Lonrho pines after African glory
30/12/2011 00:00:00
by Arash Massoudi
GEOFFREY White spends three weeks of every month jetting across sub-Saharan Africa to check investments ranging from nectarine farms in Zimbabwe to a luxury hotel in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The chief executive of Lonrho, the Africa-focused conglomerate, White believes that the company’s assets, in what he calls the “the world’s last frontier”, will bear fruit.
White, who used to give business advice to Gulf royal families, joined forces with David Lenigas, Lonrho’s chairman, to resurrect the 102-year-old company that had collapsed from its heights as a FTSE 100 constituent.
“Africa is where Asia was 30 years ago and, in reality, 10 to 15 years in front of people expectations,” Lenigas said, rattling off statistics about the continent’s booming growth.
Lonrho, short for London-Rhodesia, had been built into a multi-continent conglomerate by Roland “Tiny” Rowland, its larger-than-life leader who led the company for more than 30 years beginning in 1963.
But Roland’s empire unravelled in the early 1990s due to declining metal prices and debt.
By 1993 he was ousted as chief executive. Lonrho’s assets were gradually sold and Lonmin, now a FTSE 250 metals company, was spun out. A loss-making hotel in Mozambique was the only asset left on Lonrho’s books by December 2005.
Enter Lenigas, a mining specialist, who became chairman and convinced the board to once again bet on Africa. Along with White, who joined two years later, the duo have revived Lonrho, which they say still has “the strength of a Coca-Cola brand name” in Africa.
Six years on, their gamble is starting to pay off. They have made investments in agribusiness, infrastructure, transportation, hotels and support services in 17 African countries.
Analysts at WH Ireland project that the company’s overall revenues will more than double to $462m in the 15 months to December 31 of next year as the financial year is aligned with the calendar year. Pre-tax profits are estimated to increase by 83 per cent.
“We think a conglomerate is a clever way to diversify risk across Africa,” Lenigas said of the company’s broad portfolio.
Boasting that Lonrho can get fruit from a Zimbabwean farm to central London in three days, White said the company had integrated every step of the process from cold storage to delivery.
Produce accounts for half of the company’s agribusiness, which is 60 per cent of overall revenues. The other half comes from the company’s fish exports, which are sold to big supermarkets in the UK, US and South Africa.
“We don’t think there’s risk in non-cereal farming. If there’s a famine, people won’t come after our green peppers,” said White.
But the shares in the company, which returned to the main market from Aim in April, have dropped 49 per cent on the year to 9.17p, giving the company a market capitalisation of £129m.
“Our main shareholders have been there since 2006 and see this as an investment in the African growth story,” said White.
He adds: “The last five years have been about building the fundamentals, 2012 is about delivering on them.”
The company said that most of the proceeds of a £27m placing in December will be used to buy out minority stakes in its agribusiness.
And Lenigas added that the next time he spoke with shareholders about money, he hoped that it was to tell them about a dividend.
Damian McNeela at Panmure Gordon said that would depend on what the company did with its loss-making airline, Fly540. Many suspect it will be acquired in a reverse takeover by Rubicon Diversified Investments, a cash shell with links to Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou’s latest airline project, fastjet.com.
“Strategically, the Lonrho story sounds great, but when anyone looks into it, they wonder why aviation,” said McNeela.
While not ruling out the possibility of a reverse takeover, the company’s leaders are characteristically bullish about the possibilities for African aviation.
“There’s screaming demand for north-south and east-west travel in Africa,” said Lenigas.
Labels: LONRHO, LONZIM
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Roebuck riddle: sex, beatings and blackmail
Unanswered questions ... Roebuck with the Masiwisa brothers
31/12/2011 00:00:00
by Adam Shand I smh.com.au
PETER Roebuck's "sons" were grateful for his generosity but have emerged to make allegations of sexual oppression and cruel beatings. Some friends of the cricket writer are skeptical about the claims – and the air of blackmail hangs over the saga – but even they admit they did not really know Roebuck.
The Shona people of Zimbabwe have a saying, "Rine manyanga hariputirwe", meaning the animal with horns cannot be wrapped.
Beneath the jovial veneer of Peter Roebuck, the cricket writer, philanthropist, coach and mentor, there lived a secret that only his African "family" knew. The Zimbabwean students who Roebuck was supporting had protected their "loved Dad" as he had protected and nurtured his "loved sons".
Unanswered questions hung in the air when the cricketing fraternity gathered in Sydney and Melbourne last week to remember a beloved colleague and to celebrate a legacy of philanthropy and social justice.
"This hurts. For those of us in the press and broadcasting boxes the hurt is acute," said Mike Coward, the president of the Cricket Media Association, in a speech at the Sydney Cricket Ground. "Of course, these questions will remain unanswered. How can you explain the inexplicable? ... But we do crave a more complete picture for we are deeply troubled by his death and the fact none of us could prevent it."
Coward voiced what nearly every person who "knew" Roebuck felt, that at best they only knew what small part of himself he was willing to reveal, and in the main, they didn't really know him at all.
The former Somerset captain, much admired for his forthright opinions on cricket, shared precious little of himself. Perhaps Roebuck feared that if he did, his friends might not understand. His reputation would suffer and that was more than he could bear. The self-loathing would be plain for all to see.
That moment may well have arrived in a hotel room on November 12 in Cape Town, South Africa, when police were poised to arrest the 55-year-old on charges of indecently assaulting a 26-year-old male, Zimbabwean university student Itai Gondo.
According to police reports, Roebuck had without warning jumped from the sixth-floor window to his death, despite being in the company of a police officer.
African son
His first African "son", Psychology Maziwisa, was devastated, but not surprised, to learn of his former mentor's suicide. Maziwisa, now a lawyer thanks to Roebuck's generosity, knew a different side to the Peter Roebuck story.
Six weeks after Roebuck's death, Maziwisa and some of Roebuck's "sons" – who initially defended his reputation as a loving father figure – have now described a disturbingly dysfunctional lifestyle within the walls of the houses they shared.
They talk of sexual misconduct, Roebuck's repeated beatings of them on their bare buttocks and of the decision of some to blackmail him as he tried to protect his public reputation as a champion of education and social justice.
Yet Maziwisa – one of his chief accusers – does not condemn him; rather, he describes Roebuck as "a special person" in his life.
Roebuck was not a sexual predator, he says, but a flawed person who strove to express a genuine love through his generosity but who could not acknowledge his own complex sexuality – a tragedy that led to his downfall.
That fall had begun back in October 1999 at St Joseph's orphanage in Harare, Zimbabwe, which housed 55 boys, orphans or children from destitute families.
Roebuck was visiting the boy who would become his first African son, a soon to be orphan. The 16-year old – Maziwisa – would also apparently become the love of his life.
Two days earlier, Roebuck had met the boy at the Harare Sports Club where he was covering a match between Zimbabwe and Australia for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Maziwisa was the captain of the St Joseph's marimba band that was entertaining the crowd during the breaks. They got talking and Roebuck was touched by the story that "Captain Psychology", as he dubbed Maziwisa, had told.
Roebuck then visited St Joseph's and spent an hour talking with "Captain" and three of his friends. Maziwisa says Roebuck then asked the other boys to leave the room as he had some "private matters" to discuss with him. When they were alone, he says Roebuck stood up, pressed his back against the door and motioned for him to approach. When Roebuck embraced him, Maziwisa says he did not resist.
"To be honest, I got my first hug from Peter [in] my whole entire life. In African culture, a handshake is enough. You seldom hug if at all. This was very special to me," says Maziwisa.
So when Roebuck passionately kissed the boy, Maziwisa says he again did not resist, despite the confusion it stirred in him. Word of this closed-door encounter spread through the orphanage quickly, says Maziwisa, and staff members became immediately suspicious of Roebuck.
Captain Psychology
"Matron said, 'Look I actually don't want to see this guy back here again, I think he just might corrupt our boys here'," says Maziwisa.
For Maziwisa, a benefactor like Roebuck doesn't turn up every day.
"I would actually cover things up. I said he's actually got a family, his wife [is] back in the UK. He's got three kids. Two are living with him in Australia, and one is with the wife, because people were convinced that Peter was gay. I stayed with that story throughout," says Maziwisa, acknowledging the lie.
Maziwisa is not homosexual, but says he accepted Roebuck's affection and sexual interest because he "had to look at the big picture".
His family was in ruins. His mother had died of an AIDS-related illness and his father would soon follow. Once a teacher, Maziwisa's father was begging on the streets for survival. He had placed his children in orphanages.
In early 2001, Roebuck set up a bank account in Harare to cover Maziwisa's fees, so he could study for his A-levels. In April the following year when the then 19-year-old's father died, Roebuck paid for the coffin and the funeral expenses. In time, Roebuck would also "adopt" and educate dozens of other young men, including Maziwisa's two biological brothers – one of whom would allegedly blackmail him after claiming his new "father" had sexually abused him.
Meanwhile, Roebuck's life in England was in turmoil. In October 2001, he pleaded guilty in a Devon court to charges of common assault after admitting he had caned three young South African cricketers he was coaching. Roebuck accepted a four-month suspended jail sentence but was largely unrepentant. "Obviously I misjudged the mood and that was my mistake and my responsibility and I accept that," he told the court.
He wrote in his autobiography Sometimes I Forgot to Laugh that he had to "pretend that consent was absent. Of course it was nonsense." Roebuck perhaps failed to understand the power imbalance between him and the impoverished young men whose lives he sought to lift.
