Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
The SADC Electoral Observer Mission to the Just ended National and Provincial Elections in South Africa has commended the South African government and its Independent Electoral Commission for conducting a transparent and professional election.
Head of observer mission Joseph Malanji, who is also Zambia’s foreign Affairs Minister says the elections were transparent in the administration of key elements in the electoral process.
Mr. Malanji was speaking in Pretoria when he, together with other international electoral observer missions released their preliminary statements on the 8th May National and Provincial elections.
He said SADC observed that the campaigns and voting periods were conducted in accordance with the constitution, electoral and other relevant laws of the Republic of South Africa
Mr. Malanji commended the people of South Africa for their exemplary conduct, urging them to maintain peace in the post-election period.
However, Mr. Malanji expressed concern with the high number of eligible voters who were not registered to participate in the election.
Mr. Malanji said his observer team was concerned especially that the big number of the unregistered voters were youths.
He recommended to the IEC to improve the continuous voter registration system to ensure that eligible voters were registered.
Mr. Malanji further urged political parties and other electoral stakeholders to ensure that they increased the number of women to elective positions in line with the SADC gender protocols.
President Edger Lungu, in his capacity as SADC chairman on Politics, Defence and Security constituted a 48-man electoral observer mission drawn from 10 SADC member countries.
The personnel were deployed to all the provinces of South Africa to monitor the elections to ensure that they were free, fair and democratic.
This is contained in a statement issued by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the at the Zambian High Commission Naomi Nyawali.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga with stranded student Greatrest Mengo
Twenty one- year old, Greatrest Mengo has appealed to her father Christopher Mengo Siame, a businessman of Mbala District to help her get out of India.
The Medical Laboratory Technology Student at Maharish Makandeshwar University (MMU) in India says she owes 7,000 Thousand form of accommodation and tuition forcing her to be on the street illegally for three years now.
Mengo says being a girl on the street illegally is the worst untold form of torture urging Zambians to be financially sound before day dreaming about education abroad.
Meanwhile, at least 40 Zambian students are stranded in various parts of India for various reasons.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga says most students are stranded because of their parents’ failure to sustain payment of school fees, while some have committed offences such as drug abuse and a number have failed examinations but are scared of informing their parents.
Mrs. Kapijimpanga says the students cannot leave the airports because it is a requirement in India that their schools issue them with NO Objection Travel Certificates which indicate that they complied with Indian laws, forcing many to start engaging in negative vices for them to survive.
She says it is strange that most parents simply send their children to private universities in India without informing the Mission but only get to know when students have been arrested or have failed to pay school fees.
Mrs. Kapijimpanga says at least 300 Zambian students are documented to be in India studying in various institutions of higher learning.
She has urged Zambian parents to consult the Zambian Mission in New Delhi on education services in India before sending their children especially that government colleges in Zambia are now far cheaper than troubling innocent souls on a foreign soil.
This is contained in a statement made available by First Secretary Press and Tourism at the Zambian Mission in New Delhi, India, Bangwe Navile
Unbeaten Kabwe Warriors top two ambitions in Pool A got a massive lift after the FAZ Disciplinary committee ruled in their favour over their abandoned game against Nakambala Leopards.
The game was abandoned on April 20after the visiting Nakamabala players walked off the pitch in the 88th minute at Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu Stadium in Kabwe to protest Tandi Mwape’s goal.
Mwape’s goal put Warriors 2-0 ahead with two minutes left before the match was abandoned.
“The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Disciplinary Committee has awarded Super Division side Kabwe Warriors three points for the abandoned Week 13 Stream A fixture played at Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu Stadium on April 20, 2019 against Nakambala Leopards,” FAZ spokesperson Mwaz Chanda.
“According to the verdict by the Joseph Jalasi committee, Nakambala Leopards has been sanctioned and fined K5, 000 for causing the abandonment.
“The verdict states that, Nakambala Leopards officials refused their players from continuing with the match in the 88th minute after Kabwe Warriors had scored their second goal.”
