BoZ Governor Gets Constitutional Protection

Lusaka 22.08.22 President Hakainde Hichilema has signed into law a new legislation that will protect the Central Bank Governor and his deputies from being fired without valid reasons.

The new law – Bank of Zambia (BOZ) Act No. 5 of 2022 – will require the President to setup a three-man tribunal headed by Judge or former Judge to probe any allegations leveled against the Bank of Zambia (BOZ) Governor or his deputies before being sacked from their positions.

“The President shall remove the Governor or Deputy Governor from office if the tribunal recommends to the President that the Governor or Deputy Governor should be removed,” reads section 13(7) of the Act.

Other two members of the tribunal should be persons with knowledge and experience in the field of central banking or economics, finance, law or any other field that is related to Central bank.

Unlike in the past where President could fire the Governor without reasons, the new law states that Governor and his deputies can only be sacked for “gross misconduct, incompetent, bankrupt” or if he is convicted and imprisoned for a term of not less than six months.

In short, the Governor and his deputies have been given security of tenure like that of the judges and the DPP so that they can perform their functions without interference.

The new BOZ Act came into effect few weeks ago following the assent by President Hakainde. The law was recently unanimously passed in Parliament and was only waiting for the presidential assent to become law.

The new BOZ Act has also put the tenure of office of the Governor as six years, which will be renewable for further term of six years.

The passing of this law follows the Constitution amendment of 2016, which among other things, restricted the position of Governor to few professionals. Under Article 214 of the Constitution, only person who is an economist, banker, accountant, finance or lawyer or a field related to banking can be appointed Governor of BOZ.

The new law has replaced the 1996 BOZ Act and it looks progressive and has interesting and innovative provisions that will enhance the performance and independence of the bank.

With these new amendments, politicians will have difficulties to interfere with the operations of the bank.

Credit : Dickson Jere

I CAMPAIGNED FOR SHAMELESS THIEVES, CROOKS, CRIMINALS AND CORRUPT BEINGS

CHANDA JOHN CHIMBA.

UPND has 2.8 million praise singers while PF has us the 1.8 million MAZAFAKAS who foolishly worked hard to make people multi millionaires and benefited nothing other than the woods, Vitenge and tshirts and beating up innocent people.

Little did i know that all that time I was busy singing, campaigning, trying to convince people to vote for Edgar and PF, I was just making noise campaigning for corrupt people with no shame.

Only now have I realised after ACC that while we were battling it with UPND, there was this David son of a Lodge owner somewhere of my age who was home relaxed popping champagne and eating pork chops while in bed with cool $5million in account. While us the Mazafakas were trotting from one Constituency to another not even with a k100 thousand. The nigga has his father with connections to PF and keeping money.

One would wonder that If David the son of the Lodge owner has $5million in account with massive property and his mother has massive cash , Then how much does his father has? Further how much does the Children to the PF man have before we even think of his wife and himself? It’s true that PF was shameless.

Bane it bleeds my heart when I hear people say we will bounce back in 2026. Lets be realistic to ourselves and the citizens of Zambia. Lets have a heart of mercy. The damage was too much.

If you walk round the nation today, whichever beautiful structure you see you will hear it belongs to such a PF leader or his child or his wife and even his girlfriends.

While we were busy convincing people that HH is a bad man, our friends were buying ma 6 bedrooms houses for wives as Birthday presents, buying ma land cruisers on competition at will. Our friends spent ma K500,000 on condoms, beer and sex almost every weekend.

While we were suffering, being insulted, little did I know that there was money hiding in a lady in New kasama. The lady we thought was just singing. Ala lesa amipale bane. Today there is nothing i can even show off for that i was in PF, i was close to who and who including the President. How was I blind to see that those close to state house were getting rich everyday.

There is nothing like political persecution by DEC and ACC, let the people of this country know the true. Surely we were taught a lesson by God.

The question then is How did President Lungu fail to know what was happening?, How President Lungu didn’t know that his close association had over 150 properties each, had huge money in bank accounts, their wives, children, girlfriends had named properties and huge money? How was the President not able to see?

Anyway life goes on. Lets see how far ACC and DEC will go. Lets see the shocking events.

Chanda John Chimba

…I will not win with 50% +1… BUT 60 PERCENT

11th June, 2021.

