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The Zambezi River Authority has allocated 11 billion cubic meters of water to ZESCO for power generation for this year compared to 17 billion cubic meters in 2019.
ZESCO Managing Director Victor Mundende says the water allocation is subject to review depending with the availability of water that will flow into Zambezi River.
Addressing the media on a familiarisation tour of the Kariba North Bank Power station in Siavonga, Mr. Mundende is optimistic that the allocated water to the utility company will be used to generate power.
And Mr. Mundende said the poor rainfall pattern has seen a reduction of water levels in Kariba from about 13 meters to a meter for power generation.
He said the two new turbines which were installed by Sino hydro have managed to generate electricity regardless of the reduced water levels in the Kariba dam.
Mr. Mundende said only one out of the Four old turbines at Kariba dam is operating using the low water levels.
He said the water utility company’s goal is to ensure it invests in other sources of energy to mitigate the power crisis resulting from low water levels at Kariba.
The Ministry of Labour has requested the University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU) to show cause as to why their Certificate of registration must not be canceled for violating the Industrial and Labour Relations Act.
This follows unpalatable language by UNZALARU General Secretary, Kelvin Mambwe on Zambian citizens for voting for the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).
Labour Permanent Secretary Chanda Kaziya says it is disappointing that Dr. Mambwe’s statement is Not in line with section 3 of the industrial and Labour relations Act Chapter 269 and was outside the objectives of the Union, adding that the statement is insulting and politically inclined and that the comments have potential to cause anarchy in the country.
Mr. Kaziya says Dr. Mambwe’s sentiments are uncalled for and do not denote the principals of industrial relations and workers’ representation.
He told ZNBC News in an interview that the Ministry of Labour will not hesitate to invoke the law in canceling certificates of registration for Trade Unions that are not abiding by the labor laws.
Mr. Kaziya has since warned all trade unions that are contemplating to engage in activities outside their realm of trade unionism.
During a protest over delayed December Salaries, Dr. Mambwe said that if an election was to be called today, either those that are enjoying with government or idiots would vote for the PF
“As long as the University of Zambia is not properly funded, this institution will be ungovernable. And it will be a bad reflection on the government of these guys calling themselves leaders when they can’t lead at all. And if an election was to be called today, there are two categories of people that would vote for them; either those that are enjoying with them or idiots,” Dr. Mambwe said.
“It’s as simple as that. No normal person would support this nonsense. It’s not only UNZA which is struggling today we have council workers, but there is also ZNBC, there are National Museum workers who have not been paid for eight months and they want us to be the next category of people who are not being paid. We are not going to allow that. And we have told them.”
Dr Mambwe wondered why President Edgar Lungu’s salary cut had not resolved the problem of payment delays at UNZA.
“Government is a culprit. We have a government of the Patriotic Front (PF) which is not doing its role. We thought by cutting his salary, we were going to get our salaries early because, in an ideal situation, the reasons why the President decided to cut his salary and that of his colleagues was to ensure that there are sufficient funds. So we should be able to see those funds come to the University of Zambia on time,” he said.
He said the government had shifted its attention to Bill 10, “a self-preservation document and a scam to many Zambians”.
“They are focusing on Bill 10 because the interest is themselves. It’s about self-preservation. They are not concerned with your welfare. And that is the reason why they come up with some salary increment and behind the back, they get one per cent through the so-called National Insurance. It’s a useless and actually a scam. And it’s unfortunate that you employees are not actually rising up to this nonsense. Come together so that we rise against this incompetent national leadership, incompetence of leadership at different levels of the nation,” Dr Mambwe said.
“My appeal to the membership is that this solidarity that we are showing should continue. We are calling upon our members to be united so that we get what is owed to us. It’s not just about the salaries, it is about gratuities, pensions. We are eight years behind. And the guys (you know the guys that I am talking about) will soon be getting their mid-term gratuities in full without any problems on top of those Surfs which they are driving. Right now a bag of mealie-meal is costing [about] K200 and our members cannot afford to buy one especially that they have not been paid. And your fuel is costing close to US $2 [per liter], increased electricity tariffs, we are in trouble,” said Dr Mambwe.
