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Secretary to Cabinet Dr. Roland Msiska has been elected for a second 3 year term as President of the African Association of Public Administration and Management at the just ended AAPAM Annual Conference in Gaborone, Botswana which was held from 5th to 9th November 2018.
Dr. Msiska was overwhelmingly re-elected to office during the 39th roundtable conference.
The Secretary to Cabinet informed the gathering on the possibility of achieving excellence and professionalism in public administration and management in Africa.
He was delighted that under his AAPAM leadership, the Association had achieved an Audit report that had not been qualified.
Speaking when he addressed delegates drawn from various Public Service Institutions in Africa, Dr. Msiska said there was an urgent need for strengthened governance and public institutions in order to make countries on the continent competitive.
He noted that for the Vision Agenda 2063 and Social Development Goals (SDG’s) to be achieved, governments need to embrace change in their systems, processes and operations.
Dr. Msiska further implored African Public Service institutions to effectively address challenges such as demographic changes and expectations, youth unemployment and climate change.
The African Association for Public Administration and Management is an International professional association for African Public administrators and managers.
The Secretary to Cabinet led a delegation that included Permanent Secretaries Public Service Division Management Boniface Chimbwali, Dr. Auxillia Ponga (Gender), Joe Kapembwa (Youth and Sport), Chanda Kasolo (Eastern Province), Bernard Kampasa (Cabinet Office) and Yumba Ndashe (Cabinet Office) and other senior government officials drawn from various ministries who are members of AAPAM.
The Executive committee and Council of AAPAM comprises the President, Deputy President and 4 Regional Vice Presidents.
And speaking at Zambia house in Gaborone Botswana, Zambia’s High Commissioner to Botswana Brigadier General Patrick Tembo congratulated Dr. Msiska for the well-deserved victory.
This is according to a statement issued by Kasabo Kalusa, the First Secretary – Press and Public Relations at the Zambia High Commission in Gaborone, Botswana.
The Democratic Party has resolved to adopt PF Bahati Member of Parliament Harry Kalaba as its official Presidential Candidate for 2021 general elections.
The resolution was reached at by Democratic National committee (DNC) members at an extraordinary meeting held in Lusaka yesterday.
The meeting which was chaired by the National Chairman Nedson Nzowa was attended by all members of the Democratic National Committee.
Confirming the development, Party spokesperson Judith Kabemba said the decision to adopt Mr. Kalaba who is also former Foreign Affairs Minister came up after a wider consultation with the party leaders and general membership.
She said the decision also comes following the many demands and the decision taken by majority Zambians saying Mr. Kalaba is the right man to take up the position of President of Zambia come 2021.
“It’s evident that Zambia is at a position where the country needs a person with a tested and well proved character, zero tolerance to corruption, honesty, selfless and has resolved to save Zambia with the respect and the seriousness it deserves”, she added.
Ms. Kabemba said the meeting further resolved to leave the position of Democratic Party President vacant with immediate effect until such a time when Mr. Kalaba will take up the position.
The position of Democratic Party President was until now held by Gift Kalumba who henceforth remains a member of the National Executive.
And Ms. Kabemba said the party has further made changes to its Provincial Leadership in various places and will see a Mr. Chandindi moved from the position of Copperbelt Provincial Chairman to become an interim member of the National Executive and has been replaced with a Mr. Mulenga who was until now the Copperbelt Vice Chairperson and will be deputized by two Provincial Chairpersons.
She added that Ethel Chinkuli who was Acting Central Province Chairperson has been moved to the position of Kabwe District Chairlady and Kalonde Chisanga will assume the position of Central Province Youth Chairperson.
In Lusaka, Ms. Kabemba said Victor Mwale has been elevated to take up the position of Provincial Chairperson while Olalo Mwanza becomes Provincial Youth Chairman.
She said in Muchinga, the province has been demarcated into two zones with Regina Mulenga assuming the position of Provincial Chairperson in charge of Mpika, Chama and Chisali while Patricia Makezi will head Isoka, Mafinga and Nakonde respectively.
In Northern Province, Ms. Kabemba said Mr. Patrick Kafula will be interim chairman for Northern Province with immediate effect.
