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President Edgar Lungu recieves Award at the Zambia Medical Association Annual Ball and Awards Gala at Mulungushi International Conference Centre
President Edgar Lungu has arrived in Japan for a three-day official visit.
The plane carrying the President Lungutouched down at Haneda International Airport at around 09:50 hours Zambian time and 16.50 hours local time.
President Lunguwas welcomed by a representative of the Japanese government, Kenji Yamada.
Others on hand to receive the President was Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joe Malanji, Zambia’s Ambassador to Japan Ndiyoyi Mutiti and other government officials.
While in Japan the Head of State is expected to meet the Japanese Emperor Akihito and hold a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe where some bilateral agreements will be signed.
President Lungu is also expected to attend the Zambia -Japan Business Forum.
The Head of State is accompanied by Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe and Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Ronald Chitotela.
Others who have accompanied the President are Presidential Spokesman Amos Chanda and Political Advisor Kaizer Zulu.
Makuyu health workers in Gwembe district have been living in fear for four months now due to alleged witchcraft practices at the clinic.
Speaking during the meeting held at Makuyu clinic by the district promotion task force and the community, Gwembe district health promotions officer Masuzyo Mwanza said the issue of witchcraft in the area has been going on since September this year.
Mr. Mwanza told the community that there is no reason for the community members to be attacking the health workers at the facility as they are there to save their lives.
He added that if the health workers continue working in fear, their service delivery will be affected due to lack of enough sleep and peace of mind.
And speaking at the same event, Gwembe District Commissioner Justus Phiri, who is also the chairperson for the district health promotion task force, said practicing witchcraft should come to an end especially that many people are now Christians.
Mr. Phiri told the Makuyu community that witchcraft will never develop the area.
He explained that if the witchcraft attacks on the health workers continue, they may decide to leave the facility and it will be the entire community that will suffer.
He added that the community should stop the practice and live in harmony with everyone for the development of the district.
Meanwhile, District Director of Health John Simwanza said it is very disappointing that Makuyu community has started threatening the lives of the health workers and yet they were recently requesting for a health facility in the area.
Dr. Simwanza urged the community to learn to work together with the health workers because they were sent there to serve the community.
And the district health promotion taskforce seized the opportunity to talk to the community about different health issues such as antenatal, men involvement and male circumcision.
Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe says all the 156 constituencies in Zambia have received the 2018 Constituency Development Fund as of last week.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe, who is also Lusaka Central Member of Parliament says government will ensure that the Constituency Development Fund is paid on time to every constituency regardless of their demographic and geographical location.
She was speaking during the Lusaka Central Constituency open day in Lusaka at the weekend.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe has since urged Lusaka Central residents to work with her in ensuring that the CDF helps improve their lives.
And speaking at the same event Kasama Member of Parliament Kelvin Sampa commended Mr. Mwanakatwe for the initiative to have an interactive meeting with her constituency.
And some members of Lusaka Central constituency have thanked their MP for holding an open day.
Bishop Joe Imakando takes photographs of the proceedings after Sata’s body arrived
Bread of Life Church International-Zambia Overseer Joe Imakando has called on all stakeholders involved in the pending political dialogue process to put national interest first instead of pushing their partisan agendas.
Bishop Imakando noted that Zambians were expecting a positive outcome from the pending dialogue among political players hence the need for the concerned stakeholders to take the process seriously.
He told ZANIS in Kasama at the weekend that since the church is spearheading the national dialogue, chances of the process succeeding were high.
Bishop Imakando added that if stakeholders engage in genuine dialogue, cases of political tensions in the country will be a thing of the past.
He has since pledged to continue preaching messages of peace and unity in the country.
Meanwhile, Bishop Imakando has urged the general citizenry in the country to celebrate the festive season in a responsible manner.
He stated that the festive season is the time to remember the life of Christ and not a time to engage in illicit activities such as alcohol and drug abuse.
