Posts in category: Uncategorized

By LUCY PHIRI

LUSAKA Senior resident magistrate Irene Wishimanga has erased evidence on record of Justice Minister, Mulambo Haimbe who testified yesterday in a matter in which Patriotic Front ( PF) Information and Publicity Secretary, Raphael Nakacinda is charged with defamation of the President.

This was after Nakacinda’s lawyer, Jonas Zimba informed the court that he was withdrawing Haimbe as witness and wanted to place another.

Mr. Haimbe was subpoenaed to testify as witness before the court by the defense.

In this matter, Nakacinda aged 43, of farm number 1794, Kafue district pleaded not guilty to defaming President Hakainde Hichilema contrary to section 69 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that Nakacinda on December 13, 2021 in Lusaka, with intent to bring the name of President Hakainde Hichilema into hatred, ridicule and contempt, did cause to be published defamatory matter by word of mouth, where he addressed people at the High Court of Zambia, which was also broadcasted by Muvi television that, “His Excellency President Mr Hakainde Hichilema had begun to summon Judges at his private residence, intimidating and coercing them to frustrate PF legal battles.”

When the matter came up yesterday for continuation of defense, defense counsel placed Haimbe who was present before the court as a defense witness who was supposed to tell the court the procedure on how the President appoints judges.

Mr. Haimbe said to his knowledge, the procedure was that judges are appointed by the President Hakainde Hichilema on the recommendation of the judicial process and subject to ratification by Parliament.

When asked if he knew any of the judges that were appointed, he said several of them but unable to give list in terms of details.

Mr. Zimba asked if he recalled doing an interview on, July, 5 2023 at 5 FM radio to which he answered in the arffirmative

“I also appeared with Counsel Makebi Zulu on the show,” he responded.

He said he recalled discussing the Economic and Financial Crimes Court too.

“Would you like us to bring the recording of that transcript of that day” he asked to which Mr Haimbe responded that he had no power.

Mr. Haimbe said he was aware about the case before court where Nakacinda allegedly defamed President Hichilema.

“We have an application to make, that the recording be brought to court. We want to subpoena the recording of a program of July, 27 2023 on a program held on 5 FM radio where the witness on stand appeared with a view to bringing out the critical part of the evidence that we intend to elicit from this witness. This matter is on defense stage and it is important that the accused puts out his defence and is given sufficient time and facility, which includes the said programe and the recordings of the said program,” Mr. Zimba submitted.

But the court denied his plea stating that he should have prepared in advance as he knew the witness was coming and should have brought the recording.

“You should have prepared in advance. You knew that this witness was coming, therefore you should have already brought the recording instead of starting and applying for adjournments. I mentioned earlier that talk to your client, if you are not ready, let’s not start, be serious with court proceedings,” magistrate Wishimanga said

Mr. Zimba in his application said the record was to ensure that all the evidence that speaks to the innocence of his client is put before court.

“Our request is to have the record of the proceedings of that interview on 5 FM radio that speaks to advancing the course of justice, contrary to the allegations by the state. The witness has indicated that he cannot recall what he said, so that has to be put on cross reference so that his memory is refreshed. All that is in the interest of justice. Our application is properly before you and should be allowed. I submit,”

Magistrate Wishimanga said at the stage the court coukld subpoena the recording recorded at 5fm radio.

“Have heard the application, it is surprising that at this stage we should adjourn and subpoena recording, the proper procedure was for defense to call the person with recording and then subpoena Dw4(Haimbe). Therefore the application is declined,” she ruled.

Mr. Zimba then informed the court that he was withdrawing the witness and take the route of calling the person with the recorder at 5fm.

“Then Mr. Haimbe will never come back as witness in this matter. May the evidence of Dw4 be disbanded from the record,” she ruled.

[/ihc-hide-content

A 23-YEAR-OLD MAN from Matero has found himself in hot water with the law after starring in a viral video on various social media platforms. The video captured the audacious act of Francis Nundwe munching on biscuits and sipping an unidentified beverage all valued at K23. Nundwe’s moment of munching mischief allegedly occurred on August […]

By SANFROSSA MBERI

GOVERNMENT has launched the K5.4 million Constituency Development Funds (CDF) financial revolving loans and grants for Luanshya Constituency.

