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US, EU call for reopening of Prime TV

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US, EU call for reopening of Prime TV

The US government and the European Union delegation have called on the Zambian government to immediately reopen Prime TV.

The US government called on the Independent Broadcasting Authority to reverse the revocation of Prime TV’s licence.

The US government and the European Union delegation have called on the Zambian government to immediately reopen Prime TV.

The US government called on the Independent Broadcasting Authority to reverse the revocation of Prime TV’s licence.

US Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human rights and Labour, Robert Destro says a free and the impartial press asks questions and seeks answers on behalf of society.

“We are troubled by the Independent Broadcasting Authority’s decision to revoke Prime TV’s license. A Free Press is vital to democracy, especially during a pandemic, to share reliable, accurate and timely info. As we commemorate WPFD2020, we urge Zambia to reverse this decision,” tweeted Destro on World Press Freedom Day.

“WPFD2020 encourages action to promote independent journalism. Why? A free and impartial press asks questions and seeks answers on behalf of society. The media inform the public and help share ideas, which improves social, political, and economic stability.”

And the EU Delegation in Zambia has encouraged all relevant stakeholders to work closely together to find a timely and amicable solution so that Prime TV may resume its broadcasting as soon as possible.

EU Ambassador to Zambia Jacek Jankowski said the EU Delegation in agreement with the EU Heads of Missions in Zambia underlines its support for independent journalism in Zambia.

Ambassador Jankowski encouraged all relevant stakeholders to work closely together to find a timely and amicable solution so that Prime TV may resume its broadcasting as soon as possible.

Nkana and Mighty ‘s Opinions on Covid-19 League Poser

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Old giants Nkana and Mighty Mufulira Wanderers have given contrasting solutions on how the 2019/2020 FAZ league season should conclude due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The league has been on forced recess since mid-March due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has also seen all full-team training suspended.

Mighty CEO Chimwemwe Manda said a proposal to conclude the season behind closed doors may not be feasible especially for them at Shinde Stadium and believes that National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka and Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola were the only venues adequately equipped to stage matches of that nature.

“All these options come with terms and conditions. You have to look at contractual obligations we have to our players and workers then also our budget doesn’t go beyond June,” Manda told the Zambia Daily Mail.

“Then you have to look at expenditure too, I am not prepared to host a match behind closed doors when I am not getting anything out of it and I have to pay salaries and winning bonuses? It means spending money on nine games and nothing in retain.”

Mighty are currently battling relegation and are second from bottom with 14 points from 25 matches played with nine games left in their fight for survival.

However, Nkana believe the season must be concluded once the pandemic is contained and a delay start to the 2020/2021 season worked out.

Nkana are fourth on the table on 43 points, three behind leaders Forest Rangers from 24 games played.

“It is important that the league ends on the pitch and not board room, because we find ourselves in a situation where the top six are fighting for the top four places and the bottom six are fighting to survive,” Nkana CEO Charles Chakatazya said.

Local Government Minister contradicts Health Minister over charging places of worship for congregating

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Local Government Minister contradicts Health Minister over charging places of worship for congregating

Local Government Minister Charles Banda has advised the Lusaka City Council to continue charging places of worship K100 for them to be granted certificates to congregate, reversing the directive by Health Minister Dr Chitalu for the Council to stop charging for certification.

Dr Chilufya last week directed the Council to stop charging for the certificates saying it has never been said that those that seek certification should be charged.

He directed the Council to refund those that had paid for certificates and advised places of worship including churches that may want to congregate to approach the National Public Health Institute for guidance.

But Dr Banda has differed with Dr Chilufya on the matter and has said that only his Office is mandated to provide such guidance.

He told Journalists that the Council is permitted by law to place fees for varies services it discharges.

Dr Banda said only his office has the authority to allow for exemptions and advised Journalists that questioned Dr Chilufya’s Authority on the matter to go and ask him.

He urged places of worship including churches that may be struggling to meet the financial needs to approach his Office.

