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Nchelenge teacher appears in court for defilement

A teacher in Nchelenge district in Luapula Province has appeared before Nchelenge magistrate court for allegedly defiling a16 years old girl.

Appearing before Nchelenge magistrate Fred Musaka was 29-year-old Nicholas
Sibinda, a teacher at Nchelenge high school in chief Kambwali’s area.

Particulars of the offence are that on unknown date, but between March 1,
2008 and March 20, 2010 Sibinda willfully and unlawfully had carnal
knowledge with the named girl below the age of 16.

The girl is also a pupil at Nchelenge high school.

Sibinda pleaded not guilty to the offence which is contrary to section
138, subsection 1 as amended by Act number 15 of 2005 of the penal code,
chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

As he took the plea, Sibinda informed the court that he had recently
confirmed the age of the girl from her mother who told him she will turn 18
years old, this year.

But when asked by the court how old the girl in question was in 2008, he
responded that she might have been 16 years.

The matter has been adjourned to July 2, 2010 for commencement of trial,
and Sibinda was granted a K700,000.00 bail with two working sureties .
[ ZANIS ]

Ladies of the night finding World Cup fans not so keen

12

SOME people are making a killing out of the World Cup, but prostitutes are concerned that business is not going as expected – with some even experiencing a drop in clientele.

The soccer tournament brought with it much promise for ladies of the night, some of whom have travelled from far, but for many business has been far from what was anticipated.

However one prostitute, Jewel, said she had been lucky so far.

She travelled from Zambia after deciding to “fly solo” to get to South Africa in time for the soccer tournament.

“I arrived in Johannesburg in the first week of June and I came to Port Elizabeth and spent the weekend with a client,” she said.

The 34-year-old said business had been going well for her because she knew “just what the boys want”.

“Tomorrow (Friday) I will go to Cape Town to see how things are that side, but so far so good.”

Jewel said she would travel around the country following the major matches. “That is where the big spenders are, baby.” She said she made an average of R5000 a day, sometimes even as much as R8000.

Vee, 22, said she had not been as lucky. The human resources graduate from Durban said she had lost some of her regular clients as they had flown out of Port Elizabeth to watch the soccer.

“Right now I’m doing about two bookings a day, opposed to the usual six,” she said.

“A lot of my clients are from Johannesburg and Cape Town. Some are my regulars who always call me when they touch down in Port Elizabeth.”

Vee, based in Forest Hill, has been in the business for a year after being drawn in by friends.

Another unlucky woman is Sian, also from Port Elizabeth. She said that this time of year meant people preferred to stay at home or were “too busy with soccer to think about sex”.

Casanova Companions, a male escort agency in Sandton, had noted no change in business. Manager Jaco Noack said business had been on and off. “Some days are really busy, while some are quiet,” he said.

[weekendpost.co.za]

Zambia copper mines suspend output after nationwide power blackout

11

A nationwide power blackout on Friday forced copper mines in Zambia, Africa’s top producer of the metal, to halt output, but the country’s energy minister said electricity supply could resume later in the day.

A fault at a hydro power station triggered the first national blackout to engulf the southern African nation since June 2009, which cost copper producers millions of dollars in lost revenue and dented their copper output. [ID:nLG31563]

Power blackouts are frequent in Zambia, and have been a big concern for the chamber of mines and for foreign mining companies who own most of the key mines in the country’s copperbelt province.

“Power has been restored in Lusaka and we are now moving on to restore power on the Copperbelt,” Energy Minister Kenneth Konga told Reuters.

It was not immediately clear how much production was affected. Maxwell Mwale, Zambia’s mines minister, said he would give a detailed comment on the power blackout’s impact later.

“Production at the mines is affected …I am yet to receive a full report from the minister of energy,” Mwale told Reuters.

An official at Zambia’s biggest copper producer, Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) — majority owned by London-listed Vedanta Resources Plc (VED.L: Quote) — said its operations had been affected, but the group would issue a detailed statement later in the day.

Sydney Chileya, a spokesman for the Luanshya Copper Mines, owned by China Non-Ferrous Metals Corp. (CNMC), said only limited power supply was available.

Frequent power stoppages are likely to affect Zambia’s plans to increase its copper production to 1 million tonnes next year, from just below 700,000 tonnes in 2009, analysts said.

The country has been trying to entice new investors to the sector as demand for the metal increases.

