The Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito caused another adjournment Tuesday July 30, 2013 in the matter Zambia’s former President Rupiah Banda is charged with concealing gratification involving nine light trucks valued at K471,000.

When the matter came up for plea before Kasama Principal Resident Magistrate Obister Musukukwa sitting in Lusaka at exactly 9:07 hours local time, the state through Kapetwa Phiri, an advocate from the Anti-Corruption Commission, informed
the court that there were no instructions from the DPP.

“For that reason your honour we humbly apply to this honourable court for the matter to be adjourned as we await for instructions from the DPP,” Phiri begged the court.

Irene Kunda, one of the defence lawyers from George Kunda and Company, immediately objected and wondered why the state was not ready.

She said the case has been hanging for sometime and as such the accused person is being mentally tortured. Kunda said the adjournments being caused by the State are not in the interest of justice.

Lubinda Linyama, a defence lawyer from Silwamba and Company, stated that the inconvenience the client is suffering is of great concern to the defence.
Linyama was worried that the state had not even given an indication as to how
much time they needed to get instructions from the DPP.

“If the court is agreeing to give the state more time for an adjournment we pray that a condition be set. That condition should be that if they are not ready at the next sitting the accused must stand discharged,” Linyama said.

Another defence lawyer Makebi Zulu from Makebi Zulu Advocates argued that inspite of the fact that the state was granted 20 days at the last hearing to obtain instructions there has been laxity on the part of the prosecution.

“I pray that this honourable court exercises its inherent jurisdiction to set at liberty the accused as clearly the state is not ready,” Zulu said.

However, Dennis Simwinga an advocate from the Drug Enforcement Commission in supporting the application for an adjournment told Magistrate Musukwa that when the DPP looked at the docket he felt he needed to consider a few issues before he could proceed to give consent.

“That came to light when he looked at the docket,” Simwinga said.

Magistrate Musukwa said the continued application for adjournments by the state is not healthy and is concerned about the attitude of the state towards the case.

“I will allow adjournment for the last time hoping the DPP will issue instructions by next sitting,” he said.

The matter will now come up on August 30, 2013 for plea.

The post DPP Causes Adjournment of Rupiah Banda Trucks Case appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Three armed bandits on Monday snatched K195, 000 cash and a K55, 419 cheque leaf from a Zambian Breweries PLC cashier in broad daylight in Chipata, Eastern Province.

The bandits snatched the money from the cashier Wilson Ngulube who was on a taxi, a Toyota Corolla registration number ABK 981, enroute to Barclays Bank Chipata Branch to deposit the cash and the cheque.

After stopping the taxi, the bandits ordered Ngulube and the driver Samuel Moyo out and grabbed the money the cashier was carrying before tying the two to a tree and made off in the car heading towards Mwami Border.

The incident happened around 13:00 hours, a few metres from Chipata Central Police Station near Hillside Girls High School on Umodzi Highway.

Eastern Province deputy Police chief Alfred Nawa confirmed the development in Chipata yesterday and said police had launched a manhunt for the bandits.

Nawa said the three bandits disembarked from a car which was coming from the opposite direction where the taxi was headed.

“After flashing the lights at a hump, the taxi driver decided to stop and these criminals who were armed with all sorts of weapons as well as pepper then forced the driver to drive towards somewhere near St Monicas Girls,” he said.

The criminals then tied the two to a tree and drove the taxi towards Mwami Border.

Police suspected that the criminals were not locals because they did not hide their faces during the crime.

“I suspect these are not from here but we shall bring them to book soon because police have launched a manhunt,” Nawa said.

The criminals later abandoned the taxi and the cheque and two rounds of ammunition for an AK47 rifle were recovered in the abandoned taxi.

Source: Times of Zambia

The post Bandits Rob Zambia Breweries Cashier in Chipata appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Major opposition political parties MMD and UPND have indicated that they will not contest against each other in the September 5 round of parliamentary by-elections.

According to MMD president Nevers Mumba, the two parties will step aside for the more popular party in any of the forthcoming by-elections in Malambo, Mkaika, Petauke Central, Mulobezi and Itezhi Tezhi.

Mumba said although it was very challenging to leave a seat to another party the opposition would cast aside their differences to enahnce their numbers in parliament and effectively provide checks and balances.

“The ideal is what we did last time where we allowed each party to contest in the area they are stronger to capitalize on the strengths of us. It is not always easy but we are going to do that once again,” Mumba said.

