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.
Some of the coffins of the 14 bodies of the boat accident victims that happened this week.
Preliminary Investigations into the marine accident which left 18 people dead when a boat carrying them capsized on Lake Mweru in Nchelenge District of Luapula Province have revealed that the boat capsized due to overloading and stormy weather that occurred on the lake.
The accident occurred on 13th February, 2019 between 09 and 10 hours and involved was a motorized wooden boat carrying 39 passengers travelling from mainland Nchelenge to Isokwe Island out of which 21 survived.
Acting Minister of Transport and Communications Mutotwe Kafwaya said the coxswain ignored warning of the stormy weather and kept loading the passengers and cargo and decided to sail despite the bad weather.
Mr. Kafwaya said unfortunately the boat did not have the required number of lifesaving appliances on board that could have prevented this tragedy.
He said Government has to this effect put in place measures to enhance water safety and procured three passenger vessels among them one 24 seater which is operational on Lake Mweru and two by 120 seater boats which are yet to be launched in Nchelenge and Samfya in an effort to provide safer transportation on the waters.
He said in order to expedite the launch of the two boats in Samfya and Nchelenge his Ministry liaised with the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development to engage the army to construct temporary landing Jetties to operationalize the boats.
Mr. Kafwaya said going forward, the Ministry of Transport and Communications remains focused at setting policy and regulation and will timely capacitate staff in Local Authorities.
He said the Ministry is also reviewing the legal and institutional framework of the Department of Maritime and Inland Waterways which is responsible for the development, regulation, enforcement and registration of boat operators as well as the provision of oversight supervision to the sub-sector.
Senior Chief Musele and Kalumbila Minerals Ltd General Manager Morris Rowe shake hands after agreeing to closer co-operation between the mine and the local community
Senior Chief Musele has reassured his subjects that ground water in his chiefdom is safe to drink after government tests confirmed it was not polluted by the Sentinel Mine in Kalumbila.
The move by the traditional leader heralds a new era in co-operation between the royal establishment and the mine as a result of which First Quantum Minerals has agreed to resume a community water project put on hold last year following attempts by community leaders to blame the mine for naturally occurring water quality issues.
The meeting concluded with Chief Musele and Kalumbila Minerals Ltd General Manager Morris Rowe signing their agreement of a statement from the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection on the results of investigations by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) and the Department of Water Resources Development into the quality of water in boreholes around Musele Chiefdom.
The report concluded: “Currently, investigation results confirmed that there was no cause/effect relationship between mining activities at Kalumbila Minerals Limited and the water quality grievances.”
Senior Chief Musele said: “It wasn’t our intention to blame the mine or to blame anyone. We wanted assistance from anyone. That’s why I decided to come and meet the general manager so that we know the way forward to rebuild our relationship as brothers, not as enemies, so that we can work in harmony.”.
“I am very pleased to rebuild our relationship and working together with the mines. Although we differed for some times, today we have reconciled and we have ended everything. We want to work together; we want to develop our area so that people can benefit. We don’t want conflicts.
From today onwards we will be working together with the mine.”
The agreement followed a meeting this week between the Chief and mine management, chaired by North-Western Province Minister Hon. Nathaniel Mubukwanu and attended by representatives of ZEMA and the Department of Water Resources Development to agree a way forward on the water project.
The Chief rescinded earlier claims by some of his subjects that the mine was to blame for water quality issues.
The new spirit of goodwill was welcomed by Mr Rowe, who confirmed that on the basis of the Chief’s agreement to publicly support the foundation’s efforts, work would now resume on the stalled water project.
“It has been our commitment from the beginning that we have a good relationship with the community and I am pleased we have set the record straight. We will gladly help on humanitarian grounds. We are part of your community and we will always do our best to continue with our relationship,” he said.
North Western Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu said: “On behalf of Government I wish to sincerely thank both parties that have been involved in this process of discussions. It has been a back-and-forth process. It has taken a bit of time and it wasn’t easy, but I think both teams have demonstrated leadership and this is how we need to proceed going into the future.
