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Vice President George Kunda says Government and the Cooperating Partners have reached a common understanding to observe diplomatic etiquette when dealing with each other. Mr Kunda told Parliament during the vice president’s question time that the recent pronouncements on donors relate to matters of diplomatic etiquette.
He said Zambia will continue to enjoy donor support because of Government’s commitment to prudent management of public resources. Mr Kunda further said that it is for this reason that the donor community continues to give government a lot of support in terms of aid.
He adds that government is fighting corruption, dedicated to tenets of democracy and pledged to continue upholding good governance. The Vice President described the relations between government and cooperating partners as very warm.
And Mr Kunda has revealed that government is revising the law on the fight against corruption. He says government is taking into account passed experiences such how certain cases have been prosecuted.
Mr Kunda was responding to a question by Katuba Member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa who wanted to know why section 87 of the Anti Corruption Commission Act which deals with abuse of office has been scrapped from the in the revised ACC Act which will be taken to Parliament.
Government says it collected over K600 billion in taxes from copper exports in 2009, Parliament heard today. Mines Deputy Minister Boniface Nkhata told parliament that government realized over K234 billion from mineral royalties and over K394 billion in company tax.
He told the House that no revenue was collected from copper ore exports in 2008 as no copper ore was exported during this year due to the effects of the global financial crisis.
Mr Nkhata however, disclosed that a total revenue of over K169 million was collected from the export of copper ores and concentrates in 2009. He further said that in 2008 revenue of over K268 million was collected from exports of copper concentrates.
Mr Nkhata was responding to a question by Kanchibiya Member Parliament Davis Mwango who wanted to know how much money was raised from the export of copper and how much the Government collected in taxes from the exports in 2008 and 2009.
The Zambia Police Service has in the last four days recovered five firearms and four motor vehicles from suspected dangerous criminals around Lusaka .
The recoveries were done in Chibolya, Ngwerere and Kaunda Square among other places. Briefing the media in Lusaka on Thursday, Police Spokesperson Bonny Kapeso disclosed that of the five firearms, three were loaded with more than 72 rounds of ammunition while one pistol had four rounds. Mr. Kapeso noted that of the recovered vehicles three were Toyota Corollas and one was a Toyota Hilux.
He explained that the Toyota Hilux registration Number ABK9539 which was snatched from a Lusaka resident in OlympiaPark area was recovered in the early hours of yesterday by the Zambia Police after a tip-off from the owner. Mr. Kapeso said the Police recovered the vehicle along Great North Road
after opening fire at a group of suspects who run away but one was arrested.
He said the Police have since arrested three suspects in connection with various criminal activities that have taken place in the city in past four days.
Mr. Kapeso explained that out of the three arrests made, two are wives of the suspected dangerous criminals who are helping police with investigations.
The police spokesperson has further cautioned members of public against engaging themselves in criminal activities saying police has intensified security and will not relent in dealing with any person found wanting.
The resumption of the league after a three-week break looks like starting on a low note with referees threatening to boycott games.
This is after protracted dispute with Faz over an unresolved issue on the revised match official allowances.
The situation has not been helped with the prospect of a large number of fans staying away on Saturday to watch the big quarterfinal match between Germany and Argentina that kicks off an hour into the super
Division match.
FAZ SUPER DIVISION WEEK 14
03/06/2010
Red Arrows-Konkola Blades
Zanaco-Choma Eagles
Nchanga Rangers-Lusaka Dynamos
Nkwazi-Power Dynamos
Nkana-Green Buffaloes
City of Lusaka-Zesco United
Forest Rangers-National Assembly
Roan United-Kabwe Warriors
Commerce deputy minister Lwipa Puma with a group of investors from Korea at the Lusaka international airport
By Chilekwa M. Mumba
Time and time again, Zambia’s political scene displays a lack of direction in both our party in government, as well as our major opposition parties who are currently clamoring to ensure the MMD’s exit. This past week unfolded some more political drama that sparked off everything from exchanges of unpalatable words in our local politics to international diplomatic rows. Zambians and the international community observed this fuming spectacle, now thankfully in its simmering stage. The hot air surrounding it is slowly evaporating as is to be expected with steam- and I choose the term “hot air” very intentionally, albeit sarcastically as the conclusion of this polemic will demonstrate.
