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Former Vice President, ENOCK KAVINDELA has urged the United Party for National Party (UPND) Members of Parliament to go back into parliament and debate the constitution amendment bill number 10 of 2019 objectively.
Mr. KAVINDELA says it is only through Parliament that the lawmakers can critically state what it is that they object and accept in the Constitution Amendment Bill number 10 of 2019 than shunning from it completely.
Speaking to ZNBC News in an interview, Mr. KAVINDELA said in a democratic dispensation its provided for those representatives of the people debate the bill.
He said the Zambian people are waiting for their lawmakers to explain and represent them in parliament as a way of participating in the formation of a National document.
Meanwhile, Former Livestock Minister GREYFORD MONDE said it is wrong for political party leaders to dictate and stop lawmakers from participating in the formation of a serious national document.
Mr. MONDE said lawmakers should NOT be controlled by invisible hands outside parliament which make them fear to express themselves and participate freely in national matters.
And Former MKUSHI lawmaker, INGRID MPHANDE said it is the mandate of policy makers to participate and debate issues that arise in the House without walking away.
Ms MPHANDE has urged Members of Parliament to reflect and make decisions that will contribute to national development.
Cabinet has approved a Contingency plan, including its budget, in order to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya has said that President Edgar Lungu has also directed that the Council of Ministers to sit and propose other measures that will help protect the lives of the Zambian people against the coronavirus.
Ms Siliya said that the contingency plan is an urgent instrument for action by all stakeholders if the country is to contain the spread of this deadly Covid-19, adding that Cabinet is seriously concerned with the matter and feels it is necessary for Zambia to have the capacity to combat the spread of the virus.
Ms Siliya said that by instituting a multisectoral, coordinated and responsive action by government, cooperating partners, the private sector and society at large in order to protect the lives of Zambians in all the cities, towns and the rural areas.
Ms Siliya, who is also Information and Broadcasting services Minister, said the decisions were made today when President Edgar Lungu called for the Sixth Cabinet Meeting to discuss policy matters aimed at improving the socio-economic environment of the counry.
She said while government is implementing the Contingency Plan, Cabinet has appealed to all the citizens to maintain maximum hygiene and avoid gatherings in public places such as markets, bus stations, churches and bars, as a way of supporting Government inerventions.
Ms Siliya has also called on Zambians to avoid panic as experts are working day and night while monitoring the situation.
She said Government will continue to provide the updates as the situation unfolds, so that everyone is aware of what is happening on the ground with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the World Health Organisation -WHO- records, there are already over 275,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide, affecting more than 168 countries with 11,399 deaths recorded since the outbreak, with recoveries among the infected, so far s
anding at about 88,256 worldwide.
In Southern Africa, the closest countries to Zambia affected by COVID-19 include South Africa, Congo DR, Tanzania, Rwanda and Namibia.
Zambia has so far recorded the first three confirmed cases of the COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Ms. Siliya said Cabinet has also approved in principle, the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to provide for a legal framework to strengthen transparency and accountability in the management of mineral resources in Zambia.
She said among other things, the Bill will provide for the mandatory disclosure of taxes and other payments including mining costs which extractive companies pay to the Government and what the Government receives as revenue from extractive companies.
And Ms. Siliya said the cabinet has also approved the National Transport Master Plan 2020 –2038 and the National Technical Education Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training -TEVET- Policy.
During the meeting, Cabinet also approved the appointment of Non-Executive Board Members of the Veterinary Council of Zambia in order to effectively regulate the veterinary and veterinary paraprofessionals in the country.
Works to replace the washed away culvert on the Mansa-Samfya road on Chimana stream, a few meters from Samfya Boma, have started.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development Charles Mushota says this follows the release of K5 Million to finance rehabilitation works on the washed away culvert that has led to Samfya Boma being completely cut off from the rest of the country.
