President Rupiah Banda on May 14 held two separate meetings with leaders from various trade unions representing the public workers and the Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) to discuss issues affecting workers. He held talks with seven trade union organisations from the pubic sector who briefed him on the status of negotiations between Government and the Unions.
President Banda informed union leaders that his leadership style involved engaging all stakeholders, including the trade unions, in national matters. He repeated his call for reconciliation in the nation in light of problems resulting from the Global Financial Meltdown. He thanked trade union leaders for embracing dialogue and urged other organizations to engage Government on various issues affecting the country.
“I have an open door policy. So I expect those with issues to come forward and discuss with us,” President Banda said.
And the ZCTU made a number of proposals to the President on some of the measures which need to be addressed in order to mitigate the effects of the Global Financial Meltdown. The meeting with the ZCTU also discussed wide-ranging issues that included the Tripartite Consultative Labour Council, the Labour Law reform Process and the Political Situation in the country.
The Trade Unions attendeding the meetings included the Zambia Congress Trade of Unions, Civil Servants and Allied Workers’ Union of Zambia, Zambia National Union of Teachers, Basic Education Teachers Union and the Secondary School Teachers Union. Others were the National Union of Public Workers, Health Workers Union of Zambia and the Agricultural, Technical and Professional Staff Union of Zambia.
The president will, next week, meet the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Zambia (FFTUZ)to continue consultations on issues affecting the nation.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
ACC uncovers a K10 Billion scam
As government in the past weeks faced great criticism over its proposals for setting up mobile hospitals costing US$53,000,000 the country's Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) announced it had unearthed a scam at the Ministry of Health in Lusaka in which more than K10 billion (US$2,000,000) was stolen from the ministry.
The ACC also confiscated K3 billion (US$600,000) worth of property suspected to have been bought from the proceeds of the scam. ACC public relations manager, Timothy Moono said the K10 billion racket was masterminded by a former Ministry of Health official now moved to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.
“The official has not yet been arrested but investigations have continued,” he said. Moono said the official drew money from the Ministry of Health account and diverted it to personal businesses. Twelve vehicles, among them a Hummer H3 and two Mercedes Benz cars have been seized. Other vehicles seized were two Toyota Lexus, an X5 BMW, a Mitsubishi Challenger, a Ford Ranger, a Mazda Pickup and a 30-tonne Nissan UDI tipper truck.
The ACC has also placed Best Home Lodge in Roma Township and a house in Olympia Park under restriction pending the conclusion of the investigations. Moono, who led journalists to view the lodge May 13, said the vehicles were seized from different people who revealed that they were given the vehicles by the former Ministry of Health official.
The syndicate, which has been going on since 2008, was believed to have involved many people at the Ministry of Health apart from the official in question. Moono said even after the suspect was relocated to another ministry, he continued to influence some members of staff at the Ministry of Health to siphon more money.
The ACC also confiscated K3 billion (US$600,000) worth of property suspected to have been bought from the proceeds of the scam. ACC public relations manager, Timothy Moono said the K10 billion racket was masterminded by a former Ministry of Health official now moved to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.
“The official has not yet been arrested but investigations have continued,” he said. Moono said the official drew money from the Ministry of Health account and diverted it to personal businesses. Twelve vehicles, among them a Hummer H3 and two Mercedes Benz cars have been seized. Other vehicles seized were two Toyota Lexus, an X5 BMW, a Mitsubishi Challenger, a Ford Ranger, a Mazda Pickup and a 30-tonne Nissan UDI tipper truck.
The ACC has also placed Best Home Lodge in Roma Township and a house in Olympia Park under restriction pending the conclusion of the investigations. Moono, who led journalists to view the lodge May 13, said the vehicles were seized from different people who revealed that they were given the vehicles by the former Ministry of Health official.
The syndicate, which has been going on since 2008, was believed to have involved many people at the Ministry of Health apart from the official in question. Moono said even after the suspect was relocated to another ministry, he continued to influence some members of staff at the Ministry of Health to siphon more money.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Govt staff steal billions in ghost companies
Auditor general anna chifungula says accounting staff at the Copperbelt provincial administration office now in court on various charges allegedly ran ‘ghost’ companies that provided goods and services to the Government resulting in billions of Kwacha being lost.
