T-Low opens up the 2019 musical year with a new single titled “Kwalibako Utuntu“. The super impressive singer-song writer teams up with gospel rapper, Tim (Thugga).
The song was produced by Tjay and Sir Lex, mixed and mastered by Ronny Prod.
Download/listen to the song HERE
State owned telecommunications company Zamtel has entered into an agreement with Mazhandu Family Bus Services for the provision of Free Wi-Fi on all its buses.
Zamtel has since installed free on-board Wi-Fi across the entire Mazhandu fleet which services routes from Chililabombwe to Livingstone.
Passengers on Mazhandu will also be able to pay for their tickets using ZamPay, the country’s first ever Quick Response (QR) code payment platform.
To increase efficiency and improve customer service, Zamtel is also setting up a dedicated Closed User Group for Mazhandu to allow for cheaper and cost effective communications for bus crews and the administration staff.
Announcing the partnership in Lusaka today, Zamtel Head of Corporate and Government Relations Reuben Kamanga said the introduction of free Wi-Fi on public transports will undoubtedly increase passenger flow.
Mr Kamanga is confident that the partnership will encourage people to opt for public transportation by leveraging free on-board Wi-Fi, given the increasing demand for Wi-Fi on transport services.
He said there is now a great demand for transport companies to provide an all-encompassing Wi-Fi solution to allow for a seamless transition from home, office to travel.
“As Zamtel, we continue to provide digital solutions that enrich our customers lives and we are happy that this partnership will change public transport experience in Zambia. Additionally, the convenience of paying for bus fares electronically through ZamPay will further enhance customer experience,” Mr Kamanga added.
And Mazhandu Family Bus Services Director Justine Mazhandu hailed Zamtel for the partnership saying the provision of digital amenities will increase ridership.
Mr Mazhandu added that the partnership will further position the company as a leader in the local public transport services sector.
“We move on average 1,200 passenger daily and we have observed that digital amenities are increasingly impacting our passengers who need to access free Wi-Fi to run many tasks such as check emails, listen to music, send text messages, stream videos, use social networks while travelling,” Mr Mazhandu said.
He added, “For the Livingstone route for instance, we serve a lot of tourists who can benefit from free Wi-Fi en route on buses in order to get in contact with their families or access their social networks to share pictures of the tourist sites with their friends.”
Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe said she’s in talks with the International Monetary Fund about securing a financial package and has taken the necessary steps to ensure the southern African nation qualifies for support.
“I would want to see a program with the IMF, I think it would be good for us,” Mwanakatwe said in an interview in Cape Town on Tuesday.
“I would love to see something in place by the end of the year. That is why we put in place various measures to ensure that we have a way forward that is sustainable debt-wise.”
Zambia’s efforts since 2016 to secure a $1.3 billion loan from the Washington-based lender have been stalled by concerns over its borrowing plans.
While the yield on the government’s $1 billion of notes maturing in 2024 has dropped 275 basis points this year to 13.02 percent, its spread over U.S.
Treasuries remains the highest in emerging markets among countries that aren’t in default.
MF officials visited Zambia in November and are due to return in March for three weeks, where the package will be on the agenda, according to Mwanakatwe.
She ruled out any possibility of Zambia defaulting on its foreign debt.
“At that meeting we hope we can come to a meeting of minds as to what exactly they would require from us in order to engage for a program,” she said.
*Other highlights from the interview:*
-The minister expects Zambia’s economy to grow at least 4 percent this year. Industries being targeted for growth include mining, energy and agriculture.
-Gross domestic product is being re-based for the first time since 2010, and could show the economy is significantly larger than the data currently reflects. The review of the data is about 30 percent complete.
-The government intends abolishing value-added tax from April 1 and replacing it with a sales tax, which will be easier to collect. “We will be advocating for a lower rate of sales tax than the current VAT rate of 16 percent,” Mwanakatwe said.
“We have gone through the draft of the law. We want to start engaging with the public in February, with a view to getting comments so that that we can get a final document that I can take to cabinet and to parliament.”