At a time when our country is heading for major elections, we are supposed to see a difference between the ruling MMD and the country’s opposition. Instead, as we observe the substance (or lack thereof) of political debate, due to the haplessness of the politicians marketing themselves to the Zambian electorate, I cannot help but draw a comical comparative between our political leaders [as salesmen] who all claim to have the “best fix” to our country’s woes, and an old Chinese fable. The tale I refer to tells of a slick talking entrepreneur-cum-salesman who arrives in a village claiming to sell a spear which will penetrate everything and a shield which will block anything. Buyers anyone? No I doubt you will find any takers! If anything, the salesman/politician ends up looking like the oaf. [pullquote]At the end of the day, what was supposed to be a debate on accountability turned into as productive a debate as you would expect between two blocks of wood-nothing.[/pullquote]
In the same vein, our ruling MMD and current opposition will sell nothing to our electorate by their empty and nonconstructive rumblings on donor money. Our ever opportunistic MMD took this serious issue to look large and in charge by claiming sacred sovereignty over our country and thus these monies; and our ever inopportune opposition took this serious issue to express their angelic humility by gaudily stressing our dependency on donors. At the end of the day, what was supposed to be a debate on accountability turned into as productive a debate as you would expect between two blocks of wood-nothing. Donor money will continue to flow in the same path, seeing that the people responsible preferred a shouting match over debating on how to best utilize and account for it.
What is most irking about this particular situation is the fact that we find the donors playing the sensible role of demanding accountability for our country’s financial resources- a role which Zambians have entrusted to the opposition and party in government. It is quite troubling to note that the opposition decided to play the “choir-boy” role, going out of their way to sing praises for donors instead of directing this energy to not only demand accountability, but start discussing ideas of alternative policy arrangements that will ensure that donor money goes to its intended recipients. Donor money is no trivial issue-this is money that mostly supports critical life and death efforts such as our country’s health sector as well as Zambia’s infrastructure development. These displays of tactlessness from the opposition will not separate them from the very party they wish to replace. I wish to remind the opposition that whilst their “dependency song” will certainly attract shady “donors” who want to control our country’s fate, it will not auger well with the genuine and well-meaning donor countries who wish to see Zambia stand on its own two. This approach by our opposition does about as much harm as the equally tactless pronouncements by the ruling MMD government.
In summary, I will echo the observation that our country’s problems persist, because of the fruitless and misdirected political debate our politicians are all guilty of engaging themselves in. This donor debacle has testified that little to no difference exists between the MMD and major opposition. A contrasting difference between our political parties in government and in opposition is key to our nation’s progress on the political-economy front. It is a proven fact that an environment thriving with different and solid ideas breeds the progress we seek. As Zambians we must encourage not just politicians, but ourselves as responsible citizens to engage in productive debate. The best solutions come out of sensible debate, and indeed the very differences are quantified to a total sum; alternately where difference of ideas lacks, the progress summation equals zero.
Labour Deputy Minister Simon Kachimba says Government will soon announce the new minimum wage which an employee is supposed to earn per month. Mr. Kachimba said Government wanted to see a situation where employers begin to appreciate their employees by giving them good wages and long term contracts.
Labour and Social Security Deputy Minister Simon Kachimba
Speaking when he conducted an inspection of Fun City company and Zambia Engineering and Construction Company Limited (ZECCO) in Lusaka on Thursday, the Deputy Minister warned that Government will not allow casualisation of labour in the country.
He said that Government wanted to encourage Zambianisation, a system where qualified Zambians take up management positions in companies. He noted that the country has qualified human resource to run companies adding that expatriates can only be used in areas where the country was lacking. He has also advised employers to consult his ministry on matters related to labour laws to avoid violating the law.
