Zambia Weekly
In this issue
In this issue
Is the death penalty unconstitutional? 1 bia is one of 44 de facto abolitionist countries that have
Secessionism brewing in Barotseland 2
Quotes 2 death penalty (Daily Mail 23). In fact, Zambia carried
Mining: Everybody can make a mistake 3
Return of the brown envelopes 4
It’s a corrupt world out there 4 sented to during his time in office. His successor, the late
Thoughts on independence... and food 4
By-elections: Serious voter apathy 5
Advert: Montessori Dream Kindergarten 6
Summary of week 40-42 7
Leave the car at home this Christmas 8 moratorium on capital punishment.
The second resurrection at Chavuma 8 According to EU Ambassador Derek Fee, who opened the concurrent 2nd EU Forum on
Editor’s note
The recent release of the 2011 budget
(see page 3 and 7) resurrected the debate
about donors and whether or not Zambia
needs them. Next year’s budget is interest-
ing in that donors are contributing one
trillion kwacha less than in 2010 – halv-
ing the budget’s donor-dependency in one
rapid stroke. At first glance this is a great
achievement, because who wants aid – and
its annoyingly stringent conditions – if one
can go without? And the government did
indeed sell it as a deliberate move to move
away from donor aid – after all this must be
quite high on president Banda’s agenda. He
has already told off donors on two separate
occasions this year for peddling (lies) and
meddling (in Zambia’s internal affairs). But
the opposition, in the form of PF president
Sata, saw it differently. He suggested that
the dwindling aid was caused by lack of
confidence in the government – after all
the donors have been rather busy freezing
their aid in both the health and road sectors
due to financial irregularities. Yet the cuts
in donor support probably say more about
the realities in the donor countries than
about the current government in Zambia.
This government doesn’t appear particularly
better or worse at corruption than previous
governments – at least the donors support
them all wholeheartedly. Rather, the donors
have tightened the screw due to a combina-
tion of the appearance of right wing parties,
aging populations and the financial crisis in
Europe.
Week 43, Volume 1, Issue 26, 29 October 2010
Is the death penalty unconstitutional?
The new Hands Off Cain 2010 report shows that Zam-
not carried out any executions for at least 10 years, or
countries which have binding obligations not to use the
out its last execution – by hanging – in 1997.
Then, former president Frederick Chiluba authorised the
hanging of eight prisoners – the only executions he as-
Levy Mwanawasa, refused to sign death warrants, instead
commuting the sentences to imprisonment.
Hands Off Cain, an Italian NGO, has this month visited
Zambia as part of a mission against the death penalty
in Africa. Hands Off Cain is also seeking to find a new
consensus for a new UN Resolution for a universal
the Death Penalty in Zambia, studies show that the death penalty does not deter crime more
effectively than other forms of punishment and that abolition of the death penalty does not
lead to an increase in crime.
The Hands Off Cain delegation was received by vice-president and minister of justice, George
Kunda, who confirmed that president Rupiah Banda will not sign any execution decrees.
Banda last commuted capital sentences in April 2009 for 53 prisoners.
Still, the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) upheld the constitution’s death penalty
clause in a narrow vote with 26 for and 25 against retaining capital punishment in Zambia.
MMD chief whip Vernon Mwaanga told the delegation at a meeting that “at this table sits
parliamentarians that you can consider your allies. During the preparation for the draft that
will now be discussed in parliament and then put to a popular referendum in order to be
confirmed, they fought to end the death penalty.”
Recently, the Supreme Court was asked to declare as unconstitutional the mandatory death
sentence for aggravated robbery while armed with a firearm. This is in a matter where Alex
Njamba, appealed against his mandatory death sentence, arguing it is arbitrary and unconsti-
tutional. His lawyer, Abraham Mwansa, stated that due to its compulsory application, a man-
datory sentence could not be subjected to an effective review by a higher court. The Supreme
Court has directed the State to file their response (Post 11 September).
Zambia has 271 prisoners on death row – in Mukobeko maximum security prison.
Council water will get more expensive
4 out of 11 water utilities have proposed to raise water tariffs by between 18 and 80
percent. Financial and commercial management inspector at National Water and
Sanitation Council (NWASCO), Josephine Goma, said NWASCO would study the
proposals before approving or disapproving them. The four water utilities: Luapula
Water and Sewerage Company (80 percent), Eastern Water and Sewerage Company
(30 percent), Western Water and Sewerage Company (27 percent) and Mulonga
Water and Sewerage Company (18 percent) have proposed increased tariffs to
recover their costs. Luapula Water and Sewerage Company’s proposal is very high as
it is a new commercial utility, explained Goma: Their “tariffs were not economic as
they recently took over from local authorities.” The remaining 7 water utilities have
not applied for tariff increases (Post 23).
The best of the Zambian media 1
 Zambia Weekly News

