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PRESIDENT Edgar Chagwa Lungu (second from left) visits detainees in cells at Kabwata Police in Lusaka on Saturday,October 26,2019.
President Edgar Lungu says police brutality against suspects should come to an end in Zambia.
President Lungu says the Zambia Police Service should be carrying out their duties professionally without torturing or beating up suspects to get to the truth of a matter.
The President says any suspect should be treated as an innocent person until the courts of law finds him or her guilty or acquit them.
He says the role of Police Officers is to apprehend, investigate and handover the suspects to the courts for the due process of the law to take its course.
The Head of State says the police should find better means of investigating matters to get to the conclusion of the issues as opposed to torturing the suspects in order for them to confess.
He says the police should begin to adjust to the changing world where torture or ill treatment of suspects is no longer in existence.
The President was speaking after he toured Kabwata police cells where some female suspects complained of torture by the police at the station.
One of the female suspects whose name cannot be disclosed for security reasons told the President that some named police officers tortured her and her friends and grabbed phones from them so that she cannot be in contact with her relatives.
When asked by the president whether she can identify the police officers who tortured her, the suspect responded in affirmative saying she knows them facially.
The President assured the alleged tortured female suspects that the Minister of Justice who is also Kabwata Member of Parliament and was with the President at the time, will investigate the matter to ensure the officers are cautioned against torturing suspects.
The President said people regardless of their status and circumstances should be treated with dignity because the law says everyone is innocent until proven guilty by the courts.
And Business came to a standstill as President Lungu toured Lusaka’s Kabwata and Mtendere areas.
People of different age groups in the two localities were elated and lined up to catch the glimpse of President Lungu.
President Lungu was in Kabwata and Mtendere to inspect the adherence to the “Keep Zambian Clean Campaign.
On the other hand President Lungu toured the road projects in some sections of Lusaka enroute to Mtendere.
The President participated in the collection of garbage in Mtendere where they sale Charcoal near the main market.
He warned those encroaching areas where roads projects are being carried out to like Kamloops road in Kalingalinga to vacate.
President Lungu also called on Zambians to take the” Keep Zambia Clean Campaign “seriously.
In April last year, President Lungu re-launched the campaign aimed at invoking awareness among Zambians to keep public and private environments clean as one of the means to guard against diseases.
President Edgar Lungu is saddened by the death of several people and those who were left injured yesterday after a truck lost control and plunged into a bar located at Lusaka’s Buseko market.
According to a statement released to the media by State House, the President deeply regrets the loss of lives and reiterated his call to the Road Transport and Safety Agency to intensify patrols to avert such accidents.
The President wished the bereaved families God ‘s comfort and strength as they mourn their beloved. The President also wishes the injured a quick recovery.
“On behalf of Government, the people of Zambia and indeed on my own behalf, l wish the bereaved families God‘s comfort and strength as they mourn their beloved. I also wish a quick recovery to the injured. There is the need for motorists to be cautious to avoid accidents,” the President said.
According to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), the accident happened last night when a truck belonging to BHL driven by Elias Chikwenda aged 34 years of Kabwe lost control due to excessive speed as he was trying to avoid a truck that was reversing into Lumumba road at Puma filling near Buseko market.
The driver, later on, went to hit into a parked Corolla, Zesco Pole and finally into a Tavern where the deceased was watching a football match which is about 30 meters away from the road, killing 12 people.
DMMU working with the Provincial Administration assured the bereaved families that the government will take care of all funeral logistics, which include food and coffins among other requirements, to ease the burden on the affected families.
DMMU National Coordinator Chanda Kabwe said that he was deeply saddened by the loss because life is too precious to be lost in such a manner.
Mr. Kabwe has since urged all road users to ensure they follow road traffic regulations and observe speed limits to prevent such accidents. “Whilst we acknowledge the fact that accidents are human, we can always do our part to avoid making them obviously awaited for”.
He has further commended the Police, Road Traffic and Safety Agency and the Fire Brigade for their quick response.
Mr.Kabwe has furthermore wished the eight injured, among them three females, a quick recovery, adding that the government will ensure they are well taken care of to avoid further loss of life.
And Mr. Kabwe has disclosed that Minister in the Office of the Vice President, Olipah Phiri, Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo and a team from DMMU will in due course visit the funeral houses to console the bereaved.
Power Dynamos’ bad start to the 2019/20 season continued when they suffered a famous 2-0 away defeat to Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy at President Stadium in Kabwe.
