’s security wings. If any of the citizens who are constantly being targeted for unwarranted criticism by Kunda were to be killed in unexplained circumstances, for example, the MMD government would find it hard to exonerate itself from being culpable.

I, therefore, wish to urge President Rupiah Banda to retire Comrade Kunda in the national interest. If he ever wishes to spearhead the creation of a more just, more democratic and more peaceful society, he needs to heed this piece of advice. If the President is reluctant to retire Kunda, members of his family should advice him to retire if they really care for him and for the well-being of the nation at large than to let him continue to make highly questionable and alarming statements in public.

As it is often said, prevention is better than cure – and such prevention needs to be timely!

I, of course, make this suggestion knowing very well that the President has confessed publicly that he is an arrogant and stubborn man who does not take advice from anyone outside his inner circle.

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(LUSAKATIMES) Zambia: White farmers accused of dumping Crocodiles into Lake Kariba

Zambia: White farmers accused of dumping Crocodiles into Lake Kariba
By Lusakatimes staffer

The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has instituted investigations into allegations that some crocodile farmers in Siavonga District are releasing condemned crocodiles into Lake Kariba.

ZAWA Acting Director General Jack Chulu said reports of farmers dumping crocodiles in the lake are serious and that the authority will immediately act on the reports to enable establish the truth.

“We want you the stakeholders and the village headmen to help us by bringing forward evidence of farmers that are releasing crocodiles in the lake in order for us to take it seriously with the respective farmers, As ZAWA we will also carry out our own investigations so that the truth is established,” Chulu charged.

Chief Simamba and his four village headmen have attributed the sudden increase in the number of crocodiles in Lake Kariba to the offloading of the reptiles by some white farmers in Siavonga.

Chief Simamba and his four village headmen have attributed the sudden increase in the number of crocodiles in Lake Kariba to the offloading of the reptiles by some white farmers in Siavonga.

The Traditional leaders alleged that the crocodiles that are being released on the lake from the farms are actually the ones that are attacking villagers that live along the lake shore.

The traditional leaders issued the remarks during a meeting that was convened by Tourism and Environment Deputy Minister Moses Mwangala in Siavonga on Monday 21 st December.

The meeting that was held in the District Commissioner Emily Striedl’s office on 21 st December. and attended by key stakeholders was aimed at finding a long term solution on the problem of crocodiles that are attacking people on the banks of Lake Kariba.

Chief Simamba who was represented by his Advisor Phanwell Simamba called on ZAWA to consider carrying out the cropping of crocodiles which he said has become a menace to people’s lives.

“We want government to carry out the cropping exercise of crocodiles on Lake Kariba because they have grown in numbers leading to them attacking both human and livestock animals, “he appealed.

Chief Simamba demanded that the cropping exercise be carried out immediately because government last embarked on such an exercise in the year 1966.

In response, Chulu said as much as ZAWA would like to carry out the cropping exercise, a lot of resources are needed to carry out the exercise.

Chulu said ZAWA however faces a challenge of organizing financial resources to enable carry out the cropping exercise saying things such as a survey need to be done in order to establish the number of reptiles on the waters.

He said that ZAWA will try and talk to its cooperating partners in an effort to try and source for funds needed to carry out the exercise.

Chulu however observed that there is need to conduct public sensitization meetings in villages that are located in crocodile infested areas so that the villages can prevent themselves from getting attacked.

And Mwangala said government is alarmed by the reports of people in Siavonga district that are getting attacked by crocodiles on Lake Kariba some of which have led to deaths.

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Thursday, December 24, 2009

(HERALD) Imperialism: Chief enemy of Zim’s revolution

Imperialism: Chief enemy of Zim’s revolution
By Reason Wafawarova in SYDNEY, Australia

One most outstanding feature of the achievement of independence for Zimbabwe was the efficacious transfer of power from a minority white community to the black majority.

That transfer of power manifested itself in many ways, from the renaming of the country and all its major places and features, the abolishment of segregation in education, sport, art and other social aspects; to infrastructural development in remote areas and so on — and yes, even to the concept of one man one vote.

In five months, it will be 30 years on this revolutionary path from a colonial minority-ruled country to a self-determined and self-sufficient country. The question is; what do we see when we look back — the greatest accomplishments and the greatest changes?

The one thing that we have to acknowledge and admit is that the sprightly hope that we carried as a nation in 1980 has been somewhat shattered for most of our people. That raucous voice of hope that shouted "Masimba evanhu!" or "People’s power" as the shibboleth that drove all our aspiration then — has been largely silenced by the challenges of want.

Yet we can pride ourselves on having constructed so many schools across the country, so many clinics, so many dams, so many roads, on having recaptured our stolen farmlands and having been so significant in bringing peace to our region, whenever the call for such intervention arose.

