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.
President Edgar Lungu being interviewed by Journalists at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport s shortly before departure for Angola on Monday, 23rd April, 2018, Picture by Thomas Nsama
President Lungu’s Full Response:
The suspect in the eyes of the Law enforcement agencies can be arrested and they have chosen to arrest Hon Chitotela…so what does that got to do with me… the suspect, and in their wisdom they choose to arrest him so what should i do.
And we are fighting corruption and if he’s corrupt, he is corrupt. So they have to prove in the courts of law and I hope they give him a chance to prove himself.
If he’s corrupt, he’s corrupt. But you see what I don’t want to do is to politicize the fight against corruption.
Remember how I lost Chishimba Kambwili. They came to me and they said he is corrupt, and I said investigate him, they investigated him, along the way, they said he’s not cooperating, he’s insulting us, he’s very vulgar, am sorry to say that, but he’s vulgar, he can be vulgar.
They were all crying in my office, and I said ‘What do I do?’ In my judgement, I said ‘The best is to remove him.’ I removed Chishimba.
Up to now, we are waiting for the ACC, the DEC and all those who brought allegations against him to prove their allegations in the courts of law.
So, you want me to lose Chitotela on that basis again? Am saying No! I will give them leeway to investigate and arrest and bring to court culprits. But I will not interfere I will even fund them to do their operations.
But those who are calling for the removal of Hon Chitotela now, I say no, give him space but don’t interfere with the process.
Bring your evidence and let him also have… he’s there in court and let justice be served and I am a lawyer and if you look at the bill of rights I think article 18 starts with presumption of innocence.
So as far as am concerned he is innocent, even Chishimba Kambwili is innocent, but look at where Chishimba Kambwili is..no Lungu is fighting Chishimba kambwili” I have never fought Chishimba Kambwili.
What I had was a report from the law enforcement agency that Chishimba had done 1,2,3 wrongs. I said “go investigate him” and many others I said “Go ahead” and they went ahead, at the same time they said “we can’t get anything; no corporation from him.” and I said “what do I do?” in my wisdom I removed him from office.
Having removed him from office, the rest is history. He pledged to work with us…the next thing he was saying am corrupt.
I don’t care what has happened but what am saying is having lost Chishimba Kambwili through allegations of corruption by the same forces I don’t want to lose Chitotela in the same manner.
Am saying may Chishimba Kambwili find justice, and may Chitotela find justice, and may those who are alleged to be corrupt find justice.
That’s how the rule of law works. The precinct, one of the precinct of law is there is no one above the law. Right? When the police feel like investigating you, they will investigate you. When they feel like coming to your home at night to search, they will search.
And I can’t tell them go and search Tom Njovu’s home or that girls home. Yt’s not in my mandate. So let us not politicise the fight against corruption.
There is a perception that “by doing that they are weakening Lungu.” they are not weakening me. They’re just killing the systems we have set to fight corruption genuinely. So what comment do you want me to make? May justice be done that’s it.
“No am fighting Chitotela because he knows too much about me.” what have I done?
“No Chitotela has got money on my behalf.” I am not a business man. Am just a politician chosen to lead Zambia
Zambia Airports Corporation Communications and Brand Manager Mweembe Sikaulu says the general passenger movement for the period January to December, 2018 for all four international airports namely Kenneth Kaunda, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Mfuwe International Airports was 1,931,827 compared to 1,748,200 in 2017 resulting in an overall growth of 10.5%.
Ms. Sikaulu said this can further be broken into 374,479 for domestic passengers and 1,557,348 for international passenger movements.
She said Domestic movements grew at a significant 22.7% while international movement also grew positively at 7.9%.
Ms. Sikaulu said when compared to the same period last year, there were percentage growths in 2018 of 10.7%, 12.6%, 7% and 10.5% for Kenneth Kaunda, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Mfuwe International Airports respectively.
She said Kenneth Kaunda International Airport was the best performing airport as it had the largest number of passengers being the main gateway in the country.
Ms. Sikaulu said the airport handled 70% of total general passenger movements in 2018 while Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airports handled 15% and 13% of total passengers respectively.
She added that the smallest airport, Mfuwe International Airport carried 2% of the total traffic.
Below is a full statement….