The result handed promoted KYSA their first league win of the season and debut victory over the toothless six-time champions from Kitwe after a loss away and home draw in their first-ever meeting during the 2018 campaign.
Moro Amenu’s 13th minute goal put KYSA 1-0 into halftime and Daniel Chama added the second goal in the 78th minute.
KYSA leap from last to 16th, replacing Power who drop to second from bottom at number 17, on 5 and 4 points from seven and six games played respectively.
Zanaco and Green Eagles hope to make significant headway on Sunday in their respective 2019/20 CAF Confederation Cup pregroup stage, first leg ties.
In Malabo, Zanaco make their debut trip to Equatorial Guinea to face Cano SA.
It will be Zanaco’s second successive away start in continental action this season following their 2-1 second round win over Bolton CY of Mauritius last month en route to a 5-1 aggregate victory.
“I think it will be explosive tomorrow, Cano is not a small team but we are ready for the challenge, Zanaco captain Ziyo Tembo said.
Zanaco are at full strength with striker Moussa Souleymanou set for his first continental outing after injury ruled him out of the last round.
Cano SA, who were demoted from the CAF Champions League, come into the game on three match winless run with one draw and two defeats after record eight- time African champions Al Ahly beat them 2-0 in Malabo and 4-0 in Egypt to see them relegated to the second tier competition.
The last leg is set for November 3 in Lusaka to decide who goes through to the group stage draws ahead of the league round of matches in the CAF Confederation Cup that kick off in December.
Meanwhile in Lusaka, Green Eagles, who were relegated from the CAF Champions League, host Hassania Agadir of Morocco in their first leg match at National Heroes Stadium.
“It is like any other game in qualification, we need to play 180 minutes and we both dont know too much about each other,” Hassania coach Miguel Gamondi said.
“But we have come here with a huge expecations to have a good game.
“I watched the Eagles game against Orlando Pirates but I cannot predicat anything but we will see how the game will go.”
THE Zambian government system is broken and needs to be fixed in earnest, says Nevers Mumba. Speaking on Hot FM yesterday, Mumba the MMD president urged President Edgar Lungu and government to speak to the nation on various matter affecting the governance system than assume that people would know on their own.
Mumba, however, urged government not to speak to Zambians like they were talking to children as they address pertinent queries arising from the governance kerfuffle.
He warned that former President Kenneth Kaunda would not have lasted 27 years in power if he was not communicating to Zambians.
“The energy problem is a small problem that can be resolved once leadership makes a decision,” he said.
Mumba, the former Republican vice-president, recalled that under president Levy Mwanawasa, the government then was faced with the $7.2 billion unsustainable debt but it was solved because of the will and determination of the team of leaders at the time.
He said under Mwanawasa, the shackle of economic debt was broken because his team concentrated on it.
Mumba insisted that the PF had no option but to sit down and resolve the issue of the energy crisis like yesterday.
“This PF government needs to find a solution, Israel does not have the Victoria Falls, does not have the Chishimba Falls but they never have load shedding. It’s these things that frustrate me…. To depend on rain so that we can have electricity and we are going to depend on rain then we should preserve the water during the rainy season so that in the dry season it does not run out, that’s our responsibility,” he said.
Mumba added that if Zambia was not going to provide power because the water levels had gone down then government, without excuses, must find a temporary solution.
He noted that the temporary solution would cost the government a lot of money but insisted that they had no choice but to do it so that the industry can continue to thrive and business to run.
He noted with regret that the status quo of the power deficit was crippling the country economically.
Asked if he was in favour of importing power when the government was broke, Mumba said, “They have no option, they have to import it. It will cost a lot but they have to do it, they have to find a way to resolve this because that’s what leadership is about. A problem comes, you have to solve it.”
He added that with the gravity of the energy crisis, Zambians were not going to listen to any excuses.
Mumba said the PF had taken too long to resolve the power deficit issue.
“They have really taken long, they are assuming Zambians are a very understanding people but I think it’s a wrong assumption. If I were there, I would have given this process not longer that 60 days to really deal with it. It was going to be costly to find immediate solutions but if you let this thing continue the way it’s continuing, there will be very little productivity in this country. People cannot work because there is not energy to do so and therefore the economy will ground to a halt,” Mumba feared.
He further said money had to be invested so that citizens could work and help the economy to move.
