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Minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale has disclosed that Lusaka City Council has declared a dispute with China Henan, the managers of Luburma Market in Lusaka.
In a statement issued in Lusaka, M. Mwale said in 2001, China Henan were given exclusive rights to manage the market for a period of 65 years in a signed lease agreement.
Mr Mwale said the lease agreement stipulated that it was the responsibility of China Henan to improve the structures and keep the premises in good state of repair during the management period.
Mr Mwale said the agreement provided for regular review to ensure that terms and conditions were abided by, but he said this has not been done in the last 15 years.
He said the Lusaka City Council was however forced to initiate the review of this agreement following serious concerns and perceived breach of the terms of the long-term agreement.
He said the matter has since been referred to an arbitration process.
Losing PF candidate in the recently held Sesheke parliamentary by-election Dean Masule has asked the Lusaka High Court to declare the election of UPND’s Romeo Kangombe as null and void.
This is according to a petition filed in the Lusaka High Court Registry by Masule who came out second with 3, 640 votes against Kangombe’s 8, 496.
In his petition, the ruling party member wants the court to declare Kangombe’s election null and void on grounds that the election was characterized by political violence.
According to Masule, the campaigns in the said elections were characterized by undue influence that resulted from threats and violence to life and property and rampant physical attacks on the members of the PF and the general public, resulting in severe injuries to persons and property.
He further claims that the said acts of violence resulted in several people being occasioned with several injuries and being treated in hospitals and most of the perpetrators of the violence being arrested by the police.
Masule recalls that on January 10, 2019, PF member Evans Chakwanda had his motor vehicle, registration number AJC 6658, stoned by suspected UPND cadres and was allegedly beaten with sticks and short batons.
He states that another incident was on January 23 where suspected UPND cadres allegedly removed his campaign posters.
Masule adds that another incident occurred on February 2 where several of his cadres were allegedly attacked by UPND cadres at Lusa Ward camp, which resulted into several attacks and damage to one of their motor vehicles, among many incidents in Mulimambango, Katima Mulilo and Kalobobelwa Wards.
The petitioner has since accused Kangombe of having acknowledged in the News Diggers newspaper that the elections were not free and fair as they were marred by political violence.
The Lusaka City Council working with the Zambia Police will next week commence the destruction of stray, unvaccinated and unregistered dogs in all the 33 wards.
The activity is aimed at approaching public health matters in a more proactive manner rather than being reactive to outbreaks of Rabies.
Council Public Relations Manager George Sichimba says the outbreak of Rabies is associated with the unvaccinated dog bites.
Mr. Sichimba says the activity is also aimed at increasing the levels of compliance with dog vaccination and registration with relevant authorities.
He explained that mid last year, the Lusaka City Council through the department of Public Health embarked on door-to-door dog registration and vaccination sensitisation in all the wards.
Mr. Sichimba said it is now time to act as no affected dog owner Will be expected to complain should their dogs be found wanting and destroyed.
He said Residents have also been sensitised on how to keep dogs in line with the Control of Dogs Act Cap 247 of the Laws of Zambia.
Mr. Sichimba says the law requires that only two dogs are kept per household and if more than two dogs are to be kept, express permission should be sought from the Council stating reasons why more than two dogs are required.
He said dogs should also be secured during day time and let free at night but even at night when let free they should be confined to owner’s premises.
“Many people have not been observing the requirements of the law hence the prevalence of dogs roaming the streets in most townships. The problem of stray dogs is also very common in schools, colleges and universities thereby threatening the safety of students”, he said.
Mr. Sichimba has expressed hope that residents will support the activity in order to eliminate Rabies in Lusaka.
FAZ ethics committee chairperson Cephas Katongo has described ex-FAZ vice president Boniface Mwamelo’s life ban for match-fixing as tantamount to treason.
Mwamelo was found guilty by FIFA for his role in fixing a junior international match between Zambia and Cameroon at an eight nation Under 23 tournament held in Egypt in 2010.