The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has dispelled social media reports alleging that the Agency allowed Dangote cement to be sold on the market after allegedly failing to meet the required standardized tests.
ZCSA Communications Officer, Caroline Kalombe said that the Agency conducts inspections at Dangote Industries Zambia Ltd bi-annually, but that it did not conduct any inspections in December 2019 or collect any samples for testing as purported on social media.
Ms. Kalombe disclosed to ZNBC News in a statement that from the last inspection and tests that were conducted on site in August 2019, the Agency did not find evidence of substandard cement produced at the plant.
She further added that samples were then collected and sent to a laboratory in South Africa in the same month for full testing as per procedure and the results were within the required standard.
Ms. Kalombe said the Agency is mandated to ensure public health and safety and therefore, would not put the lives of Zambians at risk by allowing an unsafe product on the market.
Napsa Stars coach Mohammed Fathi says every top five team this season has gone through the same slump they are going through after losing back-to-back league games.
Napsa last Saturday lost 1-0 at home in Lusaka to fourth placed Nkana to suffer back-to-back defeats a week after losing by the same margin at Power Dynamos in Kitwe.
But Napsa still stay second tied on 31 points with leaders Zesco United who are also going through the motions after sustaining two league defeats in their last three league fixtures.
However, Green Eagles who started the season with a draw and loss are now third and a point behind Napsa .
Nkana too are on 30 after picking up steam in their last nine games following a four-match dry spell that ended in mid-October.
“I think a lack of concentration in the last five minutes cost us the game. But every team in this league, especially the ones in the top four, they have also passed through this period. Nkana started the league from naught and picked up, Zesco also has the same issue, Napsa also has the same, even Green Eagles also went through the same period,”Fathi said.
“Usually the period doesn’t take long and we should start returning to our winning ways in the next game.”
Kelvin Mubanga’s 85th minute goal also ended Napsa’s unbeaten home run this season.
“We are still in the top four but we have already qualified to the ABSA Cup, so it is a loss but not bad on the log,”Fathi said.
Next for Napsa is an interesting home Lusaka derby clash against stealthily improving Green Buffaloes who are ninth on 24 points.
Zanaco return to action this Wednesday barely 48 hours after Mumamba Numba was sacked.
The seven-time champions visit Kabwe Warriors in a rescheduled 2019/20 FAZ Super Division Week 7 match at Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu Stadium in Kabwe.
Zanaco head to Kabwe fighting to snap out of a nine competitive game winless run that cost Numba his job.
Furthermore, Numba had failed to record a single league win since September 27 when they beat last placed Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy 2-0 at home in Lusaka.
Zanaco are now slumped in the top four of the relegation zone at number 15 on 13 points from twelve games played with four matches in hand heading into Wednesdays Midlands derby against Warriors.
The match will mark the assistant coach Robin Munsaka and goalkeeper trainer Kalunga Mpunga’s first test.
The match critically comes after Sunday’s 3-1 away loss at Lusaka Dynamos in Lusaka in what was Numba’s final game in charge after five years at the helm.
But hosts Warriors are currently on a rebound with three straight victories and sit at number eight with 24 points, nine behind leaders Zesco United.
Warriors also had a great opportunity to watch Zanaco’s fall at the hands of Dynamos last Sunday at Nkoloma Stadium after playing in the late kickoff of Sunday’s doubleheader there where they beat struggling Red Arrows 1-0.
The pressure remains on Zanaco to get a result at ‘Ucar’ before Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup Group B home game this Sunday against bottom placed ESAE of Benin.
ESAE also preyed on Zanaco’s competitive form and got a 0-0 result in Porto Novo a week ago to snatch their only point in Group B and there is no saying how beneficial another loss will be a psychological boost for the West Africans.
The First lady, Mrs Esther Lungu attends class during the ongoing residential session at UNZA main Campus. Mrs. Lungu is a third year student pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education under the Institute of Distance Education (IDE).
FAZ National Division One side Chambishi have fired Coach Charles Bwale after a string of unconvincing results.
