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PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said claims by Namibia’s National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) that about 20 Namibian freedom fighters died while he was Foreign Affairs minister in the first Republic are false.
The president said he was ready to step down if he participated in the death of the freedom fighters because his conscience would not have been clear to lead a country with such a background.
Mr Banda said the NGO was merely working to impress colonial masters and bringing the name of the government of Namibia into ridicule.
NSHR executive director Phil ya Nongoloh, alleged in The Post of yesterday that President Banda should help the organisation establish the fate of freedom fighters who disappeared without a trace on the Zambian soil.
“There is no such a thing and the allegations are totally false. These are the people who are working for the people who colonised us. They are always trying to bring up these matters,” Mr Banda said.
The NGO listed about 20 Namibian freedom fighters that allegedly disappeared when Mr Banda was Foreign Affairs minister during the UNIP era.
President Banda said the only crime SWAPO, the ruling Namibian party, committed in their mind was that the liberation party successfully fought for the freedom of Namibia.
The Namibian freedom fighters were said to have supported a peaceful change called the Détente Affair in southern Africa and fled to Zambia where they were killed.
Nangoloh claims that the Détente Affair also led to the expulsion of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) from the bases in south-western Zambia.
NSHR is a national private, independent, non-profit making and non-partisan human rights monitoring and advocacy organisation.
It was formed in 1989 by a group of concerned citizens and it envisages a world free of human right violations.
MMD chairperson for Communications and Transport Peter Daka has said it was not obligatory and a must for Chief Justice Ernest Sakala to have shaken hands with Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata.
Mr Daka who is also Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister said every person by virtue of being a human had rights and Mr Justice Sakala had personal rights whether to shake hands with people or not because it was not compulsory.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Daka said Mr Sata should know that Mr Justice Sakala was obliged to accept his personal choice and his refusal to shake hands with him was a personal decision that should not be politicised.
“Chief Justice Sakala has personal rights whether he should greet people or not because it depends on what he wants based on his individual capacity and why should Mr Sata politicise the whole issue.
“He should stop making politics whenever he goes for funerals and should have respect for everybody,” Mr Daka said.
Mr Sata should know that Mr Justice Sakala was a respectable person in the country because of his high integrity and he should desist from dragging him into cheap politics.
He said it was time Mr Sata thought of retiring from active politics instead of attacking high ranked officials for no apparent reasons and always wanting to gain political mileage whenever he went for a funeral.
And former Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Edward Mumbi has accused the PF/UPND Pact of conspiring with The Post to instill fear in judges and neutralise the independence of the Judiciary.
Mr Mumbi said in a statement yesterday that it was immoral to attack people who could not defend themselves.
He was also commenting on the story that the chief justice refused to shake hands with Mr Sata.
He said objective people could read through a conspiracy by the pact and The Post to discredit the chief justice because his refusal to greet anyone was not newsworthy.
“People will soon see discredited people who will be used to discredit the judiciary. These criticisms are merely serving selfish political ends for leaders in the PF/UPND Pact,” he said.
He said the PF/UPND Pact was planning to disturb the Judiciary as Zambia approaches elections because there was a plan to defame people and engage in violence, which would attract litigation.
President Banda said to justify the conspiracy, The Post had even gone to an extent of publishing a picture of former president Frederick Chiluba shaking hands with Mr Justice Sakala, which had nothing to do with the case at hand.
He said when former Kasama MP Saviour Chishimba petitioned Mr Sata’s presidential candidature, Mr Justice Sakala was still the chief justice and the courts allowed him to contest.
The PF leader recently won another case in the courts and he praised the courts for their independence but because of his inconsistency he had now changed.
And a Lusaka lawyer Christopher Mundia said the encounter between Mr Justice Sakala and Mr Sata did not warrant political insinuations because the two were traditional cousins.