“We have not yet exactly apportioned but that is not urgent yet but we have heeded the Zambian people’s advice and are going to advocate unity to ensure the opposition is stronger.”

In the last round of by-elections, the opposition UPND grabbed two seats while the MMD scooped one with the ruling party winning only the Mkushi North.

UPND won Solwezi East and Kafulafuta their first seat on the Copperbelt with MMD getting Chipata Central. The ruling PF won the Mkushi North seat.

The post MMD and UPND to Partner for Sept 5 By-Elections appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Human Rights Commission has opposed government’s plans to introduce legislation to bar subjects from taking traditional leaders to court.

Human Rights Commission chairperson Samuel Kasanka said the announcement by Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba that government will introduce legislation to bar subjects from suing chiefs was absurd.

Commission spokesperson Samuel Kasanka said it was a violation of the rights of citizens to seek lega redress by denying them the right to seek justice.

“That announcement by the Justice Minister is not right because as Human rights Commission we have on several occasions intervened in matters where chiefs have abused their subjects like illegal detention, flogging and many other things. So give them blanket protection will not make sense,” Kasanka said.

“We are of the view that government should rethink that approach. It is citizens’ rights to be protected from abuse and they have a right to sue anyone who violates their rights.”

The post Human Rights Body Oppose Immunity Legislation for Chiefs appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Patriotic Front governement’s jinx with foreign heads of state to grace national events has continued with no foreign leader coming to officiate at the Agricultural and Commercial show.

After struggling with the International Trade Fair, the Michael Sata governement has allegedly been shunned for the Agricultural and Commercial Show.

The International Trade Fair was eventually graced by Commerce Minister Emmanuel Chenda, the first time in its history that it had to be opened by a minister.

Show organizing committee chairperson Joe Mwale said the event will be graced by Republican Vice President Guy Scott.

Mwale announced that the show will attract about 1000 exhibitors with 22 countries confirming attendance.

Zambia’s international credentials have been on a downward spiral following Human Rights abuses, lacking on diplomatic etiquette by President Sata that puts off foreign heads of State. No foreign head of state, apart from Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, has visited Zambia in the near two years Sata has been President.

The post Foreign Heads ‘Shun’ Agriculture Show in Zambia appeared first on Zambia Reports.

National Movement for Progress (NMP) has echoed the condemnation of Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba over his recent attack on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

NMP president Ng’andu Magande says Kabimba was wrong to suggest that the ECZ was working with the opposition to undermine government simply because the ECZ criticized the parading of Paramount Chief Mpezeni at a PF rally.

Magande in an interview with QFM News notes that the ECZ was within its mandate to reprimand the Chief as what he did is against the electoral law.

He has urged Mr. Kabimba to conduct himself above partisan politics as the position he holds of Justice Minister requires that he supports all government institutions that exist to ensure good governance and upholding of the rule of law in the country.

Magande adds that under normal circumstance, the Justice Minister should have been in the forefront supporting the position of the ECZ.

The post Kabimba Should be Defending ECZ – Magande appeared first on Zambia Reports.

‘This is Stephen Cole on Al Jazeera. For our weekly Africa Interview we go over to Sulaka, the capital of Zombieland, to talk to the famous government propagandist Kibamba Chanyama. Welcome to the interview, Kibamba.

First of all I’d like you to give us a bit of background on how the one-party state managed to re-emerge in Zombieland.’

A fat self-satisfied face appeared upon the screen. ‘Thank you Stephen. It all began ten years ago, in 2013, after Zombieland’s most intrepid explorer, the late Dotty Scotty, had reached as far as North Korea, a country that no Zombie had previously reached.

What he found was a revelation. All the people were dressed exactly the same, and spent most of their time marching up and down in front of their Great Leader Kim Jong Un, singing and cheering and waving their flags, and obeying his orders without question and with happy smiling faces.’

‘Dotty Scotty must have been terribly shocked.’

‘Good gracious no, he was very impressed, and declared that this looked like a very good system of government!’

‘Was he a fascist?’

‘Oh good gracious no,’ laughed Kibamba. ‘But he was very impressed by such a show of national unity.

You see, in those days Zombieland was a very confused place and government was very difficult. The new Zombie government of the Punching Fist had been energetically punching in various directions, but not hitting any of its targets. Everybody had a different idea of how the country should be governed, and nobody took the government seriously.’

