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Mungwi District Hospital in Northern Province was Officially opened by Republican President of Zambia Edgar Chagwa Lungu on the 8th day of August 2019, making it the first ever hospital in Mungwi District.
The Hospital was constructed by China Gansu Engineering Cooperation at a cost of K14.7 million, and will provide services such as X-RAY, physiotherapy, among other diagnostic and curative services.
Phase one of the hospital which comprises of an out-patient department and administration block, has been under construction since 2015.
George Lwandamina says Zesco United will this Saturday face hosts Green Mamba of eSwatini with the mindset of a cup final in their 2019/2020 CAF Champions League preliminary round, first leg tie away in Manzini.
Zesco kickoff their quest for an unprecedented fifth successive group stage appearance in continental competition after three campaigns in the CAF Champions League in 2016, 2018 and 2018/2019 season’s and one in the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup.
Lwandamina said despite his sides’ continental pedigree, Zesco will be cautious but efficient in the match.
“Football is never played like that, you play and then you win, you can’t win before you play,” Lwandamina said.
“We will give them the respect that they deserve but what I can just maybe urge the players is to never to be complacent because they are playing a team they have never met before.
“They have to take this game seriously if we are have to talk about advancing. First, we have to deal with this hurdle.
“So, every stage that we will play is a cup final and that is the mentality we have to take into this game.”’
Meanwhile, Zesco will host Green Mamba in the last leg on August 24 with the victor to face either Township Rollers of Botswana or Young Africans from Tanzania in the pre-group stage in September.
Livingstone Central Hospital senior medical superintendent John Kachimba has directed heads of departments to charge a minimum of K3,000 for all foreigners seeking health services at the institution.
Dr Kachimba said the money should be deposited into the hospital account and a government receipt should be presented as proof of payment to cover the foreigners’ medical bills.
LCC through the Department of Public Health has received results of the analysis of Legana Hungarian Sausage from the Public Analyst.
On 7th August, 2919, the Department of Public Health received a complaint from Mr Erick Ng’andu that he found a “condom” like foreign matter in the alleged Legana sausage.
The Council collected the complaint sample from the complainant and took it to the Food and Drugs Laboratory for foreign matter and food grade casing identification analysis.
The analysis were done and the results have been received and communicated to the complainant as follows:
There was no evidence of foreign matter identified.
The casing was identified as a food grade casing.
The process was taken in line with the Food and Drugs Act Cap 303 section 3(b) which stipulates that any person who sells any food that consist in whole or in part any filthy, putrid, rotten, decomposed, or diseased substances, foreign matter or is otherwise unfit for human consumption, or is adulterated shall be guilty of an offence.
However, the process requires that laboratory analysis are conducted before making a conclusion.
This is the more reason why LCC took its time to issue a statement on the matter.
Assertions by some sections of society that LCC did not take action are therefore not true.
Issued by:
George Sichimba
Public Relations Manager
Bowman Lusambo, Maimisa share a light moment with Major Kachingwe during the reconciliatory meeting in Lusaka
Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo has reconciled with Former MMD National Secretary Major Richard Kachingwe.
In December 2012, Mr Lusambo with other then MMD Youth Wing members Scorpion Kadobi, Chiwele Maimisa and Whiteson Mtonga were arrested and charged for assaulting Major Kachingwe.
This was at the height of the MMD internal wrangles following the party’s exit from power in the 2011 elections.
The four were later acquitted in January 2016 after then Lusaka Resident Magistrate Joshua Banda ruled that the evidence adduced before the court was inherently weak and the video footage submitted by ZNBC did not suggest that any of the four accused people assaulted Major. Kachingwe.
Today, Mr Lusambo along with Mr. Kadobi, Mr. Maimisa and Mr. Mtonga held a reconciliatory breakfast meeting with Major Richard Kachingwe in Lusaka.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr Lusambo said the meeting was held to mend the relationship between the four and Major Kachingwe following their acquittal in 2016 on charges of assaulting Major Kachingwe.
“The gesture was important to demonstrate the importance of citizens living in harmony among each other. The gesture was also in line with the example set by His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu who has since reconciled with some of the people who insulted him daily and has gone to offer them key positions in his government,” Mr Lusambo said.
He said “We will continue to draw inspiration and wisdom from our senior citizens such as Major Kachingwe.”