Lusaka Lawyer Kelvin Fube Bwalya has appealed to President Edgar Lungu, as Commander in Chief to halt the planned investigations against UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema in the interest of the nation.
In his write up about the happenings surrounding the alleged sale of the Zambia Forestry And Forest Industries Corporation Limited, Mr. Fube noted if Zambians destroy each other and destroy the country, it will be that much harder to recover as a nation.
He said the recent ZAFFICO riots are just a tip of the iceberg of the many bottled-up frustrations simmering in a growing majority of Zambians.
Here is the full statement
FROM THE DESK OF:
Kelvin Fube Bwalya – KBF,
30 Bwinjimfumu Road, Rhodes Park, Lusaka, Zambia.
Sunday 11/11/18
ZAMBIA IS BIGGER THAN INDIVIDUALS..
ZAFFICO is just a trigger being exploited!
Dear countrymen and women, I greet you all.
It is my sincere hope that government is aware that the recent ZAFFICO riots are just a tip of the iceberg of the many bottled-up frustrations simmering in a growing majority of Zambians. Having observed an escalation in tensions building towards Wednesday 14 th November 2018, I am persuaded to appeal to each one of us to introspect.
It will be folly for us as a people to ignore the current social and economic distress sweeping across the nation. We must realize that what affects one of us affects all of us without choosing one’s tribe, gender, vocation or political affiliation.
There is no act more senseless than when brothers and sisters allow differences in opinion to divide them to the extent of willfully seeking to bring harm to one another. We must take a deliberate decision to liberate ourselves from all the prejudicial classifications of tribe, political party, social standing and gender to find our common thread of belonging to this one country to which we share and hold a common responsibility to foster peace, love and prosperity.
We must realize that we fight only because we have been fooled into believing that we cannot co-exist. We must remember that there is no special shop, no special market, no special hospital for PF cadres. Nor is there a special shop, special market or special hospital for UPND cadres.
There is no special place where the soldiers or the police or the nurses or the teachers or any other set of people will go to make their lives any different from the lives of all other people. This is because what affects any one of us affects every one of us.
Whether you are a marketeer, bus driver, taxi driver, commuter, working professional, student or ordinary unclassified Zambian, the price of what you need in life will not be different from what any other fellow Zambian will pay.
We have let our poverty control us and blind us to the fact that if we stop fighting each other and unite to fight this scourge by embracing one another and leveraging that which is good and strong about each other, we will free ourselves from its shackles.
We are so willing to fight each other only because as a people we are suffering, struggling and currently see no hope. We have for over fifty years failed to realize our potential as a country and in hard time cycles such as these our frustrations grow and our tolerance levels reduce.
We must however, remember that we are one people and the nation of Zambia cannot be Zambia without all of us. Or country needs us as much as we need it and we must therefore choose to do that which is right by Zambia. We cannot choose to destroy each other and by extension destroy our beautiful nation.
Zambians must never prepare to do battle against other Zambians.
Unless some of our politicians have become so detached from reality and from the people of Zambia, any Zambian politician worth his salt is aware that there is growing disgruntlement and disappointment among Zambians over the state of affairs of our nation.
The hard truth is that our citizens in general are unhappy and frustrated about the management and direction of the country. Some people might hope that this is unique to urban areas only. Unfortunately, our people in rural areas are equally expressing the same sentiments of frustration and disappointment. What is worth noting is the fact that this is a national issue and my appeal is that we put cheap politics aside and treat it as such.
In circumstances such as our nation finds itself in, the natural inclination for politicians is to draw bold lines along adversarial party affiliations. One party will tend to take on the defensive and arrogant posture whilst the group on the other side of the divide takes on the posture of blaming and exaggerating the failures of the other side without offering any clear solutions to the challenges. With this approach, it is very easy to miss the main issue and get caught up in political trivialities and semantics whether intentionally or unintentionally.
