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US Supreme Court Rules Trump Can Remain On Presidential Ballot

The US Supreme Court has struck down efforts by individual states to bar Donald Trump from running as a presidential candidate for November’s election.

Justices unanimously overruled Colorado’s decision to disqualify Trump from the Republican primary ballot.

Judges in the state had cited an anti-insurrection clause in the US Constitution to ban Trump; similar attempts have been made in Illinois and Maine.

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment bans anyone who has “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” from office.

The Colorado ruling pointed to Trump’s actions around the 6 January attack on the Capitol by his supporters.

But in their decision announced on Monday morning, justices ruled that only Congress has the power to enforce the provision, not states.

Republican voters in Colorado and more than a dozen other states will go to the polls on Tuesday to pick the party’s presidential nominee.

BBC

Dog meat lands 34 year old Nchelenge man in jail

The Magistrate Court in Nchelenge has sentenced a 34 year old man to 30 months in prison with hard labour for selling dog meat to unsuspecting residents.

Titus Malama of Kabulo village in Chief Kabwali in Nchelenge district was arrested for selling dog meat on the pretext that it was goat meat.

Nchelenge Resident Magistrate Luckson Mbewe convicted Malama after he pleaded guilty to deception in selling of food contrary to section 10 and 62 of the food safety Act No.7 of 2019.

Particulars of the offence were that Malama on 20 February, 2024 in Nchelenge District, did sell or advertise food namely dog meat in a manner that was false, misleading or deceptive as regards in character, nature, value, substance quality, composition, merit or safety.

Upon being found guilty of the charge, Malama in mitigation did plead to the court for forgiveness saying he was remorseful for his actions and stated that he would never commit a similar offence again.

And in passing judgement, Magistrate Mbewe said the convict was entitled to leniency as he was a first offender.

He, however, noted that for Mbewe to learn a lesson and to deter would-be offenders, he was being slapped with a custodial sentence of 30 months imprisonment with hard labour.

It is sad that UPND does not want to listen to us – PF

Former Government Chief Whip and ex-Member of Parliament for Luanshya, Steve Chungu, has voiced concerns over the trajectory of mealie meal prices, attributing the upward trend to what he perceives as poor economic planning by the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) government.

In a telephone interview, Mr. Chungu lamented what he described as the UPND government’s reluctance to heed advice from other political parties regarding national economic management.

“It is regrettable that the UPND government seems unwilling to listen to advice from various political players on how to effectively steer the country,” Mr. Chungu stated.

Highlighting what he views as a fundamental flaw in the UPND’s approach, Mr. Chungu emphasized the detrimental effects of short-term economic planning on the well-being of Zambians.

“The country’s economy cannot be effectively managed through short-term measures. Zambians are bearing the brunt of the UPND government’s inadequate planning,” he remarked.

Despite his criticisms, Mr. Chungu urged opposition parties to persist in offering constructive advice to the UPND administration regarding governance and economic policy.

Mr. Chungu specifically criticized the UPND’s handling of maize reserves, noting with concern their decision to sell off a significant portion of the national stockpile. He also raised issues with the timing of fertilizer distribution in regions like Luapula Province, which he argued received supplies belatedly despite favorable rainfall patterns.

“It is unfortunate that the UPND government’s policies, such as the late distribution of fertilizer in regions with adequate rainfall, do not serve the best interests of Zambians,” Mr. Chungu remarked.

World Bank Pledges Support for Drought-Hit Farmers in Zambia

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In response to the devastating drought gripping Zambia and threatening the livelihoods of countless farmers, the World Bank has announced its commitment to mobilize resources to aid those affected. Speaking from Livingstone, World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, Victoria Kwakwa, assured Zambian communities of assistance during these challenging times.

Victoria Kwakwa affirmed that the World Bank will not only extend support to farmers who have lost their crops but also provide social protection to households to alleviate the burden of food scarcity. Collaborating closely with the Zambian government, the Bank is actively crafting short-term measures aimed at alleviating the suffering of families hit hardest by the drought.

