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Tuesday, September 16, 2025
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Davies Mwila builds a Primary School and hands it to Government

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Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Hon Davies Mwila has handed over Davies Mwila Mupati Primary School to the government, the school he built in Chipili District using his own resources.

Hon Mwila has also donated school uniforms, books and shoes to be given to the pupils who have been enrolled at the school.

Hon Mwila, who is also former Chipili Member of Parliament, said during the campaigns in 2016, he promised to build schools in the constituency.

“Most of you will recall that during the campaigns, I promised to construct schools, health centers and other infrastructure development in the constituency, here it is. I have delivered despite not winning the elections. This is my home, I cannot abandon my own people and that is why I proceeded to construct the school. I come from this place, and there is no need for me to neglect my own people,” he said.

“We want to make sure that pupils don’t walk long distances in accessing quality education and that is why I strategically chose this place to build this school.”

He encouraged the people of Chipili to continue supporting the PF Government under the leadership of President Edgar Lungu.

“It is important that we continue to support the PF Government as this government of His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu means well for the people of Zambia. How many health centers are being constructed here, how many schools and other infrastructure developments are being worked on? We in the PF have an agenda, and that is to transform not just Chipili but Zambia as a whole,” said the PF Chief Executive Officer.

“I am no longer your Member of Parliament and my support maybe limited. This is why we are saying can we make sure that we put in office the MP that is working with us so that we foster development in this area.”

The former Chipili Lawmaker further pledged to construct teacher’s house within six months at the school.

He furthermore encouraged the parents in the district to ensure that they embrace education and help in the expansion of the school by providing any support that maybe needed.

And after a request from Mwenda Primary School management for 100 desks, Hon Mwila assured them that he will procure the desks which will cost him about K38, 000.

Hon Mwila was accompanied by Member of the Central Committee Kebby Mbewe.

The infrastructure was received by Chipili District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) George Lwangula who pledged to look after the school as it will help a lot of pupils in accessing quality education services

Nkana Battle to Stay in Charge

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Nkana on Saturday battle to stay in command of the FAZ Super Division table when they visit Lusaka Dynamos at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.

The record 12-time champions currently lead the FAZ Super Division on 38 points, one point ahead of Green Eagles from 20 and 19 games played respectively.

Nkana head into the game a week after missing a great opportunity to open a four-point lead following a 0-0 away draw at last placed Mighty Mufulira Wanderers.

They also face 8th positioned Dynamos without influential midfielder Kelvin Mubanga who has been suspended by the club following a training ground bust-up with teammate Obbey Masumbuko this week.

Mubanga’s absence leaves Nkana’s attack deficient of experience and quality after their attack struggled especially new boys Martin Dzilah and Duke Abuya who stuttered through the game against Mighty last weekend.

Another away draw will not do Nkana any favours especially that they will go into the match immediately after watching Eagles play Green Buffaloes in the lunchtime kickoff at the same venue.

A draw or loss for Nkana, and win for Eagles, will see the latter sneak into the lead on 40 points with a match in hand.

FAZ SUPER DIVISION FIXTURES
WEEK 24
08/02/2019
Kansanshi Dynamos-Red Arrows
Lumwana Radiants-Buildcon
Power Dynamos-KSYA
Napsa Stars-Nkwazi
13h00: Green Buffaloes-Green Eagles
15h00: Lusaka Dynamos-Nkana
09/02/2020
Zanaco-Kabwe Warriors
Nakambala Leopards-Forest Rangers
Mufulira Wanderers-Zesco United

Are PF Cadres Bewitched by Seer 1? Against Wilfred Sameta attacks on Sexual Rights.

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Is Seer 1 behind PF cadre Wilfred Sameta’s naïveté? Seer 1 self-confessed powers over the PF cartel seems to bewitch cadres into worshipping the PF crime syndicate. Lungu is their god, and Sameta is his false prophet. Prophetic and courageous individuals like Linda Kasonde and Laura Miti are insane, so Sameta believes.