‘Didn’t the Punching Fist have a clear programme?’

‘Unfortunately not. They had promised everything to everybody and therefore nothing to anybody. Everybody was saying different things and arguing with each other.

So when Dotty Scotty went to North Korea and saw everybody speaking with one voice he was very impressed.

So he stayed there for some time to study the system, so he could bring its benefits back to Zombieland.

‘Who was the president of Zombieland at that time?’

‘A man called Cycle Mata. But when Dotty Scotty explained to him the Korean system, he immediately changed his name to the Great Leader Pscho Ma Ta. His Punching Fist became the Paternal Father, meaning that he was now in charge of everybody.’

‘So how did he gain control over his constantly quarreling rabble.’

‘The first thing he did was to change the Constitution, which had previously been a long rambling document of 200 pages which nobody understood. He replaced it with a single sentence which said The Word of the Paternal Father is Law and All Must Obey.’

‘But did parliament agree to this?’

‘Stephen,’ laughed Kibamba, ‘You’re not seeing the implications properly. If the Paternal Father makes the law, then there is no need for a legislature. So parliament was automatically abolished!’

‘Wasn’t this challenged in court?’

‘Try to adjust your thinking,’ replied Kibamba impatiently. ‘There is no need for a court to interpret the law if the Paternal Father is the law. So courts were also abolished.’

‘But on what principles was the Great Leader operating?’

‘He acted according to his own philosophical principles.’

‘Did he have any?’

‘That’s where I came in,’ replied Kibamba proudly. ‘I was appointed the Chief Commissioner for Ideology and Propaganda and employed to write the Thoughts of the Great Leader Pscho Ma Ta which became the curriculum in school and university. All other books were banned.’

‘So did people stop quarreling?’

‘Of course. People had to follow the Thoughts of the Great Leader, so they were all of the same opinion.’

‘Didn’t the chiefs rebel against this intrusion into their traditional power over their subjects?’

‘The Great Leader had the Great Idea of putting CCTV cameras in all their bedrooms, and it soon became apparent that their nocturnal behaviour transgressed all traditional moral norms. After the public exposure of their scandalous behaviour they were all detained on Lichubi Island.’

‘Did anybody complain?’

‘Only a few. They were also sent to Lichubi Island.’

‘And did the economy improve?’

‘We soon had full employment, just as the Great Leader had promised. Half of the labour force was put into the army to march up and down and praise the Great Leader. The other half of the labour force was put down the mines to dig out copper to be sent to North Korea.’

‘What happened to all the money from the copper?’

‘It was used to pay the army to march up and down in praise of the Great Leader.’

‘Surely there must have been a lot of argument about all this in the press?’

‘All argument,’ explained Kibamba, ‘was banned in favour of national unity, peace and harmony, which were the essential principles in the Thoughts of the Great Leader.

North Korean technology was used to channel all news through a department under my control known as ZNBC, Zombie News Banning and Censorship. In this way people didn’t get upset about anything divisive, unpatriotic or treasonable.’

‘And then this great African totalitarian experiment collapsed earlier this year, when Paramount Chief Kalaki escaped from Lichubi Island and began his great thousand mile march on Sulaka and, with his rallying cry of Democracy and the Human Rights, restored multi-party democracy to Zombieland.’

‘It was a sad day for dictatorship,’ replied Kibamba.

‘Do you think democracy can ever work in Zombieland?’

‘Never!’ replied Kibamba.

‘Is that because the principles of democracy and human rights have been forgotten?’

‘Certainly not!’ replied Kibamba.

‘So the principles of democracy have been remembered?’

‘Certainly not!’ said Kibamba. ‘They were never understood in the first place!’

‘Well, thanks for talking to us,’ said Stephen. ‘And we do hope that you’ll soon be released from Kamfinsa Prison.’

Source: Kalaki’s Korner

The post Kalaki’s Korner: 2023 appeared first on Zambia Reports.

One of the opposition candidates participating in the ongoing Zimbabwe presidential elections has lauded Zambia for setting a strong democratic example for the region, which should be cheered for raising expectations of peaceful, free and fair voting.

Speaking in an interview, Dumiso Dabengwa said Zambia’s 2011 general elections had remained a good example of how polls must be conducted on the African continent.

He said state sponsored violence against opponents and the use of state resources must never be used to manipulate voters.