“As government we want to ensure and see to it that there is a good and warm working relationship between the mines and the local communities for the benefit of everybody, because investors when they come they don’t just come to bring money, they also come to make profits out of their investment; but at the same time the communities that are hosting these investments must in return benefit, and I hope the mines will to explore other tangible initiatives that are going to help our people in this particular area. I would like to encourage dialogue.” he said.
Naturally occurring iron in the geological structure of the area has been a visible challenge in water in Musele community boreholes for over two decades, long before mining activities commenced in the area. This is a well-known challenge in areas with similar soils in Zambia, in particular, large parts of North-Western and Northern provinces.
Scientific analysis of the water confirmed the naturally occurring iron, which causes water discolouration and a metallic taste. The iron occurs in most of the local soils and is not a result of mining activities. This is backed up by the extensive long-term groundwater monitored programmes initiated by the company before operations began, said the mine.
In addition, abnormally high rainfall in the 2017/2018 rainy season, and clearing of vegetation for farming activities caused flooding of a graveyard, which some village residents blamed on the mine, despite a survey demonstrating that the area was uphill of the mine’s activities.
Through its Trident Foundation, the company budgeted to invest in an initiative to upgrade community water systems in Kalumbila District in work being co-ordinated in consultation with Senior Chief Musele, a development taskforce and a sub-committee specifically set up to recommend improvements to water access.
The mine has undertaken an on-going programme of borehole upgrades to help the community address the challenge of access to clean and safe drinking water, including a technical investigation to locate deep water borehole sites in Kalumbila District.
In 2017, the mining firm spent some US$60,000 to repair 57 community boreholes across the Musele Chiefdom. Repairing the boreholes was identified as a need during an annual community needs assessment, followed up by a mechanical survey of all the boreholes in Musele Chiefdom.
The mine also works in close collaboration with Department of Water Resources Development to undertake annual water quality monitoring of 178 boreholes in the local area, and the results are disclosed to the community.
The programme aims to complement government efforts to increase access to clean and safe drinking water in communities in Kalumbila district.
The mining firm believes access to safe, clean water is the number one priority for community development. Water is a basic human need, and should always be prioritised over other forms of development work. Despite current economic challenges, the company has prioritised its budget to focus on this basic need.
First Quantum Minerals and the Zambian government: looking to the future of copper mining.
By Edward Lange
First Quantum Minerals and the Zambian government have been involved in multiple discussions, ranging from the use of dividends by First Quantum Mine (FQM) without prior consent from the state company Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) with which it is in a joint venture, and threats to cut labour due to changes in the tax regime, to First Quantum bidding to buy ZCCM/IH’s 20% share in Kansanshi mine.
While these discussions are taking place, the impact of First Quantum activities on mining communities presents another front for engagement between the state and the company. A report published by the Southern Africa Resource Watch entitled Living in a Parallel Universe: First Quantum versus the mining communities in Zambia has exposed the inadequacy of First Quantum’s social and environmental interventions.
Contrary to First Quantum claims that it is a responsible company, the report finds that Kansanshi mine’s activities have negatively affected water and land, impacting on agriculture and food security.
This report, which focuses on one of First Quantum’s operations (the Kansanshi mine), reveals a stark contrast between the wealth that First Quantum extracts for export and the poverty levels in the surrounding communities.
Kansanshi Copper and Gold Mine is currently owned by ZCMM/IH and First Quantum, with 20% and 80% of shares respectively. It produces 400,000 tons of copper and more than 120,000 ounces of gold per year. With this production, it is the country’s largest taxpayer. Between 2005 and 2015, the mine contributed more than $3-billion in tax to the Zambian state. That’s where the good story ends.
The SARW report has found that Kansanshi activities are polluting water and land, undermining food security. Mining communities adjacent to the mine are convinced that the hand-pump wells or boreholes donated by First Quantum access heavily contaminated water as a result of the proximity of tailing dams that the company has been extending without prior consultation with the community. People are convinced that underground water, which they rely on for drinking and washing, is polluted.
Members of the community believe that the polluted water could be the source of persistent diarrhoea in the area. One of the main concerns for these affected people, who are incapable of fighting against this powerful company, is the non-availability of alternative land for them. The proximity of the tailing dams has also affected the quality of the air in the villages. There are concerns that the increase in lung diseases could be due to dust from the tailing dams.