PRESS RELEASE 2018 END OF YEAR RESULTS THURSDAY, 7 th FEBRUARY, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Zambia Airports Corporation Limited recorded a positive growth for the year 2018. The general passenger movement for the period January to December, 2018 for all four international airports namely Kenneth Kaunda, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Mfuwe International Airports was 1,931,827 compared to 1,748,200 in 2017 resulting in an overall growth of 10.5%.
This can further be broken into 374,479 for domestic passengers and 1,557,348 for international passenger movements. Domestic movements grew at a significant 22.7% while international movement also grew positively at 7.9%. When compared to the same period last year, there were percentage growths in 2018 of 10.7%, 12.6%, 7% and 10.5% for Kenneth Kaunda, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Mfuwe International Airports respectively.
Kenneth Kaunda International Airport was the best performing airport as it had the largest number of passengers being the main gateway in the country. The airport handled 70% of total general passenger movements in 2018. Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airports handled 15% and 13% of total passengers respectively. The smallest airport, Mfuwe International Airport carried 2% of the total traffic.
ZACL also recorded a positive growth during the fourth quarter of 2018. The Corporation saw passenger numbers increase by 4.2% when compared with the same period in 2017. Records indicate that during the last quarter of the year, a total of 476,181 passengers passed through the four international airports as compared to 456,821 in 2017.
Some notable factors that led to the overall performance for the year were as follows:
Positive
1. In December 2018, Turkish Airlines introduced two weekly direct flights into Europe.2. Proflight Zambia continued in its use of bigger capacity aircraft servicing both SMKIA and HMNIA. The aircraft types are a Fokker 70 with a seat capacity of about 73 and a Dash 8 with a seat capacity of about 50.
3. Increased Passenger uplifts by Rwandair resulting from increased frequencies and continued use of bigger aircraft when the current period is compared to the same period last year. Effective May 2018, RwandAir introduced an Airbus 330 on the Kigali-Lusaka-Johannesburg routes, with a seat capacity of 270 while maintaining other aircrafts such as the Boeing 737, the Bombardier CRJ (Canadair Regional Jet) and a Bombardier Q400 on the route. This resulted in increased capacity on the route.
4. The recently introduced flight between Lusaka and Kalumbila by Kafue Transport has stimulated domestic traffic.
5. Increased competition between Mahogany Air and Proflight Zambia has resulted in the reduction of ticket fares hence attracting new travellers on the domestic front.
6. There have also been increased weekly frequencies by Proflight Zambia, Mahogany Air and Malawian Airlines at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from 4 to 6 flights during the course of the year.
Adverse
7. The limited bed capacity in the tourist towns of Livingstone and Mfuwe continues to adversely affect traffic to the tourist airports, particularly international tourists in peak season.
8. The relatively expensive accommodation rates are also having adverse effects when compared to other similar catchment areas.
9. The lack of a low cost carrier is a factor as Fastjet Airlines has managed to pull most of the South African Traffic into Victoria Falls Town (Zimbabwe) due to a combined cheaper option of air fare and accommodation. South Africa remains the biggest market for the Livingstone and Victoria Falls region.
10. On a macro level, immigration policies have continued to affect travel to Zambia as countries surrounding Zambia have increasingly relaxed border rules by allowing tourists to obtain visas upon arrival. Countries such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Rwanda are among the new movers of this motion.
11. Fastjet Tanzania has recently suspended flights into Lusaka; effective December 2018.
Aircraft Movement
When compared to the same period last year, Kenneth Kaunda, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Mfuwe International Airports grew by 2.4%, 10.9%, 12.4% and 4.9% respectively in 2018. During the fourth quarter, Kenneth Kaunda International Airport had the most number of flights with 62%, followed by Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airports with each handling 17% and 16% of the total flights respectively. Mfuwe International Airport had aircraft movement market share of 5%.
Cargo Movement
When compared to the same period last year, cargo movement finally increased by 9.3% in 2018 after having experienced a negative slope in 2017.
About Zambia Airports Corporation Limited
Zambia Airports Corporation Limited was established in 1989 through the amendment of the Aviation Act, Chapter 444 of the Laws of Zambia which has been repealed and replaced by the Aviation Act No. 5 of 2016. It is also incorporated under the Companies Act Chapter 388 of the Laws of Zambia.
The Corporation’s mandate is to develop, maintain and manage the four designated international airports, namely Kenneth Kaunda in Lusaka, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe in Ndola, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula in Livingstone and Mfuwe and three Strategic and seven provincial aerodromes and the provision of Air Navigation services within the Zambian Airspace.