Sameta is too intelligent to praise the PF cartel for countless successes. I cannot count them one by one, but the picture is clear: starvation, unemployment, corruption, violence, power cuts, fuel prices, human rights violations and failure to pay council workers and retirees are among the many developments that invite a sane PF cadre to dance dununa reverse. Those who think otherwise, they believe, are working with Western gays to force regime change. As for Seer 1’s “false prophecy” that HH is winning in 2021, Sameta is quick to associate Hakainde with the devil. At the same time, his bewitched mind erases what the self-declared prophet said about the source of the PF cartel’s powers.

I have many reasons to dispute Seer 1’s prophecy about HH winning the 2021 elections as long as the cartel remote controls the Electoral Commission of Zambia. Nonetheless I am forced to ask, who has been bewitched, politicians vis-à-vis cadres? Telling by the zeal of PF cadres, Seer 1 may explain their blind loyalty. Evidence? Sameta’s screeds that worship the PF regime at the cost of human decency. He proudly shouts pabwato, when retirees die without getting their dues; children die from simple illnesses, hospitals lack medicines, masses starve, and criminals are acquitted, while politicians steal at will. Alas PF cadres tout these shameful socio-economic and political failures as successes. Those with the novelty to demand good governance, and accountability Sameta illogically demeans!

Unless pathetically misogynistic, it is hard to defend Sameta’s outrageous belittlement of Kasonde and Miti. These ladies remain the pillars of justice in the nation. Nonetheless, Sameta’s pro PF despicable articles treats them as ignominious because they are not under Seer 1’s evil spell. They have the brains, dignity and courage to stand up to the PF cartel. In fact they are thorns in Lungu’s flesh–he fears them like hell!

It is not by chance that Sameta’s targets enjoy earned intellectual prominence as opposed to the one bought by dancing dununa reverse, undressing oneself to Seer 1, and deify the Corrupt One. As a sane PF cadre, however, Sameta calls them insane. Is it not Aristotle who said, “No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.” Like most human rights defenders, Miti and Kasonde are mad at the PF’s lawlessness and corruption. It is time to say, Enough!

I rarely respond to PF cadres–their heads are too complex for an ignorant person like me. It is for this reason I ignored his unfocused screed directed at me on January 6, 2020

In that screed, Sameta ignorantly characterized my human rights advocacy as insanity. He concluded my advocacy is meant to discredit the corrupt PF government to the donor community. It is not the first time I have been accused of doing this–my opponents cannot justify why and how gay rights harm their freedoms or harm African morality.

I know that defending sexual and gender minorities is negatively perceived. We have forgotten how the colonial regime perceived fellow whites (especially missionaries), who demanded justice for Africans. To colonialists, they were insane. This is true with women rights defenders–the world saw such courageous women as insane. But were they?

I am a scholar, priest and human rights defender. Accusing me of going around the world sleeping with men is informed by total ignorance. My bishops know my position on homosexuality. Frankly, I am not interested in who Sameta sleeps. Neither am l God to judge. As long as he does not go after children, rape women and cheat on his wife, consensual sex among adults is a private matter; another reason I oppose the imprisonment of people because of who they love. As to my sexuality, it matters not. Denying other people their rights is morally unacceptable and sinful.

Uh. Sameta is too wise to know that defending women’s rights does not mean going around the world sleeping with women. Pope Francis, for example, has defended gays and women. Following Sameta’s naive logic, the Pope is insane and goes around the world sleeping with women and men. Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President Joyce Banda, the leadership of the World Council of Churches, President Barack Obama, and Jimmy Carter, all spoke (and speak) against abusing gay persons. Does this mean they go around sleeping with people of the same sex? Are they also paid to discredit the corrupt PF government?

One does not need Seer 1 to understand the growing phobia of the PF regime as we approach 2021.

The defeat of the PF would mean sending Lungu worshippers to prison–another reason they are running to Seer 1, n’gangas, priests, and self-declared prophets. In fact, they are ready to eat dog faeces if that means winning the 2021 elections. It is this phobia that both Seer 1 and Sameta are strategically exploiting to get the attention of the PF cartel!

