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The African Consumer Union has demanded that the Board of the Biosafety Authority be dissolved as it is a danger a danger to the country’s food sovereignty.
The National Biosafety Authority yesterday granted three distributors namely Cold Chain, Horizon and Innscor distributors new permits to import products that may contain Genetically Modified Organisms.
The three were among 12 retailers, wholesalers and distributors that applied for new and renewal permits.
But Union First Vice President Muyunda Ililonga has condemned the move describing it as unwise as it ignores the wishes of the Zambian people to maintain a GMO-free country.
He has demanded that the permits issued be cancelled henceforth as the Authority appears to undertake unilateral decisions in the interest of global food giants not the Zambian people.
The Zambia National Farmers Union has also rejected the move further warning that they will not subscribe to processes that seek to sneak into the country or dump GM foods on the market.
The people’s position remains that Zambia is a GMO-free country, and yet the mandated National Biosafety Authority (NBA) seems determined to change this.
In September 2017, the NBA held an exclusive meeting in Livingstone to discuss amendments to the National Biosafety Policy. This meeting was dominated by foreign institutions with a clear pro-GMO mandate.
Yesterday in Lusaka, the NBA held another exclusive meeting to develop the regulations for the live release of GMOs in Zambia. Again, this meeting excludes key national policy stakeholders, yet welcomes the strong hand of outside institutions.
[pullquote]This meeting was dominated by foreign institutions with a clear pro-GMO mandate.[/pullquote]
The NBA is a public authority mandated by the people of Zambia. The direct involvement of outside institutions in policy formation process whilst deliberately excluding national policy interest groups is highly problematic.
Instead of the NBA first asking the people of Zambia for what we want, and then developing policy accordingly with us; they are instead drawing in outside institutions to draft our laws – after which they may consult the public – resources dependant. This is not good governance and this is not constitutional public consultation.
As far as the people of Zambia are concerned, Zambia’s position on GMO remains as the Late President Levy Mwanawasa sanctioned. Zambia does not allow for the production of live genetically modified organisms. Our agriculture system is GMO-free – giving us direct export market advantage and respecting the rights of consumers and farmers alike.
If food stuffs are imported that contain products of processed GMOs, they must go through stringent application and testing requirements, and the public have a right to know that they are consuming such products. i.e. they should be labelled.
Policies and laws of course need to be reviewed at appropriate times as required. However, the question is for whose purpose, in whose best interest and have good governance requirements been upheld?
Foreign trade lobby groups, multinational seed and agrochemical companies and a handful of researchers have been lobbying the NBA to change the country’s legal frameworks on genetic engineering, particularly in the food and agriculture sector. The people of Zambia have not been consulted on this move and that is a breach of their rights, and the mandated responsibility of the NBA.
At this time of considerable national financial strain, late rains, rising poverty and resource strapped farmers and consumers alike, we have major issues with the NBA forging forward with policy and law amendments that will not help solve the structural problems and gaps in our agro-food system nor our economy.
A joint open letter signed by faith, farmer, consumer and civil society groups, as well as numerous concerned individuals, stating serious concerns, is being delivered to the Ministry of Higher Education, copied to all other relevant Ministries and Honourable Members of Parliament and The House of Chiefs.
Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo has described allegations that he engineered violence during the 2015 Presidential Election Campaign in Shiwang’andu District as false and baseless.
Mr. Kampyongo says at the time the incident was happening, he was elsewhere within his constituency campaigning for the PF Presidential Candidate Edgar Lungu.
He also refuted allegations that he used a GRZ vehicle for campaigns.
Mr. Kampyongo was speaking when he appeared during a special sitting by the Commission of Inquiry into Voting Patterns and Electoral Violence in Kafue.
Meanwhile, UPND Deputy Secretary General in charge of political affairs Patrick Mucheleka said the public media has contributed largely to regional and tribal voting patterns and electoral violence due to unbalanced coverage.