For further information contact: Mweembe Sikaulu (Ms) Communications and Brand Manager
Zambia National Students Union President Misheck Kakonde
The Zambia National Students Union (ZANASU) regrets the decision announced by Minister of Higher Education, Professor Nkandu Luo, to unilaterally remove provision of meal allowances to students from public universities without seeking the repeal of the law by Parliament. The cost of only 1 fire truck at US$1 million is all that would have been enough to pay meal allowances for all students from all public universities.
The decision by PF Government, a party that was elected into power and continues to masquerade itself as a pro-poor party, has hurt not only the first year students from poor families but such a decision will continue hurting generations of students from poor families who depend on provision of a living allowance during their time studying at our public universities.
The justification by the Professor Luo for removing meal allowances is an excuse Government will use every time they seek to make decisions that negatively affect students and our people in this country. When Government begun to enforce repayment of loans from former students, they used the same justification.
But the nation is also aware that the decision to extend loans to 1000 students to Palabama University, Chalimbana University, Mulungushi University, Mukuba University and Nkhwame Nkurumah University was announced on January 3, 2019 by Ministry of Higher Education Public Relations Officer, Chiselwa Kawanda, who said the extension was necessitated by loan recoveries the ministry had been undertaking from September last year. So it is patently false that the decision to abolish meal allowances is the one that will make Government to extend provision of loans to other institutions.
ZANASU, at the request of students from CBU and UNZA, will be engaging with affected students through their Unions and directly to chat the way forward on the decision which was announced by the Minister yesterday. We do not rule out any course of action, which may include litigation.
A Government that values provision of higher education especially to its poor citizenry cannot continue to allocate less money towards education as has been the case with this administration since 2015.
The Government is not broke that it can fail to pay meal allowances to students but it’s the way our funds are managed which is a challenge as can be seen from the missing K1 million for toll fees. Is it also not ironic that our Government has no problem spending billions of taxpayers’ money to either purchase 40 fire trucks or send a delegation 25 member delegation to collect a donation of 4 fire trucks in the US but yet fail to allocate more money towards higher education?
We also call upon Zambians and parents – especially those from poor families – to must never forget this decision made by Minister Luo which is meant to punish Zambians from poor families generally.
Issued by
Misheck Kakonde
PRESIDENT
ZAMBIAN NATIONAL STUDENTS UNION
The World Bank will increase funding to the Health Systems Strengthening Project because of the positive performance of the project.
World Bank Task Team Leader for Zambia Health Service Improvement Project Dr. Rosemary Sunkuntu said this in a presentation during the Ministry of Health Annual Consultative Meeting held on Monday.
Dr. Sunkuntu said the Bank is considering additional funding because of the positive performance of the project.
The US$67 million Health System Strengthening Project which started in 2015, was scheduled to end on June 30th this year but the World Bank has extended to one year.
The project among many things looks at increasing numbers of nurses and midwives, improving the drug supply chain and community health.
“The World Bank intends to continue doing that, one of the areas I think which has been identified by the cooperating partners is to ensure that we improve efficiency and equitable access to service delivery at primary health care level that is one area which the World Bank is going to ensure that it continues supporting,” Dr. Sunkuntu said
Dr. Sunkuntu said the Bank will soon begin discussions in terms of what form of support to the primary health care with the Ministry of Health.
“We just completed the Public Expenditure review and Quality of Service review delivery. We are confident that the World Bank will take up some of the aspects in terms of ensuring that they plough back, ensuring we strengthen the systems to achieve Universal Health care Coverage,” Dr. Sunkuntu said
Dr. Sunkuntu reaffirmed that the World Bank will continue supporting the regional TB Project.
She said the World Bank is also preparing a Project which is a regional Project to support the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), strengthening systems to control infectious diseases.
She said the support will go to the Africa CDC and also the regional collaborating centers with Ethiopia and Zambia being the initial countries to be considered.
“So that process of preparation of the Project has started and we are discussions with the Zambia National Public Health Institute in terms of ensuring that we support the control of infectious diseases through the one health agenda,” Dr Sunkuntu said
FILE: Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme (right) listening to his Finance counterpart Mrs. Margaraet Mwanakatwe
Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe says the public and private sectors should strengthen their partnerships in developing Zambia and marketing the country’s wealth creation prospects to citizens, the region, and off-shore.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe says the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax on 1st April, 2019, is not only a path of best practice but it will also eliminate the unsustainable and laborious process of VAT refunds.