The monies consisted of K3, 227,700 which would directly benefit a total of 84 different groups, which breaks down into nine companies, seven cooperatives, five women groups, fifty-seven individuals and four community clubs.

The other component of the launched community financing facility is the K 2,151,856-00, CDF Grants which is directly benefiting over 114 Roan constituency based cooperatives and clubs.

Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Augustine Kasongo said it was estimated that over 2000 families in Roan Constituency are expected to indirectly benefit from the 2023 CDF financial revolving loans and grants. 

He observed that though the CDF was receiving good response from the public, there was need to strengthen CDF projects valuation mechanisms through a robust proactive approach by the local authority as a way of measuring all CDF projects performances against stated goals and aspirations.

Mr Kasongo was speaking when he officiated at the launch which was held at Nkulumashiba School hall. 

“The Provincial administration, which has now been granted authority by the central government to undertake the final authorization of all CDF projects applications of all CDF projects application.

” My office has received reliable information that CDF committees in Luanshya have been receiving few applications from members of the public. I would love to urge the Luanshya Municipal Council to step-up CDF sensitization campaigns both in Roan and Luanshya Central Constituencies,” he said.

Mr Kasongo further encourage roan residents to apply for CDF to invest and boost their business ventures as entrepreneurs stating that the funds were meant for them.

He observed that Roan residents needed strive to make good use of the CDF funds which were aimed at transforming communities and empower individual households now that more CDF projects were being rolled out by various CDF Committees in the Province.

Mr Kasongo also urged Roan based companies, cooperatives and clubs to adhere to the specifications of the CDF Guidelines to avoid finding themselves in conflict with the law.

And Roan Member of Parliament Joel Chibuye said a total of CDF projects had been completed and now ready to be received by the Government on behalf of the end users.

[/ihc-hide-content

By NATION REPORTER 

ZAMBIAN journalists have been challenged to ask uncomfortable questions on whether Zambia under the Hakainde Hichilema administration has applied for membership under the rising BRICS club.

Anthony Mukwita, Zambia’s former Ambassador to Germany says Zambia would gain rather than lose by joining the fast-rising international group sooner rather than later. 

“We are happy that President Hichilema represented us well as a country at the BRICS heads of State summit now BRICS+Six,” Amb Mukwita said. “What we need now is clarity from the government. Our journalists should ask uncomfortable questions now on whether Zambia has applied to become a member of the growing political economic group or not,” Mr Mukwita said when he featured on KBN TV televised interview. 

Mr Mukwita, an international relations scholar and a published author and former newspaper said more than 60 countries had applied to join BRICS including what he called heavy-weights such as Indonesia and Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria.

“What does Zambia lose by applying to be a memberbecause it simply gives us options for better economic deals instead of putting all our eggs in one western basket,” Mr Mukwita said.

He said the holy grail of international economic and political relations was always to engage and talk to everyone instead of publicly and undiplomatically choosing sides.

He gave an example of Chinese economic reformist leader Deng (1904-97) who opened China to the western world and business and said; “To me the colour of the cat does not matter as long as it catches mice. It is about results not Western or Eastern centric.” 

Mr Mukwita, implored Zambia to learn from nations like China that removed more than 100 million from poverty in under thirty years and start talking to everybody and not take sides.

Mr Mukwita hailed the entry of two more African countries into the BRICS+Six, namely Egypt and Ethiopia which join Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iran in the ever-growing club of emerging markets on the globe and refuses to slow down.

“The BRICS+Six are now responsible for 40 percent of the global population and 30 percent of the globes GDP.  I am not saying Zambia quits the 75-year-old dominance of the US led IMF and World Bank…just talk to everyone is good for Zambia,” Mr Mukwita said. 

Mr Mukwita also beseeched Zambians to cherish the undisrupted peace and stability Zambia has enjoyed for close to 59 years.

