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By MILLENNIUM TV REPORTER

IT is nonsensical for the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) director general to claim that the second plane the commission has seized was being hidden in South Africa when its movements were being monitored, Joseph Malanji has said.

Mr Malanji, the former Foreign Affairs Minister says claiming that a plane could be hidden in South Africa was utter nonsense because it was impossible for anyone to hide a plane whose information was on radar. 

In an exclusive interview with Millennium TV, Mr Malanji said the notion that his plane the DEC has seized was hidden in South Africa was senseless “because you cannot hide an aircraft. Every movement of an aircraft is through the tower. The helicopter went to South Africa for charters,” Mr Malanji said.

Mr Malanji has maintained that bringing the plane to Zambia was just wasting government’s time and resources because the helicopter was still under the care of a curator. 

“The helicopter is supposed to be under the curator until the case is disposed of in South Africa. But they have decided to bring it to Zambia and when they lose their case in Pretoria, they have to send it back because both parties have got to be restored to their original status,” Mr Malanji said.

He explained that the position was that the helicopter was under a Curator and that the order used to retrieve the aircrafts was the South African one and not the Zambian courts.

“It is all abuse of authority. All being equal, the aircrafts are supposed to be with the Curator Bonis until the matter is exhausted in Pretoria. We should not be insulted just because we joined politics. We deserve some respect. People should wait until we submit to the court what we had before becoming ministers,” Mr Malanji said. 

The former Kwacha Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament said people should not be putting unnecessary pressure on the judiciary. 

“Let’s walk the process of justice,” Mr Malanji said.

He said government should pay more attention to fulfilling its undelivered promises instead of spending time on witch-hunting which was not helping in reducing the cost of living for citizens.

A Curator is a care taker chosen by the court pending proceedings of the court. Common practice under the Dutch law

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A 30-YEAR-OLD man of Mazyopa Township has been found guilty of raping his his 96-year-old neighbour. The Lusaka Magistrate’s Court has since committed Winson Zulu to the High Court for his sentencing since a the offense carries a minimum 15 years jail term which is beyond a magistrate’s powers. Zulu sexually abused his the old […]

An analysis of electronic medical records for more than 45,000 people found that COVID-19 infection was significantly associated with the development of high blood pressure, according to new research published in Hypertension.

By MILLENNIUM REPORTER

The Bankers Association of Zambia says there is need for the banking sector to begin building capacity for productive sectors in the economy like construction and manufacturing especially that the financial sector is showing positive indicators.

BAZ Executive Director Leonard Mwanza says the financial sector in the country has continued to grow thereby creating opportunities for other sectors of the economy to grow.

Mr. Mwanza says having a resilient financial sector means a stronger and faster growing economy going forward.

He says it is expected that banking sector will soon begin to build capacity for its customers as well which will bring about self-employment as well liquidity in the market.

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By SHERRY CHABALA 

HEALIT Zambia has partnered with Dr Bells Clinic to provide free paediatric screening services from August 21 to 25 in Lusaka’s Kabulonga residential area.

Dr Bell’s clinic director, Christabel Mung’oma said in an interview that Healit Zambia has provided her clinic with blood testing facilities that will be administered to children below the age of 16.

“The programme is going to help because the blood tests will be done by HealiT Zambia and Healit is there to support our programme to run the blood test that we will be able to do if any the children who will come to us are not feeling well, we will have to do some tests.

“So our age range paediatrics will be attending to newly born babies all the way up until the age of 16-years-old,” Dr Mung’oma said.

Dr Mung’oma said it was important for children to regularly visit the clinic to enable health practitioners to closely monitor their growth. 

She added that the support from HealiT Zambia would enable Dr Bell’s clinic to attend to over 50 patients during the free screening services.

Dr Mung’oma implored mothers to take advantage of the free screening period to ensure children have access to the necessary healthcare services.

“HealiT is offering a whole package of various blood tests including haematological tests, microbiology tests as well as histopathology tests. We have different tests that they will be able to do as regards to this particular programme,” Dr Mung’oma said.

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By NATION REPORTER

THE Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has urged management of Blackrock and other private commercial creditors to think of the poor Zambian majority and restructure Zambia’s debt as a matter of urgency to allow the country move on the right trajectory in terms of the economy.

JCTR Executive Director Alex Muyebe says it is well understood that commercial lenders are in business and need to make profit but he has appealed to them to be considerate that there are people who are suffering as a result of the debt owed to them.

In July, Zambia’s official debt committee announced that it had agreed to a debt restructuring deal with the Zambian government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that it would go ahead with a previously agreed US$1.4bn extended credit facility.

