MINISTER of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane says he takes great exception to allegations that he and his counterpart Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Charles Milupi have been secretly appearing before the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on corruption charges.

Yesterday, Lumezi Member of parliament Munir Zulu alleged that Dr Musokotwane and Mr Milupi have been secretly appearing before the ACC over the USD250,000 they each received from a named firm.

But Dr Musokotwane has assured the nation that he has not received any such payment either through bank accounts connected to him, directly in cash or in any other illegitimate manner.

He further refuted the allegations that he has been summoned.

“I also assure the nation that I have not been summoned, not been interviewed as a suspect, and not been questioned by the ACC or any law enforcement agency in any corruption case,” Dr Musokotwane said.

The Minister said he will seek appropriate statutory remedies for the injury caused to his character by Mr Zulu.

“As Minister of Finance and National Planning, I am a public official running a public office. In the course of my duties, my office remains accessible to various stakeholders both within the public sector and outside.

It is important to note that law enforcement agencies, in the course of their duties, are free to invite any public official or otherwise to assist with information in an ongoing or planned investigation. They should not be deterred from doing that if it helps in establishing facts in a matter that they are pursuing,” he said.

Dr Musokotwane further assured the public and stakeholders that in the course of implementing the economic transformation programme and helping to better the lives of Zambians, the Government will remain committed to transparency, accountability and the rule of law, now and in future.

He said government has noted with concern, some schemes aimed at deterring it from focusing on sustaining the progress made in repairing the economy, bettering the lives of our citizens, and improving the country’s standing in the international community and strengthening cooperation with all stakeholders, local and foreign.

(Mwebantu, Wednesday, 22nd March, 2023)

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says he has a big heart but that should not be misunderstood for  weakness.

Speaking when he addressed United Party members in Kitwe during their annual conference,  President Hichilema said he will not be intimidated.

“I have a big heart and good memory and that  should not be misunderstood. We must not misunderstand each other in this country. We must not abuse each other,” he said.

Mr Hichilema warned those who want to start old habits which were condoned before elections stating that it is foolishness to make noise when the country was faced with darkness previously.

“Alebwelelapo (he is coming back?) Ukekalapesa? (Where will you sit?). People want to start old habits, kutumpa uko (it is foolishness). No normal Zanbian can accept that. We will not be intimidated,” he said.

The Head of State noted that his silence towards bickering of the previous leadership is not because he is deaf to the noise, but that he is silent because his concentration is towards bettering the country .

And in an apparent reference to former President Edgar Lungu, President Hichilema said his predecessor has no chance of retaining power.

“Someone aspiring to come back and kill more people? Kwangala uko (it is playing) Kutumpa uko (it is foolishness). We promised the people of Zambia peace and stability. We promised freedom, we promised opportunity. We did not say that we will allow guns and panga’s to come back. Twakana (we have refused),” he said.

Mr Hichilema denounced any message , language and action that talked of taking back the country to  deplorable state it was in before elections.

He noted that the country needed a message that brought unity and not segregation and that is why Government is not sleeping to ensure the country has better days.

(Mwebantu, Tuesday, 14th March, 2023)

PATRIOTIC FRONT (PF) presidential aspirant Miles Sampa has written to the Registrar of Societies expressing concern with the manner his party is appointing its leadership without following the Constitution.

Mr Sampa has accused former President Edgar Lungu of blatant disregard of the Party Constitution by illegally appointing Given Lubinda as acting President and Nickson Chilangwa as acting Secretary General respectively.

“I wish to state from the onset that, the purpose of writing to your good office is to bring to the attention of your office the illegal manner in which the PF is appointing its leadership without following the provisions of the Party Constitutions, and more so, its failure to comply with the mandatory provisions laid down in the Society Act. Chapter 119 of the laws of Zambia, an Act which your good office administers,” reads the letter in parts.

Mr Sampa claim the actions taken by the former Party President of appointing party officials after he had vacated office, not only offend the provisions of the PF Party Constitution, but that such actions fly in the teeth of the provisions of Article 60 (2) (d) of the Constitution No. 2 of 2016 of the Republic of Zambia.

He implored  the office to exercise its supervisory role by ensuring the PF Party proceeds to conduct its extraordinary Party Convention and elect its leadership as provided for under the party Constitution.

“Furthermore, I believe it is a mandatory requirement that an association under your jurisdiction must operate within the confines of the Constitution, hence the mandatory requirement under section 17 of the Societies Act, Chapter 119 of the laws of Zambia, to notify your Office of any change to any Associations’ Constitution to enable your Office to ascertain whether or not such an Association is complying with the provisions of its Constitution,” the letter state.

Mr Sampa has since demanded the Registrar of Societies to act within seven days of receipt of the letter to compel the party to hold the elections for the vacant office of president and all members of the Central Committee as enshrined in the PF party constitution.

“Failure to which I shall without further recourse to you proceed to commerce legal action against your office to compel you execute your statutory supervisory role under the Societies Act,” he said.

(Mwebantu, Monday, 20th Februray, 2023)