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Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe has said that the opposition political parties are looking for an excuse to pull out of the upcoming February 13th By-Elections because they have sensed defeat going by the support the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) is enjoying in Chilubi.
Speaking to ZNBC News, Mr. Sikazwe wondered why the UPND did not pull out of the Sesheke Parliamentary by-election were there was a lot of bloodshed compared to the peaceful environment which is obtaining in Chilubi District.
Mr. Sikazwe said that the opposition should just concede defeat instead of misleading the nation that there is violence in Chilubi.
Mr. Sikazwe said that the PF will show the nation that it is possible to hold a by-election without violence and that there was no need for people to shade blood over an election, adding that campaigns should be about ideas and not physical fights.
The Presidential Affairs Minister further urged the Zambia Police to continue patrolling the Chilubi until the elections are held.
Meanwhile, PF deputy campaign manager for the Chilubi parliamentary by-election Geoffrey Mwamba said the party will not protect anyone who will get involved in illegal activities.
Mr. Mwamba said the PF will only preach President Edgar Lungu’s development agenda.
On Friday, the opposition UPND and NDC threatened to pull out of the by-election in Chilubi if the Electoral Commission of Zambia does not address the alleged reports of violence in the area.
The people of Chilubi will be going to the polls on the 13th of this month to replace the late members of Parliament Rosario Fuindanga who died last year in November.
The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has warned broadcast stations in the country against relying on social media stories to aid bullying and hate among the people.
IBA Director General Josephine Mapoma said that some social media stories can compromise the unity and security of the nation. Ms. Mapoma said that the Authority has observed with concern the growing tendency and excitement by some broadcast stations to rely on unverified social media stories, adding that IBA expects Broadcasting Stations to be professional and avoid deliberate moves aimed at ignoring conditions for which their licences were issued.
The IBA Director-General said that the authority has also noted the high levels of laissez-faire attitude among some broadcasters, leading to more Phone-in programs that are heavily dependent on issues from social media.
Ms. Mapoma has reminded broadcasting stations that they have a duty to abide by the IBA Act and other broadcasting regulations.
Meanwhile, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Dora Siliya has implored the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) to harmonize the issuance of radio station licenses.
Ms. Siliya who is also Chief Government Spokesperson wondered why some community radio stations have managed to go nationwide while others have not, saying IBA should ensure it differentiates ownership and principles of each category of radio licenses so that people are not left with a lot of questions.
Speaking after touring Radio Chimwemwe in Ndola, Ms. Siliya further said Community radio stations should provide content that will respond to the needs of the people in areas where they operate.
TP Mazembe put Zesco United out of their 2019/2020 CAF Champions League Group A misery with a 3-1 victory in Lubumbashi today.
The result saw Zesco finish bottom of Group A and without a victory at this stage for the first time in the clubs’ continental history where they have also set a record with their worst run in Africa.
Jackson Muleka scored a brace for the DR Congo giants and five-time African champions while Chico Ushindi scored the other after the break.
Muleka put Mazembe from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute but two minutes later Zesco striker Winston Kalengo leveled to see the two sides go into the break level.
Ushindi made it 2-1 in the 61st minute before Muleka completed his brace in the 79th minute.
Zesco finish their Group A campaign on 3 points, Premiero de Agosto of Angola are third on 4 points after a 0-0 home draw today with Zamalek of Egypt who finished second on 9 points.
Mazembe head into the quarterfinals unbeaten in 14 points where fellow five-time champions Zamalek will join them in the February 5 last eight draws.
Zanaco on Sunday hope to become the third Zambian club to qualify to the quarterfinals of continental club competition when they play RSB Berkane away in Morocco.
The Bankers face Berkane in their final Group C match in the 2019/2020 CAF Confederation Cup.
Zanaco are second on 9 points, one behind Berkane in a three-way race for the top two quarterfinal spots in Group C.
DC Motema Pembe of DR Congo are a close third on 7 points and are home where they host ESAE of Benin who are out of contention on 1 point from five games played.
Zanaco also edge Motema Pembe on head-to-head following a 1-1 away draw in Kinshasa and a 2-1 home win in Lusaka.
“That is what we want, that is why we are here. Football is a game of challenging the unknown,” Zanaco assistant coach Joel Bwalya said.