Secessionism brewing in Barotseland Quotes

Secessionists have kept Mongu in the headlines this
whole week. A group calling for an independent
Barotseland was not granted a police permit to hold
a rally at the Blue Gum Grounds on 23 October
“ If you go after a woman and all you do
is attack her boyfriend then you are
immature. You need to explain what
due to the venue being used for the Independence you will do for her and she will judge for
Day celebrations the following day, but it went

”
herself.
ahead regardless – only to be dispersed by police
armed with tear gas and firearms. The crowd then President Banda referring to PF presi-
ran amok, burnt a vehicle, vandalised two police dent Michael Sata in the run-up to the
The secessionists want to replace the Zambian posts and injured four police officers (Sunday Mpulungu by-election (Times 23).
flag with the Barotseland flag (above). Times/Mail/Post and Times 25).
It later emerged that the secessionists were divided
into two groups: the Movement for the Restoration of the Barotse Agreement (MOREBA)
and the Barotse Freedom Movement (BFM). Both groups are unhappy that the Barotseland
“ I wish to remind our colleagues in
government to always remember that
when agriculture sneezes, the whole
Agreement of 1964 has been left out of the new draft constitution and bemoan the underde- economy catches a flu. That is how im-

”
velopment of Western Province (Sunday Post). portant this sector is to the country.

President Rupiah Banda dismissed MOREBA as a non-factor (Times 25) but Mongu Zambia National Farmers Union Presi-
Diocese Caritas director Nathaniel Mubukwanu advised Banda to consider the events as an dent Jervis Zimba (Sunday Times).
“eye-opener” (Post 25).
Earlier this year, the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) urged the National Constitutional
Conference (NCC) to recognise the special status of Barotseland. The region was colonia-
“ Nearly everybody in Zambia is inter-
ested in political affairs. From the
driver, the men on the street up to the
lised by treaty rather than conquest and its right to establish a regional government precedes
the birth of Zambia. The BRE therefore advised the NCC to acknowledge the Barotseland businessmen, they are all interested in
Agreement (Times 3 August). However, this week, the BRE distanced itself from the two politics, and that is not the case in every
groups and said it recognises the sitting government (Times 26). country. Maybe it has something to do
with the daily talk about the [PF-UPND]
Later in the week, police arrested two BFM leaders, Grace Likando and Muyangana Muy- pact, and the [MMD] government
angana, who had gone into hiding – after a tip from members of the public (Daily Mail 27) or this pre-election mood, but this is
– followed by eight other people (Times 28). definitely something that pleases us
that there is willingness of the Zambian

”
people to become true democrats.
More influence at Bretton Woods institutions Friedrich Ebert Stiftung resident direc-
tor Henier Naumann (Post 26).
The appointment of Denny Kalyalya as executive director at the World Bank will increase

“
Zambia’s influence at the Bretton Woods institution, emphasised Bank of Zambia (BoZ) gov-
The pact was made to believe that the
ernor Caleb Fundanga (Post 26). Zambia is now directly represented at both the World Bank
PF is very popular in Mpulungu with the
and the International Monetary Fund. Kalyalya was appointed as alternate executive director
pictures we were seeing of huge crowds
of Africa Group 1 on 10 October. He leaves a position as BoZ deputy governor to replace
attending PF rallies. We were going to
Toga Gayewea McIntosh of Liberia. The appointment is for the period 2010 to 2012. The 22
beef up the pact team in campaigning
African member states of the World Bank are represented by a total of three African executive
for the PF in Mpulungu if some sections
directors – of which the position for Africa Group 3 is completely new. Executive directors
of the media did not mislead us. We
oversee the day-to-day operations of the World Bank.

