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HH addresses Evelyn Hone students at the UPND secretariat recently
About seven Evelyn Hone Students will lose their bursaries after it emerged that they met UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema seeking his support for the upcoming student union elections.
The students, some of whom are vying for positions in the Students Union had approached Mr Hichilema to seek his financial support to enable them campaign.
They met the UPND leader at the Secretariat and were given party regalia to wear before posing for photos with Mr Hichilema.
In return, the students were expected to use their union positions to denounce government, campaign for the UPND and organize student protests at every opportunity.
It is however unclear whether Mr Hichilema did offer the students any funding.
This came to light when the affected students in the company of College Principal Mr Daniel Fwambo and his Deputy including the Dean of Students met Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo in his office.
During the meeting, all the students confessed to having met Mr Hichilema and seeking financial support from the opposition leader for their campaigns.
But Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo informed the students that government will go ahead and withdraw bursary from all the students for participating in partisan politics whilst in school.
Mr Lusambo also disclosed that the students will be disqualified from running for student union leadership elections.
He said his office will today write to the Ministry of Higher Education to recommend that the actions against the students are implemented.
“We will not allow institutions of higher learning to be turned into political playground. If HH wants to use students to get into State House, he should be ready to start paying them their bursaries. So we are withdrawing support to these students in order to send a message that government will not tolerate the actions by the students,” Mr Lusambo said.
HH greets Evelyn Hone students at the UPND secretariat recentlyHH takes selfies with Evelyn Hone students at the UPND secretariat recently
New York R&B sensations SWV (Sisters with Voices) will be ‘Right Here’ in Zambia at the Stanbic Music Festival this weekend
In the words of their hit song, New York R&B sensations SWV (Sisters with Voices) will be ‘Right Here’ in Zambia at the Stanbic Music Festival this weekend.
SWV joins Nigerian music icon Davido and top local artists Afunika, Mampi, Izrael, Danny and Chef 187 for the sixth edition of the country’s biggest musical festival in the Lusaka Polo Club this weekend (October 4-5).
The vocal trio: SWV, Cheryl (Coko) Gamble, Tamara (Taj) Johnson and Leanne (Lelee) Lyons became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s with a series of hits including “Weak”, “Right Here (Human Nature Remix)”, “I’m So into You”, and “You’re the One”.
The group have sold more than 25 million records worldwide.
“Right Here” is the title of their debut single. A remixed version, “Right Here (Human Nature Remix)”, became a number-one R&B single, selling 500,000 copies and earning a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. The song spent 54 weeks on the R&B chart, which is one of the longest chart runs of all time, and was named by Billboard number 17 on its list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.
News of the signing came as Brandy announced that on doctor’s advice she will be unable to travel to Zambia to perform.
Stanbic Head of PR and Communications Chanda Katongo said: “We are excited to announce the signing of Sisters with Voices as our second headline act for this year’s Stanbic Music Festival. Sadly, Miss Brandy Norwood has had to cancel all her international appearances, including the Stanbic Music Festival, because she is unwell. To Brandy we wish you all the best; we wish you a quick recovery; we are praying you and we are hoping you will get well soon. But the show must go on, and this weekend is going to be epic.”
With just a few days to go before the mega festival, event tickets have been selling fast, with Golden circle tickets already sold out while only a handful of VIP and ordinary tickets remain.
Tickets for the 2019 Stanbic Music Festival are on sale at selected Stanbic Bank branches, Computicket and other outlets across the country. priced at K500 for ordinary seats and K1,500 VIP. For Brandy-lovers, full ticket refunds are available from the same outlets from Sunday.
The government says it is working towards starting to tax Netflix streaming service in Zambia.
Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo says the Zambian government is displeased that some foreign content service providers are making money in Zambia without paying any taxes.
He said the money being generated by streaming services such as Netflix should be made to pay some form of taxes to the Zambian government.
“Working with my Minister Honourable Siliya and our team at the Ministry, we are working on coming up with a tax regime for these streaming services such as Netflix so that the revenue they are harvesting here start ploughing back into the country,” Mr Kasolo said.
Mr Kasolo said government is concerned that a lot of local television stations in Zambia are depending on foreign content.
He said such content has a negative impact on the minds and development of Zambian children.
Mr Kasolo explained that the foreign content being broadcast has prompted government to compel local stations to broadcast 60 percent of local content so that viewers have access to information that promotes Zambia’s culture.
The Permanent Secretary was speaking on Tuesday during the launch of Diamond TV on the DSTV platform on channel 271.