The damage to his reputation drove Roebuck out of England.
Coward was among the friends who stood by him during this public humiliation. "I took him away after the court case and he said he never wanted to go through anything like that again," Coward recalls.
He, like other colleagues of Roebuck, is surprised by the latest allegations that he abused the young men he was helping to educate, and is mindful that his long-term friend is not here to defend or explain himself.
"He was so admired and respected ... We were unaware of any impropriety," says Coward. "This is what he obviously couldn't live with, all these very personal details being made public ... It's all just so desperately, desperately sad.
"The tragedy is we don't know who we knew. I mean, we thought he was estranged from his family, we thought his mother was dead ... yet now it seems he was probably in touch with them all these years. It's just staggering."
The ABC commentator Jim Maxwell says there would be many of Roebuck's past students from Sydney's elite Cranbrook School who would be shocked "by these claims ... and they would defend him to the hilt".
Maxwell, who first met Roebuck 30 years ago, says he was "taken aback" when he gave his statement to police shortly after his friend's suicide. The second question they asked was, "Did you know he was a homosexual?"
"I told the police that as far as I knew he wasn't. As to his defined sexual proclivity, what he felt ... he never expressed anything about that to me," Maxwell says.
Roebuck became an Australian citizen in the 1990s, spending half the year living at Bondi Beach. Yet increasingly he was drawn to South Africa.
Maziwisa says a poor man might accept corporal punishment as the price of an education yet it is not the same as giving consent. He says he had faced that dilemma when Roebuck had first abused him in 1999.
"I said to myself, 'I cannot judge this man based on this incident. The future is a lot brighter, it's just one incident ... I think it's wise to keep this to myself. It worked out to my advantage, because Peter paid for tuition, my varsity education," says Maziwisa.
Education
"Peter told me: 'I grew up as a lonely guy. I didn't have much love around me and this is my way of reliving my past of making things right, making that childhood thing that I did not experience'."
This alleged account of Roebuck's past will likely come as a cruel blow to his widowed mother and five remaining siblings, who have spoken of their great loss and their desire that he be remembered for his charity work. "Some lovely things have been written about Peter, but also some vile things. We want Peter's name to remain a good name," his sister Beatrice told journalists.
Upon news of his death, the family sent a lawyer to South Africa to investigate because they do not believe he committed suicide.
After the court case in England, Roebuck bought a block of land in South Africa, half an hour out of Pietermaritzburg in the province of KwaZulu-Natal where he had white friends from cricketing circles. The block, fringed by farms and game reserves, commanded a spectacular view of the Umgeni River where it spilled into Albert Falls Dam. He built a rambling homestead that he named Straw Hat, a place where he could reinvent himself with Maziwisa by his side.
Though Roebuck had as many as 42 students under his wing at the time of his death, all his attention had at first been directed towards his "Captain".
Coward, who met Maziwisa several years ago in the company of Roebuck, says he doesn't know if Captain Psychology was "the love of Peter's life" but concedes his life certainly changed after he met the young man. Cricket was a passion that took Roebuck around the world; Maziwisa gave him an anchor.
By 2004, Roebuck was paying for Maziwisa to study law at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Pietermaritzburg and meeting all his living expenses.
Early on, they shared the house with a white South African couple. It was a stimulating, intellectual atmosphere around the dinner table. Roebuck is thought to have considered Captain Psychology as someone who could be moulded into the perfect weapon of dissent, a protégé in his fierce attacks on President Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe and the acolytes who ran cricket there.
Roebuck's interest in the boy was subtle, yet insistent, according to accounts by Maziwisa.
"If you were taking a shower, he would come in and talk to you. You were taking a shower and he's busy assessing you and that kind of thing. That was a little bit odd," Maziwisa says.
Then one day in 2005, he laid bare his feelings.
"He sat me beside him on the bed. He looked me in the eye. He said, 'Are you OK?' I said, 'I'm fine.' He asked, 'Are you eating well?'
By that time he had his hands in my pants, feeling my buttocks," remembers Maziwisa.
"He said, "Look Captain, I have got something to tell you. I hope you are comfortable with it. I have been meaning to tell you I love you.
He was hugging me and putting me by his chest, feeling me. I think that day he was ready to have sex with me, had I agreed, but I did not and told him so."
Rejection
Maziwisa rejected him, apologising for letting down his mentor. Roebuck was, according to Maziwisa, devastated and tears rolled down his face.
"His expectation was that I would just say OK, in return for his favours, despite my straightness, let's just do this as a means of compensation ... I just left him in the room, crying," says Maziwisa.
Maziwisa was now 22 and had fallen in love with Thandeka, a pretty law student from university. But there were his brothers, the quaintly named Immigration and Integrity, back in Harare, Zimbabwe, to consider. He says he knew Roebuck would accept them into their "family" and take care of them if he asked, such was his influence over the older man.
"I just said to myself, don't be selfish. Let me look at the bigger picture. As long as he is not compelling me to do anything with him, it's fine. I have told him, he has understood. Although he has cried, he will get over it."
Soon Straw Hat was home to more than a dozen young Zimbabwean men ranging from 18 to 22 years, all of whom had Maziwisa to thank for their good fortune.
"Always I would say to Peter don't do this for me, it's entirely up to you. I am recommending them to you because I feel I should assist them but I can't do this myself. I would invite people to come for a few days and they would end up staying for the duration," Maziwisa says.
In 2006, Roebuck was one of five founding directors of the LBW (Learning for a Better World) Trust, established to assist disadvantaged young people in developing countries to obtain a tertiary education. He retired as a director in 2008 but continued to support its initiatives. Separately, Roebuck was privately paying tuition and living expenses for 42 young Africans at the time of his death.
In 2010, the family had moved from Straw Hat into a 10-bedroom house next to the university in suburban Pietermaritzburg. Seventeen students were living there at the time of Roebuck's death.
Uncertainty
On the last weekend before Christmas, the remaining 10 or so prepared to leave Pietermaritzburg, possibly for the last time. Since Roebuck's death five weeks earlier, the future had been clouded in uncertainty. There was no will or instructions setting out what would happen.
Roebuck's few possessions were where he had left them. A crumpled straw hat perched on the piano in vigil as the students played pool nearby. On the mantelpiece, a pile of his favourite albums by Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, gathered dust atop a yellowing copy of Charles Dickens's Hard Times. Roebuck's loyal dog Copperhead sat grimly by the swimming pool, which was turning lime green, watching the gate as if his master would return at any moment.
"This might be the last 'Merry Saturday'," said Justice Hakata, another of Roebuck's "sons". He was referring to the occasional times when Roebuck would relax his rigorous regime and throw on a barbecue dinner and drinks for the students and their friends.
In the coming days many were heading to Harare to work out their next move. Some had not been home to Zimbabwe for five years. Roebuck encouraged them to think of themselves as exiles from a brutal regime.
However, due to local employment rules, they could not work in South Africa despite their degrees, and they were reliant on their "loved Dad" for all their living expenses. Out of touch with Zimbabwe, they felt stateless and fearful of the future.
A few, like Hakata, planned to stay at the house for as long as possible. "Once I get out of the gate, I have nothing and nowhere to go. This was my family and Peter was my father," he said, quietly.
Roebuck had named the house Sunrise and painted it sky blue, hoping that this would be a fresh start. It wasn't. The power struggles and sexual politics that had poisoned the atmosphere at Straw Hat were brought into town.
At first, the 10 students gathered at the house were reluctant to speak, but as the evening wore on several took me aside to talk. They had maintained the line that there had been no abuse and that Roebuck could not possibly have done what he was accused of, much less committed suicide. They feared that telling the truth might show ingratitude.
But after reading the glowing tributes written by sportswriters who knew almost nothing of the other Peter Roebuck, they decided to break their silence.
Ingratitude
None could ever forget the savage beatings that Roebuck had delivered with a length of black plastic tubing upon their naked buttocks.
Several explained how, adopting a code once used by colonial authorities in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Roebuck would give miscreants a prescribed number of strokes for various offences to a maximum of 21.
"These were very serious beatings," recalls "Trymore", another housemate who asks for anonymity.
To add humiliation to injury, Roebuck would then insist on feeling the victim's buttocks to assess the damage. The young men said he often concluded the disturbing scene with a warm embrace.
When Roebuck was on cricket duty overseas, Maziwisa ran the house, controlling a debit card which gave him access to cash totalling 1500 South African rand per day. A privilege Maziwisa admits he sometimes abused by overspending.
Roebuck would ask Maziwisa for reports of misbehaviour or slackness. A week before his return, Roebuck would send an email detailing whom he planned to beat and how many strokes were coming.
From 2006, as the family rapidly grew, the beatings were more frequent, becoming part of the induction process at Straw Hat.
"If you are going to be part of this family I am going to have to beat you first, he would tell new guys," according to Maziwisa. "And [he'd say] you are going to have to accept it. That tells me you want to stay in the family. If you are going to chicken out, I'm sorry I can't help you."
Maziwisa says one of his favourite phrases was, "This is Africa. I'm raising lions not pussy cats."
But Captain Psychology was treated differently, only ever receiving three strokes at a time, with his trousers on.
"'Captain I have a lot of respect for you,' Roebuck would say.
"All these other guys I cane them on their naked buttocks, but I'll not do that to you, I respect you. You are my number one, I started with you," says Maziwisa.
In the eyes of Maziwisa, this was a precaution. "He knew that he had done stuff to me in 1999 and in 2005. If he was going to beat me on my naked buttocks he wasn't sure how I was going to take that ... so the best way to deal with that was to make me feel I was special," Maziwisa says.
