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A Zambian fictional writer identified as Mbozi Haimbe has made the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2019 shortlist.
This is the first time that a Zambia is being in the annual program—now in its eighth year.
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction from the Commonwealth.
There were 5,018 submissions for the 2019 prize.
Mbozi joins 20 other writers from Africa, Asia, Canada and Europe, Caribbean, and Pacific.
The regional winners will be announced on 9 May 2019 in Québec City
Regional winners receive £2,500 (US$3,273) and the overall winner receives £5,000 (US$6,547).
Mbozi’s story is titled “Madam’s Sister” and details the arrival of madam’s sister from London that causes upheaval within the household, but has an unexpected bonus for the guard, Cephas.
“Elina, the maid, is doing her thing of standing in a nice shaded spot on the veranda from where she yells at me, while I stew in the heat. I carry on sweeping the paved front yard as though deaf, sweat trickling down my back. The flagstones are patterned with black oil stains from the cars that park here at day’s end. I pass my straw broom over these patches which refuse to be cleaned up, even with water and soap. They make me look bad; lazy,” read an excerpt from her story.
Mbozi 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.
Respected Trade and Business Consultant Trevor Simumba has strongly recommended that President Edgar Lungu drops Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe from her ministerial post.
Mr Simumba has since proposed Ms. Dolika Banda as Mrs. Mwanakatwe’s replacement.
Reacting to Mrs. Mwanakatwe’s appearance on Bloomberg TV in Washington D.C, Mr. Simumba said the interview confirmed that the Finance Minister is clueless about fixing Zambia’s economic problems.
He said Zambia is on a brink of complete economic and social meltdown and that President Lungu needs to take action now.
“I said it she is clueless. The longer she remains as Minister the more damage to our economy. It was truly sad watching her. And this is Bloomberg! I received over 3 calls after this show from international banks,” Mr. Simumba said.
“To understand the reaction of the investor community to her interview check the movement of the Euro bonds and exchange rate yesterday (Friday). They all moved in the negative direction not positive,” he stated.
“What is worse is that she has been saying this of all places in D.C. ECL can find credible people willing to be Minister of Finance with a much more solid public finance experience right there in Zambia.”
“The current Minister of Finance admits in private she does not know what to do. I say have the guts to resign rather than continue this charade that will lead Zambia into a deep hole,” Mr Simumba said in a series of tweets.
Mr. Simumba also laughed off Mrs. Mwanakatwe’s statement that borrowing is an investment for the future.
“It is an investment for the future if you spend it effectively and efficiently. But when you spend 80% of it on roads in towns, non-productive areas and at inflated costs it becomes an albatross. Today Nakonde road remains a disaster and yet it’s a major regional economic road,” he charged.
Ms. Dolika Banda
Mr. Simumba charged that Zambia’s debt is likely to go up this year with another US$3 billion projected to be added on the already existing debt stock.
“According to the 2019 Budget Resource Envelope. Govt expects to spend K86 billion against total domestic revenues of K56 billion. Foreign grants are only 1.9 billion with the bal. of K28.1 billion coming from loans. This will add another $3 billion to our already high debt! Very few people have noticed or maybe the simply want to ignore but in the 2019 Zambian budget the Minister proposes to borrow 30 billion Kwacha just cover the budget deficit and not including capital expenditure! And in the middle of that budget you want to replace VAT?”
“But to sit and bury your heads in the sand is just simply treacherous and evil. Zambia is on the real brink of complete economic and social meltdown. President Lungu take action now.
He added, “There is real suffering out there. no medicines in clinics and hospitals across the country. Crime in high density urban areas is at an all-time high. Kids in most rural areas don’t go to school. The youth are failing to find jobs let alone even able to start their own business.”
Mr. Simumba suggested that Ms. Banda could make a better Finance Minister.
“Ms. Dolika Banda would have the political and economic clout to get Zambia out of this mess. She is the daughter to RB, the architect of Lungu’s Presidency. If you are afraid of a Magande (Ng’andu) or Saasa (Prof. Oliver) then bring in your own. At least Dolika is 100% more competent than my sister Dudu.”
“(Dolika) She is the niece to RB but in Africa she is the daughter., he brought her up after her father, RBs brother passed on. She is imminently qualified for this job as Minister.”