Bishop Imakando was over the weekend in Kasama for an annual Bread of Life International conference under the theme “The Year of Taking Over”.
The National Democratic Congress is sadned that workers at the state owned enterprise Zampost have gone for five months without pay.
The NDC is further concerned that Zampost management has not been remitting statutory obligations for its employees to NAPSA and other statutory agencies.
Worst still, Zampost management has failed to pay retirees their outstanding dues and the NDC is urging Government to consider bailing out the postal service firm.
Party Acting spokesperson Misheck Moyo said the advent of information technologies has affected the operations of most postal agencies worldwide.
Mr. Moyo has implored the Zampost board to come up with a viable survival plan to ensure the smooth running of the company.
He said the Zampost board should also work closely with the Industrial Development Corporation IDC in discussing and formulating such a survival strategy for the firm.
“We sympathize with the plight of Zampost employees who are going through extremely trying times. The problems at Zampost are severe. Our position is that the firm be restructured at top management level”, Mr. Moyo added.
He has implored Government to consider undertaking a detailed financial forensic audit at Zampost further demanding that Government undertakes a probe into the alleged disappearance of monies disbursed to the firm in 2014 to pay retirees.
In a statement, Mr. Moyo also expressed concern with the plight of workers at the Times of Zambia and National Housing Authority National Housing Authority who have gone for months without salaries.
He said this is unfair and unfortunate and government should consider bringing private players on board to partner with the two firms.
Mr. Moyo said the problems at the two institutions are seemingly as a result of Gross Mismanagement and bad institutional administration and Government should consider dissolving the management boards at the two firms.
He said Times of Zambia and National Housing Authority can operate as viable entities under the right management.
The Zambia National Students Union has commended management at various institutions of higher learning who have worked round the clock to maintain the sanctity of examinations by not allowing cheating by some students.
ZANASU Information and Publicity Assa Williey says the Union is aware that the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education (ZIALE) and the University of Zambia (UNZA) disqualified 3 and 12 students, respectively, for cheating.
Ms. Williey said in some cases, students went into examination rooms with materials disguised on their smart phones.
“Our position is that students do not deserve to cheat during examination. The practice of cheating has a potential to contribute towards lowering the quality of our higher education. And this is why we commend those administrators in these public institutions for being vigilant”, She said.
Ms. Williey said the Union is also alive to the fact that Zambias education system is tailored to merely make students pass examinations but not to produce hands-on, skilled and competent graduates.
She said under such a system, students get the temptation to look for leakages in order to pass examinations and these are some of the issues ZANASU has submitted to the National Assembly of Zambia and will closely be following up on.
And Ms. Williey expressed sadness that 665 students from the University of Zambia missed examinations due to failure to pay fees.
She said the pattern is the same with many of Zambia’s public and private institutions including the Zambia Institute of Mass Communication Education Trust.
“It is sad that administrators of public-owned institutions of higher learning such as UNZA and ZAMCOM can make life difficult for poor students. The provision of higher education through public higher learning institutions was meant to ensure equity in society where students coming from poor families and marginalised students should be able to find refuge in the attainment of higher education”, Ms. Williey has said.
She has since asked Government and members of Parliament to step in and remedy the situation where students are turned away from taking examinations but instead device a suitable mechanism to deal with such situation where students fail to meet the deadlines for payment of fees.
File:A Sinazongwe fisherman with his children on Lake Kariba
By William M. Phiri
I once thought I was strong because I could dead-lift 110 kgs. I once thought I was strong because I played 90 minutes straight in a football game, or when I ran cross-country in High School. I was mistaken.
When I became a Husband and Father, I have come to realize this is a feeble and laughable strength. Real strength is when a Husband and a Father gets out of bed, every day for years on end, before the sun comes up, leaving his Wife and Children sleeping peacefully, and puts in a 12-hour work day. Real strength is coming home to a teething baby and a wife that is beyond what she can endure, and taking over for a while. Real strength is sleeping with a chicken pox-suffering son, for a couple nights, because you cannot afford to be weak and let them suffer.