“As a people, we need to embrace reconciliation and nationhood across all political and tribal lines if we are to move together and attain meaningful development.”
And Major Kachingwe announced that he has wholeheartedly embraced the reconciliation and wished the four well in their lives.
“I wish to let you know that I have wholeheartedly forgiven you and forgotten about the incident. It was true I was hurt and very bitter about the incident but as they say, there are no permanent enemies in politics,” Major Kachingwe said.
Bowman Lusambo and Major Kachingwe during the reconciliatory meeting in LusakaBowman Lusambo, Kadobi and Maimisa watches and Whiteson Mtonga shakes hands with Major Kachingwe during the reconciliatory meeting in Lusaka
The National Democratic Congress says the decision by Copperbelt University management to slap a K1500 surcharge on students is unnecessary and very unfair.
NDC National Youth Chairperson Charles Kabwita says Zambia is passing through tough economic times and his party believe most students will not afford to pay this exhbobitant charge.
Mr. Kabwita said CBU has over 10 000 students and simple arithmetic shows that management will gobble in over K15 million through this bogus charge.
He said NDC condemns the students riots of April 2019, but believe the property damaged both private and institutional is far less what management is demanding for.
Mr. Kabwita has since appealed to the Minister of Higher Education Dr. Brian Mushimba to intervene in this matter.
He said NDC see the situation at CBU degenerating because the students union body might incite its members not to pay this outrageous charge.
Mr. Kabwita said what Minister Brian Mushimba should do is to ensure that normalcy returns to CBU at all costs.
He said Dr. Mushimba should sit down with CBU management and come up with a minimum fee acceptable by all.
Mr. Kabwita said NDC commends the efforts by Dr. Mushimba to pacify the unresolved issues at public learning institutions and he should not fall in the same trap of her predecessor Nkandu Luo.
He said Professor. Luo was a disgrace and her removal from the Ministry is most welcome.
Mr. Kabwita has also appealed to students at the University that their behaviour is nothing but decimal when it comes to dealing with sensitive matters.
He said students should desist from riotous behaviour saying damaging both institutional and private property should be the last resort by the intellectuals as the NDC has done so much to lobby for the reopening of cbu.
Mr. Kabwita said students should now take the Clarion opportunity on the reopening of CBU to reform and lauds the new Minister for reinstating all the expelled Cobusu leaders.
He said the new Minister of Higher Education should review the performance contract of CBU vice chancellor Professor Naison Ngoma who has brought more problems to the University.
Avic International employees working on the US$ 23 million upgrade project of Lumumba Road
AVIC International Zambia Limited has increased salaries for its employees by up to 10%.
Company Public Relations Officer Justinah Kapambwe said those targeted for the upward adjustment are electricians, welders, carpenters and plumbers, all from the construction department.
Mrs. Kapambwe said this follows a series of successful meetings held between the targeted employees and management.
She said the company has since encouraged workers to familiarise themselves with the Zambian Labour Laws that are very clear on issues such as probationary contracts.
Mrs. Kapambwe said although AVIC Zambia Limited has also considered increasing salaries of some employees still serving their probationary period to help government address high unemployment levels, the company has implored local workers to aquaint themselves with labour laws to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
She said management has also appealed to employees to refrain from vices such as theft as they were retrogressive to the company’s growth and ultimately the nation.
Mrs. Kapambwe said theft is a criminal act and employees involved in such will be reported to the police and the law will take its course.
She said the desire of management is to create a condusive working environment for all workers.
Transparency International Zambia has welcomed the statement by the Anti-Corruption Commission to continue collaborating with other investigative agencies in pursuing the criminal investigations against the owner of the 48 flats.
TIZ President Reuben Lifuka said his Organisation consider this an important development as it is its position that this matter should not just close at seizure and forfeiture of the property in question.
Mr. Lifuka has reminded the ACC and all law enforcement agencies that the real estate market has long provided a way for individuals to secretly launder or invest stolen money and other illicitly gained funds.
He said this case is a litmus test and the manner that ACC and all other investigative agencies handle this, should send strong signals on the preparedness of Zambia to curb all corruption associated with the real estate sector.
Mr. Lifuka said alongside this investigation, it is imperative that Government embarks on strengthening the rules and enforcement practices and therefore reduce the risks of having anonymous companies or trusts easily acquire property and launder money through the real estate sector.