Mumba said a leader should not allow load shedding to continue without any sign of ending it.
“What I would have done if I were in government, if I know that this crisis would take three months, almost every week or month I would address the Zambia people and tell them the progress we are making and ensuring that the Zambian people work with us until we achieve what we need to achieve. I would not keep them ignorant, this it too big an issue not to be told about as a people of Zambia,” he said.
Mumba added that governance was about taking information to the governed and not allow them to speculate in bars, nightclubs to formulate their own personal policies and philosophies.
He noted that if there was no information coming from the governors to explain what people were facing then there was a risk that whatever was being discussed in beer halls would start to progress against the government.
Mumba said the government’s failure to talk to the people could fuel instability.
“I don’t think Kenneth Kaunda would have lasted 27 years if he never spoke to the people. Kenneth Kaunda had difficult times but I would remember that when things were really bad, in 1986 when there were riots and mealie-meal prices shot up and I thought this is it, KK is out, people were angry; breaking everything and looting but what amazed me is that in the middle of that confusion, pain and anger there was an announcement of ZNBC that tomorrow at 10:00 AM His Excellency Dr Kenneth David Kaunda shall address the nation. With anger in our hearts, we went to listen…when KK is speaking the whole Kitwe would be quiet and he went, fellow countrymen and then he breaks it down, bringing the Zambians into the pain, difficulties and challenges of life and invited them to work with his government to achieve what they were all looking for,” Mumba said.
He further said Dr Kaunda was a good communicator.
Mumba, a Pastor, counseled President Lungu and the PF that problems would always be there but there was a need to address the nation.
“You can keep your marriage longer if you talk to your wife. The reason we have these marriage problems is because as husbands we just think that our wives should understand…women thrive on information and if you don’t give it to them, you are going to have hell in your own house but the moment you start to explain things to them, everything changes. Even if you don’t have money when you talk to them everything changes.”
Mumba added that not talking to Zambians makes them feel disrespected and that should be avoided at all costs.
He said how they talked to the citizens also mattered.
He advised the government to avoid talking to Zambians like they do not think or reason.
He further said while he agreed that climate change had affected the entire world, the voters did not care about the water levels but wanted food on the table, affordable mealie-meal because leaders got into government not to explain problems but solve them.
File:UPND MP’s seats unoccupied in Parliament this morning
By Hon. Dr Jonas Chanda
During the debate in Parliament on the budget allocations to the Electoral Commission of Zambia, I reminded the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) to stop the POLITICS of WHINING and COMPLAINTS and learn to be a responsible opposition party that can DIALOGUE with the government on key national issues and alternative solutions.
Instead of UPND always attacking ECZ and complaining about the ELECTORAL PROCESS, BYE ELECTIONS, ELECTORAL VIOLENCE, short duration of ELECTORAL PETITIONS in court, and lack of DELIMITATION of constituencies, they should realize that solutions to these challenges lie in the same processes and bills they are castigating and boycotting.
Rather than coming to DIALOGUE with government and other stakeholders to address the challenges they raise, UPND has chosen to politic and hypocritically castigated and boycotted the NATIONAL DIALOGUE process, ELECTORAL REFORMS AMENDMENT BILL (2019), PUBLIC ORDER BILL (2019), and submissions to the CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT BILL (2019).
ECZ, despite facing challenges, has conducted elections for the past five (5) years which even saw two (2) peaceful power transitions from a sitting government to an opposition party – in 1991 when the opposition MMD defeated the ruling UNIP, and in 2011 when the then opposition PF defeated the ruling MMD. This is a very rare occurrence anywhere in Africa and hence the reason Zambia is internationally recognized as a beacon of democracy and peace.
I also called on UPND and other opposition parties to stop making CHEAP POLITICAL CAPITAL out of the fight against CORRUPTION and instead collaborate with investigative agencies like ACC, DEC and Zambia Police by providing whatever EVIDENCE they claim to have to. The case in point is that of the infamous 48 houses (now 51) where UPND had alleged it was PF corruption when in fact the key suspect is a senior civil servant at Ministry of Finance with links to UPND who is also a nephew to a former Minister of Finance and now a UPND Member of Parliament and Opposition Whip.
My message to the Zambian Youths who constitute the majority of the population is NOT to allow politicians to use them as TOOLS of VIOLENCE because NO POLITICIAN IS WORTH DYING FOR, NO POLITICIAN IS WORTH SHEDDING BLOOD FOR.