”
were misled by some media.
UPND youth leader Joe Kalusa on why
the PF lost the Mpulungu by-election
(Daily Mail 28).
Advertise in Zambia Weekly
One full page in full colour for extra impact.
“ The budget speech which is presented
in parliament is a summary. There is a
yellow book which has more than 1,000
Only one advertiser per week. pages. It contains all the figures and
Contact the editor for more details. breakdown to specific areas. Therefore,
one cannot just read the speech and

Zambia Weekly
argue the merits and demerits of the

”
budget.
Finance Ministry Chief Budget Analyst
Felix Nkulukusa (Times 25).

The best of the Zambian media 2

 Zambia Weekly Mining

Everybody can make a mistake! News in brief

President Banda has warned against xeno-
phobia following the shooting of 11 (some
media reports put the number at 13) miners at Into EU airspace
the Chinese Collum Coal Mine in Sinazeze, The International Civil Aviation Or-
Southern Province. ganisation (ICAO) will revisit Zambia
“Let’s be careful that we don’t single out people. in December to review progress made
Everyday people are shot by Zambians, by in addressing aviation safety concerns
white people, Americans, by everybody. You that led to the ban of local airlines
know this business of Chinese! Chinese! We flying into the European Union (EU)
should not create a phobia against people,” airspace about a year ago. The ICAO
said Banda (Daily Mail/Times/Post 22), who stated concerns over issues in licens-
also pointed out that the many new and large ing, inspection and safety of aircraft. It
investments on the Copperbelt will inevitably also found that Zambia lacked experts
result in some friction – which “should be in the Department of Civil Aviation;
handled in accordance with the labour laws of the country”. however, Communication and Trans-
port permanent secretary Dominic
The 11 miners were wounded by two Chinese management officials during a riot over wages Sichinga said the ministry now had
(Daily Mail 16). During the riot the miners allegedly looted the mine. The two Chinese were trained personnel both inside and out-
charged with attempted murder (Post 19) and the two riot ringleaders were arrested (Daily side the department (Daily Mail 26).
Mail 18). Since then calls for the deportation of the two Chinese have mounted, while fewer
agreed with the president of the University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union, Eu-
ston Chiputa, who said they should be tried in Zambia (Post 28).
Another NRC renewal round
Sinazongwe District Commissioner Oliver Pelete explained that the mine’s head office in Lu-
Government has recommenced the
saka had agreed to replace the management at the mine (Sunday Mail 17), The Chinese embas-
mobile national registration cards
sy directed the mine to foot the medical bills for the 11 miners (Times 22), and a committee,
(NRCs) issuance exercise across the
comprising of representatives of workers, management, government and the Gemstone Union
country. The aim is to provide more
and Allied Workers, was formed to find a lasting solution to problems at Collum (Times 23).
people with NRCs to enable them to
Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu said communication – or rather lack of – constitutes register as voters. Minister of Home
a large part of the problem, as miners and management don’t speak the same language (Times Affairs Mkhondo Lungu said the
23). exercise will run up to 30 November
2010. From June 2009 to July 2010,
Collum was given up until the end of October to improve workers’ conditions (Post 20) –
the mobile issuance exercise provided
which have been appalling for a long time. In July 2006, after touring the mine, then Southern
1,090,222 people with new NRCs
Province Minister, Alice Simango, wept on national television and accused the management of
(Daily Mail 26).
treating workers like animals.
That same year, four workers at the Chambishi Mine on the Copperbelt were shot and wound-
ed by the company’s Chinese management in combination with police while protesting a wage Hurry before the rains!
dispute.
The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has
extended its crop purchasing period for
one month until the end of October to
Mines still not paying enough tax buy this year’s bumper harvest (Daily
Mail 1). In the process it is expected
to spend a total of 1.5 trillion kwacha
The mines are still contributing far too little to Zambia’s revenue. Following the release of the (Daily Mail 8). So far, it has purchased
2011 budget (see page 7), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) resident representative, approximately 750,000 tonnes of maize
Perry Perone, called for increased tax revenues from the mining sector. The mining sector con- worth 983 billion kwacha (Post 21). The
tributes about 70 percent of Zambia’s foreign exchange earnings, constituting 9.7 percent of the FRA vowed it would release 150 billion
total economic output, while it only contribute about 1 percent of total tax collection (Post 15). kwacha every week to quickly buy maize
This week, Bank of Zambia governor Caleb Fundanga agreed: “Whilst the increase in mining from farmers before the onset of the
sector revenues is positive, the mining sector’s contribution to the overall tax revenues remains rains (Daily Mail/Post 4). Neverthe-
low relative to the contribution of the sector to the overall GDP,” he said and added that the less it has also distributed tarpaulins
ZRA must improve its capacity to monitor financial arrangements and tax obligations of large across the country (Sunday Mail 10).
and complex firms such as mining companies. “If these measures are successful, we expect tax The agency has 910,000 tonnes of maize
revenues to increase significantly as the mining companies recoup their initial investments and in reserve, of which 160,000 tonnes are
begin to turn a profit on their investment” Fundanga stated (Times 26). from last year (Times 20).