Bloomberg
On the 19th January 2019 the First lady of Zambia, Esther Lungu arrived in Los Angeles for what the government described as a launch of collaboration between the Los Angeles City Fire Department and the Zambia Fire and Rescue Service.In layman’s terms she went to receive 4 donated Fire trucks.
This was despite public outcry and a civil rights activist Laura Miti appealing to US Ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote to withdraw the donation to Zambia.
According to records obtained from State House, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had processed American Visas for 25 travellers, among them a bedroom attendant, cook, cleaner, waiter, about seven police officers, four journalists, three secretaries, two fire brigade officers, a communications officer and accountant.
Presidential Spokesperson Amos Chanda explained that officials in Mrs Lungu’s 25-member delegation to the United States were going to assess if the Fire trucks conformed to Zambian standards.(It will be interesting to read the assessment report written by the cook,cleaner and waiter.)
It has emerged that the donated Fire Trucks were actually recently retired fire engines that had served the Los Angeles area for decades.Two trucks are 1985 models,one being a 1995 model and the last being a 1996 model.
We shall never know how much of Zambian’s tax payer monies was spent on this 2 week/25 delegation trip- at least not without passing the Access to Information Bill which government has been giving excuse upon excuse of not passing.(No prizes for guessing why this wouldn’t be in their interest.)
Without the Access to Information Bill we Zambians cannot easily access information on how Government uses our money neither can the media freely conduct their role of a watchdog for society without fear of intimidation or harassment from the powers that be.
However, I wish Zambia’s firemen well as they drive these old monstrous Left hand drive trucks in our pot holed and narrow roads.Please drive carefully because I’m not sure there is a plan on how to service these trucks in Zambia nor how to replace spare parts.
A Recap on excuses given by government on the Access to Information Bill since 2011
By C.Chibesa
Chief Government spokesperson Dora Siliya says government is not aware of any offer from Canada’s First Quantum Minerals to buy shares in the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings.
Ms. Siliya has explained that there is no official offer before government from FQM to the tune 700 million US Dollars to buy shares in the company.
She told a media briefing yesterday that government is therefore not considering any offer of such nature as it is not officially in existence.
Ms. Siliya says government has only seen the story in the media as cabinet has not sat to discuss any of such matters.
But Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe disclosed yesterday that Zambia has received bids from Canada’s First Quantum Minerals (FQM) and others for a 17 percent stake in state mining investment arm ZCCM-IH.
“There are multiple unsolicited offers on the table, including from FQM, which are based on preferential share conversions,” said Margaret Mwanakatwe on the sidelines of a mining conference in Cape Town.
“The offers relate to the ministry’s 17 percent holding in ZCCM-IH and a sale would be subject to cabinet approval,” she said.
Government has commenced investigations against Former Vice President Guy Scott over his recently published memoir which contains details about the death of late President Michael Sata.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dora Siliya revealed at a media briefing in Lusaka today that cabinet is studying the matter and the nation will be advised in due course.
The Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya says Government has taken interest in the matter and wants to know how late President Sata’s death certificate found itself in Dr. Scott’s possession.
Ms. Siliya described the move by Dr. Scott as insensitive on the family and the nation at large.
She said like many Zambia citizens who have expressed displeasure on the matter, Government feels the publication of such private and personal information of the deceased was not only unZambian but also an affront on the cultural, traditional and Christian beliefs and values of the country.
Ms. Siliya said the investigation being conducted by Cabinet Office will help to establish the source of the document and the persons behind its authourisation, especially that some family members such as Mulenga Sata have expressed displeasure at the matter.
Some Zambians have taken to social media to condemn Dr. Scott after it was revealed that a chapter in his hard hitting political memoir contains a copy of late President Michael Sata’s death certificate.
Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya has said that the arrest of Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Ronald Chitotela by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) should inspire confidence in the country’s law enforcement agencies and investigative wings
Ms. Siliya said that the move demonstrated that the Country’s investigative wings were performing according to their mandate and that they will continue to do so.
Speaking when she answered questions from journalists at a media briefing in Lusaka, Ms. Siliya said the action also spoke to President Edgar Lungu’s stance on the fight against corruption.