Reuters reports that Japanese renewable energy company Univergy Solar is to invest more than $200 million in two solar power projects in Zambia that will add 200 megawatts (MW) to the country’s national grid next year, the government said on Friday.
Zambia mainly relies on hydropower and has an electricity deficit of about 750 MW due to low water levels at generation plants after a severe drought hit power production.
Univergy Solar Company will develop and implement a 135 MW project in northern Zambia and another 65 MW project in Zambia’s copperbelt, Zambia’s embassy in Tokyo said in a statement.
The Japanese firm will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Zambian government next Tuesday to start work on the projects in the first quarter of 2020, it said.
The two projects were expected to be completed between six and eight months, it said.
“The solar power project will be implemented in collaboration with a Zambian company and is expected to create hundreds of jobs and business opportunities for local firms engaged to maintain the solar farms and generation plants,” the statement said.
Zambia is in talks with South African power utility Eskom to import 300 megawatts MW, Energy Minister Mathew Nkhuwa said in September, adding that retail prices could double once imports begin.
Zambia cut its economic growth forecast to around 2% for 2019, from an estimated 4%, due to the impact of the drought on its power supply and agricultural production.
Kenyan authorities are holding a Zambian woman who was arrested at the Kenya Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi with worked ivory.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said Kabanje Liseli Mwananguku was arrested on Wednesday evening for wearing ivory bangle weighing 100 grams with an estimated 30,000 shillings (300 U.S. dollars).
“She was intercepted by Kenya Wildlife Service officers in collaboration with other airport authorities at Terminal 1A departures while on transit to Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania,”
KWS said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
The suspect was due to face a charge of being illegally in possession of wildlife trophy at the law courts.
Cases of foreign nationals being arrested with ivory trophies at the airport have become common in recent days posing a major concern to the government.
KWS said its putting in place strong measures across all entry and exit points, border checks and international airports to curb any illegal wildlife activities.
“Members of the public are therefore advised to report any person in possession of ivory trophies and other prohibited wildlife products to the nearest KWS offices or police station,” it said.
Meanwhile, KWS said Joseph Maina Irungu was fined 10,000 dollars or serve five years imprisonment in default for count one of illegally killing a wildlife species (zebra).
Irungu who appeared before at the Nyahururu law court was also fined 2,000 dollars or serve one-year imprisonment in default for the second count of illegally dealing in wildlife meat (zebra) and a further 10,000 dollars or serve a five-year jail term for the third count of illegal possession of wildlife trophy (zebra).
The second accused person, Stanley Chege, was given a cash bail of 20,000 dollars or a bond of a similar amount after he denied the charges.
According to the Wildlife Management Act 2013, any person who keeps or is found in possession of a wildlife trophy without permission, shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of not less than 10,000 dollars or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years or both.
By Brave Kachusha Mushikita – Zambian Economy and Mining Expert
It was 2003 Mwanawasa’s MMD was in power, and panicking after the withdraw of Anglo American Corporation from KCM.
They were really looking out for anybody who would invest in mining, especially copper mining. In comes Australian treasure hunters with a couple of millions AU$ calling themselves Zambezi Resources Ltd.
They applied for an exploration license and it was granted, an area of 240sq km in the Zambezi Game Park. They registered a subsidiary called Mwembeshi Resources Ltd prospecting Kangaluwi Copper Project consisting of Kangaluwi, Chisawa, Kalulu and Imboo prospects.
In 2008 after the death of LPM, Rupiah Banda takes over and this project gains even more steam even if the environment impact assessment was full of holes.
In 2011 after Sata takes over the project is rejected by ZEMA and it goes quiet.
In January 2014 Harry Kalaba then Minister of Land, Natural Resources and Envitonmrntal Protection, overturned ZEMA’s ruling and promptly issued Mwembeshi/Zambezi with its mining permit, ML15547. He claimed that the mine would eventually create employment for ordinary Zambians in the area.
It should be noted that Sata died on 28 October 2014, so when HK was issuing this permit the cobra was at the helm.
Its 2019, Zambezi Resources Ltd is now called Trek Meta; they have since sold the Kangaluwi Copper Project to a company called Grand Resources after the frustrations of nearly 5 years after being granted a mining license.
The address shows that Grand Resources is Dubai based. Its CEO is Marinko Vidovic with a registered address in Australia. The project was bought for just AU$1.1m but all the debt was absorbed (estimated at AU$12m). Grand Resources took the matter to court to resolve the dispute, which I am told they have won.
