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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.
President Edgar Lungu has called on the informal and formal sectors to fully participate in the country’s economic growth.
President Lungu said his administration is open to work with everyone both from the informal and formal sectors to ensure economic growth for the country.
The President said the informal sector which has about 80 percent of citizens is key to the growth of the country’s economy.
He expressed gratitude to the Zambia National Marketeers Credit Association (ZANAMACA) for organising the informal sector so that they can contribute to the economy of the country.
He praised ZANAMACA for reaching out to people in the informal sector who are mostly in markets and bus stations.
He said the informal sector has a huge potential to grow the economy hence the need for government to incorporate them.
The President was speaking when members of the ZANAMACA management led by its President and Founder Mupila Kameya called on him at State House today.
And ZANAMACA President Mupila Kameya assured President Edgar Lungu that the informal sector is now organised and ready to work with government and other stakeholders to contribute to the growth of the economy.
Mr Kameya said the informal sector which has over 6 million members is working to contribute to the growth of the economy by way of paying tax from the various businesses they are engaged in.
He said the association is working with the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) by collecting base tax from traders across the country.
He said marketeers are willing to pay the tax so that government can use the resources to provide services such as construction of roads across the country.
Mr Kameya stated that government will be able to make a lot of revenue from the K1 base tax from marketeers countrywide which ZANAMACA has been engaged to implement.
He disclosed that his association has embarked on a countrywide massive registration of marketeers and data collection exercise under the ZRA project and has so far managed to capture more than 17,000 eligible base taxpayers under the ZANAMACA data base shared with ZRA.
ZANAMACA has further appealed to the President to help the association organise an informal sector golf tournament whose funds will be channeled to the economic empowerment of women marketeers in the country.
Meanwhile ZANAMACA has commended President Edgar Lungu for launching clinics in the markets and bus stations.
Mr Kameya said the clinics will go a long way in helping marketeers, traders, bus operators and their families in accessing health care services.
The Ministry of Higher Education has received support through funding from the United Nations Conference, Trade and Development to help in the development of the Master Plan and Implementation Frame work of its National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy.
Director of Division on Technology and Logistics at UNCTAD Shamika Sirimanne said this when Minister of Higher Education, Professor Nkandu Luo paid a courtesy call on her at her office in Geneva, Switzerland today.
Mrs. Sirimanne said she was delighted that Professor Nkandu Luo’s visit to Geneva last year brought about this new development and was looking forward to working with Zambia in fully implementing the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy under the leadership of Professor Luo.
In response, Professor Luo, said the draft Science, Technology and Innovation Policy is ready, however, there is need to develop the Master plan and the Implementation Framework to actualize the process of transformation.
She said the support accordingly provided by UNCTAD to Zambia through the Ministry of Higher Education is the biggest gift that is required at the moment to move the process of implementation.
Professor Luo indicated that partnerships that are being created with UNCTAD need to focus on Science, Technology and Innovation so as to develop the Education sector.
She thanked UNCTAD for providing the funding as the Ministry of Higher Education is in the process of transforming all the Science institutions under one body so as to leverage the functions and some money for the sector.
Professor Luo also noted the importance of working with other line Ministries if the agenda was to be achieved.
This is according to a statement issued by Ministry of Higher Education Public Relations Officer Chiselwa Kawanda.
Mine workers in one of the Zambian Mines on the Copper belt
The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) have described the looming job cuts at Mopani Copper Mine on the Copperbelt, as disastrous and a big blow to strides made in reducing poverty levels in the country.
CSPR Executive Director Partrick Nshindano wondered why every time there is a proposal in changing the fiscal revenue policy, there is usually some resistance from the mining sector.
ZANIS reports that Mr Nshindano has since advised government to find alternative equity partners that can be engaged to operate the mining sector for the benefit of the Zambian citizenry.
He explained that what government should do is not to solely own the industry but to have a significant number of shares to control in order to protect the interest of the miners.
He added that there is need for government to increase its stake in the operations of all the mines in the country so that in an event that a mining company decides to abruptly pull out, it will be easy for government to continue with operations without disturbing the welfare of workers.
Mr Nshindano told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, that this will also give an opportunity for government to tap into the resources in terms of getting accurate information on the gains that the country accrues.
He pointed out that there is need to also realign the mining sector and ensure that it makes the correct contributions to the country as its main economic stay.
He stated that despite it being a difficulty decision to make as it will come with challenges which will only be for a short term, government should concentrate on the long term benefits which will result in making the industry sustainable and more viable to job creation and poverty reduction among households.