Mr Kasolo commended the television station for ensuring that 90 percent of its content is local.
Netflix, Inc. is an American media-services provider and production company headquartered in California, founded in 1997.
The company’s primary business is its subscription-based streaming service which offers online streaming of a library of films and television programs, including those produced in-house.
As of April 2019, Netflix had over 148 million paid subscriptions worldwide, including 60 million in the United States, and over 154 million subscriptions total including free trials.
Ministry of Transport and Communications Director of Transport Mr Nicholas Chikwenya congratulates Mr Vincent Banda
The Republic of Zambia’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Honourable Mutotwe Kafwaya is in Montreal, Canada to attend the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) 40th Assembly. The Minister is leading a delegation that comprises of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Civil Aviation Authority and Zambia Airports Corporation Limited.
When delivering his address to the ICAO Assembly today, the Minister said Zambia has a vision of transforming the nation into a prosperous middle-income country by the year 2030 as espoused in the Vision 2030 and the 7th National Development Plan. He said the Aviation sector in its economic catalytic role has been identified as a potential critical contributor to the attainment of the National Vision.
He said the Government of the Republic of Zambia, has a transport sector vision of transforming Zambia into a “Regional Transport and Logistics Hub and to achieve this, government has adopted an intermodal transport approach from which the aviation sector will both contribute and benefit significantly.
“In order to promote the aviation sector and make it ready to effectively compete in the intermodal transport approach, my Government, has injected over 1.5 billion United States Dollars into upgrading of the aviation infrastructure in the country”. He said
He added that this investment has included the modernization of Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport; the construction and upgrading of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport as well as the construction of the new Copperbelt International Airport. In addition, the Zambian Government has been improving the provincial airports and aerodromes to increase the aviation accessibility across the country.
The Minister said the country understands and appreciates the importance of a safe, and secure international Civil Aviation which is largely dependent on the cooperation and commitment of Member States.
He said Zambia as a Nation has enjoyed a warm and cordial relationship with ICAO since joining the organisation in 1964 and Zambia’s aviation sector has experienced tremendous growth over the years through Technical and Financial support which has been offered by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and other cooperating partners.
He said Zambia will continue to commit herself to Regional and Global initiatives which are aimed at promoting and sustaining safety and security including all aspects of aviation development to take the industry to higher heights.
The ICAO Assembly started on 24th September 2019. Zambia is contesting for a seat on the ICAO Council and has fielded a candidate, Mr. Vincent Banda, who is currently the permanent representative of Zambia to ICAO to contest for a seat on the ICAO Council for the next three years. The ICAO Assembly takes place at least once every three years and is convened by ICAO’s governing body, the Council.
The Minister has also held various meetings with fellow Ministers of Transport as well as heads of delegations from other States on the sidelines of the ICAO Assembly to discuss different developmental issues such as bilateral and multilateral agreements; commerce and trade, issues of climate change as well as lobby for support for the Zambian candidate to be elected to the ICAO Council during the Assembly.
Minister of Transport and Communications Honourable Mutotwe Kafwaya with Mr Vincent BandaZambia Civil Aviation Authority Director General Mr Gabriel Lesa congratulates Mr BandaThe Zambian delegation with Mr Vincent Banda at the AssemblyThe Zambia delegation jubilates within the Assembly hall just after announcing the results of Zambia’s election to the Council
Bella Bird, World Bank country director for Zambia
NEWLY appointed WORLD BANK COUNTRY DIRECTOR for Zambia BELLA BIRD has described her engagement with the government, as fruitful.
During a bilateral meeting at the Ministry of Finance Headquarters in Lusaka, Dr. BIRD informed the Minister of Finance Dr. BWALYA NG’ANDU that concessional financing of US$ 350 million is available for Zambia under the 18th International Development Association [IDA 18] Programme for various development initiatives. Some of the projects under IDA 18 include Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD), the Centre for Disease Control, and Governance Programmes.
Dr. BIRD is also the Country Director for Malawi, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. She operates from Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. Until her appointment, the Country Director for Zambia was PAUL NOUMBA UM, who was based at the World Bank Country Office in Pretoria, South Africa.
During today’s bilateral meeting, Dr. BIRD offered the World Bank’s assistance in making Zambia a model of successful economic stabilization and fiscal consolidation.
Among the other issues discussed at the bilateral meeting was Zambia’s reform thrust pronounced in the Seventh National Development Plan, the Economic Stabilisation and Growth Programme and the National Budget. The meeting also looked at some of the challenges facing the country and the measures that are being implemented by the authorities to stabilize the macro-economic environment.