Real strength is taking the wife out to dinner, ‘redding’ up the table after a meal and taking out the trash. It is cutting down the overgrown trees over the fence. Real strength is holding your baby girl in your arms, and she falls asleep instantly, because she has complete faith in you.
So what happened to men of real strength and character? Every day, the media tells us about how a feminist idol made it big, or how we are making strides in imprisoning a male child, or turning a boy child into a sort of villain, while seemingly doing everything to emancipate and empower a girl child. We gloat over a female politicians appointment to a higher office, while a male farmer, who takes care of his land and his family, is a mere clod, even more than the dirt that he works in the fields.
In his thought provoking article in The Lusaka Times (16/12/2018), DANCING WITH THE WHITE SHADOWS: AN ANALYSIS OF A CAPTIVE MIND, Henry Kanyanta Sosala (Chitimkulu), carefully alludes to the emasculating of an African male (Zambian in context) due to lack of indigenous, free, independent thinking of Africans. Sosala writes with audacity. He states that, “I have developed my philosophical conscience on “how to think,” and have stubbornly refused to be told “what to think.” He continues, “I now feel totally liberated because one of the tenets of being a free-thinker is the ability to tell people what they need to know, rather than what they want to hear.”
It is grotesquely unfortunate that free thinking is untenably aloof from our politicians, traditional leaders and policy makers in our country. The Ministry of Gender was established with a unique objective of ensuring that both Genders, male and female, be recipients of equality before the law in matters of Gender Based Violence (GBV) among others. Nonetheless, it is evident that the overzealous Minister lacks understand of the embryonic objective of her Ministry, or as Sosala aptly puts it, she is deficient of “free thinking.” The Ministry of Gender has turned out to be a conduit in which the Western empire, (America and Europe) utilize to weaken, enfeeble, erode, undermine and cripple male virility in our country. I ask again, where is the dying breed of real men? Men of strength and character. Sosala writes, “It is so unfortunate that we have been wrongly taught that the West has all the answers to Africa’s problems. And it is only shameful to expect donors to solve these local challenges for us. . .”
It is so unfortunate that we have been wrongly taught that the West has all the answers to Africa’s problems. And it is only shameful to expect donors to solve these local challenges for us.
One cannot fathom how our traditional leader’s, Opposition Party’s, Intellectuals, Policy Researchers, and general citizenry, peer comfortably like spectators while a Government Ministry imprudently and injudiciously desecrate our culture and cultural values our ancestors honorable handed down to us. African culture dates back to biblical times. It is an open secret that the Gender Ministry is either wholly, or in part sponsored by Western donors. Nonetheless, are we going to sell our birth-rights for a bowl of soup? Can we exchange our inherent African (Zambian in context) culture for Dollars or Euros? I appeal to the Appointing Authority and the Cabinet to put a check on this Ministry before we witness a free flow of our dignity. A Western way of life has no culture.
In his book, A HUMANIST IN AFRICA, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda says that, “Infact colonialism, for all it’s benefits, devalued man. . .And even more serious the colonialists set out to destroy an African’s self-confidence. They dined into his mind the idea that we are primitive, backward, and degraded, and but for their presence amongst us, we would be living like animals. The result is that even today in an independent African state, you will find a certain sector of the population suffering from a “Bwana” Complex. They cannot stand on their own feet as free men (or women) but must look over their shoulders all the time for the approval of a white man.”
And even more serious the colonialists set out to destroy an African’s self-confidence.