Chifungula said this in Lusaka May 11 when Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Villie Lombanya appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament chaired by Luena MP Charles Milupi. Lombanya appeared before the committee to explain financial irregularities as highlighted in the auditor-general’s report for the financial year ending December 31, 2007.
Chifungula said that given the manner in which the funds were abused, it was clear that most of the accounting staff or others connected to them were running companies that never had difficulties in accessing their payments.
“There was a cartel to make easy payments and there is a likelihood that these companies were owned by people who were working in the accounting unit,” she said.
Narrating the abuse of funds, Lombanya said that during 2007, a provision of
ZMK1,559,226,616 (US$311,845.32) was made for the construction of staff houses at provincial level and the Ministry of Finance and National Planning released
ZMK1,259,742,234 (US$251,948.45). He said it was regrettable that the money was not used for the intended purpose and there was overexpenditure of K58,000,517 (US$11,600.10). He said that the accounting staff involved in the scam had been dismissed and 17 of them were facing charges in the courts of law. Lombanya said that apart from facing the charges in courts, the Government was recovering the funds from the terminal benefits of the affected.
But Milupi said that the money from the terminal benefits would not be enough.
He said the Government should instead institute civil litigations against the culprits as they had numerous properties which could be seized.
Chifungula said this in Lusaka May 11 when Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Villie Lombanya appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament chaired by Luena MP Charles Milupi. Lombanya appeared before the committee to explain financial irregularities as highlighted in the auditor-general’s report for the financial year ending December 31, 2007.
Chifungula said that given the manner in which the funds were abused, it was clear that most of the accounting staff or others connected to them were running companies that never had difficulties in accessing their payments.
“There was a cartel to make easy payments and there is a likelihood that these companies were owned by people who were working in the accounting unit,” she said.
Narrating the abuse of funds, Lombanya said that during 2007, a provision of
ZMK1,559,226,616 (US$311,845.32) was made for the construction of staff houses at provincial level and the Ministry of Finance and National Planning released
ZMK1,259,742,234 (US$251,948.45). He said it was regrettable that the money was not used for the intended purpose and there was overexpenditure of K58,000,517 (US$11,600.10). He said that the accounting staff involved in the scam had been dismissed and 17 of them were facing charges in the courts of law. Lombanya said that apart from facing the charges in courts, the Government was recovering the funds from the terminal benefits of the affected.
But Milupi said that the money from the terminal benefits would not be enough.
He said the Government should instead institute civil litigations against the culprits as they had numerous properties which could be seized.
RB consults private sector
President Rupiah Bweza Banda May 11 held a consultative meeting with the Zambia Business Forum on the state of the economy and attending were twelve economic Cabinet Ministers and their permanent secretaries and directors. Others were Bank of Zambia Deputy Governor, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Secretary to the Treasury and other Senior Government Officials. The private sector included Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), Zambia Association of Manufactures (ZAM), Zambia Chamber of Commerce of Small and Medium Business Association (ZCSMBA), Tourism Council of Zambia (TCZ) and Global System for Mobile Association (GSMA).
Among issues discussed included Business Licensing Reforms, Macro-Economic Stability, Economic Stimulus Package, Pending Policies and Bills for Approval
and implementation issues affecting Government.
Submissions by the Zambia Business Forum (ZBF) were welcomed by government which assured the business community that government would take these matter forward.
With regard to Business License Reform, government said that it would table the Eva Jhala Report before parliament for expeditious implementation regarding the reduction of the number of licences impeding the growth of business in the private sector.
And government recognised the high interest and inflation rates prevailing in the economy which was partly caused by the size of the market and dollarisation in the economy. Government said it aimed at bringing down the inflation rate to 10 percent in 2009. Further, government said Bank of Zambia had drafted the Statutory Instrument concerning dollarisation and this would be implemented. Further a credit guarantee scheme would also be implemented through Development Bank of Zambia.