The CSPR Executive Director further called on the mines to pay a fair share of taxes by giving correct information on how much they make and how much are they contributing to the country’s revenue collection.
Mr Nshindano expressed concern that currently, despite mining being the country’s economic earner, the sector is still one of the industries that make a low contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at only about four percent as at 2018.
About 2,100 mine workers are going to lose jobs following the announcement by Mopani Copper Mines to close its Mindola North and Central shafts in Kitwe.
Kafue MP Miriam Chonya presenting gifts to New Beginnings Children s Villag
Kafue UPND Member of Parliament Miriam Chonya says she and the electorate have lost nothing by not attending the National Dialogue Forum.
Addressing the media at her office today, Ms. Chonya said whatever has been discussed during the forum will eventually have to be presented to Parliament for enactment.
She has assured the electorate that nothing has been lost by her not taking part in the process at this stage because whatever is being discussed at the NDF eventually will have to be presented to Parliament for enactment and it is at that point that her input will be required and will be critical as Member of Parliament.
Ms. Chonya said her decision not to participate in the NDF will give her an opportunity to critically look at the recommendations and ascertain whether they are in the best interest of the Zambian people.
Recently, women and youths in Kafue district passed a vote of no confidence in Ms. Chonya saying she has failed to deliver her campaign promises.
Hundreds of women matched to district commissioner’s office with a petition demanding that she resigns within 48 hours as she has allegedly failed to foster development in the district.
Patricia Banda, who read the statement on behalf of the group, cited the withdrawal of her participation from the National Dialogue Forum without consulting them.
The Zambia Airports Corporation has recorded a reduction of 19, 140 passengers using its four international airports in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the same period last year.
The Corporation recorded a total of 394,821 general passengers this year from 413, 961 in the first quarter of 2019 at all four international airports namely Kenneth Kaunda, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Mfuwe in the first quarter of 2019.
General passengers include both arriving and departing passengers, transit passengers, domestic and international passengers, according to Mwembe Sikaulu, the Company Communications and Brand Manager.
Ms. Sikaulu said records also indicate that there were 66,353 domestic passengers that passed through the aforementioned airports in quarter one of 2019 in comparison to 66,729 in the first quarter of 2018 resulting in a decrease of -0.6 percent.
Nkana moved one place up on the Stream B table of the 2019 FAZ Super Division season after edging Napsa Stars 3-2 in a midweek rescheduled match at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.
Kalampa came from behind twice to post their first win in four matches.
Kenyan midfielder Duncan Otieno was the hero for Nkana after scoring the winner seven minutes away from full time.
Napsa led after 11 minutes with Thomas Banda’s opener which was cancelled by defender Richard Ocran from the spot four minutes later.
The home side took a 2-1 lead into the break thanks to Austin Banda’s 40th minute goal.
Nkana’s Yannick Mulenda made it 2-2 nineteen minutes after the restart as the game was seemingly heading for a draw.
Coach Beston Chambeshi’s Nkana are now sixth on the table with 22 points after playing 15 matches.
Napsa stay in fifth place with 22 points despite this home loss.
President Edgar Lungu says government is taking necessary fiscal measures to ensure that the Zambian economy is stabilised.
The President however observed that the influx of financial institutions on the market is an indication that the Zambian economy is not going under.
He also reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensure that the country’s financial standing is kept afloat for the benefit of the Zambian people.
And President Lungu has commended the board and management of the National Savings and Commercial Bank (NATSAVE) for taking necessary measures and ensuring that the bank does not collapse.
He also commended them for extending their services to the rural communities in the country, adding that it is the only bank that reaches the far flanked areas in the country.
And President Lungu has re-activated his old NATSAVE account and has called on all Zambians to support the local bank.
The Head of State disclosed that he held an account with NATSAVE Chawama Branch before he became President, an account he has since re-activated.
He stated that management at the named bank have taken good steps to survive in a competitive banking sector which is flooded with many local and foreign banks.
The President was speaking when the board from NATSAVE and management called on him at State House today.
And NATSAVE Board Chairperson Evans Chibiliti said the bank is undergoing transformation in order to remain attractive to its customers and competitive on the market.
Mr Chibiliti also revealed that the new management has accepted to take a salary cut to ensure the bank keeps running instead of draining it.
He said the bank has launched the ‘Zambia saves with NATSAVE campaign’ in order to encourage Zambians to bank with their own local bank.
He commended the Head of State for supporting the bank by reactivating his account held at Chawama branch.
Meanwhile NATSAVE Chief Executive Officer Mukwandi Chibesakunda disclosed that the bank is also rolling out new products which include village banking and other saving schemes, as a way of catering for all its customer’s needs.
