The Post News
February 5, 1996Warning! This newspaper is banned in Zambia!
Warning! This newspaper is banned in Zambia!
By Staff Reporter
President Chiluba, his ministers and some ruling MMD officials are secretly planning a referandum in March, this year to get the 'public' to endorse the government white paper and usher in an MMD tailored Constitution. The President also intends to hold local government elections at the same time, with little notice to the opposition. In so doing, it is believed, the government hopes to "dribble past" informed public opinion in civic organisations and the opposition parties which have been advocating for a constituent assembly. A secret programme leaked to The Post reveals that money for the project, amounting to more than K150 million, will come from a fund under the control of President Chiluba, from an undisclosed source. And according to sources at the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the secret plan was to have been launched in the last week of January by legal affairs minister Remmy Mushota who was expected to issue a press statement on "submissions by non governmental organisations and pressure groups" dismissing their views. The programme, now two weeks behind schedule, includes expenditure of K40 million on publication of constitutional campaign material, K6 million on advertisements on radio, television and newspapers, K90 million on tours to provinces by ministers and some selected civil servants, and K15 million on a meeting in Siavonga to analyse evidence received and report to cabinet. After which there will be a "thirty days publication of the bill in the Government Gazette", followed by a "referendum on part III in conjunction with the local government elections" between the first and the fourth week of March. But ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) national secretary, health minister Michael Sata, saw nothing strange in his party consulting the people on its constitutional proposals. "There is nothing wrong with consulting people. We have always been doing that, so why should we not do so now?" Sata asked in an interview yesterday. And Zambia Democratic Congress president Dean Mung'omba yesterday advised government not to shortcut the process because matters dealing with the Constitution and elections were national issues. "There are many players who include voters themselves. The processes cannot be handled secretly. They must be discussed with other stakeholders, including opposition parties," Mung'omba said in an interview yesterday. "While government is entitled to call snap elections, they are definitely not entitled to shortcut the processes." Mung'omba, who described government insistence to adopt the constitution through parliament said it was "as destructive as it is annoying". "ZDC is ready to participate in any election and would not be taken by surprise," Mung'omba said."We had sufficient information from government itself about local government elections in March and presidential and parliamentary elections in June-July. Either way we are ready." And opposition United National Independence Party (UNIP) chairman Malimba Masheke has deplored government secrecy in dealing with constitutional issues. "MMD cannot rule this country through secrecy. We are also participants and we should be involved," Masheke said in an interview yesterday, adding: "If they are going for a referandum we will meet them but they must come out in the open. They should not try to take people by surprise." Masheke, who also criticised the MMD's choice of March for the referandum and local government elections, said the money being used by government to advance its view is public money. "Why have elections in March when most parts of the country would be impassible? It is because they want to be the only ones to reach these areas by helicopters so they can rig the elections," Masheke charged, adding that the K151 million government would spend on tours and publicity materials "is public money and there is need for to be accounted for". Liberal Progressive Front secretary Rolf Shenton described government action and its secret plans as strange and not to its advantage. "I find it strange that they want to do this. It's surely to government's advantage if we reach a consensus. But we will fight this tooth and nail," Shenton said. "If government puts one side we must use all means to put our side to the people." But Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) national secretary and spokesperson Bishop John Mambo reminded government about what was agreed at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in 1991. "The give and take which was there in 1991 was expected to continue in the Third Republic. We agreed at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and God would be disappointed if we change," Mambo said. "You cannot afford to be stubborn in an election year. You must listen to people, they are the voters." Mambo advised government to examine the many serious issues which need to be addressed such as another extension of voter registration, the need for President Chiluba to meet other parties, churches and civic organisations, the establishment of an independent electoral commission and to heed the call for a constituent assembly. Asked about the planned referandum, Mambo, who said he was aware that churches and NGO were being probed by government because of their views, said there was need for people to know in detail about such a move. "If they bring a referandum, we need to know about it. We need to know what is being asked. There should be no dark corner arrangements for anything," Mambo said. Zambia Civic Association chairperson Lucy Sichone has described government intentions as "strange" and "wasteful". "If this is what they are doing it is strange. They seem to have lost direction. How can they consult in secret and on their own position?" asked Sichone in an interview yesterday. "What they should translate and consult on is the Mwanakatwe report and the draft constitution." And Sichone said whatever the government does they will be outdone. "What question will they ask? Any way whatever they do we will be able to muster enough no votes against them," Sichone said. And revealing the details of the provincial tours the sources said an amount of K10 million has been budgeted for each province and a minister assigned. All provincial trips which are expected in the first and second week of February have Edith Nawakwi assisted by permanent secretary at home affairs K. Mwansa assigned to Northern Province while Samuel Miyanda and Ernest Mwansa are expected to tour Luapula. Bennie Mwiinga goes to North Western, Luminzu Shimaponda and Axon Sejani with legal affairs director Valentine Kabonga to Southern and Sikota Wina and civil servant Joshua Kanganja to Western Province. Others who are similarly scheduled include Remmy Mushota for Copperbelt, Paul Tembo with civil servant Mrs Johnston for Central Province and Eric Silwamba with civil servant Eva Jhala for Lusaka Province. All are to be assisted by provincial ministers and their permanent secretaries and information officers.