“It also sends wrong signals to investors on availability of energy despite assurances by the government,” Chibamba Kanyama, a member of country’s main economic think-tank, the Economics Association of Zambia, said.

Foreign mining companies operating in Zambia include Canada’s First Quantum Minerals (FM.TO: Quote), London-listed Vedanta Resources Plc (VED.L: Quote), Equinox Minerals EQN.TO)(EQN.AX: Quote), Glencore International AG [GLEN.UL] of Switzerland and Metorex (MTXJ.J: Quote) of South Africa.

PRICES

Copper prices appeared unaffected by news of the blackout, remaining at a one-week low on Friday as investors overlooked increased risk appetite in the wider markets and remained concerned about demand prospects after weak data from the U.S., the world’s largest economy. [ID:nLDE6370XM]

Lucy Zimba, a spokeswoman for electricity utility Zesco, said the cause was due to a fault on a circuit breaker at the country’s Kariba North Bank hydro station, which set off a chain reaction that led to the countrywide blackout.

Zimba said power supply had been restored to parts of the capital Lusaka, and supply to copper mines would follow.

“The blackout was caused by a fault on a circuit breaker at Kariba North Bank (hydro power plant). We are working on the problem to restore power in Lusaka, after which we will try to switch on the Copperbelt lines,” Zimba told Reuters.

The Copperbelt Energy Corp. (CEC), which buys the electricity from Zesco to supply Zambia’s copper mines, said it would try to provide power to the mines for emergency operations through imports from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Zesco has said it needs higher tariffs and additional funds to invest in new generating and transmission infrastructure, and the country has said it plans to invest about $6 billion in the next five years to meet its projected energy needs. (Writing by James Macharia; editing by Sue Thomas)
[Reuters]

The Week in Pictures (part 1)

22

1.

A Child carrying a heavy load in Ndola where child labour is on the rise

2.

Child labour is rife on the Copperbelt. Here, some children ferrying heavy loads in Ndola

3.

A Children's representative reads out a vote of thanks during commemoration of the African Child in Ndola.

4.

Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima attends to a children's representative during commemoration of the Day of the African Child on the Copperbelt

5.

Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima reads a speech during commemoration of the African Child in Ndola

6.

Zambian Foreign Affairs deputy Minister Fashion Phiri and his counterpart from Egypt Mona Omar during the two countries' Joint Permanent Commission in Lusaka

7.

Commerce Minister Felix Mutati talks to journalists on the sale of Zamtel during a press briefing in Lusaka

8.

A busy bus station in Kitwe

9.

How Lusaka residents identify a person who is broke at the weekend.

10.

MMD cadres chanting party slogans before listening to a speech from William Banda along Cha Cha Cha in Lusaka

11.

Lusaka province youth chairman Chris Chalwe entertaining MMD cadres before provincial chairman William Banda launched a new strategic plan

12.

MMD cadres chanting party slogans before listening to a speech from William Banda along Cha Cha Cha road in Lusaka.

‘State had no evidence to prove against Regina’

Regina Chiluba

The State yesterday admitted that it had no evidence to prove that the television set found in the custody of second Republican president Chiluba’s wife, Regina was bought by the Government.

State advocate Dennis Simwinga told judge Evans Hamaundu sitting with judges Eddie Sikazwe and Catherine Makungu the only evidence the State had was that the property in question was addressed to State House.

This is in a case in which Regina has appealed against conviction and sentence slapped on her by a magistrate’s court on five counts of failing to explain possession of property suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.

On the television set that was suspected to have been stolen, Mr Simwinga said it was proved that it belonged to the State because it was addressed to Dr Chiluba on a State House address as head of State.

When asked by Judge Makungu if there was any other proof to show it was State property, he said there was no such evidence except that it was consigned to State House.

When the matter came up yesterday, Mr Simwinga told the court that Regina had given several statements on how she acquired the properties in question.

But the court objected when Mr Simwinga said that Regina had told investigators that she used the money given to her as gifts by Dr Chiluba when buying the properties in question.

At this point Judge Hamaundu questioned Mr Simwinga whether what he was saying was part of the case record in the magistrate’s court to which he denied and only said it was Regina who told the investigators.

“That is hear-say unless that was part of the case record. You can only proceed in that manner if what you are saying was admitted in the trial,” he said.

Mr Simwinga dropped his line of submission and went on to say Regina’s explanation on her possession of the properties did not satisfy the investigators.