While addressing the immediate crisis is crucial, Dr. Kwakwa emphasized the importance of long-term strategies to build resilience against future climate-related challenges. She advocated for the development of climate-smart agricultural practices, highlighting the centrality of irrigation and modern farming techniques in ensuring food security amidst erratic rainfall patterns.

Furthermore, Dr. Kwakwa urged Zambia and Zimbabwe to harness the potential of their shared natural wonder, the Victoria Falls, to bolster the tourism sector and stimulate economic growth. She underscored the need for sustainable development of Zambia’s tourism assets, emphasizing their capacity to drive economic transformation and generate employment opportunities.

In response to Dr. Kwakwa’s remarks, Zambia’s Tourism Minister, Rodney Sikumba, revealed that the country had welcomed nearly 1.4 million international tourists in 2023, slightly below the targeted figure of 1.5 million. Despite this, Minister Sikumba expressed optimism, stating that the government has implemented strategic measures to attract two million international visitors in the current year.

As Zambia grapples with the dual challenges of drought and economic recovery, the collaborative efforts of the World Bank and the Zambian government offer a glimmer of hope for vulnerable communities and underscore the importance of sustainable development in building resilience against climate-related shocks.

Policy Failure caused Zambia’s Food Crisis

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By Bernadette Mwansa Mushinge and Grieve Chelwa

This past Thursday, president Hakainde Hichilema addressed the nation and declared a National Disaster in light of a prolonged dry spell that will affect this year’s agriculture output, especially that of maize which is Zambia’s staple food. In his address, the president appealed for help “calling upon [Zambia’s] partners, local and international, to avail food and other support that they may have, in order to provide the needed relief.” This is the first time in a long time that the country has declared a national disaster related to food leaving many to wonder what might have gone wrong.

To be sure, president Hichilema is correct in his assertion that the El Niño-induced dry spell will greatly affect this year’s maize production. But where he is wrong is in asserting that the dry spell alone explains the hunger crisis that the country will face this year. As we show below, the looming hunger crisis, which sparked last Thursday’s desperate plea for help, was caused by policy failure on the part of the Zambian government whose chief executive is Hichilema himself.

The story of Zambia’s maize production over the last 20 years or so has been nothing short of a miracle. Between 2001 and 2021, the country more than tripled its maize output. According to data from Zambia’s Ministry of Agriculture as reported by FAOSTAT, total maize production in 2001 stood at just under 1 million metric tonnes (MT). By 2021, that number had grown to 3.62 million MT making that year’s output the biggest in the country’s history. As is always the case, miracles of this scale (just like disasters) have much to do with government policy. In 2002, the Zambian government, then under the leadership of Levy Mwanawasa, introduced the Farm Input Support Programme (FISP) that was to provide large-scale subsidized farm inputs mainly to peasant farmers. It is FISP that explains Zambia’s maize miracle. It is FISP that has guaranteed Zambia’s food security in spite of droughts in the intervening years. (Incidentally, and unsurprisingly, the IMF has consistently tried to place FISP on the chopping block. They may very well succeed).

It is this record breaking maize harvest of 2021 that Hichilema’s government inherited after winning the August 2021 presidential elections. In addition, the new government inherited maize stock of 841,000 MT that was brought forward from the previous year (2020) as surplus. Therefore, the total maize supply in the year Hichilema won his first election was 4.5 million MT (the total of 3.62 million MT and 841,000 MT)! This was more than sufficient for 2021’s consumption given that total consumption (including animal feed and exports) was estimated at 3 million MT, leaving a record surplus of 1.5 million MT to be brought forward into 2022 (the following year).

Immediately, Hichilema’s government began to eye 2021’s surplus as a potential source of export revenues, likely urged on by the likes of the IMF who encouraged government to “take advantage of market opportunities presented by neighbouring countries”. The new government then began to make policy changes that would increase Zambia’s maize exports. In their first budget speech delivered in October 2021, barely two months into their administration, the new Minister of Finance scrapped the 10% tax on maize exports that had been in effect since 2017, a tax that likely prevented a hunger crisis in 2019 given that year’s drought. Parallel to this was a huge public relations effort whose objective was to justify the new policy of encouraging an increase in maize exports (Zambian TikTok user @rooney0303 in a video that has gone viral has compiled some of the statements from various government ministers that were given to justify the policy).