By Kunda Mwila, George Jambwa and Reuben Tonga
A survivor of last month's Kalomo train collision has criticised the commission of inquiry appointed by government saying "it is unnecessary because it will yield nothing government does not know". Survivor Davy Hamweemba feels the money which will be spent in sitting allowances, accommodation and transportation of the commission of inquiry should be used to increase compensation for the victims or their families and help them start new lives. "This idea is stupid and it has got no support. The commission, I know, accumulates a lot of millions of money. They can just help us with that money," said Davy Hamweemba in an interview on Friday from his University Teaching Hospital bed. Last Thursday transport and communication minister Dawnson Lupunga told parliament a commission of inquiry had been appointed to probe the Kalomo train accident. Hamweemba said he was considering legal action against Zambia Railways and the government. "I think Rodger Chongwe will really enjoy this. This is a serious case and I will see if I can sue. If I can have chance to meet Chongwe or Lucy Sichone, please inform them for me," said Hamweemba who sustained injuries on both legs, a broken shoulder and ribs. Hamweemba added: "You see, this country is fun, a minister suffers minor injuries and is urgently flown to South Africa for treatment and a lot of poor people die in a train crash, no one cares." And Zambia Democratic Congress deputy secretary general, Azwell Banda observed that "all the commissions of inquiry in Zambia so far, have never served any purpose". "The commissions have been useless and just a drain on public funds," Banda said in an interview on Friday. "We all know that the cause was the bad tracks and outdated communications in Zambia Railways. Why call an inquiry?"
By Masautso Lungu and Shaka Gina
Zambia Democratic Congress (ZDC) last Friday urged the government to honour the Industrial Relations Court's ruling and pay civil servants their 45 per cent salary increment or appeal to a higher court. ZDC supported last Friday's position by members of the Civil Servants Union of Zambia (CSUZ) to withdraw their labour country-wide if the court ruling is not honoured by the government. ZDC deputy secretary general Azwell Banda however said the workers should only resort to that action if government does not either appeal against the Industrial Relations Court's ruling or pay them their dues. "Government should concentrate on dialogue with the unions over labour matters rather than taking cases to court because dialogue would be a more fruitful approach in such matters," Banda advised. "It was irresponsible for government to have resorted to taking this matter to court, and if you go to court you must be prepared to accept any decision that the court will mete out." CSUZ general secretary Japhet Moonde said his members were set to paralyse government operations unless they were paid what is now legally due to them. "Last time when we wanted to go on strike we were blocked by the court injunction the government filed, but this time we are prepared to break the law if they do the same," said Moonde at a meeting held at the Ministry of Finance last Friday. And another CSUZ official, Simon Mukuka, said nothing will stop the civil servants from getting their increments this month end "or we strike". The placard carrying workers chanted anti Penza slogans and called for his resignation just outside his office building. Penza later cancelled a hastily called press conference at which, it is believed, he was scheduled to give his reply to the workers' attacks. "I cannot say anything on that issue because I have been advised to keep quiet, I can only talk after I appear before the court on Tuesday," said Penza. Penza has since been summoned by the Industrial Relations Court to answer charges of contempt.