Government also assured the private sector that it would do everything possible to improve on infrastructure development mainly roads, rail and air transport. Further, government invited the private sector to participate actively in the development of infrastructure in areas such as construction of the duo carriage way between Kitwe and chingola, development of the road from Chirundu through Mikango Barracks to Lusaka, creation of tolling roads and rail infrastructure.
Government informed the Zambia Business Forum that the energy sector had been liberalised and invited them to actively participate. Government also revealed they had adopted a new policy on energy in which Biofuel has been recognised as one of the key sectors and a statutory instrument has been issued to that effect.
Among issues discussed included Business Licensing Reforms, Macro-Economic Stability, Economic Stimulus Package, Pending Policies and Bills for Approval
and implementation issues affecting Government.
Submissions by the Zambia Business Forum (ZBF) were welcomed by government which assured the business community that government would take these matter forward.
With regard to Business License Reform, government said that it would table the Eva Jhala Report before parliament for expeditious implementation regarding the reduction of the number of licences impeding the growth of business in the private sector.
And government recognised the high interest and inflation rates prevailing in the economy which was partly caused by the size of the market and dollarisation in the economy. Government said it aimed at bringing down the inflation rate to 10 percent in 2009. Further, government said Bank of Zambia had drafted the Statutory Instrument concerning dollarisation and this would be implemented. Further a credit guarantee scheme would also be implemented through Development Bank of Zambia.
Government also assured the private sector that it would do everything possible to improve on infrastructure development mainly roads, rail and air transport. Further, government invited the private sector to participate actively in the development of infrastructure in areas such as construction of the duo carriage way between Kitwe and chingola, development of the road from Chirundu through Mikango Barracks to Lusaka, creation of tolling roads and rail infrastructure.
Government informed the Zambia Business Forum that the energy sector had been liberalised and invited them to actively participate. Government also revealed they had adopted a new policy on energy in which Biofuel has been recognised as one of the key sectors and a statutory instrument has been issued to that effect.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Will it be fourth time lucky for Sata?
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata says he will contest the 2011 presidential elections despite some people suggesting that he is too old and he needs to groom a younger person. But will he be fourth time lucky? Sata has contested the 2001, 2006 and 2008 presidential elections and lost in each case.
But speaking during a rally at Senama grounds in Mansa May 11, Sata said voters should choose leaders who have the interest of the people at heart and not leaders whose main interest was to make money for themselves. He called on people in Luapula Province to register in numbers during the voters registration exercise in preparation for the 2011 presidential and general elections.
Sata was accompanied by Chimwemwe member of Parliament (MP) Willie Nsanda, Chililabombwe MP Esther Banda and other senior officials from the Copperbelt. He said some of the young people whom he was looking forward to grooming had disappointed him because they were more interested in money and not what the PF stood for.
He said some PF MPs from Luapula Province were more interested in putting money in their pockets and did not care about the non -availability of medicine in hospitals, low salaries of public service workers and the suffering of people in rural areas. He accused some PF rebel MPs of being greedy and selfish and not representing the people who voted them into power. He said PF MPs who claimed to have rebelled against him were not fighting him as an individual but the people who voted for them as their representatives. He further said that some PF MPs in Luapula Province were asked to campaign for President Rupiah Banda and hoped that they would be given jobs in Government but that they were later disappointed because President Banda had his own people he employed.
He said in the 2011 presidential and general elections, the PF would give chance to its members on the ground to select the people they wanted to represent them as MPs.
Sata said that the reason for visiting Luapula was to thank the people in the province for having voted for PF in the 2008 presidential by-elections.
But speaking during a rally at Senama grounds in Mansa May 11, Sata said voters should choose leaders who have the interest of the people at heart and not leaders whose main interest was to make money for themselves. He called on people in Luapula Province to register in numbers during the voters registration exercise in preparation for the 2011 presidential and general elections.