Ms. Dolika Banda is a Zambian Economist and Advisor with more than 25 years of international banking and financial management experience on economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Most recently, Ms. Banda was Regional Director at the UK’s Commonwealth Development Corporation since 2013 after having worked at the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation for 16 years.
She has also held senior positions at Barclays and Citibank in Zambia.
Under-fire striker Justin Shonga found his scoring touch on Saturday night to help Orlando Pirates open a six-point gap at the summit of the South Africa PSL log.
The Chipolopolo striker has come under fire from Pirates fans for his lack of ruthlessness in front of goal after scoring just two goals prior to Saturday’s 2-1 home win over second from bottom Free State Stars.
Shonga scored the second goal for Pirates in the 55th minute to net his sixth of the season and his first since March 2 in a 1-0 away win over Golden Arrows.
The Chipolopolo striker played the full 90 minutes while midfielder Augustine Mulenga was substituted in the 81st minute.
With three games to go, Pirates lead the log on 50 points, six ahead of defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns who are second with three games in hand due to their CAF Champions League engagements.
Pirates, who finished runners-up to Sundowns last season, are chasing their first PSL crown since 2012
President Lungu and wife arrive for the Commonwealth Law Conference in Livingstone
PRESIDENT Lungu has directed the Ministry of Agriculture to immediately suspend the export of maize and mealie-meal until Zambia takes stock of the food reserves following the dry spell experienced in some parts of the country.
And the President has revealed that mealie prices had gone up because grain marketers and ZNFU members who have stocks of maize have been selling at export price to the millers and the millers who in turn hiked the price.
He said there was need to halt exports of grain and mealie meal to ensure the nation had enough food stocks to ensure food security.
“Not even mealie-meal will be exported for the time being.
We want to suspend the export of mealie-meal and maize until we take stock of what we have in terms of food security,” President Lungu said.
President Lungu said this yesterday in Chisamba when he graced the sixth Agritech expo themed,” growing knowledge of the future” which attracted 223 exhibitors and 19 countries. Mr Lungu also gave Minister of Agriculture Michael Katambo three days to pay all farmers for the maize they supplied to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
He said he had noted with sadness that farmers who supplied maize to FRA last year were not yet paid and directed Mr Katambo to pay them by Tuesday next week.
Minister of Infrastructure Ronald Chitotela with Home Affairs Minister Kampyongo during a campaign Rally in Luanshya
As the fallout from the Roan by election defeat continues, Minister of Infrastructure Ronald Chitotela has been accused by some senior PF members of having celebrating the party’s recent defeat to the NDC in the Roan by election.
And outspoken PF Member Racheal Chileshe has called on the party leadership to reconnect with the grassroots if the party is to retain power in 2021.
In an interview over the weekend, some senior party members who preferred to have their identities withheld said Mr Chitotela is happy that the Roan seat has gone to the opposition.
They said Mr Chitotela had been going round telling party members in Lusaka and the Copperbelt before the elections that the party should lose so that it can be taught a lesson.
“We know he was unhappy that he was left out of the campaign team for Roan. He carries grudges against some people because of his ongoing court cases and he has been paying some boys from Northmead to start insulting the leadership of the party in the aftermath of the Roan loss,” the members said.
The members said they intercepted some voice recordings in which Mr Chitotela heaped the blame for the Roan defeat on party Secretary General Davies Mwila and Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo.
“Chitotela’s right hand man called Chanoda Ngwira has been going on social media portraying a picture that had the party incorporated Chitotela in the campaign structure, the outcome would have been different, all those are paid for posts by Chitotela to destabilize the party. He wants to sponsor some revolt against the S.G so that all those seen to be in good books with the S.G suffer as casualties in case of changes at the Secretariat.”
The members have since appealed to President Edgar Lungu to take interest in the way Mr Chitotela is conducting himself.
“How can he say that Bowman (Lusambo) contributed to the loss when it is clear that he was the best campaigner in that team? Everyone who is familiar with Zambian politics knows that Bowman is a good grassroots campaigner and for us we believe he helped even salvage the votes we got, if it weren’t for him, the situation would have been worse,” the members said.
