Sports Deputy Minister Stephen Masumba will today be sentenced after being found guilty of forging an accounts diploma.

Masumba, 31, who was on Monday found guilty by the Lusaka Magistrates Court, has been remanded at Kamwala Remand Prison.

The Mufumbwe law maker used the forged diploma from the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) to get a job as an accounts clerk at the Lusaka Business and Technical College.

Lusaka Magistrate Wilfred Muma found Masumba guilty and set Wednesday as the day of sentencing.

The post Masumba’s Judgment Day appeared first on Zambia Reports.

First Alliance Bank employees have gone for one year without being paid their salaries.

The Zambia Union of Financial and Allied Workers Union says it has tried to engage management over the matter but has been unsuccessful.

The Zambia Union of Financial and Allied Workers has revealed that workers at First Alliance Bank have not received their salaries for over a year now.

ZUFIAW General Secretary Chingati Msiska said the financial institution had shown little commitment to solve the workers’ situation.

Msiska said ZUFIAW was working on declaring a dispute with management.

“What is happening at First Alliance is unacceptable. We want the Ministry of Labour to step in and put this to a stop. As a Union, we have been patient with management but our patience is now running thin,” he said.

Labour minister Fackson Shamenda has been vocal on violators of labour laws but has surprisingly not said a word on this one.

The post First Alliance Employees Unpaid for One Year appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The new Oxygen plant at the University Teaching Hospital is expected to be fully functional by December, 10.

UTH Public Relations Manager Mwenya Mulenga said the plant had been assembled and will be put on a truck by November 27 and could be in the country by December, 1.

“The new oxygen plant has been assembled but will have to be dis-assembled to put it on a truck to be brought here by November, 27 then we will expect it by December, 1,” he said.

“Overall we expect it to be up and running by December, 10.”

The post UTH Oxygen Machine to be Fully Functional Dec 10 appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Sports deputy minister Steven Masumba has been sentenced to one year imprisonment with hard labour for a criminal activity in which he used a NIPA diploma he did not earn to get a job.

Masumba was convicted on Monday and sentenced this morning by the Lusaka Magistrate Court. He, however, can appeal the conviction and sentence to the High Court and eventually the Supreme Court.

If Masumba does not appeal, he stands to constitutionally lose his parliamentary seat and consequently the ministerial position.

The 31-year-old lawmaker was charged for obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretences.

Masumba of NAPSA Housing Units, Ibex Hill, was charged with one count of obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretenses contrary to Section 309 A (2) c of the Penal Code as read together with Section 41 of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Act number 42 of 1996.

Masumba on dates unknown, but between December 2005 and August 2008 in Lusaka did dishonestly obtain employment for himself as an Accounting Clerk at the Lusaka Business Technical College (LBTC) by falsely pretending that he held qualifications of Accounting.

The Mufumbwe lawmaker in North Western Province had failed one subject but erroneously graduated and was awarded a diploma he did not deserve. The judgement was passed in court this morning.

The post Masumba Slapped One Year Sentence appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Patriotic Front government is petrified by the 50+1 majority vote provision in the final draft constitution and has hatched schemes to extend the constitution making process for yet another year so that the 2016 elections would be held under the current constitution which allows for a simple majority, the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has revealed.

The deliberate stand-off between the government and the Technical Committee Drafting the Constitution is meant to cause confusion to create frustration among the citizens so that they could abandon their quest of having a new constitution before the next general elections.

FODEP executive director MacDonald Chipenzi has disclosed that there were schemes by the government to elongate the constitution making process to 2015 so that the country could go for the next general elections under the old constitution to avoid the contentious 50+1 percent vote for the presidential candidate and the presidential running mate.

Chipenzi has called on all stakeholders and patriotic Zambians to be watchful of the government’s manuevours and thwart any attempts of extending the constitution making process meant for political survival.