After Roebuck's rejection by Maziwisa, some in the house say the writer had turned his romantic attention to others.
"He had carefully selected people, he had his people," says Trymore.
Suspicion
"And the guys involved would keep it secret because it allowed them to get closer to Peter and that was an advantage when it came to money. But we would see certain guys coming out of Peter's room late at night. It created a lot of suspicion.
"We would say as long as I'm OK, and things are going well, I will leave it as it is. After all, here was a father who was doing more for us than even our own biological fathers."
In 2007, Maziwisa left Straw Hat to live with Thandeka and their baby son. His brothers Immigration and Integrity had come down from Harare and were under Roebuck’s wing. The beatings and sexual harassment continued, even intensified, Maziwisa says, after his departure.
"He was taking advantage of the situation, there’s no question. I sat down with him and said this whole thing has to stop, the beatings and the hugging etc because one day this whole thing might get messy,’’ says Maziwisa.
But Maziwisa claims that Roebuck didn’t listen, suggesting that he was jealous.
In 2009, Maziwisa says his brother, Immigration wrote a letter accusing Roebuck of sexual assault. He drew up a list of 12 charges including allegations that Roebuck had molested him while he slept. Maziwisa says his brother also had photographic evidence of injuries Roebuck had inflicted during a 21-stroke hiding.
Maziwisa says the wounds were so severe that he felt compelled to photograph them and had considered seeking medical help for his brother. He now claims he no longer has the photographs.
Immigration threatened to take the letter to Roebuck’s employers, including The Sydney Morning Herald and the South-African Natal Witness newspaper. In a panic, Roebuck summoned Maziwisa to Straw Hat.
He says Roebuck told him: "The moment he does that I am finished Captain. This thing will be big news in the papers tomorrow morning. As far as I can see there is no reason for me to live any more. If he wants to do it, let him do it. I will take myself to Albert Falls and throw myself off. He was red in the face and his hair was standing up."
Maziwisa promised to talk Immigration out of showing the letter but said his brother should have a small sum in compensation to leave quietly. Roebuck at first refused, asking Maziwisa whether he would remain loyal to him if police laid charges against him.
"Should that day come, I am afraid I will testify against you," Maziwisa says he told him.
Shattered
Roebuck was shattered by this declaration, Maziwisa says, and reluctantly agreed to what he describes as a payment of a "few thousand rand". Roebuck read the allegations to the rest of the family. He warned that if he went down, the rest of the family would suffer also.
Under pressure from his peers, Immigration recanted but several housemates and a close friend and neighbour, Adrienne Anderson, confirm the payment was made nonetheless.
And in private, Immigration’s blackmailing did not cease, Trymore says. He estimates Roebuck paid Immigration a total of R75,000 in three amounts. Maziwisa dismisses this as a gross exaggeration.
Whatever the sum of money, the power balance in the house had dramatically shifted. The four men and Ms Anderson also say that another housemate had extracted money from Roebuck to buy his silence in 2010.
White friends in Pietermaritzburg were aware of the payments but refused to believe the allegations, according to Maziwisa.
"Maybe they thought it was a black against white thing, that there was a history of black people wanting to take advantage of situations.
They gave him the kind of advice he needed to hear," he says.
Anderson, a neighbour during the Straw Hat years and among Roebuck’s closest friends – but who admits ‘‘I didn’t really know him’’ – says she did question why Roebuck would pay Immigration if the allegations were false.
"Peter told me, ‘He’s my son, how can I send him out on the street with nothing’," says Anderson.
She says Roebuck asked her to mediate a meeting between Maziwisa, Immigration and himself at which Roebuck claimed that Immigration’s assault allegations had come after a substantial amount of money had disappeared from his bank account over a three-year period.
According to Anderson, Roebuck said "the abuse allegations had been used as a means of dissuading [Roebuck] from pursuing any action over the missing money".
Anderson says Roebuck did not discuss personal matters with her, but did confide that he suspected Maziwisa had been "skimming off the top" amounts from his bank account for some time.
Roebuck also spoke to Jim Maxwell about his financial concerns.
Blackmail
"He was always talking about how they were spending too much, that he was struggling to keep them under control ... he was very, very worried about it because he was absent for long periods and they had access to his accounts," Maxwell recalls.
"He certainly felt under pressure, but he never mentioned that he was being blackmailed."
Another South African friend of Roebuck’s, who declined to be named, questions Maziwisa’s motives in making the abuse allegations.
"I am not aware of these rumours," the friend says. "All I am aware of is that Psychology and Peter had a history of discord, especially after the former stole from Peter [over] a protracted period ... so I’ll take whatever [he has] got to offer with a pinch of salt."
Maziwisa denies that he stole from Roebuck but concedes that he did "get carried away" with the debit card in 2006 while his mentor was away.
He also concedes that the man who had spent so much giving him and his "brothers" their greatest opportunity in life, had reached a critical decision last year.
Just months before his death, Maziwisa says Roebuck told him that he would rather take his own life than face further blackmail from his sons.
"He told me, ‘I have made peace with my God,’" says Maziwisa.
"I’m not going to let people do this to me. If people come to me seeking money from reliving the past I’m not going to have that. I can go any time."
The death knell for their relationship sounded when Maziwisa went to work for Mugabe’s regime in Harare as a political adviser.
Roebuck despised the man who was responsible for the misery so many of his students had suffered.
As Coward recalls, Roebuck was devastated by this betrayal. It sparked a dramatic falling out that left him bereft.
"Nothing would have broken Roebuck’s heart quicker or harder than that," Coward says.
After the split, Roebuck would no longer have Maziwisa to guide him in the selection of new family members.
Itai Gondo was not an orphan, nor a penniless refugee. He just wanted help with his tuition fees. At 26 he was beyond Roebuck’s age limit of accepting new men into the house. Sunrise housemate Petros Tani, 23, had introduced Gondo to Roebuck, suggesting in a Facebook message that the student drop his age.
"Tell him that you are 21 and you are doing your first year ... if you tell him you are older than that you are out. Communicate with him as your father ...
"Your focus needs not to be on financial support but neediness as of a father and a family. The rest will then come,” Tani wrote.
But Gondo refused to deceive Roebuck.
"He has asked my age and honestly I feel I would rather be honest and transparent from the get-go with him about my age. As a man of faith I wouldn’t want that heavy on my conscience. Roebuck is a father figure and deserves the respect expected to be given as a father figure as that stipulated in the Bible," Gondo responded to Tani on Facebook.
Newlands
The following evening Roebuck met Gondo in his hotel room at the Southern Sun Hotel in Newlands, Cape Town. Gondo alleges that he and Roebuck had spent two hours talking before the conversation turned to sex. At some point, Roebuck went into the bathroom, allegedly emerging naked whereupon he pinned Gondo on the bed and sexually assaulted him.
The following day, Tani says Roebuck asked him on Facebook, in exchanges seen by this reporter, if there had been any word from Gondo, who had now removed his profile.
Tani: "Finally I spoke with Itai ... he said he is no longer interested in your assistance and that’s why he removed himself on Facebook."
Roebuck: "Oh well, not too sure what he said. He was a bit strange but he needs a lot of help. He needs to call me or other way round. Sometimes things go wrong the first time but you have got to fight back. He’s basically a good person. Am trying to put him in touch with Ruswa and think he can help him."
Tani: "Dad, do you have any idea why he does not need your help anymore?"
Roebuck: "Not really, it was a strange meeting but am only here one more full day and he has many skills e.g. repairing laptops ... "
Tani: "Anyway Dad my advice would be to forget about him. We cannot force him because he doesn’t need anything to do with you or us. Worse off he doesn’t need any contact with anyone."
Roebuck: "Oh he’s depressed. Isn’t that dangerous? Think he needs to uplift his life. Sometimes I go a bit far in first meetings. I suppose outsiders not used to it but his life is important whereas our relationship is not. It’s his future."
The next evening, Gondo sent a message on Facebook to Roebuck. Gondo: "You have greatly humiliated me, and I feel very violated, disgusted with myself, your acts were of the purest, sickest kind."
Roebuck showed he was under pressure in a message to Tani: "Itai has sent me a nasty message and am sick about it. I will try to call him but not sure it’s any use. I’m upset, don’t tell anyone or they will worry."
About 9pm on November 12, Gondo rang Tani demanding to know where Roebuck was, declaring he would have him charged with sexual assault. Tani says he tried hard to talk Gondo out of it, saying they would all suffer.
But Gondo wasn’t interested in the "bigger picture".
A short time later, Roebuck apparently took his own life.
South African police spokesman Vish Naidoo says the body has been released to the family. The results of an inquest may not be known for up to two years, but Colonel Naidoo says police maintain there is no evidence of foul play.
Earlier, Roebuck had posted a message on Facebook which underscored the tragedy. "We have a wonderful family and am proud of it,2 he wrote. "Am not perfect but think the good outweighs the bad."
Psychology Maziwisa contacted The Sun-Herald requesting that none of his quotes be published. He had earlier agreed to a formal recorded interview, despite being told that, in keeping with its policy, Fairfax would not pay him for it.
Labels: CHILD ABUSE, COURTS, CRICKET, HOMOSEXUALITY
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Sata forgives Bingu
By Bright Mukwasa
Sat 31 Dec. 2011, 14:00 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata says he has forgiven Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika over his deportation from that country in 2007. And Malawi information minister Patricia Kaliati yesterday welcomed President Sata's decision, saying the move was a good development for both countries.
