Fire gut Zambia’s major power plant and plunges the country into darkness.

By John Chola -21/09/09
Most parts of Zambia have been plunged into darkness following a fire that swept through the country’s major hydro power station.
The fire which gutted Kariba power station destroyed two huge generators and other equipment belonging to the country’s power utility, ZESCO Limited.
Two people died in the fire while several others sustained serious burns and are admitted to a hospital.
Kariba power station generation capacity has since been reduced from 1,460 megawatts to 900 megawatts only.
This is the second time within a period of less than six months for ZESCO Limited to lose power generation generators.
Zambia Police have since launched an investigation into the cause of the fire which has destroyed the under-rehabilitation power plant.
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Zambia invites bids for the sale of 75 % shares in its national telecommunications company.

By John Chola – 16/09/09

Zambia has invited international bidds for the purchase of 75 per cent shares in its national telecommunications company (Zamtel).

The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has announced the development in Lusaka.

The ZDA said that to prequalify prospective bidders must have a minimum of five years of licensed operations in the telecommunications industry.

The bidding companies are also required to have more than three million active attributable subscribers on fixed, mobile and fixed wireless networks.

Biding private entities companies would be required to pay a minimum of US$ 250 million shareholders’ equity while a minimum market capital of US$500 million is required for publicly listed entities.

The Zambia development Agency has asked bidding companies to pay a non refundable fee of US$20,000 prior to their submission of the prequalification application forms.

According to the statement bids for the purchase of the 75 per cent shares should be submitted to Zambia development Agency electronically in PDF format or in hard copy before five PM Zambian time on Friday 16th October 2009.

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Wife of Zambia’s late President Maureen Mwanawasa to stand for republican President.

By John Chola – 04/09/09
The wife of Zambia’s late President Levy Mwanawasa Maureen has declared that she will run for the country’s presidency.
Maureen Mwanawasa has told the government controlled Times of Zambia that she is now ripe to take up the presidency of Zambia, exactly one year after her husband was buried.
However, Maureen Mwanawasa can only contest the presidency of Zambia in the 2016 elections.
This is because her party, the ruling MMD has already settled for current President Rupiah Banda as its sole candidate for the party in the 2011 poll.
Mwanawasa has urged those who doubt her capacities to give her a try.
She has vowed that Zambia is now ready for a female president.
Mwanawasa says she has a great passion to lead Zambia.
The ruling MMD has welcomed Mwanawasa’s intentions to stand for Presidency.
MMD spokesperson Mike Mulongoti said that Maureen was free to stand for President because the MMD was a democratic party.
For Africa now I am John Chola in Lusaka.
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Post Newspapers Editor Fred M'membe faces arrest

By John Chola - 02/09/09

A magistrate court in Lusaka has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Fred M’membe who is Editor in chief of Zambia's leading Post Newspapers.

The warrant of arrest against M’membe follows his failure to appear before the court this morning.

Two days ago a Magistrate summoned the entire editorial staff of the Post Newspaper and a Professor of Law based in United States to appear before him for contempt of court.

The Professor (Muna Ndulo) authored an article in the Post last week which the court deemed contemptuous.

However the court heard that M’membe could not appear before it because he has been on study leave for two to three months now pursuing his masters degree.

The Post Newspaper team was lead by acting editor-in-chief (Sam Mujuda).

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Acquitted Chiluba demand his immunity

By John Chola - 19/08/09

Acquitted former president of Zambia Fredrick Chiluba is demanding for a special session of parliament to be convened to restore his immunity.

Chiluba’s lawyers yesterday wrote to Speaker of the national assembly stating that

Chiluba’s immunity is not infinity.

Chiluba’s is contending that the stripping of the immunity was just to enable investigation and prosecution into the allegations of plunder as laid down by late President of Zambia Levy Mwanawasa.

He says that since the courts have cleared Chiluba, the same parliament which stripped him should now cover him with legal protection.

Chiluba is afraid that he remains without immunity any aggrieved person can sue him in his personal capacity for wrongs he may have committed during his 10-year rule.

But MPs from two major opposition political parties say they will resist the restoration of Chiluba’s immunity.

Some opposition MPs say Chiluba does not deserve to be protected by parliament.

The MPs say it will be a direct insult on late Levy Mwanawasa for them to go and try to protect Chiluba from alleged crimes.