By George Jambwa
About 25 out of the 30 families whose relatives perished in the Gabon air disaster have finally signed a letter of consent instructing lawyers to commence legal action against the state. The signing follows a meeting of the victims' families held in Kitwe on Saturday. "We have signed a two page document in which all 25 families agreed without dispute that we should take the state to court for its failure to release the Gabon air crash report and for negligence and causing death to our people," an inside source said. The source asked not to be named because the 25 agreed to keep the matter within their circles until a meeting with their lawyers. The signed instruction should have been handed to the lawyers today but the 25 resolved to give chance to the other 5 to sign it before it was submitted. "It is important to give chance to the other five families who did not attend the meeting due to some problems they are facing," the source said yesterday. The families' committee secretary Doreen Makinka was, however, non committal over the matter. "I'm not in a position to disclose anything to you if we have signed anything or not until we inform our lawyers of the out come of our meeting," Doreen said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday. The decision to have all concerned sign the instruction was aimed at forestalling future turnarounds and disassociations by any one of them in the event of political pressure. The entire Zambia national soccer team, Football Association of Zambia officials, civil servants and a Zambia Air Force crew died when the Buffalo military plane they were travelling in crashed off the coast of Gabon in April 1993. Government is yet to release the report on the cause of the crash despite calling an inquiry immediately after the accident.
By Mukalya Nampito
Reacting to recent attacks on the judiciary Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) chairman Sakwiba Sikota yesterday appealed to members of the executive and the legislature to respect the courts. "If the executive or legislature do not show any respect for our courts there is very little incentive for the ordinary citizen to be law abiding," Sikota said in a press statement yesterday. Sikota further advised: "Our democracy will only stand a chance of flourishing if we are mature enough to realize that the scales of justice will not always tilt to one side." The LAZ chairman said it is understood that people can discuss and even criticise a judgement once delivered but not the bench. "What is not acceptable is to criticise or insult personalties on the bench when criticising one of their judgements. The executive is supposed to defend the honour and integrity of the judiciary," Sikota said. "One does not expect an attack on the judiciary to come from the front bench in Parliament as this would be akin to someone having the right side of their body fighting the left side." Finance minister, Ronald Penza, last week attacked the Industrial Relations Court (IRC) decision to award civil servants a 45 per cent increment. He called the decision irresponsible. And he has since been summoned to appear before the IRC tomorrow. LAZ also feels that the Supreme Court judgement on the Public Order Act will not affect the work of the police in anyway. Anyone who behaves in a riotous manner is liable to prosecution under the existing laws. "The Supreme Court did not say that people have the right to riot or destroy property," Sikota said. "The right people have is to peaceably assemble and go about their business without breaking the law." Recently Vice-President Godfrey Miyanda, legal affairs minister Remmy Mushota and energy deputy minister Ernest Mwansa expressed displeasure with the Supreme Court judgement in parliament. LAZ further advised police to put forth no more regulation than is necessary to administer and control the public. "If unreasonable conditions which are overly elaborate are put in place these will go beyond what was envisaged by the Supreme Court when they talked about the Inspector-General devising "some simple and practical method of receiving notifications'," Sikota said. And leader of the House, Vice-President Miyanda, on January 25 told parliament: "We will make amendments to see that sense comes to the law so that we don't have anarchy. The courts should have cast their nets wider and looked at the wider implications of their judgements," Miyanda has said. The association has urged the Inspector-General to come up with regulations which will not in themselves infringe upon other people's rights.
By Reuben Phiri
Twenty-five bags of flour belonging to an unamed Lusaka businessman last Wednesday disappeared from the Makeni Dry Port. And according to both Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and police sources, the bags of flour were stolen from a truck which was parked at the port awaiting clearance. A police source revealed to The Post last Thursday that unknown people hurled the bags and hid them at a farm neighbouring the Dry Port. Five out of the twenty-five missing bags were later found in the maize field by a combined team of police and ZRA officials. Two women found at the scene were immediately picked up and detained at Makeni police station. "These two were found near the bags of flour in the maize field and are here merely to assist with investigations," said a police officer who showed the two women to The Post but declined to be named. This is the second theft from ZRA premises within one month. Five businessmen and twenty-three youths were picked up by police on January 1 after they were found loading goods onto a truck from a ZRA warehouse in Lusaka's industrial area. The businessmen have since been charged and are appearing in court.
By Chris Ndhlovu
Ruling MMD member of parliament for Chifubu, former vice-president Levy Mwanawasa, was last Monday accused of neglecting his Chifubu Constituency by a Ndola clergyman. Pastor of New Hope Centre, Christopher Mubanga in an interview in Ndola on Monday said he was surprised that former vice-president Mwanawasa had failed to take advantage of the positions he held both in the party and and government to initiate development projects in the area. "He is a powerful lawyer, was the vice-president of the party and later became the country's second-in-command which was a great advantage for the constituency but he did nothing," Mubanga carped. "There is literally nothing that one can point at and tie Mwanawasa's name to in the constituency." The former vice-president is also accused of not completing projects in the area. "The only attempt he would have made was to finish the tarring of the Pamodzi- Kawama Road which he has failed to do," Mubanga observed. "Mwanawasa could have approached donors using his position as vice-president of the country." But when contacted for a comment, Mwanawasa said he was too busy to comment. "Mr Mwanawasa says he is too busy to talk to you," a person at Mwanawasa's office said in a telephone interview on Saturday. Mubanga, who said he had lived in Chifubu in the First, Second and Third Republics, accused the former vice-president of not even visiting his constituency. "The only time he addressed his voters here was when he came to talk about his K11 million monthly salary," he said. "This place has just been deteriorating. No wonder the first people who rejected Mwanawasa were his constituents and they further demonstrated their displeasure with him putting an end to his hopes at the recent MMD convention."