President Mutharika's government arrested President Sata, then opposition leader in 2007 when he entered Malawi to visit former president Bakili Muluzi. On 15 March 2007, Sata was deported from Malawi shortly after arrival.
President Sata was bundled into a car, driven several hundred kilometres, dumped at the border and told he could never go back to that country.
President Sata said he was only there to meet with the business community, and alleged that the Zambian government had effected the deportation by falsely claiming that he was in Malawi to assist Muluzi. The Zambian government denied this statement while the Malawian government gave no explanation for President Sata's deportation.
On 6 April, 2007, President Sata's lawyer Ralph Kasambara said that he had initiated a lawsuit against the Malawian government for violating his rights.
And since winning elections, relations between Malawi and Zambia at presidential level had been strained.
President Sata said at State House yesterday after a closed-door meeting with Muluzi, who was in the country for a two-day private visit, that he decided to bury the hatchet in the interest of both countries.
Muluzi, who has reconciliation problems with President Mutharika and his government over corruption allegations, is said to have brokered the peace between the two Presidents.
"His Muluzi coming here was to reconcile Zambia with Malawi where the president wants us to forget about the incident which happened when I was deported from Malawi and we feel that Malawi and Zambia are bigger than Michael Sata and Bingu wa Mutharika and I have agreed," President Sata said without stating whether the deportation ban had been lifted or his pending court case in that country had been discontinued.
"I have given him a message to convey to President Bingu wa Mutharika that as far as I am concerned, let bygones be bygones, so any time, we shall see you in Malawi."
Muluzi was however not sent to Zambia by President Mutharika to come and normalise the relations between the two heads of state.
In October this year, President Sata turned down an invitation by Malawi to attend the Comesa heads of state summit for the same reason.
And Kaliati said her government would handle the matter at a ‘higher level' between the two governments.
However, Kaliati blamed the media, accusing them of having blown the diplomatic row out of proportion and referred further questions to her Minister of Foreign Affairs.
"It's a good development yes, but I know you media whatever I say you won't even take that; you'll take the wrong thing. We are one country," said Kaliati.
Labels: BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, MALAWI, MICHAEL SATA, PATRICIA KALIATI
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More action is needed from the action man on prisoners
By The Post
Sat 31 Dec. 2011, 14:00 CAT
"I was in prison for 40 days and the majority of people in prison are poor people. Poor people have no representation. Let us revamp the legal aid system and let us also create a new office of district attorney so that people can be properly prosecuted…poor people don't even know what legal representation is.
I stayed 40 days because I had a very effective legal representation; I even managed to get bail on a matter which they said there is no bail. My lawyers went around and got a constitutional bail."
This was said by Michael Sata on Thursday. It is true that the majority of our prisoners are poor people. The rich and politically powerful rarely go to prison. Not because they don't commit crimes. But simply because they have the money to buy justice and the political influence to get what they want.
There is very little justice for the poor in this country. Sometimes they are arrested wrongly but no one is willing to listen to their story, to their explanations. They are simply told: "Uzakambila ku police." And when they get to the police, they are not even given the chance to explain anything.
They are simply locked away. There are many poor people in our prisons who have been there for years without attending court. What type of rule of law is this where there is no equality before the law, or equal protection of the law as it is often phrased? We know that equality before the law is fundamental to any just and democratic society.
But every day, the great majority of our people, the poor people, are not treated in a manner that one can say there is equality before the law for them. Whether rich or poor - all are entitled to equal protection before the law. But this is not the case in our country today.
We have criminals in this country who are not in prison today simply because they have money and they have political clout or connections. We have people who have been convicted for corruption but because they are rich and well connected politically, they are not in prison.
The law and law enforcement institutions have bent over backwards to accommodate rich and politically powerful elements like Frederick Chiluba and save them from going to jail. Court processes were manipulated by Rupiah Banda, with the help of his Director of Public Prosecutions Chalwe Mchenga, to set Chiluba free and save him from going to jail for corruption.
In a country where there is equality before the law, this would not have happened. The democratic state cannot guarantee that life will treat everyone equally, and it has no responsibility to do so. However, under no circumstances should those in power impose additional inequalities; they should be required to deal evenly and equally with all our people - rich or poor, politically powerful or otherwise. No one should be placed above the law.
There is very little justice for the poor in this country. The poor can't afford lawyers and very little legal aid is extended to them while the politically powerful sometimes don't even have to pay lawyers because they offer themselves to them for free.
But how many of our lawyers are offering themselves for free to poor people? We had Rupiah being represented for free in all sorts of matters by all sorts of lawyers when he was in a position to pay. But none of these lawyers offered themselves to our poor brothers and sisters who have been languishing in our jails for years without a lawyer.
Even when the politically powerful steal from the poor, from the poor people's government, they are not short of probono legal representation. Lawyers fall over each other to represent them. It is said that when a rich or politically powerful man stumbles, his friends will steady him, but if a poor man falls, his friends will have nothing to do with him.
When a rich or politically powerful man makes a mistake, there are many people to cover up for him and explain away all the things he never should have said. But let a poor man make a mistake, and he gets nothing but jail. Even when he has something to say in mitigation, nobody will listen.
It is pleasing to hear Michael speak for the poor in prison, saying he has been there and he knows their plight. It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. It is also said that a nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones - and Zambia treats its imprisoned poor citizens like animals.
We agree with the observations made by Archbishop Nicola Girasoli the other day over the plight of our prisoners. Archbishop Girasoli observed that "it's only those with money that have good access to justice and we have thousands of people who have cases that have not been dealt with, with some of them in prison while those with money are free on bail…Equality before the law is a very strong human right because this is what protects the minority".
He further observed that there was need to improve the image of the Judiciary in the country.
Our justice system is not promoting the common good and seems to favour the rich and politically powerful. This should not be allowed to continue. This injustice, this inequality cries out for justice, solidarity.
Michael has placed before us a challenge that we cannot sidestep and to which we must respond with a speed and boldness adequate to the urgency of the times. We need to urgently respond to the suffering of our poor people who are languishing without meaningful legal representation and access to justice in our prisons. We ought to sharpen the awareness of our duty of solidarity with the poor, to which charity leads us.
This solidarity means that we make ours their problems and their struggles, that we know how to speak with them and for them. This has to be concretised in criticism of injustice and oppression, in the struggle against the intolerable situation that a poor person often has to tolerate, in the willingness to dialogue with the groups responsible for that situation in order to make them understand their obligations.
Let us not forget that where there is injustice of this nature, there is a rejection of the Lord's gift of peace, and even more, a rejection of the Lord Himself. We say this because justice, understood as holiness, a gift of the Lord, is the basic foundation of social justice. By his example, Christ taught us to live what he preached.
Christ preached human solidarity and proclaimed that love should configure all our social structures. Today, as always, the spirit of Christ is actively giving impetus to history. It shows up in solidarity, in the unselfish commitment of those who struggle for liberty and evince authentic love for their incarcerated poor brothers and sisters who have no access to justice.
We highly welcome Michael's concerns for the poor in our prisons. Situations of grave injustice require the courage to make far-reaching reforms in our justice system. The fight against injustice is meaningless unless it is waged with a view to establishing a new order in conformity with the demands of justice.
The motivating concern for the poor must be translated at all levels into concrete actions, until it decisively attains a series of necessary reforms. We wish to appeal with simplicity and humility to everyone, without exception, to take seriously Michael's observations on the plight of our poor brothers and sisters who are languishing in our prisons.
We ask all of you to be convinced of the seriousness of what Michael was saying and of the individual responsibility of each one of you to do something to address the problem. There is urgent need for us to implement measures inspired by solidarity and love of preference for the poor.
This is what is demanded by the present moment and above all, by the very dignity of the human person. We also ask Michael to do everything within his powers to address the plight of our poor brothers and sisters in prisons. Michael has shown some great concern over this issue.
This is not the first time he is speaking about it. He has consistently been on this issue for some time now. We want to see more action from the action man on this issue.
Labels: MICHAEL SATA, PRISONS
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Change image of Judiciary, Sakala urges new judges
By Bright Mukwasa
Sat 31 Dec. 2011, 13:59 CAT
CHIEF Justice Ernest Sakala has urged newly-appointed judges and magistrates to change the negative image of the Judiciary. According to a statement issued in Lusaka by the judiciary public relations officer Terry Musonda, justice Sakala called on adjudicators to prove that the Judiciary was capable of managing its own affairs.
He said judges and magistrates should not delay judgments to allay the negative perception that the public holds against the Judiciary.
"The Honourable Chief Justice Sakala advised the newly-appointed honourable judges and magistrates not to become the reason for criticism due to work culture that would lead to delaying judgments adding that they need to make a positive contribution and help change the perception," Musonda stated.
"The Honourable Chief Justice strongly urged all to come on board with positive attitudes towards work so as to help change the old image society holds of the Judiciary."
Musonda stated that Justice Sakala hoped that the joining to the bench of new judges and magistrates would significantly help reduce the backlog of cases countrywide.
"The public out there has great expectations from you, that you will help reduce the back log. Thus, as you conduct your work, always remember the responsibility you carry and make the difference," said the Justice Sakala.
He was speaking at the induction course for the newly appointed judges and magistrates held at Protea Hotel, Chisamba from 27th to 30th December, 2011.