No one can legislate morality. Moral values are inherent in human beings. The supposed issues of Gender Based Violence (GBV) are not issues you can tame through the law. Arrest and confinement of a group of girls that allegedly inserted a bottle in their victim will not promote morality, nor deter would be offenders, neither will furnishing a Warn and Caution statement to Kay Figo for exposing her privates to the public change her mindset. Banning cultural practices by Chiefs and traditional leaders will not promote morality either. Castrating male offenders of GBV will never be a solution because sometimes the females are equally guilty of a similar offence. Raising the legal age of consent does not work either. It creates even a greater problem of teen pregnancy as observed in Eastern Province recently.
Alternatively, the Ministry of Gender, in collaboration with line ministries of Chiefs Affairs and the Ministry of Social Services can be more proactive rather than reactive. For example, they can partner with the Ministry of Education through the Department of Curriculum Development to include in Schools curricular issues of gender equity among other effective means of imparting knowledge.
Our Zambian culture is slowly, but surely eroding. It is quickly and dangerously assimilating to a Western non-existent culture. We are more inclined to idolize the shocking unconventional lifestyles of Hollywood glitterati than being concerned with what is happening around us. I ask again, where are the real men, husbands, and fathers of Zambia? Why do they seem to be ignored or non existent? The answer is obvious. So obvious that it is shocking. The real-men, the men who are building Zambia, digging Copper, keep Zambia running, are under-appreciated, and over worked, as if it is expected, and no one seems to care. These men are too busy waking up while it’s still dark outside, working 12 hours a day, coming home to take care of their wives and children for six days, and taking their families to church on Sunday (or Sabbath). They are too busy to care about being talked about in the media, or seek validation by the Ministry of biased-Gender.
Trywell Kalusopa says that, “I believe that political and economic brains that do not liberate their own people from oozing poverty when they have the instruments to do so are worthless. Brains that recite pseudo capitalist agenda for self aggrandizement are a curse to the nation” Sunday Post, (19/8/2007).
To the real Zambian men, regardless of political affiliation, creed, religion, or race, this is a tribute to you. YOU are the glue that holds your family together. YOU are needed. YOU are what God made you to be. Do Not accept to be bought or sold by Dollars and Euros! You are the driving force of the economy regardless of politics. You are the ones making a real and lasting difference in the world, while building your lives and your families; not the capitalist exploiters who have bewitched our politicians to heap excessive taxes on you, as well as compromised female leaders who will sell the country for a bowl of lentil soup. You are the target of Western influenced media campaign to make you look stupid, ineffective and weak. Ignore it, and do your duty anyway. Without you, selfless, dedicated men, hardworking men of integrity, we would not build this country; we would not have a country we call our own.
In the unlike chance that you get time to relax over the weekend, take a sit in an easy chair, serve yourself a cool drink, and pat your own back. And that is alright, because no else will do it. At the end of the day, YOU are the real men, and you do not need them to do it.
The Ministry of General Education has directed the two Principals at the Kitwe College of Education to immediately stop discharging their duties as government seeks a solution to the leadership impasse at the institution.
General Education Minister David Mabumba says the matter will be resolved in two weeks’ time when he returns to the institution.
There is Drama at the Kitwe College of Education as two people are holding on to the position of Principal at the institution.
Recently the Teaching Service Commission transferred Kitwe College of Education Principal Andrew Mutobo from his position to Assistant Director Teacher Education and Specialized Services at the ministry of general education headquarters in Lusaka replacing him with Kitwe District Education Board Secretary Allan Kaoma.
But Dr. Mutobo has refused to move from his position saying the Teaching Service Commission has no authority to transfer him
And Mr. Mabumba has held his ministry accountable for the leadership wrangle that has engulfed the college in the past two weeks.
Mr. Mabumba has also directed the Vice Principal to Act as interim Principal while his ministry arrives at a solution over the matter.
He has also urged lecturers at the institution to remain committed to carrying out their duties and not use the current wrangle as an excuse not to work.
He was speaking when he held a meeting with lecturers at the Training Institution in Kitwe.
Speaking during the same event, Kitwe District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu said it is saddening that the institution has been engulfed in leadership struggles that have disturbed learners at the institution.