Unsurprisingly, this new policy substantially increased maize exports. Data compiled from the Ministry of Agriculture/Zambia Statistics Agency shows that the volume of maize exports increased by at least 75% from 2021 to 2022! Data from the Bank of Zambia shows the monetary value of maize export earnings increased from US$49 million in 2021 to US$109 million in 2022, an increase of 122% in a single year!

Much of Zambia’s maize is exported to countries in the region. One such country is Kenya where data from the Kenya Bureau of Statistics shows that maize imports from Zambia increased in value by a whopping 371% in 2022, another incredible number in a single year. (These patterns were likely repeated in other destination countries (DR Congo, Tanzania, etc…) where data is not readily available as is the case with Kenya).

The scale of the policy failure becomes even more evident when one considers that this unprecedented increase in maize exports took place in a year when the country registered one of the biggest declines in maize production. As earlier stated, 2021 registered record production of 3.62 million MT. But in 2022 production dropped by close to a million metric tonnes to 2.7 million MT on the back of poor rainfall and the haphazard handling of fertilizer distribution in the 2021/22 farming season, a farming season presided over by Hichilema’s new government.

Huge exports on the one hand and declining production on the other bequeathed to 2023 a smaller surplus than was bequeathed to 2022. We do not as yet have a complete statistical picture of what took place in 2023 but it is quite clear from statements made by government officials that maize exports might have continued unabated in that year as well.

The sum total of the evidence presented here paints a picture of policy failure as being at the heart of the food disaster declared by the president last Thursday. El Niño has made dire what was already a bad situation.

Bernadette Mwansa Mushinge is an independent researcher with an MSc in Agricultural Sciences from Stellenbosch University. She can be reached at [email protected].

Grieve Chelwa is Associate Professor of Political Economy at The Africa Institute and non-resident Senior Fellow at Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research.

Forestry Institute of Zambia Calls for Action Amidst Anticipated Energy Deficit

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As Zambia grapples with unusual weather patterns this year, the Forestry Institute of Zambia has sounded the alarm on the potential environmental repercussions of an anticipated energy deficit. The Institute warns that the expected shortfall in power generation and electricity supply could lead to increased reliance on wood fuels, exacerbating forest degradation and deforestation across the country.

Energy plays a crucial role in the daily lives of Zambians and people worldwide. However, the current weather conditions are projected to impact power generation, prompting concerns about a surge in demand for firewood and charcoal, particularly in rural and urban areas. This heightened demand poses a significant threat to Zambia’s forests, leading to ecological disturbances and environmental degradation.

Despite these challenges, there exists an opportunity to promote awareness and adoption of alternative energy sources such as liquefied petroleum gas, solar energy, and wind energy. The Forestry Institute emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts among stakeholders to advocate for the widespread adoption of sustainable energy solutions.

In light of the potential for load shedding, citizens are urged to prepare accordingly. Additionally, the Institute calls upon relevant authorities to implement proactive measures to mitigate the impact of the energy deficit on the nation’s energy sector.

Addressing the looming threat of increased demand for charcoal and firewood, the Forestry Institute urges the government, through the Forestry Department in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, to strengthen operations at checkpoints. Only products accompanied by proper documentation, including production and conveyancing licenses, should be allowed for sale. Those found engaging in illegal activities must face prosecution.

Chaliafya Katungula, Secretary-General of the Forestry Institute of Zambia, emphasized the importance of collective action and responsible stewardship in addressing the environmental challenges associated with the anticipated energy deficit. By working together and prioritizing sustainable energy solutions, Zambia can mitigate the adverse effects on its forests and safeguard the environment for future generations.