First Quantum has failed to consider the environmental effects of its tailings dam expansion on water pollution and the destruction of community farms. Despite its financial and technical capabilities, First Quantum has failed to conclusively demonstrate that its activities are not polluting.
The problem is not just the company. The SARW report has also found that the government is abdicating its responsibility of control and sanctioning bad behaviour by mining companies. Communities have raised the issue of water pollution with the government and with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), but the situation has remained unresolved for years. According to people in the community, the local authority and the Department of Water Affairs take samples year after year but have never shared the results with the people directly affected. First Quantum might be the biggest tax contributor to Zambian government revenue, but the environmental and social burden of mining reduces the benefits of this when associated costs are considered.
The people living around Kansanshi mine accuse the company of failing to provide adequate social amenities. According to the company, these communities have received support in different sectors – health, education, entrepreneurship, and housing for displaced people, agricultural support, and water provision – as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.
Kansanshi mine prides itself on its social investment model and the positive impact it has on communities. However, the SARW report found that there is a disparity between what is in the company sustainability report and what is found on the ground. First Quantum does provide services to communities, but the report questions the quality of these services. Clearly, the company is doing a number of things in communities, such as building schools and clinics, sinking boreholes, agriculture, and recreational initiatives. The SARW research team was shocked by the poor quality, the inadequate scale, and the flawed philosophy behind these initiatives. These investments are visibly not intended to transform the lives of people, but rather to maintain and perpetuate poverty and underdevelopment.
It is clear from each community we visited that people have hardly benefited from these projects. You need to search hard in each community to find Kansanshi’s investment. All the villages have kept their original character – no running water, no electricity, no tarred roads, and no decent houses. No modernisation. According to the report, if one has not visited Kansanshi’s social projects, and only reads the company’s sustainability reports, one will have the image of a company beyond reproach. This is not true. Behind the shiny sustainability reports with fancy images of happy local children, First Quantum’s rhetoric of poverty alleviation, of community empowerment, is simply not there.
People in the communities that SARW visited feel cursed and abandoned.
In one of the communities (Kabwela), First Quantum built a three-classroom school to accommodate approximately 1,300 children from grades one to seven, and two houses for seven teachers. At this school, First Quantum forgot to build toilets. The community took it upon itself to build the toilets. Despite numerous requests by the community to expand the school facilities, the company has refused. The community has embarked on its own initiative to mobilise local resources to make 25,000 mud bricks to construct another block of three classrooms and housing units for the teachers.
The approach to the provision of healthcare is similar to that of education. Kansanshi uses a colonial system of health provision to the surrounding communities – just the basics. We visited one health centre built by the company in Kabwela community. The building is of very poor quality and badly maintained. The toilet for the clinic is 20m away. Grass has grown in and around the toilet, a sign that it is not in use. The clinic has no toilet facilities, no running water, and looks like an abandoned place. The nature of this health facility contradicts Kansanshi’s claim in its sustainability report that “For any mining company, workplace health and community well-being are inextricably linked”.
The problems found in the community reflect a wrong approach to community engagement. The SARW report found that First Quantum does not engage in genuine negotiation with communities. What Kansanshi fails to understand is that the quality and acceptability of its decisions depends on their inclusivity. Simply consulting traditional leaders and national government is not sufficient.
The impression of consultation that the company brandishes in its sustainability reports and social policy is simply is an image-building strategy and a window-dressing initiative, aimed at diverting the attention of the company’s stakeholders. The company does this to the detriment of communities’ interests.
The report has conclusively found that the efforts that the company is making towards CSR are not transformative – they do not change the lives of the people but maintain people in poverty. Instead of growing hope, Kansanshi mine’s CSR is undermining the hope of poor communities.
Kansanshi mine does not attach significant importance to the economic and social transformation of mining communities, and most of the company’s CSR activities reflect a total lack of seriousness in conceptualisation, design, financing, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
Edward Lange is Zambia co-ordinator of the Southern Africa Resource Watch.
ZAMBIA High Commission in India has said that she is dismayed by the unwarranted verbal attack by Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili directed at a person believed to be of Indian origin working on the expansion of roads in Zambia.