Nkana coach Beston Chambeshi is pleased with the 2-1 win over Simba Sports of Tanzania in the CAF Champions League pre-group stage match played on Saturday in Kitwe
Forwards Ronald Kampamba and Kelvin Mubanga scored for Kalampa with John Bocco scoring for Simba through a second half penalty at Nkana Stadium.
Chambeshi told journalists at Nkana Stadium that his team played well and will plan adequately for the return match in Tanzania.
“I am happy with the result. Conceding a goal is nature of the game, all we need is to plan well and see how we are going to play in the second leg in Tanzania,” he said.
The two teams meets in the return match next Sunday in Dar-es-Salaam.
“It will be an open game, they will not go and defend like they did here. They will open up the game which will be an advantage for us,” Chambeshi said.
Simba coach Patrick Aussems admitted Nkana gave his side a tough match.
“I am just disappointed about the first half because the first forty five minutes we played like a Tanzanian league match. We didn’t play a Champions League game. When you play against a team of this level if you miss aggressiveness you are punished and that is what happened,” he said.
A draw for Nkana in Tanzania will be enough for them to advance to the group stage.
But a 1-0 loss for Nkana will make Simba advance on away goals rule.
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu at the First-ever-Annual Economics Gala Dinner organised by the Economics Association of Zambia under the theme: “Uniting Towards Achieving An Integrated Approach To National Economic Development” at InterContinental Hotel on Wednesday, December 12,2018-Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA/STATE HOUSE
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) National Executive Committee member Chilufya Chishala says it is immoral for politicians to make political capital out of President Lungu’s remarks on Chinese people and Bembas.
Republican President Edgar Lungu has come under fire after he made a joke which questions the honesty of Bembas and also likened the Chinese to Cockroaches because of their ability to survive in harsh conditions.
But Chishala who is the former ruling party’s Chairperson for Agriculture who resides in Eastern province said any Zambian who is old enough knows that Easterners are all Nyanja speaking people regardless of the differences in their linguistic dialects.
He said politicians should not use such a harmless joke to divide the nation but instead promote such jokes and learn to live the way the country has lived in harmony between the tribal cousins.
“You can have someone from Chama to Nyimba, they can still communicate. Easterners have one langauge, whether you are Chewa, Tumbuka, Nsenga, Kunda or Ngoni they are all one, they have a similar language and this is partly due to inter marriages.
“Similarly for Bemba speaking people, you cannot differentiate people from Luapula and those from Northern or Muchinga, these are one people.
“For some disgruntled politician to shamelessly try to make political capital out of a cousinship which has existed and lasted for close to a century, is cheap. These two people’s have demonstrated this during weddings, funerals, kitchen parties, Amatebeto and Ichombela nganda,” he said.
Chilufya added that as a Bemba person who has lived and married in Eastern province for over 30 years, he has been welcomed in all areas of life, and has playfully done cousinship with all the tribes in eastern province and the people themselves like and enjoy it.
“President Lungu was born and bred on the Copperbelt, and Copperbelt people only know that people from Eastern province are all one and they are cousins with Bemba speaking people that’s it.
“Please, let’s allow President Lungu to live among us, let us not make him an alien in his own community. He has a life to lead, free to joke and play antics with whomever he so wishes.
“A President is a human being, living among humans and he must not be denied that just because he is a President,” he said.
Chilufya went on to rebut the President’s joke.
“Let me demonstrate my love for this cousinship, for instance we have very useless people from Eastern province like Dickson Jere, Laskin Jere, Noel Nkhoma, Lameck Mangani, Moses Mawere, Vincent Mwale, Peter Daka including their sisters Angela Chifire, Shirley Thole, Vera Tembo-Chiluba, Dora Siliya, Pilile Jere, Olipa Phiri, Elizabeth Phiri just to mention a few, amongst ten(10) of these men eight(8) are dagga smokers and eight(8) of their sisters are not reliable and they cannot be trusted because their culture is synonymous to three things which they believe in so much smoking dagga and they know what they do and I wont mention the last one.