Ms Chibesakunda said the bank has also devised a way of catering for refugees who come into the country with no proper documentation to open bank accounts with other ordinary banks.
HH confronted by Police Officers at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe
United Party for National Development Leader Hakainde Hichilema says he is disheartened at media reports that some employees at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola have been suspended for merely allowing him to use the Airport.
Mr. Hichilema says the reports that Ndola Airports Manager Joseph Mumba and security officer Fridah Mupasha have been put on suspension on allegations that they allowed him and his team safe passage and showed courtesy as they always do to any other passenger are deeply troubling.
He said it is unacceptable that UPND should continue being discriminated against for exercising its democratic and constitutional rights to offer themselves to improve the ever deteriorating standards of lives of the majority of citizens.
Mr. Hichilema said UPND Leaders and members have suffered serious human rights violations under the PF regime such as arbitrary detentions, violently stopping them from peaceful assembly and now attempting to deny them access to public facilities such as an Airport.
He said the PF had even instructed the Police to eject the UPND team from a Catholic Church in Ndola on unbelievable grounds that they did not have a police permit to congregate with other Christians, an action not unexpected from the brutal PF regime.
“Our public interactions in Ndola were peaceful and incident free except for the attempted confusion by the police under political instructions. It is heart breaking that the suspended Ndola Airport employees join thousands of other professionals who have lost jobs purely on discriminatory grounds such as their suspected political affiliation and their ethnicity”, He said.
Mr. Hichilema said it is now worse that the National Dialogue Forum has heartlessly resolved that such victims of PF brutality should no longer be on payroll even if they are not paid their benefits, violations being done in an effort to fix one person instead of fixing the crumbling economy.
He however said such repression adds to the UPND’s resolve for a better, united and prosperous Zambia where everyone’s rights and freedoms will be respected regardless of their opinions or where they come from.
Mr. Hichilema says the poverty and hunger levels have worsened in the country because of the failure by the PF to manage the economy, which has virtually collapsed.
He reminded citizens that the persecution of UPND leaders, members and anyone suspected of being its sympathiser is a huge PF project aimed at perpetuation PF’s ruthless rule beyond 2021 which if it happens will be the end of hope for a better Zambia.
File:Given Lubinda and Former Press secretary Presidential affairs George Chellah
Former State House Press Aide George Chellah says in order to escape modern economic, political and social nightmares, Zambia requires sophisticated and reliable technocratic capacity in its public administration system and not a bloated executive arm of government.
Mr. Chellah says the notion that Zambia needs Deputy Ministers to enhance administrative capacity and delivery is self-serving and superfluous, and flies right in the face of the principle of cost cutting, which is highly recommended for a country with a not so impressive balance sheet as ours.
He said the idea of returning Deputy Ministers into government is inspired by a purely self-interested mindset and is politics of loyalty and compensation at play.
Mr. Chellah said leaders therefore ought to understand that the effectiveness and administrative capacity of modern governments does not depend on the size and weight of the political arm but technocratic ability through the establishment and sustenance of a merit-based civil service particularly that the present world order is such that many state activities and functions demand for top-notch professionalism in order to attain incredible milestones.
He said the executive is important and responsible for all government policies and daily administration of state affairs but having a bloated one will not yield anything for the country in comparison to stuffing the bureaucracy or civil service with plenty specialized and exceptional hands.
Mr. Chellah noted that a lean executive can still achieve the unimaginable if paired with a highly technocratic and dependable civil service.
“With less than 20 cabinet ministers, Singapore, a global financial centre with a GDP of over US$ 450 million and a population 5 million as at 2018 validates my standpoint – big is not always better”, he added.
He said Zambia therefore urgently requires technocratic capacity in government by deliberately investing in capacity building and educational schemes for its civil service more than Deputy Ministers.
Mr. Chellah said the real performance of any government globally heavily relies on organizational structure and human capital development.
The Economics Association of Zambia has supported the stance taken by Mines Minister Richard Musukwa who has asked Mopani Copper Mines to handover Mindolo North and Central shafts to the government if they have failed to run them.
Earlier last week Mopani Copper Mines Management announced the shutting down of two of its supposedly uneconomic units namely Mindolo North and Central shafts citing that they have outlived their useful life spans.
Mopani in a press release stated that management would then focus its efforts on essential capital projects which include the Synclinorium concentrator, Mindolo deeps and Henderson shaft in Mufulira.
This, the miner said this would enable it to focus on achieving both safe and productive outcomes which are essential to position Mopani for a successful future.