“We are constantly in a refund position, it is unsustainable, hence us going to GST, just like America, just like Australia, just like India, just like Malaysia,” she demonstrated and further stated that, “Zambia is following best practice and we are ensuring that we can fully engage the public before the implementation date.
The Minister was speaking when the Zambian delegation toured mining sector exhibition stands at the on-going 2019 Mining Indaba, in Cape Town, South Africa.
Among the Zambian stands visited were those of the Copperbelt Energy Corporation, ZCCM-IH, Vedanta – Konkola Copper Mines, and the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development.
During the Mining Indaba, the delegation has attended various sessions and held country promotion side events at which economic policies and programmes were explained.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe has described the Indaba as a good platform for investment promotion. She has since returned to Lusaka.
This is according to a statement issued by Chileshe Kandeta, the Ministry of Finance spokesperson.
The Road Transport and Safety Agency has warned Power Tools Bus Services that their road service licence risk being suspended should the company continue defying the provisions of Statutory Instrument number 76 of 2016 which restricts the movement of Public Service Vehicles at night.
On January 10th 2019, RTSA requested Power Tools Bus Services to show cause within seven days why their road service licence should not be suspended or revoked for defying the provisions of SI Number 76 of 2016.
This was in the wake of a road traffic crash that happened on 28th December, 2018 around 04:22 hours, involving a power Tools bus registration number ALD 1807 were one person died and five injured.
The crash occurred along the Kapiri Mposhi – Ndola road, 20 kilometers from Ndola at Rainbow area.
Power Tools Bus Services in their submission to the RTSA in a letter dated 14th January 2019, assured the Agency of enhancing effective monitoring through the use of Global Positioning System to monitor the movement of the buses to reduce the rate of violations on the part of the drivers.
The Company has further put in place a policy banning night driving and all drivers have committed by appending signatures to adhere to the policy.
In view of the latter and subject to complying with the conditions stated, the RTSA has decided to give Power Tools Bus Services a benefit of doubt, and will not suspend its road service license.
Further, RTSA has directed the company to grant the Agency access to the GPS so that the RTSA could constantly monitor the movement of all buses belonging to Power Tools Bus Services.
The Agency is closely monitoring the company’s operations and should any of the drivers be found driving outside the permitted hours or should there be any circumstance relating to the company’s operations that endangers the lives of the travelling public, the Agency will not hesitate to suspend the road service license.
This is contained in a statement issued to the Media by RTSA Head of Public Relations Fredrick Mubanga.
Zambezi Magic has defied the Independent Broadcasting Authority’s directive to suspend the Lusaka based Hustle Reality Show.
Early this week, the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) directed Multichoice Zambia to suspend the Lusaka based Hustle Reality Show, aired on Zambezi Magic on the DSTV platform.
The suspension, which was ordered to be done with immediate effect, was necessitated following a public outcry, that the Reality Show promotes a lifestyle, contrary to Zambian values and culture.
IBA Director General Josephine Mapoma said the authority received several concerns from the public, with regards to the show, and as such directed Multichoice Zambia to withdraw it, in public interest.
Later, Zambezi Magic reacted by saying that the Lusaka Hustle is a locally-produced reality show which follows the lives of three Zambian celebrities who regularly appear on television.
It said the show has been prejudged on social media without an informed assessment of the content or a clear indication of which aspects of the show are unlawful.
Zambezi Magic explained that the cast and crew have been deeply distressed by the misleading representation of the content.
It said it is respectful of Zambian values and culture and was working with Multichoice Zambia to resolve the matter in a constructive way and will join key stakeholders for a viewing session of upcoming episodes.
But to the surprise of many, the show returned to the screens yesterday with the same crew without any explanation from the IBA on whether the show has been allowed to return to the screens.
The Board of Directors of Zambia Airways (2014) Limited which sat for its inaugural Board meeting today, has appointed Bruk Endeshaw Abebe, as the Chief Executive Officer for the national airline.
Mr Abebe has 24 years’ experience in the aviation industry and is currently Regional Director Sales and Services, Southern African Region for Ethiopian Airlines.
