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The six acquited protestors with lawyer Keith Mweemba celebrating outside the Magistrate Court.
Activists Laura Miti along with musician Pilato and four other protestors have been acquitted by the Lusaka Magistrate Court.
In September 2017,police in Lusaka arrested Alliance for Community Action Director Laura Miti, opposition PeP president Sean Tembo, singer Pilato and other protesters who had gathered to protest against the procurement of 42 fire tenders.
They were apprehended and arrested for demanding answers over the 42 fire tenders that cost US$42 million at Parliament.
Upon arrest the protestors lamented that in a functioning democracy, no one should and would be arrested for demanding answers from those entrusted with governing our resources.
They were charged with the offence of “disobeying lawful orders” contrary to clause 127 Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.
However, Magistrate Mwaka Mikalile ruled that citizens have the right to assemble.Magistrate Mikalile stated that the Police must not prevent the citizens unlawfully.
Laura Miti speaking to Journalists outside the Magistrate Court after acquittalThe protest over the US$42 million spent on fire trucks that lead to an unlawful arrest by police
Southern Province Minister Edify Hamukale has disclosed that government, through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) will cover all funeral expenses for the five people who died in the accident along the Kafue-Mazabuka road on Wednesday.
Dr. Hamukale said government is deeply saddened with the loss of lives and has since conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.
He said at a media briefing in Choma today that government is concerned with motorists who are in the habit over-speeding on the newly rehabilitated road.
He has since advised road users to be more responsible especially during the festive season in order to safeguard lives.
A 79-year-old man of Kaundula area in Luano district has been brutally beaten by a mob on allegations of practicing witchcraft.
Central Province Police Commissioner, Chola Katanga, confirmed the development to ZANIS in an interview today.
Mr. Katanga said the incident happened on December 18 this year around 23:00 hours.
He said the victim, identified as Dennis Matapu, was suspected of killing his 20-year-old grandson, Veston Mbuzi, using witchcraft.
He explained that the mob later buried the body of the deceased at the victim’s residence, whose house was also extensively damaged.
Mr. Katanga noted that police officers visited the scene and rushed Mr. Matapu to Masansa rural health centre in Luano district where he is currently admitted.
The Central Province Police Commissioner stated that no arrest has been made in the matter, but investigations are underway.
He told members of the public to desist from taking the law into their own hands as doing so is criminal.
Unionized workers at the Zambia Postal Services have continued with their sit in protest despite threats of dismissal from work by Management.
Zampost Management on Wednesday threatened to dismiss all the workers who have been protesting if they did not return to work on Thursday further warning that those that will fail to do so will be required to re-apply for their positions.
According to a circular dated 18th December 2018 signed by Postmaster General Brighton Ngoma, the continued protests by the workers has cost management a lot of revenue and cannot be tolerated any longer.
But the workers who on Thursday refused to go back to work have continued with their protest today 21st December 2018 saying they will only go back to work after management pays their five months’ salary arrears.
The workers who have gathered at the Lusaka main post office lamented that they are wallowing in poverty with others having been evicted by their landlords due to failure by management to pay them their salaries for five months.
They wondered how management expect them to get back to work when they do not even have money to pay for transport.
The workers have insisted that they will not go back to work as long as management fails to settle their salary arrears.
Zampost workers who have gone for five months without pay and have not received their school and transport allowances for seven months have resorted to downing tools to press management pay them their dues.
The Economics Association of Zambia has welcomed the directive by Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Roland Msiska, instructing all Permanent Secretaries to halt all festivity spend using public resources.
The Association believes that this aligns with austerity especially at a time when the Ministry of Finance has committed to prudent use of funds to maximise allocation to productive sectors of the economy.
The National Secretary Mutisunge Zulu said the Association, is however aware of positive austerity measures that have been successfully implemented so far.
He said these include, replacement of leave commutation with outright leave which has eased the financial burden of remunerating staff for excessive leave days.
Mr. Zulu has advised the state to ensure supervisors in government ministries manage staff leave inventory, so as to better address ‘presence versus productivity’ for those with immense stock of leave days.