The best of the Zambian media 3

 Zambia Weekly Corruption
Return of the brown envelopes?
Two weeks ago, parliament
passed the anti-corruption
bill – after a heated debate.
Vice-president George
Kunda said the bill con-
tains several new offences
currently not contained
in the Anti-Corruption
Commission (ACC) act
of 1996 (Daily Mail 16),
but opponents continue to
criticise the removal of the abuse of office offence (Post 23/26/27/28).
“The days of brown envelopes and dubious acquisition of property and
unexplained wealth are definitely back,” said the president of Trans-
parency International Zambia (TIZ), Reuben Lifuka (Post 26). He
threatened to campaign against president Rupiah Banda in next year’s
general elections if Banda assents to the bill.
But chief government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha, said he
took great exception to TIZ’s threats, as TIZ earlier had spoken posi-
tively about the bill.
“TIZ is a non-governmental organisation and is, therefore, advised
to register itself as a political party if it wants to embark on political
campaigns ahead of next year’s elections,” said Shikapwasha, who is
also minister of information and broadcasting (Times 28).
The government has explained that the current act criminalises a civil
servant with more wealth than their income and that the abuse of
office offence also exists in the Penal Code. But the opposition claims
abuse of office was included in the ACC Act because it had no teeth in
the Penal Code – which is administered by the police – who now are
“customers” of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Shikapwasha however said the new law had provisions which would
effectively and efficiently support the provision in the Penal Code.
The bill was passed with 54 votes in favour, 30 against and 3 abstaining
(Post 16).
It’s a corrupt world out there!
Zambia is ranked 101st out of 178 countries on corruption, accord-
ing to a new report from Transparency International. The Corrup-
tion Perception Index (CPI) 2010 shows that Zambia maintained
its 2009 score of 3 out of 10. President of Transparency International
Zambia, Reuben Lifuka, said the results “are a pointer to the fact that
little has been done” to address corruption in Zambia (Post 27). The
world’s most corrupt countries are Somalia followed by Myanmar and
Afghanistan. Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore tie for top place
as the world’s least corrupt countries (Daily Mail 27). Top-rated Af-
rican nation is Botswana, in 33rd place. Three-quarters of the nations
on the CPI list do not reach the half-way mark (a score of 5), which
means much of the world is corrupt. The CPI defines corruption as
“the abuse of entrusted power for private gain” in both the public and
private sectors. Transparency International was founded in 1993 and is
a non-governmental organisation that monitors corporate and political
corruption.
See the full report on:
www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010
Thoughts on independence... and food
National TV address by President Banda:
Food is a basic human need. A food-insecure nation is a
dependent and vulnerable nation. In view of this reality, the
theme for this year’s independence celebrations is “consolidat-
ing our independence through food security”. It was due to our
desire for higher crop production that my government last year
revised and improved the Farmer Input Support Programme.
The improvements made it possible for the farmers to deliver
the record-breaking bumper maize harvest. Please join me in
congratulating the farming community, and particularly the
small-scale farmers who are in the majority, for their major role
in realising my government’s goal of national food security for
all citizens (Sunday Times).
Editorial comment:
The biggest measure of Zambia’s economic freedom is in being
able to grow enough food to feed everyone of the country’s plus-
12 million people. In fact, Zambia is living up to its pledge to be
the grain basket of the region. The 2.8 million tonnes of maize
produced this year is more than enough for Zambia’s needs.
Zambians can thus stand proud and celebrate the 46th indepen-
dence anniversary because they have liberated themselves from
the miseries of hunger. The maize bumper harvests achieved
in recent years feed into economic emancipation for millions
of Zambians because the bulk of this crop is grown by peasant
farmers (Sunday Mail).
Patriotic Front vice-president Guy Scott:
This year, the idea that we are marking independence with a
claim to have achieved food security after 46 years of indepen-
dence seems particularly depressing. I am guessing that by food
security, the government has calculated that we have produced
more maize than we theoretically require if we multiply our
population of adults and adult-equivalents by a couple of hun-
dred grams a head a day. [T]he mere suggestion that producing
a couple of million tonnes of maize grain means that Zambians
actually have enough to eat is outrageous. Whilst so many of our
front benchers and urban elite worry about their weight prob-
lems, diabetes, bp and risk of stroke (...) nearly half of Zambian
children are stunted. There may be maize in the granaries but
clearly neither enough of that maize or all the other basic foods
and nutrients that they need reach these kids (Post 27).
This week’s figure
26 people died, 31 were seriously injured and 41 others
escaped with minor injuries in 131 road accidents during
Zambia’s Independence weekend. Of the 131 accidents, 18
were fatal. Copperbelt topped the list with 54 accidents fol-
lowed by Lusaka with 40 (Times 27).
The best of the Zambian media 4
 Zambia Weekly This week’s controversy