This is contained in a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today, by Acting Board Chairperson Bonaventure Mutale (SC)
Mr Mutale explained that Mr Abede’s appointment was made in accordance with the Shareholders Agreement between the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Ethiopia Airlines (ET) which provided that the first CEO would be nominated by ET and that IDC would nominate the subsequent CEO.
He said the Board has also directed the CEO to target commencement of operations of the Airline for the third quarter of 2019.
He added that the Board further reiterated the Shareholders’ quest to ensure that the Airline operates as a commercial enterprise so as to achieve viability
Former President Rupiah Banda
Former Republican President Rupiah Banda says it is regrettable that a lot of lies have been told about Zambia’s economy being bleak.
Mr. Banda says among the lies that have been told was that Zambia was losing state-owned enterprises and other national assets to her debtors.
He said Zambia’s economy was positive and undergoing a normal economic process.
Mr. Banda said the lies about Zambia’s economic situation should be brought to an end as they were capable of destroying the country’s image abroad.
He expressed confidence that President Edgar Lungu has a group of professionals who would help him develop the country.
Mr. Banda said that the country was capable of paying back its debt as it was within its limits, adding that Zambia had so far never defaulted on any of its loans.
He added that there was need to find solutions to problems persisting in the agriculture, mining and manufacturing sectors among others.
And Mr. Banda says Zambia should understand reasons why there are few tourists that visit the country despite being endowed with immense tourist, heritage and wildlife sites.
He said the low number of tourist visitations that the country has continued to record must be interrogated in order to make the tourism sector more vibrant.
Meanwhile, His Excellency Mr. Rupiah Banda has called on African countries to give support to the people of Democratic of Congo (DRC) in order to maintain peace in that country.
He said recent elections in Congo demonstrated that there was deepening democracy in Africa.
Mr. Banda said the DRC achieved remarkable progress in consolidating democratic transition of power despite some logistical and geographical challenges.
He noted that the country now had an opportunity to tackle some of the problems it had faced in the past.
Mr. Banda has since called on President Felix Tshisekedi together with his former close competitor Mr. Martin Fayulu and former President Joseph Kabila to devise a system that would help the country find solutions to its common problems.
Mr. Banda was speaking in Johannesburg, South Africa, in transit to Nigeria where he would be leading a team of observers to monitor that country’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections due on 16th February.
FILE: Vice President At The 31st Heads Of States And Government Summit In Nouakchott,Mauritania. Pictures By Kunda Mando
President Edgar Lungu is scheduled to travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend the African Union, 32nd Ordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government Summit.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Joseph Malanji announced that President Lungu will arrive in Addis Ababa on Saturday 9th February 2019.
Mr. Malanji also announced during his stay in Addis Ababa, President Lungu was scheduled to hold various bilateral meetings with the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, the AU Chairperson of the Commission, Mr. Moussa Faki and other regional Heads of State.
Hon. Malanji also said this year’s Summit was extremely important as it was expected to adopt key transformative legal and structural reforms of the African Union.
He said President Lungu was expected to return to Lusaka on Sunday 10th Febraury 2019.
Hon. Malanji was speaking in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the AU 34th Executive Council.
And the 34th Extraordinary Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union has officially opened with a call on Member States to ratify the Continental Free Trade Area Agreement CFTA.
African Union Commission Chairperson Mousa Faki Mahamat who officially opened the session said Africa cannot boast of integration in the absence of the CFTA.
He urged Member states to support proposed reforms that were meant to improve the efficiency of the African Union Commission.
FILE: President Edgar Lungu going through the program with the Director of Ceremonies Bishop Brigadier General Vincent Mwenye while looking on is Minister Ronald Chitotela.
President Edgar Lungu has said that he will only fire Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister, Ronald Chitotela if the court finds him guilty of corruption.
President Lungu said that Mr. Chitotela was innocent and that the prosecutors should be given chance to prove whether the corruption allegations placed on him are indeed true.
The Head of State said that no one should be allowed to interfere in the process and that he will give leeway to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to take Mr. Chitotela to court.
President Lungu was speaking to journalists at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport shortly before departure for Livingstone for a night stop in transit to Sesheke to drum up support for PF Candidate Dean Masule.
The President also called on political players and Zambians to desist from politicizing the fight against corruption.
President Lungu that he was saddened that the arrest of Mr. Chitotela by the ACC is being politicised by certain individuals, adding that he does not instruct the police to investigate anyone because it is their mandate to do so.
Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has called on Patriotic Front (PF) members to embrace new members if the party is to continue growing.
The Head of State said the PF was weak in some areas due to the trend by ‘old members’ shunning and bullying new members on the basis of them being in the party for a longer period.
“PF is for all of us but I have heard that our members in Livingstone and other parts of Southern Province are selfish as they do not want to grow the party” Mr. Lungu said.
Mr Lungu clarified that even those who joined the party at the eleventh hour were bona fide PF members and would help keep the PF alive and growing.
He also warned that if founding members did not want to embrace the new ones, then the party leadership would work with the ‘late comers’ for the benefit of the party.
“Those who join us at 11 o’ clock shall have lunch with us at 12 o’ clock because that is the leadership of Michael Chilufya Sata,” he said.
Mr Lungu said this upon arrival at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone on Thursday.
He was accompanied by PF Secretary General Davis Mwila and Justice Minister Given Lubinda and was welcomed by Works and Supply Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya, Southern Province Minister Edify Hamukale, senior government and party officials.
Mr Lungu further said PF as a party was premised on power to the people, adding that anyone who thought he could have power without the people’s support was wasting their time.
“People lead because there are those willing to follow and one should reflect on why people follow them. There is no magic about leadership. Leadership is about listening and giving people what they want and that is what we shall continue doing as a party,” he said.
Earlier, Southern Province Minister Edify Hamukale directed the Livingstone City Council to allow residents who applied for land two years ago to be allowed to pay for it in six equal instalments.
Dr Hamukale said most residents had limited resources and could only be empowered with land if allowed to pay in instalments.
He commended President Lungu for authorising him to make the directive following an outcry from Livingstone residents.
And the Provincial Minister appealed to President Lungu to consider giving Livingstone a preferential tax regime to maximize revenue generation and prevent losing out on trade deals to other countries.
Dr Hamukale said this could be used as a pilot project to enable government assess revenue generation levels before scaling up to other areas.
He also attributed the province’s good pass rate in the 2018 examinations to good infrastructure such as boarding schools which provided favourable studying environment to pupils; and the increase in the number of teachers deployed to the province.
Mr Lungu is enroute to Sesheke, Western Province on a campaign trail to drum up support for PF Parliamentary candidate Dean Masule in the upcoming Sesheke by-election.
George Lwandamina says Zesco United switch back to continental duties with less pressure after maintaining a 100 percent start on the domestic front in their FAZ Super Division title defence.
Zesco on Wednesday beat Nakambala Leopards 2-0 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola to move into second place in Pool A on maximum 6 points from two games tied with leaders Zanaco who have a healthier goal difference.
The champions were due to travel to Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu Stadium in Kabwe this Saturday to play Kabwe Warriors but instead switch focus to next weeks CAF Confederation Cup Group C assignment away in West Africa.
“It is good to have won and it was one of the elements of our game plan. We had to win this one because we are not playing on Saturday,” Lwandamina said.
“It has given us enough cushion in the league because we would have been under too much pressure. God willing, we have collected the three points and it has eased the pressure.”
Goals from Quadri Kola and Jesse Were handed Zesco their third competitive victory from four games played over the last twelve days.
The match also comes four days after they beat Nkana 2-0 in their opening CAF Confederation Cup Group C match at the same venue.
“It was anticipated that it would be a very difficult game after having played a game of that magnitude against Nkana and we had not time to prepare for this game,”Lwandamina said.
“So that in itself was enough indication that it would be a tough game. Luckily for us, we utilized our opportunities.”
Meanwhile, Zesco fly out to Ghana this Saturday ahead of their second Group C match on February 3 against Asante Kotoko in Kumasi.
Zesco lead Group C on 3 points, tied with second placed Al Hilal of Sudan who visit bottom placed Nkana on Wednesday in Kitwe.
Asante Kotoko are third after losing 1-0 away to Al Hilal on February 3 in Khartoum.
Chipolopolo number one Kennedy Mweene was back between the posts for Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday night in their 3-0 home win over Black Leopards in Pretoria.
Mweene was in goals in the absence of Denis Onyango who is sidelined with another injury.
And Mweene’s compatriot and Black Leopards striker Mwape Musonda was substituted in the 79th minute after another dry day for the current South Africa Premier Soccer League top scorer on eight goals.