Driver Detained as Police Investigate Arson Case of Fuel Tanker in Nyimba District

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Police in Nyimba District, Eastern Province, have detained the driver of a fuel tanker that was engulfed in flames in the Kacholola area along the Great East Road. The tanker was carrying a load of 44,000 litres of petrol valued at K1.4 million.

According to Limpo Liywalii, the Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer, authorities are treating the incident as a case of arson. The detained driver has been held to aid in the ongoing investigation.

Mr.Liywalii stated that preliminary suspicions suggest the fire was deliberately started following an act of fuel theft.

The incident unfolded around 1:00 PM on Tuesday involving a fuel tanker with the registration numbers BCF 8622 and BCC 3176T, both belonging to Khalif Motors.

Police authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the arson and to determine if there are any other individuals involved in the incident.

The Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer has assured the public that the authorities are committed to bringing those responsible to justice. Further updates on the investigation are expected to be provided as the inquiry progresses.

Message For Today: 20/20 Vision

Today’s Scripture

Moses was 120 years old when he died; his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated.
Deuteronomy 34:7, AMPC

20/20 Vision

Friend, when Moses was at the end of his life, the Scripture says that his natural eyesight was not dim, but consider this as also symbolic. His eyes of faith, the eyes of his heart, were still clear, still looking for God’s goodness and full of expectancy. At 120 years old, he had 20/20 vision of the awesome God who came to him at the age of eighty and said it was time to deliver the Israelites. Forty years after Moses had made a tragic mistake that seemingly caused him to miss God’s plan, he went on to part the Red Sea, to bring water out of a rock, and to see many other supernatural signs.

If Moses were here, he would tell you that God’s favor is not for a season; it’s for your lifetime. You haven’t made too many mistakes, the obstacles are not too big, and God’s still going to bring to pass what He promised you. Now start expecting His favor. He’s longing to be good to you, but you have to be looking for His goodness.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You are working out Your plan for my life in Your best way. Thank You that Your favor is for my lifetime, not just a season, and that Your favor supersedes my mistakes. I declare that my eyes are fixed on You and I am looking for Your goodness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Joel Osteen Ministries

Three Branches of Government: Myth or Reality?

By Henry Kyambalesa

By and large, sovereign nations-states worldwide claim to be governed through three ‘independent’ organs or branches of government—that is, the law-making or legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch. This, in the words of Farese, Kimbrell and Woloszyk (2009:125), “provides a system of checks and balances that prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.”

1. The legislative branch of government in any given democratic country is generally composed of elected members. In some
democracies, the executive President or Prime Minister is permitted to nominate a small number of citizens to join the legislative branch.In this respect, it would be advisable for a country’s executive president or prime minister to fill Cabinet-level positions with individuals who are not elected Members of Parliament in order to provide for greater independence of the legislative and executive organs of government.

Besides, such a move can provide the executive president or prime minister with a larger pool of competent citizens from which he or she can constitute the Cabinet, afford aspirants for the top position in the executive branch enough time to identify potential ministerial appointees well before elections rather than waiting for elections of lawmakers to be concluded, as well as reduce the work overload on government officials who have to handle both ministerial and legislative functions.

2. The executive branch is essentially headed by an elected executive president or prime minister. (Note: Some countries’ constitutions provide for the executive president or prime minister to fill positions in his or her Cabinet with elected members of the legislative branch of government.)

3. The judicial branch is typically headed by an individual who is nominated by the executive president or prime minister, and who is ordinarily confirmed by members of the legislative branch of government. Besides, the individual serves as a member of the executive president’s or prime minister’s cabinet. As such, the judicial branch is clearly not an ‘independent’ organ of government.

In the United States, for example, the fallacious and questionable ‘independence’ of the head of the judicial branch of the Federal government has been questioned by Gambino (2019) in the following words: “William Barr: Is His Defense of Trump Paving the ‘Road to Tyranny’?”

