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The United Nations (UN) has described Zambia as a symbol of peace and political stability in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region.
United Nations (UN) Secretary General António Guterres has hailed Zambia for having remained a beacon of peace and stability in the Southern region as well as being an important member of the global governance body.Mr Guterres has also extolled Zambia for her continued desire to promote peace in the world by remaining one of the major contributor of peace troops to peacekeeping missions in the world.
Mr Guterres said this when he received the letter of credence from Zambia’s new Permanent Representative to the United Nations, His Excellency, Ambassador Dr Ngosa Simbyakula at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Before his appointment as Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amb Dr Simbyakula was Zambia’s envoy to the United States of America in Washington DC.He said the UN would continue to offer its total support to the Government of the Republic of Zambia for her effort to continue sending peacekeepers to countries where peace and political stability had remained elusive.
Mr Guterres informed Amb Dr Simbyakula that Zambia had remained an excellent friend and partner to the United Nations especially in the cause of providing shelter and other basic social needs to refugees.
“Zambia has been a symbol of peace and stability in the region. Zambia has been a peacekeeping country and I want to assure you of total support to the Government of the Republic of Zambia. You have played a tremendous role in taking care of refugees. Zambia has been an active member of the UN and we appreciate your role,” Mr Guterres said.
And His Excellency, Amb Dr Simbyakula has pledged Zambia’s commitment and support to the United Nations in its endeavor to achieve the objective for which the global governance body was formed.
Amb Dr Simbyakula said Zambia shall continue to partner with the United Nations in promoting peace anywhere in the world and would therefore continue contributing peace troops to peacekeeping missions.
He said Zambia was an oasis of peace and would therefore wish that all nations to be peaceful.
Amb Dr Simbyakula said climate change was among the challenges Zambia was facing and would work closely with the UN in finding solutions that would mitigate the devastating effects of the phenomenon.
“Mr Secretary General, I bring to you warm greetings from His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia. I want to assure of Zambia’s support as we work together to achieve the objectives of the United Nations. Zambia is committed to peace and stability and that is why we shall continue providing out troops to peacekeeping missions. We are an oasis of peace and we want peace to prevail everywhere in the world,” Amb Dr Simbyakula said.
His Excellency, Ambassador Dr Ngosa Simbyakula, the new Permanent Representative of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations (UN) presenting his letter of credence to United Nations General Secretary António Guterres at the UN Headquarters in New York. Picture courtesy of UN.
Issued by:
Wallen Simwaka
First Secretary (Press)
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations
It is unthinkable on the part of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to be contemplating on hiring an Expatriate coach for the Zambia national men’s football team, at the expense of a robust football development approach in the country. It is common knowledge that the country is in critical need for a vigorous revolution in football, which is increasingly becoming an important tool in promoting a multicultural and integrated society, as Zambia searches for a uniting inter-tribal identity. However, developing football top down instead of vice versa is not so sustainable in a country with meagre resources. The resources that are earmarked for an Expatriate coach, understood to be in colossal amounts, can instead go a long way, if utilised in developing grassroots football and other youth development initiatives.
If the various national teams that represent Zambia at different levels have to make an impact, then development has to start from the bottom, that is, the grassroots, and not from the top as in the men`s national football team. Zambia has able men and women that can do this job effectively at reasonable rates, for as long as they are given the resources needed to undertake this responsibility. The inferiority complex of always thinking that only a “Muzungu” will come to sort out Zambia’s local challenges, should once and for all, come to an end. Of course, there are areas in the country in which Zambia might need an Expatriate to come and lead for a certain stated period, such as making an Aeroplane engine for the soon to be reinstated Zambia Airways, but not for coaching a football team that meets fortnightly. A rotation of local coaches from the top professional teams in the country has always been a good solution, and must be sustained.
The recent under performance of the men’s national football team cannot entirely be blamed on the coaching staff, but on how football development, and sport in general is organised and structured in the country, especially at grassroots level. For a long time, grassroots level sport in the country has been neglected by different stakeholders including government institutions tasked to develop it. For example, 55 years after the country’s Independence from the colonial powers, Zambia does not have a single Primary or Secondary School majoring in sport and physical activities or one that has a deliberate Sports Education Curriculum Model. On the other hand, Kwame Nkrumah University College in Kabwe that has for years produced great men and women running sport in the country do not even have a running track, a standard football pitch nor a basic gymnasium that a College or University offering Sport Education Courses should naturally have. Despite all that, should FAZ be fixated on spending colossal amounts of resources on a single Expatriate to come and teach Zambians only about how to qualify and win the Africa and World Cups, instead of investing the money into the missing sports infrastructure first? FAZ ought to think twice.