The Zambian goalkeeper was back in goals for the first time since January 5 and has now clocked four league games this season.
Mweene has also played four continental games in the CAF Champions League; three in the preliminary stage and one group stage fixture on January 11 away to Lobi Stars of Nigeria where Sundowns lost 2-1.
FRANCE
Meanwhile in France on Tuesday, Metz were eliminated from the Coupe de France quarterfinals following a 1-0 home loss to Orleans.
Defender Stopilla Sunzu played the full 90 minutes for Ligue 2 leaders against struggling Orleans who are 12th on the table.
President Edgar Lungu confers with the newly appointed ZAF Deputy commander Major. General Benedict Kalinda (l) and Lt.Gen. David Muma take the official picture shortly after swearing in ceremony at State House
President Edgar Lungu says he will not interfere with the operations of the investigative wings and that they are free to arrest whoever they perceive to be a suspect.
And Mr Lungu says he will let the due process of the law to take its course in a case where Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Ronald Chitotela has been indicted by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The Head of State lamented that it is disappointing that people have continued to politicise the fight against corruption.
President Lungu stressed that it is not his mandate to direct investigative wings who to arrest, but that he will give them leeway and resources to carry out their duties.
President Lungu said this shortly before he left for Sesheke, Western province to drum up support for the Sesheke central parliamentary candidate Dean Musule in the February 12th, by- election.
The Anti-Corruption Commission on Tuesday arrested the Mr Chitotela with two counts of Concealing Property suspected of being proceeds of crime contrary to Section 71 subsection(1) of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act Number 19 of 2010.
Patriotic Front Secretary General, Davis Mwila ( right) and Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Kampamba Mulenga, at the PF Mobilization meeting in Lufwanyama District
Part 10
By Hon Davies Mwila
Introduction
In the last article we highlighted the achievements of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government in line with the PF Manifesto and the Seventh National Development Plan 7NDP, concerning “improving access to domestic, regional and international markets” with the aim of diversifying the economy and attaining Zambia’s Vision 2030 objective of becoming a “prosperous middle-income country by 2030”.
As we continue from there, it is also important to note that connecting of African major cities by road, rail and air including through establishment of national airlines is not unique to Zambia only. For example, according to the 2019 African Economic Outlook by the African Development Bank (2019: xx):
“Roads, ports, railways, pipelines, and telecommunications have always been important for African integration. And recently, China and the African Union Commission signed a far-reaching agreement within the framework of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 to link all African capitals by road, rail, and air transport. By reducing trade costs, new roads, railways, and ports are intended to improve connections across cities, accelerate urbanization, and encourage regional integration. A virtuous cycle leads from investments in hard infrastructure to increased trade that in turn makes further investments profitable. By contrast, poorly functioning logistics markets lead to a vicious circle of low trade volume and high trade costs. The quality and quantity of hard infrastructure are key determinants of trade costs.”
Therefore, by connecting domestic and regional cities by road, rail, and air transport including the establishment of a national airline; the PF Government is consistent with prescriptions under the 7NDP and within the framework of the AU Agenda 2063. More importantly, through transport infrastructure development, the PF Government is improving trade facilitation as well as maximizing on the above-mentioned virtuous cycle benefits while also; simultaneously eliminating the vicious circle impediments of low trade volume and high trade costs mentioned above.
Additionally, in order to further improve trade facilitation through transport infrastructure development, the PF Government under President Lungu is currently implementing numerous road construction and rehabilitation projects such as the Link Zambia 8000 aimed at Land-Linking Zambia with her neighbors by restoring over 8,000 KM of roads across the country over a period of five (5) to eight (8) years. Particularly, the PF Government will, through the Link Zambia 8000 effectively link Zambia to the trade markets of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola – thereby accelerating economic diversification and the attainment of Vision 2030.
In addition to the above road project, the PF Government under President Lungu is rehabilitating the Chinsali to Nakonde Border Road in order to facilitate increased trade domestically and with the East African corridor, through the provision of faster and safer movement of goods and people along this important trading route. More specifically, Government, through the Road Development Agency (RDA), has signed two (02) contracts for the rehabilitation of the Great North Road from Chinsali to Nakonde in Muchinga Province, which has been divided into Lot 1 and Lot 2. Lot 1, from Chinsali to Isoka, a 103 kilometre stretch has been awarded to China State Construction Engineering Limited at a contract sum of K 785,773,382. 49 and Lot 2, with a stretch of 107 from Isoka to Nakonde has been awarded to China Railway Seventh Group Co. Zambia Limited at a contract sum of K713, 866,768.53.