Besides, the mythical ‘independence’ of the judicial branch of the Federal government in the country was somewhat bemoaned by the late U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings in April 2019, and by former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in the following words (CBS News, 2019 and Hains,2019):“Mr. [William] Barr is acting as the defense counsel for the president of the United States … [when] he’s supposed to be our lawyer, the people’s lawyer.”

And

“Attorney General [William] Barr’s regrettably partisan handling of the Mueller report … [has] resulted in a crisis of confidence in his independence and impartiality.”The use of the words “your Justice Department” and “my Justice Department” in the following statements by George Stephanopoulos of ABC News and Beto O’Rourke, one of several Democratic Party presidential candidates, respectively, clearly demonstrate the fact that the judicial branch in the United States—and in all professed
democratic countries worldwide as a matter of fact—is not ‘independent’ from the executive branch of government (ABC News,
2019):

Stephanopoulos:

“If … you win, if you become president in 2020, would you want your Justice Department to pursue charges against President
Trump?”

O’Rourke:

“I would want my Justice Department … to follow the facts and the truth and to make sure at the end of the day that there is
accountability and justice without [which] … American Democracy comes to a close.”The following excerpt provides another obvious example of the potential for legislative and/or executive branches of a country’s national government to have undue influence on judicial decisions and the composition and operations of the judiciary (Democracy Now, 2020):

“Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republican senators [are reported as having been] … privately contacting
conservative federal judges to urge them to retire, so they can be replaced [by other conservative judges] while Republicans still control the Senate and Trump is in the White House.”

Representative Pramila Jayapal, a U.S. Democratic Party member representing the State of Washington in the U.S. Congress is quoted by
Shortell and Herb (2020) as having taunted William P. Barr, then U.S.Attorney General, during a Congressional hearing in the following words:

“There is a real discrepancy in how you react as the Attorney General, the top cop in this country, when white men with swastikas storm a government building with guns, there is no need for the President to ‘activate’ you, because they’re getting the President’s personal agenda done … [but] when Black people, and people of color protest police brutality, systemic racism and the President’s very own lack of response to those critical issues, then you forcibly remove them with armed federal officers, pepper bombs, because they are considered terrorists by the President.”

There is clearly a need for national leaders worldwide to seriously consider the prospect of subjecting prospective heads of the judicial branch of government to a popular vote by the citizenry in order to make elected heads accountable to the people, make them less vulnerable to the influences of politicians and ideologues, and make them ‘truly’ independent from the whims of the head of the executive branch.

And a country’s Supreme Court Justices, as well as special counsels,would ultimately need to be nominated or appointed by the elected head of the judicial branch and confirmed by the national legislative branch of government in order for them to be ‘independent’ and ‘impartial’ in the dispensation of justice. The term of office of the elected head of the judicial branch should be analogous to that of the executive president or prime minister, and that of members of the legislative branch of the national government.

In the United States, for example, most States (at least 40 out of the country’s 50 States) elect their Attorneys General. And most municipalities in the country elect their Sheriffs. The country’s Attorney General, as noted earlier, is appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

One wonders why the U.S. Congress and all other legislative organs of democratic governments worldwide cannot consider the prospect of subjecting aspirants for the position of Attorney General to a popular vote by the electorate!

Bibliography
CBS News, “Transcript: Rep. Elijah Cummings on ‘Face the Nation’,”
https://www.cbsnews.com/ , April 21, 2019.
Democracy Now, “Mitch McConnell Urging Conservative Judges to Retire While GOP Still Holds Senate & Presidency,”
https://www.democracynow.org/ , March 17, 2020.
Farese, Lois S., Kimbrell, Grady and Woloszyk, Carl A., Marketing Essentials (Woodland Hills, CA: Glencoe / McGraw-Hill, 2009).
Gambino, Lauren, “William Barr: Is His Defense of Trump Paving the ‘Road to Tyranny’?” The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/ , May 4, 2019.
Kyambalesa, Henry, The Size and Functions of Government (Lambert Academic Publishing, 2022), pp. 353–357.

