ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT TOLD TO AVOID IMPOSING LAWS THAT DO NOT BENEFIT THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE.

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL ZAMBIA (TIZ) PRESIDENT RUEBEN LIFUKA HAS URGED GOVERNMENT TO AVOID  IMPOSING LAWS THAT NOT BENEFIT THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE.

REACTING TO CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON LIEUTENANT GENERAL RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA’S DIRECTIVE THAT MEDIA HOUSES SHOULD NOT PLAY POLITICAL SONGS UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD IS ANNOUNCED;MR  LIFUKA SAID IT IS WRONG TO STOP THE OPPOSITION WHEN THE RULING PARTY IS CAMPAIGNING.

HE HAS URGED GOVERNMENT TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD AHEAD OF THIS YEAR`S GENERAL ELECTIONS AND NOT USE DRACONIAN LAWS TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM SELLING THEIR PARTIES WHEN MOST OF PRESIDENT RUPIAH BANDA’S STATEMENTS ARE A CLEAR INDICATION THAT HE IS ALREADY CAMPAIGNING.

AND MR. LIFUKA HAS OBSERVED THAT THE GOOD REPORT ON THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE WILL BE USELESS AND MEANINGLESS IF NO ACTION IS TAKEN OVER THE DISCREPANCIES WHICH WERE REPORTED AND WRITTEN IN THE REPORT.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE EITI COUNCIL MUST PUT ITS FOOT DOWN OVER THE MATTER AND ENSURE THAT THE MINES EXPLAIN THOROUGHLY AS TO WHY THERE ARE SUCH DISCREPANCIES AND SHORTAGES IN PAYMENT.

published by augustine