This follows a video in which the Law maker was captured ranting a driver of a compactor working on the Lusaka roads expansion.
“Mr. Kambwili understands the complaints procedure as former Minister of Labour and that his words are unwarranted in the eyes of the international community having served as Minister of Foreign Affairs too,” Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga said.
Mrs. Kapijimpanga added that Mr. Kambwili should have taken time to investigate whether the person operating the road compactor was not born and raised in Zambia.
“Mr. Kambwili is a wrong person to attack any nationality working in Zambia because his own spouse works in the United Kingdom and such outbursts threaten the lives of Zambians working abroad in case others retaliate,” she said.
Mrs. Kapijimpanga said pertinent issues that were meant to benefit the masses such as the decongestion of Lusaka Roads Project jointly funded by India and Zambia could not be resolved in an emotional way.
“Zambians have never looked at the colour of any person once having a white Republican Vice President Dr. Guy Scott, people of Indian origin such as Dipak Patel as former Commerce Minister and fomer Agriculture Minister, Suresh Desai who were elected by the people,” she said.
And YALI has issued the following statement on the matter.
YALI Calls on Kambwili to Apologise for Xenophobic & Racial Remarks Against Indians
The Young African Leaders Initiative condemns the act of the Roan Lawmaker, Chishimba Kambwili for uttering remarks against an Indian national who was found operating a grader and challenging the same person to go back to India.
As a lawmaker and national leader, Mr. Kambwili should know that it is not only dishonourable but also a crime for leaders to show racial hatred in all fields including employment. Mr. Kambwili himself has wife, children and relatives who may be working in various portfolios in the United Kingdom and other places such as India.
We ask how Mr. Kambwili would feel if our brothers and sisters working outside as nurses, cleaners, maids are treated with such disdain from leaders in those countries.
Mr. Kambwili can do his political without putting public stunts that promote feelings of ill will or hostility between different classes of the population of Zambia which is contrary to Section 60(1)(g) of the Penal Code and also violate Section 70 (1) that prohibit uttering of any words that express or show hatred, ridicule or contempt for any person because of his or their race, place of origin or colour.
Mr. Kambwili must demonstrate leadership and apologise to the Indian Community and Zambians generally who have no history of xenophobia against anyone. In Zambia, we have lived and worked alongside people from difference race and places of origin without expressing such hatred as we see in some neighbouring countries.
ZAMBIA’S Minister of Tourism and Arts Charles Banda says the new flight routes to Lusaka are a sign of increased interest in the country’s tourism and business opportunities.
Mr Banda said the population travelling for business and leisure has increased over time, which is attracting airlines back into the country.
“Zambia is a unique destination because it is at the centre sharing borders with eight (8) other countries. The sum total population of these countries is over 600 million with different business ideas and transactions,” the minister said in Lusaka today when he featured on CNBC Africa ‘Power Lunch’ live interview programme.
“For example, the re-launch of Botswana Airlines route to Lusaka is due to increased business opportunities, meetings and transactions between the two countries,” he said.
Mr Banda said the re-launch of Zambia Airways has reached an advanced stage and is expected to begin flights in April this year in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines.
It will reinforce the already existing Kenya Airways, RwandAir, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airways and soon to be launched Air Tanzania and give people easy access into Zambia.
“Zambia has very unique catchment areas. We control over 40 percent of surface water bodies in the region, so it’s both business and tourism. We have it all,” he said.
Western Province Minister Richard Kapita (2ND L) and Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Julius Shawa (2ND R) listening to Cashew Infrastructure Development (CIDP) Technical Advisor Peter Masawe (R) as he demonstrates his expertise in cashew production at Simulumbe Research Centre
Western Province Minister Richard Kapita has urged the Cashew Infrastructure Development Project (CIDP) team to expedite the implementation of project activities in the remaining two years.
Officially opening a cashew stakeholders’ conference at Mongu trades training institute, Mr Kapita said concerted effort will exculpate the success of the project objective in reducing poverty and improving household income.
And Mr Kapita in a speech read for him by Deputy Permanent Secretary Daniel Bukali commended the Cashew Growers Association of Zambia and cooperatives for considering the need to establish the cashew business cooperative movement which he noted would become an effective vehicle to actualize business development .