Dabengwa, a former ally of Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF, said whoever would win the elections in Zimbabwe must be allowed to take over the reigns of power because refusing to accept defeat would be a source of unrest.

“What we are saying precisely is that when someone loses the election, that person, whoever it is, must step down and allow the other person to take over,” he said.

Numerous international poll observers have said they are concerned over the fairness of the current poll taking place in Zimbabwe, while Dabengwa says he believes that the ruling ZANU-PF party is manipulating the electoral process and abusing their influence over the state-owned media.

“It was unfortunate and really disturbing for freedom fighters to watch SADC painfully trying to resolve an issue of this nature by setting up a national government,” Dabengwa said, referring to the last presidential elections in Zimbabwe which many believe was won by opposition figure Morgan Tsvangirai.  ”The unity government became a very wrong precedent in African politics and we don’t think that such a thing must be allowed to happen again. If what happened in 2008 is allowed to happen again, the people of Zimbabwe would not be able to tolerate it and we also think that SADC should not fold their hands and allow the same situation to happen.”

Dabengwa who leads the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), said the electoral violence that characterized Zimbabwe’s 2008 elections was unfortunate.

He said Zambia’s 2011 peaceful elections were a good example to other African countries that voting could take place in the absence of violence.

“As someone who participated in the liberation activities, it is so disheartening to experience the violence that occurred n 2008. That is something we should not allow to happen ever again. Zambia had peaceful elections and Zimbabwe can also do it as we vote,” he said.

Zimbabweans started voting on July 31 and so far, the polls have been incident free, but the process has not gone with challenges. The main opposition MDC-T led by Morgan Tsivangirai had gone to court to order the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to release to voters’ register, which had not been released on the eve of voting day.

On the eve of the elections, 89-year old President Robert Mugabe who has been in power for 33 years declared that he would step down if he lost the elections, although he was confident of scooping the polls.

On the other hand, main challenger Morgan Tsivangirai, who is also confident of winning, said there were numerous electoral malpractices and his party was going to petition the polls in the event of a defeat.

The post Zimbabwe Candidate Hopes Mugabe Will Follow Zambia’s Democratic Example appeared first on Zambia Reports.

According to a statement circulated yesterday by the President of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Dr Nevers Mumba, the opposition party is concerned over the actions of the police and unfair tactics deployed by the ruling Patriotic Front party the four by-elections held on July 25.

The MMD, which won its election in Chipata but lost in Mkushi North (the United Party for National Development also won in Solwezi East and Kafulafuta), says that they “do not believe that the playing field was free and fair in these past elections.”

Although the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) took a strong stance in its citation of the PF for parading a tribal leader during its rally (which has provoked a developing scandal between Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba and the electoral authority), Dr Mumba’s statement says that PF cadres were regularly tearing down and defacing MMD advertisements without any form of punishment by the ECZ, while there have been unequal applications of law – for example, the vacating of a seat because of a church donation, which also occurred in Feira on behalf of the PF with no consequence.

The MMD statement also cites biased coverage by the state-owned broadcaster ZNBC, suggesting that “greater punitive sanctions can be implemented to prevent these unfair practices from happening in the future.”

The party says it is “is disheartened and totally dissatisfied” with the behaviour of the Zambian police during the campaigns. According to the statement, a number of violent incidences were perpetrated by the PF and reported to the police for consideration. The response was “very luke-warm or no attention was given to these complaints even when they involved the whipping of old women undertaking door to door campaigns or abductions of a Councillor and a Member of Parliament by PF Cadres.”

The statement from Dr Mumba on behalf of the MMD also congratulated voters and expressed gratitude to the supporters who came out to participate in the polls, emphasizing that the People of Zambia may be “forgiving, and are always prepared to extend a hand of trust”, but they also are quick to rise when that trust has been abused and betrayed by an ungrateful elected leadership.

“We applaud the youth of Chipata for showing great restraint in the face of great provocation from PF cadres who were bent on disrupting the electoral process and attempting to render the police ineffective,” Dr Mumba said. “We are grateful to Chipata for proving wrong those that wish to spread the falsehood that the MMD is unwanted and shall never be given the opportunity to government again.”

The post Despite Victory, MMD Cites Unfair Aspects of By-Elections appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has demanded the immediate release of detained Kabwe-based freelance journalist Wilson Mpondamali.

Mpondamali, who was discharged from Kabwe General Hospital today and returned to a holding cell, is being detained for allegedly having links to the news website Zambian Watchdog.