This development is the latest in what appears to be the growing trend of officials contradicting each other on various issues affecting the nation.

Recently Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya told Journalists there was nothing unusual about transporting dangerous materials such as COVID-19 samples when Ian Mutambo died in a Power Tools Bus accident, a statement the President differed with by saying it was against his Government’s commitment to do more for the health workers as they remain at the frontline of fighting the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

Covid-19 reaches Chipata

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Covid-19 reaches Chipata

Chipata has recorded one confirmed case of Covid-19.

A person who recently travelled from Lusaka to Chipata tested positive to Covid-19.

Eastern Province Minister Makebi Zulu disclosed that on May 2nd 2020, an alert was received of a person who had travelled from Lusaka to Chipata to attend a funeral in Lompo village and had tested positive for Covid-19.

Mr. Zulu told a media briefing in Chipata that the patient had undergone testing whilst in Lusaka but was not aware of the test results until she was communicated to of her positive status.

He said the patient was informed whilst she was on the bus travelling back from Chipata to Lusaka.

Mr Zulu said the Lusaka Provincial surveillance team was engaged and they managed to track the bus and safely escorted the patient to the Covid-19 treatment centre in Lusaka.

Mr. Zulu says this single positive case has resulted in a total of 88 contacts being followed up within Lompo village of Chipata where the funeral was held.

He revealed that during investigations, it was further established that another person had travelled from Katete to attend the same funeral at Lompo Village and that an additional 19 contacts were traced, bringing the total number of contacts to 107.

Mr. Zulu says all the 107 contacts have had samples collected and transported to the Covid-19 testing laboratories in Lusaka.

He says more samples are still being collected until all contacts are reached.

There has been low uptake by Businesses of the K10 Billion Stimulus Package-Finance Minister

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There has been low uptake by Businesses of the K10 Billion Stimulus Package-Finance Minister

Finance Minister Dr Bwalya Ng’andu says there has been low uptake by Businesses of the K10 Billion Stimulus Package set aside by the Bank of Zambia for economic recovery amidst the Coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Ng’andu says the lack of information on the stimulus package among the intended beneficiaries has led to few of them accessing the facility from Commercial Banks.

He said at a media briefing that the Government will now increase the number of non bank financial institutions that will participate in the disbursement of the money because most of the small and medium enterprises access loans through such facilities.

Dr Ng’andu said most SME’s do not access loans through Commercial Banks and expressed hope that the engagement of non Bank Financial Institutions will increase the uptake of the facility.

Early April 2020, the Bank of Zambia announced that it has established a Targeted Medium-Term Refinancing Facility with an initial amount of K10 billion to provide medium term liquidity in light of the Covid-19 outbreak.

In a statement, Bank of Zambia Governor Denny Kalyalya said the K10 billion was part of a comprehensive list of measures that the central bank was taking to respond to the Covid-19 crisis.

Dr Kalyalya explained that this is a three to five years Facility that will be available to eligible Financial Service Providers to enable them restructure or refinance qualifying facilities or on-lend to eligible clients and that the amount will be reviewed as conditions warrant.

Council of NGOs expresses Gratitude to Cabinet on New NGO Act

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Council of NGOs expresses Gratitude to Cabinet on New NGO Act

The Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (CNGOs) in Zambia, whose mandate include to develop, adopt and administer the Code of Conduct for NGOs and facilitate and coordinate the work of NGOs operating in Zambia, would like to express its gratitude at the favourable gesture by the Cabinet of approving in principle the Repeal and Replacement of the NGO Act No. 16 of 2009.

As a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament – the NGO Act No. 16 of 2009, the Council of NGOs in Zambia would like to appreciate the levels of engagement and cooperation between itself with individual NGOs on one hand and the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the department of NGOs Registration at the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services on the other hand in the process of repeal and replacement of the NGO Act No. 16 of 2009.

Since the launch of the National Policy on the NGOs in Zambia and the election of the new CNGOs in October 2018 with the subsequent appointment of the 20 member diversely selected and Civil Society led Technical Working Group (TWG), a lot of ground (though not at a pace the Council would have loved) towards reaching the goal of having a repealed and replaced NGO Law.