The Minister urged stakeholders to conceptualize a cashew regulatory body during the deliberations of the conference.
He said the legal and regulatory framework will enhance orderliness in the operation of cashew business as it will enforce compliance to quality and safety standard.
“ Efforts in the project could be yield less if there are no clear guidelines and regulations to be observed strictly by all value chain actors, “ he said.
He also advised farmers to ensure that production and supply of seedlings is controlled to avoid misunderstandings and contamination of the cashew industry with unwanted trees.
Mr Kapita called to action the Local Council and the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) to develop and enforce By-laws to regulate the industry.
And speaking at the same event , Cashew Growers Association of Zambia Coordinator Allan Ching’ambu urged farmers to change the status quo of western province by developing mechanism which can uphold good quality cashew nuts to bring the desired development in the region.
Mr Ching’ambu disclosed that the local market size is estimated at 17 tons of cases kernels per annum with a market value of 2 million kwacha while the export demand for kernels from Zambia is approximated at 3.175 Ton per annum with the market value of 222 million kwacha.
Raw cashew has a market value of 210 million kwacha and the current demand is 30.000 tons thus urging farmers to capitalize on cashew, he said
And CIDP Project Coordinator Charles Kapekele Chileya announced that the project has contracted Export Trading Group to ensure that the cashew is bought from the local farmers in all districts hence advising farmers to work together in cooperatives to increase productivity.
Meanwhile, a farmer from Sikongo district, Noanga Kabeto called for intensive sensitization and education on the value of cashew nut in the province stating that most farmers express ignorance.
Government Partnered with the African Development Bank (ADB) in the five year USD 55.42 million project which is coming to a close next year is being executed in 10 districts of the province.
President Edgar Lungu has advised Cabinet Ministers , line ministries and departments not to procrastinate the implementation of development projects in the country.
President Lungu says the parties should not procrastinate as he wants to see an improvement in service delivery emanating from implementation of development projects as outlined in the PF manifesto.
The Head of State said this when he addressed the first cluster meeting for selected cabinet ministers and ministries at State House yesterday to give reports on implementation of government projects under the seventh national development plan.
The cluster meeting was being held under the theme: “Towards an integrated Approach to national development planning.”
President Lungu urged his ministers to take the meeting serious adding that together with relevant authorities, they should be resourceful in handling the implementation of development projects.
He said together with line agencies and institutions , he expects his ministers to be proactive and find solutions to challenges as opposed to waiting for him to provide an oversight supervision.
“ I expects all Cabinet ministers , ministries and institutions they oversee to provide timely updates on implementation of projects, “ the President said.
He pointed out that the PF’s continued stay in power depends on the party delivering on its promises by implementing projects outlined in its manifesto.
President Lungu said he does not want the experience of Muchinga province where projects have stalled to spill over in other provinces.
And Secretary to Cabinet Patrick Kangwa said ministries will appear on several occasions before the cluster meeting due to change in approach that now focuses on the oversight and overlapping roles they play in the 7NDP.
Minister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe and her National Development Planning counterpart Alexander Chiteme were scheduled to present a report to President Lungu during the meeting.
Vice President Inonge Wina, Minister of General Education David Mabumba , Higher Education Nkandu Luo, Information Dora Siliya, Livestock Kampamba Chewe, Mines Richard Musukwa and Justice minister Given Lubinda, were among the notable figures at the meeting.
Others included Works and Supply Mutotwe Kafwaya, Labour Joyce Simukoko, Religious Godfridah Sumaili, Home Affairs Steven Kampyongo, Agriculture Micheal Katambo, Local Government Vincent Mwale , Water and Sanitation Dennis Wanchinga and Sylvia Chalikosa from Office of the Vice President.
Zambia Police public relations officer Esther Katongo has cautioned students from different universities and colleges planning to unlawfully match to Parliament to follow laid down procedure.
In a statement issued to ZNBC news, Ms Katongo said the Zambia police has information that students from learning institutions are planning to march to Parliament over the withdrawal of meal allowances.
Ms Katongo said Police will not tolerate any acts of lawlessness and do not want to have any unnecessary confrontation with students.
