Home affairs minister Lameck Mangani has dismissed media reports suggesting that government has agreed to pay 9 million rands, equivalent to about K5.4 billion, to a South African traffic equipment and car dealer despite the ongoing investigations into the Zambia Police Service’s irregular purchase of VIP escort vehicles and bulletproof BMW X5 presidential vehicles from the same firm.

Yesterday it was reported in one of the daily tabloids that Mr Mangani, his permanent secretary Ndiyoyi Mutiti, and an officer from the Office of the President special branch, identified as Muzongwe, had traveled to South Africa to agree with Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement (Pty) Limited that the Zambian government pay the firm 9 million rands to end the standoff over the purchase and withholding of vehicles purchased by the Zambia Police Service.

But in an interview with QFM, Mr Mangani said while it is true that he traveled to South Africa, his mission was to see ailing commissioner of Prisons Gibby Nawa who is admitted to hospital.

He dismissed as fabricated reports that he went to pay K5.4 billion to the South African company.

Mr Mangani further explains that there is no way he would pay the money because he is not the controlling officer in his ministry.

QFM

Dear bloggers,

I have been married for over 7 years and we have two children but my husband is in the habit of beating me for no reason at all. I want to end this madness but I don’t know how.

We are both graduates and honestly I did not expect such from him. As a result I have been carrying this anger in me for a long time at times at night I feel like getting anything to hit him hard.
Please advise,I would like to know how others have handled such brutality from their spouses.

yours

Leigh (not real name)

The opposition United Party for National Development new member Professor Clive Chirwa has demanded for a public apology from Chibombo MMD Chairperson Lloyd Kayeka for calling him a liar and a thief who entered the party through a window. He said this in a statement to Lusakatimes yesterday.

Prof. Chirwa urged Kayeka to publicly apologise and if he fails to do it within 14 days he would consult his lawyers in London to institute preparations for legal proceedings against Mr. Kayeka.

“I request Kayeka to apologise for calling me a liar and a thief who entered MMD through a window. If he does not publicly do that within 14 days, I will instruct my lawyers in London to begin preparation for court proceedings,” Prof. Chirwa said.

Prof Chirwa clarified that he has never belonged to an MMD branch in Katuba Constituency. He said that was a member of Mwamba Luchembe branch in Mandevu constituency, where Lusaka District Chairperson signed his membership card in the presence of the district committee, as requested by the late President Levy Mwanawasa.

On February 9, at a at rally in Chisamba, Mr. Kayeka challenged Professor Clive Chirwa  to state the branch in Katuba constituency from which he joined the party.

Speaking before Vice President George Kunda addressed the rally at Chisamba grounds, Mr. Kayeka charged that Prof. Chirwa was a liar who could not prove his claims because no party register in Katuba constituency carried his name.

‘Your honour that man (Prof. Chirwa) is a liar. We do not know him at all. These are the people who enter through a window and we did not see him,’ he charged.

And on hearing about his resignation, MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya, said Clive Chirwa was not a member of the ruling party and therefore claims that he had resigned from the party are baseless.

“I am shocked to hear Prof Chirwa’s tantrums because the man is not our member. He has never been a member of the MMD and so he does not have the right to talk about the party matters but I will assume he was expressing his opinion,” Ms Siliya said at the time.

Prof. Chirwa has been at the center of controversy in MMD following his intention to aspire for the Party’s presidency until he decided to ditch it this year to Join UPND.

In July last year Prof. Chirwa refuted the same assertions that he was not a genuine member of the ruling MMD adding that the people who were claiming that he was not a legitimate member of the MMD were bent on spoiling his political aspirations.

In January this year Prof. resigned from MMD to join UPND and cited many reasons for his leaving the party such as corruption, failure to improve manufacturing industry, agriculture, kneeling to donors for help, failing to improve the education system in the country, and for failing to reduce poverty.

He said he was a happy member of UPND a party that respects its members and said he would help the PACT to win 2011 elections.

Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has refuted claims by Copperbelt Patriotic Front (PF) Provincial Chairman Mwenya Musenga that President Rupiah Banda blocked Copperbelt Councils from accessing their share of the Mineral Royalty Tax for councils to use in running their projects.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha stated that government has no intentions of blocking any council from accessing their share of the mineral royalty tax.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the President Banda does not handle such issues but that this is the responsibility of the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development.