By-elections: Serious voter apathy

Zambia’s third round of by-elections in 2010 held on 25 October
ended with the two parliamentary seats being divided democrati-
cally between the governing Movement for Multiparty Democracy
(MMD) and the opposition in the form of the United Party for
National Development (UPND).
The MMD won the by-election in Mpulungu with 5,003 votes
against the 4,419 votes of the UPND’s pact partner, the Patriotic
Front (PF), while the UPND won the by-election in Chilanga with
3,702 votes against the MMD’s 2,339 votes (Daily Mail/Times 27).
The run-up to the elections was relatively peaceful – compared to
the violent by-election in Mufumbwe in April 2010. In Mpulungu,
MMD cadres “roughed up” a female PF supporter (Post 23) and
police arrested two MMD cadres for electoral fraud (post 26).
In Chilanga, the MMD uncovered a scam in which suspected UPND
members were telling voters to shun the election (Sunday Mail).
UPND MP Watson Lumba was beaten by suspected MMD cadres
(Times 26) and three MMD polling agents were beaten by suspected
UPND cadres (Daily Mail 26).
But most voters couldn’t care less. In Mpulungu only about 39 percent 28), whereas the MMD said it was due to Magande neglecting the
of all registered voters cast their vote. The rest had gone to cultivate constituency (Daily Mail 28).
their fields, said the Southern African Centre for the Constructive
Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD), an election observer (Daily
Mail 26).
They didn’t have that excuse in Chilanga. Regardless, only 24 percent
chose to vote. SACCORD executive director Lee Habasonda said
government should step up measures to ensure people appreciate the
essence of voting (Daily Mail 27).
The MMD accepted the election results. President Banda said he was
happy the MMD still has majority in parliament. He congratulated
the UPND for scooping the Chilanga seat and PF for winning local
government seats (Times 27).
But PF president Michael Sata replied by saying the PF will petition
the Mpulungu result due to electoral malpractices (Post 27): “The
minister of community development Michael Kaingu was openly
distributing foodstuffs and money,” Sata said.
Go ahead, said Banda: It “is a right of every party and every citizen to
petition if they feel that justice was not done” (Daily Mail 28).
The two parliamentary by-elections were caused by the death of
MMD MP Lameck Chibombamilimo in Mpulungu and the MMD’s
expulsion of its rebel MP Ng’andu Magande in Chilanga. Magande
said the MMD’s loss in Chilanga was a reaction to his expulsion (Post
The five local government seats were won by the MMD (Kaumbwe
in Petauke and Liwingishi in Mansa) and the PF (Nkwazi in Ndola,
Muva Hill in Luanshya and Chandaula in Chinsali).

PF-UPND Pact: chest-beating again Results of by-elections 25 October 2010

The political pact between the Patriotic Front (PF) and the Chilanga (about 26,600 registered voters)
United Party for National Development (UPND) remain united
– more or less – despite never-ending quarrels about who is the Candidate Votes
bigger and better of the two – and, ultimately, who should field Cosmas Moono (UPND) 3,702
the pact’s presidential candidate (Post 1/2/4/5/6/7, Daily Mail
1/2/4/7/8 and Times 1/3/4/5/12). Keith Mukata (MMD) 2,339