“I have known the current chief justice for many years having worked with him closely in the national group and do not believe that he intended to offend Mr Sata but purely a light moment between the two cousins as Bembas and Ngonis have always joked at many funerals,” he said.
Mr Mundia said to use the encounter to embarrass the chief justice was unfortunate because political hatred brewing in the country could later explode to unimaginable magnitude.
Although the incident happened at a funeral, the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) should do everything possible to defend the Judiciary.
He said the chief justice did not mean to offend Mr Sata but it was just a light moment between the two traditional cousins.
Education Minister Dora Siliya
Education Minister, Dora Siliya has said it is wishful thinking for teachers to think that government will provide their accommodation needs at the expense of attaining universal primary education by 2015.
Ms Siliya said government realizes that accommodating the over 80,000 institutional teachers is currently a problem but that its priority at the moment is to make access to education much easier for every child in the country in line with the Millennium Development Goals MDGs.
She said government is addressing the infrastructural needs in the education sector but that this year’s focus is on addressing schools infrastructure needs rather than the teacher’s accommodation problems.
She added that her Ministry is building about 1,000 houses this year alone but that this is still not sufficient to meet the accommodation needs of the teachers.
Ms Siliya has, however, challenged the banking sector to come to the aid of government by making available loans to teachers to enable them build houses.
She said this will also be an opportunity for the private sector to make more profit considering the fact that government has provided the private sector with a very conducive environment to operate.
[ QFM
The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolutions of Disputes, SACCORD, has demanded for an explanation from Chief Justice Ernest Sakala for his conduct towards Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata who he refused to shake hands with.
SACCORD Information Officer, Obby Chibuluma said the Chief Justice owes Zambians an explanation on the matter in which he refused to greet Sata.
He said it is raises concern to see the man who is the returning officer in the presidential elections showing personal grudges against some political leaders in the country.
Mr Chibuluma said Mr. Sakala as the father of justice should embrace every citizen in the country regardless of their political affiliation.
He expressed disappointment that the Chief Justice could happily shake hands with people facing corruption charges in the courts of law,and yet refuse to shake hands with innocent people such as Mr. Sata.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chibuluma has called on the PF youths not to rush into demanding for the resignation of the Chief Justice.
He said the Chief Justice should first be given a chance to explain the motive behind his refusal to shake hands with the PF leader.
[ QFM ]
Nkana have decided that they will not hire a new coach to take the place of Benjamin “Kawilo” Chilongo who suddenly quit this week.
Club officials have stated that Fedelis “Josmar” Chungu and Fred “Schemer” Siame will be in joint charge of the team.
However, Chungu and Siame will maintain their first and second assistant titles.
Chilongo, how joined Nkana this season, is said to have quit due to internal pressures at Nkana with reliable sources claiming he failed to cope with pressure from Nkana’s hard-to-please fans with some allegedly harassing him with phone calls.
He leaves Nkana in 7th place on the Faz Super Division in their first season back in the top flight since being promoted his year.
TP Mazembe claimed their first win on their week-long training camp tour of Zambia on Thursday when they beat Nchanga Rangers in Chingola in an international club friendly played at Nchanga stadium.
The DR Congo giants beat Rangers 1-0 courtesy of a goal from their Zambia international striker Given Singuluma.
TP drew 1-1 with Zesco United and Power Dynamos in their previous games.
They face Power again tomorrow at Arthur Davies in Kitwe.
FLASHBACK: Patrick Mwanawasa and his cousin Jonas Shakafuswa arrive for the Chakwela Makumbi traditional ceremony
THE MMD in Masaiti District has resolved to float late president Levy Mwanawasa’s son Patrick as parliamentary candidate for Kafulufuta constituency in the 2011 general elections.
Area MMD chairperson Michael Katambo said since current MP George Mpombo had lost popularity, the party decided to float Patrick as parliamentary candidate for the 2011 elections.
He said in an interview yesterday that the decision was arrived at after several meetings at grass root level where the proposal to float Patrick was supported by the majority.