Sameta screeds amplify Lungu’s attacks of human rights defenders and opposition leaders. For instance, he has repeated Lungu’s claim that the West is out to push regime change because of his anti-gay policies. Zambia is blacklisted because of corruption and lack of rule of law. This has nothing to do with Kapya Kaoma, Kasonde, Miti or HH–it is a PF self-inflicted wound. I agree, regime change is needed, but Zambians, not western gays or nations, will hopefully do it in 2021!

Am I then paid to discredit the PF regime to the international community? Unless you live in Seer 1’s calabash, there is nothing to discredit in the putrid PF government. The donor community knows the Lungu administration is a crime syndicate. Of course, Seer 1-bewitched cadres may deny it–but those who hold the purse know the truth—Zambia is one of the most corrupt nations in the world.

Sameta employed the Lozi creation myth of Nyambe and Nasilele to explain my insanity. He did not, however, explain why Nyambe retired to the sky. In God’s Family, God’s Earth (2013), I write: “Nyambe created Earth and all creatures. Sadly, one creature called Kamonu (human being) imitated God, forged iron spears and killed an antelope. Nyambe was very annoyed with Kamonu for killing his own brother. Nyambe forgave him, but Kamonu did not repent. Armed with his spears, he killed a buffalo and other animals. Nyambe was very upset and sent misfortune on Earth and then retired to the sky.”

If the Lozi deity so much cares about animals, how about our fellow human beings? Is not Jesus who said, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6.26). Sexual minorities are equally images of God and have sacred rights to life.

I believe humanity is sacred–we are all images of God. Our sexual orientation or gender identity do not violate our sacredness. We are all children of God and children of the Soil. As a priest, I am not ashamed to support all God’s children to live freely regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. We are all humans. Period.

Akira Kurosawa is right indeed, “In a mad world, only the mad are sane.”

Rev. Kapya Kaoma

South African Airways ends flights to Ndola

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The South African Airways (SAA) will cease all its flights to Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola effective end of this month.

The flight schedule for February remains unchanged though.

The move is part of South Africa’s official flag carrier’s restructuring plan intended to support the airline’s transformation into a sustainable and profitable business.

“On 29th February, SAA will close the following regional and international services from Johannesburg to Ndola, Abidjan via Accra, Entebbe, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Luanda and Munich and Sao Paulo,” the joint Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) of SAA announced yesterday in a press statement published on the company website.

On the other hand, the airline has retained some regional services including flights from Johannesburg to Lusaka, Blantyre, Dar es Salaam, Harare, Kinshasa, Lagos, Lilongwe, Maputo, Mauritius, Nairobi, Victoria Falls, Livingston, and Windhoek.

“The initiatives we are taking now will strengthen SAA’s business. We believe that this should provide reassurance to our loyal customers that SAA is moving in the right direction. We are focused on our mandate to restore SAA’s commercial health and create an airline that South Africans will be proud of,” the BRPs stated further, according to the statement.

“In line with SAA’s commitment to take urgent action to conserve cash, and create a viable platform for a successful future, key measures need to be implemented now,” the statement reads, adding that these measures include targeted changes to the route network, deployment of more fuel-efficient aircraft and optimisation of organisational structures.

Similarly, the airline has cancelled all other domestic destinations, including Durban, East London, and Port Elizabeth, which will also cease operation by SAA on February 29.

Domestic routes operated by Mango will not be affected.

However, the airline will continue to serve Cape Town on a reduced basis.

“All customers booked on any cancelled international and regional routes will receive a full refund. Customers booked on cancelled domestic flights will be re-accommodated on services operated by Mango,” the statement reads further.

“SAA does not intend to make any further significant network changes. And passengers and travel agents can, therefore, feel confident about booking future travel with South African Airways,” the airline added.

The flight schedule for February remains unchanged and customers have been advised to consult the website for further information.

Filing in of Nomination Papers for FAZ President Subject to Vetting Process by the Ethics Committee

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FAZ president Andrew Kamanga says the filing in of nomination papers is not the final stage in the screening process in accordance with the electoral code.

Featuring on Lusaka’s Capital FM’s Big Issue program, Kamanga said candidates, including Kalusha Bwalya, who have filed in their nomination papers will wait to hear the outcome of their candidacy once the Ethics Committee has done the screening process in line with the FAZ Statutes.

