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UPND youths on the Copperbelt have warned the Patriotic Front in the province to stay away from Ndola Police station tomorrow when their President, Hakainde Hichilema, will be appearing for questioning for allegedly inciting people to riot over the alleged sale of ZAFFICO.
UPND Copperbelt province Youth Chairman Kelly Jibinga says his party is aware that the Patriotic Front has printed UPND regalia to dress their cadres and cause chaos tomorrow and blame them for their own actions.
Mr. Jibinga said this will not be allowed and they will screen these known elements of violence if the Police will not do so.
“At the same time, we would like to appeal to the Police to place the interest of the country first when interrogating our President because his fight for a better Zambia is meant to improve their conditions of service as opposed to a select few top corrupt PF leaders and some senior officers in the service”, He added.
He said the PF must know that this time around it will not only be UPND members to say no to their illegality but the country as a whole as it is solidly behind Mr. Hichilema.
But PF National Youth Chairperson Nathan Chanda said the the PF are fully aware of the UPNDs schemes to cause violence on Tuesday and blame it on the ruling PF Youths.
“We are aware that the UPND have gotten PF T-shirts to give their youths so that they can cause violence in Ndola when their leader Mr. Hichilema comes for investigations on Tuesday”, He said.
Mr. Chanda has since directed that all PF youths from the Districts, Constituencies,wards up to sections should not wear any PF regalia on Tuesday.
“We know the youths on the Copperbelt love President Edgar Lungu and are proud of wearing the regalia of PF, we want to direct the youths to follow this directive to shame the violence planners. The plans by the UPND is purely to cause confusion and violence, and transfer the blame on PF”, He added.
In June the UK has decided to part with the EU. The “Leave the EU” campaign has won against the “Stay in the EU” in a referendum that will change the course of history and is perhaps the biggest expression of new-age protectionism.
There is a lot to be said about the Brexit, but one thing is for certain. It has caught economists and political experts in awe. No one, including the British Prime Minister at the time, David Cameron, thought the Leave campaign would sweep the United Kingdom in the way it did. The British Sterling has dropped almost 5% in one day against all other currencies to reflect that surprise, and international transfers from UK to USA have dropped by 10% in volume almost instantly.
A lot of things have been said about the political shenanigans on both sides of the Leave/Stay debate, on how the Leave campaign was a lot more organized and powerful than the Stay campaign, the lackluster response by the prime minister, and the overconfidence demonstrated by the Stay campaigners; Not enough has been said about the underlying reasons that made the majority of UK citizens to opt out of the strongest economic union in the world into what is likely to be doom and gloom to British economy.
One main reason was simple mis-information. There were thousands of economists from the UK and from outside of it that have voiced their opinion and shared their forecasts regarding the day after Brexit. Each side used the forecasts that had the best fit to its agenda. The UK/EU relationship is highly complex and difficult to explain, so each side provided its own simplified, one-sided version. Another strong example of misinformation was the claim made by the Leave campaigners in regard to £350m freed up each week that could be used to bring the NHS back on its feet, that was ultimately debunked by experts.
Another prominent reason for the Brexit decision was the issue of immigration. This is a part of a global anti-immigration wave of hate. Like other wealthy nations, the British nation is polarized and there are growing voices in regards to blocking immigration, alongside other signs of bigots and racism. In the UK specifically, it has been claimed that Polish workers are taking British jobs, and that Brexit will limit the access of such cheap labor into the UK.
When you have a strong basis of misinformation and lack of the basic understanding of the concept of belonging to a trade union, fueled by fear of immigrants, you can turn things around. The once liberal British nation was overtaken by people like Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage, who have misinformed those residing in rural areas and senior citizens.
What can we learn from Brexit? That it’s easy to sell dreams and hopes to the public. Especially struggling public who feel they are being looked down. The truth doesn’t mean as much as it used to do. Just look at the American president Donald Trump who has very little regard to what’s objectively correct when he comes out with statements.
The Zambia Police Service has refuted reports in today’s Times of Zambia that seven people died in a road traffic accident which happened at Kabangwe on the Great North Road yesterday.
Police spokesperson Esther Katongo said contrary to the reports, no person died on the spot in the accident.
Mrs. Katongo explained that only one person died in the early hours of today from the University Teaching Hospitals where the injured were rushed for treatment.
“The report which we received yesterday was that of a serious Road Traffic Accident which occurred at about 14:20 hours near Kabangwe Police Post along Great North Road involving Watson Zulu of Chazanga Compound who was driving a Toyota Hiace registration number BAC 4136 from north to south and an also an unknown driver who was driving a Toyota Hiace registration number BAG 4659 from south to north who ran away after the accident”, She said.
She said the accident occurred due to excessive speed by the driver of the Toyota Hiace bus registration number BAG 4659 who in the process lost control of the motor vehicle and went to hit into the on-coming bus being driven by Watson Zulu who also lost control of the vehicle and fell on the left side of the road.