We end up taking our eyes off the ball and instead of dealing with issues that are pertinent to our people; we get caught up in political smoke screens. For instance; all of a sudden, who incited the riots blindfolds us and takes precedence over why our people rioted in the first place. For the sake of our nation, I submit that we soberly reflect on the state of our nation with genuine intention to redirect our country. From the broad spectrum of Zambians that I have had a chance to interact with, the following issues form the core of what is afflicting and agitating the Zambian people in general:
1. Unemployment is too high and is the major reason for the high poverty levels being experienced in the country.
Our economy has too many burdensome policies for the citizens.
There is a general feeling that government is contracting huge debt for non-priority construction projects at seriously inflated prices and passing the burden to citizens.
When government is calling for belt tightening amongst the citizens and civil servants, there is absolutely no evidence that senior government officials holding political offices are tightening their belts.
Citizens are bottling up frustrations as they are being denied their critical rights of assembly and freedom of expression.
Good governance and rule of law in the country is deteriorating.
Agricultural performance has been dangerously poor and consistently negatively affected citizens in the rural areas.
There is a consistent and constant failure by government to communicate national issues effectively to avoid unnecessary suspicions.
There is a strong perception that our President has been held hostage by a small group of self-serving individuals.
Citizens believe the President is not fully aware of the true state of the nation.
If as the ruling party, we don’t sober up and get to the bottom of these and many other issues of concern, shifting the blame will not make the situation any better. We can harass or arrest all those with opposing views, but without addressing the real issues, we will only succeed at mobilizing the Zambian people against President Lungu and the PF Party as a whole.
I hereby call on the PF Party and government to make a clear distinction between politics of intimidation and good governance. We, as PF are the ruling party and are entirely responsible for the state and direction of this nation. All other politicians, disgruntled elements and opposition political parties can be excused for their rumbling and political gymnastics. For us on the other hand, our actions and decisions affect every citizen regardless of their political affiliations. When the economy is not doing well, it is our responsibility to rectify the situation.
When the rule of law breaks down in the nation, it is not the fault of criminals or the opposition. The onus is squarely on us to bring back law and order. There is no excuse and there is no blaming any other party or personality. We are responsible and we better shape up and marshal the political will and unity of purpose to bring this nation back on track.
It is a known fact that the current opposition has failed to demonstrate to Zambians that they have better programs for this country. The people of Zambia are therefore still looking to the party that promised lower taxes and more money in their pockets. It is not too late to steer the boat towards the shores of prosperity.
We must also accept that though the buck stops with the President, running a country is not a one man show and the need for the President to be surrounded by an able team of noble, selfless and patriotic men and women cannot be overemphasized.
Going by the state of our nation today, it is my humble submission, on behalf of many Zambians and PF members, that perhaps it is time to have a sober look at what kind of policies we are pursuing and who is responsible for implementing them.
We only have one Zambia and if we do not guard against her destruction the country we know and the great future it holds will cease to be. Whatever our challenges and frustrations, I ask all the people of Zambia to believe me when I say the solutions to our problems lie within us. The solutions are there. To this end, I humbly appeal to my President His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, as commander in chief, to in the interest of the nation, halt the planned investigations against the UPND President.
I believe that if we destroy each other and destroy the country, it will be that much harder to recover as a nation. Let us immediately begin to make all things about Zambia and not about the political parties to which we belong. Let us move away from blaming each other and move towards consulting and correcting each other.
Without a noble and honorable unity of purpose, it shall be very difficult to get to the Promised Land. We may see it, but never reach it. Each and every person willing to willfully cause violence and chaos knows the difference between right and wrong and any Zambian who plans violence on another Zambian knows that it is wrong and unpatriotic and that Zambian has the power to do what is right and patriotic.
It is up to us to choose what kind of future we want for our children. Let us make the deliberate decision to stop fighting each other and begin to fight the poverty that surrounds us. Let us fight towards having enough for each one of us and enough left over to sell beyond our borders.
I urge all of us to choose Peace, Love and Unity.
May God bless us all and may God bless our beloved nation Zambia.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has directed the Copperbelt University (CBU) to continue running the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Dental Surgery Learning Programmes until further notice.
This is comes barely three days after the Health Professions Council of Zambia banned CBU from administering the three medical programmes at the institution following failure to meet the laid down standards.