PRESIDENT Edgar Chagwa Lungu has boasted that come 12th August, 2021 he will not only exceed the required 50 percent plus one but will safely bag 60 percent of the Zambian vote.

Delivery a vote of confidence instilled in him probably by multitudes of crowds thronged his motorcade, and passive walk in Chipata, President Lungu on Breeze FM conclusively said he will win this year’s election with at least 60 percent of the votes because Zambians have chosen to continue with his government which has shown positive development.

President Lungu said he has carried on a mantle of good leadership and all the corners of Zambia have applauded him.

Citing various infrastructure development that have turned the face of Zambia and made services of education, health, housing, transport and so on by not only making services available but of quality, President Lungu said in all his travels across the country, the request is for a continued leadership.

“… We first embarked on infrastructure development and we did just that and now we are working on rebuilding the economy,” he said.

President Lungu cited various mechanisms that the Patriotic Front was putting in place to rebuild the economy and noted that his government which is a tried and tested government would also deliver on this promise.

He also observed that some opposition political leaders exhibit very violent characteristics that have made them very unattractive to Zambians.

“Moreover, Zambians want peace imagine I am the only one and a few others talking about peace, talking about not wanting violence in these campaigns. Yesterday, I saw some disturbing pictures on social media that were very annoying breaking vehicles, beating people in full of even one opposition leader and I know Zambians cannot vote for such a guy, Zambians love peace,” he said.

“So pano palibe chake [There is nothing for him here], so the truth of the matter is that we are winning and I have no doubt about that in my mind,” he said.

And on a very pomp note President Lungu said, “When I first came in 2015 we won by 27 000 votes and 2016 we got 100 000 plus votes, this time 2021 we are getting 60 percent votes plus… it won’t be 50 percent plus it will be 60 percent plus and if they want a recount they will even find that it was 70 plus.” he laughed off.

#SmartEagles2021

DARE THE LAW AND WE MEET IN COURT ON FRIDAY.

Since yeterday, some people are agitated over my move to send a warning shot to challenge the nomination of the trio adopted by PF on account of their seats being vacant due to estbalished facts of corruption, violence, malpractices, and non possession/ production of the Grade 12 academic qualification certificate.

By the fact that the Concourt upheld the High Court ruling that nullified their elections on account of corruption and malpractices, and non possession/production of a Grade 12 academic qualification certificate, using backdoors to recontest these by-elections is undermining electoral integrity and legitimacy.

The nullification of their seats proved that the trio offended the provisions of the Constitution and the prescribed code of conduct i.e.electoral code of conduct, which is not only a ground for vacating one’s seat but also an offence, punishable by law.

Art 72(2) (b) and (h) guide us all that the office of a member of parliament becomes vacant if the member acts contrary to the prescribed code of conduct in this case the electoral.code of Conduct and/or is disqualified as a result of the decision of the Constitutional court among other pieces of legislation, will be summoned to support the challenge we are drafting.

Indeed the prescribed electoral code of conduct was violated with impunity by the tro and lessons must be drawn from the nomination challenge on friday this week when we file.

So we urge the trio not to dare the law. It is the rule of law and must be respected. The rule of law has no fear or favour and is blind to such.

We are determined to invite the Constitutional Court again to interprete the trio’s eligibility to recontest the by-election after their elections were nullified on established facts that violated the Constitution and the electoral law and code.

Those claiming that I have been bought to push for electoral integrity, be assured that, *Yes am bought with a price by the blood of Jesus which he shed already for me on the Cross.

I will Never compromise on electoral credibility, legitimacy and integrity. It is my calling as i Will not allow the electoral law to be breached for fear of being called names by the same people who had called, perceived me and continue to do so to me to date and had held that views since their birth, some upto death.

It is their birthright to do what they do but now they must be assured that we are challenging their nomination in the Concourt on friday, this week, if they file successfully, whether they like it or not.

Those trying to harass, intimidate or threaten me, surely they must know by now what type of a human being am made of?

Am i a type that get scared on doing what i believe is the right thing or one who easily get silenced?

I fear defeat not death.

I submit

McDonald Chipenzi

For immediate release

20th August, 2022

The Central Committee of the Patriotic Front met today to discuss several pertinent Party and national issues.