Mrs. Katongo said 15 passengers sustained serious injuries and were rushed to UTH and Chingwere Clinic respectively.
She said one of those that were rushed to UTH died in the early hours of today and not seven as reported by the Times of Zambia while the other victims are still treatment.
Bloomberg says Zambia’s economic growth is among the fastest growing economies in Africa only second to Ethiopia.
Speaking at the 2018 Bloomberg Africa Business Innovators Summit ((ABMI), Bloomberg Editor in Chief, Mathew Winkler said foreign direct investment from China and others countries has helped the rapid and consistent economic growth of both Zambia and Ethiopia.
Giving an outlook of Africa’s economies, Mr. Winkler said there is remarkable growth in Zambia’s mining and other sectors including telecom and technology sectors.
As the Greens, we agree with the Bloomberg analysis of the Zambia economic output as it relates to 2017. However, we think that this analysis does not give a complete picture and for that reason, may be deceptive.
We hold the view that an economic growth analysis for a country must not be one-off but be holistic and ought to cover a reasonable period of time. Most importantly, such analysis must also include economic stability aspects.
By economic stability we mean the absence of excessive fluctuations in the macro-economy. We think that this is a very important factor in an economic analysis of any country. An economy with fairly constant output growth and low and stable inflation over a reasonable period of time is considered economically stable. Zambia has failed to achieve this sort of benchmark in the last 10 years.
To prove our point, lets take an example of GDP growth in the last 10 years (2008-2018). It will be noted that Zambia’s GDP grew without fluctuations from US$15.33 Billion in 2009 to US$28 Billion in 2013, an increase of US$13 Billion in 4 years.
Thereafter, it will be noted that Zambia’s GDP started shrinking up to as low as US$20.95 Billion in 2016. Using simple arithmetic, this works out to be a decrease of about US$7 Billion in 3 years. Simplistically, this is like wiping out the entire budget of Zambia for one year considering that national budget has averaged US$7 Billion from 2014 to date.
In 2017, GDP grew to US$25.81 Billion. Compared with the 2016 output, this is an increase of US$5 Billion in one year. Nonetheless, when compared to 2013, the GDP attained in 2017 is still less that the US$28 Billion achieved in 2013. It falls short by US$3 Billion.
Meantime, Inflation Rate has averaged 9.78 percent from 2008 to 2018, reaching an all time high of 22.90 percent in February of 2016. In 2018, it will be noted that annual inflation rate has consistent increased from 6.2 percent in January to 8.3 percent in October.
These economic statistics exhibit economic instability— which in the long-run exhibits a decay phenomenon. This decay must be fixed. Zambia needs an economy that fairly constantly achieves economic output growth which is upward ever, and backward never! High inflation is a cancer that an economy needs to be inoculated against.
And we Greens have economic inoculation to fix this sort of decay phenomenon.
Legalize it. Growth the Economy. Heal the Nation. End Poverty!
Bloomberg says Zambia’s economic growth is among the fastest growing economies in Africa only second to Ethiopia.
Bloomberg Editor in Chief, Mathew Winkler says foreign direct investment from China and others countries has helped the rapid and consistent economic growth of both Zambia and Ethiopia.
Giving an outlook of Africa’s economies, Mr. Winkler said there is remarkable growth in Zambia’s mining and other sectors including telecom and technology sectors.
And Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Dora Siliya has expressed concern at the rise of fake, inaccurate and false news.
Speaking at the 2018 Bloomberg Africa Business Innovators Summit ((ABMI), Ms. Siliya called on the media fraternity to encourage professionalism by establishing a strong self regulation mechanism as set up by lawyers, engineers, doctors and others.
She said government welcomed the initiative by Bloomberg to train business and financial journalists as this will raise the standard and quality of reporting especially on government policy, economic, business and investment matters.
Ms. Siliya called for a responsible and professional media that advances truth.
She emphasized that Zambia has not sold or mortgaged any of its state-owned enterprises such as ZESCO or ZNBC as widely reported by some sections of local and international media.
Over 90 leaders in government, media, technology,business and communities from 21 countries have gathered in Livingstone.
The theme of the 2018 ABMI is Africa 2025-The Mddua Landscape of the Future.
The 2018 ABMI event will focus on the impact of evolving global media, and hot to finance a rapidly changing industry and media opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
And Bloomberg Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief Mathew Winkler said his organisation recognized that Africa will play an increasing role in global economy and therefore urgently required a robust, accurate business and financial media analysts.
He said Bloomberg founder, Michael Bloomberg had launched the pan-african program to strengthen media capacity, promote innovation and improve high quality news in the sector.
Zambia is hosting 2018 ABMI which has been hosted in Ghana(2017), Kenya (2016) and South Africa in 2015.
Striker Idris Mbombo was on Saturday night voted Nkana Player of the Year during the club’s 2018 Awards Ceremony held at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
Mbombo, who has since left Nkana to join Sudanese club Al Hilal, also won the Golden Boot Award in absentia.