Mr Mushota said the rehabilitation works are being conducted by BSBK Limited, the contractor working on the Musaila-Kasaba road in Luapula Province
He revealed this in Samfya district today after conducting a detailed technical assessment of the washed away culvert and said the works are expected to be completed in about 5 days.
Mr Mushota says after the wash away happened, President Edgar Lungu directed him to rush to Samfya district to access the extent of the damage and see what immediate interventions are to be taken.
“Immediately after the culvert was washed away, cutting off Samfya district from the rest of the country, His Excellency President Edgar Lungu directed me to come and access the situation. I am here with a team of engineers from the Road Development Agency (RDA). We have carried out a detailed assessment and the interventions are that we need to fill up the washed away part with stones and put some pipes. We are happy that the contractor, BSBK Limited who is in the Province, has agreed to do the emergency works”, Mr Mushota said.
He said the contractor has started working today which will include filing the washed away part with stones and replacing the pipes for easy flowing of water.
And BSBK limited Project Manager Siraj Basu said he will engage about between 50 to 60 works on the project.
He said after filling the washed away culvert he will also work on the 70-km diversion although his main task is to open up the road to the motorists.
On Saturday, a culvert was washed away at Chimana stream following heavy rains the country is experiencing.
This is according to a statement issued to the media by Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development spokesperson Jeff Banda.
Police in Solwezi District of have arrested a 26-year-old man of saviye area for allegedly killing his mother aged 47, after a quarrel.
North-western Province Commissioner of Police, Hudson Namachila who confirmed the development in a statement to ZANIS in Solwezi yesterday said the incident happened on March 22, 2020, around 14:00 hours.
Mr Namachila identified the deceased as Bridget Sandu of the same area.
The Commissioner stated that the suspect, Alex Sahandu allegedly murdered his mother after a quarrel in which she was advising him on his bad drinking habits.
He said upon visiting the scene, police found the body lying in a pool of fresh blood, facing downwards.
Mr Namachila further stated that the body of the deceased had two deep cuts on the right side of the head adding that a machete is alleged to have been used to inflict the injuries.
He said the body of the deceased has been deposited in the Solwezi General Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem, while the suspect has been arrested and a docket of murder has been opened.
FAZ has been fined by CAF for unruly behavior by fans during last November’s 2021 AFCON Group H qualifier against Zimbabwe.
Fans threw missiles onto the pitch at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka on November 19, 2019 following Chipolopolo’s 2-1 home loss to Zimbabwe.
CAF has fined Football House US$7,500 for that incident.
“We hope that fans will take note of the international bodies like Cosafa, CAF and FIFA that monitor whatever happens in our game. We risk even being banned from playing our home matches away from home,” FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala said.
“It is our prayer that fans will rally behind the team at all times to ensure that they deliver to the utmost of their ability.”
Chipolopolo are currently bottom of Group H on zero points following successive defeats to Zimbabwe and Algeria in their opening two qualifying matches.
Botswana are third in Group H with 1 point while second placed Zimbabwe and leaders Algeria have 4 and 6 points respectively after two rounds played.
Meanwhile, Chipolopolo’s Group H doubleheader against Botswana that was scheduled for March 26 in Lusaka and March 29 in Gaborone has been postponed due tothe Coronavirus pandemic.
According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO), confirmed cases of COVID 19 are spreading rapidly across Africa. Therefore WHO advises African nations to immediately employ proactive mechanisms to stop it.
In our case here, the Ministry of Health has confirmed 03 cases, so COVID 19 is no longer a tale from distant lands, it is in our very own midst.
However, due to limited testing capacity in the country, undetected cases are a high possibility. From experience elsewhere, the acceleration of COVID 19 is steep if preventative interventions are delayed.
Guidance from the WHO is that African countries should prepare for a worst-case scenario. Once we provide for the worst, then we can nip the problem in the bud by assuming an aggressive approach in the process.