Sata was accompanied by Chimwemwe member of Parliament (MP) Willie Nsanda, Chililabombwe MP Esther Banda and other senior officials from the Copperbelt. He said some of the young people whom he was looking forward to grooming had disappointed him because they were more interested in money and not what the PF stood for.
He said some PF MPs from Luapula Province were more interested in putting money in their pockets and did not care about the non -availability of medicine in hospitals, low salaries of public service workers and the suffering of people in rural areas. He accused some PF rebel MPs of being greedy and selfish and not representing the people who voted them into power. He said PF MPs who claimed to have rebelled against him were not fighting him as an individual but the people who voted for them as their representatives. He further said that some PF MPs in Luapula Province were asked to campaign for President Rupiah Banda and hoped that they would be given jobs in Government but that they were later disappointed because President Banda had his own people he employed.
He said in the 2011 presidential and general elections, the PF would give chance to its members on the ground to select the people they wanted to represent them as MPs.
Sata said that the reason for visiting Luapula was to thank the people in the province for having voted for PF in the 2008 presidential by-elections.
Pay RB, Supreme Court Orders Sata
THE Supreme Court has ordered Patriotic Front (PF) leader, Michael Sata to pay President Rupiah Banda legal costs arising from the abandoned presidential election petition. Sata petitioned the October 30, 2008 presidential election results seeking a recount of all ballot papers after President Banda was declared winner.
In the ruling read by Supreme Court judge, Dennis Chirwa, Mr Sata was ordered to pay costs for Banda while the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the attorney general would settle their costs. Justice Chirwa said when the matter came up on April 27, 2009, Sata’s lawyer Bonaventure Mutale informed the court that he had been instructed to withdraw the petition. He said that since there was no objection, the petition was formally withdrawn and what remained was the question of costs.
Mutale submitted that the court should order each party to bear its costs as the petition was not frivolous and was bonafide because it was taken to court as a result of the manner in which the ECZ conducted the polls. He said the petition raised some constitutional issues and Sata should not be condemned in costs. He said the court had in the past stated that in a democracy, people must be encouraged to litigate important constitutional issues.
The judge said in response, Banda’s lawyer Patrick Mvunga said that the petition was distinguishable from the previous presidential election petitions because they were heard and completed and not abandoned.
Mvunga said the court was able to determine whether the petition was frivolous after hearing the matter and since Sata had abandoned the petition he should bear the costs. Mvunga further submitted that the very act of abandoning the petition showed that it was frivolous and that the court should adopt the usual practice of the costs following the withdrawal.
Abyudi Shonga, another lawyer for Banda said that it would be unjust for the parties to bear their own costs and let Sata walk away without costs because President Banda had already incurred costs in the petition.
Mr Justice Chirwa said that the court agreed that Sata properly petitioned the elections as allowed by the Constitution and that it was alive to its decisions on costs in previous presidential election petitions.
“In those decisions, we ordered that each party should bear own costs because we found that the petitions were not frivolous and parties should not be inhibited to challenge the election of a president by unwarranted condemnation in costs,” he said.
He said in Sata’s petition, the court was not in a position to say whether it was frivolous or not because it was not heard and the allegations were targeted at the conduct of the ECZ.
“No wrong doing was alleged against President Banda as he was brought in because he was declared winner and in the circumstances, we see no reason why President Banda should be denied costs,” Mr justice Chirwa said. He ordered that Sata should bear costs for President Banda while the ECZ and the attorney general would bear their own costs.
And Banda’s lawyers, Shamwana and Company in a letter dated May 5 this year to the president’s special assistant for legal affairs Joseph Jalasi informed the latter that Sata had formally discontinued the matter.
“We are delighted to confirm that the petitioner has now formally discontinued the matter before court.
Resulting from a further application, the petitioner was ordered to pay the first respondent costs,” reads part of the letter. The lawyers said that they were in the process of claiming costs and would update Jalasi as the matter progressed.