“We want to uphold the legacy of late president Mwanawasa by floating his son as Kafulafuta MP and because he is a committed member of the party,” Mr Katambo said.
When contacted Mr Mpombo said he did not care, as it was too early for the party to endorse anyone for next year’s elections.
And Patrick said he was interested in Kafulafuta constituency but would only comment if the MMD national executive committee (NEC) or ordinary residents of the area raised the matter.
“I won’t say much until higher authorities say so. I hold the people of Kafulafuta closely and dearly to my heart,” he said.
Mr Katambo said Mr Mpombo had lost favour in the constituency hence the need to replace him with somebody people would accept.
He urged Mr Mpombo to stop telling the people that he single handedly influenced the construction of schools and health institution in the area because the projects were part of government’s nation wide plans to deliver services to the people.
Mr Mpombo held a meeting in Kafulafuta constituency last weekend where he alleged that he had single handedly initiated the development in the area.
[pullquote]And Patrick said he was interested in Kafulafuta constituency but would only comment if the MMD national executive committee (NEC) or ordinary residents of the area raised the matter.[/pullquote]
“How can he claim to have single handedly influenced the development, it is not true, those are part of government projects being taken countrywide,” Mr Katambo said.
The Government was constructing a high school at Masangano area and upgrading Sankute clinic into a district hospital.
Mr Katambo said the district had also resolved not to vote for Mr Mpombo for any position at the next convention.
But Mr Mpombo said he was the one who initiated the projects by lobbying the Government.
He said he had a meeting in the constituency to explain to the electorate the reason why he resigned as Defence minister and that he was still MMD.
“I had a meeting to explain certain things to the electorate, I told them that l am still MMD and nobody is going to push me. And believe me I did not speak anything ill against president Banda during the meeting,” Mr Mpombo said.
He said he was still popular in the area and he was sure of retaining the seat if he contested.
And the MMD has started holding elections at various party structures as a build up to the national convention that takes place soon after the provincial executive committees.
MMD chairperson for elections Mike Mulongoti said he had directed that all elections for executive committees should take place by 15 July 2010 in all the constituencies that have not held them.
These would be followed by district after which provincial elections that would be addressed by President Rupiah Banda would be held.
He said in a media release in Lusaka yesterday that the elections must be held by next month in a memorandum addressed to all provincial and district chairpersons.
“This serves to inform you that party elections for all the executive committees should be held by 15 July 2010 in all the constituencies that have not held them to date,” Mr Mulongoti said.
The provincial executives have already declared President Banda the sole presidential candidate while other interested members are still allowed to contest the position.
A NEW commercial bank has opened its doors on the Zambian market with a base rate of 19 per cent for the local currency, the Kwacha while nine per cent is for the United States dollar loans.
The bank has pledged to offer credit facilities for working capital, term loans for new projects, expansion and diversification of existing projects, and export finance.
The International Commercial Bank (ICB) of Malaysia would launch its first user-friendly account, the Sungapo account, where depositors would not require any minimum balance but only a small amount for opening accounts.
The bank is offering export-import finance, motor vehicle loans, project finance, letters of credit, bank guarantees and customised credit facilities to the small and medium-scale enterprises.
According to a media release by the bank’s board chairperson Bornwell Chiyabi, the bank also has a current account product for small and medium scale entrepreneurs while the other one is for non-governmental organisations, churches and other non-profit institutions.
ICB offices are situated at the corner of Great North Road and Washama Road in Villa Elizabetha, near ZRA.
ICB chief executive officer Madhava Murthy said the new products would be launched soon.
National Constitutional Conference chairperson Chifumu Banda (L) and spokesperson Mwangala Zaloumis, during the launch of the draft constitution in LUsaka.
National Constitutional Conference (NCC) chairman Chifumu Banda has urged Zambians to read and understand the draft constitution without getting too personal.