“The peace we continue to enjoy from independence to date must be cherished because like a broken glass it’s hard to put back once lost,” he said. 

[/ihc-hide-content

SERBIA-based midfielder Kings Kangwa has sent warning shots to Manchester City, claiming his side Red Star Belgrade will beat the defending champions in the Champions League. The Chipolopolo midfielder’s club was been placed in Group G of the Champions League alongside Pep Guardiola’s army led by goal machine Erling Halaand, Young Boys of Switzerland, and […]

NDOLA Mayor, Jones Kalyati on Wednesday could not hold back his disappointment towards the newly constructed Doctor Argarwals eye Hospital and walked away from the commissioning of the structure. Mr Kalyati said that the structure was not befitting of a building that should be erected in the city town centre as it does not add […]

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has disclosed that one of the perpetrators of violence in the previous administration has been arrested in neighbouring Mozambique.

President Hichilema says the suspect fled the country after change of government, but he has been apprehended and will soon face justice.

Speaking at Matero after Care Center in Lusaka this afternoon, President Hichilema said all those who brutalized Zambians would be brought to book.

Meanwhile, President Hichilema has directed the Police to arrest the people who attacked Kalikiliki Compound residents during the commissioning of a borehole as part of the celebration of UPND’s two years in power.

President Hichilema said he would not condone lawlessness and he wants all those involved in the violence to be apprehended.

He said his government will not allow the lawlessness of the past to come back in society.

President Hichilema said he was elected to deliver development to the people and he will not allow the nation to degenerate into chaos.

And, President Hichilema said he was working hard to reduce mealie meal prices.

President Hichilema said he is aware that people are complaining about the price of mealie meal and he is working hard to reduce it so that Zambians can benefit from the change they voted for.

And Matero after Care Center Operations Committee Chairperson Hellen Samatebele disclosed that the institution was facing accommodation challenges as most structures were built in 1965.

Ms. Samatebele said the infrastructure is also not enough for the many clients who are kept there for old age, gender based violence and other causes.

Meanwhile, Lusaka Province Minister Sheal Mulyata said the UPND government had achieved a lot since it was elected in 2021

[/ihc-hide-content

LUSAKA chief resident magistrate Davies Chibwili has condemned Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) officers who picked up Espionage suspect Shaderick Kasanda from a holding cell at court where he was scheduled to appear before him. On Wednesday, Kasanda was scheduled to appear before magistrate Chibwili at 14:00hours but was picked up from holding cell within the […]

THE South African Police (SAPS) says no Zambian has died in the fire that swept through a five-storey building in the Central Business District(CBD) of Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday. Over 74 people were certified dead with over 40 injured after the inferno gutted a five storey building on August 31, 2023. According to First […]

BY NATION REPORTER 

PATRIOTS for Economic Progress (PEP) president Sean Tembo will spend the weekend at Balmoral Police Post in Chilanga as the police denied to grant him police bond despite meeting all the requirements. 

Mr Tembo was arrested on Thursday in the morning, a day after the police sent a callout to him to report himself at the Ibex Hill police station at 14: 00 hours.

Instead, the police moved in morning and ambushed Mr Tembo with an arrest at his residence and was reported to have been taken to Police Service Headquarters.

But in the dramatic turn of events, Mr Tembo was moved from Police Headquarters to an unknown location and was only located yesterday at Balmoral Police station in Chilanga where is being detained.

Mr Tembo was to be charged with hate speech but was denied bond despite having met all the conditions.

And the arrest of Mr. Tembo has angered his party members who called his arrest an abduction because he was taken to a far place without any of relatives and PEP members knowing his whereabouts. The party members said the condition that they found Mr. Tembo in was unpleasant because he was left to sleep on the floor for 16 hours without food and water.

“You cannot just pick a person and throw him on the floor like a bag of charcoal for a case that is bondable. It is unacceptable,” the party supporters complained.

Several opposition political party leaders including Citizens First party leader Harry Kalaba, Socialist Party president Fred M’membe, and Emmanuel Mwamba among others visited Mr Tembo in Chilanga.

[/ihc-hide-content