In the ruling read by Supreme Court judge, Dennis Chirwa, Mr Sata was ordered to pay costs for Banda while the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the attorney general would settle their costs. Justice Chirwa said when the matter came up on April 27, 2009, Sata’s lawyer Bonaventure Mutale informed the court that he had been instructed to withdraw the petition. He said that since there was no objection, the petition was formally withdrawn and what remained was the question of costs.
Mutale submitted that the court should order each party to bear its costs as the petition was not frivolous and was bonafide because it was taken to court as a result of the manner in which the ECZ conducted the polls. He said the petition raised some constitutional issues and Sata should not be condemned in costs. He said the court had in the past stated that in a democracy, people must be encouraged to litigate important constitutional issues.
The judge said in response, Banda’s lawyer Patrick Mvunga said that the petition was distinguishable from the previous presidential election petitions because they were heard and completed and not abandoned.
Mvunga said the court was able to determine whether the petition was frivolous after hearing the matter and since Sata had abandoned the petition he should bear the costs. Mvunga further submitted that the very act of abandoning the petition showed that it was frivolous and that the court should adopt the usual practice of the costs following the withdrawal.
Abyudi Shonga, another lawyer for Banda said that it would be unjust for the parties to bear their own costs and let Sata walk away without costs because President Banda had already incurred costs in the petition.
Mr Justice Chirwa said that the court agreed that Sata properly petitioned the elections as allowed by the Constitution and that it was alive to its decisions on costs in previous presidential election petitions.
“In those decisions, we ordered that each party should bear own costs because we found that the petitions were not frivolous and parties should not be inhibited to challenge the election of a president by unwarranted condemnation in costs,” he said.
He said in Sata’s petition, the court was not in a position to say whether it was frivolous or not because it was not heard and the allegations were targeted at the conduct of the ECZ.
“No wrong doing was alleged against President Banda as he was brought in because he was declared winner and in the circumstances, we see no reason why President Banda should be denied costs,” Mr justice Chirwa said. He ordered that Sata should bear costs for President Banda while the ECZ and the attorney general would bear their own costs.
And Banda’s lawyers, Shamwana and Company in a letter dated May 5 this year to the president’s special assistant for legal affairs Joseph Jalasi informed the latter that Sata had formally discontinued the matter.
“We are delighted to confirm that the petitioner has now formally discontinued the matter before court.
Resulting from a further application, the petitioner was ordered to pay the first respondent costs,” reads part of the letter. The lawyers said that they were in the process of claiming costs and would update Jalasi as the matter progressed.
RB LEAVES FOR WORKING RETREAT
President Rupiah Banda is on May 12 expected to go on a week-long working Retreat at Hippo Lodge in Kafue National Park where he will meet strategic institutions and organizations as he plans for the coming months.He will hold key meetings with various government and non-government institutions including the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), which had requested for a meeting and some members of the Church.
President Banda will also hold strategic planning session with his key Aides and some senior Government officials on various issues concerning the running of Government. The President is expected to return to Lusaka on May 18.
President Banda will also hold strategic planning session with his key Aides and some senior Government officials on various issues concerning the running of Government. The President is expected to return to Lusaka on May 18.
RB talks to SADCC leaders in South Africa
President Rupiah Banda May 9 held one-on-one closed door bilateral talks with six African leaders in South Africa where he discussed various issues concerning Zambia and the African continent. He held a meeting with Angolan President José Eduardo Dos Santos in Pretoria where the two leaders discussed economic cooperation between Zambia and Angola. After meeting President Dos Santos, President Banda held talks with his Mozambican counterpart President Armando Guebuza where they discussed various bilateral issues concerning the two neighbouring countries.
He also held a meeting with the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Joseph Kabila. The two leaders discussed issues of concern to the two neighbouring countries and pledged continued mutual support.
Before winding up his two-day visit to South Africa, President Banda further held talks with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and the Kings of Swaziland and Lesotho, King Mswati III and King Moshoeshoe, respectively.
Apart from the African leaders, President Banda also held a meeting with Mr. Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Korea. The two leaders discussed bilateral issues, including the forthcoming Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit to be held in Egypt.