The CNGOs understands too well the healthy but also critical collaboration amongst the members of the TWG and commends the strides made this far that include Drafting of the Layman’s NGO Bill through one of its members – the Zambia Law Development Commission (ZLDC) and the national wide consultations for comments and input from stakeholders. The CNGOs would like to note that it also conducted, in 2019, a comprehensive NGO Policy sensitization through its NGO Provincial Forums across the country, an activity that was inevitable to precede the consultations on the Draft Bill.

Whereas the CNGOs in Zambia applauds the approval to go ahead with the repeal and replacement of the NGO Act No. 16 of 2009 by Government, it would further like to make a passionate appeal to Government through Cabinet should accept the Draft NGO Bill as would be from the NGOs and stakeholders themselves without alterations as the document would not only be a reflection of the aspirations of the sector but that the Government generally and the citizens particularly stand to benefit greatly from a robust NGO regime.

The CNGOs further takes this opportunity to pay tribute to all Cooperating Partners that have come forth through provision of the much needed resources. The CNGOs is grateful to the Cooperating Partners that include the Germany Technical Corporation (GIZ), the European Union (EU), SIDA and Action Aid Zambia among many for coming on board in these endevours.

Furthermore, the CNGOs would like to make an earnest appeal and a clarion call on all NGOs (local and international) to take this process as golden and factor some activities, in their programming, to make submissions/input to the Draft NGO Bill, 2019. The CNGOs would endevour to ensure and see that NGO(s) singularly or collectively is left behind and/or out.

It is the CNGOs’ considered view that the final product will be owned by all stakeholders and will be a beacon of admiration and best practice in the region, the continent and the world as a whole.

Yours in Service
For and on behalf of the CNGOs

McDonald Chipenzi
Chairperson-CNGOs

President Lungu urged to gradually reopen key informal sectors

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President Lungu urged to gradually reopen key informal sectors

President Edgar Lungu has been urged to begin the gradual but cautious reopening of key sectors of the economy during this COVID-19 pandemic period.

In a statement released by Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Government has been reminded that the continued partial shutdown of some sectors continues to adversely affect Zambia’s socio-economic sectors which are vital for national development.

YALI President Andrew Ntewewe said his organisation was alive to the fact that the partial shutdown is having a toll on the ability of citizens to live normal lives and that the effective functioning of the formal sector is directly dependent on a thriving informal sector.

“We recommend the reopening of schools to pupils in examination classes, colleges and universities and the sale of alcohol in bars, night clubs, lodges and hotels with adequate space on a take-away basis,” he said.

YALI said it supported the scaled-up approach by Government based on fact that Government took into account the plight of ordinary Zambians who depended on the informal sector for their daily living.

“It would have been naive for Government to succumb to pressure from those who have never run Government before, to effect a total lockdown based on emotions rather than the evidence-based approach and logic advocated by the President,” said Ntewewe.

Mr. Ntewewe said having seen the evolvement of the pandemic, it was clear that the government strategy was well-informed and intelligent.

“It has become apparent that we all must change our way of life by adopting the new normal as there is no telling when the COVID-19 will come to an end, he said.

YALI has warned that the continued shut down of the informal sector will hurt the Zambian economy further and make businesses fail to survive the post COVID-19 period.

Ian Mutambo, a lab technician who died in a road traffic accident put to rest.

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Ian Mutambo, a lab technician who died in a road traffic accident put to rest.

Ian Mutambo, a lab technician from Zambezi District Hospital who died on 2nd May in a road traffic accident involving a power tools bus has been put to rest.

Ian has been put to rest in Mpika after the government airlifted his remains from Zambezi District to his final resting place in Mpika.

The Government released K10, 000 towards meeting the logistical expenses for the burial of Ian Mutambo.

Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, and Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Dr. Kennedy Malama led other senior Government officials to pay their last respect to the late in Mpika.