He scored 26 goals in all competition during his season long loan stint in Wusakile this year.
Crowd’s favourite striker Ronald Kampamba “Sate Sate” scooped the Fans’ Player of the Year award with midfielder Jacob Ngulube emerging as the Most Consistent Player on the night.
Youngster Harrison Chisala picked the Young Player and Most Improved Player Awards and Ghanaian defender Richard Ocran walked away with the Most Disciplined Player accolade.
Striker Walter Bwalya won the CEO’s Award with player-coach Joseph Musonda getting the Vice President’s award while Kenya defender Musa Mohammed received the Patron’s Award and keeper Allan Chibwe got the President’s award.
Nkana won the Barclays Cup and the Charity Shield this season besides finishing runners up in the FAZ Super Division.
Acting Milenge District Agricultural Coordinator (DACO) Daniel Ngazimbi has called on Financial Institutions to allow farmers on the Farmers Input Support Program (FISP) select institutions of their choice.
Mr. Ngazimbi said this following an uproar from farmers in Milenge’s Kapalala ward who were allegedly being forced to make their deposits to Paycode.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Ngazimbi said some farmers did not want to pay the K 400 required for them to redeem their farming inputs through Paycode hence, their protest.
He said Paycode officials came to the district when 3,487 out of the 4,600 FISP beneficiaries had already deposited their money with other institutions.
Mr. Ngazimbi further stated that his office is seemingly, conducting aggressive marketing by trying to capture the remaining 1,113 farmers.
He, however, said the situation has been resolved and all the parties involved have agreed that farmers are free to pick on an institution of their choice from the seven listed in the district among them; Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO), Barclays , Natsave and Atlas Mara.
Chrisphin Siamubanga an Artisan shows the tourists art work during the Zambian Artisan Awards in Lusaka.
Government says it has developed the National Industrial Policy (NIP) aimed at promoting the growth of artisan crafts in the country.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary (PS), Kayula Siame said artisan products when added with value have great potential to penetrating to international markets if the players are subjected to competition.
The PS noted that the production of primary products such as copper has become vulnerable on the international markets hence, her ministry is creating awareness in Zambia by building capacity and the need for the artisan players to be proactive in handcrafts activities.
The PS said this in Lusaka when she presented awards to deserving craftsmen and women.
This was during a speech ready on her behalf by Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Director for Cooperatives, Shadereck Mugalaba.
The Zambia Artisan Awards which are organised by Private Enterprise Programme, PeP Zambia has attracted over 30 crafters that are exhibiting at the Leopard Hill Polocrosse Club.
Ms. Siame said artisan industry has also created employment opportunities among the people in Zambia thereby, contributing to the country’s economic growth.
PeP Zambia Representative, James Blewett disclosed that Zambia is endowed with abundant raw materials hence, the need for crafts men and women in the country to showcase their ability and compete with other countries at different platforms.
“I call upon craftsmen and women in Zambia to embrace handcraft and take up the mantle of doing business and lift Zambia’s flag high on the globe,” Mr. Blewett said.
The award giving ceremony was witnessed by British High Commissioner to Zambia, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, National Arts Council (NAC) Chairman, Patrick Samwimbila and Senior Government and NAC Officials.
Director co-operatives,Shadrick Mugalaba greets British High commissioner,Fergus Cochrane-Dyet during the Zambian Artisan Awards in Lusaka.Jenny Chapple winnerof most creactive arts with British High commissioner,Fergus Cochrane-Dyet during the Zambian Artisan Awards in Lusaka.Artisan winners at the Zambian Artisan Awards in Lusaka.
The Department of Immigration has removed fifty-three and deported four illegal immigrants from the country.
ZANIS reports that this was in a mass removal exercise conducted on 17th November, 2018. This is the second mass removal exercise conducted by the Department in just one week.
In a statement released to ZANIS, the Department Public Relations Officer, Namati Nshinka said the first one, which involved the removal of seventy-seven foreigners from the country was conducted on November 10, 2018.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nshinka said another 16 illegal immigrants were routinely removed between 9th and 16th November, 2018.
He said this brings the total number of persons removed and deported during this period to 148.
The PRO said the Department between 9th and 16th November, 2018 also arrested a total of 81 foreign nationals for various immigration offences countrywide, including 23 undocumented Congolese nationals intercepted at Katima-Mulilo on Friday, 16th November, 2018.
Mr. Nshinka said the group comprising three families with members aged between one and twenty-eight years was stopped at the Zambian exit gate, as they attempted to enter into Namibia and Investigations in this matter are ongoing.
He said others arrested were16 foreign nationals, for unlawful entry, 15 for unlawful stay and three refugees for being outside a refugee camp without authority.
Mr. Nshinka said others were six foreign nationals arrested for working without permits, three for concealing their true identity and one for doing business without a permit.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nshinka adds that, in Chadiza, four Zambians were arrested for impersonating immigration officers and one deportee in Solwezi was arrested for unlawful return, unlawful stay, working without a permit and concealing his true identity.