Apart from holding bilateral talks, the Country Director is in Zambia to visit various World Bank-funded projects, firstly, to examine their progress, and most importantly, to assess their benefits to the communities in which they are being implemented.
She was accompanied to the bilateral meeting by World Bank Country Manager Dr. SAHR KPUNDEH.
Speaking at the same meeting, Dr. NG’ANDU said Zambia is keen to enhance development cooperation not only with the World Bank but all her cooperating partners to ensure success in the implementation of the Economic Stabilisation and Growth Programme and the Budget.
“In addition to our constant engagement with the IMF through Article 4 consultations, we are also in the process of bettering the platform for smooth re-engagement with the International Monetary Fund [IMF] on programme related talks,” the Minister briefed Dr. BIRD.
He reiterated that the elevated implementation of Zambia’s Medium-Term-Debt-Strategy was also among the initiatives being pursued to create a platform for smooth engagement with the Fund.
The World Bank’s portfolio in Zambia is currently estimated at USD1.1 billion and is spread in energy (21%), transport (20%), agriculture (18%), climate change (12%) and the balance to health, education and gender/social protection.
This is according to a press statement issued by Chileshe Kandeta, Spokesperson at the Ministry of Finance.
Parliament has approved the motion that government should provide adequate sanitation and sanitary towels to girls in public schools.
This follows a motion moved by Chembe Member of Parliament Sebastian Kopulande.
Dr. Kopulande says there is need for policy formulations to ensure girl child education is supported.
He also thanked First Lady Esther Lungu for her dedicated efforts towards addressing menstrual and sanitary conditions for girls in rural areas.
And contributing to the debate, Information Minister Dora Siliya called on entrepreneurs especially the youth to take up the opportunity and venture into the production of re-usable sanitary pads which will address the challenges faced by girls in rural areas.
Ms. Siliya said providing sanitary pads to girls in schools should be viewed as an important investment in human development.
Meanwhile, General Education Minister, David Mabumba said government is already addressing the challenges faced by girls in accessing sanitary facilities.
And Kafue Member of Parliament Mirriam Chonya said the measure will serve as a response to address the root causes of child marriages because girls will be kept in schools.
Ministry of National Guidance and Religious Affairs Godfridah Sumaili at a press briefing flanked by PR Girl Media partners Chishimba Nyambe and Monde Nyambe
National Guidance and Religious Affairs Minister Godfridah Sumaili has said that she is disappointed by reports that some traditional leaders from a neighbouring country plan to carry out spiritual rituals at Kariba dam ahead of the rainy season.
Reverend Sumaili said that Zambia is a Christian nation and it is important that the country looks to God to provide the rains.
She said that people must not rely on the water spirit known as Nyami -Nyami which is believed to be found at Kariba dam.
Reverend Sumaili noted that the country should not embrace the Nyami -Nyami because it is an idol but should instead trust God for the rains.
Reverend Sumaili said this in an interview with ZNBC in Lusaka. She said she will engage the traditional leaders and the church in southern province over the matter.
Reverend Sumaili said the clergy should organize themselves to offer prayers.
This week Traditionalists said that they believed that the receding of water at the Kariba DAM Hydro-electricity scheme is because the Nyaminyami Tonga god is still upset with the people for messing up his resting place. Should rituals be conducted to restore order and save the nation power deficiencies.
According to legend and local myths, the Tonga tribe in the Zambezi valley is protected by an ancestral spirit, locally known as Nyaminyami the river god.
Last year Chiefs from both sides of the Lake Kariba held special prayers, to plead with ‘Nyaminyami’ the river god not to harm construction workers during the Dam wall rehabilitation project.
Traditionalists feared that the Tonga god, believed to have been separated from his wife, during the initial construction of Lake Kariba in the 1950s could strike again, as the noise from blasting and lorries during the excavation works at the construction site may remind him of his spouse who is believed to be in the lower Zambezi river.
Ex-Zambia Women National Team star Martha Mutima has been put to rest at Chingola Road Cemetery in Kitwe.
Mutima, 42, died on Saturday afternoon at Kitwe Teaching Hospital just hours after being rushed there.
A sizeable crowd turned up to give Mutima a send-off during a funeral procession that started with a church service in Kwacha before burial.
‘I learnt the demise of Martha Mutima with shock. I personally interacted with her at the peak of her career,’ former National Women Team Manager Dorothy Sampa said.