We can also take a lot of pride in having provided housing for our people, especially in the first twenty years.

However, the revolution is still underway and has suffered a lot of violence orchestrated from imperial external forces, whose major strength has been the complicity of some of our own people.

The revolution has reached that stage where it is being managed by a coalition of those who are declared enemies of imperial forces together with the allies of the same imperial forces.

How ironic can it ever turn out to be?

In this context, the most important thing for Zimbabwe is not what is lacking or what has not been done. Most important is the effort we must make to transform people’s attitudes; not by way of brainwashing their thought processes or sense of conscience, but by way of empowering our people.

As a nation, we want and we need a transformation where each Zimbabwean realises that wielding power is their personal business; that the destiny of Zimbabwe is the business not just of politicians and a selected few but of all Zimbabweans — young or old, born or unborn, within or without. This calling is a debt we all owe to the departed and to heritage.

Every Zimbabwean has something to say about Zimbabwe, and each of us must be accountable to the other, and we all must demand an accounting from the other person. Never again must the country be run like it was as a colony. No longer should the wealth of our country belong only to a minority. The country’s wealth belongs to the majority, and a majority that speaks its mind.

Indeed some of the ways of doing things have not been very pleasant. This writer will assert that this is a natural process. When people come out of a century of repression and domination, and then one fine day they find themselves with the freedom to express themselves, naturally some of the people do go to the extremes. That is what we must understand as a nation and there is this indulgence with this sort of reality that is demanded from each of us.

The three co-Ministers of National Healing must understand that the most important aspect of our national revolution as it stands today is the transformation of our mentality.

Hindsight justice and witch hunting may be palatable options for purposes of pleasing external donors and the forces behind them, and perhaps for the goal of extinguishing our own bitterness, but there is no healing that comes with retribution.

Those that have suffered violence and those that have lost lives in this moment of our extremism have indeed paid a price for our peace. Their suffering, and even death; must not inspire us for more conflict. These are realities from which we must draw the strength to forgive and the humility to accept wrong doing.

The greatest difficulty we have faced as a country has been the neo-colonial spirit. We were colonised by a country, Britain, and they left us with certain habits. For us, being successful in life, being happy, means trying and aspiring to live as they do in Britain. We aspire to be like the richest of the British.

One of the constraints we have faced when pursuing these aspirations is that we have people who come to a point where they will not accept even a minimum sense of social justice, and will do all in their power to preserve their privilege at the expense of all others.

This has been the root cause of corruption, not only in Zimbabwe but across Africa, and in almost all former colonies.

If this goes unchecked the end result is the waging of a struggle within the revolution. The masses will come to a point when their fundamental goal becomes a fight against the bourgeoisie and the petty bourgeoisie.

The petty bourgeoisie is dangerous in that it has an inclination towards the bourgeoisie and aspires to accumulate as much wealth, but at the same time admires the prestige of revolutionaries. So the petty bourgeoisie wavers.

These are the people we vote into power because they shout the loudest against corruption and the neglecting of the poor. However, they disappear from the voters as soon as they win the election, and only reappear in preparation for the next election.

The revolution suffers most from the petty bourgeoisie. It screams, poisons minds, and it defames to survive. Numerically the petty bourgeoisie represents nothing.

However, the colonial legacy taught us that the intellectual is a semi-god that occupies the preponderant place, and so we allow these people to shape our opinions.

So we can hardly control our own elected members of Parliament.

Rather they are convinced that it is their responsibility to come back and shape our opinions, if at all they bother to come back for anything.

Some of our ministers in our own Government have an illusion that we owe them admiration and awe — because they feel they have achieved a lot on their own behalf, and perhaps on behalf of whatever family name and totem they carry around.

They expect our rural people to ululate and dance in happiness merely because of their presence as they emerge from expensive cars clad in designer suits. The fact that they carry nothing with them by way of making the revolution benefit the masses should not matter until election time.

These are the internal difficulties of our revolution. None in the GPA’s inclusive Government should read these with a pointing finger because this disease is not a political party scourge but a general political problem.

Our big challenge after this internal difficulty is imperialism, which tries to dominate us from both inside and outside our country.

Through its internal agents, its multinationals, its big capital, its economic power, and its ruinous sanctions on the country, imperialism has tried to control us by influencing our discussions and our national life.

Imperialism has created difficulties for Zimbabwe. It has strangled our economy through the imposition of an economic blockade that the West still insists they will keep as a way of forcing concessions from us.

Hand in hand with these ruinous sanctions, the West is still plotting against Zimbabwe, against our own internal security — yes our internal security — as they promote divisions and animosity among our people.

They yearn for a day we will shed our won blood among ourselves. They would call it fighting for freedom.

Imperialism is fighting to the bitter end for a reverse to our land reclamation program, all despite the repeated denials that the West makes.