Kamanga said the Ethics Committee will forward the names that would have passed the screening process to the Electoral Committee.

“Once the nominations come through, there is the vetting process,” he said.
“As the statutory requirement, we have the Ethics Committee that will scrutinize the names that will be forwarded to the Electoral Committee.”

He added: “Once that is done, those that are not selected will have a chance to appeal to the Appeals Committee to redress any shortcomings.”

And once the vetting process is done, the candidates will commence the election season starting from March 7-21. Kamanga said that elections were being conducted in strict adherence to the FIFA approved roadmap.

He said that Councillors had approved the Electoral Code and Electoral and Appeals Committees.

Kamanga said the decisions by the EGM was part of the fulfillment of the statutory requirements. He also retraced how the constitutional amendments were initiated by FIFA with Zambia having been given an ultimatum.

“The week we got into office, we found a letter from FIFA to change the constitution up to end of March (2016). We appealed and they gave us a six months extension,” he said.

Kamanga lamented that there was the insistence on basing the tenure of his 4-year mandate on two Africa Cup of Nations failures. He said that under his watch, FAZ had laid a strong grassroots foundation and also uplifted the women’s game.

He appealed to candidates contesting for positions to focus on selling ideas and not personality attacks.

Kamanga said football was bigger than one individual and required the input of all the citizens equally. He also expressed optimism that the recruitment of Chipolopolo coach Milutin Sredojevic popularly known as Micho had set the tone for a turnaround of the Chipolopolo fortunes.

Zambia will be away to Cameroon on March 5 before hosting the indomitable lionesses five days later. Winner over two legs will qualify to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics while the loser will have another shot with another two-legged tie with Chile.

Clearing of canals in Lunga district to start start very soon-Vincent Mwale

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Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Vincent Mwale has assured residents of Lunga district in Luapula Province that clearing of canals in the district will start very soon.

Mr. Mwale said in a statement issued by Ministry spokesperson Jeff Banda that he has engaged his counterpart at the Ministry of Finance to release money for fuel for the two dredgers that are stationed in Lunga district.

He said the Canals in Lunga district have been blocked because the two dredgers meant to clear the canals are not working as they have no fuel.

Mr Mwale has since dispatched a team of engineers from his Ministry to go to Lunga district to go and make plans of how quickly the dredgers should work once money for fuel is released.

The Minister was speaking at his office when three Chiefs from Lunga District paid a courtesy call on him to complain about the blocked canals and stalled construction of district infrastructure.

“As a ministry, we are aware of the situation in Lunga district both with the blocked canals and the stalled construction of district infrastructure. I can assure you your royal Highnesses that my Ministry has put emphasis on the construction of district infrastructure in all newly created districts and you will soon see construction activities. We already have the same contracts signed it is just a matter of releasing money so that works can start.” Mr. Mwale said.

He added that his Ministry is treating the issue of blocked canals in the Lunga district as an emergency and that action is being taken.

The Minister said it is the Government’s objective to address all the challenges that are affecting the people in every district in the country.

And Senior Chief Kalimakunde of the Ushi people, who was accompanied by Chief Kasomalunga and a representative of Chief Bwalya Mponda, said they decided to come and seek an audience with the Minister because of the state of the canals and stalled construction of district infrastructure in the area.

He said if nothing is urgently done all Islands of the district will submerge.

The Senior Chief said he is positive that the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development, where the dredgers unit fall, should quickly address the situation and avoid a disaster.

“It is raining heavily in Lunga district and canals are blocked due to luck of clearing. We are aware that the district has two dredgers but we are told that there is no fuel so these machines are not working. We are therefore appealing to you Hon. Minister to help address this situation.” The Chief said.

And Chief KasomaLunga said the people of the Island relay on water transport and the bad state of the channels means that their livelihood is negatively affected.

“Our mode of transport is the water we, therefore, need to have clear canals so that we do not have challenges in paddling.” Chief Kasomalunga said.

Lunga district comprises five islands namely, Kasomalunga, Kalimankonde, Nsamba, Bwalya Mponda, and Chafye. The Island is accessed through a wide network of water channels that provides the only means of movement from one place to another.