Warriors jump from fifth to first and now have 29 points, displacing Zesco United to number two who have 27 points while Nakambala are seventh on 15 points with three games left to play.
But Zesco could take the overnight lead on Saturday if they beat Red Arrows at home in Ndola ahead of Warriors’ home match against third from bottom Mufulira Wanderers in Kabwe on Sunday.
Texila American University Head of Business says in order to create stability in Zambia’s currency, there should be better management of external debt. Dr Agape Kapasa said with the recent revelations by the Bank of Zambia Governor with regards the depreciation of the value of the Kwacha, management of external debt should be a priority in order to boost investor confidence. He said in addition to that, there should be a boost in the nation’s exports, an increase in total productivity and inflation rate should be lowered.
Dr Kapasa said that in relation to foreign debt, there was need to go back to the drawing board to analyse how the nation can domestically service its external debt through the sale of domestic bonds. He bemoaned the potential loss of foreign investment as Zambia’s market seems risky to invest in by the global market, thereby leading to higher inflation. He has since called for a moderate increase in money supply.
Dr Kapasa further called for substantial increase in the country’s exports in comparison to imports. He said there was need to reanalyze the nation’s trade agreements and create strong export industries within Zambia. He added that an increase in exports means an increase in revenue, which then translates to an increase in demand for the local currency, therefore causing an increase in the value of the Kwacha.
Dr Kapasa warned that the long-term impact of inflation could be more damaging to the standard of living in Zambia than a recession. He said even though expansionary monetary policy is effective in adding more liquidity in a recession and results in a boost to economic growth by lowering interest rates, over a long period it could lead to high inflation. He has therefore recommended that a national timeline be created for detailed analysis of necessary changes.
Nkana coach Beston Chambeshi insists their FAZ Super Division Pool B top two ambitions are still very much alive heading into today’s must-win home date against Nkwazi at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
With two games in hand, Nkana are still languishing in seventh place on 18 points and twelve points behind leaders Green Eagles after collecting just two points from three of their five games in hand played.
Defeat this afternoon at home against third placed Nkwazi who are eight points ahead will make it a bridge too far for them.
“You never know; you cannot say we are out of contention. All that I can say is we have to finish the last game of the season and then you can say, yes, we have run our race,” Chambeshi said.
“So far, the race is still on and all that we need to do is encourage our players and look forward to the remaining games.”
Nkana must amass at least 30 points in their remaining matches to have a realistic chance of finishing in the top two.
However, Nkwazi just need a draw against them and a win in one of their next two games to put them out of contention.
Reuters reports that Zambia has delayed the receipt of loans totalling $2.6 billion contracted last year in order to rein in its soaring debt, Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe said on Friday.
Zambia’s external debt at the end of the first quarter of this year had increased to $10.178 billion from $10.05 billion at the end of 2018, Mwanakatwe told business leaders.
The debt pile had pierced the $10 billion level after jumping from $8.74 billion at the end of 2017.
Mwanakatwe said the loans approved last year covered infrastructure, energy, agriculture, health, education and defence.
The 25 loans had been in the pipeline from 2016 to 2017 but only reached financial closure in the first and second quarters of last year, she said.
“We are going to manage disbursement to be able to have a sustainable debt profile going forward,” Mwanakatwe said, without stating how long disbursement would be delayed.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has repeatedly warned Zambia is struggling with high debts and shrinking foreign currency reserves.
Zambia’s 2018 fiscal deficit stood at 7.5% of gross domestic product (GDP), higher than an earlier government projection of around 7%.
Mwanakatwe said Zambia’s foreign reserves dropped to $1.43 billion at the end of February 2019 from $1.56 billion at the end of 2018.
Zambia’s GDP growth in 2019 would fall below 3% from 3.7% last year due to adverse weather conditions which would impact agricultural production and the energy sector.
Mbozi Haimbe is the winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2019 in an announcement made on Wednesday, May 8, 2019.
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded annually for the best piece of unpublished short fiction and open to all citizens in the Commonwealth.