Zambia and Cameroon drew their opening group match 1-1 but the game was shockingly ordered into a post-match penalty tie-breaker that the latter won 3-2.
“We now have a copy of the judgment from the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee at FIFA and in the judgment where one of our brothers Mr. Mwamelo who rose up to the position of vice president in FAZ has been banned for life. If you read between the lines and you read very well this thing appears to be deep rooted and also there is something that has been mentioned that he was doing some of these things in collaboration with other parties,” Katongo said.
“The worst thing is to be unpatriotic to one’s country where you are busy trying to ensure that your country loses for a few pieces of silver. It cannot be acceptable, we want clean football and we want our FAZ to run properly.”
Perhaps, my greatest weakness is to do things the difficult way because I do not believe in shortcuts. As a young man, I knew that even though I had graduated from Bar school (ZIALE) in Zambia as the best graduating student, joining a law firm would not give me much satisfaction intellectually. I, thus, chose a difficult path of earning a meagre salary of less than one-third of what my friends in law firms were getting, as I took up a competitive academic appointment at the University of Zambia. It was about personal sacrifice. And I was not discouraged at all. My goals were not about making money, but about enlightenment.
I then ended up at Oxford through another highly competitive and difficult route – the Rhodes Scholarship. Later, I was told by many Zambians abroad that it was almost impossible for an African boy, especially in my field, to teach at any British university. Again, I took the difficult path with no precedent from home to chart a new path for others to follow. I landed an academic position at the University of Warwick, one of the top ten (10) British universities. I was only twenty-six (26) years old. Thereafter, my intellectual curiosity continued to urge me to look into the United Nations system. At the same time, I wanted to continue with my academic career.
So, I took another difficult choice to aim for the best Law School in the USA, Yale Law School, through another highly competitive and prestigious scholarship. At the same time, I had heard that the Young Professionals Program (YPP) at the World Bank was arguably the most competitive and coveted route for a career at that institution. So, I aimed for both Yale Law School and the World Bank, and both doors opened. For some reason, I often found myself not on the easy path, but on a path less traversed by many. In Washington DC, I became the second black Zambian professional at the World Bank after Dr Shimwaayi Muntemba, an elderly lady who had taught at the University of Zamia before my time. For my generation (i.e. among Zambians), I was breaking new ground.
And so, even when it was clear that no Zambian had ever obtained a higher doctorate in any field, and that the award of a higher doctorate in law had never been conferred on anyone in the entire rich history of Rhodes University, I went for it. At 39 years only, I obtained my higher doctorate in law from Rhodes University. History was being written. We are arguably not more than 10 to 12 senior legal scholars from and within Commonwealth Africa who hold a higher doctorate in law. It was, and remains, Zambia’s first higher doctorate in any discipline.
I continued to write scholarly work in my free time, culminating in another distinguished award. Five years later, I obtained my second higher doctorate, breaking my own national record. This time around, it was in economic sciences from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. Indeed, I had by then written what by any Zambian standard remains an unprecedented record of scholarly books and journal articles. Despite my young age, I was defying the odds and doing things. I also found myself holding concurrent academic appointments at leading universities in the USA and South Africa. It can be very demanding on one’s time, but like I said, my greatest weakness is perhaps in doing things the difficult way. To this day, I am not aware of any legal scholar who holds two higher doctorates in two different disciplines in any part of the English-speaking world (i.e. including Europe and elsewhere). Perhaps, my greatest weakness is to do things the difficult way.
NDC Vice President Mr Joseph Akafumba (c) addressing a media briefing
The National Democratic Congress(NDC) Secretary General Mwenya Musenge has met the rival group led by NDC Vice President, Joseph Akafumba. The two groups met in a four hour meeting held in Lusaka
NDC vice president Joseph Akafumba announced at a press briefing flanked by Mwenya Musenge and others, and clarified that the warring factions within the NDC had sat down to resolve the issues, adding that unity of purpose in the NDC was vital.