And Commission of Inquiry into Voting Patterns and Electoral Violence Chairperson Justice Munalula Lisimba has described the special sitting as progressive.
Justice Lisimba has since thanked the people who were invited to appear before the commission for responding positively.
Government is expected to save over 4.7 Billion Kwacha, after it implements all austerity measures including the withdrawal of the motor vehicle replacement allowance.
And Secretary to Cabinet Roland Msiska says the withdrawal of the allowance is part of the austerity measures that government is undertaking.
Dr. Msiska says the move will greatly help reduce the cost of running government.
He was speaking when he featured on ZNBC’s Special Interview programme called PLUGGED IN.
Dr. Msiska further said reports that Cabinet Ministers have been awarded One hundred Percent salary hike are not true.
And Dr. Msiska has appealed to Zambians to avoid issuing inflammatory statements that can negatively affect the economy.
He said he runs an Open-Door policy and anyone that needs information is free to visit his office.
Zambia U20 are one match away from their first COSAFA U20 Cup semifinal appearance since 2016 following a 2-0 win over guest side DR Congo on Thursday at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
The 2016 champions , who relinquished their crown in the group stage as hosts in 2017 in Kitwe, have now collect two victories on the trot in Group A and are on maximum 6 points heading into their final game against Mozambique on December 8 that they must win or draw to qualify to the semifinals on December 11.
Both goals came in the first 30 minutes of the first half in which Zambia held their own against a physically imposing and experienced DR Congo side.
Benson Kolala put Zambia ahead in the 18th minute before Prince Mumba sealed the three points in the 24th minute.
Meanwhile, Mozambique are second on 4 points following a 1-1 draw with Malawi just 24 hours after they beat DR Congo 1-0 at Shinde Stadium in Mufulira.
DR Congo and Malawi are out of the semifinal race from Group A on zero and one point from two games respectively.
AS Sonidep Coach Hassan Barkire has advised Zesco United to improve in defence as they prepare to face TP Mazembe in the first round of the 2018/2019 CAF Champions League.
Zesco eliminated Sonidep of Niger 5-1 on aggregate following Tuesday’s 3-0 win in Ndola.
In a post match interview, Barkire described the Zesco backline built on Marcel Kalonda and David Odhiambo as shaky.
Barkire said Zesco were good side but must improve at the back in order to go further in the competition.
“If you look at the midfield of Zesco it was perfect. The striking force and the movement was perfect. The only thing I found as a weakness for Zesco was the defence,” he said.
“If Zesco want to go far very far, they must improve in defence. They played an amateur team which could have scored if we had chances because the defence was weak,” Barkire added.
Zesco conceded one goal against Sonidep over two legs but showed signs of deficiencies at the back in the return match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
When two egomaniacs that have nothing in common except their greed for power and a mutual disdain of each other conjugate in political unholy matrimony, the consummation of their morbid marriage of inconvenience begets nothing but brute perversion.
The deliberate ignoring of truth and twisting of facts by National Democratic Congress ‘Insultant’ Chishimba Kambwili and his newly found infatuation with the imprudent itches of UPND Life President Hakainde Hichilema make a rather peculiar specimen of the delusional tendencies of self-seeking purveyors of sensationalism.
Their raw psychotic presentation is a bizarre novelty – a collector’s item.
Kaput Kambwili
Kambwili attempts to mask his lack of comprehension with a false bravado.
This regularly manifests through his tendency to speak before he listens and it is a telling symptom of an acute deficiency of cognitive abilities exacerbated by a remarkable surplus of gauche.
It explains why he holds the dishonourable record as the only Minister in Zambia’s history to have been moved between a number of ministries within a ridiculously short time.
His weakness of speaking ahead of his thinking renders him a solo misfit who finds the concept of team work alien; and in his delusion – he thinks it’s a macho thing!
There is sadly very little between those ears-no gumption!