Of course, football has taken the world by storm, to use a cliché, and each country would like to associate itself with the trend. However, countries with meagre resources like Zambia should be very careful in the way they want to participate in football business, which unfortunately has become complex and intrinsically controlled by powerful cartels within institutions locally and internationally. Just because Denmark has a foreign coach does not mean, even Zambia should hire one. For Denmark to involve a foreign coach for the men`s national team, it is probably because they have satisfied their grassroots base. Each community has standard football pitches to cater for the population of youths in that particular geographical area, and the youths are naturally going up the ladder and into the various national teams. Considering how much money Zambia has spent on hiring Expatriate coaches for the men`s national team starting with the famous Herve Renard, it must surely be an amount that is able to build high standard football pitches for grassroots football across the country. From Namushakende in Western Province to Nabwalya in Muchinga Province, from Kabanda Yejima Yejima in North-Western Province, to Siatwinda in Southern Province, from Mpweto in Luapula Province to Mlolo in Eastern Province. FAZ could invest in basic sports infrastructure to support football development that could become a beacon for other sports disciplines as well. Thousands of youths could then enjoy these facilities and structures that could in turn support the development of their skills for the benefit of the country.
It is sad to note that community football pitches such as the Kalingalinga ground in Lusaka that has produced national team material, such as Fwayo Tembo, Roger Kola, Boyd Mwila, Jimmy Njobvu, Racha Kola, Hichani Himoonde, Given Singuluma, Justine Zulu and William Njobvu to name but a few are still dust “Kalukungu” pitches.
It is sad to note that community football pitches such as the Kalingalinga ground in Lusaka that has produced national team material, such as Fwayo Tembo, Roger Kola, Boyd Mwila, Jimmy Njobvu, Racha Kola, Hichani Himoonde, Given Singuluma, Justine Zulu and William Njobvu to name but a few are still dust “Kalukungu” pitches. FAZ should be courageous enough to reset their mode of operation from focusing too much on the men`s national team where they spend colossal resources, to focusing on grassroots football development. This is the time for FAZ to emulate what other partners in football development in the country are doing. For example, the efforts that the Bauleni United Sports Academy (BUSA) in Lusaka has embarked on, should be commended and supported by FAZ and other government wings charged with youth development. By their own initiative of lobbying from local and international partners in youth development, BUSA has adopted a football pitch and a running track at a local primary school. They have created water articulation points that help in taking care of the grass, in addition to providing 24 hours security. As a result of such efforts, BUSA has contributed a huge stake to the women`s national team with the likes of Hellen Mubanga, Barbra Banda, Mary Mwakapila, Mary Mulenga and Judith Zulu to name but a few.
That said, FAZ does not need a Blue Print from abroad for football development when we have institutions in the country trying out new strategies that are after all working. FAZ should not shy away from adopting other ways of implementing football education such as the BUSA strategy. Other sport for development NGO`s in Zambia such as the EduSport Foundation, Sport in Action and NOWSPAR among others, have done their part in believing in the grassroot sports base, especially in the under-served communities. In the late 1990`s these NGOs together with a few community based football academies like Chiparamba Great Eagles, Lusaka Youth Sports Academy, EduSport United Soccer Academy, and Afri-Sports United of Kitwe etc, started a ripple of community football development. It could be argued that this process that started in the late 1990`s culminated into the Zambia men`s team winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012. FAZ affiliated professional teams benefited from this process too, but did very little to directly support these institutions that clearly contributed positively to the building of their competitive leagues, and ultimately feeding into the various national teams.