He further said nine female Asians, suspected to have been engaged in commercial sex work, were apprehended and served with notices to leave the country.
President Edgar Lungu arrives from Western Province at City Airport yesterday 18-11-2018. Picture by ROYD SIBAJENE/ZANIS
President Edgar Lungu says the loss by the Chipolopolo to the Mozambican national team is disheartening. President Lungu urged the Chipolopolo Boys to go back to the drawing board and mend the gaps that are associated in soccer. He has since urged the technical bench to assist the Boys in handling football techniques.
President Lungu told Journalists upon arrival at ZAF City Airport in Lusaka last evening from Western Province from a two day working visit.
“Zambia’s loss to Mozambique is disheartening not only to me but the aspirations of Zambian people. Probably, the Chipolopolo Boys needs to go to the drawing board. We leave it to the technocrats or experts to tell us what next,” President Lungu said.
Zambia was yesterday ejected from the Cameroon 2019 African Cup of Nations, AfCON. The Mambas beat Chipolopolo 1 – 0 in the 2019 AfCON qualifier held in that country. Mozambique moves to seven points while Zambia remains at four in Group K respectively.
The Zambia Air Force (ZAF) plane carrying the Head of State touched down at ZAF City Airport at 18-45 hours local time. Whilst in the province, President Lungu held talks with the Litunga, King of the Lozi speaking people. Mr. Lungu also travelled to Kaoma where he also met other traditional leaders among them Chief Mweene Mutondo of the Nkoya people.
Mr. Lungu later in the day addressed a public rally in Mangango where he drummed up support for PF candidate, Godwin Putu ahead of the November 20 Mangango parliamentary elections. Mr. Lungu has since described the Mangango political campaigns as peaceful.
Four candidates are contesting the seat which fell vacant following the death of Naluwe Mweene who died in a road traffic accident in August this year.
PF adopted Godwin Putu while, the United Party for National Development (UPND) has settled for Mwendoi Akakandelwa and Singumbe Kabindama is standing on the United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambian(UPPZ) party.
Yuvwenu Kashandola is contesting on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket.
He was received at the City Airport by Home Affairs Minister Steven Kampyongo and his Lusaka counterpart, Bowman Lusambo, defense chiefs, senior PF Central Committee members as well as senior government officials.
President Edgar Lungu being welcomed by Service Chiefs shortly after his arrival at City Airport yesterday 18-11-2018. Picture by ROYD SIBAJENE/ZANISPresident Edgar Lungu being welcomed by Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kapyongo shortly after his arrival at City Airport yesterday 18-11-2018. Picture by ROYD SIBAJENE/ZANIS
Nelson Mandela was the African liberation icon jailed for 27 years by the white separatist government of South Africa for fighting for the emancipation of Black South Africans in their struggle to gain full and equal rights on their ancestral soil. After Mandela was freed from prison on 11th February, 1990, he appeared before a symposium in the United States of America, at which one fellow expressed their disappointment (as Westerners) on the quality of leaders whom Mandela had chosen to be friends with, such as the Palestinian leader, the late Yasser Arafat, late Libyan revolutionary leader, Muammar Gaddafi, late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, among others. To this criticism, Mandela responded:
“One of the mistakes which some political analysts make, is to think that their enemies should be our enemies (applause). That is something we can’t and we will never do. We have our own struggle that we are conducting. We are grateful to the world for supporting our struggle but nevertheless we are an independent organisation with our own policy the right to develop our own attitude, as does every country; the attitude of our country towards any other country and its leaders, is determined by the attitude of that country to our struggle.”
I would suggest that Nelson Mandela’s words were re-echoed, to some extent, by the words of our own Republican President, Edgar Lungu, when he officially opened the Third Session of the 12th National Assembly. Regarding the criticism against the China-Zambia relations, President Lungu candidly asserted,
“As an independent state Zambia creates and keeps cordial relationships with its friends in the broader international community of nations. These relationships are based on mutual bilateral and multilateral considerations informed by the common goals of making better, the lives of our people. In this regard, our right to choose our friendship with one nation is not dependant on making enemies with others.
We shall choose our own friends on our own terms and that does not mean appeasing anyone with unjustified enmity with others. Our friendship with China is mutual, and no amount of reckless propaganda will deter us from entrenching this relationship for the common good of our people… China does not have that record; neither does it seek a horse and rider relationship with Zambia…”
Unfortunately, Edgar Lungu is not Nelson Mandela. Edgar Lungu was never in prison for 27 years. Therefore, Edgar Lungu did not receive a standing ovation for the same words that earned Mandela a standing ovation. Our own domestic civil activists as well as others in the region, whose strident criticism of Zambia’s close relationship with China have taken turns to quid President Lungu for his remarks.