Club spokesperson Chali Katongo said Bwale has been dismissed together with his assistants Siren Phiri and Christian Mpoyi.
Chambishi at the weekended posted their ninth draw of the season when forcing a 1-1 home draw against Kafue Celtic.
It is the second time in less than twelve months that ex-Zambia Under-20 coach Bwale has been shown the door after Green Buffaloes sacked him last March after he won just one out of his opening six games of the 2019 FAZ Super Division transitional season.
“We have parted ways with our head coach Charles Bwale and his two assistants Siren Phiri and Christian Mpoyi,” Katongo announced on Tuesday morning.
The club hired Bwale at the start of the current 2019/20 season.
Chambishi are seventh on the table with 24 points from 16 matches played.
“We have not been doing too well in the last eight matches. We agreed that by the end of ten games we were supposed to be in the top three,” Katongo said.
Chambishi have since appointed Dennis Njapau has interim coach.
“We have brought in an interim coach by the name of Dennis Njapau. Njapau is not new to the Chambishi community. We hope to win the remaining matches,” Katongo said.
This is the third time Njapau “Easy Man” is coaching Chambishi.
“As the executive we want to see Chambishi come in the Super Division,” he said.
Nairobi-based financial services provider Octagon Africa has completed the purchase of a 49 per cent shareholding in Alexander Forbes Financial Services Zambia.
This follows an announcement on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange News Service (SENS) by Alexander Forbes Group Holdings to review its strategic business and operating model in March this year.
The refocused strategy has seen the South African-based retirement services provider exit countries such as Uganda and Zambia.
It has also disposed of some of its businesses such as property and casualty unit in South Africa.
Alexander Forbes Emerging Markets Chief Executive Officer Bonga Mokoena described Octagon Africa as “the best fit for our business” and projected a seamless transition.
“As a result of our new strategy of offering a centralized advice-led solution platform in Africa, we have decided to exit some in-country operations, including Zambia,” said Mr Mokoena.
“We are glad that Octagon Africa is the best fit for our business, and we are confident of a seamless transition and our clients can be assured of excellent service as always.”
Octagon Africa Group Chief Executive Fred Waswa welcomed the buyout, terming it historic.
“Octagon Africa is delighted to mark such a historic moment in our business by buying out Alexander Forbes business in Zambia and also being the official service provider for their clients in this market. We take pride in excellent service delivery and offering innovative solutions that meet our clients’ needs,” said Waswa.
Besides providing financial services, Octagon also runs training programs for retirement benefits schemes.
Mr. Waswa said the investment is the culmination of a collaboration with the Johannesburg-listed firm, which started with the Kenyan company opening its representative office in Lusaka last February.
“We have had a team there (Lusaka) familiarising our Zambia team with our company culture while creating a new learning platform that will guide the formulation of future products for our various markets,” he said.
Mr Waswa, however, declined to disclose the value of the deal, saying they had signed a non-disclosure agreement on the investment amount.
“We believe the deal gives Octagon new space to serve the over 40,000 members in Zambia,” he said.
Alexander Forbes Emerging Markets chief executive Bonga Mokoena said their decision to dispose of the business was based on their board’s decision to concentrate on an advice-led solution platform.
“We decided to exit some in-country operations including Zambia where Octagon Africa is the best fit for our business and are confident that our clients are assured of excellent service as always,” he said.
Octagon has been operational for the past 12 years serving 200 corporate clients in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.
Octagon Africa, which is majority-owned by Mr Waswa with 70 employees at its Kenya, Uganda and Zambia businesses, recently introduced a mass-market mobile phone-based retirement savings product dubbed Mobikeza for the Kenyan market.
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) and Bus and Taxi Owners Association of Zambia (BTOAZ) have resolved to increase bus fares. The increase follows a consultative meeting held today in Lusaka were bus operators requested to vary their current Road Service Licences (RSL) by making adjustments to bus fares as stipulated under the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002.
The desired increase has been effected after approval by all concerned stakeholders including the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
According to the statement released to the media by RTSA’s head of public relations Fredrick Mubanga, the move is in line with the conditions under which the Road Service Licences (RSL) are granted.
