Metro

Zambian govt defends withdrawal of ex-President Lungu’s benefits

Published

11 months ago

January 10, 2024

The Zambian government has defended its withdrawal of former President Edgar Lungu’s benefits which it says is within the law pursuant to the provisions of the former President’s Benefit Act Cap 15 of the laws of Zambia.

The government’s position came following Lungu’s petition at the Lusaka High Court seeking to declare the withdrawal of his benefits and other entitlements following his decision to return to politics illegal.

In the petition, the former Zambian Head of State indicated that the Benefit Act was an infringement on his constitutional rights of freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association and protection from discrimination based on his political opinion.

But in a response to the petition, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Administration, Oliver Kalabo, submitted that his office took proper due diligence to ascertain whether Lungu was actively engaged in politics and contravening Cap 15 of the laws of Zambia.

Kalabo noted that with Lungu’s announcement of his return to active politics on October 28, 2023, the withdrawal of benefits accrued to him was in line with the Benefits Act.

He noted the following points to back the government’s decision:

“That following the former President’s announcement of his return to active politics,by a letter dated October 30, 2023, Cabinet Office consequently withdrew all the benefits conferred by the Benefits of Former Presidents Act, to the sixth President with immediate effect;”

“That the withdrawal of pension, the benefits is not contrary to the constitution or the international covenant on civil and political Rights(ICCPR).”

Kalabo further argued that the law was explicit in that it provides in no uncertain terms that the “pension and other benefits conferred by the Act shall not be paid, assigned or provided to a former President who is engaged in active politics.”

He also argued that the state had not in anyway infringed the Lungu’s rights as alleged, but acted within the confines of the constitution and urged the court to dismiss the petition.

“The respondant submits that it has not breached any part of the constitution by enforcing the withdrawal of the petitioner’s pension and benefits. Rather, the respondent has acted within the confines of the law and the constitution.

“The Benefits of Former President’s (amendment) Act provides in no uncertain terms that the pension and other benefits conferred by the Act shall not be paid, assigned or provided to a former President who is engaged in active politics.”

“The words used in the statute are plain and therefore the literal rule of interpretation is to be used,” Kalabo posited.

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Metro

Zambia: Farmers’ union warns of uncertain future for agriculture sector

Published

17 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Small-Scale Farmers Development Agency (SAFADA) of Zambia has warned of uncertainty on the future of the agricultural sector, stating that its outlook over the next 25 years remains uncertain and gloomy.

The Executive Director of SAFADA, Boyd Moobwe, who raised the concerns in a telephone interview with Zambia Monitor on Saturday, expressed regrets that the agric sector was facing critical challenges that could hinder its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and overall economic growth by 2030.

Moobwe admitted that the rapid changes in agriculture due to new technologies and innovations, has been slow amid the inconsistent implementation of these advancements which raises questions about the sector’s ability to survive amidst the growing threats of climate change, political instability, and economic difficulties.

The SAFADA Director pointed out that many of the problems plaguing agriculture were self-inflicted.

“The current measures for agricultural and rural financing are inadequate due to poor data analysis and utilisation,” Moobwe said.

Agriculture, he said, “had the potential to revive the economy if proper policies were introduced and if small-scale farmers were fully involved in planning and implementing agricultural projects.”

Metro

Nigeria: CSO urges President Tinubu to investigate missing funds in Humanitarian Ministry

Published

22 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A Nigerian civil society organization, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has called on President Bola Tinubu to launch an investigation into the over N57 billion that allegedly went missing in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021.

The organisation, in a statement on Sunday, urged the president to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, as well as other anti-corruption agencies to commence a probe into the allegations without delay.

In the letter issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare and addressed to President Tinubu, the group warned against sweeping the allegations under the carpet as the Nigerian public has a right to know what happened to their money.

“The allegations amount to stealing from the poor. There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave allegations,” the watch dog group said.

“The allegations also suggest a grave violation of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the country’s anticorruption legislation, and international anticorruption obligations.

“Hundreds of billions of naira are also reportedly missing in other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“Poor Nigerians have continued to pay the price for the widespread and grand corruption in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviations and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“According to the 2021 annual audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, (the ministry) in 2021 failed to account for over N54 billion meant to pay monthly stipends to Batch C1 N-Power volunteers and non-graduate trainees between August and December 2021.

“The money was not directly paid to the beneficiaries. The Auditor-General is concerned that the money may have been diverted. He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury. He also wants suspected perpetrators of the diversion to be sanctioned in line with the Financial Regulations.

“The ministry reportedly failed to account for over N2.6 billion of public funds meant for the home-grown school feeding programme during Covid-19, as the programme was never executed. The money was allegedly paid to five contractors to procure, package and distribute Covid-19 palliatives to Kano, Zamfara and Abia states, but without any trace.

“The ministry also reportedly spent over N78 million to carry out a survey on the ministry’s Covid-19 response to states and vulnerable groups but without any approval or document.

“The ministry also reportedly failed to account for N400 million meant to pay stipends to 4,450 independent monitors for October, November, and December 2021.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.

“SERAP urges you to immediately enforce the judgment by Hon. Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, ordering your government to release the spending details of N729 billion by Mrs Sadia Umar-Farouk, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management and Social Development,” SERAP warned.