The shortlist for the Africa region announced on April 10 included Mbozi Haimbe, Alex Latimer, Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu, Adorah Nworah, and Erica Sugo Anyadike.
The winner of the prize has been revealed to be Mbozi Haimbe for her short story Madam’s Sister.
In the story, the arrival of madam’s sister from London causes upheaval within the household but has an unexpected bonus for the guard, Cephas.
Haimbe speaking on the win said, “I am absolutely thrilled to have been selected as the regional winner and feel privileged to contribute to Africa’s literary landscape. Although a social worker by profession, I have always considered myself a writer. Winning the regional prize validates my aspiration. I thank the judges, and give acknowledgment to Zambia, which remains deeply influential to my writing.”
Mbozi Haimbe was born and raised in Lusaka, Zambia.
She completed an MSt in Creative Writing at the University of Cambridge in 2018 and is currently working on a collection of African inspired short stories.
Mbozi like each of the other regional winners goes home with £2,500 and is in the running to win the global prize that is £5,000.
The Zambia National Student Union has called on government to start regulating fees paid by students in colleges and universities.
In a statement, ZANASU Acting President Steven Kanyakula said government must step in and regulate fees in tertiary education which he said are high.
“ZANASU wishes to commend the government through the Minister of General Education Hon. Mabumba for the reduction of fees in educational colleges. The move by government to reduce fees in educational colleges is highly recommendable,” Mr Kanyakula said.
“Education in Zambia is reaching the climax in becoming a prerogative for the rich, this move will however insure and guarantee education even to the poor and marginalized families.
Government must progressively aim toward provision of affordable education for all Zambians, Education is the center of economic development as it enhances human capital development.”
He said education is a basic need for all Zambians and should not be made a lucrative at all cost.
“However, we wish to challenge the government to ensure that this move is not just limited to educational colleges but rather be extended to all higher learning institutions.”
“Learning institution management has resorted in making student pay full tuition fees during the attachments, Government must therefore restrain learning institution management from making students pay for the services they will not be using while away for attachments, there is no justification whatsoever for students to pay full tuition fees for the period they will be away from school and will not be using university facilities,” he added.
“Lastly the government must introduce a policy that will regulate learning institutional fees and see to it that fees are not exaggerated by both public and private Universities. The policy should also insure the reduction is not just temporal but permanent.
Mopani Copper Mines Plc has confirmed that it is going ahead to shut down two of its shafts on the Copperbelt.
In a statement, Mopani Public Relations Manager Nebert Mulenga said Mopani is planning to cease operations at Mindola North Shaft and Central Shaft and instead focus on our essential capital projects.
Mr. Mulenga said these include the Synclinorium Concentrator, Mindola Deeps shaft and Henderson shaft in Mufulira.
“We believe this approach will enable us to focus on achieving both safe and productive outcomes which are essential to position Mopani for a successful future,” he said.
He said the reason for the closure of these shafts is that they have reached the end of their economic life and that their closure was always part of the plan as the mine commissioned the new shafts.
“However, the action is being taken sooner than originally planned because the company has limited resources and can no longer afford to operate these old and inefficient shafts,” Mr Mulenga said.
“Mopani Mines Plc can confirm that it has met with the unions and relevant government ministries to provide an update on safety and the necessary operational steps that need to be taken to ensure Mopani has a viable future,” he said.
“Despite our very significant investments across the operations – training programmes, operational efficiencies as well our investments into shafts, infrastructure and mining equipment, we have not been able to get to a level of safety, output and cost that is sustainable.”
He said the closure of these two uneconomic shafts allows the firm to apply the funds provided by Glencore towards the completion of the expansion projects, which represent the future of the company and mining by Mopani on the Copperbelt.
“We anticipate that these measures will regrettably result in the loss of direct employee and contractor jobs. Mopani will engage with the Unions and all affected employees and contractors to provide them with the appropriate support,” he said.
The U.S. Embassy in Zambia says reports that Zambians will no longer require Visas to enter the US are incorrect.