The FODEP chief has said there were indications that the government was not willing to see the constitution making process finished and that was why the Ministry of Justice had decided to create constitutional consternation by ordering the Technical Committee to print only ten copies of the draft to be delivered to President Michael Sata.

He said the controversy surrounding the printing and eventual presentation of the final draft constitution to President Sata and the public simultaneously was unnecessary and that Zambians should not tolerate any further delay of the process.

Chipenzi said Zambians had for a long time taken for a ride in the constitution making process adding successive governments had failed to deliver a durable constitution because they had politicized the process that should have been smooth and without controversy.

He said the current stand-off between the government and the Technical Committee meant that for as long as the committee maintained its stance of not signing the draft report, the process would continue dragging beyond the year 2014.

“We have information that government is scheming to elongate the constitution making process by another full year. We are calling on all stakeholders to be alert because there are signs that the constitution making process could be delayed. It is very clear that government has created a deliberate stand-off between the Technical Committee and itself so that there should be some confusion and delays the process. This government is not ready to deliver a people’s driven and popular constitution and their plans must be pre-empted and thwarted,” Chipenzi said.

He said it was disturbing that government had failed to keep its promise of delivering a durable and universally accepted constitution in 90 days and that it was worrying that the PF leadership was now looking for excuses to buy time and delay process.

Source: Daily Nation

The post PF Scared of 50+1 in Draft Constitution appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Lusaka magistrate court has sentenced Sports deputy minister Stephen Masumba to 1 year inprisonment with hard labour.

Masumba, who is also Mufumbwe MP, has however been granted K10, 000 bail in his own recognition with two working sureties.

In mitigation after sentencing, Masumba’s lawyers asked the court to suspend the sentence because their client had conducted himself delegently and honestly during trail.

The lawyers also said Masumba was a bread winner in the family who was also maried with children.

Principal magistrate Alfred Muma said he was aware that Masumba was a first offender who deserved liniency but that punishing him will warn would be offnders.

Magistrate Muma said Masumba needed to be handed a deserving sentence because there were many students who passed through his unqualified hands.

“As i sit here, am duty bound to protect the youths’ intellectual rights. Therefor i sentence the accused to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour effect from November 13th 2013,” he said.

Masumba’s lawyers then asked for bail which has since been granted.

By press time, Masumba was still detained awaiting moderlities into his Bail.

The post Masumba Sentenced to One Year Imprisonment appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Amidst the heat of the campaign in Mansa Central Constituency President Michael Sata has taken a dig at his Members of Parliament for lack of development in the election experiencing area.

President Sata said he would be forced to take development to the area if the MPs fail to take tangible development to Luapula Province.

The President who held a rally at Mass grounds was drumming up support for PF candidate Chitalu Chilufya who will be standing on the ruling party ticket.

The Mansa seat fell vacant after the death of area MP Kennedy Sakeni.

Meanwhile opposition MMD candidate Malama Kapolyo has expressed confidence in winning the seat.

Kapolyo said he had laid the ground and had connected with the grassroots.

The post Sata Takes A Dig At His MPs in Luapula appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has postponed the Zambezi West and Vubwi Constituency by-elections following the prolonged court challenge.

The nominations for the two by-elections were initially lined up for December, 10 but with the court action pushed to December, 17 the by-elections will have to wait longer.

The elections of UPND’s Charles Kakoma and MMD’s Vubwi MP Eustackio Kazonga whose polls were successfully petitioned by Christabel Ngimbu and Vincent Mwale respectively had been set for January 22 but the Electoral Commission has announced the postponened until the judicial process is exhausted.

The post ECZ Postpones Zambezi West, Vumbwi By-Elections appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Ministry of Agriculture has announced that 11, 000 pigs have been affected by the African swine fever.

Deputy Minister in charge of Livestock Luxon Kazabu said 5, 000 pigs will need to be slaughtered with the government pledging compensation for the owners of the pigs.

Kazabu said 14 farms had been affected had been identified as the problematic areas.