Zambia has abundant raw material in terms of young talent, but all that is required is a more organised and progressive system that could help the youths develop and blossom into national team material and responsible citizens. FAZ has this important opportunity to harness the power of football by developing the base first before focusing too much at the top. FAZ should highly invest in community football at grassroots level by providing countrywide structures and contributing directly to infrastructure development in every corner of the country, and not just along the line of rail. The youth gangs that recently terrorised innocent citizens like the Tokota Boys and the SOD of Kitwe could be prevented if organised sports and recreation facilities are adequate for the growing youth populations in the country. The power of football and other sports could be used in this regard, and FAZ should not close their eyes by focusing only on professional football, when the under-served communities need basic sports infrastructure. Workable partnerships with different stakeholders like the business community, the Sports NGOs, the local schools, the sports academies and the local civic leaders could be a way forward. The newly established artificial pitches in Lusaka is one example where FAZ could zero in, establish partnerships beyond a handshake, and expand similar concepts to other areas in need.
FAZ should start operating outside the box by deliberately investing in a youth driven project (Talent Bank) that will nurture sports talent from all parts of the country, a project that will inspire every youth to attend, a project that will provide camping facilities to different community football academies and professional football clubs. A serious project that will not only nurture sports talent but also, one which could equally produce basic sports equipment using local material. It is quite frustrating to note that we are in the 2nd Decade of the 21st Century, Zambia cannot still produce any basic sports apparatus such as nets, balls, water bottles, bibs, cones and so on locally, when the country has abundant raw material like rubber and leather. FAZ is capable of supporting local communities with basic facilities installed with water articulation and lighting systems that could allow youths to participate in activities even after hours. The abundance of ground water and a powerful sun light in Zambia could be taken advantage of to provide solar powered water supply and floodlights in these community sports and recreation facilities for youths. All that such projects need to do is, doing things differently to suit the local context rather than what other countries are doing. As PLO Lumumba emphasises, it is time for African institutions to carve out their own destiny as demanded by local needs, rather than how other regions are doing it.
Winning the Africa Cup or the World Cup is great, and it brings happiness to the winning country. However, it does not add much value to the country as compared to the value, investing in basic grassroots sports facilities and programmes could bring. Thus, FAZ should think twice where to invest more if they have to achieve big on the international stage, as there are no quick fixes, but long-term investment. The Africa Cup and the World Cup could easily be achieved if proper investment in local communities is satisfied, and that might be the gap missing in the development of football in the country. Brazil for example has reached high levels in world football because in every corner of any local community, there is an organised sports ground for children and youth utilisation, supported by the FA and the government. In this regard, FAZ could invest heavily in the Teachers Colleges by providing them with a sports coaching and management education package, because Teachers are found in every corner of the country upon graduation. Thus, FAZ could be assured of spreading their tentacles across the country through the Teachers Colleges sports education model.
At another level, instead of keeping on hiring and firing foreign coaches, FAZ through government could engage more established countries in football development where coach education training or attachments could be done. Zambian aspiring coaches, especially the youth could be attached to different clubs at international level for longer periods ranging from 6 months to 3 years, so as to learn the ropes of becoming confident football coaches and managers. The difference between a local coach and an Expatriate “Muzungu” could only be the absence of exposure to other systems that are seemingly doing better than Zambia. Thus, engaging international partners to help provide long-term attachments in their respective countries could be a sustainable solution than serially hiring and firing coaches. However, all things considered, the current stream of local coaches are capable enough to coach the senior men`s national team as the country prioritises investing in grassroot football development and coach education.
The once dusty “Kalukungu” Bauleni ground revived and renovated by Bauleni United Sports Academy (BUSA) in Lusaka.
By Kabanda Mwansa
The author is a Zambian social commentator and a PhD research fellow at the Centre for Child and Youth Competence Development at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. He is also the co-founder of the EduSport Foundation, Zambia.
Zambia has made some strides in aligning its Mining policy to the Africa Mining Vision, says the Center for Trade Policy and Development.
According to a detailed gap analysis conducted by the CTPD of the Africa Mining Vision, more energy however needs to be channelled to fully domesticate the AMV at the Country level.
Webby Banda, the CTPD Senior Researcher Extractives says under Fiscal regime, the Zambian mining fiscal regime has not been consistently applied over time and the Zambia Revenue Authority still seems to have challenges with administrative capacity.
Mr Banda said Radical shifts from profit-based to revenue-based tax instruments in recent years seem to confirm this and all mining revenue is deposited in the consolidated fund.
He said this makes it lose identity because it cannot be tracked to any public expenditure.
Mr Banda added that Geological and mineral information systems under geological and mineral information systems, it was moted that Geological Survey Department is underfunded or poorly resourced making it difficult to effectively discharge its responsibilities.