But Judge Hamaundu questioned how Regina could be asked to account for the properties to investigating officers instead of the court.

The judge wondered how the prosecution could take Regina to court on the charge of failing to account for property but Mr Simwinga explained that the drafting of the charges was based on a Supreme Court ruling, which said a charge should be properly formatted.

Mr Simwinga, however, said the trial court was on firm ground to hold that Regina’s explanation was not satisfactory because she had given three different versions on how she came in possession of the properties.

He said while Regina had said she got a US$60,000 loan, Nchelenge MP Ben Mwila said that he lent her US$100,000.

He also denied there was duplicity of charges that were slapped on Regina and that after amendments were made, the defence did not object.

Deputy State Chief Advocate Rose Nkhuzwayo said there was no way Regina could have raised more than K1 billion from her businesses to enable her buy the properties.

Ms Nkhuzwayo said there was no evidence to prove Regina was a top businessperson on the Copperbelt and that the trial court was in order to convict her.

She said the State would leave the issue of sentencing to the court.

Judgment has been set for August 30 this year.
[ Times of Zambia ]

Chifubu, Luena by-elections date set

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set August 5 as the date for parliamentary by-elections for Luena and Chifubu constituencies and local government elections in six wards in various districts, ECZ public relations manager Cris Akufuna has said.

The by-elections in Luena Constituency in Western Province and Chifubu Constituency on the Copperbelt Province respectively follows the resignation of area member of Parliament Charles Milupi while the Chifubu polls are as a result of the death of Patriotic front (PF) ember of Parlaiment Benson Bwalya.

In a statement in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Akufuna said the elections in six wards were as a result of resignations, convictions or deaths of incumbent councillors.

He named the six wards as Myulu in Mansa, Ilambo in Luwingu, Mailo in Serenje, Chimwemwe in Kitwe, Mpima in Kabwe and Kariba in Siavonga.
[ Times of Zambia ]

PF MP arrested for money laundering

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested opposition Patriotic Front Ndola Central Member of Parliament Mark Mushili for alleged money laundering involving over six billion Kwacha.

DEC Spokesperson John Nyawali, who confirmed the arrest of Mr. Mushili, said the parliamentarian aged 61, a resident of Doctor Damme Street, kansenshi in Ndola, was arrested for siphoning fuel worth two billion Kwacha from TAZAMA Pipeline Limited by false pretences using Anegi Oils Limited.

Mr. Nyawali said the parliamentarian has been arrested for fraudulent activities in Anegi Oils involving four billion kwacha and theft of twenty million kwacha from Anegi Oils Limited.

The opposition Member of Parliament has received his arrest as political persecution.

Speaking to his PF sympathizers a minute after he was ordered to remove shoes and switch off his mobile phone at Ndola Central Police, Mr. Mushili cautioned all opposition politicians to be wary of political persecution.
[ MUv TV ]

Police finally arrest Dr. Musonda

Suspended deputy Health Minister Dr Solomon Musonda at Woodlands police station after he was arrested.
Police last night officially arrested and charged former Health Deputy Minister Solomon Musonda with causing grievous harm with intent to maim,disfigure or disable contrary to section 224(a) of the Penal Code.

Dr Musonda who reported at Woodlands Police Station in the company of his lawyer yesterday around 18:15 hours for questioning in connection with the shooting incident of a Patriotic Front (PF) youth, Jackson Musaka, in Serenje two weeks ago was only officially charged around 20:40 hours.

His arrest and subsequent charging by the police followed the decision by president Rupiah Banda yesterday to relieve him of his duties with immediate effect.

Dr Musonda who was released on police bond is expected to appear before a Magistrate court today for possible plea.

And Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso confirmed to journalists last evening the arrest and charging of Dr Musonda.

In relieving him of his duties, president Banda said he had received a report indicating that the Director of Public Prosecutions had recommended for the prosecution of the Dr Musonda following a shooting incident in his Chitambo Constituency.
[ QFM ]

Hastings Bwalya Fights Matt Ellis on Saturday

3

Hastings Bwalya returns to the ring on Saturday, June 19 when he takes on American Matt Ellis in a non-title welterweight fight at the Niagara Falls Conference Centre in Niagara Falls.

The fight will be one of six undercard fights to heavyweight Hasim Rahman’s non-title 10-round clash against fellow American Shannon Miller.