Lot 2 also includes the urban section of the road to the border with Tanzania. The project is being financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) which is contributing US Dollar 193Million, Africa Growing Together Fund US Dollar 50Million, and US Dollar 12.76 million from the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ).
Government, through RDA, will complete the rehabilitation of the Chinsali to Nakonde Road within 40 months. The scope of works includes but is not limited to: clearing and grubbing, earthworks, bituminous surfacing related works; and road signage and ancillary works. Further to this, the road carriageway will be widened from the current 6.1 metres to 7.0 metres and will include a 2.0 metre wide hard shoulder in order to enhance safety. In addition to the main civil works, the entire project also includes several other components such as the rehabilitation of 50 kilometres of feeder roads in Chinsali and Isoka Districts which are currently under procurement; the planting of 10,000 trees along the project road, and sinking of 15 boreholes at various locations in the surrounding areas along the corridor. The construction of this road will also significantly reduce the loss of human lives and damage to goods and vehicles as a result of the bad state of the road.
Another major road construction and rehabilitation project is the Ndola to Lusaka Dual Carriageway, which upon completion, shall boost inclusive economic development as a result of enhanced domestic trade through more efficient flow of goods on this strategic domestic and regional trade route.
In line with the 7NDP, the PF Government is also improving trade facilitation through effective and efficient implementation of the One-Stop Border Posts Establishment Programme (OSBP) to streamline cross-border trade processes. For example, Kasumbalesa Border, between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia, is the busiest transit border in Zambia and handles an average of 650 trucks per day. Through Kasumbalesa, Zambia’s main exports are sugar, cement, timber, mattresses, acid, mealie-meal, agricultural products, and cooking oil, among others. On the other hand, Zambia mainly imports mineral ores and concentrates from DRC destined for Konkola Copper Mines and Chambishi Copper Smelter in the Copperbelt.
In order to expand the potential of this existing bilateral and regional trade through Kasumbalesa border, and enable faster movement of people, the Governments of Zambia and DRC signed an agreement to implement the One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) concept at Kasumbalesa Border. More so, the OSBP concept is being implemented by the PF Government at all other border posts including Nakonde border with the United Republic of Tanzania with the aim of improving trade facilitation with Tanzania and the East African economic hub as a whole.
Among other ongoing projects under the OSBP is establishment of an OSBP at Zombe-Kasesya Border in Northern Province between Tanzania and Zambia.
Improved Trade Facilitation through securing Access to Export Markets & Enhancing Competitiveness
The PF Government has successfully secured new markets for various Zambian products. For example, in 2018, the PF Government created a taskforce comprising of Ministries of Livestock and Fisheries, Agriculture, Commerce, Trade and Industry as well as representatives from the private sector. The aim of the taskforce was to develop a roadmap that will help expedite the process of goat and sheep commercialization in Zambia for export to Saudi Arabia, among other markets.
Under this agreement facilitated by the PF Government, Saudi Arabia shall be importing one million (1,000,000) goats and fresh vegetables on a monthly basis from Zambia.
In addition, the PF Government has also secured a new market for the export of Organic Honey to China. Currently, Zambia’s annual honey production stands at 2,500 tonnes whereas the country currently exports only 1,000 tonnes to the European and African markets, which leaves a surplus of 1,500 tonnes. However, the new market to China secured by the PF Government has the export potential in excess of 3,000 tonnes of Organic Honey.
This new export market for Organic Honey in China was secured after the signing of an export protocol by President Edgar Lungu and Chinese President, Xi Jinping. Further to this, the PF Government has expanded and consolidated trade relations with regional partners such as DRC and Angola, among others. As a result, Zambia’s non-copper merchandise exports have steadily grown to traditional and new markets. More specifically, agriculture exports such as sugar, tobacco, wheat, soybean and maize have witnessed aggregate growth in the period under review.
CONCLUSION
As can be deduced from the forgoing, the PF Government in line with PF Manifesto and the 7NDP, has successfully implemented various programmes and recorded notable successes in improving access to domestic, regional and international markets as well as effectively implementing the National Industrial and the National Trade Policies towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