The Central Committee made several resolutions which include but not limited to the following:

1. ADOPTIONS

Following the nullifications of the Kwacha and Kabushi constituency seats and the Lungwa District Council seat, the Central has officially adopted Hon Bowman LUSAMBO, Hon Joseph MALANJI and Mr Lawrence SHAWA as Patriotic Front candidates for Kabushi, Kwacha and Lungwa, respectively.

The Central Committee wishes to put it on record that Hon LUSAMBO and Hon MALANJI are duly ELIGIBLE and no amount of political machinations from any quarter to try to disqualify them shall be entertained.

Further, Hon Micheal Katambo has been appointed as Campaign Manager for Kabushi. He will be deputised by Hon Dr. Frank Ng’ambi and Hon. Emmanuel Mulenga.

Meanwhile, Hon. Kampamba Mulenga has been appointed as Campaign Manager for Kwacha Constituency. She will be deputised by Hon Alexander Chiteme and Hon Kalobo Pavyuma.

For the Luangwa District Council election, Hon Christopher Shakafuswa has been appointed as Campaign Manger. He will be deputised by Hon Emmanuel Tembo and Hon Japhen Mwakalombe.

2. MEETING BY PRESIDENT HICHILEMA WITH DISTRICT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

On 16th August, 2022, President Hakainde Hichilema held a meeting with district and local authorities officials. Those in attendance included Principal Officers (116), Directors of Finance(116), Director of Engineering and Works(116), Mayors/Council Chairperson (116), Provincial Local Government Officers (10), Provincial Planners(10), Povincial (10) and Local Government Association of Zambia (4)

It has emerged that this meeting was solely to discuss the implementation of Constituency Development Fund(CDF).

The Constituency Development Fund is established by Act No.11 of 2018. The CDF Act provides for the management, disbursement, utilisation and accountability of the Constituency Development Fund. The Act further establish Constituency Development Fund Committees in constituencies and provide for their composition and functions; and provide for matters connected with, or incidental to CDF.

The attempt by President Hakainde Hichilema to circumvent the law and propose to make disbursement and composition of CDF outside the Act is GROSS VIOLATION of the law and raises serious concerns with regards the President’s appetite for doing things outside the law.

The directive by the President to have District Commissioners (DCs) sit on CDF Committees is ILLEGAL; it is not supported by any law and it shall NOT be condoned.

Further, the failure by Hichilema and his Government to disburse CDF, eight months down the line is a result of his incompetence and failure to provide leadership.

It was hypocritical and a sheer waste of public resources for Hichilema to call for a meeting with our local authorities to discuss the CDF Guidelines when his own Party and Government recently shot down a motion in Parliament to review and revise the said guidelines. The country lost over Two million Kwacha in allowances and other logistics from that one meeting, money which could have been used in providing urgent needs such as the provision of medicines in our clinics and hospitals which is actually a national emergency.

The challenge is that Mr Hichilema has very little knowledge and understanding of governance; the man thinks CDF and the Decentralisation Policy are synonymous! CDF is not decentralisation policy; it is simply an activity under decentralisation. The sooner Mr Hichilema takes time to acquaint himself with how government and statesmanship works the better for himself and all of us as Zambians.

3. AFRICOM

I wish to inform the general public that owing to the gravity and nature of the decision by the UPND Government to host AFRICOM on our soil, I on behalf of the Patriotic Front wrote to President Hakainde Hichilema and his Government to make public, the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding between our Government and the US Government with regards to AFRICOM.

Owing to Government’s failure to make the contents of the MoU public, the Central Committee has resolved to embark on peaceful public protests against the establishment of AFRICOM on Zambian soil and pursued Government to publish the contents of the MoU.

HICHILEMA’S PRONOUNCEMENTS ON THE PF AND ITS LEGACY

President Hakainde Hichilema has made scandalising of the Patriotic Front as his number one priority. His obsession with the desire to destroy the Patriotic Front has made the man to blame and accuse PF for all his lies and failed promises.

While meeting district and local government authorities, Mr Hichilema made wild allegations against President Edgar Lungu and the Patriotic Front. The man claimed that he refused to append his signature to purchase presidential motor vehicles worth $1.3 million dollars which he alleges was approved by his predecessor, Edgar Lungu.

The aim of Mr Hichilema’s unfounded claims is to make right thinking Zambians believe that he is a prudent manager of national resources and make President Lungu appear as a reckless and extravagant man who was squandering public resources self aggrandisement.

