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Transparency International Zambia TIZ has demanded that Government silently and quickly reinstate the clause of the abuse of office offence in the revised Anti Corruption Commission Act that has been removed.
This came to light last week when Katuba Member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa questioned the Vice president during the vice president’s question time in Parliament as to why Government has removed the clause from the revised ACC Act which will be presented to parliament for amendment.
Transparency Executive Director Goodwell Lungu says it is not too late for the Government to reverse the grave mistake made by removing the clause for unknown reasons.
Mr Lungu explained that the complete removal of the clause from the ACC Act will completely kill the fight against graft in the country, in view of the high corruption levels.
[pullquote]Vice-President Kunda last Friday threatened Katuba MMD Member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa when the latter questioned government’s motive for removing the offence of abuse of office from the revised ACC Act during the Vice-President’s question time in Parliament.[/pullquote]
He also observed that the move by Government is contradictory to the African Convention against Corruption as well as the United Nations guidelines and provisions on the fight against Corruption to which Zambia is a signatory.
He said there was need for amendments to the Anti Corruption Commission Act which will build confidence in the people of Zambia with regards the fights against corruption and not amends which will only benefit a few individuals.
Mr Lungu said Government should rescind its decision to remove the clause from the Act if it is aware about what is best for the Zambians.
And Mr Lungu said there need to consider broadening the definition of what constitute corrupt acts and abuse of office.
He also reaffirmed the need for ACC commissioners’ appointments to be ratified by Parliament.
Vice-President Kunda last Friday threatened Katuba MMD Member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa when the latter questioned government’s motive for removing the offence of abuse of office from the revised ACC Act during the Vice-President’s question time in Parliament.
The Centre for Elections and Governance has strongly condemned former Defence Minister George Mpombo for saying that Vice President George Kunda is the most stupid vice president the country has ever had.
Centre for Elections and governance Geshorm Musonda said the remarks attributed to Mr. Mpombo lacked civility and portrayed personal hatred against the vice president.
Mr Musonda said the use of unpalatable language by political leaders could lead to physical violence and blood shed in the country. He told ZANIS in Lusaka on Tuesday that Mr Mpombo should have respect for Mr. Kunda, Republican Vice President, adding that it was wrong to call him stupid. Mr. Musonda said Mr. Kunda was elected by the people of Zambia and therefore insulting him was tantamount to insulting the people of Zambia.
He urged NGOs and the civil society to defend and protect those in authority from unwarranted attacks from politicians like Mr. Mpombo. Mr. Musonda said no single Zambian would support Mr. Mpombo’s utterances and total disrespect to those in authority. He appealed to MMD to show leadership by not responding to Mr. Mpombo;s remarks.
MMD chairman for elections Mike Mulongoti says the ruling party does not tolerate corruption at any level, and the National Executive Committee (NEC) will investigate allegations of the vice in the process of adopting a candidate to contest the Chifubu parliamentary seat.
Mr Mulongoti said in an interview yesterday that it is not right for the MMD to adopt a candidate to contest the Chifubu parliamentary seat on the basis of corruption.
“I have not received an official complaint, but if the allegations are true, it is not right for us to adopt a candidate on the basis of corruption,” Mr Mulongoti said.
“If there are any complaints, the national executive committee will look into that,” he said.
Some candidates vying for the seat have alleged that interviews by the lower party organs have been marred by corruption.
Mr Mulongoti also said NEC wrapped up the process of interviewing the candidates for the Chifubu and Luena seats on Monday, July 5.
“We hope the teams will have concluded and will report back. We are waiting to start campaigning soon after the candidates for Chifubu and Luena are made known. It is all-systems-go after we select the candidates,” Mr Mulongoti said.
Five candidates have applied to contest the Chifubu parliamentary seat on the MMD ticket.
The candidates include Frank Ng’ambi, Victor Konie, Henry Mwelwa, Lisa Mpasi Nkowani and Benson Tembo.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has set August 5, 2010 as the date on which the Chifubu and Luena parliamentary by-elections will be held.
The Chifubu parliamentary seat fell vacant after the death of Mr Benson Mwamba, who was a Patriotic Front member of Parliament.
Local government minister Eustackio Kazonga and his deputy Moses Muteteka during a press briefing in Lusaka
GOVERNMENT has instituted investigations to establish how K1.7 billion has allegedly been misappropriated at the Lusaka City Council (LCC).
