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This is were they found jobs for Zambians

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This is were they found jobs for Zambians
Lovely Acosta Baruelo, 26, was reportedly tied to a tree in Saudi Arabia because she left an expensive piece of furniture out in the sun.Courtesy Daily Mail UK

Dear Editor,

Please share this story with your audience.

Concerned Zambian

Filipino maid working in Saudi Arabia was tied to a tree as punishment for leaving furniture outside in the sun.

Lovely Acosta Baruelo, 26, was reportedly tied to a tree in Saudi Arabia because she left an expensive piece of furniture out in the sun
A Filipino maid was allegedly tied to a tree as punishment for leaving furniture outside in the sun.

The woman, named Lovely Acosta Baruelo, 26, had been working for a wealthy family in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for several months.

But she is said to have angered her employers after leaving a piece of expensive furniture outside in the heat, where it risked being faded by the sun.

A colleague, also from the Philippines, took pictures of the alleged punishment showing Lovely tied by her wrists and legs to a tree in the family’s garden on May 9.

The Middle Eastern family are understood to have carried out the act to show her the effects of staying outside in under the sun.

The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it was made aware of the situation and successfully helped the mother-of-two to return home.

A spokesman said: ‘The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reports that Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Lovely Acosta Baruelo from Saudi Arabia arrived in Manila at 8:55 p.m. on 9 May 2019.

‘The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh reported that the case of OFW Baruelo was referred to them on 9 May, and she was repatriated on the same day. OFW Baruelo was allegedly punished by her employer by being tied to a tree.’

A woman who claimed to be Acosta’s co-worker appealed for help and said that their employer would hurt them whenever they commit small mistakes.

Speaking this week, the relieved worker said: ‘Thank you so much to all those who helped me. I want to also ask help for the other Filipinos left there. They are the ones who helped me and uploaded my pictures. I am afraid for their safety. I hope they get rescued too.

‘You old man will find your karma, just you wait. Keep deducting our salaries. This is the reason why you have poor health. It’s your karma for all the wrong things you did.’

An estimated 2.3 million Filipinos work in the Middle East and Africa. Of this number, more than half are women.

There have been many complaints that they are mistreated by their new employers.

Earlier this year Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe said that sending over 1,000 youths to the Gulf region to work as maids, drivers, waiters and waitresses is part of the PF government’s job creation strategy.

“When we say PF is creating employment this is what we mean,” Mrs Mwanakatwe said.

She announced that Government has secured 1,000 jobs per year in the gulf region, for waiters, waitresses, drivers and maids.

Mrs. Mwanakatwe said the PF government has collaborated with the Gulf region to send 1,000 Zambians per year to Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates to work as waiters, waitresses, drivers and maids.

She stated that the PF promised the Zambian people jobs as outlined in its manifesto and that an opportunity had arisen for many ordinary Zambians to travel abroad for work in an honest and safe manner.

Source:
Daily Mail UK
Lusakatimes article- PF job creation strategy

Book Review – Michelle Obama, Becoming

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Book Review – Michelle Obama, Becoming

Michelle Obama, Becoming, New York, Crown Penguine Random House, 2018, 426 pages, Hardcover, $32.00 (K411.00)

By Mwizenge S. Tembo, Ph. D

Professor of Sociology

Introduction

In 1619 the first ship carrying about 19 African slaves arrived in Virginia in the United States. From 1525 and 1866, it is estimated that 12.5 million Africans were shipped to the New World during the Atlantic Slave Trade. The New World  constituted North America, the Caribbean, and South America.  It is estimated only about 388,000 of the 12.5 million African slaves ended up in the United States of America. Because of reproduction among the slaves on the American plantations, this number grew to 4 million at the height of chattel slavery in the United States. The brutal treatment, oppression, and racial discrimination of  African Americans has lasted way beyond the period of formal, legal or institutional chattel slavery after President Lincoln’s Emancipation when slavery was abolished in the United States in 1863. African American slaves could not vote, could not legally marry, slave masters raped the women, African Americans could not be allowed to read and write or let alone gain formal education or own land. The white racial discrimination directed at African Americans later turned into Jim Crow.