‘Martha was a very talented female footballer and wherever we went many scouts wanted to have her services as a footballer. She was very good at football but she lacked someone to manager her,’ Sampa said.
Talented Mutima was a common feature in the national team during her hey days.
After retiring from playing, Mutima went into coaching and previously served as an assistant coach at FAZ Copperbelt Women League outfit Moba Queens.
She also coached former FAZ Division Three side Stan Hazard of Kitwe.
Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has directed Energy Minister Matthew Nkhuwa to issue a ministerial statement on Tuesday next week to Parliament to update the nation on the status of load-shedding in health facilities.
Dr. Matibini says Mr. Nkhuwa must carry out a comprehensive analysis on what is pertaining on the ground and get back to the house with an update.
The Speaker said this when he made a ruling on a point of order raised by the leader of opposition and Monze Central Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu.
Mr. Mwiimbu in his point of order stated that load-shedding has continued in health facilities despite President Edgar Lungu’s directive not to load shed health facilities during the Presidential address to Parliament.
Meanwhile, Dr. Matibini has urged Members of Parliament to respect the due processes of parliament as they carry out debates.
He said all Members of parliament participate in governing the country and therefore the tenets of a multi-party democracy must be respected.
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu will this week undertake a 3 day working visit to Northern Province.
Northern Province Minister Hon Lazarus Bwalya Chungu announced, yesterday , in a statement to the media that the Head of State will arrive in the Province on Friday and is scheduled to engage in various programs.
Minister Chungu announced that whilst in Northern Province, President Lungu is expected to address 2 rallies in Mbala and Mpulungu and would later flag off the Rural Road Connectivity Programme of the Mporokoso – Nsama – Kaputa road.
And the Provincial Minister has thanked the Republican President for once again visiting the Province for the third time in a space of 2 months. Mr Bwalya said the President’s visits demonstrate the love he has for the people of Northern Province.
President Lungu was last Saturday in Mbala and Mpulungu districts where he graced a military event involving Zambia’s Special Forces before he proceeding to the Copperbelt.
FILE: President Michael Sata receives instruments of power from outgoing President Rupiah Banda as Chief Justice Ernest Sakala looks on at the inauguration ceremony at the Supreme Court in Lusaka
By: Anthony Bwalya – UPND Member
There always comes a day when people must rise up and collectively say Enough is Enough.
And when this day comes, citizens must lay partisan sentiment and nostalgia aside and only think of the collective national good.
The government of Her Majesty The Queen of England knew in 1964, while they had the tools and resources to resist KK and his civilian army of pro independence enthusiasts, they opted to make way for change because they fully understood that what had largely began and had for the most part been a bloodless call for political and social change, could very easily have deteriorated into a blood soaked revolution for change.
There was nothing that was going to impede the resolve of a united indigenous change movement – not money, not guns.
Even during the time of colonial rule, there were members of the indigenous population who, because of the creature comforts they used to enjoy at the hands of their white masters, had opted to either oppose the independence change movement, or simply adopted an indifferent attitude towards it.
Fast forward to 1991, the sentimental attachment to the 1964 independence dream, KK and the UNIP that had branded themselves as the architects and guardians of our nationhood, was still fresh in the hearts and minds of many Zambians. But even when it had become apparent that the economy had died under the leadership of KK and UNIP, and that the enjoyment of both civic and political rights had come under such serious threat, there were still pockets of nationalist loyalists who believed that only KK and UNIP were qualified to provide this nation with leadership.
They were wrong.
FTJ and the MMD, riding on such a strong and an unexpected underground support from the masses, toppled the 1964 independence movement.
And again, I am sure KK and UNIP had been very much aware of what could have been the consequences to them and the country, had they actively sought to remain in power post 1991.
The calls for change and resistance to their failed rule would have only gotten louder, if not to a very bloody and violent end. This is usually what happens when change is delayed and the process of change unduly interfered with.
Then came another monumental year – 2011.
After 20 years of branding and presenting themselves as the restorers and original guardians of democracy and multipartism, the MMD regime had grown extremely powerful but had also become synonymous with grand and political corruption, as well as pure theft of state resources by a handful of individuals.
It is this narrative of a regime that had grown increasingly pompous, oppressive and corrupt, which gave Michael C. SATA and an emerging PF the impetus to take power in 2011.
Again, RB and the MMD knew when the right time to exit the stage. They tried to push impose themselves onto the people using all manner of material enticements, with the latter part of their rule punctuated by huge infrastructure development announcements and commitments. Typical of a regime that had become extremely unpopular in the eyes of ordinary, hardworking citizens.