A Lusaka magistrate on Monday acquitted Chiluba of allegations that he stole US$500,000 public funds while serving as Zambia’s President............

Meanwhile the Task Force on corruption which took former president of Zambia Fredrick Chiluba to court says it will not hand back his shoes and suits which they grabbed from him.

The Task Force grabbed Chiluba;s shoes and designer suits when it just started probing him for alleged stealing of public money.

Chiluba was acquitted of all charges on Monday.

The chairperson of the Task Force has said that they will hold on to Chiluba’s personal clothes and restrict his other properties despite the judgment that cleared him.

The task force will only decide whether to give back or not Chiluba’s clothes after the registration of the London Judgment that find Chiluba liable.

Chiluba is currently fighting that the Zambian High court should not recognise the London judgment.

He says the London judgment encroaches on the independence of the Zambian judiciary.

Meanwhile the Task Force is still consulting its lawyers on whether to appeal against the judgment that cleared Chiluba

Chiluba owned more than 100 pairs of size 6 shoes, many affixed with his initials in brass.

Each pair has heels close to two inches high

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Judgment to either send Frederick Chiluba to jail or set him free deferred to next Monday, August 17.

By John Chola - 14/08/09
Judgment to either jail or set Zambia's former President Frederick Chiluba to freedom has been deferred to next week Monday, August 17.

Former President of Zambia Frederick Chiluba was this morning supposed to receive judgment in a case he is accused of stealing public funds amounting to US$ 500,000.

Seven years ago Chiluba's successor late President Levy Mwanawasa asked Parliament to remove his immunity for him to be prosecuted on corruption allegations while he served as republican President.

Chiluba ruled Zambia from 1991 to 2001.

Chiluba was forced to leave office in 2001 after a failed attempt to rule for a third five-year term of office.

The Constitution of Zambia only allows a president to rule for a maximum of two five-year terms of office.

Chiluba’s theft and corruption cases have dragged on for years because of his poor health.

Chiluba has been frequenting South Africa for medication because of a heart problem.

Chiluba is jointly charged with two directors of a defunct privately owned financial services company for theft of public funds amounting to US$500,000.

Chiluba is facing counts of theft by public servant, contrary to Sections 272 and 277 of the penal code, Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

In his defense before a High Court registrar Chiluba argues that the National Assembly was clear when it stated that he would only be amenable to the court’s jurisdiction in respect of acts done in his personal capacity while he held presidential office.

Chiluba states that the charges brought against him for acts or offenses allegedly committed while acting in his official capacity are legally incompetent as he is not amenable to criminal jurisdiction of any court in Zambia.

He states that Zambia prides herself in upholding the old tenets of justise and that this is one of the cases where the prosecution has failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Chiluba did file the submission and it now remains to be seen whether his defence has satisfied the court or not for him to either walk out as a free man or go to prison as a convict.

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Zimbabwe must re-enter the Commonwealth family demands Kaunda and Malcolm Fraser.

By John Chola - 13/08/09

Former President of Zambia Kenneth Kaunda and former Prime Minster of Australia Malcolm Fraser wants Zimbabwe welcomed back into the Commonwealth family.

The two former leaders have urged the Commonwealth to engage proactively with the new Zimbabwean government.

The two were speaking at a Commonwealth summit in Lusaka.

Fraser has described Zimbabwe as one of the Commonwealth’s greatest successes as well as its greatest failures.

Dr. Kaunda said that the road to recovery that the world is now witnessing in Zimbabwe shows that she belongs to the Commonwealth.

Kaunda and Fraser have told the Royal Commonwealth Society that the Commonwealth can achieve great things if only leaders can make better use of it and take it seriously as a forum to enact change.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) took place in Lusaka 30 years ago this week in August 1979.

The Summit paved the way for Rhodesian independence.

The Summit is viewed as a turning point in the history of southern Africa and a defining moment in the life of the Commonwealth.

It was after a two day retreat at the historic meeting that leaders emerged with a commitment to genuine majority rule in Rhodesia and a promise from British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, to hold a London conference – Lancaster House – that led to Zimbabwean independence in 1980.

The Lusaka Declaration on Racism and Racial Prejudice was a clarion call to equality, and remains a fundamental Commonwealth document today.

Fraser was Prime Minister of Australia from 1975 to 1983.

Dr. Kaunda was President of Zambia from 1964 to 1991.

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