Dr. Chilufya who delivered a message of condolences to the bereaved family said Ian who was born in 1996 was a brave warrior who died in the battlefront fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and saving lives.

He said Ian was a dedicated young man who was not only looking at COVID surveillance but was also a focal point person looking at tuberculosis in Zambezi District.

He said Ian’s two years of work distinguished him as a courageous and diligent health worker whose legacy will live on as the government continues to fight the pandemic.

And Ian Mutambo’s family has called on members of the public not to politicise his death.

They said their relative died on duty and it is therefore not wise for people to continue blaming each other over his death.

7 New COVID-19 cases Recorded out of 468 Tests

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7 New COVID-19 cases Recorded out of 468 Tests

Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya has announced that Zambia has in the last 24 hours recorded seven new cases of COVID-19 out of 468 tests conducted.

Dr. Chilufya says this brings the cumulative number of cases in the country to 145, including three deaths.

The Minister said the seven new cases include contacts to known positive cases and a Zambian citizen who arrived from the United States on 3rd May 2020.

He said nine patients have been discharged bringing the total recoveries from the disease to 101.

Dr. Chilufya said the latest discharges include the first two patients who were admitted to the Masaiti Isolation facility.

He said the number of active cases is now 41 and all patients remaining in the COVID-19 isolation facilities in are in stable condition.

Dr. Chilufya said among the high-risk persons being monitored, a total of 3,513 persons have successfully completed the 14-day mandatory quarantine since the beginning of the response.

He said a total of 1,472 alerts notified have been cleared as non-cases.

Government suspends the payment of school fees in public schools

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Government suspends the payment of school fees in public schools

The Government has suspended the payment of school fees in public schools following the indefinite closure of schools due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ministry of General Education Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Dr. Jobbicks Kalumba has since directed school authorities not to ask parents to pay fees when schools reopen.

Addressing the media in Lusaka, Dr Kalumba said guidance will be provided to school authorities on the way forward once schools reopen.

Dr Kalumba said it will not be in the interest of the nation to ask parents to pay any fees including school fees while conventional learning is not taking place.

He said although the Government has shown responsibility by ensuring that learning continues using e-learning platforms, no parent should be made to pay.

Dr Kalumba has since urged Private schools in the country to consider suspending school fees for to enable parents recover as classes remain suspended.

He reiterated that schools will remain closed until President Edgar Lungu gives guidance on the way forward.

Dr Kalumba has wondered why private schools are asking parents to pay school fees when conventional learning has been suspended indefinitely.

He also announced that the Examinations Council of Zambia is in the process of revising the examinations time table.

It’ll take 9 weeks for the Victoria Falls Water to Reach Kariba Dam, President Lungu is told

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It’ll take 9 weeks for the Victoria Falls Water to Reach Kariba Dam, President Lungu is told

Zambezi River Authority Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Munyaradzi Munodawafa has told President Edgar Lungu that the High volume of water seen at the Victoria falls will take nine weeks to reach the Kariba dam.

Speaking when President Lungu made a tour of Kariba Dam to understand why it is not operating at full capacity, Mr Munodawafa said that high water level recorded at the Victoria Falls in Livingstone have not yet reached the Kariba Dam.

Mr. Munodawafa said even when the water levels increase in Lake Kariba the Authority will not allow the two power utility firms to use more than the allocated cubic liters of water for this year.

Mr. Munodawafa said the idea is to reserve water for next year’s use in an event that the dam does not receive enough water due to the effects of climate change.

He also said even when the water reaches the Kariba Dam it will not be sufficient to generate the required electricity.

The ZRA Chief Exective Officer also informed the President that the high water levels which were recorded in Chavuma did not all reach Kariba because part of it was used to fill the flood plains in Western province .

And Speaking after listening to the presentation by Zambezi River Authority, President Lungu said government is investing in other sources of energy in order to address the power challenges.

President Lungu said there is also need to look after the environment in order to avoid effects of climate change. The President said part of the reason why the rainfall pattern is disturbed is because of poor management of the environment. President Lungu said the investment made in the energy sector will soon start yielding results.

