Chipolopolo boys’ poor display at CAN

I am sure I was among millions of Zambians that watched the Chipolopolo boys’ latest outing against the Lions of Cameroon last night. Having heard about Cameroon’s defeat against Gabon, I felt confident enough to invite a Cameroonian family to come and watch the game with us. I firmly believed this was our chance to avenge the 5-1 humiliation at the last CAN.

To be fair to the boys, they started well and scored a good goal in the 8th minute. The Lions were clearly in disarray defensive wise and we should have taken advantage of the ageing Rigobert Song to score another goal to secure the victory.

At the half time break, the Zambians clearly had the upper hand but as always we showed our true colours in the second half. The gun powder (or whatever is used these days) in the copper bullets” was suddenly replaced with water. A series of defensive errors eventually lead to another defeat.

After the game I arrived at the conclusion that GRZ should stop wasting taxpayers’ dollars on the Zambian National Soccer Team. I think the time has come for us to accept that we are now a spent force in football and it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify spending huge amounts of hard earned cash on these fruitless outings. Think of how many desks, mosquito nets the money spent on this tournament would have purchased.

If FAZ wants to continue attending the tournament they should fund it from their own resources. The Zambian taxpayer should be spared this unnecessary expense and we should concentrate on other pressing issues.

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Levy Patrick Mwanawasa: An incentive for posterity by Amos Malupenga

A couple of months ago I was sent Amos Malupenga’s book on the late Levy Mwanawasa. Apparently it has become one of the best selling books in Zambia. I knew about the publication of the book after its author appeared on one of the Blog Talk Radio stations and gave what I judged to be a rather lacklustre performance when faced with questions from listeners. I finally got round to reading the book last week and thought of sharing my views.

What is surprising is that the Managing Editor of the Post, a fierce opponent of the late President, was actually commissioned to write the book. That said, Amos is very kind to Levy. The book is full of glowing comments from colleagues of Levy and the only hint of criticism seems to come from Akashambatwa Lewanika. AKA also provides a good account on how the MMD came to be. I would have bought the book just to read AKA’s contribution. It is interesting to note that a number of contributors wanted to change their commentaries after Levy’s death but the author declined to do so. It is always going to be a difficult task to write a balanced book on a sitting African President. People are naturally going to offer glowing praises and limit their criticisms due to the power that the office of Republican President carries (politics of the stomach). I think we would have a totally different book (and more interesting) if the contributors had been interviewed after the death of Levy.

The book is well written and easy to read. It is very informative on Levy’s background. I used to think the scars on his face were as a result of the Road Traffic Accident that almost killed him when he was VP but was surprised to learn that he suffered terrible burns as a child and spent considerable time in a hospital in the then Zaire. Another interesting piece of information was on how Levy met Maureen Mwanawasa. I had heard rumours in the past that she had been a Secretary in his Law firm but this is not true. One of Levy’s cousins introduced him to Maureen after his divorce from his first wife.

Where the book fails is in addressing the perceived wrongs that Levy committed while in Office. For instance the much talked about preferential treatment accorded to Levy’s tribesmen in GRZ appointments is casually treated. I would have loved Levy to offer a more detailed defence. For instance how did he justify appointing the widow of the late Lackson Mapushi (Levy's relative) to the diplomatic service when there were career diplomats waiting for postings? The appointment of opposition MPs to government positions is also recorded as a progressive step taken by Levy. However, we all remember that at the time the MMD had a small majority in Parliament and appointing opposition MPs and then engineering bye-elections was a ploy adopted to improve the MMD’s numbers in the chamber.

I could be wrong but one of the topics most Zambians reading any book on Levy would want cleared up is the famous phone call Levy received from one FTJ at midnight inviting him to become the MMD’s presidential candidate. The account given in the book is brief and does not really fill in the gaps. E.g. did FTJ ask for any guarantees from Levy? Did FTJ provide Levy with campaign funds (people testified in the Election petition case that brown envelopes where given to Levy). And finally, who funded Levy’s election campaign.

The book tries to provide a good account of Levy’s childhood, family life, career as a lawyer and finally his tenure as Republican president. It is worth reading.

Being more British than the Brits

Just to illustrate that we just do not feature stories about politicians below is an interesting story by Austin Kaluba some Zambians in the UK who are "more British than the brits" . I have met this class of Zambians and sometimes it is every embarrassing how they conduct themselves. Nothing wrong with integration but equally important to remember your roots.