He said there are no enforceable arrangements for mining companies to deposit information with the Department and this makes mining companies have a monopoly on geological and mineral information.
“Environmental and social issues Under Environmental and social issues, the following key issues were unveiled; No clear policy framework and legislation exists to deal with post-mine closure issues; and current legislation does not contain any land use policy and law”, Mr Banda added.
He has since recommended that government should maintain stability in the mining fiscal regime by designing a tax system that will stand the test of time.
Mr Banda said government should also match the administrative complexity of the designed tax instruments with the administrative capacity of Zambia Revenue Authority by establishing an independent mineral stabilisation fund that is not tied to the consolidated fund.
He said government should further legislate an Act of Parliament that transforms the Geological Survey Department into a state agency with its governing board and sustainably fund the Geological Survey department using a portion of mineral royalty.
Mr Banda also sugeated that government should establish compelling mechanisms that force mining companies to deposit geological information with the government, Develop clear land-use policies and laws and Develop policies and laws for the management of post-mine closure issues.
He said the above policy recommendations once implemented will go a long way in spurring broad-based sustainable growth and social-economic development in Zambia and Africa at large.
Mr Banda says these will also provide a platform for Zambia to fully benefit from its natural resources acting as a key to alleviating poverty levels.
The Africa Mining Vision is a continental policy framework that was created by the Africa Union in 2009 to ensure that Africa prudently utilises the wealth of its natural resources.
The AMV seeks to promote transparent, equitable and optimal exploitation of Mineral resources to underpin broad-based sustainable growth and social-economic development.
The AMV is based on nine pillars namely, Fiscal regime and Revenue Management; Geological and Mineral Information Systems; environmental and social issues; building human and institutional capacities; artisanal and small scale mining; mobilising Mining and Infrastructure Development; Mineral Sector Governance; Research and Development, and linkages and diversification.
Tourism and Arts Minister Ronald Chitotela has urged the people of his constituency and the people of Luapula to take farming seriously.
Speaking when he visited his 20 hectares farm in Pambashe Constituency in Kawambwa District, the lawmaker said he is impressed with the Ministry of Agriculture response towards the eradication of Army-worms.
Mr. Chitotela said his constituency has experienced minimal army worms ravaging maize fields but the department of Agriculture in the district has been quick to release the chemicals to farmers.
His land comprised of crops such as Maize, cassava and groundnuts.
He observed that not long ago, President Edgar Lungu visited Kawambwa district and emphasised on the need for people to venture into Agriculture.
Mr. Chitotela notes that Kawambwa district is endowed with good rains making it an Agriculture driven area.
He explained that with the agriculture potential that the region has, maximum effort needs to be put in by the people to make Luapula the nations food basket.
The Minister added that he has taken up the step of farming so as to encourage people in his constituency to take Agriculture seriously.
Mr. Chitotela has since encouraged residents in his constituency to seriously take Agriculture as an economic activity.
The Constitutional Court has dismissed a case in which UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema was challenging President Edgar Lungu’s decision not to hand over power to the Speaker of the National Assembly during the hearing of the Presidential election in 2016.
Judge Professor Margaret Munalula says in her judgment that both President Lungu and the Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini could not be held to have been in contravention of any constitutional provision when President Lungu continued to perform the executive functions.
Judge Munalula further ordered for each party to bear its own cost.
This is because of the importance of the issue raised as it is constitutional in nature.
In this matter Mr. Hichilema and his then Vice President then Geoffery Mwamba petitioned the Presidential elections and wanted the court to order President Lungu to hand over power to Speaker of the National Assembly pending the outcome of the petition.
Mr. Hichilema and Mr. Mwamba argued that the continued stay of President Lungu in the office, while his election was petitioned, is contrary to the provisions of the Constitution.
But, Attorney General Likando Kalaluka asked the court to dismiss the petition because Mr. Hichilema and Mr. Mwamba were not entitled to the remedies they were seeking.
In her judgment, Judge Munalula said the court entirely agreed with the position of the Attorney General.
The Court further said that it did not see a provision in the Constitution that allows the Speaker to assume Office of the President under the circumstances of the 2016 Presidential elections.
The other judges that heard the matter are judges Anne Sitali, Mungeni Mulenga, Palan Mulonda and Martin Musaluke.