Mathews Muyembe, the EAZ Copperbelt Chairperson says the Association believes that this move would allow the Zambian government to offer these to local investors who will, in turn, utilise them as opportunities for employment.
Mr. Muyembe said this will assist the citizenry in bettering their livelihoods through mining the little minerals that are left in the dumps.
He said the EAZ bemoans the loss of jobs this operational shut down will result in especially that it is coming a little earlier than anticipated.
Mr. Muyembe added that the Association attaches immense value to the Copperbelt region which is Zambia’s mining hub and that loss of jobs impacts the livelihood of citizens.
Meanwhile, Mr. Muyembe has expressed displeasure at Konkola Copper Mines conduct in delaying payments to suppliers and salaries to staff and their prioritisation of foreign suppliers at the expense of locals.
He noted that the mine is on record for paying foreign suppliers upfront while local ones are dealt within 90-120 days or sometimes outside this range.
Mr. Muyembe said it is about a dry point of construction that, local obligations must be prioritised and has since advised that KCM are free to leave Zambia if they have failed to manage the mine.
He said the EAZ board find it very frustrating that KCM always arm twists the authorities at every opportunity it finds.
Mr. Muyembe emphasised that Zambia remains a favourable mining destination that most international investors have expressed immense interest.
Former Minister of Community Development and Social Services Emerine Kabanshi
Former Minister of Community Development and Social Services Emerine Kabanshi has been arrested for abuse of authority of office.
Ms. Emerine Kabanshi, 54, a politician residing at Plot 800, Kanakantapa area in Chongwe District, has been arrested by the Joint Investigations Team comprising the Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit of the Drug Enforcement Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Ms. Kabanshi, in her official capacity as Minister of Community Development and Social Services is believed to have jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, on dates unknown but between 1st January, 2017 and 21st August, 2017, in Lusaka did abuse her authority of office by unduly influencing the engagement of Zambia Postal Services Corporation as payment service provider under the Social Cash Transfer Programme.
This was an act prejudicial to the interests of the Government of the Republic of Zambia and beneficiaries under the Social Cash Transfer Programme.
Additionally, Ms. Kabanshi, on dates unknown but between 21st August, 2017 and 26th April, 2018, in her official capacity as Minister of Community Development and Social Services did abuse her authority of office by directing the extension of the Zambia Postal Services Corporation scope of works under the Social Cash Transfer Programme to include areas which were not covered in the initial contract.
Further, having probable and justifiable cause to believe that the said contract was duly terminated by the Ministry, Ms. Kabanshi did abuse her authority of office by directing the rescission of the termination of the contract between Zambia Postal Services Corporation and the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, an act prejudicial to the interests of the Government of the Republic of Zambia and Beneficiaries under the said programme.
According to a statement issued by Theresa Katongo, the Drug Enforcement Commission Public Relations Officer, Ms. Kabanshi has been released on Police bond and will appear in court soon.
President Edgar Lungu last year fired Ms. Kabanshi as Minister of Community Development and Social Services over the mismanagement of the Social Cash Transfer becoming the first victim of the social cash transfer scandal that hit Zambia.
The President also fired Zampost Post Master General McPherson Chanda over the same issue.
Barriers Painting by Nsama Lombe. Tries to portray the obstacles the Zambian girl child faces everyday. Picture by Hope Mkunte
Save the Children wishes to condemn in the strongest possible terms the unacceptably high levels of Sexual Violence Against Children in Zambia. According to the first quarter gender-based violence statistics by the Zambia Police Service, the nation recorded 495 child defilement cases. While there is a reduction by 150 cases compared to the same period last year, the current figures remain unacceptably high. Earlier this year, the nation was informed that in 2018, the total recorded child defilement cases stood at 2,578 (2,574 girls, 04 boys).
We note with concern the cases of child defilement occurring at an average rate of 6 defilement cases per day (one child defiled every 4 hours). We call upon all institutions, households and individuals to uphold the highest standards of behaviours towards children both in their private and professional lives.
Duncan Harvey, the Country Director for Save the Children in Zambia, said: “Save the Children through its child protection work supports parents and institutions to prioritise the rights of children, especially their right to be protected from all forms of harm. Last week we received the news from the Zambia Police Service with great concern. These statistics show us that in spite of efforts by various actors to curb this form of violence, much more needs to be done to protect children. We note that these statistics refer only to those cases that have been reported to the police, so there may be many more Zambian children who have experienced violence but have not reported.”
