The Democratic Party’s lawyers Mwenye and Mwitwa Advocates have threatened contempt proceedings against the Ministry of Home Affairs for what it calls “issuing of misleading statement” or “interfering with operations” against their clients.

This is contained in a letter written to Attorney General Likando Kalaluka copied to DP national secretary Precious Ntambu in which the lawyers are asking the former to tell the Ministry of Home Affairs to desist from issuing statements that were “misleading” about operations of the opposition party that has .

In the letter, the lawyers have stated that they have every confidence that as Chief Legal Advisor to the government and leader of the Zambian bar, Kalaluka will prevail upon his client to desist from similar conduct in future.

Below are the full contents of the letter:

Precious Ntambu suing as National Secretary for the Democratic Party vs the Attorney General.

We refer to the above captioned matter.

In February 2, 2019, Mr Nephas Chifuta, Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Home Affairs, issued a statement to the press and the public in general to the effect that the court of appeal had issued a stay of execution that had reinstated the Registrar of Societies’ decision to cancel the registration of our client, the DP, as your office is no doubt aware this position is false and calculated to deliberately mislead and is therefore contemptuous of the proceedings before the courts of law.

The correct position is that on September 6 last year, the High Court quashed the decision of the Registrar of Societies that deregistered the DP. Your client applied for a stay of the judgment and in its ruling of January 29 this year, the court refused to stay the decision that quashed the Registrars’ decision as a matter of fact that the court stated the following:

“Therefore, with regard the order of certiorari as rightly submitted by counsel for the Applicant, this order cannot be stayed as doing so would reverse the said order. On that basis, I decline to grant stay of execution as regards the order of certiorari.”

The decision of the Registrar that was quashed, remains quashed and there is nothing at law that prevents our client from continuing its normal day to day activities and operations. It is therefore misleading and contemptuous for your client to intimate that the order of the Registrar has been reinstated, thus therefore to demand your client to desist from issuing misleading statements or interfering with the operations of their clients in which failure to do so, the party will have no option but to commence contempt proceedings and seek other appropriate orders from the court.

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Tempers flared when Kitwe District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu visited Mindolo One Clinic after it was flooded following a heavy downpour and learnt that land meant for the expansion of the health centre has allegedly been sold to a private developer.

Mpundu, who joined area Councillor Samuel Nkhoma, was not pleased when he learnt that land meant for the expansion of the clinic has even been turned into a garage.

The visibly angry Mpundu immediately directed the local authority in the district to quickly look at ways of repossessing the piece of land and allow the expansion of the clinic.He has wondered how land reserved for the clinic’s expansion found itself in the hands of a private developer.

“No gentlemen, we can’t develop like this. Look, this clinic has not seen expansion because the land has been sold to a private developer we can’t allow things to go on like this no gentlemen this is not right,” Mpundu stated.

Meanwhile, Mindola One clinic is now back in full operations following flooding over the weekend which affected the maternity ward, forcing management at the health centre to move expectant mothers to Chimwemwe Clinic.

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TALKS between the Zambian government and Barrick Gold regarding the future of the Canadian firm’s Lumwana copper/gold mine were said by mines minister, Richard Musukwa to have progressed “extraordinarily well”.

“I met Barrick this morning and it gave us a huge perspective on the future and where we are going,” said Musukwa in an interview with Miningmx. “It gave me a lot of confidence. I was able to talk and engage although there are a few challenges.”

Musukwa’s comments come about a fortnight after Barrick said it would consider selling Lumwana after the Zambian government planned to implement new taxes which include an increase in the mining royalty by 1.5%.

There is also a fourth tier of taxation at 10% in the event the copper price moves through $7,500 per tonne whilst royalties paid were also deemed non-deductible. The fiscal changes have sent shockwaves through the Zambian mining sector.

Musukwa, however, said there was scope for customised taxation as conditions of mining licence issuances. “We will give companies certain conditions when we grant a licence. It is not a situation of one size fits all,” he said. First Quantum Minerals, a Toronto-listed copper miner, said it would retrench 2,500 of its employees as a result of the fiscal alterations, a view it later retracted in favour of continuing discussions with the Zambian government.