And Energy Minister, Mathew Nkhuwa urged people to take interest and visit the Kariba Dam. He said it is not fair for politicians to mislead the public that the water levels have risen at Kariba when in fact not.

Mr Nkhuwa said it will take more than three rain seasons to have the required water in the dam. He said once the Kafue lower and Batoka power projects are worked on, they will help in reducing load shedding in Zambia.

Later, President Lungu toured the Kafue lower Gorge power station which is under construction. The power station is expected to start generating power before the end of this year.

President Lungu getting an Arial view of the Water draining into Kariba Dam
President Lungu getting an Arial view of the Water draining into Kariba Dam
President Lungu at the Kariba Dam
President Lungu at the Kariba Dam
President Lungu at the Kariba Dam
President Lungu at the Kariba Dam
President Lungu at the Kariba Dam
President Lungu at the Kariba Dam
President Lungu at the Kariba Dam
President Lungu at the Kariba Dam

A complete Lockdown of the country’s businesses can cause more damage to the economy-Finance Minister

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A complete Lockdown of the country’s businesses can cause more damage to the economy-Finance Minister

The government has said that a complete lockdown of the country’s businesses can cause more damage to the economy. Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu said that business entities should turn their operations around and learn to adapt amidst the pandemic.

Speaking during a joint briefing held at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services in Lusaka, the Finance Minister bemoaned the slow uptake of the 10 billion Kwacha loan facility made available by the Bank of Zambia through Commercial Banks.

Dr. Ng’andu attributed the slow uptake of the loan facility to low levels of sensitization on the facility.

He said the Central Bank intends to increase the number of non-financial institutions in the disbursement of the loan facility as most SME’s acquire loans from such institutions.

Dr. Ng’andu said the Bank of Zambia will also engage business associations such as the Zambia Association of Manufacturers to familiarise them with the process of accessing the facility.

He encouraged SMEs to take advantage of the 10 billion Loan facility to sustain their businesses through the Covid-19 period.

And, Dr. Ng’andu said the establishment of the COVID 19 Fund is underway, in line with the presidential directive and awaiting cabinet approval of the proposals.

Government should avail guidelines on to access funds released to boost SMEs-Katele Kalumba

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Government should avail guidelines on to access funds released to boost SMEs-Katele Kalumba

Former Finance Minister in the MMD administration Katele Kalumba has appealed to the government to avail guidelines on the accessibility of funds released to boost Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) affected by the Covid-19.

Dr. Kalumba , who has praised the government for releasing the relief funds to SMEs, however, laments that lack of information will make SMEs, especially in rural areas to miss out on the fund.

Dr. Kalumba, who is also Headman Natende Walushiba was speaking when Luapula Province Minister Nickson Chilangwa called on Senior Chief Puta of the Bwile people in Chienge District.

He explains that while the move by the government is well-intended, the lack of information especially for SMEs in rural areas defeats the purpose of the fund.

And Dr. Kalumba has lamented the lack of adherence to physical distancing and other Covid-19 regulations.

Dr. Kalumba has since thanked President Edgar Lungu for instructing his Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament to go round the country and sensitize the people on Covid-19.

And Mr. Chilangwa has assured the people of Change of President Lungu’s resolve to construct the Kashikishi – Chienge – Lunchinda Road.

Mr. Chilangwa, who is on the tour of the Province to raise awareness on the Covid-19, explained that the Head of State is fully aware that the Kashikishi – Chienge – Lunchinda is an economic road that will boost economic activities in the area once complete
.

He said to follow the investment Expo held in 2017, over 10 firms have expressed interest in investing in various sectors such as fisheries, mining, and salt production in Chienge District.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chilangwa has praised Senior Chiefs Puta and Mununga for running robust sensitization programs on coronavirus in their chiefdoms.