In a brief statement, the Embassy says it is aware of false news reports stating that Zambian nationals can now travel to the United States without a visa.
It added that at this time, Zambia is not part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which administers the VWP in consultation with the U.S. Department of State, has not announced any new VWP entrants,” it said.
The Visa Waiver Program administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in consultation with the State Department, permits citizens of 38 countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism for stays of up to 90 days without a visa.
In return, those 38 countries must permit U.S. citizens and nationals to travel to their countries for a similar length of time without a visa for business or tourism purposes.
Travelers in the following categories are no longer eligible to travel or be admitted to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program.
It is hypocritical for the church to complain about the constitutional making processes when its members have refused to participate in politics,” says Dr Nevers Mumba.
Dr Mumba charged that it is hypocritical of the church to teach the young people that they are the heads and not the tails when they are going to cower in the face of confrontation and hide.
He has bemoaned the clear lack of participation by men and women who are saved to take up leadership at the very highest levels.
“Christians continue to be the tails rather than the heads for fear of insults, competition, and a very hostile playing field in African Politics which seems to favour the more violent, corrupt and vulgar elements in society,” Dr Mumba said.
He added, “Christians today spend so much energy shouting at some of us who have answered the call to offer representation in the political vineyard to “Go back to the pulpit” and leave politics to politicians.”
He was reacting to a statement issued by Gospel Envoys Church Pastor Choolwe Mudenda who warned delegates at the National Dialogue Forum not to temper with the Christian Nation clause.
My Reflections on Pastor Cholwe’s Statement.
I came across this very timely contribution from my Son in the Lord and servant of God Pastor Cholwe on the need to preserve Zambia’s status as a Christian Nation.
I have often reminded people that the declaration of Zambia as a Christian Nation has been a long time coming. Long heralded by David Livinstone before he died as a nation that would fear and serve God, our country has had milestone after milestone imprinted in our national history as witness to what we believe.
Politically, President Kaunda was the first to recognise it. President Chiluba was the first to Officially declare it. President Mwanawasa and President Banda confirmed it and upheld that we would continue our Christian nation status. President Sata promised to rule by the Ten commandments while our current President Lungu has preserved a day for national prayer to be observed every year. Indeed we are a body of Christian’s called Zambia and we are not ashamed to shout it out.
However, while we continue to publicly state our commitment to Christian ideals, I wish to bemoan the clear lack of participation by men and women who are saved to take up leadership at the very highest levels.
Christians continue to be the tails rather than the heads for fear of insults, competition, and a very hostile playing field in African Politics which seems to favour the more violent, corrupt and vulgar elements in society.
Christians today spend so much energy shouting at some of us who have answered the call to offer representation in the political vineyard to “Go back to the pulpit” and leave politics to politicians.
They forget that we need men and women of God in the institutions and ACTS of governance to ensure that our nation respects Justice, fairness, honesty, development for all and general goodwill amongst all the citizens.
They also forget that rather than leave the pulpit, we have carried it, along with the cross of Jesus into the markets, parliament, Cabinet, prison, rallies, radio stations, courts, bus stops, hospitals, funeral houses and wherever else the political journey takes us to by the grace of God to lift the name of God even higher.
It is hypocritical for the church to complain about the constitutional making processes when we have restrained, discouraged, dismantled and blatantly refused to support key representation in the very process that would safeguard the Christian Status of our nation and set us up as an example of what a truly Christian nation can become.
It is hypocritical of the church to teach our young people that we are the heads and not the tails when we are going to cower in the face of confrontation and hide, like the Israel of old, scared before Goliath and the philistinian army.
The battle for the soul of Zambia will never yield the intended results based on Political parties and their ideologies. Neither will success be delivered through vanquishing one tribe by another or others. It does not even lie entirely in educational theories.
The battle for the soul of this country lies in the ability by those of us aspiring for leadership to ensure that we uphold the twin pillars of Morality & Integrity in discharging our duties, in humility. It lies not on the right people supporting just about anybody, but in the right people taking up the challange and getting involved on the process.