She has since advised the students to follow the laid down procedures in airing their grievances as opposed to taking to the streets.
Ms Katongo has warned that police will deal with anyone involved in illegalities.
Information and Broadcasting Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo
Government has said that it will not hesitate to revoke licences of media houses that fail to abide by the regulations set by the Independent Broadcasting Authority -IBA.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo says the IBA cannot risk a few irresponsible radio or television stations to bring chaos in the country.
Speaking as guest of honour at a radio and television managers and board members’ workshop organised by the IBA in Chipata, Mr Kasolo said he will ensure that the IBA strictly carries out its mandate in accordance with the provision of the Act.
He said it was shocking to see how certain radio and television stations conducted themselves during coverage of the Sesheke by-election.
And earlier, IBA director general Josephine Mapoma said her institution has called for the workshop to remind the licensees about their obligations.
Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Ronald Chitotela inspecting the damage
THE Kapompi Bridge which joins Nkana East and Musonda compound in Kitwe City has collapsed barely a month after it was worked on.
The bridge collapsed this morning due to heavy rains being experienced in the area.
Last month, Kapombi bridge had collapsed and area member of Parliament Joseph Malanji arranged contractors who worked on it at a cost of over 300 thousand Kwacha.
ZANIS reports that a spot check at broadcast time , found motorists stranded at the site while pedestrians took their risk to cross the bridge which is on the verge of collapsing completely.
And Kitwe Mayor Christopher Kang’ombe who rushed to the scene said the council will immediately put a temporal foot bridge opposite the collapsed bridge to enable school going children and people that go for work to cross the stream.
Mr. Kang’ombe said the council has also engaged Avic International to finalize works on an alternative road using Copperbelt University Hostels access road for motorists.
He added that as a long term solution to the problem, a permanent bridge will be constructed after the rain season.
And Kitwe District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu who accompanied the Mayor to inspect the bridge said the concrete bridge which was put up recently should not have been put as it was adding more pressure on the pillars.
Mr. Mpundu said it was sad that the bridge had collapsed even after making attempts to resuscitate it a few weeks ago.
Minister of Infrastructure Ronald Chitotela on Tuesday leaving the ACC Headquarters in the company of his lawyer
Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Ronald Chitotela has pleaded not guilty to four counts of corruption before Magistrate David Simusamba.
The Minister is jointly charged with Gregory Chibanga, Brut Holding Limited and Diris Mukange who also denied the charges.
In the matter, it is alleged in the first count that Chitotela, Gregory Chibanga and Brut Holdings Limited, between July 3, 2016 and October 30, last year in Lusaka, concealed lot number 148 of farm 50A situated in Makeni disguised in the names of Diris Mukange, property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
In the second count, the trio between the same dates is accused of concealing part of subdivision A lot 22183/M situated in Ibex Hill, Lusaka, disguised in the name of Diris Mukange, property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
In the third count, Diris Mukange between the same dates jointly and whilst acting together with other unknown people possessed lot number 148 of farm 50A situated in Makena in Lusaka, property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
In the fourth count, Mukange between the same dates possessed part of subdivision A of lot 22183/M situated in Ibex Hill.
When the matter came up for plea before magistrate David Simusamba, Tuesday, Chitotela said he denied the charges 100 percent.
His co-accused equally pleaded not guilty.
The matter has since been adjourned to March 20 and 21, this year, as well as April 2, 3 and 4, for trial.
Meanwhile opposition UPND Members of Parliament have continued to walkout on Mr Chitotela in Parliament whenever he stands to speak as a form of protest at his continued stay in while facing corruption charges.
And Speaker of the national Assembly Patrick Matibini has reserved ruling on a point of order raised by Southern province Minister Edify Humukale on whether UPND Members of Parliament are in order to continue leaving the house whenever Mr. Chitotela takes to the floor to address house.
UPND Parliamentary Whip Situmbeko Musokotwane said that they will continue walking out on Mr Chitotela until he resigns or he is removed from his position.