Minister of Local Government and Housing Eustarckio Kazonga said Government is seeking a comprehensive forensic audit to trace the money and the culprits involved in the alleged scam.
Dr Kazonga said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Government is concerned and disappointed with people that are misapplying public funds, adding that stringent measures have been put in place to ensure that the culprits are punished.
He said police and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have moved to the LCC to investigate the matter.
“We have instituted investigations to establish how the K1.7 billion went missing at the LCC, these are funds that were meant for service delivery but now, people are misusing the funds.
“These people are frustrating Government efforts in the delivery of quality and improved service to the people,” Dr Kazonga said.
Dr Kazonga said once investigations are concluded, Government will act in accordance with the recommendations that the investigative agencies will come up with.
He said Government is concerned with the missing funds and that it wants an account of how the local authority will recover the money that was misapplied.
Dr Kazonga said Government has set up financial regulations to ensure that all local authorities spend money on service provision and less on personal emoluments.
“We have just concluded our internal audit and what I can confirm now is that K1.7 billion has been misused. We have asked the Anti-Corruption Commission and police to move in and investigate the matter because we suspect more funds have been stolen,” he said.
Dr Kazonga said his ministry is working out measures to ensure that development targets are attained in all the 72 local authorities.
The statutory audit reports for 2008/9 have revealed irregularities in the Patriotic Front-run councils.
In April, this year Mr Kazonga gave LCC, Ndola City Council and Kitwe City Council a 60-day ultimatum to prepare an action-oriented report in which the local authorities are expected to explain how they would correct the weaknesses in the management of resources.
Dr Kazonga also wanted an account of how the councils would recover the misapplied funds, set up financial regulations and ensure that they spend more funds on service provision and less on personal emoluments.
Education Minister Dora Siliya
The MMD has described as political malice a statement yesterday by United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema that there is a document where the ruling party is courting him for the position of prime minister in a newly proposed alliance.
National chairperson for information and publicity Dora Siliya said in Lusaka that the announcement by Mr Hichilema at a media briefing was a campaign gimmick meant to give credence to the UPND leader.
She said the opposition political party had collapsed with the death of founding president Anderson Mazoka and Mr Hichilema was tiny minded with nothing more to offer on any political table.
Mr Hichilema told the media earlier that his party had come across a document in which the new alliance involving the National Democratic Focus, the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) and the United Liberal Party (ULP) would be formed.
He said he decided to expose the MMD and assure supporters that the pact would remain intact and that the document was meant to be leaked to Mr Sata so that he could withdraw from the pact formed by the PF and UPND.
But Ms Siliya said the pact was dead and only existed in the minds of the two leaders without the support on the ground.
She said the MMD did not require the UPND to roll to victory in next year’s elections because it remains big and wide spread unlike his party which was dividing Zambians through tribalism.
Ms Siliya, who is Minister of Education, said when two small parties come together, they still remain small and less influential and that the MMD cannot accept an alliance with such a party.
She wondered how Mr Hichilema can entertain the thought that he can become prime minister of Zambia with his immature politics.
“Firstly, there is no pact to talk about because it has been destroyed by Mr Hichilema and Mr Sata.
“Mr Hichilema is selfish because his own chiefs and MPs have told us that they were not consulted when this pact was formed,” Ms Siliya said.
Meanwhile, the ULP leader Sakwiba Sikota has described as false a statement by Mr Hichilema that there was a new alliance.
He said each time Mr Hichilema held a Press briefing, he said nothing tangible for the people of Zambia to follow other than insults.
Mr Hichilema said the document had been produced by the Government and was intended to be given to Mr Sata so that he loses trust in UPND.
The pact would not split votes any more because the members have declared that they would continue supporting it.
[ Times of Zambia ]
PARLIAMENTARY chief whip Vernon Mwaanga says a formal complaint against former Minister of Defence George Mpombo will be lodged to Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa in a proper manner if it is established that Mr Mpombo breached parliamentary privileges.
Mr Mpombo, who is MMD Kafulafuta member of Parliament (MP), is reported to have breached parliamentary privileges when he recently commented on the proposed amendments to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act outside the House.
In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Mwaanga said Parliament has its own internal procedures for determining breaches of parliamentary privileges by members of the House.
“Should it become necessary, a formal complaint will be lodged to the Speaker in a proper manner against Mr Mpombo. And should the Speaker deem it necessary, he will then refer such a complaint to the committee on privileges, absences and support services,” he said.