When ZRL applied for the mining license the inflated in the thrir feasibility study. They reported it would cost them $494m to develop the mine and it would have a LOM of 25 years producing a total of 3Mt of copper at 28%.
This is 840ktpa of contained copper in the concentrate. This would have simply made this mine the biggest copper mine in Africa and one of the biggest in the World.
Zambia currently produces about 800Ktpa and it is the second largest producer in Africa. This mine would have doubled Zambia’s production. Is this what HK looked at when he overturned the decision of ZEMA?
After they got the license the truth finally came out; the ore was copper oxide and not copper sulphide, it was low grade ore at only 0.7% and running as an Open Pit it had a stripping ration of ore to waste of 3.3. The life of mining was only 5 years at cathode production rate of only 7379t, requiring capex of $44m to develop.
The picture is completely different; production rate of 840ktpa of copper in concentrate would have brought in revenue of about $4.8bn/yr at copper price of $6000/t but the picture of 7379 cathode will only bring in about $45m/yr.
If you closely look at the total opex of running an oxide of this size, this mine would just be break even, at best making a profit of $1m/yr. I am no financial expert but only a full will put in $44m and make a profit just $1m/yr. After 5 years you still be owing $38m.
The Kangaluwi site is about 19km from the Zambezi River and at about 800m above the valley floor, so whatever rubbish coming from the mine will be draining into the Zambezi and polluting the Zambezi downstream into Mozambique.
The question is with all this against this project why did Harry Kalaba issue a mining permit? Without a mining permit these guys would not have gone to court. That guy needs to come and explain. Why as a political head did he interfere in the work of ZEMA.
The civil servants who signed and approved the relevant documentation at the time need to explain why they did that when the environmental report did not recommend. The minister of mines at the time need to explain why he signed on that mining permit. The two useless permanent secretaries, with masters and doctorates falling out of their pockets, why did they allow the politicians to over rule them?
The PF are in govt, they did not star this issue but they messed up by issuing the mining permit but overturning the experts, now it’s time they listened to the experts and cancelled that permit. Is 7ktpa worth disturbing the hippos, elephants, the vegetation and mighty Zambezi itself? Is it really the copper you are after or it’s the elephants, hippos, rhinos and the other good stuff God has blessed us with?
I am son of a former miner, I grew up in mining town, I have worked in the mines all my life. I know all the benefits mining can bring to a community, especially a community trying to develop. But this mining project is not worth destroying Zambia’s and Southern Africa ‘s life line, the Zambezi. Look at what we have done to the Kafue.
Just stop PF, it’s in your hands. The courts will just pronounce on the fact of law, and the fact is that Grand Resources have a valid mining permit.
Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Jean Kapata
The government has cautioned Zambians against selling land to foreigners.
Lands Minister Jean Kapata says Zambians should think of their children before selling land to foreigners.
Ms. Kapata says currently the law does not allow the government to stop individuals from selling land to whoever they want.
She told ZNBC News that it is sad that people have taken advantage of this to sell land to foreign nationals without considering the implications of their decisions.
The Minister has expressed sadness that the government is being accused of giving out land to foreigners when it is the individuals who are doing so.
Ms. Kapata said the new land policy will only allow foreigners to own land for investments.
She said the policy also provides for investors to surrender the land to the government in a case where they decide to close their business.
Higher Education Brian Mushimba says institutions of Higher learning must shape their education system around Technological innovations if students are to be relevant in the modern era.
Dr. Mushimba says Zambia’s extractive sector requires graduands to be up to date with skills and technology to handle various equipment.
The Higher Education Minister was speaking during the Cavendish University of Zambia’s 12th Graduation Ceremony in Lusaka today.
Dr. Mushimba said to reduce over-dependency on imports and have a vibrant manufacturing sector, the labor force must be equipped with knowledge that will produce eagerness to apply new technologies.
And the Cavendish University of Zambia Chancellor and fourth President Rupiah Banda said the onus for the country to realize its developmental goals in the long term is on the younger generation of professionals that will put their training to good use.
And Cavendish University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Kalombo Mwansa said graduands must use their acquired knowledge in various fields to engage in activities that will spur economic development.
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu addresses Cabinet at State House on Monday, 21st October, 2019
President Edgar Lungu is disturbed by the continued abuse of social media by some unscrupulous individuals and institutions.