We have this war for our resources. Imperialism wants us to have laws and policies that allow multinationals a free reign over our resources and they tell us that these are the laws and policies that are found in a democracy.

The revolution still faces many struggles ahead, and we need to be alive to this reality; if as a nation we are going to combat imperialism.

Our ordinary cadres in the revolution have an understanding of the revolution that is quite different from those in the leadership — and by this we are talking about real revolutionary leaders — not the bourgeoisie and the petty bourgeoisie infiltrators.

For a revolutionary leader like President Mugabe, or as was Samora Machel of Mozambique, or Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso; there is quite a difference between the general theoretical trend of the revolution and practice.

In the practice of revolutionary leadership one discovers that imperialism is a monster — it has claws, horns, fangs that bite — it has lethal venom and it is absolutely merciless. This is why we no longer have Samora Machel in the African revolution, and this is why we lost Sankara at the tender age of 36.

This is why Robert Mugabe is the West’s wanted man from Africa. When one behaves like Mugabe, and makes a resolute stand against imperialism, one assured thing is that imperialism will fight back.

Eloquent and earth shattering speeches are not enough to make imperialism tremble. No. It is determined. It has no conscience whatsoever. It has no heart.

Fortunately for President Mugabe, the more imperialism has attacked, the more determined him and his party have become, and somehow each time there has been fresh forces ready to stand up to the imperial onslaught.

In 1980, the revolution was joined by so many; and all because euphoria was the in thing.

Even senior citizens from our rural population would jog and sing each day, declaring that anyone who dared attack the newly-independent country would draw from their frail bodies the most ruthless and lethal attack since the word "war" was ever invented.

As time progressed many people discovered that the revolution demanded sacrifices on their part, and they pulled back. Some rediscovered their apathetic selves while others became reactionaries and outright sell outs.

Some remained inside the revolution as cheating and deceiving looters.

The only good thing about this otherwise natural process is that with time consciousness has won over euphoria and it is this consciousness that has stopped the West’s imperial onslaught as they sought to effect their illicit regime change plan over Zimbabwe.

The revolution is not a preserve for war veterans and the youth. It is a national call for each and every Zimbabwean regardless of age, background, political affiliation or social status.

It is incumbent upon this inclusive Government and the GPA’s three principals to ensure that the revolution we started in 1980 is not abandoned, abated or aborted.

There is no such thing as a new "democratic revolution" or whatever it is the activists within MDC-T say they are doing.

That is mere euphoric political activism and it is a natural process when a revolution is at a stage as we are with Zimbabwe’s national revolution. It is all understandable as a passing phase in the long march to true self-determination.

As a nation we should not worry so much about shouts for a "new Zimbabwe" because it is all part of the natural process where some in the revolution become illusional reactionaries who think the old colonial order is something new.

Zimbabwe we are one and together we will overcome. It is homeland or death!!

l Reason Wafawarova is a political writer and can be contacted on wafawarova@yahoo.co.uk or reason@ rwafawarova.com or visit www.rwafawarova.com

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'Access to credit still challenge to SMEs'

'Access to credit still challenge to SMEs'
By Florence Bupe
Thu 24 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT

THE Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry has observed that access to credit has continued to be one of the greatest challenges for micro, small and medium businesses.

Technical Committee on Getting Credit chairperson Mildred Stephenson said during a media briefing to review the 2009 business year, that there was need to have policies in place that would create a broader credit base for the small and medium enterprises in the country.

“We have made strides as a committee to make access to credit easier for businesses, but there is still much more that needs to be done. We are working at getting a broader credit base, and we are already talking with commercial banks and other lending institutions,” she said.

Stephenson also disclosed that her technical committee was working with the credit reference bureau for credit data purposes. She called for legislation that would encourage the participation of the commercial sector in credit issues, especially in view of the establishment of a unified collateral registry system.

“We need to set up an environment that will ease access to funds by small and medium enterprises. In order to have the commercial sector on board, we need to establish and implement legislation that will govern them, and also make it easier for individuals and SMEs to obtain credit,” she said.

Stephenson disclosed that the committee was currently reviewing the legislation that is in place to make it more conducive for credit access.

And technical committee on doing business reforms chairperson Kayula Siame said Zambia was working towards ranking among the top 50 reformers globally, from the current 90 of 183 countries.

She said her committee was addressing this need through focusing on specific areas that would improve the whole process of doing business in the country.

“Zambia wants to be among the top 50 reformers in the world from the current 90, and to achieve this we are targeting specific areas such as prioritising entrepreneurs,” said Kayula.

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Why are Rupiah, George defending Mchenga?