He said that the process of compensation would be thoroughly screened. The government had intended to slaugther 25, 000 pigs but had reduced the number after further investigations.

The post 11, 000 Pigs Have African Swine Fever appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Residents Doctors Association has called for a third postmortem of slain PF cadre Moses Simwelu to conclusively deal with the cause of his death.

Association President Doctor Waison Munga said a third postmortem would help put the matter to rest.

An initial postmortem had claimed that Simwelu died from natural causes while respected pathologist Doctor Neil Nkhanza revealed that the deceased died from injuries.

Simwelu died in intra party cadres among PF cadres and his death has remained a very divisive subject with the family insisting that they will not drop the matter until justice is done.

“Where there are disparities between the first and second postmortem there is need to conduct a third postmortem that will act as a tie breaker. That is the only way this matter is going to be concluded,” Munga said.

The suggestion could mean the body may have to be exhumed again to conduct the postmortem.

The post Doctors Recommend Third Postmortem for Slain PF Cadre appeared first on Zambia Reports.

President Michael Sata was at it again this time calling Patriotic Front Members of Parliament coming from Luapula Province sleepy.

During a public rally at Muchinka grounds in Mansa President Sata admonished Patriotic Front MPs saying they had allowed opposition Movement for Multi Party Democracy Chembe MP Mwansa Mbulakulima to outshine them despite being the only opposition lawmaker in the province.

President Sata, who paraded the MPs, told them they would be removed next year if they continued failing to deliver development.

“Bushe mwebantu baku Luapula tamumfwa nsoni pantu kuno ku Luapula kwaba ba MP abashishita. (You people of Luapula Province, don’t you feel ashamed? Here in Luapula you have sleepy MPs) . Iwe Chitalu tulekuasala fye uno mwaka ni temporary next year nga wafilwa bakatupele ba MP abakwata amano (You Chitalu (Chilufya we are asking these people to vote for you on a temporary basis if you fail within one year I will come and remove you,” President Sata said as he asked Chitalu to kneel before him.

“49 years of independence abantu baleya mufimbusu fyafilindi. Ati umuntu alifwa muchilindi chachimbusu chalimokoka ninshi namwikala ati muli ba MP. Nomba mwebena Luapula tamumfwa insoni. (49 years after Independence people still use pit latrines here and yet you have an MP).”

He said, “Twalikwata ama plan ayakupanga ama secondary school ayengi sana tupela ama MP abachampuka.Nawo uyu wine pali ino nshita kuti mwamusala ko Chilufya pali ino nshita uyu mwaka uleisa nga tapali efyo alebomba kumufumya po. (We want to build secondary schools but we give smart MPs but your MPs are sleepy). Look at Mbulakulima he is the only and we are many but we are allowing hime to shine.”

President Sata’s occasional public appearances have been flavoured with comical acts with high ranking government officials being publicly dressed down.

The post PF MPs Sleepy, Mbulakulima is Shining, Says Sata appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The British government has voiced its concerns over the constitutional impasse between the government and the Technical Committee on the Constitution saying the matter should be resolved speedily.

Deputy High Commissioner to Zambia Shaun Melbourne said the constitution making process had dragged for too long and needed to be resolved amicably.

“We have noticed that this process has come a long way and hope that the matter should be resolved in the not too distant future,” Melbourne said.

“There is need for dialogue between the involved parties and ensure that the process is people driven. We are confident that an amicable solution will be reached to ensure that this matter is at least brought to an end.”

The Technical Committee on the Constitution has refused to sign the draft constitution after government ordered that only 10 copies be printed.

Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba ordered the Technical Committee not to simultaneously release the document to the public as laid down in the terms of reference.

The post British Envoy Demands People Driven Constitution appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Zambia Meteorological Department has allayed fears about a drought in the 2013/14 rainy season.

ZMD director Jacob Nkomoki said the country was expecting above to normal rainfall.

“The systems which bring rain are not yet in place because what we have had a lot of thermal heating that leads to occasional rain. When the systems are fully in place we expect normal to above normal rain,” Nkomoki said.