Mr Akafumba added that the NDC remains a dully registered political grouping. and that that the letter purportedly issued by NDC secretary general Mwenya Musenge to the media should be ignored.
Mr Akafumba said that any perceived internal squabbles within the NDC are being addressed.
The NDC vice president has since urged party Stewart’s countrywide to continue mobilizing its ranks and files, called for discipline and unity of purpose in the NDC.
And Mr Musenge has denied assertions that he has been paid any money by the governing PF to dismantle the NDC. Mr Musenge said that he was just deeply concerned with the way things were being run outside the party constitution.
He said the NDC was less than two years and the current problems were merely teething problems.
Cleo Ice Queen collaborated with Zimbabwean superstar Jah Prayzah on the song “Forever”
She had this to say on her social media page:
“I teamed up with Jah Prayzah on this magnificent feel-good Afro pop vibe that merges Hip Hop and amazing African melodies. Produced by super producer Mr Kamera and engineered by Zambian sound God kekero , there is no doubt that this song – #FOREVER – will be a timeless hit.”
Theo De Marillac, hippo killer of the Luangwa, Pic-Kamisa Malipita
Ministry of Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Howard Sikwela says Hippo killing in the Luangwa River Valley will proceed due to contractual obligations.
Reverend Sikwela said his Ministry has no powers at this stage to overrule the decision on the planned hippo culling slated to restart mid this year.
Speaking during a meeting at his office when United States of America Ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote visited him, Reverend Sikwela said his Ministry concerted to the cull because of the challenge of hippo carrying capacity of the Luangwa River Ecosystem and contractual obligations that were already undertaken.
He said Government appreciates the support of the US Embassy to the growth of the tourism sector especially in the South Luangwa National Park where an estimate of 40,000 American tourist visits, contributing around US$37 million each year.
And Ambassador Foote said he wished there could be an alternative solution to the cull.
Ambassador Foote said American remains Number One tourist source market to the South Luangwa and it would be sad the tourist opts to go to other countries because of the negative perception created by the undertaking.
The ambassador said he was not there to tell Zambians what to do about their wildlife resources.
FILE: President Edgar Lungu touring Government Printers in Lusaka
The National Action for Quality Education in Zambia has urged government to stop printing exam papers abroad.
Organisation Executive Director Aaron Chansa says the trend does not only manage to export capital and jobs away from Zambia but also denies an opportunity for Zambians to acquire important engineering and printing skills which this exercise would present if done locally.
Mr. Chansa said his Organisation finds the current practice of printing national examination papers out of the country strange and very inimical to skills development and government’s desire to industrialize for job creation.
“We are also aware that printing exam papers abroad is costing the country three times more than it would spend if papers were printed at government printers”, he added.
He said NAQEZ is further aware that at the moment, Zambia and Zimbabwe are the only Countries in the region still printing exam papers abroad and think that this is degrading and an assault to our 54 years of political Independence as a nation.
Mr. Chansa said the practice must be curtailed and allow public resources to remain inside the country for skills development and economic growth.
“We don’t agree with the thinking that Zambia has no capacity to print these papers. To this effect, our organization pleads with the Minister of General Education and his Permanent Secretary to critically consider our call and act in order to save billions of Kwacha”, he said.
Mr. Chansa said once this money is saved, ECZ will enhance security in examination management and Begin to handsomely motivate teachers who invigilate national exams.
He said the council will also be in a better position to pay markers of these exams on time adding that the saved funds would eventually enable the Examinations Council of Zambia to ultimately build its own printing facility for future assignments.
This practice began in 2013 and the desire was to cure the mischief of exam leakages in the country.
Before 2013, the printing was done within the country by Government printers. ECZ at first went to Britain to print exam papers and currently the exercise is done in India.
Exam leakages have now reached catastrophic levels. The suspension of national exams last year by the Minister of General Education stands as a classic example to the escalation of this retrogressive vice.