Why are Rupiah, George defending Mchenga?
By Editor
Thu 24 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT

It is political arrogance and short-sightedness for Rupiah Banda to say that the issue of Chalwe Mchenga being accused of failing to honour his constitutional duties as Director of Public Prosecutions "is water past the bridge".

It will not help Rupiah to try and trivialise the demand by the Law Association of Zambia for Mchenga to resign and leave the office he has disgraced. The Law Association of Zambia's demand has the support of many of our people who have been following Mchenga's misdeeds. Rupiah should learn that carelessly dismissing matters that affect our people will not pay him any rewards.

He may be President, holding the most powerful office in our country, but he is still answerable to our people. Rupiah will be made to account sooner rather than later. He will live to regret his arrogant days and wish he had dealt with this issue a lot more soberly.

In the last 12 months, Rupiah has demonstrated that he is hard of hearing. He does not listen to the people or their cries. He is an egocentric president who wants to run a government for himself, by himself for his own benefit. There is no spirit of public service in Rupiah. A public servant would pay particular attention to what the people are saying and address their concerns squarely.

Rupiah's response on Mchenga demonstrates his destructive reliance on minions like George Kunda who are leading him into a ditch with his eyes wide open. This is what explains his statement yesterday when he said as far as he was concerned, the issue of the DPP and the demand of the Law Association of Zambia had been dealt with by George.

How has George dealt with the demand of the Law Association of Zambia which has satisfied Rupiah? As far as we can see, George has not said anything sensible on the matter of the DPP. If anything, all the comments he has made have gone to show that the demands of Law Association of Zambia are legitimate and should be pursued vigorously.

In his first response, George said that the Law Association of Zambia was behaving like members of the PF-UPND pact. In the light of the serious allegations that the Law Association of Zambia brought against Mchenga, this is all that George could say.

The Law Association of Zambia demanded that Mchenga should resign because he allowed the discharge of his functions to be influenced or indeed usurped by the executive. What the Law Association of Zambia was saying amounted to charging the DPP with having breached the Constitution.

And all Kunda could say was that the Law Association of Zambia was behaving like a part of the PF-UPND pact. When his argument was dismissed by PF president Michael Sata as being baseless, George turned his attack on The Post and its editor, accusing us of running a conspiracy to remove DPPs from as far back as 2002 so that The Post could gain control of state power and make money. This is the nonsense George has been peddling. Is this what Rupiah is satisfied with?

The Law Association of Zambia has raised a fundamental question on the conduct of the DPP. Diversionary tactics will not help them. Mudslinging and name-calling will not change the fact that Mchenga has allowed his office to be hijacked by Rupiah and George. Instead of making legal decisions, Mchenga is making political decisions. And in some cases, he is not making decisions at all because it is Rupiah and George who are doing so. We say this because Rupiah himself has told the nation so. With his own mouth, Rupiah told the Zambian people that he had decided not to appeal Frederick Chiluba's acquittal. How could Rupiah make such a decision when the only person mandated by the Constitution to do so is the DPP? Rupiah is not the DPP and there is no provision in our Constitution that allows him or gives him the right to exercise the powers of the DPP.

The only way Rupiah can exercise such powers is by breaking the Constitution. Similarly or equally, the only way Mchenga can allow Rupiah to make such decisions is only by breaking the law, by violating the Constitution. When Rupiah said these things, we are not the only ones who covered him. The Zambia Daily Mail, a newspaper they totally control, carried this story on more than one occasion. Rupiah has never retracted this position. We ask again the question: by which authority did Rupiah stop the appeal against the acquittal of Chiluba and who gave him that authority?

George also made it very clear that he was against Mchenga appealing the acquittal of Chiluba. He said if Mchenga had appealed against Chiluba's acquittal, that would have been professional misconduct. And what are the consequences of the DPP engaging in professional misconduct? Isn't it loss of office? So it must have been very clear to Mchenga that if he had appealed that acquittal his job was going to be over. It's not us implying this; this is what George's statement implies.

Clearly, there is no way Mchenga could have allowed the appeal against Chiluba with these two gentlemen - Rupiah and George - calling the shots, deciding what should be done and making it clear to him that deviations will not be tolerated, will amount to professional misconduct.

Today Mchenga is in trouble with the Law Association of Zambia calling for his resignation over this decision not to appeal Chiluba's acquittal - a decision that was not made by him but by Rupiah and George. Mchenga has been totally quiet over this matter.

And he is right in being quiet because this is not his issue. It is an issue which has to be decided upon and defended by his principals, his masters, his handlers, the people calling the shots. This matter is beyond Mchenga and that's why he is just sitting and waiting for Rupiah and George to decide which way to go. And their decision is that he should stay on whatever the circumstances or consequences. This is understandable.