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BY AUSTIN KALUBA (Times of Zambia)

SOMETIME last month, I visited a friend in Manchester. He had left Zambia 10 years ago and has settled down in England where he works as a banker. His wife who is a nurse joined him three years later.But When I visited the couple, I was struck by the contrast between them concerning their attachment to Zambia.While the wife spoke in a high-tonal nasal accent, the husband still speaks like any down-to-earth Zambian speaks back home.The woman went out of her way to show that England, and not Zambia is her home (despite being in the country for a shorter period).The man opened the door for me and greeted me in chi-Bemba hugging me cordially.Then I heard a female voice in the kitchen reprimanding someone. ‘Stop it! I said stop it! Stop being silly Lucy!”As we settled down in the lounge, I saw a pekinese dog trot in the room, its tail erect. The woman followed it and lifted it up. ‘I have got you, silly thing.’ I realised who Lucy was. It was a dog!

The woman nodded a greeting in my direction but her husband reprimanded her in chi-Bemba. “Efyo uposha abantu ifyo (Is that the way you greet people)?” The woman put the dog down and came over to shake my hands.After introductions, we sat down to chat.

“When did you leave ‘Zembia’?” she asked in a forced accent. I nearly answered rudely that I did not know any country by that name but I had to be polite “Five years ago,” I replied. ‘I am told they have a new president Rupiah …Rupiah Benda…he…” ‘mmh Bana mwana mulelanda kwati tamuli bena Zambia (my wife you are speaking as if you are not a Zambian)…who is they?” the husband cut in but she ignored him.“You worked as a journalist. Write something about me. I want to stand as Member of Parliament for Kafue. Zambians need help. They need food.”

When I left the home late that evening, I started thinking about the types of Zambians who have come over here. There is one group that is still loyal to the country and support most things, which are Zambian.This group usually attends the independence celebration day at the residence of the High Commissioner in London, might have a small Zambian flag in their homes or cars, and sometimes eat nshima and play Zambian music.This group is also abreast with events back home through the Internet.

Then there is the type that is striving to be more British than Zambian by accommodating everything British and rejecting anything that links it with Zambia.This group has people talking about the British Premier Gordon Brown like he is ‘our leader’.This group has people who never speak any vernacular language in their homes.

The last major group is in between encompassing both British and Zambian values.Surprisingly, the second group, which is de-Zambianised, comprises largely people who have lived here only for a few years.It is also surprising to hear the number of people who want to bring change when they go back home as Members of Parliament. These are the people who write in the tabloids as ‘worried Zambians’ or ‘concerned Zambians’.To them Zambia is some remote, backward society whose solutions are in the hands of people in the West.Like the Western journalist, these homegrown armchair critics feel they have solutions affecting ‘Zembia’ that President Rupiah ‘Benda’ cannot solve.

FTJ’s acquittal: State withdraws appeal

The DPP has withdrawn the appeal lodged by the Task Force against FTJ's acquittal.

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda's government yesterday withdrew the state's appeal against former president Frederick Chiluba's acquittal. Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga in a Notice of Withdrawal of Notice on Intention to Appeal stated "to the clerk of court whereas, Dr Frederick Jacob Titus Chiluba, Faustin Mwenya Kabwe and Aaron Chungu were on the 17th day of August 2009 acquitted by the Subordinate Court of the First Class of the following offences: 1. Dr Frederick Jacob Titus Chiluba, 6 counts on the offence of theft by public servant contrary to Sections 272 and 277 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia and 2. Faustin Mwenya Kabwe and Aaron Chungu, three counts of theft contrary to Section 272 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. And whereas on the 24th day of August 2009 a Notice of Intention to Appeal against the said acquittals was purportedly lodged on my behalf by a public prosecutor: Now these presents I, Chalwe Farai Ralph Mchenga State Counsel DPP of the Republic of Zambia do hereby give notice of the withdrawal of the said Notice of Intention to Appeal".
This comes barely a day after President Banda fired Task Force on Corruption chairman Max Nkole following his appeal against Ndola High Court registrar Jones Chinyama's acquittal of Chiluba on all counts of embezzling public funds amounting to US $500,000.

No reasons have been advanced but we hope the action has been taken to allow the DPP to study the matter before deciding whether to lodge an appeal or not. One would think that the Task Force lawyers and not the DPP are in a better position to make that judgement. I smell a rat!

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FTJ’s acquittal: Task Force on Corruption Chairman fired

It seems like the government is keen to close the chapter on the corruption cases against FTJ. It is being reported that the government has decided not to renew Max Nkole’s contract as Chairman of the Task Force on Corruption.

Announcing the termination of Nkole's services in a short statement last evening, Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Joshua Kanganja stated that "following the expiration of the contract of employment of Mr Maxwell Nkole as executive chairman of the Task Force on Corruption, Mr Godfrey Kayukwa, director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission, will with immediate effect, serve as executive chairman of the Task Force for administrative convenience until further notice".