He said other notable measures, include eradication of personal to holder vehicle allocations which have been replaced by outright sale of vehicles to top government officials which has resulted in huge cost savings on maintenance such as fuel and servicing fees.
Mr. Zulu said the Association recognises efforts, the state has made this year to curb misuse by cracking the whip on over 80 accountants in the ministries of education and finance to mention but a few.
He noted that disciplinary stances in conjunction with professional bodies such as deregistering these accountants with ZICA, also goes a long way is setting the disciplinary tone to ensure the highest tenets of accountability are maintained.
Mr. Zulu has since advised government to target a zero misuse, misapplication and misappropriation environment.
He said in so doing, the public financial management system will earn the requisite confidence and will set the tone for fiscal discipline.
Mr. Zulu added that the Association lauds the launch of the revised Audit Committee Handbook that should aid zero audit queries.
He said successful implementation of austerity measures will breed confidence in the public finance management framework which will in turn allay some of the fears that investors, multilateral partners may have around budget and fiscal credibility.
Mr. Zulu added that prudent financial management of public resources aligns with the Seventh National Development Plan, the medium-term expenditure framework and ultimately the vision 2030.
President Edgar Lungu having a light moment with Vice President Inonge Wina on his arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from Japan state visit
President Edgar Lungu has arrived back home from Japan where he had gone for a three day working visit.
ZANIS reports that the presidential challenger carrying the Head of State touched down at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in the early hours of today at 05-00 hours local time.
Whist in Japan, President Lungu met investors that have promised to invest in key sectors of the economy such as agriculture and manufacturing in her effort to increase productivity in key sectors of the economy.
The Head of State met the Japanese Emperor Akihito and held a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe where some bilateral agreements will be signed.
President Lungu was also accorded a dinner and attended the Zambia -Japan Business Forum.
The Head of State was accompanied by Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe and Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Ronald Chitotela. Others who accompanied hi are his aides; Presidential Spokesman Amos Chanda and Political Advisor, Kaizer Zulu.
President Lungu expressed optimistic that a number of investors are willing to invest in the generation of electricity away from hydro power.
He however, is of the view that there many areas of cooperation that Zambians and Japanese have not exploited.
He also addressed Zambians in that country with a pledge that his government wants to industrialize the Zambia’s economy for the benefit of all Zambians.
The visit by the Zambian leader strengthened the partnership between Zambia and Japan including collaboration for the success of the TICAD VII which will be held in August, 2019.
He was received at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport by Vice President Inonge Wina, Defense Chiefs, Tourism and Arts Minister Charles Banda and his Health and Lusaka Province counterparts Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, Bowman Lusambo, Secretary to Cabinet Dr. Roland Msiska, senior government and PF Central Committee members.
President Edgar Lungu being welcomed by Vice President Inonge Wina on his arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from Japan state visitPresident Edgar Lungu being welcomed by Vice President Inonge Wina on his arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from Japan state visitPresident Edgar Lungu being welcomed by Vice President Inonge Wina and Service Chiefs on his arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from Japan statePresident Edgar Lungu on his arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from Japan state visitPresident Edgar Lungu being welcomed by Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo on his arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from Japan state visit
Kagem mine is the world’s single largest producer of emeralds, accounting for about 25% of global production. (Image courtesy of Gemfields.)
Precious gemstones miner Gemfields has announced that the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has cleared its Kagem emerald mine following a probe into alleged tax evasion.
During an unnoticed visit, the ZRA seized documents and files including those allegedly used to evade payment of Value Added Tax (VAT), income tax, withholding tax and other taxes.
Probe was part of a wider effort by Zambia’s government to track down billions it is suspected of losing to foreign miners.
Gemfields said that the ZRA was unable to find evidence of wrongdoing or late payment by either Kagem or Limpopo Polygraphs.
The investigation commenced on 16 August 2018 when the ZRA served two search warrants during an unannounced visit to Kagem.
‘The search warrants authorized the ZRA to take wide?ranging documents and files including those allegedly “used by Kagem Mining Ltd / Limpopo Polygraphs CC to evade the payment of value added tax, income tax, withholding tax and other taxes,” a statement posted on the Gemfields website read.