Stakeholders are however concerned that despite this progress, commercial creditors such as Blackrock delay to restructure Zambia’s debt will lead to government not having money to lift its people out of poverty.

Father Muyembe says commercial and private creditors, should be considerate of poor people and put a human face to the issue of debt owed to them, to allow the poor move away from poverty.

Father Muyembe said this in an interview with Millennium Radio News.

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By NATION REPORTER

THE House of Chiefs has condemned in the strongest terms the inhuman attack and abuse former President Edgar Lungu suffered and endured at the hands of the UPND cadres and is urging the ruling party to tame its cadres whose behaviour has become unbecoming.

Chief Chisunka, the chairman of the House of Chiefs says he is disappointed and unhappy with the conduct of the UPND who showed total disrespect against former President Lungu and the traditional leadership in Malambo and the entire Eastern Province.

Chief Chisunka said he was enraged that he had travelled from Lauapula to Mambwe only to witness the UPND cadres in conjunction with some government officials attack and abuse former President Lungu and the traditional leadership.

He said Mr Lungu deserved to be respected not only as former head of State but as a citizen who had the right to be invited or attend any public function without any restriction from anyone.

“Traditional ceremonies are about unity, peace and tourism. I was not happy and I am upset that the UPND cadres were brought in the arena at the Malaila Traditional Ceremony to attack and abuse our former President Dr Edgar Lungu. I am deeply saddened and disappointed at the lack of respect for the traditional leadership by the UPND cadres, particularly the unruly behaviour and harassment directed towards former President Lungu. The UPND cadres were brought in the arena and started abusing former President Lungu and as chairperson of the House of Chiefs, I am upset, Chief Chisunka said.   He said instead of the youths forming cooperatives and working on accessing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to empower themselves, they were spending their time engaging in what he termed rubbish activities without any economic benefits.

On Saturday, confusion reigned at the Malaila Traditional ceremony in Mambwe after disruptive UPND cadres got helter-skelter, harassing Zambia’s six Mr Lungu, broke chairs, tables and harangued the police in an attempt to block him from attending the ceremony. Like phantoms, the UPND cadres emerged from the shadows at the Mfuwe Airport in Mambwe soon after the former President arrived in the district and ordered the Zambia Police officers to block him from proceeding to the palace for a courtesy call on Senior Chief Nsefu of the Kunda people. But Chief Chisunka said Zambians were a family regardless of their political affiliations and that traditional ceremonies, unlike political events were open to all citizens including people of diverse political and religious backgrounds.

He said traditional leaders were non-partisan and that traditional ceremonies were not political gatherings but celebrations of the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage.

“I firmly urge political party leaders to play their part in educating their cadres about the dangers of such behaviour. The harmony of our nation, which stands as a beacon of peace within the region and the continent should not be destroyed by unruly actions of few individuals. As a representative of all the chiefs in our nation and as Chairperson of the House of Chiefs, I was greatly disappointed to witness such disorder within our own tent,” Chief Chisunka said.

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…within 48 hours, followed by unconditional approval release for the aircraft with all the confiscated belongings

By NATION REPORTER

A FRENCH law firm, Vey Associates is demanding the immediate release of the nine foreign nationals who are detained in the country in connection with the gold bullion and the US$5.7 million scandal at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA).

The law firm has also accused the Zambian government of committing a major violation of its own constitution by the detention of what it termed an in-transit private aircraft, its crew and its eight passengers.

Antoine Vey, the founding lawyer of Vey & Associés says the 10 detained crew and passengers had been exposed to inhumane conditions for the last 72 hours with no access to legal counsel.

Mr Vey in a statement distributed by APO Group on behalf of the law firm said the aircraft was impounded at the KKIA in Lusaka on August 14 while awaiting a take-off permit. 

When contacted to confirm if the statement making rounds in Zambia was issued by his law firm, Mr Vey responded in the affirmative. 

“We demand the immediate release of the detainees to proper living conditions in an hotel pending the completion of the so-called investigation within a maximum of 48 hours, to be followed by unconditional approval for the aircraft and its passengers, with all their confiscated belongings, to depart Kenneth Kaunda International Airport after receiving the adequate apologies for the gross mistreatment they have received for no fault of their own,” Mr Vey said in a strong-worded statement.

Mr Vey said the international community at large, and the African Union (AU) in particular were being called upon to closely monitor the developments of the detained foreign nationals.

He said the Zambian authorities detained its passengers and confiscated cash and sophisticated mineral testing equipment that was on board and destined to the business activities of the plane’s lessee. 