The Central Committee has resolved to expose Mr Hichilema for his wild claims and make it clear to the public that the man lied when he claimed that he refused to append his signature to purchase new presidential motor vehicles. Here are the fact;

1) the approval and purchase of motor vehicles is purely a preserve of the Special Division and the Zambia Police. The President has nothing to do with the purchase of presidential vehicles.

2. The President is NOT a procurement officer; there is NOWHERE were the President’s signature is required in the purchase of presidential or government vehicles. To claim otherwise is a pure lie.

3. Zambians must be made aware that contrary to his posturing as a prudent manager of our resources, President Hakainde was bought a new fleet of presidential vehicles which he is using. He is not using the old vehicles that President Edgar Lungu was using as he has been trying to make our people believe.

In fact, all senior Government officials including Ministers and State House officials have bought brand new vehicles that they are using.

Further the recently approved Supplementary Budget included purchase of brand new luxury vehicles for several government officials.

On rehabilitation of State House, again costs incurred arises from his own preferential decisions as Nkwazi was recently rehabilitated by the previous occupants.

On the international front, the Central Committee has welcomed the election of President William Samoe Ruto of Kenya. The Central Committee recognises Mr Ruto as a panAfricanist who is committed and loyal to the interests of Africa and not the imperialist forces and their allies.

The party has resolved to strengthen our working relationships and deepen our bilateral engagements with Mr Ruto and his governing coalition.

APPOINTMENTS

The Central Committee has approved the appointments of the following individuals as the Party’s provincial leaders in Southern Province;

Main Body
1. Mr. Leonard Siachona – Chairman
2. Mr Omar Munsanje – Vice Chairman
3. Peter Kampamba – Vice Secretary
4. Treasurer – M/s Mary Sakala

Women Wing
1. M/s Mable Nindi -Chairlady
2. M/s Scholastic Mbao – Vice Chairlady
3. Brenda Munashabantu – Treasurer
4. Bernadette Hamweemba – Treasurer
5. Suzan Phiri – Vice Treasurer

Hon Charles Chalwe has been appointed as member of the Party’s Mobilisation Committee.

National Disciplinary Committee
1. Hon George Chisanga – Chairperson
2. Hon Tutwa Ngulube – Vice Chairperson
3. Hon Steven Kampyongo – Member
4. Hon Hakacima Kavumbu – Member
5. Hon Brenda Nyirenda – Member
6. MCC Peter Kazhila – Member
7. Hon Rev Godfridah Sumaili
8. Frank N’gambi – Member

GENERAL CONFERENCE

The Central Committee received and deliberated upon the report of the General Conference Preparation and Planning Committee and has resolved the following;

1. The Party has invited presidential candidates to lodge in expression of interest to stand for the the position of Party Presidency at the forthcoming General Conference.

The Secretariat shall receive expression of letters of interest starting from 1st September, 2022. The closing date for receiving applications has been set to 31st October, 2022.

2. The applications will attract a non-refundable application fee as stipulated below;
a) Male applicants – K200,000
b) Female applicants – K100,000.

After this process,the Central Committee will issue a campaign calendar for presidential candidates.

Further Central Committee has prescribed the last Saturday and Sunday of March, 2023 as provisional days under which the General Conference will be held.

I thank you

Issued by
Hon Given Lubinda
Acting President
Patriotic Front

Islamic Militant group, Al-Shabab said on Friday August 19, it had taken control of Hayat hotel near the centre of the Somali capital, Mogadishu after detonating two explosives outside the hotel and opening fire.

The Hayat hotel that was ambushed by the terrorist is said to be a popular location for employees of the federal government to meet and according to reports the Head of Somali intelligence services was at the hotel before it was attacked.

Nine people have been injured and carried away from the hotel, the head of Mogadishu’s Aamin ambulance services, Abdikadir Abdirahman reportedly told Reuters news agency.

Images circulating on social media show smoke billowing from the hotel while loud bangs can be heard as the attack occured.

Al-Shabab Islamist militants attack Hayat hotel in Somali capital, hold everyone hostage (videos)

Police said after the militants detonated two explosives outside the hotel, they entered the building and opened fire.

An affiliate of al-Qaeda, Al-Shabab has engaged in a long running conflict with the Somalian federal government.

The group controls much of southern and central Somalia and is now trying to control Mogadishu, the capital controlled by the government.