Meanwhile, Racheal Chileshe, an outspoken PF founding member has called on the party leadership to reconnect with the grassroots if the party is to retain power in 2021.
Ms. Chileshe who rejoined the PF last year after a brief engagement with the UPND in the run up to the 2016 general elections said the PF is losing popularity on the ground.
She said President Lungu should seriously consider replacing some his aides at State House whom she accused of contributing to the loss in popularity due the way in which they manage the presidency.
The PF’s Joel Chibuye lost to NDC’s Joseph Chisala by a wide margin the just ended Roan by election a development which many political observers have said may signal a change in the political temperature on the Copperbelt, widely seen as PF traditional stronghold.
“Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.’ He could not do any miracles there…He was amazed at their lack of faith.””
(Mark 6:4–6, NIV)
Faith and Honor
Did you know that honor and faith work together? When Jesus walked the earth, the people in His own hometown couldn’t believe that He was the Son of God because they were too familiar with Him. They didn’t honor Him, which affected their ability to have faith in Him. When you honor the Lord, when you respect and make room for Him in your life by following the Word of God, it impacts your faith in Him. Part of honoring the Lord is honoring the people He’s placed in your life.
God works through people, and the Bible says that the way you treat others is the way you treat Him. Choose to honor people and make room for the Lord to work in your life today. Look for the greatness in the people around you: your spouse, your children, your friends and family. Treat others with respect, knowing that God is building His character in you. As you choose honor, you open the door for faith to grow. You’ll see God’s hand working in your life, and you will see His hand of blessing on everything you do!
A Prayer for Today
“Heavenly Father, today I choose to honor You by honoring the people You have placed in my life. Show me how to love others the way You love me so that faith will grow stronger in my heart. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
President Edgar Lungu’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda has blocked University of Zambia lecturer Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa on Twitter after he advised him to stop conflating his role with that of the spokesperson of the ruling Patriotic Front. Chanda is the latest government official to block the outspoken academic on the social media platform after Minister of Transport and Communications Dr Brian Mushimba took a similar move in February this year when Dr Sishuwa demanded justification for the minister’s decision to get his broken arm treated in South Africa, where he stayed for over a month.
Dr Mushimba, who blocked several other critics, subsequently apologised and unblocked them following a public backlash against his move. The minister then claimed that he, rather than taxpayers, had paid for his medical expenses at Arwyp Medical Centre, an expensive private hospital in Kempton Park, Gauteng Province. He promised to publicly present supporting evidence in form of receipts once his arm, which he said was still in excruciating pain at the time, was better. Dr Mushimba is however yet to do so, over two months later.
In the latest Twitter war between a senior public official and an active citizen, trouble started when Chanda, using his official account, @AmosNChanda, where he describes himself as “Special Assistant to the President (Press and Public Relations), Republic of Zambia”, wrote a congratulatory message to all candidates who emerged victorious in the recent by-elections.
“Pres.Lungu congratulates Joseph Chishala for winning Roan seat for NDC & PF’s Charles Chalwe for winning Bharti; and all candidates who won local polls. He has called for introspection to understand why the Roan loss. Not a result he desired, but one that democracy delivered”, Chanda wrote on Saturday, 12 April 2019. This tweet attracted a response from Dr Sishuwa who both commended and slightly criticised it.
“One part of your message”, wrote Dr Sishuwa, “focussing on the President’s decision to congratulate all the winners, is highly commendable, though l wish he had also congratulated the losers for enriching our democracy. The introspection part is beyond your role as his aide, since it’s a PF matter.”
Unconvinced, Chanda moved to question Dr Sishuwa’s understanding of the role of a presidential aide, noting that speaking on behalf of the PF president was part of his Terms of Reference. “The construction is mine, but the brief was to call the party to an introspection. What then have I exceeded as press aide? You seem confused about role of presidential spokesperson, I think. U may also wish to see my contract and TORs. Yes, losers did their part too!”, Chanda tweeted.
“Amos, you are a press aide to the President of Zambia”, replied Dr Sishuwa. “You are not a press aide to the President of Patriotic Front. Do you understand the difference? Don’t you think matters to do with the PF such as introspection should be left to the PF President, Davies Mwila, Sunday Chanda?”, Dr Sishuwa asked.