And the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) said that it was confident that the corruption allegations against Mr. Chitotela will be dealt with without any interference.
APNAC Zambia Chapter Chairperson Cornelius Mweetwa said he was confident that the Anti-Corruption Commission will handle Mr. Chitotela’s case professionally.
Mr. Mweetwa told ZNBC News that other people holding public offices should learn from the alleged corruption case against Mr. Chitolela, before adding that Mr. Chitotela remains innocent until proven guilty of the offense.
This week, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) arrested Infrastructure and Housing Minister Developing Ronald Chitotela and charged with two counts of concealing property suspected of being proceeds of crime, contrary to Section 71 subsection one of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act Number 19 of 2010.
Details in the first count are that on unknown dates but between the July, 2016 and October 2018 in Lusaka District, Mr Chitotela did conceal a property namely plot number 148 of farm 50A situated in Makeni, Lusaka. The property was disguised in the names of Diris Mukange property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
In the second count on dates unknown but between the July, 2016 and October 2018, the Minister did conceal a property namely the remaining extent of Subdivision A of lot 22183/M situated in Ibex Hill Lusaka. The property was also disguised in the name of Diris Mukange property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
Information and Broadcasting Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo says the Access to Information Bill will not be presented in the next sitting of Parliament which opens on Tuesday next week.
Mr. Kasolo says this is because Government wants to ensure that caution is taken especially on security matters before the bill is enacted into law.
Mr. Kasolo says the bill will adequately be prepared so that there are no lacunas.
He was speaking when he appeared on a special ZNBC Radio two programme in Lusaka.
And Mr. Kasolo has expressed worry on low wages that journalists are subjected to in the private media.
He stated that there is need for an act to be put in place to separate journalists who are trained form those that are not trained to prevent unprofessionalism in the media.
Kuni released his latest single “I will Rise”. On his social media page he said the song is dedicated to anyone who has ever felt down and discouraged.
Download/Listen to the song HERE
Nkana posted their first win of the 2019 FAZ Super Division season after rallying to overcome Napsa Stars 3-1 in a midweek rescheduled match at home in Kitwe.
Goals from Freddy Tshimenga, Kelvin Mubanga and Simon Bwalya sealed the win as Nkana joined Buildcon at the top of Pool B of the transitional season with four points from two matches.
Napsa made a false start when Eric Yema beat the poorly erected Nkana offside trap to put the visitors in the lead after 10 minute.
Tshimenga equalised nine minutes later when tapping in a Kelvin Mubanga pass as the two teams went to the break with a 1-1 scoreline.
Nkana went up 2-1 in the 75th minute with Mubanga as the scorer after being set up by Ronald Kampamba.
80th minute substitute Simon Bwalya put the scores beyond Napsa’s reach with a fine header one minute into stoppage time.
Bwalya had replaced Sate Sate prior to scoring.
The win is expected to relieve Nkana after Sunday night’s 2-0 CAF Confederation Cup loss at Zesco United in Ndola.
Government has disclosed that all 2019 first year students under the Students loan and higher education scholarship will no longer get meal allowance.
Higher Education Minister, Nkandu Luo says the scheme will now only cover accommodation and tuition fees that will be paid directly to the learning institutions, while the student will only be paid book and project allowances.
The Minister has stressed that this will only affect new loan beneficiaries of 2019 and does not affect existing loan beneficiary contracts at UNZA, CBU and Kapasa Makasa Universities.
Professor Luo was speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka today.
She said that government has a budget of 5 hundred and 57 million kwacha for the scheme which will now include five more public Universities.
The five are Nkwame Nkhuruma, Chalimbana, Mukuba, Mulungushi and Palabana Universities.
The National Action for Quality Education in Zambia says it has received information that some primary schools, mostly in rural areas are operating without adequate teachers.
The Organisation Executive Director Aaron Chansa says he finds this extremely odd and must not be allowed to continue.
Mr. Chansa notes that some Zambians in towns find it frightening to contemplate having their children at a school with only one, two or three teachers, this is reality for other rural parents.