In a statement, The Higher Education Authority (HEA) Director General Professor Stephen Simukanga said as mandated by the Higher Education Act No. 4 of 2013 and Statutory Instrument No. 25 of 2016, HEA is the custodian of all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Zambia, be it public or private, and has the authority to accredit Learning Programmes at these HEIs.
“For this reason, in May 2018, the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Dental Surgery Learning Programmes at CBU were audited by experts acting on behalf of HEA for purposes of accreditation. Preliminary findings of the audit indicated that the Learning Programmes had areas that needed improvement,” Prof. Simukanga said.
He said following the findings, HEA began a process of guiding CBU in thoroughly addressing the Learning Programmes’ deficiencies and had asked the HEI to develop an implementation plan over a period of not more than one year.
Prof. Simukanga said this was expertly deemed as a sufficient period of time in which to rectify all of the Learning Programmes’ deficiencies.
“Moreover, as it was expertly determined that the shortcomings of the Learning Programmes did not warrant the closure of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Dental Surgery Learning Programmes as “continuous improvement” of these Learning Programmes is instituted, CBU shall continue providing these Learning Programmes while they address the shortcomings that have been identified,” he charged.
On Friday, the Health Professional Council of Zambia (HPCZ) ordered CBU to immediately stop offering two programmes in the School of Medicine for failing to meet set standards.
Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Aaron Mujajati instructed the institution to discontinue offering Bachelors in Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, including Bachelor of Dental Surgery.
This was after inspections at the University revealed over-enrolment of students, inadequate lecturers, engaging unregistered lecturers practising without licences among other violations.
Dr. Mujajati added that the institution exceeded the accepted lecture – student ratio after over-enrolling by 494 candidates for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Programme.
He also charged that his organisations cannot be assured of the safety of the public once exposed to the services of graduates in the above programmes.
Dr. Mujajati advised Copperbelt University that the two programmes will only be reinstated after all recommendations have been addressed.
Bwana Mkubwa Member of Parliament Hon. Jonas Chanda.
PF Bwana Mkubwa Member of Parliament Dr. Jonas Chanda has advised opposition Leaders to respect the Zambia Police and stop insulting and dragging them into petty partisan politics.
Dr. Chanda said the Police have a duty to maintain Law and Order and keep the Peace which the country has enjoyed for 54 years.
Dr. Chanda, who was speaking in Parliament when debating the 2019 Budget for the Zambia Police and Ministry of Home Affairs, says National Security is the number one priority for any country because there can be no socioeconomic development when peace and security are threatened.
He has warned politicians to avoid deliberately breaking the Law with impunity as such irresponsible behaviour threatens Public Order and Peace, and Police have a Constitutional duty of Law Enforcement because no one is above the Law and no individual is bigger than the Country.
Dr. Chanda advised opposition leaders to avoid peddling alarming, false, cheap and childish propaganda like the alleged sale of national assets to the Chinese such as ZNBC, KKIA, NRDC, National Game Parks, ZAFFICO, ZESCO and others meant to incite the public against government as witnessed by the recent riots in Kitwe.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chanda has called for allocation of more resources to the Zambia Police as part of the modernisation program.
He has also called on government to embark on a Skills and Merit based immigration Policy which will only allow for skilled foreigners who can contribute to the nation’s economic development agenda to work in Zambia.
The Late Sesheke Member of Parliament, Hon. Frank Simone Kufakwandi (C)
Sesheke Member of Parliament Frank Kufakwandi has died in South Africa where he was being treated for a Cardiac condition.
Government evacuated Mr. Kufwakwandi last month and he has been receiving specialist treatment at Arwyp Medical Centre in Johannesburg.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba disclosed that Mr. Kufwakwandi died in the early hours of Monday adding that his wife Mrs. Masiliso Kufwakwandi was at the bedside.
Mr. Mwamba said Mr. Kufwakwandi was among Zambian patients evacuated by government to receive specialised treatment in South Africa.
He said he had visited Mr. Kufwakwandi several times at the Hospital and was saddened by his passing as government had hoped that he would overcome his illness.
Mr. Mwamba said details regarding the repatriation of the body will be communicated later.