“This occurred while passengers on board were issuing SOS messages to airport and police authorities while a group of armed robbers were attempting to board the plane and threatening their safety. No charges have been made against anyone since the detention,” Mr Vey said.

Mr Vey said the crew and passengers of the private San Remo registered aircraft that flew from Cairo, Egypt, had landed for refuelling and to pick up a South African businessman on his way to Johannesburg. 

He said the businessman on board with his entourage and security detail, armed with fully licensed handguns, and were forced physically to disembark, deprived of their passports and placed under custody first at the airport and, later, at a police station.

Since being placed in custody, Mr Vey said, the detainees had been subjected to inhumane treatment, denied access to legal counsel and deprived of proper food, sleep, and basic sanitary conditions.

“The contents of the aircraft, including the personal belongings of the passengers, have been seized with incomplete and doctored official records especially for cash, that fall short by very considerable amounts of what was actually on board,” says Mr Vey. 

He said the law firm was engaging with Zambian authorities who were thus far releasing minimal information about the motives behind the detentions.

Mr Vey said, “I have taken the decision to dispatch one of my office’s senior human rights counsels to document and monitor the various violations of domestic and international law being committed in Zambia, as well as the risks faced by international businesses seeking to do business in ‘The Continent of The Future’ The man has just landed in Lusaka.”

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…but Eastern Province Minister Peter Phiri confirms former President Lungu was in fact attacked, claims not by UPND cadres but unknown angry youths 

By PRISCA LUMINGU in Mambwe

INSPECTOR General of Police Graphael Musamba has claimed that the attack on former President Edgar Lungu by the UPND cadres in Malambo is but an exaggerated rumour because according him, the former head of State was accorded the best courtesy by the ruling party zealots.

But in sharp contrast, Eastern Province Minister Peter Phiri has confirmed the attack on former President Lungu, except he has claimed that those who harassed him were not UPND cadres but angry unidentified youths.

Mr Musamba when contacted to comment on the attack former President Lungu suffered at the hands of the UPND cadres, said the former head of State was never harassed and was allowed to peacefully be part of the Malaila Traditional Ceremony.

He said reports about the attack on former President Lungu were only emanating from people whom he claimed wanted to be heard by saying things that did not happen.

Mr Musamba said according to the briefing from his police officers in Mambwe, former President Lungu was well received at Mfuwe Airport and that there were no attempts to block him by either the police or the UPND cadres.

He said it was not possible for the UPND cadres to attempt to attack former President Lungu because Rodney Sikumba, the Minister of Tourism who was representing President Hakainde Hichilema was in constant contact with the police command at the ceremony.

“That is not the briefing I got from my police officers. Unless you are telling me that they lied and I have never known them to lie. What I know is that it was rumoured that he (former President Lungu) was going to be stopped but he was allowed to attend the ceremony. People tend to exaggerate things when they want to be heard…they say things that are not there. They (UPND cadres) gave him (former president Lungu) his rightful place and everything went on well,” Mr Musamba said. 

And when pressed that in fact the images from Mambwe were showing that the UPND cadres caused a rumpus in an attempt to block him from attending the Malaila ceremony, Mr Musamba said he was not aware.

Mr Musamba requested that the images showing the UPND cadres in confrontation with the police and blocking former President Lungu’s motorcade be shared with him and immediately after the videos were sent to him, his mobile phone was switched off.   

However, Eastern Province Minister Peter Phiri in an interview confirmed the attack on the former head of State but claimed the harassment was conducted by unidentified youths who he said were angry for unknown reasons.

Mr Phiri said the UPND as a political organisation did not have cadres but members and that those who attacked former President Lungu were not members of the ruling party because they were not in the regalia of the ruling party.

“It is sad to say that those who attacked ECL (former President Lungu) are UPND cadres. In the UPND, we do not have cadres but members. How could you tell they were UPND cadres because I did not see any UPND regalia? I do not know the people who attacked the former President,” Mr Phiri said.

Mr Phiri said after there was an attempt to attack the former head of State, the chiefs summoned him and other senior government officials to remove the youth who were making “a small” noise.

“There is order in the country. We should thank President Hakainde Hichilema for ensuring that there is order in the country. We greatly respect ECL (former President Lungu) because he is a statesman. So it is wrong to say he was attacked by UPND cadres. Say he was attacked by unknown youths. I was very far when the fracas happened,” Mr Phiri said.   

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Ian Burkhart looked down at his hand and imagined closing it. To his amazement, it closed.