At this point, other Twitter users advised Dr Sishuwa not to waste his time on Chanda, saying he is unreceptive to professional advise. Chisanga, who uses the twitter handle @uwachikata, wrote, “Thanks Dr Sishuwa for this even though it appears Mr Chanda is not one who listens to reason as shown here”, a message that was echoed by another user, Mr Right (@FredKamanya), who tweeted “You can’t advise any PF member, they’re are above anything. While I appreciate your efforts, I can tell you that you’re wasting your time.”
Another academic Dr Cleopas Sambo who describes himself as someone who “teaches at UNZA whenever it is open” tweeted “@ssishuwa [you are] flogging a dead horse! One wonders if this is just plain ineptitude or willful ignorance. A press aide to the President of Zambia is not a party functionary and SHOULD not be towing a party line. ToRs stipulating such are only possible in a wishy-washy state but then”.
Not long afterwards, the President’s spokesperson returned to reply to Dr Sishuwa’s previous tweet.
“He [Edgar Lungu] is PF President; he assigns me as such. Opposition leaders call me to engage him what do I do? Who must carry political instructions to SG and Sunday? Theresa May’s press secretary & political advisor resigned when campaign manifesto they wrote lost her last general election!”, stated the State House spokesperson, moments before the critical academic responded.
“You are conflating the role of a presidential aide with that of a party functionary. The role of the President’s press aide ends at State engagements; party matters are for the party aides or spokespersons. Are we together, Amos?”, asked Dr Sishuwa.
“Mr Chanda knows how to silence people”, wrote Munir in a supportive follow-up tweet that appeared to be a veiled threat to Dr Sishuwa who remained unmoved and wondered how exactly the President’s aide silences critics:
“How? Certainly not by the quality and content of his [Amos Chanda’s] speech. A Presidential spokesperson must be impeccable in their command of the language of communication. They should take care to speak or write cogently, eliminating all spelling and grammatical errors to the extent possible.’
Unable to tolerate any further criticism and sustain the discussion, the President’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations moved to block his chief critic. Moments later, Dr Sishuwa tweeted “Today, l suggested to Amos Chanda, spokesperson of the President of #Zambia, Edgar Lungu, that he should stop conflating his role with that of the spokesperson of the ruling Patriotic Front party. Chanda, instead of engaging in constructive debate, has responded by BLOCKING me!”
Another twitter user, SkippyinZambia, also complained that Chanda has blocked him, posting an image in support. “That little coward Amos is doing it to every critic. He will regret one day when Edgar falls and there is no protection for him.”, Skippy tweeted. Other netizens who subsequently revealed that Chanda had blocked them include Wilfred Zulu, Webster Mulenga, Florence Chanda, and Norman Chipakupaku.
Many Zambians on Twitter quickly moved to condemn Chanda’s move. Prominent economist Trevor Simumba wrote “There is no point advising these guys. He will probably still stalk you through other accounts to keep up with your views”. Kalaluka Kapungu tweeted “Larry Moonze was complaining about similar behaviour (Amos blocking journos from covering State House) to @Dora_Siliya yesterday. Not surprised that the President never holds pressers. What with a press team averse to engagement.”. Another University of Zambia lecturer, Dr Peter Mubanga Cheuka, implored Chanda to be receptive to public criticism, tweeting “@AmosNChanda, there is a very worrying perception in the PF government – that every criticism on the government is sponsored by the opposition. This unfounded perception will cost this government. Listen to people and answer their questions please.” Douty Chibamba wrote “Interesting. The democratic leaders cannot converse with the led at the slightest difference in opinions.” Dr Sambo tweeted “Word on the street is that @ssishuwa is now blocked. Truth really has few friends”.