World Bank Suspends Chinese firm for 20 Months Over Fraud on Lusaka Transmission Project

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World Bank Suspends Chinese firm for 20 Months Over Fraud on Lusaka Transmission Project

The World Bank says China-based Liaoning-EFACEC Electrical Equipment Company Limited (LEEEC) would be ineligible to participate in Bank-funded projects for 20 months due to fraudulent practices in connection with a project in Zambia.

The project is a US$ 210 million project consisting of the rehabilitation of the 132kV and 88kV transmission network in Lusaka Area and rehabilitation of the 33kV and 11kV distribution network in Lusaka Area and technical assistance and project supervision.

The debarment is part of a settlement agreement under which the company acknowledges responsibility for failing to disclose a conflict of interest and other “sanctionable practices”, and agrees to carry out remedial actions.

The case involves the Lusaka Transmission and Distribution Rehabilitation Project in Zambia, which was designed to increase the capacity and improve the reliability of the electricity transmission and distribution system in Lusaka, Zambia.

According to the facts of the case, LEEEC failed to disclose a conflict of interest and misrepresented its past contract experience to meet the requirements of a contract under the project, which is a fraudulent practice.

The settlement agreement provides for a reduced period of debarment in light of the company’s cooperation and voluntary remedial actions.

As a condition for release from sanction under the terms of the settlement agreement, the company commits to developing an integrity compliance program consistent with the principles set out in the World Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines.

The company also commits to continue to fully cooperate with the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency.

The debarment of LEEEC qualifies for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks (MDBs) under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions that was signed on April 9, 2010.

This is according to a statement released by the World Bank in Washington today.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the African Development Bank Group has announced the debarment of Sinotec Company Limited, an energy solutions company registered in China, for a period of 36 months for engaging in fraudulent practices.

The announcement, which was made on 20 April 2020, is pursuant to a decision by the Bank’s Sanctions Appeals Board.

An investigation conducted by the Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption established that Sinotec Company Limited misrepresented its experience, the value and dates of its reference contracts and its relationship with other bidders while participating in three Bank-financed tenders under the Regional Rusumo Falls Hydropower Project in Rwanda, the Uganda Rural Electricity Access Project, and the Last Mile Connectivity Project in Kenya.

At the expiry of the debarment period, Sinotec Company Limited will only be eligible to participate in Bank-financed projects on the condition that it implements an integrity compliance programme consistent with the Bank’s guidelines

Respect Traditional leaders, Politicians Come and Go, Chiefs Remain, Chavuma PM warned by Chief Chinyama

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Respect Traditional leaders, Politicians Come and Go, Chiefs Remain, Chavuma PM warned by Chief Chinyama

CHIEF Chinyama of the Luvale speaking people of Zambezi District in Northwestern Province has advised Chavuma area member of Parliament (MP) Victor Lumayi to stay away from involving himself in Traditional matters concerning the installation of Chiefs in Chavuma District.

The traditional leader says the area MP should immediately stop using his name in order to gain political mileage in traditional matters in Chavuma District.

He says, Politicians come and go but traditional leaders shall remain hence Mr. Lumayi must start respecting traditional leaders for he is still their subject despite being a representative of the people in Parliament.

He was reacting to statements issued by the Chavuma Mp in which he is quoted saying he will not accept the installation of a chief in Chuvama district selected by the Luvale royal establishment and that Chief Chanyama has also given consent to that.

The MP is reported to have his own preferred candidate and title of the chief to be installed in Chavuma, a thing that has so far brought kerfuffle in the area.

The Chief who according to the Luvale tradition is second most senior from Chief Ndungu has advised him to instead initiate developmental projects in Chavuma constituency to benefit the people.

He has urged the MP to see to it that Chavuma district gets an equal share from the national cake and not just fighting traditional authority.

Chief Chinyama has also pledged to work with the government and has advised the people of Zambezi and Chavuma districts to support and lobby for development from the government of the day.

He was speaking live from his palace in Chinyama Litapi in Zambezi district this morning during a ZNBC radio one program dubbed ‘TONA TUSEKETE’

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