He has recommend that Government working with the Zambia Institute of Real Estate Agents and other relevant bodies should strengthen the professional codes so as to ensure that all professionals involved in real estate activities are required to identify the actual person who is the beneficial owner of the property as part of their due diligence.
Mr. Lifuka said mechanisms should equally be put in place to ensure that only professionals who pass the fit and proper test, work in the real estate sector.
He noted that presently, there are too many people involved in this sector, including those not qualified and some with ill intentions.
PRESIDENT Edgar Chagwa Lungu has scolded Kasama MP Kelvin Sampa, Mayor Fredrick Chisanga and District Commissioner Kelly Kashiwa for not embracing a spirit of unity and making use of political heavy weight Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) who resigned from UPND as Vice President to join the Patriotic Front.
Speaking shortly after arrival at Kasama airport, President Lungu took to the podium and questioned the political party officials as to why they have not made GBM feel a part of the PF family and delegated duties to him.
President Lungu tasked them to embrace a spirit of unity and ‘quash’ any historic squabbles they may have had in the past.
“Elo in Kasama GBM and his friends have come to join us from UPND, we welcomed them but you have not delegated to them, you have not brought them into the family of PF what is wrong?”, he asked
The President reminded the officials that they are so many seats in the Patriotic Front boat, “Our house has so many seats let’s welcome them.”
And, President Lungu admonished Kasama MP, Mayor and District Commissioner for not working together in unity.
The Head of State who is also party president expressed disappointment that he was repeating the message of unity.
He called on the trio to work together and embrace the spirit of unity which was left by the founding party father President Michael Sata.
And President Lungu has called on politicians and political aspirants for higher offices to manage their political ambitions.
“We can see you are looking at 2021, if you are ambitious show your ambition by working harder and tolerating people the leadership will come to you….Being ambitious is very normal but it is how you manage your ambition, work with the people and it is the people who will choose you,” he advised.
Chinese Ambassador to Zambia LI JIE with Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Lusaka
Rgw Chinese Ambassador to Zambia LI JIE has said that the increasing interest expressed by international investors in the Zambian economy reflects the enabling nature of the country’s business environment. Ambassador JIE reported that in the first half of the year [January to June], USD 260 million came into Zambia from China as direct investment in various sectors of the economy.
Ambassador JIE projected that trade between Zambia and the world’s second largest economy, China, will continue to increase in the medium to long-term. He also confirmed that in 2018, bilateral trade was in excess of USD 5 billion of which over USD 4 billion were Zambia’s exports to China and USD 800 million represented imports from Asia’s heavyweight economy. After Kenya, Zambia is China’s second largest trade partner in Africa.
Mr. JIE expressed his country’s pleasure in contributing to the implementation of various developmental projects in Zambia. He explained that infrastructure built through the partnership of the two friendly nations will contribute to attainment of goals set in the Seventh National Development Plan and consequently to Zambia’s economic growth.
Mr. JIE took the opportunity to reaffirm his country’s readiness to help revitalize the TAZARA Railways, a joint venture between Tanzania and Zambia, and proclaimed that, “China will be glad like to see TAZARA play a significant role in Zambia’s new development thrust.”
Ambassador JIE explained further that to operationalize the TAZARA revitalization plan, China was ready to offer technical support to the company and to aid the railway company’s return to its former glory. At its peak in the 70’s, TAZARA moved in excess of five-million tons of cargo per annum but had declined to the current three-hundred- thousand tons per annum.
Mr. JIE also disclosed that China is exploring new development cooperation models and is willing to support Zambia in the priority economic sectors outlined in the Seventh National Development Plan such as agriculture, energy and tourism.
Responding to Mr. Jie’s brief, Dr. Ng’andu stated that the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation [FOCAC] offers opportunities for Zambia to benefit in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure, energy, tourism and provincial development; and will be explored.
The Minister also indicated that climate change is impacting gravely on Zambia and hence the gradual movement of the agriculture belt to the northerly regions of the country where rain and water bodies are in abundance, adding that, those natural endowments in the north need to be harnessed systematically for both hydro and renewable energy ventures.