Mr. Kufwakwandi was the Member of Parliament for Sesheke on the Opposition ticket, the United Party for National Development.
Here is a wrap of how some Chipolopolo players fared at their respective leagues over the weekend.
DR CONGO
TP Mazembe’s nine-match winning start to the season ended on Sunday when JS Bazano beat them 1-0 at home in Lubumbashi.
Defender Kabaso Chongo, midfielders Nathan Sinkala and Rainford Kalaba all played the full 90 minutes.
SWEDEN
2018 COSAFA U20 Cup call-up Edward Chilufya on Sunday played his second successive competitive game for Djurgardens in their 1-0 home win over Sirius.
The 2017 U20 AFCON winner came on in the 65th minute, a week after coming on as a late substitute in a 2-1 away win over Dalkurd on November 5.
SOUTH AFRICA -Polokwane City: Midfielder Salulani Phiri played the full 90 minutes in Polokwane’s 0-0 away draw against Amazulu on Sunday.
-Mamelodi Sundowns/Orlando Pirates: Midfielder Augustine Mulenga came on in the 66th minute while striker Justin Shonga was substituted in the 86th minute of Pirates’ 0-0 away draw against defending champions Sundowns on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene did not make the Sundowns team for the match.
Pirates and Sundowns are first and fourth after 13 and 10 games played respectively.
-SuperSport United: Striker Gampani Lungu did not make the team for SuperSport’s 1-0 away win over Free State Stars on Saturday.
FRANCE
Defender Stopilla Sunzu was in action on Friday in Ligue 2 leaders Metz’s 2-1 away win over 15th placed Chateauroux.
Sunzu played the full 90 minutes.
BELGIUM
Striker Fashion Sakala came on in the 84th minute of KV Oostende’s 2-0 away loss to second placed Antwerp on Friday.
Midfielder Emmanuel Banda was an unused substitute for 10th placed Oostende.
AUSTRIA -Altach: striker Brian Mwila on Saturday came on in the 54th minute for second from bottom Altach in their 1-0 away loss at Wacker Innsbruck who are just two places above them at number 9. -RB Salzburg: Striker Patson Daka was an unused substitute in Sunday’s 2-0 away win over archrivals and sixth placed Austria Vienna.
Midfielder Enock Mwepu came on in the 88th minute for the leaders and defending champions.
The Football Association of Zambia ( FAZ ) Disciplinary Committee says it has dismissed the complaint by Mufulira Wanderers FC over FQM Roads Football Club’s conduct during the week 22 game played 2nd of September 2018 in Solwezi.
This is over a matter between Mufulira Wanderers FC over FQM Roads Football Club, where the visitors alleged that the hosts failed to provide adequate security which led to the game being interrupted and failed control their home fans which led to violence erupting and number of the complainant’s supporters being injured and taken to hospital in Solwezi.
However, the Disciplinary Committee, led by Joseph Jalasi, ruled that prior to the determination of this complaint the, it had directed the Secretariat of the Football Association of Zambia to inform the parties that it would proceed by way of written submissions in accordance with Article 28 and 30 of the Disciplinary Code.
According to submissions made to the committee availed to ZANIS sports today, at the time of reaching this decision, the Respondent (FQM Roads Football Club ) had not given an explanation as to while it had not submitted it written submissions.
“ It is therefore clear that the respondent has been aware at all material times of the existence of the Complaint but has neglected to file its written submissions as directed. In view of the fact that the league is about to conclude, the Committee has had no choice but to proceed to determine this matter based on the complaint before it, “ reads the submission in part.
The four man committee additionally comprising Mutakela Lisimba as vice chair, Paulman Chungu and a Chungu as committee members said that it reviewed that matter and had noted that the referee’s report disputes that there was unruly behavior on the part of the Respondents fans.
“ Article 31 of the Disciplinary Code is clear. It provides that a match Officials Report is presumed to be accurate unless proof of the inaccuracy is furnished by the Respondent.
“ We have reviewed that Appellants letter of complaint dated 3rd September 2018 which has attached various pictures of purported injured soccer fans. We state there is a stark contrast between the Referees report and what is contained in the complaint.