According to subsection 12 (d) of Section 108 of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002 underscores that a person applying for a road service licence, and a holder of such a licence applying for its variation, shall submit to the Director the rate of fares of the proposed services.
Therefore, following the said meeting, bus fares have been increased effective 7th January 2020 as follows:
(i) All long distance (Intercity) routes by 13 per cent;
(ii) Inter mine Copperbelt routes by K2.00;
(iii) Copperbelt local routes by K1.00;
(iv) Lusaka local routes by K2.00; and
(v) Lusaka Peri–Urban routes by K2.00.
The decision was arrived at following the increase in the fuel pump prices by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) on 27th December 2019.
In December, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) increased the fuel pump price by K1.64 per litre after what they described as wide consultations. ERB said that the decision to hike fuel prices was arrived at after wide and intense consultations from stakeholders.
ERB Executive Director Langiwe Lungu said that the authority through its board made a decision to increase the pump prices for fuel with the cost of petrol.
Ms. Lungu said the ERB board looked at both local and international factors that surround the procurement of fuel.
Ndola Teaching Hospital doctors operating on a patient
Following the governments decision to cut salaries for highly paid government officials,parastatal executives and non unionized public workers, there has been growing anxiety in the medical profession considering doctors are non unionized workers.
Some doctors have threatened to down tools if their salaries are cut.
On the 27th December, President Edgar Lungu announced a reduction of his salary and that of his cabinet between a range of 15 and 20 percent; a move that came barely 24 hours after the Energy Regulation Board announced a hike in both electrify tariffs and fuel prices.
The President has also directed the Secretary to Cabinet Dr. Simon Miti to cascade the directive to all Non Unionised Public Officers of which category doctors belong.
The slashing of salaries of highly paid officers in both the government and the parastatal sector is aimed at cushioning the impact on citizens arising from the increase of fuel prices and electricity tariffs announced yesterday by the ERB.
Doctors argue that they do not fall in the highly paid categories but middle or lower brackets.
The PF government has found itself cash strapped as Zambia’s external debt has continued to climb with the government continuing to spend on building programs despite warnings from the International Monetary Fund and ratings companies that the burden is becoming excessive.
Zambia’s debt exceeded 75 percent of gross domestic product last year, from around 62 percent in 2017, an analyst at Moody said in a statement.
Confusion is brewing at the Lusaka Provincial Administration which has seen two senior officers occupying one position after Provincial Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga caused fraudulent transfers.
Peter Chilambwe and Ng’ambi Infwa both Assistant Secretaries are now working in the same office after the Public Service Management Division reversed the transfers that were initiated by Mr Kamanga.
Sources at PSMD have revealed that in November last year, Mr Kamanga transferred Mr Chilambwe from Lusaka to Ndola and replaced him with Mr Ng’ambi.
However, procedure in the transfers was not followed which led to PSMD Permanent Secretary Boniface Chimbwali reversing the transfers late in November.
“By this time both Peter and Ng’ambi had settled in their new positions and in the case of Ng’ambi, P.S Kamanga immediately paid him his Conveyance Allowance. So when Mr Chimbwali got hold of the information, he summoned Mr Kamanga to his office but he kept dodging him,” the sources explained.
The sources revealed that when the anomaly was detected and as guarded by PSMD, Ndola immediately effected the reveal but Lusaka has been reluctant to obey the instruction from Me Chimbwali.
They added, “What we have is a situation where P.S Kamanga is causing a lot of confusion at Lusaka Provincial office. Even when Mr Chimbwali wrote to him instructing him to reverse the transfers, he opted to ignore the letter and now we have two officers for one position at Lusaka whole Copperbelt is not manned.
They added that the fraudulent transfers that Mr Kamanga has been issuing are meant to punish officers seen to be close to Provincial Minister Bowman Lusambo.
“The truth is that Mr. Kamanga and the Minister do not see eye to eye. This started when they worked together in Ndola and it has continued even here in Lusaka but it is now causing confusion as junior officers are getting intimidated and frustrated by Mr Kamanga for being close to the Minister,” they said.