I must confess: Late last night, like over 20,000 ordinary Zambians; many of whom non politically aligned, including PF members and sympathizers I presume, opted to use our very expensive internet bundles to listen in to an open conversation hosted by a named prophet.
Now, I cannot remember a day in recent history, when Zambians have provided an individual with such kind of a virtual audience, let alone the kind of attention the named individual received. It was staggering to watch.
Many of us watched out of curiosity. Some out of a genuine search for answers. Others simply tuned in out of sheer disbelief at the very suggestion, however remote and potentially bonkers, that the country we thought we had been building, and the collective values we say we profess and have attempted to even codify in our Republican constitution; may altogether be a farce and a facade for something else only a handful of very powerful individuals might have knowledge of.
It is like we are living in a fantom bubble where nothing really is real.
Now, I often like to exercise a great deal of cautious skepticism when it comes to matters of religious extremism, ritualism, and fanaticism. I prefer to watch from a distance as a way of keeping some grip on my own sanity, so be rest assured; I would be the last person to pin the future outlook of our collective fortunes on what the man holding some crystal ball says.
Yet make no mistake: the fact that a sizeable majority of people are prepared to entertain alternative rationality to the problems Zambia and her people are facing, simply means the government has lost the trust of the people who elected them. Zambians no longer believe that the PF government and those serving in it have the best interests of the country at heart, especially that the party in power and many of those close to the circles of power have been accumulating an enormous amount of wealth at such an exponential rate, when our national productivity is at an all time low and everyone is suffering. How are these individuals managing to generate so much wealth so fast when the underlying economy is dead? How are they making their money? Where is it coming from?
When we say they are stealing, they say they are not. But when the economy is at its weakest, people are prepared to turn to alternative interpretations of how a small group of people has managed to get so incredibly wealthy in the middle of such economic destitution and turmoil.
To the opposition, especially the main opposition; the lesson is simple – Zambians value honest hard work. But above all, we love our God too much that any one individual or group of individuals, or indeed a political establishment that anchors its grip on power on forces of darkness, falsehoods, lies, and deceit will be gotten rid of the moment the people experience an epiphany.
This is where we are right now.
It seems the people we thought we knew, the government we thought we had, the leaders we thought we elected, MAY not exactly be who they say they are or indeed whom we thought they were.
It feels like one big con.
Now, whatsoever you believe, I urge you, countrymen and women, to earnestly pray for our country.
The country is under attack and the enemies are among us.
No one single individual or opposition political establishment must seek to benefit from the salvation Zambia is about to receive, except the people themselves who have suffered incredible torment at the hands of those who should have protected them.
God is about to scatter our enemies and he will install for us the kind of leadership we deserve because he has raised enough honest, hardworking men and women to provide the right kind of leadership and look after the interests of his sons and daughters here on earth.
However long it takes, Zambia shall indeed be free.
Bushinga Primary School in Itezhi-tezhi will this year have the first-ever grade eight classes after the opposition Socialist Party donated building materials for the construction of a 1 x 2 classroom block at the public school.
Several residents of Itezhi-tezhi district of Central Province have commended the leftist Socialist Party for the support rendered in uplifting primary school infrastructure in the area.
George Mukile, a former head teacher at Bushinga Primary School, said what the Socialist Party has done was commendable as it will motivate pupils who are now going to be learning in a conducive environment.
Mukile disclosed that infrastructure development and lack of secondary schools have always been a challenge in the district.
He, however, said the donation of pockets of cement, flush doors and other building materials by the Socialist Party will go a long way in improving the infrastructure at the school.
“I’m very thankful to the Socialist Party for the donation, and again let me thank them for trying so hard to narrow the gap between the poor and rich. Because the way we are living in this country currently, is not good even if we are saying it’s One Zambia One Nation there is nothing like that. It’s like others are living in America but we are all here in Zambia,” Mukile said.
He observed that currently, development was not shared equally in the country, something which has to come to an end as demonstrated by the Socialist Party bringing everyone on board.
And Mukile has noted with disappointment that elected members of parliament, council chairpersons and councilors in the area have allegedly failed to develop their areas despite voters trusting them.
He challenged them to always remember that education was key to success.
“Let me just be very open, as for our member of parliament, since we voted him into office he has never done anything. Not even heard of a single meeting, just to be very open. Maybe councilors because sometimes they go to the council chambers, and their voices are not head as they were voted to be the voice of the people,” said Mukile.