“ Although the Referee’s report compiled by Referee H. Kabwata describes the attitude of spectators as good in note 18, he further describes the attitude of both the complainant and respondents players as exhibiting good sportsmanship. Based on the provisions of Article 31of the Disciplinary Code, we are inclined to believe the Referees Report, “ read the submission in part.
For the above mentioned reasons, the Committee dismissed the case stating that the Complainants evidence would have carried weight had they produced a police report which would have provided an independent verification of the violence at the stadium.
The Committee stated that going by the terms of Article 43 and 45 of the FAZ disciplinary Code, the Complainant has the right to appeal to the decision of the Committee within 4 days of notification of this decision.
Cooperating partners have adopted a direct payment mechanism when disbursing funds for Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) programme.
Kalabo District Nutrition Coordinator Emmanuel Phiri has revealed that the payment mechanism has been adopted in order to enhance service delivery in the disbursement and management of SUN interventions.
Mr. Phiri said the mechanism entails that funds would now be deposited directly into mobile or bank accounts of beneficiaries, implementing officers and volunteers.
The donors’ Fund Manager would process direct payments upon receipt of a fund request from an approved work plan, activity reports, attendance list, wage list, and other supporting documents.
Stakeholders to timely implement SUN programmes and submit reports as approved in work plans.
The District Nutrition Coordinator has explained that activities would be conducted prior to disbursement of funds to beneficiaries adding that payments to implementing officers and volunteers were to be made after submission of reports as complete retirement would be required to process payment.
Mr. Phiri said this during a District Nutrition Coordinating Committee (DNCC) meeting held in Kalabo Council Chamber.
And Kalabo DNCC chairperson Siyupwa Kabisa says direct payment and its mechanism would enhance accountability.
Mr. Kabisa who is also District Administrative Officer (DAO) said accountability is a backbone of enhanced public service delivery and an effective measure in curbing financial irregularities.
He said mismanagement of funds seriously hamper programme implementation hence the need for deliberate measures to address gaps within management systems.
Community Development Officer Simasiku Simasiku has however observed that direct payment would pose a number of challenges and negatively affect implementation of programmes.
Mr. Simasiku said the payment mechanism and its modalities to volunteers were going to be difficult given the limited network access, lack of mobile phones as well as lack of bank or mobile accounts and challenges in them.
Company listing is the process of issuing shares on the stock market. When a company lists on the stock market, it converts from being a limited company to a Public Limited Company. The process of listing involves courting two markets:
1. The Primary Market i.e the market for initial public offers (IPO). In most cases when shareholders allocate a certain percentage of shareholding for listing, they do not offload the shares directly to the public. Doing so can lead to negative consequences such as under subscription. Where there is under subscription, a company incurs losses due to costs related to the listing process. To hedge against demand risk (risk that shares won’t be bought), companies normally offload their allocated shares to institutional investors in a process known as underwriting. institutional investors include among others banks and other fund managers. The process of selling shares to institutional investors is known as initial public offer. Households have no access to this market. It is at this stage that the company listing gets its capital from listing and surrenders its shares.
2. The Secondary Market i.e the market for resale of shares. In most cases at this point, the shares now belong to institutional investors. When Institutional investors purchase all the shares, they now offload them on the secondary market such as the Lusaka Stock Exchange to households and other market participants. It is very difficult to know who will actually buy the shares because in most cases, institutional investors can be many and shares are offloaded to everyone with access to the stock market at the same time. The higher the demand, the higher the price. Institutional investors make profits during this stage. No one person can with 100% be certain to purchase all the shares on this market.
Why do companies list shares?
– To raise capital for capital projects
– A way of cashing on initial investments by venture capitalists etc.
The Case of Parastatal companies
Going public does have positive and negative effects:
Advantages
– Strengthens capital base,
– A way of attracting FDI and Technology,
– makes acquisitions of state owned companies easier by citizens because of affordable share prices,
– diversifies ownership,
– increases prestige,
– forces disclosure to the public making citizens aware on the performance of a particular company,
– Listing gives an opportunity to citizens to take part in the partial privatization unlike direct sales where citizens can be out done by foreign companies with huge resources.