COVID 19 Basic Facts
The reproductive number (average number) in which an infected person will infect others is about 2.5. With this calculation, from 1 index case, probable infections after 10 days would be 1600 people.
We are cognizant of measures announced by the Ministry of Health to prevent COVID 19. But they fall short of the scale of the problem at hand because of the following;
Our Healthcare delivery has no capacity to contain full-scale COVID 19 due to:
– Limited diagnostic capabilities ( only at UTH)
– UTH has only 18 ventilators
– Not enough medical staff
– Not enough Personal Protective Equipment
– Limited treatment options
Due to above glaring inadequacies, Western Embassies are evacuating non-essential staff from Zambia. What needs to be done (in addition to measures announced by the Ministry of Health)
Complete lockdown of Zambia for at least 2 weeks to halt the infection rate.
Enhance testing for COVID and extend testing services to all provinces.
Mobilise retired medical staff to be on alert for a possible call to help and also enlist help from Doctors in the private sector.
Procure enough medical equipment and protective clothing for medical personnel on the frontline.
Restrict unnecessary movement from homes.
Encourage all workers (private and public) to work from home.
Encourage banks to deal in electronic transactions than cash.
Restaurants and cafes to operate ‘take away’ (fast foods) only.
Remove all import duty and other taxes on medical equipment and Personal Protective Equipment.
Reconvene Parliament to sit virtually and approve supplemental funding for COVID 19
Withdraw Bill 10 and channel resources to the fight against COVID 19
Parliament must exercise strict oversight on the funds approved for Coronavirus, and no corruption and theft of the resources should be entertained or tolerated.
On a personal level
Please wash your hands frequently with soap.
No hand shakes or hugs.
Cover mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing.
Self-quarantine if you have flu symptoms.
Do not panic but be extra vigilant.
Prevention of COVID 19 is our collective responsibility. Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones and strictly adhere to hygienic rules provided for by Health authorities, because this disease is very lethal and spares no one. In all this, we should not forget to seek guidance from the All Mighty God. Remember we are our brothers and sisters’, keepers.
The Medical for Quality Healthcare in Zambia has demanded that the Ministry of Health should stop using clinical students in trying to combat the spread of the Corona Virus.
Organisation Director GeneralDr Quince Mwabu says using students is heavily compromising this crucial struggle against Covid 19 in Zambia.
Dr Mwabu said instead of deploying students, the Ministry of Health should recruit trained health workers who are currently jobless.
“We are aware that thousands of health workers all over the world have contracted the Corona virus in their course of work.This clearly means that we need well trained personnel to effectively discharge preventive as well curative measures against the virus. We do not want our students to risk their lives when government can easily engage well qualified staff”, he said.
Dr Mwabu has called on the Ministry of Health to send all clinical students home.
He has further asked the Government to take this crisis very serious and learn from what other African countries are robustly handling this pandemic.
“We need mandatory quarantine of all social groupings and gatherings in Zambia.We also need to implement travel bans to and from Corona Virus hit Countries”, he added.
He has stressed the fact that being Chinese is not synonymous with having COVID-19.
Dr Mwabu said it is very important for people to understand that all Chinese in Zambia who have not travelled out of the country are free of the virus and should be treated without any suspicion.
Samuel Kasoleka, says Julian Mwape Director General Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities lied that his sister Miriam Kasoleka aged 80 was attacked when she and others went to present their petition on Bill 10 at UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema’s residence.
Mr Kasoleka on Sunday visited the UPND secretariat to clear out reports that her sister who does not even know anything about Bill 10 was among those who went to present a petition at Mr. Hichilema’s residence.
And Ms Miriam Kasoleka confessed that she was picked from her home in the guise that she was going to collect her social welfare fund.
She also confirmed been attacked but that she did not know the location as that happened while she was on the hired bus.
Her brother, Samuel Kasoleka expressed disappointment at how her sister could be involved in Bill 10 issues she is not even aware of.