However, the waterways, which serve as roads, are often blocked with weeds causing challenges in the movement of boats and canoes.

Zambia Police cancels HH’s Approved campaign program with immediate effect

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Police in Chilubi have cancelled Hakainde Hichilema’s approved campaign program with immediate effect.

Mr Hichilema arrived this evening in Chilubi to drum up support for UPND candidate ahead of Chilubi Constituency by election which fell vacant when PF MP Rosario Fundanga died .

Police ,last Wednesday, approved a campaign schedule to allow for the arrival of UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to campaign effective Friday 7th February 2020 up to Sunday sunset 9th February 2019.

But according to a statements issued by the Office of the UPND Secretary General, PF’s campaign team opted to get all the slots and dates for UPND campaign schedule and fitted in President Edgar Lungu in order to stop Mr Hichilema from campaigning.

And Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja has cautioned Police Officers policing the Chilubi Parliamentary by- election scheduled for 13th February, 2020 against engaging themselves in active politics and has advised them to be professional as they discharge their duties.

Mr Kanganja said the role of the police in any election was to ensure that law and order prevails during the whole electoral process hence did not expect any police officer to side with any political party as doing so was against police ethics.

He has directed them to deal with any situation decisively by bringing all those that would want to destabilise the peace currently prevailing in Chilubi to book.

Mr Kanganja who took time to interact with members of the community said Zambia has enjoyed peace for a long time hence called upon members of the community to safeguard the peace currently prevailing in the country by saying no to any form of violence.

He advised all political parties to conduct their political activities according to the drawn schedule so as to avoid clashing.

The Inspector General directed officers on the ground to firmly deal with all those that would deliberately choose to dare the police.

Mr Kanganja is in the area to check on the security situation, appreciate the deployment pattern as well as check on the welfare of police officers deployed in the area.

He has described the security situation as stable and has urged all political players to continue conducting their campaigns peacefully. San

Among the areas visited are Santa Maria, Muchinshi and Chaba.

This is according to a statement issued by Zambia Police spokesperson Esther Katongo.

Dan Kabwe Relishing Challenge at Silver Stars

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Expectations are said to be high as coach Dan Kabwe starts his reign at Malawean Super League side Silver Strikers.

Kabwe late last month replaced Malawi legend Young Chimodzi as head coach of Silver on a two year deal.

The former Power Dynamos and Lusaka Dynamos coach is already in Malawi and took charge of his first training session last Tuesday.

Kabwe has a month in which to prepare Silver for the 2020 season that is commencing in March.

‘When you arrive in a strange place and rains fall, it shows signs of blessings,’ Kabwe told the club media in the interview conducted on a rainy day.

‘On targets, we are doing the target with management. You have to link the target with the vision of the sponsors,’ added the ex-Chipolopolo technical advisor.

The Bankers have won the league eight times with the last crown coming in 2014.

Malawean football journalist Peter Kanjere said:’ Expectations are high. It is for the first time that the Reserve Bank of Malawi, which sponsors Silver Striker have hired an expatriate coach.’

‘If he gets his acts right maybe he can be a success. Silver Strikers wins cups here and there but the challenge is that the team has not won the league for some time,’ Kanjere said.

Kabwe was club-less after leaving FAZ Super Division side Lusaka Dynamos over a year ago.

Prison Leopards Recall Fired Coach

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FAZ National Division One side Prison Leopards have reversed the dismissal of head Coach Mwenya Chipepo after an outcry from club supporters.

Prison earlier this week fired Chipepo together with his assistants Mulife Sitali and William Chinyama before replacing him with Willie Chalwe.

Club spokesperson Brian Mooya has confirmed Chipepo’s reinstatement together with his assistants while Chalwe has been made technical director.

Prisons have since pulled down the statement and pictures that announced Chipepo’s overturned dismissal from the club’s official Facebook page.

‘Contrary to what was reported on 4th February 2020, we wish to inform the general public that no changes have been made to the club’s Technical Bench and that except for the inclusion of former head coach Frank Miti to the bench, Mwenya Chipepo remains head coach,’ Mooya said.