Disadvantages
– Puts pressure on short-term growth,
– imposes more restrictions on management and on trading,
– makes former business owners lose some control of decision making depending on the percentage of shares offloaded.
Caution
– For ZAFFICO, it is important to grant a certain percentage to employees and Saw millers through some form of trust as in the case of ZANACO
-Strict monitoring to ensure that ZAFFICO continues to grow trees to avoid a desert in Zambia
Opportunity
Instead of politicking, Zambians should see this as an opportunity and prepare resources to purchase ZAFFICO shares. Shares are a form of savings for citizens. Looking at the rate at which the global construction sector is growing, we only expect ZAFFICO shares to boom especially if the diversified shareholding will enhance efficiency as in the case of Lafarge, ZANACO, Zambia sugar company and other similar companies.
I hope this will help bring the ZAFFICO debate back to objectivity.
Government a 14 day ultimatum to all the 11 contractors engaged to work on Strengthening Climate Resilience on the Kafue Flats (SCRiKA) projects to finish the works for local community to benefit from the projects.
And Chitembo Chonga, the National Coordinator for Pilot Programmne on Climate Resilience (PPCR) says lack of community engagement and close monitoring contributed to the shoddy works done by some contractors so far and has also called for them to redo the works to ensure quality work.
Speaking yesterday during a tour of the 12 major projects in Monze District funded by African Development Bank (ADB) at a total cost of K3, 749,640.85, Southern Province Permanent Secretary Mwangala Liomba has urged on all contractors to ensure that works are completed in a fortnight’s time.
He also directed that all the contractors to redo any shoddy works on some of the projects aimed at empowering communities and increasing their resilience to climate change.
Some of the ADB funded projects in Monze include, construction of nine poultry houses, 10 dip tanks for goats, construction of 2 fish ponds, drilling of19 boreholes, installation of 11 solar powered boreholes, installation of 8 irrigation kits and construction 8 of goat kraals.
The 11 contractors from Lusaka and Copper belt engaged include ML Drilling and Exploration Limited, Krel Mining and Construction, Bobman Ventures, Medre Agro and Power solutions, Tonywood General Dealers, LK Kays Electrical, Savco Investments, Sustainable Water Development Solutions, Srujala Tech Limited, and Themats Enterprises, respectively.
The PS commended some contractors for doing a good and encouraged those that have not done a good job to move back to site and complete the works so that by December 1st all the facilities should be complete.
Mr. Liomba also directed the District SCRiKA team to intensify supervision and monitoring to ensure that all projects are completed and are of high quality.
During the tour of selected projects PS and the District team observed that most projects were either incomplete or of poor standards and only found one contractor on site, a situation which also irked the PS who reiterated the need for the District Team to be proactive and ensure that works are progressing without fail.
“I wish to commend some contractors for doing a good job up to where they are and at the same time I want to encourage contractors that have not done a good job to move back on site and finish the works within fourteen days so that come December 1, 2018 all these facilities should be operational.
“I also want to encourage the District team to work a little more in terms of supervision and monitoring so that we get value for money for people to benefit from these projects because it is the intention of government and its cooperating partners to empower people,” said Mr. Liomba.
The PS also said some shoddy works done on some of the projects by local Zambian Contractors was yet another bitter a lesson to government but hastened to say that the projects were minor jobs that should have been done by contractors in southern province.
He said in the near future, he would not entertain contractors from outside the province because of difficulties in monitoring and supervising them.
And Ms Chonga says it is sad that the District failed to engage the community in the entire process of procurement, supervision and monitoring the projects to preclude any shoddy works done on some projects.
Ms Chonga said it was important for the District SCRiKA team to fully engage the local communities where the projects are being implemented for them to own the projects and ensure their completion and sustainability.
She said the projects would only become meaningful to the community if they are completed to provide alternative livelihood and something more resilience to climate change.
Ms Chonga also called on all the contractors to come back on site and redone some shoddy works at no cost to government of the community.
According to a financial documents obtained by ZANIS a total of K1,268,055.09 had been paid to all the 11 contractors leaving a balance of K2,481,585.76 yet to be paid upon completion of all the works.