He appealed to Ms. Mwape not to involve an innocent person like Mr. Hichilema in an issue that he is not aware of for political mileage.
Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament, Garry Nkombo who welcomed the Kasoleka family thanked them for clearing Mr. Hichilema’s name as he demanded answers from ZAPID, police and Minibus driver on what happened on that fateful day.
Samuel Kasoleka with his sister Mirriam at the UPND secretariat during the news briefing
Meanwhile, the Patriotic Front (PF) has said that it is shocked by UPND’s cold-heartedness to the extent of parading an old disabled woman who happens to be a victim of their own violence.
PF Media Director Sunday Chanda says the differently-abled persons have made representation to among other stakeholders the ruling Patriotic Front lobbying to be included in the governance processes of Zambia.
Mr. Chanda says the PF never claimed that their coming to engage and deliberate on this key human rights issue was stage-managed.
He says the PF welcomed them; heard and listened to their concerns and resolved to prioritize their representation in Parliament because it is a crucial human rights issue and they did not and do not even wish to know how the community mobilized itself to come and meet us – it was immaterial.
Mr. Chanda said it is not in dispute that members of the differently-abled community went to UPND leader’s residence in an attempt to lobby him and his MPs who include Mazabuka MP Garry Nkombo to support their representation in Parliament as pronounced by Bill 10.
He said in return the differently-abled community was received with violence from Mr. Hichilema’s security and the old women paraded today by the UPND were stoned and injured in the process.
“Attempts by UPND to reduce such an important undertaking to lobby for support from Mr. Hichilema and his MPs by differently-abled persons is nonsensical, cheapest and childish propaganda by a Party that remains opposed to the inclusion of the differently-abled persons in Parliament”, he said.
Mr. Chanda said it is a shame and an indictment on the UPND and Mazabuka MP Gary Nkombo to attempt to label a leader of the differently-abled community, a woman in the name of Ms. Julien Mwape.
“What else does Hon Nkombo expect a leader of this community to do in lobbying different stakeholders in order for her Constituency to be represented in Parliament? The lack of remorse from the UPND is worrying. How the differently-abled community organized itself is immaterial. What is crucial is that as this community attempted to lobby stakeholders on the need for them to be represented in Parliament, they were met with violence from Mr. Hichilema’s security”, he added.
Mr. Chanda said if at all there was any semblance of morality, UPND should have used today’s parading of a woman they have been intimidating in Chilanga, to apologize and state their stance on the representation of differently-abled persons in Parliament.
He said what is not in a contest is that Mr. Hichilema’s security unleashed violence against a defenseless and unarmed community adding that what is also not in the contest is that UPND does not support the inclusion of differently-abled persons in the governance system of Zambia.
In a statement, Mr. Chanda said the UPND does not want youths and women represented in Parliament too.
He said the differently-abled community in Zambia and beyond can be assured that they have a friend in the Patriotic Front. We refuse to reduce their quest for representation in Parliament to cheap political debate as Hon Nkombo and UPND just demonstrated a while ago.
Stakeholders in Kitwe have pledged significant material support to the relocation of street kids project.
Institutions that announced their pledges during the resource mobilisation meeting today in the Mayor’s parlour include Stanbic Kitwe Branch (70 blankets), and Mpongwe Milling company (12 bags of mealie meal every month).
Garden Court Hotel and Zamchin Steel also made their commitment to the plight of the street kids and promised to state their form of material support in due course.
The collective gesture exhibited by these institutions elated the Mayor Eng. Christopher Kang’ombe who emphasised the need for Kitwe to quickly resolve the problem of street kids before it got out hand as the case was in other towns.
“We are fortunate in Kitwe because the problem of street kids is within manageable level of an estimated 170 kids in the Central Business District. Therefore this calls for our urgent reaction before the figure swells. Nonetheless we are grateful for your commitment to the project” the Mayor stated .