“What is coming out is a lot of support, especially when the minister of finance has been meeting mines, one by one,” said Musukwa. “They bring out individual challenges,” he said of the meetings with mining companies.

However, there would be no changes to the overall legislation as mooted. “The industry thrives on stability and consistency. We don’t want to be a flip-flop government. What we have put in place are well thought out numbers and we expect colleagues to profit. Government is ready to engage in dialogue with mining houses,” he said.

There was less sympathy, however, for miners of coloured gemstones, especially Gemfields, a Johannesburg-listed company that is facing an additional 15% levy on revenue.

Sean Gilbertson, CEO of Gemfields, said Zambia risks losing its recently attained status as the world’s largest producer of emeralds by dint of the levy which he says is potentially unsustainable for his and other companies.

“There is no one who pays taxes while smiling,” said Musukwa. “Everyone has to raise a complaint because you are dealing with the comfort zone or the status quo of mining companies. But the philosophy [of the new taxes] is not to kill the industry.

“What our colleagues need to do is to reach down into their profit margins and contribute to Zambia’s economic growth.”

Asked why Pious Kasolo, head of Zambia Copper Consolidated Mines Investments (ZCCM) was dismissed recently, Musukwa replied: “I’m not in a position to comment on the firing of the ZCCM head or why board decided to part company with the CEO. All I can assure you is that the board advised me they had parted company in order to move to another dispensation. That is our position.”

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The government has dispelled online media reports suggesting that transport permanent secretary Misheck Lungu will soon travel to Ethiopia to convince Ethiopian Airlines to agree on the choice of aircraft.

Acting transport and communications minister Mutotwe Kafwaya stated in a press release that the government cannot interfere with the operations of the national airline as all its day-to-day needs will be guided by the board.

“The Ministry of Transport and Communications wishes to correct the misrepresentation of facts that some Electronic Media Houses have written on the National Airline project and would like to state that the Shareholders Agreement, the Aircraft Lease Agreement, the Technical Support and Maintenance Services Agreement that were signed on 19th August, 2018 between Ethiopian Airways (ET) and Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) will provide the operational framework for the National Airline. The four Agreements stated above are supported by the Business Plan which was jointly developed by IDC and ET. The Business Plan clearly defines the business model to be adopted for Zambia Airways (2014),” he stated.

“The Business Model for Zambian Airways (2014) was developed and agreed upon by both shareholders, that is, IDC (holding 55% shares) and ET (holding 45% shares) after a detailed and thorough analysis of the route plan, growth plans and competitive environment within which Zambia Airways (2014) will operate in…The choice of aircraft was arrived at after considering the route plan, market demand and competitive environment for operating commercial flights. As the National Airline grows and matures, the Board of Zambia Airways (2014), based on recommendation from Management, will decide on which aircraft will meet the growth aspirations of the National Airline…”

Kafwaya stated that the Ministry of Transport and Communications was alive to “the past mistakes that Government of the Republic of Zambia made by interfering in the day to day operations of the defunct Zambia Airways” and to avoid the recurrence of such mistakes, “Government through IDC constituted an independent Board of Directors whose role is to provide oversight and supervision to the Management Team of Zambia Airways (2014)”.

“Therefore, the day to day operations of the airline will be left to the Management Team which will be constituted through a competitive recruitment process. Consequently. The Ministry and IDC will not be involved in the day to day decision making of Zambia Airways (2014). The Ministry of Transport and Communication therefore wishes to dispel all misrepresentations by some Electronic Media Houses that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications will be traveling to Ethiopia to try to convince Ethiopian Airlines to agree on the choice of aircraft. Kindly take note that all decisions pertaining to operations, investment planning and growth strategies for Zambia Airways will be a preserve of the Board of Zambia Airways (2014) and not the Ministry of Transport and Communication,” he stated.

“The Ministry’s role will be limited to Policy formulation in the aviation sector to create an enabling environment for the smooth operation of the aviation sector. Finally, the newly constituted Board of Zambia Airways (2014) will soon have their inaugural meeting to, among other issues, recruitment the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who will then facilitate the recruitment of the rest of the Management Team and immediately commence the process of acquiring the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) and Air Services Permit (ASP). As Government we are confident that the launch is closer than ever before.”