Mr. Banda says that the public should use the 40 days period to make comments and contribute to the making of Zambia’s constitution.
He added that it is important that Zambians should be sober and that whatever comments and contributions will be made will be taken on board.
Speaking on ‘Public’s Last Say’ last evening, Mr. Banda stated that the anger from the people will not make a change and that the only way that the country will move forward with the constitution is by making contributions.
And Mr. Banda has defended the draft constitution saying that nothing much has changed from the Mungomba draft constitution.
[ QFM]
Chief Justice Ernest Sakala talks to his Australian counterpart Justice Michael Kirby at the opening of the 6th judicial integrity meeting in Lusaka.
The Patriotic Front has accused Chief Justice Ernest Sakala of intending to deny party president Michael Sata fair election results in next year’s elections
The Chief Justice is the returning officer for the presidential elections.
In a telephone interview with QFM, PF National Youth Secretary General, Eric Chanda, said the refusal by the Chief Justice to shake hands with Mr. Sata is a clear indication that Mr. Sakala has unjust and partial intentions to deny the PF leader a fair election.
Mr. Chanda said the Chief Justice as a returning officer in the presidential election should not have personal grudges with presidential aspirants regardless of their political affiliation. He said the office of the Chief Justice demands fairness and impartiality in the execution of duties.
And Mr. Chanda has called for the immediate resignation of Chief Justice Ernest Sakala on grounds that he refused to shake hands with PF leader Michael Sata.
He said the resignation of the Chief Justice should be on ethical and professional grounds since his action degrades people’s confidence in the office of the Chief Justice.
On Wednesday Chief Justice Ernest Sakala refused to shake hands with Patriotic Front president Michael Sata at the requiem mass of retired Supreme Court judge Peter Chitengi at Saint Ignatius Church in Lusaka.
[Q FM]
Mr Teddy Mulonga presenting the specially decorated expedition 206 Zambia `happiness bottle' to the two Coca-Cola expedition 206 team members - Antonio Santiago and Tony Martin.
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Coca-Cola expedition 206 team members sampling a typical Zambian dish at Queen Calabash restaurant.
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Dr Kenneth Kaunda dancing with air hostesses from Zambezi Airlines during the launch of the Harare route in Harare
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Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi(centre) talks to some Zambians during the launch of the Zambezi Airlines route to Zimbabwe in Harare
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Agriculture Minister Peter Daka and small and medium scale farmers President Rodgers Phiri shake hands after a meeting in Lusaka
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An Election registrar conducting the voter registration exercise in Lusaka
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Zambezi Airlines chairman Maurice Jangulo makes a speech during the launch the airline's route to Harare
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Western Province Permanent Secretary Seth Muleya getting out of the caterpillar meant for rural road unit during the Africa Public Service day in Mongu
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John Phiri of metrological department talks to Western Province Permanent Secretary Seth Muleya when he inspected the metrological department stand during the Africa Public Service day in Mongu
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Some mourners walk past the casket of the late former High Court Judge Peter Chitengi at the Supreme Court in Lusaka
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Some lawyers walk past the casket of the late former High Court Judge Peter Chitengi at the Supreme Court in Lusaka
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Lawyer Irene Kunda wife of George Kunda and professor Patrick Mvunga at the funeral of the late Judge Peter Chitengi in Lusaka
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Pallbearers handling the casket for the late former High Court Judge Peter Chitengi during a funeral session at the Supreme Court in Lusaka
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Pupils at Kamwala secondary school outside their class during learning hours.
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One of the old classroom blocks at Kamwala secondary school.
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National Constitutional Conference chairperson Chifumu Banda and his deputy Russell Mulele left, during the launch of the draft constitution in LUsaka.
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National Constitutional Conference chairperson Chifumu Banda and spokesperson Mwangala Zaloumis, on the right, during the launch of the draft constitution in LUsaka.