The question is how did a descendant of slaves, a black woman African American descendant of the 12.3% or 34 million African Americans today, end up living in the United States White House for 8 years from 2008 to 2016? This is the most prestigious and residence of the most powerful ruler in the world: the American President.

Michelle Obama

In Becoming, Michelle Obama, former Michelle Robinson, describes her journey from the working class or blue-collar childhood in the black South Side of Chicago to the White House. How this happened in the most fascinating, intriguing, and optimistic story, which can perhaps only happen in America.

Michelle was born to a modest blue-collar black working class family in the black South Side of Chicago. The whole neighborhood has a large population of African-Americans who migrated to that neighborhood from the Southern plantations particularly in the 1920s and 30s in search of jobs and a better life away from the Deep South. Her father worked in a factory while her mother suspended any formal work outside the home so that she could raise Michelle and her older brother Craig. Michelle had tremendous support from her family as she navigated life in her neighborhood, battling obstacles of gender and racial stereotypes in school, and eventually went to college at the prestigious Ivy League Princeton University.

In the book, she describes how she was a check the box motivated and highly driven black woman. She wanted to get her law degree, join a top law firm in a great career with a clear path, buy a good car, buy a good house, meet a good man and husband, have a family and live happily in a middle class safe secure life ever after.  Describing some of her earlier experiences growing up during her years in college:

“I was privately and at all times focused on the agenda. Beneath my laid-back college kid demeanor, I lived like a half-closeted CEO, quietly but unswervingly focused on achievement, bent checking every box. My to-do list lived in my head and went with me everywhere. I assessed my goals, analyzed my outcomes, counted my wins.” (Obama, 2018, p.89)

All of this changed years later when Michelle was working at a top law firm in Chicago after graduating from Law School. She was assigned to be a supervisor of a young law intern with a strange name from Harvard University called Barack Obama. Michelle and Barack Obama fell in love. Barack’s father was from Kenya in Africa. His mother was a white American from Kansas whom Obama’s father met in Hawaii. Barack’s mother lived in Indonesia both being married and being an anthropologist. Barack’s intelligent but lofty laid-back personality transformed Michelle’s perspective on life.

Twists and Turns

Every life history has its own twists and turns. The book Becoming describes numerous twists and turns Michelle Obama’s experienced. In the process, the reader learns about American history in general, the nature of race and white privilege in America, challenges of women and black women who want to pursue careers and have a family and raise children at the same time. In fact Michelle Obama says:

“I wanted to have a work life and a home life, but with some promise that one would never fully squelch the other. I hoped to be exactly like my own mother and at the same time nothing like her at all……Could I have everything? Would I have everything? I had no idea.” (Obama, 2018, p. 173).

Michelle Obama describe the challenges of political campaigning for the Presidency of her husband and the triumph of eventually becoming herself. For the reader who lived through her tenure as America’s first African-American First Lady from 2008 to 2016, you will recognize the various major events during the period. For the reader who is outside the United States, the book will give you a glimpse of some the best optimistic events of American life and history.

What is United States of America?

One can say America is bad society because of its shamefully brutal origins. But one can also say definitely that America is the best society because in spite its shameful history and its oppressive elements, the society provides change and opportunities for its citizens. Everyday America represents the many colors of life like the proverbial chameleon. America is conundrum. This may be the reason why America is a focus of envy of many nations in the world as there is no other country or society as great as America in the world. Michelle Obama’s Becoming is the best testimony of the intriguing nature and miracle of a powerful society of immigrants from all parts of the world.

References
1.Slavery in the United States
2.African Americans many rivers to cross
3.slave voyages
4.Race population

Musakanya upbeat about Chipolopolo’s 2019 COSAFA Cup prospects

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Musakanya upbeat about Chipolopolo’s 2019 COSAFA Cup prospects

Red Arrows midfielder Bruce Musakanya is upbeat as Zambia prepares to participate at the 2019 COSAFA Cup in South Africa.

Chipolopolo, who have been handed a COSAFA Cup group stage bye, will enter the competition on June 2 in the quarterfinals of the tournament running from May 25 to June 8 in Durban.

Musakanya, who has been named in the provisional squad, said time has come for Zambia to reclaim the COSAFA Cup.

He was part of the last Zambia team to have to won the COSAFA Cup in 2013 on home soil.