We call upon parents and other primary caregivers, community members, local leaders, the media, civil society and state actors like the Zambia Police Service, Ministry of Justice and the department of Child Welfare and Protection to act:
Parents and Caregivers:
Must ensure the environment in and around the home is safe for their children. The Violence against Children report released last year indicated that 58% of violence against children happens at home or nearby.
Children:
Must be given the confidence to report any form of abuse they experience to parents, caregivers, police, their teachers or even their neighbors. They must be able to report in the knowledge that they will be treated with dignity, sensitivity and confidence in all cases.
Community members and local leaders:
Continue raising awareness at household and community level about the importance of protecting children from abuse. There is need to emphasise that No child (below 18 years) can provide consent to sexual activities.
Ensure that all child abuse cases are reported to appropriate authorities including any incidents where videos, photos or audio recordings of children being abused.
Community Child Welfare Committees must review their child safeguarding and protection policies to ensure children are safe.
State actors:
The Department of Child Welfare and Protection must have adequate facilities to house and protect victims of this heinous form of violence against children.
The police must investigate and act on all child sexual abuse with the urgency it deserves.
The judiciary must expedite all sexual gender based violence cases involving children.
The 2018 African Report on Child Wellbeing cites Zambian legal and policy frameworks as being weak. This serves to remind the Zambian government to expedite the enactment of the Child Code Bill. It is our considered view that Zambia’s poor ranking in the mentioned report is a compelling reason for the prompt presentation and enactment of the Children’s Code Bill without delay. The delayed enactment of the Children’s Code Bill has denied many Zambian children who would have benefited from the progressive provisions of the Children’s Code Bill in the last 12 years since the comprehensive review of all child related legislations begun.
Save the Children further calls upon our partners in the media to be the strong voice children need at a time when they are experiencing pain, danger and injustice as a result of this despicable form of violence. The media must report all forms of violence children are exposed to in Zambia using child friendly reporting principles regardless of the form the violence takes, be it emotional, physical, sexual, exploitation and child labour or neglect.
In conclusion, we are calling for an uncompromising determination from all actors to put in place the concrete measures listed above that will address sexual violence against children. As a nation our efforts to achieve child wellbeing, such as education and health, will be greatly undermined if we do not tackle this serious form of child rights abuse and we will fail to reach the targets we have signed up for under the Sustainable Development Goals.
Striker Jesse Were is the only Zesco United player snubbed by Kenya for 2019 AFCON while other imports from Nkana and Zanaco prepare to head for pre-tournament camps for their respective national team.
After getting a last minute call-up in March for Kenya’s formality date against Ghana when he replaced the then injured Michael Olunga, Were is not so lucky this time after Harambee Stars coach Sebastian Migne drew his line.
Were has been in prolific form for Zesco since he arrived in 2016 from Kenyan side Tusker but has yet to score for Kenya.
“He has had 26 call ups before and has never scored a single goal. He is doing good in the Zambian league but in the national team, he is yet to impress. The door is still open for him to return to the team so are the other players who were left behind,” Migne said.
But Were’s clubs mates defender David Owino and midfielder Anthony Akumu are in the provisional team.
Also in the Kenya provisional team is Nkana defender Musa Mohammed.
Kenya return to the AFCON for the first time since 2004 in Tunisia where they made a group stage exit after finishing third on 3 points in Group B behind Senegal (5 points) and Mali (7 points).
Zanaco too have one 2019 AFCON call-up in midfielder Tafadzwa Rusike who has been in great form for The Bankers with eight goals and is part of Zimbabwe’s provisional side the tournament Egypt is hosting from June 21 to July 19.
Zambia has called on African countries to improve on their education systems in order to compete favorably worldwide.
General Education Minister David Mabumba says provision of quality education will make Africa better and stronger.
Mr. Mabumba was speaking in Maseru, Lesotho during the 10TH Conference for the Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authority (AFTRA).
He said provision of quality education should be a shared aspiration to all African countries, as such, Zambia remained committed to ensuring that teachers delivered quality education.
Mr. Mabumba said that Zambia, under the leadership of His Excellency President Edgar Lungu would support initiatives aimed at improving education.
He said aspirations for a developed Africa would only be realized once learners are taught by professionally qualified and productive teachers.
Mr. Mabumba urged (AFTRA ) member countries to ensure that the teaching profession was adequately researched and well regulated.
He expressed happiness that Zambia has already operationalized the regulation of the teaching profession through the establishment of the Teaching Council of Zambia.
The Conference attracted the participation of over 10 African countries that included Nigeria, Cameroon Ghana and Kenya.
Other countries are Zambia, Lesotho, Botswana, South Africa, and Tanzania among others.