Bharti Airtel of India the mobile company which recently acquired Zain Africa assets has said it will invest US$150 million in Zambia towards the enhancing of the 2G and 3G network coverage in the country.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka this afternoon,Bharti Airtel International Chief Executive Officer Manoj Kohli said the investment will be carried out over a two to three years period.
He said Bharti intends to take 3G services deeper by enhancing the coverage and quality and the wireless broadband available to more towns and cities in the country.
[pullquote]Mr Kohli added that Bharti Airtel will also bring affordability to the Zambian customers by making services more affordable in form lower tariffs.[/pullquote]
He said this will entail that more and more Zambia will be able to utilize wireless broadband on their mobile phones using the Bharti Airtel 3G services. Mr Kohli said this will happen in the next three to six months.
Mr Kohli said the Zambia market provides a lot of encouragement to Bharti Airtel and commended Zain Zambia for the work done to take on market leadership.
He said Bharti Airtel will take a bigger leadership in network coverage across Zambia including in rural areas of the country.
He said it is clear from the meetings he held with Zambian officials in the ministry of communication and the regulators that the agenda of Bharti Airtel and the Zambian Government is completely alike because both are looking forward to building a prosperous Zambia.
Mr Kohli added that Bharti Airtel will also bring affordability to the Zambian customers by making services more affordable in form lower tariffs.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) says it is carrying out sensitisation programmes following the outbreak of measles especially in some parts of Lusaka. Ministry of Health Spokesperson Dr. said the ministry has set aside some funds to contain the further spread of measles to other parts of the country.
Dr. Mbewe said the most affected by the vice were children under the age of five and it was for this reason that the ministry will hold a child health week in July.
He told ZANIS in a telephone interview in Lusaka today that the ministry has a mandate to safeguard the lives of children in the country.
Dr. Mbewe pointed out that the ministry intends on increasing the number of children to be immunised during the child health week next month.
He urged parents and guardians in the nation to ensure that they take children 5 years and below to the nearest clinic when child health week starts.
He added that the ministry was still compiling more data on the measles situation in the country.
From January to April 2010 Lusaka was worst hit by an out break of measles with Chawama Clinic recording 36 cases, Kanyama recorded six, Mandevu recorded four and Makeni recorded three cases.
Government has released K915 million for road works in Kawambwa district of Luapula Province. Kawambwa District Commissioner Gershom Tanga says the money is meant for the rehabilitation of four main roads in the district.
Mr. Tanga says the rehabilitation work will commence soon.He disclosed this during the District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) meeting held in the council chamber Thursday morning. He also said earthmoving equipment has been released to the district and has since appealed to members of the community to support the project.
Mr. Tanga added that once the roads are repaired, transportation of farming inputs to farmers this season will be eased.
In another development, the District Commissioner has appealed to Luapula Rural Water Supply and sewerage company (LRWSSC) to improve the supply of water in the district.
Mr. Tanga wondered why the company has decided to increase the water tariffs before improving the system in the area.
He has since advised the water firm to seriously address the issue of service delivery and customer satisfaction as opposed to rushing into increasing the tariffs.
And members of the DDCC unanimously resolved that the water utility company should suspend the new tariffs until the water reticulation system is improved.
And some people talked to by ZANIS in the area said the supply of water by the new company is worse than was the case with the council.
They said LRWSSC should not rely on customers for capital but that it should first improve the system. They said they are willing to pay the new tariffs once the system is improved and have since called on the new company to provide a good service to its customers.
Luapula Rural Water Supply and Sewerage Company took over from the local council in January this year in a bid to improve the water reticulation system.
President Rupiah Banda has urged Zambia and Namibia to remove all barriers that constrain economic trade between the two countries. President Banda said Namibia and Zambia should use common infrastructure such as the Katima Mulilo Bridge to the fullest to develop strong trade relations between the two countries.
The president was speaking during a State Banquet held in his honour by his Namibian counterpart, Hifikepunye Pohamba at State House in Namibia Wednesday night.