“It’s been long since we won it. This is our time to win it. We need to be champions of the COSAFA Cup,” he said.

Musakanya has scored six times for Arrows this season.

“It’s all about team work. The National Team has best players in the league. We need to focus; I need to encourage the guys that we need to work extra hard so that we can win this year’s COSAFA Cup,” he said.

President Lungu expected on the Copperbelt for a 3 days working visit

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President Lungu expected on the Copperbelt for a 3 days working visit
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu talks to PF Secretary General Davies Mwila at City Airport shortly before departure for Mansa, Luapula Province on Tuesday, April 23,2019-Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu talks to PF Secretary General Davies Mwila at City Airport shortly before departure for Mansa, Luapula Province on Tuesday, April 23,2019-Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu is today May, 17th 2019 expected on the Copperbelt Province on a three day working visit.

While on the Province President LUNGU will tour various developmental projects and hold meetings with various stakeholders from the Mines.

The Head of State will also attend to UCZ Corporate Health Fun Walk and Run at The Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday.

On Sunday the President will attend church Service at Christ the King Pentecostal in Ndola.

President Lungu will land at the Simon Mwansa International Airport in Ndola at 09:00 hours.

This is contained in a notice released to all Patriotic Front party members on the Copperbelt by the Patriotic Front Copperbelt Provincial Chairperson MCC Nathan Chanda.

Meanwhile President Lungu’s desire is to ensure that the jobs of all workers in the mining sector are protected, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda, has said.

Mr Chanda told Journalists at State House in Lusaka yesterday, the Head of State wanted to ensure that the situation at the mining houses quickly came to normal.

He said that “President Lungu wants to ensure that the situation in the mining houses does not get to worse.”|

Mr Chanda also disclosed that the President would soon meet the Chamber of Mines, an umbrella body of the mining houses and Mineworkers Union of Zambia, to discuss the matter.

He said the Head of State wanted to hold a constructive dialogue with stakeholders to resolve the impasse with the mining houses.

“The President does not want this situation to worsen, he wants to meet the Chamber of Mines and Mineworkers to have a construction dialogue on this matter,” Mr Chanda said.

Workers from Mopani Copper Mine and Konkola Copper Mine appealed to President Lungu to intervene in the matter after the two mining giants threatened to scale down on employees as a means to cushion the impact of the new mining tax changes on their operations.

Minister of Mines and Mineral Development Richard Musukwa rejected the proposal by the two mining firms, saying that the decision was null and void.

And Mr Musukwa threatened that government would repossess the mining shafts from the two mining firms and engage local contractors to run them as a means to safeguard jobs.

Mutati wants Sales Tax deferred again

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Mutati wants Sales Tax deferred again

Works and Supply Minister Felix Mutati
Works and Supply Minister Felix Mutati

Former Finance Minister Felix Mutati has called for another deferment to the implementation of the sales tax regime to allow for a detailed economic impact assessment and address the administrative issues of the value added tax-vat regime.

Speaking before a Parliamentary Budget Committee on Thursday in his capacity as Global Ambassador for ACCA, Mr.Mutati said going ahead with the implementation of the sales tax will negatively affect the business community especially local distributors.

Mr. Mutati who is also Faction Leader of the Movement for Multiparty Leader is of the view that introducing a new tax will not resolve the issue of tax refunds for the Zambia Revenue Authority.

He further submitted that the Sales Tax has a limited audit trail throughout the supply chain as compared to the value added tax which has a self-enforcing mechanism.

The Sales Tax Bill of 2019 has a number of objectives, which include the introduction of a sales tax on the supply of goods by manufacturers, producers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers and the importers of goods into the country.

The proposed Sales Tax aims at putting a stop to the escalation of VAT refunds, dating back to 2009, and estimated at a cost K17.9 billion as at January 9th, 2019.

The objective of the Bill is to revise the turnover tax threshold from eight hundred thousand Kwacha (K800, 000) per annum to five hundred thousand Kwacha (K500, 000) in order to harmonize it with the Sales Tax threshold.

4% salary hike for civil servants is retrogressive-Kafwanka

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4% salary hike for civil servants is retrogressive-Kafwanka

Financial Analyst Blessings Kafwanka has stated that Civil Servants deserve a salary increment of not less than 10% across the board.

The Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union confirmed that they have signed a new collective agreement with the government for a 4% salary hike.

But Mr. Kafwanka said offering civil servants an increment of 4% when the rate of inflation is at 8% is retrogressive.

”An employee who had a gross pay of K6,000 will now have a gross pay of K6,280. Even though there’s a marginal increase of K280 in the nominal pay, the real income has reduced by 4% (8%-4%) In short, after the 4% increment, the basket of goods that a civil servant can afford has actually reduced by 4% due to inflation, ” he said.

”Yes, we understand the pressure on our national resources but employees are a vital resource in any organization who deserve good compensation for their labour. The government must lead by example. They are actually sending a negative message to private sector employers.”

Mr Kafwanka said Zambi cannot prioritize things such as purchasing private jets and reintroducing deputy ministerial positions and then claim that the country cannot afford to give public sector workers a reasonable pay due to the current economic hardships.

”We need to get our priorities right. We must place more value on civil servants than politicians because they are in the frontline of implementing government policy, ” he said.

Declare hunger situation, a National Disaster-HH

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Declare hunger situation, a National Disaster-HH
Hakainde Hichilema

UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has advised the government to declare the hunger situation a national disaster.

Mr. Hichilema said declaring a national disaster will enable Zambia to receive the required level of support in dealing with the situation.

”Months ago, we were adamant that the government must not export maize. We are now faced with a shortage and the price of a 25kg bag of mealie meal is approximately K120,” Mr. Hichilema said.

”It would be prudent for the government to declare the current maize shortage and hunger situation, a National Disaster. This will enable us to get the support we need to alleviate it, ” he said.

Me. Hichilema said Zambia is now faced with a severe shortage and that the price of mealie meal is far out of affordability for most Zambians.

Zambian born , Saray Khumalo, becomes first black SA woman to conquer Mount Everest

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Zambian born , Saray Khumalo, becomes first black SA woman to conquer Mount Everest
Saray Khumalo has become the first black African woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, with an elevation of 8,848m. Photo – Twitter

South African Saray Khumalo has reached the highest point on the planet becoming the first black African woman to scale Mount Everest, eNCA has reported.

The business executive reportedly reached the summit in the early hours of Thursday. This was her fourth attempt at climbing Mount Everest.

In a previous attempt in May 2017, Khumalo had to be rescued from Mount Everest by helicopter. She had been injured during inclement weather while trying to reach the summit, Netwerk24 reported. Her previous attempts had been scuppered by an earthquake in Nepal and an avalanche.

Mount Everest is the world’s highest mountain at its official elevation of 8 848m above sea level.

Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay were the first people to reach the mountain’s summit on May 29, 1953.

Since then, around 800 people attempted to climb Mount Everest annually. More than 296 people have died trying to climb it.

Born in Zambia, with a Rwandan bloodline and now a South African, she has achieved her goal of becoming the first black woman from Africa to summit Mount Everest.

In 2012, Saray summited Mount Kilimanjaro and in the process, raised funds for the Lunchbox Fund. The mountaineering passion took hold and she embarked on a journey to climb the highest peak on each continent, not for herself but the education of African children. She summited Mount Elbrus in 2014 and Mount Aconcagua in 2015.

She became a Nelson Mandela Libraries ambassador and raised nearly R1m for school libraries. After being on Everest during both the Serac fall (2014) and the earthquake (2015), she reached the south summit in 2017.

Through pure perseverance, grit and courage she decided to return to Mount Everest in 2019. During this expedition, she supports the Dr Thandi Ndlovu Foundation.

 

(Source: News24 )

Farmer union welcomes purchase of maize by ZCF

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Farmer union welcomes purchase of maize by ZCF

National Union for Small-Scale farmers of Zambia President Frank Kayula has welcomed the move taken by the Zambia Cooperative Federation to buy 200,000 metric tons of maize from farmers across the country, this marketing season.

Dr. Kayula said his institution is happy because the small scale farmers will get a good price from the players that will be competing for the same product.He told ZANIS that it was delighting to note that Zambia Cooperative Federation, Food Reserve Agency and other private players will flood the market to buy maize grain at a projected good price.Dr. Kayula emphasized that all players that will buy maize from farmers this year should ensure that they pay farmers in good time to enable them plan for the next farming season.

