Muvi Tv

Wynter Kabimba said yesterday that as far as they were concerned, the lawyers had not received any information from their clients to instruct them otherwise after failure to lodge the motion within 14 days.

Mr Kabimba on July 21 2009 wrote on behalf of Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) pact MPs to National Assembly Speaker, Amusaa Mwanamwambwa giving a 14-day notice to present the motion of impeachment.

The PF-UPND pact MPs were yesterday supposed to present the motion for impeachment of Mr Banda after the 14-day notice to Mr Mwanamwambwa expired.

In an interview in Lusaka, Mr Kabimba said that the five members of the legal team were still consulting on the matter and that they would soon meet to strategise.

On the expiry of the two-week notice, Mr Kabimba said that the notice was not mandatory as it was not a legal requirement.

He said the notice was made out of courtesy and if he had wanted, he could have left it open-ended.

He said the expiry of the notice had, therefore, not affected the process.

On his involvement in the planned impeachment, Mr Kabimba said that he was engaged by the MPs as their counsel to ensure the motion was clear.

And PF leader, Michael Sata has refuted claims by President Banda that he had withdrawn the petition to commence the impeachment process in Parliament.

Mr Sata said yesterday that claims by President Banda that the pact had withdrawn the impeachment petition were not true.

UPND spokesperson, Charles Kakoma said that the party was not aware of any changes following instructions to Wynter Kabimba and Company to handle the matter.

Mr Kakoma, who is Zambezi West MP, said the pact engaged the law firm because the issue required thorough research on the president’s alleged offences.

He said as far as the UPND was concerned, the pact had not issued fresh instructions to the lawyers to discontinue the matter.

MMD chief whip, Vernon Mwaanga said the intended impeachment of President Banda by the PF and UPND MPs had lamentably failed.

In an interview, Mr Mwaanga said the failure to move the motion within the 14 days that the PF and UPND set for themselves was an admission that the impeachment motion would not go to the House.

“This is the nearest way to say that they don’t have numbers in the House to impeach the president. Impeachable reasons as stipulated in article 37 of the constitution in the absence of these impeachable reasons, it is not possible for the president to be impeached.

“Impeachment is not only a political process but a parliamentary process anchored on article 37 of the Republican constitution,” he said.

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Speaking to journalists at Lusaka International Airport shortly before he left for South Africa yesterday, Mr Banda directed Mr Kunda to ensure that the problem was resolved soon.

St Francis Mission Hospital director, Stella Parkinson said on Monday that the institution was experiencing food shortages after some donors withheld aid to the health sector but supply of drugs has not been affected.

Health Minister, Kapembwa Simbao said after Sweden and the Netherlands withheld financial support to the health sector, district hospitals were likely to be worst affected in terms of food supply.

The president, who was reacting to the report from Katete, told Mr Kunda to ensure that he verifies food shortages in various parts of the country and that it should be treated as a matter of urgency.

“I am not aware of food shortages in hospitals but I would like to thank you for bringing this to my attention. Since Mr Kunda you are in charge now I want you to verify these reports and ensure that food is sent,” he said.

President Banda commended some donors for resuming funding to the Ministry of Health.

“I would like to thank the donors for resuming funding to ministry of health and we want to assure the public that we will ensure any misuse of funds are dealt with,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Banda has said he is not scared of being impeached although he explained that laws allowed for people to take such an action.

And Mr Banda is expected to hold bilateral talks with his South African counterpart, Jacob Zuma.

Mr Banda, who is accompanied by First Lady Thandiwe and State House Chief of Staff, Austin Sichinga is also expected to undergo medical check-up and review.

• Mr Banda has defended the Government’s plan to procure mobile hospitals saying the idea would enhance health service delivery.

Drumming up support for MMD candidate, Solomon Musonda at a campaign rally held at Chitambo Mission Grounds on Monday, President Banda said that Zambia required mobile hospitals to improve health delivery services, especially in rural areas.

President Banda said the idea of mobile hospitals was noble and should be encouraged.

“I have been attacked several times over the idea of mobile hospitals but I think this idea is good as it would enhance health service delivery to the people especially in rural areas. Besides, we already have such facilities like the Flying Doctors services,” Mr Banda said.