Meanwhile, Fun City Regional Director Aston Kaunda told the minister and his entourage that his company is now run by Zambians. Mr. Kaunda said disclosed that out of the 120 employees, 85 were unionised and that the lowest paid employee at his company was earning K1.5 million.
He said his company has responsibility to prove to the public that Zambianisation could work and commended the minister for making an inspection.
And an inspection at ZECCO reviewed that most employees were on short term contracts and were found working without protective clothing. Some employees found at the construction site complained to the minister that their wages were as low as K300, 000 per month.
Human Resources Officer Eslom Kamumema told the Minister that they will ensure that errors are corrected.
First Lady Thandiwe Banda has called on corporate organisations in Zambia to rise to the challenge and contribute generously to efforts aimed at improving education standards in the country. Mrs. Banda noted that Government alone could not provide adequate resources within a short period of time hence the need for concerted efforts from all stakeholders.
She said quality education could be achieved, if stakeholders and parents give their children an opportunity to obtain education in a good learning environment.
Mrs. Banda said the burden of improving infrastructure in the education sector could be easy, if all parents and the corporate bodies contribute generously towards the rehabilitation of the dilapidated infrastructure at learning institutions.
The First Lady said this at the fundraising dinner dance for Lwitikila Girls’ High School held at Savoy Hotel in Ndola Thursday night. She donated K2 million cash and another K2 million from the ministers’ spouses towards improving run down infrastructure at the school.
Others who contributed are the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) northern region, which donated K1.5 million, Z-Mart and Mbala District Council K1 million each, Mopani Copper Mines gave K2 million, Copperbelt Provincial administration K1 million while Zambezi Portland Cement donated 600 bags of cement worth K32 million.
The rest are Northern Province administration which gave 50 bags of cement. Over K300 million was raised during the dinner dance out of the targeted K500 million for rehabilitating Lwitikila Girls’ School, which is 48 years old. Mrs. Banda paid tribute to Lwitikila Girls’ School Management for recording a 100 per cent pass rate at grade twelve level in the 2009 examinations.
She said the school has continued to provide high quality education to Zambian girls. She further thanked those that donated cash and pledged to support the school. And speaking at the same function, School head teacher, Sylvia Kagurula said it was not the desire of the school to allow the infrastructure at the institution to run down to the level where it was now.
Sr. Kagurula commended stakeholders that donated towards rehabilitating her school saying the gesture was good for improving the learning environment for the girl child.
She assured the First Lady and other stakeholders that the donated funds would be used to improve education standards at the institution. And Northern Province Minister John Chinyata said the province was proud of Lwitikila Girls’ school because of its good record of educating girl children in the region and the whole country.
Mr. Chinyata acknowledged the challenges the school was facing and reiterated the provincial administration’s resolve to assist the school with education materials. He said the administration had demonstrated this by donating 80 computers to the school and provided furniture and rehabilitated electrical pots for the school.
He said the provincial administration would continue to work closely with the school’s PTA in improving the learning standards at the institution.
Lwitikila Girls’ High School is run by the Catholic Church through the Mpika Diocese in partnership with Government.
President Rupiah Banda is tomorrow scheduled to leave for Ndola in the Copperbelt province in readiness to receive his Botswana counterpart, Ian Khama on Saturday. Lieutenant General Khama is coming to Zambia for an official visit, which will coincide with the official opening of the 46th Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Ndola.
Lt. General Khama is expected to be the guest of Honour at this year’s Zambia International Trade Fair. President Banda will be accompanied to the Copperbelt by Minister of Commerce, Felix Mutati and other senior government officials.
The President and his delegation are expected to return to Lusaka on Sunday. This is contained in a press statement made available to ZANIS by President Banda Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere.
Police in Lusaka have apprehended a man and two women who are believed to be wives of some suspected fugitive criminals.
Police Service spokesperson Bonny Kapeso said the trio was arrested in Ngwerere township following a security operation conducted in the area on Wednesday.
He said the police have in the past four days been conducting security operations in different townships, which include Chibolya and Kaunda Square.
He said this follows five dangerous criminals who have in the past few days been terrorising Lusaka residents stealing motor vehicles.