Mr Mwaanga said once the Speaker refers the complaint to the committee on privileges, absences and support services, an inquiry will be instituted into the matter.
He said after analysing the complaint, the committee will then make a rational determination and recommend appropriate sanctions against Mr Mpombo.
Meanwhile, the Copperbelt Welfare and Environmental Protection Association has accused Mr Mpombo of allegedly abusing parliamentary privileges and ethics by debating an issue outside the National Assembly.
Association president Sydney Njamba said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday that Mr Mpombo’s behaviour is a clear case of misconduct because he went outside the House and criticised an issue before the House without due regard for parliamentary proceedings.
“Mr Mpombo went to the media to insult Vice-President George Kunda arising from a parliamentary debate which is a clear indication that he does not respect authority and Parliament and penalties that go with such behaviour should be applied,” Mr Njamba said.
He said Mr Mpombo’s alleged undesirable attitude to the Vice-President has the potential to encourage media comments that can undermine the National Assembly.
Mr Njamba said Mr Mpombo should realise that the Vice-President is the leader of Government business in the House and that what he says in Parliament represents Government’s views.
“So, to direct missiles at Mr Kunda as though he was representing his personal position is a misplaced way of looking at things,” he said.
Mr Njamba said Mr Mpombo is a veteran MP who should know that if he had commented on the proposed amendments to the ACC Act in Parliament, he would have been protected.
“We wish to state here that the recent behavioural impropriety by Mr Mpombo is yet another illustration of a politician who has taken practices of social immorality to new extremes and should not be trusted,” he said.
The United Party for National Development UPND has declared that there is no way republican president Rupiah Banda will win next year’s presidential elections.
UPND Mapatizya Member of Parliament, Ackson Sejani says though former President Dr Fredrick Chiluba is campaigning hard for president Banda, his efforts will have no impact.
He adds that Dr Chiluba should not hide that he is not campaigning for president Banda.
Mr.Sejani however, says president Banda stands no chance of retaining power after next year’s tripartite elections because his government has failed to meet its obligations to the Zambian people.
Mr.Sejani further states that president Banda has associated himself with wrong people and that Zambians are not happy with his administration.
He also cites the failure by president Banda’s Administration to effectively sustain the fight against corruption, as one of the reasons which will cost him the presidency next year.
Mr.Sejani says president Banda should reconsider his decision to participate in the 2011 elections because the race is too tight for him and his party.
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has apologised to opposition United Party for National Development president Hakainde Hichilema for the remarks he made in Ndola in which he made reference to Mr Hichilema’s wife and consequently brought her name into politics.
The president said he regretted the statement he made and that it was not his intention to bring the name of Mrs Hichilema into politics by the comment he made at Ndola International Airport when he addressed his supporters.
Special assistant to the president for Press and public relations Dickson Jere said President Banda said the context in which he inadvertently used the term ‘Mwenye’ did not deliver the intended message.
In reference to Indian ladies, Mr Jere said what the president meant was that for cultural or religious reasons, some Asians do not expose their wives in public and that was understood.
Mr Jere said President Banda believed in equality of all races and therefore, regretted that his statement had given the impression that he was a racist or against the Indian community in Zambia.
“The president has, once again, unreservedly apologised to Mr Hichilema and the Asian community for the statement,” Mr Dickson Jere said.
However, the president had realised that he should not have made that statement, which has been misconstrued.
“Nonetheless, President Banda is sorry and has regretted his statement and has unreservedly apologised to Mr Hichilema and his family,” Mr Jere said.
Mr Jere said in that vein, President Banda has also apologised to the Asian community for his statement.
Meanwhile, Mr Hichilema said he would only comment when he sees the apology from the president.
He said he could not speak because he was addressing a public rally in Mwembeshi Constituency.
The Zambia Under-20 team two foreign-based call-ups have joined the team in camp in Lusaka.
Midfielder Anthony banda of Spanish 2nd division team Tontedra FC has arrived in camp and was part of the squad training on Tuesday at Independence stadium.
Also in camp is striker Constantinos Ioaanou of Tuks Academy in South Africa who, like Banda, also joined the team camped at the Faz technical centre on Monday.
The 31-member team is in camp preparing for their Caf Africa Youth Championship 1st round, 1st leg qualifier against Mauritius at home on July 24.
Zambia were on bye from the preliminary round qualifying stage while Mauritius advanced after a walkover result over Comoros.