“We will take what they throw at us, can we throw something at them, and can they answer back? We will see on Sunday.”
Zanaco are hoping to join Zesco United and Nkana who are the only Zambian clubs to date to have qualified to the final knockout stages.
Nkana reached the 2018/2019 CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals while Zesco qualified for the 2016 CAF Champions League semifinals and 2017 CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Zanaco are now Zambia’s only team with quarterfinal qualification interest after Zesco fell short in their CAF Champions League Group A campaign.
Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Michael Chilala has said progress has been made towards addressing the challenge of mismatched qualifications between Zambia and the United Kingdom.
And Dr. Chilala has disclosed that the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) is reviewing the ECZ Act Cap 137 of the Laws of Zambia, to make the penalties stiffer as a deterrent from involvement in examination malpractices.
Following the continued debate on the comparisons between qualifications issued by Universities in Zambia against those issued in the United Kingdom, Dr. Chilala and The National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (NARIC) Head of Quality Benchmark Services Dr. Fabrizio Trifiro held a meeting in London to discuss the issue.
In an interview before departing for Zambia, Dr. Chilala said “We met with the representative from NARIC to discuss the issue of unfavorable comparison of qualifications issued in Zambia against those issued in the UK. During the meeting, it was observed that there were gaps in the evaluation of the ‘O’ Level qualifications, which have a lot of ‘A’ Level content. Additionally, we observed that while the first degree in UK takes an average of 3 years of study, the degree in Zambia takes an average of 4 years. In our discussion, we indicated to NARIC that although there are no ‘A’ Levels issued by the Examinations Council of Zambia, the first year of university education plus the ‘A’ Level content in our ‘O’ Level qualification can account adequately for the missing ‘A’ Level qualification”.
He said based on the interaction, it was agreed that NARIC will visit Zambia to evaluate the first year content for the University of Zambia, the Copperbelt University, Mulungushi University and University of Lusaka.
“It was further observed that the current performance descriptors under the Zambian Qualifications Framework was similar to the higher diploma in UK and those for the Masters were similar to the Bachelor’s degree with Honors in the UK,” he said.
Dr. Chilala further said, the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA) was in the process of reviewing the Zambia Qualification Framework (ZQF) and its performance descriptors and agreed to request ZAQA to include NARIC among the stakeholders to be consulted during the review process.
“Based on the agreements in the meeting, there is progress made towards addressing the challenge of mismatched qualifications between the UK and Zambia,” he said.
And Dr. Chilala said Zambia experienced a terrible leakage of six (6) papers in 2018, leading to a temporal suspension of the examination until the papers were replaced. Arising from the 2018 experience, a number of reforms were implemented in 2019, which resulted in leakage free examinations.
He attested that after the reforms, there were no examination malpractices in 2019.
He said ECZ leveraged on ICTs through the introduction of online marks transfer, candidate registration and e-Statements of Results to enhance efficiency.
Dr. Chilala said ECZ is also working on sensitising the masses against examination malpractices as it is largely a moral issue.
Dr. Chilala was in London to attend the Education World Forum 2020 Global Summit for Education Ministers that took place in London last week under the theme: One Generation: “What does it take to transform education”.
ECZ Chief Executive Officer Dr. Michael Chilala with NARIC Head of Quality Benchmark Services Dr. Fabrizio Trifiro after a meeting
The government has dismissed reports that a Chinese national admitted to University Teaching Hospital (UTH) is a suspected Coronavirus patient.
Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya said that the Chinese national was taken to UTH just as a safety precaution to protect the public, adding that coronavirus has been ruled out in the case.
His comments come after a Chinese national was rushed to the University Teaching Hospital for treatment, from the Kenneth Kaunda Airport today with flu-like symptoms.
Dr. Chilufya said that heightened surveillance at entry points in Zambia will ensure the country continues to be safeguarded from the deadly coronavirus.
Dr. Chilufya said that this may result in a serious probe into anyone displaying some symptoms similar to the virus.
The minister has since called on members of the public to desist from alarming reports over the Coronavirus issue as it can cause public distress unnecessarily.
The Chinese national who is admitted to the institution had not traveled to China recently.
New Hope Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) President Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba yesterday gave the roadmap for the long awaited MMD Convention.