Rupiah and George are not fighting to defend Mchenga, they are fighting to defend their own criminality. They know that if Mchenga goes today, they will be in serious trouble. It will be a confirmation of their violation of the Constitution. And the consequences that befall a president who violates the Constitution need no further disposition - it is impeachment. This is why Rupiah wants this issue closed as quickly as possible and forgotten as "water past the bridge".

This shouldn't surprise anyone because Rupiah and George never engage in selfless pursuits; they will never fight for others. Any fight they are involved in is always, one way or the other, for their own benefit. They will never stand up to selflessly defend the interest of Mchenga if it is not for their own benefit.

Rupiah and George are so blinded by their own scheming that they cannot even see that their behaviour does not make sense. The call made by the Law Association of Zambia for Mchenga to resign is a call on Mchenga's person. It is Mchenga that the Law Association of Zambia is asking to resign for disgracing his office. The decision to go or stay is Mchenga's; not Rupiah's or George's.

This being the case, does it mean that Mchenga has hired himself to Rupiah and George so much that even decisions that are personal are now being made for him by them? It seems this is the case. If not, how could Rupiah be closing a matter in which Mchenga, the individual who is personally affected or at issue, has not uttered a word in self-defence?

Since when were Rupiah and George tasked to be the personal spokesmen for Mchenga? The crime at issue, the violation that the Law Association of Zambia is talking about has not been committed by the office of the DPP but personally by an individual occupying that office called Mchenga. This being the case, how does Rupiah or George come in? What is the locus standi in the matter?

The whole reaction of Rupiah and George to this matter has once again proved beyond any doubt that Mchenga is not his own man but a captive of Rupiah and George. Mchenga is effectively not the DPP for the Republic, for all the people of Zambia; he is Rupiah's personal DPP - a political stooge carrying out political instructions using a legitimate public office.

The demand for Mchenga's resignation will not be stopped by orders from Rupiah. Rupiah can order Mchenga to stop the appeal against Chiluba but he will not be in a position to order the Law Association of Zambia and other citizens of goodwill to stop their demands for the resignation of Mchenga. This demand will continue, no matter how long it takes, until Mchenga leaves the office he has disgraced.

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Kunda is enemy number one of the media - Chifuwe

Kunda is enemy number one of the media - Chifuwe
By Chibaula Silwamba
Thu 24 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT

Press Freedom Committee of The Post (PFC) secretary general Sheik Chifuwe
GEORGE Kunda is enemy number one of the media, Press Freedom Committee of The Post (PFC) secretary general Sheik Chifuwe charged yesterday.

Commenting on the Vice-President George Kunda driven punitive media bill that the government is working on, Chifuwe said Vice-President Kunda belonged to the Stone Age and was behaving like an emperor that wanted to preserve his stay on the throne.

“Mr George Kunda has identified himself as enemy number of one the media. It’s unthinkable that in this age and day, somebody holding such a high position of Vice-President and justice minister can even start brooding such ideas to come up with archaic laws against the media,” said Chifuwe in an interview in Lusaka.

“So a person who behaves in such a manner is an enemy of the industry and he shall be treated as such. You cannot pick the worst practices to use as a model in a country that is supposed to be democratic. We think that Mr Kunda does not belong to this age; he belongs to the Stone Age where he believes he is an emperor who is going to preserve his position at the expense of society.”

He said the actions of Vice-President Kunda would violate the rights of Zambians.

“We think that what Mr Kunda is doing is not only against the media but the human rights of the Zambian people. He is clearly curtailing freedom of expression, freedom of the press so that people cannot get divergent views, so that he regulates what information the people will get,” Chifuwe said.

“He wants to preside over an ignorant society so that he can perpetuate the misrule that has already been exhibited by this government. But you cannot stop people that are determined to govern themselves. So he has got a choice to rethink his Stone Age, archaic legislation.”

He observed that harmony could not be created in a country when other people were oppressed.

“In any case you can only oppress people so far, you cannot oppress them all the time. George Kunda might not account now for his decisions but one day he shall be made to account, no matter how long it takes. He might think he is clever now, but all the bad decisions will follow him,” warned Chifuwe.

“The best he can do now is to show a lot of humility and try to do what is right for himself rather than allowing himself to be driven by his self preservation and selfishness.”

Sources in the Ministry of Justice have revealed to The Post that the government, at the instigation of Vice-President Kunda was formulating a punitive media bill, which is a hybrid of media laws in Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The source said the media bill is primarily being driven by Vice-President Kunda who is said to have vested interest in the matter in his continued quest to fix The Post and its editor Fred M’membe.

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(HERALD) Chiyangwa, Harare in land row

Chiyangwa, Harare in land row
Business Reporter

HARARE businessman Mr Phillip Chiyangwa has accused Harare City Council of being a "bad debtor", saying it still owes him nine hectares of land he gave them in a swap deal in 2007. Mr Chiyangwa is also angry that council is trying to stop him from developing a piece of land in Borrowdale, which he says is an approved 2010 tourism project.