We shall comment on the actual acquittal at a later stage but govt seems to have suddenly realised that Max Nkole’s contract has expired after he instructed Task Force lawyers to file an appeal against the acquittal and provinding a lengthy TV interview on the operations of the Task Force. While many of us are dissapointed by the failure to secure a conviction against FTJ having spent a lot of resources on expensive lawyers ($20 000 per month per lawyer), government should not be seen to be interefering with the operations of the Task Force. Any decision to disband the organisation and transfer its operation to the Anti-Corruption Commission should be done in an orderly manner that ensures continiuity and offers the best chance of getting justice for the people of Zambia in these corruption cases.

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Breaking News: FTJ acquitted of all charges

According to the POST FTJ has been acquitted!!


Former Republican president Federick Chiluba has been acquitted by the Lusaka magistrates’ court over corruption charges he was facing involving the theft of US $500,000.

The marathon judgment delivered by Ndola High Court Registrar Johns Chinyama, sitting as a magistrate that took about six hours to deliver however found his co-accused Access Financial Services Limited former directors Aaron Chungu and Faustin Kabwe guilty.

According to the judgment, the acquittal was based on the fact that the prosecution team failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt on all counts against the former president.

There was wild jubilation as sympathisers chanted pro-Chiluba songs as he left the court buildings. He immediately announced that he would be holding a press conference at his Kabulonga residence.

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Sale of ZAMTEL hits a legal obstacle: CAZ responds

The Communication Authority have responded to Mr. Kavindele’s statement over the issue of spectrum licensing. CAZ seems to think that the injunction applied only to issues pertaining to the fourth mobile phone license. However, reading the text published in the POST yesterday, the injuction was wider than most expected.

According to the ex parte order for interlocutory injunction granted to Vodacom Zambia by judge Musonda on October 3, 2008, CAZ had been restrained further publishing any invitation to tender or grant any mobile licence whatsoever kind to any national mobile cellular operator for Zambia or any related cellular technology whether it be via broadband, WiMAX, data, Spectrum allocation in any available frequency, 2G, 3G, 3.5G, 4G, GSM, CDMA, mobile data, Wi-Fi, Cable, DSL, Hotsport, Voice Over Internet Protocol and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).

Either the lawyers at CAZ were having an off day when the legal arguments were being made or Mr. Kavindele has misinterpreted the injuction. On way or another, we need the CAZ legal department to come out with a clear statement of facts before the whole sector is disrupted. GRZ could have avoided this mess had they left the CAZ to award the license to Vodacom. The whole process was hijacked by politicians who saw an apportunity to mae a quick buck as usual.

Here is the CAZ’s response….

The Communications Authority of Zambia (CAZ) yesterday said former Republican vice-president Enoch Kavindele’s interpretation of the injunction granted to him over the registration of a fourth mobile phone company will affect national security.

On Sunday, Kavindele - who is Vodacom Zambia Limited chairman - said government’s intended sale of 75 per cent shares in Zamtel to an equity partner as announced by President Rupiah Banda will not take place as doing so would be illegal. Kavindele also threatened to commence contempt of court proceedings against Zain Zambia Plc over the third generation (3G) license awarded to the company as announced last week.

But CAZ public relations and consumer affairs acting director Ngabo Nankonde yesterday said they did not understand Kavindele’s intention because the matter at hand was the fourth mobile license which had nothing to do with other licenses and spectrum that were not fourth mobile related. “In view of the above, Mr. Kavindele’s interpretation would have adverse effect on not only the economy but also the social and security aspect of the nation,” Nankonde said.

“Mr. Kavindele seems to suggest that the injunction granted to him restrains the Authority from issuing or renewing any licenses [including radio spectrum licences] as well as those which are not fourth mobile related until discharge of the said injunction. The above interpretation would also among other things affect, telephone communication, internet banking via the mobile phone leading to stagnation of the national economy and retardation of national development.”

Nankonde said the authorisation for the Zain Zambia Limited trial tests was not in contravention of the injunction granted to Kavindele. She said that the authorisation given to Zain was issued long before the said injunction. Nankonde said that in line with the powers conferred on it in section 6(1) (4) of the Radiocommunications Act, it issued a test authorisation to Zain to conduct trials for 3G services in Zambia.

She explained that the authorisation issued was principally for the purposes of establishing among other things, the usability of the technology in Zambia, adding that the said trials would be conducted at no commercial value.
She also said the interpretation of the injunction on the licensing work of the Authority implied that in terms of broadcasting, the final migration of FM broadcasting band replanning would not take place.


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