Dr. Mumba who was in the Company of Party Vice President Mr. Reuben Sambo, Party National Chairperson Winnie Zaloumis, Party National Secretary Hon. Elizabeth Chitika and other Senior MMD leaders, yesterday met hundreds of Lusaka District and Constituency MMD Officials at Matero Community Hall.
Party National Secretary Hon Elizabeth Chitika said that the MMD has hit the road running.
“We have heard some people say that the MMD is dead. Can a dead party have all these members in their structures in a single district. As the Party’s CEO, I am extremely happy that even after the three (3) years of confusion in the party, our structures are very intact. I would like to say that we the New Hope MMD have hit the road running for 2021”, Hon. Chitika said.
Whilst MMD National Chairperson Ms. Winnie Zaloumis challenged President Lungu to revoke the Nomination of Raphael Nakachinda as Member of Parliament for he was expelled from MMD.
“The MMD leadership wrangles ended on the 5th of November, 2019. The Judge among other things ruled that the 2016 MMD convention was illegal and that Mr. Felix Mutati and Raphael Nakachinda remained expelled members of the MMD. When Nakachinda was nominated to Parliament, Amos Chanda said that he was appointed to Parliament as an MMD Nominated Member of Parliament. Since Nakachinda is not an MMD, we are hereby calling upon President Lungu to revoke Nakachinda’s Nomination. As a Party, we have a number of people who more qualified than Nakachinda”, Ms. Zaloumis said.
Party Vice President Mr. Reuben Sambo said that the MMD had been used for personal gains by selfish people.
“We have realized with sadness how our party has been used for personal gains. Some people have used it to gain freedom, some to become Ministers and others to become MP’s. I would like to say that never again will selfish people hijack our party for personal gains”, Mr. Sambo said.
Party President Dr. Nevers Mumba said that he is a product of a Convention.
“I have heard one individual alleging that Nevers is afraid of the Convention. That is the biggest joke of the decade. In 2012, when I returned from Canada I found the biggest names in the MMD running for the MMD Presidency These included Hon. Kavindale, Hon. Mutati and Hon. Situmbeko Musokotwane just to mention a few. I beat them fair and square. I am a product of a Convention, how can I be scared of it”, Dr. Mumba said.
Dr. Mumba then gave a road map for the long awaited MMD Convention.
“I would like to inform you our leaders in Lusaka District that the National Secretary will soon call for Provincial Conferences in all the 10 provinces of Zambia. After that, we will then have a Policy Conference where we will rectify our party Constitution and all other policies of our party for ratification at the Convention. This will then lead to the National Convention where any member of our party can run for any office including the Office of President. We will then hire one of the big stadiums where we will launch the New Hope MMD in readiness for the 2021 elections where we will participate in all the elections from Ward, Constituency and Presidential levels”, Dr. Mumba said.
Nkana coach Manfred Chabinga is wary of ‘Mighty’ Mufulira Wanderers heading into Saturdays trip to Shinde Stadium.
The 12-time champions visit Mighty who ended their two-game unbeaten start to the season following a 3-2 home loss in Kitwe on September 22.
But the two old giants have endured contrasting fortunes since then.
Nkana enjoy a one point lead at the top of the FAZ Super Division table while ‘Mighty’ are last and head into their home game after a four-match losing run.
“Mufulira Wanderers are struggling, they are trying by all means to run away from relegation,” Chabinga said.
“These teams fighting relegation are very dangerous. If you remember when we played them at home, we were beaten 3-2 so we are not going to underestimate them.
“But we will prepare ourselves to collect maximum points although it won’t be easy, it will be tough.”
The match will also mark Wanderers coach Tenant Chembo’s first game in charge of the nine-time champions following the recent sacking of Anderson Phiri.
George Lwandamina hopes Zesco United can put behind their January’s woes in this Saturday’s CAF Champions League Group A dead-rubber match away to TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi.
Zesco enter February after a bruising run in the opening month of 2020 in which they won one, drew one of their seven competitive games in January.
That run of results saw their CAF Champions League quarterfinal hopes end after a draw and loss in their last two Group A matches to remain winless on 3 points in the league phase of the competition.
Zesco also head to DR Congo just three days after losing 2-1 in a league match against Kabwe Warriors that left them stranded in fourth position on 34 points but just 3 points behind leaders Nkana.