‘This decision was arrived at after a meeting by Prison Leopards Executive Committee held at Correctional Service Headquarters in Kabwe on 5th February 2020, and further consultations with other stakeholders.’

‘During the same meeting, the Committee also decided to form a technical team and appointed Willie Chalwe as technical director. Other members of the technical team are Billy Petamoya and Rodwell Yoramu Snr,’ he said.

Promotion contenders Prison are fourth on the table with 35 points, seven behind leaders Kitwe United, after 20 matches played.

Government will not extend UZI’s licence to set up a fourth Mobile Operator in Zambia

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Transport and Communications Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya says the six months extension given to UZI Mobile, Zambia’s fourth mobile operator to set up will not be extended again.

Mr Kafwaya says UZI has been given up to May 2020 to actualize their investment after they asked for another extension to set up in Zambia.

He said the government will have no choice but to find another investor should UZI fail to set up their investment in Zambia by May.

“We have given them the extension but it’s not us to give them the money to set up. All we are doing is provide a conducive environment for them to operate”, said Mr Kafwaya.

Mr Kafwaya said the six months extension is final and no other extension will be given.

Brian Mushimba, the then Transport and Communications Minister in March 2018 announced UZZI Mobile had finally been given a license after meeting the requirements from ZICTA.

UZZI committed about US$400 million investment to set up a new network across the country which would also come with 400 direct jobs at various levels.

Mr Mushimba said government was excited that a new mobile service provider would join the already existing three in the country namely Samuel, Airtel and MTN.

The fourth mobile service provider in Zambia comes as a response to outcries by local service end-users over the inept services received from the existing companies, Airtel, MTN and state-owned Zamtel.

In 2017, UZI Zambia won the licence to enter the local market after the telecommunications regulator, the Zambia Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ZICTA) floated a public tender.

According to economic experts, the UZI Zambia investment would contribute to the growth and development of the telecommunications sector in the country through the implementation of the latest LTE technology to provide reliable and high-quality products and services through a national 4G network, and investment in 5G network in the near future.

“UZI Zambia Mobile will create new jobs and opportunities in Zambia and will focus on the training and development of all its employees as well as building its relationships with the local communities through its social responsibility programmes,” John Kasanga, an independent trade and economic consultant said.

Isabel Dos Santos
Isabel Dos Santos

According to reports, former Angolan president Eduardo dos Santos’ daughter, Isabel, Africa’s richest woman, is believed to own a stake in UZI Zambia. According to commentators, Unitel International Holdings BV, in which Dos Santos owns a 25% stake, had initially pledged to invest more than US$500 million through a local unit to be called UZI Zambia Mobile Limited instead of the proposed US$400 million.

The investment would, however, be increased based on the expansion of the business in the country, given the increasing interest in mobile communication services including money transfer services being maximised by the three service providers.

Last year, an Angolan court placed a freezing order on the Angolan assets of Isabel Dos Santos, her husband Sindika Dokolo, and one of her executives, Mario da Silva, accusing the three of engaging in transactions with state-owned companies that led to the government incurring losses of $1.14 billion.

“Freezing my accounts prevents me from being able to manage and recapitalize my companies,” Dos Santos, who has been living outside Angola since 2018, said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg. “As such, they have all but been sentenced to death.”

Ms SAntos amassed a fortune during her father’s almost four-decade rule and has an estimated net worth of about $2 billion, Bloomberg data shows. In Angola, her business empire includes stakes in Angola’s biggest mobile telecommunications company Unitel, two of the country’s biggest private lenders, Banco de Fomento Angola and Banco BIC, a supermarket chain, a beer factory and a cable company.

This year the BBC run a documentary that showed leaked documents revealing how Isabel dos Santos made her fortune through what was described as exploiting her own country, and corruption by getting access to lucrative deals involving land, oil, diamonds and telecoms when her father was president of Angola, a country rich in natural resources. The documents showed how she and her husband were allowed to buy valuable state assets in a series of suspicious deals.

However, Ms. Dos Santos said that the allegations against her are entirely false and that there is a politically motivated witch-hunt by the Angolan government.

It is not clear whether the delay in launching UZI in Zambia is a result of the troubles that Isabel dos Santos is going through.