Second republican President for Zambia for Frederick Chiluba
Second republican Dr Frederick Chiluba has denied his campaigning for republican President Rupiah Banda.
Dr. Chiluba has of late come under heavy criticism over his recent visits to the Copperbelt were he is said to be soliciting support for president Banda.
Speaking through his spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba, Dr Chiluba said he is merely practicing his democratic right.
He said he has a fundamental right like any Zambian to participate in the country’s democratic dispensation and that his support for president Banda should not be mistaken as campaigning.
Mr Mwamba was speaking last evening on a heated live Q-FM programme, Monday Night.
He has described calls by the National Revolution Party (NRP) to have Dr Chiluba’s benefits frozen over his alleged involvement in active politics as misplaced.
Mr. Mwamba said NRP president Cosmo Mumba is misleading Zambians with his calls which are not backed by the truth.
[ QFM ]
PF leader Michael Sata
Patriotic Front (PF) president, Michael Sata, says President Rupiah Banda cannot fire Vice President George Kunda because he is his bootlicker.
And Mr. Sata has reiterated that President Rupiah Banda is allergic to the truth becauase whoever speaks the it becomes an enemy to him.
.
Mr. Sata said President Banda would always maintain Vice President, George Kunda, as his deputy because he is so submissive to him such that even wrong decisions do not exist to him.
He said the vice president is so submissive to the point that he even fails to correct the president when need arises.
Mr Sata noted that it is for this reason that his government has recorded failures since coming to power because of his hatred for the truth.
The PF leader says the president’s hatred for the Post newspaper has even diverted his attention from executing his duties as Head of State to attacking the newspaper which does nothing wrong but reporting the truth on the ground.
Mr. Sata has since encouraged the Post Newspapers to continue reporting the truth, even when he is voted into power in 2011.
[ QFM ]
CHIEF Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha yesterday said former minister of Defence George Mpombo breached parliamentary etiquette when he commented on the proposed amendments to the Anti-Corruption Commission Act outside the National Assembly business.
And MMD chairperson for information and publicity Dora Siliya said the ruling party was now surprised that a man who served as minister of Defence could exhibit such reckless behaviour against his appointing authorities.
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said Mr Mpombo should disclose the reasons for his demotion from the position of minister of Energy to that of deputy minister for Copperbelt Province by late president Levy Mwanawasa before he could start condemning others over corruption matters.
Gen Shikapwasha said the Kafulafuta Member of Parliament did not have the right to insult the vice-president before the amendments were officially introduced to the National Assembly as a Bill.
He said prior to the Bill being introduced to National Assembly, MPs were restrained from debating classified information to the media and warned that charges of illegality could be preferred against Mr Mpombo.
The standing orders in the National Assembly were documented as regards to matters that were already on record as having been put together for purposes of consumption by the National Assembly.
Gen Shikapwasha was commenting on the The Post newspaper of yesterday which carried unprintable material against vice president George Kunda claiming that he intended to remove some aspects from the ACC Act.
Gen Shikapwasha, who is also minister of information and broadcasting services, said Mr Mpombo did not have the right to condemn anyone until he explains why he was demoted.
He said the Government would not allow Mr Mpombo to insult the vice-president who had done a lot in fighting corruption while Mr Mpombo did not have any track record in that regard.
The minister said Government was aware why Mr Mpombo was demoted but would allow him to disclose to the public.
He wondered what Mr Mpombo had done in the fight against corruption and that the only record that existed was that he was demoted as cabinet minister.
Meanwhile, Gen Shikapwasha has cautioned Zambians not to be excited by the promises from some opposition politicians whose track records speak volumes of selfishness and greed.
Gen Shikapwasha said Zambians should not be excited at the promises that opposition politicians were making, but they should critically analyse their track records and how they had acquired their wealth, before they could listen to their promises.
It was shocking that some opposition politicians, who had contributed to the problems the MMD Government was trying to solve, were the ones promising people that they would revive the country’s economy.
Gen Shikapwasha said it was sad and disappointing that some opposition politicians were so desperate to form government and that they had resorted to telling lies about the Government and making promises that they would not fulfil.
“Most of the promises that the opposition politicians are making are mere lies and so Zambians should not be excited by these fake promises, but should critically analyse these promises.
“Some of these opposition politicians who are making promises of improving people’s lives have a track record of selfishness and greediness and one wonders how they can improve people’s lives,” he said.