Workers at Universal Mining and Chemical Industries Limited (UMCIL) Kafue Steel Plant working as usual in the steel plant
North-western province Permanent Secretary Ephraim Mateyo says government is committed to demonstrate the local positive impact of mining projects.
Mr Mateyo says mineral development in the province can offer opportunities for the residents to become involved in the sector and benefit from the projects.
He said the mineral revenue sharing mechanism at the local level mining can greatly contribute to development.
Mr Mateyo said this in a speech read on his behalf by Provincial Assistant Secretary Beatrice Muyambango during the North-western tripartite forum dubbed “Coordinated partnership on enhanced mineral revenue sharing”.
Speaking at the same event North-western Chamber of Commerce, Trade and industries Projects Accounting Officer Mukuka Mulenga said promotion of local content should shift from just mining to sustainable development.
Mr Mulenga said as the mines do their work, local people have to benefit from them through engaged investment ventures that will support both parties.
Meanwhile, North-Western Agenda for Development Executive Director John Katambo suggested that North-western province should come up with its own development plan as the province knows it’s own needs.
Mr Katambo added that it is easier to identify the particular need of the province as they may differ from one province to the other.
Shepolopolo are at full house following the arrival in camp of striker and captain Barbara Banda ahead of this week’s kickoff of the 2018 Women’s AFCON in Ghana.
The striker from Spanish side Logrono arrived at Shepolopolo’s camp in Cote d’Ivoire the early hours of Sunday morning.
Banda landed in Abidjan just 24 hours after her teammates arrived there for a five-day training camp in transit to the Women’s AFCON that Ghana will host from December 17 to November 1.
The striker is also meeting-up with Shepolopolo for the first time after missing the month-long local training camp and the
3-2 friendly win against Ghana on November 3 in Lusaka.
Banda skipped camp to attend trials in Spain where she secured a two year deal with Women’s top tier club Logrono.
“Our aim is not to just go there as participants but we are aiming higher so that we can go to the World Cup,” Banda said.
“It might look as the toughest group at the tournament but, as a team, we won’t look at the names of the team’s.
“The morale in camp is very high and the girls are focused and we are not intimidated.”
Shepolopolo are in a tough Group B where they have been dawn against four-time runners-up South Africa, two-time winners Equatorial Guinea and defending champions Nigeria.
Shepolopolo will face Equatorial Guinea in their opening Group B match on November 18 and Nigeria in their penultimate fixture on November 21 ,both games will be in Cape Coast, before heading to Accra to face Banyana on November 24.
Margaret Chimanse, the Manager Public Relations at Electoral Commission of Zambia
The Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ has said that the campaigns in Mangango Constituency in Kaoma District – Western Province have continued to take place as planned.
ECZ Public Relations Manager Margaret Chimanse said that campaigns will end on Monday November 19, 2018 at 18 hours as stated in earlier statements.
This is in view of the by-elections scheduled for November 20, 2018 in Lupososhi, Mangango and five ward by-elections across the country.
Below is the full statement
MANGANGO KAOMA DISTRICT CAMPAIGNS GOING ON
The Electoral Commission of Zambia wishes to state that campaigns in Mangango Constituency continue to take place as planned. Campaigns will end on Monday 19th November, 2018 at 18 hours as stated in earlier Press Statements.
This is in view of the By-Elections scheduled for 20 November 2018 in Lupososhi, Mangango and Five (5) Ward By-Elections. Further, the Commission wishes to reiterate that the campaign schedule endorsed by the political parties in Mangango can be amended with the agreement of all parties. This can be undertaken through discussions between the political parties, the ECZ and the Zambia Police.
The Commission urges political parties, members of the public, civil society organizations, and stakeholders to verify facts. It is essential for the democratic dispensation of this country that stakeholders desist from destabilizing governance processes that exist which provide for citizens to exercise their right to make choices of their leaders.
The ECZ continues to encourage peaceful campaigns and a peaceful election day on 20th November 2018.
Margaret Chimanse Public Relations Manager for/ CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER ELECTORAL COMMISION OF ZAMBIA