This will be 24-year-old Bwalya’s fourth professional fight and second of the year after his unanimous points decision over American Ashantie Hendrickson in their six-round fight on May 21 in New York City.

Bwalya, against Ellis, will be looking to do much better than his last fight after being taken to the distance by Hendricks in New York last month with that win on the east coast coming after two knockout decisions in th Zambian boxers favor last year.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Ellis faces Bwalya in his third professional fight that come on the back of one win in October 2009 after earlier losing his debut fight in May last year against the unbeaten Andre Gorges.

RB fires Dr. Solomon Musonda

102

President Rupiah Banda has with immediate effect relieved Health Deputy Minister Solomon Musonda of his duties. This decision comes after the President received a report from the Director of Public Prosecution recommending for the prosecution of Dr. Musonda following a shooting incident in his constituency.

President Banda noted that he wanted the Minister to concentrate on his case and the judicial process to take its course in the matter.
This is according to a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Special Assistant to the President Dickson Jere.

Meanwhile, President Banda has appointed Mpongwe Constituency Member of Parliament Gabriel Namulambe as new Mines and Minerals Development Deputy Minister with immediate effect.

Mr Namulambe once served as Science and Technology Minister in President Banda’s government before his appointment was revoked.

ZANIS

Don’t be trivial,Kavindele tells Siliya

45
Former vice president Enoch Kavindele talking to journalists in Lusaka

Former Vice President Enoch Kavindele has advised Education Minister Dora Siliya to stop trivializing issues over his condemnation of the sale of ZAMTEL.

And Mr. Kavindele says his criticism of the government is not as a result of government’s decision to deny him a license to operate a mobile phone network, Vodacom.

Speaking in a telephone interview with QFM, Mr. Kavindele says it is wrong for Ms Siliya to base the issue of the sale of ZAMTEL on personalities. He said his condemnation of the sale of the Parastatal Company does not mean that he is obsessed with her.

He said the matter has nothing to do with her looks whether she is a good looking woman or not.
Mr Kavindele says he is not the only person who has condemned the sale of ZAMTEL and therefore Ms Siliya should not think that the issue is based on personalities.

And asked on whether his reaction to the sale is emanating from government’s refusal give him a mobile phone operating license, Mr. Kavindele stated that his criticism has nothing to do with that.
He also dismissed Ms Siliya’s assertions that if he was granted the license to operate Vodacom, it would have hindered the operations of ZAMTEL.

Mr Kavindele explained that Vodacom was meant to operate on its own without creating a hindrance on other telecommunication companies.

He has also dismissed the excuse by government that it does not have money to recapitalize ZAMTEL, leading to its decision to sell it. He said government has adequate resources to recapitalize ZAMTEL.
[Q FM]

Police have become MMD militia-Fr Miha

Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde addresses journalists at Police service headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia, 23-12-09
Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde

Mission Press Director Father Drevensek Miha has described as criminal Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde’s request for numbers of reporters from Zain.

Father Miha said such acts are proving that the police service which is supposed to be protecting people has been turned into a militia.

He said the police has become an MMD militia wing instead of serving the interests of the Zambians.

Father Miha observed that the police service has ceased to be a serious and professional service under the leadership of Mr Kabonde.

He added that the directive by Mr Kabonde requesting for numbers of journalists from Zain should be treated as a criminal case because it demands striping the subscribers of Zain their privacy.

He expressed sadness that the relevant authorities have remained quiet over the matter.
Father Miha said this in a telephone interview with Qfm.

Father Miha also said Government has no choice but to release the Valuation report of ZAMTEL by RP Capital.

He said ZAMTEL is a public entity that requires people to know the transactions involved.

He said Zambians have a right to be suspicious of the 75 percent sale of ZAMTEL shares as long as Government continues to refuse to make the Valuation report public.
[ QFM ]

Political parties agree on non-violent Luena, Chifubu campaigns

https://i0.wp.com/www.lusakatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/ecz.jpeg?resize=314%2C231

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) yesterday held a meeting with 20 political parties where it was resolved that the political parties should urge their members to avoid all forms of violence during campaigns and abide by the electoral code of conduct.

According to a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday, the ECZ and the political parties agreed during a meeting held at Chrismar Hotel in Lusaka that the political parties would not engage in violent activities in the fourthcoming Luena and Chifubu parliamentary by-elections.