Things calmed down – momentarily – when the PF backed Henry Silumesi (UNIP) 131
down on its decision to field a candidate in last week’s parlia- Valerie Makeleni (NAREP) 50
mentary by-election in Chilanga – despite declaring it has the
upper hand in Lusaka. Earlier, the PF had stated it would field Rejected votes 67
a candidate in both Chilanga and Mpulungu in defiance of the Total 6289
pact’s joint working group which had decided to share the two
constituencies between the UPND and the PF (Post 3).
Mpulungu (about 25,700 registered voters)
But the chest-beating flared up after the UPND won the by-
election in Chilanga (see results in box to the right): Candidate Votes
“Our position as UPND is that the people of Zambia should Given Mung’omba (MMD) 5,003
judge whether we are small or not like the people in Chilanga
constituency have done. We will not engage in a popularity con- Freedom Sikazwe (PF) 4,419
test with our colleagues in PF,” the UPND president, Hakainde Alex Mwazya (NAREP) 331
Hichilema, said (Times 27).
Germanico Simusokwe (UNIP) 112
Hichilema said the pact should fight hard to ensure that it will
win the 2011 elections so that it could rule Zambia instead of Chilowela Sinyangwe (ADD) 62
competing for superior positions in the pact. Rejected votes n/a
Total 9,927