The Higher Education Authority has reinstated the registration status of City University of Science and Technology-Lusaka South Campus, Harvest University, and Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence and Business Management (LIUTEBM).
The Authority has stated that it had restored the full registration of the three named private Higher Education Institutions and as such the Institutions were allowed to, again, provide higher education in Zambia.
Further, the Authority stated that the Institutions were registered to operate only at the listed addresses for each institution.
It said City University of Science and Technology – Lusaka South Campus, whose registration number is HEA/041, has been registered to operate at Plot number Sub 55 Fm919, Lilayi Farms, Off Greg Lungu Road, Lusaka, the premises on the 4th Floor, Provident House in Cairo Road, Lusaka, will be exclusively used for administrative purposes and no classes are allowed to take place there.
The Authority said Harvest University, whose registration number is HEA/034, has been registered to operate at Plot Number 9027, Buluwe Road, Woodlands, Lusaka.
It said Harvest University was formerly registered as Harvest Institute of Missions University.
And the Authority said LIUTEBM, whose registration number is HEA/026, has been registered to operate at Plot Number 2746/M, 2nd Street, Ibex Extension, Lusaka.
On 6th December, 2018, HEA revoked the registration status of six Higher Education Institutions including the named 3, as the they had abrogated the provisions of the Higher Education Act number 4 of 2013 Part IV Section 18 (1), (2) and (3) (a), which state that HEIs that register with HEA at a particular site of operation but then change sites without registering those premises with the Authority are not recognised, at the new premises only, as institutions offering higher education in Zambia.
Therefore, the registration status of Africa Research University, Damelin University and Rock view University remain revoked.
Peoples Alliance for Change President Andyford Banda says the opposition Alliance has lost direction and is serving the interest of one political party.
And Mr. Banda says the decision by the Alliance to disengage his party came as a relief as he had already decided to pull out of the Alliance.
Speaking at a media briefing PAC we are not surprised by the behaviour and the subsequent announcement of its exit from the alliance because from the onset they knew and expected that this initiative would become a contest of egos.
Mr. Banda PAC is at peace with reality and will continue to pursue an agenda that benefits the public.
He said the Alliance started focusing on issues that had nothing to do with the formation of the alliance and issues that clearly seemed to be an agenda to push the interest of one alliance member.
“This you can attest from the statements and media briefs that you have been bombarded with in recent times. We were half committed because we felt the alliance had no strategy, there was a serious lack of planning, no clear timetable, meetings and press briefings were called an hour or two hours prior, sometimes even the on the same day, when we have other things to do”, he added.
He said the Alliance lacked purpose, focus and objectivity in its dealings adding that it was clear PACs brand as a party with brand new politics was being threatened.
Mr. Banda said PAC started slowly looking like it had been bought and were pushing one agenda.
“At one point I was asked to fly to South Africa with only a days’ notice, with some alliance leaders to see Mr. Mulongoti in hospital – I would like to wish him a quick recovery. It seemed like a scheme to hoodwink hungry politicians, which we are not. I do business outside the country so an economy class air ticket really can’t move me to travel on a day’s notice”, Mr. Banda said.
And Mr. Banda said the labelling of PAC as an infectious Toe by the Alliance exposes the fact that some political parties are more important in the alliance than others.
He said PAC holds no grudges and within the limitation of its resources, shall continue to reach out to Zambians with its message of promise and hope.
“We are young, we may be wet behind the ears, but we stand for truth. We do not have experience – totally agreed. We do not have experience in creating violence just to win a by election; we do not have experience in agitating for civil unrest just to prove a point; we do not have experience in self-seeking ventures that clearly do not have the ordinary Zambian in mind, and we certainly do not have experience in simply opposing everything simply because we hate the incumbent president”, he added.
However, the Opposition Alliance says it did not arrive at the decision to expel the Peoples Alliance for Change lightly but it was necessary because its President Andyford Banda is a traitor.