By Reuben Phiri
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating senior prison officers countrywide in connection with widespread irregularities in the procurement of food for the prisons. And both ACC and prison sources said the officers, mainly regional commanding officers, are believed to have been contracting business partners, friends and relatives on huge tenders for the supply of foodstuffs to the prisons in their areas. It is believed there are irregularities in documentation dealing with food supplies. The supplies were also on what ACC says are "exorbitant prices and point to a possible direct benefit to some prison officers". When contacted ACC director of operations, Isaac Mbewe, confirmed the probe but declined to give details saying only: "We are aware of the matter." But public relations officer for the prison service, Augustine Phiri, described the ACC probe as mere routine checks. "What we know is that there are routine checks but if there are investigations by ACC, we are not aware, they might have been initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs," Phiri said in an interview in Lusaka last Thursday.
Zambia Democratic Congress (ZDC) vice president for Women Affairs, Eularia Chilala, yesterday quit and rejoined the ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD). Chilala said she had left ZDC because it had not lived up to her expectations.
By Sipo Kapumba
Finance minister Ronald Penza says he cannot commit himself on the future of the closed Co-operative Bank just yet. Penza, however, confirmed in a brief interview last Friday that he had received communication from the bank on possible ways of salvaging it. "I have received a letter from Co-operative Bank but I have not replied to it yet, therefore, I am not in a position to tell you what my response will be," Penza said. The bank was closed last November following a run as a result of closures of three other indigenous banks, Meridien bank, Commerce Bank and African Commercial Bank. According to the bank's chairman Costain Chilala, about K3.5 billion is needed to re-open it. Last Friday part of the skeleton staff remaining at the bank's head office in Lusaka said they were still ignorant about the fate of their bank. The only thing they were aware about was the unexplained retirement of the managing director Henry Mufalo.
By Sipo Kapumba
Bank of Zambia has received preliminary reports from the receivers of African Commercial Bank (ACB) and Commerce Bank for evaluation and to decide their fate. "We have received preliminary reports from the receivers and various recommendations have been put forward," said Bank of Zambia (BOZ) director of financial systems supervision, Jonathan Muke, in an interview on Friday, adding: "Until we get the final report it would not be right for me to say anything." But a source at Deloitte and Touche, the receivers, said on Friday that work was in process to make further payments to depositors of the two banks which were closed in November last year. Depositors of the two banks got an initial payment of up to K500,000 just before Christmas last December. The receivers' report would recommend whether the banks should be liquidated or re-opened when the receivership period ends later this month. Commenting on the state of the financial system Muke said he was encouraged that the situation had stabilised and he was hopeful the stability would continue. "We are happy it is extremely quiet now,"Muke said. "We are working closely with everyone concerned to ensure things continue this way." At least three Zambian banks, including the country's fourth largest, Meridian BIAO Bank, now under liquidation, closed last year.
By Sipo Kapumba
The Export Board of Zambia (EBZ) is now linked to a world wide computer network of trade organisations called "Trade Point" through the internet. EBZ executive director Mwansa Musonda said in an interview on Friday that the EBZ got on the system a fortnight ago through Zamnet, the Zambian internet provider. "The system should have been set-up by the private sector but because of constraints such as manpower we decided to go ahead with the project ourselves," Musonda said. Mwansa said EBZ needed K50 million to set-up a complete network which could allow other people to access information from Trade Point through EBZ computers and he was hopeful of funding from the government in this year's budget. He said being linked to Trade Point would enable EBZ have access to latest trade information and speed up the processing of trade enquiries. Musonda said each country linked to Trade Point which is based in Australia has a home page where trade, investment and other information relating to investment prospects in their country is input. Other information available from Trade Point includes latest trade bulletins from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on world trade. John Mumbi, managing director of J.M. exports and import consultants in Lusaka said in an interview Friday that the news that EBZ was on the internet was very welcome. "The internet is a fast and efficient means of communication and what this means is that we can have up to date information about international trade which we can use when offering advice to clients," Mumbi said. He hoped that EBZ could work quickly to ensure that the network is set-up for use by consultants like him.