The attack on Friday marks the first attack in the capital by the group since Somalia’s new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was elected in May.

Somali security forces have surrounded the hotel and are trying to safely rescue hostages.

In a statement, the Islamist group claimed to be in control of the complex and said they “are shooting everyone”.

“Two car bombs targeted Hotel Hayat,” a police officer told the Reuters news agency in a statement.

“One hit a barrier near the hotel, and then the other hit the gate of the hotel. We believe the fighters are inside the hotel.” the officer added

Watch the video below…

Around 7 p.m., three consecutive explosions rocked the KM 4 Hayat Hotel, sparking a gun battle.

Abdi Ganaf, a former Fuad Yassin security officer, was among those killed.

Al Shabab has claimed responsibility for the ongoing attack on the Hayat hotel near the km4 intersection. pic.twitter.com/NefveaIf4B

— BNN Somalia (@BNNSomalia) August 19, 2022

WATCH: Al Shabab group claims the responsibility for a bomb-and-gun attack on Hayat hotel near km4 junction in Mogadishu. The group says the hotel is under siege and continues an operation. #HotelHayat #Mogadishu pic.twitter.com/0gYgYQQTI4

— BNN Newsroom (@BNNBreaking) August 19, 2022

BREAKING: Al Shabab group claims the responsibility for a bomb-and-gun attack on Hayat hotel in Mogadishu. Many people are trapped. A sporadic gunfire could be heard as the security forces have started an operation to end the hotel siege. pic.twitter.com/OybX8wKItd

— Shabelle Media Network (@ShabelleMedia) August 19, 2022

Former Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson has taken a stand in court to give evidence in Ryan Giggs’s domestic assault trial.

The legendary ex-football boss who helped convince a teenage Giggs to join the football club, arrived at Manchester Crown Court this afternoon.

The former Manchester United manager, 80, spoke about his relationship at the club with Giggs, who is on trial charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville.

Sir Alex told Manchester Crown Court on Friday August 19, that Giggs had a “fantastic temperament”, adding: “To have a career as long as he had in a difficult position, in terms of energy, he fulfilled everything we ever wished for.”

Sir Alex said: ‘He was being compared to George Best. There was a lot of press and media attention on him. I saw him every day, I was his manager. The boy was great, he was no problem.

‘As he got older he had a wonderful temperament. In the dressing room, I used Ryan as an example a lot. I would lose my temper over performances. Sometimes he got the sharp end of my tongue. But I knew he could take it, he was strong enough.

‘Everyone in the dressing room would think, if Ryan Giggs can take it, we all can take it.’

Asked by Giggs’s barrister Chris Daw QC if he had ever seen him “lose his temper or become aggressive”, Sir Alex replied: “No.”

When asked to describe his temperament, Sir Alex replied: ‘Fantastic, wonderful temperament. To have a career as long as he did, in terms of energy and attitude he was the best.

‘He was the best example that I had. Everyone looked at Ryan as the number one.’

Giggs’ barrister, Chris Daw QC, also asked whether Giggs was a player who had ‘a number of girlfriends and lady friends?’

To which Sir Alex answered: ‘Well at that stage (his teenage years), I don’t think there was. When he was older we did dinners at the end of the season he would bring a friend with him, yeah.’

Giggs, 48, is accused of ‘headbutting’ his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville during a row at his £1.7million mansion in Worsley, Greater Manchester, in November 2020.

The ex-United star is also accused of assaulting Ms. Greville’s sister Emma during the same row and using coercive and controlling behaviour. He denies the allegations and is on trial.

This morning, the trial heard how loved-up Ryan Giggs messaged his ex-girlfriend: ‘You are the jam in my doughnut, the truffle in my pasta, and the salt in my tequila’.

In a series of toe-curling love notes, read out in court this morning, the former footballer compared ex-girlfriend Kate Greville to Fort Knox, ‘because it’s full of gold’.

The former Wales star also signed off one text to the PR executive referring to himself as ‘Giggsy’ – a nickname commonly used throughout his football career – and told her ‘reiterate is a big word for this time of day’ during an early morning texting session, the court heard.

In another exchange, Giggs told Ms Greville he had made ‘scrambled eggs a la chef Giggsy’ for breakfast, and messaged his former flame saying: ‘I think you’re fandabidozi’.