“I am asking them to the challenge me including President Lungu and former President Rupiah Banda,” he joked.
Meanwhile Republican President Edgar Lungu’s untimely joke about Bembas being thieves has also received condemnation from All People’s Congress party president Nason Msoni.
President Lungu is said to have joked that in every 10 thieves 6 are Bembas something his fixers have said it is a joke aimed at his traditional cousins.
But All People’s Congress party president Nason Msoni described the joke as an abuse of the Bemba speaking people as President Lungu is not a Ngoni for him to practice cousinship with the Bembas.
The outspoken opposition leader explained that the Republican President was being ungreatful to the people who gave him an opportunity to govern the country.
“Edgar Lungu is not Ngoni to get away with abusing our Bemba cousins in the manner and fashion he did.
“Nothing can atone for this blatant abuse of Bembas. He forgot that it is the Bemba’s who gave him the opportunity to be President of Zambia.
“When we say Lungu is an ingrate this is exactly what we mean. It is a material fact that Lungu has shortchanged Easterners with his fellow Malawians in his administration,” he said.
He further claimed that President Lungu was using the Ngonis because it suits when to the contrally he has never liked them as can be seen from his cabinet were Ngonis have been excluded.
“Our counsel to you trying hard to fix his insults to Bemba speaking people is that please leave Ngoni people out of this. Edgar has never liked Ngoni people and this is explicitly visible by his obvious exclusion of Ngoni’s from his administration.
“Edgar only wants Ngoni’s to give him support and to vote for him when it suits him. Traditional cousinship doesn’t offer an opportunity to anyone to abuse the entire clan.
“Clearly Lungu criminally abused and stigmatised Bemba’s as thieves and nothing can atone for this behaviour than for Lungu to apologise to the entire Bembas. You cannot paint the whole tribe with one brush,” Msoni said.
Leaders of opposition party leaders during a news briefing at Pamodzi Hotel on Sunday
A consortium of leading opposition political parties have agreed to work together to fight President Edgar Lungu.
And the opposition parties have charged that it is evident that the PF has put into motion a well-orchestrated plan to hijack Zambia’s much cherished democracy.
The leaders of the political parties included UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema, ADD leader Charles Milupi, National Restoration Party leader Elias Chipimo, NDC consultant Dr Chishimba Kambwili, PeP’s Sean Tembo, People’s Party leader Mike Mulongoti, Republican Progressive Party leader James Lukuku, and representatives of New Labour Party and the People’s Alliance for Change.
They held a press conference at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel to denounce Mr Lungu’s governance style.
The leaders said that for the first time in the History of Zambia, a Court has legalized the holding by a person of a THIRD TERM.
“Whether or not Mr Lungu’s initial term is deemed not have been a full, qualifying term under the Court’s interpretation of the law, the reality is that he served as President for the period of that term, was paid his emoluments as such and was sworn in again on 13th September 2016 for his current term,” they charged.
They stated that the judgment opens the door for President Lungu to do so again; for him to have a third stint in office, contrary to the resolve of Zambians in 1991 and 2001 when they said clearly no third term.
“The power is in our hands fellow citizens to say once again, but this time to Mr Lungu and the PF, NO THIRD TERM, we shall not allow it. In the same spirit of the Zambian people, we shall not allow any single person to hold office for more than 10 years as this opens the door for despotism. Examples are plenty in Africa where the Constitution is manipulated so as to allow dictators to extend their rule and this is what we are seeing today. It will begin with a one year six month’s extension, then another extension of 2 years and 11 months, and so on until Mr Lungu is in office in perpetuity.”
They stated that the Constitutional crisis that now exists and is an assault on the country’s democracy of the worst kind as it brings back the wamuyayaya formula that Zambians rejected in 1991.