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Mahogany Air has announced that plans are underway to begin flying into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The airline’s Chief Executive Officer Jim Belemu said this during a briefing in Lusaka today that it will, during the course of this year, add two domestic and an international destination on its network, which includes the Kasama route expected to be launched on February 19, 2019.

The Solwezi route is yet to be finalized by authorities, according to Belemu, who further disclosed that the local airline would also expand its operations into Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He explained that the airline had acquired a suitable plane, the Beechcraft 1900D 19-seater aircraft capable of servicing the gravel Kasama Airport in Northern Province.

“Despite the airline still making losses since inception, management is determined to be profitable in the next three years in line with the government’s drive for Zambia to become an aviation hub in the Southern African Region,” said Dr Belemu.

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Residents of Lusaka’s Chainda compound on Monday clobbered a witch doctor of Chongwe who was accused of bewitching members of a family, some of whom have died.

The witch doctor, identified by police as 68-year-old Peter Siame, was alleged hired by a Mrs Chisanga of Avondale who instructed him to kill her husband, his family and eight others, states deputy police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga.

The mob justice, according to Hamoonga, descended on Siame when he had gone to apologise to the family of the deceased, but a relative alerted other people that the witch doctor accused of being behind the deaths of their relatives was in the house.

The angry mob tied tyres around Siame with the intention of burning him to death, but police rescued him.

However, he had already received a good beating by then, leaving him with a broken jaw.

“Police at Simon Mwansa Kampwepwe in Avondale are investigating a matter that occurred on 4th February, 2019 at around 20:00 hrs in which a mob justice descended on male Witch Doctor and tied some tyres around him so that they can burn him to death. Facts of the matter are that around November, 2018, the witch doctor (Peter Siame, 68 years) was approached by the wife to a Mr Chisanga, a local businessman, to kill him, his family and eight others. According to the list that was given to the witch doctor, two members of the same family died within a week and the story came to light which incensed the public who apprehended Mrs Chisanga and they wanted to kill her but was rescued by the Police. At this moment, the Witch Doctor escaped and ran away to Chongwe where he stays. However, Mrs Chisanga was kept in custody for her safety and the family for the deceased persons were advised to take a civil suit,” stated Hamoonga. “The case came up for a hearing on 4th February, 2019 at Chelstone local court [and] the Witch Doctor also attended. After the court case, they went to Chainda with the Witch Doctor where he apologised and revealed to have been paid K2,500=00 to kill the two persons, while the other person is nursing a swollen leg (a niece to the other two deceased persons). It was at this point that one of the family members informed the neighbours that the Witch Doctor was in the house and that was how they descended on him. Quick action by police rescued him and was taken to Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital where he is currently admitted. He sustained a broken jaw and is not able to talk. We are appealing to the general public to desist from taking the law in their own hands but rather let the due process of the law to take its full course.”

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Expired road tax topped the list of convictions for traffic offences last month, the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has said.

Data released by the Agency’s public relations manager Mukela Mangolwa has showed that a total of 860 traffic offenders were convicted in January.

Of that figure, expired Road Tax was top on the list with 224 convictions while expired Test Certificate had 169.

About 106 convictions were for expired or uninsured motor vehicles, 61 for dangerous driving and 28 for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Others that resulted in convictions were unauthorized use of goods vehicle, driving a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition, use of handheld mobile phone while driving, use of unregistered motor vehicle, plying for hire and reward and obstruction of the highway by motor vehicle.

Mangolwa said in certain instances, some motorists were found with multiple offences.

“Statistics have shown that dangerous driving and driving under the influence of alcohol continue to be major contributors of road traffic accidents in the country, ” he said.

Meanwhile, the agency last year convicted 5,286 traffic offenders who violated traffic regulations and laws.

Mangolwa said ofences of expired road tax recorded the highest convictions with over 1,189 while 980 were convicted for dangerous driving, 790 for  expired Test Certificate, 433 for  expired/uninsured motor vehicle, 124 for driving under the influence of alcohol  and 439 for  unlicensed driving.