We find it of great concern that our wayward brother and his UPND partner in slime cannot understand a plain memo that is in the public domain written with so much clarity and a Parliamentary standing Order he accepted (which was written and debated in plain language).
We will explain it to them again: _The Government has withdrawn the motor vehicle replacement allowance for Cabinet ministers effective January 1, 2019 in adherence to the austerity measures government has put in place._
_Government has made the decision because it is fiscally untenable to continue providing the allowance at the fixed monthly rate of K32, 715.20 for each Cabinet and Provincial Minister which was being effected through the payroll._
These measures that are meant to save funds and they point to the goodwill and integrity of the government.
However, the increments Kambwili is bellyaching about were effected in January 2018 across the Board via an adjustment to the Parliamentary Standing Order for the remuneration of all MPs, Ministers and all constitutional office holders including the Speaker of the National assembly, Cabinet Ministers, Judges, Director of Public Prosecutions etcetera.
Kambwili knows fully well about this particular standing order and the increment thereof which he did not challenge but gladly accepted in January 2018.
He is also aware of parliamentary procedures and rules that do not allow Members of Parliament to debate themselves.
1. Members of Parliament (MP) salaries have been increased: why hasn’t he protested?
2. Can Kambwili tell Zambians that he has not been receiving the increased Salary over the past 11 months? Mr Kambwili cannot talk about integrity.
3. Isn’t this the same Kambwili who not so long ago said he had “worked for the money” and consequently refused to pay back the disputed Ministers salaries?
4. Why the convenient sudden U-turn if not for political expedience?
5. Does he forget how when he was Minister of Youth & Sport he was once warned by former PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba to desist from raising funds in the name of the Party?
6. Isn’t this the unethical backstabber who late President Michael Sata called out for campaigning to take over from him while the President was still alive?
7. What integrity can Kambwili talk about?
8. How moral is it for him to continue holding on to being an MP just so that he can continue drawing a National Assembly salary and other emoluments, including the midterm gratuity?
9. If the PF are corrupt as he alleges, why is he fraudulently holding on to PF membership and receiving a salary on a PF seat in Parliament?
Kambwili’s hatred for the Chinese is confirmation of our belief that one thing he shares in common with his UPND counterpart is their bile and constipation with xenophobia.
We refuse to join Kambwili in his race to the bottom. We, however wish to agree with Mr. Kambwili that indeed “Kapoli ni Kapoli”.
Not even the discerning government unions he’s calling on can take his flip flopping seriously…they know better and they understand better.
We are a tolerant people but he must not take our meekness for weakness; this the last time he will insult President Lungu and not bear the consequences. His verbal grime will soon be taken to the cleaners..“Mumbwe aitile mpashi..nokumububa shamububa”.
The Hoax and Inconsistencies in Hakainde
Perversity makes strange bedfellows and strange bedfellows engage in deceitful prattle.
One wonders how Hichilema could allow himself to be misled by a dunce like Kambwili.
As stated earlier the increments were effected in January 2018 across the Board via an adjustment to the Parliamentary Standing Order for the remuneration of all MPs, Ministers and all constitutional office holders.
It cannot be overemphasised that ALL Members of Parliament including Kambwili and those from UPND were aware of this standing order and the related increment, which they too did not challenge but gleefully accepted in January 2018.
1. Can Hon Jack Mwiimbu as leader of the Opposition in Parliament agree with Hichilema his Party President that the increased emolument he’s been receiving for the past 11 months are illegal?
2. Can Hon Cornelius Mweetwa and other UPND Members of Parliament agree with their Party leader Hakainde Hichilema that the increased salary they received for the past 11 months indeed deserves a protest?
This confirms what we have always stated about Hakainde- that he is a two faced acrimonious man who does not mean well for dialogue.
