British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has described the Zamtrop and BK conspiracy judgement by the London High Court as a historic victory for the people of Zambia.

Mr Blair said the judgement against former president, Frederick Chiluba, and others, was a great victory for Zambians and showed Government’s commitment to making those who stole from the State account for their actions.

Special assistant to the President for press and public relations, John Musukuma, announced Mr Blair’s congratulatory message to President Mwanawasa and Zambians in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday.

“This is an historic victory for the people of Zambia and it shows both their, and your commitment to bringing those who steal from the state to account, whatever their nationality no matter how powerful they are,” Mr Blair said.

He added: “I am glad that the money that was plundered can now be returned to the Zambian people.”

Mr Blair’s congratulatory message to President Mwanawasa and the people of Zambia came barely two weeks after six European governments and the United States of America welcomed the London High Court judgement against Dr Chiluba and others as a historic victory for Zambians.

The Western countries said it was courageous for the Zambian government to have pursued the case, especially that a former head of state had been held accountable for corrupt practices.

This is in a civil case in which Judge Peter Smith found Dr Chiluba and others liable for fraud and abuse of office in which US$46 million was stolen from State coffers.

Judge Smith ordered the defendants to pay back the Zambian government 85 per cent of the stolen money within 14 days.

Two of the six Zambian defendants, Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu, have since appealed against the judgment while Dr Chiluba refuses to recognise the judgement, calling it a political conspiracy against him.

The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has declared that second Republican President, Frederick Chiluba, has been judged enough and cautioned politicians and members of the civil society to desist from commenting further on Dr. Chiluba’s health at the expense of development.

ZCTU Vice President Sam Phiri warned that the issue of the fomer president should be
left to the court and the medical doctors handling the matter.

Mr. Phiri, who is Acting ZCTU President, said there should be a ‘cease fire’ on the health of Dr. Chiuluba, advising technocrats, politicians and patriotic Zambians to channel their energies on developing the nation.

Mr. Phiri was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

He also accused the media of exarbating to the problem and appealed to the media
houses to highlight real issues of development to allow Dr. Chiluba have enough
rest.

”There should be some cease fire on the health of Dr. Chiluba. Let the nation put their energies on developmental issues than dwell so much on one thing. Dr. Chiluba has been judged enough and let the Court and Doctors charged with the responsibility of handle the matter adequately. He should have peaceful rest ahead of his corruption case,” Mr. Phiri said.

Dr. Chiluba and 19 others were found liable by the London High Court and were
ordered to pay back 85 per cent to the Zambian government of what he stole.

ZANIS

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested suspended Commissioner of Lands, Frighton Sichone.

According to a Press Statement released to Zambia News and Information Services –
ZANIS – by the ACC Public Relations Manager, Timothy Moono, the Joint Investigations
Team on the Ministry of Lands Inquiry has arrested Mr Sichone for Abuse of Authority
of Office.

Mr Sichone was arrested today, May 31, 2007 and charged with four counts of Abuse of
Authority of Office, contrary to section 37 (2) of the Anti-Corruption Commission
Act Number 42 of 1996.

Details of the first count are that on April 6 this year at Lusaka, Sichone did abuse the authority of his office by allocating property number LUS/35210, Mass Media on title number 49502 to Mizumbi farms limited, a company in which he is a co-director and majority shareholder without following procedure, thereby obtaining advantage.

On the second count, Sichone did abuse the authority of his office on April 21, 2006
at Lusaka by allocating property number LUS/35211, Mass Media on title number 50036 to Mizumbi Farms limited, a company in which he is co-director and majority
shareholder without following procedure, thereby obtaing advantage.

Particulars of the third count are that on January 20, 2006 at Lusaka, Sichone did
abuse authority of his office by allocating himself property number LUS/35178 Mass
Media on title number 57822 without following procedure.

Sichone has been released on police bond and will appear in court on June 1, this year.

Meanwhile, investigations into other cases involving Sichne and other officials at the Ministry of Lands have reached an advanced stage and some more arrests may be
effected soon.

The commission has so far restricted one hundred and fourteen (114) properties and
the process of ascertaining their value and how they were acquired is still continuing.