“The morale is high although we are coming from a 2-1 loss against Warriors. But still, players want to do better. They have their names to also protect,” Lwandamina said.
“All that we just need to do is to maintain the strong emotional fiber that Zesco is renowned for.
“We have to put or act together and start impressing our fans; I am sure who are pains, and even our sponsors. It hasn’t been a good road but that’s where we are, we just have to do it.”
Meanwhile, Zesco will resume their league title defence on February 5 at home against struggling Nakambala Leopards.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) plans to start voter registration in May this year with the aim of creating a new voter register for 2021 general elections.
ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Kryticous Nshindano says the voter registration has been necessitated by the post-election review recommendations from stakeholders and also the delimitation exercise which will give birth to new electoral boundaries.
Mr. NSHINDANO says the voter registration exercise will also enhance register integrity and remove the deceased voters.
Speaking during the media briefing in Lusaka today, Mr. Nshindano, however, said the new register will only be operational in the 2021 general elections.
He also disclosed that the Commission is currently working on modalities to facilitate for prisoners to vote in 2021 general elections adding that they will work with various stakeholders on the process.
The Chief Electoral Officer said the commission has already started engaging the treasury for funding of the voter registration and 2021 General Elections in order to avert late delivery of materials.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nshindano has disclosed that two of the 11 bidders have appealed against the intention by the Commission to award Al Ghurair of Dubai to print the 2021 ballot papers.
He said following the appeal, the Zambia Public Procurement Authority will guide the commission after its complete review of bids and associated documents.
Mr. Nshindano further said the move by the commission to discontinue sponsoring observers to the printing of ballots papers outside, will save the country over 4 point 8 Million Kwacha based on the 2016 general elections budget.
He said the ECZ decision to sponsor observers was done out of goodwill and has no legal obligation to do so adding that is not sustainable in the current economic situation.
Mr. Nshindano however said those that want to observe are free to do so stating that they should communicate with the commission so that they help facilitate logistical support such as access to the facility and other administrative matters.
And on the delimitation exercise, Mr. Nshindano said that the commission is currently reviewing the submissions and recommendations from stakeholders.
He said the Commission will compile a report that will be tabled before parliament for consideration in February.
Mr. Nshindano, however, said the approval of the recommendations to change the number of constituencies is subject to the Constitutional Amendment process.
Two political parties participating in the Chilubi parliamentary by-elections have given the Electoral Commission of Zambia a three days ultimatum to resolve alleged incidences of electoral violence, or they will pull out of the election.
Speaking during a joint press briefing in Lusaka today, United Party for National Development -UPND- Chilubi Campaign Manager Garry Nkombo said the party has raised concerns of alleged violence and other electoral malpractices.
And National Democratic Congress -NDC- Spokesperson Saboi Imboela said if the matters are not resolved, the party will have no choice but to pull out of the race.
But, Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Secretary-General Mumbi Phiri in a telephone interview has denied claims by the two political parties stating that the party is campaigning based on the developments in the area and not violence.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission of Zambia ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Patrick Nshindano has urged all political parties participating in the Chilubi parliamentary by-elections to be tolerant and adhere to the electoral code of conduct.
Mr. Nshindano said the commission has received complaints on the matter from UPND, NDC, and PF and has since referred the matter to the district conflict management committee in Chilubi.
Residents in Kakaindu area of Solwezi District in North-Western Province have burnt down a Police Post after word went round that police were holding suspected ritual killers.
Zambia Police spokesperson Esther Katongo said the riots erupted early this morning.
Mrs. Katongo explained that it all started when some people went to report to Community Crime Prevention Unit in Manyama area that they heard some people planning to gas people and CCPU officers apprehended two people who were detained in Police custody at Kakaindu.
She said when word went around that some people were in custody, a mob went to the police and demanded for the suspect and ended up damaging Kakaindu police post leaving some officers with injuries.
Mrs. Katongo said reinforcement was sent and calm has been restored and police are still on the ground monitoring the situation.
She has appealed to members of the public to desist from acts of venting their anger on security infrastructure because doing so may just worsen the security situation in their localities.
Mrs. Katongo said members should find better ways of bringing their concerns before authorities than damaging infrastructure which built for them to get security services.