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe says the deliberate abuse of social media is tailored to divert people’s attention from various developmental works the government is undertaking.
Mr. Chipampe says President Lungu is concerned with the prevailing situation which if not well handled can trigger conflicts.
Appearing on ZNBC’s “Morning Live Program”, Mr. Chipampe said it is now an order of the day to paint government black on social media which puts the country in bad standing on the international scene.
He said Zambians should know that in the era of social media, the world has been connected and that the international community and investors would deem the country not fit for their investment when a bad thing is written about it.
Mr. Chipampe has however called on Zambians to develop the culture of patriotism and positively use the power of social media to market the country’s investment potentials.
And Mr. Chipampe said President Lungu is concerned with the pictures circulating on social media of ZNBC Sports Reporter Chiko Mukoka who was attacked by unknown people on Wednesday.
He said Zambians need to start treating mental health challenges like any other condition and not shun or ridicule affected individuals.
Mr. Chipampe has since called on ZNBC management to help Chiko get medical help.
And when asked about President Lungu and opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader Chishimba Kambwili’s interaction yesterday at the freedom statue, Mr. Chipampe said the gesture is good for the country’s unity.
He noted that Mr. Kambwili’s turn up at the event was important as it put aside political differences.
Mr. Chipampe could however not go into details on what the two discussed but said President Lungu advised Mr. Kambwili on the procedure to follow especially that he is a former cabinet minister.
Nigerian legend Augustine Jay Jay Okocha believes the German Bundesliga offers the best long-term opportunities for young players.
Okocha said this during a Bundesliga media meeting in Dortmund that was facilitated in conjunction with its international broadcast partner Startimes, that the German top-flight beats French Ligue 1 in terms of permanent prospects for junior talent.
The 1994 AFCON winner first stop in Europe was Germany where he spent seven years after arriving there from Nigeria in 1990 that included a four-year stint at Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt from 1992-1996.
“I will say that in France, I also had an impression they liked giving young players opportunities back then. I don’t know about now but I also had the impression that everybody is for sell. I have the impression that they just develop players to sell and not to keep or win titles,” Okocha said.
“But here in Germany, they give you that impression that they want you, they want to keep you and they want to achieve something with you; and for me that’s the difference.”
The last couple of seasons have seen junior imports starting to make an impression in the Bundesliga, supplementing the leagues already successful junior development programme that began after German’s 2002 FIFA World Cup flop.
19-year-old England striker Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund has become the Bundesliga’s poster boy since leaving Manchester City in 2017, patiently rising from the Dortmund youth side to the first team last season.
Also joining him across from the English Channel is his ex-City club mate and Welsh junior international striker Rabbi Matondo who is enjoying game time at Schalke 04.
The 19-year-old Liverpool-born striker is also eligible to play for DR Congo.
1998 FIFA World Cup winning defender Lillian Thuram’s son, Marcus, joined Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach this season from Ligue 1 side Guingamp and the 22-year-old French striker has so far scored three goals in eight games.
Meanwhile, straight out of Africa is 25-year-old Togo striker Ihlas Bebou who joined ambitious Hoffenheim this term after making his Bundesliga debut two seasons ago with Hannover.
Bebou has steadily natured his craft through from the German amateur ranks and up through to the 2.Bundesliga since 2013 and is showing great potential as the future face of African football in the Bundesliga.
The Human Rights Commission has commended President Edgar Lungu for pardoning 283 inmates from the various Correctional Facilities across the country on the eve of Zambia’s 55th Independence Anniversary Celebrations.
Commission spokesperson Mwelwa Muleya says the pardoning of 245 male and 38 female inmates by President Lungu in exercise of his Prerogative of Mercy Powers under Article 97 of the Constitution of Zambia is significant towards restoring the dignity, rights and freedoms of the affected individuals.
Mr Muleya said the pardoning of inmates is also necessary towards decongesting Correctional Facilities which are usually overcrowded between 250% and 300%, a situation that contributed to the violation of a wide range of human rights violations.
He said it is a momentous occasion for the pardoned individuals to join their families and the rest of Zambians in celebrating Zambia’s 55th Independence Anniversary Celebrations under the theme “Our Freedoms, Our Country and Our Responsibility”.
Mr Muleya said the Commission is commending the President’s exercise of mercy against the background of the unfavourable human rights situation in detention and correctional facilities which the Commission has consistently been bringing to the attention of the various legal and justice sector players in Zambia.