Giggs also wrote an acrostic poem using the first letters of Ms Greville’s surname, including ‘Gorgeous’ for ‘G’, ‘Vivacious’ for ‘V’ and ‘Everything I’ve Ever Wanted’ for ‘E’.

Meanwhile, Ms. Greville wrote her own explicit poetry to the ex-Premier League star, including one message which read: ‘I’m counting down the days, I’m thinking of all the ways. I’m going to make that gorgeous c*** of yours raise.’

Many of the gushing messages, read out over more than an hour and a half this morning, contained a number of kisses at the end.

Lawyers had initially read them out saying ‘kiss, kiss’ at the end of each text. But Judge Hilary Manley eventually intervened, saying: ‘Sorry to interrupt but we probably don’t need the kiss, kiss, kiss’.

The barristers, who are acting as Giggs and Ms Greville as they read out the exchanges, laughed and both agreed.

Judge Manley also intervened when one of the lawyers began reading out a message from Ms Greville to Giggs, which read: ‘I love, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.’

Judge Manley said: ‘I think ‘I love you repeated’ would do.’ She said: ‘We need to keep the gravity of this situation.’

The court heard how in February 2020, Giggs messaged Katie Harvey, who his then-partner was with.

Ms. Harvey told Giggs that Ms. Greville had broken her phone. He thanked Ms. Harvey for being so ‘kind’ to him, and said: ‘I know I can be a pest.’

She replied: ‘You are, but you love her.’

Yesterday, on day nine of the trial, lawyers read out a cringeworthy poem from Giggs to Ms Greville and shared messages in which he made grandiose proclamations of his love during the course of their rocky relationship.

In one particularly explicit poem, read out in court as part of the former footballer’s domestic assault trial, with Giggs’s 66-year-old mother Lynn present, the former Wales midfielder wrote to the PR executive: ‘My darling Kate, Unequivocally our love was fate.

‘I fell in love with you at first sight. I remember cos I was as high as a kite. Those beautiful eyes made me shiver. I’m not going to lie I think of you I dream of you. Can’t help thinking pulling you was my greatest ever coup.

‘That stomach, those abs, those pictures you send so I can keep tabs. You make me feel funny down there. Especially when you’re there and you look up and stare.

‘I am beginning to think you are always right. That’s ok it will keep us tight. I’m gonna end by saying you are my love, my friend, my soul. And most of all you believe in me which makes me as hard as a totem pole.’

Manchester Crown Court heard the father of two sent the poem on August 31, 2017 – the day the coercive control is alleged to have started.

It was sent in response to a poem from Ms Greville in which she wrote: ‘You make my heart flutter because you are a nutter. Every day you do me proud not just because you are well endowed.’

The court also heard how, during their ‘toxic’ six-year on-and-off relationship, Giggs wrote several texts making strong declarations of love.

In one, the ex-football star, who made 632 appearances in England’s top division, wrote: ‘I love you to the next planet those clever f at Nasa finds. Plus all my Premier League appearances, which is a lot. Love you baby.’

The ex-Premier League star is accused of assaulting Ms Greville – who claims Giggs ‘deliberately’ headbutted her – during the incident at his home in November 2020.

He is also accused of assaulting Ms. Greville’s sister Emma – who was dog sitting on the night of the incident and who claims Giggs elbowed her after she tried to intervene.

Giggs denies the charges, as well as using controlling and coercive behaviour towards Kate during their ‘toxic’ six-year on-and-off relationship, and is currently on trial at Manchester Crown Court.

A woman who claimed she was raped three times by Manchester City star, Benjamin Mendy messaged a friend on the same night saying, ‘I’m getting f*d tonight,’ a court heard today.

The woman, 20, also sent another message to friends saying: ‘If I’m ever going to get pregnant, it’s going to be tonight,’ the footballer’s lawyers told jurors.

Eleanor Laws, QC, representing the French international, 28, insisted during cross-examination that sex between the woman and the footballer was consensual.

They also claimed the woman had lied about the £52million defender bragging about sleeping with ‘10,000 women’ during the alleged rape.

Mendy is on trial at Chester Crown Court accused of eight counts of rape, one of attempted rape, and one of assault, relating to seven women. He denies the allegations.

Today the woman, giving a graphic testimony, told the jury how Mendy used a ‘fingerprint touchscreen’ to lock her in a bedroom before raping her.