The Brazilian Bioenergy firm to help Zambia develop the Biofuel Industry

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The Brazilian Bioenergy, Ethanol and Sugarcane Association has pledged to support Zambia with technological advancements in its quest to develop the Biofuel Industry.

Association President Mario Campos said his association is pleased with the interest shown by Zambia in seeking for solutions to diversify into clean energy which improves human well-being and overall welfare beyond the Gross Domestic Product.

Speaking In Brasilia when he paid a courtesy call to the Zambian Embassy, Mr Campos commended Zambia for its persistence in a bid to diversify into bio fuel and clean energy supply and reducing dependence on imported fuels.

And Mr Campos said the Biofuel Seminar scheduled for the first quarter of 2020 in Lusaka, shows consistency from Zambia with plans in setting up a biofuel Industry in the near future.

Mr Campos said that many countries in Latin America have embraced the technological processes of producing ethanol which has proved to be cheaper than other sources of energy.

He said world over, countries are seeking options of biofuel as alternatives to fossil fuels which is very expensive to generate.

Mr Campos said high oil prices have proved to be militating against economic growth globally.

And Zambia’s Ambassador to Brazil Dr Alfreda Kansembe Mwamba reiterated Zambia’s Commitment to promoting green energy that is cheaper to produce than fossil fuel.

She told Mr Campos, the President of Bioenergy, Ethanol and Sugarcane Association, to encourage more of its members to attend the Biofuel meetings in Zambia so that they can show case their products and technology.

This is according to a statement issued by Grace Makowane, First Secretary Press and Public Relations at the Zambian Embassy in Brazil.

Government should address challenges of food insecurity in Zambia-CSO-SUN

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The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance and its partners have recommended that government should increase coverage of the Public Welfare Assistance Scheme (PWAS) to address challenges of food insecurity in Zambia.

The CSO-SUN, SPOON and the Catholic Medical Mission Board have also recommended that the Women Empowerment programmes and Social protection programmes should respond to shock like food insecurity and disasters to ensure that social protection programmes are well funded.

Making a presentation to the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services on the Social protection programmes including Public Welfare Assistance Scheme and Women Empowerment, the Organisations noted that poor Funding to the Social protection programmes has in the last three years seen a decrease in financing which has affected implementation.

“Despite recommendations by Community Welfare Assistance Committees (CWACS) to enroll vulnerable people identified, district officers have a limit to how many people they can admit to the programme”, says Mathews Mhuru, the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance Country Coordinator.

Mr Mhuru said the programme has failed to provide guidance to partners on what support certain communities need and that to some extent, livelihood and empowerment programmes have been politicised.

He said good nutrition is the fundamental part of ensuring the needs and rights of vulnerable children are met adding that poor nutrition in early childhood can cause irreversible delays, and approximately 45% of all child deaths are related to malnutrition.

And Ms Esther Ngulube, a representative of the Catholic Medical Mission Board says vulnerable children, including children with disabilities and those without family care, are particularly at risk for child malnutrition.

Ms Ngulube said it is estimated that children with disabilities are three times as likely to be malnourished as children without disabilities, and twice as likely to die from malnutrition during childhood.

“Approximately 80% of children with disabilities have feeding difficulties, such as difficultly chewing or swallowing, which can be overcome with individual feeding support. Children without family care often lose access to the nutrition they need and to the interactions with caretakers that are critical for children’s brains to develop”, she said.

Ms Ngulube recommended that the Committee should improve availability of data on nutritional status of vulnerable children by ensuring that children with disabilities and children without family care are included in national surveillance mechanisms, and that disaggregated data is available on nutrition outcomes for these populations.

She told the Committee that this must include nutrition support for vulnerable children in relevant strategies and developing specific targets for numbers of children with disabilities and children without family care receiving nutritional support with appropriate monitoring and reporting to assess progress.

The Non Governmental Organisations, Spoon and the Catholic Medical Mission Board are partners on the safety feeding and nutrition practices project in Zambia. SPOON is a member of the CSO-SUN.