“The ZRA has now advised Kagem that the matters it had been looking into have been suitably addressed. There were no findings of wrongdoing or late payment by either Kagem or Limpopo and as such no penalties were levied,” it further read.
The ZRA has confirmed that their investigation into these matters is now closed.
Mining accounts for more than 70% of Zambia’s foreign exchange earnings.
The government is currently considering an increase to mining taxes and the introduction of new duties.
It also plans to replace value-added tax (VAT) with a sales tax and increase royalties beginning January 2019.
Zambia estimates that mining tax revenues will climb to $1.3 billion next year thanks to the tax increases, up from $800 million this year.
The Zambia Chamber of Mines, however, says revenues will rise to only $840 million approximately.
Ndola City Council Public Relations Manager Tilyenji Mwanza
Ndola City Council (NCC) has warned of stern action against mall managers in the city who are charging members of the public to use toilets at shopping centres.
NCC Public Relations Officer, Tiyengi Mwanza told ZANIS yesterday that the local authority is dismayed to learn that ZEMART Mall is charging a fee of K2 per person to use the public facility.
She explained that the application by ZEMART management to the council to continue charging members of the public for using toilets at the mall was rejected as it is not in accordance with the laws.
Ms Mwanza said according to the law, Public health drainage and latrine regulation 80 Cap 1 bond cap 81 states that the owner or occupier of any workplace, public hall or other place by ticket or otherwise shall provide such a premises with proper and sufficient latrine accommodation for each sex and that such owner and occupier shall cause every latrine to be kept in a clean state and adequately lite during the day and night.
She said it is disturbing to learn that other malls have also started charging a fee to members of the public wanting to use toilets because of what they had seen at ZEMART mall.
Ms Mwanza has however, stated that the local authority has since written to all the malls managers to stop charging members of the public for using toilets with immediate effect.
Kabwe Municipal Council (KMC) has welcomed the Statutory Instrument (SI) number 65 of 2018 that bans the use of plastics carrier bags and other plastic related materials below 30 microns in thickness.
KMC Director of Public Health, Paul Mukuka said the regulation states that only plastic bags above 30 microns will be allowed in commercial outlets and business houses because of durability and can be recycled.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Kabwe yesterday, Mr Mukuka said any other plastic that falls below that will not be allowed because they cannot be recycled and are toxic to the environment.
He said in as much as some commercial outlets still have bulk products of these plastics which are below 30 microns, at an appropriate time will no longer be allowed and their possession will be prohibited forthwith.
He stated that the move is aimed at re-enforcing the Keep Zambia Clean, Green and Healthy campaign while, embracing a way of life for every citizen that avoids buying food stuffs from vendors as it poses a health risky.
Mr Mukuka added that, the SI will also reduce the cost of service delivery because the local authority spends huge amount of money to clear the blocked drainage especially during the rainy season.
He encouraged everyone to support the SI for the municipality to achieve the clean, green and healthy status in line with the national policy direction.
He warned that anyone found throwing litter indiscriminately will be apprehended and prosecuted to deter other would be culprits.
Mr Mukuka moreover indicated that a good number of people have already been prosecuted for throwing plastics anyhow including those from moving vehicles or on the streets.
He observed that the indiscriminate throwing of litter on the street comes with a huge cost of unblocking the drainage system and responsible for sporadic cases of Cholera.
Mr Mukuka has called on Kabwe residents to be responsible and adopt hygienic life styles to prevent diseases such as Cholera.
Asphalt Road Zambia (ARZ) a Contractor working on Kabwe Town centre roads has stepped up works
The Kabwe Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has observed that business in Kabwe district has not been as productive as projected in the year 2018.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, KCCI President, Christabel Ngongola said the year 2018 has seen few new businesses established in the district.
Ms Ngongola said the few new companies that came on board are still trying to find their feet and still trying to master the trends of the Kabwe community.
She observed that the economic output of the town has generally been very slow to the economy of the country.
Ms Ngongola highlighted that she is, however, pleased that the already existing businesses as well as industries are still in existence and that no industry has completely been shut down as a result of the bad economic performance of the country during the 2018 business calendar.