During the news briefing, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema called on Zambians to support the unity of purpose that the opposition leaders have exhibited.
Mr Hichilema stated that Zambia country needs unity of purpose in the fight against corruption, bad governance and continued political intolerance such as violence and biased application of laws as regards freedoms.
“As political leaders we also called on the Nation to join hands in restoring normalcy in our country as we have done in the past years. As one voice and political leaders from various parties we will continue speaking for and on behalf of the our people,” Mr Hichilema said.
NAREP’s Elias Chipimo, NDC Consultant Chishimba Kambwili and ADD Charles Milupi listen to UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema during a news briefing at Pamodzi Hotel on Sunday
President Edgar Lungu bids farewell to Veep Inonge Wina before departure for Japan at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport
President Edgar Lungu says Zambia needs to scale up her mutual and development cooperation with Japan for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries.
The President said he looks forward to engaging Japan to deepen her development assistance to Zambia in order for the country to transform into a middle income nation.
President Lungu pointed out that a lot of things have happened between the two countries in their last fifty years of mutual cooperation adding that there is need to renew and strengthen friendship, trade and economic ties.
The Head of State said this when he addressed journalists at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) in Lusaka before departing for a three days state visit to Japan.
President Lungu said his visit to Japan has delayed as it should have been undertaken two years ago.
The trip had been postponed on several occasions due to other commitments.
The President said he wants to tap into Japan’s development expertise, resourcefulness and investment in order to support Zambia’s economic development and diversification, a development which will benefit Zambians.
President Lungu stated that Japan, which is constructing the Kazungula bridge, will also undertake works to reconstruct the new Luangwa bridge as part of the international gateway for connectivity and domestic conduit for free movement of people and goods.
He said Zambia stands to gain from Japan’s resolve to promote and support connectivity, trade, transportation and development of telecommunications in the region.
Mr. Lungu said as part of Zambia’s industrialization agenda, he will solicit Japan’s assistance to help develop the manufacturing sector in order to create jobs and wealth for the country.
And President Lungu has expressed concern with the continued turmoil in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and hoped that peace will return to enable the country hold its Presidential and general elections next week.
President Lungu, who is also the Chairperson of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, said he has received assurances from President Joseph Kabila and DRC authorities that the situation is well.
President Lungu said he remains hopeful and prayerful that the situation will return to normal and that SADC agents are on the ground monitoring the situation.
The DRC, which is expected to hold elections on December 23 this year to elect President Joseph Kabila’s successor, recently witnessed the gutting and destruction of election materials and equipment.
President Lungu, whose plane took off at about 16.45 hours, was seen off by Vice President Inonge Wina, Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Mwila, Service Chiefs, Cabinet Ministers, senior government and party officials.
President Edgar Lungu in an interview with Journalists before departure for Japan at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport President Edgar Lungu confers with Patriotic Front Secretary General Davies Mwila and Defence Minister Davies Chama before departure for Japan at Kenneth Kaunda International AirportPresident Edgar Lungu watches some dances by PF women’s group before departure for Japan at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport
Zesco United’s 2018/2019 CAF Champions League group stage hopes suffered a setback on Sunday away in DR Congo where they lost 1-0 to TP Mazembe.
The loss has left Zesco needing to beat the five-time African champions by 2-0 in the pre-group stage final leg on December 22 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola to advance.
The first leg, meanwhile, was settled in the 18th minute when DR Congo striker Jackson Muleka turned-in across from veteran midfielder Tresor Mputu.
Zesco’s best opportunity for a goal in the first half came four minutes earlier but striker Lazarus Kambole’s effort was intercepted by his Chipolopolo teammate and defender Kabaso Chongo.
And Zesco had goalkeeper Jacob Banda to thank for keeping the score line narrow before halftime when he denied Ben Malango earlier in the 16th minute and was again on duty to stop Muleka’s 30th minute effort.