Mangolwa advised members of the public to be proactive and make use of the RTSA Call Centre by reporting bad, careless and dangerous drivers on the toll free line – 983 – and the WhatsApp line 0965 429499.

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Pope Francis has admitted that clerics have sexually abused nuns, and in one case they were kept as sex slaves.

He said in that case his predecessor, Pope Benedict, was forced to shut down an entire congregation of nuns who were being abused by priests.

It is thought to be the first time that Pope Francis has acknowledged the sexual abuse of nuns by the clergy.

He said the Church was attempting to address the problem but said it was “still going on”.

Sex abuse and the Catholic Church

Pope Francis made the comments on Tuesday to reporters while on a historic tour of the Middle East.

He admitted that priests and bishops had abused nuns, but said the Church was aware of the issue and “working on it”.

“It’s a path that we’ve been on,” he said.

“Pope Benedict had the courage to dissolve a female congregation which was at a certain level, because this slavery of women had entered it – slavery, even to the point of sexual slavery – on the part of clerics or the founder.”

Alessandro Gisotti of the Vatican press office later told CBS News that the order in question had been based in France.

Pope Francis said sexual abuse of nuns was an ongoing problem but happened largely in “certain congregations, predominantly new ones”.

Last November, the Catholic Church’s global organisation for nuns denounced the “culture of silence and secrecy” that prevented them from speaking out.

Just days ago the Vatican’s women’s magazine, Women Church World, condemned the abuse, saying in some cases nuns were forced to abort priests’ children – something Catholicism forbids.

The magazine said the #MeToo movement meant more women were now coming forward with their stories.

(Source: BBC)

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A 42-year-old man of Ndola’s Tug Argan Township has allegedly been murdered by his wife following a marital dispute.

The incident happened on Sunday when the deceased, identified as Robert Phiri, found his wife with another man at their home where a local beer commonly known as Kachasu is brewed by the couple.

A quarrel later ensued between the couple and led into a fight after the woman’s suspected lover had left.

Copperbelt Commissioner of Police Charity Katanga who confirmed the development said the deceased complained of body pains after the fight and was rushed to Tug Argan Clinic where he died.

Katanga said police have since arrested the woman identified as Catherine Phiri, 41, over her husband’s death.

She said medical tests conducted showed that the deceased had sustained a swollen and bruised stomach.

The suspect is currently in police custody, Katanga said.

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The Zambia National Farmers Union, agriculture minister Michael Katambo and his newly appointed permanent secretary Songowayo Zyambo met in Lusaka yesterday to discuss ways in which the country’s key sector can be revamped.

Zyambo, who once served as ZNFU executive director, was given the permanent secretary portfolio for a sector that is one of the country’s main foreign exchange earners.

The agriculture sector has, in recent years, suffered huge setbacks from policy inconsistencies, droughts, late distribution of inputs, poor market prices for commodities such as cotton and tobacco, among others.

Through yesterday’s meeting, Katambo and Zyambo agreed to create a platform for constant discussions with the ZNFU to avoid inconsistencies in the agriculture sector.

ZNFU, on its part, brought out critical matters that it feels need urgent attention through consultation and action by the government.

One of the issues highlighted by the ZNFU include the need for lifting of the maize/mealie meal export ban to enable foreign exchange earnings as the country readies for the coming marketing season.

Other issues raised were “the need for Government to prioritize funding for the agriculture sector so that come marketing time farmers will be paid on time and inputs positioned on time at planting time (the Union bemoaned blame being heaped on farmers for poor yields, yet farmers are paid late, and inputs are supplied late); the need for credible data to guide policy decisions (declaring a surplus through the crop forecast then banning grain exports; sending conflicting market signals); the importation of agriculture products taking place at the expense of expanding local production when the country should be harnessing production at all costs; farmers facing financial distress due to policy inconsistencies and external factors resulting in foreclosures,” according to ZNFU public relations manager Calvin Kaleyi.

The ZNFU also expressed concern at the state of the tobacco industry which was once a leading foreign exchange earner for Zambia but “is now gripped with uncertainty”.

It further said new costs imposed by new Statutory Bodies were threatening the viability of farming “hence the need to reposition the sector for growth”.