We are the body of Christ and This is OUR country!! and we will ensure that as long as we stand, Zamba will become a nation under God.
About 600 direct employees of Mopani Copper Mines at Mindola North and Central shafts will be laid off following Mopani’s announcement to close the two shafts.
And 1500 contractors to be affected by the closure of the two shafts.
Speaking at a joint media briefing in Kitwe, Mine Workers Union of Zambia President Joseph Chewe said Mopani Copper Mines has informed the three unions in the mining sector and the Zambian government of its plan to shut down its two mine shafts citing high operation costs.
Mr. Chewe said the closure of the two shafts will affect over 1500 contractors.
He said the union is sad that retrenchments have become the order of the day.
Mr. Chewe noted that Mopani has indicated to the unions that the closure of the two shafts will be done in phases from June to October 2019.
The MUZ President said he is disappointed that from the time Mopani took over operations of the mines on the Copperbelt in 2003, the company has laid off thousands of workers through voluntary separation and retrenchment.
“The company has told us that 600 will be affected if they don’t find areas to deploy them. This also means that contractors will also have to go. According to our sources about 1500 contractors will be affected by the shafts closure,” Mr Chansa said.
At the same briefing, National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) President James Chansa said the unions will not be part of Mopani’s decision to lay off workers.
Mr Chansa said investment at the expense of workers is not good as it will disadvantage Zambians working in the mines.
He said the Unions will not allow the mining company to cut workforce.
And United Mineworkers Union of Zambia (UMUZ) Wisdom Ngwira suggested that said the 600 workers affected should be deployed to other areas within the company.
RTSA Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Zindaba Soko
Road Transport and Safety Agency Chief Executive Officer Zindaba Soko has described the accident he was involved in on Tuesday this week in Kafue as unfortunate.
Mr. Soko said it was unfortunate and regrettable that it was him involved in an accident in the process of his line of duty to protect and save lives on Zambian roads.
In a statement, Mr. Soko however said he is however grateful that the accident was not severe and no life was lost and has encouraged all road users to be extremely careful on the roads because accidents still happen even when they are trying their best to eliminate them.
On Tuesday this week, Mr. Soko was involved in a road traffic accident in Kafue district.
And RTSA Head of Media Relations Fredrick Mubanga said investigations into the accident have revealed that the crash could have been severe had Mr. Soko been moving at excessive speed.
Mr. Mubanga said according to the expert opinion of accident investigators, the position of the impact of the vehicles was at the centre line of clearly marked road stretch.
He said the Driver of the Mitsubishi Rosa Minibus, ABR 3197, failed to keep to his near side and consequently was hit at the rear right side wheel.
Further, Mr. Mubanga said looking at the extent of damages on the vehicles, point of contact and their respective length, it can be concluded that the vehicles were being driven within a recommended speed limit based on the principle of “the higher the speed, the severe is the damage”.
The official Opening of the National Dialogue by President Lungu
The National Dialogue Forum Secretariat (NDF) has proposed an extension of three more days for the forum sittings.
NDF Secretary, Patrick Chisanga says the Chairperson will today submit the request letter of extension period for the Forum, to Minister of Justice Given Lubinda.
Mr Chisanga told the forum this morning, that the request for the extension is to allow the delegates have more days to discuss the four bills, including the secondary issues that have been raised thoroughly.
He said as of end of business yesterday, only one group out of the four, concluded their discussions, the rest are still debating on the political parties bill.
The NDF Secretary also notes that if the sittings were concluded on Saturday, the forum could have not completed their deliberations, considering all the issues raised.
He said when the Secretariat looked at the programme, it became clear that for every bill to be given comprehensive attention, there has to be an extension of the period to Tuesday next week.
Last week, the national dialogue forum requested for a two day extension of the forum to which the Minister of Justice accorded an extension of three days giving the Forum a period of up to tomorrow Saturday, May 11, 2019.