Earlier in the discussion, other Twitter users questioned Chanda’s understanding of his official role. “You are press aid to the president of the republic not of the party … leave that role to Sunday Chanda and them”, wrote Mukwae Njinji who uses the twitter handled Namunji. The President’s spokesperson remained defiant, responding “What’s so painful to you about the President’s call to a deep introspection in PF?” Mukwae Njinji explained that she was concerned because, like Dr Sishuwa, she was a taxpayer. “I care less about the President calling for introspect for PF, my issue is you delivering party massage on the Zambian tax payers pen . You need to tell us what plan the government has with the worrying drought expected that’s what pays you”. In response, Chanda tweeted “Are you suggesting the party messages I deliver to UPND, NAREP and others must be paid for by those parties?” This question prompted Dr Sishuwa to tweet: “Let me simplify the point with an elementary illustration. If Chishimba Kambwili was the President of PF today while Edgar Lungu was President of Zambia, would you, as Special Assistant to the President of Zambia, consider it as part of your role to speak on behalf of Kambwili?” Moments later, the presidential aide effected his blockade on Dr Sishuwa.
Former local football star Zifa Nkhoma has spoken out on the anguish of losing his sight at the age of 51.
Nkhoma starred for Zambia, Nkana, Power Dynamos and Nchanga Rangers as left back between 1986 and 2000.
He lost his sight in September 2018 after battling eye problems for some years.
Nkhoma has told Radio Icengelo News at his home in Chamboli, Kitwe that eye experts at Kitwe Teaching Hospital cannot conduct an operation because his eye-veins are weak.
“I just woke up one day in September and discovered that I couldn’t see. I bought eye drops and put in my eyes but nothing worked. I was admitted at Kitwe Eye Ward for one week. I was told that lenses cannot help me because I have low vision,” he narrated.
“I have been using a stick when walking. It is not easy to lose sight but I just put everything in God’s hands. Life has become tougher,” Nkhoma said.
The former Junior International now misses watching football.
Before losing his sight, Nkhoma was a common feature whenever Nkana, Power or Kitwe United were playing at home.
“It is heartbreaking not to watch matches. I cannot go to the stadium when I am unable to see anything. Going to watch football used to help me meet old friends and pass time,” Nkhoma said.
He remains hopeful that in future his sight might be restored.
“Well wishers especially the teams I played for should help me seek further medical attention outside the country; maybe my sight could be restored.”
Nkhoma added:”Right now I am just hoping that those white doctors who come from outside Zambia can come and help to start seeing again.”
He lives at his elder sister’s home in Chamboli, Kitwe.
Nkana are fighting to reach the semi-finals of the the 2018/19 CAF Confederation Cup as they face CS Sfaxien on Sunday in the quarterfinal decider away in Tunisia.
Kalampa have a narrow 2-1 advantage from the first leg match played in Wusakile, Kitwe last Sunday.
The Nkana technical bench is promising to throw everything at Sfaxien in a bid to storm the last four of the Confederation Cup.
“We are positive that we will come up with a positive result. What is important is for us is qualifying to the semi-finals,” Nkana assistant coach Manfred Chabinga said on Saturday in Tunisia.
Chabinga said the absence of key strikers Fred Tshimenga and Walter Bwalya won’t hinder Nkana from eliminating Sfaxien.
Bwalya and Tshimenga, who have scored three and four continental goals this season respectively, are missing the crucial match due to injuries.
“We have won matches without Walter or Tshimenga sometimes. It is not about the striking force, it is about how we are going to defend that 2-1 lead,” he said.
Nkana must avoid defeat in Sfax to progress.
Sfaxien coach Ruud Krol is banking on the away goal.
“We are happy with the goal we scored. Scoring an away goal is always good,” Krol said.
Kickoff is at 18h00 in Sfax.
Nkana Squad
Goalkeepers: Moses Mapulanga, Kelvin Malunga
Defenders: Joseph Musonda, Ben Banh, Musa Mohammed, Hassan Ramadhan, Moses Nyondo, Gift Zulu, Richard Ocran
Midfielders: Shadreck Malambo, Shadreck Musonda, Simon Bwalya, Bwalya Kasonde, Duncan Otieno, Lyson Thole, Obed Masumbuko, Jacob Ngulube, Kelvin Mubanga
The National Democratic Congress Party (NDC) has said that Zambia Police has denied them the opprtunity to conduct a roadshow to celebrate and thank the people of Roan Constituency who voted for their candidate.
According to the NDC statement Zambia Police has restricted all NDC celebrations, saying they will not be allowed because the Party does not have a permit to do so.
The party’s political consultant Chishimba Kambwili described the decision to be unjustifiable, but thanked the people of Roan constituency for the confidence they had shown their candidate and their alliance partners, mostly the UPND, adding the victory was not about Chishimba Kambwili or about the NDC or UPND.