And General Shikapwasha has advised Zambians to look at the way some opposition political party leaders were running their political parties before they could give them chance to rule Zambia.
He said some opposition political party leaders have no human interest at heart as evidenced from the way, they were running their political parties and it would be disastrous to give them the Republican presidency.
Meanwhile, Gen Shikapwasha has urged the media to desist from promoting hatred among politicians and concentrate on highlighting developmental and progressive debates that will benefit the people in various parts of the country.
He said he was saddened that some sections of the media were only reporting about political mudslinging when they were supposed to report on developmental issues and the various challenges and problems facing the country in its efforts to achieve economic recovery.
The media had a critical role to play in maintaining peace in the country and it was imperative that the private and public media were responsible and objective in their reporting so that they do not promote hatred among politicians.
And Ms Siliya said the MMD would deal sternly with the political future of Mr Mpombo and his Chilanga counterpart Ng’andu Magande for their continued attacks on President Banda and Mr Kunda.
She said the attacks were unjustified and was certain that they would be shunned even by the opposition political parties.
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has warned Government officials and the beneficiaries of the various empowerment funds to strictly use and account for the money as requested and approved.
And President Banda has cautioned farmers against selling their maize to briefcase traders who are buying the produce at low prices.
Mr Banda strongly warned and urged Government officials and the beneficiaries of the Constituency Youth Development Fund (CYDF) and the Citizens Economic Empowerment funds to strictly use and account for the money as requested and approved for.
He said the Government through the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) had disbursed funds to each province hence the need for officials and the beneficiaries to strictly use and account for the money accordingly.
President Banda said this in Monze yesterday in a speech read for him by Local Government and Housing Minister Eustarckio Kazonga during the 15th Lwiindi Gonde traditional ceremony of the Tonga people of Southern Province.
The empowerment funds were targeted at empowering youths, women, people living with HIV/AIDS, the physically challenged and citizens who had been historically marginalised and disadvantaged.
Currently, Southern Province has 27 business persons that have benefited from the empowerment fund.
President Banda also warned farmers over the ongoing crop marketing especially maize which was Zambia’s staple food.
“People should sell the maize and reserve for the consumption and desist from selling to briefcase businessmen and women at lower price who in turn even export the maize and create food shortage,” Mr Banda said.
In Southern Province, Government disbursed 155,888 bags of fertiliser and 139,115 bags of 10 kilogramme seeds in Monze last year in which 320 households benefited in the District.
President Banda also said the Government was in the process of resuming cattle restocking programme which was stopped due to the Contagious Bovine Pleura-pneumonia (CBPP), a livestock disease.
Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe was happy that there was unity and peace at the ceremony.
“We need to remove political tags at such important ceremonies so that people appreciate them,” he said.
Speaking earlier, paramount Chief Monze urged the police service to allow many people attend the ceremony which ends today.
Chief Monze noted that some people were scared to attend the ceremony due to the heavy presence of the police.
Lwiindi Gonde traditional ceremony patron Hakainde Hichilema said there was need to promote unity amidst different tribes and languages in Zambia.
Mr Hichilema said Lwiindi Gonde traditional ceremony was all about celebrating culture and heritage and that the ceremony focused to celebrate ancestors who helped to have good rains and harvest.
Lwiindi Gonde ceremony Organising committee chairperson Rex Natala urged the Government to recognise Chief Monze as paramount chief.
Mr Natala said Chief Monze was recognised and gazetted in 1929 as a paramount chief.
Finance and National Planning Minster, Stumbeko Musokotwane
THE Government is optimistic that the alliance formed by the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UNPD) will falter on the basis of the continued economic growth that has led to the landmark single-digit inflation at 7.8 per cent.
Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane said in Lusaka yesterday that a record economic achievement never reached in many decades would stifle criticism by PF leader Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema of UPND.
Meanwhile, Dr Musokotwane has challenged the opposition political party leaders that have continued criticising Chinese investment to take time and look at how much Chinese investment was coming into Zambia.
Dr Musokotwane said the Government would respond to the unrestrained criticism by the two leaders by growing the economy to levels that every Zambian would appreciate and that should create jobs, reduce bank interest rates and give value to the Kwacha, among other benefits to the people.
Thousands of Zambians were being employed in the mines, hotels and other manufacturing companies that were being opened as the economy continues to register growth. He said while the opposition leaders had continued to criticise Government’s economic policies, the international community was praising the Government for managing the economy well.