” For Nkurumashiba Primary of Mpongwe district on the Copperbelt,a school which ran for more than 2 years with only one teacher, it had to take NAQEZ leaders to alert the new education Permanent Secretary, Dr Jobicks Kalumba,in order for the PS to direct Provincial education authorities to beef up staffing at the institution.We commend the PS for his promptness on this matter”, he said.
He said from the case of Nkurumashiba school and many other schools with less than 3 teachers,it is very clear that Zambia has a big problem at hand.
“Our findings are that the distribution of teachers in the country is not well done and that many District Education Board secretariats have unduly neglected the aspect of balancing staffing in these schools”, he said.
Mr. Chansa has since appealed to leaders in the Ministry of General Education to practically assist Mr. Mabumba the Minister responsible and his Permanent Secretary,in making sure that all those schools critically hit by acute shortages of teachers are immediately supplied with teachers.
He said his Organisation is also of the view that in this country, there is marked inequality in terms of access to qualify education.
“We have a dual system of education, one for the rich and another for the poor.The rich Zambians take their children to lavishly equipped and well staffed schools while the poor Zambians send their children to schools without teachers,books and desks”, he added.
He said these cruel contrasts sit awkwardly and NAQEZ insists that time has come for the Country to genuinely and decisively deal with these artificial imbalances.
Mr. Chansa said his Organisation feels severe lack of teachers in most rural schools requires urgent attention otherwise the disconnection between Primary schools and Secondary Schools will continue to widen.
He has since demanded for more teachers in these schools if Zambia’s education is to be of help rather than a hindrance to development.
Mr. Chansa said to help resolve this situation, the Ministry of General Education must call for an emergency meeting involving teacher unions and the Teaching Service Commission, to solely deal with this matter, quickly craft special and very attractive incentives for rural teachers to push many teachers into rural Zambia.
He said Just like government has been building houses for men and women in uniforms, the same gesture must be extended to teachers, need for a policy which will not allow a school to operate with less than 7 teachers.
The European Union through the Southern African Development Community Trade Related Facility Project has given Zambia a grant of €800, 000 to implement trade related interventions in the Gold Mining and Agro-based Sectors which include Aquaculture, Dairy, Pineapples and Rice.
Preceding this, the Government received an initial grant of €420, 000 which was used in setting up the project management unit and implementing start up interventions on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards, Technical Barriers to Trade, Trade Facilitation and Promotion among others.
Ministry of Commerce Permanent Secretary Kayula Siame says the €800, 000 funding will, therefore, build on the specific activities which have been earmarked in the aforementioned intervention areas.
Mrs. Siame said among the specific activities implemented include a formalising 12 Mining Cooperatives in Rufunsa and Petauke Districts, an exercise which was undertaken in partnership with Ministry of Mines Procurement Gold Panning and Mining Equipment for the Mining Cooperatives.
She said the equipment includes Four Gold detectors, One Microscope and two Shaking Tables adding that the procured equipment is expected to be officially handed over within February 2019.
Mrs. Siame said the equipment which is yet to be procured include Four Sluice Boxes and 12 Panning dishes.
She said the contracted Supplier who was engaged to supply this equipment failed to deliver and the contract was, therefore, cancelled saying the Ministry is expected to relaunch the tender.
“Other interventions made hinged on Technical Barriers to Trade. University of Zambia School of Veterinary Medicine and Zambia Bureau of Standards working in collaboration with Apex Associations in the aforesaid agro-based target sectors were engaged to build food safety management systems based on industry needs”, she said.
She confirmed that the Needs Assessments were undertaken in the sectors and 32 modules have been developed for the sectors.
“Given the funding received, therefore, UNZA and ZABS are expected to finalise the modules and provide training and mentorship sessions to selected farmers and processors. Once the trainings and mentorships sessions are conducted, the selected farmers and processors will be certified in Hazard Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Good Agriculture Practices (GAP)”, she said.
Mrs. Siame said there are several other activities that have been lined-up and the Ministry will be communicating and sharing the developments as they ensue.