Musonda stated that Justice Sakala reminded adjudicators that the bench survived on honesty and integrity, which should always remain a solid foundation upon which adjudicators should deal with every day business in court and outside court.
And President Michael Sata on Thursday urged newly-appointed Solicitor General Musa Mwenye, Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito and Attorney General Mumba Malila to ensure that they revamp the legal aid system.
During the swearing in of Mwenye at State House, President Sata, who spent over one month in jail on a non-bailable charge of theft of motor vehicle that was later dropped during the late Levy Mwanawasa era, said many prisoners had no legal representation.
"I was in prison for 40 days and the majority of people in prison are poor people. Poor people have no representation. Let us revamp the legal aid system and let us also create a new office of district attorney so that people can be properly prosecuted," President Sata said.
"The Legal Aid, look at the conditions of service and come to us. The 40 days I stayed in prison, poor people don't even know what legal representation is. I stayed 40 days because I had a very effective legal representation; I even managed to get bail on a matter which they said there is no bail. My lawyers went around and got a constitutional bail."
And outgoing Vatican Ambassador to Zambia Nicola Girasoli said Zambia still has a long way to go in ensuring equality of all citizens before the law.
He said equality of all citizens before the law was an aspect that needed urgent attention in the country.
Archbishop Girasoli said during his six-year tenure in Zambia, he had visited prisons and most cases for people in remand were not even considered.
"And unfortunately, people who have never been involved in any kind of judiciary process don't feel this problem but I have seen a very large part of society, a very much strong demand for this equality," said Archbishop Girasoli.
"It's only those with money that have good access to justice and we have thousands of people who have cases that have not been dealt, with some of them in prison while those with money are free on bail. But also in the civil judiciary system, there are a lot of people that really don't see their cases solved. When they start a case, maybe it may take years, equality before the law is a very strong human right because this is what protects the minority. If you don't feel equal before the law, you are second class citizens,".
Labels: ERNEST SAKALA, ETHICS, JUDICIARY
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LAZ should continue standing for what is just - Mwenye
By Bright Mukwasa
Sat 31 Dec. 2011, 13:58 CAT
Mwenye yesterday resigned as Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president following his appointment as Solicitor General. Mwenye said he decided to relinquish his position to avoid compromising the independence of LAZ.
"Although I have anxiously perused the law and have found no provision that obliges one to resign this position as LAZ president when appointed to public office, I have nonetheless decided to resign my position as LAZ president with immediate effect," Mwenye stated in a letter dated December 29th, 2011 addressed to LAZ honorary secretary Paulman Chungu.
"This is so because staying as LAZ president would conflict with my long held belief in the independence of LAZ. Although there are barely four months before the annual general meeting, I am persuaded that the avoidance of even the appearance of a conflict of interest between the office of LAZ president and that of Solicitor General necessitates the decision that I have made."
Mwenye praised the council of LAZ for the resilience shown in the most challenging times.
He said he was grateful to the general membership of LAZ for the immense support accorded to him in his election and also for the rare opportunity of being the only second LAZ president, after prominent Lusaka lawyer Willa Mung'omba, to have been at the helm of the association during the change of government from one political party to another.
Mwenye urged LAZ to continue standing for what was just according to the objectives of the Association as contained in section four of the Law Association of Zambia Act chapter 31 of the Laws of Zambia.
He hoped LAZ would continue on the projects and the undertakings such as the implementation of the multi-million dollar facelift of the secretariat approved by the council and the resolution to focus on the fight against corruption, judicial reforms and the constitution-making process.
Mwenye was sworn in as Solicitor General on Thursday following his appointment by President Michael Sata and subsequent overwhelming approval by Parliament.
Labels: LAZ, MUSA MWENYE, SOLLICITOR GENERAL
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Cops seize more of Konga's property
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sat 31 Dec. 2011, 13:57 CAT
LAW enforcement officers have seized eight more motorcycles from Kenneth Konga, the latest seizure of the former energy minister's properties in the ongoing investigations of how he acquired the same.
Sources said a combined team of the Zambia Police, Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) seized Konga's motorcycles and an undisclosed number of radios from his Chavuma Constituency in North Western Province.
"The motorcycles that have been seized from honourable Konga are parked at the Task Force on Corruption offices in Lusaka. Initially, there were two but eight more were seized bringing the total to 10," the source said. "Even the radios were seized."
The sources said investigators have also interrogated about four senior officials from Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to find out how the MMD's campaign vehicles were brought into the country and whether or not tax was paid for the same.
"The four are just witnesses," the source said.
Investigators probing the plunder of public resources in the immediate-past MMD government last week seized a Hummer vehicle, two motorcycles, a hotel and other properties belonging to Konga.
The officers interrogated Konga but the probe is still ongoing. However, Konga denied the allegations, insisting that he acquired the Hummer through a loan from parliament.
Konga's lawyer Sakwiba Sikota described the seizure as a witch-hunt against his client.
Sources told The Post that investigators were checking records at Parliament to confirm whether or not the House paid for Konga's Hummer.
Apart from Konga, the law enforcement officers have in the recent past interrogated MMD spokesperson and Petauke Central member of parliament Dora Siliya and MMD Malambo member of parliament Maxwell Mwale (former mines minister).
Former president Rupiah Banda's sons Henry and Nenani and his campaign managers Dr Boniface Kawimbe and Dr Martin Mtonga were summoned last month for interrogation in connection with the former's campaign funds and materials but are yet to appear.
The officers seized at least 1, 200 bicycles from former finance minister and MMD's Liuwa member of parliament Situmbeko Musokotwane.
Labels: ACC, DEC, KENNETH KONGA, TAX EVASION
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Katele's corruption appeal hearing fails to take off
By Mwala Kalaluka
Sat 31 Dec. 2011, 13:56 CAT
THE case in which former MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba and others appealed against the five-year jail terms slapped on them by the Lusaka magistrates' court over corrupt activities failed to commence yesterday.
This is a matter before Lusaka High Court judge-in-charge Jane Kabuka and judge Nigel Mutuna, where Kalumba, a former finance minister in the Frederick Chiluba regime, and former finance permanent secretary Stella Chibanda have appealed against their convictions.
The other two appellants are directors of the defunct Access Financial Services, Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu, who were all sent to a five-year jail term by then magistrate Edward Musona in May 2010.
The quartet later filed notices of appeal against their conviction and sentence and they were released after being granted K500 million bail each.
Kalumba in his grounds of appeal argued that the trial magistrate erred in law and fact in convicting him against the weight of evidence.
Kabwe and Chungu said in their grounds of appeal that the trial magistrate misdirected himself on points of law by not considering the ingredients of the offences under the anti-corruption commission Act.
Kabwe said the court misdirected itself on a point of law and fact by finding him guilty of corruptly erecting a cottage for former secretary to the treasury Benjamin Mweene.
However, when the appeal came up for commencement of hearing yesterday morning, it could not take off due to the absence of court reporters.
Consequently, judge Kabuka following a hearing in chambers adjourned the case to April 23 and 24, 2012 for commencement of hearing.
Kalumba, Chibanda, Kabwe and Chungu were on May 26, 2010 handed five-year jail sentences each for various corrupt charges connected to issues of corrupt practices by a public officer.
The conviction was as a result of 23 charges relating to payments made to two US security companies, Wilbain Incorporated and Systems Innovation totalling US$20 million over some security contracts.
Delivering an over five-hour judgment that drew people like chief Puta of the Bwile people of Chiengi and then agriculture minister Peter Daka, magistrate Musona said he had sentenced Kalumba to five years imprisonment with hard labour because he had not shown remorse, repentance and regret over his involvement in the matters before the court.
Magistrate Musona said it was not in dispute that Kalumba and the others were public officers at the time the matters before the court were taking place.
In passing sentence, magistrate Musona said no one could doubt the love that Kalumba had for Zambia and he had served the Zambian people in various portfolios.
He said Kalumba was a sitting parliamentarian who served the country very well up to the commencement of the investigations.
"How I wish you had shown remorse, repentance and regret by refunding
the money to the state. That would have really assisted me," magistrate Musona said. "I order that you serve five years imprisonment with hard labour."
In a post-sentence interview, Kalumba said his conviction was a price one had to pay for serving the public.
Labels: CORRUPTION, COURTS, KATELE KALUMBA
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COMMENT - Perhaps a start would be to stop calling the ability to read and write a 'writing
culture'? Tax the mines, and all the money will be available to put all kids through school.
Zulu queries calibre of G7 exam candidates
By Moses Kuwema
Sat 31 Dec. 2011, 13:30 CAT
THE Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) says it is worried about the calibre of pupils going to grade eight because most of them have a poor reading and writing culture.
Commenting on the Grade 7 results where about 284,121 candidates who sat for the examinations last year have been selected to Grade 8 SESTUZ deputy general secretary Emmanuel Zulu said as much as many pupils had been selected,
the quality of education seemed to be going down.
"Despite the progression rate being very high, another area which unions I think are getting worried about is the quality of the results. So many pupils could go to Grade 8 but we are seeing a situation where the quality of education seems to be dropping because for us in the secondary school sector, as we receive these pupils. We see a situation where some pupils can hardly read or write. One wonders how they are able to make it to that level when they have such a poor reading or writing culture," Zulu said.
He wondered if that could be a pointer to some examination malpractice.
"We are not sure but it also means that where they are coming from, we have problems in the primary school sector. Do we have enough teachers to teach or are the classrooms over crowded? Do we have enough books, classroom space? These are all pointers that there is much to be done in the education sector if we are to have very good results," he said.