“There is lack of understanding about the economy. That criticism by these opposition leaders does not make sense. Do they understand how many Zambian workers would have been on the streets if Lumwana and other mines were not open?” Dr Musokotwane asked.
He urged Zambians to judge the Government by the economic performance which was registering growth of around five per cent on average while the annualised rate of inflation had dropped to the single digit and the lowest in over three decades.
He said the issue of increasing tax bands on pay as you earn to relieve workers from the taxes on their salaries was still under discussion and was certain the best decision for the workers and the Government would be reached.
Government would not reintroduce subsidies in the importation of fuel because it wants to construct infrastructure to benefit the population.
Dr Musokotwane said the Government has the option of subsidising fuel and another one of saving the money to build hospitals, roads, schools and invest in agriculture. “The question is which option is the best, having no schools and clinics and take the money to fuel or having these important things constructed,” Dr Musokotwane said.
Massive construction of houses by individuals was part of the general growth benefits because it had now become much easier to purchase building materials.
On Chinese investments, Dr Musokotwane told journalists after touring NFCA Africa Mining Plc facilities in Chambishi that armchair criticism was not healthy for the development of Zambia.
There was need for the opposition political parties to appreciate the investment pouring into the country other than criticising everything.
[pullquote]“There is lack of understanding about the economy. That criticism by these opposition leaders does not make sense. Do they understand how many Zambian workers would have been on the streets if Lumwana and other mines were not open?” Dr Musokotwane asked.[/pullquote]
Dr Musokotwane wondered how the opposition political leaders could fulfill their promises to the electorate because they intend to chase the investors who brought in wealth.
“Zambian people should be wary of such leaders making fake promises because nobody can fulfill every citizen’s aspiration at once without serious investment,” Dr Musokotwane said.
Dr Musokotwane asked what sort of investments would come to Zambia if some vocal opposition political party leaders were voted into power because they were planning to chase the investors.
Opposition political parties needed to look at the positive side of the mining sector because it had continued to create jobs for the Zambian people.
Business levels in the next five years would increase in the country because the mining sector was expected to stimulate other activities like value addition when Multi Facility Economic Zones are completed.
Luapula Member of Parliament (PF) Peter Machungwa and Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde Simukoko have condemned Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata’s alleged lie that Chadian President Idris Derby sneaked into the country to meet President Rupiah Banda.
Dr Machungwa has urged Zambians to be alert and avoid entertaining statements that have the potential to ruin Zambia’s relationship with other countries.
Commenting on the PF leader’s allegation that Chadian President Derby was last month in Zambia for a business meeting with President Banda, Dr Machungwa said the statement should be condemned because of its negative impact on the bilateral relationships of Zambia with other countries.
“Zambians must be alert to such misinformation and be careful with what type of leadership some people are exhibiting, it is unfortunate that they just want to be heard to be saying something to gain cheap political mileage,” Dr Machungwa said.
Mr Sata made a telephone call to a ‘Let the People Talk programme last month which featured United Party for National Development president Hakainde Hichilema and announced that he had information that Mr Derby was in Mfuwe to discuss business deals with President Banda.
He said Mr Sata’s statement had the potential to damage investor confidence and, therefore, should not to be entertained.
Dr Machungwa said Zambia should be careful with information coming from some opposition political leaders because they were aimed at creating unnecessary animosity in the country.
And Mrs Simukoko said even if the Chadian president came to Zambia, he did not come to commit crime but strike business ties that would benefit the citizenry.
Mrs Simukoko said it was high time that the opposition political leaders became realistic and stopped frustrating Zambians.
She said the Zambian people were tired of half baked blanket statements aimed at misleading the nation.
“Why can’t these leaders hold press conferences to give details on things they claim to have more information about, they are just misleading the people for personal agendas,” Mrs Simukoko said.
[pullquote]“These leaders are just bringing confusion and hatred because of their gossip, people wants real issues and not cheap politics,” Mrs Simukoko said. [/pullquote]
Mrs Simukoko urged opposition political leaders to help the Zambians understand issues by giving factual and accurate information so the citizens are able to make informed decisions.
She said, for instance, on the sale of Zamtel, the opposition had talked against it but they had failed to provide adequate information on what they are claiming.
“These leaders are just bringing confusion and hatred because of their gossip, people wants real issues and not cheap politics,” Mrs Simukoko said.
She said people wanted to know how the opposition if voted into power would address the many problems the country was facing and not gossip and cheap politics.