The best of the Zambian media 5

 Zambia Weekly Advertisement
Montessori education
Practical life:
To develop the
child’s concentration,
independence, self-
esteem and hand-eye
coordination.
Sensorial:
To develop the child’s
visual and muscular
perception of dimen-
sion as well as fine
motor control.
Maths:
To provide the child
with experience of
counting, associating,
matching and addition.
Languages:
To prepare for read-
ing and writing by
introducing the basic
concept of letters,
words and sounds.
Science, Geography & Culture:
To encourage the
child to experience
the world; make
observations, gain
information and come
to conclusions.
From 15 months to 5 years
Grade 1 to start August 2011
School day: 7:30 (flexible) to
12:30 with optional afternoon care
Next term: 10 January 2011
Good value school fees!
Special activities
Art:
Dance & Music:
Swimming:
Playground:
School motto:
To educate children
in a happy and loving environment
We have big and small school events such as
animation, drama, field trips, story days, con-
certs, picnics and sports days.
About us:
The Dream Montessori Kindergar-
ten was established in 2008 by a
Korean missionary with a heart-
felt love for Zambia.
The Montessori method regards
the child as an integrated whole
with individual abilities and needs.
Teaching is matched to the capa-
bilities and developmental stage
of each individual child.
Various teaching tools and ma-
terials provide fun and efficient
lessons.
Our aim is happy children that
are given the very best founda-
tion for later learning and future
success.
We love, care and teach children
to follow simple rules, adopt good
You’ll find us at: manners, live at peace with their
Plot 81 Ngwezi Road in Roma family, friends and environment,
PO Box 34346 Lusaka respect their country and give
thanks to God in many ways.
Tel: 0211 293 939
Righteous children in thoughts,
Mobile: 0977 110 920
attitude and independence!
E-mail: annasblackhole@gmail.com
 Zambia Weekly Summary of week 40-42
Some NGOs live the high life
An audit report of grants has found financial irregularities amongst
non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The report from the Global
Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria showed that some
Zambian NGOs granted themselves “unreasonable benefits”. The ex-
ecutive director of the Zambia National AIDS Network, for instance,
received a monthly salary of K 67.8 million. Other NGOs lacked fi-
nancial management systems (Post 15/20). Earlier this year the Global
Fund redirected USD 300 million from the Ministry of Health due to
financial irregularities.
Mahtani arrested again and again
Former chairman of Finance Bank, Rajan Mahtani, who is facing
charges of money laundering involving K 80 billion, was re-arrested
on 1 October together with his lawyer over a forged letter produced in
court. The letter, purportedly written by the Bank of Zambia (BoZ),
cleared Mahtani of financial impropriety. The duo pleaded not guilty
(Times/Daily Mail 5), but BoZ deputy governor Denny Kalyalya de-
nied authoring the letter (Times 20). On 15 October, a joint team of
the Drug Enforcement Commission and the Anti-Corruption Com-
mission re-re-arrested Mahtani together with the managing director
of Clavada Mining Limited; a fictitious company created to allegedly
siphon money from Finance Bank (Daily Mail 15).
Difficult to set by-election date
First, the Electoral Commission of Zambia postponed the parliamen-
tary by-elections in Chilanga and Mpulungu together with five local
government by-elections from 28 to 30 October due to concurrent
examinations at schools used as polling stations. Then, after being
criticised for disfranchising members of Saturday-observing religions,
it moved them to 25 October (Daily Mail 13).
Zain: independent evaluation?
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has directed Bharti
Airtel to conduct an independent valuation of Zain Zambia. This
valuation, which is expected to be concluded by the end of Octo-
ber, will determine the share price offered in the mandatory offer to
minority shareholders (Daily Mail 6). However, Paul Kalumba, an in-
vestment advisor, asked: “What chances are there that a firm hired by
Bharti will give a share price unfavourable to Bharti?” (Post 8). Bharti
Airtel previously suggested a share price of 710 kwacha against SEC’s
recommendation of 1,126 kwacha.
Parliament punishes Mpombo
Speaker of the National Assembly ordered MMD rebel MP, George
Mpombo, to apologise for saying that Kunda “is the most stupid
vice-president the country has ever had” in the Post on 5 July 2010.
Mpombo said he would read the apology prepared for him with a
pinch of salt, but he was ordered to withdraw that statement (Post/
Times/Daily Mail 6). Mpombo was recently expelled from the MMD.
Three ministers survive crashlanding
A Zambia Air Force plane with three ministers onboard crash-landed
on 16 October at Mukinge Airstrip in Kasempa. All ministers and
other passengers escaped unhurt. Apparently the plane veered off
the airstrip after the pilot failed to stop before the end of the airstrip.
Minister of Works and Supply, Mike Mulongoti, described the inci-
dent as “very frightening” (Sunday Post/Mail 17).
News in brief
First indigenous cardinal for Zambia
Pope Benedict XVI has appointed archbishop Emeritus Medardo
Mazombwe as the first indigenous cardinal for Zambia (Post 21).
Mazombwe will receive the red hat (beretta) from the Pope on
20 November during a public consistory at the Vatican in Rome
(Times/Daily Mail 21). Mazombwe is the second archbishop to
be appointed cardinal for Zambia. The first was the late cardinal
Adam Kozlowiecki, who was appointed by late Pope John Paul II.
A budget for the people?
Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Muso-
kotwane, presented the 2011 national budget to parliament on
8 October. The K 20.5 trillion budget has the theme “A people’s
budget from a people’s government”. It was routinely criticised in
the private media (Post 10/11) and hailed in the government press
(Sunday Mail 10/Times 11). Especially the upward adjustment of
the PAYE tax-exempt threshold to 1 million kwacha was praised.
The counting has begun!
Zambia’s fifth census since independence, the 2010 Census of
Population and Housing, was launched on 15 October. The field
work is scheduled to last 21 days (Daily Mail 16/17).
Farewell to a freedom fighter
14 October was declared a day of national mourning in honour
of former cabinet minister and high commissioner to Zimbabwe,
Dingiswayo Banda, who died on 11 October after an illness. The