"So we have pupils getting into secondary schools and then proceeding to grade twelve and possibly into tertiary education with very bad reading and writing abilities, so I think a lot more needs to be done."
Zulu hoped that the increased allocation to the education sector in the budget would translate into more schools being built and procurement of furniture.
"There are quite a number of schools that do not have proper furniture. And we need better conditions of service for our members quite a lot of them are working under very difficult conditions and are demotivated, they are not getting what is due to them," said Zulu.
According to the results that were released by the Minister of Education Dr John Phiri on Wednesday, Luapula, North-Western, Western and Central provinces recorded a 100 per cent pass rate.
Labels: EMMANUEL ZULU, EXAMS, SESTUZ
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Do not tamper with Christian nation declaration - Miyanda
By Abigail Sitenge
Sat 31 Dec. 2011, 13:54 CAT
NOBODY, including the technical committee to draft a new constitution, should tamper with the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation, says Heritage Party president Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda.
Speaking to journalists after the 20th anniversary of the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation, Brig Gen Miyanda (left) urged Christians never to be ashamed about the declaration.
He said Christians should never be ashamed to confess Jesus Christ as Lord over Zambia because that was the purpose of the Christian nation declaration.
"As far as I am concerned, nobody should tamper with it, this is a wrong forum. I will talk about the constitution making on another forum but today (Thursday) I am saying no one must tamper with it, not even what they've called the technical committee which personally I don't agree with," he said.
And in his New Year's message, Brig Gen Miyanda urged the new government to look into the interests of the people.
"I hope the government will look after the interest of the people and to us the politicians, I have seen a lot of deceit, a lot lies in the politics of our nation. I hope that the New Year will be different. Nobody must promise things they can't do, if you can't do it, don't promise it, that's my message," he said.
Brig Gen Miyanda also warned young people against drinking alcohol during the festive period.
Speaking during the commemoration, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia executive director Reverend Pukuta Mwanza said corruption was one of the worst forms of crime that had badly ruined the moral fibre of the country.
He said corruption had become so deeply rooted in the hearts of selfish and greedy persons, among them leaders in public office.
Rev Mwanza said the Church supported the government's commitment and that of law enforcement agencies in fighting corruption because it would protect the country's resources.
"The constitution-making process is an important undertaking in our country because it is a basis for accountability and good governance. May I correct the notion that seems to fill the general public that our primary interest in the constitution-making process is only the declaration clause. To the contrary, we are interested in the entire constitution; we want a good constitution just like every Zambian," said Rev Mwanza.
On Thursday, several church leaders, political party leaders and government representatives gathered to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka.
Labels: CHRISTIANITY, GODFREY MIYANDA
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Sata reconciles with Malawi after row
Saturday, 31 December 2011 00:00
LUSAKA - Zambian president Michael Sata said yesterday he had decided to reconcile with eastern neighbour Malawi after a diplomatic row over his 2007 deportation from that country when he was an opposition leader. Sata, who took over as president of Africa's biggest copper producer after a surprise September 20 election victory, made the announcement after meeting former Malawian president Bakili Muluzi.
Muluzi who was on a private visit to Zambia.
As a leader of the Zambian opposition in 2007, president Sata was denied entry into Malawi and deported upon arrival after being declared a prohibited immigrant. In October after becoming Zambian president, he refused to attend the Comesa summit in Malawi, saying he would only do so if Lilongwe apologised for his deportation.
Malawi's government has not apologised, but has said president Sata was free to visit the country. After meeting Muluzi, president Sata told reporters the former Malawian president had managed to persuade him to end the row with the government of current president Bingu wa Mutharika.
"We feel that Malawi and Zambia are bigger than Michael Sata and Bingu wa Mutharika," Sata said.
"I have agreed and I have given him a message to convey to president Bingu wa Mutharika that as far as I am concerned, let by-gones be by-gones."
Zambia has traditionally had good relations with Malawi. - Reuters.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, MALAWI, MICHAEL SATA
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Zim ready for SMEs stock exchange
Friday, 30 December 2011 00:00
Conditions in Zimbabwe are now ripe for setting up a stock exchange for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) since they are major players in economic development, a Cabinet minister has said. Calls to set up an SMEs stock exchange have been growing since the adoption of multiple foreign currencies and formation of the inclusive Government in 2009. Before that, economists had advised against setting up of the bourse arguing that the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange was facing liquidity challenges.
Recently, economic analysts have indicated that an SMEs stock exchange would strengthen the economy as the country has few formal jobs due to lack of capital to resuscitate local industries which were crippled by sanctions that Western countries imposed.
Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni said SMEs make up 60 percent of the Zimbabwean population thus it was prudent to establish a stock exchange for them.
"We are ready for an SMEs stock exchange but the process is taking too long and further suppressing the growth of the sector," she said.
Minister Nyoni said the economy was growing as a result of the contribution of SMEs.
She said her ministry had entered into partnerships with some private players to fund SMEs projects and enhance skills requisite in the informal trade and manufacturing. Zimbabwe plans to set up a second bourse by 2013, mainly for SMEs.
The bourse is expected to position SMEs well on the local and international market due to regulated marketing and free publicity. - New Ziana.
Labels: SITHEMBISO NYONI, SMEs, STOCKMARKETS
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Emirates offers 25pc discount
Friday, 30 December 2011 00:00
Business Reporter
EMIRATES, which will start flying to Harare in February next year via Lusaka, Zambia, will be offering exceptional discounts on airfares to more than 100 cities for bookings until January 9 2012. The fastest growing airline announced that customers would save up to 25 percent off all published First Class, Business Class and Economy Class fares departing between February 1 and June 30 2012, when travelling round-trip to any destination on Emirates' extensive global network.
"For the first time in Emirates' history, we are welcoming the New Year by offering unprecedented savings to our customers.
"With up to 25 percent off all airfares to every destination on our international network, there has never been a better time to experience the award-winning product and on-board service which has made Emirates
Airline of the Year in 2011," said Thierry Antinori, Emirates' executive vice president - passenger sales worldwide.
"Whether your New Year's resolution is to spend more time with family and friends, visit a dream destination or follow your favourite sports team at a far-flung tournament, our global sale is designed to ensure that
Emirates customers enjoy the perfect start to 2012.
"Our clients can now book and discover gourmet multi-course meals, complimentary wines, dedicated children's menus and activities, and ice, Emirates' award winning entertainment system offering more than 1 200 channels of on-demand entertainment at every seat," said Mr Raed Al Rahma, Emirates' country manager for Zimbabwe.
Emirates holds an array of prestigious awards, including Air Transport World's 2011 "Airline of the Year" award and the Skytrax World Airline Award for "World's Best Airline Inflight Entertainment", for the seventh year in a row.
Labels: AIRLINES, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE
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Shamu takes swipe at MDC-T policies
Saturday, 31 December 2011 00:00
Herald Reporter
ZANU-PF national political commissar Cde Webster Shamu yesterday took a
swipe at MDC-T for opposing Government's indigenisation and economic empowerment programmes. Addressing hundreds of party supporters at a rally at Neuso Business Centre in Chegutu yesterday, Cde Shamu said MDC-T was not people-oriented.
"We are under attack from Western countries through sanctions and we have to find alternative ways of winning the battle," he said.
"Many people are suffering but surprisingly we find our own Zimbabweans in the form of MDC-T pulling us back. It simply shows that such people do not have developmental minds and at the same time are heartless."
Cde Shamu, who is also the legislator for Chegutu East Constituency and Media, Information and Publicity Minister said the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme was irreversible. He urged people in his constituency to come up with developmental projects to fully use the US$10 million Chegutu-Mhondoro-Ngezi-Zvimba Community Share Ownership.
Cde Shamu said no politician should interfere with the programme, being spearheaded by traditional leaders. Zimplats recently ceded 10 percent of its stake to communities.
Zanu-PF, he said, will soon construct the Grace Mugabe Bakery at Neuso Business Centre in honour of the First Lady's contribution to the constituency.
"Plans are at an advanced stage and the First Lady is the one who made huge contributions a few years ago. There will be employment opportunities and we hope the bakery will help many people."
Cde Shamu had no kind words for MDC-T led councils accused of allegedly embezzling ratepayers' mon-ey at the expense of service delivery."It is time for you to make an introspection when we go for the next elections.
"The MDC-T people you chose to represent you have failed to do anything in terms of service delivery. All you hear is the embezzlement of funds countrywide," he said.
Turning to the election preparations, Cde Shamu reiterated that Zanu-PF would not tolerate the imposition of candidates.
"Make your own choices. Don't be influenced by material things. The political leadership should not impose candidates because this would destroy the party," he said.
Mukwati district chairman Mr Emidio Magwara appealed to Cde Shamu for food assistance.
"I would also want to thank President Mugabe for the inputs he recently gave us. They were distributed equitably among members of different political parties and will go a long way in alleviating poverty," he said.
Cde Shamu donated an ambulance, 15 bicycles and over 170 bags of maize meal to the villagers.
The ambulance will be used by the people in Neuso and the surrounding communities who were travelling long distances ferrying people in scotchcarts and wheel barrows to major referral hospitals such as St Michaels.
The villagers also benefited from over 10 tonnes of maize from the Grain Marketing Board, which they would return after the harvests.
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS (ZIMBABWE), MDC, WEBSTER SHAMU
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KZN youth league member booed off stage
NOSIHLE SHELEMBE KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA - Dec 30 2011 17:40
Suspended ANC Youth League treasurer general Pule Mabe was booed off stage at the funeral of the youth league's national executive committee (NEC) member Vusi Mhlongo in KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal on Friday.