Mazembe continued to dominate their guests after the interval and captain Rainford Kalaba twice came close to punishing his compatriots in the 64th minute when he sent his effort wide and the 76th minute when his shot came off the woodwork.
Zesco and Mazembe meet in the final leg this Saturday with the victor over both legs qualifying to January’s group stage while the loser will be relegated to the CAF Confederation Cup pre-group stage that kicks off next month.
First Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda having a light moment with Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda and Special Assistant to the President for Project, monitoring and Implementation Andrew Challah during the handover ceremony of the House to the 4th Republican President Rupiah Banda at Bonaventure
Zambia’s first President Kenneth Kaunda has asked various churches in the country to play an active role in praying for world peace and harmony.
Dr. Kaunda said all church denominations have an important role to play in ensuring that countries in the world always live at peace with each other.
He said this last night in a video recorded message at the Night to honour Israel, an event which was organised by Jerusalem House of Prayer Zambia.
And Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs Godfridah Sumaili said government recognises and appreciates the pivotal role that the Church plays in promoting peace and unity.
Reverend Sumaili explained that government has upheld the declaration of Zambia as a Christian Nation and wants to work closely with the church world over to promote peace.
She said government was making strides to ensure that it continues to strengthen bilateral ties between Zambia and Israel, which she said was an important partner.
Rev. Sumaili noted that the two countries are currently enjoying strong relations in most of their sectors of the economy.
She disclosed that President Edgar Lungu’s recent visit to Israel has started bearing fruits as can be seen from the investment which that country had put in the agriculture, health and education sectors.
The Minister cited the construction of Maina Soko military hospital in Lusaka and the construction of schools and health facilities in Kawambwa district as some of the projects that Israel is carrying out in Zambia.
And Israeli Ambassador to Zambia Gershom Kedar reaffirmed his government’s relations with Zambia
Ambassador Kedar has since pledged that his country will increase the number of scholarships for Zambian student who will access education in Israel.
At the same function, Jerusalem House of Prayer- Zambia President Sibusisiwe Zulu said it was important for Zambia to continue to honouring Israel in its quest to uphold the Christianity nation declaration.
FOREIGN Affirs Minister,Joseph Malanji briefing the media
Zambia has written an official de’marche to the United States of America (USA) government to request a retraction of a portion of the statement made by a senior US official John Bolton, who alleged that the Chinese government intends to takeover some state owned enterprises because of government’s alleged failure to settle China’s outstanding loan.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Joe Malanji said the Zambia government is optimistic that the American Embassy in Zambia was expected to transmit the de’marche to Washington DC as soon as possible.
In his statement to unveil new USA policy on Africa in relation to China and Russia, USA National Security Advisor John Bolton allegedly said Zambia owed China between US$6 billion and US $10 billion and was poised to lose its state utility company for China to recoup the debt.
Mr. Malanji said the Zambian government was disappointed that such a statement, which lacked accurate information, could come from a high ranking official who could have easily verified the information with the American Embassy in Lusaka before giving a presentation of such magnitude.
“Such misinformation gives a bad name to America’s foreign policy,” Mr. Malanji said.
He said Zambia enjoyed cordial bilateral and multilateral relations with the US government and does not wish to see its diplomatic ties strained as a result of misinformation.
The Minister clarified that Zambia has not offered any of its state assets as bilateral or multilateral loans that Zambia contracts are sovereign guaranteed.
“Therefore, no state assets or state enterprise were at risk of being repossessed as they have not been used as collateral security,” he emphasised.
Mr. Malanji also said Zambia was not in a debt crisis, adding that her debt ratio in relation to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was healthy.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said Zambia was managing its debt settling very well and had not defaulted in any of its repayment plans.
He stressed that Zambia enjoys bilateral relations with over 100 countries which include the United States of America.
This is contained in press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by First Secretary for Press and Tourism at the Zambian Embassy in Addis Ababa Ethiopia Inutu Mwanza.