It is, therefore, safe to suggest that these “civil activists” have just joined hands with entities in western countries who are locked in a fierce battle with China for access and control to the world’s dwindling natural resources. Our present-day “civil rights groups” are the West’s new weapon in that battle – a subtle anti-China propaganda tool since these groups are made up of local people. They are put forward as the face of “oval resistance” to creeping Chinese influence in Africa.
It seems to me that the one thing which this generation of our young Africans does not yet appreciate, is China’s huge role in helping our African nations to break the yoke of white Western colonialism. We the young people do not understand that before our countries achieved their independence, European countries who now finance our African-led civil rights movement, had complete control over Africa’s natural resources, including African land itself which traded as a commodity in Western markets.
After independence, the European countries continued to exercise control over the newly-independent African (and Asian) countries through the leaders of the independence movements, until a new cadre of African leaders arose who insisted that independence also meant that the new post-colonial government’s should assume complete control of their natural resources. Leaders such as Julius Nyerere, Kenneth Kaunda and Muammar Gaddafi, among others, followed the example of the Egyptian military leader Gamal Abdul Nasser who, in 1956, seized control of the Suez Canal from its French and British owners by nationalising it.
It seems clear that my generation, that is, Africa’s young people, lack appreciation of how Africa was colonised. In early part of the 19th century, European missionaries, agents of foreign governments and companies, explorers, merchants who included the infamous British South Africa (BSA) Company and other adventurers, criss-crossed the African continent. They came with trinkets, flags and draft instruments in their pockets, moving in all mysterious ways and by diverse routes, visiting our own African Chiefs and claiming to “negotiate” treaties with them. Of course, a negotiation requires that both or all parties should have a common understanding of the subject matter at hand, and the documents to be signed in execution of the proposed treaty.
Needless to say, our chiefs did not have even the faintest idea of the true content and intent of the documents they were asked to sign in return for a worthless trinket.
The real intentions of our colonisers were to secure tracts of land for their countries on the shores and surrounding areas of the Dark Continent. Engineers on board of the coastal vessels were kept busy cutting tin sheets and making them into colourful crowns for the heads of the deluded chiefs who were ready to sign away their territorial birth-right for a few bottles of gin and the title, “King.”
Off we sold our land just like that. Take as an example, in 1884 when the Kings and chiefs along the Wouri estuary in French South West Africa (in Cameroon) signed a treaty of cession of (Cameroun). The treaty stated:
“We, the undersigned, King and Chiefs of the territory known as Kamerun, located along the Kamerun river, between River Bimbia to the north and River Kwakwa to the South up to 4* 10’ degree north of the longitude, have this day during a meeting held in the German factor on the courtyard of King Akwa, voluntarily decided as follows:
We have this day completely surrendered rights of the sovereignty, legislation and administration over the our territory to Messrs Edward Schmidt, acting on behalf of the Woerman firm, and Johannes Voss, acting on behalf of the Jantzen and Thormanlen firm, both in Hamburg and traders for years on these rivers.
We transfer the rights of sovereignty, legislation and administration over our territory to the above –named firms, subject to the following reservations:
Article 1: The territory may not cede to a third party Article 2: All treaties of friendship and commerce concluded with the foreign governments shall remain fully valid. Article 3: Lands cultivated by us and occupied by our villages shall remain the property of the current possessors and their descendants Article 4: Annual rentals shall be paid to the King and Chief as before. Article 5: During the first phase of the establishment of an administration here our local customs shall be respected.
Kamerun, 12th July, 1884
The above is an example of how the European nations colonised African countries. Now the European former colonial powers, now commonly known as the West, are back, through our own people, to tell us that Zambia is now being colonised by the Chinese.
I disagree and I take the view advanced by the President when he said:
“We are a fully conscious nation, alive to the fact that we need to uplift the plight of our people. I want to emphasize that all forms of bilateral cooperation with China are, and will always be informed by this noble focus on the need to build a supporting infrastructure to enable our people build sound and sustainable livelihoods.”
This is exactly what I see as the role of China in Zambia. At the same time, I do not think the Chinese are here for charity but, like any other country – whether from Asia, Europe or America, they too seek our natural resources and to make profits on their contracts and investments.
WHAT IS THE BIGGER PROBLEM WITH CHINA?
China’s biggest problem with our people is not about whether or not, China has a poor human rights record in their own country as is glibly asserted by China’s opponents and competitors; it is about the ‘what and how’ their services have been rendered in our countries.
Some have argued that it is unacceptable that menial work such as bricklaying, carpentry, etc when they form part of a contract awarded to a Chinese company take the Chinese company to bring someone from China to come and do these types of work, when we have many of our own people who are capable of doing such work, but are unemployed. Others have taken issue with the fact that some of our Chinese guests have gone into such businesses as the making of ice lollipops, fritters or so-called doughnuts, and even selling live chickens in our markets.
It is this aspect of Chinese “participation” in the lower levels of the formal economy, and their active part in the informal economy which directly threatens the livelihoods of some of our households, which appear to have become unacceptable among my fellow Zambians and Africans at large.