Further, Mr Muleya has thanked Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo and the Minister of Justice Given Lubinda for their steadfast leadership and understanding on matters relating to promoting and protecting the rights of inmates.
He said the Commission is particularly encouraged that its support to the Government to improve the rights of inmates has on many occasions been appreciated by the Government through taking of practical steps towards redressing the situation, including pardoning some of the recommended inmates based on various human rights considerations.
However, Mr Muleya said the Commission is saddened by the death of an inmate it had recommended for pardoning on account of ill-health and old age, a day before the announcement of his pardoning.
“The Commission commiserates with his family on the tragic loss. Nonetheless, the Commission is hugely grateful that the President had done what was humanely possible by exercising his constitutional powers of mercy and compassion on individuals convicted by the courts”, he added.
He has congratulated all those who were pardoned and appealed to them not to betray the President’s Prerogative of Mercy by backsliding into old behaviour that had caused them to be in conflict with the law and society at large.
Mr Muleya said their pardoning should be an opportunity for the released inmates to understand and appreciate the fact that despite offending society, society at large through the President has forgiven them. Therefore, the released inmates should give back their best to society by living a life consistent with this year’s Independence Anniversary theme, “Our Freedoms, Our Country and Our Responsibility”.
The Unspoilt Lower Zambezi National Park- however new mine coming soon
By EAZ President, Dr. Lubinda Haabazoka
The news that mining has been given a go ahead by the courts in a project that has been disputed since 2012 has worried me the past few days.
I have had the privilege of visiting the lower Zambezi and I tell you there is not a place beautiful in Zambia than that place.
I must admit that most animals prefer the Zimbabwean side because of human encroachment on the Zambian side.
Poaching is also rampant amongst us Zambians. Indiscriminate cutting down of tree is also a big problem.
The Republican President decreed that he wants to see tourism the second contributor to GDP. This is achievable and as the Economics Association of Zambia, we are working hand in hand with the government through the ministry of tourism to ensure this is realised..
In order for us to achieve that, we need to have a different approach towards tourism management as well as management of our natural wonders and parks.
Mining in lower Zambezi will have the following negative effects:
Mining will pollute the surrounding environment and since animals are sensitive, they will run to Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Our generation will be seeing lions in other countries or at zoos which we don’t have.
Mining will create unplanned settlements in the lower Zambezi National Park as the mine will attract all sorts of people that will come to benefit from mining activities. Even if the mine builds planned settlements for its employees, these settlements will need maids, gardeners, tailors, mechanics, Electricians, etc these people will come and build these unplanned settlements and removing them from there will be a political issue just like any other unplanned settlement in Zambia. In fact politicians will protect them therefore destroying the park completely.
The mine after attracting shanty compounds will be unable to provide electricity and even energy for cooking. There comes in charcoal burning. The first 10 years the mine will be operational, there will be no trees left!!!
This mine won’t be profitable in its first 10 years just like other mines have done in Zambia. But the damage that will be made in the 10 years to the environment will be enormous.
Increased animal human conflicts
Agriculture activities will start in the park making it difficult for ZAWA to operate
Zambia will have no right to talk about climate change. The world operates like a cartel. Once you approve mining in a National park, no green funds will flow into the country and tourists will never come. We shall be “blacklisted” by tourists because of these actions. The blacklisting won’t be formal but in the minds of tourists. The same way customers companies running racist adverts.
The verdict is that we need to all come together and stop these people from mining. The economic and environmental benefits of keeping a National park outweigh those of mining. Just the other week the mines were laying off employees.
Kabwe is an example of what happens after mining activities. We have found it difficult to revive vegetation there. Chingola is an example of the negative effects of mining due to pollution as fishermen and farmers can no longer produce.
Farmer Langsu Mumbelunga in his polluted field near the Mushishima stream, Zambia. Photograph: John Vidal for the Observer
We are now talking about the Kafue and Zambezi rivers. These two rivers meet in the Zambezi National Park.
This doesn’t even need a court decision. It needs an administrative decision.
ZEMA did not approve the mine. Then Minister Hon Harry Kalaba is said to have overruled them. The current minister can reverse the decision in the interest of the nation.
The government should start giving all parks under private management to avoid future companies seeking to mine in the parks.
We are already cutting down trees at the source of the Zambezi, and now we are moving to the parks. What kind of people are we???