The Socialist Party donated some building materials to Bushinga Primary School for the construction of a one by two classroom block in order for the school to start grade eight classes this year.
Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu has hailed the cordial and closer ties that have existed between Zambia and Zimbabwe since the time of the liberation struggle particularly, for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
The President described the relations between Zambia and Zimbabwe as inseparable and that the collaboration between the two countries is further enhanced by the membership of the duo to the SADC, African Union and other regional and multilateral bodies.
The Head of State recalls how the two countries are fondly referred to as Siamese twins adding that Zambia and Zimbabwe has been working very well since the liberation days.
“As you go back to Zimbabwe, please convey a message of solidarity to my brother President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Your Excellency, thank you so much and God bless you and wish you well in your future endeavors,” the President said.
The President said this when Zimbabwe’s High Commissioner to Zambia Gertrude Ratidzo Takawira, paid a courtesy call on him to bid farewell as she winds down her tour of duty in Zambia.
Earlier, the High Commissioner expressed gratitude to President Lungu for the support rendered to her during her tour of duty in Zambia.
She applauded specifically the support that the Zambian Government rendered to Zimbabwe in 2016 when the country faced food shortages due to drought and Zambia came to that country’s aid.
“Thankyou for your support, generosity and hospitality that made me very comfortable during my stay in Zambia,” the High Commissioner said.
The Government has advised Zambians on short term visits to China to register their presence with the Embassy in Beijing and the Consulate in Guangzhou.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Joseph Malanji said the Zambians currently in China or those planning to travel should identify the nearest point of registration in order for the Mission to take stock of nationals on short-term stay.
Hon. Malanji said the Government is aware of the 200 students in Wuhan City in Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, and that the Mission in Beijing has continued to reach out to the Zambian community through dissemination of valuable information on precautionary measures to be taken.
“We have about 4,000 students studying in China spread across 30 cities both on Government to Government and private sponsorship. In this particular situation we have 200 students who are in Wuhan City. The Government has continued to offer support, disseminate information, advising students on movements and other precautionary measures that they need to take in the wake of the outbreak of the disease,” Hon. Malanji said.
The Minister advised the Zambian students that are currently on vacation to stay in touch with their universities and the Zambian Embassy in Beijing regarding the fresh opening dates considering that the spring semester has been postponed until further notice.
Hon. Malanji noted that no Zambian had been affected by the coronavirus.
“We are lucky that was the period when the people were having their new year, a good number of students are here in Zambia,” he said. “To those in China, our Mission is working effectively disseminating information on how their movements should be and the measures to take to prevent infection.”
Hon. Malanji said Zambia is currently not considering the evacuation of its nationals and is confident that the Government of China is doing everything possible to stem the tide of further infections.
“This is a disease that requires proper diagnosis and considering that this is something that China has handled before, the country is more advanced to handle outbreaks of such a nature. We do not have a case in China attached to a Zambian national and we pray that this of course does not directly affect us,” said Hon. Malanji.
The Chinese Government has assured that the outbreak is manageable and therefore there is no need for evacuation of foreigners from China. Further, foreign envoys have been assured of support from provincial governments to their nationals in case of emergencies. In this regard, the authorities have provided hotlines for any emergency that may arise among foreigners in Wuhan and other cities in Hubei Province. The Zambian Mission has since shared the hotlines with the students along with relevant contacts of Zambian Mission staff.
Since December 2019, China has been hit by the flu-causing virus identified as Coronavirus that has claimed 170 lives, with 7,711 confirmed cases of pneumonia as of 30th January, 2020, according to Chinese Health authorities.
Andrew Ejimadu the South African Based Nigerian Self styled “prophet” also known as “Seer 1” has thrown his support behind United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema, for next years presidential elections.
In a video recently released from South Africa in which he endorsed Hichilema, “Seer 1” swore that he would ‘drop his mic’ and stop preaching his satanic “gospel” if Mr Hichilema did not win the 2021 elections.
The flamboyant “prophet” further claimed that his “ancestral powers” were greater than powers of Jesus Christ, adding that he would use them to ensure that the ruling Patriotic Front was defeated and Hichilema installed as President of the Republic of Zambia.
In the video which has gone viral, the self styled “seer” openly challenged the power of Christ and threatened to kill Patriotic Front officials using his mystical powers.