She said the current trend of destroying government structures is worrying and is a drawback for respective communities as security is meant for the same people destroying property.
The Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council has joined others in calling on Derrick Livune, Member of Parliament for Katombora to apologize to Vice President lnonge Wina.
NGOCC Board Chairperson Mary Mulenga said the culture of insults and disrespect seems to have found ‘fertile soil’ in the political realm and NGOCC remains concerned with the continued bullying of women leaders by some politicians especially now that the country moves towards the 2021 general elections.
Ms Mulenga said Zambia has continued to witness violence both physical and verbal amongst political players, the latest being the outburst by Mr Livune targeting Mrs Wina using demeaning and insulting language.
She said this kind of language and politics is what has continued to discourage women against participating in the governance of the country.
Ms Mulenga said the NGOCC has for a long time been deeply concerned with the low numbers of women in decision making positions especially at Parliament and Local Government levels.
She said it is totally unacceptable that 55 years after independence, women, who constitute more than 51 percent of the country’s population remain discriminated from both participating and benefiting from the various development processes and such utterances are a huge recipe for discouraging women to effectively participate in national development.
Ms Mulenga said Mrs Wina, just like any other woman, has the right to participate in the governance of this country regardless of her age and has every right to speak about the development trajectory of the entire country of Zambia.
“We therefore expect our leaders, especially MPs to regard and accord her the necessary decorum befitting her office.We demand that Hon. Livune withdraws the disrespectful, demeaning and insulting statement against Hon. Wina. Zambians are more interested in issue-based dialogue than personal politically-inclined views.
The Katombora UPND member of parliament Derrick Livune recently told Vice-President Inonge Wina to learn to live decently, especially that the octogenarian “has no more future in politics”.
Mr Livune said Vice-President Wina is only wasting taxpayers’ money because her presence wherever she goes produces no impact.He said Vice-President Wina must retire to the farm where she can live as a mother, probably with decency.
PF members in Kazungula complained of hunger to Vice-President Wina, saying they had not received relief food.
The UPND and the National Democratic Congress have threatened to pull out from the Chilubi Parliamentary by election should the Electoral Commission of Zambia fail to address the electoral related concerns they have raised.
The two political parties have given the ECZ three days in which to address the concerns among them bribery, violence and intimidation all perpetrated by the ruling Patriotic Front to disadvantage other players.
UPND Chairperson for elections Gary Nkombo told Journalists at a joint media briefing today that the ECZ despite having been notified, have allowed the PF to distribute materials to the electorate among them food through the DMMU, clothing and money which amounts to vote buying.
Mr Nkombo said the election must be postponed until a level playing field is created for all political parties to campaign.
He said it is regrettable that the ECZ has failed to take charge of the election and have instead allowed the PF to carryout their mandate.
And Mr Nkombo said Chilubi has turned into a war zone and the two political parties do not want to lose any life.
Meanwhile, Mr Nkombo says the Electoral Commission of Zambia has confirmed writing to the Disaster Management and Mitigarion Unit warning them against distributing mealie meal to Chilubi because it amounts to Electoral malpractice.
He expressed hope that the ECZ will be compelled to act on the volatile environment in Chilubi to prevent any loss of life.
And speaking at the same briefing, NDC spokesperson Saboi Imboela said her party will be compelled to pull out if the ECZ does not act to prevent loss of lives.
She said it is sad that the PF has taken over the mandate of the ECZ and are breaking the law with impunity.
Social media giant Facebook has today taken down a page belonging to controversial South Africa-based Nigerian prophet Andrew Ejimandu popularly known as Seer 1, on grounds that it violated its community standards on bullying and hate speech.
A check on Facebook Friday morning revealed that Seer 1’s page which had thousands of followers was unpublished.
In a video recording that has gone viral on social media, Seer 1 is seen making threats against unnamed Ministers in the PF government, some members of parliament and mayors whom he says had sought assistance of his “powers” to win elections.
He told them to return the power in 20 days from Sunday last week or face death.
In another live video which he dubbed address to the nation of Zambia, over 22,000 people are believed to have watched the broadcast in which he reiterated his threats.
It is believed that some high ranking Zambian officials wrote to Facebook to protest over Seer’s threat saying it has potential to destabilize the nation.