He was reacting to reports that council has directed that he should not be allowed to acquire more land and that his companies should be investigated over the land it has. Mr Chiyangwa says he entered into a deal with Harare City Council to swap land in December 2007.

He then proceeded to give council industrial land and they gave him open spaces.

Now he is trying to develop some of those open spaces and has duly applied to council for permission to do so.

He claims they gave him this land after being satisfied that he had delivered to them the land they required.

He says he has a Deed of Transfer entered into by his lawyers and the city council, in which council agreed to transfer land to him, in exchange for the land he had given them.

Harare City Council has continued to request land from him. As recently as January 16 this year council was still asking him for 40 hectares.

Town Clerk Mr Tendai Mahachi wrote to Pinnacle Holdings on January 16 2009 saying council had run out of land and was proposing to get more land from Mr Chiyangwa.

The letter reads: "Please be advised that the city has currently run out of industrial land to expand the City’s Industrial Land Bank and meet the increasing demand for industrial land from prospective local and foreign investors.

"To address this position, the city has embarked on an extensive exercise involving the identification and acquisition of land in the hands of private owners in the southern areas.

"Accordingly, the city intends to acquire forty (40) hectares of the industrial land along Masvingo Road created on Ordar Farm, which you own, vide Plan Number HOPU15 in batches of ten (10) hectares at a time by way of land exchanges or on such other mutually agreed terms."

Mr Chiyangwa says he is surprised that the council under Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda now appears to be fighting him when he had swapped land with them in a genuine business deal.

"All these are land swap deals," he said. "I have received 17,13 hectares in bits and pieces from the city council after I had given them over 25 hectares. I handed over to them land designed for industrial use immediately.

"They gave me public spaces but they are now not willing to assist me to change use of that land. They are now beginning to dishonour the agreements.

"They are clearly indebted to me. There are legal documents to prove that. They took land in 2007 and now they should be merely paying back. I thought they were a good debtor and I could give them land and then draw it later."

Recently council’s Environment and Management Committee presented an adverse report to a full council meeting on Mr Chiyangwa’s land development.

The committee expressed concern that council had issued "so many stands to Chiyangwa" and recommended a suspension of further land sales to the businessman.

But Mr Chiyangwa shot back: "I did not buy too much land. They took too much land from me and I am merely taking what is mine."

Harare City Council has, however, acknowledged that it owes Mr Chiyangwa land.

On January 21 2009 the town clerk wrote to Mr Chiyangwa’s lawyers, Kantor & Immerman, informing them that they had "identified and verified" the properties that the city would avail to Mr Chiyangwa, which totalled 17,13ha.

"We will now proceed to obtain council consent on these agreed proposals. The land that has been agreed has title and is transferable upon all council procedures being completed," wrote the town clerk.

The land was identified as Subdivision A of Stand 19675S.T.L (6,19ha); Stand 3789 S.T.L. (0,9945ha); Remainder. of Delmardeph G/Lorne (0,5012ha); Ballatyne Park (7,35ha) Remainder. of Block C of Hatfield (2,1ha).

On May 22 2009 council through the town clerk signed a Deed of Transfer in favour of Kilima Investments (Private) Limited, Mr Chiyangwa’s company, involving several pieces of land.

But in the latest twist to the council’s dealings with Mr Chiyangwa, council is now trying to stop him from developing a tourism facility on part of the swapped land in Borrowdale.

But Mr Chiyangwa insists the Borrowdale Road project is unstoppable. "It’s a 2010 project. I have a tourism operator’s licence for it."

He was referring to a Tourism Operators Licence issued to him by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.

Mr Chiyangwa said Mayor Masunda should not be commenting on these deals since he sits on the board of directors of Old Mutual and that of Sisk, two companies that are Mr Chiyangwa’s competitors.

He said this might lead him to conclude the mayor is frustrating him in order to promote Old Mutual.

But Mr Masunda has said though he sits on the board of Old Mutual he would always recuse himself from any cases involving companies that he has interest in.

Old Mutual has been previously involved in a dispute with Mr Chiyangwa over the development of some land in Harare.

Mr Masunda told a local weekly that he is acting in response to public outcry over property developments being carried out by Mr Chiyangwa.

He said he had received several complaints from residents of Borrowdale and Ballantyne Park concerning Mr Chiyangwa’s land developments, which they alleged flouted environmental laws. Mr Chiyangwa had applied to council asking for change of use permission to turn open space and recreational space to a multi-purpose park.

The Director of Urban Planning Services recently told council that Kilma Investments was carrying out illegal developments in Borrowdale and that he had served Mr Chiyangwa’s company with an enforcement order and a prohibition order stopping him from further developing the land in Borrowdale.