A strong advocate of Hichilema, “Seer 1” emphasised that he had no heart and that was ready to kill for the UPND leader.
Andrew Ejimadu, who once run a “Church” called Christ Freedom Ministries in Lusaka, was deported from Zambia in April 2017, for encouraging unorthodox practices among his congregants, amid reports of rape of his “congregants” including underage children.
The Patents and Companies Registration Agency says it will this year start registering companies via mobile phones.
PACRA Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Bwembya says the move is aimed at making company registration easier and more accessible to businesses.
Mr Bwembya has told ZNBC News in an interview that the Agency has witnessed an increase in the number of business registrations from 10 thousand in 2018 to 28 thousand in 2019.
He said with this increase it will be more convenient for people willing to register on their mobile phones.
Mr Bwembya also urged company owners to be compliant with the regulations, because the Agency will not relent to deregister non-compliant companies.
He adds that PACRA will next week deregister two hundred recognized companies if they do not come forward.
The annual inflation rate in Zambia has climbed to 12.5 percent for the Month of January 2020 from the previous 11.7 percent in the prior month. This is the highest inflation rate in almost three years, with month on month the consumer prices index rising to 1.8 percent from 1.6 percent in December 2019.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka today, Zambia Statistics Agency Interim Statistician General Mulenga Musepa the 0. 2 percent increase in the monthly inflation rate is mainly attributed to the general price increases of non-food items such as electricity and petroleum products.
He explained that of the 1.8 percent monthly inflation rate, 0.6 percentage accounted for food while the 1.2 percentage accounted for non-food items.
Mr Musepa also disclosed that year on year inflation rate has also increased owing to price increase in both and non-food items between January 2019 and January 2020.
And Zambia recorded a trade surplus of over 400 Million Kwacha in December from over 100 Million Kwacha in November, 2019.
Mr Musepa attributed the trade surplus recorded to the country’s higher exports than imports during the period.
C.Nichole, a businesswoman and Urban Pop singer from the United States. She recently started a non-profit called “Pan African Think Tank“. A “think tank” is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture.
Pan African Think Tank is a non-profit with the mission to bridge the gap between Africa and the African Diaspora through Pan African forums that assist with research as a means to collectively advocate.“During my November 2018 trip to Rocinha, the largest favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I learned not all schools taught History and World Geography. At that moment I thought, “You can’t plan for your future and thoroughly understand your present, without knowing and acknowledging your past.” That event gave birth to Pan African Think Tank.”
C.Nichole’s mission is to:
Have Africans and North Americans of African descent see themselves as one; no longer allowing the media to portray stereotypes with the intent to widen the division that they instigated.
Have more Afro-Latinos connect with the diaspora and be proud of their African ancestry.
Stay connected with the Diaspora that resides in or plans to immigrate to Europe.
Raise awareness of the Diaspora within Oceania to build a sense of community.
The plan for Pan African Think Tank is to;
Travel throughout Africa and Pan African regions within North America, Europe, South America and Oceania conducting research via forums (a place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged). Forums will be conducted per:
Asked what she hopes to achieve, Nichole had this to say; “I’m hoping with Pan African Think Tank, we can educate, while helping eliminate prejudice throughout Africa and the African Diaspora; coming together as one. The end goal is to assess, evaluate and solidify the top 10 issues afflicting the Pan African community. Hone in on the top 3 issues plaguing the Pan African community during this lifetime. Implement chapters (a local branch of a society) throughout Pan Africa as a means to establish leadership and tight-knit communities, so they can continue working on the other issues during the next lifetimes.”
Through the many interactions a repeated common issue is rampant corruption that runs through countries, especially within Africa. In terms of government, political instability and the lack of women that hold power within the institution. But the major issue has been the side effects of Imperialism; Africa needing to stop trying to compete with the Western world and become its own entity that puts its people first, by no longer letting the Western world have a say so in Africa’s affairs.
There is seemingly a gap between Africans on the continent and those in the diaspora. They face difference day – to – day issues thus find it difficult to have a common stance various topic.