Politicians taking advantage of people’s ignorance to propagate tribalism for political mileage-Andyford

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The People’s Alliance for Change has accused politicians of taking advantage of people’s ignorance to propagate tribalism for political mileage.

Party President Andyford Banda says some politicians have run out of messages and are now targeting rural areas where they are using tribalism as a tool to de-campaign their opponents and win the voters support.

Mr Banda says the sentiments attributed to Patriotic Front Mobilisation Committee Member Bizwell Mutale in a video that has gone viral on Social media where he is quoted saying Zambia is not ready for a Tonga President is retrogressive and should be condemned in the strongest terms.

He said such sentiments have potential to cause chaos in the country and if not well managed, this kind of politics will cause more divisions among Zambians especially the future generation.

Mr Banda said it is sad that politicians have continued to divide the nation on tribal grounds ignoring the efforts that were made by First Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda to unite the nation under the “One Zambia, One Nation Motto”.

He has proposed that tribalism should be criminalised in Zambia to discourage politicians from preaching hatred among Zambians.

Mr Banda said when PAC forms Government in 2021, criminalising tribalism will be one of the things that will be prioritised in the quest to unite the nation that has been divided by those in power with the help of few opposition members.

Simaata Simaata fired as Secretary General of the opposition National Restoration Party.

Football Administrator Simaata Simaata has been fired as Secretary General of the opposition National Restoration Party.

Mr Simaata has been fired barely a month after he was appointed to the position.

It is reported that Mr Simaata has been fired because of his bad attitude which made it difficult to work with other party officials.

Mr Simaata is also reported to have created a hostile environment where he was not willing to meeting and discuss party matters with other people.

And Party spokesperson Ezra Ngulube confirmed the development and said Mr Simaata has been fired for failure to deliver.

Mr Ngulube said Mr Simaata was given targets to meet in the shortest possible time which he has failed to do.

The National Restoration Party on 20 January 2020 appointed Former City of Lusaka Football Club General Manager, Simataa Simataa as Party Secretary General.

Mr. Simataa took over the position from Ezra Ngulube who was then moved and appointed as new Deputy National Chairperson.

UPND In Precarious Position On Ballot Paper – YALI

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has exposed the shaky position by the United Party for National Development (UPND) who have objected to printing ballot papers, both in and outside Zambia.

YALI President Andrew Ntewewe who said his organisation considers the decision by Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to print ballot papers in Dubai as reasonable as Government Printers has not yet fully developed the capacity to print ballot papers, said Mr, Hichilema is on record to have opposed the printing of ballot papers locally.

“We are alive to fact that since 2017, President Lungu’s administration has constantly championed that Government Printers should be capacitated to enable it print the 2021 ballot papers. On the other hand, the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, on Wednesday, 22nd February, 2018, said the UPND opposes the decision to print ballot papers locally, claiming doing so would be a scheme by the Patriotic Front to steal votes.”

Mr Ntewewe charged that Mr. Hichilema is not showing any consistency on where they want 2021 ballot papers to be printed as the main opposition party neither want the voting materials printed outside Zambia or locally. He wondered where else outside the earth would ballot papers be printed to the satisfaction of the UPND.

In 2018, Mr. Hichilema had responded to the announcement in Parliament by Republican Vice President Inonge Wina that Government was working on measures to print 2021 ballot papers locally as a ploy by the Patriotic Front to rig elections and manipulate the next election.

Meanwhile, YALI said Zambians must support the decision by ECZ to halt the practice of spending colossal sums of money transporting observers to destinations where ballot papers are printed, saying the Commission must make the most of the little resources allocated towards preparing and management of the 2021 elections.

“We have noted that ECZ plans to overhaul the voters register by beginning registration in May, 2020 although we are not sure whether the available costs would meet this ambitious programs. Secondly, there have been constant reports that observers who go to monitor the printing of ballot papers don’t have a 24/7 physical presence at a printing facility but spending most of their time in hotel rooms or doing some other errands,” said Mr. Ntewewe.

YALI has encouraged parties who want to go observe the printing of ballot to take up the costs and advised ECZ to help these parties with administrative arrangements for such party-sponsored observers.

YALI President Andrew Ntewewe
YALI President Andrew Ntewewe