He described the allegations as false and unfounded saying Mr. Musenge is playing and exhibiting cheap politics retrogressive to the development of the country.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha urged Mr. Musenge and the opposition to respect the Head of State and focus on offering working solutions on developmental issues instead of engaging in mudslinging and insulting the President.

He challenged the Copperbelt PF Chairman to understand that mineral royalty tax is Law adding that the Mines Minister’s Office is there to identify and decide how the mineral royalty tax should be shared.

PF Copperbelt Provincial Chairman Mwenya Musenga is quoted in the media as having accused President Rupiah Banda of neglecting to develop the Copperbelt province by blocking the councils from getting a share of the mineral royalty tax.

ZANIS

By Elias Munshya wa Munshya

This article explores factors that have contributed to the rehabilitation of former president Chiluba’s image. First, by rewriting the script of Chiluba’s prosecution, after his acquittal, the Rupiah government has helped repair Chiluba’s image. Rupiah’s government has managed to claim that Chiluba was a victim of excessive prosecution. Barely months after the passing of Mwanawasa, had Tetamashimba proclaimed Chiluba’s innocence. The government media have also chronicled Chiluba’s prosecution as a persecution. Speaking in Luapula very recently Rupiah refused to be drawn into politics of hating Chiluba.[quote]

Secondly, there is one daily Zambian tabloid, whose incessant attacks on Chiluba have actually helped prop him up as well. Instead of finishing him, these attacks have actually helped Chiluba garner some sympathy that has led some to conclude that the tabloid’s attacks are inspired by personal hatred more than anything else. For example their continued insults of Chiluba, calling him thief, a lazo, and so on and so forth, while effectively demonstrating their hatred of him, have the potential to achieve exactly the opposite—compassion for a man who is perceived to be a victim. Persistent personal insults of a person we deem to be a criminal actually becomes very superfluous in the end and makes people question the very motive behind those insults.

Thirdly, PF and Sata helped begin the process of restoring Chiluba’s image. Just during the 2006 elections, Sata exuded in Chiluba, using him extensively to campaign for PF in Lusaka, Copperbelt and Luapula. To date, Sata admits that most PF MPs in Luapula were Chiluba’s. Sata contributed to raising Chiluba’s image in spite of Mwanawasa’s sentiments that Chiluba was a thief. The PF leaders and cadres would welcome Chiluba at the airport and would also accompany him to court. It is therefore, surprising that the PF is a bitter enemy of FJT because he has now switched his support back to the MMD. If FJT still has some legitimacy and clout, the PF should blame themselves as important architects of FJT’s restored image, which may have all started in 2006.

Fourthly, as an ardent Christian, Chiluba has mentioned that he has had to rely on his faith to counter most of the accusations and embarrassment he has faced. In spite of the fact that some clergy such as Father Bwalya have lambasted Chiluba and called him names, EFZ Executive Director Paul Mususu came to Chiluba’s defense immediately after his acquittal. Several church groups such as the BIGOCA have come to Chiluba’s support as well. Before his acquittal, a group of Pentecostal leaders gathered at Mulungushi to pray for him and honor him. They, quite amusingly, dressed him in Jewish religious garb during the event.

Fifthly, Chiluba’s personal assistant, Emmanuel Mwamba has worked hard for the boss’s image too. Mwamba radiates youthful confidence and innocence that are critical to hoisting Chiluba. An articulate speaker, Mwamba has courageously defended Chiluba irking many and pleasing some. His vigor and his lack of a political past, brought freshness to the image of a former president. At one time, during Mwanawasa’s era, he manhandled two intelligence officers who were indiscreetly trailing him and took them to Woodlands Police Station, embarrassing them.

It still remains to be seen however, the actual political impact that Chiluba’s rehabilitated image will translate into, going forward. It should be noted however, that he remains a great force to reckon with politically and it will matter who he supports for presidency. In the meantime, organizations and individuals are condescending around him for endorsements and patronage. As Mwanawasa had mentioned Zambians are quite forgetful. In our collective memory we tend to forgive and forget all the wrongs past, and instead rehabilitate the images of our fallen leaders. Kaunda was later restored, Chiluba is being restored and not many days hence, Mwanawasa will also be eulogized. Chiluba is still regarded as criminal to some, but dearly loved by many others—so much for a man just trying to restore his battered image.