He said the Government felt the need to move medicines closer to the people by coming up with mobile hospitals.

President Banda said Government had made a step by buying hearses so that people were buried decently.

“Many times sick people have died on the way and this is why the Government wants to attend to this by ensuring ambulances are there for this job. We are going to make sure that we procure more ambulances for all districts,” he said.

The president also defended the Government’s decision to sell 75 per cent shares of Zamtel to equity partners stressing that the company had become insolvent.

Mr Banda said the decision to sell the shares was arrived after he consulted widely contrary to what his critics are saying.

He said that he would strive to ensure that he served Zambia diligently.
He challenged Patriotic Front leader, Michael Sata and other opposition leaders to concentrate on issues instead of peddling lies that the MMD Government had failed to foster national development

Times

The European Commission has also identified and noted safety deficiencies and inadequacies in the regulatory systems by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) of Zambia.

According to the report, the blacklisting showed that the country’s reputation as a safe airspace was in serious doubt and the inspections done by the DCA have not been adequate.

Aviation experts told the newspaper that although no Zambian commercial operators currently fly to Europe, the blacklisting could affect the flow of tourists in the southern African country and would consequently affect domestic carriers as well as chartered operators.

The experts noted that international tourists and business people would think twice to fly to Zambia as their insurance policy would not cover them.

European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajan said in Brussels, Belgium that the commission had added two countries, Zambia and Kazakhstan, to a list of airlines banned from flying into Europe.

He said they could not afford any comprise in their safety, adding that they needed to be vigilant since “citizens had a right to fly safely everywhere in the world.”

But Mr Sata said in reaction that he was busy with the campaign in Chitambo and did not know how far the lawyer who was handling the matter had gone in preparing the impeachment motion.

Addressing a rally in Chitambo yesterday, Mr Banda said he had received reliable information that Mr Sata had abandoned the plan and thanked him for the decision.

Drumming up support for MMD candidate, Solomon Musonda in the by-election slated for August 13, Mr Banda said he had received a report from his ministers that Mr Sata had decided to abandon the planned impeachment.

“I knew that the impeachment move was not going to succeed because it lacked merit. Besides, I am superior in Parliament because of the numbers,” he said.

The president said politics of hate should be discarded and that the move Mr Sata had taken by withdrawing the petition was noble.

“This is how Zambians should proceed, I have no hate for Sata as I consider him a crazy cousin of mine. He is my cousin, so I can even insult him. This cousinship stems from our ancestors, that is why I say he is crazy,” Mr Banda said.

The president said he expected Mr Sata to attend his funeral in an event of death and he would do the same if the same catastrophe befell the PF leader.

“Everywhere one goes, tribes have got cousins who they joke with, help resolve problems with and that is why I asked not to join our cousinship,” Mr Banda said.

He, however, said the United Party for National Development (UPND) leader, Hakainde Hichilema was much younger than him and he was not his cousin to make jokes with.

Mr Banda said he looked forward to defeating Mr Sata in the forthcoming Kasama Central parliamentary by-election.

Earlier, Mr Banda urged Chitambo residents to vote for Dr Musonda, stressing that more development could take root.

He said Dr Musonda was the best candidate out of all the candidates from other political parties taking part in the by-election.

He said roads were being worked on, while issues of health would be attended to.

The president thanked health workers, saying that he appreciated the good job they were doing even though he refused to agree to their wage demands.

The Government is developing infrastructure in Nansanga Farm Bloc to enable livestock farming take place.

MMD chairman, Michael Mabenga said he felt pity for Mr Hichilema for choosing to gang up with Mr Sata through a pact.

Times

President Banda says foreign investment would only come into the country if stability is assured.

Mr. Banda was speaking yesterday at a rally to drum up support for the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) candidate in the Chitambo Constituency parliamentary by-election Dr. Solomon Musonda at Chitambo Basic School.

President Banda said he would fight those trying to promote tribalism and divide the country.

He called upon all Zambians to have a clear vision and build a Zambia ideal for prosperity.

He pointed out that when investors come into the country this would translate into job creation.

Mr. Banda said those instigating actions that would result into the instability of the country were enemies of development.