Council then resolved that the town clerk submits a report detailing the chronological order of events on the preparation to sell pieces of land and town planning processes including the allocation done at the Borrowdale stand.

They also resolved that the Director of Urban Planning Services submits a report on all land sold to Mr Chiyangwa and companies associated with him.

It also recommended that council does not accede to the proposed change of use of the land and that council suspends any sale of land to Mr Chiyangwa and companies associated with him.

Mr Masunda said the recommendation of the committee had the effect of freezing whatever Mr Chiyangwa was doing at the Borrowdale property.

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LAZ's call on DPP to resign is water under the bridge - Banda

LAZ's call on DPP to resign is water under the bridge - Banda
By Chibaula Silwamba, Zumani Katasefa and Abigail Chaponda
Thu 24 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday shielded Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga, saying LAZ's call on Mchenga to resign was water under the bridge.

Commenting on Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) and other stakeholders' demand that Mchenga should resign because he had failed to independently perform his duties, President Banda said changing the DPP would bring chaos in Zambia.

“I think that we passed through that. The Vice-President is here, why, why are you trying to get something else? He was more clear than anybody can be. He is our Minister of Justice, he is the one that answers on our behalf to the Law Association of Zambia, which they did,” President Banda said.

“I have since had an opportunity to talk to a number of people, they feel that this is water past the bridge. I don't think that people can try and keep it alive. It is not possible. The DPP, everybody knows has the power to decide how to proceed on these matters. I think that we leave it that way otherwise our country will go into chaos if we change the system.”

President Banda was responding to a question from The Post on demands that Mchenga must resign. This was before he and his family left for Mfuwe where they have gone for Christmas holiday.

And President Banda said he was proud that the Zambian economy did not sink during the global economic crisis this year.

“I want to take this opportunity also to say goodbye to all of you and to the country and to wish you a Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year. Those of us who can afford it, I know it's very difficult but I wish you all the best. With regard to the next year, my performance and the performance of all my colleagues is to keep pushing. We realise that we are able to succeed,” President Banda said.

“Those of you who know during the difficulties that the world economy was facing, we called upon all of you to rally behind and see that our economy does not sink and I think that I can stand in front of you and proudly say our economy did not sink and on the contrary we made a lot of progress. As you know the figures are well known to you and none of the mines eventually closed and there was only one that tried to close but we took it over; yesterday Tuesday I inaugurated the first production of this Luanshya Copper Mine.

“So in the New Year we would like the same. Also we would like once again to call upon the Zambian people, we have enough problems as it is we want to concentrate on them, be united and keep the peace of our country. This country is not ours alone, the leaders; it belongs to the people and I think that it is important that the people feel that the leaders are doing everything possible to enhance unity and peace in their country.”

However, President Banda declined to rate his performance.
“I think that you should rate me and not me rate myself,” said President Banda.

President Banda is going for holiday with his wife Thandiwe, his twin young children, his older son Dingani and several other family members.

After speaking to journalists as and he was heading to board the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) plane, President Banda remarked: “I am going to put off my trousers and put on my short.”

And President Banda on Tuesday disclosed that late president Levy Mwanawasa told him that he would one day succeed him.

During the production resumption ceremony at China Luanshya Mine (CLM), President Banda said he was very proud that president Mwanawasa advised him well.

President Banda said a Vice-President was not miles away from becoming a Republican President.
“When my late brother late president Mwanawasa brought me from my village to be his Vice-President, he told me that he knew that one day I will be able to succeed him, and I am very proud that he always better advised me,” said President Banda who was accompanied by Vice-President George Kunda and Dr Kenneth Kaunda.

He said it was important to include Vice-President Kunda in his entourage to Luanshya to witness the celebrations on the production resumption of Luanshya mines because he was born and bred in Luanshya.

He said Vice-President Kunda was a role model of the young people of Luanshya and urged them to work hard at school so that they could one day head such high offices.

President Banda described himself as a servant of the people.

He said it was his duty to serve the people of Zambia and not to be thanked.

“I did not come here for people to thank me or give me praises. It is my duty to come here and celebrate with you because I am a servant of the people,” President Banda said.

He said his duty was to ensure that people had jobs and their lives improved.

President Banda said former president Dr Kenneth Kaunda taught him how to serve people and this was why he did not address him as Dr but Professor.

He urged the Cabinet ministers and other government workers to serve selflessly, saying leaders who worked to serve their own personal egos would not last long.

“We are there to work for the people not to be thinking about our personal egos, that is failed leadership,” said President Banda.