Alliance Chairperson Media and Finance Sub Committees Sean Tembo says one of the main compelling reasons why Mr. Banda was expelled is because the Alliance realized that he was leaking confidential information, including conversations in the Alliance Whatsapp group, to the ruling Patriotic Front.
Mr. Tembo said this had the effect of undermining the mandate of the Opposition Alliance, and the Alliance could not tolerate it, hence the decision to expel him.
He said if Mr. Andyford Banda is as sincere as he tries to portray himself, what he should have done, upon realizing that he was no longer in support of the vision and aspirations of the Opposition Alliance, was to resign from the organization.
He said it is disappointing that to the contrary, Mr. Banda decided to continue belonging to the Opposition Alliance, while at the same time leaking information from confidential Alliance meetings, to political opponents in the ruling Patriotic Front.
“When confronted by some Alliance members about specific leaked information, Mr. Banda would express ignorance”, he said.
Mr. Tembo said Mr. Banda was also in the habit of issuing statements to the press which had the effect of undermining the collective spirit of the Alliance and from the foregoing, it is evident that Mr. Andyford Banda was possibly planted into the Alliance from the beginning, for the sole purpose of undermining the Opposition Alliance from within.
He said the Alliance is always well informed about all the machinations and scheming that takes place in the PF camp, and shall always act decisively against anyone who tries to undermine the goals and aspirations of the Opposition Alliance, to deliver a better Zambia for the benefit of our beloved citizens.
Mr. Tembo has since cautioned the general public to watch out for individuals who portray themselves as Opposition Leaders and yet they are an extension of the ruling PF party, whose activities are directed and funded by the ruling party.
He said as Zambia head towards 2021, many such individuals will mushroom and will mislead many citizens.
But Peoples Alliance for Change President Andyford Banda has described the allegations by the Alliance as childish.
Amos Chipasha popularly known as T-low was born on 2nd August 1992 in the friendly city of Ndola.
T-Low kicked off his music career in the year of 2012, In 2014 he cultivated a desire to compose his own music as he felt the passion to write music became more of an addiction than an interest and this gave birth to his professional career as an artist.
T-Low’s music can be described as mid tempo ,upbeat R&B. He feels in as much as sad moments will always be a part of life, relatable and danceable music helps to rid one’s soul of loneliness and sorrow. He has steadily been gaining momentum over the years and has worked with some of Zambia’s best producers, and artists.
His song that featured Mumba yachi, titled ‘Because of you’ was a mega hit. Other hit songs include ‘Ponya Ntole’ and ‘Icishinka’. T-Low is currently signed to Gwap Music Africa.
T-low released a 9-Track EP titled THE MELODY MAN in 2018, later that year he was nominated in two categories of the second edition of the Kwacha Music Award;Best Copperbelt Male and Best R&B Song which saw him win BEST R&B SONG OF 2018
T-Low is currently working on his first Debut album called ‘Affection for favour’.
Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya visiting the recovering Richard Zulu
Doctors at the University Teaching Hospitals have successfully removed the 10 needles that had remained in the body of 3-year-old six months old baby from Chipata District in Eastern Province.
Ten needles had remained in the body of Richard Zulu who last underwent an operation in January this year.
UTH Director Clinical Care and Diagnostic Services Dr. Alex Makupe said the needles were removed in an operation that lasted for over three hours.
Dr. Makupe said Richard is recuperating well in the Intensive Care Unit and will be discharged in the next few weeks.
The child had 44 needles in his body that were discovered after the CT- Scan at Chipata Hospital, had 25 of them removed while the remainder got referred to University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka on President Edgar Lungu’s directive.
Circumstances of how the needles got into the boy’s body are still not clear and are under investigation by the local authorities in Chipata.
Meanwhile, his mother Rosemary Jere has thanked the Doctors and government for successfully removing the needles.
Ms. Jere is hopeful the boy will be discharged soon and return to Chipata.