Pelosi, Nancy and Schumer, Chuck, quoted in Hains, Tim, “Attorney General Bill Barr Press Conference on Final Mueller Report,” Real Clear Politics:https://www.realclearpolitics.com/ , April 18, 2019.

(The “Mueller Report” was the final report of a U.S. counterintelligence investigation of the alleged Russian government’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.)
Shortell, David and Herb, Jeremy, “Barr Clashes with Democrats over Policing and Roger Stone Sentencing at Fiery Hill Hearing,” CNN:https://www.cnn.com/ , July 28, 2020.
Stephanopoulos, George and O’Rourke, Beto, quoted by ABC News,
“‘This Week’ Transcript 6-9-19: Beto O’Rourke,”
https://abcnews.go.com/ ,

Repression,Lies ,Electoral Fraud And Bribery Won’t Save Hichilema

It’s not only the food shortage emergency Zambia is today facing.
Zambia is also facing a very serious emergency of governance deficiency. And both need emergency measures.
History has shown that when a ruling clique has lost public confidence, trust, and respect, it automatically resorts to repression, lies, and electoral fraud to preserve its hold on power.

In this case, Mr Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND know that their political fortunes have rapidly dwindled. They know that they have lost popularity and control over the masses. They know that the people are not with them.
They’ve seen that the people are frustrated, hungry and angry with them because they’ve failed to make this country better and different.

In truth, the UPND is not genuinely winning any by-elections. They are simply involved in crass electoral bribery and fraud. They’re buying votes from the poor people of this country. Today, we have cabinet ministers whose only discernible preoccupation is to move from one by-election campaign to another, distributing money, foodstuffs, and other materials. They have literally stopped performing their ministerial duties and have become full-time by-election campaigners and distributors of food and money. District commissioners are also part of these campaigns and are using government motor vehicles with registration plates removed. Why?

Mr Hichilema is in a very serious crisis. His leadership has completely failed. And fraudulent by-election victories won’t save him and his league from the impending political armageddon. They can cheat themselves and their supporters with these fraudulent victories but time is coming when they will be so ashamed of their senseless actions.
In fact, this is the worst form of political self-deception any leader or political party can subject themselves to. It’s a fruitless expedition with a predictable outcome. The PF tried it, and the result was disastrous.
Why can’t Mr Hichilema and the UPND learn from what happened to the PF not so long ago? Are they blinded with power so soon? Time will tell.

Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party

Police Bust Fake Mealie Meal Scam in Lusaka’s Kamwala South Area

Police in Lusaka uncovered a scam involving the production and sale of counterfeit mealie meal in the Kamwala South area.

Acting on a tip-off from concerned members of the public, officers raided a house near Kamwala South Market around 09:30 hours on Saturday where they discovered a sophisticated operation producing fake mealie meal. The perpetrators had been repackaging maize bran into labeled 25 Kg mealie meal bags, masquerading it as genuine product.

A total of 650 bags of fake 25 Kg mealie meal, labeled as “Good Milling,” were seized during the raid. Additionally, two individuals were apprehended at the scene under suspicion of involvement in the scam. These individuals claimed to be buyers, while the actual owners of the house managed to flee the scene before police arrival. A manhunt has since been launched to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

According to initial investigations, the two arrested suspects had paid K105,000 for the counterfeit bags of mealie meal, which were destined for Sinazongwe District in Southern Province. Inside the raided house, police discovered bags of maize bran, further substantiating the fraudulent activity.

The detained suspects are currently in police custody, where investigations into the elaborate scam are ongoing. Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Danny Mwale, confirmed that heightened efforts are being made to unravel the extent of the operation and bring all perpetrators to justice.

Authorities are urging members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police to ensure the safety and integrity of food products in the market.

When Was The Last Time You Tasted Amashola

Just seeing “Amashola” evokes a sense of nostalgia in many Zambians. It’s a reminder of their childhood and their time growing up.
Amashola was a snack that many Zambians ate when growing up. Making Amashola was a great adventure for children of those days because it was usually made when parents were not at home. In those days most parents saw Amashola as wasting food and so they discouraged children from making it and parents usually locked away some of the ingredients to prevent children from getting to them. Children would have to be crafty in order to make it and they usually took advantage of the times when parents were away and usually one of the children would be assigned the role of a lookout to alert others when parents are coming.