He suggested that a credit system should be developed in order for farmers to get what they want owing to the delay caused by the cash system of payment.

“We are very happy that there will be a lot of market players in the next maize marketing season. We anticipate a good price which may go up to K110 which will benefit the farmers.” He stressed.

Meanwhile, Patulani Banda a small holder farmer in Chipata District of Eastern Province told ZANIS in an interview today that the intentions of ZCF are well intended as they will offer small scale farmers a diverse market. Mr Banda pointed out that the players in the purchase exercise will be competing for the commodity, hence offering better prices.

He disclosed that when a lot of players buy maize, it will gradually see the reduction in the price of mealie meal and uplift the living standards of people.

Last week, the Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF) announced that it will, during this maize marketing season purchase 200,000 metric tons of maize from farmers across the country.ZCF Director General James Chirwa cited Central, Northern, North-western and Eastern Provinces as among the areas where the commodity will be purchased from.

Zambia/Ireland bilateral ties appreciated

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Zambia/Ireland bilateral ties appreciated

President Edgar Lungu has appreciated the bilateral ties that exist between Zambia and Ireland, in the health and education sectors.
The Head of State has reiterated that the two countries have cooperated very well towards enhancing the education and health sectors.

“Zambia has benefited immensely from contributions made by Ireland in schools and colleges countrywide”, President Lungu said.

President Lungu was speaking today when Kevin Kelly who is the Special Envoy to Ireland’s Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, paid a courtesy call on him at State House.

And Special Envoy to Ireland’s Prime Minister Kevin Kelly has thanked the Zambian government for support rendered to that country at the United Nations Security Council.Mr Kelly also notes that Zambia has a strong track record both at the United Nations (UN) and in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region for being peaceful and also being a beacon of freedom in Africa.

The Special Envoy says as a way of supporting peace, through its embassy, Ireland will engage someone who will be sharing experiences on the peace process, in the coming month.

Independent Broadcasting Authority demands media houses to provide recordings 2 weeks in advance

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Independent Broadcasting Authority demands media houses to provide recordings 2 weeks in advance

The Media Liaison Committee (MLC) has noted with sadness a notice by Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) to all broadcast media houses to furnish the IBA with recordings broadcast media programmes every two weeks.

The MLC find this notice as another example of the increasing anti-media activities towards the broadcast media sector by the IBA, which if left unchecked will kill the media sector.

The MLC also notes with sadness the poor timing of these IBA actions that happen during the months that journalists are either celebrating world press freedom or deliberating on important matters of improving the media sector.

Last year in May during celebrations of Press Freedom period, the IBA suspended licences of 12 selected media houses and revoked the license of Copperbelt TV. This year around the same period the IBA has suspended licences of Prime TV, Valley FM of Nyimba, Ngoma Radio in Luanshya and Kafue Radio of Lusaka.

The IBA’s notice for the media to provide media recordings every 2 weeks come barely a week after the Zambian media returned from a two- day Insaka where momentous decisions were made at improving the media regulatory framework and harmonising existing media regulations including the IBA and the ZNBC Acts. Among the issues deliberated on included the complete overhaul of the IBA system to make broadcast media self-regulated like any print and online media

The MLC therefore find this notice which falls outside the IBA’s mandate and statutes as a clear provocation and harassment of the media sector. The MLC finds this notice also anti-media and aimed at killing the media industry through the unnecessary inconvenience and added cost of recording and shipping these media recordings to Lusaka from far flung areas as Mwinilunga, Mwandi, Nakonde and Lundazi just to mention a few. The MLC also find this directive an un planned cost to the poor community radio and TV stations

It is the duty of the IBA to spend money monitoring media activities through their Inspection Department but not their mandate to pass on this cost to poor and overregulated broadcast media sector, especially community radio stations.

The MLC therefore calls on the Ministry of Information and Broadcast Services to provide clear oversight on the IBA through the following:

Appointing as a matter of urgency of a new IBA Board to modernise IBA and give it a new management team that understands the role of broadcast media in good governance and democracy in the new era of media freedoms and self-regulation

Repeal the IBA Act and remove anti-media growth clauses that restrict media freedoms, income generation activities, editorial independence and professionalism, especially among community media.