The Anti Corruption Commission on 5th February arrested Mr Chitotela and charged him with two counts of concealing property suspected of being proceeds of crime contrary to Section 71 subsection (1) of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crimes Act Number 1 of 2010.
meanwhile, Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Ronald Chitotela said that the delayed commissioning of works on the Kitwe-Chingola Dual Carriage Way on the Copperbelt is due to the new valuation order issued to the contractor.
Mr Chitotela said that Sino Hydro, the contractor engaged by Government to refurbish the road, was initially given a project to construct one lane.
He said authorities later realised that there is need to also upgrade the old lane, thereby issuing a new valuation order to the contractor.
Mr Chitotela was speaking in a telephone interview with ZNBC News in Kitwe.
The Minister disclosed that the dual carriage way will be commissioned in October this year.
He said Government wants to ensure value for money when the project is handed over.
Mr Chitotela also said works on the dual carriage way are currently above 80%.
Nkana coach Beston Chambeshi has been linked with the Botswana national team job.
The Nkana and ex-Zambia coach is no stranger to Botswana football after coaching stints there at BDF XI and Centre Chiefs.
Chambeshi had a brief spell as caretaker Chipolopolo coach during the 2018 COSAFA Cup in South Africa where Zambia finished second.
According to Kickoff, other prospective coaches for The Zebras job include the South African duo of Steve Komphela and Shakes Mashaba who managed eSwatini ten years ago.
The Botswana Football Association is reportedly seeking to replace veteran coach Major David Bright following an unsuccessful 2019 AFCON qualifying campaign.
Botswana’s only AFCON appearance came at the 2012 tournament co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Lusaka lawyer Tutwa Ngulube and Chief Chikwanda of Mpika have warned that it was a criminal offence for Mr Hichilema to incite the Zambian people to take the law in their own hands and both him and those being incited risk being jailed, Mr Ngulube has warned that Mr Hichilema wanted to divide the nation for political mileage and that those following him blindly would end up on the wrong side of the law.
He urged Zambians to remain peaceful and not to listen to politicians like Mr Hichilema who wanted to divide the nation for political mileage.
Mr Ngulube, who is Kabwe Central Member of Parliament called on Zambians to resist attempts by wicked, unpatriotic and divisive politicians to incite them against each other because they would face the wrath of the law individually.
Mr Ngulube was reacting to a statement by Mr. Hichilema who urged Zambians to defend themselves whenever attacked by the PF alleging that the law was made unimportant by the PF administration. He said it was a criminal offence for Mr Hichilema to incite Zambians to take the law in their hands.
“It is a criminal offence to incite the people to take the law in their own hands because no one is above the law. Actually no one should defend himself in the manner that breaks the law because that is against the law itself. HH will be caught up with the law and the people he is inciting will also be jailed.
“The penal code is very clear on that one; the one inciting and those incited can both be jailed. It is conspiracy to incite the people to take the law in their hand,” Mr Ngulube said.
Mr Ngulube said the behaviour exhibited by Mr Hichilema was unacceptable anywhere in the world citing that the conduct demonstrates blatant political barbarism, brutality and savagery of the worst kind. He has r urged Zambians to ignore calls from their leaders who ask them to wage violence against one another as they were all one belonging to one country called Zambia.
“And I would also urge his supporters not to listen to him because he will just land them in problems. They will face the law individually. HH is just trying to win political sympathy. And those being incited should know that HH won’t be there for them in court when they break the law,” he warned.
And Chief Chikwanda says the statement by Mr. Hichilema that people should defend themselves is criminal, uncalled for and should be investigated.
Chief Chikwanda said it is disappointing that a leader vying for the highest office in the land would sink so low to incite citizens to rise in violence. He said law enforcement agencies should not take Mr Hichilema’s statement lightly and calls for serious investigation. Chief Chikwanda said Mr Hichilema’s statement is a danger to nation peace and unity and the law should visit him and ensure that he is held accountable for his action
‘‘People should not listen to leaders that would want to promote anarchy in the country as they do not have the interest of the country at heart.
Meanwhile, PF founder member Edwin Lifwekelo wondered how the UPND president, Mr Hichilema was now backing the same officers he claimed wanted to assassinate him.
He reiterated that Mr Hichilema now backing the officers who were retired in national interest was a sign that his assassination claims were fake.