The sources wondered why Mr Kamanga has been allowed to show insolence and insubordination to the office of the Provincial Minister in so many cases.
They added that even Mr Kamanga’s performance assessment since assuming his position as Lusaka P.S has been below par.
“We know that he has scored poorly on the Performance Based Contract scoring grade. Since President Edgar Lungu insists that contract renewals will be based on performance, we challenge him to show cause why Mr. Kamanga’s contact should be renewed.
They added, “Mr Kamanga has failed to get a hold of his office. He is usually absent from his office and has failed to support adequately the office of the Minister, so there is total confusion at the office,” they said.
When contacted to comment on the accusations, Mr Kamanga said he does not discuss terms of his contract with third parties.
On transfers, he referred all questions to PSMD saying they are the appropriate authority to discuss matters affecting civil servants.
President Edgar Lungu has gone on a four-day annual retreat to Eastern Province. The retreat is with effect from today, Tuesday, January 7, 2020.
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe has also revealed that President Lungu spent last weekend and part of yesterday in Kawambwa, Luapula Province where he commissioned the Sunbird Bioenergy Zambia Cassava Outgrower Scheme.
During the function, President Lungu told the gathering that had thronged the Cassava Plantation to participate in the Outgrower Scheme, to ensure that they generate income for themselves.
The President later flew from Mansa to Eastern Province yesterday were he is expected to take part in the annual retreat.
This is contained in a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka.
FILE: President Lungu with Zesco managing Director Victor Mundende and Energy Minister Dora Siliya
Prime TV Reporter reported behind the story Njenje Chizu has now accused ZESCO Managing Director Victor Mundende and his two officials of trying to bribe him to retract the story blaming the Government for load shedding and not climate change.
Appearing on Prime TV, Mr. Chizu said that he stood by his story and he was amazed at how officials from ZESCO trying to deny his own story and instead accuse “some people” of having created the video.
Mr Chizu further said that the two officials from ZESCO offered him a job at ZESCO in a town of his own choice either Lusaka or the Copperbelt in exchange of him admitting that the story was doctored.
Mr. Chizu also said that when he met Mr. Mundende in his office, the ZESCO MD threatened that he should aim at reporting issues to make peace and not stories which will make him watch his back.
Mr Chizu said that he recorded all the conversations and gave it to ZESCO officials in case anything should happen to him.
Appearing on the same Prime TV Program, Analyst Mark Simuwe said that there was corruption for a cover-up by the persons who made him a job offer and that the two ZESCO officials can be dragged to court, adding that with recordings, the reporter has what he described as a good case
An unidentified man threatened to commit suicide by climbing a telecommunications mast.
The incident occurred on in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital in the north-eastern part of the country.
According to eyewitnesses, the man was seen approaching the mast with chains around his waist without knowing that he had the intention of climbing the mast.
Speaking to Channels Television, two persons – Mohammed Aminu and Suleiman Musa – explained that they suddenly discovered that the man was already at the peak of the mast.
They added that he started shouting and throwing down papers with a short message entitled ‘To Whom It May Concern’.
“I did not know when he climbed the mast; I’m the guardsman here,” said Aminu who added, “This is the first of its kind.”
“He was throwing down some papers which were picked by some persons,” the guardsman narrated.
The man, however, made a demand that he would only terminate the suicide mission if the founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet T.B. Joshua, intervened in his case.
The inscription on one of the papers read, ”People of God, I need your prayer for my safety. As Zacchaeus climbed the sycamore tree to see Jesus Christ out of the crowd, fortunately, he got his salvation from God.
“After so many revelations about SCOAN, I am not coming down from this place until prophet T.B. Joshua asks me to come down. This is my last hope even if it is the last thing that I will achieve in life, so be it.
“Please and please prophet of God, help and deliver me for God’s sake.”
Meanwhile, security operatives arrived at the scene in an attempt to bring the man down in the dark without any iota of light.
This strategy, according to the team, was to avoid suspicion by the victim and prevent him from jumping off the mast.