Japanese Ambassador to Zambia HIDENOBU SOBASHIMA with Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Lusaka
Hitachi Corporation, a Japanese company which also operates a heavy equipment assembly plant in the capital, Lusaka, plans to set up a skills development academy on the Copperbelt Province for Zambians involved in the mining sector.
Japan has also offered to help Zambia with technical assistance in fiscal and monetary policy matters. Japanese Ambassador to Zambia HIDENOBU SOBASHIMA disclosed this during a consultative dialogue with Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Lusaka, yesterday.
Dr. Ng’andu has welcomed the “gesture of good-will from Japan.” He said during the consultative dialogue that Zambia’s approach to policy implementation will determine the quality of results to be achieved from fiscal consolidation actions, from the Economic Stabilization and Growth Program, and from the Seventh National Development Plan.
The Minister took the opportunity to appeal to Japan and other development partners for committed support in areas such as education, health, capacity building and social welfare.
Higher Education Minister Dr Brian Mushimba has announced that he will engage management at CBU over its decision to slap a 1,500 surcharge on all returning students.
CBU is expected to reopen on Monday, August 19th 2019 after being closed for close to four months.
But in a circular released on Thursday, CBU management announced that all returning students are expected to pay a surcharge of K1,500 to be used to repair private, public and institutional property that was damaged during the university riot on April 5th 2019.
However, Dr Mushimba says he will engage CBU management over the surcharge.
“As announced at the press briefing on re-opening CBU, I was clear there would be a surcharge against all students towards the damage caused to public and private property during the riot. I’m in isoka on duty and hearing exorbitant charges from CBU. Will engage them shortly,” Dr Mushimba announced on Twitter.
Earlier Dr Mushimba had indicated that he will commence meetings with all public university management, councils and unions next week.
He said this will signal the start of continuous dialogue with stakeholders in public universities a way of finding solutions and interventions that stand in the way of quality education for all.
Dr Mushimba also maintained that the students that were expelled have been forgiven
“Those suspended have had their suspension lifted. Those expelled have had their expulsion rescinded and put on suspension. This is the position I communicated already when we announced the re-opening of CBU. I subsequently advised students to focus on learning,” Dr Mushimba said.
“The fact that they are no longer expelled and with time, will have the opportunity to finish their education, they have been forgiven. Let’s leave it at that for now.”
He added, “I’m a product of public universities. I believe in education for all and its ability to equalize ones life. I serve a Government that understands the urgency around issues to do with enhanced delivery of higher education. These guides me to craft solutions and interventions appropriately.”
Mine workers in one of the Zambian Mines on the Copper belt
More than 1000 miners and other workers have lost their jobs after Mopani terminated contracts for some mine contractors on the Copperbelt.
Mopani has shut down its Mindolo North and Central Shafts after they reached the end of their economic life.
The mine says the closure of the two shafts was always part of the plan and that it will now use funds provided by Glencore towards the completion of expansion projects which represent the future of Mopani Mines.
HH inspects the failed Maize crops in Southern Province
The opposition UPND has called for concerted efforts in mobilising resources for relief food in hunger-stricken areas.
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema says there is need for stakeholders to work together and ensure that adequate resources are raised for relief efforts.
Mr. Hichilema said this in a statement that the hunger situation which has been brought about by drought can be addressed with the unity of purpose.
“We call on Mr. Edgar Lungu and his Government to immediately declare the hunger situation in the country as a national disaster inorder to galvanize international support. The hunger situation in our country due to drought and other factors is attaining unprecedented levels not witnessed in a long time in this region,” Mr Hichilema said.
“Government should not shy away from calling for international support to avert severe starvation that is taking a heavy toll on the population.”
“This is a none partisan matter that needs concerted efforts inorder to mobilise resources to help our starving citizens across the country. We can only raise such resources if the Executive can be bold enough to raise an alarm to both our local and international cooperating partners that we need urgent assistance to deal with a disaster on our hands.”
He added, “In our own small way and using our connections, we can also help in driving this agenda to mobilise resources locally, regionally and in the international community to seek for help. Let’s not play politics on such matters when citizens are starving to death. There is no winner or loser in such situations if we all come together and ask for international assistance to help our vulnerable communities on the verge of starvation.”
“Let us for once take a common stand and put our political differences aside for the sake of our citizens inorder to attain this object to avert an impending life threatening situation. Please let the Executive declare hunger as national disaster immediately.”