body of the late freedom fighter was flown to Lundazi to lie in
state before his burial (Daily Mail 13).
Indeni Petroleum Refinery shut down
Zambia’s sole oil refinery shut down in the beginning of October
for a 45-day routine maintenance. Minister of Energy and Water
Development, Kenneth Konga, said the country has enough fuel
stocks to see it through the shutdown (Daily Mail 2).
Doctors call off strike
The Resident Doctors Association of Zambia (RDAZ) called off
its strike on 4 October in reaction to pleas from patients and the
general public (Post/Times 5). The strike started on 27 September.
22 ex-managers sue Zamtel
22 former Zamtel managers have dragged their former employer to
the Industrial Relations Court. The group wants higher retrench-
ment packages (Times 5).
Inflation continues its downward trend
The annual inflation reduced to 7.7 percent in September, down
from 8.2 percent in August (Times 1).
Another trade surplus in August
Zambia recorded another trade surplus of 865.7 billion kwacha
in August driven by exports in copper (Times 4). On 19 October,
benchmark copper for three-month delivery on the London Metal
Exchange hit a 27-month high of USD 8,492 (Times 12).
The best of the Zambian media 7
 Zambia Weekly Titbit News
Leave the car at home this Christmas
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has bought alcohol
testing equipment – breathalysers – worth 1.9 billion kwacha to reduce
road accidents in the forthcoming festive season. RTSA deputy direc-
tor Martin Mbangu said the agency had trained both police and its
own officers on how to operate the equipment. Breathalysers estimate
blood alcohol content (BAC) from a breath sample. Zambia allows a
BAC of 0.08 g/dl. Breathalysers, however, are sensitive things. Their
readings can be affected – significantly – by exercise (down), hyper-
ventilation (down), burping (up), mouthwash with alcohol (up) and
even ambient temperature. Most countries therefore verify breathalyser
results with blood tests. However, it is unclear whether Zambia will do
the same. The new breathalysers have been distributed throughout the
country (Sunday Times Independence Day Supplement).
This week’s figure
National football coach, Italian Dario Bonetti, has been on
duty approximately 21 days since he arrived about three
months ago. Bonetti has spent the past weeks in Italy, appar-
ently monitoring the eight Zambian footballers playing for
Europe clubs (Post 23).
Partial closure of Manda Hill?
Government is considering partial closure of the Manda Hill Shop-
ping Complex in Lusaka following the death of a worker. The initial
report indicated that Wilfred Kasongo of Garden Compound died on
22 October after a pile of glass fell on him as he was trying to move
it from a container together with a colleague who allegedly let go of
the bundle. Manda Hill is currently undergoing extensive construc-
tion works carried out by a consortium of South African construction
companies, WBHO and Velos Enterprises Limited. When inspecting
the shopping complex, Minister of Labour, Austin Liato, said govern-
ment is saddened by the tragic death. “There is sufficient evidence that
workers are protected but there are also minor safety concerns. There is
an absolute need to decongest the human traffic either by completely
closing the centre to the public or by partial closure. Partial closure
is better because it will give room for quick completion of works and
safety,” he said (Sunday Mail). “Today it is an employee but tomorrow
it might be a customer,” he added (Sunday Post). Ministerial officers
have been assigned to closely monitor the construction work at the
shopping complex. 95 percent of the work will be completed by 19
November while the remaining work, which will not affect customers,
will be finished by April 2011.
Mealie meal price reduced
National Milling Corporation has reduced its mealie meal prices by
2,000 kwacha. In Lusaka, the company has partnered with Shoprite
to offer a special independence price (which will continue after inde-
pendence) of 44,890 kwacha per 25 kg breakfast meal. Otherwise, the
new depot prices are 47,000 kwacha in Lusaka, Mazabuka, Kabwe
and Livingstone, 51,000 kwacha on the Copperbelt and 53,000 kwa-
cha in other locations (Times 23).
Odd News
Second resurrection in Chavuma
Residents in Chavuma in the North-Western Province are
bewildered by the bizarre appearance of a man believed to
have died several years ago. The resurrection of Chisola Ka-
fasa of Sakavuyi village is believed to be the second incident
in as many days. Investigations are ongoing into the resur-
rection of a woman, Doreen Tumba Malali, who is said to
have come back from the dead exactly one year after she was
buried. North-Western Province Police commanding officer
Charles Lungu said according to elders the man died in
2004. Lungu said the elders in the village had taken the res-
urrected man to traditional healers for help, examination and
possible treatment, and that Kafasa had told police officers to
investigate the legitimacy and circumstances of his purported
death (Daily Mail 27).
10 sex workers sexually abused
A group of unknown men abducted, sexually abused and
whipped 10 sex workers in Kitwe on 22 October – appar-
ently for contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS on the
Copperbelt. One victim said she and her colleagues were
picked up at night from various places in different vehicles
by a group of about 30 men. The women were told they
would be paid a lot of money if they would come along to
an unknown place – something they otherwise do not agree
to. They ended up somewhere near Garneton residential
area, where they were abused by the group of men – who
also stole the women’s money. Copperbelt Police com-
manding officer Martin Malama condemned the men and
encouraged the women to be bold enough to report the
matter to the police – which the outspoken victim said they
would not do (Sunday Mail).
Zambia Weekly
Week 43, Volume 1, Issue 26, 29 October 2010
Zambia Weekly is a free e-zine that extracts the news you really
need to know about. It provides an effortless way of keeping
up-to-date with current affairs in Zambia. Zambia Weekly is
being distributed by email every Friday. If you wish to advertise
in Zambia Weekly please contact the editor. Feel free to share
Zambia Weekly with colleagues and friends. Comments, criti-
cisms or suggestions are always welcome!
Editor: Camilla Hebo Buus,
zambiaweekly@gmail.com,
mobile 0977 461 877
The best of the Zambian media 8