And had the MMD pushed their luck and stretched the patience of Zambians, their fall from grace could have become harder and at such a huge cost to our long treasured peace and security.
Today, we are starring in the face of a PF regime that has become extremely self absorbed with itself. This regime has now presided over the mother of all corruption scandals this country and it’s people has ever witnessed since the year 1964, with individual government MINISTERS and the President sitting on tonnes upon tonnes of wealth, whose accumulation they will never be able to explain.
The most striking thing about this regime is that they are utterly oblivious to the long term damage they have caused this country and it’s people to suffer.
The cost of government sponsored corruption under the PF will continue to cost Zambians dearly for at least the next 30 years, as the impact of the cost of the debt they have accumulated, with over 63% of this, actually stolen in a combination of such savage and pure theft and corruption; will be felt by even the children of a child being born today.
In 2021, Zambians will have another opportunity to rise above partisan loyalty and save their own country from what is now definite economic ruin and collapse.
In 2021, Zambians will yet again have an opportunity to summon our collective national spirit and unite in saying no to a regime that has now turned into a monster and threatening the life of our public institutions and those who serve in these.
The UPND have patiently been building the trust and confidence of Zambians for close to 20 years now.
The party and it’s leadership has not relented or given up on our collective national dream for economic emancipation.
Let us all do the right thing in 2021.
Let us choose the UPND and save our country from what is now the eminent collapse of our economy, national pride and livelihoods
Zambia has signed an agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo that will see the country Export about 600,000 metric tones of Maize and meali meal to the DRC starting in 2020.
The Memorandum of understanding aimed at Commercialising maize exports to the DRC was signed today at the Mulungushi International Conference Center in Lusaka.
Zambia’s Minister of Agriculture Michael Katambo signed the MoU on behalf of the Zambian government while Congolese Minister of External Trade Jean Busa signed on behalf of his country.
He said trade in maize and maize products has been informal for a long time and the agreement will ensure that a well structured regime is put in place to promote trade.
Mr Katambo emphasised that exports in maize and maize products will commence next year after harvests.
He acknowledged that Zambia currently does not have adequate maize to export to the DRC as it is coming from a poor rainy season that affected maize production.
Mr Katambo is confident that with various interventions put in place, Zambia will see increased maize production in the 2019/2020 agricultural season.
And Mr Busa reiterated that the DRC has for a long time faced food crisis and expressed hope that the MoU will help address the situation.
He commended Zambia for always being there to help whenever the DRC is faced with a calamity.
Mr Busa said his government is committed to addressing obstacles that have negatively impacted trade between the two countries.
Finally, Zambia U23 gets to test their character when they face defending champions Nigeria at the 2019 U23 AFCON.
A twist of fate at the 2017 U20 AFCON saw the then defending champions Nigeria fail to qualify and hosts Zambia go on to claim the crown in Lusaka.
But destiny in Cairo today has seen them drawn together at the 2019 U23 AFCON in Egypt where the passage to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be decided in Cairo from November 8-22 where the top three finishers next month will book their tickets to Japan next summer.
Cote d’Ivoire and Amajita South Africa completed Group B
Zambia and South Africa renew rivalries after Beston Chambeshi’s side beat Amajita 1-0 in the semifinals of the 2017 U20 AFCON in Lusaka en route to lifting that trophy.
But it will also be the two teams second successive meeting at the U23 AFCON s after Zambia lost 3-2 to Amajita at the same stage at the 2015 tournament in Senegal.
Meanwhile, they are no easy draws at this U23 AFCON where Africa’s marquee junior teams have all made the cut.
Minister of Tourism and Arts Ronald Chitotela has announced the suspension in the movement of animals from National Parks to Private ranches.
The suspension comes a few days after controversy surrounded the movement of animals in Mfuwe where trucks were turned back by residents.
Mr Chitotela said at a media briefing that the suspension is with immediate effect.
He said it is alleged that one of the Directors at the Ministry of Tourism and Arts signed a certificate of movement of live animals from one national park to a private ranch.
Mr Chitotela said the move is against the law that only permits the Minister to sign the certificate.
He has since directed his Permanent secretary Amos Malupenga to investigate the allegations and establish whether there is any truth in it.
Mr Chitotela however said the suspension will not affect the restocking of animals in some national parks such as Sioma Ngwezi National Park where wildlife has been depleted.