“How can Mr. Hichilema today pretend to be fighting for the police he earlier claimed wanted to kill him? In all sense, he should be happy that action was taken by authorities if his claims are true,” said Mr Liifwekelo.
President Lungu Pose with students at Solwezi Midwifrey school
The Zambia National Students Union (ZANASU) has appealed to the leadership of President Edgar Lungu to help resolve this issue by opening doors to his office and his administration for students to directly engage him on this matter.
ZANASU Information and Publicity Secretary Assa Williey stated one of the consequences of Government decision to remove meal allowances is the possibility that female students from poor families will sent into prostitution in order to find money to sustain themselves while studying in public universities.
“President Lungu as a known champion of female empowerment would not want to see this situation which will contribute to raise in contraction of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS which puts pressure on the treasury in mobilising resources to procure anti-retroviral drugs,” said Ms. Williey.
Ms. Williey said President Lungu cannot continue to let Higher Education Minister Professor Nkandu Luo to continue experimenting with provision of higher education by her policies that are putting this administration at odds with the very people he promised to serve when he assumed the Presidency.
“We ask for sobriety and reasonableness from our elected representative. Professor Nkandu Luo has failed our youthful Zambians. She has put her personal fights against students ahead of the national bigger picture and that of the PF administration which was elected on the basis of the pro-poor agenda. Minister Luo’s style of leadership has proven to be one where she wants to show she has unfettered power to make any decision believing no student as a client must have a say, as long as such decisions fulfill her ego,” she said.
The students umbrella body has reminded President Lungu that he has an opportunity to interact with leaders who were in the former ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) who should bring to the table vital lessons of times when some Ministers decided not to tell the truth to the Head of State on the situation on the ground and advised him to be wary of ministers who never help Presidents to govern best by listening to the correct views and cries of the people because such Ministers has nothing to lose having been in these offices for too long.
“We are very sure the Head of State has been following this discourse on removal of living allowances but we ask him to break his silence over the matter that will hinge on his shoulders and has potential to distance this administration from both students and their poor families for years to come,” said Ms. Williey.
Mr. Williey has also advised members of parliament to learn something from the Brexit debates in the UK House of Commons where they are able to remove their partisan jackets and put the interest of their constituents ahead of their own by holding the Executive arm in checks and balances and stated that the issue of a living allowance for students from poor families who study in institutions of higher learning must be neither be a PF or opposition issue but an issue that goes to the core of whom these Members of Parliament represent in Parliament.
“Stylish” Roan United picked up their first win of the 2019 FAZ Division One Zone 2 season after edging visiting ZNS Lwamfumu 1-0 at Kafubu Stadium in Luanshya over the weekend.
Striker Hassan Mwamba scored the only goal for Stylish in this Week 5 match.
Roan had posted two defeats and two draws prior to the match against Lwamfumu.
The team is placed 12th on the table 16-team table with five points from five matches played.
Lwamfumu are bottom of the table with no points from four matches.
Elsewhere in Zone 2, Kansanshi Dynamos were displaced from the top after succumbing to a 2-1 loss at Gomes in Ndola.
Gomes are now the leaders of this zone with 11 points, one above second placed Kansanshi, after five matches played.
In Zone 1, Young Buffaloes are leading with 13 points after a 1-1 draw against Young Nkwazi.
Romeki are second on the table with 12 points following a 2-1 win over Petauke United.
FAZ Division One – Week 5
Zone 1
Chipata City Council 1-3 Kafue Celtic
Zesco Malaiti 1-1 National Assembly
Lusaka City council 1-0 Police College
Katete Rangers 1-3 Happy Hearts
Young Nkwazi vs Young Green Buffaloes
Romeki 2-1 Petauke
Riflemen 3-0 Lundazi United
City of Lusaka 0-1 Paramilitary
Zone 2
Zesco Luapula 2-1 Chingola Leopard
Ndola United 0-0 Trident
Gomes 2-1 Kansanshi
Indeni 2-0 Nchanga Rangers
Roan United 1-0 ZNS Lwamfumu
Konkola Blades 0-2 Chambishi
Kalulushi Modern Stars 1-2 Kalumbila Quattro