In a communiqué signed by all the regional heads, chairperson Anthony Kasunda said the body had observed with dismay the slowly deteriorating media freedom environment in Zambia that had seen the strangulation of online media.

“…we strongly condemn the continued detention of Wilson Pondamali. We demand his immediate release to allow the legal process to take its course,” Kasunda said.

“We have further noted that a number of processes to enact access to information laws have stalled in the region. We therefore call on the governments of Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia to expedite the adoption of access to information laws without further delay. We urge the government of Namibia to begin the process.”

The gathering noted that rather than criminalize online media the government needed to engage the cyber journalists to find common ground.

“Recent events across the region point to increased threats to freedom of expression in cyberspace.” Kasunda stated.

”These include the blocking of websites in Zambia, the banning of bulk SMS services in Zimbabwe, and the introduction of legislation seeking to impose restrictions online in the region.”

He said, “We condemn, in the strongest terms, efforts aimed at inhibiting freedom of expression and access to information through ICT platforms.”

The post MISA Zambia Demands Release of Jailed Journalist appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Opposition United Party for National Development Kalabo Member of Parliament Chinga Miyutu has resigned his deputy ministerial position in the Patriotic Front government.

And Patriotic Front Southern Province political secretary Brian Hapunda has been relieved of his duties.

Miyutu who was serving as deputy minister of sports seems to have been shaken by the prospect of expulsion and subsequently losing his seat opted to give up his government job.

The Kalabo lawmaker said his decision was with immediate effect and that he would concentrate on his parliamentary role.

In the last round of by-elections the opposition triumphed in three of four by-elections and MPs are thinking twice about defecting as they are not guaranteed of victory.

And Hapunda who has since being shunted to Southern Province has been fired although he claimed ignorance on the matter.

Hapunda has been sacked for allegedly conning high profile businessmen of access to State House and government contracts.

The post UPND MP Abandons PF Post Fearing Dejection appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia says it cannot bar a candidate whose seat has been nullified without evidence of conviction.

And Director of Communications in the office of the MMD president Muhabi Lungu says the move was aimed at isolating former Petauke Central MP Dora Siliya.

ECZ acting Public Relations Officer Sylvia Bwalya said the institution could only disqualify a candidate upon evidence of conviction and a letter from the registrar of the court.

She said the ECZ was on firm ground in accordance of section 104 of the constitution.

Bwalya said she was saddened that Transparency International Zambia had decided to engage the ECZ through the media.

And Lungu said the call for MPs whose seats were nullified to be barred were targeted at the outspoken Siliya whose election was nullified by the courts.

The post Electoral Body Reject PF Attempts to Block Siliya appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Government ministers have continued to explain away the recent opposition parties’ success in by-elections by clarifying it at every opportunity.

Acting government spokesperson Fackson Shamenda forgot he was on a tour of NAPSA Building in Lusaka on a familiarization tour and veered into politics where he groaned about the wealth of opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema.

“There is this party that is being said to be a rising star. But there is a logic there the people are moving from MMD because they want money to be sponsored by UPND,” he said.

“They are following this money by this one leader who made so much money during the privatization period.”

And in Southern Province the 74 year old Daniel Munkombwe said the natives of Chief Simwatachela’s area that it was not true that the opposition was gaining ground.

Munkombwe said the opposition were ‘just lucky’ to have triumphed in by-elections.

The post Shamenda Still Talking PF By-Election Defeat appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Police in Kabwe have been forced to release journalist Wilson Pondamali by a magistrate court.

The Zambian Watchdog reports that Mpondamali, who was discharged from Kabwe General Hospital on Wednesday and returned to a holding cell, was being detained for allegedly having links to their news website.

The police intended to keep him in detention and refused to give him police bond. But his lawyers went to court and obtained a second bail. The police ignored the first bail he was given two weeks ago before he collapsed in prison.

Even in court, the police tried their best through the state prosecutor to oppose his being granted bail. The police argued that he was flight risk and should therefore be detained. But the magistrate disagreed withe police and ordered that they release him immediately.

He was released from police around 19 hours but is due to appear in court today on the charge of malicious damage to property and attempting to escape from lawful custody.

Source: Zambia Watchdog

The post Journalist Mpondamali Released from Jail appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The African Marketing Confederation (AMC) – the pan-African umbrella body established to represent the continent’s various marketing bodies, associations and organisations – has launched its own quarterly magazine, Strategic Marketing Africa.