The main ingredients for making Mashola are: Mealie meal, water, salt, sugar and cooking oil.

The process of making it starts with mixing mealie meal with some water in order to insure that the mealie meal is wet. Then you put the mixture in a pan and put the pan on a heat source like a stove or brazier. The next thing is to stir the mixture and add some cooking oil in order for it to fry properly. You can then add a little bit of salt and a little bit of sugar. As the mixture begins to fry you should continue to stir so that it doesn’t stick to the pan. Let the mixture fry until it turns slightly brownish. Once this happens then the Amashola is ready for eating.

Try it and revisit some of those interesting memories of your childhood.

By Zambian Footprints

Kabwe Women to Benefit from K100,000 Soft Loans Empowerment Program

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In a bid to tackle poverty and empower vulnerable women in Kabwe District, the government has allocated K100,000 for the disbursement of soft loans under the Village Bank Social Protection Programme.

According to Annie Siame, the Kabwe District Community Development Officer, the soft loans are intended to support women engaged in viable businesses and will range from K500 to K2,500 per individual beneficiary. Siame emphasized that the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services is dedicated to uplifting households from poverty through various social protection initiatives.

The selection process for beneficiaries has already commenced, with the aim of improving the socio-economic welfare of citizens in the district. Siame stressed the importance of timely repayment of the loans by beneficiaries to ensure the sustainability of the program and enable more individuals to benefit from similar initiatives in the future.

Beneficiaries who repay their loans within the specified timeframe will be eligible for subsequent loans, further enhancing their economic prospects and self-reliance. The ongoing implementation of social protection programs in Kabwe District underscores the government’s commitment to alleviating the plight of vulnerable segments of society.

President Hakainde Hichilema reaffirmed the government’s dedication to supporting vulnerable citizens during his recent national address on the drought situation affecting the country. Through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, efforts will be intensified to provide assistance to those in need, aligning with the broader objective of poverty alleviation and social empowerment.

The empowerment program reflects a concerted effort by the government to address socio-economic challenges at the grassroots level, ultimately contributing to the overall development and well-being of communities in Kabwe District.

Nkana Rise Out of D-Zone, Power Win

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Things are looking bright at record 13-time Zambian champions Nkana who moved out of the relegation zone for the first time this season following a 2-1 away win over bottom-paced Trident in Solwezi.

Nkana jumped three places out of the bottom four relegation zone to sit at the trap door at number 14 after stretching their unbeaten run to three straight matches with two wins and a draw.

Jacob Ngulube put Nkana ahead in the 38th minute, and Austin Banda added the second in the 56th minute to see them move to 26 points from 23 matches played.

Peter Musukuma scored newcomers Tridents’ goal in the 85th minute as their survival battle in their debut season continues to look bleak.

Nkana has thirteen league games left to save their souls.

Meanwhile, at the top end of the log on the same day, Red Arrows opened a three-point lead at the summit of the 2023/2024 FAZ Super League log after beating Napsa Stars at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.

One goal settled the contest in this Lusaka derby when Ackim Mumba scored in the 6th minute.

Arrows win final saw Arrows put some distance between them and second-placed Zesco United who had been trailing the two-time champions by a point since the season resumed a fortnight ago after the month-long 2023 AFCON break.

Arrows have 45 points after week 23.

Zesco had captain John Chingandu to thank away at Green Eagles in Choma to ensure they stayed in close touch with their fellow title contenders.
Chingandu equalised for Zesco in the 61st minute after Aaron Musore put Eagles ahead in the 4th minute.

Zesco are now without a win in their last three successive league matches and trace their last win to January 13 when they beat Nkwazi 2-0 at home in Ndola.