Mabe was paying tribute to Mhlongo as his friend. They had worked together in the youth league since 2008. Mhlongo, a league NEC and working committee member, died in hospital in Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal on Christmas Eve, the league announced on Wednesday.
Mabe was constantly disrupted by some people at the funeral during his tribute. He was one of six league leaders, including leader Julius Malema, who were suspended in November for ill-discipline and bringing the ANC into disrepute.
The league's provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala intervened and appealed to those present to respect the speakers.
"Comrades all those who worked with Mhlongo should be allowed to speak."
'Foreign culture'
Zikalala said when Mhlongo differed with other league members he expressed his opinions in appropriate forums.
"We are here to pay respect to Mhlongo. The ANC will be 100 years next year, it has survived because of its values.
"If you are a leader or a member of the ANC you must respect others. The things we are seeing here are foreign to the culture of the ANC.
CONTINUES BELOW
"If a leader is on stage and has a different view we should give them an opportunity to express themselves."
He advised people to express their discontent through the right channels.
Some mourners sang songs in support of President Jacob Zuma and ANC general secretary Gwede Mantashe.
Suspended youth league deputy president Ronald Lamola was also interrupted during his address. Lamola said Mhlongo was one of those who had helped increase the league's membership.
'Intellectual debates'
"He [Mhlongo] was a disciplined member of the [youth league], he contributed to the league hosting the biggest conference in Gallagher Estate and his dedication helped us to grow our membership."
He was referring to the youth league's elective conference held in June.
Lamola said Mhlongo understood his responsibility in the league and in his community.
"He taught us to lead in a principled manner. He taught us to engage in robust and intellectual debates," Lamola said.
Mabe described Mhlongo as a well-grounded leader.
"He attended all deployment with discipline, he loved his people and brought a new life to the organisation. He knew that to capture the youth, you must speak to them in a language they'll understand," Mabe said.
Good leader
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa described Mhlongo as a good leader.
"He [Mhlongo] was trained in politics in the early 1990s. He was not confused about what the ANC stood for. I'm confident he was going to grow in the organisation."
ANC Women's League member Dolly Shandu said Mhlongo understood politics.
"Mhlongo worked hard in the ANC and did not expect to be paid for his contribution," she said.
Mhlongo was born on January 18 1973. He died after a short illness on December 24. He is survived by his fiancé and five children.
The funeral was also attended by suspended league spokesperson Floyd Shivambu, district mayor Welcome Mdabe, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, South African Communist Party and Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association members. -- Sapa
Labels: ANC, ANC YOUTH LEAGUE
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Sata offers Malawian President Bingu Wa Mutharika an olive branch
TIME PUBLISHED - Friday, December 30, 2011, 1:41 pm
President Michael Sata has agreed to reconcile with his Malawian counterpart Bingu Wa Mutharika. QFM News reports that President Sata told journalists at State house this morning that there is need for him and his Malawian counterpart to put their differences aside in the interest of Zambia and Malawi.
The President said he has since sent a message to President Bingu Wa Mutharika through that country’s former head of State Bakili Muluzi who is in Zambia for a private visit indicating his willingness to reconcile their differences.
President Sata was On March 15, 2007, deported from Malawi upon his arrival at Chileka International Airport in Blantyre and was driven back to Zambia through Mwami Border in Chipata.
The Malawian government has up to date not explained why it deported Mr. Sata from that country.
Earlier President Sata held a closed door meeting with the former Malawian Bakili Muluzi which lasted about 40 minutes.
After the meeting, the President saw-off Dr. Muluzi who has been in the country for the past two days.
QFM
Labels: BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, MALAWI, MICHAEL SATA
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Foreign investment threatened under PF Government-HH
TIME PUBLISHED - Friday, December 30, 2011, 6:51 pm
United Party for National Development UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has charged that foreign investment is threatened under the leadership of the Patriotic Front. Mr. Hichilema says President Sata has since coming to power not given confidence to foreign investors.
He adds that the recent statement the President made on the alleged fake money in circulation further heightened the concerns of investors. Mr. Hichilema has advised President Sata not to be careless in making statements that border on the economy of the country.
The opposition leader says his party is concerned with such statements coming from the head of state.
Meanwhile, Alliance for Democracy and Development ADD leader Charles Milupi has said that President Michael Sata was wrong when he referred to Barotseland agreement advocates as being in a weaker position.
Mr. Milupi said that though the call for dialogue is welcome, the Republican President was rather sarcastic when he stated that those trying to be confrontational on the Barotseland agreement were in a weaker position.
He said that Barotseland agreement advocates have a right to ask what they asked for, stating that the language the President used was a bit hard.
Republican president Michael Sata this week urged the people of western province not to resort to confrontation in dealing with issues surrounding the Barotseland agreement.
But Mr. Milupi has urged the president not to use perceived bad words in trying to resolve challenges that have been facing western province.
Mr. Milupi said that though the call for dialogue is welcome, the Republican President was rather sarcastic when he stated that those trying to be confrontational on the Barotseland agreement were in a weaker position.
And The Foundation for Democratic Process FODEP has called on first republican president Dr. Kenneth Kaunda to intervene in resolving the Barotseland agreement of 1964.
FODEP executive director MacDonald Chipenzi says now that republican President Michael Sata has opened dialogue on the same, it is important that the first republican president intervenes.
Mr. Chipenzi says Dr. Kaunda being a signatory to the agreement should come forward and offer advice on how the issue of the Barotseland agreement should be resolved.
In an interview with QFM radio, Mr Chipenzi has welcomed government’s stance to promote dialogue in resolving issues surrounding the controversy in Western Province.
He adds that there is need for unity in the country in view of the many developmental challenges being faced.
The FODEP executive director further says that there is need for government to ensure that all the issues surrounding the Barotseland agreement are resolved in the shortest period of time.
QFM
Labels: BAROTSE FREEDOM MOVEMENT, BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT, CHARLES MILUPI, FDI, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, KWACHA, NEOLIBERALISM, UPND
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Robbers disappear with 400kg diamond ore
Posted by By Our reporter at 30 December, at 11 : 38 AM
TEN armed robbers recently vanished with 400kg of concentrated diamond ore at Chiadzwa after pouncing on a broken down Marange Resources truck that was transporting it for processing.
The robbers, who were armed with AK rifles, ambushed two security guards who had been seconded to secure the broken down truck. They manhandled the guards, forced them to lie on the ground before disappearing with the loot into the darkness.
Manicaland police spokesman Inspector Leonard Chabata confirmed the robbery, which happened on Unity Day.
He said the police’s Mineral Unit was hunting down the suspects.
“A truck belonging to Marange Resources full of concentrated diamond ore broke down in the fields.
“It was transporting the ore to the processing plant. After it broke down, the two security guards were left to look after the truck and the load.
“At around 1am, 10 robbers pounced on the truck. They told the guards to lie down, but one of the guards refused. He was shot with a catapult on the back and he complied.
“They took the guard’s communication radio and looted the diamond ore. They stashed the ore into sacks. The robbers were disturbed by a car which passed through, and fled,” he said.
Officer Commanding Police in Manicaland (Operations) Assistant Commissioner David Mahoya said they are working flat out to track down the robbers. He said the robbers did not only steal the diamond ore, but also trespassed into the fields.
“This is a serious case in which the State has lost revenue through theft. Our mission is to recover the looted diamonds and make sure that what belongs to the people of Zimbabwe is brought back.
“We cannot have a situation whereby robbers sneak into the fields and ambush trucks. The Minerals Unit will get to the bottom of the robbery and bring to book those involved.
“The fact that the robbers were so many, numbering up to 10, indicates that this was a planned thing,” he said.
Asst Comm Mahoya reminded people that the diamond fields were a no go area and trespassers will be prosecuted.
He said the duty of the police is to ensure that companies mining the diamonds do so without interference from criminals.
“Let those who were licensed to mine do their work peacefully without hindrance. We shall deal with all criminal elements in Chiadzwa,” he said.
TH/TZg
Labels: DIAMONDS, MARANGE DIAMOND FIELDS, ROBBERS
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Mining investments and social responsibility
By The Post
Fri 30 Dec. 2011, 14:00 CAT
INVESTMENT in mining are increasing in our country today. We have been told time and again that massive investments are put up in our country's mineral-rich areas. This is definitely a very good development for our country.
But in saying this, those in government have to ensure that all the investments being attracted into the country benefit the local economy and the people themselves, who are the owners of these natural resources.
We know very well that our people have continued to live on about a dollar per day; our people lack access to proper medical care and facilities; they fail to send their children to school and have little or no access to safe and clean drinking water; our roads are in a pathetic condition and need urgent attention from our government and private institutions who have the Zambian people's interests close to their hearts.
And these problems are usually prevalent in areas where we have seen massive investments taking place, especially in the mining industry.
In order for the mining industry to promote sustainable development among the poorest communities, the government must have robust and clear policies intended to redistribute revenues to benefit local communities; we must have an organised and responsible civil society that is involved in important decisions about policies, and mining companies must operate in responsible ways.
When we talk about having an organised and responsible civil society, we mean having civil society organisations that put people's interests before self, those that ensure that they champion the cause of the majority poor in our society today.
And when we talk about mining companies operating in responsible ways, we mean companies observing our country's laws that govern the industry, paying taxes that are due to the government, re-investing in other sectors of the economy and upholding the tenets of corporate social responsibility.