She added that KCCI as a private business entity managed to push government to help businesses to thrive.
Ms Ngongola said in an effort to better the economic performance of Kabwe town in particular and Central Province at large, KCCI has started very good collaborations with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry in order to attract more industries in the province.
A few weeks ago during the KCCI annual Gala, Central Province Permanent Secretary, Chanda Kabwe, challenged the KCCI to grow into a provincial body that will facilitate and coordinate the growth of business activities in the province.
The United States and the Netherlands will co-host the 2019 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) that will bring together emerging entrepreneurs, investors, and supporters from around the world to share innovative ideas and advance economic growth.
Approximately 2,000 attendees are expected at the GES which runs June 4-5, 2019 at the World Forum in Hague, Netherlands, will focus on driving innovation through entrepreneurship.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will lead the U.S. delegation and participate in the pre-summit opening evening program slated for June 3, 2019.
Mr. Pompeo called on Zambian entrepreneurs wishing to take part at the meeting to do so online and summit by filling in application form, website; www.ges2019.org.
Mr. Pompeo said the summit will feature five focus areas of innovation in agriculture, connectivity, energy, health and water.
He added that the agenda will include the global innovation through science and technology catalyst pitch competition
He said during the two days of discussions, GES 2019 will showcase inspiring entrepreneurs, forge new collaborations and opportunities for investments, develop concrete business ideas, and accelerate solutions to global challenges.
The U.S. government and its partners will provide travel scholarships for a limited number of entrepreneurs on a need basis for three nights in The Hague.
Initially, submissions for GES 2019 attendance register started on December 17, 2018 for participants.
The GES is a premier annual gathering of entrepreneurs, investors, and innovative thinkers that underscores the U.S. commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation.
This is according to a press statement issued to the media yesterday by Public Relations Unit at the American Embassy in Lusaka.
North-Western Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Douglas Ngimbu has challenged the Ministry of Health and various stakeholders in the province to actively address the challenges which are contributing towards the increasing number of maternal deaths in the region.
Mr. Ngimbu said maternal deaths have effects at all levels in the country which break down the fibre of society and disrupts continuity of development.
He said this when he officially opened a provincial maternal death review at Kansanshi Hotel in Solwezi today.
Mr. Ngimbu said the Ministry of Health has identified what they should do as a health system to avert maternal deaths and implored other stakeholders to emulate the ministry in the manner they provide solutions to this challenge.
He said there is urgent need to strengthen strategies to reduce teenage pregnancies in the province as the age group of 15 to 19 for girls is associated with high risk morbidity and mortality rate.
Meanwhile, Provincial Health Director, Lawrence Phiri disclosed that the region recorded 47 cases of maternal death this year.
Dr. Phiri said the number of cases has increased as compared to 2017 when 40 maternal deaths were reported.
He said his office and various stake holders are working hard to reduce the current maternal mortality ratio from the current 176 for every 100,000 live births to below 100 for every 100,000 live births.
Dr. Phiri has commended the Ministry of Health for deploying professional health staff for district health facilities in the province.
More than half of the copper mines in Zambia will probably be unprofitable next year with thousands of jobs on the line, as the nation raises taxes for operators, the Zambia Chamber of Mines has warned.
The Chamber said in a statement released in Lusaka on Thursday that the effective tax rate will range from 86 percent to 105 percent, with about 27,900 jobs at risk.
The Lobby Group says if the Government’s tax proposals go ahead, more than half of Zambia’s copper miners will become loss making, at current copper prices.
The warning was made today by Goodwell Mateyo, the new President of the Chamber of Mines, at a press conference held in Lusaka to announce the release of a new report entitled ‘Taxing the mining industry’.
Mr Mateyo also said that the position would be even worse for gemstone producers, who have an additional export duty to contend with.
“Zambia has become a recognised emerald producer in recent years. But the combination of royalty increases, and the new export duty, will kill off the legal gemstone industry within the next two years. The only people who will benefit will be illegal miners, who do not pay taxes, and whose costs will thus be radically cheaper than their legitimate competitors,” Mr Mateyo said.