He said because of the historical ties that existed, Zambia and Namibia had continued to work closely in organisations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and the Commonwealth, among others.
The president said there was need to use these organisations to highlight problems the two countries faced and help find solutions.
Mr Banda reassured the government of Namibia of Zambia’s commitment to further expanding the bilateral relations and cooperation between the two sister nations for the mutual benefit of the two peoples.He mentioned that one of the areas that required further cooperation was education where the two countries could develop exchange programmes at institutions of Higher learning level.
Mr Banda said Zambia would move fast to develop the Walvis Bay Dry Port which, with the completed Katima Mulilo Bridge would boost trade and transportation of goods and services between the two countries. The president also said Zambia was in the process of expanding the power sector adding that the completion of the Caprivi Power link Inter-connector would make it easier for the two countries to share power.
Mr. Banda said Zambia and other SADC member states have collaborated closely to mobilise resources from the International Community to help the region develop regional projects in transport, energy and other infrastructures. He also called on African countries to collectively emphasise the issues of hunger, poverty, civil strife, unsustainable debt and unfavourable trade practices at all international organisations.
Mr Banda said Zambia and Namibia envisage an African continent free from poverty and armed conflict but it was however saddening to observe that the continent was yet to enjoy total peace and stability. “ Africa continues to be afflicted by many challenges such as conflicts situations prevailing in some parts of the continent, including SADC which need resolution,” President Banda said.
He said there need for Zambia and Namibia to continue supporting continental and international initiatives aimed at restoring peace and stability in some trouble-torn African countries. Mr Banda also urged the international community to provide the necessary support to the African Union (AU) and member states and governments to enable them resolve these conflicts.
He however, said the Great Lakes Region has evolved from turbulence to relative peace, stability and development owing to the commitment of the leaders in the region who agreed to collaborate under the framework of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
President Banda, as chairperson of the ICGLR, urged members of the International Community and the group of friends not to reinvent the wheel by proposing new projects but to finance the already existing programmes identified by the ICGLR member states.
“Cooperating partners should therefore continue to assist in consolidating the new found peace and cooperation among members of the Great Lakes Grouping,” the president Banda said.
And speaking earlier, Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba hailed Zambia for the political, material, and moral support it rendered to the people of Namibia during the struggle for national liberation waged by SWAPO. President Pohamba also expressed profound appreciation for President Banda for his personal contribution to the liberation of Namibia especially when he served as Permanent representative of Zambia to the United Nations (UN) and also as President of the UN Council for Namibia .
He said Namibia will remain grateful for the support received from the sisterly people of Zambia adding that their generous contribution was instrumental in the achievement of freedom and the independence 20 years ago. Mr Pohamba said Zambia and Namibia needed to make extra efforts to improve trade co-operation, to enhance people-to-people contacts and to continue strengthening government-to-government cooperation in the areas of health care, education, information, communication technology, agriculture, tourism and development of infrastructure.
He said for SADC and other regional economic communities in Africa , regional integration was a core strategy to accelerate economic growth and improvement in the living conditions of millions who face hunger, diseases and insecurity.
Mr Pohamba reaffirmed Namibia ’s commitment to pursuing the two countries’ common objectives towards deepening regional integration in the SADC Region.
He explained that the consolidation of regional integration required the two governments to work purposefully to counter challenges of human trafficking, organised crime and drug trafficking.
He added that these threats could undermine meaningful and beneficial regional integration and could also pose a threat to regional security.
President Pohamba also said as members of the African Union Committee of 10 on United Nations Reform , Namibia and Zambia had a duty to work together towards a meaningful reform of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council.
He further stressed the need for the two countries to impress upon members of the international community to honour their commitment for the attainment of the Millennium development Goals (MDGs).
President Banda is today expected to inspect the Zambian Dry Port in Walvis Bay and meet Zambians living in Namibia in Windhoek later in the evening.