He said government was focused and determined to encourage the setting up of manufacturing firms and would encourage the opening up of new mines in a bid to address the obtaining unemployment levels in the country.

Mr. Banda said it is therefore wrong for the some opposition leaders to say that government was not doing anything to move the nation forward.

He said the MMD was fielding Dr. Musonda in a bid to sustain development efforts in the area.

And speaking letter at Mukando Basic School, President Banda cautioned United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema against using insulting language towards him.

Mr. Banda said the UPND leader should not join in the cousinship exchange of words between him and Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata.

On the partial privatization of ZAMTEL, Mr. Banda said there was nothing irregular about the move to partially privatize the company.

He said the move was inevitable as the company was facing financial difficulties and needed to be recapitalized.

The ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development UPND pact, the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) and the United National Independence Party (UNIP) candidates are contesting the parliamentary by-election in Chitambo Constituency.

Dr. Solomon Musonda will stand on the MMD ticket and Chanda Mutale will contest for the seat on the PF ticket.
FDD would be represented by Evans Chola, while UNIP is fielding Timothy Kapolo.

The Chitambo by-election which has been slated for August 13 and was necessitated by the death of area member of parliament Nasim Hamir.

QFM

President Rupiah Banda on Tuesday scheduled to leave for South Africa where he is going to hold bilateral talks with his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma after which he will have a medical review while journalist are planning to March to state house on Friday to petition the president over violence against them.

Featuring on a special interview on QFM last evening, MISA Zambia chairperson Henry Kabwe says the media bodies have already officially communicated with the special assistance to the President for Public Relations and Press Dickson Jere but there has been no correspondence yet.

He however says even if President Banda will not be back by Friday, the demonstration will proceed and the petition will be presented to the person who will be acting on his behalf while he is away.

And Mr. Kabwe says open attacks by President Banda on privately owned post newspapers are encouraging unruly MMD cadres to be violent against journalists.

siuilapwa

when aggrieved because he is a tax payer. Mr. Siulapwa was answering questions to Muvi TV News shortly after a news conference where he talked about a number of issues among them his
support for the Rupiah Banda led government’s decision to sale off seventy five percent shares in ZAMTEL.

Mr. Siulapwa has called on Copperbelt University to petition Inspector

General over the recent incident in which armed police shot and wounded a rioting student. Mr. Siulapwa says the IG should discipline the operations officer who was in-charge when a student was shot at. He says this will stop police officers from indiscriminately using live ammunition on defenseless Citizens. And Mr. Siulapwa has called on the MMD Leadership to discipline the cadres attacking journalists.

Muvi Tv

The spokesperson for the media bodies Henry Kabwe, however, said journalists would proceed with their plan to petition President Rupiah Banda and would ensure that peace was not disrupted.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the harassment of journalists was receiving due attention by the president and his ministry.

He said the media bodies could only send their letter of petition to the president without necessarily demonstrating.

Last week, MMD cadres beat up Times of Zambia senior reporter, Anthony Mulowa, photojournalist Richard Mulonga and Chibaula Silwamba from The Post newspapers.

“It is not necessary to demonstrate because the president has already spoken on the matter and the speaker of the National Assembly has instructed that I, as minister responsible issues a ministerial statement,” Gen Shikapwasha said.

“If journalists demonstrate, politicians and other people with wrong agendas may take advantage and cause problems,” he said.

Gen Shikapwasha said as much as it was a constitutional right for media bodies to hold peaceful demonstrations, the Government felt that an amicable solution could be found through dialogue.

“The media institutions have the right to speak out on many issues but we have to work together and find solutions to all the problems,” Gen Shikapwasha said.

On Sunday, media bodies said that they would petition President Banda on the continuous harassment of journalists by MMD cadres.

The bodies included the Media Institute of Southern Africa Zambia chapter, Press Association of Zambia, Zambia Union of Journalists and the Press Freedom Committee of The Post.

The rest are the Zambia Media Women Association , Zambia Union of Broadcasters and other Information Disseminators, PANOS Zambia and the Zambia Community Media Forum.

The organisations said they would this Friday march to State House and petition the president and ensure that action is taken against perpetrators of violence.

Times