He added that soon the request for donations would be extended to individuals.
The identified kids will be relocated to Chibusa and Sara Rose Homes in Garnerton and Kawama Chibusa Home.
The Zambia National Service has offered to take in 50 kids to undergo skills training.
The meeting was attended by Garden Court Hotel General Manager Mr Christopher Njese, Mpongwe Milling Human Resource Manager Ms Matilda Luswili and Mr Masautso Banda from Zamchin Steel.
Stanbic Bank was represented by the Branch Manager Mr Chalwe Chungwa accompanied by Customer Sales Consultant Ms Nuna Vundamina.
Opposition New Hope Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) National Youth Secretary Mr. Gregory Mofu has advised Patriotic Front (PF) Lusaka Province Secretary, Mr. Kennedy Kamba, to stop meddling in the Internal affairs of the MMD.
Over the weekend Mr. Kennedy Kamba rebuked MMD Youths for threatening to write to the National Executive Committee (NEC) for the Expulsion of them it’s 3 MPs, Should they decide to vote for the Bill 10.
Mr. Mofu in a statement said that the MMD is an Independent Party.
“We as the New Hope MMD Youths are shocked with the sentiments coming in from Patriotic Front (PF) Lusaka Province Secretary Mr. Kennedy Kamba in today’s daily nation where he has rebuked us for threatening to write to our National Executive Committee (NEC) for Expulsion of our Three MPs if they decide to vote for the Bill 10. What Mr. Kamba should know is that like the PF and the UPND, MMD is an independent Political Party with its own constitution. Neither our Party President Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba nor any official in our Party has ever commented on the numerous PF internal disciplinary issues like the expulsion of Kelvin Bwalya Fube. What my elder brother Should know is that MMD is an Independent Party. And We the Youths should defend its independence”, Mr. Mofu vowed.
Mr. Mofu said that the PF expelled 22 MPs for participating in the constitution review commission in 2010.
“We are further shocked that today someone from the Patriotic Front up (PF) can stand on an anthill and condemn us with our expulsion threats when the same Party expelled 22 of its MPs in 2010 for participating in our then led National Constitutional Review Commission (NCC). We as the MMD respected the right of the PF to expel it’s MPs because they were and are an independent group and we further expect the PF to respect our right to threaten or indeed expel our MPs”, Mr. Mofu said.
Mr. Mofu said that the position of the MMD is that the Bill 10 is not a priority and should be deferred, as there are a number of Urgent National issues which need our total attention such as the Corona Virus, the shortages and skyrocketing of the price of Mealie Meal and the devaluation of the Kwacha against major currencies like the US dollar.
Mr. Mofu further thanked two MMD MPs for shunning the PF Interactive Forum.
“Lastly but not least, We would like to thank Our two Members of Parliament Hon. Howard Kunda and Hon. Maxwell Kabanda for shunning today’s PF Interactive Forum after it was advertised that they would be today’s guests together with Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament Mr. Raphael Nakachinda and they would defend the Bill 10. By shunning, they have proved that their loyalty is with their Party, the MMD”, Mr. Mofu said.
We would like to commend the Inspector General of Police Mr Kakoma Kanganja for his instructions to his Officers to take steps to decongest police cells in view of the COVID-19 threat. That’s as it should be. We also wish to add our voice by calling on everyone to take precautions as advised by the experts.
However, we would like to take this opportunity to remind the IG about other equally important matters that he needs to address urgently. The nation is anxiously waiting to hear the outcome of the investigations into the gassing incidents that recently threatened the security of the nation. While we commend the tireless efforts that he and his officers put in to combat that wave of crime, we think we deserve to know who was behind those acts and what the motive was. We are still distressed especially that even juveniles were recruited to commit these crimes.
We still vividly remember how that 14 year old boy was caught after he administered the toxic gas on pupils at a School in Northmead area. We are also alive to the fact that there were several statements by several people, especially politicians, about the incidences.