“The Union is confident that a first step has been set and that the platform for dialogue will materialise soon so that the issues are tabled, solutions proposed, and implementation followed through. Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture, Honourable Katambo, indicated that he is committed to work with stakeholders so that the sector speaks with one voice,” stated Kaleyi.

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Patriotic Front Copperbelt chairman Nathan Chanda has directed the Ndola District Executive Committee to deal with party officials involved in smuggling of mealie meal to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Chanda has warned that failure to act by the district leadership will attract serious sanctions from the provincial leadership.

He said the party will not condone indiscipline among its members, as doing so has potential to tarnish the party’s image and that of President Edgar Lungu.

“We all need to be disciplined. We need to be an example as a party in Government. People are complaining about the conduct of some of our party members. We won’t allow indiscipline because it will just dent the image of our party. If you are a leader, lead by example, if you are a follower, follow what leaders are saying,” Chanda said.

He directed that action be taken against the Ndola PF District Youth Vice Chairman and eight other party members arrested for allegedly soliciting bribes from mealie meal smugglers.

Chanda reiterated that failure by the District leadership to act will attract serious consequences which may include suspension of the district and constituency executive committees.

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The Zambian mining story is shining on the sidelines of the ongoing Mining Indaba in Cape Town.

London Stock Exchange-listed Zamsort has scored a milestone, with its chairman Mumena Mushinge appointed director of Arc Minerals.

Arc Minerals, formerly Ortac Resources, is engaged in the identification, evaluation, acquisition and development of natural resource projects, located primarily in Africa.

Directors of Zamsort Company migrated their shares to Arc Minerals in order to raise finance and have since seen their move pay off with Mushinge’s appointment.

“Zamsort is a company which was founded in 2002 and it owns a 1, 000 square kilometre area in North Western Province. It owns an exploration licence and it has a small-scale mining licence,” Company Secretary Brian Chisala said.

“It is a hybrid project which has both mining and exploration. In order to raise finance, founders of Zamsort, Mr Munena Mushinge who is the chairman, Brian Chisala company secretary and Katambi Bulawayo, migrated their shares to Arc Minerals and AIM listed company in London to try and raise capital and collectively becoming majority shareholders in Arc Minerals…Today is quite a milestone because the chairman of Zamsort, Mr Munena Musunge, has since been appointed director to Arc Minerals, which is a very rare scenario in the mining sector on listed entities.”

Zamsort has invested about $12 million in a new project that it will commission on a pilot plant producing at least 500, 000 concentrates a month for Copper and Cobalt.

“This is particularly interesting because it is a predominantly Zambian spearheaded company and so it has been a milestone to have Mr Mushinge who has been appointed. When you look at the share pricing after the announcement, it has slightly gone up and we expect it to go up,” he said.

“We are expected to go to phase two of our drilling in 2018. We have also identified new projects in our large scale prospecting which were never discovered before by major corporations like Anglo American and Equinox.”

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The Constitutional Court has granted leave to Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) Party Leader Sean Tembo to file the record of proceedings out of time.

This is in the case in which Tembo sued the Attorney general seeking a declaration that President Edgar Lungu breached the constitution by accepting the Eswatini land as a gift without declaring it to the nation.

Justice Mungeni Mulenga has allowed Tembo to file his record of proceedings out of time following his application for an Ex-parte summons for leave to file a record of proceedings out of time pursuant to Order XV Rule 7 of the Constitutional Court.

On January 14, the court directed the petitioner to file a record of proceedings on or before January 28, which he did as directed and was ready for filling but the record was found to have some errors upon review.

He was compelled to re-do the record but the registry was closed at the time he was ready to file.

It was for this reason that he made an application to file his record of proceedings out time, which has since been granted by the court.

In the previous sitting, Tembo who filed an application to discontinue the matter to pave way for the national dialogue and reconciliation process.

He pleaded with the Court to discontinue the case to allow the smooth proceedings of the dialogue and reconciliation process.

In his affidavit in opposition to withdraw the case, Tembo submitted that if the matter was  not withdrawn requested, this would mean that political party leaders, including himself, would have to go to the 2021 polls with pending political tension from the 2016 general elections.