Mr Kambwili said that the victory was about sending a message to the whole country that time for thieves to be using the poverty of the people to buy votes during the elections has come to an end.
“There is no way the president and his people can continue perpetuating corruption, continue stealing from the poor people and then use the same money to come to pay them to buy millie meal buy “vitenges’ , buyscles etc.”
“The people of Roan have spoken for and on behalf of the Sixteen million people of Zambia that the revolution has started, ” Mr Kambwili said.
Mr Kambwili also appealed to the real Patriotic Front Members, who are still in PF to come and join hands with NDC in the revolution which they have started so they can bring hope to the people of Zambia, to provide jobs for the people of Zambia, to run a proper economy for the people of Zambia and to bring industries and manufacturing base to Zambia.
Mr Kambwili also expressed dissapointment that when President Edgar Lungu came for campaigns, instead of warning his ministers against dishing out money to the voters, he seemed to have been encouraging them.
Mr Kambwili also challenged President Edgar Lungu to tell the nation were Kambwili has sold the 3000 hectors of land in Maposa, adding that if at all Kambwili had sold any land, by now he would have been arrested.
Mr Kambwili has also asked DMMU National Coordinator Chanda Kabwe to tender in his resignation for having been on the centre of corruption activities as seen in the resent activities were trucks of mealie meal were sent to Roan constituency to be distributed to the people of Roan in the pretence of being relief food.
Kambwili also sent a strong warning to current Ministers engaged in corruption that come 2021 90% of the Ministers risks going to prison.
Unbeaten Kabwe Warriors repelled a fiery Zesco United side on Saturday to stay in the top two of FAZ Super Division Pool A when they left Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola with a 1-1 draw against the defending champions.
Warriors had goalkeeper Scott Ngokane to thank for an inspired 90 minute performance in which he made five clear attempts on goal.
But it was Warriors who broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime when Heritier Nkonko headed-in a Paul Simpemba ‘s corner after goalkeeper Jacob Banda failed to adequately clear the latter’s ball that he flapped into the formers path.
However, Zesco equalized from a set-piece of their own in the 69th minute when ex-Warriors defender Marcel Kalonda bundled in a John Chingandu free -kick.
Zesco drop from second to third in Pool A on 20 points, Warriors slip to second on goal difference with 22 points where they were joined by new leaders Lusaka Dynamos who beat Mufulra Wanderers 1-0 at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
Chris Mugalu’s 60th minute goal lifted Dynamos from fourth to first on goal difference.
FAZ SUPER DIVISION
WEEK 12
POOL A
13/04/2019
Nakambala Leopards 0-Green Buffaloes 1
Zesco United 1-Kabwe Warriors 1
Red Arrows 3-Prison Leopards 1
Lusaka Dynamos 1-Mufulira Wanderers 0
14/04/2019
Kitwe United-Zanaco
POOL B
13/04/2019
Luwmana Radiants 0-Buildcon 1
Green Eagles 1-FC MUZA 0
Circuit City 0-Napsa Stars 2
Nkwazi 1-Power Dynamos 0
POSTPONED
Nkana-Forest Rangers
Finance minister Margaret Mwanakatwe has told Bloomberg that she is not worried about Zambia’s declining foreign reserves that have fallen to the lowest level in over 10 years.
Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg TV in Washington on Friday Mrs Mwanakatwe said that she was not worried about the declining reserves because the Government has put in place mitigating actions that will improve falling reserves.
The Minister also said that Zambia’s increasing debt is an investment for the future and shouldn’t be a cause for concern.
“In the main it is infrastructure development, Zambia is vast. The opportunity is out there. If I don’t put a road there, how do I harness the potential that is there. Debt, much as it looks high, it’s a debt for the future.”
According to Bloomberg, Zambia’s external debt climbed to $10.05 billion by the end of last year from $8.74 billion a year earlier as the government continued to spend on building programs despite warnings from the International Monetary Fund and ratings companies that the burden is becoming excessive. Zambia, Africa’s second-biggest copper producer, has failed to persuade the IMF to sign off on a package to boost its budget.