“The systems that form rain are not yet in place and we are anticipating that normal to above normal rainfall will be experienced this season.

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The Southern Africa Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes says the continued presence of state police at Chitimukulu’s Palace is worrying.

Executive Director Boniface Chembe said government should respect the autonomy of the traditional councils to run their affairs.

“Why have they deployed so many police officers at Chitimukulu’s Palace? Because what is the danger being posed by the Chitimukulu? Government should be clear on this matter,” he said.

Last week government deployed state police at Chitimukulu’s palace to prevent the installation of Henry Kanyanta Sosala as Paramount Chief Chitimukulu.

The post State Police at Chitimukulu Palace Worries SACCORD appeared first on Zambia Reports.

It would be absolutely shocking for any known political convict whether on bail or not to continue behaving like nothing really happened. Any serving Minister found guilty as charged and subsequently convicted has a moral obligation to step-a-side without waiting for the do-nothing political principal to do nothing as usual.

We think it would be a tragic mistake and grave omission and an insult to the Zambian public to let a Jailbird to be driven in a Ministerial Vehicle with a flag flying high like nothing consequential really happened as political events start unraveling and pointing to lawlessness in the country.

Justice should be seen to be applied equally and fairly to all Zambians whether poor or rich. Zambian prisons were not built and erected just to cater for the ordinary citizens but for every errant citizen or non-citizen irrespective of their station in life.

It has now become a tolerable habit for the affluent to simply buy freedom via exorbitant cash-for- bail condition after being convicted by subordinate courts and continue to enjoy life like nothing really happened.

This is where the criminal Justice system is failing the common man who can’t reasonably meet the high cost attached to the process of Appealing to the higher court whether he is wrongly convicted or not.

In most cases even where there is glaring embellishment and errors of law the common man is driven into prison like sheep headed to a slaughter house with no recourse to Appeal as this channel is prohibitive due to the high exorbitant fees that are charged that do not reflect the financial characteristics of society.

By Nason Msoni

The post Masumba Must Resign, says Msoni appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Embattled tourism minister Sylvia Masebo says the lions she protected from extinction in Zambian game parks are praying for her in the wake of a tribunal set up to investigate her corrupt activities.

Commenting on the long awaited tribunal set up by the Supreme Court but is currently halted through an injunction, Masebo said she is comforted that in the midst of evil people fighting her, God will protect her.

“At least am comforted by the fact that the wildlife especially the lions are also praying to God to protect me against my enemies as I have protected them through the hunting ban which cartels have been desperately fighting to get me out of their way. Am certain that God is with me and he shall defeat all my enemies,” she states.

Masebo claims she is not corrupt and has never abused her authority and was looking forward to the tribunal which she hopes will clear her.

“I have always discharged my public duty with commitment, passion, diligence and honesty.

“Am fully aware of desperate attempts by my political enemies and some safari operators who are on a mission to bring me down.

“The tribunal is okay as it will give both parties chance to state our positions on the matter. But just know that I have no fear as I did nothing wrong except to protect government and the people of Zambia.

“But as usual this is a country were evil people are celebrated and genuine people are crucified even the very public one tries to protect are used to fight evil battles,” she said.

The Chongwe legislator is at the centre of a tribunal initiated by former commerce minister William Harrington.

Meanwhile, Qfm reports that Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has welcomed the appointment of a tribunal by Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda to probe Tourism and Arts Minister, Sylvia Masebo for alleged misconduct.

TIZ Executive Director, Goodwell Lungu, says the probe is welcome as it will give Masebo an opportunity to clear her name of the allegations leveled against her.

Lungu has also appealed to people who may have evidence of Ms Masebo’s alleged misconduct to start mobilizing themselves ahead of the tribunal sittings.

This is in a matter in which Lusaka Business Executive and former Sports minister; William Harrington had obtained a judgment in his favor after seeking judicial review in the High Court over Justice Chibesakunda’s decision to refuse to appoint a tribunal to probe Ms Masebo.