He has further submitted that the discontinuance of this matter may not necessarily guarantee the success of the Church-led national dialogue and reconciliation process “but it would significantly increase the chances of success of the said process”.

But Chief State Advocate Joe Simachela  asked the Court to dismiss  Tembo’s application in which he intends to withdraw the case as he is likely to commence the same facts once the negotiations on the national dialogue and reconciliation fail.

Simachela, in his affidavit opposing the discontinuation of the matter, humbly asked the court to dismiss the petition with costs on grounds that the national dialogue and reconciliation being spearheaded by the church mother bodies was a political process and the end result cannot be ascertained.

“…and in an event that this petition is discontinued as prayed and  the national dialogue fails, an action based on the same facts may arise to the prejudice of the Attorney general,” Simachela  submitted.

The matter is yet to be heard and determined by the full bench of the Constitutional Court.

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Minister of Higher Education Professor Nkandu Luo says meal allowances for all public universities have been abolished.

Luo said the move was taken to scale up resources for the loan scheme for public universities.

At a media briefing at her office Professor Luo said this will however not affect students that are already receiving meal allowances at both UNZA and CBU

She said K575 Million has been allocated to go towards student allowances public Universities in 2019

UNZA and CBU will receive 1,900 scholarships each while only 1,000 of them will be distributed amongst five universities which include Kapasa Makasa , Mulungishi, Kwame Nkuruma, Chalimbana and Palabana Universities

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MMD Die Hard youths were today blocked from stopping MMD faction leader Nevers Mumba’s programme on United Voice Radio Station for “masquerading” as the party’s president.

The Youth group led by coordinator Gerald Chiluba and Prince Ndoyi arrived at radio station shortly after Dr Mumba went live and demanded that he stops “masquerading as a president of the former ruling party”.

However, the Die Hard youths failed to execute their mission owing to tight security with police backup.

Chiluba, the former COBUSU president, said he will not allow Dr Mumba to continue misleading the membership with “his lies in the media”.

He complained that Dr Mumba’s behaviour has been injurious towards the efforts of the MMD leadership to rebuild the former ruling party.

“MMD enjoys a cordial relationship with the media, in particular United Voice Radio and the church and we would like to encourage both entities to help us stop promoting illegalities. We went in the most sober manner to confront the management of the radio station so that we avail them with facts pertaining to our party leadership. We urge the radio station to practice investigative journalism by going to the Registrar of Societies to check the list of office bearers,” he said.

Chiluba has since had advised Dr Mumba to go back to his calling (the Church).

The two faction groups were on Monday this week before the Lusaka High Court in the matter in which Mumba’s faction is challenging the convention that elected Felix Mutati as MMD president.

Mumba’s group, through its national secretary Winnie Zaloumis, wants the court to declare that the convention was null and void and restore the original members of of the National Executive.

Justice Sharon Newa will make a ruling on who the real party president is between Mumba and Mutati.

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Government has instituted investigations into former Vice-President Dr Guy Scott’s newly released book that reveals the cause of death of former president Michael Sata.

Information minister Dora Siliya said government was concerned about some of the issues Dr Scott raised in his book that may not have been for public consumption.

Dr Scott, in his latest book titled “An Adventure in Zambian Politics: A Story in Black and White”, has revealed that President Sata died of Carcinoma cancer.

However, Siliya said during a media briefing that Dr Scott should have consulted the family and also government before publishing certain information.

Siliya told journalists that “cabinet is studying the matter and the nation will be advised in due course”.

Dr Scott’s book that is available on Amazon but yet to hit shelves in Zambian bookstores has birthed a social media storm with some of its insider perspectives on the late President Sata.

He served as President Sata’s deputy and also acted as Head of State in the transitory period.

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Two Lusaka clergymen, along with ten others, have pleaded not guilty to being in possession of over K100, 000 counterfeit notes.

Bishop Martin Matafwali, 68, of Kanyama and Pastor William Chocha, 48, of Kalingalinga and their co-accused appeared before magistrate Nthandose Chabala where they have denied eight counts of being in possession of counterfeit notes without lawful authority.