It is my view that this is not a problem of the Chinese. Rather, it is the way we have negotiated our bilateral agreements with the Chinese, in the first place, and how we enforce the law on non-Zambian or expatriate workers, especially in the very low skills levels, as it stifles skills transfer from our Chinese guests to our own people whose future works can be executed to the same level as the Chinese contractors.
It would appear that those who have been tasked to bargain on behalf of our country region, and continent as a whole, have not done a good job because they have neglected to ensure that as Zambians or Africans see the Chinese come into our countries to make money, they too must get into gainful employment and paid well. If that were taken into account and if Zambians benefited more directly from the Chinese presence in the formal sector, I believe our people would have a different attitude towards China.
China also need to urgently review its contribution towards provision of social services such as education, which the West have done to a considerable extent after independence when there was a great need to train human resources to manage and administer the new states. Indeed, western or colonial masters of African countries went to great lengths to offer training and skills acquisition to former colonial subjects to help establish the new local cadre of public officers, and the training offered in the coloniser’s country helped to change the attitudes of the new middle-class towards their former oppressors. And oppressors they had been; there can be no question about that.
But the cordial relations which developed between former coloniser (oppressors) and former subject in the period immediately following independence, based on high quality education and training as well as skills transfer, went a very long way in softening the attitudes of the former colonial subjects as they were now treated as partners or at least as capable learners and were, therefore, accorded a measure of respect.
A key factor in the transformation of attitudes by the former colonial subjects towards their former colonial masters, was the experience of living in the country of the former colonial master, typically 4 years for those who went abroad to acquire university degrees or 9 years for those who sought doctoral qualifications. These former colonial subjects lived with or among people who had previously treated them as inferior and needed either to be “whipped into shape”, or given a benevolent, avuncular hand by the kind white man.
As the Africans were treated as equal learners and equal employees, their previously hostile and suspicious attitude softened and changed, and white people were no longer the controlling, selfish and disrespectful monster they had been in colonial times. They became partners and even friends.
In a word, the West won the friendship and respect of their former African subjects by inviting them to study, work and live in their countries. The West have exposed many of our people to receiving Western education in their countries which has not only provided academic knowledge but also enhanced a cultural understanding between our peoples and our former colonisers.
It is my view that China could change the face and substance of the Africa – China relationship by adopting the same tactic as did the former colonisers: a degree of assimilation whereby the host population no longer sees a hard economic, social or cultural border between themselves and their Chinese guests.
Returning from the 2018 Regional Summit of students held in Johannesburg, I am convinced that China is having problems being understood by the peoples of the SADC region because China is a relative newcomer not only to the region but to Africa as a whole, and therefore not well understood. One way China can overcome this problem, is by taking as many students as possible into learning and training institutions in China, so that they experience life among the Chinese people and get to understand Chinese culture and China’s history especially as it relates to Africa and the SADC region in particular, where China’s role in liberation, is second to none.
The anti-China propaganda is having an effect because few people in SADC know anything about China apart from the fact that China wants our resources. But why does the UK have an Embassy in Zambia, if not for our resources? China should now embark on a new path of strengthening its relations with the people in SADC countries and one of the most effective way is to take as many SADC youths and students to China so that they can live and experience Chinese life first-hand and not through history books written by imperial powers.
China and other countries like Japan, Israel and Canada need to increase undergraduate scholarships, partly as a way of encouraging more interaction between the Chinese people and SADC nationals where China is an honoured guest for all its help beginning with the independence struggle to the current struggle for economic emancipation of SADC nations where China’s assistance has proved invaluable.
China, as far as is practicable, should take deliberate steps to take and greatly increase scholarships for education, skills training and cultural exchange, so that SADC youths, as students, can spend part of their early adult life in China itself, learning – not just academic education but also about China as a country – training and experiencing Chinese culture and general way of life so that they come back from China with a positive message about the Chinese people, the Chinese economic system and government.
90% of Zambian students in China are self-sponsored. China can afford even 1,000 scholarships a year for SADC. Of course Zambia is their strongest and best partner in SADC and we should get the lion’s share of those scholarships. China can benefit greatly from having many more Zambians studying in China. 4 years is enough time for them to learn and understand China as a country and the Chinese as a people. Many Zambians who are capable of benefiting from an education, training and living in China would need China’s direct financial assistance as Zambians are generally resource-constrained.
China would have to seriously consider giving some of its development assistance in the form of fully- sponsored scholarships to Zambians students and youths, including young entrepreneurs. China, just like other nations from Scandinavian and Cuba in particular, as well as the United States of America and Canada, must utilise the current atmosphere as an opportunity to become part of and interact with students from SADC as Zambia prepares to host the 2019 SASU Region Summit on Education.