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Rupiah vows never to reconcile with Mpombo

Rupiah vows never to reconcile with Mpombo
By George Chellah
Thu 24 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has vowed never to reconcile with former defence minister George Mpombo. But Mpombo yesterday said he was not desperate for reconciliation because his position was purely based on principle. President Banda highlighted his views during a closed-door meeting with Copperbelt Province chiefs at Luanshya's Director's Lodge.

One of the chiefs that attended the meeting yesterday disclosed to The Post that the traditional leaders demanded that some people in President Banda's entourage be barred from attending the meeting.

“As a result, we only met him and the Vice-President and I think Mr Rabson Chilufya as well. Those were the only people on his side that were present in the meeting if I am not mistaken. As chiefs we had strategised that certain characters will not be allowed to attend the meeting especially works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti,” the source said.

The source said President Banda, as usual, pleaded with the chiefs telling them that he was their son just like the late president Levy Mwanawasa.

“In summary, he was telling us something like 'you people gave Mwanawasa the leadership of this country and now he is not there and when I stood you supported me so why have you rejected me because I am Levy? Who do you want apart from me, who else do you want if you reject me?'…In my opinion, it was more or less a plea to us,” the source said.

The source said President Banda also talked about his fall-out with Mpombo.

“He said 'I will never reconcile with Mpombo because when he was about to resign he didn't contact me and he didn't give reasons',” the source said. “That's when chief Mwinuna, if I am not mistaken, chipped in and told him President Banda that 'now if you don't want to reconcile what do you want because this is when you are supposed to reconcile so that you consolidate the party.'

“Surprisingly, on science, technology and vocational training minister Gabriel Namulambe he didn't say much. He just said that 'he is my young brother except that he went to the press'.”

The source said President Banda also assured the traditional leaders that he would keep in government the people from Lambaland that were appointed by the late Mwanawasa.

“He said even now he was keeping all the people Mwanawasa left and suggested to the chiefs that they float other names to him so that he can replace those who are gone,” the source said.
But intelligence sources revealed that President Banda was determined to fire Namulambe after his meeting with the chiefs.

“The boss had already made up his mind that Namulambe has to go. That's why even when he went to meet the Lamba chiefs, his aim was to justify the action he was about to take against Namulambe. He had planned to explain to the chiefs why he was going to fire Namulambe,” the source said.

“But I think after some briefs he must have realised that things were not well in Lambaland and therefore if he proceeds to dismiss Namulambe he will just worsen the situation hence the change of heart. Otherwise, he had resolved to fire Namulambe even before he met the chiefs.

“When we say there are problems in Lambaland, it's not an exaggeration because if we take Lufwanyama constituency for instance, there are issues there. It appears Mulongoti is eyeing that constituency, which is currently under commerce deputy minister Dr Lwipa Puma. But that will be a miscalculation for the ruling party because I don't think Mulongoti will have it easy in Lufwanyama.”

The source also said President Banda's initial position to the chiefs on Mpombo was shocking following the recent undercover events that had taken place.

“As a matter of fact, I can tell you that these guys from the MMD have been pleading for reconciliation with Mpombo. They have realised that the man is neither a pushover nor a coward. He has basically fought a one-man battle and gone for the President ever since he resigned. So that has been bothering these guys quite a lot,” the source said. “That's why last week on Monday or so, Bwalya Chiti MMD chairperson for legal, Michael Mabenga MMD national chairman, Lt. Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha chief government spokesperson and Lameck Mangani home affairs minister met Mpombo at Parliament Motel with the hope of reconciling with the guy.

“The whole idea of this meeting was to try and harmonise the working relationship in the ruling party. Now is this an indication that President Banda wasn't briefed by these guys after they met Mpombo for him to tell the Lamba chiefs that he was not willing to reconcile or what did they tell the President after their meeting with Mpombo?”

But Mpombo yesterday said he was not desperate for reconciliation because his position was purely based on principle.

“My differences are based on principles of democracy such as a free and fair party convention, good governance…these are the issues and those are not negotiable,” he said.

He said people should not paint a picture of desperation on his part.
“I am actually far from desperation. I am enjoying my current life. I have no regrets about my current life,” he said.

Mpombo said people must not be misled by the article that recently appeared in the Times of Zambia, which painted a picture that he was desperate for reconciliation because he was grossly misquoted.
He praised the traditional leadership on the Copperbelt Province saying they had a good working relationship together.

“With regards to the chiefs in the area, I have great respect for the traditional leaders. We have always looked up very well with our chiefs on development and they really appreciate the role we play as subjects in the economic development of our areas,” he said.

Among the chiefs that attended President Banda's meeting were chief Kalukumya, senior chief Ndubeni, senior chief Mushili, chieftainess Lesa, chieftainess Malembeka and chief Lumpuma.

Others are chieftainess Shimukunami, chief Fungulwe, chief Machiya, chief Shibuchinga, chief Mukutuma, chief Nkana and chief Nkambo.

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