The Commission has also urged members of the public with information on the
malpractices at the Ministry of Lands to report to the ACC to help the team conclude
the investigations promptly.

ZANIS

Magistrate Jones Chinyama has today, Thursday, ordered former President Frederick Chiluba to stand trial on corruption charges, rejecting his lawyers’ arguments that he was too ill to be prosecuted.

“I am of the view that we should proceed with this matter to help all the other parties involved and also considering the period of time it has taken since the matter was last heard,” Magistrate Chinyama said in a ruling issued in Lusaka.

Chiluba , 64, who suffers from a heart condition, is accused of stealing state funds while in office. His trial has been stalled since May 2006 due to concerns about his health.

Magistrate Chinyama said Chiluba’s trial should go ahead after receiving a recommendation from doctors who evaluated him after he was admitted to a Lusaka hospital last week. Chiluba, who had collapsed at home, was discharged on Tuesday.

Doctors have advised Chiluba to return to hospital for treatment as well as travel to South Africa for a medical review within the next month.

Chiluba has been receiving treatment at a Johannesburg clinic since last year.

The charges against him stem from an anti-corruption campaign launched by his successor, President Levy Mwanawasa. Chiluba has described case against him as a political witchhunt.

Chief government spokesperson Mike Mulongoti has challenged Zambians to enlighten themselves with the contents in the constitution than the mode of adoption.

Mr. Mulongoti says the contents in the constitution are paramount to the people to
debate on if they are to know the defects that the current constitution has.

He explained that it is the collective wisdom of Zambians that will make aconstitution that will   stand the test of time.

Mr. Mulongoti, who is also Information Minister, was speaking in Mufulira at the council chamber when he addressed stakeholders on the proposed government constitution roadmap.

He called upon the civil society to actively participate in constitutional matters  so that they explain to the people about what is expected of them.

Mr Mulongoti said government has proposed the roadmap that has been translated from
recommendations of the Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission which will not cause wrath on the people.

The minister noted that people advocating for the adoption of the constitution through a constitute assembly have not considered some defective clauses in the current constitution that need to be addressed before the process of enacting the
new one is done.

He said clauses, such as Articles 62 in the current constitution, which gives power
to the Parliament to legislate over constitution matters will be transferred to the
constitute assembly (CA).

He said the government is not comfortable with the CA because there is no guarantee
that the assembly will be a representation of the people.

The Chief Government Spokesperson said government has asked the people to be
realistic in their demands for the CA and not being emotional.

He charged that the people must support the roadmap suggested by government of 87
weeks because of the hurdles that have to be looked at and it is not its wish to
rush through the process.

Mr. Mulongoti advised the people not to worry about the period to enact the new
constitution because it is meant to benefit the young who are future leaders and not
president Mwanawasa.

He said the comment that the President made not to vote for the CA was not to rise
emotions of some people but that he is concerned with the process that the civil
society is proposing.

And Mr. Mulongoti has said government will not allow the view of people who do not
accommodate the other people’s views.

He said the debate is of national interest and people must be allowed to exercise
their rights to participate in the discussions.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Mike Mulongoti says he shall not apologize to the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) over remarks attributed to him in a tabloid news paper where he is quoted as describing lawyers participating in the constitutional process as ”quacks”.

Mr. Mulongoti said this in Mufulira today during a meting held with stakeholders over the constitutional making process.

The information minister said he was neither afraid of facing LAZ in any law suit because he was merely expressing his opinion, adding that LAZ should accept that it had problems within its circles.

He added that LAZ should arrive at  maintaining its integrity and professionalism which was questioned by some of its members before the annual general meeting where Elijah Banda was elected as president.

Mr. Mulongoti added that the integrity of LAZ would always be in contention unless
some of its members changed their attitudes and approach over constitutional matters.

The Chief Government spokesperson said he was not the first one to issue such
disparaging remarks against LAZ but that he was merely adding to what members within the association had actually put on record.

The Information Minister added that LAZ should not think that it was the only competent body that had the monopoly over the constitutional making process and
should thus desist from speaking on behalf of the silent majority.

In today’s Post News Paper edition, LAZ President Mr. Banda said the legal fraternity had been taken aback by the remarks attributed to the Information Minister and have demanded for an apology from him.

ZANIS