There were accusations and counter-accusations, there were also claims by some that it was a ploy to implicate and arrest them so that they are barred from contesting next year’s elections. All those statements were quite distressing to most of us, especially that we didn’t have the information that our colleagues claimed to have. The only truth we could believe was that released by the Police. Our anxiety is now growing because the IG’s office has now become silent at a time we expect to hear from him. We want to know who the masterminds that were reportedly caught are, and when they will begin to appear in Court.
We also want to know what will happen to the youths and juveniles that were caught up in that wave of crime. Are they still in Police custody? Or has this case become another of those that haven’t been concluded? Perhaps let’s remind the IG about some cases that his office has gone quiet about:
The Ruth Mbandu murder case – When this case began there were regular updates from the Police but later they slowed down and now the case has gone quiet without anyone being convicted for that gruesome murder;
The Moses Simuwelu murder – This is another case that the Police have abandoned without explaining which challenges, if any, that they have faced in their investigations.
The Menyani Zulu murder– Menyani Zulu was brutally killed at Mumpanshya in Rufunsa. We have been expecting an update from the Police especially that there were accusations and counter accusations between 2 major political players the PF and the UPND. We are worried that there has never been any comment from the IG on the outcome of their investigations especially that there was a leaked report on the Zambian Watchdog online media. We found the report still on the Zambian Watchdog thread last time we checked. We are distressed because the people that were mentioned in the report now hold senior positions in the Government and the PF Party.
In view of the aforesaid, we would like to urge the Inspector General of Police to update the nation as demanded otherwise not doing so will erode our confidence in his office. We look forward to hear from him soon.
Ex-Mighty Mufulira Wanderers club executive member and father to Chipolopolo midfielder RainfordKalaba has been put to rest.
Rainford Kalaba Senior was put to rest on Sunday, March 22 at Kansunswa Cemetery in Mufulira.
Kalaba Senior, 62 passed away on March 19 at Ndola Teaching Hospital after a long battle with diabetes.
“The void you have left is too big and suited no one except you. We shall miss you a lot,” his daughter Priscilla Kalaba said in the family tribute to her father.
Her brother, Chipolopolo and TP Mazembe midfielder Rainford Kalaba was in attendance and flanked by his club and national team counterpart Kabaso Chongo.
FAZ presidential aspirant Joseph Nkole was among the many mourners who attended the burial today.
Kalaba Senior served as Mighty secretary from 2007 to 2010.
Association for Mine Suppliers and Contractors has refuted claims by its former member Bwalya Mufonka that the association is backing the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).
Association President Augustine Mubanga said Mr Mufonka’s claims are false and only represents his personal alliance with the opposition UPND.
Mr. Mubanga told ZNBC News in Kitwe in an interview that the association of mine suppliers and Contractors is non-partisan which only works with the government of the day.
He said the association is currently working with the government through the ministry of mines to ensure local suppliers and Contractors benefit from the many business opportunities made available.
And Kitwe District commissioner Chileshe Bweupe said President Edgar Lungu means well for the mine suppliers and Contractors.
The Kitwe DC further said his office has had a good relationship with the association adding that there has been no time the mine suppliers and Contractors have shown or exhibited any partisan politics.
Former mines suppliers and Contractors member Bwalya Mufonka yesterday released statements which has made rounds on social media and private media that the association is rallying behind the opposition UPND.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has warned business outlets against excessive pricing of sanitary products for prevention of Covid-19 like masks, gloves and hand sanitizers to the detriment of consumers.
The Commission says such unjustified high pricing of these essential products is unlawful as provided for under the Competition and Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) No. 24 of 2010.
It says it will not hesitate to impose necessary sanctions on erring enterprises.
“The Commission also encourages and advises consumers to report any of the enterprises engaging in such conduct in order for the Commission to take necessary action using the
Commission’s Toll-Free Line 5678 on all mobile networks.”