The author is a governance and legal activist but also Secretary General of the Zambia National Students Union [ZANASU], an umbrella body of students unions in Zambia
Rachel Kundananji of Zambia challenges Celestina Manga Besecu of Equatorial Guinea during the 2018 TOTAL African Womens Cup of Nations match between Zambia and Equatorial Guinea the 18 November 2018 at Cape Coast Stadium, Ghana / Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Shepolopolo Zambia launched the 2018 Africa Women’s Championship campaign with bang after thumping two-time champions Equatorial Guinea 5-0 on Sunday night in Cape Coast, Ghana.
This was Shepolopolo’s debut Africa Cup tournament win after failing to record victory at the 2014 edition in Namibia.
Striker Rachael Kundananji grabbed a brace in this opening Group B match in which she also missed a second half penalty.
Shepolopolo led after seven minutes with Grace Chanda scoring via a free kick from outside the box before Ireen Lungu doubled the lead with another set piece in the 43rd minute.
Kundananji put her name on the scorers chart after 56 minutes with Mary Mwakapila making it 4-0 from the spot following a foul against Zambia in the Equatorial Guinea box.
Kundanaji had missed a 75th minute penalty by hitting the side post before redeeming herself eleven minutes later when scoring Zambia’s fifth goal on the night.
Zambia now leads Group B with three points after South Africa stunned former African champions Nigeria 1-0 in the earlier group action in Cape Coast.
Ireen Lungu of Zambia celebrates goal with teammates during the 2018 TOTAL African Womens Cup of Nations match between Zambia and Equatorial Guinea the 18 November 2018 at Cape Coast Stadium, Ghana / Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Chipolopolo were beaten 1-0 away in Mozambique today to see Zambia fail to qualify for two successive AFCON’s for the first time since 1972.
The last time Zambia failed to qualify for successive AFCON’s was for the 1970 and 1972 tournaments.
A 62nd minute goal from Reginaldo Fait ended disjointed Zambia’s race and probably decided coach Sven Vandenbroeck’s fate.
But the arrival four minutes later of Rainford Kalaba and Cletus Chama for Augustine Mulenga and Emmanuel Banda added some adrenaline rush to the team but that was it.
In fact, Chipolopolo’s best chance for a goal came very early in the first half when defender Simon Silwimba attempted one of his speculative trademark goals with an acute angle shot that was miraculously tipped over by Leonel Pendula.
The defeat left Zambia bottom of Group K on 4 points from five games with a match left to play.
It also saw Mozambiuqe complete a historic double over Chipolopolo after beating them by the same margin in Ndola in the first leg on June 10, 2017.
Meanwhile, Mozambique are not out of the woods despite staying third and rising within one point of leaders Guinea Bissau and second placed Namibia who are both level on 8 points.
Mozambique must now win in Bissau next March to qualify.
Namibia on the other hand will qualify even if they lose to Zambia in their prospective dead rubber considering Mozambique’s forthcoming uphill battle.
FILE: PF Youths No Violence Dot Com Ambassador Maxwell Chongo addressing the crowd during the launch of the District Mobilisation Campaign in Livingstone
The Patriotic Front (PF) has urged those vying for the Lusaka Provincial party Chairmanship to desist from campaigning on tribal lines. PF media Director Sunday Chanda has said that the sentiments in a video by PF Member Maxwell Chongo where he is alleged to have been campaigning on tribal lines does not represent the spirit of the PF.
Mr Chanda said that the PF is an all-inclusive party founded on the principle of One-Zambia One-Nation, adding that the constitution of the party and the party leadership do not support acts of tribalism and regionalism.
Mr Chanda further said that he expected all candidates and officials to anchor their campaign messages on the Party President’s consistent message of ‘One Zambia, One Nation’, saying that he the PF expects Mr. Chongo to retract his statement.
Mr Chanda added that provincial aspiring candidate Geoffrey Chumbwe should also distance himself from Mr. Chongo’s alleged statement.
Below is the full statement
TRIBALISM AND REGIONAL VOTING IS NOT PF STYLE; LET’S LEAVE THAT FOR THE UPND- THEY ARE MORBIDLY ACCOMPLISHED AT IT
By Sunday Chilufya Chanda
We note with concern that there is a video currently circulating that was purportedly recorded from a meeting organised by Lusaka Province Chairman hopeful Mr Geoffrey Chumbwe where Mr Maxwell Choongo, a Party official in the Chongwe structures is heard promoting tribal voting.
The sentiments expressed in the video do not conform to the tenets and principles of the Patriotic Front (PF).
PF is an all-inclusive party founded on the principle of One-Zambia One-Nation. Tribalism and Regionalism are therefore diametrically opposed to the values and ideals of the Party.
Article 15 (1) (g) of the Patriotic Front constitution is one of the many clauses that are very categorical in abhorrence of tribalism, nepotism and regionalism. It states:
It is the obligation of a member of the Party, to fight against all manifestations of… Tribalism, Regionalism… Nepotism, Racial discrimination …
Article 74 (24) under the subtitle “Quality of Leadership” is also very categorical where in the PF Constitution states:
“A Party leader must never use his official position for his own personal gain or private benefit, nor practice favouritism, nepotism, tribalism …”
We consequently wish to caution those vying for elective offices in the Party to desist from promoting tribal and regional politics.