“For a country that has acknowledged through the National Development Plan the need to diversify its minerals sector, as well as its economy, this is a completely self-defeating initiative.”
The report released today also includes research which compares Zambia’s present and proposed mining taxation regime with other copper mining countries around the world.
The research shows that if the 2019 Budget proposals are enacted, Zambia will have by far the highest tax burden of the 12 mining countries sampled. The countries include copper giants like Chile and Australia, and Zambia’s own peer group in Africa – DRC, Botswana, South Africa, Angola and Tanzania.
“The effective tax rate – the average rate at which pre-tax profits will be taxed – will vary between 86.3 and 105%, depending on the copper price. This could result in the extraordinary situation where a profitable mine would be obliged to pay more in tax than the profit it had made. No business can, or will, continue to operate under those circumstances,” said Mr Mateyo.
“The unwanted effect of these survival measures will be lost production, lost investment, lost employment, and less supplies and goods procured from other parts of the economy. When one factors this in, we estimate that the net gains the government will make next year from these changes will be a mere $28 million. This could be achieved far less destructively from a small increase in production,” it said.
“We have engaged government with counter proposals that, whilst not ideal from an industry growth perspective, strike a balance between our survival, and government’s immediate revenue needs. But ultimately we need a joint approach to growing the industry, based upon a shared understanding that through growth – and only can through growth and industrial development – can we deliver more.”
Zambia plans to introduce new mining duties, replace value-added tax (VAT) with a sales tax and increase royalties, from January, to help bring down mounting public debt.
Mining accounts for more than 70 percent of Zambia’s foreign exchange earnings.
Solwezi Municipal Council has disposed off six decomposed carcasses of meat from Good Hope Butchery at Kyawama market.
Council Assistant Public Relations Manager, Esther Chirwa said the council’s public health inspector found the decomposed meat being offloaded into the Good Hope butchery.
Ms Chirwa told ZANIS in a statement today that the inspectors rushed to Kyawama Market on Wednesday afternoon after a tip off from some residents.
She said according to section 79 of the Public Health Act Cap 295 of the Laws of Zambia, no person shall bring into any market or have in his possession without reasonable excuse any food for any animal in an unwholesome state or unfit for its use.
Ms Chirwa said the law further states that any medical officer of health may seize any such food and any district secretary on the recommendation of the medical officer of health may order it to be destroyed or disposed of as to prevent it from being used.
The PRO said the butchery owner narrated that the truck developed a fault on the way to Solwezi district from Zambezi and hence, the meat became rotten due to late delivery.
She said he willingly filled in the seizure forms and allowed the council public health inspectors to dispose off the six carcasses at the dumpsite.
Ms Chirwa commended the members of the public for alerting the local authority.
She has since urged members of the community to continue keeping watch and work with the local authority as they are key stakeholders of development in the district and the nation at large
Gemcanton Director Abudoul Ba second from Right at the Emerald Auction where a gross profit of US$15 million was realized from sales
Gemcanton Investments Holdings Limited , Zambia’s leading emerald miner has said that it is possible for any mining company to survive and operate profitably under the newly introduced tax regime.
Gemcanton Director Abudoul Ba said that there was nothing wrong with the decision taken by government to replace Value Addition Tax (VAT) with Sales Tax for the Mining Industry.
Mr. Ba said that it was unfortunate that some mining companies are threatening jobs cuts and suspending future development projects over the change in taxation regime.
Mr. Ba told ZNBC News in Lufwanyama that the changes made to the taxation regime should not come as a surprise because the taxes were already there.
Mr. Ba urged mines and all those in the Extractive industry to support Government over the new taxation regime which comes into effect on January 1, 2019.
Meanwhile the company which employs over 1,000 permanent employees has invested over 46 million US dollars in the development of a mine in North Western Province.
Mr. Ba said currently exploration works and other infrastructure development projects are being undertaken at the Mine site in Kasempa.
And Copperbelt University mining Expert Peter Chileshe has urged the mining companies to dialogue with government over the issue because the matter has the potential to injure the economy.
Professor Chileshe said that government and the mines must sit and find a common ground on the matter.