Justice Chibesakunda has appointed the tribunal under the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act, which will be chaired by High Court Judge Roydah Kaoma, while members include Justices Chalwe M’chenga and Ernest Mukulwamutiyo.

The post Lions are Praying for Me – Masebo appeared first on Zambia Reports.

President Michael Sata has with immediate effect revoked the appointment of Hon. Stephen Masumba as deputy minister in the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The Head of State thanked Hon. Masumba for the services rendered to the Government and wished him success in his future endeavours.

Masumba was convicted by the Lusaka Magistrate court for using a fake diploma to obtain employment and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. He is out on bail and due to appeal.

Magistrate Wilfred Muma sentenced Masumba to one year imprisonment with hard labour after convicting him of a charge of obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretences contrary to section 309 a (2) c of the penal code as read with section 41 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act number 42 of 1996.

Masumba fraudulently obtained employment as accounting officer at the Lusaka Business and Technical College using accounting qualifications which he obtained erroneously from the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA).

The post ‘Criminal’ Masumba Fired appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The die has finally been cast for the Mansa Central parliamentary by-election today as 88, 943 registered voters take to the booths to elect their next representative.

The Mansa Central Constituency seat fell vacant following the death of Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament (MP) Kennedy Sakeni, who was Information and Broadcasting Services minister.

Five political party candidates would be seeking to reign supreme when the counting of ballot papers takes off after the closure of voting scheduled to take place from 06:00 hours to 18:00 hours.

The candidates vying for the parliamentary seat include Chitalu Chilufya of the ruling PF, United Party for National Development’s Rosemary Mwiche and Alfred Mwape from Forum for Democracy and Development.

The rest are Malama Kapolyo and Charles Mwelwa of MMD and UNIP, respectively.

Mansa District Electoral Officer David Bwalya said all was set for the successful holding of the election.

Bwalya, who expressed happiness at the peaceful manner in which political parties conducted their campaigns, said everything was in place to ensure smooth voting.

“The campaigns have been peaceful and I want to commend participating political parties for the mature manner in which they have conducted themselves, especially that we have not recorded any adverse incidences this far.

“Mansa Central has nine wards with 70 polling stations against 88, 943 registered voters,” Mr Bwalya said.

He said all the voting logistics were being finalised yesterday, including the deployment of election staff to their respective polling stations.

“Just this morning, (yesterday) we had a meeting with the district political liaison committee to spell out electoral rules and regulations, so we hope all is going to be well going forward,” he said.

Source: Times of Zambia

The post Mansa Goes to the Polls Today appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Opposition Zambians for Empowerment and Development says it is difficult to believe the Patriotic Front government that they will build a national airline next year when the country has been battling with budget deficits since it came to power.

Party president Fred Mutesa said a monumental pronouncement like reviving a national airline needed to be backed by serious policy direction.

“A gigantic project like a national airline requires resources but with the budget deficit that has been a constant feature it is difficult to believe the government will be able to undertake such a huge gamble,” Mutesa said.

“The fact that they have pushed further to another year after they had indicated that it will be started this year shows it is just a political statement.”

Zambia has had no national carrier since the demise of the Zambia Airways in the early 90s.

The post ZED Doubts National Airline Pronouncement appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The 90 days campaign promises have continued to haunt the ruling Patriotic Front with Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu being the latest to mouth something under pressure in parliament yesterday.

Lungu said the 90 days theory was laid out as a starting process and never an end itself.

“The 90 days meant we will begin to crack problems created by the MMD government and that within that time we would have started finding solutions to work on,” he said.

“We are within course right now delivering on our 90 days philosophy.”

Commerce Deputy Miles Sampa infamously confessed to the nation that the 90 days was just a political ruse to win votes.

Sampa said it was just political rhetoric and not a solidly backed up plan.

The post 90 Days Flop Haunting PF appeared first on Zambia Reports.