By Goodson Machona in Johannesburg
The Nigerian national team has been banned from playing in the next two African Nations Cup competitions for withdrawing from the biennial 16-nation soccer extravaganza. This shock announcement was made by Confederation of African Football (CAF) spokesman Viken Djizmedjian, at a press briefing held at the Sand Town Holiday Inn in Johannesburg on Friday night. "The CAF executive committee in its meeting of February 1 in Johannesburg took the following sanctions against the team of Nigeria-suspension from the following two editions of the African Nations Cup in 1998 and 2000," Djizmedjian said. Nigeria were also fined $15,000 and would be required to pay any damages its withdrawal caused to the CAF. The suspension will remain in force after the 2000 tournament if Nigeria does not pay the fine and the damage costs. But Nigerian Football Association boss, Emeka Omeruah, says his organisation would protest vehemently to CAF over the ban. "We had a security problem in our hands and we have made this known to the relevant bodies," he said of Nigeria's decision to pull out of the tournament.
By Reuben Tonga and Samson Mujuda
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) is impressed with the foresight of national trainer Roald Pouseln and will continue with his contract despite Zambia's poor showing at the Africa Cup of Nations. FAZ treasurer Musa Kasonka said on arrival from South Africa yesterday that there was no need to terminate the Dane's contract because of his ability to shape a good team for the future. He said Poulsen will instead be tasked to prepare the team for the 1998 Africa and World Cup. "There's no way we can fire him, it wasn't his fault that we lost. Though we lost, he has proved he is a capable coach, hence we will retain him as such," disclosed Musa Kasonka, who led the Zambian delegation to South Africa. And Poulsen, happy that FAZ has decided to continue with him said he will soon draw up his plans for the Africa Cup and World Cup qualifiers. "I think it's better that as at now, we start looking at what we can do in the next Africa Cup and World Cup, we have to prepare for the future. But I think it's good that FAZ want to help the team as a whole. We have to work hard now," said Poulsen in an interview shortly after the team arrived yesterday. Sports minister Patrick Kafumukache has also said his ministry will help the football association to start making preparations for the qualifying games to the World Cup. "Although we lost to Tunisia and failed to bring the cup we had promised to have here, this is going to be a temporary thing because we already have a good team that will take us to the World Cup," Kafumukache said.
Inspirational skipper Kalusha Bwalya and towering defender Elijah Litana have won themselves places in Africa's best eleven Master Card squad picked at the just-ended Africa Nations Cup. Zambia contributed the second highest number of players behind finalists, South Africa and the Black Stars of Ghana, who have three players each in Africa's cream team selected out of the 15 countries that participated in the Nations Cup. The selection was made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) technical committee and was released at a press conference in Johannesburg on Friday night. The committee said that Kalusha was selected for his knack for goals. "He was quick to capitalise on the opponents' mistakes. He made himself prominent during the attack in crucial times," said Mawade Wade, the Senegalese member of the CAF technical committee. On Litana, Wade said, "He is the pillar in the Zambian defense and was magnificent at creating a screen in front of his defence." he said. This is the second time Litana has won a place in the Master Card Africa best eleven with the first being at the Tunisia Nations Cup in 1994 where he was selected together with Harrision Chongo. But a surprise omission in the squad is Liberia's World and Africa's Footballer of the Year, George Weah, who Wade said failed to shine at the Nations Cup where his team failed to pass through to the second round. He said while CAF recognised that Weah was "the best player on the continent, it had to select the best players in this tournament." "He is the best player on the continent and the world, but he did not have a good tournament and he was not selected," Wade said. The full master card Africa's best team include Tunisia's goalkeeper El Quaer Chokri, Yasser Radwan (Egypt), Issac Asare (Ghana), Mark Fish (South Africa), Elijah Litana (Zambia), Eric Tinkler (South Africa), Hassam Emam (Egypt), Abedi "Pele" Ayew (Ghana), Tony Yeboah (Ghana) and Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia). South Africa's John "Shoes" Mosheou has been brought into the team as a reserve. The sponsors, Master Card, donated $ 1,000 to each of the players, which will in turn be donated to the charity of the players' choice.
[ Return to The Post toplevel ]
[ Comments, Questions and Criticisms ]