There he was seated next to a vulgar juvenile trapped in an old man’s body yapping invectives against the Chinese and insulting the President of the Republic of Zambia and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
Insults against the President are music to Hichilema’s ears. There he was smiling at the insults. How bizarre!
He has a fine way of showing his interest in dialogue!
The only thing consistent about this embattled politician facing political extinction are his inconsistencies.(What else can be expected from a person who has misled a party for over 12 years without a Manifesto).
Like Kambwili, this is one person who can neither talk about rights nor say anything about integrity.
How can he talk about “rights” when he vehemently campaigned against the Bill of Rights? What a shameless man!
How can he talk about integrity with Public Resources when he has conveniently chosen to keep mute rather than respond to unanswered questions regarding his role as a Government appointed Valuator during the Privatisation Process?
Why has he been ducking and diving?
Why doesn’t he just answer the questions and provide closure to the many unanswered questions on how he acquired his alleged major shares in Sun Hotels Livingstone?
What about the Millions of dollars overseas stashed away in overseas tax havens as reported by the Panama Papers?
How does he explain that?
In conclusion, as can be seen above when two disorderly megalomaniacs share an unbridled jealousy for the astute leadership of the President, and when their infatuation with each other is driven by a twisted jealousy and envy for the Progress and Development the Head of State is spearheading; they manifest a hallucinogenic desperation.
Strange bedfellows do strange things; nobody wants to be a part of their delusions.
The Author is Patriotic Front Media Director At the Patriotic Front Secretariat Lusaka
A group of 71 American Peace Corps volunteers have been sworn in, and have pledged to serve alongside the people of Zambia, to bring about positive change in public health and the education sector.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony which was held at the Peace Corps office grounds in Lusaka today, Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya called on the communities to embrace the volunteers.
Dr. Chitalu pointed out that the volunteers will help in the fight against early marriages and HIV/AIDS, among others, among other vices.
He said communities are still faced with challenges of early marriages and HIV/AIDS, saying it is hopeful that the volunteers will help in clamping down on these vices and enforce a new understanding in the minds of the community.
Dr. Chilufya noted that the volunteers have a vital role to play in imparting new skills in the community health workers.
He said there is need to record an improvement in education, maternal and child health, and it is hoped that the volunteers will also build a strong bond of friendship between the people of the United States and Zambia.
And United States Ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote said he was confident that the team of volunteers will make a huge impact in improving health and education in Zambia.
“I am sure that the Peace Corps, together with their partners in the ministries of Health and Education, will continue to bring solutions to issues facing the communities and improving healthcare outcomes,” said Mr. Foote.
The group has been in Zambia for the last three months undergoing training and learning the local languages and cultural values prior to their swearing-in ceremony.
The Peace Corps is a volunteer programme run by the United States government.
The first 12 Peace Corps volunteers arrived in Zambia in 1994 and since then, over 1,500 volunteers have served in Zambia.
Malawi Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Jean Kalilani
Parts of Mchinji, Mzimba, Kasungu and Rumphi districts have been declared to belong to Zambia during the border re-demarcation exercise.
Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Jean Kalilani told Parliament in a ministerial statement that the physical demarcation of border lines started on a pilot basis in 1993 and boundary inspections have been carried since then.
Kalilani advised Malawians residing in the affected areas against changing their nationalities from Malawi to Zambia.
The Minister said the government of Zambia and Malawi had agreed that until a new border treaty come into effect, local people should remain where they were before the demarcation.
“The two governments will agree on the way forward after receiving all the reports on the exercise, including a report on the impact assessment study. I, therefore, propose that the affected people should maintain their nationality and be allowed to register upon verification by local leaders,” said Kalilani.
People living near the Malawi-Zambia Border in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chindi in Mzimba have been living in fear due to a wrangle with their Zambian counterparts over border re-demarcation exercise.
The wrangle affected learning, as some chiefs allege that Zambians destroyed Byembye Primary School which was initially in Malawi but is now in Zambia after the re-demarcation.
Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa V pleaded with government to intervene in the matter.
According to Kalilani, the Zambia and Malawi governments have put in place a strategy to meet regularly and resolve any emerging issues while the exercise is taking place.
The Lusaka City Council has terminated the contract entered into with Parkrite Zambia for the management of public parking spaces in the Lusaka Central Business District.
In 2016, LCC surrendered public parking places in the CBD to a private company, Parkrite Zambia Limited.
The company promised among many other progressive ideas to introduce is a prepaid parking system to the general public.
A statement from LCC said Parkeite has failed to remit revenue collected from the venture.
“In 2017, the company raised k970, 000 from motor vehicle parking spaces in Lusaka from the time it began operating, company Chief Executive Officer Withur Musanda announced then. Despite the private company raising K970,000 from motor vehicle parking spaces in Lusaka, no payments were made to the local authority,” LCC Spokesman George Sichimba announced.
Mr Sichimba said the company has been managing and collecting fees as well as enforcing parking by-laws including all on-street and off-street parking spaces.
“The places include Intercity Bus Terminals and Independent Parking Lots owned by Lusaka City Council in the Central Business District (CBD). Lusaka City Council wishes to announce to the general public that it has parted ways with Parkrite arising from two developments.”
“Firstly, the Zimbabwean shareholder has parted company with the European shareholders who have pulled out of Parkrite has led them to have no financial capacity to run the contract. Secondly, from the time the contract was signed, Parkrite has not remitted any profits to the council as per agreement “ he said.
He added, “The local authority is also aware that Parkrite has engaged council employees in the legal department in an attempt to garner support on technicalities in order for the council to compensate the parking company. It is worth noting that Parkrite has only been declaring annual loses and their resolve to go to court is meant to be compensated on the ‘loss of business’ clause.”
Nkana Water and Sewerage Company has insisted that the murky looking water supplied to the Copperbelt University in Kitwe is still safe for consumption.
In a statement, Company Spokesman Brian Saluseki confirmed that a team comprising Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) officers together with engineers from the firm carried out inspections at CBU to ascertain the quality of water at the institution.
“This Inspection was necessitated by complaints about the quality of water that was being supplied to CBU. The inspection revealed that the water had lost its transparency due to the presence of suspended particles and the total suspended solids in the water was high thus making the water appear murky,” Mr Saluseki said.
“In an effort to establish the reason behind the murky water, water samples were taken from various NWSC water treatment and distribution facilities including Riverside Distribution Centre, Bulangililo Treatment Plants, certain parts of CBU, among others,” he said.
Mr Saluseki said the results disclosed that the areas that were sampled have transparent water and that the water is safe for consumption.
He explained that the murky water was subjected to laboratory tests and the results showed the water was safe for consumption.
“NWSC engineers are currently on the ground to check the water network and investigate the potential cause of the murky water. Currently NWSC has flushed the system at several points in and around CBU.”
He stated that the Copperbelt University Students Union has also been engaged over the situation and has been assured of the safety of the water.
The “murky” looking water being supplied to CBUThe “murky” looking water being supplied to CBU
Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) Director General Patrick Mutimushi says the authority is pleased with the enthusiasm young people have shown in developing new ideas in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector.
Mr Mutimushi says the increased number of young innovators who have participated in this year’s 2018 ICT innovation programme, is a clear demonstration that young people have the potential to contribute to the growth of the ICT sector.
The ZICTA Director General was speaking during the official opening of the 2018 Innovation Programme Business Conference and Expo in Lusaka this morning.
Mr Mutimushi said the authority has witnessed an unprecedented participation from youths engaging in research and development of new appropriate technologies in the industry.
He said young innovators in Zambia have the opportunity to use ZICTA’s technological capacity to transform the education and healthcare systems in the county.
Mr Mutimushi has assured young innovators in the country that the authority will continue providing a regulatory environment that supports the growing of the ICT sector.