They condemned the violence that characterised the recent by- election in Mufumbwe.

The meeting was called realising that violence was detrimental to the development of Zambia and that it disenfranchised the electorate. Among some political parties that attended the meeting were the MMD, Patriotic Front, UPND, FDD, UNIP, NAREP, Heritage Party, ZADECO, United Liberal Party, APC and New Generation Party.
[ Times of Zambia ]

Arrest land ‘thieves’

President Rupiah Banda

President Rupiah Banda has directed police to arrest and prosecute people involved in illegal grabbing and allocation of land regardless of their political affiliation.

President Banda said the police should immediately devise an effective and efficient law enforcement mechanism to arrest and prosecute all those that have acquired land illegally from lawful owners, especially in Lusaka.

Special assistant to the president for Press and public relations Dickson Jere said yesterday in a statement the police should further investigate the people and their ring-leaders involved in land grabbing and bring them to book without fail.

He said the president had received numerous representations from a number of people concerning the conduct of criminals purporting to be political party cadres grabbing land from lawful owners.

The president directed that all those occupying land illegally should be removed forthwith and land should be given back to the rightful owners who had title deeds.

“Police officers should protect all legitimate owners of land from harassment and victimisation from the illegal land grabbers regardless of their political affiliation. The police should ensure those threatening violence are brought to book without fail,” he said.

The president has also directed the minister of Lands, minister of Local Government and Housing and minister of Home Affairs to immediately form a committee to follow up on all complaints concerning land, which has been illegally acquired and allocated.

The president said all unplanned settlements should be stopped.

“The Ministry of Lands through the office of the commissioner of lands should conduct the audit of undeveloped land, especially in Lusaka and appropriate action taken in accordance with the law,” he said.

The president has directed local and other planning authorities to take charge by stopping any illegal construction of buildings.

“All buildings under construction should have legitimate planning permission as prescribed by law. Public officers involved in the illegal acquisition of land should also be dealt with and appropriate action taken against them,” he said.

The president has also directed all public officers entrusted with the responsibility of administering land to be above board and avoid involving themselves in illegal transactions.

“It is the wish of the president to see to it that there is order and tranquility in land acquisition in Zambia. There are laws in Zambia which govern land acquisition, which must be respected at all times,” he said.

[ Times of Zambia ]

‘Regina jailing wrong’

Mrs Regina Chiluba

A Lawyer representing former president Fredrick Chiluba’s wife Regina has told the Lusaka High Court that the magistrate’s court erred in passing a custodial sentence on his client because the charges she faced were misdemeanours.

This is in a matter in which Regina has appealed against her three- and -half-year imprisonment by Lusaka chief resident magistrate Charles Kafunda who convicted her on five counts of being in possession of property suspected to have been stolen.

Regina’s lawyer Robert Simeza said the court erred to passing a custodial sentence on charges that were misdemeanours and also another custodial sentence of three-and -half years on a felony relating to a television set that was valued at about US$3,700 and was non-functional at the time of the case.

Mr Simeza said although the television set charge fell under section 318 of the Penal Code and was a felony, Regina was a first offender that should not have been handed a custodial sentence.

He also said magistrate Kafunda also erred when he imposed a custodial sentence of two and half years in respect of counts under section 319 (a) relating to three properties.

Mr Simeza said that the question of Regina not being married to Dr Chiluba at the time she received a television set through State House was not sufficient ground to jail her to three and half years.

Regina, whose appeal is being heard by High Court judges, Evans Hamaundu, Eddie Sikazwe and Catherine Makungu, was convicted for failing to account for properties in her possession, which were allegedly stolen or unlawfully obtained.

Regina argued through her lawyer, Simeza, that magistrate Kafunda should not have dismissed her explanation over the Toshiba television set and convicting her for the felony just because she was not married to then president Chiluba at the time she got the television set through State House.

Simeza said he had no contention on the aspect of Regina having possessed the said television set, which she said was personally bought by her using money received as a gift from Chiluba while he was president.

Mr Simeza said magistrate Kafunda’s holding was that Regina was a private person who should not have been in possession of Government property.

He said that since the prosecution wanted to convict Regina at all cost they failed to call evidence from the person who sold her the television set in London.

He said this was highly improper because this information was within the prosecution’s province and that the person who sold Regina the television resided in both England and Zambia. Hearing continues today.
[Times of Zambia ]