Transform the IBA and make them a protector of media freedoms and media professionalism in these times of media attacks and journalists harassments in the line of duty amidst hostile political and public environment.

Harmonise the IBA and ZNBC Acts to allow for statutory media self-regulation of the Broadcast Sector

Compel the IBA to use technology and cloud services to create online mail drop boxes for the media to quarterly save their recordings for any interested party and researchers to access at no cost to the media.

The MLC and through its newly formed Media Self-Regulation Technical Committee stands ready move forward the agenda of media self-regulation and instilling media peer review and ethical conduct in the performance of the media sector towards serving the Zambian public as its watchdog.

The MLC and through its newly formed Media Self-Regulation Technical Committee also stands ready to engage with the IBA, Ministry of Information and Broadcast Services and the Media Houses in moving forward this agenda of actualising the Golden Peacock Media Insaka resolution of media self-regulation backed by law.

Issued by Enock Ngoma

Chairperson – Media Liaison Committee (MLC)

Chambeshi demands improved defensive show from Nkana despite victory

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Chambeshi demands improved defensive show from Nkana despite victory

Coach Beston Chambeshi wants Nkana to improve in defence after a narrow 3-2 win over Napsa Stars in Wednesday’s delayed FAZ Super Division match in Lusaka.

The win pushed Nkana from 7th into 6th place in Stream B as they increased their tally to 22 points from 15 matches played.

“Napsa, they put up a good fight. They started very well with that speedy but we had to hold them,” Chambeshi said.

This was Kalampa’s first win in four consecutive matches.

“I am happy with the striking force, at least they are fighting. We now have to amend our mistakes in defence,” he said.

Nkana are now preparing to face Buildcon on Sunday at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

Napsa coach Mohammed Fathy rued the home defeat.

“I think we played very well. We were leading twice but lack of concentration from the set piece and miscommunication between the goalkeeper and the defence cost us the third goal,” Fathy said.

Napsa are fifth on the table with 22 points from 16 matches played.

“Anything is possible in football but our chances look very slim. My target right now is to win the next two matches and we will see what is going to happen at the end,” he said.

FAZ ZSD golden boot chaser Mavugo in Burundi 2019 AFCON team

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FAZ ZSD golden boot chaser Mavugo in Burundi 2019 AFCON team

FAZ Super Division top scorer and Napsa Stars striker Laudit Mavugo is part of Burundi’s provisional 28-member 2019 AFCON squad.

Mavugo,who has scored 10 goals this season for Napsa,is one of three call-ups from the FAZ Super Division for Burundi’s AFCON debut at the tournament Egypt will host from June 21 to July 15.

The others are Lusaka Dynamos goalkeeper McArthur Arakaza and Zesco United midfielder Enock Sabumukama.

But Zesco second choice and Burundi Under-23 goalkeeper Dieudonne Ntibahezwa, like his club mate and Kenyan striker Jesse Were, will follow AFCON proceedings from their Ndola base.

The trio brings to ten players so far confirmed from the FAZ Super Division summoned for pre-AFCON selection by their respective national teams.

But Namibia,who also enjoy a sizable representation in the FAZ Super Division, have yet to confirm their provisional AFCON team, although they will be taking their home-based side for this months 2019 COSAFA Cup in South Africa.

Meanwhile, Zanaco midfielder Tafadzwa Rusike including defenders Jimmy Zingai of Power Dynamos and Dennis Dauda from Lusaka Dynamos are in the provisional Zimbabwe team.

Kenya, who return to the AFCON for the first time since 2004, have defender David Owino and midfielder Anthony Akumu from Zesco including Nkana central defenderMusa Mohammed.

And Nkana defender Hassan Khamis is in Emmanuel Ammunike’s provisional 39-member team for Tanzania’s first return to the AFCON since 1980.

National Dialogue Forum concludes and publishes the resolution

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National Dialogue Forum concludes and publishes the resolution
Delegates at the National Dialogue Forum

The National Dialogue Forum constituted to come up with resolutions that will facilitate the amendment of the constitution has come to an end.

Delegates deliberated on the amendment of the Constitution of Zambia Act number 2 of 2016 as well as reform the law on the Electoral process, the public order and the regulation of the political parties’ bill based on submissions from various stakeholders.