She told the court the star acted like it was a ‘privilege’ to be raped by him, that he boasted about sleeping with thousands of woman as he carried out the sex attack and told her: ‘Don’t tell anyone and you can come over every night’.

But in cross-examination, Mendy’s barrister asked if the woman was lying about the incident, which is alleged to have taken place at Mendy’s £3million Cheshire mansion.

The woman insisted: ‘Absolutely not. He said I was shy, that’s when he said about sleeping with 10,000 women.

‘I’m certain. It’s in high definition in my mind. It’s the most traumatic thing that’s happened to me.’

Asked about the impact of the alleged attack, she said: ‘The hardest thing is how many times I said no, it makes me upset. I felt petrified after it happened.’

On the fourth day of the trial, the court heard how the woman had followed the French international into his room after he allegedly snatched her phone from her hands.

She told the court that once inside, Mendy closed the door to the bedroom – which she claimed was fitted with a special locks and could only be entered using fingerprint technology.

She told jurors that after telling Mendy she did not want to have sex with him, he replied: ‘The door is locked anyway’.

The woman provided details of Mendy’s bedroom, claiming that it was lined with wood, had an en suite bathroom and a large bed which had a blue and gold Versace pillow.

She said that Mendy was dressed in chocolate-coloured trousers, a black top and was wearing three diamante chains around his neck.

Giving evidence in the trial, she said: ‘He (Mendy) took my mobile phone off me and I followed him up two flights of stairs to try and get it back.

‘I was saying ‘that’s my phone, I want it back.’ He was going through it looking at private pictures of me that I’ve sent before.

‘He saw pictures of my bum and was saying how much he liked it and he also said he liked my t**s.’

Referring to Mendy’s bedroom, she said: ‘It was a big wooden door that had a black handle, like you have in a hotel. It had some kind of touch screen finger print thing on it.

‘I followed him in to get my phone then the door shut behind me. I said listen, I want to go home, I don’t want to have sex with you.’

The alleged incident took place in October 2020 after the woman met Mendy and a group of friends in Alderely Edge and was then then invited back to his mansion for a party.

She was sitting in the basement of his home close to the swimming pool sending messages on Snapchat when Mendy snatched her phone from her.

The woman revealed that once in the room Mendy asked her to remove her clothing.

She said: ‘He said he just wanted to look at me. He said: ‘I promise, I won’t touch you. I just want to see your t**s.

‘He said again, I promise, I just want to look at you. You can’t get out any way.’

The woman revealed that she reluctantly took off her clothes because she wanted to get her phone back and go home, she was just left standing in a thong.

Mendy then threw her mobile phone onto the bed and as she bent over the pick it up, the footballer grabbed her from behind.

She said: ‘He came around behind me and pushed me on the bed so I was on all fours.

‘I told him: ‘No. I don’t want to have sex with you.’ He said he would not touch me, he just wanted to feel me.

‘I was on all fours with my bum in the air. He was pulling my bum towards him and I kept saying ‘I don’t want to have sex with you.’

The woman revealed that Mendy then moved her thong to one side and first raped her.

She said: ‘He moved my thong to one side. I was trying to wriggle to get free but he had a hold of me. He kept on coming back.’

The woman’s evidence was video recorded and played to a jury of eight men and four women.

She said: ‘I said I don’t want to do that (have sex). I told him that my sister is waiting for me, I need to go, she’s probably looking for me.

‘He had his pants down fully, his top off and three diamante chains around his neck.’

‘He said: ‘You’re too shy. I’ve had sex with 10,000 women.’

The jury heard she was raped three times by Mendy in the next 20 minutes or so, as she told him: ‘I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to have sex with you. I need to go.’

She told the court: ‘My body was so tense. It was just this pain.’

The woman revealed that she met Mendy at a restaurant called Parea in Alderley Edge and that it was a Sunday evening.

Mendy was accompanied by three friends while she was with four female friends and they started chatting and drinking with the footballer’s group.

The woman revealed that at around 10.30pm as the restaurant was about to close, Mendy and his group invited them back to The Spinney, his mansion.

She told the court that she did not know that Mendy was a Premier League footballer when she first met him at the restaurant.

Following the alleged rape, the woman said that she put on her clothes and Mendy left the bedroom.

She said: ‘I just wanted to stay calm, get out and not cause a scene. I just put on my clothes and went out.’