Mr Kapeso said four vehicles and six firearms were recovered in the operation.
Mr Kapeso said this after Lusaka division commanding officer Greenwell Ng’uni displayed the recovered items at Lusaka Central Police Station yesterday.
He said the vehicles include three Toyota Corollas and Hilux, four AK 47 assault rifles and a pistol with 76 rounds of ammunition.
Mr Kapeso said the Toyota Hilux was snatched from Olympia Park on Wednesday night.
He said the vehicle was recovered on the Great North Road after the owner alerted Netstar tracking system company who worked with police in tracing the vehicle.
“This is a team of dangerous criminals who have been conducting operations in Lusaka in the past few days and we suspect one of the criminals was wounded during the exchange of fire,” Mr Kapeso said.
He said the police have launched a manhunt for the four other suspects and that the service will not relent in its efforts to have the criminals arrested.
“As you know, we have in custody the two women to help us with information leading to the arrest of the rest of the criminals. So my appeal to members of the public is let them come forward and assist us with information which will help in bringing the suspects to book,” Mr Kapeso said.
He appealed to members of the public in possession of military weapons to surrender them to police through the amnesty programme.
Mr Kapeso said a number of firearms used by criminals are suspected to be acquired from unsuspecting members of the public.
“Let those who have firearms surrender them to the police through the amnesty programme as it still stands and the offer is still at K1 million.
Most of these guns used by the criminals are private because all our guns have serial numbers,” he said.
And the Inspector General of police, Francis Kabonde, has appealed to police officers to remain calm as Government processes June salaries.
Mr Kapeso said the police high command is concerned about the delayed release of salaries for June.
He said the delay in the release of June salaries has been attributed to anomalies in some pay slips.
Mr Kapeso said the high command is doing everything possible to ensure the anomalies are corrected as soon as possible.
“As you know the machine which prepares pay slips for the civil service had some problems and so there are some anomalies on certain pay slips,” he said.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]
Parliamentary Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga (left)
Veteran diplomat and parliamentary chief whip Vernon Mwaanga yesterday said foreign diplomats in Zambia have breached the Vienna convention by airing concerns about donor aid utilisation in a manner that had the potential to set Government against its own citizens.
Appearing on a ‘Governance and You’ programme that is sponsored by the Press Association of Zambia and the Ministry of Justice governance secretariat on ZNBC Radio 2, Mr Mwaanga said the donors had the right to complain about issues but not through the media.
Mr Mwaanga, who was trained in diplomatic studies at the Oxford University in the United Kingdom, said diplomatic channels were spelt out in the African Union Charter and the United Nations Charter which govern relations between states.
He said Zambia was a sovereign State and must not be interfered with by any other State in the name of airing advise on development matters.
Mr Mwaanga said the contact point for diplomats was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and not the media.
He said Britain at one time demanded that a Zambian diplomat who had criticised that country’s government be recalled and Zambia had to oblige.
Mr Mwaanga said he had been a diplomat for many years and was certain that many foreign envoys in Zambia were getting things wrong.
Mr Mwaanga, who served as Foreign Affairs minister and permanent representative to the United Nations said there was no need for any donor to pull out because President Rupiah Banda stated the facts when he told donors to stop black mailing Government.
“To pull out for what reason, because the president said Zambia is a sovereign State? The president said the obvious,” Mr Mwaanga said.
Meanwhile, Mr Mwaanga also said people raising concerns that the president had too much power were wrong and have not followed the transformation in the powers of the president.
[ Times of Zambia ]
Chiluba and Sata during their happy days in MMD
Former president Frederick Chiluba has described opposition PF president Michael Sata as an opportunist who comments on anything and has urged him to accept that his support for President Rupiah Banda was irrevocable.
Dr Chiluba said through his spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba that some people have committed resources to trail and plant mobs to embarrass him.
“We are surprised by Press reports alleging that Dr Chiluba said in Chambishi “the late president Levy Patrick Mwanawasa turned courts into playgrounds like Nkana Stadium in the eight years of his (Mr Mwanawasa) presidency.