The other accused are Elijah Sinyangwe, 38, a businessman of Jack Compound, 37-year-old business woman Petronellah Moyo, Victor Kalichi, 39, a taxi driver of Kanyama Compound.

Others include Isaac Mumba, 22, Loti Phiri, 29 of Chawama Compound, Sanny Milambo, 52 of Thornpark, Melvin Moyo, 52, Libala South, Samuel Chama, 60, of Chinika area, Elijah Mbewe, 19  and Chakolela Nkhoma, 29, both of Jack Compound.

The accused are all facing a charge of purchasing forged notes contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

In count one, it is alleged that Mbewe, on dates unknown but November 14 and 27, 2018, in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, had in his possession five pieces of K100 counterfeit notes without lawful authority.

In count two, it is alleged that Nkhoma on the same dates, in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown had in his possession 10  pieces of K100 counterfeit notes without lawful authority.

In count three, it is alleged that Sinyangwe on the same dates, in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown had in his possession a K100 counterfeit note without lawful authority.

In count four, it is alleged that Moyo, on the same dates in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, had in her possession 72 pieces of K100 counterfeit notes without lawful authority.

In count five, it is alleged that Loti Phiri on the same dates, in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown did possess a K100 counterfeit note without lawful authority.

In count six, it is alleged that Chocha on the same dates, in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, had in his possession 266 pieces of K100 counterfeit notes without lawful authority.

In count seven, it is alleged that Matafwali, on the same dates in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, also had five  pieces of K100 counterfeit notes without lawful authority.

In count eight, it is alleged that Mbewe, Moyo, Mumba, Phiri, Chocha, Kalichi, Milambo, Melvin, Chama and Matafwali on the same dates, in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, purchased 1,000  pieces of K100 counterfeit notes without lawful authority.

Trial in the matter commences on March 15.

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Trial in the matter in which a Lusaka Magistrate and senior court officials are accused of stealing cocaine has continued in the Lusaka Magistrates Court.

Kunda Tantameni, a magistrate, Felix Mkandawire, a court interpreter,  Francis Mphanza, a senior public prosecutor and Didie Kangwa, senior clerk, are charged with abuse of authority, removal of property under lawful seizure and stealing by persons in public service.

On stand was a witness from the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Rosalin Hameja, who narrated how she found ephedrine concealed in tins labeled “Rice Flour” in a passenger’s bags at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

In her testimony, Hameja has told the court that on November 2, 2017, she was on duty at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport where her supervisor instructed her to go to the arrivals hall.

“While there, I conducted a body search on a female passenger I later came to know as Beatrice Saili and I did not find anything on her,” she said.

Hameja said she then asked Saili if she had extra luggage, to which she said she had two more.

“I opened two bags where I found tins labeled ‘Rice flour’ and when I asked what was in the tins, she said ephedrine,” she said.

Hameja said it was later discovered that Saili had 68 tins, all labeled “Rice flour” but containing ephedrine weighing 34 kilogrammes as confirmed by a public analyst at UTH.

It is this ephedrine that Tantameni and others are accused of concealing to obstruct the course of justice.

It is alleged on November 8, 2017, Tantameni and Mphanza used their positions in their respective offices to obtain property, profit or benefit for themselves or another.

In the second count, it is alleged that Mkandawire, Mphanza and Kangwa on November 8, 2017, with intent to hinder or defeat the process, concealed 34 kilograms of ephedrine valued at K1, 870, 000.

In the third count, it is alleged that Mkandawire, Mphanza, Tantameni and Kangwa between November 8 and December 30, 2017, stole 34 kilogrammes of ephedrine which came into their possession by virtue of their employment.

Trial continues on February 11.

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UPND vice-president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, commonly known as GBM, has said the Anti-Corruption Commission’s arrest of infrastructure and housing minister Ronald Chitotela has nothing to do with the fight against corruption but a fight against anyone ambitious enough to challenge President Edgar Lungu’s hold on the presidency.

He told a media briefing yesterday that Chitotela’s alleged corrupt activities were “well known and documented” even at the time he was being appointed into Cabinet in 2016 as he had earlier been fired by the late president Michael Sata for similar allegations in 2013.