“I’ve been to 85 countries and I would always recall many conversations I’d have with Africans and the African diaspora it was always comedic to me that they thought they were so different. Yes, some issues were different, but they were actually mostly the same. I believe that oceans, language barriers and different lifestyles make Africans and the African Diaspora feel that they are not one in the same, like they’re so different when they’re actually just distant cousins that haven’t seen each other/met up in a while. Pan African Think Tank plans to bridge that gap by educating both Africa and the African diaspora during the forums of their common issues so we can come together and combat these issues on a global scale. Treating Africans and the African diaspora as one body of people called Pan Africans; citizens of Pan Africa. In the long run, Pan African Think Tank wants organizations that we partner with, to also partner with other organizations with Pan Africa.” explained Nichole.
The Lusaka Magistrate Felix Kaoma has banned Lawyer Keith Mweemba from appearing in his court in a matter were Former Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili is accused of defaming the President .
Magistrate Kaoma has also directed that Mr. Mweemba be reported to the Law Association of Zambia for his alleged disrespectful behaviour.
Magistrate Kaoma says walking out of court without permission amounts to contempt of court and that such behaviour should not be allowed.
Magistrate Kaoma has since advised Mr. Kambwili to find another lawyer as Mr. Mweemba will not be allowed to take part in these proceedings.
Earlier the defence made an application for the matter to be adjourned so that Mr. Kambwili can go to the hospital as he is not feeling well.
In its ruling, the court directed that since the participation of the accused person will not be needed the defence can go ahead and cross-examine the witness on the stand before adjourning the matter.
It was at this point that Keith Mweemba asked for permission to leave the court leaving the suspect with no legal representation.
And in response to Mr Kambwili’s concerns, magistrate Kaoma said all the defense needed was to make an application to allow the accused to go to the hospital so that the matter can go on in his absence.
In this matter, Mr. Kambwili is accused of defaming the President with the aim of bringing his name into contempt and ridicule.
In this matter, Mr. Kambwili has been dragged to court for defaming the President by way of a complaint from a citizen.
Meanwhile, Lawyer Jonas Zimba is expected to report a man only identified as Chiinga to Central Police for issuing threats on his life .
Mr. Zimba told ZNBC News that Chiinga and many others were allegedly in the company of Mr. Kambwili when they issued the threats.
And, Mr. Zimba has said he will write a complaints letter to Lusaka Magistrate Felix Kaoma regarding the conduct of Mr. Kambwili outside the court room.
It is alleged that Mr. Kambwili confronted the prosecution outside the court and c
The Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes SACCORD has warned the ruling PF in Eastern Province that their party risks being consumed by violence if the reported scourge is left unchecked.
In a statement issued to the media Wednesday, SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe said his organization regrets and condemns the reported political violence involving the PF Eastern Province Information and Publicity Secretary and other members of the party which has seemed to have continued unabated.
Mr. Cheembe observed that the party risks losing members due to the continued violence as no member would be willing to contribute meaningfully to a party where violence was the order of the day.
“The PF in Eastern Province have been confronted with several challenges of political violence which has involved both physical violence and violent communication for some time. If this culture is left unchecked in the province it will consume the ruling party as it will likely lead to polarization of the party without any unity and stability. This would be the case with any other political party in the country if acts of political violence can be the order of the day without any restraint,” he said.
He called of the PF leadership in the province to address the violence that it has been confronted with and ensure that divergent views are respected.
“The ruling party especially at national level have shown that they have the pedigree to utilize laid down procedure for addressing grievances of party members peacefully without having to resort to political violence. The political violence that appears to confront the provincial leadership in Eastern Province needs to be addressed as there is need to ensure that there is respect to tolerance to divergent views within the party.
“We take note and welcome the position by the Provincial party Chairperson that he does not condone violence, and this is how it should be. We appeal to the Eastern Province Provincial leadership to seriously reflect on the need to embrace non-violent and peaceful means of addressing individuals with divergent views and thereby guarantee that tolerance prevails,” he said.
He added that the approach which has seemingly been taken by some individuals in leadership positions in the province will only breed disunity in the party.
“The approach of beating individuals wherever disagreements emerge will only lead to the party breeding disunity in the province and thereby undermining the importance of democratic governance that requires tolerance to divergent views as a prerequisite for peace.
“We further appeal to the ruling PF national leadership through the Office of the Secretary General and the President to build the capacity of the Eastern province leadership on using peaceful party laid down procedure to resolve any differences that may emerge in the province. Violence only breeds violence and if this is allowed as the method to resolve differences the political violence will only erode the confidence of stakeholders and the citizens in the province,” he said.