“We chose to ignore these false reports fearing that our rebuttal would dignify this lie. However, we are alarmed that this fabrication is now a basis for comments and reactions from politicians such as Mr Sata,” he said.
Mr Mwamba said it was surprising that reactions and opinions are now being formed on a statement that was never made.
“We, therefore, urge opportunistic commentators such as Patriotic Front leader Mr Michael Sata and the so-called Dr Cosmo Mumba to seek clarification and the truth before making wild statements and demands,” he said.
[pullquote]“We are surprised by Press reports alleging that Dr Chiluba said in Chambishi “the late president Levy Patrick Mwanawasa turned courts into playgrounds like Nkana Stadium in the eight years of his (Mr Mwanawasa) presidency.
“We chose to ignore these false reports fearing that our rebuttal would dignify this lie. However, we are alarmed that this fabrication is now a basis for comments and reactions from politicians such as Mr Sata,” he said.[/pullquote]
The ploy by some people to block him from moving freely was a hindrance on his fundamental human rights.
“This is now interfering with his fundamental freedom of movement, of expression and other rights. We wish to advise that the planned activities against Dr Chiluba are becoming criminal and the police should not hesitate to pursue the perpetrators,” Mr Mwamba said.
Meanwhile, Dr Chiluba has described as strange the desperate panic by Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata and some sections of the media over his activities.
Mr Mwamba said while the former president was in retirement, it did not exclude him from attending to petitions from members of the communities who seek his intervention.
[ Times of Zambia ]
Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao (Picture courtesy of Post Newspaper)
The Zambian Government has repaid the K13 billion donor funds that were allegedly misappropriated last year by some Ministry of Health officials.
Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao said the Zambian Government was committed to paying back the donor funds, and assured that the balance of K16 billion from the K29 billion would also be paid back.
Speaking in Lusaka yesterday during a media breakfast on the update of the recent Zambian delegation’s visit to Geneva Switzerland, Mr Simbao said the alleged misappropriation of funds at the ministry last year was embarrassing for the Zambian Government.
Mr Simbao pledged Government’s commitment to the proper utilisation of donor funds in the country’s health sector.
“We are fully committed to utilising donor funds for their intended purposes, I must admit that what happened at the Ministry of Health last year was an embarrassment for all off us.
“What our people did, and I insist on our people, because its not the Government who stole the money, is very embarrassing,” he said.
Mr Simbao said the ministry would not spend any funds on workshops and seminars in 2011.
[pullquote]“We are fully committed to utilising donor funds for their intended purposes, I must admit that what happened at the Ministry of Health last year was an embarrassment for all off us.
“What our people did, and I insist on our people, because its not the Government who stole the money, is very embarrassing,” he said. [/pullquote]
All workshops and seminars would instead be funded by donors and other partners.
“We have realised that there are some people who have been travelling all year round, leaving work piling in their offices because of seminars,” he said.
While in Geneva, Mr Simbao held discussions with officials from the United Nations HIV/Aids agency (UNAIDS) who assured him that the UN was interested in seeing Zambia’s image restored, and being able to access funding normally.
He reassured the donors that all money spent by his ministry would from now on be with the approval of only the permanent secretary.
The funds would now be subjected to both internal and external audits.
The Swedish government had insisted on all its funds to the government, being approved only by the permanent secretary (PS), and that no one acting in that position should approve spending of these funds.
Because of the stringent demands by the donors, the Health permanent secretary had been unable to travel outside the country.
As a result, the PS was not even able to attend the recently held World health Assembly meeting.
This measure had been taken to ensure the PS was always available to approve spending of donor funds.
Mr Simbao said all wrong doers in the Ministry of Health would be subjected to the due process of the law.
The ministry was anxious about the outcome of the courts ruling on the alleged misappropriation of donor funds by the Ministry of Health last year.
The ministry had also suffered the loss of manpower through the suspension of 35 officers, allegedly connected to the scam.
“Whatever the courts decide will be good for us, we will be able to know whether to restore our suspended officers, or make replacements, so we are waiting for the courts to decide, as the absence of 35 members of staff has stressed our operations,” he said.