The woman told the court that she confided in her sister and a colleague about what had taken place at Mendy’s mansion and that she also referred herself to a rape crisis centre as she had suffered trauma.

The next day at work she was waiting for a meeting when a colleague came over.

Mendy’s accuser told police: ‘She just looked at me and said, ‘Is everything all right?’ I just started crying my eyes out. I just said I was in a situation last night. I don’t know what to do but I don’t feel OK about it.’

She added: ‘What makes me really upset is how many times I said no.’

The woman told the officer interviewing her at Macclesfield Police Station that after raping her three times, Mendy said to her: ‘Don’t tell anyone and you can come here every night.’

The day after the alleged rape she got a Snapchat message from Mendy with lots of question marks, and one from Louis Saha Matturie, Mendy’s co-defendant, saying: ‘Are you OK? Please can you call me so we can discuss?’

She took screenshots and blocked both their numbers. This afternoon, the woman was cross-examined by Mendy’s lawyers.

Asked to explain why she took her clothes off once in Mendy’s bedroom, the woman replied:

‘He gave me a choice, you can’t leave so take your clothes off. He said ‘I won’t touch you.

‘I was trapped in any way. I made it very clear that I didn’t want anything to do with him. Taking my clothes off was my only choice.’

She added: ‘It’s all absolutely true. He said I was locked in and told me that I was not allowed to leave.

‘He said that I would not be able to leave. He said if you take your clothes off, I promise I will not touch you, I just want to look at you.’

Ms Laws asked the woman why she did not immediately alert her friends following the rape.

The woman revealed that after the attack, she got dressed, went downstairs to join her friends and then asked to leave. It was not until the next day that she confided in a work colleague and her sister about what took place.

Ms Laws said: ‘If you had been raped you would have been out of you wits. But you never said anything, not in the house and not in the car after you left.’

The woman replied: ‘I had not processed it, I just wanted to get home. I was in shock. I didn’t have the words to say that I was raped.’

Ms Laws revealed that on the night the woman met Mendy and his friends in a bar in Alderley Edge, former Manchester United footballer Jessie Lingard was also there.

He was not part of Mendy’s group and was accompanied by another man, who the woman admitted in court, may also have been a United footballer but she was not sure.

Ms. Laws asked her: ‘You were dancing with one of Lingard’s friends?’

The woman replied: ‘Yes.’

Ms. Laws said that the woman was ‘happy’ to be in the company of footballers and messaged one of her friends during the night out saying: ‘I’m sat with footballers.’

Ms. Laws read messages to the court from the woman to friends during the night out, which ended up at Mendy’s mansion.

In one she wrote: ‘I have decided. After my first drink, I’m getting f**ked tonight. Why not?’

In another, she said: ‘If I’m ever going to get pregnant, it’s going to be tonight.’

Mendy is accused of eight counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to seven young women.

Mendy’s co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie, 41, the footballer’s friend and fixer, meanwhile, denies eight counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault relating to eight young women.

PF DISOWNS CADRES WHO STOLE LUNGU’S TVS

By Scoop Reporter

IN a dramatic turn of events, the Patriotic Front (PF) has played Pontius Pilate over the cadres that stole former president Edgar Lungu’s television sets saying the said thieves are not their member.

Yesterday, Inspector General of police Lemmy Kajoba disclosed that it was Lungu’s cadres who stole his two television sets a fortnight ago.

Mr. Kajoba disclosed that one TV was retrieved from a well-known PF cadre Angel Chipasha and that Chipasha told the police that the other TV is with another notorious PF cadre, Emmanuel Bwalya who is suspected to be on the Copperbelt where he is suspected to have sold it already.

But Lusaka Province PF youth chairman Christopher Shakafuswa says the purported suspects that the police claim to have arrested are not members of the PF adding that the party has checked and verified its registers and that there are no such names in its records.

Mr. Shakafuswa branded the statement from the police careless, unsatisfactory, and unprofessional.

“It is shocking that the police could be dragging the name of our party in the mud when they could have simply reached out to our party secretariat to verify whether or not the said suspects are indeed members of the Patriotic Front,” Mr. Shakafuswa said.

But Chipasha’s pictures in full PF regalia have filtered through social media where he was captured at different party functions.

The PF membership is not by card by by mere registration.