Although the debate around corporate social responsibility is a complicated one and opinions will obviously depend on one's standpoint, we think that it is a matter that needs serious thought, especially for those in the mining industry.
Are the investors in our country today - local and foreign - living up to their pledges on corporate social responsibility? Are they doing enough in responding to the needs of the communities they operate in? Are they paying adequate taxes to the government? And are they assisting in maintaining key infrastructure such as roads where heavy-duty equipment is transported to various mines?
While we acknowledge that the business or economic environment may not treat all businesses equally, we are aware that some corporations have done quite well in terms of realising profits.
Other than the obvious fact that a good number of multinational corporations are good at externalising their profits, we also know that in most cases, these corporations have no regard for the welfare of society.
We have seen how the environment has been destroyed, how our rivers have been polluted by some corporations, all in the pursuit of profits. We have also seen how workers have been exploited, given slave wages by most multinational corporations, all in the interest of profit making.
Yes, we know that our labour laws are quite ridiculous and in most cases mainly favour the interests of corporations.
However, it is not just a question of meeting the legal or statutory obligations. We have seen how most corporations have taken advantage of the minimum wage requirement to pay their workers very poor salaries. We have seen how some corporations have casualised labour just to ensure that their profits are maximised.
These are the areas that need serious consideration. And even in cases where some of the multinational corporations have been given tax exemptions, such gestures have not been reciprocated in terms of paying back to the community.
Today most new investors are not interested in social sectors as was the case in the past.
We have seen how not many new investors are interested in social sectors like education and health as opposed to what was the case in the past where, for instance, the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines, apart from focusing on mining activities, was also involved in providing its employees with education, health and sports facilities. With the privatisation of the mines, we have witnessed a decline of investment in other social sectors.
There may be arguments that these areas were not core to the mining business and this may even explain why the sale of the mines excluded previously mine-run schools, hospitals or social clubs.
But we know how much they helped ease the situation for those who were employed by the mines. There is very little regard, if not none at all, for the welfare of the ordinary Zambians living in these communities where massive investments have been placed.
There is very little effort coming from corporations in the mining sector. Only a small fraction of the many corporations in mining have significantly made a difference in terms of meeting community needs through investments in social sectors such as health, education and roads.
But as we have already stated, it would appear that businesses are now much more focused on profits only. They do not want to care much about the health or education concerns of their employees, and even communities they operate from, apart from the fact that in most cases these employees get very low wages.
There are some corporations that pay their employees exactly or just above the minimum wage requirement of about K400,000. And we should not forget that the minimum wage was at one time K95,000 only.
Some employers were not even ashamed to pay their workers as little as this paltry amount. And this is besides the fact that the basic needs basket is way beyond K2 million per month for a family of six.
It is even more shameful that some business entities were complaining about the plans by the government to adjust the minimum wage level from the current K400,000. But we know that even the present minimum wage level of K400,000 requirement is just too low when compared with the reality on the ground.
What can an individual with a family of six do with K400,000 per month? We are talking about a wage where an employee is not only expected to buy food but also to pay for their children's school fees and other needs.
Further, some companies do not want to employ on permanent basis so that they can avoid certain statutory obligations. This may not be illegal, but it is a matter of moral conscience. We think that there must be morals even in the way business is done.
We think that these big corporations should be investing not only for profits but also investing in the communities by demonstrating social concern through investments in sustainable development programmes. The corporate world should start taking centre-stage in development initiatives. This is one way in which they can help to fight poverty and under-development in our communities.
We think that corporations need to involve themselves actively in terms of improving the lives of people within the communities they operate rather than just focus on activities that enhance their profits.
And they can start doing so by firstly ensuring that they give their employees what is suitable to be called a living wage, not the slave wages that still exist in most companies.
It may not be possible for all business entities to be directly involved in community initiatives, but we think that they can contribute positively by ensuring that at least the interests of their employees are well taken care of.
However, for those seen to be involved in community activities, it should not just be a matter of window dressing simply because they have to project some positive impression to the public. We believe that the corporate world has a role to play in developing the communities in which they operate because they are part of those communities.
Labels: MINIMUM WAGE, MINING, POLLUTION
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Simuusa vows to subdue corruption in mining
By Gift Chanda
Mon 26 Dec. 2011, 13:58 CAT
MINES minister Wilbur Simuusa says he will discharge his duties in the most transparent and fair manner. Simuusa, in an interview, said
his ministry would operate on the basis of zero-tolerance to corruption in line with President Michael Sata's declaration that the PF government would deal sternly with those who would be found to be corrupt."As Minister of Mines, I will ensure that my ministry is rid of corruption. Our President said he is allergic to corruption; even us as ministers, we have to be allergic to corruption and ensure that we discharge our duties in the most fair, transparent and effective manner devoid of any corruption," he said.
And responding to accusations by Euro Africa Kalengwa Mine director Elijah Muyompe that he, as Minister of Mines, failed to help matters over the Kalengwa Mine dispute between the former and Hetro Mining, Simuusa said his ministry would not take sides in the matter but ensure that correct channels are followed in resolving the issue.
"First of all, it is not right for Euro Africa to bring my name into disrepute over this matter. They know very well that their prospecting licence has not been renewed for that mine, and they know very well that their colleagues Hetro Mining hold a processing licence for Kalengwa Mine. I have tried my best to resolve this issue, and I will not be derailed in resolving it transparently regardless of who is involved," Simuusa said.
"No one has a right to mine in that area because none of them have a licence that allows them to mine in that area. I advised Kalengwa Mine the best way to proceed in this matter and they chose not to listen to that advice. What Euro Africa should be doing now is fight for the renewal of the licence and not antagonising the whole process."
Hetro Mining owned by Kitwe businessman Shawi Fawaz, which was evicted from Kalengwa Mine by Euro Africa following a disputed court order in favour of the latter, has since obtained a High Court order to take possession of the mine and property worth billions of kwacha which were seized by the Sheriff's Office.
According to an ex parte order of interim custody and detention of property, the Ndola High Court has ordered Euro Africa Kalengwa Mining Ltd directors, shareholders, employees and agents not to interfere with Hetro Mining's operations under the processing licence.
The order further states that Euro Africa should not interfere with the processing and movement of the ore, operation of the plant machinery, equipment, motor vehicles and all other such activities related to the said licence, pending an inter-parte hearing.
Hetro Mining earlier obtained a writ of execution to stop Euro Africa from conducting any mining activities and selling its properties, arguing that it was in possession of a processing licence for the mine in question. Euro Africa Mine on the other hand held a prospecting licence for the mine which expired and is seeking renewal.
Last week, Euro Africa Kalengwa Mine director Elijah Muyompe challenged the judiciary to provide due direction over the Kalengwa Mine in Mufumbwe, whose ownership was granted to Euro Africa by the Lusaka High Court but has again been invaded by Hetro Mining and other ore dealers.
Muyompe charged that actions by Hetro Mining to disregard a High Court order granting ownership of the mine to Euro Africa and invading the site was an act of impunity and contempt of court.
He said Fawaz's action was a daring move to the authority of the judiciary and that the government needed to come clean over claims by Fawaz that he was untouchable.
Muyompe further complained that mines minister Wylbur Simuusa failed to help matters during a meeting called recently to discuss the impasse over Kalengwa Mine between Euro Africa and Hetro Mining because it appeared the minister was also compromised.
But Simuusa said Euro Africa should desist from making wild allegations on the matter.
"I do not have time to side with anyone. All we are trying to do is to help the situation and sort it out once and for all," said Simuusa. "We are still working on measures to rectify and correct many situations in the Ministry of Mines."
Labels: CORRUPTION, INVESTMENT LICENSES, LICENSES, MINING, TAX EVASION, TAXATION, WYLBUR SIMUUSA
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C0MMENT - How about copper and cobalt mines too?
Kafimbwa recommends ZRA presence at emerald mine sites
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Mon 26 Dec. 2011, 13:59 CAT
THE Emerald Production Watch of Zambia says the country is not collecting enough revenue from precious stones due to lack of transparency in the extraction of minerals.
In an interview, organisation president Musa Kafimbwa said the PF government must come up with measures that would enhance transparency in the extraction of emeralds and semi-precious stones.
Kafimbwa said it was sad that the country had not maximised its benefits from the country's precious minerals, which had remained one of the most lucrative at the international market.
He said the value of Zambian emeralds at the international market, if well utilised, could create the much needed wealth for the country.
Kafimbwa said the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) must establish offices at the emerald mine sites for them to get actual production data as there were anomalies in the monitoring system of emerald mining.
He said revenue collection should be done at the production site as it was the standard practice in every country endowed with precious minerals.
"Our minerals are just taken like that. We are almost getting nothing from these mines. We need to monitor production in these mines because even the Ministry of Mines has no data on how many emeralds are produced per day in this country and the investors in emerald mining fall under this ministry.
As a watch group, we are strongly convinced that there is no monitoring from the point of production to where there is an auction," Kafimbwa said.
He said ZRA should put up a stringent revenue collection system in emerald mining.
Kafimbwa said it was unacceptable that districts like Lufwanyma had remained among the poorest despite producing richest minerals in the world.
"If you go to Lufwanyama, we have two chiefs there: chief Lumpuma and chief Nkana. They are all poor despite their chiefdoms being endowed with precious minerals like emeralds and every investor is looking for these minerals. We want our people to benefit from these minerals," said Kafimbwa.
Labels: EMERALDS, ZRA
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