And the defending champions Power Dynamos moved within two points of Zesco on 40 points after a 1-0 home win at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe over 12th-positioned Green Buffaloes courtesy of a Joshua Mutale goal in the 11th minute.

MTN/FAZ SUPER LEAGUE RESULTS AND FIXTURE
WEEK 23
02/03/2024
Forest Rangers 0-FC MUZA 1
Power Dynamos 1- Green Buffaloes 0
Nkwazi 1-Kabwe Warriors 0
Green Eagles 1-Zesco United 1
Prison Leopards 0- Zanaco 1
Napsa Stars 0-Red Arrows 1
Trident 1-Nkana 2
Konkola Blades 1-Kansanshi Dynamos 0
03/03/2024
Mufulira Wanderers-Mutondo Stars

PF President Miles Bwalya Sampa Responds to Disaster Declaration

Statement By Patriotic Front President Hon Miles Bwalya Sampa On The Disaster Declaration In Zambia By The Republican President Hakainde Hichilema

This is not the appropriate time to jump on streams of arguments and play politics. We would like to respond to the announcement from the National Address at State House by His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema where he declared the current drought being experienced in the country as a “National Disaster”. We shall among other things highlight some other happenings in our country which we see fit to discuss.

Firstly, we wish to thank the President for taking a bold step to declare the drought incident a disaster as it is indeed a situation that has not only threatened our nation’s food security but energy production included.

As Patriotic Front, we would like to advise that the current situation is not a matter of talk and pass but one that calls on all of us in leadership, government, and all stakeholders to urgently come together with combined efforts to find not only lasting solutions but begin forthwith to implement them. The government must be in the forefront and bring to reality what it promises people and actualize them.

We further suggest long-term measures to combat drought. All areas where farming is done by our people must be prioritized and empowered with solar irrigation systems and technology immediately. We can save some maize, if not all, even now. Constituency Development Funds (CDF) in all constituencies where activities of commercial farming are done should begin to prioritize grants or loans to farmers specifically towards commercial irrigation equipments.

We believe this will not only help save the current crops but enable farmers to continue farming even after the usual farming season passes. We can see a country that took advantage of a bad situation turning itself into an all-year-round producer of maize, cassava, millet, rice, fruits, vegetables, and all other products that depend on rain to grow. Surely we can become a food basket once again.

We also want to advise the government to engage both local and foreign suppliers of maize in advance should the crop yield go to the worst this season. This will help us plan and prepare before the worst comes to our faces. When disaster knocks on our doors, we can prepare before we open the door. Therefore, it is our strongest stance to now move into mitigation measures in preparation for the poor yields expected. It is also important to begin planning on stocking up food reserves before the estimated time for the disaster to manifest after the farming season should the rain patterns stay the same.

Government should further look to promote and guarantee the private sector structured foward contracts of maize importation for 2025. Prices can be agreed now for delivery in say 6 or 12 months. This will mitigate foreign exchange risks in the anticipated maize importation that could escalate the retail prices of mealie meal.

On the rising cost of living and adverse economy currently being experienced, we can not continue politicking at the expense of our citizens who are looking to us for solutions to save them from all these poor conditions. We understand how bad things are and to think of a situation where we produce very low on the staple foods, we can’t afford to slumber . It will be detrimental to do so. These are matters of urgency and should be tackled right with the urgency it deserves. We have to find a way to bring the cost of living down to manageable levels. Our people should afford the basic commodities and it is for the government to ensure this happens through the policies it advances.

In all seriousness, we would like to urge the government to take note of our proposals here and further encourage all stakeholders and political leaders to unite on these matters for the better good of the Zambian people regardless of political divides and differences. This is the time for all of us to work together and fight the poverty that threatens our people.
Lastly, we would like to call upon the government through the Ministry of Energy to strongly consider alternative energy sources such as solar biofuels and others. This drought is not only threatening food security but also the energy sector. The consequences of this reality will be so devastating to the economy. This is because production always and surely gets negatively affected by the loss of electricity whenever we experience load-shedding due to low water levels.

I thank you