He also held a meeting with the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Joseph Kabila. The two leaders discussed issues of concern to the two neighbouring countries and pledged continued mutual support.
Before winding up his two-day visit to South Africa, President Banda further held talks with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and the Kings of Swaziland and Lesotho, King Mswati III and King Moshoeshoe, respectively.
Apart from the African leaders, President Banda also held a meeting with Mr. Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Korea. The two leaders discussed bilateral issues, including the forthcoming Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit to be held in Egypt.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Repatriation of Congo DR refugees resumes
The Zambian government in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on May 9 recommenced the voluntary repatriation of Congolese refugees living in Zambia.
The resumption May 9 marks the official launch of the Congolese voluntary repatriation programme for 2009 from Zambia to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). A total of 321 Congolese refugees departed from Mwange refugee camp by road on a 280-kilometre journey to Mpulungu Harbour in Zambia’s Northern Province. The refugees will leave Mpulungu Harbour by ship to Moba in the DRC on the evening May 9.
The Congolese refugees are 113 from Kala and 208 from Mwange Refugee Camps in the Kawambwa and Mporokoso districts, located in the Luapula and Northern provinces, respectively. The refugees from Kala left the camp on May 8, and were transported to Mwange where they spent a night. This morning they joined their colleagues from Mwange and travelled by road to Mpulungu for their onward return by boat to DRC.
The Voluntary Repatriation of Congolese Refugees in Zambia follows the fifth tripartite commission meeting held on 21 and 22 April in Lusaka and by high-level delegations comprising senior government officials, some diplomats representing the donor community, UNHCR and IOM which met refugees at the Kala camp to encourage them to consider voluntary repatriation now that conditions in the DRC were conducive for return.
Zambia hosts some 45,000 Congolese refugees, with 28,591 of them in the camps of Mwange and Kala in the far north of the country and in the Meheba and Mayukwayukwa settlements in the West and North-West, while the rest are settled among Zambians, including a few living in urban areas.
Returnees will spend the first few days back in DRC in a reception centre where they will receive mine awareness training, HIV/AIDS information and necessary medical assistance before they leave the centre for their areas of return. They will also be provided with a supply of food rations, a construction kit to assist in building their homes, blankets, soap, kitchen items, bicycles and buckets. Later in the year, they will receive seeds and farming tools in their home communities to support them in becoming self-sufficient.
The resumption May 9 marks the official launch of the Congolese voluntary repatriation programme for 2009 from Zambia to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). A total of 321 Congolese refugees departed from Mwange refugee camp by road on a 280-kilometre journey to Mpulungu Harbour in Zambia’s Northern Province. The refugees will leave Mpulungu Harbour by ship to Moba in the DRC on the evening May 9.
The Congolese refugees are 113 from Kala and 208 from Mwange Refugee Camps in the Kawambwa and Mporokoso districts, located in the Luapula and Northern provinces, respectively. The refugees from Kala left the camp on May 8, and were transported to Mwange where they spent a night. This morning they joined their colleagues from Mwange and travelled by road to Mpulungu for their onward return by boat to DRC.
The Voluntary Repatriation of Congolese Refugees in Zambia follows the fifth tripartite commission meeting held on 21 and 22 April in Lusaka and by high-level delegations comprising senior government officials, some diplomats representing the donor community, UNHCR and IOM which met refugees at the Kala camp to encourage them to consider voluntary repatriation now that conditions in the DRC were conducive for return.
Zambia hosts some 45,000 Congolese refugees, with 28,591 of them in the camps of Mwange and Kala in the far north of the country and in the Meheba and Mayukwayukwa settlements in the West and North-West, while the rest are settled among Zambians, including a few living in urban areas.
Returnees will spend the first few days back in DRC in a reception centre where they will receive mine awareness training, HIV/AIDS information and necessary medical assistance before they leave the centre for their areas of return. They will also be provided with a supply of food rations, a construction kit to assist in building their homes, blankets, soap, kitchen items, bicycles and buckets. Later in the year, they will receive seeds and farming tools in their home communities to support them in becoming self-sufficient.
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