World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative Olusegun Babaniyi said the UN had appreciated that the Zambian Government had shown it was not supporting the misuse of donor funds.
Dr Babaniyi pledged the continued support by the UN to help Zambia get back to its previous position with regard to donor funding.
And Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) for Global Fund chairperson Mwingache Siamwiza said the CCM had decided to appoint the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the principle recipient of global funds meant for the health sector.
The CCM had suspended the Ministry of Health from being the principle recipient of the funds and the UNDP would now receive and disburse all global funds to the ministry.
“Global Fund had made the decision not to disburse the funds for round four, because the Ministry of Health had not met the required conditionality at the time, but following the minister’s visit to Geneva, the ministry would have access to US$8 million,” he said.
Times of Zambia ]
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has not received any funding from the government for the past three months now.
Highly placed sources at the commission have revealed to QFM that the commission has not received any funding from the government since March.
And the sources who sought anonymity for fear of losing their jobs further said the allocation of funds to the commission by the government is not adequate.
They said calls by some opposition political parties that government considers increasing funding to the Anti Corruption Commission in order to enable it fight corruption effectively are genuine, adding such calls should not be politicized.
They revealed that since the commission was formed, government funding has been inadequate for it to operate effectively.
The sources further said the inadequate allocation of funds to ACC has made operations at the commission complicated.
They hailed stakeholders who are calling for the government to allocate more funds to the commission, urging them to continue pushing the government to do so.
[ QFM ]
Over 500 new voters have been captured in the tourist capital since commencement of the countrywide mobile voter registration exercise on June 21 2010.
Assistant Registration Officer, Nelson Sakala said by midday yesterday, 508 people had registered as new voters at the various registration centers across
the district.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Livingstone today, Mr. Sakala said withthe waiver of the police report fees for lost voters and National Registration Cards respectively, the number of people registering as voters was expected to
increase.
He said most people had shown keen interest in registering as voters and he urged them to wait for Registration Officers to get to their areas according tothe time frame indicated on the district deployment plan.
Meanwhile, Livingstone District Voter Education Committee (DVEC) Chairman, Moses Sakala has appealed to Voter Education Facilitators (VEFs) to improve in the manner they execute their duties.
Mr. Sakala said voter registration was an important exercise for the nation and as such ineffectiveness on the part of VEFs would negatively affect the number of people registering as voters.
He said he was not impressed with the methods some of the facilitators had employed to inform and educate members of the Livingstone community on the importance of voting.
Forum for Leadership Search Zambia says the constitution making process should be without foreign influence to allow Zambians to decide how the process should proceed.
Exuctiive Director Edwin Lifwekelo said it is wrong for foreigners to instigate Zambians to boycott the constitution making process.
Mr. Lifwekelo claimed in a statement to ZANIS today that some of the leaders representing civil society organizations are foreigners and have no interest in the welfare of the Zambian people.
“They have a foreign agenda. They have always danced to the tune of foreigners that’s why they are even supporting homosexuality in our country and want Zambia to be a secular state,”Mr. Lifwekelo said.
He notes that the constitution making process must not be a reflection of the 2011 presidential elections.
[pullquote]“They have a foreign agenda. They have always danced to the tune of foreigners that’s why they are even supporting homosexuality in our country and want Zambia to be a secular state,”Mr. Lifwekelo said.[/pullquote]
He states that it will be wrong to use the 2011 presidential elections as a basis for a new constitution because the country will not expire after 2011.
Mr.Lifwekelo explained that political parties and civil society that have refused to make submissions to the draft constitution lack moral values and are doing so at their own peril.
He has appealed to all Zambians to make submissions so as to add value to the people’s driven constitution.
Mr.Lifwekelo stated that Zambians should not allow foreigners to dictate how constitution making process should proceed as they are prophets of doom who aim to derail the process.
He also advised Zambians not to be hoodwinked by selected selfish individuals who don’t like President Rupiah Banda.
He commended the secretariat of the National Constitution Conference for finally coming up with the draft report.