Cyclone Idai caused devastation in Mozambique
Zambia has yesterday handed over donated assorted relief items worth US$250,000 as relief to the cyclone Idai affected country of Malawi.
Speaking during the official handover of the items in Malawi, Minister in the Office of the Vice President, Honourable Sylvia Chalikosa reiterated Zambia’s commitment to fortifying the existing excellent relations between the two countries through humanitarian support.
Ms. Chalikosa said President Edgar Lungu had sent her as an envoy to convey heartfelt sympathies to his counterpart, Professor Peter Mutharika, President of Malawi and the people at large over the loss of lives, injuries, as well as damage to property caused by cyclone Idai.
She emphasized the desire by President Lungu for the two countries to have a memorandum of understanding in disaster preparedness and response on common cross boarder hazards, which affect the two countries.
The donated items, included mealie meal, dignity kits, assorted medical supplies, kitchen sets and assorted clothes and shoes. Some of the items were procured by the Government while others were contributions from the private sector, government parastatals, the church and individuals.
Ms. Chalikosa was accompanied by Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) National Coordinator Chanda Kabwe and other DMMU officials.
And in receiving the donation, Minister of Homeland Security of Malawi Nicholas Dausi, expressed his gratitude to the Zambian government and its people for such a noble cause, adding that the relief items would go a long way in mitigating the effects of the cyclone Idai.
Mr. Dausi said the donation came at the right time when the affected communities needed the relief.
He added that Zambia and Malawi were basically one and whatever misfortune was experienced by one country would always have an impact on the other and hence urge the Zambians to continue with their good will.
This is according to a statement issued by DMMU Communications Officer Racheal Chama.
Several houses in Kitwe’s Buchi Residential area along Mansa road have been submerged in water due to a poorly constructed drainage.
The drainage which was put up after the construction of a new road fails to drain away water as it lacks a slanting side as a result, water fails to drain out on either ends of the drainage.
The flooding is posing a serious danger to life as the water levels are reaching live electricity cables in some homes which can result in electric shocks.
In addition, Cholera is likely to break out as the water flooding the houses is contaminated with sewer effluent from overflowing sewer dunks.
Speaking when Kitwe District Commissioner (DC) Binwell Mpundu toured the area which is in Nkana Constituency, the residents complained that the flooding challenge has been there for about three years and nothing has been done to address it despite their efforts to report to the ward councillor.
And Susan Mwenya whose house is submerged in water appealed to the DC to address the problem before a health disaster befalls the people in the area.
Other residents complained that they are forced to park their vehicles in private garages as they are failing to park from their yards due to floods.
The residents wondered why council officers are failing to address the problem when they are paid to address such issues.
The residents also castigated Nkana Water for failing to address the problem of overflowing blocked sewer dunks in Buchi which is posing a health hazard.
And Kitwe District Commissioner, Binwell Mpundu expressed disappointment with the Kitwe City Council Engineering department for failing to supervise the contractor who was working on the drainage.
Mr Mpundu urged the council to immediately ensure that the contractor rebuilds the work in a proper manner that will address the flooding problem.
He urged civic leaders and members of parliament not to blame him when he follows up complaints being brought to his office by residents in their respective areas because he did not want the name of the president to be dragged in mud due to their failure.
Mr Mpundu also visited East of Garnetone residential area which is also facing a problem of poor drainages resulting in flooding in homes as well as damaged roads rendering some places inaccessible using vehicles.
President Edgar Lungu has assented into Law, the National Dialogue Bill.
The Bill was signed on 9th April 2019 to facilitate for processes that Justice Minister Given Lubinda announced in Parliament.
Presidential spokesperson Amos Chanda told a media briefing at State House that the Ministry of Justice will now handle all the remaining processes.
The National Dialogue amendment bill passed its third reading in Parliament early this month after it was tabled by Justice Minister Given Lubinda.
The objects of this law are to facilitate the implementation of the Siavonga resolutions of political parties relating to constitutional and institutional reforms, separation of powers and judicial independence, tolerance, freedom of assembly and civility in politics and electoral reforms.
The law also seeks to provide for a national dialogue process to facilitate the Constitution refinement process and regulation of political parties, public order and electoral process reforms, establish the National Dialogue Forum and provide for its functions and provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.