She said the Ministry is optimistic that these and other interventions earmarked in the Project will make meaningful impact and considerably compliment results ensuing from interventions of other projects.
Mrs. Siame has since thanked the EU and SADC for the continued financial and technical support.
UPND Vice President Geoffrey Mwamba says the arrest of Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Ronald Chitotela by the Anti-Corruption Commission has nothing to do with the fight against corruption but is a fight against anyone ambitious enough to challenge President Edgar Lungu’s hold onto the Presidency.
Speaking at a media briefing this morning, Mr. Mwamba said Mr. Chitotela’s corrupt activities were well known and documented even at the time he was being appointed into cabinet in 2016 as he had earlier been fired by the late President Michael Sata for similar offences in 2013.
“Late President Michael Sata fired Chitotela from his ministerial position for corruption. Even at the time of re-appointment by Edgar Lungu, it was already a well-known fact that the man was corrupt and it beat any sensible reason as to why the man was appointed to such a sensitive ministry despite his background. We take it the administration stood to benefit from his corruption. But unfortunately, the man has become too ambitious to wanting to challenge his boss through Luapula United grouping hence falling out of favor of the appointing authority,” Mr. Mwamba said.
The UPND Vice President said the war within the Patriotic Front is becoming fierce with both Muchinga and Luapula provinces positioning themselves for either the Presidency or running mate for the 2021 election thus making Edgar and his associates jittery knowing that the two groupings were too powerful to be ignored.
“It is likely that the arrest on Chitotela was sanctioned and we expect more ambitious people especially in his cabinet to arrested on ‘corruption charges’. Luapula united is very serious on its ambitions and now those in Muchinga are also positioning themselves for the challenge under the Muchinga united front. Its war in there and Chitotela has been merely sacrificed for being too ambitious, just like NDC Consultant Chishimba Kambwili was investigated and questioned by ACC for being in possession of money believed to be proceeds of crime.” said Mr. Mwamba.
He said Edgar should know that Zambians hold the key to statehouse constitutionally and they are watching with keen interest and will not allow Edgar Lungu’s government beyond 2021 because of corruption which has led to poverty and hunger as experienced by majority of Zambians across the country.
“What I can tell the nation is that this arrest whether genuine or a mere public relations stunt aimed at giving credence to Chitotela’s eventual dismissal is long overdue because the whole country knows how corrupt the Infrastructure minister is coupled with his Presidential ambitions. PF thrives on corruption but his ending will be bad as it will be engineered from within the PF by the same corrupt elements he appointed into government”, Mr. Mwamba further said.
Mr. Chitotela 47, has been charged with two counts of concealing property suspected of being proceeds of crime contrary to section 71 (1) of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act number 19 of 2010.
Mr. Mwamba said this is the same Chitotela who in 2013, was fired by late President Michael Chilufya Sata from his ministerial position together with his Mwansabombwe counterpart Rodgers Mwewa after the ACC launched corruption investigations against him.
Calls for President Lungu to fire Chitotela who has since been released on bond have intensified to allow for smooth investigations and prosecution of the matter.
Late last year, I advised Finance Minister to focus more on viable fiscal discipline and asset optimization strategies, and in particular, to consider selling toxic assets owned by Government in all mining companies as of the ways to redeem Eurobonds and high-interest Chinese loans.
I thank Lusaka Times for publishing my advise to put it in public domain. Now, as Minister of Finance has confirmed, her ministry has since received several unsolicited offers from mining investors, including First Quantum, to buy what I termed as “ZCCM-IH toxic assets”.
I am glad that once again, my ideas are back in the news as premium ideas. The primary focus for Government should be to dismantle pressing debts, especially high interest Chinese loans and Eurobonds from these toxic assets.
Selling off the ZCCM-IH shares could generate in excess of $5 billion additional income. Waiting to dispose these shares beyond this point could be as fatal as the Chiluba Government mistake on the Kafue Consortium deal of the 1990s. So, Government needs to go for it now, than later.
Article on redeeming Eurobonds and Chinese loans using ZCCM IH toxic shares
By Peter Sinkamba
Green Party President
© Lusaka Times