The number of young innovators who have participated in this year’s event has grown from last year’s 20 to 60 this year (2018).
And speaking at the same function Barclays Bank Zambia Managing Director Mizinga Melu says the bank will use digital opportunities available to enhance its banking services.
Ms Melu said the bank as the core sponsor of the 2018 ICT Innovation programme is delighted to learn that the programme has had a growth of 20 to 60 participants this year.
She noted that the bank is proud to be associated with the programme as it creates opportunities for digital technologies.
Ms Melu pointed out that ICTs are key in growing the country’s economy.
She said this in a speech read for her by Barclays Bank Zambia Director for Retail Harton Maliki.
Meanwhile ProBASE Chief Executive Officer Roy Muyelu has advised young innovators to come up with ideas that seek to address challenges faced by the general population.
Mr Muyelu said Innovation should be tailored towards improving the plight of people across the country.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Dora Siliya has called on journalists in the country to work together and safeguard their profession.
Ms. Siliya says there is need for journalists to ensure that professional and dedicated officers are separated from masqueraders, if they are to earn the respect and confidence from the general public.
Ms. Siliya who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, has appealed to journalists to set standards for themselves and not allow anyone else to do so for them.
She was speaking at a Consultative Meeting for journalists in Lusaka this morning.
The meeting which attracted a cross section of journalists and other stakeholders was held under the theme, The Future of Journalism in Zambia: How Do we Protect the Profession.
President Edgar Lungu inspects the Mwomboshi Dam in Chisamba funded by World Bank $28.3 million shortly after Commissioning the dam
President Edgar Lungu says Zambia has turned a new page in the advancement of irrigation agriculture through the construction of the 61 million cubic metres water storage capacity Mwomboshi Dam and reservoir in Chisamba district, Central Province.
President Lungu says the Mwomboshi Dam project is a stamp on the Patriotic Front government’s significant strides being made in infrastructure development aimed at fostering national development.
The President said construction of the dam is in fulfillment of the PF’s manifesto on increasing management and utilisation of water resources for agricultural development.
The President said this during the official handover of Mwomboshi dam which has been constructed at a total cost of 28 million United States dollars by a Chinese contractor Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company.
The Head of State noted that management and utilisation of water resources for agricultural development will be achieved by constructing at least one large scale dam per province such as Mwomboshi to irrigate massive hectares, establishing irrigation schemes and facilitating of private investment in dams and irrigation infrastructure among other actions.
He said his administration envisage to roll out bulk water irrigation infrastructure projects like Mwomboshi across the country.
And the President has challenged all contractors in the country to emulate the work culture and dedication which the Chinese contractor has exhibited by not only completing the construction of the dam ahead of schedule but also constructing the dam using world class standards of equality and efficiency.
Farmers comprising of smallholders and emergent farmers north of the dam as well as large scale commercial farmers have subscribed to paying for irrigation water from the facility to ensure long term sustainability and viability.
Approximately 4,000 hectares of land will be brought under irrigation with atleast 1,500 hectares under smallholder farmers.
Speaking earlier, Anhui Foreign Economic Construction project manager Jiatao Kan gave the scope of the works that have been done on the dam and stated that the project has been completed and handed over 9 months ahead of the schedule.
Mr. Kan told the President that his company observed safety measures during the period of construction and hailed the existing Zambia Chain relations which has seen the implementation of various projects including the dam.
And Minister of Agriculture Michael Katambo pointed that construction of the dam and reservoir will help the province stop relying on rain fed agriculture.
Mr. Katambo said the dam will also work as an adaptation measure to the climate change which the country is currently faced with.
He added that the irrigation family will ensure food security not only for Central Province but the entire country.
The President earlier toured the dam and later award the contractor with plaques for completing the project ahead of the schedule.
The Mwomboshi dam and reservoir project was financed using a loan from the World Bank under the Irrigation Development and Support Project (ISDP).