According to a press release circulated by AMC, Strategic Marketing Africa will be a “high quality glossy publication,” providing “in-depth, thought-leadership editorial content to the continent’s marketers, with a special emphasis on topics of relevance to the African marketing and business environment.” These include: marketing strategy; consumer behaviour; market research; digital marketing; advertising; corporate social responsibility; public relations; and relevant global and regional trends.

The press release continues:

The first issue, published in mid-July, is being circulated to the membership of the current AMC member countries – Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ), Marketing Society of Kenya (MSK), National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), Zambian Institute of Marketing (ZIM) and the Institute of Marketing Management (IMM), South Africa. Additional countries and marketing bodies will be added to the circulation as they become members of the AMC.

Strategic Marketing Africa is believed to be the first publication in Africa to devote itself to coverage of continent-wide marketing-related issues. The 60-page launch issue is free to members and distributed in both print and digital format. At this stage it is not on public sale.

“The vision of the AMC is simple: To promote and maintain high standards of professional skills, ability, ethics and integrity amongst African marketers through national marketing bodies,” says President, Helen McIntee. “Africa – with its diversity of languages, cultures, religions and racial groups, as well as its individual country histories, legacies, political upheavals, varying degrees of technology and different media sophistication – is very much in need of an umbrella body that can link like-minded marketing individuals and organisations across the continent.”

McIntee believes that, by assisting in knowledge sharing via case studies, research outcomes and integrated events, marketers can address Africa’s unique challenges and pave the way for future marketing strategies that will enable Africa to become a continent to look up to in the sphere of marketing.

The post AMC Launches New Marketing Magazine appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Zambia’s largest state-owned copper mining interest ZCCM-IH has been accused of poor governance and ineffective management by the Patriotic Front (PF) government by minority shareholders, including the failure to recover more than $1 billion the company is owed.

In an open letter written to Zambia’s Vice President Guy Scott, submitted to the Government of Zambia via its Embassy in Paris,France last April, thirteen French and UK minority shareholders in ZCCM Investments Holdings are accusing the PF of refusing to allow minority shareholders to exercise their voting rights or attend meetings.

ZCCM-IH is 87,6% owned by the State, and 12,4% owned by private shareholders.

The minority shareholders say that they still have not received any response from Vice President Scott, describing the ZCCM-IH matter as a “scandal” that is “probably too embarrassing.”

“We do not know exactly why the chairman and the board fear from the nomination of a representative of minority shareholders to sit on the Board, but we are sure there are bad tricks and deals,” the open letter reads.

Among the chief complaints raised in the letter are that the chairman and directors’ remuneration are hidden, that there has been no legal procedure brought against looters for fraud (eg Mopani/Glencore), and that management neglects to pressure First Quantum Metals to pay its $570 million minority interest from Kansanshi.

The French and British shareholders emphasize their fears that ZCCM’s Executive Chairman Wila Mung’Omba may be attempting to undervalue the company’s assets by not taking in FQM interest payments in order to convert debt into equity to be passed to a “crony investor.”

As FQM’s payments to ZCCM-IH account for 81% of earnings, the minority shareholders alleged that Mung’Omba and the management are destroying shareholder value at the company.

“The minority shareholders have exactly the same interests as the majority shareholder, the GRZ: that ZCCM-IH becomes one of the leading companies in Africa. It has the means to achieve this, but so far, as a result of weak direction, it has lacked the will to make significant progress,” the letter reads.

“Your honour Mr Vice President, on several occasions you have stated your intention to fight corruption, underhand deals and bad practices. We therefore humbly ask you to consider taking an active part to ensure that the corporate governance and management of ZCCM-IH are of the highest order and above suspicion so that the Zambian people can once again be proud of this flagship company and reap the benefits that should be theirs. You can be sure to count on the minority shareholders and their future representative to do all they can to assist you in this endeavour.”

ZCCM-IH Shareholders Write to Guy Scott

The post ZCCM-IH Minority Shareholders Warn of PF Mismanagement appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) says the Patriotic Front’s poor performance in the just ended by-elections is a sign that people are losing confidence in the government because of the unfulfilled promises.

CCZ General Secretary Suzanne Matale has advised the PF government to stop witch-hunting and reflect on their pledges made during their campaigns to better the lives of the people which have not been fulfilled despite being given the mandate to rule.