“Late President Michael Sata fired Chitotela from his ministerial position for corruption. Even at the time of re-appointment by Edgar Lungu, it was already a well-known fact that the man was corrupt and it beat any sensible reason as to why the man was appointed to such a sensitive ministry despite his background. We take it the administration stood to benefit from his corruption. But unfortunately, the man has become too ambitious to wanting to challenge his boss through Luapula United grouping hence falling out of favor of the appointing authority,” Mwamba said.

He said the war within the Patriotic Front was becoming fierce with both Muchinga and Luapula provinces positioning themselves for either the presidency or running mate for the 2021 election, thus “making President Lungu and his associates jittery, knowing that the two groupings are too powerful to be ignored”.

“It is likely that the arrest of Chitotela was sanctioned and we expect more ambitious people, especially in his Cabinet, to arrested on ‘corruption charges’. Luapula United is very serious on its ambitions and now those in Muchinga are also positioning themselves for the challenge under the Muchinga United front. It’s war in there and Chitotela has been merely sacrificed for being too ambitious, just like NDC consultant Chishimba Kambwili was investigated and questioned by ACC for being in possession of money believed to be proceeds of crime,” Mwamba said.

He said the head of state should know that Zambians constitutionally hold the key to State House and will not allow President Lungu’s government to beyond 2021 because of corruption, which had led to poverty and hunger among Zambians.

“What I can tell the nation is that this arrest, whether genuine or a mere public relations stunt aimed at giving credence to Chitotela’s eventual dismissal, is long overdue because the whole country knows how corrupt the infrastructure minister is, coupled with his presidential ambitions. PF thrives on corruption but [President Lungu’s] ending will be bad as it will be engineered from within the PF by the same corrupt elements he appointed into government,” Dr Mwamba further said.

Chitotela, 47, has been charged with two counts of concealing property suspected of being proceeds of crime contrary to section 71 (1) of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act number 19 of 2010.

It is the same Chitotela who, in 2013, was fired by late President Michael Chilufya Sata from his ministerial position, along with his Mwansabombwe counterpart Rodgers Mwewa, after the ACC launched corruption investigations against him.

Calls have intensified for President Lungu to fire Chitotela, who has since been released on bond, to allow smooth investigations and prosecution of the matter.

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Former president Rupiah Banda has said it is unfortunate that a lot lies are being told about the state of Zambia’s economy.

Speaking in Johannesburg, South Africa, en route to Nigeria where he would be leading a team of observers to monitor that country’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections due on February 16, Banda said some people had preoccupied themselves with painting a gloomy picture about the country.

Among the lies being told, according to Banda, are that Zambia was losing state-owned enterprises and other national  assets to her debtors.

“He has said Zambia’s economy was positive and undergoing a normal economic process. Mr Banda said the lies about Zambia’s economic situation should be brought to an end as they are capable of destroying the country’s image abroad,” first secretary for Press at Zambia’s mission in Pretoria, Naomi Nyawali, has stated.

And Banda has expressed confidence that President Edgar Lungu has a group of professionals who would help him develop the country.

He said the country was capable of paying back its debt as it was within its limits, adding that Zambia had so far “not defaulted on any of its loans”.

Banda added that there was need to find solutions to challenges facing the country’s key economic sectors such as agriculture, mining and manufacturing.

On Tourism, Banda said advised a probe on the low number of tourist visits to the country.

“Zambia should understand reasons why there are few tourists that visit the country despite being endowed with immense tourist, heritage and wildlife sites…The low number of tourist visitations that the country has continued to record must be interrogated in order to make the tourism sector more vibrant,” he said, according to Nyawali.

Meanwhile, Banda has called on African countries to support the people of Democratic of Congo (DRC) to maintain peace in that country.

He said recent elections in the DRC had demonstrated the growth of democracy in Africa.

Banda said the DRC had achieved remarkable progress in consolidating democratic transition of power despite some logistical and geographical challenges and the country now had an opportunity to tackle some of the problems faced in the past.

The former Head of State has further called on newly elected DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, his close competitor Martin Fayulu and former president Joseph Kabila to devise a system that would help the country find solutions to its common problems.

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