All candidates and officials are expected to anchor the President’s consistent message of ‘One Zambia, One Nation’.
We therefore call upon Mr Choongo to retract his tribal sentiments and we equally expect the Provincial aspiring candidate Mr Chumbwe to distance himself from tribal alignments and tribal voting.
We can all learn from the chronic woes and misery of our brothers and sisters in the United Party for National Development (UPND) that stemmed from similar tribal talk. Let all be reminded that it is such tribal and regional voting sentiments that killed Mr Hakainde Hichilema’s political career even before it was born.
Hichilema’s introduction after Mazoka’s death in 2006 was blatantly tribal. The UPND proclaimed that only a Tonga could replace a Tonga to lead the party; so they deliberately overlooked the hierarchy with such notables as Sakwiba Sikota, Patrick Chisanga and Bob Sichinga and they picked Hichilema – a nondescript individual who was not even in the party structures at the time, just because he was Tonga.
Tribalism has since become embedded in the DNA of the UPND and the party with its leader have struggled to rid themselves of the tribal and regional plague since then. As a result, the person they picked on tribal lines has been punished 5 times at the ballot box since 2006.
The UPND tribal style is not the PF style. God forbid! Tribalism and Regionalism are alien to PF. Zambians find tribalism to be highly repulsive.
Mr. Chumbwe and Mr Choongo could take a leaf from the PF founding father late President Michael Chilufya Sata and his successor His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s inclusive and non-tribal style of politics.
We know Mr Chumbwe and Mr Choongo have it in them to do the right thing.
President Edgar Lungu at Chilomo School ground rally in Mangango
President Edgar Lungu has called on the people of Mangango to vote for the Patriotic Front Candidate, Godwin Putu in Tuesday’s Parliamentary by Election.
And the President Lungu has plans to declare Mangango a district in order to accelerate development in the area.
He explained that he has been finding it difficult to take development to areas that are perceived to be opposition strong holds as their MPs and Counsellors do not want to work with him.
The Head of State was speaking at Mangango Secondary School today at a public meeting to drum up support for PF Mangango Parliamentary Candidate, Godwin Putu in the forthcoming by election.
President Lungu noted that it is important for the people of Mangango to elect leaders who have a heart for them and interested in seeing that their needs are well represented and development is being taken to their areas.
The Head of State added that, as a Chief Executive Officer of the Country and in charge of resources he is interested in taking development to all parts of the country but that he only needs people that are committed and ready to work with him.
Meanwhile President Lungu has advised Zambians to ignore people going around spreading falsehoods that they will be a general election next year.
He explained that such schemes by the opposition political parties should not be taken seriously as they are just aimed at confusing the electorates adding that, he is the only Republican President of Zambia with a mandate given to him by the people of Zambia from 2015 to 2021 when another election will be held.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has further advised Mr. Putu to continue humbling himself and put the interest of people first, when elected as MP on Tuesday November 20.
Earlier, PF Secretary General, Davis Mwila said Mangango has lagged behind in terms of development because of voting for wrong candidates.
Mr. Mwila pointed out that time has come for the people of Mangango to make corrections by electing the PF candidate Godwin Putu on Tuesday.
And Minister of Agricultural, Michael Katambo promised the people of Mangango that government will soon empower youths and women in the area with rice polishing machines and find them market for their cassava as a way of improving their livelihood.
Meanwhile Minister of Education, David Mabumba has urged people of Mangango to vote for the PF on Tuesday if they are to see a lot of development in the area.
Mr. Mabuumba disclosed that plans are underway by government to upgrade community schools to primary level while, some primary schools will be upgraded to secondary in the quest to improve education standards in the country.
He cited the upgrading of Mangango Secondary School and the electrification of Mayukwakwa Boarding School by early next year as some of the projects that the Ministry is implementing in order to increase access to education.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Chitalu Chilufya expressed concern that Mangango is still faced with inadequate health infrastructure and promised to address the problem.
Dr. Chilufya disclosed that government will construct three mini hospitals with operating theatres, Doctors and state of the art equipment in order to improve the delivery of health care services in Mangango constituency.
The President is accompanied by PF Secretary General, Davis Mwila, PF National Chairperson, Samuel Mukupa, Presidential Affairs Minister, Freedom Sikazwe, Ministers of Health, Chitalu Chilufya, Minister of Agriculture, Michael Katambo and his Education counterpart David Mabumba.
Four candidates are contesting the seat which fail vacant following the death of Naluwe Mweene who died in a road traffic accident in August this year.
PF adopted Godwin Putu while, the United Party for National Development (UPND) has settled for Mwendoi Akakandelwa and Singumbe Kabindama is standing on the United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambian(UPPZ) party.
Yuvwenu Kashandola is contesting on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket.