And Reverend Matale says the CCZ has noted with concern the hostility by Patriotic Front (PF) officials towards the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) following their loss in the recently held parliamentary by-elections.

Reverend Matale says the church mother body has observed that the PF has not conceded defeat through the expression of aggression towards the ECZ, through its Secretary General Wynter Kabimba and other top party officials who have accused ECZ of favouring the opposition in the last by-elections.

She says attacks on the ECZ by the ruling party is an act of insincerity, especially that PF has endorsed the commission’s credibility whenever they emerged winners in many elections especially in recently numerous induced by-elections which had characterized the political scene.

She says in a democracy, the PF is expected to show maturity, respect for the rule of law and systems which govern the democratic processes especially those that have been given the mandate as a government.

Reverend Matale adds that the continued harassment of ECZ staff as a result of the poor performance in the just ended parliamentary elections exhibits political intolerance by the ruling party.

She adds that the church does not expect the party in power to change goal posts when they are disadvantaged in an election but continue to give credit where credit is due when they win or loss in any election.

Reverend Matale says the Council believes that allowing politicians to vent out their anger on the outcome of the elections conducted under the watchful eye of the ECZ is going against the constitution which gives the commission the power to oversee the elections process.

She says the PF leadership should use the correct channels to challenge the election outcome and avoid using channels that result in the brewing of political tension and instill fear in the people who have been given the mandate to oversee the elections.

Source: Qfm

The post Stop Witch Hunting – Church tells PF appeared first on Zambia Reports.

President of Zambia Michael Sata has reportedly departed from the country again on an international flight of an unknown destination.

Reports of the sudden unannounced departure were first published by Zambian Watchdog, and later circulated among political observers on social media platforms.

Efforts to contact State House to confirm or deny President Sata’s travels have not yet been successful.

According to the report published by Watchdog, the head of state departed Lusaka around 20:15 in the evening, using a non-direct route to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.  President Sata was scheduled to open the Lusaka Agriculture and Commerical Show tomorrow.

President Sata, who is known to suffer from various medical conditions, has previously spent several weeks in undisclosed foreign countries, allegedly receiving treatment.

Although the exact nature of the president’s medical condition has never been disclosed to the public, many observers are concerned that he may be suffering from a terminal illness, prompting the possibility of a situation in which he may become unfit for office.

The post President Sata Departs Zambia – Report appeared first on Zambia Reports.

President Michael Sata has shaken up part of the police command promoting Lombe Kamukoshi to Deputy Police Commissioner and also elevating Director of Criminal Operations Malcom Mulenga as commissioner for Luapuala Province.

Kamukoshi was Western Province Police Deputy Commissioner and makes a giant leap in the police structure joining the numerous women Sata has handed lofty power.

Sata has taken keen interest in who runs police high command positions.

Previously the Inspector General appointed commissioners but now that authority is being exercised by the Republican President.

Mulenga and Kamukoshi took oath before President Sata this morning at State House.

In other changes in the police structure announced by Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani Western Province Commissioner Phanuel Siandenge has been moved to force headquarters as commissioner in charge of operations while Muchinga Province Commissioner Lemmy Kajoba moves to Western Province in the same capacity.

Luapula Province Commissioner Philemon Mutale has moved to force headquaters as commissioner in charge of administration and has been replaced by Malcom Mutale
and Lombe Bwalya is commissioner for Muchinga Province.

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Patriotic Front youth have continued their assault on the Electoral Commission of Zambia with Lusaka Province youth chairperson Kennedy Kamba telling a PF meeting that they will be forced to hound out Executive Director Priscilla Isaacs for coming out hard on the ruling party.

Kamba told the PF youths that the ruling party was aware that Isaacs was pro opposition United Party for National Development and Movement for Multi-Party Democracy and that the youths will be forced to camp at her office until she was hounded out.

“I want also to warn Priscilla Isaacs, the Electoral Commission of Zambia Executive Director that do not force these youths to come and camp there (ECZ),” Kamba said amidst cheers from PF officials.

“We know what you are doing, you are pro oppostion, you are supporting the UPND and you are supporting the MMD.”

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has endured the wrath of Patriotic Front officials including top gun Wynter Kabimba who is Justice Minister and also party General Secretary who have not taken kindly to being reminded of their breach of the Electoral Code during the just ended circuit of by-elections.

President Michael Sata paraded Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people at a rally to campaign for PF candidate Lameck Mangani who eventually lost the poll.

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