Below is the full statement released to the media on the outcome of the dialogue

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE FORUM SECRETARY, PATRICK CHISANGA ON THE OUTCOME OF THE FORUM

LUSAKA 15TH MAY, 2019. I wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone that sacrificed their time to come and participate at this important national undertaking, the National Dialogue Forum.

The Forum has sat for a total number of 16 days from the initial ten days that were provided for in the National Dialogue Act of 2019. The Minister of Justice had to extend the sittings of the Forum in order to effectively attend to all the Bills that were before the Forum.

As you may be aware members of the Press, the mandate of the Forum was to Facilitate the implementation of resolutions that were made on 12th June, 2018, in Siavonga by Secretaries-General of political parties relating to Constitutional and institutional reforms.

The Forum was further to facilitate the Constitution refinement process and regulation of political parties, public order and electoral process reforms.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to inform you that the Forum has adopted the following proposed laws for possible enactment by Parliament:

  1. The draft Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill, 2019
  2. The draft Electoral Process (Amendment) Bill, 2019
  3. The draft Public Order Bill, 2019

The Forum has made the following amendments to the Constitution Bill 2019

  • Revised the preamble to confirm that indeed Zambia remains a Christian nation by removing the words multi religious.
  • Adopted the principle for formation of coalition government where the candidates fail to reach the 50% plus one threshold provided the parties to a coalition government manage to galvanize the total of 50 percent plus one
  • Confirm that the National Assembly shall only dissolve at the date of the general election to allow Members of Parliament complete their full 5 year term
  • Provide for entry of women and marginalized groups in Parliament and Councils through the mixed member electoral system
  • Affirm our people’s right to freedom of conscience by removing Section 9 clause 1 of the Public Order Bill which penalized people who refuse to sing the national anthem. This means that it is not mandatory for any group to sing the national anthem except at public functions
  • Revise the period for hearing of a presidential petition to 30 calendar days from the 14 days
  • Provide for the appointment of deputy Ministers
  • Further, civil servants intending to seek political office must resign from their jobs two years before elections.

On the draft Electoral Process Bill, 2019, the following amendments have been proposed

  • Reduced the campaign period from three months to sixty days
  • Provided for the independent candidates to select their symbols from the list made available by the Commission
  • Provide for the Commission to publish the election time table in a national wide circulation in addition to the gazette
  • And the provision of a coalition government.

On the Public Oder Bill, 2019, the following proposed amendments have been made:

  • Provide for the enjoyment of the right of freedom of assemble and association
  • Regulate the conduct of public gatherings for the preservation of public order.

We wish to assure you that in the process of validating and refining the Bills, has been very open and transparent as you may be aware that all the proceedings were live on Parliament radio and TV.

The process has just started as I indicated earlier on that this is work in progress, the Bills will then go to parliament where they will be enacted into law.

As a Forum Am happy to inform you that we have completed our task and the resolutions have since been adopted as you have witnessed.

I thank you all and God bless you.

Issued by Forum Secretary,

Mr. Patrick Chisanga.

JCTR calls for mealie meal price reduction

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JCTR calls for mealie meal price reduction
Some of the Mealie meal produced by the Plant
Some of the Mealie meal produced by the Plant

The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has called on government to continue with the diversification programme in the agriculture sector in order to stabilise the price of mealie meal in the country, and realise a favourable reduction in the commodity.

JCTR has expressed concern with the continued increase in the high price of mealie meal on the local market.

JCTR says the concern has been raised based on the fact that mealie meal is the country’s staple commodity and a further increase will adversely affects the cost of living.

According to a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by JCTR Social & Economic Development Programme Officer Chanda Chileshe, hunger levels have increased among the poor who do not have the capacity to afford the current high cost of mealie meal.

The statement further noted policymakers need to act on the demand of the people they serve, in order to create a favourable and well managed economy

The Statement also disclosed that the Basic Needs Basket for the month of April for a family of five in Lusaka reduced to K5, 519 from K 5, 543 in March 2019 representing a decrease of K24 which was necessitated by the reduction in the price of charcoal which reduced by K14 from K159 in March to K145 in April per 90 kilogramme bag.

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