Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Health, Maternity wards, Minister, Money, Mulongoti, Newspaper, Plundered, recovered, spokesperson
STATE TO INJECT MONIES PLUNDERED INTO MATERNITY WARDS
By Sally Chiwama
Government will use the K13.6 billion the Task Force on Corruption has earned from the sale of seized properties to build maternity wards at various health centers countrywide.
According to the “Times of Zambia” newspaper, Chief Government Spokesman Mike Mulongoti , said in a statement in Lusaka last week.
And health Minister Brian Chituwo told the Zambia National Broadcasting Television (ZNBC) that, Zambia had the highest number of mortality rates in the region and that the monies that were plundered deserved to that sector as mother and children were dying at alarming rate.
“Zambia has the highest mortality rate, if it is not the mother dying during child birth, it is the child that dyes because of lack of proper care” he said.
Mr. Mulongoti said that government would use the money to construct new new maternity wings to improve the health status of women and children.
Mr. Mulongoti who is also Information Minister said the decision was made during a cabinet meeting on Monday May 5.
He explained that the K13.6 billion comprised US$1,473,732.88 and K7,762,381,878.1 earned through an earlier sale of seized properties.
The total amount of money projected to be raised from the sale of recovered properties would be in excess of K200 billion.
He said that the properties included motor vehicles, industrial and agriculture equipment, warehouse and residential properties in various towns throughout Zambia.
Out of the K116 billion cumulative total assets and cash traced as at October 1, 2007, K20 billion worth of properties had not yet been disposed off.
About 30 apartment buildings in Belgium valued at $8million were some of the items recovered as a result of growing international cooperation in asset recovery and investigation.
As at last year, K85 billion worth of assets were surrendered to the state for disposal.
The K116 billion worth of assets recovered had allegedly been plundered, stolen or unlawfully obtained between 1991 and 2001.
Ends….
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: access to information, development, human right, information bill, journalists, livingstone, my speech
Speech written and read By Sally chiwama
On the commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day May 3rd 2008,in Livingstone.
Honorable Minister, Southern Province
The Mayor of Livingstone
The District Commissioner
Fellow members of the press
Ladies and gentlemen.
Let me start by saying that today is a very special day in the life of a Journalist as this is the day when we reflect on our achievements, pitfalls and our plans for the future.
The theme for this year “freedom of information, Access to Information and Empowerment of people” is also very special because it embraces the needs and aspirations of all stakeholders, regardless of status.
By this I mean that the theme is all inclusive because freedom of information is not only for the media, or Journalists per se but the general public as well.
Information is required to be accessed in order for the public to participate meaningfully and effectively in the affairs of the society, therefore, access to information is an essential part of good governance and freedom of information and expression is a basic condition of the progress and development of citizens and society.
The government has on several occasions claimed they are in a hurry to develop the country but we in the media know that that there can be no development without a free media and hence we are calling upon government to expedite the tabling of the information bill before parliament soon as it aims at promoting a culture of openness within government.
It goes without saying that these days the freedom of information and expression is being recognized as a fundamental human right and therefore, the freedom of information bill will oblige public bodies to do more than accede to requests for information.
We however, appreciate that government has provided in the recent past a somewhat conducive atmosphere to do with proliferation of community radio stations but still remains adamant on the enactment of the freedom of information bill.
Viva Press Freedom
Viva Freedom of information
Viva World Press Freedom day
Freedom & Access to information Now!!!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Add new tag, freedom, information, Legislation, livingstone, Media, Minister, Press, Province, Southern
By Sally Chiwama
World Press Freedom Day
The World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) organizing committee in Zambia sent me to Livingstone to coordinate the World Press freedom Day activities in Livingstone. And one of the tasks I did was write the speech for the Southern Province Minister.
The speech was accepted by the Ministers office and no alterations were made to the speech.
At the same function I also on behalf of the WPFD organizing committee delivered a speech regards the media in the country.
Below is a story that appeared in the Zambia Daily Mail on May 5th 2008.
MUNKOMBWE BACKS FOI LEGISLATION.
By Wallen Simwaka
Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe says information is vital for the public to effectively participate in public affairs and make the government simpler.
In a speech read for him by Deputy Permanent Secretary Aaron Zulu at the World Press Freedom day celebrations in Livingstone on Saturday May 3rd, My Munkombwe said access to information was essential to good governance.
Mr. Munkombwe said freedom of expression constituted one of the most essential foundations of a democratic society because it was a basic condition to the enjoyment of other rights.
“Without freedom of information and expression free discussions particularly on political issues such as national Constitution Conference (NCC) would be stifled,” he said.
“Mr. Munkombwe said government is aware that the free flow of information lies at the heart of the very notion of democracy. It is crucial to the effective respect of human rights”.
Government under the leadership of President Mwanawasa was committed to ensuring that human rights were respected, he said.
Mr. Mukombwe challenged media practitioners in the Southern Province to be proactive and endeavor to capture what government was doing rather than just focus on the negatives.
He, however warned the media to be careful in demanding for public information saying there should be some restrictions to certain aspects of information in the interest of national security.
And World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) organizing committee member Sally Chiwama said there would be no development without a free Media.
Ms Chiwama urged government to expedite the enactment of the Freedom of information legislation because information it would promote a culture of openness in the public sector.
“Government has always said that they are in a hurry to develop the country on several occasions but it should realize that there can be no development without a free media,” she said.
Livingstone Press Club Chairperson Florence Mwisa said the right to freedom of information was now recognized as a fundamental right because public bodies were not holding information for themselves but for the general citizenry.
Ms. Mwisa said the media would find it difficult to expose corrupt leaders if access to information was restricted unnecessarily.
